January 14, 2000
Volume XXXIII, No. 2
Proper use of inhalers makes all the difference for asthmatics
Chronic drowsiness and sleep disorders adversely affect drivers
The Health Science Center's computer, telecommunications, electrical and mechanical systems functioned properly and without incident as the new year began, Year 2000 project personnel said.
"The fact that we had very few Y2K- related incidents was not an accident," said Dr. Frank Stafford, director of the Department of Computing Resources and chair of the Health Science Center Y2K task force. "It was the result of more than 200 people from every corner of the campus, working hard and preparing this institution for an uneventful crossover. My sincere thanks goes out to each and every one of these individuals."
The campus reopened for business on schedule Jan. 4, and instruction resumed
in the various schools Jan. 5. University police and specialists from computing
resources, facilities management, and telecommunications and networking
performed initial checks
shortly after midnight Jan. 1 and concluded their tests
Jan. 3.
More than 120 employees, including university police officers, telecommunications and networking, facilities management and computing resources staff, were on duty overnight on New Year's Eve. Seven administrative leaders staffed the Y2K command center around the clock. The center closed at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 1. Specialists continued to carry out testing on numerous critical systems throughout the holiday weekend.
Preparations at the Health Science Center began in 1995 for the changeover to a new century, which posed serious problems for some computing systems. Work to remove Y2K problems began shortly after computing resources had a key software vendor make programming changes in the campus' primary database management system.
In September 1997, Dr. John P. Howe, III, president, appointed the 14-member Year 2000 Task Force. The task force was composed of representatives from each school and vice presidential office. The task force directed the Health Science Center's campuswide Y2K readiness campaign, including completing the following tasks:
Tracking the Y2K readiness of 300 types of clinical and laboratory equipment.
Leading a group of 75 Y2K department coordinators who inventoried and evaluated roughly 12,000 pieces of computer hardware, software and devices with embedded logic.
Contacting the university's 400 largest and most critical suppliers to obtain Y2K assurances about products, services and delivery.
Creating a system that put identifying stickers on nearly 300 critical freezers and other laboratory and clinical appliances to help assure no contents were damaged in the event of an electrical outage.
Coordinating a campuswide awareness project.
For those who suffer from asthma, a metered dose medication inhaler (MDI) can literally be a lifesaverbut many people don't use it correctly. "They need to be taught proper use of an inhaler," said Dr. David C. Shelledy, chairman of the Department of Respiratory Care, School of Allied Health Sciences.
For the medication to be effective, hold the cannister about an inch away from your mouth, start to breathe in slowly as you press the top of the inhaler, then hold the medication in your lungs for up to 10 seconds. Dr. Shelledy said he sometimes counts for his patients. "You'd be surprised," he said. "Ten seconds is a pretty long time." After the first puff, wait a minute or two before you take the second.
Better yet, he added, use your inhaler with a reservoir (spacer) tube, which makes the process basically foolproof. A nebulizer, which turns liquid medication into an aerosol that can be inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask, is also effective but not necessarily better. A nebulizer treatment takes from eight to 10 minutes, and the equipment must be cleaned diligently to avoid the risk of infection. "At a minimum, wash the removable parts with soap and hot water and soak them in a vinegar and water solution," Dr. Shelledy said.
Dr. Shelledy had these tips for people with moderate to severe asthma:
Use pillow and mattress covers to cut down on dust mites. "Yes, those really do work," he said.
Change your furnace and air-conditioner filters often.
Avoid cigarette smoke, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves.
Stay away from pets if you're allergic to animal dander.
Repair plumbing leaks, which can lead to mold and mildew. Remove mildew stains with bleach.
Control cockroaches with traps, not sprayed insecticides.
Remove carpets and rugs, if you can, particularly in the asthmatic's bedroom. If you can't get rid of the rugs, vacuum often with a good, high-quality vacuum cleaner when the asthmatic is not around.
Avoid chemical cleaners and aerosol sprays with pungent scents. Use ammonia, baking soda and vinegar for household cleaning instead.
Wash stuffed toys frequently and take them out of children's rooms.
In addition, Dr. Shelledy said, "Anyone with asthma should have an action plan. He should know what to do in case of an acute episode."
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Dr. David Shelledy, chairman of respiratory care, talks with students about asthma and its effects on the body. |
Asthma management key to controlling symptoms, cost of treatmentAsthma is increasing at an alarming rate. According to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Lung Association, 17 million people in this country suffer from the disease, and several thousand die each year. It has a huge economic cost as well, measured in hospital stays, emergency room visits, doctor visits and missed workdays. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled, provided that patients are taught an effective management plan. Researchers in the Department of Respiratory Care, School of Allied Health Sciences, are conducting a study to measure the effects of management plans taught by respiratory therapists in the patients' homes. Department Chairman Dr. David C. Shelledy and colleagues expect to see a reduction in the number of emergency room visits, The randomized trial will follow three groups of patients over a six-month period following their release from the hospital. One group will receive training by a respiratory therapist, who will conduct an environmental assessment of the home, offer sessions on using equipment and medication, and give instructions for keeping a diary of symptoms. The second group will be given standard discharge instructions and make regular office visits to a physician. A third set will receive home visits from a nurse. "We hope to get some dramatic results," Dr. Shelledy said. "People with asthma often just don't know how to take care of themselves." A pilot study the researchers completed recently in children with asthma showed that a program of this type significantly reduces the number and cost of hospital and emergency room visits, doctor visits and school absences. In addition to training, the respiratory therapists will develop an asthma action plan with the patients so they know what to do when their peak flow measures drop. A peak flow meter registers the amount of air a person can exhale in one breath. Each asthma patient establishes a "personal best" range. If levels drop lower than that, into pre-specified ranges, a person knows to use his inhaler, get to a doctor's office or hurry to an emergency room. The study will last 16 to 18 months and patients are still being enrolled. For more information on the study, call ext. 885 |
The following new and competitive renewal grants and awards were recorded in the Office of Grants Management for November 1999.
"A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Effects of H5G1.1-SCFV on Total Mortality/Adverse Cardiovascular Ischemic Outcomes in Patients," Dr. Charles Hantler, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, $107,932, 1 year.
"A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Fenoldopam Mesylate in Preserving Renal Function," Dr. Charles Hantler, Elan Pharmaceuticals, $72,000, 6 months.
"High-Resolution NMR Structure of Proteins SRP-19," Dr. Andrew Peterson Hinck, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, $54,988, 1 year.
"Mechanisms of PAF Degradation in the Intestine," Dr. Jonathon King, National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders (NIDDKD), $75,068, 1 year.
"Virologic & Immunological Studies of Murine CMV Retinitis," Dr. Sally Atherton, NIH/National Eye Institute (NEI), $23,800, 1 year.
"Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement (IPA) for Chung Song," Dr. Bandana Chatterjee, South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), $14,026, 1 year.
"Salary & Fringe Support for Bijaya Kumar Nayak," Dr. Gokul Das, Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) Research Foundation, $27,720, 2 years.
"Telesome Targeting for Treating Cancer," Dr. Alan Sakaguchi, University of Arizona, $31,161, 1 year.
"Longitudinal Dimensional Analysis," Dr. Stephen Dove, Electro Medical Systems, $24,000, 10 months.
"Quantitative Longitudinal Radiography," Dr. Stephen Dove, Electro Medical Systems, $60,000, 9 months.
"Great Start Family Support Collaboration," Dr. Sandra Burge, United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, $25,664, 2 years.
"A Longitudinal Study of Mexican-American Elderly Health," Dr. David Espino, U.T. Medical Branch at Galveston, $75,760, 1 year.
"Establishment of Departments of Family Medicine," Dr. Joshua Freeman, Health Resources & Services Administration, $161,999, 1 year.
"Development & Establishment of a Nurse Workforce Data System," Dr. Antonio Furino, Texas Nurses Foundation, $30,000, 1 year.
"Border Vision Fronteriza," Dr. Alfonso Holguin, The University of Arizona, $82,900, 5 months.
"Formation & Resolution of Recombination Intermediates," Dr. Patrick Sung, NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), $68,989, 3 years.
"Provision of Veterinary Service to Ilex Inc.," Dr. Robert Wolf, CTRC Research Foundation, $50,400, 1 year.
"A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study Comparing the Effect of Atorvasta vs. Pravastatin on the Progression/Quantification of Coronary Atherosclerosis," Dr. Steven Bailey, SCIMED, $2,500, 3 years.
"Prevention of Restenosis with Tranilast & Its Outcome: A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Two Doses of Two Durations of Tranilast," Dr. Steven Bailey, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, $79,450, 9 months.
"A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Safety, Efficacy & Dose-Response Trial of Three Intravenous Doses of BMS-204352 in Patients with Acute Stroke," Dr. Oscar Benavente, Bristol Myers Squibb, $105,180, 1 year.
"BRCA1 Interacts with IN23, a Novel Transcription Factor," Dr. Helen Chew, CTRC Research Foundation, $15,000, 10 months.
"Physician Services for Patients with Advanced HIV Diseases," Dr. Delia Bullock, University Health System, $149,345, 1 year.
"IPA for Bysani Chandrasekar," Dr. Gregory Freeman, STVHCS, $7,125, 2 years.
"IPA for Jodi Alexander," Dr. Cesar Freytes, Biomedical Research Foundation of South Texas, $6,849, 1 year.
"Open-Label, Non-Comparative Trial of SCH56592 in the Treatment of Azole Refractory Candidiasis in HIV-Infected Subjects," Dr. John Graybill, Schering Plough Research Institute, $26,530, until completion.
"Study of Health Outcomes of Weight Loss," Dr. Steven Haffner, NIH/ NIDDK, $6,266,625, 7 years.
"Daily Induction Therapy with Infergen for HCV Patients who are Naive to Interferon," Dr. Anastacio Hoyumpa, Amgen Inc., $36,000, 2 years.
"Complementary & Alternative Medi-cine: Use of Garlic in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease & Cancer; and the Use of Silybum Marianum in Treatment," Dr. Cynthia Mulrow, Agency for Health-care Policy & Research, $14,109, 1 year.
"Glycemic Control in Patients with Depression & Diabetes Mellitus: Impact of Treatment for Depression," Dr. John Williams Jr., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $180,481, 3 years.
"Evaluation & Consultation Services to the Neuromuscular Associates of San Antonio," Dr. Kimatha Oxford, Neuromuscular Associates of San Antonio, $4,000, 1 year.
"Millimeter Wavelength ResearchOphthalmological Evaluation Services," Dr. Steven Chalfin, Department of the Navy, $8,000, 1 year.
"Millimeter Wavelength ResearchOphthalmological Evaluation Services," Dr. Steven Chalfin, Department of the Navy, $20,000, 1 year.
"Footmaxx Insole Evaluation," Dr. David Armstrong, Footmaxx Inc., $121,331, 2 years.
"A Prospective, Randomized, Observer-Blinded Evaluation of the Application of Phenyton on the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers," Dr. David Armstrong, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., $69,561, 8 months.
"Pediatric Orthopaedic Residency Training Conducted at Santa Rosa Children's Hospital," Dr. James Heckman, Santa Rosa Hospital, $159,600, 1 year.
"The Mechanism of Outer Hair Cell Motility," Dr. Richard Hallworth, NIH/ National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), $1,033,056, 5 years.
"Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Resident," Dr. Randal Otto, Santa Rosa Hospital, $5,897, 1 year.
"Epstein Barr Virus-Related Lymphomagenesis in Immunodeficiency Clinical Screening Tests & Correlative Biologic Studies," Dr. Margaret Gulley, CTRC Research Foundation, $79,322, 1 year.
"Determination of the Activity of the Ketolide HMR 3647 Against Recent North American Surveillance Isolates of Streptococcus Pneumoniae," Dr. James Jorgensen, Hoechst Marion Roussell Research & Development, $12,000, 4 months.
"In Vitro Assessment of the Activity of Cefditoren Against Selected Pathogens," Dr. James Jorgensen, Tap Holdings Inc., $12,000, 2 months.
"Biomedical Research Foundation of South Texas Contract for the Services of Gretchen Schantz," Dr. Dean Troyer, Biomedical Research Foundation of South Texas, $35,000, 1 year.
"Women's Health Laboratory," Dr. Anthony Valente, Texas Department of Health, $9,975, 1 year.
"Role of Bone Sialoprotein in Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis," Dr. Jinkun Chen, CTRC Research Foundation, $19,160, 1 year.
"Recombinant Protein Core," Dr. Ok Hee Ryu, Forsyth Institute, $136,122, 2 years.
"Protein Interactions in the Enamel Matrix," Dr. James Simmer, Forsyth Institute, $168,917, 5 years.
"Molecular Analysis of Individuals with Dysmyelination," Dr. Jannine Cody, The Arc, $24,745, 1 year.
"Dose-Ranging, Safety/Tolerability Trial of Felodipine in Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel-Group Trial," Dr. Ihsan Elshihabi, Astrazeneca LP, $48,000, 1 year.
"Characteristics of a Latent Nuclear Antigen from the Herpes Virus Associated with AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma," Dr. Shou-Jiang Gao, Association for International Cancer Research, $46,557, 3 years.
"Diagnostic & Research Reagents for HHV-8," Dr. Shou-Jiang Gao, Incell, $29,579, 6 months.
"Assessment of the Safety/Tolerability of the Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics of Combined Ribovirin & Intron A in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C," Dr. Fadi George Haddad, Schering Plough Research Institute, $7,776, 1 year, 5 months.
"A School-Based Diabetes Inter-vention Program," Dr. Daniel Hale, Kronkosky Foundation, $139,172, 1 year.
"Neural Tube Defect Recurrence Prevention," Dr. Celia Kaye, Texas Department of Health, $114,447, 1 year.
"Clinical Pharmacy Program," Dr. Louis Littlefield, University of Texas at Austin, $92,000, 1 year.
"Regulatory Effect of Reboxetine on Brain Noradrenergic & Sertonegric Systems After Switching from Treatment with an SSRI," Dr. David Morilak, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, $94,235, 2 years.
"Teaching Human Anatomy in Physical Therapy Schools: A Two-Tiered Approach," Kristen Smith, Texas Society of Allied Health Professions, $600, 10 months.
"Child & Adolescent Faculty Psychiatrist for Santa Rosa Children's Hospital," Dr. Charles Bowden, Santa Rosa Hospital, $12,718, 1 year.
"Joint Behavioral/Pharmacologic Treatment of Alcoholism," Dr. Bankole Johnson, NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA), $52,545, 1 year.
"Pharmacologic Treatments for Alcoholism," Dr. Bankole Johnson, NIH/NIAAA, $128,490, 6 months.
"Risperidone Depot (Microspheres) in the Treatment of Subjects with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder," Dr. Alexander Miller, Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, $168,000, 3 years.
"Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Associated with Long-Term Atypical Antipsychotic Treatment (Weight Gain Study)," Dr. Alexander Miller, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, $10,000, 2 years.
"An Open-Label Comparison of the Neurocognitive Effects of Aripiprazole Compared to Olanzapine Administered Orally in Patients with Stable Psychosis," Dr. Alexander Miller, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., $5,940, 1 year.
"A 12-Month, Open-Label Study of SLI381 in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,"
Dr. Steven Pliszka, Worldwide Clinical Trials, $69,944, 1 year.
"Clinical Radiation Oncology Physics Services," Dr. Stewart Reuter, CTRC Research Foundation, $123,000, 1 year.
"Appointment of Co-Medical Director," Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, Santa Rosa Hospital, $32,000, 1 year.
"Member-Purchased Services Agreement," Dr. Anatolio Cruz, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Project, $47,340, 1 year.
"Development of a Teaching Program in Plastic Surgery at Santa Rosa Children's Hospital," Dr. Jaime Garza, Santa Rosa Hospital, $66,502, 1 year.
"Recombinant Human Activated Protein C: Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis," Dr. Harold Gaskill, Eli Lilly & Company, $86,750, 2 years.
"Randomized Prospective Study of Adjuvant Androgen Ablation in Radical Prostatectomy Patients at High Risk for Disease Recurrence," Dr. Ian Thompson, TAP Pharmaceuticals Inc., $60,000, 5 years.
"A Multicenter, Open-Label Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety & Performance of the Proxima Gliasite RTS, a Radiation Delivery System, in Patients," Dr. Dennis Vollmer, Proxima Therapeutics Inc., $87,820, until completion.
"Santa Rosa Children's Hospital & UTHSCSA Agreement," Dr. Dennis Vollmer, Santa Rosa Hospital, $57,275, 1 year.
"A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind Study of Early Corticosteroid," Dr. William Washburn, Fujisawa Healthcare Inc., $165,000, 5 years.
A gasoline tanker overturns on an interstate highway. A driver runs into college students, killing several of them. Recent incidents remind us that, especially after a long day, it's better to pull off the road or not even start driving if one is drowsy.
"Sleepiness while driving is a common problem," said Dr. Gustavo Román, professor of medicine at the Health Science Center and director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic in the University Health System. "Chronic sleepiness may be caused by a host of undiagnosed disorders, such as sleep apnea. At our center we can observe the snoring and breathing interruptions of sleep apnea and other conditions."
About 100,000 motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year involve drowsy drivers, according to a report in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). An estimated 4 percent of these crashes cause fatalities. The American Medical Association's (AMA's) Council on Scientific Affairs "believes the role that sleepiness plays in those crashes is largely underestimated, and drowsy drivers pose a major public health and safety threat," the JAMA article states.
"Drivers may not be getting the quality of sleep they need," Dr. Román said. "It's very important to go into deep sleep because it is more refreshing. In our modern world, which bombards us with constant stimulation, we have difficulty going to sleep or our sleep is very fragmented."
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Sleep involves several stages, starting with drowsiness and progressing to "delta sleep" and "REM sleep." REM, or "rapid eye movement," is the stage of sleep most often associated with dreaming, although dreaming, or some sort of mental activity, can take place during any stage of sleep. An estimated 40 million people in this country suffer from sleep disorders, most of which have not been diagnosed.
Sleep apnea robs sufferers of quality shut-eye. As a person sleeps, the tongue falls backward and blocks the trachea, causing choking and diminished oxygenation. The brain responds with an adrenaline kick to induce shallower sleep and restore the oxygen level. "As he chokes, the person wakes up or reverts to a more superficial stage of sleep; this may occur 250 or more times in one night," Dr. Román said. "The night of sleep ends up being short catnaps, and the person feels sleepy when he wakes up in the morning. The next day he may fall asleep at work, at the dinner table, or worse, on the highway."
The fact that many drivers aren't going to bed at a decent hour is another consideration. "We are a sleep-deprived society," said Dr. Paul Ingmundson, board-certified sleep medicine specialist at the Audie L. Murphy Division, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and clinical professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Health Science Center. "People are sleeping one hour less per day than they did 70 years ago. Socially and culturally we have moved toward a 24-hour day, and sleep has been a casualty."
Weariness can seriously impair judgment. In studying cases of "friendly fire" during the Persian Gulf War, the military identified sleep deprivation as a contributing factor in many of the deaths, Dr. Ingmundson said, adding that the Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island nuclear accidents both occurred in the wee hours of the morning.
The brain operates on its own regulatory clock, known as the circadian rhythm. It causes people and many animals to sleep at night and awake with the sunlight. Any disruption of this rhythm results in drowsiness.
Scientists have found that, during delta and REM sleep, the brain secretes a chemical called a "delta peptide," which initiates and maintains the deeper sleep stages. "If you can't sleep, or are tired in the morning, you may be building up high levels of this peptide in your spinal fluid," Dr. Román said. "This may be one of the variables affecting sleepy drivers."
The Sleep Disorders Clinic staff collaborates with experts in a variety of fields. Diagnoses lead to treatments for insomnia, narcolepsy, nightmares, sleepwalking, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the instruments used in diagnosis.
Therapies range from masks for sleep apnea patients to surgical procedures. Common sense is not overlooked, either. "We advise patients with sleep disturbances to set an alarm clock for bedtime as well as for waking," Dr. Román noted. The AMA advises drivers not to hit the road during the body's natural "down time" (midnight to 6 a.m.).
Anyone interested in the subject or in eligibility for testing may call the Sleep Disorders Clinic at 358-1366. Dr. Román conducts the clinic at University Hospital and the University Health Center Downtown, both components of the University Health System.
Dr. Román would like to see a statewide campaign to encourage sleep management and safe driving. "We could call it, 'Don't Sleep and Drive,'" he said. A public safety campaign recently publicized by the National Sleep Foundation used the slogan, "Drive Alert, Arrive Alive."
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General Services/General Stores will host the annual Boise Cascade Office Products Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, in the Auditorium Foyer. Factory representatives will be on hand to display the latest office products and information processing supplies. The 2000 Supplemental Office Products catalog will be available. Bring the 1999 catalog for recycling. Free refreshments will be served. |
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Dr. Richard King, physiology, chairman of the Health Science Center Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, is holding the January meeting of the committee at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, in room 348L (student services). Meetings are open to the university community. Anyone who wishes to have an item discussed by the committee, or wishes to address the committee, may contact the chairman prior to the meeting to place an item on the agenda. For more information, contact Dr. King at ext. 4342 or by e-mail at kingr@uthscsa.edu. |
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Dr. Charles Mouton, community geriatrician in the Department of Family Practice, will present the first session in the "Successful Aging Series: Issues in Older Women's Health," at noon Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the University Center for Community Health board room. The series is open to anyone interested in learning more about the aging process. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch. Call University Hospital's Learning Resources Department at 358-2355 for more information or to register.
The Committee for the Advancement of Women and Minorities, the Women's Faculty Association, the Hispanic Faculty Association and the Medical Hispanic Center of Excellence, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, will hold a forum on the tenure and promotion process at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, in the Nursing School auditorium.
The forum is open to all interested faculty, new and continuing, tenure track and non-tenure track, and is designed to provide the answers to questions relating to tenure and promotion. An overview of the guidelines will be provided, followed by general comments by Dr. Stephen Shanfield, psychiatry, chair of the Health Science Center Faculty Tenure and Promotion Committee, on the processes for tenure and promotion.
A panel of past chairs of the committee, also moderated by Dr. Shanfield, will provide additional insights into the process. The last half of the forum will allow attendees to meet in small groups in roundtable fashion to facilitate discussion focusing on teaching, research and service, including patient care.
Pre-registration is encouraged to assure that enough materials and refreshments will be available for those attending. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided. Anyone interested in attending may pre-register through Feb. 8 by calling the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at ext. 2004, or by sending e-mail to hamiltonc@uthscsa.edu. Individuals pre-registering should leave their name, department and tenure-track status (tenure track, non-tenure track or tenured).
Employee remembered at Jan. 21 serviceA memorial service for Kathy Christie, Office of the Medical School Dean, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in the Health Science Center Auditorium with a reception to follow in the foyer. Christie, who worked at the Health Science Center for 18 years, passed away Nov. 19. A funeral service and burial followed at El Campo. During her employment, Christie worked in the Department of Radiology, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and, most recently, in the Office of the Medical School Dean. |
Health Science Center researchers Drs. Aurelio Galli and P. Renee Yew received awards from the Competitive Research Enhancement Fund (CREF) totaling nearly $100,000.
The fund, which was established in the fall of 1998, supports new faculty members at the levels of assistant professor or instructor who have a high potential to secure federal, private or industrial research grants within three years of receiving CREF support.
Dr. Galli, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, received $48,215 for his research titled "Acute Regulation of Dopamine Transporter."
Dr. Yew, assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine, was awarded $49,939 for "Cdc34 Regulation of DNA Replication in Vertebrates."
In operation just a little more than a year, the Web site run by the Department of Endodontics has had 38,000 hits, many from outside the United States. At last count, visitors from 20 foreign countries had taken advantage of the information it offers.
Dr. Ken Hargreaves, department chair, says the site is a consultation tool for dental professionals worldwide, but it's particularly valuable in the South Texas/Border Region, where news of the latest techniques and advances in the field may not be accessible. With a click, viewers can keep up with current information, view illustrated sample cases and send e-mail to faculty members.
Dr. Hargreaves says the Web site is unique because of radiographic images that accompany the outstanding case studies submitted by the endodontics residents or dental students. The site displays pictures of the residents' treatment cubicles, which are equipped with surgical operating microscopes, new x-ray machines that use one-tenth of the radiation used by older machines, and laptop computers on which x-rays of a patient's tooth can be displayed and saved.
"Using the clinical microscopes, we can see right into the tooth to find fractures that might not be visible otherwise, and we can change the ways we view x-rays to take accurate measures for root canals, for example," Dr. Hargreaves said. These illustrations can easily be dropped into Web pages.
Besides the value in treating patients at the Health Science Center, the illustrations provide a fast, accurate way to make long-distance consulta-tions with endodontics professionals in the field.
"We think this is a good way to show what's happening at the Dental School. Eventually, we would like to make an electronic library of cases and resources available on the site," said Dr. Hargreaves.
The site, which Dr. Hargreaves says was a group effort, is run by Dr. Doug Leonardson, Web master, and is updated continuously. The address is www.endodontics.uthscsa.edu.
A research team headed by Dr. Eva Y.-H. P. Lee, professor of molecular medicine at the Institute for Biotechnology (IBT), is one of 19 groups in the new Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium, organized and funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
"This is a great opportunity for us. It is the first time the NCI has established this kind of mechanism to support mouse model research," said Dr. Lee. The total five-year funding is $2.5 million. The Health Science Center team also includes Drs. Wen-Hwa Lee, Alexander Nikitin and Z. Dave Sharp.
"The members of the consortium will meet twice a year to discuss their findings and collaborate on research," she added.
Consortium members aim to develop models that parallel the ways human cancers develop, progress and respond to therapy or preventive agents. Initially, the groups will work separately on developing and evaluating mouse models for cancers of eight major organ systemsbreast, prostate, lung, ovary, skin, blood and lymph system, colon and brain.
The team at the IBT is recognized for work on cancer genetics, including initial studies of the retinoblastoma gene. Now investigators have extended their research to establish breast cancer mouse models with the disruption of tumor suppressor genes frequently mutated in breast cancer. Other consortium sites have their own mice colonies as well.
"The engineering required to create a usable mouse model is extremely expensive, so the NCI funding will be most welcome," said Dr. Lee.
In addition to the opportunities for interaction with other investigators, the consortium will establish and maintain a high-quality resource of validated live mouse models, cryo-preserved embryos and sperm. It also will set standards for integrating information and tracking the progress of the models being derived and validated, with the help of non-government advisors.
Within several months, the NCI plans to activate an Internet site with information about the consortium, its activities and its progress.
The San Antonio branch of the American Association of University Women is offering scholarship awards for eligible women enrolled in graduate programs.
To be eligible for the award, students must be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited college or university in Texas, be a student in good standing, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, be registered for a minimum of six graduate semester hours, be a resident of Bexar County for a minimum of two years and be able to document a need for financial aid.
The award must be used for tuition, fees and books. Applications are open until Feb. 11 and are available in each of the individual deans' offices and on the Internet at http://www.homestead.com/aauw_san_antonio/index1~ns4.html . For more information, contact Dr. Kathi Light at light@universe. uiwtx.edu.
Staff members of the U. T. Traffic Safety Program, Department of Psychiatry, want to interview persons who have been involved in red light-running crashes resulting in injuries. Testimonials from drivers or passengers will be included in a public service announcement. Contact Dee Steele by Jan. 28 at dsteele@gvtc.com or 830-980-7644 (local call).
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Holiday
8:00 a.m. Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Therapeutic Exercise for Coordination & Neuromuscular Re-education," Drs. Mark Fredrickson & Eugenio Monasterio (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
Noon. TNT "Hematology: Pitfalls Encountered in Immunophenotyping Hematologic Disorders," Dr. Fiona Craig (call ext. 2700 for information)
1:15 p.m. Psychiatry Grand Rounds "Antisocial Personality Disorder: The Hidden Threat," Dr. Donald Black, University of Iowa College of Medicine (MED: 409L)
1:30 p.m. TNT "Contemporary Topics on Infectious Diseases: Vaccines for Health Care Workers," Dr. Michael Edmond, Medical College of Virginia (call ext. 2700 for information)
6:30 a.m. Podiatry Grand Rounds "Rheumatology," Dr. Irwin Russell (MED: 309L)
7:00 a.m. Vascular Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr. Mellick Sykes (MED: 209L)
8:00 a.m. Medical Grand Rounds "Remodeling of Rheumatoid Synovium by Growth Factor Interactions," Dr. James Thomas, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn. (MED: 409L)
8:30 a.m. Training Office "The Art of Listening," Anita Glass (call ext. 2320 to register)
9:00 a.m. Surgery Trauma M&M Conf., Dr. Ronald Stewart (MED: 309L)
10:00 a.m. TNT "Respiratory Care: COPD Update," Dr. James Cairo, Louisiana State University (call ext. 2700 for information)
11:30 a.m. TNT "Social Work: Grief: The Challenge for Adults When a Parent Dies," The Rev. Richard Gilbert, The World Pastoral Center, Valparaiso, Ind. (call ext. 2700 for information)
Noon. Pharmacology Seminar Series "Control of Telomerase Activity & Tumor Progression by Autocrine Transforming Growth Factor Beta," Dr. LuZhe Sun (MED: 444B)
Noon. Cellular & Structural Biology Seminar Series "The Effects of Aging on Stress-Mediated Signaling Pathways in Response to Oxidative Stress in the Mouse Liver," Dr. John Papaconstantinou, The University of Texas Medical Branch (MED: 209L)
1:00 p.m. Training Office "Reading Ledger Sheets," Donna Henckel (call ext. 2320 to register)
1:30 p.m. TNT "Nutrition Updates: Pediatric Nutritional Assessment," Peggy Visio (call ext. 2700 for information)
7:30 a.m. Thoracic Surgery Resident Teaching Conf. (VA: 4th-floor CT Library A404)
8:00 a.m. Neurology Grand Rounds "Neuromuscular Pearls & Pitfalls," Dr. David Saperstein (MED: 444B)
9:00 a.m. Training Office "More Library Skills," Cathy Rhodes (Briscoe Library room 2A) (call ext. 2320 to register)
10:00 a.m. TNT "Health Care Education & Training: Preventive Measures Related to Tuberculosis in the Pediatric Patient," Dr. Patricia Martinez, Yukon Delta Regional Hospital, Bethel, Alaska (call ext. 2700)
Noon. Pulmonary, Thoracic & Oncology Conf. (MED: 309L)
Noon. Microbiology Seminar Series "Entry of HIV into Cells: A Topic for Novel Therapeutic Approaches," Dr. Eric Hunter, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (MED: 444B)
12:30 p.m. TNT "Comprehensive Care & Management: Diabetic Nephropathy," Dr. Ralph DeFronzo (call ext. 2700)
4:00 p.m. Surgery Tumor Conference, Dr. Anatolio Cruz (MED: 209L)
4:30 p.m. Citywide Thoracic Grand Rounds Conf. "Case Presentation," Dr. Allan Brants (MED: 309L)
7:30 a.m. Pediatric Grand Rounds "Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy for Spasticity Management," Drs. Jerry Tomasovic & Ira Yount (MED: 409L)
8:00 a.m. Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Ultrasound II: A Review of the Literature," Drs. Felicia Radu & Mark Fredrickson (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
Noon TNT "Histotechnology: Microwave Processing Techniques for Microscopy," Steven Slap, Energy Beam Sciences Inc., Agawam, Mass. (call ext. 2700 for information)
7:15 a.m. Surgical Physiology Conf., Dr. Kenneth Sirinek (MED: 209L)
9:00 a.m. General Surgery Grand Rounds "Art & Science of Clinical Diagnosis: Insights from Physiology, Psychology and Neuroscience," Dr. Geoffrey Norman (MED: 209L)
THE NEWS is published Fridays by the Office of Public Affairs for faculty and staff of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
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