IN THIS ISSUE:
REGULAR FEATURES:
A Message From the President
Billiken Briefs
Human Resources FYI
Media Matters
Medical News
News Briefs
Professional Notes
Top Ten
Trivia Corner
University Condolences
University Grants
HEART DISEASE STUDY: Premature heart disease affects approximately 13 million Americans. In many cases, diagnosis and treatment came too late to improve a patient's condition. Cardiologists at the School of Medicine are among those at one of 10 centers in the country participating in a study searching for the genes that influence premature heart disease. "It is a privilege for Saint Louis University to be involved in this study with such high-quality cardiac centers as Duke University, Emory University and the Mayo Clinic," said Frank V. Aguirre, M.D., associate professor in the department of internal medicine in the division of cardiology. "The ultimate goal of the study is to use the information obtained from it to develop new treatment strategies for young people who are at risk for heart disease." A total of 1,000 patients will be admitted into the study. To be eligible for the study, patients must have had a heart attack, bypass surgery or an angioplasty procedure and a living sibling meeting the same criteria. "The patient will receive a blood test to search for genes that influence premature heart attacks among related individuals," Aguirre said. "It is our hope that the study will help us to develop a clinical profile identifying patients at risk for heart disease."
WHOOPING COUGH: Researchers are trying to determine if a new acellular pertussis vaccine available for children also can safely protect adults. The Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine is part of a nationwide multi-site study of this vaccine supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Although normally considered a childhood illness, pertussis, or whooping cough, may affect as many as 25 percent of adult patients with prolonged cough. Infected adults also are the source of infections among children. For the past 40 years, vaccines against pertussis have not been recommended for individuals older than 7 years, largely because of concerns about the safety of whole-cell pertussis vaccines. The newly available acellular pertussis vaccines are much safer, allowing for potential use in adult populations. This study will enroll 2,000 adolescents and adults at eight sites nationwide. The participants will be monitored for two years to evaluate the vaccine's protective efficacy and safety. "If these vaccines prevent infection in adolescents and adults and induce immunity, older individuals will no longer serve as a reservoir of infection for young children who are at greatest risk for severe disease," said Stephen J. Barenkamp, M.D., professor of pediatrics and director of pediatric infectious diseases. The Center for Vaccine Development at Saint Louis University is one of six sites nationwide funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). To become a volunteer for this study, call 577-8649