Focus: Hidden - Missouri

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Article Body 2010 Genetic variation within the endocannabinoid system may explain why some survivors of childhood adversity go on to become dependent on marijuana, while others are able to use marijuana without problems, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis. “We have long known that childhood adversity, and in particular sexual abuse, is associated with the development of cannabis dependence.

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If you don't know if you have the flu or a cold, you probably have a cold, says Donald Kennedy, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University and an infectious diseases expert.

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A personalized method for testing the effectiveness of drugs that treat multiple myeloma may predict quickly and more accurately the best treatments for individual patients with the bone marrow cancer. The process, developed by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine​ in St. Louis, also may aid patients with leukemia or lymphoma.

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Even a cursory glance at today’s headlines reveals a deep inability to get along. From politics, to religion, to social issues, extreme positions may play well with a political base, but do little to further substantive conversation and real change. How do we get back to forming meaningful relationships that can move toward common ground despite our deep ideological differences? The answer lies in a confident pluralism, said an expert on law and religion at Washington University in St. Louis

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Article Body 2010 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its 2015 annual report to Congress on the Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program. While much of the whistleblower reward program is shrouded in secrecy, the report does shed some light, said Kathleen Clark, JD, professor of law at Washington University in St.

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Among the tips offered by a Saint Louis University dietitian to avoid overindulging on Thanksgiving: limit portions, gauge fullness as you eat and ask for a go box.

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In a new animal study, University of Missouri researchers examined how the development of obesity and insulin resistance contribute to bone-fracture risk and whether exercise prevents weight gain and diabetes and protects bone health. They found obesity and Type 2 diabetes negatively affected bone, but exercise prevented weight gain and diabetes and increased bone strength. These findings could inform interventions to improve bone health among individuals with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

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Food startups in the St. Louis area are sprouting from Saint Louis University's shared use kitchen.

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Article Body 2010In the wake of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, at least two dozen American governors have expressed concern over allowing Syrian refugees to relocate in their states. While state governments often do play a small role in helping to resettle refugees, the governors don't have much choice in this case, said immigration expert Stephen H.

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Article Body 2010The wave of recent student protests at the University of Missouri, Yale University and other college campuses has revived a long-standing debate about the tension between free speech and policies of diversity and inclusion. That tension is vastly overstated, said a First Amendment expert at Washington University in St.

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In children whose colds tend to progress and lead to severe wheezing and difficulty breathing — such that they are given oral corticosteroids as rescue therapy — researchers have shown that giving a common antibiotic at the first sign of cold symptoms can reduce the risk of the episode developing into a severe lower respiratory tract illness. The new study, led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, appears online Nov. 17 in JAMA.

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Scientists have shown how a parasitic worm infection common in the developing world increases susceptibility to tuberculosis. The study raises the possibility of using inexpensive and widely available anti-parasitic drugs as a preventive measure in places where the parasite and TB are common — stopping infection with the parasite and reducing susceptibility to TB and the risk of a latent TB infection progressing to disease.

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A Missouri University of Science and Technology aerospace engineering professor is developing a microsatellite imager that could be used to check satellites, do small repairs or refuel spacecraft — and keep astronauts from making risky exploratory missions when something goes wrong.

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Scientists have identified two chemical scents in the urine of female mice that arouse sexual behavior in males, a discovery that shines a spotlight on how mouse pheromones control behavior. The research, at Washington University School of Medicine​ in St. Louis, is available online in the journal Cell.

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Article Body 2010The back-and-forth decisions of a Utah juvenile court judge this week regarding the foster child of a lesbian couple expose the possible limits of the Supreme Court's ruling this summer on gay marriage, says a national expert in family law at Washington University in St. Louis. Utah juvenile court judge Scott Johansen first ruled that the 1-year-old foster child of a lesbian couple must be removed from the couple’s home and sent to “a more traditional home,” then reversed himself a day later.

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Analysis results in greater understanding of important biological traits related to crop drought tolerance

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Suma Chand, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of psychiatry at Saint Louis University, uses cognitive exercises that help build the gratitude ‘muscle’.

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Invention allows cost efficient large-scale product fermentation

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Article Body 2010The Obama Administration announced Nov. 10 it will seek United States Supreme Court review of a ruling blocking President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. Timing is crucial, says an expert on immigration law at Washington University in St. Louis.“The government has a strong case in this appeal and nothing to lose," said Stephen H.

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Article Body 2010The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering adoption of anti-discrimination regulations that would apply to all health care providers and build upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate prohibiting discrimination “on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability” for any health program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

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What if a single vaccine could protect people from infection by many different viruses? That concept is a step closer to reality. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine​ in St. Louis have identified “broadly neutralizing” antibodies that protect against infection by multiple, distantly related alphaviruses – including Chikungunya virus – that cause fever and debilitating joint pain. The discovery, in mice, lays the groundwork for a single vaccine or antibody-based treatment against many different alphaviruses.

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Building on wireless technology that has the potential to interfere with pain, scientists have developed flexible, implantable devices that can activate -- and, in theory, block -- pain signals in the body and spinal cord before those signals reach the brain. The researchers, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the implants one day may be used in different parts of the body to fight pain that doesn't respond to other therapies.

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Using a high-tech imaging method, a team of biomedical engineers at the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis was able to see early-developing cancer cells deeper in tissue than ever before with the help of a novel protein from a bacterium.

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Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis are working to increase nutrient content in fruits and vegetables by using nanoparticles to boost the nutrient content and growth of tomato plants.

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Previous research has found lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths are four times more likely to commit suicide compared to their straight peers. Members of this community usually are more stressed and depressed than the general population. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine are exploring the role resilience plays in off-setting stress and depression among LGBT adults and youths, and found that LGBT youths have a lower levels of resilience than LGBT adults. The researchers suggest caregivers, school counselors and health professionals use resilience-based programs and strategies to improve the mental health of LGBT youths earlier in their lives.

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Salmon migrating from the open ocean to inland waters do more than swim upstream. To navigate the murkier freshwater streams and reach a spot to spawn, the fish have evolved a means to enhance their ability to see infrared light.

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Two Saint Louis University researchers are collaborating to reduce infant mortality rates while improving health care services to pregnant women and new mothers

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A study in the Nov. 2 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is the first to fully document the demographic impacts of West Nile virus on North American bird populations. Data from bird-banding stations shows more species were hit than suspected, and half of those have yet to recover.

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Dry eyes, an incorrect eyeglasses prescription, and early cataracts are three very common causes of poor night vision.

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Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the most dramatic medical emergencies a person can face. It usually strikes without warning, killing approximately 50 percent of those who experience it before they reach a hospital. Of those who do get to a health facility alive, only about 50 percent survive. When diagnosed through screening, aortic aneurysms are carefully monitored for signs of enlargement, and surgical intervention often is needed to prevent rupture of the vessel. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that patients who took cholesterol-lowering medications before endovascular surgery experienced fewer complications and better outcomes.

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Researchers in the Workman Lab at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have identified a link between cellular metabolism and gene expression, one with potentially far-reaching implications for cancer risk prediction and treatment.

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Drug abusers are not completely abandoning prescription opioids for heroin, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Instead, many use the two concurrently based on their availability. The findings also reveal regional variations in the use of heroin and prescription painkillers.

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Saint Louis University’s Vaccine Center is one of two sites in the nation selected by the NIH to conduct "omics" research on infectious diseases.

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VF-produced video wins in the Best Long Video Category in national competition recognizing best nonprofit marketing work.

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Ajay Jain, M.D., medical director of the pediatric liver transplant program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and a SLUCare pediatric hepatologist and gastroenterologist, received a $150,000 grant from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) to study preventative strategies for total parenteral nutrition associated disorders.Ajay Jain

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Alcohol and nicotine use have long been known to go hand in hand. Previous research shows that more than 85 percent of U.S. adults who are alcohol-dependent also are nicotine-dependent. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that nicotine cancels out the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol. It’s a finding that sheds light on the reason alcohol and nicotine usage are so closely linked.

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Nighttime hunters like cats and owls, benefit from their big round eyes that let in plenty of light, but humans have more limited abilities to see in the dark.

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New research shows that an ancient protein that protects bacteria from bursting also helps pollen survive the dangerous transition from desiccated to hydrated once it lands on the female flower. But in pollen’s case, the protein has evolved to provide just the right amount of internal pressure: enough to power cell growth but not so much that the pollen bursts and dies.

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Muscular dystrophy, which affects approximately 250,000 people in the U.S., occurs when damaged muscle tissue is replaced with fibrous, fatty or bony tissue and loses function. For years, scientists have searched for a way to successfully treat the most common form of the disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which primarily affects boys. Now, a team of University of Missouri researchers have successfully treated dogs with DMD and say that human clinical trials are being planned in the next few years.

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Halloween can be a hard holiday for those wearing braces and other orthodontia. A SLU orthodontist shares his tips for navigating the holiday.

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University of Missouri research shows that babies’ repetitive babbles, such as "baba" or "dada," primarily are motivated by infants’ ability to hear themselves. Infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants to improve their hearing soon babbled as often as their hearing peers, allowing them to catch up developmentally.

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St. Louis Company Sharpens Genomics Focus

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The webinar will focus on issues related to pregnancy and vasculitis.

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Nearly 7 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma and thousands more are living undiagnosed, struggling to breathe each day. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that a commonly used pulmonary lung function test can provide early detection of asthma before a child shows any symptoms of breathing problems. This early diagnosis could reduce the number of people who have serious complications of the disease later in life.

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It's hard to be unhappy around young children, who lift your spirits while keeping you on the go. This infusion of energy is good both for attitude and physical health, says a Saint Louis University assistant professor of geriatric medicine.

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Want to make sure your child graduates from high school? Don’t move. A new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis finds that students experiencing at least one move over a twelve-month period have a roughly 50 percent decreased likelihood of obtaining a high school diploma by age 25.

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Dental composites are the synthetic resins or mixtures dentists use to restore teeth to their original hardness and rigidity. Made of amalgams—mixtures of mercury, silver or tin, or composites such as silica, ceramic or plastic compounds—longevity and performance often vary, and the composites are prone to breakages. Now, a University of Missouri engineer who has developed a “flowable” composite that can be injected in a cavity and hardened through a high-intensity light, recently received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to produce this product on a commercial scale.

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Studying mice with a variety of viral infections, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine​ in St. Louis have demonstrated a way to dial up the body’s innate immune defenses while simultaneously attacking a protein that many viruses rely on to replicate.