Reporter Jan 8 2021
Mitochondrial stress and hypertension
Jan. 12, 2021—Oxidative stress and toxic products called isolevuglandins in mitochondria play a role in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension — and getting rid of them with a special “scavenger” molecule has therapeutic potential.
Microbial RNA and rheumatoid arthritis
Jan. 11, 2021—Small RNAs — short stretches of genetic material — from microbes may be playing a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Large study finds higher burden of acute brain dysfunction for COVID-19 ICU patients
Jan. 8, 2021—COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the early months of the pandemic were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma than is typically found in patients with acute respiratory failure. Choice of sedative medications and curbs on family visitation played a role in increasing acute brain dysfunction for these patients.
VUMC mourns loss of otolaryngologist and surgeon Ries
Jan. 8, 2021—William Russell Ries, MD, professor of Otolaryngology and Carol and John S. Odess Professor of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, died Jan. 5. He was 67.
Autism theory 25 years in the making
Jan. 8, 2021—A unifying explanation of the cause of autism and the reason for its rising prevalence has eluded scientists for decades, but a theoretical model published in the journal Medical Hypotheses describes the cause as a combination of socially valued traits, common in autism, and any number of co-occurring disabilities.
Vitamin D activation and cancer risk
Jan. 7, 2021—Vitamin D protection against colon cancer varies according to parathyroid hormone response, particularly among women.
Building a cohort, the easy way
Jan. 7, 2021—An automated system using keyword searches can help identify candidates for clinical trials on adverse drug reactions.
Freedman named director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Jan. 7, 2021—Jane Freedman, MD, will join Vanderbilt University Medical Center as director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the physician-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, effective Aug. 1.
Naslund to step down as head of Vascular Surgery; division to become department
Jan. 7, 2021—Thomas Naslund, MD, professor of Surgery, will be stepping down as chief of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s division of Vascular Surgery, a role he has performed adeptly for 21 years.
Functional seizures associated with stroke, psychiatric disorders in electronic health records study
Jan. 7, 2021—In a large-scale study of electronic health records, Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have determined the prevalence of functional seizures and characterized comorbidities associated with them.
VA adopts enhanced recovery for total knee, total hip patients
Jan. 7, 2021—For patients receiving total knee or total hip replacements at the Nashville VA Medical Center, the use of opioids for inpatient pain management and the total time patients spent in the hospital were both greatly reduced following the January 2016 adoption of sweeping quality improvement measures.
Foster receives service award from pharmacists association
Jan. 7, 2021—The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has awarded Nichole Foster, MBA, MEd, CPhT, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Pharmacy Technicians Training Program, with a Distinguished Service Award.
