Reporter Nov 2 2012

Kidney woes during heart failure

Nov. 8, 2012—Levels of the protein NGAL may be a good predictor of worsening kidney function in patients with acute heart failure.

Bacterial signals in sarcoidosis

Nov. 6, 2012—Study adds evidence for infectious agents’ role in sarcoidosis, an inflammatory condition that can lead to respiratory failure and death.

Toxin provides endometriosis clues

Nov. 2, 2012—Environmental toxins may contribute to endometriosis-related infertility by disrupting endometrial response to progesterone.

Rounds: A message from the Vice Chancellor

Nov. 1, 2012—Even though I’ve spent the majority of my career at Vanderbilt, I still look up when I hear the sound of LifeFlight approaching. And I still notice when injured patients are chronicled in newscasts nearly every night with the steady refrain “taken to Vanderbilt.”

Genomic research gains ad-“vantage” with new resources

Nov. 1, 2012—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has stepped up its support of research aimed at cracking the mysteries of the genome, the master DNA code.

Photo: Rascal Flatts

Nov. 1, 2012—Country music group Rascal Flatts hosted a special Halloween performance for patients and their families at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt this week.

Vanderbilt mourns loss of imaging pioneer Gibbs

Nov. 1, 2012—Longtime Vanderbilt faculty member S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, Ph.D., professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Emeritus, died Oct. 25. He was 80.

NPR’s Palca discusses state of science reporting

Nov. 1, 2012—Overly enthusiastic reporting about the promise of scientific discovery has contributed to a “backlash” against science in this country, NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca, Ph.D., said at Vanderbilt University last week.

National health quality group lauds VMG primary care providers

Nov. 1, 2012—Following a detailed review by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), all 75 Vanderbilt Medical Group adult primary care physicians and nurse practitioners have received Level 3 designation — the top designation — under the Physician Practice Connections Patient Centered Medical Home voluntary accreditation program.

McCulloch named to health informatics board

Nov. 1, 2012—George McCulloch, deputy chief information officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been named to the board of trustees of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).

Photo: Leading the charge

Nov. 1, 2012—Eagle Scout Andy Mullenger, 17, saw a need and filled it. After a friend’s mother was taken to a local emergency room, the family lost power to their phones and were unable to stay in touch with loved ones. Mullenger built a versatile phone charging station and donated it to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s...