Reporter Oct 30 2015
Detect and defend against pathogens
Nov. 4, 2015—Understanding factors, such as the receptor TLR9, that detect and defend against pathogens may lead to therapeutic approaches that promote an effective immune response to treat infections.
Medicaid access state by state
Nov. 2, 2015—Clinics with more non-physician clinicians are associated with better access for Medicaid patients and lower prices for office visits, according to a recent study.
Prenatal folic acid and asthma
Oct. 30, 2015—The timing of folic acid-containing prescription filling during pregnancy was associated with childhood asthma, according to a new Vanderbilt study.
Inflammation, obesity and diabetes
Oct. 29, 2015—Vanderbilt study adds to the mounting role for inflammatory signaling in obesity.
Compound developed at VUMC may delay Huntington’s disease
Oct. 29, 2015—A compound developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University can improve early symptoms and delay progression of Huntington’s disease in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative disorder.
Study explores nicotine patch to treat memory loss
Oct. 29, 2015—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a $9.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to test the effectiveness of a transdermal nicotine patch in improving memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Investigators find clues to melanoma treatment resistance
Oct. 29, 2015—Nearly half of all patients with malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, have a mutation in the BRAF gene found in their tumors. Mutations in the BRAF gene turn on a cancer growth switch known as the MAP kinase pathway.
Access to specialists in ACA plans may be inadequate: study
Oct. 29, 2015—While 12 million Americans are enrolled in health care networks through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) insurance marketplace, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) raises concerns about patient access to specialists within these insurance plans.
VUH once again lands ‘A’ grade from Leapfrog
Oct. 29, 2015—This week, Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) was awarded a Fall 2015 Patient Safety Grade of “A” from the Leapfrog Group, a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage that works to encourage health care safety, quality and affordability. This is the eighth consecutive time VUH has scored an “A.”
Holiday Project party
Oct. 29, 2015—The Holiday Project, now in its 42nd year, features art by children — patients and siblings — whose lives have been touched by Children’s Hospital.
VUMC nursing shines at National Magnet Conference
Oct. 29, 2015—A large group of Vanderbilt nurses attended the 2015 National Magnet Conference, which took place earlier this month in Atlanta.
Health sciences, technology expert Edelman set for Discovery Lecture
Oct. 29, 2015—Elazer Edelman, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in the application of engineering and physical sciences to understand fundamental biological processes and the mechanisms of disease, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 5.
