Medical Students Show Off Their Summer Research
After a few snow storms delays, BUSM's second year medical students finally...
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BUSM Faculty Named Top Docs
Boston Magazine has released its annual Top Docs issue.
Sixty-two BUSM faculty and BMC physicians from 29 specialties are listed as “tops” in their respective fields, and Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, assistant professor of medicine and director of infection control at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory (NEIDL) at Boston University is featured on the cover with a story about her recent work caring for Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.
In addition, Dr. Thea James, associate professor of emergency medicine and assistant dean for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at BUSM, was featured in a story titled “A Day in the Medical Life,” which tracked personal health stats of five health care workers in 24 hours.
| Addiction Psychiatry Domenic Ciraulo, MD Allergy and Immunology Helen Hollingsworth, MD
Cardiac Electro-Physiology
Cardiovascular Disease
Dermatology Tania Phillips, MD
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Alan Farwell, MD Michael Holick, PhD, MD Stephanie Lee, MD, PhD James Rosenzweig, MD
Family Medicine
Gastroenterology
Geriatric Medicine
Hand Surgery
Internal Medicine
Interventional Cardiology
Maternal and Fetal Medicine Robert Blatman, MD Aviva Lee-Parritz, MD
Medical Oncology |
Nephrology David Salant, MD Neurology Carlos Kase, MD
Neuroradiology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Susan Bergman, MD
Pulmonary Disease
Radiation Oncology
Reproductive Endocrinology
Rheumatology
Surgery
Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery
Urology
Vascular Surgery |
NEJM Editor Delivers Annual Kirshenbaum Lecture
Jennifer Kirshenbaum ( Law ’05); Elaine Kirshenbaum (CAS’71, SED’72, SPH’79); David Coleman, MD;
Jeffrey Drazen, MD; Daniel Kirshenbaum (MED ’11); and Laura Kirshenbaum.
The lecture, named in honor and memory of prominent cardiologist Howard Kirshenbaum, offered a history of known Ebola outbreaks in central Africa and an overview of the current outbreak in West Africa.
“The current West Africa Ebola outbreak has been more extensive than the cases in Central Africa for a number of reasons,” said Drazen, also a pulmonologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Distinguished Parker B. Francis Professor Medicine at Harvard Medical School, professor of physiology at Harvard School of Public Health and adjunct professor of medicine at BUSM. “With no previous experience with Ebola, the health care systems in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia do not have the knowhow or capacity to effectively deal with and contain the disease.
Drazen, who referenced several recent NEJM articles on the Ebola outbreak, noted the differences between the two regions. The Ebola virus variant or strain evident in West Africa differs from the Central African region. He also said that some of the cultural and behavioral customs in Central African countries with outbreaks, exclusive of burial rites, carry a lower risk of infection. The West African outbreaks occurred in more densely populated areas with a more extensive road network making transmission of the virus more likely. Drazen concluded his remarks encouraging health care workers to volunteer to care for patients in West Africa.
Elaine Kirshenbaum, BU Board of Overseers and BUSM Dean’s Advisory Board member, established the lecture. “My husband was an exceptional physician and it is an honor to support this lecture in his memory,” said Kirshenbaum. “I am honored that Jeff Drazen is this year’s lecturer, and I am grateful to BU who has been here for me.”
BUSM Hosts Meeting of First Regional Chapter of Association of Spanish Scientists in the USA
Cristina Vazquez-Mateo, PhD speaking at the inaugural ECUSA-Boston event
The Association of Spanish Scientists in the USA (ECUSA) established its first regional chapter in Boston and celebrated the event, “From Spain to Boston: A Road to Success,” at BUSM on Nov. 21.
ECUSA is a network of professionals related to science and innovation that helps its members to develop their careers and create bonds between Spain and the United States.
“The goal of ECUSA-Boston is to bring together the Spanish community of scientists, technologists and science/technology teachers, communicators, administrators and advocates working in the United States,” said Cristina Vazquez-Mateo, PhD, president and co-founder of ECUSA-Boston, who also is a postdoctoral associate in the Rheumatology Section of the BUSM Arthritis Center. “We want to raise awareness of the high-impact work being done by Spanish professionals in this country and establish collaborations with Spanish institutions here and in Spain.
With 200 scientists, engineers, educators and other professionals in attendance, a panel of Spanish professionals including Isabel Dominguez, PhD, BUSM assistant professor of Medicine and co-founder of ECUSA-Boston, discussed their experience in the U.S. system of innovation and research, and offered advice to those interested in developing their careers in the country.
Since its creation in March 2014, ECUSA has organized numerous events related to science and technology. ECUSA also offers an International Mentor Program, in which Spanish scientists living and working in the United States provide professional development advice to Spanish students. For more information on ECUSA, visit www.ecusa.es.
BUSM’s Thea James Receives 2014 Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award
Photo courtesy of Schwartz Center.
Thea James, MD, associate professor of Emergency Medicine at BU School of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2014 Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award, which recognizes health care providers who demonstrate extraordinary compassion in caring for patients and families.
One of the region’s most prestigious honors, recipients are chosen based on how well they embody the characteristics of compassionate care, including effective communication, emotional support, mutual trust and respect, involving patients and families in health care decisions, and treating patients as people, not just illnesses.
James is an attending physician in Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) Emergency Department and Director of BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP). She also cofounded Unified for Global Healing, an organization that seeks to improve health outcomes across the globe.
“Dr. James interacts with patients in a truly authentic and compassionate manner. She sees the person behind each injury and searches for that person’s story. Her sensitivity, communications skills, optimism and kindness have deeply impacted the lives of her patients and families. We’re so pleased to honor her and our extraordinary finalists,” said Schwartz Center Executive Director Julie Rosen when presenting James with the award.
Creating a Vaccine Against Canine Gum Disease
Paola Massari
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is one of the most prevalent medical conditions in adult dogs. It is so common, most dogs will start to show signs of damage to their teeth and gums by three years of age. If this disorder is left untreated, it can lead to pain, gum damage and even tooth loss. This past month, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) awarded two research grants for the improvement of oral health in dogs. One of the research grants was awarded to Paola Massari, PhD, a research assistant professor in the Section of Infectious Disease at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM).
Image courtesy of dogvacay.com
Currently treatment for dogs with gum disease is manual removal of plaque and tartar. This method does not provide a cure and only delays the disease progression. Massari’s research focuses on prevention, stopping the disease before it has a chance to cause damage. She will be using the grant to develop a vaccine against the most common types of bacteria that lead to periodontal disease in dogs.
Massari received her PhD and post-doctoral training at the University of Naples “Federico II” and Chiron-Biocine in Siena, Italy. She is the author of numerous publications in the field of Infectious Diseases, with a special interest in understanding how interactions between bacteria and their hosts lead to the manifestation of disease. She chose to expand her research into companion animal health, in order to help fill the gap that currently exists in veterinary research.
Submitted by Amanda Macone, MD.
Alzheimer’s Drug May Reduce the Urge to Binge Eat
The neuroprotective drug memantine, used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, may reduce the addictive and impulsive behavior associated with binge eating.
Binge eating disorder is a prevalent illness in America, affecting more than 10 million people. It is characterized by periods of excessive uncontrolled consumption of food, followed by uncomfortable fullness and feelings of self-disgust. New evidence indicates that changes in brain chemistry reflecting the addictive nature of binge eating may parallel drug and alcohol addiction.
Boston University School of Medicine’s Pietro Cottone, PhD, led a group of researchers who used an experimental model to simulate binge-eating behavior. They identified the nucleus accumbens as the area of the brain associated with binge eating and then suppressed the behavior by applying memantine directly.
“We found that memantine, which blocks glutamate NMDA receptors, blocks binge eating of junk food, blocks the strength of cues associated with junk food, and blocks the compulsivity associated with binge eating,” explained Cottone, an associate professor of pharmacology and psychiatry at BUSM and co-director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders.
This research opens new avenues for binge eating treatment especially since memantine is a drug already approved for other indications. “Individuals with binge eating disorder have a very poor quality of life and decreased lifespan. Our study gives a better understanding of the underpinning neurobiological mechanisms of the disorder,” added coauthor Valentina Sabino, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and psychiatry at BUSM and co-director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders.
The study appears in the journal Neuopsychopharmacology.
BUSM’s Ramachandran Recognized by AHA
(l to r) AHA President Elliott Antman, MD, Vasan Ramachandran, MD, BUMC Provost and BUSM Dean Karen Antman, MD
The American Heart Association (AHA) awarded its 2014 Population Research Prize to Vasan R. Ramachandran, MD, at Scientific Sessions 2014 in Chicago. Ramachandran is the Chief of the Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology and Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), Professor of Medicine at BUSM and Senior Investigator of the Framingham Heart Study.
Ramachandran was recognized, “for brilliantly seizing upon opportunities to translate cutting-edge bench science into an epidemiological context, thereby making fundamental contributions to identifying systemic markers for cardiovascular risk, both here and in developing countries.”
His award was presented by Association President Elliott Antman, MD, who said Ramachandran “is widely admired as a role model for trainees and early career faculty as well as for his many important findings in translational epidemiology. “ His numerous contributions include the publication of approximately 560 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals and in 2013, his work was cited 6,145 times.
Throughout his career, Ramachandran has made a significant impact in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology. His work is focused on systemic markers of cardiovascular risk, hypertension, congestive heart failure, risk re-classification and diseases in developing countries. He has conducted research in both the U.S. and India and his work has provided valuable insight into heart failure and its progression – a step that is required in moving forward with medical therapies focused on prevention.
Submitted by Amanda Macone, MD.
BUSM’s Honeyman Blogs at NEJM
Brian Honeyman
As if the fourth year of medical school is not busy enough, Brian Honeyman, (MED’15) chose to spend October interning at the editorial office of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
This four-week elective, offered by NEJM for medical students from Massachusetts medical schools, exposed Honeyman to the world of medical publishing and allowed him to learn how editorial decisions are made. Honeyman wanted to get a sense of how novel and innovative medical findings are reviewed and disseminated to the medical community.
During his internship Honeyman supported individual NEJM editors, worked on a number of pieces including a letter to the editor, summaries and critiques of potential articles, and a decision letter. He also prepared a piece for NEJM’s online blog “Vaccination and Pneumococcal Disease in South Africa,” which reviewed the importance of vaccination in US communities through the lens of pneumococcal vaccination in South Africa.
Submitted by Adil Yunis, MD
Study Identifies Pre-symptomatic Markers for Hemorragic Viruses Like Ebola
Colorized electronic micrograph of Marburg virus
A new study has found it is possible to distinguish between different hemorrhagic fevers, including Marburg (Ebola cousin) and Lassa before the person becomes symptomatic.
The study, which appears in the journal BMC Genomics, will allow for the development of better diagnostics, especially during the early stages of disease, when treatments have a greater chance of being effective.
Hemorrhagic fevers include Lassa, which is endemic in Western Africa and Marburg, which causes sporadic outbreaks in Africa associated with high rates of mortality. The early symptoms of these viruses (fever, flu-like symptoms) are not unique, making it difficult to diagnose properly. More disease-specific symptoms and the ability to spread the virus from person to person, do not begin until virus has accumulated in the blood. Current diagnostics detect the virus after it spills out of primary sites of infection into the blood. The ability to identify the infection prior to this point would significantly aid early intervention and containment, and could improve outcomes.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) approached the diagnostic dilemma by trying to “see” infection prior to the point where viruses enter the blood stream. Collaborating with researchers at the U.S. Army Medical research Institute (USAMRIID), they used two experimental models: one that had involved Lassa virus, and one that involved Marburg virus infection. The researchers extracted genetic material (RNA) from a sample of white blood cells from each infection group at multiple times after the models were infected. Using next-generation sequencing techniques, gene expression changes in hosts cells that “recognize” early stages of infection were identified. This was seen prior to clinical symptom onset and before the models became infectious.
Lassa virus particles
According to the researchers, distinguishing between these viruses early can guide treatment and containment efforts. “The ability to distinguish between different types of infection before the appearance of overt clinical symptoms has important implications for guiding triage and containment during epidemics,” explained corresponding author Nacho Caballero, a PhD candidate in the Bioinformatics Program at Boston University. “We hope that our study will help in the development of better diagnostics, especially during the early stages of disease, when treatments have a greater chance of being effective,” he added.
As exciting as the prospect of this testing is, the research team is setting a realistic time line. “We want to stress that this is not a finding that can be translated into a test tomorrow. This study supports the idea that early markers of infection are there, but significant work will still need to be done to extend these findings,” said Caballero.
This work was supported by the United States Army contracts W81XWH 100-02-0008 and 11-02-0130. NC was supported in part by the Fulbright Commission Spain and the Regional Government of Andalusia.
BUSM Students Ride for BMC Pediatrics
Gen Guyol and Janine Petito took a break from their busy schedules as second year medical students at BUSM to raise money for Boston Medical Center’s Department of Pediatrics.
On Sept. 20, they joined Team BMC in the sixth annual Rodman Ride for Kids, a fundraiser for children’s charities. Joining more than 50 other riders representing BMC—including physicians, residents, staff, BUSM students and friends—Gen and Janine each rode 50 miles and together raised more than $3,000 for the department.
Gen also took the time to encourage other medial students to take part in the charity by riding or becoming virtual riders. Overall, her group raised more than $5,000 for pediatrics. Their donations will be earmarked toward medical student initiatives within the pediatric department.
