Thursday, January 16, 2020
University of Maryland School of Medicine Research Shows That Older Patients With Untreated Sleep Apnea Need Greater Medical Care
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and costly medical condition leading to a wide range of health risks such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, diabetes and even premature death. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) found that the medical costs are substantially higher among older adults who go untreated for the disorder.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
New Nanoparticle Therapy Appears More Effective Than Standard Therapy at Treating Aggressive Breast Cancer
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) developed a new nanoparticle drug formulation that targets a specific receptor on cancer cells and appears to be more effective than a standard nanoparticle therapy currently on the market to treat metastatic breast cancer, according to a study published today in the journal Science Advances. The new ‘DART’ nanoparticles bypass healthy cells and tissues and bind to tumor cells, dispersing evenly throughout the tumor while releasing the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Dr. Andrea Meredith’s Research is the Cover Story in The Physiologist Magazine
One night just before bed in August 2018, Andrea Meredith, PhD, was reading the New York Times Magazine on her iPad when she came across an article about a six-year-old girl in South Dakota named Kamiyah who had a mysterious disorder. Over 300 times a day, the little girl would fall or slump forward, with large portions of her body paralyzed. An episode would last anywhere from three to 20 seconds. Then, suddenly, she would pop back up and resume whatever she was doing. The article mentioned that Kamiyah had paroxysmal dyskinesia, a type of movement disorder. But the cause was unknown.
Monday, January 13, 2020
University of Maryland Medicine's Novel Critical Care Resuscitation Unit Improves Patients' Chances of Survival, Study Finds
Patients with acutely life-threatening health conditions who were treated in the innovative Critical Care Resuscitation Unit (CCRU) received faster treatment and had better health outcomes, including a 36 percent lower risk of dying than those who were transferred from a hospital’s emergency department then evaluated and treated in a traditional intensive care unit, according to a recent study in the Journal of Emergency Medicine conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
Thursday, January 09, 2020
UM School of Medicine Research Shows Less Severe Cases of Diarrheal Illness can Still Lead to Child Deaths, Even Weeks Following Onset of the Illness
Diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of death for young children, accounting for nine percent of all deaths worldwide in children under five years of age, with most occurring in children under two years of age. Now, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) found that even milder cases of diarrheal diseases can lead to death in young children.
Thursday, January 09, 2020
Researchers Identify Key Structure of Bacteria that Could Lead to Future Treatments for Healthcare-Associated Infections
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and their colleagues have identified the structure of the most lethal toxin produced by certain strains of Clostridium difficile bacteria, a potentially deadly infection associated with the use of antibiotics. The finding, published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, used cryo electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and other biophysical methods to identify the microscopic structures of the bacteria. The researchers mapped out the delivery and binding components of the toxin, which could pave the way for new drugs to neutralize it.
Wednesday, January 08, 2020
UM School of Medicine Launches New Pathway to Promotion for Non-Tenure Track Faculty; Policy will Specifically Benefit Clinician-Educators and Administrators
UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that a new contemporary pathway to promotion has been created that will directly benefit faculty who are clinician-educators or clinician- administrators. The new policy is based on a recent analysis of faculty promotions in UMSOM’s academic departments that revealed a gender disparity in promotion rates for some clinical faculty in clinical departments.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
UM School of Medicine Cutting Edge Research Featured Among 'Top Things That Made the World a Better Place in 2019'
The University of Maryland School of Medicine is being recognized by a national news publication for groundbreaking biomedical research that “is making the world a better place.” The publication, WIRED magazine, is featuring the innovative work of UMSOM’s Samuel Tisherman, MD, Professor of Surgery, and the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center on a list of 19 items or advances recognized in 2019.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Institute of Human Virology Scientists Propose New Theory for Cancer Immunotherapy
Scientists from the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) this week proposed a new theory, based on the findings of three previously published studies, to improve both the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy drugs. The theory calls for a new design for these drugs that would prevent side effects like life-threatening immune system reactions and enable a higher dose of the drug to be administered.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
UM School of Medicine Celebrates Longtime Board of Visitors Chair Michael E. Cryor; Announces Corporate Governance Professional and Former Financial Services Executive Cynthia L. Egan to Bec
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean, E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, kicked off a celebration and recognition of longstanding Chair of the UMSOM’s Board of Visitors (BOV), Michael E. Cryor, President of The Cryor Group and recognized strategic counselor and public leader, for his distinguished service to the UMSOM for the past 10 years. At the celebration, Dean Reece announced that current UMSOM Board Member Cynthia L. Egan has been selected as the new Chair of the UMSOM Board.