scribe - alum notes - fall 98

vol. 9 no. 3

The Wayne State University School of Medicine continues to be a national leader in providing physicians in key areas, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC’s 1997 Institutional Goals Ranking Report for the nation’s medical schools, which was released in June, reflects that WSU ranks second of the country’s 125 medical schools in the number of 1997 graduates planning to practice in-state, and fifth in the nation for graduates entering primary care specialties.

Graduates of the Class of 1998 were filled with particular pride at this year’s commencement ceremonies, partly because the keynote speaker is an American hero, and partly because he is one of their own.

Alumnus of the WSU School of Medicine and a former astronaut, Jerry Linenger, MD, PhD, delivered the School’s commencement address and received an honorary degree at the ceremonies.

Wayne State researcher Alan Hudson, PhD, announced results of a study which links the bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae to brain samples from late-onset Alzheimer’s patients.

Cognitive function may improve if cells listen and respond appropriately

While studying cells in the cerebral cortex, Rodrigo Andrade, PhD, made an unusual discovery. The effects of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, depended on the level of activity of the cell. He was recently awarded nearly $1 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue his studies.

It’s in the genes

Picture an older woman, perhaps your mother or grandmother. If she is a little tired, has thinning hair, or feels a bit cold, you might think it’s a natural part of aging. You could be wrong. Those complaints are also some of the symptoms of a prevalent, yet easily treated disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), said Yi-chi Kong, PhD, professor of immunology and microbiology.

In an experiment reminiscent of Greek mythology, Ramzi Mohammad, PhD, has established a unique mouse model which allows for the growth of human pancreatic tumor cells within the body of a mouse.

Cone dystrophy is a hereditary form of blindness which results in the death of photoreceptor cone cells, essential for most human vision capabilities. Alexander Dizhoor, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, has been studying that disease for the past several years.

For Gerard Tromp, PhD, a family tree is more than just a hobby; it’s a valuable medical tool. Dr. Tromp, assistant professor in the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, is identifying patients with intracranial aneurysms (IA) and investigating whether their family members may be at high risk for cerebrovascular disease.

Husseini Manji, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences and director of the Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, has discovered that Tamoxifen can be particularly effective in treating the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

President Irvin Reid announced a series of Wayne State University grants, called Targets of Opportunity, to stimulate increased interdisciplinary research and attract additional support from outside the University. Through this program, Mark Evans, MD, was awarded $1 million for human genetics research, and Michael Massanari, MD, is co-investigator on an information technology grant which has been awarded $600,000.

For the first time in Wayne State’s history, phone calls will become a part of the medical school curriculum. In an effort to introduce future physicians to quality measurement and improvement methods, third-year students will conduct periodic patient telephone interviews one week after treating or visiting a patient to assess the patient’s health status, answer questions about the care plan, and discuss satisfaction with the clinical encounter.

A two-year study conducted at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center and 10 other sites nationwide, concluded that the drug Copaxone is not only beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis, but it retains its efficacy for more than three years.

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