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Research in Fertility
A team at St. Luke’s is developing a process to create normal viable human eggs from skin cells. According to infertility specialist Dr. Sherman Silber, this process should be perfected within five years and be in routine use in 10. Silber calls it “exciting for older women who want to have a baby but have run out of eggs.”
Partners in Practice
Siteman Cancer Center and University of Missouri Health Care’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center recently announced a collaboration to maximize research capabilities, allowing scientists to team up on projects and pursue competitively funded grants.
Treatment without Transplants
Researchers at SLU have reported the first drug to address a rare liver disease that, up to this point, was only treatable through a liver transplant. In a recent study, fazirsiran helped improve health complications associated with the deficiency of an important infection-preventing protein.
Interviewing Intervention
Dr. Jennifer Bello-Kottenstette, an assistant professor in family and community medicine at SLU School of Medicine, is studying the effectiveness of a motivational interviewing process to address illicit substance use before pregnancy. The program will reach women who are incarcerated and participating in substance use disorder treatment.
Good for the Brain
A new blood test from Wash.U. has proven highly accurate in detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. According to clinical neurologist Dr. Suzanne Schindler, a recent study suggests that the test produces results with similar accuracy to tests requiring a spinal tap.
Improving Access
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have expanded coverage for a treatment for carotid artery disease called transcarotid artery revascularization, or TCAR, which is less invasive than the previous industry standard. Dr. Brian Peterson, a vascular surgeon at St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Institute, is a leading expert in the surgery.
Functional Food
Local nonprofit Food Outreach is collaborating with Mercy to assist eligible patients with type 2 diabetes in managing their nutritional needs. The program will provide medically tailored meals to patients experiencing food insecurity.
COVID-19 Findings
Research from Wash. U. indicates that those who have experienced multiple COVID-19 infections face an increased risk of “adverse health conditions in multiple organ systems.” As cases are predicted to rise this winter, clinical epidemiologist Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly suggests receiving eligible booster shots and masking in crowded places to avoid reinfection.
Smarter Screening
Mercy is partnering with health care company GRAIL to offer a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer. The test is recommended for those who are at an elevated risk, especially patients ages 50 and older.
National News
Pfizer has announced promising data from recent trials of a maternal vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. If approved, the vaccine could help patients prevent infants from contracting RSV.
Climate Conscious
In an effort to help decarbonize the health care sector, SSM Health is focusing on ways to reduce medical waste, incorporate green building practices, plant trees to reverse urban deforestation, and more.
