Thoracic aortic disease focus of UT Talks

How many of you have family members who have suffered a heart attack?

How many of you have someone in your family who has had a stroke?

What about aortic aneurysm?

All around the room, people raised their hands as Dr. Dianna Milewicz demonstrated the prevalence of vascular diseases to the audience at UT Talks Feb. 3.

Milewicz, professor and director of the Division of Medical Genetics, and the other guest speakers offered these audience members hope for a healthier future.

Milewicz, who also is the President George H. W. Bush Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine and Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist, shared her findings on the important role of genetics in these life-threatening diseases. She currently directs a $12 million National Institutes of Health-funded grant for collaborative research on thoracic aortic disease.

Amy Yasbeck, widow of actor John Ritter and founder of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, shared the story of her husband's death from an undiagnosed aortic dissection and the subsequent journey that led her to cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons and researchers at the Medical School.

Yasbeck, actress and community activist, and Milewicz both emphasized the importance of non-invasive screening for this genetic disease.

“We can prevent premature death,” Milewicz said.

Dr. Hazim Safi, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Medical School and chief of staff at Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute, said aortic aneurysms, if detected and routinely monitored, can be surgically repaired. And at Memorial Hermann, patients receive the highest quality of care, he added.

John Ritter's brother is living proof that screening saves lives. Yasbeck said that after he suffered a stroke, she called Milewicz who urged her to have her brother-in-law screened for aneurysm, since there is strong evidence of links among various cardiovascular diseases. Sure enough, “he had one in the exact same place as John did,” Yasbeck said. The aneurysm that could have resulted in a catastrophic acute dissection was surgically repaired and he is now doing well. “If that isn't an argument for genetic [predisposition] I don't know what is,” Yasbeck said.

For more information, visit the Medical School's Medical Genetics Research Web site.

— Meredith Raine, Office of Institutional Advancement, Media Relations

Student group seeks donations for global health mission

The UT Medical School global health organization, SIGHT, is stocking up its arsenal of supplies for its annual Spring Break trips and desperately need donations. Any donated item can help. Here are some suggestions:

• vitamins (prenatal, infant, child)
• over the counter medications
• supplies (paper, pencils, crayons, etc.)
• antibiotics, antifungals, antihypertensives, antihyperglycemics
• gently used shoes
• Spanish books
• toothpaste/toothbrushes
• soccer balls

Donation boxes are located in the Medical School Learning Resource Center and outside the first- and second-year lecture halls. Monetary donations may be given online at the Web site's donations page.

SIGHT is a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit, so all payments are tax deductible.

Please direct any questions to Sebastian M. Aldaz.

Gandhi wins Mendell Fellowship award

Dr. Samita Gandhi, a PGY-3 psychiatry resident in the General Adult Psychiatry Residency Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is the recipient of the 2009-10 David Mendell Fellowship in Psychiatry.

The Mendell Fellowship in Family Therapy was established by a Houston family in honor of Dr. David Mendell, a well-known and respected family therapist in our community. For many years Mendell participated in the child fellowship training activities and was a special contributor to the educational goals that continue to be held in high esteem. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide psychiatric trainees an enriched experience in family therapy.

As recipient of the Mendell Fellowship Award, the fellowship will cover the cost for the attendance to the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy 2010 Annual Conference March 11–13, 2010, at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio.

Study on vaccine to prevent cytomegalovirus seeks volunteers

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is currently conducting a study about cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adolescent girls. CMV is a common cause of mild upper respiratory illness, sometimes with fever and enlarged lymph nodes, in children of all ages. CMV can be passed from a mother to her unborn infant during pregnancy and cause more serious consequences. The researchers are interested in learning how to prevent this virus in young women.

The study is recruiting girls 12 to 17 years of age, who:

• Have not received a blood or blood product transfusion in 3 months
• Have no significant medical illness
• Are willing to have blood drawn once (approximately 10cc or 2 teaspoons)
• Can come to The University of Texas Clinical Research Unit. The visit will be approximately 1 hour long, and parking will be reimbursed.

Volunteers will receive $40 for their time and will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation. Some volunteers will be invited to participate in a related CMV vaccine study.

To learn more about this study, which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, please call the clinical research unit at 713.704.4137 or contact Monika Ruscheinsky.

Distinguished tour