Imaging center sees oldest patient

Sandra Oldham, M.D., professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging, performed a CT scan on what was by far her oldest patient last month – a 2,000 year old baby mummy.

At the request of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the ancient mummy was brought to the UT Imaging center at the South Loop for the scan for a detailed inspection to provide greater information about the mummy’s condition and history.

The mummy has never been unwrapped and had only been X-rayed at the museum, according to Oldham.

“A CT scan is the best equipment to use,” Oldham explained. “With an X-ray, they couldn’t tell much because there were numerous layers of sheets around the child, which weren’t penetrated.”

The mummy was brought to the imaging center in a curator’s box and carefully laid on the CT table.

“Through the CT imaging, we verified that it was a child wearing two hoop earrings, so that led us to believe it was a girl. The mummy was labeled ‘baby girl from Egypt.’ And there was a third piece of metal – a flat piece of metal under her jaw, which may have been an amulet or charm,” Oldham said.

Unerupted teeth and unfused epiphyses (the growing end of a long bone) led Oldham to surmise that the child was 3-4 years old.

“The bones under the cloth were not intact – they are 2,000 years old – but they were her own. Historically, thieves often stole body parts from mummies during the long mummification process and before interment those stolen parts were replaced with other bones (so the individual would go into the afterlife with a complete body), but that wasn’t necessary in this case,” said Oldham, who added that this hands-on experience with a mummy has intensified her interest in Egyptology.

Oldham said it is one of the strangest objects that she has ever imaged.

“It sure is up there with the weirdest – but weird in a nice way because it is historical,” she said.


-D. Brown

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King named executive vice dean of Medical School

Interim Dean Jerry Wolinsky has named Dr. Brent King as the executive vice dean for clinical affairs for the Medical School, effective Aug. 1.

King, who most recently served as interim executive vice president and chief operating officer, will be the Medical School’s liaison to its clinical operation and partners. He also will return to his position as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine.

“The clinical operation is a vital part of the Medical School’s mission, and it is important to have one individual who can represent our unique needs. I’m very glad to have Brent, with his reputation for thoughtful leadership, filling this important executive role for the Medical School’s practice plan,” Wolinsky said.

This position fills the vacancy left by Dr. Michael Bungo’s departure, and Dr. Richard Andrassy is leaving his executive vice dean role, allowing for the consolidation of clinical activities in one leadership role. Andrassy is retaining his positions as chair of the UT Physicians board and chair of the Department of Surgery.

The responsibilities King held on an interim basis as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the health science center, will be shared by Kevin Dillon, executive vice president of business and administration, and President James Willerson.


-D. Brown


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Looking for weight loss advice in the right places?

Internet weight loss forums typically provide high-quality advice about general weight loss, diet and exercise, but caution should be used with online advice about medications, according to Medical School researchers. The study, published in the July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, found that most advice posted on high-activity Internet weight loss forums is consistent with professional guidelines.

“Individuals who ask for weight-loss advice on these forums will generally receive good advice but should be cautious about advice related to weight loss medications,” says lead author Kevin Hwang, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.

The study evaluated 18 weight loss forums on 13 Web sites, from which more than 29,000 messages were posted regarding the subject. The authors analyzed 654 messages which contained advice in response to posted requests and which could be compared to clinical weight loss guidelines. More than 77 percent of these messages had accurate advice.

High-volume discussion boards, those containing at least 1,000 messages per month, were less likely to have inaccurate information. Half of the erroneous messages posted on these high-volume forums were later corrected to reflect accurate information. Advice related to weight loss medication was more likely than advice on other topics to be erroneous.

“For questions about weight loss medications, it would be better to ask a knowledgeable health care provider,” Hwang said. “Likewise, physicians referring patients to Internet weight loss forums should refer them to high-activity forums after discussing the proper role of weight loss medication and cautioning them against online medication-related advice.”

- N. Camarata

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