Summer Research Program sees record number of participants

The Medical School's 2009 Summer Research Program began May 27 with 54 participating undergraduate students, 62 first-year medical school students, and eight international medical school students from China, Japan, and Taiwan — for a total 124 participants.

Students began their program with an orientation featuring welcomes from Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, director of the program; Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo; and Dr. L. Maximilian Buja. Students then attended training lectures in the afternoon.

The students will spend 10 weeks this summer working on research projects with Medical School and Dental Branch faculty mentors. Seminar and enrichment lectures are held weekly and are open to all Health Science Center faculty, staff, and students as well as the Texas Medical Center community. Check the Scoop and bulletin boards for listings of speakers, topics, and locations.

Contact Linda Guardiola, Summer Research Program coordinator, at 713.500.334 for details.

Research participants needed for metabolic syndrome study

It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans have metabolic syndrome, which is marked primarily by abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure, and insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. Medical School researchers are studying whether a diet of rice improves symptoms associated with this condition.

Led by Drs. Anil Kulkarni and Erik Wilson, faculty in the Department of Surgery, the study will evaluate diets that include pre-germinated brown rice or white rice.

“Preliminary research has shown that diets that include pre-germinated brown rice may be useful in controlling blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes,” said Kulkarni, the principal investigator. “We want to determine whether it has similar effects in patients with metabolic syndrome, which is increasing with the prevalence of obesity.”

Eligible participants must be between the ages of 20-65, have a Body Mass Index greater than 30, be a non-smoker who is not on insulin, and have a baseline waist circumference of more than 102 centimeters in men and more than 88 centimeters in women. They must have either type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, or impaired glucose tolerance. They must also have two of the following: high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, and/or high cholesterol.

Those who take part in the study will be asked to eat a half-cup packet of either brown rice or white rice three times a day with their meals for six weeks. Study participants will then return to a normal diet. Six weeks later, they will be asked to eat the second type of rice. Participants should eat rice as a substitute for other carbohydrates, including potatoes, pasta, and bread. In addition to rice consumption, those who are enrolled in the study will be required to keep a food diary and also wear a pedometer to count the number of steps they take each day.

To participate in the study, call 713.892.5500.

— Meredith Raine, Office of Institutional Advancement, Media Relations

Post-docs elect officers

The UT Postdoctoral Association (UTH-PDA) voted in the 2009-2010 executive officers May 28. This election marks the organization’s third administration. The UTH-PDA leaders continue to demonstrate their ability and commitment to provide continuity of leadership and stability to sustain an enduring postdoctoral association.

Congratulations to the 2009–2010 new officers:
• Co-Chairs: Dr. Dharini Van Der Hoeven (Integrative Biology & Pharmacology) and Dr. Heidi Vitrac (Biochemistry)
• Secretary: Dr. Aima Esechie (Integrative Biology & Pharmacology)
• Treasurer: Hsin-Mei Chen (Neurobiology and Anatomy)
• Dr. Ping Wu (Integrative Biology & Pharmacology) and Dr. Tushar Kant Beuria (Microbiology) were elected to train with Dr. Sorin Pojoga to become Webmasters for the UTH-PDA Web site.

Thank you to the 2008-2009 outgoing officers:
• Chair: Dr. Anne Bell (Institute of Molecular Medicine)
• Secretary: Dr. Kim Loesch (Integrative Biology & Pharmacology)
• Treasurer: Dr. Giordano da Silva (Internal Medicine)

— Leslie Beckman, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

UT Physicians offer free varicose vein screenings

UT Physicians is hosting free varicose vein screenings to raise awareness for venous disease, risk factors, and available treatment options.

Varicose veins frequently force people to dramatically change their lifestyles, especially when they have standing professions and can no longer tolerate being on their feet all day.

A leading cause of varicose veins is venous reflux disease caused by incompetent or “leaky” valves in the great saphenous vein running from ankle to groin. In addition to varicose veins, other symptoms may include leg pain, fatigue, swelling, and skin ulceration. This condition can be progressive if left untreated and symptoms may worsen with time.

The free screenings will be held 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the following days and locations:

• Medical School, B.646: Monday, June 15; Wednesday, June 17; and Thursday, June 18
• UT Professional Building, Suite 600: Monday, June 22; Wednesday, June 24; and Thursday, June 25

To schedule an appointment for a screening, call 832.325.7214. Walk-ins also are welcome.

General psychiatry residents participate at APA meeting

Five general psychiatry residents from the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences were invited to participate in the 2009 National American Psychiatric Association (APA) Meeting in San Francisco last month.

Dr. Jennifer Yen, PGY-III, presented a highly regarded workshop with national educators titled “Promoting Scholarship and Leadership During Residency Training.”

Dr. Peter Ly, PGY-III, Dr. Tanya Krolls, PGY-II, and Dr. Elizabeth Truong, PGY-I, represented the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Medical School as one of the top three finalist teams to compete in the 2009 “Mind Games.” Although the team was bested by a group from New York, being named among the top three in the nation is a great accomplishment.

Dr. Marco Chavez, PGY-III resident and incoming chief resident, led a workshop in leadership for chief residents that was supported by a grant from the APA. He also received the 2009-2010 APA/SAMHSA and APA/AstraZeneca Minority Fellowship award. Chavez plans to use a large portion of the funds to do a month rotation in a border region of the country to gain more experience with psychiatric issues in underserved populations.

Not forgotten

 

Location & Contact

6431 Fannin Street,
Houston, Texas 77030

PO Box 20708,
Houston, Texas 77225

713.500.4472