With the most common chronic pain in the back, Virginia Commonwealth University researchers are testing whether injections of a sort of "biological putty" can help people suffering chronic lower-back pain.
The substance, a growth factor called osteogenic protein 1 or OP-1, which can help regenerate or repair damaged discs, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for investigational and humanitarian use.
"This is this first study of its kind where we are actually looking at a medication's ability to repair a disc, help regenerate it and reduce painful symptoms," said Dr. Michael J. DePalma, medical director of the VCU Spine Center. DePalma is principal investigator for the study at VCU, one of seven sites where the industry-funded research is being conducted.
Candidates for the research study "are typically patients whose lifestyle has been really altered because they can't function," DePalma said. "They can't do things on a daily basis they really need to do. They are missing time from work. They can't take care of chores. They can't sleep at night because of the back pain."
]]>Nurse-midwife Margie Rickell posed a question to the group of seven or eight women, seated in a circle, all pregnant and all due this month:
What kind of birth did they want?
The women, their belly baby bumps obvious, stood up and lined up along an imaginary spectrum. On one end were a few who wanted to try to have a totally natural birth, closer to the other end were those who would have the anesthesiologist's number on their phone's speed dial if they could.
Most clustered closer to the middle. The exercise started a discussion that exposed differences in philosophies of giving birth. In the end, they sort of settled on the notion that there was no right way or wrong way. For each woman, it was about having the type of birth she wanted and having a healthy baby.
What brought the women together at VCU Women's Health Center is a concept of prenatal care called CenteringPregnancy that seeks to empower women with knowledge and support to make those things happen.
Read more from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
.]]>Metastatic disease is one of the primary challenges in cancer therapy. When cancer cells are localized in the body, specialists may be able to surgically remove the diseased area. However, when cancer metastasizes or spreads to sites remote from the primary tumor through the lymph system and blood vessels to new target sites, treatment becomes more difficult and in many instances ineffective.
]]>This year, we are proud to celebrate the 50th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion! Our alumni have the ideal background to contribute to the professional development of current graduate students. Alumni are encouraged to get to know our students in individual meetings, to participate in the poster session and to reunite with former classmates. Special guests at an evening reception will include current and emeritus faculty, as well as a graduate of the school’s first Ph.D. program.
VCU School of Pharmacy 11th Annual Research and Career Day and 50th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion: October 16-17, 2008.
]]>More information is available at : http://www.hr.vcu.edu/reward/2008ServiceAwards.html.
]]>The National Research Corporation announced the award after compiling the results of the company's annual Healthcare Market Guide Study, which measures consumer perceptions of overall quality and reputation.
Consumers across the country were asked to rate their local hospitals on a variety of factors including overall quality of patient care, quality of doctors and nurses and overall image and reputation. The VCU Health System and Henrico Doctors' Hospital are co-winners for the Richmond market.
"We are gratified to know that our patients and their families appreciate our dedication to the highest standards of patient care," said Sheldon Retchin, M.D., VCU Health System CEO and vice president for VCU Health Sciences. “This and our previous five Consumer Choice awards demonstrate that our commitment to quality healthcare is consistent and ongoing.”
]]>Day One is a half-day session on Wednesday, 09/24/08;
Day Two is a half-day session on Thursday, 09/25/08;
Day Three is a half-day session on Thursday, 10/23/08.
Friday, October 3, 2008
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Medical Sciences Building - Auditorium, MCV Campus
Aradhana Bela Sood, M.D., Robert Cohen, Ph.D., and Brian Meyer, Ph.D., were recognized by the Voices for Virginia’s Children, in partnership with NAMI Virginia, the Virginia Federation of Families, the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB), Psychiatric Society of Virginia and Mental Health America Virginia. Isaac Abraham, Ph.D., department director with the VTCC Administration, received a nomination for a Heroes in the Fight Award. Read more.
]]>The awards recognize and reward faculty members for excellence in the achievement of the School of Medicine’s educational mission. Read more.
]]>Dr. Wilkins, a dental hygienist, dentist and periodontist is the author of The Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist also known as “the hygienist’s Bible.” Now in its tenth edition the book has served as the primary textbook for generations of dental hygiene students. Read more from the School of Dentistry.
]]>The VCU Health System gained recognition for several initiatives, including the region’s first on-site adult day care program, a postpartum doula program to ease the transition of bringing a new baby in the family, tuition waivers for staff and their dependents and an Employer Assisted Housing Program. Read more.
]]>The Teaching Excellence; Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine; Women in Science, Dentistry & Medicine Professional Achievement; MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician; and the VCU/VCUHS Leadership in Graduate Medical Education awards will be presented.
For more information, contact Debbie Stewart at 828-6591.
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