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University of Washington School of Medicine
Online News
Vol. 11, No. 5
February 2, 2007
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To view an archived version of Online News on the UW Medicine Web site, visit:
http://www.uwmedicine.org/Global/NewsAndEvents/somnews/index.htm
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This week’s news:
* Higher air pollution levels translate to increase in risk of cardiovascular disease and related deaths in older women, according to UW study appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine
* Paul G. Ramsey, dean of the School of Medicine, to discuss UW Medicine community's accomplishments and promise for the future in address on Monday, Feb. 5
* Medical school forms search committee for new chair of family medicine
* Center for Interdisciplinary Geriatric Research holding open house for all interested in research and clinical care for older adults
* Rainer Storb receives award for research in hematological malignancies from cancer-research foundation
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AIR POLLUTION LINKED TO HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN
Women living in areas with higher levels of air pollution have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and subsequently dying from cardiovascular causes, according to a UW study appearing in the Feb. 1 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The study is one of the largest of its kind, involving more than 65,000 Women's Health Initiative Observational Study participants, age 50 to 79, living in 36 cities across the United States.
UW researchers studied women who did not initially have cardiovascular disease, following them for up to nine years to see who went on to have a heart attack, stroke, or coronary bypass surgery, or died from cardiovascular causes. They linked this health information with the average outdoor air pollution levels near each woman's home, and found that higher pollution levels posed a significant hazard – much higher than previously thought – for development of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers studied levels of fine particulate matter, tiny airborne particles of soot or dust from a variety of sources, like vehicle exhaust, coal-fired power plants, industrial sources, and wood-burning fireplaces. These particles are less than 2.5 microns in diameter -- about 30 to 40 of them would equal the diameter of a human hair. Particulate matter levels are monitored and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are typically invisible to the human eye once in the atmosphere, though they may be visible in dense clouds as they come out of a tailpipe, smokestack or chimney, and are responsible for urban haze. The particles are typically created by fossil-fuel combustion in vehicles and power plants, and can contain a complex mix of chemicals with toxic effects in human tissue.
Fine particulate matter is measured in micrograms (or millionths of a gram) per cubic meter; cities in the study had average levels of fine particulate matter ranging from about 4 to nearly 20 micrograms per cubic meter. The researchers found that each 10-unit increase in fine particulate matter level was linked to a 76 percent increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, after taking into account known risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking. Higher long-term average levels of fine particulate matter also led to a higher overall risk of cardiovascular disease events, including stroke and heart attack, and a higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes.
Kristin Miller, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the UW, was first author of the study. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental & occupational health sciences, epidemiology, and medicine, led the project. In addition to Kaufman and Miller, the study included researchers from the UW School of Medicine and the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Harborview Medical Center.
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DEAN RAMSEY TO ADDRESS UW MEDICINE COMMUNITY ON FEB. 5
Dr. Paul G. Ramsey, dean of the School of Medicine, will discuss the accomplishments of the UW Medicine community 2006 and the future for UW Medicine in 2007 and beyond in an address on Monday. Ramsey is also CEO of UW Medicine and the executive vice president for medical affairs.
Ramsey's address will be at 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, in Hogness Auditorium, Room A-420 of the UW Health Sciences Building. All are welcome to attend. A reception in the Health Sciences Lobby will immediately follow the address. UWTV will also provide a live Web broadcast of the address on its site, UWTV.org.
During the 2006-7 academic year, the UW medical school is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its founding. In his address to the community, Dr. Ramsey will reflect briefly on the school's history and talk about current and future challenges and opportunities for UW Medicine.
For more information about the address, contact Vee White at veewhite@u.washington.edu
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SCHOOL FORMS SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR NEW CHAIR OF FAMILY MEDICINE
The School of Medicine has formed a committee to lead the search for a new chair of the Department of Family Medicine. Alfred Berg announced recently that he would step down as chair of family medicine, effective Aug. 1.
The committee will make recommendations on candidates for the position. The school is seeking an individual who is well-qualified to lead the research, teaching, and clinical programs in the Department of Family Medicine.
Wylie Burke, professor and chair of medical history and ethics, will chair the search committee. The following people will serve on the committee:
David Acosta, associate dean of multicultural affairs
Suzanne Allen, assistant dean for regional affairs and rural health
Thomas Benedetti, professor and vice chairman, obstetrics and gynecology
John Clark, professor and chair of biological structure
David Dugdale, professor medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine
Raye Maestas, associate professor of family medicine
Quinn McKenna, interim chief operating officer, UW Medical Center
Kevin Murray, clinical associate professor of family medicine
Judy Pauwels, program director, Family Medicine Residency Program
Roger Rosenblatt, professor and vice chair of family medicine, director of RUOP
Beth Ebel, assistant professor of pediatrics
For more information about the search, contact Wylie Burke at wburke@u.washington.edu
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CENTER HOSTS OPEN HOUSE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN GERIATRIC CARE AND RESEARCH
The Center for Interdisciplinary Geriatric Research is holding an open house next week for people interested in geriatric research and clinical care. The open house will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7, in room E-305, UW Health Sciences Center.
The center hopes to boost networking and collaboration among people interested in research and clinical care on issues related to health of older adults. The open house will include meetings with the center directors, and light refreshments will be served. To attend, please RSVP to cigr@u.washington.edu
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STORB RECEIVES RESEARCH AWARD FROM CANCER FOUNDATION
Rainer Storb, professor of medicine in the Division of Oncology at the UW and member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has received an award for his work on hematological malignancies. Storb was honored by the Jacqueline Seroussi Memorial Foundation for Cancer Research. He was one of six scientists worldwide recognized by the foundation for 2006, and will receive $150,000 as part of the award.
Storb was recognized for developing a "mini" stem-cell transplant method for malignant and non-malignant blood diseases. About 1,000 patients to date have received this type transplant, known as a nonmyeloablative transplant. It uses a very low dose of radiation and mild chemotherapy to prepare the patient for transplant. Its advantages include lower regimen-related toxicity, morbidity and mortality than traditional high-dose regimens. Mini-transplants can be used for older patients who are not in otherwise good medical condition, and can be done in the outpatient setting.
Storb may be reached at rstorb@fhcrc.org
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Online News is published by Health Sciences/UW Medicine News and Community Relations.
Justin Reedy, editor: 206-685-0382, jreedy@u.washington.edu
Online News is copyright 2007. All rights, including electronic redistribution, are reserved.
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