Findings
Houston, Texas
Volume 5, Issue 5
May 2007

Briefs

Estes named to National Academy of Sciences

Mary Estes, Ph.D., professor of molecular virology and microbiology and medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences.

One of 72 new U.S. scientists and 18 foreign associates from 12 countries elected, Estes is a leader in the field of virology and has produced groundbreaking work in the understanding and prevention of gastrointestinal viruses such as Norwalk and rotavirus. Her work has led to a new understanding of the basic biology of such viruses, including how they are controlled, interact with the organisms that host them and create disease.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare.

Ralph Feigin, M.D., receives John Howland Award

Ralph Feigin, M.D., chair of the BCM Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital, has been selected to receive the Dr. John Howland Award, the highest and most prestigious award conferred by the American pediatric community for lifetime contributions that have improved child health care worldwide.

The award is given to an individual selected by the Council of the American Pediatric Society whom they believe has made seminal contributions over a lifetime to positively impact diseases of children (their diagnosis and treatment as well as their prevention) and for the advancement of education and the care of children. As originally conceived, the award recipient is an individual whose lifetime contributions to pediatrics are recognized worldwide and have led to the advancement of pediatrics.

Feigin received the award at the 2007 meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies this month.

Less is more in reducing snores

Mas Takashima, M.D., clinical faculty member of the sleep medicine fellowship program at Baylor College of Medicine, has seen success with a new minimally invasive technique to reduce or stop snoring called the pillar procedure.

In the pillar procedure, three small, firm, string-like structures, or pillars, are implanted into the soft palate, the soft tissue in the back of the throat.

"The three pillars, which are less than an inch long, are inserted using a large needle-like device," Takashima said. "The pillars help stabilize the soft tissue and stop vibrations. Since no tissue is surgically removed, discomfort is minimal."

The pillars never have to be replaced, and the procedure, which uses local anesthesia similar to what a dentist would use, only takes about 15 minutes.

Fertility rises as weight drops

Weight loss surgery could have surprising results for some women.

Dr. Vadim Sherman, assistant professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, said obese women who thought they could not have children regain their fertility during the months following gastric bypass or lap-band procedures.

Hormonal imbalances that can come from excess body fat can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and other reproductive problems. As women begin to lose weight, their fertility returns back to normal. For bariatric patients, the weight comes off rapidly, and some are surprised by how quickly pregnancy can occur. In some cases women become pregnant within six months of surgery.

Sherman said if nutritional needs are met, including all the usual vitamin guidelines for bariatric surgeries, a woman can expect a healthy pregnancy.