Monthly Archives: February 2011

Emory Fellow and Heart Transplant Survivor Rides in Rose Parade

February 21st, 2011 (1 Comment)

Jennifer Shih, MD, a current Fellow in the Department of Allergy and Immunology at Emory University School of Medicine and a heart transplant survivor, was an honored guest on The Donate Life float in the 2011 Rose Parade.

Clinical trial for patients with atrial fibrillation tests implantable device in place of blood-thinning drug

February 18th, 2011 (No Comments)

A new clinical trial underway for patients with atrial fibrillation will test an implantable device in place of a common blood-thinning medication, according to researchers at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Atrial fibrillation (commonly called A-fib) is a heart condition in which the upper chambers of the heart beat too fast, causing an irregular heartbeat and […]

Fact or Fiction when it comes to colds

February 16th, 2011 (No Comments)

In a CNN.com Health article, Emory physician Dr. Sharon Bergquist discusses how colds are transmitted, how long a cold should last, what makes people resistant and what treatments work.

One reason why SIV-infected sooty mangabeys can avoid AIDS

February 15th, 2011 (No Comments)

Sooty mangabeys are a variety of Old World monkey that can be infected by HIV’s cousin SIV, but do not get AIDS. Emory immunologist and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Guido Silvestri, MD, has been a strong advocate for examining non-human primates such as the sooty mangabey, which manage to handle SIV infection without crippling their immune systems. Silvestri is division chief of microbiology and immunology at Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

A good reason to enjoy a little Valentine’s Day chocolate

February 12th, 2011 (2 Comments)

If you’re looking for an excuse to indulge in the yummy chocolate you get this Valentine’s Day, research suggests it may not be so bad for you. A number of studies, conducted over the last decade have associated cocoa and dark chocolate consumption with heart health benefits.

Emory/Georgia Tech: partners in creating heart valve repair devices

February 8th, 2011 (1 Comment)

Vinod Thourani, a cardiac surgeon at Emory, and Jorge Jimenez, a biomedical engineer at Georgia Tech and Emory, have been teaming up to invent new devices for making heart valve repair easier.

University-industry partnerships: a matter for cautious aggressiveness

February 8th, 2011 (1 Comment)

Emory President James Wagner was keynote speaker last week at the 2011 Academic & Industry Intersection Conference sponsored by Georgia Bio and the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI). The conference focused on ethical issues in translating academic research into commercial drugs and medical devices. Wagner pointed out the great power these relationships hold […]

Study Finds Injection Drug Users Who Live Nearer to Syringe Exchange Programs Are Less Likely to Engage in HIV Risk Behaviors

February 3rd, 2011 (1 Comment)

A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health offers evidence that proximity to legal syringe exchange programs and pharmacies selling over the counter syringe plays a role in reducing the risk of HIV and Hepatitis C transmission in the U.S.

Brain chemical linked to migraines could be anxiety target

February 2nd, 2011 (No Comments)

Neuroscientist Michael Davis, PhD, and his colleagues have devoted years to mapping out the parts of the brain responsible for driving fear and anxiety. In a recent review article, they describe the differences between fear and anxiety in this way: Fear is a generally adaptive state of apprehension that begins rapidly and dissipates quickly once […]