Lenke named Jerome J. Gilden Professor

By Anne Enright Shepherd

Spinal surgeon Lawrence G. Lenke, M.D., has been named the first Jerome J. Gilden M.D. Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the School of Medicine. The professorship is supported by a donation from the late Mildred B. Simon, who named the position in honor of Gilden, her longtime physician.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton made the announcement along with William A. Peck, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

"This generous gift to Washington University leaves quite a legacy," Wrighton said. "Through this and her other kind support, Mrs. Mildred Simon is ensuring the university's ability to undertake groundbreaking research, offer exceptional medical education and provide top-notch patient care."

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Lenke: Professor of orthopaedic surgery

Diet, exercise dramatically lower type 2 diabetes risk

People at high risk for type 2 diabetes can sharply lower their chances of getting the disease with diet and exercise according to a national study involving researchers at the School of Medicine. Treatment with the oral drug metformin also reduced the risk in this population.

The study, called Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), was the largest study to date to evaluate whether lifestyle changes or medication can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The results were presented Aug. 8 at a press conference at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

"In view of the rapidly rising rates of obesity and diabetes in America, this good news couldn't have come at a better time," said Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "So many of our health problems can be avoided through diet, exercise and making sure we take care of ourselves. By promoting healthy lifestyles, we can improve the quality of life for all Americans and reduce health care costs dramatically."

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Picus named director of diagnostic radiology

By Darrell E. Ward

Daniel Picus, M.D., professor of radiology and of surgery, has been named director of the Division of Diagnostic Radiology at the School of Medicine's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR).

"I am very pleased that Dan Picus has accepted this new assignment," said Gilbert Jost, M.D., Elizabeth Mallinckrodt Professor and head of Radiology and director of Mallinckrodt Institute. "He is a talented radiologist with outstanding management skills. We are fortunate to have his leadership for the diagnostic radiology division."

Picus has been chief of vascular and interventional radiology since 1987.

Interventional radiology encompasses a variety of minimally invasive procedures done with imaging guidance, such as dilating an artery with the help of a balloon catheter. He has published more than 135 scientific articles and is a popular lecturer on vascular and nonvascular diagnosis and intervention.

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Exercise offers emotional benefits for the frail elderly

A new assessment of several clinical trials indicates exer-cise may raise the spirits of the frail elderly without causing more pain.

"Exercise can improve quality of life in at least one important domain, emotional health, without causing an increase in pain," said lead author Kenneth B. Schechtman, Ph.D., associate professor of biostatistics at the School of Medicine.

Schechtman and his team assessed the effects of exercise interventions on the quality of life of 1,733 subjects at four sites across the United States. The mean age of subjects was 73 years. Fifty-five percent were female.

The exercise studies included in this trial were noteworthy for their large sample size and concentration on older persons at risk for fall-related injury.

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Apply for cancer research grants by Sept. 14

Applications now are being accepted for awards from the University's American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Committee. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, for the program, which provides seed money for new projects initiated by junior faculty members.

Only instructors and assistant professors are eligible. Individuals who have previously received these awards or major grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the American Cancer Society or Veterans Affairs are not eligible. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have proof of permanent residency at the time of application.

Each application should include a letter from the department chair vouching for the independence of the investigator. All new cancer-related research that will involve human subjects must first be reviewed and approved by the Siteman Cancer Center Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee.

For more information, call Committee Chair David B. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., at 286-2834, or e-mail Sharon E. Heath at sharon@ccadmin.wustl.edu to get an application.

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