Written by Steve Sandstrom, SIU School of Medicine
Within today’s global health care environment, medical advances occur with reassuring regularity.  Research is the main driver behind this progress. Men and women in research laboratories conduct studies to understand the nuances of diseases, and when a discovery occurs, a new treatment can be developed to improve outcomes. Health care providers then have more options to offer their patients.
At the end of April, a two-day symposium at the School of Medicine showcased the research being done by SIU students and physicians in training. Participants included medical students, graduate students, resident physicians and fellows. The young scientists are working within four departments: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Physiology; Pharmacology; and Medical Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology.
A committee of SIU School of Medicine faculty members judged 25 presentations and research posters. The award-winning presentations included:
THYROID CANCER.  A study led by Dr. Alexandria McDow examined data from nearly 120,000 patients with thyroid cancer. She measured health risk and outcomes by regions. Finding: Patients in urban areas are at higher risk for the disease but have a better survival rate than patients within rural areas.  
REDUCING STROKE RISK.  Second-year medical student Michael Romanelli compared surgeries performed in Springfield against a database of more than 1.5 million patients who underwent a carotid endarterectomy (CEA), a common surgical procedure to reduce stroke risk due to a narrowing in the carotid arteries. The procedure removes material on the inside of the artery. Finding: Patients who were given statins (blood thinners) had shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and lower costs both locally and nationally.
MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT.  Carbondale-based grad student Jessica Whitaker found a way to use light to regulate muscle activity in baby chick embryos. Chicken embryos provide a model for studying similar embryonic behavior in humans. Finding: Whitaker’s procedure will allow for more refined studies of the roles of muscle activity in neuromuscular development; for example, how it travels along the spine’s circuitry.
EMPHYSEMA.  Post-doctorate fellow Nisha Rizvi, PhD, assessed the clinical outcomes and quality of life of emphysema patients after they had lung volume reduction surgery. SIU is one of only a five institutions in the country that offers this surgery. It was developed by Dr. Stephen Hazelrigg, director of cardiothoracic surgery at SIU School of Medicine. Finding: Despite improvements in standards of health, comfort and happiness expressed by patients one year after surgery, clinical tests should still be performed.

With every successful research study completed, scientifically tested facts emerge. Other labs can then replicate and build upon them. Through this gradual but crucial process, we reach a better understanding of the human condition, and medical care advances.
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