University of Texas Health Science Center - IATRO Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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UPS POSITRON In February, the UT Board of Regents dedicated the Positron Diagnostic and Research Center to the University of Texas Medical School. The center in- cludes the Positron Tomographic Cameras, the Cyclotron Facility, and the Positron Imaging Laboratories. The PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is a diagnostic tool aiding in early identification and prevention of disease processes and has potential therapeutic uses. DAVID DIES David, the ok - in Baylor College of M Texas Children’s Hospital. | At the age of 12, David fad been the oldest survivor of severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) until receiving a bone marrow transplant from his 15 year-old sister. Three months after the transplant, he developed some fever, omiting, and diarrhea which forced physicians to remove from. his sterile environment. David’s condition eriorated and he died of heart failure. n honor of David, Baylor recently established the Dad nter, dedicated solely to treat immunological deficiency iseases, with which 50 to 100 children are born with each lic ine’ s Clinical Research Center at UT Clinical Professor Denton Cooley received the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, on March 26, 1984 in Washington, D.C. FLU VACCINE Promising results from the first phase of influenza vaccine research yield hope for a new vaccine in the form of nasal drops or spray. The experimental drops developed by researchers from several universities contain live influenza viruses, modified to act like the flu in humans, but harmless in clinical trial use. Because the vaccine could be administered by drops or spray, many believe that the vaccine would be more accep- table to the public than vaccine injections. Researchers believe a commercial vaccine could be available in 5 years. 13

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MOVIES Us In 84, Steven Spielberg continued to produce box office successes including a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones — Temple of Doom and an ET similarity, Gremlins. Tom Selleck though, was again unsuccessful with his leading role in Lassiter. Some of the hot movies for the summer included Romancing the Stone, Top Secret, Ghost Busters, Bachelor Party, Star Trek III, and Moscow on the Hudson. ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS Best Picture: Terms of Endearment Best Actor: Robert Duvall, Tender Merctes Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson, Terms of Endearment Best Supporting Actress: Linda Hunt, The Year of Living Dangerously Best Director: James L. Brooks, Terms of Endearment Most Original Song: Flashdance... What a Feeling Most Original Screenplay: Horton Foote, Tender Mercies AIDS The mysterious and deadly disease called AIDS could soon fall to medical science, many researchers believe. The optimism comes as a result of reports that researchers in the United States and France think they have isolated the lethal virus. The virus found by scientists at the Pasteur In- stitute in Paris is called “LAV” for lymphadenopathy- associated virus and over the year has become the leading candidate as the cause of AIDS. If indeed research findings are confirmed, then a vaccine could be developed to prevent the disease and blood dona- tions could be screened before a transfusion. More than 4000 Americans have contracted AIDS since it was identified in 1981 and more than 1750 have died. Resear- chers believe a period of two or three years will pass before a vaccine will be commercially available. The Jarvik 7 artificial heart fright) and the new Utah 1006 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in mid-1984, approved the implanting of a permanent artificial heart in a human for just the second time in history. This heart will be a new model: the Utah 100. 12 Sp, She's a girl from the big city. “Me's areckless soldier of For a fabulous treasure, they share an ad no one could imagine. or survive.

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rE i RRBRBBLK RRRRRRVVRR SVL LVRLVGLKLVVGHGSBAS SSSA Scenes From Life Flight In 1976, Hermann Hospital initiated a : medical transport program called LIFE | FLIGHT, which eventually developed into | an essential part of Houston’s medical care services. The program’s primary function has been to transport critically ill or injured pa- tients to a setting where the most sophisticated medical treatment could be provided in the shortest amount of time. Today, the program includes three helicopters based at Hermann Hospital, and two helicopters based at Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas in Beaumont and at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. The life flight helicopters are equipped as mobile emergency rooms and include the necessary medical supplies need- ed to administer emergency care. From their central location at Hermann Hospital, any of the life flight helicopters can respond to calls within five minutes. The life flight team consists of a pilot, physician, and registered nurse. All pilots 4 have had extensive military, commercial, or COrporate transportation experience. The physicians and flight nurses have specialized ed training in emergency care and trauma | treatment. - , | =. | | | | 14 | RRBRRBRLBRLRLRLBBQRQQQRLBQ LL QQ BLL BQ Q BRL QK