Women’s Health Center of Excellence Update

September/October 2003, Issue 42

9th Annual Graylyn Conference: Women’s Cognitive Health

The WHCoE will host the 9^th Annual Graylyn Conference on Women’s Health on October 29-31. This year’s conference will focus on women’s cognitive health. Because of the important data from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study and from other ongoing clinical trials, an entire day will be devoted to hormone therapy and cognition. Experts will discuss the progress that has been made and future research directions. We invite submissions of poster proposals on recent and ongoing basic, clinical, or epidemiological research on dementia and cognitive functioning. Abstracts are due September 26, 2003. Two $500 prizes will be awarded to: (1) the best student poster presentation, and (2) the best junior faculty poster presentation. For more information, contact Karen Klein at 713-4704 or Kim Wagoner at 713-4223. To register, visit www.wfubmc.edu/women.

Research Workshops: Grants & Manuscripts 3

Due to the resounding success of the first and second sets of research workshops on grants and manuscripts, we are doing it again! Register now for the 2003-2004 sessions open to faculty, fellows, students, and staff. For more information and a registration form, visit www.wfubmc.edu/women. Sessions include:

Nitty Gritty of NIH Grants - September 5 and January 16, 1-4 pm, $40

How to Get Your Paper Published - November 21, 1-4 pm, $40

A Guide to Foundation Grants - March 18, 1-4 pm, $40

NIH Study Section Panel: Insider’s Scoop on Reviews-April 8, 12-1 pm, free-must register

Our Research Support Core has a New Director!

Congratulations to Kristie Long Foley, PhD, on being named Director of the WHCoE Research Support Core (RSC)! Dr. Foley is an Assistant Professor in PHS-SSHP and took over the Directorship as of August 1^st. Remember to consult the RSC for assistance with NIH, foundation, or intramural grant applications that are underway. The Core assists both women researchers, and faculty who do women’s health research within WFUSM, with clarifying hypotheses and study design, budget preparation, editing text, and task prioritization. Contact Kristie Long Foley at kfoley@wfubmc.edu or Karen Klein at kklein@wfubmc.edu to learn more, or check out our web site at www.wfubmc.edu/women. The Core’s services are free of charge!

October Breastfeeding Classes

Do you have questions about breastfeeding? Join us for our breastfeeding classes and get your questions answered by a Certified Lactation Consultant. Participants receive Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide. Classes will be held October 2, 9, 16, and 23, 6-8pm at the Women’s Center and are co-sponsored with Action Health. A $25 registration fee is charged to defray material costs. To register, call Action Health at 713-8001.

For Breastfeeding Moms and Moms to Be

Are you breastfeeding or planning to, and need a reasonably priced breast pump? The Women’s Health Center offers a range of lactation supplies, including pumps and accessories. Contact lactation educator, Kim Wagoner at 713-4223 to learn more. Also, remember the lactation room at PPII is open 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. Contact the Women’s Health Center at 713-4220 to schedule a time.

Feature Article

October is National Lupus Awareness Month. Turn over to learn more about Lupus.

Lupus

Lupus is a widespread and chronic autoimmune disease which is difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for other diseases, as symptoms vary from person to person. Approximately 1.2 million American women have a form of the disease. Lupus is most common in women aged 15-44. African Americans are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. It is also more common in Hispanic/Latino, Asian and American Indian women. Both African American and Hispanic/Latino women tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more symptoms at diagnosis. Babies born to women with lupus may have heart, liver or skin problems caused by lupus. However, with good care, most women with lupus can have normal pregnancies and healthy babies.

There are three main types of lupus:

1. Systemic affects 70% of patients and can be mild to serious. It involves the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.

2. Discoid mainly affects the skin, resulting in a rash on the face, neck or scalp.

3. Drug-induced is triggered by some prescription drugs and mostly disappears once medication is stopped.

Symptoms often imitate other less serious illnesses, can range from mild to life-threatening or can go away. Symptoms include: