In case you missed it: A 2,100-mile bike ride, celebrating 70 years in Houston and protecting your skin
We hope your weekend is off to a great start. Thanks for joining us to run down health news, announcements, research and what is going on at Baylor College of Medicine.
Week 1 in the books
Sure, you may exercise after work, your weekend runs help keep you in shape, but future BCM Orthotics and Prosthetics student Jared Rammell is in the process of riding 2,100 miles across the country, starting in Boise, Idaho with his final destination being Houston. And it’s all for a great cause.
He is riding to raise money for the Range of Motion Project, which helps provide prosthetic limbs and orthotic braces for patients in Guatemala. Catch up on his most recent stops (on Thursday he met a man walking across the country with a goat named LeeRoy Brown.)
Catch up with Rammell on his journey.
Help him raise money for ROMP.
Celebrating 70 years in Houston
Join us as we take a look back at BCM’s rich history, as we celebrate 70 years of victories in Houston. Each week, we’re examining different eras of the College’s history and focusing on achievements in education, research, healthcare and community service. Be sure to keep checking back with BCM Momentum and see our photos on Facebook.
Attending the College during the World War II-era
Solving the puzzle of a neurological disorder
For more than two decades, BCM’s Dr. Huda Zoghbi has been on a quest to find the gene that causes a devastating neurological disorder called spincerebellar ataxia 1. Last week Zoghbi, along with researchers including BCM’s Dr. Juan Botas, Dr. Thomas Westbrook and Dr. Harry Orr of the University of Minnesota published a blueprint for understanding the disorder and a possible plan of attack.
The National Institutes of Health “Director’s Blog” highlighted our faculty’s work this week and included some really amazing images to accompany the post.
Read the press release announcing their research.
Having fun, staying safe in the sun
The sun is out, and you want to be outdoors. But before you head outside to enjoy fun and sun, make sure you lather up with some sunscreen. Preventing sun damage is easy and these steps can help prevent skin cancer. Read our expert’s take.
Even if you have sensitive skin that is vulnerable to irritation, a BCM experts says that sunblock allergies may occur due to added fragrances and additives. Instead of skipping sunblock, you need to look for fragrance-free brands that contain physical sunblock ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide instead of chemical ingredients.
Bottom line: If you have very sensitive skin and have a hard time finding skin care products, a dermatologist can help identify allergens you should avoid.
A study published this week finds that if you use sunscreen almost daily, it can help slow down the aging of your skin. The Houston Chronicle reports on the research that found even if you’re middle-aged, it does not mean it’s too late to start wearing sunscreen (especially since it means it could lead to younger-looking hands.)
-By Audrey M. Marks
