NEWS
FOOD
First Generation to College Reception
When Only Banana Bread Will Do
IN THIS ISSUE
News Briefs » PAGE 3 Journal Club » PAGE 5 Puzzles » PAGE 7
Synapse
Group will host January 29 community event » PAGE 3
A recipe that may change your morning routine » PAGE 6
The UCSF Student Newspaper
Thursday, January 9, 2014
synapse.ucsf.edu
Volume 58, Number 14
NEWS
The Medical Response to the Asiana Flight 214 Plane Crash at SFO Panel presentation on Saturday, January 11 at Cole Hall
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By Alexandra Greer Science Editor
Photo courtesy of NTSB Asiana Flight 214 crashed on final approach to San Francisco International Airport on July 6, 2013. Of the 307 people aboard, two passengers died at the crash scene, a third died in a hospital several days later, 181 others were injured, 12 of them critically.
beginning in the field with Emergency Medical Services (EMS), then to the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) Emergenc y D ep ar t ment, and f ina lly to the operating room (OR) and intensive care unit (ICU) through to discharge. Dr. John Brown, Associate Clinical Pro-
fessor of Emergency Medicine at SFGH and Medical Director of the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Agency since 1996, will moderate a panel of presenters, as the audience follows patients through their health care journey immediately following the crash.
ASIANA FLIGHT 214 » PAGE 5
NEWS
A Filipino Dental Student Coalition Is Born By Krizia Garcia Contributing Writer
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new student organization has formed that will focus on the dental needs of the Bay Area Filipino community. The Filipino Dental Student Coalition (FDSC) held its inaugural meeting on November 14, 2013. School of Dentistry Dean John Featherstone welcomed the new registered club (RCO) to campus. More than 30 Filipino students attend the UCSF School of Dentistry, including four incoming students this year. The increasing number of Filipino students at the school prompted dental faculty member Dr. Antonio Ragadio to encourage students to create an organization that will focus on “social, altruistic and other service efforts to benefit the Filipino community.” The new organization plans to work alongside others that serve the under-represented and under-served in The City. The Bay
FILIPINO DENTAL » PAGE 2
Radical Proposal Regarding Postdoc Pay Is doubling salaries the solution to shrinking the number of postdoc positions?
By Theresa Poulos Staff Writer ith the coming of a new year, it is natural to hope for the best, fear the worst and work on resolutions for improvement. While we wish for peace, health and prosperity, it behooves our health care system to be ready for disaster, in whatever form it may take. UCSF’s Emergency Medicine Interest Group is holding a daylong UCSF NorCal Emergency Medicine Symposium this Saturday, January 11, on the topic of Urban Disaster Medicine, with attendees and presenters hailing from across the state. The keynote presentation, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Cole Hall on Parnassus, is free to the entire UCSF community and will feature UCSF faculty and residents who cared for the victims of the Asiana Flight 214 plane crash at SFO last summer. The three-part presentation will cover the three main phases of disaster response,
NEWS
Photo by EJ Abasolo/D3 Filipino Dental Student Coalition 2013-2014 Officers: Left to right: Alexa Navasero (D3), Krizia Garcia (D3), Kay Rodriguez (D1), EJ Abasolo (D3), Ramon Gutierrez (D3), Randy Rosales (D2), Edward Viloria (D1) and Jade Castro (D3).
D
r. Gregory Petsko, Chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) committee on “The Postdoctoral Experience,” has proposed a thought-provoking solution to the problem of job scarcity for academic biomedical scientists and also to postdocs’ low pay — dramatically increase postdoc salaries, thereby decreasing the number of postdoctoral positions available. The biomedical sciences have too many postdoctoral researchers competing for too few academic faculty positions. One way to ease this problem is to limit the availability of postdoctoral fellowships from funding organizations; however, this option is cumbersome and requires significant legislation. Instead of legislating change, Petsko suggests we should use basic economics. “Let’s suppose, for the sake of argument, that we decide we are training twice as many people as we should. How do we shrink the enterprise by a factor of two? There’s an obvious way of doing that: We double the stipend,” said Petsko, in a recent interview with iBiology. While Petsko’s argument is hypothetical, its assumptions are based on some uncomfortable facts: if we increase postdoctoral pay without radically changing how we fund research laboratories, only a fraction of current postdocs in the biomedical sciences can be employed. Unlike the NIH’s recent recommendation by the Biomedical Workforce Working group, which recommends an increase in minimum postdoctoral pay from just over $39,000 to $42,000, Petsko’s proposal would radically change the face of postdoctoral research. Underlying his plan is a desire to change many students’ primary goal of securing postdoctoral training. “It’s amazing how many postdocs seem to believe that this was an inevitable part of their scientific education,” Petsko said in the iBiology interview. “You become a graduate student, and once you were done, of course, the next step was to
POSTDOC PAY » PAGE 4
2 | January 9, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
EVENTS MISSION BAY EVENTS SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Friday, Jan .10, noon-1 p.m., Graduate Division. CC-310, Mission Bay Synapse is looking for Mission Bay and Parnassus writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch. RSVP to synapse@ucsf.edu.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, Jan. 10, 1-2 p.m., Helen Diller, 160, Mission Bay The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
MISSION BAY RIPS
Friday, Jan. 10, 4-5 p.m., Genentech Hall Auditorium, Mission Bay RIPS is a seminar series where one student and one postdoc present their current research. Talks are 15 minutes in length and are preceded by a 20-minute social. Snacks and beverages are provided.
GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES INFORMATION SESSION
Monday, Jan. 13, 12-1 p.m., S 261, Genentech Hall, Mission Bay UCSF Global Health Sciences will hold an Information Session about the Master’s Degree Program. The session will be led by Madhavi Dandu, MD, MPH, and Kim Baltzell, RN, PhD, MS, Program Directors, and MS alumni. There will be ample time for Q&A. Light refreshments will be served.
WELLNESS EXPO AT MISSION BAY
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 12 p.m.-2 p.m., Rutter Center lobby, Mission Bay More than 35 UCSF and external vendors will give away free information, fresh produce, snacks, free healthy lunch and hundreds of wellness resources. “Know Your Numbers” health assessments will also return, with a chance to earn $35 and chair massages.
IMMUNE CHECKPOINT BLOCKADE IN CANCER THERAPY
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 4 p.m., Genentech Hall 2014 Breakthrough Prize winner James Allison, University of Texas Professor and Chair of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Immunology in the Division of Basic Science Research, will lecture about his research on the mechanisms that govern T-cell responses. He will explore research on applying that basic understanding to overcome cancer’s evasion of attack by the immune system. The presentations are part of the Maurice, Ethel, and Jane Sokolow Memorial Cancer Endowment Lectureship, administered by the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
PARNASSUS EVENTS CHANCELLOR’S CONCERT SERIES
Thursday, Jan. 9, noon-12:45 p.m. Cole Hall, Parnassus Violinist Mayumi Wyrick, cellist Peter Wyrick and pianist June Choi Oh perform Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 87. The Chancellor’s Concert Series on Thursdays is a great place to take a break from classes while listening to classical music. Seating begins at
noon. If you are unable to come, you can now listen to the music through live stream. This concert is free.
J-I ORIENTATION
Thursday, Jan. 9, noon-2 p.m., Medical Sciences, 20, Parnassus J-1 immigration regulations mandate that all new J-1 visa holders who have started their appointment at UCSF must attend one orientation. At orientation, you will learn about traveling during your program, employment and reimbursement policies, extending your program, and other helpful information about living in San Francisco and doing research at UCSF. Bring your passport and your DS-2019.
H-1B ORIENTATION
Thursday, Jan. 9, 1-2:30 p.m., Medical Sciences, 159, Parnassus All recent H-1B holders at UCSF are required to attend an H-1B orientation. You will learn about traveling while on an H-1B, how to apply for an H-1B visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate abroad, how to maintain your status, and many other things you need to know while living and working at UCSF under an H-1B.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, Jan. 10, 1-2 p.m. , Medical Sciences, 163, Parnassus The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
THE MEDICAL RESPONSE TO THE ASIANA FLIGHT 214 CRASH AT SFO
Saturday, Jan. 11, 4-5:30 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Speakers will reflect on the response efforts the day of the crash, and outline the teamwork involved from the field to hospital discharge. Dr. John Brown, Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF and Medical Director of San Francisco Emergency Medical Services, will moderate a panel of representatives from the EMS, Emergency Room, Operating Room and Intensive Care Unit teams involved in caring for crash victims. Refreshments provided.
IHI OPEN SCHOOL AT UCSF MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6-8 p.m., Library, 215, Parnassus The UCSF Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School Chapter will hold monthly meetings every second Tuesday of the month. Join us for case discussions, article reviews, quality improvement and patient safety classes, speakers, etc.
PARNASSUS FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave. Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Wednesday, Jan. 15, noon-1 p.m., Millbery Union 123W, Parnassus Synapse is looking for Mission Bay and Parnassus writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch.
Email for more information and to RSVP: synapse@ucsf.edu.
critical human rights issues. callforentry.org/ festivals_unique_info.php?ID=1671
STTI ALPHA ETA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
ASUC AND GSA FORMAL: PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE PRICES GO UP!
Wednesday, Jan. 15, noon-1 p.m., Nursing Mezzanine, Parnassus Come by the Sigma Theta Tau International Alpha Eta information table to recruit members to learn more about the chapter and membership.
PARNASSUS FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave. Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
UCSF RUN CLUB
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Millberry Union Central Desk, Parnassus Please drop by and join UCSF Fit & Rec for a run. Each Wednesday night, the Run Club runs various distances (from 3-6 miles) at 9 to 11 minutes per mile.
OFF-CAMPUS CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: HOW-TO NIGHTLIFE
Thursday, Jan. 9, 6-10 p.m., Cal Academy, Golden Gate Park New year, new you, new skill! This week, NightLife invites you to learn by doing. Bring a can-do attitude and try your hand at interactive how-to workshops. Hopeless in the kitchen? Learn how to make fresh mozzarella from scratch with the pros from Ragazza and how to make tea liqueur with mixologists from Punk Domestic, curated by Skill Exchange. For the action-inclined, get a lesson on juggling and plate spinning with Circus of Smiles, practice the stealth of a ninja with Ninja Hoops, and step up to a line-dancing challenge. http://bit.ly/ NightLifeTickets, http://bit.ly/CLSDiscounts.
OFF THE GRID: UPPER HAIGHT
Thursday, Jan. 9, 5-9 p.m., Stanyan and Waller Streets, SF Off the Grid is a roaming mobile food extravaganza that travels to different locations daily to serve delicious food, with a free side of amazing music, craft and soul.
ANNOUNCEMENTS REGISTRAR AND FINANCIAL AID EXTENDED HOURS
By popular demand, the Office of the Registrar and Student Financial Aid will offer extended hours, including on Saturday, from Jan. 4-17. https://registrar.ucsf.edu/ registration/extended-hours.
STUDENT ADVOCATES TO THE REGENTS (STARS) APPLICATION DEADLINE: JAN. 10 AT 5 P.M.
Becoming a StAR gives students the opportunity to meet and directly interact with UC Regents to address student priorities during the Regents’ meetings. ucsa.org/ updates/apply-to-be-a-student-advocate-tothe-regents/
ENVISIONING HUMAN RIGHTS CALL FOR ENTRY: DEADLINE JAN. 28
The Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley and the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) are sponsoring a juried exhibition of student artwork. Students from all University of California campuses are invited to submit their works to be considered for the exhibition, addressing
Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m-1 a.m., Westin St. Francis, SF Purchase your tickets today and get ready to enjoy a night of dancing, desserts and photo booths. If you buy your tickets early, before the prices go up, you will be entered to win a free night at the Westin Hotel on the evening of the Formal. Must purchase ticket by Jan. 12 to be eligible to win. Purchase.
APPLY TO BE THE 2015-16 UC STUDENT REGENT!
The Student Regent is a voting member of the Regents of the University of California, attends all meetings of the Board and its Committees and serves for two years (one year as a designate and one year as a voting member) commencing July 1. All mandatory University fees and tuition are waived for the Student Regent during the academic years in which he or she serves as a Regent-designate and as a member of the Board. Submit applications by Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. regents. universityofcalifornia.edu/about/membersand-advisors/student-regent.html\
FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE COMMUNITY: RSVP BY JANUARY 22
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 5- 6:30 p.m., RSVP for location, Parnassus Are you of the first generation in your family to attend college? You are not alone! Please join fellow UCSF first-generation-to-college students, residents, postdocs, fellows, faculty and alumni at this community reception. Refreshments and opportunities to connect with first-gen role models included. Registration: http://bit.ly/1cEEbNc
FREE SYNAPSE CLASSIFIEDS
UCSF students and staff can now post online classified ads for free on the Synapse website. All you need is an @ucsf.edu email account. Try it out! synapse.ucsf.edu/classifieds.
Filipino Dental » FROM HOME PAGE
Area is home to more than 400,000 Filipinos, many living in neighborhoods such as SOMA, the Excelsior, the Tenderloin, Daly City and the South Bay. Many of these residents have little access to health care and are in great need of assistance. FDSC’s mission is to “unify the dental community in providing proper oral care and education to the under-served Filipino community, to foster and develop interest in health professions in Filipino-American youth in the Bay Area, as well as to bring appreciation and awareness of the Filipino culture,” according to the group’s organizers. FDSC will work closely with the Mabuhay Health Center, a free student-run health clinic aimed to reduce health disparities in the SOMA South of Market district. FDSC participated in the Fifth Annual Mabuhay Health Center Day on December 7, where it provided free dental screenings and fluoride varnish treatments. This event was a big community holiday party, and included food, games, raffles, performances, music and dancing, as well as access to health screenings, flu shots and dental screenings. FDSC is also working on fund-raising to provide additional funds for the Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, including a handmade bracelet sale and future food fund-raisers. Typhoon Haiyan has left 4.3 million people displaced, damaged 1.1 million homes and killed more than 4,000 people.
Krizia Garcia is a third-year dental student.
synapse.ucsf.edu | January 9, 2014 | 3
NEWS BRIEFS
Postdoc Pay » FROM HOME PAGE
become a postdoc. The postdoc has become the default. And I think that’s a huge mistake.” Arguably, postdoctoral training should only be required for those who wish to establish themselves as independent researchers. If this became the case, far fewer postdocs would be competing for the limited number of academic faculty positions, because more PhDs would be entering other careers without requiring postdoctoral training. That might be exactly what the biomedical sciences needs. With federal budgets running tight, postdoctoral fellowships are increasingly competitive, and many postdocs are under pressure either to secure their own funding or find a new position. With too few faculty positions, postdocs further feel the need to publish in prestigious “boutique” journals such as Science, Nature and Cell — requiring years of long hours and no guarantee of acceptance — in order to stand out in the fiercely competitive faculty searches at academic institutions. Given this often enormous pressure, one might expect postdoctoral pay to approach that of a job in the private sector, which can reach upwards of $60,000 or more for bio-
medical PhDs fresh out of graduate school. However, postdoctoral researchers remain notoriously underpaid: The NIH minimum salary for postdocs, which is the standard pay for most biomedical researchers, is currently set at $39,264 for incoming postdoctoral researchers. But is a doubling in pay the best way to secure the future of biomedical PhDs? Many might argue that decreasing the number of postdocs without radical changes to the PhD job market simply moves the competition to earlier in graduate training, when students are applying for postdoctoral positions. Furthermore, decreasing the number of postdocs in the biomedical sciences will significantly change how research is done in academic biomedical science. “I think the way to take on the workforce problem is to inform and empower students,” said UCSF’s Dr. Keith Yamamoto, who has worked with Petsko on NAS panels in the past and has written a response to Petsko’s proposal that will be published soon. “If you force the economic solution, what you’re going to force is that the big estab-
NEWS
First Generation to College to Host Community Reception By Boróka Bó Contributing Writer
P
erhaps the best part about being in graduate school is meeting like-minded students: new friends who also love learning, intellectual conversations and have an appreciation for life in all of its complexity. And when meeting future classmates, finding some common ground based on social and educational background and parental socioeconomic status can go a long way toward forming more meaningful friendships. What does this have to do with being First Generation to College (FG2C) at UCSF, you may ask? Well, nearly 80 percent of students who are born into wealth in the United States (family income of $100,000+) complete a
bachelor’s degree, as compared to only slightly over 10 percent of poor students (family income below $33,000). The chances that a student is both from an economically disadvantaged background and attending UCSF are slim. Yet, while not all FG2C students at UCSF grew up poor, some of us did, which means that as much as we love hearing our classmates’ stories of vacations to exotic places, we also know that 99 percent of the U.S population would have a hard time relating. And it sometimes seems that at UCSF, the 99 percent of the U.S. population is 1 percent of UCSF’s student body. Of course, it would be grossly oversimplifying our First Generation to College
Synapse
FIRST GENERATION » PAGE 5
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About
Synapse is the UCSF student-run weekly newspaper, which runs on Thursdays during the academic year and monthly during the summer. Synapse seeks to serve as a forum for the campus community. Articles and columns represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Board of Publications or the University of California.
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lished laboratories with lots of money will have all the postdocs. Small labs — dead. The ‘economic solution’ is going to change the demographics hugely.” Instead, Yamamoto recommends that universities focus on preparing PhD students for a variety of potential careers. “I think the PhD should be a hub — the center of a wheel — from which radiates an increasing number of ways to use that training. And each of those things (communication, law business, policy, etc.) would obligate you to some kind of additional training [post-PhD].” Until now, Yamamoto believes universities have largely failed at this. However, the Biomedical Workforce Working Group (of which Yamamoto was a member) made some strong recommendations to improve graduate training for a variety of careers, some of which will soon be implemented. The NIH’s Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) grants aim to encourage universities to train graduate students for a multitude of career paths, including journalism, policy, teaching, consulting and many other options. UCSF was one of 10 schools to receive a BEST grant. UCSF’s winning proposal will involve developing new coursework, opportunities to experience different career options firsthand, and working with faculty to provide a supportive environment in which to explore a variety of scientific careers. Yamamoto is one of four co-principal investigators on this grant, along with Dr. Terri O’Brien, Associate Dean of the School of Medicine, and Bill Lindstaedt and Jennie Dorman of the Office of Career and Professional Development. While Petsko’s proposal doesn’t mention any specific changes to the graduate curriculum, he also agrees that graduate students need to do a better job of finding their career path before committing to postdoctoral research. “We have a responsibility for making it clear to postdocs and graduate students that realistically, most of them are not going to become academics — and their training should reflect that and give them some of the skills and exposure that will allow them to identify the careers they actually do want, and be well prepared for it.” Petsko’s committee will not release a report outlining its official findings until May 2014, so it remains to be seen whether his recent proposal will be officially featured. In addition, while the National Academy of Science commands considerable respect in the scientific community, it has no power to dictate postdoctoral pay. Petsko suggests that if the scientific community decides that the economic solution is the best fit, “We as scientists then need to tell the science administrators at our institutions, in Washington, that this is what we want done. We shouldn’t let them decide for us, and we shouldn’t do nothing. “If we don’t do this,” he adds “we risk having an entire generation of young scientists who are frustrated, who are disappointed, whose lives aren’t turning out the way they wanted to, or expected to.” Yamamoto is also of the opinion that change has to come from above. Given the NIH’s Biomedical Workforce Working Group’s recommendations to increase postdoctoral pay to $42,000, it seems most likely that postdoctoral pay will only modestly increase in the next fiscal year. But given that both Petsko and Yamamoto have actively sought engagement by graduate students and postdocs on these proposals, it’s a good time for students and postdocs to get involved. For more information on Petsko’s proposal and Yamamoto’s response, visit ibiology.org/ibiomagazine/issue-10/gregorypetsko-the-post-doctoral-situation.html.
Alexandra Greer is a sixth-year Biomedical Sciences student.
Animal Cells Can Communicate by Reaching Out and Touching In a finding that directly contradicts the standard biological model of animal cell communication, UCSF scientists have discovered that typical cells in animals have the ability to transmit and receive biological signals by making physical contact with each other, even at long distance. The mechanism is similar to the way neurons communicate with other cells, and constitutes a departure from the conventional understanding that non-neuronal cells “basically spit out signaling proteins into extracellular fluid and hope they find the right target,” said senior investigator Thomas B. Kornberg, PhD, a professor of biochemistry with the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute. The paper was published on January 2 in Science. Working with living tissue from Drosophila — fruit flies — Kornberg and his team demonstrated that cells send out long, thin tubes of cytoplasm called cytonemes, which Kornberg said “can extend across the length of 50 or 100 cells” before touching the cells they are targeting. The point of contact between a cytoneme and its target cell acts as a communications bridge between the two cells.
Top Scientific Minds Gather for Breakthrough Prize Symposium Some of the world’s top scientific minds converged at UCSF last month as part of a two-day celebration of the 2014 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Nicknamed the “Oscars of Science,” the celebration kicked off with a Dec. 12 gala at Moffett Field in Mountain View that was hosted by actor Kevin Spacey and attended by other Hollywood celebrities and magnates of Silicon Valley. But the party’s real stars were the six scientists who took home the prizes: James Allison, PhD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas; Mahlon DeLong, MD, of Emory University; Michael Hall, PhD, of the University of Basel, in Switzerland; Robert Langer, ScD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Richard Lifton, MD, PhD, of Yale School of Medicine; and Alex Varshavsky, PhD, of CalTech. The winners, each of whom received a $3 million award, joined past winners the following day for a sold-out scientific symposium at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus.
New Medical Specialty Aimed at Harnessing Data to Improve Patient Care A new specialty in Clinical Informatics has been launched at UCSF, addressing the growing need to harness the power of massive quantities of patient information in the era of precision medicine and health care reform. This new board certification is designed to educate doctors on how to collect, synthesize and present data to deliver patient care more safely and effectively. The select group of pioneering physicians who will receive the first national board certification in Clinical Informatics includes pediatric hospitalist Seth Bokser, MD, medical director for information technology at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Awarded by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, the certification recognizes the increasingly vital role that the science and practice of informatics plays in health care. Clinical Informatics was recognized as a medical subspecialty in 2011 by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and is the first new board-certified medical specialty in 20 years.
4 | January 9, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
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synapse.ucsf.edu | January 9, 2014 | 5
Asiana Flight 214 » FROM HOME PAGE
The SFGH Emergency Department response will be handled by the two Emergency Medicine senior residents that day, Dr. Brian Resler and Dr. Scott Fischette. They will discuss their reaction to the call advising them to prepare for a massive influx of patients in an already busy emergency room. What triage techniques helped them make most efficient use of supplies and space? What went well and what could have been done bet-
The Medical Response to the Asiana Flight 214 Plane Crash at SFO Saturday, January 11, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Cole Hall, Parnassus Campus Admission: Free Light refreshments will be served. ter? How could UCSF’s student learners be of best use during times of disaster response? They will address these questions and more in their section of the keynote presentation. The final phase of OR and ICU care will be covered by UCSF faculty members and surgical residents, including Dr. Andre Campbell, UCSF Professor of Surgery with
First Generation » FROM PAGE 3
Community at UCSF to assume that we all overcame economic hardship. Our community is characterized by diversity: economic, cultural, ethnic and racial. Yet, despite our marked differences, when we meet each other, there is instant rapport and common ground between all of us. Here’s why: • We understand the value of never giving up. Even when the going gets tough, we can look back at a life of transcending and overcoming difficulties and know with certainty that we will do it again. • We understand that while we may represent only 1 percent of those at UCSF, we are the 99 percent. This means that we have the responsibility to serve the communities we came from, as they are full of deserving, brilliant, driven students just like us. We know that that they, too, should get a shot at a better life through higher education. • We know what it is like to feel like we
specialization in Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care; Dr. Jens Krombach, SFGH Clinical Director of Anesthesia and Medical Director of Perioperative Services at SFGH and UCSF; and Dr. Bian Wu and Dr. Shyam Rhaghavan, surgical residents in the OR and ICU on the day of and the days following the crash. These presenters will be able to share insight into the types of complications they faced with patients whose injuries were of the highest acuity. They will be able to discuss both the immediate traumatic emergencies, as well as the barriers to discharge and long-term complications their patients faced. Communication, triage strategy, utilization of resources, crowd control – this presentation will be a forum to address the many difficult questions that arise during times of disaster. The presentation will end with an open Q&A session, inviting all attendees to engage in the conversation. The UCSF Emergency Medicine Interest Group invites the UCSF community to be part of this discussion.
Theresa Poulos is a third-year medical student.
are “passing.” I like to think that this means that we are on our way to bigger accomplishments, but sometimes it feels more as if we were “passing” as the 1 percent, as we smile along to the stories of weekends in Paris we may not be able to relate to personally. • We can talk about unequal life chances and the role of opportunity, luck and community with great gusto. Having a supportive FG2C community at UCSF is invaluable for all of us. Together, we are strong enough to serve our larger community in the Bay Area, showing other students who may be the first in their family to dream of college that it is, in fact, possible. Come to the FG2C Community Reception on January 29 at 5 p.m. in the Millberry Union Conference Center to find out more about our student organization, in addition to First Generation Support Services at UCSF.
Boróka Bó is a second-year Sociology doctoral student.
Presenting exceptional artists in classical music on a science campus
W i n t e r
January 9 – Cole Hall Peter Wyrick, cello Mayumi Wyrick, violin June Choi Oh, piano
Brahms: Piano trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
January 16 – Cole Hall Melissa Kleinbart, violin Tanya Tomkins, cello Eric Zivian, piano
Schumann: Piano trio in D minor, Op. 63
January 30 – Cole Hall Robin Sharp, violin Lori Lack, piano
Beethoven: Sonata No. 6 for violin and piano, O. 31#1 Kreisler: Selections
February 20 – Cole Hall Angela Lee, cello Charles Chandler, bass music series funded by the Chancellor, to enrich the quality of life at UCSF and in the community. These half-hour concerts feature artists primarily from the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music faculty. This series was founded in 1998. Director: Pearl Toy, M.D. Poetry: David Watts, M.D. Program notes: Nelson B. Schiller, M.D. Production: Campus Life Services Arts and Events
www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu 415.476.2675 To watch select performances live or a later time please visit http://tinyurl.com/concertstream
Recent research by UCSF scientists By Taylor LaFlam Staff Writer
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY: Structure of the TRPV1 ion channel determined by electron cryo-microscopy. Liao, M., Cao, E., Julius, D., Cheng, Y. Nature. 504(7478):107-112. & TRPV1 structures in distinct conformations reveal activation mechanisms. Cao, E., Liao, M., Cheng, Y., Julius, D. Nature 504(7478):113-118. Your ability to enjoy the zing of a jalapeño depends on the TRPV1 channel, which is activated by capsaicin, the substance responsible for peppers tasting hot, and high temperatures. Not knowing in detail the structure of this receptor has made it difficult to determinine how it responds to these stimuli. Protein structures are usually determined by X-ray crystallography, but crystallizing some proteins is a titanic challenge. An alternative technology, called single-particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM), uses electron microscopy of a solution of the protein that was frozen extremely rapidly. By combining images of many individual protein molecules, each seen from a different angle, a three-dimensional structure can be reconstructed. In these papers, the researchers used cryo-EM to determine the structure of TRPV1 at a resolution of 3.4 angstroms, comparable to that of X-ray crystallography. They developed a new direct electron detector and new motion-correcting algorithms and created the most high-resolution structure of a membrane protein yet achieved using cryo-EM. The researchers determined the structure of the unbound receptor and how the receptor changed when activated. In comparison to the related voltage-gated ion channels, TRPV1 shared the same basic structure but displayed a different mechanism of opening when activated. PHYSIOLOGY: Targeting of αv integrin identifies a core molecular pathway that regulates fibrosis in several organs. Henderson, N.C., et al. (Sheppard). Nat Med. 19(12):16171624.
Chancellor’s Concert Series
The Chancellor’s Concert Series is a professional, classical
UCSF JOURNAL CLUB
Pierre Louis Hus-Desforges (1773-1838): Grande Sonate, Op. 3, No. 3 Edgar Meyer (b. 1960): Duo for cello and double bass Fred Bretschger (b.1953): Fantasy duo for cello and double bass
March 13 – Cole Hall
Angela Lee, cello Marc Teicholz, guitar Radames Gnattali: Sonata for cello and guitar Antonia Carols Jobim: Songs arranged by Sergio Assad for guitar and cello
Free Admission / Noon on Thursdays Cole Hall / 513 Parnassus Avenue / San Francisco 12:00—12:10 PM Seating 12:10—12:15 PM Poetry reading by David Watts, M.D. 12:15—12:45 PM Concert (No eating during performance)
/ 2014
The formation of excessive fibrous connective tissue, or fibrosis, is characteristic of many diseases, including cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. Currently, treatment options for fibrosis are very limited, and the diseases often progress until the organs fail. Myofibroblasts are a known major contributor to fibrosis. Previous research has suggested that the cell adhesion molecule αv integrin promotes this process by activating a fibrosis-promoting factor, TGF-β. However, a lack of methods for specifically genetically targeting these cells has hindered investigation. In this paper, researchers demonstrated that Pdgrfrb promoter-driven Cre can be used to selectively ablate αv integrin in myofibroblasts in multiple organs. Such loss of αv integrin reduced fibrosis in models in which it was experimentally induced in the liver, kidney and lung. They further showed that an αv integrin inhibitor could decrease experimentally induced liver and lung fibrosis, suggesting that it may be possible to develop drugs that target αv integrin to treat fibrosis. VIROLOGY: Mutational and fitness landscapes of an RNA virus revealed through population sequencing. Acevedo, A., Brodsky, L., Andino, R. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature12861. RNA viruses mutate frequently, resulting in a genetically diverse population even within one infected individual. This increases the likelihood that the virus can adapt to new challenges and can be essential to causing disease. Using next-generation sequencing would seem to be the natural way to assess such viral genetic diversity, but the very low frequency of each mutation makes it difficult to distinguish a mutation from errors in the sequencing process itself. To get around this problem, the researchers generated tandem repeats of genomic RNA fragments before sequencing. The chance of having a sequencing error at a given base is already low, and the chance of the same error occurring in all three tandem repeats is many orders of magnitude lower. In this paper, the researchers comprehensively documented changes in serially passaged poliovirus. They determined the rate at which each type of point mutation occurs — such as adenine to guanine or guanine to uracil. They also calculated the effect of thousands of different mutations on viral fitness, which may lead to a better understanding of the function of the virus’s proteins.
Taylor LaFlam is a fifth-year MSTP student. For comments or paper suggestions, email Taylor. LaFlam@ucsf.edu.
FOOD 6 | January 9, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
When Only Banana Bread Will Do By Matt Nordstrom Staff Writer
T
here is little in this world that is as comforting and splendid as a perfect morning ritual. Wake up. Jump in the shower. Stand there for a few minutes in a fugue state. Snap out of it to realize you have been soaping the same armpit for two minutes. Quickly finish showering. Dry off. Do hair. Get half dressed. Eat toast with a healthy coat of peanut butter. Drink water. Put toothbrush in mouth. Put laptop in bag. Brush. Put lunch in bag. Brush. Feed cat. Finish brushing teeth five minutes after starting. Put on rest of clothes. Walk to Bakesale Betty. Buy banana bread and small coffee. Bite. Sip. Repeat. Morning complete. These rituals make a bad morning better and a good morning great. We all have them. We also all know the tragic injustice that is felt when your morning routine is forever changed because that café stops serving your pastry, decides to open an hour later, or God forbid — closes. So when Bakesale Betty in Oakland stopped serving breakfast all together, you can just imagine how many fits I threw. Then the most glorious thing happened. I found the recipe for its banana bread online. It was
then that I knew there was some good in this world. The recipe originally fell a bit short of the mark. It was a bit light on the cinnamon sugar topping, so I say, make as much of it as you want and add it to taste. I personally like it when there is a nice coat over the entirety of the loaf. Eventually, I got it down. Resume routine.
Directions • Preheat oven to 350°F. • Butter and flour 9 x 5 x 3-inch metal baking pan.
• Whisk 1 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Whisk next five ingredients in a large bowl until smooth. Add dry ingredients to the bowl of liquid ingredients and stir to blend. Transfer batter to pan. • Mix 4 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and brown sugar. • Sprinkle the mixture over entire top of batter. Don’t skimp on it! • Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. • Cool bread in pan 30 minutes. Turn pan on its side; slide out bread, being careful not to dislodge topping. • Turn bread right side up and cool completely.
Matthew Nordstrom is a second-year medical student.
Bakesale Betty Banana Bread Adapted from Bakesale Betty Ingredients 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup plus 4 tablespoons sugar 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium) 2 large eggs ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup honey ¼ cup water 5 tablespoons golden brown sugar
THE STRENGTH TO HEAL
starts with our scholarship.
Capt. Ana Morgan, M.D., HPSP Medical Recipient Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas
You can begin training for the career you’ve always dreamed of with financial assistance from the U.S. Army. Through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)*, you could be eligible to receive a full tuition scholarship for an accredited medical program. The HPSP provides reimbursement for books, laboratory equipment and academic fees. You’ll also receive a sign-on bonus of $20,000 and a monthly stipend of $2,157. During breaks, you’ll have the opportunity to train alongside other members of our health care organization. To learn more, call (650)347-3967 or visit San Mateo Medical Recruiting Center 400 S. El Camino Real, STE 450 San Mateo, CA 94402 Email: usarmy.knox.usarec.list.9e3j@mail.mil www.goarmy.com/amedd.html
*Certain requirements and eligibility criteria apply. ©2013. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved. Information subject to change.
synapse.ucsf.edu | January 9, 2014 | 7
PUZZLES
Medical Mythbusters
The Weekly Crossword
ACROSS 1 Heroic tale 5 Cultural pursuits 9 Dutch pottery 14 Surrounding glow 15 Full of meaning 16 Verdi specialty 17 Docking spot 18 Forest forager 19 Harshness 20 Proving ground 22 Embodiment 24 Bubble maker 25 Tough to take 26 Send, as payment 29 Female "M" in Bond films 33 Pressing need? 34 Web or nanny follower 35 Mad magazine specialty 36 Poker payoff 37 Short hairdo 39 Kind of party 40 Manuscript reader 42 Hosiery mishap 43 Follow, as advice 44 Wicked 46 Beef chew 47 Lock of hair 48 Painter Ernst 49 Religious rite 52 Wealthy widow 56 Astringent 57 Bird of the Nile 59 Donated 60 Minimal bottom 61 Encourage strongly 62 Harbinger
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Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate
63 Bushy boundary 11 Building block 64 Sunday service brand 65 Square sort 12 Gift tag word 13 Weight DOWN allowance 1 Compass point 21 Mare's 2 Whimper like a mouthpiece child 23 Slammer 3 Bearded flower 25 Upper arm bone 4 Blood or Bligh 26 Turn red, maybe 5 Calculating 27 Whittle away snake? 28 Main theme Week of 1/6/14 - 1/12/14 6 Basket material 29 Precursor to "NCIS" 7 Souvenir shirt, briefly 30 Gunpowder 8 Magazine ingredient feature 31 Muskogee tribe 9 "Lover Come 32 Intoxicating Back" actress 34 Molar malady 10 Disparaging 37 Three Bears' nickname meal
38 Kramden's wheels 41 Handmade lace 43 Nut shape 45 Densest metal 46 Boxer's target 48 Malone of the 76ers 49 Mud or bird follower 50 Liniment target 51 Give a nudge to 52 Quarters, slangily 53 Monopoly, e.g. 54 At any time 55 Tear apart 58 Lingerie item
Jenny Qi is a third-year BMS student.
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Difficulty : Easy
HOW TO SOLVE: (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham
Solution to Sudoku
WE WANT YOUR BEST PHOTOS FOR OUR PHOTOGRAPHY ISSUE! Submit them to Synapse by February 7. synapse@ucsf.edu
www.phdcomics.com
Parnassus Poets Dispassion They asked me if I care at all My walls of distance now in place They asked me if it hurts at all If patients still can have a face At times I wonder the same thing If shielding serves and hurts me too At times I wonder many things If I care, and what is true By caring deeply for each one Untimely deaths can leave us scarred But caring nothing for each one Some turn away, all feelings barred Dichotomy and balance betwixt Each caregiver must find their place Empathy and distance mixed Each patient still should have a face Hannah Patzke Advanced Practice Public Health Nursing/1
title: "Convenience" - originally published 11/6/2013
8 | January 9, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
Solutions
Solution to Sudoku
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You’re Funding Fun! A portion of every dollar you spend at campus retail vendors helps support Arts & Events at UCSF
You’re Funding Fun! A portion of every dollar you spend at campus retail vendors helps support Arts & Events at UCSF