“Responding to the Microbial Basis of Cardiovascular Disease”
Roberta A. Gottlieb, M.D.
Director, SDSU BioScience Center
Frederick G. Henry Chair in Life Sciences
From The Director's Desk
February 01, 2010
Go Red for Women
February 5th is the day to wear red in support of the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" Campaign... MORE
December 15, 2009
BSC Feature December 2009
The Domino Effect: Surprising Links Between Infection and Heart Disease. MORE
November 10, 2009
BSC UpData November 2009
The entrepreneurial side of the BioScience Center is emerging. My vision for the BSC is to improve health through strategies of basic research, public health measures, and commercial development. MORE
October 30, 2009
Vaccination Fascination
SDSU research professor Ed Morgan discusses vaccinations, their scarcity and why they are important. MORE
October 29, 2009
BSC Feature October 2009
'Neglected Infections' Resurface Among America's Poor... MORE
September 16, 2009
BSC UpData September 2009
The SDSU BioScience Center continues to advance its mission to study the critical nexus of infection, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. I hope you had a delightful summer... MORE
July 01, 2009
BSC UpData July 2009
Five world-renowned immunologists moved into the Donald P. Shiley Cardiovascular Research Center. All of their research, including projects on T cells, microRNA and vaccine development, intersects in some way with heart disease... MORE
June 01, 2009
BSC UpData June 2009
Construction is scheduled to be complete by June 15. Invitations have been sent out for the celebration of the Donald P. Shiley Cardiovascular Research Center which will take place on July 15. We hope it will be a memorable occasion. MORE
May 01, 2009
BSC UpData May 2009
With the imminent completion of the BSC's third floor, we have made a significant advance toward assembling the full team of collaborative investigators. MORE
February 11, 2008
A Gift from the Heart
Darlene Shiley is giving new meaning to a gift from the heart by donating $1.25 million in her husband's name to San Diego State University for heart disease research. MORE
February 01, 2008
BioScience Center Assembles Team of Investigators
The BioScience Center has assembled a team of investigators to explore the link between gum and heart diseases. MORE
January 08, 2008
Risky Receptor Regulators
Members of the Gottlieb Lab and collaborators from Scripps Research Institute published a paper reporting potentially dangerous effects of a drug that binds to a specific receptor for the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1phosphate (S-1-P). MORE
January 01, 2008
SDSU BioScience Center to Study Link Between Periodontitis and Atherosclerosis
The SDSU BioScience Center was established to study the links... MORE
January 01, 2008
Taking a Peek at Intracellular Housekeeping
Cells use a process called autophagy (literally, eating oneself) to survive periods of starvation and to clean up damaged organelles... MORE
December 30, 2007
SDSU BioScience Center to Study Link Between Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Heart Disease
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is responsible for coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease... MORE
December 13, 2007
Frontiers in Mitochondrial Research
Dr. Gottlieb and Dr. Frey presented work at the Frontiers in Mitochondrial Research meeting held in Italy November 25-29. MORE
November 23, 2007
SDSU BioScience Center Investigators in Action at the American Heart Association
At the recent American Heart Association meeting held in Orlando FL, in November 4-7, 2007, BioScience Center investigators presented their latest... MORE
July 20, 2007
Symposium Explored Links Between Heart Disease and Viruses
"This event was a great opportunity to explore this new area of study in heart disease," said Stanley Maloy, dean of the College of Sciences and former president of the American Society for Microbiology. MORE
February 01, 2010
Go Red for Women
By Roberta Gottlieb, M.D.
February 5 is the day to wear red in support of the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of American women (and men). So, as a physician and cardiac researcher, I am suggesting you put on red, and run right out and visit your... dentist.
Why am I suggesting you see your dentist? We already know that exercising, stopping smoking, lowering cholesterol, and eating a healthy diet are key elements to a healthy heart. Yet there are 8 million Americans with heart disease, and over half a million heart-related deaths each year. What more should we be doing?
If you regularly see a cardiologist, think about the last visit. Did she look in your mouth and discuss your oral care? Whoever thought a cardiologist would tell you to floss? They may not now, but that could change as we learn more about gum disease. Many cardiologists are unaware of the connection to heart disease, which is why the SDSU BioScience Center is launching a study of gum disease and heart disease in teens and young adults. (more about that next month).
Gum disease develops when bacterial colonies (plaque) multiply on teeth in the space below the gum line, very much like bridge pilings crusted with barnacles below the water line. Gum disease is slow and can lead to loss of teeth over decades, but before that, there are other consequences. Like barnacles, those bacteria can break loose, and the body's response wreaks havoc with blood vessels. So to take care of your mouth--and your heart--you should brush your teeth, floss daily, and see your dentist regularly to scrape off those barnacles.
Many health insurance programs do not include preventive dental care. Yet the mouth is the portal to the body and is a key defense against infection. Some studies have shown that providing dental care is cost effective because it decreases the risk of very expensive problems like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes in older patients. With more research, we will know a lot more about the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy heart in the coming years.
So go see your dentist, and on February 5, put on that red dress, and Smile.