FYI---PAPANICOLAOU
CORPS---SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER, 2009
(Please note—all of
the physicians listed are with the
NEWS!! The
Miami Institute for Human Genomics
has received a gift of $20 million to support research unraveling the mysteries
of autism and other related disabilities. The donor is philanthropist John P. Hussman,
Ph.D. This extraordinary gift was
gratefully accepted by
Martin Andreansky, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and director of
the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant program performed a successful bone marrow
transplant on an 18 year old patient with sickle cell disease and severe
complications. His teen brother was a perfect match.
Eugene R. Schiff, M.D., professor of medicine and director of the Center
for Liver Diseases, spoke before Congress on the importance of developing a
strategy to reduce the death rate from end-stage liver disease and liver
cancer, caused by chronic hepatitis B and C.
Lillian Abbo, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of
Infectious Diseases has said that a simple blood test can help doctors
determine which patients need antibiotics.
William J. Whelan, M.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology
agrees that fructose is a sugar and
is a problem for diabetics and those fighting obesity.
New studies link fructose, found in soft drinks and
sweetened foods, to high blood pressure,
which is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular
diseases.
Robert Schwartz, M.D., professor and chairman of family medicine and community
health authored a study indicating that consumers have easy access to
antibiotic medication on the internet, without a prescription. This
uncontrolled use of antibiotics is a public hazard and is illegal.
Salahadin Abdi, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and David Lubarsky,
M.D., professor and chairman of
anesthesiology, announced that the University of Miami
Pain Management Center will be using a non-invasive pain therapy device made by
Competitive Technologies, Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline states that they are one step closer to competing with Merck’s blockbuster vaccine, Gardasil. This
vaccine prevents the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Merck also
claims that the vaccine will prevent genital warts in men and boys.
Nadroparin, a blood-thinning drug, halves the risk of developing blood clots in
ambulatory cancer patients, receiving chemotherapy, and as such could become an
important preventative treatment in these patients.
Swine flu vaccine experts have said that so far the vaccine seems safe. One dose is all
that is needed. Most will be a nasal spray,
FluMist. New treatments are being tested for
those who have Tamiflu resistant viruses.
Among the elderly, the ratio
of waist size to hip size may be a better determinant of obesity than body mass index.
Fruit,
such as apples, peaches and nectarines are very beneficial as antioxidants with
disease –fighting properties.
Chronic gum disease may increase the risk of head and neck cancer, especially in the mouth
and throat.
A new study casts doubt on
the long-held hypothesis that exposing kids to more germs and illnesses at an early age protects them from asthma and
allergies later on.
Routine testing would
improve the potential of the anti-breast drug known as Herceptin.
Cancer patients who have depression can lose many years of life.
There is a need to screen patients for psychological problems.
A team of scientists have
found that second hand tobacco smoke
exposure can result in liver diseases.
Swimming in pools with chlorine raises children’s risk of
asthma and allergies.
Men over 65, diagnosed with prostate cancer, do better today by
watchful waiting than in the era before screening tests (PSA) became common.
People whose jobs bring them
in regular contact with pesticides may be at an increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.
When you can’t stop eating, blame your brain. Tasty foods
send a signal to the brain to keep eating.
Health experts are urging
policymakers to address the nation’s obesity
epidemic as part of the federal health care legislation.
An experimental vaccine has
prevented HIV for the first time.
This is a watershed event in this deadly epidemic.
Research in mice suggests
that sleep deprivation boosts the levels of a protein which clogs the brains of
Alzheimer’s patients.
The way to reduce the
chances of developing Alzheimer’s
after a stroke is to prevent a second
stroke.
Naomi
Prever—Vice-President-Education----naomirltr@bellsouth.net