December, 2008

At the President's general meeting H. James Hnatszyn, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine who spoke to us about his investigative work with viruses gave us some very good news. According to NIH, the restrictions on stem cell research will be lifted on January 22nd by our new president-elect-HOORAY!! Stefan Gluck, M.D PhD., professor of medicine and clinical director of the Braman Family Cancer Institute at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center believes the proportion of younger women (under 45) who are diagnosed with breast cancer, is higher in South Florida. His reasoning is that women from South and Central America, who live here, tend to develop the disease earlier. Many of these cases are due to genetic mutations. Aaron Wolfson, M.D., professor and vice chairman of radiation oncology at Sylvester has been seen on TV describing the Gynocyte device which he has recently developed. This device delivers radiation to tumors in cervical cancer patients with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. There is a 90% cure rate when this device is used on patients. A study suggests a possible role for nicotine in breast tumor development and metastases. Scientists have found two new genetic variations that appear to increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma among people of European descent. Scientists have found a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers. A fragment released from peptin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3, a protein that plays a small role in all stages of cancer progression. Drinking coffee or consuming other caffeine-laden foods does not appear to boost breast cancer. JFK Medical Center's Internal Medicine Residency Continuity of Care Center provides first class medical care at half the cost of doctors in the area. The UM Miller School of Medicine has established Palm Beach County's first allopathic residency training program, with those residents staffing the center. An 11 year study found that vigorous activity and exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 30 percent in normal-weight women. Researchers trying to find out why HER-2 positive breast cancer can be more aggressive than other forms of the disease have discovered that HER-2 itself is the culprit. By shutting down its own regulator gene, HER-2 creates a permissive environment for tumor growth. Richard Isaacson, M.D., assistant professor of neurology, accompanied actor, Hector Elizondo, touring the nation to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease. When actor Elizondo was in his 30's his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's which affects over 5 million Americans. Caregivers can get on-line help at www.caringforAlz.com or www.alz.org. A mutation in mice that mimics progressive hearing loss in humans has been identified by researchers. The hope is the discovery will help lead to improved diagnostics and treatments in humans. In just one decade, Florida has gone from having one of the lowest rates of type 2 diabetes in the country to being among the top 10 worst, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fast -rising obesity, lack of exercise and a less-than-ideal diet are to be blamed. Alex Moreno, director of adolescent outreach and education and the Miller School of Medicine, hosted the launch of a web site at helping women become more informed about HIV. The goal of the Southern AIDS Living Quilt, www.livingquilt.org is to get more women in the South tested and end social bias against women who have the disease. Survival after pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer is twice as long when the tumor is negative for the calcium building protein, S100A2, as when tumors express high levels of this protein. Hospital length of stay is shorter and perioperative morbidity is significantly lower with video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy for the treatment of stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer than with open thoracotomy and lobectomy. Doctors are working on a combination of blood cleansing and a cancer drug to outwit the immune system of so-called "highly sensitized" patients whose bodies are abnormally primed to attack a donated organ. The risks of taking the painkiller Vioxx did not end when the drug was taken off the market. An international study found the risk of heart attack, stroke and death were increased close to twofold and the risk persisted for about one year. A highly drug-resistant germ has become a common cause of meningitis, pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions in young children. A new study reports that warfarin, a common treatment for atrial fibrillation, is either not prescribed by U.S. doctors as often as it should be or, when it is, not at optimal therapeutic doses. More Americans than ever are being treated for high blood pressure and the major factor in the dramatic rise appears to be the obesity epidemic. New research suggests that surfing the net helps keep the mind fit! Naomi Prever - VP - Education - naomirltr@bellsouth.net - 561-997-6020