May, 2009

Over three thousand Pap members attended our fabulous Walkathon last month at FAU, the Miller School Regional Campus in Boca Raton. After a 3.1 mile walk we were able to go through several screenings, including cholesterol, blood pressure, dermatology and glaucoma. We also got to meet the physicians at UM Health in Boca. It was a great venue and everyone enjoyed themselves. Make sure to attend next year. Theodore Lampidis, MD, professor of cell biology and anatomy at Sylvester has developed a false sugar, 2-deoxyglucose, to target and kill slow-growing cancer cells that need glucose to survive. His research, which is funded by NIH, has led to a Phase 1 clinical trial that is finishing completion on patients with a variety of tumor types. In conjunction with this a new drug, 3-BOP, restricts the growth of neuroblastoma, a childhood brain cancer. The drug reduces tumor growth by more than 75 percent by starving cancer cells of their main energy source, glucose. Daniel Armstrong, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics and psychology at the Miller School of Medicine, was chosen as one of fifteen outstanding cancer care providers to receive a 2009 American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award. The prestigious national award recognizes individuals for their leadership and consistent excellence in providing compassionate, skilled care to people living with cancer and their families. Dr. Armstrong has worked on several studies and clinical trials investigating the treatment of childhood cancers. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has been named the number one eye institute in the nation on AARP's list of America's Best Hospitals. Camillo Ricordi, MD, director of the Cell Transplant Center and the Diabetes Research Institute is leading a study using immature adult stem cells from the patients own bone marrow to treat people with type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials are going on at the Miller School as well as other hospitals around the world. James Grichnik, MD, professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery, leads the Melanoma Surveillance and Detection Clinic at Sylvester, focusing on tumor biology and the latest imaging technology available to diagnose and treat melanoma. Genetic markers can help distinguish between skin cancers and harmless moles. William Sheremata, MD, professor of neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center is involved in a study that found people with multiple sclerosis may have a lower overall risk of developing cancer. However the study did find an increased risk among MS patients for certain malignancies, such as brain and bladder cancer. Joshua Hare, MD, professor and chief of the Cardiovascular Division, leader of UM's Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute is currently the principal investigator for two clinical trials involving stem cells in heart failure patients. Treating a heart attack with the patient's own bone marrow stem cells boosts blood flow within the heart and may help reduce long term complications. Carl Eisdorfer, MD, director of the Center on Aging stated that older people are flocking to volunteer programs such as the Peace Corps, all over the world. Looking for new challenges they are eager to serve, are experienced and willing to travel. May Abdel-Wahab, MD, associate professor of radiation oncology at Sylvester, has been named chair of the committee for Healthcare Access and Training for the American Society for Radiation Oncology. The mission of this committee is to improve the quality of care and the outcomes for the underserved populations by increasing cancer awareness, education and access to state of the art treatments. Lawrence Brickman, MD, voluntary assistant professor of surgery at the Miller School's Regional Campus at FAU, has been honored by the Cascade Lakes unit of the Pap Corps for his contribution in the fight against cancer. Angelo Gousse, MD, professor of urology and gynecology, is leading a clinical trial using botox to treat people who suffer from an overactive bladder. Researchers have developed an assay that may be used to help identify new genes that can predict a predisposition to cancer. Doctors are seeing an increase in the number of children with kidney stones, a condition some blame on kids' love of cheeseburgers and other salty foods. A single daily pill that combines aspirin and four blood pressure and cholesterol medicines has passed its first big test, potentially offering a cheap, simple way to prevent both heart disease and stroke. A major study of the experimental "polypill" proved as effective as nearly all of its components taken alone, with no greater side effects. Statin drugs which are taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease can also cut the risk of developing dangerous blood clots that can lodge in the legs or lungs. An implanted device called the 'Watchman' may soon replace the blood thinner, Warfarin as the first line of treatment for many people with atrial fibrillation. The Watchman blocks clots that typically form in the heart's left atrial appendage. Babies who gain weight quickly during the first six months of life may be more prone to obesity as toddlers. For people over 55, an alcoholic drink a day reduces the risk of death by 28 percent, but having one drink or less a week is no help at all. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is urging doctors to routinely screen all American teenagers for depression. The guideline acknowledges that nearly 2 million teens are affected by this debilitating condition. An NIH study is employing a highly aggressive approach to liver cancer in the hopes of winning FDA approval to treat eye or skin melanoma that spreads to the liver. Doctors drip a super-high dose of chemotherapy into a cancer-ridden liver. To prevent the toxic dose of medication from entering the bloodstream, doctors seal off the patient's liver and 'wash' the blood so it doesn't poison the rest of the body. Head and neck cancer patients who smoked, drank, didn't exercise or didn't eat enough fruit when they were diagnosed had worse survival outcomes than those with better health habits. When it comes to losing weight, cutting back on the calories in sugar-sweetened drinks, rather than food, may be most important. Action video games can actually help adults improve a part of eyesight called contrast sensitivity, one of the first parts of vision to be affected by aging. GlaxoSmithKline PLC applied for approval in the U.S. and Europe to sell an existing breast cancer drug as a firs-line treatment. Tykerb is already approved for women with advanced breast cancer that is HER2-positive. The drug maker is now trying to market it as an initial treatment for advanced cancer that is hormone-sensitive. A new anti-angiogenesis drug (Cediranib) reduces edema (swelling of brain tissue) caused by deadly brain tumors. These drugs prevent the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. New research suggests that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, appears to prompt the death of brain cancer cells. Low levels of a stress hormone, cortisol, may be responsible for the obsession with routine and dislike for new experiences common in children with a certain type of autism called Asperger syndrome. A drop of blood or a tiny piece of tissue may one day be used by doctors to assess how cancers are responding to treatments. Acupressure wristbands might help cancer patients experience almost 25 percent less nausea during radiation treatments. Eating two and a half ounces of baby broccoli daily for two months may protect against a common stomach bug linked to gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer. An analysis of nearly 200 studies involving millions of people concludes that vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet made the list of "good" heart foods, but meat, eggs and milk are still in the 'not sure" category. Carbohydrates like white bread and trans fats present in many cookies and fried foods made it to the "bad" list. An experimental treatment for prostate cancer, the Provenge cancer vaccine, has improved overall survival when compared to a dummy treatment. The vaccine maker plans to seek federal approval of the treatment later this year. New research shows people with advanced lung cancer can survive longer when treated simultaneously with high-dose radiation and chemotherapy. Nutritional therapy may benefit cancer patients undergoing major surgery. A trial showed omega-3 fatty acids given as part of an oral nutritional supplement resulted in the preservation of muscle mass in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer. People with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk for developing dementia as they age. Researchers say the higher odds may be linked to life-threatening drops in blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, usually caused by excess insulin. Hospital patients with coronary disease reduced their heart rates, breathing rate and blood pressure by listening to music. The effects were greatest when the patients chose their own tunes. Scientists have devised a so-called "phase 0" clinical trials, which promises to streamline the costly and time-consuming drug development process, helping to deliver effective cancer drugs to patients more quickly. Cardiovascular function can be affected by as little as 10 minutes of exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke and other pollutants such as wood smoke and smoke from cooking oil. Advocates of the female condom are promoting a less costly, more user-friendly version that they hope will expand its role in preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Cervical cancer screening should continue for women older than 50-even if they have had several negative test results-because they have a similar level of risk as younger women. In older breast cancer survivors, the number of lymph nodes removed during surgery and the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes were the two factors most directly linked to the development of lymphedema, swelling of the arm and hand. During tough economic times, it is important for people to manage their stress in order to protect their hearts and prevent heart attacks. Naomi Prever - VP - Education - naomirltr@bellsouth.net - 561-997-6020