February 2007
EAGLES AND JEFFERSON HOSPITAL ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUR TEAM!
(Published 2-9-2007) Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders and team mascot SWOOP will greet guests as they arrive for free heart
screenings and a visit from Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter at the joint kickoff of "Heartbeat of Our Team" on Tuesday,
February 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Katz Jewish Community Center, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.
Rheumatologist Oscar Irigoyen, M.D., Joins Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
(Published 2-16-2007) Oscar Irigoyen, M.D., has joined the division of Rheumatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
as Director of the Rheumatology Clinical Practice. He is a general rheumatologist who specializes in the treatment of patients
with such conditions as arthritis, osteoporosis, scleroderma, vasculitis, lupus and Sjogren’s Syndrome.
Targeting the Adrenal Gland Could Be Key Strategy Against Heart Failure, Jefferson Scientists Show
(Published 2-18-2007) Scientists at the Center for Translational Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have
staved off heart failure in animals by using gene therapy to shut down the adrenal gland’s excessive output of fight or flight
hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. By blocking GRK2, an important regulatory enzyme, they cut the hormone production
that forces the heart to pump too hard, leading to heart failure. Such a novel approach – targeting the adrenal gland in addition
to the heart – provides a potential new strategy against heart failure, and could lead to a new class of drugs.
Jefferson Surgeon’s Book Series Shows How to Avoid Hundreds of Common Medical Errors
(Published 2-22-2007) Jefferson Surgeon's Book Series Shows How to Avoid Hundreds of Common Medical Errors Surgeon Lisa Marcucci,
M.D., says she decided to write a series of practical guides for the medical community about common medical errors simply
because "in the past, we have seen the same mistakes over and over." These include mistakes even an attending physician could
make, such as forgetting to wash his or her hands, which can increase the risk of spreading infections.
"While mistakes occur, we need to be aware of our obligation to reduce their numbers," said Dr. Marcucci.
