Summer Brings Workout Routines to the Beach Along with Increased Risk of Orthopaedic Injury
(Published 6-5-2008) As the beach season gets underway, many people will bring their workout regiment with them to the shore. And that means running along the beach, in the sand. It is commonly thought that the soft sand better cushions the lower extremity joints, making running on the beach more beneficial. However, Michael Ciccotti, M.D., chief of Sports Medicine at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson, and head team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies, warns beach runners to beware--this may actually be placing more strain on your muscles and joints.

RED ALERT: Study Finds Chinese Food Good for Your Heart
(Published 6-9-2008) A clinical study on patients who have suffered a heart attack found that a partially purified extract of Chinese red yeast rice, Xuezhikang (XZK), reduced the risk of repeat heart attacks by 45%, revascularization (bypass surgery/angioplasty), cardiovascular mortality and total mortality by one-third and cancer mortality by two-thirds. The multicenter, randomized, double-blind study, was conducted on almost 5,000 patients, ranging in age from 18-70 over a five-year period at over 60 hospitals in the People's Republic of China. Corresponding author David M. Capuzzi, M.D., Ph.D, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program at Jefferson's Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and Zonliang Lu, M.D., Ph.D, from the Fuwai Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science report their findings in the June 15th edition of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Jefferson Surgeon Elected President of Association of Program Directors for Colon and Rectal Surgery
(Published 6-9-2008) Gerald A. Isenberg, M.D., director of Undergraduate Education in the Department of Surgery, and associate professor of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University has been elected president of the Association of Program Directors for Colon and Rectal Surgery. He will serve a three-year term.

Different Type of Colon Cancer Vaccine Reduces Disease Spread, Jefferson Scientists Show
(Published 6-24-2008) Taking advantage of the fact that the intestines have a separate immune system from the rest of the body, scientists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia have found a way to immunize mice against the development of metastatic disease.