Researchers Engineer Immune System Cells to Fight Skin Cancer
(Published 8-31-06, Voice of America) Researchers at the National Cancer Institute say they are the first to succeed at using
gene therapy to manipulate the body's natural defense system, boosting the tumor-fighting ability of lymphocytes, or T-cells,
to fight melanoma.
David Berd, M.D., professor of medicine oncology at Jefferson Medical College, and a cancer vaccine researcher, thinks that
the NCI scientists have a long way to go in developing a successful treatment for cancer. He says the tumor antigen targeted
by the re-engineered T-cells is found on the surface of many harmless cells in the body. Ultimately, the gene therapy might
not work in a lot of people.
Division of Medical Oncology
Media Coverage:
Voice of America
Complications delay surgery for injured player
(Published 8-29-06, Courier-Post) Respiratory complications have forced doctors to postpone spine stabilizing surgery on Shykem
Lawrence, the 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson football player who was paralyzed Friday.
The procedure, which had been set for this morning, would have removed shattered pieces of Lawrence's neck bone, which are
compressing the spine, and stabilized the area by welding vertebrae together. Lawrence was injured in a head-on tackle during
a scrimmage at Eastern High School. He severely fractured bones in his upper neck that badly pinched the spinal cord.
The teen's injury occurred in a region responsible for sending motor commands to the extremities and respiratory system.
While Lawrence's recovery is uncertain, Dr. John Ratliff, a spine surgery specialist at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia,
said young, athletic patients like Lawrence stand the best chance for recovery from severe spinal cord injury.
"Having not seen his MRI, it's impossible to know, but at 17 years old, if anybody has a chance to recover, it's somebody
like him," Ratliff explained. "Still, with an injury like this, it's very serious."
Department of Neurological Surgery
Regional Spinal Cord Injury center
Media Coverage:
Courier-Post
They've got your back - and heart, head, feet...
(Published 8-27-06, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Patient advocates navigate the health-care system, identify specialists, translate
doctorese, and negotiate insurance claims for patients who need guidance.
Bill Wynn was told by a doctor he had a brain tumor that had to be removed. With the advice of Betty Long, R.N., health advocate,
Wynn made an appointment with David Andrews, M.D., neurosurgeon at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
After some tests, Dr. Andrew explained that it might only be inflammation from an infection not a tumor at all.
"That's great," Long said, beaming. Her counsel had spared Wynn a risky surgery and, it appeared, he might not need any procedure
at all.
Division of Neurosurgery
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience
Media Coverage:
The Philadelphia Inquirer
A Grief Observed
(Published 8-25-06, Philadelphia City Paper) Saturday, April 8: My husband Mike was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor (craniopharyngioma)
in October 2005. His only symptom was a glare in his peripheral vision. If left untreated, these tumors halt all pituitary
functioning, cause blindness, neurological and personality changes.
The frankness of Danna Young's first blog entry might baffle anyone accustomed to snarky online rants about a band, movie
or political guffaw. But when Danna started "185 Craniopharyngiomas Walk Into a Bar" in April of this year, she had no way
of knowing how extensive the chronicle would become, or that she would end up sharing intimate details about her husband's
roller coaster illness with all the patience of a dedicated scientist and the healthy skepticism of a seasoned journalist.
"Craniopharyngioma is a less common disease that we treat," says David Andrews, professor of neurological surgery at Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, and one of Mike's doctors.
Department of Neurosurgery
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience
Media Coverage:
Philadelphia City Paper
Pomegranates show promise as cancer fighter
(Published 8-22-06, News Journal) With its exotic visual appeal and ties to the lore of just about every major religion, the
pomegranate has long captured people's imagination. It has been associated with protection, fertility and healing. It even
might have been the fateful fruit in the Garden of Eden that led to Adam and Eve's expulsion from paradise. With that kind
of history -- and a recent entree into the world of the trendy as an ingredient in cocktails and cuisine -- it's little wonder
that the pomegranate is now being looked to for its potential health benefits.
A UCLA study in the July issue of Clinical Cancer Research found that drinking antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice slowed the
progression of prostate cancer. Dr. Costas Lallas, assistant professor of urology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University, in Philadelphia, said the study was well-constructed, despite being funded by POM Wonderful juice -- the leader
of the commercial pomegranate parade. Still, Lallas will not change the way he advises patients.
Department of Urology
CancerCARE at Jefferson
Media Coverage:
News Journal
Diabetes evolution
(Published 8-14-06, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Diabetes care used to be dominated by insulin, but today more than a half-dozen
new drugs are crowding pharmacists' shelves along with a handful of improved devices to monitor blood sugar or deliver insulin
more efficiently.
If you look in the early 1990's, there was not much available,†says Barry Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D., director of the division
of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at Thomas Jefferson University. It's not that long since we've had a lot
of choices, and that gives patients more options.
Department of Medicine
Media Coverage:
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philly.com
RedOrbit.com
CentreDaily.com
Can Integrative Medicine Transform the U.S. Health-Care System?
(Published August/September 2006, Massage) Daniel Monti, M.D., director of the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative
Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has been widely published in scientific journals on the topics of mind-body
medicine, complementary-healing approaches for cancer patients, and integrated management of chronic pain. Dr. Monti has believed
in an integrative approach to medicine since the early days of his career.
Sometimes in the integration, we use complementary modalities. For example, for chronic pain, our acupuncturist, or both massage
therapist and acupuncturist, can make all the difference in the world, explains Dr. Monti.
Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine
Media Coverage:
Massage
Another Class of Future Doctors Begins at Jefferson
(Published 8-4-06, KYW Newsradio 1060AM) More than 200 first-year medical students received their doctor's coats Friday as
they prepared to start classes at Jefferson Medical College.Proud parents burst into applause at the sight of their sons and
daughters in those short white coats.
Barbara Martin of Bryn Mawr, Pa. found the experience overwhelming:
"Totally proud, totally moved, touched, and inspired by my awesome son."
Jefferson Medical College
Media Coverage:
KYW Newsradio 1060AM
Heatstroke Patients Treated by 'Arctic Sun'
(Published 8-2-06, 6ABC) When heatstroke patients come into Jefferson University Hospital, they may get a treatment with the
Arctic Sun, a device to quickly bring their body temperature back to normal.
The Arctic Sun uses pads filled with hundreds of water-filled channels. Cool water is pumped through the pads, which are placed
on key regions of the body.
They transfer heat away, reducing the chance of brain or organ damage. And they do it with more control than just putting
the heat victim into a tub of ice.
Department of Neurology
Department of Neurosurgery
Media Coverage:
6ABC
