Stop the wasit! Why obesity is weighing down the nation
(Published: 11-30-06, Jewish Exponent) Fat jokes -- never funny to begin with -- really aren't funny these days. In fact,
they're downright unpleasant.
"Obesity contributes to what's known as metabolic syndrome -- hypertension, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, high cholesterol
and excess abdominal fat around the waist -- a cluster of conditions that occur together increasing the risk of heart disease,
stroke and diabetes," explained Emily Rubin, a registered dietitian in the division of gastroenterology and hepatalogy at
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital .
"The danger is that there is food everywhere today, but decreasing calories by 500 a day means losing one pound a week."
"Try to make it fun; make a change in behavior, a lifestyle change. Three small meals a day and three small snacks is a good
approach because it's all about portion size. Low-fat is better than high-fat, but be mindful of calories,” explains Rubin.
Gastroenterology and Hepatalogy
Media Coverage:
Jewish Exponent
Gene blocks prostate cancer growth
(Published: 11-28-06, UPI) Cancer scientists say they’ve demonstrated that a gene involved in regulating aging also blocks
prostate cancer cell growth.
Richard Pestell, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Kimmel Cancer Center and chair of cancer biology at Jefferson Medical College
of Thomas Jefferson University, and his colleagues say they hope the newly found connection will aid in better understanding
the development of prostate cancer.
“We know that sirtuins play a role in aging, and that the risk for prostate cancer increases with aging, but no one has ever
linked the two until now,” says Dr. Pestell.
CancerCARE at Jefferson
Media Coverage:
UPI
Washington Times
The Post Chronicle
After a Scare, Gleevec Appears Safe for the Heart
(Published: 11-21- 06, NCI Cancer Bulletin) In late July, some news organizations reported that 10 patients had experienced
heart failure while taking the cancer drug Gleevec. The 10 patients were all treated successfully.
"There was a pretty big overreaction to the paper on the part of the press, and this inflamed the situation," says lead investigator
Thomas Force, M.D., clinical director of the Center for Translational Medicine at Jefferson Medical College .
"Our report was simply designed to point out that heart failure can occur and therefore needs to be monitored," Dr. Force
says. "I think the drug will probably turn out to be quite safe if patients are watched."
Department of Medicine
Media Coverage:
NCI Cancer Bulletin
Milk May Be Pleasant Alternative for CT Scans
(Published 11-29-06, Forbes.com) Undergoing a scan of one's intestines isn't a pleasant experience for patients with conditions
like Crohn's disease, especially since it means downing a concoction made with radioactive barium.
But a new study suggests there may be a more palatable alternative: milk.
Researchers found that milk coats the intestines well enough so that radiologists can properly view the organ in a CT scan.
The milk alternative "is interesting, and it's certainly cheap enough.
Reading this, I might try it on regular patients," said Dr. Laurence Needleman, chief of CT at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital in Philadelphia.
Media Coverage:
Forbes.com
HealthScout
drkoop.com
Studies: Hospitals Could Do More to Avoid Infections
(Published 11-21-06, Washington Post) Infections acquired in hospitals, which take a heavy toll on patients, arise mainly
from poor hygiene in hospital procedures, not from how sick patients were when they were admitted, according to three new
studies.
The studies, published yesterday in the American Journal of Medical Quality, provide new evidence for experts who argue that
hospitals could prevent many of the growing number of infections that afflict patients nationwide, cost billions of dollars
to treat and are responsible for thousands of deaths each year.
"It's the process, not the patients," said David B. Nash, the journal's editor and chairman of the Department of Health Policy
at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Media Coverage:
Washington Post
USA TODAY
Reuters
BBC News
UPI
Jefferson Speech Therapist Adeline Schultz Therapy Times' 25 Most Influential
(Published 11-15-06, Therapy Times) Whether in the nutrition, occupational, physical, respiratory or speech therapy professions,
the 2006 Therapy Times 25 most influential therapists have one thing in common: an unbridled passion for therapy and an unquenched
dedication to the highest quality of patient care possible. Therapy Times is proud to present this year's list of clinicians
demonstrating the drive, character and integrity deserving of the title, "Most Influential."
Adeline R. Schultz, Med, CCC-SLP/L, BRS-S, created speech language pathology programs at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital and
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, both in Philadelphia, and has been a champion for swallowing to be part of speech therapy
since beginning work in the field in the 1970s.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Media Coverage:
Therapy Times
HeadOn Headache Relief - Hit or Hype?
(Published 11-10-06, 6ABC) An alternative remedy for headaches has been generating a lot of interest lately. The big question
is how well does it really work? HeadOn is a headache remedy that looks like a giant tube of Chap Stick and sells for eight
dollars. Dr. Stephen Silberstein, who has spent decades solving other people's headaches at Jefferson University Hospital,
says there is no one answer to pain relief.
It depends on the person.
"If you believe something works, it's more likely to work - nothing wrong with that," said Silberstein.
Department of Neurology
Jefferson Headache Center
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience
Media Coverage:
6ABC
Barrett's Esophagus, Fastest Growing Cancer
(Published 11-08-06, CBS 3) A cancer of the esophagus is the fastest growing cancer in the United States.
Over time, acid reflux can cause cells in the esophagus to become abnormal. Anthony Infantolino, M.D., gastroenterologist
at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, says, "We want to intervene long before the patient ever gets close to cancer."
Using the BARRX, a procedure Dr. Infantolino uses a scope to ablate the suspicious cells in the esophagus. Dr. Infantolino
is conducting a study with the BARRX device.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Media Coverage:
CBS 3
Jefferson Stroke Center Administrator Honored
(Published 11-6-06, Jewish Exponent) Toby Mazer, administrator of the Acute Stroke Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital,
was honored by the Tuttleman Family Foundation, a presentation made during the Dr. Guy Fried Educational Seminar held at Magee
Rehabilitation Hospital.
Acute Stroke Center at Jefferson
Department of Neurology
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience
Media Coverage:
Jewish Exponent
How Candidates Can Maximize Their Voices
(Published 11-5-06, KYW Newsradio 1060AM) With political candidates in the home stretch, you can be sure they've still got
lots to say leading up to Election Day. But what if they can't say it?
It's not hard to imagine this scene: Bob Casey and Rick Santorum in a room together -- going at each other's throats. But
could it be just that their voices need a little R & R?
"Candidates are going probably 16, 18 hours a day, and every place they go it's some type of speaking engagement, where it's
at least a small group or a large crowd. It's a lot more speaking than I'm sure they do on any day-to-day basis," said Dr.
Joseph Spiegel, an otolaryngologist with Thomas Jefferson University.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Media Coverage:
KYW Newsradio 1060AM
After 100 Years, Alzheimer's Still Somewhat a Mystery
(Published 11-3-06, ABCNews.com) Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D, director of the Farber Institute for the Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson
University, looks back at the history of Alzheimer's disease and how far research has come while available research funding
is still far behind:
"If I turned back the clock 100 years to Nov. 3, 1906, and happened to be sitting, surrounded by psychiatrists in a small
stone auditorium in the village of Tubingen, Germany, I might see on the program the name of a speaker, Dr. Alois Alzheimer.
Alzheimer actually spoke in this German auditorium in 1906, and he described a patient named "Augusta" who, in her middle
50s, had developed the seemingly unfounded delusion that her husband was unfaithful.
This delusion blossomed into full-fledged paranoid psychosis, and Alzheimer continued to care for Augusta in the hospital
until she died. Alzheimer then personally conducted her autopsy.
During the autopsy, he noticed something very wrong with Augusta's brain, which he called "a peculiar disease of the cerebral
cortex."
Farber Institute for Neurosciences
Department of Neurology
Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Media Coverage:
ABCNews.com
