URMC In the News

J. Christopher Glantz spoke to WebMD (Oct. 1) about how histories of restrained eating habits can actually prime women to gain more weight during pregnancy – ultimately putting them at risk for more preeclampsia, more C-sections, and having babies who have growth problems.

In a story about reducing the number of shots needed to administer anthrax vaccine, Bloomberg News (Sept. 30) included comments from John Treanor saying that, compared to injections given under the skin, intramuscular vaccines are less painful and seem to confer an equal immune response.

USA Today (Oct. 3), U.S.News & World Report (Oct. 7), the Toronto Globe and Mail (Oct. 7), and many other media outlets nationwide interviewed Shanna Swan about the risk of altered sexual development in babies whose mothers were exposed to phthalates. Commonly used to manufacture plastics, these hard-to-avoid chemicals now surround us, and are now found in everything from drinking water to household dust.

The Modesto Bee (Oct. 6) cited Peter Szilagyi’s idea that there are essentially two avenues for communities wanting to quickly improve their delivery of childhood vaccines: Either issue persistent reminders to parents, extend doctors’ office hours, and enact a collaborative effort to vaccinate every child during their visit, or develop a plan that uses schools or other community locations to deliver immunizations.

U.S.News & World Report (Oct.6) carried Ganesh Palapattu’s advice that routine healthy habits – eating well, exercising, not drinking and not smoking – play central roles in improving men’s chances of fighting, and surviving, prostate cancer.

TIME Magazine (Oct. 6) featured Geoffrey Weinberg’s explanations as to how vaccine creators must predict next season’s predominant strains, much like meteorologists attempt to forecast the weather.

Robert McCann’s recommendation that patients discuss end-of-life topics with their health care professional was featured in Forbes (Oct. 6). McCann said that just having these talks – regardless of what was actually said – helps prime patients to make choices that can improve their quality of life.

In a CBS News (Oct. 6) story, J. Christopher Glantz admits that an early-pregnancy blood test for Down syndrome could be quite a significant step forward – it could mean that women would no longer have to undergo invasive tests to retrieve this same information.

Well (Sept. 23), the New York Times’ health blog, asked Ann Marie Pettis how hospitals prevent infection. Pettis said that they not only promote regular hand-washing and equipment sterilization, but also urge employees against wearing scrubs in public.

Günter Oberdörster’s work showing that nanoparticles can move into the brain was referenced by the London Daily Telegraph (Sept. 22). This research has helped spawn a novel way for targeted delivery of drugs – for instance, to the brain, to fight neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

Supriya Mohile told Reuters Health (Sept 24) that more research is needed to determine if older men relying on long-term hormone therapy are really at higher risk for falls and injuries.

Tom Clarkson was quoted in the U.S.News & World Report (Sept. 29), explaining that the amount of mercury in a single flu shot is approximately equal to that found in a small can of tuna.

In a New York Times (Oct. 9) obituary honoring leukemia expert Ernest Beutler, Marshall Lichtman praised the late hematologist’s “extraordinary insight” and practical contributions to cancer research.

Washington Post (Oct. 10) carried comments from John Treanor, explaining that flu, though traditionally thought of as threatening to older people, also kills young children.

Yeates Conwell told ABC News (Oct. 14) that only a few people are likely to commit suicide in response to economy-induced depression; by and large, he said, those who do are made vulnerable by a whole host of other circumstances.

In response to new findings that suggest certain healthy habits can help prevent age-related macular degeneration, David Kleinman reiterated the importance of boosting antioxidant levels (by eating fresh fruits and vegetables) as well as shielding sunlight from the eyes (wearing sunglasses and hats). His comments were carried by ABC News (Oct. 15).

Time Magazine (Oct. 21) included Tristram Smith’s take on the plausibility of mandated insurance coverage for intensive behavioral autism therapies.

In Washington Post (Oct. 20) and ABC News (Oct. 20) stories, Jeffrey Peters suggested that guidelines related to the use of beta blockers, commonly administered to slow heart rate before surgery, should be reassessed.

Robert Bossarte spoke to CNN (Oct. 21) about a surprising trend: the mounting risk for suicide in middle-aged white men and women.

U.S. News & World Report (Oct. 21) ran comments from Laura Shone, explaining that the great need for health-care coverage for children isn’t isolated to the poor. The article also cited a URMC study showing that nearly half of U.S. children without health insurance had to go without medical care or prescription medications during that time.

Lisa Saubermann was quoted in Forbes (Oct. 21), responding to new research showing that almost one-quarter of biologic therapies approved in the United States and Europe since 1995 have been the subject of at least one safety-related regulatory action. She explains that biologic drugs – which, by design, modulate the immune system – have long been perceived as potentially risky.

Faculty Accomplishments

Philip Rubin, M.D., and John Hansen, M.D., received the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Medical Book of the Year Award for TNM Staging Atlas, a new guide to cancer staging that many doctors consider a must-have resource. The book offers uniquely illustrated text depicting the different stages of cancer development and was described by BMA reviewers as one that will “find a long-term place” on bookshelves and be for “ongoing reference use for years.” Rubin is a professor of Radiation Oncology, and Hansen is a professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy and associate dean for Admissions Offices of Medical Education.

Environmental Medicine professor Bernard Weiss, Ph.D., was honored by scientists around the world last month at the 25th International Neurotoxicology Conference, specially held in Rochester. Colleagues gathered to hold a “festschrift” – an ancient German custom celebrating a professor’s career. Festivities included presentations and new findings made possible by Weiss’ own research as a founder in the field of behavioral toxicology – efforts by scientists to track the effects of toxic chemicals by devising ways to measure their impact on behavior.

The American Academy of Pediatrics honored Karen Wilson, M.D., M.P.H., for her work studying the length of children's hospital stays for respiratory illnesses. Wilson, a senior instructor of Pediatrics, received the 2008 Pediatric Hospital Medicine Abstract Research Award at the organization’s annual meeting in Boston. Wilson’s research used a nationally representative sample to show that the mean length of stay for children with asthma, pneumonia and bronchiolitis – the most common reason for hospitalization among children – was about two days.

Marc A. Williams, Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine and Environmental Medicine and a member of the Lung Biology and Disease Program and the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Unit, was recently recognized as an international leader in the field of immunology. Williams was instated to the Faculty of 1000, Innate Immunity Section, which is an expert forum of manuscript review and evaluation to promote advances in biological sciences. Faculty 1000 members critique and highlight not only the upper echelon of scientific and medical journals, but also high-impact papers from more specialized journals from other disciplines.

Jennifer Carroll, M.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Family Medicine, recently won career development awards from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and our URMC Clinical and Translational Science Institute. It is unusual for young investigators to be awarded more than a single grant on one topic. Her research goal is to study primary care-based communication interventions to promote physical activity in underserved populations.

Scott McIntosh, Ph.D, director of the Greater Rochester Tobacco Cessation Center at URMC, recently received the American Cancer Society’s first “Fight Back” Award for his commitment to helping people quit smoking and reduce cancer incidence. An associate professor of Public Health Sciences, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, McIntosh serves on the Lakes Region Board of Advisors and on the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey Tobacco Task Force, providing expertise and guidance in the implementation of tobacco control strategies.

Louis S. Constine, M.D., was named a Fellow of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), a prestigious cancer organization of experts who specialize in treating patients with therapeutic radiation. Constine, professor of Radiation Oncology at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, is an international expert in the treatment of childhood and select adult cancers including lymphomas, in the long terms side effects of cancer therapy, and has more than 30 years of experience.

David Hicks, M.D., professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and chief of surgical pathology at Strong Memorial Hospital, has been appointed to a panel that is developing national guidelines for breast cancer testing. Created by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists, the panel is developing guidelines for testing the estrogen receptor, one of the most important medical tests given to almost 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year. The test plays a key role in determining the type of treatment they receive.

Pediatric social worker Eric Iglewski has been presented a Shooting Star award by the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s western New York chapter. Iglewski received this honor for helping “grant wishes” for local patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. Iglewski not only informs families about the program, but also encourages them to apply; over the past years, he has fostered a powerful line of communication between GCHaS families and the Foundation.

Rudolph L. Koch, B.S.R.T., R.T., supervisor in Respiratory Therapy, and Peter J. Papadakos, M.D., F.C.C.M., professor Anesthesiology, Surgery and Neurosurgery, and director of Critical Care, presented URMC’s experiences in complex respiratory care at the Respiratory Society of Ontario’s annual education forum this fall. URMC’s unique team approach to care, developed by our therapists and physicians, was highlighted in the presentation “Critical Care Teams: A Success Story.” URMC’s cutting-edge work with ARDS was also presented.

Robyn K. Dean, faculty associate in Psychiatry, received the Mary Stotler award at the biennial meeting of the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) in Puerto Rico. The award, given jointly every two years by CIT and the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (two prominent national organizations for sign language interpreters), honors an individual who has made noteworthy contributions in advancing the field of interpreting and interpreter education. Dean was recognized for developing the “demand control schema for interpreting work” – a unique occupational perspective addressing the numerous factors (beyond language and culture) that significantly impact effective interpreting.