Research Dispels Myths Surrounding Essential Fat

A new science advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA) concludes that omega-6 fatty acids may decrease risk for heart disease when part of a healthy eating plan. Omega-6s are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids naturally-occurring in soybean oil, nuts and seeds. These findings dispel debate that omega-6s may cause inflammation leading to heart disease, the nation’s number one killer.

Circulation, an AHA journal, published the findings that diets rich in omega-6 fatty acids prove to be heart healthy. Dr. William Harris, PhD, and colleagues from the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, felt it was important to objectively evaluate reports that omega-6s promote inflammation and thus may increase heart disease risk.

In a statement from AHA, Dr. Harris explained, “That idea is based more on assumptions and extrapolations than on hard data.” While an acid that causes early stages of inflammation may be formed from omega-6s, they also produce anti-inflammatory properties – particularly in the lining of blood vessels – that are much stronger.

After reviewing results of more than two dozen controlled and observational studies, Dr. Harris determined that participants in the controlled trials consuming diets higher in omega-6s had less incidence of heart disease than those whose omega-6 intake was low. A meta-analysis of several trials indicated that replacing saturated fats with omega-6 lowered heart disease risk by 24 percent.

Soybean oil is about 50 percent omega-6 fatty acids, one of the most concentrated sources, while olive oil and canola oil are both low in omega-6s. Soybean oil is commonly labeled vegetable oil in the grocery store – check the ingredients label to be sure. Joy Blakeslee, RD, culinary expert for the United Soybean Board, offers these helpful hints on inexpensive ways to enjoy soybean oil:

  • Replace 1/3 cup soybean oil per 1/2 cup solid fat in cake and soft cookie recipes
  • Stir-fry lean meats and vegetables in soybean oil
  • Infuse soybean oil with herbs and garlic and use for dipping bread and dressing pasta
  • Whisk together soybean oil and seasonings for home-made salad dressings, or purchase a commercial salad dressing that contains soybean oil
  • Look for pie crust recipes that call for liquid soybean oil

“The news that soybean oil may lower heart disease risk when replacing oils with higher levels of saturated fat is especially important,” notes Lisa Kelly, RD, MPH, of the United Soybean Board. Ms. Kelly notes that “soybean oil innovations are helping the food industry reduce saturated and trans fat levels in many processed baked goods and snacks.”

The advisory recommends Americans aim for 5 percent to 10 percent of their daily calories from omega-6 fatty acids. The recommended daily intake of omega-6s ranges from 12 grams to 22 grams depending on age, gender and physical activity. Most Americans get their daily requirement in the foods they consume, but do not need to reduce their intake; some Americans may actually need to increase their intake of omega-6s.

The United Soybean Board is comprised of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. For more information on the health benefits of soy and simple recipe suggestions to help add soy to your diet, please visit www.soyconnection.com.

To view a quick and easy recipe for soybean oil dipping sauces, visit:

http://www.soyconnection.com/recipes/recipe_view.php/Infused+Soybean+Oils?Recipes_id=175


Innovative Scientists Aim to Predict and Prevent Preterm Birth

Scientists intend to identify microbes that may cause preterm labor in some women, investigate the role of an enzyme in preventing uterine contractions and an early birth, and look at different groups of women to find genetic and environmental risk factors for prematurity.

The work of seven researchers will be supported for the next three years by new March of Dimes Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) grants. The nearly $2.7 million in new grants continues March of Dimes support for efforts to predict and prevent preterm birth. These 2009 grants bring the five-year-old program’s grant total to nearly $14 million.

“This research is critical to ending the epidemic of preterm birth,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the organization. “That’s why we created the PRI grants and continue to award them even in these difficult economic times, because the goal is for every baby to be born healthy and full-term.”

Jennifer Condon, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, is one of the new PRI grant recipients who’s seeking clues to what causes both normal labor and premature labor. Her work focuses on an enzyme called caspase-3 that typically is involved in cell turnover.

“We think we’ve found a central mechanism for why the pregnant uterus usually stays quiet for nine months,” Dr. Condon says. “Caspase-3 may be what prevents the uterus from contracting during a normal, healthy pregnancy. We hypothesize that inappropriate elimination of this enzyme from the pregnant uterus may be the cause of the onset of preterm labor.”

Caspase-3 is positively regulated by progesterone and other studies have shown that regular injections of a form of progesterone found naturally during pregnancy can prevent some preterm births in women who have had a prior preterm birth.

“The March of Dimes is the only major health charity supporting basic research on the causes of premature labor, so we’re extremely fortunate to receive this grant,” Dr. Condon said.

The March of Dimes calls on the federal government to fully fund the PREEMIE Act of 2006, which expands federal research on preterm labor and delivery, and the care and treatment, and outcomes of preterm and low birthweight infants, Dr. Howse said.

In December 2008, the March of Dimes and the Burroughs Wellcome Trust co-sponsored “Preventing Prematurity: Establishing a Network for Innovation and Discovery,” a meeting that brought together about 200 researchers from around the world to establish new partnerships on the problem of preterm birth and inspire other scientists to pursue studies in this area so crucial to maternal and infant health.

Preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks gestation) is a leading cause of infant death in the United States. Babies who survive an early birth often face serious and sometimes lifelong health problems, including breathing problems, jaundice, developmental delays, vision loss and cerebral palsy. More than 543,000 babies are born too soon each year and recent federal statistics show that the nation’s preterm birth rate has risen to 12.8 percent – a 36 percent increase since the early 1980s.

The 2009 PRI grant recipients are:
1. Jennifer C. Condon, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Cell Biology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA;

2. Michal Elovitz, MD, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA;

3. Sarah Katherine England, PhD, associate professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA;

4. Ramkumar Menon, MS, PhD, associate research professor, Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA;

5. Deborah McColl Money, BSc, MD, FRCSC, associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC;

6. James Frederick Padbury, MD, professor and vice chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, RI;

7. Kristina M. Adams Waldorf, MD, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies(SM), the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.


The world’s first phase one FDA-approved clinical trial using adult cardiac stem cells to treat heart disease will be conducted by a team of University of Louisville doctors at Jewish Hospital.

For the first time, patients with advanced heart disease who already are undergoing bypass surgery will be recruited for participation in the clinical trial, which uses adult stem cells taken from the patient’s own cardiac tissue. During surgery, a small piece of tissue that is routinely removed during the bypass procedure will be frozen and sent to colleagues at Harvard University so that the adult cardiac stem cells can be extracted and removed.

After the patient has recovered for three to four months, the cells will be directly injected into cardiac scar tissue using a minimally-invasive cardiac catheterization procedure, which reaches the heart through a large artery in the patient’s leg.

The patients will be evaluated over the course of at least a year for heart function and blood flow. The heart’s overall size and the size of the scar tissue will be measured.

“Our hope is that the cardiac stem cells will help the heart tissue regenerate, reducing the size of the patient’s scar tissue and improving heart function,” said study leader Roberto Bolli, Jewish Hospital Heart and Lung Institute Distinguished Chair in Cardiology.

All patients enrolling in the clinical trial will receive the cardiac stem cell therapy, since this is a phase one clinical trial designed to test the treatment’s safety and feasibility.

Bolli, who is also chief of the Division of Cardiology and director of UofL’s Institute for Molecular Cardiology, is collaborating with a number of leaders in the field of cardiovascular and stem cell medicine for this clinical trial, including Piero Anversa, of Harvard University and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and Mark Slaughter, Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UofL.

Individuals wishing to learn more about this study should call 502-852-1387 or email cardiactrial@louisville.edu.

Source: Jewish Hospital


Researchers Identify Novel Mechanism That Make Cancer Tumors Grow

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Feb 11,2009

Scientists at the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (IMBCR) have uncovered a new pathway that could explain how blood vessels form within tumors.

IMBCR researchers uncovered a new way that cancers orchestrate the production of their own blood supply. Recent studies have shown that many tumors make a protein called pleiotrophin (PTN). They now show that PTN produced by tumor cells in multiple myeloma, a common form of bone marrow-based cancer, changes white cells in the blood called “monocytes” into cells that form the lining of blood vessels called “vascular endothelial cells” (VEC). These VEC cells then become incorporated into the blood vessels that form within tumors.

“This is exciting news, and we feel this will not only have a tremendous impact on hematological tumors, such as myeloma, but other cancers as well,” said James R. Berenson, M.D., Medical and Scientific Director of the IMBCR. “By uncovering this unique mechanism, how PTN produced by cancers actually changes circulating white cells into cells that line blood vessels that feed the tumor, we can direct our efforts to create more targeted approaches to eliminate blood supplies for cancers which should dramatically improve therapies for many types of cancers.”

Haiming Chen, M.D., Ph.D. is the first author of the research, published this week on the cover of BLOOD. Drs. Berenson and Chen collaborated with scientists at Hemaquest, the Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine and Cell Biology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Departments of Neurosurgery, Pathology, and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Part of IMBCR’s multi-year research project, “Cure Myeloma Project,” this research was funded by grants from the Skirball and Annenberg Foundations, Kramer Family Foundation and the Myeloma Research Fund.

Source: Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research


Patients Urged to be Aware of Prescription Switching

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Feb 11,2009

Four questions consumers can ask their pharmacists

Given the economy, everyone is trying to be smart with their money. When it comes to health care, there’s a push by insurers to switch prescriptions written by physicians to less expensive substitutes. But what looks like a favor to consumers may be anything but, according to Dr. Ivan Abdouch, president of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians. This switch can have unwanted effects for patients, prolonging illnesses, increasing hospitalizations and prompting other health issues.

Consumers have the power to get the medicine they need — and that their physicians prescribed — by asking pharmacists these four important questions prepared by Dr. Mark Alberts of Northwestern University.

1) Is this the exact drug my doctor prescribed? Your physician is aware of your medical history and has carefully chosen the medicine she believes is right for you after carefully considering all generic options and branded alternatives.

2) Why are you switching my prescription? Often times it is to keep costs down for insurers who may even be paying the pharmacist a bonus to make the change. Make sure your best interests always come first. Ask your pharmacist to verify the switch medicine has the same benefits and indications as the prescribed medicine. Do not sacrifice the treatment goals you and your physician set during the office visit.

3) Will this switch impact my health? Not all medications have a generic equivalent. A switch may mean you are getting a different medication than your doctor ordered. If this new drug is the right one for you, ask why it wasn’t prescribed for you in the first place.

4) Have you notified my doctor of this switch? Nebraska law prevents the switching of medications without the knowledge of your doctor, unless an equivalent generic is available. It is your right to verify this legal protection. If your doctor had wanted to prescribe a different medication, he would have done so.

“There is a reason doctors prescribe the medications they do,” says Dr. Abdouch. “By asking these questions, patients can improve their chances of receiving the best — and most cost-effective — health care possible.”

Source: Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians


The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure, celebrates ten years of progress and service to the pancreatic cancer community.

Since its inception in February 1999, the organization has grown from a small patient advocacy organization with one employee to a nationally recognized leader in the fight against the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States with more than 50 employees and two offices: a headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., and a Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C.

“The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network grew out of frustration about the lack of useful resources available ten years ago for those facing pancreatic cancer and their families,” stated Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Since that time, the organization has made tremendous progress in advancing research, supporting patients and creating hope. We are proud of the extent of services we now provide for patients and their families. We look forward to continued advancements towards a cure for this devastating disease.”

Highlights over the past decade include:

  • To date, nearly $5 million in research grants will have been awarded to 50 scientists around the country. Our Career Development Awards have helped to build a team of scientists dedicated to pancreatic cancer research and our Pilot Grants are helping to develop new and innovative ideas in research.
  • Through the years, our advocacy efforts have resulted in an increase of more than $55 million in federal research dollars for pancreatic cancer. This funding is available to researchers around the country. In addition, these efforts have resulted in the first substantive piece of legislation introduced in Congress regarding pancreatic cancer research: the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act. This legislation could lead to a program dedicated to pancreatic cancer at the National Cancer Institute and increased federal research funding to fight the disease.
  • More than 35,000 patients and their family members have received current and reliable information through our Patient & Liaison Services (PALS). Our comprehensive clinical trials database ensures that patients have access to the latest treatment options and leading-edge research.
  • Hundreds of supporters who are a part of 75 volunteer affiliates across the nation now raise awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer through our Community Outreach Program. Our volunteer network, which began with just a few individuals, is instrumental in encouraging people to take action again pancreatic cancer.

During the past few years, pancreatic cancer has been thrust into the national spotlight due to the diagnoses of newsmakers such as Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch, PhD, actor Patrick Swayze, and most recently, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These highly publicized cases help advocates in Washington, DC, to further the organization’s legislative goals and aid volunteers in heightening awareness of the disease. The increased visibility leads to increased research dollars and eventually better treatment options and renewed hope for patients.

This year, the organization will enlist its grassroots network of volunteer advocates to help ensure the federal government passes The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (H.R. 745). This bill is the first substantive legislative effort dedicated to advancing pancreatic cancer research and addresses the astounding mortality of this disease and the challenges facing the scientific community in understanding it. Once enacted and fully funded, the bill will create a greater focus on this disease and will provide the National Cancer Institute with the tools it needs to develop the diagnostic methods and treatments that are currently lacking for pancreatic cancer patients.

Reflecting on research progress, Fleshman adds, “Although much work remains, incredible strides have been made in laying the basic scientific foundation upon which significant progress can be built. As this momentum builds, and new research developments emerge, those affected by pancreatic cancer have more reasons than ever before to feel optimistic.”

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or to become involved, please visit www.pancan.org.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization raises money for direct private funding of research – and advocates for more aggressive federal research funding of medical breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network fills the void of information and options by giving patients and caregivers reliable, personalized information they need to make informed decisions. We create a sense of hope and community so no one has to face pancreatic cancer alone. The organization helps support individuals and communities all across the country to work together to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.


FDA Fails to Protect Public: Remains Silent About Lead in Lipstick

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Feb 10,2009

Canada finds lead in kids’ face paint, declares cosmetic chemicals toxic

More than a year after the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported that popular brands of lipstick contain lead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has still not released the results of its own testing of lead in lipstick, despite pressure from senators and repeated calls from health groups.

New reports indicate that the beauty industry’s lead problems go further than lipstick. The Canadian government announced last week it found lead in children’s face paint. The results were publicly announced immediately as the government evaluates next steps.

Health Canada also announced last week that it has designated two silicon-based chemicals widely used in personal care products — D4 and D5 — as toxic, an important step toward regulating dangerous substances out of consumer products.

Unlike Health Canada, the U.S. FDA has no such toxic designation, does not conduct routine safety testing of personal care products, and does not publicly report information in a timely manner — as evidenced by the lead-in-lipstick situation.

In Oct. 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported that 61% of lipsticks it tested contained lead. In Nov. 2007, Sens. John Kerry, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein urged FDA to test a range of lipsticks for lead, publicly report the results, and take immediate action to reduce consumers’ exposure to lead from cosmetic products.

Fourteen months later, FDA has made no public statements, issued no reports, and taken no action to reduce consumers’ exposure.

“The typical turnaround time in a laboratory for lead tests is 10 days. There’s no reason for FDA to sit on its lead-in-lipstick research for over a year,” said Stacy Malkan of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups.

“FDA appears to still be operating under Bush-era tactics of secrecy and delay. It’s time for new leadership and new direction at FDA, so the agency can do what Americans expect it do to: ensure the safety of cosmetic products.

“The scientific data is conclusive: Lead in any amount is a health concern. Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning and behavioral problems, and pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.”

Source: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics


Scientists have found evidence that a direct interaction between vitamin D and a common genetic variant alters the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

The research, published on 6 February in the journal PLoS Genetics and funded by the MS Society, suggests that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the early years may increase the risk of the offspring developing MS later in life.

The causes of MS are unclear, but it has become evident that both environmental and genetic factors play a role. Previous studies have shown that populations from Northern Europe have an increased MS risk if they live in areas receiving less sunshine.

This supports a direct link between deficiency in vitamin D, which is produced in the body through the action of sunlight, and increased risk of developing the condition.

The largest genetic effect by far comes from the region on chromosome six containing the gene variant known as DRB1*1501 and from adjacent DNA sequences.

While one in 1,000 people in the UK are likely to develop MS, this number rises to around one in 300 amongst those carrying a single copy of the variant and one in 100 of those carrying two copies.

Now, in a study funded by the UK’s MS Society, the MS Society of Canada, the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia have established a direct relationship between DRB1*1501 and vitamin D.

The researchers found that proteins activated by vitamin D in the body bind to a particular DNA sequence lying next to the DRB1*1501 variant, in effect switching the gene on.

“In people with the DRB1 variant associated with MS, it seems that vitamin D may play a critical role,” says co-author Dr Julian Knight. “If too little of the vitamin is available, the gene may not function properly.”

“We have known for a long time that genes and environment determine MS risk,” says Professor George Ebers, University of Oxford. “Here we show that the main environmental risk candidate – vitamin D – and the main gene region are directly linked and interact.”

Professor Ebers and colleagues believe that vitamin D deficiency in mothers or even in a previous generation may lead to the DRB1*1501 gene functioning differently in offspring.

The finding – that the environment interacts directly with the background genetics of MS – is a first for a common autoimmune condition and complements research recently published in Human Molecular Genetics by Professor Ebers’s group.

There, they showed that environment changes to the same gene region can increase the risk of developing MS even further and can be inherited. These so-called “epigenetic effects” are being seen as increasingly important by scientists and there may be ways in which the effects reported in these two papers are related.

“Epigenetics will have important implications, not only for MS, but for other common diseases,” says Professor Ebers. “For mothers, taking care of their health during their reproductive years may have beneficial effects on the health of their future children or even grandchildren.”

The authors hypothesise that this gene-environment interaction may affect the ability of the thymus, a key component of the immune system, to perform its regular tasks.

The thymus produces an army of T cells, which identify invading pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, and attack and destroy them. There are millions of different T cells, each designed to recognise a specific pathogen, but there is a risk that one type might mistakenly identify one of the body’s own cells or proteins.

Ordinarily, the thymus will regulate T cells and delete those that pose the greatest risk of attacking the body’s own cells and proteins. However, the researchers believe that in people with the variant, a lack of vitamin D during early life might impair the ability of the thymus to delete these T cells, which then go on to attack the body, leading to a loss of myelin on the nerve fibres.

“Our study implies that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years may reduce the risk of a child developing MS in later life,” says lead author Dr Sreeram Ramagopalan.

“Vitamin D is a safe and relatively cheap supplement with substantial potential health benefits. There is accumulating evidence that it can reduce the risk of developing cancer and offer protection from other autoimmune diseases.”

The research has been welcomed by Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society (UK).

“These remarkable results tie together leading theories about the environment, genes and MS but they are only part of the jigsaw,” says Mr Gillespie. “This discovery opens up new avenues of MS research and future experiments will help put the pieces together.”

NOTES:

1. Ramagopalan, S et al. Expression of the Multiple Sclerosis associated MHC class II allele HLA-DRB1*1501 is Regulated by Vitamin D. PLoS Genetics, 6 Feb 2009. A preview copy of the paper can be downloaded at http://www.plos.org/press/plge-05-02-knight.pdf.

2. The MS Society is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone living with or affected by MS, providing respite care, an award-winning freephone helpline (+44(0)808-800-8000), specialist MS nurses and funds around 80 vital MS research projects in the UK. http://www.mssociety.org.uk

3. The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics was established to undertake research into the genetic basis of common diseases. The scientific objective of the Centre is to explore all aspects of the genetic susceptibility of disease. The Centre houses multi-disciplinary research teams in human genetics, functional genomics, bioinformatics, statistical genetics and structural biology. http://www.well.ox.ac.uk

4. The Wellcome Trust is the largest charity in the UK. It funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending over GBP600 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. The Wellcome Trust supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk

5. The Medical Research Council supports the best scientific research to improve human health. Its work ranges from molecular level science to public health medicine and has led to pioneering discoveries in our understanding of the human body and the diseases which affect us all. http://www.mrc.ac.uk

6. Oxford University’s Medical Sciences Division is one of the largest biomedical research centres in Europe. It represents almost one-third of Oxford University’s income and expenditure, and two-thirds of its external research income. Oxford’s world-renowned global health programme is a leader in the fight against infectious diseases (such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and avian flu) and other prevalent diseases (such as cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes). Key to its success is a long-standing network of dedicated Wellcome Trust-funded research units in Asia (Thailand, Laos and Vietnam) and Kenya, and work at the MRC Unit in The Gambia. Long-term studies of patients around the world are supported by basic science at Oxford and have led to many exciting developments, including potential vaccines for tuberculosis, malaria and HIV, which are in clinical trials. http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk

Source: Multiple Sclerosis Society


The Institute for Palliative Medicine’s Fellowship Program received full accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) — the first accredited fellowship program in palliative medicine in San Diego. Located on the campus of San Diego Hospice, The Institute for Palliative Medicine has trained fellows since 2000 and its Fellowship Program in Palliative Medicine is known as one of the most clinically demanding programs in the country.

Charles von Gunten, MD, PhD, FACP, FAAHPM, is Provost of The Institute for Palliative Medicine and notes the accreditation acknowledges the advances in palliative medicine. “Our abilities to prevent and relieve suffering have never been more powerful in the history of medicine,” said Dr. von Gunten. “Subspecialty consultation is one of the ways to make that knowledge practically available.”

In collaboration with Scripps Mercy Graduate Medical Education, The Institute for Palliative Medicine’s Fellowship Program is designed to prepare physicians to become subspecialists in palliative medicine and serve as expert consultants in hospitals and hospices throughout the country. Physicians from any of the 10 co-sponsoring specialties (Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Surgery, Psychiatry and Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiation Oncology, and Anesthesiology) are eligible. The program includes rotations through a variety of patient care settings including San Diego Hospice’s Inpatient Care Center, Scripps Mercy and UCSD hospitals, and home hospice visits.

David Shaw, MD, MBA, FACP, FACC, is the Director of Medical Education for Scripps Mercy and supports the advances in palliative medicine through the newly accredited program at The Institute for Palliative Medicine.

“The Fellowship Program at The Institute for Palliative Medicine embodies the mission of Graduate Medical Education at Scripps Mercy, training physicians, medical students and other health care workers in the art and science of medicine,” said Dr. Shaw. “We congratulate The Institute of Palliative Medicine on this milestone achievement.”

“The accreditation signifies the importance of palliative medicine and its focus on preventing and relieving suffering for patients,” said Laurel H. Herbst, MD, Chief Medical Officer at The Institute for Palliative Medicine.

Gary Buckholz, MD, Director of the Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program at The Institute for Palliative Medicine is proud of his program’s milestone. “Achieving first round accreditation from ACGME acknowledges the program’s strong academic environment with expert faculty and overall ability to prepare fellows for any career in palliative medicine.”

The Institute for Palliative Medicine

Dedicated to the relief of suffering through the transformation of health care, The Institute for Palliative Medicine focuses on discovering, demonstrating and disseminating strategies for palliative care in existing health care systems locally, nationally and globally. Located on the campus of San Diego Hospice, physicians and healthcare professionals from around the globe come to The Institute for Palliative Medicine to study. The Institute helped pioneer the palliative medicine subspecialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2006. For more information, visit online at www.sdhospice.org

Scripps Mercy Hospital

Established in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy, Scripps Mercy Hospital serves the San Diego and Chula Vista communities. With two campuses, Scripps Mercy is the largest hospital in San Diego County and one of the 10 largest in California. Scripps Mercy is now the largest private teaching hospital in the San Diego area, and the Graduate Medical Education residency programs at the hospital have been in existence for more than 50 years. For more information, visit online at www.scripps.org.


Donate Blood and Save Lives in Your Community

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Feb 8,2009

More Minority Blood Donors Needed

New York Blood Center (NYBC) urges healthy people ages sixteen and older to please donate blood in support of your community, in recognition of National Black History Month, and to help save lives. A single blood donation can help save up to three lives.

NYBC urges people of diverse cultures to please donate blood. Since about 8-10% of African-Americans are carriers of the sickle cell gene, they are more likely than any other race to get this disease. One in 500 African-Americans and one in 1,400 Latinos are born in the U.S. with sickle cell disease each year.

While African-Americans comprise nearly 30% of the NY/NJ population, less than 10% of blood donors in this area are African American, making it more difficult to find compatible blood for patients in need.

Red cell antigens are similar within ethnic groups and are therefore more likely to be found among specific ethnic populations. Blood donations from more multicultural donors are needed to maintain a diverse inventory of compatible blood.

Davina Daniels of Springfield Gardens, NY is one of many who rely on blood transfusions in order to live.

“I thank you very dearly… for giving me the precious ‘gift of life,’ your blood. Thank you for giving me another day to live my life, to be able to dream, have a chance to reach my goals while living those dreams, and most of all – another day to be a loving mother to my son, a daughter to my parents, a sister and a friend. With each hug and kiss, all the love I get from them reminds me that my life would be over and I would not have them if it was not for you and your loving gift,” said Davina Daniels, who requires precisely matched blood from African-American donors.

To donate blood, please call
Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566
Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 with parental consent (in NY) or 17 (in NJ), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor’s note.

New York Blood Center’s Diversity Committee is offering the Dr. Charles R. Drew Diversity Scholarship to regional high school and college students. Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was an American physician and medical researcher who pioneered in the field of blood transfusions, blood storage and blood banking. He protested racial segregation, and was the first black surgeon to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery. For more information about this scholarship, please call Nicole Brown at 212-570-3179.

New York Blood Center:

New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation’s largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to patients in greater New York since 1964. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world’s largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion, and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals and transfusion medicine physicians.


Categories

Archives

Blogroll

Meta