SUMC in the News (11/14/05)

Print media coverage

Prevention, 11/05
What happens when you live? (No online version available)
This article tells the stories of cancer survivors and features Sandra Horning, professor of medicine and president of the Society of Clinical Oncology. Horning discusses her own cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery, and how it has affected her work.

Washington Post, 11/14/05
Newfound stomach hormone could suppress hunger (registration required)
Stanford researchers have discovered obestatin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. The finding offers a key to researchers developing treatments for obesity. Aaron Hsueh, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author, is referenced here. An Associated Press article appears in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa), Fremont Argus and Pleasanton Tri-Valley Herald; a New York Times article appears in the Dallas Morning News and Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.).

Scientific American, 11/14/05
Bugs and drugs
This article discusses a Stanford study on the bacterial species intestinal flora, which is critical to human physiology and a wide spectrum of disease. The study was led by Paul Eckburg, a postdoctoral scholar in infectious diseases and geographic medicine.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/14/05
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk: Now that's funny! (No online version available)
This article discusses a new Stanford study that found gender affects the way a person's brain responds to humor. The study was led by Allan Reiss, the Howard C. Robbins Professor, who is quoted here.

Stanford Daily, 11/14/05
Stanford Medical Center purchases buildings in Redwood City
This article discusses Stanford Hospital's plans to open an outpatient center in Redwood City. Four buildings totaling 360,000 square-feet of new space were recently purchased. Paul Ford, clinical associate professor of medicine, and Larry Carr, director of government relations at SHC, are quoted here.

San Francisco Chronicle, 11/13/05
At your service/ Dr. Angst and Nurse Tingle test pain reservoirs at the Stanford University Human Experimental Pain lab
This article discusses the Stanford University Human Experimental Pain Laboratory, and quotes Martin Angst, assistant professor of anesthesia, and Martha Tingle, anesthesia research nurse. They test novel medications and interventions for their pain-relief properties in the lab.

Coming out in hardback/ Giving voice to the trials and tribulations of becoming a doctor
A former Stanford student has edited a collection of essays entitled "What I Learned in Medical School." He discusses his own experiences in this Q&A.

Indianapolis Star, 11/13/05
Turkey offers hope for autoimmune disorders
A new Stanford study shows that a by-product of tryptophan - an amino acid found in turkey and other foods - can alleviate multiple sclerosis symptoms in animal models. The findings add to the growing body of evidence indicating that tryptophan plays a pivotal role in the immune system. Lawrence Steinman, professor of neurology and neurological sciences and of pediatrics, is quoted in this article, which originally appeared in the New York Times.

Baltimore Sun, 11/12/05
Funding of stem cell is debated (registration required)
Scientists and politicians in the state of Maryland are debating how to spend state funding for embryonic stem cell research. Michael Clarke, professor of medicine, is quoted in this article.

Washington Post, 11/12/05
U.S. scientist leaves joint stem cell project (registration required)
Citing ethical concerns, a University of Pittsburgh scientist has decided not to participate in an international consortium designed by South Korean stem cell researchers. Stanford isn't referenced, but this article may be of interest to readers.

Omaha World News (Omaha, Neb.), 11/12/05
Doctor states case for stem cell work (No online version available)
Irving Weissman, the Virginia and DK Ludwig Professor for Clinical Investigation and director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, presented a lecture on stem cell research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus last Thursday. His lecture was titled, "Stem Cells Meet Politics and Religion: The Promise of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine."

Associated Press, 11/11/05
Early heart-lung recipient returns to Alaska (No online version available)
This article follows up on Doug Hoxworth, one of the world's early heart-lung transplant cases and one of the longest survivors. Hoxworth received his transplants at Stanford. Pat Gamberg, coordinator at the Stanford Lung Transplant Center, provides comment.

San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal, 11/11/05
'Concierge' doctors growing in valley (registration required)
Stanford is referenced in this article on the growing popularity of 'concierge' doctors.

San Francisco Business Times, 11/11/05
John Muir health system battles Kaiser, Sutter (registration required)
Stanford is referenced in this article on the John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System. The hospital is taking numerous steps to solidify its traditional stronghold in central Contra Costa County and to expand to the east and south.

The Scientist, 11/7/05
Another chapter in going from blood to brain (registration required)
This article discusses the controversy on adult stem cell plasticity and brain repair. Helen Blau, the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Professor of Pharmacology, is quoted here.

Broadcast media coverage

KNTV-TV, 11/11/05
Allan Reiss discussed the study on gender and humor during this segment. Similar story aired on KABC-TV (Los Angeles) and KVUE-TV (Austin, Texas).

Wall Street Journal This Morning, 11/11/05
This segment discussed the obestatin study. Similar segments aired on television and radio stations in Albuquerque, N.M., Atlanta; Baltimore; Boise, Idaho; Birminghan, Ala.; Boston; Champaign, Ill.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas; Denver; Flint, Mich.; Gainesville, Fla.; Hartford, Conn.; Honolulu; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Laredo, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Madison, Wis.; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; Reno; San Diego; San Francisco and Washington, D.C.