SUMC in the News (12/04/06)

Press releases

Molecule linked to autoimmune disease relapses identified at Stanford
Stanford researchers have identified a molecule that appears to play a central role in relapses in sufferers of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The discovery could lead to a way of predicting relapses and might eventually help in developing a way to head them off.

New info on eating disorders in two Stanford/Packard studies
New studies from researchers at the Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's Hospitals indicate a need for increased vigilance in two key areas: Internet use among adolescents with the condition and pre-teen weight loss in seemingly healthy children.

Print media coverage

Boston Globe, 12/04/06
Esther Lederberg, 83; helped unlock mysteries of bacteria, viruses
Esther Lederberg, who died on Nov. 11, played a critical role in developing laboratory techniques that helped a generation of researchers understand how genes function. Stanley Falkow, the Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor in Cancer Research; Lucy Tompkins, the Lucy Becker Professor in Medicine and chief of the division of infectious diseases; Dale Kaiser, the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor of Biochemistry, Emeritus, and researcher Jonathan Hardy are quoted in this obituary, which originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

Reuters, 12/04/06
Anorexics, bulimics learn methods online: study
This article discusses a new Stanford/Packard study that found many teens with eating disorders visit Web sites promoting eating disorders, where they can learn new weight loss and purging methods.Rebecka Peebles, instructor in adolescent medicine and lead author, is quoted here.

San Jose Mercury News, 12/04/06
Hutchison: Don't assume FDA is right about silicone implant safety
David Kahn, clinical assistant professor of surgery, is quoted in this piece on silicone implant safety. The FDA recently make the decision to make silicone-gel breast implants widely available for the first time in 14 years.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/04/06
Myth information about health and holidays
Researcher Anthony Yun provides comment in this article on health-related myths about the holiday season.

San Luis Obispo County Tribune, 12/04/06
Transplant dilemma grows
The ethical issues associated with the growing trend of people donating organs to patients whom they don't know are discussed in this article. John Scandling, professor of medicine and director of the adult kidney and pancreas transplant program, and David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provide comment in this story, which also appears in the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio), Biloxi Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.), Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Ga.), Fort Wayne News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.), Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.), Miami Herald and Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.).

AARP Magazine, 12/04/06
7 reasons to get off the couch already
This article lists 7 ways seniors can boost their longevity and quality of life.

The Observer (U.K.), 12/03/06
Drug breakthrough for ovarian cancer
This article on ovarian cancer treatment references a recent Stanford study that showed that 59 percent of ovarian cancer patients ages 30-60 were still alive five years after diagnosis, compared to only 35 percent of older women with the illness.

Boston Globe, 12/03/06
Giving patients control
This article discusses how peer discussion can help patients make informed decisions and references a peer program developed at Stanford that brings people with chronic illnesses together to talk about their conditions and devise ways to improve their quality of life.

New Scientist, 12/02/06
Make love, not war/ Humans, like chimps, are notoriously aggressive (No online version available)
The work of Robert Sapolsky, the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, is mentioned in this article on bonobos, or chimpanzees.

San Mateo Daily Journal, 12/02/06
Gifts that give
This article mentions how more than $2 million has been donated to Packard through the efforts of three local shops on the Peninsula.

New York Times, 12/01/06
Profit and questions as doctors offer prostate cancer therapy
This article discusses how many critics see a potential conflict of interest among several widely used treatments for prostate cancer, particularly a radiation therapy known as I.M.R.T., which can mean reimbursement of $47,000 or more per patient. Although Stanford isn't referenced, this article may be of interest to readers

San Francisco Business Times, 12/01/06
Stanford hospitals plan to do major surgery on their facilities
Packard is also part of the project. Hospital spokesperson Anthony Marek is quoted. Martha Marsh, president and CEO of SHC is also mentioned in this story, which also appears in the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Broadcast media coverage

KGO-TV, 12/02/06
This segment discussed how the new Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles can be used to analyze data to help in the search for cures for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. Starting in March, PS3 owners will be able to sign up for a project allowing Stanford researchers to link to their machine for that purpose.

KQED-FM, 12/01/06
This segment reported that researchers at Stanford and Packard are looking for children with autism for a study of a new atypical anti-psychotic medication to improve behavioral problems such as agitation and aggression in children with autism.