SUMC in the News (11/05/07)

Print media coverage

Los Angeles Times, 11/05/07
Mood doesn't help in cancer survival
This article discusses a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania that found mind-body interventions did not help prolong the life of cancer patients. The work of David Spiegel, Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor in Medicine, is referenced here.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D.), 11/05/07
Scientists spot dog fur color gene
A Stanford discovery about the genetics of coat color in dogs could help explain why humans come in different weights and vary in our abilities to cope with stress. Greg Barsh, professor of genetics and lead author, is quoted in this HealthDay News article, which also appears on iVillage.com.

Corpus Christi Caller Times (Corpus Christi, Texas), 11/05/07
Genes only part of key to a long life
This article, which originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times, discusses how good health choices are still key to achieving longevity. Moira Fordyce, a member of the adjunct clinical faculty, provides comment.

San Jose Mercury News, 11/04/07
Mapping our genes
Companies in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are making rapid advances in genetic mapping. Peter Underhill, senior research scientist in the Department of Genetics, is quoted here.

Huntsville Times (Huntsville, Ala.), 11/04/07
Mixture of talent promises stunning results
The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Alabama recently opened its doors. Rick Myers, the Stanford W. Ascherman, M.D., F.A.C.S. Professor in Genetics and director of the Human Genome Center, will lead the nonprofit institute.

Contra Costa Times, 11/04/07
Twenty years later, Stanford honors its bone marrow hero
Stanford's Blood and Marrow Transplant Program celebrated its 20th anniversary on Friday. The program, housed in the Stanford Cancer Center and Stanford Hospital, has performed more than 3,400 transplants. Donna Healy, BMT nurse manager, is quoted in this article, which also appears in the Oakland Tribune, Palo Alto Weekly, Redwood City Daily News, San Jose Mercury News and San Mateo County Times.

San Mateo County Times, 11/03/07
Stanford study screens athletes for cardiac defects
Researchers at the medical school have begun a voluntary program to conduct advanced routine heart testing of all the university’s student athletes. Euan Ashley, assistant professor of cardiology and director of the Stanford Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and Victor Froelicher, professor of cardiology and sports medicine at the Palo Alto-VA, are quoted in this article. This piece also appears in the Contra Costa Times.

The Independent (U.K.), 11/03/07
Professor Arthur Kornberg
Arthur Kornberg, professor emeritus of biochemistry and winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize, died Oct. 26 at Stanford Hospital. Among the survivors is son Roger Kornberg, the Mrs. George A. Winzer Professor in Medicine, who is mentioned here. Paul Berg, the Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research; Dale Kaiser, the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor of Biochemistry, Emeritus; Robert "Buzz" Baldwin, professor of biochemistry, emeritus; and David Hogness, the Rudy J. and Daphne Donohue Munzer Professor in the School of Medicine, Emeritus, are also mentioned in this obituary.

New York Times, 11/02/07
2 winning drug tests, one expected and one a surprise
An experimental drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals helped cure more than 60 percent of patients with a tough-to-treat form of hepatitis C, according to data presented at a medical meeting Friday. Emmet Keeffe, professor of medicine and chief of hepatology, provides comment in this article.

Broadcast media coverage

KGO-TV, 11/02/07
This segment discussed the 20th anniversary of Stanford's BMT program. David Occhipinti, Stanford's first BMT patient, was interviewed for this segment.

WCAU-TV (Philadelphia), 11/02/07
Sam Most, associate professor of otolaryngology and chief of facial plastic surgery, led a study on the effectiveness of two over-the-counter wrinkle creams. His findings - that the products had no ability to reduce wrinkles - were mentioned during this segment.