SUMC in the News (11/10/08)

Print media coverage

Washington Post, 11/10/08
Blood test, statin afford potent shield, study says
A new study suggests that statins can dramatically decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes for millions more people and that patients who could most benefit from the drugs can be identified through a simple blood test. Mark Hlatky, professor of health research and policy and of cardiovascular medicine, wrote an accompanying editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine and is quoted in this front-page article and in pieces in the Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The Los Angeles Times article also appears in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. An Associated Press article quoting Hlatky appears in numerous newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington, Ky.), Newsday (New York) and Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.). Articles also appear on Bloomberg.com, CNN.com and Forbes.com, and Hlatky is quoted in a Wall Street Journal blog entry.

Boston Globe, 11/10/08
Does exercise increase or decrease your appetite?
James Fries, emeritus professor of medicine, is featured in this article on the relationship between exercise and appetite.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/08/08
Stem cell research focus of meeting
This article discusses the recent Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa at the Salk Institute, which brought together more than 200 scientists from academia and biotechnology. Joseph Wu, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine and of radiology, was at the meeting and is quoted here.

San Jose Mercury News, 11/08/08
Running for joy: At 81, marathoner sees no reason to take it easy
Walter Bortz, clinical associate professor of medicine, provides comment in this article about 81-year-old Joy Johnson, a marathoner who completed her 21st consecutive New York City Marathon last Sunday.

Reuters, 11/07/08
Therapy helps some kick habit after heart attack
Cognitive behavioral therapy appears to help people who are depressed after suffering a heart attack to avoid smoking cigarettes, but only if they believe they have adequate social support, new research shows. Mickey Trockel, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and lead author, is quoted in this article.

Internet/ New media coverage

LATimes.com, 11/10/08
Use of MRI, CT scans soars - as do costs
A new study shows that the use of sophisticated scanning technology doubled between 1995 and 2004, and there is little evidence that the technology has led to better health care or fewer deaths. Lead author Laurence Baker, professor of health research and policy, is quoted in this blog entry.

Palo Alto Online News, 11/10/08
City council to consider housing impact
This article discusses the medical center's expansion project and quotes Shelley Hebert, executive director for public affairs at Stanford Hospital & Clinics.

Broadcast media coverage

Morning Edition (NPR), 11/10/08
This "Youth Radio" segment discussed how President-elect Barack Obama has inspired hope in young people. David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor in Medicine, was featured.

In a separate segment, Mark Hlatky discussed the new study on statins.

NPR, 11/10/08
This segment discussed the Stanford study on physicians' overuse of imaging procedures. Laurence Baker was interviewed.

Forum (KQED-FM), 11/10/08
This show on diabetes mentioned a recent Stanford study that found the annual cost of prescription diabetes drugs nearly doubled between 2001 and 2007.