Michael Karin, Ph.D., Pharmacology, found evidence of a molecular link between inflammation and cancer.  His study, published as the cover article in the journal Cell, was reported in several major news media, including Forbes, WebMD, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Reuters, UPI, Science Now and more.

David Looney, M.D., Medicine, and his team discovered a new technique that silences genes by a technique called siRNA, within the nucleus of cells. Several news media, including Bloomberg News and the UK's Medical News Today, carried stories about the study, which was published in Science.

Jane C. Burns, M.D., and first author Pia Pannaraj, M.D., Pediatrics, were featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune about a study showing that most pediatricians and infectious disease specialists in San Diego County overlook a Kawasaki Disease diagnosis in children under six months and over 8 years of age. Delayed diagnosis of Kawasaki disease is a significant risk factor in the development of coronary abnormalities. The story also ran in Forbes.com, UPI, and Medical News Today.

Ted Friedmann, M.D., Pediatrics, addressed genetic enhancement in sports for USA Today in a feature article about drug use and the Olympics. Similar articles appeared in the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald and others.

Thomas Kipps, M.D., Cancer Center, discussed with Forbes magazine his published results showing that ZAP-70 protein is expressed mainly in people with the more aggressive form of CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Similar articles appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune and Health Central.

Giovanna Casola, M.D., Radiology, spoke with the Los Angeles Times regarding new study results that reinforce concerns about whole-body scans as a safe and useful medical diagnostic tool. Similar articles appeared in the Houston Chronicle and on the KTLA Channel 5 Los Angeles website.

Michael Criqui, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, spoke with the San Diego Union-Tribune about his study showing that people who had suffered from peripheral artery disease could still have the disease, despite the absence of pain. Medical News Today and United Press International carried similar articles.

Cheryl Rock, Ph.D., R.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine, spoke with USA Today regarding the growing body of research that indicates that fruits and vegetables play a role in defending the body against cancer and other diseases. She was also interviewed for a San Diego Union-Tribune article examining the facts and fiction of metabolism on weight.

Steven Stahl, M.D., Psychiatry, was the lead quote in a Forbes article announcing the FDA approval of a new drug for the treatment of the emotional and physical symptoms associated with depression.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, spoke to The Times, London regarding her studies into the side-effects of statins. Great Britain is the first country in the world to make a statin available without a prescription.

Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau and Longboard Invitational was highlighted in Surfing Magazine. Since 1994, this annual contest has donated roughly $1.3 million dollars to cancer research.

A UCSD 2002 study, led by Cliff Shults, M.D., Neurology was cited by Newsday in a feature article about Coenzyme Q-10.

Larry Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, discussed the debate over stem-cell research in an article in the San Jose Mercury News.

Tarek Hassanein, M.D., Liver Transplant Program, spoke with the San Diego Union-Tribune regarding the death of Councilman Charles Lewis.

The UCSD Regional Burn Center was mentioned in a San Diego Union-Tribune Diane Bell column regarding their project to create a cookbook containing patients’ favorite recipes, along with some first-aid tips.

David Feifel, M.D., Psychiatry, was interviewed by the Louisville Courier Journal about ADHD and current therapies for treating the disorder.

John Garvie M.D., Gastrointestinal Medicine, spoke with the San Diego Union-Tribune about cirrhosis of the liver.

Richard Clark, M.D., Poison Center, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 for a story about the dangers of jimson weed. Clark also discussed jimson weed with the North County Times.

Thomas Savides, M.D., Gastrointestinal Medicine, was featured in a KFMB/Channel 8 story about the use of a “pill camera” to study the small intestine.

Gordon Yung, M.D., Pulmonary Medicine, was featured in a KGTV/Channel 10 story about a recent successful double lung transplant and the medical advances that continue to save the lives of pulmonary patients.

Alan Hargens, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery was interviewed by KSWB/Channel 5 for a story about his ongoing NASA twins study which included footage of female twins from Chula Vista who were finishing their 30 day bed stay at UCSDMC-Hillcrest.

Carl Hoh, M.D., Nuclear Medicine, spoke with KFMB/Channel 8 about the use of PET scans to help detect and treat breast cancer.

William Taylor M.D., Neurosurgery, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about the new XLIF minimally invasive surgical method to treat lower back pain. The new procedure accesses the spine through the side flank instead of the back. Patients suffer less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

William G. Bradley, M.D., Radiology, discussed his pioneering research in Alzheimer’s treatment with KFMB/Channel 8. Bradley is using PET scans to diagnose the disease earlier than ever before.

Saralyn Williams, M.D., Toxicology, was interviewed by KPBS radio about the dangers of jimson weed, a popular plant used by teens and others for its hallucinogenic effects. Williams also commented for a similar article in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Frank Mannino, M.D., Neonatology, was interviewed by KPBS radio about how newborns in California will soon get tested for more than 30 genetic illnesses that lead to serious health and developmental problems, a major increase in screening that will shore up the state's outdated protections for new babies.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, discussed the causes and cures for hiccups with NPR radio.

STAY TUNED:

For a special on Skin in an upcoming Union Tribune supplement:
Francesca Torriani, M.D., director, Epidemiology Unit, was interviewed about infections from body piercing.
Daniel Lozano, M.D., clinical director, Regional Burn Center, was interviewed about burns and scarring.
Terence O'Grady, M.D., Dermatology, was interviewed about moles, warts and birthmarks.
Tia Hubbard, M.D., Neonatology, was interviewed on the care and properties of baby skin.
Richard Gallo, M.D., Dermatology, was interviewed on eczema care and research advances.
Gerit Mulder M.D., Wound Clinic and Surgery, was interviewed about wound care and diabetic wound care.

Francesca Torriani, M.D., Medicine, was featured in widespread coverage about an international study which she co-led, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showing that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be safely and effectively treated in individuals also infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Lawrence Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, commented for the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, Newsweek and other media about stem cell research, with coverage generated by speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

John Pierce, M.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine, was interviewed by media throughout the world regarding research results showing that teenage girls who have never smoked are far more likely to start smoking if their favorite movie star smokes in movies. The San Diego Union-Tribune, Washington Times, ABC News Australia, United Press International, Reuters, Good Housekeeping, and WebMD, all carried stories.

Anthony Wynshaw-Boris, M.D., Pediatrics and Medicine, and the new UCSD Center for Human Genetics/Genomics were featured in a San Diego Union-Tribune article.  The San Luis Obispo News and San Jose Mercury News also carried the story.

Alan Hargens, Ph.D., Orthopeadic Surgery, was interviewed by KFMB/Channel 8, KSWB/Channel 5 and for a German science magazine on his ongoing NASA/UCSD Twin Study, taking place in the General Clinical Research Center.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, discussed with Newsday and the New York Times whether statin drugs are useful for women who are otherwise healthy.

Christopher Comstock, M.D., Radiology, was featured in a San Diego Daily Transcript article about the advanced mammography techniques he employs to help transform the way screen and diagnostic breast imaging and biopsy are carried out. He was also interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 regarding MRI and breast imaging.

William Taylor, M.D., Neurosurgery, explained in a San Diego Daily Transcript article a new technique for spine surgery that is designed to be less invasive than traditional treatment. He was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 on the same subject.

Cheryl Rock Ph.D., R.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine, discussed in a Reuters article her study findings that a high-fiber, low-fat diet reduces blood levels of estrogen in women with breast cancer.

Murray Stein, M.D., Psychiatry, discussed with Psychiatric News his study showing that although college students experience stress that can lead to mental health problems, it appears that their cognitive performance is not seriously impacted by severe psychological trauma.

Joseph Scherger, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was interviewed about colds by Marie Claire Magazine for its December issue.

Leon Thal, M.D., Neurosciences, in his role as director of the national Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study, discussed with the San Diego Union-Tribune a drug that appears to block mild cognitive impairment.  In a different article, he commented on a study that found that estrogen pills appear to slightly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in postmenopausal women.

Robert Pedowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Orthopaedic Surgery, provided advice about avoiding summer sports injuries in a column circulated by Copley News Service.

Alan Maisel, M.D., Medicine/Cardiology, discussed the possible link between heart failure and sleep-disordered breathing.

Ted Ganiats, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was quoted in a San Diego Union-Tribune article about the new guidelines for LDL levels.

Don Cleveland, Ph.D., Medicine, Neurosciences and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, was featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune in an article that described his research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a devastating neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Michael Criqui, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, discussed peripheral artery disease with the San Diego Union-Tribune. Criqui’s study indicates that patients who no longer suffer pain from the disease may still have the disease.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, and Theodore Ganiats, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, contributed to a story for Copley News Service discussing low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Martin Paulus, M.D., Psychiatry, discussed neuromarketing with the San Diego Union-Tribune. Neuromarketing is the search for biological evidence of brand preference in marketing.

Mark Wallace, M.D., Anesthesiology, was interviewed by the San Diego Union-Tribune for an article on prescription pain medication and pain management. Wallace provided background on the history on teaching pain management in medical schools.

Frank Mannino, M.D., Pediatrics, spoke to NBC/Channel 7/39 about The March of Dimes recommendation that every baby born in the U.S. receive, at a minimum, screening for the same core group of nine metabolic disorders as well as hearing deficiency. 

Tom McAfee, M.D., Physician In Chief, was interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 about UCSD's high rankings in the US News and World Report Best Hospitals issue. UCSD was the only medical center in San Diego County included in the rankings.

David Hoyt, M.D., Surgery/Trauma, was interviewed by CBS Nightly News and KGTV/Channel 10 on a blood substitute, Polyheme.  Paramedics are testing the experimental blood substitute on severely injured patients.

William Norcross, M.D., and Joseph Scherger, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, were interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 on their opinions about physicians wearing white coats when treating patients.

Anne Wallace, M.D., Cancer Center, spoke with KGTV/Channel 10 regarding the confusion some newly diagnosed cancer patients can experience with all the cancer information presented them through the internet if they aren’t looking in the right places.

Don Kikkawa, M.D., Ophthalmology, spoke with KGTV/Channel 10 about the 8-year saga of four Ukrainian sisters who have traveled to San Diego to undergo surgery for a genetic condition where their tear ducts are blocked. Kikkawa just performed the same surgery on the infant daughter of one of the sisters for the same condition.

Frank Miller, M.D., Radiology, explained HHT to KGTV/Channel 10. HHT, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, is characterized by chronic nosebleeds, but can lead to deadly complications.

Neil Finer, M.D., Pediatrics, was interviewed by KUSI/Channel 51 at the UCSD Little Grad Picnic held in Balboa Park. Each year the Little Grad Picnic brings together the parents and children who spent time in the Infant Special Care Center with the staff who cared for them during their first critical days of life.

Richard Clark, M.D., Emergency and Toxicology Medicine, commented to Channel NBC/7/39 about the toxic nature of risin and castor beans, ingredients found in tainted jars of baby food in Irvine, California

Barry Greenberg, M.D., Medicine/Cardiology, commented to KGTV/Channel 10 about a new NIH study that examined how much alcohol a person could drink before it ceases to be therapeutic for the heart and begins to be a health hazard.

David Braff, M.D., Psychiatry, was interviewed on the KPBS Morning Show discussing the treatment of schizophrenia, new medications and the natural history of the disorder.

Tom Savides, M.D., Medicine/Gastroenterology will be interviewed by KFMB/Channel 8 about the new capsule endoscopy, a wireless swallowable video camera (a camera pill)  that performs painless endoscopic imaging of the small intestines, areas a regular endoscope or colonoscope cannot reach.

Lawrence Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, has been quoted in numerous print and broadcast news media regarding the potential of stem cell research and California's initiative to use state funding for stem cell research. (Links included were Washington Post, Newsweek, The Scientist, NPR's "Talk of the Nation" and Wired News.)

Ajai Khanna, M.D. and Marquis Hart, M.D., Transplant Surgery, and Bruce Barshop, M.D.,  Pediatric Biochemical Genetics, were featured on Channels 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and Telemundo/Univision and Poway News Chieftain about the first "domino" liver transplant performed in San Diego County on May 28. Read the news release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/06_17_Domino.html

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal as a researcher who is investigating cognitive problems caused by statins.  The Journal noted that Golomb is expected to report her findings this summer.

Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosciences, was quoted in a New Scientist article about a small initial trial of a controversial method for treating spinal cord injuries.

Larry Palinkas, M.D., Psychiatry, was quoted in a Los Angeles Times Outdoors story regarding the Lone Woman of San Nicolas.

Ted Friedmann, M.D., Pediatrics, and his research to keep testing ahead of the “designer steroids” used by athletes were referenced in a Business Week article discussing the financial shortfalls of scientists struggling to invent the tests for detecting the use of body-enhancing drugs.

Lewis Rubin, M.D., Medicine, was quoted as co-author of an editorial accompanying a NEJM report that men who have had one life-threatening deep vein clot are much more likely than women to have a recurrence. WebMD, Reuters and Forbes cited his comments.

Salvatore Albani, M.D., Medicine and Pediatrics, was featured in a Los Angeles Times Health section article that discussed his study demonstrating that a synthetic peptide appears to disrupt the immune response in people with rheumatoid arthritis, providing hope that researchers can ease the pain of the 2.1 million American afflicted with this disease. The work also appeared in a La Jolla Light article.

Igor Grant, M.D., Psychiatry, spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about a popular anti-drug program provided free to schools in San Francisco and elsewhere that teaches concepts associated with the Church of Scientology, including medical theories that some addiction experts described as "irresponsible" and "pseudoscience."

Donald Guiney, M.D., Medicine, was featured in a San Diego Union-Tribune article about scientists who were interested in research related to bioterrorism, but have run into bureaucratic and cost issues hindering their efforts.

Mary Middleton, Director of Patient Care Services, spoke with the San Diego Union-Tribune for an article about California's nurse staffing law.

Mary Sundsmo, Director of UCSD Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, was quoted in a San Diego Union-Tribune article about the Nancy and Ronald Reagan Research Institute which has been instrumental in awarding grants and creating funding for the UCSD Center.

Stuart Jamieson, M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bill Auger, M.D., and Kim Kerr, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, were featured in a San Diego Daily Transcript article about chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease and the lifesaving surgery that removes fatal clots from the pulmonary arteries. The surgery, called pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), is a specialized procedure pioneered by UCSD Medical Center pulmonary and cardiovascular specialists.

James Dunford, M.D., Emergency Medicine, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about people suffering from a heart attack and all the treatment received from the paramedics to the emergency department.

Robert Pedowitz, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery, and Margaret Marshall, Theater and Dance, were featured on a KGTV/Channel 10 Healthcast segment showing how UCSD dance students learned about knee anatomy by watching a live interactive knee arthroscopy surgery at the campus Distance Learning Center. The surgery was performed by Pedowitz at the La Jolla Surgery Center, two miles away. The students were able to watch the live surgery and ask questions before, during and afterwards.

Gordon McGuire, M.D., Pharmacy, spoke with NBC/Channel 7/39 about the source of “rebound” headaches, which are most often caused by too many pain pills.

Gordon Yung, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, was interviewed by Univision/Channel 17 for a story on a double lung transplant performed on a patient from Mexico City.

David Feifel, M.D., Ph.D., Psychiatry, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about a study to see if adding a selective Norepinephrine drug to a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug, in depressed patients that have not adequately responded to the SSRI will be more effective than one of the drugs alone.

Charles James, M.D., Medicine, discussed the safety of herbal supplements and the potential for drug interactions in a KOGO/Channel 10 interview. The segment was picked up by several affiliate stations throughout the U.S.

Joseph Scherger, M.D., Family Medicine, was interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 about the importance of wearing sunscreen and what to look for in a good sunscreen.

Judith Rivera, Neurosciences, was a guest on the KPBS radio program "These Days," discussing palliative care for end-of-life patients.

Joseph Scherger, M.D., Family Medicine, was interviewed by KOGO radio about bee stings and what to do if stung.

Daniel Lozano, M.D., UCSD Regional Burn Center, was interviewed by KOGO radio about the dangers of fireworks, fire rings and hot coals buried in the sand.

Gordon Yung, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, will be interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about double lung transplants, focusing on a recent patient from Mexico City.

Cecilia Smith, D.O., and Cleo Cloud will be featured in a Union-Tribune column by Ozzie Roberts about their unique relationship and Cleo's volunteerism on behalf of the lung transplant program.

Frank Miller, M.D., Radiology, will be interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu. Under Miller's direction, UCSD operates one of only 8 nationwide clinics that treats and monitors the rare bleeding disorder. The nation's two largest clinics are located at UCSD and Yale University.

Eyal Raz, M.D., Medicine, will be interviewed by a German television station about his research on probiotics.

Virgil Woods, M.D., Medicine, and his development of an innovative method that allows increased success and speed of protein crystallization will be featured in an upcoming issue of Genomics & Proteomics, a publication read by approximately 25,000 life scientists.

Dilip Jeste, M.D., Psychiatry, will be interviewed by ADVANCE Newsmagazine regarding his study on adherence to treatment with antipsychotic medication and health care costs.

Larry Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, was among the speakers at a "star-studded" public forum (according to the Los Angeles Times) who discussed the need for stem cell research.  The program also included remarks from former first lady Nancy Reagan who said stem cell research was needed "to save families from the pain" of debilitating illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease.  The story was also covered by National Public Radio, Associated Press and others. Goldstein also commented for a presentation that was sponsored by actor Dustin Hoffman, which was a direct appeal to the California voter to support stem cell research.

UCSD's Huntington's Disease Center was featured in remarks by national radio personality Paul Harvey and in the San Diego Union-Tribune column by Diane Bell.  Both described the Center's Couch Potato Marathon, a no-sweat way to support Huntington's disease research.  You pay NOT to run.  Public affairs mentions were on KIFM, KSON and KBZT radio stations.

Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., Pediatrics, presented research results at a recent conference showing that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children is a different version than that in adults.  The wire service HealthDay carried a story that ran in publications such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Palm Beach Post.  Additional stories appeared on the websites New-Medical.net, Forbes.com, DrKoop.com, HealthCentral.com and the South African website Health 24.

Approval by the UC Regents for the planning of the UCSD Cardiovascular Center and the Thornton Hospital expansion of services was announced by Edward W. Holmes, vice chancellor of Health Sciences. Anthony DeMaria, M.D., Cardiology, was named the director of the new Cardiovascular Center. The story was carried locally by a broad segment of the media.

Terry Davidson, M.D., Surgery, and Alex Sassani, M.D., Radiology, were the authors of a study in the journal Sleep that showed sleep apnea treatment could cut down on traffic crashes and save hundreds of lives and billions of dollars each year in the U.S.  Among the news media covering the story were the San Diego Union-Tribune, Forbes magazine, USA Today, Reuter's wire service, WebMD, the DrKoop website and Men's Health magazine.

Ajit Varki, M.D., Medicine, commented for Nature in an article discussing the news that the first gene sequence for chimpanzees is unexpectedly different from the human gene sequence.

Chih-Wen Shi, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was featured in an article for Reuters Health that discussed the possible dangers of people taking newly available over-the-counter medications without fully understanding their use.

Eliezer Masliah, M.D., Neurosciences and Pathology, was listed by the website Science Daily as one of the authors in a study showing that removal of an enzyme that regulates the activity of many proteins can suppress key features of Alzheimer's disease in experimental models.

Arthur Kavanaugh, M.D., Medicine, spoke with Reuters Health regarding his study results that underscore the importance of early intervention for rheumatoid arthritis to maintain long term functioning and quality of life.

UCSD’s pulmonary embolism treatment, called endarterectomy, was mentioned in a Forbes article about pulmonary hypertension. The article states that endarterectomy was developed here and is now widely used.

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, and colleagues were featured in a special article in the Archives of Internal Medicine exploring the role of diabetes among women with cardiovascular disease.

John Pierce, Ph.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine, was quoted in a Union Tribune editorial that spoke in favor of the city of El Cajon’s new license fee for retailers that sell cigarettes.

Stephen Wasserman, M.D., Medicine, was quoted in a St. Petersburg Times article about Xolair, a drug approved last year to treat asthma that also helps those with peanut allergies.

Richard Gallo, M.D., Medicine, will lead the UCSD portion of a national NIH-funded effort to reduce the risk of a severe and potentially fatal skin reaction to conventional smallpox vaccines.  The San Diego Union-Tribune carried an article about the UCSD efforts. Read the original release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/05_19_Gallo.html

David Burns, M.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine commented for the San Diego Union-Tribune article announcing the narrow defeat of AB 2997, which would have outlawed smoking in a car when small children were present.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine, spoke with CBS Evening News about the FDA considering the non-prescription sales of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins.

Richard Clark, M.D., Toxicology, was interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 and KUSI/Channel
51 about the Sarin Gas bomb that exploded in Bagdad.

James Dunford, M.D., Emergency Services, spoke with NBC/Channel 7/39 about the dangers of sun and heat exposure.

Fred Millard, M.D., Cancer Center and Medicine, discussed the results of a new prostate study with KFMB/Channel 8. The study revealed that even if your PSA count is low, you still may have prostate cancer.

Marquis Hart, M.D. and Agai Khanna, M.D., Transplant Surgery, were featured in a KGTV/Channel 10 story about a man who donated his kidney to his older brother.

Denise Hermann, M.D., Cardiology, spoke with KFMB/Channel 8 regarding the American Heart Association’s new program that encourages women to simply Choose To Move.

Steve Sparks, M.D., Surgery, was profiled for a story on KFMB/Channel 8 about his finger injuries in 2002 and subsequent return to work.

Pat Lyden, M.D. and Brett Meyer, M.D., Neurology, were interviewed on the KGTV/Channel 10 morning show for a segment highlighting Stroke Month. The physicians demonstrated the use of telemedicine and how they are diagnosing strokes in hospitals great distances from UCSD.

RADIO:

Several UCSD physicians were interviewed for “Medical Minutes” aired on KOGO the week of May 17th.
Ulrika Green, M.D., Cardiology
Bill Norcross, M.D., Family Medicine
Robert Pedowitz, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery
Fred Millard, M.D., Prostate Cancer

Rick Bodor, M.D., Plastic Surgery, was interviewed by Tom Fudge on KPBS' These Days about the Medical Side of Undergoing Plastic Surgery.

Robert Pedowitz, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery, will be featured in a KGTV/Channel 10 story illustrating a new way of teaching kinesiology, physiology and anatomy to dance students. A knee surgery performed by Pedowitz in a La Jolla operating room was broadcast to dance students watching the interactive video live in the Distance Learning Center on campus.

Kenneth Chien, M.D., Medicine; David Guss, M.D., Surgery; Dilip Jeste, M.D., Psychiatry; Daniel Kripke, M.D., Psychiatry; Kevin Patrick, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine; Eyal Raz, M.D., Medicine; and Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosciences, will be featured in upcoming interviews on the CBS national radio program Science Today.

UCSD's PTE team will be featured Monday, June 7th at 10 p.m. on Amazing Medical Stories, which airs on The Learning Channel. Last November a film crew followed patient Pam Peterson as she underwent her surgery work-up with the pulmonary team and an extensive pulmonary thromboendarterectomy procedure at Thornton Hospital. The story, one of four featured on the June 7th episode, includes interviews and footage of Bill Auger, M.D., Medicine; Stuart Jamieson, M.D., Surgery; Kim Kerr, M.D., Medicine; Gerard Manecke M.D., Anesthesiology; Maureen Cavanagh, Clinical Coordinator; and several Thornton staff members.  The Learning Channel airs on Cox Channel 36, and Time Warner Channel 55.

EVERYWHERE

Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., reported promising signs that gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease may have promise for slowing the progression of the disease.  Stories about his findings, reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, were carried in the Wall Street Journal, Nature online news service, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Newsday, Reuters wire service, MSNBC, BBC, London Daily Telegraph, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, WebMD, Baltimore Sun, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, New Scientist and more. Read the original news release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/04_27_Tusz.html

Kenneth Chien, M.D., Ph.D., Medicine, reported a genetic "time bomb" that eventually leads to heart failure in some people with a form of congenital heart disease, even after they've had surgery.  The findings appeared in Forbes, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and others.  Web-based news sites, including "Medical News Today" and "News-Medical" also carried stories about the research that appeared in the journal Cell.  The Wall Street Journal plans to carry an article and additional stories were done by the Palm Beach Post, Dr.Koop.com, HealthCentral.com, and NBC-TV affiliates in Kentucky and Indiana.  Read the original news release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/04_29_Chien.html

Hilary Klonoff-Cohen, Ph.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was interviewed by numerous media organizations, including Reuters, MSNBC, CNN and ABC regarding her research findings that women who worry about either the medical aspects or the costs of their assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment are less likely to become pregnant than women who are not as concerned.

PRINT:

Lawrence Schneiderman, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, discussed when to end life support in an article in Forbes magazine.

Eric Courchesne, Ph.D., Neurosciences, was interviewed by the Weekend Australian about autism and the medical research into its cause and cure.

Daniel Kripke, M.D., Psychiatry, was quoted in a Reuter's Health story for his report in Psychosomatic Medicine which indicated that there were fewer sleep problems for those with less than 8 hours of sleep.

Michael Oxman, M.D., Medicine, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about how the chickenpox virus will spontaneously reactivate later in life in about 20% of people who contracted the disease earlier.

UCSD researchers found that the more time a physician spends with older patients, the greater the chance that those patients will accept flu shots, reports United Press International. A similar article appeared in Medical News Today and featured several quotes from John Fontanesi, Ph.D., Pediatrics.

Ellen Beck, M.D., Family Medicine, was interviewed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) about UCSD's Free Clinics run by medical students as part of a story on what hospitals across the nation are doing about uninsured patients as for an article on the upcoming National Uninsured Week. Beck is participating in a news conference as part of the San Diego event.

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was quoted in a Reuters wire story that said that men with risk factors such as obesity and high cholesterol were more likely to develop erectile dysfunction many years later.

Beth Romeril, clinical research nurse, was interviewed by Nurse Zone.com about the study to use the blood substitute PolyHeme for trauma patients.

Michael Kalichman, Ph.D., Pathology, discussed a proposed UCSD Center for Ethics in Science and Technology in the North County Times.  Kalichman also presented the proposal to a meeting of BioCom, San Diego's trade association for life sciences companies.

Mark Wallace, M.D., Cancer Center and Anesthesiology, was interviewed by American Medical News about under-treatment of pain.

Terence O’Grady, M.D., Pathology and Medicine, and Cheryl Rock, Ph.D., R.D., Cancer Center and Family and Preventive Medicine, both commented for the Copley News Services regarding dermatologist and best-selling author Nicholas Perricone’s belief that a change in diet not only can help to eliminate acne but also can slow the aging of the skin.

Terence Davidson, M.D., Surgery, commented on Medicare reimbursement for the home diagnosis of sleep apnea in an article in the San Diego Union Tribune's business section. 

Leon Thal, M.D., Neurosciences, was cited by San Diego's City News Service for winning the Potamkin Prize in neurosciences.

Larry Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, commented for the Monterey Herald and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the possible medical and social ethics surrounding the report in the journal Nature of mice created using two female eggs and no sperm.

Stuart Brown, M.D., Ophthalmology, discussed with the new Dr. Richard and Tatiana Lansche Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology with the North county Times. City News Service also carried the announcement.

TELEVISION:

Raul Coimbra, M.D., Trauma Center, was interviewed in Spanish by UniVision/Channel 17, regarding the PolyHeme study which uses the blood substitute for critical trauma patients.

David Granet, M.D., and Don Kikkawa, M.D., Ophthalmology, were featured in a Medical Miracle segment on KGTV/Channel 10 about a thyroid eye condition, called Graves Disease, which pushes the eyes forward in the sockets. Several other news stations across the nation aired the story, including El Paso, Pittsburgh and Oakland.

David Hoyt, M.D., Trauma and Surgery, and Steven Garfin, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery, were featured April 16 on the popular Discovery Health Channel Show, Impact: Stories of Survival, about a critically injured whale trainer they treated and returned to full health.

Steve Sparks, M.D., Vascular Surgery, Matthew Meunier, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery, and Rick Bodor, M.D., Plastic Surgery, starred in another episode of Discovery Health's Impact: Stories of Survival on April 30. The show re-enacted Sparks’ hand injury in 2002 and Meunier and Bodor's successful intervention to repair his fingers.

Dan Lozano, M.D., Regional Burn Center, and William Perry, Ph.D., Psychiatry, were interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 on a new study using Virtual Reality during dressing changes to reduce stress and pain.

UCSD School of Medicine hosted a tour and provided hands-on experience to a group of middle school students that aspire to become doctors. KGTV/Channel 10 aired coverage of the event.

Edward D. Ball, M.D., Cancer Center and Medicine, was interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 about the future of cancer research.

RADIO:

Cecilia Smith, D.O., UCSD Medical Center Director, was a guest on KPBS These Days talking about interns and residents in medicine today and the changes in hours at the hospital.

Rick Bodor, M.D., Plastic Surgery, was interviewed by Tom Fudge for the KPBS program, These Days on the current state of plastic surgery, when it is medically necessary and whether it is still considered by some people to be a social taboo.

STAY TUNED:

Larry Squire, M.D., and Igor Grant, M.D., Psychiatry, and Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosciences, are featured in “Scientific American Frontiers,” the PBS television program hosted by Alan Alda. The program on memory will air locally at 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 on KPBS-TV.

John B. West, M.D., Ph.D., Medicine and Physiology, will be interviewed by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio regarding his study on the respiratory mechanisms of elephants, including an insight into how they are able to "snorkel" from considerable depths that would rupture human lungs.

Christopher Mathews, M.D., Medicine, will be among the individuals interviewed for a KPBS-TV special at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 titled "Living in the Shadow of AIDS."

EVERYWHERE

Dilip Jeste, M.D., Psychiatry and Neurosciences, and Todd Gilmer, Ph.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, were the authors of a study that illustrated the health and financial costs related to schizophrenics who don't take their medications on a regular basis. Among the news media doing stories were Channel 10 news in San Diego, ABC News, WebMD, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Copley News and City News Services, Chemist & Druggist Magazine, American Medical News, and the Australian Doctor Newspaper.

Frank Mannino, M.D., Pediatrics, discussed the debate over whether the government should put a cap on the number of embryos that can be used for each attempted in-vitro fertilization with USAToday. Similar articles appeared in numerous publications, including CBS News, Fox News, MSNBC, and Newsday.

Daniel Kripke, M.D., Psychiatry, discussed his sleep research findings with Reuters and CNN News. Kripke’s research indicates that too much sleep can be harmful.

PRINT:

Larry Palinkas, Ph.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for a story on the psychological effects of isolation.

Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosciences, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for an update on his gene therapy treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Lee Cantrell, Poison Center, was interviewed by the Riverside Enterprise Press about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cheryl Rock, Ph.D., R.D., Cancer Center and Family & Preventive Medicine, in an interview with Glamour magazine, discussed how to reduce cancer risk through diet, exercise and other lifestyle activities.

Shu-Hong Zhu, Ph.D., Cancer Center and Family & Preventive Medicine, talked about the success of the California Smokers Helpline in an interview with the Orange County Register.

Lewis Rubin, M.D., Medicine, and Richard Channick, M.D., Medicine, discussed with Reuters International and the New York Times the results of a small study in India that indicated that Viagra has proven beneficial to people with pulmonary hypertension.

David B. Hoyt, M.D., Critical Care Services, was profiled in a Los Angeles Times article regarding PolyHeme, a synthetic blood substitute that is being tested at trauma centers nationwide, including UCSD Trauma Center.

Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Medicine spoke with the London Times regarding the placebo effect.

Larry Schneiderman, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, presented a lecture on medical ethics at the Carolinas Medical Center that was covered in a story by the Charlotte Observer newspaper.  He noted that "some things in medicine, even though we have the power to do them, we ought not to do them."

UCSD Medical Center hosted a heart disease and stroke prevention forum, as reported in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The panel was assembled to discuss creating a new heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment master plan, mandated by a new state law, to help set policies to reduce death and disability. Jim Dunford, M.D., Emergency Services, participated in his capacity as medical director of San Diego’s Emergency Medical Services.

William Bradley, M.D., chair of Radiology, discussed with the San Diego Union-Tribune the implications regarding the proliferation of non-medical ultrasound photography studios.

TELEVISION:

Beverly Kress, R.N., Nurse Manager, was interviewed by KGTV Channel 10 about the new Vocera pilot program being used by nurses, physicians and social workers at UCSD Medical Center.  The instant wireless voice communication system is a small radio with a speaker and a microphone that hangs around the employee's neck and allows hands-free two-way conversations.

Raul Coimbra, M.D., Trauma Center, was interviewed by Univision Channel 17 about a clinical trial to begin in May on a synthetic blood substitute called PolyHeme.

STAY TUNED: 

Gordy McGuire, Pharm.D., and Lee Cantrell, Poison Center, were interviewed by Channel 7/39 about herbal supplements for May broadcast.

Don Kikkawa, M.D., and David Granet, M.D., Ophthalmology, will be featured on KGTV Channel 10's Medical Miracle segment about a condition of the thyroid that causes a patient's eyes to appear extra large and extended.

Cecilia Smith, M.D., Medical Director, and Ilia Christy, M.D., Medicine and Pediatrics, were interviewed by KPBS radio for the California Report about the new reduced hours for medical residents.

CORRECTION

In our last "In the News" we incorrectly reported on an item that featured Dr. Fred Levine.  The mistake was entirely ours, and we apologize for the misrepresentation.  The item should have said:

Fred Levine, Ph.D., Pediatrics, was quoted in Nature magazine regarding a discovery by scientists at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Saitama, Japan that a simple sugar called trehalose helps to relieve the symptoms of Huntington's disease in mice.  
 

EVERYWHERE

Daniel Lozano, M.D., was interviewed at a press conference by Channels 5, 6, 7/39, 9/51, Telemundo, Channel 19, as well as KOGO, KNX LA, KPBS radio, and the San Diego Union Tribune about the discharge of the last burn patient from the San Diego wildfires.http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/03_04_Rudy.html

The Moores UCSD Cancer Center was mentioned in a Newsday article that profiled current research into the macrobiotic diet which has become so popular with cancer patients that it is known as the “anti-cancer diet.” Similar articles appeared on the Associated Press Wire, Kansas City Star, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, Sarasota Herald Tribune, and San Jose Mercury News.

Christy Jackson, M.D., Neurosciences, was a live guest on the KUSI Morning News where she discussed foods, beverages and environmental conditions that can trigger a migraine headache. Jackson was also featured in the San Diego Union Tribune article about potential triggers for migraines.

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was interviewed by ABC Radio (national) about the announcement that the estrogen-only portion of the WHI trial will be stopped due to lack of evidence of a Cardiovascular benefit and evidence of a stroke risk. A similar article appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., Pediatric Gastroenterology, was interviewed on by NBC/Channel 7/39 about teenage obesity. Schwimmer was also featured in a March San Diego Magazine article about the growing problem of obesity in children.

Dennis Carson, M.D., Cancer Center, was featured in a New York Times article discussing the more conservative risks being taken in biotechnology in recent times.

Eric Courchesne, M.D., Neurosciences, was featured in a New York Times article that referenced his Autism research.

Ajit Varki, M.D., Medicine, had his research mentioned in NewScientist in an article discussing the upcoming publication of the chimpanzee genome sequence. Read the news release about Varki’s research at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2002/08_26_Varki.html

Fred Millard, M.D., Cancer Center, spoke with the Los Angeles Times regarding the medication error that occurred at the troubled Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Edward W. Holmes, Vice Chancellor, discusses UCSD's partnerships with industry as a way to advance translational medicine in the cover story "A Closer Look at San Diego's Research Institutions" in the current issue of Lifelines, the quarterly magazine published by Biocom.  Dennis Carson, M.D., director of the Moores UCSD Cancer Center, is featured in the same issue in
an article about Salmedix, a company he co-founded.

Douglas Richman, M.D., Medicine, was one of the authors of a Science magazine Policy Forum article which questioned the rationale for a Phase III HIV-1 vaccine trial in Thailand of a vaccine made from the live-replicating canarypox vector ALVAC. Richman also spoke with Wired Magazine about the possibility of the development of a medication to stop HIV infection before it starts.

UCSD Medical Center was mentioned in a San Diego Union-Tribune article that discussed the FDA’s decision to order bar codes on medications and blood products within 2 years. The Medical Center has acquired some software and plans to have a bar code system in place within a year. The article was also carried by Copley News Service.

James Dunford, M.D., Emergency Department, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 and NBC/Channel 7/39 about the new trend of first responders to move away from mouth-to-mouth CPR on patients.

Richard Bodor, M.D., Plastic Surgery, was featured on KGTV/Channel 10 in a story about his patient who completely amputated his hand and Bodor's successful reattachment.

William Norcross, M.D., Family Medicine, was interviewed by NBC/Channel 7/39 about the simple removal of warts by using duct tape.

David Granet, M.D., Ophthalmology, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 about the treatment of a young patient with Sticker's Disease.

Larry Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, discussed the implications of federal policy regulating embryonic stem cell research in an interview with National Public Radio science reporter Joe Palca.

02/26/04

EVERYWHERE:

Daniel F. Kripke, M.D., Psychiatry, was interviewed by numerous news media regarding his editorial in the journal Sleep.  Kripke discussed his past research and subsequent studies by others indicating that the optimal period of sleep is 7 hours.  Among the many broadcast and print news media carrying interviews with Kripke were the New York Times, USA Today, UPI, ABC News, CNN, the International Herald Tribune, Boston Globe, Good Housekeeping Magazine's website, Newsday, San Francisco Chronicle San Jose Mercury News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Eyal Raz, M.D., Medicine, found that probiotics, “friendly" bacteria, are just as effective when inactivated as when consumed as live micro-organisms.  His study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, was reported in the Los Angeles Times, Nature magazine's news section, the BBC, the Jerusalem Post, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the London Guardian, HealthDay, Science Daily, NBC, Innovations (a German website), Health and Age, Medical News Today, and Advance for Administrators in the Laboratory. Read the original new release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/02_02_Raz.html

Daniel Lozano, M.D., Regional Burn Center, was quoted by ABC news, the Associated Press, Newsday, the SanDiegoChannel and Miami Herald, regarding the recovery of the San Diego Firestorm patients, Allyson Roach and Rudy Reyes, both of whom have endured multiple surgeries and treatments.

Lawrence Goldstein, Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine, discussed stem cell research in articles for the New York Times and Science magazine.  He also discussed his opinion of the South Korean cloning issue in a San Diego Union-Tribune article.

The UCSD Shiley Eye Center dedicated a $9 million, 24,500-square-foot expansion for the treatment of glaucoma, retinal disease, and other disabling eye disorders. The news was announced in the San Diego Union Tribune, the sandiegochannel.com, KFMB/Channel 8 and City New Service.

David Guss, M.D., Emergency Medicine, discussed his latest research findings with the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. Additional stories appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and newspapers and broadcast media throughout the world.  Guss’s research indicated that the position of your arm during a blood pressure check could potentially determine whether your doctor properly diagnoses and treats hypertension. Read the original news release at: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/01_06_guss.html

The death of Paul I. Jagger M.D., Medicine, a founding member of the UC San Diego School of Medicine's faculty and first medical director of the university's hospital, was reported in obituaries in the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune. http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/02_09_Jagger.html

Rich Liekweg, CEO, UCSD Medical Center, discussed with the San Diego Business Journal the predicted impact on the healthcare system of the proposed California budget cuts.

Rolando Viani, M.D., Pediatrics, discussed his recent research findings with the San Diego Union Tribune.  In a project involving HIV testing of pregnant women in the delivery room at Tijuana General Hospital, Viani found that the HIV infection rate is higher than previously thought.

UCSD Stroke Center researchers unveiled their Internet-based system to help nationwide emergency rooms get expert stroke advice from Stroke Center physicians at the International Stroke Conference, reported Wired News. Brett Meyer, M.D., UCSD Stroke Center, was featured in a front page San Diego Union-Tribune story detailing about the program, which is called STroKE DOC.

Richard L. Gallo, Ph.D., was interviewed by Medical News regarding the lack of a certain peptide in the skin of people with atopic dermatitis that may explain why they are at high risk of adverse reactions to the smallpox vaccine. The funding may lead to safer testing to identify those who should not receive the vaccine.

Theodore Friedmann, M.D., Pediatrics, organized a symposium on the genetic engineering of athletes at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Sciences.  Several news media covered the presentation and wrote or broadcast stories.  Among these was the San Diego Union-Tribune, which carried a front page story with quotes from Friedmann.

David Easter, M.D., Cancer Center and Surgery, applauded the announcement of Navigator, a local clearinghouse program for cancer information and resources, in an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Fred Levine, Ph.D., Pediatrics, was featured in Nature magazine regarding his discovery that a simple sugar called trehalose helps to relieve the symptoms of Huntington's disease in mice. The discovery may help researchers to design drug treatments for the human condition.

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, M.D., Family and Preventive Medicine, was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle about hormone therapy.

Mark Bracker, M.D., Sports Medicine, commented on the popularity of walking for fitness and recreation for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., Pediatrics, was interviewed by San Diego magazine to discuss his research and recommendations on childhood obesity.

TELEVISION:

Rick Bodor, M.D., Plastic Surgery, was interviewed on February 10 by KGTV/Channel 10 for their Medical Miracles Segment. Four years ago Bodor successfully reattached a young's man hand that was completely severed in a table saw accident.

Terence Davidson, M.D., Otolaryngology, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10, KNSD/Channel 7/39 and KPIX, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, on how the use of an over-the-counter homeopathic medicine called Zicam is causing a permanent loss of smell in some patients.

Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D., Psychiatry, was interviewed by KUSI/ Channel 51 to discuss sleep disorders in patients with dementia.

Daniel Lozano, M.D., Regional Burn Center, was interviewed by KGTV/Channel 10 regarding Joella Smith, a patient who was struck by 50,000 volts of electricity after a car accident and survived.

Gordon McGuire, Pharm.D., Pharmacy, participated in an NBC/Channel 7/39 investigation of San Diego pharmacies that found that the price of commonly prescribed drugs could vary widely from pharmacy to pharmacy.

Georgia Sadler, Ph.D., Cancer Center and Surgery, discussed her new research with WIStv.com in North Carolina. Sadler’s research indicates that the venom of a sea snail could ease hard-to-treat pain in cancer and aids patients, as a man-made version of the potent venom has been shown to relieve severe pain, especially in cancer patients.

David Feifel, M.D., Psychiatry, spoke with TheSanDiegoChannel.com about adult ADHD and the need for adult ADHD medications.

STAY TUNED:

Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., Pediatrics will appear in a CBS Dateline report that follows obese children trying to lose weight. Schwimmer will also be featured in an upcoming Family Circle article regarding childhood obesity.

Christopher Mathews, M.D., Medicine, was interviewed by KPBS TV for an upcoming special on HIV/AIDS in San Diego.

Terence O'Grady M.D., Dermatology, will be interviewed by Margaret King, editor of the Union-Tribune food section for an article examining the link between diet and acne.

01/23/04