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Tag: Healthcare

  • Mammograms are Crucial to Women’s Health: Here’s why

    Mammograms are Crucial to Women’s Health: Here’s why

    Newswise — Mammograms are Crucial to Women’s Health: Here’s why

    New Brunswick, N.J., October 1, 2023 –While researchers continue to make advancements in cancer detection and treatment for breast cancer, one of the best ways to tackle the disease is through early detection and screening with mammography. Mridula George, MD, associate program director of breast medical oncology and medical oncologist in the Breast Oncology Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, shares more on the importance of this life-saving cancer screening. 

    1. Breast cancer is a leading health concern for women. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, behind only skin cancer.
    2. There are several risk factors associated with breast cancer. As with many other diseases, risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. You also may be at high risk if you have a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer or if you have multiple family members who developed breast, ovarian or prostate cancer.
    3. Early disease usually does not cause pain, and self-exams cannot find everything. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area, change in the size or shape of the breast, or tenderness. Other symptoms include nipple discharge or the nipple pulled back into the breast, or a change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels (warm, swollen, red, or scaly).
    4. Using low-dose X-rays, mammograms can show abnormal areas or tissues in your breast and can help detect cancer before you have symptoms. Your breast is placed in a special machine between two plates. The plates move together to compress your breast tissue, so it’s easier for the X-ray to obtain a clear image. Once the images are created, they’re stored on a computer where they can be viewed and analyzed by the radiologist and your doctor.
    5. When breast cancer is detected early, and hasn’t spread, the five-year relative survival rate is 99 percent. Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and less likely to have spread outside the breast.

    Take action now. If you are unsure about breast cancer screening recommendations for your personal situation, discuss with your doctor to make a decision that feels right for you.

    Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health is the state’s leading cancer program and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

    Learn more at rwjbh.org/mammo.

     

    Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

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  • Scientists discover method to boost immune response against TB

    Scientists discover method to boost immune response against TB

    Newswise — Tuberculosis is old—ancient even. The infectious bacterial disease that plagued Old Testament Israelites and took down pharaohs was eventually stunted by vaccinations, antibiotics, and public health measures like isolation, but it hasn’t been cured yet. More than a million people around the world still die from TB every year.

    Now, a Boston University-led research team has found a way to tweak immune cells to better fight the disease and—with the right backing and funding—they say it could be ready for clinical trials as soon as next year. In a study published in Science Advances, the researchers identified the genetic signatures of TB-susceptible and TB-resistant white blood cells, called macrophages, and then tested the ability of different compounds to transform vulnerable cells into more resilient ones.

    “The TB vaccine is not really 100 percent efficient and antibiotic resistance is becoming more prevalent,” says Igor Kramnik, the study’s corresponding author and a BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine associate professor of medicine. His team’s approach could add another weapon to the arsenal that’s fighting TB: a host-directed therapy, a way of helping the body better control infection and reduce disease-related inflammation. “It’s a way of treating the host, the patient, rather than focusing on the pathogen.” The project mixed lab-based studies at BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) with a big data audit of potential compounds by scientists at University College Dublin, Ireland.

    “Tuberculosis, as one of my colleagues used to say, has studied us much longer than we have studied it,” says Kramnik, who’s also a NEIDL investigator. “It’s a serious and complex disease and our standard interventions are only partially efficient—none of them are sufficient to eradicate the disease.”

    But the latest work could help change that, according to Shivraj M. Yabaji, a NEIDL postdoctoral researcher.

    “We hope that our research will contribute to the development of more effective treatments for TB by better understanding how to fine tune the activation states of immune cells,” says Yabaji, the paper’s lead author. “This could potentially lead to therapies that target host immunity to tuberculosis.”

    Weak TB Vaccine, Rising Antimicrobial Resistance

    The cause of tuberculosis is a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis—a tiny rod-shaped germ less than 0.5 micrometers in diameter. Spread by a cough, sneeze, or even just a conversation, it can cause symptoms like fever, weight loss, and chest pain. In 2021—the most recent numbers available—more than 10 million people worldwide fell ill with TB, with the disease typically concentrating its attacks on their lungs.

    For 100 years, a vaccine—bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)—has been the first line of defense against TB, albeit a somewhat ramshackle one. A recent study from Boston University showed that BCG has limited impact: researchers found it was only about 37 percent effective in children under five years of age and offered no protection for adolescents and adults. And antibiotics, the fallback for those who do become infected, are losing their power. According to the World Health Organization, “drug-resistant tuberculosis is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance worldwide and continues to be a public health threat;” it reports that around 500,000 people die annually from drug-resistant TB.

    Kramnik has been studying TB for 30 years, though he’d initially expected to only spend a few years scrutinizing it before turning his focus to tumor biology.

    “I thought that tuberculosis would be a nice stepping stone, but I’m still here, trying to understand it,” he says. “It’s a disease that’s very different from others. Thinking about tuberculosis as a battle between a pathogen and a host isn’t really productive. What we’re probably dealing with is an evolutionarily refined coexistence of a pathogen and a host that eventually leads to incurable disease at its terminal stage.”

    A New Treatment to Enhance Natural Defenses Against TB

    One of TB’s biggest mysteries is why some people get sick when most others don’t; in particular, why so many patients initially ward off infection, then eventually succumb to it. Kramnik is also interested in why the bacteria is so intent on destroying the lung, which enables its transmission by infectious aerosols. In recent studies, his lab has used experimental mouse models, which mimic what happens to humans when they contract TB, to try to provide some answers.

    “It all led us to identify the importance of macrophage cells as major determinants, and regulators and controllers, of local immune response in the lung,” he says, “and a major cell that affects susceptibility in cases of growing infection.”

    Macrophages typically have two disease fighting states, says Kramnik: an active one that takes on and eliminates pathogenic intruders, and a regenerative one that helps rebuild tissue after infection. He discovered that in the case of TB, the cells can get stuck in a hyperactive, but ineffective, fight mode: a persistent and damaging inflammatory response that hurts the body, but doesn’t take down the pathogen. In the latest study, Kramnik, Yabaji, and their colleagues used the mouse models to look for ways to shut this response off and help the macrophages work more effectively.

    To start, they used RNA sequencing—a method for pinpointing which genes are expressed, or turned on—hoping it would help them zero in on the “genetic signature that differentiates the normal/resistant and aberrant/susceptible activation states,” says Kramnik. Using a test developed in collaboration with study coauthor Alexander A. Gimelbrant, an investigator at the Seattle-based Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences, the team simultaneously measured the expression of 46 different genes that represented this signature. “This allowed us to look at gene expression patterns rather than individual genes to characterize the cell states and their changes in response to treatments.” They then tested a range of drugs to see if any would perturb, or change, the expression of the genes.

    Some molecules worked better than others, but no single one could shift a macrophage from a TB-vulnerable to a TB-resistant state. To uncover a potential combination that would work in synergy, the lab-based team sent all of their data to researchers at University College Dublin, Ireland, who had developed a machine learning algorithm they could use to predict whether particular combinations of drugs would be more effective. “We then went back to the bench and tested those predictions,” says Kramnik.

    They found two molecules that have shown promise as cancer treatments—Rocaglamide A (RocA) and a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor—formed an especially good partnership. Together, they helped hinder cell signals related to inflammation and stress, while also boosting the pathways that carry stress resistance signals. “They would be good candidates for clinical trials, so it could change the medical treatment of tuberculosis,” says Kramnik.

    The researchers also discovered that using the two together allowed them to dial back on the effective dose of RocA, which can be potentially toxic at higher levels. Kramnik says their results show how to increase “therapeutic efficacy at lower drug doses and decrease toxic side effects. This is particularly important for chronic diseases that require long course treatments, such as tuberculosis.”

    Although the team is ready to move the research forward, bringing any therapy to trial would require fresh backing, whether from a pharmaceutical company or other institution. “We will be in position,” says Kramnik, “to partner with people who can bring it to the clinic. This is our goal.”

    Boston University

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  • تزيد الخلايا المناعية المسنة من نمو ورم الرئة تبعًا لورقة بحثية

    تزيد الخلايا المناعية المسنة من نمو ورم الرئة تبعًا لورقة بحثية

    Newswise — مدينة روتشستر، ولاية مينيسوتا — البلعميات هي إحدى أنواع خلايا الدم البيضاء، وهي جزء من خط الدفاع الأول للجسم ضد العدوى. بالإضافة إلى دورها في قتل الكائنات الدقيقة الضارة، يمكن للبلعميات بدء استجابة الجسم ضد الأورام. على الرغم من ذلك، فالبلعميات -مثل كل الخلايا الأخرى- تتقدم في العمر، وربما تدخل في مرحلة الشيخوخة. قد يرتبط هذا بتقدم عمر الإنسان، أو إصابته بالأمراض، أو بمختلف المشكلات الفسيولوجية.

    عندما تصبح البلعميات خلايا مسنة، تتوقف عن التكاثر، إلا أنها لا تموت، ولا يتم التخلص منها دائمًا. لذا تتراكم البلعميات المسنة في بعض الأنسجة وتفرز بعض الجزيئات الضارة. لهذا يطلق على الخلايا المسنة اسم “خلايا الزومبي”. وحتى الآن، لم نستطع التوصل إلى سبب تحول الخلايا السليمة إلى خلايا مسنة.

    في هذا البحث الجديد والذي نُشر في مجلة Cancer Cell البحثية، اكتشف الباحثون أن الخلايا البلعمية المسنة لا تتراكم فقط في الرئة، بل وتعزز من نمو ورم الرئة.

    وضح د. دارِن بيكر أن “البيولوجي المتخصص في الخلايا المسنة في Mayo Clinic وكبير المؤلفين” من الناحية النظرية، لم نتوقع وجود احتمالية لأن تتحول البلعميات لخلايا مسنة تتسبب في نمو الورم. “لذا يقربنا هذا البحث خطوة من فهم كيفية تكون الأورام على المستوى الخلوي.”

    اكتشف د. بيكر وزملاؤه أن البلعميات المسنة قد تمنع الجهاز المناعي من الاستجابة لمنع النمو الشاذ للخلايا. وبالتالي يؤدي هذا لتكون ورم.

    “ووضح د. لويس بريتو، الباحث الرئيسي، وزميل أبحاث ما بعد الدكتوراه، وخريج كلية Mayo Clinic للدراسات العليا للعلوم الطبية الحيوية. “استطعنا من خلال التجارب والتحليلات المختلفة أن نفرّق بين البلعميات المسنة وغيرها من البلعميات الطبيعية. ووجدنا أنه إنه استطعنا التخلص من البلعميات المسنة بأساليب جينية أو دوائية، فيمكننا تأخير عملية تكوٌن الورم.

    استنتج الباحثون أن الخلايا محتملة التسرطن تتواصل مع الخلايا المحيطة بها بما في ذلك البلعميات. وتحفز الخلايا محتملة التسرطن البلعميات لتتحول لخلايا مسنة. بعدها، تساهم الخلايا المسنة في تغيير المنطقة المحيطة لتعزيز نمو الورم.

    في البداية اعتقد الباحثون أن التخلص من الخلايا المسنة سيؤدي إلى زيادة الأورام الغُدّية في الرئة، وهو نوع الورم الذي كانوا يدرسونه. ولكن أظهرت نتائج التجارب الأولية خلاف ذلك.

    وضح د. بريتو “كان الأمر محفِّزًا، فكلما قمنا بتجربة كانت النتائج عكس توقعنا تمامًا.” “إن أزلنا مثبطات الأورام المسنة فمن المتوقع أن تزيد نسبة الأورام. ولكن النتائج أظهرت العكس. فبعد إزالة مثبطات الأورام المسنة، قلت نسبة الأورام.”

    عمل الباحثون مع المؤلف المشارك د. هو لي، الباحث في الطب الفردي في Mayo Clinic، وأجروا تسلسل الحمض الننوي الريبوزي أحادي الخلية في معمله. ساهم هذا البحث في تحديد البلعميات الرئوية كخلية رئيسية تعزز نمو الأورام. والآن، يعتقد الباحثون أن البلعميات تستجيب لإشارات الخلايا محتملة التسرطن مع بدء تكون الورم.

    يقول د. بيكر “أعدنا التفكير في فرضياتنا الأولية، فقد تعملنا الكثير عما يمكن أن تفعله الخلايا. بعدها اتضح لنا كيف يمكن للبلعميات المسنة أن تؤثر على الخلايا الأخرى وعلى البيئة وعلى جهاز المناعة.”

    دُعم هذا البحث من قبل مركز بول ف. جلين لعلم أبحاث الشيخوخة البيولوجي التابع لـ Mayo Clinic وكلية Mayo Clinic للدراسات العليا للعلوم الطبية الحيوية.

    تم نشر ورقة بحثية تكميلية في مجلة Cancer Cell من قبل الباحثين في المملكة المتحدة.

    للحصول على القائمة الكاملة للمؤلفين والإفصاحات والتمويل، راجع الورقة البحثية.

    لمزيد من المعلومات، يرجى زيارة ديسكافريز إيدج.

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    نبذة عن مايو كلينك
    مايو كلينك هي مؤسسة غير ربحية تلتزم بالابتكار في الممارسات السريرية والتعليم والبحث وتوفير التعاطف والخبرة لكل مَن يحتاج إلى الاستشفاء والرد على استفساراته. لمعرفة المزيد من أخبار مايو كلينك، تفضَّل بزيارة شبكة مايو كلينك الإخبارية.  

    Mayo Clinic

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  • NCCN Senior Director Evelyn Handel Zapata is Named a ‘40 Under 40 in Cancer: Emerging Leader’ for Milestone Work Improving Safe Use of Chemotherapy

    NCCN Senior Director Evelyn Handel Zapata is Named a ‘40 Under 40 in Cancer: Emerging Leader’ for Milestone Work Improving Safe Use of Chemotherapy

    Newswise — PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [September 25, 2023] —Evelyn Handel Zapata, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, Senior Director of Drugs & Biologics Programs at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) was named a 40 Under 40 in Cancer: Emerging Leader at a national reception in Chicago in June. This achievement comes as the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates®) program celebrates its 15th anniversary and launches new resources for a type of pediatric lymphoma today.

    40 Under 40 in Cancer is an awards initiative that recognizes contributions being made across the field of cancer by rising stars and emerging leaders under the age of 40. The award is sponsored by The Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC), The National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA), Swim Across America, Amplity Health, Servier, Takeda, Jasper Health, BeiGene, and Cumberland Pharmaceuticals.

    “Dr. Handel [Zapata] is an extremely diligent and collaborative pharmacist who [helps] set protocols, standards, templates, and guidance for oncology care providers,” said Eve Segal, PharmD, BCOP, Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Hematology/Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center/UW Medicine. “She is also passionate about patient education, and through her leadership within HOPA [the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association], has supported the creation of 70 IV education handouts and over 100 oral chemotherapy handouts that are used by hundreds of oncology practitioners every day. Evelyn’s work at NCCN has helped advance pharmacist involvement and provided pharmacist perspective on important national guidelines.”

    New Resources for Pediatric Oncology

    This year marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of the NCCN Templates® and heralds the publication of the first NCCN Templates for a childhood cancer. The NCCN Templates® contain critical information on dosing, administration, side effects and other monitoring and safety parameters, and are used by clinicians to ensure that they are delivering optimal treatment as recommended by the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®). The newly launched resources for improving the safe use of systemic therapy when treating pediatric aggressive mature b-cell lymphomas were first published on September 25, 2023.

    There are now 2,531 published NCCN Templates covering 108 unique cancer types across 58 different NCCN Guidelines®, with 328 new templates added in the past year alone. They are licensed for use in a growing number of electronic health record systems, utilization management tools, and clinical decision support tools. In addition to users who access the templates through an HIT licensor, in 2022 more than 10,000 unique subscribers downloaded more than 1.7 million NCCN Templates directly from NCCN.org/templates.

    Dr. Handel Zapata joined NCCN in 2015 and serves as Senior Director of the Drugs & Biologics Programs, where she is involved with management of the NCCN Templates® as well as providing oversight and management for the NCCN Drugs and Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium®).

    “Evelyn exemplifies the core values we embrace at NCCN, including passion and innovation to advance high-quality cancer care,” said NCCN CEO Robert W. Carlson, MD. “She leads a team dedicated to providing the best information for the safe and effective use of drugs and biologics in cancer care. The work they do truly makes a difference for people with cancer. I am grateful for Evelyn’s ongoing contributions to NCCN and the field of oncology and congratulate her on this achievement.”

    “It was an honor to see the work that my colleagues and I do to improve the safe use of chemotherapy be recognized in this way,” said Dr. Handel Zapata. “I am grateful to HOPA for nominating me, and grateful to my team for all of their efforts over the years, most recently in the launch of a new pediatric cancer resource. I feel privileged to be part of this work advancing NCCN’s mission to help all people with cancer to live better lives.”

    Dr. Handel Zapata’s team at NCCN includes 12 oncology nurses and pharmacists, including two specializing in pediatric care. She also works with pharmacy directors across NCCN’s Member Institutions as part of the NCCN Pharmacy Directors Forum. In addition to her responsibilities at NCCN, Dr. Handel Zapata also serves as the Chair of the HOPA Patient Education Committee and the President of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP).

    # # #

    About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

    The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information.

     

    National Comprehensive Cancer Network(r) (NCCN(r))

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  • ISPOR Europe 2023 Plenaries and Speakers Announced

    ISPOR Europe 2023 Plenaries and Speakers Announced

    Newswise — Lawrenceville, NJ, USA—September 25, 2023—ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research announced the plenary sessions and speakers for ISPOR Europe 2023. The conference is the leading global conference in Europe for health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and is scheduled for 12-15 November in Copenhagen, Denmark with the theme, “Health Economics and Outcomes Research at the Nexus of Policy and Science.”

    Plenary sessions for ISPOR Europe 2023 include the following with speakers added to the online program as they are confirmed:

    Plenary 1: European Health Data Space – Real-World Evidence Put to Work for Public Health
    Monday, 13 November 2023
    This session will explore the proposed European Health Data Space that supports individuals taking control of their own health data, in addition to the use of health data for better healthcare delivery, better research, innovation, and policy making. It also “enables the European Union to make full use of the potential offered by a safe and secure exchange, use, and reuse of health data.” The plenary will offer multiple perspectives on the political vision and realities of a European Health Data Space. Speakers include:

    • Moderator: Steffen Thirstrup, MD, PhD; European Medicines Agency; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Markus Kalliola, MSc, MSocSc; The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra; Helsinki, Finland
    • Trine Pilgaard, MSc; Pfizer; Ballerup, Denmark
    • Patrice Verpillat, MD, MPH, PhD; European Medicines Agency; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Petra Wilson, PhD; Health Connect Partners, FTI Consulting; Brussels, Belgium

    Plenary 2: The New Pharma Legislation Proposal: The Good, the Bad, or the …?
    Tuesday, 14 November 2023
    This session will discuss the proposal that the European Commission adopted for the revision of the European Union pharmaceutical legislation that aims to create a future proof regulatory framework and to support the promotion of research and technologies that fulfill patients’ therapeutic needs while addressing market failures. The panel will also discuss how and where HEOR might help with identified shortcomings or omissions in the new proposal. Speakers include:

    • Moderator: Anja Schiel, PhD; Norwegian Medicines Agency; Oslo, Norway
    • Denis Lacombe, MD; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer; Brussels, Belgium
    • Gloria Ghequiere, MEUS; Belgian Federal Government; Brussels, Belgium
    • Yannis Natsis, MA; European Public Health Alliance; Brussels, Belgium
    • Johan Pontén, MA; Medicine Evaluation Committee; Stockholm, Sweden

    Plenary 3: The Calm Before the Storm? Delivering the New Reality for EU Health Technology Assessment
    Wednesday, 15 November 2023
    This session will focus on the European Union’s health technology assessment (HTA) regulation that was adopted in January 2022 and applies as of January 2025. One of the most publicly visible components of the new regulation will be the Joint Clinical Assessments (JCAs). Panelists will discuss what the various stakeholders require of each other and how they can collectively address the anticipated challenges to ensure a smooth adoption of the new regulation. Speakers include:

    • Moderator: Adrian Griffin, MSc; Johnson & Johnson; Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Roisin Adams, MPharm, MSC, PhD; National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics & Discipline of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity College Dublin; Dublin, Ireland
    • Greg Rossi, PhD; AstraZeneca, Cambridge, England, UK
    • Bettina Ryll, MD, PhD; Melanoma Patient Network Europe and Past Chair of the Patient Advocates Working Group, European Society for Medical Oncology; Uppsala, Sweden
    • Jose Valverde, MD; European Commission; Brussels, Belgium

    The ISPOR Short Course Program is also being offered immediately prior to ISPOR Europe 2023 on 12 November with a wide variety of courses that range from introductory to advanced levels. All short courses do require a separate registration fee. The ISPOR Short Course Program also offers some courses virtually and the entire directory of available courses can be found here.

    ISPOR is recognized globally as the leading professional society for health economics and outcomes research and for its role in improving healthcare decisions. ISPOR Europe 2023 draws healthcare stakeholders with an interest in HEOR, including researchers and academicians, assessors and regulators, payers and policymakers, the life sciences industry, healthcare providers, and patient engagement organizations.

    Additional information on the conference can be found at: Conference Microsite | Program | Conference News Center | Press | Exhibits & Sponsorship

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    ABOUT ISPOR
    ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), is an international, multistakeholder, nonprofit dedicated to advancing HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally. The Society is the leading source for scientific conferences, peer-reviewed and MEDLINE®-indexed publications, good practices guidance, education, collaboration, and tools/resources in the field.
    Website  | LinkedIn  | Twitter (@ispororg)  |  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  

    ISPOR–The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research

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  • Diabetes Treatments Less Studied in Black Patients

    Diabetes Treatments Less Studied in Black Patients

    Newswise — New research analysing the effects of two drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes indicates a consistent lack of cardiovascular and renal benefits in Black populations. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of severe illness and death associated with type 2 diabetes. Renal disease is also a common complication of type 2 diabetes.

    The drugs, called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) and glucogen-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs), are some of the newer treatments prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

    The research findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, show that for White and Asian populations, SGLT2-Is and GLP1-RAs have beneficial effects on blood pressure, weight control and renal function, and significantly reduce the risk of severe heart problems and kidney disease. However, the research shows no evidence of these beneficial effects in Black populations.

    Researchers at the Diabetes Research Centre at the University of Leicester analysed the results of 14 randomised controlled trials of SGLT2-Is and GLP1-RAs reporting cardiovascular and renal outcomes by race, ethnicity and region.

    Lead researcher Professor Samuel Seidu, Professor in Primary Care Diabetes and Cardio-metabolic Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “Given the well-documented evidence that Black and other ethnic minority populations are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and at a younger age, the consistent lack of benefits we observed among Black populations is concerning.

    “Minimising racial and ethnic variations in the cardiovascular and renal complications of type 2 diabetes requires targeted improved access to care and treatment for those most at risk.”

    The researchers suggest there are many factors that could have contributed to the lack of evidence of beneficial effects for Black and other non-White populations. Low statistical power due to small sample sizes of these populations may be partly responsible.

    “It is quite clear from the current data that some racial/ethnic groups such as Black populations were underrepresented in all the included trials,” pointed out Professor Seidu.

    Enrolment in the trials ranged from 66.6% to 93.2% for White populations, 1.2% and 21.6% for Asian populations, and 2.4% to 8.3% for Black populations.

    However, the researchers suggest that, given the consistent nature of the significant lack of beneficial effects across the majority of outcomes for Black populations, other factors may also be at play.

    “”Whether the differences are due to issues with under-representation of Black populations and low statistical power, or to racial/ethnic variations in the way the body and these drugs interact with each other needs further investigation,” said Professor Seidu. “It is therefore important that prescribers don’t hasten to deny these newer treatments to Black populations on the back of this research.”

    SAGE Publications UK

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  • Sylvester Research: Socioeconomic status linked with outcomes and survival in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer

    Sylvester Research: Socioeconomic status linked with outcomes and survival in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer

    Newswise — MIAMI, FLORIDA (Sept. 22, 2023) – Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found an association between “social determinants of health” and outcomes and survival in patients undergoing surgery and treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

    The findings are based on a statistical scoring system the researchers developed that consolidates and analyzes several measures of socioeconomic status and related factors.

    “We believe our social determinants of health scoring system is the first to provide a composite perspective on many of the nonmedical factors that affect outcomes in patients receiving treatment for non-small cell lung cancer,” said Dao Nguyen, M.D., Sylvester Thoracic Cancers Group co-leader. He said the study focused on patients with stage 2 or stage 3 NSCLC, with surgically confirmed metastasis to regional lymph nodes within the chest cavity.

    Ideally, Nguyen said, patients with these cancers should receive ‘multimodal’ care – chemotherapy, immunotherapy and, in some cases, radiotherapy – and this high level of expertise and care may best be provided by specialized, comprehensive centers like Sylvester, a National Cancer Institute-designated center.

    But studies have shown that better or worse outcomes result from more than just medical and surgical treatments. Socioeconomic disadvantages, for example, have been associated with lower-quality care and suboptimal outcomes. Social determinants of health, or SDH, include income, wealth, education, geographical location, access to specialized care and other nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes.

    “Our analysis shows that SDH scores can identify patients who are at increased risk even if they undergo adequate initial treatment. Our research also may help point the way toward improving strategies and care for patients with lung cancer who are socioeconomically disadvantaged,” said Nguyen, a thoracic surgeon who treats and studies lung and other cancers and is the senior author of an article published online ahead of print in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

    Nguyen and colleagues analyzed data from 11,274 patients with locally advanced NSCLC in the National Cancer Database (NCDB), a registry provided by the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. Patients with locally advanced disease make up about one-third of the NSCLC population. In the study sample, average patient age was about 68, and 57% of patients were female. Eighty-four percent of patients in the sample were non-Hispanic white, 8.8% were Black, 3.0% were Hispanic, and 3.3% were Asian.

    The researchers quantified results based on the medical research term “textbook oncological outcome,” which considers several metrics and translates to the most desirable or optimal outcome for patients undergoing surgery to remove a primary cancer. These factors include complete resection, adequate lymph node removal, timely initiation of other therapies when needed, and short hospital stay. Textbook outcomes also are reflected in statistics on mortality, re-intervention, readmission, and major complications.

    The Sylvester study aimed to determine the rate of achieving ideal outcomes in relation to social determinants of health scores, the association between these scores and optimal outcomes, and the association between SDH and overall survival.

    The researchers focused on income, place of residence, level of education, and location of hospitals in proximity to patient residence. Other variables of interest included patient demographics, types of treatment facilities, surgical volumes at treatment facilities (representing experience and expertise), and whether patients had other medical conditions or diseases in addition to NSCLC.

    “In this cohort, we found that socioeconomic status – indicated by SDH score – has an important association with both textbook outcomes and survival,” said Ahmed Alnajar, M.D., the paper’s first author. “Significant socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with a 21% decrease in textbook outcomes and a 32% decrease in overall survival when compared to a patient subgroup that was not disadvantaged. Vulnerable patient population groups living in areas with limited income, limited education, rural locations, and areas with limited access to specialized cancer care settings are at increased risk of poor outcomes and long-term mortality.”

    Among highlights from the article:

    • In this study, patients living in rural areas had a 30% decreased likelihood of overall survival and long-term outcomes.
    • Having access to only community hospitals adversely affected survival.
    • Having surgery performed in a high-volume hospital decreased mortality risk by 31% and increased textbook outcome likelihood by 93%, compared to having surgery completed in a low-volume hospital.
    • Black patients were 31% less likely to achieve optimal, textbook outcomes than were white patients.
    • The authors say policymakers should ensure equitable access to surgery and multimodality therapy to be sure all patients receive the best care. They also say surgeons and other care providers can strategically allocate resources and target interventions to counter the effects of SDH inequities.

    Authors: In addition to Nguyen and Alnajar, Karishma Kodia, M.D., and Nestor Villamizar, M.D., contributed from Sylvester and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Syed Razi, M.D., contributed from Hackensack Meridian Health in Edison, New Jersey.

    Funding: This work received no external funding.

    Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest or disclosures.

    Publication: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, “The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Textbook Oncological Outcomes and Overall Survival in Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.”

    DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2023.09.013

    # # #

    Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

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  • RUSH Remains Among Nation’s Best For Quality

    RUSH Remains Among Nation’s Best For Quality

    Newswise — For the 10th year in a row, RUSH has been named one of the highest-quality hospitals in the nation by Vizient, the nation’s leading health care performance improvement company.

    Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study — the only hospital rating system that relies solely on patient outcome data for all inpatients — ranks RUSH University Medical Center No. 2 in the country and as the only Illinois academic medical center in the top 10. RUSH has been in the Vizient top five for 10 consecutive years.

    “This top national ranking from Vizient validates what our patients have long recognized — the care provided at RUSH is consistently among the nation’s finest,” said Dr. Omar Lateef, president and CEO of RUSH. “I take immense pride in our dedicated RUSH team, which remains unwavering in its commitment to enhancing the quality of care for patients.”

    The Vizient study of nearly 800 hospitals — which also includes separately ranked community hospitals and smaller academic medical centers — evaluates hospitals’ performance based on the Institute of Medicine’s six domains of care: safety, timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity and patient centeredness.

    Quality ‘encompasses everything that should go right during a hospital stay’

    While RUSH consistently ranks among the top performers in every major hospital rating system, being among the best in the Vizient Quality and Accountability ranking is one of the most respected gauges of quality and safety.

    “Quality encompasses everything that should go right during a hospital stay,” said Dr. Brian Stein, the medical center’s chief quality officer. “Because Vizient measures performance at hospitals across the country, every day thousands of RUSH employees know with confidence that their work contributes to RUSH’s outstanding performance — one patient at a time.”

    Here’s how this measure is different from others:

    • Vizient does not factor in reputation. While other rankings rely heavily on opinion surveys, Vizient’s study is entirely based on data.
    • The rating uses current data. Scores reflect care provided from June 2022 to June 2023, while other rankings or ratings typically rely on claims data that can be 18 to 24 months old.
    • It encompasses all patients. This study compares outcomes for all inpatients regardless of insurance.
    • The ranking compares similarly sized hospitals. Vizient groups hospitals by four subtypes, so large academic medical centers like RUSH are compared with hospitals that have similar volumes and perform a similar range of procedures.
    •  

    As the country’s largest member-owned health care services company, Vizient helps participating hospitals and health systems benchmark performance against their peers. More than 1,000 hospital facilities feed data directly from electronic medical records to a data analytics platform hospitals use to identify and accelerate ways to improve patient care.

    Unlike other ranking systems that rely on reputation surveys and old or incomplete data, Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study is based entirely on de-identified patient outcome data hospitals provide several times each year directly from electronic medical records for all inpatients — regardless of insurance coverage.

    Patients deserve ratings that are timely, objective and relevant

    While Vizient has conducted the Quality and Accountability Study every year since 2005, this year’s release comes as other hospital rating systems have received increased scrutiny for their objectivity, complexity and relevance.

    Stein notes that while there is greater awareness of health care options, evidence suggests they are relying less on existing rating systems to inform their choices.

    “Patients and providers deserve quality rating systems that are easy to understand, use contemporary data, and measure outcomes that will drive real improvement and that will recognize the great clinical work that is delivered every day to the diverse communities they serve,” he said.

    Rush University Medical Center

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  • Harmoniously.com to Participate in the Renowned HLTH Conference in Las Vegas

    Harmoniously.com to Participate in the Renowned HLTH Conference in Las Vegas

    Evidence-Based Psychedelic Medicine Company Harmoniously.com to Join Leading Health Care Conference


    SAN FRANCISCO, September 21, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Harmoniously.com, a leading name in the field of psychedelic medicine and integrated wellness, is delighted to announce its attendance at the upcoming HLTH Conference in Las Vegas. Renowned for being a hotspot for healthcare innovation and dialogue, the HLTH Conference offers a dynamic platform for Harmoniously.com to showcase its revolutionary healthcare solutions.

    “We’re incredibly excited to be part of the HLTH Conference this year,” states Sean Carr, CEO of Harmoniously.com. “This event is a gathering of the most forward-thinking minds in healthcare, and we are eager to share our unique approach to improving patient outcomes through psychedelic medicine and holistic care.”

    About Harmoniously.com

    Under the leadership of CEO Sean Carr, Harmoniously.com has distinguished itself as an avant-garde player in the realm of psychedelic medicine. The company specializes in a multi-modal treatment paradigm that includes regulated access to psychedelic treatments such as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Harmoniously.com complements this offering with a range of additional services, including executive leadership coaching, nutrition counseling, and spirituality programs, aiming to bring about holistic wellness.

    By taking an integrated approach to healthcare, Harmoniously.com succeeds in treating the entire individual — physically, mentally, and emotionally — following stringent scientific protocols and regulatory guidelines to ensure both safety and efficacy.

    A Multifaceted Approach to Healthcare

    What sets Harmoniously.com apart is its commitment to an integrated healthcare experience. Utilizing a blend of cutting-edge psychedelic medicines and complementary therapies, the company is uniquely positioned to make meaningful impacts on patient health and well-being.

    The HLTH Conference

    The HLTH Conference is a yearly event that attracts professionals, innovators, and stakeholders from various sectors within the healthcare industry. Taking place in Las Vegas, the conference is a global stage for transformative conversations and actionable insights into the future of healthcare.

    Join Us at the HLTH Conference

    Harmoniously.com will be taking meetings on Sunday, Oct. 8, and Monday, Oct. 9. Attendees are invited to schedule time with CEO Sean Carr to learn more about the organization’s groundbreaking healthcare approaches and to engage directly with him and the rest of the Harmoniously.com team. “We are committed to driving the conversation forward on psychedelic medicine and holistic healthcare,” adds Carr. “The HLTH Conference serves as an ideal platform for us to engage with like-minded professionals and collaborate on defining the future of healthcare.”

    For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

    Press Contact:
    Sean Carr
    Email: press@harmoniously.com
    Phone: (833) 423-4276

    Source: Harmoniously Integrative Wellness, PBC

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  • UNCW Experts Available to Discuss Breakthrough Research That Could Help Prostate Cancer Patients

    UNCW Experts Available to Discuss Breakthrough Research That Could Help Prostate Cancer Patients

    Hook: September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate, create awareness, and provide information about screening and early detection. For patients who have been diagnosed with this deadly type of cancer, the second leading cause of death in men behind lung cancer, there is an urgency for finding successful treatments and cures.

    Promising Cancer Treatment Research at UNCW: Researchers at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, funded by the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute, are finding new ways to target prostate cancer cells.

    UNCW College of Science and Engineering Faculty Dr. Sridhar Varadarajan, chemistry and biochemistry, and Dr. Art Frampton, biology and marine biology, are collaborating at UNCW to develop compounds that can successfully seek and destroy cancerous prostate cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. 

    Unlike other pharmaceutical treatments currently available that harm both healthy and cancerous cells, like chemotherapy, this research breakthrough could lead to reduced side effects for cancer patients, as well as mitigate risks for secondary cancers.

    Their research is partly based on the success of their previous research that targeted breast cancer cells.

    Quotes: 

    Dr. Sridhar Varajaradan:  “All of us know someone who has had cancer or gone through chemotherapy and how debilitating it can be. That puts a sense of urgency to what we are doing. There is always a human who is waiting for successful therapy, so time is of the essence. I always think about it when we do this research. That is really what keeps us going and what drives us.”

    “Every cancer is really a different disease. It isn’t a one size fits all. What we learned from our breast cancer treatment research is that there are receptors within breast cancer cells that grab our compound and drag it to the nucleus where they can deliver lethal damage to the DNA in the cancer cells. We found those same receptors are also present in prostate cancer cells. We have applied this approach to brain cancer cells with promising results, too.”

    Dr. Art Frampton: “Our goal is to come up with a more targeted therapy different from the current ‘sledgehammer approach’ to cancer treatment that causes side effects and kills healthy cells. We are focused on developing a very selective compound that kills only cancer cells called ‘selective toxicity.’ The patient would take this compound, which would seek out cancer cells but leave healthy cells alone.”

    Additional Notes:

    The research currently involves 14 UNCW undergraduate and PhD students who are primarily female. 

    The grant is $447,000 for three years from the National Cancer Institute, the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and the largest funder of cancer research in the world.

    University of North Carolina at Wilmington

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  • Unveiling Asthma’s Molecular Secrets: How Blood Molecules Influence Airway Processes

    Unveiling Asthma’s Molecular Secrets: How Blood Molecules Influence Airway Processes

    Newswise — New York, NY (September 20, 2023) – A new study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has unraveled the intricate molecular interplay between systemic processes within the blood and localized processes within the airways of individuals with asthma.

    This pioneering research opens doors to potential novel treatments targeting specific molecules, with the aim of providing more effective relief for asthma patients. The research findings were published today in Genome Medicine.

    The study, which examined 341 participants comprising individuals with persistent asthma and non-asthmatic controls, used advanced transcriptomic sequencing techniques to analyze blood and nasal samples. Through this comprehensive approach, the researchers unveiled crucial molecules and processes that hold the key to understanding asthma better. Within the blood, the NK cell granule protein and perforin emerged as central players. In the nasal passages, the G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 and InaD-like protein took on pivotal roles. Notably, the study underscored the profound influence of blood molecules on asthma by virtue of their effects on nasal molecules.

    Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, MPhil, the Mount Sinai Professor in Allergy and Systems Biology, Deputy Director of the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, and a senior author of the study, highlighted the importance of this holistic approach: “Our findings represent a groundbreaking connection between systemic factors in the bloodstream and localized factors in the airways, working collaboratively to drive asthma. This discovery marks a significant stride towards understanding core mechanisms of asthma, transcending the conventional focus on only the airways.”

    However, Dr. Bunyavanich also sounded a note of caution, saying, “While these revelations provide invaluable insights into the molecular framework of asthma, it’s imperative to acknowledge that further research is needed before these breakthroughs can translate into immediate therapies.”

    Key Highlights:

    • The study offers an integrated perspective on the intricate relationship between systemic processes and airway-specific mechanisms in asthma.
    • Prominent blood molecules, including the NK cell granule protein and perforin, appear to exert their influence on asthma through their interactions with nasal molecules like the G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1.
    • The findings chart a path for future research endeavors, guiding the development of targeted asthma therapies that modulate these specific molecules.
    • Given that asthma affects millions globally, the implications of this research are far-reaching. This study paves the way for a deeper comprehension of the disease, instilling optimism for the emergence of more efficacious therapeutic strategies in the foreseeable future.

    For more details, read the full study in Genome Medicine.

    This study was funded supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R01 AI118833.

    Study details: Zhang L, Chun Y, Irizar H, et al. Integrated study of systemic and local airway transcriptomes in asthma reveals causal mediation of systemic effects by airway key drivers. Genome Medicine.

    Dr. Bunyavanich has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

     

    About the Mount Sinai Health System

    Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 43,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.

    Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 7,400 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 joint-venture outpatient surgery centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report‘s® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report‘s® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2023-2024.

    For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

    Mount Sinai Health System

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  • Exposure to extreme heat associated with adverse health outcomes for pregnant women

    Exposure to extreme heat associated with adverse health outcomes for pregnant women

    A first-of-its-kind study led by Jun Wu, PhD, professor of environmental and occupational health at UC
    Irvine Program in Public Health, found that exposure to extreme heat had an association with severe
    maternal morbidity (SMM). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define SMM as severe and
    unexpected conditions during labor and delivery, such as amniotic fluid embolism, acute myocardial
    infarction, acute kidney failure, cardiac arrest, disseminated intravascular coagulation, heart failure,
    severe anesthesia complications, and sepsis.

    For the past few decades, extreme heat episodes have become more and more frequent. The National
    Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracked July 2023 as the hottest on record ever. Women who
    started their pregnancy in the cold season from November through April might be more vulnerable, as
    they would experience the hottest period in Southern California (May-September) in their late
    pregnancy. The severity and duration of extreme heat events will continue to increase and pose more
    threats to pregnant women due to their susceptibility.

    The research findings hope to be used to build targeted interventions that can increase awareness and
    knowledge on how pregnant women can protect themselves from exposure to extreme heat.

    University of California, Irvine

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  • Merck KGaA Enters Deal With BenevolentAI, Exscientia for AI-Based Drug Discovery

    Merck KGaA Enters Deal With BenevolentAI, Exscientia for AI-Based Drug Discovery

    By David Sachs

    Merck KGaA said that it has partnered with BenevolentAI and Exscientia on an initiative to discover more drugs with artificial intelligence, which the company says will yield higher success rates.

    The German science and technology company said on Wednesday that the partnership with the two U.K. AI firms includes access to an…

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  • NIO, Moderna, Block, U.S. Steel, and More Stock Market Movers

    NIO, Moderna, Block, U.S. Steel, and More Stock Market Movers

    This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com.

    https://www.barrons.com/articles/stock-market-movers-8c0c7b23

    • Order Reprints
    • Print Article

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  • Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

    Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

    Newswise — When it comes to weight loss, nuts can get a bad rap – while they’re high in protein, they’re also high in fats, and this often deters those looking to shed a few kilos. But new research from the University of South Australia shows that you can eat almonds and lose weight too.

    In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that including almonds in an energy restricted diet not only helped people to lose weight, but also improved their cardiometabolic health.

    Examining the effects of energy restricted diets supplemented with Californian almonds or with carbohydrate- rich snacks, researchers found that both diets successfully reduced body weight by about 7kg.

    Globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight (650 million with obesity). In Australia, two in three people (approximately 12.5 million adults) are overweight or have obesity.

    UniSA researcher Dr Sharayah Carter says the study demonstrates how nuts can support a healthy diet for weight management and cardiometabolic health.

    “Nuts, like almonds, are a great snack. They’re high in protein, fibre, and packed with vitamins and minerals, but they also have a high fat content which people can associate with increased body weight,” Dr Carter says.

    “Nuts contain unsaturated fats – or healthy fats – which can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, and contribute to a healthy heart.

    “In this study we examined the effects of an almond-supplemented diet with a nut-free diet to identify any influence on weight and cardiometabolic outcomes.

    “Both the nut and nut free diets resulted in approximately 9.3% reduction in body weight over the trial.

    “Yet the almond-supplemented diets also demonstrated statistically significant changes in some highly atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions, which may lead to improved cardiometabolic health in the longer term.

    “Additionally, nuts have the added benefit of making you feel fuller for longer, which is always a pro when you’re trying to manage your weight.”

    The study (funded by the Almond Board of California) saw 106 participants complete a nine-month eating program (a three-month energy-restricted diet for weight loss, followed by a six-month energy-controlled diet for weight maintenance). In both phases, 15% of participants’ energy intake comprised unsalted whole almonds with skins (for the nut diet) or 15% carbohydrate-rich snacks -– such as rice crackers or baked cereal bars ­(for the nut-free diet).

    These findings provide further evidence that dietitians and nutritionists can recommend almonds as part of a balanced weight loss diet.

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

     

    University of South Australia

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  • Markey Cancer Center attains NCI’s highest status as a Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Markey Cancer Center attains NCI’s highest status as a Comprehensive Cancer Center

    BYLINE: By Allison Perry and Elizabeth Chapin

    Newswise — LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center announced today that it has earned a National Cancer Institute “Comprehensive” Cancer Center designation, the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI. Markey is the first and only center in Kentucky to achieve this designation, and the next-closest Comprehensive Cancer Center is nearly 200 miles from Lexington. There are currently only 72 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers in the country, and 56 of those are Comprehensive Cancer Centers. 

    As the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training, the NCI awards designations based on excellence in cancer treatment, diagnosis and prevention. Markey received an initial NCI Designation in 2013.  

    To become a NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, centers must demonstrate added depth and breadth of laboratory, clinical and population-based research – including substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. Comprehensive Cancer Centers are also recognized for cancer research and control programs that benefit the communities they serve, and programs to educate and train the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians. 

    “In 2009, the University of Kentucky’s leaders set a vision to achieve an initial National Cancer Institute designation. Thanks to the dedication of faculty and staff under the leadership of Markey Cancer Center Director Dr. Mark Evers, that goal was accomplished in four years,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “To truly be the University for Kentucky, we raised the stakes and decided that UK will continue to be a leader in cancer research by becoming a Comprehensive Cancer Center. A bold vision, now accomplished, and the next step in providing both the best cancer health care in the Commonwealth, but now leading the U.S. on the quest to find a cure.” 

    In addition to achieving Comprehensive designation, the UK Markey Cancer Center was awarded $13.5 million through a five-year renewal of its NCI Cancer Center Support Grant to support research programs, shared equipment and resources.  

    The elevation to an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will further enhance Markey’s ability to attract top-tier researchers and clinicians, secure additional research funding, collaborate with national and international partners, and give patients access to leading-edge treatments and clinical trials – resulting in better patient care and health outcomes for Kentuckians. 

    Research-driven care is a hallmark of a Comprehensive Cancer Center, and it plays a significant role on patient outcomes. Numerous studies show that patients treated at NCI-Comprehensive Cancer Centers have better survival and recovery rates. 

    “At Markey, researchers and physicians work together to care for patients. They collaborate to develop new approaches to detect, prevent and treat cancer. They innovate solutions to some of Kentucky’s greatest challenges. This is precisely what it means to be a Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Robert S. DiPaola, UK provost and co-executive vice president for health affairs. “Their approach to matching compassionate clinical care with innovative research helps us bring the most ‘cutting edge’ options and treatments to Kentuckians. NCI has affirmed what we already know — that the level of care and treatment at Markey is the best in class.” 

    Comprehensive designation ensures Markey patients – 97% of whom come from Kentucky – get access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI-designated centers.  

    Since achieving NCI designation in 2013, Markey’s research growth and impact on cancer care in the Commonwealth has been significant. In that timespan:  

    “NCI designation in 2013 was an important milestone, but not the final destination. The elevation to Comprehensive Cancer Center is an achievement that underscores our commitment to addressing the health care needs of the people of Kentucky, a state burdened by the highest cancer incidence and death rates in the nation,” said UK Markey Cancer Center Director B. Mark Evers. “As a Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are strengthened in our mission to lead the charge against cancer through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments and outreach efforts to bring vital resources and care to every corner of Kentucky. Together, we will turn the tide against this disease to conquer cancer in the Commonwealth.” 

    Markey’s incredible clinical growth has necessitated the need for newer patient facilities. In 2021, the University of Kentucky began planning a new outpatient cancer treatment center and advanced ambulatory complex that will bring Markey’s outpatient services under one roof. Anticipated to open in 2027, the new complex will allow Markey to further grow and expand as more patients from in and out of state need its services. 

    “Comprehensive status is an investment of faith from the NCI in our work to to eradicate cancer in Kentucky,” said Eric Monday, co-executive vice president for health affairs. “Here at UK, we’re fortifying that investment as we begin construction of a new outpatient cancer and ambulatory facility that will house more than 300,000 square feet of cancer-specific services, which will enable us to further increase our capacity to treat and heal even more Kentuckians.” 

    Today, more than 250 faculty from 11 of UK’s 16 colleges are actively working on cutting-edge cancer research in the lab, the clinic and the community – including population-based studies that address the environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer. Markey researchers are actively addressing health disparities among populations disproportionately impacted by cancer including communities of color, and rural and Appalachian Kentucky.  

    “Markey’s initial NCI designation has had a broad impact on UK research across disciplines and the new status as a Comprehensive Cancer Center will further establish UK as a destination for the nation’s top researchers,” said UK Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis. “With this designation, we are empowered to accelerate the translation of discoveries into impactful interventions, not only addressing the critical needs of our state, but also forging a brighter future for cancer patients worldwide.”   

    Markey’s clinical and research work is backed by the university, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and philanthropy through the Markey Cancer Foundation and UK HealthCare Philanthropy. Institutional, state and philanthropic funds have supported the recruitment of cancer researchers and clinician scientists as well as the construction and renovation of clinical and state-of-the-art research space specifically for oncology research and clinical programs at UK.   

    “National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Status is a game changer for Markey and the people of our Commonwealth,” said Markey Cancer Foundation Board Chair Alex Boone. “The Markey team truly did earn this world-class designation and every aspect of Markey will be elevated by this prestigious honor and pursuant federal funding. Markey was created with extraordinary acts of philanthropy, and generosity has continued to grow this cancer center to its national prominence – even playing a central role in meriting this Comprehensive designation from the NCI. Further, while this is the ultimate achievement for any cancer center, we now look forward to leveraging philanthropy to maximize the power and impact of this Comprehensive status for patients and cancer research locally, nationally and globally.” 

    “The Markey Cancer Center is a jewel in our own back yard, and Comprehensive Cancer Center status is further proof of the world-class care it provides our fellow Kentuckians,” said Luther Deaton, president/CEO of Central Bank and co-chair of the Markey Cancer Center Capital Campaign. “It is imperative that we support its continued growth – for our own sake and for future generations – and so I’m proud to lock arms with other members of this community to lead a $90 million campaign for the Markey Cancer Center.” 

    Other state and federal leaders shared their thoughts on the importance of Markey’s Comprehensive Cancer Center designation: 

    Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: 

    “This is a great day for the University of Kentucky and for the entire Commonwealth. Congratulations to the Markey Cancer Center on reaching this incredible milestone. As Senate Republican Leader, I work hard to deliver major federal support for cancer centers, like Markey, that bring quality care to rural and urban communities across middle America. And I was proud to once again contact NIH to advocate that Markey receive this well-earned designation. Every day, we’re inching closer to conquering cancer for good, and I am proud to support the University of Kentucky and the Markey Cancer Center in this noble mission.” 

    Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear: 

    “Health care is a basic human right, and our people deserve the very best. Congratulations to the health care heroes at the Markey Cancer Center on becoming the first NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Kentucky, and one of only 56 in the United States. Families across the Commonwealth are grateful for the world-class care they are receiving here.” 

    Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers: 

    “The true impact of this NCI designation is in the hearts and minds of those who have survived their personal cancer struggles and those of us in a position to positively impact others’ lives. Our $135 million a decade ago and the additional $20 million this year has proven a wise investment in the extraordinary individuals doing the research, and the everyday individuals, family members and friends who will benefit directly from it.” 

    Andy Barr, U.S. Congressman, Kentucky’s 6th District: 

    “Congratulations to the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center for their National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center designation. Qualifying for this, the highest level of designation, is a great honor for Kentuckians everywhere and is a wonderful testament to the remarkable care that the Markey Cancer Center has provided for decades to fight this cruel disease.” 

    Hal Rogers, U.S. Congressman, Kentucky’s 5th District: 

    “To all our friends at the Markey Cancer Center, President Capilouto, and the impressive medical team that serves the Commonwealth of Kentucky – I want to applaud all of you for earning the National Cancer Institute’s highest designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Kentucky’s Appalachian region has been plagued with some of the highest cancer mortality rates in the nation, making your work more important here than anywhere else in the country. I want to thank you for specifically investing in Southern and Eastern Kentucky with additional research, workforce development and cancer treatments for individuals who can’t travel for the lifesaving medical care they need.” 

    UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report.  

    As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come. 

    University of Kentucky

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  • Scientists Take Next Big Step in Understanding Genetics of Schizophrenia

    Scientists Take Next Big Step in Understanding Genetics of Schizophrenia

    Newswise — CHAPEL HILL, NC – Genetically speaking, we are individuals different from each other because of slight variations in our DNA sequences – so-called genetic variants – some of which have dramatic effects we can see and comprehend, from the color of our eyes to our risk for developing schizophrenia – a debilitating psychiatric condition affecting many millions worldwide. For several years, scientists have studied the entire genomes of thousands of people – called genome-wide association studies, or GWAS – to find approximately 5,000 genetic variants associated with schizophrenia.

    Now, UNC School of Medicine scientists and colleagues are figuring out which of these variants have a causal effect in the development of the schizophrenia. They are finding that some of genetic variants regulate or alter the expression of genes involved in the condition.

    Published in the journal Cell Genomics, this research marks a big step forward in our understanding of the genetic basis of schizophrenia.

     “Our findings not only provide insights into the intricate regulatory landscape of genes, but also propose a groundbreaking approach to decoding the cumulative effect of genetic variants on gene regulation in individuals with schizophrenia,” said senior author Hyejung Won, PhD, associate professor of genetics at the UNC School of Medicine. “This comprehension could potentially pave a path for more precise interventions and therapies in the future. Right now, therapeutic options are limited, and some people do not respond to drugs available.”

    For this study, Won and first authors Jessica McAfee and Sool Lee, both UNC-Chapel Hill graduate students, led a team of researchers from UCLA, Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Human Technopole in Italy to explore the genetic variants already linked to the risk of schizophrenia through GWAS research. Their goal was to figure out a way to tease apart meaningless variants from those with potential for biological activity important for developing schizophrenia. This isn’t easy for a few reasons, one of which is that genetic variants are often inherited together from parents. So, right next to each other could be two genetic variants associated with the condition – one might be important for gene expression that plays a major role in the condition, but the other variant might not have any role in the condition.

    To tackle this problem, the researchers used a special technique called a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) – essentially a genetic sequencing technique that can parse which variants trigger gene expression and which ones don’t. To use this method, the researchers introduced the 5,000 variants into human brain cells in a dish, cells that are essential for early brain development. These variants may or may not cause the expression of their downstream gene and genetic barcode.  The barcode, a 20bp DNA sequence, is unique to each variant. This is what the group uses to distinguish the variant sequences. The MPRA revealed 439 genetic variations with actual biological effects, meaning they can alter expression of gene.

    “Traditionally, scientists have used other epigenetic data, such as transcription factor binding and biochemically defined enhancers, to identify variants with biological effects,” Won said. “However, these conventional methods failed to predict a large portion of variants we identified to have biological effects. Our work points to a wealth of unexplored variants with biological effects.”

    To understand how these variants work together to influence gene activity, Won and colleagues developed a new model that combines data from MPRA with chromatin architecture of brain cells – that is, the genetic information important for how brain cell DNA is organized. By doing this, the researchers could connect these 439 variants to how genes are turned on or off.

    “Schizophrenia is a complex condition that is highly heritable,” Won said. “To find these 439 potentially causal variants is a big step, but we still have a lot of work ahead to figure out the complicated genetic architecture that leads an individual to develop this condition. With that information in hand, we could begin to understand the biological mechanism underlying this complex disorder, which may eventually lead to targeted therapies.”

    University of North Carolina School of Medicine

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  • كشفت دراسة مايو كلينك أن العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتونات قد يقصر فترة علاج سرطان الثدي

    كشفت دراسة مايو كلينك أن العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتونات قد يقصر فترة علاج سرطان الثدي

    Newswise — مدينة روتشستر، ولاية مينيسوتا — في تجربة عشوائية نُشرت في مجلة “لانسيت للأورام” (The Lancet Oncology) اكتشف الباحثون في مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان أدلة تدعم تقليص فترة العلاج لمريضات سرطان الثدي. قارنت الدراسة جدولين منفصلين للجرعات من العلاج بالبروتونات بالمسح الشعاعي القلمي، وهو النوع الأكثر تقدمًا من العلاج بالبروتونات المعروف بدقته في استهداف الخلايا السرطانية مع الحفاظ على الأنسجة السليمة لتقليل مخاطر الآثار الجانبية.

    تستمر معدلات البقاء على قيد الحياة لمرض سرطان الثدي في التحسن بسبب تقدم طرق التشخيص والعلاج، مما يؤدي إلى زيادة التركيز على تقليل سمية علاج السرطان على المدى الطويل، بما في ذلك العلاج الإشعاعي.

    قبل هذه الدراسة، كانت جميع المريضات اللاتي عولجن بالعلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتون بعد استئصال الثدي (PMRT) قد تلقين دورة مُتعارف عليها مدتها 25 إلى 30 يومًا تُقدم لمدة خمسة أيام في الأسبوع على مدى خمسة إلى ستة أسابيع. ويأمل الباحثون في إثبات أن تكثيف دورة العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتونات ، وهو شكل من أشكال العلاج الجزيئي الذي يمكن أن يجنب القلب والرئتين من الضرر الإشعاعي، قد يؤدي إلى آثار جانبية مماثلة.

    تم اختيار اثنين وثمانين مريضة ممن لديهن مؤشرات للعلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتون بعد استئصال الثدي (PMRT)، وكثير منهن قد خضعن لإعادة بناء الثدي مسبقًا، إما للتجزئة التقليدية (أجزاء من جرعة الإشعاع) التي تدار في 25 يومًا، أو جدول مكثف لمدة 15 يومًا من نقص التجزئة. في حالة نقص التجزئة، تُعطَى للمريضة جرعة أكبر من العلاج الإشعاعي مع كل علاج، مما يسمح بإكمال العلاج الإشعاعي بالكامل خلال ثلاثة أسابيع فقط. ووجد الباحثون أن العلاج التقليدي والبروتوني ناقص التجزئة أدى إلى سيطرة ممتازة على السرطان مع الحفاظ على الأنسجة الطبيعية المحيطة. وعلاوةً على ذلك، كانت معدلات المضاعفات قابلة للمقارنة بين مجموعتي الدراسة.

    يقول روبرت موتر، دكتور في الطب أخصائي علاج الأورام بالإشعاع وطبيب/عالم في مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان: “توفر الدراسة أول بيانات محتملة تدعم استخدام العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتون بعد استئصال الثدي (PMRT) ذو الدورة الأقصر، بما في ذلك في المريضات اللاتي شُخِصن بإعادة بناء الثدي الفوري، والنتائج المدروسة الأولى لتجربة عشوائية في مجال العلاج بجزيئات الثدي”. “يمكننا الآن النظر مع المريضات في خيار العلاج لمدة 15 يومًا بناءً على نتائج العلاج المماثلة التي تمت ملاحظتها مثل الدورة التقليدية الأطول. كما تجدر الإشارة إلى أن الدورة القصيرة أدت في الواقع إلى تقليل الآثار الجانبية الجلدية أثناء العلاج وبعده.”

    والأهم من ذلك أن الباحثين لاحظوا أن الجدول الجديد يجنب المريضات المزيد من الإزعاج والتكلفة والأعباء الأخرى المرتبطة بالنظام الأطول. ونظرًا لوجود عدد محدود من مرافق العلاج بالبروتونات في الولايات المتحدة والعالم، يضيف الدكتور موتر أن إثبات سلامة وقابلية تنفيذ دورة العلاج الأقصر يمكن أن يؤدي إلى زيادة الوصول إلى تقنية شعاع البروتون لعلاج حالات سرطان الثدي التي يصعب علاجها.

    ويقول الباحثون إن هناك ما يبرر إجراء تحقيق إضافي في الجرعة المثالية للعلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتون بعد استئصال الثدي (PMRT) والتجزئة. ويخطط الفريق لإجراء المزيد من الأبحاث، والتحقيق في تسليم العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتون بعد استئصال الثدي (PMRT) في أقل من خمسة أيام.

    يقول الدكتور موتر: “هدفنا في النهاية هو تخصيص العلاج الإشعاعي استنادًا إلى بيولوجيا الورم”. “نريد تحديد أفضل جداول العلاج الإشعاعي أو مجموعات العلاج الإشعاعي الدوائي الممكنة للقضاء على السرطان مع تقليل الآثار الجانبية”.

    تم تمويل البحث بمنحة من المعهد الوطني للسرطان ومايو كلينك وتبرع من لورانس ومارلين ماتيسون. راجع الورقة البحثية المنشورة للحصول على قائمة كاملة بالمؤلفين ومصادر التمويل وتضارب المصالح.

    تعمل مايو كلينك على توسيع خدمات العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتونات في مدينة روتشستر، ولاية مينيسوتا، من خلال مشروع توسيع المنشأة بقيمة 200 مليون دولار من المتوقع افتتاحه في عام 2027. افتتحت مايو كلينك أول منشأة للبروتونات في ولاية مينيسوتا في عام 2015. وفي عام 2016، افتتحت مايو كلينك أول منشأة للعلاج بالبروتونات في الجنوب الغربي في موقعها في ولاية أريزونا. يجري الآن إنشاء مبنى متكامل جديد لعلاج الأورام بمساحة 200,000 قدم مربع في حرم مايو كلينك في فلوريدا، حيث سيُقَدم العلاج الإشعاعي بالبروتونات للمرضى عند توفره في عام 2026. ستسمح المنشأة أيضًا للباحثين في مايو كلينك بدراسة العلاج بأيون الكربوهيدرات في التجارب السريرية كعلاج محتمل.

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    نبذة حول مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان
    اعتمده المعهد الوطني للسرطان ، كمركز شامل لعلاج السرطان، لذلك فإن مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان يضع حدودًا جديدة لما هو ممكن، بالتركيز على الرعاية المتمحورة حول المرضى، وتطوير علاجات جديدة، وتدريب الأجيال القادمة من خبراء السرطان، وجلب أبحاث السرطان إلى المجتمعات. في مركز مايو كلينك الشامل للسرطان، ثقافة الابتكار والتعاون هي ما يوجه الاكتشافات البحثية التي تغيِّر نهج الوقاية من السرطان، والفحص والعلاج، وتحسن حياة الناجين من السرطان.

    نبذة عن مايو كلينك
    مايو كلينك هي مؤسسة غير ربحية تلتزم بالابتكار في الممارسات السريرية والتعليم والبحث وتوفير التعاطف والخبرة لكل مَن يحتاج إلى الاستشفاء والرد على استفساراته. لمعرفة المزيد من أخبار مايو كلينك، تفضَّل بزيارة شبكة مايو كلينك الإخبارية.

    Mayo Clinic

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  • Estudo da Mayo Clinic revela que terapia por feixe de prótons pode encurtar o tratamento de câncer de mama

    Estudo da Mayo Clinic revela que terapia por feixe de prótons pode encurtar o tratamento de câncer de mama

    Newswise — ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Em um ensaio aleatório, publicado na revista The Lancet Oncology, os pesquisadores do Centro de Câncer da Mayo Clinic revelaram evidências que respaldam um menor período de tratamento para pacientes com câncer de mama. O estudo comparou dois cronogramas de dosagem distintos de terapia de prótons com varredura de feixe de lápis, o mais avançado tipo de terapia de prótons, conhecido por sua precisão em atingir as células cancerígenas enquanto preserva o tecido saudável para reduzir os riscos de efeitos colaterais.

    As taxas de sobrevida para câncer de mama continuam melhorando graças aos avanços no diagnóstico e tratamento, o que leva ao aumento na ênfase na redução da toxicidade de longo prazo do tratamento de câncer, inclusive a radioterapia.

    Antes deste estudo, todas as pacientes submetidas ao tratamento com radioterapia de prótons pós-mastectomia tinham recebido um tratamento convencional de 25 a 30 dias de duração, administrado cinco dias por semana, ao longo de cinco ou seis semanas. Os pesquisadores pretendiam demonstrar que a redução do ciclo da terapia por feixe de prótons, um tipo de terapia por partículas projetado para minimizar os danos da radiação ao coração e aos pulmões, pode produzir um conjunto similar de efeitos colaterais.

    Oitenta e duas pacientes com indicações de tratamento com radioterapia de prótons pós-mastectomia, sendo que muitas delas tinham feito previamente a reconstrução mamária, foram aleatorizadas para o fracionamento convencional (frações de dose de radiação) administrado por 25 dias ou a um cronograma hipofracionado condensado por 15 dias. Com o hipofracionamento, uma dose maior de radioterapia é administrada para cada paciente, e isso permite que toda a radioterapia seja concluída em apenas três semanas. Os investigadores descobriram que ambas as terapias, a de prótons convencional e a hipofracionada, resultaram em um controle excelente do câncer sem afetar o tecido normal circundante. Além disso, as taxas de complicação foram comparadas entre os dois grupos de estudo.

    “O estudo fornece os primeiros dados prospectivos que respaldam o uso do tratamento com radioterapia de prótons pós-mastectomia com ciclos de prótons mais curtos, inclusive em pacientes com reconstrução mamária imediata, e os primeiros resultados maduros de um ensaio aleatorizado no campo da terapia de partícula mamária”, explica oDr. Robert Mutter, radio-oncologista e médico-cientista no Centro de Câncer da Mayo Clinic. “Agora, podemos considerar a opção de 15 dias de terapia com as pacientes em função dos resultados de tratamento semelhantes e observados no ciclo convencional maior. Cabe observar que o ciclo mais curto resultou de fato na redução de efeitos colaterais na pele durante e depois do tratamento.”

    É importante ressaltar que os pesquisadores observaram que o novo cronograma alivia os pacientes de inconvenientes, despesas e outras dificuldades adicionais associadas com o regime mais longo. Como existe um número limitado dos locais que oferecem terapia de prótons nos Estados Unidos e no mundo, o Dr. Mutter acrescenta que a demonstração da segurança e viabilidade do transcurso mais curto do tratamento poderia resultar em maior acesso para a tecnologia por feixe de prótons para os casos mais difíceis de tratamento de câncer de mama.

    Os pesquisadores afirmam que é recomendável haver investigação complementar quanto à dose e fracionamento ideias para o tratamento com radioterapia de prótons pós-mastectomia. A equipe planeja fazer pesquisa complementar e investigar a administração do tratamento com radioterapia de prótons pós-mastectomia em apenas cinco dias.

    “Basicamente, nosso objetivo é personalizar a radioterapia de acordo com a biologia do tumor”, explica o Dr. Mutter. “Queremos identificar os melhores cronogramas possíveis de radioterapia ou combinações de radioterapia e remédios para eliminar o câncer e minimizar ao mesmo tempo os efeitos colaterais.”

    A pesquisa foi financiada com as subvenções do Instituto Nacional do Câncer dos EUA, Mayo Clinic e uma doação de Lawrence e Marilyn Matteson. Leia o artigo publicado para verificar a lista completa das fontes de financiamento, autores e conflitos de interesse.

    A Mayo Clinic está expandindo os serviços de terapia por feixe de prótons em Rochester, Minnesota, com um projeto de expansão de instalações avaliado em 200 milhões de dólares, cuja inauguração é aguardada para 2027. A Mayo Clinic abriu sua primeira instalação de prótons em Minnesota em 2015. Em 2016, a Mayo Clinic abriu a primeira instalação de terapia de prótons do sudoeste em sua sede do Arizona. Atualmente, a construção de um novo estabelecimento oncológico integrado, com 18.580 metros quadrados, está em andamento na sede da Mayo Clinic, na Flórida, onde a terapia de feixe de prótons será entregue para pacientes, assim que estiver disponível em 2026. A instalação também viabilizará para os pesquisadores da Mayo Clinic o estudo da terapia com íons de carbono em ensaios clínicos como um possível tratamento.

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    Sobre o Centro de Câncer da Mayo Clinic
    Designado como um centro de câncer abrangente pelo Instituto Nacional do Câncer dos EUA, o Centro de Câncer da Mayo Clinic está definindo novos limites de possibilidades, focando em assistência centrada no paciente, desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos, treinamento das futuras gerações de especialistas em câncer e em trazer a pesquisa do câncer para as comunidades. No Centro de Câncer da Mayo Clinic, uma cultura de inovação e colaboração está impulsionando avanços importantes em pesquisa que estão mudando as abordagens de prevenção, rastreamento e tratamento do câncer, além de melhorar a vida dos sobreviventes da doença.

    Sobre a Mayo Clinic
    A Mayo Clinic é uma organização sem fins lucrativos comprometida com a inovação na prática clínica, educação e pesquisa, fornecendo compaixão, conhecimento e respostas para todos que precisam de cura. Visite a Rede de Notícias da Mayo Clinic para obter outras notícias da Mayo Clinic.

    Mayo Clinic

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  • Wake Forest Athletics Announces Enhanced Partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine

    Wake Forest Athletics Announces Enhanced Partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine

    BYLINE: Myra Wright

    Newswise — WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The top priority for everyone in Wake Forest Athletics is safety and through an innovative and enhanced partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, health care for all 400-plus Demon Deacons student-athletes will be enhanced through a multitude of ways, including on-campus care from trained physicians.

    Dr. Chris Miles, sports medicine specialist at Wake Forest Baptist and associate professor of family medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has been named medical director for this partnership and Dr. John Hubbard, orthopaedic surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist and associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has been named surgical director.

    Both Miles and Hubbard have a long history of caring for Wake Forest’s student-athletes. 

    As medical director, Miles will serve as the primary facilitator and coordinator of medical care for all of Wake Forest Athletics. All Wake Forest Athletics caregivers will communicate their medical diagnoses and medical management plans with Miles, creating a streamlined communication system to provide world-class medical care to all of Wake Forest Athletics.

    As surgical director, Hubbard will monitor and communicate modifications through surgical pathways and will be responsible for the timelines for surgical cases.

    “We are so pleased to be taking this next step in our longstanding relationship with Wake Forest Athletics which will enhance the health care provided to student-athletes,” said Dr. Julie Freischlag, CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, executive vice president of health affairs at Wake Forest University and chief academic officer of Advocate Health, of which Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine serve as the academic core. 

    Read the full news release. 

     

    Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

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