Cases Of Recreational Water Illnesses On The Rise

Cases Of Recreational Water Illnesses On The Rise
Cryptosporidiosis or Crypto, a chlorine-resistant parasite, is likely to pose an even bigger challenge in the future. More recreational water illnesses (RWI) outbreaks were reported in 2007 than ever before, and the numbers could increase in the coming years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)... More

New Method Proposed for Determining Which Patients Should Get Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

News:

* A new study being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago (Abstract #4020), may change treatment practice in about 25 percent of patients with colon cancer and is the basis for proposed changes to the way colorectal cancers will be staged.

* This new study, using National Cancer Institute (NCI) SEER population-based statistic registries from 1992 to 2004, and phase III clinical trial data, shows that outcomes of patients with positive nodes (Stage III) in colorectal cancer interact, to a greater extent than previously thought, with how deeply the cancer penetrates the bowel wall.

* Survival outcomes depend on the thickness of the primary cancer within or beyond the bowel wall in addition to whether nodes are positive or negative. A patient with a node positive 'thin' lesion (i.e., confined to the bowel wall) has a stage III cancer with better survival outcomes than a patient with a Stage II node negative 'thick' cancer that penetrates beyond the bowel wall. The current standard of practice for colon cancer patients is that all or most Stage III patients receive chemotherapy after surgical removal of their cancer, but Stage II patients do not routinely receive chemotherapy. In a separate National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analysis, patients with Stage III colon cancers confined to the bowel wall who did not receive chemotherapy still had better survival than Stage II patients.

* Guidelines for adjuvant therapy may need re-examination in future clinical trials as well as more research into the molecular basis for the interplay between a primary cancer's ability to penetrate the bowel wall and to spread to regional nodes.

* Also, the survival of patients whose cancers invade beyond the bowel wall to involve adjacent structures or organs is worse than that of patients whose cancers merely penetrate to the surface of the bowel wall (the reverse had been thought to be true).

* This abstract/poster will be presented by Dr. Leonard L. Gunderson, M.D., a radiation oncologist from Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vice Chair of the Hindgut Task Force of the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) that proposes changes to current guidelines. J. Milburn Jessup, M.D., NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, is the chair of the Task Force.

Quotes:

* J. Milburn Jessup, M.D.: "These proposed changes could lead to real clinical benefit for many colorectal cancer patients and also lessen the amount of treatment that patients with thin lesions may need."

* John E. Niederhuber, M.D., Director, NCI: "Simple advances in treatment that are derived by comparing national statistics to clinical data are greatly welcomed and are an excellent example of moving the field forward by some basic, low-cost methods."

* Leonard L. Gunderson, M.D.: "The current SEER analysis confirms that patients with node positive colon or rectal cancers that do not extend beyond the bowel wall have better survival than previously thought."
Multimedia:

* For still images related to colorectal cancer, go to: http://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=1768; http://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=2345

* For video of chemotherapy and other treatments, go to: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/b-roll-treatment
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-rst/4807.html?src=email-release

CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine

People age 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles, or herpes zoster, a condition often marked by debilitating chronic pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended today.

CDC recommends a single dose of the zoster vaccine, Zostavax, for adults 60 years of age and older even if they have had a prior episode of shingles. The new full recommendation replaces a provisional recommendation that the CDC made in 2006, after the vaccine was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a committee of immunization experts who advise CDC on immunization policy.

The recommendation was published in an early release electronic edition of CDC's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR) Recommendations and Reports. The ACIP recommendation becomes CDC policy once it is published in the MMWR.

Researchers found that, overall, in those ages 60 and above the vaccine reduced the occurrence of shingles by about 50 percent. For individuals ages 60-69 it reduced occurrence by 64 percent. The most common side effects in people who received Zostavax were redness, pain and tenderness, swelling at the site of injection, itching and headache.

Over 95 percent of people are infected by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), during their lifetime. The virus causes the common childhood disease chickenpox and then becomes dormant within the nerves. If it reactivates later in life, the result can be shingles. Shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters, which develop on one side of the body in a band-like pattern and can cause severe pain that may last for weeks, months or years. About one in three persons will develop shingles during their lifetimes, resulting in about one million cases of shingles per year.

Chickenpox (also called varicella) is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults. Children who have never had chickenpox should get two doses of chickenpox vaccine starting at 12 months of age.

The risk of contracting shingles increases with age starting at around 50, and is highest in the elderly. Half of people living to age 85 have had or will get shingles. The risk of experiencing chronic pain also increases with age.

Shingles Facts

* Anyone who has had chicken pox can get shingles. That means over 95 percent of adults are at risk.
* Approximately one-third of the U.S. population will get shingles.
* More than half of older adults do not understand the seriousness of shingles and its complications.
* The risk of complications from shingles rises after 60 years of age.

For more information about the shingles vaccine, please visit our Website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/default.htm

Newt Gingrich Speaks In Atlanta On “The 21st Century Nurse”

In recognition of National Nurses Week, Newt Gingrich spoke to more than 75 Piedmont Hospital nurses on “The 21st Century Nurse” on May 7. He focused on transformational leadership and the future role of nursing and followed the speech with questions and answers.

“Piedmont not only seeks innovative ideas for transforming our healthcare system it also implements solutions to benefit its employees, its patients and the community as a whole,” said Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation and former Speaker of the House.

Prior to his talk, Gingrich went on rounds on nursing units at Piedmont Hospital, including an intensive care unit, the Waters Pavilion, an acute care unit, and the “command center” of the hospital—bed control. The tour was an opportunity for him to see the technology at the bedside - both medical administration and documentation - diabetes care, and tracking technology.

“Having Mr. Gingrich here was inspiring for our nurses. His immense leadership experience is something we can all learn from,” said Connie Whittington, MSN, RN, ONC, vice president of Piedmont Hospital Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. “As a strong proponent for bettering the healthcare system, he encouraged nurses to take a more active role in facing the unique challenges of the 21st century.”

Newt Gingrich founded the Center for Health Transformation in 2003 to promote change in healthcare systems, provide more and better healthcare choices at a lower cost and to implement change by sharing healthcare solutions and influencing public policy. Gingrich, who served as U.S. Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999, is well known for his commitment to better healthcare for all Americans. Named “Man of the Year” in 1995 by Time Magazine, Gingrich has continued to receive awards and work to improve healthcare through the Center for Health Transformation and his involvement in numerous other healthcare-focused organizations and efforts.

Piedmont Hospital began a week-long celebration of the devoted and passionate spirit of its nursing staff on Monday. National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from National Nurses Day on May 6, also the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, through May 12. National Nurses Week highlights the many ways in which nurses, the largest health care profession, are working to improve health care.

For more information on Piedmont Hospital, visit www.piedmonthospital.org.

Think FAST To Determine If Someone Is Having A Stroke

NAPSI-Quick thinking and prompt action can help keep you and yours from being among the 700,000 strokes that occur in the U.S. annually and result in 160,000 deaths.

Carotid arteries in the neck build up plaque as we age. Strokes result either from obstruction of blood flow to the brain by plaque or when bits of plaque and clots break off and flow to the brain. Left untreated, carotid artery disease may lead to stroke, where lack of oxygen and other essential nutrients cause damage to the brain.

It is sometimes difficult to know if someone is having a stroke. The National Stroke Association recommends this simple test to determine if someone is having a stroke:

If you are diagnosed with carotid artery disease, see a vascular surgeon. Visit www.VascularWeb.org for more information.

Think FAST

F = Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of her face droop?

A = Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does his speech sound slurred or strange?

T = Time. If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 911.

Emory University Hospital Named to Georgia Hospital Association Quality Honor Roll

Emory University Hospital has been named as one of only 23 hospitals in the state to the Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll.

The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation's Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from October 2006 through September 2007.

"This is a great accomplishment for Emory University Hospital," says Joseph Parker, president of GHA. "This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Emory staff to ensuring that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible."

The CMS data details how well a hospital's caregivers adhere to a list of 10 Appropriate Care Measures (ACM) which are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital. A hospital's adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

"At Emory Healthcare we are committed to enhancing our national leadership in clinical quality through our many educational, cultural and process-driven initiatives, says Emory Healthcare Chief Quality Officer William Bornstein, MD, PhD. "This recognition certainly validates our continuing efforts, but it also inspires us to continue challenging ourselves to improve each day.

"By maintaining a constant focus on our quality promise to our patients, we recognize that clinical outcomes improve, care is safer, and patients and families experience better service," says Bornstein.

PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL RECEIVES STATE APPROVAL OF CERTIFICATE OF NEED FOR NEW HOSPITAL FACILITY

Piedmont Newnan Hospital has received approval on its Certificate of Need (CON) Application for a replacement hospital facility from the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Health Planning. The application was submitted in late January, and no opposition was filed against the application.

“We are so pleased and excited about this approval," said Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “We know how anxious the community is for this new facility and appreciate the support of many who have helped in this process.”

“We plan to develop a technologically advanced, healing environment capable of adapting to the growing and ever-changing healthcare needs of the community,” Bass continued.

The facility will be located on approximately105 acres on Poplar Road near Interstate 85. The application defined a 362,376-square-foot, 136-bed hospital facility on nine floors to improve patient access and wayfinding; provide flexibility for changing clinical, technology and community needs; increase operational efficiencies; and accommodate future growth. Private, inpatient rooms will be adaptable to varying acuity needs of patients and will include 14 post-partum beds, 18 critical care beds and 104 general medical/surgical patient beds. The facility will feature 8 operating rooms and 23 patient rooms in the Emergency Department. The new hospital will be designed to provide an optimal setting for efficient, quality patient care.

The hospital will also utilize sustainable building strategies – such as energy efficiencies and water reuse and conservation technologies – in an effort to reduce future operating costs, provide a healthier work environment, and reduce the overall environmental impact of the project. It has been designed to comply with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

Designated green spaces and natural areas will serve to organize the overall campus and provide restorative spaces for patients, visitors and staff. These “green belts” will be used to facilitate wayfinding, extending from public parking to the lobby and along the public mall. The public mall will simplify access to many of the clinical services and destinations for patients and visitors, such as radiology, laboratory, cardiopulmonary and respiratory therapy services.

Phase I of the campus development includes the hospital as well as a support services building to house areas such as human resources, cardiac rehabilitation and education. Plans call for approximately 1,000 parking spaces to accommodate patients, visitors and staff.

Gregory A. Hurst, PNH board chairman and chief operating officer for Piedmont Healthcare, said, “We are appreciative of the State's review and approval of our application as we know how important this hospital is to the entire community. In addition, we value the community for its ongoing support of Piedmont Newnan Hospital during this transition time."

Project costs are $193,680,000. With regulatory approvals in place, construction will begin in October 2008, and the new hospital will open to serve the community by early 2011.

Fastest Minimally-Invasive In-Office biolitec Laser Treatment for BPH Hailed by AUA Surgeons as Most Effective, with Lowest Costs

BUSINESS WIRE--Three leading urological surgeons reporting to groups of peer doctors this Saturday, May 17 at the 2008 American Urological Association’s National Scientific meeting disclosed their highly successful results involving their first biolitec-produced high-power EVOLVE^® laser treatments with U.S. BPH patients. Patients, with benign prostate hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, were treated with the latest minimally-invasive laser techniques performed in office settings, reducing procedures to less than 10 minutes time while avoiding expensive overnight hospital stays and deductibles.

Key to the successful new treatment is the recently cleared 150-watt EVOLVE diode laser, demonstrated at this week’s meeting. Beyond shortening treatment times and facilitating vaporization and coagulation (tissue removal without strong bleeding), the new technique offers minimal side effects and fastest recovery times.

According to biolitec, the new high-power 150-watt laser, which has been shipping to various U.S. urology facilities since January 1, is experiencing strong growth and is expected to surge considerably beyond EVOLVE laser systems’ current 20 percent U.S. market penetration.

The laser’s high power reduces treatment time for ablating the prostatic tissue that causes obstruction in urine flow. In-office ambulatory treatment under local anesthesia is simple and fast, with patients remaining fully conscious.

Significance of this new treatment option is heightened by the high incidence of BPH in one of every two men over age 60, and in nearly every U.S. male 80 and older. No hospitalization is required and patients out-of-pocket cost is typically an office co-pay.

Professionals attending this week’s AUA conference heard actual experiential case data from Mark Swierzewski, MD, of Tampa Bay Urology, in Florida, James Ulchaker, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, David S. Turk, MD, Southwest Urology, Cleveland, (who previously received AUA’s 2007 Thirlby Award for presenting his earliest successes with the technique) and Ali Erol, MD, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Other competitive laser options differences are in design, wavelength, power levels, anesthesia and treatment settings. The new treatment can now be offered in a gentle manner on an out-patient basis at any clinic or urology practice, without expensive anesthesia.

Breathe Easy this Allergy Season

HHH note: May is Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month. According to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Atlanta ranks number 4 for America's Allergy Capitals.

(ARA) – For the millions of Americans who suffer from asthma and allergies, a dust-free home may be just what the doctor ordered. As allergy season approaches, it is a good time to put dusting on top of your cleaning checklist. Here are some tips for allergy-proofing your home from board-certified physician and author of “Allergies & Asthma for Dummies,” Dr. William E. Berger:

“House dust is one of the most prevalent – and unavoidable – allergy triggers in any home,” says Dr. Berger. “Since you can’t control the allergens outside your home, dusting is just one of the several easy steps you can take to allergy-proof the inside.”

Don’t Sleep on It

You are not the only one who loves your bed; so do dust mites. In fact, an average bed contains 2 million dust mites, which means it’s possible to breathe in significant amounts of allergens while sleeping. However, a few simple steps can be taken to ensure those mites are not sleeping in your bed.

* Cover all mattresses and pillows with zippered, dust-proof covers. Choose a material, like plastic, vinyl or fabrics, with pores too small to allow dust mites through.

* Wash bed sheets and blankets every week in hot water – at least 130 degrees F – to kill dust mites.

Don’t Sit on It

Dusting furniture alone will not eliminate dust and pet dander. Some products, such as feather dusters or dusting cloths, simply stir up dust in the air instead of eliminating the allergens within dust and pet dander.

* Use a product that contains allergen trappers. Pledge Furniture Polish removes up to 84 percent of allergens from dust mites and pet dander found in dust.

* If you have severe allergies, avoid furniture made from upholstery. Instead choose wood, plastic, vinyl or leather furniture; these materials are easier to clean than fabric.

Don’t Touch it

Certain places in the home can be a breeding ground for dust mites and pet dander. Making smart choices when picking furniture and household accessories can make a difference for allergy sufferers.

* Pet dander is more easily collected in carpeting and thick rugs. To help make allergy-proofing easier, choose bare floors over carpeting where you can use cleaning products to pick up and remove allergens from pet dander. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter at least once a week is an alternative option.

* Allergy sufferers should avoid curtains and instead opt for shades or blinds that are easy to clean.

Go to www.pledge.com to learn more about allergen-reducing Pledge products and for more tips on reducing allergens in your home.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Governor Perdue Signs CMO Reform Bill

Today Governor Sonny Perdue visited Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton to sign House Bill 1234, a comprehensive reform of the way the Department of Community Health contracts with Care Management Organizations (CMOs) and to provide benefits for members of Georgia’s Peachcare for Kids and Medicaid programs.

“The two primary goals of shifting to managed care were to reduce the unsustainable slope of increasing healthcare costs for Peachcare and Medicaid and to encourage healthy lifestyles among those covered by these two programs,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I believe we have achieved both of those goals, and the reforms in this bill will continue to improve the delivery of these services.”

In 2006, the State awarded contracts to three CMOs for the delivery of services through the Peachcare for Kids and Medicaid programs. The three CMOs are Amerigroup Community Care, Peach State Health Plan and WellCare. HB 1234 includes numerous provisions to improve the delivery of services to plan members and the relationship between the CMOs and Georgia’s health care providers.

“Governor Perdue took the bold step of transitioning nearly 1 million Medicaid recipients to managed care through care management organizations in an effort to control costs and improve healthcare outcomes. HB 1234 is an attempt to refine and improve this effort,” said Rep. Mickey Channell, sponsor of the legislation. “The legislation streamlines the management of costs and healthcare outcomes, stabilizes procedures and processes, and increases transparency so that the standards by which care is either provided or denied are known to providers and patients. Healthcare providers, Medicaid patients, and the State of Georgia should benefit from this bill.”

Senator Johnny Grant and Senator Greg Goggans also attended today’s bill signing ceremony, and Governor Perdue thanked them for their efforts in passing the bill in the Senate.

Among the provisions in the bill are requiring CMOs to post contracted-providers names on a website so that members can make informed choices about their physicians of choice. The legislation also addresses the dental network and streamlines the appeals process for providers who submit claims to CMOs.

For more information on the bill, go to www.legis.state.ga.us.

Piedmont Hospital Offers Free Skin Cancer and Stroke Screenings

Piedmont Hospital invites the community to a skin cancer and stroke screening event on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cancer Center, 77 Building, 5th Floor, Piedmont Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, 30309. In honor of Melanoma Awareness Month in May, Piedmont dermatologists and physicians assistants will offer free skin cancer screenings to the community.

In observance of Stroke Awareness Month, there will also be an opportunity to assess the risk of stroke by Piedmont’s Neuroscience Services. No registration is required, but appointments are recommended for the five-minute skin cancer screening.

The event is free and open to the general public. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1-866-900-4321 or visit www.piedmonthospital.org.

Mayo Clinic Trustees Launch Public Phase of $1.25 Billion Philanthropy Campaign

(mdash) Mayo Clinic's Board of Trustees today publicly announced Mayo Clinic's first comprehensive development campaign, including a $25 million leadership gift from the campaign's volunteer chair, emeritus trustee Bill Marriott.

The Campaign for Mayo Clinic is a five-year effort to raise $1.25 billion in philanthropic support for medical research, education and clinical practice innovations that have the potential to revolutionize medicine in the 21st century as Mayo's founders did in the 20th century. Begun quietly in 2005, the campaign has raised $965 million to date for activities on all three Mayo campuses — Rochester, Minn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. The funds will support Mayo Clinic's strategic priorities, including:

* Quality: Providing the best and safest care with excellent service while reducing costs.

* Integration: Coordinating not only at the care-team level, but across Mayo's three campuses, as a learning organization to ensure that advances are communicated more rapidly throughout the Mayo system and to the global medical community to benefit patients everywhere.

* Individualized Medicine: Using genomic medicine to predict which patients are at highest risk for particular diseases, to strengthen prevention and screening for those conditions, to provide earlier and more accurate diagnosis and to take the guesswork out of treatment options, choosing therapies tailored to the individual's genetic makeup for maximum effectiveness.

* Science of Health Care Delivery: Using system engineering to improve the way care is delivered, redesigning how and where patients get care.

The majority of the Marriott gift, $15 million, supports genomic medicine, creating the Marriott Individualized Medicine Program, which focuses on mitochondrial, cardiovascular and bipolar diseases. It also includes a regenerative therapy initiative, with an emphasis on heart regeneration, as well as infrastructure and education resources for Mayo's broader individualized medicine priority.

"Several generations of my family have been touched by the care and healing of Mayo," Marriott explains. "My family will always be grateful to Mayo for the impact it has had on all our lives, and now we have an unprecedented opportunity to partner with them in bringing hope and help for generations to come. Together we can speed the developments of tomorrow's lifesaving treatments."

"Mayo Clinic exists today because of philanthropy that supported an extraordinary vision of medicine," says Denis Cortese, M.D., Mayo Clinic's president and chief executive officer. "In 1919, nearly 20 years before their deaths, our foundersgave their estates to form a foundation to ensure that the revolution they had begun with the integrated group practice of medicine would continue beyond their lifetimes. Mayo Clinic's trustees are stewards of that legacy, and through The Campaign for Mayo Clinic they are providing leadership to enable Mayo to transform medicine in the 21st century."

The Campaign for Mayo Clinic upholds Mayo's commitment to achieving ever-higher standards of patient care, education and research. "It addresses urgent opportunities that Mayo is uniquely positioned to achieve," says James Lyddy, Ph.D., chair, Mayo Clinic Department of Development. Mayo cares for more than half a million people every year from around the world, including generations of families; has a data trust of medical records that are vital to medical research; and trains students who become tomorrow's physicians and health care providers. "Mayo is uniquely positioned to transform medicine, and with that comes an enormous promise to relieve the burden of illness and disease."

As The Campaign for Mayo Clinic begins its public phase, John Noseworthy, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the medical director for Development, says more than 100 volunteer leaders, members of its Leadership Councils, have gathered from across the United States to learn more about Mayo's strategic priorities and how they can help contribute to achieving the vision.

"This is Mayo's first-ever campaign, but we understand that the last 20 percent of a campaign goal is typically the most difficult," Dr. Noseworthy explains. "That's why we've brought our Leadership Council members together, and the trustees have gone public with our goal, to engage a broad coalition of patients and supporters whose lives have been touched by Mayo. We have been gratified at the generous response of our benefactors to date, as they have welcomed opportunities to partner with us to help patients throughout Mayo and around the world. We're confident that as more people become aware of the campaign through its public phase, we can meet the financial goal that will enable Mayo to achieve its matchless vision for 21st century medicine."

The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, a 30-member group of public representatives and Mayo physicians and administrators, is responsible for patient care, medical education and research activities at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville; Rochester; and Scottsdale/Phoenix.

To learn more about The Campaign for Mayo Clinic, visit www.mayoclinic.org/campaign.

Emory Heart & Vascular Center Expands Community Presence

Emory Heart & Vascular Center is expanding its community cardiology services with the addition of eight new physicians in Metro Atlanta.

They will provide a comprehensive spectrum of cardiovascular health services, including all echocardiography and stress testing, as well as pacemaker and defibrillator checks.

Six of Emory's new cardiologists are formerly part of the Cardiology of Georgia physician practice and will maintain their current practice addresses in Decatur, Lithonia, Conyers and Snellville locations.

New Physicians Include:
Scott W. Anderson, MD
Cornelius Flowers, MD
Alexander A. Halkos, MD
Maurice D. Harris, MD
Azizul Hoque, MD
Martha Smith, MD
Jose Torres, MD
Abhay Trivedi, MD

"We are pleased to welcome this group of skilled cardiovascular physicians to Emory Healthcare," says Emory Healthcare CEO John T. Fox. "We look forward to them playing a critical role in helping us to maintain and build upon Emory Healthcare's rich tradition of excellence in all areas of cardiology and patient care."

The Emory Heart & Vascular Center, is committed to providing clinically excellent cardiovascular patient care, promoting overall heart health, pioneering innovative clinical research, and training the best heart specialists in the world.

From the prevention of heart disease to heart transplants, from research into cardiovascular problems to the management of heart arrhythmias and more, Emory Heart & Vascular Center is recognized as an innovative leader in cardiology.

"We know the people in these local communities will greatly benefit from Emory's experience, history and teamwork," says Emory Heart & Vascular Center Director Douglas Morris, MD. "We're providing a diverse menu of cardiology services and superior patient care."

Emory's Heart & Vascular Center is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top centers in the United States. In addition, many of Emory's cardiologists and surgeons consistently are recognized as Atlanta's Top Doctors by Atlanta Magazine and as America's Top Doctors.

Medical Research Should Include More Women Participants and Examine the Role of Gender in Disease Incidence and Treatment

(mdash) Are the health needs of women adequately addressed by medical research as it is currently conducted? In the May issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a team of Australian researchers and two cardiologists closely examine this question.

"The traditional model of medical research was limited by gender and racial blindness and assumed that results of research on white male participants could be easily extrapolated to female and minority populations," write Wendy Rogers, B.M.B.S., Ph.D., and Angela Ballantyne, Ph.D., from the School of Medicine at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. The researchers say a growing body of evidence shows important differences between men and women related to the incidence of certain diseases, how they respond to treatment and the long-term outcomes.

Drs. Rogers and Ballantyne reviewed 400 clinical studies that were conducted in Australia and the results were published in journals between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 31, 2006. The research provides data about issues that include: the number of men versus women participating in research on diseases affecting both genders; the number of studies classified as female-only research and male-only research; and the degree to which studies provided gender-specific data and analysis.

"Analysis such as this is essential for determining whether the national research agenda is addressing issues in both men's and women's health and the extent, if any, of inappropriate exclusions of either gender from potentially beneficial research," write Drs. Rogers and Ballantyne.

At first glance, the numbers collected by the Australian team do not suggest that women are under-represented in the research they examined. Of the 546,824 persons studied, 73 percent were female. However, the team points out that these numbers were largely due to the greater number and size of female-only studies. When Drs. Rogers and Ballantyne looked at the type of research in which men and women participated, they discovered that male participants were more than three times as likely to be involved in research into conditions affecting both men and women. Other data provided by the Australian team indicates that gender-specific reporting of results in women is particularly lacking in pharmaceutical research.

"Research on women's health continues to focus predominantly on their reproductive capacity and function, whereas research with men continues to investigate conditions that are not specific to one sex," write Drs. Rogers and Ballantyne. The result, say the authors, is that women are underrepresented in research focusing on significant health issues that are unrelated to biological aspects of reproduction.

Despite the growing literature on the clinical importance of gender, the Australian team noted that the majority of the 400 studies reviewed did not analyze the potential role of participant's gender in their published research. Drs. Rogers and Ballantyne recommend that clinical trials registries collect data on the gender of participants "to facilitate further research in this area and that researchers, journal editors, and peer reviewers work to standardize mechanisms for sex-specific reporting and analysis in publications."

In a companion editorial, cardiologists Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic, and Rita Redberg, M.D., from the University of California, San Francisco, explore the historical context surrounding the limited role of women participating in medical research and provide additional data that echo the findings of the Australian team.

"We observed the same phenomenon in a recent review of cardiology clinical trials where only 25 percent of all studies reported results by sex. As heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, it is dismaying that data from cardiovascular clinical trials are so limited," write Drs. Hayes and Redberg.

Noting that unexpected gender-based differences have been found in many diseases, including lung cancer, degenerative joint disease, depression and other mental health disorders, Drs. Hayes and Redberg assert that "the lack of sex differences should not be assumed and instead must be systematically studied." Given this information, "analyzing data by sex for conditions or treatments affecting both men and women is the only way we will be able to begin to provide optimal care for all patients," they write.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Adds New In-House Magnetic Resonace Imaging Service For Patients

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH) recently added a new in-house magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service to its Department of Radiology. The new MRI will replace the mobile unit and provide patients MRI services without leaving the hospital.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that produces very clear images of the human body without the use of harmful x-rays. MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce these images. The new MRI has much higher resolution and state-of-the-art imaging of the brain and upper and lower extremities. The room the MRI is housed in has windows and is much more spacious, making patients feel more at ease about undergoing the examination.

“Our new in-house MRI offers the latest state-of-the-art technology to our patients and will make the experience more comfortable for them” said Roly Alvarez, manager of the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Department of Radiology. “Most patients are nervous before undergoing the MRI, but with it being in-house, especially in a big room with lots of windows, we are able to ease their potential claustrophobia and take them through the procedure step-by-step before they actually enter the scanner.”

Since February, the PMH Department of Radiology has seen about 200 patients a month for an MRI exam. Patients should allow an hour, however the MRI exam usually only takes about 30 to 45 minutes, during which a technologist can obtain several dozen images. The results are usually available to the physician within 24 hours, who can then discuss the results with the patient. PMH provides MRI exams Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Physician referral is required.

For more information on the new MRI or Piedmont Mountainside Hospital’s Radiology services, call 706-301-5401 or visit www.piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

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