Office of news communications

TUSM in the News

Following are highlights from recent stories about Temple University School of Medicine in the media.  Links were active when these stories were compiled but can change over time.  Some media outlets require paid subscriptions.

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May 8, 2008, Jewish Exponent.  With Sunday such a special day for moms everywhere, stereotypes of the typical Jewish mother, especially in terms of how they parent, may still be around. But interviews with doctors and therapists revealed that the stereotypical traits of "overbearing" were "not exclusive" to Jewish people. Moreover, moms have other things on their minds these days. According to Dr. Paul Fink, a Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University's School of Medicine and past president of the American Psychiatric Association, only 2 percent of women back in 1938 were in the workplace, whereas now, 70 percent to 80 percent are working.

http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/16071/

May 7, 2008, Med Page Today, WebMD, Medicinenet.  David Baron, Chief of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, was named the Chair of Psychiatric Programming at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting this year. In this role, he has commented on several studies presented by researchers from across the country:   On findings that a once abandoned antipsychotic drug is equivalent in efficacy to some current medications: “The drug is not "groundbreaking," said Baron, "but it is nice to have options." http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/APA/tb/9376  

On an injectable form of the atypical antipsychotic drug paliperidone shown to slow schizophrenia recurrence:  “The long-acting nature of the drug may make it less attractive to psychiatrists,” said Baron http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/APA/tb/9371 http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/news/20080507/monthly-shot-treats-schizophrenia

On reports of adult ADHD being under-diagnosed: “Many other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression come and go, but ADHD is more of a constant," said Baron. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=89297  

On findings that excessive time spent on the computer may have contributed to the Columbine school shootings: “Every kid who can't tear himself away from the latest video game is not about to commit a heinous act,” said Baron, “but if they start signs of withdrawing from family, friends, and school, it could be a sign that something is wrong.”

http://ewatch.prnewswire.com/rs/display.jsp?a=40258-458706773-1134152038 Also CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/07/health/webmd/main4078784.shtml

May 6, 2008, WebMD. The criteria used to diagnose adult ADHD are outdated, and as a result, many cases could be missed or misdiagnosed, researchers say. Also, many symptoms used to diagnose the disease don't apply to adults. One hallmark symptom is "running and climbing incessantly. For adults, better criteria might be frequently driving too fast or having trouble making appointments. Temple University's David Baron, DO, Chairman of the American Psychiatric Association committee that chose this and other studies to highlight at the annual meeting, says many adults -- and their doctors -- don't realize they have ADHD.

http://ewatch.prnewswire.com/rs/display.jsp?a=40258-458030378-1132995732

May 2, 2008, MSN.com. Weight-loss drugs don't work by themselves; losing weight takes real commitment. "People cannot expect a medication to do it for them," says Gary Foster, Director of Temple's Center for Obesity Research and Education. "It's a 50/50 partnership with the pill being half the equation. Exercise, what we eat and our lifestyle habits are critical to long-term success."  (There is no link to this story.)

May 2, 2008, Women's Health. Many women seem to be treating antidepressants like Advil: They go on them when they feel bad and stop when they feel better. One of the urban myths that persist among patients is that it's fine to take a little drug holiday, especially if the medication is affecting the libido. "The libido is very complicated," says David Baron, Chair of Psychiatry at Temple's School of Medicine. He doubts it's capable of bouncing back after a short drug boycott. What may bounce back, however, is depression.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/depression-treatments

May 1, 2008, Reuters. Therapy for HIV patients can have side effects, but there have been few studies of how those side effects vary depending on gender or race.  Ellen M. Tedaldi from Temple's School of Medicine and her colleagues compared the frequency and types of these side effects by sex and race in 1,301 patients, including 701 blacks, 225 Latinos and 273 women.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON07460820080430?

feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

May 2008, Philadelphia magazine. The Foot and Ankle Institute at the School of Podiatric Medicine, and the Lung Center, Bariatric Surgery Center and Digestive Diseases Center at Temple University Hospital are among the 12 Temple Centers of Excellence named by Philadelphia magazine. Additionally, William Reinus, diagnostic radiology; Satoshi Furukawa, CT surgery; Ellen Tedaldi, internal medicine; Christopher Loftus, neurosurgery; Michael Madaio, nephrology; Joel Richter, GI; Ellie Kelepouris, nephrology; and Gary Cohen, vascular and interventional radiology, are named “Top Doctors.”

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/features_centers_of_excellence/

April 26, 2008, HealthDay News, US News & World Report, YahooNews.com, Washington Post, others.  While enjoying a cola or two every day might seem harmless enough, recent research suggests that those tasty drinks could be compromising your bone health. One possible explanation for the recent finding could be the phosphoric acid found in colas. "Phosphate is in milk, but milk also contains calcium and vitamin D. In soft drinks, there is just phosphoric acid and no calcium. Extra overzealous drinking may lead to a phosphoric acid imbalance, and if there's not enough calcium, the body goes to the bones to restore the balance," explained Dr. Primal Kaur, Director of the Osteoporosis Center at Temple University Health Sciences Center in Philadelphia.

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080426/cola-may-be-bad-to-the-bones.htm http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080426/hl_hsn/colamaybebadtothebones http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601066.html?sub=AR

April 24, 2008, WebMD.  While not the same problem, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are linked and many believe they need to be treated together. “Steven Berney, MD, Chief of Rheumatology at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia, agrees. ‘In fibromyalgia, all treatments are geared toward helping people sleep better,’ he tells WebMD. ‘If we can improve their sleep, patients will get better.’ ”

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/features/living-with-fibromyalgia-and-chronic-fatigue

April 22, 2008, XM radio,“The Oprah Channel”. Dr. John Kelly, Temple University orthopedic surgeon, joined Dr. Mehmet Oz to discuss how physicians can best deal with the stress surrounding their profession. Dr. Kelly is a frequent speaker on humor and physician stress. (There is no link to this story.)

April 20, 2008, NBC “Today”.  Dr. Gary Foster discussed New York City’s plans to give restaurant goers more information on the foods they eat and their health impact. Foster said the idea “makes good sense” and is one of several that should be used to curb obesity. Foster is president of the American Obesity Society and professor of medicine and public health at Temple. (There is no link to this story.)

April 11, 2008, WebMD. Heart transplant recipients who are obese or even extremely obese at the time of surgery seem to do just as well as lean heart transplant patients, said researchers at a recent heart and lung transplant meeting. In a study of 430 patients who underwent a heart transplant at Temple University over a 10-year period, there were no major differences in survival rates among patients with lean, moderately obese, or extremely obese bodies, says Abul Kashem, MD, PhD, research scientist at the School of Medicine.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080411/obese-fare-well-after-heart -transplant

April 8, 2008, Newsweek.  “Phys. Ed. Is Not Dead Yet,” is the headline for Mary Carmichael’s piece on the work of Gary Foster. Gary Foster, Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University, overhauled several elementary schools' lunch menus, he also snuck nutrition education into regular classes (students learned about fractions by slicing fruit). And he’s now working on changing P.E. classes at schools to help students get more energized about exercise.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/130621

April 7, 2008, Associated Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Baltimore Sun, Houston Chronicle, Washington Post, Philadelphia Daily News, many others. Five Philadelphia elementary schools replaced sodas with fruit juice. They scaled back snacks and banished candy. They handed out raffle tickets for wise food choices. They spent hours teaching kids, their parents and teachers about good nutrition. What have they got to show for it? The number of kids who got fat during the two-year experiment was half the number of kids who got fat in schools that didn't make those efforts. ''It's a really dramatic effect from a public health point of view. That's the good news,'' said Gary Foster, Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. He is also the lead author of the Philadelphia schools study being published today in the April issue of Pediatrics.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/881217,CST-NWS-fatkids07.article http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.diet07apr07,0,7965497.story http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/5679215.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040700003_2.html http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080407_Healthier_snacking_yields_

healthier_kids_in_Philly.html

April 7, 2008, Philadelphia Inquirer.  After injecting rats with a lab version of Botox, Italian scientists found evidence that the nerve toxin had migrated from the animals' whisker muscles into their brains. It may be wise to "think twice" before getting the cosmetic injections, says S. Ausim Azizi, Temple University Hospital's neurology chair. If you must, get the smallest dose possible, he says.

http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/20080407_Injections_appea

r_to_migrate_to_their_brains__Is_that_something_we_want_frozen_.html

April 4, 2008, Ivanhoe Broadcast News.  In a new study conducted at Temple University to measure the impact of a telemedicine system on heart health, researchers found that regular communication with a doctor via the Internet, or even a nurse via clinic visits, can get the job done. “With rising health care costs, a telemedicine system can encourage communication between patients and their doctors with less cost and time commitment than frequent doctor visits,” said study author Alfred Bove, MD, PhD (Ivanhoe offers video news stories to television stations around the country.)

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=18540

April 2, 2008, Philadelphia Inquirer. Dr. Michael Weinik, an osteopathic physician and Associate Chairman of the Temple University Hospital Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has joined the Phillies medical staff. Weinik will serve as a consultant for spinal evaluation and manipulation.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080402_Phillies_Notes__Phillies_

add_Seanez_to_bullpen.html

April 1, 2008, United Press International. Doctor-patient communication may be the key to heart health and telemedicine may make that possible for all patients, a U.S. doctor said. After a four-year study, Dr. Alfred Bove of the School of Medicine at Temple University Hospitals said he believes the healthcare system could use telemedicine to bridge what he calls the "medical divide" between treatment and outcomes for upper- and lower-income patients.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2008/04/01/telemedicine_could_

bridge_medical_divide/8196/

Contact Information:

Office of News Communications
Eryn Jelesiewicz, Director
Phone: (215) 707-0730
Fax: (215) 707-2940
eryn.jelesiewicz@temple.edu