| Show Number |
Air Week |
Title |
Program Description |
SHOW #209
|
July 26, 1998 |
Vagus Nerve Stimulation |
About 2.5 million Americans have some form of epilepsy. The disease is
most commonly treated with antiepileptic medication, and some patients are able to benefit
from epilepsy surgery. But about 20 percent of people with epilepsy do not respond to
these standard medical treatments. Now there is an FDA-approved alternative, called vagus
nerve stimulation. It involves a permanent implant that delivers electrical stimulation to
the vagus nerve in the neck. This serves to desynchronize the electrical activity in the
brain, inhibiting seizures. The device does not completely prevent seizures in most
patients, but does reduce both their frequency and severity, which can dramatically
improve quality of life. CONTACTS: Mary Ellen Stumpfl, USC Health Sciences Public
Relations Office, (213)342-2830; USC Epilepsy Program, (213)342-5710, website:www.usc.edu/hsc/medicine/neurology/VNS.html
Cyberonics, Inc. (manufacturer) website: www.cyberonics.com;
Epilepsy Foundation of America, (800)EFA-1000, website:www.efa.org;
Epilepsy Education Association, Inc., (219)273-4050, website: www.iupui.edu/~epilepsy |
| |
|
EVERYDAY BREAKTHROUGHS: VR Addiction Study |
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, along with colleagues at MIT
and the Salk Institute, have created several virtual organisms that serve as models for
studying addiction. The first, a bee, allowed researchers to study the way bees process
information leading to rewards. In additional studies, real people behaved the same way
the virtual bees did. These models are lending new insights into characteristics of human
behavior leading to addiction. CONTACT: Kathy Major, Senior Communications Specialist,
Baylor College of Medicine, (713)798-4712, website: www.bcm.tmc.edu
|
| |
|
Seed Implants |
One of the newest treatment options for treating localized prostate
cancer is through the use of brachytherapy - high-dose radiation via radioactive seed
implants in cancerous areas. "Brachy-" means close, and in this case refers to
the placement of a radioactive source close to a tumor site. The tiny seeds are implanted
directly into the prostate gland of the patient during a minimally invasive, one-time,
outpatient procedure to deliver an optimal dose of radiation to kill cancer cells. This
treatment option, which can be temporary or permanent, is available for men with certain
types of localized cancer who have normal or nearly normal urinary function. Two of the
most common side effects of other prostate cancer treatments - urinary incontinence and
impotence - are minimized with this therapy. CONTACTS: Jim Steele, Media Relations
Manager, Wake Forest University - Baptist Medical Center, (910)716-4587; Theragenics Corp.
(radioactive seeds manufacturer), (800)458-4372, website: www.theragenics.com/index.html; The
Prostate Cancer Infolink, website: www.comed.com/Prostate/;
National Cancer Institute, websites: www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov,
www.rex.nci.nih.gov, Cancer Information Service,
(800)4-CANCER (800-422-6237); American Cancer Society, (800)ACS-2345 |
| |
|
Questionable Medical Devices |
Another in our continuing series of visits to the Museum of Questionable
Medical Devices in Minneapolis, curated by collector and enthusiast Bob McCoy. We
occasionally feature McCoy showing us some of the more unusual and interesting pieces in
his renowned collection. CONTACT: Bob McCoy, (612)379-4046, website: www.mtn.org/~quack/ |
SHOW #210
|
August 2, 1998 |
Artificial Ribs (T.I.S.) |
Although it's a rare condition, there are children born each year with
missing or fused ribs due to a variety of rare birth defects. Ten years ago, Drs. Melvin
Smith and Robert Campbell of the University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio were
asked to help a patient born with no ribs on the right side. The case led them to develop
an expandable artificial rib made of titanium, designed to function like a real rib in
terms of supporting the chest wall. As they began getting referrals for similar cases,
they eventually coined the term Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome to describe the condition.
As a child grows, the device is expanded every 4-6 months. Surgeons make a 1-inch
incision, unlock the prosthesis, and expand it in 1/2 centimeter increments. So far, the
team has performed the procedure on more than 50 children, many of whom would not have
survived without it. CONTACTS: Myong Covert, Public Affairs, University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio, (210)567-2570; March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation,
(914)428-7100, website: www.modimes.org; National
Organization for Rare Disorders, (800)999-6673, website: www.pcnet.com/~orphan |
| |
|
EVERYDAY BREAKTHROUGHS: CPR Plus |
CPR Plus is a non-invasive, hand-held device that allows a person to
monitor and modify compression technique during CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The
result is substantial improvement in performance, benefiting the patient. Correct
compression techniques result in optimal blood flow without unnecessary thoracic trauma.
CPR is far more effective when the depth of compression is correct. CONTACT: Ken Kelly,
Kelly Medical Products, Inc.; (800)CPR-PLUS (277-7587), website: www.kmp.com |
| |
|
Heartburn Surgery |
A new laparoscopic surgical procedure that involves wrapping part of the
stomach around the esophagus is bringing tremendous relief to patients suffering from
severe heartburn - patients whose symptoms are not relieved by medication or diet and
lifestyle changes. An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from a potentially serious
condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. When the sphincter valve at the
bottom of the esophagus doesn't work properly, stomach acid can flow back into the
esophagus, causing the discomfort of heartburn. Most patients can effectively control the
disease without surgery, but for those who cannot, this minimally invasive approach to
heartburn surgery is not only relieving symptoms, but brings the added benefits of reduced
post-surgical pain and quicker recovery. CONTACTS: Linda Anderson, Office of Marketing
& Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia
Campus, (804)828-5378; GERD information, website: www.gerd.com
|
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|
FUTUREX: Yellowstone Enzymes |
Organisms able to withstand the rigors of life in some of the world's
most extreme environments - so-called "extremophiles" - are now providing
science and industry with enzymes useful in enhancing the efficiency of chemical
processes. One company has even entered into a first-of-its-kind
"bioprospecting" agreement with Yellowstone National Park. The company is
allowed to carry out research on microorganisms sampled from Yellowstone's hot springs,
and is in turn required to share any resulting revenues and scientific information with
Yellowstone. CONTACT: Diversa Corp., (619)453-7020, website: www.diversa.com |
SHOW #211
|
August 9, 1998 |
Bogalusa Heart Study |
The Bogalusa Heart Study has been in progress for 25 years now, and is
the longest and most detailed study of children in the world. A multidisciplinary team
studies the hereditary and environmental aspects of coronary artery disease among 14,000
children and young adults in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a small town north of New Orleans. Over
the year, the study has made many significant contributions to our understanding of heart
disease and hypertension, including the fact that early signs of coronary artery disease
can appear in children as young as 5 to 8 years old. The investigators have conducted over
160 substudies of a wide variety of issues related to cardiovascular health, and have
published more than 600 scientific papers. CONTACTS: Kelly Flanagan, Office of Public
Relations, Tulane University Medical Center, (504)584-1620; Gerald Berenson, MD, Tulane
Center for Cardiovascular Health, (504)585-7197, website: www.tmc.tulane.edu/ cardiohealth;
American Heart Association, (800)AHA-USA-1, website: www.americanheart.org; American College of
Cardiology, (800)253-4636; American Academy of Pediatrics, website: www.aap.org |
| |
|
BREAKTHROUGH PROFILES: Dr. Victor McKusick |
Dr. McKusick is generally considered to be the father of medical
genetics, in which the science of genetics moves from the laboratory into clinical
practice. In 1957, he founded a division of medical genetics at Johns Hopkins, one of the
first in the world. Perhaps his greatest achievement is the three volume book,
"Mendelian Inheritance in Man", an indispensable reference work that he
describes as "an encyclopedia of human genes and the genetic disorders that are
related to them." Among his many awards is the 1997 Albert Lasker Award for Special
Achievement in Medical Science. CONTACT: Michael Purdy, Office of Public Affairs, Johns
Hopkins Medical Institutions, (410)955-8725, websites: www.jhu.edu/ news_info/news/; hopkins.med.jhu.edu/NewsMedia/press/related_news/
r970922.html; www.jhu.edu:80/~gazette/julsep97/sep2997/lasker.html;
www.laskerfoundation.com/library/mckusick/index.html;
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim/ |
| |
|
Kidney Transplant |
The movement toward minimally invasive surgery has now reached the field
of live donor kidney transplantation, with the development of a laparoscopic procedure for
the removal of the live donor kidney. Thanks to the use of small incisions, the hospital
stay for the donor is reduced to two or three days, recovery time now averages two to four
weeks, and there is less post-operative pain and less scarring. Although the procedure is
still relatively new, preliminary data show that it appears to be as safe as the open
operation. By making the kidney donation process less demanding on the donor, it is hoped
that the supply of available organs will increase. CONTACTS: Karen Infeld, Public Affairs,
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, (410)955-1534; For information or referrals,
(410)550-0403; National Kidney Foundation website: www.kidney.org
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|
EVERYDAY BREAKTHROUGH: Texas Science Hotline |
The Texas Science Hotline, started in 1993, is a free service of the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The service provides answers to
science questions from callers. Although it's aimed primarily at K-12 teachers and
students in Texas, it has provided answers to callers from 29 states and several foreign
countries. The service relies on an extensive pool of resource personnel, from university
scientists to industry leaders. Despite their own demanding schedules, these science
professionals make the time to call, fax, or e-mail answers to teachers and students.
CONTACT: Texas Science Hotline, (800)566-5066; fax, (210)567-3708, email: tmsline@uthscsa.edu |
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