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Early introduction of biologic therapy improves Crohn’s disease outcomes
April 18, 2012 A large-scale study of medical claims data shows that introducing sophisticated biologic therapies early in the course of treatment for Crohn’s disease improves response to medication and reduces the need for surgery. There is no known cure for Crohn’s disease, and traditional treatment is focused on a “step-up” strategy of managing inflammatory symptoms, starting with simpler and less costly oral medications such as aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) and corticosteroids, and escalating through a series of steps to more expensive biological therapies that target specific proteins in the immune system’s inflammatory response.
Clinical trial measures impact of food on anti-cancer drug effects
April 13, 2012 An unusual clinical trial based at the University of Chicago Medicine is seeking to determine whether a drug approved for patients with advanced prostate cancer might be safer and just as effective if taken at a much lower dose with food instead of at the full dose on an empty stomach. The results of the trial could affect future dosage recommendations, potentially saving patients who take the drug thousands of dollars a month.
Leading organization awards University of Chicago Medicine Hypertension Center its highest designation
The American Society of Hypertension (ASH), the largest organization of hypertension researchers and health care providers in the United States, has designated the University of Chicago Medicine as a Comprehensive Hypertension Center, the first in the Chicago area. This designation is the highest level of formal recognition by ASH for academic medical centers that demonstrate expertise in treating patients with complex hypertension and its co-morbidities.
Social stress changes immune system gene expression in primates
The ranking of a monkey within her social environment and the stress accompanying that status dramatically alters the expression of nearly 1,000 genes, a new scientific study reports. The research is the first to demonstrate a link between social status and genetic regulation in primates on a genome-wide scale, revealing a strong, plastic link between social environment and biology.
Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa
April 4, 2012 Low doses of a commonly used atypical antipsychotic drug improved survival in a mouse model of anorexia nervosa, University of Chicago researchers report this month. The result offers promise for a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder that currently lacks approved drugs for treatment.
New program will study the role of religion in practicing medicine
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Is a doctor’s spirituality an obstacle or a benefit in the clinic? Does religious affiliation affect medical decision making?
Restaurants cater to gluten-free Chicagoans at celiac fundraiser
March 28, 2012 Chicago-area residents gathering at the Sheraton Hotel on April 20 will have one thing in common: They either have celiac disease or they know someone who does. This year at the Spring Flours Benefit for the University of Chicago Medicine’s Celiac Disease Center, guests will have the opportunity to visit gluten-free tasting stations offering savory and delicious dishes, talk with 28 of Chicago’s finest chefs and restaurant owners, and bid on a variety of auction items — all while raising money for the Celiac Disease Center.
‘What we don’t talk about when we don’t talk about sex’
March 22, 2012 How often does your doctor ask about your sexual life? Unfortunately, the answer may be: not often enough.
Evidence mounts for link between opioids and cancer growth
March 21, 2012 Opioid drugs used to relieve pain in postoperative and chronic cancer patients may stimulate the growth and spread of tumors, according to two studies and a commentary in the 2012 annual Journal Symposium issue of Anesthesiology , the academic journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. “Epidemiologic findings suggest that the type of anesthesia we do for cancer surgery influences recurrence rate, and laboratory studies demonstrate that opioids influence tumor progression and metastasis,” said Jonathan Moss, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Chicago Medicine and co-author of the commentary, a summary of research on the topic.
Pritzker School of Medicine ranked among Top 10 in U.S.
March 13, 2012 The University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine has been named one of the Top 10 medical schools in the United States, by U.S. News & World Report ‘s annual “Best Graduate Schools” survey.