Wake Forest In The News
To Tan or Not to Tan?
It shouldn’t be a question at all. As we kick off the summer season with Memorial Day weekend, which often includes barbecues and pool openings, it’s time to take extra care of our skin. Research from Wake Forest Baptist dermatologists has shown that tanning makes us feel good by releasing endorphins, but UV ray exposure – whether from the sun or tanning beds – is harmful.
A Call for a better high blood pressure diagnosis
Clinicians should be able to use a newly researched diagnostic tool based on the hormone renin to identify different forms of hypertension and prescribe medicines and treatment, says Curt D. Furberg, MD, PhD, professor of public health sciences and a national authority on drug effectiveness and safety.
Summer Olympic Athletes Must Overcome Skin Conditions to Reach for the Gold
The Olympics are all about the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” But for many Summer Games athletes, there’s also the agony of skin problems which rank among athletes’ most common complaints. Research from former Olympian turned physician Jacqueline F. De Luca, M.D., a resident in Wake Forest Baptist’s dermatology department, found there isn’t much information in the medical literature about these problems.
Effects of Caffeine on the Brain
The research of Paul Laurienti, M.D., Radiology, was featured on ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer. The story on the effects of caffeine on the human brain also has been picked up by news organizations across the country from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City.
New Technology Shows Promise Preventing Cell Death Following Brain Injury
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers, seeking a successful treatment for traumatic brain injury, have found that the size and extent of damaged tissue can be reduced by using a new device to prevent cell death.
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Featured on ABC’s Good Morning America
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was featured in this story on the dangers of sugar on ABC's Good Morning America, which has a viewership of almost 5 million. The story also has been picked up by CBS and Fox News affiliates across the country.
A special thanks to the staff of the Translational Science Institute, the General Clinical Research Center and Michael Coates, MD, Family Medicine, for their efforts in making this story possible.
Watch the segment here.
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Ranked Among Top for Medical Training, Research Programs
Wake Forest School of Medicine has again been recognized by U.S.News & World Report for its high-quality medical education, training and research programs.
The School of Medicine placed 19th among the nation's top medical schools in primary care and 42nd among research programs in the annual list of America's "Best Graduate Schools."
Nanotube Therapy Takes Aim at Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Nanotube Therapy Takes Aim at Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers have again proven that injecting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into tumors and heating them with a quick, 30-second laser treatment can kill them. The research is a result of a collaborative effort between Wake Forest School of Medicine, the Wake Forest University Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, and Rice University. Lead investigator and professor of biochemistry Suzy V. Torti, Ph.D., said the breast cancer stem cells tend to be resistant to drugs and radiotherapy, so targeting these particular cells is of great interest in the scientific community.
The Next Generation of Innovation
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has opened the doors to Wake Forest Biotech Place, a new state-of-the-art, world-class, 242,000 square foot biotechnology research and innovation center designed to allow more growth of Wake Forest Baptist’s many renowned research departments and create incubator space to promote start-up companies generated by researchers’ discoveries and space for established biomedical research companies.
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Bedwetting Often Due to Undiagnosed Constipation
Many stubborn cases of bedwetting are actually due to undiagnosed constipation, according to new research by Steve Hodges, MD, pediatric urologist. If the underlying problem isn’t treated, children and their parents must endure an unnecessarily long, costly and difficult quest to cure nighttime wetting.
Media coverage by FoxNews.comand WebMD.
Read the full release.
Visit the Department of Urology.
Body Location Plays Part in Scratching Pleasure
New research from Gil Yosipovitch, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and a world-renowned itch expert, shows that how good scratching an itch feels is related to the itch’s location.
Yosipovitch said this research helps lead to a better understanding of itch and how to relieve it for people who have skin disease like eczema and psoriasis.
Children with ADHD Benefit from Healthy Lifestyle Options as First-Line Treatment
Every year between 3 and 10 percent of school-age children in this country are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Increasingly, families are using natural or complementary therapies to improve their child’s attention or behavior, and often seek advice from an integrative pediatrician, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Protein Shows Promise in Blood Sugar Regulation
Generally diagnosed in children, teenagers and young adults, type 1 diabetes requires regular injections of insulin for patients to survive. Scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine have opened a new line of research into this devastating disease with the discovery of a protein that they hope will one day lead to a new treatment.
Postmenopausal Women and Weight Gain: Study Results
A recent study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, found that when older women lose weight, they could suffer negative consequences if the weight loss is not maintained.
First Hospital in North Carolina to Implant Newly Approved Device to Treat Heart Failure
A next-generation defibrillator that provides more treatment options and will likely reduce readmissions for patients with heart failure has been implanted at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center – the first hospital in North Carolina to do so. The implantation of this new cardiac resynchronization therapy system was performed Dec. 2 on an 84-year-old male patient by Glenn Brammer, MD, assistant professor of cardiology, and assisted by Sidharth A. Shah, M.D., an electrophysiology fellow. The device had received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval only three days earlier, on Nov. 29.
Face Transplant
The man who recently received the country’s second full face transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was first treated at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 10 years ago. Mitch Hunter suffered severe facial injury in an auto accident. As part of the initial reconstructive surgery, Joseph Molnar, MD, associate director of the Burn Center, had the foresight to preserve Hunter’s vasculature, which otherwise might have been lost. Due to the limited technology available at the time, the reconstruction results were quite limited.
Over the next 10 years, Molnar kept in touch with his patient even though Hunter had moved out-of-state. When the possibility of a face transplant became available, Molnar recommended Hunter and met him at Brigham and Women’s for the procedure.
Watch Dr. Meggan Goodpasture on Dr. Oz
When a producer from The Dr. Oz Show called in early November and asked if Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center had a pediatrician who could discuss malnutrition for an upcoming show they were doing on hunger, the answer was “YES!”
Watch the segments here.
Meggan Goodpasture, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, appeared on the Tuesday, Nov. 29 episode of The Dr. Oz show which was a special, hour-long report on "Hunger in America." Average viewership for The Dr. Oz show is 3.6 million. The show also featured an organization called Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in America. Anyone interested in contributing to a local food bank, can visit Second Harvest for more information.
Hope for PTSD patients
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist have teamed up with the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify ways to better diagnose and treat post-traumatic stress disorder using the latest in high-tech brain imaging.
Chantix Unsuitable for First-Line Smoking Cessation Use
The poor safety profile of the smoking-cessation drug varenicline (Chantix™) makes it unsuitable for first-line use, according to a study published in the Nov. 2 edition of the journal PLoS One, an online publication of the Public Library of Science.
Read about the study
here.
African-Americans More Likely to Donate Kidney to Family
Family matters, especially when it comes to African-Americans and living kidney donation. In a study conducted at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, researchers found that African-Americans donate almost exclusively to family members for living kidney transplants, as compared to Caucasians.
Tight Blood Sugar Control Does Not Improve Cognitive Decline for Older Diabetes Patients
Researchers have found that intensive control of blood sugar levels beyond standard targets provides no additional protection against cognitive decline in older people with diabetes than standard treatment.
Genes Associated with Breast Cancer Prognosis Identified
Wake Forest Baptist researchers have made a discovery that brings them one step closer to being able to better predict which patients have the best chance of surviving breast cancer.
Calcium Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer for Some
For some men, the amount of calcium in their diets may be putting them at risk for prostate cancer. Researchers have found that a gene that codes for better absorption of calcium could be predisposing carriers to an increased risk of developing the disease.
- Read about the study here.
- Learn more about the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist, the cancers we treat, ongoing research and how to make an appointment.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is working on several fronts to deal with this disease – from the laboratory where ground-breaking findings are taking place, to the clinical setting where patients are treated by a multi-disciplinary team whose mission is to care and to cure, providing support every step of the way.
Read about the most recent discovery by researchers who have identified a group of genes that may help with disease prognosis.
Learn about a clinical trial that’s testing a medical device that can help patients keep their hair while undergoing chemotherapy.
See local media coverage about the Cancer Support Program.
Visit The Breast Care Center to learn more.
Hundreds Attend Upper Limb Spasticity Event
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Sept. 16, 2011 – More than 200 people from across the region attended an inspiring community event on Upper Limb Spasticity (ULS), hosted by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Henry Winkler, best known for his role as “The Fonz” on “Happy Days,” shared several personal stories of his own mother’s struggle with ULS. He was joined by two national experts Allison Brashear, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Neurology at Wake Forest Baptist and Cheryl Bushnell, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Baptist Stroke Center.
“ULS impacts approximately one million Americans and unfortunately is often not recognized or treated,” said Brashear. “As a result, community education and awareness at events where we can reach several hundred people are extremely important to patients and even health care professionals.”
The event also included powerful and moving testimonials from patients who battle the debilitating condition. Patients shared stories about their experiences with clinical trials, treatment options and living with ULS.
Heart may hold key to unexplained nausea in youths
Heart rate and blood pressure regulation may hold the key to treating unexplained chronic nausea in children. In a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, a drug commonly used to treat a condition known as orthostatic intolerance (OI), which causes dizziness and occasional fainting when patients stand for long periods, was shown to reduce debilitating chronic nausea in patients.
View some of the media coverage of this research:
Read the news release.
High Profile Stroke Raises Questions
The 41-year-old son of Vice President Joe Biden suffered a minor stroke. WFUBMC neurologist Dr. Cheryl Bushnell says there are many factors that could come into play.
Wake Forest Baptist Health Sponsors Winston-Salem Open
Wake Forest Baptist Health was a platinum sponsor for the inaugural Winston-Salem Open and also provided sports medicine physicians for the care of the tennis players.
The week-long tournament was capped by an exciting finals match Saturday, August 27th, between Triad native John Isner and Julien Benneteau, with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
This event highlights the importance of the Medical Center’s single mission to improve the health of a region, state and nation. Our nationally recognized research in sports injury prevention, preeminent sports medicine physician training programs, and the advanced minimally-invasive treatments that we provide to athletes of all ages, benefit both amateurs and professionals alike.
Read the
Winston Salem Journal article where Walt Curl, M.D., Chief Tournament Physician, offers advice for those who have been inspired to play tennis again.
Lab-Grown Anal Sphincters
Researchers at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine led a team that has successfully used human muscle cells to engineer functional anal sphincters in the lab. This breakthrough suggests a potential future treatment for both fecal and urinary incontinence. The ultimate goal is to use a patient's own cells to engineer a replacement sphincter in the lab and to implant it into the patient. The photo shows the mold that is used to engineer sphincters.
View some of the media coverage of this research:
Learn more about fecal incontinence from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Even When You’re A Star Like Michael Douglas, It's Hard to Quit Smoking
Research from Kathryn E. Weaver, Ph.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, got a second wind recently when it was cited by news outlets covering the story of Michael Douglas. The actor, who recovered from stage four throat cancer earlier this year, has since been photographed smoking.
Weaver’s research set out to characterize patterns and context of smoking among recently diagnosed cancer patients and their family caregivers. She found that a substantial number of cancer patients continue to smoke after their cancer diagnosis which isconcerning, but not necessarily surprising.
“Smoking is a very addictive behavior and it can be difficult to quit smoking,” Weaver said. “Many of our cancer patients do want to quit smoking and have tried many times in the past, but have been unsuccessful.”
Read more about Michael Douglas’ struggle: CBS and MSNBC
Read the cancer diagnosis news release here.
Visit the Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Do You Have a High Risk of Dying from a Heart Attack?
Elsayed Z. Soliman, M.D., M.Sc., MS, director of the Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE) at Wake Forest Baptist, has conducted a new research study that indicates it may be possible to predict whether someone is likely to survive or die from a heart attack.
Dr. Soliman has been able to identify traits that can help determine whether or not a first heart attack will be fatal. They include hypertension, body mass index, heart rate and race. These findings could lead to early intervention for high risk patients.
Women Less Likely Than Men To Fake Soccer Injuries
Soccer fans can now rest assured that women are less likely than men to fake on-field injuries, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Daryl Rosenbaum’s research indicates that apparent injury incidents for women are much less frequent than for men, occurring at a rate of 5.74 per match as compared to 11.26 per men’s match. The proportion of apparent injuries that were classified as “definite” was nearly twice as high for women, 13.7 percent, as compared to 7.2 percent for men.
Chantix Associated with Serious Side Effects
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are committed to patient and drug safety. In a new study, investigators have found that the popular smoking cessation drug, Chantix, is associated with a 72 percent increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and arrhythmia.
Soluble Fiber Strikes a Blow to Belly Fat
All fat is not created equal. Unsightly as it is, subcutaneous fat, the fat right under the skin, is not as dangerous to overall health as visceral fat, the fat deep in the belly surrounding vital organs. Dr. Kristen Hairston explains her recent research on the role of soluble fiber in reducing visceral fat.
Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy
Infants born to mothers who received the influenza (flu) vaccine while pregnant are nearly 50 percent less likely to be hospitalized for the flu than infants born to mothers who did not receive the vaccine while pregnant. Dr. Kathy Poehling explains her recent research on maternal vaccines and answers common questions about the topic of vaccination during pregnancy.
Underage Drinking Research Cited in Parade Magazine Cover Story
The profound and lasting impact of Dr. Mary Claire O’Brien’s research into alcohol and energy drinks started about five years ago because of a patient she treated in the Emergency Department.
Her research has been used by state attorneys general, law enforcement agencies, college and university officials, and public health groups, who called upon the alcoholic energy drinks manufacturers to take them off the market, bringing the issue to the attention of the Food and Drug Administration. Last November, the FDA essentially banned the drinks when it issued warning letters to manufacturers saying they were breaking the food safety law by marketing caffeinated alcoholic beverages. As a result, manufacturers have either taken the products off the market or reformulated them.
Dr. O’Brien’s research continues to be used to shed light on the dangers and problems associated with drinking, especially among young people, as is the case with this cover story in Parade magazine titled, “The Underage Drinking Epidemic,” in the June 12 issue. Parade is one of the most widely read magazines in America with a circulation of 32.2 million.
Cancer Center Expansion Begins
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has begun site preparation for the construction of a six-floor addition to its Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The $125 million project will add four inpatient floors, one day hospital floor, and one administrative floor, consolidating inpatient and outpatient services in a free-standing cancer hospital, the first such facility in the region.
Read the news release
here.
Hookah Use Widespread Among College Students
Predictor of Early Death in Diabetes
A simple, 10-minute CT scan could help identify which patients with diabetes are at highest risk of early death, according to researchers.
Some Leukemia Patients Resistant to Treatment
Researchers have found that a cellular mutation causes some patients with acute myeloid leukemia to be resistant to standard chemotherapy treatment. The finding, in mice, may one day help to spare patients with this mutation from harsh, toxic drugs, while also opening up new avenues of therapeutic research.
Genes, Not Race, Determine Donor Kidney Survival
Researchers have discovered that the genetic makeup of kidney donors plays a major role in whether or not their donated kidneys will survive after being transplanted.
Teens and Acne
For many teens, acne is a bigger problem than a facial blemish. Research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that while most teenagers consider acne to be a cosmetic problem, many others report that acne has a significant impact on their self-esteem and quality of life, often leading to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
“With this study, we found that acne is more than skin deep for those aged 13 to 18,” said Steve Feldman, MD, a professor of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist. “Depending on how the patient feels about it, acne can have a potentially large and negative impact on their lives or it can have a small affect.”
See Dr. Feldman in an interview with
WGHP Fox 8 about the subject.
Pain and meditation
Meditation produces powerful pain-relieving effects in the brain, according to new research published in the April 6 edition of the Journal of Neuroscience. “This is the first study to show that only a little over an hour of meditation training can dramatically reduce both the experience of pain and pain-related brain activation,” said Fadel Zeidan, PhD, lead author of the study and post-doctoral research fellow at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Study Shows Polypill to be Safe and Accepted by Physicians and Patients in Developing Countries
A new study done by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center provides evidence that a cardiovascular polypill may be a viable option for developing countries, where cardiovascular disease is strongly emerging and the demand for cost-effective, low maintenance treatment is high.
Can You Catch An Itch?
Sometimes Itching, like Yawning, Can be Contagious
Gil Yosipovitch, MD, and co-researcher Alexandru Papoiu, MD, PhD, of the Department of Dermatology, have been studying what’s known as “contagious itch.” Contagious itch is visually transmitted and anecdotal evidence suggests it occurs in daily life when we see other people itch and scratch. The researchers set out to systematically investigate contagious itch because the exact mechanism underlying this type of “itch transmission” is not well understood, and insights into what’s happening in the brain during this transmission are lacking.
Rehabilitation is Key After Major Trauma
David W. Lacey, MD, medical director of Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Services at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, was interviewed by Associated Press (AP) to provide insight on the value of a strong social network for rehabilitating patients like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.
Giffords suffered a gunshot to the head Jan. 8 in a shooting spree which has riveted the nation’s attention. Reports show that Giffords is improving steadily and has been moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital's rehab center in Houston. Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, has decided to command the upcoming flight of the space shuttle Endeavor.
Lacey is a physiatrist, a medical doctor who specializes in rehabilitating and restoring optimal function to people with injuries such as brain injuries and major traumas.
Improving Leukemia Outcomes Through Research
Researchers are working hard to improve outcomes for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). A study done at Wake Forest Baptist shows that the use of arsenic early in treatment significantly improves survival for these patients.
Expert Explains the Condition ANCA-vasculitis
A condition called ANCA-associated vasculitis recently made headlines when Wake Forest University student-athlete Kevin Jordan suffered from the disease and needed a kidney transplant. Wake Forest's head baseball coach Tom Walter donated one of his kidneys on Feb. 7 in a successful surgery at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Barry I. Freedman, MD, chief of Nephrology, explains the condition.
Replacement Urine Tubes Engineered in the Lab
A team of researchers led by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine has gained international attention for work to successfully replace damaged urine tubes in five boys with new tubes engineered in the lab. The work was reported Online First in the medical journal The Lancet. The success is another example of how the strategies of tissue engineering can be applied to multiple organs and tissues -- offering the potential to cure disease.
Wake Forest Baptist In The News Archive
WFUBMC In The News Archive
Why Memory Lane Is Such a Mortifying Stroll
Dr. Ashok Hegde, an associate professor of neurobiology and anatomy, was quoted on MSNBC.com regarding his research about why the brain holds on to certain memories, especially in extremely happy or tragic situations. Wake Forest Baptist Researcher Hopes for FDA Action Against Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center emergency physician Mary Claire O’Brien, M.D., who conducted groundbreaking research into the dangers of the manufactured alcoholic energy drinks, says the drinks are dangerous and their sale should be prohibited.
Switching May Not Be The Answer
The CDC says American-made cigarettes may contain higher doses of carginogens. While that may be the case, WFUBMC tobacco intervention expert Dr. John Spangler says switching to overseas brands may not be the answer.
Region's First Transoral Robotic Surgery Performed
Western North Carolina’s first transoral robotic surgery (TORS), a minimally invasive, endoscopic technique for removal of early stage tumors of the tongue base, tonsil and larynx, has been performed at Wake Forest Baptist by surgeon Josh Waltonen, MD, of the Department of Otolaryngology, and all three patients who underwent the first procedures are recovering well, without the complications that follow traditional surgery.
PTRP in Major New Deal for Downtown Winston-Salem
WFUBMC CEO Dr. John McConnell, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, city and county officials, and WFUBMC leadership announce an $87 million project in the Piedmont Triad Research Park.
Many Cancer Survivors Forgoing Care, Study Shows
National Public Radio and other major news outlets highlight the findings of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center researcher Kathryn E. Weaver's newly published study.
Invading Cancer Cells
GMA Features Sports Medicine Specialist
Cutting Emergency Department Costs
ScienceDaily and other national news outlets have featured the findings of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center researcher Chadwick Miller. His study may help reduce hospital admissions and treatment costs for patients entering the ED for treatment of chest pain.
Brenner Given Fun Center for Patients
Allergy Expert Offers Summer Advice
The onset of summer can also mean the onset of life threatening illnesses for millions of people via plants or insects. Mark Dykewicz, M.D., director of Allergy and Immunology, provides helpful tips and advice to avoid problems.
60 Minutes Highlights Wake Forest Research
Salvia Research News
The controversial drug salvia got a lot of attention last month when teen pop sensation and television star Miley Cyrus was filmed smoking the herb at a party. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical School are going to study whether it can be used as a potential treatment for an array of neurological disorders, including addiction. In this story on ABCNews.com, David P. Friedman, Ph.D., professor of physiology and associate dean for research, is quoted about potential effects on the adolescent brain.
Tiny Livers Engineered in Lab
Researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are the first to use human liver cells to successfully engineer miniature livers that function – at least in a laboratory setting – like human livers.
Key Factor in Breast Cancer Prognosis Identified
Researchers have discovered that a woman's level of ferroportin--a protein that regulates iron in cells--is strongly associated with breast cancer prognosis.
Potential New Treatment for Adult Asthma Patients
Searching For A Good Night's Sleep
A good night’s sleep is crucial to daily function, but more than 40 million Americans live with an undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorder in the United States. At Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, the sleep-challenged can find help at the Sleep Center, now conveniently located at the Hawthorne Inn to provide patients with the highest quality of care in a comfortable and relaxing environment.
Among The Best
U.S. News & World Report ranks Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center among the nation's best in 8 categories.
Setting a Record at WFUBMC
Don Moss is untouchable when it comes to volunteering. With 47,000+ hours to his credit and counting, the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center volunteer has established a new Guinness World Record for most volunteer hours worked.