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UPMC News Releases - 2007

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January
- Thursday, January 04, 2007University of Pittsburgh Researchers Seek Participants for Study That Will Evaluate Devices Ability to Correct Gait Irregularities Following StrokeUniversity of Pittsburgh is seeking participants for a study that will examine the effectiveness of a small electronic stimulating device in regulating foot drop, a change in gait that follows a stroke.
- Friday, January 05, 2007Pitt and Carnegie Mellon Launch Joint Doctoral Program in Structural Biology and BiophysicsSince its completion in 2003, the Human Genome Project has resulted in the discovery of myriad new proteins and pathways, creating a pressing need for researchers who are able to decipher the structure.
- Sunday, January 07, 2007American Diabetes Association Honors Pitt Diabetes ExpertThe ADA has selected Linda Siminerio, Ph.D., R.N., executive director of the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute (UPDI), as its 2007 Josiah K. Lilly Distinguished Service Award honoree.
- Monday, January 08, 2007Antibody Therapy Prevents Type 1 Diabetes in MicePitt investigators have successfully prevented the onset of type 1 diabetes in mice prone to developing the disease using an antibody
- Tuesday, January 09, 2007UPMC Named Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac CareUPMC has been named a Blue Distinction Center SM for Cardiac Care for 2007. Blue Distinction is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Associations (BCBSA) nationwide program
- Wednesday, January 10, 2007UPMC Receives Heinz Endowments Grant to Foster Environmentally Responsible Health CareUPMC has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments to help develop a comprehensive environmental stewardship and disease prevention program, building on already extensive green efforts.
- Thursday, January 11, 2007UPMC Braddock Steps to a Healthy Community Receives $300,000 Grant, Invites Public to Free Open House of New OfficeUPMC administrators and the initiative steering committee will accept a check for $300,000 from Pennsylvania State Sen. Sean Logan
- Thursday, January 18, 2007University of Pittsburgh Receives $13 Million Research Grant From NIH to Help People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseThe five-year grant establishes the University of Pittsburgh as a Specialized Center of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) in COPD.
- Thursday, January 18, 2007Center for Overcoming Problem Eating at WPIC Opens Expanded and Redesigned FacilityThe renovation allows COPE to expand its inpatient capacity from 11 to 20 beds, and will enable the program to care for more children, adolescents and adults
- Thursday, January 18, 2007Carbon Monoxide Protects Lung Cells against Oxygen-Induced Damage by Blocking Cell Suicide PathwayResearchers at Pitt have demonstrated that low-dose carbon monoxide administered in conjunction with oxygen therapy markedly inhibits oxygen-induced damage to lung cells.
- Thursday, January 18, 2007Caution Needed in Winter Months to Protect Skin from Overdrying and Sun ExposureThe delayed winter weather has finally arrived in Western Pennsylvania and with the colder, drier air and bitter wind, people must take precautions to care for their skin
- Monday, January 22, 2007Families Do Not Cause Anorexia NervosaEating Disorders Researchers Counter Bundchens Blunder
- Monday, January 22, 2007University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to Receive $325,000 for New Gerald E. Mcginnis Fellowship ProgramA one-year clinical training experience, the Gerald E. McGinnis Fellowship in Sleep Medicine will be offered in the division of pulmonary, allergy and critical care medicine at Pitt.
- Friday, January 26, 2007University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Announce Faculty, Staff AchievementsThe faculty, staff and students of the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences are often recognized by academic and scientific societies and other prestigious organizations for their significant achievements and exceptional leadership.
- Monday, January 29, 2007University of Pittsburgh Study Highlights Need for More Nurse Involvement in Diabetes ManagementThe nationwide Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN) study examined the roles nurses and physicians play in caring for patients with diabetes.
- Monday, January 29, 2007For High School Athletes in Upcoming Spring Sports, UPMC Sports Medicine to Provide Physical Exams and Impact Baseline TestingSports medicine physicians and certified athletic trainers will conduct the screenings and exams.
- Tuesday, January 30, 2007Investigational Medication to be Studied in Children with AutismThe John Merck Child Outpatient Clinic of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC is one of several trial sites nationwide selected to participate in an eight-week research study.
February
- Friday, February 02, 2007UPMC Whitfield Cancer Centre Signs Agreement with Irish Government to Provide Radiation Therapy to Cancer Patients without Private Health InsuranceThis is the first time that the Irish government has agreed to pay for radiation therapy at a private facility.
- Monday, February 05, 2007Risk of Preterm Birth Appears To Vary By SeasonWomen who become pregnant in spring are more vulnerable to preterm birth than those who conceive in other seasons, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Tuesday, February 06, 2007Fetal Interventionist Joins Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMCStephen Emery, M.D., recruited from Cleveland Clinic to head Center for Fetal Medicine
- Tuesday, February 06, 2007Men with High Uric Acid Levels Face Risk of Developing Hypertension, University of Pittsburgh Study FindsUnlike other investigations, this particular study analyzed men who werediagnosed with hyperuricemia but did not have diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
- Thursday, February 08, 2007Study Finds Endoscopic Brain Surgery Pioneered in PittsburghEndoscopic brain surgery has the potential to be safer and often more effective than conventional surgery in children with life-threatening conditions.
- Friday, February 09, 2007University of Pittsburgh Cardiologist James Shaver, M.D. to Receive Pulse of Pittsburgh Award at The American Heart Associations 2007 Heart BallDr. Shaver has been a member of the University of Pittsburgh faculty for more than 40 years.
- Monday, February 12, 2007UPMC Opens New Center for Thoracic Aortic DiseaseThomas G. Gleason, M.D., recruited as director
- Monday, February 12, 2007UPMC Recruits Highly Acclaimed Northwestern University Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Thomas G. Gleason, M.D.Dr. Gleason will direct the new Center for Thoracic Aortic Disease
- Tuesday, February 13, 2007Renowned Cancer Researcher to Discuss Basis of Tumor Development at 2007 Bernard Fisher LectureRobert A. Weinberg, Ph.D., whose groundbreaking research led to the first isolation of a gene that prompts normal healthy cells to develop into malignancies
- Wednesday, February 14, 2007Impact Sports Increase Bone Strength in Senior Athletes Says University of Pittsburgh StudyRunning, basketball and other high-impact sports may lead to stronger bones as people age, according to a new study presented today at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Wednesday, February 14, 2007UPMC Reports Higher First-Half Revenue, Significant Investments for the FutureUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center today reported a 15 percent gain in total revenue, to a record $3.3 billion, for the six months ending Dec. 31, 2006.
- Friday, February 16, 2007Centers for Rehab Services, a UPMC Partner, Earns Elite Credential for Sports Physical Therapy Residency ProgramCRS has become one of six Sports Physical Therapy Residency Programs designated by the American Physical Therapy Association as an APTA-credentialed post-professional clinical residency program.
- Sunday, February 18, 2007Preliminary Results of Largest Scan of Autism DNA Information Published in Nature GeneticsUniversity of Pittsburgh researchers with a consortium of scientists from across the world contributed to this landmark research endeavor through the Autism Genome Project.
- Friday, February 23, 2007UPMC Surgeon Dr. Christopher Harner Chosen for American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of DirectorsUPMC orthopaedic surgeon Christopher D. Harner, M.D., believes that patient care is always priority number one. It cannot have restrictions.
- Tuesday, February 27, 2007Vitamin D Deficiency Widespread During PregnancySignificant racial disparities also noted despite use of prenatal multivitamin supplements
- Wednesday, February 28, 2007Lance Armstrong Foundation Funds Project to Safeguard Fertility of Young Cancer PatientsThe Pitt research team was awarded a grant of $110,000 and was chosen to receive the J. Lee Walker Imagination Award one of only two awarded annually that includes an additional $10,000 in funding.
March
- Thursday, March 01, 2007UPMC Health Plan Provides Easy Transition for Medicare Beneficiaries Who Switch Plans Before DeadlineUPMC Health Plan is providing streamlined transition for those Medicare-eligible who are interested in switching their Medicare plan prior to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services March 31 deadline.
- Monday, March 05, 2007Depression in Moms with Breast Cancer May Exacerbate Related Anxieties in Their ChildrenMothers who experience bouts of depression during their battles with breast cancer may find that the effects reach beyond their own psyches to those of their children.
- Wednesday, March 07, 2007Interactive Web Site Offers New Approach to Educating Cancer Patients about Clinical TrialsThe site simulates a conversation by allowing visitors to type in their own unique questions and receive video-based answers in real time from other cancer patients, medicalexperts and educational guides.
- Wednesday, March 07, 2007Omega-3s Boost Grey Matter, Findings May Explain Why Omega-3s Seem To Improve MoodOmega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish like salmon, are associated with increased grey matter volume in areas of the brain commonly linked to mood and behavior according to a University of Pittsburgh study.
- Friday, March 09, 2007Gene Variations Contribute To Aggression and Anger In WomenUniversity of Pittsburgh researchers have found that behaviors such as anger, hostility and aggression may be genetic, rooted in variations in a serotonin receptor gene.
- Tuesday, March 13, 2007Carnegie Mellon, University of Pittsburgh Receive Training Grants from National Institutes of Health, National Science FoundationCMU and Pitt have received three grants totaling more than $7 million to support programs that train undergraduate and graduate students.
- Tuesday, March 13, 2007UPMC and UPMC Health Plan Sign New Health ChallengeUPMC and UPMC Health Plan pledged to provide better information about health care quality and cost to Americans during a ceremony yesterday at PPG Place.
- Tuesday, March 13, 2007New Bench Book Designed to Help Judges Make Speedy Decisions about Pressing Public Health Cases What if there was an outbreak of avian flu in Pennsylvania and public health officials had to institute quarantines to stop the spread of the deadly disease?
- Wednesday, March 14, 2007New Report Reveals Human Face of Pennsylvanias Medicaid ProgramNewly Launched Pennsylvania Medicaid Policy Center to Provide Non-Partisan Data and Research on Program
- Thursday, March 15, 2007Elevated Autoantibodies Linked to PreeclampsiaStudy points to potential biomarkers for risk assessment
- Monday, March 19, 2007Accidental Poisonings Can Happen During Day-To-Day RoutinesCaregivers play important role in prevention among children and seniors
- Thursday, March 22, 2007Report Shows Pennsylvania Medical Schools and Teaching Hospitals are Major Economic EnginesThe report found that Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation when calculating the total economic impact of its academic health centers.
- Monday, March 26, 2007Children with ADHD at Risk for Alcohol ProblemsParental alcoholism and family stress also can facilitate the development of alcohol problems, according to University of Pittsburgh research
- Monday, March 26, 2007Pain Control after Surgery Reduces Days of HospitalizationUniversity of Pittsburgh study finds effective analgesia cuts length-of-stay by nearly a day
- Thursday, March 29, 2007Links Between Prostate Cancer Treatment, Periodontal Disease Uncovered By University of Pittsburgh ResearchersAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become a valuable weapon in the fight against prostate cancer.
- Thursday, March 29, 2007Research on Smoking, Weight Loss Behaviors Presented By University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Faculty and StudentsPitt researchers discuss findings at Society for Behavioral Medicines 28th Annual Meeting
April
- Monday, April 02, 2007UPMC Health Plan Supports 21st Annual Scouting for Food DriveScott Lammie, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UPMC Health Plan, officially opened the 21st annual Scouting for Food drive.
- Monday, April 02, 2007Innovative UPMC Center Speeds Medical Advances to U.S. MilitaryThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) today announced the establishment of the Innovative Medical and Information Technologies (IMITs) Center as a separate, not-for-profit subsidiary.
- Monday, April 09, 2007UPMC Health Plan in Tune with MCG Third Grade JazzMCG Jazz, a division of Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, announced today that it will present its annual series of Third Grade Jazz concerts for elementary schoolchildren.
- Tuesday, April 10, 2007U.S. Steel Tower Will Become UPMC's New Corporate HeadquartersThe new site in downtown Pittsburgh will efficiently consolidate UPMCs corporate, administrative and integrated business functions in one location
- Wednesday, April 11, 2007Good Gene Hunting: University of Pittsburgh Researchers to Look for Genetic Influences on HDL CholesterolThe National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2.9 million grant to researchers at the University of Pittsburghs Graduate School of Public Health.
- Thursday, April 12, 2007UPMC Moves Swiftly to Resolve Any Problems Created by Posting of Private Patient Information to the UPMC Web SiteThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is investigating a posting to a UPMC Web site which has led to the disclosure of some personal information of some current and former patients.
- Sunday, April 15, 2007Scientists Find New Major Susceptibility Genes for Crohns DiseaseUniversity of Pittsburgh researchers also help uncover potential modes of action for debilitating inflammatory process
- Monday, April 16, 2007Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program for Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Offered by Western Psychiatric Institute and ClinicThe program is one of only a few such programs in the U.S. and the only program in the region to provide specialized treatmentservices to children diagnosed with OCD.
- Tuesday, April 17, 2007Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Halts Progression of Disease in Some PatientsA dendritic cell-based therapeutic vaccine for pancreatic cancer developed at UPMC has successfully stalled the disease from progressing in a handful of patients three years post-vaccination.
- Tuesday, April 17, 2007Nutrients in Certain Vegetables May Provide Cancer-Fighting Benefit by Cutting off a Tumors Blood SupplyChemicals in cruciferous vegetables appear to not only stop human prostate cancer cells from growing in mice but also may cut off formation of blood vessels that "feed" tumors.
- Tuesday, April 17, 2007Popular Herbal Supplement Hinders the Growth of Pancreatic Cells in Preliminary StudyA study from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute suggests that a commonly used herbal supplement has cancer-fighting properties that prevent or slow growth of pancreatic cancer tumors implanted in mice.
- Tuesday, April 17, 2007New Approach to Vaccine for Head and Neck Cancer Creates Immune Response by Targeting ProteinsMost attempts to create therapeutic cancer vaccines are based on custom-made approaches that use patients own tumor cells to generate strong immune response against cancer.
- Tuesday, April 17, 2007Antidepressants Safe for Children and AdolescentsUniversity of Pittsburgh and Columbus Childrens Hospital Analysis Published in JAMA Shows Benefits Outweigh Risks
- Wednesday, April 18, 2007U.S. Critical Care Delivery System in Critical ConditionStakeholder group led by Pitt researchers calls for reorganization of critical care in the United States
- Friday, April 20, 2007UPMC Creates $5 Million Fund to Promote Environmentally Friendly ProjectsUPMC today announced the creation of a $5 million green action fund to support new environmental initiatives across the health system.
- Monday, April 23, 2007A Natural Antioxidant Found in Many Foods and Red Wine Is Potent and Selective Killer of Leukemia CellsUniversity of Pittsburgh Researchers Show Compound Kills Leukemia Cells While Sparing Normal, Healthy Cells
- Monday, April 30, 2007More Research Needed to Involve Families in Psychosocial InterventionsUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Shows Family Involvement, While Promising, Isn't As Effective as Thought
May
- Tuesday, May 01, 2007Monthly Maintenance Interpersonal Psychotherapy Sufficient to Prevent Relapse of Depression in Many Women, Says Pitt StudyMost women with recurrent depression may be able to prevent subsequent depressive episodes with monthly maintenance interpersonal psychotherapy
- Wednesday, May 02, 2007University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Researcher Elected to National Academy of SciencesAngela M. Gronenborn, Ph.D., chair of the department of structural biology, Pitt's School of Medicine, has been elected a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.
- Monday, May 07, 2007Pay-For-Performance Incentives Might Motivate Quality Improvement Efforts by Physician GroupsPitt-led research finds broad support for P4P from physician group leaders
- Tuesday, May 08, 2007UPMC Reports Record Nine-Month Revenue of $5 Billion, Adds 170 Physicians to Sustain Future GrowthPlanned investments in future growth reduced the operating margin to $185 million for the nine months, $45 million less than in the same period last year.
- Tuesday, May 08, 2007UPMC Reports Record Nine-Month Revenue of $5 Billion, Adds 170 Physicians to Sustain Future GrowthPlanned investments in future growth reduced the operating margin to $185 million for the nine months, $45 million less than in the same period last year
- Wednesday, May 09, 2007University of Pittsburgh Study Reports First-Ever Discovery of Genetic Shut Down Trigger in Healthy Immune CellsResults of Pitt's School of Medicine study on the mechanism, called a somatic stop-codon mutation, are being reported today in the online journal PLoS ONE,
- Wednesday, May 09, 2007How Normal Is Smoking? Teens Dont Know, Reports a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine StudyThe more a high school student overestimates the percentage of people in the general population who smoke cigarettes, the more likely he or she will be to smoke
- Thursday, May 10, 2007Can an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Slow the Progression of Alzheimers Disease?University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer Disease Research Center Researchers to Participate in NIH-Sponsored Nationwide Trial
- Monday, May 14, 2007UPMC Opens New Cancer Center in Dublin, IrelandCenter is Second for UPMC in Ireland Since Opening of the Whitfield Cancer Centre in Waterford in 2006
- Monday, May 14, 2007Pitt Researchers Receive Funding to Improve Treatment of Gastrointestinal CancerPitt Cancer Institute researchers have received $25,000 from the GIST Cancer Research Fund a patient driven organization.
- Tuesday, May 15, 2007UPMC Builds First-Of-Its Kind Research Lab at Fort Campbell Aimed At Reducing Injuries and Enhancing PerformanceIn the first facility of its kind, advances in sports medicine science made for the athletic field are being applied to the battlefield.
- Thursday, May 17, 2007UPMC Performs First Beating Heart Transplant Procedure in the U.S.Protected by its own nutrients and blood supply, a beating heart supported by an investigational organ preservation device was successfully transplanted into a 47-year-old man
- Monday, May 21, 2007UPMC Begins Enrollment in Study of Ventrassist™ Heart Support Device as a Bridge to TransplantationDoctors have begun a study using an investigational cardiac device to see whether it can be used safely and effectively in patients with end-stage heart failure.
- Wednesday, May 23, 2007Botox: More than CosmeticMen With Enlarged Prostate Can Benefit From Botox Injections Up To A Year After Treatment
- Thursday, May 24, 2007UPMC Sports Medicines PRIMA Program Invites People Over 40 to Get From Couch To 5k by Enrolling in StartUPMC Sports Medicines Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA) invites men and women over age 40 to enroll in START
- Friday, May 25, 2007Attorney General Corbett Approves Agreement for Merger of Mercy and UPMCMercy and UPMC Applaud Consent Decree that Preserves Mercys 160-Year Tradition of Service to the Community
- Tuesday, May 29, 2007A Prescription for Information: Patient/Family Resource Center Opens at Western Psychiatric Institute And Clinic of UPMCThe Patient/Family Resource Center contains approximately 500 book titles and 50 videos on behavioral and mental health topics.
- Wednesday, May 30, 2007A Deadly Profile: Gene Expression Patterns Predict Rapid Clinical Failure in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis PatientsIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease typically characterized by the slow but progressive onset of shortness of breath or cough. Most patients live about five years after diagnosis
- Thursday, May 31, 2007Virus Widely Used In Gene Therapy Research Yields Important Clues to Genomic InstabilityUniversity Of Pittsburgh Researchers And Collaborators Suggest Findings Have Important Implications For Studying Many Cancers
- Thursday, May 31, 2007Gene Therapy Offers New Hope for Treatment of Peripheral NeuropathyResearchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine report that they have successfully used gene therapy to block the pain response in an animal model of neuropathic pain
June
- Friday, June 01, 2007Enzyme Delivered In Smaller Package Protects Cells from Radiation DamageUniversity of Pittsburgh and Stanford University Researchers Prove Effectiveness of Approach in Preparation for Clinical Trial
- Friday, June 01, 2007Better Tools for Discipline: Pitt Teaches Family Counselors Proven Therapy to Reduce AbuseThe University of Pittsburgh is training counselors at local community agencies in Allegheny and Butler counties in an evidence-based intervention.
- Saturday, June 02, 2007Protein May Be Linked To Melanoma RecurrenceHigher levels of a protein called S-100 in patients with melanoma may correlate with a higher risk of having the disease return
- Saturday, June 02, 2007Gene Therapy Delivery of Nerve Growth Factors Reverses Erectile Dysfunction in Animal ModelRats with erectile dysfunction, or ED, that were injected with a gene therapy vector containing either of two nerve growth factors were able to regain normal function after four weeks
- Sunday, June 03, 2007Adding Radioimmunotherapy to Chemo May Help Patients with LymphomaPatients treated for follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, may benefit from chemotherapy followed by radioimmunotherapy, according to a UPMC study.
- Sunday, June 03, 2007Herceptin Does Not Increase Heart Failure In Breast Cancer Patients Long-TermRisk of congestive heart failure in women treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and combination chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer did not increase over time
- Wednesday, June 06, 2007UPMC Announces Development of Disabilities Resource Center to Enrich Health Care Options for People with Physical ChallengesSusan V. Schaeffer named director of wide-ranging program
- Wednesday, June 06, 2007University of Pittsburgh Scientists Find New Contributor to Aggressive CancersMutations in Cell Adhesion Molecule Allow Tumor Cells to Grow More Rapidly and Spread Beyond Original Site
- Thursday, June 07, 2007Magee-Womens Research Institute Building Expansion Boosts Science Of Womens HealthProject enables recruitment of as many as 100 additional researchers; Judy Ann Bigby, M.D., noted women's health advocate, keynote speaker at grand opening event
- Thursday, June 07, 2007CDC Announces Updated Information to Help Physicians Recognize and Manage Concussions EarlyUPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program provides expertise to update multimedia tool kit to improve early diagnosis
- Friday, June 08, 2007Journalist, Distinguished Scientists and Advocacy Group Receive Top Honors at International Conference on Bipolar DisorderThree distinguished individuals and one advocacy group will be honored for their contributions to bipolar disorder research, education and service.
- Monday, June 11, 2007UPMC Sports Medicine Hosts Workshop for High School Students Interested in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Careers The workshop takes place Tuesday, July 31, Wednesday, Aug. 1 and Thursday, Aug. 2 in Room S100A of the Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower in Oakland.
- Monday, June 11, 2007Pitt Diabetes Institute and Air Force Partnership Yields Greater Opportunity to Prevent the Onset of DiabetesMore than 21 million Americans are living with diabetes and another 41 million are at risk for developing the disease.
- Tuesday, June 12, 2007UPMC's Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute Is Inspiration for New TNT Original Series HeartlandPittsburgh native David Hollander once again returns to his roots to find inspiration for his latest show, TNTs Heartland, a drama about a Pittsburgh-based transplant hospital.
- Thursday, June 14, 2007University of Pittsburgh Researchers Culture Blood-Forming Stem Cells from Human Fat TissueInvestigators Say A Patients Adipose Tissue May Be An Alternate Source for Life-Saving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants
- Friday, June 15, 2007University Of Pittsburgh Tops in Funding by the American Heart AssociationThe University of Pittsburgh ranked first among U.S. academic medical centers and hospitals for heart disease and stroke research funding from the American Heart Association (AHA).
- Friday, June 15, 2007UPMC Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Freddie Fu Performs Pioneering Knee Surgery on Mandrill at the ZooUnique collaboration between UPMC and Zoo provides doctors with knowledge to ultimately benefit both animals and humans
- Friday, June 15, 2007UPMC Sports Medicines PRIMA Program Helps Couch Potatoes Over 40 Become Physically Fit With New STARTWith its brand-new START program, UPMC Sports Medicines Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA) will help to improve the lifestyles of a huge portion of the population.
- Friday, June 15, 2007University of Pittsburgh Researchers Detect Small Set of Cancer Stem Cells That Are Similar To Normal Stem Cells and Appear To Thwart Anti-Cancer AgentsResearch by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that for chemotherapy to be truly effective in treating lung cancers, for example, it must be able to target a small subset of cancer stem cells
- Sunday, June 17, 2007UPMC Health Plan Employee Appointed to Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality AwardJane Dansevich, director of training and development for UPMC Health Plan in Pittsburgh, was appointed to the 2007 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
- Monday, June 18, 2007No Butts About it, UPMC Smoke-Free Policy is Leading the Way to a Healthier CommunityOn Sunday, July 1, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) will institute a campus-wide clean air and smoke-free policy to protect patients, visitors and staff
- Monday, June 18, 2007Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Honored By National Alliance on Mental Illness, PennsylvaniaWestern Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC received the Research Award from The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pennsylvania, and the Peace of Mind Project
- Monday, June 18, 2007No Butts About It, UPMC Smoke-Free Policy Is Leading The Way To A Healthier CommunityThe policy will prohibit smoking on any UPMC-owned orleased property, including its grounds, garages and parking lots.
- Wednesday, June 20, 2007UPMC Transplant Surgeon to Bike across America to Help Raise Funds for Lung Research and Awareness of Organ DonationBrack Hattler, M.D., Ph.D., UPMC, will embark on a 3,300-mile bicycle journey from Seattle to Washington, D.C. Brack Hattler, M.D., Ph.D., UPMC, will embark on a 3,300-mile bicycle journey from Seattle to Washington, D.C.
- Thursday, June 21, 2007UPMC Health Plan and Armstrong County Wellness Initiative to Receive National AttentionKiran Bhat, MD has been invited to present at the prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics Future of Pediatrics Conference: Community Pediatrics, Medical Home and Beyond
- Saturday, June 23, 2007Type 1 Diabetes and Heart Disease: Heavier May Mean HealthierUniversity of Pittsburgh researchers find more fat equals less coronary artery calcification
- Monday, June 25, 2007UPMC Health Plan Expands Presence in JohnstownUPMC Health Plan is opening a new office this month to support the continued expansion of its regional sales and client services operations in Johnstown.
- Monday, June 25, 2007Urban Community Benefits From Diabetes InterventionUPMC Researchers Find that Diabetes Education for At-Risk Groups Leads to Positive, Sustainable Results
- Tuesday, June 26, 2007UPMC Sports Medicine and Point Park University Invite Teachers to Learn How to Become Healthy Eating Role Models for Their StudentsThe class, titled Eat Right, Live Right: Secrets to Living and Teaching a Healthy Lifestyle, will show teachers how to live healthy lifestyles while also promoting healthy living in their classrooms.
- Wednesday, June 27, 2007Type 1 Diabetes and Heart Disease: Heavier May Mean HealthierResearchers at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences studying links between an early sign of heart disease called coronary artery calcification and body fat have found that, paradoxically, more fat may have some advantages.
July
- Tuesday, July 10, 2007Teaching an Old Drug New Tricks: Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Shows Potential for Diabetes PreventionFar fewer rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with the drug hydroxychloroquine went on to develop diabetes compared to those who never took the drug, according to a Pitt School of Medicine-led study.
- Wednesday, July 11, 2007Grants Awarded to Pitt to Improve Quality of Life for Seriously Ill PatientsThe Institute to Enhance Palliative Care at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has received grants totaling $250,000
- Wednesday, July 11, 2007New Monoclonal Antibody Reduces Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Death in Human Liver Cancer CellsUsing a newly available monoclonal antibody, they demonstrated significant reductions in tumor cell proliferation and survival in human and mouse hepatocellular cancer cell lines.
- Thursday, July 12, 2007Pitts Dean Burke Named Global Health Research AmbassadorDonald S. Burke, M.D. has been named an Ambassador in Research!Americas Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research.
- Thursday, July 12, 2007University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Students Study Art at Carnegie Museum of Art and the Andy Warhol MuseumThe four-week course for first-year medical students is designed to hone visual thinking and observation skills through the study of art in the museums galleries.
- Friday, July 13, 2007UPMC Sports Medicine to Provide Physical Exams and ImPACT Baseline TestingSports medicine physicians and certified athletic trainers will conduct the screenings and exams.
- Friday, July 13, 2007UPMC Named to U.S. News Honor Roll of Americas Best Hospitals for the Eighth TimeWith Top Rankings in 14 Specialties, UPMC Is Only Local Hospital Honored
- Monday, July 23, 2007Pitt Investigators to Develop a Novel Strategy for Recognizing and Treating Depression in Patients with Congestive Heart FailureThe National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) has awarded researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine a three-year, $500,000 grant
August
- Monday, August 06, 2007UPMC Health Plan Releases Award-Winning 2006 Annual ReportThe 2006 annual report, which details the company's commitment to preventive care and health management and improving the health of members and local communities was released this week.
- Monday, August 06, 2007New Sports Concussion Research Using fMRI Provides Insight For Safe Return-To-Play Decisions In Young AthletesUniversity of Pittsburgh study shows that changes in brain function seen on functional MRI scan can be measured by neurocognitive testing
- Tuesday, August 07, 2007Even Older Women with High Probability of Lifetime Exposure to HIV Have Little Interest in Being Tested, Study FindsThe risk is especially great among African-American women, who represent 73 percent of new HIV cases in women over age 50.
- Saturday, August 11, 2007Risk of Common Vaginal Infection Linked to Preterm Birth Appears Higher for African-AmericansRisk of a common vaginal infection linked to preterm birth appears to escalate when even one partner is African-American, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study
- Wednesday, August 15, 2007Spending on Direct-To-Consumer Advertising by Pharmaceutical Companies More Than Triples in Past DecadeUniversity of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Study Finds FDA Lacking Oversight
- Friday, August 17, 2007University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Gets $8 Million From NIH to Lead Largest-Ever Research Effort Into MyositisResearchers from the division of rheumatology and clinical immunology at Pitt's School of Medicine are leading a worldwide effort to study a treatment for a rare autoimmune disorder called myositis.
- Monday, August 20, 2007Pitt Study Finds Inequality in Tobacco AdvertisingCompared with Caucasians, African-Americans are exposed to more pro-tobacco advertising, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study
- Wednesday, August 22, 2007Study Finds Environmental Monitoring Helps to Predict Risk of Hospital-Acquired Legionnaires DiseaseA new study spearheaded by Pitt's School of Medicine has determined that environmental monitoring of institutional water systems can help to predict the risk of hospital-acquired Legionella pneumonia
- Thursday, August 23, 2007UPMC Reports Record Fiscal Year 2007 Results, Reinvests to Sustain World-Class Patient CareWith growing patient volumes, increased membership in Insurance Services and strong investment returns, UPMC reported record revenues and excess margin for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
- Monday, August 27, 2007FEMA Fire Grant to Assess Heat Stress in Firefighters Awarded to University of PittsburghPitt, in collaboration with the Allegheny County Fire Academy, has received a FEMA grant to conduct a study designed to develop optimal methods of reducing acute cardiovascular risk.
- Monday, August 27, 2007NIH Awards University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine $16 Million for HIV Structural Biology CenterThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today that it is awarding the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine a $16 million, five-year grant to establish the Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions (PCHPI).
- Tuesday, August 28, 2007Old Therapy, New Application: Pitt Researchers Show Gamma Globulin Effective in Treating Eye Infections Caused by AdenovirusesGamma globulin is a highly effective treatment for pinkeye with little apparent toxicity, according to a study by researchers at Pitt's School of Medicine.
- Thursday, August 30, 2007UPMCs Community Benefits Go Beyond State Law, CFO TestifiesFrom its world-class medical care to community programs and economic revitalization efforts, UPMC is focused on meeting the needs of the community
September
- Tuesday, September 04, 2007UPMC Health Plan Launches New Personal Health RecordUPMC Health Plan announced today that as part of its MyHealth program, Health Plan members are able to access an online personal health record (PHR) called MyHealth Record.
- Tuesday, September 04, 2007UPMC Recruits Acclaimed Cardiac Researcher Kamuran KadipasaogluKamuran A. Kadipasaoglu, Ph.D., a specialist in cardiac bioengineering, has been appointed executive director of cardiac surgery research for UPMCs Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute.
- Tuesday, September 04, 2007UPMC Offers Back-To-School Tips For Controlling AsthmaBack-to-school planning involves a little more than a new iPod, wardrobe updates and visiting the neighborhood grocer for quick-fix snacks when your teenager has asthma
- Friday, September 07, 2007Low Vitamin D During Pregnancy Linked to PreeclampsiaVitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a study from Pitt
- Wednesday, September 12, 2007Future Doctors More Comfortable Interacting with Patients after Learning Marketing Techniques, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Study ShowsAfter learning and using marketing principles, medical students reported improved comfort interacting with patients of diverse backgrounds and limited understanding of health information
- Friday, September 14, 2007Vice Dean of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Named Editor of Academic Medicine by AAMCThe Association of American Medical Colleges has chosen Steven L. Kanter, M.D., vice dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, as the new editor-in-chief of its monthly, peer-reviewed journal, Academic Medicine.
- Friday, September 14, 2007Renowned University of Pittsburgh Neurosurgeon to be Honored Guest at Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual MeetingThis is a recognition bestowed upon only one neurosurgeon each year by the CNS, a leading international neurosurgical organization with a mission to promote public welfare through the advancement of neurosurgery
- Monday, September 17, 2007Despite Danger, Many Women of Childbearing Age Do Not Get Contraceptive Advice Before Taking Medicines Linked with Birth DefectsWe found that over the course of a year, one in six women of reproductive age filled a prescription for a medication labeled by the Food and Drug Administration as increasing the risk of fetal abnormalities
- Tuesday, September 18, 2007Weekly Dose of Osteoporosis Drug Prevents Bone Loss Associated with Breast Cancer Treatment, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Study FindsBreast cancer survivors who took a weekly dose of risedronate, sold as Actonel, lost significantly less bone than those who did not take the drug
- Tuesday, September 18, 2007UPMC Named to InformationWeek 500 List of Innovative Technology UsersFor two decades, InformationWeek has identified and honored the nations most innovative users of information technology across all industries with its annual listing.
- Tuesday, September 18, 2007Using Antiretrovirals as a Prevention Strategy Could Dramatically Slow The Spread of HIV Infection in AfricaGiving a daily antiretroviral pill to people to prevent HIV could profoundly slow the spread of the infection in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is a full-blown epidemic
- Thursday, September 20, 2007Low Vitamin D Linked to Higher Risk of Hip FractureWomen with low levels of vitamin D have an increased risk of hip fracture, according to a study led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
- Thursday, September 20, 2007University of Pittsburgh Researchers Present Findings at Annual Meeting of Congress of Neurological SurgeonsResearchers from the University of Pittsburgh department of neurological surgery presented findings from more than 15 studies
- Thursday, September 20, 2007Researchers Reveal Genetic Secrets of Devastating Human ParasiteAn international team of researchers has revealed the genetic secrets of one of the worlds most debilitating human parasites, Brugia malayi ( B. malayi).
- Thursday, September 20, 2007UPMC Passavant Undergoes $100 Million ExpansionThe $100 million expansion will provide increased capacity for advanced tertiary cancer care, advanced cardiovascular and neurosurgical treatments and emergency medical care.
- Thursday, September 20, 2007Pathway to Cell Death Redefined in Landmark StudyA new study led by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrates that the process of necrosis may actually be triggered as part of a regulated response to stress by a powerful protein, SRP-6.
- Friday, September 21, 2007UPMC Health Plan Helps Celebrate 1-year Anniversary of America On the MoveUPMC Health Plan helped celebrate the one-year anniversary of America On the Move (AOM) in Pittsburgh today with a ceremonial one-mile walk Downtown.
- Monday, September 24, 2007Pitt Opens Center for Vaccine ResearchThe University of Pittsburgh today celebrated the opening of the Center for Vaccine Research at the university's 330,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Biomedical Science Tower 3.
- Monday, September 24, 2007UPMC Health Plan President Co-Chairs Governors New Chronic Care CommissionUPMC Health Plan announced today that the company's president will serve as one of two co-chairs of Governor Rendell's Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement and Cost Reduction Commission.
- Monday, September 24, 2007UPMC Health Plan Launches Initiative to Combat Obesity in ArmstrongAndrew Rea is not your typical 6-year-old. The Armstrong County first grader is a devotee of the new food pyramid.
- Monday, September 24, 2007Patient Registry Launched for Deadly Lung DiseasePatients who live in Pennsylvania and suffer from the progressive and incurable lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may soon have access to better research and care.
- Monday, September 24, 2007New Study Likely To Fuel Debate Over Annual Physical ExamsWhile most patients and physicians believe its important for adults to have an annual physical exam, there's growing debate about this conventional wisdom.
October
- Monday, October 01, 2007Yoel Sadovsky, M.D., Recruited as New Scientific Director for the Magee-Womens Research InstituteDr. Sadovsky, who will join the faculty officially on Nov. 1, also will be appointed the Elsie Hilliard Hillman Professor of Womens and Infants Health Research
- Thursday, October 04, 2007University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health to Lead Local Study Center in a Landmark Government Study of Child HealthThe study center will manage local participant recruitment and data collection in the largest study of child and human health ever conducted in the United States.
- Monday, October 08, 2007Umbilical Cord Blood Program Launched at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC as Part of a Unique Public-Private PartnershipFor many years, umbilical cords and placental tissue collected after childbirth were and still are routinely discarded as medical waste.
- Thursday, October 11, 2007UPMC Presbyterian Opens Next-Generation Gamma Knife SuiteThe latest gamma knife radiosurgical suite provides the most sophisticated care possible to patients with brain, cervical spine and head and neck tumors and other complex neurosurgical problems
- Monday, October 15, 2007UPMC Health Plan Expands Medicare Offering for 2008UPMC Health Plan will continue to offer Medicare HMO and PPO members benefit plan choices in 2008 with enhanced services that include a 24/7 nurse advice line, a new online personal health record, and a value-added dental discount program.
- Tuesday, October 16, 2007FTC Gives Clearance for Merger of Mercy and UPMCThe merger still requires Vatican approval, but Mercy and UPMC officials said they expect the transaction to close by the end of this year.
- Thursday, October 18, 2007UPMC Health Plan Launches New Product for Small BusinessesUPMC Health Plan announced the launch of a small group product designed to address the unique challenges of small businesses UPMC Health Plans Small Business Advantage.
- Friday, October 19, 2007University of Pittsburgh Researchers Study Efficacy of a Home Heart Monitoring SystemTests showed little benefit in community setting
- Monday, October 22, 2007Endobronchial Valve Significantly Improves EmphysemaEmphysema patients whose lungs are implanted with a pencil eraser-sized, one-way endobronchial valve experience significantly improved measures of lung function and report better quality of life
- Tuesday, October 23, 2007University of Pittsburgh Study Proposes a New Theory of How Viruses May Contribute to CancerA new study suggests that viruses may contribute to cancer by causing excessive death of normal cells while selecting and promoting the growth of surviving cells with cancerous traits.
- Wednesday, October 24, 2007UPMC and UPMC Health Plan Recognized Nationally for Quality Leadership in Employee Health and ProductivityThe Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission (CDMSC) has chosen the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) as the recipient of its 2007 Quality Leadership Award.
- Tuesday, October 30, 2007University of Pittsburgh Receives Grant to Honor Wishes of Designated Organ Donors to Pass on the Gift of LifePitt's departments of critical care and emergency medicine have received a nearly $1 million, three-year grant from the Healthcare Resources Services Administration.
- Wednesday, October 31, 2007University of Pittsburgh Cardiologists Identify New Gene Responsible for Sudden Cardiac ArrestThe researchers hope this will shed light on the more common forms of sudden death in patients with heart attacks and heart failure
November
- Thursday, November 01, 2007Dont Tell Mother She Has CancerClinicians often struggle to balance their obligation to be truthful to the patient with the familys belief that the information would be harmful.
- Thursday, November 01, 2007Center for Minority Health Receives Gift to Support Graduates Taking Public Health Certification ExamAn anonymous donor has contributed $1,500 to the Center for Minority Health at the Graduate School of Public Health to provide scholarships to students and graduates taking the public health certification exam.
- Friday, November 02, 2007Pitt Surgeon Receives Presidential Early Career Award for Science and EngineeringThe PECASE is the nations highest honor for scientists who are early in their research careers.
- Tuesday, November 06, 2007Pitt Researchers Receive Grants to Develop Dengue Fever VaccineThe Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) at the University of Pittsburgh has received two grants totaling $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Defense
- Wednesday, November 07, 2007Extracts of Fish Caught in Polluted Waters Cause Breast Cancer Cells to MultiplyExposing estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to extracts of channel catfish caught in areas with heavy sewer and industrial waste causes the cells to multiply
- Wednesday, November 07, 2007Is There Something Fishy Going On In Our Rivers?Experts from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will host a special session on Contaminants in Freshwater Fish:
- Thursday, November 08, 2007$4.8 Million Awarded to Pitts Center for Minority Health to Fund Health Disparities ResearchThe new multi-year grant positions CMH as a national center of excellence in translating evidence-based research into community-based interventions designed to prevent disease and promote health
- Monday, November 12, 2007UPMC, Pitts Schools of the Health Sciences Adopt New Industry Relations Policy to Benefit PatientsThe new policy will apply to the faculty, staff and students of the SOHS, as well as employees and others who work and train at UPMCs U.S. facilities.
- Monday, November 12, 2007Growing Patient Volumes Drive Strong First Quarter Results for UPMCUPMC today reported total revenues of $1.73 billion for the first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007, up 14 percent from the year-ago period.
- Monday, November 12, 2007University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute Celebrates and Recognizes First World Diabetes Day To recognize the worldwide diabetes epidemic, the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute (UPDI), America on the Move and Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC will commemorate the first-ever World Diabetes Day
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007HIPAA Privacy Rule Slows Scientific Discovery, Adds Cost to Research, Survey ShowsImplementation of the health care privacy law widely known as HIPAA has severely eroded the process of scientific research, delaying some clinical studies and curtailing others before they even begin
- Thursday, November 15, 2007UPMC Health Plan Offers VEBA Retiree Coverage at Wheeling-Pittsburgh SteelUPMC Health Plan announced today that it had reached an agreement with the USW-Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel VEBA (Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association).
- Monday, November 26, 2007Investigational Medication to be Studied in Children with AutismChildren with autism spectrum disorder between ages of five and 17 years are needed to participate in a research study looking at how a medicine called fluoxetine works
- Thursday, November 29, 2007UPMC Health Plan Launches We Can to Combat Youth ObesityUPMC Health Plan, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Childrens Community Pediatrics, the Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh, and H.J. Heinz Company, today launches We Can!
December
- Saturday, December 01, 2007Brain Patterns of Former Anorexics Reveal Clues to Disorders Lasting ImpactEven after more than a year of maintaining a normalized body weight, young women who recovered from anorexia nervosa show vastly different patterns of brain activity compared to similar women without the eating disorder.
- Wednesday, December 05, 2007$100 Million Commitment by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to Fund Post-Secondary Education for Pittsburgh’s High School GraduatesLargest Community Challenge Grant of its Kind Supports City and Funds “The Pittsburgh Promise,” Aims to Raise $250 Million
- Monday, December 10, 2007UPMC Selected to Participate in NFL and NFL Players Association New Joint Replacement ProgramThe medical facilities will make available specialized, coordinated care to players covered by this new program, according to the NFL.
- Monday, December 10, 2007Infectious Disease Specialists Establish NIH-Funded Program on Fungal Infections at PittMinh-Hong Nguyen, M.D., and Cornelius J. Clancy, M.D. have joined the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
- Wednesday, December 12, 2007UPMC Helps to Create New Trauma Service in QatarUPMC and Hamad Medical Corp. today announced the creation of a trauma service at Hamad General Hospital to better serve the citizens and residents of Qatar.
- Thursday, December 13, 2007YMCA to Build a Second New Facility DowntownA new extension site of the Downtown YMCA will be built to better serve the needs of its current members and the downtown community.
- Thursday, December 13, 2007Keep Holiday Stress in Check by Practicing Easy TechniquesThe holidays are a time of busy activity and excitement, but for many, the merriment also can lead to an increased amount of stress
- Thursday, December 13, 2007Pitt Dental School Names Director of New Special Needs CenterErik Scheifele, D.M.D., has been named director of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine s Center for People with Special Needs, which will open in the spring of 2008.
- Monday, December 17, 2007Pitt Autism Center of Excellence Receives $9.6 Million NIH GrantThis prestigious and highly competitive award comes with $9.6 million of funding over five years for the autism research program
- Tuesday, December 18, 2007Pitts School of Pharmacy and Katz School of Business Partner to Offer Course on Business and MedicineThis is the first step toward a dual doctor of pharmacy/MBA degree program.
- Thursday, December 20, 2007Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Names Vice President of OperationsKetul J. Patel, a Chicago hospital executive, has been named vice president of operations for Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, hospital officials announced today.
- Wednesday, December 26, 2007UPMC Waives Conditions In Pittsburgh Promise Agreement That Required City Council ApprovalThe waiver of these provisions means that UPMC will not seek to enter into an agreement with the City of Pittsburgh
- Wednesday, December 26, 2007Pittsburgh Promise SummaryDual Objective of UPMC’s support of the Pittsburgh Promise
- Wednesday, December 26, 2007The Pittsburgh Promise Background InformationUPMC is an integrated global health enterprise headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States.