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A group of world-class track and field athletes has teamed with one of the world's highest-quality medical centers, Cedars-Sinai, to form an alliance that combines physiology expertise with training techniques to improve performance. The Cheetah International Track Club, a not-for-profit organization that has produced some of the nation's best track and field athletes for more than 30 years, selected Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Center because of its unique expertise in the specialized treatment, research and education in the field of sports medicine, including the emerging area of high-performance/athletic medicine.

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The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is recruiting female patients with recurrent chest pains who are not eligible for surgery to participate in a clinical trial studying an experimental product designed to promote blood vessel growth within the heart muscle. The AWARE trial will study the effects of Generx (Ad5FGF-4) in women for the potential treatment of myocardial ischemia which can cause chest pains associated with coronary heart disease.

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A research team from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Johns Hopkins University and China Medical University and Hospital in Taiwan have described for the first time the mechanisms by which variants of a specific gene, CAPON or NOS1AP, can disrupt normal heart rhythm. Until recently, CAPON was not even suspected of existing in heart tissue or playing a role in heart function.

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Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are developing a spectral imaging system that could result in shorter operating times for infants undergoing surgery for Hirschsprung's disease, according to a mouse study reported in the Journal of Biophotonics.

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The March 2008 Tipsheet from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center includes stories on: 1) A new NIH report on (Wingspan) Intracranial Stents; 2) A new strategy that cracks staph bacterium's "Golden Armor;" 3) The EASE clinical trial studying airway bypass treatment for emphysema; 4) Brain Trust: An organization of prominent Black women supporting medical history n the making; 5) "Pinot for Prevention" parties designed to raise awareness of women's heart disease.

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A new gene therapy approach that attracts and "trains" immune system cells to destroy deadly brain cancer cells also provides long-term immunity, produces no significant adverse effects and -- in the process of destroying the tumor -- promotes the return of normal brain function and behavioral skills, according to a study conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Board of Governors Gene Therapeutics Research Institute.

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Avery Burton of Los Angeles was a typical busy teenager who taught karate, was a talented drummer for his high school marching band, and in his spare time, was a drummer for the rock band, "The Blame." When he started to experience hip and knee pain at night, he at first thought it was the price he was forced to pay for having such an active lifestyle. What he didn't know was that after living with the worsening pain for six months, he would become the first patient to undergo a new non-surgical technique at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

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Q: How do you raise $10.5 million for brain tumor research? A: Get Pauletta Washington, Keisha Whitaker, Dale Cochran, Gloria Mitchell, Yolanda "Cookie" Parker, Carol Bennett, M.D., and Angelia Sanders involved. These women are all members of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's "Brain Trust," a rare if not unique organization of African-American women raising funds for medicine and research. To date, they have raised some $10.5 million, and each of them is available to discuss her reasons for involvement.

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An estimated 2-3 million Americans are living with end-stage Emphysema. This release features actor Wayne Tippitt, who in 2000 received a lung transplant at Cedars-Sinai. Before his transplant, he worked hard to keep his pulmonary condition a secret - slipping into dressing rooms on his breaks to try and "air up" with his oxygen tank. Why the need for secrecy? He was concerned that his poor health might negatively impact his career.

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A preliminary study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that a stent designed to open clogged arteries in the brain was successfully deployed in nearly all cases and significantly reduced arterial blockage in the short term. But data on the long-term benefit of the stent, compared to medical treatment alone, were inconclusive, prompting the upcoming launch of a large-scale randomized trial that is expected to provide definitive results. Michael J. Alexander, M.D., who participated in the study, is available to comment on findings and implications.

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Here's a great story about a new, minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery to replace two or more adjacent disks. The entire operation is performed through four incisions, resulting in very small scars. More importantly, the procedure spares the muscle injury and significant blood loss that is common with traditional back surgery, along with the long, painful months of recuperation. The patient featured, a 40-year-old mother of two, had been virtually sidelined since the accident five years ago, but following surgery at Cedars-Sinai, she has reclaimed her active life on the Colorado ski slopes, playing tennis and as a water aerobics instructor.

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The medical staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has elected William Warren Brien, M.D., as its chief of staff for 2008. Brien, executive vice-chairman, Department of Surgery, is also director of the Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Center and Cedars-Sinai Institute for Joint Replacement and interim director of the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders.

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Josh Bristow, 51, is one of a very few patients in the nation with AIDS and late-stage heart failure to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted as "destination therapy." He needed a heart transplant, but the immune-compromising nature of AIDS virtually excluded him as a candidate for transplantation because of the increased risk of infection and the inability to undergo immunosuppression to prevent organ rejection.

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Evan McCabe wants every woman to know that heart disease "“ not cancer "“ is the number one killer of women. And she's counting on a glass of wine "“ pinot noir, to be exact "“ to help her get the point across.

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Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences are seeking participants for a clinical trial examining whether two polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids are effective treatments for depression.

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Internationally renowned reconstructive surgeons John Reinisch, M.D., and his colleague Sheryl Lewin, M.D., have joined the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. The two plastic surgeons will provide corrective and cosmetic surgery to children and adults.

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With holiday celebrations to attend and family gatherings to prepare for, December can be a busy, joyful time. But for many, heightened expectations and the stresses of holiday events can increase anxiety and cause depression. The chairman of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry offers tips for avoiding the holiday blues.

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Holiday celebrations offer an array of temptations for partygoers to abandon healthy nutrition habits, while calorie-laden foods pose a special challenge for the many American children and adults who are struggling with the proverbial "battle of the bulge." "The key to successfully navigating the holiday season for your family," says Netty Levine, R.D., a dietitian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, "is to set realistic goals. Instead of trying to "lose" weight during the holidays," she suggests you make it your goal to "'maintain-not-gain.'" Levine offers a Baker's Dozen worth of tips for holiday weight management.

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Many Cushing's disease symptoms are non-specific, and the rare disease often remains undiagnosed for years, with physicians treating one manifestation or another but failing to put the whole picture together. In Las Vegas resident Kathie Harrington's case, her diabetes was out of control for three years, and as her insulin requirements, body weight, and blood pressure rose, she experienced a variety of other symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness and dry skin. Over time, she also developed a rounder face and a rounded contour on her upper back between her shoulders. This past January, her endocrinologist recognized the symptoms, referred her to the Pituitary Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and after endoscopic Pituitary surgery, she is cured.

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Statement of Michael L. Langberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, regarding Heparin

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Black, M.D., received the Thomas Bradley Unsung Hero Award at the annual fundraising event of the California African American Museum. Black was honored for his medical, surgical and scientific efforts. Recognized as one of the top neurosurgeons in the nation, he is equally well known for his groundbreaking research in the treatment of brain tumors. His work has been the subject of numerous TV and print stories, locally, nationally and internationally.

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Nursing Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Linda Burnes Bolton, will be one of three nationally known nursing industry experts unveiling results and recommendations for enhancing workflow to enable nurses to meet the demand for care despite an increasing shortage of personnel. This first-of-its-kind study involved more than 200 patient care units at 25 national sites, including Cedars-Sinai, and was conducted by the American Academy of Nursing, of which Burnes Bolton is President.

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center physicians and researchers are involved in more than two dozen oral and poster presentations and other events at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions taking place Nov. 4 through 7 in Orlando, Fla. Among those contributing and available to provide additional information are Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D., director of Cedars-Sinai's Heart Institute; P.K. Shah, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiology and director of the Atherosclerosis Research Center; and Alfredo Trento, director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

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Researchers at the Board of Governors Gene Therapeutics Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have shown for the first time that it is possible to sustain therapeutic gene expression in the central nervous system for up to a year, even in the presence of an anti-viral immune response mechanism that is normally present in humans.

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Palm Desert resident and heart-liver recipient Kelli Jaunsen has been selected to ride aboard the Donate Life float in the 2008 Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day. The 23-year-old, who underwent life-saving transplant surgery in February at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will be one of 24 transplant recipients waving to a million spectators, 40 million U.S. TV viewers and audiences worldwide.

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Mark Goodson Building, located at 444 South San Vicente Boulevard, recently received a TOBY (The Office Building of the Year) award for outstanding commercial office building and excellence in building management in the Medical Building category.

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles announced it has signed direct payment agreements with three of the leading health insurance companies in Guam.

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Varicose veins affect some 25 million Americans "“ most of them women. A new, next-generation catheter allows surgeons to correct this disorder in an outpatient procedure that takes only about 15-20 minutes "“ approximately half the time it took using the previous generation of catheter. And the success rate? Still 98 percent! The two patients highlighted in this news release are both available for interviews, as is Dr. Philip Levin, a surgeon who specializes in this procedure.

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A new type of non-invasive imaging test may help prevent heart attacks. Known as Low-Dose Coronary CT Angiogram (CTA), the test uses less radiation than conventional imaging tests and may help detect heart disease certain asymptomatic patients.

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Stem cell therapy for cardiac regeneration and the controversial issue of medicine and the media will be the focus of the keynote addresses at the seventh annual "Controversies and Advances in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease" conference.

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Beth Y. Karlan, M.D, director of the Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and a renowned expert in the field of gynecologic oncology, has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of Gynecologic Oncology, the medical journal of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO).

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Gynecomastia, the benign enlargement of male breast tissue, is a common occurrence in adolescents as well as in middle-aged and older men. While there are several reasons why men develop breast tissue, it is usually not a health concern, often resolves on its own, and is generally treatable, according to a clinical practice article appearing in the September 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

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When out-of-control nerve impulses cause the heart to beat irregularly, cardiologists often use heat during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to destroy the defective signaling pathways and restore the rhythm to order. But a newer form of catheter-delivered therapy for cardiac arrhythmias, called cryoablation, uses extreme cold, exposing the faulty tissue to sub-zero temperatures to destroy it. This approach is especially suited for treating certain patients with high-risk arrhythmias, according to Walter F. Kerwin, M.D., a cardiologist in the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Cardiac Electrophysiology section.

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Daryl Vinson, a 39-year-old African American, desperately (and suddenly) needed a heart transplant but was allergic to the blood thinner that plays a critical role in transplant surgery. Engaged to be married, the former Air Force Air Traffic Controller phoned his fiancée in Memphis and called off the wedding, believing he wouldn't live until the planned Oct. ceremony. However, members of the heart transplant team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center created an alternative treatment plan, using a synthetic form of a protein found in the saliva of leeches. The drug, recently approved by the FDA, has no antidote and its use in transplantation is so new that the doctors had to develop a game plan and specific protocols in advance of the operation.

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A re-analysis of the data used in a previous analysis of Rosiglitazone (a drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Avandia® for the treatment of type 2 diabetes) suggests that the earlier methodology may have resulted in inflated risk estimates. The new analysis, conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, concludes "that only prospective clinical trials designed for the specific purpose of establishing the cardiovascular benefit or risk of rosiglitazone will resolve the controversy about its safety."

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As a surgeon performs a minimally invasive procedure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, surgeons observing in Boston or Mexico City or London will notice a remarkable improvement in clarity, compared to the view they would have had in the past.

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Stuart G. Finder, Ph.D., has been named director of the Center for Healthcare Ethics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai, Finder was senior associate director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

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Here's a great pediatric medical story about a disease we hear little about, but one that affects an estimated 140,000 (or more) U.S. kids under the age of 18. Eliot Drieband is a 17-year-old high school senior from Pacific Palisades, CA who has IBD. She provides her perspective on coping with this disease, and discusses her care at Cedars-Sinai.

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Cedars-Sinai Holds 3rd Annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Event - The third annual Run For Her 5K Run and Friendship Walk takes place on Sunday, November 11th, 2007 to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and generate support for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.

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A new, non-surgical procedure called radio-frequency ablation (RFA) offers new hope for patients with inoperable kidney and liver tumors. RFA uses heat to "vaporize" tumors.

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Pauletta and Denzel Washington will present two research scholarships bearing their family's name Sunday, June 24, in a ceremony that begins at 3 p.m. on the Shreveport campus of Southern University. The Pauletta and Denzel Washington Family Scholar in Neuroscience Awards have been given annually since 2004 by the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony is held in a different location each year to increase awareness of neuroscience research and encourage students nationwide to apply for the scholarships.

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Cedars-Sinai's stroke team was presented with the American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines "“ Stroke Annual Performance Achievement Award" at a recent ceremony held at the medical center. Of the 126 hospitals participating in "˜Get with the Guidelines' in California, Nevada and Utah, Cedars-Sinai is one of only five hospitals to receive an annual performance achievement award for stroke this year.

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Shlomo Melmed, M.D. and other researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will be presenting data at the annual meetings of The Endocrine Society and the International Pituitary Congress and are available to discuss their findings and progress to better understand and treat pituitary disorders. Release of information is subject to the embargo restrictions of The Endocrine Society and the International Pituitary Congress.

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Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center announced today the start of the EASE (Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema) Trial, an international, multi-center clinical trial to explore an investigational treatment that may offer a new, minimally-invasive option for those suffering with advanced widespread emphysema.

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A new center for the treatment of sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects bone and soft tissue, will open on June 12 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. Physicians and healthcare professionals will hold a free Sarcoma Awareness Day symposium that day.

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Mark Heiner, 57, has a history of cardiomyopathy and was diagnosed in 1999 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A lymphoma relapse in 2005 prompted a course of chemotherapy that further damaged his heart. The combination of ailments left Heiner needing a heart transplant, but not meeting the International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation guidelines for one. Close to death, cardiothoracic surgeons implanted what may have been L.A. County's first Thoratec HeartMate XVE heart assist device into Heiner's abdominal cavity. He and his surgeons are available for interviews.

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Neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center injected a biosynthetic "glue" to seal off a spinal fluid leak and restore a comatose patient to consciousness. It is the first known report of a situation in which a patient's coma was reversed by the injection of glue, according to Wouter I. Schievink, M.D., Director of the Neurovascular Surgery Program at Cedars-Sinai and the article's lead author.

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When Doug Fieger, who co-wrote the 1979 hit "My Sharona," and is lead singer of "The Knack, learned last year that he had two brain tumors, he was concerned that either the tumors or the side effects of surgery would leave him unable to pursue his livelihood. This news release details his experience and his philosophy. He and his neurosurgeon are available for interviews.

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Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world's leading cardiologists and heart researchers and currently chief of cardiology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been named director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

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In a March 13, 2007 operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mike Iwuchukwu became possibly the first patient ever to receive a heart that had been transplanted before. If such a procedure has been performed, there appears to be no record in the medical literature, according to the cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists involved in Iwuchukwu's case. Iwuchukwu and his physicians are available for interviews.