Newswise — What developments at the University of Virginia Health System created the most buzz in national and international media last year? As the following list indicates, the stories ranged from cutting edge medical research and clinical accomplishments to public health initiatives and surprising insights about our most intimate relationships.
Listed in alphabetical order, the topics are:"¢ Addiction Research " 2007 was a busy media year for Bankole Johnson, MD, chairman of UVA's department of psychiatry and neurobehavioral science. In March, his use of topiramate in treating alcoholism was featured in a widely-publicized HBO documentary, "Addiction." In October, hundreds of newspapers, radio stations, television networks and websites carried reports about his newest study. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, that research showed topiramate (a drug long used to treat migraines and epilepsy) is significantly more effective than a placebo at curbing alcohol dependence.
"¢ Artificial Knee Ligaments (ACL Scaffolds) " A bioengineered replacement for torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) attracted a flood of media interest after the National Review of Medicine listed it as a "lifesaving device of tomorrow." A research team led by Orthopaedic Surgery Chair Cato Laurencin, MD, developed a synthetic matrix, or scaffold, that can be absorbed as the body heals. The scaffold is constructed of 3-D polymeric fiber braids on which a torn ACL can be regenerated.
"¢ Children's Sleep " In 2007, UVA's Sleep Disorders Center made local headlines for receiving a five-year accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep and for celebrating its 25th anniversary. It attracted extensive national coverage for research led by its director, Paul M. Suratt, MD, showing that children who snore nightly and spend less time in bed scored significantly lower on vocabulary tests than children who don't snore and get sufficient sleep. Surratt said the results were similar to studies that demonstrate lower IQs for children exposed to lead.
"¢ Colds and Flu " Pediatrician Owen Hendley, MD made national headlines for a study showing that sniffly cold sufferers can contaminate hotel rooms " and any surface they touch " for up to 24 hours. Ronald Turner, MD was quoted frequently in reports about cold remedies and immune system boosters.
"¢ Diet, Exercise and Obesity " Exercise physiologist Glenn Gaesser, PhD, was interviewed by national media on several occasions. He provided comments about a new over-the-counter diet pill and new federal obesity data. Gaesser, who is author of the iconoclastic book, "Big Fat Lies," offered such comments as, "Aerobic fitness alone is a key predictor of longevity "¦ There is almost no weight-related health problem that can't be helped with exercise."
"¢ Hand-Holding " Good news traveled fast after James A. Coan, PhD, a neuroscientist and assistant professor of psychology, published the results of a study in the December 2006 issue of Psychological Science. Media outlets nationwide covered the findings: Brain scans show that women under stress get calmer when holding a man's hand; the greatest relief is experienced by happily married women who hold their spouse's hand. Coan's work drew more coverage after his talk at the Association for Psychological Science's convention in May.
"¢ Health Care Policy " Arthur Garson, Jr., MD, UVA executive vice president and provost and former School of Medicine dean, continued to participate in state and national debates over who should pay the soaring costs of health care. The media covered his role on Capitol Hill in developing the proposed Health Partnership Act and his new book, "Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality." Daily newspapers nationwide ran his op-ed arguing that Americans earning less than $60,000 a year cannot afford health insurance. In another widely published op-ed, R. Edward Howell, Medical Center vice president and CEO, contended that Baby Boomers will be unable to afford healthcare as good as their parents and that Medicare will shift costs to seniors.
"¢ Lung Transplants " UVA's lung transplant program received three waves of national news coverage this year. In January, media outlets reported that UVA's lung transplant patients had a 98 percent one-year survival rate, the nation's highest. In August, televised reports focused on the major survival advantage reported for UVA's elderly lung transplant recipients and included interviews with the program's surgical director, David R. Jones, MD, and its medical director, Mark Robbins, MD. In recent months, Sports Illustrated, HBO, ABC and other news outlets profiled a UVA lung transplant recipient and his donor family.
"¢ Signals for Health and the Healthy Vending program " CNN and dozens of television stations around the country covered UVA's "Signals for Health" program, a color-coded system that indicates calorie ranges for items in cafeterias and vending machines. Snacks were labeled green (under 140 calories), yellow (140 to 200 calories) and red (200+ calories). According to Arthur Garson, Jr., MD, former School of Medicine dean, the programs boosted sales of healthy items and cut sales of unhealthy items.
"¢ Women's Sexuality " Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Anita H. Clayton, MD, caused a stir among national media when she revealed a big secret in her book, "Satisfaction: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy." The big secret: in an era when many women are over-achievers with high expectations for almost every area of their lives, too many settle for mediocre sex. Coverage of Dr. Clayton's book, which was published in January, continued throughout 2007. In December, she made national news again as UVA's lead investigator of a new drug that heightens women's desire for sexual activity.
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