Newswise — Welcome to the March 2019 edition of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s (BIDMC) Research & Health News Digest.

This month’s update includes:

  • Low-risk patients may benefit from less invasive transcatheter valve replacement (Cardiovascular)
  • Researchers show aspirin boosts production of an anti-inflammatory that inhibits tumor growth (Cancer)
  • Study reports on trends in hysterectomy after FDA warnings about power morcellator (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
  • Marathon and runner’s health related story ideas (Consumer Health)
  • Cancer Center at BIDMC names new chief of hematology & hematologic malignancies and new chief of medical oncology (Cancer)
  • Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, Hon. ScD, named chief academic officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Research/Academia)

If any of these briefs pique your interest and you’d like to speak with one of our experts, please contact us at [email protected] or at 617-667-7300. You can also reach the BIDMC communications team member on call through the BIDMC page operator at (617) 667-4700 and asking for pager ID #33880.

 

Low-Risk Patients May Benefit from Less Invasive Transcatheter Valve Replacement

A new study by a team of cardiologists at BIDMC led by senior and corresponding author Jeffrey Popma, MD, Director of Interventional Cardiology Clinical Services, suggests that a minimally invasive procedure currently reserved for patients too frail to undergo surgery may in fact be a safe and effective alternative for healthier patients. The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans and concurrently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2019/03/transcatheter-valve-replacement

Researchers Show Aspirin Boosts Production of an Anti-Inflammatory That Inhibits Tumor Growth

In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists led by Dipak Panigrahy, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology in the Department of Pathology and Scientist at the Cancer Center at BIDMC, demonstrate a unique new mechanism by which aspirin inhibits cancer.

https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2019/03/researchers-show-aspirin-boosts-production-of-an-anti-inflammatory-that-inhibits-tumor-growth

Study Reports on Trends in Hysterectomy after FDA Warnings about Power Morcellator

A study led by physician-researchers Elisa M. Jorgensen, MD, and Christopher Awtrey, MD, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at BIDMC, characterizes national trends in hysterectomy practice in the wake of a 2014 U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that a tool called a power morcellator, intended to assist with minimally invasive laparoscopic hysterectomy, could spread cancer in some women. After ending the use of power morcellation, surgeons initially returned to more invasive abdominal hysterectomies in the year following the federal warning. However, the team observed an overall increase in the proportion of minimally-invasive hysterectomies performed since 2012, as surgeons found alternatives to power morcellation. The findings were reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2019/03/trends-in-hysterectomy-after-fda-warnings

Marathon and Runner’s Health Related Story Ideas

With the Boston Marathon just around the corner, folks are feeling inspired to lace up their sneakers again after a winter off. BIDMC has two health experts available for interview on several marathon-related topics such as recovering from injuries after the marathon and the importance of potassium for runners:

John Giurini, MD, Chief of Podiatric Surgery at BIDMC, can speak to:

  • Shoes and back pain / finding the right shoes for your feet and back
  • Foot injuries to be aware of during the marathon
  • What constitutes a serious foot injury
  • Training for the marathon – maintaining foot health while training for a marathon
  • Recovering from injuries after the marathon

 

Jeffrey William, MD, Internist at BIDMC and a runner himself, can speak to:

  • Why potassium is important for runners and the signs of a potassium deficiency
  • Kidney function, water intake, and electrolyte issues (potassium, sodium, etc.) as a result of the marathon/strenuous exercise

Please reach out to Lindsey Diaz-MacInnis at [email protected] if you are interested in setting up an interview.

Cancer Center at BIDMC Names New Chief of Hematology & Hematologic Malignancies and New Chief of Medical Oncology

David Avigan, MD, has been named Chief of the newly created Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies and David F. McDermott, MD, has been named Chief of the newly created Division of Medical Oncology, both part of the Leon V. & Marilyn L. Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center at BIDMC. 

https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2019/03/cancer-center-at-bidmc-names-new-chiefs

Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, Hon. ScD, Named Chief Academic Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, Hon. ScD, was named Chief Academic Officer of BIDMC, overseeing the medical center’s robust research and teaching programs. Szabo will join BIDMC on July 1, 2019.

https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2019/03/chief-academic-officer