STORY IDEAS FOR FEBRUARY 1997 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER
If you wish to pursue any of these story ideas, please contact: Ellen Beth Levitt, Jill Bloom or Barbara Richardson 410-328-8919 email address: [email protected]
Study Shows Outpatient Stem Cell Transplantation is Safe and Effective
A new study shows that high-dose chemotherapy, combined with a stem cell transplant, can be performed safely and effectively in an outpatient setting for many cancer patients with a cost saving of about 35 percent. The study appeared in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The lead author, Barry Meisenberg, M.D., from the University of MarylandÃs Greenebaum Cancer Center, says patients in the study who chose the outpatient therapy did as well as patients who were hospitalized, with no increase in complications. Traditionally, patients stay in the hospital for three to four weeks after receiving high doses of cancer-fighting drugs and then a stem cell transplant to boost their immune system. Patients in the study returned to see their doctor daily for three weeks, but were able to be at home the rest of the time. Dr. Meisenberg says outpatient therapy is possible because of new and better drugs both to prevent infections and control the side effects of chemotherapy.
New method allows faster recovery from shoulder injury Athletes who dislocate their shoulder can now be helped by a less-invasive stabilization technique. The new, arthroscopic technique involves the use of absorbable tacks to reconnect torn cartilage to the shoulder socket. The tacks, made of a synthetic polymer, dissolve within a few weeks. Only three small holes are needed, each about 1/4 of an inch wide, instead of a large incision . As a result, the procedure is done on an outpatient basis, and the time for a full recovery is about four months, compared to six to eight months with the standard operation. Dislocated shoulder injuries occur in a variety of athletes, ranging from football and lacrosse players to wrestlers and skiers. Dr. T. Moorman, the Director of University Sports Medicine at Kernan, has performed the new technique on about 50 patients, including two NFL quarterbacks who have since regained full speed in their throwing arms. Dr. Moorman is the orthopedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens.
The last run of the day is often a skierÃs downfall Now that the ski season is underway, many people are leaving the slopes with injuries. How do you prevent your ski trip from going down hill because of an injury? Dr. T. Moorman, the director of University Sports Medicine at Kernan Hospital, says most ski injuries occur on the last run of the day. ìThatÃs when fatigue starts to set in. People are less alert, physically and mentally. It is also when they often try the most challenging slope to cap off the day.î Dr. Moorman advises skiers not to push themselves too hard at the end of the day. He also says itÃs important to get in good condition before you hit the slopes, by doing exercises to strengthen leg muscles, especially in the thigh, as well as aerobic exercise to build up stamina. The most common ski injuries include cartilage and ligament tears in the knee. Skiers also may suffer from shoulder and wrist injuries and bone fractures.
During heart month: Heart disease still number one killer of women as well as men What do you think is the major cause of death in women? You may be surprised to learn that it is heart disease--the same condition that is the number-one killer in men. Almost half of the 500,000 people who die from heart attacks each year in the U.S. are women. And 44 percent of women die within a year of having a heart attack, compared to 27 percent of men. But Dr. Michael Miller, the head of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, says women can take steps to prevent heart disease. These include not smoking, doing moderate exercise, controlling cholesterol and blood pressure levels and taking hormone therapy after menopause. Women at risk of early heart disease are those with diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, a family history of early heart disease and those who smoke.
New portable CT scanner helps improve patient care The University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center is using a new technology that brings a sophisticated imaging test to the bedside. The new CT scanner, called the Tomoscan-M, is a portable CT scanner on wheels that can be moved into the operating room or directly to a patientÃs intensive care bed. The University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center is one of only a few places in the U.S. to use this portable CT scanner. The scanner takes continuous images of patients who are too ill to travel to a fixed CT scanner and it can be used to quickly determine the extent of injuries to patients upon admission. It is also used to verify successful surgical treatment of head and orthopedic injuries before a patient leaves the operating room. The Tomoscan-M provides the same image quality as conventional fixed CT scanners.
New guidelines developed to prevent and treat steroid-induced osteoporosis Each year more than 30 million Americans take corticosteriods for diseases including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases and multiple sclerosis. But a frequent side effect of these drugs is bone loss and osteoporosis. The American College of Rheumatology has released the first guidelines ever for the management of osteoporosis resulting from these commonly prescribed steroid medications. According to Dr. Marc Hochberg, head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and co-chair of the task force that developed the guidelines, "early intervention is critical in patients on steroid therapy because the majority of bone loss occurs in the beginning of treatment, when as much as 10-20 percent of bone can be lost." The guidelines outline ways to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which include diagnostic bone mass measurement tests, appropriate diet and drug therapies, lifestyle changes and patient education. Corticosteroids are essential in treating many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. They are also commonly used for acute inflammation and irritation and for severe allergies.
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