Selected news releases from Weill Cornell Medical College

2003 releases in this category

For the full text of any story, click on the title. Electronic queries may be made to Jonathan Weil.

Weill Cornell team develops fast-acting anthrax vaccine
NEW YORK (December 29, 2004) -- In any bioterror attack, vaccines that provide a rapid, effective defense against the pathogen will be key to saving lives.However, in the case of anthrax, vaccines available today can take weeks or even months to gain full effect.

Reducing enlarged heart muscle cuts patients' cardiac risk, independent of lowered blood pressure
NEW YORK (November 16, 2004) -- Two new studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association, led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers, are clearing up the mystery of why some hypertensive patients continue to be at high risk for heart attack and stroke, even after drug therapy has reduced their blood pressure to safer levels.Findings from both echocardiogram and electrocardiogram (ECG) suggest that anti-hypertensive drugs that aggressively shrink enlarged heart muscle bring added benefits to patients, lowering their risk for dangerous cardiovascular events.

Weill Cornell scientists identify mechanism governing immune system suppression
NEW YORK (November 16, 2004) -- Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College believe they've uncovered a molecular switch that naturally suppresses the body's immune response in situations where it's not needed.Drugs that mimic or oppose this mechanism might someday fight autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or protect immune cells from enemies like HIV.

Weill Cornell Medical College hematologist receives prestigious NIH merit award
New York, NY (November 15, 2004) -- Recognized for his nearly 50 years of pioneering biomedical research in hematology and vascular biology, Weill Cornell Medical College physician-scientist Dr. Aaron J. Marcus has been selected by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to receive a 2004 NIH Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award. He has been continuously funded by NHLBI since 1956.The $2.8 million research grant will provide long-term support for the development of a new treatment for occlusive vascular diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Dr. Marcus is chief of Hematology-Oncology and director of the Thrombosis Research Lab at VANY Harbor Healthcare System. He is professor of medicine and professor of medicine in pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

For the first time, observing protein synthesis and other single-molecule processes
New York, NY (November 2, 2004) -- All life relies on the actions and reactions of single molecules within cells. However, these molecules are so tiny that they have long eluded direct, real-time investigation using conventional light microscopes.A breakthrough technology being developed by Dr. Scott C. Blanchard -- recently recruited to Weill Medical College of Cornell University under the College's Strategic Research Plan -- is finally allowing researchers an unprecedented view into the workings of individual molecules.

Omega-3 fatty acids: good for the heart, and (maybe) good for the brain
New York, NY (November 1, 2004) -- There is mounting evidence that a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids, already known to help prevent cardiovascular disease, may also prevent depression. In light of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s recent ruling that antidepressants will be labeled with a "black box" warning about the drugs' higher potential suicide risk in children, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center nutrition experts call for further study of the mental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids."Given recent findings of serious risks linked with antidepressants, we should prioritize the study of natural antidepressants contained in dietary sources -- specifically, omega-3 fatty acids, found most abundantly in fish and seafood," says Dr. Barbara Levine, associate professor of nutrition in clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of the DHA Information Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Dr. Levine has been studying DHA (docosahexaenoic acid -- a component of omega-3s) and its effects on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL (high-density lipoproteins) in overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome.

Synapse yields up more secrets, as Weill Cornell team sheds light on role of key protein
New York, NY (October 20, 2004) -- Billions of times per day, neurons in the brain use microscopic packets of neurotransmitter chemicals to pass information across the synapse -- the gaps separating individual cells.And because almost every neurological disease, addiction, and drug aimed at brain function relies on synaptic activity, advances in understanding how this messenger system works is of great importance to medical research.

Bold new initiatives are needed to address the crisis of antibiotic resistance, according to Weill Cornell expert
New York, NY (October 18, 2004) -- The looming threat of bacterial infections resistant to available antibiotics can be averted if industry, regulators, and academics work together in creative new ways, writes Weill Cornell Medical College expert Dr. Carl Nathan in a commentary in the October 21 Nature."Despite growing bacterial resistance to existing drugs, antibiotic development in the pharmaceutical industry is steeply declining," warns Dr. Nathan, Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College and Co-Chair of the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York City.

Scientists solve mystery of long-term memory formation
New York, NY (October 13, 2004) -- In the October 15 issue of Science, Dr. Bai Lu of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Barbara Hempstead of Weill Medical College of Cornell University have teamed up to solve one of the fundamental mysteries of human memory. They have identified the key events and proteins involved in long-term memory. Their findings provide insight into the biochemical basis of memory, and may help in the development of drugs to ameliorate memory disorders.What is memory, on a biochemical and cellular level? The brain is filled with special cells called neurons -- billions of them -- and each neuron is connected to literally thousands of other neurons. The connections between neurons are "synapses" -- tiny gaps, on one side of which is a "pre-synaptic" neuron and on the other side of which is a "post-synaptic" neuron. At a synapse, the pre-synaptic neuron relays information by releasing chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) to activate the post-synaptic neuron, which can then, in turn, relay signals to any of the thousands of neurons to which it is connected.

Weill Cornell scientists challenge standard view on cellular ion channel functioning
New York,--NY (October 13, 2004) -- In any academic arena, it's tough to convincingly challenge a scientific maxim that's so accepted it's been included in textbooks for decades.But that's what a team of Weill Cornell Medical College biochemists believes they have just done, in a report published in the October 14 issue of Nature.Every living cell contains microscopic ion channels, tiny portals that allow select molecules to pass through the cell's otherwise impermeable, protective outer membrane. Since the 1970s, experts have believed the physical structure of these channels dictates which ions -- potassium, sodium, calcium, and others -- are admitted, and which are not. But now, using a computational model, experts led by Weill Cornell's Dr. Benoit Roux say they have proven this long-accepted view wrong.

Study of NYC primary care doctors' response to 2001 anthrax attacks shows prudent care
-- New York, NY (October 12, 2004) -- Primary care physicians -- working only blocks away from the New York City anthrax attacks of October 2001 -- acted responsibly and rationally in the midst of the crisis, according to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers."This is the first study to document patterns of primary-care visits and prescribing during the only lethal bioterror attack in the country's history," said lead researcher Dr. Nathaniel Hupert, assistant professor of public health and medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and assistant attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in New York City.

New guide helps communities prepare for vaccine and drug dispensing
New York, NY--(September 29, 2004) -- Physician-scientists in the Department of Public Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have created the first nationwide planning guide for community-based response to bioterrorism and other infectious disease outbreaks since the 2001 anthrax attacks. The document and accompanying computer planning model will help communities ensure that all Americans have needed drugs and vaccines in the event of a natural epidemic or bioterrorist attack.The effort, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is written to explain the formation of community-wide mass prophylaxis plans to a wide range of audiences, including public health and emergency management planners, community organizations, and the media.

State-of-the-art institute of robotic urologic surgery established at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
New York, NY (September 28, 2004) -- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has established the Cornell Institute of Robotic Urological Surgery within the Brady Department of Urology. Robotic prostate surgery for prostate cancer patients will be the centerpiece of the new program.One of the leading experts in robotic prostatectomy, the robotic surgical removal of the prostate for prostate cancer patients, Dr. Ashutosh Tewari will lead the Institute. Dr. Tewari, who comes to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell from one of the nation's premier robotic centers, the Henry Ford Hospital's Vattikuti Institute of Urology, has been named Director of Robotic Prostatectomy and Prostate Cancer Outcomes in the Brady Urologic Health Center of the Department of Urology and the Department of Public Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. He is also Associate Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell tests a new way to treat the deadliest and most common form of brain tumor
New York (September 23, 2004) -- Physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center will join roughly 50 other medical centers around the world in studying whether an experimental drug delivered directly into the brain can extend the lives of people with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumor.Even after doctors surgically remove a tumor, cancerous cells inevitably remain in the area surrounding a tumor site. They are generally embedded in tissue and, especially in the case of GBM, tend to proliferate rapidly, leaving the patient with a high risk of recurrence.

Successful pregnancy following vasectomy reversal more effective in men who remain with same female partner
NEW YORK (September 23, 2004) -- The small number of men who remain with their female partner and undergo microsurgical vasectomy reversalÐperformed because of the death of a child or a change of heartÐ-achieve a much higher natural pregnancy and live-birth rate than the overall group of men who undergo vasectomy reversalÐmost commonly due to divorce and remarriage. The reasons for this discrepancy, identified in a new study by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, are not yet fully understood. -------------------- Of the 2.6 percent men who underwent vasectomy reversal while remaining with their female partner, 86 percent were able to achieve a natural pregnancy during a three-year follow-up period, compared to 54 percent for the cohort group. Additionally, the live-birth rate for the same-partner group was 82 percent, compared to 63 percent for the cohort group. Most impressively, among a subgroup of patients that experienced the death of a child (one-third of the same-partner group), the live-birth rate was 100 percent. The NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility."There are a few possible explanations for this discrepancy, although further study is necessary," says Dr. Marc Goldstein, the studyâs lead author, Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Surgeon-in-Chief of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Low blood sugar a marker for babies at neurological risk during delivery, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell study suggests
New York, NY (September 23, 2004) -- Abnormally low blood sugar may raise an infant's risk for brain damage during delivery, according to a new study led by a NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researcher. He believes early testing for neonatal hypoglycemia might potentially reduce neurologic morbidity."In full-term babies already at elevated risk for brain damage, low blood sugar increased that risk 18-fold," said Dr. Jeffrey M. Perlman, Professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Chief of the Division of Newborn Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.

Yale-Weill Cornell collaboration uncovers secrets of the synapse
New York, NY (September 21, 2004) -- As you read this, billions of synapses lying between the cells of your brain are using complex chemical signals to pass information from one neuron to the next.It's a process crucial to healthy brain function as well as drug development, drug addiction and neurological disease, and researchers at Yale University School of Medicine-Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College believe they now have a better understanding of how synaptic transmission works.

Losartan better than beta-blocker at shrinking enlarged hearts, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell study shows
New York, NY (September 22, 2004) -- For patients with a dangerous enlargement of heart muscle called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), the drug Losartan beats standard beta-blocker therapy in reducing hearts to a healthier size, according to researchers at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.The study, published in the September 14 issue of Circulation, finds that Losartan's effects on LVH go beyond its ability to lower blood pressure -- suggesting that added mechanisms may be at work.

Low-dose, over-the-counter statins may be safe, effective aid in preventing heart disease
New York, NY (September 17, 2004) -- Cholesterol-busting statin medications have revolutionized the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading killer of American men and women.But a recent move by the British government toward approval of low-dose, over-the-counter (OTC) simvastatin (Zocor®) has raised heated debate here in the U.S. Now, in his editorial in the September 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Professor of Medicine and the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, says the proven effectiveness and good safety record of statin medications argues for a similar move in the U.S.

Immune antibodies may be key to lupus-linked memory loss, Weill Cornell scientist says
New York, NY (September 9, 2004) -- For years, experts have puzzled over the fact that lupus patients often experience accelerated declines in thinking and memory as they age, despite the absence of the usual neurological culprits, such as neurovascular inflammation or stroke.Now a husband-and-wife team of researchers, including Dr. Bruce T. Volpe, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and Attending Neurologist at New-York Presbyterian Hospital and Burke Medical Research Institute in White Plains, say they have a new approach to this puzzle that may open the door to treatments that slow or prevent lupus-related cognitive decline.

A novel development in bioinformatics, SigPath, brings data and interactivity to research on cellular networks
New York, NY (September 2, 2004) -- Thanks to bioinformatics researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, cell biologists around the globe will soon have a powerful new tool to model complex biochemical processes within the cell, uploading and manipulating new data as they team up with research partners via the Internet.What makes this possible is SigPath (www.sigpath.org), a new web-based information management system that goes beyond existing programs, aiming to provide researchers with a wealth of information on complex biochemical networks that govern cells.

Silencing human gene through new science of epigenetics
New York, NY (September 2, 2004) -- For the first time, scientists have shown how the activity of a gene associated with normal human development, as well as the occurrence of cancer and several other diseases, is repressed epigenetically -- by modifying not the DNA code of a gene, but instead the spool-like histone proteins around which DNA tightly wraps itself in the nucleus of cells in the body. By studying how and when these histone changes occur, many scientists hope to explain human diseases that can't be readily attributed only to irregular genes.

FDA approves new drug application of PET drug produced by Weill Cornell team, a tri-state area first
New York, NY (August 31, 2004) -- An innovative PET "tracer" drug manufactured at Weill Cornell Medical College received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's stamp of approval this month for use in diagnosing tumors, cardiovascular problems, and centers of epileptic activity in the brain, using positron emission tomography (PET). The FDA's approval for Fludeoxyglucose F18 injection ([18F]FDG) is the second such approval in the country for this type of radiopharmaceutical application, and the first in the New York--tri-state area.

In mouse model, Weill Cornell researchers use gene therapy to correct deadly inherited immune disorder
New York, NY (August 2, 2004) -- Previous attempts in mice to correct a rare inherited immune disorder, called Hyper IgM X-linked immunodeficiency, have failed because standard gene therapy raised risks for cancer. Now Weill Cornell Medical College researchers believe they've found a way around that problem. Reporting in the July 25 issue of Nature Medicine, the investigators used a gene therapy strategy called trans-splicing to successfully correct the disease in mice without increasing malignancy risk. Trans-splicing effectively corrects the mutation at a later step in the genetic process -- at the level of messenger RNA (mRNA).

"Designer mice" yielding up secrets of Huntington's disease, says Weill Cornell neuroscientist
New York, NY (July 26, 2004) -- By tweaking a gene in the mouse genome, scientists are creating animal models of Huntington's disease that mimic human Huntington's and may lead to effective treatments for this killer illness.

Elective cesarean delivery offered during labor
New York, NY (July 26, 2004) -- Throughout the history of obstetrics, obstetricians have viewed Cesarean section as a delivery mode that is either medically indicated or not. Times have certainly changed: According to new research from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nearly 1 in 5 women who had a Cesarean delivery after being in labor either requested or were offered a Cesarean delivery at some point during labor without a classic medical indication.

Phase 1 clinical trial of monoclonal antibody treatment for prostate cancer shows anti-tumor activity> New York, NY (July 7, 2004) -- researchers at New York-Presbyterian hospital/Weill Cornell medical center have released final findings of a phase i trial of an investigational drug, radiolabeled j591, in patients with advanced prostate cancer. J591 is a de-immunized monoclonal antibody therapeutic that was developed at Weill Cornell medical college. In this trial, published in the july 1 issue of journal of clinical oncology, the antibody delivered radiation directly to prostate cancer sites. The treatment was well tolerated and demonstrated anti-tumor activity. As a result of these promising findings, a phase ii protocol designed to evaluate anti-tumor activity of radiolabeled j591 has been accepted by the food and drug administration and is expected to begin patient entry later this year. This multi-center trial will be led by New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell along with New York-Presbyterian/columbia and memorial sloan-kettering cancer center.

Blood flow changes are key to understanding Alzheimer's
New York, NY (June 4, 2004) -- Subtle but profound changes in blood flow within the brain may be among the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease, according to a review of recent research conducted by Dr. Costantino Iadecola, Chief of the Division of Neurobiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, in New York City."These vascular changes are very early markers of disease, and can be used very effectively to diagnose patients early on," said Dr. Iadecola, who is the George C. Cotzias Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Attending Neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.

Weill Cornell scientists identify a fly gene linked to aging -- discovery could lead to drugs that extend human life
New York, NY (May 21, 2004) -- By simply switching off one copy of a gene, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have enabled fruit flies to live 51% longer -- the equivalent in human terms of extending average lifespan to the ripe old age of 113.The gene, called stunted, is one of only a few such longevity genes to be discovered in the Drosophila fly, a favorite model for studies into aging and longevity. What's more, stunted works by encoding a molecule that connects to a receptor lying on the surface of cells -- a receptor that's long been a favorite target for pharmaceutical research.

Weill Cornell scientists identify compounds inhibiting blood vessel formation
New York, NY (May 18, 2004) -- Peering into the mysteries of embryonic development, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have identified compounds that inhibit the growth of new blood vessels.If these chemical signaling mechanisms hold true in adult tissue, the discovery could pave the way for therapies to repair damaged heart tissue or, conversely, starve malignant tumors of the blood supply they need to grow.

Blacks with hypertension have greater thickening of heart muscle
New York, NY (May 17, 2004) -- U.S. blacks with high blood pressure are about twice as likely to have an enlarged heart and a thicker heart muscle wall than their white counterparts independently of the degree of hypertension, report NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.Many studies have found that left ventricular hypertrophy -- increased muscle weight of the heart's main pumping chamber -- is an independent predictor of illness or death due to cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. And it is known that African-Americans with high blood pressure are 50% more likely to die of stroke and 80% more likely to die of heart disease than whites.

Weill Cornell's neurodatabase.org is a global clearinghouse for brain research
New York, NY (May 17, 2004) -- Imagine a puzzle made up of one hundred billion pieces, each reacting to the other, and you have a glimpse of the enormity of the challenge facing researchers bent on understanding how brain cells work together to create human perception, thought, and action. Every day, over 50,000 neuroscientists around the globe collect data on just these types of neural interactions, publishing their collected facts and figures in over 300 journals and scientific assemblies worldwide. But the sheer quantity and scope of neuroscientific data means that individual researchers cannot hope to utilize but a small fraction of what is available.--Many experts -- including Dr. Daniel Gardner, a Weill Cornell Medical College Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, and Director of the College's Laboratory of Neuroinformatics -- now believe the time has come to give this community of scientists a better means of accessing -- and re-analyzing -- this vital data.

Brain scans by Weill Cornell scientist help poor readers improve
New York, NY (May 17, 2004) -- Two-years ago, Dr. Bruce McCandliss, a psychologist at the Sackler Institute of Developmental Psychobiology of Weill Cornell Medical College, introduced a reading program he co-developed into some of New York Cityâs public elementary schools. The program, known as "Reading Works," uses computer-based reading lessons, and as students have learned from the curriculum, scientists have used brain scans and other methods to monitor how their brains are changing.Now, two-years later, results from the program are coming in from children across many parts of New York City, and the preliminary data are impressive. Children involved in the program, which encompasses 20 forty-minute sessions over a period of several months, are now reading at an ability level, on average, 1.2 grades higher. And, scientists now have a better idea of how children learn to read and what keeps some from becoming proficient at it.

Weill Cornell launches new stem cell center with $15 million grant
New York, NY (May 12, 2004) -- The Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City voted today to establish the new Ansary Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics. The unique Center will bring together a premier team of scientists to focus on stem cells -- the primitive, unspecialized cells thought to have an unrivaled capacity to form all types of cells in the body.As part of Weill Cornellâs "Advancing the Clinical Mission" Capital Campaign, the Ansary Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics is being created with a $15 million grant from Shahla and Hushang Ansary, prominent Houston philanthropists. Mr. Ansary is a Vice Chairman of Weill Cornell Medical Collegeâs Board of Overseers.

Weill Cornell launches new stem cell center with $15 million granteers of Weill Cornell medical college in New York city voted today to establish the new ansary center for stem cell therapeutics. The unique center will bring together a premier team of scientists to focus on stem cells -- the primitive, unspecialized cells thought to have an unrivaled capacity to form all types of cells in the body.
As part of Weill Cornellâs "Advancing the Clinical Mission" Capital Campaign, the Ansary Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics is being created with a $15 million grant from Shahla and Hushang Ansary, prominent Houston philanthropists. Mr. Ansary is a Vice Chairman of Weill Cornell Medical Collegeâs Board of Overseers.Vision of Ansary Center "The Ansary Center will help lead the way into 21st century medicine in this extremely promising area," said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. "Weill Cornell scientists and physicians are already world leaders in stem cell research, and Mr. Ansaryâs generous gift will help spur the creativity and collaboration of our scientists, as well as help attract the best and brightest young researchers in the field."

For immediate release
WEILL CORNELL LAUNCHES NEW STEM CELL CENTER WITH $15 MILLION GRANT New York, NY (May 12, 2004) -- The Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City voted today to establish the new Ansary Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics. The unique Center will bring together a premier team of scientists to focus on stem cells -- the primitive, unspecialized cells thought to have an unrivaled capacity to form all types of cells in the body.As part of Weill Cornellâs "Advancing the Clinical Mission" Capital Campaign, the Ansary Center for Stem Cell Therapeutics is being created with a $15 million grant from Shahla and Hushang Ansary, prominent Houston philanthropists. Mr. Ansary is a Vice Chairman of Weill Cornell Medical Collegeâs Board of Overseers.

Head-cooling device prevents brain damage in oxygen-deprived infants, says new study
New York, NY (May 7, 2004) -- A head-cooling device called CoolCap prevents brain damage in some oxygen-deprived newborn babies, providing the first evidence in humans that many birth-related neurological problems can be reversed, according to an international multi-center clinical trial that included physician-scientists at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, the only New York City medical center to participate in the study. The results were presented this week at the annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research in San Francisco.Using brain wave analysis at birth, researchers identified those babies who might benefit from treatment. In the group of infants with moderate to severe injury, the percentage of babies that experienced an unfavorable outcome (death or neuro-developmental disability) was significantly reduced from 66 percent to 48 percent by the cooling. In addition, there was a trend to a reduction in mortality in the cooled infants.

Women with diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease, yet prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is inadequate
New York, NY (May 10, 2004) -- Women with diabetes are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than men with diabetes and persons without diabetes -- yet prevention and treatment of CVD in women with diabetes is inadequate, according to an article authored by a NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center physician-scientist and published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.The risk of heart attack is 150 percent greater in women with diabetes than in women without diabetes, but only 50 percent greater in men with diabetes versus men without the disease. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have hypertension than are men with the disease.

New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell gastroenterologist gives advice about colorectal cancer
New York, NY (April 29, 2004) -- Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men and women in the U.S., and yet, it is also the most preventable form of cancer."Studies show that more than 90 percent of lives could be saved through the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer," says Dr. Mark Pochapin, Director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "But a mix of ignorance, misinformation, and embarrassment about the disease is killing people -- many of whom would go on to live a full life if they had the right information and the right screenings."

New york, ny (april 29, 2004) -- colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men and women in the u.S., And yet, it is also the most preventable form of cancer.
"Studies show that more than 90 percent of lives could be saved through the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer," says Dr. Mark Pochapin, Director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "But a mix of ignorance, misinformation, and embarrassment about the disease is killing people -- many of whom would go on to live a full life if they had the right information and the right screenings."In his new book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Colorectal Cancer, Dr. Pochapin sheds important light on this often preventable form of cancer.

Newyork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell researchers discover non-protease inhibitor drug combo better for HIV
New York, NY (April 27, 2004) -- A certain combination of AIDS drugs is superior to others when it comes to the initial treatment of HIV patients, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers report in this week's (April 29) New England Journal of Medicine.Roy Gulick, M.D., M.P.H., and a multicenter team of researchers specifically looked for a treatment that was relatively easy to take and that did not include protease inhibitors, highly effective AIDS-fighting drugs that can sometimes have undesirable side effects.

Weill Cornell Medical College to receive $3.6 Million for CT screening research
New York, NY (April 26, 2004) -- A new screening technology that could detect lung cancer much earlier than ever before was funded today through matching grants of $1.8 million respectively from the American Legacy Foundation and the UK's Medicsight Foundation. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, an international leader in CT screening for lung cancer detection, will conduct the research.The donation will support a 4,000-patient study whose goal is to demonstrate that CT screening for lung cancer can be effectively linked to smoking-cessation programs to enhance the motivation for people to stop smoking. The study, which will begin in June, will use unique advanced image analysis software.

For first time, genome of water-contaminating parasite, cryptosporidium, is sequenced
New York, NY (March 26, 2004) -- For the first time a team of researchers -- led by the University of Minnesota and Weill Cornell Medical College -- has determined the complete genome sequence of Cryptosporidium, a common diarrhea-causing parasite that can lurk in drinking water. The finding has been published in the March 25 issue of the electronic journal Science Express, to be followed by publication in April in the print version of Science."Cryptosporidiosis is a hard-to-treat condition, largely because we lack a basic understanding of the genetic make-up of the organism," said Dr. Mitchell Abrahamsen, principal investigator, faculty of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Genomics Center, where the genome sequencing was carried out.

Weill Cornell researchers solve 30-year puzzle of nerve cell function
New York, NY (March 26, 2004) -- Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have shed light on the function of the synapse -- the gap between nerve cells where information is passed from one cell to the next -- and solved a 30-year puzzle on how exactly nerve cells transmit signals.The finding may one day help determine what goes wrong in ailments like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, said Dr. Timothy Ryan, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City.

Combination of two common heart tests is strong predictor of death in patients
New York, NY (March 24, 2004) -- Two heart tests are better than one when it comes to predicting the risk of dying of cardiovascular disease or any cause, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers report in the April issue of the journal Hypertension.Those patients with an ECG finding of ST depression -- a possible sign of heart disease -- and an echocardiogram that showed an enlarged left ventricle were more likely to die during the study than those with normal test results. When the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, enlarges and thickens, it could be a sign the heart is struggling to pump efficiently.

New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell researchers discover growth factor combo that protects heart after attack
New York, NY (March 23, 2004) -- Injecting a combination of growth factors can protect the heart during a heart attack, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center researchers report in this month's issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.The finding, in an animal model, may one day help keep heart cell damage to a minimum after a heart attack.

Physician-scientists obtain embryo after breast cancer patient's ovarian tissue is frozen, stored for six years, then reimplanted under abdominal skin
New York, NY (March 3, 2004) -- For the first time, physician-scientists at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CRMI) of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have taken a breast cancer patient's ovarian tissue that was frozen for six years, reimplanted it under her abdominal skin, and obtained an embryo from eggs collected from the tissue.The unique achievement raises the possibility that women or girls who are about to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, or other ovary-damaging treatments can have their ovaries removed, frozen, and possibly used to restore fertility or reverse menopause at a later date. Some treatments used for cancer and other health conditions can destroy any chance of future pregnancy and create premature menopause in women.

Weill Cornell receives $950,000 grant for study of mantle cell lymphoma treatment
New York, NY (February 27, 2004) -- A $950,000 grant to fund the study of a new treatment approach for mantle cell lymphoma was recently awarded to Weill Cornell Medical College by the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF). Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer. Mantle cell lymphoma is a less common but particularly aggressive form of the disease.The Weill Cornell grant is part of $12.8 million in new LRF grants that will fund research into finding a cure for mantle cell lymphoma. Weill Cornell Medical College received the largest of 18 grants disbursed worldwide.

Weill Cornell researchers discover key triggers in nerve cell damage
New York, NY (February 25, 2004) -- Within minutes of a stroke or other brain injury, neurons begin to die, a process that is followed by a cascade of further cell death, due in part to proteins released from injured cells. These proteins tell surrounding, healthy cells to die, a process termed apoptosis. These events occur over several days and may be more devastating than the original injury.Now, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers, working together with a team of researchers from Europe, have shed light on the proteins in healthy neurons that receive the apoptotic messages. In a study published in the journal Nature, they report the discovery that Sortilin, a protein whose function has been incompletely understood, plays a key role in conveying the message of apoptosis. Sortilin is a cell surface receptor, a protein that receives signals from outside the cell to modify the cell's behavior.

Using a three-dimensional virtual world to cure patient's fears
New York, NY (February 25, 2004) -- Dr. JoAnn Difede, a psychologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and an expert in the treatment of trauma, is using virtual reality exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of the WTC attacks, as well as to treat a number of phobias in the general public such as fear of heights, fear of flying, and fear of public speaking. This was the first clinical program in the Northeast to use virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And, it is one of the few VR treatment facilities in the nation.The PTSD system, which depicts the WTC on September 11, was co-developed by Dr. Difede and Dr. Hunter Hoffman, a researcher at the University of Washington.

Vasectomy reversal highly effective, even after 15 years
New York, NY (February 19, 2004) -- Debunking a popular myth about vasectomy, a new study by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center finds that vasectomy reversal is highly effective, even 15 years or more after the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm, is blocked. The study, published in the January Journal of Urology, documents the highest pregnancy rates following vasectomy of any study to date.Whether a man had a vasectomy this year or 15 years ago, there was no difference in the pregnancy rate achieved following a vasectomy reversal, with an average 84-percent likelihood of pregnancy over two years, the study finds. (Comparatively, healthy men without vasectomy can expect a pregnancy rate of 90 percent.) Previous studies have demonstrated pregnancy rates following vasectomy reversal of only 50-60 percent, a difference that can be attributed to advances in vasectomy-reversal techniques. The study also finds that at intervals of greater than 15 years, the pregnancy rate dropped to 44 percent.

"Camera pill" may be useful in diagnosing conditions in the esophagus
New York, NY (February 11, 2004) -- Capsule endoscopy, the "camera pill" device already shown to be effective in diagnosing conditions of the small intestine, may now be an effective non-invasive alternative for diagnosing conditions of the esophagus such as Barrett's esophagus, a common result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The paper, authored by Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, a gastroenterologist at the Jay Monahan center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, was recently presented at the meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Growth factor boosts heart cell production in damaged hearts
New York, NY (February 12, 2004) -- Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have discovered that injecting a growth factor called PDGF-AB along with bone marrow cells into the heart can cause new heart cells to grow in scar tissue. The research, conducted in an animal model, has just been published in the "Online First" section of Circulation Research (March 19 print and online issue).The finding may one day lead to better treatments for heart attack, which can cause portions of the heart to die and form scar tissue. Many researchers are trying to use stem cells -- which are immature cells found in bone marrow -- to replace cells that are dead or damaged after a heart attack.

Electrocardiogram abnormalities could be potentially deadly sign for diabetics
New York, NY (February 9, 2004) -- Diabetics who have certain abnormalities on an electrocardiogram (ECG) -- a measure of the heart's electrical activity -- are much more likely to die in a five-year period than their peers who have normal ECG results, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center physician-scientists report in the February issue of the journal Diabetes.Electrocardiograms, which are performed by attaching electrodes to the chest, are one of the easiest and most common heart tests given to patients.

Weill Cornell cardiology division named for benefactors Maurice R. And Corinne P. Greenberg
New York, NY (February 3, 2004) -- the Division of Cardiology at Weill Cornell medical college has been named for Maurice R. And Corinne P. Greenberg, generous and longtime benefactors of the medical college and newyork-presbyterian hospital in many areas, including cardiovascular research and patient care. The new name -- the Maurice R. and Corinne P. Greenberg Division of Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medical College -- became effective on December 1, 2003. The official dedication ceremony took place on February 2."The Greenberg family and the Starr Foundation have continually demonstrated their steadfast leadership in support of cardiology," said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. "Without their forward-thinking and generosity, the scope and success of our cardiology program would not have been possible."

Weill Medical College receives $500,000 Bristol-Myers Squibb freedom to discover grant
NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 30, 2004 -- Bristol-Myers Squibb has awarded a five-year $500,000 'Freedom to Discover' Unrestricted Infectious Diseases Research Grant to Weill Medical College of Cornell University for HIV/AIDS research focusing on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins and their functions during virus entry. John P. Moore, Ph.D., will supervise and serve as principal investigator of the grant. Dr. Moore is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City.Richard Colonno, Ph.D., vice president of Infectious Diseases Drug Discovery at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Wallingford, Connecticut, presented a commemorative plaque and a symbolic check for $500,000 to Dr. Moore at a reception on January 30 at Weill Cornell Medical College. Guests included Weill Cornell leadership, faculty and staff of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Bristol-Myers Squibb executives.

First successful embryo biopsy for deadly genetic cancer -- retinoblastoma
New York, NY (January 28, 2004) -- In a significant scientific achievement, physicians and scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have successfully employed preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for retinoblastoma, resulting in the world's first babies born free of the deadly eye cancer. The news appears in this month's issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or embryo biopsy, is a diagnostic technique used with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to determine the genetic status of embryos before implantation. The technique allows parents to know with reasonable certainty that their child will be normal before the mother is even carrying the child. Moreover, PGD can virtually eliminate the risk of passing on a genetic trait from parent to offspring, and forever end a family's history of dealing with a deadly disease.

Weill Cornell grant for meditation-based stress reduction for women cancer patients
New York, NY (January 22, 2003) -- Weill Cornell Medical College has received a $250,000 grant from the Avon Foundation to support a unique new meditation-based stress reduction program for women who have been treated for breast cancer or gynecologic cancer. The program, which takes place at Weill Cornell's Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CCIM), is designed and led by Dr. Joseph Loizzo, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and Assistant Attending Psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell.Dr. Loizzo, who founded the Center for Meditation and Healing in Manhattan, developed this health educational program based on his 30-year study of Indo-Tibetan traditions. He has both an M.D. from New York University and a Ph.D. in Indo-Tibetan studies from Columbia University. Dr. Loizzo works closely with CCIM.

Weill Cornell researchers discover secret for recalling stem cells
New York, NY (January 21, 2003) -- While "location, location, location" has long been the mantra in real estate, it may soon become the buzzword of stem cell scientists everywhere. Weill Cornell researchers have discovered that bone marrow stem and progenitor cells -- immature cells that can give rise to all the cells of the blood and immune system -- must move to a specific location within the marrow to mature into blood cells that keep the body humming.These immature cells get their instructions on how to grow and differentiate when they move into a blood-vessel enriched zone of the bone marrow known as the vascular niche. This movement, orchestrated by "motility factors" called chemokines, allows stem cells to differentiate into blood-clotting platelets and other blood cells.

Combination therapy significantly delays progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia
New York, NY (January 5, 2004) -- For men who suffer from enlargement of the prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), combining two classes of drugs reduces the risk of significant worsening of symptoms and other BPH complications by 66 percent, according to a multi-center study authored by a physician-scientist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. The study results, published in the December 18 New England Journal of Medicine, may affect treatment for men with BPH -- including half of all men 60 and older in the United States.--The five-year study provides the first scientific evidence that combining alpha-blocking doxazosin with the drug finasteride is significantly more effective than using either treatment alone. The clinical trial involved more than 3,000 men and 20 major medical centers across the United States and is the largest study of its kind ever conducted.

Early treatment of blinding eye disease in infants can prevent severe vision loss
New York, NY -- Two physician-scientists from New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College were co-authors of a new study which demonstrates that earlier laser treatment for certain premature infants resulted in an overall better vision outcome. Results of the multi-center clinical trial, sponsored by the national eye institute (nei), a part of the national institutes of health (NIH), and published in the December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, give physicians new, improved treatment options for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a blinding disease that affects premature, low-birth-weight infants and is a leading cause of vision loss in children. (January 5, 2004)