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Category: Health

The Journal Times Online

Racine Journal Times

Kevin Granger sees a challenge not only from the Lou Gehrig’s disease that is slowly eroding his muscular control, but also from his government.

Like some of the people at a recent benefit for him, he questions why the United States government is not solidly behind embryonic stem cell research because of the hope it offers to people like himself.

Primate Center accepts contract

Badger Herald

Researchers from University of Wisconsin�s National Primate Research Center have received a $6.5 million contract from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases to characterize primate genes.

Stem cell technology too valuable to be tampered with

Badger Herald

Some six years ago, a bright scientist at the University of Wisconsin introduced his work to the public through the prestigious journal Science. He reported the first case of isolating human embryonic stem cells. The ground breaking announcement made the scientific, and particularly the medical community, sit up and take notice; the possibilities appeared astonishing.

Stem cell research hits home — Paralyzed Stettin man looks ahead to promising developments

Wausau Daily Herald

Years or decades from now Wayne Geurink, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down in a car crash, might benefit from the work of pioneering stem cell researchers like professor Ian Duncan of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. On Tuesday night, Geurink, of the town of Stettin, had to settle for a front row seat in the theater at the University of Wisconsin Marathon County as Duncan talked about the reality versus the promise of stem cell research. But for Geurink, the potential benefits are what make stem cell research so important.

TV anchor Wild to take a new job

Wisconsin State Journal

One of Madison’s most popular television news anchors, WISC-TV’s (Ch. 3) Carleen Wild, will leave the station in early December to work as UW Foundation’s director of development for the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Fears linger over deadly flu gene

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It doesn’t take much to turn a mild strain of flu deadly, according to a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his international team of researchers. Indeed, it appears it took just one gene to make the 1918 Spanish influenza virus into one of the most lethal and pernicious pandemics in history.

UW Hospital Closes ALS Lab

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — About 100 ALS patients and supporters rallied outside the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison Wednesday, saying they are confused and frustrated after a research lab shut down.

‘Smart’ IV pumps can spot human errors

Wisconsin State Journal

The pumps that deliver fluids and drugs intravenously to patients at UW Hospital have minds of their own. A computer drug library programmed into these new “smart” IV pumps can give nurses a warning before they make what could be a fatal typo, administering too much or too little of a drug.

UW creates master’s program in occupational therapy

Daily Cardinal

Growing education requirements in medical fields have pushed UW-Madison to form a new master’s degree program in occupational therapy.

After two years of planning and the development of a new curriculum and course sequence, the university will enroll a maximum of 25 students into the program which begins next summer.

UW prioritizes nursing, biotech

Daily Cardinal

Despite a limited budget and faculty, UW-Madison is taking steps to increase the number of graduates in the nursing and biotechnology fields.

In 2004, the School of Nursing increased the enrollment of undergraduate students from 100 to 130 while the biotechnology program graduated its first 10 students with master’s degrees in May, a number which the university hopes to double by 2005.

Newest treatment for cancer reduces radiation damage (AP)

Tomotherapy uses CT-scan technology to better target tumors and lower the amount of radiation received by healthy tissue. CT scanners obtain their images using the same X-ray radiation used in radiation therapy.

The device, developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and first used there clinically last year, is essentially an X-ray scanner on a circular track.

A probe-free colonoscopy?

USA Today

New studies about ââ?¬Å?virtualââ?¬Â colonoscopy suggest that the colon cancer screening technique, though not ready to replace the gold-standard conventional procedures, might someday be an effective alternative.
Cited: Perry Pickhardt, a University of Wisconsin Medical School radiologist.

Cultural bias can create unhealthy barriers

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

About 10 years ago, Gloria Johnson-Powell’s nephew landed in an emergency room in Boston after fainting on the middle school football field at his first practice

Four days and five doctor visits later, he was dead.

The 13-year-old died of drug toxicity from seizure medication, which he didn’t need, that tends to cause problems in black males. But the University of Wisconsin-Madison physician says the real problem was cultural incompetence.

Doug Moe: Filmmaker works on drug bust

Capital Times

FOR A DECADE after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991 with a degree in political science, Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau made an excellent living selling drugs. Not, mind you, on a city street corner after dark. Slattery-Moschkau worked for a pharmaceutical company that paid her to fly around the country and persuade doctors to prescribe their drugs.

Mike Lucas: Diagnosis devastating for UW’s Smith

Capital Times

If asked, Latrell Fleming would love to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Dwayne Smith. Thursday night, Fleming explained why. “I can offer him some positive advice because I’ve been through it, and I know how hard it’s going to be for him,”….

Health care costs vs. business health

Capital Times

Local business leaders, including some who questioned the need for universal health care coverage less than a decade ago, say they need help from the federal government to cope with skyrocketing health care costs. (Chancellor John Wiley is quoted in this story.)

Stem cells in center of campaign

Los Angeles Times

The one-time “sleeper issue” of stem cell research leapt squarely into the center of the presidential race Monday….(L.A. Times article from 8/10/04 Capital Times print edition)

Nursing school can’t fill need

Capital Times

Malika McCormick figured she’d have no problem getting into nursing school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Midway through her undergraduate education at UW-Madison, McCormick had good grades, prerequisite course credits and plenty of excitement for nursing as a career.

Study says medical mistakes are U.S.’s third-biggest killer

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The number of hospital patients who die from preventable errors may be twice as high as previously estimated and shows no sign of decreasing, according to a new national review of Medicare records by a Denver-based health care ranking group. The findings would make medical mistakes the third-leading cause of death in the country, behind heart disease and cancer.

State Will Not Settle Alleged Drug Case

Wisconsin State Journal

State medical regulators Wednesday refused to settle a case against a former UW Health physician for allegedly over-prescribing painkillers including morphine and Oxycontin to a woman in his private practice three years ago.