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Broadcast Schedule
Upcoming broadcasts on WKNO, Public Television for the Mid-South (Memphis, Tenn.)
June
2010 Dates for Smart Medicine episodes:
WKNO, Channel 10 and WKNO-HD (Digital Ch. 10-1)
6/24 at 8 p.m.
6/25 at 1 a.m.
6/26 at 2:30 p.m.
6/27 at noon
WKNO2 (Digital Ch. 10-2)
6/26 at 6:30 p.m.
6/26 at 9:30 p.m.
6/27 at 2:30 p.m.
7/3 at 6:30 p.m.
Baptist is the underwriting sponsor of a monthly health newsmagazine show called Smart Medicine, which is broadcast on WKNO-TV Channel 10. Hosted by news anchor Joe Birch, the news program features various Mid-South medical and health experts discussing the latest health news and services available in the area.
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MEDICAL HEADLINES
June 2010 Medical Headlines
 Grow or Go! - Making cancer tumors easier targets for treatment, researchers say they have found a kind of “switch” in brain tumor cells. It’s a molecule that looks for nutrients to feed the tumor. Researchers call it the “grow or go” switch. Here’s why: if a brain tumor has enough nutrients, it stays where it is and grows. If not, cells may leave the tumor, get into the blood stream and spread to other parts of the brain. Movement makes treatment more difficult. In lab work, scientists have found a way to flip that “switch” and trick the tumor into staying put. Once they develop a way to do that inside the brain, they believe they will have a better chance of treating the tumor with surgery and radiation.
Practice sun safety - If you are thinking about heading to the shore for vacation, think twice before spending a lot of time in the sun. Doctors are warning that the number of people diagnosed with melanoma – a potentially deadly type of skin cancer – has shot up more than 40 percent in the last decade, and a growing number of those cases are children. Melanoma is now blamed for about one out of 10 cancer cases in children between the ages of 15 and 19. Medical experts point to tanning beds and exposure to the sun as the major causes in the jump in skin cancer cases. So, if you are thinking about going to the beach to enjoy your time off, remember that being around water can make ultraviolet rays more intense. Using sunscreen helps, but it’s important to make sure you reapply sunscreen often.
Stress for caregivers - Who takes care of the people who take care of us? National studies show that 40 percent of nurses and surgeons admit to burnout. Long hours and heavy patient load can cause stress that could affect patient care. Hospitals are experimenting with ways to cut stress for caregivers, and one program is being touted as a national model. It’s called the Star Program, which stands for stress, trauma and resilience. The first of its kind, it offers health care providers everything from tips on how to reduce stress to crisis management to one-on-one peer counseling. Researchers are following the program now, trying to determine which mental health services work best and which should be recommended to other hospitals.
April and May 2010 Medical Headlines
Test your brain! - Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease costs nearly $175 billion a year, but a new approach in early detection only costs pennies. Researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center developed a simple test to evaluate every part of a patient’s brain, from language to memory to problem solving. Doctors say many patients aren’t diagnosed until years after their symptoms appear, and by then, many have lost valuable treatment time and valuable memories. Experts say the test can help diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier and can better identify who needs expensive MRIs and spinal taps, saving billions of dollars and sparing many patients from unnecessary testing.
Physicians not biased - Do physicians and other health care professionals show a bias to overweight and obese patients? A new study says, “No!” The results, published in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association, indicate that – even though many patients dealing with weight issues feel they are being discriminated against by doctors – they are actually receiving just as good or slightly better care than normal-weight patients. Researchers took into account such procedures as blood sugar testing, cholesterol checks and many others, and they say these findings may help to understand why the risk of death associated with obesity is not as high as it used to be.
New character on PBS show, “Arthur”
- “Arthur,” a PBS children’s show, kicked off its 13th season with a new character aimed at teaching children about a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. The autistic character, Carl, sees the world a bit differently than others, but, despite their differences, the other children become close friends with him. The story is followed by a live-action segment featuring kids with Asperger’s syndrome and autism. You can catch the episodes with Carl at pbskids.org, and the latest episodes will air on WKNO.
February 2010 Medical Headlines
Fish Findings - Want to live longer? Try the fish! Researchers have long stated that diets rich in fish oil, found in salmon and tuna, can help people with heart disease live longer. Now, in a study appearing in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association, the reason becomes a little clearer. Results of the study show that high levels of omega-3 fish oil in the blood are beneficial in maintaining areas of the chromosomes called telomeres. Telomeres protect valuable genetic material and are markers for biological aging. Over time, they can become damaged and shorten because of inflammation, smoking, obesity or lack of exercise. Researchers say the study results underscore the American Heart Association recommendations that coronary artery disease patients should consume at least one gram of omega-3 fish oils daily.
Soy Bread - Soy beans are used to make everything from milk to garden burgers. Now, they may be part of the recipe to help fight cancer! When lab tests first showed that the chemicals in soy could help cut the size of prostate tumors by as much as 40 percent, scientists wondered how effective soy could be in humans. To find out, researchers have developed loaves of bread... with loads of soy – and tests are now under way to see how effective it can be. If the bread proves to be effective, you may see it on store shelves in the next couple of years.
BOTOX® Treatment for Cerebral Palsy Symptoms - A report published by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society suggests injections of botulinum toxin type A – also known as the cosmetic medicine BOTOX® – can be an effective treatment for spasticity and muscle tightness in children and teens with cerebral palsy... thereby improving a child’s capabilities. The new guidelines say small doses of BOTOX® are generally safe, but do pose some risk of generalized weakness following treatment. Further research will need to be completed to find safer and more effective medications.
January 2010 Medical Headlines
Comfort for clusters - Ask people who suffer from this debilitating condition... and they’ll tell you – the pain can be more excruciating than just about anything. Now, a new study – reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association – shows that breathing pure oxygen can help to quickly and effectively relieve this intense pain. Researchers also found that not only does the oxygen help stop the pain of an attack — it can also turn off other symptoms, including eye watering, swelling and redness.
No go on ginkgo - Also in the latest JAMA report – bad news for those hoping the herbal remedy, ginkgo biloba, could help slow down and even improve cognitive functions, like memory and thinking in the elderly. Researchers evaluated more than three thousand adults aged 72 to 96. Half of the participants were given ginkgo biloba supplements twice daily…the other half were given a placebo. At the end of the eight-year study, doctors found no evidence that ginkgo made a difference in whether someone’s slow change in memory function, as a function of normal aging, was affected at all by the medication.
Simply healthy - And... want to lead a healthy life? Work hard, stay active and don’t drink or smoke. That advice may seem over-simplified, but now there’s living proof to back it up! Doctors recently tested a theory that because diseases like cancer can run in families... then they must be common among close-knit families, such as the Amish. Guess what? Not only isn’t there an increased risk of cancer among the simple-living folk... there’s a decreased risk! Overall cancer rates among the Amish are 40 percent lower than in the rest of us... because alcohol and tobacco use are rare in Amish communities. Researchers also found low skin cancer rates because the Amish tend to wear long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats. They also noticed other health benefits resulting from the Amish lifestyle, which includes having few sexual partners, engaging in tough, physical work, and eating homegrown, organic foods.
November 2009 Medical Headlines
Peanut Possibilities - Promising news for children who have peanut allergies: doctors from Duke University Medical Center have partnered with a team from Arkansas Children’s Hospital in order to test long-term tolerance levels in children. Researchers began enrolling patients in studies five years ago to determine if incremental doses of peanut protein could change how the body’s immune system responds to its presence. The dosage started at one one-thousandth of a peanut. Now, several years out, some of the kids are up to the equivalent of 15 peanuts a day, and some are off treatment altogether and continue to eat peanuts. While the findings are encouraging, doctors caution that they are still in the testing phase for long-term effects, and note that parents should not try a variation of this test at home.
Take a Shot! - Should a child already battling a chronic condition get in line for an H1N1 vaccination? Because children are at increased risk to get the flu, vaccination is highly recommended. But it’s estimated that some five million kids are on immunosuppressant drugs for everything from asthma to AIDS, from cancer to Crohn’s disease. And that can be confusing for parents of those children who are trying to determine the effect of the vaccine. The experts say, ‘get it,’ but with conditions. Children on these medications should get a flu shot – right in the arm – and not the flu mist. The mist is actually made from a live virus and kids on immunosuppressants should not take it because their immune system is already down. Doctors say even though these children might not respond fully to the H1N1 vaccine, some protection is better than none.
October 2009 Medical Headlines
Migraines - It’s estimated that more than 20 million kids suffer from migraines or painful tension headaches. And when they go back to school, the numbers go up. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital say a lack of sleep can contribute. Switching from summer schedules to school hours can be tough. And using caffeine or too much headache medication to compensate can make things worse. Experts say parents need to do some homework before writing off a child’s excuse. If the complaints are often or he or she begins to miss out on fun activities because of a headache – pay attention. And if the headache seems to come from the back of the head or neck, you might want to call a doctor.
ADHD - New insight into the underlying cause of attention deficit – hyperactivity disorder research shows the classic symptoms of impulsivity and inattention could be caused by a disruption in the transmission of dopamine – a chemical in the brain that helps cells to communicate. In a study featured this week in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers theorize that disruption is to blame for the struggle many patients have completing tasks when there is no immediate reward on the horizon. Doctors say the study reinforces the need to create ways to make school and work tasks seem more rewarding to patients with ADHD…and that could result in improved performances.
RENEW: Healthy Lifestyle Solutions - Obesity…many physicians call it an epidemic in this country…and it can lead to diabetes, heart disease and premature death. That’s why health care workers at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women have developed a unique solution. It’s a fitness program called, “RENEW: Healthy Lifestyle Solutions”. RENEW is a 12-week program that helps patients who are 50 pounds or more overweight deal with the interpersonal, emotional and lifestyle issues that often result in obesity. The RENEW program helps participants with these and other issues through weekly sessions. Other issues addressed include goal-setting, nutrition, increasing physical activity, conflict resolution, developing a support network and relapse prevention. The next class starts soon! For more information on registration, call Gayle Callicut at 901-227-9133. Sign up and get ready for a RENEW you!
September 2009 Medical Headlines
Altering genes…and jeans? - Imagine never having to diet again! Scientists at Ohio State University Medical Center say they may have developed a way to help control weight by injecting genes from lab mice directly into the brain. When the gene – known as BDNF – is triggered, it helps control not only how much the animals eat, but how efficiently they burn calories.
9/11 effects - New information on the long-lasting mental and physical fallout from 9/11. Soon after the tragedy in New York City, the World Trade Center Health Registry was created to track the physical and mental health of the estimated 400,000 people who were directly exposed to the attack and the aftermath. More than 71,000 eligible people were enrolled and the latest study regarding asthma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. More than 10% of respondents reported a new asthma diagnosis and that the rate of PTSD symptoms has risen to more than 19% compared to 14% several years earlier. Researchers say these findings reinforce the need for ongoing health care following disasters.
Troop support - Call it "giving back" to those who’ve experienced loss in service to their country. Veterans Administration researchers are using cutting-edge technology to design and build lighter, more functional prosthetics that look, feel and respond more like real arms and legs for those who’ve lost limbs from combat trauma or because of complications such as diabetes. Using state-of-the-art advances in the fields of robotics tissue engineering and nanotechnology, scientists are studying how to best match available prosthetic components to the needs of the patients. And this help doesn’t stop with limbs; prosthetics also include wigs, eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, GPS devices to help individuals with brain injuries to become mobile and adaptive equipment for cars and homes. Everything necessary to help veterans regain their mobility and independence.
June 2009 Medical Headlines
NURSING CAREERS - The brutal economy has caused the loss of millions of American jobs, but one profession seems to be immune. U.S. News and World Report has named nursing as one of the "best careers for 2009." Registered nurses make up the largest health care occupation, with two and a half million jobs and thousands of additional job openings expected. With factors such as an increase in the age of our overall population, more Americans living with chronic illnesses and a shortage of people entering the profession, experts predict nursing needs will generate more than a half a million job opportunities through 2016!
TV SAFETY - How stable is the television you’re watching right now? A new study published for the journal "Clinical Pediatrics" says tipping TVs are part of a growing threat to children. Researchers found between 1990 and 2007, more than 300 children were killed by falling furniture – mostly TVs, which are often front-heavy. Experts offer these suggestions to help protect your kids: Secure larger pieces of furniture to the wall with straps or brackets; never put attractive items such as a toy or a remote control on top of a television and keep in mind that while newer flat screen TVs are lighter than older models, they're no less dangerous. Many flat screens are still very heavy to young children and have very sharp edges.
CARDIAC SCREENINGS FOR ATHLETES - A high school athlete dies every three days from sudden cardiac disease. That's why the Heartfelt Cardiac Project and National Cheer Safety Foundation are hosting a heart screening event for student athletes 18 and younger on Saturday, August 8. They will offer echocardiograms and EKGs, which can help identify pre-existing heart conditions that could affect kids while they’re playing sports. Anyone interested can call 1-800-596-7860 to make an appointment. For more information about student athletes and heart health, visit heartfeltcardiacprojects.org or nationalcheersafety.com.
April 2009 Medical Headlines
KIDNEY CARE - Women who drink two or more cans of soda per day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of kidney disease. That's the result of a recent study published in Plos-One, a peer-reviewed journal of science and medical research published by the Public Library of Science. Doctors examined nearly 9,400 adults and found women who reported drinking two or more sodas in the previous 24 hours were more likely to have an excess amount of a protein called albumin in their urine. That's a red flag for early kidney damage. Researchers concluded that additional studies are needed to determine whether the elevated risk of kidney disease is due to high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup, an overall excess intake of sugar, lifestyle factors or other causes. Interestingly enough the study did not show an elevated risk in men, or for people who drink diet soda.
SHOW ME THE MONEY - Are teens who want to make a fast buck prone to peer pressure and smoking? That's what researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital are gathering from a recent study called "The Money Test." Here's how it works. Participants are given a series of choices that result in getting various amounts of money. Choose to take the money immediately, and you’ll get less. Delay the payment and the amount increases. The choice says a lot about personality. Those who settle for less are more likely to be impulsive, tend to look for instant gratification and are more likely to smoke. Experts will use this information to develop anti-smoking programs that address the immediate issues that arise from smoking…as opposed to the long-term effects.
FISH FINDING - Goldfish may someday help more than a million people see better at night! Doctors say there are two kinds of cells in our eyes – rods and cones. Cones help us see in bright light – rods help us see in the dark. For those with night blindness, the rod cells die off, often followed a few years later by the cone cells. Now, a team of scientists has injected glowing – or tracer - molecules into cone cells in the retinas of goldfish. During the day, the tracer stayed in the cone cells. But at night, the tracer went into more than a thousand rods! That means for the first time, researchers have determined that rods and cones work together in the dark. Since the eyes of goldfish are so similar to ours, it could someday mean new treatment – and a whole new world of activities for patients with night blindness.
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