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UC San Diego Health System Nov 2017
Focus on Health
 
 
  Erinn Hoyt

Just Keep Swimming: From Double Lung Transplant to Medal Winner

Erinn Hoyt was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disease that produces a chronic, severe cough. So it was ironic that her passion became swimming. But, as she grew up, her health worsened and soon after beginning college doctors told Erinn she needed a double lung transplant. Five months after the transplant, Erinn was back in the pool and then off to Spain to compete in the World Transplant Games Federation, winning five silver and two bronze medals.

 
 
 
needle in arm

At the Front Lines of San Diego’s Hepatitis A Outbreak

UC San Diego Health staff are at the forefront of San Diego’s hepatitis A outbreak — treating patients and vaccinating and distributing hygiene kits to those at high risk. “Part of being a nurse is understanding your patients' challenges when they leave, and in recent months, hepatitis A has become one of those issues,” said nurse manager Danisha Jenkins.

 
pouring liquid

"Natural" Hormone Therapies Aren’t What Many Women Think

Millions of women use compounded bioidentical hormone therapies (cBHTs) to reduce hot flashes and other postmenopausal symptoms. These made-to-order formulations are legal and prescribed by doctors but they are not FDA-approved. Endocrinologist Cynthia Stuenkel, MD, calls for more transparency and education regarding cBHTs and their potential side effects.

 
 
 
Listicle

Mary Poppins was an Enabler
Oh sure, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but these days we spoon so many spoonfuls of sugar minus the medicine down our gullets that millions of Americans require medicine to deal with their excessive sugar consumption. This is National Diabetes Month.

 
Question & Answer

Taking NOTES
Surgeons at UC San Diego Health are looking for ways to take the cutting edge out of surgery by making operations incision-less. The trick is to operate through natural body openings, such as the mouth. Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery, talks about a decade’s worth of pioneering surgeries.

 
The Body Gaudy

Tumbleweeds on My Mind
At first glance, the image above evokes notions of a desert studded by desiccated scrub. In fact, it’s a colorized scanning electron micrograph of the interior surface of a brain ventricle, part of a network of cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. Those scrubby objects are bundles of cilia, tiny hair-like projections that help circulate CSF through the ventricles.

 
 
 
By the Numb3rs   It’s claimed Americans gain 5 pounds or more over the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, but there’s scientific evidence that for most people, the number isn’t quite so weighty: just over 1 pound. But don’t grab for seconds just yet. The same research reports we don’t lose the added pounds either (so much for resolutions), which helps explain why the average American puts on 1 to 2 pounds per year from early adulthood through middle age. According to the CDC, the average male in his 20s weighs around 185 pounds, but by his 30s, he's closer to 200 pounds. The average female’s weight goes from about 162 to 170 pounds over the same period.
 
 
 
Moving Pictures

Powered by Chemo

Despite a diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer and ongoing chemotherapy, Mike Levine participated in one of the most grueling of physical competitions: the Ironman World Championship. When Mike's cancer spread to his lungs, he began end-of-life planning. But a second opinion at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health gave him a chance to compete in the sport he loves.

 
Best Advice

How to Stop the Bleed

A person can die from blood loss within five minutes. It's often the nearest bystander who has the best chance of saving that person's life. "Stop the Bleed" is a national awareness campaign to train and equip bystanders to respond before professional help arrives. Trauma surgeon Jay Doucet, MD, demonstrates how best to "stop the bleed" in three different scenarios.

 
 
 

Over the Counter

Moisturizing Advice
These are drying times, which typically means visiting your local pharmacy or drug store for something to help ease these symptoms. But what should you look for when there are hundreds of options available? Understanding skin care products, their ingredients and how they work is essential in selecting the best choice.

 

Research roundup

A lengthy study shows implanted neural stem cells continue to grow and mature in spinal cord injuries; Zika virus targets and kills brain cancer cells; ancient sugars may help trace human evolution; a new scale to measure wisdom; detecting liver cancer with liquid biopsies; and common acid reflux drugs linked to chronic liver disease.

 

N Equals One Podcast

Turning a Phage
Tom Patterson was vacationing in Egypt in 2015 when he contracted a life-threatening, multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. He was transported to UC San Diego Health, where he was treated with an experimental cocktail of phages — viruses that kill bacteria — and emerged from a months-long coma.

 
 
 
Clinical Trials

New procedure done in addition to catheter ablation for Afib patients

Studying the Effectiveness of Non-Invasive Glucose Sensors in Diabetes Patients

Personalized Cancer Therapy to Determine Response and Toxicity

Ovarian Reserve Testing in Young Female Cancer Survivors

Alternative Treatments for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Independent Walking for Brain Health

View additional trials, both at UC San Diego and across the nation.

  Corner Clinic: Answers from Our Experts

Corner Clinic
L-R: Sonya Ahmed, MD, orthopedic surgeon, David Granet, MD, ophthalmologist, Shiley Eye Institute, Richard Clark, MD,emergency physician.

1. What is the best type of shoe for the casual runner?
2. Why does my child’s eye wander in a different direction?
3. What is the difference between food poisoning and the flu?

Recipe

A Minding of the Meats

The season of feasting is headed our way and many of us will face an important decision: turkey, beef or ham? Here, we offer a breakdown on the nutritional values of your favorite holiday meat and offer some recipe ideas for entertaining and staying healthy during the holiday season.

 
 
 
 
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