Latest News
UNC researchers investigate estrogen replacement therapy to prevent depression and cardiovascular disease
The study, which began in August 2010 and will be conducted entirely at UNC, seeks to enroll a total of 320 women ages 45 to 55 who are in the menopause transition. All will be randomized to receive treatment with estradiol (estrogen replacement) skin patches or placebo.
BCBSNC, UNC Health Care Announce Partnership to Launch Novel Patient-Centered Practice
The first-of-its-kind medical practice in North Carolina aims to improve health, increase satisfaction, and reduce health care costs for patients. This venture would be the first product of what Blue Cross and Blue Shield and UNC Health Care expect will be an ongoing collaboration in which they work together to enhance health care quality, improve efficiency and effectiveness, and reduce health care costs.
UNC study provides further insight into racial disparities in breast cancer
The results show that basal-like breast cancer is equally aggressive in African American and white women, and that African American women had worse outcomes no matter what kind of breast cancer they developed.
Rifaximin provides significant relief of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms
Two studies, conducted in part at the UNC School of Medicine, found that the benefits of treatment with rifaximin persisted for 10 weeks after patients stopped taking the broad-spectrum antibiotic.
real doctors, real people - David Tate
Dr. David Tate, a cardiologist at UNC and a musician, has been known to leave his banjo in a patient’s room for ready access during rounds. For Tate, music is one way he can connect with his patients, and allow them to feel more real and more human, despite the needles and wires that connect them to all kinds of mechanical devices.
Duke, UNC study: Light is accurate way to identify pre-cancerous cells in esophagus
A device developed by biomedical engineers at Duke University and successfully tested on patients during a clinical trial led by UNC-Chapel Hill holds the promise of being a less invasive method for testing patients suspected of having Barrett’s esophagus.
Cynthia Powell, MD elected President-Elect of American Board of Medical Genetics
The American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) is one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Dr. Powell will assume the position of President of the Board in 2012.
UNC physicians receive grant to train specialists in geriatric care
This grant will expand geriatrics training to five medical specialties and subspecialties training faculty, residents and fellows through the Alliance for Geriatric Education in Specialties (AGES).
UNC scientists pinpoint link between light signal and circadian rhythms
A new paper by Aziz Sancar, MD, PhD and his colleagues takes an important step in understanding the underlying molecular signals that influence a broad array of biological processes ranging from the sleep-wake cycle to cancer growth and development.
International team including UNC scientist probes DNA function
This is the first-ever integrated analysis of the molecular processes that control genome function in an animal, which has the potential to speed understanding of the molecular processes in human cells.
Tools used to decipher 'histone code' may be faulty
Recent research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found a number of issues with histone antibodies, the main tools used to decipher this code, suggesting they may need more rigorous testing.
The top 10 stories and videos from 2010
As we close out 2010, take a look back at the most popular stories and videos from the past year at UNC Health Care ...
Family House Diaries - Wesley Telsrow: Radiating a Gratitude for Life and Living It
A double-lung transplant gives a 22-year-old cystic fibrosis patient a new lease on life, complete with gratitude. For the first time in his young life, Wesley Telsrow can sleep lying down rather than sitting up and laugh without coughing.
UNC scientists discover potential strategy to improve cancer vaccines
The team found that the absence of the function of a protein called NLRP3 can result in a four-fold increase in a tumor’s response to a therapeutic cancer vaccine. If this finding proves consistent, it may be a key to making cancer vaccines a realistic treatment option.
Should you go gluten-free?
The market for gluten-free food, touted as a cure for all ills, has grown by double digits in the past five years. But are such health claims half-baked? Maya Jerath, MD, PhD, the director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, gives the “dough-down” on the gluten-free diet.
UNC evaluation: N.C. tobacco prevention programs are saving lives and money
The UNC-led evaluation concluded that fewer youths are taking up smoking, more public places have become smoke-free and more adults that smoke are quitting, thanks to tobacco prevention programs funded by the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund.
Empathy for Mr. Grinch?
Dr. Cynthia Bulik reveals that watching the Glee holiday special re-invigorated her "empathy for the Grinch," who may, she suspects, be suffering from depression.
real doctors, real people - Samuel Jones
Dr. Samuel Jones, a surgeon and assistant director of the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals, also trains for and competes in triathlons on the side.
UNC expert: Combining exenatide with insulin may be 'best result ever' for diabetes patients
A new study finds that combining the newer diabetes drug exenatide with insulin provides better blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes than insulin alone and helps promote weight loss.
UNC-led team tests commonly-used antibodies
In a paper published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, UNC's Jason Lieb and colleagues from across the country describe how they tested more than 200 antibodies against 57 histone modifications (or flavors) in three different organisms, using three different tests commonly used in this kind of genetic analysis.