Media Coverage
The work done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members (and even some students) is regularly highlighted in newspapers, online media outlets and more. Below you’ll find links to articles and videos of Feinberg in the news.
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San Francisco Chronicle
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Doctors prescribe antibiotics without need nearly half the time, study finds
“I’m at a level of very concerned,” said Dr. Jeffrey Linder, lead author of the study and chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He presented early results from his work at the IDWeek conference at Moscone Center. That antibiotics are often inappropriately prescribed is not new information. But the Northwestern study is among the first to carefully describe prescribing behaviors in outpatient settings, which are the source of roughly 80 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the past has estimated that a third of outpatient prescriptions are unnecessary.
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WebMD
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Half of Antibiotics Given With No Infection Noted
Researchers found that of more than 500,000 antibiotic prescriptions they analyzed, nearly half were written without an infection-related diagnosis. And about 20 percent were given without an office visit — usually over the phone. It’s not clear how many of those prescriptions were actually inappropriate, said lead researcher Dr. Jeffrey Linder, of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
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Reuters
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Alternative medicine might help ease psoriasis symptoms
When patients do want to explore other options, they should consider the relative risk associated with different types of complementary and alternative medicine, said Dr. Steve Xu of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “With topical and oral complementary and alternative medicines, there is a greater potential for harm for adverse events, lesser clinical evidence for efficacy, and unclear manufacturing processes for ingredient purity and consistency,” Xu, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.
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HealthDay
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AHA: Researchers Suggest New Way to Possibly Eliminate Clogged Arteries
Lipoproteins are tiny, complex particles that transport fat and cholesterol through the blood. “There are a lot of different types of lipoproteins, but the ones that have apolipoprotein B on them are the ones that cause atherosclerosis,” said Dr. John Wilkins, a cardiologist and assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Wilkins, who wasn’t involved in the report, called the proposal a “very compelling idea” that might show whether older adults can avoid heart attacks and strokes by making sure they have low LDL and apo B levels earlier in their lives.
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Chicago Tribune
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As Kavanaugh hearing puts spotlight on teens and alcohol, experts warn: ‘Adolescent drinking is a problem’
In addition to addiction issues, the harmful effects of alcohol on the brain are even stronger for the developing teenage brain, said Amy Herrold, research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “The parts of the brain that are really important for making decisions … are rapidly developing during this time frame,” she said. “That is why it’s so important for adolescents to treat their brain very carefully.”
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Reuters
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Sexual harassment, abuse tied to real health effects
Lori Post, who wasn’t involved in either study, suspects that if the questionnaire had been worded differently, Oertelt-Prigione’s study would have found an even higher prevalence of sexual harassment. “I believe the rate is closer to 100 percent,” said Post, who is director of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “The difference is in how often and how bad it is.” Post also believes Thurston’s harassment numbers might have been higher if the Pittsburgh team had not excluded women with heart disease from the study, since heart disease could be correlated with harassment.
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Reuters
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Southern diet helps explain extra high blood pressure risk for black men
For African-American women in the study, the Southern diet explained 29 percent of their excess risk for high blood pressure. Even though a Southern diet rich in fried foods and saturated fat can indeed contribute to high blood pressure, this isn’t the only factor that matters, stressed Dr. Clyde Yancy, chief of cardiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Obesity, income, education, can also influence blood pressure, and sodium intake matters for women in particular, Yancy, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.
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Crain’s Chicago Business
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Big hospitals pledge to hire, buy local
Together with 10 of Chicago’s largest hospitals, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., yesterday released an action plan to reduce violence and improve health in 18 Chicago neighborhoods by hiring and purchasing local, among other commitments. The Chicago HEAL Initiative (Hospital Engagement, Action and Leadership) is touted as a prevention strategy that recognizes hospitals as large employers and leaders of community initiatives. The 10 hospitals—including University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center—will partner to address a number of targets over the next three years, the plan states.
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Chicago Tribune
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Illinois sees sharp rise in medical cannabis applications as cancer patient requests ‘explode’
Judith Paice, a nurse and research professor who directs the pain program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Lurie Cancer Center, said cannabis can help with many symptoms associated with chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Nausea, for example, is a frequent side effect and one she said many patients use cannabis to combat. It can also ease complications of cancer diagnosis and treatment like sleeplessness and anxiety. She said requests from patients for information and advice have increased since using medical marijuana became legal in Illinois four years ago.
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Chicago Tribune
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No starting-line jitters here. It’s her 102nd marathon — after knee injury and cancer
Her doctor, Northwestern Medicine chief of breast surgery Dr. Nora Hansen, said it was clear from the beginning that running would be part of Drake’s healing. “Running for her is a big part of her life and has been for a long time,” she said. “When she had her cancer diagnosis, the big fear was that she wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.” Hansen said it’s important for patients to retain things they enjoy. Not every patient can or wants to exercise, but she encourages it when they can. “I do think it helps the patient be more centered and really helps them to heal,” she said.
