Media Coverage

Searching for reasons African-American men face increased risk of prostate cancer

Not only are African-American men approximately 125 percent more likely than Caucasians to develop prostate cancer, they are also 150 percent more likely to die, especially young men in their 40s, because of a more aggressive form of the malignancy…Early detection holds the most promise to save the lives of African-American men and men of African descent, according to Dr. William J. Catalona, a prostate cancer surgeon who pioneered the development of PSA testing.
But Dr. Catalona is now seeing in his practice at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the teaching hospital for Northwestern University’s School of Medicine, an increasing number of men from all racial backgrounds coming in with more advanced stage prostate cancer.

How Medicare Penalizes Hospitals for Being Too Careful

The puffiness along Carol Ascher’s left leg seemed like normal swelling, probably from the high dose of chemotherapy Dr. Karl Bilimoria had injected the previous day. But it could have been a blood clot. He quickly ordered an ultrasound. “We were just being abundantly cautious,” he said.

Such vigilance is a point of pride at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. But the hospital’s tests have identified so many infections and serious blood clots that the federal government is cutting the institution’s Medicare payments for a year, by about $1.6 million. Nearly half of the nation’s academic medical centers are being punished similarly through one of the federal government’s sternest attempts to promote patient safety.

Surgery directors like flexible schedules for trainees

Anthony Yang, MD, assistant professor of surgery – surgical oncology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and colleagues collected the perceptions of the surgical faculty who oversaw the training programs. Where residents had flexible work hours, program directors said the trainees used the time to finish operations and the stabilize patients. Compared to program directors at hospitals with restricted work hours, those with flexible hours overwhelmingly reported more positive effects on patient safety, uninterrupted patient care and freedom for residents to attend educational

A compelling case for hiring someone on the autism spectrum

Employers are increasingly recognizing the potential of individuals with autism—AT&T, Microsoft and the Israeli Army, to name a few. Several companies recently announced the 5,000 Initiative: Autism in Tech Workforce, a national campaign with the aim of employing 5,000 people on the autism spectrum in technology positions by 2020.

Our research and clinical experience suggest that this may only be the start. Indeed, people with autism have unique qualities, including heightened visual perception skills and attention to detail, that can be of great value to employers, especially in fields where innovation is key.

Study: Brain implant lets paralyzed man regain use of hand

Experts who weren’t involved in the project said the results hold promise. Lee Miller of Northwestern University, who has done similar research in monkeys, called the results “an important step” toward developing a tool for helping patients. He agreed that the forearm electrodes would probably have to be implanted, but he said the current approach is “clearly a good starting point.”

Study: Brain Implant Lets Paralyzed Man Regain Use of Hand

Experts who weren’t involved in the project said the results hold promise. Lee Miller of Northwestern University, who has done similar research in monkeys, called the results “an important step” toward developing a tool for helping patients. He agreed that the forearm electrodes would probably have to be implanted, but he said the current approach is “clearly a good starting point.”

Study: Brain implant lets paralyzed man regain use of hand

Lee Miller of Northwestern University, who has done similar research in monkeys, called the results “an important step” toward developing a tool for helping patients. He agreed that the forearm electrodes would probably have to be implanted, but he said the current approach is “clearly a good starting point.”

New Study on Drug Use Confirms What Black People Have Been Saying This Whole Time

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that delinquent, non-Hispanic whites are more likely to abuse “hard drugs,” such as cocaine or opiates, than their black counterparts, which might be news for some Americans. But for many blacks across the nation, the study confirms what was already known. “Those findings are striking considering the widely accepted stereotype of African-Americans as the most prevalent abusers of ‘hard drugs,’” Linda A. Teplin, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University and author of the study, said in a statement. “Our findings add to the growing debate on how the war on drugs has affected African-Americans.”

Scientists can 3D print working mouse ovaries. What else can they do?

Northwestern University scientists announced at the Endocrine Society’s national meeting early this month they had 3D-printed prosthetic ovaries that enabled mice — whose natural ovaries had been surgically removed — to ovulate, give birth and nurse. Researchers hope the advancement will help women who lost fertility or hormone function after cancer treatments or who were born with reduced ovarian function.