4
By Ina Fried Howard Kahn, CEO of L.A. Care, drew a laugh from the audience and other panelists with his blunt advice during the Nov. 8 Southern California Health Leadership Panel, “Succeeding with Reform: Understanding Access and Quality.” Among Kahn’s observations: Improving access to health care may be an open and shut case. Health care providers need to open lines of commu- nication both with their patients and with each other. And members of the general public need to “shut our mouths,” to curb smoking, drinking and obesity—the biggest controllable risk factors for cardiac and other diseases. National health policy leaders con- vened at the Keck School of Medicine to discuss the pressing issue of increas- ing access to cardiac care for uninsured, under-insured and low-income popula- tions. The panel discussion was followed by a “Road to Health” fair and free health screenings. The fair, also held at the Keck School of Medicine, was designed to raise awareness about the prevalence and prevention of cardiac disease. Talk show host Larry King, founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, hosted the event in partnership with Los Angeles-based COPE Health Solutions, LAC+USC Medical Center and the Keck School. The Larry King Cardiac Foundation was established in 1988 to provide funding for life-saving treatment for individuals, who, due to limited means or no insurance, would be otherwise be unable to receive the treatment and medical attention they so desperately need. “Cardiac disease is a serious problem in Southern California, as it is across the nation—and particularly in our low- income communities,” noted Larry King Jr., president of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. He added that “the most at-risk indi- viduals are also the patients least likely to be able to access the care they need.” Several panelists quoted statistics indicating that members of low-income populations are less likely to see a doc- tor, to have cardiac diagnostic proce- dures and to be treated for cardiac dis- ease. COPE Health Solutions, a non-prof- it healthcare corporation, works with health systems to improve efficiency and coordination of care delivery. “We have successfully redefined managed care for the uninsured in Los Angeles County, connecting patients with the care they need, when they need it and where they need it,” noted Allen Miller, CEO of COPE Health Solutions. “The Camino de Salud (Healthy VOLUME 13, NUMBER 33 NOVEMBER 16, 2007 Larry King moderates panel of regional healthcare leaders at HSC See PANEL, Page 3 Jon Nalick Talk show host Larry King (right), founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, moderates a Nov. 8 panel of healthcare providers and experts discussing the need for reform and improved access to care. Panelists particularly emphasized the prob- lems facing low-income populations in seeking adequate cardiac care. By Meghan Lewit A new study led by USC researchers identifies how genes are silenced in cancer cells through dis- tinct changes in the density of nucleosomes—the units that package DNA into chromosomes inside the cell nucleus. The findings, published in the Nov. 13 issue of the journal Cancer Cell, will enable researchers to explore new therapies to switch the genes back on and may lead to novel treatments for human cancers, said study lead author Peter A. Jones, director of the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Distinguished Professor at the Keck School of Medicine. “The study shows for the first time exactly how genes get shut down in cancer cells,” Jones said. “It identifies what the target looks like so that new ther- apies can be designed to turn them back on.” The study showed that silencing of transcription start sites in some cancer cells involves distinct changes in nucleosomal occupancy—or the density of nucleosomes—in the cell. Researchers found that three nucleosomes, almost completely absent from start sites in normal cells, are present in the methylated and silenced promoter, suggesting that epigenetic silencing may be accom- plished by the stable placement of nucleosomes into previously vacant positions. DNA cytosine methylation—the addition of a group of specific chemicals to a stretch of DNA that can lock or silence a gene—may ultimately lead to silencing by enabling the stable presence of nucleo- somes at the start sites of cancer-related genes, the study suggests. “We believe these findings will contribute to the development of cancer therapies,” Jones said. “We were surprised to find how rigid the inactive struc- ture is, and how rapidly it can be dissolved by drug treatment.” The study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Joy C. Lin, Shinwu Jeong, Gangning Liang, Daiya Takai, Merhnaz Fatemi, Yvonne C. Tsai, Gerda Egger, Einav Nili Gal-Yam, Peter A. Jones, “Role of Nucleosomal Occupancy in the Epigenetic Silencing of the MLH1 CpG Island,” Cancer Cell, Volume 12; Issue 5, November 2007. DOI: 10.1016/ USC researchers show how cancer cells can switch off crucial genes

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Page 1: VOLUME 13, NUMBER 33 NOVEMBER 16, 2007 Larry King ... › archives › pdf07 › 1333.pdf · Hispanic youngsters, ages six months to six years, who reside in the Los Angeles County

By Ina Fried

Howard Kahn, CEO of L.A. Care,drew a laugh from the audience andother panelists with his blunt adviceduring the Nov. 8 Southern CaliforniaHealth Leadership Panel, “Succeedingwith Reform: Understanding Accessand Quality.”

Among Kahn’s observations:Improving access to health care may bean open and shut case. Health careproviders need to open lines of commu-nication both with their patients andwith each other. And members of thegeneral public need to “shut ourmouths,” to curb smoking, drinking andobesity—the biggest controllable riskfactors for cardiac and other diseases.

National health policy leaders con-vened at the Keck School of Medicineto discuss the pressing issue of increas-ing access to cardiac care for uninsured,under-insured and low-income popula-tions.

The panel discussion was followed bya “Road to Health” fair and free healthscreenings. The fair, also held at theKeck School of Medicine, was designedto raise awareness about the prevalenceand prevention of cardiac disease.

Talk show host Larry King, founderof the Larry King Cardiac Foundation,hosted the event in partnership withLos Angeles-based COPE HealthSolutions, LAC+USC Medical Centerand the Keck School.

The Larry King Cardiac Foundationwas established in 1988 to providefunding for life-saving treatment forindividuals, who, due to limited meansor no insurance, would be otherwise be

unable to receive the treatment andmedical attention they so desperatelyneed.

“Cardiac disease is a serious problemin Southern California, as it is acrossthe nation—and particularly in our low-income communities,” noted LarryKing Jr., president of the Larry KingCardiac Foundation.

He added that “the most at-risk indi-

viduals are also the patients least likelyto be able to access the care they need.”

Several panelists quoted statisticsindicating that members of low-incomepopulations are less likely to see a doc-tor, to have cardiac diagnostic proce-dures and to be treated for cardiac dis-ease.

COPE Health Solutions, a non-prof-it healthcare corporation, works with

health systems to improve efficiencyand coordination of care delivery. “Wehave successfully redefined managedcare for the uninsured in Los AngelesCounty, connecting patients with thecare they need, when they need it andwhere they need it,” noted Allen Miller,CEO of COPE Health Solutions.

“The Camino de Salud (Healthy

VOLUME 13, NUMBER 33 NOVEMBER 16, 2007

Larry King moderates panel of regional healthcare leaders at HSC

See PANEL, Page 3Jo

n N

alic

k

Talk show host Larry King (right), founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, moderates a Nov. 8 panel of healthcare

providers and experts discussing the need for reform and improved access to care. Panelists particularly emphasized the prob-

lems facing low-income populations in seeking adequate cardiac care.

By Meghan Lewit

A new study led by USC researchers identifieshow genes are silenced in cancer cells through dis-tinct changes in the density of nucleosomes—theunits that package DNA into chromosomes insidethe cell nucleus.

The findings, published in the Nov. 13 issue of thejournal Cancer Cell, will enable researchers to explorenew therapies to switch the genes back on and maylead to novel treatments for human cancers, saidstudy lead author Peter A. Jones, director of theUSC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center andDistinguished Professor at the Keck School ofMedicine.

“The study shows for the first time exactly howgenes get shut down in cancer cells,” Jones said. “It

identifies what the target looks like so that new ther-apies can be designed to turn them back on.”

The study showed that silencing of transcriptionstart sites in some cancer cells involves distinctchanges in nucleosomal occupancy—or the densityof nucleosomes—in the cell.

Researchers found that three nucleosomes, almostcompletely absent from start sites in normal cells, arepresent in the methylated and silenced promoter,suggesting that epigenetic silencing may be accom-plished by the stable placement of nucleosomes intopreviously vacant positions.

DNA cytosine methylation—the addition of agroup of specific chemicals to a stretch of DNA thatcan lock or silence a gene—may ultimately lead tosilencing by enabling the stable presence of nucleo-

somes at the start sites of cancer-related genes, thestudy suggests.

“We believe these findings will contribute to thedevelopment of cancer therapies,” Jones said. “Wewere surprised to find how rigid the inactive struc-ture is, and how rapidly it can be dissolved by drugtreatment.”

The study was supported by a grant from theNational Institutes of Health.

Joy C. Lin, Shinwu Jeong, Gangning Liang, DaiyaTakai, Merhnaz Fatemi, Yvonne C. Tsai, Gerda Egger,Einav Nili Gal-Yam, Peter A. Jones, “Role of NucleosomalOccupancy in the Epigenetic Silencing of the MLH1 CpGIsland,” Cancer Cell, Volume 12; Issue 5, November 2007.DOI: 10.1016/

USC researchers show how cancer cells can switch off crucial genes

Page 2: VOLUME 13, NUMBER 33 NOVEMBER 16, 2007 Larry King ... › archives › pdf07 › 1333.pdf · Hispanic youngsters, ages six months to six years, who reside in the Los Angeles County

By Cheryl Bruyninckx

A major Web redesign project forThe Doctors of USC took a leap for-ward recently with a visit from the cre-ative firm leading the effort.

A seven-member marketing teamfrom Swanson Russell Associates, anoutside marketing firm working withUSC Health Sciences Public Relationsand Marketing, arrived at the HealthSciences Campus for a three-day sitevisit beginning on Oct. 15.

The team scouted out key storylines,graphics and other content for the newWeb site while touring the HealthSciences Campus, including LAC+USC

Medical Center and The Doctors ofUSC-Downtown (formerly USCExecutive Health and Imaging Center).Interviews were conducted with dozensof physicians, researchers, residents andpatients representing the wide array ofhealthcare services offered by TheDoctors of USC.

“The visit was a complete success,”said Heather Monaster of SwansonRussell Associates. “We have a clearvision of how we can design the newWeb site to serve as a powerful resourcefor patients.”

The team will visit the campus twomore times to gather content for anexpected launch in June 2008. The newsite will promote The Doctors of USCto patients and referring physicians,offer patients easy access to healthcareinformation and incorporate more mul-timedia and interactive elements.

Other current marketing efforts onbehalf of The Doctors of USC includeads in game programs and on videoscoreboards at Trojan football and bas-ketball games. Plans are in place forimproved signage at athletic facilities to

promote The Doctors of USC. A cam-paign to promote the newly renamedThe Doctors of USC-Downtownhealth center (from USC ExecutiveHealth and Imaging Center) is alsounderway.

USC study examines age and ethnicity differences in eye problems

HSC Weekly is published for the faculty, staff, students and community of the Universityof Southern California’s Health Sciences Campus. It is written and produced by theHealth Sciences Public Relations and Marketing staff. Comments, suggestions andstory ideas are welcome via the contact points listed above. Permission to reprint articleswith attribution is freely given.

Associate Vice President, Health SciencesPublic Relations and Marketing: Jane BrustDirector of Communications andMarketing: Ina FriedEditor: Jon Nalick

Senior Vice President, UniversityRelations: Martha HarrisContributors: Pamela Bieri, Eva Blaauw,Cheryl Bruyninckx, Jennifer Chan, KatieNeith, Carrie St. Michel and Jon Weiner

Phone: 323-442-2830 Fax: 323-442-2832 Email: [email protected] Web: uscnews.usc.edu/hscweekly/ Next Issue: November 30

Due to an editing error, an articlein the Nov. 9 issue of HSC Weeklyincorrectly identified the hospital towhich USC alumnus Mark Lewinhas been named chief of cardiology.He has been named chief and co-director of Children’s Heart Centerat Children’s Hospital and RegionalMedical Center, Seattle, Wash.

Mike Silka is chief of cardiologyat Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.HSC Weekly apologizes for the error.

The Southern CaliforniaEnvironmental Health Sciences Center(SCEHSC) is seeking applications forthe 2008 Environmental HealthResearch Pilot Project Grants. TheSCEHSC awards one-year pilot proj-ects up to $25,000. The goal of thisprogram is to advance environmental

health research and to enable investiga-tors to seek external funding to pursuelarger scale projects.

Eligible applicants include faculty orgraduate students/post-doctoralresearchers with a faculty sponsor.Young investigators are particularlyencouraged to apply and, with all other

factors equal, will receive funding prior-ity.

Applicants should submit a one-pageLetter of Intent describing their pro-posed projects by Nov. 26 to KrissyNielsen at [email protected]. Nielsenmay be contacted for more informationat (323) 442-2750.

SCEHSC offers $25,000 for one-year pilot projects in environmental health

DID WE SAY THAT?

By Carrie St. Michel

In a study of more than 6,000 LosAngeles-area children—the largeststudy of its kind—researchers at theKeck School of Medicine found thatboth strabismus (commonly known ascross-eyed or wall-eyed) and amblyopia(often referred to as lazy eye) were moreprevalent in older children than inyounger children.

The study is currently available in theonline edition of the journalOphthalmology.

The population for this first phase ofthe Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye DiseaseStudy (MEPEDS) was composedequally of African-American andHispanic youngsters, ages six months tosix years, who reside in the Los AngelesCounty community of Inglewood.

The overall prevalence of strabismuswas 2.5 percent; while this findingremained constant regardless of genderor ethnicity, prevalence trended upwardwith increasing age.

The overall prevalence of amblyopia,which was 2.6 percent in both ethnicgroups, similarly trended upward withage, although researchers concludedthat this trending stabilizes by threeyears of age. As with strabismus,researchers found no difference whenamblyopia results were stratified bygender.

“This is the first evaluation of strabis-mus and amblyopia in these two ethnicgroups,” said principal investigatorRohit Varma, professor of ophthalmolo-gy and preventive medicine at the KeckSchool of Medicine, and director of theOcular Epidemiology Center at USC’sDoheny Eye Institute.

“What was most surprising about ourfindings,” he adds, “was that the vastmajority of children who we diagnosedwith either strabismus or amblyopia hadbeen previously undiagnosed and hadn’treceived any care. Both of these disor-ders can be detected by age three, sothis points to a crucial need for early

screening and intervention programsthat could prevent lifelong visualimpairments,” he said.

According to Susan Cotter, thestudy’s co-principal investigator and aresearch professor of ophthalmology atthe Keck School, “These study resultsfill an important gap in our knowledgebase regarding the magnitude of strabis-mus and amblyopia in infants andyoung children, as well as our under-standing of age-related differences inthese children. MEPEDS results willlikely impact the development of visionscreening programs and health-carepolicy.”

This population-based, multi-phasedstudy began in January 2004. With theInglewood portion of the study com-pleted, USC researchers are now con-ducting vision screenings in SouthernCalifornia’s Riverside County. Whenthese screenings are completed, childrenin the Southern California communityof Monterey Park will be assessed.

The population for the Riverside andMonterey Park screenings will beAsian-American and non-Hispanicwhite children ages six months to sixyears. All MEPEDS phases will becompleted by 2011, at which time morethan 12,000 youngsters will have beenscreened for strabismus, amblyopia andother vision conditions including astig-matism, as well as near- and farsighted-ness.

“This study, supported by theNational Eye Institute (NEI) of theNational Institutes of Health, providesnew information on the developmentand extent of eye diseases amonginfants and preschool children from twomajor ethnic groups in the UnitedStates—African-American and Latino,”said Paul A. Sieving, director of theNEI. “The study highlights the impor-tance of early detection and treatmentto reduce the burden of visual impair-ment on children, their families andsociety as a whole.”

Web development team targets The Doctors of USC Web site for major redesign

USC physician Brett White discusses patient care on camera as part of a web devel-

opment project due in 2008.

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By Pamela Bieri

A collaboration between the KeckSchool of Medicine and theAlzheimer’s Association’s CaliforniaSouthland Chapter is the first of itskind in the nation and creates the mostcomprehensive diagnostic center forAlzheimer’s disease, memory loss andrelated disorders in the CoachellaValley.

The Memory Assessment Centeropened Nov. 8 in the Bob HopeChrysler Classic Medical Building (for-merly Hope Square) on the EisenhowerMedical Center campus in RanchoMirage. The center was endowed inperpetuity from a $2.5 million giftthrough the Keck School of Medicinefrom Helene and Lou Galen, longtimeUSC benefactors and Coachella Valleyphilanthropists.

Lou Galen died earlier this weekafter a brief illness. He was 82.

The Memory Assessment Center isalso funded by a leading gift from AnnMarie and Robert Byfield, longtimeAlzheimer’s Association benefactors;annual grants from The Judy Fund,established by Marshall Gelfand,through the Alzheimer’s Association;and the Maxwell Charitable Trust.

“It is estimated that 8,000 people inthe Coachella Valley are experiencing adisorder that hastens decline in memoryand intellectual ability,” said HelenaChui, professor and chair of theDepartment of Neurology at the KeckSchool of Medicine.

“The new Memory AssessmentCenter is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment,”said Chui, who is also the Raymond

and Betty McCarron Chair inNeurology. “The opening of the centerreflects the culmination of a team effortbetween the University of SouthernCalifornia, the Alzheimer’s Association,Eisenhower Medical Center and leadersin the local community. We are com-mitted to making this a center of excel-lence, a catalyst for the care and cure ofAlzheimer’s disease.”

The center is directed by LilyTseng, assistant professor of clinicalneurology at USC, who specializes inAlzheimer’s disease, vascular cognitiveimpairment and other memory disor-ders. The center also employs nursepractitioner Nasrin Esnaashari, who hasprevious expertise in stroke and criticalcare nursing.

As a leader in Alzheimer’s research,USC offers Valley residents opportuni-

ties to participate in genetic and otherresearch studies locally. Clients of thecenter may be included in State ofCalifornia and National AlzheimerCoordinating Center databases, as wellas studies funded by the NationalInstitute on Aging.

In addition, the Alzheimer’sAssociation provides a part-time careconsultant to the center. Care consulta-tion is a grouping of services to assistthe person with Alzheimer’s disease orrelated dementias and/or their familiesin planning for and dealing with allaspects of the illness, including assess-ment of needs, assistance with planning,problem solving and provision of sup-port.

“This important medical componentenhances our services to CoachellaValley residents,” said Stephen Geist,regional director for the Alzheimer’sAssociation of the California South-land. “The Memory Assessment Centernow makes it possible for people in thedesert to obtain a complete medicalworkup and diagnosis without having totravel outside the area. The center addsdiagnosis and research to our two-tieredmission of compassionate care and find-ing a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Eisenhower Medical Center isequipped to provide critical diagnosticstests including laboratory studies, andMRI, CT and PET imaging, making ita convenient location for the center.

“The Memory Assessment Centerfurthers Eisenhower’s vision to offercomprehensive health care that address-es the diverse needs of the Valley’s resi-dents.” said G. Aubrey Serfling, presi-dent and chief executive officer of

Eisenhower Medical Center.The new Memory Assessment

Center in the Coachella Valley is openTuesday through Thursday 8 a.m.-4p.m. For appointments, call (760) 341-5315.

It is a satellite of the USC Memoryand Aging Center, which is dedicatedto research and care of Alzheimer’s andrelated disorders in diverse communi-ties.

PANEL: Coordinated care and enhanced access for patients can be financially viable

Road) Network not only improves thehealth of patients through enhancedaccess and coordination of care, but is afinancially sustainable model that canbe replicated in communities across thecountry,” Miller said.

The value of technology in establish-ing medical networks was cited byLeslie Saxon, chief of the division ofcardiovascular medicine at the KeckSchool of Medicine.

“When I look at the American healthcare delivery system, I see the best spe-cialists in the world,” she said.

But, she added, “I think there’s anissue of gaps in care and informationsilos. We’ve overcome gaps in themedia, we’ve overcome them in enter-tainment—with networks. The militaryis working on networks, and that’s apretty complex institution, certainly ascomplex as medicine. I think these net-worked devices and networked informa-tion can really be promising ways to

solve some of these problems.”The panel, introduced by Pete

Delgado, CEO of LAC+USC MedicalCenter, included these national andCalifornia health care experts:

• Joe Dunn, CEO, CaliforniaMedical Association

• Howard Kahn, CEO, L.A. Care• Jeanne Lambrew, fellow, Center for

American Progress, and associate pro-fessor, LBJ School of Public Affairs atthe University of Texas at Austin

• Pat Mackin, senior vice presidentand president, Cardiac Rhythm DiseaseManagement, Medtronic

• Leslie Saxon, chief, Division ofCardiovascular Medicine, Keck Schoolof Medicine of USC

• Bruce Vladeck, executive director,Health Services, Ernst & Young

Following the morning panel discus-sion, Keck School Dean CarmenPuliafito hosted a brunch for King, thepanelists and other special guests. “Weappreciate Larry King’s leadership,” he

said, “and his contributions to publichealth,” not only providing care forpatients through the Larry King

Foundation, but also “bringing forwardthe health policy and social and politicalissues.”

Jon

Nal

ick

A team of nurses take talk show host Larry King’s blood pressure as part of a health

fair at the Health Sciences Campus on Nov. 8. The event, taped by news media, coin-

cided with the Southern California Health Leadership Panel, held earlier in the day.

Thomas Valente, associate professorof preventive medicine at the KeckSchool of Medicine, received the inau-gural Everett M. Rogers Award at thisyear’s American Public HealthAssociation Annual Meeting inWashington, D.C., on Nov. 3-7.

This award is given to an individualwho has made an outstanding contribu-tion to advancing the study and/orpractice of public health communica-tion. Valente has authored two booksand more than 85 articles and chapterson social networks, behavior changeand program evaluation.

In addition, USC faculty gave oralpresentations on seven studies duringthe meeting, including “Impact of childhealth insurance expansions on ambula-tory care-sensitive hospitalizations inCalifornia,” “Reasons for urban trail usepredict trail-related physical activity”and “Trends in access to care for immi-grant children in California: 2001 to2003.”

Keck School collaborates in opening Memory Assessment Center in Coachella Valley

USC benefactor Helene Galen (left) and

Keck School of Medicine neurologist

Helena Chui attend the Nov. 8 opening

of the Memory Assessment Center.

Preventive medicineexpert Thomas Valentehonored by APHA

Continued from page 1

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By Jon Nalick

Physician-geneticist Francis S.Collins, director of the NationalHuman Genome Research Institute(NHGRI), will discuss “Genomics,Medicine and Society” atthe Health SciencesCampus on Dec. 7.

Noted for his landmarkdiscoveries of disease genes,Collins oversaw the HumanGenome Project, the multi-disciplinary, internationaleffort to map and sequencethe 3 billion letters in thehuman DNA instructionbook.

Human Genome Project scientistsfinished the sequence in April 2003,coinciding with the 50th anniversary ofWatson and Crick’s seminal publicationdescribing the double helix structure ofDNA.

Collins will deliver his lecture in con-junction with his acceptance of the2007 Will Rogers Institute Prize forLung Research. The Toluca Lake-basedphilanthropic Institute has named him

the inaugural recipient ofthe prize in honor of hiscareer achievements, mostnotably his identification in1989 of the gene that causescystic fibrosis.

Collins has receivednumerous other awards,including the PresidentialMedal of Freedom, whichhe accepted from PresidentGeorge W. Bush on Nov. 5.

Collins will speak at noon at theAresty Conference Center in theHarlyne J. Norris Cancer ResearchTower. The event is free and open tothe public. Medical students especiallyare invited to attend.

HSC NEWSMAKERS Complete listing at: www.usc.edu/uscnews/usc_in_the_news/

A Nov. 12 San Fernando Valley Business Journalarticle reported that 45 children from the SanFernando Valley will visit the Keck School aspart of Kaiser Permanente’s Hippocrates CircleProgram, which promotes diversity amonghealth care professionals.

A Nov. 9 U.S. News and World Report articlequoted rheumatologist Andreas Reiff onresearch that demonstrated certain drugs areeffective in treating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.HealthDay ran a similar story.

On Nov. 9, KCBS-TV Channel 2 featured theopening of The Memory Assessment Center, acollaboration between the Keck School and theAlzheimer’s Association, California Southlandchapter. The segment noted that USC neurolo-gist Lily Tseng will direct the center.

On Nov. 9, ABC News Online quotedOB/GYN Donna Shoupe about a new studylinking birth control pills with cervical cancer.

A Nov. 8 Technology Review article featuredUSC’s first annual Body Computing Conferenceand quoted cardiology expert Leslie Saxon.

A Nov. 8 Atlanta Journal-Constitution articlehighlighted a study led by cancer researcherKristine Monroe that linked grapefruit with anincreased breast cancer risk.

A Nov. 6 Forbes article quoted Alzheimer’sexpert Lon Schneider about a new study show-ing that Alzheimer’s disease may progress fasterin patients with high blood pressure or a type ofirregular heartbeat.

Calendar of EventsMonday, Nov. 19

NOON. Fellow’s DidacticTeaching Conference.“NephSAP: Critical Care,”Mitra K. Nadim, USC.GNH Drs. Dining Rm. A& B. Info: (323) 226-7307

NOON. Pharmacology andPharmaceutical SciencesSeminar. “Structure-basedInvestigation of WntSignaling Inhibitors,” JieZheng, St. Jude Children’sResearch Hospital. PSC104. Info: (323) 442-2341

4 P.M. “Research inProgress,” JayakumarVidhun, USC. GNH 10-340. Info: (323) 226-7307

Tuesday, Nov. 20

NOON. CardiovascularMedicine Grand Rounds.“Expanding theUnderstanding of theTreatment of ChronicStable Angina-approach inthe 21st Century,” DickConti, USC. GNH 7420.Info: (323) 442-7419

Wednesday, Nov. 21

7 A.M. Medicine GrandRounds. “Acute AlcoholicHepatitis,” Andrew Stolz,USC. GNH 1645. Info:(323) 226-7591

NOON. Renal GrandRounds Conference. “Howthe Body Senses PotassiumIntake and AdjustsPotassium Excretion,” JangH. Youn. GNH 6441. Info:(323) 226-7307

Monday, Nov. 26

NOON. Fellows’ DidacticTeaching Conference.“Renal Physiology(Regulation of GRF, RF,TGF),” Janos Peti-Peterdi,USC. GNH Drs. DiningRm. A & B. Info: (323)226-7307

Tuesday, Nov. 27

11:30 A.M. PsychiatryGrand Rounds. “Currentand Future ManagementStrategies for BipolarDisorder,” AndrewAngelino, Johns HopkinsUniv. ZNI 112. Info: (323)226-5572

Wednesday, Nov. 28

NOON. “GeneticArchitecture of VisualPerception & Behavior inZebrafish,” Herwig Baier,UC San Francisco. ZNI112. Info: (323) 442-3219

NOON. Renal GrandRounds Conference. “RenalArtery Stenosis,” Fred A.Weaver, USC. GNH 6441.Info: (323) 226-7307

1:30 P.M. Tenth AnnualNoboru Inamoto Lecture.“A Japanese CulturalExchange,” Stanley Rosen,USC. GER Aud. Info:(213) 740-7122

Friday, Nov. 30

8 A.M. Department ofPathology and LaboratoryMedicine Grand Rounds.“Catheter-relatedBloodstream Infections:

Detection Dilemma,” EllenJo Baron, Stanford Univ.Med. Ctr. NOR 7409.Info: (323) 442-3320

8:30 A.M. Lung BiologyResearch Seminar. “SulfatedExtracellular Matrices andAdult Human AlveolarEpithelial Differentiation,”Philip L. Sannes, NorthCarolina St. Univ. GNH11-321. Info: (323) 226-7923

10:30 A.M. Ctr. forTransdisciplinary Researchon Energetics and CancerSeminar. “The Validation ofDietDay: A NovelApproach to DietaryAssessment for LargePopulation Studies,” LenoreArab, UCLA. CSC 250.Info: (323) 442-4101

Wednesday, Dec. 5

NOON. ZNI Seminar.“Development of GABAInhibitory Circuits inNeocortex and Cerebellum,”Josh Huang, Cold SpringHarbor Lab. ZNI 112.Info: (323) 442-3219

Saturday, Dec. 8

9 A.M. - 9:35 A.M. “Updateon Carotid Artery Disease,”Ray Matthews, USC.Mayer Aud. Info: (323)442-2555

9:35 A.M. - 10:10 A.M.“Hormone Replacementand Coronary Disease,”Tracy Lawrence, USC.Mayer Aud. Info: (323)442-2555

The HSC Calendar is online at www.usc.edu/hsccalendar

USC Health SciencesPublic Relations1975 Zonal Ave.KAM 400Los Angeles, CA 90033

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE PAIDUniversity of Southern

California

Notice: Deadline for calendar submission is 4 p.m. Monday to be considered for thatweek’s issue—although three weeks advance notice of events is recommended. Please note thattimely submission does not guarantee an item will be printed. Send calendar items to HSC Weekly,KAM 400 or fax to (323) 442-2832, or e-mail to [email protected]. Entries must include day, date,time, title of talk, first and last name of speaker, affiliation of speaker, location, and a phone numberfor information.

MEETING THE DEAN—Dozens of Keck School of Medicine faculty members attended a Nov. 7 eventdesigned to offer the campus community an opportunity to meet and chat with Carmen A. Puliafito,who assumed leadership of the School Nov. 1. Above, Puliafito (center) chats with Stephanie Hall, KeckSchool assistant dean for LAC+USC and chief medical officer for LAC+USC Health Care Network, asDarcy Spicer, associate professor of clinical medicine and interim chief of the division of cancer medicineand blood diseases, looks on. To view the complete schedule of upcoming “Meet the Dean” events, goto www.usc.edu/keck, click on “See Dean’s Welcome Message” and then click on “Meet The DeanActivities” from links.

Jon

Nal

ick

Geneticist Francis Collins to speak at HSC

Francis S. Collins