DIET RICH IN BEANS MAY HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON WOMEN¹S HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO RESULTS OF MAJOR STUDY PRESENTED BY CEDARS-SINAI CARDIOLOGIST
Increased blood levels of phytoestrogens -- plant estrogens found in such foods as soybeans, chickpeas and other beans -- are linked to beneficial cholesterol levels and better arterial function in women, according to results of a major, nationwide study presented by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center cardiologist C. Noel Bairey Merz at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in November.
These findings could prove significant in reducing risk factors associated with heart disease in women. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health¹s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the Women¹s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) is a multifaceted four-year, four-center study of 1,000 women with the main objective of developing better techniques for diagnosing heart disease in women. Dr. Bairey Merz serves as scientific chair for the $8-10 million study, conducted at Cedars-Sinai, University of Florida, University of Alabama, University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny General Hospital.
IVIG INFUSION AND A LIVING KIDNEY DONATION FROM A VIRTUAL STRANGER GIVE A HOLLYWOOD FILM PRODUCER ANOTHER "CURTAIN CALL"
Thanks to the generosity of a virtual stranger who gave up one of her kidneys for him, and to a relatively new therapeutic approach, known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) that reduces the rejection risk of transplanted organs, Jay Cohen, 38, of Tarzana, CA, is enjoying the new year with his family -- with a healthy new kidney and a new lease on life. Despite the fact that a donor with an exact tissue match could not be found for him, Jay was successfully transplanted last July, is back to work and doing very well.
His donor, Suzi Landolphi, is a popular television talk show guest on the topic of humor and sexuality. Jay has a producing partnership with Dustin Hoffman. His credits include: Swimming with Sharks - Starring Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley; Fall Time - Starring Mickey Rourke, Stephen Baldwin, Jason London, David Arquette; The Devils Arithmetic - Starring Kirsten Dunst, Mimi Rogers, Brittany Murphy, has already won 4 national awards for childrens film and is expected to be nominated for an emmy this year; A Walk on the Moon - Starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortenson, Anna Pacquin, Liev Schrieber, won National film review best independent film for 1999; and Boys & Girls- will be released in theaters this August starring Freddie Prinze Jr. Jason Biggs(American Pie), Claire Forlani (meet Joe Black), Heather Donohue(Blair witch), Monika and Alison Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire).
Two movies that begin production this year are Dinner for Two and Point Spread both scheduled to star Dustin Hoffman.
IT WAS A MATCH MADE IN A HARLEY SHOP: SURGEONS AT CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER PERFORM LIFE-SAVING, LIVING DONOR PARTIAL LIVER TRANSPLANT ON PATIENT FROM ARIZONA
George Aponte bought his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle just over a year ago. In the process of filling out the paperwork, he met "an angel" who in late December saved his life by donating half of her healthy liver to replace his diseased one. Two days before Christmas, doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center performed the transplant -- one of the first completely non-related, living donor, adult-to-adult liver transplants to be accomplished in the western United States. Both the donor and the recipient, as well as members of the transplant team, are available for interviews.
TEENAGER FROM MEXICO GETS NEW LEASE ON LIFE AFTER SURGERY AT CEDARS-SINAI MAXINE DUNITZ NEUROSURGICAL INSTITUTE
Thanks to a highly specialized team of neurosurgeons and endovascular neuroradiologists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center¹s Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, an 18-year-old Mexico boy with a high risk arterio-venous malformation in his brain has an excellent prognosis and is expected to be off anti-seizure medication within the year. Santiago Martinez was brought to Cedars-Sinai under the auspices of "Healing the Children" after doctors in his country deemed the surgery too risky. He is now staying with a host family in the Los Angeles area, and is available for media interviews.
3-D ULTRASOUND¹S "TRUE-TO-LIFE" IMAGES AID IN PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS AT CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
With the advent of three-dimensional ultrasound, clinicians are gaining unparalleled insight into the human body -- viewing internal structures and functions with amazing clarity. At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, this new technology is enabling physicians to observe fetal development and diagnose abnormalities with advanced accuracy.
For media information and to arrange an interview, please call 1-800-396-1002.