Media Highlights

Brief
October 17, 2002

Roth diagnostic test for lupus reaches national audiences

The Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Reuter's Health, HealthScout, CBS Marketwatch, DallasNews.com, Medical Devices.org and the Lupus Foundation of America's Web site ran news of a diagnostic test for lupus developed by Dr. Mark Roth (Basic Sciences). Regional/local coverage included Northwest Cable News, Puget Sound Business Journal and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Health segments on KING-TV and KIRO-TV were picked up by ABC and NBC affiliates in more than 40 cities, from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

ABC News, National Public Radio, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Reuters, the Washington Post and WebMD were among those who interviewed Drs. Garnet Anderson, Ross Prentice, Andrea LaCroix (PHS) and Shirley Beresford (UW/PHS) about the early stopping of an arm of the Women's Health Initiative that looked at the risks and benefits of combined hormonal therapy in postmenopausal women. Anderson also was a guest on NPR's "To the Point," and LaCroix and Beresford were guests on local NPR affiliate KUOW-FM's "Weekday" show. Regional/local coverage included interviews with the Oregonian (Portland), Spokesman-Review (Spokane), Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times, News Tribune and Eastside Journal, as well as all of the major local TV affiliates and radio-news stations.

United Press International quoted Dr. Stephen Petersdorf (Clinical Research) in an article on a drug, darbepoetin alfa, known to stimulate production of red blood cells in cancer patients suffering from anemia due to chemotherapy. The drug also reduces the need for blood transfusions.

The New York Times and Reuters quoted Dr. Larry Corey (Clinical Research) in an article on the world's largest meeting on AIDS. Philanthropic contributions from the Gates Foundation made it possible for two of the five U.S. speakers, one of whom was Corey, to attend the conference in Barcelona, Spain. Local coverage included the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The Boston Globe quoted Dr. James Olson (Clinical Research) in an article on the effects of cyclopamine, a chemical found in the corn lily flower, which disrupts the growth of a highly aggressive type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is the most common form of malignant childhood brain cancer.

The Associated Press, Reuters, AP Radio, USA Today, Los Angeles Times and HealthScout interviewed Dr. Ruth Etzioni (PHS) about a study of hers regarding prostate-cancer overdiagnosis in older men. Local coverage included the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Eastside Journal, Northwest Cable News, KOMO-TV, KING-TV and KIRO-AM.

Cure magazine interviewed Kathleen Shannon-Dorcy (Clinical Research) for an article clarifying clinical trials. Shannon-Dorcy emphasized clear communication between patient, provider and research team.

NBC Nightly News interviewed Dr. Ruth Patterson (PHS) regarding consumer "backlash" against conflicting diet and nutrition advice. ABC News and more than 65 TV affiliates nationwide also carried a health segment with Patterson about the subject that aired originally on KOMO-TV, Seattle's ABC affiliate.

The Associated Press, MSNBC.com and ABC News interviewed Dr. Cassian Yee (Clinical Research) in an article on laboratory-grown white blood cells attacking and shrinking skin cancer tumors after being injected into patients. Local coverage included the Seattle Times and KOMO-TV. KOMO-TV's interview was broadcast nationwide.

The New York Times quoted Dr. Anne McTiernan (PHS) in a story about a study of hers that found women who exercise at least five times a week have lower estrogen levels, which reduces their risk of breast cancer.

KOMO-TV and KING-TV interviewed Drs. Beverly Torok-Storb and Norihiro Awaya (both of Clinical Research) on the results of a study that looked at the potential for adult stem cells to regenerate tissue that were recently published in Experimental Hematology. Other coverage included the Seattle Times.

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