The University has mailed letters to affected patients, informing them of these details.  However, patients who saw Dr. Hoover between October 2009 and October 2010 may also contact the clinic at (405) 271-3635 or toll-free at (866) 836-3150 if they have questions regarding this incident. 

The OU Board of Regents established the award in 1988 to recognize outstanding contributions made by OU staff members whose job performance, service activities and dedication have enhanced the mission of the university. The award was presented at the OU Health Sciences Center Employee Recognition Luncheon April 24.

In his nomination letter, Mayfield’s supervisor, Brad Avery, assistant vice president for administration and finance and controller, noted that Mayfield has worked in "most every aspect of Financial Services, from general accounting to grants and contracts," as well as serving as a "’team lead’ in every campus IT system implementation over the past 20 years. "When the campus implemented PeopleSoft Financials a number of years ago," he added, "Sammy was the glue that kept the project together."

Avery, who also worked with Mayfield prior to his time in Financial Services, additionally praised Mayfield for his numerous contributions to the Health Sciences Center during Mayfield’s 38-year tenure at the university and referred to him as "the definition of a model employee and supervisor" who "does not seek out attention or toot his own horn, but is rather the grand man behind the scenes who keeps everything working as it should."

"There are so many superlatives that I could mention to describe Sammy, and while all would be true, the list still might fall short of measuring his contributions over 38 years of dedicated service to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences," wrote Terry Henson, associate vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer at the Health Sciences Center, in his letter of support.

"Not only is he competent in the technical sense, Sammy is sought out to assist in crafting solutions when the issues are complex and the answers are not precise," Henson added. "Sammy understands the power of empathy when working with faculty and staff ‘customers’ as they navigate the layers of statutes, regulations, policies and procedures applicable to a particular situation."

Henson also pointed out that Mayfield "is an effective leader who has successfully led a variety of core accounting units through several major system implementations" and that his advice and counsel is valued as a member of campus-wide and institutional task force or policy review initiatives.

"Sammy embodies a unique combination of wisdom and humility," she concluded, adding, "He has never sought the spotlight, yet has applauded others whose accomplishments would not be possible without his contributions. He is truly deserving of this recognition for a body of work that has and continues to contribute to the success of the OU Health Sciences Center."

The Stephenson Cancer Center was one of the top two enrolling sites for the clinical trial that involved 452 patients.

The study evaluated the drug Avastin (bevacizumab) in women with recurrent, persistent or metastatic cervical cancer that was not curable with standard treatments. The research showed Avastin significantly improved overall survival when added to either of two chemotherapy regimens.

"Cervical cancer patients who got the standard chemotherapy had a median survival of 13.3 months," said Dr. Lisa M. Landrum, a gynecologic oncologist and researchers with the Stephenson Cancer Center. "Those who had standard chemotherapy with the Avastin lived almost four months longer - with a median survival of 17 months."

In fact, the NCI decided to announce interim findings from the study because they were considered so statistically significant.

"Four months, when you are talking about 17 months, is a very big statistical increase. This might be a chance to see a wedding or a graduation - to share one of the pivotal events a person has in their lifetime," Landrum said.

Avastin works by blocking the blood supply that feeds cancer tumors.  Although already FDA approved for use in the treatment of some types of cancer, it is not yet approved for cervical cancer.  Avastin is also expensive and without FDA approval, insurance companies may not cover the cost. So it remains mainly available to cervical cancer patients who are willing to participate in clinical trials.

"Patients who are interested should always ask their doctors for the opportunity to participate in clinical trials in which the drug and related care is typically provided free of charge to participants," Landrum said.

Side effects of Avastin typically relate to impeding the blood supply, said Landrum.  For example, wound healing might be poor or patients might tend to form blood clots.  Some might also be more prone to hypertensive events.

Future research will likely determine if the addition of Avastin to other chemotherapeutic therapies can further lengthen survival.

To learn more about clinical trials at the Stephenson Cancer Center, visit www.oumedicine.com/cancer.

The Research Scholar Grant was awarded by the American Cancer Society to Youngjae You, Ph.D., a Cancer Center member and associate professor in the OU College of Pharmacy's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

"Bladder cancer may be the fourth most common cancer in men, but it is the most expensive cancer to treat," You said, adding the reason it is so costly to treat is because current treatment requires frequent, follow-up exams utilizing cystoscopy.

Cystoscopy utilizes a slender, cylindrical instrument equipped with a small camera to examine the interior of the urinary bladder and also to introduce treatments there. However, current cystoscopy has some limitations, including difficulty in detecting small tumors.

You said the best way to reduce bladder cancer recurrence is sensitive detection and complete eradication at an early stage. He believes accomplishing this will require a therapy that combines fluorescence cystoscopic detection with photodynamic therapy.

If successful, the research would result in the development of improved options for the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle, invasive bladder cancers.

You's principal OU Health Sciences Center collaborators in the research project are fellow Cancer Center members Dr. Sukyung Woo, also of the OU College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Robert Hurst, with the OU College of Medicine's Department of Urology.

"I am excited and honored to receive the Research Scholar Grant and grateful to the American Cancer Society for its generous support of our research," You said.

For more information or for accommodations on the basis of disability, please call (405) 271-2350 or

(888) 682-6348. Visit the following website to access the conference agenda/brochure and registration information: http://cme.ouhsc.edu.

"Parents often look to their pediatricians for advice to help keep their children healthy when they are young, but as children become teens, those visits to the doctor's office can become less frequent. Yet, they are still just as important," said Dr. Philip Rettig, an adolescent medicine specialist with OU Children's Physicians.

Annual Health Checks
Rettig pointed out that there are many health issues that can crop up in the teen years, everything from acne to high blood pressure, from concerns about normal puberty to new emotional and behavioral issues, from athletic injuries to menstrual disorders. That's why continued, regular visits to the doctor's office can be so beneficial.

Rettig pointed out that as youth mature and assert more independence, they are sometimes more reluctant to share health concerns with parents. So having a physician in whom they can confide is helpful.

Adolescence also is a good time to help teens begin to take more control of their health. For instance, you can encourage them to start scheduling their own doctors' appointments and to ask their own questions at those visits. It's also important to help them learn to take their medications as directed.

Vaccines
Rettig said that just as in earlier childhood, vaccinations are important in the teen years.  Having all the vaccines required to enter school is no longer equal to being "up to date" for preteens and teens. Several new vaccines which provide safe and effective protection  against infections that are significant threats to teens are now recommended starting at ages 11 to 12 years

However, recent research by Dr. Paul Darden, a colleague at OU Medicine, looked at why many teens are still not getting the recommended vaccinations.

"Since 2005, three new vaccines recommended for adolescents have been licensed and approved for use but we are not achieving our national goals," said study author Dr. Paul Darden of the Department of Pediatrics, OU College of Medicine. 
?The three vaccines are Tdap (tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine), a vaccine for meningitis - MCV4 (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine), and the vaccine for HPV (human papilloma virus).

A third or more of teens have not received the Tdap or MCV4 vaccines. About two thirds have not been vaccinated against HPV, which has also been recommended for adolescent boys for the past two years. Researchers found the low rate of HPV immunization particularly concerning.

"HPV is a vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, a serious health condition in women. So it's worrisome that adolescents are not getting the HPV vaccine," Rettig said.

Currently, in Oklahoma, only the Tdap vaccination is required for all seventh and eighth grade students as of the fall of 2012.  The meningitis and HPV vaccines, though recommended, are not mandatory.

Darden and his colleagues believe the study points to the importance of better educating families, teens and health care providers about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

Acne
Acne is a frustrating reality in the teen years for most. In fact, eight in every ten teens experiences some degree of acne.

"Acne is not caused by eating chocolate or fried foods," Rettig said. "It's actually caused by increased levels of certain hormones and so is a common occurrence in adolescence."

When those levels increase fat glands in the skin are stimulated and begin producing more sebum, an oily secretion that lubricates and protects the skin. With acne, sebum combines with dead skin cells and other debris, blocking follicles in the skin and causing blackheads and pimples.

The good news is there are a growing number of treatments, both over-the-counter and prescription, available to help teens with acne issues. Your health care provider can help you find the right treatment for you.

Substance Abuse
It is during the teen years when many first experiment with illicit drugs or alcohol. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that pediatricians provide both substance abuse education and screening during routine clinical care.

Sadly one-fourth of those who use illicit drugs between the ages of 12 and 17 will develop dependency. It's still unclear why some teens can flirt with alcohol or drug use and then just stop, while others become addicted.

What is known is that family history increases a child's risk.  Other risk factors include:
- Untreated psychological conditions such as depression or anxiety
- Thrill-seeking behavior
- An eating disorder
- Associating with known drug users
- Lack of parental supervision
- Physical or verbal abuse in the home

The greater the number of risk factors, the greater the risk for alcohol or substance abuse.  If you have concerns, talk to your teen, but come to the conversation well informed.  The U.S. Department of Education recommends that parents know the following facts:
- The different types of drugs and their street names
- What each drug and any associated paraphernalia look like
- The physical and behavioral signs of drug abuse
- How to get your child help if you suspect a substance abuse problem

To have questions about your teen's health answered, Dr. Rettig will be available for a live chat on Friday, April 26th at noon at www.oumedicine.com/chat

Dr. Murray stepped down as President of The Hastings Center in June 2012 after having served in that position for 13 years. He was formerly the Director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, where he was also the Susan E. Watson Professor of Bioethics. He serves on many editorial boards and has testified before many Congressional committees.

Among other current posts, Dr. Murray serves as Chair of the Ethical Issues Review Panel for the World Anti-Doping Agency, International Expert Advisor to Singapore’s Bioethics Advisory Committee, and Vice Chair of Charity Navigator. He has been president of the Society for Health and Human Values and of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. Dr. Murray is the author of more than 250 publica-tions, including The Worth of a Child; The Cultures of Caregiving: Conflict and Common Ground Among Families, Health Professionals and Policy Makers, edited with Carol Levine; Genetic Ties and the Family: The Impact of Paternity Testing on Parents and Children, edited with Mark A. Rothstein, Gregory E. Kaebnick, and Mary Anderlik Majumder; Performance-Enhancing Technologies in Sports: Ethical, Conceptual, and Scientific Issues, edited with Karen J. Maschke and Angela A. Wasunna; and, most recently, Trust and Integrity in Biomedical Research: The Case of Financial Conflicts of Interest, edited with Josephine Johnston. He is also editor, with Maxwell J. Mehlman, of the Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal and Policy Issues in Biotechnology. Dr. Murray is currently PI of The Hastings Center’s project, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, on ethics and synthetic biology. He is writing a book on values, drugs, and sport with the working title Why We Play. In 2004 he received an honorary Doctor of Medicine degree from Uppsala University.

Valerie N. Williams, Ph.D., M.P.A., vice provost for academic affairs and faculty development, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) is the association's new chair.  She succeeds Mark R. Laret, chief executive officer of the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center.  A. Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president emeritus of health sciences at the University of Utah, was named chair-elect and will succeed Dr. Williams next year.

In addition to the chair and chair-elect, the AAMC Board of Directors includes the AAMC president and CEO, immediate past chair, and chairs and chairs-elect of the association's three member councils—the Council of Deans, the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems, and the Council of Academic Societies.  The panel also has seven at-large members, including a medical student, a resident physician, and one "public member" not affiliated with the AAMC, a medical school, or a teaching hospital. 
Since joining the OUHSC in 1989, Dr. Williams has served in a variety of faculty development and leadership posts, including associate dean for faculty affairs in the OU College of Medicine and interim associate dean for academic programs in the OU College of Nursing.  Dr. Williams was a longtime faculty member for the AAMC's Women in Medicine and Science Professional Development Programs and a contributor to the AAMC's Minority Faculty Professional Development Program.  She is both the founder and director of the Center for Learning and Leadership/University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service, a federally funded interdisciplinary program designed to develop innovations in practice to better serve people with developmental disabilities and their families.  Dr. Williams also serves as director of the OUHSC Faculty Leadership Program, a campus-wide interprofessional faculty development and mentoring program sponsored by the OU Health Sciences Center provost and college deans.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. AND OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – June 7, 2012 – With a goal of stimulating innovative scientific research to find a cure for diabetes, the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center (HHDC) at the University of Oklahoma today announced the establishment of the Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes. HHDC, a comprehensive center of excellence integrating novel research, world-class patient care, and large-scale prevention programs, will award and administer the $250,000 Prize, one of the largest of its kind in the world, to recognize and promote lasting achievements in diabetes research.

The launch announcement was made in Philadelphia this afternoon by Mr. David L. Boren, President of the University of Oklahoma, and Mr. Harold G. Hamm, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Resources, Inc., who both have Type 2 diabetes and are passionate about diabetes research and care. The announcement comes just prior to the opening of the American Diabetes Association's 72nd Scientific Sessions.

"We can no longer ignore the growing global epidemic that is having a devastating impact on young and old alike and costing health systems worldwide billions of dollars each year," said President Boren. "At the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, we are on a mission to find a cure for diabetes and provide those suffering from the disease with dramatically improved clinical care. Our doctors are dedicated and focused on this mission and the establishment of the Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes will help us extend our reach to support and recognize others who share our passion. I would like to thank Harold Hamm, whose generosity and personal commitment to improving the lives of those with diabetes has led to the establishment of this important Prize."

"My hope is that by launching this major new international research prize, we will light a worldwide fire of scientific innovation toward finding a cure for diabetes within this generation," said Mr. Hamm. "I'm excited to be part of this next chapter in the fight against diabetes and to see the outstanding new research the Prize search will encourage and recognize."

The Prize will be awarded biennially to a laureate selected by a rotating jury of national and international leaders in the field of diabetes. The Prize will be awarded solely on the basis of scientific merit, recognizing scientific breakthroughs in the field of diabetes, either Type 1 or Type 2 (or both), with special emphasis on progress towards a cure. Individual researchers, teams of researchers, and research institutions are eligible for nomination by the jury.

Boren added, "It's fitting that this Prize is being established at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. With Oklahoma ranking fourth in the United States in the prevalence of diabetes, our center has emerged as a world leader in diabetes research, treatment, and prevention. The launch of the Prize is a great opportunity to further expand the center's reach and collaborations to become a national and international leader in this important field. We must continue the momentum to make a meaningful impact on the diabetes health crisis."

The growing severity of the global diabetes epidemic has become a pressing healthcare crisis. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2011, there were 366 million people worldwide with diabetes and by 2030, that number is projected to grow to 552 million. HHDC's mission and its researchers' passion is to be a catalyst for progress for a cure.

To learn more about the Prize and its selection process, please visit www.HaroldHammPrize.org.

###

About the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center

The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma is a comprehensive center of excellence committed to progress toward a cure for diabetes and its complications. The center is a world leader in the field of diabetes, engaging in more than $77 million in extramural grant funding acquired over the past decade, providing dramatically improved care to patients with diabetes, and developing effective strategies for the prevention of the disease. For more information, visit
www.HaroldHammDiabetes.com or follow the Center on Twitter @hammdiabetesctr.

About the University of Oklahoma

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university's academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,600 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 163 majors at the baccalaureate level, 157 majors at the master's level, 81 majors at the doctoral level, 28 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 28 graduate certificates. The university's annual operating budget is $1.5 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

Would you pledge to stay awake after a long week of studying and stay on your feet for 12 consecutive hours to help sick children in Oklahoma? More than 1,600 University of Oklahoma students answered that question with an uproarious "YES!"  The 16th Annual University of Oklahoma Dance Marathon on Saturday, March 3 raised a record-breaking $105,379 to benefit Children's Hospital Foundation.

"The University of Oklahoma Campus Activities Council just hosted our biggest Dance Marathon to date, and we couldn't have done it without the help of thousands of people. We have really branded ourselves as one of the most exciting and promising Dance Marathons in the country and it's going to pay huge dividends for the kids benefiting from Children's Hospital Foundation," said Corbin Carter, Overall Chair for OU Dance Marathon. " To see over 1,600 students help kids with life-threatening illnesses is an inspiring thing to witness. It's all FTK, For the Kids!"

Cheers of "FTK," For the Kids, rang throughout the Huston Huffman Fitness Center from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. as students participated in dodge ball matches, video game competitions, Zumba exercises, and craft projects with Miracle Kids who have benefited from CHF programs.  Every hour, participants learned a section of a choreographed line dance to enhance their enthusiasm. Miracle Kids also participated in a Children's Carnival hosted by OU Dance Marathon which incorporated an inflatable slide, crafts, carnival games, desserts and dancing.

But the real heart of the event was worn on every dancer's a wrist. A hospital wristband displaying a Miracle Kid's photo, their age and diagnosis served as a reminder to students as to why they were standing for 12 hours. During the closing ceremony, Miracle Child Reis and his mother cut off the bracelets to celebrate the total amount raised and symbolize the ability to break free from pediatric illness.  Although Reis was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome at birth, he maintains a passion for swimming despite his struggle with daily living skills. It is stories like these that served as inspiration to the passionate group of students.

The 16th annual event is Oklahoma's largest student-run philanthropic event and is actually the culmination of year-round fundraising efforts to benefit Oklahoma's children. To continue to support OU Dance Marathon, text CMN4KIDS to 50555 and a $5 donation will be charged to your next phone bill. All Mobile Giving donations will be added to the grand total.

OU Dance Marathon is sponsored by BancFirst, BKD, Campus Activities Council, Chipotle, FIT+REC, Healthy Sooners, Information Technology at the University of Oklahoma, IPGI, Nexus, OU Housing and Food, Papa John's Pizza, Student Alumni Association, OU Student Life, Taco Bueno, Union Programming Board, University of Oklahoma Office of the President and Walmart.

Doctors have long believed that a condition known as oxidative stress causes dysfunction in the small, thin cells that line the human heart and blood vessels. Such dysfunction is, in turn, linked to hypertension, high cholesterol levels in the blood and even diabetes.

Oxidative stress occurs when the body's ability to handle free radicals is overwhelmed. Free radicals are highly-reactive molecules that occur naturally in the body as we breathe in oxygen and our cells create energy. They are also produced by external factors such as pollution, sunlight and smoking.

The exact mechanism linking oxidative stress to cardiovascular disease has not been completely understood.

Now, research by a team at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center offers some new insights.  The researchers have uncovered the pathway by which oxidative stress targets cells, thereby heightening the risk for cardiovascular disease.

"The idea was to try to understand the mechanism, and then people can find out how to better treat cardiovascular diseases," said researcher Jian Xu, Ph.D.

Xu, who is also an assistant professor of endocrinology and diabetes at the OU College of Medicine, said the team set out to produce cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension and high blood cholesterol, by using a high fat diet in laboratory models.  Cultures from aortic cells revealed that proteasome had been activated. Dr. Xu explained proteasome's main function is to help eliminate unneeded or damaged proteins by breaking them down.  He called it the body's "protein chopping machine."
 
In their work, researchers found the activation of proteasome reduced the stability of a number of proteins critical for maintaining vascular health. They also discovered this activation was triggered by a reactive and oxidative chemical known as peroxynitrite.
 
"This is kind of the trigger, or culprit, of many malfunctions of the biological system. It is one of the mechanisms explaining why vascular proteins lost stability," said Xu.

Xu stressed that further research is still needed to better understand why some proteins retained stability while others lost it. However, by determining how the chain reaction of these events is set off inside the body, researchers hope to be able to target those mechanisms and open the door to new treatments that could improve medical interventions for cardiovascular disorders.

The research was published online by PLoS ONE.

Grants and funds from the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology and the Warren Chair in Diabetes Research at the OU Health Sciences Center helped support the project.

The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center serves as the focal point for coordinating and expanding numerous avenues of research, patient care, education and prevention that are required to address the diabetes epidemic in a comprehensive manner.  With facilities in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, as well as affiliated sites across the state, the center's main goals are to pursue world-class research aimed at progress toward a cure for diabetes and its complications, provide optimal clinical care for those affected by diabetes, engage in effective strategies and outreach aimed at the prevention of diabetes, and educate people with diabetes, health care providers, and the general public about the challenges posed by the disease.

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center research reveals important differences in care and how it impacts survival in breast cancer patients.

The research found a higher survival rate occurs when patients are treated by surgical oncologists versus general surgeons. That finding mirrored previous studies, but OU Breast Institute researchers didn’t stop there. They also looked at what factors might be causing the difference in survival rates.

"We want to know what are the drivers of that difference," said Dr. William Dooley, principal investigator. "Why is it that the patients of surgical oncologists did better?"

Dooley and fellow researchers Dr. Jinju Bong and Jeanene Parker, PA-C, evaluated data on more than 2,000 breast cancer patients who received primary breast cancer surgical care from 1995 to 2008.

They found the overall survival rate was about nine percent higher for patients treated by surgical oncologists than for those treated by general surgeons. The percentage of those who survived and remained free of disease following surgery was also higher – about eight percent higher.

The study found the improved survival was not linked to the use of different surgical techniques, but due instead to other factors after surgery.

"We found it was actually the follow-through after surgery that was important,” Dooley said.

The study found a higher percentage of patients treated by a surgical oncologist completed all aspects of multi-disciplinary treatment in a timely fashion, complied with all cancer treatment and follow-up care and were involved in clinical trials.

While patients have a responsibility to make sure they complete their treatment plans, he said so do surgeons. The typical hospital model involved a general surgeon handling the surgery and then handing the patient off to other doctors – a medical oncologist and or radiation oncologist, for example – for additional treatment.

"This is a relay race where we're passing batons back and forth," Dooley said, "This study shows that we need to be absolutely sure the hand offs are good.”

Dooley said the study also points to the need to develop better mechanisms to monitor and ensure that all aspects of recommended care are completed in a timely manner.

The study was published in The Annals of Surgical Oncology.

For this matchless record of achievement and contribution to Oklahoma and the nation, the OHEHS welcomes Joseph Jerome Ferretti to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

A worldwide research consortium that includes the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has proven that a new drug is more effective and easier to use than current medicines in the prevention of blood clots following hip replacement surgery.

The results reveal a better way to prevent the formation of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs – a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The blood clots become life-threatening pulmonary embolisms (PE) when they break free and travel to the lungs.

Gary Raskob, Ph.D., an internationally recognized DVT expert and dean of the OU College of Public Health, was co-author and a co-director of the study, which appears as the lead article in this week’s issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The study compared the drug Apixaban, given orally twice a day, to the current standard medicine, Enoxaparin, given twice daily by injection under the skin. 

The randomized, double-blind trial involved more than 5,000 patients and showed Apixaban reduced the risk of blood clots, without increasing bleeding side effects. 

“Each year, about 750,000 Americans undergo hip or knee replacement surgery and that number is growing rapidly. This is a major stride forward as we work toward better prevention of life-threatening blood clots in these patients,” Raskob said.

He added that the development of new oral anticoagulant agents, like Apixaban, has raised hope of a standard of care for DVT prevention that is as effective as or more effective than current standard approaches as well as being equally safe and more convenient for patients.

Raskob also was a primary author in another study published in the same issue of The New England Journal of Medicine focusing on the treatment of patients with established deep vein thrombosis.

“Despite the best current prevention efforts, blood clots still occur. So, it is important to continue to work toward better treatments as well as better ways to prevent blood clots,” he said.

The second clinical trial, which included patients at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, found that the medication Rivaroxaban provided a simple, effective, single-drug approach for both short-term and continued long-term treatment of patients with deep vein thrombosis. Rivaroxaban is given orally in a fixed dose without the need for laboratory blood testing to monitor the anti-clotting effect. Current treatment methods, on the other hand, use two drugs, one given by injections under the skin once or twice a day for 5 to 10 days, followed by an oral medication that requires careful monitoring and dose adjustment based on results of regular blood tests. 

“We are excited to have been able to participate in a study that is helping to advance the way we care for patients with deep vein thrombosis,” said Suman Rathbun, M.D., a vascular medicine specialist at the OU Vascular Center. “Prevention is paramount, but we are not yet able to prevent 100 percent of these blood clots. So, it is important for us to continue to work toward new and improved treatments as well.”

Scientists at OU and their colleagues worldwide are working diligently to find better and more practical tools to prevent and treat blood clots in the legs and lungs.

DVT affects at least 300,000 Americans each year. Most deep-vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. These blood clots can break off and travel through the bloodstream. When a clot travels to the lungs, the condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE), a serious condition that can cause damage to the lungs and death.

Researchers stress that while the results of the research released today are encouraging, the medications studied are not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 
The studies were funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Bayer Schering Pharma and Ortho-McNeil.

The research already has sparked a clinical trial in California, and the FDA-approved drug, Gefitinib, should be in clinical trials at OU’s cancer center and others nationwide in about a year. The research appears in the latest issue of Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

C.V. Rao, Ph.D., and his team of researchers were able to show for the first time that a drug used in current chemotherapy for later stages of pancreatic cancer had a dramatic effect if used earlier. 

With low doses of Gefitinib, which has no known side effects at this level, scientists were able to not only stop pancreatic cancer tumors from growing, but after 41 weeks of treatment, the cancer was gone.

"This is one of the most important studies in pancreatic cancer prevention,” Rao said. "Pancreatic cancer is a poorly understood cancer and the focus has been on treatment in the end stages. But, we found if you start early, there will be a much greater benefit. Our goal is to block the spread of the cancer. That is our best chance at beating this disease."

The Oklahoma cancer center research team said the finding points to an effective way to stop pancreatic cancer before it reaches later stages of development where the survival rate drops below 6 percent.

Currently, most pancreatic cancer is not identified until the later stages. However, research is moving closer to the development of an early detection test for pancreatic cancer. When that is in place, Oklahoma cancer center researchers believe they now have a method to target the cancer before it spreads.

Rao said OU officials and researchers will meet with other centers, including M.D. Anderson, whose specialists called the research "provocative," to discuss a pilot study in early 2011. Researchers hope to begin a Phase II clinical trial at the centers within 18 months. A Phase I trial is not required since the drug already has approval for human use from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The clinical trials will focus on at-risk patients, particularly those with an inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis. The drug also could help other high risk populations, including patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer and American Indian populations or others with Type 2 diabetes.

Gefitinib works by targeting signals of a gene that is among the first to mutate when pancreatic cancer is present. By targeting the signal for tumor growth expressed by the mutated gene, researchers were able to stop the cancer’s procession.

"This gene is the key in 95 percent of cases of pancreatic cancer. It is our best target," Rao said. "By targeting this gene, we can activate or inactivate several other genes and processes down the line."

Rao said the drug also could be effective in lung and colorectal cancer, but it is not known if it would work as well as in pancreatic cancer. The OU College of Pharmacy is assisting in the development of drugs and imaging techniques needed to further test Gefitinib with patients.

Rao’s research was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Located at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center is Oklahoma’s only comprehensive academic cancer center, with significant programs in prevention, research, treatment and education. The center is working toward a National Cancer Institute “designated cancer center” status, the gold-standard of cancer research and treatment. More than 100 Ph.D.-level scientists are conducting innovative research at the center, and patients from every county in Oklahoma are treated by one of the largest oncology physicians groups in the state.    

Neuromuscular neurologists diagnose and treat disorders of the peripheral nervous system such as myasthenia gravis, myopathy, peripheral neuropathy, chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy (nerve swelling and inflammation that leads to a loss of movement or sensation), diabetic neuropathy and neuropathic pain.

De Sousa is board certified in neurology, electrodiagnostic medicine and neuromuscular medicine. He comes to OU Physicians from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, where he was assistant professor of neurology, director of the electromyography (EMG) lab and acting division chief for neuromuscular disorders. He performs nerve conduction studies and EMG.

De Sousa completed a fellowship in peripheral neuropathy at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York City, and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Drexel University MCP/Hahnemann Hospitals, Philadelphia, where he also completed his residency and internship. He earned his medical degree in Brazil.

De Sousa is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

With more than 500 doctors, OU Physicians is the state’s largest physician group. The practice encompasses almost every adult and child specialty. Many OU Physicians have expertise in the management of complex conditions that is unavailable anywhere else in the state, region or sometimes even the nation. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world firsts.

OU Physicians see patients in their offices at the OU Health Sciences Center and in Edmond, Enid and other cities around Oklahoma. When hospitalization is necessary, they often admit patients to OU Medical Center. Many also care for their patients in other hospitals around the metro area. OU Physicians serve as faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and train the region’s future physicians.

Prior to joining the Oklahoma Cancer Center, Ikeguchi was in private practice in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area since 2002. She had previously been in private practice in White Plains N.Y.

She completed her medical education Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, N.Y. This included a fellowship in hematology-oncology, an internal medicine residency and internship and earning her medical degree.

 Ikeguchi is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.

The Oklahoma Cancer Center is unique in Oklahoma in that it combines significant research programs with the highest standard of patient services and training for the next generation of health care professionals. Staffed by doctors from OU Physicians, the state's largest physician group, the Cancer Center is on track to be designated as Oklahoma's only "comprehensive cancer center" by the National Cancer Institute. Multidisciplinary teams of OU Physicians provide cancer patients with the highest standard of care as they move the latest research into the newest treatment options.

Sestak is board certified in pediatrics and board eligible in pediatric rheumatology. She was most recently a research assistant member of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). She completed a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, where she also earned her medical degree and doctorate in genetics.

Sestak graduated from Edmond Memorial High School and was named a Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar at OMRF while in high school.

She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Rheumatology and Children’s Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance.

OU Children’s Physicians practice as part of OU Physicians, Oklahoma’s largest physician group. The group encompasses nearly every child and adult medical specialty.

Nearly 150 of these specialists committed their practices to the care of children. The majority of OU Children’s Physicians are board-certified in children’s specialties. Many provide pediatric-specific services unavailable elsewhere in the state. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world firsts.

OU Children’s Physicians see patients in their offices at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and other cities around Oklahoma. When hospitalization is necessary, they often admit patients to The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center. Many children with birth defects, critical injuries or serious diseases who can’t be helped elsewhere come to OU Children’s Physicians. Oklahoma doctors and parents rely on OU Children’s Physicians depth of experience, nationally renowned expertise and sensitivity to children’s emotional needs.

Song has also been named assistant professor of pediatrics in the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine section at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, and director of the Mother-Baby Unit at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.

Song is board certified in pediatrics and board-eligible in neonatal-perinatal medicine. She completed a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at LAC+USC Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at the University of Southern California. She completed a pediatrics residency at Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned her medical degree at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Song is a certified Neonatal Resuscitation Program Regional Trainer and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics.

OU Children’s Physicians practice as part of OU Physicians, Oklahoma’s largest physician group. The group encompasses nearly every child and adult medical specialty.

 Nearly 150 of these specialists committed their practices to the care of children. The majority of OU Children’s Physicians are board-certified in children’s specialties. Many provide pediatric-specific services unavailable elsewhere in the state. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world firsts.

OU Children’s Physicians see patients in their offices at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and other cities around Oklahoma. When hospitalization is necessary, they often admit patients to The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center. Many children with birth defects, critical injuries or serious diseases who can’t be helped elsewhere come to OU Children’s Physicians. Oklahoma doctors and parents rely on OU Children’s Physicians depth of experience, nationally renowned expertise and sensitivity to children’s emotional needs.

• Outpatient Services -- for Radiology and Outpatient Services at OU Medical Center
• Children’s Hospitals and Clinics -- for The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center
• Physician Office Settings -- for OU Physicians clinics

 “At OU Medicine, we have a commitment to providing outstanding patient care in our clinics, the hospital and our outpatient services,” said Brian Maddy, chief executive officer of OU Physicians. “To us, this means not only searching out and providing the latest in technology and treatment methods, but also in the caring way in which those treatments are delivered. Our physicians, staff and administration embrace this philosophy.”

Studer Group®, a Gulf Breeze, Florida-based outcomes firm, presented the 2010 Excellence in Patient Care awards to 49 organizations during the annual conference held in Dallas, in October. Recipients were nominated by Studer Group coaches, with final selections made by the firm’s senior leaders.
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OU Medicine is the partnership among the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, the OU Medical Center including The Children's Hospital, OU Physicians and the University Hospitals Authority and Trust and the patient care, medical education and research programs and services they provide. OU Medical Center, including The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center is Oklahoma's largest and most comprehensive hospital. It provides a full range of hospital services for every patient, from the smallest neonate to the most critically ill senior. 

With more than 475 doctors, OU Physicians is the state's largest physician group and encompasses almost every adult and child specialty. About 160 of these doctors are OU Children's Physicians, many providing pediatric-specific services unavailable elsewhere in the state.

Smith completed a fellowship in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at Baylor University Medical Center,      Dallas. She completed her residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where she also earned her medical degree. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology at Oklahoma Christian University, Edmond, and graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School where she was an All-State Basketball player.

Smith is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.     

With more than 475 doctors, OU Physicians is the state’s largest physician group. The practice encompasses almost every adult and child specialty. Many OU Physicians have expertise in the management of complex conditions that is unavailable anywhere else in the state, region or sometimes even the nation. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world firsts.

OU Physicians see patients in their offices at the OU Health Sciences Center and in Edmond, Enid and other cities around Oklahoma. When hospitalization is necessary, they often admit patients to OU Medical Center. Many also care for their patients in other hospitals around the metro area. OU Physicians serve as faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and train the region’s future physicians.