Aug

Scientists puzzled by severe allergic reaction to cancer drug in the Middle Southern U.S.

CHAPEL HILL - A patient's expectations about the side effects of chemotherapy usually focus on nausea, hair loss, fatigue and other side effects. Worries about severe allergic reactions to their therapy is usually not a concern.

UNC to lead early brain development in autism research network

CHAPEL HILL - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of six centers of excellence nationwide selected to take part in a new autism research project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

UNC establishes center for bipolar disorder research, treatment

CHAPEL HILL - The UNC School of Medicine has established a new center aimed at studying the causes of bipolar disorder and developing new treatments for the condition.

North Carolina legislators establish University Cancer Research Fund

CHAPEL HILL - The North Carolina General Assembly created the state's first University Cancer Research Fund with the passage of the new state budget. The fund, established to accelerate cancer research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Medicine and its Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, will provide $25 million in 2007-2008 and is slated to increase to $50 million per year beginning in 2009.

UNC Health Care expands treatment options with CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system

CHAPEL HILL - Last week UNC Health Care began treating patients with the CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system, a groundbreaking medical device that is designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy.

Mammography at UNC Health Care goes all digital

CHAPEL HILL - Starting Sept. 5, all mammography performed by UNC Health Care will be done with digital breast imaging equipment. With this move, UNC Hospitals becomes the first large tertiary medical center in North Carolina to completely eliminate film screen mammography in favor of the newer digital breast imaging technology.

Fire-safe cigarette bill advocated by N.C. Jaycee Burn Center signed into law

CHAPEL HILL - Today N.C. Gov. Mike Easley signed into law a bill requiring that only "fire-safe" cigarettes be sold within North Carolina. The governor's action was welcomed by medical professionals at UNC Health Care who were instrumental in launching the North Carolina Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes earlier this year, which advocated for passage of such a law.

UNC study questions FDA genetic-screening guidelines for cancer drug

CHAPEL HILL - Not everyone needs a genetic test before taking the cancer drug irinotecan, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should modify its prescription guidelines to say so, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Defects in critical gene lead to accelerated lung tumor growth

CHAPEL HILL - Cancer causing mutations occur in our bodies every day - but luckily, we have specific genes that recognize these malignant events and keep cells from growing out of control. Only a few of these genes - called tumor suppressors - are currently known.

Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative has successful first year, UNC evaluation finds

CHAPEL HILL - A new program aimed at reducing tobacco use among North Carolina college students was successful in its first year of operation, according to an evaluation by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers.

UnitedHealthcare and UNC Health Care sign long-term contract

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE UNH) company, has signed a three-year contract with the University of North Carolina Health Care System. The new contract, effective September 15, continues to make available to UnitedHealthcare members the full range of inpatient and outpatient services at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, and Raleigh's Rex Healthcare, as well as UNC Physicians and Rex Physicians.