May

Toddlers with autism more likely to have enlarged amygdala, UNC study finds

In addition, this brain abnormality appears to be associated with the ability to share attention with others, a fundamental ability thought to predict later social and language function in children with autism.

Nanocapsules overcome chemotherapy resistance

New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers hope to cancer doctors and patients facing the heartbreaking situation of multidrug resistance, when chemotherapy fails to slow down or stop the growth of cancer.

UNC study: new approach promises greater success for predicting drug safety

A new UNC study published online in the journal Genome Research describes a new, more effective and less costly method for testing drugs for potential toxicity and one that could also result in more people benefiting from existing drugs.

New Genetic Medicine Research Building to be dedicated May 6

Construction of the new building was completed in October 2008.

UNC-Duke study: Impaired brain plasticity linked to Angelman syndrome learning deficits

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and Duke University find that impaired brain plasticity may explain how disruption of a single gene in the brain can cause severe cognitive deficits.

The Family House Diaries: Blessings and Lessons from a High-Risk Pregnancy

This is the first in a new series from UNC Health Care that focuses on the stories of UNC Hospitals patients and their families who live in the SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals while receiving or awaiting treatment.

UNC Health Care offers help for pregnancy-related anxiety and depression

In November, UNC Health Care opened what might be the only inpatient perinatal psychiatry program in the country.

Study shows chemotherapy improves survival among older breast cancer patients

A new study, published in the May 14 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, shows that chemotherapy in addition to surgery or surgery and radiation improves survival among older women with breast cancer.

UNC study identifies genetic cause of most common form of breast cancer

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that defects in one tumor-suppressor gene, called p18, may override the rest, eventually leading to cancer.

18-year-old from Uganda comes to UNC Hospitals for heart repair procedure

UNC Project-Uganda, which has worked in Uganda for the last three years, is now bringing a patient to UNC Hospitals for a heart repair procedure that can't be done in Uganda. Several charitable organizations are playing key roles in this effort.

Baseball tips for parents: Keeping your slugger off the DL

UNC's Dr. Alex Creighton offers tips to help parents and their kids enjoy an injury-free baseball season.

Landmark UNC-led study finds radiofrequency ablation is effective treatment for Barrett’s esophagus

This study, published in the May 28, 2009 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, finds that radiofrequency ablation is highly effective in eradicating dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia in people with Barrett's esophagus.

Second annual Battle Award recognizes groundbreaking cancer research

The award, established in 2007 by the Battle Foundation of Rocky Mount, recognizes exceptional cancer research at the medical school and comes with a $25,000 prize. The Battle Award fund is a permanent endowment held by The Medical Foundation of North Carolina, Inc.

Grilling safety: How to enjoy a safe Memorial Day cook-out

Hundreds of people in the U.S. suffer serious, even life-threatening burns in grilling accidents each year. With the Memorial Day weekend at hand, a burn care professional explains what you can do to enjoy a safe grilling season.

Some like it hot: human nose too cold for bird flu

A new study by scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and Imperial College, London, in the U.K suggests that avian influenza finds the temperature in the human nose too cold a place to infect and replicate.

'Eating for two' has consequences for mom and baby

A new study finds that women who eat an extra 500 calories a day during pregnancy increase their risk of gaining too much weight by 10 percent. Gaining too much weight is linked with complications at birth, such as pre-eclampsia or requiring a C-section, as well as higher odds that both mom and child will be obese later in life.

University Cancer Research Fund creates winning research partnership

A disagreement between Nancy Allbritton, M.D., Ph.D. and David Lawrence, Ph.D. over which cancer -- breast or prostate -- should be the higher priority in their partnership resulted in two successful NIH grant proposals. Lawrence is taking the lead on a prostate cancer grant while Allbritton leads a breast cancer grant – totaling almost $5 million over the next five years.

Drug industry marketing direct to consumers and doctors may lead to prescription overuse

A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine shows that direct to consumer advertising was initially linked to more physician visits and that physician promotion was linked to more prescriptions. The findings were presented on Sunday (May 31) at Digestive Disease Week in Chicago.