Diabetic neuropathy, a progressive, painful nerve disorder, has been considered irreversible with no surgical treatment available in Arizona until now. A. Lee Dellon, MD, clinical professor of plastic surgery in the UA Department of Surgery, who pioneered a new approach to treating diabetic neuropathy, along with Christopher T. Maloney, Jr., MD, UA clinical assistant professor, now are performing and teaching the procedure at UMC.
Diabetic neuropathy can have devastating effects. Damaged nerves cut circulation and weaken muscles, producing progressive numbness and pain. Fine blood vessels and nerves are destroyed, leading in some cases to ulcers and amputation.
"In patients who have diabetes, the tiny nerves in the knee, top of the foot and at the ankle are swollen and become pinched or compressed," says Dr. Dellon. The innovative approach developed by Dr. Dellon surgically decompresses the nerves, restoring blood flow and relieving pain. "This procedure has been very successful at preventing ulceration and amputation in patients with diabetes," he says.
An estimated 50 percent of individuals with diabetes eventually will develop nerve damage, says Dr. Dellon, who also practices in Baltimore. Nerve damage occurs in people who have had diabetes because their blood sugar level is higher than normal. Over time, high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels and nerves, causing either pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands and arms.
College of Public Health to Study Effects of Teas on Lung Cancer and Oxidative Stress
Researchers at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health have been awarded two grants totaling $3.12 million over four years to study the effects of tea on preventing disease. One study will look at preventing lung cancer among former heavy smokers and the other on minimizing oxidative stress, a naturally occurring reaction in the human body that, when enhanced, may contribute to lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
The first study, funded by a $1.26 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense, is looking at the effects of green and black tea on minimizing oxidative stress in heavy smokers and former heavy smokers. Smoking enhances oxidative stress and may lead to tissue damage even after people cease smoking. Participants in this study should have some form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The second study, funded by a $1.86 million award from the National Institutes of Health, aims to determine whether drinking green tea can prevent lung cancer in former heavy smokers. This study is a three-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. It will use green tea intervention among former smokers with more than or equal to 40 "pack-years" of smoking history.
Participants interested in volunteering for either study should call, Mary Lurie, at the Southeastern Arizona Tea Studies' office, Arizona College of Public Health, 321-7444, ext. 12.
Annual Report Wins Award
The Arizona Cancer Center's 2000-2001 Annual Report, An Oncology Odyssey, won an Award of Excellence from the Tucson Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators' annual "Cactus Quill" statewide competition. The Arizona Cancer Center's Laurie Young, director of development and communication, and Donna Breckenridge, editor and publications manager, received the award at a presentation held in June. Also honored were Darla Keneston, senior graphic designer, and Margaret Hartshorn, senior photographer, both from Biomedical Communications. A full list of awards and awardees can be viewed at http://tucson.iabc.com/cactusquill.html.
Migrant Health Program Wins Award
The Migrant Health Education Program (MHEP) received the Project of the Year Award from the Arizona Rural Health Association at its recent conference, "Preserving Arizona's Rural Health Safety Net." The MHEP program is coordinated by pre-medical students and provides monthly, free health education and physicals to pre-school children of farm workers in Maricopa County. In addition, the students and physician volunteers provide mammograms and clinical breast exams on site to mothers and grandmothers. The program utilizes students, volunteer teachers, interpreters, doctors and nurses in providing the free health clinics. The community outreach program was started by a small group of ASU pre-medical students who are members of F.A.C.E.S.
Fostering and Achieving Cultural Equity and Sensitivity in Health Professions organization. F.A.C.E.S. is a statewide group whose ASU chapter is sponsored by the Office of Minority Affairs at the AHSC Phoenix Campus. The clinics are becoming official Caring for Underserved Populations (CUP) sites, a program that provides medical students at AHSC in Phoenix an opportunity to volunteer at the clinics and receive hour-for-hour clinical credit. For more info, contact Juanita Francis, RN, MBA, (602) 631-6575.
Students Applying to Medical School
Now Required to Indicate Clinical
Campus of Choice
For the first time, beginning with the entering class in 2004, 70 students will be assigned
to Tucson and 40 students to Phoenix.
Students applying to medical school will be required to
fill out a Clinical Campus Preference Form
indicating which campus they would like to be assigned
for clinical rotations. For more information, visit
website www.ahsc.arizona.edu/phoenix/admissions.htm.
Phoenix Campus Receives $30,000 Gift from Stardust Foundation
The AHSC Phoenix Campus received a donation for $30,000 from the Stardust Foundation to enhance computer services and server needs for the campus. The Stardust Foundation supports many community organizations and its main commitment is to help the working poor.
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