Category Archives: In the News

ICD-10 Delay, the PLoS Data Policy and more…

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This catch-up edition of Blog Buzz covers events from late February through the first week of April, and has been edited in the interest of brevity.

The last minute patch to the SGR (sustainable growth rate formula for Medicare payments), and delay of the new ICD-10 coding system this past week is big news for hospitals and healthcare providers around the country who have been working toward the previous October 2014 deadline. Below are a few posts on different parts of the law;

Studies in Vitamin D, Gene Mutation in Skin Cancer, and New Research at St. Jude

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Here are a few highlights of cancer research news that have recently caught my attention:

  • Recently two large studies were published linking low vitamin D levels to cancer and other diseases. The first study demonstrates that vitamin D is critically important in physiological processes while also indicating regulation of a very large number of genes either directly or indirectly responsive to vitamin D receptors. In the second study, scientists found evidence that vitamin D protects against numerous illnesses. Both papers were published in the British Medical Journal.
  • Scientists in the UK have identified a gene mutation that may be responsible for cases of melanoma.  The report was published in Nature Genetics.
  • A study led by researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital revealed promising results for treatment of childhood brain tumors using adult cancer drugs. The results were published in the journal Cancer Cell.

Please feel free to contact Marisol Hernandez for comments on the latest cancer research news.

Prestigious Cancer Research Organization Selects MSK’s Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Jose Baselga as President-elect 2014-2015 and more…

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  • The American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) has elected MSK’s Dr. Jose Baselga as President-elect for 2014-2015.  The Association has recognized Dr. Baselga with this honor for his achievements in developing innovative molecularly targeted agents for cancer treatment, especially for breast cancer.  Dr. Baselga will become president in April, 2015.
  • Musician Taylor Swift recently visited children at MSK.  Although her plans were to stay only one hour, she extended the visit to more than four and a half hours and thrilled the patients who met her.  The video shows how comfortable Taylor was interacting with one of the children, Shelby Huff. Continue reading →