Dartmouth Medical School Digest
March 2009

News for our community

In this issue

Fascinating clock rhythms
A Dartmouth Medical School research team has discovered a potential target to exploit against the effects of jet lag and shift work that can wreak havoc on one's daily rhythm. Their study, reported in the February 24 Current Biology, sheds light on the internal circadian clock , the master control of for a a wide range of human body functions.. Dr. Jay Dunlap's and a team focused on a key gene that seems to regulate the response of the circadian clock to light signals.

Aspirin benefits
Aspirin can reduce the recurrence of polyps that can progress to colorectal cancer, and subsequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can prolong the benefits, DMS researchers report. The findings by Dr. John Baron and colleagues were reported in a pair of articles February 10 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. They reinforce prior evidence that aspirin and related drugs can help reduce colon cancer risk.

Taming health spending
The wide regional variations in heath care spending offer lessons for reform to curb costs, according to a Dartmouth Atlas Project analysis of Medicare spending. The perspective, by lead-author Dr. Elliott Fisher, appeared in the February 26 New England Journal of Medicine. Inefficiencies in the US system are hamstringing the nation's ability to expand access to care in a system that rewards physicians for providing care even when not needed, say the authors.

Pain research award
A DMS scientist has won the American Pain Society's 2009 Frederick W. L. Kerr Basic Science Research Award. Dr. Joyce DeLeo was recognized for her pain scholarship and will be honored May 7 at the Society's annual scientific meeting.

VA award
A DMS physician has been recognized for his contributions toward improving VA health care and advancing its research. Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, MD, MPH has received the 2009 Under Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research.

National Cancer Designation
The Norris Cotton Cancer Center's recognition as a comprehensive cancer center has been renewed. The National Cancer Institute recently approved its designation for another five years. The distinction, accorded 40 centers nationwide, is based on a broad spectrum patient care, research, education and prevention and service.


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