UF HSC Headlines

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UF HSC Headlines


  • ShandsCair to expand service into Marion County with base, helicopter
    ShandsCair, the air medical and critical care transport system for Shands at the University of Florida, is expanding its horizons and flight capabilities by setting up a second base in Marion County, complete with a second helicopter. On Feb. 15, ShandsCair will launch “ShandsCair 2” in Marion County, just south of Ocala. The ShandsCair 2 [...]
  • Commonly used vitamin could help produce ‘good’ cholesterol, UF researchers find
    Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can keep heart disease, heart attack and stroke away. And a commonly used vitamin could help by increasing production of “good” cholesterol in the body, researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville have found. The findings were published recently in the journal Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental. Physicians have long [...]
  • Targeting tumors may help stop spread of breast, other cancers
    Cancer that has spread from the site of an original tumor to other places in the body is often viewed as a death sentence. But if there are just a few of those secondary tumors, called metastases, some patients have a good chance of survival if treated with a type of radiation that precisely targets [...]
  • Toxic mushrooms don’t belong on pet’s menu
    From salads to sauces and pizza toppings, mushrooms are a delicious fungus enjoyed worldwide. Unfortunately, some species are poisonous, and pets can’t tell the difference. When rainfall and humidity are high, wild mushrooms pop up overnight. Curious pups can gobble up these toxic treats, leading to serious illness. In general, poisonous shrooms can cause one [...]
  • Where Birds of a Feather Do Their Flocking
    We know that birds of a feather flock together. But a new “state of the birds” report tells us where they do their flocking. The report was based on a survey of the nearly 1 billion acres of land and 4 million square miles of water that comprise public property in the United States. The [...]
  • Are dogs the mine-shaft canaries for Lyme disease?
    Like canaries in a mine shaft, animals can act as sentinels for human illness. Researchers have wondered if this might be the case for Lyme disease. Both dogs and people are susceptible to this tickborne disease, suggesting that rates of canine infection may mirror human risk. Using blood tests from dogs in 46 states, scientists [...]
  • Mother nature gets help healing injured Florida wildlife
    The Sunshine State prides itself on the Panthers, the Dolphins, and other wild teams, with physicians and trainers ready to take care of any injured players. In the natural world, their injured namesakes are often left to the mercies of Mother Nature. But over the years, a series of rescue centers have sprung up in [...]
  • Golden messages are a sign of feline stress
    When a cat starts spraying, people sometimes think that Felix has an attitude. But this unsavory habit is usually a sign of stress, not disrespect. Unsettling changes that can set off a stressed kitty include visitors, a new pet, bringing home a new baby, a family member moving out, or strange noises or smells. The [...]
  • Canine bone cancer study offers hope of better treatment for kids
    Bone cancer is a tragic disease that often strikes young people. But, new research into bone cancer in dogs offers hope of improved treatment for kids. Only dogs and people develop bone tumors with any frequency, and the two forms of cancer are very similar. New research has found a genetic pattern that distinguishes aggressive [...]
  • Is Coggins testing a victim of its own success?
    Most horse owners know they need a Coggins test before trailering their horse and heading to a show or another state. But some may not know the purpose of the test. Over the past 40 years, this U.S.-based testing has identified more than 100,000 cases of equine infectious anemia, a deadly viral disease. But is [...]
  • Cats Roam Far and Wide
    Think your outdoor cat just hangs around the house at night? Think again! In a recent study, researchers fitted 18 pet cats and 24 feral ones with transmitter collars. Even though the household tabbies tended to sleep much of the time, they roamed over five acres. Even more amazing is that the more active feral [...]
  • Avoid this bug!
    Ever hear of beaver fever? No, it’s not the excitement of a winning season by your local college team. Nor is it the name of a real fever. It’s a nickname for giardiasis, [JEE′-ARE-DYE′′-A-SIS] a parasitic disease. Wildlife carry Giardia [JEE-ARE′-DEE-A] organisms, and dogs pick them up from consuming feces or contaminated water. This single-celled [...]
  • Equine Wobblers
    Horses loping effortlessly though a pasture are a beautiful sight. But some steeds aren’t so sure footed. In the insidious wobbler syndrome, horses have a characteristic stumbling, wobbly gait. Seen mostly in young male horses, the condition is caused by a narrowing of the bones in the neck, called the cervical vertebrae. The resulting compression [...]
  • Truth or consequences
    “But I feed very little, and never scraps.” When the owner of an obese dog tells this fib, veterinarians know it’s not the truth. Owners are sometimes less than honest about other things as well, from bathroom habits to chew toys and medications. They may fear being judged or thought to be not very knowledgeable. [...]
  • “Dumb dog” not an accurate phrase
    The phrase “dumb dog” may be an oxymoron. Research shows that canine intelligence is at about the level of a human 2-year-old. Dogs can learn more than a hundred words, count to four and grasp basic arithmetic. One highly trained Border collie named Chaser knows more than a thousand nouns and can link them with [...]
  • $10 million Wells Foundation gift will enable UF to speed brain tumor remedies
    A $10 million gift from the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Inc. to the University of Florida department of neurosurgery will help medical scientists better understand the causes of brain tumors and lead to effective treatments and improved quality of life for patients, UF officials announced today. The Fort Lauderdale-based foundation’s gift will establish the Lillian [...]
  • Air quality precautions temporarily shutter small number of UF offices, laboratory
    Select areas of the Medical Sciences Building at the University of Florida were back in business Friday after closing temporarily Thursday afternoon because of asbestos concerns. UF’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety secured three areas of the building Thursday after air tests during routine asbestos abatement revealed higher than regulatory-approved levels for long-term occupancy. [...]
  • Dog survives coral snake bite after emergency treatment at UF
    “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black won’t hurt Jack” might be a familiar folk rhyme in Florida and elsewhere in the deep South to distinguish the deadly Eastern coral snake from the harmless scarlet king snake. But Larry Ferguson, who recently moved to Gainesville from Arkansas, had never heard of a coral [...]
  • UF, Shands preparing new employee health insurance plan
    The University of Florida and Shands are working to create a new model for offering health and wellness insurance to provide more cost-effective, customized care and better health outcomes for employees and their dependents. The new health plan, to be called GatorCare, is expected to be effective January 2013, with open enrollment occurring for most [...]
  • UF cardiologists, surgeons team up to offer life-extending procedure
    For patients who have severe narrowing of the aortic valve, a condition known as aortic stenosis, standard treatment is surgical replacement of the damaged valve. But advanced age or medical problems such as lung disease prevent many of those patients from having open chest surgery. In the past, the best such patients could hope for [...]
  • UF&Shands Park Avenue Imaging Center receives excellence accreditation
    The Park Avenue Imaging Center, a diagnostic facility of the UF&Shands Breast Center, has received national accreditation from the American College of Radiology for stereotactic breast biopsies. This recognition, along with its existing accreditation for mammography and breast ultrasound, makes it the first ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in north central Florida. Stereotactic breast [...]
  • Cuts in medical research bad for health, jobs
    Special to the St. Petersburg Times Threats of extensive cuts to federal support for medical research deserve the attention of Floridians who expect continued improvement in medical care — and who hope to see the state grow its innovation economy. Click to access full release.
  • Renowned UF neurosurgeon to be honored for his life’s work
    Albert L. Rhoton Jr., M.D., almost became a social worker. But with just one semester to go as an undergraduate, he found love in his physiological psychology class, where he was first exposed to the mysteries and wonders of the human brain. “The function of the brain turned me on so much, I decided that [...]
  • UF researchers develop gene therapy that could correct a common form of blindness
    A new gene therapy method developed by University of Florida researchers has the potential to treat a common form of blindness that strikes both youngsters and adults. The technique works by replacing a malfunctioning gene in the eye with a normal working copy that supplies a protein necessary for light-sensitive cells in the eye to [...]
  • New drug could help reduce heart attack risk for cardiac patients awaiting surgery
    Heart patients who have stents that prop open blocked arteries often face a dilemma when they need open heart surgery: Continue taking life-saving blood thinners but risk severe bleeding during surgery, or stop taking the medicines and risk a heart attack. Now, researchers from the University of Florida and elsewhere have identified a new drug [...]
  • Stallion treated at UF becomes ‘model’ horse
    An American Drum Horse stallion named Mariah’s Boon was a model patient at the University of Florida’s Large Animal Hospital between 2008 and 2009, when he received two surgeries and numerous checkups for an abdominal abscess caused by a small wire that had penetrated his stomach. Now, quite literally, and at only 6 years of [...]
  • UF clinic offers free hearing loss, lip-reading classes
    The University of Florida Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Gainesville chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of Florida will offer “Living with Hearing Loss,” a series of free classes for people with hearing impairment. The education series includes four free classes: “Coping with Hearing Loss,” “A Thousand Ways to Say ‘Huh,’” “Handling Difficult Listening [...]
  • Plant-based supplement potentially can help older adults maintain weight loss
    Losing weight sometimes seems like a losing battle; most people who drop pounds by restricting the number of calories they eat eventually regain the lost weight. That’s because hormonal changes associated with weight loss prod people to eat more as the body tries to defend itself against the perceived “hardship.” Researchers at the University of [...]
  • Parkinson treatment shows positive results in clinical testing
    Researchers from the University of Florida and 14 additional medical centers reported results today in the online version of The Lancet Neurology journal indicating that deep brain stimulation — also known as DBS — is effective at improving motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. The study, sponsored by St. [...]
  • Patients and their visitors get free parking beginning today at UF&Shands
    When you’re already concerned about your health, the last thing you want to worry about is paying to park your car. That’s why starting today, UF&Shands, the University of Florida Academic Health Center, will offer free parking to patients and their families and guests. “Quality is Job 1 at UF&Shands, and convenient access is an [...]
  • UF study: Educational program lowers incidence of back pain in soldiers
    A program of core strengthening exercises was no better than traditional sit-ups for preventing back pain in soldiers, according to a new University of Florida study. But combining both exercise programs with a brief educational session on back pain strategies did lower the incidence of treatment for back pain. The results of the study appear [...]
  • Child safety means speaking “canine-ese”
    When meeting a new dog, children naturally want to give it a big hug. But that kind of behavior can get a youngster bitten, because dogs and people don’t necessarily read situations the same way. To avoid accidents, children and their parents need to learn canine body language, and how human body language can be [...]
  • Retired canine corps earns spot in the sun
    We thank our men and women in uniform for their courageous service and support their transition to civilian life. But another group of military personnel also deserves credit. Through World War II, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, the brave fighters of the canine corps risked their lives protecting others. Sadly, often their reward after years of [...]
  • Grammar is for the birds
    Happy birds chirp and sing and tweet, but does all this chatter mean anything? New Japanese research suggests that not only do these sounds have meaning, but the order of the tweets may form a rudimentary form of birdy grammar. Observing finches, researchers noted that the song of one male elicited a burst of calls [...]
  • Wild predators find Yorkies yummy
    An eagle effortlessly soaring through the sky and a stealthy bobcat stalking an autumn field are wondrous views of nature’s majesty. But as we admire their natural beauty, we tend to forget that these striking creatures are also skilled hunters that sometimes attack pet animals for a meal. Small dogs and cats left outdoors are [...]
  • Laughter and a happy tail wag are the best medicine
    A happy tail wag makes just about everybody smile. Accompanied by their owners, therapy dogs visit hospitals and nursing homes, spreading special medicine to help patients recover from everything from depression to cancer surgery. These canine volunteers lift spirits, encourage interaction and reduce stress. The dogs love it too, and tails really get going when [...]
  • Don’t let your trotter become a lobster
    Summer fun can turn into too much sun for you and your horse. Like people, horses can sunburn, especially on the nonpigmented skin of the eyes and muzzle. To make it worse, chemicals in plants like buckwheat, as well as certain antibiotics, can lead to a condition called photosensitization, in which any sun exposure leads [...]
  • Do dizzying pet food choices have you in a spin?
    Wet, dry or semi-moist. Feed-mill special or gourmet feast. Pet-food choices seem endless, with stores offering a dizzying array of alternatives. Selection becomes simpler when you remember that marketing efforts are actually focused on you and not on your pet. After all, your dog doesn’t really care if meal time looks like stew or is [...]
  • Holy bat wings!
    Batman glides silently through Gotham City on his cape. Real bats use flexible membranes spread between their hands and arms. But not all bats maneuver the same way. There are a thousand different species. Some fly like butterflies, while others fly more like helicopters. Researchers have learned that the control of this aerial diversity is [...]
  • Bad chews can lead to sudden surgery
    Goats have been known to eat anything from cans to money. But the same can be said of many dogs. Our furry friends love to chew rocks, sticks, bones and clothing, with many items being swallowed whole or in parts. These inedible objects often smell like food or have the owner’s scent. Any dogs can [...]
  • An angry crow is an enemy forever
    An elephant never forgets, but what about birds? Research suggests that angry crows can hold a grudge for years and can even communicate this feud to others. Wearing special masks, researchers banded and released crows at several sites near Seattle. This ruffled a lot of feathers, leading to angry caws and dive bombing by released [...]
  • Finding Nemo’s nemesis
    They’ve starred in everything from Jules Verne novels to Hollywood blockbusters. Now one’s been discovered off Jensen Beach. This summer, Florida fishermen hauled in a 25-foot giant squid. This is by no means a record, as these sea creatures have been recorded to reach 60 feet long and weigh more than half a ton. The [...]
  • New UF master’s degree to help doctors become better teachers
    The University of Florida has established a new master’s degree program geared toward helping physicians be better teachers and training them to be scholars in the field. The colleges of Education and Medicine have joined forces to offer an online joint master’s degree program, which will begin in the fall and is open to physicians [...]
  • UF, Moffitt researchers find blood cancer may be more common than realized
    A group of life-threatening blood disorders collectively called myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, may occur four times more often than reported by national cancer registries, according to new research from the University of Florida based on data from Medicare claims. MDS occurs when the body’s blood factory does not produce healthy red or white blood cells [...]
  • VA, UF to collaborate on new physician assistant pilot program
    The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved a new Physician Assistant Residency Pilot Program in Primary Care at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. It is one of six in the country. The program, which is a collaboration between the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System and the University Of Florida College of Medicine [...]
  • UF equine lameness experts help save horse’s life
    Terri Rines trained with her horse, First Cadet, five days a week in Melbourne, Fla. And five days a week, First Cadet jumped over cavallettis, which are training poles, without a problem. But one day in January, First Cadet stumbled over a cavalletti and injured her right leg. Progressively, her leg got worse. First Cadet [...]
  • Joyous caroling fills the HSC hallways
    UF and Shands faculty and staff gathered to sing holiday carols in the Founders Gallery of the Academic Research Building at the UF Health Science Center December, 16.
  • Two UF veterinarians honored by alma mater
    University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members Michael Schaer, D.V.M., a professor of small animal medicine, and Dennis Brooks, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor of ophthalmology, both recently received the Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and its alumni association. The award, presented during the [...]
  • UF professor of veterinary surgery receives international honor
    Dan Lewis, D.V.M., a professor of small animal surgery at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named the 2012 recipient of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Hill’s Mobility Award. The WSAVA’s Hills Mobility award recognizes the outstanding work of a clinical researcher in the field of canine and feline orthopedic [...]
  • UF receives $2.5 million to establish rural public health training center
    The University of Florida has received $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop public health workforce education programs and community health projects for rural Florida residents. The UF College of Public Health and Health Professions is one of 10 public health schools to receive 2011 Public Health Training Center [...]
  • Gifts help lift the spirits of NICU parents
    Families in the Shands at the University of Florida Neonatal Intensive Care Unit received gifts donated by the Solbach family, whose child graduated from the NICU last year. Ryan and Brittany Rhoden look through a bag of gifts they received for their son, Konlin, who was born at 24 weeks. (Photo by Jesse Jones/University of Florida)
  • Father-son duo lose locks for kids
    Parker Stevens doesn’t think twice about doing things for others, so shaving his head to raise funds for children with cancer was a sacrifice he was well equipped to handle. Last year, Parker’s father, Jeff Stevens, a web content optimizer at UF&Shands, the University of Florida Academic Health Center, participated at an event sponsored by [...]
  • Study aims to prevent underage drinking in American Indian communities
    The University of Florida’s Institute for Child Health Policy in partnership with Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services has received a $4.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study ways to prevent underage drinking. The study, led by Kelli Komro, will focus on American Indian and other youth living in rural, high-risk and [...]
  • Once wheelchair-bound, area girl now walking in 5K run
    A year ago, 10-year-old Samantha Staab was wheelchair-bound and had a hard time even sitting up straight because her body was so twisted. But this Saturday, she will be walking — and even occasionally jogging — the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail as a participant in the 2nd annual Season of Hope 5K/15K Run. “My (physical) therapist [...]
  • Restaurateur uncorks special vintage, to benefit UF Small Animal Hospital
    To Richard Gonzmart, president and a fourth-generation member of the family that runs Tampa Bay’s century-old Columbia Restaurant, Rusty the dog is more than a pet. He’s part of the family. When Rusty, a 5-year-old German shepherd, was diagnosed with bone cancer, it felt like one of his children was sick, Gonzmart said. He sat [...]
  • UF students, employees find good things in small packages this flu season
    With a grimace and a grip on her friend Jayce Victor’s hand, Whitney Hughes bared her arm for a flu vaccine injection. “I’m so scared, I’m a baby,” said Hughes, a sophomore studying political science. “I usually get the nasal spray.” In a matter of seconds, Margaret Berry, R.N., a registered nurse from the UF [...]
  • STOP! Children’s Cancer to donate $1million to UF to support national clinical trials
    STOP! Children’s Cancer Inc. will donate more than $1 million to the University of Florida College of Medicine to establish the STOP! Children’s Cancer Bonnie R. Freeman Clinical Trials Fund. The $1.05 million gift will be presented Sunday at the 15th annual STOP! Children’s Cancer “Holiday Traditions: A Musical Celebration” event at the Curtis M. [...]
  • Researchers, patients meet in Clearwater to tackle a complex muscular dystrophy
    For the next three days, Florida will be the center of the scientific world for patients and researchers concerned about myotonic dystrophy, a disease that is the most prevalent, yet one of the least recognized, types of muscular dystrophy. More than 200 scientists, physicians and health care professionals are sharing their discoveries at the Sheraton [...]
  • High blood pressure may point to hidden health problems for kids in the ER
    More than half of children admitted to an urban Florida pediatric emergency department had elevated blood pressure, according to a study published in the journal Pediatric Emergency Care. Elevated blood pressure is often a sign of kidney or other health problems in children. Evaluating the readings thoughtfully and ordering further tests could be a key [...]
  • Save the Bathroom Medicine Cabinet for Shaving Cream
    The bathroom medicine cabinet seems a handy place to store medications. But this ill-named box is a bad place for any meds, because moisture can dampen a drug’s effectiveness. To keep pills potent, store them in a cool, dry place like a drawer or cupboard, unless labeled otherwise. Although research has shown that properly stored [...]
  • Whipping Equine Worms
    Although you can’t tell by looking, horse pastures are literally crawling with worm larvae. So it’s no surprise that parasite control is an ongoing battle for equine enthusiasts. Worms and parasitic bots rob our happy horses of energy and can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia and even deadly colic. Problems can be especially [...]
  • Bodywork benefits, parrot-style
    An invigorating massage can lower stress and make you feel good all over. Apparently birds think so, too. New research shows that green wood-hoopoes [hoo'poos] relax into a happy stupor after receiving a massage from another bird. These avian rubdowns seemed to be most pleasant when given by a dominant member of the flock, suggesting [...]
  • A Bird’s Cage Is Its Castle
    You’ll spend a lot of time picking out the right pet bird, and you should take at least as long selecting its cage. Your bird’s cage will be its home for years to come, and there’s much to consider. Size and shape are important because large birds need ample room to spread their wings, and [...]
  • Don’t Let Worms Bug You
    Although few pet diseases are transmitted to people, the potential exists, especially when it comes to parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. These worms live in the intestines of dogs and cats, where they lay thousands of eggs. The eggs leave the body through feces and continue to develop into larvae in the ground soil. [...]
  • Does Your Poodle Honk?
    Ever drink from a straw that was crumpled in the middle? Suction collapses the dented plastic, which makes drinking your slushie a frustrating experience. Many small dogs can suffer from a similar problem called collapsing trachea. Weakened rings of cartilage in the windpipe flatten during air intake, changing normal breath into a honking cough, especially [...]
  • Is Cancer Really a Killer Parasite?
    A long-held tenet of toxicology is that a mutation in a single gene can change a normal cell into a cancerous one. This theory is a cornerstone of assessing cancer risk. But some biologists are now challenging the old view by suggesting that cancer requires damage at the chromosomal level, involving massive numbers of genes. [...]
  • A Cat-Killer Virus
    When people ponder the causes of cancer, they often think of man-made hazards like asbestos and nuclear fallout. But we’ve learned that the roots of this dreaded disease are mostly natural. In fact, viruses actually cause some forms of cancer. In cats, the feline leukemia virus is responsible for various blood and lymph cancers. Kitty [...]
  • Proper Diabetic Care Can Be Sweet
    Some diseases are curable, others only manageable. Diabetes falls into the manageable category, because with proper care, pets can live normal lives. In diabetes mellitus, the body does not make enough insulin to move glucose, or sugar, from the blood into the body’s cells. Symptoms include hunger, thirst and frequent urination. Eventually, metabolic byproducts can [...]
  • Happy Cows Make Better Cheese?
    According to a popular TV ad, happy cows make better cheese. It’s not just a sales pitch. Modern dairy operations should be designed with this premise in mind to improve cow health and comfort, optimize milk production and reduce environmental risks. To promote cow well-being, facilities are well-ventilated with climate control to prevent heat stress. [...]
  • Canine ESP?
    Have you ever thought your dog knows you so well he can read your mind? Well, a new study suggests that this is essentially the case. Researchers from the University of Florida showed that canny canines are so attuned to our moods and actions that it’s almost like telepathy. Both house pets and wild wolves [...]
  • When Disaster Strikes, Pet Survival Depends on Planning
    Natural disasters strike without much warning, so the key to pet survival is being prepared. Before the worst happens, identify pet-safe havens, such as kennels or pet-friendly motels, and keep their phone numbers in your emergency kit. In addition to first-aid supplies and plenty of bottled water, your kit should also contain pet food and [...]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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