Illinois Medicine

HEALTHY EATING B Study shows black raspberries may prevent colon cancer LACK RASPBERRIES are highly effective in prevent- ing colorectal tumors in mice, researchers at the College of Medi- cine reported in a study published in the November issue of Cancer Prevention Research. Building on previous research that found black raspberries have antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-neuro- degenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, the researchers looked at the fruit's ability to prevent colorec- tal cancer, the third most-common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. "We saw the black raspberry as a natural product, very powerful, and easy to access," says Wancai Yang, MD, assistant professor of pathology and senior author of the study, which focused on the interactions of genetic and nutritional factors in the develop- ment of intestinal cancer and tumor prevention. The researchers used two strains of mice that each have a specific gene knocked out. One strain of mice develops intestinal tumors; the other develops colitis. Both mouse strains were fed either a Western-style, high-risk diet (high in fat and low in calcium and vitamin D) or the same diet supplemented with 10 percent freeze-dried black raspberry powder for 12 weeks. The researchers now hope to obtain funding to begin clinical trials in humans, says Yang. Clinic at Illinois Medicine gets grant, director receives honor from ALS Association T SWINGING BACK AT ALS HE AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS CLINIC at Illinois Medicine received a check for $26,000, and clinic director Julie Rowin, MD, received the Iron Horse Award from the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter during a presentation in October. The grant will enable the clinic, which serves about 100 patients per year, to increase its intake and to continue tightening the integration of its multidisciplinary team—which includes physical, occu- pational, respiratory and speech therapists and social workers in addition to neurologists and nurses— which improves services to patients, Rowin says. "They can come to one visit and see everybody they need to because it's so hard for them to come in," she says, particularly as the degenerative disease progresses to its later stages. The association bestows the Iron Horse Award—named for baseball great and ALS sufferer Lou Gehrig—to recognize commitment to fighting the disease, says Ellen Barcroft, director of development for the College of Medicine. "It will support both clinical work and research," she says. "This is a very strong collaboration." Indeed, the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter does more than just fund the clinic—it provides a visiting nurse and patient services coordinator. The traveling nurse pays house calls to patients who are too far along in the illness to travel to the clinic. The patient services coordinator works directly with the patients and their families, says Maryilene Blondell, development director for the ALS Association. "Our involvement is very comprehensive, in terms of patient care and services. We don't just write a check," she says. "These patients are our patients. They are like family." The check presentation event was intended partly to cement relationships between Illinois Medicine and the ALS Association, Blondell says. "It was about bridging the gap between the hospital, administration and educa- tors, bringing all the factions together," she says, "as well as, most significantly, to recognize Dr. Rowin and her efforts on behalf of patients with ALS." The ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter presents a check to ALS Clinic Director Julie Rowin, MD (third from left), who's pictured along with association staff (from left to right) Nicole Sammartino, patient services coordinator; Toby Kucharski, board chairman; Julie M. Sharpe, executive director; Ariana Holt, ALS Walk Coordinator; and Maryilene Blondel, development director. 10 | SUMMER 2 011

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