
Dense breasts and inflammation further linked to breast cancer risk
A new study by University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center researchers has found that dense breasts and inflammation are associated with poor prognosis in breast-cancer patients, and suggests that an FDA-approved drug may improve prognosis for those patients with dense breasts.

UW Carbone study: Caregiver spouses of cancer patients suffer untreated depression
A new study from the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center highlights a troubling disparity in cancer care: the depressed spouses of cancer patients are 33 percent less likely to receive adequate treatment for depression than are patients whose spouses don’t have cancer. In rural areas, it’s even worse: Couples who live in rural areas are 72 percent less likely to receive recommended care for depression (including medication and talk therapy) than the depressed spouses of those without cancer.

Healthy Communities’ designation to celebrate and encourage local health improvement efforts
Communities around the state can now be recognized for their work to become healthier through a new program from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

Swallowing problems increase risk of death, nursing home admissions
Patients with trouble swallowing following a stroke or other medical event are more likely to die in the hospital, and had longer and more expensive hospital stays, according to analysis led by researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

UW study questions link between Zika, microcephaly in 2015 Brazil case
A recently published study casts doubt on two major claims about Zika virus infection and microcephaly: first, that there was an outbreak of newborn microcephaly in Brazil in 2015; and second, that maternal Zika virus infection was responsible for the outbreak.

New study to help women make better breast-cancer surgery decisions
Women face big decisions soon after being hit with a cancer diagnosis, including whether to have a breast-conserving lumpectomy or mastectomy.

Study: Diet limiting specific amino acids may be key to weight loss
A new study in mice has suggested that counting calories might not be the only way to improve humans’ metabolic health. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in a study published today in The Journal of Physiology, found lowering the consumption of specific types of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) improved metabolic health, even when overall calories were not reduced.

Leading cause of vision loss in older adults shows dramatic decline
The risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in older adults, has decreased significantly for the baby boom generation.

UW Carbone oncologist leads effort to educate about cancer risk of alcohol
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer, something many of Dr. Noelle LoConte’s patients are surprised to learn.

Obesity: ethical dilemma and public health challenge
In spring 2013, faculty members from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Medical History and Bioethics orchestrated a gathering of national thought leaders who debated a wide arc of viewpoints related to obesity.

Study identifies patients who benefit most from dinutuximab-based immunotherapy
Using data from a randomized phase III clinical trial of neuroblastoma patients (treated with or without immunotherapy) performed by the Children’s Oncology Group, researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that a subset of patients, identified by the presence of a certain set of genes, were more likely to benefit from the immunotherapy than those patients that did not have that set of genes.

Q&A: Paul Harari on radiation oncology
Dr. Paul Harari begins his term as president of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) at the group’s annual meeting in San Diego Sept. 24-28.