Checkup

Making Rounds

NCI chooses Mayo to coordinate cancer prevention trials

Mayo Clinic is one of six cancer research centers in the country chosen by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to test the effectiveness of experimental medications and nutritional compounds for cancer prevention. For its part, Mayo will design and lead clinical trials and coordinate a network of 27 health-care institutions conducting the studies throughout the United States and Canada. Early phase clinical trials are planned for colorectal, breast, esophageal, liver, blood system, urinary tract and lung cancers over the next three to five years. About 100 patients will participate in each cancer prevention trial.

Stroke update

Study is showing that genes may not determine ischemic stroke type
Midway through the first study to identify genes that increase the risk of ischemic stroke, researchers are finding that susceptibility to any particular subtype of stroke is not likely to be genetically determined. The multicenter, North American "Siblings With Ischemic Stroke Study," or SWISS, was designed to identify genes that increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes occur when bloodclots form and obstruct a blood vessel. By screening the DNA of pairs of siblings who have suffered an ischemic stroke, researchers thought they might find that genes predispose siblings to certain types of stroke and that each would have the same type the other had. So far the study is not finding that association.

Severity of stroke, degree of recovery may not be hereditary
Mayo Jacksonville researchers also are finding that although people with a direct relative who has suffered a stroke have a 30 to 40 percent increased chance of suffering one, the severity of stroke and degree of recovery may not be influenced by their family member's experience. The Ischemic Stroke Genetics Study (ISGS) is the first to systematically study whether family history of stroke predisposes one to more severe deficits or slower recovery. Doctors say aspirin and other clot-blocking drugs don't work on everyone, so this study may uncover genetic answers that could help them tailor the best treatments for each patient.

ISGS investigators at participating centers, including Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Shands Jacksonville, continue to recruit healthy volunteers who have never had a stroke. Participants meet once with a study coordinator for a brief, face-to-face interview and to give a blood sample. Stroke-free, healthy volunteers interested in participating may call (904) 953-7549.

MayoClinic.com a top Web site

MayoClinic.com has been named Best Overall Consumer Portal in the 2004 Medicine on the Net Web Excellence Awards. The site was judged on delivery of strong content, interactivity, integration with the organization's operations, strength of Web design and ease of navigation.

Upcoming health lectures

Mayo Clinic Health Forum presents a program about hearing aids with Dr. David Hawkins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, Kinne Auditorium, Mayo Clinic.
Reservations: (904) 953-0770.

St. Luke's Community Health Series presents:

• "Dementia: Not Everything is Alzheimer's" by Dr. Kay Mitchell, Community Internal Medicine, Tuesday, July 20
• "Living with Chronic Illness" by Dr. Robert Shannon and Mary Morris Williams, Family Medicine, Tuesday, Aug. 10

Programs begin at 7 p.m. in Room 370 Roger Main Building at St. Luke's Hospital.
Reservations: (904) 296-3712.