Loyola Medicine

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Here are some recent Loyola health stories you may have missed. If you would like to follow up on any of these ideas, please call us at (708) 216-3200 or visit the media relations Web site, http://loyolamedicine.org/News/index.cfm. NEW TECHNOLOGY Killing cancer with cold. A treatment called cyrospray ablation uses super-cold liquid nitrogen to permanently zap precancerous tissue in the esophagus. Virtual reality pain relief. A 3-D virtual reality video game is so engrossing that burn patients feel less pain during difficult procedures. Bionic knee. A double amputee is learning how to walk again on artificial legs with computer-controlled hydraulic knees. Pharmacy robot. The two-armed, $1.5 million robot works 24/7 and reduces medication errors. CONSUMER HEALTH NEWS Vitamin D winter deficit. Many people experience a vitamin D deficiency during the winter due to reduced exposure to sunlight. Testosterone therapy for women. It may not be the magic bullet women with low libidos are hoping for. Is exercise for weight control a myth? An international study conducted by Loyola researchers casts doubt on the belief that physical activity is key to weight control. Protecting yourself from MRSA. Tips for reducing the risk of contracting the potentially deadly superbug in gyms and health clubs. Can iced tea cause kidney stones? It contains high concentrations of oxalate, one of the key chemicals that lead to the formation of kidney stones. VALENTINE'S DAY The physical effects of falling in love. There's a flood of endorphins. Your cheeks flush, your palms get sweaty and yes, your heart races. PRESIDENTS' DAY Ten U.S. presidents have suffered strokes. Some were stricken while in the White House, others after leaving office. ALCOHOL RESEARCH Moderate drinking can reduce risk of dementia. Loyola researchers who reviewed 44 studies found that moderate drinkers often have lower risks of Alzheimer's disease. But alcohol can be bad for bones. Binge drinking disturbs genes necessary for maintaining healthy bones. OFFBEAT FEATURES Fecal transplant. In patients infected with a virulent bacterium called C. diff., a stool transplant can keep the bug in check by restoring a normal bacteria population in the gut. Sexual intercourse triggers serious stroke. But the 35-year-old woman made a nearly complete recovery. New Bond Girl draws attention to hand birth defect. Loyola surgeon repairs hands with too many fingers or thumbs. ### Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, Loyola University Health System is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and 25 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 570-licensed bed facility. It houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Health & Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 250-bed community hospital, the Gottlieb Health & Fitness Center and the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Care Center.