Briefs

Published: Monday, July 28, 2003

Med and cancer centers named best in the West

The UCLA Medical Center ranked as the best hospital in the Western United States for the 14th consecutive year and also moved up to be the third best hospital in the nation from the last year’s number five spot.

Additionally, the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Center was named the best cancer center in the west, and ranked eighth in the nation.

The rankings are based on a U.S. News and World Report survey of 2,550 physicians from across the country.

UCLA’s Med Center was also the only hospital in Southern California to be placed on the magazine’s “honor roll,” which recognizes excellence across many specialties.

HIV linked to heart disease in young adults

Young adults who are HIV positive have a higher risk for coronary heart disease, according to a study co-authored by Dr. Judith Currier, associate director of the UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education.

The findings of the study reveal that physicians should monitor the cardiac health of younger HIV patients and also incorporate heart-disease risk prevention in the care of HIV patients.

The occurance of CHD, usually rare in young people, in HIV-infected men aged 18 to 34 who had received antiretroviral therapy was 1.64 percent compared to 0.76 percent in HIV-negative men of the same age group.

The study did not find a correlation between HIV and CHD in older adults.

UCLA study expects surgeon shortage in 2020

A study conducted by UCLA’s Clinical Scholars Program found that while the need for surgery – particularly those performed on older adults such as cataract or heart surgery – will greatly increase by the year 2020, there may not be enough surgeons to handle the demand.

The population of citizens over 65 years of age is expected to increase by over 50 percent by 2020. According to the study, a shortage of surgeons cannot be avoided since surgical specialists need eight to 14 years of training.

The study reveals a need for increased efficiency in healthcare and operating rooms.

Mars to come closest to Earth since prehistory

On Aug. 27 at 5:15 a.m., Mars will be 34,646,418 miles away from the Earth, the closest it has ever been in nearly 60,000 years.

Meanwhile, the planet is coming increasingly closer and will appear brighter throughout the months of July and August. Mars is currently visible after 11 p.m. as it rises from the southeast.

The next even closer approach will be on Aug 28, 2287.