CEO Robert Knutzen Interviewed  on CBS Radio Heaven 1580-AM; July 29th, 2008   Acromegaly was the focus of a one hour segment on the popular daily radio program “Cross Talk: Urban Style” hosted by radio veteran Marsha Sumner. Listen to the July 29th interview A Memo From Our Boss Meet the PNA Staff Patient Story of the Month: Miss Nevada, Christina O'Neil One in Five - Video on the prevelance of pituitary tumors Are You One in Five? Who IS the PNA? Support Groups - Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery Sept. 22-24, Istanbul, Turkey - Clinical Endocrinology Update 2008  Sept. 25-28, Boston, MA - EMORY Pituitary Day October 11, Atlanta, GA - The AAMFT Annual Conference Oct. 30th - Nov 2nd, Memphis, TN - 13th International Congress of Endocrinology Nov. 08 to 12, Rio de Janeiro - December in the Desert  Dec. 15 to 17, Rancho Mirage, CA It is with great appreciation, we acknowledge our recent sponsor to the PNA: Pfizer is proudly sponsoring the PNA Disorders Section (also listed in the left navigation of this homepage.)               Click here to learn about a treatment option for Acromegaly from Pfizer.       PNA's Satellite Website: Acromegaly.org is now sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals   Get quick answers to your questions about Acromegaly:  - What is Acromegaly?  - Symptoms  - Diagnosis  - Treatment Visit www.acromegaly.org Now in Spanish and English.

7-16-08 AMA Alert: Congress overrides presidential veto to stop Medicare physician payment cuts Congress voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to override President Bush's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331), allowing the bill to become law and protecting access to care for seniors, the disabled and military families. The AMA lauds the outcome and thanks the bipartisan majority in Congress that voted to put patients first. More MED PAGE TODAY Transdermal HRT Lessens Gallbladder Risk OXFORD, England -- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) given as a gel or transdermal patch may reduce the risk of gallbladder disease associated with oral estrogens, researchers found. Risks of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior with Epilepsy Drugs Reaffirmed BELTSVILLE, Md. -- All epileptic drugs should carry a warning -- not necessarily boxed -- about increased risks for suicidal ideation and behavior, a joint meeting of two FDA committees concluded here. Peg-Interferon Slows Melanoma Recurrence ROTTERDAM -- Adjuvant treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2b has a significant long-lasting benefit for recurrence-free survival in stage III melanoma, researchers here said. Senate Votes to Eliminate 10.6% Medicare Pay Cut to Physicians WASHINGTON -- The Senate today quashed a 10.6% Medicare pay cut to doctors, with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) making an unexpected appearance to add his aye to a 69-30 veto-proof margin ______________________ Undetected Pituitary Tumors Cause Debilitating Disease The Medical Director at the UCSF California Center for Pituitary Disorders, Dr. Lewis Blevins, M.D., has written an excellent article on Undiagnosed pituitary tumors and the havoc they wreak on patients’ lives. It begins, "Radiologic images, MRI studies and autopsy reports show that one in five people worldwide has a pituitary tumor. These benign neoplasms often remain undetected because they present with a vast array of nonspecific symptoms that physicians attribute to depression, anxiety or malingering. Many patients spend years misdiagnosed as their tumors grow." U.S. Ads Push Patients To Shop For Hospitals The PNA is a big proponent of healthcare accountability. We are working hard to establish the criteria for pituitary centers of excellence. So we took note when USA Today recently published an article about a federal government campaign to rate hospitals. The government is now urging consumers to check the website: hospitalcompare.hhs.gov before they choose a hospital. $300 Million Health Initiative Time Magazine and CNN recently published an article about a new initiative to treat patients before their conditions worsen into an all-out health crisis. The $300 million initiative announced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will fund community health centers in 14 cities. They will target chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes in an effort to reduce crippling costs from emergency room visits. They hope to provide a model for national health reform. Are Americans failing to get recommended health care? Landmark study finds American adults often fail to get recommended care, posing 'serious threats' to health. The Journal of Neurosurgery publishes an on line peer reviewed journal called NeurosurgicalFocus.  The format of this journal is to present a new "Topic" each month that contains numerous peer reviewed articles.  The Topic for September 2007 is The Diagnosis and Management of Cushing's Disease edited by Dr. William Couldwell. Disability Rights Online News   is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the area of diability rights.  The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services, including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement. Newsletter The July 2008 NIH Public Bulletin has the latest on public events, activities, and health information resources from the National Institutes of Health.  Medscape Newsletters Staying informed of new developments in the world of medicine has never been easier or more convenient. Put your mind at ease This U.S. government health portal, will assure you of legitimate information. HSCNews Bulletin The PNA would like to recommend an excellent organization called the Health and Social Campaigners’ Network International. ______________________ ONCE A PITUITARY PATIENT, ALWAYS A PITUITARY PATIENT. Only through your continued support, can the PNA continue to reach millions with our mission in helping others with pituitary illnesses. With your membership and donations, we will keep the information coming to you, your family and loved ones. All of us at the PNA thank you for coming to our website. If you are not a member of our organization, we encourage you to become a member, take charge of your health and continue to learn how to cope emotionally, mentally and physically with pituitary / hormonal disorders. Stay in touch, and visit often. The PNA website is E X P A N D I N G ! Watch for our new state of the art website, launching at www.pituitary.org in December 2008.