New research has shown that reducing the dosage of dopamine agonist (DA) drugs, a mainstay treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), sometimes causes acute withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by cocaine addicts, including anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sweating, nausea, generalized pain, fatigue, dizziness and drug cravings. These symptoms can be severe, and are not alleviated by other PD medications. For the first time, researchers have defined this phenomenon, which they call dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome, or DAWS. Led by a physician-scientist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, the study is reported in the Jan. 11 Archives of Neurology.

Physician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center will present their latest research findings at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting in San Francisco, May 29 to June 3.

Researchers have developed a computer-based system that can automatically track radiation dose exposure from computed tomography (CT) scans, improving the ability for doctors and patients to track their cumulative health care–related radiation exposure.

Adding a fourth medication to a standard three-drug "cocktail" employed to suppress HIV and prevent AIDS does not improve the effectiveness of treatment, concludes a major multicenter clinical trial led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

The American Urological Association (AUA)'s Annual Meeting is the largest meeting of urologic professionals in the world. With more than 10,000 urologists and health-care professionals and 5,000 exhibitors in attendance, the AUA Meeting, to be held May 8-13, 2004, in San Francisco, California, will highlight the latest advances in urology.

An expert in male infertility and prostate cancer, Dr. Peter Schlegel has been named Chairman of the Department of Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College in NewYork City and Urologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

America's oldest and most prestigious organization dedicated to purebred dogs is creating a pet therapy program for New York's leading children's hospital with the goal of enhancing the healing process for its pediatric patients.

A new resource center specifically designed for psychiatric patients and their families has opened at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Named after a beloved Weill Cornell Medical College graduate, the Bruce Hedges, M.D. Patient Resource Center provides comprehensive and up-to-date information about a wide range of psychiatric conditions. Designed to be comfortable and empowering, the new center was built in the spirit of the Hospital's new partnership with the Planetree Alliance, a national organization dedicated to facilitating patient-centric care.