There are estimated to be between 50,000-100,000 individuals in the U.S. diagnosed with chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease that dramatically reduces the number of platelets in their blood—causing bruises, nosebleeds and, sometimes, life-threatening brain hemorrhages. Now, the results of an international multicenter clinical research study led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center demonstrate that an investigational oral platelet growth factor called eltrombopag successfully increased platelet counts and decreased bleeding in patients with the condition.

Approximately one in every 500 to 650 baby boys is born with an extra X chromosome, a variation in their genetic code that until a few years ago was thought to result in infertility in all cases. However, this is no longer the case. A recent conference hosted by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and advocacy organization KS&A focused on raising awareness of the condition and the recent availability of treatments for both children and adults.

Patients at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are tuning in to a unique television channel specially designed to promote healing. Putting aside pundits, police dramas and other anxiety-laden programming, they can now relax and reflect to uninterrupted video imagery of beautiful and inspiring natural vistas—a meadow of wildflowers, ducks swimming in a mountain lake, etc.—set to soothing instrumental music.

For patients with hepatitis C, having a low blood platelet count is a frequent complication associated with advanced disease. This problem is compounded by the fact that standard antiviral treatment for the disease can further reduce platelet numbers to dangerously low levels, effectively denying these patients the treatment they urgently need. Now, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that a new drug, eltrombopag, appears to significantly boost platelet counts, opening the door to effective treatment.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital ranks first in New York and eighth in the nation for pediatric care, according to the U.S.News & World Report "America's Best Children's Hospitals" issue, which features a detailed listing of the nation's top 30 children's hospitals. The ranking accounts for NewYork-Presbyterian's two major centers for children's health care: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian and the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Over 20 million Americans suffer from back pain caused by the derangement of an intervertebral disk. After the common cold, back pain is the second most common cause that Americans call in sick, costing businesses as much as $100 billion every year. With the goal of preventing this all-too-common ailment, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Spine Center offers tips on avoiding back injury.

The third most common childhood cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), affects 800 new children nationally every year. The Second International Symposium on Pediatric Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, the largest event of its kind, will feature the world's pre-eminent physician-scientists and their presentations of new scientific and clinical research. The Symposium is organized by Dr. Mitchell Cairo of Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center.

One of the country's pre-eminent physicians and a distinguished and well-known spokesperson in the medical media, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld has been named the recipient of the 26th Annual Maurice R. Greenberg Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center on a member of its professional staff. The award, which recognizes Dr. Rosenfeld's many years of outstanding service to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, consists of a $50,000 grant made possible through an endowment from Maurice R. Greenberg. The award presentation will be made at a gala dinner on Thursday, May 4, at the Pierre Hotel.