Health Sciences In The Media

Pregnant women across the U.S. are fighting severe cases of COVID-19, putting both mother and baby at risk. "Pregnant people who have been infected with COVID-19, compared with pregnant people who haven’t, are 18 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU.

"Run to Be Visible," a documentary released last month by Patagonia, follows Lydia Jennings, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, as she completes a 50-mile run honoring Indigenous scientists of the past, present and future.

Identifying "warning signs" is often discussed to prevent school shootings, but focusing too much on warning signs may be an imperfect strategy. "When you say 'what's the profile of a school shooter?' you're talking about somebody that feels despondent, is angry, maybe they're depressed. But you've just described half of Americans," said Joel A. Dvoskin, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of psyciatry at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

COVID-19 cases are surging statewide in the midst of flu season, which means Arizonans are at elevated risk to get sick. Shad Marvasti, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, says it’s not likely, but not impossible, to have both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time.

Kat Kennedy, a PhD student and researcher in the Sleep and Health Research Program at the College of Medicine – Tucson, published research that foundmenstruating women who sleep less than six hours a night were 44% more likely to have an irregular period and 70% more likely to have heavy bleeding during a period than healthy sleepers who got seven to nine hours.

As 16- and 17-year-olds become eligible for the Pfizer booster, some are wondering if it will be enough against the Omicron variant. Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, a professor of immunology with the College of Medicine – Tucson, said the early data suggests after two shots, antibodies are not blocking Omicron well but after three shots, they are blocking better.

There are only a few ways to access antibody treatments in Arizona, and even fewer choices 12- to 17-year-olds. Sean Elliott, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the College of Medicine – Tucson, specializes in pediatric infectious diseases. He says treatments can be helpful to eligible pediatric patients. Dr. Elliott said health providers are looking for ways for young patients to get antibodies, and he’d welcome more resources.

A new study by researchers at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health finds that vigorous exercise in a highly polluted area can diminish the positive brain benefits of exercise. The paper was published online in the journal Neurology.

As clinician shortages continue to plague the hospice space, the University of Arizona Health Sciences is expanding end-of-life medical education through its new Interprofessional End-of-Life Care Training Program. The program focuses on training students to incorporate a multicultural and interdisciplinary approach to end-of-life conversations with patients and their families.

Having diminished antibody levels isn’t all that telling because other immune fighters might jump in to compensate when a virus invades. Even in a worst-case scenario, where protections against infection and mild illness substantially fray, vaccine effectiveness against severe disease probably wouldn’t suffer more than “a small drop,” says Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson.