Health Sciences In The Media

With the rise of the über-transmissible delta variant, experts are saying you’re either going to get vaccinated, or going to get the coronavirus. For some people—a decent number of us, actually—it’s going to be both. Coronavirus infections are happening among vaccinated people. To understand the anatomy of a breakthrough case, it’s helpful to think of the human body as a castle. Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson, compares immunization to reinforcing such a stronghold against assault.

A report by Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, associate professor of public health policy and management at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, looking at the week ending on July 11, found cases began to show an increase in numbers for the fifth consecutive week — increases that come on the heels of state lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey restricting what schools, businesses and local governments can do to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Across Arizona, a number of groups are working to prevent another COVID-19 outbreak by getting people vaccinated. The Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health is helping lead the charge in rural areas through its mobile health units. Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS, associate dean of community engagement and outreach, discussed the challenges unique to the communities visited by the mobile health units.

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and immunity among frontline workers has received a $15 million award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue the current research for another year and expand to include children and focus on underserved populations.

As coronavirus cases once again rise in the U.S., experts say breakthrough cases will also go up, but that doesn't mean the vaccines aren't working. "It may be that for the vast majority of vaccinated people who get infected, they just don't make enough virus to infect another person," said Janko Nikolich-Žugich, MD, PhD, an immunologist and professor of medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Interview with Lisa Shubitz, DVM, a veterinarian and research scientist at the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence.

Cannabis use by older adults has increased substantially over the last decade, a trend that has paralleled the legalization of its use for medical and recreational purposes. C. Bree Johnson, MD, MPH, associate professor in the College of Medicine – Tucson, is interviewed.

Certain yoga positions can bring about relaxation, ease anxiety, and help with sleep issues. “I think yoga is helpful for anybody and everybody, because it really helps refashion our relationship with the body,” said Rubin Naiman, PhD, a sleep and dream specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the UArizona Center for Integrative Medicine. “There are 10 ways to do yoga, and not all are helpful. But when it’s done right, it’s almost like a friendly dialogue with our body.”

Continuing coverage: Women on hormone replacement therapy for menopause go on to have a 58% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, a new study finds. "This is not the first study on the impact of hormone therapies on neurodegenerative disease reduction," said study senior author Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation in Brain Science. "But what is important about this study is that it advances the use of precision hormone therapies in the prevention of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's."

Ahead of this school year, the American Academy of Pediatrics published new guidance recommending students of all ages continue to use masks this fall, regardless of vaccination status. Ricardo Correa, MD, an endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, was frustrated by the Arizona legislature's move to ban masks and COVID-19 testing in public schools. "That was not an evidence-based policy," he said. "If you don't know who is vaccinated and not vaccinated, then you cannot ban the mandate of having a mask in schools."