A team of University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson found that a combination of bacterial extracts used in Europe to treat respiratory infections may offer a new way to prevent or reduce infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

For some people, consuming salt can cause high blood pressure, especially as we age, putting us at risk for hypertension and heart disease. Nachiket Patel, MD, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix and an interventional cardiologist, is interviewed.

Sleep experts share the top sleep mistakes we’ve been making. Not using sleep-friendly lighting can be a problem. Michael Grandner, PhD, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the College of Medicine – Tucson, says red light is best.

Kelly Reynolds, PhD, professor and director of the UArizona Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, explains how makeup can be a source of bacteria.

Now that the calendar page has turned to 2022, we look back on the top stories of the year based on your interest.

Politico Nightly asked public health experts what the Biden administration could or should have done differently to prepare for this moment. Saskia Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, an epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, is quoted.

A veterinary drug called xylazine is mixed with drugs like fentanyl, and the antidote that could save a user from an opioid overdose will not work with xylazine. Steve Dudley, PharmD, DABAT, director of the UArizona Poison and Drug Information Center, says there’s no antidote to a lot of dangerous drugs but hospital staff will do what they can even if it’s unknown what someone has taken.

Data from the ongoing AZ HEROES study found that the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection in Arizona teens.

Post-boost, we pump out more antibodies than we did after the first shots; they’ll naturally take longer to dip below a protective threshold. Repeat exposures to a vaccine can also up the quality of antibodies, which get iteratively better at sniping SARS-CoV-2 down.