Chemotherapy Stewardship Offers Opportunities to Reduce Costs to Health Systems, Patients Sept. 15, 2020 As cancer care costs continue to increase in the United States, a focus on chemotherapy stewardship may result in cost savings for health systems and patients. During a session of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Practice Management 2020 Virtual Learning Event, presenter Ali McBride, clinical coordinator of hematology/oncology for the University of Arizona Cancer Center, said a 2011 projection by the National Cancer Institute estimated there would be 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States in 2020, which represents a 30% increase in the number of cancer survivors since 2010. Pharmacy Times
Promising Results From Initial Use of the COVID-19 Antigens Tests Central to Pac-12 Football's Return Sept. 15, 2020 By the end of the month, tens of thousands of rapid-response antigen tests will be delivered to athletic departments across the Pac-12. One school – the University of Arizona – began using the tests months ago. The university has run 25,000 Quidel tests on students, athletes, staff members and ICU patients since the spring. David Harris, who oversees the program, said the results have been impressive. "It only seems to get better the more you do it," he said. Arizona Daily Star
Internationally Recognized Radiologist Named UArizona Chair of Medical Imaging Sept. 14, 2020 Joining the University of Arizona Health Sciences in October, Dr. Geoffrey Rubin holds six U.S. patents for medical image analysis and is past chairman of radiology at Duke University School of Medicine. Read more Image
UArizona Cancer Center Honored with 2020 Innovator Award Sept. 14, 2020 Efforts to keep patients safe in the time of COVID-19 led to significant savings and innovation in chemotherapy delivery and earned University of Arizona Health Sciences center national recognition. Read more Image
UArizona Researchers Find Minimal Difference in Hand-Drying Methods Sept. 14, 2020 A University of Arizona Health Sciences research team reviewed nearly 300 published studies on the hygienic benefits of hand-drying methods, comparing paper towels to electric hand dryers. "Neither one's better. The most important thing is that you just dry your hands," said Kelly Reynolds, director of the Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. KTAR-FM Phoenix
'Bear Down, Mask up' and Shelter in Place: UA Announces Recommendations to Curb COVID-19 Surge Sept. 14, 2020 University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins said the university expected to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, but it has become too much, necessitating a shelter-in-place recommendation similar to what the state faced in the spring. The Arizona Republic
Coronavirus Cases on College Campuses 'Could Be the Starting Point of a Second Wave' Sept. 12, 2020 Colleges across the U.S. are reporting outbreaks of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, leaving experts and residents concerned about the pandemic worsening in certain areas. Dr. Farshad Marvasti, director of public health and prevention curriculum at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said that "as we get into flu season, where health care resources will be strained further and people with other acute exacerbations of chronic diseases like heart attacks or strokes or other emergencies will not be able to get the care we need," surges of transmissions on college campuses are "a telltale sign that could be the starting point of a second wave." Yahoo! Finance
Enzyme May Be Key to Unlocking Treatment for Cancer, Diabetes, UArizona Health Sciences Researcher Says Sept. 11, 2020 Dr. James Galligan and his University of Arizona College of Pharmacy research team found inhibiting glyoxalase-II enzyme results in slower cell growth, which may help limit disease progression. Read more Image
Expert: Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Pause Is Normal Part of Process Sept. 11, 2020 AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have put their combined Phase 2 and 3 trial on standby after one United Kingdom participant reportedly developed severe neurological symptoms. The volunteer's condition and what brought it on remain unclear. University of Arizona immunologist Deepta Bhattacharya at the College of Medicine – Tucson, said such questions are the point of large human trials. "As we start to expand out the numbers into tens of thousands of people, will we start to see some rare events, and what is the risk-reward proposition once you start to see that data?" KJZZ-FM (NPR) Phoenix
Green Light Therapy Reduces Migraine Pain Sept. 11, 2020 New research is shining a light on an unusual treatment for migraine headaches: green light therapy. In a small study involving 29 migraine patients, University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers found that exposure to green light for one to two hours daily reduced headache pain by 60% and significantly reduced the frequency of migraines. Pain News Network