ADHS Releases New Vaccination PSA Featuring Several Community Leaders April 14, 2021 The Arizona Department of Health Services launched a new public service announcement as part of the “Roll Up Your Sleeve to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19” campaign. The new PSA features community leaders, local celebrities, and influencers from several industries including Dr. Cecilia Rosales, associate dean of of Community Engagement and Outreach and Phoenix Programs at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. In Business Phoenix
A Year In, Here's What We Know About Vitamin D for Preventing COVID April 14, 2021 There are now quite a few observational studies and large reviews of the available evidence that show low vitamin D levels are associated with higher risks of contracting COVID-19 or with becoming seriously ill. "What is clear from a number of studies is that there's a strong relationship in terms of your levels prior to infection," says Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. NPR
More Colleges to Require Student Covid-19 Vaccinations April 14, 2021 A small but growing number of colleges will require students to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, saying it is the most assured way of returning to some semblance of pre-pandemic campus life. "Many colleges have required certain vaccinations for years but the standards aren't uniform," said Leila Barraza, an associate professor at the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health. Still, outbreaks on college campuses are relatively common. The Wall Street Journal
Chemobrain: It’s Not Your Imagination April 14, 2021 Scientists discussed the mechanisms of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment at a session dedicated to symptom science at the AACR Annual Meeting. These effects extend to children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is the most prevalent cancer among children and adolescents. The disease has a 90% five-year survival rate, thanks, in part, to multiagent chemotherapy and aggressive treatment to the central nervous system. Research presented by nurse-scientist Ida M. Moore of the University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tucson showed that children performed poorly over time, even three years after starting treatment. Cancer Today
Dr. May Khanna Elected Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors April 13, 2021 Read more Image
Did You Get a Johnson & Johnson Vaccine? Here's What You Need to Know April 13, 2021 The Arizona Department of Health Services is recommending a pause in the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, following the guidance of federal officials. The University of Arizona does not administer the J&J vaccine and only administers the Pfizer vaccine. The estimated risk of a blood clot from the J&J vaccine is about 1 in a million while the overall risk of dying if you get COVID-19 is about 1 in 100, said Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor of immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Arizona Republic
Ernest Vina, MD, on Patient Perceptions of NSAID Use for Osteoarthritis April 13, 2021 Adults with osteoarthritis were more likely to use NSAIDs if they were more familiar with the drugs' risks and benefits, new data showed. Patient knowledge – and, by extension, NSAID use – was lower among patients of Hispanic ethnicity. Study author Dr. Ernest Vina, a rheumatologist and researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, discusses the findings and their implications. MedPage Today
Arizona Lottery Awards $35,000 Scholarship to Future Pediatrician Mary Beth Putz April 12, 2021 Mary Beth Putz, a third-year medical student at the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, was surprised with a scholarship from the Arizona Lottery. Read more Image
A Virtual Bridge to Grad School Built During the Pandemic April 12, 2021 Dr. Michael Johnson believes his remote summer internship program will continue opening doors for underrepresented students, even in the post-COVID-19 era. Read more Image
How Long Do Covid-19 Vaccines Provide Immunity? April 12, 2021 COVID-19 vaccines will likely provide at least some degree of protection for a long time because there are so many layers of immunity, said Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor of immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. The first shots of the two-shot Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide reasonable protection. Then the second shot bumps up the level of antibodies and T cells produced by the body, he said. The Wall Street Journal