Immunologist and gerontologist Janko Nikolich-Žugich, MD, PhD, named Arizona's Bioscience Researcher of the Year by the Arizona Bioindustry Association.

Women with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to experience somatic and urogenital symptoms post menopause, but they were no more likely to experience severe hot flashes than were other women with similar characteristics, according to research presented Sept. 24 at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society. "Given that PCOS prevalence is about 6%-10%, I feel this association should be further studied to improve our counseling and treatment for this PCOS population," said Rachael B. Smith, DO, clinical assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. "The take-home message for physicians is improved patient-tailored counseling that takes into account patients' prior medical history of PCOS." Dr. Smith was not involved in the research.

People who are eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine are only supposed to get it at least six months after receiving their second dose. So that means not everyone is going to be needing the booster at the same time. Arizona COVID-19 adviser Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, distinguished professor of public health at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, recently received his third Pfizer doses. “I went and got a booster because of age, because of the fact that my immunity was dropping," Carmona said Monday during a University of Arizona briefing. "Why take a chance? There’s no downside with getting a booster and we know that it starts to drop off after a little while, six, eight months, in that ballpark."

People who suffer from tinnitus (pronounced TI-nuh-tuhs) describe it as an incessant ringing in the ears that makes it hard to concentrate or hear. The level varies from loud to mild, and it can be particularly bothersome at night when the world quiets down and the ringing can seem louder.

John Galgiani, MD, the director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona, has long recognized the importance of researching the pathogen. Researchers at the Center study Valley fever and help educate medical professionals about the disease. But he said it's been difficult at times to generate enough funding or interest in its dangers. "But the data don't lie. I didn't make these numbers up," he said.

Researchers in the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center study hormones to understand why women experience pain and addiction differently from men.

A newly discovered mechanism for controlling blood vessel growth in tumors points to possible strategies for developing new therapeutic interventions to overcome drug resistance.

Exercise training could be a useful supplemental treatment for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, a small study finds. The findings, reported this week at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions virtual conference, are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. The research makes a good case as to why exercise should be added to the treatment strategy for sleep apnea, said Michael Grandner, PhD, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program and associate professor of psychiatry at the College of Medicine – Tucson. Dr. Grandner was not involved in the study.

Andrew Weil, MD, founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and a member of Prevention's Medical Advisory Board, writes about the vagus nerve, a powerful tool against headaches, depression, and more.