Chemo Plus Surgery Nearly Doubles Survival in Pancreatic Cancer June 18, 2021 A new study suggests surgical oncologists can extend the lives of patients with stage II pancreatic cancer by taking an aggressive multimodality treatment approach and opting for neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by resection. “Even when the resection isn’t the best-case scenario, surgery can still double the life expectancy of patients. It’s a package. It’s not just surgery. It’s not just chemo or radiation. It truly is multimodality," said Dr. Amanda Arrington, a clinical associate professor of surgery at the College of Medicine – Tucson. General Surgery News
Sarver Heart Center Minority Outreach Program Receives Walmart National Day of Giving Grants June 17, 2021 Walmart awards $20,000 to UArizona Sarver Heart Center Minority Outreach Program/Community Coalition for Heart Health Education on National Day of Giving. Read more Image
Summertime is Kissing Bug Season in Arizona June 17, 2021 Late spring and summer in Arizona bring blood-hungry kissing bugs and their bites, but doctors say there is no reason for alarm. Read more Image
First Case of Highly Transmissible Delta Variant Reaches Tucson Area June 17, 2021 Scientists have found Pima County’s first case of the Delta variant, a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “At this point I’m still not alarmed that the Delta variant is going to have a major impact here in Arizona,” said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor and director of the public health policy and management program at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Arizona Daily Star
The Germiest Places at the Airport June 17, 2021 Although the pandemic has led to more frequent and intensive cleaning procedures in many airports, certain germs are seemingly unavoidable in that environment. As a general rule, try to avoid crowded areas in airports to protect your health. “Germs are spread via contact with others and contaminated surfaces. The best defense is to avoid close contact with people, particularly if they exhibit illness symptoms," said Kelly Reynolds, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Huffington Post
Discouraging CVD Trends Highlight Need to ‘Stem the Tide,’ Focus on Reducing Disparities June 17, 2021 Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, according to recent statistics, putting the spotlight on prevention and eliminating race and sex disparities. “Almost no U.S. racial or ethnic group achieves ideal nutrition in youth. Additional interventions are needed to change the trajectory for both adult and youth populations," said Dr. Khadijah Breathett, an assistant professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson. Healio
From Doughnuts to Pot, Incentives Rise as Vaccination Rates Dip June 17, 2021 With COVID-19 vaccination rates declining in Arizona and other states, public and private entities are using incentives to reverse the trend and get more shots into more arms. “Unfortunately vaccines, like masks, have been politicized. People have been fed a great deal of misinformation, which has really confused the general public about the science and the safety involved," said Dr. Shad Marvasti, an associate professor and director of public health, prevention and population health curriculum at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. Cronkite News
UArizona Health Sciences Pediatrics Expert Addresses Parents’ Vaccine Questions June 16, 2021 A College of Medicine – Tucson assistant professor of pediatrics answers questions about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and the risk of side effects in children. Read more Image
College of Medicine – Tucson Wins NIH Grant for Medical Scientist Student Training June 16, 2021 The Medical Scientist Training Program is designed to train students planning careers in academic medicine or biomedical research. Read more Image
Minding Melanoma: Research and Therapies June 16, 2021 Researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center's Skin Cancer Institute are spending countless hours researching new medicines to battle melanoma. “Ultimately the things I’m doing are experimental. I'm the guy who tries to come up with novel weapons on a molecular basis,” said Georg Wondrak, a professor at the College of Pharmacy and a research member at the UArizona Cancer Center. KGUN-TV (Tucson, AZ)