This is a roundup of relevant news and media stories involving the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. We appreciate you relaying information that is relevant to faculty members in your respective areas.
TOP STORIES
Work is underway in the province to sequence coronavirus genomes from positive samples of COVID-19 collected from 黑料不打烊ns. The genome sequencing will take place at labs in the University of Calgary and 黑料不打烊. Matthew Croxen, an assistant professor in the U of A's Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, is quoted. Coverage also appears on , and in the .
While coughing, fever and difficulty in breathing are common symptoms of COVID-19, a new case study has found that pink eye is also a reason to be tested for the disease. U of A ophthalmologist Carlos Solarte is quoted. Coverage also appears on and .
Infectious-disease specialist Stephanie Smith said the respiratory viral season typically starts in October and November, and she hopes more people will be immunized against influenza this fall.
RESEARCH
University of Calgary researchers studying the genes and immune responses of children with COVID-19 say they have a huge opportunity in 黑料不打烊 because of the relatively high number of confirmed cases. The UCalgary study is a collaboration between the U of A, 黑料不打烊 Health Services, the 黑料不打烊 Children's Hospital and 黑料不打烊 Precision Laboratories.
Rheumatologists at the U of A are flagging similarities between the deaths of some COVID-19 patients and those with rheumatic illnesses, and are testing proven rheumatic treatments to see whether they help against the pandemic virus. Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert, director of rheumatology in the Department of Medicine, is quoted. Coverage also appears in .
Professor emeritus Steve Hrudey comments on a pilot project he is co-ordinating to assess the viability of a national COVID-19 wastewater surveillance system.
Combining a blood-thinning drug with aspirin daily for angioplasty patients with a stent can improve health outcomes, lowers risk of death, than aspirin alone, according to a recent study led by U of A interventional cardiologist Kevin Bainey.
Hydroxychloroquine is not effective in preventing COVID-19 in people exposed to the virus that causes it, according to a clinical trial led by McGill University in collaboration with researchers from the U of A, University of Manitoba and University of Minnesota. Coverage also appeared in numerous print, online and broadcast outlets nationwide and globally.
Story mentions that the U of A is among several Canadian universities where researchers are working on developing a vaccine against COVID-19. The article appears in Postmedia newspapers across Canada.
An international team of researchers used the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to discover how to create stronger dental fillings. The researchers were led by Owen Addison, chair of oral rehabilitation at King's College London's Faculty of Dentistry and adjunct professor of dentistry at the U of A.
A group of Calgary innovators created a sterilization unit they say kills the COVID-19 virus in under one minute. U of A scientists were enlisted to test the device. David Evans, a professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the U of A, is quoted.
U of A student Christopher Picard (Nursing) is interviewed about U of A research on how helpful smart devices are with health questions. The project was co-led by Picard and Matthew Douma, an assistant adjunct professor of critical care medicine. Coverage also appears on CTV 黑料不打烊 Prime Time.
U of A researchers are part of a new study to help improve detection of disease in newborns through urine samples. Researchers at the U of A and the Universidad Aut贸noma de Zacatecas in Mexico examined the chemical composition of the urine in the first hours after birth. They concluded that the urine can be used to diagnose conditions like genetic diseases, birth-trauma effects and metabolic disorders in newborns. David Wishart, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology, is quoted. Coverage also appears on .
U of A researchers have developed a program to help teenagers recover from traumatic events, such as the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Hannah Pazderka, a researcher in the department of psychiatry, is quoted.
U of A professor of medical microbiology and immunology Matthias G枚tte talks about the drug approval process in Canada and other treatments on the way in the fight against COVID-19.
EXPERTS
Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger answers the question, "Can I disinfect my cloth mask by putting it in the microwave?"
U of A virologist David Evans explains which household cleaners are most effective in the fight against COVID-19 and which surfaces need extra attention.
In recent weeks, governments have begun taking steps to unravel the policies put in place at the start of the crisis and restart the economy, but in all likelihood reopening will be a highly regional affair, varying significantly across cities and provinces, said infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger.
Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger comments on how testing will work for people who aren't showing symptoms of COVID-19 and what public health authorities are looking for.
As the province gives the go-ahead to proceed to the next stage of reopening in 黑料不打烊, infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger urges people to remain vigilant about following public health measures.
Story cites previous comments by infectious-disease specialist Stan Houston that restaurants may be potentially unsafe even with precautions, but outdoor patios may present less risk of transmission. Related coverage also appears on and .
Critical care physician Peter Brindley said he thinks cleaning and janitorial staff in hospitals deserve the spotlight for their efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay.
U of A addictions expert Hakique Virani comments on an incident in which a police officer posted a photo of two officers posing with a shirtless and handcuffed man who was arrested while allegedly high on drugs. CBC also published an the following day. Coverage also appears on .
COVID-19 and the economic recession it has caused will have profound long-term effects on Canadians' mental health, said U of A psychiatry professor Peter Silverstone.
Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger comments on a variety of common questions about the COVID-19 pandemic, including risk of passing the virus through air conditioning.
Lynora Saxinger co-chairs a provincial scientific advisory board reviewing how COVID-19 manifests and what it means for reducing transmission and extending treatment beyond current care measures. She comments on the quickly changing landscape of what is known about the virus.
Research led by professor emeritus Steve Hrudey is noted in this article looking back at the contamination of drinking water in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000 that caused seven people to die and hundreds of others to become ill. Hrudey advised the Walkerton inquiry which examined the tragedy.
Cardiologist Gavin Oudit comments on how an enzyme called ACE2 can set off an immune overreaction that can be deadly in severe COVID-19 cases: "That's what makes this new coronavirus so deadly-because it evolved to bind to this molecule that you need to have a functioning heart, lungs and other organs."
Peter Light, director of the 黑料不打烊 Diabetes Institute, comments on a movement by people with Type 1 diabetes to hack their insulin pumps to create automatic systems to manage their disease, and how it's pushing pharmaceutical companies to develop similar technology.
In an opinion piece, critical care physician Peter Brindley muses on the possibility of a better world in the wake of the pandemic.
Psychiatry professor Peter Silverstone answers questions about coping with the social and economic consequences of the pandemic. In April, Silverstone launched the Centre for Online Mental Health Support with colleagues at the U of A to provide three- to five-day programs offering mental health advice and support.
As the weather gets warmer and provinces like Ontario begin to allow short-term rentals, including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes and condos, Canadians are wondering if they're allowed to head north and if so, how can they do it without spreading COVID-19? Infectious-disease specialist Stan Houston is interviewed.
Unfortunately, it's unlikely that sunshine will make the virus go away. Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger is interviewed.
Local scientists are frustrated after research around the world on a much-discussed drug was delayed by a study that has now been widely debunked. U of A scientists were studying the drug and its potential use as treatment for COVID-19 as part of the 黑料不打烊 HOPE COVID-19 trial. Infectious-disease specialist Ilan Schwartz is interviewed.
Health experts say it makes sense for 黑料不打烊 to take the next step in reopening its economy, but warn there will be an uptick in COVID-19 cases due to an inability to physically distance in some situations. Infectious-disease specialist Stephanie Smith is interviewed.
In an opinion piece, Steve E. Hrudey, professor emeritus in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, argues that a Canadian wastewater monitoring program for signs of COVID-19 could provide additional evidence about infection trends in communities.
Infectious-disease expert Lynora Saxinger takes questions from 黑料不打烊ns on COVID-19.
Looking at outbreak data, infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger identified meal sharing as a "potential issue."
Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger said data suggest there's still an active spread in the Edmonton community.
Provinces like British Columbia, 黑料不打烊 and New Brunswick have announced plans to reopen restaurants after closing them in mid-March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. "The challenge is that, while we know very well how SARS-COV-2 can be transmitted, we have a very limited grasp of the most important routes of transmission in real life," said Stan Houston, an infectious-disease specialist at the U of A.
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, professor of pediatrics and director of autism research at the U of A, is interviewed about resources that are available to help families with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is evidence that body cams are not the game-changing technology some hope it to be. "We know from research that police body cams work at first to decrease use of force, but after time use of force returns to normal," said Yasmeen Krameddine, a policing and mental health researcher at the U of A. The story also appears in .
Infectious-disease specialist Lynora Saxinger said if you must drive with strangers or people not in your social bubble, you should try to create as much distance between people as possible.
Infectious-disease expert Stephanie Smith said overall the government has been successful in controlling the virus while allowing people more freedom. She grades the response as A-. The story also appears in several other regional newspapers across the province.
Frequent cleaning of surfaces that are touched often would make public washrooms safer overall, but it's not necessarily an option that should be relied on, said infectious-disease expert Lynora Saxinger. "The common feature at the end of the day is that your hands are contaminated. So after leaving, make sure that you've cleaned your hands again with sanitizer," she said.
U of A infectious-disease expert Lynora Saxinger has mixed feelings about the restaurant closures. "I'm still kind of on the fence because it might be the case that the systems are working and things are appropriate, or it might be the case that there is a lot of transmission that we haven't really caught up to yet, which would be a concern."
As the COVID-19 pandemic makes its way across Canada, seniors are hit especially hard with the biggest impact being felt within the women-dominated long-term care system. Approximately 80 per cent of COVID-19 related deaths in Canada have been in the long-term care system. Almost 60 per cent of long-term care residents are women, as well as over 90 per cent of staff. Andrea Gruneir, an associate professor of family medicine at the U of A, gives expert comment.
Women and Children's Health Research Institute members Lisa Hartling, Shannon Scott and Hannah Brooks give guidance on when parents should bring their children to the emergency department.
U of A professor of medicine Stan Houston said going camping or canoeing with the family you've been living with during the pandemic is "one of the safest things you could do,"-especially if you take everything, like groceries, with you.
U of A virologist David Marchant explains why a vaccine isn't coming soon and why we'll have to learn to live with COVID-19.
PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION
Brinda Balachandra and Nathan Zelyas with the U of A's Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology are quoted in this story about the importance of lab medicine physicians in 黑料不打烊's healthcare system.
He grew up being told to go back to Africa. Now, Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is worried his three young sons will experience a similar struggle. He was one of just two black students in the class of 2005 at the U of A's medical school. Coverage also appears on .
A young Edmontonian is interviewed about her prize-winning science fair project on mental illness and genetics. Robert Losey (Arts) and Rachel Wevrick, a professor of medical genetics at the U of A, assisted her in her work.
Old Scona Academic Grade 12 student Cindy Liu will be attending Harvard University in fall 2020. Last summer she interned at a medical genetics lab at the U of A as part of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program.
Opinion piece makes reference to a program in which psychiatry researchers Peter Silverstone and Yasmeen Krameddine and the Edmonton Police Service introduced advanced training for officers in recognizing and supporting individuals with mental health conditions. Coverage also appears in .
The is a U of A medical school initiative that provides free grocery shopping delivery and prescription pick-up services for community members in need, according to volunteer organizer and U of A med student Chloe Lee.
Alumnus Lynden Crowshoe is this year's recipient of the Royal College's Dr. Thomas Dignan Indigenous Health Award-recognizing his work in addressing systemic racism in the healthcare system as a clinician, educator and leader.