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
A drug developed to fight Ebola may be key in the battle against novel coronavirus, says a U of A study that shows why it is effective. Virologist Matthias G枚tte is quoted. Story runs in several Postmedia newspapers, , , , Edmonton Examiner, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and on Global News Edmonton, , CTV News Channel, 630 CHED and .
Daily coronavirus updates, and the public concern they bring, can cause stress and anxiety for children, says U of A professor of psychiatry Peter Silverstone. Coverage also appears on CBC Radio Active.
Fourth-year medical student Jillian Schneider comments on a service she is helping to organize in which medical students volunteer to provide emergency child care for health workers in the wake of school classes being cancelled and daycare centres being closed. Coverage also appears in .
RESEARCH
A U of A study led by virologist Matthias G枚tte is referenced that examined why the drug remdesivir may be effective for treating patients infected with coronavirus. The story also appears in the and .
The potential for a worldwide pandemic has kept scientists in Canada at the ready and placed them at the forefront of the global response to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, several prominent researchers say. Matthias G枚tte, chair of the medical microbiology and immunology department at the U of A, is among the Canadian scientists quoted in the article. The Canadian Press story appears in media outlets across Canada.
If you're pregnant, here's a good reason to eat more fruit. It could actually improve your baby's memory, a new U of A study finds. Rachel Ward-Flanagan (Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute) is interviewed. Coverage also appears in and on several other Global newscasts and Corus radio stations across Canada.
A U of A study is referenced in which researchers asked virtual digital assistants for medical advice on a range of health situations. The researchers found the answers were often off the mark.
A new study led by U of A researchers has linked depressive symptoms during pregnancy with lowered immunity in infants. Liane Kang, a medical student at the U of A who co-authored the study, is interviewed. Anita Kozyrskyj, a professor of pediatrics, is also quoted in several articles online. Additional coverage appears on and in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and .
New studies suggest that unless you've already had a heart attack or a stroke, taking aspirin may not be the best idea. Mike Kolber, a family physician in Peace River and a professor in the Department of Family Medicine, co-authored one of those studies.
Four projects at the university have been granted just over $2.4 million to research everything from early detection technology to the use of SARS medication to assist with the current global outbreak. Related coverage appears on , CTV Calgary, (several markets across Canada) and in and .
A recent study from Ross Tsuyuki, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the U of A, is referenced outlining how comprehensive long-term pharmacist care for Canadians with hypertension will improve health outcomes and lead to $15 billion in cost savings to health care.
Lorne Tyrrell, director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, is interviewed on the topic of coronavirus and the research efforts underway at the U of A to combat it.
A three-year project that uses AI-enhanced social robots is aiming to improve children's health-care experiences. The project is being led by Mary Ellen Foster from the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science and Samina Ali, a professor of pediatrics at the U of A.
In this editorial about the challenges of limiting screen time in children, the writer cites a study by pediatric researcher Piush Mandhane that found three-year-old children accumulated 1.5 hours of screen time per day. That figure exceeds the Canadian Pediatrics Society's recommendation of one hour per day for preschool children ages two to five. According to Mandhane's findings, 42 per cent of three-year-olds and 13 per cent of five-year-olds surpassed the recommended exposure time. Related coverage also appears in .
As part of Glaucoma Awareness Week, Karim Damji, professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, recommends an annual eye exam for anyone over the age of 40 to catch and treat the disease. He also notes work being done by researchers at the U of A to fight the disease.
Canadian researchers across the country have received funding to help spur their fight against a global pandemic. The article profiles the work of Chris Le, a professor of medicine at the U of A, who is working on a way to speed up the diagnosis process for COVID-19.
Matthias G枚tte comments on his recent study that is among the first to explain why remdesivir, a drug originally intended to treat Ebola infection, may work against coronaviruses by stopping a genetic mechanism in the virus. Related coverage also appears on and in .
Pediatrics researchers Megan Fowler and Samina Ali comment on two studies they were involved in that assessed parents' and doctors' comfort level with using opioids to treat children's pain.
U of A cancer researcher John Lewis, who is also CEO of the U of A spinoff company Entos Pharmaceuticals, comments on the DNA-based vaccine against COVID-19 that his team is working on. Lewis said the company plans to have a candidate vaccine ready within a few weeks and is in talks with potential partners to fast-track it to human trials. Coverage also appears on and in .
Story refers to a 2017 study by the FoMD's Jonathan Besney, '19 MD, of an H1N1 outbreak four years earlier in an Edmonton prison.
Segment on research underway at the U of A to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic includes comment from Lorne Tyrrell, director of the U of A's Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and Matthias G枚tte, professor and chair of the the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology.
Virologist Matthias G枚tte comments on his research into how the antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed as a treatment for Ebola infection, may also work against coronaviruses. Clinical trials on the drug began enrolling patients in early March. G枚tte is also interviewed on .
Story mentions that the U of A is participating in a human clinical trial to test whether hydroxychloroquine, a Health Canada-approved drug used to prevent and treat malaria, can prevent people from contracting COVID-19.
Story cites a U of A survey of thousands of young people in Fort McMurray in which 37 per cent of respondents reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder more than a year after the wildfire emergency ended.
EXPERTS
黑料不打烊 health officials are ramping up their testing protocols for the coronavirus, adding six more countries to their list of places where travellers need to be mindful of virus symptoms. Tom Hobman, a professor of cell biology at the U of A who will soon be working on a vaccine, is interviewed.
Several U.S. police departments are falsely warning members of the public that their crystal methamphetamine could be contaminated with coronavirus and that they should bring it to a police station to be tested. Hakique Virani, a public health and addiction medicine specialist at the U of A, said police should stop spreading misinformation.
David Evans, a professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the U of A, gives expert comment on whether consumers should be worried about the coronavirus being transmitted from packages shipped from China. The story also appears on .
Researchers at the University of Bern have recreated the coronavirus, formally known as SARS-CoV-2, in just a week using yeast, a published genome, and mail-order DNA. David Evans, a professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the U of A who recreated an extinct horsepox in a similar manner in 2017, provides expert commentary.
In an opinion piece, assistant clinical professor of medicine Benjamin Tyrrell points out 黑料不打烊's provincial government is "actively seeking opportunities to improve health outcomes by getting the best results for the investment made on behalf of its citizens. To do this, innovative approaches to managing health services require an investor's approach to service delivery, not merely an accounting exercise.
Sleep scientist Joanna MacLean says the literature she's read doesn't make a convincing case that seasonal time change is all that bad.
Experts are warning the provincial government's push for fiscal restraint could weaken the health-care system's ability to respond to a pandemic crisis. Physician and associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith says having a robust system of family physicians "is absolutely key" in detecting and responding to a potential pandemic outbreak. The Canadian Press story appears in several newspapers across Canada.
Louis Hugo Francescutti, a professor in the U of A's School of Public Health and Department of Emergency Medicine, says when federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu told Canadians to stock up on food and medication at the end of February, it wasn't the best advice. "It feeds on people's natural fears of the unknown," he said. "It's here now in 黑料不打烊, there's going to be more cases, but life's going to go on." Related coverage also appears on .
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith says 黑料不打烊ns who believe they may be infected by the new coronavirus are advised to call 811, the provincial health-link number. Those manning the phone lines can go through your medical and travel history with you, and determine the next step to take.
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith comments on the spread of COVID-19 in 黑料不打烊 and the challenges of both detecting it and treating it.
Obesity expert Arya Sharma says when you try to manage your weight, the focus should really be on the health benefits of the lifestyle and not so much whether you lose the weight. Related coverage also appears in .
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith gives expert comment on the ineffectiveness of masks to prevent disease while travelling, and other items that should be taken on a trip.
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith says encouraging mass adoption of proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, such as covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, rather than mass hysteria, "would really disrupt the chain of transmission." Coverage appears in several newspapers across Canada.
Clinical professor of family medicine Allan Bailey co-wrote this editorial that argues by simply applying basic economic theory-by increasing public investments in primary care, especially in rural areas, and decreasing the "price" where there is physician oversupply-the government could solve the problem of unequal physician distribution throughout Canada. The article also appears in the and .
In this Keith Gerein column, U of A infectious disease expert Stephanie Smith says looking at other countries that have had much higher cases than we're seeing in Canada makes us realize we need to be prepared and to expect that we may have some limitations on our activities. The story also appears in The Province.
Global News Edmonton: Health Matters: March 11
Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology members Tom Hobman and David Evans discuss the differences between influenza and COVID-19. (no link)
Stan Houston, a professor of medicine at the U of A, discusses Echinococcus multilocularis-a rare liver parasite that is taking root in 黑料不打烊.
Professor of psychiatry Peter Silverstone gives expert comment on how the coronavirus scare is impacting mental health. He recommends taking proactive steps to curb anxiety, such as exercise and social interaction-if only online.
The risk of infection increases with the size of the crowd. But size isn't all that matters. Other factors to consider include where the gathering or event is taking place, and who is attending, says infectious disease specialist Lynora Saxinger.
Krishna Balachandra, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the U of A, comments on the government's decision to defund an intensive opioid therapy program: injectable opioid agonist treatment, or iOAT. Balachandra is also a physician at the Edmonton iOAT clinic.
U of A cardiology professor Gavin Oudit says having an autoimmune disorder doesn't necessarily mean you need to isolate, but vigilance is a must. The CTV story appears in several markets across Canada.
A Q&A on COVID-19 with Mark Joffe, vice-president and medical director for northern 黑料不打烊 at 黑料不打烊 Health Services and a professor of medicine at the U of A.
Figures indicated 34,000 people have been swabbed for the pathogen across Canada, compared with 23,000 tests in the U.S., which has 10 times the population and number of COVID-19 cases. Infectious disease specialist Lynora Saxinger comments in the article. Story also ran in a number of Postmedia outlets across Canada.
Article provides information on how those over age 65 can best protect themselves from COVID-19. Advice from infectious disease specialist Ameeta Singh and Adrian Wagg, director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, is included. Story also ran in a number of Postmedia outlets across Canada.
Louis Francescutti, a professor with the School of Public Health and the Department of Emergency Medicine, says public health guidelines-such as social distancing-are next to useless for people in crowded shelters or with inconsistent access to basic hygiene, such as soap and water. The homeless population has a higher rate of chronic illness and is more susceptible to respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19, than the general public.
Lorne Tyrrell, founding director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, is interviewed about the work being done to create antiviral drugs and vaccines in the fight against COVID-19.
A group of physicians trained in both infectious diseases and critical care medicine discuss what Canadian governments must do to prevent this country from finding itself in a similar situation to what Italy and Spain are experiencing. Faculty members Wendy Sligl, Angela Bates and Ari Joffe are co-signatories on the piece.
Microbiology and immunology professor David Evans answers questions about cleaning and disinfecting your home. Related coverage also appears on .
"These are among the earliest findings reported of detectable differences in behaviour in infants later diagnosed," says autism researcher Lonnie Zwaigenbaum.
Infectious disease expert Lynora Saxinger discusses some ways employees of essential services, who come into frequent contact with the public, can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Psychiatry professor Peter Silverstone talks about evidence-based practices such as exercise and setting daily routines that can help alleviate the psychological impact of feeling anxious and isolated.
U of A infectious disease specialists Mark Joffe and Lynora Saxinger comment on the shift in COVID-19 testing in 黑料不打烊 to focus on the most vulnerable populations as the number of travellers to the province dwindles.
Infectious disease specialist Mark Joffe answers common questions about COVID-19, including whether it's safe to go outside, take children to a playground or bring groceries into the house right away.
Infectious disease specialist Lynora Saxinger comments on how caregivers are often especially vulnerable to infection during pandemics, and what they can do to help protect themselves.
Jonathan Tankel, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Royal Alexandra Hospital and an associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the U of A, gives expert comment on how the new coronavirus may impact women's pregnancies.
Infectious disease specialist Stephanie Smith comments on social media overreaction to a single case of death from hantavirus infection-a rare illness that is caused by exposure to dust contaminated by rodent saliva, urine or feces and cannot be passed from person to person.
Article by psychiatry professor Austin Mardon and three U of A graduate students explains how viruses work and how they spread.
Infectious disease experts Lynora Saxinger and Stephanie Smith (both FoMD) comment on why definitions of "essential services" differ across Canada, and why it's too early to tell whether social distancing measures are working to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
Story mentions previous comments by emergency physician Louis Francescutti that education is needed rather than public shaming to improve compliance with public health measures. Story also appeared on numerous other local CBS affiliates.
Infectious disease expert Stephen Shafran comments on the reasons behind varying rates of COVID-19 infection within Canada and around the world.
Infectious disease specialist Lynora Saxinger answers a viewer question about whether it's safe to use reusable grocery bags for shopping. She emphasizes handwashing after returning from the grocery store and washing cloth bags that may have come into contact with contaminated surfaces.
In an opinion piece, U of A pharmacology researcher Shara Khan urges the people of Bangladesh to treat each other with compassion and generosity as they cope with the novel coronavirus.
PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION
Ameeta Singh, a physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and clinical professor of medicine at the U of A, is pushing to get access to a new quick-response blood test that could tackle a massive spike in congenital syphilis cases, which last year in 黑料不打烊 led to 12 stillbirths.
Jacqueline Pei, an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, is interviewed on the topic of housing for individuals living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Pei was a keynote speaker at a symposium focused on the issue.
Graduate student Murodbek Akhrororov and Medical Laboratory Science student Sharon Lee are interviewed on the topic of impostor syndrome. Some counsellors say they are seeing a rise in its harmful effects among Canadian undergraduate and graduate students. The story appears on several Global newscasts and Corus radio stations across Canada.
Westlock's Jason Ching is in his second year of studies at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the U of A. The current contractual stalemate between 黑料不打烊 doctors and the government has him taking a hard look at whether he even wants to practise medicine in rural 黑料不打烊.
Deena Hinshaw, 黑料不打烊's chief medical officer of health, is noted as having completed her medical degree, master's in public health and residencies in family medicine and community medicine at the U of A.
A new partnership struck between the universities of Calgary and 黑料不打烊, as well as 黑料不打烊 Precision Laboratories, will help families and medical professionals get access to gene sequencing early in a patient's medical journey to better identify the best treatment approaches and therapies to target illness. The story also appeared on CTV Edmonton.
The U of A has pulled its third- and fourth-year medical students from their hospital rotations. Clinical training will continue in a modified format that will include online learning.
Story profiles Theresa Tam, chief public health officer of Canada and head of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Tam completed her pediatric residency at the U of A. Story also ran in a number of Postmedia outlets across Canada.
A letter written by family doctor and clinical lecturer Lana Myroniuk on behalf of 558 other 黑料不打烊 physicians was sent to government officials. The letter urges the 黑料不打烊 government to not only put upcoming contract changes on hold, but also take further steps to help prevent the novel coronavirus pandemic from overwhelming the province's health-care system.
Medical students from coast to coast are hoping to make a difference during the coronavirus pandemic. The 8,000-member Canadian Federation of Medical Students-which includes students at the U of A-has been doing everything from babysitting children of health-care workers to manning the phones at 811 call centres, said association president and U of A medical student Victor Do.
Story mentions that Deena Hinshaw, 黑料不打烊's chief medical officer of health; Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer; and Brendan Hanley, chief medical officer of Yukon, have all studied at the U of A.
After having all of their classes moved online and many of their clinical rotations cancelled, several medical students at the U of A have decided to launch a free delivery service.