Research and Practice News

Check out some highlights of research and practice under way at Pitt Public Health:

USF latest to use FRED to simulate measles outbreak in Florida 

USF latest to use FRED to simulate measles outbreak in Florida

WUSF NEWS - University of Pittsburgh's Public Health Dynamic Laboratory teamed up with the University of South Florida College of Public Health to create a new online measles simulator that shows how quickly measles can spread from just one measles case over a nine-month period.  (04/05/2019)

Mailliard and Rinaldo on the quest to cure HIV using immunotherapy 

Mailliard and Rinaldo on the quest to cure HIV using immunotherapy

INFECTION CONTROL TODAY - IDM's Robbie Mailliard and Charles Rinaldo are on the quest to cure HIV using an all-in-one immunotherapy approach that not only kicks HIV out of hiding in the immune system but also kills it. The key lies in immune cells designed to recognize an entirely different virus. ... (04/03/2019)

Analyzing a Facebook-fueled anti-vaccination attack: 'It's not all about autism' 

Analyzing a Facebook-fueled anti-vaccination attack: 'It's not all about autism'

ASPPH FRIDAY LETTER - Research led by Beth Hoffman (BCHS '19, '23) finds that anti-vaccination arguments on social media aren't all about autism, but instead center on four distinct themes that can appeal to diverse audiences, offering a framework that pediatricians can use to open a conversation w... (04/01/2019)

Kuller receives 2019 Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh award  

Kuller receives 2019 Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh award

EPI’s Lewis Kuller was honored at the Pittsburgh Heart Ball for his groundbreaking contributions to the study of cardiovascular disease. When presenting the award, Anne Newman, chair of the department, said that Kuller "always challenged current public health knowledge through research and interven... (03/27/2019)

Costacou finds menarche heightens overt nephropathy risk in type 1 diabetes 

Costacou finds menarche heightens overt nephropathy risk in type 1 diabetes

HEALIO – "A major question of concern in type 1 diabetes is the association of age at menarche with glycemic control; however, studies evaluating the impact of glycemic control on the age at menarche in young women with type 1 diabetes have provided conflicting results," said EPI’s Tina Costacou, f... (03/26/2019)

What drives 'anti-vaxxer' parents? It's a mixed bag, Hoffman shows 

What drives 'anti-vaxxer' parents? It's a mixed bag, Hoffman shows

U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT - People who voice their anti-vaccine sentiments online range from conspiracy theorists to parents who have safety worries or interests in alternative medicine. Investigators, including Beth Hoffmann (BCHS '19), came to that conclusion after looking into a viral Facebook ... (03/22/2019)

Padiath and colleagues 'see' dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei 

Padiath and colleagues 'see' dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei

ASPPH FRIDAY LETTER - Our cells sometimes have to squeeze through pretty tight spaces. And when they do, the nuclei inside must go along for the ride. Using super-sensitive microscopic imaging, HUGEN’s Quasar Padiath made a fundamental biological discovery that explains the structure of the nuclear... (03/04/2019)

Wenzel's new method identifies which asthma patients respond to system corticosteroids 

Wenzel's new method identifies which asthma patients respond to system corticosteroids

While important in the treatment of the common and often life-long respiratory disease, corticosteroids aren't without side effects and for some patients, the treatment just isn't as effective. EOH Chair Sally Wenzel and colleagues used a machine learning algorithm and identified variables that all... (03/02/2019)

Nachega finds drug-resistant TB cured with new approaches in conflict-affected region 

Nachega finds drug-resistant TB cured with new approaches in conflict-affected region

INFECTION CONTROL TODAY - A high proportion of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases can be cured in conflict-affected communities with molecular diagnostics, shorter treatment periods, and socioeconomic incentives, according to the results of a large, long-term study in the Democratic Republic of... (02/19/2019)

Scientists uncover dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei (video) 

Scientists uncover dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei (video)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  - Using super-sensitive microscopic imaging, a team of scientists led by HuGen's Quasar Padiath has made a fundamental biological discovery that explains the structure of the nuclear envelope and gives tantalizing clues as to how cells squish throug... (02/19/2019)

Catov among scientists researching heart disease link to pre-eclampsia 

Catov among scientists researching heart disease link to pre-eclampsia

PITTSBURGH COURIER - While her baby is still a toddler, a woman who had preeclampsia during her pregnancy might already be on the path to heart disease and not getting the care she needs. Perinatal epidemiologistJanet Catov is among those researchers examining what pregnancy-related signals identif... (02/14/2019)

Rosano links depressive symptoms in type 1 diabetes to extended hyperglycemia, brain lesions 

Rosano links depressive symptoms in type 1 diabetes to extended hyperglycemia, brain lesions

HELIO - Middle-aged adults with type 1 diabetes are more likely to experience depressive symptoms than those without, and extended hyperglycemia and more white matter hyperintensities in the brain may play a role in this difference, according to findings published in Diabetic Medicine by EPI's Cate... (02/13/2019)

Hartman among researchers trying to prevent virus more dangerous than Zika (video) 

Hartman among researchers trying to prevent virus more dangerous than Zika (video)

WPXI - Pitt researchers are looking to lessons learned about Zika when preparing for the possibility of Rift Valley Fever virus, noting that it's important to develop therapies and vaccines now. "We saw the ffects of Zika when it got into a larger population and so our work highlights the need to r... (02/11/2019)

Marques finds prior dengue infection protects against Zika 

Marques finds prior dengue infection protects against Zika

The higher a person's immunity to dengue virus, the lower their risk of Zika infection, an international team of scientists reported in the journal Science. The study also provides evidence that Brazil's Zika epidemic has largely petered out because enough people acquired immunity to reduce the eff... (02/11/2019)

Global Health at Home: Leff on Products of Pittsburgh podcast 

Global Health at Home: Leff on Products of Pittsburgh podcast

PRODUCTS OF PITTSBURGH - In 2013, Mara Leff (BCHS '16), now director of innovation at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, moved from Washington, D.C., back to her hometown of Pittsburgh to study global health at Pitt Public Health. Her research took her across the world, although after graduating, Le... (02/11/2019)

Marsh, Buchanich, multiple alums publish first study of workers involved in aerospace materials manufacturing 

Marsh, Buchanich, multiple alums publish first study of workers involved in aerospace materials manufacturing

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE - This is the first ever epidemiological study of workers involved in aerospace materials manufacturing. Authored by BIOST's Gary Marsh and Jeanine Buchanich and featuring work from Jessica Graves (BIOST '18, EPID '22), Yimeng (Alice) Lu (BIOST '17), and Sara... (02/11/2019)

Hernandez study investigates rising drug prices 

Hernandez study investigates rising drug prices

PITT WIRE - A recent study led by Inmaculada Hernandez (HPM '16), assistant professor of pharmacy and therapeutics, found that new drugs entering the market drive up prices, but drug companies are also hiking prices on older drugs.  (01/30/2019)

Hernandez's research adds to pharmaceutical industry's growing pressure over high price of drugs 

Hernandez's research adds to pharmaceutical industry's growing pressure over high price of drugs

FOX NEWS - "It's not about innovation, it's about inflation in existing products," explains Inmaculada Hernandez (HPM '16). "They are the same companies that operate in other countries and they don't show this behavior and that's because in other countries they are lucky to have this regulatory env... (01/24/2019)

Garcia-Bates says timing of immunotherapy crucial to outcomes 

Garcia-Bates says timing of immunotherapy crucial to outcomes

MEDICAL RESEARCH - "HIV infection is a manageable disease with the advent and availability of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). But, when ART is interrupted, the virus quickly rebounds to high levels and again targets the immune system. Therefore, new immunotherapeutic treatments are sought... (01/14/2019)

Hernandez's research says prescription drug costs driven by manufacturer price hikes, not innovation 

Hernandez's research says prescription drug costs driven by manufacturer price hikes, not innovation

WESA - The skyrocketing cost of many prescription drugs in the U.S. can be blamed primarily on price increases, not expensive new therapies or improvements in existing medications as drug companies frequently claim, says a new study published in Health Affairs by Inmaculada Hernandez (HPM '16).  (01/10/2019)

Research Videos

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Scientists uncover dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei (video) 

Scientists uncover dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei (video)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  - Using super-sensitive microscopic imaging, a team of scientists led by HuGen's Quasar Padiath has made a fundamental biological discovery that explains the structure of the nuclear envelope and gives tantalizing clues as to how cells squish throug... (02/19/2019)
image

Hartman among researchers trying to prevent virus more dangerous than Zika (video) 

Hartman among researchers trying to prevent virus more dangerous than Zika (video)

WPXI - Pitt researchers are looking to lessons learned about Zika when preparing for the possibility of Rift Valley Fever virus, noting that it's important to develop therapies and vaccines now. "We saw the ffects of Zika when it got into a larger population and so our work highlights the need to r... (02/11/2019)
image

Hernandez's research adds to pharmaceutical industry's growing pressure over high price of drugs 

Hernandez's research adds to pharmaceutical industry's growing pressure over high price of drugs

FOX NEWS - "It's not about innovation, it's about inflation in existing products," explains Inmaculada Hernandez (HPM '16). "They are the same companies that operate in other countries and they don't show this behavior and that's because in other countries they are lucky to have this regulatory env... (01/24/2019)
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BCHS team tries new technique to share research with LGBTQ youth (video) 

BCHS team tries new technique to share research with LGBTQ youth (video)

Post-doctoral researcher Robert Coulter (BCHS '17), BCHS's Jessica Burke, and Sara Baumann (BCHS '19) tried using a video approach to share highlights of Coulter's recent research on how welcoming school environments reduce drinking among both LGBT+ -identified students and their heterosexual count... (11/24/2018)
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Burke updates Pitt Public Health community on state of the opioid epidemic (VIDEO) 

Burke updates Pitt Public Health community on state of the opioid epidemic (VIDEO)

Dean Donald S. Burke's third annual address to the school on the state of the nation's opioid overdose epidemic looks at one of the most pressing issues facing our region. Burke highlights his team's research recently published in  Science  ( Changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in t... (10/04/2018)
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Newman and colleagues' new study uses local participants to look at aspirin use in older adults (video) 

Newman and colleagues' new study uses local participants to look at aspirin use in older adults (video)

WPXI - TV - We've long heard that an aspirin a day can help lower the risk of heart disease. A new study using participants from Pittsburgh suggests that isn't always the case. The study looked at 19,000 people worldwide, including 178 people from Pittsburgh. "People who took aspirin and people who... (09/19/2018)
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