Environmental Health News - Pittsburgh would be an ideal place for further study on the links between air pollution, asthma, and autoimmune disease, says EOH chair SALLY WENZEL. "There's a lot of evidence now that what you breathe may impact your lungs in many ways, and could actually start an autoimmune process. That's a link we haven't fully explored in this region yet."
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH - McMillen and Hartman discuss the historical role of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) as a biological weapon and conclude with an outline of the important unanswered questions for ongoing research into this important zoonotic disease.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE - Suicides in Allegheny County have increased 66 percent over just eight years from 2010 to 2017. The increase is far higher than the 25 percent national increase, or the 30 percent increase in Pennsylvania over 18 years between 1999 and 2016. “This is really upsetting to me because for so long our [suicide] rates were going down,” said HUGEN's LISA PAN.
NY TIMES - Suicide rates rose steadily in nearly every state from 1999 to 2016, increasing 25 percent nationally. Studies found that slightly more than half of people who had committed suicide did not have any known mental health condition. “The reason most suicide decedents don’t have a known mental disorder is that they were never diagnosed, not that they didn’t have one,” said EPI's DAVID BRENT.
UPMC - EPI's STEVEN BELE has been named a fellow of the Society for Clinical Trials, recognized for outstanding leadership for several multicenter studies of surgical outcomes and other treatment trials across a wide range of conditions and applications. “It’s an honor to be recognized by those who themselves are leaders in the premier international society devoted to clinical trials and other health care research."
New roles for Cauley and Ayyavoo
New roles for Cauley and Ayyavoo
JANE CAULEY, who has served as the associate dean for research, will be stepping down from that position to take on additional responsibilities as the executive vice chair of EPI. Cauley is also a distinguished professor of epidemiology. VELPANDI AYYAVOO, currently associate dean for faculty affair... (06/06/2018)
Gary-Webb and Mendez talk Project Hunger (Video)
Gary-Webb and Mendez talk Project Hunger (Video)
WTAE - More than 325,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania are food insecure according to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Rural areas are particularly vulnerable. "If groceries stores are miles away, it'll be very difficult to get to those," says BCHS's TIFFANY GARY-WEBB. "Some do hav... (06/05/2018)
'Invisible workforce' of caregivers is wearing out as boomers age
'Invisible workforce' of caregivers is wearing out as boomers age
STAR TRIBUNE - Growing numbers of Americans face the challenge of caring for an aging parent or other loved one, a burden that will skyrocket as 76 million baby boomers move into their 80s and need help coping with dementia, cancer, heart disease, or just plain frailty and old age. “I don’t think p... (06/05/2018)
Roberts on one way people who inject drugs can avoid HIV and Hepatitis C infections
Roberts on one way people who inject drugs can avoid HIV and Hepatitis C infections
US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT - Tens of thousands of people (if not more) who inject heroin, fentanyl and other opioids are at risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis C from a contaminated syringe. Research shows that programs in which people who inject drugs turn in their used needles in exchange for clea... (06/01/2018)
Some good news from the fight against opiods
Some good news from the fight against opiods
THE ECONOMIST - Prescription medications are likely to have been pushed down by lower availability of those drugs. Official data from the CDC show that prescription rates were nearly 20% lower in 2016 than at their 2012 peak. IQVIA, a health consultancy, reckons that prescriptions fell by another 1... (06/01/2018)
Catov finds preterm birth linked to heart disease later in life
Catov finds preterm birth linked to heart disease later in life
WESA-FM - A new study found that women who had preterm births and a pattern of increasing blood pressure were also more likely to have greater calcium buildup in their hearts, putting them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. Associate professor, alumna, and lead author JANET... (05/28/2018)
Wenzel says biologic improves severe asthma outcomes
Wenzel says biologic improves severe asthma outcomes
MEDPAGE - Two trials showed that dupilumab was associated with reduced exacerbations, better lung function and improved asthma control in patients with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma. EOH professor SALLY WENZEL says, “for patients who have a lot of comorbidities, and are missing a lot of wor... (05/22/2018)
Goldstein on EPA’s disregard for the science behind the Clean Air Act
Goldstein on EPA’s disregard for the science behind the Clean Air Act
THE HILL - “In the name of ‘cooperative federalism,’ Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is out to gut one of the finest examples of cooperative federalism in environmental law — that of setting outdoor air pollutant standards,” writes EOH’s BERNARD GOLDSTEIN. “This new approa... (05/18/2018)
Colon cancer risk depends on polyp type found during colonoscopy
Colon cancer risk depends on polyp type found during colonoscopy
HEALIO - The risk for colorectal cancer is about 2.5 times higher in patients who have advanced adenomatous polyps detected during colonoscopy vs. those with no adenomas, but the risk does not appear to be increased among patients with non-advanced adenomas. These findings suggest that repeat colon... (05/17/2018)
Proposal could take SNAP away from 70,000 Pennsylvania households - Roberts responds
Proposal could take SNAP away from 70,000 Pennsylvania households - Roberts responds
WESA-FM - Two major proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could cause 70,000 Pennsylvania households to lose eligibility. “I think there’s concern that with this new policy, we might be erring more on the side of being punitive and too restrictive,” says HPM’s E... (05/17/2018)
In Harm’s Way: Women, HIV, Hep C, and Substance Use, hosted by MAAETC
In Harm’s Way: Women, HIV, Hep C, and Substance Use, hosted by MAAETC
The MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center hosted a conference that brought together regional experts to explore ways to increase awareness of the opioid and Hepatitis C epidemics affecting women and infants in Southwestern Pennsylvania. One outcome of note: they identified solutions to impr... (05/16/2018)
Maryland's plan to control health costs gets federal approval, Roberts among analysts
Maryland's plan to control health costs gets federal approval, Roberts among analysts
THE BALTIMORE SUN - The federal government has approved a plan Maryland has been testing for the past four years to control health costs by shifting more care out of hospitals and better coordinating care with doctors, nursing homes and community groups. HPM's ERIC T. ROBERTS, was among those to an... (05/15/2018)
Opioid Makers' Perks to Docs Tied to More Prescriptions says Donohue
Opioid Makers' Perks to Docs Tied to More Prescriptions says Donohue
U.S. NEWS - Doctors who accept perks from companies that make opioid painkillers are more likely to prescribe the drugs for their patients, new research suggests. HPM's JULIE DONOHUE, agreed that the study doesn't prove perks caused doctors to prescribe more opioids. But in the context of an opioid... (05/15/2018)
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