This is a round-up of relevant news and media stories involving the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. We appreciate you relaying information which is relevant to faculty members in your respective areas.
CTV News: New hope for pulmonary hypertension thanks to old drug
Investigators at the University of Alberta report that a generic drug can decrease the blood pressure in the lungs of PAH patients and improve their ability to walk, without significant side effects. Cardiology professor Evangelos Michelakis is the lead of the study. Coverage also appears in Medical Xpress, Pulmonary Hypertension News and Imperial College London News.
RESEARCH
The Health Site: Screening needed for patients with liver failure suffering from poor nutrition: Study
A new study has found that poor nutrition is common in patients with liver failure or cirrhosis and it can lead to muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue and worse outcomes before and after the patients undergo liver transplantation. Senior author Aldo Montano-Loza from the U of A's Division of Gastroenterology is quoted. Coverage also appears on on MedicalXpress.
CTV News Edmonton: Specialists gather for conference on prevention and treatment of diabetes
Hundreds of health professionals and researchers gathered at the Diabetes Canada/CSEM Professional Conference in Edmonton to share ideas and learn about the latest treatments. Peter Senior, a professor of medicine at the U of A and member of the Alberta Diabetes Institute, comments.
DoctorsLounge: Favorable Prognosis for Syncope Patients Discharged From ER
Most patients presenting to the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of syncope are discharged and have a favorable prognosis, and though total costs to care for discharged syncope patients are high, cost per patient is lower compared with hospitalized patients, according to a study published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Roopinder Sandhu, an associate professor in the U of A's division of cardiology, comments.
EXPERT
The Epoch Times: Seven Easy Ways to Soothe Your Child's Pain in the HospitalSamina Ali, professor of pediatrics at the U of A, suggests strategies for parents to minimize their children's pain and distress during hospital visits.
Peter Metcalfe, pediatric urologist and associate professor in the U of A's Division of Pediatric Surgery, comments on how access to certain resources can influence the way a family handles toilet training. Coverage also appears on NBC Montana, Gant News and several other media outlets.
Global News Edmonton: Severe RSV season ahead for Alberta: researcher
A potentially deadly flu-like virus is expected to hit Alberta particularly hard this season, according to one local researcher. U of A virologist David Marchant said this year will be another bad one for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Coverage also appears on Alberta Primetime.
The Globe and Mail: Alberta to test new treatment for opioid addiction
On track for a record number of deaths from overdoses this year, Alberta is planning to test an injectable drug to treat opioid dependency-a therapy health officials say is now available to Canadians only in British Columbia. Hakique Virani, a public-health and addiction medicine specialist at the U of A, comments.
Global News: Alberta doctors says AHS cancelling fertility services a 'tragedy of all tragedies'
Tarek Motan, an associate professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the U of A, says the cancellation of non-insured fertility services like in vitro and insemination at northern Alberta's only public clinic shows the province does not understand how desperate Albertans are to have children.
Wired: A malaria breathalyzer? It's closer than you think
This story about breakthrough in malaria diagnosis includes expert comment from Stephanie Yanow, an assistant adjunct professor in the U of A's Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology.
PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION
Bow Valley Crag and Canyon: Researcher Steve Hrudey receives province's highest civilian honour
Engineer, environmentalist, Bow Valley resident, and U of A professor emeritus Steve Hrudey is being recognized for his work by becoming a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence.
Modern Ghana: Back To Basics To #endTB: Do It Right The First Time, Every Time!
Interview with U of A professor emerita Anne Fanning at the Union World Conference on Lung Health in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Edmonton Journal: Science-based sex ed protects kidA letter to the editor from Lorne Warneke, clinical professor of psychiatry, on sex education in Catholic schools in Edmonton.
CBC News Edmonton: Edmonton wizards, witches discover magic of scienceThe U of A has been hosting the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a Harry Potter-themed event, every October for six years to encourage budding scientists. On the last weekend of October, 2,000 elementary- and middle-school students turned out for the 2017 event.
Avenue Magazine: Top 40 Under 40: Lauren AlbrechtA number of this year's Top 40 Under 40 hail from the U of A, including Lauren Albrecht, a PhD candidate with the Department of Pediatrics. Coverage also appears on Global Edmonton.
Nearly 100 U of A dentistry students gathered at the Butterdome during lunch hour on November 1 for a "sock fight," during which they celebrated raising 4,000 socks for the Boyle McCauley Health Centre by throwing them at each other in a dodge-ball style tournament.
University Affairs:Podcasting goes to schoolPodcasting has been slow to catch on in the world of Canadian academia, writes Natalie Samson for University Affairs, yet a growing group of Canadian academic podcasters are starting to change this. The story references the podcast Surgery 101 which is hosted by U of A professor of surgery Jonathan White.
Edmonton Journal: More funds needed to chew away at child hunger, public schools say
Sangita Sharma evaluated the Edmonton Public School's nutrition programs. Sharma presented preliminary results of her work to the board on November 7. Her team helped tweak the offerings to serve foods that packed more of a nutritional punch. Sharma said she would like additional funding to look more in-depth at the implications of the program on students' physical and mental health, attendance, academics and more