UT Health San Antonio and Polish scientists reported in the journal Science Advances a new approach for a COVID-19 drug design – blocking a "molecular scissor" that gives the virus the ability to reproduce and attack a person’s immune response. Read the full news release .
After enduring a bout with COVID-19 in July, Rebecca Fenton, DNP, MSN, RN, an assistant professor/clinical in the School of Nursing, knew there was some unfinished business between her and the novel coronavirus. “It’s because of what I do. I’m a nurse, first of all,” said Dr. Fenton. “And I thought to myself, if I was fortunate enough, blessed enough, to have survived this, I know that my plasma…
Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease physician with UT Health San Antonio’s Long School of Medicine, explains how to avoid risks when doing your civic duty this election year. Watch the full story with KSAT News.
Don't spook yourself this Halloween. With trick-or-treating being a high-risk activity during the COVID pandemic, here are some alternative celebration ideas for this year from The American Academy of Pediatrics . Dr. Berggren wants us to remember that "Whatever you do for Halloween, you can't stop the big three things of masking, washing and six-foot distancing, those things still have to be…, A candy scavenger hunt:, Take an Easter-egg-hunt approach with your family and let the kids discover tricks-or-treats in the backyard., Costume parade outdoors:, This can be done safely and from a distance. Kids can still dress up and show off their costumes to their neighbors and classmates in an open space., Movie night with no COVID fright:, Have a Halloween movie night in costumes. You can do it virtually by organizing a video chat where everyone watches the same movie and shows off their costumes, or if you have the outdoor space, set up a projector outside! For more ideas, click here .
Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, the chair of rehabilitation medicine at UT Health San Antonio, explains why it's important to avoid risks and the possible long-term effects of COVID-19. Watch the full story with News 4
What comes to mind when you think of a shield? For most, the shield is a symbol of protection. And though danger comes in many forms, the one weighing on our minds right now is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has challenged our community and people around the world in ways we never imagined. Shields have long represented illustrious academic institutions such as ours. And today, many members of the…, Perspectives, Jennifer A. Walker, MD, FACEP Dioval Remonde, MD
By: Will Sansom If a virus threatened our state and we had a vaccine to protect us, most of us would get the shot, right? Not if the 2018-2019 flu season is any indication. Last fall/winter, only 47.9% of the Texas population received a flu shot and the U.S. vaccination rate was 49.2%. The COVID-19 pandemic should be motivation enough to change our behavior and get the flu shot this year, said UT…, Flu can be serious, Influenza (“flu”) viruses spread in the United States every year from the late fall through early spring. While most infected people recover without serious complications, flu infections can be associated with serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and persons of all ages with certain chronic medical conditions. “As a…, Expect COVID-19 precautions, Like COVID-19, the flu can present with fever, cough and shortness of breath. This year, patients who go to clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals with these symptoms may be evaluated for COVID-19 and the flu. These patients should expect COVID-19 safety precautions to be applied even in situations when they think they only have the flu. These precautions are necessary to keep both patients and…, Steps to take, People can protect their communities by doing four things, Dr. Cancino said: 1. , Call your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and schedule a time to get your annual flu shot., Flu shots are safe for everyone, except a few individuals whose medical conditions make having a shot inadvisable. Many PCP offices carry flu shots to give to patients, and they will start receiving them from suppliers soon. Many offices will have “flu shot clinics” where patients can walk in or schedule an appointment to get flu shots. If you do not have a PCP, find one who is right for you. 2…, Engage your friends and community., The more people who are vaccinated, the less likely it is for this contagious disease to be transmitted to others. This is called “herd immunity.” Remind friends, family and community members that, even though they may not be in one of the high-risk groups, getting vaccinated prevents them from getting the flu and transmitting it to someone else who may be more vulnerable. 3. , Follow current recommendations regarding COVID-19., The same actions that protect us and others from COVID-19 (mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing) will protect us also from the flu. Continue to follow guidance from medical leaders around these mitigation strategies. 4. , Get evaluated by the appropriate person if you feel sick., Call your physician and get evaluated either in person or via telemedicine. Physicians will follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health department guidance on COVID-19 and flu testing if your assessment requires it. Your symptoms can often be diagnosed and treated without a trip to the emergency room or hospital. Last flu season, the CDC estimated that between 39…, Play as a team: Get a flu shot, “Each of these data points represents the life of a human being,” Dr. Cancino said. “We should strive to prevent such loss and suffering at every opportunity. “I have seen illness stress our health system and our community, but I have also seen how illness can bring people together and remind us that we are all on the same team. As a team, we must recognize how playing our own small parts can…
By: Will Sansom A neuro-intensive care physician at UT Health San Antonio has invented a science-based way to stop hiccups. While he was working as an anesthesiologist 20 years ago, Ali Seifi, MD, FACP, FNCS, saw many surgery patients in the recovery room who developed hiccups. The annoying spasming of the diaphragm is even more of a nuisance when one has had surgery. “I was thinking, how can I…
Although it’s not a cure for ALS, an oral drug slowed patients’ rate of functional decline in a clinical trial that included five patients at UT Health San Antonio. If the finding is repeated in larger trials, the drug could give families more time with their loved ones who have ALS. The New England Journal of Medicine published the results Sept. 3. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a…
Ralph Riviello, MD, MS, FACEP, chair of emergency medicine at UT Health San Antonio and University Hospital, discusses how both organizations are preparing for flu season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the easiest ways to prepare is by getting your flu shot this season. The flu vaccine can reduce symptoms that could be confused with COVID-19. The flu vaccine can also decrease the…