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
National Post: Ebola drug may be key to combating novel coronavirus: University of Alberta study
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 Götte is quoted. Story runs in several Postmedia newspapers, The Mirror (UK), Sci News, Science Magazine, Edmonton Examiner, Technology Networks, News Medical, MedIndia, Online Focus (Germany), Archnewsy (Germany), Media Technology (France), HarianJogja (Indonesia), Bisnis (Indonesia), StudyFinds, Devdiscourse, Infosurhoy, Chinese Canadian Voice, MedicineNet, Health24, Medical Brief, HealthDay, Drug Target Review and on Global News Edmonton, CityNews Edmonton, CTV News Channel, 630 CHED and CBC Radio Active.
CBC News: How to support children's mental health during the coronavirus pandemic
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.
CBC News Edmonton: U of A medical students providing child care to doctors' kids
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 Slate.
RESEARCH
The Mirror (UK): Coronavirus mutates into second strain which is more aggressive and contagious
A U of A study led by virologist Matthias Götte is referenced that examined why the drug remdesivir may be effective for treating patients infected with coronavirus. The story also appears in the Irish Mirror and Standard Digital (Kenya).
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 Götte, 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.
Global News: Expecting moms should eat fruit to help babies, study finds
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 Haryana Today (India) and on several other Global newscasts and Corus radio stations across Canada.
John Tesh Radio Show: Medical advice from virtual assistants
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.
Global News: Health Matters: March 3
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 Newstalk 770 and in Medical Dialogues, Free Press Journal (India), Nauka W Polsce (Poland), Sify, The Medical News, Spark Health MD, MD Magazine, Baby Gaga, Yahoo News (India), Times Now (India), Punjab Tribune, Ani News, Devdiscourse, Bio1000 (China), Doctor NDTV, PsychCentral and Neuroscience News.
CBC Radio: Should I take a daily Aspirin to ward off heart attacks and strokes?
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 Edmonton, CTV Calgary, Global News (several markets across Canada) and in The Globe and Mail and Daily Hive.
The Star: Pharmacy research is the prescription for better patient care
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.
Alberta Primetime: Coronavirus spread
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.
Vancouver Weekly: Screentime junkies
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 iNews (UK).
CTV News Edmonton: Local researchers keeping close eye on sight-stealing disease
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.
The Star: Meet three Canadian scientists on the front lines of the coronavirus fight
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.
CTV News: Canadian researchers look to previous outbreaks in search of COVID-19 treatment
Matthias Götte 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 Global News and in Inverse.
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.
Global News: 'Maximum protection': Alberta company developing COVID-19 vaccine
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 City News and in Times of India.
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.
CityNews: Canadian universities go all in for the fight against COVID-19
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 Götte, professor and chair of the the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology.
CBC News Edmonton: Ebola drug offers hope in frantic search for effective COVID-19 treatment
Virologist Matthias Götte 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. Götte is also interviewed on CBC Radio One.
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.
St. Albert Gazette: How to reach mental health support by phone, online during pandemic
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
Global News: Alberta officials expand list of countries for coronavirus testing protocols
Alberta 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.
Vice: Cops are falsely warning that meth might contain coronavirus
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.
Digital Trends: As coronavirus spreads, is it safe to buy products shipped from China?
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 Tweak (Denmark).
OneZero: Swiss Scientists Have Recreated the Coronavirus in a Lab
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.
Edmonton Journal: Opinion: New funding model for cardiac cases would save lives
In an opinion piece, assistant clinical professor of medicine Benjamin Tyrrell points out Alberta'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.
Calgary Herald: Most Albertans want to abolish season time changes: survey
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 Alberta, there's going to be more cases, but life's going to go on." Related coverage also appears on Newstalk 770.
The Globe and Mail: I think I may have the new coronavirus. What should I do?
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith says Albertans 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.
630 CHED: Ryan Jespersen Show: Alberta has 4 presumptive cases of COVID-19, now what?
Associate professor of infectious diseases Stephanie Smith comments on the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta 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 Bariatric News.
Refinery 29: Traveling This Spring Break? What You Need To Know About Coronavirus
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.
Calgary Herald: Opinion: Let's apply economic 'supply and demand' to Alberta's medicare
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 London Free Press and The Province.
Edmonton Journal: Keith Gerein: COVID-19 infects Edmonton with an unhealthy dose of uncertainty
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)
The Gateway: Rare liver parasite gradually affecting more Albertans
Stan Houston, a professor of medicine at the U of A, discusses Echinococcus multilocularis-a rare liver parasite that is taking root in Alberta.
CityNews Edmonton: Taking care of your mental health during a pandemic
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.
CBC News: Edmonton doctor, patient concerned as government plans to defund intensive opioid therapy
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.
CTV News: Guelph family with increased COVID-19 risk practising self-isolation
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.
CBC News: Coronavirus Q&A: Your questions answered by an infectious disease doctor
A Q&A on COVID-19 with Mark Joffe, vice-president and medical director for northern Alberta at Alberta Health Services and a professor of medicine at the U of A.
National Post: Canada among top world performers in testing for COVID-19, despite shortcomings
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.
National Post: How people older than 65 can do more to protect themselves from COVID-19
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.
CBC News Edmonton: 'A major issue': Edmonton homeless at serious risk amid COVID-19, advocates say
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.
630 CHED: A possible COVID-19 antiviral being developed in Seattle
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.
Global News: How to clean to fight COVID-19? Vinegar won't work, University of Alberta expert says
Microbiology and immunology professor David Evans answers questions about cleaning and disinfecting your home. Related coverage also appears on AM 900 Hamilton.
Spectrum News: Infants' attention to faces may predict autism before formal diagnosis
"These are among the earliest findings reported of detectable differences in behaviour in infants later diagnosed," says autism researcher Lonnie Zwaigenbaum.
CBC News Network: How front-line workers like grocery clerks and bus drivers can stay safe
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.
CBC Radio: How to manage your mental health during the 'new normal' 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 Alberta to focus on the most vulnerable populations as the number of travellers to the province dwindles.
CBC News Edmonton: From shopping to playgrounds: Your coronavirus questions answered
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.
CBC Radio: How can caregivers protect themselves from COVID-19?
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.
Refinery 29: How Coronavirus Could Affect Your Pregnancy & Birth Plan
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.
Global News: One hantavirus death in China sparks 'hysteria' over old disease
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.
Lethbridge Herald: Virology 101 and COVID-19
Article by psychiatry professor Austin Mardon and three U of A graduate students explains how viruses work and how they spread.
CBC News: Hospitals across Canada face COVID-19 'storm'
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.
CBS News: Don't be a 'covidiot': Social distancing rebels shamed online with mixed results
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.
CTV News Channel: COVID-19 cases on the rise in Canada
Infectious disease expert Stephen Shafran comments on the reasons behind varying rates of COVID-19 infection within Canada and around the world.
CBC: The National: Should we avoid reusable grocery bags during the pandemic?
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.
Dhaka Tribune: Compassion is needed in the time of coronavirus
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 Alberta 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.
Global News: Impostor syndrome hitting high-achieving students: 'I feel like it was a fluke'
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 Alberta doctors and the government has him taking a hard look at whether he even wants to practise medicine in rural Alberta.
Global News: Who is Dr. Deena Hinshaw? Alberta's chief medical officer of health
Deena Hinshaw, Alberta'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.
CTV Calgary: Rapid genetic testing becomes available to Calgary medical community
A new partnership struck between the universities of Calgary and Alberta, as well as Alberta 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.
CTV News Edmonton: Clinical training being modified at the University of Alberta
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.
National Post: Dr. Theresa Tam foresaw her job would mean 'harnessing the efforts of the many'
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.
Global News: Alberta doctors urge government to do more amid coronavirus pandemic
A letter written by family doctor and clinical lecturer Lana Myroniuk on behalf of 558 other Alberta physicians was sent to government officials. The letter urges the Alberta 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.
CBC News: Medical students form army of 'caremongers' during coronavirus crisis
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.
National Post: A new breed of celebrity in the age of COVID-19: the chief medical officer
Story mentions that Deena Hinshaw, Alberta'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.
CityNews Edmonton: Bag Half Full YEG: Medical students delivering groceries
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.