TOP STORIES
CBC News: Fainting during pregnancy might signal future problems, U of A study shows
Women have long been told fainting is a common but harmless symptom of pregnancy, but new research shows it may indicate issues for both the baby and mother's health, especially when it occurs during the first trimester. Padma Kaul, a professor of cardiology at the U of A helped lead the study. Coverage also appears in Global News (2:40 in the video), iNews 880, The Indian Express, Science Daily, Medical Daily, Science Codex, News Medical, Medicine News Line, Health Medicine Network, 7th Space, Business Insurance and Bioengineer.org.
Karen Lee, an associate professor of medicine at the U of A is leading the newly announced Housing for Health project. The project has received a $4.4 million grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada to study which physical changes in two new developments will make the biggest difference to residents' health, and to measure the residents' health before and after the projects get built. Coverage also appears in Journal Pioneer, Global News, CTV News and 630 CHED.
The Conversation: Breastfeeding struggles linked to postpartum depression in mothers
Family doctor Stephanie Liu discusses the psychological impact on mothers who find it difficult or impossible to breastfeed their babies. Coverage also appears in the National Post, Daily Mail, New Delhi News, Ottawa Citizen, Health Medicine Network, Mouths of Mums and Angle News.
RESEARCH
A story about screen time in children notes a study led by Piush Mandhane, an associate professor of pediatrics at the U of A, that found that children who spent two or more hours staring at a screen every day were 7.7 times more likely to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by the age of 5, in comparison to those who spent just 30 minutes or less. Coverage also appears in Reuters News, The Jordan Times, The Daily Courier, Richmond News, Physician's Weekly, and on WHTC.
Air Canada enRoute: 19 Canadian Start-ups That Are Out to Change the World
In an article profiling important Canadian start-up companies, the work of John Lewis, a professor of oncology at the U of A and CEO of Nanostics, is mentioned. Lewis' team has developed a less invasive test for prostate cancer that is much more accurate than other methods and only requires a few drops of blood.
Fort McMurray Today: Abasand, Beacon Hill schools reflect on recovery at wildfire event
Story references a U of A report into mental health issues facing Fort McMurray students in grades 7 to 12, which showed 31 per cent of students who went through the May 2016 wildfire have symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of depression.
New Canadian research is showing promise for oncologists looking for an accurate and inexpensive way of distinguishing between types of ovarian cancer. The research was co-led by Lynne-Marie Postovit, co-director of the U of A's Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta. Coverage also appears in iNews 880, BioPortfolio, Medicine Newsline, ecancer news and Medical Xpress.
Goop: Does Exercise Impact Cancer Treatment?
What happens when someone exercises while undergoing cancer treatment? Does it affect the treatment? The patient's quality of life? Long-term survival and recurrence rates? The answers to these questions will change-and in some cases already have changed-the way we treat cancer and what we do after treatment. A Q&A with U of A exercise researcher and professor of oncology Kerry Courneya.
Solar Magazine: Saving Lives: Solar Powered Oxygen Systems Reduce Child Mortality
The work of Michael Hawkes, an assistant professor in the U of A's Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, is featured in relation to his efforts to use solar power in third world countries to supply oxygen therapy. Conventionally, standalone oxygen delivery systems use electricity to separate oxygen from air. This, however, is difficult in remote locations without grid access.
Bloomberg: Aurora enters the octagon with UFC to study CBD for athletes
The multimillion-dollar deal between the fight promotion giant and the local cannabis producer will see athletes in clinical studies involving pain management, inflammation, injury, exercise recovery and mental well-being, with the hope of accelerating CBD product development and education. Research will be led by the U of A's Jason Dyck, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Medicine and independent director on the board of Aurora Cannabis. Coverage also appears on CBC News.
Fox News: Science confirms people pee in the pool and it can be more than just gross
The story referenced a 2017 study led by PhD student Lindsay Blackstock that tracked artificial sweetener in pools to determine the average amount of urine present.
The National Tribune: $9.5 million aimed at detecting autism earlier in childhood
Scientists at the U of A are mentioned as being part of a multicentre team conducting research to evaluate whether brain imaging might help reveal risk for autism spectrum disorder in early infancy. Coverage also appears in Mirage News, St. Louis Business Journal and Medicine News Line.
EXPERT
The Province: Elise Stolte: Alberta's syphilis rate is sky high-time to raise the alarm
Ameeta Singh, a clinical professor of medicine at the U of A, said syphilis outbreaks often occur in cycles. Unfortunately, government funds to address the issue often lag behind the outbreak, possibly because sex is still a taboo topic.
Global News: Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz battling serious medical condition
Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz has been battling a potentially life-threatening sinus infection for the past few years that has proven to be antibiotic-resistant. Antibiotic-resistant infections are a "major problem" that could kill 10 million people globally by 2050, according to Dina Kao, an associate professor of medicine at the U of A. Coverage also appears on iNews 880.
Washington Post: These extreme athletes are proof that pregnant women don't have to take it easy
The Alberta Diabetes Institute's Margie Davenport gives expert comment in this article about how professional athletes are remaining active during pregnancy.
660 News: Injury Prevention Centre urges safety while riding ATVs
Bill Sevcik, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the U of A, gives expert comment on the use of ATVs in Alberta. Coverage is also found in the Daily Herald Tribune.
U of A associate clinical professor of psychiatry Vincent Agyapong, who is studying the mental health of residents of Fort McMurray who were forced to flee, said his research shows a striking spike in rates of depression, drug and alcohol use and other mental health concerns in the months following the wildfire and evacuation.
Global News: How safe are breast implants? Women warn of risks, share their symptoms
Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert, a professor of medicine at the U of A, believes that the reports have been consistent enough-women reporting the same kinds of symptoms now as women with breast implants did decades ago-to show that there is some risk to breast implants.
CBC: Expectations of aging have changed over the years
Adrian Wagg, a professor of geriatric medicine at the U of A, discusses healthy aging, which he presented on at this year's Festival of Health put on by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. (No link)
Global News: Alberta researcher suggests planning ahead for sudden evacuation
Louis Francescutti, a professor with the U of A's School of Public Health and the Department of Emergency Medicine, offers advice on what to do if you get an evacuation notice. Coverage also appears on iNews 880.
ABC News: Your health data was once between you and your doctor. But for how long?
Radiology professor Jacob Jaremko comments on the tension between the need to ensure patient privacy and the potential social benefits of openly sharing personal medical information. Coverage also appears on New Zealand City.
Spectrum News: Autistic children may improve simply by participating in research
Autistic infants who are enrolled in long-term studies have milder autism traits and better life skills than other children with the condition, according to an analysis of 29 studies. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, professor of pediatrics and director of autism research at the U of A, gives expert comment.
CMAJ News: Measles resurgence prompts debate over mandatory vaccination
In a recent debate on the pros and cons of mandatory immunization, Joan Robinson, a professor of pediatrics at the U of A, said she fears that some parents would see legislated immunization as an infringement on their right to make health-care decisions for their children.
Talk Radio 640: Health Canada suspends licences for Allergan Biocell breast implants
Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert, director of the rheumatology division at the U of A, comments on a link between textured breast implants and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. (No link)
PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION
National Post: The taming of polio and the challenge of the flu
The now nearly-global eradication of polio through vaccination is a testimonial to the enlightenment of humans dedicated to the alleviation of human disease. One of those pioneers was the late John Colter, who created one of Canada's foremost biochemistry departments at the U of A.
Alberta Venture: Edmonton's Push to Become 'Health City'
From winning prestigious mentorship programs to working with city-run synergy efforts, Edmonton health-care businesses are making strides. U of A spin-off company Nanostics is mentioned as a success in relation to its Clarity DX Prostate test, a simple diagnostic tool to check for aggressive prostate cancer.
Calgary Sun: New clinic opens for the most severely addicted
A new downtown clinic will offer a special program for people with severe drug addictions in the hope the treatment will improve patient health, while reducing costs to the social service, medical and legal systems. Program lead and U of A lecturer Avi Aulakh is interviewed. Coverage also appears in the Edmonton Examiner.
Bonnyville Nouvelle: Doctor recruitment top concern for residents
Article about what's being done to recruit doctors to the Cold Lake region mentions the challenge of recruiting students who are used to all the resources of the places like the U of A.
Saskatoon Star Phoenix: New otologist sees opportunities in Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has hired an otologist, alumnus Paul Mick, after more than 18 months of searching.
Global News: Edmonton Health Matters: May 21
Samina Ali, a professor of pediatric emergency medicine at the U of A, is interviewed about Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP), a new national network that will educate parents and clinicians about the best methods to manage pain in children.
Edmonton Journal: Researchers at Edmonton conference share strategies to solve mysterious diseases
Neurology professor Valerie Sim comments on the progress of research into prion-related diseases and notes the value of international collaboration. Coverage also appears in the Edmonton Sun.
Edmonton Journal: Downtown DynaLIFE lab touted as boost to health and wealth
Michael Mengel, professor and chair at the department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the U of A, comments on the opening of new lab space in downtown Edmonton that will assess an innovative cancer test developed by U of A spinoff company Metabolic Technologies Inc. Coverage also appeared on CBC and CTV. Other related stories also appear in the Edmonton Journal here and here.
BMJ Opinion: Peter Brindley: Doctor Narcissus will see you now
Peter Brindley, professor of critical care medicine at the U of A and a member of the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre, offers a personal perspective on the issue of self-centredness among doctors.