News

Recent research led by Lisa Bodnar, PhD, MPH (Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health) showed that in the weeks leading up to their first pregnancy, many women do not eat as well as they should. Healthy maternal diets can reduce the risk of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, and maternal obesity. Minorities and less-educated women were found to have the least nutritious diets, but no group met recommendations set forth by the Dietary...

People use social media to connect with others, but research shows that frequent use among young people can actually lead to feelings of social isolation. “This is an important issue to study because mental health problems and social isolation are at epidemic levels among young adults,” says researcher Brian A. Primack, MD, PhD (Medicine and Pediatrics), assistant vice chancellor for research on health and society, University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. “We are inherently...

The thyroid gland, located at the base of the neck, makes hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and body temperature. According to the American Cancer Society, about 56,870 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year, and about 2,010 people die of the disease. Many people diagnosed with thyroid cancer have the entire thyroid gland removed as part of their treatment and need to take thyroid-regulating medicine for the rest of their lives. Some...

As with most cancers, early detection of skin cancer is often the key to survival. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can have a high survival rate if detected early enough, according to the American Cancer Society. Research conducted at The University of Pittsburgh suggests that if full-body skin cancer screenings became a part of routine annual primary care visits, significantly more skin cancers would be discovered and at earlier stages. Laura Ferris, MD, PhD (Dermatology...

We’ve probably all heard about the health benefits of soy. But, new research shows that those health benefits don’t appear to be the same for everyone. “Scientists have known for some time that isoflavones [small nutrients found in dietary soy] protect against the buildup of arterial plaque  in monkeys and are associated with lower rates of heart disease in people in Asian countries,” according to Akira Sekikawa, MD, PhD, MPH (Epidemiology, Pitt Public Health). Soy’s benefits, however, do not...

Children living in poverty are at a higher risk for asthma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a recent article in the journal Pediatrics. Amy Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine), analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health for the years 2003, 2007, and 2011-12 and identified trends for each condition. For all children, the frequency of asthma rose 18 percent; ADHD...

A University of Pittsburgh researcher and colleagues have developed a new method to noninvasively image the human retina, a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that is essential for vision. The method—developed by Ethan A. Rossi, PhD (Ophthalmology)—is the first to allow researchers to visualize individual retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).  These cells are found in the back of the eye and are involved in vision loss in diseases like glaucoma. Despite great efforts, no one before has...

Sepsis, a serious complication of an infection that can lead to organ failure, tissue damage, and death, is the leading cause of death for hospital patients. In addition to its life-threatening potential, a recent analysis led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System also found that sepsis accounts for considerably more hospital readmissions and associated costs than any of the four medical conditions (heart attack, heart failure, chronic...

A crying, fussy, sleepy infant—any parent can describe how miserable an infant with an ear infection can be. Three out of four infants will get an ear infection within their first year, making the diagnosis the most common reason infants are prescribed antibiotics. Because of concerns about antibiotic resistance and overuse, Alejandro Hoberman, MD (Jack L. Paradise Professor of Pediatric Research, Pitt School of Medicine), conducted a study to see if shortening the course of antibiotics could...

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting as many as 5 million Americans. Currently, there is no single test to identify the cause of the dementia symptoms, and many people suffering with dementia never get a definitive diagnosis. However, a breakthrough may be within reach.  In a recent issue of The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, University of Pittsburgh researchers Drs. Oscar Lopez and James Becker announced the development of a blood test that may be able to...

You’ve probably heard the term “superbug,” but what is it? To find out, we spoke with Yohei Doi, MD, PhD, Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Innovative Antimicrobial Therapy, about an antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in a woman from Pennsylvania in April 2016.  Simply put, superbugs are bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. When a person is infected with a so-called superbug, the infection can be difficult or impossible to cure. While there are options...

Researchers are finding more ways to use people’s own bodies for answers about how to treat their health issues. According to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and other sites throughout the country, a genetic test can significantly reduce the risk of heart-related events by helping to identify more effective medication for some heart patients. In one large study, researchers identified a genetic deficiency in about 30 percent of patients that affects the body’s...

More than 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and close to 500,000 patients are newly diagnosed each year. The good news for people with congestive heart failure is that survival rates have improved and the length of hospital stays has decreased, according to new research from experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “There has been significant progress in heart failure management over the past two decades, but more has to...

People living with serious illness who receive palliative care have better quality of life and fewer symptoms than those who don’t receive palliative care, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Palliative care is health care for people living with serious illness and focuses on providing patients with relief from their symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness, whatever the diagnosis. Palliative care can refer either to a specific...

The United States is faced with a public health epidemic in the form of opioid overdoses. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, nearly 500,000 persons in the United States died from drug overdoses between 2000 - 2014. In 2015, there were 3,383 unintentional drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania alone, with more deaths projected in 2016. The Pittsburgh Poison Center of UPMC, birthplace of Mr. Yuk™, has announced enhanced services and resources for individuals, families, and health care...