• How dengue and Zika infections could make people more attractive to mosquitoes

    A study, published in Cell, identifies a specific scent emitted from both Zika- and dengue-infected mice that makes them more attractive to mosquitos than those without the viruses. It also points to a potential route to neutralize the olfactory flag. “This is a highly, highly influential study,” said Nikolaos Vasilakis, a professor of pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston who was not involved with the research. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to foster or spin off several new lines of experimentation to get a better understanding of what’s happening in humans.”

  • Learning to apologize is one of the keys to building healthy relationships

    Dr. Jeff Temple, who spoke about violence on the NPR program 1A, is a professor at The University of Texas Medical Branch where he serves as the Vice Dean for Research at the School of Nursing. He is the founding director of the Center for Violence Prevention there. He said without hesitation that he would prioritize the importance of schools and communities teaching the essential human skill of how to create healthy relationships. He said passionately, “We teach our children how to dribble a basketball or do math or read literature, but we do not teach them how to be in a relationship.” He believes universal implementation of the program reduces the likelihood that a student falls through the cracks and, as a bonus, kids not at risk for violence will learn important skills to be healthier and happier.

  • What to know about young children and COVID vaccines

    After a long wait, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended them for this age group regardless of whether they have had COVID-19. Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp answer some common questions about the vaccines for young children in the Vaccine Smarts column.

  • Palliative and hospice care often are misunderstood

    Hospice is comfort care without curative intent. The patient no longer has curative options or has chosen not to pursue treatment because the side effects outweigh the benefits. Palliative care is comfort care with or without curative intent. Drs. Victor S. Sierpina and Rebecca Burke explain the differences.

  • Genome sequencing can teach us about our cousins, the Neanderthals

    Neanderthals lived on Earth from about half a million years ago until about 12,000 years ago. They co-existed and interbred with humans as they spread out of Africa across Europe and Asia. Researchers think Neanderthal brains matured faster, which helped survival, but human brains developed slower, which helped them develop societies. Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel discuss the research on one gene that might explain why humans dominated their cousins.

  • Girl with hand over eye

    Pediatric Eye Care 101

    UTMB Health’s Dr. Ashton Ehlers gives Meagan an overview of pediatric eye care-what to know, current guidelines, when to see a specialist and more.

  • Health and wellness with UTMB Health and Houston Moms

    Puberty, Adolescence & Birth Control, oh my!

    UTMB experts Dr. Emily Calasanz and Dr. Beth Auslander share their tips on navigating the uncomfortable and unfamiliar waters of puberty with our kids.

  • Very young eligible for COVID vaccines, but will parents in Galveston County sign up?

    Although some people are eager to vaccinate their children, health care workers might have a hard time convincing parents to get the vaccine for their children, said Dr. Janak Patel, director of infection control and health care epidemiology at the medical branch. Many people believe children don’t get sick from COVID and so don’t need to be vaccinated, he said. “We’ve had many, many children infected with COVID in the past two years,” Patel said. “Some have not survived. Some have developed complications. We also know children take the infection to high-risk parents and grandparents.”

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