UTMB researchers published a study in 2020 that examined potential impact of living near refineries using a population-based analysis. Dr. Stephen Williams, professor and chief of the Division of Urology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, is one of the authors. “There is an association we found with proximity to an oil refinery and increased types of all cancer and particularly bladder cancer, which is quite provocative,” told the Beaumont TV news crew Monday.

A third dose of COVID-19 vaccine provides robust protection against the omicron variant, according to research from a team of scientists at Pfizer, BioNTech and the University of Texas Medical Branch. The non-peer-reviewed study found that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are insufficient to induce robust antibody neutralization against omicron, but a third increases the magnitude of neutralization. The effect remained robust at 4 months after the third dose, according to the study.

Researchers are working to understand how the brain works and the biology of behavior, writes Dr. Sally Robinson in her regular newspaper column. “These studies are beginning to help understand individuals with conduct disorders and explosive rages and also help understand school shootings, muggings and road rage,” she writes. “Children with increased irritability and anger should seek medical help.”

“Meditation is something I often prescribe in my writings and integrative medicine practice,” Dr. Victor S. Sierpina writes in his regular column for the newspaper. “It’s an evidence-based method for improving health and well-being, managing stress, pain, multiple physical and mental problems and the general chaos of life.”

Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster appears to protect against the Omicron variant for at least four months, according to a new study. “The current vaccine is good for prevention of severe disease, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, distinguished chair in innovations in molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch and senior author of the study.

The University of Texas Medical Branch uses a population health analytics engine to find and address potential gaps in care, said Craig S. Kovacevich, associate vice president of community and population health at UTMB. This allows his staff to use large amounts of data they've collected, looking at the clinic, provider and patient level. “One of the other components that we have done a lot of work in is really diving into the no-shows, trying to see which patients are not showing up and then doing some deep dives," he said.

Rizwana Sultana, a pediatric sleep medicine specialist and assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, says the design of your bedroom should be tailored specifically to you. “Use a design which appeals to you, feels comfortable and provides a sense of calm,” Sultana said.