The first thing we should do when in conflict is to listen, says Dr. Samuel Mathis in his weekly column. The holidays can be stressful but Mathis provides tips to help deal with conflicts that may arise.

A tuberculosis vaccine has been around for about 100 years but it does not prevent pulmonary TB in adolescents and adults, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest Medical Discovery News column. But a new TB vaccine, made of two bacterial proteins from the TB bacterium could change that.

UTMB’s Dr. Samuel Mathis tells The Healthy that alcohol raises blood pressure by increasing renin—a protein that constricts arteries—and decreasing nitrous oxide, which is a compound that relaxes them. Drinks with added sugars and those with high-alcohol content can exacerbate the blood pressure-raising effects, Mathis said.

UTMB’s Dr. Stanley Watowich is one of the principal investigators who will work with a local partnership of institutions to create the Gulf Coast Consortium Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub. The NIH awarded a four-year $4 million grant to support the creation of the hub meant to support development and commercialization of transformative health care treatments based on research discoveries.

In their latest Medical Discover News column Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel dig into the story of how, and who, discovered the structure of DNA. Dr. Rosalind Franklin is often left out of the conversation but she was an integral part of the process, Herzog and Niesel write.

UTMB’s Dr. Manuela Murry tells The Daily News she is excited about the new RSV immunization, nirsevimab. While the shot is in low supply in other parts of the country, UTMB has plenty.

The bottom line is while it is easy to say that we need to curtail the use of fossil fuels, we still need to find a new way to produce these essential products, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest Medical Discover News column.

Safeguarding our health against common germs is crucial, especially for older adults who may be more vulnerable to severe respiratory infections, write UTMB’s Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp in their latest Vaccine Smarts column. Vaccination is a powerful tool in preventing illness, reducing the risk of complications and ultimately saving lives.

There are significant health benefits in providing and receiving hugs, writes Dr. Samuel Mathis in his latest column. Studies have found that receiving hugs helps to lower our cortisol levels and decrease the stress response, he writes.

UTMB’s Dr. Todd Masel was a guest speaker at the Gulf Coast Epilepsy Alliance third annual Butterfly Release in La Marque. The event helped raise awareness, unity and solidarity for epilepsy.