UTMB News

A new study has linked moderate caffeine consumption with a lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, or coronary heart disease. Researchers have traditionally linked coffee’s benefits to polyphenols, UTMB’s Dr. Samuel Mathis said, but the “interesting aspect of the study is that they have now linked lower cardiometabolic disease risk to the caffeine found in drinks like coffee or tea.”

The NIH has established a pandemic preparedness research network for research on pathogens that are the most likely to threaten human health. UTMB is one of the institutions selected to participate in the initiative and will receive a grant of approximately $46 million. Find out more about UTMB’s role on the UTMB News page.

UTMB was one of 12 health systems recognized by the Emergency Care Research Institute for their exemplary supply chain management.

“In general, my top choice for patients is the one they like the most,” Dr. Samuel Mathis tells The Healthy for a story on protein in meat.

UTMB’s Dr. Hasan Yasin takes a deep dive into iodine, an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in human health.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel write about how scientists at Rice University discovered they can shine near-infrared light on a small molecule to make it vibrate and kill cancer cells like a jackhammer.

UTMB’s Dr. Samuel Mathis spoke to Glam about the short and long-term side effects of biting your nails and provided tips on how to stop.

“Lead can cause effects on all organs throughout the body: skin, blood, bone, nervous system, kidneys, heart and lungs. Really any organ can be poisoned by lead,” UTMB’s Dr. Mark Winter tells the Daily News after small traces of lead contamination were found at a Texas City ISD water fountain.

Some astronauts experience vision changes while in space, a condition called Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome. “We still do not know exactly what causes this syndrome, and not everyone gets it,” said UTMB’s Dr. Sara Zwart but her research study, which is making its way to the International Space Station, will test whether a daily B vitamin supplement can prevent or mitigate the problem.

“All of the wonderful qualities of human milk, particularly mother’s own milk, is just incredibly beneficial for these newborns,” UTMB’s Dr. Lisa Cleveland tells radio station WVTF. While not all medical providers are up to date on the latest recommendations, it is safe for mothers to breast feed their babies when they are in medically assisted treatment for addiction.

UTMB’s Jamie Bailey participated in a panel discussion at the Invest: Houston 2023-2024 Launch Conference. “We’ve introduced ambient documentation technologies that allow physicians to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork,” Bailey said while discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on clinical documentation.

Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel discuss the origins of coffee in their latest Medical Discovery News column.

Dr. Stan Watowich penned a piece for The Academic about NNMT inhibitors, a new class of drugs that could change how people age. “Imagine a world where ageing doesn’t mean losing strength but gaining a new lease on life,” Watowich writes. “That’s the promise of NNMT inhibitors, and it’s an exciting future that could soon become a reality.”

A more severe variant of the monkeypox virus is driving the 2024 mpox outbreak, write Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp for this week’s Vaccine Smarts column. The good news is that effective vaccines are available, they write.

This is “a compelling study” with several important insights about risks, says UTMB’s Dr. Gregory Gray about a study that shows that animals farmed for fur are loaded with viruses that could cause harm to humans.