UTMB News

A single mutation in an already rapidly evolving Zika virus could trigger another major outbreak of the disease by evading existing immunity, scientists have warned. The Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, is usually mild in adults, however it can infect a developing fetus resulting in birth defects. In severe cases, it can cause fatal brain damage in babies and miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women, and its spread in the Americas in 2015 and 2016 caused global alarm. Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology co-led the study with a team from the University of Texas Medical Branch. BBC, Sky News and Salon reported the findings of the study published in Cell Reports. Also, ScienceDaily and many smaller international outlets reported the news and mentioned that Dr. Pei-Yong Shi at UTMB co-led the Cell Reports study.

Melissa Lucio, the South Texas woman convicted of killing her 2-year-old child Mariah in 2007, is set to die by lethal injection on April 27. Eighty-three state representatives recently wrote to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles asking that Lucio be granted a reprieve or clemency. “Doctors who recently reviewed the autopsy — including a leading specialist from The University of Texas Medical Branch — concluded that the jury heard false testimony about whether Mariah was abused,” the letter said.

Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a vaccine showing promising protection against Nipah, a zoonotic virus with a mortality rate as high as 70 percent. “Our data suggest that this vaccine can help rapidly generate protective immunity in humans against the virus,” said Dr. Courtney Woolsey, co-lead author of the researchers’ study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The CDC said that you “could” receive a second booster shot but stopped short of saying that one “should.” They previously recommended that everyone 12 and older should receive the first booster for optimal protection. The benefit of a second booster isn’t as extreme, but it’s still there. Drs. Meagan Berman and Richard Rupp explore the issue in their Vaccine Smarts column.

“My Tuesday morning acupuncture clinic is busier than ever,” writes Dr. Victor S. Sierpina in his column. “Medicare started paying for this effective, safe therapy for the specific diagnosis codes of chronic low back pain a couple of years ago. This was done after a review of evidence-based sources that showed positive, non-placebo effect of acupuncture on low back pain.”

According to American Academy of Pediatrics, “climate change poses threat to human health, safety and security. Children are uniquely vulnerable to these threats. Given this knowledge failure to take prompt, substantive action would be an act of injustice to all children.” Dr. Sally Robinson discusses the health risk to children in her column.

A variety of theories have been proposed to explain Washington’s death. Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel cover these in their recent Medical Discovery News column. Washington’s physicians at the time thought it was croup, an infection of the upper airway. Later, physicians have guessed that Washington died of diphtheria, strep throat, quinsy, Ludwig’s angina, Vincent’s angina or pneumonia, but none of these explained all the symptoms. What is your diagnosis?

The effects of traumatic brain injuries are difficult to predict, especially for children, said Dr. Aaron Mohanty, pediatric neurosurgeon at the University of Texas Medical Branch. In general, babies who suffer such injuries have a better chance of recovery than adults, because they are still in the early developmental stages. But the degree to which they regain their motor skills varies widely. “One thing we are taught as a pediatric neurosurgeon is never give up,” Mohanty said. “Ultimately, it may not work out, but you’ll be surprised most of the time what functions you get back.”

The University of Texas Medical Branch plans to make room for mental-health treatment as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation of John Sealy Hospital. “We want to do the best job we can of addressing serious mental health disorders, but in the least restrictive environment for that patient,” medical branch President Dr. Ben Raimer said. “We want them to learn to deal with the mental health stressors that are facing them in the environments that are contributing to some of those stressors. You can’t learn to swim unless you’re in the water.”

Starting this fall, the next generation of students will take part in the public health workforce and improving the overall health and well-being of residents at the new School of Public and Population Health at UTMB. “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the urgent need for more public health professionals trained in epidemiology, disease surveillance, as well as the need for expanded public health resources,” said Dr. Kristen Peek, dean of the new school. “A school dedicated to public and population health will build upon our strength in science and research, healthcare policy and delivery to prepare the next generation of public health leaders.” The Galveston County Daily News also reported this news.

UTMB’s Paula Summerly is featured in the latest episode of the podcast. Summerly, who manages the Old Red Medical Museum, shared stories of the 1920 Bubonic Plague outbreak in Galveston and highlighted some of UTMB’s trailblazing women in the medical field.

Dr. Heidi Luft, a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch, highlighted the importance of teamwork plus the need for training and investment in mental health research during a recent webinar, the Dominican Republic news outlet reported. "Most people need more training to be able to do this teamwork effectively," Luft said.

Recently, two older drugs, gemfibrozil and retinoic acid, have been combined to produce an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Gemfibrozil was used as a cholesterol-lowering drug before statins became the drugs of choice. Retinoic acid is related to vitamin A and has wide use for cancer and skin conditions. Recent studies have shown that combining these two drugs can have profound effects on brain cells called astrocytes, Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel write in their Medical Discovery News column.

Children who grew up in more polluted areas had an increased risk of having reduced lung growth which may never be recovered, writes Dr. Sally Robinson in her column. The average drop in lung function is similar to the impact of growing up in a home with parents who smoke.

A growing body of evidence shows that spending time outdoors can improve overall health and even prolong your life, Dr. Samuel Mathis writes in his column. One study found that spending 20 minutes outside can lower the stress hormone cortisol by 20 percent from baseline. The activity didn’t matter; rather, just the act of being outside improved people’s stress levels.