UTMB News

Most people have never seen a case of measles, mumps or rubella nor have they seen the side effects of these viruses because our vaccination rates are high, writes Dr. Sally Robinson in her regular column.

Undergoing physical and mental stimulation that creates the stress response in the brain for a short period of time (minutes to hours) has been shown to improve physical, mental and emotional health. “Do hard things,” Dr. Samuel Mathis writes. “Do something that will challenge you.”

A recent study from the “Journal of Nutrition” showed that the addition of pecans can dramatically improve your cholesterol levels. Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel discuss the benefits in their Medical Discovery News column. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should eat that extra piece of pecan pie.

"COVID-19 orphanhood confronts us at a time nearing resource exhaustion across multiple systems,” said Dr. Michael Goodman of the University of Texas Medical Branch. “The consequences of orphanhood linger throughout the course of a lifetime, affecting the futures of families, communities and societies. We determine how long our communities will suffer the effects of COVID-19 by urgently determining the quality and force of our concern for orphaned young people.”

“We are going to have to live with COVID for a while, and I believe that people should be able to establish a new ‘normal’ and enjoy their lives,” said Dr. M. Kristen Peek, interim dean of the School of Public and Population Health at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. “The Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show is an important part of Houston that people go and enjoy — just do it safely.” After reviewing the rodeo’s eight-page document containing its COVID health protocols, Peek said the added precautions looked appropriate. She said she is looking forward to attending the rodeo with her family. “We will definitely be masked,” she said.

As of now, nearly all health authorities agree—it is too soon to determine when a fourth dose may be recommended to a broader proportion of the American public. Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, a molecular biology professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch currently leading clinical COVID-19 vaccine research, said more data will be needed to suggest a fourth dose for the entire general population. “We still don’t know the durability of the neutralization after the third dose,” Dr. Shi said. “Studies are ongoing to monitor the durability of the neutralization and real-world vaccine effectiveness in the clinics.” Men’s Health and Good Housekeeping also ran this article.

For as many health care leaders who may dwell in ivory towers, disconnected from their people, there are just as many who have been exemplary leaders before and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Indeed, I do know the most genuine servant leader of all time: Ben Raimer, MD, president of University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas,” wrote Cissy Yoes, director of health policy and legislative affairs for UTMB. “I have worked for and with Dr. Raimer for over 25 years through many leadership roles. He has never had ivory tower syndrome and has always been an involved, inspirational, roll-up-your-sleeves-and-help leader. He brings out the best in everyone. He does not seek the limelight. He is sincere, compassionate and one of the smartest people I know. An excellent doctor and astute businessman.”

There’s still some cause for caution, although it’s understandable that people want to move on, said Dr. Philip Keiser, local health authority for the Galveston County Health District. “I totally get it,” Keiser said. “I want to move on, too. I think everybody wants to be done with it.” That’s the reason the health district and Keiser have had to walk a fine line when giving public health advice. “You have to find that sweet spot of what’s going to be helpful and realistic, what people will be willing to do,” Keiser said.

Wouldn’t it be great if, when you developed symptoms of COVID-19, you could take a pill to prevent the virus from making you gravely ill? That’s the promise of new drugs developed by Pfizer, Merck and others, Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel explain in their latest Medical Discovery News column.

Brazoria County employees now can receive in-network health coverage from the University of Texas Medical Branch under a new agreement between the entities. The contract reestablishes the relationship between the county, UTMB Health and Aetna after the health provider and insurance company reached an impasse on negotiations. The Houston Chronicle also reported this news.

In her regular column, Dr. Sally Robinson explains how vision works and how some people are color blind. “Being able to see is an unbelievably complex process,” she wrote. “It’s so complex that it takes up to one-third of the brain.”

While it’s true that some older adults are just tired, in pain, physically and mentally ready to take their hand from the wheel of life, many are not, writes Dr. Victor Sierpina in his newspaper column. “I continue to be amazed at the 70-, 80- and 90-year-olds in my practice with sharp minds, mobile albeit slower bodies, and unquenchable joie de vivre.”

COVID numbers have dropped but the virus still is out there, said Dr. M. Kristen Peek, interim dean of the school of public and population health at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “The best way to ensure safety is to be vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask and try to keep some distance, though I understand that’s hard if you’re watching a parade or at an event,” Peek said. “People should definitely mask for indoor activities and, ideally, get tested before they participate in group activities.”

UTMB Health Psychiatry Webster saw about 9,900 patients from September 2019 to August 2020; that number increased nearly 20% to about 11,800 patients seen from September 2020 to August 2021, according to UTMB data. While the introduction of telehealth has opened access, the demand greatly outpaces the number of providers available for counseling, said Dr. Jeff Temple, a professor and licensed psychologist at UTMB. “There’s only so many hours and only so many people that an individual (provider) can see,” Temple said. “The increased access has helped, but the demand is so great that it still is leaving people lacking.”

Diagnosing and treating depression among elderly patients can pose challenges for internists. “What is unique about depression in the elderly is that many times the presenting concerns to the providers tend to be more of somatic and physical complaints and related to their multiple chronic conditions,” said Mukaila A. Raji, MD, FACP, distinguished professor of geriatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “If we don't take care of the mind—the thinking and the feeling—we cannot get the patient optimally tuned with respect to congestive heart failure, COPD and other chronic conditions,” he said.

One of the five things mentioned in this report is the value of the HPV vaccine. According to a new study from UTMB, the HPV vaccine has significantly reduced rates of anal cancer. It’s also linked to lowering rates of cervical cancer. Doctors recommend getting the HPV vaccine between 11 and 12 years old.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, but you can do a lot to protect your heart and stay healthy. Dr. Gal Levy, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and assistant professor with the Department of Surgery, addressed cardiovascular disease and its prevalence in women on the news organization’s Facebook page.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved two new pneumococcal vaccines that broaden protection. Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp explain the importance of this advance in their Vaccine Smarts column. “Following these recommendations should protect 90 percent of adults at increased risk of pneumococcal infection, hospitalization and death,” they write.