Latest news from University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine on News en-us Copyright 2024 News 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/chewing-xylitol-gum-linked-to-decrease-in-preterm-birth/?sc=rsin /articles/chewing-xylitol-gum-linked-to-decrease-in-preterm-birth/?sc=rsin Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:55:06 EST Results from a study in Malawi showed that chewing gum containing xylitol, a naturally occurring alcohol sugar, was associated with a 24% reduction in preterm birth. The findings were published today in Med (a Cell Press journal). Researchers found that the group of pregnant individuals randomized to receive chewing gum also saw a 30% drop in low-birthweight babies, when compared with the control group which did not receive xylitol gum, noted lead author Dr. Greg Valentine, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/pushing-kidney-stone-fragments-reduces-stones-recurrence/?sc=rsin /articles/pushing-kidney-stone-fragments-reduces-stones-recurrence/?sc=rsin Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:05:53 EST UW Medicine researchers found that patients who underwent the stone-moving ultrasound procedure had a 70% lower risk of such a recurrence. The Journal of Urology published the findings in August. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/ultra-low-dose-ketamine-can-curb-opioid-withdrawal/?sc=rsin /articles/ultra-low-dose-ketamine-can-curb-opioid-withdrawal/?sc=rsin Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:05:04 EST Research findings published Aug. 29 in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice may offer hope. A pilot study showed that a small amount of ketamine can reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting fentanyl. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/new-gene-therapy-for-muscular-dystrophy-offers-hope/?sc=rsin /articles/new-gene-therapy-for-muscular-dystrophy-offers-hope/?sc=rsin Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:05:03 EST The UW Medicine-led research focuses on delivering a series of protein packets inside a shuttle vector to replace the defective DMD gene within the muscles. The added genetic code will then start producing dystrophin, the protein lacking in patients with muscular dystrophy. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/blast-related-concussions-linked-to-higher-alzheimer-s-risk/?sc=rsin /articles/blast-related-concussions-linked-to-higher-alzheimer-s-risk/?sc=rsin Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:05:36 EST "While our research does not prove that veterans who experienced these injuries will develop Alzheimer's disease, it raises the possibility that they may be on a pathway leading to dementia," said Dr. Ge Li, the paper's first author and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UW Medicine. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/pregnant-women-should-avoid-ultraprocessed-fast-foods/?sc=rsin /articles/pregnant-women-should-avoid-ultraprocessed-fast-foods/?sc=rsin Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:05:52 EST Researchers found that pregnant women who ate more ultraprocessed or fast foods, had a higher level of phthalates in their body, which was then passed on to their fetus. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/outsize-benefit-seen-in-trial-of-drug-for-kidney-disease/?sc=rsin /articles/outsize-benefit-seen-in-trial-of-drug-for-kidney-disease/?sc=rsin Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:30:00 EST In a clinical trial of people with kidney disease, a test drug significantly reduced albuminuria -- albumin in urine, a sign of kidney damage -- for 50% of participants. When the drug was paired with a standard-care medication, 70% of participants experienced a significant reduction in albuminuria. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/tim-dellit-is-named-ceo-of-uw-medicine/?sc=rsin /articles/tim-dellit-is-named-ceo-of-uw-medicine/?sc=rsin Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:05:51 EST He also will serve as dean of the UW School of Medicine and the university's executive vice president for medical affairs. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/one-ovarian-cancer-fix-removing-the-fallopian-tubes/?sc=rsin /articles/one-ovarian-cancer-fix-removing-the-fallopian-tubes/?sc=rsin Fri, 17 Nov 2023 19:05:02 EST Women should talk with their doctors about their risk of ovarian cancer and the potential to remove fallopian tubes if they have a planned pelvic surgery, said UW Medicine OB-GYN Dr. Barbara Goff. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/acupuncture-becomes-more-mainstream-as-pain-therapy/?sc=rsin /articles/acupuncture-becomes-more-mainstream-as-pain-therapy/?sc=rsin Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:05:31 EST Since the opioid crisis, more patients seeking relief from pain and turning to alternative forms of treatment, including the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/skipping-counseling-doesn-t-raise-cancer-gene-test-distress/?sc=rsin /articles/skipping-counseling-doesn-t-raise-cancer-gene-test-distress/?sc=rsin Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:05:56 EST "The accepted idea was that you needed genetic counseling before taking a genetic test," said Dr. Elizabeth Swisher, a gynecologic oncologist at UW Medicine and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "But we're finding out that many of these protocols actually represent barriers to testing." University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/distance-from-clinic-influences-abortion-pill-access/?sc=rsin /articles/distance-from-clinic-influences-abortion-pill-access/?sc=rsin Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:05:50 EST "One of the main takeaways," said lead author Anna Fiastro, a family medicine research scientist at UW Medicine, "is that the further patients are from a brick-and-mortar clinic, the more likely they are to use telehealth to access medication abortion." University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/heavy-drinking-handgun-carrying-linked-among-rural-youth/?sc=rsin /articles/heavy-drinking-handgun-carrying-linked-among-rural-youth/?sc=rsin Wed, 23 Aug 2023 17:05:18 EST The study involved a longitudinal sample of 2,002 youth ages 12 to 26 in 12 rural communities in seven states, including Washington. Survey responses were collected annually from 2004 to 2019 starting with children who were in fifth/sixth grades. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/study-looks-at-achilles-heel-of-insulin-pump-technology/?sc=rsin /articles/study-looks-at-achilles-heel-of-insulin-pump-technology/?sc=rsin Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:05:10 EST A study of insulin pumps shows that repeated use sometimes results in pump sites becoming fibrotic, irritated and less effective at delivering insulin. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/rideshare-removes-hurdle-to-colonoscopy-pilot-study-shows/?sc=rsin /articles/rideshare-removes-hurdle-to-colonoscopy-pilot-study-shows/?sc=rsin Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:35:17 EST In prior studies, explained senior author Dr. Rachel Issaka, transportation was cited as one of the main barriers to completing a colonoscopy. Issaka directs the UW Medicine/Fred Hutch Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program and is an assistant professor of medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, at the University of Washington School of Medicine. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/uw-medicine-launches-a-new-center-to-study-microbiomes/?sc=rsin /articles/uw-medicine-launches-a-new-center-to-study-microbiomes/?sc=rsin Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:25:53 EST Director Joseph Mougous notes that interbacterial interactions affect humans in many ways, such as whether certain pathogens succeed in invading the gastrointestinal tract. Mougous has published findings about the bacterial battles that occur even amongst the beneficial microbes in our gut, where the outcome can ultimately also influence health. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/biomarkers-may-help-id-treatment-of-acute-kidney-injury/?sc=rsin /articles/biomarkers-may-help-id-treatment-of-acute-kidney-injury/?sc=rsin Tue, 23 May 2023 15:20:29 EST Unfortunately, effective medical therapies do not exist for this population of patients, Dr. Pavan Bhatraju said. In their paper, the investigators proposed a way to classify subpopulations of AKI patients with the aim of identifying therapies specific patient populations. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/qa-update-on-mifepristone-federal-court-actions/?sc=rsin /articles/qa-update-on-mifepristone-federal-court-actions/?sc=rsin Mon, 15 May 2023 20:30:18 EST Dr. Sarah Prager looks at the impacts of recent federal court rulings on Washington state and nearby states, as well as the impact of rulings on miscarriage care. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/patients-favor-telehealth-for-medication-abortion-consults/?sc=rsin /articles/patients-favor-telehealth-for-medication-abortion-consults/?sc=rsin Mon, 15 May 2023 20:05:23 EST Even though they reported overall satisfaction with their care, the 10 who received care in a clinic facility portrayed their consultations as lengthy, chaotic and lacking comfort, the published paper said. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine /articles/drop-race-adjustment-for-afp-prenatal-testing-study-urges/?sc=rsin /articles/drop-race-adjustment-for-afp-prenatal-testing-study-urges/?sc=rsin Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:55:45 EST A retrospective review of 27,710 medical records at UW Medicine hospitals evaluating alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels in pregnant patients between January 2007 and December 2020 found no clinical measurable difference in AFP levels between non-Black patients and Black patients, the UW Medicine study found. University of Washington School of Medicine and UW Medicine