UCSF and Johns Hopkins University Launch Digital Trove of Opioid Industry Documents

UCSF and Johns Hopkins University announced the launch of the Opioid Industry Documents Archive, a digital repository of publicly disclosed documents from recent judgments, settlements, and ongoing lawsuits concerning the opioid crisis.

Michael Steinman, MD, and NCIRE supported Investigator and professor of medicine at UCSF, said, “UCSF’s ongoing work, through its Industry Documents Library, to provide public access to millions of documents about the tobacco industry has supported significant scientific and investigative research that have facilitated efforts to reduce smoking and related diseases, saving millions of lives worldwide.”

“This new archive will similarly reflect on the opioid industry, whose actions have led to an extraordinary level of suffering and death across the country,” said Steinman, who is also a NCIRE-supported scientist and SFVAHCS staff physician.

Link: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/51bd6e00/RF-aeMuM6xGH6Joih3soMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucsf.edu%2Fnews%2F2021%2F03%2F420136%2Fucsf-and-johns-hopkins-university-launch-digital-trove-opioid-industry

To Keep a Sharp Mind, Start Thinking of Heart Health in Your 20s

As mounting evidence points to the link between cardiovascular disease and dementia, a new UCSF study led by Kristine Yaffe, finds that young adulthood may be the most critical period to practice the healthy lifestyle habits that may protect the brain from cognitive decline decades later. 

The study found that high body mass index (BMI), high glucose and hypertension in early adulthood – risk factors that are linked to unhealthy diet, smoking and sedentary lifestyle – were associated with the greatest change in cognition in late life compared with other stages of adulthood. These risks factors amounted to a doubling of the average rate of cognitive decline, found the study, published in the journal Neurology. 

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Dr. Yaffe, is an NCIRE-supported scientist, is a UCSF professor of psychiatry and neurology, and epidemiology and biostatics, and SFVAHCS Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry and Director of the Memory Disorders Clinic.

Link: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/3e90cb2f/qHrkktuI6xGslYfKhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucsf.edu%2Fnews%2F2021%2F03%2F420076%2Fkeep-sharp-mind-start-thinking-heart-health-your-20s

Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele Recognized with Two Awards

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Congratulations to Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele, an NICRE supported PI, member of the NCIRE Board, and Chief of Staff at the SFVAHCS. Dr. Ovbiagele, has been recognized for his research excellence by leading organizations in the field of cardiovascular and stroke-related research, and will receive the following awards:

• William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke from the American Stroke Association. The Feinberg Award is named for a prominent clinician-researcher who contributed to a fuller understanding of the causes of stroke and recognizes significant contributions to the investigation and management of clinical research in stroke. Dr. Ovbiagele was honored for his significant contributions to clinical research in stroke, diagnosis and treatment.

• Ron Haddock International Impact Award from the American Heart Association: Named for former American Heart Association (AHA) Chairman Ron Haddock, the International Impact Award recognizes individuals that have rendered an important service to the American Heart Association in the development of its international programs. Dr. Ovbiagele is being honored for his efforts to expand stroke prevention and education programs in Africa, bringing the AHA closer to its goal of reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke worldwide. He will be honored at a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2021.

We are immensely proud of Dr. Ovbiagele’s accomplishments, in addition to his contributions to the health of our Veterans. Please join us as we congratulate Dr. Ovbiagele on these well-deserved recognitions.

 

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Characterization and biomarker analyses of post-COVID-19 complications and neurological manifestations

 

Congratulations to NCIRE supported researcher, Dr. Lynn Pulliam, on her recently published study that looks at the neurological aftereffects of COVID 19. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there is growing concern that infected individuals may develop aftereffects, including various neurocognitive and neurological symptoms that could impact their return to everyday activities and quality of life. A research team led by NCIRE-supported scientist Lynn Pulliam, Chief of Microbiology at SFVAHCS and UCSF Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, studied plasma from 24 people recovering from COVID. The study, recently published by the journal Cells, suggests “ongoing peripheral and neuroinflammation after COVID-19 infection that may influence neurological sequelae by altering nEV protein.”

“Individuals recovering from COVID-19 may have occult neural damage while those with demonstrative neurological symptoms additionally had more severe infection,” wrote the study authors. “Longitudinal studies to monitor plasma biomarkers and nEV cargo are warranted to assess persistent neurodegeneration and systemic effects.”

A research team led by Dr. Pulliam, Chief of Microbiology at SFVAHCS and UCSF Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, studied plasma from 24 people recovering from COVID. The study, just published by the journal Cells, suggests “ongoing peripheral and neuroinflammation after COVID-19 infection that may influence neurological sequelae by altering nEV protein.”

 

 

NCIRE supported PI and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Brian Feeley, has co-authored, "Early Sport Specialization Among Former National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: Trends, Scholarship Attainment, Injury, and Attrition".    Congratulations Dr. Feeley!