Media Coverage

Opera News published a story about the benefits of eating fruit after a meal and mentioned 2010 research from UB that promoted the role of flavonoids in orange juice as “scavengers” in the body. Two antioxidants, naringin and hesperidin, neutralize the oxidative stress and inflammation generated by an unhealthy meal and prevent damage to the blood vessels. Husam Ghanim, PhD, a research associate professor in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences, was the first author on that study.

MedPage Today quoted Andrew Talal, MD, MPH, professor of gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine, in a story about a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure associated with resolution of hepatic steatosis and other benefits in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. "A significantly larger number of POSE 2.0 participants had resolution of steatosis, with marked improvements in metabolic parameters," said Talal. "Overall, it appears that POSE 2.0 may be a promising surgical intervention for management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese individuals." Talal was not involved in the study.

MedPage Today quoted Andrew Talal, MD, MPH, professor of gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine, on research that concludes  those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were more likely to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those overweight or obese. "The results are interesting because the authors found a significantly increased prevalence of CVD compared to overweight/obese individuals even though the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerotic disease and metabolic diseases were lower," said Talal. "Primary care physicians, endocrinologists, hepatologists and public health officials should consider screening for CVD in lean individuals with NAFLD."

MedPage Today reports on a study regarding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in lean patients and how it’s linked with COVID-19 risk. “The results are interesting because the authors found a significantly increased prevalence of COVID compared to overweight/obese individuals even though the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerotic disease and metabolic diseases were lower," said UB physician Andrew Talal, MD, MPH, who was not involved in the study.

Prevention reports on whether dizziness and vertigo are symptoms of COVID-19. While simply feeling dizzy doesn’t automatically mean you have COVID-19, especially if you have no other symptoms, it’s worth talking to your doctor if the feeling persists or you start experiencing a loss of balance, says John Sellick, DO, professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We see dizziness with many other infections and illnesses,” he says. “But since there’s so much COVID-19 circulating, it may be worth exploring.”

The Buffalo News reported on rising COVID-19 levels in WNY and quoted Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who said: "I'm concerned but not troubled. What I would say is, when the individual risk goes up from low to medium to high, pay attention. Just as you would if it's getting colder outside, you put on a jacket.”

A Kaiser Health News article featured Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine, about whether the demand for insulin also increases the price. “As obesity increases, diabetes increases as well,” said Dandona. But many of these patients are not prescribed insulin as a treatment. Around 30% of people with Type 2 diabetes use insulin when other drug options are not successful in treating the disease, Dandona said. For some Type 2 patients, exercising and a healthier diet “may help reduce the insulin dose, but it doesn’t eliminate its use.” The article was picked up by several media outlets, including Waco Tribune-Herald, Arizona Daily Sun, and Casper Star Tribune.

Thrillist, The Miami Herald and other outlets continued to report on University at Buffalo research that looked at alcohol sales in over a dozen states early in the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, people stocked up on alcohol — but not all kinds of drinks, the Miami Herald reports. Sales of wine and spirits, in particular, increased, the study found, though trends varied by state. The research was conducted by Yingjie Hu, assistant professor of geography; Brian Quigley, research assistant professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions; and Dane Taylor, assistant professor of mathematics.

The American Medical Association published a video interview and podcast in its Moving Medicine series with Marielisa Cabrera-Sánchez, a second-year medical student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and this year's AMA Research Challenge winner. This is the largest national research competition among medical students, residents and fellows in the country. She conducted the research remotely, with guidance from supervisors including Tim Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

CNN reported on a UB study examining alcohol sales in over a dozen U.S. states in the pandemic's early months. While trends varied by location, the research identified spikes in wine and spirit sales, and signs of potential panic buying. Yingjie Hu, assistant professor of geography, said such insights could "help our society as a whole address problems related to excessive alcohol use during a public health crisis." "Understanding how alcohol purchase behavior is changed by events such as Covid is important because heavy alcohol use is known to be associated with numerous social problems, especially within the home," said Brian Quigley, research assistant professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions. Dane Taylor, assistant professor of mathematics, is also a study author. TV news websites nationwide carried the CNN item, and News-Medical, Bioengineer, Earth.com and other outlets also had stories.

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, was quoted in a story about Buffalo Bills receiver Cole Beasley being booed at Bills home games by fans frustrated by Beasley’s anti-vaccine stance. “Cole Beasley – and he’s part of a significant minority – has made mistakes about being public about his tweets. As a result, he has become an object of frustration. Not only is he holding us back, at the end of the day, it’s costing lives,” Russo says.

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, is quoted in an article on what to know about the triple threat of respiratory diseases — seasonal allergies, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — as flu season begins. The flu shot won’t prevent or ease a case of COVID-19, but does greatly reduce the odds of having to fight both COVID and the flu back-to-back or together. The vaccine is typically 30 percent to 60 percent effective in preventing influenza depending on strains that circulate during flu season but gives some protection against all of them. “That means those who get the flu are more likely to have a milder case, less likely to be hospitalized and less likely to die,” Russo said.

Medpage Today reported on research that found that people who drink more than three cups of coffee a day are less likely to have liver fibrosis, a risk factor for liver disease. The story quoted Andrew Talal, MD, professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who said: “These studies support the consumption of at least moderate amounts of coffee for its protective effects against liver scarring and the development or progression of chronic liver disease.”

An article reporting that the World Health Organization has approved the first malaria vaccine quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, who said researchers have tried and failed many times in the past to create a vaccine that would be effective against malaria. “It’s a tough vaccine to make, and there have been numerous attempts that haven’t worked out.”

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, spoke to Well + Good for its story on when children will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “Pfizer first needs to submit the data to the FDA,” he said. “The bottom line is that there is still a significant process that needs to be done. ... It’s far from a done deal.”