Clinical Pharmacology

A story reporting that COVID-19 hospital death rates have decreased significantly in Western New York quotes Joseph L. Izzo, MD, chief of medicine at Erie County Medical Center. “It’s too early to determine the precise approach to treatment but take it to the bank, we do a heck of a lot better with COVID now than we did four months ago, five months ago,” said Izzo, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology.

The Buffalo News ran a front page story about two nurses who became infected with COVID-19 and who participated in the UB-Roswell Park clinical trial on convalescent plasma, a blood component taken from those who have recovered from the disease and then administered to patients sick with the disease to see if antibodies in the plasma can improve outcomes. The article quotes Manoj J. Mammen, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, who is directing the convalescent plasma effort at Buffalo General Medical Center, and Joseph L. Izzo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology, who is directing the effort at Erie County Medical Center. Both efforts are part of the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Expanded Access Program.

A recent study found that for people age 75 and older a systolic blood pressure goal under 120 substantially lowered the risk of major cardiovascular risks.

A study found that 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring levels came out higher than careful, automated office readings.

An Italian study found consuming 30 grams of Grana Padano cheese every day had the blood pressure-lowering impact typical of antihypertensive medications in a small blinded, randomized trial.

Joseph L. Izzo, MD, of the Department of Medicine, discusses fluctuating blood pressure, outlines medications and their effects, touches on the dangers of sodium in processed foods and converses about aerobic exercise.