During the week of January 7 – January 13, infectious disease experts from the Department of Medicine were featured in the following news stories. If you caught Covid-19 over the holidays, here’s what you need to know – Dr. David Wohl (CNN) Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 7 – Dr. David … Read more

The following clickable headlines link directly to outside media outlets, which feature UNC Department of Medicine faculty during the week of December 31, 2021 – January 6, 2022.  The ‘silver lining’ of omicron: More hospital patients but fewer in intensive care – Dr. David Wohl (The News & Observer) Health experts stress the best protection depends … Read more

Among patients with large serrated polyps, the risk for bleeding after endoscopic mucosal resection was low, with no significant benefit seen with resection clipping, according to a study. “[This] study suggests that endoscopic clipping is not necessary to prevent post-polypectomy bleeding after [endoscopic mucosal resection] of large serrated polyps,” Seth D. Crockett, MD, MPH, associate … Read more

Saira Sheikh, MD, the Linda Coley Sewell Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the division of rheumatology, and research associate Tessa Englund, PhD, MPH, described the barriers in lupus clinical trial enrollment and how they can be addressed to ensure equitable representation. Read the article published in Rheumatology Advisor.  

Dr. Shakira Grant was born in Barbados and says she knew around the age of 11 or 12, when her grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer, that she would become an oncologist. She also says UNC felt like home when she visited, and it was the “ease of conversation, welcoming smiles, and the collegial atmosphere” that helped her know UNC was the place to be.

Treatment with the IV P2Y12 inhibitor cangrelor reduced the number of early ischemic events after PCI, primarily MI and stent thrombosis, compared with oral clopidogrel, according to the results of the CHAMPION PHOENIX trial. “Patients undergoing PCI are at risk of activation of the clotting process, formation of intravascular thrombus and subsequent myocardial infarction,” said Matthew … Read more

A CBS-17 report recognizes a hospital in Israel studying the safety and effectiveness of a second booster dose for some medical workers who got their last shot at least four months ago. One of the key concerns raised by the fourth-dose concept is that it might cause more harm than good by wearing out the … Read more

Faculty from the division of infectious diseases were featured in the following COVID news stories the week of December 24 – December 30. NC shatters record high COVID-19 daily positivity rate in first metric update since holiday weekend – Dr. David Wohl (ABC11) Tweens, 10-14, have highest COVID case rate in the state – Dr. David Wohl … Read more

The Value-Care Action Group (VCAG) is currently accepting applications for high-value care improvement projects across the Department of Medicine. Faculty with questions should contact darren_dewalt@med.unc.edu, john_vargus@med.unc.edu or scott_keller@med.unc.edu. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2022. The Department of Medicine’s Value-Care Action Group develops recommendations and resources focused on high value care that helps clinicians … Read more

Do the fully vaccinated need a COVID test if exposed or sick? David Weber, MD, MPH, and David Wohl, MD, answered this question and more during the week of December 17-23. The following clickable headlines link directly to outside media outlets. Arkansas’ low vaccination rate setting up omicron surge, experts say – Dr. David Wohl (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) … Read more

January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day UNC’s 2022 MLK, Jr. Celebration includes a campus-wide initiative to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his legacy and his ideals. Carolina began its celebrations of King’s life and legacy long before there was a federal holiday. In fact, UNC is the only university ever awarded the … Read more

For patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), minimal residual disease (MRD) has emerged as a highly sensitive indicator of disease burden during and at the end of treatment, and has correlated with time-to-event outcomes. Use of MRD has shown promise for guiding duration of treatment for CLL patients on time-limited therapy. “MRD measurement is not … Read more