UC Davis Health opens doors to new state-of-the-art eye care facility in Sacramento

UC Davis Health welcomed the first patients to the new Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute on Monday, Dec. 5. The state-of-the-art facility, which houses both clinicians and researchers, is dedicated to advancing world-class eye care and offering hope for sight restoration.

Physicians urged to consider fungal infections as possible cause for lung inflammation

UC Davis Health infectious diseases expert George Thompson warns of the rising threat and apparent spread of disease-causing fungi outside their traditional hot spots. Fungal lung infections are commonly misdiagnosed, leading to delays in treatment and increase in antimicrobial resistance in the community.

Uncovering the skin’s secrets: Studies show how skin forms differently across the body

Two recent UC Davis studies reveal how skin forms differently across different areas of the body from the face and underarms to the palms of our hands and feet. By profiling the changes in skin, researchers found that the differences have a direct impact for how various skin diseases form across the body.

UC Davis Health study reports on the safety, efficacy of tecovirimat in treating monkeypox

UC Davis Health has published one of the earliest studies assessing the use of tecovirimat to treat monkeypox (MPX) symptoms and skin lesions. The antiviral drug approved for smallpox treatment appeared to be safe and effective in 25 patients with monkeypox.

Increased overdose and mental health risks persist two years after opioid dose reduction

A new UC Davis Health study suggests that the increased rates of overdose and mental health crisis observed during the first year after opioid dose tapering persist through the second year. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Study shows family medicine physicians face many barriers to providing medical abortions

A study by UC Davis and UC San Francisco identified multiple barriers that family physicians navigate to provide abortion services to their patients. The barriers include lack of physician training and federal, state and institutional restrictions on providing medication abortion.

Study confirms the low likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 on hospital surfaces is infectious

A new study confirms the low likelihood that coronavirus contamination on hospital surfaces is infectious. The study is the original report on recovering near-complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences directly from surface swabs.

Most Californians unaware of law to prevent gun violence but would support using it

A new study shows that two-thirds of Californians don’t know about a law designed to prevent a person at risk of hurting themselves or others from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. More than 80% of survey participants were supportive once they read about this law.

Male bladder cancer vulnerability could lead to a new treatment approach

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that targeting androgen receptors – a type of protein specific to men – may destroy cancer cells. Focusing on this male protein variant common in malignant bladder tumor cells may serve as a new avenue for treating bladder cancer in men.

New rapid COVID-19 test the result of university-industry partnership

A partnership between UC Davis and Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, has led to a 20-minute COVID-19 test. The method pairs a mass spectrometer with a powerful machine-learning platform to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs. A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports shows the test to be 98.3% accurate for positive COVID-19 tests and 96% for negative tests.

Catching more breast cancers when mammograms are limited

In one of the largest research projects of its kind, a new study published in JAMA Network Open looks at nearly 900,000 individuals and close to 2 million mammograms to come up with a new way to detect the most breast cancer cases with the fewest exams.

NCCN Announces UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center as 31st Member Institution

NCCN announced that it has elected University of California (UC) Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center as its newest Member Institution joining 30 other leading academic cancer centers to improve and facilitate quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives.

Wildfire smoke carry microbes that can cause infectious diseases

Wildfire smoke contains microbes, infectious agents that might cause diseases. In a perspective piece published in Science, researchers at UC Davis Health and the University of Idaho proposed a multidisciplinary approach to study the health impacts of microbes carried by wildfire smokes.

Hydrogen peroxide keeps gut bacteria away from the colon lining

An enzyme in the colon lining releases hydrogen peroxide – a known disinfecting compound- to protect the body from gut microbial communities. Findings from the UC Davis Health study points to importance of considering a different approach to treating gut inflammation and bacterial imbalance in the colon.

New dopamine sensors could help unlock the mysteries of brain chemistry

In 2018, Tian Lab at UC Davis Health developed dLight1, a single fluorescent protein-based biosensor. This sensor allows high resolution, real-time imaging of the spatial and temporal release of dopamine in live animals. Now, the team expanded the color spectrum of dLight1 to YdLight1 and RdLight1. The increased light penetration and imaging depth of these variants provide enhanced dopamine signal quality allowing researchers to optically dissect dopamine’s release and model its effects on neural circuits.

Gun owner perceptions about actual firearm dangers suggest opportunities for improving gun safety

People who own guns and those living with gun owners are substantially less worried about the risk of firearm injuries than individuals living in homes without guns, says a new study by violence prevention experts at UC Davis Health.

High-fat diet with antibiotic use linked to gut inflammation

UC Davis researchers have found that combining a Western-style high-fat diet with antibiotic use significantly increases the risk of developing pre- inflammatory bowel disease. This combination shuts down the mitochondria in cells of the colon lining, leading to gut inflammation. Mesalazine can help restart the mitochondria and treat pre-IBD condition.