In a Healio story about the effect on fertility of a new class of weight loss drugs, Paula Amato, M.D., says, “At the moment, the data are mostly limited to patients who have (polycystic ovary syndrome). The few studies that have been done in that population show these medications are effective for weight loss and do seem to improve pregnancy rates.”

Reuters news service covers a new study led by Gregory Coté, M.D., that suggests high-voltage electrical pulses to the upper region of the small intestine can significantly improve type 2 diabetes.

Medscape covers new approaches to managing chronic pain. David Clarke, M.D., says, “Patients know ‘plastic’ means the capacity for change, so ‘neuroplastic’ better conveys that there’s hope for treatment.”

Coverage of the decision by OHSU and Legacy Health to terminate plans to integrate organizations.

In a Wall Street Journal story about private equity in health care, Jane Zhu, M.D., says, “Growth capital may allow private practices to expand, to keep up with IT, staffing demands and expansion. On net, there’s less empirical evidence about the effects of PE investment outside of leveraged buyout models.”

In a The Scientist story about the importance of mitochondrial DNA tracing ancestry and affecting human health, Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., says, “[mtDNA] mutations affect the basic function of the cell, which is energy production. That's why any mutation in the mitochondria is usually very severe on the embryo and then on the offspring.”

“Patients are coming to me in their prenatal visits saying, ‘I quit smoking and drinking, but is it safe to still use cannabis?’” said lead author Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (maternal-fetal medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine. “Until direct harms have been proven, they perceive it to be safe to use.”

Media continue to cover a study led by Alison Edelman, M.D., and team that revealed a flu vaccine, either given alone or with a COVID-19 vaccine during the follicular phase, was linked to minor changes in the length of the menstrual cycle of less than one day, but the length of the cycle bounced back to normal soon after.

Former OHSU oncologist Vinay Prasad tapped by RFK Jr. to head FDA vaccine division.

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute mobile unit participated in a community cancer conversation hosted by Evergreen Family Medicine May. 8. OHSU experts collaborated with community organizations to provide information and education on when to get cancer screening, lifestyle changes for cancer prevention, and skin cancer awareness.