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You are here: Home / About / News

Recent COVID-19 research

February 9, 2023 By Curnick, Jacqueline A

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, EHSRC researchers have been doing important work to understand and treat this illness. Below are some recent activities by center members. Check out our  Response to COVID-19 page to read more.

Alejandro Comellas contributed to a study on post-COVID brain fog and fatigue, revealing a negative impact on daily activities, work/employment and interpersonal relationships. Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is a poorly understood condition with significant impact on quality of life. This study aimed to better understand the lived experiences of patients with PASC, focusing on the impact of cognitive complaints (“brain fog”) and fatigue on (1) daily activities, (2) work/employment, and (3) interpersonal relationships. The team conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 patients of a Midwestern academic hospital’s post-COVID-19 clinic. Participants frequently used descriptive and metaphorical language to describe symptoms that were relapsing-remitting and unpredictable. Fatigue and brain fog affected all domains and identified subthemes included symptoms’ synergistic effects, difficulty with multitasking, lack of support, poor self-perception, and fear of loss of income and employment. Personal relationships were affected with change of responsibilities, difficulty parenting, social isolation, and guilt due to the burdens placed on family. Furthermore, underlying social stigma contributed to negative emotions, which significantly affected emotional and mental health. Our findings highlight PASC’s negative impact on patients’ daily lives.

 

Gary Pierce participated in a study team to evaluate the activity levels of college students during the pandemic. The Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents estimated physical activity and sedentary time before, early, and later in the pandemic. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity were assessed at early and later timepoints. Open-ended questions examined additional impacts. Comparing before vs. early/later pandemic assessments, respondents reported a significant decrease in physical activity metabolic equivalent (MET)-minutes/week and a significant increase in sedentary MET-minutes/week. The top barrier was schoolwork (47.7%). The top facilitator was social support (21.5%). Responses to open-ended questions indicated that most individuals reported sitting more during the pandemic, with variation in physical activity patterns. Adverse changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior observed early in the pandemic were sustained.

 

Paul Romitti co-authored a publication reporting a study on the relationship between trimester of SARS-CoV-2 infection, illness severity, and risk for preterm birth.  Data was analyzed for 6336 pregnant persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2020 in the United States.  The study found that pregnant persons with critical COVID-19 or asymptomatic infection, compared to mild COVID-19, in the second or third trimester were at increased risk of preterm birth. Pregnant persons with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 did not show increased risk of preterm birth in any trimester.

 

Julia Klesney-Tait was part of a study to determine whether recipients of lung transplantation (LT) for COVID-19-related lung disease have comparable outcomes to other recipients with a similar level of lung dysfunction. Lung transplantation is an acceptable and potentially life-saving treatment option for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis.  A total of 37,333 LT candidates from all causes were compared with 334 candidates from COVID-19-related respiratory failure. COVID-19 recipients were more likely to be younger (50 vs 57 years), male (79% vs 60%), require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (56.3% vs 4.0%), and have worse lung function (lung allocation score, 82.4 vs 47.8) at transplantation. Patients who received a transplant for COVID-19 had similar rates of mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, postoperative complications, and functional status at discharge compared with controls. There was no difference in overall survival or risk of death from COVID-19.

 

Brandi Janssen contributed to a study on how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected food availability and accessibility for many older adults, especially those experiencing food insecurity. Food citizenship is a theoretical framework that encourages the use of alternate over industrial food sources and can characterize where foods are acquired and how food choices are made. The purpose of this study is to explore how Iowans aged 50 years and older made choices about what foods to acquire and where to acquire foods during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using food citizenship as a theoretical framework.

 

Filed Under: News, Research

In memoriam: Professor Emeritus Bill Field

November 21, 2022 By Curnick, Jacqueline A

R. William “Bill” Field, professor emeritus of occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, died Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics at the age of 68 from refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Field completed his PhD in preventive medicine and environmental health at the University of Iowa in 1994. He joined the UI faculty in 1998. He recently retired as a Professor from the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health with appointments in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology.

Bill is recognized internationally for his expertise in radon and radiation health effects, not only for his epidemiologic research into the radioactive gas, but for his advocacy and community engagement efforts to inform the public about radon’s human health risks and to mitigate radon exposures. He served on the Presidential Advisory Board for Radiation and Worker Health till his death. He served on other national and World Health Organization boards during his career. He established the Occupational Epidemiology Training Program at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. He worked with professional organizations to improve radon testing and to educate the public on health risks from radon. In 2022, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) selected Field to receive the organization’s Radon Hero Award. Above all, he was a compassionate mentor who delighted in guiding his students towards independent careers in public health.

Bill was a valued member of the EHSRC for 16 years and most recently served as leader of the Population Health Research group, as well as having participated in the drafting of state legislation (IA), speaking engagements through community forums, academic conferences, and legislative summits.  His warm, collaborative spirit will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues at the EHSRC.

Service arrangements and obituary.

Filed Under: News

EHSRC investigators receive NIEHS award to develop Cationic CAMKIIN nanoparticles that reduce chlorine-induced airway oxidative stress

September 13, 2022 By Curnick, Jacqueline A

Congratulations to EHSRC member Aliasger Salem for a recent R21 award from NIEHS. This proposal will develop a CaMKIIN-loaded nanoparticle-based therapy that can rapidly mitigate the ROS species in the lung following chlorine exposure. Other researchers participating in this project include Peter Thorne, Andrea Dodd, and Isabella Grumbach. The Pulmonary Toxicology Facility of the EHSRC will provide support for the animal studies under this project.

 

Filed Under: Research Awards

Science Café Fall Schedule

September 9, 2022 By Curnick, Jacqueline A

The Community Engagement Core is pleased to announce the Science Café line up! Visit the webpage for more details and sign up links. 

Filed Under: Events

Dr. Lehmler receives funding for interdisciplinary project about climate, environment, and health

August 1, 2022 By Curnick, Jacqueline A

With $500,000 in funding from the OVPR Interdisciplinary Scholars awards program, an interdisciplinary team will start work on a new project at the intersection of climate, the environment, and health. The award is sponsored by the Research Development Office within the Office of the Vice President for Research.

The project team includes researchers from the College of Public Health, Carver College of Medicine, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Hans-Joachim Lehmler, professor of occupational and environmental health and director of the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, leads the project.

“The Interdisciplinary Scholars program is a useful tool for fostering cross-collegiate, interdisciplinary research within the University,” said Aaron Kline, director of the Research Development Office. “Interdisciplinary approaches push the boundaries of scientific research and are vital for finding solutions to ever-pressing societal challenges. These awards provide our researchers a mechanism for ambitiously catalyzing and/or coalescing campus researchers to undertake societally impactful research together.”

 

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The team will investigate the effect of the diverse environmental stressors affected by climate change on the unique health challenges of rural people.

“Climate change compounds existing environmental health challenges and disparities facing rural populations,” said Lehmler.

Through recruitment and mentorship, the team will assemble a diverse group of scientists interested in climate change and health research. Together, they will establish an administrative structure to advance and assess thematic activities, integrate data, and translate research knowledge toward improving health in Iowa and the nation.

The project’s leadership team includes:

  • Lori Adams, associate professor of instruction, Department of Biology
  • Josep Comeron, professor, Department of Biology
  • Hans-Joachim Lehmler, professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Veena Prahlad, associate professor, Department of Biology
  • Donna Santillan, research associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Mark Santillan, associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

“In the last few months, the northern hemisphere has been baking under unprecedented heat,” said Kline. “This award is an important, and timely, investment in research aimed at identifying evidence-based solutions for addressing health outcomes associated with unprecedented climate events such as extreme heat,” says Kline. “I’m excited that we are able to provide support to these types of impactful projects that seek solutions to 21st Century societal challenges.”

“Funding for this initiative was made possible through the University’s utility public-private partnership (P3),” said Marty Scholtz, vice president for research. “This program helps sustain growth in the research enterprise through strategic investments, while at the same time strengthening the University’s reputation as a destination for research and scholarship.”

The Interdisciplinary Scholars program is part of the OVPR’s Seeding Excellence Initiative (SEI), a two-year program that provides competitive pilot funding in four strategic areas: 1) community engaged research and scholarship, 2) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), 3) early career scholars, and 4) interdisciplinary research.

Another call for proposals for the OVPR Interdisciplinary Scholars program will be announced no later than September 1, 2022. The request for proposals will also focus on the climate-environment-health nexus. The maximum award amount will be $100,000.

 

This article was written by Leslie Revaux and originally posted by the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research

Filed Under: Research, Research Awards

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