Although symptoms for COVID and allergies can overlap, Shyam Joshi, M.D., says people with allergies typically have more sneezing or itchy, watery eyes.

OHSU Research Blog article about a robotic waist tether assisting with mobility. Prokopios Antonellis, Ph.D., says: “This finding supports a greater emphasis on biomechanical testing rather than trying to predict optimal bioinspired strategies.”

This article describes an OHSU patient’s experience with the Pathfinder study, aimed to detect many forms of cancer with a blood draw. The patient was diagnosed with both early-stage leukemia and a slow-growing prostate cancer. Study leader Tom Beer, M.D., said: “Early detection is a major challenge in cancer today. Nearly seven out of 10 cancer deaths are due to cancers for which there is no early detection recommended at all. We’re flying blind.”

Rachel Richmond, R.N., M.S.N., describes the OHSU School of Nursing Ashland Campus’ involvement in a Jackson County Library Services program to provide services for local residents who are houseless, including offering foot soaks; Richmond says: “This is a place where we meet them in the middle, and sit down and have good conversations."

The HealthDay News coverage on Oregon no longer requiring state residency to allow terminally ill people to receive lethal medication prescribed by a doctor was picked up by outlets across the country; Nicholas Gideonse, M.D., says: “Any restriction on medical aid in dying that doesn’t serve a specific medical purpose is difficult. In no other way is my practice restricted to Oregon residents, whether that’s delivering babies in the past or other care that I provide.”

Continued coverage of the federal funding for an innovative partnership to deliver virtual intensive care unit services from OHSU to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay and Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.

Alan Teo, M.D., discusses social withdraw with Wired magazine: “We really have no idea about the number of hikikomori in the United States,” said Teo. But enough people reach out to him for help that he knows “there are folks suffering in the shadows.”

A study by Jorge Kaufmann, M.D., using electronic health records from community health centers in 18 states, found disparities among Black and Latino/a/x children in pediatric acute asthma care.

Continued pickup of the Oregon News Service interview with Mary Moffit, Ph.D., who outlines ways to reduce stress related to people returning to the office in person; she says: “Increase our self-care activities and protect our sleep. Increase our exercise time, even if it’s only 20 minutes. Add it on. Practice more self-compassion than self-criticism, and increase our reaching out for support from our family and friends.”

The latest forecast by Peter Graven, Ph.D., predicts a small uptick in cases this spring and was cited in a number of news articles on what to expect after the mask mandate and governor’s emergency order end.