Flu shot associated with fewer, less severe COVID-19 cases — and more health stories

A roundup of articles from both the Michigan Health and Michigan Health Lab blogs, which cover stories on breaking news and research, health tips and wellness that you won’t want to miss.

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• Flu Shot Associated With Fewer, Less Severe COVID Cases – People who received a flu shot were significantly less likely to test positive for a COVID-19 infection, according to a new study.

• Can Prebiotics Help Protect Against Immunotherapy-Induced Colitis? – The intriguing approach may possibly curb severe side effects seen from life-saving immunotherapy treatments that wreak havoc on the gut.

• Match Day, and Trusting the Process – A 4th-year medical student writes about her last four years at medical school as she and her fellow classmates prepare for Match Day. Read more

• Multiethnic Tumor Models Aid in the Search for New Approaches Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer – The findings point toward several genes with significantly higher activity in tumors from Ghanaian and African American women, which could potentially serve as targets for developing new drugs.

• Conquering COVID-19 Disparities Among Communities of Color – The new initiative, funded by a federal NIH grant, supports work to promote COVID-19 research and inclusivity among African Americans and Hispanics/Latino populations.

• How Useful is Next-Generation Sequencing for Patients with Advanced Cancer? – A study of more than 1,000 patients with cancers of unknown origin greatly benefited from next-generation sequencing.

• Two Proteins Critical for Kidney Function-The recent paper describes an unexpected function of two proteins found in normal adult kidney function.

• Researchers Identify a New, Vital Player in Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Organ Transplant Rejection – The investigation, which included samples from more than 50 patients, suggests that inhibiting RNA therapeutically may improve outcomes for transplant recipients.

• What Will Future Historians Say About COVID-19? – Observations from four medical historians caution putting the last year in the rear-view mirror.

• MIS-C: The COVID-Related Condition Parents Need to Know About – Forty-eight states have reported cases of the rare, but life-threatening, COVID-related illness affecting children.

• 5 Warning Signs of Colorectal Cancer – What experts say is one of the best lines of defense.

• When COVID-19 Strikes a Family – COVID-19 One Year Later Series: As Fred became hospitalized with COVID-19, he discovered the virus had also spread to 12 of his loved ones.

• Why We Should Abolish Daylight Saving Time – Sleep and neurology experts are calling for an end to the back-and-forth time change.

• Finding Silver Linings and a Sense of Normalcy After COVID-19 – COVID-19 One Year Later Series: Months after he was put on a ventilator, Eugene found himself back in the hospital — only this time as the doctor, again.

• National Poll: Pandemic Negatively Impacted Teens’ Mental Health – Forty-six percent of parents say their teen has shown signs of a new or worsening mental health condition since the start of the pandemic.

• New Clues to Classic Cancer Target Found in Immune Cells – The findings not only shed new light on cancer immunology, they also suggest related clinical trials related may unnecessarily be excluding a large number of patients.

• Study Finds High Prevalence of Smoking Among Surgery Patients – An analysis found almost a quarter of surgical patients smoked in the 12 months leading up to their procedure.

• Military Microbiologists With a Surprising Connection – Several leading military-based researchers, whose work has been vital during the pandemic, have something intriguing in common.

• Vaping Marijuana Associated with More Symptoms of Lung Damage than Vaping or Smoking Nicotine – New data challenges the assumption that smoking cigarettes or vaping nicotine is the most harmful to lungs.

• Medicaid Expansion Made Mouths Healthier, Study Finds – A study suggests the program’s dental coverage improved oral health in ways that also helped with people’s jobs.

• Healthcare Via Video: The New Normal? – Physicians and patients saw e-visits as comparable to face-to-face interactions, according to two studies.

• Researchers Examine Impact of Telehealth Adoption Among Michigan Primary Care Providers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic – Did it prevent emergency room visits and hospitalizations?

• Cancer Immunotherapy May Also Treat Certain Autoimmune Diseases – The protein, called CD6, may hold some answers, researchers explain.

• Two Ways to Have a More Comfortable Colonoscopy – Colonoscopies are necessary to detect colon cancer. Here’s how doctors are making it easier, though.

• What You Need To Know About Timing Your Imaging After Your COVID-19 Shot – You should wait four to six weeks after your final dose of your coronavirus vaccine to get certain scans.

• A Brain Tumor at 27, and a Team that Changed Her Life – She thought her migranes were hereditary, but her vision changes, dizziness and numbness in her left hand and leg told another story.

• One in 10 Older Adults Have Gotten a “Pandemic Pet,” Poll Finds – “It’s well documented that pets can help lower our blood pressure, ease anxiety and improve symptoms of depression,” says the National Poll on Healthy Aging’s director Preeti Malani, M.D.

• WATCH: Wanting the Pandemic to be Over is Not Enough – Even with more vaccinations in circulation, thousands are still getting sick, so responsible behavior remains key, experts explain.