ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for movement. The disease causes a loss of muscle function, including the muscles used for speech, swallowing and breathing, and paralysis that eventually leads to death. The mind and senses mostly remain unaffected. Some patients may have cognitive changes, including depression and problems with decision-making and memory.
Seed Funding Leads to Major UA Grants When Tucson judge Jim Himelic died in 2000, his family and friends established a foundation in his honor to raise funds to support ALS research at the UA and elsewhere. UA researchers studying ALS have greatly benefited from the seed money, in some cases subsequently gaining larger grants, and the foundation's major fundraiser this month intends to ensure that such opportunities continue.
Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1353 at the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix.
Governor Signs Telemedicine Bill at UA College of Medicine-Phoenix Gov. Jan Brewer participated in a ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 1353, also known as the Telemedicine Reimbursement Parity Act, requiring telemedicine services be covered by health insurance in rural areas of Arizona. The signing took place in the T-Health Institute on the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix campus. The institute is part of the award-winning Arizona Telemedicine Program based at the UA College of Medicine-Tucson.
Professor Linda Powers, shown here with one of her instruments in the Arctic, is taking her portable technology to a new level: diagnostics, checking blood for disease. Powers credits UA College of Engineering Dean Goldberg with making the research contract happen. "What an incredible extension of a hand of friendship to small businesses in the Valley," she said.
UA Professor Developing Rapid, Disposable Tests for Blood-Borne Disease Building on research that sent her biking across Tanzania a couple of summers ago to test remote water sources on the spot for bacteria, the UA's Linda Powers is moving into the diagnostic realm: developing fast, disposable blood tests for pathogens that cause diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Covering an area the size of New England with only 200,000 people spread across it, Arizona’s Four Corners region offers austere, beautiful landscapes but can be daunting because of poor roads for physicians and patients alike to navigate to provide or receive medical care. (Photo courtesy of UA Native American Cardiology & Medical Service Program)
Bringing Neurology Care to Arizona’s Four Corners Region The UA's Dr. David Labiner has offered quarterly neurology clinics at Indian Health Service and health-care facilities on the Navajo and Hopi reservations for about 15 years and bimonthly ones in Flagstaff for 20 years. Common consultations include treating patients for epilepsy, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, stroke recovery, headaches and neuropathy.
UA College of Medicine-Phoenix
UA Study Finds Improved CPR Quality Saves Lives Life-saving CPR has been a foundation of emergency medicine for more than a half-century. But UA researchers are continuing to refine the procedure, with a new study concluding that improving the quality and effectiveness of CPR can have a dramatic impact on survival from a cardiac arrest.
ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for movement. The disease causes a loss of muscle function, including the muscles used for speech, swallowing and breathing, and paralysis that eventually leads to death. The mind and senses mostly remain unaffected. Some patients may have cognitive changes, including depression and problems with decision-making and memory.
Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1353 at the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix.
Professor Linda Powers, shown here with one of her instruments in the Arctic, is taking her portable technology to a new level: diagnostics, checking blood for disease. Powers credits UA College of Engineering Dean Goldberg with making the research contract happen. "What an incredible extension of a hand of friendship to small businesses in the Valley," she said.
Covering an area the size of New England with only 200,000 people spread across it, Arizona’s Four Corners region offers austere, beautiful landscapes but can be daunting because of poor roads for physicians and patients alike to navigate to provide or receive medical care. (Photo courtesy of UA Native American Cardiology & Medical Service Program)
UA College of Medicine-Phoenix

UAMC Uses Technology to Save Patients With Extreme Heart Failure

  • UANews
  • March 13, 2013
ECMO – ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation – serves as a temporary life support system for patients who have heart or lung failure or both. Since 2006, UAMC has orchestrated last-ditch ECMO transports of eight adult patients and two children, making it one of only a handful of institutions worldwide to be able to provide this service to both adults and children.

Researchers Study Links Between Spirituality, Wellness

  • Arizona Public Media
  • March 13, 2013
Researchers are interested in the role of religion and spirituality in health. According to the UA's Dr. Lynn Kilmo, studies show that people who attend religious services tend to have lower blood pressure, exercise more, eat healthier and have lower rates of suicide and drug and alcohol abuse.

UA Studies Use of 'Smart' Socks to Prevent Amputations in Diabetes Patients

  • UANews
  • March 12, 2013
Can something as simple as putting on a pair of socks help save the limbs and lives of people with diabetes? The UA and its partners recently were awarded more than $2 million in research grants from the Qatar National Research Fund to study the use of new technology incorporated in specially made socks.

Tucson Doctor Returns to Roots, Inspires Kids to Dream Big

  • KMSB-TV
  • March 11, 2013
Dare to dream. That's what Dr. Bernadette Quihuis-Alvarez did, growing up on Tucson's west side - and now she's living her dream. Quihuis-Alvarez, a UA alumna, achieved her goal of becoming a doctor. Now, she sees patients at St. Mary's Hospital. She also shares her success story with Tucson children, inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

UA Researcher Awarded Grant for Islet Cell Transplant Work

  • UANews
  • March 8, 2013
The UA's Dr. Klearchos Papas is researching ways to improve the effectiveness of an implantable device containing insulin-producing islet cells for diabetics in need. His work has the potential to make islet cell transplantation available to a larger number of patients with Type 1 diabetes, and also make it safer for children.

UA-Led Effort Seeks Valley Fever Diagnoses

  • Arizona Daily Star
  • March 8, 2013
The UA has helped create a free medical course in detecting valley fever, a fungal infection that can be fatal and has been on the rise in Arizona since 2009. The online course is designed to help medical professionals learn to assess the epidemiology of valley fever, recognize symptoms and evaluate the tests required for correct diagnosis.

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