Dr. Greg Davis on Medicine

Findings from a new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry May 28 may lead to a new treatment against Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. The labs of Matthew Gentry, Ph.D., and Craig Vander Kooi, Ph.D., in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Anthony Sinai, Ph.D., in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, and Zhong-Yin Zhang, Ph.D., at the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, collaborated to develop a drug that targets the cyst form of the parasite. Dr. Greg talks with Gentry about the breakthrough research.

No matter how you feel about guns, the fact is that firearm-related deaths have been increasing in the United States since 2009. In 2020, more than 45,000 people died of gun-related injuries in this country — more than any year on record. Nine hundred of those deaths were in Kentucky, where firearms are the second-leading cause of death among children and teens. A team of researchers at the UK College of Medicine is interested in hearing a variety of opinions and experiences from young adults and parents of youth about guns. Dr. Greg talks with TK Logan, Ph.D., professor in the UK College of Medicine, about the new collaborative study.

As of Monday September 12th new bivalent Covid vaccines are available for people who meet certain criteria. This week on Dr. Greg Davis on Medicine, we get the scoop from Vince Venditto, assistant professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the UK College of Pharmacy.

September is National Recovery Month and we're revisiting a conversation with Asha Carroll, Director of Social Media Engagement for the media group, Shatterproof which is spearheading an effort to de-stigmatize substance use disorders in the commonwealth. The project is called UNShame Kentucky.

With the recent discovery of the polio virus in the water supply in New York state, how worried should Kentuckians be of a possible new outbreak of a disease long thought eradicated? Dr. Greg talks polio and vaccination with Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D., a UK College of Medicine immunology and virology expert who serves as chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.

The World Health Organization recently declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern as the virus is now spreading throughout North America and Europe where it is not usually found. Lexington confirmed its first case of monkeypox on August 17th. While the risk for Kentuckians remains relatively low, everyone should be vigilant. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and limit the spread. Dr. Greg gets the lowdown from Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D., a UK College of Medicine immunology and virology expert who serves as chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.

As people in eastern Kentucky try to piece back together their lives following deadly floods, many may ignore warning signs and symptoms of trauma and PTSD. This week Dr. Greg talks about the mental health component of disaster cleanup with UK HealthCare’s Gray Manis; licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor of psychiatry.

As the flood waters begin to recede, families, business owners and volunteer cleanup groups will begin to reenter the damaged buildings and start the long cleanup process. Unfortunately, many flood-related injuries and health issues, even death, can occur during the cleanup response. It is critical to remember that although the flood waters may recede, there are a number of hazards to be aware of. Dr. Greg gets health tips from Erin Haynes, Dr.P.H., chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health.

Thursday July 28th is World Hepatitis Day. This week Dr. Greg speaks with Dia Obonyo and Amanda Wilburn prevention coordinator, and director of the viral hepatitis program respectively, for the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

The BA.5 omicron subvariant, which is now the most prevalent coronavirus strain in the United States, is four times more resistant to COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new study by the Mayo clinic, but health officials say those shots remain your best defense against the virus. This week Dr. Greg talks again with Vaneet Arora, Associate Director - Clinical Microbiology in the UK College of Medicine, about the latest developments in the seemingly never ending battle against SARS-CoV-2.