Deep Look into COVID-19: Adapting to a COVID World

As the second anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, the world looks significantly different than it did nearly two years ago. According to recent statistics, the virus has infected more than 383 million people and has caused nearly 5.7 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.

The world needed to rapidly change. Strict rules were put into place that saw many countries across the globe come to a sudden standstill in an attempt to confine the spread of COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic. As scientists learned more about the virus, social distancing and mask wearing became commonplace.

With the release of a vaccine, there was hope that a return to “normalcy” may be possible; that we could begin living as we did before the word ‘COVID’ became a part of our daily lexicon.

But will that ever be the case? Or will COVID-19 remain a part of our lives similarly to the flu?

These are important questions as we continue to adapt to living in a COVID world. Experts at UC San Diego are working to find answers using epidemic modeling and data-driven approaches. They are looking at the promise of proteins as anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics. And they are analyzing what we’ve learned about disease transmission, and what mutations of the virus could mean for the future of this pandemic.

Watch Deep Look into COVID-19: Adapting to a COVID World.

Hand Lumps, Bumps and Everything in Between

Our hands and wrists, which are made up of many small bones, joints and tendons, are so integral to our daily lives that we often don’t appreciate them until there’s something wrong. Conditions like arthritis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cysts, and injuries like lacerations and nerve damage, can negatively impact our quality of life.

Dr. Lauren Santiesteban, hand and wrist surgeon at UC San Francisco, explains basic hand anatomy and common conditions and injuries that cause pain and impair movement. She says steps for assessing hand pain include getting a patient’s history and doing a physical exam. Treatment may include rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, splinting, physical therapy, steroid injections or surgery.

Watch Lumps and Bumps of the Hand and Wrist.

Technology vs. Pain and Addiction: Advances in Neuromodulation

The majority of Americans are living with pain, according to the findings from a report recently released by the National Center for Health Statistics. Pain affects more than your body, increasing stress and depression which can make pain worse, leading to a vicious cycle.

Lawrence Poree, MD, MPH, PhD, discusses the intersection of neuromodulation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opioid crisis in pain management, as well as techniques such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) to help alleviate pain and depressive symptoms.

To learn more about pain management, check out the other programs in this six-part series Advances in the Understanding and Treatment of Pain taught by leading experts at UC San Francisco who explore the causes, consequences, and treatment of pain as well as barriers to providing effective pain relief.

Watch Technology vs. Pain and Addiction: Advances in Neuromodulation.

The Future of Autism Research

Nothing about us without us.

The autism community has made it clear that research must be participatory and co-designed by them. Sir Simon Baron-Cohen examines how this stance has changed the course and focus of autism research. In addition, he examines the current tension between neurodiversity and disability and how to better protect the human rights of autistic people. He encourages the scientific community to embrace these challenges as opportunities to explore and expand what we can know.

Becca Lory Hector joins the conversation to provide perspective from an autistic adult. She addresses the “nothing about us without us” axiom from a personal point of view and with an eye to how research should focus on bettering the lives of those on the spectrum. The discussion also looks at the rate of suicide and depression affecting the community and how mental health should be supported.

Michelle McGowan shares the perspective of parents with autistic children and asks important questions about how science can support children as they grow into adulthood. She also explores how parents, educators, and education systems can better understand and communicate with non-neurotypical children.

This important conversation was the keynote presentation at the Autism Tree Project Foundation Annual Neuroscience Conference.

Watch Autism Research & Neurodiversity: The Changing Culture with Sir Simon Baron-Cohen.

Better Sleep Means Better Health

Sleep is an essential function of our lives. Sleep enables us to grow, it regulates our metabolism, and heart and lung functions, it solidifies our memories and clears toxins from the brain. Yet 35% of Americans are considered sleep deprived, getting fewer than seven hours of sleep a night. And nearly half of American adults suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia.

So how can we learn to sleep better and improve our physical and mental health? Dr. Ellen Lee, UC San Diego Assistant Professor of Psychology, discusses what happens when we sleep, common disorders like insomnia, how COVID-19 has impacted our sleep, and effective treatments for sleep issues.

Watch Sleep Better, Feel Better: How Sleep Affects Our Mental and Physical Health with Ellen Lee.