The UCI Health Regional Burn Center is one of the only burn centers in Orange County equipped to treat the most complex burn patients 24 hours a day, including children.

Orange County is not unique in that such centers are few and far between. That is a major problem, say experts in a review paper co-authored by Dr. James C. Jeng, a trauma, burn and critical care surgeon at UCI Health.

Kyoto, Japan -- The Covid-19 lockdowns were difficult for everyone. Many people were stuck at home all day every day dealing with their uncertainty for the future, and some found it hard to avoid frequent eating and snacking habits during lockdown. For many, the effects of this were marginal, but the risks in such a situation are higher for people with glucose intolerance, a group of metabolic conditions that includes diabetes.

Previous studies examining glycemic control in individuals with glucose intolerance during the Covid-19 pandemic have reported mixed results: some showed worsening control while others found no significant changes. In one specific study on individuals in Japan, a team of researchers at Kyoto University found that the state of emergency led to increases in body weight, fat mass, and snacking frequency, all of which were associated with deteriorating glycemic control.

However, the researchers recognized that the longterm metabolic effects of this after the full relaxation of behavioral restrictions has remained unclear. This gap in knowledge motivated the team to explore the post‑restriction period in greater depth.

Heart failure presents a growing public health problem both in Estonia and across Europe. At the same time, its timely detection is often challenging. Together with international colleagues, Laura Lõo,  Junior Research Fellow of Public Health at the University of Tartu, has developed new models that help identify disease risk even before symptoms appear.