Jonathon Baker, Ph.D., says gum disease-causing bacteria have been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, the tumors of colon cancer patients and in heart tissue of people with cardiovascular disease.

Cindy McEvoy, M.D., says, “Lower lung function early in life often tracks and remains low into adulthood, so it’s critical we identify early interventions to address these risks.”

Cindy McEvoy, M.D., says, “Lower lung function early in life often tracks and remains low into adulthood, so it’s critical we identify early interventions to address these risks.”

A new study that finds adding two weeks of continuous positive airway pressure for preterm infants in the hospital substantially improves lung growth and function. Cindy McEvoy, M.D., says, “Lower lung function early in life often tracks and remains low into adulthood, so it’s critical we identify early interventions to address these risks.”

Maria Fleseriu, M.D., regarding an expanded FDA-approved treatment for Cushing’s syndrome: “The expanded indication of osilodrostat is a significant advancement in the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome for whom surgery is not an option or has not been curative.”

Story covers initiative announced by the U.S. health and human services secretary to find potential environmental causes of autism. Eric Fombonne, M.D., says, “It’s ridiculous to say that he’s going to unravel the etiology of autism in six months.” Story is picked up by media outlets nationwide.

In response to a claim that an environmental toxin is responsible for increased autism prevalence, Eric Fombonne, M.D., tells Politifact he doesn’t know how researchers would begin to investigate the “environmental toxins,” because doing so requires observing a cluster of cases appearing in a population in a certain time period or within a geographic location: “In any country I know, there is no evidence of a clustering of (autism) cases in time or by geographical area. The lack of such evidence is another sort of piece of the puzzle which doesn’t really support the environmental risk hypothesis.”

Legacy Health’s improved bond rating, with WW noting that the improvement reflects, in part, the proposed integration with OHSU.

In a KGW-TV story about three cases of a rare brain disease identified in Hood River County, Peter Pressman, M.D., says, “It’s true, there’s no cure, but we still offer help, as best we can, resources for patients and their families trying first to ensure that it’s not something else that is more treatable.”

Eating Well discusses how bowel movements promote relaxation, release serotonin and provide relief. David Clarke, M.D., says, “The process of defecation is influenced by complex physiological and neurological mechanisms, which not only ensure the efficient elimination of waste but also contribute to sensations of relief and well-being.”