OHSU research indicates people may receive as much as a four-fold increase in immune response when they alternate from one arm to the other when receiving a multi-dose vaccine. While the reason for this difference isn’t certain, Marcel Curlin, M.D., suspects switching arms activates immune responses in different lymph nodes: “By switching arms, you basically have memory formation in two locations instead of one.”

OHSU research indicates people may receive as much as a four-fold increase in immune response when they alternate from one arm to the other when receiving a multi-dose vaccine. While the reason for this difference isn’t certain, Marcel Curlin, M.D., suspects switching arms activates immune responses in different lymph nodes: “By switching arms, you basically have memory formation in two locations instead of one.”

OHSU research indicates people may receive as much as a four-fold increase in immune response when they alternate from one arm to the other when receiving a multi-dose vaccine. While the reason for this difference isn’t certain, Marcel Curlin, M.D., suspects switching arms activates immune responses in different lymph nodes: “By switching arms, you basically have memory formation in two locations instead of one.”

Castigliano Bhamidipati, D.O., Ph.D., says methamphetamine use can decrease the heart muscle’s ability to pump and recommends a multidisciplinary approach to helping patients who have both substance use disorder and heart issues.

In a story about a Portland Fire & Rescue pilot program to offer medications to people experiencing an overdose, Laurel Hallock-Koppelman, D.N.P., explains how the drugs work: “The way Narcan works, where it’s an immediate action, all of the opioids get pushed off right away. People feel really, really sick. When you give buprenorphine after they have received Narcan, that buprenorphine is an opioid, it does travel to the opioid receptors in the brain, and then helps with some of the withdrawal symptoms.”

Carl Eriksson, M.D., led a study that found 60% of U.S. children receiving emergency medical services for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest experienced at least one severe adverse safety event.

As part of a statewide OHSU nursing student competition to collect socks and underwear for those in need, Annika Timm and other La Grande-based students collected more than 700 items. Timm says, “There is an amazing sense of community here. Everyone wants to give back.”

In a story about a mother’s struggle to help her 15-year-old son before he died of a fentanyl overdose, Todd Korthuis, M.D., describes how substance use affects teenagers: “Teenage drug and alcohol use during this period of rapid brain development can change how their brains process risk and reward.”

An op-ed by Marguerita Lightfoot, Ph.D., calls for better serving youth experiencing homelessness, saying, “Because estimates of the unhoused youth population are low, not enough resources are directed at addressing their needs.”

Amber Pearson is first patient in the world to benefit from a single stimulator implanted in the brain that effectively controls both epileptic seizures and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Pearson says, “I’m actually present in my daily life and that’s incredible. Before, I was just constantly in my head worrying about my compulsions.” Ahmed Raslan, M.D., says, “It was her idea to say: ‘Well, you’re going into my brain and putting this wire, and I have OCD, so can you just put a wire for OCD?’ And you know, luckily, we took that suggestion seriously.”