faster uti treatment | Urology of St. Louis (USL) has created a new way for people suffering from urinary tract infections to immediately access care. A new virtual clinic will allow for same-day and next-day virtual appointments, diagnostics and treatment. Patients will be able to consult with a nurse over the phone, drop off a urine sample to be reviewed and set up a virtual consultation with a doctor to review the results. “UTIs are a condition that can be easily diagnosed and treated but can also lead to other much more serious complications such as kidney infections or even sepsis if ignored,” Dr. David Bryan says. “We created this innovative diagnosis testing process to provide patients with a convenient way to access the specialized care our team of urologists provides, without any major disruptions to their day.”
kidney health | African Americans have an increased risk of kidney failure, and that risk is related to variations in a gene called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1). This high-risk genotype is present in approximately 15% of African Americans. Researchers at Saint Louis University are part of a network working to address racial disparities in kidney transplant outcomes. The clinical study, “APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO),” is a national study coordinated by 13 lead centers, including SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. APOLLO seeks to quantify how much of the higher risk of transplant failure currently assigned to African Americans is due to kidney risk variants in the donor.
reproductive hope
Thanks to a grant from the JC Memorial Foundation, the Mercy Cardinals Young Adult Cancer Program is helping patients with fertility preservation. The program works with patients ranging in age from 15 to 30 and is the only one of its kind in the St. Louis region. A dedicated nurse navigator will provide support to ensure fertility considerations are addressed at the earliest stages of treatment. “Addressing future fertility before treatment begins is my top priority,” nurse navigator Gina Sundmacher says. “Even for teens who are nowhere near considering a family, it’s important they know the potential risks of various treatment options to their fertility and what they can do about it proactively. Patients are living longer after treatment, and we want them to have the best quality of life possible after they beat cancer.”
covid-19 and heart health
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have determined that people who had COVID-19 are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications like blood clots, stroke, heart attack and disruptive heart rhythms up to a year after infection. The study analyzed medical records of 153,760 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 sometime between March 1, 2020, and Jan. 15, 2021. “We wanted to build upon our past research on COVID’s long-term effects by taking a closer look at what’s happening in people’s hearts,” says senior author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an assistant professor of medicine. “What we’re seeing isn’t good. COVID-19 can lead to serious cardiovascular complications and death. The heart does not regenerate or easily mend after damage. These are diseases that will affect people for a lifetime.”