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The first convalescent plasma transfusion trial results from Houston Methodist have been released. Of the 25 patients in the study, 19 have improved and 11 have been discharged. With no adverse side effects caused by the therapy, the study concluded that convalescent plasma is a safe treatment option for patients with severe COVID-19. This is the largest cohort assessed for outcomes related to convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19.

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Houston Methodist released gene sequencing results from the first strains of the virus causing COVID-19 disease in Houston. Results reveal multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Houston followed by rapid community spread. No evidence was found of mutations making any strains of the virus more severe. Pathologists analyzed genomes of 320 SARS-CoV-2 strains collected from COVID-19 patients, making this the largest sample of SARS-CoV-2 genes sequenced from patients in the southern U.S.

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Necessity being the mother of invention, Houston Methodist clinicians, researchers and staff have collaborated on a number of clinical device and research innovations in response to COVID-19. Houston Methodist Academic Institute leadership has continually emphasized translational research in new technologies.

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COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial at Houston Methodist Hospital are responding quickly to the antiviral drug Remdesivir. Sponsored by Gilead Sciences, Houston Methodist was the fifth site in the U.S. to join the trials and the only trial site in Houston. Its clinicians are encouraged by the results.

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The FDA’s announcement Friday to approve convalescent serum therapy as a large-scale clinical trial opened the door for more patients to receive the potentially life-saving gift of a donor’s plasma.

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Houston Methodist nanomedicine researchers are studying a new drug delivery system that transports oral medication via triglycerides that could eliminate the need for injections or IV treatments of some biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. They’re doing this with a diabetes drug that resulted in approximately 25% absorption in mice models, considered very high for an oral drug. The research will appear in Science Advances April 1.

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Houston Methodist received FDA approval Saturday to become the first academic medical center in the nation to transfuse donated plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient into a critically ill patient. This treatment was fast-tracked to the bedside over the weekend as the death toll in the COVID-19 pandemic soared to more than 2,000 people across the United States, with more than 100,000 Americans sick from the virus.

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Infectious disease scientists identified strains of group A streptococcus that are less susceptible to commonly used antibiotics, a sign that the germ causing strep throat and flesh-eating disease may be moving closer to resistance to penicillin and other related antibiotics known as beta-lactams.

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Surgeons at Houston Methodist Hospital are stemming the tide of addiction to prescription opioids by managing patients’ pain after surgery. By using long-acting local anesthetics at the site of surgery and scheduled non-narcotic pain medicine, they decreased opioid prescriptions from 87% to 10% after surgery.

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Houston Methodist scientists identified a protein found in ovarian cancer that may contribute to declining brain function and Alzheimer’s disease, by combining computational methods and lab research.

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Flu season is underway and e-cigarettes users are at an increased risk for getting sick. Additionally, Houston Methodist physicians say similar symptoms between the flu and e-cigarette vaping acute lung injury (EVALI) could cause confusion.

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Two new studies show it's a person's coronary artery calcium score and not risk factors that will determine if a person develops heart disease. Both studies were presented at last month's American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2019

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Of all the nutritional supplements on stores shelves, only three have been shown to provide any benefit to the heart.

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Six tips for avoiding holiday headache triggers from Houston Methodist neurologist Bing Liao, M.D., M.Sc.

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Nearly 25% of women live with treatable conditions known as pelvic floor disorders, but there is one main reason why the vast majority of them will not seek treatment: they are too embarrassed to talk about it.

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Researchers at Houston Methodist Cancer Center are exploring whether exposure to nature, through either a live garden or virtual reality, can alleviate pain and distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, possibly reducing the need for prescription narcotics.

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More than one-third of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep each night, putting them at risk for serious, chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The real victim of a lack of sleep, however, is the brain.

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Houston Methodist researchers are studying Italian sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini’s carbon fiber materials in space.

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Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a great birth control option, but many women choose other forms of birth control because they have reservations about IUDs. A Houston Methodist OB-GYN answered common questions patients ask her about this very effective form of birth control.

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Hardly a day goes by without the public being warned about the dangers of opioids. But still, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 130 people die every day of opioid overdose and the problem is getting worse. A Houston Methodist pain specialist says new advancements in pain management are giving patients options.

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Sepsis kills more people every year than heart attacks, breast cancer and other diseases. However, a survey found that most Americans have no idea what it is. Most think it's a hospital-borne illness, but, in fact, 80% of people bring sepsis into the hospital. This releases talks about the signs and symptoms and what to ask your health care provider if you have an infection.

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A new study shows that many OB-GYNs are uncomfortable counseling their patients on fertility at a time when more women are delaying pregnancy and needing their doctors to be more vigilant about this education.

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Binge-watching your favorite television show might seem like a great way to relax after a long week, but spending hours on the couch can actually hurt your brain.

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Known as two of the most lethal cancers, ovarian and pancreatic cancer are often called silent killers. As a result, they frequently go undetected until they’re too late to effectively treat. Cancer scientists at Houston Methodist have been vigilant about looking for more effective late-stage treatments and may have found one.

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Lindsay Bowerman was sitting at her kitchen table preparing to take her sons to their swim lessons when she felt a “snap” in her head that was immediately followed by intense pressure and the worst pain she had ever experienced. The healthy 36-year-old woman had just suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm.

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People with chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes and heart disease may one day forego the daily regimen of pills and, instead, receive a scheduled dosage of medication through a grape-sized implant that is remotely controlled.

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Cancer patients obviously need chemotherapy treatment, but many don't realize some forms can cause heart failure. The premise here is that people need to be alerted while undergoing chemotherapy treatment because if caught early the heart disease can be reversed.

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An 84-year old becomes the oldest living kidney donor after donating to his 72-year old neighbor. Also, talks about how you are never too old to save someone's life.

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One in every eight American couples deal with infertility issues, and many turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to try and start a family. A Houston Methodist reproductive endocrinologist says there a few things couples should know before going down this path.

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High school pitcher Gavan Lomas threw a pitch and felt pain in his right arm. While still on the mound, his first thought was that his pain would lead to the one thing he feared most in his baseball career – Tommy John surgery. His fears were confirmed when he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, a ligament critical for the stability of his elbow. Not willing to give up on his senior season, he decided to forego the traditional Tommy John surgery for a new technique to get him back on the mound faster.

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Houston Methodist scientists discovered a previously unknown trigger that turns run-of-the-mill strep infections into the flesh-eating disease childbed fever, which strikes postpartum moms and newborns, often leaving victims without limbs. Using an unprecedented approach, they looked at the interplay between the genome, transcriptome and virulence. This generated a massive data set, lending itself to artificial intelligence analysis. Through AI they unexpectedly discovered a new mechanism controlling virulence. The study appears Feb. 18 in Nature Genetics.

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During a study spanning nearly a decade, researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Houston Methodist Cancer Center have linked the protein clusterin – for the first time -- to many different facets of cardiometabolic syndrome risk through its actions in the liver.

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Women with risk factors for heart disease like diabetes and a family history need to begin a prevention plan in their 30s and 40s so they can get ahead of the disease when they hit menopause

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Using a tool first used for strep throat in horses, Houston Methodist researchers unveiled the secret life of flesh-eating bacteria, learning how it causes severe disease while living deep within muscle. Focusing on necrotizing myositis, the study appears Jan. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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By February, nearly 80 percent of Americans will give up on their New Year’s resolutions, but a Houston Methodist lifestyle coach says making a few simple changes can help people reach their goals.

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For many, the holiday season is a time of overeating, but a Houston Methodist personal trainer says this year you can beat the battle of the bulge by using the classic tune “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

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Breast cancer survivors who used a smartphone app created at Houston Methodist consistently lost weight, largely due to daily, real-time interactions with their health care team via the mobile app.

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Millions of Americans have no idea that they have fatty liver disease. This growing problem will soon be the number one reason for liver transplantation, overtaking hepatitis C. Holiday overindulgence in alcohol and food could make the problem dramatically worse.

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In collaboration with the Houston Health Department and Epic (electronic medical records company), Houston Methodist is the first hospital system in eight U.S. pilot sites to successfully test and launch an approach to electronic case reporting (eCR) that can automatically send case reports directly from a hospital to public health agencies.

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Houston Methodist Cancer Center has expanded its basic cancer research program, cancer prevention and control efforts, and surgical oncology services with the addition of two national recruits.

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A new device allows surgeons to create an access point for dialysis patients using a minimally-invasive approach. This might help the more than 470,000 currently on dialysis.

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Houston Methodist Hospital is the first hospital in the fourth largest city in the U.S. to use Apple Health app to help provide the best health care to its patients.

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For many, just the idea of losing weight can be discouraging. With the endless advice and trends that exist today, configuring a nutritious diet to lose weight and maintain it can be challenging.

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This new facility in the Texas Medical Center will give cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, neurosurgeons and neurologists advanced technology that they believe will transform clinical care for the future and will serve as the new standard for similar facilities around the country.