Daily Lobo 9/30/19

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Monday, S eptember 30, 2019 | Vo l u m e 1 2 4 | I s s u e 1 4

UNM professor assists in vaping research By Amanda Britt Lissa Knudsen @AmandaBritt__ @LissaKnudsen

As vaping-related deaths continue to rise in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday, Sept. 26 that there were 805 confirmed cases of lung injury cases in the U.S. as a result of vaping, including 12 confirmed deaths. While the CDC reported that the specific chemical exposures causing lung injuries associated with electronic cigarettes are unknown at this time, a recent study by the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) found vaping to impair lung function even in the absence of nicotine. “When you put non-natural products into the lungs, the immune cells try to get rid of them and can’t,” said Matthew Campen, a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of New Mexico. Campen holds a doctorate in Environmental Health and was a researcher in the JCI study. Campen and his colleague’s research, published in the JCI’s September issue, found that even in the absence of nicotine, vaping still impairs lung function due to

other ingredients found in vape liquid. Campen explained that it is possible that THC and CBD are also playing a role in the recent lung injuries, but researchers don’t know for sure. “We know that THC and CBD are immunosuppressive. It could be that what we are seeing is a synergy between the e-liquid and the THC extraction. We just don’t know,” Campen said. “Nobody has been able to research this. It’s a stupid political decision that (THC) is a Schedule I drug — researchers don’t have the ability to do the research.” Unlike cigarettes — which are associated with lung cancers that can take decades to develop — vaping is being associated with the more immediate health problems of pneumonias, lung injuries and immunosuppression of the lung tissue, according to Dr. Barbara McAneny. McAneny is an Albuquerque-based oncologist and the immediate past president of the American Medical Association. “We are starting to see deaths now that are directly related to vaping, while it takes 20 years for traditional cigarettes to kill you,” McAneny told the Daily Lobo. Though the cause of what makes vaping unsafe is still unclear, McAneny asserted that there is no doubt vaping is unsafe, especially for young people. According to a

Justin Garcia /@Just516garc / Daily Lobo

While the CDC reported that the specific chemical exposures causing lung injuries associated with electronic cigarettes are unknown at this time, a recent study by the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) found vaping to impair lung function even in the absence of nicotine.

recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, vaping among college students for nicotine rose from 6% in 2017 to 16% in 2018. “They say they are only trying

to market to existing smokers,” McAneny said. “(But) it is a reasonable assumption (that they are using flavors like bubble-gum) to make it more attractive to middle

school (students), more than even high school.” McAneny said the vaping industry specifically targets young

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Free flu shots on campus Lobos lose at LOBO FOOTBALL

Liberty 17-10 By Reyes Gallegos @dailylobo The University of New Mexico Lobos football team (2-2) lost 17-10 to Liberty University (3-2) on Saturday evening during an away game in Lynchburg, Virginia. The loss dropped UNM to a 2-2 record and dashed hopes of a 3-1 start for New Mexico, which would’ve been the first in 12 years. Instead, the Lobos start the season with same 2-2 record they’ve started with for the last five seasons. The game in Lynchburg was UNM head coach Bob Davie’s first back on the sideline since being hospitalized following UNM’s season opening win against Sam Houston State. The game started with a glimmer of hope when the Lobos stuffed Liberty running back Brandon Robinson, causing a turnover on downs at midfield. The Lobo’s worked the ball down field, assisted by a Liberty false start, until quarterback Tevaka Tuioti’s pass was intercepted in the end zone. The home team scored in the final

possession of the first quarter after Liberty quarterback Stephen Calvert hit wide receiver Antonio GandyGolden twice, for 51 yards then 3 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. UNM responded with a 12 play drive resulting in a 52-yard field goal and later forced a fumble from Calvert, but the Lobos wouldn’t pull together a touchdown drive in the first half. Instead, Liberty would work an eight play, 82-yard drive, going up 14-3 on New Mexico. A 53-yard pass and catch from Calvert to Noah Frith put Liberty past the Lobos’ five yard line. A slow third-quarter, with two Lobo punts and a Liberty field goal, saw another Tuioti interception. UNM did manage to put 7 additional points on the board in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The 11 play, 86-yard drive started deep in Lobo territory. Tuioti connected twice to Jay Griffin — both 14-yard passes — getting the Lobos on the Liberty side of the 50 yard line. Tuioti then took to the ground, trucking 14 yards to the Liberty 32 yard line. Bryson Carroll then ran for 18 yards in two plays, setting

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By Megan Holmen @megan_holmen

The University of New Mexico Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) will be holding a flu shot clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Wednesday, Oct. 2 in memory of former UNM student Raymond Plotkin, who passed away after contracting the H1N1 virus in 2009. The event is part of the “Take One For Raymond” initiative, which encourages the public to get seasonal flu shots. The event is open to students, staff and faculty who are 18 years old and up, but will only continue while supplies last, according to SHAC’s website. SHAC holds free flu shot days because college students are at risk of contracting the virus — and a simple flu shot can help prevent this. Students can get their free flu shots in the Student Union Building Atrium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For those unable to attend the event because of scheduling conflicts, UNM Hospital will be offering free flu shots Sept. 28 through Nov. 2., including four drive-through clinics — giving students a lot more opportunities to protect themselves against the virus this flu season.

The flu is a contagious respiratory infection which impacts the throat, nose, sinuses and sometimes the lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the average flu season infected 8% of the population, with particularly virulent years infecting around 11% of the population. According to the CDC, flu season picks up in the United States during October and continues through May, with peak flu season being in December through February. The agency states that

the flu is highly contagious and can be spread from person to person, even if that person is six feet away. Those who are carriers of the virus are contagious even before they begin showing symptoms and can continue to be contagious five to seven days after becoming sick. Megan Holmen is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @megan_holmen

Photo Courtesy of UNM Newsroom via Twitter (@unmnewsroom)

UNM Hospital will be giving free flu shots this month.


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