In this weeks DocWire Homepage news: The CDC confirms the first possible case of COVID-19 community spread in America; mistreatment in medical school is more common among women, minority, and LGB students; brain iron may predict the onset of dementia in patients with Parkinsons disease; and find out what rare condition a Stranger Things actor has helped raise public awareness on.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed an infection of theWuhan coronavirus, COVID-19, in California in a person who reportedly did not have any relevant travel history to an area affected by the outbreak, nor did they have exposure to a known patient with the virus. This development comes after the CDC warned Americans on Tuesday to prepare for an imminent COVID-19 spread in the U.S., saying its not a matter of if, but when.The CDC noted that the federal government is currently working closely with state, tribal, and territorial partners to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which hasnow killedat least 2,800 people worldwide.

CDC Confirms First Possible Instance of COVID-19 Community Spread in U.S.

The findings of a new study suggest that female, underrepresented minority (URM), Asian, multiracial, and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) students seem to bear a disproportionate burden of the mistreatment inmedical school. Thestudy appearedinJAMA Internal Medicine. In this cohort study, they analyzed data from the 2016 and 2017 Association of American Medical Colleges Questionnaire, which annually surveys graduating students from all 140 accredited allopathic medical schools in the US. The results showed that mistreatment was more commonly reported by women, minority, and LGB students compared to their male, white, and heterosexual counterparts.

Study: Mistreatment in Medical School is More Prevalent Among Female, Minority, and LGB Students

Measures of iron in the brain might eventually predict dementia inpatients withParkinsons disease (PD), according to the findings of astudy publishedin theJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. In this study, the researchers analyzed 100 patients with early-to-mid stage PD along with 37 age-matched controls using an algorithm for assessing cognitive decline risk in PD. Subsequent to analysis, the results showed that iron accumulation in the hippocampus and thalamus brain regions are associated with poor memory and thinking scores in patients with PD. First author, PhD student George Thomas (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), added that: Its really promising to see measures like this which can potentially track the varying progression of Parkinsons disease, as it could help clinicians devise better treatment plans for people based on how their condition manifests.

Measures of Brain Iron May Predict the Onset of Dementia in Patients with Parkinsons Disease

TheNetflixoriginal series,Stranger Things,has helped generate increased public awareness of the rare disorder cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) thanks to actor Gaten Matarazzo III, according to the findings of aresearch letterpublished in JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Since the introduction of CCD onStranger Things,Matarazzo helped establish the foundation CCD Smiles to promote global awareness, provide dental care assistance, and support research.Through their expansive reach to the public and media connections, celebrities such as Matarazzo may serve as positive agents to raise awareness and educate the general public, the research authors wrote.

Stranger Things Actor Gaten Matarazzo III Has Increased Public Awareness of Cleidocranial Dysplasia

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This Week: First Possible Community Spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.; Stranger Things Actor Raising Public Awareness; and more - DocWire News