Cigarillos, a small type of cigar, have dramatically risen in popularity, particularly those that come in flavors, such as cherry or chocolate. Some state and local laws have banned all flavored cigars, and the Food and Drug Administration has announced its intention for a federal ban. In response, the tobacco industry has introduced “concept” flavors – products with ambiguous names like “Ocean Breeze” or “Jazz” with no explicit flavor name, thereby evading any bans and subverting regulations. Sales of concept cigarillos have increased in areas where bans on flavored cigarillos exist, suggesting consumers may be switching to these products.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has awarded the University of Oklahoma a $25 million grant to help construct a new OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center facility in Tulsa, a project that will house the newly named TSET Clinical Research Center and significantly expand access to clinical trials and cancer care in the region.

A new study from the University of Oklahoma suggests that small genetic differences in two proteins – previously known for their role in premature infants’ lungs – may also influence how their eyes develop, potentially affecting the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

The success of GLP-1 medications for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity naturally leads to a related question: Do GLP-1 drugs affect cancer risk, which is often associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes?

GUYMON – As part of their mission to expand access to oral health care across Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and the Oklahoma Dental Foundation (ODF) have launched a mobile dental clinic in Guymon, offering services for patients of all ages. The clinic, a key program of ODF, is stationed in the parking area of Memorial Hospital of Texas County.