W21C Research and Innovation Centre celebrates 21 years of redefining health innovation - University of Calgary

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis classically involving the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidneys. Timely diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion for the presenting symptoms. Otolaryngologic manifestations are commonly reported but most often involve the nasal and paranasal sinuses. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) as the sole initial manifestation of GPA is uncommon and may contribute to diagnostic delay. We report a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with rapidly progressive bilateral SNHL that preceded pulmonary and renal manifestations by several months, during which the patient was treated for otitis externa and Eustachian tube dysfunction without improvement. Development of pulmonary symptoms prompted additional workup, which demonstrated markedly elevated cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) and proteinase 3-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA), raising concern for GPA. Histopathology then confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids and rituximab with serologic remission; however, his hearing loss was largely irreversible. This case

What if the human brain works in ways that Sigmund Freud began describing more than 130 years ago? A new scientific analysis suggests that some of his ideas about the mind share surprising similarities with one of the most influential theories in modern neuroscience. Published in the scientific journal Entropy, the paper explores connections between Freud's original theories, later developments in psychoanalysis, and a modern approach to brain research known as the prediction paradigm.

At CHEST 2026, Pourshahid argued for matching patients to center-based, hybrid, or virtual pulmonary rehab based on a structured assessment. Arguing the pro side of a debate at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2026 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Omid Pourshahid, MD, MPH, FCCP, Medical Director, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Temple University Hospital, said pulmonary rehabilitation should be tailored to each patient’s clinical status and barriers to care rather than delivered through a single center-based model.¹The position builds on a long-standing gap in pulmonary rehabilitation uptake. In a retrospective cohort of 197,376 Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for COPD in 2014, only 2721 (1.5%) initiated pulmonary rehabilitation within 90 days of discharge.² Initiation within the 90-day window was associated with a lower risk of death at 1 year (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.57-0.69; P <.001).

From daily step counts to exercise after a cardiac event, new guidance examines how doctors can tailor physical activity to individual needs and what patients should know about exercising safely. Exercise Prescriptions for Cardiovascular Health in Adults: 2026 ACC Scientific Statement: A Report of the American College of Cardiology. Image Credit: 19 STUDIO / Shutterstock

Typing with numb fingers, struggling to hold a pen, or waking with an aching hand can make everyday life exhausting for people with carpal tunnel syndrome. The condition develops when a nerve supplying the hand becomes squeezed inside a narrow passage at the wrist. Pressure can disrupt the nerve's signals, causing pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. Now, a small trial has found that injecting saline around the trapped nerve could ease symptoms for longer than a steroid injection. Relief persisted for six months after the saline procedure, by which time the initial benefits of steroid injection alone had largely faded. Ultrasound guides needle placement during hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome. (Bose et al., Radiology, 2026/RSNA)The saline is used to open up space between tissues. In the procedure, called hydrodissection, a clinician uses ultrasound to guide a fine needle alongside the nerve. The sterile salt solution is injected around it, separating it from tissues that restrict its movement. This aims to help the nerve move more freely. A steroid injection eases symptoms by reducing inflammation and swelling.

IntroductionLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of lung cancer cases.1 Approximately 60% of patients with nonsquamous NSCLC harbor actionable oncogenic mutations.2,3,4 Mutation profiles differ between Asian and Western populations, with Asian patients exhibiting a higher prevalence of EGFR mutations and lower rates of KRAS G12C mutations.3,4 In recent years, advances in target discovery and detection technologies have further increased this proportion, presenting significant challenges for the clinical management of NSCLC patients harboring oncogenic mutations. The discovery of activating oncogenes and the development of targeted therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for patients with NSCLC.