Nicole Mlynaryk

San Diego science writer

Media Relations

Explore a featured selection of earned media placements in local and national news outlets

KPBS Public Media •

Children less attracted to 'baby talk' are more likely to have autism

Three-year-old Elliot shoots baskets with a toddler-sized hoop at UC San Diego’s Autism Center for Excellence. Elliot has been diagnosed with autism, a developmental disability related to language and social skills.

His mom, Casey Cumpian, said she was not worried about his risk of autism. He was diagnosed after being enrolled in an eye-tracking study at UC San Diego around the age of two.

“We can tell with extremely high precision: Is the baby looking at social images or non-social images? Ho
UCSD-TV •

VIDEO: E-Cigarettes as a Public Health Problem

E-cigarettes were first sold in the United States in 2007. These battery-operated devices heat a liquid made of flavorings and other chemicals, including some with high levels of nicotine, to make an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. Recent studies show there has been a dramatic increase in their usage – data from 2017 found 1 million American youth aged 14 to 17 years old became new daily tobacco users within the past two years. By 2019, more than three quarters of these youth were va
New York Times •

F.D.A. Lets Juul Appeal Ban and Stay on the Market During a Review

Juul, the most popular e-cigarette company in the United States, has been blamed for an epidemic of teenage nicotine addiction.

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

The F.D.A. has suspended its order to stop the company from selling its vaping products.

The Food and Drug Administration has decided to allow Juul Labs’ vaping products to stay on the market temporarily, citing “scientific issues” that warrant a review of the agency’s ruli
Fox News •

COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment likely due to insufficient exposure to the drug

"COVID-19 rebound," the relapse of symptoms that occurred in some patients treated with Paxlovid, may actually be caused by insufficient drug exposure, according to a recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a health advisory warning individuals about "COVID-19 rebound" where symptoms of COVID infection returned in some patients after a course of treatment with the medication Paxlovid. Paxlovid is currently
ABC10 News - KGTV •

UCSD Health studies impacts of neurological COVID symptoms

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - It’s been more than two years, with still plenty of questions and answers coming about when it comes to COVID-19 and long hauler symptoms.

One person looking for answers is Jessica Blake.

“I got myoclonus with it. So those are the muscle jerking, involuntary shock-like muscle spasms. So that has been difficult to do deal with," Blake said. "Those symptoms presented on day 5 of when I had COVID in 2020 and I’ve had them ever since."

Blake is one of the more than 50 participa
NBC 7 San Diego •

Half-Year After COVID, Long-Haul Neurological Impacts ‘Significant,' Says Early UC San Diego Research

The neurological impact of "long-haul" COVID-19 is significant, even six months after infection, according to the first round of research published Wednesday by UC San Diego scientists.

The results, published in Wednesday's Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, found various short- and long-term symptoms and, while many patients showed improvement, the majority still had some neurological symptoms half a year later. Additionally, a subset of people also exhibited significant coordinat
ABC10 News - KGTV •

Mindfulness reducing PTSD and depression in gun violence survivors

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 and 2021 than in any other years on record, and in many major cities, 2022 is on pace to break those records.

Loved ones of shooting victims often never recover from the trauma they face, but researchers found these traumas can be alleviated.

For Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, any peace of mind they can find is welcome. But since 2012, peace has been impossible to hold onto for long. They’re missing a piece of their hearts th
ABC10 News - KGTV •

In-Depth: What we know about COVID and pregnancy after two years

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - For two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed pregnancy from one of the happiest times in many people's lives into a constant state of worry and fear.

"It was eye-opening to see these young, healthy women get sick and get sick quite severely," says Dr. Joanna Adamczak, the Chief Medical Officer at Sharp-Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns.

Dr. Adamczak says the number of women getting pregnant declined throughout the pandemic. Meanwhile, fear kept many of the w