Health — Covid-19 — April 12th, 2024

Researchers find no link between COVID-19 virus and development of asthma in children
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families worried about the long-term effects posed by the SARS-COV-2 virus. Now, researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that a SARS-COV-2 infection likely does not increase the risk of asthma development in pediatric patients. The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Study suggests staying current with COVID-19 vaccinations helps combat emerging variants
New research using live SARS-CoV-2 virus reveals an updated vaccine provides a strong immune response against previous strains and emerging variants.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — April 11th, 2024

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness: Results from Norway demonstrate the reproducibility of federated analytics
Researchers from NDORMS and the University of Oslo have successfully replicated findings from recently published international studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent long COVID and post-acute complications.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals HDL-C and ferritin as crucial markers for long COVID-19 severity
Long COVID-19, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is a global health phenomenon characterized by persistent symptoms following the acute phase of COVID-19.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — April 10th, 2024

'An epidemic of loneliness': How the COVID-19 pandemic changed life for older adults
Years after the U.S. began to slowly emerge from mandatory COVID-19 lockdowns, more than half of older adults still spend more time at home and less time socializing in public spaces than they did pre-pandemic, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Congress likely to kick the can on covid-era telehealth policies
Nearly two hours into a Capitol Hill hearing focused on rural health, Rep. Brad Wenstrup emphatically told the committee's five witnesses: "Hang with us."
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — April 5th, 2024

More awareness and investment needed to support people with long COVID, says report
More long COVID awareness and education is needed among doctors, nurses, care providers and the public in Canada to reduce stigma around the condition and legitimize the disability, according to a new report from Simon Fraser University.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks?
You may wonder how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could affect your risk of illness, birth plan or time bonding with your baby. You also might have questions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Here's what you need to know.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Treating COVID-19 at home: Care tips for you and others
Providing care at home for a person sick with COVID-19? Or caring for yourself at home? Understand when emergency care is needed and what you can do to prevent the spread of infection.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — April 4th, 2024

101 studies flagged as bogus COVID cure pusher sees career unravel
It's a past-due reckoning for French microbiologist Didier Raoult, critics say.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 and your mental health
Worries and anxiety about COVID-19 can be overwhelming. Learn ways to cope as COVID-19 spreads.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 29th, 2024

COVID-19 research: Study reveals new details about potentially deadly inflammation
A recent USC study provides new information about why SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, may elicit mild symptoms at first but then, for a subset of patients, turn potentially fatal a week or so after infection. The researchers showed that distinct stages of illness correspond with the coronavirus acting differently in two different populations of cells.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Do scientists respond faster than Google trends in discussing COVID-19 issues? A new approach to textual big data
A study in Health Data Science introduces an advanced research framework to dissect the vast textual landscape surrounding COVID-19. This methodology leverages keywords from Google Trends alongside research abstracts from the WHO COVID-19 database, offering a nuanced understanding of the pandemic's discourse dynamics.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Micro-patterning: A new system to induce alveolar and airway epithelial cells
Professor Shimpei Gotoh and Junior Associate Professor Kazuo Takayama teamed up in study to construct a novel in vitro culture system for alveolar and airway epithelial cells, employing a biomaterials engineering method known as micro-patterning technique, and using the newly devised system to simulate viral infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 28th, 2024

COVID and Medicare payments spark remote patient BP monitoring boom
Billy Abbott, a retired Army medic, wakes at 6 every morning, steps on the bathroom scale, and uses a cuff to take his blood pressure.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 antibody discovery could explain long COVID
UVA Health researchers have discovered a potential explanation for some of the most perplexing mysteries of COVID-19 and long COVID. The surprising findings could lead to new treatments for the difficult acute effects of COVID-19, long COVID, and possibly other viruses.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

New South Wales may end its COVID vaccine mandate for health workers
Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organizations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the first to need two doses to keep their jobs.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Researchers race to develop Paxlovid replacement
Researchers from Rutgers believe they are among the leaders in a race to find an oral COVID-19 treatment to supplement or replace Paxlovid—an antiviral medication that helps keep high-risk patients out of the hospital.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 27th, 2024

Bogus COVID-19 beliefs linked to stress, but purpose, hope and support could be antidote, say researchers
As Americans look back on the fourth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research from Rutgers University–Newark sheds light on why some people succumb to conspiracy theories and bogus beliefs and others don't.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Pandemic course improved COVID-19 knowledge, study finds
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,300 students enrolled in a three-week summer immersion course, "The Pandemic: Science and Society," at Washington University in St. Louis. The innovative course envisioned by Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences, brought together experts from across WashU and around the country.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Vaccination mistrust still widespread: Study
Four years after COVID-19 began to spread worldwide, a University of Texas at Arlington social worker says work still needs to be done to address the importance of getting vaccinated.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 25th, 2024

COVID-19 pandemic has left an enduring imprint on colorectal cancer surgery
While the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer considered a public health emergency, pandemic-related stressors continue to impact cancer care across the board. New research published this week in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) describes how surgery for colorectal cancer—the third most commonly diagnosed cancer—was considerably disrupted during the pandemic.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Overweight and obesity in 3- and 4-year-olds has decreased after the pandemic
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the group of 3- and 4-year-olds in Sweden has decreased after the pandemic. The increase during the pandemic thus appears to have been temporary. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Study finds boys' mental health more impacted by COVID-19 pandemic than girls'
The COVID-19 pandemic had a greater impact on boys' mental health than girls, contrary to the findings of other studies, according to new research led by scientists at University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Reading, and King's College London.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Study finds less obesity in 3- and 4-year-olds after the pandemic
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the group of three- and four-year-olds in Sweden has decreased after the pandemic. The increase during the pandemic thus appears to have been temporary. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 22nd, 2024

A boost to biomedical research with statistical tools: From COVID-19 analysis to data management
The Biostatistics Unit, a recent addition to the technologies and services offered by Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), consists of a team of statisticians and mathematicians who conduct and support biomedical research. They have recently published two notable articles.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Fewer cases of fungal diseases coincided with start of COVID-19
There were fewer reports of coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published in the March 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Study explores characteristics associated with poor COVID-19 antibody response
Adults with certain socio-demographic and clinical characteristics may have weaker antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination, which could leader to a higher risk of infection, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

UK study provides insights into COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people
COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people was low across all four UK nations, compared to other age groups, according to the first research study to look at data from all four UK nations.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 20th, 2024

AI can now detect COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images
Artificial intelligence can spot COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images, much like facial recognition software can spot a face in a crowd, new research shows.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Burden of neurologic disease found to be higher after influenza compared to COVID-19
People who have an influenza infection are more likely to need medical care for neurologic disorders within the next year than people who have a COVID-19 infection, according to a study published in the March 20, 2024, online issue of Neurology. The study looked at people who were hospitalized with either influenza or COVID-19. The study did not look specifically at outcomes associated with long COVID.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 viral load rebound can occur after VV116, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir
For patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, viral load rebound and symptom rebound can occur after a standard five-day course of treatment with VV116 or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, according to a study published online March 13 in JAMA Network Open.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Not even Antarctica could stop COVID: It's a crucial lesson
COVID-19 wasn't supposed to get to Antarctica. If any place had a hope of keeping the virus out, it would be a continent with no permanent residents and an annual visiting population of only 5,000. And every control measure was in place—testing, a strict quarantine of everyone visiting, as well as lots of deep sanitation, masks and social distancing.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Researchers report rare but persistent false positives on COVID-19 home antigen tests
UMass Chan Medical School researchers have documented a phenomenon that had confounded clinicians: Some people persistently test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, on rapid home antigen tests despite obtaining concurrent negative PCR tests.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

SARS-CoV-2-associated ARDS can damage the heart without direct infection
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can damage the heart even without directly infecting the heart tissue, a National Institutes of Health-supported study has found. The research, published in the journal Circulation, specifically looked at damage to the hearts of people with SARS-CoV2-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious lung condition that can be fatal. But researchers said the findings could have relevance to organs beyond the heart and also to viruses other than SARS-CoV-2.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Severe lung infection during COVID-19 can cause damage to the heart
NIH supported study shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 can damage the heart without directly infecting heart tissue.
March 20th, 2024 — Source or Source or Source

Study finds antibiotics combat gut bacteria that contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19
New research indicates that antibiotics can effectively target bacteria in the gut that harbor the virus that causes COVID-19 and produce toxin-like peptides that contribute to COVID-19-related symptoms.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 18th, 2024

Addressing both flu and COVID-19 through a single, multitasking injection
In preparation for the winter season last year, the Korean Medical Association recommended that people with compromised immune systems receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously. The prospect of receiving shots in both arms may have been a shock, especially for children. However, there is now exciting news about a multitasking substance capable of preventing and treating both flu and COVID-19 infections concurrently, and it is gaining momentum.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Can over-the-counter cold medicine treat COVID-19?
Research by Cardiff University shows that over-the-counter cold and flu treatments are safe and effective for managing mild COVID-19 symptoms at home and could help alleviate the burden on hospitals during high incidence of the illness in the population.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Covid and Medicare Payments Spark Remote Patient Monitoring Boom
For more than three years, Giovonne Branison has been monitoring his blood pressure, weight, and oxygen levels, with the measurements automatically sent to nurses at Frederick Health, a health system based in Frederick, Maryland. If anything appears abnormal, the nurses call him and, if needed, alert his doctor to make any changes in his medication for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 vaccine associated with reduced risk of cardiac and clot-related complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection
The risk of cardiac and clot-related complications following COVID-19 is substantially reduced in people who receive the COVID-19 vaccination compared with unvaccinated individuals, reports an observational study published online in the journal Heart.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 pandemic could have led to 20,000 prostate cancer diagnosis being missed
Prostate cancer diagnoses in 20,000 men could have been missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a new study published in BJU International from the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 took a mental health toll on mothers, young women and adolescent girls, researchers find
Two recent studies show that the non-pharmaceutical public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased mental health visits for mothers with young children, young women and adolescent girls.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Germ aversion found to have impacted 2020 election voting behavior
Voters opted to pick candidates in 2020 by mail-in ballots, avoiding poll sites due to COVID-19 concerns rather than because of political party efforts to promote specific voting methods, according to a new University of Michigan study.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Glucose fluctuations impact cognitive function in people with Type 1 Diabetes
A new study led by researchers at McLean Hospital and Washington State University used advances in digital testing to demonstrate that naturally occurring glucose fluctuations impact cognitive function in people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Results showed that cognition was slower in moments when glucose was atypical -- that is, considerably higher or lower than someone's usual glucose level.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

New AI tool predicts COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Findings of a new study led by researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Cincinnati could help public health officials lead more effective vaccination campaigns that overcome hesitancy.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Stem cell 'messages' fast-track healing of diabetic wounds
The increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide has led to a rise in diabetic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, which are challenging to treat and can result in amputation. Traditional treatments have limited effectiveness, underscoring the urgent need for innovative solutions.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study shows glucose levels affect cognitive performance in people with type 1 diabetes differently
A new study led by researchers at McLean Hospital (a member of Mass General Brigham) and Washington State University used advances in digital testing to demonstrate that naturally occurring glucose fluctuations impact cognitive function in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Text nudges can increase uptake of COVID-19 boosters—if they play up a sense of ownership of the vaccine New research published in Nature Human Behavior suggests that text nudges encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which had proven effective in prior real-world field tests, are also effective at prompting people to get a booster.

Health — Diabetes — March 18th, 2024

March 18th, 2024 — Source

Potential novel biomarkers of coronary heart disease discovered
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide—especially in Europe: Here, it is responsible for nearly half of all deaths. Among middle-aged adults, individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a two to four times higher risk of developing CHD than people without T2D. The research team investigated the predictive performance of protein biomarkers on incident CHD in individuals with and without T2D.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Promoting diabetic wound healing using microneedles
The global population of patients with diabetic wounds is expected to rise to between 9.1 million and 26.1 million by 2030. Diabetic wounds severely impact patients' quality of life, both physically and mentally, while also imposing a substantial economic burden on health care systems.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify novel protein biomarkers linked to coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a major global health problem, especially among people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Helmholtz Munich, and Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU) have identified novel protein biomarkers that are associated with the development of CHD in people with and without diabetes.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Researchers use algorithm to provide innovative insights into the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes
A landmark study by the German Diabetes Center (DDZ), published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, sheds new light on the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes. The researchers have employed an innovative algorithm to stratify people with type 2 diabetes using routine data and thus visualize the metabolic diversity of diabetes.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Team reports progress in developing specific immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes
Researchers from Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and Ahead Therapeutics SL have been exploring a treatment based on liposome-type nanoparticles to address the autoimmunity of type 1 diabetes for years. A study recently published in the Journal of Autoimmunity examines the response of macrophages to this immunotherapy, serving as a preliminary step before clinical trials.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 15th, 2024

An online tool for long COVID support
A website to support people living with long COVID is launched today, on Long COVID Awareness Day (March 15), by a research team led by a Southampton professor with first-hand experience of the condition.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prime immune cells to respond to subsequent variants
Findings on 'immunological imprinting' could affect future vaccine designs
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Marriages in the US are back to pre-pandemic levels, CDC says
U.S. marriages have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels with nearly 2.1 million in 2022.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Study conducted during the pandemic reveals the perceived effectiveness of various protective measures
An article by Giuseppe Alessandro Veltri of the Department of Sociology and Social Research of the University of Trento, focused on the public health guidelines adopted during the pandemic. The article, titled "Assessing the perceived effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on SARS-Cov-2 transmission risk: an experimental study in Europe," was published in Scientific Reports.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 14th, 2024

Anti-inflammatory gene variant shields men under 75 from severe COVID-19
A certain variant of a key anti-inflammatory gene protects men under age 75 from severe illness and death when hospitalized from COVID-19, a genetic analysis of their blood shows.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Anxiety therapy prior to COVID-19 pandemic shields against increased stress
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented exposure to stressors driven by fears of a novel and deadly disease, intense uncertainty, and resulting isolation measures, which in turn resulted in increases in anxiety for many. According to new research however, individuals who were in therapy for anxiety prior to the start of the pandemic did not experience upticks in their symptoms throughout this exceptionally challenging time.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Harnessing the power of the biomolecular corona to advance lipid nanoparticle therapeutics
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have garnered widespread attention following their successful application in delivering mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to fully realize their potential for diverse therapeutic applications, scientists must overcome several clinical hurdles.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prime immune cells to respond to subsequent variants, study finds
A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that antibody responses to new SARS-CoV-2 variant infections and vaccinations are powerfully shaped by prior exposures to earlier SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Long COVID 'indistinguishable' from other post-viral syndromes a year after infection, researchers find
Long COVID appears to manifest as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from seasonal influenza and other respiratory illnesses, with no evidence of increased moderate-to-severe functional limitations a year after infection, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April).
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New bioengineered protein design shows promise in fighting COVID-19
A recent scientific breakthrough has emerged from the work of researchers aiming to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The study focuses on the design and development of a novel protein capable of binding to the spike proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus. The goal behind this innovative approach is twofold: first, to identify and recognize the virus for diagnostic purposes, and second, to hinder its ability to infect human cells.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New drug candidate designed at the atomic level could help halt emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants NewsGuard 100/100 Score
Although COVID-19 has faded from the headlines, SARS-CoV-2 -- the coronavirus behind the pandemic -- is still rampantly infecting people around the world. Public health officials fear as the virus continues to evolve, it will eventually hit upon a diabolical mutation that renders current treatments ineffective, triggering a new wave of severe infection and social disruption.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 11th, 2024

COVID-19 virus can stay in the body more than a year after infection
The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, according to new research that offers potential clues to why some people develop long COVID.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Mathematicians use AI to identify emerging COVID-19 variants
Scientists at The Universities of Manchester and Oxford have developed an AI framework that can identify and track new and concerning COVID-19 variants and could help with other infections in the future.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Time to finally stop worrying about COVID?
Is it finally time to stop worrying about COVID? The latest from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might leave that impression with some.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Sex hormones could be key to treating long COVID
Among the many mysteries about long COVID, one of the most vexing has been why women seem to experience the condition more often and more severely than men. Now, scientists are starting to think hormonesâ€"and the different ways they affect women and menâ€"could be part of the puzzle.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Why Covid Patients Who Could Most Benefit From Paxlovid Still Aren't Getting It
Evangelical minister Eddie Hyatt believes in the healing power of prayer but "also the medical approach." So on a February evening a week before scheduled prostate surgery, he had his sore throat checked out at an emergency room near his home in Grapevine, Texas.
March 11th, 2024 — Source or Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 8th, 2024

Optimizing boosters: How COVID mRNA vaccines reshape immune memory after each dose
mRNA vaccines developed against the spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome type 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), displayed remarkable efficiency in combating coronavirus 19 (COVID-19). These vaccines work by triggering both cellular and humoral immune responses against the spike protein of the virus.
March 8th, 2024 — Source or Source

Why 'One Health' needs more social sciences: Pandemic prevention depends on behavior as well as biology
On March 11, 2024, it will be four years since the World Health Organization characterized the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a pandemic. And while COVID-19 continues to impact people globally, it is only the most recent in a long history of pandemics with likely origins in animals.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 6th, 2024

Chronic fatigue offers clues to long COVID
New research by La Trobe University has uncovered the intricate relationship between two debilitating conditions, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID; offering insights into disease pathologies and potential treatment avenues.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 exposes deep-rooted structural inequities affecting vaccine uptake among ACB groups
In a recent review published in Vaccines, researchers explored the influence of poor vaccination uptake among African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities on public health in high-income nations.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 physiological impacts vary by sex, wearable technology reveals
Men experience greater heart rate, skin temperature and breathing rate increases during infections
March 6th, 2024 — Source or Source

Eight common questions new parents ask about vitamin K
Vitamin K is a nutrient that helps blood clot or stop bleeding. Most adults get vitamin K from their food. Bacteria in the large intestines also make some vitamin K that the body can absorb.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Higher use of health care portal seen during COVID-19 pandemic
Health care portal use was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online on Feb. 29 in JAMA Network Open.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Impact of COVID on people with epilepsy: Higher rate of deaths and hospital admissions
People with epilepsy had a higher risk of being hospitalized with COVID and of dying from COVID during the first 15 months of the pandemic, new research led by Swansea University and the University of Edinburgh has found.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Investing in a universal COVID-19 vaccine would be worth it
Four years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease is still responsible for more than 3,000 U.S. deaths a month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Understanding the CDC's updated COVID isolation guidance
For the first time since 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID isolation guidance.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Study: Vaccinated people had lower risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes
Among people who had COVID-19, those who had received the latest vaccine had a lower risk of having a severe outcome than those who had not, according to new Cleveland Clinic research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 4th, 2024

CDC shortens recommended COVID isolation period
New guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to routinely stay home for five days.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

How long do cognitive and memory dysfunctions persist after SARS-CoV-2 infection?
A recent New England Journal of Medicine study assessed whether cognitive deficits can be measured after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Low iron levels resulting from infection could be key trigger of long COVID
Problems with iron levels in the blood and the body's ability to regulate this important nutrient as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a key trigger for long COVID, new research has discovered.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Study provides rural perspective on COVID-19 vaccination rollout
Health initiatives in rural areas need to be geographically tailored, culturally anchored, and locally driven, academics argue.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 2nd, 2024

The CDC has relaxed COVID guidelines. Will schools and day cares follow suit?
Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and upended child care, the CDC says parents can start treating the virus like other respiratory illnesses.
March 2nd, 2024 — Source

Today Is Your Last Day to Order Free Covid Tests Through the USPS. Here's What to Know
The federal government is putting an end to its free rapid test program today. Here's how you can order your last round of tests.
March 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — March 1st, 2024

COVID-19 no longer means five days in isolation, CDC says
Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, U.S. health officials announced Friday.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Does vitamin D have protective role against COVID-19?
In a recent study published in Nutrients, researchers investigated whether vitamin D supplementation before the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could provide benefits.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Latest booster reduces adults' risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half
The most recent COVID-19 booster shot reduces adults' risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half, according to a new nationwide data study from September 2023 through January 2024, a period of JN.1 variant dominance.
March 1st, 2024 — Source or Source

Staffing shortages at nursing homes continue: Report
Although the pandemic has ended, staffing shortages and employee burnout still plague U.S. nursing homes, a new government report finds.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 28th, 2024

How the SARS-CoV-2 virus acquires its spherical shape
For centuries, coronaviruses have triggered health crises and economic challenges, with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that spreads COVID-19, being a recent example. One small protein in SARS-CoV-2, the membrane protein, or M protein, is the most abundant and plays a crucial role in how the virus acquires its spherical structure. Nonetheless, this protein's properties are not well understood.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Reanalyzing the impact of COVID-19 on the kidneys
In a new study, Yale researchers found that adults with COVID-19 who develop acute kidney injury have a lower risk of kidney disease progression and mortality over the longer term compared to those with AKI related to other causes.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Unintended consequences of NZ's COVID vaccine mandates must inform future pandemic policy
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, policy was being made in crisis management mode. Decisions had to be made faster than usual, and there was limited ability to undertake wider consultation and impact analysis.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 27th, 2024

A pandemic that won't go away—as COVID enters its fifth year, NZ needs a realistic strategy
February 28 marks four years since COVID-19 was first reported in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many of us are probably surprised this virus is still causing a pandemic.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 antiviral treatment should be taken for longer, says study
The currently recommended five-day course of molnupiravir, an antiviral treatment, may not be long enough to treat COVID-19, according to a new paper involving UCL researchers.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Elusive immune cells dwelling in 'hidden niches' of the bone marrow may be key to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Although immunologists have developed a deep reservoir of knowledge illuminating how antibodies respond to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, little is known about the elusive cells that produce infection-fighting antibodies.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

You've Got Until March 8 to Order Free COVID-19 Tests From USPS
The federal government plans to shut down its free COVID rapid test program this Friday.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 26th, 2024

Early COVID-19 research was riddled with poor methods and low-quality results, but the pandemic didn't cause the problem
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers flooded journals with studies about the then-novel coronavirus. Many publications streamlined the peer-review process for COVID-19 papers while keeping acceptance rates relatively high. The assumption was that policymakers and the public would be able to identify valid and useful research among a very large volume of rapidly disseminated information.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Long-term analysis reveals SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine-induced antibody responses are long-lasting
A long-term analysis conducted by leading microbiologists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reveals that antibody responses induced by COVID-19 vaccines are long-lasting. The study results, published online in the journal Immunity challenge the idea that mRNA-based vaccine immunity wanes quickly.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

National study reveals recovery hurdles for children following COVID-19 hospitalization
New research is showing just how difficult recovery is for children who are hospitalized due to COVID-19. Trailblazing data from a national multicenter survey shows that up to one-third of children did not fully recover and experienced persistent symptoms from 1 to 2 years after release from the hospital.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Risk profile tool provides clearer insight on hospitalized COVID-19 patients who benefit most from baricitinib treatment
A post-hoc analysis of ACTT-2 (Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial-2) found that the use of a risk profile may more precisely characterize high-risk patients who may benefit from the use of baricitinib. The analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals early death predictors in COVID-19 patients with cardiac injury
Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. The activation of immune and thrombotic biomarkers at admission, and their ability to predict cardiac injury and mortality patterns in COVID-19, remains unclear.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Study finds sharp increase in antidepressant dispensing among adolescents and young adults during COVID-19 pandemic
Antidepressant dispensing to adolescents and young adults increased sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic began -- particularly among females -- a new study finds.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

The prognostic puzzle of COVID-19: Fecal SARS-CoV-2 RNA's limited role
A recent study investigated the correlation between the specific anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG immune response resulting from vaccination or previous infection, viral load, and fecal virus excretion, as well as their impact on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients during the predominance of the omicron variant.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Vaping can increase susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV-2
Vapers are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that spreads COVID-19 and continues to infect people around the world, a study by a research team at University of California, Riverside, has found.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 23rd, 2024

CDC Could Cut COVID Isolation Time: What It Could Mean
Is shorter better? Or just more practical? The CDC is reportedly going to cut its COVID-19 isolation recommendations down from 5 days to 24 hours starting in April.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Increased paxlovid use could lead to significant hospitalization reductions and cost savings
Increased use of Paxlovid, the antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, could prevent hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and save tens of billions of dollars a year, according to a new epidemiological model published by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. In fact, epidemiologists found that treating even 20% of symptomatic cases would save lives and improve public health.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Model suggests increased use of Paxlovid could cut hospitalizations, deaths and costs
Increased use of Paxlovid, the antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, could prevent hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and save tens of billions of dollars a year, according to a new epidemiological model published by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Mouse study shows long COVID-19 infection linked with tangled protein that causes Alzheimer's disease
With a newly developed mouse model that more accurately represents human infection with COVID-19, Johns Hopkins scientists say they have found long-term infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in brain deposits of clumped and tangled Tau proteins commonly found in people with Alzheimer's disease
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers have lower COVID-19 risk and better outcomes
An international study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, which included Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, found that neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers had less risk of being infected with COVID-19 compared to those of unvaccinated mothers. Babies of booster-vaccinated mothers also had the lowest rates of preterm birth, respiratory distress syndrome and days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Researchers explore whether gut microbes cause some COVID-19 patients to have higher blood clot risk
A gut microbial metabolite called 2-methylbutyrylcarnitine (2MBC) plays a role in exacerbating thrombosis—the formation of blood clots—researchers report February 23 in the journal Cell Metabolism. The results also revealed that 2MBC is accumulated in individuals with COVID-19, potentially explaining why these patients are at increased risk of thrombosis.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study reveals over 134,000 missed cancer diagnoses in the U.S. during COVID-19 pandemic
Over 134,000 cancer cases went undiagnosed in the U.S. during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source or Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 21st, 2024

Q&A: COVID rebound can happen whether or not you take Paxlovid
What initially was referred to as "Paxlovid rebound"—a return of COVID symptoms or test positivity after starting a course of the antiviral—is now more accurately referred to as "COVID rebound," because rebound can happen regardless of whether someone takes antivirals.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Researchers find possible predictor of COVID-19 severity
The degree of severity to which someone experiences COVID-19 has a lot to do with the body's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the infection it causes. Our immune system tailors antibodies to fight infections, so they are often used as an indicator to determine what type of illness we're up against or how sick it's likely to make us.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Study examines medical mystery of child hepatitis outbreak
An analysis of the sudden global outbreak of hepatitis in children finds that although the primary suspect is highly likely to be an infection by multiple viruses, many questions still puzzle researchers.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Study of usefulness of lockdowns during epidemics identifies alternate solution
The COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about when and to what extent costly nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., lockdowns) should be used to slow the contagious spread of the virus. In a new study, researchers tackled that question with a dynamic optimization model.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Study reveals high prevalence of persistent COVID-19 infections in general population
A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that a high proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population lead to persistent infections lasting a month or more.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Study reveals racial disparities in student enrollment trends amid COVID-19 policies
Student enrollment in districts that provided in-person schooling in fall 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a greater decline among nonwhite students than white students.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 19th, 2024

CDC may recommend COVID boosters for some this spring
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is weighing whether to recommend another COVID booster shot this spring, most likely for those who are vulnerable to severe illness.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Largest COVID vaccine study yet evaluates adverse events of special interest
Vaccines that protect against severe illness, death and lingering long COVID symptoms from a coronavirus infection were linked to small increases in neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions in the largest global vaccine safety study to date.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Study finds women more likely than men to suffer from long COVID
A new study by Western researchers has drawn a link between higher body mass index (BMI) in women and the likelihood of long COVID, but did not find the same link in men.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Research finds flu vaccines were effective in 2022--2023 flu season
The prospect of the worrisome triple threat of COVID, RSV, and flu was assuaged last year by the effectiveness of flu vaccines. Two recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's VISION Network have found that flu vaccines were effective for all ages against both moderate and severe flu in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study finds connection between COVID-19 and insomnia
Researchers in Vietnam have discovered a connection between COVID-19 cases and trouble sleeping in patients.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study finds no higher risk of miscarriage after COVID-19
LUMC research has shown that women who previously had a miscarriage due to COVID-19 are not at increased risk of having another miscarriage or a stillbirth. Nor are preventive drugs needed during the pregnancy.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study finds prevalence of long COVID varies geographically in the United States
There is geographic variation in the prevalence of long COVID in the United States, according to research published in the Feb. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Survey of US adults reveals common cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients, linked to impaired daily functioning and depression
In a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, a team of scientists examined how prevalent self-reported cognitive symptoms were in individuals with post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition as compared to individuals who had prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections but had not developed post-COVID-19 condition. They also evaluated the impact of these cognitive symptoms on mood, function, and employment status.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 16th, 2024

Cognitive symptoms common with post-COVID-19 condition, study finds
For individuals with post-COVID-19 condition, cognitive symptoms are common, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Study finds Moderna vaccine reduces symptomatic COVID-19 in young adults
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the rapid development of different vaccines, including the messenger RNA (mRNA)-1273 vaccine produced by Moderna.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Study finds neurological symptoms are not a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the brain
Scientists still are not sure how neurological symptoms arise in COVID-19. Is it because SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain? Or are these symptoms the result of inflammation in the rest of the body? A study by Charite—Universitätsmedizin Berlin has now produced evidence to support the latter theory.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Study suggests patients with severe long COVID present with variable symptoms, do not cluster in relation to organs affected or immunological states
A new preprint, recently uploaded to the medRxiv* preprint server, reports significantly associated findings that may help predict severe long COVID and understand what causes it.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 14th, 2024

CDC may consider loosening COVID isolation guidance
New, proposed guidance being weighed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to routinely stay home for five days.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Cleaned surfaces may be germ-free, but they're not bare
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, surfaces in public spaces are cleaned more often. While disinfectant solutions eliminate germs, they don't leave behind a truly bare surface. They deposit a thin film that doesn't get wiped up, even after giving the surface a good polish.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 tied to significant increase in outpatient health care
Outpatient use increases significantly in the month after COVID-19 infection when compared with uninfected individuals, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in JAMA Network Open.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 vaccination and boosting during pregnancy found to protect infants for six months
Women who receive an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination or booster during pregnancy can provide their infants with solid protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection for at least six months after birth, according to a study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
February 14th, 2024 — Source or Source or Source or Source

Tobacco use in pregnancy linked to neurocognitive deficits in offspringTobacco use in pregnancy linked to neurocognitive deficits in offspring
Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) is associated with child neurocognitive deficits at ages nine to 12 years, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in JAMA Network Open.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

University of Washington program tries unique approach to help older adults with depression
Sitting in his Capitol Hill apartment, Russ Welti knew the answer to his problem. Still, he felt stuck, as a familiar sensation weighed on him.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 12th, 2024

High-dose inhaled nitric oxide decreases risk of death among critically ill Black patients with COVID-19: Study
In a first-of-its-kind study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, physician-scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine discovered that high-dose inhaled nitric oxide therapy may improve oxygenation and reduce the risk of mortality among critically ill Black patients with COVID-19.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Long COVID-19 is linked to chronic pain conditions, says study
Many patients continue to struggle in the wake of the pandemic as they grapple with ongoing symptoms triggered by COVID-19 infection, a condition commonly known as long COVID. However, the onset of symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, headache, and other types of pain is not unique to COVID infection, according to a new U-M study.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

New comprehensive report on pediatric long COVID symptoms published
Up to 5.8 million children and youth in the U.S. have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 that persisted long after initial infection. But diagnosing pediatric post acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)-;known as long COVID-;in children remains challenging, as it can affect any organ system in the body, symptoms vary widely by individual, and little is known about its trajectory in patients over time.
February 12th, 2024 — Source or Source

Online physical, mental rehab aids quality of life with long COVID
An online, home-based group physical and mental health rehabilitation program improves health-related quality of life in adults with long COVID, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in The BMJ.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Trial investigates efficacy of online supervised group mental and physical rehabilitation program for long COVID patients
In a recent study published in the BMJ, researchers evaluated the efficacy of an online supervised group mental and physical rehabilitation program in adults with long COVID.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Using citizens' data securely in research: COVID-19 data donation projects show how it can be done
Smartphones, smartwatches and associated apps are constantly improving their ability to record and store personal health data. The initial proposal for the EU law for a European Health Data Space in 2022 would allow depersonalized health and wellness data to be shared without explicit consent in the future. There has been understandable pushback against it—not just from data protection officers.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 9th, 2024

COVID-19 rapid tests: How good are they?
The COVID-19 pandemic marked the first time in the history of pandemics where self-testing was used as an essential component of a widespread public infection control and prevention strategy. Nearly four years into the pandemic, a study sheds light on the diagnostic accuracy and impact of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests used for COVID-19 self-testing.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variant JN.1 raises concerns with increased transmissibility and immune evasion
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant JN.1 has sparked global concern due to its distinct genetic features and heightened infectivity. Carrying more than 30 spike protein mutations, including the hallmark Leu455Ser, JN.1 exhibits substantial potential for immune evasion.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

MHRA authorizes COVID-19 vaccines: Comirnaty and Nuvaxovid gain approvals
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a change to the license of the Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 30 micrograms/dose (single-dose vials) after it was found to meet the UK regulator's standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 7th, 2024

Many excess deaths attributed to natural causes are actually uncounted COVID-19 deaths, new analysis reveals
The new study provides the most compelling data yet to suggest that excess mortality rates from chronic illnesses and other natural causes were actually driven by COVID-19 infections
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals high insomnia rates in non-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors
In a recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health, researchers investigated insomnia prevalence and its association with anxiety and depression in the non-hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-recovered community.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Updated COVID-19 vaccine has effectiveness of 54 percent, according to new research
Updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines offer vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 54 percent against symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 5th, 2024

Congressman Off-Base in Ad Claiming Fauci Shipped Covid to Montana Before the Pandemic
A fundraising ad for U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) shows a photo of Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, behind bars, swarmed by flying bats.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 researchers discover hidden natural immune defense pathway
An international cohort of scientists researching COVID-19 has uncovered a hidden part of the human immune system that creates anti-viral agents.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Immune response, not acute viral infections, responsible for neurological damage, researchers discover
For years, there has been a long-held belief that acute viral infections like Zika or COVID-19 are directly responsible for neurological damage, but researchers from McMaster University have now discovered that it's the immune system's response that is behind it.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Mental health care during the COVID-19 era remains inaccessible to many distressed US adults
U.S. adults experienced considerable psychological distress and adverse mental health effects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Pandemic linked to 14% increase in underweight children in India
Malnutrition of Indian children rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI).
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Study confirms fears that COVID pandemic reduced kindergarten readiness
Numerous studies have raised alarms about how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning, development and mental health among school-aged children. But few have focused on the effects felt by the 22 million children under age 6 who were not yet in school.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 2nd, 2024

Investigators explore what factors increase susceptibility to COVID-19
Investigators in the Department of Computational Biomedicine at Cedars-Sinai wanted to find out which factors influenced susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and disease severity the most. Was it genetics? Or was it home environment, meaning the germs circulating throughout your everyday life?
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

New COVID Vaccine 54% Effective at Preventing Symptoms
If you're in the minority of Americans who received the most recent COVID-19 vaccination, chances are you're in the majority not experiencing any COVID symptoms now or in the near future.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Using machine learning to battle COVID-19 bacterial co-infection
University of Queensland researchers have used machine learning to help predict the risk of secondary bacterial infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The research is published in The Lancet Microbe.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Vaccine effectiveness: Which COVID-19 shots are most protective against severe disease?
First boosters, second boosters, monovalent, bivalent. Just like the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, the vaccines to combat the virus are always changing—and perhaps confusing.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — February 1st, 2024

Immunologists advance research into long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome
Liisa Selin, MD, Ph.D., and Anna Gil, Ph.D., discovered similarities in immune system dysfunction as a potential biomarker among people living with long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The research also introduced a novel treatment and a method to track effective treatment interventions.
February 1st, 2024 — Source

Research finds higher customer support for companies that cut CEO pay, not jobs, during COVID
Hospitality businesses that treat employees with care and empathy during times of crisis can activate considerable brand loyalty and generate future business among customers with high ethical idealism, according to a new study co-authored by a researcher in the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
February 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 31st, 2024

COVID-19 offers lessons to improve vaccine equity in Global South
Martin and co-authors of the BMJ Global Health analysis, "Lessons Learnt from COVID-19 to Reduce Mortality and Morbidity in the Global South: Addressing Global Vaccine Equity for Future Pandemics," detail actions and desired outcomes to improve global vaccine equity in the Global South and beyond before a future pandemic.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Study finds BIPOC individuals bear greater post-COVID burdens
A study appearing in Frontiers in Public Health reports that BIPOC individuals who were infected with COVID-19 experienced greater negative aftereffects in health and work loss than did similarly infected white participants.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 29th, 2024

Breast milk may have potential protective effects against SARS-CoV-2, say researchers
The COVID-19 pandemic was an especially harrowing time for pregnant people and new parents.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Study finds reduced inpatient and severe respiratory disease visits during COVID-19 in Wuhan, China
In Wuhan, China, a stringent lockdown was implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19, transitioning to a normalized prevention and control strategy. Considering the shared transmission route through the respiratory tract, mask-wearing, social distancing, and personal hygiene have been linked to reduced transmission of respiratory pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2.
January 29, 2024 — Source

UK teens experienced spike in online harm during COVID-19 pandemic, report claims
A new pair of reports co-led by a UCL researcher highlights the scale of online harm faced by young people in the UK while also demonstrating the impact of educational workshops in equipping young people with tools to navigate the digital world.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Viral protein fragments may unlock mystery behind serious COVID-19 outcomes
There are many lingering mysteries from the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, why does SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the disease, cause severe symptoms in some patients, while many other coronaviruses don't? And what causes strange symptoms to persist even after the infection has been cleared from a person's system?
January 29, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 26th, 2024

Common cold or COVID-19? Some T cells are ready to combat both
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found direct evidence that exposure to common cold coronaviruses can train T cells to fight SARS-CoV-2. In fact, prior exposure to a common cold coronavirus appears to partially protect mice from lung damage during a subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
January 26, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 pandemic perceived as less serious than other health problems, suggests 7-country survey
Researchers from seven Environment for Development (EfD) centers plus the EfD Global Hub, located at the University of Gothenburg, have conducted an extensive survey on how serious people perceive COVID-19.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Immunocompromised patients and COVID infections: Who's at risk?
Early in the pandemic, clinicians noticed that certain immunocompromised patients were experiencing persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, some lasting weeks to months at a time.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Q&A: More Americans could benefit from Paxlovid for COVID infection
One of the best tools for preventing severe complications from COVID infection is the prescription antiviral drug Paxlovid. But not nearly as many people who could benefit from it are being prescribed it, says Amesh Adalja, MD, FIDSA, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who specializes in infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Study explores how opposing viewpoints may have impacted vaccine hesitancy
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged throughout the country in 2020, politics, memes and public messaging converged to dramatically influence individuals' decisions regarding the in-development COVID vaccines, according to a new article by researchers at the University at Albany's Massry School of Business and Washington State University's Carson College of Business.
January 26, 2024 — Source

The association between handgrip strength and functional outcomes in long COVID-19
In a recent longitudinal study published in Scientific Reports, researchers from Brazil investigated the potential association between dynapenia (loss of muscle strength and power) with functional outcomes in patients with long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
January 26, 2024 — Source

UK Biobank research reveals significant impact of type 2 diabetes on COVID-19 outcomes
In a recent study published in Communications Biology, a team of scientists investigated how type 2 diabetes and genetic susceptibility to the disease impacted the severity of and mortality risk associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using data from the United Kingdom (U.K.) Biobank.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 24th, 2024

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy seems safe for infant neurodevelopment, finds study
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy seems safe in terms of neurodevelopment through 18 months of age, according to a study Source online Jan. 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Infants born to COVID-infected mothers found to have triple the risk of developing respiratory distress
New UCLA-led research finds that infants born full term to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had three times the risk of having respiratory distress compared with unexposed infants, even though they themselves were not infected with the virus. The risk was significantly lower when the mothers infected during pregnancy were previously vaccinated.
January 24, 2024 — Source

New study highlights varied risk of persistent COVID-19 infection among immunocompromised patients
Individuals who are immunocompromised are at risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes and may have a less robust response to vaccination compared to non-immunocompromised individuals. But the term "immunocompromised" refers to a wide range of conditions, and not all patients in this category may be at equal risk.
January 24, 2024 — Source

No sign latest COVID variant leads to worse symptoms
JN.1, the COVID variant sweeping the country this winter, is not prompting more severe disease than earlier variants did, early U.S. government data suggests.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Research team identifies 'protective switches' in SARS-CoV-2 protein that defend against immune system
Over 700 million people were infected and almost seven million died, making SARS-CoV-2 the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century. Vaccines and medication against COVID-19 have been able to mitigate the course of the disease in many people and contain the pandemic. However, the danger of further outbreaks has not been averted.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study finds obesity spiked in children during COVID-19 lockdowns, only the youngest bounced back
Obesity among primary school children in the UK spiked during the COVID-19 lockdown, with a 45% increase between 2019/20 and 2020/21 among 4--5-year-olds, according to a study published in PLOS ONE by Iván Ochoa-Moreno from the University of Southampton, UK, and colleagues. The authors estimated that without reversals, increased obesity rates in Year 6 children alone will cost society an additional £800 million in health care.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study finds three times the risk of respiratory distress in infants born to COVID-infected mothers
New UCLA-led research finds that infants born full term to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had three times the risk of having respiratory distress compared with unexposed infants, even though they themselves were not infected with the virus. The risk was significantly lower when the mothers infected during pregnancy were previously vaccinated.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study finds veterans of color and female veterans reported more stress during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic led to illness and death, significant economic and employment problems, severe social restrictions and substantially altered family life—the effects of which researchers are beginning to understand.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Wastewater tests show COVID infections surging, but pandemic fatigue limits precautions
Although it's spotty and inconsistent in many places, wastewater testing is pointing to a new wave of COVID-19 infections, with as many as one-third of Americans expected to contract the disease by late February.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 22nd, 2024

Australian-first study examines impacts of long COVID on intimate partner violence victim-survivors
An Australian-first study by researchers at Monash University has examined the impact of long COVID on victim-survivors' experiences of intimate partner violence.
January 22, 2024 — Source

'Emergency' or not, COVID is still killing people: Here's what doctors advise to stay safe
With around 20,000 people dying of COVID in the United States since the start of October, and tens of thousands more abroad, the COVID pandemic clearly isn't over. However, the crisis response is, since the World Health Organization and the Biden administration ended their declared health emergencies last year.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Experts outline how to reduce COVID-19 health inequalities for ethnic minority groups
An international collaborative led by The University of Manchester and the University of Leicester has published a new paper that outlines how to reduce COVID-19 health inequity among ethnic minority groups.
January 22, 2024 — Source

How to Get More Free COVID Tests (While You Still Can)
Here's what to know about ordering free COVID tests, where to find treatments and how to get free vaccines.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Improving antiviral medication for COVID-19 to give more patients access to treatment
Researchers from the University of Alberta (U of A) are working to improve the only oral antiviral approved for COVID-19 infections in the hopes of expanding its use in populations that need it most.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Scientists demonstrate way to produce SARS-CoV-2 receptor protein in mouse cells
A team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University has demonstrated a way to produce large quantities of the receptor that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds to on the surface of human cells. That binding between the now-infamous viral spike protein and the human "ACE2" receptor is the first step of infection by the virus.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 19th, 2024

Complement system causes cell damage in long Covid
Long Covid patients suffer from chronic symptoms such as fatigue or shortness of breath. As researchers have discovered, this is to some extent due to a part of our immune system called the complement system. The study identified a pattern in the blood proteins that will improve the diagnosis and perhaps also the targeted treatment of long Covid.
January 19, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 vaccine uptake more likely in pregnancy if receiving other vaccines: Study
Pregnant patients are more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination if they receive other routine vaccines during pregnancy, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Infection.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Evolution of the human immune system in the post-omicron era
It has been four years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 has yet to be eradicated and new variants are continuously emerging. Despite the extensive immunization programs, breakthrough infections (infection after vaccination) by new variants are common.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Long COVID advocates ask Congress to improve federal response
Long COVID patients and experts have called on lawmakers to expand clinical trials and better educate doctors on what researchers currently know about the potentially debilitating chronic condition.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Sniffing out relief for loss of smell and taste following COVID-19 infection
John T. reads this column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and writes about his experience with COVID-19: "I had minimal symptoms with the exception of my loss of taste and smell. I am a little concerned as it is approaching eight weeks since I have been negative for COVID and I have never recovered from my loss of taste and smell. Will this just pass in time or should I be concerned? Any ideas, suggestions would be much appreciated.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 16th, 2024

Diverging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on type 2 diabetes care processes
A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland published in the journal Primary Care Diabetes reveals varied impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with type 2 diabetes in North Karelia, Finland.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Innovative COVID-19 analysis supports prevention protocols in health care settings
In early 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a highly contagious and pathogenic virus, made its alarming debut and quickly spread worldwide, causing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that threatened human health and public safety.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Nonpharmaceutical interventions saved lives and eased burdens during COVID's first wave, study shows
The measures world governments enacted at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 remain a source of controversy for policy experts, researchers, and media commentators. Some research maintains that they did little to cut down mortality rates or halt the virus's spread.
January 16, 2024 — Source

RSV, flu and COVID: Demystifying the triple epidemic of respiratory viruses
Since 2022, a triple epidemic of respiratory viruses—RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2—has been disrupting our daily lives. In addition, the media constantly reminds us of how this is straining emergency departments.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Study examines how ad strategies of the Great Depression can inform today's crisis communications
The COVID-19 pandemic was not the first time a crisis swept through the nation and beyond, forcing businesses and media to find ways to reach people in uncertain times. A new study from the University of Kansas has analyzed newspaper advertising strategies from the Great Depression to see what one historic crisis can teach communicators about reaching people today.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Study shows slight increase in Guillain-Barre syndrome risk with adenovirus COVID vaccines
A new paper in the journal JAMA Neurology examines whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines cause or exacerbate autoimmune and neurological diseases.
January 16, 2024 — Source

UK-wide COVID vaccination coverage study reveals gaps and preventable hospitalizations
Between a third and a half of the populations of the four UK nations had not had the recommended number of COVID vaccinations and boosters by summer 2022, according to the first research study to look at COVID-19 vaccine coverage of the entire UK population.
January 16, 2024 — Source

UK-wide study reveals harm done by people not getting COVID jabs
More than 7,000 people were hospitalized or died from COVID-19 in the UK during the summer of 2022 because they had not received the recommended number of vaccine doses, according to a study released Tuesday that was the first to cover Britain's entire population.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Unraveling the complexity of betacoronaviruses in bats
With pandemics increasingly a global concern, an international study led by scientists at Universite de Montreal offers new insights into the intricate evolutionary dynamics of betacoronaviruses in bats, providing a deeper understanding of the risks posed by these pathogens.
January 16, 2024 — Source

What is Disease X? How scientists are preparing for the next pandemic
The term "Disease X" was coined years ago as a way of getting scientists to work on medical countermeasures for unknown infectious threats—novel coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID-19, for example—instead of just known ones, like the Ebola virus.
January 16, 2024 — Source

WHO says COVID vaccines saved at least 1.4 mn lives in Europe
At least 1.4 million lives have been saved in Europe thanks to COVID vaccines, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, recalling that the virus was "here to stay".
January 16, 2024 — Source

Working from home since COVID-19? Cabin fever could be the next challenge
As Canada opened back up after the COVID-19 lockdowns, many businesses encouraged their workers to head back to the office. Yet, despite restrictions being lifted in Canada and around the world, teleworking as a regular working arrangement has remained popular across different industries.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 15th, 2024

Studies examine different responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants
Two studies led by a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center show the effects of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on lung tissue, revealing what may cause some COVID-19 infections to be more severe than others. Both studies, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, provide new perspectives that could advance treatments for COVID-19, which has been linked to millions of deaths worldwide since January 2020.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Study shows long COVID increases costs of primary care consultations each year
Long COVID is estimated to have cost the UK at least an extra £23 million in GP and other primary care consultations each year, according to a new study.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Universal Coronavirus vaccine could save billions in U.S., new study suggests
In a recent study published in eClinicalMedicine, researchers evaluated the epidemiologic, clinical, and economic value of a universal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine under varying circumstances, such as the advent of a new coronavirus, using a computational simulation model.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 12th, 2024

Analysis finds 10% treatment boost needed to shift NHS COVID backlog
The NHS must treat at least 10% more non-emergency hospital cases a month if it is to successfully start reducing the hefty backlog caused by the pandemic, according to a new analysis.
January 12, 2024 — Source

COVID-19 vaccines found effective in reducing risk of long COVID symptoms
A recent study has revealed the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing long COVID.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Long COVID: Damaged mitochondria in muscles might be linked to some of the symptoms
It's estimated around 3% of people in the UK experience long COVID—persistent, long-lasting symptoms after a COVID-19 infection.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Complacency Has Replaced Alarm in the Newest COVID Surge
Sneezing, coughing, sniffling -- it may seem that everyone you know is sick with some type of respiratory virus right now. At present, the United States is getting hammered with such illnesses, with visits to the doctor for respiratory viruses on an upward trend in recent weeks.
January 12, 2024 — Source

New study reveals higher mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation
A recent Scientific Reports study investigated the incidence and prognosis of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients hospitalized due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Research explores race politics associated with wearing a mask in public to combat COVID-19
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that can improve the lives of Americans are still ongoing, thanks to the help and insight of UNM's Center for Social Policy (CSP.)
January 12, 2024 — Source

Studies find bivalent COVID-19 shot effective for preventing thromboembolic events
A bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after receipt of an original monovalent COVID-19 vaccine is effective for preventing COVID-19-related thromboembolic events, according to research published in the Jan. 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 11th, 2024

A universal coronavirus vaccine could save billions of dollars if ready before next pandemic, study suggests
What if scientists had developed a universal coronavirus vaccine in the years prior to 2020 so that it was available at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? A universal coronavirus vaccine targets parts of the virus that are common to either many or all coronaviruses, thereby offering some degree of protection against a range of strains.
January 11, 2024 — SourceSource

BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease
In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers assessed the BNT162b2 vaccine's effectiveness in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and severe disease among pediatric and adolescent individuals in the United States (US).
January 11, 2024 — Source

COVID is surging in Australia—and only 1 in 5 older adults are up to date with their boosters
Do you have family members or friends sick with a respiratory infection? If so, there's a good chance it's COVID, caused by the JN.1 variant currently circulating in Australia.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Indian researchers design thermostable, broadly protective vaccine candidate for current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Raghavan Varadarajan, Professor at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and collaborators have been working on developing a heat-tolerant vaccine that can offer protection against different strains of SARS-CoV-2—both current and future variants.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Phylogenomic analysis to generate early warning signs for COVID-19 waves
In a recent study published in eBioMedicine, researchers developed the Transmission Fitness Polymorphism (TFP) scanner analysis pipeline to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with high growth rates, serving as leading indicators to generate early warning signals (EWS) for epidemic waves.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Research reveals mice without immune cells show no SARS-CoV-2 symptoms
When mice lacking key adaptive immune cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus, even though they are not able to clear the virus, they developed no symptoms, revealing that the body's own inflammatory immune response to fight the infection was causing the pathology, according to a new study.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Study looks at cardiovascular risks in COVID-19 survivors
The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic caused as a result of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus marked a global health crisis with over 770 million cases of infection and 6 million deaths by September 6, 2023. Around 6.2% of the recovered individuals, however, face lingering symptoms such as fatigue or respiratory problems.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Study: In patients with long COVID, immune cells don't follow the rules
People with long COVID have dysfunctional immune cells that show signs of chronic inflammation and faulty movement into organs, among other unusual activity, according to a new study by scientists at Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco (UCSF).
January 11, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 10th, 2024

Is it the flu or COVID? Does it matter? Five questions about winter viruses
With COVID-19 and flu both surging across the country, chances are you or someone close to you is sick or getting over a virus.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Majority of US hospitals found COVID-19 reporting directives to be inconsistent
The U.S. health care response during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic unveiled challenges in public health reporting systems and electronic clinical data exchange.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Nasal spray with antibodies could prevent COVID-19
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown that nasal drops with IgA antibodies can protect mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results imply a new way to protect individuals at high risk from different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and possibly other infections. The study is published in PNAS.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Nearly 10,000 died from COVID-19 last month, fueled by holiday gatherings and new variant, WHO says
The head of the U.N. health agency said Wednesday holiday gatherings and the spread of the most prominent variant globally led to increased transmission of COVID-19 last month.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Pandemic impact: Significant rise in sleep disturbances among children and adolescents worldwide
In a recent study published in Translational Psychiatry, researchers assessed the global prevalence of sleep disturbances in children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Preexisting conditions seen in all patients with tachycardia after COVID-19 vaccine
Patients with post-COVID-19 vaccination postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) all have preexisting conditions, according to a study published in the January issue of Heart Rhythm.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover how ultraviolet light degrades coronavirus
New research has revealed how light can be used to destroy infectious coronavirus particles that contaminate surfaces. Scientists are interested in how environments, such as surgeries, can be thoroughly disinfected from viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Study finds high levels of job satisfaction among copy editors, little negative effects from pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted jobs across the workforce, including the editorial sector. But a new study from the University of Kansas found it did not significantly affect how copy editors, proofreaders, and fact-checkers felt about their work and that those working in the professions still have high job satisfaction and a passion for their work in a time of declining trust in media.
January 10, 2024 — Source

With COVID on the rise, your at-home test may be taking longer to show a positive result
With COVID-19 rising this winter, it's getting more complicated to discern whether you are infected.
January 10, 2024 — Source

WHO warns COVID still a threat
Almost 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported in December, the WHO said on Wednesday, as it warned the virus remained a major threat despite partially passing under the radar.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Wanting to 'move on' is natural—but women's pandemic experiences can't be lost to 'lockdown amnesia'
The COVID-19 pandemic was—and continues to be—hugely disruptive and stressful for individuals, communities and countries. Yet many seem desperate to close the chapter entirely, almost as if it had never happened.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 9th, 2024

COVID-19 infection surge detected in wastewater, signals potential new wave
US, Netherlands, Germany all show spikes while UK no longer collects data
January 9, 2024 — Source

Mutations in spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 pirola variant found to augment infection of lung cells
Despite the end of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health threat. Most individuals have established robust immune protection and do not develop severe disease but the infection can still lead to marked and sometimes long-lasting disease symptoms.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Policy interventions helped save lives during pandemic, study finds
States that emphasized non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as distancing and mask wearing, fared better in curbing the spread of COVID-19, finds a forthcoming study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Real-world study tracks vaccine's power to protect kids from Delta and Omicron variants
Children and adolescents who received one of the main COVID-19 vaccines were significantly protected from the illness and showed no increased signs of cardiac complications compared to young people who were not vaccinated, according to a new real-world study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
January 9, 2024 — Source

Researchers race to develop Paxlovid replacement
Researchers from Rutgers believe themselves among the leaders in a race to find an oral COVID-19 treatment to supplement or replace Paxlovid—the antiviral medication that helps keep high-risk patients out of the hospital and from dying.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Sickle cell raises COVID-19 risk, but vaccination lags: Study
Despite the fact that people with sickle cell disease have a much higher risk of serious illness or death if they develop COVID-19, a new study shows they're also much less likely than those without sickle cell disease to have gotten vaccinated against coronavirus.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Some believe the 1889 Russian flu pandemic was actually caused by a coronavirus—here's why that's unlikely
COVID-19 was the first coronavirus pandemic. The original SARS virus from 2003 and the MERS virus that created a health emergency in South Korea in 2015 were both coronaviruses, but fortunately, they failed to turn into pandemics in the way that COVID did.
January 9, 2024 — Source

There's a new COVID-19 variant and cases are ticking up: What you need to know
It's winter, that cozy season that brings crackling fireplaces, indoor gatherings—and a wave of respiratory illness. Nearly four years since the pandemic emerged, people are growing weary of dealing with it, but the virus is not done with us.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 8th, 2024

Long COVID's hidden toll: How does post-exertional malaise affect skeletal muscles?
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers investigate the pathophysiology of post-exertional malaise (PEM) in long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, focusing on skeletal muscle changes, exercise capacity, metabolic disturbances, and tissue alterations.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Mobile phone study sheds light on unhealthy food consumption disparities during COVID-19
A study published in Health Data Science, reveals critical insights into socioeconomic disparities in unhealthy food reliance using novel mobile phone data analysis. This study, led by researchers Charles Alba and Ruopeng An from Washington University in St. Louis, marks a significant departure from traditional survey-centric approaches, offering a more dynamic nationwide perspective.
January 8, 2024 — Source

New AI tool accurately detects COVID-19 from chest X-rays
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can rapidly detect COVID-19 from chest X-rays with more than 98% accuracy. The study results have just been published in Scientific Reports.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Real-world analysis: COVID-19 vaccine strongly effective for children and adolescents during delta and omicron
Children and adolescents who received one of the main COVID-19 vaccines were significantly protected from the illness and showed no increased signs of cardiac complications compared to young people who were not vaccinated, according to a new real-world study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
January 8, 2024 — Source

SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 shows increased lung targeting despite vaccine effectiveness
New research shows that the recently emerged BA.2.86 omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19 can be neutralized by bivalent mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies in the blood, which explains why this variant did not cause a widespread surge as previously feared.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Study suggests omicron subvariant causes enhanced fusion with human lung cells
New research shows that the recently-emerged BA.2.86 omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19 can be neutralized by bivalent mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies in the blood, which explains why this variant did not cause a widespread surge as previously feared.
January 8, 2024 — Source

There's a New Covid-19 Variant and Cases Are Ticking Up. What Do You Need to Know?
It's winter, that cozy season that brings crackling fireplaces, indoor gatherings — and a wave of respiratory illness. Nearly four years since the pandemic emerged, people are growing weary of dealing with it, but the virus is not done with us.
January 8, 2024 — Source or Source

Health — Covid-19 — January 6th, 2024

Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
Diabetes management takes awareness. Know what makes your blood sugar level rise and fall — and how to control these day-to-day factors.
January 6, 2024 — Source

US regulators on Friday approved Florida's plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, making it the first state to win such authorization, in a bid to lower costs for American consumers.

Health — Diabetes — January 6th, 2024

January 6, 2024 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 27th, 2023

WHO urges pandemic accord in 2024 after years of COVID pain
The head of the WHO said Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after finally ending three years of COVID "crisis, pain and loss,"
December 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 24th, 2023

Many models are better than one for COVID-19 scenario projections, study finds
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub generated look-ahead projections for COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths under specific, policy-relevant scenarios. Those projections were provided to federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health authorities and the public to help inform decisions like the release of COVID-19 vaccines for children and when booster shots were recommended.
December 24, 2023 — Source

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 with phone app data offers insights into proximity and duration risk factors
Researchers at the University of Oxford, U.K., have discovered how the rate of exposure time to someone with COVID-19 contact relates to infection risk. They found that the duration of exposure to individuals with COVID-19 contact increases the risk of infection more so than proximity.
December 24, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 22nd, 2023

Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says
Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily.
December 22, 2023 — Source

New COVID vaccine induces good antibody response to mutated viral variants, finds study
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital have followed recipients of the new updated COVID-19 vaccine and analyzed the antibody response to different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results show a surprisingly strong response to the now dominant and highly mutated omicron variants.
December 22, 2023 — Source

Pandemic lessons: Insights into how mobility restrictions affect health care costs
As the world grappled with lockdowns and restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University conducted an extensive study to elucidate the link between changes in human mobility and the impact on medical costs associated with lifestyle-related diseases.
December 22, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2 rebound rate similar with, without oral antivirals
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rebound occurs at a similar rate for those receiving and not receiving oral antiviral treatment and for those receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or placebo, according to research published in the Dec. 22 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
December 22, 2023 — Source

Study finds links between lockdowns and decreasing social network segregation
Ph.D. candidate Ludovico Napoli and Associate Professor Márton Karsai from the Department of Network and Data Science at Central European University (CEU) recently published a paper titled "Socioeconomic reorganization of communication and mobility networks in response to external shocks" in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
December 22, 2023 — Source

Study links reduced movement to higher pandemic-era medical bills
As the world grappled with lockdowns and restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University conducted an extensive study to elucidate the link between changes in human mobility and the impact on medical costs associated with lifestyle-related diseases.
December 22, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 21st, 2023

I have COVID. How likely am I to get long COVID?
EG.5 or the Eris COVID variant is dominant in parts of Australia. Eris

, along with other circulating strains, are descendants of omicron.
December 21, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Is it COVID, flu, or allergies? How to protect yourself and loved ones this season
Flu season is here once again. And many questions have formed over the last couple of years about how you can stay safe from both the influenza (flu) and COVID-19 viruses, as well as how to tell if your symptoms may be caused by seasonal allergies or a different virus instead.
December 21, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 19th, 2023

Clinical trial investigates new oral treatment for COVID-19
An exploratory clinical trial (SIGMA4COVID) through a collaboration between Catalonia and Galicia, the results of which are published in the Journal of Infection, suggests the usefulness of a drug, E-52862, for the treatment of patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms. If these findings are confirmed, it will be one of the few useful treatments in these cases, with the addition that it could be administered on an outpatient basis through primary care centers.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Study helps explain post-COVID exercise intolerance
Exercise intolerance, or the inability to perform physical activity at the expected or desired level, is one of the many symptoms associated with long COVID. In a study, Yale researchers help explain what is explicitly driving this symptom, offering much-needed information for patients and generating new directions for future research.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 18th, 2023

Antibody treatment shields transplant patients against COVID-19
New research from Cedars-Sinai's Comprehensive Transplant Center found that a monoclonal antibody treatment reduced the risk of COVID-19 in a large group of solid organ transplant patients who were administered the drug as a preventive measure against the disease.
December 18, 2023 — Source

B cell-deficient patients gain protective T cell immunity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection, study finds
B cell deficiency is a common condition that can result either from immunosuppressant drugs used to treat autoimmune disease or certain cancers—such as rituximab (RTX)—or from natural immune deficiency. These patients suffer from a weakened immune system that is less effective at combating both viral and bacterial diseases. As B cells are a key type of immune cell that produces antibodies, a deficiency results in a significant decrease in antibody count that can lead to severe disease or death upon infection with SARS-CoV-2.
December 18, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Why some California hospitals are still struggling after COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic hammered California hospitals by disrupting their operations and pounding their finances. Nearly four years after the onset of the pandemic, profit margins for the state's hospitals are still under pressure, and a few have even closed or filed for bankruptcy. MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles is the latest facing serious trouble, warning that it could soon be unable to pay its bills.
December 18, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 15th, 2023

New Zealanders are learning to live with COVID, but does that mean having to pay for protection themselves?
I'm writing this with a dull ache in my left arm, sore from my third COVID booster. My second was in April when I also got a flu vaccination, which was funded by my employer. The arrival of the fifth wave of COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as the new variant, prompted me to get my booster sorted.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Study shows COVID-19 infection alters gene transcription of olfactory mucosal cells in Alzheimer's disease
A new study identifies alterations in the transcriptomic signatures in human olfactory mucosal cells of individuals with Alzheimer's disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection, potentially contributing to exacerbated COVID-19 outcomes. The study was conducted at the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the University of Helsinki and published in Journal of Neuroinflammation.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Study: Solid organ transplant patients benefit from COVID-19 treatment
New research from Cedars-Sinai's Comprehensive Transplant Center found that a monoclonal antibody treatment reduced the risk of COVID-19 in a large group of solid organ transplant patients who were administered the drug as a preventive measure against the disease.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Too few Americans are getting vaccinated for flu, COVID & RSV, CDC warns
Low vaccination rates for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are putting Americans at higher risk for severe illness and hospitalization this winter, a new government alert warned Thursday.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 14th, 2023

IFNγ identified as crucial for reducing pulmonary viral loads in COVID-19, new research shows
In a cohort study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the United States of America investigated the role of type-2 interferon (IFNγ) in antiviral immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in murine models.
December 14, 2023 — Source

New study highlights the need for advanced pneumococcal vaccines in the wake of pre-COVID data
In a recent study published in the Lancet Regional Health, researchers describe serotype distribution in hospitalized adults diagnosed with pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the United Kingdom (UK) in the two years before the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic using a 24-valent serotype-specific urinary antigen detection (UAD) assay and blood cultures.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Next generation COVID-19 immunization strategies could deliver vaccine directly to the respiratory tract
The global COVID-19 vaccination campaign saved an estimated 20 million lives. However, while current COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against developing severe disease, they do little to prevent infection and transmission.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Research finds health insurance coverage, access to care continued to decline for sexual minorities during COVID
Uninsurance rates among sexual minorities have increased steadily from their low in 2016 in the United States, affecting a population that has historically had fewer opportunities to access comprehensive health services, compared to heterosexual individuals.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Rift over when to use N95s puts health workers at risk again
Three years after more than 3,600 health workers died of covid-19, occupational safety experts warn that those on the front lines may once again be at risk if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention takes its committee's advice on infection control guidelines in health care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and jails. In early November, the committee released a controversial set of recommendations the CDC is considering, which would update those established some 16 years ago.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Social distancing was more effective at preventing local COVID-19 transmission than international border closures: Study
Elucidating human contact networks could help predict and prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemic threats. A new study from Scripps Research scientists and collaborators points to which public health protocols worked to mitigate the spread of COVID-19—and which ones didn't.
December 14, 2023 — Source

We followed 14 'long haulers' for 3 months. Here's what they told us about living with long COVID
At least 65 million people around the world are estimated to have long COVID, which describes the continuation or development of symptoms at least three months after an initial COVID infection.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 12th, 2023

Alcohol abuse increases sensitivity of coronavirus infection
Lung airway cells of people with alcohol use disorder developed "enhanced inflammation" three days after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and the University of Georgia.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Evaluation of immunogenicity-induced DNA vaccines against different SARS-CoV-2 variants
In a recent article published in PLOS ONE, researchers designed five deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine candidates based on different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains. They evaluated the immunogenicity of each in mice.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Evidence-based policymaking: New study on international perspectives and best-practice models
In order to tackle challenges facing society, such as the energy transition, digitalization, or pandemics, structured, transparent, and fact-based political decision-making processes are needed. Analysis based on science can provide the basis for better-informed decisions.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Navigating post-pandemic school reintegration: A comprehensive assessment of mental health in children with special educational needs
In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers examine the changes in mental health among children and adolescents with special educational needs (SEN) during the first six months following the resumption of in-person learning after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related school closures.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Silent carriers: Long-standing SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory vesicles
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has posed unprecedented challenges worldwide. While extensive efforts have focused on understanding the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, certain aspects of the virus behavior, such as reactivation and recurrence, remain elusive.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Two COVID-19 vaccines show robust boosting potential in clinical trial
Two Melbourne-made COVID-19 vaccines have shown strong potential to be an improved approach for boosting immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants according to interim results of a Phase 1 clinical trial.
December 12, 2023 — Source

'Vaccine apartheid' caused by gap in access between richer and poorer countries
While the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, research continues on the role of vaccines—their effectiveness as well as factors that contribute to a resistance to being vaccinated, and the worldwide availability of the vaccine.
December 12, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 11th, 2023

Advanced MRI technology detects changes in the brain after COVID-19
Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have examined the brains of 16 patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 with persisting symptoms. They have found differences in brain tissue structure between patients with persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and healthy people.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Study: Women-led groups were key to food security during COVID-19 in India
In March of 2020, India's government announced a strict lockdown with just four hours notice, including a ban on the informal and traditional food outlets that 80 to 90 percent of Indians rely on for their main source of food.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 8th, 2023

How health system hesitancies contributed to COVID risks
More than 1.2 million people have died in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic to date, more documented deaths than any other nation on Earth.
December 08, 2023 — Source

No spike in overdoses seen with COVID-era expansion of methadone access
A new study led by researchers at Columbia University indicates that patients who receive methadone take-home doses—a protocol expanded during the COVID pandemic—are no more likely to overdose or drop out of care than those whose methadone is delivered at government‐approved opioid treatment programs.
December 08, 2023 — Source

New research reveals challenges posed by austerity, Brexit and COVID-19 for international town-twinning partnerships
Research by USP Academic Dr. Tosh Warwick has shed new light on transnational town-twinning history and the challenges posed by Brexit, the pandemic and austerity.
December 08, 2023 — Source

UKHSA encourages eligible people from ethnic minority groups to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines
UKHSA is strongly encouraging eligible people from ethnic minority groups, particularly people from the Pakistani and black Caribbean ethnic groups and individuals living in more deprived areas, to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines. This will protect them and their families against the heightened risks of these infections during winter.
December 08, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 6th, 2023

Majority of voters in American Heartland do not plan to get latest COVID vaccine, finds survey
Most voters (57%) in 22 states in the American Heartland say they won't get the new COVID-19 vaccine this year. This finding from 12 traditional Midwestern states and 10 surrounding ones was significantly higher than the national average of 51%, in state and national surveys conducted this fall by Emerson College Polling.
December 6, 2023 — Source

UK research highlights ongoing impact of COVID-19 on immunocompromised people
Research led by the University of Liverpool's Department of Politics launched today (Wednesday 6 December) has highlighted the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on more than a million immunocompromised people across the U.K.
December 6, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 5th, 2023

In Australia's public hospitals, post-COVID elective surgery wait times are longer than ever
The number of patients undergoing elective (non-emergency) surgery in Australia's public hospitals increased by 18% from 2021--22 to 2022--23, but many patients are still facing long wait times, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
December 5, 2023 — Source

New study highlights COVID-19's adaptive strategy for infection
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism whereby the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, can vary its mode of infection in human cells. In work published in the journal eLife, a team from the University of Minnesota and the Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center found the virus can alternate between being highly infectious and avoiding detection by the immune system. This understanding is vital for grasping the virus' impact during the pandemic and for predicting its potential evolutionary developments.
December 5, 2023 — Source

New study suggests more US lives could have been saved by authorizing COVID-19 booster sooner
A new Northwestern University study—led by Bernard Black of Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law and Kellogg School of Management—suggests that the U.S. could have saved many lives by authorizing a COVID-19 booster dose sooner, along with stronger public health messaging. The study uses Israel as a counterfactual example of what the U.S. might have achieved.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Novel mRNA vaccine GLB-COV2-043 shows high efficacy against COVID-19 variants in early trials
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in animal models.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Public health errors: Why it's crucial to understand what they are before assessing COVID-19 responses
Joe Vipond, a Canadian emergency room physician who was a strong supporter of masking during the pandemic, said in a speech last year that the slow recognition that COVID-19 is spread by airborne transmission resulted in what is likely "the most egregious public health error in modern history."
December 5, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 4th, 2023

New study examines long-term negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on well-being of young people
A study led by education professor Martin Neugebauer of Freie Universität Berlin and published in the European Sociological Review shows that young people's life satisfaction significantly declined during the pandemic. The decline was three times stronger than among the overall German population.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Overweight people may have impaired antibody response to COVID-19 infection
University of Queensland-led research shows being overweight can impair the body's antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection but not to the protection offered by vaccination.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Physical therapy for long COVID: Research shows patients benefit
Studies show that those suffering from long COVID may benefit from physical therapy services as soon as they are able to tolerate physical activity, a PCOM Georgia assistant professor, who specializes in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, said.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — December 1st, 2023

SARS-CoV-2 igM and igG antibody detection using a colloidal gold immunochromatography assay
The COVID-19 pandemic, which was caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had a significant effect on global public health, economies, and societies worldwide. Serum antibody testing is a critical method for the diagnosis of COVID-19 and can complement RT-PCR in the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients; however, the performance of rapid antibody assays in the clinical setting has not been established.
December 1, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 30th, 2023

COVID wave: What's the latest on antiviral drugs, and who is eligible in Australia?
Australia is experiencing a fresh wave of COVID, seeing increasing cases, more hospitalizations and a greater number of prescriptions for COVID antivirals dispensed over recent months.
November 30, 2023 — Source

People who experienced childhood adversity had poorer COVID-19 outcomes, new study shows
Adults who faced adversity during childhood were significantly more likely to die from or be hospitalized because of COVID-19. That's the key finding of my team's recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
November 30, 2023 — Source

Study: New vaccines provide protection against variants, even for those who have had COVID-19
Even if you have had COVID-19, new vaccines will provide protection against new variants of the virus by helping the immune system produce antibodies.
November 30, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 29th, 2023

A long-acting biologic with transmucosal transport properties that arrest SARS-CoV-2 virus variants
When the COVID-19 pandemic first started, no effective anti-viral drugs were available to fight the disease. However, in record time, so-called monoclonal antibodies were developed as a lifesaving treatment. Now, three years later, none of the approved antibodies work effectively against the new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants due to mutations that alter their spike protein.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Artificial intelligence used in new COVID-19 test improves accuracy
A new AI-assisted molecular diagnostic platform capable of identifying variants of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases has been developed by scientists in the UK. The low cost, portable device could play a crucial role in preventing future pandemics due to its accuracy and versatility.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Cell-Derived Nanoparticles Decrease Infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how crucial it is to have treatments ready to prevent viral epidemics, which can otherwise have disastrous effects. There is an immediate need for adaptable platform technologies that could be quickly repurposed to combat viral outbreaks to prepare for the next pandemic or Disease X.
November 29, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 in pregnancy tied to higher preterm birth risk; early vaccine adoption shows protective effect
A study published in PNAS describes the impact of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on infant health and the importance of vaccination in mitigating negative health outcomes in infants.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify dynamic behavior of key SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein
Researchers at Kanazawa University report in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters high-speed atomic force microscopy studies that shed light on the possible role of the open reading frame 6 (ORF6) protein in COVID-19 symptoms.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 28th, 2023

Nano-sized cell particles are promising intervention tool in treating infectious diseases, says study
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of being prepared with drug interventions to contain viral outbreaks that can otherwise have devastating consequences. In preparing for the next pandemic--or Disease X, there is an urgent need for versatile platform technologies that could be repurposed upon short notice to combat infectious outbreaks.
November 28, 2023 — Source

New COVID variant takes hold in the United States
The prevalence of a highly mutated COVID variant has tripled in the past two weeks, new government data shows.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Pregnancy postponement decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with decreased well-being among women
During the COVID-19 pandemic, every aspect of our lives changed, and decisions regarding pregnancy were no exception. Previous studies have shown that regret over the decision to delay childbearing at a young age is associated with lower subsequent well-being among women undergoing fertility treatment.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Which over-the-counter medications work best for treating COVID-19?
Since COVID-19 first spread rapidly around the world in 2020, we have significantly more options to reduce the symptoms and severity of the virus. COVID-19 symptoms usually begin in the first five days after exposure and can last up to 14 days. For many people, over-the-counter medications like Advil and Tylenol are enough to reduce symptoms while the virus runs its course.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 27th, 2023

Gig workers saw greater financial hardship during COVID-19 than other workers
Many gig workers experienced financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food insecurity and trouble paying bills, according to a recent study published in Work and Occupations.
November 27, 2023 — Source

It's not a cost of living crisis. It's a poverty pandemic
There is a poverty crisis in the UK. But when outlining his 110 growth measures aimed at getting "the British economy working" during his autumn statement, the chancellor's measures to tackle the cost of living crisis were limited to economic support payments focused on short-term wins.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Practice facilitation programs can help primary care clinics adopt best practices for providing COVID-19 vaccinations
In Ontario, Canada, most COVID-19 vaccinations were administered by public health organizations and pharmacies rather than by family physicians. Researchers devised a practice facilitation intervention program to help family physicians proactively engage with their patients who were not yet vaccinated for COVID‐19.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Scientists analyze antibody responses to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infections
After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in 2020, vaccines, antibodies (Abs), small molecule drugs, and other interventions needed to be researched, and such a rapid development is partly due to the accumulation of scientific research on severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS virus, SARS-CoV-1), MERS-CoV, and other coronaviruses that cause human disease.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Study: Spike in premature births caused by COVID, halted by vaccines
COVID-19 caused an alarming surge in premature births, but vaccines were key to returning the early birth rate to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new analysis of California birth records.
November 27, 2023 — Source

The 'jigglings and wigglings of atoms' reveal key aspects of COVID-19 virulence evolution
Richard Feynman famously stated, "Everything that living things do can be understood in terms of the jigglings and wigglings of atoms." This week, Nature Nanotechnology features a study that sheds new light on the evolution of the coronavirus and its variants of concern by analyzing the behavior of atoms in the proteins at the interface between the virus and humans.
November 27, 2023 — Source

The jigglings and wigglings of atoms reveal key aspects of COVID-19 virulence evolution
Richard Feynman famously stated, "Everything that living things do can be understood in terms of the jigglings and wigglings of atoms." This week, Nature Nanotechnology ("Single-molecule force stability of the SARS-CoV-2--ACE2 interface in variants-of-concernSource") features a groundbreaking study that sheds new light on the evolution of the coronavirus and its variants of concern by analyzing the behavior of atoms in the proteins at the interface between the virus and humans. The paper is the result of an international collaborative effort among researchers from six universities across three countries.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 24th, 2023

COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against long-term effects, study suggests
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread across the world from late 2019 onwards, causing almost seven million deaths and over a hundred times that number of infections. Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) or long COVID syndromes began to be reported early in the course of the pandemic. A new study in The BMJ explores how far vaccination averted PCC.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Fractional COVID-19 booster vaccines produce similar immune response as full doses, study shows
Reducing the dose of a widely used COVID-19 booster vaccine produces a similar immune response in adults to a full dose with fewer side effects, according to a new study.
November 24, 2023 — Source

How COVID enabled new forms of economic abuse of women in India
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the United Nations (UN) identified what it called a "shadow pandemic" of domestic violence against women. The UN includes in its definition of domestic violence what it refers to as "economic violence," which it explains as: "making or attempting to make a person financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, and/or forbidding attendance at school or employment."
November 24, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 23rd, 2023

Balancing health and economy: A new model to assess pandemic response strategies
In order to minimize the impact of a pandemic on the economy, which would be more effective: a lockdown or letting individuals spontaneously reduce their risk of infection? Research recently published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour by Spanish scientists suggests that these two widely debated options lead to similar outcomes; that is, the economy will always be damaged, but at least a lockdown will save more lives.
November 23, 2023 — Source

Specific HLA alleles may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection
This study analyzed and proposed the potential association of specific HLA alleles with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
November 23, 2023 — Source

Study uncovers no compelling evidence that air purifiers prevent respiratory infections
The COVID pandemic led to many calls for improved indoor air quality with claims that doing so would reduce the risk of the virus spreading. However, the real-world evidence to support these claims has been lacking, and studies undertaken during the pandemic have not yet been reported.
November 23, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 22nd, 2023

Study finds among outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19, treatment with fluvoxamine does not reduce duration of symptoms
In a recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, researchers investigate the effects of high-dose fluvoxamine among patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
November 22, 2023 — Source

What is the winter forecast for COVID-19? And should we expect a 'tripledemic' of COVID, flu and RSV?
The COVID-19 winter forecast is for relatively mild illness thanks to vaccination and natural immunity, health experts at Northeastern University say.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 21st, 2023

4 out of 5 Mexicans who got a flu shot this year turned down Cuban and Russian COVID-19 vaccines
Four out of five people in Mexico who got influenza shots so far this year turned down the government's recommendation that they get Russian or Cuban COVID-19 boosters at the same time, officials said Tuesday.
November 21, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 variant maintains threat: WHO
COVID-19 remains a threat as a virus variant has been spreading steadily around the globe, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday.
November 21, 2023 — Source

Human behavior may drive the evolution of new coronavirus strains
Using artificial intelligence technology and mathematical modeling, a research group led by Nagoya University has revealed that human behavior, such as lockdowns and isolation measures, affect the evolution of new strains of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, developed to become more transmissible earlier in its lifecycle. The researcher's findings, published in Nature Communications, provide new insights into the relationship between how people behave and disease-causing agents.
November 21, 2023 — Source

Long COVID happens in nursing homes, too, study finds
COVID-19 raced through nursing homes many times over the past few years, as the virus spread rapidly among vulnerable older adults living close together.
November 21, 2023 — Source

Research shows wastewater testing improves predictions for COVID-19 hospital admissions
Testing wastewater for COVID-19 provides a better forecast of new COVID hospital admissions than clinical data, according to a Syracuse University research team led by postdoctoral researcher Dustin Hill.
November 21, 2023 — Source

Study finds risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases in children
Children who had preexisting health problems or who lived in the Southern United States had a higher risk for severe health outcomes from acute COVID-19 infections, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The results, reported in the journal Hospital Pediatrics, also showed the importance of vaccinations in reducing the severity of illness for those who became infected.
November 21, 2023 — Source

What are the new COVID booster vaccines? Can I get one? Do they work? Are they safe?
As the COVID virus continues to evolve, so does our vaccine response. From December 11, Australians will have access to new vaccines that offer better protection.
November 21, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 20th, 2023

How a novel model resolves the key pandemic policy debates
Were lockdowns an effective response to COVID-19 or would it have been better to limit intervention and let individuals spontaneously reduce their own risk of infection? Three years on from the public health emergency that caught governments across the world off-guard, official inquiries into pandemic policy responses are gathering pace, aiming to provide a definitive answer to this hotly contested question.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Is Novavax, the Latecomer Covid Vaccine, Worth the Wait?
Erin Kissane, a co-founder of the COVID Tracking Project, rolled up her sleeve for the Novavax covid-19 vaccine in mid-October soon after it was finally recommended in the United States. Like many people with autoimmune diseases, she wants to protect herself from a potentially devastating covid infection.
November 20, 2023 — Source

More Free COVID Tests: Here's How to Order Them in the Mail
The US government is offering another set of four free COVID-19 tests delivered by the Postal Service.
November 20, 2023 — Source

New study sheds light on impact of fluvoxamine on COVID symptoms in certain cases
A new research article from Thomas Stewart, an associate professor of data science at the University of Virginia, examining the COVID-19 treatment fluvoxamine has been published in JAMA.
November 20, 2023 — Source

New thesis on severe COVID-19 and routine biomarker patterns
Anna Sjöström at the research group Experimental and Clinical Neuroendocrinology, the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, will defend her thesis "Severe COVID-19 and routine biomarker patterns" on November 24, 2023. Her main supervisor is Charlotte Höybye.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Pooling multiple models during COVID-19 pandemic provides more reliable projections about an uncertain future: Study
How can anyone decide on the best course of action in a world full of unknowns? There are few better examples of this challenge than the COVID-19 pandemic, when officials fervently compared potential outcomes as they weighed options like whether to implement lockdowns or require masks in schools. The main tools they used to compare these futures were epidemic models.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Why the COVID pandemic hit non-white Americans the hardest
Mortality rose across all demographics during first few years of the pandemic, but COVID-19 hit non-white Americans the hardest. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics, the largest increase in mortality in 2020 was among the American Indian and Native Alaskan populations, which saw an increase of 36.7%.
November 20, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 17th, 2023

Australian report finds COVID-19 worsened migrants and refugees' access to justice services
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and magnified migrant and refugee communities' difficulties in accessing social and legal services in Victoria, a new report has found.
November 17, 2023 — Source

CMA clarifies cooperation on combination therapies to speed up patient access to vital treatments
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today issued a statement clarifying that certain types of engagements between competing drug firms working on 'combination therapies' will not be prioritized for investigation — making it easier for drug firms to work together to develop vital treatments for use in the NHS. The CMA's statement comes in response to concerns that the CMA could intervene to stop these types of collaborations under competition law.
November 17, 2023 — Source

COVID-19: Vaccination and infection found to trigger differential immune responses
It was initially unclear how the immune system would react to infections with SARS-CoV-2 after a third vaccination. A team of scientists from the University Medical Center Göttingen, in collaboration with the University of Münster, has now investigated this question in the CoV-ADAPT study.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Duke hospitals receive nine consecutive "A" grades from Leapfrog Group
For nine consecutive grading periods, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital received top scores for patient safety and the reduction of avoidable harm from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.
November 17, 2023 — Source

FDA moves against vape products that mimic toys, slushies and appeal to kids
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking action against e-cigarettes disguised to look like everyday items that appeal to young people.
November 17, 2023 — Source

First-of-its-kind splatter study examines infection control during oral surgery
A first-of-its-kind study from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry examined the patterns of splatter contamination created by rotary instruments and irrigation during oral surgery. This study is the first to examine rotary instrumentation splatter created during oral surgery procedures, and its findings provide several key suggestions for the future of oral surgery and improving safety measures for both providers and patients.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Info blocking exceptions need special attention from providers
HHS is proposing expensive new disincentives to prevent information blocking. There are significant details to be aware of, especially around a list of enumerated exceptions — and HCOs must work quickly to understand them, data privacy experts say.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Ingestible electronic device detects breathing depression in patients
Diagnosing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea usually requires a patient to spend the night in a sleep lab, hooked up to a variety of sensors and monitors. Researchers from MIT, Celero Systems, and West Virginia University hope to make that process less intrusive, using an ingestible capsule they developed that can monitor vital signs from within the patient's GI tract.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Study finds significant 'post-COVID' resurgence in invasive meningococcal disease
A team of scientists from the Institut Pasteur has used the database of the National Reference Center for Meningococci to trace the evolution of invasive meningococcal disease cases in France between 2015 and 2022, revealing an unprecedented resurgence in the disease after the easing of control measures imposed during the COVID-19 epidemic.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Study identifies urgent need for improved research on how to respond to misleading health information
The study, published in Health Affairs on Wednesday, Nov. 15, shows where existing research is lacking and how it can be improved. For example, when studies tested the impact of COVID-19 misinformation interventions, they used significantly different examples of misinformation, assessed 47 outcomes yet rarely measured public health outcomes such as intent to vaccinate.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Study shows amount and days of opioids prescribed at discharge decreased after 2017 Ohio prescription opioid cap law
The Ohio Opioid Cap Law, enacted on August 31, 2017, limited the total dose and duration of opioids that could be prescribed for minors. The anticipated benefit of cap laws in preventing opioid overdose, death and addiction was counterbalanced by fears that decreased opioid prescribing could hurt patient satisfaction.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Therapy Born on the Battlefield May Help Ease Anyone's PTSD
Army Reserve veteran Selina Jackson has years of combat experience ... off the battlefield.
November 17, 2023 — Source

University of Wash. Bothell and Cascadia College celebrate new STEM-focused Innovation Hall
The University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia College this week celebrated the opening of Innovation Hall on their campuses located northeast of Seattle. The new $79 million facility will serve students in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and electrical and mechanical engineering.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 16th, 2023

Developing models that predict poor clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients
Using basic information on 380,081 patients in the Basque Autonomous Community infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, collaboration between mathematicians from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and medical staff from the Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital has led to the proposal of a set of risk scales that are very easy to calculate, have a high predictive capacity and also function with the omicron variant. These scales may be of use in primary care, emergency departments and hospital admissions.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Exploring the dual role of nirmatrelvir and bisphosphonates in COVID-19 treatment and immunity
The unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic facilitated the rapid development and subsequent deployment of several novel and highly effective vaccines. However, the role of antiviral treatments remained pivotal, especially for certain patient populations incapable of mounting an effective vaccine response or those reluctant to be vaccinated.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 15th, 2023

COVID-19 likely to peak in colder months as virus becomes endemic, finds study
As COVID-19 becomes endemic in the United States, infecting populations in wave after wave annually, scientists are trying to determine whether the timing of these surges will ever be predictable.
November 15, 2023 — Source

Research highlights data gap in SARS-CoV-2 cases in animals
COVID-19 in animals? The question got lost in the shuffle during the ongoing global pandemic. Research on SARS-CoV-2 has primarily focused on its implications for humans, despite the virus most likely being a zoonosis, a disease transmitted from animals to humans.
November 15, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 14th, 2023

COVID-19 causes epigenetic lung scars, researchers report
COVID-19 became an international pandemic in 2020. To date, more than 770 million people have suffered from the disease and nearly 7 million of them have lost their life. The most common cause of death in the studied group is lung involvement with consequent respiratory failure.
November 14, 2023 — Source

How tiny hinges bend the infection-spreading spikes of a coronavirus
Disabling those hinges could be a good strategy for designing vaccines and treatments against a broad range of coronavirus infections, including COVID-19.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Trust in science down; trends worst in minorities, Republicans
A new poll examines how the US public views science and scientists.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 13th, 2023

COVID-19 imposed new burdens on already disadvantaged groups and left pre-existing social inequalities in place: Study
An article by Stockholm University researchers, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), relies on data for the entire Swedish population and uncovers how the COVID-19 pandemic created new social inequalities and affected existing inequalities.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Hospital-acquired COVID-19 mortality drops in Omicron era post-vaccination, reveals Swedish study
In a retrospective, matched cohort study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers investigated the incidence of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and the related 30-day mortality among patients hospitalized in Stockholm, Sweden. They found that nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections in the pre-vaccination period and the initial days of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were associated with an increased 30-day mortality.
November 13, 2023 — Source

How Lawmakers in Texas and Florida Undermine Covid Vaccination Efforts
Katherine Wells wants to urge her Lubbock, Texas, community to get vaccinated against covid-19. "That could really save people from severe illness," said Wells, the city's public health director.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Researchers adapt health system COVID-19 collaboration to track near-real-time trends in visits for substance use
In a recently released study, researchers at Hennepin Healthcare and other Minnesota health systems describe how a COVID-19 collaboration across Minnesota health systems was adapted to monitor near-real-time trends in substance use--related hospital and emergency department (ED) visits.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Virologic rebound observed in 20% of patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir
An observational study of patients being treated for acute COVID-19 in a multicenter health care system observed virologic rebound in about 20% of patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (N-R) versus about 2% of those who did not receive treatment.
November 13, 2023 — Source

What should I do with an expired COVID test?
Have you ever been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or had the sniffles, and reached for an at-home test in your medicine cabinet--only to notice it's way past the expiration date stamped on the box?
November 13, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 10th, 2023

More than half of COVID-19 patients have post-disease syndrome, finds research
The School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) found that 55% of the patients who sought medical treatment from the HKBU Chinese Medicine Telemedicine Center Against COVID-19 during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to experience at least one long COVID symptom for six months to a year after diagnosed with an infection. The most common symptoms are fatigue, brain fog and cough.
November 10, 2023 — Source

Health — Covid-19 — November 9th, 2023

Coadministration of COVID-19, influenza vaccines seems effective
Coadministration of the BNT162b2 BA.4/5 bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2-biv) and seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) generally has similar effectiveness against COVID-19- and SIV-related outcomes compared with administration of each vaccine alone, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Network Open.
November 9, 2023 — Source

COVID-linked loss of smell, taste found to resolve by 3 years after infection
There's good news for folks who lost some of their sense of taste and smell after a bout of mild COVID: New research shows this side effect largely resolves by three years after infection.
November 9, 2023 — Source

First-ever crowd-sourced small molecule discovery and a potent SARS-CoV-2 antiviral lead compound
The work of the COVID Moonshot Consortium has been published in the journal Science revealing their discovery of a potent SARS-CoV-2 antiviral lead compound. It also reflects on the success of its open science approach in launching a patent-free antiviral discovery program to rapidly develop a differentiated lead in response to a pandemic emergency.
November 9, 2023 — Source

How digital health may shore up pandemic preparedness
Arguments are still raging about how humanity could have been better prepared for COVID-19. Indeed, politicians who chose different approaches to handling the emerging viral pandemic and especially those who had abandoned the scientific plans that were in place even before we had named the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 are still being lambasted by their critics, patient advocacy groups and those with a post-pandemic grievance.
November 9, 2023 — Source

ICMRA celebrates 10 years of global cooperation in regulating medicinal products
This year marks ten years since the MHRA joined seven other global regulators to establish ICMRA to address the need for strong global cooperation and alignment in the regulation of medicinal products.
November 9, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — November 7th, 2023

COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are available to children in the U.S. Here's what parents need to know about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, the possible side effects, and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Debunking COVID-19 myths
Chances are you've heard about a food, drug or other method that claims to prevent, treat or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). But while it might be tempting to use a questionable product or method to stay healthy during the pandemic, it's very unlikely to work. And, in some cases, it might cause serious harm.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Inhaled monoclonal antibodies found to be protective against COVID-19, show promise for at-home aerosolized therapy
Another at-home treatment option for the flu and other respiratory illnesses is closer to becoming a reality, thanks to new research that found inhaled, monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 significantly reduced COVID-19 disease in nonhuman primates.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — November 6th, 2023

Excess mortality during pandemic was higher among workers in critical occupations
While numerous news reports and previous studies have revealed disparities in COVID-19-related deaths among certain populations, including older adults, people of color, and people with pre-existing medical conditions, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) have now added a new element to this conversation--differences in rates of death among workers in critical occupations during the pandemic.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Google shutters the COVID-19 exposure notification feature on Android
The move comes a few months after WHO said the pandemic was no longer a global health emergency.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Long COVID in women may be linked to inflammation levels at peak of infection, new research suggests
Women who have mild inflammation in the acute stages of COVID-19 infection may be more likely to experience a particular set of long COVID symptoms, according to new research.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Mental health in the workplace is an ongoing challenge
In Quebec workplaces, psychological distress and psychotropic drug use have fallen back to prepandemic levels, but symptoms of depression, anxiety and burnout have become more widespread.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Opinion: It's time to limit how often we can travel abroad--'carbon passports' may be the answer
The summer of 2023 has been very significant for the travel industry. By the end of July, international tourist arrivals globally reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels. In some European countries, such as France, Denmark and Ireland, tourism demand even surpassed its pre-pandemic level.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop a nasal vaccine that prevents COVID-19 in preclinical studies
A team of University of Maryland researchers developed a nasal spray vaccine that delivers the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein into cells of the airway in mice and hamsters, triggering an immune response that significantly reduced infection and spread of COVID-19. The technology can be adapted to induce immunity to other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Study validates new scale for measuring pandemic-related traumatic stress in children and adults
The Pandemic-related Traumatic Stress Scale (PTSS) can be used to effectively measure stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify children and adults with higher levels of stress who may need additional mental health support, according to a new study.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — November 3rd, 2023

COVID-19 in babies and children
Children of all ages can get the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and experience its complications.
November 3, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts
Looking to get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines? Here's what you need to know about the different vaccines and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
November 3, 2023 — Source

COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences?
COVID-19, the common cold, seasonal allergies and the flu have many similar symptoms. Find out about some of the important differences between these illnesses.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Google Has Decided To Remove COVID-19 Exposure Notification From Android
The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm a couple of years ago, and even though it feels like a different lifetime., as a two-time COVID survivor, I can tell that the suffering was at its peak. During the pandemic, we also saw companies coming together to make it easier for people to endure hard times.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Long-term care COVID restrictions took toll on families' mental health, reveals study
Restrictions on social access had a direct impact not only on the well-being of older adults in long-term care (LTC) but also their family members during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by Western researchers.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks?
If you are pregnant, you were pregnant in the last 42 days (recently pregnant) or you are breastfeeding, you may be concerned about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on you and your baby. You might also have questions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Here's what you need to know.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Study finds constraints causing significant post-pandemic stress for hospitality job seekers
Researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership say post-pandemic job search and work constraints in the hospitality industry are causing higher stress for job seekers, leading to more turnover and less qualified candidates.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Study links childhood trauma to COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations
People who endured childhood adversity, like abuse or neglect, were more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 in adulthood, a new University of Pittsburgh study found. Specifically, higher self-reported childhood adversity was linked to 12--25% higher odds of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Survey reveals higher parenting stress for dads working from home during pandemic
A survey from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that 40% of parents who worked remotely during the pandemic reported higher parenting stress compared with only 27% of parents who worked onsite.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Why do some vaccines (polio, measles) prevent diseases, while others (COVID-19, flu) only reduce their severity?
When the first vaccines for COVID-19 rolled out in December 2020, some people hoped they would be a silver bullet against the novel virus the way that polio and smallpox shots are nearly 100% effective against those diseases.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — November 2nd, 2023

Large-scale study finds increased risk of stillbirth following infection with COVID-19
A large-scale Nordic study reveals that women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had increased risk of stillbirth. The risk was highest among women infected with the delta variant.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Research examines why mask usage in Japan persists
When you think of Japan in the age of COVID, you might imagine a crowd of people wearing masks. But why do so many Japanese people wear masks?
November 2, 2023 — Source

Tenn. vaccine chief, fired after promoting COVID shots, gets $150K settlement
Dr. Michelle Fiscus was fired after sending a memo on vaccination rights of minors.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 31st, 2023

Children with asthma not at higher risk of severe COVID, research suggests
In the early coronavirus pandemic, there were contrasting reports on whether asthma was a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. While children are considered to be at a lower risk of severe COVID-19 than older age groups, the impact of childhood asthma was also unclear.
October 31, 2023 — Source

Food insecurity, job loss contributed substantially to worldwide mental health decline during first COVID phase: Study
Many studies have documented the decline in mental health throughout the pandemic, but new analyses led by School of Public Health researchers paint a sharper picture of the factors that placed the greatest burden on psychological health across the globe.
October 31, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 30th, 2023

COVID meds like Paxlovid will soon have big price tags
Americans have been getting COVID treatments such as Paxlovid for free, but that's about to end.
October 30, 2023 — Source

'Get back to school' headlines eroded teacher well-being during pandemic, research shows
Intense public pressure on teachers to "get back to school" during the COVID lockdowns deepened an already widespread sense that they were undervalued, and left some actively rethinking their careers, research from the universities of York and Cambridge shows.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Nirmatrelvir--ritonavir not effective for reducing most post-COVID-19 conditions: Study
A trial emulation study of veterans with COVID-19 has found that the use of the antiviral nirmatrelvir--ritonavir was not effective for reducing the risk for many post-COVID-19 conditions, including cardiac, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, neurologic, mental health, musculoskeletal, or endocrine symptoms.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Protein interaction causing rare but deadly vaccine-related clotting found
A mechanism that led some patients to experience cases of deadly clotting following some types of COVID-19 vaccination has been identified in new research.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Strategies behind near-zero COVID-19 incidence in NBA 'bubble' published
The success of the NBA's approach demonstrates that strict adherence to certain protocols can be highly effective in preventing disease outbreaks in a self-contained environment and serves as a model for future pandemic management.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Surveillance and genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage water by Cas12a-facilitated portable plasmonic biosensor
The various methodologies utilized in the clinical diagnosis of pathogens are often time-consuming and cost-ineffective, and their detection limits are not satisfactory for processing environmental samples, which contain only scant amounts of microorganismal DNA/RNA.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 27th, 2023

AI-nanopore platform can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants with high accuracy
A rapid, accurate way of testing for COVID-19 infection would be a big step in overcoming the virus' hold over our society. Now, in an article published in Lab on a Chip, Japanese researchers have developed a promising solution: a novel platform that couples nanopore technology with artificial intelligence.
October 27, 2023 — Read SourceSource

Fall COVID shot uptake is an "abysmal" 7%; wastewater testing impaired
Meanwhile, a quarter of the country's wastewater testing sites are offline.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Human Immunity Pushing Back on COVID As New Variant Arises
The virus that causes COVID-19 is adapting again, and the variant of Omicron known as BA.2.86 has a new mutation called JN.1, prompting experts to urge us all to remain calm but vigilant.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Long COVID prevalence high in Scandinavians with severe COVID-19
A collaborative study involving researchers from Karolinska Institutet has charted the prevalence of severe physical symptom burden amongst Scandinavians for up to two years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most affected were people who had a severe COVID-19 infection, while the researchers found no elevated prevalence of long COVID in those who had never been bedridden.
October 27, 2023 — Source

New discovery concerning receptors used by coronaviruses to enter human cells
The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, contrasting with other coronaviruses that were known to cause mild seasonal colds prior to its emergence in 2019. This raises the question of why one coronavirus affects humans more severely than another. Scientists at the Institut Pasteur, Universite Paris Cite and the VRI have now provided part of the answer by identifying a gateway used by the seasonal coronavirus HKU1 to enter human cells.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Novel AI-Driven Nanopore Platform Could Revolutionize COVID-19 Testing
A rapid, accurate way of testing for COVID-19 infection would be a big step in overcoming the virus' hold over our society. Now, in an article published in Lab on a Chip, Japanese researchers have developed a promising solution: a novel platform that couples nanopore technology with artificial intelligence.
October 27, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2 virus found to migrate within neurons and infect the brain
The emergence of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 has produced a wide range of clinical profiles and symptoms in patients. For the first time, researchers at the Institut Pasteur and Universite Paris Cite have demonstrated, in an animal model, a characteristic common to several SARS-CoV-2 variants: the ability to infect the central nervous system.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 26th, 2023

2% of kids and 7% of adults have gotten the new COVID shots, US data show
A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot.
October 26, 2023 — Source

A new era for accurate, rapid COVID-19 testing
A rapid, accurate way of testing for COVID-19 infection would be a big step in overcoming the virus' hold over our society. Now, in an article published in Lab on a Chip ("High-Precision Rapid Testing of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Clinical Samples Using AI-Nanopore"), Japanese researchers have developed a promising solution: a novel platform that couples nanopore technology with artificial intelligence.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Clinics Peddle Unproven Stem Cell Treatment for Long COVID
Companies marketing expensive and unproven stem cell therapies are targeting patients with long COVID — an often debilitating condition that to date has no proven treatments, according to a report published today.
October 26, 2023 — Source

COVID proved the therapeutic potential of RNA technology--making it more available is the next goal
The recent award of the 2023 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman highlights the growing importance of RNA technology in the medical world, with many potential applications beyond COVID vaccines.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Financial insecurity common among frontline health care workers during COVID-19, research finds
Despard said he and his collaborators--Dr. Haotian Zheng and Dr. Sophia Fox-Dichter at Washington University in St. Louis--were surprised by their findings, especially their discovery that a higher salary did not necessarily shield a health care worker from struggling to make ends meet.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Newly identified amino acid may play key role in predicting outcomes and treatment of long COVID
University of Alberta researchers have identified an amino acid that may play a key role in predicting poor clinical outcomes and the treatment of long COVID.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify amino acid that may play a key role for predicting and treating long COVID
University of Alberta researchers have identified an amino acid that may play a key role in predicting poor clinical outcomes and the treatment of long COVID.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Updated COVID-19 boosters and XBB.1.5: What you need to know
As the world marches toward the completion of its fourth year with COVID-19, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the majority of those infected, hospitalized or dying from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the U.S. are older adults.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 24th, 2023

New research aims to understand the ecology of SARS-CoV-2 at the human-animal interface
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia Tech disease ecologists wondered if the virus was having the same effect on wildlife.
October 24, 2023 — Source

Research suggests shorter isolation periods for children with COVID-19
The study found the median time of infectivity was three days, with 18.4% of children still infectious on day five and 3.9% infectious on day 10. The study also found no association between how long children were infectious and whether they were vaccinated, suggesting return-to-school policies may not need to discriminate by vaccine or booster status.
October 24, 2023 — Source

Viral rebound and safety of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for lung-transplant recipients infected with SARS-CoV-2
Data on the viral rebound and safety of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in lung transplant (LTx) recipients are limited. A study published in Biosafety and Health prospectively followed four LTx recipients. Clinical characteristics, viral RNA dynamic in throat swabs, and tacrolimus blood concentration were monitored regularly.
October 24, 2023 — Source or Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 23rd, 2023

Metacognition and the pandemic: how our beliefs influence our choices
In a recent study published in PNAS, researchers performed several empirical tests to evaluate the significance of human metacognition, i.e., the ability to self-reflect upon one's beliefs and behavior, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
October 23, 2023 — Source

Study highlights gut fungi's lasting impact on severe COVID-19 immune response
Certain gut-dwelling fungi flourish in severe cases of COVID-19, amplifying the excessive inflammation that drives this disease while also causing long-lasting changes in the immune system, according to a new study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. This discovery identifies a group of patients who may benefit from specialized, but yet-to-be determined treatments.
October 23, 2023 — Source

What were the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has been exemplary in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic until the highest daily mortality was recorded in the city. COVID-19 deaths per capita in Hong Kong are also far higher than in other high-income Asia-Pacific economies.
October 23, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 20th, 2023

Canine transmission models provide insights into the neurological impacts of COVID-19 on human brains
Their findings reveal that infection by SARS-CoV-2 results in significant damage to the brain, especially concerning the blood-brain barrier.
October 20, 2023 — Source

COVID-19-related jail decarceration did not affect crime in California, study suggests
Since 2011, California has significantly reformed its criminal justice system, reducing the size of its prison population, with no effect on violent crime and only marginal impacts on property crime statewide. The COVID-19 pandemic furthered decarceration as the state reduced state prison and jail populations to slow the spread of the virus.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Pediatric trauma more common during COVID-19 pandemic, especially for children in disadvantaged neighborhoods
Injuries from gunshots and motor vehicle crashes increased among children and teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to new research being presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Study: Increases in pediatric mental health emergency visits persist throughout pandemic
Mental health crises among children and adolescents requiring emergency department care skyrocketed during the pandemic and have stayed elevated despite a return to normalcy, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Why Is Finding Covid Shots for Young Children Still So Hard?
On Sept. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the next round of covid shots for everyone 6 months and older. The shots were expected to be available within days in pharmacies and doctor's offices across the country, the CDC said.
October 20, 2023 — Source

World still not fully protected from another pandemic, WHS leaders warn
At the World Health Summit (WHS) global leaders warned that the world was still not fully protected from another pandemic like COVID-19.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 19th, 2023

Communities of color experienced fear, mistrust of institutions during COVID-19 pandemic: Study calls for action
A study led by researchers in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, has found that in communities of color in Inland Southern California, historical, cultural, and social traumas induce fear and mistrust in public health and medical, scientific, and governmental institutions, which, in turn, influence these communities' hesitation to get tested and vaccinated for COVID-19.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Pfizer hikes price of COVID antiviral Paxlovid from $530 to nearly $1,400
The price hike is expected to exacerbate already poor uptake of the drug.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Research reveals mental health toll of COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with peptic ulcer disease
New research from the University of Toronto has revealed the mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with peptic ulcer disease (PUD), a painful condition in which gastric sores develop in the lining of the stomach or upper portion of the small intestine.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Novel dynamic imaging technology captures the body's immune response to COVID-19 infection
A team of UC Davis scientists has used dynamic total-body positron emission tomography (PET) to provide the first imaging of the human body's immune response to COVID-19 infection in recovering patients.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Study finds startup workers fled for bigger, more established companies during pandemic
The world may have felt like it had stopped in the pandemic's first weeks. But a "flight to safety" was underway at a popular digital job platform catering to the startup sector.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 18th, 2023

Covid relief payments triggered feds to demand money back from Social Security recipients
As the nation reeled from COVID-19, the federal government sent many Americans a financial lifeline.
October 18, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have come and mostly gone in the US--an ethicist discusses the implications
Ending pandemics is a social decision, not scientific. Governments and organizations rely on social, cultural and political considerations to decide when to officially declare the end of a pandemic. Ideally, leaders try to minimize the social, economic and public health burden of removing emergency restrictions while maximizing potential benefits.
October 18, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2: Alert immune system in the respiratory tract protects children from severe courses of the disease
Why are severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection much less common in children and adolescents than in adults? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered that the immune system in the upper respiratory tract is much more alert and active in children before infection than in adults and is therefore better equipped to fight the virus.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Telehealth audiology services need to be dialed up, shows study
Despite a surge during COVID-19, the use of telehealth-supported access to audiologists is not being used to its full potential according to new research from Flinders University.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 17th, 2023

COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts
Looking to get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines? Here's what you need to know about the different vaccines and the benefits of getting vaccinated.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Public health interventions prevented transmission within Boston University of most SARS-CoV-2 cases, finds study
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, began impacting the U.S. in March 2020 with many schools and universities shifting to remote education by early April 2020 in response to the public health emergency.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Examining high school student mental health post-pandemic
Mental health issues had been a concern before the pandemic, but they came into focus even more during this time. In a recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, Dr. Mahmood Gohari from the University of Waterloo's School of Public Health Sciences used survey data from almost 5,400 Canadian adolescents to examine changes in depression and anxiety from 2018 until 2021.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Long COVID in kids--what can exercise reveal?
After recovering from the initial infection, many adults develop long COVID and report persistent problems with fatigue, "brain fog," mood, and other symptoms that can last for months.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 16th, 2023

Mouse model of COVID-19 in pregnancy shows benefit of paxlovid treatment
A new mouse model of infection with the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus during pregnancy tracks closely the disease course doctors have observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant patients, and suggests that treatment with the antiviral Paxlovid provides protection for both mother and child.
October 16, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 13th, 2023

One Month Later: Where Are the Pediatric COVID Vaccines?
It's been a month since the CDC recommended the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months old and older, and promised the vaccines would be "available by the end of this week at most places you would normally go to get your vaccines."
October 13, 2023 — Source

Targeting a coronavirus ion channel could yield new COVID-19 drugs
The genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus encodes 29 proteins, one of which is an ion channel called E. This channel, which transports protons and calcium ions, induces infected cells to launch an inflammatory response that damages tissues and contributes to the symptoms of COVID-19.
October 13, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 12th, 2023

Even during height of pandemic, most did not use prenatal telehealth
Rebecca A. Gourevitch, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland in College Park, and colleagues used results from a multistate survey to examine variation in prenatal telehealth use and reasons for its nonuse at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis included responses from 12,073 participants in the 2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System who gave birth between June and December 2020.
October 12, 2023 — Source

Female essential workers were at 'higher risk' of catching COVID-19 during pandemic, finds Ireland survey
Female essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were substantially more at risk of contracting the virus according to new research published by UCD in partnership with the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI).
October 12, 2023 — Source

Public knowledge varies greatly on flu and COVID-19, surveys show
There is wide variability in what the U.S. public knows about the seasonal flu and COVID-19, but some facts are much more strongly associated with an individual's vaccination behavior.
October 12, 2023 — Source

Vaccines against COVID-19, the seasonal flu and RSV are our best chance of preventing a winter surge, says researcher
As cold and flu season ramps up, health care experts are once again on high alert for the possibility of a tripledemic, or a surge brought on by the respiratory viruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The good news is that this year, health officials have more tools at their disposal to combat them.
October 12, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 11th, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination: How the body builds immune memory in organs
One shot in the arm, and the whole body is protected. But how? For one thing, the immune system produces antibodies and cells that patrol the entire organism by traveling through the bloodstream. For another, as shown by a recent Charite--Universitätsmedizin Berlin study of the mRNA coronavirus vaccines, the body builds local immune memory in various organs.
October 11, 2023 — Source

How were antibiotics used during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics on a global scale threatens the benefits traditionally associated with antibiotic usage, as multi-drug resistant microorganisms continue to emerge. This led to the introduction of antimicrobial stewardship principles.
October 11, 2023 — Source

New AI tool predicts future viral variants using evolutionary, biological information
The COVID-19 pandemic seemed like a never-ending parade of SARS-CoV-2 variants, each equipped with new ways to evade the immune system, leaving the world bracing for what would come next.
October 11, 2023 — Source

New research finds greater continuity of psychotherapy after shift to telehealth
The rapid transition to virtual care that occurred with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in better continuity of psychotherapy visits compared to prior to the pandemic when almost all visits were in-person, according to new research published in Psychiatric Services. In addition, the time between appointments grew shorter after the transition to virtual care.
October 11, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 10th, 2023

Comparing the lasting effects: post COVID versus non-COVID acute respiratory infections
In a recent study published in eClinicalMedicine, researchers compared symptom profiles between individuals with prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and those with other acute respiratory infections (ARIs).
October 10, 2023 — Source

COVID might raise odds for immune disorders like Crohn's, alopecia
Conditions such as alopecia (hair loss), psoriasis, vitiligo (white skin patches), vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, adult-onset Still's disease (painful skin rash), Sjogren's syndrome (autoimmune disease), ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) and sarcoidosis (enlarged lymph nodes) can all be triggered by COVID-19 infection, according to the new report.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Did the COVID-19 pandemic increase drunkness among people with a history of alcohol use disorder?
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by a rapid outbreak of severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has claimed more than 6.9 million lives worldwide.
October 10, 2023 — Source

New study examines COVID vaccine protection for patients with lung conditions
Clinicians and researchers at National Jewish Health have studied COVID vaccine effectiveness in patients with underlying lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Findings show that nearly half of respiratory patients have lower vaccine-specific antibody, B cell, and T cell responses than healthy individuals.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Research shows COVID-19 pandemic substantially changed commuting patterns, access to jobs
Patterns of movement in cities, especially office job commutes, were substantially changed in 2021 by telework, economic change and other responses to COVID-19, according to new research from the Accessibility Observatory at the University of Minnesota. While immediate effects of these behavioral changes, such as reduced congestion and lower transit ridership, have been well-documented, the new data reveal deeper impacts that differ by the three modes studied: auto, transit and biking.
October 10, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2 infects ocular tissue, but inflammation absent in the eyes of patients who died from COVID-19: Study
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), infects tissues throughout the human body, including the eye. Now, a recent study has evaluated changes and investigated cellular localization of SARS-CoV-2 in ocular tissues at autopsy.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 6th, 2023

Clinical trial reveals benefits of inhaled nitric oxide for patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia
Inhaled nitric oxide gas widens blood vessels in the lungs and is used to treat severe cardio-pulmonary conditions in newborns and adults.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Expert insight: COVID-19 and what to expect this fall
It's been almost four years since the first human cases of COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 were reported.
October 6, 2023 — Source

More adults likely to get a flu vaccination than receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, survey finds
Fifty-five percent of U.S. adults reported that they would "definitely" or "probably" get a recommended influenza vaccination in the coming months, while 46% plan to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, according to findings from a national survey of 1,280 adults commissioned by the Center for Health and Risk Communication (CHRC) in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Physician associates: A solution for health care staff shortages or a colonial throwback?
Before the COVID pandemic, the global health workforce needed as many as 6.4 million more medical doctors, and the gap between demand for health workers and supply is growing. As you might expect, the shortage is most acutely felt in low- and middle-income countries.
October 6, 2023 — Source

What could cause a malaria comeback in the US — and what could stop it
Americans shouldn't take a malaria-free future for granted.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 5th, 2023

COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination have negligible effects on migraine severity, research shows
Among 550 adults who had received migraine-related care at a Spanish headache clinic, 44.9% (247) reported COVID-19 at least once and 83.3% (458) had been vaccinated; 61 patients (24.7%) reported migraine worsening since COVID-19 and 52 (11.4%) since vaccination.
October 5, 2023 — Source

In early trial, promising results for Moderna's combo COVID-flu vaccine
Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that it has seen positive early results with a new vaccine that would guard against four strains of flu plus COVID-19.
October 5, 2023 — Source

Vulnerability to different COVID-19 mutations depends on previous infections and vaccination, study suggests
A person's immune response to variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, depends on their previous exposure--and differences in the focus of immune responses will help scientists understand how to optimize vaccines in the future to provide broad protection.
October 5, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 3rd, 2023

Infant immune systems found to have unique and effective responses to SARS-CoV-2
Research led by the University of Tübingen, Germany, along with partners at Stanford University, Emory University and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, U.S., has looked into infant immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infections during the initial months of life.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Long COVID patients are much more likely to have multiple organ abnormalities, finds research
It wasn't that long ago that some people speculated that long COVID was all in the mind--a psychosomatic illness. Thankfully, that period of speculation is now behind us. We have compelling evidence that long COVID is very real and very harmful.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Research may explain why men are more likely to experience severe cases of COVID-19
A new study by a team of researchers at the University of Toronto's Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) has uncovered biological reasons underlying sex differences in COVID-19 outcomes, offering a promising new strategy to prevent illness.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Study uncovers reasons Americans did not get booster vaccines
In September 2022, new bivalent COVID-19 boosters became available in the United States, but less than 20% of the eligible population ultimately received one. A new study led by researchers in the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health identified why so many Americans did not receive a booster.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Synthetic peptide could reduce vascular problems associated with COVID-ARDS
A synthetic peptide developed by researchers at the Medical College of Georgia could help reduce vascular problems associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — October 2nd, 2023

After being demoted and forced to retire, mRNA researcher wins Nobel
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Early mRNA research that led to COVID-19 vaccines wins 2023 medicine Nobel Prize
Biochemists Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman overcame hurdles that enabled vaccine development
October 2, 2023 — Source

Long COVID unmasked: Patients share varied physical, mental, and social challenges
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers used Patient-Reported Outcomes Survey (PROMIS-10) survey data filled out by the My COVID Diary (MCD) trial participants and their narrative submissions to describe patient experiences of the post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or long COVID.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Nobel-winning mRNA pioneer Weissman now wants to defeat COVID forever
From developing a one-and-done coronavirus shot to overcoming misinformation and global vaccine inequity, Nobel prize winner Drew Weissman says that at 64, he's only "speeding up."
October 2, 2023 — Source

Trivalent vaccine candidate fights measles, mumps, SARS-CoV-2
Altered measles and mumps viruses could be used as a platform to create a trivalent COVID-19 vaccine that triggers immunity to multiple variant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, new research in animals suggests.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Years of research laid the groundwork for speedy COVID-19 shots
The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to two scientists whose work led to the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 29th, 2023

Getting COVID shot during pregnancy helps protect newborns, CDC study finds
When pregnant women get a COVID vaccine, it helps protect their newborns from the virus, a new government study shows.
September 29, 2023 — Source

More young, healthy people should be getting Paxlovid when they get Covid
US providers are underusing the drug — and not just in high-risk people.
September 29, 2023 — Source

Shortages, Cost, and Frustration: Quest for the New COVID Shot
As the rollout of the newly formulated shot begins in earnest, many Americans are finding roadblocks, while federal officials urge everyone to be patient and get the shot when you can.
September 29, 2023 — Source

What to expect for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 respiratory season
Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are all part of the seasonal respiratory virus lineup. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the upcoming fall and winter are expected to have a similar number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases as last year.
September 29, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 28th, 2023

As COVID infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines
"COVID is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Vaccines, variants and COVID-19 trends
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States were on the rise for weeks heading into mid-September, right as updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna started to be distributed across the country.
September 28, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 27th, 2023

As covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines
"Covid is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Medication and mutations: molnupiravir's impact on SARS-CoV-2 genomes
Molnupiravir has been authorized in several countries to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The drug is converted into molnupiravir triphosphate (a nucleoside analog) and incorporated into viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) strands, leading to sequence fidelity errors. This results in progeny that are not viable, thereby decreasing the effective growth rate of the virus.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers Develop Material That Captures Airborne COVID-19 Particles
The material, which is essentially a silica-treated cotton, is 93% effective at intercepting coronavirus proteins.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Zoonotic spillover safeguarding: computationally designed antigen targets range of coronaviruses
In a recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers used an interdisciplinary approach incorporating phylogenetics, 3D protein modeling, and plasmid design to identify and computationally design an antigen representing the core of most currently known sarbecoviruses.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 26th, 2023

Experts Say Now Is the Time for Kids to Get COVID Vaccines
Fall is here, schools are back in session, and pumpkin spice is in the air. So is the annual reminder to parents to ensure their children's respiratory infection vaccinations are up to date, especially against the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This year, too, the CDC recommends an updated COVID-19 shot for everyone ages 6 months and older.
September 26, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 25th, 2023

Here's how much coronavirus people infected with COVID-19 may exhale
Just breathing naturally, people can emit dozens of copies of viral RNA every minute
September 25, 2023 — Source

Pneumonia, Not Just Inflammation, May Cause Severe COVID
As we continue to live with COVID-19, patients and doctors will learn more about the reasons infections can range from asymptomatic to very serious. Many researchers and doctors believe inflammation is the cause of severe COVID. This is due to the virus causing a "cytokine storm" that can adversely affect the organs in a patient's body, including the heart and lungs.
September 25, 2023 — Source

Six numbers predict life-threatening COVID-19
Rutgers researchers developed a way to help hospitals identify life-threatening COVID-19 cases using machine-learning software.
September 25, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 22nd, 2023

Another COVID-19 winter is coming. Here's how to prepare.
Free Covid tests are back — and new vaccines are at your local pharmacy too.
September 22, 2023 — Source

Are COVID vaccines still free? Why it's not so simple anymore
Changes in how COVID-19 vaccines are paid for has already caused some confusion for the first recipients who rushed to take a shot.
September 22, 2023 — Source

COVID has changed how people view the environment and their relationship to it
An appreciation of the environmental benefits of lockdowns, concern about how COVID-related products have contributed to waste and hopes for a greener, pandemic-proof future are key findings of a national survey at the University of Auckland. The study's findings are published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology and Environmental Development.
September 22, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental health burden on family and friends of patients
Family members and close friends of people with COVID-19 have elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in The Lancet Regional Health — Europe reports.
September 22, 2023 — Source

Many Americans frustrated in search for low-cost COVID boosters
Americans seeking out the new COVID boosters are finding themselves held back by insurance entanglements and supply delays.
September 22, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 21st, 2023

Fluticasone furoate does not cut time to COVID-19 symptom resolution: Study
David R. Boulware, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of inhaled glucocorticoids in shortening the time to symptom resolution or prevention of hospitalization or death among outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
September 21, 2023 — Source

Global policymakers call for effective infodemic management to be a substantive article in the Pandemic Accord
The United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response on September 20, 2023, to continue discussions on finalizing a globally enforceable Pandemic Accord or Treaty that will be presented to the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Health Assembly in May 2024.
September 21, 2023 — Source

Today's COVID is increasingly looking like a cold or flu, doctors say
Symptoms of mild COVID-19 infection have shifted this season, and now are more akin to those of allergies and the common cold, doctors say.
September 21, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 20th, 2023

American Thoracic Society partners with five new health systems to improve vaccination rates
As cities brace for a confluence of flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and RSV infections this fall, the American Thoracic Society announced that five new health systems have partnered with the Society to improve vaccination rates. Grady Health System (Atlanta, GA), Meharry Medical College (Nashville, TN), St. Luke's Health System (Boise, ID), the University of Colorado (Aurora, CO), and Wayne Health (Detroit, MI) join the University of Arizona/ Banner Health, West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc., and San Francisco Health Network/ University of California to help identify barriers to vaccination and find ways to improve vaccination rates in various demographic groups.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic have eroded the effectiveness of Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol in Scotland
Inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic have eroded the effectiveness of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland, a new report from the University of Sheffield has found.
September 20, 2023 — Source

River sampling study shows impact of COVID-19 pandemic on London's waterways
The most detailed study of a city's waterways anywhere in the world has revealed how chemical pollutants in London's rivers changed over the pandemic.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Worldwide study investigates emotional experiences and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
Periods of collective stress, such as a pandemic or climate crisis, have a major impact on our psychological well-being. What role do emotions play in helping us cope during tough times? In a worldwide study by sixty-two scientists among more than 24,000 participants in fifty-one countries, a relationship was established for the first time between specific emotions and well-being during a period of collective stress.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 19th, 2023

A new COVID booster is here. Will those at greatest risk get it?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends new COVID-19 booster vaccines for all--but many who need them most won't get them. About 75% of people in the United States appear to have skipped last year's bivalent booster, and nothing suggests uptake will be better this time around.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Adolescent girls were severely affected by pandemic stress, find researchers
A new study led by researchers at Western and Lawson Health Research Institute has found that adolescent emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and self-poisoning increased across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among adolescent girls.
September 19, 2023 — Source

COVID-19: Report explores link between state's geographic regions and impact of the pandemic
The latest report from University of Michigan public health researchers studying how COVID-19 affected Michiganders found that the severity of illness or negative impact of the pandemic is strongly linked to where one lives.
September 19, 2023 — Source

COVID-infected adults with 4 or more underlying diseases, or advanced age, face higher risk of ICU stay, death
Whether vaccinated or not, having at least four disease risk factors put adults hospitalized due to COVID-19 at higher risk for critical outcomes, according to a 10-state study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) VISION Network. The study describes the characteristics of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from June 2021 through March 2023 and enumerates their risk factors for critical outcomes, defined as intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or in-hospital death.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Early convalescent plasma use--helpful in avoiding severe COVID--also may lower long COVID risk
Findings from a nationwide, multicenter study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggest that patients with COVID-19 have less chance of developing post-COVID conditions--commonly known as long COVID--if they receive early treatment with plasma from convalescent (recovered) COVID patients that contain antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
September 19, 2023 — Source

New COVID Shots Are Available Now: Here's How to Find One
Here's what to know about the new vaccine formulas, who can get a booster and how they'll continue to be free.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Prolonged Grief Disorder rates during COVID-19 pandemic found to be higher than pre-pandemic times
Cases of Prolonged Grief Disorder among people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic, indicates new research from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Wait, How Do I Protect Myself, Others From COVID Again?
Americans may have a range of opinions on hot-button issues, but they seem to align on at least one: Wishing COVID-19 was truly behind us once and for all.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 18th, 2023

Cell therapy can reduce risk of death from COVID-19 by 60%, study finds
The use of cell therapy to treat COVID-19 patients can reduce the risk of death from the disease by 60%, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, in partnership with colleagues in Germany and the United States.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Global background rates study analyzes data from 197 million people for assessment of COVID-19 vaccine safety
Eleven GVDN member sites implemented standardized methods and analyzed data from national or regional health care databases covering 197 million people from Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Oceania. The study captured data across five pre-pandemic years (2015--2019) and the initial year of the pandemic (2020).
September 18, 2023 — Source

How did exposure to news on COVID-19 through social platforms impact psychological health and behavior?
During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, individuals have been increasingly using social media to share news and information. This increased use may be due to quarantine and physical distancing measures, as well as the need for communication between families and friends.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Updated guidance on treating COVID-19 patients in outpatient settings
In an updated rapid, living practice points, the American College of Physicians (ACP) summarizes the latest evidence on the use of pharmacologic and biologic treatments of COVID-19 in the outpatient setting, specifically addressing the dominant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant. The paper is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 15th, 2023

Accidental drug and alcohol-related deaths nearly doubled in Ontario during pandemic: Report
A new report from The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network and Public Health Ontario shows the number of accidental drug and alcohol toxicity-related deaths grew to alarmingly high levels in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 15, 2023 — Source

Study: No evidence that YouTube promoted anti-vaccine content during COVID-19 pandemic
New research led by data science experts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and United Nations Global Pulse found that there is no strong evidence that YouTube promoted anti-vaccine sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 15, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 14th, 2023

Cost May Lead Many to Skip COVID Testing: Why That's a Problem
For Becky Robertson of Dallas, COVID-19 testing is taking a toll on her wallet now that the federal government and her insurance are no longer covering the cost. She said she pays around $30 per test to protect herself and her family.
September 14, 2023 — Source

New SARS-CoV-2 variant Eris on the rise, study shows
As a result of vaccination or infection, our immune system produces antibodies that attach to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, preventing the virus from entering and replicating within cells. In response, the virus develops mutations that cause antibodies to bind less effectively to the spike protein.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Q&A: What should you know about the new COVID-19 vaccine?
Ahead of the fall respiratory virus season, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines. The new messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are formulated to better target variants that are currently circulating and will replace outdated vaccines.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Research finds no benefit to taking fluvoxamine for COVID-19 symptoms
A study led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) in partnership with Vanderbilt University found no symptomatic or clinical benefit to taking the antidepressant fluvoxamine at a dosage of 100 mg twice daily for 13 days for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 13th, 2023

Can you still get COVID tests for free?
COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are gradually increasing in the United States, as two new variants gain a foothold in the nation. And with that rise, more people are looking for COVID test kits.
September 13, 2023 — Source

COVID is on the rise, but you won't see that on Threads
The words 'coronavirus,' 'vaccines,' and 'vaccination' are blocked on Threads search, according to The Washington Post.
September 13, 2023 — Source

Qantas loses court fight over COVID lockdown layoffs
Qantas illegally sacked 1,700 ground staff during COVID-19 lockdowns, Australia's High Court ruled Wednesday, dismissing an appeal by the airline and opening up the prospect of hefty compensation.
September 13, 2023 — Source

Scientists uncover COVID's weakness: Without key proteins, virus cannot infect people
New UC Riverside research has revealed COVID's Achilles heel--its dependence on key human proteins for its replication--which can be used to prevent the virus from making people sick.
September 13, 2023 — Source

Study weighs in on fears that COVID drug could spawn super virus
COVID-19 patients are often prescribed antiviral drugs that work by reducing the number of viral particles circulating in the body. One such drug, molnupiravir, tricks the virus into generating mutations, some of which are lethal to the virus itself. The mutations eventually overwhelm and destroy the body's SARS-CoV-2 population.
September 13, 2023 — Source

UC Riverside study uncovers COVID's Achilles heel
New UC Riverside research has revealed COVID's Achilles heel -; its dependence on key human proteins for its replication -; which can be used to prevent the virus from making people sick.
September 13, 2023 — Source

What to Know About the New COVID Vaccines for This Fall
The CDC recommends shots for everyone. Here's what we know about them, when you can get one, cost and more.
September 13, 2023 — Source

When and Why to Get Shots for COVID, RSV, and Flu This Fall
We're at the start of fall respiratory season, and already this week there is a lot of attention on FDA authorization and CDC support for the new COVID-19 booster shot.
September 13, 2023 — Source

Why the CDC has recommended new covid boosters for all
Everyone over the age of 6 months should get the latest COVID-19 booster, a federal expert panel recommended Tuesday after hearing an estimate that universal vaccination could prevent 100,000 more hospitalizations each year than if only the elderly were vaccinated.
September 13, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 12th, 2023

Canada approves updated COVID vaccine for fall
Canada on Tuesday approved an updated Moderna COVID vaccine targeting new variants, and is reviewing others likely to be rolled out this fall to mitigate infections once more on the rise.
September 12, 2023 — Source

CDC Approves New COVID Vaccine; Shots Available This Week
New COVID-19 vaccines, designed to target more recent variants of the virus, will be arriving in doctor's offices, pharmacies and clinics this week after the CDC gave the new formula final authorization today.
September 12, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 can trigger auto-immune disorders-related antibodies, causing thrombosis and other complications
An article published in npj Aging reveals that natural production of auto-antibodies increases with age, and that infection by SARS-CoV-2 can exacerbate production of auto-antibodies relating to auto-immune diseases, helping to explain why aging increases the chances of developing severe COVID-19. The study also discovered some of the factors that associate the severe form of the disease with blood clotting disorders such as thrombosis.
September 12, 2023 — Source

COVID's back: Here's what to know this fall and winter
As colder weather sets in, COVID rates are once more rising across the Northern Hemisphere, with several new variants on the scene.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for babies and young children confirmed in multi-state study
COVID-19 mRNA vaccination protects babies and young children against COVID-19-associated emergency department/urgent care visits, according to a multistate study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's VISION Network. The study found that children, age five and younger, who received the original COVID-19 vaccine and the updated vaccine were protected against the need for medical care for COVID in an emergency department or urgent care facility.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Global health experts to meet at UN to discuss 100 days mission for pandemic preparedness
The Science Summit at UNGA in New York will play host to a stellar line-up of global health experts, who will come together on Thursday 14th September to set out the concrete actions leaders need to make the 100 Days Mission for Pandemic Preparedness a reality.
September 12, 2023 — Source

IDC: Collaboration software spending growth slows; AI features to drive future increases
Global spending on collaboration apps continues to rise as businesses deploy software across their organizations, according to IDC. But the rate of growth has slowed as adoption of videoconferencing tools matures and vendors trim prices.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Is the coadministration of a COVID-19 vaccine with a seasonal influenza vaccine safe and efficacious?
Booster vaccinations are essential for HCWs who come into contact with people vulnerable to COVID-19 severity outcomes. In the initial days of the pandemic, several health groups advised that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza vaccines be administered individually.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Q&p;A: How evasive and transmissible is the newest omicron offshoot, BA.2.86, that causes COVID-19?
The latest variant, or sublineage, of SARS-CoV-2 to emerge on the scene, BA.2.86, has public health experts on alert as COVID-19 hospitalizations begin to rise and the new variant makes its way across the globe.
September 12, 2023 — Source or Watch Video

Research quantifies effect of chronic diseases on racial disparity in COVID-associated hospitalizations
LSU Health New Orleans conducted the first research using disease surveillance data to quantify the effect of chronic diseases on racial disparity in COVID-associated hospitalizations.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Research team confirms immunity to COVID-19 reduces contagiousness
Nearly one in three people exposed to SARS-CoV2 is infected, and as many as two in five with the omicron variant. In the case of immunity—conferred by vaccination, infection or a combination of the two—this rate drops to one in 10. However, immunity disappears within a few months, confirms a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), after revisiting epidemiological data collected in Geneva.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Study reveals reductions in breast cancer screening uptake during COVID-19 pandemic
A review of COVID-19 studies globally has revealed reductions in breast cancer screening participation during 2020, with differences between geographic regions and health care settings.
September 12, 2023 — Source

The safety and efficacy of the nano-based COVID-19 vaccine
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has claimed millions of lives worldwide. Several COVID-19 vaccines, based on different technologies, have been developed to contain the pandemic.
September 12, 2023 — Source

What to Know About the New COVID Vaccines for This Fall
The CDC recommends shots for everyone. Here's what we know about them, when you can get one, cost and more.
September 12, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 11th, 2023

Cardiovascular disease and complex health issues almost double COVID-19 infection risk
The risk of COVID-19 infection is around two times higher in older adults with cardiovascular disease and complex comorbidities than in their healthier peers, according to a new study from University College London (UCL).
September 11, 2023 — Source

FDA approves Pfizer and Moderna covid vaccines with new formula
The new vaccines no longer target protection against the original covid variants and instead contain spike proteins for the omicron variant XBB.1.5.
September 11, 2023 — Source or Source or Source

How did COVID-19 pandemic restrictions impact invasive meningococcal disease trends?
IMD rapidly progresses, potentially causing severe outcomes or long-term complications. In England, post-1999 meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) vaccination programs significantly reduced MenC IMD, while the introduction of the infant meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) immunization in 2015 lowered MenB IMD.
September 11, 2023 — Source

New study explores the role of caregiver pandemic-related stress in child behavior
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families experienced social isolation, economic hardship, and disruptions in daily routines. Communities of color suffered higher infection rates and greater financial hardship and disruption. Researchers from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health (ECHO) wanted to learn how these stressors on caregivers affected their children.
September 11, 2023 — Source

Q&A: BA.2.86 and EG.5--how will the new COVID-19 boosters work with new variants?
Concern is rising about the COVID-19 variants BA.2.86 and EG.5 as the United States is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
September 11, 2023 — Source

US approves updated COVID vaccines for fall
The United States on Monday approved COVID vaccines with formulations that more closely target currently circulating variants, as infections are once more on the rise.
September 11, 2023 — Source

What you need to know about COVID, flu and RSV vaccines
This fall will see the circulation of three viruses--influenza, respiratory syncytial (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
September 11, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 8th, 2023

Australia's labor laws need updating now that remote work is here to stay, says professor
Australia's employment laws and regulations must be updated to reflect the changing nature of work, with many people continuing to work from home long after the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 8, 2023 — Source

COVID mutates rapidly in white-tailed deer, but here's why we don't need to worry--for now
At some point during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, spread from humans to white-tailed deer in the US.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Exiting the pandemic together: Achieving global immunity and equity
In this new editorial, researchers Yuxin Ying, Jola Bytyci and Lennard YW Lee from Oxford Medical School discuss their recent investigation into the effectiveness of the third booster vaccine, entitled, "COVID-19: Third dose booster vaccine effectiveness against breakthrough coronavirus infection, hospitalizations and death in patients with cancer: A population-based study."
September 8, 2023 — Source

Increase in islet autoimmunity found in young children who had COVID-19
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease leading to an impaired glucose metabolism and requires life-long administration of insulin. While the cause of the autoimmunity reaction is still unclear, viral infections in young children are proposed to be critical environmental factors leading to type 1 diabetes.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 7th, 2023

Covid is on the rise again, but it's different now
Covid transmission continues to ebb and flow — but at least the latest Pirola variant isn't too menacing.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Elite athletes safely return to top-level sports after COVID-19: No issues found in more than 2 years of follow-up
Heart problems after a COVID infection are a serious concern for both elite athletes and recreational athletes alike. A study from Amsterdam UMC, published in Heart, offers some reassuring news.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Heart problems after a COVID infection are a serious concern for both elite athletes and recreational athletes alike. A study from Amsterdam UMC, published in Heart, offers some reassuring news.
Viral severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) initiated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. The pandemic caused in excess of 6 million deaths and even more hospitalizations.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 6th, 2023

Enhanced recovery program shown to successfully reduce opioid use after pancreatic cancer surgery
By improving hospital care pathways, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center successfully reduced inpatient opioid use by 50% after pancreatic cancer surgery and cut the median opioid prescription volumes at discharge to zero.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Moderna says updated COVID vaccine fares well against new variant
Moderna said Wednesday its updated fall COVID booster, which is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration, performed well against the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Natural products: the next frontier in drug discovery
In this episode of the omg OMx podcast, Bruker's Kate Stumpo talks to Pelle Simpson, Senior Scientist at Enveda Biosciences. Join them as they discuss how Enveda Biosciences is using natural products to shape drug discovery and the opportunities of natural products in the field of multiomics. Read selected extracts or watch the full podcast below.
September 6, 2023 — Source or Watch Video

Researchers characterize new SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant neutralization by monoclonal antibodies
The development of the BA.2.86 variant is similar to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.13 variant, with more than 30 amino acid substitutions within the spike glycoprotein in relation to the BA.2 variant, including many mutations in the main antigenic regions.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Review identifies future research directions for the study of a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in PASC
Some individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop new symptoms or sequelae, which do not resolve for months or years. This condition is known as PASC or long COVID. The enormous burden of PASC on pediatric and adult populations warrants delineating its core biological drivers.
September 6, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, can infect sensory neurons
When COVID-19 began spreading in 2020, some of its most common symptoms affected the peripheral nervous system, the network of nerves that enables communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Many people reported losing their senses of smell and taste, which both rely on sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Study finds COVID vaccine mandates significantly reduce infection rates on college campuses
New research from The Ohio State University College of Medicine finds COVID-19 vaccine mandates are highly effective at reducing the spread of the virus and increasing immunity in a university setting.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Study uncovers new mechanism by which sleep protects brain function
Not only does a lack of sleep make you feel awful, research has shown it impairs the brain. What's more, sleep loss over long periods can even increase risk for Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases. Researchers want to understand how sleep deprivation causes this harm.
September 6, 2023 — Source

WHO warns of 'concerning' COVID trends ahead of winter
The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned of "concerning trends" for COVID-19 ahead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, calling for increased vaccinations and surveillance.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 5th, 2023

Adapted Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that targets Omicron XBB 1.5 subvariant receives MHRA approval
Approval has today been granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for an adapted Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron XBB 1.5 subvariant, after it was found to meet the UK regulator's standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Fall Vaccines: What to Know about Flu, COVID, RSV Shots
Move over, flu shot. This autumn, the seasonal vaccine list is longer, more complicated, and could cost more. Besides the flu shot, COVID-19 boosters are expected to be out in mid-September, and a new vaccine for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is here.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Measuring children's looking behavior yields new tool to help diagnose autism earlier
Results of clinical studies published simultaneously in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and in JAMA Network Open demonstrate that measuring children's looking behavior predicts expert clinical diagnosis of autism in children between ages 16 to 30 months tested with a high degree of accuracy.
September 5, 2023 — Source

New COVID variant may be less threatening than first feared
When new COVID variant BA.2.86 emerged in late July, scientists had concerns about its ability to evade immunity. But early lab tests seem to be easing those fears, as well as concerns over the variant's ability to spread widely.
September 5, 2023 — Source

New model helps researchers locate best spots for field hospitals after disasters
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers want Floridians to be prepared when the next pandemic or hurricane hits the state. A new study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction examines the best locations for field hospitals that can supplement health care facilities when resources are stretched thin.
September 5, 2023 — Source

New study highlights impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits in British Columbia
"Evaluation of the effects of the pandemic and associated measures can provide a historical account and inform health care service planning for both postpandemic recovery and mitigation of potential consequences of restrictions for future pandemics," write scientists from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia. "Insights from this study can also trigger further research on the drivers of the changes and inform strategies for emergency care."
September 5, 2023 — Source

Open Dialogue treatment model reduces out-of-home mental health care for adolescents
In a ten-year registry follow-up, adolescents treated according to the Open Dialogue treatment model had a lower risk of receiving out-of-home care compared to those receiving other forms of mental health treatment. Based on the results, low-threshold network psychotherapeutic treatment models can safely reduce the need for inpatient adolescent psychiatric care without a significant increase in alternative out-of-home interventions.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Tracking viral transmissions between humans and animals could help identify successful SARS-CoV-2 mutations
The COVID-19 pandemic was probably caused by the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from animals to humans, and it has been reported anecdotally that the virus can pass from humans to different animal species, too.
September 5, 2023 — Source

YouTube under no obligation to host anti-vaccine advocate's videos, court says
YouTube had the discretion to take down content that harmed users, judge said.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 4th, 2023

A low-cost, eco-friendly COVID test
The availability of rapid, accessible testing was integral to overcoming the worst surges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be necessary to keep up with emerging variants. However, these tests come with unfortunate costs.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Long COVID symptoms can improve, but their resolution is slow and imperfect, study finds
Around 5--10% of people who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 will experience symptoms that persist way beyond the initial acute period, a clinical syndrome we are learning more about, known widely as long COVID.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Parents, especially mothers of young, dependent children affected most by COVID-19 lockdown
Who fared worst when isolated during Melbourne's hard and long COVID-19 lockdown? A University of Sydney-led research team has found that parents, in particular mothers of young, dependent children, were hit hardest.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Q&A: What we know so far about BA.2.86 ('Pirola'), the new COVID-19 strain
A new coronavirus variant, BA.2.86, is raising concern with public health experts, but it's too early to know if this one is any more transmissible than current strains of the virus--or if it will even stick around.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Study characterizes SARS-CoV-2 subvariants to inform development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines
The original Omicron variant arose globally in 2022 and soon became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant worldwide. The XBB sublineages of Omicron evolved in early 2023. XBB.2.3 evolved directly from the Omicron XBB sublineage, while EG.5.1 is an XBB.1.5 mutant.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Study explores the biology of post-COVID-19 cognitive deficits
Many individuals develop neuropsychiatric symptoms in the weeks and months following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, either alone or as part of a post-acute COVID-19 condition known as long COVID.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Study investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of PASC after COVID-19
In a recent article published in bioRxiv* server, researchers used a preclinical animal model to investigate early pathophysiological mechanisms potentially underlying post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC), especially its neurological symptoms.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Study suggests increased frequency of emotional overeating during university closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic
In a recent article published in PLoS One, researchers conducted an online survey among 302 female students from the University of Rennes in France between February and May 2021 to assess the frequency of overeating episodes in response to six emotions experienced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced university closures.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — September 1st, 2023

Activist Misuses Federal Data to Make False Claim That Covid Vaccines Killed 676,000
A blog post shared on Facebook claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have killed some 676,000 Americans.
September 1, 2023 — Source

COVID isn't seasonal. So why are COVID booster shots?
In a few weeks, the new COVID booster shot will roll out to Americans, designed to fight recent variants just as cases begin to tick up with colder weather. There is just one hitch with this plan: COVID does not actually appear to be a seasonal virus, as many expected.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Do I still need to worry about COVID?
Let's face it: We all want to move on from COVID-19. And with many of us vaccinated at some point, you might be wondering if it's time to let those pandemic worries go for good.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Mental health problems during COVID highly variable by symptom cluster and population group: Study
People already diagnosed with a mental disorder before the COVID-19 pandemic did not show a disproportionate increase in symptoms afterwards. This is one result from the first systematic review of longitudinal studies following their study population from before to during the first eighteen months of the pandemic.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Weighted lottery helps ensure equitable allocation of scarce COVID-19 medication
A program designed to ensure fairness and that people living in the most disadvantaged U.S. neighborhoods would be offered a scarce, potentially life-saving medication proved feasible in a large health system. The approach can improve equity in receipt of the drug by people disproportionately affected by disease, according to a new analysis published today in JAMA Health Forum by University of Pittsburgh and UPMC scientist-clinicians.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Will fall's COVID vaccine protect against the emerging Pirola variant? When should you get the shot?
A new series of COVID vaccines is expected to be available in mid-September, leading to questions about how protective they will be against the latest variants and when people should get their shots.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 31st, 2023

Mapping the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could provide insight into vaccine development
Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the first time most of humanity learned of the now infamous disease, the family of coronaviruses was first identified in the mid-1960s. In a new study, molecular biologist Steven Van Doren, a scientist in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, has uncovered unexpected actions of a key player in how the coronavirus infects its target--a discovery that could guide further vaccine development.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Mortality risk increased for six months after COVID-19 in veterans
Theodore J. Iwashyna, M.D., Ph.D., from Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs in Michigan, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected health record data from Veterans Affairs hospitals across the United States for veterans who had COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021. Each individual was matched with up to five comparators who had not been infected with COVID-19. Data were included for 208,061 veterans with COVID-19 infection and 1,037,423 matched uninfected comparators.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Q&A: What to Know About the New BA 2.86 COVID Variant
So far, only 26 cases of "Pirola," as the new variant is being called, have been identified: 10 in Denmark, four each in Sweden and the United States, three in South Africa, two in Portugal, and one each the United Kingdom, Israel, and Canada. BA 2.86 is a subvariant of Omicron, but according to reports from the CDC, the strain has many more mutations than the ones that came before it.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Study finds link between dehumanization and burnout in first responders
First responders experience a phenomenon called "meta-dehumanization," or the belief that one's group is denied humanity, researchers reported. The study, involving 211 first responders, found a link between meta-dehumanization and burnout, which can lead to absenteeism, job turnover and impaired judgment.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 30th, 2023

5 Questions for COVID Experts: How Concerned Should We Be?
COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on the rise for weeks as summer nears its end, but how concerned should you be? SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID, continues to evolve and surprise us. So COVID transmission, hospitalization, and death rates can be difficult to predict.
August 30, 2023 — Source

Children may have experienced "excess" doubling up during COVID-19 pandemic
While these living arrangements had already been increasing before COVID-19, this was an additional increase beyond what would be expected based on previous trends — and most of those children, about 460,000, were living with grandparents.
August 30, 2023 — Source

Flu and COVID-19 vaccine programs to start earlier than planned in England
This year's autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programs will start earlier than planned in England as a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant.
August 30, 2023 — Source

Inhalable molecules neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in mice
Nanofitins, which are derived from a protein found in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius--an archaeal microorganism found in hot springs--successfully neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in mice and were well-tolerated. When inhaled by the rodents, the engineered nanofitins, which inhibit the virus by binding to its spike proteins, were observed to quickly reach the lungs in high doses both preventing and clearing early infections, researchers from biotech company Affilogic report Aug. 30 in the journal Molecular Therapy.
August 30, 2023 — Source

The US has new COVID-19 variants on the rise. Meet Eris and Fornax.
What "Eris" and "Fornax" tell us about the future of the pandemic.
August 30, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 29th, 2023

Assessing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer prevention
A review of the international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer prevention, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, found that prevention services were severely affected in the early months, and in some places are still recovering.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Can childhood traumas affect pandemic resilience? Study investigates connection between adverse experiences and mental, physical health during COVID-19
In a recent study published in BMC Public Health, researchers investigated whether changes in sleep quality, physical health, and mental health reported across the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave were related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
August 29, 2023 — Source

New research sheds light on the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination
Immediately after COVID-19 vaccination, Danes experienced side effects such as malaise, fever and fatigue. Serious side effects such as facial paralysis and allergic reactions are rare, but 30% of menstruating women reported changes in their menstrual cycle.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Pharma firm, labs share tech for COVID research equity: WHO
A global COVID-19 knowledge-sharing platform has secured three new licensing agreements to transfer vaccine technologies, including one with the first private manufacturer to join the initiative, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Recent grads working in tech are migrating to Seattle more than any other U.S. city
A new CBRE study detailing talent migration trends found that from February 2022 to February 2023, Seattle led all U.S. cities with a 15.2% "in-migration rate" for tech workers with 0-to-3 years of experience. That was well above second-place Austin, at 9.7%, and third-place San Francisco, at 9.1%.
August 29, 2023 — Source

SGLT2 inhibitors do not reduce 28-day mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors do not lead to lower 28-day all-cause mortality compared with usual care or placebo in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to late-breaking research presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2023.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Study of fevers in children during COVID-19 raises further questions
An uptick in fevers detected among children at more than two dozen hospitals in North America during COVID-19 highlights the question whether there are normally more autoinflammatory disorders such as recurrent fevers among children going overlooked in non-pandemic times, according to a new study by researchers including a CDI physician-scientist.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Survey highlights how clinical labs' quick response to COVID-19 helped reduce hospitalizations and save lives
A new survey from the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) has found that clinical labs' robust, rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic helped to contain the virus and save lives. However, the challenges labs faced with insufficient supplies and staffing shortages have only intensified since 2020. The percentage of laboratory professionals reporting staffing issues rose steadily from 35.4% in May 2020 to 87.5% in January 2022--raising questions about whether labs would have the necessary resources to respond to a similar public health emergency today.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 28th, 2023

China to drop COVID test requirement for foreign travelers
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the plan in a government news release, marking a big milestone in a country that has enforced strict lockdowns and "zero COVID" policies during the pandemic.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Examining the dynamics of COVID-19's pandemic peak
The SARS-CoV-2 virus swept across the globe at the beginning of 2020, and one of the earliest and hardest-hit areas of the United States was New Jersey.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop a novel algorithm for mitigating COVID-19 spread in ships
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected human lives and the global economy. In particular, cruise ship companies around the world are among the worst hit industries, with ships becoming a hotbed of viral infection owing to their confined environment.
August 28, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 25th, 2023

American study estimates 1.87 million excess deaths occurred in China two months after its zero COVID policy ended
A pair of public health researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Public Health Sciences Division, in Seattle, Washington, working with two independent colleagues, has found that in the two months after China halted its zero COVID policy at the end of 2022, 1.87 million excess deaths occurred in that country.
August 25, 2023 — Source

California doctor lauded for COVID testing work pleads guilty to selling misbranded cosmetic drugs
A "rock star" doctor who tested tens of thousands of people for COVID-19 in the pandemic's early months in a badly-stricken California desert community has pleaded guilty to misbranding cosmetic drugs, authorities said Thursday.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Children's wellbeing affected by the lingering effects of COVID-19 pandemic
While COVID-19 lockdowns are no longer mandated, the stress and anxiety of the pandemic still lingers, especially among young South Australians, say health experts at the University of South Australia.
August 25, 2023 — Source

COVID boosters to be sold by UK pharmacists--here's what effect this may have on uptake
COVID boosters will be available to buy from high-street pharmacists and private health care providers across the UK in 2024.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Novavax's protein-based COVID vaccine induces broad functional immune response against XBB subvariants, data shows
Novavax, Inc., a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its novel Matrix-M™ adjuvant, today announced that its updated protein-based XBB COVID vaccine candidate induced neutralizing antibody responses to the EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6 subvariants in small animal and non-human primate studies.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Oximeters often overestimate COVID patients' oxygen levels, delaying care: Study
A study led by Johns Hopkins University researchers suggests that the use of pulse oximeters in hospitalized COVID-19 patients often overestimated true arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), especially in those of minority race, and led to delayed therapy in a high proportion of patients of all races.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Residents trained during first wave of pandemic experienced less PTSD: Study
First-year residents training during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly less likely to screen positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) versus residents training before the pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Spending on mental health services has risen by more than 50% since beginning of pandemic, according to study
Spending on mental health services among Americans with private health insurance has surged since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to rise even as the use of telehealth has plateaued, according to a new study.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Study suggests patient experiences with hospitals worsened during first two years of pandemic
The experiences of patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly worse than in the years before the crisis, with hospitals with higher staffing levels holding on to better scores longer, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
August 25, 2023 — Source

T-cell activator offers protection against coronaviruses in immunocompromised cancer patients
Good news for patients with acquired or congenital immunodeficiency: The results of a clinical phase II study at the University Hospital Tübingen led by Prof. Dr. Juliane Walz and Prof. Dr. Helmut Salih show an effective activation of T cells against the coronavirus. After showing positive results in healthy volunteers in the previous phase I, the T-cell activator CoVac-1 reproduced these effects in cancer patients for the first time.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Updated COVID vaccines will roll out mid-September, officials say
New COVID-19 booster shots, reworked to target variants circulating now, could be available by mid-September.
August 25, 2023 — Source

'You just emotionally break': understanding COVID-19 narratives through public health humanities
A new health humanities essay from the University of Missouri highlights how the narrative of many news stories detailing the challenges of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic often emphasized individual experiences. However, many of these news stories often left out broader public health, socioeconomic and environmental contexts that are critical to how consumers of news shape their thoughts about the pandemic and how to respond.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 24th, 2023

Accra's most vulnerable residents were failed during COVID, say researchers
Containment measures, such as the lockdowns introduced to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, had devastating consequences for vulnerable urban populations globally.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Caregiver education level and child age affect stress levels during COVID-19
A caregiver's education level and their child's age played large roles in determining their primary sources of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found in a recent study by NIH's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Differences in immune responses to IL-6 inhibition therapy between male and female COVID-19 patients
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers investigated whether anti‑interleukin 6 (IL‑6) monoclonal antibodies were related to heterogenous treatment effects between male and female coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Gonorrhoea surge in England following COVID-19 restrictions lift
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to daily life, impacting sexual health services (SHSs) in England, leading to reduced testing and a 33.5% drop in new STI diagnoses in 2020 compared to 2019.
August 24, 2023 — Source

How long COVID patients helped us understand what it's like to lose all sense of identity and purpose in life
Lucy used to be known fondly as the "iron lady" by colleagues at work. In her mid-50s and still the main breadwinner for her family, she had always thought of herself as strong, energetic, and indestructible--but not any more.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Investigating the consequences of misunderstanding public-health warnings against COVID-19
Wearing masks, social-distancing, staying home: Those preventive measures were least likely to be followed by Canadians who were least informed about how best to stop the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Lung cells can be trained to counteract inflammation
Inflammation is a standard part of our bodies' immune system response. But sometimes this response becomes hyperactivated in our lungs, causing inflammation to continue unchecked, which can be fatal. Many deaths from COVID-19 have been due to excessive inflammation, which results in acute lung injury.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Report: Combining public health measures kept us safe from COVID-19
Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), when applied in packages that combine a number of measures with complementary effects, were unequivocally effective in reducing the spread of infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, a major Royal Society report has found. NPIs are measures that are not drugs or vaccines aimed at reducing transmission of an infectious disease.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Severe COVID-19 survivors may show increased vascular risk associated with stress
Recently published in the journal American Journal of Physiology, a Brazilian study demonstrated for the first time that survivors of severe COVID-19 infections may have elevated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in response to mental stress.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Study classifies SARS viruses and variants into three serotypes, marks need for broad-spectrum vaccines
Scientists led by a team from Duke-NUS Medical School have identified three distinct serotypes of SARS-related coronaviruses, marking the need for vaccines that can provide broad-spectrum protection against them.
August 24, 2023 — Source

US wastewater tests spot highly mutated variant of COVID-19
Public health officials have detected the new BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 in U.S. wastewater, giving rise to concerns about the highly mutated variant in the United States.
August 24, 2023 — Source

With COVID now endemic, modeling suggests targeted protection will be more effective than blanket measures
Interventions designed to limit the spread of COVID have been rolled back around the world. In New Zealand, the government removed all remaining public health measures last week.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 23rd, 2023

Collection of studies on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome could benefit long COVID patients
While myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID are not the same disease, they appear to have features of overlapping biological and symptomatic presentations. Many people with long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria of ME/CFS. Long COVID scientists and clinicians can expedite research and care protocols by utilizing information and experiences gained from the ME/CFS community.
August 23, 2023 — Source

Education levels and child age shaped caregivers' concerns amid COVID-19 pandemic, finds population-based study
A caregiver's education level and their child's age played large roles in determining their primary sources of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found in a recent study by NIH's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
August 23, 2023 — Source

Researchers find vaccine may reduce severity of long-haul COVID symptoms
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine may not only reduce a person's risk of getting long-haul COVID, but also could mean fewer symptoms for people who develop the condition.
August 23, 2023 — Source

Small study suggests long COVID may affect more people than previously thought
Millions of Americans were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, early in the pandemic but could not get diagnosed due to testing limitations. Many of those people developed a post-viral syndrome with symptoms similar to those of long COVID. In a new study of a small group of those people, their immune response shows that 41% had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
August 23, 2023 — Source

Study finds severe COVID-19 twice as common among bus drivers
Bus drivers were at double the risk of being hospitalized for severe COVID-19 in the later stages of the pandemic, and several occupations in education and health care were also at risk of serious illness.
August 23, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 15th, 2023

Human challenge trials: A game-changer in vaccine development? Examining their role in shaping the pandemic response
In a recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, scientists reviewed the history of using human challenge trials in developing vaccines.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Quantitative biological strategy helps upgrade vaccines against COVID-19
Researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the University of Hong Kong, along with their collaborators, have proposed a promising quantitative biological strategy for dynamic updates of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 virus.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Research helps to identify immunosuppressed people least likely to have COVID-19 antibodies
New research involving the University of Southampton has identified which people with compromised immune systems are less likely to have COVID-19 antibodies--making them more vulnerable to a severe infection.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop platform allowing mass-scale production of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccines
In a recent study published in PNAS, researchers presented a scalable lipid nanoparticle (LNP) production (SCALAR) platform to produce high-throughput lipid nanoparticles on one microfluidic chip and develop severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-LNP vaccines.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Study explores the protective effect of transmembrane mucins against SARS-CoV-2 infection
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus caused the devastating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Individuals experience a wide range of symptoms from mild respiratory illness to severe respiratory distress syndrome.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Study shows COVID-19 vaccination reduces, but does not entirely ameliorate, excess diabetes incidence after COVID-19
To date, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of COVID-19, has caused over 765 million infections worldwide. Among various COVID-19 related risk factors, the presence of diabetes significantly increases the morbidity and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
August 15, 2023 — Source

With coronavirus uptick, should I get a COVID shot? When are new vaccines available?
The fall vaccination season is just around the corner, and officials are set to roll out another updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as new tools to protect against RSV.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 14th, 2023

Discrimination took a heavy toll on Asian American students during the pandemic
Experiencing discrimination significantly harmed the well-being of Asian and Asian American college students in the U.S. during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 14, 2023 — Source

How did South African health care workers cope during the pandemic?
A new study by UC Berkeley Anthropology Professor Andrew Wooyoung Kim reveals resilient coping mechanisms used by health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in metro Johannesburg, South Africa.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Microbiologist explains the EG.5 COVID variant
The latest COVID-19 variant to make headlines, EG.5, is now the most prevalent variant in the U.S.--accounting for more than 17% of cases. Its high transmissibility and ability to evade immunity has virologists like Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., professor in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, following it closely.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Neanderthals, environment, and evolution behind SARS-CoV-2 immune responses
In a paper, "Dissecting human population variation in single-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2," the team used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze blood cells from diverse populations, comparing responses to SARS-CoV-2 against factors like genetics, age, sex, and comorbidities.
August 14, 2023 — Source

New insights into how coronaviruses invade cells
Unexpected new insights into how COVID-19 infects cells may help explain why coronaviruses are so good at jumping from species to species and will help scientists better predict how COVID-19 will evolve.
August 14, 2023 — Source

New study charts exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada throughout the pandemic
Using pan-Canadian blood sample data from a subset of studies backed by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), researchers from the CITF, in collaboration with those from supported studies, estimated changing levels of seroprevalence--from infection or vaccination, or both--over 3 time periods: prevaccination (March to November 2020), vaccine roll-out (December 2020 to November 2021) and the omicron waves (December 2021 to March 2023).
August 14, 2023 — Source

Olfactory dysfunction following mild SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with neurological changes in structural connectivity
Globally, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused over 760 million infections and 6.9 million deaths, as well as long-term effects including neurological symptoms across survivors. Many COVID-19 patients experience OD, including hyposmia and anosmia, with some enduring persistent impairment.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Prior hookworm infection could offer protection from severe COVID-19 symptoms
Prior infection by a parasitic hookworm has been shown to protect mice from severe SARS-CoV-2 disease, offering a potential explanation as to why certain human populations seemed to fare better during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Seattle company founded by Nobel Prize winner plans human tests for experimental COVID-19 drug
Cocrystal Pharma, a Seattle-area company co-founded by a Nobel Prize winner and backed by biotech veterans, is taking aim at high-profile viruses.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Shielding from COVID-19: Unraveling the policy
A new study by Swansea University's Medical School has explored the rationale behind the creation of the COVID-19 shielding policy for clinically vulnerable people and found that while policymakers intended it make a positive difference, they did not know to what extent or what other impacts it would have.
August 14, 2023 — Source

The protective effect of previous infections and vaccinations on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection
The high transmissibility and immune evasiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) and its subvariants have led to numerous successive waves of new COVID-19 cases. The first Omicron infection in the Netherlands was detected in November 2021, with the Omicron BA.1 accounting for 90% of sequenced infections by January 2022. Since then, Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5 have emerged.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 11th, 2023

Anti-magnetizing-vaccine doctor loses medical license
Tenpenny lost her license for refusing to cooperate with a board investigation.
August 11, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 vaccination and boosting during pregnancy found to benefit pregnant people and newborns
Receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can benefit pregnant people and their newborn infants, according to findings recently published in Vaccine. The paper describes results from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for COVID-19 (MOMI-VAX).
August 11, 2023 — Source

Genetically diverse mice reveal key differences in innate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory have created a panel of genetically diverse mice that accurately model the highly variable human response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together with collaborators at NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories, the team uncovered differences in the innate immune and regulated proinflammatory responses, the timing and strength of which are associated with disease severity.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Global COVID cases up 80% as new subvariant rise
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported worldwide rose by 80 percent in the last month, the World Health Organization said on Friday, days after designating a new "variant of interest".
August 11, 2023 — Source

Global study finds COVID-19 disease may cause change in menstrual cycle length
A new international study finds that individuals with COVID-19 disease may experience small, temporary changes in menstrual cycle length. Researchers emphasize changes are minor and typically return to normal in next menstrual cycle.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Raising awareness of long COVID 'blue legs' symptom
An unusual case of a long COVID patient's legs turning blue after 10 minutes of standing highlights the need for greater awareness of this symptom among people with the condition, according to new research.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Transplant recipients with limited protection from primary COVID-19 vaccinations, find third dose boosts response
Transplant recipients must take life-long immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection, but these drugs can compromise the effectiveness of vaccines.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Variable patient responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection are mimicked in genetically diverse mice
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory have created a panel of genetically diverse mice that accurately model the highly variable human response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 9th, 2023

Molnupiravir administered at human effect size-equivalent dose found to block SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets
Two oral drugs, molnupiravir and paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), provide equivalent therapeutic benefit in preventing severe COVID-19 in animal models, but only molnupiravir efficiently blocked SARS-CoV-2 transmission when administered at a human effect size-equivalent dose, according to a study led by researchers at Georgia State University's Center for Translational Antiviral Research in collaboration with the Emory University Institute for Drug Development.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Researchers find COVID-19 causes mitochondrial dysfunction in heart and other organs
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers have been trying to determine why this virus creates such negative long-term effects compared with most coronaviruses.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Study shows resilient biomedical scientists' careers took a hit during pandemic
When COVID-19 presented the world with the greatest health challenge in modern history, it was biomedical scientists who stepped up to develop diagnostic testing and vaccines to slow the spread of the disease.
August 9, 2023 — Source

The US has a new COVID-19 variant on the rise. Meet Eris.
What "Eris" tells us about the future of the pandemic.
August 9, 2023 — Source

World's largest cruise ship to set sail as industry rebounds
With cruise bookings seeing a resurgence after the COVID pandemic caused luxury liners to mothball, a Finnish shipyard is putting the final touches on what will be the world's largest cruise ship.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 8th, 2023

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before
Here we go again: COVID-19 hospital admissions have inched upward in the United States since early July in a small-scale echo of the three previous summers.
August 8, 2023 — Source

COVID: Here's why cases have seen a small spike this summer
Since the beginning of July all there have been indications that COVID infections are increasing again in the UK.
August 8, 2023 — Source

New COVID variant EG.5 now dominant in US, CDC says
About 17.3% of U.S. COVID cases are believed to have been caused by the variant, formally known as EG.5, in early August, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number is 7.5% higher than it was in early July.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Outcome markers in COPD patients with COVID-19
COVID-19 is associated with a wide range of symptoms and severity, from asymptomatic and mild disease to severe or fatal systemic inflammation.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Vaccinated people have lower levels of inflammatory markers after COVID-19 infection
In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers provide answers to whether COVID-19 vaccinations reduce sickness and mortality following infection with SARS-CoV-2.
August 8, 2023 — Source

What is POTS? And how is it related to long COVID?
POTS or "postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome" is a poorly recognized condition we've been hearing more about recently.
August 8, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 7th, 2023

Adjuvanted intranasal vaccine shows promise for long-lasting immunity to COVID-19
While much of the global concern has subsided, COVID-19 is still a very real threat, especially to people with compromised immune systems or who are over 65.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Breastfeeding rates in Wales increased during the pandemic, study reveals
The research, which included all women in Wales who gave birth between 2018 and 2021, found that breastfeeding rates at six months were higher during Covid compared to the pre-pandemic period — with rates increasing from 16.6 per cent before the pandemic to 20.5 per cent in 2020.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Corticosteroids lower the likelihood of in-hospital mortality from COVID-19, study shows
In a registry-based cohort study of 109 institutions, Mayo Clinic researchers evaluated the use of corticosteroids in hospitalized patients needing oxygen due to severe COVID-19 disease. The study assessed biomarker-concordant corticosteroid use in patients tested for a protein that causes inflammation.
August 7, 2023 — Source

How are genetics, lifestyles, and cardiovascular and thromboembolic events associated following COVID-19 diagnosis?
A recent study published in Nature Communications evaluated the associations between host genetics, lifestyle factors, and cardiovascular and thromboembolic events (CVEs) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
August 7, 2023 — Source

Is COVID-19 vaccination linked to psoriasis emergence or flare-ups?
Psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder, affects millions globally and is marked by red, scaly patches. Its comorbidities include hypertension, diabetes, and anxiety, impacting mental well-being and quality of life.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Scientists begin to untangle how COVID-19 affects brain cells
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown in lab-based experiments that variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can affect the blood-brain barrier and damage brain cells in different ways.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 4th, 2023

An adjuvanted intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 protects both young and old mice
While much of the global concern has subsided, COVID-19 is still a very real threat, especially to people with compromised immune systems or who are over 65.
August 4, 2023 — Source

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination and boosters on maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections and birth outcomes
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, pregnancy was recognized to be a high-risk condition for adverse outcomes following infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
August 4, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 3rd, 2023

Cyprus cats to get COVID meds
Unused coronavirus medication for humans will be made available to treat cats in Cyprus, where they have been dying in their thousands from feline COVID, officials announced Thursday.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Deep learning for new protein design
The key to understanding proteins--such as those that govern cancer, COVID-19, and other diseases--is quite simple: Identify their chemical structure and find which other proteins can bind to them. But there's a catch.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Does picking your nose really increase your risk of COVID?
Picking your nose is linked to an increased risk of COVID, according to a study out today.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Long COVID clinical trials a step in the right direction, but scale doesn't match the need, researchers say
The National Institutes of Health has announced it was enrolling hundreds of people in phase 2 clinical trials that will evaluate at least four potential treatments for long COVID.
August 3, 2023 — Source

More girls started puberty early during the COVID-19 pandemic, than in previous years
The number of girls diagnosed with precocious puberty increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to potential risk factors such as increased screen time and less physical activity, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. The study was titled, "Precocious Puberty Diagnoses Spike, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Body Mass Index: Findings from a Four-Year Study."
August 3, 2023 — Source

The illusion and implications of 'just following the science' COVID-19 messaging
In a recent special issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), commentators demanded accountability for Canada's COVID-19 response in the form of an independent public inquiry. If such an inquiry is held, it must examine how--and with what consequences--politicians' pandemic messaging deflected responsibility for controversial decisions onto scientific evidence and experts.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — August 1st, 2023

AI-based wastewater sampling predicts COVID hospital admissions
Researchers have developed an accurate prediction tool for estimating COVID-19 hospital admissions, using an AI--based system with wastewater sampling.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Are wastewater surveillance metrics associated with high community case and hospitalization rates of COVID-19 across US counties?
The national wastewater surveillance system (NWSS) documents and reports wastewater surveillance metrics, including sewershed location identifiers of all 22 participant US states, to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
August 1, 2023 — Source

Biden administration launches office for long COVID research
As Americans continue to grapple with the effects of long COVID, the Biden administration on Monday announced the creation of a new office focused on research about the condition that will be part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
August 1, 2023 — Source

How did trends in invasive bacterial diseases change during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic?
In a recent article published in the Lancet Digital Health, researchers prospectively analyzed the surveillance data submitted by the Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance (IRIS) Consortium, microbiology laboratories network spread across 30 countries and territories to a private project within databases in PubMLST suite between January 1, 2018, and January 2, 2022.
August 1, 2023 — Source

How plant biology research could inform COVID-19 treatments
Investigating the building blocks of biology can lead to unexpected outcomes. That's what happened when researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory were exploring plant genetics. Although their research was focused on improving plants to use as bioenergy crops, what they found could help develop future treatments for COVID-19.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Insights into the relationship between COVID-19 and mental health
In the present study, researchers explored the link between COVID-19 and anxiety disorders and characteristics, investigating potential pleiotropic pathways that may be responsible for the reported comorbidity.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Investigating the neurological effects of SARS-CoV-2: anosmia and neuroinvasion as separate phenomena
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a global health crisis, with over 760 million confirmed cases of all SARS-CoV-2 variants. Different variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron, have emerged, impacting the clinical presentation of the disease.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Is the timing of COVID-19 vaccination associated with changes in menstrual cycle length?
Menstrual health, including menstrual cycle and menses duration, regularity, and volume, is a crucial indicator of general health and fertility in women. Nearly half of the female population, which accounts for approximately 26% of the global population, are of reproductive age. On average, a woman menstruates for a duration of seven years of her life.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Long COVID Treatment Trials — Finally — Set to Start
Enrollment is opening for four clinical trials to evaluate new treatments for long COVID, the National Institutes of Health announced at a media briefing Monday. More clinical trials to test at least seven other treatments are expected to launch in the coming months.
August 1, 2023 — Source

New COVID-19 vaccine from HIPRA Human Health approved by MHRA
Bimervax, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by HIPRA Human Health, has today been authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
August 1, 2023 — Source

New study spotlights effective strategy against COVID-19 variants: the E7 monoclonal antibody
In a recent study published in the Science Advances Journal, a group of researchers developed potent monoclonal antibodies from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) survivor vaccinated with BNT162b2 that targets the receptor binding domain (RBD) of human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (huACE2)-dependent sarbecovirus.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Novel algorithm characterizes RNA motifs in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2
As a list of codon frequencies was the major input to this algorithm, the number of genomic sequences did not substantially affect its performance. Having more sequences with greater variability to analyze helped the algorithm limit the loci pairs for analysis as possible start and end points for conserved regions.
August 1, 2023 — Source

One year post-COVID-19 mass vaccination: Immunization coverage is higher among those eligible for priority vaccination
At the beginning of the mass vaccination against COVID-19 infection, the government had to determine eligibility for priority vaccination. Priority for vaccination was given to health care workers, people aged over 65 years, and people aged 18--64 years with underlying medical conditions in particular. The effect of such a setting on subsequent vaccination coverage requires evaluation.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Scientists develop breath test that rapidly detects COVID-19 virus
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a breath test that quickly identifies those who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. The device requires only one or two breaths and provides results in less than a minute.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Scottish study: Ethnic inequalities in positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, infection prognosis, COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths
Research to date has considered the risks of COVID-19 using broad ethnic groups, meaning the risk to some minority ethnic groups has been hidden within broader ethnic categories.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Taking an antidepressant? Mixing it with other medicines--including some cold and flu treatments--can be dangerous
In the depths of winter we are more at risk of succumbing to viral respiratory infections--from annoying sore throat, common cold and sinusitis, to the current resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID.
August 1, 2023 — Source

The long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on T cell activation: autoimmune disorders and endothelial cell dysfunction
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, and pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can exacerbate the severity of the disease. Several studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between type 2 diabetes and COVID-19.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Three doses of COVID-19 vaccine leads to catch-up antibody responses among the particularly vulnerable, finds study
Even vulnerable people, who are at risk of severe COVID-19, achieved good antibody levels after three doses of mRNA vaccine. This is shown by a study from the University of Gothenburg on patients having undergone a bone marrow transplant or with liver disease, including cirrhosis.
August 1, 2023 — Source

What are the COVID-19 vaccination rates in immigrant and refugee children and adolescents in Ontario, Canada?
In a recent article published in JAMA Network Open, researchers did a retrospective population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada, to determine coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates for refugee, nonimmigrant, and immigrant children and adolescents (five to 11 and 12 to 17 years, respectively).
August 1, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 28th, 2023

COVID-19 measures found to also reduce life-threatening invasive bacterial infections
The study analyzed the incidence of invasive bacterial disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus agalactiae two years before (2018--2019) and during (2020--2021) the pandemic.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Is it time to be worried about COVID-19 again?
What to make of the uptick of COVID-19 this summer — and what to expect this winter.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Lessons must be learned from COVID-19's unequal impact on minority groups, UK report says
The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on ethnic minority and migrant communities, and evidence-based, responsive policies could have significantly mitigated disparities in infection rates and mortality, according to a new report by UCL researchers.
July 28, 2023 — Source

New nano-immune magnetic bead developed for efficient SARS-CoV-2 virus detection
A more efficient way to test SARS-CoV-2 Virus was developed recently by a research team led by Professor WANG Junfeng from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). The novel nano-immune magnetic bead (Mal-IMB) they developed in this research can efficiently be bound to SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in the study of protein biomimetic mineralization and synthesized into magnetic nanoparticles.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Newly-discovered antibodies can neutralize COVID-19 variants, potentially prevent future coronavirus outbreaks
Exceptionally potent antibodies that can neutralize virtually all known variants of the COVID-19 virus—including omicron, as well as other dangerous animal coronaviruses that could potentially cause future outbreaks—have been discovered in a new study just published in Science Advances.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Novel nano-immune magnetic bead may provide faster way to catch SARS-CoV-2
A more efficient way to test SARS-CoV-2 virus was developed recently by a research team led by Professor Wang Junfeng from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS).
July 28, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 27th, 2023

COVID-19 treatment: study evaluates ACEi and ARB effects on clinical outcomes
In a recent study published in the Scientific Reports Journal, a group of researchers compared the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) on inpatient mortality and hospital stay duration in patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
July 27, 2023 — Source

Increasing COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake: The impact of one-time personal reminder messages
COVID-19 booster vaccination is associated with significantly higher efficacy as compared to primary vaccination in terms of reducing COVID-19-related hospitalization and mortality. Despite life-saving health benefits, a low uptake of booster vaccines has been observed worldwide, mostly because of vaccine hesitancy.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Pandemic paycheck protection loans boosted nursing home staffing, study finds
The COVID-19 pandemic magnified long-standing problems within nursing homes, including staffing shortages. However, a new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was effective in supporting nursing homes by improving staffing levels at the height of the pandemic.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Study finds that patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases had a lower antibody response than healthy controls after Omicron infection
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Omicron, a variant of SARS-CoV-2, threatens public health due to its greater transmission rate and infectivity.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Study provides valuable insights into the UV susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants
The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its new variants has created a need for effective disinfection technologies to protect against harmful pathogens.
July 27, 2023 — Source

The worst of the pandemic seems over but the kids are not okay, study finds
Young people around the world--including Australia--will feel the fallout of the COVID pandemic for years to come, say the University of the Sunshine Coast researchers behind a new global resource to support them.
July 27, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 25th, 2023

A fused protein named CiDRE renders alveolar macrophages susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 invasion
Despite intensive research since the pandemic began, much remains unknown about COVID-19, particularly why it can be so severe in some cases and relatively mild in others. Now, researchers from Japan have identified a genetic quirk that could make some patients more likely to experience severer forms of COVID-19.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Compound reduces inflammation in COVID-19-infected mice without compromising immune response to virus
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have identified a new class of molecules capable of stopping the excessive inflammation typical of the severe form of COVID-19 without impairing the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.
July 25, 2023 — Source

How citizens could help government with emergency decisions in the next pandemic
The UK's COVID inquiry is putting pandemic policymaking under the microscope. One of the key questions is who should make decisions in an emergency, and how.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Logitech reports broad declines as pre-pandemic buying cycles return
Inventory holding reduced in Q1, hunt for new CEO continues
July 25, 2023 — Source

Multi-omics assist in designing the next generation of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has raised global concern on public health. There are major challenges ahead to develop new therapeutics and vaccines for difficult-to-target pathogens, for which we urgently need a better understanding of protective immunity.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Navigating telemedicine implementation: Exploring experiences of primary care clinicians early in the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and Case Western Reserve University conducted weekly and monthly surveys of primary care clinicians to examine the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The e-surveys were conducted between March 2020 and March 2022 and used convenience sampling. A total of 36 surveys were completed, with an average of 937 respondents per survey, representing clinicians from all 50 states and from multiple specialties.
July 25, 2023 — Source

New vaccine technology produces more antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in mice
A new technology developed at Caltech is designed to make more potent vaccines, beginning with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). In mouse studies, the prototype vaccine elicited five times more antibodies than current COVID-19 vaccines. The antibodies produced by the new vaccine were effective against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, the delta variant, and omicron variants.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Pandemic deaths in Ohio and Florida show partisan divide after vaccine rollout
The death gap between Democrats and Republicans was larger in counties with lower vaccination rates.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Researchers find social inequities tied to more severe COVID-19 symptoms
Social inequities like housing and access to health care put individuals from marginalized racial and ethnic groups with substance use disorders at greater risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms than white individuals with substance use disorders, according to researchers.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 21st, 2023

1 in 5 kids had long COVID symptoms months after infection
Close to one-fifth of kids with COVID-19 may still have lingering symptoms months after their initial infection, new research finds.
July 21, 2023 — Source

A model-based approach to estimating vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern
the effectiveness of updated vaccines and variant-matched boosters against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant and their potential to reduce hospitalizations and deaths over one year.
July 21, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 shutdown highlights air quality policy challenges
In a study conducted in NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found that air quality policies focusing on reducing pollutant emissions from the transportation sector have made significant strides.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Flu and COVID-19 report offers latest surveillance data and public health advice
This fortnightly flu and COVID-19 report brings together the latest surveillance data along with the latest public health advice.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Fly toolkit created for investigating COVID-19 infection mechanisms
Millions of deaths and ongoing illnesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted scientists to seek new ways of understanding how viruses so skillfully enter and reprogram human cells. Urgent innovations leading to the development of new therapies are needed since virologists predict that future deadly viruses and pandemics may again emerge from the coronavirus family.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Long COVID can affect brain function for years after infection
UK researchers have found that people with longer-term COVID-19 symptoms including brain fog showed reduced performance in tasks testing different mental processes up to two years after infection with the virus.
July 21, 2023 — or Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 20th, 2023

Adaptation of booster vaccines against omicron variants important for COVID-19, study shows
Booster vaccinations (third and fourth vaccinations) of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines that are not adapted to omicron variants do lead to higher blood levels of neutralizing antibodies against the omicron subvariants.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Comparing severe outcome risks of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75, BQ.1, BA.4.6 to BA.5
Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in late 2021, numerous Omicron sub-lineages have emerged and spread internationally. The widespread transmission of Omicron sub-lineages has raised concerns about probable immune evasion to therapeutic agents and vaccines. The relative severity of infection with these sub-lineages remains unknown and further research is needed to guide public health interventions.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Hobbies and healthy habits surged during the pandemic: Study
Rather than turn to vices such as alcohol and drugs, many people turned to new pursuits to cope with pandemic-related stresses, according to a Rutgers study.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Patient transfer systems needed to ensure equity, as ICUs overload during pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. hospitals had overcapacity intensive care units (ICU) while other area hospitals had open ICU beds available, a phenomenon known as "load imbalance." The hospitals most likely to be overloaded in imbalanced regions served a higher number of Black patients and more patients enrolled in Medicaid, according to a new study conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Q&Amp;A: COVID-19 likely came from animals--why aren't we working to prevent a new scourge?
COVID-19 has killed 7 million people worldwide so far. The novel coronavirus that causes it is widely believed to have jumped from animals to humans at a market selling live animals in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Now the results of a new study suggest we are as vulnerable as ever to the emergence of another such virus as deadly, or even more so.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Study reveals a genetic basis for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
People who contract COVID-19 but never develop symptoms — the so-called super dodgers — may have a genetic ace up their sleeve. They're more than twice as likely as those who become symptomatic to carry a specific gene variation that helps them obliterate the virus, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco researchers.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Study uncovers substance use patterns, depression and social factors among Harlem residents during COVID-19
A groundbreaking study by CUNY SPH researchers provides valuable insights into the prevalence of substance use, its relationship with depression and the impact of social factors among residents in Harlem during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Understanding persistent COVID-19 symptoms: study explores early indicators of long COVID
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* server, researchers investigated early biomarkers of post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC) in a household-based cohort of individuals intensively sampled during the acute phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
July 20, 2023 — Source

Health — COVID-19 — July 19th, 2023

Gene mutation may explain why some don't get sick from COVID-19
People who contract COVID-19 but never develop symptoms--the so-called super dodgers--may have a genetic ace up their sleeve. They're more than twice as likely as those who become symptomatic to carry a specific gene variation that helps them obliterate the virus, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco researchers.
July 19, 2023 — or Source

Researchers discover molecule with promise to enhance vaccine efficacy
Taking a significant leap in the field of vaccine development, University of Western Ontario researchers have discovered a potential "super molecule" that can bolster the effectiveness of several vaccines against viral diseases, including influenza, COVID-19 and smallpox.
July 19, 2023 — Source

SARS-CoV-2 infects liver, stimulating glucose production and contributing to severe form of COVID-19, study shows
Research conducted at the University of São Paulo in Brazil shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can infect liver cells (hepatocytes), stimulating glucose production and leading to a condition similar to diabetes in hospitalized patients, even if their blood sugar level was normal before they were admitted to hospital.
July 19, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 — Resources — Numbers

11 things to know now that COVID-19 isn't an 'emergency' anymore
Life has changed forever because of COVID-19, and the virus is still spreading, and still causing serious illness or significant disruption of 'normal' life.
May 11, 2023 — Source

20 years later: lessons from SARS-CoV-2 inform preparedness against future pandemics
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) first appeared nearly two decades ago, heralding several future epidemics of infectious diseases that raised global concerns.
June 30, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 — Resources — A

A COVID test Medicare scam may be a trial run for further fraud
Medicare coverage for at-home COVID-19 tests has ended, but the scams spawned by the temporary pandemic benefit could have lingering consequences for seniors.
May 23, 2023 — Source

A global effort to identify critical illness in some COVID-19 patients highlights genetic risk, potential treatments
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. have led a study in collaboration with scientists worldwide, looking into cases of critical illness in COVID-19 patients.
May 19, 2023 — Source

A novel role for macrophage-activation signaling in orchestrating the recruitment process in response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers derived peptides from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated inflammatory changes using zebrafish models.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: New treatment may reduce size; COVID infection may speed growth
The intravenous delivery of immune-modulating cells may someday slow the expansion of bulges in the aorta, known as abdominal aortic aneurysms. A second study found evidence that a COVID-19 infection may promote the enlargement of these dangerous bulges.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Adults with sleep apnea may have higher risk of developing long COVID
Among people who have had COVID-19, adults with obstructive sleep apnea were more likely to experience long-term symptoms suggestive of long COVID than those without the sleep disorder, according to a large study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
May 11, 2023 — Source

Almost all blood donors had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by third quarter of 2022
Almost all blood donors had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies from previous infection or vaccination by the third quarter of 2022, with the prevalence of hybrid immunity lowest for adults aged ≥65 years, according to research published in the June 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
June 9, 2023 — Source

An evaluation of the timeliness of COVID-19 surveillance data sources and indicators
National reporting of some categories of data on COVID-19 surveillance will cease in the US from May 11, 2023, when the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration expires. The COVID-19 electronic laboratory reporting (CELR) and reporting of the aggregate COVID-19 case and death data will be discontinued.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Anthropause: the influence of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on behavioral patterns of sika deer in Japan
In a recent study published in PLoS ONE, researchers investigated the impact of the anthropause, or stagnation, in human activity due to a decrease in tourist visits to Nara Park, central Japan, caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which reduced the population and altered the behavior of Cervus nippon (Sika deer) inhabitants.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Anxiety, Your Brain, and Long COVID: What the Research Says
Anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 can be a bad combination for your brain — and your long-term health.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Apple-shaped obesity is associated with cytokine storm and a higher risk of death in COVID-19 patients
Eating an apple a day may keep the doctor away, but having an apple shape is not nearly as healthy. Now, researchers from Japan have shown that people who carry their weight in their bellies may be at greater risk of poor outcomes if they catch COVID-19.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Are pandemic lockdowns and vaccinations complements or substitutes?
Worldwide, one of the initial responses to the COVID-19 virus was locking down parts of the economy to reduce social interactions and the virus's spread. Now, the development and production of vaccines have largely replaced broad lockdowns.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Australian researchers discover how COVID-19 can infect the human placenta
In a landmark study published in Nature Cell Biology, Australian researchers, led by Professor Jose Polo from Monash University and the University of Adelaide and University of Melbourne's Professor Kanta Subbarao from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), have revealed how COVID-19 can infect the human placenta.
July 14, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 — Resources — B

Bacteria killing material could tackle hospital superbugs
Researchers have used a common disinfectant and antiseptic to create a new antimicrobial coating material that effectively kills bacteria and viruses, including MRSA and COVID-19.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Breakthrough: Sequencing functional antibody proteins directly from human blood
Rapid Novor Inc., the world's leader in mass spectrometry (MS)-based antibody protein sequencing, announced today that its REpAb® antibody discovery platform was used to successfully sequence a complex mixture of functional antibodies directly from the serum of a human patient after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
June 6, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 — Resources — C

California shutters its phone-based COVID-19 exposure notification system
California introduced a COVID-19 exposure-notification system that used iPhone and Android to track interactions with infected people. And now that the U.S. government says the pandemic is over, CA Notify is shut down.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Can cognitive behavioral therapy target severe fatigue following COVID-19?
Research attention has been increasing on the long-term sequelae of COVID-19, known as long COVID. Fatigue, one of the most common long COVID symptoms, could often be severe. In addition, some patients still report fatigue up to two years post-acute COVID-19.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Cats can play a role in transmitting COVID-19, finds new study
"In practice, after the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in our household, we should see our cat as part of the family regarding virus transmission," said study co-author Wim van der Poel DVM, Ph.D., Professor of Emerging and Zoonotic Viruses, Wageningen University and Research, in the Netherlands.
May 30, 2023 — Source

CDC: Monitoring of COVID-19 will remain a priority
Surveillance data sources and indicators will support monitoring the impact of COVID-19 after expiration of the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency declaration on May 11, according to two articles published in the May 5 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
May 9, 2023 — Source

'Counter-stereotypical' messaging can move needle on vaccinations
A large-scale study to see if politically partisan cues can induce people to get COVID-19 vaccines found that, yes, they can.
May 26, 2023 — Source

COVID antiviral treatments underused in nursing homes, study finds
Nursing homes were a key battleground during the COVID pandemic and prioritized for distribution of PPE, vaccines, and COVID testing kits. However, new research shows that monoclonal antibodies and oral antiviral drugs were not used in these facilities as much as would be expected given the high-risk of resident populations.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Covid hasn't entirely gone away--here's where we stand
The coronavirus continues to cause infections, disease and death--and long covid.
July 7, 2023 — Source

COVID infection in women having ovary stimulation lowered chances for pregnancy
Testing positive for a COVID-19 infection during a particular phase of fertility treatment could reduce the odds for a successful pregnancy, a new study says.
July 14, 2023 — Source

COVID outbreak at CDC gathering infects 181 disease detectives
Nearly all of the attendees were vaccinated, but 70% said they didn't mask.
May 30, 2023 — Source

COVID still a threat, EU watchdog warns
COVID-19 remains a threat even though it is no longer a global health emergency, the EU's vaccines watchdog warned on Tuesday in its final briefing of the pandemic.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Covid: No longer an emergency, but not going anywhere
The World Health Organization may no longer consider COVID-19 a global health emergency, but the virus is not going anywhere.
May 5, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 booster vaccine doses strengthen immunity in blood cancer patients, shows study
Research by the University of Southampton into the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in people with lymphoma has shown that repeated vaccination increases their ability to prevent infection from the virus, particularly after four doses.
July 3, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 data: How infection rates changed on the day a lockdown or similar measure was introduced
Using an approach based on computer vision technology, researchers can work back from COVID-19 mortality data to see how infection rates changed on the day a lockdown or similar measure was introduced. The approach could be generally useful in future epidemics and pandemics.
July 14, 2023 — Source

'COVID-19 Diet' Lowers Salt, a Boon to Kidney Stone Patients
Your kidneys may be hailing the "COVID-19 diet."
May 2, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 hurt kids' math learning more than reading and writing--with the biggest setbacks in fall 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic had a stark negative impact on students' math scores, new data from Michigan shows. Math achievement growth over the three-year period from spring 2019 through spring 2022 was substantially lower--approximately 7 national percentiles--than among comparable students the three years prior.
June 27, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 is no longer an official emergency: Is that the right call?
The COVID-19 emergency is over. After three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the virus "no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern." Many countries have decided the same.
May 11, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 vaccination: Study finds no serious side effects in young children
A review of more than 245,000 doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines given to young children (most of them age 4 and younger) found no indications of serious side effects. The study, published June 6 in Pediatrics, was led by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
June 6, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 vaccines produce antibody response in the nasal mucosa
Respiratory viruses are known for their ability to enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Our bodies know that too. The nasal cavity is well-equipped with sticky mucus that traps pathogens and serves as an important site for immune cell surveillance and signaling.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Critically ill corona patients benefit from COVID-19 vaccination
Healthcare systems and economies worldwide have suffered from the Corona pandemic. Vaccines are now available that can prevent hospitalizations in up to 90% of cases and reduce deaths.
May 23, 2023 — Source

Critics say pandemic treaty text is 'step backwards'
As negotiations accelerate towards a new pandemic treaty, observers warn that efforts to ensure equal access to the medical products needed to battle future threats are being watered down.
May 30, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 — Resources — D

Do veterans with COVID-19 experience similar outcomes when hospitalized in Veterans Health Administration hospitals versus community hospitals?
In the United States of America (USA), the VHA runs 123 acute care hospitals in rural and urban settings, where elderly patients with severe COVID-19 receive primary care.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Do COVID-19 drugs in aquatic matrices negatively impact microalgae and cyanobacteria communities?
Because these drugs are not fully absorbed, they are eliminated in urine and feces. Therefore, increased use of these drugs may endanger the aquatic environment due to their toxic effects on the aquatic biota.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Does COVID-19 vaccination affect the menstrual cycle?
The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to two years of mounting waves of illness and death, affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world. Even after the outbreak's severity subsided, the potential long-term sequelae of the infection or COVID-19 vaccination continue to be a matter of concern.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Does your vaccine type matter in the battle against COVID?
In the BOOST study (Building Optimal antibOdies STudy), researchers tracked the response to the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in blood samples of 498 healthy volunteers, ages 18 to 88. They measured levels of neutralizing antibodies--the proteins secreted by plasma cells that block pathogens, like the COVID virus, thus preventing infection.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Donor Hearts From Patients With COVID Tied to Lower Survival
People who receive a heart transplant from a donor who had active COVID-19 have a higher risk of dying at 6 months and 1 year after, compared to those who receive a heart from patients without COVID, new research has found.
May 23, 2023 — Source

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Economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Austin, Texas saw higher rates of infection well into pandemic's second year
During the COVID-19 pandemic's first 15 months, people in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in a large U.S. city suffered infection rates up to 10 times as high as their counterparts in wealthier neighborhoods, research from The University of Texas at Austin has found. The findings could offer clues to address health disparities in future outbreaks and public health crises.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Elderly with few antibodies may need an extra dose of COVID-19 vaccine: Study
The new mRNA vaccines have just as good a protective effect against COVID-19 for the very oldest as for younger people. This is evident in a study at Umeå University, where researchers have followed individuals in special housing around Sweden.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Essential process for SARS-CoV-2 viral replication visualized
During the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a long string of connected proteins is cleaved apart into individual proteins. This process is interrupted by an FDA-approved drug to treat COVID-19; however, the mechanistic details of this cleavage process are still unclear.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Even mild COVID-19 can cause structural and functional alterations in the brain, say studies
Even mild COVID-19 can cause structural and functional alterations in the brain that may lead to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue and somnolence, as well as adverse effects on well-being, health and work capacity.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Examining how Canadians' lifestyle behaviors changed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Sixty percent of roughly 1,600 Canadians who took part in a new McGill University study say their lifestyle habits either stayed the same or improved during the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Examining patterns of life-stress impacts caused by COVID-19 among US essential workers of color
A new study published in the Journal of the Society for Social Work & Research examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those responsible for helping the United States continue to function during a national crisis.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Experimental 'decoy' protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection
An experimental "decoy" has provided long-term protection from infection by the pandemic virus in mice, a new study finds.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Experts say policymakers must learn from the impact of COVID-19 on older people
Policymakers must learn from the impact of COVID-19 on older people in order to tackle the deep-seated inequalities exposed by the pandemic, according to a new publication written by a group of experts from The University of Manchester.
June 20, 2023 — Source

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Fever found to be most common non-respiratory feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection
The finding held true regardless of which COVID variant patients had, and whether or not they were fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
May 23, 2023 — Source

Fintetuning for antibodies
The strength of the immune reaction triggered by antibodies can be regulated
July 14, 2023 — Source

Finnish study finds additional citywide recommendations did little to curb COVID-19 cases
A report from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, published in BMC Public Health, looked into the effectiveness of a city-based mask-wearing policy among 10 to 12-year-olds during the fall of 2021.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Flexible, supportive company culture makes for better remote work
The pandemic made remote work the norm for many, but that doesn't mean it was always a positive experience. Remote work can have many advantages: increased flexibility, inclusivity for parents and people with disabilities, and work-life balance.
June 27, 2023 — Source

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Heart attack patients with concurrent COVID-19 have higher mortality risk, research shows
New research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai shows that patients who went to a hospital with a heart attack and were simultaneously sick with COVID-19 were three times more likely to die than patients experiencing a heart attack without a COVID-19 infection.
June 8, 2023 — Source

High blood pressure plagues many Black Americans. Combined with COVID, it's catastrophic
Charles Thomas was unwell but he had no time for rest. He was on the cusp of a management promotion and a move to Florida to begin a new chapter that would alter his family's financial future and break the cycle of generational poverty.
May 23, 2023 — Source

Household transmission of endemic human coronaviruses in the US
In a recent study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers performed a large household transmission study to describe clinical outcomes of endemic human coronavirus (hCoV) infections and the risk of household and community-level transmission likelihoods in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States Of America (USA).
May 9, 2023 — Source

How a combination of covid lawsuits and media coverage keeps misinformation churning
Over the course of the pandemic, lawsuits came from every direction, questioning public health policies and hospitals' authority. Petitioners argued for care to be provided in a different way, they questioned mandates on mask and vaccine use, and they attacked restrictions on gatherings.
July 14, 2023 — Source

How Blood Type Can Increase Your Risk of COVID-19
Recent research shows that one particular blood type heightens the risk of infection.
June 30, 2023 — Source

How did COVID-19 lockdown impact employment of individuals with visual disabilities?
New data show that while individuals with visual disabilities were slow to recover employment because of the effects of the COVID-2019 lockdown, they have made headway, depending on their level of disability, almost meeting their pre-pandemic levels.
May 23, 2023 — Source

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the fungal infection hospitalization rates?
Fungal infections impose significant healthcare costs in the US. Risk factors are variable but are generally associated with environmental exposure and underlying immunocompromising or immunosuppressive conditions.
June 9, 2023 — Source

How have emergency medicine physicians' social media content and language changed during COVID-19, and can they provide insight into physician well-being?
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has worsened mental health and increased healthcare-related fatigue among clinical workers.
May 12, 2023 — Source

How retail technology is recovering the supply chain
The worldwide supply chain took a massive hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to recover fully. This pandemic compromised manufacturing and maritime shipping sectors, causing an unprecedented supply shortage in the 21st century. Store shelves were bare and many places could not access the essentials.
May 23, 2023 — Source

How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted social cohesion
More than any other recent event, the COVID-19 crisis has affected the lives of people around the world. In a special issue of the online journal Frontiers in Sociology, edited by sociologists from Constructor University and the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, a group of researchers documents the global impact of the pandemic on the social cohesion of individual population groups and world regions.
May 23, 2023 — Source

How the End of the COVID Public Health Emergency May Affect You
The federal public health emergency for COVID-19, in place in the United States for more than 3 years, ends on Thursday. The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services first issued the emergency declaration under the Public Health Services Act, and it was renewed repeatedly — until now.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Hundreds of millions of life years lost to pandemic: WHO
Nearly 337 million life years were lost in the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of people died prematurely, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
May 19, 2023 — Source

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International COVID-19 registry uncovers increased incidence of clotting in heart attack patients with COVID-19
The latest analysis from The North American COVID-19 STEMI (NACMI) was presented today as late-breaking clinical research at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2023 Scientific Sessions. The findings show patients with an ST-elevated myocardial infarction, or STEMI, and COVID-19 had a significant amount of clotting in their arteries both before and after intervention. Importantly, clots were seen in multiple arteries in close to 30% of patients, a phenomenon observed in less than 5% of patients with heart attacks who do not have COVID-19.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Investigating the alveolar type II reparative response in COVID-19 pneumonia
Although the rapid development of vaccines has limited the morbidity and mortality associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, the COVID-19 pandemic is in its third year, and the disease has claimed close to seven million lives from with COVID-19 pneumonia and other associated comorbidities.
June 9, 2023 — Source

Is COVID-19 severity of infection a new risk factor for chronic pain?
The long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections continues to be a growing population health concern. Studies have reported that the severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be related to lingering long COVID symptoms persisting beyond three months of acute infection and not experienced before contracting SARS-CoV-2, including chronic pain.
June 27, 2023 — Source

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J&J's COVID vaccine is dead in the US; FDA revokes authorization
The withdrawal leaves the two mRNA vaccines and the Novavax protein subunit vaccine.
June 6, 2023 — Source

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Large study uncovers new details about long COVID
Initial findings from a study of nearly 10,000 Americans, many of whom had COVID-19, have uncovered new details about long COVID, the post-infection set of conditions that can affect nearly every tissue and organ in the body.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Long COVID could be caused by the virus lingering in the body. Here's what the science says
While most people survive and recover from COVID, for some people symptoms can persist for months or years. When symptoms last longer than 12 weeks, the condition is known as long COVID.
June 9, 2023 — Source

Lymphoid depletion associated with suppressed APC function characterizes the lethality of COVID-19 in mice
Individuals who are immunocompromised are considered at higher risk for severe or longer disease with COVID-19. Understanding the systemic immune response is vital for research efforts to reduce its effects on multiple organs. A new study in SARS-CoV2-infected mice reported in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, found lymphoid depletion lesions in the spleen that may form the groundwork for novel therapies to restore defective antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions in humans to trigger the cellular immune response and potentially reduce the severity of COVID-19.
June 2, 2023 — Source

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Making vaccines longer lasting: Findings could revolutionize how all vaccines could be made to last longer
The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic illustrates how variable vaccines can be in their length of efficacy, with regular boosters needed to keep people protected. In comparison, the immunity generated by a single vaccination against the measles virus can last decades.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Masks and portable air cleaners reduced the spread of COVID-19 in schools, study shows
A new study shows that masking and portable air cleaners reduced the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in two Swiss schools. A team led by Nicolas Banholzer and Kathrin Zürcher of the University of Bern, Switzerland, publish these findings on May 18th in the open access journal PLOS Medicine.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Mechanistic insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects the nervous system, alters its function, and causes neuropathology
Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause nervous system infections. Viruses such as Zika virus, reovirus, SARS-CoV-2, and herpes simplex virus can infect neurons.
June 9, 2023 — Source

Menopause and Long COVID: What Women Should Know
As doctors and researchers learn more about long COVID, an interesting fact has emerged: Women experiencing menopause and perimenopause appear to be more likely to experience serious complications from the virus.
June 6, 2023 — Source

MHRA authorizes new COVID-19 vaccine from SK Chemicals
SKYCovion, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by SK Chemicals, has today been authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
May 26, 2023 — Source

Moderna beats Pfizer among two-dose COVID vaccine recipients aged 60 and over, study shows
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna continue to save lives. But a new paper published in the journal Vaccines provides evidence that the two vaccines are not equivalent when it comes to protecting older adults against death.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Monovalent COVID-19 booster vaccinations administered in early pregnancy not linked with miscarriage
HealthPartners Institute researchers have published new data in JAMA Network Open that shows monovalent COVID-19 booster vaccinations administered in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks' gestation) were not associated with miscarriage. The research adds to the growing understanding about the safety of COVID-19 booster vaccinations among people who are pregnant.
May 19, 2023 — or Source

Mother-to-child transmission of SARS-CoV-2: evaluating the association between preventive measures and the risk of infection
The COVID-19 pandemic and the initial lack of clarity about the virulence and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in substantial changes in social interactions.
June 2, 2023 — Source

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Nearly 36 million in Europe may have experienced long COVID, World Health Organization official says
Nearly 36 million people in Europe may have had long-lasting health problems from coronavirus infections they got during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization's regional director said Tuesday.
June 27, 2023 — Source

New AI algorithm could boost COVID-19 mRNA vaccine antibody response by 128 times
A team of researchers from Baidu Research has developed an AI algorithm that can rapidly design highly stable COVID-19 mRNA vaccine sequences that were previously unattainable.
May 2, 2023 — or Source

New data on COVID-19 vaccine response and clinical outcomes in patients with impaired immune systems
Researchers and clinicians from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are part of the ongoing OCTAVE (Observational Cohort Trial-T-cells Antibodies and Vaccine Efficacy in SARS-CoV-2) trial, which is led by the Universities of Glasgow, Birmingham and Oxford and a consortium of leading UK institutions.
July 7, 2023 — Source

New insight into how the occludin protein mediates cell-to-cell transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus
While the coronavirus continues to infect people around the world, researchers at the University of Missouri have identified a specific protein inside the human body that plays a critical role in how the virus spreads from cell to cell after infection -; a discovery that will help better understand the COVID-19 disease and could lead to the development of new antiviral drugs in the future.
May 2, 2023 — Source

New paper lays the foundations for patient and public involvement in basic immunology research
Building in funding to meaningfully involve patients and public is key to success in laboratory-based immunology research, even in the context of a pandemic.
June 9, 2023 — Source

New report finds smoking rates, alcohol use, physical inactivity decreased during COVID-19
In a new report, American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers discovered both favorable and unfavorable changes in major cancer risk factors, preventive behaviors and services, and screenings in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2, 2023 — Source

New research finds cultural creative hubs key to supporting local communities during crises
Experts at the University of Stirling are calling for the arts and culture to be prioritized in funding decisions after new research showed the significance of cultural hubs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 23, 2023 — Source

New research sheds light on the causes of fatigue after COVID-19
Experts from Newcastle University found the nervous system of people with post-COVID fatigue was underactive in three key areas. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of long COVID.
May 11, 2023 — Source

New study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 might induce lasting pain in unique way
COVID-19, the disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, is associated with highly variable clinical outcomes that range from asymptomatic disease to death. For those with milder infections, COVID-19 can produce respiratory infection symptoms (cough, congestion, fever) and sensory phenotypes such as headache and loss of sense of smell.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir effective for outpatient treatment of COVID-19
Kristina L. Bajema, M.D., from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and molnupiravir for outpatient treatment of COVID-19 in three retrospective target trial emulation studies involving nonhospitalized veterans at risk for severe COVID-19 who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Not all statins are created equal when it comes to reducing mortality risk in COVID-19 patients
We've all recently gotten a crash-course in drug repurposing, thanks to near-daily news reports about efforts to identify existing medicines that could help treat COVID-19 in the early phase of the pandemic. A team of scientists at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University jumped into the fray in the spring of 2020, applying novel computational drug repurposing approaches to confront the COVID-19 challenge.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Novel approach: intranasal vaccination strategy targets Omicron COVID-19 variants
In addition, they tested if it worked effectively as a booster in mice intramuscularly (IM) immunized with a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) COVID-19 vaccine.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Novel model for disease transmission factors in the effects of social dynamics
The behaviors and actions of hypersocial species like humans are heavily influenced by the behaviors and actions of those around them. This was evidenced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; protective measures such as masking and social distancing varied widely as these behaviors were affected by where people were and who they were around, which in turn affected disease prevalence and transmission rates.
May 9, 2023 — Source

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Obesity accelerates loss of COVID-19 vaccination immunity, study finds
The protection offered by COVID-19 vaccination declines more rapidly in people with severe obesity than in those of normal weight, scientists at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh have found. The study suggests that people with obesity are likely to need more frequent booster doses to maintain their immunity.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Opinion: COVID has highlighted the connection between spirituality and vaccine skepticism
In the two and a half years since the first COVID vaccines were administered, anti-vaccination sentiment has grown exponentially. Skepticism about vaccines has been voiced, in particular, in religious communities across the world, from South Korea and New Zealand to South Africa, the UK and prominently among white evangelicals, in the US.
June 8, 2023 — Source

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People coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and cytomegalovirus found to be at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most prevalent herpesviruses worldwide. Depending on the geographical area, it can affect between 40% and 90% of the population and, although it does not produce symptoms in healthy people, the control of this chronic infection requires constant work by the immune system, which is constantly fighting to keep it at bay.
May 30, 2023 — Source

People encouraged to get first and second dose of Covid vaccine before offer ends
The NHS's world-leading vaccination program has so far delivered over 146 million Covid jabs, helping to save tens of thousands of lives, protect the most vulnerable from serious illness and allowed us to resume our normal lives without restrictions.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is set for EUA after adcom vote
The panel of outside experts has greenlighted the COVID-19 vaccine candidate from Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and BioNTech SE (BNTX). On the question of 'based on the totality of scientific evidence available, do the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine outweigh its risks for use in individuals 16 years of age and older' 17 of the panel members have voted yes, while four voted no and one abstained.
December 10, 2020 — Source

Positive impact of golf on older Finnish golfers' physical activity and quality of life, even during the pandemic: Study
The physical activity of older golfers in Finland increased and their quality of life remained on a good level despite COVID-19 restrictions, according to a cross-sectional study conducted by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Edinburgh. The researchers explored seasonal variation in physical activity and quality of life among older Finnish golfers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Post- and long-COVID syndrome: How digital interventions can help
Psychological and physical exercises digitally instructed can improve the health of post- and long-COVID patients. These findings were confirmed in a current meta-analysis by a team led by Sonia Lippke, professor of health psychology and behavioral medicine at Constructor University in Bremen.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Post-COVID, Building 'Health' Matters, Too
In 2017, Shangwen Kennedy, an experienced, Harvard-trained architect and urban designer, wanted to try something new: Creating spaces that would improve the health and well-being of people who use them.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Precision protection: antibody testing offers insights into predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in immunocompromised patients
Like other disease groups, blood cancer patients mount highly heterogeneous immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, which raises the risk of severe illness.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Prevalence of certain bacterial coinfections low for young COVID-19-positive febrile infants
Febrile infants aged 8 to 60 days old who test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have a low prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI), bacteremia, and bacterial meningitis, according to a study published online May 12 in JAMA Network Open.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Preventing pandemics by leaving bats undisturbed
As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly subsides, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) experts and colleagues from the Wildlife Conservation Society have partnered on a new analysis in The Lancet Planetary Health journal focused on how such surges in deaths, illness, and suffering--as well as their economic costs--can be prevented in the future.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Primary care clinicians report benefits and challenges in using telemedicine during COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers interviewed primary care clinicians to identify trends, facilitators and barriers in implementing and using telemedicine technologies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 23, 2023 — Source

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Rare myocarditis after COVID shots: Study rules out some common culprits
Researchers ruled out overexuberant antibodies in an autoimmune response.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Repeat testing with a rapid antigen test may be required to rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection
A prospective cohort study has found that repeat testing in 48-hour intervals with a rapid antigen test (Ag-RDT) may be required to rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection. This means that people testing for SARS-CoV-2 should exercise caution in public settings despite an initial negative result if they suspect they may be infected or have been exposed.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Research examines COVID-19's ongoing toll on university students' mental health
Even before the pandemic, university students were at high risk of developing mental health problems. Transitioning to adulthood is already a period of heightened vulnerability, and for students, this can be combined with added stressors such as living away from home, financial hardship and changing social relationships.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Research explains the role of high cholesterol in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity
A recent study has unveiled the doorway that SARS-CoV2 uses to slip inside cells undetected.
June 20, 2023 — or Source

Research finds fever to be the most common non-respiratory feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Fever was found to be the most common non-respiratory feature of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to research published at the ATS 2023 International Conference. The finding held true regardless of which COVID variant patients had, and whether or not they were fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated. T
May 23, 2023 — Source

Research shows home working didn't harm mental health at the start of the pandemic--but things changed later on
One of the key changes to our daily lives brought about by the COVID pandemic was, for those able to do so, working from home. According to UK data, almost 60% of people were working fully or partially from home between April and June 2020.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Research shows remote students more likely to experience identity-based bullying
High school and middle school students in remote learning environments are more likely to be exposed to identity-based harassment, and have a greater likelihood of reporting the behavior, according to researchers.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Researcher discusses gaining insight into the potential of cannabis in combating viral infections
A recent review, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, examines laboratory-based studies that highlight the antiviral properties of cannabis in countering the effects of viral infections such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for COVID-19, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV).
June 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers develop first-of-its-kind adhesive bandage that uses gold nanoparticles to detect COVID-19 antibodies
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a new rapid testing method for COVID-19--an adhesive bandage that relies on gold nanoparticles to quickly detect the immune antibodies in the bloodstream.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers find a connection between plasma lipid profile and severity of COVID-19
In the latest research published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, a large collaboration of European investigators led by Prof Marite Cárdenas of Malmö University, gained insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S protein) impacts with lipid metabolism in the body with implications for COVID-19 infection and mRNA vaccination.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Researchers find an immune system 'trip wire' that detects COVID-19
Inflammasomes make up an intricate system of molecular sensors that our bodies use to sound an alarm when an infection occurs. However, the mechanisms behind these sensors, which initiate responses to threats such as invading pathogens, and how they operate has been an area of intrigue for immunologists.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Researchers find possible link between self-perceived cognitive deficits and symptomatic long COVID
People who perceived that they had cognitive difficulties such as memory problems during COVID were more likely to have lingering physical manifestations of the disease than people who did not report cognitive issues, new UCLA research suggests.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Researchers highlight flaws in COVID-19 weather studies and call for improved publishing practices
Research that linked the weather with the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic was inaccurate and poorly scrutinized by fellow scientists, suggests a new study.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers investigate how COVID-19 has shaped our daydreams and nighttime dreams
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental well-being of individuals worldwide. A recent study published in the journal Emotion examines the relationship between COVID-19-related concerns, anxiety, and worry, and the emotional quality of daydreaming and nighttime dreaming during these challenging times.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Researchers investigate whether COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccinations are complements or substitutes
Worldwide, one of the initial responses to the COVID-19 virus was locking down parts of the economy to reduce social interactions and the virus's spread. Now, the development and production of vaccines have largely replaced broad lockdowns.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Researchers suggest myasthenia gravis drug be tested for use in post-COVID-19 patients
A significant proportion of patients who survive COVID-19 develop a constellation of life-altering symptoms that persist long after the initial infection has resolved. This post-COVID-19 syndrome may result from the development of autoreactive IgG antibodies that cause inflammation and tissue injury.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Risk of long COVID in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong cohorts
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), is defined as a host of symptoms and signs involving several organ systems that linger after an initial episode of COVID-19.
May 30, 2023 — Source

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Safety and immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine SYS6006 evaluated in Phase 1 trial
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in more than 600 million confirmed cases and 6.5 million deaths worldwide. mRNA-based vaccines have emerged as a leading platform for COVID-19 protection and are extensively investigated in basic and clinical trials.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Safety of GP prescribing in England was not adversely affected by the pandemic, says study
Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham and Oxford have found that despite substantial disruption to primary care services, the safety of GP prescribing in England was largely unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 19, 2023 — Source

San Francisco airport will monitor plane waste for COVID-19 variants
The program is the first in the country to continuously monitor sewage from airplanes
May 9, 2023 — Source

Scientists' political donations reflect polarization in academia--with implications for the public's trust in science
People who lean left politically reported an increase in trust in scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic, while those who lean right politically reported much lower levels of trust in scientists.
June 6, 2023 — Source

siRNA as a COVID-19 Treatment
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School have developed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology that is stable enough for inhalation into the lungs, where it can potentially treat diseases as diverse as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and viral infections such as COVID-19.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Sleep apnea associated with increased risk for long COVID
Sleep apnea may significantly increase the risk for long COVID in adults, according to a study led by the National Institutes of Health's RECOVER Initiative and supported by NYU Langone Health as home to the effort's Clinical Science Core (CSC).
May 11, 2023 — Source

Sleep problems put individuals at risk of respiratory infections, suggests large study
A study based on more than 600,000 participants suggests that insomnia increases the risk of influenza and other respiratory infections. Sleep problems also increased the risk of COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Spikevax approved for use in children aged 6 months to 5 years
Spikevax, the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna, has today been authorized for use in children aged 6 months to 5 years.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Studies trace SARS-CoV-2 seasonal behavior back to genetics and global change
As the northern hemisphere heads into summer, we may be in for a COVID-19 reprieve. Not because the pandemic is over; the omicron subvariant "Arcturus" is still creeping upward and causing new symptoms. But two new studies from the University of Illinois add evidence supporting a seasonal pattern in the behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Study addresses privacy-preserving collaborative data collection and analysis with many missing values
To control pandemics like the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), data such as the age, gender, family composition, and medical history of infected individuals are required. While patients themselves may provide this information to medical institutions, these details are highly confidential.
July 7, 2023 — Source

Study discovers long COVID risk and symptoms vary in different populations
While the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have passed, the effects of post-COVID conditions on public health remain. A new study led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators has found that the risk of long COVID and its symptoms present very differently across diverse populations and suggests that further investigation is needed to accurately define the disease and improve diagnosis and treatment.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Study examines COVID-19's impact on socioeconomic inequality in health behaviors among Japanese adolescents
A study, led by Assistant Professor Kyan Akira and Professor Takakura Minoru, found for the first time that the socioeconomic inequality in achieving recommended physical activity levels among Japanese youth increased, while difference in breakfast intake decreased, during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to levels before the pandemic
June 23, 2023 — Source

Study finds link between blood type and COVID-19 susceptibility
Ask the average American what their blood type is, and you will likely receive a blank look. For most people, blood type only becomes an issue if they need a blood transfusion.
June 27, 2023 — or Source

Study identifies extremely potent monoclonal antibodies that neutralized multiple sarbecoviruses
In a recent article published in the Science Translational Medicine Journal, researchers longitudinally isolated immensely potent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from macaques vaccinated with monovalent subunit coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines adjuvanted with a squalene oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant AS03.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Study identifies the predictors of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome symptoms
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, researchers followed up by telephone with individuals recently infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and eight to 14 months later to identify the predictors of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome symptoms.
June 30, 2023 — Source

Study narrows long COVID's 200+ symptoms to core list of 12
Loss of taste/smell and post-exertional malaise were the top two symptoms.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Study reveals insights into post-vaccine heart inflammation cases
When new COVID-19 vaccines were first administered two years ago, public health officials found an increase in cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, particularly among young males who had been vaccinated with mRNA vaccines. It was unclear, however, what exactly was causing this reaction.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Study shows greater emotional exhaustion among math teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic
In a longitudinal study, researchers were able to examine the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional well-being of math teachers. On a scale of 1 to 4, the mean emotional exhaustion of teachers increased from 1.89 in 2019 to 2.41 in 2021.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Study shows impacts of ASO-based MALAT1-inhibition on MAPK-pathway gene regulation in melanoma
A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on May 26, 2023, entitled, "Deconstructing the role of MALAT1 in MAPK-signaling in melanoma: insights from antisense oligonucleotide treatment."
May 30, 2023 — Source

Study shows regional differences with COVID-19 mental health impact
A new study appearing in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE shows how federal and state lockdowns and health mandates implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19 affected the mental health of people living in four U.S. geographic regions and affiliated with two major political parties.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Study shows surprisingly low use of COVID antiviral treatments in nursing homes
Nursing homes were a key battleground during the COVID pandemic and prioritized for distribution of PPE, vaccines, and COVID testing kits. However, new research shows that monoclonal antibodies and oral antiviral drugs were not used in these facilities as much as would be expected given the high-risk of resident populations.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Study suggests that the overall physical health of adolescents was negatively impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts
The COVID-19 pandemic required many people to stay at home, leading to irregular schedules, which may have resulted in disrupted sleep patterns. COVID-19 may have caused sleep issues in teenagers due to heightened stress levels, changes in sleep schedules, and the need to study from home for online classes, leading to increased wakefulness.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Study uncovers reduced exercise tolerance and other changes in 'long COVID'
A recent study published in Pulmonary Circulation assesses changes in oxygen extraction following post-acute sequelae of SARS-Cov-2 infection (PASC) syndrome, or "long COVID." PASC may affect half of patients who recover from COVID-19. One debilitating hallmark is a persistent decrease in exercise tolerance.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Study: Adverse childhood experiences common for teens before, during COVID-19
Marci Hertz, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues recruited adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (727 in the fall of 2020 [wave 1] and 569 in the spring of 2021 [wave 2]) who responded to questions about household challenges, violence or neglect, and community ACE exposure.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Study: Empathetic people more likely to support the international sharing of coronavirus vaccines
People with more empathy and cosmopolitan beliefs are more likely to support the international sharing of coronavirus vaccines, a new study shows.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Study: Fear of COVID-19 causes psychological distress in nursing and hospital clerical workers
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant decline in mental health, particularly for hospital clerical workers who care for infected patients. However, few studies have examined the mental health of different hospital occupations in Japan, particularly in relation to fear of COVID-19 and resilience, which are unique factors of this pandemic.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Study: The mental health of Finnish adolescents deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic
A recent study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) examined the health of adolescents before and after the pandemic. The findings highlight that promoting good teacher--student relationships and a positive home environment, developing stronger health literacy skills among young people, and encouraging parents to monitor their child's activities should be taken into account in measures to promote post-pandemic recovery.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Systematic racism in health care boosted COVID-19 vaccine mistrust in Black communities, says study
The University of Ottawa's Interdisciplinary Center for Black Health survey reveals the scope of coronavirus vaccine hesitancy in Black communities in relation to health care.
May 9, 2023 — Source

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The COVID cost for Asia's informal workers
As COVID-19 took hold across borders in 2020 and 2021, more than 1.6 billion informal workers were estimated by the United Nations to have been impacted by mobility restrictions and other lockdown measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
June 30, 2023 — Source

The COVID-19 emergency is over, but the need for awareness remains, experts say
The official word on COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization and the U.S. government, is that it's no longer an emergency. But while that's a milestone, it's hardly an all-clear for everyone to behave as if the pandemic never happened, experts say.
May 26, 2023 — Source

The Crisis Is Officially Ending, but Covid Confusion Lives On
The formal end May 11 of the national public health emergency for COVID-19 will usher in lots of changes in the way Americans get vaccines, treatment, and testing for the coronavirus. It will also change the way some people get their health insurance, with millions likely to lose coverage altogether.
May 11, 2023 — Source

The DEA relaxed online prescribing rules during covid. Now it wants to rein them in.
Federal regulators want most patients to see a health care provider in person before receiving prescriptions for potentially addictive medicines through telehealth — something that hasn't been required in more than three years.
June 27, 2023 — Source

The hunt is on for the telltale biomarker revealing precise degree of protection conferred by Moderna's mRNA vaccine
A new analysis is shedding light on antibody measurements that can help predict the protective capabilities of the Moderna mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.
May 30, 2023 — Source

The one-shot drug that keeps on dosing
What if a single shot lasted for months?
June 27, 2023 — Source

The nocebo effect may influence the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine
People's negative expectations and general attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are significantly correlated with the occurrence and intensity of its most common side effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, headache and injection site pain.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Two new studies identify promising pathways to treat chronic COVID-19
Early studies of COVID-19 focused on the acute phase of the disease. However, attention has now turned to the long-term consequences of the disease, which are also significant causes of morbidity and mortality.
June 6, 2023 — Source

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U.S. COVID hospitalizations reach record low
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hospitalizations were at 8,256 as of May 25.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Unlocking the secrets of Omicron: study reveals how unique spike mutations enable enhanced infectivity and resistance to immune barrier
Cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 occurs when the viral spike protein binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor, altering the confirmation of the spike protein and activating cleavage by serine proteases such as transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) or matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).
May 11, 2023 — Source

Unveiling the key defender: PLSCR1 identified as a potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 factor in COVID-19 immunity
In a recent study published in Nature, researchers identified the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) function of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1), a cell-autonomous restriction factor induced by interferon-gamma (IFNγ).
July 14, 2023 — Source

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Viewpoint: How to uphold the solidarity created by COVID-19 even though WHO ended the international emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of the global emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although COVID-19 remains a danger for many, especially with the possibility of new variants, experts are urging that we move forward to prepare for the next pandemic.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Variation noted in physician turnover rates from 2010 to 2020
Amelia M. Bond, Ph.D., from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, and colleagues examined whether turnover has changed over time based on a novel method using 100 percent of traditional Medicare billing to create national estimates of turnover.
July 14, 2023 — Source

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'We can get this done', US says on pandemic accord
Washington is fully engaged in discussions towards a new global pandemic accord, the top US health official said Tuesday, voicing confidence that negotiations could succeed, but warning time was running out.
May 23, 2023 — Source

What is the subsequent risk of mental disorders among individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and are the associations specific for COVID-19?
In a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers estimated psychiatric disorders and psychotropic medication usage risks among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected versus uninfected individuals, those who did not undergo coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, and individuals hospitalized due to non-COVID-19 respiratory tract infections.
May 30, 2023 — Source

What should come next after the public health emergency?
As the PHE ends this week, Christopher Johnson, president and co-CEO of TeleTracking, which worked with HHS on data collection during the pandemic, offers his views on the transition — and discusses some potential lasting changes to healthcare.
May 9, 2023 — Source

Whether causing the common cold or COVID-19, coronaviruses deploy key enzymes to elude human immune response
The entire family of coronaviruses is equipped with multiple methods of evading the human immune system, and two new studies have taken a deep dive into how these viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, leverage highly specialized enzymes that keep human immune forces at bay.
May 26, 2023 — Source

WHO declares an end to the global COVID-19 public health emergency
It marks a shift to long-term measures to handle the coronavirus
May 5, 2023 — or or or or Source

WHO warns COVID 'has not gone away'
The World Health Organization's European office on Tuesday warned the risk of COVID-19 has not gone away, saying it was still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths a week in the region.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Why children in the UK should still be offered the COVID vaccine
After COVID vaccines for children aged five to 11 were approved in late 2021, the UK lagged behind the US and many European countries in rolling them out.
June 20, 2023 — Source