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New Omicron subvariants test vaccine limits, reveal unique infection challenges

Study reveals that the Omicron subvariants BA.2.86 and FLip show unique mutations and infectivity profiles, with BA.2.86 being highly infectious and resistant to most conventional antibodies, underscoring the need for updated vaccines.

9 Jan 2024

MADE-up or real? Review debunks severity of mask-associated dry eye syndrome

A review in the journal Eye finds that prolonged face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic may cause mild ocular irritation, but serious eye complications are unlikely.

9 Jan 2024

How does religion impact vaccination coverage?

The effect of religious attitudes on real-world vaccination uptake.

9 Jan 2024

Nirmatrelvir treatment shows no link to reduced long-COVID risk, study reveals

Recent study reveals nirmatrelvir treatment during acute COVID-19 does not lower the risk of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, nor is it associated with symptomatic rebound.

8 Jan 2024

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.

8 Jan 2024

Long COVID's hidden toll: How does post-exertional malaise affect skeletal muscles?

Study investigates the pathophysiology of post-exertional malaise in long COVID patients, revealing skeletal muscle changes, exercise capacity reduction, metabolic disturbances, and tissue alterations.

8 Jan 2024

Bridging the digital divide: Can better internet access improve mental healthcare in the U.S.?

Study analyzes the correlation between broadband internet access and mental health resource availability in U.S. counties, revealing significant disparities in mental healthcare access, particularly in areas with limited broadband.

8 Jan 2024

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.

8 Jan 2024

Does SARS-CoV-2's ability to infect humans stem from its evolutionary past?

Study challenges the hypothesis of genetic recombination in SARS-CoV-2's evolution, suggesting its ancestral virus already possessed human-infecting traits, based on analyses of over 100 viral genomes.

7 Jan 2024

Genetic keys to COVID-19 vaccine response unlocked

A genome-wide association study in the U.K. Biobank reveals genetic factors influencing IgG serostatus against SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the role of HLA class II genes in variable immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines.

7 Jan 2024

Inpatient costs of treating COVID-19 in the U.S.

Study analyzes the average inpatient care costs for COVID-19 patients, revealing significant variations in expenses across pandemic waves and patient demographics.

7 Jan 2024

Stapled lipopeptides show promise as broad-spectrum antiviral agents

Compounds that obstruct the "landing gear" of a range of harmful viruses can successfully protect against infection by the virus that causes COVID-19, a study published today and led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists shows.

5 Jan 2024

COVID-19's unseen impact: study reveals surge in home deaths across 32 countries

Trends in places of death across 32 countries during and before the COVID-19.

5 Jan 2024

ATCC announces new award from BARDA to provide centralized storage and bioprocessing services for Project NextGen

ATCC, the world’s premier biological materials management and standards organization, today announced a five-year, $87 million award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to support the development of next-generation medical countermeasures (MCMs) to protect Americans from public health security threats such as coronaviruses.

From ATCC 5 Jan 2024

Most people dropped in Medicaid ‘unwinding’ never tried to renew coverage, Utah finds

A first-of-its-kind survey of people who lost Medicaid coverage last year found just over half made no effort to renew their coverage — in many cases because they were unable to navigate paperwork requirements.

4 Jan 2024

Early pandemic sees drop in child UTI diagnoses, severity unchanged

A cohort study in JAMA Network Open found a decrease in urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnoses among children during the early COVID-19 pandemic without an increase in disease severity, suggesting a potential reduction in over- or misdiagnosis.

4 Jan 2024

Gonorrhea cases surge 64% post-COVID lockdown in England, highlighting unintended STI suppression

A study analyzing data from the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset in England shows a 64% increase in gonorrhea diagnoses following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, despite only a 5.6% increase in STI testing, suggesting that social distancing may have suppressed STI transmission.

4 Jan 2024

AI model predicts future spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants using genomic data

Researchers developed an AI-based model to predict the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, analyzing nine million genomic sequences across 30 countries and incorporating factors like vaccination rates and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

4 Jan 2024

Study identifies mitochondrial dysfunction as cause of long-COVID fatigue

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) have discovered that the persistent fatigue in patients with long-COVID has a biological cause, namely mitochondria in muscle cells that produce less energy than in healthy patients.

4 Jan 2024

Factors that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children

Study analyzes a nationwide cohort of hospitalized children and adolescents in Germany, identifying key risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, including obesity, Trisomy 21, and neurological conditions.

3 Jan 2024