Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Using lab-grown stomachs to shed light on the symptoms of COVID-19

Could lab-grown 'mini-stomachs' be used to look at COVID-19 symptoms in children? In this interview, we speak to Paolo De Coppi to find out more.

13 Jan 2022

Cannabinoids may prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, including variants

A new study published in the Journal of Natural Products of the American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy has shown that isolated cannabinoids or those in hemp extracts have the potential to prevent and treat the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) – primarily by blocking viral cell entry.

13 Jan 2022

Lack of evidence cross-reactive adaptive immune response is mechanism underlying COVID vaccine-induced myocarditis

Recently, the researchers from the USA, in their study published in the journal EBioMedicine, have conducted a sequence identity comparison and 3D protein structure comparison between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-derived peptides/protein and myocarditis-associated antigens and have found no significant enrichment in the frequency of spike-derived peptides similar to myocarditis-associated antigens that could have resulted in adaptive autoimmune responses leading to myocarditis.

12 Jan 2022

How did the COVID pandemic affect the spread of other zoonotic diseases?

In new research, scientists from the Beijing University of Technology have been investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and mortality of zoonotic diseases in China. Their work is published in the journal BMJ Global Health.

12 Jan 2022

Cellular and humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 in multiple sclerosis patients using disease-modifying therapies

Researchers examine the effects of disease-modifying therapies implemented for treating multiple sclerosis on the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

12 Jan 2022

New study highlights COVID-19 vaccine inequities in California

As the pandemic stretches into its third year, people around the globe have benefitted from cutting-edge vaccines that have prevented infection with COVID-19 or mitigated its impact. Yet, vaccine access has not been distributed evenly across populations.

12 Jan 2022

How much protection does SARS-CoV-2 infection provide against reinfection?

Researchers determine whether previous SARS-CoV-2 infection protects from reinfection.

12 Jan 2022

Vaccine mandate may have little impact on health care staffing levels

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing challenges to a Biden administration vaccine mandate that requires eligible employees in Medicare or Medicaid-funded facilities to get vaccinated or receive an exemption.

12 Jan 2022

UOC project aims to develop a tool for identifying the best apps that help tackle depression

The latest report of the PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) estimated the prevalence of depression in Spain to be 5.2%, and there is every indication that mental health disorders will increase significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

12 Jan 2022

Dynamics of hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in a geriatric setting

Researchers investigated the extent of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection among elderly patients and healthcare workers in a geriatric hospital.

12 Jan 2022

Greater psychological distress linked with higher SARS-CoV-2 infection risk

A new study has found that people who experienced increased stress, anxiety and depression at the start of the pandemic, were at greater risk of getting Covid-19.

12 Jan 2022

Ask KHN-Politifact: Is my cloth mask good enough? The 2022 edition

The highly transmissible omicron variant is sweeping the U.S., causing a huge spike in covid-19 cases and overwhelming many hospital systems.

12 Jan 2022

Comparing the Moderna and Pfizer-Biontech vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study used target trial emulation design for comparison of both the vaccines in the VA healthcare system against the risk of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

12 Jan 2022

New method for monitoring circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and detecting new ones

To understand and act early and appropriately to emerging variants of concern, researchers have explored the possibility of having a variant-agnostic detection assay.

12 Jan 2022

An egg-derived SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 disease

A new study, posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, has focussed on the development of intranasal prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

11 Jan 2022

A common cold may boost the immune system against COVID-19

A recent groundbreaking research paper published in the journal Nature Communications reveals the association of circulating SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells at exposure with lack of infection – implying the protective role for cross-reactive immune T cells in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and opening the door for second-generation vaccines that could circumvent spike-antibody immune escape variants.

11 Jan 2022

Common framework evaluates the global health impact of drugs and aids in identifying shortcomings

A common framework that standardizes health impact across diseases and their interventions can aid in identifying current shortcomings on a global scale, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

11 Jan 2022

Telemedicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine enables a stroke patient to be treated with high level of care

A patient believed to have suffered a stroke typically gets transported to the nearest emergency room for tests to determine the best course of action. Telemedicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine enabled one patient to have her stroke diagnosed and a treatment plan set up without ever stepping foot in a hospital.

11 Jan 2022