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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

Study reveals the beneficial role of fat in type 2 diabetes

With nearly 10% of the world's population affected, type 2 diabetes is a major public health issue. An excessively sedentary lifestyle and a too-caloric diet encourage the development of this metabolic disease by altering the functioning of pancreatic cells and making blood sugar regulation less effective.

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

Danish household study shows COVID vaccinates reduce susceptibility and transmissibility

A new study discusses the effect of vaccines against COVID-19 on the transmissibility and susceptibility of vaccine recipients to SARS-CoV-2.

11 Jan 2022

Simple health assessment could significantly reduce the global burden of COPD

The global burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a group of common lung conditions that affects more than 300 million people, could be significantly reduced with a simple health assessment, concludes a large-scale international study led by UCL researchers.

11 Jan 2022

New computer model mirrors the way misinformation spreads in real life

It starts with a super-spreader, and winds its way through a network of interactions, eventually leaving no one untouched. Those who have been exposed previously may only experience mild effects.

11 Jan 2022

Safe drinking water may be out of reach for almost 400,000 Californians, analysis reveals

An estimated 370,000 Californians rely on drinking water that may contain high levels of the chemicals arsenic, nitrate or hexavalent chromium, and contaminated drinking water disproportionately impacts communities of color in the state, according to a new analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

11 Jan 2022

New study identifies ways to detect COPD in low- and middle-income countries

How to better detect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in low- and middle-income countries is a question that has long plagued the global medical community.

11 Jan 2022

VarLOCK approach for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and wastewater monitoring

A recent study discussed the expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 CRISPR-Cas detection technology (SHERLOCK) into Variant-specific SHERLOCK (VarLOCK) assays to accurately differentiate between the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

11 Jan 2022

Study reveals an increasing proportion of women giving birth at 40+

An increasing proportion of women aged 40 and over in Sweden and Denmark are giving birth. Nevertheless, over a recent 10-year period, the need for assisted reproduction for women over 40 in Scandinavia has doubled, a study led by University of Gothenburg researchers shows.

11 Jan 2022

Fire closes hospital and displaces staff as Colorado battles omicron

The Colorado wildfire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes last month has forced the temporary closure of a hospital and upended the lives of health care workers as the state's already strained health care system braces for another surge in covid-19 hospitalizations.

11 Jan 2022

Real-world effectiveness of three COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers from IQVIA Real-World Solutions have investigated how effective these vaccines are against severe disease.

11 Jan 2022

Providing recombinant antibody services and more within Europe

In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Zhang Linlin, Technical Specialist at Sino Biological Europe, about their recombinant antibody services and more that they can provide within Europe. Image credit: Corona Borealis Studio/Shutterstock.com

From Sino Biological Inc. 11 Jan 2022

Scientists employ AI to predict which viruses could infect humans in future

Daniel Becker, an assistant professor of biology in the University of Oklahoma's Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, has been leading a proactive modeling study over the last year and a half to identify bat species that are likely to carry betacoronaviruses, including but not limited to SARS-like viruses.

11 Jan 2022

Secondhand nicotine vaping at home may increase risk of bronchitic symptoms in young adults

Secondhand exposure at home to the nicotine vapour from e-cigarettes is linked to a heightened risk of bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath among young adults, finds research published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.

11 Jan 2022

Long-term exposure to air pollutants may increase the incidence of COVID-19

Long term exposure to ambient air pollution may heighten the risk of COVID-19 infection, suggests research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

11 Jan 2022

New insights into reforming the actions that hindered Seattle researchers from community testing for COVID-19

As the two-year anniversary of the pandemic approaches, a new commentary provides insights into reforming the "labyrinth of conflicting and uncoordinated actions among state and federal regulators" that in early 2020 hampered Seattle researchers from community testing for COVID-19.

11 Jan 2022

An algorithmic method to identify epidemic waves of COVID-19

In this research paper, a team of scientists from various institutions across the UK and Poland provides contributions aimed at resolving this issue. First, the authors clarify the multiple ways researchers use the word 'epidemic wave.' Their technique divides epidemic time series (of confirmed cases and deaths) into non-overlapping 'observed waves.'

11 Jan 2022

Modeling shows that free SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests for all Australians would benefit the economy

Researchers conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of government-funded COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Australia.

10 Jan 2022

Unrelated vaccines could also help reduce the burden of COVID-19 pandemic, study shows

While the world has celebrated the arrival of highly effective vaccines against COVID-19, new work by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Oxford shows that even unrelated vaccines could help reduce the burden of the pandemic.

10 Jan 2022

Public Health News and Research

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

Study reveals the beneficial role of fat in type 2 diabetes

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

Danish household study shows COVID vaccinates reduce susceptibility and transmissibility

Simple health assessment could significantly reduce the global burden of COPD

New computer model mirrors the way misinformation spreads in real life

Safe drinking water may be out of reach for almost 400,000 Californians, analysis reveals

New study identifies ways to detect COPD in low- and middle-income countries

VarLOCK approach for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and wastewater monitoring

Study reveals an increasing proportion of women giving birth at 40+

Fire closes hospital and displaces staff as Colorado battles omicron

Real-world effectiveness of three COVID-19 vaccines

Providing recombinant antibody services and more within Europe

Scientists employ AI to predict which viruses could infect humans in future

Secondhand nicotine vaping at home may increase risk of bronchitic symptoms in young adults

Long-term exposure to air pollutants may increase the incidence of COVID-19

New insights into reforming the actions that hindered Seattle researchers from community testing for COVID-19

An algorithmic method to identify epidemic waves of COVID-19

Modeling shows that free SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests for all Australians would benefit the economy

Unrelated vaccines could also help reduce the burden of COVID-19 pandemic, study shows

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