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Electric multicookers could be used for sanitization of N95 respirator masks

Owners of electric multicookers may be able to add another use to its list of functions, a new study suggests: sanitization of N95 respirator masks.

6 Aug 2020

Study documents changes in hospital visitation and communication policies during COVID-19

Four months ago, Michigan glowed red on COVID-19 maps. Hundreds of patients packed hospital intensive care units in the southern part of the state, and hospitals statewide rapidly put strict new visitor policies in place to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

6 Aug 2020

Humans promote diseases from the animal kingdom

The coronavirus pandemic, which has now infected nearly 19 million and killed more than 712,000 people, most likely originated from bats. Just like other coronavirus outbreaks in the past, a spill-over event or zoonosis caused the viruses to jump from animals to humans.

6 Aug 2020

Study shows recombination among SARS-CoV-2 strains is already occurring, but remains rare

A recent study by U.S. researchers, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, indicates that the recombination events among the viral strains of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are already occurring – however, considering current levels of viral genetic diversity, they are neither widespread nor readily detectable.

6 Aug 2020

Heat suggested as a therapeutic intervention in COVID-19

Viruses that are contained within a lipid membrane or “enveloped viruses” such as coronaviruses and rhinoviruses can remain active for long periods in cool, dry conditions, which can lead to increased rates of respiratory infections.

6 Aug 2020

COVID-19 in pregnancy - premature birth common

A new study conducted by researchers at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea, suggests that while having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy has little effect on fetal or neonatal mortality, it can be associated with premature birth and sometimes severe outcomes for mother and baby, including death.

6 Aug 2020

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Still waiting for that Trump health plan

President Donald Trump keeps promising to unveil a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, but it keeps not appearing.

6 Aug 2020

Surgical delay does not lower overall survival of women with early-stage breast cancer

A new breast cancer study brings reassuring findings for women with early-stage breast cancer who were forced to delay their cancer operations because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

6 Aug 2020

COVID-19: BCG vaccine is safe and possibly has a positive effect

The BCG vaccine, a vaccine originally made against tuberculosis, has a general stimulating effect on the immune system and is therefore effective against multiple infectious diseases - possibly also against COVID-19.

6 Aug 2020

With caveats, hopeful news for preschools planning young kids’ return

Sabrina Lira Garcia is proud to work as a clinical assistant in the COVID-19 ward of a Los Angeles hospital, but sometimes she wishes she could just stay home with her infant son until the pandemic is over.

6 Aug 2020

Health care workers of color nearly twice as likely as whites to get COVID-19

Health care workers of color were more likely to care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, more likely to report using inadequate or reused protective gear, and nearly twice as likely as white colleagues to test positive for the coronavirus, a new study from Harvard Medical School researchers found.

6 Aug 2020

America’s obesity epidemic threatens effectiveness of any COVID vaccine

For a world crippled by the coronavirus, salvation hinges on a vaccine.

6 Aug 2020

Vela Diagnostics' coronavirus PCR test receives Emergency Use Authorization from FDA

Vela Diagnostics announced that the manual version of its coronavirus PCR test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

6 Aug 2020

American Lung Association launches first monthly pulmonary podcast series

Today, the American Lung Association is launching its first monthly podcast series, called Lungcast.

6 Aug 2020

Avacta appoints COVID-19 rapid antigen test manufacturing partner

Avacta Group plc is pleased to announce that it has appointed BBI Solutions to manufacture the saliva-based rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test.

From Avacta Life Sciences Ltd. 6 Aug 2020

Human encroachment into forest land caused bat CoV spillover and COVID-19 emergence

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in August 2020 discusses the root causes underlying the emergence of such infectious diseases following their crossover of the line separating animal viruses from human. This initial event is of enormous significance.

6 Aug 2020

UCI researchers develop novel molecule for COVID-19 treatment

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, almost everyone at the University of California, Irvine – and colleges across the nation – had to abandon campus.

6 Aug 2020

Carefully engineered spike protein can help develop COVID-19 vaccine

The experimental vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 that was the first to enter human trials in the United States has been shown to elicit neutralizing antibodies and a helpful T-cell response with the aid of a carefully engineered spike protein that mimics the infection-spreading part of the virus.

6 Aug 2020

Face masks protect from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses

Now a new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in August 2020, therefore, presents the results of a meta-analysis that takes account of the lack of compliance with mask-wearing in RCTs, as well as the lag between the event and the measurable effects.

6 Aug 2020

Cats susceptible to and potential reservoirs for novel coronavirus

The study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 shows that this is indeed taking place, with pet cats being infected and passing on the infection to contacts. It also offers the chance to see how the disease progresses in a susceptible host.

6 Aug 2020