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.

UIC joins Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes Registry

Health care workers at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, or UI Health, are now eligible to participate in a national registry of clinicians working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 May 2020

Do-it-yourself cheek swab tested as next best thing to detect coronavirus

Coronavirus testing is commonly an unpleasant, even painful experience in which a health care provider pushes a torturously long swab up your nostril. President Donald Trump declared that submitting to the process was "a little bit difficult."

2 May 2020

Hospitalized smokers six times more likely to quit with combination treatment, study finds

New research led by University of South Australia has found that smokers who receive the medication varenicline tartrate combined with Quitline counseling following a period of hospitalization due to a tobacco-related illness are six times more likely to quit smoking than those who attempt to stop without support.

2 May 2020

Avacta Group plc forms COVID-19 antigen diagnostic collaboration with Adeptrix

Avacta Group plc is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration with Adeptrix to develop a high throughput COVID-19 antigen test.

From Avacta Life Sciences Ltd. 1 May 2020

COVID-19 transmission model shows social distancing was effective in China

Most countries are at a standstill, with social distancing and physical distancing measures in place to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Now, a new transmission model of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) confirms that social distancing measures were effective in Wuhan City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and Shanghai in China.

1 May 2020

Switzerland relaxes coronavirus guidelines allowing children and grandparents to hug

Despite social distancing measures across the globe that cautions people against close contact with others, including kissing, hugging, and shaking hands, Switzerland says children below ten years old and grandparents can hug, emphasizing that children are less likely to transmit the coronavirus.

30 Apr 2020

South African COVID-19 lockdown may not avert outbreak

The study investigated the effect of the various interventions in South Africa on the outbreak, analyzing trends in South Africa before and after the national lockdown, which started on March 27, 2020. Africa has so far reported over 38,000 cases, a small number compared to the 3.25 million global cases as of April 30, 2020. South Africa has reported over 5,600, with Egypt and Morocco close behind.

30 Apr 2020

COVID-19 lockdown affecting UK adult mental health

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) took a firmer hold on the UK, the government introduced a lockdown on March 24, 2020, in an all-out attempt to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections. While the number of deaths has fallen in response, a new study published in the journal medRxiv in April 2020 reports that the pandemic is also associated with increased anxiety and depression in UK adults experiencing isolation.

30 Apr 2020

Stroke experts offer recommendations for delivering lifesaving treatment during COVID-19

Stroke researchers at the University of Cincinnati have released a new report recommending the proper protocol for delivering lifesaving treatment to stroke patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

30 Apr 2020

New clinical trial to assess whether hypertension drug may reduce COVID-19 severity

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have launched a clinical trial to investigate whether a drug approved for treating high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetic kidney disease might also reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, lowering rates for intensive care unit admissions, the use of mechanical ventilators and all-cause mortality.

30 Apr 2020

COVID-19 pandemic will bring additional cancer deaths

With over 3.25 million people infected, healthcare systems of even the most developed nations are overwhelmed. Cancer patients and survivors, for example, are particularly vulnerable during this epidemic and not only because of their increased vulnerable immunocompromised state, which makes them prone to the infection. They are also at risk of missing out on essential cancer care due to the unavailability of resources.

30 Apr 2020

Pharmacy experts urge caution against use of antimalarial drugs to cure COVID-19

PHARMACY experts at the University of Huddersfield are urging caution over claims that widely-available antimalarial drugs could be a "magic bullet" to prevent and cure COVID-19. And the medicines can - if used rashly - have serious side effects.

30 Apr 2020

Rapid expansion of telemedicine during COVID-19 could transform healthcare in future

A rapid increase in "virtual" visits during the COVID-19 pandemic could transform the way physicians provide care in the United States going forward, according to a new study led by researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

30 Apr 2020

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: SCOTUS decides an ACA case. No, not that case.

The Supreme Court this week rejected the efforts of a Republican-controlled Congress in 2014 to cut off funding to insurance companies under a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

30 Apr 2020

Scientists generate molecular models of compounds relevant for COVID-19

The discovery of suitable drugs that could help treat diseases is a long process. However, computer-aided drug design and simulation could speed up the process and also increase the possibilities say experts. This form of drug design and simulation could soon be the gold standard in drug development.

30 Apr 2020

New database catalogs peptides that may halt SARS-CoV-2 cell infection

In the quest for a highly specific and tailored treatment strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a recent publication available on the preprint server bioRxiv describes a repository of designed peptides that interfere with the early stages of viral invasion process.

30 Apr 2020

New low-tech ventilator could be a game-changer during COVID-19 pandemic

A research collaboration and ensuing friendship between a trauma surgeon in Oregon and a handful of engineers in Florida has resulted in a new ventilator design that requires no electricity and could be a game-changer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

30 Apr 2020

Testing sewage could be useful in monitoring COVID-19 circulation in the population

Researchers in Italy have demonstrated the potential value of sewage system monitoring for studying trends in the circulation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

30 Apr 2020

New Elsevier Coronavirus Research Hub offers free access to biomedical research tools, content

Elsevier, a global leader in information analytics specializing in science and health, is offering free access to a unique set of biomedical research tools and content to help researchers and life science companies accelerate efforts to address the current pandemic.

30 Apr 2020

AM and 3D printing communities rally together to fight against COVID-19

The rapid proliferation of COVID-19 has been putting great strain on healthcare systems across the world, with demand for critical medical equipment and supplies mounting.

30 Apr 2020

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

UIC joins Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes Registry

Do-it-yourself cheek swab tested as next best thing to detect coronavirus

Hospitalized smokers six times more likely to quit with combination treatment, study finds

Avacta Group plc forms COVID-19 antigen diagnostic collaboration with Adeptrix

COVID-19 transmission model shows social distancing was effective in China

Switzerland relaxes coronavirus guidelines allowing children and grandparents to hug

South African COVID-19 lockdown may not avert outbreak

COVID-19 lockdown affecting UK adult mental health

Stroke experts offer recommendations for delivering lifesaving treatment during COVID-19

New clinical trial to assess whether hypertension drug may reduce COVID-19 severity

COVID-19 pandemic will bring additional cancer deaths

Pharmacy experts urge caution against use of antimalarial drugs to cure COVID-19

Rapid expansion of telemedicine during COVID-19 could transform healthcare in future

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: SCOTUS decides an ACA case. No, not that case.

Scientists generate molecular models of compounds relevant for COVID-19

New database catalogs peptides that may halt SARS-CoV-2 cell infection

New low-tech ventilator could be a game-changer during COVID-19 pandemic

Testing sewage could be useful in monitoring COVID-19 circulation in the population

New Elsevier Coronavirus Research Hub offers free access to biomedical research tools, content

AM and 3D printing communities rally together to fight against COVID-19

Best practices - optimize qPCR processes for pathogen detection eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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