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.

The importance of telemedicine during COVID-19 pandemic

A timely paper in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics illustrates the importance of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

30 Mar 2020

JAGS highlights the ABCDs of COVID‐19 in geriatrics and long‐term care

The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) this week rushed to publication a special article describing critical points for combatting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic for older adults and those in long-term care.

30 Mar 2020

UAB will collaborate with Altimmune to test a COVID-19 vaccine candidate

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is launching a collaboration with the biopharmaceutical company Altimmune, Inc. for preclinical testing of a potential vaccine to prevent COVID-19 disease.

30 Mar 2020

Addiction is ‘a disease of isolation’ — so pandemic puts recovery at risk

Before the coronavirus became a pandemic, Emma went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting every week in the Boston area and to another support group at her methadone clinic. She said she felt safe, secure and never judged.

30 Mar 2020

How long to a coronavirus vaccine?

The whole world is waiting for one. A vaccine is the only thing that could conceivably save the world from a horrifying cascade of deaths, other than a miracle, it seems.

29 Mar 2020

Has COVID-19 affected diabetes care?

The COVID-19 pandemic is rampaging across continents, leaving death, fear, and uncertainty in its wake. The virus is known to cause more severe illness and have a higher death rate in people who are already sick or immunocompromised, as well as the elderly. Several nations, states, and provinces have announced total lockdowns to try and minimize the impact of the virus.

29 Mar 2020

Will 'old faithful' tuberculosis BCG vaccine work against COVID?

All over the world, except in China, the place where it all began, the COVID-19 pandemic is making its relentless way through the population. So far, it has caused nearly 34,000 deaths – and the situation in the US is still worsening with over 142,000 cases and 2,489 deaths. In Australia, the number of cases has climbed to 4,093, with 16 fatalities.

29 Mar 2020

How effective is social distancing in fighting COVID-19?

Since the second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in Europe, many countries have imposed social distancing measures in the form of community quarantines and lockdowns. Wuhan City in China, where the virus first emerged, has been in lockdown since Jan. 23rd and is only just attempting to return to normal daily life.

29 Mar 2020

COVID-19 and its effects on the cardiovascular system

Researcher have reviewed the evidence showing the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 or novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the cardiovascular system. Their study titled, “Potential Effects of Coronaviruses on the Cardiovascular System: A Review,” was published in the latest issue of JAMA Cardiology.

29 Mar 2020

Huddersfield experts highlight the impact of coronavirus on UK local authorities

University of Huddersfield experts have made stark warnings about the impact of coronavirus on local authorities.

27 Mar 2020

Lessons from the Spanish flu: Strict and early isolation really effective in minimizing disease spread

Large events are canceled, restaurants and non-essential businesses are closed, and in many states, residents have been asked to shelter in place, all to limit the spread and impact of the COVID-19 virus.

27 Mar 2020

Heart and kidney patients should keep taking their medicines during COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, inaccurate medical information has flooded social media and other channels.

27 Mar 2020

Review: A plant-based diet can help prevent and manage asthma

A plant-based diet can help prevent and manage asthma, while dairy products and high-fat foods raise the risk, according to a new review published in Nutrition Reviews.

27 Mar 2020

MUSC biomedical engineers release plans for 3D-printed protective masks

With the threat of a shortage of protective masks looming as the novel coronavirus pandemic grows, Medical University of South Carolina biomedical engineers and tinkerers had an inspired idea: unleash an army of makers from across the U.S. who could make such masks from 3D printers - a technology that, in recent years, has become widely available.

27 Mar 2020

CRG launches new database to advance international research efforts on COVID-19

Researchers from the Centre for Genomic Regulation have launched a new database to advance the international research efforts studying COVID-19.

27 Mar 2020

Scientists discover a completely new antibiotic resistance gene

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are critically important for treating several types of infections with multi-resistant bacteria.

27 Mar 2020

New test uses saliva sample to provide immediate hepatitis B diagnosis

Viruses are sneaky beings. As the coronavirus pandemic is demonstrating, they cross borders quickly and can be highly contagious before symptoms of disease break out. In many cases of infection, a clear path of transmission cannot be determined.

27 Mar 2020

Rheumatism: New clues about the prevalence of certain genetic profile in Europeans

A piece of research by the Human Evolutionary Biology Group at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country provides clues about the prevalence of a certain genetic profile in the European population.

27 Mar 2020

Research offers hope for increasing the robustness of vaccine response in older people

Research just published by the Linterman lab shows that the immune system of older mice can be given a helping hand by applying immunology expertise and some genital wart treatment (don't try this at home just yet)!

27 Mar 2020

Coronavirus has upended our world. It’s OK to grieve.

On weekday evenings, sisters Lesley Laine and Lisa Ingle stage online happy hours from the Southern California home they share. It’s something they’ve been enjoying with local and faraway friends during this period of social distancing and self-isolation. And on a recent evening, I shared a toast with them.

27 Mar 2020