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.

People in England limited contact with others even outside of lockdown periods, suggests study

Transmission of respiratory viruses depends partly on the rate of close social contacts in a population. A study publishing March 1st in PLOS Medicine by Amy Gimma at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, and colleagues suggests that during the most restrictive period of lockdown in the United Kingdom, the number of reported contacts decreased by 75% from pre-pandemic levels.

2 Mar 2022

Telehealth services were highly utilized by individuals with multiple sclerosis during COVID-19

While many people skipped regular health check-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research indicates that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) used online telehealth services more frequently to keep in contact with their health care providers and were highly satisfied with the outcome.

1 Mar 2022

Masks made of woven fabrics are lousy air filters

Like many other viruses, COVID-19 is transmitted primarily via particles carried in the air. An infected person breathes out particles containing the virus into the air, which can then be inhaled by another person, who then becomes infected.

1 Mar 2022

€10 million ‘precision medicine’ research project launched to provide new insights into ALS

An ambitious academic, clinical and industry research programme that will provide new insights into our understanding of Motor Neuron Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), was launched today by Tánaiste and Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar T.D.

1 Mar 2022

Risk of death involving COVID-19 following infection from Omicron relative to Delta

Researchers conducted a retrospective study on a cohort of patients in England with SARS-CoV-2 positive test results.

1 Mar 2022

Researchers explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on loneliness and cortisol levels

A recent study assessed the impact of social isolation and loneliness during coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown.

1 Mar 2022

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study compared the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections.

1 Mar 2022

J&J-vaxxed, mRNA-boosted, and pondering a third shot

Yes, we are all exhausted by the covid pandemic. Flummoxed by the constantly shifting science and guidelines. Worried about a succession of scary new variants, each with its own name, like hurricanes.

1 Mar 2022

Estimating life expectancy changes since 2020

Researchers investigated LE in 29 countries, including most European countries, Chile, and the USA, in 2021.

1 Mar 2022

Study identifies olfactory dysfunction as an early symptom of COVID-19

In a new study, scientists researched olfactory loss and dysfunction among COVID-19 patients to objectively characterize it as a symptom of COVID-19.

1 Mar 2022

Study finds MK-4482 inhibits replication of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Syrian hamster COVID-19 model

Researchers found that an antiviral drug, was effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the recently emerged Omicron variant, in Syrian hamsters.

1 Mar 2022

Study finds striking variations in SARS-CoV-2-related mortalities in North and South regions of the USA

In a new study, researchers estimated the COVID-19-associated mortality in the United States between January 3, 2020, and September 26, 2021.

1 Mar 2022

SARS-CoV-2 protein interactions with viral and host RNAs in authentic virus-infected cells

Researchers investigated protein interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with host and viral RNAs in infected cells.

1 Mar 2022

Biophysical fitness profile of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigated the biophysical fitness landscape of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant.

1 Mar 2022

Encouraging in vitro results with SARS-CoV-2-spike-specific polyclonal antibody fragments

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers demonstrated the potent neutralizing ability of a polyclonal equine antibody (Ab), FBR-002, against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs), including Omicron.

28 Feb 2022

COVID-19 severity is correlated with body composition

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the effect of changes in the abdominal well-being and physique on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

28 Feb 2022

Report provides a dire warning about the consequences of inaction against climate change

Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks.

28 Feb 2022

Novel respiratory model predicts mechanisms altered by SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers study cell infection and viral replication methods affected by SARS-CoV-2 mutations through a novel respiratory model.

28 Feb 2022

New ultrasound scan can detect prostate cancer cases with good accuracy

An ultrasound scan can be used to detect cases of prostate cancer, according to new research.

28 Feb 2022

Study finds higher mortality rates in older adults with cognitive issues during COVID-19 pandemic

Findings from a new study, led by researchers at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and published in JAMA Neurology, show that higher death rates have been associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults with cognitive impairment—especially in racial and ethnic minority populations and those living in nursing homes.

28 Feb 2022

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

People in England limited contact with others even outside of lockdown periods, suggests study

Telehealth services were highly utilized by individuals with multiple sclerosis during COVID-19

Masks made of woven fabrics are lousy air filters

€10 million ‘precision medicine’ research project launched to provide new insights into ALS

Risk of death involving COVID-19 following infection from Omicron relative to Delta

Researchers explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on loneliness and cortisol levels

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe SARS-CoV-2 infection

J&J-vaxxed, mRNA-boosted, and pondering a third shot

Estimating life expectancy changes since 2020

Study identifies olfactory dysfunction as an early symptom of COVID-19

Study finds MK-4482 inhibits replication of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Syrian hamster COVID-19 model

Study finds striking variations in SARS-CoV-2-related mortalities in North and South regions of the USA

SARS-CoV-2 protein interactions with viral and host RNAs in authentic virus-infected cells

Biophysical fitness profile of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant

Encouraging in vitro results with SARS-CoV-2-spike-specific polyclonal antibody fragments

COVID-19 severity is correlated with body composition

Report provides a dire warning about the consequences of inaction against climate change

Novel respiratory model predicts mechanisms altered by SARS-CoV-2 variants

New ultrasound scan can detect prostate cancer cases with good accuracy

Study finds higher mortality rates in older adults with cognitive issues during COVID-19 pandemic

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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