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Researchers evaluate the accuracy of NEWS2 scoring system for predicting COVID outcomes

In the first systematic large-scale evaluation of the UK National Early Warning Risk Score (NEWS) 2 as a scoring system for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients, researchers at King's College London have found poor-to-moderate accuracy for identifying patients at risk of being transferred to intensive care units (ICUs) or dying after 14 days of hospitalization.

20 Jan 2021

Busting myths on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

The rapid spread of COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to significant research on the mechanisms of how the virus spreads, which is usually by airborne transmission.

20 Jan 2021

Nearly one third of UK's hospitalized COVID-19 patients readmitted

In a recent medRxiv preprint paper, researchers from the UK discussed how they determined organ impairment rates post recovery from COVID-19-related hospitalization and compared the results with that in a control group.

20 Jan 2021

Prioritizing vaccination of high-risk individuals has only a marginal effect, study suggests

The World Health Organization reports that as of January 19, 2021, there are approximately 94 million cases of COVID-19 globally, with over 2 million deaths.

20 Jan 2021

People with problems in the upper GI tract may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection

No evidence so far indicates that food or drinks can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19, but new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that people with problems in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be vulnerable to infection after swallowing the virus.

20 Jan 2021

COVID-19 has transformed the world of vaccines

Researchers at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Italy and Belgium say the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is transforming the world of vaccinology by accelerating vaccine development and the availability of powerful technologies.

20 Jan 2021

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant escapes antibody neutralization

Researchers in South Africa have conducted a study showing that the novel 501Y.V2 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has emerged in the country is able to escape the neutralizing antibodies that are elicited by previously circulating strains of the virus.

20 Jan 2021

Mask-wearing together with social distancing has maximum impact on COVID-19, study finds

A recent study published in the journal The Lancet has revealed that self-reported use of face masks together with social distancing has a considerable impact on controlling the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States.

20 Jan 2021

Ethacrynic acid, a diuretic drug with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

A study published recently in the journal Viruses has identified a potent diuretic ethacrynic acid as an efficient inhibitor of the main protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This drug can be potentially repurposed to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

20 Jan 2021

How does SARS-CoV-2 infect brain cells?

Researchers from the University of California San Francisco, Gladstone Institutes in the USA, and The Aga Khan University in Pakistan investigated if human neural cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2.

20 Jan 2021

New multidisciplinary center to study origin and course of infectious diseases

The University of Bern is establishing a multidisciplinary center to study the origin and course of infectious diseases and their impact on health, society and economics. The new research center is to receive some 30 million Swiss Francs financial support from the Vinetum Foundation over a period of 10 years.

20 Jan 2021

Can metabolic biomarkers help clinicians stratify adverse outcome risk in COVID-19 patients?

A recent study describes the alterations in lipids and other parameters that define the state of dysfunctional metabolism in acute COVID-19 illness.

20 Jan 2021

Researchers develop new method for charting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycosylation

Researchers develop a novel, simple and affordable method for N-glycan fingerprinting based on enzymatic fluorescent glycan labeling and electrophoresis. This new method may help us understand important changes in glycosylation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein – something which could inform future therapeutic research.

20 Jan 2021

Cannabidiol kills bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, meningitis, and legionnaires disease

Synthetic cannabidiol, better known as CBD, has been shown for the first time to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, meningitis and legionnaires disease.

20 Jan 2021

Immune systems of COVID-19 patients may rely on antibodies from earlier coronaviruses

The results of a study led by Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest the immune systems of people infected with COVID-19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses to help fight the disease.

20 Jan 2021

Over 100 million in India may have been infected by SARS-CoV-2

A large new study posted on the preprint server medRxiv describes the seropositivity rate to this virus, as well as the persistence of antibodies over time, both neutralizing and others.

19 Jan 2021

Administration of COVID-19 vaccine may lead to “catastrophic moral failure”, warns WHO

As few as 25 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in one of the world's poorest countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, warning of a "catastrophic moral failure".

19 Jan 2021

How COVID-19 changed exercise routines in the UK

A new preprint research paper published on the medRxiv server describes the changes that have taken place in moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening activity (MSA).

19 Jan 2021

Essential coaching for mothers during COVID-19

Pregnancy and childbirth are especially high-risk periods for mental ill-health. The mobile health program called Essential Coaching for Every Mother (ECEM) was designed to meet the needs of mothers during this critical time, but its introduction was delayed because of the onset of the pandemic.

19 Jan 2021

The structure dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in cells, cell lysates and virions

Now, a new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server describes the structures observed during the lifecycle of the RNA virus in terms of both canonical and alternative structures, RNA-RNA interactions, and replication regulation.

19 Jan 2021

Disease/Infection News

Researchers evaluate the accuracy of NEWS2 scoring system for predicting COVID outcomes

Busting myths on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Nearly one third of UK's hospitalized COVID-19 patients readmitted

Prioritizing vaccination of high-risk individuals has only a marginal effect, study suggests

People with problems in the upper GI tract may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection

COVID-19 has transformed the world of vaccines

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant escapes antibody neutralization

Mask-wearing together with social distancing has maximum impact on COVID-19, study finds

Ethacrynic acid, a diuretic drug with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

How does SARS-CoV-2 infect brain cells?

New multidisciplinary center to study origin and course of infectious diseases

Can metabolic biomarkers help clinicians stratify adverse outcome risk in COVID-19 patients?

Researchers develop new method for charting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycosylation

Cannabidiol kills bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, meningitis, and legionnaires disease

Immune systems of COVID-19 patients may rely on antibodies from earlier coronaviruses

Over 100 million in India may have been infected by SARS-CoV-2

Administration of COVID-19 vaccine may lead to “catastrophic moral failure”, warns WHO

How COVID-19 changed exercise routines in the UK

Essential coaching for mothers during COVID-19

The structure dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in cells, cell lysates and virions

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

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