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Rheumatoid arthritis may increase risk of dying from COVID-19

Researchers in New Zealand and Australia have conducted a study showing that people with rheumatoid arthritis may be at an increased risk of death if they develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

11 Nov 2020

Low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in Lubbock, Texas

A recent study published in the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health has assessed the prevalence of antibodies developed specifically against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in front-line workers in Lubbock, Texas. According to the study findings, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been detected in only 0.73% of the participants.

11 Nov 2020

Research tracks humoral immunity response over eight months post COVID-19 infection

Researchers from Chongqing Medical University have tried to answer one of the burning questions regarding the longevity of immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): How long does immunity last after infection? Their study looked at the lasting effects and continued immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) over eight months after recovery from the infection.

11 Nov 2020

Nafamostat mesylate initially reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in hamsters, study finds

Researchers have found that nafamostat mesylate, when injected in the nasal cavity of Syrian hamsters, can decrease initial SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in their nose. However, this effect was temporary and further testing is required to determine clinically significant effects. The research group's findings are available on the preprint server bioRxiv*.

11 Nov 2020

Daylight exposure can disinfect a special type of cotton face mask

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become accustomed to wearing cotton face masks in public places.

11 Nov 2020

New study highlights the burden of post-COVID fatigue

More than half of people with acute COVID-19 infection continue to have persistent fatigue 10 weeks after their initial illness, according to a new study published November 9 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Liam Townsend of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and colleagues.

11 Nov 2020

Five important questions about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer's announcement on Monday that its COVID-19 shot appears to keep nine in 10 people from getting the disease sent its stock price rocketing. Many news reports described the vaccine as if it were our deliverance from the pandemic, even though few details were released.

11 Nov 2020

Effectiveness of vitamin C against COVID-19 depends on its natural transporter levels

High doses of vitamin C under study for treating COVID-19 may benefit some populations, but investigators exploring its potential in aging say key factors in effectiveness include levels of the natural transporter needed to get the vitamin inside cells.

11 Nov 2020

Researchers use machine learning algorithm to identify common respiratory pathogens

The ongoing global pandemic has created an urgent need for rapid tests that can diagnose the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pathogen that causes COVID-19, and distinguish it from other respiratory viruses.

11 Nov 2020

Study: SphK2 enzyme regulates immune cell responses during viral infection

Viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C evade or disrupt the immune system to create persistent infections.

11 Nov 2020

Single clinical laboratory test can rapidly detect serious infections

UC San Francisco scientists have developed a single clinical laboratory test capable of zeroing in on the microbial miscreant afflicting patients hospitalized with serious infections in as little as six hour.

11 Nov 2020

Machine learning models predict critical events, mortality rate in COVID-19 patients

Mount Sinai researchers have developed machine learning models that predict the likelihood of critical events and mortality in COVID-19 patients within clinically relevant time windows.

11 Nov 2020

How SARS-CoV-2 blocks immune response

An international research team has confirmed the mechanism by which the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Their article titled, “SARS-CoV-2 Orf6 hijacks Nup98 to block STAT nuclear import and antagonize interferon signaling,” is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

11 Nov 2020

Analysis of all COVID-19 research provides a comprehensive overview

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have explored all COVID-19 research published during the initial phase of the pandemic.

10 Nov 2020

Research examines changes in physical activity, sitting and sleep during Scotland's COVID lockdown

A new study by researchers at the University of Strathclyde, published as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, examined changes in 24-hour movement behaviors across three designated period blocks: from 1) pre-lockdown (T1) to the 1st UK national lockdown (T2); and 2) first UK national lockdown to initial easing of lockdown (T3).

10 Nov 2020

Parents normalize children's symptoms to discount COVID-19, study finds

A new study by researchers from King's College London explores parental perceptions of COVID-19-like symptoms in their children and attitudes towards isolating them from others in the household when they are feeling unwell.

10 Nov 2020

Cabotegravir highly effective in preventing HIV among women

UNAIDS has been strongly encouraged by groundbreaking new study results showing that the antiretroviral medicine cabotegravir administered by an injection every two months – prevents HIV among women.

10 Nov 2020

Nearly 1 in 5 COVID-19 survivors develop mental illness within 90 days

A new study has found that people who have COVID-19 may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, within 90 days after diagnosis.

10 Nov 2020

Promising new antivirals target arboviruses and SARS-CoV-2: Nodosome inhibitors

A new study describes two promising small molecules that inhibit a host cell factor, called nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), that inhibits the replication and spread of many arboviruses. This could lead to the development of broad-spectrum antivirals. The study's findings have been published on the preprint server bioRxiv*.

10 Nov 2020

COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis caused by aspergillus fumigatus

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in November 2020 discusses the characteristics of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA).

10 Nov 2020