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Crucial ingredient from University of Kansas included in authorized COVID-19 drug

When the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency-use authorization for the investigational pharmaceutical remdesivir to treat COVID-19 on May 1, in part it was due to pioneering work performed by pharmaceutical chemists at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 1990.

1 Jun 2020

COVID-19 pandemic has worsened pre-existing mental health conditions

With over 6.26 million cases and 375,000 deaths in just five months, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused great fear and devastation in many parts of the world. Many studies show that, generally, there has been an accompanying increase in fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms during this period. Now, a new study published on the online preprint server medRxiv in May 2020 shows that patients with a history of mental ill-health often underwent a worsening of their symptoms with the onset of the pandemic.

1 Jun 2020

Update on PALLAS triaI evaluating adjuvant palbociclib for early breast cancer

The Austrian Breast & Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Alliance Foundation Trials, the Breast International Group, PrECOG, LLC, the German Breast Group, and the NSABP Foundation today announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee for the global Phase 3 early breast cancer PALbociclib CoLlaborative Adjuvant Study trial determined that the study is unlikely to show a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of invasive disease-free survival following a preplanned interim analysis.

1 Jun 2020

Study reveals how essential SARS-CoV-2 protein can be stabilized and scaled for production

A research group from the University of Texas in Austin described a high-yield production of a stabilized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein (S-protein) that may accelerate the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests. This methodological 'tour de force' paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

1 Jun 2020

Cancer clusters' resistance to natural killer cell immunosurveillance favors metastasis

Scientific evidence suggests that cancer can metastasize to other organs when either a single cell or a cluster of cells detaches from the original tumor and travels through the blood to another location, where it grows into a new tumor.

1 Jun 2020

Reducing inflammation improves stroke recovery, may extend window for therapy

Reperfusion therapy, the gold standard for stroke treatment, helps restore blood flow after a stroke caused by a clot, preventing loss of brain tissue. However, only about 10% of stroke patients qualify, in part because of reperfusion therapy's narrow treatment window.

1 Jun 2020

A handheld ultraviolet light device to kill novel coronavirus may be feasible

A personal, handheld device emitting high-intensity ultraviolet light to disinfect areas by killing the novel coronavirus is now feasible, according to researchers at Penn State, the University of Minnesota and two Japanese universities.

1 Jun 2020

Study aims to bring relief for patients removed from ventilators at end of life

A paper recently published online in the journal Chest reports on a study of the palliative ventilator withdrawal (PVW) procedure performed in intensive care units at end of life.

1 Jun 2020

Computer modeling reveals necessary vaccine efficacy threshold to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread

A recent US study showed that in order to prevent or largely extinguish the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak without social distancing or any other measures, any vaccine would have to have an efficacy of at least 70%. The research paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

1 Jun 2020

Study could make genetic testing more accessible to women

Genetic testing for cancer risk can significantly improve the prevention or treatment of hereditary cancers, but studies have shown that people who might have a genetic risk often don't get tested.

1 Jun 2020

Geospatial analysis reveals most vulnerable COVID-19 areas in Spain

A report based on a geospatial analysis conducted by researchers from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in collaboration with TAPTAP Digital, using additional data from Predicio and Tamoco, identifies the areas in Spain that require increased measures of protection against new outbreaks of the COVID19 epidemics.

1 Jun 2020

COVID-19 likely to be a seasonal disease

A study conducted in Sydney during the early epidemic stage of COVID-19 has found an association between lower humidity and an increase in locally acquired positive cases. Researchers discovered a 1 percent decrease in humidity could increase the number of COVID-19 cases by 6 percent.

1 Jun 2020

A remote optical control for neural cells

A team led by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University has created a new technology that enhances scientists' ability to communicate with neural cells using light.

1 Jun 2020

COVID-19 negatively impacts people with eating disorders

A study analyzing the early impact that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is having on people with eating disorders has identified areas where their treatment needs could be better addressed.

1 Jun 2020

Research suggests new approach to therapeutic intervention for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most devastating adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. Patients, including the late actor/playwright Sam Shepard, become progressively weaker and eventually paralyzed as their motor neurons degenerate and die.

1 Jun 2020

COVID-19 transmission unlikely to slow down dramatically during summer months

It is well known that rates of transmission of some respiratory viruses, including influenza, tend to fall during the summer months.

1 Jun 2020

SARS-CoV-2 prevalence varies widely across Brazil

Researchers have shown that the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Brazil varies significantly by city and region, with the highest prevalence observed in the North of the country and the lowest seen in South and Center-West regions.

1 Jun 2020

Dogs could help monitor how environmental chemicals impact human health

Man's best friend may also be man's best bet for figuring out how environmental chemicals could impact our health.

1 Jun 2020

High prenatal choline levels may mitigate negative effects of COVID-19 on newborns

Pregnant women who take extra choline supplements may mitigate the negative impact that viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19, can have on their babies, according to a new study from researchers in the Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

1 Jun 2020

Cone snail insulin research could jumpstart the development of better diabetes treatments

Nearly a century after insulin was discovered, an international team of researchers including University of Utah Health scientists report that they have developed the world's smallest, fully functional version of the hormone, one that combines the potency of human insulin with the fast-acting potential of a venom insulin produced by predatory cone snails.

1 Jun 2020