COVID
Johnson and
Johnson Vaccine Approved: The one shot vaccine is approved for those 18
and up.
Pfizer
COVID-19 Vaccine Reduces Infection Risk After One Dose: A single dose of Pfizer and BioNtech's
COVID-19 vaccine cuts the number of asymptomatic infections and could
significantly reduce the risk of transmission of the virus, results of a UK
study found.
BMI, Age,
and Gender Affect COVID-19 Vaccine Antibody Response: The capacity to mount
humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccinations may be reduced among people
who are heavier, older, and male, new findings suggest. The data pertain
specifically to the mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer.
The study was conducted by Italian researchers and was published
February 26 as a preprint.
Researchers urge greater awareness of delayed skin reactions to Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: In a letter to the editor published
online in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the authors note
Phase 3 clinical data from the Moderna vaccine trial did show delayed skin
hypersensitivity in a small number of the more than 30,000 trial participants.
However, the authors say the large, red, sometimes raised, itchy or painful
skin reactions were never fully characterized or explained, and they warn
clinicians may not be prepared to recognize them and guide patients on
treatment options and completion of the second dose of the vaccine.
COVID-19
Vaccine Can Cause ‘False Positives’ on Breast Cancer Mammograms: One potential side
effect of the Covid-19 vaccine is swollen lymph nodes. It’s normal and it’s
temporary, but it can lead to unclear mammogram results. Articles published in
the journals Clinical Imaging and Radiology
detail several cases of unclear mammogram readings following COVID-19
vaccinations.
Diabetes,
Obesity, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease Linked to Most COVID-19
Hospitalizations:
Researchers estimated that of the more than 900,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations
that occurred in the United States through mid-November 2020, 30 percent could
be attributed to obesity; 26 percent to high blood pressure; 21 percent to
diabetes; and 12 percent to heart failure. Combined, these four cardiometabolic
conditions accounted for almost two-thirds of the COVID-19 hospitalizations
during that period, estimate the researchers. Journal
of the American Heart Association.
CDC Data
Strengthens Link Between Obesity and Severe COVID: Data from nearly 150,000 US adults
hospitalized with COVID-19 nationwide indicate that risk for more severe
disease outcomes increases along with body mass index (BMI). The risk of
COVID-19-related hospitalization and death associated with obesity was particularly
high among people younger than 65. The study was published
online today in Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report.
Dining
Restrictions, Mask Mandates Tied to Less Illness, Death, CDC Reaffirms: Researchers at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that when states lifted
restrictions on dining on premises at restaurants, rates of daily COVID-19
cases jumped 41 to 100 days later. COVID-19-related deaths also increased
significantly after 60 days. On the other hand, the same report demonstrates
that state mask mandates slowed the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within a few weeks.
The study
was published online March 5 in the CDC Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report.
Fever
Scanners for COVID-19 May Be Inaccurate, FDA Warns: The FDA has
issued an alert to consumers, healthcare providers, and other users of
thermal imaging systems that measure body temperature that improper use may
produce inaccurate readings.
Four Phases
Help COVID Patients Ease Back Into Exercise: Once patients who have had COVID-19 are
symptom-free for at least 7 days, clinicians can assess their risk for
beginning an exercise regimen and help them start slowly, new research advises.
Guidance on how clinicians can lead patients safely to exercise after COVID-19
was published online in
the BMJ
Eli Lilly's
Combo Therapy for COVID-19 Cuts Serious Illness and Death in Large Study: Eli Lilly and Co has reported that its combination antibody
therapy to fight COVID-19 reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 87%
in a U.S. study of more than 750 high-risk COVID-19 patients. It is the second large,
late-stage study to show that combination therapy of two antibodies,
bamlanivimab and etesevimab, is effective at treating mild to moderate cases of
COVID-19. Medscape
Delay
Surgery by 7 Weeks After COVID Diagnosis, Study Shows: Seven weeks appears to be the ideal amount of time to delay
surgery, when possible, after someone tests positive for COVID-19, researchers
in the United Kingdom report. Risk for death was about 3.5 to 4 times higher in the first
6 weeks after surgery among more than 3000 people with a preoperative COVID-19
diagnosis compared with patients without COVID-19. After 7 weeks, the 30-day
mortality rate dropped to a baseline level. The study
was published online March 9, 2021, in Anaesthesia.
Biden
Expands Pool of Clinicians to Provide COVID Vaccinations: President Joe Biden on 3/11/21 said he will expand the
number of people providing COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States to
include a wide swath of medical professionals in order to help the nation
return to some sense of normalcy by July 4. In his first prime-time address, Biden said
dentists, EMTs, midwives, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists,
respiratory therapists, and veterinarians will become qualified to administer
the three federally authorized COVID-19 vaccines.
Pfizer/BioNTechCOVID-19 Vaccine Neutralizes Brazil Variant in Lab Study: The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc
and BioNTech SE was able to neutralize a new variant of the coronavirus
spreading rapidly in Brazil, according to a laboratory study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine.
Aspirin use
for cardiovascular disease may reduce likelihood of COVID-19 infection, study
finds: In a recent
study, aspirin use to avoid the development of cardiovascular diseases in
healthy individuals was associated with a 29 percent lower likelihood of
COVID-19 infection, as compared to aspirin non-users. The proportion of
patients treated with aspirin was significantly lower among the
COVID-19-positive individuals, as compared to the COVID-19-negative ones. And
those subjects who had been treated with aspirin were less associated with the
likelihood of COVID-19 infection than those who were not. The FEBS Journal
Pfizer/BioNTech Say Data Suggests Vaccine 94% Effective in Preventing Asymptomatic Infection: Real-world data from Israel suggests
their COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective in preventing asymptomatic infections,
meaning it could significantly reduce transmission. The companies also said the
latest analysis of the Israeli data shows the vaccine was 97% effective in
preventing symptomatic disease, severe disease and death. That is basically in
line with the 95% efficacy Pfizer and BioNTech reported from the vaccine's
late-stage clinical trial in December. Medscape
Blood Type A Tied to SARS-CoV-2 Risks:
Blood type A was associated with a greater risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 in one
recent study and a higher risk of contracting the disease in another. Medscape
US GreenLight for AstraZeneca Vaccine Could Come in April, Independent MonitorsAssessing Data:
esults of AstraZeneca Plc's U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trial are
being reviewed by independent monitors, and emergency authorization could come
in about a month, a top U.S. official said on Monday. The independent
monitors are analyzing data from the 32,000-person U.S. study to determine
whether the vaccine is safe and effective. Medscape
People Over
65 More Vulnerable to Reinfection:
Most people who have had an infection with the new coronavirus are protected
against reinfection for at least 6 months, but that immunity can diminish
significantly with age, finds a new studyTrusted
Source published in The Lancet medical journal.
Flu cases ‘disappeared’ during pandemic, COVID-19 measures responsible: Although February is typically when
flu season peaks in the United States, with doctors’ offices and hospitals
packed with patients, that hasn’t happened this year, reported the Associated Press (AP).
No evidence AstraZeneca vaccine caused
blood clots, WHO says: Worldwide distribution of
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine remains unaffected by the jab’s suspension in
much of Europe following reports of blood clots in some people shortly after
vaccination, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, reported The Washington Post.
Some with
‘long COVID’ say vaccines help their symptoms: Some former patients still experiencing
long-term health issues due to COVID-19 have reported that their symptoms were
temporarily eased after receiving the coronavirus vaccine, according to a UK
report, reported the New York Post.
No, Fetal
Tissue Wasn’t Used to Create the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine: There’s been some concern about the use
of abortion-derived fetal cell lines in the development and manufacture of
COVID-19 vaccines. Experts
say no fetal tissue is involved; the cells are grown in laboratories.
Taking the first COVID-19
vaccine available to you will help us get the pandemic under control much more
quickly. Healthline
New symptoms
common four months after COVID-19:
About half of survivors of COVID-19 who have been hospitalized report symptoms
that did not exist before their COVID-19 illness, according to a study
published online March 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Infectious
Disease Society of America Updates Guidelines for COVID-19 Treatment: Latest
Evidence on Monoclonals, Antivirals, and More: IDSA
Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19
Skin Swabs
Could Be Used to Rapidly Identify COVID-19 Infection: Researchers at the
University of Surrey have found that non-invasive skin swab samples may be
enough to detect COVID-19. In a study published by Lancet
EClinicalMedicine, sebum samples were collected from 67
hospitalised patients (30 were COVID-19 positive and 37 were COVID-19 negative)
by gauze swab. Lipidomics analysis was carried out using liquid chromatography
mass spectrometry, identifying 998 reproducible features.
Child
Vaccinations Likely Needed to Reach Herd Immunity: The United States
probably won't reach herd immunity until children are vaccinated, Anthony
Fauci, MD, said. "We don't really know what that magical point of herd
immunity is, but we do know that if we get the overwhelming population
vaccinated, we're going to be in good shape," Fauci said Thursday during a
hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
"We ultimately would like to get and have to get children into that
mix."
PAIN
New study
gives the most detailed look yet at the neuroscience of placebo effects: A large proportion of the benefit that
a person gets from taking a real drug or receiving a treatment to alleviate
pain is due to an individual's mindset, not to the drug itself. Understanding
the neural mechanisms driving this placebo effect has been a longstanding
question. A meta-analysis finds that placebo treatments to reduce pain, known
as placebo analgesia, reduce pain-related activity in multiple areas of the
brain. Nature Communications
Study finds
digital treatment for osteoarthritis is superior to traditional routine care: A new randomized controlled trial (RCT)
using Joint Academy’s clinical based digital treatment for chronic joint pain
is the first to find clinically important improvements of treating knee
osteoarthritis digitally compared to traditional treatment. Patients receiving
digital treatment reduced their pain by 41 percent, while patients receiving
traditional care only experienced a 6 percent decrease. JAMA Network Open
Virtual reality could help to reduce pain for people with nerve injuries: people with nerve injuries often have a
dysfunctional pain suppression system, making them particularly prone to
discomfort. Now researchers have uncovered that virtual reality (VR) can reduce
types of pain typically seen in patients with nerve injuries - and that VR can
boost the dysfunctional pain suppression system, giving people with chronic
pain a possible game-changing hope. The
Journal of Pain
Non-surgical treatment quickly reduces arthritis knee pain and improves function: A non-surgical treatment for arthritis
in the knee is safe and effective in providing immediate and long-term pain
relief, according to a new study to be presented at the Society of
Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting. Genicular artery
embolization (GAE) reduces inflammation in the knee to improve function and
quality of life for people with moderate to severe knee pain. Interventional
radiologists navigated a catheter through a pinhole incision in the hip into
the arteries in the arthritic knee. They then injected tiny particles to
control the blood supply to inflamed and painful areas of the knee. The
outpatient procedure took approximately one to two hours, followed by a
two-hour recovery period.
Minimally
invasive treatment provides fast pain relief for cancer patients: A minimally invasive treatment for
patients whose cancer has spread to their bones provides quick and sustained
pain relief and improves quality of life, according to a new study to be
presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting.
The palliative treatment known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective in
providing relief in as little as three days, and the benefits last more than 12
months--a significant improvement over radiation treatment.
Study findslower dose of ketamine equally effective in reducing pain: A recent Loyola Medicine study found
that reducing the standard dose of IV-administered ketamine in half is as
effective as the larger, standard dose in reducing pain in adults. Academic Emergency Medicine
Digital app
can help chronic pain sufferers manage their pain: For chronic pain sufferers an app may
be just the tool they need to manage their pain. In a UHN-led study that used
the app "Manage My Pain" enrolled patients saw clinically significant
reductions in key areas that drive increased medical needs, potential abuse of
prescription opioids and of course, pain. JMIR mHealth
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Placebo effect may explain reported benefits of psychedelic microdoses: Positive psychological effects
associated with taking small doses of psychedelic drugs are likely the result
of users' expectations. The study -- the largest placebo-controlled trial on
psychedelics to date -- used an innovative 'self-blinding citizen science'
approach, where members of the public who were already microdosing implemented
their own placebo control following online instructions. The results from the
trial may influence future studies in real-world settings.
eLife.
Using
Cannabis to Treat Migraine Can Cause Rebound Headaches: People using
cannabis for migraine relief can have rebound headaches, similar to overuse
headaches experienced by people who use too much migraine pain medication.
American Academy of Neurology’s 73rd annual
meeting,
Stress
reduction as a path to eating less fast food: Overweight
low-income mothers of young kids ate fewer fast-food meals and high-fat snacks
after participating in a study - not because researchers told them what not to
eat, but because the lifestyle intervention being evaluated helped lower the
moms' stress, research suggests. The 16-week program was aimed at preventing
weight gain by promoting stress management, healthy eating and physical
activity. The methods to get there were simple steps tucked into lessons on
time management and prioritizing, many demonstrated in a series of videos
featuring mothers like those participating in the study. Nutrients
Mindfulness
meditation improves quality of life in heart attack survivors: An eight-week program of mindfulness
meditation improves quality of life and reduces fear of activity in heart
attack patients, according to research presented today at ESC Acute
CardioVascular Care 2021, an online scientific congress of the European Society
of Cardiology (ESC).1
FDA ACTION
• Warns consumers against using the
antiparasitic drug Ivermectin to treat Covid-19
• Granted emergency use authorization
(EUA) for the Cue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over The Counter Use (Cue OTC
Test, Cue Health Inc). The Cue OTC Test is the first molecular diagnostic test
available to consumers without a prescription.
• Authorizes
First Machine Learning-Based Screening Device to Identify Certain Biomarkers
That May Indicate COVID-19 Infection
• Permits
Marketing of First SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Test Using Traditional Premarket
Review Process
• Alerts
Public about Improper Use of Thermal Imaging Devices; Warns Firms for Illegally
Offering Thermal Imaging Systems for Sale
• Authorizes
First Robotically-Assisted Surgical Device for Performing Transvaginal
Hysterectomy
• Approves
First Treatment for Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency Type A
• Authorizes
Marketing of Novel Device to Help Protect Athletes’ Brains During Head Impacts
• Approves
Targeted Treatment for Rare Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mutation
• Warns 10
Companies for Illegally Selling Dietary Supplements Claiming to Treat
Depression and Other Mental Health Disorders
PREVENTION:
Exercise
Aerobic
exercise may reduce cognitive decline:
Researchers have found that aerobic exercise may reduce cognitive decline in
people with Alzheimer’s disease. New research, published as a pilot study in
the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, supports
aerobic exercise as an intervention for people with this condition and lays the
ground for future, larger studies to corroborate the initial findings.
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
The right '5-a-day'
mix is 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life: Higher consumption of fruits and
vegetables is associated with a lower risk of death in men and women, according
to data representing nearly 2 million adults. Five daily servings of fruits and
vegetables, eaten as 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables, may be
the optimal amount and combination for a longer life. These findings support
current U.S. dietary recommendations to eat more fruits and vegetables and the
simple public health message '5-a-day.' Circulation
Healthy plant-based diet associated with lower stroke risk: People who eat diets with higher
amounts of healthy plant-based foods and lower amounts of less-healthy
plant-based foods may reduce their risk of stroke compared to people with
lower-quality diets, according to a new study. They found that healthy
plant-based diets--defined as rich in foods such as leafy greens, whole grains,
and beans, and including lower levels of foods like refined grains, potatoes,
and added sugars--may lower overall stroke risk by up to 10%. Neurology
Does a vegan diet lead to poorer bone health?
In a new study from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the
bone health of 36 vegans as well as 36 people following a mixed-food diet was
determined with an ultrasound measurement of the heel bone. The result: on
average, people following a vegan diet had lower ultrasound values compared to
the other group. This indicates poorer bone health.
Consumption of added sugar doubles fat production:
Compared to previous studies, which mainly examined the consumption of very
high amounts of sugar, their results show that even moderate amounts lead to a
change in the metabolism of test participants. "Eighty grams of sugar
daily, which is equivalent to about 0,8 liters of a normal soft drink, boosts
fat production in the liver. And the overactive fat production continues for a
longer period of time, even if no more sugar is consumed."
PREVENTION
Low-Dose Intradermal Flu Vaccine as Good as Standard-Dose Intramuscular Shot: The
analysis of data from 30 previous studies with a total of 177,780 participants
found few significant differences in immune responses induced by lower-dose
intradermal influenza vaccination and standard-dose intramuscular delivery,
including among participants over age 60. Intradermal delivery could be an
alternative to standard intramuscular immunization in cases where there is a
shortage of flu vaccine, the authors conclude in JAMA Network Open.
94% of older
adults prescribed drugs that raise risk of falling: The study found that the percentage of
adults 65 and older who were prescribed a fall- risk-increasing drug climbed to
94% in 2017, a significant leap from 57% in 1999. The research also revealed
that the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during
the same time period. Pharmacoepidemiology
and Drug Safety
In women,
higher body fat may protect against heart disease death, study shows: A new UCLA study shows that while men
and women who have high muscle mass are less likely to die from heart disease,
it also appears that women who have higher levels of body fat -- regardless of
their muscle mass -- have a greater degree of protection than women with less
fat. Journal of the American Heart Association.
‘Vital
Exhaustion’ Increases Heart Attack Risk in Men: Vital
exhaustion- excessive fatigue, feelings of
demoralization, and increased irritability-
significantly increases heart attack risk in
men according to a
new study recently presented at the ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2021, an online scientific
congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Besides living a healthy lifestyle,
greater involvement in social groups can make people less vulnerable to stress,
which can help them maintain cardiovascular health.
How Staying
Heart-Healthy Will Decrease Your Cancer Risk: The study,
published in the March 2021 issue of JACC: CardioOncology, found that
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk — including traditional risk factors like
age, sex, and smoking, along with natriuretic peptide levels — is associated
with an increased risk of cancer. The
findings suggest the risk factors that cause CVD could also lead to cancer.
Therefore, the healthy habits used to combat CVD could also be helpful in
reducing a person’s risk of developing cancer.
TREATMENT
Weight loss
drug hope for patients with type 2 diabetes: Patients with type 2 diabetes that were treated with a
weekly injection of the breakthrough drug Semaglutide were able to achieve an
average weight loss of nearly 10kg, according to a new study. The Lancet
Nocebo
Effect’ May Be Why People Think Statins Cause Muscle Pain: The reportTrusted
Source, published in The BMJ on Feb. 24, found that people
who take statins had no differences in muscle symptoms — like pain, weakness,
cramps, or stiffness — than people who didn’t take statins. It’s unclear what’s causing the muscle pain,
but researchers suspect it could be connected to people’s age and underlying
health conditions. There may also be a strong “nocebo effect” — people expect
to experience muscle pain, and then because of that, experience it.
New
Brodalumab Psoriasis Outcome Data Suggests That Intermittent Treatment Is As
Effective as Continuous Dosing
The British Journal of Dermatology.
AstraZeneca's
Asthma Drug Succeeds Late-Stage Nasal Polyposis Study: The treatment, Fasenra, showed a
statistically significant improvement in treating patients with severe
bilateral nasal polyposis that were still symptomatic despite continued
treatment with standard of care. In the study, Fasenra was effective in treating
the size of nasal polyps and nasal blockage in patients with chronic
rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the company said. Fasenra is currently
approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for a severe form of asthma.
Medscape
Effective treatment for insomnia delivered in a few short phone calls: In a study involving patients in the
Kaiser Permanente Washington system -- the Osteoarthritis and Therapy for
Sleep, or OATS study, published Feb. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine -- the
researchers found that effective treatment for insomnia can be delivered in a
few short phone calls. The phone-delivered therapy, which consisted of guided
training and education to combat insomnia, also helped reduce fatigue as well
as pain associated with osteoarthritis.
OTHER
Study
identifies potential link between Soldiers exposed to blasts, Alzheimer's: Research shows that Soldiers exposed to
shockwaves from military explosives are at a higher risk for developing
Alzheimer's disease -- even those that don't have traumatic brain injuries from
those blasts. A new study identifies how those blasts affect the brain. Brain Pathology
Study links
kidney stones with bone problems:
In an analysis of nationwide data from the Veterans Health Administration,
approximately one-quarter of individuals with kidney stones had a diagnosis of
osteoporosis or bone fracture around the time of their kidney stone diagnosis. Journal of Bone and Mineral
Research.
Cancer
survivors face elevated heart disease risk: A new study has found that about that 35% of Americans
with a cancer history had an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in the
next decade, compared with about 23% of those who didn't have cancer. PLOS ONE
