Journal Watch March 2021

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