COVID-19
FDA Advisory
Panel Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech Boosters for Adults 65+, Others at High Risk: People ages 65 and up and those at
high risk of severe COVID-19 or infection may soon be able to get a third dose
of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
vaccine advisory committee voted unanimously on Sept 17 to recommend boosters
for people ages 65 and up who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
at least 6 months ago. Also included in the recommendation are people ages 16
and older at high risk of severe COVID-19. After the vote, the independent panel
of experts also informally recommended that the EUA be modified to include
“healthcare workers or others at high risk for occupational exposure.”
Larger Risk
of Hospitalization With COVID-19 Delta Variant, Study Suggests: People infected with the Delta variant
of COVID-19 carry twice the risk of needing to be treated in hospital than
those with the Alpha strain. Researchers looked at more than 43,000 cases in
England between March and May with their findings published in The
Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Long Covid
Symptoms Can Persist for More than 1 year: Nearly one half of people who are hospitalized with
COVID-19 suffer at least one lingering symptom 1 year after discharge,
according to the largest study yet to assess the dynamic recovery of a group of
COVID-19 survivors 12 months after the illness. The most common lingering
symptoms are fatigue and muscle weakness. One third continue to have shortness
of breath. Overall, at 12 months, COVID-19 survivors had more problems with
mobility, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression, and had lower
self-assessment scores of quality of life than matched COVID-free peers. The
study was published
online August 26 in The
Lancet.
Blood Clot
Risks 'Lower With COVID Vaccines Than From Infection': Research, published in
The British Medical Journal , showed
an increased risk of thrombocytopenia and venous thromboembolism
with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and an increased risk of arterial thromboembolism
following the Pfizer vaccine.However, the risk of those conditions following a
first dose of either vaccine were significantly lower than the same outcomes
from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers stressed.
One Third in
US Had Been Infected by SARS-CoV-2 Through 2020: About one third of the US population
had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 by the end of 2020, according to a modeling
study published
online August 26 in Nature.
Israel Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Significantly Lowers Infection Risk: A third dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among
people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots.
Among people aged 60 and over, the protection against infection provided from
10 days after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses. Medscape
Flu andCOVID-19 Vaccines Can Be Given on the Same Day: Patients can now receive their COVID-19
vaccine and flu shot during the same visit, according to updated
recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medscape
Even Those
Who Just Test Positive at More Risk for Long COVID: Long-term symptoms, like those linked
with COVID-19, were common in people who had even just a single positive
test, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show. Frequency
of symptoms in people with a positive test was 1.5 times higher compared
with people whose tests had always been negative. Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report.
Masks work
to prevent Covid: A
large, real-world test of face masks in Bangladesh shows that masks work to
reduce community spread of COVID-19. It also shows that surgical masks are more
effective than cloth face coverings. The study
demonstrates the power of careful investigation. One key finding is that
wearing a mask doesn't lead people to abandon social distancing, something
public health officials had feared might happen if masks gave people a false
sense of security.
COVID-19
mRNA Vaccines: No Serious Health Risks in Large Study: Serious health risks were no more
common in the first 3 weeks after Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19
vaccination compared with 22-42 days later, a first-of-its-kind study of more
than 6 million people reveals. JAMA study
Vaccines Cut
Risk of Long COVID by Half:
A new study from the United Kingdom shows that fully vaccinated people greatly
reduce their chances of breakthrough infections and serious illness from
coronavirus, including long COVID. The study, published in Lancet
Infectious Diseases Journal, said that only 0.5% of people reported a
breakthrough infection 14 days after the getting first dose of the
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Only 0.2% reported an
infection after the second dose.
WHO Tracking
New COVID-19 Variant Called Mu:
The variant, also known as B.1.621, was first identified in Colombia in
January. It has now been detected in 43 countries and was added to the WHO's
"variant
of interest" list on Sept. 2. "The Mu variant has a constellation
of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," the WHO
wrote in its weekly
COVID-19 update
Breakthrough
Infections Twice as Likely to Be Asymptomatic: People with breakthrough COVID-19
infections are two times more likely to be completely asymptomatic and are
about two-thirds less likely to be hospitalized, compared with those who are
unvaccinated, according to a new observational study. Medscape
Moderna's
Vaccine Creates Twice as Many Antibodies as Pfizer's: Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine generates
more than double the antibodies seen from Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, according
to a new
research letter published in JAMA.
CDC data
indicates Moderna vaccine more effective against delta variant of COVID-19 than
Pfizer, J&J:
Moderna vaccine effectiveness has a rate of 95% when it comes to
hospitalizations due to the delta variant, while Pfizer sits at 80% and Johnson
& Johnson at 60%. The effectiveness rate for Moderna against urgent care and
emergency room visits sits at 92%. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have rates
of 77% and 65%, respectively.
Moderna
working on hybrid COVID-19/Flu vaccine: Moderna announced is developing a hybrid vaccine that
would provide protection against COVID-19 and influenza. Moderna is also
developing four variant-specific booster candidates to the standalone COVID-19
shot, including a formula specifically targeting delta.
98 Percent
of ‘Highly Allergic’ People Have No Reaction After COVID-19 Vaccination: Allergic reactions to COVID-19
vaccines are rare, according to new researchTrusted Source
published in JAMA Network Open.
Common
hypertension drug may help treat severe COVID-19: A new study suggests that metoprolol, a
beta-blocker approved for the treatment of hypertension, can reduce lung
inflammation and improve clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19-associated
ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). Journal of the American
College of Cardiology,
Doctors
Divided About Need for COVID-19 Boosters: Overall, 71% of 575 US physicians who were polled said
they thought the available evidence supports giving boosters to people who have
already had two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines; 12%
disagreed, and 17% said they were unsure. Of 1133 nurses surveyed, 66% said
they thought evidence supports boosters, 15% disagreed, and 19% were unsure.
The Lancet
FDA Could
Authorize COVID Vaccine for Ages 5‒11 in October: Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine could be
authorized for ages 5-11 by the end of October, according to
Reuters.
New findings on ambient UVB radiation, vitamin D, and protection against severe COVID-19: New research has examined the
association between vitamin D and COVID-19, and found that ambient ultraviolet
B (UVB) radiation (which is key for vitamin D production in the skin) at an
individual's place of residence in the weeks before COVID-19 infection, was
strongly protective against severe disease and death. Scientific Reports
Physical distance may not be enough to prevent viral aerosol exposure indoors: Researchers have found that found that
indoor distances of two meters -- about six and a half feet -- may not be
enough to sufficiently prevent transmission of airborne aerosols. They also
found that aerosols traveled farther and more quickly in rooms with displacement
ventilation, where fresh air continuously flows from the floor and pushes old
air to an exhaust vent near the ceiling. This is the type of ventilation system
installed in most residential homes, and it can result in a human breathing
zone concentration of viral aerosols seven times higher than mixed-mode
ventilation systems.
Sustainable
Cities and Society.
PAIN
Novel assessment of platelet-rich plasma treatment shows efficacy in patients withosteoarthritis: A pilot
study combined wearable technology and patient-reported outcomes to assess the
efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment in osteoarthritis (OA),
finding significant improvements. Regenerative
Medicine
Micro-fragmented
adipose tissue injection effective for treating knee osteoarthritis: A single injection of micro-fragmented
adipose tissue can provide long-lasting pain relief and enhanced knee function.
Biologic Orthopedics
Rehabilitation
exercises improve knee health in osteoarthritis: Home-based exercise intervention may be
effective for relieving knee Osteoarthritis symptoms and increasing physical
functioning. Current Rheumatology Reviews
Virtual
reality reduces pain and anxiety in children: A study at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shows that
engaging in VR can reduce pain and anxiety in children undergoing painful
medical procedures and reduce the need for anesthesia. JAMA
Network Open
Widespreadpain linked to heightened dementia and stroke risk: Widespread pain is linked to a
heightened risk of all types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and
stroke, finds research published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia
& Pain Medicine. And this association is independent of
potentially influential factors, such as age, general health, and lifestyle,
the findings indicate. Widespread pain is a common subtype of chronic pain that
may reflect musculoskeletal disorders. Several studies suggest that it can
reliably predict cancer, peripheral arterial disease, and cardiovascular
disease, and it has been linked to a heightened risk of death. Regional
Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Recent
Cannabis Use Linked to Heart Attack Risk in Adults Under 45: A new study
released Sept. 7 says adults younger than 45 years old who use cannabis were
twice as likely to have had a heart attack, with the likelihood greater in more
frequent users.
Experts make weak recommendation for medical cannabis for chronic pain: A panel of international experts make a
weak recommendation for a trial of non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids
(chemicals found in cannabis) for people living with chronic pain, if standard
care is not sufficient. The recommendation applies to adults and children
living with all types of moderate to severe chronic pain. It does not apply to
smoked or vaporised forms of cannabis, recreational cannabis, or patients
receiving end-of-life care. BMJ
FDA ACTION
• Approved
the MicroTransponder Vivistim Paired VNS System (Vivistim System), a
first-of-its-kind, drug-free rehabilitation system intended to treat moderate
to severe upper extremity motor deficits associated with chronic ischemic
stroke
PREVENTION:
Exercise
How 7,000
Steps a Day Can Reduce Your Risk of Early Death: According to a new study, people who
took about 7,000 steps per day had a 50 percent to 70 percentTrusted Source lower risk of dying from all causes
after 11 years of follow-up when compared with people who took fewer steps each
day. It didn’t seem to matter how quickly they moved, either. The findings also
held regardless of factors such as race, income level, smoking, weight, and
diet.
Researchers observed association between standing and insulin sensitivity – standing more may help prevent chronic diseases:
Insulin is a key hormone in
energy metabolism and blood sugar regulation. Normal insulin function in the
body may be disturbed by e.g. overweight, leading to decreased insulin
sensitivity and increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases. In a Finnish collaborative study of Turku PET Centre and UKK
institute, the researchers noticed that standing is associated with better
insulin sensitivity. Increasing the daily standing time may therefore help
prevent chronic diseases. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Consuming fruit and vegetables and exercising can make you happier: While the link between lifestyle and
wellbeing has been previously documented and often used in public health
campaigns to encourage healthier diets and exercise, new findings published by
the Journal of Happiness
Studies show that there is also a positive causation from lifestyle
to life satisfaction. It showed that it is rather the consumption of fruit and
vegetables and exercising that makes people happy and not the other way round. The research also
shows that men appear to exercise more, and women eat more fruit and
vegetables.
Regular
exercise may lower risk of developing anxiety by almost 60%: researchers in Sweden
have published a study in Frontiers
in Psychiatry to show that those who took
part in the world’s largest long-distance cross-country ski race (Vasaloppet) between
1989 and 2010 had a “significantly lower risk” of developing anxiety compared
to non-skiers during the same period. The study is based on data from almost
400,000 people in one of the largest ever population-wide epidemiology studies
across both sexes.
Keep on moving: Sports relieve tumor-associated anemia: Many cancer patients suffer from anemia leaving them
fatigued, weak, and an impaired ability to perform physical activity. Drugs
only rarely alleviate this type of anemia. Researchers at the University of
Basel have now been able to show what causes the anemia, and that physical
exercise can improve this condition. Science Advances
Face masks
do not increase body temperature during exercise in the heat: Testing four kinds of face mask: a
surgical mask; an N95 respirator; a gaiter, which covers the neck and goes over
the nose and mouth; and a sport mask, none of them significantly increased body
temperature or heart rate compared to the group without a face mask. Sports Health
Exercise
reduces calories burned at rest in individuals with obesity: The study, published in Current Biology on August
27, found that people who exercise burn fewer calories on body maintenance,
therefore markedly reducing the calorie burning gains of exercise. This
reduction in energy burned at rest was most pronounced in individuals with
obesity and also, to a lesser extent, in older adults.
Study finds moderate-vigorous physical activity is the most efficient at improving fitness: In the largest study performed to date
to understand the relationship between habitual physical activity and physical
fitness, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have
found that higher amount of time spent performing exercise (moderate-vigorous
physical activity) and low-moderate level activity (steps) and less time spent
sedentary, translated to greater physical fitness. European Heart Journal
PREVENTION:
Vitamins/Supplements
Meta-analysis finds that omega-3 fatty acids improved cardiovascular outcomes: Investigators conducted a systematic
review and meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty
acids. Overall, they found that omega-3 fatty acids improved cardiovascular
outcomes. Results showed a significantly greater reduction in cardiovascular
risk in studies of EPA alone rather than EPA+DHA supplements. NEJM
Vitamin D
may protect against young-onset colorectal cancer: Consuming higher amounts of Vitamin D
– mainly from dietary sources – may help protect against developing young-onset
colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps, according to the first study to
show such an association. Gastroenterology
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Low-sodium salt prevents stroke:
Replacing salt with a low-sodium alternative lowers the risk of stroke in
people with high blood pressure or prior stroke, according to recent research.
NEJM
Probiotic-containing
yogurt protects against microbiome changes that lead to antibiotic-induced
diarrhea: A randomized
clinical trial has found that eating yogurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12
appears to protect against harmful changes in the gut microbiome that are
associated with antibiotic administration. Nutrients
PREVENTION
European
Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in
clinical practice: As
much as 90% of the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial
disease (PAD) can be explained by smoking, poor eating habits, lack of physical
activity, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood lipid levels,
diabetes, psychosocial factors, or alcohol. These guidelines focus on
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affects the arteries. As
the inside of the arteries become clogged up by fatty deposits, they can no
longer supply enough blood to the body. This process is the main cause of heart
attacks, strokes, PAD and sudden death where arteries become completely
blocked. The most important way to prevent these conditions is to adopt a
healthy lifestyle throughout life, especially not smoking, and to treat risk
factors. European Heart
Journal.
If You Have
AFib, Experts Recommend You Exercise More and Drink Alcohol Less: One
study published on alcohol use goes against the former belief that only
excessive alcohol use increased risk of a repeat incident of AFib concluding
that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of an AFib reoccurrence. A study on exercise and AFib is the first of its kind to
show that regular aerobic activities decreased the risk of an AFib incident,
found that 3 hours or more of exercise a week can decrease the risk of an AFib
episode.
Late Nights,
Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise May Increase Your Risk for Heart Arrhythmia, AFib: A study published in the European
Heart Journal found that when compared with daytime workers, people
who worked night shifts had a 12 percent higher risk of AFib, an irregular
heart rate.
Dementia:
Traffic noise may raise risk:
A new Danish study that appears in the journal The BMJTrusted Source
suggests that having exposure to traffic noise results in a higher risk of
developing all-cause dementia, especially Alzheimer’s.
Parkinson’s:
7 strategies to assist walking:
People with Parkinson’s disease who have trouble walking often invent ways to
help them manage the changes to their gaits. A new study suggests that
familiarity with these techniques should be more widespread. There is no
one-size-fits-all solution, but a wide array of gait compensation strategies
may help many with Parkinson’s. The study appears in Neurology.
Socializing may improve older adults’ cognitive function in daily life: In a study at the Center for Healthy
Aging at Penn State, researchers found that when adults between the ages of 70
and 90 reported more frequent, pleasant social interactions, they also had
better cognitive performance on that day and the following two. PLOS One
Fall-prevention program can help reduce harmful in-home falls by nearly 40% : New research from Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that in-home falls can be reduced by
nearly 40% with a community-based program that helps older adults make
modifications to their homes such as adding grab bars, shower seating and
slip-resistant surfaces in the bathroom, as well as lighting and handrails on
staircases. JAMA Network Open
Less air
pollution and more access to green or blue spaces: A recipe to improve the life quality
of people with COPD: Air pollution and greater distance with green of blue
spaces negatively impact the health-related quality of life in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study.
Environmental Research
High levels
of stress hormones may raise risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease: A new study published in Hypertension,
an American Heart Association journal, shows mounting evidence that higher
levels of stress hormones may increase a person’s risk of high blood pressure
and cardiovascular events.
USPSTF recommendation on screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea: The U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all sexually active women 24 or
younger and women 25 or older at increased risk for infection be screened for
chlamydia and gonorrhea. The USPSTF concludes current evidence is insufficient to
make a recommendation about screening for these infections in men. Chlamydia
and gonorrhea are among the most common sexually transmitted infections in the
United States. JAMA
TREATMENT
Four-in-one blood pressure pill:
The first large-scale, long-term trial of a new strategy using combinations of
very low-doses in one capsule, has demonstrated significantly improved control
of high blood pressure -- the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. The
Lancet
Reversal of
the biological hallmarks responsible for development of Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia using unique hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol: A team of investigators from Tel Aviv
University has succeeded in restoring brain trauma by hyperbaric oxygen therapy
(HBOT). This is the first time in the scientific world that non-drug therapy
has been proven effective in preventing the core biological processes
responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease. Using a specific
protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), cerebral blood flow (CBF)
improved/increased in elderly patients by 16-23%, alleviating vascular
dysfunction and amyloid burden. journal Aging
Robot-assisted
therapy can help treat stroke survivors, study finds: Exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation
can be beneficial in treating stroke survivors. Journal of Neural Engineering.
OTHER
Do some
cognitive functions improve with age?
For years, most research indicated that older adults experience a decline in
brain functioning across the board. However, a new observational study, which
appears in Nature Human BehaviourTrusted Source, suggests that
orienting and executive functioning improve with age and that training the
brain may help cognitive function.
20 Years
After 9/11: What We Know About the Long-Term Health Effects: The federally funded World Trade Center
(WTC) Health ProgramTrusted Source
— which monitors the health of 9/11 responders and survivors — recognizes
dozens of illnesses, injuries, cancers, and mental health conditions that are
linked to ground zero exposures. The most common conditions, of the more than
107,000 responders and survivors enrolled in the Program, include cancers,
asthma, sleep apnea, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety or
major depression. More than 23,000 have a diagnosis of
at least one type of cancer. This includes people who are now deceased. In addition, over 4,600
responders or survivors in the program have died.
