Journal Watch September 2021

                 

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.