Health

Australia news live: parents of Christian Porter accuser support inquiry into daughter's death

Pressure mounts for inquiry into historical rape allegation made against attorney general as PM says there’s ‘no suggestion’ Porter will step down. Follow latest updates Porter denies historical rape allegationKnown unknowns: questions Porter did not addressJournalists reject Porter’s claim media never contacted himKatharine Murphy: Morrison must call an independent inquiryFollow the global Covid liveblog 4.17am GMT Brittany Higgins has described comments made about her by defence minister L...
Tags: Health, Business, Australia, Australia news, Australian politics, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Scott Morrison, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian economy, Morrison, Porter

Wikipedia maintained high-quality COVID-19 coverage during first pandemic wave

Researchers in Israel have demonstrated that Wikipedia's coverage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continued to be based on respected media and academic sources, despite a surge in coverage as the pandemic grew during the first wave.
Tags: Health, Wikipedia, Israel

Study shows lower antibody cross-reactivity after infection with the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

In a recent research paper currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, a diverse group of researchers has examined the immunogenicity of antibodies against the variant B.1.1.7 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) initially found in the United Kingdom – and revealed diminished recognition and neutralization of either parental strains or the South African variant.
Tags: Health, United Kingdom

COVID risk to households and teachers from in person schooling

When researchers analyzed the responses of the COVID-19 Symptom Survey in the United States, they found an increased risk of COVID-19 for household members when children had in-person schooling.
Tags: Health, United States

Australia news live: NSW police release statement on dealings with Christian Porter accuser

Pressure mounts for inquiry into historical rape allegation made against attorney general as PM says there’s ‘no suggestion’ Porter will step down. Follow latest updates Porter denies historical rape allegationKnown unknowns: questions Porter did not addressJournalists reject Porter’s claim media never contacted himKatharine Murphy: Morrison must call an independent inquiryFollow the global Covid liveblog 3.30am GMT Via the Australian’s Sharri Markson and News.com’s Samantha Maiden. Both cla...
Tags: Health, Business, Australia, Australia news, Australian politics, Queensland, New South Wales, Sydney, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian economy, Morrison, Porter

Results from phase 2 trial of Novavax recombinant nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Novavax, Inc., the American vaccine development company, has been developing a recombinant protein nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine currently termed NVX-CoV2373. The full-length spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is created in a baculovirus vector, which is then inserted into a lipid nanoparticle around 50 nm in diameter.
Tags: Health, Novavax, Novavax Inc

Genetic variation associated with COVID-19 outcome

Host genetics play a role in disease progression and prognosis. A paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv by Dubé et al. (1st March 2021) identifies several alleles associated with the gene natriuretic peptide receptor C (NPR3) that may impact disease severity.
Tags: Health

Newly identified biomarker could predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors

A team of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers has identified a new biomarker that could predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) shortly after patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) initiate therapy.
Tags: Health, Ici, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Liquid-handling robots for wastewater surveillance help predict COVID-19 cases in San Diego

In earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before diagnostic testing was widely available, it was difficult for public health officials to keep track of the infection's spread, or predict where outbreaks were likely to occur.
Tags: Health, San Diego

Improving nurse staffing in New York hospitals could reduce deaths, save money

According to a new study published in Medical Care, improving hospital nurse staffing as proposed in pending legislation in New York state would likely save lives.
Tags: Health, New York

Researchers explore mutational signatures associated with exposure to microplastic pollutants

According to the World Health Organization, plastic products and their chemical derivatives present in the environment present public health concerns on a global scale and more exploration on the potential impact to human health is needed.
Tags: Health, World Health Organization

Study reveals how racial discrimination in home-renting affects environmental inequality

Economists and urban planners generally agree that local pollution sources disproportionally impact racial minorities in the U.S. The reasons for this are largely unclear, but a University of Illinois study provides new insights into the issue.
Tags: Health, University Of Illinois

Low-cost, non-electric ventilator allows non-specialized workers to treat COVID-19 patients

A team of engineers from Loughborough University has designed and built a unique low-cost, non-electric ventilator in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tags: Health, Loughborough University

Cigarette smoke toxicity impacts protective biofilm in the lungs, study finds

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Researchers (BGU) have found for the first time that cigarette smoke toxicity impacts the protective biofilm in the lungs, particularly concerning when paired with COVID-19 respiratory issues.
Tags: Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Researchers BGU

Scientists search for new ways to fight against fungal infections

Systemic fungal infections are much rarer than other illnesses, but they are potentially deadly, with limited options for treatment.
Tags: Health

People diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency more likely to stop smoking, study shows

New research shows that people diagnosed with a genetic condition, called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), are far more likely to stop smoking and therefore prevent the development of lung disease.
Tags: Health

Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effective from day 11 post 1st vaccination

New research from a team of scientists in Australia finds that the second ‘booster’ dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine did not increase vaccine efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The results suggest one dose of the vaccine was sufficient in providing a robust immune response 11 days after inoculation.
Tags: Health, Australia

Report: Probabilistic forecasts of the impact of vaccines and variants on the U.S. COVID trajectory

In a report summary released today Thomas McAndrew, a computational scientist and assistant professor at Lehigh University's College of Health includes probabilistic forecasts of the impact of vaccines and variants on the U.S. COVID trajectory over the next few weeks.
Tags: Health, Thomas McAndrew, Lehigh University s College of Health

Health care from the trenches: Change must come from us [PODCAST]

“We, as a profession, must accept some blame for many of the developing problems in health care delivery. No, I am not suggesting that we caused the problem. I am stating that we have had ample opportunities to manage the debacle and even to reverse some of the disturbing trends, yet we rarely allow our […] Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more.
Tags: Health, Podcast, PA NP, Public Health & Policy, CRNA

MDI Biological Laboratory receives grant to improve access to safe drinking water

The MDI Biological Laboratory will collaborate with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an office of the state Department of Health and Human Services, on a five-year grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to improve access to safe drinking water in Maine.
Tags: Health, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, MDI, Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MDI Biological Laboratory

Using two different viruses to tackle tumors

An international research group led by the University of Basel has developed a promising strategy for therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Tags: Health, University of Basel

Australia news live: Morrison says he will welcome back Christian Porter and 'rule of law' must prevail

Pressure mounts for inquiry into historical rape allegation made against attorney general as PM says there’s ‘no suggestion’ he Porter will step down. Follow latest updates • Porter denies historical rape allegation• Known unknowns: questions Porter did not address• Journalists reject Porter’s claim media never contacted him• Katharine Murphy: Morrison must call an independent inquiry• Follow the global Covid liveblog 12.16am GMT Morrison also clarified Reynolds’ comments were not referring ...
Tags: Health, Business, Australia, Australia news, Australian politics, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian economy, Morrison, Porter, Reynolds

Modeling study finds SARS-CoV-2 variant that emerged in the UK to be more transmissible

A variant of SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in southeast England in November 2020 is more transmissible than pre-existing variants, a new modeling study finds. Further analyses suggest the variant - VOC 202012/01 - will lead to large resurgences of COVID-19 cases.
Tags: Health, UK, England

Researchers to investigate COVID-19's disproportionate impact on long-term care residents and workers

Long-term care facilities have been disproportionately burdened by COVID-19, accounting for about 60% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide, 70% if retirement homes are included.
Tags: Health, COVID

PICI awards $3 million to support early career cancer researchers

From improving immunotherapy response in childhood cancer patients, to better understanding how cancer's spread to the liver affects the body's immune system, to helping T cells stay energized to fight cancer, The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI)'s 2021 class of early career researchers award recipients are pursuing ideas that have the potential to change the face of oncology.
Tags: Health, Pici, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy PICI

New substance suppresses the growth of harmful bacteria that cause periodontitis

Targeted, efficient and with few side effects: A new method for combating periodontitis could render the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics superfluous.
Tags: Health

Genomic surveillance can help identify how SARS-CoV-2 spreads in care homes

Care homes are at high risk of experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Older people and those affected by heart disease, respiratory disease and type 2 diabetes - all of which increase with age - are at greatest risk of severe disease and even death, making the care home population especially vulnerable.
Tags: Health

Bayreuth researchers develop a rapid test to detect quality and authenticity of olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil is extracted from cold-pressed, high-quality olives and is one of the most popular foods in Europe. However, inferior counterfeits are coming onto the market in increasing number.
Tags: Health, Europe, Bayreuth

Accelerated accumulation of abdominal fat during menopause linked to heart disease risk

Women who experience an accelerated accumulation of abdominal fat during menopause are at greater risk of heart disease, even if their weight stays steady, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health-led analysis published today in the journal Menopause.
Tags: Health

Repeated attendance at mammography screening confers protection against breast cancer mortality

Attending the two most recent screening appointments before a breast cancer diagnosis protects against breast cancer death, according to a Queen Mary study of over half a million Swedish women conducted over 24 years.
Tags: Health, Mary