Fight Against COVID-19 Aided by Sepsis Researchers
Spike proteins on the surface of a coronavirus. Credit: David Veesler, University of Washington.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers from many areas of biomedical science have worked together to learn how this new disease affects the human body, how to prevent its spread, and how to treat it. Severe cases of COVID-19 and cases of sepsis share many symptoms. Sepsis is the body’s overactive and extreme response to an infection. It’s unpredictable and can progress rapidly. Without prompt treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Sepsis has similarities with some cases of COVI...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - January 13, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Injury and Illness COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Research Roundup Scientific Process Sepsis Source Type: blogs
Wondering about COVID-19 vaccines if you ’re pregnant or breastfeeding?
Now that COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out, pregnant and breastfeeding people have many questions around risks and benefits. At first, many of those receiving vaccines in US will be healthcare workers, although the circles for vaccine eligibility are widening.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine agree that the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals who are eligible for vaccination.
Here are answers to some basic questions you may have about getting a COVID-1...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 7, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ilona T. Goldfarb, MD, MPH Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Health Parenting Pregnancy Prevention Vaccines Source Type: blogs
ECMO – Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
ECMO – extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
ECMO – Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – has been in use for the past four decades to support persons who are unlikely to survive with mechanical ventilation. ECMO is used in both adult and pediatric practice, though in the initial years, use of ECMO was restricted to pediatric intensive care. The enthusiasm for use of ECMO in adults have been triggered by the beneficial effect noted during the last H1N1 influenza pandemic [1]. In contrast from cardiopulmonary bypass which is used for a short period during cardiac surgery, ECMO is used to support for a ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - December 26, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis Tags: Cardiac Surgery Source Type: blogs
Understanding critical care in the ICU: then and now [PODCAST]
“I write this as a caregiver, patient educator, and clinical researcher. The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on intensive care units (ICUs). Due to the rapid and continued increase in critical illness from COVID-19 infection, discussions about capacity and specialized equipment have become commonplace. Terms such as ventilators, ECMO, PPE, emergency use authorization, and […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 23, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/the-podcast-by-kevinmd" rel="tag" > The Podcast by KevinMD < /a > < /span > Tags: Patient COVID-19 coronavirus Critical Care Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Surgical smoke evacuators and inertia in the time of COVID
As an anesthesiologist, I fully understand that providers in my specialty, along with emergency room and intensive care providers, must care for patients with COVID-19 at close physical range during aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) such as tracheal intubation and extubation, without the option of “social distancing.” Consequently, we currently rely on personal protective equipment (PPE), operating […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 23, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/rene-m-gonzalez" rel="tag" > Rene' M. Gonzalez, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician Anesthesiology Surgery Source Type: blogs
Voices from the frontline of critical care
Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine - In October, the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine surveyed their members about their experiences and feelings during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that a majority of intensive care staff have increased their working hours, had leave cancelled and have covered sickness absences for colleagues during the pandemic. The report argues that supporting and maintaining the wellbeing of critical care staff is vitally important not only for recruitment by attracting multi-disciplinary team members, but also for their retention in the specialty.ReportPress release (Sourc...
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - November 23, 2020 Category: UK Health Authors: The King ' s Fund Library Tags: Workforce and employment Source Type: blogs
Women Leaders Increasingly Visible In The Fight Against Covid-19
By MIKE MAGEE, MD
As we struggle to control a second wave of Covid-19, we are reminded once again of the nurses and doctors who place themselves at risk willingly and consistently. They are struggling uphill with a deeply segmented health care system that chronically rewards the have’s over the have-not’s, and a President clearly intent on creating as much havoc as is humanly possible on the way out the door.
Filling the leadership void this week, we witnessed the unusual appearance on network television of two national leaders from the professions of Nursing and Medicine, Dr. Susan Bailey (President, A...
Source: The Health Care Blog - November 19, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: COVID-19 Health Policy Mike Magee Source Type: blogs
Does lupus or arthritis affect your prognosis if you get COVID-19?
Soon after the coronavirus pandemic began, we learned that older adults and people with certain chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. One condition on that list is an immunocompromised state (a weakened immune system). This can be due to a number of conditions, including having had an organ transplant, having HIV, or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
If you have an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus (also called systemic lupus erythematosus), you may wonder how this affects your risk. It’s thought that these condit...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 9, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Autoimmune diseases Bones and joints Coronavirus and COVID-19 Source Type: blogs
Breaking my rule
As I often say here, I try avoid making predictions, especially about the future. (Yes, highly original.) However, to the extent I have relevant expertise and there is good enough information to fit into the model, it is sometimes helpful. Joe Biden will assume the presidency on January 20 confronting enormous problems. Right now, it ' s conceivable that Democrats will effectively control the Senate, which would make a huge difference, but that will require winning two head-to-head Senate races in Georgia. That seems a less than 50/50 bet, but without the Dumpster on the ticket it ' s hard to say how motivated G...
Source: Stayin' Alive - November 6, 2020 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
Promoting equity and community health in the COVID-19 pandemic
Editor’s note: Second in a series on the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, and responses aimed at improving health equity. Click here to read part one.
In early March 2020, as COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency in Boston, Mass General Brigham began to care for a growing number of patients with COVID-19. Even at this early stage in the pandemic, a few things were clear: our data showed that Black, Hispanic, and non-English speaking patients were testing positive and being hospitalized at the highest rates. There were large differences in COVID-19 infection rates among communities. Across the river f...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 22, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Sarah Wilkie, MS Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Health Health care disparities Infectious diseases Source Type: blogs
COVID-19 Pandemic Imposes Clear End-Of-Life Decisions Criteria
by Carlo Bellieni, MD
During the COVID-19 pandemic, end-of-life decision criteria for dying patients were the focus of much discussion he course of the disease has led to the overload of ICU services in many places around the world, and those presenting to ICU with COVID-19 are the most severe cases and much more likely to die in ICU. Many discussions have been carried on about when withholding intensive care to people with severe COVID19 infections, and in particular which patients would receive the access to cures in the case of lack of sufficient tools for life-support. &...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - October 20, 2020 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Blog Editor Tags: End of Life Care Featured Posts #covid19 #diaryofaplagueyear #reportsfromaroundtheworld COVID-19 Source Type: blogs
The importance of rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients
COVID-19, first diagnosed in China in December 2019, has since spread across the world and affected over 37 million individuals. While most people infected with COVID-19 experience mild to moderate illness and recovery without the need for hospitalization or medical intervention, some require intensive care for weeks to months. Despite an estimated 28 million individuals […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 17, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/waneta-carter-and-christine-lau" rel="tag" > Waneta Carter, RN and Christine Lau, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions COVID-19 coronavirus Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
The hidden long-term cognitive effects of COVID-19
This study also found that a number of patients with COVID suffered strokes. In fact, COVID infection is a risk factor for strokes. A group of Canadian doctors found that individuals over 70 years of age were at particularly high risk for stroke related to COVID infection, but even young individuals are seven times more likely to have a stroke from this coronavirus versus a typical flu virus.
Autopsy data from COVID patients in Finland suggests that another major cause of brain damage is lack of oxygen. Particularly worrisome is that several of the patients who were autopsied did not show any signs of brain injury during t...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 8, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Andrew E. Budson, MD Tags: Brain and cognitive health Coronavirus and COVID-19 Memory Neurological conditions Source Type: blogs
Advancing maternal justice on both sides of the Atlantic
Positive pregnancy and birthing experiences go beyond merely having a healthy mother and baby — so, too, does maternal justice, a term that encompasses broad goals.
Affordable, timely, high-quality, equitable, and dignified care during and after pregnancy is essential for all birthing people. Maternal justice is a model of culturally sensitive care that aims to dismantle inequities in maternity care and maximize maternal health and well-being. It rests on human rights and requires us to chip away at racism entrenched in health systems.
How do race and ethnicity affect pregnancy and birth?
Globally, Black, indigenous, and...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 8, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Isioma D. Okolo, MBChB, MRCOG, DTMH Tags: Adolescent health Health care disparities Parenting Pregnancy Women's Health Source Type: blogs
A straight up contradiction
The White House doctor is telling reporters two things simultaneously:The Resident is doing very well, he has mild and improving symptoms, and he might leave the hospital today.He is being given dexamethasone.Either one of these is not true, or all of the doctors at Walter Reed medical center are incompetent. dexamethasone isnot used to control or combat the viral infection. It is in fact an immunosuppresant that makes peoplemore susceptible to viral infections. The reason it is sometimes used to treat people with Covid-19 is that they have very severe disease which is causing an immunological over-reaction, called a...
Source: Stayin' Alive - October 5, 2020 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
