COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine
(American College of Physicians) Experts suggest limited and careful use of corticosteroids as one of several strategies to curtail the syndemic of mucormycosis, or 'black fungus,' a fungal infection characterized by blackening or discoloration over the face, breathing difficulties, and other serious symptoms, that has recently emerged in India. A commentary from Washington University School of Medicine and the University of Massachusetts Medical School is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - June 7, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Global travelers pick up numerous genes that promote microbial resistance
(Washington University School of Medicine) Research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that international travelers often return home with new bacterial strains jostling for position among the thousands that normally reside within the gut microbiome. Such travel is contributing to the rapid global increase and spread of antimicrobial resistance. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - June 6, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
The U.S. Government ’s Long-Awaited UFO Report Is Here. Its Findings? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The U.S. Navy pilots flying maneuvers in their F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2015 did not have to wait for yesterday’s leak of the classified government report on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)—better known as UFOs—to know that they were seeing things they could not explain outside their windscreens. The objects were, yes, saucer-shaped, and they were bobbing, darting and changing directions with a speed and nimbleness that no known technology could manage.
“Look at that thing, dude!” one pilot shouted. “Oh my gosh. There’s a whole fleet of them. They’re going against the wind...
Source: TIME: Science - June 4, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Jeffrey Kluger Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Newly approved drug effective against lung cancer caused by genetic mutation
(Washington University School of Medicine) The new drug sotorasib reduces tumor size and shows promise in improving survival among patients with lung tumors caused by a specific DNA mutation, according to results of a global phase 2 clinical trial led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The drug is designed to shut down the effects of the mutation, which is found in about 13% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of non-small-cell lung cancer. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - June 4, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
New tech predicts chemotherapy effectiveness after one treatment
(Washington University in St. Louis) Interdisciplinary team finds combining certain data after a patient's first treatment can predict how a tumor will respond to chemotherapy. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - June 3, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Naomi Osaka ’s Bravery can be a Teachable Moment about Mental Health
There is no health without mental health. Credit: Unsplash /Melanie Wasser. By Ifeanyi NsoforABUJA, Jun 2 2021 (IPS) Recently, Naomi Osaka, the number 2 ranked women’s tennis player in the world, said she would not participate in the press conference at the French Open (Rolland-Garros) because she wanted to protect her mental health.
The organizers of the tournament were incensed, imposed a fine on her and threatened to disqualify her. Would the organizers have reacted differently if Naomi Osaka said she could not participate in the tournament’s press briefing because of a physical illness, such as abdominal pai...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - June 2, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Ifeanyi Nsofor Tags: Global Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news
Medical AI models rely on 'shortcuts' that could lead to misdiagnosis of COVID-19
(University of Washington) University of Washington researchers examined multiple models recently put forward as potential tools for accurately detecting COVID-19 from chest X-rays. The team found that, rather than learning genuine medical pathology, these models rely instead on shortcut learning to draw spurious associations between medically irrelevant factors and disease status. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - May 31, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
New tool activates deep brain neurons by combining ultrasound, genetics
(Washington University in St. Louis) A team at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a new brain stimulation technique using focused ultrasound that is able to turn specific types of neurons in the brain on and off and precisely control motor activity without surgical device implantation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - May 28, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Delaying lung cancer surgery associated with higher risk of recurrence, death
(Washington University in St. Louis) New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that postponing lung cancer surgery for more than 12 weeks from the date of diagnosis with a CT scan is associated with a higher risk of recurrence and death. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - May 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Low testosterone levels linked to severe COVID risk in men: Study
The researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in the US noted that low levels of the hormone could simply serve as a marker of some other causal factors. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - May 27, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Brain tumors caused by normal neuron activity in mice predisposed to such tumors
(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Stanford University School of Medicine have found that normal exposure to light can drive the formation and growth of optic nerve tumors in mice -- and maybe people -- with a genetic predisposition. Such tumors can lead to vision loss. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - May 26, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
National survey of frontline health care workers finds fear, unsafe working conditions
(George Washington University) A new report summarizes the findings from a national survey of frontline health care workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that many reported unsafe working conditions and retaliation for voicing their concerns to employers. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - May 25, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Made in the shade or fun in the sun
(Washington University in St. Louis) For the first time, biologists have fully characterized the light-sensitive proteins of the phytochrome family from the common model plantArabidopsis thaliana on a biochemical level. The scientists also extended that characterization into the phytochromes of two important food crops: corn and potatoes. Instead of finding that all phytochrome isoforms are identical, they found surprising differences. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 25, 2021 Category: Biology Source Type: news
For men, low testosterone means high risk of severe COVID-19
(Washington University School of Medicine) A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that, among men, low testosterone levels in the blood are linked to more severe COVID-19. The study contradicts widespread assumptions that higher testosterone may explain why men, on average, develop more severe COVID-19 than women do. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - May 25, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Mild Covid-19 induces lasting antibody protection, study finds
The researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US, noted that such cells could persist for a lifetime, churning out antibodies all the while. The study, published on Monday in the journal Nature, suggests that mild cases of Covid-19 leave those infected with lasting antibody protection and that repeated bouts of illness are likely to be uncommon. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - May 25, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
