Small Study Shows Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Triggers Immune Response

reports according to a small study, a COVID-19 vaccine that is the joint work of Pfizer and BioNTech “triggered stronger immune responses in recipients than those seen in people recovering from a natural infection.” In response, “outside scientists praised the company for publishing the data on 45 patients and said the results support moving to a larger clinical trial.” Other companies working on COVID-19 vaccines have not published as complete data, though some are expected to. Inovio Pharmaceuticals “also announced positive results” but in that case as in others “the incomplete data have frustrated scientists trying to evaluate the different approaches.” According to the Pfizer results, “the majority of people given an intermediate dose of the vaccine developed fevers, chills and other low-grade symptoms that lasted a day.” The AP (7/1) reports, “The first of four experimental COVID-19 vaccines being tested by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech showed encouraging results in very early testing of 45 people.” Study participants “had immune responses in the range expected to be protective, when compared to some COVID-19 survivors.” The AP also reports that a “higher-dose shot caused more injection reactions without apparent added benefit.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/01/pfizer-reports-encouraging-early-covid-19-vaccine-data/

Coronavirus Cases Jumped By Almost 50% Last Month As States Began To Reopen

eports that coronavirus infections in the US “surged nearly 50 percent in June as states relaxed quarantine rules and tried to reopen their economies, data compiled Wednesday showed, and several states moved to reimpose restrictions on bars and recreation.” More than 800,000 new cases “were reported across the country last month, led by Florida, Arizona, Texas and California – bringing the nation’s officially reported total to just over 2.6 million, according to data compiled by The Washington Post.” States that “took an aggressive approach to reopening led the country in infection spikes – along with California, the nation’s most populous state, where leaders have been more cautious.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coronavirus-cases-rose-by-nearly-50-percent-last-month-led-by-states-that-reopened-first/2020/07/01/3337f1ec-bb96-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html

FDA Says COVID-19 Vaccine Must Be At Least 50% Effective To Be Approved

reports the US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said that to be approved a COVID-19 vaccine must “prevent disease, or decrease its severity, in at least 50 percent of the people who receive it.” Still, “many people believe a vaccine initially would be made available through a much lower standard for temporary approvals.” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn “said the FDA is committed to expedite a covid-19 vaccine, but ‘will not cut corners in our decision-making.’” Hahn also said that he is “optimistic” that another treatment for covid-19 will be approved by the fall. Politico (6/30, Owermohle) reports that while the FDA’s guidance requires “any vaccine candidate be at least 50 percent more effective than a placebo,” it “also left open the possibility it would issue an emergency use authorization for a vaccine.” The Wall Street Journal (6/30, Burton, Subscription Publication) reports that the FDA said it would not approve a vaccine based on it resulting in antibodies in a patient’s bloodstream. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/30/coronavirus-vaccine-approval-fda/

Scientists Just Starting To Understand Array Of Health Problems Caused By COVID-19, Experts Say

reported, “Scientists are only starting to grasp the vast array of health problems caused by the novel coronavirus, some of which may have lingering effects on patients and health systems for years to come, according to doctors and infectious disease experts.” In addition to “the respiratory issues that leave patients gasping for breath, the virus that causes COVID-19 attacks many organ systems, in some cases causing catastrophic damage.” Along with “respiratory distress, patients with COVID-19 can experience blood clotting disorders that can lead to strokes, and extreme inflammation that attacks multiple organ systems,” and “the virus can also cause neurological complications that range from headache, dizziness and loss of taste or smell to seizures and confusion.”

COVID-19 May Cause Platelets To Become “Hyperreactive,” Researchers Say

reported, “The COVID-19 coronavirus may cause cells which help blood to clot to become ‘hyperreactive,’ according to scientists who believe this may be why clotting is a problem for some patients.” Blood clotting complications “are common in COVID-19 patients and can cause organ failure and death, particular in those with underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, according to the authors of the paper published in the journal Blood.” The scientists “found that the virus appears to influence how platelets are made by changing gene expression,” and “the germ also seems to affect how blood clots in COVID-19 patients, making platelets ‘hyperreactive’, or overly sensitive to stimuli, and more likely to cluster, stick together, and spread.” https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-may-cause-blood-clotting-cells-become-hyperreactive-1513720

The Dyslexic Brain Struggles in Processing Variation in Speech

A new study brings neural-level evidence that the continuous variation in natural speech makes the discrimination of phonemes challenging for adults suffering from developmental reading-deficit dyslexia. This may compromise the learning of native language phonemes already at an early age for infants at familial risk for dyslexia. Dyslexia is understood to stem from difficulties in phoneme processing. Natural speech has continuous acoustic variation, and the phonemes sound different depending on, for example, the word context or speaker identity. In order to effortlessly understand speech, the phonemes still have to be detected accurately. “In our study, dyslexic participants had difficulties, particularly when acoustic variation was added to the speech sound stream. In the absence of this variation, neural speech sound processing did not differ between dyslexic and typical readers. This seems to reflect a difficulty in categorising speech sounds in the native language phoneme classes,” Dr Paula Virtala from the University of Helsinki explains. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/the-dyslexic-brain-struggles-in-processing-variation-in-speech-336663?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=90288506&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_4JwWyIxrpMgL3NE3LxWMdNzEcKwCXeWVVPU-__NuUZnkiTrK6X0tzu6iT5egUtRVHBmwbD1cXhRVAAdNk7SjY-rrkbA&utm_content=90288506&utm_source=hs_email

Younger People Make Up Growing Percentage Of New Coronavirus Cases

reports that younger people “are making up a growing percentage of new coronavirus cases in cities and states where the virus is now surging, a trend that has alarmed public health officials and prompted renewed pleas for masks and social distancing.” The pattern “is drawing notice from mayors, governors and public health officials, and comes as a worrisome sign for cities and institutions as they look to the fall.” The rise in cases among younger people “could complicate the plans of leaders who are eager to open schools and universities, resume athletic events and return to normal life and a fully functioning economy.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/us/coronavirus-cases-young-people.html

Endocrine News Examines The Controversy Surrounding Blood Pressure Drugs During The Coronavirus Pandemic

reports earlier in the pandemic, there were concerns that blood pressure drugs, including ACE inhibitors and ARBs, might increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or worsen the severity of COVID-19, but “a group of professional associations and researchers moved quickly to counter this fear – and to recommend that” people with SARS-CoV-2 “continue taking renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers in the absence of a clear reason to stop them.” Endocrine News outlines the history of the issue citing reports and studies that have debunked fears that people should stop taking the common drugs during the pandemic. Dr. Stephen C. Textor of the Mayo Clinic, who served on the committee that wrote the Endocrine Society’s statement on hypertension, said, “This has been an active debate and an example of how little bits and pieces of basic science can lead you down paths that can really get you twisted around.” https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/expert-opinion-covid-19-ras-blockers/

New Coronavirus Cases In US Reach Highest Level Since April

reports the daily number of new cases in the US “is the highest it has been since the height of the pandemic two months ago, as several states around the country experience spikes in cases.” According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, there were 34,700 new cases of coronavirus reported on Tuesday, which is the highest number so far except April 9 and April 24. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/504253-us-coronavirus-cases-at-highest-level-since-april

Experts Identify Steps To Expand and Improve Antibody Tests in COVID-19 Response

More than 300 scientists and clinicians from the federal government, industry and academia published a report of their conclusions and recommendations on COVID-19 serology studies online in Immunity. The group gathered for an online workshop in May to discuss the role of serology testing in understanding and responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis and to explore strategies to address key scientific knowledge opportunities and gaps in the emerging field. Serology tests for COVID-19 are designed to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. While such tests do not diagnose active infection, they can indicate prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 that may have been missed because a person did not experience significant symptoms or access testing while infected. https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/experts-identify-steps-to-expand-and-improve-antibody-tests-in-covid-19-response-336538?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=90217250&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93WWFNoaO0K_ObUB83SGHWt4WD_gUMtZrNUvg30Klh9VNd0E__n7TPPO2laIIEnmHnGVAA3ffDYMYyohs9DXEz8PYh-A&utm_content=90217250&utm_source=hs_email

Above Average Belly Fat In Older Women May Be Associated With A 39% Higher Risk Of Dementia Within 15 Years,

reports that research suggests “current belly size could be a key indicator in whether” older adults “develop dementia within the next decade or two,” with the risk “particularly high” for women. Researchers found that “for women in later adulthood, above average belly fat can lead to a 39% increased risk of dementia within 15 years compared with those who have a normal waist circumference.” The findings were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/health/belly-fat-dementia-link-wellness/index.html

Tongue Microbes Could Provide Window to Heart Health

Microorganisms on the tongue could help diagnose heart failure, according to research presented on HFA Discoveries, a scientific platform of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 "The tongues of patients with chronic heart failure look totally different to those of healthy people," said study author Dr. Tianhui Yuan, No.1 Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. "Normal tongues are pale red with a pale white coating. Heart failure patients have a redder tongue with a yellow coating and the appearance changes as the disease becomes more advanced." "Our study found that the composition, quantity and dominant bacteria of the tongue coating differ between heart failure patients and healthy people," she said. https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/tongue-microbes-could-provide-window-to-heart-health-336468?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=90130436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-941mdALs7IGBdYWy_ngbwx4nQ5i_C98jIEJ_EmkUnIRYlbA9cvVnhlDprci2oaWOHvLdK4xmq0F7Cyitclo-Jx6_6d6A&utm_content=90130436&utm_source=hs_email

Researchers Propose a Clinical Trial To Test MMR Vaccine for COVID-19

Administering the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine could serve as a preventive measure to dampen septic inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection, say a team of experts in this week’s mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Long-time collaborators and spouses Dr. Paul Fidel, Jr., Department Chair, Oral and Craniofacial Biology, and Associate Dean for Research, Louisiana State University Health School of Dentistry and Dr. Mairi Noverr Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans co-authored the perspective article based on ideas stemming from research in their labs. Vaccination with MMR in immunocompetent individuals has no contraindications and may be especially effective for health care workers who can easily be exposed to COVID-19, say the researchers.https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/researchers-propose-a-clinical-trial-to-test-mmr-vaccine-for-covid-19-336390?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89967446&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_C8UMlCk6j6TeMseFppYPvww2XDf6C52_9ok2ytGS7NAs6AxMuzdVGU5Znm4X6RE6wuULke1QY2Yp-zxIuu5wLJarQUg&utm_content=89967446&utm_source=hs_email

CDC Says Fewer Americans Were Admitted To EDs For Heart Attacks, Strokes, Hyperglycemic Crisis 10 Weeks After The National Emergency Declaration Than 10 Weeks Before

reports researchers at the CDC found “fewer Americans were admitted to emergency departments with life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.” According to the CDC report, when comparing ED visits 10 weeks after the national emergency declaration to 10 weeks before, ED visits for heart attacks decreased 23 percent, ED visits for strokes decreased 20 percent, and ED visits for hyperglycemic crisis decreased 10 percent. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-emergency-dept/u-s-emergency-visits-due-to-heart-attacks-fell-during-early-days-of-covid-19-idUSKBN23T2QP

Overabundance of Opportunistic Pathogens Identified in Gut of Parkinson's Disease Patients

Parkinson’s disease is a common, progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disease. It currently cannot be prevented or cured. In 2003, Heiko Braak proposed that non-inherited forms of PD are caused by a pathogen in the gut. He hypothesized that the pathogen could pass through the intestinal mucosal barrier and spread to the brain through the nervous system. Up to now, there has been no evidence of a specific pathogen that may trigger PD. https://www.technologynetworks.com/immunology/news/overabundance-of-opportunistic-pathogens-identified-in-gut-of-parkinsons-disease-patients-336332?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89848778&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--C-08xxVuGNDHZSG4Ieh5V_dkGA17FHyv804o91ANKls2ucHfnNx8W3IIrrLv2zATqje2CsdCLHmSk-XJUMtOAW0i9zw&utm_content=89848778&utm_source=hs_email

American Red Cross Will Test All Blood Donations for COVID-19 Antibodies

The American Red Cross has begun testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. During these uncertain times, the Red Cross hopes that testing for COVID-19 antibodies will provide its valued donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to this coronavirus. The antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed symptoms. For the next few months, Red Cross blood, platelet and plasma donations will be tested using samples obtained at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory, where the samples will also undergo routine screening and infectious disease testing. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. “As a humanitarian organization and member of the broader health community, the Red Cross has adapted our services to help meet the needs of this extraordinary time,” said Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services. “We recognize that individuals and public health https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/american-red-cross-will-test-all-blood-donations-for-covid-19-antibodies-336173?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89693272&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9YKytTbten0jApY3th8_BUQqsMghM-TZUC6tckLgr1dVgVsCTnk5PzYnOLrGIcHM2U7TmZ65VlsFZh6xCwoeHOHABkSg&utm_content=89693272&utm_source=hs_email

Parts Of US See Record Increase In COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations

reports, “New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in record numbers swept through more U.S. states, including Florida and Texas, as most push ahead with reopening.” For instance, “Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina all had record numbers of new cases in the past three days, according to a Reuters tally.” The AP (6/12, Weber, Demillo) reported “states are weighing the health risks from the virus against the economic damage from the stay-at-home orders that have thrown millions out of work over the past three months,” and several “governors are coming down on the side of jobs.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/record-spikes-in-new-coronavirus-cases-hospitalizations-sweep-parts-of-u-s-idUSKBN23L0JB

How Lockdown Has Affected Our Sleep

A survey conducted at the University of Basel and the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel has investigated how sleep has changed during the COVID-19 lockdown. The 435 individuals surveyed – most of whom were women – reported sleeping longer while sleep quality deteriorated. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal Current Biology. Research assumes that many sleep disorders are caused by our modern lifestyle, which is characterized by pressure to constantly perform and be active. Rhythms of work and leisure activities thus set a cycle that is often at a mismatch with the body’s internal biological clock. If the differences in sleep timing and duration between work days and days off become too large, this can lead to “social jetlag”. With this in mind, restrictions that involve working from home could offer some benefits: flexible working hours, no commuting and potentially more time to sleep. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/how-lockdown-has-affected-our-sleep-336091?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89530580&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Awaj99LHlmKcxzMmnsnCIXKb4fwQNqI5NDcrfXx1lSn5SX9G-zUE1veZwcCjTw1r9OLsANFb_WPtTWiNPpzZiZQlUGQ&utm_content=89530580&utm_source=hs_email

Number Of Coronavirus Cases In US Tops 2 Million As States Forge Ahead With Reopening

reports the figure was reached “as states forge ahead with reopening their economies and demonstrators gather en masse to protest police brutality and racial inequality.” It took nearly three months for the US “to officially hit 1 million confirmed cases on April 28, but just six weeks to double it.” This “2 million mark comes weeks after President Donald Trump urged governors to ease monthslong restrictions that led to furloughs, layoffs and shuttered businesses, and the White House’s coronavirus task force had begun fading from public view.” USA Today (6/11, Bacon) reports, “The Johns Hopkins virus dashboard counted more than 27,000 new cases Wednesday, a day that saw almost 1,000 U.S. deaths.” Over “113,000 Americans have died since the virus emerged here a few months ago.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/us-coronavirus-cases-surpass-2m-312718

Regular Dose of Aspirin To Reduce Risk of Inherited Bowel Cancer

A regular dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of inherited bowel cancer lasts at least 10 years after stopping treatment, research has revealed. The international trial - known as CAPP2 – involved patients with Lynch syndrome from around the world and revealed that two aspirins a day, for an average of two and a half years, reduced the rate of bowel cancer by half. The study, led by experts at the Universities of Newcastle and Leeds, published in The Lancet today, is a planned double-blind 10 year follow–up, supplemented in more than half of recruits with comprehensive national cancer registry data for up to 20 years. Supports national guidance The findings of the study further strengthens the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendation on taking daily aspirin for those at high risk and supports wider use of aspirin to prevent cancer. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/regular-dose-of-aspirin-to-reduce-risk-of-inherited-bowel-cancer-336022?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89412893&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_zKODGi_A20vu_jiD3nIeikKhCzGUxcr7yPLSSmdWkjCDYILtg3TZudJ65nBr_j-FxkNa-sLtAX1OEg3ldFQwgnKtG4w&utm_content=89412893&utm_source=hs_email

Researchers Say The Microbiome Can Affect How People Metabolize Some Drugs

reports variations in people’s microbiomes can affect “how well they metabolize medicines, and could explain why some patients respond better to some drugs.” Researchers “examined the impact of the microbiome on more than 500 medicines” and published their findings in Cell. https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/10/microbiome-drug-metabolism-research/

Federal Government To Conduct Phase 3 Trials For Three Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates Starting This Summer

reports John Mascola, director of the NIAID’s vaccine research center, said the federal government plans to conduct phase 3 trials for three coronavirus vaccine candidates this summer. The three candidates to be tested are being developed by Moderna; Oxford University and AstraZeneca; and Johnson & Johnson.

Researchers Suggest Human Eggs “Choose” Which Sperm Will Conceive Baby

reports a new study finds human eggs “appear to ‘choose’ which sperm will become the lucky winner in conceiving a baby.” Study author John Fitzpatrick, an assistant professor in the department of zoology at Stockholm University in Sweden, said: “Human eggs release chemicals called chemoattractants, which leave a sort of chemical breadcrumb trail that sperm use to find unfertilized eggs. What we didn’t know until this study is those chemical breadcrumbs act differently on sperm from different males, in effect choosing which sperm is successful.” The study was published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Widespread Mask-Wearing May Help Prevent Future Waves Of COVID-19, Research Suggests

reports that research suggests “population-wide facemask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns.” The study “suggests lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but that even homemade masks can dramatically reduce transmission rates if enough people wear them in public.” The findings were published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-masks-study/widespread-mask-wearing-could-prevent-covid-19-second-waves-study-shows-idUSKBN23G37V

Gargling with bleach? Americans misusing disinfectants to prevent coronavirus, survey finds

“More than a third of Americans misused cleaners and disinfectants to try to prevent infection by the coronavirus, according to a survey” conducted by the CDC. The survey cited Americans using bleach to wash food, using disinfectants on bare skin, and intentionally inhaling or ingesting such products as common examples of such misuse. NBC News (6/5, Edwards) reported, “Such acts are not only harmful, they also do nothing to prevent infections and should never be done.” Other sources covering the CDC Survey include: Fox News (6/5, McFall), The Hill (6/5, Kelley), and STAT (6/5, Joseph). https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disinfectants/gargling-with-bleach-americans-misusing-disinfectants-to-prevent-coronavirus-survey-finds-idUSKBN23C2P2

Diet and Gut Microbes Influence Chemotherapy Outcomes

“The first time we observed that changing the microbe or adding a single amino acid to the diet could transform an innocuous dose of the drug into a highly toxic one, we couldn’t believe our eyes,” said Eyleen O’Rourke, PhD, of UVA’s College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Medicine’s Department of Cell Biology and the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center. “Understanding, with molecular resolution, what was going on took sieving through hundreds of microbe and host genes. The answer was an astonishingly complex network of interactions between diet, microbe, drug and host.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/diet-and-gut-microbes-influence-chemotherapy-outcomes-335781?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89124043&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_JlBlz4r5ze4543JQWtVmZsYUBcWBs6UcUFoXPHmeW-tHnetOOHfa-xxygtWDzA0Z9Hgqrk7JxNrsjyYaBhVio2PNWcA&utm_content=89124043&utm_source=hs_email

The Genetic Basis of COVID-19 Susceptibility

Professor Alessandra Renieri, Director of the Medical Genetics Unit at the University Hospital of Siena, Italy, will describe her team’s GEN-COVID project to collect genomic samples from Covid patients across the whole of Italy in order to try to identify the genetic bases of the high level of clinical variability they showed. Using whole exome sequencing (WES) to study the first data from 130 Covid patients from Siena and other Tuscan institutions, they were able to uncover a number of common susceptibility genes that were linked to a favourable or unfavourable outcome of infection. “We believe that variations in these genes may determine disease progression,” says Prof Renieri. “To our knowledge, this is the first report on the results of WES in Covid-19.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/the-genetic-basis-of-covid-19-susceptibility-335789?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89124043&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_mkloohUkITKu4VaSqGzmpqmy8R_rwqasq6_NzicB-WzlSw9LrFKNy89gpu0kBeFN_0ewZt9Zaed3GqJMoqsBM69qudA&utm_content=89124043&utm_source=hs_email

Medical Journals Retract Two Major Studies Questioning Efficacy Of Different Drugs On COVID-19

reports two studies that questioned the efficacy of different drugs for treating COVID-19 were retracted Thursday by major medical journals. The Lancet pulled a study saying hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine caused heart problems, while the New England Journal of Medicine retracted one on the use of cardiovascular and blood-pressure drugs. The New York Times (6/4, Rabin, Gabler) reports the studies were retracted “because the authors could not verify the data on which the results depended.” Both studies “were led by a professor at Harvard, and both depended on a huge international database of patient medical records that few experts had ever heard of.” The data “came from a company called Surgisphere, which claims to have granular patient-level information shared by 1,200 hospitals and health facilities on six continents.” Among other media outlets providing coverage are: The Washington Post (6/4, McGinley) and the AP (6/4, Marchione). https://www.wsj.com/articles/authors-retract-study-that-found-risks-of-using-antimalaria-drug-against-covid-19-11591299329

Hairy, Lab-grown Human Skin Cell Model Could Advance Hair Loss Research

Organoids are small, lab-grown cell groupings designed to model real-world organs – in this case, skin. A paper published in Nature describes the hairy creation as the first hair-bearing human skin organoid made with pluripotent stem cells, or the master cells present during early stages of embryonic development that later turn into specific cell types. The hirsute organoid’s development was led by Karl Koehler, Ph.D., formerly of Indiana University School of Medicine and now at Boston Children’s Hospital. An Oregon Health & Science University graduate student, Benjamin Woodruff, contributed by helping make the organoids as a post-baccalaureate research technician in the Stanford University lab of Stefan Heller, Ph.D. “This makes it possible to produce human hair for science without having to take it from a human,” explained Woodruff, who now is completing his first year of cell and developmental biology graduate studies at OHSU. “For the first time, we could have, more or less, an unlimited source of human hair follicles for research.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/cell-science/news/hairy-lab-grown-human-skin-cell-model-could-advance-hair-loss-research-335709?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89041517&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8LknBasIjc1tIegO9YeI2Xd04RUWIFaLurG7Kug3nE1tL9pLZYykj59gWC4x1lJwyty-KPS7BEN9YnYm8A9nm2YHRDdQ&utm_content=89041517&utm_source=hs_email

Obesity May Greatly Increase Odds Of Children Developing Severe COVID-19, Study Suggests

“If a child is infected with the new coronavirus,” having obesity “appears to greatly raise the odds for developing a severe form of COVID-19, a new study finds.” According to the research, “eleven (22%) of the 50 kids” had obesity, “and six of the nine children who required a ventilator” had obesity. The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics. https://consumer.healthday.com/infectious-disease-information-21/coronavirus-1008/similar-to-adults-obesity-raises-kids-odds-for-severe-covid-19-758267.html

Trial Investigates Unique Formulation of Ibuprofen as Treatment for COVID-19 Respiratory Complication

Unfortunately the mechanism was not discussed. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/trial-investigates-unique-formulation-of-ibuprofen-as-treatment-for-covid-19-respiratory-335642?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88976795&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8TA18ESqylMP1x0FSkBa5QI0JLE6huPkdPGTCb23qyDNf3C42EGYwSjeBFN6_gMtCDhJlJORlK5ykPjG0Psb8UPe4Rdw&utm_content=88976795&utm_source=hs_email

Twin Study Finds Sensitivity Is Partly in Our Genes

The study, led by Queen Mary University of London, compared pairs of identical and non-identical 17-year-old twins to see how strongly they were affected by positive or negative experiences – their ‘sensitivity’ level. The aim was to tease out how much of the differences in sensitivity could be explained by either genetic or environmental factors during development: nature or nurture. Twins who are brought up together will mostly experience the same environment. But only identical twins share the same genes: non-identical twins are like any other sibling. If identical twins show no more similarity in their levels of sensitivity than non-identical twins, then genes are unlikely to play a role. Using this type of analysis, the team found that 47 percent of the differences in sensitivity between individuals were down to genetics, leaving 53 percent accounted for by environmental factors. The research, from Queen Mary University of London and Kings College London, is the first to show this link conclusively in such a large study. The findings are published in Molecular Psychiatry. https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/twin-study-finds-sensitivity-is-partly-in-our-genes-335679?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88976795&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--BU6Avw1x0eiOOYr7SpbhzcPZO1B3xB_U5HFtjqGfRSNA00MR3Z1Wd5E8WiQPdOjNS-ZblNdf58eHH8iBO81uGIYrxzg&utm_content=88976795&utm_source=hs_email

What Are the Risks and Benefits of Low-dose Aspirin?

Low-dose aspirin significantly lowers cardiovascular disease risk but increases the risk of bleeding, according to a review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Investigators conducted the review because the overall balance between risks and benefits of taking aspirin has been unclear. The team pooled information from analyses of all relevant observational studies and randomized controlled trials. Use of low-dose aspirin in people without cardiovascular disease was associated with a 17% lower incidence of cardiovascular events (such as non-fatal heart attacks, non-fatal strokes, or cardiovascular-related deaths). Low-dose aspirin use was also associated with a 47% higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and a 34% higher risk of intracranial bleeding. "These risks and benefits need to be weighted in formal decision analyses to guide aspirin use in primary prevention," said co-author Lee Smith, MSc, PhD, of Anglia Ruskin University, in the UK. The authors noted that although many dozens of health effects besides cardiovascular disease and bleeding have been assessed, evidence for these remains weak and therefore should not be a major consideration when deciding whether to use low-dose aspirin. Reference: Veronese, et al. (2020) Effect of low‐dose aspirin on health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14310 https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/what-are-the-risks-and-benefits-of-low-dose-aspirin-335612?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88836729&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RIyB2u8uiJBZMYv8oi7WpSAGzuopQl9lDpPI9G9Xge6tyl09xqBR8XJosphFBgIC1iVll98VtLtWF_LpD0OIndQPouw&utm_content=88836729&utm_source=hs_email

Dairy Consumption May Not Improve BMD Or Reduce Risk Of Osteoporotic Fracture In Women Charting Menopause,

reports, “Dairy consumption does not improve bone mineral density (BMD) or reduce the risk of osteoporotic fracture in women charting menopause,” investigators concluded in “a new analysis of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN).” That substudy “started in 1996 and involved 3302 pre- or early perimenopausal women between 42 and 53 years of age,” and the “sample size for the annualized rate of BMD loss and fracture analysis involved 1955 women.” The findings were published online in the journal Menopause. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931559

Scientists Question Data Cited In Two Coronavirus Studies Published In Prominent Journals

reports “a group of scientists has questioned the data used in studies in two prominent medical journals.” At issue are a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 1 concerning the impact of blood pressure drugs on patients with coronavirus and a study published in The Lancet on May 22 concerning the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat patients with coronavirus. The studies share some of the same authors and both relied on the same database, which the group of scientists say may not be reliable. The AP (6/2, Marchione) reports that on Tuesday, the New England Journal of Medicine issued an “expression of concern” about the study it published that “suggested widely used blood pressure medicines were not raising the risk of death for people with COVID-19.” In its communication, the journal expressed concerns about the reliability of the database. Similarly, The Lancet issued an expression of concern about the study it published that “tied the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to a higher risk of death in hospitalized patients with the virus.” The Lancet said questions have been raised about the data used in the study. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/health/coronavirus-study.html

Estrogen Level Changes In Female Mice May Make Consuming Alcohol More Rewarding, Study Indicates

“Changes to levels of the hormone estrogen appear to make consuming alcohol more rewarding to female mice,” investigators concluded, which could possibly “mean women are more likely to drink to excess at different phases of the menstrual cycle, one of the scientists involved” in the study “told Newsweek.” The findings were published online in the journal JNeurosci. https://www.newsweek.com/estrogen-levels-may-make-alcohol-more-rewarding-females-say-authors-study-binge-drinking-mice-1507736

Experts Urge Caution in Interpreting COVID-19 Antibody Tests

Antibody, or serology, tests became available in April. They are performed on a blood sample and detect antibodies produced by the body in response to the virus. A positive test indicates that a person was infected at some time in the past. In a paper published recently in the journal Clinical Chemistry, Neil Anderson, MD, an assistant professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the assistant medical director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Christopher Farnsworth, PhD, an instructor of pathology and immunology at the School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of ensuring that antibody tests are used appropriately. Here, they discuss further how such tests should – and should not – be used. Why are antibody tests for COVID-19 important? https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/experts-urge-caution-in-interpreting-covid-19-antibody-tests-335509?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88836791&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_HfsNdlWTCK4YL2ydRjmBgfw3hDbHxXlgW8rvcpIEVTeJd98FPOUP_VeL8M_4qceuNlIBeHXnMQb-XC3SPmf30JatvzQ&utm_content=88836791&utm_source=hs_email

Could Gut Mucus Help Protect Against Brain Disorders?

Bacterial imbalance in the gut is linked with Alzheimer’s disease, autism and other brain disorders, yet the exact causes are unclear. Now a new research review of 113 neurological, gut and microbiology studies led by RMIT University suggests a common thread – changes in gut mucus. Senior author Associate Professor Elisa Hill-Yardin said these changes could be contributing to bacterial imbalance and exacerbating the core symptoms of neurological diseases. “Mucus is a critical protective layer that helps balance good and bad bacteria in your gut but you need just the right amount - not too little and not too much,” Hill-Yardin said. “Researchers have previously shown that changes to intestinal mucus affect the balance of bacteria in the gut but until now, no-one has made the connection between gut mucus and the brain. “Our review reveals that people with autism, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis have different types of bacteria in their gut mucus compared with healthy people, and different amounts of good and bad bacteria. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/could-gut-mucus-help-protect-against-brain-disorders-335550?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88836791&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--tAOgSnoOK4RUQu_b5xVcDqBdvcQ_SfTnw1t5qIpbqqqUF2-1bCVU5IDsocIYAj4TGNo6CbQaCi2j-8H-QCAOKO7HjPg&utm_content=88836791&utm_source=hs_email

Asymptomatic Patients With COVID-19 Shed Virus For About Eight Days, Compared With 19 Days For Those Who Have Symptoms,

reports, “New estimates of the number of asymptomatic people with the coronavirus suggest that ‘silent’ COVID-19 is much more prevalent than once thought – but these individuals may not spread the virus for as long as symptomatic patients do, a study from China suggests.” The report published in JAMA Network Open found “the asymptomatic patients were more likely to be women, and more likely to be younger, in their 20s, 30s and early 40s.” Furthermore, “the researchers found the asymptomatic individuals shed the virus for about eight days, compared with 19 days among those who did have symptoms.” The Hill (5/27, Hellmann) reports the researchers at China’s Wuhan University wrote, “Although patients who were asymptomatic experienced less harm to themselves, they may have been unaware of their disease and therefore not isolated themselves or sought treatment, or they may have been overlooked by health care workers and thus unknowingly transmitted the virus to others.” The authors also “wrote that identifying and isolating asymptomatic coronavirus patients as early as possible is ‘critical to control the transmission of COVID-19. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/asymptomatic-covid-19-cases-may-be-more-common-suspected-n1215481

Company Tests Diabetes Drug As Potential Treatment For COVID-19

reports AstraZeneca Plc is testing its diabetes drug Farxiga (dapagliflozin) as a treatment for COVID-19. However, physicians are advising patients with diabetes who become infected with coronavirus “to stop taking the medicine and others like it because of the” risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. https://www.reuters.com/article/legal-us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca/astrazeneca-tests-diabetes-drug-for-covid-19-despite-risk-seen-by-doctors-idUSKBN234057

Rat Study Suggests "Good Bacteria" Could Relieve Autism-like Symptoms in Pregnancy

Giving beneficial bacteria to stressed mothers during the equivalent of the third trimester of pregnancy prevents an autism-like disorder in their offspring, according to a new animal study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers. The study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, marks the latest in a series of studies in animals and humans suggesting that exposure to certain immune-modulating microbes can dampen inflammation, positively impacting the brain and central nervous system. It's among the first studies to suggest that such exposures during pregnancy influence neurodevelopment of a fetus and, while far more research is necessary, could open the door to new prenatal interventions. "It suggests that you could develop microbial interventions that lower the risk of neurodevelopmental syndromes like autism," said co-author Christopher Lowry, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology. In humans, research has long shown that maternal stress during pregnancy prompts systemic inflammation in both the mother and fetus and is a risk factor for autism, said senior author Daniel Barth, a professor of psychology and neuroscience. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/rat-study-suggests-good-bacteria-could-relieve-autism-like-symptoms-in-pregnancy-335345?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88562792&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_hOX-n1jNKdRR9sxb__NEjSV34ay8Sdj5Ll09eElsUQDzX7tPSEP7laRVBsXfkB_wxeSigXvMcjLRyOZZzxwN_7dntPg&utm_content=88562792&utm_source=hs_email

Remdesivir Will Be Made Available to COVID-19 Patients Meeting Certain Clinical Criteria Selected NHS coronavirus patients will soon be able to access a treatment to speed up their recovery. Thanks to the joined-up efforts of the UK government, the devolved administrations, pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, the NHS, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the anti-viral drug remdesivir will be made available to patients meeting certain clinical criteria to support their recovery in hospital. The drug is currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, including in the UK, with early data showing it can shorten the time to recovery by about 4 days. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/remdesivir-will-be-made-available-to-covid-19-patients-meeting-certain-clinical-criteria-335267?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88545897&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8n7foiA02D9eckSkjKtzapxvR0_TkMu0nxT50jrbf61fdsT7fqJdzUtU494ghLSdTLuyxREQv9hoQiqx6-MrdIj6Ma9Q&utm_content=88545897&utm_source=hs_email

Cannabis Cravings Differ Between the Sexes

Women who regularly consume cannabis experience more intense cravings for the drug than their male counterparts, a study has found. Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study suggests this difference may be linked to estrogen levels, but this can’t be confirmed until further research is carried out. A close crave To reach this conclusion, the researchers from the Center for Brain-Health, University of Texas at Dallas, first recruited 112 participants (54 female, 58 male) who had consumed cannabis at least 5000 times. In the study, these “heavy cannabis users” were given a piece of cannabis equipment to hold and asked to rate their urge to use marijuana on a scale of 1 (no urge) to 10 (high urge). On average, the female participants ranked their cravings at 5.5, while the male participants’ average was 4.6. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/cannabis-cravings-differ-between-the-sexes-335080?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=88221145&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9DzKBC-JvDacHAXVxkWPVkteXzHaiDTWaC7vbckgFuO8F69AxykEy7As_lOtDbs69UVI1yAMhSlcOkMqG571hK0kDjA&_hsmi=88221145

Consuming Sucralose-Sweetened Beverages With Carbohydrates May Impair Insulin Sensitivity, Research Indicates

“Consuming sucralose-sweetened beverages with carbohydrates may impair insulin sensitivity,” investigators concluded in a study that “enrolled 45 participants aged 20 – 45 who don’t typically consume” low-calorie sweeteners, then having them “consume seven 355 mL novel-flavored beverages over two weeks.” Participants consumed “the sweeteners...as fruit-flavored beverages with added sucralose, with table sugar, or with maltodextrin added to their sucralose drinks.” The study revealed that “sucralose consumption alters the metabolism of simultaneously consumed glucose to rapidly produce deleterious effects on metabolic health.” The findings were published online in the journal Cell Metabolism. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/consuming-sucralose-with-carbohydrates-may-impair-insulin-sensitivity-study-finds/

Fatty Acid Composition Of Oocytes From Women With Overweight Or Obesity May Differ From That Of Eggs From Women With Normal Weight

composition of oocytes from” women with overweight or obesity “is different than that of oocytes from women with normal weight, which may have an effect on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization,” investigators concluded in a study that “included 205 women (mean age, 36.24 years) with a total of 922 oocytes available for analysis.” The research team found that “oocytes from women with obesity had lower levels of saturated FAs and higher levels of monosaturated FAs,” as well as “lower levels of n-3 PUFAs.” The findings were published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/obesity/fatty-acid-composition-of-oocytes-differs-by-bmi-may-affect-ivf-outcomes/

Moderna Announces Encouraging Results For Coronavirus Vaccine

reports that drugmaker Moderna announced today that “an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus showed encouraging results in very early testing, triggering hoped-for immune responses in eight healthy, middle-aged volunteers.” According to the AP, “Study volunteers given either a low or medium dose of the vaccine...had antibodies similar to those seen in people who have recovered from COVID-19.” The AP says that “in the next phase of the study, led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, researchers will try to determine which dose is best for a definitive experiment that they aim to start in July.” The New York Times (5/18) reports that “if those trials go well, a vaccine could become available for widespread use by the end of this year or early 2021, Dr. Tal Zaks, Moderna’s chief medical officer, said in an interview. The number of doses that could be ready is unclear, but Dr. Zaks said, ‘We’re doing our best to make it as many millions as possible.’” https://apnews.com/fc2a2346bad9e0a17917a4aa1c73607c

Research Suggests Eating Dairy Every Day May Be Linked To Lower Risk Of Developing High Blood Pressure, Diabetes

reports that research suggests that “eating dairy every day” may be “linked to a lower risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and lower rates of metabolic syndrome.” The findings were published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. https://www.newsweek.com/eating-dairy-lower-risk-disease-1504386

Our Ability To Focus May Be Impacted After Eating a High-fat Meal

Read Time: 4 min Fatty food may feel like a friend during these troubled times, but new research suggests that eating just one meal high in saturated fat can hinder our ability to concentrate – not great news for people whose diets have gone south while they’re working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study compared how 51 women performed on a test of their attention after they ate either a meal high in saturated fat or the same meal made with sunflower oil, which is high in unsaturated fat. Their performance on the test was worse after eating the high-saturated-fat meal than after they ate the meal containing a healthier fat, signaling a link between that fatty food and the brain. Researchers were also looking at whether a condition called leaky gut, which allows intestinal bacteria to enter the bloodstream, had any effect on concentration. Participants with leakier guts performed worse on the attention assessment no matter which meal they had eaten. The loss of focus after a single meal was eye-opening for hhttps://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/our-ability-to-focus-may-be-impacted-after-eating-a-high-fat-meal-334939?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=88078354&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KjO5Pmn9ahnOSsSN72aKzR-frjttuAPpbCxyO2kXo672r_FkIHoEs1Ehi7YlU5K4H9DTuFGOnIXgsHs4eM1nBpIaKOA&_hsmi=88078354e researchers.

Researchers Investigating Whether Long-Term Exposure To Air Pollution May Account For Disproportionate Impact Of Coronavirus Pandemic On Minorities

reports across the US, “low-income communities of color...are exposed to significantly higher levels of pollution, studies have found, and also see higher levels of lung disease and other ailments,” so now researchers are investigating whether “long-term exposure to air pollution plays a role in the coronavirus crisis, particularly since minorities are disproportionately dying.” The New York Times adds, “People with two conditions tied to air pollution, inflammatory lung disease and coronary heart disease, face a higher risk for severe Covid-19, preliminary research has shown. Last month, work by Harvard specialists found that coronavirus patients in areas with historically heavy air pollution are more likely to die than patients elsewhere.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/17/climate/pollution-poverty-coronavirus.html

Brain-like Tissue Model Links Alzheimer's to Herpes Virus

Engineers and scientists led by Tufts University used a three-dimensional (3D) human tissue culture model mimicking the components and conditions in the brain to demonstrate a possible causal relationship between sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and herpes simplex virus I infection (HSV-1). Reported in Science Advances, the model will allow for further studies into the causes and possible treatments of this devastating neurodegenerative condition. After infecting neurons in the bioengineered brain model with HSV-1, the researchers observed formation of amyloid plaques, neuronal loss, neuroinflammation and diminished neural network functionality, all typical features of Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment of the brain tissue models with the antiviral drug valacyclovir resulted in reduced plaque formation and other markers of the disease. Studies by other researchers have implicated pathogens as environmental agents possibly causing the development of Alzheimer’s disease, with a number of studies pointing to HSV-1. “Our brain tissue model allowed us to take a closer look at the potential causal relationship between herpes and Alzheimer’s disease, and the results were intriguing,” said David Kaplan, Stern Family Professor of Engineering and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts’ School of Engineering. “After just 3 days of herpes infection, we saw large and dense plaque formations of beta amyloid protein, as well as increased expression of some of the enzymes responsible for generating the plaques. We observed neuron loss, neuroinflammation and depressed signaling between neurons – everything we observe in patients. Never before have so many facets of the disease been replicated in vitro.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/brain-like-tissue-model-links-alzheimers-to-herpes-virus-334518?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=87564397&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-95VWtXx2fdZF9lQCu03eJd3CAHEq9cSonVIDkfzS4q94au3uIQCkx-LN48ONAENAPnQ6uqpD_qPGBeb9dmGYVT4f2MdQ&_hsmi=87564397

Coronavirus Pandemic Leads To Shortage Of Materials Needed For Kidney Dialysis

reported physicians say there is a shortage of materials needed for kidney dialysis as a significant number of patients with COVID-19 experience kidney failure. The Times said the “surge in Covid-19 patients with kidney failure...is leading to shortages of machines, supplies and staff required for emergency dialysis.” ProPublica (4/19, Pearson, Kaplan, Campbell) reports research suggests that 14 percent to 30 percent of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs experience acute kidney injury, which “has taxed the supply of materials like fluids, cartridges and other machine components that are used to facilitate dialysis treatments that filter toxins out of sick patients’ bloodstreams continuously for 24 hours, called continuous renal replacement therapy, or CRRT.”

Remdesivir Prevents Disease Progression in Monkeys With COVID-19

Early treatment with the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir significantly reduced clinical disease and damage to the lungs of rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to National Institutes of Health scientists. The study was designed to follow dosing and treatment procedures used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients being administered remdesivir in a large, multi-center, clinical trial led by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The scientists posted the work on the preprint server bioRxiv. The findings are not yet peer-reviewed and should not be considered clinical advice, but are being shared to assist the public health response to COVID-19. A study detailing the development of the rhesus macaque model of mild- to-moderate human disease, conducted by the same team of NIAID scientists, was posted to bioRxiv(link is external) on March 21. The current study of remdesivir, a drug developed by Gilead Sciences Inc. and NIAID-supported investigators, involved two groups of six rhesus macaques. One group of monkeys received remdesivir and the other animals served as an untreated comparison group. Scientists infected both groups with SARS-CoV-2. Twelve hours later the treatment group received a dose of remdesivir intravenously, and then received a daily intravenous booster dose thereafter for the next six days. The scientists timed the initial treatment to occur shortly before the virus reached its highest level in the animals’ lungs.

Private Insurers Required To Provide Free COVID-19 Antibody Tests

reported that the Administration said “it will require health insurers to provide free antibody tests that could provide better insight into the scale of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak.” Congress has “required that all Americans, including people without health insurance, receive free diagnostic tests to determine whether they are sick with coronavirus.” The Administration “said it had authority from recent emergency rescue packages to mandate private insurers also provide antibody testing without out-of-pocket costs.” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said, “It is critical that Americans have peace of mind knowing that cost won’t be a barrier to testing during this national public health emergency.” However, “the new guidance did not make clear whether the free antibody tests would be extended to uninsured Americans.” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/11/trump-administration-requires-insurers-to-provide-free-antibody-tests-180009

Researchers Find Obesity Appears To Raise COVID-19 Risk

reported that a new letter published in Clinical Infectious Diseases “from researchers at New York University shows that obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization in patients under the age of 60.” For the study, “researchers looked at 3,615 patients admitted to their hospital from Mar 4 to Apr 4.” They found “patients aged less than 60 years with a BMI from 30 to 34 were 2.0 times...and 1.8 times...more likely to be admitted to acute and critical care, respectively...compared with individuals with a BMI under 30.” Meanwhile, “for patients in the same age-group with a BMI over 35, the risk was 2.2 and 3.6 times higher, respectively” https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/new-york-obesity-appears-raise-covid-19-risk

Experts Say Death Toll From Coronavirus In The US Is Higher Than Official Count

reports “the fast-spreading novel coronavirus is almost certainly killing Americans who are not included in the nation’s growing death toll, according to public health experts and government officials involved in the tally.” CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said that the official count only includes people who have tested positive for coronavirus, remarking, “We know that it is an underestimation.” According to epidemiologists, there was “a widespread lack of access to testing in the early weeks of the U.S. outbreak,” so “people with respiratory illnesses died without being counted.” The New York Times (4/5, Kliff, Bosman) offers several specific examples of deaths that may have been caused by coronavirus, but they have not been added to the official count for different reasons, including denied requests for tests. According to the New York Times, across the US, “even as coronavirus deaths are being recorded in terrifying numbers – many hundreds each day – the true death toll is likely much higher.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/coronavirus-death-toll-americans-are-almost-certainly-dying-of-covid-19-but-being-left-out-of-the-official-count/2020/04/05/71d67982-747e-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html

How Important Is Speech in Transmitting Coronavirus?

Normal speech by individuals who are asymptomatic but infected with coronavirus may produce enough aerosolized particles to transmit the infection, according to aerosol scientists at the University of California, Davis. Although it’s not yet known how important this is to the spread of COVID-19, it underscores the need for strict social distancing measures — and for virologists, epidemiologists and engineers who study aerosols and droplets to work together on this and other respiratory diseases. Aerosols are particles small enough to travel through the air. Ordinary speech creates significant quantities of aerosols from respiratory particles, said William Ristenpart, professor of chemical engineering at UC Davis. Ristenpart is co-author on an editorial about the problem published this week in the journal Aerosol Science and Technology. These respiratory particles are about one micron, or one micrometer, in diameter. That’s too small to see with the naked eye, but large enough to carry viruses such as influenza or SARS-CoV-2. https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/how-important-is-speech-in-transmitting-coronavirus-333038?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=85803599&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KfV83VOGCkZKmz8rWTij5RHrw6CVIyxCGyKRk6bP-QjmoKAjKohvMSSB4563jwUqxKILtmHLOxUMxy_DetWHlbuo9NA&_hsmi=85803599

Some Scientists Say Coronavirus Can Be Spread By Talking Or Maybe Just Breathing

reports a panel of scientists “told the White House Wednesday night that research shows coronavirus can be spread not just by sneezes or coughs, but also just by talking, or possibly even just breathing.” Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, wrote in a letter, “While the current [coronavirus] specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing.” Dr. Fineberg said he would start wearing a mask when he goes out in public, but clarified, “I’m not going to wear a surgical mask, because clinicians need those. But I have a nice western-style bandana I might wear. Or I have a balaclava. I have some pretty nice options.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/aerosol-coronavirus-spread-white-house-letter/index.html

Number Of Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Around The World Passes One Million

reports that as of Thursday, there are more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the world. However, the number was probably reached earlier, because of untested cases including “asymptomatic individuals; people who may have died of complications of the virus without anyone knowing it; and those whose symptoms were not serious enough to qualify for testing.” The Hill (4/2, Klar) reports that the US “has more than 235,000 cases and 5,600 deaths,” while “Italy and Spain follow with more than 115,000 and 110,000 cases, respectively, and over 24,000 deaths between them.” Meanwhile, China has “reported more than 82,000 cases and 3,300 deaths from the virus, though U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly concluded that Beijing has underreported both the total number of cases and confirmed deaths.” Newsweek (4/2, Kim) reports that in the US, “New York continues to report the country’s highest number of cases, with more than 83,700 confirmed infections to date, including 47,439 cases in New York City, the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed as of Wednesday.” CIDRAP (4/2, Schnirring) also covers the story. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/04/02/coronavirus-cases-1-million-update-pandemic/5110643002/

COVID-19 Vaccine Development: An Interview With GeoVax

The biotechnology company GeoVax Labs Inc. develops human immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. The company recently announced that it is developing vaccine candidates for the prevention/ control of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 outbreak, using its GV-MVA-VLPTM vaccine platform. Three vaccines have been designed and are in final steps of purification and characterization. Technology Networks spoke with David Dodd, President and CEO of GeoVax, to learn more about the vaccine candidates, what progress has been made in clinical testing and how the company is working to accelerate vaccine development timeframes. MC: For our readers that may be unfamiliar with GeoVax, please can you tell us about the company and its technology? David Dodd (DD): GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious diseases and cancer using a novel and safe viral vector platform (GV-MVA-VLPTM). Important attributes of GeoVax vaccines include single dose, no adjuvant, durable immunity, extensive safety and cost-effective manufacturing. GeoVax’s recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector expresses target proteins on highly immunogenic Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) in the person being vaccinated, resulting in induction of durable immune responses while providing the safety characteristics of the https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/blog/covid-19-vaccine-development-an-interview-with-geovax-332972?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=85706843&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RJSabzu9z3XQNq4NNnDM8zIuf_WHogFGR_HR4RAQOlUA-G0AGew8W7c7hJS83z9_pD9i-7dZqN6PyR8EBSpnxLebEhA&_hsmi=85706843

COVID-19 – Accelerating Vaccine Development and Manufacturing

As the COVID-19 outbreak rapidly evolves, work to develop a vaccine and to test antivirals and other therapeutics continues in parallel. On March 23, 2020, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan, will receive $23.3 million to support development of a vaccine for COVID-19 and the organization's work on other infectious disease threats. Technology Networks spoke with Dr Paul Hodgson, Associate Director of Business Development at VIDO-InterVac to learn more about their experience working with coronaviruses, the organization's manufacturing facilities, and the other antivirals and therapeutics they are currently testing in relation to COVID-19. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/articles/covid-19-accelerating-vaccine-development-and-manufacturing-332719?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=85513068&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-92MlQN6uqDrAtPFQ5FzkDjJcgozeCxj7cNCZNyCs0hddeOt3GcUDufn0AJAuXAv91P7_U-g5_6pkM6rmzA4o1FVCiiRQ&_hsmi=85513068

US Death Toll From Coronavirus Passes 1,000 Mark

reports that “the death toll in the United States topped 1,000 on Wednesday night as the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the country.” According to USA Today, “America’s first death was reported on Feb. 29 and the rate has spiked over the past two weeks as extreme public health measures go into effect to combat the virus. The U.S. death count eclipsed 600 on Tuesday and 900 early Wednesday before reaching 1,031 on Wednesday night, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/03/25/coronavirus-usa-death-count-dead-1000/5079442002/

US Death Toll From Coronavirus Passes 1,000 Mark

reports that “the death toll in the United States topped 1,000 on Wednesday night as the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the country.” According to USA Today, “America’s first death was reported on Feb. 29 and the rate has spiked over the past two weeks as extreme public health measures go into effect to combat the virus. The U.S. death count eclipsed 600 on Tuesday and 900 early Wednesday before reaching 1,031 on Wednesday night, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/03/25/coronavirus-usa-death-count-dead-1000/5079442002/

Australian Modeling Suggests COVID-19 Can Be Beaten in 13 Weeks With 80% Social Distancing

https://www.technologynetworks.com/informatics/news/australian-modeling-suggests-covid-19-can-be-beaten-in-13-weeks-with-80-social-distancing-332609?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=85298130&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-982WdUqUqK7yKTWjSUJhxczd3uP5pf-NBzBn-NVmGTm29OLzzb1FTeLiNdb2EI9jsPDLLC-C2L9s4pFHkGHx2wCxC63A&_hsmi=85298130

Do Infectious Organisms Play a Role in Alzheimer's?

For researchers investigating Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative illness afflicting close to 6 million Americans, it is the best and worst of times. Scientists have made exponential advances in understanding many aspects of the mysterious disease since it was first diagnosed over 100 years ago. Nevertheless, every effort to find a cure for AD or even slow its relentless advance has met with dispiriting failure. The next chapter in the fight against the disease will require dynamic insights and adventurous new approaches. In a lively discussion appearing in the Viewpoint section of the journal Nature Reviews Neurology, Ben Readhead, a researcher in the ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at the Biodesign Institute joins several distinguished colleagues to discuss the idea that bacteria, viruses or other infectious pathogens may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. The concept, sometimes referred to as the infectious theory of Alzheimer’s disease, was first proposed some 30 years ago. Since then, the idea has encountered considerable resistance in the research community. Until recently, it had been largely displaced in favor of approaches https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/do-infectious-organisms-play-a-role-in-alzheimers-332289?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84964491&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--51BchPdMETJxwqXm-_0HJZOtfFFP9fGTc7_zedKoodg6__Z2eAoYrz80a0WXRV1cc7oqgys_TgkSs6eNo-kdexvhqlA&_hsmi=84964491

President Trump To Invoke Defense Production Act To Increase Production Of Medical Supplies In Response To Coronavirus Pandemic

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will invoke emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against a coronavirus pandemic threatening to overwhelm hospitals and other treatment centers.” President Trump “said he would employ the Defense Production Act as needed, giving the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.” Meanwhile, “the Senate acted on the economic front, approving legislation to guarantee sick leave to workers sickened by the disease.” https://apnews.com/bd6d92f70e73276c74502fc18e663ae7

Grumpy Grandparents Show Protection Against Alzheimer's

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/grumpy-grandparents-show-protection-against-alzheimers-332012?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84697253&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_2nM1FJquZWvSbgAh-Emwag9_VdgI6pON_8ULQeFiG_-ivB_nquUVhKQ4bkbeaJafxuR8VtxTux6_eLh2CkMQ7J8vc9Q&_hsmi=84697255

Cancer Death Rates Decreased In The US From 2001 To 2017, Report Says

reports “cancer death rates continued to decline in the United States for cancer of all sites combined, and this trend was seen in all major racial and ethnic groups as well as in men and women and in all age groups,” according to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. In addition, “the 2020 targets were met for reductions in mortality from lung, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer, according to the companion report, Progress Toward Healthy People 2020 Objectives for 4 Common Cancers.” The article says that “both reports were published online March 12 in Cancer.” HealthDay (3/12, Preidt) says the first report concluded that death rates from cancer in the US fell “from 2001 to 2017 – dropping an average 1.5% a year.” The report also found that “the annual decline was slightly larger among men (1.8%) than women (1.4%).” https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/mis-cancer-news-102/cancer-death-rates-continue-to-fall-in-u-s-report-says-755637.html

Researchers Say Bacteria May Play Role In Development Of T2D In People With Severe Obesity

researchers “analyzed bacterial genetic material in blood and tissue samples taken from 40” people with severe obesity, half of whom had type 2 diabetes. The researchers concluded that “bacteria may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes in” this population and published their findings in Nature Metabolism. https://consumer.healthday.com/infectious-disease-information-21/bacteria-960/bacteria-may-be-a-player-in-diabetes-among-very-obese-755595.html

Important COVID-19 information

https://www.uchealth.com/en/covid-19

Some US Hospitals Already Struggling With Limited Supplies In Face Of Coronavirus Outbreak

reports, “As new coronavirus infections accumulate across America, hospitals want to make sure they have everything they need to keep staff safe.” In the US, “some hospitals are already struggling with limited supplies, as health officials figure out the best way to protect workers.” Hospital officials are trying to make “sure there’s an adequate supply of protective equipment for staff members and enough space to isolate patients, while also navigating a flurry of regulations and recommendations that could change at any moment.” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/11/us/virus-health-workers.html

Road Traffic Noise May Be Associated With Increased Incidence Of Diabetes And Hypertension, Research Suggests

Noise from road traffic in Toronto was associated with elevated incidence of diabetes and hypertension, especially in women and adults younger than 60 years,” researchers found. The study revealed that “among participants with no history of diabetes or hypertension, for every interquartile range increase in continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (10 dBA) during a 24-hour day, the noise conferred an 8% increase in incident diabetes...and a 2% increase in hypertension.” What’s more, “these findings were similar for traffic noise exposure between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and remained consistent after adjustment for related air pollutants such as ultrafine particles and nitrogen dioxide,” the study revealed. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. https://www.healio.com/cardiology/vascular-medicine/news/online/%7Bfc407d64-67ea-4997-a618-3b021ae65772%7D/long-term-traffic-noise-exposure-elevates-incidence-of-diabetes-hypertension

How Diet Can Impact Multiple Sclerosis Progression

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/how-diet-can-impact-multiple-sclerosis-progression-331978?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84639845&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--D8n-YYsqpH4TFebcZSKomncRUfn_86OP9To4R_w52T-EqEYAFbe-jzbc1BI0nhlF7GdY83A_6vR8sDQhFIt9B16z-jQ&_hsmi=84639846

Close Association Appears To Exist Between Sarcopenia, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Study Suggests

“There is a close association between sarcopenia and diabetic peripheral neuropathy,” researchers concluded in a “cross-sectional study” that “included 1794 individuals (937 men; mean age, 60.22 years).” Of these people, “83 patients (98 men; mean age, 59.08 years) were enrolled in the follow-up study with a median follow-up of 2.7 years.” The findings were published online in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/diabetes/close-association-between-diabetic-peripheral-neuropathy-and-sarcopenia/

Kids May Get More Calories From Post-Sports Snacks Than They Burn While Playing, Study Suggests

reported, “Kids get more calories from the snacks they eat after sports than they burn while playing, which could add up to thousands of extra calories a year,” researchers concluded after tracking “the activity levels of third- and fourth-graders during 189 games of soccer, flag football, baseball and softball, along with their post-game snacks.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Health Behavior. https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/misc-kid-s-health-news-435/post-game-snacks-may-undo-calorie-burning-benefit-of-kids-sports-755402.html

The Biology Behind Your Love (or Hatred) of Coffee

https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/the-biology-behind-your-love-or-hatred-of-coffee-331805?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84448971&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Z-F_N64zSOuYwqsVHKhCOMw2n5b1_jDKj4keb2jHjI6xkxJwTF8EXhb1VZ8NF3qzMay-SZXdf4nHbkB9e83RdoUr8TA&_hsmi=84448972

Extra Sugar in Children's Breakfast Cereals Thanks to Confusing Standards

Parents may let their children consume more sugar from their breakfast cereal than intended due to insufficient industry nutritional guidelines. A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, finds little improvement in the nutritional value of breakfast products marketed to children despite 12 years of self-imposed industry regulations intended to improve child health. “Consumers often confuse what they consider to be a single serving and what is listed as the product’s suggested serving size, generally eating more than what is recommended for a healthy diet,” said author Matthew B. Ritter, PhD, of High Point University, High Point, NC, USA. “Many parents may be misled by the sugar content contained in the nutrition panel of many ready-to-eat cereal boxes, potentially leading to a higher sugar intake among children than intended.” The study focused on the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), an industry self-regulation program introduced in 2007 that, in part, guides companies in promoting food and beverages to children under the age of 12. The CFBAI includes 18 companies that together produce 70 to 80 percent of all children’s television advertising. https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/extra-sugar-in-childrens-breakfast-cereals-thanks-to-confusing-standards-331807?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84448971&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Z-F_N64zSOuYwqsVHKhCOMw2n5b1_jDKj4keb2jHjI6xkxJwTF8EXhb1VZ8NF3qzMay-SZXdf4nHbkB9e83RdoUr8TA&_hsmi=84448972

Surgeons Slash Opioid Use by 64% Using New Program

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/surgeons-slash-opioid-use-by-64-using-new-program-331813?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84448971&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Z-F_N64zSOuYwqsVHKhCOMw2n5b1_jDKj4keb2jHjI6xkxJwTF8EXhb1VZ8NF3qzMay-SZXdf4nHbkB9e83RdoUr8TA&_hsmi=84448972

Smells During Sleep Could Boost Memory

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/smells-during-sleep-could-boost-memory-331749?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84373601&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8It-63v_A7Ee3AeynOpAmx7cwKckhDnM5mJya4vZhlwLRHB1SLF9Nr05Q3mv8PfQO6XiDw00HHHd__dN6jSM5mj7I9Cg&_hsmi=84373601

Eating More Protein From Plant Sources Or Dairy While Reducing Red Meat Consumption May Help People Live Longer, Studies Indicate

reports research from two preliminary studies indicates that “eating more protein from plant sources or dairy while reducing how much red meat you consume could help you live longer.” The first study revealed that “those who ate the most plant protein were 27% less likely to die of any cause and 29% less likely to die of coronary heart disease when compared to people who ate the least amount of plant protein.” The second study “found that replacing one serving per day of red or processed meat with foods such as nuts, whole grains or dairy was associated with up to a 47% lower risk of having coronary heart disease.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/health/plant-protein-meat-dairy-wellness/index.html

Sports Physicians May Not Know Which Forms Of Corticosteroids Are Banned Under Anti-Doping Rules, Research Suggests

“Sports physicians routinely prescribe corticosteroids to athletes for conditions like inflammation, asthma and allergies, but not all of them know which forms of these drugs are banned under anti-doping rules,” researchers concluded. After surveying “603 physicians from 30 countries,” investigators “found that four in five prescribe oral corticosteroids to athletes, one of the forms prohibited during competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).” Even though “73% of physicians knew athletes needed a medical exemption to use oral corticosteroids just before or during competition, far fewer knew exemptions were also required for other forms of these drugs including intravenous injections, ointments, creams and inhaled medicines.” The findings were published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-sports-steroids/sports-doctors-may-accidentally-prescribe-banned-steroids-idUSKBN20Q2ZW

Online Pharmacy Says Tests Found Probable Carcinogenic Impurity In Metformin

reports Valisure, an online pharmacy, announced “its tests showed high levels of a probable cancer-causing impurity in [the] diabetes drug metformin” and that it has called for the FDA to recall the lots they identified. Valisure announced that high levels of NDMA “were found in metformin made by 11 companies, including Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc and Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.” Ed Silverman writes in his “Pharmalot” blog for STAT (3/2) that Valisure filed a petition with the FDA saying that NDMA was found above acceptable levels in 16 batches of metformin made by 11 companies.

Systematic Review Finds Insufficient Evidence For Effectiveness Of Herbal Supplements For Weight Loss

reports, “Herbal supplements don’t work for weight loss,” investigators concluded after conducting “the first global review of herbal weight-loss supplements in almost two decades.” That 54-study review revealed there “was insufficient evidence to recommend any of these ‘medicines’ for this purpose.” The findings of the systematic review were published online in the journal Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926081

Death Toll From Coronavirus In US Rises To Six With Four More Deaths In Washington

reports the death toll from coronavirus in the US rose to six with four more deaths in Washington, and four of the deaths have been among residents of Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland. The article says that news of the six deaths came as California announced several more cases. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-02/california-sees-coronavirus-spread-as-death-toll-rises-in-washington

Frequency Of Tooth-Brushing May Be Associated With Risk Of New-Onset Diabetes, Research Suggests

reports research indicates that “frequency of tooth-brushing was associated with risk of new-onset diabetes.” Researchers found that “in 188,013 individuals followed for a median of 10 years, those who brushed three or more times a day were 8% less likely to develop diabetes.” The study also revealed that “having periodontal disease increased diabetes risk by 9%.” The findings of the “large retrospective study” were published online in Diabetologia. https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/preventivecare/85188

Research Outlines How Drug in Clinical Trial for Coronavirus Works

Studies in cell culture and animal models have demonstrated that the drug has a wide range of antiviral effects against a number of viruses, including coronaviruses. In this study, scientists used polymerase enzymes from the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to further explore remdesivir's mechanism of action. https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/research-outlines-how-drug-in-clinical-trial-for-coronavirus-works-331477?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84035251&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RwSsEPWWB74liUTXGdSyoibYrqwsj9i9DnnGQS_7Y_xwU_fmVy17_zCM1NkTNbFCRd_c7ljtRAxtw1AEBMpCuONc_rQ&_hsmi=84035251

Link Between Gene and Exercise Capacity

he team identified a patient who had a reduced rate of growth, persistent low blood sugar, a limited exercise capacity and a very high number of red blood cells. The team carried out genetic and protein analysis of the patient, examined their respiratory physiology in simulated high altitude, measured their exercise capacity, and performed a series of metabolic tests. The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is fundamental for cells to survive when oxygen availability is reduced. Following genetic analysis, an alteration on the VHL gene was identified and associated with impaired functionality in the patient’s mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell that uses oxygen to fuel cellular life. This reduced mitochondrial function efficiency limits the patient’s aerobic exercise capacity compared to people without the mutation. The discovery of this mutation and the associated phenotype is exciting beca https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/link-between-gene-and-exercise-capacity-331489?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84035251&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RwSsEPWWB74liUTXGdSyoibYrqwsj9i9DnnGQS_7Y_xwU_fmVy17_zCM1NkTNbFCRd_c7ljtRAxtw1AEBMpCuONc_rQ&_hsmi=84035251

Eat Less, Live Longer

https://www.technologynetworks.com/cell-science/news/eat-less-live-longer-331451?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84035251&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RwSsEPWWB74liUTXGdSyoibYrqwsj9i9DnnGQS_7Y_xwU_fmVy17_zCM1NkTNbFCRd_c7ljtRAxtw1AEBMpCuONc_rQ&_hsmi=84035251

US Sees Its First Drug Shortage Related To Novel Coronavirus

reports that the US “has its first novel coronavirus-related drug shortage, according to the” FDA. According to CNN, “The maker of an unnamed drug that has recently been added to the FDA Drug Shortages list told the agency that the shortage is due to the novel coronavirus.” CNN adds, “The unnamed company that notified the FDA about a shortage said the problem is the result of an issue with the manufacturing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the drug.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/28/health/coronavirus-us-drug-shortage/index.html

Important Coronavirus resources

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 Coronavirus Infections - https://medlineplus.gov/coronavirusinfections.html Coronaviruses - https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/coronaviruses Wolters Kluwer continues to update its Covid-19 resources to support rapid response healthcare teams and researchers working to address the global coronavirus crisis.” They suggest bookmarking this site https://coronavirus.ovidds.com/ to access the latest updates, open articles, and an article feed.

Diagnosis Of Coronavirus Patient In California Was Delayed For Days

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/27/809944423/diagnosis-of-coronavirus-patient-in-california-was-delayed-for-days

Rat Study Shows Childhood Trauma Can Change the Brain (But It Can Be Changed Back)

https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/rat-study-shows-childhood-trauma-can-change-the-brain-but-it-can-be-changed-back-331189?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=83770537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_B_Q1YdaNxleCgSD8nPatD8iy9foQAgcGInqZ74KmTV8oIWrkV4vyRfT8iGoseV3AG4AY8WJKOJu7yxb_J17yLJvxflA&_hsmi=83770537

Some Antibiotics Linked With Birth Defects

Children of mothers prescribed macrolide antibiotics during early pregnancy are at an increased risk of major birth defects, particularly heart defects, compared with children of mothers prescribed penicillin, finds a study published by The BMJ. The researchers say these findings show that macrolides should be used with caution during pregnancy and if feasible alternative antibiotics should be prescribed until further research is available. Macrolide antibiotics (including erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin) are - widely used to treat common bacterial infections. They are often used as alternatives for patients with penicillin allergy. Previous studies suggest evidence of rare but serious adverse outcomes of macrolide use, especially for unborn babies. The adverse outcomes might be associated with the pro-arrhythmic (heart rhythm problems) potential of macrolides. Policy advice about macrolide use in pregnancy varies. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/some-antibiotics-linked-with-birth-defects-331167?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=83770537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_B_Q1YdaNxleCgSD8nPatD8iy9foQAgcGInqZ74KmTV8oIWrkV4vyRfT8iGoseV3AG4AY8WJKOJu7yxb_J17yLJvxflA&_hsmi=83770537