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People previously infected with COVID-19 respond strongly to one dose of Pfizer vaccine

Although clinical trial data are encouraging, real-world evidence with regard to the COVID-19 vaccine remains scarce. In particular, response to the vaccine among those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 is still not completely understood.

12 Feb 2021

Portable suitcase lab for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2

The PCR test is the most accurate tool to identify SARS-CoV-2. However, valid results are often available only after days.

12 Feb 2021

Non-symptomatic cases contribute to at least 50% of SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study out of the University of Chicago has found that during the initial wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, only 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 cases of the virus was symptomatic.

11 Feb 2021

Statins shown to reduce COVID-19 severity and lower mortality

Much attention has been focused on ways to reduce the deadly exaggeration of normal inflammatory reactions to this pathogen. A new research paper posted to the medRxiv* preprint server describes the alleviation of hyper-inflammatory phenomena following the administration of statins, drugs more widely known for their use in reducing blood cholesterol levels, to patients with COVID-19.

11 Feb 2021

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy in Nordic countries

Population-based studies are essential to gain knowledge of the spread and management of this disease. However, most studies on pregnancy during COVID-19 have not been broadly applicable to Nordic populations, like most current COVID-19 research in general.

11 Feb 2021

Research reveals vital clues for discovery of COVID-19 drugs

Research from the University of Kent, Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main, and the Philipps-University in Marburg has provided crucial insights into the biological composition of SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, revealing vital clues for the discovery of antiviral drugs.

11 Feb 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 variant found in newborn child with seizures in the United States

Researchers at a hospital in Washington D.C. found a new mutant strain of the virus in a neonatal patient with high viral loads. According to the authors, this strain could be spreading in the United States mid-Atlantic population and needs monitoring.

11 Feb 2021

Self-assessment of face coverings lowers protection against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study demonstrating that personal assessment of whether respirators and face masks fit properly cannot be relied on in efforts to protect against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

11 Feb 2021

UC San Diego and County of San Diego test early alert system to detect SARS-CoV-2 at schools

In an effort to help schools reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks as they resume in-person instruction, University of California San Diego and the County of San Diego are testing the Safer at School Early Alert system, an evidence-informed program to detect SARS-CoV-2 at schools and child care centers.

11 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 evolves antibody resistance in immunocompromised patient

Researchers in the United States who tracked the evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an immunocompromised patient found that convalescent plasma therapy was associated with the emergence of viral variants that were less susceptible to neutralizing antibodies.

11 Feb 2021

Brain pericytes serve as a potential hub for SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of scientists from the United States has recently conducted a study using pericyte-like cell-containing brain cortical organoids as an experimental model to investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the central nervous system.

11 Feb 2021

Adults with intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, study finds

Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. report that adults with intellectual disabilities have a higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV2. They are also more likely to develop worse outcomes once infected.

11 Feb 2021

Higher proportion of male children develop COVID-19-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, finds study

Previous studies about COVID-19 have shown that the illness is often more severe in men than women. However, there is limited data available for the pediatric population. Though children and adolescents are at a lower risk of developing severe illness, some may experience severe symptoms. In some cases, children develop complications, including the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Researchers report that a higher percentage of male children developed MIS-C and died.

11 Feb 2021

New study shares preliminary data on Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness in Israel

Researchers have shown that by mid-January, the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Israel began to decline with a larger and earlier decrease among older people.

11 Feb 2021

Minimally-invasive deep aging clocks could improve response to COVID-19 vaccine

Deep Longevity, a fully-owned subsidiary of Regent Pacific (SEHK:0575.HK), specializing in the development and the application of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) for aging and longevity research, today announced the publication of an article in Lancet Healthy Longevity titled "The potential of rapalogs to enhance resilience against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce the severity of COVID-19".

11 Feb 2021

COVID-19 immunity study to enroll college students to test vaccine effectiveness

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study that is examining COVID-19 immunity and re-infection among frontline workers is expanding to include some Arizona college students while broadening its research focus to include COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness.

11 Feb 2021

Breastfeeding women produce COVID-19 antibodies that neutralize the virus

Breastfeeding women with COVID-19 do not pass along the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their milk but do transfer milk-borne antibodies that are able to neutralize the virus, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by the University of Idaho reported.

11 Feb 2021

Separation of COVID-infected mothers from babies has a negative effect on breastfeeding

It may be safe for COVID-infected mothers to maintain contact with their babies. Keeping them apart can cause maternal distress and have a negative effect on exclusive breastfeeding later in infancy, according to The COVID Mothers Study published in the peer-reviewed journal Breastfeeding Medicine.

11 Feb 2021

Scientists make four major discoveries about SARS-CoV-2

University of Minnesota Medical School researchers studied SARS-CoV-2 infections at individual cellular levels and made four major discoveries about the virus, including one that validates the effectiveness of remdesivir - an FDA-approved antiviral drug - as a form of treatment for severe COVID-19 disease.

10 Feb 2021

Metabolomics and machine learning used to identify possible COVID-19 biomarkers

One of the many mysteries still surrounding COVID-19 is why some people experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, whereas others suffer life-threatening respiratory problems, vascular dysfunction and tissue damage.

10 Feb 2021