Allergy & Immunology
After COVID-19 successes, researchers push to develop mRNA vaccines for other infectious diseases and cancer.
2 Jun, 2021 | 08:34h | UTC
Review: SARS-CoV-2 variants, spike mutations and immune escape.
2 Jun, 2021 | 08:33h | UTCSARS-CoV-2 variants, spike mutations and immune escape – Nature Reviews Microbiology
Commentary on Twitter
A new, exceptional review of the #SARSCoV2 major variants, zooming in on the culprit mutations, Δ epitopes/antigens.
It concludes there is a "high probability of future mutation-mediated escape from host immunity"https://t.co/D4mFot8Ot5@NatureRevMicro @_wharvey @robertson_lab pic.twitter.com/JgzAhpsviq— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) June 1, 2021
Perspective | Can I get AstraZeneca now and Pfizer later? Why mixing and matching COVID vaccines could help solve many rollout problems.
1 Jun, 2021 | 08:20h | UTC
Vaccines that can protect against many coronaviruses could prevent another pandemic.
1 Jun, 2021 | 08:15h | UTCVaccines that can protect against many coronaviruses could prevent another pandemic – Science (a few articles per month are free)
M-A: Triple vs. dual inhaler therapy in patients with moderate to severe asthma – fewer severe asthma exacerbations, but without significant differences in quality of life or mortality.
1 Jun, 2021 | 08:12h | UTCTriple vs Dual Inhaler Therapy and Asthma Outcomes in Moderate to Severe Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary on Twitter
Among patients with moderate to severe asthma, triple therapy compared with dual therapy was significantly associated with fewer severe asthma exacerbations and modest improvements in asthma control but no significant difference in quality of life https://t.co/icKsWu0Md9 #ATS2021
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) May 19, 2021
Opinion | 7 reasons why we should not need boosters for COVID-19.
31 May, 2021 | 08:21h | UTC7 Reasons Why We Should Not Need Boosters for COVID-19 – by Monica Ghandi, MD
New IDSA Guidelines on antigen testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
31 May, 2021 | 08:25h | UTC
Lab study found CoronaVac serum neutralization efficiency was significantly decreased against B.1.526, P.1, and B1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variants.
28 May, 2021 | 08:26h | UTC
COLCORONA RCT: Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 – findings suggest it may lower death and hospital admission rates, but further studies are required.
28 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCInvited Commentary: Exploiting an early immunological window of opportunity in COVID-19 – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
RCT: Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shows 100% efficacy in adolescents – mainly transient mild-to-moderate reactogenicity was frequently observed, such as injection-site pain (in 79 to 86% of participants), fatigue (in 60 to 66%), and headache (in 55 to 65%).
28 May, 2021 | 08:24h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
The 12-15 year-olds mRNA vaccine randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial is published @NEJM today [@BioNTech_Group/@Pfizer]https://t.co/7GlgC9xdd0
—100% efficacy (95% CI 75,100)
—1.8 X higher levels of neutralizing antibodies than 16-25 yr olds
—very good safety profile pic.twitter.com/hQzkpuA5Nu— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 27, 2021
RCT: 2 inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines show efficacy of 72.8% and 78.1% on symptomatic COVID-19 infection in adults.
27 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: China’s Sinopharm Publishes Awaited Covid Vaccine Study Details – Bloomberg
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
https://twitter.com/hildabast/status/1397678056270012419
Systematic review of 45 studies including 9751 participants, most of which were hospitalized, found 73% had at least 1 persistent symptom for weeks after Covid-19.
27 May, 2021 | 08:37h | UTCCommentary: Seven out of ten hospitalized COVID-19 patients will have long-haul symptoms – MedicalXpress
Can people vaccinated against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus? – “Preliminary evidence seems to suggest the COVID-19 vaccines make it less likely someone who’s vaccinated will transmit the coronavirus”.
27 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCCan people vaccinated against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus? – The Conversation
Related: Indirect Protection by Reducing Transmission: Ending the Pandemic with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination – “Tell the hesitant: the vaccines protect both you and protect others — a lot!”
[Preprint] More data showing a single-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine may be enough in individuals with previous COVID-19.
27 May, 2021 | 08:31h | UTCSingle-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a prospective cohort of COVID-19 patients – medRxiv
See also: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for all but a single dose for COVID-19 survivors – EClinicalMedicine
Related: Another study shows a single dose of mRNA vaccine may be enough for patients with previous Covid-19
Commentaries on Twitter
If you had prior covid and you're wondering about getting vaccinated, here's a new prospective study showing single dose -> marked neutralizing antibody protection to the major variants AND again more than without prior covid and 2 mRNA doses https://t.co/k9v5gEDn2M pic.twitter.com/Z8nT3pL04v
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 26, 2021
One dose of vaccine for prior covid.
Change the policy. Avoid unnecessary side effects and instead of wasting vaccine doses get them to the people around the world in needhttps://t.co/ODhx5kgAnq @EBioMedicine @MattFrieman @VivianaSimonLab @florian_krammer pic.twitter.com/oAeju9AASm— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 26, 2021
COVID Morbidity – The emerging burden of long COVID is significant, and needs to be considered when evaluating the risk vs. benefit of pandemic measures.
27 May, 2021 | 08:34h | UTCCOVID Morbidity – Science-Based Medicine
Methotrexate reduces immune response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease.
26 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: Methotrexate users have a reduced immune response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine – BMJ
Mild COVID-19 induces lasting antibody protection, study finds.
25 May, 2021 | 08:51h | UTCOriginal study: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces long-lived bone marrow plasma cells in humans – Nature
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Just published @nature
After even mild covid infections there are, in addition to memory B cells, bone marrow plasma cells are induced to provide long-term protection > 1 yrhttps://t.co/zVfUFvciVk
@TheBcellArtist @WUSTLmed
(NB vaccination still provides further protection) pic.twitter.com/rUd8pMAP1T— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 24, 2021
[Preprint] RCT: Both REGEN-COV 2400mg and 1200mg antibody cocktails significantly reduced Covid-19-related hospitalization or all-cause death compared to placebo (71.3% reduction and 70.4% reduction, respectively).
24 May, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCREGEN-COV Antibody Cocktail Clinical Outcomes Study in Covid-19 Outpatients – medRxiv
Commentary on Twitter
REGEN-COV Antibody Cocktail(casirivimab with imdevimab) Clinical Outcomes Study in Covid-19 Outpatients: N:>4000 pts
Both 1200mg IV&2400mg REGEN-COV led to a ≥70% ⬇️ (vs placebo) in Covid-19 hospitalization or all-cause death over 28 days after treatmenthttps://t.co/NJxF4BjZRs pic.twitter.com/CFdvEEIWEL— Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 (@ABsteward) May 21, 2021
[Preprint] Pfizer and AstraZeneca Vaccines effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses.
24 May, 2021 | 08:42h | UTCNews release: Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses – Public Health England
Original study: Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the B.1.617.2 variant – Public Health England
Commentary: Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant – study – BBC
Neutralizing antibody levels are highly predictive of immune protection from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
24 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: Scientists find new way of predicting COVID-19 vaccine efficacy – University of New South Wales
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Just published @NatureMedicine: For 7 vaccines, the neutralizing antibody levels are highly predictive of the magnitude of clinical efficacy, support long term protection vs severe illness, and preserved efficacy vs variantshttps://t.co/ZQIrTQErMm pic.twitter.com/rUl9TMbVrC
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 17, 2021
RCT: Among patients with pemphigus vulgaris, rituximab was superior to mycophenolate mofetil in producing sustained complete remission at 52 weeks (40% vs 10%) but was associated with increased risk of serious adverse events (22% vs. 15%).
24 May, 2021 | 08:24h | UTC
M-A: In patients with anaphylaxis, the use of multiple epinephrine doses is necessary in 7.7% of cases.
21 May, 2021 | 08:19h | UTCCommentary: How Often Does Anaphylaxis Require Redosing of Epinephrine? – Journal Feed
FDA In Brief: FDA advises against use of SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results to evaluate immunity or protection from COVID-19, including after vaccination.
20 May, 2021 | 08:55h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Today, we issued a safety communication notifying the public and providers that results from SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests should not be used to evaluate immunity or protection from #COVID19 at any time – especially after receiving a #COVID19 vaccination. https://t.co/KlywV04WYO pic.twitter.com/TPdIVxWzSh
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) May 19, 2021
Characteristics associated with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome among adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection
20 May, 2021 | 08:52h | UTCCommentary: COVID-related inflammatory syndrome looks different in adults – CIDRAP
A pharmacist-led penicillin allergy assessment program can delabel many “penicillin allergic” patients through allergy histories and penicillin skin testing. The program was associated with reduced use of high Clostridioides difficile infection–risk antibiotics.
20 May, 2021 | 08:30h | UTC
Commentaries on Twitter
🆕💥💥 @jamanetworkopen
Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Led Penicillin Allergy Assessment Program and Allergy Delabeling in a 3ry Care Hospital
Phase 1 : Allergy histories
Phase 2 :Allergy histories +Penicillin Skin Testing #IDTwitter https://t.co/pZfVf8TJIn pic.twitter.com/2VvnaCayqj— Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 (@ABsteward) May 13, 2021
This cross-sectional study found pharmacist-driven allergy assessments may help improve antibiotic selection and clinical outcomes for patients and hospitals https://t.co/io5LcU9U9U
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) May 13, 2021