Infectious Diseases (all articles)
WHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:56h | UTCWHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic – Nature
Related: WHO validates Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and issues interim policy recommendations. AND Brazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19.
Study shows reduced neutralizing antibody activity induced by Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.351 (Beta).
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:59h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
“Immune escape” in #DeltaVariant. That’s the latest finding – that #B16172 is as bad for antibody neutralization as the Beta variant #B1351 from South Africa 🇿🇦. 1st dose alone very small effect— 2 doses needed, but weakest against Delta. Let’s walk through evidence 🧵 #COVID19 https://t.co/GurgkNVgiY pic.twitter.com/o0s9WIudCW
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) June 5, 2021
Case report: Successful treatment of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT).
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:55h | UTC
More data on the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of adolescents.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:52h | UTCCommentaries: A lost generation? COVID-19 and adolescent mental health – The Lancet Psychiatry AND COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impact on the mental health of adolescents – Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
https://twitter.com/TheLancetPsych/status/1400783180937011202
2 new meta-analysis detail neurologic and psychiatric conditions in COVID-19.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:54h | UTCNeurologic, psychiatric conditions common in COVID-19 – CIDRAP
Perspective | Could statins do more than lower cholesterol in patients with COVID-19? – “Don’t Start, Don’t Stop”.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:49h | UTCCould Statins Do More Than Lower Cholesterol in Patients With COVID-19? – JAMA
Opinion | “Doctors have been blamed for the rise in black fungus in India, but the COVID treatment guidelines could be contributing” – improper use of antibiotics and higher than usual doses of corticosteroids may be contributing to the emergence of mucormycosis and other fungal co-infections.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:48h | UTCRelated: The Emergence of COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis: Analysis of Cases From 18 Countries – The Lancet AND What Is ‘Black Fungus’? And Why Is It Spreading Among India’s COVID Patients? – NPR AND Mucormycosis: The ‘black fungus’ maiming Covid patients in India AND What is mucormycosis, the fungal infection affecting COVID patients in India? – The Conversation
Investigation | Covid 19: How harm reduction advocates and the tobacco industry capitalized on the pandemic to promote nicotine.
6 Jun, 2021 | 23:51h | UTCCommentaries: Researchers report how the tobacco and e-cigarette industry capitalized on COVID-19 to promote smoking – News Medical AND Investigation discredits studies suggesting lower COVID-19 risk for smokers
Another study shows a high frequency of antibiotic use among patients hospitalized with Covid-19 (85.2%), despite low rates of confirmed secondary bacterial infections.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:43h | UTCCommentaries: Very high use of antibiotics in COVID-19 treatment could be reduced – University of Glasgow AND More evidence of frequent antibiotic use noted in COVID patients – CIDRAP AND Covid-19: Antimicrobial use was high during first wave despite bacterial co-infections being rare, study finds – The BMJ
Related: Many hospitalized Covid-19 patients are given antibiotics. That’s a problem – STAT
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our paper on co-infections, secondary infections & antimicrobial use in patients hospitalised with #COVID19 in UK during the 1st wave is out in @LancetMicrobe!@ISARIC1 @CCPUKstudy @CVRinfo @UofGlasgow @EdinburghUni @LivUni @imperialcollege https://t.co/QYU1B2Eyup
A🧵
— Antonia Ho (@DrToniHo) June 3, 2021
In a Mendelian randomization study, researchers found no genetic evidence to support an association between Vitamin D levels and COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, or hospitalization.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:35h | UTCCommentary: Vitamin D may not provide protection from COVID-19 susceptibility or disease severity, study suggests – PLOS
Related: Living systematic review: The evidence is insufficient to determine the benefits and harms of vitamin D supplementation as a treatment of COVID‐19. AND RCT: Vitamin D3 does not improve outcomes in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19
RCT: Prophylactic post-exposure prophylaxis with Bamlanivimab reduced the incidence of Covid-19 among residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:40h | UTCEditorial: Bamlanivimab for Prevention of COVID-19
[Preprint] Covid-19 B.1.617.2 variant of concern (Delta) is associated with increased transmissibility compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) that will rapidly lead to B.1.617.2 becoming the prevailing variant in the UK.
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:36h | UTCRelated: Covid: Indian variant ‘now dominant’ in the UK – BBC
United States Unveils Global Vaccine Sharing Scheme for 80 Million Doses by End June
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:32h | UTCSee also: Statement by President Joe Biden on Global Vaccine Distribution – The White House
WHO: Vaccinating kids ‘not a high priority’ amid shortage
4 Jun, 2021 | 10:31h | UTCWHO: Vaccinating kids ‘not a high priority’ amid shortage – Associated Press
Related: WHO: Wealthy nations urged to delay youth Covid vaccines, donate to solidarity scheme AND Editorial: Vaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 – “Hard to justify right now for most children in most countries”. AND Opinion | American Kids Can Wait – “The U.S. should delay shots for children until global vaccine-manufacturing capacity significantly expands and the crisis in India subsides”. AND Vaccinating children before poor morally wrong, Oxford scientist says – BBC
Countries hit hardest by COVID-19 – estimated mortality countries will have on September 1, 2021.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:09h | UTCCountries Hit Hardest by COVID-19 – Think Global Health
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
❓🌎🌍🌏 Which countries will have the highest mortality from COVID-19 come September 1, 2021? IHME researchers ran the numbers for a new article in @ThinkGlobalHlth ⤵️🧵https://t.co/d2CFHVzCYX
— Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) (@IHME_UW) June 2, 2021
Cohort study showed good recovery for most children 6 months after Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS-TS) associated with SARS-CoV-2.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:06h | UTCCommentary: Most severe effects of MIS-C in children typically resolve within six months, new research suggests – CNN AND Children who developed a rare inflammation disease after COVID-19 are mostly better after 6 months, but some still suffer fatigue and anxiety, a small UK study found – Insider AND Most severe effects of PIMS-TS resolved at six months – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
New Research—A study of 46 patients with #PIMSTS found that most symptoms were resolved after 6 months, but fatigue, difficulty exercising, and emotional difficulties persisted in some childrenhttps://t.co/mHz3D8a11d #COVID19 @GreatOrmondSt @KarynMoshal pic.twitter.com/PJCxGGmJNo
— The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (@LancetChildAdol) May 24, 2021
Tracking Coronavirus Vaccinations Around the World.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:01h | UTCTracking Coronavirus Vaccinations Around the World – The New York Times
What We Know About the Dangerous COVID B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant – “the Delta variant may soon become the most dominant COVID strain in the world and lead to rapid outbreaks in countries without high vaccination rates”.
3 Jun, 2021 | 11:05h | UTCWhat We Know About the Dangerous COVID B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant – Intelligencer
Commentary on Twitter
Good summary of what's presently known about the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant @NYMag. Important to emphasize 2-dose vaccination effectiveness is high.https://t.co/8cKvR5eBMM w/ @jburnmurdoch @zeynep @macroliter by @chasdanner
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) June 1, 2021
A pandemic upside: The flu virus became less diverse, simplifying the task of making flu shots.
3 Jun, 2021 | 10:57h | UTC
Brazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19.
3 Jun, 2021 | 10:59h | UTCBrazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19 – Science (a few articles per month are free)
WHO: New US$50 billion health, trade and finance roadmap to end the pandemic and secure a global recovery.
2 Jun, 2021 | 08:44h | UTCCommentary: Global Leaders Call for $50-billion Investment to End COVID-19, boost economies – Health Policy Watch
Israel reports link between rare cases of heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccination in young men.
2 Jun, 2021 | 08:37h | UTCIsrael reports link between rare cases of heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccination in young men – Science (a few articles per month are free)
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/rfsquared/status/1399803644288061442
WHO validates Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and issues interim policy recommendations.
2 Jun, 2021 | 08:42h | UTCCommentary: WHO grants emergency approval to 2nd Chinese COVID vaccine – MedicalXpress
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
WHO today validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac #COVID19 vaccine for emergency use, giving countries, funders, procuring agencies & communities the assurance that it meets international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing.
More ⬇️ https://t.co/Uy0xmGlAIT— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 1, 2021
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