Researchers have identified a version of a gene that doubles a person’s risk of severe COVID-19 and doubles the risk of death from the disease for people under 60. The gene, LZTFL1, is involved in the regulation of lung cells in response to infection. When the risky version of the gene is present, cells lining […]
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Low rates of people with alcohol use disorder are having ‘helpful’ treatment
Results from World Mental Health Surveys have found fewer than half of the people with alcohol use disorder who sought treatment perceived their treatment as being helpful. Using survey data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 24 countries, researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW Sydney, found that of the […]
Researchers develop library of human induced pluripotent stem cells from healthy humans
Scientists at Mount Sinai have created a library of well-characterized human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines from clinically healthy humans, which can serve as a valuable resource of normal controls for in vitro human development, genotype-phenotype association studies, many disease models, and drug response evaluations. This gender-balanced, racially- and ethnically-diverse library of hiPSC lines […]
Facemask ventilation of patients for surgery does not increase the risk of spread of COVID-19
New research published in Anaesthesia (a journal of the Association of Anaesthetists) says that the use of facemask ventilation during routine surgery should not be classed as an aerosol-generating procedure and does not increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission compared with normal breathing/coughing of patients. Thus this procedure is not high risk and can be […]
Long-term survivors of childhood cancer may face higher suicide risk
Survivors of childhood cancer have increased risks of experiencing various challenges, such as emotional distress, impaired quality of life, and financial burdens. A new study indicates that many long-term survivors of childhood cancer may also face an elevated risk of suicide, although their absolute risk is still low. The findings are published by Wiley early […]
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, especially Delta, more virulent than original strain
A large study from Ontario confirms that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), especially the Delta variant, are more virulent than the native strain of the virus, increasing people’s risk of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and death due to COVID-19. The research is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The study […]
Studies show power of Pfizer vaccine starts to wane after two months
(HealthDay)—Two new studies confirm that the immunity offered by two doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine drops off after about two months, although protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death holds strong. The reports, from Israel and Qatar, add to evidence that suggests even fully vaccinated people need to continue to guard against COVID-19 infection. In […]
Unraveling the mystery of why we overeat
Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and overeating is one of life’s growing problems. In 2019, researchers from The Stuber Lab at the University of Washington School of Medicine discovered that certain cells light up in obese mice and prevent signals that indicate satiety, or feeling full. Now comes a deeper dive into what […]
Higher rates of mutation alone are not to blame for age-related disease
New research exploring theories of aging has found that small mutations accumulating in DNA are unlikely to be fully responsible for this process. The research, a collaboration between the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh and others, found that human cells and tissues can accumulate many more mutations than are normally present, […]
Pockets of unvaccinated older people leave northern states in the US vulnerable to COVID surge
AHarvard infectious diseases expert says that vaccination rates among the elderly need to be close 100 percent if another surge of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths is to be avoided this winter. Steven Kissler, a research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the strongest factor in COVID severity is the proportion […]