A new study argues that city subways and buses were a “major disseminator” of the coronavirus in the Big Apple. The paper, by MIT economics professor and physician Jeffrey Harris, points to a parallel between high ridership “and the rapid, exponential surge in infections” in the first two weeks of March — when the subways were still
A machine learning algorithm combines data on the disease’s spread with a neural network, to help predict when infections will slow down in each country. The research described in this article has been published on a preprint server but has not yet been peer-reviewed by scientific or medical experts. Every day for the past few
Over the past several weeks, a mind-boggling array of possible therapies have been considered. None have yet been proven to be effective in rigorously controlled trials, but for one of them, it’s been a busy week. Source NIH So let’s focus on an experimental anti-viral drug, called remdesivir, that was originally developed for the deadly
MIT team designs antibody-like receptor proteins that can bind to cytokines, as possible strategy for treating coronavirus and other infections. Source MIT One of the defining features of Covid-19 is the excessive immune response that can occur in severe cases. This burst of immune overreaction, also called a cytokine storm, damages the lungs and can
Today, as part of the European Roadmap towards lifting coronavirus containment measures, the Commission is presenting guidelines on coronavirus testing methodologies. The guidance aims to support Member States in effectively using testing tools in the context of their national strategies and during the different stages of the pandemic, including when phasing out confinement measures. The Commission also
Those who carry the Sars-CoV-2 virus are contagious two days before the first signs of the disease. Most likely just before the onset of symptoms. It became clear early on during the coronavirus pandemic that asymptomatic infections play an important role in the spread of the pathogen. An analysis by a team led by Xi
The test has been developed by collaborative efforts of Accurate Diagnostic Labs and RUCDR Infinite Biologics at Rutgers University The joint venture between Accurate Diagnostic Labs and RUCDR, utilizing the Spectrum Solutions’ DNA 1000 Saliva Collection Kit, is the first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) clearance from the FDA to allow for saliva testing. This is
Social distancing measures could be necessary on and off through 2022, according to infectious-disease researchers at Harvard. To prepare for future waves of infections and build “herd immunity,” the researchers said countries should expand their critical care capacities and look for new treatments. Widespread coronavirus testing should also continue at least through 2024, to plan social distancing measures properly. As parts of
The FDA has granted an emergency authorization to a blood purification system to treat patients with the most severe cases of COVID-19. The device is designed to strip out an excess of immune system-triggering proteins from blood and plasma before returning them back to the patient—including those that fuel cytokine storms, the harmful, cascading activation
Could various kinds of cell therapy help patients with COVID-19? Source The Niche Knoepfler Lab Stem Cell Blog A variety of cell therapies, mostly focused on mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), have gotten cleared quickly in the U.S., China, and Israel and possibly other countries to be tested in patients with the novel coronavirus. I hope at
