There has been so much new on this since my quick update 2 weeks ago, I need to dedicate this newsletter to reviewing what’s up. First Human Data for the New Booster Let me start with the good news from the first human data for the new monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine that is getting set for distribution
CDC is tracking a new SARS-CoV-2 variant called BA.2.86 and working to better understand its potential impact on public health. This update follows CDC’s initial risk assessment summary on August 23, 2023. The updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available in mid-September. Learn ways to keep you and your loved ones safe as we head into the fall season. What’s
NIH-funded research effort identifies most common symptoms, potential subgroups, and initial symptom-based scoring system – with aim of improving future diagnostics and treatment. Initial findings from a study of nearly 10,000 Americans, many of whom had COVID-19, have uncovered new details about long COVID, the post-infection set of conditions that can affect nearly every tissue
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a class of corticosteroids called glucocorticoids (GCs) have become established as one of the main treatment options, especially for severe cases, thanks to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant action. Brazilian researchers recently discovered new ways in which these drugs influence the organism’s inflammatory response during an infection: they raise
Differences in Physiologic Variables in Patients With Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC, Red) Compared With Healthy Volunteers (HVs, Gray) Each dot represents 1 participant; bars represent standard errors of the mean (top edge of rectangle). p Values are for independent means t tests. (A) Heart rate (HR); (B) finger systolic blood pressure (BPs); (C) baroreflex-cardiovagal gain; (D) high-frequency
In a new JAMA Internal Medicine study, independent licensed healthcare professionals evaluated both quality (left) and empathy (right) for ChatGPT and physician responses to patient questions, preferring ChatGPT’s responses 79% of the time. There has been widespread speculation about how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) assistants like ChatGPT could be used in medicine. A new
The new International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) platform provides easy-to-follow exercise guidance and nutritional tips to benefit bone health, alerts to falls safety hazards in the home, and provides helpful information for caregivers. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has launched the Build Better Bones platform, a new online resource that provides people with osteoporosis, and their caregivers, with
Secondary bacterial pneumonia that does not resolve was a key driver of death in patients with Covid, according to a study. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The scientists also found evidence that Covid does not cause a “cytokine storm”, so often believed to cause death. Secondary bacterial pneumonia that does
Action FDA approved Qalsody (tofersen) to treat patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with a mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene (SOD1-ALS). Qalsody is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets SOD1 mRNA to reduce the synthesis of SOD1 protein. The approval was based on a reduction in plasma neurofilament light (NfL), a blood-based
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Omisirge (omidubicel-onlv), a substantially modified allogeneic (donor) cord blood-based cell therapy to quicken the recovery of neutrophils (a subset of white blood cells) in the body and reduce the risk of infection. The product is intended for use in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older
