Health
COVID-19 lung patterns show few clues for treating pneumonia
Scans of the lungs of the sickest COVID-19 patients show distinctive patterns of infection, but so far those clues offer little help in predicting which patients will pull through. For now, doctors are relying on what's called supportive care that's standard for severe pneumonia. Doctors in areas still bracing for… Read
Many Americans willing to trade genetic data for compensation, control
More than half of Americans want money and control when companies or organizations use their genetic data, a new study suggests. Public views about the value of DNA continue to evolve, especially as people become more concerned about privacy, the study authors write in PLoS ONE. “The public’s views need… Read
FDA approves Bristol Myers' liver cancer therapy
Bristol Myers Squibb’s combination of its immunotherapies, Opdivo and Yervoy, to treat a type of liver cancer has received U.S. regulatory approval, the drugmaker. The therapy received the Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, who have previously been administered sorafenib, the current standard of… Read
UK scientists to track mutations in coronavirus to map spread
UK scientists are to track the spread of the new coronavirus and watch for emerging mutations by using gene sequencing to analyze the strains causing thousands of COVID-19 infections across the country, Britain said on Monday. Researchers will collect data from samples from infected patients in England, Wales, Scotland and… Read
What is herd immunity and will it affect the pandemic?
The outbreak of disease caused by the new coronavirus has raised questions about a phenomenon known as "herd immunity" and whether it might play a role in how the pandemic progresses. Here are some insights from infectious disease specialists: WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity refers to a situation where… Read
WHO message to youth on coronavirus: 'You are not invincible'
Coronavirus can sicken or kill young people as well and they must also avoid mingling and spreading it to older and more vulnerable people, the World Health Organization says. With more than 210,000 cases reported worldwide and a death toll of 9,000, each day brings a "new and tragic milestone",… Read
World's governments draft manufacturers for virus treatment arsenal
From Washington to London, Beijing to Rome, governments are drafting automakers and aerospace manufacturers to ramp up production of ventilators and other medical equipment to bolster what most experts say is an inadequate arsenal of coronavirus treatment tools. Authorities are hoping large-scale manufacturers can use their low-cost supply chains and… Read
As pressure for coronavirus vaccine mounts, scientists debate risks of accelerated testing
Drugmakers are working as quickly as possible to develop a vaccine to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide. Behind the scenes, scientists and medical experts are concerned that rushing a vaccine could end up worsening the infection in some patients rather than preventing… Read
WHO officials rethink epidemic messaging amid pandemic debate
The World Health Organization is considering changing the way it classifies and describes international epidemics, amid a protracted public debate over whether to call the outbreak of the new coronavirus a pandemic. Officials at the Geneva-based WHO – who this week described it as a pandemic for the first time… Read
Prosthetic innovation: 'It's like you have a hand again'
Today's artificial limbs can look very natural, and now an innovative process makes prosthetic hands move more naturally as well. In an innovative experiment, scientists have shown that the nerves in patients' arms can be trained to control the movements of prosthetic fingers and thumbs. "This is the biggest advance… Read
