The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the B.1.1.529 lineage of Sars-CoV-2, thought to have emerged in southern Africa, is to be designated as a variant of concern (VoC) named omicron. This decision has already precipitated a broad shift in priorities in pandemic management on a global scale. The WHO has recommended, among other
Month: December 2021
Biomarker testing has become increasingly important for making informed, personalized treatment decisions for patients with cancer. However, a new nationwide survey conducted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) highlights a range of challenges to biomarker use — most notably, lab turnaround time, the cost of testing, and inadequate insurance coverage. “While
A recent review paper published in Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that when combined with allergen immunotherapy the biologic omalizumab (Xolair) can enhance efficacy and decrease adverse reactions. “The use of allergen immunotherapy has been limited by potential adverse reactions and poor adherence because of a variety of factors, with one being
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies during the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing titled Next Steps: The Road Ahead for the COVID-19 Response, in Dirksen Building on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images At least 15 states have
“We have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, the best scientists, and we’re learning more every single day. And we’ll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion.” — President Biden, on the Omicron variant. “As a first step, this is definitely good news.” — Gregor
When a child has a fever, their body can ache, they are restless and they just don’t feel well. While a fever is a part of our natural response to infection, the fever itself can lead to complications. One rare complication is a febrile seizure. A febrile seizure is when your child (ages 6 months
24-year-old Zion Clark is a star athlete, motivational speaker, and a Guinness World Record holder, but the road to get there was not easy. Clark was born with a condition called Caudal Regression Syndrome, which caused him to have no legs. His birth mother was unable to care for him, which forced Clark to go
According to the WHO, air pollution is the greatest health risk worldwide, accounting for more than 4.2 million deaths annually. In addition, chronic exposure to particulate matter contributes to the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and in particular has been associated with high blood pressure, according to a study published in Scientific Reports by
Capture the wellbeing effect of this powerful photon, and let there be light Most of us have experienced a shift in mood that comes with spending time in particular environments, but it’s not always immediately obvious what specific factor is influencing that change. That said, the chances are it could have something to do with
South Africa reported another major increase in new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with more than 11,500 daily cases and a 22% test positivity rate, according to the latest data from the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases. That’s up from 8,400 new cases and a 16% positivity rate on Wednesday. Less than 2 weeks ago,
Posted on December 2, 2021 by Admin Winter is a few weeks away, and for many seniors and homeowners in the US, that means another season of inclement weather outdoors – and a few months spent checking that everything’s working properly indoors. Here are a few tips on how to winterize your home and avoid the challenges that can occur
Unfortunately, as much as we may want to believe we are invincible, we all have a level of stress up to which we can tolerate. Beyond this, the mind may just about be willing, but the body is not. Think of it like an elastic band: continue to stretch it and at some point, it
Since early in the COVID pandemic, the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa has been monitoring changes in SARS-CoV-2. This was a valuable tool to understand better how the virus spread. In late 2020, the network detected a new virus lineage, 501Y.V2, which later became known as the beta variant. Now a new SARS-CoV-2
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Deploying more emergency medical response teams, reimbursing healthcare providers to counsel Medicaid patients about vaccinations, and an education campaign to stress the importance of immunization are three immediate actions the White House COVID-19 Response Team is taking as winter and the
In this article MSFT FB Surgeon Shafi Ahmed poses for a photograph wearing a Microsoft HoloLens headset inside his operating theater at the Royal London Hospital on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The metaverse, the digital world’s Next Big Thing, is touted as the internet domain where animated avatars of
The 24-hour news cycle is just as important to medicine as it is to politics, finance, or sports. At MedPage Today, new information is posted daily, but keeping up can be a challenge. As an aid for our readers, here is a 10-question quiz based on the news of the week. Topics include the Omicron
A bacterium common in the mouse gut microbiome can charge up the immune system to fight cancer cells in the colon, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine report today in the journal Immunity. The study showed that bacterium Helicobacter hepaticus boosted adaptive immune response and prompted selective activation of Helper T cells
A loving mother. An impactful educator. A community leader. All this, wrapped up in an infectious smile. That’s how those touched by the life of Kayla Christian describe her. Christian, a preschool teacher at Grace Early Learning Center in Georgetown, Kentucky, died in November from breast cancer at the age of 33. The beloved teacher
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is revising the current Global Testing Order to shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States. This revision strengthens already robust protocols in place for international travel, including requirements for foreign travelers to be
It wasn’t until after she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder that Argentine photographer Magali realised that the symptoms of her mental health condition had always been there to see – in her work When I was a kid, I read a lot, wrote stories, and drew a little. It was my dream to publish a
Six studies comprising 389,228 participants and 2,627 COVID-19 infected people revealed that wearing protective masks lowers the risk of COVID-19 incidence by a staggering 53 percent. While fully-vaccinated individuals are at a lower risk of contracting and spreading the deadly virus, the cases of breakeven infections are currently being reviewed across the globe to develop
Approximately 75% of skin-test results among individuals with allergic reactions to beta-lactams were negative, based on data from 175 patients. The World Allergy Organization distinguishes between allergy and nonallergic hypersensitivity, which may be useful in advising patients with drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR), wrote Lukas Joerg, MD, from University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues. “In
A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. To request an appointment or more information on aneurysm care at Mayo Clinic, visit https://mayocl.in/2UHoUKa. An aneurysm in the brain often looks like a berry hanging on a stem. A brain aneurysm can leak or rupture, causing bleeding into the
We explore the stages of intimacy, and dive into the secrets to long lasting love We often think of ‘a relationship’ as something that stays the same – but, in reality, they really have a life of their own. The miracle of intimacy takes time to find. To love, you must not only be strong
Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks about the Omicron coronavirus variant during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 1, 2021. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday said lab studies strongly suggest that booster shots will give you cross protection against a “wide range” of
After a long and tiring day at work, we understand if you’re tempted to lie down on the first thing you see and sleep. But did you know that mattresses play a big part in the overall quality of your sleep? That’s right, according to research, sleeping on a medium-firm mattress can do wonders for your spine
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The genetic changes found in the new Omicron variant indicate it could be passed more easily from person to person than Delta, according to the latest threat assessment from the United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency, which has done some of the
Between the emergence of the Omicron variant and an impending winter COVID surge, people may be wondering when they should get their COVID-19 booster shot. And public health experts agree: now is the time. The increase in antibody levels from a COVID-19 booster shot will not only protect people from the widely circulating Delta strain,