Clinical Trials & Research

Teams at the Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) and Université de Paris have discovered a new function of anti-HIV-1 antibodies by applying cutting-edge microscopy techniques to in vitro viral cultures. The scientists found that certain antibodies already known for effectively targeting HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein can prevent infected cells from releasing viral particles,

People over age 65 at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 have often been the least likely to receive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)—a highly effective treatment for the disease—both across and within U.S. states, according to new research co-authored by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The analysis will be published online February

Scientists recently assessed the immunogenicity of a third booster dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. The findings indicate that a booster immunization with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induces robust antibody responses against the omicron variant in individuals primed with two doses of either mRNA or inactivated

Smartphones can help alert you if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Washington University in St. Louis is expanding access to MO/Notify, a smartphone system that privately sends pop-up alerts to users in Missouri when they have spent time near someone who later tests positive for COVID-19. With COVID-19 infections still spreading rapidly, your

A graft can be a life-saving device for coronary heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. However, at small diameters -; such as the coronary artery in the heart -; long-term graft failure rates are often higher than 40 percent. A major cause of

Exposure to lead in drinking water, especially from private wells, during early childhood is associated with an increased risk of being reported for delinquency during teenage years, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that children who get their water from

Many heralded mass vaccination programs as the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with most developed governments managing to vaccinate a significant proportion of the population dismantling the restrictions designed to reduce the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). However, with a large proportion of the developing world unvaccinated,

In a recent study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers describe the kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific serum antibodies in convalescent children over six months following infection. Study: Dynamics of infection-elicited SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children over time. Image Credit: Maria Sbytova / Shutterstock.com SARS-CoV-2 infection induces an immune response that

A strong majority of American adults over 50—including the 37% of older adults who own guns or live with someone who does—supports specific steps that could reduce the risk of firearm injury and death, according to a University of Michigan study. The new national study shows support among older adults for everything from firearm safety

A new study being led by Loughborough University will look at the role dentists can play in reducing obesity in the UK. Over 50% of the global population are living with being overweight and are at increased risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. GPs and practice nurses have

The number of people hospitalized for a hypertensive crisis-;when blood pressure increases so much it can cause a heart attack, stroke or other sudden cardiovascular event-;more than doubled from 2002 to 2014, according to Cedars-Sinai investigators. The increase occurred during a period when some studies reported overall progress in blood pressure control and a decline

In a recent study posted to the journal Cell, researchers evaluated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination-induced cross-recognition of T cell responses among the early and novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Study: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination induces immunological T cell memory able to cross-recognize variants from Alpha to Omicron. Image Credit: BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Background The world has

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, a team of researchers evaluated the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among unvaccinated and vaccinated populations of South Africa and 50 other countries. Study: Using Survey Data to Estimate the Impact of the

Neighborhoods with more opioid overdoses have higher rates of child welfare investigations and confirmed cases of child maltreatment, a new study in Ohio finds. While other research has found this link at the county level, this study is one of the few to look at the crisis at the neighborhood level, said Bridget Freisthler, lead

Rapid, accessible and highly accurate detection of addictive substances such as opiates and cocaine is vital to reducing the adverse personal and societal impacts of addiction, something current drug detection systems can take too long to provide. However, on-site, real-time monitoring of abused drugs in a patient’s system could alert clinicians before dangerous levels are

The spread of infections from animals to humans is referred to as zoonosis. Earlier zoonotic episodes include the transmission of Yersinia pestis (plague) from a rodent flea or Ebola spreading from apes to humans, resulting in millions of deaths in Europe and Africa. Respiratory viruses such as influenza have been detected crossing species boundaries from

In a recent study, Japanese researchers report that the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, Omicron, has higher environmental stability than previous variants. Study: Differences in environmental stability among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: Omicron has higher stability. Fit Ztudio/Shutterstock The study, posted on the preprint server bioRxiv*, compared the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain

More than 1 in 5 adults is inactive in all but four states, according to new state maps of adult physical inactivity prevalence released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For these maps, physical inactivity for adults is defined as not participating in any physical activities outside of work over the last

The B.1.1.529 variant, also known as Omicron, was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa in November 2021.  Omicron is speculated to escape passive immune therapy of COVID-19 by convalescent plasma (CCP). Additionally, this variant exhibits a higher reinfection rate. Study: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents boosts neutralization capacity against SARS-CoV-2 Delta

New study results posted to the medRxiv* preprint server found that COVID vaccine boosters increase immunity by enhancing T cell immune memory. In the face of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) Omicron variant, vaccinated people who had received a third booster shot maintained high T cell responses than people with naturally acquired

A lot of people feel less anxious in a frightening situation if they don’t have to face it alone. But what if these people suffer from social anxiety – a disorder characterized by fears of embarrassing themselves in social situations? Does the soothing effect of a companion then have the contrary effect? Could a virtual

During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a peculiar phenomenon has been observed: younger individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had fewer cases and a lower mortality rate. It’s widely assumed that the human immune system develops continuously from birth to adolescence, and that immunity to infections is strongest in

As my kindergartner fumbled with his shoes, I stood at our door sifting through the mental parenting checklist newly lodged in my brain: backpack. Sweatshirt. Snacks. Sunscreen. Water bottle. KN95 mask. Vaccination card. Jesse asked for his cloth mask, and I explained again that if he wore that one he’d need to have on a

Since December 2019, Wuhan, China, has been conducting influenza and related disease monitoring, and a number of cases of viral pneumonia have been discovered, all of which have been diagnosed as viral pneumonia or pulmonary infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated it a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on January 12, 2020. The coronavirus Research Group dubbed

In a recent study published in the medRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers determined the impact of the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) and vaccination status on the SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics. The study concluded that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination lowered the susceptibility to infection and the

New kidney research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine is raising concerns that long-term use of drugs commonly prescribed to treat high-blood pressure and heart failure could be contributing to kidney damage. Patients should continue taking the medications, which include the well-known and widely used ACE inhibitors, the researchers say. But the scientists

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers determined evidence for post-exposure vaccination in reducing the mortality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Researchers concluded that post-exposure prophylaxis successfully decreased severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated death rates.  Study: BNT162b2 post-exposure-prophylaxis against COVID-19. Image Credit: Rido/Shutterstock Background Several drugs such as remdesivir,

In a recent study published on the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers tested the ability of vaccine, and vaccine and natural infection-induced immunity to neutralize the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant. Study: Sub-optimal Neutralisation of Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant by Antibodies induced by Vaccine alone or SARS-CoV-2 Infection plus Vaccine (Hybrid Immunity) post