Cancer surgery in Canadian Universal Health Care System during COVID-19

What The Study Did: Researchers sought to quantify cancer surgical backlog and determine whether there were differences in sociodemographic and hospital characteristics among patients undergoing cancer surgery before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors: Antoine Eskander, M.D., Sc.M., of Sunnybrook Health…

Global battle against antibiotic resistance requires tailored solutions

The global battle against antibiotic resistance can only succeed if local contexts are taken into account. “A tailored approach is needed in each country,” says Heiman Wertheim of Radboud university medical center. “There is no “one-size-fits-all’ solution.” This was the…

A stronger maths foundation in first grade

* First grade teachers can find out who is on track with math and who is lagging, using an accurate diagnostic test that they can administer in the classroom. * After Covid-19 school reopening, or during catch-up sessions in the…

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, symptom onset in culturally linked orthodox Jewish communities across multiple US regions

What The Study Did: This study of orthodox Jewisha dults across the United States found that socioculturally bound communities experienced early parallel outbreaks in discrete locations, notably prior to substantive medical and governmental directives. Authors: Jonathan I. Silverberg, M.D., Ph.D.,…

Hospital admissions associated with noncommunicable diseases during COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil

What The Study Did: Researchers assessed the number of hospital admissions for noncommunicable diseases (abnormal tissue growths, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal diseases) in São Paulo, Brazil, between January and June last year compared with the corresponding periods in the…

Neurologic involvement in children, adolescents hospitalized in US for COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome

What The Study Did: In this study, many children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children had neurologic involvement, mostly transient symptoms. A range of life-threatening and fatal neurologic conditions associated with COVID-19 infrequently occurred. Effects…

Small-scale fisheries offer strategies for resilience in the face of climate change

Coastal communities at the forefront of climate change reveal valuable approaches to foster adaptability and resilience, according to a worldwide analysis of small-scale fisheries by Stanford University researchers. Globally important for both livelihood and nourishment, small-scale fisheries employ about 90…

Association between COVID-19 lockdown measures, ED visits for violence-related injuries in Wales

What The Study Did: This study investigates emergency department visits for violence-related injuries occurring at home and outside the home in Cardiff, Wales, before and after COVID-19 lockdown measures were instituted in March 2020. Authors: Jonathan P. Shepherd, Ph.D., Crime…

Assessment of respiratory function in infants, young children wearing face masks during COVID-19 pandemic

What The Study Did: Wearing surgical face masks for 30 minutes was not associated with changes in respiratory parameters or clinical signs of respiratory distress in this study of 47 infants and young children in Italy. Authors: Silvia Bloise, M.D.,…

Why COVID-19 vaccine distribution methods fall short and 3 ways to improve them

BINGHAMTON, NY – Several proposals have emerged on how to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, but they fall short in ensuring that the vaccine is distributed fairly. A team including Binghamton University professor Nicole Hassoun suggests three ways to more fairly…

COVID-19 RCTs registered in 1st 100 days of pandemic

What The Study Did: Researchers assessed the recruitment and results reporting of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to treat or prevent COVID-19 registered within 100 days of the first case reported to the World Health Organization. Authors: Lars G. Hemkens, M.D., M.P.H.,…

FAPESP promotes webinar to discuss the impacts of pandemic on schools and families

The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing educational disparities. ‘Education: COVID-19 and social inequalities’ will be the theme of the next FAPESP COVID-19 Webinar on March 3rd, 2021

MUSC researcher awarded $9.9 million for tuberculosis treatment and prevention

Susan Dorman, M.D., an infectious disease physician at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), was recently awarded a 10-year, $9.9 million contract by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to run trials for the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC).…

Association of timing of school closings, behavioral changes with evolution of COVID-19 pandemic in US

What The Study Did: Using COVID-19 data, this observational study looked at what are the independent associations of voluntary behavioral change and legal restrictions, such as state-mandated school closings, with the subsequent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.…

Disease epidemic possibly caused population collapse in Central Africa 1600-1400 years ago

A new study published in the journal Science Advances shows that Bantu-speaking communities in the Congo rainforest underwent a major population collapse from 1600 to 1400 years ago, probably due to a prolonged disease epidemic, and that significant resettlement did…

Heat islands and lack of running water promote dengue fever in Delhi, India

What if more inclusive urban planning for poor populations was key to fighting dengue fever? This is what researchers from the CNRS, the Institut Pasteur and the Indian Council of Medical Research (1) have demonstrated using a geographical approach applied…

National trends in us otolaryngology surgical volume early in COVID-19 pandemic

What The Study Did: Changes in otolaryngology surgical volumes in the United States early on in the COVID-19 pandemic are described in this study. Authors: Anirudh Saraswathula, M.D., M.S., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, is the corresponding…

Brazil: Air conditioning equipment days of use will double without climate action

Space cooling already accounts for 14% of residential electricity demand in Brazil, and it is expected to increase further because of climate change. Very few studies investigate the relationship between climate change, cooling needs, and electricity demand. In a new…

COVID-19 pandemic as opportunity to ensure more successful future for science, public health

What The Viewpoint Says: The missteps and miscommunications that have stymied a more effective U.S. and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic bring into sharp focus the deficiencies in governance systems of the U.S. public health and scientific institutions. Authors:…

SARS-CoV-2 infection among migrant workers in Singapore

What The Study Did: Researchers examined how common SARS- CoV-2 infection was among migrant workers in Singapore. Authors: Vernon J. Lee, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., of the Ministry of Health in Singapore, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For…

Half of global wastewater treated, rates in developing countries still lagging

A new study by scientists at Utrecht University and the United Nations University concludes that about half of global wastewater is treated, rather than the previous estimate of 20%. Despite this promising finding, the authors warn that treatment rates in…

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors associated with COVID-19 among outpatients in Virginia

What The Study Did: Researchers assessed what percentage of the Virginia population had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 after the first wave of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. Authors: Eric R. Houpt, M.D., of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, is the corresponding…

Comparison of demand for drugs for COVID-19 treatment, other drugs early in pandemic in Italy

What The Study Did: The National Health Service in Italy provides universal coverage to citizens but because no approved drug was available for COVID-19, patients received potentially effective drugs, participated in clinical trials, accessed compassionate drug use programs or self-medicated.…

Proton pump inhibitor use by children, risk of asthma

What The Study Did: Researchers investigated the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors among children and adolescents in Sweden and the risk of asthma. Authors: Yun-Han Wang, M.Sc., B.Pharm., of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, is the corresponding…

New study shows pandemic’s toll on jobs, businesses, and food security in poorer countries

A new study by an international team of economists published Feb.5 in Science Advances finds COVID-19 and its economic shock present a stark threat to residents of low- and middle-income countries — where most of the world’s population resides.