Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19


Authors: Ben Hu, Hua Guo, Peng Zhou & Zheng-Li Shi  Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 19, pages141–154 (2021) Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 and has caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named ‘coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19), which threatens human health and public safety. In this Review, we […]

COVID-19 related concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions: a qualitative study


Authors: Keir E. J. Philip,  Bradley Lonergan, Andrew Cumella, Joe Farrington-Douglas, Michael Laffan & Nicholas S. Hopkinson BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 20, Article number: 319 (2020)  Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical conditions who appear to be particularly vulnerable. There are limited data […]

The characteristics and evolution of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 patients as assessed by AI-assisted chest HRCT


Authors: Jia-Ni Zou , Liu Sun , Bin-Ru Wang , You Zou , Shan Xu, Yong-Jun Ding, Li-Jun Shen, Wen-Cai Huang, Xiao-Jing Jiang, Shi-Ming Chen  Published: March 23, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248957 Abstract The characteristics and evolution of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been adequately studied. AI-assisted chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was used to […]

The incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of pneumothorax in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A systematic review


Authors: Woon H. Chong,a,⁎Biplab K. Saha,bKurt Hu,c and Amit Chopraa Abstract Background Pneumothorax has been frequently described as a complication of COVID-19 infections. Objective In this systematic review, we describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19-related pneumothorax. Methods Studies were identified through MEDLINE, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases using keywords of “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” “pneumothorax,” “pneumomediastinum,” […]

Informed consent disclosure to vaccine trial subjects of risk of COVID‐19 vaccines worsening clinical disease


Authors: Timothy Cardozo 1 and Ronald Veazey 2 Abstract Aims of the study Patient comprehension is a critical part of meeting medical ethics standards of informed consent in study designs. The aim of the study was to determine if sufficient literature exists to require clinicians to disclose the specific risk that COVID‐19 vaccines could worsen disease upon exposure to […]

U.S. probing Moderna vaccine for higher heart inflammation risk – Washington Post


Authors: Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Ramakrishnan M. Aug 19 (Reuters) – U.S. health officials are investigating reports that Moderna Inc’s (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccine may be linked to a higher risk of a rare heart condition in younger adults than previously thought, the Washington Post reported late on Thursday, citing […]

Scientists blast U.S. push for Covid vaccine booster shots as premature, say data isn’t compelling


PUBLISHED THU, AUG 19 20211:44 PM EDTUPDATED THU, AUG 19 20216:27 PM EDT Authors: Berkeley Lovelace Jr.@BERKELEYJR KEY POINTS Scientists sharply criticized the Biden administration’s push to widely distribute Covid booster shots, saying the data provided by U.S. officials wasn’t compelling. While data suggests there is a reduction in protection against mild and moderate disease, […]

Delta is surging, but is another variant on the way? Here’s what to know about lambda


Ben Sessoms, The Charlotte Observer   The delta variant is by far the dominant strain of the coronavirus in North Carolina and the rest of the country, but experts say there are also other variants to watch. Before delta, there was alpha, beta and gamma. Now there is another, lambda, which is primarily spreading in South America. […]

US Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections-are-Uncommon Rising Considerably and D-19 Breakthrough Infections are Uncommon, Rising Considerably, and Sort of Okay


Authors: PETER WEBER 5:20 AM The Biden administration is advising eight-month booster shots for Americans vaccinated with the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines because the Delta variant, which now accounts for about 98.8 percent of new U.S. infections, is a lot more contagious and the effectiveness of the vaccines appears to wane with time.  “Fortunately,” the COVID-19 vaccines are […]

Covid Vaccines Are Less Effective Against Delta, Large Study Finds Naomi Kresge Bookmark August 19 2021, 4:31 AM


Authors: Naomi Kresge Copyright © BloombergQuintCopyright © Covid-19 vaccines are less effective against the delta variant, according to results in the U.K. from one of the largest real-world studies into the efficacy of the shots. Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s messenger RNA vaccine lost effectiveness in the first 90 days after full vaccination, though that […]