Category: Health News

Black surgical patients used telehealth more often in late 2020

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons sought to take a closer look at the patients who sought surgical consultations in-person and via telemedicine in 2020.   Between March 24 and June 23, researchers found that Latinx patients were significantly less likely to have video telemedicine compared with audio-only

New device developed for easier link between brain, computer, and body

Scientists from Skoltech, South Ural State University, and elsewhere have developed a device for recording brain activity that is more compact and affordable than the solutions currently on the market. With its high signal quality and customizable configuration, the device could help people with restricted mobility regain control of their limbs or provide advance warnings

63.5% of Australia’s performing artists reported worsening mental health during COVID

92% of performing artists experienced significant changes to their work during early stages of the pandemic—and at least half experienced depression. These shocking figures comes from new research talking to hundreds of performing artists from across Australia. The impact of COVID-19 was particularly devastating for performing artists because their artistic practice is highly ingrained in

Viruses unleashed into a woman’s wound to slay superbug in her leg

A woman’s oozing wound failed to heal after nearly two years of antibiotic treatments intended to vanquish the bacterial infection. So her doctors unleashed viruses to slay the superbug. The experimental therapy specifically involved viruses that infect bacteria, known as bacteriophages, or “phages” for short. And although antibiotics alone had failed to heal the patient’s

Stuck in a rut? Here's how to break out of languishing limbo

If you’ve been feeling restless, apathetic or even emotionally empty since the pandemic began, you may be ‘languishing’. Languishing is described as an emotional state of limbo, aimlessness and low mood, which can last for a long time. But while languishing isn’t itself considered a mental health disorder, it could ultimately lead to anxiety or

Cerebrospinal fluid offers clues to post-COVID ‘brain fog’

Some patients who develop new cognitive symptoms after a mild bout of COVID have abnormalities in their cerebrospinal fluid similar to those found in people with other infectious diseases. The finding may provide insights into how SARS-CoV-2 impacts the brain. In a small study with 32 adults, comprising 22 with cognitive symptoms and 10 control

Antibody combination produces a synergistic response in difficult-to-treat pediatric cancers

A combination of anti-cancer antibodies produced a powerfully synergistic response in two hard-to-treat pediatric cancers, according to a new study, in mice, led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The results, which published online Jan. 13 in Nature Medicine, provide hope for better treatments of neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting young children that

CVD Preventive Med Use Down During COVID-19 Pandemic

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The study covered in this summary was published in medRxiv.org as a preprint and has not yet been peer-reviewed. Key Takeaways Medication prescribing and dispensing in the United Kingdom were hampered during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not recovered to prepandemic

Psychiatry Resident’s Posts Reveal His Mental Health Battle

First-year psychiatry resident Jake Goodman, MD, knew he was taking a chance when he opened up on his popular social media platforms about his personal mental health battle. He mulled over the decision for several weeks before deciding to take the plunge. Dr Jake Goodman As he voiced recently on his TikTok page, his biggest

COVID Deaths and Cases Are Rising Again at US Nursing Homes

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. COVID-19 infections are soaring again at U.S. nursing homes because of the omicron wave, and deaths are climbing too, leading to new restrictions on family visits and a renewed push to get more residents and staff members vaccinated and boosted. Nursing

Researchers report isolation of potently neutralizing antibodies against highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), led to severe health and economic losses worldwide. Repeated clusters of mutations have led to the emergence of variants of the virus with higher transmissibility or immune evasion capabilities than the original virus, threatening the success of public health

Australia has record COVID-19 deaths, hospitals under stress

Australia reported a record high of COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, and its second-largest state declared an emergency in hospitals to cope with surging patient admissions and a staffing shortage due to the coronavirus. The 74 deaths occurred in its three most populous states. New South Wales reported 36, Victoria reported 22 and Queensland 16. The previous

Additional antibodies may protect against COVID

When we talk about antibodies against COVID-19, we tend to mean the so-called neutralizing antibodies, that offer protection by blocking the virus from invading our cells. Now, a new study from Lund University in Sweden has revealed that non-neutralizing antibodies may also be important in providing protection against COVID. “Our results indicate that non-neutralizing antibodies