Positive SARS-CoV-2 test result linked to psychiatric morbidity

(HealthDay)—Having a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test result seems to be associated with an increased risk for psychiatric morbidity, fatigue, and sleep problems, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in JAMA Network Open. Kathryn M. Abel, M.D., Ph.D., from the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust in the United Kingdom,

Moderna asks FDA to OK its booster shot for all adults

(HealthDay)—Moderna asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday to allow emergency use of the company’s coronavirus vaccine booster for all adults aged 18 and older. Currently, the booster is approved for people 65 and older, along with adults in long-term care homes, those with underlying medical conditions and those with jobs that put

OSHA Suspends Implementation of Vaccine Mandate

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Responding to a federal court order, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is suspending implementation and enforcement of its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for organizations with 100 or more employees.The OSHA website now carries this statement about the agency’s COVID mandate, officially called

Strategy to overcome tumors’ resistance to immunotherapy generates promising clinical trial results

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can boost the immune system’s response to tumor cells, but the medications tend to be ineffective against certain cancers, especially colorectal and pancreatic cancers. A new clinical trial led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) indicates that combining radiation with immune checkpoint inhibitors may be an effective strategy to combat these

Better management of high cholesterol needed in young adults

(HealthDay)—Many young adults with moderate or severe hypercholesterolemia do not achieve guideline-directed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction, according to a research letter published online Nov. 15 in JAMA Cardiology to coincide with the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2021, held virtually from Nov. 13 to 15. Shauna L. Newton, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in

Message to Forgo PSA screening Is Not ‘Getting Through’

Screening of healthy men with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test has increased in recent years in the United States. This is despite the fact that the US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended against routine screening of healthy men since 2012. There was a bit of a change in 2017, when the Task Force

Diroximel Fumarate (Vumerity) Cleared for MS in Europe

The European Commission (EC) has approved diroximel fumarate (Vumerity, Biogen Inc) for treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The approval follows a thumbs-up from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September, as reported by Medscape Medical News.   Diroximel fumarate is similar to

Excess mortality reveals infection speed in COVID-19 is low with seasonal infection patterns and escape variants

The replication number, or R0, describes the average number of transmissions from a single individual in a population with no immunity. It can only be calculated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in populations before vaccinations, widespread infections, or social distancing measures, leading to a limited window for datasets. The estimated R0 varies greatly, with results