Convalescent plasma could reduce death from COVID-19, early data suggests
(Nicoletta Lanese / LiveScience) — COVID-19 patients treated with the blood of those who have recovered from the infection die at significantly lower rates than those given standard treatments alone, according to a preliminary analysis.
In their analysis, posted July 30 to the preprint database bioRxiv, the researchers looked at …
32% of Canadians may hold off on getting eventual COVID-19 vaccine, survey shows
(Lauren Pelley/ CBC News) — For months, governments around the world have imposed lockdowns and travel bans, shuttered schools, and blocked visitors from hospitals and long-term care homes, all in the name of slowing transmission of the new coronavirus.
But most members of the medical community agree widespread uptake of an eventual …
New obesity guidelines focus on root causes, bias against overweight patients
(Canadian Press) — New guidelines published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal stress the need to focus on root causes when treating obesity rather than weight loss alone.
That means working with patients to understand the “context and culture” that underlie the issue, which could include genetics, trauma …
How to stay fit into your 60s and beyond
(Julie Broderick/ The Conversation) — Ageing is inevitable and is influenced by many things – but keeping active can slow ageing and increase life expectancy. Evidence shows that ageing alone is not a cause of major problems until you are in your mid-90s. And strength, power and muscle mass can be increased, even at this advanced age. …
From ‘brain fog’ to heart damage, COVID-19’s lingering problems alarm scientists
(Jennifer Couzin-Frankel/ Science) — Athena Akrami’s neuroscience lab reopened last month without her. Life for the 38-year-old is a pale shadow of what it was before 17 March, the day she first experienced symptoms of the novel coronavirus. At University College London (UCL), Akrami’s students probe how the brain organizes memories …
How some OECD countries helped control COVID-19 in long-term care homes
(David O’Toole/ The Conversation) — People living in long-term care facilities and seniors’ residences have had their lives disproportionately affected by measures taken to stem the spread of COVID-19. In addition to things like social distancing and hand-washing, policies in Canada and other countries have included quarantining …
7 top fruits to support weight loss (and how to enjoy them)
(Elizabeth Millard/ Everyday Health) — When it comes to losing weight, a big challenge for many people is giving up dessert, which is seemingly ubiquitous. Maybe your coworker brought donuts in for the team or candy bars seem to beckon you from the grocery checkout aisle. And, well, when the holidays roll around, all bets are off. It’s …
Young kids, adults may have same amount of coronavirus in upper airways
(Brian P. Dunleavy/ UPI) — Young children with mild or moderate COVID-19 may have the same or higher amounts of virus in their upper respiratory tracts as older children and adults, a study published Thursday by JAMA Pediatrics found.
This could indicate that children age 5 and younger can “spread the virus as efficiently as adults,” …
COVID ‘super spreaders’ fill room with virus
(Dennis Thompson/ HealthDay News) — Face masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among folks trapped in a room with an infected “super spreader,” a new Swiss study claims.
Most infected people with a typical COVID viral load don’t flood the air with coronavirus-infected respiratory droplets, and the risk …