Each week, HealthDay's Physician's Briefing division rounds up the most important COVID-19 developments in the medical field. See this week's edition below for July 6-July 10.
Gilead Presents Additional Data on Efficacy of Remdesivir for COVID-19
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There is more good news on the effectiveness of the antiviral drug remdesivir against COVID-19, according to new clinical trial results from the drug's maker.
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Risk for COVID-19 Increased for Adults Taking PPIs
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Adults taking proton pump inhibitors have an increased risk for having a positive COVID-19 test, with evidence of a dose-response relationship, according to a study published online July 7 in preprint format in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
WHO to Lead Investigation of COVID-19 Pandemic Origins
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The World Health Organization will lead an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
Emphasizing Severity of COVID-19 Important for Teen Behaviors
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For adolescents, understanding the severity of COVID-19 and valuing social responsibility are associated with acting in socially responsible ways, including more social distancing and disinfecting, according to a study published online June 29 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Children Seem Not to Be Driving SARS-COV-2 Transmission
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Children are mainly infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in familial clusters, suggesting that transmission in schools is likely to be less than expected and that school closures are not necessary, according to a study and accompanying editorial published online July 10 in Pediatrics.
COVID-19 Explored in Kidney Recipients, Hemodialysis Patients
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Many outpatient kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 have symptomatic resolution without requiring hospitalization, and hospitalized COVID-19 patients on hemodialysis have worse outcomes than those without kidney failure, according to two studies recently published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Incidence of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Up During COVID-19
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online July 9 in JAMA Network Open.
Sick Days Up for Some Essential Workers During COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Increases in health-related workplace absenteeism were seen in April 2020 in personal care and service, health care support, and production occupations, according to research published in the July 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbates Mental Health Issues
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Just as the physical symptoms of COVID-19 vary among the population, mental health is enduring a variety of effects from the virus as well, according to Don Mordecai, M.D., national mental health and wellness lead at Kaiser Permanente, who recently spoke with HD Live! about the effects of the pandemic on mental health.
Spectrum of Neurological Disorders Linked to SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is associated with a spectrum of neurological disorders, according to a study published online July 8 in Brain.
CDC Updates Info on COVID-19 Cases at Meat, Poultry Processing Facilities
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 was confirmed in 16,233 workers in 239 meat and poultry processing facilities in 23 states through May 31, 2020, according to research published in the July 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
February to March 2020 Saw Surge in Hydroxychloroquine Rx
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From February to March 2020, there was a considerable increase in the number of patients receiving outpatient prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and azithromycin, according to a research letter published online July 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Profiled
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which coincided with COVID-19, is described in children and adolescents in the United States and New York state in two reports published online June 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Rising Number of People Report Anxiety, Depression During COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- New evidence shows that depression and anxiety are increasing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released by Mental Health America.
COVID-19 Antibody Cocktail Begins Late-Stage Human Trials
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Late-stage human trials to assess whether a double antibody cocktail can prevent and treat COVID-19 infection have started, biotechnology company Regeneron said Monday.
Company Gets $1.6 Billion From U.S. Government for COVID-19 Vaccine
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccine maker Novavax will receive $1.6 billion from the U.S. government to provide 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by early 2021, the Maryland-based company said Monday.
Acute Ischemic Stroke Risk Higher With COVID-19 Than Influenza
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with COVID-19 appear to have a heightened risk for acute ischemic stroke compared with patients with influenza, according to a study published online July 2 in JAMA Neurology.
Social Distancing Effective for Mitigating COVID-19 Spread
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Social distancing is one of the main measures to combat COVID-19 spread, according to a study published online July 1 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Chilblains in Recent Case Series Not Tied to COVID-19 Infection
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a case series of 31 patients, published online June 25 in JAMA Dermatology, chilblains did not appear to be directly associated with COVID-19.
Major Medical Groups Urge Americans to Wear Face Masks
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Three major medical groups are urging Americans to wear face masks, wash their hands, and practice social distancing as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the United States.
Fight Against COVID-19 Threatens Progress Against Other Diseases
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Decades of progress against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases worldwide are threatened by the diversion of resources on the COVID-19 pandemic, the International AIDS Society says in a report to be published this week.
FDA Warns About Hand Sanitizers With Methanol
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A warning about hand sanitizer products that contain methanol (wood alcohol), a substance often used to create fuel and antifreeze, has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Scientists Say New Coronavirus Can Linger in Indoor Air
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The new coronavirus can linger in indoor air and infect people, 239 scientists in 32 countries say in an open letter to the World Health Organization that challenges the WHO's position on how the virus is spread.
Endotheliopathy ID'd in COVID-19, Tied to Higher Mortality Risk
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Endotheliopathy is present in COVID-19 and is associated with critical illness and death, according to a study published online June 30 in The Lancet Haematology.
Outcomes Similar for COVID-19 in Patients With, Without HIV
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Persons with HIV hospitalized with COVID-19 have similar outcomes to demographically matched patients without HIV, according to a study published online June 28 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Most Using Online COVID-19 Tool Report Mild, Moderate Symptoms
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of individuals using an online COVID-19 self-assessment tool report mild or moderate symptoms possibly associated with COVID-19, according to research published online June 15 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.