Obesity confirmed as major risk factor for severe COVID-19

A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found more than three-quarters of people presenting at a hospital with COVID-19 were either obese or overweight. The findings build on a convincing body of research suggestin… Continue reading Obesity confirmed as major risk factor for severe COVID-19

US COVID-19 blood plasma trial halted by NIH

A clinical trial run by the National Institutes of Health exploring the efficacy of convalescent plasma in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 patients has been halted. The once-promising treatment was deemed unlikely to be of any benefit and follows on… Continue reading US COVID-19 blood plasma trial halted by NIH

NIH study confirms SARS-CoV-2 reinfections are relatively rare

A new study examining data from more than three million people suggests reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is still quite rare. The research affirms a positive antibody test following an initial infection can be associated wit… Continue reading NIH study confirms SARS-CoV-2 reinfections are relatively rare

Immune cell “switch” helps send inflammatory bowel disease into remission

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are unpleasant, chronic conditions with few effective treatment options. Now, researchers at KU Leuven and Seoul National University may have found a way to potentiall… Continue reading Immune cell “switch” helps send inflammatory bowel disease into remission

Immune system found to evolve a tripwire defense for invading viruses

Just as pathogens evolve new tricks to evade our body’s safeguards and cause infection, our immune system can also develop new tricks that keep these nasty invaders at bay. New research has revealed an interesting example of this, demonstrating how the… Continue reading Immune system found to evolve a tripwire defense for invading viruses

Positive early data from large Phase 3 COVID-19 antibody trial

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has announced its experimental antibody treatment can reduce a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19 by up to 80 percent. These preliminary results, from an ongoing Phase 3 trial, suggest the treatment may be an effecti… Continue reading Positive early data from large Phase 3 COVID-19 antibody trial

Breakthrough study finds age-related cognitive decline may be reversible

A breakthrough study from a team of neurologists at Stanford University claims to have discovered one way immune cells become dysfunctional as we age, leading to the inflammatory hyperdrive that plays a role in most age-related disease from cancer to c… Continue reading Breakthrough study finds age-related cognitive decline may be reversible

Breakthrough study finds age-related cognitive decline may be reversible

A breakthrough study from a team of neurologists at Stanford University claims to have discovered one way immune cells become dysfunctional as we age, leading to the inflammatory hyperdrive that plays a role in most age-related disease from cancer to c… Continue reading Breakthrough study finds age-related cognitive decline may be reversible

Large US study affirms men more vulnerable to COVID-19 than women

A new study looking at data from nearly 100,000 subjects in Houston, Texas, has affirmed men seem much more vulnerable to COVID-19 than women. The study found men, independent of age, are more likely to contract the virus, suffer from severe complicati… Continue reading Large US study affirms men more vulnerable to COVID-19 than women

COVID-19 blood plasma therapy ineffective in severely ill patients

Early findings from a large international clinical trial suggest severely ill COVID-19 patients do not benefit from an experimental therapy involving infusions of blood plasma from those who have recovered from the disease. This particular arm of the s… Continue reading COVID-19 blood plasma therapy ineffective in severely ill patients