News &amp; Updates

Patients on statin medication prior to being hospitalized for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have lower odds of death, a recent study has found. Such an effect is particularly stronger among those with a history of cardiovascular disease and/or hypertension.

Statins, antihypertensive drugs protective against severe COVID-19 outcomes

Intensified CMV prophylaxis does not reduce infection incidence in kidney recipients

28 Jul 2021 by

Strengthening cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis with exclusive use of valganciclovir and by extending the course results in longer time to first CMV infection but does not lower the incidence of the disease at 24 months, a Singapore study has shown. Valacyclovir appears to be a good substitute for valganciclovir, especially in resource-limited settings or in situations when the latter cannot be tolerated.

Intensified CMV prophylaxis does not reduce infection incidence in kidney recipients

Well-balanced immune, inflammatory response hallmarks of asymptomatic COVID-19

28 Jul 2021 by

Patients for whom the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains asymptomatic appear to mount a lower proinflammatory response to the virus, as well as a stronger systemic immune response, suggestive of better disease tolerance, according to a recent Singapore study.

Well-balanced immune, inflammatory response hallmarks of asymptomatic COVID-19

Candesartan may help fight COVID-19

27 Jul 2021 by

Use of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) candesartan in the treatment of COVID-19 appears to shorten hospital stay overall, as well as speed up lung injury resolution and viral clearance for patients without obesity, according to the results of a study from Indonesia.

Candesartan may help fight COVID-19

27 Jul 2021

People with learning disability at greater risk of hospitalization, death due to COVID-19

27 Jul 2021 by

Individuals with learning disability show much higher risks of being admitted to a hospital and dying from COVID-19 compared with risks seen for non-COVID causes of death, reveals a study.

People with learning disability at greater risk of hospitalization, death due to COVID-19

27 Jul 2021

Cholecalciferol, calcifediol supplements boost protection against COVID-19

27 Jul 2021 by

Supplementation with cholecalciferol or calcifediol to improve vitamin D status can lead to large, population-wide improvements in outcomes of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a recent study has found.

Cholecalciferol, calcifediol supplements boost protection against COVID-19

27 Jul 2021

First dose of ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 vaccines may be protective in LTCF residents after 4 weeks

Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents aged ≥65 years appeared to be protected from COVID-19 4–7 weeks after receiving their first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccine, according to a study presented at ECCMID 2021.

First dose of ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 vaccines may be protective in LTCF residents after 4 weeks

Migraine tied to more COVID-19 symptoms

People with migraine were more likely to report having COVID-19 symptoms, yet less likely to utilize healthcare resources compared with infected individuals without migraine, according to a study presented at the 2021 AHS Annual Meeting.

Migraine tied to more COVID-19 symptoms

MRSA acquisition in hospitals tied to ward characteristics

In hospitals, the risk of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is high in wards that receive a high number of MRSA-colonized patients coming from other wards, according to a Singapore study.

MRSA acquisition in hospitals tied to ward characteristics

T-cell responses to BNT162b2 vaccine not weakened by methotrexate

Patients with psoriasis taking the immunosuppressant methotrexate had low antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 after receiving the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s BNT162b2 vaccine but had shown T-cell responses, according to a study that was the first to look at T-cell responses in patients taking methotrexate.

T-cell responses to BNT162b2 vaccine not weakened by methotrexate