Currently, in various areas of the world, 13 COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use. In this feature, we look at the types and their reported side effects. As the global effort to produce vaccines that can curb the COVID-19 pandemic forges ahead, headlines continue to highlight development breakthroughs and safety concerns. This article summarizes […]
Face masks reduce the spread of the new coronavirus and may also lessen the severity of COVID-19. The present study finds that masks increase the humidity of the air that a person breathes. The researchers propose reasons that explain why increased humidity may reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases. Researchers have found that wearing a […]
Research has suggested that the absence of parasite infections may be linked to an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions. According to a new review of existing studies, parasites may have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent aging. Controlled restorative therapies can be beneficial for regulating a proper immune response. Through centuries of evolution, the human […]
Star-shaped brain cells called “astrocytes” are key in regulating the development of other nerve cells. However, malfunctioning astrocytes can play roles in inflammation and the deterioration of nerve cells. A new study in mice has identified a previously undescribed type of astrocyte, which, the researchers say, may actually protect against inflammation. The study has also […]
The remarkable success of antiviral therapy means that most people with HIV can now expect to live long and fulfilling lives. However, the increasing number of older people with HIV still face a range of challenges to their physical and mental health. In 1995, with the advent of antiviral drug mixtures known as combination antiretroviral […]
A new intergovernmental report has argued that the frequency and severity of pandemics will increase unless authorities worldwide put policies in place to lower the risk. The new report has argued that preemptive global action is necessary to avoid more frequent and severe pandemics. The authors behind the report, which the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on […]
New research suggests that catalase, a naturally occurring enzyme in humans, plants, and animals, can suppress the replication of the new coronavirus in rhesus monkeys. The results also indicate that this low cost enzyme could dampen the inflammatory response that occurs in severe COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect in the United […]
A study finds that belief in conspiracy theories and its effect upon individual behaviors rose between March and July 2020. While many other countries have managed to control the spread of COVID-19, the death toll from the disease continues to rise in the United States. The Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of […]
New research has identified an association between heavy metal and radioactive soil pollution and the antibacterial resistance of bacteria living in that soil. The research, which appears in the journal Microbial Biotechnology, adds weight to earlier findings. Indeed, previous research suggests that because bacteria adapt to heavy metal and radioactive pollution, they also develop antibacterial […]
Scientists have shown that currents measured in millionths of an amp kill bacteria by disrupting their outer membranes. The finding may inspire new antimicrobial technologies that use electricity to slow the spread of antibiotic resistant infections. Scientists have known since the 1960s that electricity can kill or suppress the growth of bacteria. The increasing threat […]
