In race for vaccine, safety trumps speed

The halting of clinical trials for one of the most advanced experimental COVID-19 vaccines shows the importance of safety in developing new medicines despite overwhelming international pressure, experts said Wednesday. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford said Tuesday they were “pausing” trials of the vaccine after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. AstraZeneca […]

Hong Kong begins mass-testing for virus amid public doubts

Hong Kong tested thousands of people for coronavirus Tuesday at the start of a mass-testing effort that’s become another political flash point in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Volunteers stood in lines at some of the more than 100 testing centers, though many residents are distrustful over the resources and staff being provided by China’s central […]

Teachers line up for hours in Madrid for virus test

Thousands of teachers lined up for hours in Madrid on Wednesday to be tested for the coronavirus before the start of the new school term next week as concern mounts over a spike in infections. The regional government of Madrid, which is responsible for education and health care, summoned teachers on Tuesday night to be […]

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for 6 percent of frontline health care personnel

(HealthDay)—Six percent of health care personnel (HCP) caring for patients with COVID-19 have positive test results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, according to research published in the Aug. 31 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Wesley H. Self, M.D., from the […]

Smartwatch app compared to standard ECG for acute coronary syndromes

For patients with acute coronary syndrome, a smartwatch app can detect normal electrocardiography (ECG) and ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevations, with accuracy comparable to that of a standard ECG, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in JAMA Cardiology to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2020: The Digital Experience, held virtually from […]

Elevated ‘hunger’ hormone leaves trauma-exposed teens at higher risk for PTSD

Chronic stress increases a blood-based hormone called acyl-ghrelin for years after the initial traumatic stressor exposure in some adolescents, and those with elevated levels of the hormone are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to experience more severe cases of the condition, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Icahn […]