As the COVID-19 vaccines reach more people across the country, some people have asked: Could we delay the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to allow more people to be vaccinated more quickly? And, how safe am I after my first dose? As an immunologist, I hear this question frequently. The answer is […]
U.S. FDA Approves Yescarta for Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma After Two or More Lines of Systemic Therapy
SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mar. 5, 2021– Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The approval makes Yescarta the first chimeric antigen receptor […]
Online dating: Super effective, or just… superficial?
According to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 10 American adults have landed a long-term relationship from an online dating app, such as Tinder, OKCupid and Match.com. But what compels people to “swipe right” on certain profiles and reject others? New research from William Chopik, an associate professor in the Michigan State University Department of […]
Accidentally Trashed, Thawed or Expired: Reports of Covid Vaccine Spoilage
As the speed of covid vaccinations picks up, so do the reports of doses going to waste. And it’s more than just a handful at the end of the day because of a few appointment cancellations. Health officials are trying to rein in waste without slowing down vaccinations. The incidents range from 335 discarded doses […]
Abnormal sodium levels in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 predict death or respiratory failure
Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and abnormal sodium levels in the blood have an increased risk of experiencing respiratory failure or dying, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. “This study shows for the first time that patients presenting at the hospital with COVID-19 and low sodium are […]
Vitamins and steroid combination in sepsis patients do not improve recovery, organ failure or death in clinical trial
A Phase III clinical trial at Emory University and 42 other U.S. sites has determined that a vitamin and steroid combination given to critically ill patients with sepsis did not improve recovery, organ failure or death, when compared to a placebo. The findings of the clinical trial, which ended early, were published today in the […]
5 factors that could dictate the success or failure of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
As a viral immunologist who develops immunization strategies to prevent infectious diseases and treat cancers, I would like to highlight outstanding questions about the emergency use of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines have raised hopes that the pandemic is nearing an end. Hopefully this is true, but here are some […]
Pregnant or postpartum Black women are 45% more likely to die in the hospital and are at higher risk for heart problems
In her last trimester, in the midst of dealing with family and work issues as well as preparing for a new baby, Michelle Emebo felt stressed. “I didn’t realize how much it was impacting me until I went to see my health care provider and my blood pressure was up,” she said. Doctors monitored her […]
What happens when your brain can’t tell which way is up or down?
What feels like up may actually be some other direction depending on how our brains process our orientation, according to psychology researchers at York University’s Faculty of Health. In a new study published in PLoS One, researchers at York University’s Centre for Vision Research found that an individual’s interpretation of the direction of gravity can […]
I can’t get sunburnt through glass, shade or in water, right? 5 common sunburn myths busted
Despite decades of public health campaigns, skin cancer remains a major threat to health in Australia, with more cases diagnosed each year than all other cancers combined. Skin cancer rates remain high and sunburn is all too common in Australia. Our research looks at how best to inform people about the hazards of ultraviolet (UV) […]