Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
UK and US researchers determine that, in patients at high risk for severe COVID-19, the benefits of early treatment with the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab may extend beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 and contribute to the prevention of long-COVID symptoms. The findings are published in the journal Infection. (Soucheray, 3/25)
Notably, the authors found that people who later had persistent COVID-19 symptoms following acute infections鈥攐r long COVID鈥攈ad higher resting heart rates (RHRs; mean difference, 2.37 beats per minute) and lower daily step counts (mean, 3,030 fewer steps), at least 3 weeks prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to negative controls. (Soucheray, 3/21)
Scientists used advanced data analysis and machine learning to identify the viral proteins that may trigger autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. (University of Utah Health, 3/26)
Researchers have discovered that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have a persistent effect on the innate immune system. These mechanisms may help the human body to better protect itself against potential future infections. (University of Cologne, 3/26)
A large study to gauge how susceptible US dairy and beef cattle are to influenza A viruses found that they are susceptible to human seasonal flu strains as well as swine influenza viruses, researchers based at the University of Missouri reported yesterday in mSphere. Yesterday marked 1 year since H5N1 avian flu was first confirmed in dairy cattle, which occurred in a herd from Texas. (Schnirring, 3/26)
Obesity was tied with 16 common health concerns in a longitudinal cohort study, with the magnitude of risk correlating with the level of obesity. (Monaco, 3/26)