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Showing posts from April, 2022

Study reveals how Covid-19 infections can set off massive inflammation in the body - CNN

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(CNN) From the early days of the pandemic, doctors noticed that in severe cases of Covid-19 -- the ones that landed people in the hospital on ventilators with shredded lungs -- most of the internal wreckage wasn't being directly inflicted by the virus itself but by a blizzard of immune reactions triggered by the body to fight the infection. Researchers knew that these so-called cytokine storms were damaging, but they didn't know why the SARS-CoV-2 virus seemed to be so good at setting them off. A new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature is helping to explain how these immune overreactions happen to Covid-19 patients. The study revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect certain kinds of immune cells called monocytes and macrophages. Front-line immune cells are infected Monocytes and macrophages are white blood cells, and they are frontline workers of the immune system. Their job is to circulate in the blood and tissues, to find and destroy pathogens. They do this

Everybody nose: molecular and clinical characteristics of nasal colonization during active methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection - BMC Infectious Diseases - BMC Infectious Diseases

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Lowy FD. Staphylococcus aureus infections. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(8):520–32. CAS  Article  Google Scholar  Chambers HF, Deleo FR. Waves of resistance: Staphylococcus aureus in the antibiotic era. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2009;7(9):629–41. CAS  Article  Google Scholar  Wertheim HF, Melles DC, Vos MC, van Leeuwen W, van Belkum A, Verbrugh HA, et al. The role of nasal carriage in Staphylococcus aureus infections. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005;5(12):751–62. Article  Google Scholar  Muthukrishnan G, Lamers RP, Ellis A, Paramanandam V, Persaud AB, Tafur S, et al. Longitudinal genetic analyses of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage dynamics in a diverse population. BMC Infect Dis. 2013;13:221. Article  Google Scholar  VandenBerg

Beard Burn Gone Bad: Your Partner's Facial Hair Could Give You an Infection - POPSUGAR

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If you thought the worst thing that could happen to you during a makeout session was getting a slobbery tongue shoved down your throat, you could be seriously mistaken. Apparently, it's very possible to contract a bacterial skin infection when the person you're macking on has facial hair. Don't believe me? One TikTok content creator shared her own story as proof. In the video uploaded in late March, she documented what happened to her face after kissing her boyfriend, who has facial hair. The results involve what looks to be lots and lots of skin irritation. I'll let the video speak for itself. @jaleighrobbins2023 it was a long two weeks #LizzosBigGrrrls ♬ original sound - frankiesaudios How does this happen? How can this be prevented? Should you now only swipe right on bare-faced individuals on Tinder? We spoke with Mamina Turegano, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist at Skintap, for all the answers. How Can You Contract a Skin Infection From Kissing

With A New Director Elect, NICE Is On A Mission To Elevate Medtech - Medtech Insight

[unable to retrieve full-text content] With A New Director Elect, NICE Is On A Mission To Elevate Medtech    Medtech Insight

Opinion: Colorado can have health insurance that pays for quality, not quantity. - The Colorado Sun

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In my nearly six years as a state representative, I've spent more time and energy on health-care reform than on any other topic. I've sponsored legislation to improve regulations of free-standing emergency rooms, require cost transparency from hospitals, implement a reinsurance program (which has saved consumers more than 20% on premiums in the individual market), and establish a board to set upper payment limits on prescription drugs.  Rep. Chris Kennedy I've also proudly supported the work of my colleagues on preventing surprise out-of-network bills, capping the price of insulin, establishing a standardized health insurance option, and more. Though these efforts have done much to save people money and improve health outcomes, they all treat symptoms rather than curing the disease: A healthcare system that incentivizes a higher volume of services rather than a higher value of care. I'm not the first person to notice this problem. From 2015-2019, Colorado's

Big Pharma's Push for COVID Shots in Children - The Desert Review

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Despite the fact that young people are the least affected by the COVID-19 virus and that shots come with serious adverse effects and deaths, federal public health officials and pharmaceutical companies race to vaccinate children. Moderna announced yesterday that it submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) for its two-dose COVID-19 injection for children ages six months to under six years old. On Tuesday, Pfizer and BioNTech applied to the FDA for EUA for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 shot for children 5 through 11 years of age. When it comes to COVID, public health officials have consistently downplayed and ignored natural immunity among children. Yet 81 research studies confirm that natural immunity to COVID is equal or superior to any "vaccine immunity." However, the sam

Infant immunizations safe and important - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald

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Here's hoping that the politically fueled controversy over COVID-19 vaccinations doesn't cause a decline in time-tested childhood immunizations, which have been critically important in stamping out or severely curtailing several major preventable diseases in the past half-century. The good people at ImmunizeVa, a statewide coalition of medical and public health professionals and community stakeholders, sent us a timely reminder that April 25-29 is National Infant Immunization Week, an opportunity to remind caregivers about the importance of protecting children ages 2 and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases. The reality is that babies depend on their parents and guardians to make critical decisions to keep them safe. Newsletter Email newsletter signup ImmunizeVA, the Institute for Public Health Innovation, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Minus 9 to 5, an initiative of Eastern Virginia Medical School, are working to encou

Oakland County animal shelter extends free rabies vaccine offer - Oakland Press

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Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center officials are extending a program for free rabies vaccines with the purchase of a dog license through the end of May. The plan allows dog owners to get the free shots from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. No appointment is necessary. "Residents have lined up out our door on Tuesday mornings to get their dogs a free rabies vaccine with the purchase of a license," said Bob Gatt, Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center manager. "We don't want the cost of the rabies vaccine to be a barrier for anyone getting a dog license." State law requires all dogs four months or older to be licensed. People can buy licenses for their dogs directly from the county office or online; from the treasurer's office in some municipalities, or from a veterinarian. Dogs that have not been vaccinated or are within five weeks of a new shot qualify for the county's free rabies-vaccination program. People must lice

Best Health Insurance Companies of 2022 - Healthline

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 requires most U.S. adults to purchase health insurance. Health insurance is important because it can cover the costs of an unexpected accident, illness, or any routine medical care. And if more people decide to stay uninsured, the overall cost of health insurance will rise. For some, health insurance might seem like a luxury. Plans can be expensive and difficult to understand. To help you find the best health insurance company to choose this year, we've analyzed some of the top networks in the United States. Read on for our breakdown of these seven choices. As we researched health insurance companies, we took a few key factors into account: Affordability. The cost of a monthly premium will vary based on your location, plan, and whether you're covered by your employer. We still tried to find options that can fit every budget, though. Benefits. Benefits are additional services covered by health insurance, such as dental or vision care. Cust

Kindergarten Vaccination Rates For Measles, Mumps, Tetanus Fell Due To Pandemic Disruptions, CDC Says - Forbes

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Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus

COVID vaccines will soon be available for kids under 5. Maryland experts worry many parents won't see the need. - Baltimore Sun

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Asian Women for Health founder shares mission with UMass Chan group - UMass Medical School

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Community organizer Chien-Chi Huang, founder of the Asian Breast Cancer Project and Asian Women for Health, spoke at the April 20 Diversity and Inclusion Office Centering the Margins series and shared how her experience as a breast cancer survivor led her to advocate for Asian women's health. Chien-Chi Huang An immigrant from Taiwan, Huang noted that at the time of her diagnosis in 2005, "there were no resources catering to Asian women." This led to the founding of the Asian Breast Cancer Project. She said research has found that Asian women have the lowest breast cancer screening rate, while the rate of the disease is increasing. Asian women are being diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years younger than other populations, she said. "The project translates information pertinent to breast health in various Asian languages," she said. "It was formed to ensure that cultural and linguistic barriers do not prevent women from accessing preventive care i

Delhi reports more than 1,200 COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs, positivity rate at 4.64% - Business Today

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Delhi on Tuesday reported a rise of over 1,200 new COVID-19 cases and one death in the last 24 hours, while the positivity rate declined to 4.64 per cent from 6.42 per cent on the previous day, according to the health department. With 1,204 cases, the infection tally in the national capital now stands at 18,77,091 and the death toll at 26,169 the bulletin stated. A total of 25,963 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the city, it said. Delhi on Monday saw 1,011 COVID-19 cases, while one person died due to the virus. The national capital had reported 1,094 COVID-19 infections on Saturday, the highest since February 10, with a positivity rate of 4.82 per cent and two deaths. With Delhi witnessing an uptick in coronavirus infections over the past few days, the number of active cases in the city has now increased to 4,508 from 601 on April 11, according to health department data. There is a total of 114 COVID patients admitted in hospitals (including suspected COVID patient

Mercy Health may expand Fairfield campus with medical office space, restaurant, retail - The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Sue Kiesewetter  |  Special to The Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK FAIRFIELD , Ohio – Mercy Health wants to expand its Fairfield campus on Mack Road because it is running out of space. But to do that, it needs a zone change and approval of its plan that includes construction of a medical building, restaurant and retail space. What's Mercy Health's plan? Bon Secours Mercy Health has a nine-acre site under contract along Mack Road near its intersection with South Gilmore Road. "We're entering the next phase of growth for our hospital,'' said Justin Krueger, president of Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital, which opened in 1978. "We are challenged with space on our campus. It's important we continue to expand when the health care needs of our community call for it." The plan calls for a single-story, 30,000-square-foot medical office building, a restaurant with a drive-thru, and a multitenant retail building with 8,400 square f

Indian Health Service Announces Five Million Dollars in Funding for Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. - HHS.gov

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The Indian Health Service is announcing five million dollars in funding for "Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. " to support work toward the elimination of HIV and hepatitis C in Indian Country.  "At HHS, we continue to confront the HIV epidemic head-on by ensuring resources are focused on the communities and people who most need them," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "This funding will help us reach people in Indian Country and engage people who are disproportionately impacted by HIV." "We are excited about this new funding opportunity for Indian Country to address diagnosis, treatment and prevention activities that are aimed at eliminating disparities and reducing HIV's impact," said Acting Director Elizabeth Fowler.  "We are committed to providing American Indians and Alaska Natives who are at risk, or are living with HIV, with the culturally-appropriate support and services they need." The funds include

Impact of population mixing between vaccinated and unvaccinated subpopulations on infectious disease dynamics: implications for SARS-CoV-2 transmission - CMAJ

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Abstract Background: The speed of vaccine development has been a singular achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic, although uptake has not been universal. Vaccine opponents often frame their opposition in terms of the rights of the unvaccinated. We sought to explore the impact of mixing of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations on risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated people. Methods: We constructed a simple susceptible–infectious–recovered compartmental model of a respiratory infectious disease with 2 connected subpopulations: people who were vaccinated and those who were unvaccinated. We simulated a spectrum of patterns of mixing between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups that ranged from random mixing to complete like-with-like mixing (complete assortativity), in which people have contact exclusively with others with the same vaccination status. We evaluated the dynamics of an epidemic within each subgroup and in the population as a whole. Results: We found that the ris