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COVID-19 Rapid Test Makers Struggling to Meet Demand

However, government's order for the free test kits is in addition to existing supply and does not interfere with existing orders

Vaccine Effectiveness Against Symptomatic COVID-19 Wanes

But protection against COVID-19 hospitalization, death after two doses of BNT162b2 or CHAdOx1-S is more durable

Nomogram May Help Predict Survival in Primary Intestinal NHL

Prediction accuracy of the nomogram higher than that of Ann Arbor Stage for primary intestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients

Cardiac Outcomes Good for Children With COVID-19-Related MIS-C

All deformation parameters on echocardiogram recovered within first week, including LV global longitudinal strain, peak left atrial strain

AI Model May Predict COVID-19 Outcomes for Critically Ill

Machine learning model incorporates data from 14 proteins derived from a single blood sample to predict survival in patients with COVID-19

Survival Increase Seen for Adults With Relapsed Ph+ ALL

From 2000 to 2019, overall survival progressively improved for patients with Philadelphia-positive ALL who had posttransplant relapse

White House Launches Website for Free Home COVID-19 Tests a Day Ahead of Schedule

Early launch due to 'beta testing'; website currently working at 'limited capacity' ahead of official Wednesday debut

Too Soon to Tell if Omicron Will End Pandemic: Fauci

There are suggestions that omicron could result in COVID-19 transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic situation

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 14, 2022

Senate Committee Backs Califf Nomination to Head FDA

Among those who voted against Califf's nomination were Democrats who expressed concerns about his links to pharmaceutical companies

Supreme Court Blocks Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers

Mandate was a crucial component of the White House plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic

Data Support Lowering Age for CRC Screening to 45 Years

For those aged 45 to 49 years, 32 percent had any neoplasia, 7.5 percent had advanced premalignant lesions, 0.58 percent had CRC

Kidney Failure Risk Equation Bests eGFR for Predicting ESKD

KFRE score >20 percent had similar specificity, higher sensitivity for predicting end-stage kidney disease than eGFR <20 mL/min/1.73 m²

U.S. May Soon See Sharp Drop in Omicron Cases, Experts Say

One model suggests number of daily reported cases in the U.S. will top out at 1.2 million by Jan. 19 and then fall sharply

BinaxNOW Test Catches COVID-19 Infection in Many People, Study Shows

Earlier preliminary studies had raised questions about whether rapid antigen tests might be less sensitive to omicron than other variants

U.S. Insurers Must Cover Eight COVID-19 At-Home Tests a Month: White House

Under the plan, people who provide insurance information at certain pharmacies will be able to get the tests with no out-of-pocket costs

In Breakthrough Transplant, Man Receives Genetically Modified Pig Heart

The Maryland heart patient is still doing well three days after the procedure was performed

Amid COVID-19 Test Shortages, Price Gouging Is on the Rise

Attorney General offices around the country have reported receiving complaints or hearing stories of price gouging

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 7, 2022

White House Finalizes Plan to Send Americans Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests

Administration plans to launch a website where people can request the rapid tests

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Big Business

Court also hearing arguments on separate vaccine mandate for most heath care workers

Vaccination Seems Less Protective Against Transmission of Delta Variant

Reduction in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with COVID-19 vaccination smaller for delta variant versus alpha variant

Incarceration Tied to Lower Life Expectancy in Blacks

Disparities in incarceration may partially explain the lower life expectancy of Blacks, authors say

Members of Biden Transition Team Call for New COVID-19 Plan

Six former advisers published opinion articles Thursday in JAMA detailing what needs to be done now to put a plan in place

Some At-Home Tests May Miss Omicron in Early Stages of Infection

Study focused on 30 people infected with COVID-19 at five workplaces that experienced likely outbreaks of the omicron variant last month

Kroger, Walmart Hike Prices on At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Both stores were selling the kits at cost or at a discount but now have raised the prices

Biden Urges Calm During Omicron Surge

Biden also announced that his administration is doubling its order of new Pfizer antiviral pill

Stage Shift Tied to Decreased Population Mortality in NSCLC

Diagnostic shift from later-stage to earlier-stage disease may have implications for evaluation of treatments and mortality outcomes

In Utero Hormone Levels May Affect Migraine Risk in Adulthood

Sex differences in migraine prevalence may not be entirely accounted for by genetic factors

Timing of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Examined

Maternal anti-spike IgG levels detectable at delivery regardless of timing of vaccination; levels highest with early third-trimester vaccination

Israel Will Give Fourth COVID-19 Shot to People Older Than 60, Health Workers

About 60 percent of Israel's 9.4 million people are fully vaccinated with either a recent second dose or booster dose

Negative COVID-19 Test May Be Required After Isolation Among Asymptomatic

CDC is considering adding extra safeguard after getting some 'pushback' on its Dec. 27 guidance that shortened isolation times

Packaged Salads Tied to E. Coli Outbreak in Six States

The 13 people known to be infected include four who were hospitalized; no deaths reported so far

COVID-19 Omicron Wave in South Africa Characterized

Fewer hospitalizations, reduced severity of illness, lower mortality seen in fourth wave compared with previous waves of COVID-19

BNT162b2 Still Effective, but Less So, Against Omicron

Vaccine effectiveness 70 percent compared with 93 percent against hospitalization for COVID-19 during delta predominance

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Global Burden of Cancer Increasing

From 2010 to 2019, largest percentage increase in numbers of cases and deaths occurred in low and middle-low SDI quintiles

Most COVID-19-Related EUAs Not Supported by High-Quality Evidence

Most EUAs were for diagnostic products; most supported by comparisons with previously authorized assays, analytical in vitro studies

Health Care Workers Had Acceptable Preparedness During First COVID-19 Wave

However, female health care workers had lower preparedness and awareness scores than male counterparts

Primary Care Clinicians Tailor Colorectal Cancer Screening to Patients

One in four primary care clinicians select a stool-based test as their preferred screening option

FDA Says Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Tests Not as Sensitive to Omicron

Agency says that antigen tests 'do detect the omicron variant, but may have reduced sensitivity'

CDC Lowers Estimate of Omicron Prevalence in the United States

Predictions likely to become more accurate as researchers learn more about omicron

Omicron Might Help Shield Against Delta, New Research Suggests

As omicron appears to produce less severe illness than delta, its overall effect might end up having a positive side

Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 Variants

After two-dose vaccination, only 64 and 67 percent of kidney transplant recipients showed neutralization against B.1.351 (β) and B.1.617.2 (δ)

U.S. Adults Support Net-Risk Pediatric Research

Most support pediatric research posing minimal risk and research posing greater risk if it has high social value

Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection Risk Higher With Immune Dysfunction

Risk for breakthrough infection higher for those with immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplant

High-Fiber Diet May Benefit Melanoma Patients on Immunotherapy

Higher intake of dietary fiber linked to longer progression-free survival in melanoma patients on immune checkpoint blockade

Omicron Cases Pass U.S. Peak Seen With Delta

However, numbers of hospitalizations have not yet reached those higher levels

NVX-CoV2373 Vaccine Protects Against COVID-19

Study conducted in the U.S. and Mexico shows vaccine 90 percent effective overall, 100 percent effective against moderate-to-severe disease