Alpha then delta and now omicron – 6 questions answered as COVID-19 cases once again surge across the globe
Sara Sawyer, University of Colorado Boulder; Arturo Barbachano-Guerrero, University of Colorado Boulder, and Cody Warren, University of Colorado Boulder Editor’s note: The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has fueled a rapid surge in cases globally. We asked a team of virologists and immunologists from the University of Colorado Boulder to weigh […]
5 Things You Should Know About ‘Free’ At-Home Covid Tests
Damon Darlin January 19, 2022 Americans keep hearing that it is important to test frequently for covid-19 at home. But just try to find an “at-home” rapid covid test in a store and at a price that makes frequent tests affordable. Testing, as well as mask-wearing, is an important measure if the country ever hopes […]
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause positive viral test results?
None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you […]
Myocarditis: COVID-19 is a much bigger risk to the heart than vaccination
The heart has played a central role in COVID-19 since the beginning. Cardiovascular conditions are among the highest risk factors for hospitalization. A significant number of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infections have signs of heart damage, and many recover from infection with lasting cardiovascular injury. It’s not surprising that debates over COVID-19 vaccines frequently centre […]
Here’s where (and how) you are most likely to catch COVID – new study
Trish Greenhalgh, University of Oxford; Jose-Luis Jimenez, University of Colorado Boulder; Shelly Miller, University of Colorado Boulder, and Zhe Peng, University of Colorado Boulder Two years into the pandemic, most of us are fed up. COVID case rates are higher than they’ve ever been and hospitalisation rates are once again rising rapidly in many countries. […]
What Patients Can Learn With Confidence From One Negative Rapid Test (Hint: Very Little)
Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News and Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News January 13, 2022 Julie Ann Justo, an infectious disease clinical pharmacist for a South Carolina hospital system, hoped Christmas week would finally be the time her family could safely gather for a reunion. Before the celebration, family members who were eligible were vaccinated and […]
Confused by what your doctor tells you? A new study discovers how communication gaps between doctors and patients can be cured
Dean Schillinger, University of California, San Francisco and Nicholas Duran, Arizona State University The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Most doctors use language that is too complex for their patients to understand, but some have the unique ability to tailor their language to meet their patients’ communication […]
Your Baby’s Hearing Screening and Next Steps
Most children hear and listen to sounds at and even before birth. They learn to talk by imitating the sounds they hear around them and the voices of their parents and caregivers. But that’s not true for all children. In fact, about two or three out of every 1,000 children in the United States are […]
From delta to omicron
Alexander Sundermann, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences and Lee Harrison, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences The omicron variant quickly took over the global coronavirus landscape after it was first reported in South Africa in late November, 2021. The U.S. became the 24th country to report a case of omicron infection when health officials announced on […]
What’s the difference between sugar, other natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners? A food chemist explains sweet science
Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond A quick walk down the drink aisle of any corner store reveals the incredible ingenuity of food scientists in search of sweet flavors. In some drinks you’ll find sugar. A diet soda might have an artificial or natural low-calorie sweetener. And found in nearly everything else is high fructose corn […]