Tuesday 13 October 2020

Advocating for a shift from race-based to race-conscious medicine

"I am Italian-Chilean-American (Mapuche), Marie is Haitian-American, and Jenny is Taiwanese-American. We have all experienced racially-tailored care at some point in our lives. Our lived experience enhances the authority of our work," says Yale School of Medicine MD-Ph.D. student Jessica Cerdeña, MPhil.

The 12 best COVID-19 prevention strategies

It's been many months since COVID-19 upended our lives. We've adjusted to wearing masks, social distancing, constantly our washing hands, and working and learning remotely. But what do we really know about how to prevent COVID-19 infection?

What lies beneath a volcano?

The complex plumbing system beneath volcanoes has been revealed in the clearest detail ever, marking a "major step forward" in our understanding of how they are formed and behave.

Physical activity reduces cancer risk, morning exercise may have greatest protective effect

Studies indicate a possible correlation between factors that disrupt our circadian rhythms, such as exposure to light during the night or eating late in the evening, and the risk of developing cancer.

How exactly do we spread droplets as we talk? Engineers found out.

For the first time, researchers have directly visualized how speaking produces and expels droplets of saliva into the air. The smallest droplets can be inhaled by other people and are a primary way that respiratory infections like COVID-19 spread from person to person.

New bioengineering approach to fix fetal membranes

New research led by Queen Mary University of London and UCL has shown that small bioengineered molecules can be used to repair defects in the fetal membranes that surround and protect babies developing in the womb.

Eyeglass-attached display device provides fluoroscopic guidance during spine surgery

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (OCTOBER 13, 2020). The authors, two surgeon-researchers from Murayama Medical Center in Tokyo, tested a device that, when attached to everyday eyeglasses, can display fluoroscopic images used for surgical guidance directly to the surgeon. Without such a device, the surgeon must receive this guidance by repeatedly looking across the operating room to a video monitor. The authors found that the eyeglass display device allowed the surgeon to focus on operative tasks more efficiently and resulted in a slightly shorter length of surgery and less exposure to radiation.

When reproductive rights are less restrictive, babies are born healthier

American women living in states with less restrictive reproductive rights policies are less likely to give birth to low-birth weight babies, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier. The findings show that women, particularly US-born Black women, giving birth in states with less restrictive reproductive rights policies have a seven percent lower low-birth weight risk, compared to women in states with more restrictive policies.

Catching coronavirus outside is rare but not impossible

Almost all documented coronavirus transmissions have occurred indoors, but experts say that wearing a mask outside is justified because there is still a risk of infection.

Hunting for unicorns: Japan start-ups see hope on horizon

Hampered by cautious investors and a rigid corporate culture, Japan has produced just a handful of major start-ups. But there are signs that could be changing, industry insiders say.

Microsoft targets malware vendor Trickbot amid US election fears

Microsoft said Monday it had taken down malware vendor Trickbot in an effort to thwart attempts to meddle with the upcoming US presidential election.

Disney revamps itself to emphasize streaming

Disney announced Monday a reorganization of its media and entertainment business that aims to further boost its streaming service, which has boomed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnson & Johnson pauses Covid vaccine trial as participant becomes ill

Johnson & Johnson said Monday it had temporarily halted its COVID-19 vaccine trial because one of its participants had become sick.

Virus crisis an opportunity to reshape climate reponse: IEA

Only massive investment in clean energy can help overcome the economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic while setting the world on a path to meeting its objectives to slow climate change, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

Czech restaurants, bars to close after virus spike

The Czech government said Monday it would close restaurants and bars and ban alcohol in public places after a record spike in Covid-19 infections.