by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor) A group of Hokkaido University researchers has developed a paper-based device that can easily and cheaply measure lithium ion concentration in blood, which could greatly help bipolar disorder patients. Lithium carbonate is used for treating bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. But using this drug...
Tag: <span>COVID-19</span>
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Vitamin D could improve outcomes in COVID-19
By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* in May 2020 shows that vitamin D could have a beneficial effect on the course of illness for COVID-19 patients. Study: Evidence Supports a Causal Model for Vitamin D in COVID-19 Outcomes. Image Credit: Alrandir / Shutterstock What decides COVID-19 outcomes? Even as the...
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By the third day most with COVID-19 lose sense of smell
by Cedric Ricks, University of Cincinnati Ahmad Sedaghat, MD, PhD, shown in the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Credit: Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand A University of Cincinnati researcher says a study of COVID-19 patients shows loss of the sense of smell is most likely to occur by the third day of infection with the...
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Prescription Fills for Inhalers Drop as U.S. Faces Medication Shortages
Lauren Chase Lauren Chase is on the Research team at GoodRx. Posted on May 18, 2020 Key takeaways: Popular brand and generic rescue inhalers and maintenance inhalers are currently in shortage. Fills for all inhalers peaked the week of March 15 right after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, but they’ve since dropped — by more...
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Coronavirus, ‘Plandemic’ and the seven traits of conspiratorial thinking
The conspiracy theory video “Plandemic” recently went viral. Despite being taken down by YouTube and Facebook, it continues to get uploaded and viewed millions of times. The video is an interview with conspiracy theorist Judy Mikovits, a disgraced former virology researcher who believes the COVID-19 pandemic is based on vast deception, with the purpose of...
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ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD MAKES TESTING KEY FOR COVID-19 FIGHT
The prevalence of asymptomatic cases—people infected with the virus who can spread it to others but don’t feel sick—is one of the most challenging aspects of the coronavirus pandemic, researchers say. In Iceland, where a broad testing effort resulted in 5% of the country’s population getting tested for COVID-19, a lab study suggested that as...
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Intelligent lung ultrasound provides crucial support for COVID-19 testing within minutes
by Hilde De Laat, Eindhoven University of Technology Establishing whether a patient is suffering from severe lung disease, possibly COVID-19, within a few minutes is possible using fairly simple ultrasound machines that are enhanced with artificial intelligence. A research team at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the University of Trento in Italy has been...
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Loss of taste or smell strongly predicts which health care workers will test positive for COVID-19
by Barbara Branning, University at Buffalo A study by a University at Buffalo investigator sheds new light on the link between early COVID-19 symptoms and eventual positive test results. The research could lead to new protocols for determining who will be tested and how best to use testing resources. One compelling finding of the study...
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COVID-19 PUTS KIDS AT GREATER RISK THAN WE THOUGHT
Children, teens, and young adults have a greater risk for severe complications from COVID-19 than previously thought, a new study shows. The study, the first to describe the characteristics of seriously ill pediatric COVID-19 patients in North America, also shows kids with underlying health conditions have an even greater risk. “The idea that COVID-19 is...
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AiRTouch Portable X-Ray Receives FDA Clearance, Can Be Used for COVID Diagnosis
The handheld device weighs in at 5.5 pounds (2.5 Kg) and resembles a large digital camera with a touchscreen. AiRTouch acquires images with the push of a button and can wirelessly transmit them to PACS (clinical image storage system), without the need for a computer. Its battery charges within two hours and can capture up...