Clinical Trials & Research

Research led by Queen’s University Belfast has revealed the diverse ways that amphibians care for their young determine how many eggs they lay. Most amphibians abandon their young when they lay their eggs. Among those amphibians that do care, parental care can be strikingly different. This includes attendance of the young; transportation of young from

A significant parameter to explore the compressibility and flowability of pharmaceutical powders, tapped density, is extremely useful for promoting the approach of QbD and GMPs. Therefore, standardization of apparatus and procedure is vital to get meaningful repeatable results. In this process, a BeDensi T3 Pro was used with three workstations, performing standardized tapped density tests

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused worldwide morbidity, mortality, and social and economic disruptions of the first order. Despite the rollout of vaccines, the emergence of new immune escape variants poses a formidable obstacle to ending the pandemic. The newest such variant is the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). First reported on November

The emerging Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised serious concerns about the course of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With almost 40 mutations in the spike protein of the virus, this variant has shown a high capacity to evade the antibodies elicited earlier and spread more rapidly

Multiple Spike (S) protein mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) Omicron variant contribute to the virus’s escape from neutralizing antibody responses, lowering vaccination protection against infection. It’s unclear to what extent other adaptive response components, such as T cells, may still target Omicron and contribute to protection against catastrophic outcomes. T

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered how the sponginess and stickiness of stem cell nuclei controls how they “differentiate” into specialized cells. They found that the nucleus starts solid-like but becomes more fluid-like over time. Less force is transmitted to its inner parts, leaving cells to commit to a certain differentiation pathway. How stem

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, researchers investigated the potency of trimeric human nephrocystin SH3, TriSb92, a domain-derived antibody, against a conserved region in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs). Study: Intranasal inhibitor blocks Omicron and other variants of

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, a team of researchers demonstrated the neutralization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant by select antibodies and used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures to reveal structural mechanisms for the maintenance of potent neutralization against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). Study: Structural

As vaccine effectiveness wanes over time, it is generally estimated using a standard Cox or Poisson model that assumes constant vaccine effectiveness over time. However, this is less precise over short time periods, and it indicates the effectiveness of vaccines fairly slowly. Researchers from the University of North Carolina, University of Washington, and the US

1. Hidalgo, J., Rodríguez-Vega, G. & Pérez-Fernández, J. in COVID-19 Pandemic (eds Hidalgo, J., Rodríguez-Vega, G., & Pérez-Fernández, J.) 1–21 (Elsevier, 2022). 2. Christophi, C. A. et al. Ambient temperature and subsequent COVID-19 mortality in the OECD countries and individual United States. Sci. Rep. 11, 1–9 (2021). Article  Google Scholar  3. Hatef, E., Chang, H.-Y.,

The severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters human cells with the help of its spike protein that binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor of the host. The spike protein-host membrane reaction depends on proteolytic cleavage, as well as activation of viral envelope glycoproteins, by host cell proteases. Notable proteases in this regard

Two years after it was first detected in Wuhan, China, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) has caused over 282 million infections worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus that arose by zoonotic transmission from an animal reservoir, most likely the horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus), through an intermediate host. As the virus has spread throughout society, it

From Boxing Day (26 December) people in the UK will receive a text message reminding them to get a booster vaccine to protect us all from the spread of the Omicron. Almost 32 million people – over 60% of adults in the UK – have now had their COVID-19 booster. The expansion of the booster

Thousands more first and second doses were administered last week compared with the week before, as the public are today reminded that the offer of a vaccine is still available and encouraged to come forward to protect themselves against Omicron. 221,564 first doses were administered in the week of 15 to 21 December in England,

A new medRxiv* preprint study suggests that the immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is greater with a three-dose regimen than a two-dose regimen. Administering a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot produced a 1.7-fold increase in IgG levels one after one month compared to IgG levels one month after the second dose. Additionally,

A new medRxiv* preprint study awaiting peer review found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was correlated with a 30% lower risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization than the AstraZeneca two-dose vaccines. The findings were robust for at least six months when Delta was the dominant strain, showing that there were no differences in waning immunity between

The cells in the body can be thought of as tiny archery targets, each vulnerable to the deadly arrow of cancer. The more cells a given animal has and the longer it lives, the greater its odds of accumulating harmful cell mutations that can eventually lead to cancer. Or at least, this is what intuition

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Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA, sometimes referred to as EVLT) remains the gold standard treatment for varicose veins. It is also the recommended treatment for this condition as per the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE). Image Credit: Veincentre EVLA treats the underlying condition that leads to the appearance of varicose veins, restoring healthy

In a recent prospective observational study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers determined Omicron variant-associated T cell responses before and after a third dose of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in anti-CD20-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Study: Omicron-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses are boosted following a third dose of mRNA COVID-19

EDITORIAL 21 December 2021 Sustainability at the crossroads A look back at 2021 through the Sustainable Development Goals. Twitter Facebook Email Download PDF A medical worker observes people with COVID-19 inside a makeshift care facility at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi in May 2021.Credit: Getty There were high hopes for 2021. The year

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is considered the benchmark treatment for varicose veins when EVLA is not necessary, according to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations. Image Credit: Veincentre It should be noted, however, that most patients with varicose veins do require EVLA. What is foam sclerotherapy? Used to treat both the symptoms and