Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Long-Haul Covid Shares Similarities With Alzheimer's, Study Suggests
Becker's Hospital Review: Cleveland Clinic Researchers Identify Link Between COVID-19, Alzheimer's-Like Brain Impairment
While neurological problems have been a common symptom among COVID-19 long-haulers, the underlying mechanisms for this have remained largely unknown. A new study led by Cleveland Clinic researchers may have a glimpse at the answer. The research, published June 9 in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, leveraged artificial intelligence to compare existing datasets between patients with COVID-19 and Alzheimer's. (Carbajal, 6/11)
Modern Healthcare: FDA Issues Warning About Innova COVID Antigen Test
Food and Drug Administration last week requested that Innova Medical Group stop sales of its COVID antigen rapid qualitative test and warned the public against using the test, citing concerns about its performance. Innova promotes the lateral flow immunochromatographic assay, which is designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigens in nasal swab specimens, as having demonstrated 97% sensitivity and 99% specificity for detecting infectious patients. (6/13)
Reuters: Celltrion Says Trial Shows Antibody COVID-19 Treatment To Be Safe And Effective
South Korean drugmaker Celltrion Inc on Monday announced positive results for its experimental antibody COVID-19 treatment that it said was safe and reduced the treatment period by nearly five days in Phase 3 global clinical trials. The trials, which involved 1,315 participants, have taken place since January in 13 countries, including in South Korea, the United States, Spain and Romania, Celltrion said in a statement. (Cha, 6/13)
In other covid research news —
The Wall Street Journal: Quail? Beta? Scientists Bicker Over What To Call Coronavirus Variants
An idea reached the World Health Organization earlier this year: How about naming new variants of the coronavirus after sing-songy North American birds? Repurposing the robin or quail as catchy labels for ungainly mutants would be less confusing for the public, an epidemiologist based in Switzerland had mused. That would appease politicians in member states like South Africa and India who were unhappy with the way ordinary people named new virus strains after the country where they were first discovered: “the South African variant,” “the Indian variant.” (Hinshaw and Steinhauser, 6/13)
The Washington Post: Seeking Clues To Mysteries Of Coronavirus By Studying A Person’s Ability To Taste Bitterness
An ENT doctor and his team are among thousands of researchers confronting the pandemic. They hope their work will provide a better way to fight covid-19. (Hoover Bartlett, 6/12)
Axios: Using Smart Thermometers To Predict The Next COVID Wave In New York
New York City will harness data from thousands of internet-connected smart thermometers to identify future outbreaks days or even weeks before case numbers start rising. By the time large numbers of sick people start showing up in hospitals, it's often too late to quickly curb a new outbreak. But devices that can instantly alert health officials when unusual fevers are popping up in households can give them time to stop further spread. (Walsh, 6/12)
New York Post: New COVID Sensor Can Smell Virus In Crowded Room: Researchers
A new device can sniff out if someone in a crowded room has COVID-19, British researchers say. The highly accurate ceiling-mounted sensor takes as few as 15 minutes to raise a coronavirus alarm, says development firm RoboScientific. The room monitor, a little larger than a smoke detector, notices changes in odor to the skin or breath experienced by people during the illness, the company says. (Salo, 6/13)
