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Infants' gut microbiome could predict the risk of type 1 diabetes
A Swedish study tracked gut microbiomes of children from age 1 to 20 years and found that the guts of those who developed T1D eventually were remarkably different from those who did not. Several microbial biomarkers were identified that predicted future T1D as early as age one year. Such infants had higher levels of firmicutes and bacetroides that promoted inflammation.
Yahoo News
Boys born to COVID-19-infected mothers at risk of neurodevelopment issues
A study on over 880 children exposed to the virus before birth revealed that 3% of them received a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental issue during their first year of life compared to 1.8% of kids who were not exposed to the virus, corresponding to a two-fold increased risk. This risk was disproportionately higher in boys than girls, but the reasons were unclear.
Newsbreak
COVID-19 before COVID-19 vaccination could limit response to vaccine
Researchers observed that the quality and magnitude of T cells' response to immunization with two doses of Pfizer's vaccine were significantly lower in individuals who have had COVID-19 than people who did not. The levels of the critical immune cells were also lower in people who were unvaccinated and infected than in those who were vaccinated and uninfected.
National Institutes of Health
China approves the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
The vaccine, SYS6006, is developed by the CSPC Pharmaceutical group. It is a long-awaited approval as China has been racing to approve its domestic mRNA vaccine since 2020. The firm said the vaccine targets Omicron variants, and the booster dose also neutralized other Omicron subvariants in clinical trials. It is said to be 85.3% effective after a booster dose.
The Business Standard
COVID-19: Expert says "endemic" does not suggest it is harmless
A professor from the University of Oxford who studies viral genomics and evolution says the word endemic is being misused for COVID-19. It does not mean it will see a natural end. He further said endemic could be both widespread and deadly, and the virus may not necessarily evolve to become benign. He added that policymakers should not use endemic as an excuse to do nothing.
US Today News
WHO urges China to provide all data from new COVID-19 research
Advisers to the WHO requested China to release entire data related to COVID-19 origins after it released brief findings on an international database from their new research. New sequences from this data suggested that raccoon dogs in the Wuhan market were also infected by the COVID-19 virus in 2020, suggesting a new chain of transmission to humans.
The Straits Times
US: COVID-19 pandemic worsened the health of pregnant women
A report from the National Center for Health Statistics of the US suggested a 40% increase in maternal deaths in 2021 compared to that in 2020 and a 60% increase compared to that in 2019. Another report cited COVID-19 as a contributing factor to over 400 maternal deaths in 2021. These increases were more striking in Black women, with almost 2.6 times higher mortality rate.
Yahoo News
FDA expands the EUA of Pfizer's updated COVID-19 shots
Pfizer's bivalent vaccines can now be used as a booster vaccine in children aged 6 months to 4 years who are done with their 3-dose vaccination with Pfizer's original vaccine. Previously it was given for children of this age group as a third dose who are done with 2-dose primary vaccination. This expansion in the indication was based on findings of a trial on 60 children.
Can long Covid cause difficulties recognizing faces?
A survey included over 50 patients suffering from long Covid who had difficulty recognizing and navigating abilities. Most of the respondents also reported a decline in visual recognition abilities. Researchers particularly highlighted a young woman's case of perceptual problems with navigation and face recognition, also called prosopagnosia, two months after infection.
Science Alert
What are the factors for developing blood clots after COVID-19?
Venous thromboembolism was rare in patients who survived COVID-19, and it occurred in only 0.1% of patients during the follow-up period, as per a study. Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis were commonly seen. Male sex, age above 55 years, previous VTE, inflammatory bowel disease, thrombophilia, and obesity were the risk factor for developing blood clots.
CIDRAP
