Rush to publish is testing research integrity process.
33 papers retracted, withdrawn, or had serious doubts raised as of end of July.
Thousands of COVID papers on pre-print servers where fewer quality checks made.
As of 7 May 2020, 1221 studies on COVID-19 were registered on the international clinical trial registry site, ClinicalTrials.gov.
And as of 31 July 2020, 19 published articles and 14 preprints about COVID-19 have been retracted, withdrawn, or had serious doubts raised about the integrity of their data, formally known as an expression of concern.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a flood of potentially substandard research amid the rush to publish, with a string of papers retracted or under a cloud and a surge in submissions to pre-print servers where fewer quality checks are made, a leading ethicist has warned in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Release date: 1 October 2020
Source: BMJ
Statins may reduce cancer risk
Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may reduce cancer risk in humans through a pathway unrelated to cholesterol, says a study published today in eLife.
Statins reduce levels of LDL-cholesterol, the so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol, by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA-reductase (HMGCR). Clinical trials have previously demonstrated convincing evidence that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. But evidence for the potential effect of statins to reduce the risk of cancer is less clear.
Release date: 13 October 2020
Source: eLife
SARS-COV-2 virus ‘survivability’
COVID-19 causing virus lasts for 10 days longer than Influenza on some surfaces. Lower temps, glass, stainless steel and paper banknotes give virus longer life.
Researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can survive for up to 28 days on common surfaces including banknotes, glass – such as that found on mobile phone screens – and stainless steel.
Results from the study The effect of temperature on persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on common surfaces was published in Virology Journal.
Release date: 12 October 2020
Source: CSIRO Australia
Previous infection with other types of coronaviruses may lessen severity of COVID-19
Being previously infected with a coronaviruses that cause the “common cold” may decrease the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections, according to results of a new study. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, the study also demonstrates that the immunity built up from previous non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections does not prevent individuals from getting COVID-19. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the findings provide important insight into the immune response against SARS-CoV-2, which could have significant implications on COVID-19 vaccine development.
Release date: 6 October 2020
Source: Boston Medical Center
Antibiotics May be Viable Option for Appendicitis Instead of Surgery
Every year more than 250,000 people undergo surgery for appendicitis, making it one of the 20 most common surgeries performed in the United States.
In the largest randomized U.S. study of appendicitis published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from Henry Ford Health System and 24 other sites around the U.S. report that seven in 10 patients who received antibiotics avoided surgery and that patients who took antibiotics for symptom relief fared no worse in the short term than those who underwent surgery.
Still, researchers cautioned that taking antibiotics for appendicitis is not for everyone and advised patients to consult with their physician.
Release date: 5 October 2020
Source: Henry Ford Health System
Possible Link Between Blood Type and COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity
Individuals with blood type O may have lowest risk of infection; individuals with A and AB may have increased risk of severe clinical outcomes.
Blood type O may offer some protection against COVID-19 infection, according to a retrospective study. Researchers compared Danish health registry data from more than 473,000 individuals tested for COVID-19 to data from a control group of more than 2.2 million people from the general population. Among the COVID-19 positive, they found fewer people with blood type O and more people with A, B, and AB types.
Release date: 14 October 2020
Source: American Society of Hematology
Writing by Hand Makes Kids Smarter
Children learn more and remember better when writing by hand, a new study reports. The brains of children are more active when handwriting than typing on a computer keyboard.
A survey of 19 countries in the EU shows that Norwegian children and teens spend the most time online. The smartphone is a constant companion, followed closely by the PC and tablet.
The survey shows that Norwegian children ages 9 to 16 spend almost four hours online every day, double the amount since 2010.
Release date: 1 October 2020
Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technolog
Women More Likely to Embrace Behaviors Aimed at Preventing the Spread of COVID-19
Women are more likely than are men to follow guidelines outlined by medical experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In Behavioral Science & Policy, New York University and Yale University researchers report that women have practiced preventive practices of physical distancing, mask wearing, and maintaining hygiene to a greater degree than men. Women were also more likely to listen to experts and exhibit alarm and anxiety in response to COVID-19.
The findings are consistent with pre-pandemic health-care behaviors,
Release date: 5 October 2020
Source: New York University
Men predominate in 85%+ COVID-19 decision-making/advisory bodies globally
Men predominate in more than 85% of COVID-19 decision-making and key advisory bodies around the globe, with gender parity in just 3.5%, reveals an analysis of the available data, published in the online journal BMJ Global Health.
Release date: 1 October 2020
Source: EurekAlert
COVID-19 pandemic has created flood of potentially substandard research
Rush to publish is testing research integrity process.
33 papers retracted, withdrawn, or had serious doubts raised as of end of July.
Thousands of COVID papers on pre-print servers where fewer quality checks made.
As of 7 May 2020, 1221 studies on COVID-19 were registered on the international clinical trial registry site, ClinicalTrials.gov.
And as of 31 July 2020, 19 published articles and 14 preprints about COVID-19 have been retracted, withdrawn, or had serious doubts raised about the integrity of their data, formally known as an expression of concern.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a flood of potentially substandard research amid the rush to publish, with a string of papers retracted or under a cloud and a surge in submissions to pre-print servers where fewer quality checks are made, a leading ethicist has warned in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Release date: 1 October 2020
Source: BMJ
Yoga and Meditation Reduce Chronic Pain
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course was found to benefit patients with chronic pain and depression, leading to significant improvement in participant perceptions of pain, mood, and functional capacity, according to a study in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
The study found mindful meditation and yoga led to significant improvements in patients’ perceptions of pain, depression, and disability.
Release date: 1 October 2020
Source: American Osteopathic Association