(2020-04-11). 1st squad of volunteers assembled as Russia prepares for human testing of Covid-19 vaccine. rt.com 
The fist team of people who will test a Russian vaccine against the coronavirus on themselves — in trials that begin in late June — have been selected, and the lead developer of the drug is among them. | Work on the vaccine began in February at the Vector Institute, Russia's leading virology and biotechnology research center, in Novosibirsk, Siberia. Earlier in April, the researchers announced that the drug successfully passed trials on mice and ferrets, with preparations for human testing in full swing. | The first stage of clinical testing will see 60 people participating, Rinat Maksyutov, Vector…
(2020-04-11). First group of volunteers assembled as Russia prepares for human testing of Covid-19 vaccine. rt.com The initial human volunteers have been selected to test a Russian vaccine against the deadly new coronavirus in trials set to begin in late June. The project's chief developer is leading by example by taking his place among them. | Work on the biological preparation began in February at the Vector Institute, Russia's leading virology and biotechnology research center. It's based in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia. Earlier in April, researchers announced that the vaccine had successfully passed trials on mice and ferrets, with preparations for human testing in full swing. | The first stage will see 60…
(2020-04-11). Tiny But Tough-Love Tour of Shame to Demand Opening Up Motel Rooms for Shelter Now ! indybay.org In an Easter Sunday sweep through the City by car, several of us will gather (safely in our cars or at 6′ distance with protective gear) 2 PM at Laurel and Front St. We will distribute survival gear and provisions to folks outside around the City and conduct an educational tour of shame to counter the rosy fabrications of Sentinel and city/county officialdom.
(2020-04-11). Convalescent Plasma: A Therapy for COVID-19? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org To develop a treatment for patients with COVID-19, researchers around the world are steadfastly exploring numerous angles, including testing existing antiviral drugs and new compounds. One potential treatment that has garnered attention is known as convalescent plasma therapy. The approach involves giving patients an infusion of antibody-rich plasma from people who have recovered from an infection …
(2020-04-11). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On today's Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses antibody testing, immunity, and how the scientific and research communities are collaborating to fight this disease. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is available …
(2020-04-11). Coronavirus test-kit production at 400K monthly: VP. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 11 (MNA) — Vice-President for Science and Technology Sourena Sattari announced on Saturday that some 400,000 coronavirus test kits are produced in Iran per month.
(2020-04-11). Systemic Racism Is Making Coronavirus Worse in Black America. truthout.org The COVID-19 global pandemic is a nightmare unfolding before our eyes that could have devastating impacts that Black Americans could feel most acutely. With scarce testing, health care workers and ventilators, combined with a pattern of red state governors ignoring science and placing profits above people, there are signs that Black communities across the country are
(2020-04-11). Yemeni forces have little reason to trust Saudi proclamations: Prof. Cavell. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 11 (MNA) — The history of Saudi deception and dishonesty has led to Yemeni forces' distrust towards their announcements, says professor of political science Colin S. Cavell.
(2020-04-11). Science Saturday: The importance of antibody testing in addressing COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org If there's one thing the world has learned so far in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's the important role of testing for the disease. The ability to know who has the virus and who doesn't provides critical information for people and entire regions. Early testing involved collecting cells from the back of the …
(2020-04-11). [World Report] Regulators split on antimalarials for COVID-19. thelancet.com US and French authorities have authorised the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, but the EU regulator and WHO say the science doesn't support the decision. Susan Jaffe reports.
(2020-04-11). Iran Begins Production of Antibody-Based Rapid Detection Tests. telesurenglish.net Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Surena Satari informed that Iran began the production of Serological Antibody Detection (SAD) Tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19. | RELATED: | This new industrial development, which builds on the existing production of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, gives Iran a potential competitive advantage in global markets. | "We can become one of the major exporters of different types of…
(2020-04-11). Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Help Curb War and Militarism? dissidentvoice.org Decades ago, when I began teaching international history, I used to ask students if they thought it was possible for nations to end their fighting of wars against one another. Their responses varied. But the more pessimistic conclusions were sometimes tempered by the contention that, if the world's nations faced a common foe, such as …
(2020-04-11). Iranians voice solidarity with Japanese amid pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 11 (MNA) — A number of Iranian university students and healthcare personnel have sent messages of support to the Japanese nation in the battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
(2020-04-11). [Comment] Offline: COVID-19—bewilderment and candour. thelancet.com "This disease is unlike anything I have seen before. If you end up on ICU, you are potentially in real trouble. I have never seen anything like it before." These words were written by one intensive care physician working at a London teaching hospital. As deaths accumulate, the early message that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes mostly a mild illness has been shown to be dangerously false. One in five patients develop complications and are at grave risk. A further misunderstanding concerns age.
(2020-04-11). Simultaneous Simulation of Gravitation and Magnetism in Planet Formation Achieved in New Study. sputniknews.com Our Earth formed out of a massive disk of gas and dust rotating around the sun, with scientists pondering if the same processes governed the thousands of extrasolar planets discovered in recent decades.
(2020-04-11). Russian Cosmonauts Begin 3D Bioprinting Experiment on ISS. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian cosmonauts at the International Space Station (ISS) have started printing inorganic components of rat bone tissue as part of an experiment devised by Russian company 3D-bioprinting Solutions, managing partner Yusef Khesuani said on Saturday.
(2020-04-11). France, Canada Deny Quid Pro Quo Over China's Coronavirus Aid and Huawei 5G Role. sputniknews.com Generous donations of crucial medical equipment from China to Western countries have prompted speculation that it was either a PR stunt or an attempt to leverage market access for Huawei, which has long been accused by the US of spying on behalf of Beijing.
(2020-04-11). Fidel's Legacy: What's Behind the Proficiency of Cuba's Medical Teams Fighting COVID-19 Abroad? sputniknews.com Cuba's Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade is highly in demand across the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Manuel Limonta, vice president of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and one of the founders of Cuba's biotechnology has explained how the nation managed to create an efficient disaster healthcare team despite the embargo burden.
(2020-04-11). What Was the Deadliest Volcano Eruption Ever Recorded, That Took the Lives of Almost 100,000 People? sputniknews.com Indonesia makes headlines to this day for its vivid volcanic activity. Just on Friday, the Krakatoa volcano, located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, erupted, ejecting a 14-kilometre-high ash cloud into the air. Krakatoa may be the region's most famous volcano, but another can claim the highest death toll in recorded history.
(2020-04-11). Russian Telescope Pierces Heart of the Galaxy to Probe Hidden Secrets. sputniknews.com The Russian-German space observatory "Spektr-RG", launched in July 2019, seeks to compile a map of the universe over the following four years, taking high-resolution pictures of the sky in the X-ray spectrum.
(2020-04-11). Turkey: Some 14,000 returnees from abroad in quarantine. yenisafak.com Turkey has currently been quarantining nearly 14,000 citizens who came from abroad as part of measures to stem the spread of novel coronavirus, an official said on Saturday.A total of 13,968 citizens are under quarantine at the dormitories across 63 provinces, said Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu who oversees student dormitories in the country.Kasapoglu also said that 17,504 citizens were released from quarantine after completing the mandatory 14-day period.After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions.The pandemic has killed over 103,500 peopl…
(2020-04-11). [Editorial] The gendered dimensions of COVID-19. thelancet.com SARS-CoV-2 does not discriminate, but without careful consideration, the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic might. Demographic data from small studies are already informing political decisions and clinical research strategies. Women and men are affected by COVID-19, but biology and gender norms are shaping the disease burden. The success of the global response—the ability of both women and men to survive and recover from the pandemic's effects—will depend on the quality of evidence informing the response and the extent to which data represent sex and gender differences.
(2020-04-10). New Research Shows Anti-Coronavirus Drugs Could Be Produced for Pennies. mintpressnews.com 
Instead, those drugs are being sold for thousands of dollars each, proving once again that the private, for-profit pharmaceutical industry is ill-equipped to handle a global public health crisis like COVID-19.
(2020-04-10). Cuban Medical Science in the Service of Humanity. counterpunch.org 
By 21 March, Cuba had sent healthcare professionals to 37 countries to collaborate in combating the pandemic. Italy received 53 Cuban medics who had previously worked in West Africa during the deadly Ebola outbreak of 2014. Cuba also stepped into the breach in mid-March when a cruise ship with over 600 mostly British passengers and
(2020-04-10). University workers must not accept wage cuts in exchange for 'job security'. mronline.org The government, university bosses and national officials of the National Tertiary Education Union are combining to attack uni workers' pay and conditions.
(2020-04-10). Last Chance to Save the Euro? counterpunch.org After a faulty start to the coronavirus pandemic, the European Union members appear to be getting their act together, as they all appear to have abandoned ruinous slash-and-burn austerity policies (including budget cuts to health care, education and other social services) in order to cope with the onset of a global depression. At least that's
(2020-04-10). The Pataphysics of Pandemic. counterpunch.org Pataphysics: the science of imaginary solutions This illness doesn't believe in American Exceptionalism or that reality is a fungible quotient. Donald Trump and his narcissistic mental illness is an entirely expected effect from this model. That idea that reality isn't a firm thing and problems aren't to be solved, but molded and managed to what
(2020-04-10). Will COVID-19 Spur a Peoples' Bailout for the World's Poorest? counterpunch.org The question is whether COVID-19 will awaken us to the stark inequalities of our world, or does it simply represent a new cause of impoverishment for the vast swathes of humanity who have long been disregarded by the public's conscience? *** Since the beginning of 2020, we've entered an extraordinary new era. There is still
(2020-04-10). Cuban Medical Science in the Service of Humanity. counterpunch.org By 21 March, Cuba had sent healthcare professionals to 37 countries to collaborate in combating the pandemic. Italy received 53 Cuban medics who had previously worked in West Africa during the deadly Ebola outbreak of 2014. Cuba also stepped into the breach in mid-March when a cruise ship with over 600 mostly British passengers and
(2020-04-09). Nearly three in 10 firms cut jobs due to pandemic before the lockdown even kicked in. thecanary.co 
Almost three in 10 businesses cut jobs in the face of the coronavirus pandemic prior to the lockdown, according to official statisticians.The Office for National Statistics said 29% of the 4,598 businesses it surveyed said they had to temporarily reduce staff numbers during the period from March 9 to March 22.It added that 40% of businesses surveyed said they were confident they could continue operating during the pandemic, based on their experience over the same period, which was before the Government-mandated lockdown.The survey also revealed that 47% of firms reported that their turnover was lower than normal…
(2020-04-09). Covid-19 to plunge half a billion people into poverty. truepublica.org.uk New research published by UNU-WIDER today warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years, since 1990. The authors of the UNU-WIDER study — Andy Sumner and Eduardo Ortiz-Juarez …
(2020-04-09). Headlines for April 9, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Pandemic Could Push 600 Million More People into Poverty, New York Reports Record 779 Coronavirus Deaths in Just 24 Hours, General Motors to Deliver 30,000 Ventilators, with Most Arriving Long After Projected COVID-19 Peak, Kansas to Allow Crowded Church Services as L.A. Expands Order on Face Coverings, California Fast-Food Workers Strike, Demanding Hazard Pay and Protections Against COVID-19, Trump Touts Unproven Treatments of Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc for COVID-19, World Health Organization Head: "Please Don't Politicize This Virus", Researchers Find Coronavirus Arrived in New York from Europe in…
(2020-04-09). The Science Is Clear on How to Beat This Pandemic. thenation.com The Science Is Clear on How to Beat This Pandemic…
(2020-04-08). Will Covid-19 spur a Peoples' Bailout for the World's Poorest? dissidentvoice.org 
Image credit: Giacomo Carra on Unsplash The question is whether Covid-19 will awaken us to the stark inequalities of our world, or does it simply represent a new cause of impoverishment for the vast swathes of humanity who have long been disregarded by the public's conscience? ***** Since the beginning of 2020, we've entered an …
(2020-04-08). Scientists find how Covid-19 tricks its way into the human body. thecanary.co The virus that causes Covid-19 acts like a "wolf in sheep's clothing" by using sugars to trick its way into the human body, according to new research.Scientists at the University of Southampton have created a model of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19 which reveals how it disguises itself to enter human cells undetected.But they found that the virus is not as heavily protected as some others such as HIV.The team, led by Professor Max Crispin, says the model will provide "crucial and encouraging" information for scientists creating a vaccine.Prof Crispin explained that the Sars-CoV-2 virus has a larg…
(2020-04-08). New COVID-19 project will use the power of smartphones to search for treatments. imperial.ac.uk Imperial researchers will look for potential new treatments for COVID-19 using the computing power of people's smartphones.
(2020-04-08). 66,000 UK deaths projected by 'Institute' has 95 per cent 'uncertainty' value. truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: There are many headlines in a range of national newspapers across the spectrum reporting that Britain could see as many as 66,000 COVID-19 deaths during the first wave of the current pandemic. This is new research published Tuesday (07/04), effectively making the outbreak in Britain by far the deadliest in Europe. In fact, …
(2020-04-08). Gratitude pours in for Imperial staff and students during COVID-19. imperial.ac.uk Staff and students at Imperial College London have said a special thank you to colleagues and classmates during the COVID-19 outbreak.
(2020-04-08). Imperial sails through to semi-finals of University Challenge. imperial.ac.uk Imperial students Brandon, Caleb, Richard and Conor have reached the semi-finals of BBC Two's popular quiz show University Challenge.
(2020-04-07). Deaths of Inequality: AOC on Black and Latinx Communities at Epicenter of Epicenter of the Pandemic. democracynow.org 
As COVID-19 deaths spike in African-American and immigrant communities, almost a third of New York City's infections are in Queens, one of the most diverse places in the world, and many in the hardest-hit neighborhoods are undocumented and working-class. We speak with Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents the neighborhoods at the epicenter of the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, about how the Trump administration's response to the pandemic is causing "deaths of incompetence," "deaths of science denial" and "deaths of inequality."
(2020-04-07). Clinician Burnout and Professional Well-being—Reply. jamanetwork.com In Reply Our Viewpoint was a summary of a comprehensive National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report. Time pressure and high workload are work system factors that contribute to clinician burnout and affect patient care; however, many other work system factors can also increase clinician burnout. The review of the evidence in the NASEM report showed that there is not a single root cause of burnout among clinicians, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other health care professionals who provide direct care to patients.
(2020-04-06). Why Do Economists Have Such a Hard Time Imagining Open Source Biomedical Research? cepr.net It seems more than a bit bizarre, but in a discussion of alternative to patents for financing the development of new drugs and vaccines, publicly funded open-source research is not mentioned. This is peculiar since so much of the research into treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus are in effect being open-sourced, with researchers posting …
(2020-04-06). The Length of the Shutdowns Will be Determined by Donald Trump, not Science. cepr.net Many people are thinking about policy through this crisis as though the country will be largely shut down for many months. This is not going to happen. The length of this shutdown will be determined by Donald Trump, not science, and he is not going to allow a shutdown of many months regardless of what …
(2020-04-04). [Research Paper] Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing surgeries during the incubation period of COVID-19 infection. thelancet.com In this retrospective cohort study of 34 operative patients with confirmed COVID-19, 15 (44 ∑1%) patients needed ICU care, and the mortality rate was 20 ∑5%.
(2020-04-02). [Research Paper] Survey of major trauma centre preparedness for mass casualty incidents in Australia, Canada, England and New Zealand. thelancet.com The disaster preparedness of MTCs was high for communication, safety and security but there was clear need for improvement in other areas including surge capacity, human resources and post-disaster recovery.
(2020-03-27). The Italian war-like measures to fight coronavirus spreading: Re-open closed hospitals now. thelancet.com As recently highlighted by The Lancet, the Covid-19 outbreak started in Northern Italy has shocked Europe, while it has been questioned if China benefits from an authoritarian advantage in disease response [1,2]. In Italy, after the shutdown of the educational system (schools and Universities will remain closed at least for one month) and the collapse of the touristic sector (90% of travels and reservations cancelled), the Government officially locked down residents of all the region of Milan (Lombardia) and other 11 provinces.
(2020-03-27). [Correspondence] Experts' request to the Spanish Government: move Spain towards complete lockdown. thelancet.com We would like to express our concern about the limited capacity of actions taken by the Spanish Government to successfully control the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak and end the exponential growth phase of new cases. The measures taken so far, consisting primarily of partial restriction mobility, are in the right direction, although some researchers have warned about the pressure placed on the building blocks of the health system.1…
(2020-03-18). [Research Paper] A phase 1b randomized study of the safety and immunological responses to vaccination with H4:IC31, H56:IC31, and BCG revaccination in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-uninfected adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. thelancet.com BCG revaccination administered as a single dose ID and both H4: IC31 and H56: IC31 administered as 2 doses IM had acceptable safety profiles in healthy, QFT-negative, previously BCG-vaccinated adolescents. Characterization of the assays and the immunogenicity of these vaccines may help to identify valuable markers of protection for upcoming immune correlates analyses of C-040-404 and future TB vaccine efficacy trials.
(2020-03-16). [Correspondence] COVID-19: the need for continuous medical education and training. thelancet.com Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) moved rapidly through China, and the virus had spread to more than 60 countries and infected nearly 90‚Äà000 patients by March 5, 2020. Based on data for 72‚Äà314 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 14% of people have severe disease, 5% have critical illness, and 2 ∑3% die.1 COVID-19 is not a conventional disease, and rapid changes in the provision of critical care have been needed to meet the needs of patients. Health emergencies such as the COVID-19 outbreak can be a huge challenge for critical-care ph…
(2020-03-16). [Comment] Evolving therapies for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: balancing efficacy and toxicity. thelancet.com Disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a leading global health problem associated with severe morbidity and a high risk of death, despite widespread availability of effective treatment for drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Although drug-resistant tuberculosis had been described for many years, alarming reports over the past decade suggested neither tuberculosis transmission nor virulence was compromised by the selection of tuberculosis drug resistance.1,2 These reports, describing the prognosis of patients with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis, galvanised global research efforts into improving treatment,…
