By Nancy Lapid
(Reuters) – The following is a summary of some of the latest scientific studies on the new coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
British variant can make pets very sick
The coronavirus variant, first identified in the UK, known as B.1.1.7, has been linked to severe cases of heart disease in pets that appear to have contracted the infections in their humans, veterinarians near London reported. The original strain of the virus apparently did not cause serious diseases in pets. But between mid-December and February, reflecting the rise and spread of B.1.1.7, veterinarians noticed a sudden surge in cats and dogs with myocarditis, a severe inflammation in the heart. In an article posted on bioRxiv on Thursday before peer review, they describe 11 animals that suddenly became critically ill. Two cats and one dog immediately tested positive for B.1.1.7; two more cats and one dog were later tested positive for antibodies. Many owners of these affected pets have recently had a confirmed COVID-19. Myocarditis in pets remains rare, and in all these cases it appears that the infections have been transmitted from humans to pets, and not the other way around, said dr. Luca Ferasin of the Ralph Veterinary Center in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, said. “Our cats and dogs have made a remarkable clinical improvement after a few days in intensive care,” he said. People who are concerned about the health of their pets should contact their veterinarian, he added. (https://bit.ly/3tJrNHo)
COVID-19 vaccine from China looks safe in children
The COVID-19 vaccine from Sinovac Biotech appears to be safe and can trigger immune responses among children and teens ages 3 to 17, the company said Monday. The data from early and middle-stage trials involving 500 participants compared the middle- and low-dose vaccine with a placebo. Most negative reactions were mild, Zeng Gang, a researcher for the company, said at an academic conference in Beijing. The antibody polls caused by Sinovac’s CoronaVac were higher than those seen in adults in earlier clinical trials of the shot, Zeng said. The effectiveness of CoronaVac in adults was lower compared to data from trials with other available vaccines. The company is also testing a third boost survey for adults in a clinical trial based in China, while participants will receive a third dose about eight months after receiving the second dose. The preliminary data in children have not yet been formally announced. (https://reut.rs/3lGZeHS)
Lock associated with “significant” weight gain
Significant weight gain is a clinically relevant effect of coronavirus closures, a new study indicates. Researchers from the Health eHeart study found 269 adults from 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who had to voluntarily report weight measurements from their Bluetooth-connected smart scales. About half were men, 77% were white and the average age was 52. After the shelter-in-place regulations went into effect, participants “gradually” gained weight, regardless of their health status or where they lived, according to ‘ a report published on Monday in JAMA Network Open. On average, they picked up 0.27 kg (9.52 oz) every 10 days, or about 0.7 kg (1.54 pounds) per month. The investigators acknowledged that people who own Bluetooth-connected weighing devices may not be representative of the general population. “It is important to recognize the unintended health consequences that on-site shelter may have at the population level,” they said. The … data indicate a need to identify concurrent strategies to mitigate weight gain, such as encouraging healthy diets and exploring ways to improve physical activity as local governments consider new restrictions in response to SARS-CoV -2 and potential future pandemics. “(Https://bit.ly/3tIR2th)
Stroke below 1% among US COVID-19 patients
During the first nine months of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, less than 1% of hospital patients with COVID-19 had strokes associated with blood clots in the brain veins, new research shows. Among 21,073 patients admitted to the hospital from March to November, 160 experienced ischemic strokes, with an overall risk of about 0.75%, according to research conducted by Dr. Saate Shakil of the University of Washington in Seattle presented at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference on Friday. The data, collected by the American Heart Association, showed that those who had strokes were older, more often men, and more likely to have medical conditions that increased the risk of stroke. Racial differences were also evident, with non-Hispanic black patients at higher risk than Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients. Early in the pandemic, the rate of ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients was higher, with reported rates ranging from 0.9% to 2.0%, Shakil noted, and many younger COVID-19 patients were affected. As a result, the World Health Organization, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and other top health organizations have issued guidelines in which they should routinely use blood thinners to prevent blood clots and strokes in adults hospitalized for COVID-19. (https://bit.ly/313HnkI)
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(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Additional reporting by Rosanne Liu, Ryan Woo and Megan Brooks; Edited by Bill Berkrot)