Ketan Mahajan

A report shows that millions of people in the US have been delaying their dental appointments due to the fear of COVID19 infection. Experts say this situation might lead to increased fees for patients, job loss, and fewer family practices. Since the pandemic has hit the United States this spring, all the dental clinics have been temporarily shut down except for emergency appointments. It has thrown hundreds of thousands of American people out of work. Now, when 99.9 percent of dental clinics have reopened again, however, the number of patients coming in remains 20 percent lower than usual day. This data has been released by the American Dental Association (ADA). Although the dentists have been taking all the safety measures to protect themselves and patients from coronavirus, they do not think this situation will improve any time soon.

A study shows that the expenditure on dental care will go down by 38 percent in 2020. It says that 46 percent of dentist groups have said that the volume of their patients has reduced by 15 percent than usual levels in the first week of October. The study shows that nearly 15 to 20 percent of patients have confessed that they will not visit their dentists until there is a proven treatment or a vaccine for COVID19. The Chief Economist of ADA projects, Marko Vujicic has said that a large section of people is very cautious about the pandemic and it is difficult to make people return to usual activities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has earlier said that oral health check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care will be delayed until there is a sufficient decline in the rate of COVID19 transmission. The ADA has strongly opposed the WHO’s stand and said that dentists are taking many safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.

Dentists have been maintaining safety standards by using N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable gowns, air purifiers, cleaning solutions, temperature checks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. They have been forcing patients as well to wait in their cars until their appointments start. Experts from the dental industry have said that there is no documented proof of COVID19 cases stemming from a dental care facility. The ADA officials have said that if the situation remains the same for a few more months, dentists will consider raising their fees. They have said that they will raise the fee for insured patients too. Dentists might consider privatizing their practices as well, said the officials from ADA. The organization has revealed that a dentist spends an additional $15 to $20 per patient due to the safety measures taken for COVID19 prevention.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report saying that the number of Hispanic people dying due to COVID19 is growing rapidly. Minorities in the United States have been majorly hit by the global pandemic. The number of death among them is still on the rise, said the experts. As per the data, Hispanic Americans have made up 16.3 percent of COVID19 deaths in the US in the month of May. In August, the proportion has gone up to 26.4 percent. Reports show that more than half of the US deaths due to the pandemic include white Americans; however, the number of black and Hispanic people who have lost their lives amid the pandemic is higher than their share of the population. The rise in deaths among Hispanic people might be due to the shift of the epidemic from the northeast to the south and west regions. South and west regions are highly populated with black and Hispanic people.

The CDC suggests that black and Hispanic people are highly prone to the virus and they are more likely to die due to the infection. As per the data fetched from Johns Hopkins University, 217000 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 so far. Around 8 million people have been infected with the virus. Although the pandemic has confirmed that it does not differentiate in infecting the people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, and genders, however, it does not hit all these groups equally either. Nearly 114411 people have died due to COVID19 between May and August. Reports say that 49 percent of them have been black and Hispanic people. Nearly 51.3 percent of them have been white people. Experts have said that the proportion of white people dying will be more than three quarters if the virus would have hit the people of all races equally. Black people make up only 13 percent of the US total population; however, they account for 19 percent of people who have died due to COVID19 in the US. Latinx and Hispanic people contribute to 18 percent of the population in the US, but they make up for more than 24 percent of deaths in the last four months.

The shift of COVID19 outbreak from northeast to south and west regions has been instrumental in increasing the death toll among minorities. With overwhelming cases in New York City and tri-state area under control, other regions of the country, which have fewer cases and do not require aggressive measures, have started to see a surge in deaths and further infection. South region has seen only 23 percent of COVID19 deaths in May; however, the share of deaths across the region has increased by threefold and reached up to 62 percent. The share of deaths in the west region as well has increased from 10.4 percent to 21.4 percent. As per the experts, the geographic shift of the outbreak might be due to the difference in the implementation of community mitigation efforts across the nation. The authors of the study have said that ethnic disparity among the descendants of south and west has increased in the months of May and August. It might be another reason for the rising deaths among black and Hispanic people.

Many hospitals have been treating severe COVID19 patients with blood plasma of recovering patients due to the absence of an effective and approved treatment. Doctors believe that blood plasma extracted from recovering patients carry antibodies, which fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although plasma has not shown any advantage during the randomized trials, however, some small studies claim that it might help reduce the severity of the disease. A new study has found that the levels of antibodies reduce quickly in the blood of COVID19 patients during recovery. Experts have said that the levels of antibodies keep decreasing as the body of the patient starts clearing the virus and its symptoms. A new study has been done by experts from the American Society for Microbiology.

Experts have said that if the convalescent plasma is effective in the treatment of COVID19 disease it should be taken within a precise window of time after recovery. Nevertheless, recovering patients are not allowed to donate blood until at least 14 days after their symptoms have been reduced. Doctors need to give this much time to the patient’s body to clear out the viral infection. Dr. Andres Finzi, a professor at the University of Montreal, Canada has said that the ability of plasma to eliminate the viral particles is slowing down during the first weeks after recovery. Some of the past studies have found that the antibodies, which fight against the virus, start acting in full force, 2 or 3 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. A previous study, which has been done by Dr. Finzi and his team, has shown that the capacity of plasma to fight the infection has reduced between 3 to 6 weeks after symptoms have started showing. Around 100 patients have been included in this study.

In a new longitudinal study, experts have taken blood samples of 31 people who have been recovering from COVID19 infection. These blood samples have been taken at a one-month interval. They have observed levels of immunoglobulin, which fight against the virus’s spike protein. Experts have examined the ability of the antibodies to eliminate the virus. They have seen a variation in the levels of antibodies among the patients. There has been a consistent signal in the levels of antibodies. As per the study, the levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M has rapidly reduced between six and ten weeks after symptoms have started showing. During the same time, the capacity of the antibodies to kill the virus has also gone down.

Two new studies have revealed that there is a link between people with O blood type and lower chances of being diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection. These studies have shown that people with O blood group, who have been diagnosed with COVID19, will have milder symptoms than others. Experts have not been able to find out the cause and effect of the statistical link in the study. One study has been published in Denmark and another study with the same findings has been released in Canada. However, experts have said that there is a need for further studies for more substantial conclusions. Experts have said that the O blood group plays a significant role in people’s susceptibility to COVID19 infection.

The study published in Denmark has revealed that only 38.4 percent of people with O blood type have tested positive for COVID19 out of 7422 Danish people. The study has reported that people with blood type O make up only 41.4 percent of nearly 2.2 million of the untested population. People with blood type A contribute to 44.4 percent of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. They make up 42.2 percent of people who have not been tested yet. The Canadian study has analyzed 95 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. The study shows that people with A and AB have required a ventilator as compared to 61 percent of people with blood type O and B. People with blood type O and B have stayed only for 9 days in the intensive care as compared to those with A and AB blood groups, who have spent nearly 13.5 days in the intensive care.

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, the author of the Canadian study has said that authorities need to conduct more study to consider this as a definitive marker. It is uncertain whether this link is a certain kind of protection for O blood type people or some kind of vulnerability linked to other blood groups. Experts have said that the findings of the study should not change the way people have been taking their daily lives so far. Both studies have been published in the Journal of Blood Advances.

A national study has shown enough evidence that child care centers are not liable for spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus even in communities where largely the infection is quite high. This study has been published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has been touted to be the largest research, which has been done on the transmission of the COVID19 in child care programs in the US. The study has been led by Professor Walter Gilliam. The lead author of the study has said that the findings of the study are very encouraging and it will provide relief to the child care providers and families, who have been relying on them.

The study has analyzed around 57335 child care providers, which accommodate almost 4 million children in two-thirds of counties in the US. Experts have revealed that people who have been working during the first three months of the pandemic are no more prone to fall sick as compared to those who have not been working. Experts have said that there is no link between people working in child care centers and catching the virus. The study has clearly mentioned that child care providers are not at a higher risk of COVID19 if they have stayed at home. Earlier reports have shown that adults are at a greater risk of contracting the virus than children. Such findings have helped the experts to come up with a measuring stick for the spread of the virus in these child care centers.

Many past studies have shown that child care centers are not the hotspot for the spread of the virus. However, experts have said that in the case of influenza, children might be the main spreader and schools might stand as major hotspots. Well, it is a different case for COVID19. The findings of the national study are constant with reduced rates of infection and transmission, which have been reported by more than 33000 licensed preschool and daycare centers in California. There have been only 657 children and 1000 providers who have fallen sick due to COVID19 since March. However, many experts have been opposing the findings of the study. They have said that the study has been done much before more cases have started coming up. However, the authors of the new study have said that people should not extrapolate their findings to K-12 schools, where containing the spread of the virus is quite difficult due to the extra size of the class and more group mixing.

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has announced that it will buy MyoKardia Inc. for USD 13.1 billion in cash in a deal. The move by the drug giant is aimed at expanding its offering of heart therapies. It will also reduce Bristol Myers’ dependency on cancer drugs. The deal comes after the largest pharmaceutical deal in history that the company clinched last year. According to a statement issued by the company, It will pay USD 225 a share for MyoKardia. With this deal, Bristol Myers will get access to MyoKardia lead product mavacamten. It is an experimental drug to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this disease, the muscle of the heart becomes abnormally thick.

Expanding the lineup to heart drugs would help Bristol Myers maintain a more diversified lineup of therapies. The company has so far emphasized the expansion of its oncology business of late. Eliquis, a blood thinner, has been the company’s top-seller, however, it is expected to face tough competition in the coming years. Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Caforio said that they have been trying to find different ways to strengthen the company. “This is a disease that has no treatment available at the moment and therefore the value is very significant. The deal can really be a multi-billion dollar asset,” he added.

Nearly a year ago, Bristol Myers closed a USD 74 billion deal with Celgene Corp. This placed the company in a better position in the increasingly competitive market for cancer therapies. But investors are concerned about the prospect of the company in the next half of the decade. Revlimid was the main drug that was obtained in the deal. It is expected to drop US patent exclusivity in 2027. Similarly, Eliquis is also expected to lose patent exclusivity in 2026. It is expected that an application for the approval of mavacamten will be submitted in the first quarter of the year 2021. The company’s executives said that this is too early to discuss such things.

Scientists have said that people who drink coffee before having their breakfast might be at a higher risk of irregular blood sugar levels. Having coffee as a way to wake up in the morning can harm people, said, the experts. On the other hand, they have said drinking coffee after breakfast can help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. This study has come from the Center for Nutrition Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath. Experts have said that the blood sugar control goes for a toss when the first thing body gets is coffee in the morning especially after a disturbed sleep. Health experts have advised people to drink coffee after they eat something in the morning. They have said that it will improve the glucose levels in the blood.

The authors of the study have observed 29 men and women after three overnight trials. In the study, participants who have disrupted sleep a night before have been made to drink a sugary drink in the morning. The participants who have been waking up every hour for five minutes during their sleep have been given a sugary drink as the first thing in the morning in the second trial. During the third trial, volunteers have been made to drink a black coffee 30 minutes before a sugary drink, who have similar disrupted sleep a night before. Each of the men and women has got their blood sugar levels checked before having anything and after ingesting the first thing they had in the morning. Experts have found those participants who have had sugary coffee first, their blood glucose levels have increased by 50 percent after having the breakfast drink. On the other hand, people who have had a breakfast meal replacement drink; there has not been any negative effect on their blood sugar levels.

The early findings of the study have revealed that drinking coffee as the first thing in the morning can restrict the body’s ability to process sugar immediately. However, experts have said that there is a need for further study to determine the effect of caffeine as first thing in the morning on people’s metabolism. Scientists have said that we need to learn a lot about how sleep impacts our metabolism. It is still uncertain how much sleep disruption can harm people’s metabolism. This study has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Scientists have found that adults can be diagnosed with a fatal syndrome, which is more similar to COVID19 related symptoms in children. Researchers at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have come up with this new study. They have termed this severe symptom as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome or MIS-A in adults. Scientists have claimed that it is quite similar to COVID19 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C. Experts have said that MIS-A is not associated with COVID19. People who suffer from such syndrome might not show any other symptoms, which indicate a possible coronavirus infection. However, some of the adults have lost their lives due to this deadly syndrome and it strangely affects racial and ethnic minorities like COVID19.

MIS-C has impacted hundreds of kids across the world. If these children get prompt treatment, they recover from it, said the experts. This condition leads to general inflammation but patients do not exhibit classic signs of COVID19 infection. The blood tests of such children show that kids develop this condition week after recovering from COVID19 infection. The CDC team has analyzed cases of 27 adults in the age range of 21 to 50 years who have been suffering from MIS-A. Most of them have been dealing with severe inflammation in their body. They have been experiencing a malfunction of the kidney, liver, and heart as well but not the lungs. Rigorous inflammation and extrapulmonary organ failure are the symptoms of severe COVID19 infection among adults; however, all these symptoms are accompanied by respiratory failure as well.

Some of the adults have complained of minimal respiratory symptoms like hypoxemia. Such cases have been essential to distinguish MIS-A from COVID19 infection. Nearly 8 out of 16 adults have reported having respiratory symptoms before the onset of MIS-A. Around one-third of 27 adults have been tested negative for COVID19. Nevertheless, they have been tested positive for antibodies. It indicates that they have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the past. Most of the adults who have been diagnosed with MIS-A have been from racial and ethnic minority groups. Health officials have said that the health department should observe these adults with MIS-A, who have compatible signs and symptoms. They might not be diagnosed with COVID19 infection but there is a need to run an antibody test on them to determine whether they have been infected with coronavirus in the past.

Scientists from Germany have said that the Neanderthal gene inherited from ancestors might lead to severe COVID19 infection among some people. A team of Neanderthal genetic experts has been examining a DNA strand, which is said to be linked with some of the severe COVID19 cases. They have compared this DNA with a sequence, which has been passed down to European and Asian people from Neanderthal ancestors. This DNA strand has been identified in chromosome 3. Scientists have been able to found out certain variations in the sequence, which is linked to the risk of more severe COVID19 infection. Experts have said that the risk is originated from a genomic segment and it has been inherited from Neanderthals.

The study shows that nearly 50 percent of South Asians and 16 percent of Europeans might be carrying this gene. This gene has been inherited by modern age humans from Neanderthals. The report says that people who are carrying this gene variant are three times more likely to be on ventilators if they are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The lead authors of the study have found a similar kind of DNA strand from a 50000 years old Neanderthal skeleton In Siberia. The research says that modern humans have crossbred with Neanderthals and a linked species called Denisovans around tens of thousands of years ago. As per the report, nearly 2 percent of DNA in European and Asian people can be traced back to Neanderthals.

Experts have not been able to find out which feature in the Neanderthal-derived region contributes to the risk of severe COVID19 infection. They have said that humans have a vast variety of genetic diversity and a couple of them had been found in our pre-human ancestors. Some of them had risen in Neanderthals and some had been traced back to the times when all the humans lived in Africa. A couple of genes have been found more recently as well. Experts have said that this DNA strand might be the reason behind a small percentage difference in the severity of the disease among COVID19 patients.

Many previous studies have shown that the menstrual cycle is an important aspect of women’s overall health. The menstrual cycle has been linked to several ailments such as cancer, heart diseases, metabolic problems, diabetes, and even mental disorders. As per a new study, the menstrual cycle also impacts life expectancy among women. Scientists from Harvard and Tongji Medical College in China have said that hormonal imbalance due to irregular periods is the main factor, which affects the health and lifespan among women. It increases the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer as well. The study has shown the data of around 80000 women with irregular and long menstrual cycles. It says that such women are at a higher risk of dying before age 70. This study has been published in the British Medical Journal.

Scientists have observed the data from a cohort study involving American nurses in the age group of 25 to 42 years. This study has started in 1989. The new study has gathered the data on volunteers’ lifestyle and health. Experts have enquired about the regularity and duration of their menstrual cycle as well. At the beginning of the study, volunteers have been asked to recall the nature of their periods from 14 to 17 years of age. After regulating other factors, experts have found that the women who have an irregular cycle of 40 or more days have been at a greater risk of dying early as compared to those who have a normal cycle of 26 to 30 days. Women with disrupted cycles are at a higher risk of cardiovascular ailments as well, said the experts. The study has shown that women who smoke and have disrupted and long cycles have been at 66 to 71 percent higher risk.

Experts have revealed that women who have missed their cycles at the adolescent age and in adulthood are twice as likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure. Study shows that such women are susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids as well. Studies have come out with a shocking fact that young adolescent girls who miss their periods due to birth control pills are at higher risk of early death as compared to adults. Experts have said that using oral contraception can be dangerous for girls aged 14 to 17 years. However, the usage of birth control after the age of 18 has not been linked to the risk of death.