Virology

Risk of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Recurrence After Recombinant Zoster Vaccination

May 04, 2024 JAMA Ophthalmology TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this study, the authors investigated the rate of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) reactivation in patients who received the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). Of the approximately 3600 patients identified for inclusion, 84 patients were found to have an event suggestive of HZO reactivation, including new prescriptions of ophthalmic […]

Zinc and Vitamin C Don’t Help COVID-19 Symptoms

From A to Z, Supplements Fail for COVID-19 — Neither vitamin C (a.k.a. ascorbic acid) nor zinc pan out in randomized trial by Molly Walker, Associate Editor, MedPage Today February 12, 2021 High-dose zinc and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) had no impact on the course of symptoms in patients with mild COVID-19, a randomized trial […]

Calcifediol Treatment and COVID-19-Related Outcomes

Abstract Background: COVID-19 is a major health problem because of acute respiratory distress syndrome, saturation of intensive care units (ICU) and mortality. Methods: Our study aims to elucidate the effect of calcifediol [25(OH)D3] treatment on ICU admission and mortality, in patients admitted to COVID-19 wards of Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. A total of 930 […]

A Vaccine Doesn’t Mean Full Immunity

by Sara Berg – Senior News Writer for the American Medical Association “You can’t assume that every microorganism is going to give immediate lifelong immunity. People can get reinfected,” said Dr. Grody. “It works for some diseases like hepatitis B, but that doesn’t seem to be working that well for COVID-19.” “There’s certainly antibodies to […]

Natural Strategies for Viral Diseases – Video Series

College of Integrative Medicine by Wayne Sodano, D.C. Natural Strategies for Viral Diseases – Part 1 Natural Strategies for Viral Diseases – Part 2 Natural Strategies for Viral Disease – Part 3 Natural Strategies for Viral Disease – Part 4a Natural Strategies for Viral Disease – Part 4b

Flu May Raise Chance of Stroke, Neck Artery Tears

By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Flu can make you deathly ill, but it could also trigger a stroke or a rupture in your neck arteries, two new studies suggest. The findings prompted an urgent reminder from the researchers: Getting a flu shot will not only protect you against […]

Researchers Find a new Treatment for the Common Cold

John Murphy, MDLinx | January 25, 2019 For cold and flu-like symptoms, most consumers take over-the-counter medicines, while clinicians can prescribe antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu. But none of these is a silver bullet against the common cold or flu. Now, researchers have shown that elderberry syrup—a remedy as old as folklore—substantially reduces both symptom severity and […]

VITAMIN D AND THE FLU

Utilizing a randomized, open, controlled clinical trial, a study was performed to “evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of vitamin D” for the prevention of influenza A in infants. Infants were randomized to low-dose or high-dose vitamin D, for four months, with 200 infants in each group. Influenza A was observed in 78 cases of […]

Study: Fever Treatments May Cause More Flu Deaths

January 26, 2014 at 7:29 am ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS Atlanta) – A new study has found that fever treatments may cause thousands of more flu deaths each season. To find the effects of widespread use of medications that suppress fever, researchers created mathematical models. Researchers found that fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen may lead […]

Study confirms vitamin D protects against colds and flu

Daily or weekly dose had greatest benefit for those with significant deficiency BY Sue McGreevey and Mike Morrison February 15, 2017 A new global collaborative study has confirmed that vitamin D supplementation can help protect against acute respiratory infections. The study, a participant data meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials including more than 11,000 participants, […]

Zinc lozenges help most patients recover earlier from the common cold

Date:  July 6, 2016 Source:  Wiley Summary:  Zinc acetate lozenges may reduce the duration of the common cold by nearly 3 days, according to a recent analysis. Zinc acetate lozenges may reduce the duration of the common cold by nearly 3 days, according to a recent analysis. Among 199 patients with the common cold who […]

No Antibiotics for Colds, Sore Throats

01.18.2016 ACP, CDC remind doctors to be cautious about antibiotic prescribing by Kristina Fiore Staff Writer, MedPage Today Two doctor groups are reminding physicians to use antibiotics sparingly this cold and flu season. The American College of Physicians and the CDC urged doctors not to dole out antibiotics for colds, sore throats, bronchitis, and sinus […]

Short sleepers are four times more likely to catch a cold

Researchers connect sleep loss to higher rates of illness Date: August 31, 2015 Source: University of California – San Francisco Summary: A new study led by a sleep researcher supports what parents have been saying for centuries: to avoid getting sick, be sure to get enough sleep. A new study led by a UC San Francisco sleep researcher […]

Questioning Medicine: Why Is Tamiflu Still Around?

Published: Dec 11, 2014 By Andrew Buelt, DO Story Source Action Points The author discusses his reasons for a belief that there is no clinical benefit associated with the use of Tamiflu. Pointless Prescribing I think there comes a time when everyone realizes that the easy, well-worn path is not always the best option. For […]

What use is mass flu vaccination?

BMJ. 2014; 349: g6182. Published online 2014 Oct 20. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g6182 PMCID: PMC4202689 PMID: 25331457 No Holds Barred Margaret McCartney: What use is mass flu vaccination? Margaret McCartney, general practitioner, Glasgow It’s flu vaccination season again. People over 65 and those aged six months to 65 years who have a clinical risk factor (such as […]

Financial conflicts of interest and conclusions about neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza: an analysis of systematic reviews

Annals of Internal Medicine, 10/15/2014  Evidence Based Medicine Clinical Article Dunn AG, et al. – Industry funding and financial conflicts of interest may contribute to bias in the synthesis and interpretation of scientific evidence. To examine the association between financial conflicts of interest and characteristics of systematic reviews of neuraminidase inhibitors. Reviewers with financial conflicts […]

Study: Fist bumps are less germy than handshakes

Kim Painter, Special for USA TODAY A nice firm handshake has long been a mark of good manners and elevated social skills. It is also a very germy way to greet your fellow humans, much worse than a couple of more casual alternatives, a new study shows. “A short, sweet fist bump will transmit the […]

Development of New Antiviral Agents from Natural Products – Full Text

Masahiko Kurokawa The Open Antimicrobial Agents Journal, 2010, 2, 49-57 Full Text Article

Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Mar 13;3:CD001269. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub5. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Jefferson T, Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Bawazeer GA, Al-Ansary LA, Ferroni E. Abstract BACKGROUND: Different types of influenza vaccines are currently produced worldwide. Vaccination of pregnant women is recommended internationally, while healthy adults are targeted in North America. […]

Diabetes Does Up Risk for Flu-Related Illness

New Evidence: Diabetes Does Up Risk for Flu-Related Illness Nancy A. Melville January 27, 2014 Full Story Adults with diabetes show a significantly greater risk for serious illness related to influenza compared with those without diabetes, justifying existing guidelines that call for influenza vaccination in the adult diabetic population, according to new research published online January 24 […]