Researchers identify proteins that prevent COVID-19 transmission through the placenta

BOSTON – Researchers from Boston Medical Center’s Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases have identified properties in placenta tissue that may play an important role in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 from a mother with the virus to her fetus. The study results demonstrate that the COVID-19 virus universally invades the placenta in cases with…

Experimental vaccine that boosts antigen production shows promise against COVID-19

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bioengineering technique to boost production of specific proteins could be the basis of an effective vaccine against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, new research suggests. Scientists manipulated a natural cellular process to ramp up levels of two proteins used by the virus to infect other cells, packaged the protein-boosting instructions…

COVID-19 sparks 12-fold increase in remote delivery of mental health care across the US

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 2, 2020) — The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a remarkable number of psychologists across the United States to shift to delivering mental health care to patients remotely, according to a national study led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. The study, “The COVID-19 Telepsychology Revolution: A National Study of Pandemic-Based Changes in…

For vulnerable families, the pandemic’s effect on mental health is swift and harsh

DURHAM, N.C. – In just a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic swiftly and substantially worsened mental health among U.S. hourly service workers and their children – especially those experiencing multiple hardships, according to new research from the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University and Barnard College. The study leverages real-time, daily survey…

GSA publishes 9 articles on COVID-19 and aging; Ageism webinar for health care professionals

The Gerontological Society of America’s highly cited, peer-reviewed journals are continuing to publish scientific articles on COVID-19, and all are free to access. The following were published between July 29 and September 1; all are free to access: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of 821 Older Patients with SARS-Cov-2 Infection Admitted to Acute Care Geriatric Wards:…