14/02/2024

Katalin Karikó, a teddy bear full of money and a Nobel Prize for a lifetime’s work 

Dr. Katalin Karikó is an inspiring example of resilience and commitment, overcoming multiple challenges and ultimately achieving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with Dr. Drew Weissman in 2023. Her pioneering work in mRNA technology, in collaboration with Dr. Drew Weissman, eventually led to the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Katalin Karikó’s philosophy is focusing on […]

Alicia Abarca The Second Scientist 0 6 min read
31/05/2021

The connection between AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and blood clots

Summary: Multiple countries have suspended the rollout of AstraZeneca’s vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 due to possible adverse reactions. The embolic and thrombotic events after vaccination are very rare. EMA (European Medicines Agency) safety committee has concluded that the link is possibly based on the consistency of the clinical picture. The committee has made recommendations to update the Vaxzevria side-effect information to […]

Konstanty Cieśliński COVID19 0 4 min read
05/04/2021

Is ivermectin a solution for COVID-19?

Summary: Research to find effective medication for COVID-19 is still ongoing. Ivermectin is a very potent drug against certain parasites. At the moment, there is not enough evidence to state if ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. Medication should only be used if it is approved for specific treatment. For a few weeks, it looked like the number of cases of […]

Kamil Wolanin COVID19 0 3 min read
25/01/2021

What is known about the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Summary: Official recommendations are not clear. A potential vaccination during  pregnancy needs to be discussed with a healthcare professional based on individual medical history and pregnancy status. Data on the impact of a vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy are very limited. The available resources do not indicate negative effects of the vaccine on the mother and child during and after […]

Konstanty Cieśliński COVID19 0 4 min read
10/08/2020

Could Lactoferrin be a miracle solution against COVID-19?

Summary: Lactoferrin has various antimicrobial activities as presented in vitro. There is no data from human patients showing the effectiveness of lactoferrin against COVID-19 or any other disease. There is very little evidence showing the influence of lactoferrin on the immune system. Drastic dietary changes and intake of medication without proven effectiveness might bring momentary peace of mind but might […]

Kamil Wolanin COVID19 7 6 min read
08/06/2020

How does tobacco intake influence SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Summary: There are reports based on a small group of patients showing that smokers were in the minority among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Analyses of small groups of patients showed more severity and higher mortality among active smokers. There isn’t enough data to draw a conclusion on the positive or negative influence of tobacco on COVID-19 infection. Tobacco is harmful […]

Kamil Wolanin COVID19 0 4 min read
26/05/2020

How does COVID-19 affect the health of children?

Summary: So far, children seem to be less susceptible to COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infections can cause severe symptoms in children. A newly named pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome is similar to the previously discovered Kawasaki disease, with a few significant differences. It is important to inform children on official guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. COVID-19 […]

Kamil Wolanin COVID19 0 2 min read
18/05/2020

Can apps help to fight the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?

Summary: Two different types of apps are currently put forward: Survey apps and contact tracer apps. Survey apps aim to give researchers and politicians real-time population-level access to the spread of the virus. This is done via a series of questions about the user’s symptoms. The goal of contact tracer apps is to alert individuals if they have been in […]

Max Brambach COVID19 0 4 min read