A phase 2 trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine found it to be safe and provokes an immune response in healthy older adults, who are at a disproportionate risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The vaccine induces both T cell and antibody responses in older and younger adults, suggesting potential protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of three human coronaviruses found that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are most likely to be highly infectious in the first week after symptom onset. The study highlights the importance of identifying and isolating cases early to control the spread of COVID-19.
A phase 1/2 randomised controlled trial of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate CoronaVac involved over 700 healthy volunteers aged 18-59 years recruited in China. The study found that CoronaVac is safe and induces a robust antibody response within four weeks after two doses, with optimal dosing identified as 3μg.
A clinical trial found that inhaled delivery of interferon beta-1a to hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the UK reduced severe disease and death rates. Those receiving SNG001 were more than twice as likely to recover from infection compared to placebo recipients.
A new report from The Lancet Commission on Diabetes highlights the need for evidence-based interventions to close the gap in diabetes prevention and care. Implementing six key components can reduce cardiovascular-renal events by up to 40% and prevent premature deaths.
Two studies suggest that older adults aged 70 and over with elevated LDL cholesterol levels have the highest incidence of heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol-lowering therapies, including statins, are as effective at reducing cardiovascular events in this age group as they are in younger people.
Researchers stress the need for standardised methods to assess COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, highlighting challenges in determining severe disease protection and the importance of long-term follow-up. Controlled human infection studies may offer rapid assessment but predictability for older adults remains unclear.
A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity suggests that older adults living in care homes have a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality compared to those living in single houses or apartment buildings. The researchers found that living arrangements, such as the type of home and neighborhood characteristics, were important factor...
A modelling study in 131 countries found that combined measures reduce R more than individual measures. The study estimated a 1-3 week delay in the effect and cautions against non-compliance with measures.
A Phase 1/2 randomised controlled trial found the vaccine candidate BBIBP-CorV is safe and induces an immune response in healthy volunteers. The study detected antibody responses in all recipients by day 42 after vaccination, and was well-tolerated with no severe adverse reactions reported.
The study provides new data on health in 204 countries and territories, revealing a perfect storm of rising chronic diseases and public health failures. Key findings include low life expectancy in the USA, high rates of cardiovascular deaths and obesity, and increasing mortality rates among adults aged 25-34 years.
A group of 80 researchers argue that allowing low-risk populations to develop immunity while protecting vulnerable groups will not effectively control COVID-19. They emphasize the need for multi-pronged population-level strategies to protect societies and economies.
A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that rapid bedside testing for COVID-19 can reduce time to results by up to 80 hours and improve infection control. The test, known as QIAstat-Dx POCT, allows patients to be quickly isolated and treatment to be started immediately.
A randomized controlled trial found that restricting merchandising of unhealthy products in stores reduced the purchase of sugar sweetened drinks and confectionery by 2.8%, resulting in a reduction of free sugar purchased from food and drinks by 2.8%. Despite these reductions, business performance was unaffected.
A randomized controlled trial found that lopinavir-ritonavir treatment does not reduce deaths, hospital stay length, or ventilator risk for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The RECOVERY trial's results support the update of clinical guidelines.
A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that patients with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer may be spared radiotherapy following surgery. The authors recommend closely following patients after surgery and offering radiotherapy only if the cancer recurs. This approach may spare many men from radiotherapy's associate...
A nationwide US study of dialysis patients reveals fewer than 10% had COVID-19 antibodies by July 2020 and fewer than 10% were diagnosed. The study highlights the need for targeted public health efforts to prioritize minority communities and densely populated areas.
A review of policies from nine high-income countries identifies five key factors for strategies to ease lockdown restrictions. Governments should have clear plans with transparent decision-making processes and robust systems in place to monitor the infection situation. For communities to reopen safely, control measures such as face mas...
The session presents research papers on novel treatments and diagnostic methods for COVID-19. The Lancet journals will showcase scientific findings on the virus, shedding light on its effects and potential cures.
Public confidence in vaccines varies widely between countries, with signs of improvement in parts of Europe but growing scepticism in others. The study found that six countries experienced substantial increases in people strongly disagreeing vaccines are safe, mirroring trends in political instability and religious extremism.
A modelling study estimates that the COVID-19 response in low- and middle-income countries costs around $52 billion over four weeks, with increased transmission scenarios leading to higher costs. The study highlights the importance of investing in pandemic preparedness to reduce virus transmission and contain costs.
Two Russian vaccine trials found no serious adverse effects and induced an immune response in participants. The trials used a two-part vaccine with adenovirus vectors and demonstrated a good safety profile.
Two Russian phase 1/2 trials found that vaccine candidates induced an antibody response and elicited a T cell response in all participants within 28 days. The trials, involving 76 healthy adults, showed no serious adverse events over 42 days, paving the way for large-scale use of the vaccines.
The Lancet report highlights that many countries are falling behind on their commitments to reduce premature deaths from chronic diseases. Despite a decline in death rates from some diseases over the past decade, others such as diabetes and lung cancer are not showing sufficient progress. The report warns that if current trends continu...
Two studies published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal highlight the importance of test-trace-isolate strategies for schools to safely reopen. Modelling the impact of UK schools reopening in September suggests that a second wave of COVID-19 can be avoided with high coverage of testing and contact tracing, while data from...
A study of almost 100,000 healthcare workers in the UK and US found they were 3.4 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than the general community. The risk was higher among those with inadequate PPE or who reused it, highlighting the need for better protection measures.
Experts identify 12 modifiable risk factors that can be targeted throughout life to delay or prevent dementia. The report highlights the potential for preventive measures to reduce dementia risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
A new study reveals that almost two-thirds of first confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China had travel links to Italy, China, or Iran. The research suggests that travel from these countries may have seeded additional outbreaks globally before the pandemic was characterized.
A phase 2a trial of 82 people investigated whether cannabidiol (CBD) is safe and can help people with cannabis use disorder reduce cannabis use. The study found that daily prescribed medical-use CBD use can cause reduction in cannabis use among people with cannabis use disorder.
A small observational study found no cases of virus transmission from mothers with COVID-19 infection to their newborn babies after two weeks of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. Mothers can safely breastfeed and stay in the same room as their newborns if they use appropriate face coverings and follow infection control procedures.
A survey of UK households found a substantial decline in mental health from before the pandemic into the first month of lockdown. The average level of mental distress increased, with over one quarter of participants reporting clinically significant levels of distress.
The phase 1/2 trial found the vaccine induces strong antibody and T cell immune responses, and causes minor side effects more frequently than a control group. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the vaccine's effectiveness in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A Chinese phase 2 trial found that a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine is safe and induces an immune response in over 500 participants. The trial, which evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate, provides data on the efficacy of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A modelling study published in The Lancet Global Health found that continuing routine childhood vaccination programmes in Africa during the pandemic could save around 702,000 child lives from vaccine-preventable diseases. This number far exceeds the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission to older family members.
A mathematical modelling study finds that a delay of three days or more between symptom onset and testing will not reduce onward transmission sufficiently to control further spread. Contact tracing strategies must keep the R number below 1, and mobile apps can speed up this process.
The world population is projected to peak at 9.7 billion in 2064 and decline to 8.8 billion by 2100 due to low fertility rates. Liberal immigration policies are necessary to maintain population size and economic growth, with the US workforce forecasted to be sustained through large net immigration.
A modelling study predicts that COVID-19 could lead to a significant increase in HIV, TB, and malaria deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The study suggests that prioritizing antiretroviral therapy, timely diagnosis and treatment of TB, and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets could mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
Before state-level stay-at-home policies were implemented, individuals in the US reduced their movement, which was strongly correlated with a decline in COVID-19 case growth. This suggests that social distancing played a crucial role in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
A Europe-wide study of 582 children and adolescents confirms that COVID-19 generally causes mild disease, with fatalities extremely rare. The majority of patients experienced mild symptoms, while a notable number required intensive care support.
A study of 153 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 found that stroke was the most common brain complication, affecting 77 patients. Psychiatric conditions also emerged, including new-onset psychosis, dementia-like syndrome, and mood disorders, in 23 patients.
A recent study from Guangzhou found that people with COVID-19 can be highly infectious before symptoms appear, with a high risk of transmission among household contacts. The analysis suggests that targeted interventions such as active case finding, isolation, and quarantine could significantly reduce the spread of the virus.
A new UK modelling study suggests that combining self-isolation, intensive contact tracing, and moderate physical distancing measures can effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic. The study found that a high incidence of cases would require a large number of individuals to be quarantined to control transmission.
A study estimates that 22% of the world population, around 1.7 billion, have at least one underlying health condition increasing their risk of severe COVID-19 if infected. The share is highest in countries with ageing populations, African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and small island nations with high diabetes prevalence.
The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health experts call for policymakers to prioritize young people's social development and wellbeing during the pandemic. Research suggests that reduced face-to-face interaction with peers may have detrimental effects on brain development, mental health, and self-esteem in adolescence.
A comprehensive review of 172 studies found that physical distancing of at least 1 meter reduces COVID-19 transmission risk, while face coverings and eye protection may provide additional benefits. However, no intervention offers complete protection, emphasizing the need for combined measures.
A new study found that post-operative pulmonary complications occurred in half of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who underwent surgery, resulting in high mortality rates. The study suggests that thresholds for surgery should be raised compared to normal practice.
A new COVID-19 vaccine has demonstrated safety and a rapid immune response in a phase 1 clinical trial involving 108 healthy adults. The Ad5-nCoV vaccine produced virus-specific antibodies and T cells in 14 days, with the majority of recipients showing either a positive T cell response or had detectable neutralising antibodies against ...
A large observational study found that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine offer no therapeutic benefits for COVID-19 patients, increasing the risk of serious heart rhythm complications. The study analyzed data from nearly 15,000 patients with COVID-19 and 81,000 controls.
A large prospective study of critically ill COVID-19 patients in New York City hospitals confirms that critical illness is common among hospitalized patients. The study found that critically ill patients frequently required mechanical ventilation and had high death rates.
A study of over 3,550 patients with severe coronavirus infections suggests that most people will not suffer from mental health problems following infection. However, delirium and potential long-term mental health effects such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and PTSD may occur in some cases.