Asthma rates in Kentucky improve as coal plants shut down, new study finds
After four coal plants in Kentucky either retired or were retrofitted, local asthma-related hospitalizations dropped and individuals used their inhalers less frequently.
Public health & disease
Blood plasma taken from COVID-19 survivors could aid recovery, new study shows
In several of the patients the virus cleared up entirely, leading the authors to conclude that plasma “can serve as a promising rescue option” for severe COVID-19 cases.
New magnetic brain therapy relieved depression in 90% of the participants in small trial
“There’s never been a therapy for treatment-resistant depression that’s broken 55% remission rates in open-label testing,” the team says.
China donates 1,000 ventilators to New York to support COVID-19 response
The state of Oregon is also sending 140 ventilators to New York, which has become an epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Iranian government makes medical services free for all COVID-19 patients
The Iranian Health Minister said that uninsured and underprivileged patients should not pay for the healthcare services and the costs will be compensated by the national health insurance system.
Taiwan to donate 10 million masks to countries hit hardest by coronavirus
Taiwan is donating 7 million masks to Europe, including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and the U.K., and an additional 2 million masks to the U.S.,
New blood test can detect 50 types of cancer using machine learning
Researchers say the test can not only tell whether someone has cancer, but can also shed light on the type of cancer they have.
Portugal grants migrants and asylum-seekers citizenship rights during pandemic
Portugal has temporarily given all migrants and asylum seekers full citizenship rights, granting them full access to the country’s healthcare until at least June 30.
New coronavirus test provides results in as little as 5 minutes
The new point-of-care test, having just received an emergency-use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) begins shipping today, April 1.
Social distancing is slowing coronavirus infections in the U.S., new data suggest
Kinsa Health, a company that produces internet-connected thermometers, first created a national map of fever levels in the U.S. on March 22 and was able to spot the trend within a day.