COVID-19 spread and vaccines<\/p>\n
NIH researchers continued to make scientific breakthroughs to help control the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies of spread suggested strategies for controlling infections. Research also revealed who was most at risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19: nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. were due to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure. Wide-spread vaccine rollouts slowed the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, developed with NIH, proved to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19. Six months later, people who had been vaccinated still showed signs of immunity. COVID-19 vaccines saved an estimated 140,000 lives through May 2021, and hundreds of thousands more have been saved since. As SARS-CoV-2 mutated and new variants became common, scientists conducted studies on booster doses of vaccine. These suggested that COVID-19 boosters not only lengthen immunity but help broaden and strengthen the immune response to protect against a wide variety of variants.<\/p>\n
In type 1 diabetes, the immune systems T cells attack the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Those affected need insulin treatment to survive. In a clinical trial of people at risk of developing type 1 diabetes (with a median age of 13), the drug teplizumab delayed disease onset and improved insulin production. The findings support the use of the drug for delaying or preventing type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n
There has been a great deal of debate over what aspects of our diets affect weight control. A carefully controlled study found that people ate fewer calories per day and lost more weight on a plant-based, low-fat diet compared to an animal-based, low-carb diet. However, the low-fat diet led to higher insulin and blood sugar levels, which can be risk factors for heart disease. The findings reveal how restricting dietary carbohydrates or fats may impact health.<\/p>\n
The effects of childhood malnutrition can cause lifelong health problems. Researchers found that a supplement designed to repair the gut microbiomethe bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the digestive systemhelped malnourished children. Those given the supplement gained more weight than children on a standard nutritional supplement. The experimental supplement also raised levels of proteins in the blood associated with bone, cartilage, and brain health.<\/p>\n
A common blood test for kidney function measures a protein called creatinine. But Black Americans generally have higher amounts of creatinine. As a result, doctors take race into account when testing for kidney disease. A study showed that measuring levels of another protein called cystatin C can accurately estimate kidney function without needing to take race into account. A race-blind method for estimating kidney function could more effectively identify chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n
Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Researchers developed a vaccine approach that uses live sporozoites, the infectious form of the malaria parasite, along with a drug that kills the parasite. In a small trial, the approach led to broad, long-lastingprotection against malaria. The strategy is now being tested in real-world conditions in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Mali.<\/p>\n
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2021 Research Highlights Human Health Advances - National Institutes of Health<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COVID-19 spread and vaccines NIH researchers continued to make scientific breakthroughs to help control the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies of spread suggested strategies for controlling infections. Research also revealed who was most at risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19: nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S Continue reading