The American Academy of Ophthalmology this week issued a warning to its members that conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can be an early sign of the coronavirus in some patients. The academy suggested that eye doctors wear full facial protection covering eyes, ears and mouth, particularly when patients who…
Can a single ventilator support 4 patients? Doctors think idea just might work.
There aren’t enough ventilators in the United States to keep alive the hundreds of thousands of people who will need them during the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be a stopgap, however. Doctors can reconfigure existing ventilators so that these lifesaving devices serve either two or four patients simultaneously, rather than…
How Mayor Ravinder Bhalla Helped Hoboken Become a National Model for Coronavirus Response
Hoboken, NJ—a metro hub across the Hudson River from Manhattan with a population of 55,000—was one of the first cities to institute dramatic self-isolation measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closure of non-essential businesses and curfews for residents. “I think Hoboken probably is the model we all…
How a time of panic buying could yet bring us together
For every headline about panic buying, fighting and even arrests in supermarkets, we see other stories about communities and individuals rallying in support of each other. These interpersonal connections reveal our true humanity, especially in times of crisis. The popular belief is that such times provoke “frenzied selfishness and brutal…
How to Set up a Schedule That Won’t Burn You Out
The rough outline of your day probably has a lot of blanks like mine does. For example, my schedule outline has things like “shoot video or write” and “deal with logistical stuff.” You might have things like “outline notes before performance review” and “organize household paperwork.” Every day, you need…
‘I’m A 42-Year-Old Woman Who Got The New Coronavirus. This Has Been The Hardest Part.’
This article has been medically reviewed by Keri Peterson, MD, Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital. On Friday, March 6, I was sitting in my living room when I got the voicemail message that just said, “Call me back,” in an urgent tone. That’s when I knew that I had tested…
Genes tell a story about diabetic kidney disease
By analysing samples from hundreds of Finns with diabetes, scientists have identified genes, and the proteins they encode, that could be involved in the development of diabetic kidney disease. The research, conducted by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School and their international collaborators, suggests potential targets for treating the condition. The…
One day, someone will write a PhD to explain the toilet paper panic
One day, when this whole coronavirus episode is mostly a memory, someone will write a PhD trying to explain the great toilet paper panic of 2020. I eagerly await the chance to read it because whatever answers it generates will almost certainly shed light on some fundamental aspect of the…
Toddler with rare condition gets trolled for looking 'like a Minion'
Logan Webb, who’s just one year old, has Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes liver damage and bile to be absorbed by the body. One effect of this is Logan’s skin having a yellow tinge, which has led to cruel trolls comparing him to a Minion. His parents Gemma…
Choose a window seat: Protecting yourself from infection on a plane
When a video of supermodel Naomi Campbell cleaning her airplane seat and wearing a mask and gloves was shared online last year, it made the rounds because her behaviour seemed exaggerated. ("Clean everything you touch," Campbell said in the video.) Major airlines say they clean their planes to varying degrees…
Just half a spoon of olive oil a day cuts heart attack risk by a FIFTH
Consuming half a tablespoon of olive oil a day cuts heart attack risk by a FIFTH, research shows Harvard researchers studied the health of nearly 100,000 people over 24 years They found that higher olive oil consumption was beneficial to heart health Tablespoon per day meant a 15 per cent lower…