(2023-05-04). Weingarten refutes GOP charges of teacher union control of pandemic policy. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON —Steady and calm under a barrage of hostile Republican propaganda, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten refuted right-wing charges of undue union influence on pandemic policy on whether, when, how and if schools should have opened at the height of the coronavirus plague. Given the chance to refute their unproven charges that AFT in general …
(2023-05-04). AFT President Randi Weingarten defends push to reopen schools during pandemic. wsws.org Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten defended her record of forcing millions of teachers and students back into unsafe classrooms during the pandemic.
(2023-05-06). World Report] Gavi unveils malaria vaccine plans. thelancet.com With huge demand for new malaria vaccines, Gavi is concerned that scaling up production and affordability pose a formidable challenge. John Zarocostas reports from Geneva.
(2023-05-04). Weingarten refutes GOP charges of teacher union control of pandemic policy. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON —Steady and calm under a barrage of hostile Republican propaganda, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten refuted right-wing charges of undue union influence on pandemic policy on whether, when, how and if schools should have opened at the height of the coronavirus plague. Given the chance to refute their unproven charges that AFT in general …
(2023-05-04). AFT President Randi Weingarten defends push to reopen schools during pandemic. wsws.org Testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten defended her record of forcing millions of teachers and students back into unsafe classrooms during the pandemic.
(2023-05-06). World Report] Gavi unveils malaria vaccine plans. thelancet.com With huge demand for new malaria vaccines, Gavi is concerned that scaling up production and affordability pose a formidable challenge. John Zarocostas reports from Geneva.
(2023-05-04). Have victims of covid "vaccines" become a new source of organ donors? expose-news.com Jacinda Ardern's government had an emotional response to the crisis and a mistaken understanding of science, which led to multiple vaccine-induced deaths. Have these victims become a new source of organ donors …
(2023-05-06). Perspectives] Grief, but different. thelancet.com What do we gain or lose when we try to distinguish one form of grief from another, particularly at a time of overwhelming pain and loss? During the COVID-19 pandemic in March, 2021, a Canadian Government survey reported that the number of overdose deaths had doubled compared to the previous year. Social isolation as an effect of physical distancing to reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2 also reduced access to support networks and resources for those using substances early in the pandemic. While discussing overdose deaths in Québec at a symposium on HIV and Human Rights in 2021, Sandhia Vadlamudy, Executive Director of…
(2023-05-06). Perspectives] Eloise Todd: mobilising civil society for pandemic prevention. thelancet.com "We're at an exciting moment in the fight for better pandemic prevention and preparedness, but it's also a moment of jeopardy", says Eloise Todd, co-founder and Executive Director of the Pandemic Action Network, an international network of more than 350 diverse organisations. Todd points out that with the invasion of Ukraine, attention shifted from COVID-19 "in terms of both political consciousness but also public consciousness". Renewing attention on COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness and prevention is a key focus for the Network.
(2023-05-05). Bans on street vendors rolled back. ecns.cn Authorities in some cities across China are taking another look at their bans on street vendors, as the nation seeks a variety of ways of reinvigorating local economies as it emerges from the shock waves of the pandemic.
(2023-05-05). Science Saturday: COVID-19 — the pandemic that's forever changed laboratory testing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Like many people throughout the world, Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing when COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic. "Those first few months of the pandemic will be forever ingrained in my memory," he says. For Dr. Binnicker, director of Mayo Clinic's Clinical Virology Laboratory, two important dates stand out above the rest. "One was Feb. 17, 2020, when Dr. (William) Morice and I were talking about whether the department should…
(2023-05-05). Degrowth: An environmental ideology with good intentions, bad politics. By: Collin Chambers and Liberation School. midwesternmarx.com 
IntroductionThe planet is experiencing multiple environmental crises: biodiversity loss, deforestation, increased rates of pandemics, chemical pollution, soil depletion, water contamination and shortages, runaway non-renewable energy consumption, and climate change. "Degrowth" is an environmental ideology that arose as a political response to these compounding crises. Degrowth was originally termed by André Gorz in 1972. Gorz argued that global environmental balance, wh …
(2023-05-04). As Food Prices Rise, Study Finds Market Power Drove Pandemic Inflation. popularresistance.org On earnings calls last week, major food brands bragged about their ability to keep raising prices. Soda and snack giant PepsiCo told investors that it raised prices 16% last quarter, bringing in 18% more profit. Nestle announced a 10% price hike and Unilever said its food brands cost 13% more. In all these cases, higher prices helped food giants increase profits even as their sales decreased. | Food giants keep raising prices even though well-publicized cost pressures, like fuel costs, rising wages, and supply chain disruptions, have largely subsided. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal landed on an explanation f…
(2023-05-04). Fostering Partnerships with BRICS Energy Investors. infobrics.org South Africa took over as the chair of BRICS on Jan. 1, 2023, during a challenging economic period, both domestically and globally. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's sanctions have worsened the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies globally, leading to soaring energy and food prices, which have had a disproportionate effect on the global South…
(2023-05-05). Tourism recovery 'will continue'. ecns.cn China's tourism industry is expected to experience a sustained recovery this year, after its best performance in the May Day holiday since COVID-19 hit the industry in 2019.
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic expert talks about the new omicron variant. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org While COVID-19 rates in the U.S. are relatively low and are declining, the World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping an eye on a new COVID-19 variant. The omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, known as "Arcturus," has been listed by the WHO as a variant under monitoring since March 22. Experts say this variant has a higher transmissibility rate than previous strains but doesn't appear to be more dangerous. "It is causing increasing case counts in certain parts…
(2023-05-05). CDC confirms that its 2023 Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference became a COVID superspreader event. wsws.org The four-day conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention became a superspreader event.
(2023-05-04). La Unión Europea vuelve a las políticas de austeridad. globalizacion.ca La Comisión Europea ha decidido poner fin a la "fiesta" y ha avisado a los Estados miembros que tendrán que apretarse de nuevo el cinturón a partir de 2024. Se acabó la "barra libre". La crisis del Covid-19 provocó que…
(2023-05-05). HPV infection may cause throat, mouth cancer. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 3D illustration of the human papillomavirus (HPV). April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Head and neck cancers, including mouth and throat, occur in the head and neck region. You may have heard about the connection between HPV infection and certain types of cervical cancer, but did you know HPV infection is also related to a higher risk of throat and mouth cancer? To prevent these cancers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all…
(2023-05-05). What you need to know about the avian influenza outbreak. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Scientists continue to monitor the ongoing global avian influenza outbreak — also referred to as bird flu — that has killed millions of birds and has now crossed over to some species of mammals. Currently, the risk to humans remains low; however, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. "Rarely, we see crossover from birds into humans, with the current circulating strain of avian influenza causing a large outbreak among wild birds and poultry. We have seen…
(2023-05-04). How Can Moderna's Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Jab be Approvable? 200 Side Effects (10 Severe) for each RSV Infection it Stopped. globalresearch.ca
(2023-05-04). Report Discloses CIA Cyberattacks Against Other Countries. telesurenglish.net An investigation report was released Thursday on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), revealing an "empire of hackers" under U.S. manipulation. | RELATED: | Over a long period, the CIA has been secretly orchestrating "color revolutions" around the world, continuously conducting espionage activities, said the report by China's National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and internet security company 360. | The…
(2023-05-05). Consumer Health: Recognizing the signs of irritable bowel syndrome. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org April is IBS Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Research suggests that about 12% of people in the U.S. have irritable bowel syndrome, and it's more common among women than men and in people younger than 50, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine. Even though the digestive…
(2023-05-05). Regenerative biotherapeutics: Pivoting toward a new strategy for fighting disease. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic has made significant strides biomanufacturing early-stage therapeutics. The focus is on new medicines derived from the human body, called biotherapeutics, which are shaping the future of medicine. "Our commitment to delivering new cures for unmet conditions is behind Mayo's pivot to biomanufacturing," says Julie Allickson, Ph.D., the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Family Director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and the Otto Bremer Trust Director, Biomanufacturing and…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic Minute: Why some patients with breast tumors could possibly avoid a mastectomy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. Now, patients with multiple tumors may have another option when it comes to fighting the disease. Dr. Judy Boughey, a surgical oncologist with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, led a recent study that found some patients can avoid a mastectomy when it comes to surgery. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/7ISTexS0VdU Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0: 57) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please…
(2023-05-05). Mayo Clinic Minute: A tick to blame for the alpha-gal, meat allergy. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org You may have heard about alpha-gal syndrome, also known as the meat allergy illness or tick bite meat allergy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most diagnosed cases are in the southern, eastern and central parts of the U.S. It also has been diagnosed in Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa, and South and Central America. It can be a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The American Gastroenterological Association recently added guidance to medical professionals to watch for…
(2023-05-05). Candida auris: This fungus is a health care concern. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 3D illustration of Candida auris Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging fungus that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking. Fungi live just about everywhere, including on and inside of the body. Fungal infections are more common in people with weakened immune systems, or when fungi are introduced to areas where they are not normally found, such as in a wound. Candida species are the most common yeast responsible for fungal infections. Many…
(2023-05-05). People with severe obesity and a genetic pathway variant have increased risk of hypertension, Mayo Clinic research finds. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Obesity and its associated cardiometabolic issues are a major health concern in the U.S. and internationally. According to a study published in 2017, 12% of the world's adult population was affected by obesity in 2016, double the percentage from 30 years earlier. With obesity comes an increasing risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. Fortunately, obesity is a multifactorial disease that results from an energy balance dysregulation…
(2023-05-05). Cuba takes part in international initiative against zoonotic diseases. plenglish.com Havana, May 5 (Prensa Latina) Cuba participated in the international initiative Prezode (Preventing the Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases), an innovative international experience focused on preventing the risks of the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases, launched in 2021, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) reported.
(2023-05-05). Sudan: 'Our people will ultimately triumph over tyrants'. greenleft.org.au Following the outbreak of fighting in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, on April 15, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces/Janjaweed militia, The Civilian Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy was launched on April 27, reports Susan Price. It brings together more than 80 civil society and political groups and 130 individual signatories.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Optimal usage of antibacterial sutures for wound closure in clinical trials addressing SSI — Authors' response. thelancet.com We thank Niels-Derrek Schmitz and colleagues for their letter about the FALCON trial.1 In keeping with our hypothesis, we did not test triclosan-coated sutures for skin closure but we did test them for closure of the deep abdominal wall fascia. The deep fascia is where our network identified clinical equipoise and the highest likelihood of a clinically meaningful effect. Since we are unable to comment on the effectiveness of triclosan-coated skin sutures (which are a different product to that used to close the fascia), these could influence minor superficial infections, warranting further investigation.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Surgical site infections: does one glove fit all? — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Johannes Kurt Schultz and colleagues for their Correspondence about the ChEETAh trial.1 We encourage readers to consider both relative and absolute risk reduction when making decisions about practice change. The absolute risk of surgical site infection (SSI) varies substantially from patient to patient and operation to operation, so considering the absolute effect size could lead to underestimation or overestimation of relative clinical effectiveness. Our interaction analysis showed no significant difference in effectiveness between key subgroups (eg, emergency vs elective, clean—contaminated vs co…
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Unanswered questions from the IRONMAN trial — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Pierre Ambrosi and Gilbert Habib, and Tomohiko Sato and Ayumi Nojiri for their Correspondences. Ambrosi and Habib cast doubt on the morbidity and mortality benefits of intravenous iron in heart failure and commented on the potential risks of hypophosphataemia, allergic reaction, and infection. Although there is no current evidence that intravenous iron reduces the risk of death, there is good evidence that it reduces heart failure hospitalisation risk.1—3 We agree that any proposed treatment should be discussed with patients as part of shared decision making.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Surgical site infections: does one glove fit all? thelancet.com We congratulate the ChEETAh trial group on a well performed, highly relevant trial.1 However, we do not entirely agree with their conclusion. For power calculations, a 4% absolute difference in surgical site infections (SSIs) was considered minimally clinically important. Although highly statistically significant, the clinical relevance of the observed 2 ∑8% absolute reduction in SSIs is unclear. The number needed to treat (NNT) to avoid one SSI is 36, which might not justify the intervention. Most incisional SSIs are superficial2 and easily treated with bedside drainage, causing minimal morbidity.
(2023-05-06). Correspondence] Optimal usage of antibacterial sutures for wound closure in clinical trials addressing SSI. thelancet.com The FALCON trial1 was a large-scale evaluation of two evidence-based interventions for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) in clean-contaminated, or contaminated or dirty abdominal surgical wounds. These interventions were alcoholic chlorhexidine skin preparation and triclosan-coated sutures.
(2023-05-05). One kindergartner dead, more hospitalized and sickened as unidentified infections spread through Detroit elementary schools. wsws.org An unknown infection or group of infections is spreading through classrooms in at least two Detroit schools and one day care facility resulting in one child dead, two in the hospital and dozens sick.