Various devices are used to study the unique electrical properties of acupuncture points (APs), with Voll’s electropuncture diagnostics (EAV) occupying a prominent role. The technical design of EAV allows for the testing of drugs to determine their individual selection and dosages. However, the physiological basis of this phenomenon remains unclear. This study investigated the feasibility of evaluating the electrodermal activity of APs to determine the daily dose of ribavirin using electroacupuncture according to the Voll diagnostic system in patients with long COVID.

The National Institute of Mental Health has awarded a significant grant of $1.5 million to Jianyang Du, PhD, of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, for a research study aimed at uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to neurological disorders caused by long COVID-19.

Rates of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome have dramatically increased since pre-pandemic times. A new large study has found that people who have had COVID are much more likely to have this understudied condition.

A recent study by Emory University researchers provides new insights into why the mRNA vaccines developed to fight COVID-19 in 2021 are less effective in patients with autoimmune diseases. By providing insights into the cellular processes behind that lessened protection, the new study published in Nature Immunology, highlights that lupus patients may require tailored vaccination strategies to enhance protection against COVID-19. The findings could also offer insights into the potential and limits of alternative ways to create immunity to COVID-19 through vaccines.

Diagnosing simultaneous infections of multiple respiratory viruses is challenging. Researchers from Korea have now addressed this issue by developing a TwinDemic Detection (TDD) system, a point-of-care diagnostic tool that leverages a novel, non-enzymatic signal amplification method. By testing its performance using human nasopharyngeal samples, TDD was shown to detect SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus simultaneously, highlighting its potential application in rapid on-site testing for a wider range of viruses.

Cruise ships became known as coronavirus hotspots during the pandemic, causing most liners to suspend operations for months on end. To help the industry build resilience against any future health threats, new research from the University of Surrey emphasises the importance of targeted ventilation strategies to reduce onboard disease transmission risk, with crowded dining spaces identified as priority areas for improved air circulation.