Coronavirus reached the United States on Jan. 13, introducing the first large-scale respiratory epidemic since the Spanish Flu [13]. In the panic of the following months, hydroxychloroquine, a drug that most people had likely never heard of before, became prematurely touted as an effective treatment for coronavirus patients. When a short, uncontrolled French trial of…
With the days getting shorter, the cold settling in and finals approaching, it can be easy to fall into the winter blues. Stress and anxiety can spike and sadness encroaches on our minds without welcome. However, recent studies in the field of music therapy may reveal some methods to help turn one’s mood around. One…
Healthcare was one of the most important topics in this year’s presidential election. Within healthcare, each candidate’s COVID-19 plans also became a hot topic during their debates. Now that Biden has become the president-elect, many are wondering what Biden’s healthcare plans will look like. Although Trump “has significantly ramped up [COVID] testing since the spring,…
Etiologically, SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that predominantly affects the respiratory tract: that is, our lungs and intricate airways. In the year that COVID-19 spread to every corner of our world, an increasing body of research demonstrates that this virus can wreak havoc on cardiac and vascular tissue. The ability for SARS-CoV-2 to lead to prolonged…
With cancer as the second leading cause of death, bureaucratic and financial support for preventative care is needed now, more than ever. Indeed, an estimated 42% of cancers are preventable; however, underserved communities are characterized by “inadequate access to, or reduced utilization of, high quality cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment, and/or rehabilitation services”…
This year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to two women, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, for the first time in the history of the award. The importance of two women receiving such a prestigious award in a field that has been historically dominated by men is evident, but what likely remains obscure to many…
“You stay completely apolitical and non-ideological. I’m a scientist and I’m a physician. And that’s it.” Anthony Fauci, the scientist-turned-public health activist who has run the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the past 36 years, shared his wisdom on how to function in a highly politicized and polarized nation. Fauci has worked…
As most people have probably experienced by now, testing for COVID-19 can be uncomfortable, expensive, time-consuming or a combination of all three. The current standard for testing involves a nasal swab to collect a sample from the back of the nose and throat, which is then analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by a reverse transcriptase polymerase…
Dear Reader, In an era defined by a global pandemic, political turmoil, and social justice movements, it’s undeniably clear that our actions and words have historical implications. As students and members of the WashU community, we receive a constant stream of information about the world at unimaginable speeds. In an ever-changing world, we hope this…