An analysis of data from over 1.2 million pregnant individuals found that those who received a COVID-19 vaccination had a 58% lower risk of being infected with the virus, as well as a lower risk of experiencing a stillbirth or preterm birth, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in students being less engaged and open about sexual education when compared with other middle school classes, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30. 

Unintentional pediatric marijuana ingestions in children under the age of 5 have risen by more than 1,000% in the past seven years, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30. A Tennessee research team reviewed over 2,300 pediatric emergency cases from 2016 to 2023 and found cases rose sharply coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

More pregnant people are turning away from hospital births and instead choosing their homes, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center Sept. 26-30. Cincinnati Children’s researchers tracked out-of-hospital births and found that the numbers doubled in the region from April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023, compared to births from January 1, 2018 - February 29, 2020. The trend was seen most in young, highly educated mothers who were also more likely to have higher body mass index and fewer prenatal visits, according to a study abstract, “The Changing Landscape of Planned Out-of-Hospital Births.”

Why this matters:

Emergency departments, or EDs, are becoming an initial contact for patients to get hospice and palliative care referrals and consultations when presenting to the hospital for care.

In the five years since COVID-19, hospice and palliative care consultations in hospital emergency departments have increased over 170%, although this trend has been growing since 2000.

Increasing access to hospice and palliative care from the ED can enhance quality of life for both patients and their families.

People who suspect that their sense of smell has been dulled after a bout of COVID-19 are likely correct, a new study using an objective, 40-odor test shows. Even those who do not notice any olfactory issues may be impaired.

A Swansea University study has uncovered the intense emotional and operational strain experienced by emergency ambulance staff across the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Objective

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a protein involved in the acute phase of inflammation. SAA expression is upregulated in humans during the acute phase of various viral infections; in addition, SAA can be a useful biomarker to predict the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to evaluate a new chemiluminescence test for SAA detection.

Methods

All serum samples were measured for SAA on a Maglumi 800 (Snibe, Shenzhen, China) and compared with a BN ProSpec (Siemens, Munich, Germany) in the routine of the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of the Tor Vergata University of Rome (Rome, Italy). Analytical precision, the correlation coefficient, and linearity were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed.

Results

The linearity test was performed via serial dilutions and revealed a correlation coefficient equivalent to 0.9998. The results of the Snibe SAA test correlated well with those obtained by the SAA Siemens test, with a correlation coefficient of 0.974 (P ​< ​0.001). The intra- and interrun precision, as well as carryover, were assessed.

Conclusions

The results obtained from this study demonstrated that the new Snibe SAA test has reliable analytical performance and good accuracy and could represent a valid tool for routine hospital laboratory analysis.