The MERS coronavirus—MERS stands for “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome”—causes severe respiratory diseases with a high mortality rate. To date, there is neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment. The safety, immunogenicity and optimal dosing regimen of the MVA-MERS-S vaccine candidate developed at the DZIF have now been investigated in a phase Ib study in healthy individuals who were previously infected with the related coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The study, led by Prof Marylyn Addo at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, has shown that the vaccine is safe and effective.

Medication non-adherence among youth with chronic health conditions is a healthcare crisis in the United States. Nearly 20% of youth experience a chronic illness, yet most do not comply with their treatment regimen. Various challenges to adherence arise, such as not understanding the purpose of treatment, painful or difficult administration, forgetfulness, and mood disorders such as anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported approach to increasing treatment adherence. Modular CBT incorporates psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral experiments to promote better disease management. This article focuses on the application of CBT to four medical conditions characterized by elevated levels of non-adherence: pill-swallowing difficulties, asthma, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease in youth. The review integrates findings on contextual issues (e.g., ethnocultural variations, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), research on non-adherence, and CBT outcome studies. Additionally, limitations of the existing literature and training recommendations are provided.

About The Study: In this randomized clinical trial of outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19, treatment with montelukast did not reduce duration of COVID-19 symptoms. These findings do not support the use of montelukast for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19.