Antibodies, immunity, and what they mean for Covid-19, explained

(HYACINTH EMPINADO/STAT)

As researchers work on a vaccine for Covid-19, as public officials consider "immunity certificates" for those who have been already infected, and as companies roll out serologic tests, one thing that the three rely on is antibodies. In a new video, STAT's Hyacinth Empinado explains how the body creates "memories" of infections to fight them in the future, how just having antibodies isn't enough, and how the protection conferred by these proteins varies from disease to disease. Watch the video here.

Youth believe vaping is dangerous. They also think it's trendy

A small, new survey of teens and young adults finds that although a majority of them perceive using Juul products to be dangerous, they also think vaping is trendy and cool. Scientists surveyed around 1,100 youths ages 14- 24 about their perceptions of Juul usage, including whether they'd ever heard of the e-cigarette maker, why folks their age vape, and whether vaping leads to using other substances. Nearly 80% believed that "juuling" was dangerous, and more than 70% said they believed that it could lead to the use of other substances including cigarettes and alcohol. Yet 62% cited "Because it's trendy and cool!" as the most common reason why youths use these devices. The authors conclude that anti-vaping campaigns shouldn't focus on only highlighting the dangers of e-cigarettes, but also address the social aspects of why kids choose to vape.

Inside STAT: With remdesivir, Gilead finds itself at strategic crossroads

All eyes are on Gilead Sciences now after positive results from a trial testing its drug remdesivir in Covid-19 patients were released last week. The FDA soon after issued an emergency use authorization for the drug. But what comes next may be even more crucial. Gilead has a history of setting high prices for lifesaving medications, and how much it charges for remdesivir could determine whether the company is the hero of the pandemic or condemned for price gouging. The company's CEO Daniel O'Day told investors in a call last week that now was an opportunity to save the pharma industry's reputation. And as one pharma lobbyist tells STAT's Nicholas Florko and Damian Garde, “We’ve got a perfect opportunity to show our value — and not come across like greedy bastards.” STAT Plus subscribers can read more here.

Majority of patients being treated for opioid use disorder don't take medications

A new analysis reveals that the majority of people being treated for opioid use disorder aren't receiving medication. While non-medication interventions such as therapy can help people with the condition, medications such as buprenorphine and methadone have proven to be particularly effective at helping with withdrawal and other symptoms. In the new study, scientists looked at data between 2015-2017, and found that nearly a third of those who were discharged from opioid treatment programs were neither in self-help groups nor on any kind of anti-opioid medication. Equal proportions of people — about 29% — used either only medication or only self-help groups, while only about 10% used both. Using only self-help groups for treatment was most common among those in inpatient or residential facilities, while Medicaid recipients were most likely to only rely on medications.

Nonfatal injuries cost nearly $1,600 per employee from lost revenue every year

Nonfatal injuries cost nearly $1,600 and 11 days in lost time per employee every year, according to new research. Scientists looked at claims data in two databases based on nonfatal emergency department visits made between 2014-2015, and found that the amount of time and revenue lost to such injuries ranged from 1.5 days and $260 for bites and stings to about 44 days and nearly $6,200 for motorcycle injuries. When sorted by body area of injuries, those to the spine and back resulted in the most missed work days, of roughly 16 per year per employee. The per-employee annual cost when considering workplace absence, short-term disability, and workers' compensation for spine and back injuries was nearly $2,300. Some caveats: The data didn't include those who were on long-term disability, were unemployed, or those who didn't have employer-sponsored insurance.