In this commentary from The Lancet, the author suggests that COVID-19 is not a pandemic, but a syndemic, which is defined as a set of linked health problems involving two or more afflictions, interacting synergistically, and contributing to excess burden of disease in a population. The syndemic approach reveals biological and social interactions that are important for prognosis, treatment, and health policy.

In this feature from the British Medical Journal (BMJ), associate editor Peter Doshi explores the emerging research on immunological responses to COVID-19. Is it true that the human population had no pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2? The article attempts to answer this question with a deeper discussion around herd immunity, T cells, antibodies, and more.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations in “COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports”, a positive cardiac screen or other concerning findings from a recovered COVID-19 youth patient should prompt an electrocardiogram (EKG) and potential referral to a pediatric cardiologist. The updated guidance has a focus on cardiac evaluation.

In Study CK-301-101, the primary efficacy endpoint was objective response rate (complete + partial response, by independent central review), which was 47% (n = 15) in 32 metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mCSCC) patients evaluable for response, including three complete responses and 12 partial responses. The results from the study were presented at the ESMO Congress.

In this “How I Treat” feature from Blood, the authors conclude with three representative cases to both illustrate the application of the outlined diagnostic schema and discuss common management considerations, specifically the selection of anticoagulation vs. antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention.

In this KevinMD podcast/article, Dr. Gregory Jasani, an emergency medicine physician in an inner-city, discusses his experiences treating COVID-19 patients and his thoughts surrounding the current mask mandates across the country. In his experience, wearing a mask is not about a person’s civil liberties, but rather the numbers game when you work in healthcare.