Damian McNamara is a journalist for Medscape Medical News and MDedge. He worked full-time for MDedge as the Miami Bureau covering a dozen medical specialties during 2001-2012, then as a freelancer for Medscape and MDedge, before being hired on staff by Medscape in 2018. Now the two companies are one. He uses what he learned in school – Damian has a BS in chemistry and an MS in science, health and environmental reporting/journalism. He works out of a home office in Miami, with a 100-pound chocolate lab known to snore under his desk during work hours.
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CDC expands definition of COVID-19 exposure from ‘close contact’
Four factors associated with higher risk for transmission are the proximity of each encounter, its duration, whether an interaction takes place...
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Rinse and repeat? Mouthwash might mitigate COVID-19 spread
"I would recommend the use of the rinses on top of wearing mask and social distancing. This could add a layer of protection for yourself and...
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FDA issues new NSAIDs warning for second half of pregnancy
The FDA action expands on earlier warnings about agents in this drug class, which the FDA previously cautioned about taking after week 30 of...
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‘Profound human toll’ in excess deaths from COVID-19 calculated in two studies
The number of deaths caused by the pandemic exceeds publicly reported COVID-19 death counts by 20%.
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Three major COVID vaccine developers release detailed trial protocols
Typically, manufacturers guard the specifics of preclinical vaccine trials. This rare move follows calls for greater transparency.
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Infectious COVID-19 can persist in gut for weeks
“We found active and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in the stool of patients with COVID-19, even after recovery, suggesting that coronavirus could...
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Unexpected results in new COVID-19 ‘cytokine storm’ data
Circulating cytokine concentrations are lower in patients with COVID-19, compared with other diseases.
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High mortality rates reported in large COVID-19 study
“What I found most illuminating was this whole concept of comorbid conditions. This provides suggestive data about who we need to worry about most...
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Two PR employees at FDA fired after plasma therapy controversy
The warnings by two public relations experts at the FDA against overpromoting convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 reportedly led to...
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FDA approves point-of-care COVID-19 antigen test
“This new COVID-19 antigen test is an important addition to available tests because the results can be read in minutes, right off the testing card...
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Cutaneous clues linked to COVID-19 coagulation risk
These skin signs could augment coagulation assays in this patient population.
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Low vitamin D linked to increased COVID-19 risk
A large study evaluates associations between low serum vitamin D levels and risks for acquiring COVID-19 and hospitalization.
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Combination therapy quells COVID-19 cytokine storm
“While not a randomized clinical trial, and thus susceptible to unmeasured bias, the study adds to mounting evidence that supports targeting the...