Health

Experts have included one more issue in the list of drawbacks of plant-based diets. They have said that such diets are linked with a higher risk of bone fractures. A large longitudinal study has found that vegans and vegetarian people might be at a higher risk of bone fractures as compared to people who eat meat. The findings of the study have been released in the journal BMC Medicine. As per the US National Cancer Institute, fractures are common among old age people and adults. However, past studies have shown that vegetarian people have a low bone density as compared to non-vegetarians. Bone density can be defined as the number of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus found in a certain volume of bone. People who do not eat meat are identified with considerably lower intakes of calcium and protein. The link between vegans and a higher risk of bone fractures has been uncertain until now.

This has been the first large-scale study, which has looked at the risk of total fractures and fractures at different parts of the body in people having different diet regimes. The lead author of the study Dr. Tammy Tong has said that there have been nearly 4.1 more cases of fractures among vegetarian people and 19.4 more fracture incidents per 1000 people having plant-based diets over a time span of 10 years. Nearly 55000 healthy adults have been given a questionnaire consisting of questions on their diet, socio-demographic traits, lifestyle, and medical history from 1993 to 2001. Experts have divided them into categories such as meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians (no fish and no meat but diet included dairy products and eggs), and vegans (no animal product). In 2016, experts have found a total of 3941 fractures among the participants. They have found that vegans with low intakes of calcium and protein have been at a 43 percent greater risk of fractures on hips, vertebrae, and legs. While vegetarians and fish eaters have been at a higher risk of hip fractures as compared to meat-eaters. Nevertheless, experts have said that the risk has been reduced when they have considered their BMI (Body Mass Index) and enough intakes of calcium and protein. However, the risk has been on the higher side for vegans.

The findings of the study coincide with other researches as well, which has found a link between bone health, calcium and protein intake, and BMI. Other experts have said that there are many limitations to this study like the majority of the participants in the study have been white European women. Therefore, the findings of the study cannot be generalized to others. The authors of the study have not been able to derive any data on calcium supplementations. They as well have not been able to find causes behind reported fractures. Nutrient intake of the participants has been self-reported by the participants themselves, it has not been objectively evaluated. Hence, there is a need for further researches to validate the findings of this large-scale study.

A study has found that people who have been diagnosed with COVID19 and recovered from it are not likely to catch a second infection at least for six months. Experts have said that the findings of the study are quite encouraging as it is essential to understand how COVID19 immunity might work in the future. This is the first large scale study which shows how much immunity people have against reinfection after being diagnosed with COVID19 once. It is a part of a major alliance between Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. However, this study has not been peer-reviewed yet. The study has been released after a series of positive results of potential vaccines have surfaced in recent weeks. Two major pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Moderna as well have announced positive phase two outcomes of their vaccines last week.

There is a rising optimism among people and health experts that a COVID19 vaccine might put an end to the COVID19 pandemic, which has killed over 1.3 million people around the world. However, public health officials think that it can take months or a year to allocate sufficient doses of any potential vaccine to attain herd immunity and contain the virus. The new study has observed around 12180 healthcare workers over 30 weeks. All the participants have been tested positive for antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which leads to COVID19 disease. They have been diagnosed with the disease during the regular testing for COVID19. All of them have been sick and showing symptoms before the diagnosis. The findings of the study have shown that nearly 86 out of 11052 people, who do not have antibodies, have been diagnosed with a second infection with symptoms. At the same time, no one out of 1256 volunteers with antibodies has been diagnosed with symptomatic infection. People with antibodies have been at a lower risk of being infected with the virus without symptoms as well.

Scientists from Oxford University have said that it is good that at least for a short time, people with antibodies, who have been diagnosed with the disease once, will not get a second infection. On the other hand, people who have not tested positive for antibodies have been at a higher risk of contracting the virus again. However, experts have said that there is no enough data to validate that the protection from the first infection will last longer than six months. Experts are probing that how long this protection against reinfection will last.

Sinovac Biotech’s experimental COVID19 vaccine has shown promising results in the early trial. The vaccine has been able to activate a quick immune response. However, the level of antibodies triggered by the vaccine has been less than in people who have recovered from the disease. Experts have said that the early mid-stage trial has not been conducted to test the efficacy of the vaccine called CoronaVac. They have said that as compared to other vaccines and data from preclinical studies with macaques, this vaccine might offer enough protection. The findings of this study have been released after drug companies from the US Pfizer and Moderna have declared that their vaccines have been proved to be 90 percent effective in the large and late-stage trials. Four other vaccines along with CoronaVac, which are being developed by China, are in the late-stage trials, which will test their safety and efficiency.

The early mid-stage findings have been derived from phase 1 and phase two clinical trials, which have been conducted in China. These trials have enrolled around 700 participants. The lead author of the study, Dr. Zhu Fengcai has claimed that the findings of the trials show that two doses of the vaccine at a 14 days gap will trigger a quick immune response within four weeks of vaccination. Dr. Zhu has said that this vaccine might be appropriate for emergency use amidst the pandemic. However, there have been certain limitations in the phase two trial. Experts have noted that the phase two trial has included only healthy individuals. It has not enrolled people from a group, which is more susceptible to COVID19. Phase two trial has not involved people above 60 years and those who have been dealing with underlying health issues.

The phase two trial of the CoronaVac vaccine has not been able to test the T-cells response, which will be included in certain parts of the phase three trial, which is being conducted in Brazil. Phase three trial of this vaccine is under process in Indonesia and Brazil. These countries as well have reported most COVID19 cases after the US and India. Several experts from around the world have said that the findings of this early mid-stage trial must be treated with caution until the results of the phase three trial are out. The other two vaccines developed by China as well have shown positive responses in the early mid-stage trials. The finding of the early mid-stage trial of CoronaVac has been released in the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Disease.

Scientists have found that babies who are born via C-section are at more than double the risk of childhood asthma and allergies as compared to those who are born via vaginal birth. A new study has analyzed 700 children in the US to validate the findings. Experts have found a strange link between babies born through C-sections and developing asthma and allergies at the age of six. A Caesarean section is a procedure, which is performed to deliver the baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. Experts have said that C- section refrains babies from getting some valuable microorganisms from their mother’s birth canal. It as well deters the development of the immune systems in babies. In some cases, it can increase the risk of respiratory conditions by two-fold in babies, who are born via C-section, said the experts. This surgical procedure is preferred by nearly one in four pregnant women in the UK. It restricts the child’s ability to receive probiotic microscopic organisms during birth.

This study carries some implications for identifying the role of C-section in twisting the baby’s microbiota. Microbiota can be defined as Microbiome as well; it consists of collective genomes of microorganisms in a specific atmosphere. The study has found that the microbiome forms in those babies as well who are born through C-section but it might take longer than those children who are born via natural birth. The author of the study, Dr. Martin Blaster has said that each generation of mothers passes on this microbiome to the next generation as the baby is covered with these beneficial germs during natural birth. He has said that babies who are born via C-section take a little longer to develop a normal microbiome. At that time when their immune system is in the developing stage, they are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with certain ailments such as asthma later in life, said the expert.

Scientists have compared the impact of vaginal birth and C-section in 700 children through the first year of their lives. They have examined children’s fecal samples during different phases such as one week, one month, and one year. They have analyzed the effect of c-section delivery on the variety and maturity of gut microbial composition in the first year of children’s life. They have tried to observe whether the gut microbial composition is linked to a higher risk of having asthma within the first 6 years of their lives. At the end of the study, experts have found that the risk of asthma and other allergies has increased by more than two-fold at the age of six in children who are born via C-section. They as well have observed certain changes in gut microbial composition. Experts have said that by the age of one, children who are born via C-section have been at a lower risk of asthma if their gut microbial has recovered and has started to grow normally. Experts have said that the findings of the study do not discourage women to opt for a life-saving procedure in the case of an emergency.

The UK study has revealed that most of the devastating effects of statins are not triggered by the drug rather it occurs due to people believing that it will make them fall ill. Experts have said that people having a pre-conceived notion that cholesterol-lowering drugs will make them sick is a phenomenon called a nocebo effect. It contributes to 90 percent of health issues linked to cholesterol-reducing drugs. The British Heart Foundation as well as acknowledged the findings of the study. Experts from Imperial College London believe that the results of the study will encourage people to stay on statins. Statins are a category of lipid-reducing drugs, which lessen the risk of heart ailments. These drugs are one of the most frequently prescribed medicines in the UK.

Experts have reported that around 8 million people in the UK take cholesterol-lowering drugs to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Nevertheless, up to a fifth of them have discontinued their medications due to side effects it causes such as muscle ache, fatigue, joint pain, and feeling sick. A nocebo effect, when people expect that a drug will make them worse and eventually it does, has been observed in many other medicines as well. This statin study has taken place at Hammersmith hospital. The study has enrolled nearly 60 patients who have stopped taking such drugs due to side effects in the past. All the participants have been given 12 bottles. Four of them have been filled with a months’ worth of statins, four of them have been filled with dummy pills, and four have been empty bottles. Experts have asked them to score the severity of their symptoms from zero to 100 every day for a year.

Scientists have found that 90 percent of the severity of their symptoms has been prevalent among people who have been taking dummy pills thinking, it might be a statin. The author of the study Dr. James Howard has claimed that side effects of the drug are triggered by the act of consuming tablets not due to the material inside it. The study has found that the symptoms of such patients have been so bad that they have stopped taking the tablets on 71 occasions including when they have been taking dummy pills during the study. Experts have said that be it the nocebo effect or chemicals in the drugs, some people genuinely find it difficult to consume these drugs. However, during the study, half of the participants have been able to restart their medications. The author of the study has said that the nocebo effect is exactly the opposite of the placebo effect.

A new study has revealed that eating tree nuts such as almonds, hazelnut, and walnuts can trigger beneficial changes in the quality of sperm. Experts have claimed that diet is a lifestyle and environmental factor, which impacts the quality of sperm among men. They have analyzed the diet pattern of 72 non-smokers and healthy male participants in the study. The participants have reported that they have been following a western-style diet. Such a diet usually includes red meat and processed foods. Scientists have asked 48 of them to include at least 60 grams of nuts in their diet, which is around 2 ounces for at least 14 weeks. While the rest of the participants have continued to take their western-style diet.

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the effects of specific foods on sperm quality in humans. Towards the end of the study, experts have found that for people who have included nuts in their diet, 36 genomic regions of sperm DNA have shown a biological process called methylation, which is essential for normal development. At the same time, for people who have been following a western-style diet without tree nuts, 97.2 percent of genomic regions of sperm DNA have displayed hypermethylation. The findings of the study have confirmed that adding nuts in the regular western diet affects the sperm DNA methylation in specific regions. The lead author of the study, Albert Salas Huetos has said that there are some sensitive regions of the sperm epigenome, which react to the diet we take, and it can lead to certain changes in sperm quality. It affects sperm’s ability to fertilize as well.

The new study has been done by the Human Nutrition Unit of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, the Pere Virgili Institute of Health and CIBERobn, and the University of Utah. It is an extension of a past study, which has been done in 2018. The 2018 research has clearly mentioned that men who have included nuts in their daily diet have been identified with improved sperm count, viability, motility, and morphology. The findings of the new research have been released in the journal called Andrology.

Reactive oxygen molecules at high concentrations, which are known as oxidants are quite damaging for cells in all living beings. However, a new study has found that low levels of the oxidant called hydrogen peroxide can trigger an enzyme, which can reduce the rate of aging in yeast cells. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E are known for eliminating oxidants, which might react with essential molecules in the body and damage their natural function. Cells of the body develop a strong defense mechanism to ward off these oxidants. A high amount of oxidants can lead to serious damage in the cell membranes and DNA. These oxidants are produced in the body through normal metabolism. This study has been done by experts from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Earlier, health experts have thought that oxidants are harmful agents only, however, now they have started to understand that they can trigger positive effects as well.

Experts have said that a low amount of hydrogen peroxide can do wonders. It is a chemical compound, which is used for hair and tooth whitening. However, at the same time, it is quite dangerous in high concentration. It is a metabolically formed oxidant. Scientists have been analyzing an enzyme known as Tsa1. It is an element of a group of antioxidants, which is called peroxiredoxins. Past studies have shown that these enzymes participate in the defense mechanism of yeast cells against damaging oxidants. The lead author of the study has confirmed that peroxiredoxins do help in increasing the life span of a variety of organisms if they are combined with reduced calorie intake. It is a known fact that less calorie intake can extend the life span of many living beings from yeast to monkeys. Many studies have confirmed that prompting peroxiredoxins can delay the process of aging in a range of living beings when they get low calories via food.

In the new study, experts have found that the Tsa1 enzyme needs a certain amount of hydrogen peroxide to be activated to join in the process of reducing the aging in yeast cells. Experts have seen that Tsa1 does not impact the levels of hydrogen peroxide in aged cells rather it needs a small quantity of hydrogen peroxide to slow down the activity of a central signaling pathway when the cells receive low calorie. This process ultimately halts the cell division and other processes related to the formation of building blocks of the cells. During this process, the cell’s defense against stress is activated which as well helps them to age slowly. Experts have said that the study highlights the molecular causes behind ailments like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, which turn more chronic with age. With the new findings, experts have come one step closer to identify how oxidants can as well reduce the aging process.

Scientists have shown that the sex hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) might be responsible for male pattern baldness, which is known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Experts have said that DHT destroys hair follicles. Testosterone is said to be the root cause of this process, which leads to baldness in men. Hair loss of this nature is majorly triggered by the power of genetics, which seems to be an irresolvable issue. However, experts have suggested that caffeine application might be able to solve this problem. They have said that people do not need to opt for costly drugs or undergo invasive treatments. Such options are linked with nasty implications. In a study, applying caffeine extracted from coffee has stimulated potential hair growth and halted male pattern baldness. Experts have said that caffeine blocks DHT by reducing testosterone.

Experts have used scalp biopsy samples from AGA patients, which have been produced using different quantities of testosterone and caffeine for 120 to 192 hours. The study has found that concentrations of 0.001 percent and 0.005 percent of caffeine have been able to reduce the effects of testosterone on hair growth. Experts have seen greater hair shaft extension at 120 hours after caffeine application as compared to the control group. The findings of the study clearly indicate that caffeine is a great hair growth stimulator, which might be effective in treating AGA as well. Hair loss is a result of a variety of external and internal processes. Disturbing these processes can be risky at times. Experts have found that genetics has been a leading cause of hair loss in men.

A recent study has found that hair follicles are a faster drug delivery route for topically applied therapies. Experts have been studying the follicular diffusion of topical caffeine in hair follicles. Another study has as well examined the follicular diffusion of topical application of caffeine in a form of shampoo for two minutes. They have found that there have been faster and higher diffusion via hair follicles as compared to the interfollicular route, which is located between follicles. Experts have found that hair follicles have absorbed caffeine much faster than any other pathway after 20 minutes of application. The National Health Service has said that there are two types of effective treatments for AGA, the first one is finasteride, and the second one is minoxidil. The health agency has clearly warned that women should not go for finasteride as it might lead to undesirable side effects.

A new report has revealed that up to half of severe COVID19 patients have been dealing with blood clotting in veins, arteries, and microscopic vessels. Now, experts have been able to find the reason behind such a condition. They have revealed that a mysterious autoimmune antibody and high levels of neutrophils have been circulating in the bloodstream of the patients, which have been attacking the cells. The autoimmune antibody has led to blood clots in the arteries. Experts fear that such blood clots can cause life-threatening incidents such as heart attack or stroke. In the cases of severe COVID19 disease, microscopic clots can block blood flow in the lungs, which can damage oxygen exchange. Apart from COVID19 infection, these autoimmune antibodies are found in patients who have an autoimmune disease called antiphospholipid syndrome. Scientists have said that the connection between autoimmune antibodies and COVID19 is quite rare.

Many patients with COVID19 have been dealing with an increased level of inflammation and blood clotting in the body. Experts have seen that it has been causing severe kind of blood clotting in severe COVID19 patients. These negative antibodies along with neutrophils have been behind the condition. The new report has suggested that half of the patients with COVID19 who have been hospitalized have been identified with at least one of these autoantibodies. This study has been done by the Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center and the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lungs, and Blood Institute. The Michigan Medicine Center has been studying antiphospholipid syndrome for years.

The new research has found that nearly half of the severe COVID19 patients have been dealing with a mix of high levels of autoantibodies and super activated neutrophils. Neutrophils are a form of exploding white cells, which are destructive in nature. Early this year, many patients who have been dealing with severe COVID19 have been identified with high levels of neutrophil extracellular traps in the bloodstream. Experts have done an experiment on rodents to see if a combination of neutrophils and autoantibodies can cause these fatal blood clots or not. They have found that the combination has caused a significant amount of clotting in the animals.

The COVID19 pandemic has taken a serious toll on the world. Although health experts have been trying to develop an effective treatment for the disease, however, the virus has become quite diverse in nature with time. A study has found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been accumulating genetic mutations, which might be the reason behind the virus being more contagious. The research has enrolled around 5000 patients with COVID19 in Houston. This study has been published in a peer-reviewed journal called mBio. Experts have said that a genetic mutation called D614G, which sits in the spike protein of the virus, is responsible for it to be more infectious. This is the largest peer-reviewed study, which has been done on genomes of the virus across one metropolitan region of the US.

The research shows that the virus has been mutating due to a blend of neutral gist, which means casual genetic alterations, which do not harm or help the virus. The co-author of the study Dr. Ilya Finkelstein has said that during the first stage of the pandemic, nearly 71 percent of patients who have been dealing with COVID19, have been identified with this type of mutation. In the second wave of the outbreak, around 99.9 percent of people have been detected with the virus-carrying this type of mutation. This trend has been observed around the world, said the experts. Earlier a study, which has included more than 28000 genome sequences, has found that virus variant having a D614G mutation has become a globally ruling type of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID19 disease. This study has been put together by scientists from Houston Methodist Hospital.

Another study, which has been done on 25000 genome sequences, has found that viruses with this mutation spread faster than other types of viruses, which do not carry the D614G mutation. This research has been done in the UK. Experts have claimed the virus with D614G mutation leads to larger clusters of infection. Some of the experts do not agree with the findings of the study. They have said that D614G mutation has been more prevalent in coronaviruses, which have landed in Europe and North America. It has given a head start to other strains of the virus. The new study says that the spike protein of the virus, which pries on the cells of the body for causing infection, builds up the genetic mutations randomly. Experts believe that at least one of these mutations allows spike protein to neutralize antibodies, which wards of the infection. On the other hand, scientists have not found any strain of the virus, which can dodge, first-generation vaccines.

The officials have informed that Kroger pharmacy is supposed to launch rapid antibody testing by the end of November. These rapid antibody testing will be able to show results in just 15 minutes. All the branches of Kroger pharmacy across the US have been preparing to provide these rapid screening to the customers. The rapid tests will be performed using a finger prick blood sample, said the officials. This will cost around $25 in the United States. The officials of Kroger pharmacy have said that people who have not been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and think that they may have been infected with the disease in the past will be covered under this testing program. The officials have said that making rapid testing kits available at all the branches of the pharmacy will be an affordable choice for those who want to know whether they have contracted the virus in the past.

Experts have claimed these rapid antibody testing will help health professionals to identify the long-term effects of COVID19. It will help them to come up with a potent public health policy to combat the disease. The rapid test will quickly determine whether the person has been infected with the virus in the past even if he or she is perfectly fine, said the experts. Rapid antibody tests are already accessible at some of the stores of Kroger pharmacy in Michigan and California. This pharmaceutical firm provides in-clinic and at-home diagnostic tests as well for COVID19. As per the reports, the majority of the healthcare providers and clinics provide antibody tests, people who want to get testing done, need to approach their primary care doctor first.

There are multiple COVID19 testing booths have been installed at different places in Michigan. These tests are available free. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well has approved the rapid antibody test, which is being offered by Kroger pharmacy. Colleen Lindholz, the president of Kroger pharmacy has said that they are committed to helping people in the COVID19 Pandemic. The testing solution has been supported by licensed health professionals and experienced healthcare providers as well.

Scientists at Yale University, the Broad Institute of MIT, and Harvard have observed hundreds of millions of cells that have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 and MERS viruses. While studying the cells, they have found dozens of genes that are helpful and harmful both. One set of genes helps the virus replicate in cells and the other set of genes prevents the virus from infecting the cells. The pro-viral and antiviral roles of the genes will assist the experts to come up with new treatments to fight COVID19. The findings of the study have been released in the journal Cell. Experts have earlier revealed how the SARS-CoV-2 virus invades the cell but it has not been known why some cells are more prone to the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID19 disease. Scientists have said that determining the genetics of host cells’ inclination towards the virus might explain why some people have few symptoms and why some people become severely ill or face death.

In the study, experts have performed a genome-wide screening of a line of green monkey cells. These cells are more likely to die after being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus as compared to human cell lines. Experts have been able to track the interaction of cells and the virus both in the screening for the first time. The screens have verified that the ACE-2 gene, which identifies the receptor on the surface of the cell, helps in the growth of the virus. The process has found two new proviral protein complexes, which assist the virus, and a third protein, which prevents the viral infection. SWI/SNF complex, which twists genes on and off, and another complex called HMGB1, which performs myriad functions have been linked to a higher rate of cell death after infection.

Experts have revealed a small molecule drug, which has been able to reduce the functions of two identified genes. They have found that the drug has been able to increase the survival rate of the cells, which have been infected in the lab. They have discovered another protein complex called histone B3 as well, which controls the expression of genes within the cell nucleus. It provides a protective cover and reduces the ability of the virus to infect and kill the cells. Scientists have said that these genes with different roles might allow them to identify people who are at a greater risk of dying due to COVID19. The authors of the study have said the new findings might help in identifying the drugs as well, which will be detrimental in treating patients. Other experts have said that these findings will help prepare for other outbreaks in the future.

We all have started thinking about our general health more than ever since the COVID19 pandemic has hit the world. We all know that underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are linked with a greater risk of COVID19. Recently, experts have come up with an interesting fact, which can help us to keep a track of our health and avoid serious complications. They have said that avocados can be very beneficial for diabetics and prediabetics. Prediabetic people usually have higher blood sugar levels than normal but it is not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Experts have said that avocados are full of vitamins, nutrients, and healthy fatty acids. These nutrients help reduce cholesterol. This magic fruit prevents cancer as well, said the experts.

Food Science Professor Dr. Paul Spanguolo has said that avocados are essential for regulating blood sugar levels. He has said that Avocatin B is a bioactive ingredient, which is found in a certain kind of avocadoes. This ingredient can be a healthy dietary choice for diabetic and prediabetic people. This bioactive ingredient helps to maintain metabolism, blood sugar, insulin levels, and weight in adults. These health factors are important for everyone; however, it is especially crucial for people who are dealing with diabetes or on the verge of being diagnosed with the disease. Dr. Paul has said that if metabolism is functioning well, everything else like blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure is in control. Once metabolism goes out of control, the body starts burning either fat or glucose, a higher amount of either of these can cause build up in the blood. Imbalanced blood sugar can adversely affect overall health. In the case of diabetes, it can lead to even more serious complications such as heart attack or a stroke.

The author of the report has said that avocadoes can rebalance blood sugar levels. He has said that people can incorporate avocadoes in their daily diet along with plenty of fruits and protein-rich nuts and grains. Avocados make people feel fuller for a long time. Dr. Paul has claimed that along with regular exercise, less sugar intake, avocados can make a significant difference in regulating healthy blood sugar levels. The UC Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that there are 30 million people who are suffering from diabetes in the US. Another 88 million people are living with higher levels of blood sugar than normal and they are on the verge of being diagnosed with diabetes.

Experts have said that people with Down syndrome are 10 times more prone to death due to COVID19 infection as compared to those who do not have this disorder. The study says that the risk of hospitalization has increased by fourfold among the people who have been dealing with Down syndrome. Experts have warned that this group of people is still not protected. This report has been published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. This analysis has included more than 8 million adults. These participants have been a part of a coronavirus assessment project; this has been funded by the British government.

The study has found that out of 8.26 million people, nearly 4053 people have been suffering from Down syndrome. Around 68 out of them have lost their lives due to the disorder. Whereas 40 percent of them have died due to COVID19. The study has noted that 77 people have died due to pneumonia and 35 percent of them have been killed by other causes. Experts have compared these findings with 41000 people who do not have Down syndrome. In this group, only 20 percent of people have died due to COVID19. At the same time, around 14 percent of people have lost their lives to pneumonia and 65 percent have died due to other reasons. Experts have highlighted an important point saying that Down syndrome has not been mentioned in any of the guidelines of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the UK’s Health Advisory. No government has issued a warning linked to this disorder stating that it might put the patients at an increased risk of COVID19.

This condition is linked to immune dysfunction, congenital heart failure, and pulmonary pathology. Considering the prevalence of the disease, it might be an unconfirmed risk factor for severe COVID19 infection, said the experts. National Down Syndrome Society has said that patients with the condition might have a hard time disclosing if they feel sick. Such people might not be able to describe the symptoms they are suffering from. Hence, there is a need to pay attention to people with Down syndrome. This condition is a common genetic disorder, which is diagnosed in the US each year. The CDC has reported that more than 6000 infants are born with Down syndrome every year in the US. This disorder is reported in 1 out of 700 babies.

A study has shown that people who take a high flavanol diet such as berries, apples, and tea might suffer from lower blood pressure. Scientists have used objective measures of thousands of UK citizens’ diets. They have tried to establish a link between their diet and low blood pressure. The research has been done on more than 25000 people. Experts have looked for flavanol levels in their daily diet with the help of nutritional biomarkers such as indicators of diet intake and metabolism, which are present in the blood. Other studies more often rely on participants reporting their diet. The study has been published in Scientific Reports.

The research has found that the blood pressure difference among those who have a 10 percent lower intake of flavanol and those who have a 10 percent higher level of flavanol in their diet intake has been between 2 and 4 mmHg. It is similar to significant changes in blood pressure analyzed in people who eat a Mediterranean diet. This effect has been more prominent in people with high blood pressure. The lead author of the study Dr. Gunter Kuhnle has said that this is the first epidemiological research of this range, which has explored the link between a bioactive compound and health. The findings of this study are similar to previous dietary intervention studies. It says that the same results can be achieved with a regular high flavanol diet.

A team of experts from the University of Reading, Cambridge University, The University of California Davis, and Mars has examined the data of 25618 volunteers from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk Study. The international team has confirmed that a major difference has been seen in volunteers with high blood pressure, which means if people start taking a flavanol-rich diet, there will be a major drop in heart issues. Scientists have applied objective biomarkers of flavanol consumption at such a large scale in this study, which has helped in avoiding significant limitations, which have been standard with other studies in the past.

A report shows that millions of people in the US have been delaying their dental appointments due to the fear of COVID19 infection. Experts say this situation might lead to increased fees for patients, job loss, and fewer family practices. Since the pandemic has hit the United States this spring, all the dental clinics have been temporarily shut down except for emergency appointments. It has thrown hundreds of thousands of American people out of work. Now, when 99.9 percent of dental clinics have reopened again, however, the number of patients coming in remains 20 percent lower than usual day. This data has been released by the American Dental Association (ADA). Although the dentists have been taking all the safety measures to protect themselves and patients from coronavirus, they do not think this situation will improve any time soon.

A study shows that the expenditure on dental care will go down by 38 percent in 2020. It says that 46 percent of dentist groups have said that the volume of their patients has reduced by 15 percent than usual levels in the first week of October. The study shows that nearly 15 to 20 percent of patients have confessed that they will not visit their dentists until there is a proven treatment or a vaccine for COVID19. The Chief Economist of ADA projects, Marko Vujicic has said that a large section of people is very cautious about the pandemic and it is difficult to make people return to usual activities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has earlier said that oral health check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care will be delayed until there is a sufficient decline in the rate of COVID19 transmission. The ADA has strongly opposed the WHO’s stand and said that dentists are taking many safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.

Dentists have been maintaining safety standards by using N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable gowns, air purifiers, cleaning solutions, temperature checks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. They have been forcing patients as well to wait in their cars until their appointments start. Experts from the dental industry have said that there is no documented proof of COVID19 cases stemming from a dental care facility. The ADA officials have said that if the situation remains the same for a few more months, dentists will consider raising their fees. They have said that they will raise the fee for insured patients too. Dentists might consider privatizing their practices as well, said the officials from ADA. The organization has revealed that a dentist spends an additional $15 to $20 per patient due to the safety measures taken for COVID19 prevention.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report saying that the number of Hispanic people dying due to COVID19 is growing rapidly. Minorities in the United States have been majorly hit by the global pandemic. The number of death among them is still on the rise, said the experts. As per the data, Hispanic Americans have made up 16.3 percent of COVID19 deaths in the US in the month of May. In August, the proportion has gone up to 26.4 percent. Reports show that more than half of the US deaths due to the pandemic include white Americans; however, the number of black and Hispanic people who have lost their lives amid the pandemic is higher than their share of the population. The rise in deaths among Hispanic people might be due to the shift of the epidemic from the northeast to the south and west regions. South and west regions are highly populated with black and Hispanic people.

The CDC suggests that black and Hispanic people are highly prone to the virus and they are more likely to die due to the infection. As per the data fetched from Johns Hopkins University, 217000 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 so far. Around 8 million people have been infected with the virus. Although the pandemic has confirmed that it does not differentiate in infecting the people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, and genders, however, it does not hit all these groups equally either. Nearly 114411 people have died due to COVID19 between May and August. Reports say that 49 percent of them have been black and Hispanic people. Nearly 51.3 percent of them have been white people. Experts have said that the proportion of white people dying will be more than three quarters if the virus would have hit the people of all races equally. Black people make up only 13 percent of the US total population; however, they account for 19 percent of people who have died due to COVID19 in the US. Latinx and Hispanic people contribute to 18 percent of the population in the US, but they make up for more than 24 percent of deaths in the last four months.

The shift of COVID19 outbreak from northeast to south and west regions has been instrumental in increasing the death toll among minorities. With overwhelming cases in New York City and tri-state area under control, other regions of the country, which have fewer cases and do not require aggressive measures, have started to see a surge in deaths and further infection. South region has seen only 23 percent of COVID19 deaths in May; however, the share of deaths across the region has increased by threefold and reached up to 62 percent. The share of deaths in the west region as well has increased from 10.4 percent to 21.4 percent. As per the experts, the geographic shift of the outbreak might be due to the difference in the implementation of community mitigation efforts across the nation. The authors of the study have said that ethnic disparity among the descendants of south and west has increased in the months of May and August. It might be another reason for the rising deaths among black and Hispanic people.

Many hospitals have been treating severe COVID19 patients with blood plasma of recovering patients due to the absence of an effective and approved treatment. Doctors believe that blood plasma extracted from recovering patients carry antibodies, which fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although plasma has not shown any advantage during the randomized trials, however, some small studies claim that it might help reduce the severity of the disease. A new study has found that the levels of antibodies reduce quickly in the blood of COVID19 patients during recovery. Experts have said that the levels of antibodies keep decreasing as the body of the patient starts clearing the virus and its symptoms. A new study has been done by experts from the American Society for Microbiology.

Experts have said that if the convalescent plasma is effective in the treatment of COVID19 disease it should be taken within a precise window of time after recovery. Nevertheless, recovering patients are not allowed to donate blood until at least 14 days after their symptoms have been reduced. Doctors need to give this much time to the patient’s body to clear out the viral infection. Dr. Andres Finzi, a professor at the University of Montreal, Canada has said that the ability of plasma to eliminate the viral particles is slowing down during the first weeks after recovery. Some of the past studies have found that the antibodies, which fight against the virus, start acting in full force, 2 or 3 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. A previous study, which has been done by Dr. Finzi and his team, has shown that the capacity of plasma to fight the infection has reduced between 3 to 6 weeks after symptoms have started showing. Around 100 patients have been included in this study.

In a new longitudinal study, experts have taken blood samples of 31 people who have been recovering from COVID19 infection. These blood samples have been taken at a one-month interval. They have observed levels of immunoglobulin, which fight against the virus’s spike protein. Experts have examined the ability of the antibodies to eliminate the virus. They have seen a variation in the levels of antibodies among the patients. There has been a consistent signal in the levels of antibodies. As per the study, the levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M has rapidly reduced between six and ten weeks after symptoms have started showing. During the same time, the capacity of the antibodies to kill the virus has also gone down.

Two new studies have revealed that there is a link between people with O blood type and lower chances of being diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection. These studies have shown that people with O blood group, who have been diagnosed with COVID19, will have milder symptoms than others. Experts have not been able to find out the cause and effect of the statistical link in the study. One study has been published in Denmark and another study with the same findings has been released in Canada. However, experts have said that there is a need for further studies for more substantial conclusions. Experts have said that the O blood group plays a significant role in people’s susceptibility to COVID19 infection.

The study published in Denmark has revealed that only 38.4 percent of people with O blood type have tested positive for COVID19 out of 7422 Danish people. The study has reported that people with blood type O make up only 41.4 percent of nearly 2.2 million of the untested population. People with blood type A contribute to 44.4 percent of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. They make up 42.2 percent of people who have not been tested yet. The Canadian study has analyzed 95 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. The study shows that people with A and AB have required a ventilator as compared to 61 percent of people with blood type O and B. People with blood type O and B have stayed only for 9 days in the intensive care as compared to those with A and AB blood groups, who have spent nearly 13.5 days in the intensive care.

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, the author of the Canadian study has said that authorities need to conduct more study to consider this as a definitive marker. It is uncertain whether this link is a certain kind of protection for O blood type people or some kind of vulnerability linked to other blood groups. Experts have said that the findings of the study should not change the way people have been taking their daily lives so far. Both studies have been published in the Journal of Blood Advances.