Health

Scientists from Yale University have found that some COVID19 patients have high levels of antibodies, which start attacking organs and tissues in the body rather than latching on to the virus. They have said that COVID19 infection triggers the immune system of the body to produce an immune response, which starts attacking the body of the patients instead of the virus. This might explain why some patients continue to suffer from a range of symptoms of COVID19 even after they are recovered. The study has not been peer-reviewed yet. The senior author of the study Aaron Ring has said that COVID19 patients start producing autoantibodies, which hold back the immune response against the virus. He has said that the process can seriously affect the brain, blood vessels, and liver. These areas are most affected in patients who suffer from symptoms of long COVID.

In Long COVID, patients, who have been once infected with the virus and have been recovered from the disease, continue to deal with prolonged illness, fatigue, and shortness of breath caused by the virus. Aaron Ring has worked with immunologists from Yale University to observe the patients who have been dealing with severe symptoms of the disease. He has compared this data with hospital workers, who have not been infected with the virus. Experts have been looking for antibodies of the immune system, which function by targeting any of the 3000 proteins in the body. On the other hand, normal antibodies attack the virus and prevent them from spreading in other body parts. Autoantibodies latch on to human proteins or the proteins which have been produced by them. Experts have seen a drastic increase in autoantibody reactivities in patients who have been dealing with long COVID as compared to hospital workers who have not been ill.

Experts have found that some autoantibodies have been prevalent in patients before they have been infected with the disease. Moreover, other autoantibodies have been produced by the immune system after the virus has taken the hold of the body. The study has shown that more than five percent of patients who have been hospitalized have been identified with these deadly autoantibodies. The authors of the study have said that the more autoantibodies have been found, the more severe symptoms have become. The lead author Aaron Ring has said that the damaging effect of these autoantibodies can continue even after the virus is no more causing any damage. This negative immune response can be very dangerous for patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. It can remain in the body for a long time; therefore, it might contribute to long COVID. In such a condition, immunosuppressive treatments might help treat patients with long COVID. These treatments are used in rheumatological ailments. As per the data, Long COVID affects nearly 10 percent of patients in the age group of 18 to 49 years, who have been diagnosed with COVID19. Around 20 percent of patients with COVID19 in the age group of 70 and above are affected by long COVID.

The transmission of COVID19 in the United States has reached its all-time high with surging cases in many states. However, a new study has found that homes that have patients with COVID19 continue to be hotspots for the spread of the virus even if overall community transmission is low. Experts have observed 54 studies across more than 20 countries and come up with these findings. Medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen has said that the findings of the new study show how contagious the virus is and how difficult it is to keep people safe who are living in crowded or multigenerational housing. The findings of the study have shown that spouses are at higher risk of catching COVID19 as compared to other family members. They share the same room with the infected partner and have sexual intimacy and prolonged contact. The study has been released in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Experts have said that the risk of contracting the virus is even higher when family members as well start to show symptoms of the disease such as sneezing, cough, body aches, chills, and fever. However, the risk is low if they do not show any visible signs of the ailment. The new study has found that the risk of transmission has been high between adults as compared to between adults and children. A recent study, which has been done by experts from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has shown that the spread of the virus among members of the household takes place quite quickly. Experts have said that around 55 percent of people who have been living with someone with COVID19 have been infected within a week. Nearly 75 percent of secondary infections have happened within five days after the initial patient has started showing first signs of the disease. This study has reported that fewer than half of the infected members of the households have started showing signs at the time when the first infection has been diagnosed. The CDC team has said that many people have shown no signs of the disease during the seven days follow up. It emphasizes the possibility of the virus spread through asymptomatic secondary contacts and the value of quarantine.

The new study has noted that isolating from other household members might be difficult for the person who has been detected with the virus when you stay in a small house with the children. Experts have said that if somebody has older people in the household who have a weaker immune system. It is better to isolate them to one side of the household so kids and other family members are not in close proximity with them. They have said if it is a child who is suspected to have contracted the virus; it is advisable to isolate the child along with one adult. However, it might be difficult for single parents. Health experts have said that in such a situation good neighborhood network might be beneficial for single parents. However, the new study clearly mentions that all people living in a household with an infected person need to be kept in isolation. It says that the clusters of people who live together are at a greater risk of contracting the virus from one another. A recent study has advised that people living in the same household with an infected person need to wear a face mask all the time. Experts who have been involved in the study have said that wearing the mask can reduce the risk of virus spread by 79 percent when family members start using face masks before the first person starts showing symptoms.

State wildlife officials have informed that a contagious disease outbreak has emerged in rabbits, which has been spreading across many parts of Utah. Experts have said that the outbreak is known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease. The officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife have found confirmed cases of the disease across northern and southern Utah. As per the experts, a calicivirus leads to this disease, which majorly hits rabbits including wild and domestic European rabbits. A non-profit rabbit rescue organization called House Rabbit Society has said that the disease outbreak has reduced the rabbit population in the US, said the experts. The US Department of Agriculture has said that the virus does not impact human health.

The disease has emerged in China in 1984 for the first time, although experts think it has originated in Europe. There have been many confirmed cases of the disease in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean. Experts have seen that the virus has not been found to affect rabbits or hares native to North America such as cottontails, snowshoe hares, and jackrabbits before 2020. However, the House Rabbit Society has found that the disease is killing these species now. Experts as well have said that a new virus RHDV2, which has originated in France in 2010, has rapidly been transmitted across Europe and the Mediterranean. The virus has been found to be a swift and sudden killer. In most cases, rabbits do not exhibit any symptoms of the disease and die suddenly. The death rate in rabbits due to this disease is between 40 to 100 percent. They usually die due to internal bleeding.

The officials have said that the virus transmits through proximity with infected rabbits or indirect contact with dead objects, rabbit products, food, and water. The disease can spread through mechanical vectors and predators such as insects, rodents, pet dogs and cats, and birds as well. The virus can live in the atmosphere for months and infect through the urine or feces of infected rabbits or from predators, who have consumed infected rabbits, said Utah officials. Some cases of the disease have been reported in New York, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. The same outbreak has been seen in some areas of Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and some parts of Mexico as well. Utah Wildlife officials have advised people to be vigilant about rabbits that are bleeding from their mouth and keep disinfecting hands or equipment which might have been used in handling infected animals.

A new study has revealed that flavors added to vaping devices are dangerous for the heart. Researchers said that such devices can cause serious damage to the heart and lungs as well. The latest findings are an indication that vaping is as toxic as conventional cigarettes. Alone in the United States, fruit and candy flavors vaping devices expose millions of youngsters to cardio related problems. It can disrupt the normal electrical activity of a healthy heart. The study, however, underlined that there has been no clear understanding about what actually happens when vaporized flavoring molecules reach the heart after inhaling. The research was published in an American journal. It was authored by Professor Sami Noujaim from the University of South Florida.

The study noted that vaping surely interferes with the normal functioning of the heart. It has the potential to cause rhythm disturbances. Researchers arrived at the conclusion after they studied the data from a series of experiments on the toxicity of vape flavorings in cardiac cells. Researchers said that they tested the toxicity of fruit flavor, cinnamon, and vanilla custard in mouse cardiac muscle cells. The cells were then cultured in a laboratory. Researchers also derived cardiac cells from human pluripotent stem cells. These cells were then exposed to the vapors. The findings concluded that it affected the beating rate of cells.

This means flavoring chemicals to vaping devices can increase the risk of damaging the heart even more than what nicotine can do. Notably, flavored vaping is hugely popular among teens and young adults in recent times. The electronic nicotine delivery system has gained the attention of the governments due to its adverse impact on health. The battery-powered device converts liquid into a vapor that is inhaled. In other terms, it is also called an electronic cigarette. The device comes with cartridges that are refilled. As many as 40 counties have banned e-cigarettes. In the US, the administration has asked health officials to begin cracking down on most flavored e-cigarettes.

The UK Medicine Regulating body has issued an anaphylaxis warning stating that people who have a history of anaphylaxis to a drug or food should not receive the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccine. Experts from the agency have given full-fledged guidance on an earlier allergy warning on Pfizer shots. The UK has commenced mass vaccination with the elderly and frontline workers this week. It is part of the global drive, which has one of the biggest logistical hurdles in history. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reported nearly two cases of anaphylaxis and one case of possible allergic reaction since vaccination has begun. MHRA Chief executive June Raine has said that the majority of people will not suffer from anaphylaxis. He has said that the efficacy of the vaccine in protecting the people outweighs the risks. June Raine has claimed that the vaccine has met the MHRA’s standards of safety, efficacy, and quality.

Anaphylaxis is a side effect of the immune system. The National Health Services has said that it can be severe and at times life-threatening as well. Experts have said that anaphylaxis is the main side effect of the vaccine, and a warning has been issued after consulting many experts on allergies. Earlier MHRA has urged people not to get a vaccine shot if they have a history of any significant allergic reaction. Pfizer and BioNtech have agreed to support MHRA in their further investigation. The UK is the first country in the world to approve the vaccine, which has been developed by German company BioNtech, and Pfizer. The US and European Medicines Agency are still assessing the data from the clinical trial of the vaccine provided by the companies. A US official has said that Pfizer with a known allergic reaction might not be a suitable candidate for Americans.

The officials from MHRA have said that such allergic reactions have not been a part of the clinical trial of the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer has said that people who have a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines or ingredients of the vaccine have been excluded from the final stage of the clinical trial. This has reflected in the MHRA’s emergency use protocol. As per the experts from Pfizer and BioNtech, a component of the vaccine called polyethylene glycol (PEG) might have caused severe allergic reactions. The PEG is used to stabilize the shot and it is not available in any other form, said the experts. An expert in allergy and Immunology Paul Turner from Imperial College London has said that PEG, which might be the cause of the allergic reaction, is not linked to things, which lead to food allergy. Turner has said that people who have a known allergy to a particular drug might not be at a risk.

To help travellers meet various state travel restriction requirements, American Airlines have decided to offer an at-home COVID-19 test. The test will cost USD 129 and the results will help travelers avoid up to two weeks of quarantine. The company announced that it will partner with direct-to-consumer home testing company LetsGetChecked for this. Travelers will have to pay for the test which will be on top of the cost of travel. This is one of the few steps taken by airlines to encourage bookings. COVID-19 test before flying is one of the most common restrictions implemented by states and the at-home service will definitely help travelers, the airlines said.

Several states are asking for negative COVID-19 test results either before departure or upon arrival. Also, this provides a reliable source of testing as it continues to be hit-or-miss in several parts of the US. But there are certain loopholes, as there is the possibility of still getting infected during the journey to the airport, for example. Different states still have different restrictions with some still requiring mandatory quarantine even if the test result is negative. This is why the airlines are asking passengers to make sure that they know the requirement of the state where they are planning to land. Earlier, the airlines were offering an at-home COVID-19 test for international passengers who are traveling to destinations with restrictions.

LetsGetChecked, which is providing COVID-19 test to American Airlines’ passengers, has asked travelers to order the test at least five days before the scheduled flight. The test kits of LetsGetChecked use nasal swab so the customer will have to take the sample on their own and then need to send it back. The company will then run through a PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction test which requires a few days. American Airlines is the first to provide an at-home COVID-19 testing facility for domestic flights. There are several other airlines that are trying to introducing this testing protocol in order to encourage travelers.

Many past studies have found that pregnant women from racial and ethnic minorities might be at a greater risk of severe side effects due to COVID19 infection. They are at a higher risk of death as well due to COVID19. Since many companies have come up with their vaccines, people have thought it will be the end of the pandemic. However, now we hear that pregnant women have not been included in the most prioritized populations who will be getting the first dose of the vaccines in upcoming weeks. Health authorities have said that pregnant women have not been included in the list of most prioritized people as they have not been a part of the clinical trials of these vaccines. Health officials have said that pregnant women or those who are trying to conceive need to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe, as they will not be vaccinated until it is clear which vaccine candidates are safe and effective for them and their babies.

A study done by experts from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that expecting moms are at a higher risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to COVID19 disease. The study has said that pregnant women are at an increased risk of death as well due to the disease. Racial disparity in access to care aggravated the problem further said the experts. As per the report, pregnant Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with COVID19. At the same time, Black women who have been diagnosed with the disease are at a higher risk of severe side effects of COVID19 irrespective of being pregnant or not being pregnant as compared to the general population. Hispanic women as well are more likely to lose their life due to COVID19 infection as compared to white women regardless of their pregnancy status. Despite being in the high-risk category, these people have not been included in the list of most prioritized people to get the vaccines first.

The CDC officials have said that healthcare workers and nursing home residents are on priority when it comes to vaccine distribution. Vulnerable people like elderly citizens and people with underlying conditions will fall second in line and young adults and children who are considered to be in the low-risk category will be last to get the vaccines. Health experts have said that they are unsure how the vaccine will affect the future babies of pregnant women, as such women have not been a part of clinical trials of any vaccine candidates. In the past, pregnant women have not been included in clinical trials of flu vaccines as well. However, the flu vaccine has been considered safe after years of analysis of those pregnant women who have received the vaccine without knowing their pregnancy status. Experts have said that it can be carried out in the case of the COVID19 vaccine as well. The data can be gathered from the women who have participated in the clinical trials of the vaccines without knowing their pregnancy status or when they have received the vaccine as a part of a prioritized group. A report has found that women contribute to 75 percent of the healthcare worker population. At the same time around 330000 women, healthcare workers are currently pregnant. Considering the statistics, most of the healthcare workers will not be able to get the shot despite being in the prioritized group.

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.