Category Archives: disease

Would like to know more on how cause of neurological COVID-19 symptoms are explored?

The Society for Neuroscience is the world’s biggest organization of scientists and doctors working on brain and nervous system health concerns. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, obtains entry into the brain and produces neurological symptoms. Fever, cough, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell are the most frequent respiratory symptoms of the virus. Dr. Kumar believes his results will aid in the development of future medications to prevent or cure the disease’s neurological symptoms. “We evaluated the expressions of NRP1 and furin in postmortem human brain tissue out of curiosity, and both of these molecules are abundant in all critical brain areas, including the olfactory and hippocampus,” the researchers said.


“The virus may enter the brain via the nose through the olfactory neurons, and their infection can also explain the loss of smell as a significant symptom in COVID-19.”

Reference

Cause of neurological COVID-19 symptoms explored.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cause-of-neurological-covid-19-symptoms-explored?fbclid=IwAR2Ex6U7jwErO0LDy7fY5V-ph7CPQFP_sPPD-2RsxlrR-zXaBqi9eANGhcQ

Red blood cells Important in the inflammation process

According to a recent research, red blood cells are also important in the process of inflammation. When a patient has an infection such as malaria, sepsis, or a bacterial infection, they are more likely to develop acute inflammatory anemia. It is believed that red blood cells combat infection by scavenging mitochondrial DNA fragments that escape from wounded tissues. Why does a red blood cell transform from an oxygen-delivering cell into a disease-fighting machine, you may wonder? It has been a long time since we have understood why persons who are severely unwell with sepsis, trauma, COVID-19, a bacterial infection, or a parasite infection develop acute anemia.

(Science Photo Library, Steve Gschmeissner/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images)

This engulfing triggers a chain reaction of inflammatory messengers, which effectively signals the immune system to respond in a time-sensitive manner. A higher level of mitochondrial DNA was found in mice infected with parasites as compared to red blood cells from non-infected animals, the researchers found. The standard practice currently in place when patients in the ICU [intensive care unit] become anemic, which occurs in almost all of our critically ill patients, is to administer blood transfusions, which has long been associated with a number of complications, including acute lung injury and an increased risk of death, according to Mangalmurti.

The induction of inflammation in areas of the body that are ordinarily not at risk of infection may be problematic, particularly in those who suffer from autoimmune illnesses.

Reference

Discovery Points to a Crucial Role Red Blood Cells Play in Our Immune Systems, https://www.sciencealert.com/red-blood-cells-play-a-much-greater-role-in-our-immune-system-than-we-thought?fbclid=IwAR0q44-OZClyDCcDJnNSCBluX9liisA_N0h8D9v7O9I2nghUU0LQNpli4KU

Big chunks of cantaloupe

A perfectly ripe fruit cup—especially one that has big chunks of cantaloupe—is one of the most delicious and satisfying quick-and-easy breakfasts you’ll ever discover, and it takes just a few minutes to prepare. The enormous volume and high water content of cantaloupe, which has just 150 calories per small melon, have long been praised as a weight-loss superfood since it may keep individuals who eat it happily and focused for many hours.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

For their part, even the most enthusiastic cantaloupe fans may be completely ignorant of one of the most important benefits they’re getting from every delicious mouthful of this exquisite fruit: protection against eye health.

“Despite the fact that canned cantaloupe is a very nutritious melon, it does not get quite the amount of attention that it deserves when it comes to the health benefits it provides. When you discover that cantaloupe is a rich source of beta-carotene, a vitamin that is important for maintaining excellent eye health, you may be pleasantly surprised.” A registered dietitian from Balance One Supplements, Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, describes how she came up with the concept for the campaign.

According to a study published in JAMA, among 5,836 adults aged 55 and older, those who consumed higher amounts of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc — all of which can be found in cantaloupe — had significantly lower rates of age-related macular degeneration than those who consumed lower amounts of antioxidants.

Furthermore, according to Best, cantaloupe is a naturally occurring source of folate, which is not only well-known for its potential to prevent neural tube disorders and enhance cognitive function, but it may also be helpful to your eye health in certain instances.

According to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2014, increasing folate intake was linked with a lower incidence of exfoliation glaucoma and exfoliation glaucoma suspect among individuals over 40 who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

This delectable melon is an excellent option for individuals looking for a simple approach to preserve their vision or just a healthy way to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Reference
One Major Side Effect of Eating Cantaloupe, Says Dietitian. https://sg.style.yahoo.com/one-major-side-effect-eating-113555289.html

Baltimore Ravens still awaiting word on possible Ray Rice …. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/11249399/baltimore-ravens-awaiting-word-possible-ray-rice-discipline

Risk Factors, Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis after …. https://healthmanagement.org/c/cardio/news/risk-factors-outcomes-of-infective-endocarditis-after-tavr

The right ‘5-a-day’ mix of fruits and vegetables can boost …. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/the-right-5-a-day-mix-of-fruits-and-vegetables-can-boost-longevity/.

Approximately 150,000 new instances of delta each day

Currently, the United States is witnessing approximately 150,000 new instances of delta each day, with 100,000 hospitalizations. The efficacy of existing vaccinations has decreased due to delta’s dominance, although immunization provides adequate protection. Before introducing the delta vaccine, those who had had a complete vaccination were 16.6 times less likely to die from COVID-19 (confidence interval of 9.1 to 13.9). According to the scientists, the efficacy of the vaccination against infection decreased from 91 percent to 78 percent when delta was included in the equation. In addition, the efficacy seems to have decreased from 92 percent to 90 percent when it comes to preventing hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters stands in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

According to the study’s findings, vaccines were about 87 percent efficient in preventing hospitalization compared to baseline vaccine efficacy. In addition, people between 18 and 64 were protected from hospitalization at an extraordinary 95 percent. However, just 80 percent of those 65 and older were protected. It is unclear whether the declines seen in the trials are related to the power of the delta variant itself or a gradual deterioration of protection after the first immunization shot.

Reference
Unvaccinated are 5X more likely to catch delta, 11X more . https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/unvaccinated-are-5x-more-likely-to-catch-delta-11x-more-likely-to-die/

More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19

Between August 5 and August 26, more than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in the United States, according to state statistics obtained by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Across the US, more states and school districts enact mask and vaccine mandates, while others attempt to minimize exposure among the unvaccinated. Unfortunately, they have no other safeguards. Dr. Jonathan Reiner stated last week that they are sitting ducks. “We’ve been doing this for decades, requiring vaccinations against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis,” Fauci added.

“So, requiring immunizations for youngsters to attend school is not novel.” In many parts of the United States, he said that public schools require that children who wish to attend be vaccinated.

Reference
More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in 3 weeks. Experts say school mask mandates are needed. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/02/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/
More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in …. https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/features/health/more-than-500-000-children-tested-positive-for-covid-19-in-3-weeks-experts-say/article_685ed2a2-05f6-577e-8b37-02571f7ae244.html

Unvaccinated elementary school teacher infected 22 pupils and four parents

According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an unvaccinated elementary school teacher infected 22 pupils and four parents with COVID-19 in California. The teacher began experiencing symptoms on May 19 and received a positive test on May 21, just in time. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says schools have measures to safeguard their students, including universal masks, immunizations, and social distancing rules. “This is not a permanent solution; this is a temporary solution,” Health Secretary Eric Walensky explains why children must wear face masks to school. “Universal masks at schools help avoid epidemics and limit the risk of children spreading the infection to susceptible family members,” he explains.

Reference
Unvaccinated, unmasked elementary school teacher infects 22 students and four parents with COVID-19, https://news.yahoo.com/unvaccinated-unmasked-elementary-school-teacher-155943932.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnlhaG9vLmNvbS9oZWFsdGgvP19ndWNfY29uc2VudF9za2lwPTE2MzAxOTMxMzI&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADwEMphjQUw1MJqZq18nPYMC9_jbPA6Rsy6K211ho4hVXv6ehUaQA3HMsVgKH0ArtYSQ1CPtZx_MLb4uAnR0UTEwXL8DxGcmz-uxUaERDEV1LqojsHyeZOSu0k4oP_uC-BU_WLNrUllicxgzJ15br6rWnJbzbO9dkwz2_KhmZf0W&_guc_consent_skip=1630193136

Amid COVID-19, Generation Z Activists Unite Against Racism and Mental Health

In his 2017 song “American Teen,” Khalid bemoaned that young people “don’t always express what they mean.” However, following a school year marred by the epidemic, young people speak frankly about issues ranging from racism to their mental health.

Pandemic as a chance

The virtual meetings, which were covered by high school and college students affiliated with the journalism education charity Urban Health Media Project, provided insight into the state of American teenagers who had endured an emotional roller coaster over the last year.

At a Staten Island session, student speakers discussed mental health and racial justice – in part because the two are inextricably linked.

“Racism is a mental health concern because it results in trauma,” said Curtis High School senior Qawiyat Adesina.

“Organizing burns us out,” said Janelle Astorga-Ramos, co-founded an Albuquerque student advocacy group in 2015.

What is the next step?

As the panel talks came to a close, Azariah Estes, a junior at Ritenour High School in St. Louis, stated that one question was “floating about – ‘What next?'”.

There were numerous suggestions.

They include forming high school groups devoted to specific problems and joining community organizations that do the same.

In St. Louis, these measures include increasing the number of licensed therapists in schools, requiring a parent or guardian to attend all school safety discussions, creating “calm rooms” for students to center themselves, and having school safety officers – many of whom are former cops – dress in plainclothes rather than uniform.

“It only takes one person,” Wells explained, “but it is that individual’s responsibility to recruit 200 others.”

Whatever their ambitions, the students agreed that communication was necessary, particularly about frequently taboo topics, such as mental health. South Carolina students stated that they had witnessed an upsurge in teenage suicides and attempted suicides, but the issue is rarely mentioned. “It’s tragic that it takes so many people dying to bring up the subject,” said Elly Tate, an eighth-grader at Gaffney’s Ewing Middle School.

Reference
Kylie Jenner hugs Caitlyn Jenner and Sophia Hutchins amid …. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6789965/Kylie-Jenner-hugs-Caitlyn-Jenner-Sophia-Hutchins-amid-turbulent-weeks.html.

Sophia Garcia, Sreehitha Gandluri, Rick Hampson, and Radiah Jamil,I am not alone’: Gen Z activists unite amid the COVID pandemic to confront racism and mental health. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/08/23/gen-z-covid-racism-mental-health-americas-promise-alliance/8204322002/

CDC Reveals New Data On COVID Vaccine Stopping Delta Variant

The COVID-19 vaccine can still protect you against the delta variant, although the level of protection is smaller than the coronavirus’s original mutation.

Does the vaccine stop the delta variant? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study that found vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection dropped from 91% to 66% when the delta variant became the majority of virus cases.

“While we did see a reduction in the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine against the delta variant, it’s still a two-thirds reduction of risk,” the study’s lead author, Ashley Fowlkes, an epidemiologist for CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response, told CNN. The study suggests that there are minor infections among fully vaccinated people, primarily due to the delta variant, which has shown to be highly transmissible.

That said, COVID-19 vaccines remain majorly effective at stopping severe COVID-19 illness from all known variants, according to CNN. More data on the delta variant and COVID-19 vaccines The new CDC study comes as new data from Israel suggests the vaccine’s protection against the delta variant will lessen with time.

Officials in Israel said the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might not be effective at stopping the delta variant.

Though the vaccines can stop the delta variant, they’re less effective against delta than previous mutations.

Israel – one of the highest vaccinated places in the world with 78% of those 12 years old and up fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – has been suffering from one of the world’s highest infection rates recently due to the delta variant, according to Science Magazine. Please make sure you have accurate information and consult your doctor.

Reference
The CDC reveals how well the COVID-19 vaccine protects you from the delta variant, https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2021/8/25/22641187/cdc-delta-variant-covid-vaccine-latest-numbers-two-thirds.

Did you know 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations

Of the 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations to be approved by the FDA, one-third of these individuals believe this to be for religious reasons. The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for ages 16 and up on August 23, 2021. The FDA requires safety studies on a few persons for the temporary use of medications and medications that have received full approval from the FDA. Approximately 43,000 adults participated in the safety studies’ early phases. As Pfizer and Moderna launched their rolling submission for approval in the FDA’s “Fast Track” procedure, which expedites review, Moderna and Pfizer started that process off with a rolling submission in the FDA’s “Fast Track” program.

Initial FDA approval will be granted limited to the same age groups studied under the emergency use authorization issued previously. In Pfizer’s case, the vaccine was initially only licensed for those ages 16 and above and was anticipated to be approved for those ages 18 and up shortly afterward for Moderna.

Reference
What Does Full FDA Approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Mean?, https://heavy.com/news/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-approval/

The worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge

Florida has become one of the worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge, with new cases recently surpassing their winter peak.

Following President Biden’s announcement earlier this week, the Education Department would consider taking legal action to discourage states from prohibiting universal masking in classrooms.

On Saturday, Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, announced that the state’s lockdown, which has been in effect since early August, would be expanded to cover all of the conditions after 17 new cases of Ebola were discovered in the regional hub of Sheppparton.

New South Wales, which includes Sydney, recorded 825 new cases on Saturday, the highest number of new cases reported since the pandemic began.

David Elliott, the police commissioner for the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, stated on Friday that anyone who joins the protest on Saturday would be subjected to “the full force” of the state’s police force.

Long-term-care employees and state employees working in hospitals will be required to have at least one dose of the vaccine starting on September 27, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. All other state employees, including teachers, will be required to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

It is claimed that the Culver City Unified School District, a tiny school district in Los Angeles County, is the first in the state – and maybe the nation – to mandate children aged 12 and older to be immunized against the flu.

Reference

Covid Delta variant vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/21/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine