Mortality

Incidence of arterial and venous thromboembolism and death in COVID-19 patients

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Study: Venous or arterial thrombosis and deaths among COVID-19 cases: a European network cohort study. Image Credit: MattLphotography/Shutterstock

In a recent study published in Infectious Diseasesresearchers estimated the incidence of arterial or venous thrombosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study: Venous or arterial thrombosis and deaths among COVID-19 cases: a European network cohort study. Image Credit: MattLphotography/Shutterstock Background COVID-19 could cause arterial/venous thromboembolism due to inflammation, activation of platelets, endothelial dysfunction, … Read more

COVID-19 mortality strongly predicted by autoimmunity to type I interferons and advancing age

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Study: The risk of COVID-19 death is much greater and age-dependent with type I IFN autoantibodies. Image Credit: NIAID

In a recent study published in the journal PNAS, researchers estimated the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection fatality rate (IFR) and relative risk of death (RRD) among subjects across ages. Study participants were either carriers of autoantibodies (auto-Abs) which neutralized low concentrations (100 pg/mL), or high concentrations (10 ng/mL) of type I … Read more

How does diet affect COVID-19?

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Study: Do Diet and Dietary Supplements Mitigate Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19? Image Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.com

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease with a strong inflammatory component known as the cytokine storm that often occurs in individuals with severe disease. While many researchers are currently investigating treatments to prevent the cytokine storm, variations in diet can also significantly alter the risk of inflammation. In a recent Nutrients study, … Read more

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron escapes immune response due to high ACE2 affinity and low antibody specificity

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Study: Increased Receptor Affinity and Reduced Recognition by Specific Antibodies Contribute to Immune Escape of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron. ​​​​​​​Image Credit: Orpheus FX / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal Vaccinesresearchers revealed how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron escapes neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). Two days after it was first reported on November 24, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated SARS-CoV-2 Omicron as a variant of concern (VOC). The WHO estimated a potentially higher risk of … Read more

Benefit from convalescent plasma shown in COVID outpatient trial

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Study: Early Outpatient Treatment for Covid-19 with Convalescent Plasma. Image Credit: Cryptographer / Shutterstock

The highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has infected over 517 million individuals and claimed more than 6.25 million lives worldwide. A vast effort has been made by scientists to develop therapies to reduce mortality rates associated with severe COVID-19 infection. Study: Early … Read more

Approximately 13% of hospitalized COVID patients have serious neurologic symptoms

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OBSERVATIONAL STUDY Neurologic Manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Hospitalized Patients During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Image Credit: Donkeyworx / Shutterstock

It has been established that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes dysfunction throughout the body, including the nervous system. Even in patients with moderate acute disease, neurologic symptoms may be encountered. In some cases, these manifestations may persist due to long-haul coronavirus disease, also known as long-COVID. Case series, single health system … Read more

Scientists explore immunopathology of COVID-19

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Study: Immunouniverse of SARS-CoV-2. Image Credit: CROCOTHERY/Shutterstock

In a recent review published in Immunological Medicineresearchers explored the interactions between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the host in the development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study: Immunouniverse of SARS-CoV-2. Image Credit: CROCOTHERY/Shutterstock Background COVID-19 is characterized by a hyperinflammatory and hypercoagulable state, which leads to pneumonia and severe acute respiratory … Read more

Past cancer history not linked with increased mortality or hospitalization due to COVID-19

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Combination therapy shows promising results in patients with recurrent ER-positive endometrial cancer

Patients diagnosed with cancer more than one year ago and those not receiving active treatment were no more vulnerable to worse COVID-19 outcomes than patients without cancer, according to a new study led by UTHealth Houston. Youngran Kim, PhD, and Liang Zhu, PhD, researchers in the Department of Neurology with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth … Read more

Phase 2 clinical trial of COVID-19 convalescent plasma with high antibody titers

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Study: Outcomes of convalescent plasma with defined high- versus lower-neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 among hospitalized patients: CoronaVirus Inactivating Plasma (CoVIP), double-blind phase 2 study. Image Credit: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers determined the threshold neutralizing antibody (nAb) titer for effective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) therapy. Study: Outcomes of convalescent plasma with defined high- versus lower-neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 among hospitalized patients: CoronaVirus Inactivating Plasma (CoVIP), double-blind phase 2 study. Image Credit: … Read more

Studying immunomodulatory effects of microbiota helps design prophylactic and therapeutic interventions against COVID-19

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Study: Alterations in microbiota of patients with COVID-19: potential mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Image Credit: Alpha Tauri 3D Graphics/Shutterstock

In a recent study published in Signal Transduction and Target Therapy, researchers reviewed the potential clinically relevant mechanisms by which microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites influence the host immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Additionally, they explored several microbiota-based therapeutic and prophylactic interventions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and post-acute COVID-19 … Read more