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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 9, 2021 at 1:00pm

Researchers find possible culprit of inflammation that causes death...

As clinical evidence mounts that the leading cause of death in COVID-19 patients is the dangerous condition known as a cytokine storm, researchers have identified a protein in the blood that could be responsible. The team found that COVID-19 patients have significantly elevated levels of a protein called galectin-9 in their blood plasma. Perhaps more importantly, they also found a positive correlation between the levels of galectin-9 and pro-inflammatory cytokines released in the blood, which can lead to a cytokine storm. 

The findings suggest that galectin-9 levels in the body could be used as a biomarker to diagnose COVID-19 using a patient’s blood, potentially providing another non-invasive tool for COVID-19 testing. The levels could also be used to indicate the severity of the disease, though further study on that aspect is required.

The discovery of elevated galectin-9 levels in COVID-19 patients is important because of the positive correlation between the protein and a wide range of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Cytokines as small cell-signalling proteins are involved in checks and balances in the immune system; they can turn on or turn off some cells to regulate the immune system. In the context of COVID, the problem is that there is a dysregulation of cytokine production—they are released very quickly in elevated levels. That’s what we call a ‘cytokine storm.

 galectin-9 is responsible for instructing immune cells to release the pro-inflammatory cytokines quickly in response to COVID-19 infection by binding to immune cells and forcing them to produce the cytokines. Further, as tissues are damaged as a result of inflammation, more galectin-9 is released from the cells—which activates more immune cells and releases more cytokines in a vicious cycle. The resulting cytokine storm damages tissue and organs, causes severe inflammation and can lead to death.

The next step is to develop treatments that block or inhibit the protein

https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/mBio.00384-21

https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2021/08/researchers-find-possible-cul...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 9, 2021 at 11:20am

Old vaccine for tuberculosis may help protect older people against COVID-19

A team of researchers from the CMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis and the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, both in India, has found evidence suggesting that an old vaccine used to reduce the threat of tuberculosis may give older people some protection against COVID-19. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine as a possible preventive measure for older people. Valerie Koeken with Radboud University Medical Center has published a Focus piece in the same journal issue explaining why inflammation is more of a concern with older people and outlining the work by the team in India.

As Koeken notes, as people grow older, they tend to develop low-grade, chronic inflammation, which makes them more susceptible to many types of diseases—it can also increase symptoms from diseases such as COVID-19, which explains in part why older people are much more likely to die from such infections. In this new effort, the researchers took a new look at an old vaccine to find out if it might prove useful for unvaccinated older people.

The study involved vaccinating 82 volunteers between the ages of 60 and 80 with the BCG vaccine and then studying blood samples taken a month later. In analyzing the samples, the researchers found decreases in several cytokines that have been associated with promoting inflammation: IL-6, type 1 interferons, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and TNF-alpha GM-CSF. The levels of the same cytokines were also found to be lower than those for a control group of unvaccinated volunteers. The researchers found that the BCG-vaccinated volunteers also had lower levels of some chemokines, such as matrix metalloproteinases and phase proteins, both of which have also been associated with promoting inflammation.

The researchers note that many of the cytokines that were reduced in the BCG volunteers have been identified as drivers of more severe COVID-19, which they also note suggests that the BCG vaccine might prove useful as a stop-gap measure for older people awaiting vaccination—if it could reduce inflammation in infected patients, it might save lives.

Nathella Pavan Kumar et al, Effect of BCG vaccination on proinflammatory responses in elderly individuals, Science Advances (2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg7181

https://researchnews.cc/news/8238/Old-vaccine-for-tuberculosis-may-...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 9, 2021 at 11:06am

 Scientists find the missing link in our body's blood pressure control

Researchers have determined the location of natural blood-pressure barometers inside our bodies that have eluded scientists for more than 60 years.

These cellular sensors detect subtle changes in blood pressure and adjust hormone levels to keep it in check. Scientists have long suspected that these barometers, or "baroreceptors," existed in specialized kidney cells called renin cells, but no one has been able to locate the baroreceptors until now.

The new findings finally reveal where the barometers are located, how they work and how they help prevent high blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension). The researchers hope the insights will lead to new treatments for high blood pressure.

the renin cells are sensors and responders.

Using a combination of innovative lab models, they determined that the baroreceptor was a "mechanotransducer" inside renin cells. This mechanotransducer detects pressure changes outside the cell, then transmits these mechanical signals to the cell nucleus, like how the cochlea in our ear turns sound vibrations into nerve impulses our brain can understand.

The researchers have unlocked exactly how the baroreceptors work. They found that applying pressure to renin cells in lab dishes triggered changes within the cells and decreased activity of the renin gene, Ren1. The scientists also compared differences in gene activity in kidneys exposed to lower pressure and those exposed to higher pressure.

Ultimately, when the baroreceptors detect too much pressure outside the renin cell, production of renin is restricted, while blood pressure that is too low prompts the production of more renin. This marvelous mechanism is vital to the body's ability to maintain the correct blood pressure. And now, after more than 60 years, we finally understand how and why.

Hirofumi Watanabe et al, Renin Cell Baroreceptor, a Nuclear Mechanotransducer Central for Homeostasis, Circulation Research (2021). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.318711

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-years-scientists-link-body-b...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 9, 2021 at 11:00am

Lake Huron sinkhole surprise: The rise of oxygen on early Earth linked to changing planetary rotation rate

The rise of oxygen levels early in Earth's history paved the way for the spectacular diversity of animal life. But for decades, scientists have struggled to explain the factors that controlled this gradual and stepwise process, which unfolded over nearly 2 billion years.

Now an international research team is proposing that increasing day length on the early Earth—the spinning of the young planet gradually slowed over time, making the days longer—may have boosted the amount of oxygen released by photosynthetic cyanobacteria, thereby shaping the timing of Earth's oxygenation.

Their conclusion was inspired by a study of present-day microbial communities growing under extreme conditions at the bottom of a submerged Lake Huron sinkhole, 80 feet below the water's surface. The water in the Middle Island Sinkhole is rich in sulfur and low in oxygen, and the brightly colored bacteria that thrive there are considered good analogs for the single-celled organisms that formed mat-like colonies billions of years ago, carpeting both land and seafloor surfaces.

The researchers show that longer day length increases the amount of oxygen released by photosynthetic microbial mats. That finding, in turn, points to a previously unconsidered link between Earth's oxygenation history and its rotation rate. While the Earth now spins on its axis once every 24 hours, day length was possibly as brief as 6 hours during the planet's infancy.

Possible link between Earth's rotation rate and oxygenation, Nature Geoscience (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-021-00784-3 , www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00784-3

https://phys.org/news/2021-08-lake-huron-sinkhole-oxygen-early.html...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 9, 2021 at 9:30am

Covid-19 patient develops rare white fungus abscess in brain after recovery

The Covid-19 patient complained of weakness in limbs and difficulty in speech following recovery from the viral disease.

A patient who recovered from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Hyderabad reportedly developed a rare case of white fungus or Aspergillus forming an abscess in the brain.

According to reports, the patient who recovered from the viral disease in May complained of weakness in limbs and difficulty in speech. When doctors conducted a scan of the patient’s brain, they found clot-like formations that did not reduce despite medication. It was only after surgery was conducted that the doctors detected that the white fungus had formed an abscess in the brain.

Doctors say while inflammation of the brain by Aspergillus is common instances of white fungus forming an abscess, especially in Covid-19 patients, is extremely rare.

A senior neurosurgeon of Hyderabad-based Sunshine Hospitals, Dr P Ranganadham, said while fungal infections have been found in Covid-19 patients who are diabetic, in this case, although the patient has a history of high blood pressure there was no presence of diabetes.

“The paranasal sinuses are clear indicating that white fungus had not entered the brain through the nose unlike black fungus,” the specialist doctor said.

Elaborating on the condition of the patient that led to the rare discovery, Dr Ranganadham, who performed the surgery on the patient, said, the patient complained of weakness in the limb and difficulty in speech on the sixth day following hospitalisation with symptoms of Covid-19 virus, at a time when the second wave of the pandemic was at its peak. A brain scan revealed a large lesion in the left part and two small lesions in other areas.

The doctor said the patient was initially treated for haematoma, however, when another MRI of the brain was conducted it was found that the lesion had increased in size with dense and well-defined margins.

The doctor elaborated that the smaller lesions remained unchanged in size. Following surgery, the doctors “found a well-encapsulated abscess containing soft necrotic material, separate from normal brain.”

The medical team working in the case conducted a pathological analysis of the abscess and found it to be a case of white fungus infection, also known as Aspergillosis in medical terms.

Dr Ranganadham said the Aspergillosis of the central nervous system was caused after the white blood cells of the brain were invaded by the white fungus.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/covid19-white-fungus-brai...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 8, 2021 at 12:49pm

Scientists Identify Extremely Tough Bacterial Species That Thrive Inside Concrete

Some types of bacteria are hardy enough to survive in the most inhospitable of conditions – and that includes concrete, as a new study proves. Not only can microbes survive in this dry, inhospitable building material, they can actually thrive there too.

Research shows that bacteria could provide early warnings of moisture-induced alkali-silica reactions (or 'concrete cancer') that can lead to structural deficiencies. Further down the line, we might even be able to harness bacteria to repair damage to bridges and roads.

While previous studies had already established that bacteria are able to make their homes inside concrete, here the scientists wanted to take a closer look at which microbes were present and how their communities might change over time.

After regular monitoring over two years on the roof of the lab, the most common bacteria discovered in the DNA analysis of the samples were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Around 50-60 percent of the bacteria probably came from the raw materials, the researchers say, especially gravel.

The team observed that bacterial diversity dropped over time, though some types of bacteria had 'bounces' as the seasons changed – perhaps an indication that the availability of food sources was changing as well.

It's possible they're eating the dead bodies of other microbes. If there's nothing to eat, some of them can form spores or form a dormant cell type and do nothing until it rains, then eat as much as they can and go dormant again.

As some bacteria can produce calcium carbonate – which is suitable for filling in concrete cracks and pores – there's a hope that these microorganisms could be used to help repair buildings and infrastructure, though that sort of application is a long way off.

The researchers think  the microbes are not damaging the concrete.

https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSystems.01153-20

https://www.sciencealert.com/some-bacteria-are-so-tough-they-can-gr...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 8, 2021 at 12:36pm

Menopause breakthrough as scientists find genes to delay ageing process ( Game News )

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 8, 2021 at 12:27pm

See how aerosol particles escape from musical instruments

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-music-wind-in...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 8, 2021 at 11:32am

Sunscreen Chemistry and Action

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on August 8, 2021 at 11:18am

Organ transplant recipients significantly protected by COVID-19 vaccination

 In a Brief Communication, published July 29, 2021 in the journal Transplant Infectious Disease, a team of physician-scientists.

found that solid organ transplant recipients who were vaccinated experienced an almost 80 percent reduction in the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated counterparts during the same time. Persons who have received an organ transplant are considered to be at increased risk for COVID-19 and for a severe outcome because their immune systems are necessarily suppressed to ensure their transplants are successful and lasting.

These new findings offer strong evidence that getting vaccinated provides significant protection even to the immuno-suppressed people.

During the study period, there were 65 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 among the organ recipients: four among fully vaccinated individuals and 61 among the controls (two involving partially vaccinated individuals). There were no deaths among the breakthrough COVID-19 cases, but two among the 61 control cases.

it demonstrates real world clinical effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in a vulnerable population. Second, the effectiveness is better than expected, given that studies have found that only about half of solid organ transplant recipients develop detectable anti-spike antibodies after vaccination.

https://researchnews.cc/news/8207/Organ-transplant-recipients-signi...

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