A new study suggests that the composition of gut microbiota could help predict COVID-19 severity. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) examined stool samples from COVID-19 patients and found that those who were critically ill had altered gut microbiomes. The researchers also identified a commensal bacterium called Enterococcus faecalis as a strong predictor of COVID-19 severity. E. faecalis is a symbiont with a potential to … Continue reading Testing for a commensal gut bacterium could help identify people at risk of severe COVID-19
Researchers say taurine trains your gut microbiota to resist subsequent infections with the same pathogen
Your gut microbiota helps shield you from infections, and for the longest time, scientists have wondered how. A new study published on Jan. 15 in the journal Cell details the process involved in gut immunity, or specifically, how your gut microflora functions to give you colonization resistance. Using mouse models, a team from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified which bacteria help your body … Continue reading Researchers say taurine trains your gut microbiota to resist subsequent infections with the same pathogen
Epigenetic Study Finds New Potential Drug Targets for Asthma and Allergies
A new epigenetic study has identified 30 genes connected to allergies and asthma that make people more susceptible to these conditions. Using the newly discovered gene targets from this study, scientists could potentially create drugs to combat allergic diseases and reduce allergic responses. About 6.8 million children and 18.7 million adults in the U.S. suffer … Continue reading Epigenetic Study Finds New Potential Drug Targets for Asthma and Allergies
Higher vitamin D levels, stronger immune response protect children from COVID-19
How COVID-19 affects children is a topic that’s getting traction, especially with recent studies saying that the disease is less severe in children than in adults. So far, health experts have observed that fewer children contract the virus. Hospitalization rates in children are also lower than those in adults. In a new study, Petra Zimmermann and Nigel … Continue reading Higher vitamin D levels, stronger immune response protect children from COVID-19
Melatonin therapy a promising coronavirus treatment – study
Melatonin is a hormone mainly produced by the pineal gland. Commonly known as a natural sleep regulator, it also plays a role in gene expression and cancer prevention and has the rare ability to enter the mitochondria. As a potent antioxidant, it helps prevent mitochondrial damage and energy failure caused by oxidation. Recent studies also show that melatonin may help … Continue reading Melatonin therapy a promising coronavirus treatment – study
Coronavirus immunity may last for at least six months after infection
COVID-19 reinfection is highly unlikely for at least six months after the last infection, according to a study by researchers from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The study, published on Nov. 19 as a pre-print, offers valuable insight into COVID-19 immunity that has so far stumped scientists. The findings also confirm that infection provides short-term protection, at least, from … Continue reading Coronavirus immunity may last for at least six months after infection
Do We Already Have A Drug That Could Epigenetically Erase Traumatic Memories?
Scientists at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine discovered that the drug fingolimod, which is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), could potentially benefit individuals who wish to get rid of painful and traumatic memories. While MS is still not entirely understood, the disease involves a process that is immune-mediated in which the immune … Continue reading Do We Already Have A Drug That Could Epigenetically Erase Traumatic Memories?
Study: Patients still have immunity to coronavirus 6 months after testing positive
A study by British researchers found that patients may still have some form of immunity to COVID-19 long after the antibodies specific to the Wuhan coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have fallen below detectable levels. Researchers from Public Health England (PHE) and the U.K. Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC), a public research initiative established to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, found that the T cell levels of coronavirus … Continue reading Study: Patients still have immunity to coronavirus 6 months after testing positive
Study reveals vitamin C is key for stroke prevention and promoting heart health
Strokes are some of the most common medical conditions in the United States. So common, in fact, that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke every year. Of these cases, 610,000 are classified as first or new strokes, while 185,000 — or nearly 1 of 4—are … Continue reading Study reveals vitamin C is key for stroke prevention and promoting heart health
Fight inflammation with the help of these 6 powerful vitamins
Inflammation is a key immune response to infection or injury. It means that immune cells are actively helping the body to heal. But inflammation that persists could be a sign of an underlying health problem. If the body is in a state of chronic inflammation, it is unable to heal properly. Over time, chronic inflammation could lead … Continue reading Fight inflammation with the help of these 6 powerful vitamins
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 