The annoying common cold may yet turn out to be a blessing if researchers with the Imperial College London are correct. Since the pandemic started, researchers have speculated that coronaviruses could offer some cross-reactive immunity against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), and growing evidence points to that direction. Recent studies show that recovery from the common flu can also prevent infection from the coronavirus because of … Continue reading Common cold can help boost immunity against COVID, researchers say
Vitamin D found to help reduce COVID-19 risk and severity
Since the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several articles have discussed the potential of vitamin D to reduce the risk and severity of the disease. A team of researchers from Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, closely monitored a total of 930 coronavirus disease patients – 551 of whom were randomly assigned to receive vitamin D along with … Continue reading Vitamin D found to help reduce COVID-19 risk and severity
Nasal spray with nanobodies from llamas may be key to fighting coronavirus: Study
According to a fascinating study published in the journal Nature Communication, nanobodies or antibody fragments from an unlikely source can be used to produce a new treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19). Nanobodies from llamas? Researchers who participated in the study found that minuscule antibodies produced by llamas can potentially help treat coronavirus. These beneficial virus-fighting proteins could then be given to infected … Continue reading Nasal spray with nanobodies from llamas may be key to fighting coronavirus: Study
Study: Even people with mild COVID-19 may develop lifelong natural immunity to the coronavirus
A recent study published in the journal Nature suggests that people who recovered from a mild case of COVID-19 may have developed lifelong immunity to the Wuhan coronavirus. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine arrived at this finding after tracking people who have had mild COVID-19. They found that these individuals still had immune cells that produce antibodies specific to the virus … Continue reading Study: Even people with mild COVID-19 may develop lifelong natural immunity to the coronavirus
Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least 8 months after infection, study says
A study published in February in the journal Science shows that immunity to the Wuhan coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) lasts at least eight months after a person has contracted COVID-19. This finding is an optimistic sign that immunity can probably last for many years. “There was a lot of concern originally that this virus might not induce much memory,” Shane Crotty, an infectious disease … Continue reading Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least 8 months after infection, study says
FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug ivermectin can kill the coronavirus within 48 hours, reports new study
An anti-parasitic medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be used against the Wuhan coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), reports a new study. Australian researchers discovered that ivermectin, a semi-synthetic drug commonly used to treat head lice, scabies, ascariasis and other parasitic infections, can effectively kill SARS-CoV-2 within 48 hours in culture. “We found that even a single dose … Continue reading FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug ivermectin can kill the coronavirus within 48 hours, reports new study
Social isolation during coronavirus pandemic tied to higher rates of high blood pressure among patients
Social isolation due to pandemic-related restrictions have been linked to an increase in high blood pressure among patients rushed to the emergency room, according to a recent study presented at the 46th Argentine Congress of Cardiology. Led by Matias Fosco of the Favaloro Foundation University Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the study showed that admission to the … Continue reading Social isolation during coronavirus pandemic tied to higher rates of high blood pressure among patients
Study: People living in highly polluted areas have a higher chance of dying from coronavirus
A new study reveals that people who live in highly polluted areas are more likely to die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus. Researchers from Harvard University looked at the impact of particles less than 2.5 micrometers in size (PM2.5) from various sources, such as vehicle exhausts, on COVID-19 health outcomes. According to their findings, which appeared in the journal Science Advances, even … Continue reading Study: People living in highly polluted areas have a higher chance of dying from coronavirus
Study shows coronavirus protein can block pain, causing lack of symptoms in some
A new study reveals that the Wuhan coronavirus can block pain and mask any symptoms in the early stages of infection. Experiments in mice show that this effect occurs within 30 minutes of being infected and could last for hours or days. Researchers at the University of Arizona (UArizona) who made the discovery believe that this could explain why some people with … Continue reading Study shows coronavirus protein can block pain, causing lack of symptoms in some
Infected patients develop long-term immunity to coronavirus
People infected by the coronavirus develop long-term immunity to COVID-19. A new study published August 14 in the journal Cell presented evidence that the immune system is capable of preventing the recurrence of the disease, thanks to specialized immune cells that commit the virus into memory. Memory T cells are a type of white blood cell trained to recognize … Continue reading Infected patients develop long-term immunity to coronavirus
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 