Thumbnail Photo by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
Hi everyone!
I hope you have had a great week. No big updates on my end so I will jump right into the stories from this week.
For the Twitter account, see here. For my Reddit account, see here.
Media
More people are catching coronavirus a second time, heightening long COVID risk, experts say
TL;DR: “Earlier in the pandemic, it was assumed that getting infected afforded some degree of lasting protection” ‘…each individual infection carries the risk not only for acute illness but the potential to develop long COVID.” “Getting infected twice or more ‘contributes to additional risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization and adverse health outcomes’ in various organ systems, and can additionally worsen risk for diabetes, fatigue and mental health disorders.”
This tweet is crazy and highlights how much Long Covid has affected our economy.
Three types of long COVID identified with different symptoms
TL;DR:
“One group experiences neurological symptoms including fatigue, brain fog and headache, which most often affect those who contracted the virus when the Alpha and Delta variants were most prevalent.”
“A second group suffers from respiratory issues, including chest pain and severe shortness of breath, which could point to lung damage.”
“The final group is grappling with a diverse range of symptoms including heart palpitations, muscle ache and pain, and changes in skin and hair.”
Why Exercise Doesn’t Help People With Long COVID
TL;DR: “A 2021 study found that 89% of participants with long COVID had post-exertional malaise (PEM), which happens when a patient’s symptoms get worse after they do even minor physical or mental activities.” “Long COVID is a “dynamic disability” that requires health professionals to go off script when a patient’s symptoms don’t respond in a predictable way to treatment..” “And 86%(of Long Covid Patients) said exercise worsened their symptoms.”
Hope
Biden–Harris Administration Releases Two New Reports on Long COVID to Support Patients and Further Research
TL;DR: “The National Research Action Plan on Long COVID details advances in current research and charts a course for future study to better understand prevention and treatment of Long COVID. The Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 report highlights resources for health care workers, and those effected by broader effects of COVID-19, including not only Long COVID but also effects on mental health and substance use, and loss of caregivers and loved ones.“
Note: I could be wrong but I believe a lot of this billing will require approval of funds by congress, which are not guranteed.
TL;DR: BC007 Update! It look like it showed promising results treating an ME/CFS patient.
Research
Prevalence of symptoms, comorbidities, fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)
TL:DR (Must Read!!): “Hypertension, high cholesterol levels (dyslipidaemia), cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were found to be the most important comorbidities.“ ..“Microclot and platelet pathologies were associated with Long COVID/PASC symptoms that persisted after the recovery from acute COVID-19.”
“The key point of importance in microclot formation in Long COVID/PASC is that fibrin(ogen) too can, in the presence of various trigger substances, fold into an amyloid form that has a very different macrostructure characterised by different fibre diameters and pore sizes [38].”
“Together with platelet pathology and the presence of microclots in the circulation, endothelial damage may be key drivers of persistent Long COVID/PASC symptoms.”
The Hugely Predictive Factor for Long COVID…is also found in ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia: the IACFS/ME Conference II
TL;DR:
“A mouse study found that a mild COVID infection in mice that does not reach the brain produces significant central nervous system damage including microglial activation, neuroinflammation, and damage to the myelin coverings of the nerve axons, particularly in the hippocampus region of the limbic system. Some evidence of myelin problems and neuroinflammation has been found in ME/CFS.”
“A large study of long-COVID patients who’d been sick for well over a year found numerous immune aberrations including high levels of monocytes, exhausted T-cells, and the presence of double-positive T-cells.”
“Low cortisol levels were also predictive of severity: the lower the cortisol levels – the worse off the long-COVID patient was.”
Personal Note: Prof. Akiko is amazing & I highly recommend you give her a follow on Twitter!