Covid 19 Impact

New York: A team of researchers has provided important insights into how SARS-CoV-2 the virus responsible for Covid-19 can lead to long-term pain. Using a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the research team found that the infection left a gene expression signature in the dorsal root ganglia that remained even after the virus cleared. The signature matched gene expression patterns seen in pain caused by other conditions. "A significant number of people suffering from long Covid experience sensory abnormalities, including various forms of pain," said researcher Randal (Alex) Serafini from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "We used RNA sequencing to get a snapshot of the biochemical changes SARS-CoV-2 triggers in a pain-transmitting structure called dorsal root ganglia," Serafini added. For the study, to be presented at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics' annual meeting, the research team involved a hamster model of intranasal Covid-19 infection that closely reflected the symptoms experienced by people. The researchers observed that SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters showed a slight hypersensitivity to touch early after infection, which became more severe over time, up to 30 days. They then performed similar experiments with the Influenza A virus to determine if other RNA viruses promote similar responses. In contrast to SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A caused an early hypersensitivity that was more severe but faded by four days post-infection. Analysis of gene expression patterns in the dorsal root ganglia revealed that SARS-CoV-2 caused a more prominent change in expression levels of genes implicated in neuron-specific signalling processes compared to influenza. Additional experiments showed that four weeks after recovering from a viral infection, flu-infected hamsters had no signs of long-term hypersensitivity, while SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters showed worsened hypersensitivity, reflecting chronic pain. The hamsters that had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 had gene expression signatures similar to those seen in the dorsal root ganglia of mice affected by pain that was induced by inflammation or nerve injury. Read More► Covid Not Only Infects Human Retina, But Can Also Replicate in It

Because of the Covid pandemic and lockdown, most of us are working from home, and our time spent on digital screens has increased. You spend almost the entire day staring at your laptop or computer screen. The situation is similar for adults and children who are not working but are watching TV or using social media. Because of the increase in digital screen time, your eyes are under more strain than usual. There are some things you should do to keep your two most valuable assets (your eyes) safe and secure. Keep Laptop/Computer at Proper Distance Many people use their digital devices by holding them up to their eyes. Such people are frequently at a higher risk of developing eye problems, especially when combined with long hours at the workplace. It is always best to keep your laptop at arm's length.  That is, the screen should be at an appropriate distance from your eyes. Your screen should be at least an arm's length (25 inches) away and slightly lower than eye level. This reduces the strain on the eyes and reduces the intensity of the light. Adjust Your Screen Position And Brightness The placement of your screen is more important than you realise. In fact, it has a significant impact on how your eyes feel after a long day at work. Adjust the screen position and brightness so that you can work on your system without straining or focusing too hard. If your eyes are too weak, however, you should see a doctor. Try to Work in Natural Light Always try to work in natural light rather than using LED or tube lights. When sunlight enters your room through doors and windows, it relaxes your eyes. It also aids you in remaining active throughout the day. Take Regular Breaks One of the most important things to remember when working from home is to take regular breaks. This is one effective piece of advice that many people disregard because they are constantly focused on their work. However, it is recommended that you take your gaze away from the screen for at least 5 minutes every hour. It also improves your concentration and productivity. This is an all-around win-win situation! So remember to take breaks. Practice Eye Exercises Take some time every 24 hours to do some regular eye exercises. Your eyes, like any other muscle, require regular exercise to stay strong and healthy. The 20-20-20 rule is one such simple exercise that you can do while working from home. After every 20 minutes, look away from your screen for 20 seconds and focus on any object 20 feet away. Don't Forget to Blink In general, you blink every four seconds, but some studies show that this decreases by more than half when working with digital screens. Make an effort to blink as frequently as possible to keep your eyes moisturised and prevent them from becoming dry and irritated. Use Bigger Fonts The size of the fonts on your laptop or computer can often influence how our eyes feel. The smaller the font, the more strain on the eyes. This is due to the fact that smaller fonts require more focus while reading, causing your eyes to strain. So, while reading long documents, adjust the screen font as much as possible. Ensure Proper Lighting Glare is a major cause of eye strain. Glare on a digital screen is caused by harsh overhead lighting or light from windows, which are usually directly behind or in front of you. Position your computer/laptop screen to avoid glare and, if necessary, use drapes or blinds on windows. Stay Hydrated Sufficient liquid intake is critical to the overall health of your body, including your eyes. You can keep your eyes from becoming dry and irritated if you stay hydrated. Get An Eye Test Regular eye examinations are essential for maintaining good eye health at work. Unless advised otherwise by an optician or a health professional, schedule one every two years. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can detect eye problems before they rob you of your vision. (Dr. Anurag Wahi, Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals) Read More► Watch Out for These Signs for Glaucoma Risk in Children

London: Though SARS-CoV-2, virus causing Covid-19, majorly causes infections of the respiratory tract, it also affects other organs of the human body such as the eyes and brain. While there is growing evidence to show that coronaviruses can enter the retina of the eye, German researchers have now shown that the virus can also replicate in human eyes. According to the study, published in the Stem Cell Reports, SARS-CoV-2 actually infects retinal cells, especially retinal ganglion cells, but also light-sensitive cells. Furthermore, the researchers show that coronaviruses can also replicate in these cell types. This finding is new and underlines the need to monitor retinal pathologies as a possible consequence of 'Long Covid'. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine and the Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster utilised organoids, an organ-like model system, of the retina from human reprogrammed stem cells to study SARS-CoV-2 infection of the retina. The retinal organoids were incubated with SARS-CoV-2 viruses and then using quantitative PCR analysis, the researchers succeeded in detecting Covid mRNA in the organoids, indicating that cells in the organoids were indeed infected by the virus. To measure the active virus concentrations produced by the infected organoids after different incubation times, the researchers used an assay called a "viral plaque assay". Indeed, the assay showed that new viral progeny has been formed in the retinal organoids. "This is the first demonstration that SARS-CoV-2 replicates in human retinal cells," said Thomas Rauen from Max Planck. To find out which cells in the retinal organoids are affected, the researchers analysed the organoids under a fluorescence microscope. With the help of different immune markers for the different cell types of the retina and with a fluorescent antibody against the nucleoprotein (N-protein) of SARS-CoV-2, they found that mainly two cell layers - inner and outer - of the retinal organoids were infected. The outer nuclear layer of the organoids contains the cell bodies of the photoreceptors -- the cones and rods that convert incoming light into nerve impulses. "However, the cell type in which we most frequently detected the N-protein of Sars-CoV-2 is retinal ganglion cells," Yotam Menuchin-Lasowski from the Institute. These cells are located in the innermost cell layer of the retina and transmit all signals from the retina to the brain via the optic nerve. Interestingly, many of the retinal symptoms associated with Covid-19 are related to retinal ganglion cells, but these have previously been associated predominantly with secondary effects of other Covid-induced disease symptoms, such as damage to blood vessels or an increase in eye pressure. "However, our current retina-organoid study shows that infection with SARS-CoV-2 can have direct pathological consequences for retinal ganglion cells, even though visual impairment is not common in patients with Covid-19," Rauen said. "But our data give us reason to believe that so-called long-Covid symptoms may include degenerative retinal disease." (agency) Read More► Natural Covid Antibodies Last 7 Months in Children: Study

वाशिंगटन: अमेरिका में बीते एक महीने में करीब 270,000 बच्चे कोरोना पॉजिटिव हुए हैं। ये जानकारी अमेरिकन एकेडमी ऑफ पीडियाट्रिक्स (एएपी) और चिल्ड्रन हॉस्पिटल एसोसिएशन की रिपोर्ट से सामने आई है। समाचार एजेंसी सिन्हुआ की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, देश में 2 साल से ज्यादा समय पहले महामारी की शुरूआत के बाद से लगभग 1.28 करोड़ बच्चे कोरोना संक्रमित हुए हैं। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 19 प्रतिशत बच्चे कोरोना पॉजिटिव हैं। 17 मार्च को समाप्त हुए पिछले सप्ताह में कुल 31,991 बच्चे कोरोना पॉजिटिव पाए गए। बीते 4 हफ्तों में लगभग 270,000 बच्चों के मामले दर्ज किए गए हैं। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, सितंबर 2021 के पहले सप्ताह से अब तक 77 लाख से ज्यादा बच्चों के मामले सामने आए हैं। आप ने कहा कि नए रूपों से संबंधित बीमारी की गंभीरता के साथ-साथ संभावित दीर्घकालिक प्रभावों का आकलन करने के लिए ज्यादा डेटा इक्ठ्ठा करने की तत्काल जरूरत है। (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► कोरोना का नया वैरिएंट फिर मचा सकता है तबाही: फौसी