Covid Infection Symptom

London: Increased levels of blood fats, also known as lipids, in people with Type 2 diabetes and obesity are more harmful than previously thought, a new study has found. In patients with metabolic diseases, elevated fat levels in the blood create stress in muscle cells -- a reaction to changes outside the cell which damage their structure and function. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications showed that these stressed-out cells give off a signal which can be passed on to other cells. The signals, known as ceramides, may have a protective benefit in the short-term, because they are part of a mechanism designed to reduce stress in the cell. But in metabolic diseases, which are long term conditions, the signals can kill the cells, make symptoms more severe, and worsen the illness, said researchers at University of Leeds in the UK. Increased fat in the blood has long been known to damage tissues and organs, contributing to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including Type 2 diabetes. The condition can be caused by obesity, rates of which have nearly tripled worldwide between 1975 and 2020. "This research gives us a novel perspective on how stress develops in the cells of individuals with obesity, and provides new pathways to consider when looking to develop new treatments for metabolic diseases," said Lee Roberts, Professor of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism in the University's School of Medicine. "With obesity an ever-increasing epidemic, the burden of associated chronic disease such as Type 2 diabetes necessitates new treatments. We hope the results of our research here open a new avenue for research to help address this growing concern," he added. In the lab, the team replicated the blood fat levels observed in humans with metabolic disease by exposing skeletal muscle cells to a fatty acid called palmitate. The cells began to transmit the ceramide signal. When these cells were mixed with others which had not been previously exposed to fats, the researchers found that they communicated with each other, transporting the signal in packages called extracellular vesicles. The experiment was reproduced in human volunteers with metabolic diseases and gave comparable results. The findings provide a completely new angle on how cells respond to stress, with important consequences for our understanding of certain metabolic diseases including obesity.  (Agency) Read More► Genetic Inflammation Linked to Neuropsychiatric Illness

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

न्यूयॉर्क: ब्रॉकली और बंदगोभी, केल तथा ब्रसेल्स स्प्राउट जैसी पत्तेदार सब्जियां कोरोना वायरस और फ्लू के संक्रमण की गति कम करने में कारगर साबित हुई हैं। जॉन हॉप्किन्स चिल्ड्रेन सेंटर के शोधकर्ताओं के मुताबिक पौधों में पाया जाने वाला रसायन 'सल्फोराफेन' कैंसररोधी प्रभाव के लिये जाना जाता है। यह रसायन कोरोना वायरस को बढ़ने से भी रोकता है। यही रसायन ब्रॉकली और बंदगोभी, केल तथा ब्रसेल्स स्प्राउट जैसी पत्तेदार सब्जियों में पाया जाता है। नेचर जर्नल कम्युनिकेशंस बायोलॉजी में प्रकाशित शोध रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, शोधकर्ताओं ने परीक्षण के लिये वाणिज्यिक रसायन आपूर्तिकर्ताओं से प्यूरिफाइड सिथेंटिक 'सल्फोराफेन' खरीदा। वे 'सल्फोराफेन' को पहले कोशिका के संपर्क में लाये और उसके एक-दो घंटे के बाद उस कोशिका को सार्स कोविड-2 और फ्लू के वायरस से संक्रमित किया गया। शोधकर्ताओं ने पाया कि 'सल्फोराफेन' ने सार्स कोविड-2 के डेल्टा और ओमीक्रॉन वैरिएंट समेत छह स्ट्रेन के बढ़ने की गति को 50 प्रतिशत कम कर दिया। फ्लू वायरस के मामले में भी 'सल्फोराफेन' ने वायरस के दोगुनी होने की गति धीमी कर दी । 'सल्फोराफेन' को जब रेमडिसिविर के साथ दिया गया तो भी दोनों तरह के वायरस के बढ़ने की गति 50 फीसदी तक कम हो गयी। शोध टीम में शामिल यूनिवर्सिटी के असिस्टेंट प्रोफेसर अल्वारो ऑरडोनेज ने कहा कि 'सल्फोराफेन' दोनों वायरस के खिलाफ एक एंटीवायरस के रूप में काम करने के साथ ही प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को भी नियंत्रित करने में मदद करता है। शोधकर्ताओं ने बाद में यह परीक्षण चूहे पर किया। उन्होंने पाया कि चूहे के वजन के प्रति किलोग्राम के बराबर 30 मिलीग्राम 'सल्फोराफेन' दिया जाये और उसे फिर कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित किया जाये तो उसके वजन में कमी आने की गति काफी कम हो जाती है। कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित होने पर वजन में आमतौर पर साढ़े सात प्रतिशत की कमी आ जाती है। शोध में यह भी पाया गया कि जिन चूहों को 'सल्फोराफेन' नहीं दिया गया उनकी तुलना में जिन चूहों का पहले ही उपचार किया गया, उनके फेफड़े में वायरल लोड में 17 प्रतिशत और ऊपरी श्वसन नली में वायरल लोड में नौ प्रतिशत की उल्लेखनीय गिरावट आती है। इसके अलावा फेफड़े की क्षति में 29 प्रतिशत की कमी आती है। 'सल्फोराफेन' फेफड़े की सूजन को कम करने और अधिक सक्रिय प्रतिरोधी क्षमता से कोशिका को बचाने में भी कारगर है। इन कारणों से ही कई कोरोना संक्रमितों ने दम तोड़ा है। शोधकर्ताओं ने लेकिन साथ ही सचेत किया है कि आम लोगों को ऑनलाइन या स्टोर में जाकर 'सल्फोराफेन' का सप्लीमेंट खरीदने की होड़ नहीं लगानी चाहिये। उन्होंने कहा कि मानव शरीर पर 'सल्फोराफेन' के प्रभाव का अध्ययन जरूरी है और तब ही इसे प्रभावी करार दिया जा सकता है। इसके अलावा इन सप्लीमेंट के निर्माण में जरूरी नियमों की भी कमी है। (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► शोधकर्ताओं ने टीबी और कैंसर के बीच के संबंध का पता लगाया