Risk Of Infection Of Covid 19 Due To Fly

London: A team of researchers, led by those of Indian-origin, has in a breakthrough developed a single gene therapy injection that could dramatically reduce the bleeding risk faced by people with haemophilia B. Haemophilia B is a rare and inherited genetic bleeding disorder caused by low levels of the factor IX (FIX) protein, needed for forming blood clots that help prevent or stop bleeding. The gene responsible for making FIX protein is located on the X chromosome, so the severe form of haemophilia B is much more common in men. Currently, patients with haemophilia B need to inject themselves regularly usually weekly with recombinant FIX, that is, regular replacement therapy to prevent excessive bleeding. Despite advances in treatment, patients may continue to see debilitating joint damage. But the new type of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy candidate called FLT180a, developed by researchers from University College London treats severe and moderately severe cases of the condition. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that one-time treatment with FLT180a led to sustained production of FIX protein from the liver in nine of 10 patients across four different dose levels, removing the need for regular replacement therapy. "Removing the need for haemophilia patients to regularly inject themselves with the missing protein is an important step in improving their quality of life," said lead author Professor Pratima Chowdary, Royal Free Hospital at UCL Cancer Institute. AAV gene therapy works by using a packaging from the proteins found in the outer coat of the virus, to deliver a functional copy of a gene directly to patient tissues to compensate for one that is not working properly. Newly synthesised proteins are released into the blood and a one-time infusion can achieve long-lasting effects. Patients needed to take immunosuppressive drugs over several weeks to several months to prevent their immune systems from rejecting the therapy. While the treatment was generally well tolerated, all patients experienced some form of adverse events, with an abnormal blood clot in one who received the highest FLT180a dose and had the highest levels of FIX protein. In nine out of the 10 patients, the treatment led to a sustained increase in FIX protein production, which led to a decrease in excessive bleeding. They also no longer required weekly injections of FIX protein. After 26 weeks, five patients had normal levels of FIX protein, three had low but increased levels, and one patient treated at the highest dose had an abnormally high level. (Agency) Read More► Impact of Brain Tumour on Quality of Life

People who regularly fast are less likely to experience severe complications from Covid-19, suggests a study. Intermittent fasting has previously shown to have a host of health benefits, including lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The findings, published week in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, showed that Covid patients who practised regular water-only intermittent fasting had lower risk of hospitalisation or dying due to the virus than patients who did not. "Intermittent fasting has already shown to lower inflammation and improve cardiovascular health. In this study, we're finding additional benefits when it comes to battling an infection of Covid-19 in patients who have been fasting for decades," said Benjamin Horne, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at Intermountain Healthcare in the US. In the study, researchers identified 205 patients who had tested positive for the virus between March 2020 and February 2021 -- before vaccines were widely available. Of these, 73 said they regularly fasted at least once a month. Researchers found that those who practised regular fasting had a lower rate of hospitalisation or death due to coronavirus. "Intermittent fasting was not associated with whether or not someone tested positive Covid-19, but it was associated with lower severity once patients had tested positive for it," Horne said. While Horne said that more research is needed to understand why intermittent fasting is associated with better Covid outcomes, he said it's most likely due to a host of ways that it affects the body. For example, fasting reduces inflammation, especially since hyperinflammation is associated with poor Covid-19 outcomes. In addition, after 12 to 14 hours of fasting, the body switches from using glucose in the blood to ketones, including linoleic acid. "There's a pocket on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that linoleic acid fits into -- and can make the virus less able to attach to other cells," he said. Another potential benefit is that intermittent fasting promotes autophagy, which is "the body's recycling system that helps your body destroy and recycle damaged and infected cells", Horne added. Horne stressed that these results are from people who have been practising intermittent fasting for decades -- not weeks -- and that anyone who wants to consider the practice should consult their doctors first, especially if they are elderly, pregnant, or have conditions like diabetes, heart, or kidney disease. Researchers also stressed intermittent fasting shouldn't be seen as a substitute for Covid vaccination. (Agency) Read More► Reducing Air Pollution May Improve Brain Development in Children

एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, 69 फीसदी लोगों ने कोविड संक्रमण से पहले सिरदर्द की शिकायत की है, यह इस बीमारी का प्रमुख लक्षण बन गया है। किंग्स कॉलेज लंदन के शोधकर्ताओं ने जोई कोविड लक्षण अध्ययन ऐप के डेटा का विश्लेषण किया और स्थिति के पहले लक्षणों में से एक के रूप में सिरदर्द पाया। एक्सप्रेस डॉट को डॉट यूके की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, यह बुखार, खांसी और हानि या स्वाद और गंध में बदलाव जैसे अन्य क्लासिक कोविड लक्षणों की तुलना में अधिक सामान्य है। अध्ययन में बताया गया है कि कुछ कोविड रोगियों को प्रारंभिक संक्रमण की तुलना में अधिक समय तक सिरदर्द के साथ देखा गया, यह संकेत भी लंबे कोविड के लिए एक विशेषता है। अध्ययन के अनुसार, हमारे डेटा से पता चलता है कि ये सिरदर्द अक्सर आते हैं और जाते हैं, लेकिन शुक्र है कि वे समय के साथ धीरे-धीरे कम हो जाते हैं। हालांकि यह दर्दनाक लक्षण बच्चों में कम आम लगता है, कोरोनोवायरस सिरदर्द सभी आयु समूहों में देखा जाता है। अध्ययन के अनुसार, इसलिए, हालांकि कोविड -19 वाले कई लोग सिरदर्द का अनुभव करते हैं। जरूरी नहीं है कि सिरदर्द वाले अधिकांश लोगों को कोविड -19 नहीं होगा। थकान और गंध की कमी के साथ सिरदर्द कोविड को संकेत दे सकता है। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि अन्य लक्षण जो वायरस की दिशा को भी इंगित कर सकते हैं, उनमें गले में खराश, बुखार, मांसपेशियों में असामान्य दर्द और लगातार खांसी और चक्कर आना शामिल हैं। यह भी पढ़े► कोविड रोगियों ने माना स्वस्थ्य होने में योग ने की मदद

People with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke have double the risk of developing dementia, finds a study. Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases (ischemic heart disease, heart failure or atrial fibrillation) and stroke, so-called cardiometabolic diseases, are some of the main risk factors for dementia. The presence of more than one cardiometabolic disease accelerated the speed of cognitive decline and doubled the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, expediting their development by two years. The magnitude of the risk was increased with a greater number of diseases, revealed the study published in the journal, Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease could therefore be a strategy for reducing dementia risk, suggest researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "In our study, the combinations of diabetes/heart disease and diabetes/heart disease/stroke were the most damaging to cognitive function," said Abigail Dove, doctoral student at the Aging Research Centre, at the Institute. However, individuals who had just one cardiometabolic disease did not display a significantly higher risk of dementia. "This is good news. The study shows that the risk only increases once someone has at least two of the diseases, so it's possible that dementia can be averted by preventing the development of a second disease," he added. Dementia develops slowly over decades. It first manifests as gradual cognitive decline that only shows up in cognitive tests. It then degenerates into cognitive impairment in which the individual notices their failing memory but can still look after themselves, and finally into full-blown dementia. The researchers extracted data on a total of 2,500 healthy, dementia-free individuals over the age of 60 living on Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The participants were then followed for 12 years with medical examinations and cognitive tests in order to monitor changes in cognitive ability and the development of dementia. The correlation between cardiometabolic diseases and the risk for dementia was stronger in the participants who were under 78 years old. "We should therefore focus on cardiometabolic disease prevention already in middle age, since the risk of cognitive failure and dementia appears higher among those who develop a cardiometabolic disease earlier in life," Dove said. (agency) Read More► Poor Sleep May Worsen Lung Disease More Than Smoking: Study