COVID-19 tagged posts

Aspirin use Reduces Risk of Death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

University of Maryland School of Medicine
Jonathan H. Chow , et al. Aspirin Use is Associated with Decreased Mechanical Ventilation, ICU Admission, and In-Hospital Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2020; Publish Ahead of Print DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005292

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were taking a daily low-dose aspirin to protect against cardiovascular disease had a significantly lower risk of complications and death compared to those who were not taking aspirin, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)...

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Observed COVID-19 Variability may have underlying molecular sources

Understand variability of COVID-19 through population and tissue variations in expression of SARS-CoV-2 host genes
Author links open overlay panel LiangChena
SikaZhengb

Study shows how variations in SARS-CoV-2 host gene expression can be linked to variations in COVID-19 susceptibility and symptom severity. People have different susceptibilities to SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop varying degrees of fever, fatigue, and breathing problems — common symptoms of the illness. What might explain this variation?

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, and University of Southern California may have an answer to this mystery.

In a paper published in Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, the researchers show for the first time that the observed COVID-19 vari...

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COVID-19 virus uses Heparan Sulfate to get inside cells

SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein must bind both the ACE2 receptor and heparan sulfate to gain entry into human cells

Discovery opens new possibilities for treating COVID-19 by disrupting virus’ ability to bind the carbohydrate, potentially by using a repurposed drug. Researchers discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can’t grab hold of cell receptor ACE2 without a carbohydrate called heparan sulfate, which is also found on lung cell surfaces – disrupting that interaction with a repurposed drug may help treat COVID-19.

A molecule known as ACE2 sits like a doorknob on the outer surfaces of the cells that line the lungs...

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Elderly People protected against Respiratory Infections by BCG Vaccine

ACTIVATE: Randomized Clinical Trial of BCG Vaccination Against Infection in the ElderlyCell, Aug. 31, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.051

However, the effect of the vaccine specifically against COVID-19 has not been demonstrated. The BCG vaccine, an old treatment originally developed for tuberculosis, has a broad, stimulating effect on the immune system. This gives it an effective preventive action against various infections — possibly also against COVID-19. It is frequently given to children, but in this double-blind randomized clinical study, a collaboration between Radboud University Medical Center and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens it was shown that elderly people also benefit from it. The results of the study are in Cell.

At Radboudumc, Professor of Expe...

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