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DATES: Here are some of the proven health benefits

by Medically Speaking February 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Dates have been known for their healing properties since they were first discovered thousands of years ago. Dates provide a number of health benefits, including raising energy, increasing iron levels in the body, and assisting digestion.

Dates are popular all around the world because they are high in numerous nutrients, fibre, and antioxidants. Because of their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor characteristics, these dried fruits may be useful in treating a variety of ailments.

So, before we go any farther, let’s get a better understanding of dates.

What exactly are dates?

Dates are tropical fruits that are grown on palm plants called date palms. Phoenix Dactylifera is the scientific name for one of the world’s healthiest fruits. Dates are a type of dry fruit that has long been a part of West Asian culture.

Dates contain a lot of natural sugar in them. Dates in their dry form have more calories than dates in their fresh form. Dates’ appeal stems from their high calorie content, which provides energy throughout the day.

Dates can be traced all the way back to about 5320 BC. For populations in the Middle East and North Africa, the fruit is a staple.

Mainly cultivated in these regions, dates are highly beneficial due to the innate composition of macronutrients and many other healthy elements.

The need for dates to be included in your diet will form a long list. Its highly beneficial advantages can be harnessed by introducing it into your diet.

Muslims consider date palms and dates sacred, and throughout the religious fasting period of Ramadan, these dried fruits are a common ingredient in the diet. Each date can be about 60 to 70 percent sugar and a high amount of fiber. It is also high in iron and may help in fighting anemia.

Dates are now popular all over the world and are used as a natural sweetener in smoothies, juices, nutrition bars, and baked products like cakes and muffins. Now let’s discuss some of the proven health benefits of dates.

Health Benefits of Dates:

1. Dates are Highly Nutritious:

The nutrition data of dates are really off the charts. The fruits are packed with a lot of essential vitamins and other nutrients that can be extremely helpful to your overall health. Dates are also rich in fiber and carbs which without a doubt makes it one of the healthiest dry fruits.

2. High Concentration of Antioxidants:

Antioxidants are basically compounds that inhibit the process of oxidation and thereby eliminate the dangerous free radicals which can cause a lot of harm to your cells. Oxidation can be very dangerous as it can be very harmful to the structural and genetic integrity of your cells.

Dates are known for their high concentration of antioxidants. When compared to other dried fruits in the same category, dates tops the chart with the highest concentration of antioxidants. The need for antioxidants in your daily diet cannot be stressed more. Dates are rich in antioxidants including:

Carotenoids: Carotenoids are known for their ability to significantly reduce the chances of macular degeneration which can be highly dangerous to your ocular well-being. Carotenoids are also known for their ability to work wonders for your heart. Cardiac health is one of the most pressing issues in today’s health scenario and the use of dates can help in promoting better heart health.

Flavonoids: This is an antioxidant that can benefit your body by helping with multiple issues. Flavonoids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and their high affinity in helping to reduce the effects of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Flavonoids are also beneficial to your brain and work a lot towards the reduction of the risk for brain degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. There are also indications that prove that Flavonoids can also help in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer too.

Phenolic Acid: Phenolic acid is a much-discussed antioxidant mainly known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It has got a very good history in reducing the risk of developing cardiac issues and also works a lot in reducing the chances of being inflicted by certain types of cancer.

3. Promotes Bone Health:

Dates are highly rich in micronutrients such as selenium, manganese, magnesium, and copper. These micronutrients help in the development of your bone health.

Dates can be one of the most important supplements to your diet if you are suffering from bone problems. The micronutrients in dates are also highly effective in treating bone conditions such as osteoporosis. So, it’s highly advisable that you include dates as a part of your diet for healthier bones.

4. Improves Your Skin:

Dates are a very good alternative to harmful chemicals found in skincare products. The high concentration of vitamin C and vitamin D in dates ensures that your skin receives all the nourishment required for healthy glowing skin. Vitamin C & D work for the improvement of your skin’s elasticity which is very hard to maintain as you age.

The nutrients present in dates are also helpful in preventing faster aging and help you look young for a longer period of time. Dates are also useful in maintaining a healthy balance of melanin in your skin by reducing the chances of it being deposited in various locations.

5. Reduces the Rate of Hair Loss:

Dates are a very good substitute for many over-the-counter medications that claim to stop hair fall. Dates are extremely rich in iron which makes them extremely beneficial for your hair.

The increased iron content in dates ensures that the blood flow remains strong and the scalp gets the nourishment it deserves. The increased flow of oxygen to your scalp will facilitate the growth of new hair and also reduce the rate of hair fall by a great margin.

6. Reduces Risk of Cancer:

In-depth research on dates has discovered that the presence of a molecule called beta D-glucan in dates is beneficial in increasing anti-tumor activity in the body.

Dates have a high content of antioxidants, which helps to limit the activities of free radicals (elements that might cause cancer) and thus lowers the risk of cancer. Date consumption on a daily basis can considerably lower the risk of cancer as well as the incidence of benign tumours.

February 28, 2022 0 comment

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Ukraine is the best and most affordable option for medical studies, students say

by Medically Speaking Team February 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

Thousands of Indian students have been stuck in Ukraine since February 24 as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion during the previous few days, according to Indian embassies in Ukraine, Romania, and Poland.

Nearly 18,000 Indian students are studying in Ukraine’s institutions, according to the most recent data available from the ministry of external affairs (MES). Around 17% of students are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

According to students pursuing studies in Ukraine, their seniors and medical professionals, cost advantage is one of the main reasons for many students who failed to get a medical seat in the government institutions in India to choose universities in Ukraine.

A 1996-2002 batch alumnus of Zaporozhye State Medical University, Ukraine, Dr K. Ram Kumar, who is currently running a hospital in the city, said the students who did not get a seat or could not afford to study in India generally preferred to go to Ukraine.

“Approximately Rs 30 lakh is the maximum expenditure on medical education while it is around Rs 1 crore in India. Practical classes are more in Ukraine and only six to 10 students are in a class,” Dr Ram Kumar said.

An Indian student of Lviv National Medical University, Vishnu, who is currently on the way to India through Poland-Ukraine border, said, “Studying in Ukraine is easy for us to enter into Western Europe for higher studies in countries like Germany.”

Andhra Pradesh chapter president for Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr N. Subhramanyam said obviously a student preferred other best alternatives with affordable cost for studies if failed to get a seat in India. “Yes, countries like Ukraine, China, Poland and Uzbekistan etc are the most-preferred choices of Indians for medical education. These students must be qualified in the entry exams like NEET.”

February 28, 2022 0 comment

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Covid case Update: India records 8,013 new cases in 24 hours

by Medically Speaking Team February 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

In the previous 24 hours, India has registered 8,013 new COVID-19 cases, and active coronavirus infections in India are currently barely over 1 lakh, indicating that the Omicron-fueled third wave in India is virtually over.

The new cases take the number of total confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 4,29,24,130.

The active COVID-19 caseload in the country stands at 1,02,601—8,871 lower than the previous day. The active cases now comprise of 0.24 per cent of the total confirmed cases.

The daily test positivity rate in India is now 1.11 percent, while the rolling average of the weekly positivity rate is slightly higher at 1.17 percent.

Cumulatively, 177.50 crore doses have been administered so far.

February 28, 2022 0 comment

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7 health tips for having intercourse for the first time

by Medically Speaking February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

There are a few things you should think about to make this experience better and less painful for you and your spouse. For most of us, having our first sex is a life-changing experience that can open up a whole new world, bring you closer to your partner, and give you a better understanding of your own body. But it’s not something to take lightly. There are a few things you should think about to make this experience better and less painful for you and your spouse.

1. Talk about it

Whether it’s with an older sibling, friend or doctor – talk to someone mature and experienced about your decision. Sure, you might feel certain of it in your head at the moment but discussing it out loud can help process the decision on a deeper level. It might scare you a little, and even raise some questions you hadn’t thought about yet. That’s okay, it just means you’ll be even more ready once you find the solutions and move past the hurdles.

2. Be prepared

If anyone has told you that you don’t need to prepare anything and it’ll all come to you naturally – they’re wrong. We can all do with a little bit of preparation so we’re not caught off-guard by any situation that may come up. Read up about sexual intercourse, methods of protection, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual organs and erogenous zones. Then, make sure you have everything you could need like condoms and lubricants. You can pick a few kinds at any drug store if you’re not sure what’ll work best – order them online or ask a friend to go with you if you’re nervous.

3. Understand consent

The most important part about having sex — the first time, last time or any time in between — is consent. It should be verbal and enthusiastic; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There will be some people who will try to downplay it or joke about it. Reconsider your decision if you feel unsafe at any point. No means no, stop means stop – make sure your partner understands and respects that.

4. Establish trust

You might think you’re going to be with your partner for the rest of your life or you might know that having sex with them will be a one-time thing only. When it comes to your physical and mental health, though, knowing that you can trust this person may make the experience a lot better and safer for you. You don’t owe them anything but one detail about your sexual history – when was the last time you got tested for sexually transmitted diseases, if you’ve tested positive for any of them, and if you’ve been treated for it. You should also ask your partner the same things. Whether you want to tell them about it being your first time is totally your call – it can help them be extra careful though and they may not be shocked in case of any bleeding (which may or may not happen). Talk to them about what their expectations are, put yours forward as well. Make sure you’re on the same page.

5. Have fun with foreplay

You may be nervous and just want to get your first time over with, but take your time with foreplay. Women can take some time to get aroused, which leads to the vagina naturally lubricating itself. Your first time will go a lot smoother if there is enough lubrication. Without lubrication, you might experience discomfort and pain and it could even cause small cut or tears in the vagina because of friction.

6. Don’t try any acrobatics

You may be tempted to try and impress your partner with some sexy positions and tricks – and if you’re extremely flexible and fit, they might even come easily to you. But you won’t know how it’ll really feel until you try it and it’s safer to take it one step at a time when it comes to exploring with sex. The first time is never the best – but it gets better without having to go to extremes.

7. Remember hygiene

It’s a good idea to cut your nails beforehand. Wash your hands properly before you start. Use a new condom for every sexual activity, even if you don’t ejaculate. Women should pee before and immediately after sex to reduce the chances of urinary tract infections – cuddling can be postponed by a minute. Men should wait 15 minutes after intercourse to urinate. Clean up any body fluids with a wet towel or tissue once you’re done.

And the most important tip – have fun!

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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India on tail of 3rd wave to gradually move towards endemic said AIIMS chief

by Medically Speaking February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

New Delhi , As COVID-19 instances continue to fall below 20,000, Randeep Guleria, Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, warned on Friday that the country is now experiencing the ‘tail’ of the third wave, but that it will eventually reach endemic status.

According to Guleria, who spoke exclusively to ANI, “The number of COVID-19 instances in India is decreasing. We will eventually reach a point where it will become endemic, but I believe we are still in the tail end of the third wave.”

A disease outbreak is endemic when it is consistently present but limited to a particular region. A pandemic is declared when the disease is spread across various countries, as per the World Health Organisation data.

Dr Guleria also urged the people to follow the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

“We must be cautious over the appropriate behaviour which is very important. People must follow the guidelines which are from the Government of India,” he said.

He further explained the importance of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

“For those who have not caught themselves vaccinated, I would like to reassure them once more that please come get yourself vaccinated. Don’t be worried about what social media says about the side effects vaccines are safe. They will also protect you from severe disease hospitalisation and death. If you have to take your second dose, do please come forward.”

Dr Guleria’s remarks came while attending a mega blood donation camp organised by AIIMS this time.

India registered as many as 13,166 fresh COVID-19 infections with a positivity rate of 1.28 per cent and 302 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Friday. The ministry informed that about 176.86 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive to fight against the virus.

On February 24, India reported 14,148 fresh COVID-19 cases. On February 23, India reported as many as 15,102 fresh COVID-19 infections.

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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COVID Vaccine hesitancy worldwide phenomenon, bat for educating people, said experts

by Medically Speaking February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Vaccine apprehension is a global problem, scientists said on Friday, and people’s fears must be allayed by telling them that immunizations are extremely protective.

Speaking at Asia Economic Dialogue, a geo-economic conference organised by Pune International Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs on ‘India’s Contribution in Reducing Global Vaccine Inequity,’ these experts called for increased government engagement with vaccine manufacturers as well as civil society involvement in educating communities about the importance of vaccination.

While Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of Epidemiology, ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) chaired the discussion, participants included Dr Stanley Plotkin, Emeritus Professor at University of Pennsylvania and Adjunct Professor, John Hopkins University, Dr Umesh Shaligram, Director (R&D), Serum Institute of India, Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Ltd. and eminent virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang.

Lauding India’s position as the world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer as well as a major supplier of doses to the world, Dr Plotkin said research of 20-odd years helped develop vaccines against COVID-19 in a short period of time.

“Indian vaccine producers reacted rapidly to the need to develop and make available the vaccine but what is noteworthy is that the regulatory authorities demonstrated the capability to process huge amount of data and give the necessary clearances,” said Dr Plotkin.

Dr Kang said there was a need to reduce the gap between variant-specific vaccines and a variant proof vaccine that will be broadly protective. She said vaccination is as important as developing vaccines and, in addition to government efforts, involving civil society in the drive can fetch greater results.

“The pandemic has led to a greater trust of government in vaccine manufacturers and it is now open to working with manufacturers.

India should create a strong network for clinical trials, which can be used for fast recruitment of patients for trials in a short time,” Dr Kang said. Dr Shaligram of Serum Institute said the vaccine supplied by them was very cost-effective and saved millions of lives, adding it was receiving approvals for its vaccine from more countries.

“We are now engaged in adopting new technologies in a short time,” he said.

Dr Ella of Bharat Biotech said nature has been giving signals about possible threats in future and all should be prepared to work on five or six predictable diseases so that vaccines to treat them can be produced in a very short time.

“India took lead in creating huge capacities for producing COVID-19 vaccine but has to think about how these capacities will be utilized once the pandemic’s pressure reduces,” he said.

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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Women with Migraine may have high risk of pregnancy related complications

by Medically Speaking Team February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to a preliminary study released today, February 24, 2022, women with migraine may have a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm delivery, gestational high blood pressure, and preeclampsia. The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 74th Annual Meeting, which will be held in person in Seattle from April 2 to 7, 2022 and virtually from April 24 to 26, 2022. Women who have migraines with aura may have a slightly increased risk of preeclampsia than women who do not have migraines with aura, according to the researchers. Auras are pre-headache symptoms, usually visual disturbances such as flashing lights. Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and is characterised by high blood pressure and other symptoms such as protein in the urine. It poses a risk to both the mother and the baby’s lives.

“Roughly 20% of women of childbearing age experience migraine, but the impact of migraine on pregnancy outcomes has not been well understood,” said study author Alexandra Purdue-Smithe, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Our large prospective study found links between migraine and pregnancy complications that could help inform doctors and women with migraine of potential risks they should be aware of during pregnancy.”

For the study, researchers looked at more than 30,000 pregnancies in roughly 19,000 women over a 20-year period. Of those pregnancies, 11% of the women reported that they were diagnosed by a doctor with migraine before pregnancy.

Researchers examined women’s complications during pregnancy such as preterm delivery, defined as a baby born before 37 weeks gestation, gestational diabetes, gestational high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and low birthweight.

After adjusting for age, obesity, and other behavioral and health factors that could affect the risk of complications, researchers found that when compared to women without migraine, women with migraine had a 17% higher risk of preterm delivery, a 28% higher risk of gestational high blood pressure, and a 40% higher risk of preeclampsia. Of the 3,881 pregnancies among women with migraine, 10% were delivered preterm, compared to 8% of the pregnancies among women without migraine. For gestational high blood pressure, 7% of pregnancies among women with migraine developed this condition compared to 5% among pregnancies in women without migraine. For preeclampsia, 6% of pregnancies among women with migraine experienced it, compared to 3% of pregnancies among women who did not have migraine.

In addition, when looking at migraine with and without aura, women who had migraine with aura were 51% more likely to develop preeclampsia during pregnancy than women without migraine, while those who had migraine without aura were 29% more likely.

Researchers found that migraine was not associated with gestational diabetes or low birthweight.

“While the risks of these complications are still quite low overall, women with a history of migraine should be aware of and consult with their doctor on potential pregnancy risks,” said Purdue-Smithe. “More research is needed to determine exactly why migraine may be associated with higher risks of complications. In the meantime, women with migraine may benefit from closer monitoring during pregnancy so that complications like preeclampsia can be identified and managed as soon as possible.”

Source: American Academy of Neurology

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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Modifying FDA-approved drugs may help fight Covid-19

by Medically Speaking Team February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

Several FDA-approved drugs — including for type 2 diabetes, hepatitis C and HIV — significantly reduce the ability of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 to replicate in human cells, according to new research led by scientists at Penn State. Specifically, the team found that these drugs inhibit certain viral enzymes, called proteases, that are essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected human cells.

“The SARS-CoV-2 vaccines target the spike protein, but this protein is under strong selection pressure and, as we have seen with Omicron, can undergo significant mutations,” said Joyce Jose, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Penn State. “There remains an urgent need for SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic agents that target parts of the virus other than the spike protein that are not as likely to evolve.”

Previous research has demonstrated that two SARS-CoV-2 enzymes — proteases including Mpro and PLpro — are promising targets for antiviral drug development. Pfizer’s COVID-19 therapy Paxlovid, for example, targets Mpro. According to Jose, these enzymes are relatively stable; therefore, they are unlikely to develop drug-resistant mutations rapidly.

Katsuhiko Murakami, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Penn State, noted that these virus proteases, because of their capabilities to cleave, or cut, proteins, are essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells.

“SARS-CoV-2 produces long proteins, called polyproteins, from its RNA genome that must be cleaved into individual proteins by these proteases in an ordered fashion leading to the formation of functional virus enzymes and proteins to start virus replication once it enters a cell,” Murakami explained. “If you inhibit one of these proteases, further spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the infected person could be stopped.”

The findings published today (Feb. 25) in the journal Communications Biology.

The team designed an assay to rapidly identify inhibitors of the Mpro and PLpro proteases in live human cells.

“Although other assays are available, we designed our novel assay so it could be conducted in live cells, which enabled us to simultaneously measure the toxicity of the inhibitors to human cells,” said Jose.

The researchers used their assay to test a library of 64 compounds — including inhibitors of HIV and hepatitis C proteases; cysteine proteases, which occur in certain protozoan parasites; and dipeptidyl peptidase, a human enzyme involved in type 2 diabetes — for their ability to inhibit Mpro or PLpro. From the 64 compounds, the team identified eleven that affected Mpro activity and five that affected PLpro activity based on a cut-off of 50% reduction in protease activity with 90% cell viability.

Anoop Narayanan, associate research professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, monitored the activity of the compounds using live confocal microscopy.

“We designed the experiment so that if the compound was affecting the proteases, you would see fluorescence in certain areas of the cell,” said Narayanan.

Next, the team evaluated the antiviral activity of the 16 PLpro and Mpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 viruses in live human cells in a BSL-3 facility, the Eva J. Pell ABSL-3 Laboratory for Advanced Biological Research at Penn State, and discovered that eight of them had dose-dependent antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, they found that Sitagliptin and Daclatasvir inhibit PLpro, and MG-101, Lycorine HCl and Nelfinavir mesylate inhibit Mpro. Of these, the team found that MG-101 also hindered the virus’s ability to infect cells by inhibiting protease processing of the spike protein.

“We found that when the cells were pretreated with the selected inhibitors, only MG-101 affected the virus’s entry into cells,” said Narayanan.

In addition, the researchers found that treating cells with a combination of Mpro and PLpro inhibitors had an additive antiviral effect, providing even greater inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication.

“In cell culture, we showed that if you combine Mpro and PLpro inhibitors, you have a stronger effect on the virus without increasing toxicity,” said Jose. “This combination inhibition is highly potent.”

To investigate the mechanism by which MG-101 inhibits the activity of Mpro protease, the scientists, including Manju Narwal, postdoctoral scholar in biochemistry and molecular biology, used X-ray crystallography to obtain a high-resolution structure of MG-101 in complex with Mpro.

“We were able to see how MG-101 was interacting with the active site of Mpro,” said Narwal. “This inhibitor mimics the polyprotein and binds in a similar manner to the protease, thereby blocking the protease from binding to and cutting the polyprotein, which is an essential step in the virus’s replication.”

Murakami added, “By understanding how the MG-101 compound binds to the active site, we can design new compounds that may be even more effective.”

Indeed, the team is in the process of designing new compounds based on the structures they determined by X-ray crystallography. They also plan to test the combination drugs that they already demonstrated to be effective in vitro in mice.

Although the scientists studied the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, they said the drugs will likely be effective against Omicron and future variants because they target parts of the virus that are unlikely to mutate significantly.

“The development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against a wide range of coronaviruses is the ultimate treatment strategy for circulating and emerging coronavirus infections,” said Jose. “Our research shows that repurposing certain FDA-approved drugs that demonstrate effectiveness at inhibiting the activities of Mpro and PLpro may be a useful strategy in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.”

Source: Penn State

February 26, 2022 0 comment

Kids Uncategorized

Scientists identify drug to treat serious Covid complications in kids

by Medically Speaking Team February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

In comparison to Moderna, people who received the Janssen vaccination had a greater risk of developing a serious breakthrough infection.

The researchers looked at data from roughly 50,000 hospital admissions between April and November of 2021 for the study.

MIS-C leads to high fevers and a hyperinflammatory response that can affect multiple organs, including the heart, brain and gastrointestinal organs, they said.

A previous study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in the US showed that in cases of MIS-C, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can remain in the gut for weeks to months after the infection.

When SARS-CoV-2 is present in the gut, an impaired mucosal barrier can allow small viral particles, such as the spike protein, to enter the bloodstream, leading to infections such as COVID-19 and in rare cases, the hyperinflammatory response that triggers MIS-C.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses the spike protein to enter and infect the cells.

“Working collaboratively, we have been able to demonstrate that viral particles that remain in the gut long after COVID-19 infection can instigate MIS-C,” said David Walt, senior author of the study published in the journal Critical Care Explorations.

“Building on this important discovery, we wanted to see if treatment with a drug developed for another condition — celiac disease — could help resolve symptoms in children experiencing MIS-C, said Walt.

The team administered the drug larazotide acetate to four extremely ill children ages 3 to 17 being treated for MIS-C.

The study shows that larazotide decreases the release of zonulin, a molecule that can lead to increased gut permeability and an impaired mucosal barrier, a layer of thick mucus in the gut.

The researchers compared the clinical outcomes of the four children who received larazotide plus steroids and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) to 22 children who received only steroids and IVIG.

The children who received four daily oral doses of larazotide acetate had a significantly faster resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms and a slightly shorter hospital stay, they said.

The study also found that serum levels of the spike protein dropped much more quickly in children treated with larazotide, clearing from the blood within one day, versus 10 days for children not treated with the drug.

“These findings suggest that larazotide may provide a safe and beneficial adjuvant therapy for the treatment of MIS-C,” the researchers said.

“Expansion of clinical trials is urgently needed to ascertain the clinical impact of larazotide on MIS-C,” they added.

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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Covid vaccine efficacy wanes after 6 months without booster shot, study suggests

by Medically Speaking Team February 26, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to a new study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccination may diminish significantly after six months if booster doses are not received.

According to the study, immunizations were 94% effective at avoiding hospitalisation 50-100 days after being given the shot, but only 80.4 percent effective 200-250 days later, with even faster reductions after 250 days.

“This data helps us understand differences in waning protection by vaccine type and identify the key risk factors for severe breakthrough infections to help inform the targeting of potential vaccine booster programmes,” said Amy Compton-Phillips, Providence chief clinical officer.

“Unlike most other studies, our data stretched beyond six months, where we found evidence of rapidly waning protection, especially for patients 80 or older,” Compton-Phillips added.

In addition to examining the effectiveness of vaccines over time, the Providence study was also able to identify factors associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness.

Key risk factors for a severe “breakthrough” infection included advanced age (80+), comorbidities such as cancer, transplants, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, or heart failure, the amount of time that had elapsed since being vaccinated, and the type of vaccine one received.

For the latter factor, the study found that the Moderna vaccine offered the best overall protection over time, while the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine offered initial protection equivalent to Moderna’s but declined more rapidly over time.

Persons receiving the Janssen vaccine also had higher odds of experiencing a severe breakthrough infection compared to Moderna.

For the study, the research team examined data from nearly 50,000 hospital admissions between April and November of 2021.

February 26, 2022 0 comment

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