Coronaviruses not only use the machinery of the human cells they infect: they modify it to achieve optimal conditions to produce viral proteins and thus spread more quickly. This is the main conclusion of a study by Pompeu Fabra University published in Nature Communications. The study identifies enzymes that modify transfer RNAs (tRNAs) –small cellular … Read more
Even at pharmacological doses that flood the colon but barely enter the bloodstream, curcumin’s effects on the gut microbiome proved temporary, highlighting the remarkable resilience of the human microbial ecosystem. Study: Effect of curcumin on the gut microbiota of patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and healthy participants. Image Credit: Faizal Ramli / Shutterstock In … Read more
Four years after ICU admission, mortality remains strikingly high in ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients, and many survivors continue to struggle with fatigue, insomnia, functional decline, and reduced quality of life. Study: Four year mortality and quality of life after ICU treatment for COVID 19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Image Credit: Design_Cells / Shutterstock In … Read more
Even a mild case of COVID-19 or the flu can impact the body long after the fever and cough fade, according to new Tulane University research that may help explain why some people struggle to feel fully recovered weeks or months later. Tulane researchers found that while both viruses can leave lasting lung damage, only … Read more
In a significant step forward for mucosal immunity, Aptar Pharma has announced that its innovative nasal delivery systems are being utilized in CastleVax’s Phase II clinical trial for CVAX-01, an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, which aims to provide a more robust immune … Read more
Large international cohort data reveal that excess body fat may increase susceptibility to severe infections and substantially contribute to global infection mortality, underscoring prevention as a major public health priority. Study: Adult obesity and risk of severe infections: a multicohort study with global burden estimates. Image Credit: rangizzz / Shutterstock In a recent study published … Read more
A novel nasal booster approach may help close the gap between systemic vaccination and infection-blocking mucosal immunity, offering fresh insight into next-generation COVID vaccine strategies. Study: Intranasal booster drives class switching and homing of memory B cells for mucosal IgA response. Image Credit: Jo Panuwat D / Shutterstock Current intramuscular vaccines excel at eliciting blood-based … Read more
Trauma patients urgently requiring a breathing tube are more likely to survive if the tube is inserted before arriving at hospital compared to insertion afterwards, suggests a modeling study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the Severn Major Trauma Network. The researchers found that prehospital emergency intubation of high-risk trauma patients could … Read more
A new randomized trial shows that short bursts of supervised high-intensity exercise may retrain the brain’s fear response to bodily sensations, offering a scalable and engaging new therapeutic pathway for people with panic disorder. Study: Brief intermittent intense exercise as interoceptive exposure for panic disorder: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Image credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com Interoceptive exposure … Read more
By replacing both breathing and circulatory buffering, a novel artificial lung bought critical time after lung removal, revealed irreversible damage, and made transplantation possible when no other options remained. Study: Bridge to transplant using a flow-adaptive extracorporeal total artificial lung system following bilateral pneumonectomy. Image Credit: AbirArt007 / Shutterstock.com A recent case report published in Med … Read more