New Delhi: The past year has brought anomalous changes to ones’ life; the morbid waves of COVID and the quarantine which came alongside it. Although people have been extremely cautious about their surroundings, there are other issues that crop up. Skin is the uppermost layer of a person’s body and is exposed to many things on a day-to-day basis. The modifications that the pandemic has produced enable a person to wear masks and go through stress-generating experiences.

Although hair fall has nothing to do with COVID symptoms, the physical and emotional stress that accompanies a case of COVID-19 could be an explanation. Telogen Effluvium (TE) is a reversible condition caused by stress that occurs after a few months of an initial trigger of stress. These triggers include emotional distress, major surgery, high fever, an acute illness (like COVID-19), or even stress-related to quarantining.

When a person’s body is under emotional or physical stress, it goes into survival mode. The body only focuses on the essential parts needed for survival. Hair, being a non-essential part of the body, doesn’t get as much nutrition, and this leads to hair loss. The best treatment for this state is the correction of the underlying cause, focusing on managing stress and leading a healthy lifestyle.

If one is a smoker, considering quitting the cigarette is a great step towards a healthy way of life. When a person experiences hair loss that: comes on suddenly, causes hair to fall out in clumps, leads to bald patches, and is accompanied by scalp itching or pain; they must consult a dermatologist and get the reason for their hair fall diagnosed.

Maskne is a common occurrence with COVID and it stays put after. Acne caused or multiplied by wearing masks comes under Maskne. There are various types of Maskne, the most common ones that appear are ‘acne mechanica’, caused by the friction and precipitation trapped underneath the mask, leading to pore clogging and bacterial growth resulting in pimples. Regular acne treatments help in this; however, acne creams dry out the skin and one must use a moisturizer to keep the skin barrier intact.

Rosacea is a skin issue that could flare-up with mask usage. Wearing a cotton mask underneath the regular mask is always advised to avoid unnecessary friction. Fragrance-free moisturisers and sunscreen are recommended to avoid irritation due to the presence of alcohol. For people with sensitive skin, the material of the mask is important, allergy towards the material can lead to dermatitis. While dermatologists prescribe a steroid cream to calm the inflammation, the cotton mask underneath the regular mask could be useful. In the case of Folliculitis where the mask disturbs facial hair follicles, antibiotic creams work well.

When taking care of these issues, the face should be washed thrice a day with lukewarm water after which the skin must be dried by patting the face. A non-comedogenic moisturizer should be selected to avoid pore-clogging. An oil-free and water-based, gel moisturizer should be used by individuals with oily to combination skin. Those with dry skin should use a cream moisturizer with ingredients such as ceramides.

People with normal skin can use a lotion-based moisturizer. Wearing sunscreen is the final step to complete morning skincare. It’s necessary to choose sunscreens’ carefully as masks provide only SPF 7 while Indian skin needs at least an SPF 30 in the daytime. Those with oily to combination skin could use a matte finish sunscreen that includes gel or silicone-based. A lotion-based sunscreen for normal skin works well, and for those with dry skin, moisturizing sunscreens that are again lotion or cream-based are advised.

Makeup products that are non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic must be preferred if avoiding makeup is not probable. It is significant to wash the mask with a gentle detergent or toss it if disposable after each use. Wearing a face mask that fits comfortably, but isn’t too tight and has three layers of fabric is necessary; if the mask is not correct, touching the face more often to fix the mask leads to increased chances of contamination.

Masks made of synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or rayon should be avoided as these materials can irritate the skin. For those with sensitive skin, masks made of natural, soft fabric (like cotton) should be worn under a regular mask.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that after every four hours of non-stop wearing a mask, a 15-minute break for the skin is needed while maintaining social distancing. Although it’s imperative to wash hands before taking a mask break. A person can’t avoid social contact entirely due to innumerable reasons, even though quarantine is the best way out of such a situation, here masks and sanitizers play a very crucial role to help flatten the curve and to stay protected. The best way to protect oneself and those around from COVID-19 is by keeping the mouth and nose covered.

If stress causes hair fall and skin issues, which in turn causes more stress, visit the dermatologist who could solve all the problems.

New Delhi: Arthritis affects more than 180 million people in India and around 14 percent of the Indians every year consult a doctor for the disease, according to an analysis done by SRL Diagnostics in 2014.

Arthritis majorly affects the aging population as the knees get worn out due to the continuous movement of the bones. A person with the average stride living until 80 years will walk a distance of around 110,000 miles, which is the equivalent of walking about 5 times around the Earth, right on the equator, so over a period of time developing knee ailments is not uncommon.

The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis.

“Although there are many types of arthritis, most knee pain is caused by just three types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis,” shares Dr Narayan Hulse, Director – Department of Orthopedics, Bone and Joint Surgery, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru.

Explaining these 3 most common arthritis types, he shares:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a situation where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. This is seen in millions of people worldwide. The medical treatment that many orthopedics suggest is to go for knee replacement surgery. Of course, this comes as the last resort solution after regular physiotherapy and medications.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This is a disease in which the synovial membrane that surrounds the joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of a group of disorders termed “inflammatory arthritis.” This disease can affect even younger individuals and involve many joints like hands and feet. It is a type of autoimmune disease where misdirected immune cells damage our organs, for example, joints.

Post-traumatic arthritis

A severe knee injury causes this. Fractures of the bones surrounding the knee or tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, causing knee pain and limiting knee function.

Once I discovered the knee problem, what do I do next?

“In determining whether a knee replacement is suitable for someone, an orthopedic surgeon assesses the knee’s range of motion, stability, and you may require an x-ray,” says Dr Hulse.

“However, the decision for a knee replacement depends on your age, how painful your knee is, limitations of your daily activities due to knee pain and your willingness to undergo surgery,” he further adds.

What are some of the reasons recommended for surgery?

· Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs

· Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night

· Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications

· Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of the knee

· Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries.

When these symptoms start interfering in your daily life, a knee replacement may be recommended. Your general health and fitness to undergo anesthesia will be assessed with medical tests and images before surgery.

In recent times, knee replacement has been commonly observed in our society. Other than the elderly increasing number of young individuals are also opting for knee replacements. The advanced technologies in medical sciences have paved the way to a better quality of life for these individuals lasting about two decades on average.

New Delhi: Though the coronavirus crisis situation in India has significantly improved in recent weeks but the danger is far from over. India has recorded 45,892 new cases and 817 deaths in the past 24 hours. With this, the total case count has reached 3,07,09,557.

There are talks about the latest and highly transmissible Lambda variant that can wreak havoc if the situation is not monitored closely. However, in relief-bringing news, it’s been reported that the Lambda variant hasn’t been found in India so far. 

Here’s everything we know so far about the variant which originated in Peru and has been detected in 30 countries.

–The newly found Lambda variant in South America has been designated as the ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organisation.

–Public Health England has also designated the Lambda (C.37) variant as a ‘variant under investigation (VUI)’.

–The Lambda variant has been detected by South American scientists in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina.  The experts are saying that the Lambda variant has shown multiple mutations in spike protein.

–The main symptoms of this variant are high temperature, continuous cough, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

–There is a possibility that most people with COVID symptoms will have at least one of these symptoms.

–As one in three people with COVID does not experience symptoms, everyone is advised to get tested regularly to prevent infection.

–Four variants are listed as ‘variants of concern’ by the WHO.

–Variants of concern on the WHO watchlist include the Alpha variant first detected in the UK. Also on the variant of concern list is the Beta variant first detected in South Africa, the Gamma variant first detected in Brazil and the Delta variant first detected in India.

New Delhi: While generation Z and millennials clearly understand ‘consent’ as a prerequisite for engaging in sexual activity, both fear being judged for their thoughts when talking about sex in a serious relationship, according to a survey released on Monday.

It indicates that 59 percent of the otherwise progressive Gen Z — aged between 18 and 24 years — feel shy initiating conversations around sex in a serious relationship.

The survey conducted by dating platform TrulyMadly assessed the understanding of physical and sexual well-being among young adults — 2,500 in the age group of 18 to 35 years across metros and non-metro cities.

The fear of being judged also emerged as a common factor among millennials, with 53 percent indicating that they feel shy or awkward talking about sex in a serious relationship.

The taboo is more pronounced among women with 63 percent indicating that they feel shy. Interestingly, despite the taboos they face, 76 percent of women appeared to be more confident in purchasing condoms on behalf of their partners.

Further, nearly 50 percent of the younger respondents from non-metro cities such as Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur, and Lucknow, noted they do not understand the implications of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) and Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs), while around 55 percent of the respondents stated that they would depend on their friends, use the internet for home remedies or seek a medical opinion by themselves regarding any sexual or reproductive disease or infection.

“Inspite of being progressive on most social issues, the younger generation continues to feel stigmatised when it comes to talking about sex in a relationship,” said Snehil Khanor, Co-founder and CEO at TrulyMadly, in a statement.

The findings highlight the importance of a non-discriminatory and respectful platform for access to the right knowledge on sexual, reproductive health and well-being for the younger generation. The company has launched a ‘Safe Love’ programme, which since last year is breaking barriers and making it easier for people to open up and be comfortable about their sexual health and well-being.

“In the long term, we hope this innovation will lead to a tangible increase in demand for quality reproductive and sexual health services and also free up the younger generation of societal overhangs which may come in the way of having meaningful relationships,” Khanor said.

London: Patients with a wide range of cancers, taking aspirin as part of their treatment, could help to reduce their risk of death by 20 percent, a major review of existing research has suggested.

Academics at Cardiff University carried out a systematic review of 118 published observational studies in patients with 18 different cancers.

They pooled the results and found that in a total of nearly 2,50,000 patients with cancer, who reported taking aspirin, this was associated with a reduction of nearly 20 percent in cancer deaths.

The review said the available body of evidence on its efficacy and safety “justifies its use” as a supplementary treatment in a wide range of cancers and patients should be informed of this.

Their review is published in the open access journal ecancermedicalscience.

“In recent years, my research team and I have been struck by the actions of aspirin on the biological mechanisms relevant to cancer — and these seem to be the same in many different cancers,” said lead author Peter Elwood, Professor at the varsity.

“Overall, we found that at any time after a diagnosis of cancer, nearly 20 percent more of the patients who took aspirin were alive, compared with patients not taking aspirin,” he added

The team also considered the risks of aspirin — a small number of patients had experienced a bleed, but there was no evidence of any excess deaths attributable to bleeding in the patients on aspirin, the review said.

“Our research suggests that not only does aspirin help to cut risk of death but it has also been shown to reduce the spread of cancer within the body — so-called metastatic spread,” Elwood added.

The team said there is now a considerable body of evidence to suggest a significant reduction in mortality in patients with cancer who take aspirin — and that benefit appears to not be restricted to one or a few cancers.

“Aspirin, therefore, appears to deserve serious consideration as an adjuvant treatment of cancer and patients with cancer and their carriers should be informed of the available evidence,” Elwood added.

“However, we must also stress that aspirin is not a possible alternative to any other treatment,” he noted.

New Delhi: COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the world. Apart from the catastrophe caused by the disease itself, it has also severely impacted patients with other diseases and governments health and welfare measures.

While we are trying to speed up the process of vaccinating our massive population against COVID-19, there has been a drop in regular vaccine coverage of the population due to the ongoing pandemic.

“India’s routine immunization program reaches approximately 27 million infants and children under the age of five and 29 million pregnant women with 12 preventative vaccines via nine million immunization appointments. In the last year, however, the coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, impacting immunization programs everywhere,” shared Deepak Kapur, Chairman, Rotary International’s India National PolioPlus Committee.

He further added, “The Ministry of Health announced immunization as an essential health service and released operational guidelines in mid-April 2020 that guided states on how to conduct vaccination sessions with enhanced safety precautions. Even so, routine immunization coverage and supplementary immunization coverage has been sub-optimal in the last year over fears surrounding COVID-19.”

IMPACT OF MISSING IMMUNIZATION

Missing vaccination for life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, polio, measles-rubella etc., can make people more susceptible of diseases, thus impacting the overall healthcare of the population and further burdening the already stressed medical fraternity.

“Missed vaccinations allow children to become vulnerable to preventable diseases and so it is crucial to administer vaccines as per the recommended schedules for each child to keep infectious diseases at bay,” say Kapur.

He urges parents to get their kids vaccinated. “If a child’s vaccination dosage has been delayed or interrupted, the schedule can be resumed without repeating previous doses. Parents are advised to keep their children’s vaccination records up to date and are encouraged to ensure their children receive scheduled vaccinations whenever possible.”

New Delhi: Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful experiences of a woman’s life. It is a time when a woman is overwhelmed with different emotions — happiness, excitement, anxiety — all at the same time. During this phase, a woman can also experience frequent mood swings, thanks to the hormonal changes taking place in the body. Fatigue and discomfort too, become permanent companions owing to the physical changes occurring.

Yoga offers holistic benefits to expecting women helping them to keep the body healthy and mind, calm and relaxed. Yoga prepares women for labour and delivery as well as assists them in recovering better post-delivery. Rajeev Rajesh, Chief Yoga Officer, Jindal Naturecure Institute, shares five yoga asanas that can bring multiple benefits to pregnant women.

Triyaka Tadasana

How to do: Stand erect and keep the feet a little wide apart. Interlock the fingers, raise the hands up and turn the palms upward. Take a deep breath. While breathing out, bend from the waist to the right, keeping the elbows straight and feet firmly on the ground. Hold the posture and breathe normally. Feel the stretch on the sides. While inhaling, gently come back to the original position. Repeat on the other side.

Benefits: This asana stretches the waistline and improves the flexibility of the spine. It provides relief in back pain and constipation, a common problem during pregnancy.

Virabhadrasana

How to do: Standing erect and spread the legs 3-4 feet apart. Turn the right foot 90 degrees outwards and the left foot by 15e inward. While inhaling, raise the arms sideways so that they are parallel to the ground and in line with the shoulders. While exhaling, bend the right knee and turn your gaze towards the right. Gently push down on the pelvis and maintain this position with normal breathing. Inhale and gently come up and while exhaling, bringing the hands to the sides. Repeat on the other side.

Benefits: It helps develop balance, releases stress from the arms and shoulders and relaxes the mind and the body. It is also an excellent asana to strengthen the lower back, legs and arms.

Marjariasana

How to do: Stand on the knees and keep them a little apart. Bend forward and place the palms below the shoulders and in front of the knees on the ground. While inhaling, lift the head up and push the lower back down. While exhaling, lift the back up and bend the head down. Repeat the practice ten times.

Benefits: This asana stretches the spine and makes it flexible. This helps support more weight during pregnancy. It also tones the abdominal organs and improves blood circulation.

Baddhakonasana

How to do: Sit straight with the legs stretched forward. Bend the knees and join the soles of the feet together. Interlock the fingers and hold the feet firmly. Bring the heels close to your genitals. Breathe in deeply. Keep the elbows on the thighs. While exhaling, gently press the thighs and knees down towards the floor and then allow it to move up.

Benefits: This asana gives a good stretch to the inner thighs and pelvic area. This helps improve the flexibility and strength of the pelvic and hip region. If practiced regularly, it will facilitate a smooth delivery.

Shavasana

How to do: Lie down straight on the back. Keep the legs slightly apart and hands slightly away from the body. Turn the palms up. Gently close the eyes and relax the body completely. Keep breathing gently and slowly. Do not allow any thoughts to come into your mind. Stay in this position for 10 minutes.

Benefits: The asana helps to achieve a deep, meditative state that fosters the repair of tissues and cells, relieving stress. It is also a good practice to reduce blood pressure, insomnia and anxiety.

Finally, a word of advice: It is crucial for pregnant women to remember that they should not indulge in asanas that require them to lie flat on the stomach. Also, inverted and forward bending asanas must be avoided as they might put pressure on the abdomen. Always Practice yoga asanas under the supervision of expert.

New Delhi: When was the last time you ran after a bus or chased through the crowd to board a metro on your way to work? When did you last get to sit by the balcony at leisure and bask in the morning sun without having to worry about missing a Zoom call? These might seem like non-threatening changes in your life, compared to the other major changes imposed by the incessant lockdowns owing to the pandemic, but they could have a long-term adverse effect on the body and mind in the form of a Vitamin D deficiency.

Forced to stay indoors, people have become lethargic, put on weight, and developed various Vitamin deficiencies. With bare minimum exposure to sunlight, the main source of Vitamin D, we are risking our bone health and immune system. Vitamin D helps the body to function well by making the bones healthy, and strengthening the immune system; it is also known to prevent cancers, says celebrity nutritionist and founder of ‘Fat To Slim’, Sikha A. Sharma.

She explains the vitamin D deficiency in detail:

Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a vital role in our body by keeping one away from health issues like heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, bacterial infections, immunity disorder, rapid-ageing, some types of cancers and multiple sclerosis.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency

Initially, Vitamin D deficiency does not show any notable symptoms, but acute deficiency may cause muscle cramps, backache, fatigue and depression and sleep disorder among several other disorders.

Getting enough Vitamin D when homebound

Sun exposure is the best source of Vitamin D. One must try to soak in the early morning at least twice a week for about 15 to 20 minutes.

There are various food items rich in vitamin D like — cod liver oil, coriander, orange, yoghurt, cheese, garlic, dark chocolate, black mustard seeds, mushrooms, turmeric, and Kashmiri garlic — which can help one boost their immunity naturally.

One can also take Vitamin D supplements available at medical stores, however, it is advisable to consult a physician before consuming medical supplements.

Consumption of Vitamin D rich foods

Have two cloves of garlic or 4-5 cloves of Kashmiri garlic early in the morning on an empty stomach, and after dinner.

A tiny bit of dark chocolate once a day is also a good source of Vitamin D.

Having mushrooms once a week will help balance vitamin D levels in one’s body. One should try and include bajra or ragi roti in meals as well, to quicken the process of upping the vitamin level.

Consumption of black mustard seeds and half a tablespoon of turmeric powder are helpful to boost vitamin D levels.

Can too much Vitamin D be harmful?

Strangely enough, one cannot get too much Vitamin D from the sun but can overdo the supplements causing various problems. Vitamin D toxicity is, thankfully, quite rare but it can lead to hypercalcemia symptoms of which are: nausea, increased thirst and urination, and poor appetite.

Fret not, and try to lead a more natural way of life by eating seasonal foods and home-cooked meals, and being active in day-to-day life. These simple practices will keep the body and mind fit.

Mumbai: The difficult time of pandemic has once again reminded us of the unconditional & selfless sacrifices made by the doctors and the healthcare professionals in keeping us healthy & safe. This year is once again dedicated to those doctors and healthcare professionals who are serving in these difficult times by risking their lives either in primary as well as secondary healthcare centres. So it’s a great time to recognise the significance of these health professionals and pay tribute to their contributions.

On this auspicious National Doctor’s day the Water Kingdom, EsselWorld & EsselWorld Bird Park greets all the doctors and healthcare professionals in a very special way by creating thanksgiving posters in a Bollywood style. 

The campaign reaches out to all the doctors and health professionals via social media which not only thanks them but also bring a smile to their faces during these tough times.

“In honour of this noble profession, Doctor’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world. In India, it’s celebrated on 1st July every year to pay homage to their unforgettable contribution in the field of medicine. Doctor’s are at great risk as they tirelessly work during the life of their patients. They are like our soldiers, scarifying their life so that we can stay fit, healthy and happy with our family. In return, we stand and bow down to express our gratitude towards them in a very unique manner.” 

Mr Paresh Mishra, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, EsselWorld & Water Kingdom.

 

New Delhi: National Doctors Day is celebrated each year in India on July 1. This day also marks the birth anniversary of the doctor, visionary and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr BC Roy, who greatly contributed towards the development of medical facilities in the country.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit us last year, the vital role of doctors and medical practitioners in our society has once again been reiterated.

“When COVID-19 was first reported in China, none of us knew the magnitude of the problem. We started seeing cases at our hospitals from February onwards. And by March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic; thereon, everything changed,” shares Dr Anil Heroor, Head-Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Mumbai.

Just like Dr Heroor, many other doctors have a similar experience to share. The pandemic changed lives so abruptly and especially their lives, as they were at the forefront of fighting the virus and saving lives, that they had little time to take out to process everything.

“All doctors are trained to deal with death, suffering and loss but this pandemic has tested the reserves of the most resilient ones. They have been working unrelentingly for more than a year now and most have been dealing with death on a daily basis,” tells Dr  Sapna Bangar, Psychiatrist and Head-Mpower The Centre, Mumbai.

“To have to deal with this on a daily basis on such a sustained level is taking its toll but most doctors do not seek help due to the stigma associated with mental health which adds to their burden,” added Dr Bangar.

PANDEMIC TAKES A TOLL ON MENTAL HEALTH OF DOCTORS

Dr Bangar further shares that the current situation requires doctors’ services constantly and that they don’t have time to let themselves pause or reflect on the loss of a patient as there are so many waiting in the queue for the coveted bed. 

A certain numbness at seeing so much misery is bound to happen along with physical and mental fatigue.

Sharing a personal anecdote of her friend, Dr Bangar continues, “A doctor friend told me that once she starts to reflect on her emotions, she was scared that she wouldn’t be able to stop her tears. So most doctors are working on a more physical level and not letting themselves ‘feel’ anything.”

However, patients and their physical and mental well-being have been a top priority of these heroes.

“The lessons which we have learned during the COVID is to support our patients throughout the treatment, to motivate them, to always keep their will high to fight against COVID,” says Dr Sahil Kapoor, Consultant, Family Physician, and Wellness Expert, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka.

He further added, “The patients come to us with a lot of fear of dying because of COVID, so it is our moral obligation to stand beside them and help them to cope up with the disease. Mental support is very necessary during these times.”

The act of putting their patients’ life and health before their own wellbeing is a humanitarian service for which we can never thank doctors enough. However, undertaking this immense responsibility and pressure and witnessing tragedy on a daily basis, has impacted both their physical and mental health deeply.

While many doctors have contracted the COVID-19 virus and died in the line of duty, many others have experienced burnout.

“Doctors are facing unprecedented stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, hopelessness and emotional fatigue. Some are resorting to alcohol use to numb the pain and sadly we have also lost a few to suicide,” reveals Dr  Bangar.

DOCTORS FAMILIES ALSO EXPERIENCE IMMENSE ANXIETY

However, it is not just doctors but also their families who are under great mental stress. The families have to worry about their doctor members not getting infected and/or spreading the infection to elderly parents or children. Some doctors have had to face stigma in their own resident complexes with families being ostracized.

While these trying times have made doctors stretch beyond their capacity to serve others, the lesson that this pandemic should teach us is to better invest in healthcare and medical infrastructure and research, so that we are better prepared for any such calamity in the future.

It is also vital to look beyond our own sufferings and empathize with the caregivers. It is important to show them respect and gratitude for their immeasurable services.

New York: US researchers have identified how multiple mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein independently create variants that are more transmissible and potentially resistant to antibodies.

By acquiring mutations on the spike protein, one such variant gained the ability to leap from humans to minks and back to humans. Other variants — including Alpha, which first appeared in the UK; Beta, which was first identified in South Africa; and Gamma, first identified in Brazil — independently developed spike mutations that enhanced their ability to spread rapidly in human populations and resist some antibodies.

The researchers have published their findings in Science.

“The spike on the surface of the virus helps SARS-CoV-2 enter into host cells,” said senior author Priyamvada Acharya, from Duke University’s Human Vaccine Institute.

“Changes on the spike protein determine the transmissibility of the virus — how far and quickly it spreads. Some variations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike are occurring at different times and different places throughout the world, but have similar results, and it’s important to understand the mechanics of these spike mutations as we work to fight this pandemic,” Acharya said.

The team developed structural models to identify changes in the virus’s spike protein. Cryo-electron microscopy allowed atomic level visualisation, while binding assays enabled the team to create mimics of the live virus that directly correlated with its function in host cells. From there, the team used computational analysis to build models that showed the structural mechanisms at work.

“By building a skeleton of the spike, we could see how the spike is moving, and how this movement changes with mutations,” said Rory Henderson from the varsity.

“The different variant spikes are not moving the same way, but they accomplish the same task. The variants first appearing in South Africa and Brazil use one mechanism, while the UK and the mink variants use another mechanism,” he added.

All the variants showed increased ability to bind to the host, notably via the ACE2 receptor. The changes also created viruses that were less susceptible to antibodies, raising concerns that continued accumulation of spike mutations may reduce the efficiency of current vaccines.

 

New Delhi: The monsoon season brings joy but also brings a number of diseases along with it. The monsoon results in water-borne diseases or backs the life cycle of organisms which may cause fatal diseases. The humid and moist environment provided by the rainy season helps in developing countless microorganisms which in turn cause various diseases.

During monsoons, the immune system gets weakened, hence we tend to catch the diseases easily. However, we should all be aware of why our body is vulnerable during the rainy season or, how we can be safe and protected. Here are some health tips you can follow to stay away from diseases this monsoon season.

Cold and Flu:

The drastic fluctuation of temperature which happens during this rainy season makes the body susceptible to bacterial and viral attack, resulting in cold and flu. This is the most common form of viral infection. Hence to protect the body, one should consume highly nutritious foods and strengthen immunity. By this, the body can fight germs by producing antibodies against the released toxins.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases:

Dengue: Dengue fever can be very painful and life-threatening. Although this disease is caused by the dengue virus, the carrier here is the mosquito and thus keeping the body protected from any form of a mosquito bite can ensure safety.

Cholera: This is a water-borne infection, caused by many strains of bacteria called Vibrio cholera. Cholera affects the gastrointestinal tract causing severe dehydration and diarrhea. Hence, drink boiled, treated or purified water can keep the germs at bay.

Malaria: Malaria is one of the most common and fatal diseases of all mosquito-borne diseases. After the rain, water remains clogged that helps the mosquitoes’ breeding process. The spread of malaria can be prevented by keeping such clogged areas clean.

Typhoid: Typhoid fever is a result of contaminated food and water. This is yet another bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi. Maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation and at the same time using clean water is recommended.

Hepatitis A: This infection is caused by contaminated food and water which mainly affects the liver. Some common Hepatitis A symptoms seen are fever, vomiting, rash, etc. Maintaining proper hygiene can cover the risk of this condition.

ALSO READ: Now a face mask that detects COVID-19 like RT-PCR tests

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New Delhi: Each year National Doctors Day is celebrated on July 1 in India. This day is marked to acknowledge and celebrate the efforts that medical professionals put for the health, wellbeing and safety of other people. The day celebrates the incessant work put in by medical professionals throughout their careers to save human lives.

National Doctors Day is celebrated on different days in each country. The USA celebrates it on March 30, Cuba on December 3 and Iran on August 23.

History of National Doctors Day

National Doctor’s Day was first observed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in India on July 1, 1991. The day marks the birth anniversary of doctor and second Chief Minister of West Bengal  Dr BC Roy. Dr Roy has made great contributions in the medical field in the country. He is credited for establishing medical organizations like Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital and the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children.

Significance of National Doctors Day

Doctors are known to be practicing a ‘noble profession’. However, COVID-19 pandemic has shown us once again the selfless and exceptional hard work that the medical professionals have been providing people in these trying times. Many doctors have had 16 hours and longer shifts at a stretch to look after a huge number of incoming patients. Various other doctors have been looking after COVID patients and isolating themselves from their own family to fight the pandemic.

The crazy amount of work the medical professionals have been doing during the pandemic is applaud worthy and one day is just not enough to celebrate them. But we should make it a point to at least acknowledge their efforts and give our full support to them on National Doctors Day 2021.

 

Bodybuilding is becoming increasingly popular in a generation that wants instant results, and is gravitating further away from health and focusing more on external appearance.

Consequently, many are turning to ‘harmful supplements’ in order to enhance their body composition; which promise to build large amounts of muscle and burn fat in just a matter of weeks.

Thus, modern day bodybuilders are more vulnerable to health problems due to cutting corners and taking high doses of dangerous substances.

Such adverse effects can include: infertility, high blood pressure, liver failure, low testosterone, gynecomastia and male pattern baldness.

Inside Bodybuilding is a clinic made up of specialist doctors who have treated hundreds of competitive bodybuilders, powerlifters and average Joe weightlifters.

Such specialized knowledge and experience may be crucial at a time where the average doctor is not fully aware of the effects of different performance enhancing drugs.

Thus, the average weightlifter may be able to reach out to their local doctor in an attempt to treat the side effects of taking certain ‘supplements’. But the average physician is unlikely to be familiar or well versed with such compounds and how they work exactly in different dosages. There is also an element of fear among patients for discussing their use of such illegal drugs.

Inside Bodybuilding’s clinic welcomes male and female weightlifters, which can be visited in person locally, in the region of Melksham, England. However, they also provide online consultations for men and women in different countries around the world, including many patients from America.

Patients have the chance of receiving non-judgemental consultations from two of the leading medical experts in the field of bodybuilding and hormone recovery, being Dr. Thomas O’Connor and Dr. George Touliatos.

They can offer advice on how to recover endogenous testosterone levels, what medications to use in the recovery of the HPTA axis, how to prevent/reverse gynecomastia, stabilize blood pressure, AST/ALT liver values and more.

With the current pandemic, it has never been more important to look after your health, and this is the mission of Inside Bodybuilding, according to CEO Ernst Peibst: “Our goal is to give men and women longevity in the sport of bodybuilding, whether you are lifting weights as a pro or just as a hobby. We want to see less casualties in the sport and make people more aware of the risks athletes are taking by cycling banned substances. Ultimately our goal is to improve people’s health and help them to live longer, whilst achieving their goals and experiencing success from the sport they love”.

Inside Bodybuilding is already proving to be a popular helpline for bodybuilders, particularly in the US region, with the website receiving 4,000-5,000 visits per day.

(Disclaimer: This is a brand desk content)

New York: A team of US researchers has developed face masks with biosensors that can be customised to detect pathogens such as the SARS-CoV2, virus causing COVID-19, and toxins and alert the user.

The button-activated mask, developed by the researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gives results within 90 minutes at levels of accuracy comparable to standard nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests like polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The finding is reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

“We have essentially shrunk an entire diagnostic laboratory down into a small, synthetic biology-based sensor that works with any face mask, and combines the high accuracy of PCR tests with the speed and low cost of antigen tests,” said Peter Nguyen, a Research Scientist at the Wyss Institute.

“In addition to face masks, our programmable biosensors can be integrated into other garments to provide on-the-go detection of dangerous substances including viruses, bacteria, toxins, and chemical agents,” Nguyen added.

The SARS-CoV-2 biosensor is based on the wearable freeze-dried cell-free (wFDCF) technology, which involves extracting and freeze-drying the molecular machinery that cells use to read DNA and produce RNA and proteins.

These biological elements are shelf-stable for long periods of time and activating them is simple: just add water. Synthetic genetic circuits can be added to create biosensors that can produce a detectable signal in response to the presence of a target molecule.

The wFDCF face mask is the first SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test that achieves high accuracy rates comparable to current gold standard RT-PCR tests while operating fully at room temperature, eliminating the need for heating or cooling instruments and allowing the rapid screening of patient samples outside of labs.

“This work shows that our freeze-dried, cell-free synthetic biology technology can be extended to wearables and harnessed for novel diagnostic applications, including the development of a face mask diagnostic,” said Jim Collins, Professor of Medical Engineering & Science at MIT.

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology could also be incorporated into lab coats for scientists working with hazardous materials or pathogens, scrubs for doctors and nurses, or the uniforms of first responders and military personnel who could be exposed to dangerous pathogens or toxins, such as nerve gas, the researchers said.

London: The ovarian reserve of women previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, is not adversely affected, and their chance of success from fertility treatment remains as it was before the infection, finds a study.

Ovarian reserve describes the ability of the ovary to produce eggs for fertilisation (natural and medical) and pregnancy.

The study, led by researchers at IVI Madrid, a fertility clinic in Spain, provides further reassurance for those planning fertility treatment with IVF. The findings were presented at ESHRE’s 37th annual meeting taking place online from 26 June to July 1.

The study described intrauterine infection via placental or congenital routes as unlikely, and reported that perinatal infection found at and after delivery was a more likely explanation for any neonatal infection.

The team monitored hormone levels, in all 46 women having IVF in Spain between May and June 2020, which included measurements of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) — a marker of ovarian reserve. AMH has become a widely used measurement in fertility clinics in recent years, able to predict how patients might respond to ovarian stimulation in IVF.

It suggested they would be normal or low responders to ovarian stimulation when treatment began.

“Generally, the data showed no variation in AMH levels before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and we could assume that the chances of success in their fertility treatment remained intact,” said Dr Maria Cruz Palomino from IVI Madrid.

However, the results did show a slight decline in AMH measurements in those predicted to be normal responders, which Palomino said was not a “radical decrease” and unlikely to compromise ovarian reserve — nor, she added, “can we attribute this variation to SARS-Cov-2 infection”.

There have been concerns because the virus invades its target cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor, which is widely expressed in the ovaries (as well as the uterus, vagina and placenta). This has caused some anxiety for women contemplating fertility treatment.

But the study suggests that, while there was a variation in levels of AMH as a marker of ovarian reserve, this variation appeared dependent on patient response to ovarian stimulation, not on previous infection. “Nevertheless, we could assume that the chances of success of fertility treatment remain intact,” said Palomino.

New York: While eating milk chocolate every day may sound like a recipe for weight gain, starting the day with a concentrated amount of chocolate may help the body burn fat and decrease blood sugar levels, finds a study.

Researchers from the Brigham collaborated with investigators at the University of Murcia in Spain, examined the effects of eating milk chocolate in morning hours on a small group of postmenopausal women.

The study published in The FASEB Journal showed that morning or nighttime chocolate intake did not lead to weight gain. On the contrary, eating chocolate in the morning or in the evening showed to influence hunger and appetite, microbiota composition, and sleep.

A high intake of chocolate during the morning hours can also help to burn fat and reduce blood glucose levels and evening or night intake of chocolate altered next-morning resting and exercise metabolism.

“Our findings highlight that not only ‘what’ but also ‘when’ we eat can impact physiological mechanisms involved in the regulation of body weight,” said Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Neuroscientist from the Department of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“Our volunteers did not gain weight despite increasing caloric intake. Our results show that chocolate reduces ad libitum energy intake, consistent with the observed reduction in hunger, appetite and the desire for sweets shown in previous studies,” said Marta Garaulet, also from the hospital.

For the study, the team conducted a randomised, controlled, cross-over trial of 19 postmenopausal women who consumed either 100g of chocolate in the morning (within one hour after waking time) or at night (within one hour before bedtime). They compared weight gain and many other measures to no chocolate intake.

London: British-Swedish biopharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has in partnership with the University of Oxford rolled out human trials for booster shots against Beta COVID variant.

The booster shot, named AZD2816, will be administered to individuals who have previously been fully vaccinated with two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine/Vaxzervia or an mRNA vaccine, at least three months after their last injection.

In non-vaccinated individuals, AZD2816 will be given as two doses, four or twelve weeks apart, or given as a second dose following a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine/Vaxzervia –four weeks apart, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

AZD2816 has been designed using the same adenoviral vector platform as AstraZeneca vaccine/ Vaxzervia, with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein based on the Beta (B1351) variant, first identified in South Africa.

The study aims to enroll 2,250 participants from the UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland to build immunity against the Beta COVID variant.

Johnson & Johnson is studying the need for a second dose to raise protection against the virus, the report said.

The US NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, or NIAID, is also conducting a clinical trial to understand whether a third shot of a Moderna vaccine could be given after a person initially received two shots of Pfizer, or one shot of Johnson & Johnson, the report added.

New Delhi: The latest Delta plus variant of COVID-19 has been detected in 12 states in India with more than 51 cases detected from over 45,000 samples sequenced so far in the country. This variant was first seen in Europe in March this year. It was, however, brought into the public domain only in June. Eleven countries have reported this variant so far.

Delta plus is suspected to bypass immunity provided by both vaccines or an earlier infection by experts.

Research is going on across the world to better understand this new variant. In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) have decided to carry out a study to check if the newly found Delta Plus variant (B.1.617.2.1/(AY.1), can be neutralized by the vaccines present.

To know more, we got in touch with Dr Chandrashekhar T., Chief Intensivist, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, to explain to us everything about Delta plus variant of COVID-19.

What is the Delta Plus variant?

Delta Plus is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant first detected in India, which has acquired the spike protein mutation called K417N. The mutation K417N has been of interest as it is present in the Beta variant (B.1.351 lineage), which was reported to have immune evasion property. Some scientists worry that the mutation could make it more transmissible. However, right now, there is no proof that this variant could be any more transmissible than others. Virologists are finding out if this new variant may be able to evade pre-existing immunity better than either Delta or Beta.

Why is it classified as a ‘variant of concern’?

The Union Health Ministry has warned States that the Delta plus variant, which is currently a Variant of Interest (VoI), and under investigation, may become a Variant of Concern (VoC). The variant has increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells, and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. Moreover, experts say that the Delta variant itself is more resistant to medication, treatment, and vaccination. Therefore, people who have been vaccinated can still be affected by this variant and can get severely ill. Neutralizing antibodies against this variant post-vaccination seem to be nearly five times lower in people who have already been vaccinated, than the other variants. Therefore, it is a variant of concern 

What are the worrisome properties of Delta plus COVID-19 variant?

Properties of concern for this variant are:

• Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology
• Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation
• Decrease ineffectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics

How is it different from the Delta variant? Is the Delta plus variant more contagious and infectious?

It has been found that the Delta plus variant has a greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains of Coronavirus but clarified that it does not mean the Delta Plus variant will cause more severe disease or is more transmissible. This more contagious version of the virus has been spreading rapidly throughout different parts of the world. There’s also the concern that this variant may be more adept at attacking lung cells causing more severe disease.

Is monoclonal antibody treatment not effective on Delta Plus?

Based on what is known so far by scientists in India, Delta Plus is considered highly infectious. What is more worrying is, scientists warning us that Delta Plus may show resistance against monoclonal antibodies cocktail treatments. There are concerns that this new variant may be able to bypass immunity provided by both vaccine and earlier infection.

Does Delta Plus evade immunity from vaccines as it carries symptoms from Beta variant as well?  Also are COVID-19 vaccines not effective against this variant?

Scientists are of the opinion that the Delta Plus variant also exhibits some immune escape, although estimates vary as to the extent of it. Currently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) have decided to carry out a study to check if the newly found Delta Plus variant (B.1.617.2.1/(AY.1), can be neutralized by the vaccines present in India.

Can it possibly be responsible for COVID-19 third wave?

It is said that the Delta Plus variant may trigger the third wave. But I would say with appropriate response measures and maintaining safety protocols, we may be able to avert major catastrophes.

What precautions should people follow?

• Always maintain a physical distance and stay home as much as possible, unless going for medical treatment or urgent supplies
• Wear masks when you are outside, and make sure the face mask is covering your nose
• Continually wash hands with soap, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer, making sure the whole surface of the hands is covered
• Avoid attending public functions, avoid social gatherings, and avoid group play
• Discuss, demonstrate, and reiterate the importance of COVID-19 appropriate behavior with your children to keep them safe
• ​For the healthcare providers and local authorities, the way forward is to keep a close watch on its potential presence in the country and ensure an appropriate public health response

New Delhi: One of the most important aspects of pregnancy is maintaining a nutrient-dense diet. However, it has been observed that an everyday diet during pregnancy does not need to differ significantly from the pre-pregnancy diet, and the general rule of healthy eating remains — to eat a balanced diet.

While all nutrients are equally important for expectant mothers, folic acid, iron, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, and omega-3 DHA are critical for the overall development of the baby as well as a healthy pregnancy, says Manu Sharma, Neonatologist/Paediatrician, Max Healthcare.

“However, omega-3 DHA is not always present in regular prenatal supplements and which is why many women have questions about the importance of DHA during pregnancy,” he adds.

Mothers-to-be should read on for more details by the expert:

What Is DHA?

DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is not synthesised by our body and must be obtained through a diet rich in seafood like salmon, tuna, and anchovies, or through the intake of supplements. However, it is not typically derived from daily food intake in an adequate amount if you are following a vegetarian diet.

A human baby’s brain develops rapidly especially during the third trimester in the mother’s womb till the first two years of the baby’s life. DHA is considered the building block of your baby’s brain as it amounts to 97 percent of the omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain and 25 percent of the brain’s total fat content. Because DHA is present in significant amounts in the brain and retina, it helps support the baby’s brain and eye development as well as the central nervous system.

In fact, DHA is not only necessary for babies, but also for mothers. Optimal DHA levels during pregnancy support a full-term pregnancy as well as a healthy birth weight. DHA has also been shown to reduce the risk of preeclampsia and support a mother’s healthy mood after childbirth.

What Is the Ideal Amount of Daily DHA Intake?

The recommended amount of DHA intake during pregnancy is about 200 mg per day. However, pregnant women in India are particularly found to be DHA deficient owing to a primarily vegetarian diet. Therefore, it is important that you know your DHA levels and change your diet or add supplements based on the results. An at-home blood test may help in assessing and monitoring your DHA levels without stepping out during this pandemic.

DHA in Breast Milk

Breastmilk is a critical source of nutrition for newborns. DHA, which is naturally present in breast milk, supports your baby’s cognitive function and has a positive impact on the baby’s vision. For breastfed babies, the recommended amount of DHA is 0.32 percent to 0.35 percent of the milk fat. However, because the amount of DHA in breast milk is determined by the mother’s DHA intake through food, the rates of absorption are bound to vary depending on the mother’s dietary patterns.

Therefore, testing breastmilk is a definitive way to check your DHA levels and provide the right nutrition to your baby for optimal growth.

How Does One Ensure Adequate DHA Consumption?

You can know your blood and breast milk DHA levels during pregnancy or lactation with the right and convenient at-home diagnostic tools. Based on the results, you can modify your diet and incorporate DHA-rich foods to ensure your baby’s optimal development and good health!

New Delhi: The Delta plus variant of COVID-19 has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains but it does not mean that it will cause severe disease or is more transmissible, head of coronavirus working group NTAGI Dr N K Arora said.

A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern.

Till now, 51 cases of Delta Plus have been detected across 12 states, with Maharashtra reporting the maximum cases of this variant.

Talking about Delta plus, chairman of COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) said it has been found that the variant has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains of coronavirus but clarified that it does not mean the Delta Plus variant will cause more severe disease or is more transmissible.

“Delta plus is having greater affinity to mucosal lining in the lungs, higher compared to other variants, but if it causes damage or not is not clear yet. It also does not mean that this variant will cause more severe disease or it is more transmissible,” Arora told PTI in an interview.

He said the impact of the Delta plus strain will become clear only as more cases are identified but it appears that the disease is generally mild in all those who have got either single or double dose of the vaccine.

“We need to keep a very close watch and look at its spread so that it will give us transmission efficiency,” he said.

Arora said the number of cases identified of Delta plus variant may be more as there may be many asymptomatic individuals also — those who do not have any COVID-19 symptoms but they are carrying the virus and spreading it.

“But the important point is that our genomic surveillance component has picked it up rightly and early enough. Now what will happen is that states have already been told that it is a variant of concern and it requires action which means that several states have already started making micro plans for the districts where the virus is identified so that their spread can be contained. Obviously vaccination will have to be increased in these districts,” he said.

Responding to a question if the Delta plus variant can trigger the third wave of coronavirus, Arora said it is difficult to assess that as of now.

“Waves are linked to new variants or new mutations so there is a possibility as this is a new variant, but whether it will lead to a third wave is difficult to answer as it will depend upon two or three things,” he said.

“The first thing is we had a ferocious second wave in the last three months and it is still going on, we are seeing for the last 8-10 days the number of cases are stuck at 50,000, while at some places cases continue to come so that wave has not settled down,” he said.

He said the second wave will influence the community’s response to another variant and the third wave will depend upon what proportion of the population got infected in the second wave.

“If a large proportion is infected then in the next wave people can develop a common cold like illness but may not develop a serious or fatal illness,” he said.

“Secondly, another thing that is important is vaccination — the rapidity with which we vaccinate…Even single dose is effective and the way we are planning, if we rapidly immunise then possibility of third wave becomes very less because vaccine plus infection plus COVID appropriate behaviour will save us from next wave, mitigate the next wave and the third wave will not be able to cause the damage as was caused in the first two waves,” he added.

Washington: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug Actemra (tocilizumab) — used for arthritis — for the treatment of hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Under the EUA, the drug can be administered only to hospitalised adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older), receiving systemic corticosteroids and requiring supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

However, Actemra is not authorised for use in outpatients with COVID-19, the FDA said in a statement.

Clinical trials showed that administering Actemra to hospitalised COVID-19 patients, in addition to routine care which included corticosteroid therapy, reduced the risk of death as well as decreased the amount of time patients remained hospitalised.

The risk of patients being placed on ventilators or death was also decreased.

“Although vaccines have been successful in decreasing the number of patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalisation, providing additional therapies for those who do become hospitalised is an important step in combating this pandemic,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, Director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Actemra is a monoclonal antibody that reduces inflammation and is given by intravenous infusion that is FDA-approved for multiple inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

In the case of COVID-19 infection, the immune system can become hyperactive, which may result in worsening of disease. But, Actemra does not directly target SARS-COV-2.

Based on the FDA’s review of the totality of the scientific evidence available, the agency has determined that it is reasonable to believe that Actemra may be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorised population.

The data supporting this EUA for Actemra are based on four clinical trials. All four clinical trials contribute to the FDA’s understanding of Actemra for the treatment of COVID-19.

Common side effects of Actemra observed in the COVID-19 trials include constipation, anxiety, diarrhoea, insomnia, hypertension and nausea. The EUA was issued to American biotechnology Genentech, a subsidiary of Swiss multinational healthcare Roche, FDA said.

New York: As SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, evolves it tends to mutate and bring new variants as well as cause changes to the spike protein — a fact that can render the current vaccines targeting the protein ineffective.

Researchers from the Boston Children’s Hospital, have found new properties in the spike protein of the Alpha, first identified in the UK and Beta, first identified in South Africa variants. The changes to the ‘spike’ protein explains faster spread of Alpha, and how the Beta variant evades immune responses, suggesting the need for a booster with an updated vaccine.

“The mutations make antibodies stimulated by the current vaccine less effective,” said Bing Chen, in the division of Molecular Medicine at Boston Children’s.

“The Beta variant is somewhat resistant to the current vaccines, and we think a booster with the new genetic sequence can be beneficial for protecting against this variant,” Chen added.

Spike proteins, on the surface of SARS CoV-2, are what enable the virus to attach to and enter our cells, and all current vaccines are directed against them. The new study, published in Science, used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to compare the spike protein from the original virus with that of the Alpha and Beta variants.

WHY BETA VARIANT EVADES COVID-19 VACCINES?

The structural findings indicate that mutations in the Beta variant (also known as B1351) change the shape of the spike surface at certain locations. As a result, neutralising antibodies induced by current vaccines are less able to bind to the Beta virus, which may allow it to evade the immune system even when people are vaccinated.

However, the study also found that mutations in the Beta variant make the spike less effective in binding to ACE2 — suggesting that this variant is less transmissible than the Alpha variant.

ALPHA VARIANT IS MORE INFECTIOUS

As for the Alpha variant (B117), the study confirms that a genetic change in the spike (a single amino acid substitution) helps the virus bind better to ACE2 receptors, making it more infectious. However, testing indicates that antibodies elicited by existing vaccines can still neutralise this variant.

New Delhi: A study has revealed that South East Asia was hit by a Coronavirus Epidemic 20,000 years ago. It arrived at these findings by tracking human genomes, as they contain evolutionary information and found 42 genes that evolved inresponse to the coronvirus epidemic.

The study titled ‘An ancient viral epidemic involving host coronavirus interacting genes more than 20,000 years ago in East Asia’ is published in the journal Current Biology.

“The study highlights the promise of evolutionary information to better predict the pandemics of the future. Importantly, adaptation to ancient viral epidemics in specific human populations does not necessarily imply any difference in genetic susceptibility between different human populations.”

Three coronaviruses namely – COVID-19, SARS and MERS have adapted to infect human population and cause severe respiratory disease, over the past 20 years. Each of these coronaviruses have jumped into our species from bats or other mammals.

The study also stated that socioeconomic factors like access to healthcare, testing, and exposure at work, play an important role in the epidemiology of the virus.

STUDY CAN HELP IN DEVELOPMENT OF COVID-19 DRUG

The study can help in the development of drugs for novel coronavirus or COVID-19. Yassine Souilmi, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide in Australia and a co-author of the new study says that the 42 genes that they studied and that have evolved in response to the ancient epidemic, can be studied by scientists to understand immune response and develop drugs for COVID-19.

“It’s actually pointing us to molecular knobs to adjust the immune response to the virus,” Dr Souilmi told the New York Times.

Washington: Drugs targeting the gene MAGEA3 may help block the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the country, new research found. The conclusion of the new study analyzing the genetics of HCC tumours was published in the journal PLOS Genetics by Augusto Villanueva of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and colleagues.

Scientists have previously discovered several genes that drive the growth of HCC tumours, yet treatment benefit from approved drugs is still limited. In the new study, Villanueva and colleagues collected 44 tumour biopsies from 12 HCC patients.

The researchers used RNA sequencing to study which genes were more highly expressed in high-grade regions of a tumour compared to low-grade regions of the same tumour. One family of genes- cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) -was recurrently over-expressed in the most aggressive regions of tumours.

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CTAs, most of which are located on the X chromosome, are usually expressed in male germ cells within the testes and are believed to play roles in spermatogenesis as well as protecting germ cells from stressors and cell death.

Villanueva`s team found that CTAs, and especially MAGEA3, are associated with poor prognosis in HCCs. Moreover, when the group blocked the expression of MAGEA3 in isolated HCC cells, the cells could no longer proliferate and eventually died.

When the group overexpressed MAGE3 in the liver cells of mice prone to HCC, the animals died of cancer more quickly. Future studies are needed to replicate the results in larger patient populations and probe whether MAGEA3 itself or its downstream targets, are more effective to target therapeutically.

“The study uncovered the role of cancer-testis antigens, specifically MAGEA3, in liver cancer progression,” Villanueva adds. “It demonstrates how selective inhibition of MAGEA3 has anti-tumoral effects on experimental models of this disease. Overall, the study provides the proof-of-principle to test MAGEA3 inhibition in early phase clinical trials for the patient with primary liver cancer.”

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