ChatGPT generated summaries of recent COVID articles
This summer, COVID-19 is spreading more again in the U.S. Hospitals are seeing more patients, and tests show more people have the virus. But experts think most cases won't be too serious, and the increase might not last long. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noticed more testing happening, even though it's not as much as before.
An expert named Caitlin Rivers said that there are signs of another wave, but it's uncertain how bad it will be. She also said it's not because of a new version of the virus, which is good news. A company called Helix that studies genes has seen more cases since June. They think people are getting sick because they're traveling more and spending time indoors where the air conditioning is on.
People's protection against the virus is also getting weaker over time. Not many Americans have gotten a booster shot yet, which helps boost their protection. An expert named Michael Osterholm suggests getting a new booster shot when it's available, which could be in September. This new booster could be better at protecting people for a longer time.
To stop the virus from spreading, it's important to get tested if you feel sick or will be around many people. Some experts wear masks on planes or public transport to stay safe.
Even though the virus is increasing, the amount of it in sewage water is lower than last year. Another virus called adenovirus, along with norovirus and rotavirus, is also spreading more this summer, which makes things more confusing for everyone.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-summer-surge-covid-dont-cold.html
Researchers have been trying to understand why COVID-19 has worse long-term effects than other similar viruses. A group of scientists led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the COVID-19 International Research Team studied how the virus affects our cells' energy producers, called mitochondria. They found that the virus can harm the genes in mitochondria, leading to problems in various organs beyond the lungs. This research suggests new ways to treat COVID-19.
Mitochondria are in all our cells and have genes that help create energy. The virus can impact these genes, which can cause issues in organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver. The study looked at tissues from patients and animals. They saw that while the lungs recovered, other organs like the heart still had problems.
The study shows that COVID-19 isn't just a lung disease; it affects many organs. This could be due to problems in the mitochondria. The research team found a potential target for treatment in a tiny part of our genetic material called microRNA 2392 (miR-2392), which affects how mitochondria work. This could be a way to help patients with severe cases.
In the future, researchers will study how differences in people's mitochondrial genes might affect how they respond to COVID-19. This research suggests that the virus affects our cells' energy production, which might explain why some people get sicker than others.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-covid-mitochondrial-dysfunction-heart.html
Over 1.1 million Americans have died from COVID-19 as of June 2023. Even though people over 65 make up only 16% of the population, they account for more than 75% of COVID-19 deaths and are hospitalized three times more than younger people. This shows that older adults are more vulnerable to the virus.
Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) used Medicare data to understand the long-term risks of death and hospital return for people 65 and older after being in the hospital with COVID-19. They found that the risk of death after being discharged from the hospital for COVID-19 was almost twice as high compared to people who were discharged after being in the hospital for the flu.
Patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 had a higher risk of dying even after leaving the hospital compared to those with the flu. This difference was most significant in the first 30 days after leaving the hospital. People with lower incomes and from racial/ethnic minority groups were at a higher risk of death or rehospitalization.
The risk of hospital readmission within 30 and 90 days was higher for COVID-19 patients compared to flu patients, but by 180 days, the rates were similar. Common reasons for readmission included heart and lung conditions. However, the researchers noticed that the risk of death after leaving the hospital for COVID-19 decreased over time.
The researchers think that better treatment methods, vaccination efforts, and changes in the virus's strength might have contributed to the decrease in death rates. They suggest that more actions should be taken to help older adults who are at greater risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-patients-hospitalized-covid-death-discharge.html
A new member of the omicron variant family, known as EG.5, emerged in February 2023. It gained the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO), which labeled it a "variant under monitoring" on July 19 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. This variant, particularly the EG.5.1 subtype called Eris, has been spreading globally, notably in Asia.
On August 9, 2023, the WHO upgraded EG.5 to a "variant of interest." This change followed the rise of EG.5.1 (Eris), which became the dominant form. However, it hasn't been classified as a "variant of concern" yet.
Despite Eris (EG.5.1) becoming more prevalent, its cases in Australia have been sporadic. While it has been present since April, its impact has remained limited.
Eris (EG.5.1) doesn't appear to cause more severe illness compared to other omicron variants. It causes similar symptoms, and the way it enters cells is comparable to other variants.
The increased transmissibility of Eris is due to specific genetic changes. Although it's more transmissible, current vaccines seem effective against it.
Australia has experienced a decline in overall COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths. The pattern of infection caused by Eris differs in various regions, with sporadic cases reported.
As time passes, our immune systems mature, making them better equipped to handle a range of variants. Though omicron variants are gradually becoming dominant, our immune response, vaccines, testing, and treatments remain effective.
Remaining vigilant, minimizing infection risks, and monitoring genomic data are crucial. Being alert to any significant changes and promptly addressing any variant classified as a concern is essential in our ongoing battle against the virus.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-declared-eris-variant-omicron-variants.html
A variant nicknamed Eris has become the most common cause of new COVID-19 infections in the United States.
Around 17.3% of recent COVID cases are linked to this variant, officially known as EG.5, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This percentage is 7.5% higher than in early July.
Other prevalent variants include XBB.1.16 (15.6% of cases) and XBB.2.23 (11.2% of cases), as per CDC data. About 10.3% of cases come from XBB.1.5, while 8.6% are caused by a related variant called FL.1.5.1.
Experts suggest EG.5 might be outcompeting other variants due to a "slightly beneficial mutation."
Eris is one of various closely related Omicron subvariants that have been competing for dominance. These variants come from the XBB strain, which current COVID shots target.
Although the COVID emergency has eased, the virus threat persists. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance.
Tracking COVID variants has slowed, so the CDC only recently detected EG.5's rise. Limited sequences from places like California, Georgia, and New York were available, affecting the accuracy of predictions.
The CDC's modeling relies on sequences to predict current proportions. However, fewer sequences are available now compared to earlier in the pandemic, making accurate predictions more challenging.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-covid-variant-eg5-dominant-cdc.html
The cause of long COVID, a complex syndrome affecting millions worldwide, remains a mystery despite more than three years since the pandemic began. Long COVID shows vast variation in symptoms and severity among individuals. The condition can affect different organs and systems, with potential long-lasting physiological, social, and economic consequences. Although sparked by SARS-CoV-2 infection, the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind long COVID are unknown. This understanding is crucial for effective treatment.
Several hypotheses are being explored to explain long COVID:
Viral Persistence: Ongoing virus shedding leads to continuous immune provocation, causing chronic inflammation. Persistent viral RNA and spike protein have been detected in some individuals.
Reactivation of Dormant Infections: Dormant viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could be reactivated, driving long COVID in certain cases.
Gut Dysregulation: SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to leaky gut and immune activation due to loose molecular channels, contributing to chronic inflammation.
Microclot Formation: Persistent microclots within blood vessels and organs may trigger inflammatory responses, leading to fatigue and exhaustion, common long COVID symptoms.
Classic Autoimmunity: SARS-CoV-2 infection might induce autoimmune conditions, causing long COVID symptoms.
Gut Microbiome Disruption: Depletion of anti-inflammatory gut bacteria post-SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to inflammation and long-term symptoms.
Direct Viral Damage: The virus might damage cells and tissues directly, causing ongoing symptoms like anosmia, myocarditis, and lung damage.
Persistent Immunologic Dysfunction: Long COVID patients often show immune changes for months, although their role in the condition is uncertain.
Understanding these mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels is vital to develop reliable diagnostics, treatments, and biomarkers. Long COVID's resemblance to other postinfectious syndromes suggests parallel research could bring insights to understand and treat a range of conditions. MassCPR's research group is expanding its focus to study various post-infectious clinical syndromes to gain a broader understanding of these complex disorders.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-covid-troublesome-syndrome.html
Long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist for a year or more after the acute phase of COVID-19, has been studied comprehensively. The research, conducted by UC San Francisco and the CDC in collaboration with other sites, sheds light on symptom trends and their impacts on the U.S. healthcare system. About 16% of COVID-positive individuals experienced symptoms for at least a year, while others had symptoms that fluctuated over time. The study highlighted the need to track symptoms over multiple points in time to truly understand the disease burden. Symptoms included fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating. Interestingly, the study found similar symptom patterns in COVID-positive and negative groups, indicating the complexity of post-illness processes for various conditions.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-covid-symptoms-emerge-months-infection.html
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an 80% increase in new COVID-19 cases worldwide in the last month. This comes after the WHO declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, but warned that the virus will continue to mutate and cause occasional spikes in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The reported deaths, however, fell by 57% to 2,500. The increase in cases was particularly significant in the Western Pacific region, with some countries in the Northern Hemisphere also experiencing an uptick. The WHO designated the Omicron subvariant EG.5 as a "variant of interest" due to its rising prevalence, but it poses a "low" risk to global public health. The organization urged countries to increase vaccination efforts to control the spread of the virus.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-global-covid-cases-subvariant.html
A new international study has found that individuals who have had COVID-19 may experience slight and temporary changes in their menstrual cycle length. These changes are minor and usually return to normal in the next menstrual cycle. The study, led by researchers from Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Montpellier, compared menstrual cycle data from over 6,000 individuals in 110 countries. Among those who were unvaccinated and had COVID-19, there was an average increase of 1.45 days in menstrual cycle length, which was consistent with changes seen in the vaccinated group. The researchers noted that these changes are not typically a cause for concern and are likely due to the temporary activation of the immune response caused by the disease. They also recommend seeking guidance from a healthcare professional if individuals experience prolonged changes in menstruation.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-global-covid-disease-menstrual-length.html
New research highlights an unusual case of a long COVID patient whose legs turned blue after 10 minutes of standing. The study emphasizes the need for greater awareness of this symptom among people with long COVID. The patient, a 33-year-old man, developed acrocyanosis—venous pooling of blood in the legs—after his COVID-19 infection. His legs turned blue, and veins became prominent after standing. The patient was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which causes an abnormal increase in heart rate upon standing. The study underlines the importance of raising awareness of dysautonomia in long COVID and improving its assessment and management. Dysautonomia affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure and heart rate.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-awareness-covid-blue-legs-symptom.html
Researchers at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany studied the vagus nerves of deceased COVID-19 patients to understand its effects. They found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the vagus nerve samples, indicating direct infection. Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the nerve, and genes related to antiviral responses were enriched, suggesting inflammation due to COVID-19. Vagus nerve inflammation correlated with autonomic dysfunction, impacting functions like heart rate and respiration. Dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), is linked to COVID-19. Nearly 1 in 5 long COVID patients experience ANS dysfunction, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Symptoms of POTS include fatigue, dizziness, and heart palpitations. Some cases have been linked to COVID-19 vaccines. Therapeutic options aim to manage symptoms and avoid triggers using drugs and nonpharmacologic approaches.