long-COVID Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Melatonin Could Be a Potential Therapy for Long-COVID Symptoms

AHA Publisher — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:30 +0000

Dr. Chinta Sidharthan via News-Medical – A recent review published in the journal Biomolecules discussed the potential uses of melatonin in treating brain fog and chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis symptoms associated with long coronavirus disease (COVID). Background An emerging concern associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is long COVID or clinical sequelae consisting of chronic fatigue, memory loss, muscle weakness, reduced pulmonary capacity during exertion, persistent fever, myalgia, epileptic seizures, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications. Patients who have recovered from severe COVID-19 experience these debilitating symptoms for months after recovery. Furthermore, studies that examined vaccinated individuals who experienced breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections found a high incidence of long COVID symptoms such as deteriorated musculoskeletal, neurological, and mental health among these individuals after recovery. This indicates that vaccination provides only limited protection against long COVID. Melatonin is a cryoprotective hormone and chemical that exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory activity and has been seen to impair viral infections, play a role in circadian rhythm maintenance, and be effective against diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. It is also involved in the activation of glutathione-synthesizing enzymes. Melatonin could potentially be a therapeutic agent in treating long COVID symptoms. Long COVID Symptoms Brain fog is a general term used to defineimpaired cognitive function, such as difficulty concentrating, loss of working and short-term memory, and difficulty with verbal and non-verbal methods of learning and mathematical problem-solving. While brain fog can be a consequence of various factors such as sleep deprivation, malnutrition, pregnancy or menopause-related hormonal changes, or even chemotherapy, it was the most reported symptom among COVID-19-recovering patients with no history of other diseases or hypoxia. An intelligence test in the United Kingdom detected cognitive impairments in a significant number of individuals with COVID-19. Symptoms included memory loss, disorientation, and reduced mental energy. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by excessive and persistent fatigue, inability to perform physical exercise, and autonomic dysregulation. ME/CFS is also associated with disruption of circadian rhythms and the gut/mucosal barrier, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a pro-inflammatory state. Studies indicated that 45% of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and required intensive care unit admission exhibited ME/CFS symptoms up to six months after recovery. Melatonin as a Potential Long COVID Treatment Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in all aerobically respiring life forms, and it performs antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, and neuroprotective functions in the body. It reduces the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages, activates nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2, and suppresses the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Melatonin is also known to balance inflammatory responses by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins (IL) 1β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Warburg’s effect during viral infections causes a shift from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm. This is accompanied by inflammation-promoting mechanisms such as an increase in NF-κB and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α. Consequently, the anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages are converted to pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, causing a cytokine storm known to cause endothelial tissue and organ damage in severe COVID-19 patients. The anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin in preventing pro-inflammatory profiles or macrophages and suppressing NF-κB activation can help reverse Warburg’s effect in long COVID patients. Melatonin also regulates the amyloid β (Aβ) metabolism associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies with transgenic Alzheimer’s disease models have shown that melatonin can control neuroinflammation by interacting with Aβ40 and Aβ42 and increasing protein degradation. Furthermore, the ability of melatonin to regulate circadian rhythms and sleep patterns has been shown to improve cognitive function and sleep in patients in the early stages of cognitive decline. Melatonin is also known to exhibit therapeutic activity against the various symptoms of ME/CFS, such as oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory state, mitochondrial and bioenergetic dysregulation, and disruption of the gut/mucosal barrier. Conclusions Overall, the review reported the significant potential for the use of melatonin in long-COVID and COVID-19 therapy. Studies have shown melatonin is more effective in reducing COVID-19 inflammatory markers than commonly used SARS-CoV-2 antivirals. The authors believe that although melatonin exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant properties that many studies have reported being effective against COVID-19, it has not been promoted as a therapeutic option, possibly due to its easy availability and non-patentability, which makes it an unattractive target for pharmaceutical industries. They recommend clinical trials to explore the use of melatonin as a treatment for long COVID symptoms. To read the original article click here.

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Study Links COVID-19 Infection to Excessive Hair Loss

AHA Publisher — Mon, 02 May 2022 07:00:46 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – As the COVID-19 virus swept the globe, people got sick, then they got better, and then … they started losing their hair. That was a delayed aftereffect that no one saw coming. Stress levels were already running high with the lockdowns, illness, crazy mandates, medications, rushed vaxxes, and unrelenting controversy surrounding the pandemic. Add to that, the stress on the body from the virus itself, and you have a recipe for serious stress-related responses. A study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in late August 2021 found a distinct link between acute telogen effluvium – a form of temporary hair loss – and COVID-19. Researchers wanted to examine the virus’s possible effects on the human hair growth cycle and establish a relationship between this condition and COVID. Post COVID-19 Infection Associated with Excessive Hair Loss, According to New Study The insanity of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over our lives. Reports of overcrowded hospitals, deaths, job losses, closed businesses, and resource shortages have stressed the already fearful masses. Mainstream media did a fantastic job keeping the fear-mongering going, scaring people with news about newer variants, the ever-increasing death toll, etc. So, when reports started coming in about people losing their hair months after having COVID, it was a symptom that no one saw coming. Authors Confirm Relationship Between COVID-19 Infection and Telogen Effluvium Researchers assembled 39 patients ranging from 22 to 67 years old. All of the patients had been diagnosed with COVID. Most only had mild and moderate symptoms, and none required hospitalization during their illness. Two to three months after the illness, all patients in the trial began to experience excessive hair loss. In the study, the authors confirmed the link between COVID-19 infection and acute telogen effluvium. Furthermore, the drugs used to treat the virus were excluded as a cause of hair loss. Therefore, the researchers believe it is specifically due to the so-called virus itself. But, now, let’s shift our focus to helping those in need. Support Hair Growth with These Nutrients In addition to optimal nutrition, good hydration, and good quality sleep, several supplements can support natural hair growth. Some of the top supplements include: Vitamin D: boosts immunity and combats vitamin D deficiency which can contribute to hair loss Vitamin E: a powerful antioxidant that is found in many hair growth oral supplements Biotin: vitamin B7 is a popular vitamin for hair growth and health B12: helps heal the central nervous system and helps the body better handle stress and increases blood flow Zinc: powerful promoter of hair follicle recovery Vitamin A: an essential vitamin needed by every part of the body Some natural herbal supplements have also shown success: Saw Palmetto Curcuma aeruginosa Reishi Mushroom Pumpkin Red clover Panax ginseng Fish oil (or flaxseed oil) Gotu Kola Finding the right combination for you may take some trial and error, but it is possible to regrow your hair after COVID. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov The Atlantic NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov Medical News Today NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Exercise May Treat Long COVID-Induced Diabetes, Depression

AHA Publisher — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:00:04 +0000

Pennington Biomedical Research Center via Newswise – BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – While no medically recognized treatment exists for Long COVID, exercise may break the vicious cycle of inflammation that can lead to developing diabetes and depression months after a person recovers from the virus. “We know that Long COVID causes depression, and we know that it can increase blood glucose levels to the point where people develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition common among people with type 1 diabetes,” said Candida Rebello, Ph.D., a research scientist at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. “Exercise can help. Exercise takes care of the inflammation that leads to elevated blood glucose and the development and progression of diabetes and clinical depression.” It’s unclear how many people suffer from Long COVID. But estimates range from 15 percent to 80 percent of the people infected. Based on those figures, it’s possible that as many as 1 million of Louisiana’s residents suffer from Long COVID. Long COVID causes what the Centers for Disease Control describes as “a constellation of other debilitating symptoms” including brain fog, muscle pain, and fatigue that can last for months after a person recovers from the initial infection. “For example, a person may not get very sick from COVID-19, but six months later, long after the cough or fever is gone, they develop diabetes,’ Dr. Rebello said. One solution is exercise. Dr. Rebello and her co-authors describe their hypothesis in “Exercise as a Moderator of Persistent Neuroendocrine Symptoms of COVID-19,” published in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. “You don’t have to run a mile or even walk a mile at a brisk pace,” Dr. Rebello said. “Walking slowly is also exercising. Ideally, you would do a 30-minute session of exercise. But if you can only do 15 minutes at a time, try to do two 15-minute sessions. If you can only walk 15 minutes once a day, do that. The important thing is to try. It doesn’t matter where you begin. You can gradually build up to the recommended level of exercise.” “We know that physical activity is a key component to a healthy life. This research shows that exercise can be used to break the chain reaction of inflammation that leads to high blood sugar levels, and then to the development or progression of type 2 diabetes,” said Pennington Biomedical Executive Director John Kirwan, Ph.D., who is also a co-author of the paper. To read the original article click here.

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Ten Medical and Scientific Breakthroughs of 2021 at Mount Sinai

AHA Publisher — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:00:25 +0000

Mount Sinai Health System via Newswise 1. Ketamine Infusions Found Promising for PTSD A team of researchers led by Dennis Charney, MD, Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine, and Adriana Feder, MD found that repeated intravenous ketamine infusions appeared efficacious in reducing symptom severity among individuals with chronic PTSD. Their study was published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. “We want people suffering with PTSD to know that hope is on the horizon, and we are working diligently to collect the information that will help bring them the relief they so desperately need,” said Dr. Feder. Speech Changes Predictor of Schizophrenia Risk Researchers hope to use speech changes to predict which adolescents and young adults are at high risk for schizophrenia and may go on to develop the disease. In a new study published in The Lancet journal E Clinical Medicine found that the artificial intelligence program predicted, with 75 percent accuracy, who would get Alzheimer’s disease. Cheryl Corcoran, MD, explains, “It’s been a lot of small studies finding the same signals.” At this point, she said, “We are not at the point yet where we can tell people if they are at risk or not.” First Successful Trachea Transplant Eric Genden, MD, and Sander Florman, MD, led a large team to perform the first successful transplant of a trachea, giving hope for patients throughout the world and future treatments of those who have been on ventilators. Dr. Genden said, “Although it seemed like a pretty straightforward thing, because at first sight it seems just like a tube, it turns out it’s a highly complex organ system. New Cancer Vaccine a Game Changer for Young and Old Patients Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, is developing a personalized cancer vaccine that was tested in a phase one trial. Dr. Marron and a lung cancer patient in the trial, a 74-year-old retired attorney, discussed the promising outcomes in a news report. “The cancer vaccines try to teach your immune system how to recognize your cancer and eliminate it,” Dr. Marron said. “Our initial data suggest that, after getting all 10 vaccines, patients can be very strongly immunized against their cancer.” Apple Watch Used to Measure Resilience in Health Care Workers A new study led by Robert Hirten, MD, and Zahi Fayad, PhD, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, shows how using wearable devices can track health care worker resiliency during the pandemic. Researchers from Mount Sinai gave 361 health care workers from seven hospitals across New York City Apple Watches to measure their heart rate. The study’s participants also downloaded a customized app to complete surveys each week that measured resilience, emotional support, stress, optimism and quality of life. Dr. Fayad said, “The experience of this pandemic has been especially stressful for health care workers, and as a community we need to be able to support them, especially as the virus persists. Our study is one of the first to document not only the toll the pandemic has taken on our health care workers, but also the importance of resilience and social support as specific paths toward efficiently and effectively directing support.” Launch of Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health Thomas Fuchs, DSc, and Dennis Charney, MD, Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine, announce the first-of-its-kind Artificial Intelligence and Human Health Department at the Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Fuchs said, “If you are serious about this, then computer scientists have to work together with the physicians in the trenches. One reason why big tech has failed in health care is that even with all their talent, if you’re just throwing artificial intelligence over the fence into a hospital, that doesn’t work. It has to come out of systems like ours.” COVID-19 Vaccine Less Protective for Multiple Myeloma Patients A new study led by Samir Parekh, MBBS, and published in the journal Cancer Cell shows how COVID-19 vaccines may be less protective for multiple myeloma patients. “[This research] suggests that booster shots are looking extremely promising for people with multiple myeloma,” said Dr. Parekh. “Patients who haven’t received them should do that immediately.” Long COVID Has Long-Lasting Impact A study published in the American Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and led by David Putrino, PhD, showed that the impact on everyday functioning in patients with long COVID lasted at least a year after initial infection. “Our work and the work of others has shown that this affects people’s abilities to make plans, synthesize information, and do their daily activities of work,” said Dr. Putrino. “They suffer from a lot of memory loss and inability to form new memories, as well as difficulty with speaking. This is a very debilitating condition with serious cognitive conditions.” Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Women who use cannabis during their pregnancies could be putting their children at risk of developing mental health and behavioral problems, according to a new study by Yasmin Hurd, PhD, and published by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “I do think that pregnant women and their physicians need to have more discussions about cannabis use, just like they have in terms of alcohol,” said Dr. Hurd. “Then they need to be given the resources to be able to get help for themselves and their children. This is not about stigmatizing women. It’s the opposite. It’s about the more knowledge you have, the more power you have.” Lung Cancer Screening Saves Lives Early detection and the increased use of screening for lung cancer are saving lives, according to a study published on JAMA Network Open. Screening patients using CT scans and following up on potential cancers helps physicians identify precancerous and early cancer tissue growth to surgically remove, leading to a decline in lung cancer deaths, Mount Sinai Health System researchers report. Raja Flores, MD, the study’s lead author and Chair of Thoracic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System, said, “If we find lung cancer early, we can cure it with surgery. Early screening is the key.” To read the original article click here.

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Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation May Be the Cause of Long COVID Symptoms

AHA Publisher — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:00:54 +0000

World Organization via News-Medical – Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation resulting from the inflammatory response to coronavirus infection may be the cause of previously unexplained long COVID symptoms — such as fatigue, brain fog, and rashes — that occur in approximately 30% of patients after recovery from initial COVID-19 infection. The first evidence linking EBV reactivation to long COVID, as well as an analysis of long COVID prevalence, is outlined in a new long COVID study published in the journal Pathogens. “We ran EBV antibody tests on recovered COVID-19 patients, comparing EBV reactivation rates of those with long COVID symptoms to those without long COVID symptoms. The majority of those with long COVID symptoms were positive for EBV reactivation, yet only 10% of controls indicated reactivation.” Jeffrey E. Gold, Lead Study Author, World Organization The researchers began by surveying 185 randomly selected patients recovered from COVID-19 and found that 30.3% had long term symptoms consistent with long COVID after initial recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This included several patients with initially asymptomatic COVID-19 cases who later went on to develop long COVID symptoms. The researchers then found, in a subset of 68 COVID-19 patients randomly selected from those surveyed, that 66.7% of long COVID subjects versus 10% of controls were positive for EBV reactivation based on positive EBV early antigen-diffuse (EA-D) IgG or EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM titers. The difference was significant (p < 0.001, Fisher’s exact test). “We found similar rates of EBV reactivation in those who had long COVID symptoms for months, as in those with long COVID symptoms that began just weeks after testing positive for COVID-19,” said coauthor David J. Hurley, PhD, a professor and molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia. “This indicated to us that EBV reactivation likely occurs simultaneously or soon after COVID-19 infection.” The relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and EBV reactivation described in this study opens up new possibilities for long COVID diagnosis and treatment. The researchers indicated that it may be prudent to test patients newly positive for COVID-19 for evidence of EBV reactivation indicated by positive EBV EA-D IgG, EBV VCA IgM, or serum EBV DNA tests. If patients show signs of EBV reactivation, they can be treated early to reduce the intensity and duration of EBV replication, which may help inhibit the development of long COVID. “As evidence mounts supporting a role for EBV reactivation in the clinical manifestation of acute COVID-19, this study further implicates EBV in the development of long COVID,” said Lawrence S. Young, PhD, a virologist at the University of Warwick, and Editor-in-Chief of Pathogens. “If a direct role for EBV reactivation in long COVID is supported by further studies, this would provide opportunities to improve the rational diagnosis of this condition and to consider the therapeutic value of anti-herpesvirus agents such as ganciclovir.” To read the original article click here.

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Antihistamines Might Be Effective in Long-COVID

AHA Publisher — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:00:47 +0000

Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. via News-Medical – A team of scientists from the United Kingdom has recently revealed the therapeutic benefits of histamine receptor antagonists in reducing long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They have also indicated that T cell immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection vary between asymptomatic COVID-19 and long-COVID. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server. Background Studies characterizing clinical manifestation of COVID-19 have indicated that the disease is often associated with long-term consequences even after the resolution of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is described as long-COVID. Patients with long-COVID may present with a variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, neurological, dermatological, cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic symptoms. In most cases, long-COVID symptoms develop after recovering from a mild or asymptomatic infection that does not require medical attention. Such symptoms may persist for more than 7 months. In contrast to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, a high prevalence of long-COVID has been observed among younger COVID-19 patients with few comorbidities. However, not enough information is available regarding the etiology of long-COVID and its therapeutic interventions. In the current study, the scientists have analyzed the dynamics of cell-mediated immune responses in long-COVID, as well as exploring the therapeutic benefits of histamine receptor antagonists in reducing long-COVID symptoms. Study Design The study was conducted on 49 patients with mild COVID-19 who eventually developed long-COVID symptoms following recovery from initial acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The symptom persisted for more than 84 days following acute infection. During the acute infection phase, none of the patients required therapeutic interventions against the disease. In addition, the study included 16 COVID-19 recovered patients who did not develop long-COVID. They were considered as asymptomatic controls. Blood samples were collected from all participants to measure hematological and biochemical parameters and for flow cytometric analysis of immune cells. The participants were asked to complete a symptom questionnaire that was designed to gather information about possible long-COVID symptoms, including fatigue, fever, neurological and neuropsychological symptoms, post-exertional malaise, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and dermatological symptoms. In the later phase of the study, combination treatment with histamine 1 (H1) and histamine 2 (H2) receptor antagonists was offered to all participants. Of 49 long-COVID patients, 25 agreed to receive the treatment, which was continued for a minimum of 4 weeks. Important Observations Based on the study findings, about 96% of long-COVID patients presented with multiple symptoms, with an average of 5 typical symptoms. The average duration of symptoms was 269 days. Among long-COVID patients, the majority were relatively young (average age: 43 years) and female (60%). Regarding hematological and biochemical measurements, of 49 long-COVID patients, only 2 and 4 had mildly increased C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates, respectively. Other parameters were within the normal range in all patients. Regarding therapeutic intervention, almost 60% reduction in symptom burden was observed in long-COVID patients treated with histamine receptor antagonists. Specifically, of 25 patients in the treatment group, 5 reported complete resolution of all symptoms, 13 reported improvements, 6 reported no change, and 1 reported deterioration of symptoms. Of 24 long-COVID patients who did not receive the treatment, 24% reported spontaneous improvement in symptoms and 67% reported no change. About 8% of untreated patients developed additional symptoms eventually. Importantly, no correlation was observed between the anti-SARS-CoV-2 level and symptom resolution in both treated and untreated patients. T Cell Response in Long-COVID The flow cytometric analysis revealed a significant difference in the numbers of circulating effector memory T cells between long-COVID and asymptomatic patients. Specifically, a significantly lower than normal level of CD4+ effector memory T cells was observed in 25 long-COVID and 3 asymptomatic patients. Further analysis of the findings revealed a significantly distinct status of CD4+ effector memory T cells in long-COVID and asymptomatic patients. Regarding CD8+ effector memory T cells, a significantly lower level was observed in 43 long-COVID and 14 asymptomatic patients. The analysis of antigen densities of T cell-related proteins revealed a significantly increased expression of program cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in both CD4+ and CD8+ central memory T cells in all patients. In contrast, a significantly higher expression of CD28 was observed in CD4+ central memory T cells in asymptomatic patients compared to that in long-COVID patients. Importantly, although a distinguishable T cell profile was observed in asymptomatic and long-COVID patients, it failed to predict therapeutic responsiveness to histamine receptor antagonists. Overall, the study findings indicate that treatment with histamine receptor antagonists might help reduce symptom intensity of long-COVID. Moreover, the study provides information about long-term (more than 400 days) abnormalities in T cell landscape in long-COVID, which are considerably different from that observed in asymptomatic infections. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. To read the original article click here.

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