Respiratory Illness News and Research

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Instability in gut microbiota associated with COVID-19-related complications and mortality, study finds

Researchers from Germany recently analyzed saliva and fecal samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected and post-COVID-19 patients and controls while considering multiple influencing factors during hospitalization. This study is available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

13 Oct 2021

Flavonoids can potentially help prevent COVID-19-induced diarrhea, study finds

A recent study published in Tropical Biomedicine determines whether flavonoids can help prevent diarrhea caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

15 Sep 2021

Convalescent plasma shows no benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A new paper describes the results of a randomized controlled trial of CP in adult COVID-19 patients on oxygen when used within 12 days of the onset of respiratory symptoms.

14 Sep 2021

Research suggests current smokers not at excess risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Now, a new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server investigates this relationship further and suggests that current smoking is not associated with a higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

13 Sep 2021

Convalescent plasma does not reduce risk of intubation or death for COVID-19 hospitalized patients

A major study has found that convalescent plasma does not reduce the risk of intubation or death for COVID-19 patients.

10 Sep 2021

Severe COVID-19 is associated with expansion of immature myeloid cells and inflammation

A team of scientists in Ireland recently identified certain immune markers that can predict the progression of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Early detection of these predictive markers can facilitate therapeutic decision-making prior to peak severity.

7 Sep 2021

SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides play distinct roles according to neutron scattering

A new study determines the physical and thermodynamic events associated with the interactions that lead to the fusion between SARS-CoV-2 and the host.

5 Sep 2021

Can molecular mimicry impact fertility in female COVID-19 patients?

There exists a possibility that COVID-19 can also affect the reproductive function in the body, which can lead to infertility in infected patients. A study published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology explored the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on reproductive functions and fertility.

30 Aug 2021

Researchers find clues to how lung damage develops in the aftermath of a respiratory infection

The deadliest time in a viral respiratory illness sometimes is actually after the virus is cleared from the body. Destructive processes that are set in motion during an infection crest in the weeks after the virus is defeated, leading to organ damage that can cause chronic illness or even death.

24 Aug 2021

In Southeast Asia, robust immunity found up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Now, a new study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server focuses on functional immune memory to SARS-CoV-2, up to nine months in a Southeast Asian cohort, in the absence of re-infection.

16 Aug 2021

Green spaces, especially forest, reduce COVID-19 incidence, study says

An intriguing new study reveals that the closer you are to green spaces, especially forests, the less likely you are to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.

10 Aug 2021

Cardioprotective role of HIF1α in COVID-19 patients

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, has quickly become the most urgent issue facing scientists worldwide. It has been reported that the respiratory infection causes cardiac dysfunction in 25-55% patients, including hospitalized patients and non-critical patients.

10 Aug 2021

Plant-based vaccines for COVID-19 and other viruses

A review published in the journal Vaccines, explored the history and current status of plant-produced vaccine candidates against enveloped viruses, focusing on virus-like particles (VLPs), which mimic authentic viral structures without containing infectious genetic material.

19 Jul 2021

Chemicals found in common household products increase asthma risk

Commonly-used household products should carry a warning that they increase the risk of asthma, according to a new evidence review.

12 Jul 2021

Long COVID has low prevalence in school-age children, UK study suggests

A new study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, offers some insights into what may be expected in this field, how common it is, how it presents, and how it compares with chronic sequelae of other respiratory viruses.

24 Jun 2021

Could daily rapid testing replace mandatory quarantine to prevent imported SARS-CoV-2 infections?

A new study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, examines the relative effectiveness of varying strategies, such as pre-flight testing, longer or shorter periods of quarantine, tests for release, or daily testing after the flight, using modeling tools. The results show that it is feasible to avoid quarantine by the use of lateral flow testing daily for five days, achieving higher reductions in the number of secondary cases caused by an infected traveler in the country of destination.

16 Jun 2021

Cross-sectional study explores differences in biomarkers in fulminant and non-fulminant COVID-19 myocarditis

Researchers from the US recently conducted a study to examine the clinical course and echocardiographic and lab testing across clinically defined fulminant and non-fulminant COVID-19 myocarditis. This study is published on the preprint server, medRxiv.*

11 Jun 2021

Trained dogs can accurately identify COVID-19 by scent

An interesting new medRxiv* preprint reveals that with careful training, the exquisite scent sensitivity of dogs may be exploited to rule out the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in human beings in real-time.

9 Jun 2021

First human case of H10N3 influenza reported in Jiangsu, China

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread and wreak havoc globally, another health threat emerged in China. The country has reported its first confirmed case of the rare H10N3 bird flu in a patient admitted to the hospital in April 2021 in Zhenjiang, China.

4 Jun 2021

Study offers longitudinal roadmap of immune activation and resolution in mild COVID-19

Researchers from the US recently profiled the longitudinal immune response in mild COVID-19 patients starting with early time points of 1-15 days post-infection through convalescence to over 100 days after onset of symptoms.

1 Jun 2021