Monthly Archives: September 2022

Physiology

ExPath Grad Student Madeline Mayday Awarded Grant from the NIDDK Cooperative Centers of Excellence in Hematology – Yale School of Medicine

Madeline Mayday, BS, a fourth-year Experimental Pathology graduate student in the Laboratory of Diane Krause, MD, PhD, was recently awarded a 2022 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Hematology Centers Program Type B Pilot and Feasibility grant for her project entitled, Investigation of RBM15 and the m6A Epitranscriptome in Megakaryopoiesis.

The NIDDK is an institute within the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK Hematology Centers Program provides a novel support mechanism for researchers to pursue new directions in benign hematology. The grants are designed to support innovative pilot research projects in benign hematology, including the generation of preliminary data for larger research grants.

Madeline is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pathology and is part of the Medical Research Scholars Program. She is originally from Muskoka, Ontario, and graduated with a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University. She then worked as a Research Associate at UCSF to develop a protocol for detection of pathogens causing respiratory failure in pediatric HSC transplant patients.

Madeline began her graduate studies in the Translational Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology (TMMPP) program at Yale in Fall 2019 and joined the Krause Lab in May 2022 with an interest in translational research and hematopoiesis.

Submitted by Terence P. Corcoran on September 20, 2022

Read more:
ExPath Grad Student Madeline Mayday Awarded Grant from the NIDDK Cooperative Centers of Excellence in Hematology - Yale School of Medicine

Physiology

Is It Dangerous To Drink Beverages That Contain Sodium Benzoate? – Tasting Table

It sure is. Sodium benzoate is a powder that's made by combining benzoic acid with lye, also called sodium hydroxide. This combination does not occur in nature, but benzoic acid can be found in some fruits, plants, and fermented foods.

On its own, sodium benzoate is harmless. What causes trouble is when it's added to products containing vitamin C or ascorbic acid, as it's commonly called on food labels. When these two substances meet, they can turn into benzene, a known carcinogen. This combination is commonly found in soft drinks and is particularly a concern with diet sodas as sugar seems to blunt some of the negative effects of the duo. (via FBC Industries).

In addition to possibly forming a carcinogen, a 2016 study published in Physiology International linked the additive to tissue inflammation. A 2014 study published in Sage Journal found a correlation between sodium benzoate consumption and ADHD. A decrease in leptin, which controls appetite, was concluded in a 2011 study from the British Journal of Nutrition, and free radical formation resulted in a 2014 study via Scientific World Journal.

While deemed safe in specific amounts by the FDA, and more studies are needed to draw further conclusions on any purported dangers, it's always best to do your due diligence and read labels when your health is at stake.

See the original post:
Is It Dangerous To Drink Beverages That Contain Sodium Benzoate? - Tasting Table

Physiology

The US Is Measuring Extreme Heat Wrong – WIRED

In the late 1970s, a physicist and textiles engineer in Texas named Robert Steadman published a paper called The Assessment of Sultriness. The title reflected an unpleasant sort of steaminesshow temperature and humidity combine to make life hard on the body. To do it, he drew on a long history of experimentation. In the 18th century, people climbed into ovens warmed to 250 degrees Fahrenheit to see how long they could suffer, as they watched steaks cook beside them. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, researchers observed people sweat in Turkish baths and reported from mines where they measured the ambient conditions as workers collapsed from heat exhaustion. Later on, the military picked up more of the testing, deriving equations for how blood flow, sweat, and breathing respond to atmospheric extremes.

What was unique to Steadman was his intimate knowledge of clothes; he was known for projects like a universal sizing system for garments, and motors that could spin fine cotton yarn. After all, he theorized, people are rarely naked in the heat, so our perception of it must be mediated by a combination of physiology and clothing. His formulas assumed precise percentages of how much skin would be covered with fabric, and how specific mixes of air and fiber would transfer heat from the air.

Whats surprising is that, for a set of calculations developed by a textiles researcher, Steadmans measure of sultriness proved useful for weather forecasters, especially in the United States. In 1990, a scientist at the National Weather Service adapted them with Steadmans key features more or less intact. Henceforth, the sultriness index came to be known more (or perhaps less) pithily as the heat index," though it's also sometimes called the apparent temperature or real feel. If you have been caught in this summers heat waves, this is likely a number you have consulted to better understand the torturous outdoors. Its the measure thats supposed to include an overlooked factor in the human experience with heat: humidity. That wetness in the air slows the evaporation of sweat off your skina key way of staying cool.

What made Steadmans index successful was that the numbers felt right, in a literal sense. The heat index reads like a temperature, but its wobblier than that, a perception rooted in physiological reality. When two different combinations of heat and humidity result in the same heat indexsay, 96 degrees Fahrenheit/50 percent humidity and 86 degrees/95 percent humidity, which both have a heat index of 108this is meant to signal that the body in each scenario is under a similar level of stress as it tries to cool down. As the heat index rises, the miracle of internal thermoregulation that fixes our bodies at 98.6 degrees begins to crumble. Our core temperature rises, which starts off as unpleasant and then gets dangerous. Theres a roughly 10 degree window before all the chemistry that sustains life begins to fail. That means death.

But theres a problem with Steadmans calculations: They werent actually built to handle those sorts of extreme conditions. At a certain thresholdone that includes a plausibly steamy combination of 80 percent humidity and 88 degrees Fahrenheitthe heat index veers into predicting what David Romps, a physicist and climate scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, calls unphysical conditions that rarely happen in the lower parts of atmosphere. This includes supersaturated air making contact with the skinthat is, air thats more than 100 percent saturated with water.

Temperature and humidity conditions beyond that threshold are somewhat rareand when they do happen, its possible to extrapolate from Steadman's model to come up with an estimated heat index value. But estimates are estimates, and those kinds of heat waves are becoming more common as temperatures rise. So Romps and his graduate student, Yi-Chuan Lu, began taking a look at the models fundamentals. They quickly realized that, for the long list of assumptions in the equations, certain things were missing. For one thing, there is a natural solution to the supersaturation problem: When the air is too wet for human sweat to evaporate, it can still bead and drip off the skin, providing some relief.

See the article here:
The US Is Measuring Extreme Heat Wrong - WIRED

Physiology

You have so much to choose from: The Marvels Wont Adapt Monica Rambeaus Strongest Version For the Movie, Fans Claim They Are Depowering a Black Woman…

Monica Rambeau is the daughter of Maria Rambeau who was a dear friend of Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel. Following the storyline ofWandaVision, the character of Monica Rambeau crossed the Hex 2 to 3 times which made her gain powers never before seen!

Announcing her return inThe Marvelsin 2023, it seems that Monica Rambeaus powers were nullified significantly to keep the focus on Captain Marvel more, the fans state Marvel is depowering a black woman is in the attempt.

Speaking at the D23 Expo, the director of the movie Nia DaCosta stated that the original character of Monica Rambeau will not be seen inThe Marvelsand only a part of her powers will be used. The director gave her statement as follows.

With Monica, we really got to talk about, Okay, like which of her thousands of powers in the comics do we want to make canon in the MCU? Well, you know theres a part in the comics where she realizes shes immortal.

Based on your interests: Its Green Lantern with a female lead: Fans Divided After Brie Larson Hints Shes Leaving MCU, Captain Marvel Haters Claim Movie Was a Bust Despite Making $1.1 Billion

She continued,

She freaks out and then she goes intangible in water, and her atoms scatter across the ocean, and that takes her like forever to put herself back together. Like, shes insane so its like, you have so much to choose from Anyway, we didnt do that one.

While as awesome as this may sound, the director has stated that the audience will not be able to see the ultimate form of Monica Rambeau inThe Marvelsas fans claim that an attempt to depower a black woman is in progress.

You might also like to read: Just dont screw up the main villain as you did in season 1: Fans Wary of Ms. Marvel Season 2 Renewal, Claim Season 1 Had the Worst Villain of All MCU Shows

Taking to Twitter, the fans shared the news about the attempt to allegedly depowerize a black woman as Monica Rambeaus powers may overshadow Captain Marvels. Her powers include enhanced physiology, spectral vision, energy absorption, and, intangibility to name a few along with immortality and many other godly powers that compete with the powers of Captain Marvel herself!

The fans took to Twitter to express their views and opinions with most of them unhappy with the power change.

The decision indeed rests with the people over at Marvel as to what the powers of Monica Rambeau should be.The Marvels will combine Iman Vellanis Ms. Marvel along with Brie Larsons Captain Marvel and Teyonah Parris Monica Rambeau with her newly acquired abilities.

The Marvelsis set for a release date on 28th July 2023 to be released in theaters worldwide.

Suggested: Strong women dont pine for male approval: God of War Director David Scott Jaffe Calls Brie Larson Haters Nasty ring of underdeveloped geeks

Source: Twitter

Follow this link:
You have so much to choose from: The Marvels Wont Adapt Monica Rambeaus Strongest Version For the Movie, Fans Claim They Are Depowering a Black Woman...

Physiology

KRTL INTERNATIONAL AND ICANN VENTURES TO LAUNCH CANNABIS EDUCATION PROGRAM IN KOREA – StreetInsider.com

Get instant alerts when news breaks on your stocks. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here.

Lakewood, CO, Sept. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

KRTL International Corp., a subsidiary of KRTL Holding Group, Inc. (OTC: KRTL) and ICANN Ventures have signed multiple strategic agreements to be executed accordingly. As an introduction to this relationship, they have collaborated with Yeungnam University (Republic of Korea). Through this trilateral revenue sharing partnership, the CBD Training Academy, a global Cannabis Learning Community, can introduce their hemp business acceleration program and services. They will start offering its specialized courses, masterclasses, and full professional certificate courses in October 2022.

Designed to provide students with the most comprehensive education in the cannabis ecosystem and backed by a vision to create a platform for hemp enthusiasts to share their passion and creativity while having a positive impact on the Hemp industry at large, The CBD Training Academy - Korea will be available to corporate executives and professionals participating in the Special Free Zone in Gyeongbuk Province. As legislation progresses in this industry, the program anticipates it will accept a wide range of students passionate about cannabis, particularly those aspiring to advance professionally in business.

Yeungnam University, Department of Horticulture & Life Science, is a leading provider of education in Korea. Their faculty members are composed of experts in plant physiology, plant genetics, vegetable crops, pomology, plant pathology, floriculture, protected horticulture, flower decoration, and publish papers in globally prominent plant journals.

The CBD Training Academy goes beyond business as usual. I am very proud to say that every course is embedded with best practices, including the latest medical, clinical, and scientific advances in using hemp for health and wellness, commented Rick Diamond, CEO of ICANN Ventures, the parent of the CBD Training Academy.

Kai Kim, the CEO of KRTL International Corp: Education is fundamental to the development and growth of all sustainable infrastructure. Agricultural innovations and education can enhance efficient public administration and the private sector for sustainable growth. For countries to reap these benefits fully, they need to unleash the potential of the human mind. And there is no better tool for doing so than education. We are happy to have introduced this educational mechanism that can accomplish all this with a trilateral revenue sharing structure.

CBD is currently legal in South Korea for medical purposes for patients that have a doctors prescription and is controlled by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. According to a survey released last year, more than one in three Korean respondents said they were aware of the medical effects of cannabis or had heard about it. On July 18, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that patients who are living with rare, incurable diseases and who have no other treatment options would be permitted to import and use cannabis-derived drugs that were legal in other countries. While far from as liberal a law as some US states have enacted for medical cannabis and hemp CBD oil use, the law is a major move for a country that has strict cannabis laws. Officials who allowed for medical cannabis use stated that their reasoning was based on trends seen in other countries, as well as the call for access by advocates in Korea. The future for cannabis in Korea looks bright.

The CBD Training Academys curriculum is unlike any other in the country, said Dr. Park, Head of Smart Farm Safety at the Department of Horticulture and Life Science, Yeungnam University. We are a game changer in Koreas cannabis education scene, bringing three authoritative organizations together to advance the knowledge and education for this new industry. Students will obtain the most resourceful and dynamic educational programs. Im very excited to welcome the first batch of students, and I feel privileged to witness the students growth in their cannabis studies at the CBD Training Academy.

About KRTL Holding Group, Inc.: KRTL is a holding company interested in diversifying risk and accessing new markets. The Company operates its wholly owned subsidiaries, KRTL Biotech, Inc. and KRTL International Corp., with precision and excellence and continues to create and strengthen the KRTL reputation. This allows KRTL Holding Group, Inc. to capitalize on any range of investment opportunities. Our organization values collaboration and emphasizes a transparent work environment. Additional information on KRTL is available online at http://www.krtlholding.com and http://www.krtl-icc.com and http://www.krtlbiotech.com.CONTACT: KRTL Holding Group Inc. [emailprotected] 800-707-0586

About the CBD Training Academy: The CBD Training Academy was the first to certify people in the CBD industry. After launching the CBD training platform and certifying a record number of CBD Coaches, the Academy is bringing that a high level of knowledge to the international market. Learn from REAL the experts and learn EVERYTHING about CBD such as dosing, methods, history, legal, sales & marketing, coaching, working with clients & patients. Courses are taught by industry leaders, including doctors, successful retailers & distributors, logistics experts, cannabinoid lawyers, and other CBD industry service providers that are experts in their particular areas of the CBD industry. Visit their site for amazing resources & courses about CBD, Hemp, Cannabis, and all Cannabinoids. https://cbdtrainingacademy.com/

About Yeungnam University (Republic of Korea) Department of Horticulture & Life Science: Department of Horticulture and Life Science is an applied science that studies theories and technologies on horticulture, and it is a discipline that has come under the limelight as a high-income sector of the future together with the introduction of various new technologies and high-tech equipment.

information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Here is the original post:
KRTL INTERNATIONAL AND ICANN VENTURES TO LAUNCH CANNABIS EDUCATION PROGRAM IN KOREA - StreetInsider.com

Physiology

4th agricultural revolution needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions: Nobel laureate – The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The agricultural sector is responsible for a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions - equivalent to the emissions from all the electricity generation in the world, said Nobel laureate Steven Chu.

Hence, there is a need to transform the sector - through a fourth agricultural revolution - where higher crop yields to feed the world's populations are obtained sustainably without the use of fertilisers or insecticides.

Professor Chu, who is a professor of molecular and cellular physiology and of energy science and engineering at Stanford University, was speaking to The Straits Times at the Nobel Prize Dialogue 2022: The Future We Want Together on Sept 13.

The event was held at Raffles City Convention Centre, where Nobel laureates, students and other experts came together to discuss how to improve people's lives and how a better future can be built. It was organised by the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Prof Chu, 74, who is American, noted how the previous agricultural revolutions helped the world's population to grow through the domestication of animals, cultivation of staple crops and the use of fertilisers to boost crop yield.

"But there were also unintended consequences - fertiliser requires a lot of energy to make, and the fertiliser run-off (into rivers and streams) is a potent greenhouse gas effect," he added.

Fertiliser run-offs release nitrous oxide - which has a warming potential of approximately 300 times that of carbon dioxide.

Some solutions are being tested, such as creating microbes which can take nitrogen from the soil to feed crops like corn, wheat and rice, so that fertilisers would not be needed.

This has already been trialled on a small scale in the United States, where 50 per cent of fertiliser needed for growing corn has been replaced with microbes in some farms. This will, however, unlikely take shape on a larger scale until it is profitable for farmers to do so, Prof Chu noted.

To prevent less methane from being released through cow burps, it is also possible to reduce the number of microbes found in cattle by 90 per cent, perhaps by modifying their feed or vaccinating them, he said.

Prof Chu was energy secretary in the US from 2009 to 2013, helping to implement then President Barack Obama's agenda of investing in clean energy, reducing the US' reliance on foreign oil, and addressing the global climate crisis.

Prof Chu helped to propel the development of a funding agency called Advanced Research Projects For Energy - which invested in projects such as accelerating the development of solar power to lower its costs.

"In 2010, we had a crazy ambition to cut (the costs of solar) by one quarter in 10 years, and we managed to get it to one quarter in seven years," he said. The feat took a detailed road map and required working closely with the industry.

Read more:
4th agricultural revolution needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions: Nobel laureate - The Straits Times

Immunology

Immunology – Clinical Care Options – ClinicalOptions

Disclaimer: The materials published on the Clinical Care Options Sites reflect the views of the reviewers or authors of the CCO material, not those of Clinical Care Options, LLC, the accredited provider, or the companies providing educational grants. The materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. Readers should verify all information and data before treating patients or using any therapies described in these materials.

2022 Clinical Care Options, LLC. All rights reserved.

Visit link:
Immunology - Clinical Care Options - ClinicalOptions

Immunology

PhD candidate in immunology wins three awards at Health Research Forum – UM Today

September 20, 2022

Marina Costa Fujishima, a PhD candidate in immunology in the Max Rady College of Medicine, took home three prestigious awards at the Canadian Student Health Research Forum, a national event held this past summer at UM.

She received the Dean of Medicine Poster Award, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Sex and Gender Research Gold Award and the Gairdner Award.

Costa Fujishima, who is from Brazil, conducts research focused on how the vaginal microbiome interacts with the immune system, and how the outcome of these interactions can play a role in reproductive health and susceptibility to disease.

Earlier this year, her achievements and potential were acknowledged when she became the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Forough Khadem Scholarship.

The scholarship was established to honour the life, spirit and work of Khadem, a student from Iran who earned her PhD in immunology at UM. It recognizes an outstanding international female graduate student who demonstrates leadership and a desire to have an impact on the world through science.

We recently spoke with Costa Fujishima about her PhD research.

What drew you to immunology?

I took an immunology class during the fourth year of my bachelors in microbiology. My current supervisor gave a guest lecture in the class, and I was just in love with it immediately.

What is the main focus of your research?

Im currently looking at how the composition of the vaginal microbiome can influence the immune system in the female genital tract. This is very interesting because human cohort studies have shown that certain microbial communities present in the vaginal canal can increase susceptibility to disease, including spontaneous pre-term birth and sexually transmitted infections like HIV, but we still dont understand why.

Those same studies showed a high abundance of white blood cells called neutrophils in the genital tract of these women, which also seemed to correlate with increased susceptibility to disease. So my research is trying to understand: How can these vaginal microbial species influence neutrophils? What exactly are neutrophils doing when they encounter different bacteria? Could neutrophils response result in adverse health outcomes, specifically increased HIV infection?

How did it feel to win three awards at this years Canadian Student Health Research Forum?

It was great! Im not a native English speaker, so I usually get very nervous thinking I will forget how to say everything I want in English. I was not expecting to win, but it was amazing. I loved explaining my research to the judges.

Can you tell us more about what you presented at the forum?

I talked about the mouse model we have set up in our lab. I have been able to show that neutrophils rapidly enter the vaginal tissue in the presence of certain bacteria species, but not others. Neutrophils not only come in, but I also found that they cause a lot of bystander damage in the vaginal tissue, which allows the HIV virus to enter the body more easily. When we prevent neutrophils from entering the vaginal tissue, there is less damage despite the presence of the bacteria.

Why did you choose UM for your PhD?

The immunology department and HIV research here at UM are so strong. There is so much cool work done here by world-renowned scientists and so much collaboration that it creates the perfect environment for young researchers like me.

Who are your mentors?

My supervisor, Dr. Thomas Murooka, is the best mentor I could have asked for. I look up to him a lot. Also my committee members, Dr. Lyle McKinnon, Dr. Catherine Card and Dr. Sam Kung.

What are your plans after you finish your PhD?

I want to stay in academia and become an independent researcher. I want to understand how the immune system can recognize and tolerate microbes that live within us, and how it decides whether those microbes are our friends or enemies. I am fascinated by this topic, so I want to stay in the field.

ALLYN LYONS

See more here:
PhD candidate in immunology wins three awards at Health Research Forum - UM Today

Immunology

New study reveals breakthrough infections increase immunity to COVID-19 – OHSU News

Health care systems encourage everyone eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination and booster. (Getty Images)

Vaccine boosters and breakthrough infections following vaccination both provide a substantial and potentially pandemic-breaking immunity against COVID-19, according to new laboratory research from Oregon Health & Science University.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal Med, is the latest in a series of OHSU discoveries using blood samples to characterize immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

As the number of omicron subvariant cases rise and as global vaccination and booster campaigns continue, an increasing proportion of the worlds population will acquire potent immune responses that may be protective against future SARS-CoV-2 variants, the researchers conclude.

The research measured a powerful immune response among samples from 99 OHSU employees who had blood drawn for the research. Notably, researchers measured an equally potent immune response to the virus with dramatic increases in magnitude, potency and breadth among people whose blood was drawn three months after a third vaccine booster dose and another group one month after a breakthrough infection.

In addition, the study found the immune response was just as powerful among people 65 and older.

Marcel Curlin, M.D. (OHSU)

Early in the pandemic, we had very high mortality in certain vulnerable groups, such as older adults in nursing homes, but that reality is slowly changing, said co-senior author Marcel Curlin, M.D., associate professor of medicine (infectious diseases) in the OHSU School of Medicine and medical director of OHSU Occupational Health. Our study bolsters the idea that vaccination is a pathway to a milder illness. Even if youre older, your chances of having a severe illness if youre re-infected down the line appears to be much lower than it was at the start of the pandemic.

Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D. (OHSU)

Co-senior author Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine, said he would expect an even more robust immune response among people receiving the new bivalent vaccine booster targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

We anticipate that updated vaccine strategies with variant-specific regimens will significantly improve the breadth of the immune response and provide better protections against the SARS-CoV-2 variants, he said.

In contrast to the onset of the pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is no longer novel to the human immune system. Most people in the world have now been vaccinated, infected or both meaning the virus is running up against a much more effective immune response with each new infection.

Curlin said the new study most likely reflects the fact that the virus is evolving to become more transmissible but less harmful.

Evolutionary pressure is driving the virus to find more ways to infect people at the cost of pathogenicity, most likely, he said. Pathogenicity refers to the capacity to cause symptoms associated with the disease.

Funding for this study was supported by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; the OHSU Foundation; the National Institutes of Health training grant T32HL083808; and a grant from the OHSU Innovates IDEA fund. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Follow this link:
New study reveals breakthrough infections increase immunity to COVID-19 - OHSU News

Immunology

Study: Children With Primary Immunodeficiency Disease May Have Higher Mortality from COVID-19 – Pharmacy Times

In a recent study, researchers observed that more than one-third of children with a primary immunodeficiency disease died from COVID-19.

Children with certain immunodeficiency diseases have a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19, suggests new research out of the Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Most children infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, but those with certain immunodeficiency diseasesalso called inborn errors of immunity (IEI)may have mutated genes that affect the immune system, preventing it from protecting itself against infections. This could lead to severe, or deadly, complications.

Mortalityis much higher among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that basic immunological examination and genetic analysis should be conducted in children with severe COVID-19 or multi-inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The clinicians will then be able to help these children with more precise therapies based on their genetic changes, said study leader Qiang Pan-Hammarstrm, professor at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, in a press release.

Among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases (examples include hereditary and congenital diseases of the immune system), certain individuals have mild or no symptoms after contracting infection from COVID-19, whereas others experience severe symptoms. There is controversial evidence explaining why the range of symptoms differs greatly, according to the authors of the current study.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet set out to understand whether genetics play a role in the severity of some COVID-19 cases among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases. Between August 2020 and September 2020, researchers identified 31 unvaccinated children in Iran who had the same primary immunodeficiency disease. The participants, aged 5 months to 19 years, suffered from a severe or critical COVID-19 infection.

After performing genetic and immunological analyses, researchers found that 11 children died from SARS-CoV-2 complications. Among participants, 5 (16%) children were diagnosed with MIS-C.

The research suggests that patients with MIS-C differ from those without MIS-C because they cannot produce their own antiviral antibodies. Consequently they, would not have the full benefit of vaccination, said lead author Hassan Abolhassani, assistant professor at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, in the press release.

Further, the genetic analyses showed that more than 90% of children with primary immunodeficiency diseases had a mutation that affected proteins (interferons) that regulate the immune system during a viral infection. These mutated genes could explain why their immune defenses were not functioning properly.

The researchers performed an additional literature review of global reports that studied this population. The team identified the mortality rate from COVID-19 to be 8% among children with an IEI.

The study was limited to researching patients with severe COVID-19 cases, those infected with the original strain, and non-vaccinated children.

Our results clarify the molecular mechanism of these immune diseases, which opens up the possibility of developing a more targeted therapy. The knowledge acquired from the study also allows us to develop better strategies for the treatment and prevention of severe COVID-19 disease in these patients, Pan-Hammarstrm said in the press release.

Reference

Karolinska Institutet. Higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications in children with primary immunodeficiency. EurekAlert! September 16, 2022. Accessed on September 19, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/964997

Read more from the original source:
Study: Children With Primary Immunodeficiency Disease May Have Higher Mortality from COVID-19 - Pharmacy Times