Tag: 2/11/20

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COVID DNA of White House “Superspreader Event” Analysed

On By ModernMedia

On September 26, numerous high-profile individuals, contracted COVID at a large official White House gathering. This White House “superspreader event” as it was known became something of a case study in how COVID can spread in large groups of people.

Although President Trump contracted the virus, it is not known if this was a result of attending that event. The event, which had over a dozen guests, resulted in 34 individuals including White House staff testing positive for COVID by October 7.

Whilst contact tracing is difficult with COVID, genome sequencing offers a chance for insights into its development and spread. The researchers analysed SARS-CoV-2 genomes from nasal swabs taken from the patients at the White House superspreader event, and analysed it, looking for mutations. They found two variants, WH-2 and WH-2. They determined that these viruses descended from those widely in circulation in Florida, New York, Texas, Connecticut, and Washington – as well as certain countries such as  New Zealand.

Source: News-Medical.Net

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Hypertension at Night Raises Cardiovascular Disease Risk

On By ModernMedia

An eight year long study conducted in Japan added to the evidence that hypertension during the night raises cardiovascular disease risk, especially compared to the daytime. 

Hypertension levels are usually assessed during the day, and do not give an accurate snapshot of a person’s circadian rhythm.  According to lead author of the study, Kazuomi Kario, MD, PhD, hypertension at night, especially when blood pressure is lower during the day, raises cardiovascular disease risk and is increasingly being recognised as a risk factor. Kario said, “This study provides much more in-depth information about the cardiovascular risk associated with high nighttime blood pressure and different nighttime blood pressure phenotypes than have been reported previously.”

The Japan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Prospective (JAMP) study enrolled 6359 patients and measured daytime and nighttime levels using an at-home, wearable, ambulatory monitor. They were told to conduct their daily routine as normal, and to rest or sleep during the night. The results showed that elevated blood pressure during the night compared to the day was a significant indicator of raised cardiovascular disease risk. Patients who were hypertensive and then had a large dip in systolic pressure had a greater risk for stroke.

“Results indicate that nighttime systolic blood pressure was a significant, independent risk factor for cardiovascular events,” said Dr Kario. “The study highlights the importance of including nighttime blood pressure monitoring in patient management strategies and will hopefully encourage physicians to ensure that antihypertensive therapy is effectively lowering blood pressure throughout the 24-hour dosing period.”

Source: Medical Xpress

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Research Suggests Vitamin C Beneficial for Severe COVID

On By ModernMedia

According to Associate Professor Anitra Carr of Otago University in New Zealand, research provides evidence that large doses of Vitamin C is beneficial for severe COVID. A 2019 study previously showed that giving Vitamin C to patients with Acute Respiratory Distress reduced mortality rates.

“A recent study that came out of the US showed that patients with coronavirus in ICU with Covid-19 also had very low vitamin C levels,” Carr said. “That’s because the body chews through a lot more of it when you get an infection – and your requirements increase significantly. But the standard doses given in the intensive care unit aren’t enough to compensate, given a severe case of the disease comes with a huge inflammatory response and oxidative stress.”

 Carr said that delivering the drug intravenously was critical to supplying the high levels of Vitamin C needed. One study from Wuhan, China showed Vitamin C conferred a survival benefit to placebo, though Carr noted that many more studies are needed and will come throughout the next year.

However, besides its normal dietary role, there was little research to show that Vitamin C had much of a preventative role. Carr said, “Some research has shown that, if you’re under enhanced stress, your risk for infection increases, so in those people vitamin C may decrease the risk of getting it. But in the general everyday population, who aren’t under extreme physical stress, it may not decrease your chances of catching the disease.”

Source: NZ Herald

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Rights Group Supports No Patents for COVID Vaccines

On By ModernMedia

Business Live reports on the recent call by South Africa and India for COVID vaccines not to be patented. Human Rights Watch added its support by stating that vaccines obtained by public funding should be shared as widely as possible, and their intellectual property status waived.

Some 44 vaccine candidates are being trialled around the world. Wealthy countries have placed orders in order to secure stockpiles of the vaccines. South Africa has no vaccine scheme of its own and is instead has expressed interest in (without signing up to) the global Covax scheme, which involves the World Health Organization and which aims to have two billion doses to be shipped out by the end of 2021.

HRW researcher Margaret Wurth said, “You can’t fight a global pandemic by allowing publicly funded vaccines to go to the highest bidder, at whatever price pharmaceutical companies set. When a safe and effective vaccine is found, it should be available and affordable for everyone, everywhere.”

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Breast Cancer Patients in Public Healthcare System Face Great Obstacles

On By ModernMedia

In an in-depth article, the Daily Maverick reports on the huge challenges that breast cancer sufferers face in obtaining treatment from the public healthcare sector in South Africa.

A diagnosis might take up to six months, whereas one can be obtained in a space of weeks in private healthcare. Breast reconstructions are not available under public healthcare, forcing the survivor to find some way of hiding the disfigurement. The critical drug trastuzumab is classed as an unfunded mandate even in the Western Cape. Yet in the private sector, it is a prescribed minimum benefit. There are language barriers for patients, and a lack of palliative care medicines upon discharge. They also are not connected online, and cannot engage with initiatives such as Pinktober. In a country beset by gender-based violence and inequality, women’s health often is not a priority.

The remedy still lags very far behind. Since its inception in 2017, The Breast Cancer Control Policy has not been implemented anywhere in South Africa. In order to implement this policy, registered nurses have their job descriptions updated to include a primary modality of breast cancer screenings.

The COVID pandemic has set back progress even further, with care being postponed and many hospices being forced to close.