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Health

Nine Omicron Covid symptoms affecting the fully vaccinated – and signs you may have it

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The UK appears to have just seen off its fifth wave of Covid-19 infections, although experts continue to fear that another could arrive this autumn once the weather turns unless proper precautions are taken.

The country saw a 43 per cent spike in coronavirus cases at the beginning of June, seemingly caused by people coming together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the course of a four-day weekend.

Driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron – the strain that spread so rapidly across the UK in December 2021 and January 2022 before gradually falling away – cases continued to rise to a peak of around 4.6m cases in mid-July before gradually beginning to decline.

While August finds Britain in a much better place in terms of infections, closer to just 120,000 per day according to the Zoe Health Study, the recent spike was a timely reminder that Covid has not gone away and that we still need to be vigilant as new mutations continue to emerge around the world.

The approval of Moderna’s new Omicron-specific jab is a welcome development for the UK and the shot could end up playing a significant role in any further vaccine drives to come.

With that in mind, what follows is an overview of some of the most common symptoms associated with that variant and its offspring for the fully-vaccinated – and two early warning signs that you might have it.

Most common symptoms for the fully vaccinated

Researchers in Norway conducted a study interviewing 111 out of 117 guests to a party on 26 November 2021 where there was an Omicron outbreak.

Of the group interviewed, 66 had definitive cases of Covid and 15 had possible cases of the virus.

Of the 111 participants, 89 per cent had received two doses of an mRNA vaccine and none had received a booster shot.

According to the findings published in the infectious disease and epidemiology journal Eurosurveillance, there were eight key symptoms experienced by the group of fully-vaccinated partygoers.

These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing.

An associate practitioner administers a coronavirus vaccine at Elland Road in Leeds

(Danny Lawson/PA)

The study found that coughs, runny noses and fatigue were among the most common symptoms in the vaccinated individuals while sneezing and fever were least common.

Public health experts also added nausea to this list of symptoms in vaccinated people who have contracted the Omicron variant.

Although the vaccine protects against the more serious risks of the virus, it is still possible to contract Covid even if you have both jabs and a booster shot.

The mild nature of the symptoms makes it hard for people to distinguish the virus from a common cold.

But, according to Professor Tim Spector of the Zoe Covid project, around 50 per cent of “‘new colds’ currently are, in fact, Covid”.

Two early warning signs you may have Omicron

Experts also suggest there are two distinct symptoms that could be a sign a positive test is around the corner: fatigue and spells of dizziness or fainting.

More than simply feeling tired, fatigue can translate to bodily pain by causing sore or weak muscles, headaches and even blurry vision and loss of appetite.

Dr Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of the South African Medical Association, told Good Morning Britain that fatigue was one of the main symptoms of Omicron when the variant broke out in South Africa.

Commuters with face coverings leave a train

(AFP/Getty)

In fact, 40 per cent of women reported they struggled with fatigue due to Covid compared to one-third of men, according to a poll by WebMD that asked users how often they had suffered fatigue from 23 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.

Dizziness or fainting is the second sign that you may have Omicron.

A report from Germany recently suggested that there could be a link between fainting spells and Omicron after doctors in Berlin found that Covid was triggering recurrent dizzy spells in a 35-year-old patient admitted to hospital.

German newspaper Arztezeitung said that the doctors could see a “clear connection” between the infection and the fainting spells.

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Dog infected with monkeypox after sharing bed, licking owners

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An Italian greyhound owned by a gay couple has been infected with monkeypox in the first reported case passed from a human to their pet.

The French couple, involved in a non-monogamous relationship, are believed to have contracted monkeypox following sexual contact with other men. 

They said they noticed pustules on their dog’s stomach. A PCR test later confirmed the pooch had contracted the virus.

The animal had shared a bed with the two men and had licked at least one of them before licking itself, according to the Lancet Medical Journal.

AFRICA CDC LOOKING TO OBTAIN MONKEYPOX VACCINES AS VIRUS SPREADS

This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Md.
(NIAID via AP)

Both men, ages 44 and 27, suffered from extensive ulcers and rashes since their cases were confirmed in June. And just 12 days after their symptoms began, the dog began showing signs it had contracted the virus.

The couple said they had been careful to keep their dog isolated from other pets or humans from the onset of their own symptoms.

Officials have said those infected with the virus should quarantine away from their pets to reduce transmission.

This is the first case in which a domesticated animal has been infected with monkeypox.

Tubes labled “Monkeypox Virus” with positive and negative results pictured in this illustration taken May 23, 2022.
(REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

“In endemic countries, only wild animals (rodents and primates) have been found to carry monkeypox virus,” the Journal reported. “However, transmission of monkeypox virus in prairie dogs has been described in the USA and in captive primates in Europe that were in contact with imported infected animals.”

The World Health Organization said the recent monkeypox outbreak is a global emergency. Nearly 100 countries have reported cases of monkeypox this year, and a dozen deaths have been linked to the virus.

WHO TO RENAME MONKEYPOX TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION AND STIGMATIZATION

Workers sit outside of D.C. Health’s first monkeypox vaccination clinic, which is administering the first Jynneos vaccine doses distributed in the U.S. capital, in Washington, U.S., June 28, 2022. 
(REUTERS/Gavino Garay)

Monkeypox can spread through close, personal contact, including direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs or body fluids from someone with the virus, or touching fabrics or objects used by someone with the virus. It can also be spread through sex, hugging, kissing, prolonged face-to-face contact or touching fabrics or objects during sex that were used by a person with monkeypox, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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“It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by preparing or eating meat or using products from an infected animal,” the CDC said on its website.

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Health

Are you suffering from sleep deprivation? Sleep expert reveals signs

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A sleep expert has revealed five signs you may be suffering from sleep deprivation – including craving takeaways and weight gain.

New York-based Jasmine Lee, from EachNight Mattresses, says sleep deprivation is far more common than you may think.

Sleep deprivation happens when you don’t get enough sleep consistently over time, for example, because you go to bed too late.

And according to the psychologist and sleep writer, repeatedly missing out on sleep can become a threat to our mental and physical health.

New York-based Jasmine Lee from EachNight Mattresses has revealed the five signs you might experience if you are suffering from sleep deprivation (stock image) 

Short term effects of not getting enough sleep include feeling moody and struggling to concentrate throughout the day. 

According to Jasmine Lee, the long-term effects can be much more serious, with sleep deprivation linked to multiple health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. 

Therefore, sleep is critical to a healthier lifestyle. 

What are some signs that I’m sleep deprived?

1. Craving a takeaway

If you’re getting sudden urges to indulge in a takeaway or junk food, it can be a symptom of sleep deprivation.

Lack of sleep alters appetite-regulating hormones as well as metabolism and brain function.

Therefore we are far more likely to turn to junk food due to the cravings for high calories, high sugar, high fat and salty snacks as a result, as a way to increase our energy levels.

How much sleep do I need to avoid being sleep deprived?

  • Newborns (0 to three months): Between 14 and 17 hours of sleep
  • Infants (four to 11 months): Between 12 and 15 hours of sleep
  • Toddlers (one to two years): 11 to 14 hours of sleep
  • Pre-school (three to five years): 10 to 13 hours of sleep
  • Children (six to 13 years): nine to 11 hours of sleep
  • Teenagers (14 to 17 years): eight to 10 hours of sleep
  • Adults (18 to 64 years): seven to nine hours of sleep
  • Older adults (65+ years): seven to eight hours of sleep
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2. Overheating

Sleep is vital for our bodies to regulate our internal temperature, Jasmine says.

Therefore, if you are feeling hot, it can be your body overheating due to a consistent lack of good quality sleep. 

In fact, as we get more and more tired, our brain begins to overheat with yawning being a method of compensating for this thermoregulatory failure.

3. Poor memory 

Sleep deprivation can affect the brain’s ability to learn and recall information.

During Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the brain is active, processing information and storing memories from the previous day.

Less sleep disrupts this process because the body spends less time in this REM cycle. 

The following day you may have trouble recalling what was said in a business meeting or what assignments you have. 

Sleep deprivation also makes it harder for the brain to absorb new information, as the brain is working hard to focus and take in information.

Not only is your ability to remember affected but your motor skills suffer too as the brain’s ability to store memory also includes motor skills and physical reflexes. 

This is another reason why a high percentage of car accidents occur due to sleep deprivation. 

Sleep-deprived drivers have a slower reaction time. Poor motor skills can also be problematic if you play sports with less sleep – you may struggle to execute a specific move or manoeuvre, preventing you from performing at your best.

Long-term effects of sleep deprivation have been linked to health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, therefore, sleep is critical to a healthier lifestyle

4. Weight gain

Less sleep triggers changes in hormone levels that regulate your hunger. Leptin lets the body know when it’s full, while ghrelin signals hunger. 

Little sleep produces less leptin and more ghrelin, meaning you’ll feel hungrier, but your body will be slower to react when you’re full, and you are likely to end up eating more than you need to.

In addition, studies have found that sleep deprivation can trigger an increase in cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a stress hormone responsible for holding onto energy (sugars and fat) to be used later. More stress means your body retains more fat.

Your insulin levels are also affected. With a higher production of cortisol, your body is less sensitive to insulin. 

Insulin is a hormone that changes food into energy. Your body has a harder time processing fats from the bloodstream when it becomes less sensitive to insulin. These fats end up stored in the body, leading to weight gain.

Too little can sleep also affect your diet, with studies showing that less sleep leads to consuming more junk food. 

You’re more likely to have intense cravings for high-fat, high-sugar foods, like french fries and ice-cream, and you’re also more likely to give in to those cravings.

Studies show that sleep loss is tied to making risky decisions. You become more impulsive and are less likely to consider loss, only focusing on the reward

5. Poor decision making

Studies have shown that sleep loss can be tied to making riskier decisions, finding that people can become more impulsive when sleep deprived.

Scientists have used gambling tasks to assess how 24 hours of sleep deprivation may affect decision making, when making poor decisions could result in a losing outcome.

Researchers have discovered that during these tasks, sleep deprived people are more likely to pick higher risk decks and show less concern for potential negative consequences when compared to well-rested individuals, who learn to avoid high risk decks as the game progresses.

A 2007 study published in the journal SLEEP used fMRI imaging technology to observe what is happening in the brain when sleep deprived people make these high risk decisions under experimental conditions.

The scientists found that an area of the brain involved with the anticipation of reward, called the nucleus accumbens, ‘became more active when high risk-high payoff choices were made under conditions of sleep deprivation’.

Moreover, the response to losses in a part of the brain which evaluates an event’s emotional significance (the insula), was reduced.

This built on previous findings that when sleep deprived, people are more likely to overestimate the potential rewards of risky behaviour, while underestimating the potential negative consequences.      

To find out more on sleep deprivation and how to combat it visit: www.eachnight.com.

HOW CAN I ACHIEVE BETTER SLEEP?

If you want to improve your sleep hygiene, and make sure you’re getting enough Zzzzs, you can try incorporating these tips into your routine.

  1.  Establish a sleep schedule

Setting a bedtime may seem childish, but in reality, it works. A set sleep and wake time makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake in the morning.  

Your body will adjust to the rhythm, so when it’s time for bed, you may automatically start to feel sleepy. 

It’s just as important to maintain this schedule on the weekends too. Bodies respond positively to these consistent rhythms. 

It may be tempting to sleep in for a few hours, but this can throw off your body. Plus, if you’re getting the right amount of sleep, you likely do not need that extra time. 

Setting a bedtime may seem childish, but in reality, it works. A set sleep and wake time makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake in the morning

 2.  Avoid heavy meals

 There may be some truth to the ‘eat dinner like a pauper’ philosophy. 

Avoiding heavy meals and snacking may improve your sleep. 

Heavy meals take longer to digest. When it’s time for bed, your body may be focused on digesting, making it harder to fall asleep. 

The best time to eat dinner is between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., allowing your body time to digest your meal.

 3.  Keep your bedroom dark   

Your body’s sleep-wake cycle is influenced by melatonin. Your body is continually producing melatonin. 

However, production is lowest during the day and strongest at night. That’s because melatonin is largely secreted at night, in response to darkness. 

Keeping your bedroom dark induces sleep. Any light exposure could reduce melatonin levels and make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. 

Alternatively, if you can’t make your bedroom dark, a sleep mask can be effective.

4.  Avoid your phone or laptop   

 We’ve all been there: you climb into bed and start scrolling through your phone, checking on messages, and browsing social media sites. 

This may come across as a relaxing activity to help you sleep, but it’s the exact opposite.

When you’re using any electronic device (TV, tablet, computer, or smartphone), you’re exposing yourself to blue light. 

Blue light tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime, halting melatonin production and making it harder to fall asleep. 

Try to avoid any electronic devices for an hour or two before bed. If you need to scroll through your phone, use your night settings or the apps that filter out blue light.

 

 

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Health

New BA.4.6 COVID Variant Is Shaping Up to Be a Deja Vu Nightmare

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The world has built up a lot of immunity in the nine months since the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus became dominant, driving a record wave of infections.

That immunity from vaccines and past infection is helping to keep down hospitalizations and deaths even as Omicron’s offspring—a succession of subvariants—have become dominant, one after one.

Now the virus is trying to find a way around our antibodies. A new subvariant, BA.4.6, is beginning to outcompete its predecessor, BA.5. Its advantages include a particular mutation to the spike protein, the part of the virus that helps it to grab onto and infect our cells.

We’ve seen this R346T mutation before. And every time it’s appeared, it’s been associated with forms of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen with an increased ability to dodge our antibodies. A quality epidemiologists call “immune-escape.”

If BA.4.6 becomes dominant, it could reverse the encouraging trend we’ve seen in most countries in recent weeks toward fewer infections, fewer hospitalizations, fewer deaths.

It’s a reminder that the novel coronavirus is a living, evolving thing. As we adapt to it, it adapts to us. “Viruses in general mutate to be more infectious and to avoid our immunity,” Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington Institute for Health, told The Daily Beast.

Don’t panic quite yet. “One thing I try not to do is get too excited for every new variant that pops up,” Peter Hotez, an expert in vaccine development at Baylor College, told The Daily Beast.

Most coronavirus variants and subvariants appear and disappear without significantly changing the pandemic’s overall direction. Plus, there’s a new kind of vaccine in the works that could help us to fight, long-term, even the worst forms of COVID. Eventually.

All the same, BA.4.6 warrants close attention. It’s the seventh major subvariant of Omicron, which first appeared in Africa back in November. It spread fast, outcompeting and replacing the previous major variant, Delta. Epidemiologists have described Omicron and its subvariants as the most contagious respiratory viruses they’ve ever seen.

Omicron is four times as transmissible as Delta but half as lethal. So Omicron resulted in the worst-ever day for new COVID infections when a record 4.1 million people got sick on Jan. 19. That’s a fivefold increase over Delta’s worst day back in April last year.

But just 13,000 people died on the worst day for Omicron deaths on Feb. 9—thousands fewer than died on Delta’s most lethal day back in January 2021.

It’s not hard to explain the growing gap between infections and deaths as the pandemic grinds toward its fourth year. Billions of people have been at least partially vaccinated. Billions have caught COVID and survived. The combination of vaccine-induced and natural antibodies has created a global wall of immunity that has blunted the worst outcomes.

But with BA.4.6, the virus is trying to find a way around that wall. “There’s a huge selective pressure for immune-escape, especially now that the great majority of the population has some degree of immunity, from immunization, infection or both,” Keith Jerome, a University of Washington virologist, told The Daily Beast.

SARS-CoV-2 is, in essence, fighting for its own survival—trying out mutations until it settles on one that might give it the upper hand.

R346T is one of those mutations. It’s not totally clear how the virus came up with the change. It’s possible Omicron mixed with an older form of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who’s gotten sick more than once. It’s possible, in other words, that BA.4.6 is a “recombinant” subvariant that picked up its most advantageous quality from one of its predecessors.

That one change to the spike protein appears to make the virus somewhat harder for our antibodies to recognize. With R346T, the virus has a better chance of slipping right past our immune systems and causing an infection. Even if we’ve been vaccinated. Even if we’ve also caught and gotten over COVID in the past.

Greater immune-escape means more and worse infections. We’ve been lucky with Omicron in the sense that, even as the variant and its subvariants have driven back-to-back-to-back waves in cases since November, hospitalizations and deaths haven’t risen in proportion.

It’s still an open question how much worse BA.4.6 might be and how far it might spread. Health agencies all over the world have been tracking the subvariant for months now. As BA.5 cases plateau, BA.4.6 is outcompeting BA.5—but not everywhere.

The BA.4.6 hotspots include some Australian states and parts of the U.S. Midwest. So far, BA.4.6 accounts for around four percent of new cases in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

The proportion of BA.4.6 is set to rise as BA.5 declines. BA.4.6 appears to have only a 10-percent growth advantage over BA.5, but that advantage has been growing over time.

If there’s good news in BA.4.6’s rise, it’s that for all its worrying mutations it’s still an Omicron sublineage—and still has a lot of mutations in common with BA.5, BA.4, BA.2 and BA.1.

That means the Omicron-specific boosters that Pfizer and Moderna are developing for their messenger-RNA vaccines, and which U.S. regulators are on track to approve in coming weeks, should still work at least somewhat against BA.4.6.

BA.4.6 isn’t the worst case scenario. That would be a subvariant—or brand-new variant—with strong immune-escape. A form of SARS-CoV-2 that has mutated so much that all those antibodies we’ve built up over the past three years barely recognize it.

The epidemiological community is divided over how likely this variant is to evolve. Some are confident that respiratory viruses such as the flu and the novel-coronavirus tend to get overall milder over time as they become “endemic”—that is, always present but usually manageable.

Others fear near-total immune-escape is all but inevitable for cleverer viruses as they tirelessly fight to survive. “This idea that each subsequent variant causes less severe illness—I don’t buy that,” Hotez said.

“The virus has been very successful so far.”

It comes down to genetics—the virus trading one quality for another as it strives to spread to more and more hosts. “The trick for the virus is to find a way to escape immunity while still maintaining the ability to infect new people efficiently,” Jerome explained.

“The virus has been very successful so far at doing so, but the big question is whether it can continue to do so, or instead will ultimately exhaust all the possible tricks to do so, and settle down into a more manageable level of endemicity. There’s no way to know for sure yet.”

A variant or subvariant with near-total immune-escape could drag us back to the most terrifying days of the early pandemic, when almost no one had immunity—or any way of developing immunity without surviving a very dangerous infection.

But BA.4.6 with its R346T mutation and potential for immune-escape might be a preview of that worst-case scenario. It might also be an argument for the pharmaceutical industry and health agencies to redouble their efforts to create universal vaccines that work against SARS-CoV-2 and every other major coronavirus, of which there are scores.

There are around a dozen major “pan-coronavirus” vaccines in development. The two leading efforts are at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in Norway and the U.S. government’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

They’re spending $200 million and $43 million, respectively, to develop their new universal jabs. Trials are still months, if not years, away. “We’re moving piecemeal toward a more universal coronavirus vaccine,” Hotez said.

Pan-coronavirus vaccines might be slightly less effective than the best mRNA vaccines were at their peak effectiveness (against serious illness and death) of more than 90 percent, back in late 2020.

But they’d be broadly effective, keeping people alive and out of the hospital even as the virus mutates again and again in order to survive.



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Binge-eating and lack of exercise during lockdown has triggered huge increase in gout

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Binge-eating and lack of exercise during lockdown has triggered huge increase in gout, data suggests

  • Hospital admissions for gout have surged due to binge-eating during lockdowns 
  • Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden and severe joint pain
  • The joint pain is usually in your big toe but can also be found in other joints

By Xantha Leatham Health And Science Reporter For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

It was once known as the ‘disease of kings’ – but hospital admissions for gout have surged due to binge-eating and exercising less during the lockdowns, figures suggest.

The number of cases has risen by 20 per cent in three years, with 234,000 patients admitted to hospital with gout in 2021/22, NHS Digital statistics show.

There has also been a significant rise in obesity over the same period.

 Experts said many spent more time sitting down during the Covid lockdowns and might have eaten more snacks and junk food while working from home.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden and severe joint pain.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, told The Sunday Telegraph: ‘Forget Falstaff, Henry VIII and the rich Victorians who made gout infamous. 

‘Today’s Elizabethans are eating and drinking them all under the table.’

Hospital admissions for gout have surged due to binge-eating and exercising less during the lockdowns

Gout is one of mankind’s oldest known diseases and dates back to the Egyptians.

Symptoms include sudden and severe joint pain, usually in your big toe but can also be found in other joints in your feet, hands, wrists, elbow or knees.

Some people may also suffer hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint.

It is caused from having too much uric acid in the body, which can lead to deposits of sodium urate crystals forming in and around the joints, causing pain and discomfort.

It can lead to excruciating pain but is usually treatable with medication such as ibuprofen, or steroids if the pain and swelling do not improve.

But Mr Fry warned sufferers were not getting enough help from the NHS.

‘Gout sufferers are miles from getting the treatment they need and their appalling care is little better than that delivered in the days of the Dark Ages,’ he said.

The NHS recommends getting to a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking an eating a healthy diet to prevent gout coming back.

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Reprogramming the Brain’s Cleaning Crew to Mop Up Alzheimer’s Disease

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Summary: Using CRISPR gene editing, researchers were able to control microglia and reverse their toxic state associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and put them back on track.

Source: UCSF

The discovery of how to shift damaged brain cells from a diseased state into a healthy one presents a potential new path to treating Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, according to a new study from researchers at UC San Francisco.

The research focuses on microglia, cells that stabilize the brain by clearing out damaged neurons and the protein plaques often associated with dementia and other brain diseases. 

These cells are understudied, despite the fact that changes in them are known to play a significant role Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases, said Martin Kampmann, PhD, senior author on the study, which appears Aug. 11 in Nature Neuroscience. 

“Now, using a new CRISPR method we developed, we can uncover how to actually control these microglia, to get them to stop doing toxic things and go back to carrying out their vitally important cleaning jobs,” he said. “This capability presents the opportunity for an entirely new type of therapeutic approach.”

Leveraging the Brain’s Immune System

Most of the genes known to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease act through microglial cells. Thus, these cells have a significant impact on how such neurodegenerative diseases play out, said Kampmann.

Microglia act as the brain’s immune system. Ordinary immune cells can’t cross the blood-brain barrier, so it’s the task of healthy microglia to clear out waste and toxins, keeping neurons functioning at their best. When microglia start losing their way, the result can be brain inflammation and damage to neurons and the networks they form.

Under some conditions, for example, microglia will start removing synapses between neurons. While this is a normal part of brain development in a person’s childhood and adolescent years, it can have disastrous effects in the adult brain. 

Over the past five years or so, many studies have observed and profiled these varying microglial states but haven’t been able to characterize the genetics behind them. 

Kampmann and his team wanted to identify exactly which genes are involved in specific states of microglial activity, and how each of those states are regulated. With that knowledge, they could then flip genes on and off, setting wayward cells back on the right track. 

From Advanced Genomics to a Holy Grail

Accomplishing that task required surmount fundamental obstacles that have prevented researchers from controlling gene expression in these cells. For example, microglia are very resistant to the most common CRISPR technique, which involves getting the desired genetic material into the cell by using a virus to deliver it.

To overcome this, Kampmann’s team coaxed stem cells donated by human volunteers to become microglia and confirmed that these cells function like their ordinary human counterparts. The team then developed a new platform that combines a form of CRISPR, which enables researchers to turn individual genes on and off—and which Kampmann had a significant hand in developing—with readouts of data that indicate functions and states of individual microglia cells.  

The research focuses on microglia, cells that stabilize the brain by clearing out damaged neurons and the protein plaques often associated with dementia and other brain diseases. Image is in the public domain

Through this analysis, Kampmann and his team pinpointed genes that effect the cell’s ability to survive and proliferate, how actively a cell produces inflammatory substances, and how aggressively a cell prunes synapses. 

And because the scientists had determined which genes control those activities, they were able to reset the genes and flip the diseased cell to a healthy state.

Armed with this new technique, Kampmann plans to investigate how to control the relevant states of microglia, by targeting the cells with existing pharmaceutical molecules and testing them in preclinical models. He hopes to find specific molecules that act on the genes necessary to nudge diseased cells back to a healthy state. 

Kampmann said that once the right genes are flipped, it’s likely that the “repaired,” microglia will resume their responsibilities, removing plaques associated with neurodegenerative disease and protecting synapses rather than taking them apart.

“Our study provides a blueprint for a new approach to treatment,” he said. “It’s a bit of a holy grail.” 

Funding: This work was funded in part by NIH grants DP2 GM119139, U01 MH115747, U54 NS100717, R01 AG051390, F30 AG066418, F30 AG062043, and ZO1 AG000534-02. For other funding, please see the study

See also

Authors: Other authors include: Nina Dräger, Sydney Sattler, Olivia M. Teter, Kun Leng, Jason Hong, Giovanni Aviles, Claire D. Clelland, Lay Kodama, and Li Gan of UCSF. For other authors, please see the study.

About this Alzheimer’s disease and gene editing research news

Author: Robin Marks
Source: UCSF
Contact: Robin Marks – UCSF
Image: The image is in the public domain

Original Research: Open access.
“A CRISPRi/a platform in human iPSC-derived microglia uncovers regulators of disease states” by Martin Kampmann et al. Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

A CRISPRi/a platform in human iPSC-derived microglia uncovers regulators of disease states

Microglia are emerging as key drivers of neurological diseases. However, we lack a systematic understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Here, we present a screening platform to systematically elucidate functional consequences of genetic perturbations in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia.

We developed an efficient 8-day protocol for the generation of microglia-like cells based on the inducible expression of six transcription factors. We established inducible CRISPR interference and activation in this system and conducted three screens targeting the ‘druggable genome’. These screens uncovered genes controlling microglia survival, activation and phagocytosis, including neurodegeneration-associated genes.

A screen with single-cell RNA sequencing as the readout revealed that these microglia adopt a spectrum of states mirroring those observed in human brains and identified regulators of these states. A disease-associated state characterized by osteopontin (SPP1) expression was selectively depleted by colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF1R) inhibition.

Thus, our platform can systematically uncover regulators of microglial states, enabling their functional characterization and therapeutic targeting.

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Dog reportedly contracts monkeypox from owners

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A dog belonging to a gay French couple has contracted monkeypox after sharing their bed — the first confirmed case of human-to-pet infection, according to reports.

The Parisian men, ages 44 and 27, are believed to have contracted the virus after having sexual contact with other guys during their non-monogamous relationship.

The couple said they then noticed that their Italian greyhound had developed pustules on its stomach.

A PCR test on the animal later confirmed that it had the virus.

The Lancet medical journal said the dog shared a bed with the two men and perhaps licked one or both of them before licking itself.

Both men have suffered from extensive ulcers and rashes since confirming their cases in June.

The dog began showing signs of infection 12 days later.

“The men reported co-sleeping with their dog,” the outlet said. “They had been careful to prevent their dog from contact with other pets or humans from the onset of their own symptoms.”

The World Health Organization has called the recent monkeypox outbreak a growing and global emergency.
NIAID via AP
The couple said they then noticed that their Italian greyhound had developed pustules on its stomach.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

Officials have urged at-risk or infected parties to quarantine away from their pets to reduce the chance of transmission.

The World Health Organization has called the recent monkeypox outbreak a growing and global emergency.

Almost 100 countries have now reported cases of the virus so far this year, including a dozen fatalities.

The vast majority of infections stem from gay sex, officials said.

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Health

Best care for bug bites: Doctors share treatment tips for minor and severe bites

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Spending time outdoors may sometimes mean you’ll have to deal with insects and their penchant for biting, including mosquitoes, horseflies, ticks, ants or spiders.

Sure, bug repellents exist. But they’re not foolproof and not everyone has them on hand at all times. 

Most bites are harmless. 

However, there are times when special care is needed if the body responds poorly to the bug bite.

HOW TO AVOID BUG BITES

Here’s what experts say to know and do if you’re dealing with either minor or severe bug bites.

Most bug bites can be treated at home

Dr. Brian Mangum, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiologist at the University of Health Sciences Antigua, told Fox News Digital that most bug bites can be treated at home without the need for attention from medical professionals.

Mosquitos commonly bite humans and animals to draw blood.
(iStock)

“Generally, minor bug bites can result in itching, swelling and a sense of stinging that will subside and go away in a few days,” Mangum said. 

BUG BITES CAUSING ALLERGIES? HOW TO AVOID DANGEROUS TICK BITES

These symptoms also occur, he said, after a bug sting — as well as from stings from certain bug species (i.e. hornets, fire ants and bees) can cause allergic reactions, particularly in those who are susceptible to anaphylaxis.

Here’s how to treat minor bug bites

It’s important to wash a bug bite site with soap and water, said Mangum. 

In cases of stings, the bug’s stinger should be removed from the site before washing, he said.

After the bug bite has been sanitized, Mangum said he recommends putting ice, a cold wet cloth or a cold water bottle on the inflamed patch of skin for about 20 minutes to reduce the swelling and the pain. 

Bugs can bite almost any surface of the skin.
(Getty Images)

“You can also apply calamine lotion, a paste made of baking soda and water, or 1% hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter in your drug store,” Mangum said.

“These will also help reduce the swelling.”

OHIO MAN GOES TO EMERGENCY ROOM FOR BUG BITE, RECEIVES CANCER DIAGNOSIS INSTEAD   

If itching and irritation persist around the bite site, Mangum said it’s generally OK to take an antihistamine medication in the form of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and non-prescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. 

“Remember to follow the manufacturer’s directions,” he warned.

When taking any medications, it’s always wise to consult with a physician first.

When to reach out about severe bug bites

There are rare instances when medical attention may be necessary for a bug bite, say medical professionals.

Usually, this is for an anaphylactic reaction — a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause breathing difficulties, fast heartbeat and lightheadedness.

If you “have trouble breathing, if there is swelling of the face, including the lips, eyelids and throat, or if you feel dizzy or pass out,” you shouldn’t hesitate to call 911, said one physician.  
(iStock)

“You should not hesitate to call 911 if you have trouble breathing, if there is swelling of the face, including the lips, eyelids and throat, or if you feel dizzy or pass out,” Mangum told Fox News Digital. 

“Hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also warning signs of a severe reaction,” he said.

If anaphylaxis is suspected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends assessing airways, breathing and circulation.

CDC: How to recognize the signs of anaphylaxis

    Respiratory: Feeling of throat closing, high-pitched breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing

    Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

    Cardiovascular: Dizziness, fainting, abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia) and abnormally low blood pressure (hypotension)

    Skin and mucosal: Hives, itching, swollen lips, face and/or throat

    Neurological: Agitation, convulsions, acute change in mental status and an impending sense of doom

The agency also says that people who are experiencing anaphylactic symptoms should be placed in a supine position — meaning they’re lying horizontally with their head and torso facing up.

People should try to avoid scratching bug bites; scratching can cause further irritation or infection, say doctors.
(iStock)

“Those with a history of allergic reactions to bug bites, known as anaphylaxis, should speak with their doctor about carrying an epinephrine injector, which can be given quickly during an emergency and can save lives,” Mangum said.

Avoid home remedies; watch for infection

While most bug bites and stings can be taken care of at home with over-the-counter creams and medicines, DIY home remedies should be avoided, according to Iza Correll, physician associate, founder and CEO of OVI Healthcare, a zero-cost hospital care nonprofit. She is based in Kenya.

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“Do not apply any home remedies or remedies that a doctor has not recommended,” Correll told Fox News Digital.

“This topic is quite familiar to me, as our children’s hospital is based in Suna Migori, the Kenyan town whose name directly translates to: ‘Here, mosquitoes make you hit yourself,’” Correll said. “It certainly does live up to that name.”

It’s important not to scratch a bug bite “excessively” because that can lead to an infection, she added.

A person should contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or there are questions or concerns.

“If the bite does not heal properly or becomes infected, it is crucial to seek medical attention,” Correll warned. “Signs that the infection may worsen include fever, swelling, redness or discharge from the wound.”

Regarding the symptoms of mosquito bites, the CDC notes that more severe reactions can occur in these groups: children; adults bitten by a mosquito species they haven’t been exposed to previously; and people with immune system disorders.

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It also says that people experiencing more severe reactions may have the following signs: a large area of swelling and redness; low-grade fever; hives; and swollen lymph nodes.

A person should contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or if there are questions or concerns.

Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer/producer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent on Twitter at @CortneyMoore716.

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Health

Scientists Gave Young Mice The Blood of Old Mice. Then Things Got Weird : ScienceAlert

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The elixir of life remains the stuff of legend, but aging the young before their time may not be as far-fetched.

In a new experiment, young mice briefly experienced signs of old age when scientists infused them with the blood of older mice. A similar aging effect occurred when human cells were immersed in the plasma of older individuals.

The young mice – aged three months and all male – were given a blood transfusion from an older mouse, aged 22-24 months. The younger mice were then tested for muscle strength to see whether the old blood created the effect of tissue aging.

Compared to a control group (young mice who received a blood transfusion from another young mouse), the mice that received blood from an old mouse had “decreased maximal twitch force and significantly shorter rates of force development and relaxation during contractions”, the researchers reported.

The mice were tested for their physical endurance on a treadmill at baseline and seven days after the blood infusion. (Mice that refused to run were stimulated by a puff of air that kept them running until they were exhausted.)

Mice that received old blood became fatigued faster and ran a shorter distance on the treadmill than the control group.

These mice also had biomarkers for kidney damage and evidence of liver aging.

When older mice were given younger blood in this experiment, lipids and fibrosis and fatigue declined and muscle endurance increased.

This last result mirrored an earlier study, conducted by the University of California in 2005, which showed that creating conjoined twins of young and old mice (and therefore sharing blood and organs) can reverse the signs of aging in the old mice.

“Using heterochronic blood exchange, we report a transfer of physiologic senescence from old to young mice,” the researchers say. “This response is unrelated … to chronological age.”

The researchers hypothesized that cells from older mice were releasing a ‘senescence-associated secretory phenotype’ (SASP) that promoted aging, like muscle weakness, loss of endurance, and tissue damage.

These senescent cells – old cells that have stopped reproducing but haven’t been cleared from the body – could potentially affect nearby cells inside a younger individual, even without chronological aging occurring first.

The researchers also placed human kidney cells in plasma taken from people between 60 and 70 years of age and found multiple biomarkers of aging within six days of the experiment. These biomarkers were not found when the experiment was repeated using plasma taken from people aged 20 to 30.

Both experiments indicate that adjusting and modulating various factors, including SASP, could lead to new therapeutic strategies when it comes to having a longer life, the researchers conclude.

The research was published in Nature Metabolism.

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Health

WHO renames two monkeypox variants to avoid geographic references

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The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Saturday that it renamed variants of the virus monkeypox as it looks to counter concerns about the original naming conventions.

“Newly identified viruses, related diseases & virus variants are given names to avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups, & minimize the negative impact on trade, travel, tourism, or animal welfare,” the WHO said in its announcement. 

The Congo Basin and West African variants were reclassified as Clade I and Clade II, the latter of which has two subclades. The new names go into effect immediately.

A global expert group decided on the new naming convention “as part of ongoing efforts to align the names of the monkeypox disease, virus, and variants—or clades—with current best practices.”

The WHO is also workshopping new names for the monkeypox virus as a whole, including the disease it causes, after outcry over potential stigmatization. The WHO cautioned early in the COVID-19 pandemic against referring to the virus as the “China virus” or the “Wuhan virus” due to potential discrimination. 

The name change for monkeypox could also correct assumptions about the origin of the virus, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported is unknown, despite monkeybox being discovered in 1958 in a group of monkeys kept for research.

In its best practices for infectious disease names, the WHO cautioned against using geographic locations, people’s names, animal species and other specific references. 

The WHO said it’s holding “an open convention” to rename monkeypox.

“Anyone wishing to propose new names can do so,” the organization said on Twitter.

The CDC reported 11,177 monkeypox cases in the U.S. as of Aug. 12 as well as 31,799 global cases.

Cases have been cropping up predominantly among men who have sex with other men, but WHO officials have cautioned that the outbreak should not be expected to stay contained in that community. A number of U.S. monkeypox cases have been reported among children and women.

The WHO declared monkeypox a public health emergency in July, and the White House followed suit earlier this month.



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