Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers&nbsp;seem to have found a cause for this.

Long Covid refers to&nbsp;the lasting symptoms experienced by some people who have been exposed to the virus. These symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, depression and anxiety.&nbsp;Millions of people in the world are currently going through long covid.

Based on brain scans, the researchers found that COVID-19 can inflame the brainstem tissue, which is the brain's control centre, in severe cases of infection.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/high-likelihood-covid-leaked-from-wuhan-lab-us-told-uk-three-other-allies-at-height-of-pandemic-718127">Also read: 'High likelihood' Covid leaked from Wuhan Lab: US told UK, three other allies at height of pandemic</a>

The researchers examined high-resolution MRI scans of 30 people who were infected before vaccines were made available for the deadly virus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/covid-strain-jn1-could-trigger-a-global-heart-failure-pandemic-fear-experts-674600">Also read: Covid strain JN.1 could trigger a global 'heart failure pandemic', fear experts</a>

The scans showed inflammation of the brainstem, a crucial structure in the brain that regulates basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate.

The researchers hypothesise that the inflammation of the brain stem happens because severe infections trigger an immune response in that area.

This eventually results in long-lasting symptoms for months after hospitalisation.&nbsp;

Watch: China’s Covid Crime and Sinister Cover-Up Exposed | Shocking New Report

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The abnormalities observed in the scans on areas linked to breathing suggest the inflammation in the brainstem is likely contributing to these long-lasting effects, according to&nbsp;Dr Catarina Rua, a University of Cambridge neuroscientist and lead author of the study published in the journal Brain.

“We didn’t study people with long Covid, but they do often have long-lasting effects of breathlessness and fatigue, which are similar to the symptoms these very severely affected people had six months after they were hospitalised,” Rua was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper. “It does lead us to ask the question, do people with long Covid have any brainstem changes?”

The researchers reached the conclusion with the help of advanced 7 Tesla MRI technology.

The technology helped them identify 'microstructural abnormalities' in the brainstem tissue.

The inflammations were seen even six months after the initial hospitalisation of patients.

The study also found a link between inflammation of the brainstem and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, with those having the highest levels of inflammation showing the most severe symptoms.

The study is not conclusive about the causes of long Covid, but suggests that it is important to address inflammations during initial infection of the virus.

(With inputs from agencies)

Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers seem to have found a cause for this.

Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers seem to have found a cause for this. Long Covid refers to the lasting symptoms experienced by some people who have been exposed to the virus. These symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Millions of people in the world are currently going through long covid. Based on brain scans, the researchers found that COVID-19 can inflame the brainstem tissue, which is the brain's control centre, in severe cases of infection. Also read: 'High likelihood' Covid leaked from Wuhan Lab: US told UK, three other allies at height of pandemic The researchers examined high-resolution MRI scans of 30 people who were infected before vaccines were made available for the deadly virus. Also read: Covid strain JN.1 could trigger a global 'heart failure pandemic', fear experts The scans showed inflammation of the brainstem, a crucial structure in the brain that regulates basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The researchers hypothesise that the inflammation of the brain stem happens because severe infections trigger an immune response in that area. This eventually results in long-lasting symptoms for months after hospitalisation. Watch: China’s Covid Crime and Sinister Cover-Up Exposed | Shocking New Report × The abnormalities observed in the scans on areas linked to breathing suggest the inflammation in the brainstem is likely contributing to these long-lasting effects, according to Dr Catarina Rua, a University of Cambridge neuroscientist and lead author of the study published in the journal Brain. “We didn’t study people with long Covid, but they do often have long-lasting effects of breathlessness and fatigue, which are similar to the symptoms these very severely affected people had six months after they were hospitalised,” Rua was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper. “It does lead us to ask the question, do people with long Covid have any brainstem changes?” The researchers reached the conclusion with the help of advanced 7 Tesla MRI technology. The technology helped them identify 'microstructural abnormalities' in the brainstem tissue. The inflammations were seen even six months after the initial hospitalisation of patients. The study also found a link between inflammation of the brainstem and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, with those having the highest levels of inflammation showing the most severe symptoms. The study is not conclusive about the causes of long Covid, but suggests that it is important to address inflammations during initial infection of the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

Long Covid cause found? Severe infections inflame brainstem, the control centre of brain, says study

A groundbreaking study in the UK has revealed that reducing the duration of MRI scans for prostate cancer by a third would make them cheaper and more accessible without compromising on their accuracy. Lower costs would mean that more men could be offered scans and diagnosis for a disease which is highly treatable in its early stages.

<h2>Current system</h2>

As of today, doctors rely on a three-stage MRI scan to detect prostate cancer. The patient is injected with a contrast dye at the third stage, which helps to enhance the images from the scan. Now, the new research indicates the third step can be done away with if the first two scans are done with high precision and good quality.

<h2>New Study</h2>

Researchers from University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals conducted a study in which they assessed the impact of dropping the third stage. The study involved 555 patients from 22 hospitals in 12 countries.

The results were exciting. They found that the shorter scans enabled doctors to diagnose 29 per cent of prostate cancers, the same proportion as with three-step scans.

Dr Clare Allen, lead radiologist on the trial, emphasised that significant prostate cancers were not likely to be missed if a third scan was not done.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiQuZK9n6-FAxX7i2MGHfmgB5IQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-uncover-new-finding-in-ocean-floor-to-mountain-transformation-through-zircon-minerals-707854" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-uncover-new-finding-in-ocean-floor-to-mountain-transformation-through-zircon-minerals-707854&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiQuZK9n6-FAxX7i2MGHfmgB5IQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">How do seafloors transform into towering mountains? Scientists uncover crucial step</a>

“The scans will be quicker, cheaper and can be offered to more men,” she was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “Though it is critical to emphasise that dropping the third part of the MRI scan is dependent on the first two parts of the scan being of high quality,” she added.

<h2>Difference in cost</h2>

According to experts, the shorter scan method would be 50 per cent cheaper and also quicker. In the UK, while a three-scan MRI costs £273 on average, a two-phase scan costs just £145.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiQuZK9n6-FAxX7i2MGHfmgB5IQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiQuZK9n6-FAxX7i2MGHfmgB5IQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars</a>

According to Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, which co-funded the trial with the John Black Charitable Foundation, the patients would no longer require injection.

“This will allow more men to benefit from a better, more accurate diagnosis at a lower cost to healthcare systems not only in the UK, but worldwide,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A groundbreaking study in the UK has revealed that reducing the duration of MRI scans for prostate cancer by a third would make them cheaper and more accessible without compromising on their accuracy.

A groundbreaking study in the UK has revealed that reducing the duration of MRI scans for prostate cancer by a third would make them cheaper and more accessible without compromising on their accuracy. Lower costs would mean that more men could be offered scans and diagnosis for a disease which is highly treatable in its early stages. Current system As of today, doctors rely on a three-stage MRI scan to detect prostate cancer. The patient is injected with a contrast dye at the third stage, which helps to enhance the images from the scan. Now, the new research indicates the third step can be done away with if the first two scans are done with high precision and good quality. New Study Researchers from University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals conducted a study in which they assessed the impact of dropping the third stage. The study involved 555 patients from 22 hospitals in 12 countries. The results were exciting. They found that the shorter scans enabled doctors to diagnose 29 per cent of prostate cancers, the same proportion as with three-step scans. Dr Clare Allen, lead radiologist on the trial, emphasised that significant prostate cancers were not likely to be missed if a third scan was not done. Also read: How do seafloors transform into towering mountains? Scientists uncover crucial step “The scans will be quicker, cheaper and can be offered to more men,” she was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “Though it is critical to emphasise that dropping the third part of the MRI scan is dependent on the first two parts of the scan being of high quality,” she added. Difference in cost According to experts, the shorter scan method would be 50 per cent cheaper and also quicker. In the UK, while a three-scan MRI costs £273 on average, a two-phase scan costs just £145. Also read: NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars According to Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, which co-funded the trial with the John Black Charitable Foundation, the patients would no longer require injection. “This will allow more men to benefit from a better, more accurate diagnosis at a lower cost to healthcare systems not only in the UK, but worldwide,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Groundbreaking study reveals how to cut cost of prostate cancer scans by half

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Long Covid cause found? Severe infections inflame brainstem, the control centre of brain, says study

Groundbreaking study reveals how to cut cost of prostate cancer scans by half