A new survey of half a million adults in the United Kingdom has revealed that around two million people may have had some long-lasting symptoms after having coronavirus.

A new survey of half a million adults in the United Kingdom has revealed that around two million people may have had some long-lasting symptoms after having coronavirus. This is known as long Covid. As per researchers, managing the long-term consequences are a "major challenge". Long Covid is not yet fully understood. Also, there is no universally agreed definition. It includes a wide variety of symptoms after a Covid infection, including fatigue, coughs, chest pain, headaches and muscle pain. As a part of the study, random samples of people were asked whether they had had Covid-19, and about the presence and duration of 29 different symptoms. It was concluded that around 37 per cent of people who had Covid experienced at least one symptom lasting 12 weeks or more. Nearly 15 per cent had three or more symptoms for at least 12 weeks. Also, long term issues were more common in women, and with increasing age. Factors like increased body weight, smoking, lower incomes, chronic illness and being hospitalised with Covid contributed to a higher chance of experiencing long-lasting symptoms. Also Read | UK study indicates Covid resulting in long-term loss of grey matter Tiredness and shortness of breath were deemed as dominant long-lasting symptom. Prof Paul Elliott, director of the React programme at Imperial College London said that the findings highlighted a 'concerning' picture of the longer-term health consequences of Covid. He was quoted by BBC saying, "Long Covid is still poorly understood but we hope through our research that we can contribute to better identification and management of this condition, which our data and others' suggest may ultimately affect millions of people in the UK alone". Another UK study highlighted that there is a 'substantial loss of grey matter in those who recovered from Covid-19. The loss of grey matter hint towards damage to certain areas of the brain. As per experts, it suggests damage to areas of the brain. As a part of the study, the UK Biobank (UKB) performed brain image tests on over 40,000 participants before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scientists used structural and functional brain scans from before and after the Covid-19 infection. This helped them to compare changes in the brain between these 394 Covid patients and 388 controls (those who tested negative) who were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and interval between scans. Most of the Covid patients who were examined had mild to moderate disease in the past.

More than two million in England may have suffered from Long Covid, says study

A third wave of coronavirus infections is likely to hit India by October, although it will be better controlled than the latest outbreak the pandemic will remain a public health threat for at least another year.

COVID-19: India to be hit by 3rd wave in October, claims study

A new study in the UK, which analyzed brain scans before and after the deadly coronavirus infection, has revealed that there is a 'substantial loss of grey matter in those who recovered from Covid-19.

A new study in the UK, which analyzed brain scans before and after the deadly coronavirus infection, has revealed that there is a 'substantial loss of grey matter in those who recovered from Covid-19. The loss of grey matter hint towards damage to certain areas of the brain. As per experts, it suggests damage to areas of the brain. As a part of the study, the UK Biobank (UKB) performed brain image tests on over 40,000 participants before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the data centre that collects and collates genetic and health information. The scientists then invited hundreds of these participants for a second imaging visit in 2021. They then studied the effects of the deadly coronavirus in the brain. This was done using data from 782 participants from the re-imaging study. Also Read | Scientists discover largest rotating structures in the universe The scientists used structural and functional brain scans from before and after the Covid-19 infection. This helped them to compare changes in the brain between these 394 Covid patients and 388 controls (those who tested negative) who were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and interval between scans. Most of the Covid patients who were examined had mild to moderate disease in the past. Published in the journal Medrxiv, the study read, "The vast majority of brain imaging studies so far have focused on qualitative, gross pathology of moderate to severe cases, often carried out on hospitalised patients. It remains unknown however whether the impact of COVID-19 can be detected in milder cases, in a quantitative and automated manner, and whether this can reveal a possible mechanism for the spread of the disease". This is not the first study that has suggested evidence of a connection between COVID-19 and brain damage. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal last year stated that serious COVID-19 infection can potentially damage the brain, further contributing to complications such as stroke or dementia-like symptoms.

UK study indicates Covid resulting in long-term loss of grey matter

A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has stated that the sperm count and quality don't decrease in healthy young men after taking the first or second dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The study examined sperm samples from 45 males aged 25 to 31 who had been pre-screened to ensure they didn't have any reproductive difficulties.

Samples were obtained before the first dose of an mRNA vaccine and again 70 days afterwards.

The volume, concentration, motility, and total sperm count of the sperm were then measured in the sperm.&nbsp;

There were no significant decreases in any sperm parameter among this group of healthy men.

"We found no changes in sperm parameters in the young healthy men that we studied who received both doses of mRNA vaccine," said study author Dr Ranjith Ramasamy, director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at the University of Miami Health System.

Despite the vaccine's great efficacy and low side effects in clinical studies, just 56% of people in the United States said they wanted it.

The risk for vaccination-induced infertility is one of the grounds for vaccine hesitancy.&nbsp;

However, some experts believe&nbsp;that additional larger studies with men of different ages are needed to affirm the study's results.

A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has stated that the sperm count and quality don't decrease in healthy young men after taking the first or second dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has stated that the sperm count and quality don't decrease in healthy young men after taking the first or second dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine. The study examined sperm samples from 45 males aged 25 to 31 who had been pre-screened to ensure they didn't have any reproductive difficulties. Samples were obtained before the first dose of an mRNA vaccine and again 70 days afterwards. The volume, concentration, motility, and total sperm count of the sperm were then measured in the sperm. There were no significant decreases in any sperm parameter among this group of healthy men. "We found no changes in sperm parameters in the young healthy men that we studied who received both doses of mRNA vaccine," said study author Dr Ranjith Ramasamy, director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at the University of Miami Health System. Despite the vaccine's great efficacy and low side effects in clinical studies, just 56% of people in the United States said they wanted it. The risk for vaccination-induced infertility is one of the grounds for vaccine hesitancy. However, some experts believe that additional larger studies with men of different ages are needed to affirm the study's results.

COVID-19 vaccination has no effect on male fertility, sperm count not harmed: Study

Almost a&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;of&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;patients&nbsp;without symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent with&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;a month after their initial diagnosis, according to a huge&nbsp;study&nbsp;published Tuesday.

The analysis by non-profit FAIR Health encompassed insurance claims from 1.96 million Americans -- the largest population of&nbsp;patients&nbsp;ever studied for&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;-- from February 2020 to February 2021.

"Even as the&nbsp;Covid-19 pandemic wanes,&nbsp;long-haul&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;persists as a public health issue affecting many Americans," said FAIR Health's President Robin Gelburd.

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"The findings in our new&nbsp;study&nbsp;shed significant light on this emerging issue for all individuals who have&nbsp;long-haul&nbsp;Covid, as well as for policymakers, providers, payers, and researchers."

Perils of 'Long&nbsp;Covid'

"Long&nbsp;Covid" refers to symptoms of the disease that persist more than four weeks after being diagnosed.

The&nbsp;study&nbsp;found that across all ages, the most common post-viral conditions were in order of frequency: pain, breathing difficulties, high cholesterol, general discomfort and fatigue, and high blood pressure.

The odds of dying 30 days or more after initially being diagnosed with&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;were 46 times higher for&nbsp;patients&nbsp;who were hospitalised with&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;and discharged compared to those who weren't hospitalized.&nbsp;

Overall, 0.5 percent of&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;patients&nbsp;who were hospitalized then discharged died 30 days or more after their initial diagnosis.

Nineteen percent of&nbsp;asymptomatic&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;patients&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;symptoms 30 days out from their initial diagnosis; the figure grew to 27.5 percent of&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;patients&nbsp;who were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 50 percent of those who were hospitalised.

The order of most common&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;conditions varied by age group -- for example in the pediatric population, intestinal issues replaced high cholesterol as the third most frequent.

Most&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;conditions were associated more with females than males -- but some, such as cardiac inflammation, were more common in males, who accounted for 52 per cent of cases against 48 per cent for females.&nbsp;

A quarter of all such cases occurred among individuals aged 19-29.

Among the four mental health conditions evaluated after 30 days, anxiety was the most common, followed by depression, adjustment disorders and tic disorder.

The biggest drawback of the new&nbsp;study&nbsp;is it lacks a control group of people who never got&nbsp;Covid, which would help determine the extent to which&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;caused the conditions as opposed to being coincidental.

The causes of&nbsp;long&nbsp;Covid, which is also known as&nbsp;long&nbsp;haul&nbsp;Covid, post-Covid&nbsp;syndrome, or post-acute sequelae of&nbsp;Covid, remain unknown.

"Theories include persistent immune activation after the acute phase; initial damage from the virus, such as damage to nerve pathways, that is slow to heal; and persistent presence of a low-level virus," the&nbsp;study&nbsp;said.

Almost a fifth of Covid patients without symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent with long Covid a month after their initial diagnosis, according to a huge study published Tuesday.

Almost a fifth of Covid patients without symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent with long Covid a month after their initial diagnosis, according to a huge study published Tuesday. The analysis by non-profit FAIR Health encompassed insurance claims from 1.96 million Americans -- the largest population of patients ever studied for long Covid -- from February 2020 to February 2021. "Even as the Covid-19 pandemic wanes, long-haul Covid persists as a public health issue affecting many Americans," said FAIR Health's President Robin Gelburd. Also Read | Nearly 62% EU residents used personal contacts to get access to healthcare: Survey "The findings in our new study shed significant light on this emerging issue for all individuals who have long-haul Covid, as well as for policymakers, providers, payers, and researchers." Perils of 'Long Covid' "Long Covid" refers to symptoms of the disease that persist more than four weeks after being diagnosed. The study found that across all ages, the most common post-viral conditions were in order of frequency: pain, breathing difficulties, high cholesterol, general discomfort and fatigue, and high blood pressure. The odds of dying 30 days or more after initially being diagnosed with Covid were 46 times higher for patients who were hospitalised with Covid and discharged compared to those who weren't hospitalized. Overall, 0.5 percent of Covid patients who were hospitalized then discharged died 30 days or more after their initial diagnosis. Nineteen percent of asymptomatic Covid patients experienced long Covid symptoms 30 days out from their initial diagnosis; the figure grew to 27.5 percent of Covid patients who were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 50 percent of those who were hospitalised. The order of most common long Covid conditions varied by age group -- for example in the pediatric population, intestinal issues replaced high cholesterol as the third most frequent. Most long Covid conditions were associated more with females than males -- but some, such as cardiac inflammation, were more common in males, who accounted for 52 per cent of cases against 48 per cent for females. A quarter of all such cases occurred among individuals aged 19-29. Among the four mental health conditions evaluated after 30 days, anxiety was the most common, followed by depression, adjustment disorders and tic disorder. The biggest drawback of the new study is it lacks a control group of people who never got Covid, which would help determine the extent to which Covid caused the conditions as opposed to being coincidental. The causes of long Covid, which is also known as long haul Covid, post-Covid syndrome, or post-acute sequelae of Covid, remain unknown. "Theories include persistent immune activation after the acute phase; initial damage from the virus, such as damage to nerve pathways, that is slow to heal; and persistent presence of a low-level virus," the study said.

One-fifth of asymptomatic Covid patients develop long Covid, says study

A new antibody testing&nbsp;study&nbsp;published Tuesday has found further evidence that the&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;was&nbsp;present&nbsp;in the United States&nbsp;from&nbsp;at least&nbsp;December&nbsp;2019, weeks before the first confirmed case was announced on January 21, 2020.

The National Institutes of Health&nbsp;study&nbsp;analysed 24,000 stored blood samples contributed by volunteers across the country&nbsp;from&nbsp;January 2 to March 18, 2020.&nbsp;

Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were detected via two different serology tests in nine patient samples, according to the paper, which was published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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The participants were outside the major hotspots of Seattle and New York City, thought to be the key entry points of the virus to the United States.

The first positive samples came&nbsp;from&nbsp;participants in Illinois and Massachusetts on January &nbsp;7 and 8, 2020, respectively, suggesting that the virus was&nbsp;present&nbsp;in those states in late&nbsp;December.

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-europeans-bribed-their-way-to-beds-vaccines-391743/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Antibody testing of blood samples helps us better understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the US in the early days of the US epidemic, when testing was restricted," said lead author Keri Althoff, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The research builds on a similar investigation published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last November that reached the same conclusion.&nbsp;

But since there are uncertainties surrounding serology testing, further confirmation builds extra confidence in the finding.

To help minimise the possibility of false positives, the team used two separate tests on each sample, searching for antibodies that bind to different parts of the virus.

The types of antibodies they were looking for are called Immunoglobulin G, or IgG, which "neutralise" the virus' ability to invade cells and do not appear until two weeks after a person has been infected.

It, therefore, follows that&nbsp;study&nbsp;participants with these samples were exposed to the virus at least several weeks earlier.

Limitations include that the number of samples taken&nbsp;from&nbsp;many states was low -- just a few dozen or hundred in some cases. Having a low number of samples increases the odds of a methodological error crowding out a true signal.

The authors also do not know whether the participants became infected during travel, or within their own communities, and would like to see their work confirmed in further&nbsp;study.

Finally, there is a possibility that the antibodies they detected were formed against infection to other coronaviruses, such as the four that cause common colds.&nbsp;

But since other research has shown that "cross-reactivity" between these coronaviruses is low, the team estimated that the probability all nine samples were false positives was one in 100,000.

The US death toll&nbsp;from&nbsp;Covid-19 surpassed 600,000 on Tuesday, according to figures&nbsp;from&nbsp;Johns Hopkins University.

A new antibody testing study published Tuesday has found further evidence that the coronavirus was present in the United States from at least December 2019, weeks before the first confirmed case was announced on January 21, 2020.

A new antibody testing study published Tuesday has found further evidence that the coronavirus was present in the United States from at least December 2019, weeks before the first confirmed case was announced on January 21, 2020. The National Institutes of Health study analysed 24,000 stored blood samples contributed by volunteers across the country from January 2 to March 18, 2020. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were detected via two different serology tests in nine patient samples, according to the paper, which was published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Also Read | British nationals in France risk losing right to healthcare, pension and more: Campaigners The participants were outside the major hotspots of Seattle and New York City, thought to be the key entry points of the virus to the United States. The first positive samples came from participants in Illinois and Massachusetts on January 7 and 8, 2020, respectively, suggesting that the virus was present in those states in late December. Also Watch | Gravitas: Europeans bribed their way to beds & vaccines "Antibody testing of blood samples helps us better understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the US in the early days of the US epidemic, when testing was restricted," said lead author Keri Althoff, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The research builds on a similar investigation published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last November that reached the same conclusion. But since there are uncertainties surrounding serology testing, further confirmation builds extra confidence in the finding. To help minimise the possibility of false positives, the team used two separate tests on each sample, searching for antibodies that bind to different parts of the virus. The types of antibodies they were looking for are called Immunoglobulin G, or IgG, which "neutralise" the virus' ability to invade cells and do not appear until two weeks after a person has been infected. It, therefore, follows that study participants with these samples were exposed to the virus at least several weeks earlier. Limitations include that the number of samples taken from many states was low -- just a few dozen or hundred in some cases. Having a low number of samples increases the odds of a methodological error crowding out a true signal. The authors also do not know whether the participants became infected during travel, or within their own communities, and would like to see their work confirmed in further study. Finally, there is a possibility that the antibodies they detected were formed against infection to other coronaviruses, such as the four that cause common colds. But since other research has shown that "cross-reactivity" between these coronaviruses is low, the team estimated that the probability all nine samples were false positives was one in 100,000. The US death toll from Covid-19 surpassed 600,000 on Tuesday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

Coronavirus was likely present in US from December 2019, says study

In a disturbing revelation, plastic from take-out and convenience food is littering rivers and oceans, as per a new study. The team of scientists analyzed global inventories cataloguing more than 12 million pieces of litter found in and around rivers, oceans, shorelines, and the seafloor, concluding that 8 out of 10 items listed were made of plastic.

In a disturbing revelation, plastic from take-out and convenience food is littering rivers and oceans, as per a new study. The team of scientists analyzed global inventories cataloguing more than 12 million pieces of litter found in and around rivers, oceans, shorelines, and the seafloor, concluding that 8 out of 10 items listed were made of plastic. BBC quoted study leader Dr. Carmen Morales of the University of Cadiz saying, "It was shocking to find out that bags, bottles, food containers and cutlery together with wrappers account for almost half of the human-made objects on a global scale". He further said, "We found them in rivers, on the deep seabed, on shorelines and floating off our coasts". A total of 44 percent of the plastic litter is related to take-out food and drinks. This includes single-use bottles, food containers and wrappers, and plastic bags. As per the researchers, measures to cut down on plastic pollution are welcome. However, they also recommend eradicating plastic from take-out food and drink. Also Read | Plastic pollution flowing into oceans to triple by 2040: Study The researchers have suggested three possible strategies for tackling the problem. First, by replacing plastic in take-out food and drink with more-easily degradable materials. Second, by bringing in regulatory bans on plastic that is not necessary. Third, considering deposit-refund schemes. This can be done to encourage shoppers to return take-out products. Published in the journal Nature Sustainability, the study also highlights the problem of litter from fishing gear. This involves substances like plastic nets and ropes, which was the biggest problem in the open ocean. As per the researchers, dumped and discarded nets and lines can be a threat for marine wildlife. Earlier, a 2020 study highlighted that the amount of plastic waste flowing into the ocean and killing marine life could triple in the next 20 years. It can only be stopped if companies and governments 'drastically' reduce plastic production. Winnie Lau, co-author of the study said, "Plastic pollution is something that affects everyone. It isn’t a ‘your problem and not my problem’. It’s not one country’s problem. It’s everyone’s problem. It’s going to get worse if we don’t do anything".

Plastic coming from take-out and convenience food littering the ocean: Study

The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine can 'effectively neutralize' the Beta and Gamma variant of the deadly virus, according to a new study led by researchers from the New York University.

The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine can 'effectively neutralize' the Beta and Gamma variant of the deadly virus, according to a new study led by researchers from the New York University. As per the study, the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination worked well against the majority of variants. However, the vaccine neutralized the South African variant and the Brazil variant with a 3-fold decrease in titer. Published in the journal mBio, the study revealed that a monoclonal antibody cocktail, which consists of casirivamab and imdevimab might be less effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants in laboratory experiments. This was after lab experiments on Regeneron pharmaceuticals' REGN-COV2, which is a 2 recombinant monoclonal antibody cocktail, showed that casirivamab had lost some of its neutralizing activity against the South African and Brazilian variants. It also showed that the cocktail was 9- to 15- fold decreased in titer. Also Read | Pfizer less effective, AstraZeneca even worse against variant first detected in India: Study As a part of the research, the team created a panel of pseudotyped viruses. This was done using the spike proteins from 6 different variants of SARS-CoV-2. These included the B117 lineage variant identified in the UK, the B1351 lineage variant identified in South Africa, the B11248 lineage variant identified in Brazil, the COH.20G/677H lineage variant identified in Columbus Ohio, the 20 EUs variant identified in Spain, and later found elsewhere in Europe, and the Mink cluster five spike proteins located in minks in Denmark. Nathaniel "Ned" Landau, Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine said, "Our interpretation of the results is that the vaccine antibodies are very powerful, and even if you lose 3-fold of the titer, there is still plenty of antibody there to neutralize the virus. We believe the findings demonstrate that the vaccines will remain protective against the variants that we tested". Landau noted, "The question with this work is 'how do the laboratory findings translate into clinical effects, that is what will happen when you treat a patient infected with one of the variants?' We cannot say for sure. We will only know when the clinical data comes in". As per Landau, similar experiments in Moderna's Covid vaccine also showed the same results.

Pfizer's vaccine protective against Beta, Gamma variant of Coronavirus: Study

Since the pandemic began and several countries went into repeated lockdowns, lots of people started gaining weight and consuming unhealthy food. To escape the unhealthy lifestyle, people started working out rigorously.

Since the pandemic began and several countries went into repeated lockdowns, lots of people started gaining weight and consuming unhealthy food. To escape the unhealthy lifestyle, people started working out rigorously. However, as per the scientists, exercising is not always healthy as new research has found out that regular and strenuous exercise can increase the risk of motor neurone disease in genetically vulnerable people. As per the research, 1 in 300 people have a chance of developing motor neurone disease. The researchers at the University of Sheffield hope that the findings could contribute to different ways of screening more vulnerable people. A connection has been identified between exercise and the disease which affects people's ability to move, talk, and breathe. This is because the motor neurons that carry messages from the brain to the muscles fail. It can also decrease people's life span. Also Read | Exercising can help reduce chances of cancer: Study The cause of the disease has been attributed to a 'poorly understood' mix of the genetic risk a person is born with and various environmental factors. The team of researchers studied data from the UK Biobank Project. It has detailed genetic samples from half a million people. They use a technique called Mendelian randomisation to turn that data into an experiment. It was then concluded that the DNA which is more likely to do strenuous activity is more likely to get MND. Dr Johnathan Cooper-Knock, one of the researchers, was quoted by BBC saying, "We have conclusively said exercise is a risk factor for motor neurone disease". He claimed that the number high profile athletes affected with MND is not just a coincidence. Various studies in Italian footballers have suggested rates up to six times higher than normal. Athletes like Rob Burrow, Stephen Darby, and Doddie Weir have also spoken openly about the disease.

Intense exercise may cause motor neurone disease, reveal scientists

The coronavirus lab leak theory has been gaining more traction, with circumstantial evidence growing about the Wuhan lab.

Wuhan Virus: Chinese scientists created the virus; study

Two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may be around 85- 90% effective against the symptomatic disease.

Study: 2 Astrazeneca shots 85-90% effective

Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization said on Monday.&nbsp;

In the first global study of the loss of life associated with longer working hours, the paper in the journal Environment International showed that 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease associated with long working hours in 2016.&nbsp;

That was an increase of nearly 30% from 2000.&nbsp;

"Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard," said Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.&nbsp;

"What we want to do with this information is promote more action, more protection of workers," she said.&nbsp;

The joint study, produced by the WHO and the International Labour Organization, showed that most victims (72%) were men and were middle-aged or older. Often, the deaths occurred much later in life, sometimes decades later, than the shifts worked.&nbsp;

It also showed that people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region, a WHO-defined region which includes China, Japan and Australia, were the most affected.&nbsp;

Overall, the study, drawing on data from 194 countries, said that working 55 hours or more a week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared with a 35-40 hour working week.&nbsp;

The study covered the period 2000-2016, and so did not include the COVID-19 pandemic, but WHO officials said the surge in remote working and the global economic slowdown resulting from the coronavirus emergency may have increased the risks.&nbsp;

"The pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time," the WHO said, estimating that at least nine per cent of people work long hours.&nbsp;

WHO staff, including its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, say they have been working long hours during the pandemic and Neira said the UN agency would seek to improve its policy in light of the study.&nbsp;

Capping hours would be beneficial for employers since that has been shown to increase worker productivity, WHO technical officer Frank Pega said.&nbsp;

"It's really a smart choice not to increase long working hours in an economic crisis." &nbsp;

Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization said on Monday. In the first global study of the loss of life associated with longer working hours, the paper in the journal Environment International showed that 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease associated with long working hours in 2016. That was an increase of nearly 30% from 2000. "Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard," said Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. "What we want to do with this information is promote more action, more protection of workers," she said. The joint study, produced by the WHO and the International Labour Organization, showed that most victims (72%) were men and were middle-aged or older. Often, the deaths occurred much later in life, sometimes decades later, than the shifts worked. It also showed that people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region, a WHO-defined region which includes China, Japan and Australia, were the most affected. Overall, the study, drawing on data from 194 countries, said that working 55 hours or more a week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared with a 35-40 hour working week. The study covered the period 2000-2016, and so did not include the COVID-19 pandemic, but WHO officials said the surge in remote working and the global economic slowdown resulting from the coronavirus emergency may have increased the risks. "The pandemic is accelerating developments that could feed the trend towards increased working time," the WHO said, estimating that at least nine per cent of people work long hours. WHO staff, including its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, say they have been working long hours during the pandemic and Neira said the UN agency would seek to improve its policy in light of the study. Capping hours would be beneficial for employers since that has been shown to increase worker productivity, WHO technical officer Frank Pega said. "It's really a smart choice not to increase long working hours in an economic crisis."

Long working hours are a killer, WHO study shows 

The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be a catalyst for an overhaul in digital skills for older people. Being stuck at home, away from their children, grandchildren and friends, the older citizens of the world have had to gain some digital literacy. However, according to a recent study, technology might be a good thing for senior citizens.

A UK study has found that other than merely being a way to pass time, spending time online can be very beneficial too. For older people, who apart from their traditional way of social interactions, also make use of online platforms, this world of technology has an unbeatable plus point — a way to escape dementia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-lockdowns-lower-premature-births-a-new-study-adds-evidence-335567">Did lockdowns lower premature births? A new study adds evidence</a>

This study&nbsp;by the University of West London’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, and the University of Manchester, has found that older people who frequently make use of technology&nbsp;for communication have a better ability to recollect meaningful events, i.e., a decline is not witnessed in their episodic memory. This points to them not falling prey to dementia.

The study titled 'Social Contact and 15-year Episodic Memory Trajectories in Older Adults with and Without Hearing Loss' looked at the communication habits of around 11,000, 50 to 90 years old, men and women.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/social-inequities-explain-racial-gaps-in-pandemic-studies-find-348674">Social inequities explain racial gaps in pandemic, studies find</a>

Conducted over a period of fifteen years, the study, published in&nbsp;the Journals of Gerontology, found that people who only use traditional communication methods such as face-to-face meetings and telephone communications experienced a steeper decline in their memory as compared to the participants who enriched their social activity online.

According to the study findings for those with hearing loss, an even greater impact was observed, with more diverse communication methods providing a greater benefit to cognitive function over time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-mouthwash-will-not-save-you-from-the-coronavirus-337700">No, mouthwash will not save you from the coronavirus</a>

Snorri Rafnsson, an associate professor of ageing and dementia care at the Geller Institute led the study. "This shows for the first time the impact of diverse, frequent and meaningful interactions on long-term memory, and specifically, how supplementing more traditional methods with online social activity may achieve that among older adults,"&nbsp;Rafnsson said.

"There are combined factors here, as learning to use and engage with online social technology can offer direct cognitive stimulation to keep memory function active. In addition, communicating through diverse channels can facilitate social support exchanges and interactions, which in turn benefit our brains.

He also pointed out the impact of various Zoom calls that became an important way to connect during the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

"It is fair to say that all the Zooming that went on during lockdown might well have provided older people with a protective cushion against dementia," he explainmed. "I'm sure it did have a beneficial impact on older people."

"The more platforms they can master, the better," he said, emphasising that using a more diverse array of technologies will actually provide greater benefits.

The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be a catalyst for an overhaul in digital skills for older people. Being stuck at home, away from their children, grandchildren and friends, the older citizens of the world have had to gain some digital literacy.

The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be a catalyst for an overhaul in digital skills for older people. Being stuck at home, away from their children, grandchildren and friends, the older citizens of the world have had to gain some digital literacy. However, according to a recent study, technology might be a good thing for senior citizens. A UK study has found that other than merely being a way to pass time, spending time online can be very beneficial too. For older people, who apart from their traditional way of social interactions, also make use of online platforms, this world of technology has an unbeatable plus point — a way to escape dementia. Also read | Did lockdowns lower premature births? A new study adds evidence This study by the University of West London’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, and the University of Manchester, has found that older people who frequently make use of technology for communication have a better ability to recollect meaningful events, i.e., a decline is not witnessed in their episodic memory. This points to them not falling prey to dementia. The study titled 'Social Contact and 15-year Episodic Memory Trajectories in Older Adults with and Without Hearing Loss' looked at the communication habits of around 11,000, 50 to 90 years old, men and women. Also read | Social inequities explain racial gaps in pandemic, studies find Conducted over a period of fifteen years, the study, published in the Journals of Gerontology, found that people who only use traditional communication methods such as face-to-face meetings and telephone communications experienced a steeper decline in their memory as compared to the participants who enriched their social activity online. According to the study findings for those with hearing loss, an even greater impact was observed, with more diverse communication methods providing a greater benefit to cognitive function over time. Also read | No, mouthwash will not save you from the coronavirus Snorri Rafnsson, an associate professor of ageing and dementia care at the Geller Institute led the study. "This shows for the first time the impact of diverse, frequent and meaningful interactions on long-term memory, and specifically, how supplementing more traditional methods with online social activity may achieve that among older adults," Rafnsson said. "There are combined factors here, as learning to use and engage with online social technology can offer direct cognitive stimulation to keep memory function active. In addition, communicating through diverse channels can facilitate social support exchanges and interactions, which in turn benefit our brains. He also pointed out the impact of various Zoom calls that became an important way to connect during the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. "It is fair to say that all the Zooming that went on during lockdown might well have provided older people with a protective cushion against dementia," he explainmed. "I'm sure it did have a beneficial impact on older people." "The more platforms they can master, the better," he said, emphasising that using a more diverse array of technologies will actually provide greater benefits.

Being tech savvy has health benefits for older people: Study

Antibodies against coronavirus remained in the blood of patients with COVID-19 for at least eight months after they were infected, Italian researchers said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

They were present "regardless of the severity of the illness, the age of the patients or the presence of other pathologies," according to a statement from the San Raffaele hospital in Milan.&nbsp;

The researchers, working with Italy's ISS national health institute, studied 162 patients with symptomatic coronavirus who turned up at the emergency room during the country's first wave of infections last year.&nbsp;

Blood samples were taken in March and April and again at the end of November from those who survived. Some 29 patients died.&nbsp;

"The presence of neutralising antibodies, while reducing over time, was very persistent, eight months after diagnosis, there were only three patients, who no longer showed positivity to the test," said the statement, issued jointly with the ISS.&nbsp;

The study, published in the Nature Communications scientific journal, also emphasised the importance of the development of antibodies in recovering from coronavirus.&nbsp;

"Those, who failed to produce them within the first 15 days of infection are at greater risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19," it said.&nbsp;

Two thirds of the patients surveyed were men, and the average age was 63. Some 57 per cent of them had a pre-existing pathology, notably hypertension and diabetes.&nbsp;

Antibodies against coronavirus remained in the blood of patients with COVID-19 for at least eight months after they were infected, Italian researchers said on Tuesday.

Antibodies against coronavirus remained in the blood of patients with COVID-19 for at least eight months after they were infected, Italian researchers said on Tuesday. They were present "regardless of the severity of the illness, the age of the patients or the presence of other pathologies," according to a statement from the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. The researchers, working with Italy's ISS national health institute, studied 162 patients with symptomatic coronavirus who turned up at the emergency room during the country's first wave of infections last year. Blood samples were taken in March and April and again at the end of November from those who survived. Some 29 patients died. "The presence of neutralising antibodies, while reducing over time, was very persistent, eight months after diagnosis, there were only three patients, who no longer showed positivity to the test," said the statement, issued jointly with the ISS. The study, published in the Nature Communications scientific journal, also emphasised the importance of the development of antibodies in recovering from coronavirus. "Those, who failed to produce them within the first 15 days of infection are at greater risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19," it said. Two thirds of the patients surveyed were men, and the average age was 63. Some 57 per cent of them had a pre-existing pathology, notably hypertension and diabetes.

Covid antibodies last 8 months after infection: Study 

Non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients have a low risk of serious long-term effects, but they report more visits to general practitioners following infection, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.&nbsp;

"The absolute risk of severe post-acute complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospital admission is low. However, increases in visits to general practitioners and outpatient hospital visits could indicate COVID-19 sequelae," the study found.&nbsp;

It was a population-based cohort study using the Danish prescription, patient and health insurance registries.&nbsp;

Non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients have a low risk of serious long-term effects, but they report more visits to general practitioners following infection, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

Non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients have a low risk of serious long-term effects, but they report more visits to general practitioners following infection, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. "The absolute risk of severe post-acute complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospital admission is low. However, increases in visits to general practitioners and outpatient hospital visits could indicate COVID-19 sequelae," the study found. It was a population-based cohort study using the Danish prescription, patient and health insurance registries.

Non-hospitalised Covid patients have low risk of serious long-term effects: Study 

According to a research, the temporary rises in air pollution may impair memory and thinking in older men. &nbsp;

The scientists found that the men’s cognitive performance fell following rises in air pollution during the month before testing, even when peak levels remained below safety thresholds for toxic air set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national regulators.&nbsp;

The findings build on growing evidence that exposure to fine particulate matter in the air, largely from road vehicles and industry, is harmful not only to the heart and lungs, but also to delicate neural tissues in the brain.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, According to another study, one in 15 lost pregnancies in South Asia is due to air pollution. The polluted air starts choking a baby even before birth. It causes miscarriages and foetal deaths.&nbsp;

The study says that nearly 350,000 failed pregnancies in South Asia can be attributed to air pollution and out of this, 67 per cent are in rural areas.&nbsp;

Wuhan virus has caused worldwide deaths, but vaccines are more than a ray of hope. However, another invisible killer is still on the prowl, an old enemy of humankind that is responsible for 1.6 million deaths each year. It has now been established as a key contributor in failed pregnancies.&nbsp;

According to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, air pollution is leading to numerous stillbirths and miscarriages in South Asia.&nbsp;

It reveals that nearly 350,000 failed pregnancies in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can be attributed to poor air quality.&nbsp;

Poor quality means the presence of PM2.5 particles, which are produced by farming, industrial activity, wood-burning and transport.&nbsp;

PM2.5 particles are harmful to all human beings but for an unborn baby, they can be lethal.&nbsp;

The survey indicates that over 34,197 women in South Asia have lost one pregnancy each due to bad air. &nbsp;

(With input from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a research, the temporary rises in air pollution may impair memory and thinking in older men. The scientists found that the men’s cognitive performance fell following rises in air pollution during the month before testing, even when peak levels remained below safety thresholds for toxic air set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national regulators.

According to a research, the temporary rises in air pollution may impair memory and thinking in older men. The scientists found that the men’s cognitive performance fell following rises in air pollution during the month before testing, even when peak levels remained below safety thresholds for toxic air set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national regulators. The findings build on growing evidence that exposure to fine particulate matter in the air, largely from road vehicles and industry, is harmful not only to the heart and lungs, but also to delicate neural tissues in the brain. Meanwhile, According to another study, one in 15 lost pregnancies in South Asia is due to air pollution. The polluted air starts choking a baby even before birth. It causes miscarriages and foetal deaths. The study says that nearly 350,000 failed pregnancies in South Asia can be attributed to air pollution and out of this, 67 per cent are in rural areas. Wuhan virus has caused worldwide deaths, but vaccines are more than a ray of hope. However, another invisible killer is still on the prowl, an old enemy of humankind that is responsible for 1.6 million deaths each year. It has now been established as a key contributor in failed pregnancies. According to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, air pollution is leading to numerous stillbirths and miscarriages in South Asia. It reveals that nearly 350,000 failed pregnancies in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can be attributed to poor air quality. Poor quality means the presence of PM2.5 particles, which are produced by farming, industrial activity, wood-burning and transport. PM2.5 particles are harmful to all human beings but for an unborn baby, they can be lethal. The survey indicates that over 34,197 women in South Asia have lost one pregnancy each due to bad air. (With input from agencies)

Study finds air pollution spikes may impair older men’s thinking 

A recent study has revealed that higher rates of mental illness are witnessed in children and young individuals, growing up amid heavy traffic-related air pollution. The symptoms generally come to light, by the time these individuals reach the age of 18.

Childhood exposure to nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and the development of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are linked.

Watch |

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-air-pollution-is-causing-miscarriages-359301/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These are the findings of a 25-year-long joint British/American study. The study was conducted on 2,039 children from England and Wales, all twins, born in 1994 and 1995. An assessment of their mental health was done at 18.

The authors of this study conclude that "the results collectively suggest that youths persistently exposed to moderate levels of nitrogen oxide air pollution may experience greater overall liability to psychiatric illness by young adulthood," said a report in The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-pollution-in-india-led-to-17-million-deaths-in-2019-study-351871">Air pollution in India led to 1.7 million deaths in 2019: Study</a>

According to them, the connection between air pollution and the risk of mental illness is "modest" but real. "Individual, family and neighbourhood influences on mental health", such as poverty and/or a family history of mental disorder don't seem to affect this association.

"This study has demonstrated that children growing up in our biggest cities face a greater risk of mental illness due to higher levels of traffic,"&nbsp;said, the study’s co-author, Dr Helen Fisher. "While we might like to think of our towns and cities as green and open spaces, it's clear that there is a hidden danger that many will not have even considered."

The mental health evaluation of participants at the age of 18 was done via an assessment of symptoms for ten of the most common psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, ADHD, and alcohol dependence. This was then used to calculate something known as the psychopathology factor or p-factor, which is a measure of their mental health. Participants with a higher p-factor score displayed more symptoms.

Participants with the highest exposure to nitrogen oxides scored 2.62 points higher p-factor score than their peers in the bottom three quartiles. While those with the most particulate matter exposure scored 2.04 points more.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-pollution-may-result-in-irreversible-blindness-study-says-359752">Air pollution may result in irreversible blindness, study says</a>

"We know from research that our mental health is determined by the lives we lead, the environments we’re in and our experiences from our early years onwards. A child’s mental health is influenced by many factors, including their home, school, community and neighbourhood," said, Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health think tank.

"We know that poverty, racism, trauma and exclusion are major risks to mental health.&nbsp;Today’s research shows, our physical environment matters too, and making places safer, cleaner and healthier to live in will have lifelong benefits," he added.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;World Health Organization data, worldwide nine out of ten people are exposed to high pollution levels. Various studies&nbsp;identify pollution as one of the major contributing, aggravating factors for poor heart and lung health and ailments of the central nervous system and risk of mental illness.&nbsp;

While the study does show an interrelation between pollution, traffic fumes and mental ill-health, according to Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, "what they can’t do is to show that it’s the high air pollution that actually causes the poorer mental health."

A recent study has revealed that higher rates of mental illness are witnessed in children and young individuals, growing up amid heavy traffic-related air pollution.

A recent study has revealed that higher rates of mental illness are witnessed in children and young individuals, growing up amid heavy traffic-related air pollution. The symptoms generally come to light, by the time these individuals reach the age of 18. Childhood exposure to nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and the development of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are linked. Watch | These are the findings of a 25-year-long joint British/American study. The study was conducted on 2,039 children from England and Wales, all twins, born in 1994 and 1995. An assessment of their mental health was done at 18. The authors of this study conclude that "the results collectively suggest that youths persistently exposed to moderate levels of nitrogen oxide air pollution may experience greater overall liability to psychiatric illness by young adulthood," said a report in The Guardian. Also read | Air pollution in India led to 1.7 million deaths in 2019: Study According to them, the connection between air pollution and the risk of mental illness is "modest" but real. "Individual, family and neighbourhood influences on mental health", such as poverty and/or a family history of mental disorder don't seem to affect this association. "This study has demonstrated that children growing up in our biggest cities face a greater risk of mental illness due to higher levels of traffic," said, the study’s co-author, Dr Helen Fisher. "While we might like to think of our towns and cities as green and open spaces, it's clear that there is a hidden danger that many will not have even considered." The mental health evaluation of participants at the age of 18 was done via an assessment of symptoms for ten of the most common psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, ADHD, and alcohol dependence. This was then used to calculate something known as the psychopathology factor or p-factor, which is a measure of their mental health. Participants with a higher p-factor score displayed more symptoms. Participants with the highest exposure to nitrogen oxides scored 2.62 points higher p-factor score than their peers in the bottom three quartiles. While those with the most particulate matter exposure scored 2.04 points more. Also read | Air pollution may result in irreversible blindness, study says "We know from research that our mental health is determined by the lives we lead, the environments we’re in and our experiences from our early years onwards. A child’s mental health is influenced by many factors, including their home, school, community and neighbourhood," said, Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health think tank. "We know that poverty, racism, trauma and exclusion are major risks to mental health. Today’s research shows, our physical environment matters too, and making places safer, cleaner and healthier to live in will have lifelong benefits," he added. According to World Health Organization data, worldwide nine out of ten people are exposed to high pollution levels. Various studies identify pollution as one of the major contributing, aggravating factors for poor heart and lung health and ailments of the central nervous system and risk of mental illness. While the study does show an interrelation between pollution, traffic fumes and mental ill-health, according to Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, "what they can’t do is to show that it’s the high air pollution that actually causes the poorer mental health."

Continuous exposure to pollution can cause mental illness in children: Study

The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can break through the protection provided by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found. However, the variant's prevalence in Israel is very low and the vaccine remains highly effective.

The study was released on the medRxiv pre-print site on April 9 and has not been peer-reviewed. It compared almost 400 people who had tested positive for COVID-19, after they received one or two doses of the vaccine, against the same number of unvaccinated patients with the disease. It matched age and gender, among other characteristics. 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pfizer-ceo-albert-bourla-raises-possibility-of-annual-revaccination-378408/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The South African variant, B.1.351, was found to make up about 1% of all the COVID-19 cases across all the people studied, according to the study by Tel Aviv University and Israel's largest healthcare provider, Clalit. But among patients who had received two doses of the vaccine, the variant's prevalence rate was eight times higher than those unvaccinated - 5.4% versus 0.7%.

This suggests the vaccine is less effective against the South African variant, compared with the original coronavirus and a variant first identified in Britain that has come to comprise nearly all COVID-19 cases in Israel, the researchers said.

The researchers said the study was not intended to assess overall vaccine effectiveness against any variant, since it only looked at people who had already tested positive for COVID-19, not at overall infection rates.

Separate real-world Israeli studies on the vaccine's overall effectiveness, including by Clalit, have shown the Pfizer shot to be more than 90% effective.

"We found a disproportionately higher rate of the South African variant among people vaccinated with a second dose, compared to the unvaccinated group. This means that the South African variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccine's protection," said Tel Aviv University's Adi Stern.

In an update to the study posted on April 16, the researchers noted that within the group of people who received two doses, which comprised eight people, all of the B.1.351 infections occurred within a week to 13 days after the second shot. None of them tested positive for it 14 days or more after the second dose.

"This may imply that there is a short window of susceptibility to B.1.351 infection limited to the immediate two weeks after the second dose - but we cannot be confident that this is indeed the case," Stern and Clalit's Ran Balicer said in an email to Reuters on Sunday.

The researchers cautioned, though, that the study only had a small sample size of people infected with the South African variant because of its rarity in Israel.

"The B.1.351 incidence in Israel to date remains low and vaccine effectiveness remains high among those fully vaccinated," the study said.

Pfizer declined to comment on the Israeli study. Pfizer and BioNTech said on April 1 that their vaccine was around 91% effective at preventing COVID-19, citing updated trial data that included participants inoculated for up to six months.

They have been testing the third dose of their shot as a booster, and have said they could modify the shot to specifically address new variants if needed.

In respect to the South African variant, they said that among a group of 800 study volunteers in South Africa, where B.1.351 is widespread, there were nine cases of COVID-19, all of which occurred among participants who got the placebo. Of those nine cases, six were among individuals infected with the South African variant.

Some previous studies have indicated that the Pfizer/BioNTech shot was less potent against the B.1.351 variant than against other variants of the coronavirus, but still offered a powerful defence.

While the results of the study may cause concern, the low prevalence of the South African strain was encouraging, according to Stern.

"Even if the South African variant does break through the vaccine's protection, it has not spread widely through the population," said Stern, adding that the British variant may be "blocking" the spread of the South African strain.

More than half of Israel's 9.3 million population has received both Pfizer doses. Israel has largely reopened its economy in recent weeks while the pandemic appears to be receding with a sharp drop in infections and hospitalizations.

The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can break through the protection provided by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found.

The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can break through the protection provided by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found. However, the variant's prevalence in Israel is very low and the vaccine remains highly effective. The study was released on the medRxiv pre-print site on April 9 and has not been peer-reviewed. It compared almost 400 people who had tested positive for COVID-19, after they received one or two doses of the vaccine, against the same number of unvaccinated patients with the disease. It matched age and gender, among other characteristics. The South African variant, B.1.351, was found to make up about 1% of all the COVID-19 cases across all the people studied, according to the study by Tel Aviv University and Israel's largest healthcare provider, Clalit. But among patients who had received two doses of the vaccine, the variant's prevalence rate was eight times higher than those unvaccinated - 5.4% versus 0.7%. This suggests the vaccine is less effective against the South African variant, compared with the original coronavirus and a variant first identified in Britain that has come to comprise nearly all COVID-19 cases in Israel, the researchers said. The researchers said the study was not intended to assess overall vaccine effectiveness against any variant, since it only looked at people who had already tested positive for COVID-19, not at overall infection rates. Separate real-world Israeli studies on the vaccine's overall effectiveness, including by Clalit, have shown the Pfizer shot to be more than 90% effective. "We found a disproportionately higher rate of the South African variant among people vaccinated with a second dose, compared to the unvaccinated group. This means that the South African variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccine's protection," said Tel Aviv University's Adi Stern. In an update to the study posted on April 16, the researchers noted that within the group of people who received two doses, which comprised eight people, all of the B.1.351 infections occurred within a week to 13 days after the second shot. None of them tested positive for it 14 days or more after the second dose. "This may imply that there is a short window of susceptibility to B.1.351 infection limited to the immediate two weeks after the second dose - but we cannot be confident that this is indeed the case," Stern and Clalit's Ran Balicer said in an email to Reuters on Sunday. The researchers cautioned, though, that the study only had a small sample size of people infected with the South African variant because of its rarity in Israel. "The B.1.351 incidence in Israel to date remains low and vaccine effectiveness remains high among those fully vaccinated," the study said. Pfizer declined to comment on the Israeli study. Pfizer and BioNTech said on April 1 that their vaccine was around 91% effective at preventing COVID-19, citing updated trial data that included participants inoculated for up to six months. They have been testing the third dose of their shot as a booster, and have said they could modify the shot to specifically address new variants if needed. In respect to the South African variant, they said that among a group of 800 study volunteers in South Africa, where B.1.351 is widespread, there were nine cases of COVID-19, all of which occurred among participants who got the placebo. Of those nine cases, six were among individuals infected with the South African variant. Some previous studies have indicated that the Pfizer/BioNTech shot was less potent against the B.1.351 variant than against other variants of the coronavirus, but still offered a powerful defence. While the results of the study may cause concern, the low prevalence of the South African strain was encouraging, according to Stern. "Even if the South African variant does break through the vaccine's protection, it has not spread widely through the population," said Stern, adding that the British variant may be "blocking" the spread of the South African strain. More than half of Israel's 9.3 million population has received both Pfizer doses. Israel has largely reopened its economy in recent weeks while the pandemic appears to be receding with a sharp drop in infections and hospitalizations.

South African variant may 'break through' Pfizer vaccine protection, says study

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests.&nbsp;

The findings, published in the journal Brain, suggest that the neurological changes often seen in these patients may result from inflammation triggered by the virus in other parts of the body or the brain's blood vessels.&nbsp;

"We've looked at more brains than other studies and we have used more techniques to search for the virus. The bottom line is that we find no evidence of viral RNA or protein in brain cells," said researcher James E Goldman from Columbia University.&nbsp;

For the study, the research team examined the brains of 41 patients with Covid-19 who succumbed to the disease during their hospitalisation. The patients ranged in age from 38 to 97, about half had been intubated and all had lung damage caused by the virus.&nbsp;

All of the patients had extensive clinical and laboratory investigations, and some had brain MRI and CT scans.&nbsp;

To detect any virus in the neurons and glia cells of the brain, the researchers used multiple methods including RNA in situ hybridisation, which can detect viral RNA within intact cells; antibodies that can detect viral proteins within cells; and RT-PCR, a sensitive technique for detecting viral RNA.&nbsp;

Despite their intensive search, the researchers found no evidence of the virus in the patients' brain cells. Though they did detect very low levels of viral RNA by RT-PCR, this was likely due to virus in blood vessels or leptomeninges covering the brain.&nbsp;

The tests were conducted on more than two dozen brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, which was searched because some reports have speculated that the coronavirus can travel from the nasal cavity into the brain via the olfactory nerve.&nbsp;

"Even there, we didn't find any viral protein or RNA. Though we found viral RNA and protein in the patients' nasal mucosa and in the olfactory mucosa high in the nasal cavity," Goldman said.&nbsp;

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests. The findings, published in the journal Brain, suggest that the neurological changes often seen in these patients may result from inflammation triggered by the virus in other parts of the body or the brain's blood vessels. "We've looked at more brains than other studies and we have used more techniques to search for the virus. The bottom line is that we find no evidence of viral RNA or protein in brain cells," said researcher James E Goldman from Columbia University. For the study, the research team examined the brains of 41 patients with Covid-19 who succumbed to the disease during their hospitalisation. The patients ranged in age from 38 to 97, about half had been intubated and all had lung damage caused by the virus. All of the patients had extensive clinical and laboratory investigations, and some had brain MRI and CT scans. To detect any virus in the neurons and glia cells of the brain, the researchers used multiple methods including RNA in situ hybridisation, which can detect viral RNA within intact cells; antibodies that can detect viral proteins within cells; and RT-PCR, a sensitive technique for detecting viral RNA. Despite their intensive search, the researchers found no evidence of the virus in the patients' brain cells. Though they did detect very low levels of viral RNA by RT-PCR, this was likely due to virus in blood vessels or leptomeninges covering the brain. The tests were conducted on more than two dozen brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, which was searched because some reports have speculated that the coronavirus can travel from the nasal cavity into the brain via the olfactory nerve. "Even there, we didn't find any viral protein or RNA. Though we found viral RNA and protein in the patients' nasal mucosa and in the olfactory mucosa high in the nasal cavity," Goldman said.

'Covid does not infect brain but still inflicts damage' 

Despite increasing concern over the intrusion of algorithms in daily life, a new research shows that people are more likely to rely on algorithms than humans, especially if a task becomes too challenging.&nbsp;

From choosing the next song on your playlist to choosing the right size pants, people are relying more on the advice of algorithms to help make everyday decisions and streamline their lives.&nbsp;

"Algorithms are able to do a huge number of tasks and the number of tasks that they are able to do is expanding practically every day," said researcher Eric Bogert from the University of Georgia.&nbsp;

"It seems like there's a bias towards leaning more heavily on algorithms as a task gets harder and that effect is stronger than the bias towards relying on advice from other people," Bogert added.&nbsp;

For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team involved 1,500 individuals evaluating photographs.&nbsp;

The team asked volunteers to count the number of people in a photograph of a crowd and supplied suggestions that were generated by a group of other people and suggestions generated by an algorithm.&nbsp;

As the number of people in the photograph expanded, counting became more difficult and people were more likely to follow the suggestion generated by an algorithm rather than count themselves or follow the "wisdom of the crowd", the researcher said.&nbsp;

According to the researcher, the choice of counting as the trial task was an important one because the number of people in the photo makes the task objectively harder as it increases. It also is the type of task that laypeople expect computers to be good at.&nbsp;

Facial recognition and hiring algorithms have come under scrutiny in recent years as well because their use has revealed cultural biases in the way they were built, which can cause inaccuracies when matching faces to identities or screening for qualified job candidates, the team said.&nbsp;

Those biases may not be present in a simple task like counting, but their presence in other trusted algorithms is a reason why it's important to understand how people rely on algorithms when making decisions, they added.&nbsp;

Despite increasing concern over the intrusion of algorithms in daily life, a new research shows that people are more likely to rely on algorithms than humans, especially if a task becomes too challenging.

Despite increasing concern over the intrusion of algorithms in daily life, a new research shows that people are more likely to rely on algorithms than humans, especially if a task becomes too challenging. From choosing the next song on your playlist to choosing the right size pants, people are relying more on the advice of algorithms to help make everyday decisions and streamline their lives. "Algorithms are able to do a huge number of tasks and the number of tasks that they are able to do is expanding practically every day," said researcher Eric Bogert from the University of Georgia. "It seems like there's a bias towards leaning more heavily on algorithms as a task gets harder and that effect is stronger than the bias towards relying on advice from other people," Bogert added. For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team involved 1,500 individuals evaluating photographs. The team asked volunteers to count the number of people in a photograph of a crowd and supplied suggestions that were generated by a group of other people and suggestions generated by an algorithm. As the number of people in the photograph expanded, counting became more difficult and people were more likely to follow the suggestion generated by an algorithm rather than count themselves or follow the "wisdom of the crowd", the researcher said. According to the researcher, the choice of counting as the trial task was an important one because the number of people in the photo makes the task objectively harder as it increases. It also is the type of task that laypeople expect computers to be good at. Facial recognition and hiring algorithms have come under scrutiny in recent years as well because their use has revealed cultural biases in the way they were built, which can cause inaccuracies when matching faces to identities or screening for qualified job candidates, the team said. Those biases may not be present in a simple task like counting, but their presence in other trusted algorithms is a reason why it's important to understand how people rely on algorithms when making decisions, they added.

People trust computers more than humans: Study 

Plants absorb a vast amount of toxic mercury gas in the atmosphere and help reducing the pollutant worldwide by depositing the element into soils, said researchers.

The process is similar to the absorption of carbon dioxide emissions by plants, said the team from University of Massachusetts Lowell, in the US.

Hundreds of tonnes of mercury each year are emitted into the atmosphere as a gas by burning coal, mining and other industrial and natural processes.

When the plants shed leaves or die, the mercury is transferred to soils where large amounts also make their way into watersheds, threatening wildlife and people who eat contaminated fish, the researchers explained, in the study published journal Nature Reviews - Earth &amp; Environment.

Exposure to high levels of mercury over long periods can lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems in humans, according to Daniel Obrist, Professor at UMass Lowell.

There is no safe level of mercury for humans, according to the World Health Organization. Exposure to the hazardous element can lead to irritability, speech and visual impairment, hypospermia, kidney failure and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.

For the study, the team collected 200 published studies with data on mercury levels in vegetation from more than 400 locations around the world.

They found about 88 per cent of the mercury found in plants originates from plants’ leaves absorbing gaseous mercury from the atmosphere.

Globally, vegetation can take up more than 1,300 tonnes of mercury each year, accounting for 60 to 90 per cent of it being deposited over land, according to Jun Zhou, Research Associate at UMass Lowell.

The study represents the largest comprehensive review of the uptake of mercury in vegetation and its impact on mercury cycling around the world. The work moves scientists toward a greater understanding of how mercury cycling works, Zhou said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Plants absorb a vast amount of toxic mercury gas in the atmosphere and help reducing the pollutant worldwide by depositing the element into soils, said researchers.

Plants absorb a vast amount of toxic mercury gas in the atmosphere and help reducing the pollutant worldwide by depositing the element into soils, said researchers. The process is similar to the absorption of carbon dioxide emissions by plants, said the team from University of Massachusetts Lowell, in the US. Hundreds of tonnes of mercury each year are emitted into the atmosphere as a gas by burning coal, mining and other industrial and natural processes. When the plants shed leaves or die, the mercury is transferred to soils where large amounts also make their way into watersheds, threatening wildlife and people who eat contaminated fish, the researchers explained, in the study published journal Nature Reviews - Earth & Environment. Exposure to high levels of mercury over long periods can lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems in humans, according to Daniel Obrist, Professor at UMass Lowell. There is no safe level of mercury for humans, according to the World Health Organization. Exposure to the hazardous element can lead to irritability, speech and visual impairment, hypospermia, kidney failure and Alzheimer’s disease, among others. For the study, the team collected 200 published studies with data on mercury levels in vegetation from more than 400 locations around the world. They found about 88 per cent of the mercury found in plants originates from plants’ leaves absorbing gaseous mercury from the atmosphere. Globally, vegetation can take up more than 1,300 tonnes of mercury each year, accounting for 60 to 90 per cent of it being deposited over land, according to Jun Zhou, Research Associate at UMass Lowell. The study represents the largest comprehensive review of the uptake of mercury in vegetation and its impact on mercury cycling around the world. The work moves scientists toward a greater understanding of how mercury cycling works, Zhou said. (With inputs from agencies)

Plants help reduce toxic mercury from environment, says study

The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now. There are now vaccines available ofcourse. But the scare remains.

But what if we told that there is a microbe that is invisible to our immune system? In theory, if these microbes entered our body, the immune system will not be able to mount a defence.

Scared yet?

Researchers associated with Harvard Medical School and other institutions have collected sea microbes that exhibit 'immunosilence'. The findings have challenged the notion in Immunovbiology that human immune system has evolved to detect every micro-organism with a view to protect us.

The microbes were collected from a mile below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. For this, the scientists chose a spot in central Pacific Ocean in Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, 1650 miles (2655 kilometers) from Hawaii. One of the authors of the study has been quoted in media as saying that it was "most deep, ancient, remote, and protected part" of the ocean.

The researchers collected the bacteria and added human and mouse immune cells to the culture. It was found that 80 per cent of the microbes (prominently Moritella) escaped detection.

This has led scientists involved in the study to exclaim that immune system may be "locally defined" by pathogens in the local environment.

In spite of the spooky findings of the bacteria being invisible to human immune system, those observed in the study don't pose risk of infecting people, said the scientists.

They have published their findings in the journal Science Immunology.

The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now.

The fear of COVID in itself is enough for people to move well beyond the minimum required social distance. The once-in-a-generation pandemic has had the world in its clutches for more than a year now. There are now vaccines available ofcourse. But the scare remains. But what if we told that there is a microbe that is invisible to our immune system? In theory, if these microbes entered our body, the immune system will not be able to mount a defence. Scared yet? Researchers associated with Harvard Medical School and other institutions have collected sea microbes that exhibit 'immunosilence'. The findings have challenged the notion in Immunovbiology that human immune system has evolved to detect every micro-organism with a view to protect us. The microbes were collected from a mile below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. For this, the scientists chose a spot in central Pacific Ocean in Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, 1650 miles (2655 kilometers) from Hawaii. One of the authors of the study has been quoted in media as saying that it was "most deep, ancient, remote, and protected part" of the ocean. The researchers collected the bacteria and added human and mouse immune cells to the culture. It was found that 80 per cent of the microbes (prominently Moritella) escaped detection. This has led scientists involved in the study to exclaim that immune system may be "locally defined" by pathogens in the local environment. In spite of the spooky findings of the bacteria being invisible to human immune system, those observed in the study don't pose risk of infecting people, said the scientists. They have published their findings in the journal Science Immunology.

You think COVID virus is bad? There's a sea microbe that's invisible to our immune system

Heightened activity in the brain, caused by stressful events, is linked to the risk of developing a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition, a new study suggests.&nbsp;

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found the greater the activity in nerve cells in the amygdala region of the brain, the sooner the condition known as Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) can develop.&nbsp;

"The study suggests that the increased stress-associated neurobiological activity in the amygdala, which is present years before TTS occurs, may play an important role in its development and may predict the timing of the syndrome," said researcher Ahmed Tawakol from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.&nbsp;

TTS, also known as 'broken heart' syndrome, is characterised by a sudden temporary weakening of the heart muscles that causes the left ventricle of the heart to balloon out at the bottom while the neck remains narrow, creating a shape resembling a Japanese octopus trap, from which it gets its name.&nbsp;

Since this relatively rare condition was first described in 1990, evidence has suggested that it is typically triggered by episodes of severe emotional distress, such as grief, anger or fear, or reactions to happy or joyful events.&nbsp;

Patients develop chest pain and breathlessness, and it can lead to heart attacks and death. TTS is more common in women with only 10 per cent of cases occurring in men.&nbsp;

The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls emotions, motivation, learning and memory. It is also involved in the control of the autonomic nervous system and regulating heart function.&nbsp;

For the study, the team involved 104 participants patients had undergone PET-CT scans between 2005 and 2019.&nbsp;

The researchers matched 41 people, who went on to develop TTS between six months and five years after the scan with 63 who did not. The interval between the scan, the onset of TTs, last follow-up or death was an average (median) of 2.5 years for the 104 patients.&nbsp;

The researchers found that people who went on to develop TTS had higher stress-related amygdalar activity on initial scanning (measured as a ratio of amygdalar activity to activity of brain regions that counter stress) compared to individuals who did not subsequently develop TTS.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

Heightened activity in the brain, caused by stressful events, is linked to the risk of developing a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition, a new study suggests.

Heightened activity in the brain, caused by stressful events, is linked to the risk of developing a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition, a new study suggests. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found the greater the activity in nerve cells in the amygdala region of the brain, the sooner the condition known as Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) can develop. "The study suggests that the increased stress-associated neurobiological activity in the amygdala, which is present years before TTS occurs, may play an important role in its development and may predict the timing of the syndrome," said researcher Ahmed Tawakol from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the US. TTS, also known as 'broken heart' syndrome, is characterised by a sudden temporary weakening of the heart muscles that causes the left ventricle of the heart to balloon out at the bottom while the neck remains narrow, creating a shape resembling a Japanese octopus trap, from which it gets its name. Since this relatively rare condition was first described in 1990, evidence has suggested that it is typically triggered by episodes of severe emotional distress, such as grief, anger or fear, or reactions to happy or joyful events. Patients develop chest pain and breathlessness, and it can lead to heart attacks and death. TTS is more common in women with only 10 per cent of cases occurring in men. The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls emotions, motivation, learning and memory. It is also involved in the control of the autonomic nervous system and regulating heart function. For the study, the team involved 104 participants patients had undergone PET-CT scans between 2005 and 2019. The researchers matched 41 people, who went on to develop TTS between six months and five years after the scan with 63 who did not. The interval between the scan, the onset of TTs, last follow-up or death was an average (median) of 2.5 years for the 104 patients. The researchers found that people who went on to develop TTS had higher stress-related amygdalar activity on initial scanning (measured as a ratio of amygdalar activity to activity of brain regions that counter stress) compared to individuals who did not subsequently develop TTS. (With inputs from agencies)

Stressed brain linked to broken heart syndrome: Study 

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers.&nbsp;

The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions. However, they were also more likely to have lower cognitive function, as well.&nbsp;

According to researcher David M Almeida from Penn State, the study suggests that small, daily stressors could potentially benefit the brain, despite being an inconvenience.&nbsp;

"It's possible that experiencing stressors creates opportunities for you to solve a problem, for example, maybe fixing your computer that has suddenly broken down before an important Zoom meeting," Almeida said.&nbsp;

"So, experiencing these stressors may not be pleasant but they may force you to solve a problem, and this might actually be good for cognitive functioning, especially as we grow older," Almeida added.&nbsp;

According to the researchers, a large number of previous studies have linked stress with a greater risk for many negative outcomes, like chronic illness or worse emotional wellbeing.&nbsp;

But Almeida said that while it may make sense to believe that the less stress someone experiences the more healthy they will be, he said, little research has explored that assumption.&nbsp;

For the study, published in the journal Emotion, the researchers used data from 2,711 participants for the study.&nbsp;

Prior to the start of the study, the participants completed a short cognition test.&nbsp;

Then, the participants were interviewed each night for eight consecutive nights, and answered questions about their mood, chronic conditions they may have, their physical symptoms, such as headaches, coughs or sore throats and what they did during that day.&nbsp;

After analysing the data, the researchers found that there did appear to be benefits for those who reported no stressors throughout the study, about 10 per cent of the participants.&nbsp;

These participants were less likely to have chronic health conditions and experience better moods throughout the day.&nbsp;

However, those who reported no stressors also performed lower on the cognition test, with the difference equalling more than eight years of aging.&nbsp;

Additionally, they were also less likely to report giving or receiving emotional support, as well as less likely to experience positive things happening throughout the day.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers. The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions.

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers. The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions. However, they were also more likely to have lower cognitive function, as well. According to researcher David M Almeida from Penn State, the study suggests that small, daily stressors could potentially benefit the brain, despite being an inconvenience. "It's possible that experiencing stressors creates opportunities for you to solve a problem, for example, maybe fixing your computer that has suddenly broken down before an important Zoom meeting," Almeida said. "So, experiencing these stressors may not be pleasant but they may force you to solve a problem, and this might actually be good for cognitive functioning, especially as we grow older," Almeida added. According to the researchers, a large number of previous studies have linked stress with a greater risk for many negative outcomes, like chronic illness or worse emotional wellbeing. But Almeida said that while it may make sense to believe that the less stress someone experiences the more healthy they will be, he said, little research has explored that assumption. For the study, published in the journal Emotion, the researchers used data from 2,711 participants for the study. Prior to the start of the study, the participants completed a short cognition test. Then, the participants were interviewed each night for eight consecutive nights, and answered questions about their mood, chronic conditions they may have, their physical symptoms, such as headaches, coughs or sore throats and what they did during that day. After analysing the data, the researchers found that there did appear to be benefits for those who reported no stressors throughout the study, about 10 per cent of the participants. These participants were less likely to have chronic health conditions and experience better moods throughout the day. However, those who reported no stressors also performed lower on the cognition test, with the difference equalling more than eight years of aging. Additionally, they were also less likely to report giving or receiving emotional support, as well as less likely to experience positive things happening throughout the day. (With inputs from agencies)

Little stress a day good for brain, says study 

A new US-based study has found that hospitalised Covid-19 patients are at a higher risk of stroke compared with patients, who had similar infectious conditions, such as influenza and sepsis in prior studies.&nbsp;

The study, presented at the International Stroke Conference 2021, showed that 1.4 per cent in the Covid-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry had a stroke confirmed by diagnostic imaging during hospitalisation.&nbsp;

Of these, 52.7 per cent experienced ischemic stroke; 2.5 per cent had transient ischemic attack (TIA); and 45.2 per cent experienced a bleeding stroke or unspecified type of stroke.&nbsp;

"These findings suggest that Covid-19 may increase the risk of stroke, though the exact mechanism for this is still unknown," said lead author Saate S Shakil of the University of Washington.&nbsp;

"As the pandemic continues, we are finding that coronavirus is not just a respiratory illness, but a vascular disease that can affect many organ systems," Shakil added.&nbsp;

For the study, the team accessed the American Heart Association's Covid-19 CVD Registry that included more than 20,000 patients hospitalised with Covid-19 across the US.&nbsp;

The analysis also found those with any type of stroke were more likely to be male and older (average age 65) than patients without stroke. Most of the ischemic stroke patients had high blood pressure compared to patients without stroke.&nbsp;

"Stroke on its own can have devastating consequences and recovering from Covid-19 is often a difficult path for those who survive. Together, they can exact a significant toll on patients who have had both conditions," Shakil said.&nbsp;

"It is more important than ever that we curb the spread of Covid-19 via public health interventions and widespread vaccine distribution," Shakil added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A new US-based study has found that hospitalised Covid-19 patients are at a higher risk of stroke compared with patients, who had similar infectious conditions, such as influenza and sepsis in prior studies.

A new US-based study has found that hospitalised Covid-19 patients are at a higher risk of stroke compared with patients, who had similar infectious conditions, such as influenza and sepsis in prior studies. The study, presented at the International Stroke Conference 2021, showed that 1.4 per cent in the Covid-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry had a stroke confirmed by diagnostic imaging during hospitalisation. Of these, 52.7 per cent experienced ischemic stroke; 2.5 per cent had transient ischemic attack (TIA); and 45.2 per cent experienced a bleeding stroke or unspecified type of stroke. "These findings suggest that Covid-19 may increase the risk of stroke, though the exact mechanism for this is still unknown," said lead author Saate S Shakil of the University of Washington. "As the pandemic continues, we are finding that coronavirus is not just a respiratory illness, but a vascular disease that can affect many organ systems," Shakil added. For the study, the team accessed the American Heart Association's Covid-19 CVD Registry that included more than 20,000 patients hospitalised with Covid-19 across the US. The analysis also found those with any type of stroke were more likely to be male and older (average age 65) than patients without stroke. Most of the ischemic stroke patients had high blood pressure compared to patients without stroke. "Stroke on its own can have devastating consequences and recovering from Covid-19 is often a difficult path for those who survive. Together, they can exact a significant toll on patients who have had both conditions," Shakil said. "It is more important than ever that we curb the spread of Covid-19 via public health interventions and widespread vaccine distribution," Shakil added. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid patients at higher risk of stroke during hospitalisation: Study 

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests.&nbsp;

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests.&nbsp;

"Fake news on social media is now a matter of considerable public and governmental concern," said researcher Tony Anderson from the University of Strathclyde in the UK.&nbsp;

"Research on dealing with this issue is still in its infancy but recent studies have started to focus on the psychological factors which might make some individuals less susceptible to fake news," Anderson added.&nbsp;

For the study, the research team invited nearly 100 participants to read a series of news items on social media and to ascertain whether they were real or fictitious, briefly describing the reasons for their answers.&nbsp;

They were also asked to complete a test to determine their levels of emotional intelligence (EQ or emotional quotient) and were asked a number of questions when considering the veracity of each news item.&nbsp;

Participants were presented with real and fabricated news stories on issues including health, crime, wealth inequality and the environment.&nbsp;

Fictitious items featured aspects including emotive language, brief information and a lack of attributed sources.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests.

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests. "Fake news on social media is now a matter of considerable public and governmental concern," said researcher Tony Anderson from the University of Strathclyde in the UK. "Research on dealing with this issue is still in its infancy but recent studies have started to focus on the psychological factors which might make some individuals less susceptible to fake news," Anderson added. For the study, the research team invited nearly 100 participants to read a series of news items on social media and to ascertain whether they were real or fictitious, briefly describing the reasons for their answers. They were also asked to complete a test to determine their levels of emotional intelligence (EQ or emotional quotient) and were asked a number of questions when considering the veracity of each news item. Participants were presented with real and fabricated news stories on issues including health, crime, wealth inequality and the environment. Fictitious items featured aspects including emotive language, brief information and a lack of attributed sources. (With inputs from agencies)

High EQ can help to identify fake news 

Researchers have developed a method based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that rapidly identifies currently available medications that may treat Alzheimer's disease.&nbsp;

The method could represent a rapid and inexpensive way to repurpose existing therapies into new treatments for this progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative condition. Importantly, it could also help reveal new, unexplored targets for therapy by pointing to mechanisms of drug action.&nbsp;

"Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease is an attractive idea that can help accelerate the arrival of effective treatment -- but unfortunately, even for previously approved drugs, clinical trials require substantial resources, making it impossible to evaluate every drug in patients with Alzheimer's disease," said researcher Artem Sokolov from Harvard Medical School.&nbsp;

"We therefore built a framework for prioritising drugs, helping clinical studies to focus on the most promising ones," Sokolov added.&nbsp;

For the study, published in Nature Communications, the team described their framework, called Drug Repurposing in Alzheimer's Disease (DRIAD), which relies on machine learning -- a branch of artificial intelligence in which systems are 'trained' on vast amounts of data, 'learn' to identify telltale patterns and augment researchers' and clinicians' decision-making.&nbsp;

DRIAD works by measuring what happens to human brain neural cells when treated with a drug.&nbsp;

The method then determines whether the changes induced by a drug correlate with molecular markers of disease severity.&nbsp;

The approach also allowed the researchers to identify drugs that had protective as well as damaging effects on brain cells.&nbsp;

The team applied the screening method to 80 FDA-approved and clinically tested drugs for a wide range of conditions. The analysis yielded a ranked list of candidates, with several anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancers emerging as top contenders.&nbsp;

These drugs belong to a class of medications known as Janus kinase inhibitors. The drugs work by blocking the action of inflammation-fueling Janus kinase proteins, suspected to play a role in Alzheimer's disease and known for their role in autoimmune conditions. The team's analyses also pointed to other potential treatment targets for further investigation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Researchers have developed a method based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that rapidly identifies currently available medications that may treat Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers have developed a method based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that rapidly identifies currently available medications that may treat Alzheimer's disease. The method could represent a rapid and inexpensive way to repurpose existing therapies into new treatments for this progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative condition. Importantly, it could also help reveal new, unexplored targets for therapy by pointing to mechanisms of drug action. "Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease is an attractive idea that can help accelerate the arrival of effective treatment -- but unfortunately, even for previously approved drugs, clinical trials require substantial resources, making it impossible to evaluate every drug in patients with Alzheimer's disease," said researcher Artem Sokolov from Harvard Medical School. "We therefore built a framework for prioritising drugs, helping clinical studies to focus on the most promising ones," Sokolov added. For the study, published in Nature Communications, the team described their framework, called Drug Repurposing in Alzheimer's Disease (DRIAD), which relies on machine learning -- a branch of artificial intelligence in which systems are 'trained' on vast amounts of data, 'learn' to identify telltale patterns and augment researchers' and clinicians' decision-making. DRIAD works by measuring what happens to human brain neural cells when treated with a drug. The method then determines whether the changes induced by a drug correlate with molecular markers of disease severity. The approach also allowed the researchers to identify drugs that had protective as well as damaging effects on brain cells. The team applied the screening method to 80 FDA-approved and clinically tested drugs for a wide range of conditions. The analysis yielded a ranked list of candidates, with several anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancers emerging as top contenders. These drugs belong to a class of medications known as Janus kinase inhibitors. The drugs work by blocking the action of inflammation-fueling Janus kinase proteins, suspected to play a role in Alzheimer's disease and known for their role in autoimmune conditions. The team's analyses also pointed to other potential treatment targets for further investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

Artificial Intelligence reveals current drugs may help combat Alzheimer's

A 29-year-old American man who has fathered dozens of children by offering sperm donations online has said that the demand has risen during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyle Gordy from Los Angeles, California, USA, has travelled across the country to impregnate scores of women who have sought out his sperm.

He has also started the Facebook group Sperm Donation USA and says it provides a more personalised experience than a sperm bank.

<img alt="Kyle Gordy" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="57ba097f-ec0b-4260-9e38-87d93888568d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kyle%20Gordy.JPG" />

Gordy has fathered at least 35 children and keeps in touch with all of them.

Gordy said he first donated sperm to a lesbian couple who wanted a baby and he now has a website where women can contact him.

"I don't charge a fee for my&nbsp;sperm but ask&nbsp;that the "recipient" covers my&nbsp;travel expenses," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 29-year-old American man who has fathered dozens of children by offering sperm donations online has said that the demand has risen during the coronavirus pandemic.

A 29-year-old American man who has fathered dozens of children by offering sperm donations online has said that the demand has risen during the coronavirus pandemic. Kyle Gordy from Los Angeles, California, USA, has travelled across the country to impregnate scores of women who have sought out his sperm. He has also started the Facebook group Sperm Donation USA and says it provides a more personalised experience than a sperm bank. Gordy has fathered at least 35 children and keeps in touch with all of them. Gordy said he first donated sperm to a lesbian couple who wanted a baby and he now has a website where women can contact him. "I don't charge a fee for my sperm but ask that the "recipient" covers my travel expenses," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Demand has risen during Covid pandemic, says sperm donor 'who has fathered 35 children'

Sophisticated scanning technology is revealing intriguing secrets about Little Foot, the remarkable fossil of an early human forerunner that inhabited South Africa 3.67 million years ago during a critical juncture in our evolutionary history.&nbsp;

Scientists said on Tuesday they examined key parts of the nearly complete and well-preserved fossil at Britain's national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source. The scanning focused upon Little Foot's cranial vault - the upper part of her braincase - and her lower jaw, or mandible.&nbsp;

The researchers gained insight not only into the biology of Little Foot's species but also into the hardships that this individual, an adult female, encountered during her life.&nbsp;

Little Foot's species blended ape-like and human-like traits and is considered a possible direct ancestor of humans. University of the Witwatersrand paleoanthropologist Ron Clarke, who unearthed the fossil in the 1990s in the Sterkfontein Caves northwest of Johannesburg and is a co-author of the new study, has identified the species as Australopithecus prometheus.&nbsp;

"In the cranial vault, we could identify the vascular canals in the spongious bone that are probably involved in brain thermoregulation - how the brain cools down," said University of Cambridge paleoanthropologist Amélie Beaudet, who led the study published in the journal e-Life.&nbsp;

"This is very interesting as we did not have much information about that system," Beaudet added, noting that it likely played a key role in the threefold brain size increase from Australopithecus to modern humans.&nbsp;

Little Foot's teeth also were revealing.&nbsp;

"The dental tissues are really well preserved. She was relatively old since her teeth are quite worn," Beaudet said, though Little Foot's precise age has not yet been determined.&nbsp;

The researchers spotted defects in the tooth enamel indicative of two childhood bouts of physiological stress, such as disease or malnutrition.&nbsp;

Sophisticated scanning technology is revealing intriguing secrets about Little Foot, the remarkable fossil of an early human forerunner that inhabited South Africa 3.

Sophisticated scanning technology is revealing intriguing secrets about Little Foot, the remarkable fossil of an early human forerunner that inhabited South Africa 3.67 million years ago during a critical juncture in our evolutionary history. Scientists said on Tuesday they examined key parts of the nearly complete and well-preserved fossil at Britain's national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source. The scanning focused upon Little Foot's cranial vault - the upper part of her braincase - and her lower jaw, or mandible. The researchers gained insight not only into the biology of Little Foot's species but also into the hardships that this individual, an adult female, encountered during her life. Little Foot's species blended ape-like and human-like traits and is considered a possible direct ancestor of humans. University of the Witwatersrand paleoanthropologist Ron Clarke, who unearthed the fossil in the 1990s in the Sterkfontein Caves northwest of Johannesburg and is a co-author of the new study, has identified the species as Australopithecus prometheus. "In the cranial vault, we could identify the vascular canals in the spongious bone that are probably involved in brain thermoregulation - how the brain cools down," said University of Cambridge paleoanthropologist Amélie Beaudet, who led the study published in the journal e-Life. "This is very interesting as we did not have much information about that system," Beaudet added, noting that it likely played a key role in the threefold brain size increase from Australopithecus to modern humans. Little Foot's teeth also were revealing. "The dental tissues are really well preserved. She was relatively old since her teeth are quite worn," Beaudet said, though Little Foot's precise age has not yet been determined. The researchers spotted defects in the tooth enamel indicative of two childhood bouts of physiological stress, such as disease or malnutrition.

'Little Foot' fossil's elaborate study sheds light on human origins 

Originally thought to mainly affect the respiratory system, researchers now know that the symptoms of Covid-19 are numerous and varied.

Severe cases of Covid-19 might impact the quality of a man's sperm, thus possibly impacting his fertility, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Reproduction. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-detects-first-cases-of-south-african-variant-amid-virus-surge-359959">Also read | US detects first cases of South African variant amid virus surge</a>

"These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by Covid-19," the authors concluded.

Experts commenting on the research, however, said the capacity of the virus to compromise fertility in men remains unproven. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/insufficient-data-german-board-says-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-should-not-be-used-for-over-65s-359945">Also read | 'Insufficient data': German board says AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used for over-65s</a>

Covid-19 causes respiratory illness, especially in older people and those with underlying medical problems.

The world has seen more than 100 million confirmed cases since the disease emerged in central China at the end of 2019.

Transmitted through respiratory droplets, the disease attacks the lungs, kidneys, intestines and heart.&nbsp;

It can also infect male reproductive organs, impairing sperm cell development and disrupting reproductive hormones, earlier studies have shown. The same receptors the virus uses to access lung tissue are also found in the testicles.

But the effects of the virus on the ability of men to reproduce remained unclear.

Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki and Bakhtyar Tartibian from Justus-Liebig-University in Germany searched for biological markers that might indicate a negative impact on fertility.&nbsp;

Analysis done at 10-day intervals for 60 days in 84 men with Covid-19 was compared to data for 105 healthy men.&nbsp;

In the Covid-19 patients, sperm cells showed a significant increase in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance that can damage DNA and proteins in the body.

'Strong note of caution'

"These effects on sperm cells are associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility potential," said Maleki in a statement.&nbsp;

"Although these effects tended to improve over time, they remained significantly and abnormally higher in Covid-19 patients."

The more severe the disease, the bigger the changes, he added.

The male reproductive system "should be considered a vulnerable route of Covid-19 infection and declared a high-risk organ by the World Health Organisation," Maleki said.

Experts not involved in the study welcomed the research but cautioned that more was needed before drawing hard and fast conclusions.

"Men should not be unduly alarmed," noted Alison Campbell, director of the embryology of the CARE Fertility Group in Britain.&nbsp;

"There is currently no definitive evidence of long-lasting damage caused by Covid-19, to sperm or male reproductive potential," she told the London-based Science Media Centre.

The results could have been skewed, she added, by the fact that men recovering from Covid were treated with corticosteroids and antiviral therapies, while the control group was not.

Allan Pacey, a specialist in male reproductive medicine at the University of Sheffield, raised a "stong note of caution" on how the data was interpreted.

Some of the indicators of decreased sperm quality could be due to factors besides Covid-19, he said, noting that more men in the Covid-19 group were overweight.

The simple fact that only one group was very sick -- no matter the cause -- also needed to be taken into account, he added.

"We already know that a febrile illness can impact on sperm production, regardless of what caused it."

(With inputs from agencies)

Originally thought to mainly affect the respiratory system, researchers now know that the symptoms of Covid-19 are numerous and varied. Severe cases of Covid-19 might impact the quality of a man's sperm, thus possibly impacting his fertility, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Reproduction.

Originally thought to mainly affect the respiratory system, researchers now know that the symptoms of Covid-19 are numerous and varied. Severe cases of Covid-19 might impact the quality of a man's sperm, thus possibly impacting his fertility, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Reproduction. Also read | US detects first cases of South African variant amid virus surge "These findings provide the first direct experimental evidence that the male reproductive system could be targeted and damaged by Covid-19," the authors concluded. Experts commenting on the research, however, said the capacity of the virus to compromise fertility in men remains unproven. Also read | 'Insufficient data': German board says AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used for over-65s Covid-19 causes respiratory illness, especially in older people and those with underlying medical problems. The world has seen more than 100 million confirmed cases since the disease emerged in central China at the end of 2019. Transmitted through respiratory droplets, the disease attacks the lungs, kidneys, intestines and heart. It can also infect male reproductive organs, impairing sperm cell development and disrupting reproductive hormones, earlier studies have shown. The same receptors the virus uses to access lung tissue are also found in the testicles. But the effects of the virus on the ability of men to reproduce remained unclear. Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki and Bakhtyar Tartibian from Justus-Liebig-University in Germany searched for biological markers that might indicate a negative impact on fertility. Analysis done at 10-day intervals for 60 days in 84 men with Covid-19 was compared to data for 105 healthy men. In the Covid-19 patients, sperm cells showed a significant increase in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance that can damage DNA and proteins in the body. 'Strong note of caution' "These effects on sperm cells are associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility potential," said Maleki in a statement. "Although these effects tended to improve over time, they remained significantly and abnormally higher in Covid-19 patients." The more severe the disease, the bigger the changes, he added. The male reproductive system "should be considered a vulnerable route of Covid-19 infection and declared a high-risk organ by the World Health Organisation," Maleki said. Experts not involved in the study welcomed the research but cautioned that more was needed before drawing hard and fast conclusions. "Men should not be unduly alarmed," noted Alison Campbell, director of the embryology of the CARE Fertility Group in Britain. "There is currently no definitive evidence of long-lasting damage caused by Covid-19, to sperm or male reproductive potential," she told the London-based Science Media Centre. The results could have been skewed, she added, by the fact that men recovering from Covid were treated with corticosteroids and antiviral therapies, while the control group was not. Allan Pacey, a specialist in male reproductive medicine at the University of Sheffield, raised a "stong note of caution" on how the data was interpreted. Some of the indicators of decreased sperm quality could be due to factors besides Covid-19, he said, noting that more men in the Covid-19 group were overweight. The simple fact that only one group was very sick -- no matter the cause -- also needed to be taken into account, he added. "We already know that a febrile illness can impact on sperm production, regardless of what caused it." (With inputs from agencies)

Coronavirus may damage sperm quality, reduce male fertility: Study

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Earth losing ice faster today than in the mid-1990s, study suggests

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