By Nancy Lapid
(Reuters) – The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the new coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Mild COVID-19 induces prolonged immune response
In patients with mild COVID-19, immune response last months and possibly longer, researchers found. Early reports suggested that in mildly ill patients antibodies decrease and immunity decreases soon after recovery. But a study from China last month on 349 COVID-19 patients, which has not yet undergone a peer review, found similar immune patterns at six months, despite the severity of symptoms. And in a study published Saturday prior to peer review, U.S. researchers performed blood tests in 15 patients after mild COVID-19, looking for three signs of sustained immune responses: antibodies, so-called memory B cells, and memory T cells. Three months after the recovery, patients still had “all three of these layers of defense,” and reduced their risk of reinfection, co-author Lauren Rodda of the University of Washington School of Medicine told Reuters. If they re-become infected, they are less likely to become seriously ill or contagious, Rodda said. Test results at three months were unchanged from results at one month, so her team believes this is a lasting response. Because the findings show immune responses last three months, if not longer, Rodda added, they support U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice that patients should not be tested for COVID-19 within the first three months after an infection. Both studies were posted on the website medRxiv. (https://bit.ly/3g2fLBv; https://bit.ly/2CyMSPF)
COVID-19 survives risks of psychiatric disorders
A study of more than 62,000 survivors of COVID-19 found significant risks for mental health problems. Researchers found that one in 16 COVID-19 patients who had never had a mental illness would be diagnosed with one within three months of infection. This risk is about twice as high as expected and is even higher among patients who were sick enough to be hospitalized, Oxford University study leader Maxime Taquet told Reuters. Most common are anxiety disorders, but depression, insomnia, and rarely, dementia, also occur, he said. The study, reported on Sunday on the medRxiv website prior to peer review, also found higher COVID-19 rates higher than average in people with a previous psychiatric diagnosis. Taquet’s Advice for Patients: “If you experience anxiety, low mood, stroke or memory loss after COVID-19, you should consult a medical professional, as there are possible ways to improve these symptoms.” (https://bit.ly/3iT7Ect)
Viral load not linked to smoke or taste gain
Virus levels in the nose and throat have been linked to the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, but Hong Kong researchers who expected viral load to correlate with odor and taste disorder were surprised: viral load was not linked to the severity of these so-called oil factor and gustatory symptoms, nor with how long it takes for the feeling of smell or taste to return to normal. The findings, reported in the journal Laryngoscope, are based on data from 39 patients in Hong Kong who develop problems such as smells and tastes – or both. On average, it took 10 days for these sentences to return. Four to six weeks after becoming ill, 72% had the ability to smell completely back and 83% were able to try again. But there was no statistically significant link between viral load and the severity of these symptoms as the recovery time. (https://bit.ly/2CDhTSI)
Fair use of anti-antique-rich convalescent plasma may be best
Treating Diseased COVID-19 Patients with Anti-Antibiotic Blood Plasma of People Who Have Recovered from the Disease May Lower the Risk of Death, and new data from a nationwide U.S. study could help reduce the use of to fine-tune this so-called convalescent plasma. At 2,807 hospitals between April 4 and July 4, more than 35,000 hospitals with patients with, at risk of death, life-threatening COVID-19 respiratory problems received a transfusion of at least one unit of COVID-19’s conventional plasma. Roughly half of the patients were in intensive care units and about a quarter needed mechanical ventilators. Mortality rates were lower when plasma was given within three days of diagnosis, rather than later, the researchers found. And the more antibodies in the plasma, the lower the risk of recipients on death. In a report released prior to peer review on medRxiv, the research team concluded that although the study was not a gold standard randomized trial, the findings added to evidence that “the quality and manner in which convalescent plasma is given to patients hospitalized with COVID – 19 may reduce mortality. “(Https://bit.ly/2DZ8OEg)
Open https://tmsnrt.rs/3a5EyDh in an external browser for a Reuters image about faxes and treatments in development.
(Report by Nancy Lapid; Edited by Will Dunham)
