UGA gets into the Covid-fighting game

UGA infectious-disease researcher Ralph Tripp and his team found that probenecid — FDA approved to treat gout — inhibits the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

[T]he study found that probenecid has broad antiviral properties, making it a prime candidate to combat not only SARS-CoV-2 infection but also other common and deadly respiratory viruses like RSV and flu.

Even better, it seems to also have prophylactic properties. They hope to begin clinical trials within a year.

Um … this seems like pretty big news

Researchers at the University of Reading say they’ve found that the antioxidant drug cysteamine “reverses atherosclerosis and could be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes due to clots.”

When the researchers looked at mice with atherosclerosis, those treated with cysteamine had a 32 to 56 per cent reduction in the size of atherosclerotic plaques depending on the part of the aorta that was examined.

As one researcher put it, this is kind of a big deal: “Cysteamine would offer an entirely new way of treating atherosclerosis.”

Long Covid cause found?

Researchers at the University of Arkansas claim to have found a cause of long Covid: an ACE2 antibody that “shows up weeks after an initial infection,” keeps the ACE2 enzyme from regulating the immune system.

“If we show that the whole hypothesis is right, that this interference of ACE2 really does cause long COVID, then it opens up many potential treatments.”

The good news is that there are existing treatments that could then be brought to bear.

HHS: You’re safe

Licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns are now shielded from liability when providing Covid-19 tests, drugs, and vaccines — that’s thanks to HHS amending its Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness declaration to add them.

The 9th amendment to the COVID 19 PREP Act Declaration provides liability immunity to and expands the scope of authority for licensed pharmacists to order and administer select COVID 19 therapeutics to populations authorized by the FDA and for pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to administer COVID 19 therapeutics to populations authorized by the FDA.

There are limitations and caveats! Be sure to read the declaration! For example, it only covers therapeutics that are “authorized, approved, licensed, or cleared by the FDA,” for Covid — so you can’t give a patient frog legs and eye of newt and claim protection.

Medical boards cracking down

State medical boards may revoke the licenses of physicians who spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines — that from a statement by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

“Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards, including the suspension or revocation of their medical license.

Nuts for you

If you are A) Asian, and B) the kind of person who doesn’t want to have a stroke, you’ll want to add peanuts to your diet. That’s what medical researchers from Osaka University found (and published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke).

And it doesn’t need to be that much — just four or five a day. Barely a handful.

“The beneficial effect of peanut consumption on risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke was found, despite the small quantity of peanuts eaten by study participants. The habit of eating peanuts and tree nuts is still not common in Asian countries. However, adding even a small amount to one’s diet could be a simple yet effective approach to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

The coin flips again

Alcohol in moderation — good or bad? Let’s spin the Wheel of Competing Studies™!

The latest answer, from Britain’s Anglia Ruskin University, is … bad for you. “[T]here’s no such thing as a healthy tipple,” they say.

…low-level consumption of beer, cider and spirits was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease such as stroke, cancer, and overall mortality.

But, contrary to their title, there may be one healthy tipple: wine. “The only health benefit that Dr Schutte’s study discovered was a decreased risk of coronary heart disease through the consumption of wine.” Just that.

ICYMI

The FDA has banned electronic cigarettes from all the small- and medium-sized manufacturers, but hasn’t made a decision on the products from the three largest companies.

And no, the irony of banning vaping while regular cigarettes remain on the market hasn’t been lost.