Scent of a … nothing

Loss of the sense of smell — anosmia — is a common Covid-19 symptom. The good news is that it probably isn’t because the virus is attacking olfactory neurons, which would be Very Bad because that could mean brain damage. (But the neurons don’t have ACE2 receptors for the virus to latch onto.)

The latest theory: SARS-CoV-2 attacks the nasal epithelium — the lining of the nose. It blocks the receptors themselves, not (hopefully) the neurons that transmit.

These cells maintain the delicate balance of salt ions in the mucus that neurons depend on to send signals to the brain. If that balance is disrupted, it could lead to a shutdown of neuronal signaling—and therefore of smell.

Spit take

If you’re like most people, you occasionally lay awake wondering how, exactly, saliva is made. You can sleep soundly, now — the University at Buffalo has you covered.

Superspreaders

What makes someone more likely to be a superspreader of a virus? Two factors that make that more likely: If they’ve got a stuffy nose, and if they have all their teeth. No, really — that’s what University of Central Florida researchers figured out, with science and everything.

A clear nose: Some of the sneeze goes down, not out. All your teeth: Sneeze droplets come out faster.

Bonus: “The researchers also simulated three types of saliva: thin, medium and thick.” Take that, liberal arts majors!

Can you picture that?

Georgia has another opioid champ

Congrats to RJ LaCoursiere — the ER pharmacist at Augusta University Medical Center was recognized as Opioid Safety Champion y the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation.

LaCoursiere is one of a small but growing group of pharmacists in Georgia to complete the series of educational programs aimed at reducing opioid-related overdoses.

“My team and I are frequently involved with managing analgesia, opioid withdrawal, and opioid overdoses,” he said, and the Opioid Safety Champion program can “help increase awareness, decrease stigma, and better equip our colleagues with the tools they need to care for patients struggling with opioid-related health issues.”

Now it’s your turn

The Georgia Pharmacy Foundation is helping pharmacists across the state fight the opioid crisis. Interested? Become a Champion of Opioid Safety today! This program is one way the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation makes a difference in the lives of pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and patients today.

Be the solution — help the foundation continue to fight the opioid crisis in Georgia with a donation today: GPhA.org/foundation2020

A steerable pill

It’s so simple, you probably wish you had thought of it: Take an object (say, a pill), spray it with a magnetic coating (“M-spray”), then steer it from the outside of the body to exactly where it needs to go.

The team tested this by successfully manoeuvring and disintegrating an M-spray-coated drug to a target area in an unconscious rabbit’s stomach.

The Long Read: “How China crushed coronavirus”

“A monumental effort by ordinary people and a policy of ‘infected until proven healthy’ have kept new Covid-19 cases at exceptionally low levels since March.”

China’s virus control effort was single-minded – the goal was always total elimination. Officials were fired for perceived dereliction of duty, or promoted for successfully controlling the virus.

But no, it’s not necessarily something you want to emulate:

Quarantine is mandatory – at home or in a hotel – and the quarantined are not allowed to venture outside. Those who choose home will find a device mounted on their front door. Whenever they open it, the doctor and the Party committee member’s phones receive an alert, and a call will come in to ask why they have opened the door.

Ugh

Once again, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations.

And once again, Georgia has one of the country’s highest rate of pre-term births and infant mortality.