Month: February 2021

As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there's an increasing amount of attention on how to manage the aftermath of the virus, with more and more survivors experiencing what's become known as "long COVID." These are patients whose symptoms persist long after the infection has left their system, but is still wreaking havoc on their health. The topic of long COVID came up this week when Anthony Fauci, MD, the White House's chief COVID adviser, spoke with the Duke Global Health Institute on Feb. 10. "We do know that there's an unusual syndrome called post-acute COVID syndrome, or PACS," Fauci explained to David Rubenstein, former chair of the Duke University Board of Trustees. "We are studying this in...

Image: Kiattisak Choohnoo/EyeEm (Getty Images) The findings from a new clinical trial released Wednesday may point the way to an elusive goal: a safe and effective drug that helps reduce obesity in people. The study found that people with obesity given a treatment currently used for type 2 diabetes lost significantly more weight than a control group, with one-third losing 20% or more of their body weight. Those in the experimental group also experienced greater improvements in other markers of health. However, the long-term health effects of the treatment are not yet known, meaning we do not yet know how effective or safe it is as an obesity treatment. The drug is called semaglutide, and it’s been approved in the U.S. since 2017 to help people with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide help...

By Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer The first case of the South African coronavirus variant has been found in North Carolina, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS officials said the case was found in a sample from an adult in the central part of the state who had not traveled. No other details were released because of privacy concerns. The B.1.351 variant was first sound in South Africa in October. North Carolina joins South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia in reporting cases of the variant. As of Tuesday, nine cases have been found in the United States. The variant was detected in the United States for the first time in South Carolina in late January. ...

DRESDEN, Germany — “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” especially when to comes to fighting off dementia. An international study finds the famously healthy fruit is rich in chemicals that fuel neurons, improving learning and memory. Experiments on mice discovered grey matter increased after they were injected with phytonutrients, like flavonoids, which are abundant in fruits and vegetables. The effects were similar to those seen after exercise, which can also boost brain function. Corresponding author Professor Gerd Kempermann from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases says these dietary compounds are “vital for maintaining cognitive function.” “They can have positive effects on different parts of the body – including the brain,” Kempermann says in a statement to SWNS...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new strain of a COVID-19 variant has been identified in Illinois. COVID-19 variant B.1.351, which was first reported in South Africa, has been confirmed in a Rock Island resident. “We expected to see more cases of variants detected in Illinois, including the B.1.351 strain,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “These variants seem to spread more rapidly, which can lead to more cases of COVID-19 and even another surge. Our best path to defeating this virus as quickly as possible remains wearing our masks and getting vaccinated when it’s our turn.” Cases of the B.1.351 were first reported in the U.S. at the end of January. So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through the current COVID-19 vaccines recognize these variants and may offe...