Finding may explain why men with heart failure suffer more from the coronavirus than women Evidence from a large study of several thousand patients shows that men have higher concentrations of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in their blood than women. Since ACE2 enables the coronavirus to infect healthy cells, this may help to explain why […]
Category: Infectious diseases
Androgen-deprivation treatments for prostate cancer could protect men from COVID-19
A study of 4532 men in the Veneto region of Italy has found that those who were being treated for prostate cancer with androgen-deprivation therapies (ADT) were less likely to develop the coronavirus COVID-19 and, if they were infected, the disease was less severe. The authors of the study, published in the leading cancer journal […]
Risk of severe COVID-19 could be increased in people with COPD and smokers due to higher levels of ‘entry point’ enzyme in lungs
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and people who currently smoke may have higher levels of a molecule, called angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE-2), in their lungs according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal. [1] Previous research shows that ACE-2, which sits on the surface of lung cells, is the ‘entry point’ […]
Newborns infected with COVID-19 in China experienced mild symptoms
Researchers have identified a total of four cases of newborn babies with COVID-19 infection in China. In all cases the babies experienced only mild symptoms with none requiring intensive care or mechanical ventilation according to research published in in the European Respiratory Journal. [1] The study was carried out by Dr Zhi-Jiang Zhang and colleagues […]
Cheap, quick test identifies pneumonia patients at risk of respiratory failure or sepsis
Madrid, Spain: Spanish researchers in Valencia have identified specific fragments of genetic material that play a role in the development of respiratory failure and sepsis in pneumonia patients. Presenting the research at the European Respiratory Society International Congress [1], Dr Francisco Sanz said the findings could enable doctors to test quickly for these biological markers […]
Treatment with long term, low dose antibiotic could help people born with chronic lung condition
Madrid, Spain: Taking a low dose of the antibiotic azithromycin for six months reduces symptoms for patients with the chronic lung condition primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] PCD is a rare inherited disease that affects people from birth. It causes coughing, a build-up of […]
Babies develop fewer respiratory infections when they have well-connected bacterial networks
Madrid, Spain: Microscopic bacteria, which are present in all humans, cluster together and form communities in different parts of the body, such as the gut, lungs, nose and mouth. Now, for the first time, researchers have shown the extent to which these microbial communities are linked to each other across the body, and how these […]
Baby’s first cold can last longer depending on nose-dwelling bacteria
New research on the types of bacteria living in babies’ noses could offer clues as to why some recover quickly from their first cough or cold, while others suffer for longer. The study, published in ERJ Open Research, suggests that babies who have a wide variety of different bacteria living in their noses tend to […]
Quick and easy test for viral infections reduces hospital admissions and antibiotic use
Paris, France: A quick and easy test for viral infections can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and hospital admissions, according to new research presented to the European Respiratory Society International Congress. [1] The test, which takes just 50 minutes to obtain results, could save hospitals around €2,500 per patient not admitted to hospital, would help to […]
Four simple tests could help GPs spot pneumonia and reduce unnecessary antibiotics
Testing for fever, high pulse rate, crackly breath sounds, and low oxygen levels could be key to helping GPs distinguish pneumonia from less serious infections, according to a large study published in the European Respiratory Journal. Pneumonia is a severe lung infection that can be life-threatening and often requires treatment with antibiotics. However, it is […]