FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 30, 2020Evolution of coronavirus outlines path from animals to humansStudy reports SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was well suited to making the jump from animals to humans by shapeshifting as it gained the ability to infect human cells. The virus's ability to infect humans occurred via exchanging gene fragments from a coronavirus that infected pangolins. The species-to-species transmission was a result of the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to bind to host cells through alterations to its genetic material. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 29, 2020New model predicts the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemicResearchers used data of active COVID-19 case rates from China to set the parameters for the model. Applying the formula to other counties, including the UK, France, and Brazil, they found a match in the evolution of active cases and fatality rates over time. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·May 27, 2020Study uncovers clues to COVID-19 in the brainAltered mental state and strokes are the most common neurological symptoms associated with coronavirus infection. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 26, 2020First results from human COVID-19 immunology study reveal universally effective antibodiesWhile the amount of antibodies generated varies widely in patients who have recovered from coronavirus, most people generate at least some antibodies which are intrinsically capable of neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read More
artificial intelligencedeep learningmachine learningNeuroscienceNeuroscience Businessneurotech·May 26, 2020BIOS Health expands collaboration in Canada with $800K initiative on groundbreaking neural biomarker researchBIOS health is partnering with Canadian universities to develop an artificial intelligence closed-loop neuromodulation system for chronic cardiac conditions. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 25, 2020Scientists isolate live COVID-19 virus from feces, detect RNA on surfacesResearchers isolated live SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, from the feces of patients who died as a result of coronavirus infection. Antigens to the virus were also found in post-mortem gastrointestinal surface cells. Isolating the live virus from fecal matter indicates evidence of the infectious virus in feces is a common manifestation of COVID-19. Researchers also found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces and bedding samples in hotel rooms used by two presymptomatic people who were later diagnosed with COVID-19. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·May 24, 2020Preventing ‘cytokine storm’ may ease severe COVID-19 symptomsTreating coronavirus patients with alpha-blockers may help prevent the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19 infection. Alpha-blockers interfere with the cell signaling that triggers cytokine storms. Mice with bacterial infections that were treated with alpha-blockers experienced reduced cytokine storms and decreased death rates. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 24, 2020No improvement in death rate for COVID-19 patients who received hydroxychloroquineCoronavirus patients treated with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are significantly more likely to experience ventricular arrhythmias than those who were treated with other medications. The study also revealed that out of 100,000 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, the 15,000 who received hydroxychloroquine were more likely to have worse health outcomes than those treated with other drugs. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 20, 2020COVID-19 cytokine storm: Possible mechanism for the deadly respiratory syndromeSARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, enters human cells by attaching to ACE2 and utilizing TMPRSS2. Drugs that block ACE2 or inhibit the enzyme could help treat the coronavirus, but only during early infection. As the infection progresses, SARS-CoV-2 becomes engulfed in human cells, reducing the number of ACE2 receptors on a cell and leading to an increase of angiotensin II in the blood. Angiotensin II triggers an inflammatory pathway, providing a positive feedback cycle, named IL-6 amplifier, resulting in excessive immune activation and the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·May 19, 2020Complement genes add to sex-based vulnerability in lupus and schizophreniaGene variants in the immune system result in sex-based vulnerabilities to autoimmune diseases and schizophrenia. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·May 19, 2020High rate of blood clots in COVID-19Coronavirus has been linked to a higher rate of developing venous thromboembolism. A D-dimer blood test is a useful way to identify COVID-19 patients at a higher risk of venous thromboembolism. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 18, 2020Study reports ‘staggering’ death rate in US among those infected who show symptomsThe current national death rate among those infected with coronavirus is 1.3%. The comparable rate of death for seasonal flu is 0.1%. The study estimates that if the same number of people are infected with COVID-19 by the end of the year as are infected with flu, roughly 33.5 million people in 20018-19, almost 500,000 people will die as a result of coronavirus infection. However, COVID-19 is more infectious than the seasonal flu. Current conservative estimates suggest 20% of the US population will be infected by the end of 2020, leading to a possible 1.2 million deaths. Read More
