VUMC-Led Trial Shows Two Investigational Drugs Are Ineffective for Treating Severe COVID-19

A study published April 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) evaluated two drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as potential treatments for severe COVID-19. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, enters pulmonary and myocardial cells through binding of its spike protein to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is a vital enzyme that controls blood pressure and blood flow to multiple organs, including the lungs, heart and kidneys.

Why Breakthrough COVID? Antibodies Fighting Original Virus May Be Weaker Against Omicron

If you’re wondering why after two vaccination doses and a booster shot, you still got sick from the omicron strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, one possible answer may have been found in a recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Sex Hormones Contribute to Sex Differences in COVD-19

Article title: Sex steroids skew ACE2 expression in human airway: a contributing factor to sex differences in COVID-19? Authors: Rama Satyanarayana Raju Kalidhindi, Niyati A. Borkar, Nilesh Sudhakar Ambhore, Christina M. Pabelick, Y. S. Prakash, Venkatachalem Sathish From the authors:…

COVID-19: Study Shows Virus Can Infect Heart Cells in Lab Dish

A new study shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus), can infect heart cells in a lab dish, indicating it may be possible for heart cells in COVID-19 patients to be directly infected by the virus. The discovery, published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, was made using heart muscle cells that were produced by stem cell technology.

Low-intensity Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction May Improve Muscle Health

Article title: Blood flow restriction exercise stimulates mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and increases the circulating ACE2 levels in healthy adults Authors: Shrinidh Joshi, Sean Mahoney, Jesmin Jahan, Logan Pitts, Kyle J. Hackney, Yagna P.R. Jarajapu From the authors: “This study…

Clinical Trial to Investigate Whether Hypertension Drug Ameliorates COVID-19 Severity

UC San Diego scientists have launched a clinical trial to investigate whether a drug approved for treating high blood pressure might also reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, lowering rates for intensive care unit admissions, the use of mechanical ventilators and all-cause mortality.