Coronavirus: Europe's daily deaths rise by nearly 40% compared with last week - WHO

Intensive care units are now beginning to fill, the World Health Organization tells the BBC. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Antibodies 'fall rapidly after infection'

This is likely to mean immunity levels decline and raises the risk of reinfection, researchers say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

India's first 'saviour sibling' cures brother of fatal illness

Her birth has also led to a debate about the ethics of using technology to create a child. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Syria: Inside a refugee camp where Covid is spreading

Doctors say Covid-19 is now rampant in the refugee camps of Idlib, north-west Syria. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Therapy patients blackmailed for cash after clinic data breach

Stolen data appears to have included personal identification records and notes about therapy sessions. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Melbourne's hard-won success after a marathon lockdown

After losing its initial grip on Covid, Australia is again being hailed as a global success story. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Italy brings in sweeping new coronavirus measures

Gyms, pools, cinemas and theatres are closed, while restaurants and bars cut short their table service. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Trump's chief of staff admits US cannot control pandemic

Democrat Joe Biden says comments by Mr Trump's chief of staff show the White House has admitted defeat. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Spain imposes national night-time curfew to curb infections

As well as a night-time curfew, travel between regions can be banned under the emergency measures. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid-19: China tests entire city of Kashgar in Xinjiang

Kashgar city officials say around 4.7m people will be tested over a few days. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Dr Fauci: Covid vaccine result could come by end of 2020

The US government scientist says we should know if a vaccine is "safe and effective" by December. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid nurse: 'I thought I wasn't going to make it'

Devi Nurjandoa survived Covid but is now having to adjust to a new way of life. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Virus to stay 'at least until next summer' - France's Macron

The French president's comments come as daily cases in several European countries reach new highs. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: US cases reach record high amid new wave of infections

More than 83,000 new infections were reported on Friday, with deaths and hospital numbers also rising. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: The NHS workers 'still recovering' as second wave looms

As the second wave of the pandemic takes deep root across parts of the UK, thousands of NHS workers are struggling to recover from what they have already been through. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Why is coronavirus so deadly?

Why does the biology of coronavirus mean it poses such a threat to human life? via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Inside Europe’s most infected area

Gavin Lee reports from the epicentre of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is in Belgium. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: US gives full approval for antiviral remdesivir drug

The drug will be given to patients in hospitals, but the UN health agency says it has little effect. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: China's Sinovac vaccine to be included in Brazil immunisation plan

Officials say an immunisation programme using CoronaVac could begin as soon as January 2021. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

UK plan to be first to run human challenge Covid trials

Work is under way to start trials in January where volunteers will be deliberately exposed to the virus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Argentina's confirmed cases surpass one million

The South American nation becomes the fifth country in the world to reach the grim milestone. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Republic of Ireland to move to highest restrictions

The new rules, broadly similar to the spring lockdown, are due to last for six weeks. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Germany improves ventilation to chase away Covid

Public buildings receive €500m of German state cash to improve ventilation systems. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: New Covid-19 cases rising rapidly across US

Cases are rising in 48 states, and infections hit about 70,000 for the first time since July. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Belgium facing 'tsunami' of new infections

The country is close to being overwhelmed as the number of cases soars, the health minister warns. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Wales to go into 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday

People in Wales told to stay home from Friday, with pubs and restaurants ordered to close. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid-19: Italy tightens rules after coronavirus cases surge

PM Giuseppe Conte targets public gatherings, hospitality and recreation "to avoid a new lockdown". via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Could cold water hold a clue to a dementia cure?

Swimmers at a London lido aid understanding of what cold does to the body. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Remdesivir 'has little or no effect' on survival, says WHO

Drug manufacturer Gilead has questioned the findings, from a clinical study by the WHO. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Elevated White Blood Cell Count (WBC) Linked With Cardiovascular Disease

A growing body of evidence suggests that low grade inflammation contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease and, specifically, coronary artery disease (CAD). WBC-derived macrophages and other phagocytes are believed to contribute to vascular injury and atherosclerotic progression. Multiple markers of inflammation have been tested as potential risk factors for the development of CAD such as IL-6, E-selectin and CRP.

Elevated white blood cell count (WBC) that is well within the normal range was associated with an increased risk for developing CAD in multiple studies. 

A large-scale study demonstrated that a single measurement of WBC in healthy young men may predict CAD incidence independently from other risk factors for CAD such as elevated lipids, and a positive family history. WBC level above 6,900 cells/mm3 was associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk for CAD with a significant 17.4% increase in CAD incidence observed for every increment of 1,000 WBC/mm3: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047183

An elevated WBC count may enhance atherogenesis. Granulocytes and monocytes are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Monocyte-derived macrophages produce oxidants that can induce endothelial cell injury and subsequent thrombus formation. Activated WBCs also reflect the inflammatory activity of atherosclerosis that perpetuates vascular injury and tissue ischemia.

WBC count is associated with several cardiovascular disease risk factors:

- positive associations with body weight, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, fasting glucose level, and fasting insulin level

- negative associations with high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, family income, alcohol consumption, and physical activity or physical fitness

High-normal WBC count is an independent and reliable risk factor for CAD.

The joint effect of WBC count, a readily available measurement, with other known risk factors for CAD may help to better identify people at either high or low cardiovascular risk.

References:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047183

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5533311/

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/154/8/758/131409

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Coronavirus: French police raid ministers' homes in pandemic inquiry

Health Minister Olivier Véran is among those whose homes and offices have been searched by police. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Trump's son Barron had coronavirus, says first lady

The 14-year-old did not have symptoms and has since tested negative, Melania Trump says. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Trial to test if Vitamin D protects against Covid

Vitamin pills will be posted to 5,000 UK residents to see if they help boost immunity. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

US pauses Covid vaccine trial due to ill volunteer

An independent review is under way to check if the symptoms could be side-effects of the jab. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: WHO head calls herd immunity approach 'immoral'

Dr Ghebreyesus said allowing coronavirus to spread unchecked would cause unnecessary suffering and death. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid reinfection: Man gets Covid twice and second hit 'more severe'

The report raises questions about how much immunity can be built up to the virus and how long it may last. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid-19: China's Qingdao to test nine million in five days

The decision comes after Qingdao saw 12 new confirmed cases linked to a local hospital. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid-19 virus 'survives on some surfaces for 28 days'

Researchers find SARS-Cov-2 survives on glass, paper and stainless steel for longer than thought. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Second national lockdown possible, says top UK scientist

The UK is at a "precarious point" as coronavirus cases continue to rise, warns Prof Peter Horby. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Brazil's coronavirus death toll passes 150,000

The country, which recently passed five million cases, has the world's second-highest number of dead. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

BCG: Can a vaccine from 1921 save lives from Covid-19?

Vaccines may cause wide-scale changes in the immune system which can boost the body's protection. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: UK at 'tipping point', top scientist warns

England's deputy chief medical officer says the country will see more deaths over the coming weeks. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Masks made mandatory outdoors across Italy

Masks will also need to be worn in most indoor places too as Italy tries to stem a rise in infections. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: New restrictions for England likely next week

The closure of pubs and restaurants and a ban on overnight stays away from home are being discussed. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Health experts join global anti-lockdown movement

Scientists warn of the "devastating" effect of Covid-19 policies, calling for a return to normal for healthy. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

'Long Covid': Why are some people not recovering?

Why is coronavirus leaving some people with long-term health problems including fatigue? via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid-19 updates: One in 10 worldwide may have had virus, WHO says

More than 35m infections have been confirmed but the real figure could apparently be closer to 800m. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Long Covid: 'Everything tasted like cardboard'

People who have experienced long-lasting coronavirus symptoms talk about losing their sense of taste and smell. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Trump Covid: President criticised over drive-past

The US president's decision to greet supporters from a car comes under scrutiny from medical experts. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Paris to shut bars and raise alert to maximum

Paris becomes the second French city to order bars to close again as infections continue to rise. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Nobel Prize for Medicine goes to Hepatitis C discovery

The virus is a major cause of liver cancer and can lead to people needing a liver transplant. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus in Senegal: Keeping Covid-19 at bay

With only seven doctors per 100,000 people, Senegal has been praised for its handling of coronavirus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

New Covid-19 test could be Indian ‘game changer’

The test, named after a famous Indian fictional detective, is based on gene-editing technology called Crispr. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

New Covid-19 test could be Indian ‘game changer’

The test, named after a famous Indian fictional detective, is based on gene-editing technology called Crispr. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: What is the risk to Donald Trump's health?

The US president has multiple risk factors for developing a severe form of Covid-19, so what does it mean? via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Covid: Donald Trump and Melania test positive

The US president and Melania Trump were tested after his close aide was confirmed to have Covid-19. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Paris poised for maximum Covid alert

France's health minister has warned that new measures could be introduced by Monday. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Is the rate of growth in Africa slowing down?

The overall rate of increase may be slowing, but there have still been sharp rises in some countries. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend speak of 'deep pain' of losing baby

The model and TV presenter was expecting her third child with singer husband John Legend. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Latest in lipidology: is lipoprotein(a) "the most dangerous particle you’ve never heard of"?

Dr Attia's podcast on Lp(a), the link is here: https://peterattiamd.com/tomdayspring6/

Discussed:

- ApoB as a preferred metric over LDL-P [16:30]; Atherogenic lipoproteins (apoB/LDL-P) as front and center in pathogenesis of CVD. ApoB and LDL-P are used interchangeably, but this is not quite accurate.

- Therapeutic goals for apoB concentration [21:45]

- Lipoprotein(a)—the most dangerous particle you’ve never heard of [55:00];
preferred lab measurements [1:17:45]; 

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a distinctive particle with 2 components: 

 - a lipoprotein core that resembles LDL
-  a shell that contains apolipoprotein(a), or apo(a)

Lp(a) is dubbed one of the final frontiers in lipid management. Elevated blood Lp(a) levels are primarily due to genetic variations in the LPA gene that encodes for apo(a) and cannot be lowered by diet, exercise or current lipid-lowering therapies. 

“By combining the atherosclerotic effects of LDL with the prothrombotic effects of apo(a), elevated Lp(a) essentially delivers a double whammy of noxious atherothrombotic effects", as per Dr Nissen. 

Normal Lp(a) levels are less than 25 mg/dL, with significant risk of atherothrombotic events beginning at levels 50-70 mg/dL and rising thereafter. And that risk is not at all rare: 64 million U.S. residents have an Lp(a) level of 60 mg/dL or higher. Over 3 million have levels of 180 mg/dL or more, which confer extremely high risks. There are no effective Lp(a)-lowering pharmacotherapies to date. That includes statins, which actually can slightly raise Lp(a) levels.

It is estimated that about one in five people in the U.S. has an Lp(a) level that puts them at risk. And, even people with a healthy level of LDL cholesterol could have a high Lp(a) level. So many people are walking around with abnormally high Lp(a) but don’t know it. Lp(a) could be a factor in the rise in heart attacks in younger, seemingly healthy adults who do not have high LDL cholesterol. The other tricky thing is that your Lp(a) level is in large part genetically wired, so things like diet and exercise won’t really change it. There are currently no FDA-approved drugs to lower it, either. Focus on strategies for lowering that risk focus on addressing other risk factors, such as high LDL cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure.

Here is Dr Nissen and Dr Cho from Cleveland Clinic on Lp(a). They discussed rosuvastatin 5 mg once a week. Dr Nissen mentioned that rosuvastatin at 1 mg per day reduced LDL by 33%. Rosuvastatin has a very long half life of 19 hours vs 14 hours for atorvastatin. Rosuvastatin is hydrophilic vs atorvastatin which is lipophilic.

 

 

References:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-would-my-doctor-order-a-lipoproteina-blood-test/

https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/elevated-lipoproteina-is-a-long-sought-treatment-finally-on-the-way/

Mayo Clinic Lp(a) review and some nice diagrams and algorithm flow charts: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(13)00795-7/pdf

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