A ‘Viral’ Testing Kit: ID Now COVID-19

Posted on March 8, 2021 by | Leave a comment

THE PROBLEM 

Every single one of us can help control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether we’re humming “Happy Birthday” twice every time we wash our hands, or facetiming our friends instead of meeting up, we can all adopt changes that will help us get back to our normal lives sooner. Another thing we can do is to get tested, should we suspect COVID-19 infection.

When to get tested for COVID-19
Credit: BC Centre for Disease Control, www.bccdc.ca

Getting tested is easier said than done. It’s an inconvenient drive-in, followed by a period of self-isolation until results come back, which can take up to four days.

Besides just being tedious, this lengthy processing time has other concerns. A study found that patients infected with COVID-19 are most infectious within the first five days of initial symptoms. If results aren’t coming back soon after testing, they become less effective at stopping the virus right in its tracks. 

THE SOLUTION

This is where Abbott Laboratories steps up! Having already developed reliable testing tools for influenzas A&B, strep A, and respiratory syncytial virus, it was only a matter of time before COVID-19 testing apparatuses were developed. In early 2020, Abbott developed the ID Now COVID-19 Rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, and launched for distribution in the US after receiving approval for emergency use from the FDA that year in March. Shortly after, Health Canada provided approval of use in October 2020.

NO IMAGEAbbott’s ID Now COVID-19 Test
Credit: abbot.com

This Rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification Test takes nasal swabs from individuals, and amplifies the viral ribonucleic acid (essentially a COVID-19 nametag) hundreds of millions of times until it’s detectable by their system. What’s more, this impressive amplification process is done is a matter of minutes, and test results are returned within 13 minutes – hence the term rapid! The entire process is summarized in this short video from Abbott.

How ID Now COVID-19 Works
Credit: Abbott, www.youtube.com

It’s normal to have some doubt when the current gold standard testing protocol in Canada (RT-PCR) takes 6–8 hours.

Abbot’s clinical trial on 1003 subjects reported a similar accuracy using their ID Now machine compared to current lab PCR testing. This study was done in a controlled clinical setting, so these results are not representative of the real world.

Dr. Gary Procop, a director of virology at the Cleveland Clinic, found that ID Now missed up to 15% of COVID-19 cases in infected patients, that other tests were able to catch! He states that “just because we need something put out emergently, doesn’t mean we should put out something that doesn’t work appropriately.” In a response, the FDA stated that they will continue to track these tests and take action if necessary. Check out more of the interview below.

Questions About Accuracy of Coronavirus Tests
Credit: CNN, www.cnn.com

This is Abbott’s response to the ‘rapidly’ changing world. They have provided frontline workers with rapid testing, but whether or not they can combat COVID-19 as quickly as their tests do remains a question.

~William Lee

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Methane Reduction and the Magic of Mushrooms

Posted on March 8, 2021 by | Leave a comment

When you think of the mushroom species Ganoderma lucidum, more commonly referred to as Reishi, what do you think of? A delicious food? A health fad? Well it may surprise you to know that beyond everyday consumption, Reishi mushrooms have a high potential for impacting our atmospheric conditions. A recent study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota examines certain fungus’ ability to capture and filter methane, and its impact on the current climate crisis.

Reishi Mushrooms. Source: Pixabay

Why is methane a problem? 

Methane, a greenhouse gas, is one of many chemicals that contributes to the rise of global temperatures. It has many sources, both biological and man-made, the most common being agricultural practices, wetlands, and transportation of coal and natural gas. While most research is being done to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (another problem greenhouse gas), it is just as important to address methane emissions. In the first two decades of release, methane can be up to 84% more potent than carbon dioxide. The potency of the gas directly relates to how much heat is being trapped in the atmosphere. Methane is incredibly effective at absorbing heat, which is what makes the chemical so detrimental to atmospheric conditions. 

How do Reishi mushrooms help?

While there are currently other organisms that can break down methane, removing it from the atmosphere, there is one critical way that Reishi stands out:

In order for Reishi to degrade methane, the gas does not need to travel through any kind of biofilm (a layer of bacteria or other organisms), which decreases the total time needed for degradation.

The cells that make up fungal structures, called hyphae, are able to extend and grow deep within the soil and other environments. When nutrients are detected, they travel through the hyphae until the desired location with the fungus is reached. There is a specific special protein, called hydrophobins, which is found on the exterior of the hyphae, and is responsible for trapping gases (such as methane). Once trapped, the gas is transported within the fungus and is degraded as needed. 

The following video is a great introduction to general fungi (mushroom) structure and function (Source – Don’t Memorize):

The researchers who conducted the study found that Reishi mushrooms that are grown outside of the soil have a better removal rate, compared to those in the soil, where natural microbes may out-compete the mushrooms for nutrients. Shockingly, the researchers found that even dead fungi had some function at removing methane from the surrounding air.

Hyphae. Source: Wiki Commons

It may not be fair to say that if we all go out and plant some Reishi mushrooms, the climate crisis will be solved tomorrow – but since there are so many personal benefits beyond environmental impact, there are no downsides to doing so! While there is still a need for more research to be completed, it can be comforting to know that there are solutions to global warming that can come from the most unlikely places.

– Madeline Filewych

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“A drink a day keeps reality at bay”: Atrial Fibrillation

Posted on March 8, 2021 by | Leave a comment

This happens quite often: people come home after a long, tiring day and look forward to cracking open a beer, making a cocktail or pouring themselves a glass of wine. Sure, this may be an evening ritual for many, but at what cost? A recent study led by consultant cardiologist, Professor Renate Schnabel, at the University Heart and Vascular Center determined that people who regularly enjoy small amounts of alcohol develop an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF).

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is when a person has an abnormal heartbeat rhythm. The two upper chambers, the atria of the heart, beat out of sync from the two lower chambers, the ventricles. Since the upper and lower chambers of the heart are not working together, the lower chambers may not be able to pump enough blood to our lungs and throughout our body. Due to this, people with AF may feel tired, dizzy or suffer from chest pains. The irregular heart rhythm may also cause blood to pool in the heart which can cause clot formation and thus lead to strokes or heart failure.

Atrial Fibrillation vs. Normal Sinus Rhythm on Electrocardiogram. Source: Clearvue Health

Ingesting large amounts of alcohol, binge drinking for example, has been one of the leading risk factors that may result in AF. Until now, however, there has not been enough proof linking the effect of drinking small amounts of alcohol to AF. This is why the current study led by Professor Renate Schnabel has been an important step in AF research.

The video below called “What is Atrial Fibrillation”, created by the Youtube channel known as British Heart Foundation, gives an overview on what AF is:

Linking atrial fibrillation to alcohol consumption 

Past research, such as the study conducted by Andriy V. Samokhvalov and his colleagues, found a link between alcohol consumption and the development of AF. However, a limitation from this study was that it did not clearly prove the association between light drinking causing AF.

In the study conducted by Professor Renate Schnabel, participants were given medical examinations and were asked to share how often they consumed alcohol as well as their drinking pattern. During the follow-up with the study participants, which occurred after approximately 14 years, they were analyzed for any link between their alcohol consumption and AF. Researchers discovered such a link even for individuals consuming low amounts of alcohol. In fact, 5854 people ended up developing atrial fibrillation after 14 years. 

What this means for alcohol drinkers 

Even low amounts of alcohol consumption can lead to AF which is a stepping stone for other problems such as heart failure and strokes. This is why it is important to get checked for AF even if symptoms are minor (ie. heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pains, etc.). Also, proper management of drinking habits may lower the risk of developing AF. After all, protecting your heart will only benefit you in the long run.

– Ramdeep Dosanjh

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Laughter: The Mysterious Stress Reliever?

Posted on March 7, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Laughter. As human beings, it’s something that most of us are bound to experience. Whether it’s from browsing YouTube and finding a ridiculous dog fail compilation, or when your friend cracks out a joke that you just find funny for some apparent reason, the feeling of laughter is a common occurrence in our lives.

Laughter is something that we take for granted. If we find something funny, then we’re going to laugh. However, scientists to this day are unable to figure out the reasoning behind laughter. In fact, the results from the many studies that do exist out there further confirm that laughter is much more complex than we think. A recent study conducted by Dr. Zander-Schellenberg and others were able to attribute this strange phenomenon as a way to relieve stress.

 

Check out the video below by YouTube user Life Noggin, which does a great job of going over the origins of laughter.

YouTube Preview Image

 

laughter can help relieve stress?

In order to test the effects of laughter on stress in daily life experiences, Dr. Schellenberg and others collected data from 41 psychology students, 33 of which were female, from the University of Basel in real-life settings for 14 consecutive days. Through the usage of a smartphone application, a sound queue that triggered randomly throughout the day would remind participants to answer questions related to laughter, as well as any details regarding their current levels of stress and stressful events.

The results of the study were astonishing; it was found that increased laughter weakens the effects of stressful events, while also dampening certain symptoms that may arise from stress.

By investigating the effects of laughter on stress outside the laboratory, the study was able to be more closely related to real-life experiences. However, as the sample consisted of mainly female students, recreating the experiment with a sample that more closely represents the general population is something that could solidify their findings.

A photo of two people laughing, by Emanuele Spies from São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

To take away from all this, think of laughter as a cheap and effective form of medicine. If, for whatever reason, you’re having a bad day, go and watch your favorite comedy show, or crack jokes with one of your friends for a quick laugh!

Here is a video by YouTube user keees121 that I recommend if you’re feeling down:

YouTube Preview Image

-Aaron Yoon

 

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Baby Sharks Face a Gloomy Future

Posted on March 6, 2021 by | 1 comment

Sharks are considered the lions of the sea, but due to climate change they are losing their glory. With global warming causing the rise of ocean temperatures, one particularly tough and beautiful species, the epaulette shark, sometimes referred to as the walking shark, may be heading towards disaster.

An Epaulette Shark

An Epaulette Shark: Source: flickr.com/Richard Ling

The epaulette shark is typically 70 – 90 cm in length and has dark spots running up and down its slender body. This shark notably has a large black circle outlined in white on each of its sides. It lives in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and finds its food in shallow puddles between the coral. This shallow environment is dangerous; leaving most fish stranded out of the water, left to die under the hot sun. This amazing animal is not so easily defeated and is able to conserve its breath and march back towards the sea. The impressive survival mechanisms of the epaulette shark are shown and described in the video below created by PBS in 2017.

Video Source: Nature on PBS| Youtube

The epaulette shark has proven itself to be resilient in low oxygen environments. Previous experiments even found that their eggs and newborns are tolerant to ocean acidification. Regardless of this resilience, rising temperatures still pose a serious threat, especially to its offspring.

A new study carried out by Ph.D. candidate Carolyn Wheeler on the eggs of epaulette sharks, showed that increasing ocean temperatures significantly affect the development of its young. The researchers analyzed the growth of epaulette shark embryos until they hatched, at temperatures of 27°C, 29°C, and 31°C . It was found that the embryos grew faster at the higher temperatures, as in the warmer water the sharks tended to consume their yolk-sacks quicker, which is their only source of food before they hatch. This in turn caused them to hatch sooner, and due to the reduced time in their embryos, they were born smaller and lacking in energy. The newborns which hatched at higher temperatures struggled to survive and needed to eat significantly sooner after birth compared to those at 27°C. Other studies have additionally observed, that at 32°C the likelihood of epaulette shark eggs hatching becomes very low.

Epaulette Shark Embryo: Source: flickr.com/CLF

The average temperature of the Great Barrier Reef is currently at 28°C during the period of embryo development in the wild, but with climate models predicting that average temperatures in this region will rise to 32°C by the middle or end of the century these animals are in trouble. As we explored earlier, epaulette sharks are known to be tolerant to acidic conditions and are more resilient than any other shark to low oxygen environments.

Since the increasing temperatures will likely have a detrimental impact on the epaulette shark – which is considered a tough and resilient species – we can only imagine the negative impacts it will have on other more vulnerable wildlife.

– Adam Soliman

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Itching Towards a Solution to Eczema’s Problem

Posted on March 1, 2021 by | Leave a comment

For those who are living with atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, it’s not always fun.

Imagine that one minute you’re going on about your day, then suddenly your skin flares into an itchy, dry and blistering rash. The skin irritation becomes agonizing as soon as you start to feel your skin throb and burn, almost as if a million fire ants endlessly crawl all over your skin.

According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, this is what 17 percent of Canadians deal with throughout their lives. 

Source: flickr.com

The video below summarizes on eczema and provides further detail on its condition:

Source: Medical Centric (Youtube)

Recent Research

A recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology examined the relationship between an enzyme (a protein that increases metabolic reaction rates) known as Granzyme B and the symptoms associated with eczema. According to Dr. David Granville, UBC’s Faculty of Medicine professor and researcher, increased Granzyme B secretion causes the enzymes to “eat away” cell-adhesion proteins that function in holding skin cells together. As a result, the skin barrier is weakened which increases skin sensitivity, thereby introducing symptoms like skin inflammation, dryness and itchiness. 

So what would happen if these enzyme levels were decreased?

Granville and his team discovered that by lowering Granzyme B secretion levels with inhibitors, skin cell layers were more likely to remain intact as fewer cell-adhesion proteins were eaten by these enzymes. Symptoms such as inflammation and lesion growth were shown to be greatly reduced compared to such increasing symptoms associated with high Granzyme B secretion levels. As these observed symptoms contribute to dryness and itchiness, these findings ultimately introduces a newer approach towards treating eczema.

A Step Closer to Newer Treatments

How can these findings be implemented into future treatments for individuals who have eczema?

Former UBC postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study Dr. Chris Turner, suggests that with further research and clinical trials, these findings can potentially introduce topical creams or lotions that can inhibit Granzyme B levels in the future, ultimately reducing symptoms of itchiness and inflammation on affected skin. This potentially brings in treatments that avoid damaging the skin such as corticosteroid creams – a common topical steroid cream applied on the skin to reduce eczema symptoms.

“Corticosteroid creams are a common treatment for individuals with AD who experience more severe itching and rashes. However, these can thin the skin when used over a prolonged period of time, which can make skin more prone to damage and infection.”  VCH Research Institute, 2020.

Source: med.ubc.ca

As further research opens up more information about eczema and the enzyme that aggravates its symptoms, hopefully it’ll help researchers get closer towards developing potential treatments. Perhaps one day a Granzyme B-inhibiting cream will become available in the market.

After all, no one likes to have itchy, dry skin.

– Tina Huynh

Reference:
Turner, Christopher T., et al. “Granzyme B Contributes to barrier dysfunction in oxazolone-induced skin inflammation through E-Cadherin and FLG cleavage.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 141.1 (2021): 36-47.

 

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From Recreational to Pharmaceutical – A Promising Psychedelic in Research

Posted on February 27, 2021 by | 1 comment

Current research on the use of psychedelic drugs for therapeutic applications is showing a lot of promise, building on the potential first demonstrated by studies  conducted in the 1950’s. Humphry Osmond, the psychiatrist who coined the term “psychedelics”, is considered one of the pioneers of psychedelics research. He believed hallucinogenic drugs could be used to treat mental illnesses, and his research findings supported his beliefs. His study on the use of LSD to treat alcoholism found that at the one year follow-up, almost half of study participants who suffered from alcoholism didn’t return to drinking. As such, Osmond’s seminal studies paved the path for the emerging field of psychedelics research. Fast-forward to today, research studies are demonstrating that under controlled conditions, psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms), and ketamine hold the potential for treating an array of mental illnesses – from alcoholism, to PTSD, to depression, anxiety, and OCD.  As the newest addition, MDMA is joining the rest of its peers in psychedelics research and may hold great potential.

Humphry Osmond, Source: Jeremy Leung

MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy, E, M, or Molly, is an infamous psychoactive drug often associated with nightclub and rave scenes. Hours of partying are fueled by intense feelings of pleasure, emotional warmth, and an abundance of energy owed to this little pill with so many names. The negative stigma attached to recreational drug use has given MDMA a bad rep, but research studies from an organization called Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS) are challenging these stigmatized views.

A team of MAPS researchers in California are repurposing MDMA to treat the psychological distress experienced by people suffering from life-threatening illnesses (LTI). People living with, or that have lived with an LTI can experience anxiety, depression, anger, and despair associated with their traumatic experiences. In one of the first clinical trials of its kind, Dr. Philip Wolfson and his team explored how using MDMA during psychotherapy sessions impacted participant’s distress levels. The team found that the study participants who took MDMA had improved mindfulness and a more positive outlook towards their traumatic experiences. Also, depression, sleep quality, and anxiety levels  improved, but these improvements couldn’t conclusively be attributed to the MDMA. The findings of this pilot study suggest MDMA could still have the potential to reduce psychological distress associated with LTI and that it may also have positive long-term effects.

Although current studies like Dr. Wolfson’s show promising results, could the stigma surrounding “hard drugs” like MDMA deter patients from taking them once/if they become approved for clinical use? Or would the existing stigma dwindle once they get a doctor’s stamp of approval? Or maybe it’s simply why the drugs are used that give recreational use a bad name. Whatever your beliefs and convictions, scientifically, “hard drugs” may have a place in medicine in the (potentially near) future.

Source: GoodRx.com

By Maya Bird

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Protein Folding: Solved

Posted on February 26, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Just as the turmoil of 2020 was coming to a wrap, a scientific breakthrough came about. On November 30th AlphaFold, coming out of Google’s DeepMind, claimed to have solved the protein folding problem using artificial intelligence.

The Problem

From making our DNA to getting rid of waste, proteins are like small machines that perform the majority of work done in cells. In fact, within our bodies there are an estimated 80,000 to 400,000 unique proteins each playing their own role. And, just like the way a building is built determines its use, a protein’s structure decides what tasks it performs. Yet, although it is easy to distinguish an apartment from an office, according to UCONN Health, it can take scientists between a few weeks to a few months to piece together what a protein looks like.

The Game Changer

This is where AlphaFold sneaks in. Although, as seen in the video above, the task was not easy, AlphaFold chose a different approach to this problem: artificial intelligence. 

Nowadays, the word artificial intelligence pops-up everywhere from self-driving cars to artificial voices, but what is most important is how it works and how it can be applied to the protein folding problem.

General scheme for developing an artificial intelligence model.

 

For the computer it all starts with data. As seen in the diagram above, once given data the computer looks for patterns between points. These patterns can then be used to make predictions on new data. Before in their final structure, proteins begin as a simple string of amino acids, or the building blocks of proteins. Given a dataset with the original string paired with the protein in its final form, the computer looks for patterns between the two. Using these patterns it can then predict what a protein might look like from just its string.

The Importance

Just one of the many protein folding predictions generated by AlphaFold’s model.

To the left you can see one prediction Alpha Fold’s model created. In comparison to the time it takes in the lab, this model is able to make a prediction in a mere half an hour with 90% accuracy according to their statement. In fact, it has already helped a biologist named Andrei Lupis with piecing together a protein his team has been stuck on for a decade. In an interview with Nature, Lupis even said: 

This is a game changer, this will change medicine. It will change research. It will change bioengineering. It will change everything.

With this new break-through, not only will scientists save time and money by not having to experimentally determine a protein’s structure, but research will accelerate at a pace never seen before. 

Beyond AlphaFold

While AlphaFold may be a hot-topic, beyond protein folding AI has also been used for a variety of tasks including interpreting MRI images or even predicting climate change. The applications seem to be limitless so make sure to keep an eye out, the next breakthrough could be coming up just around the corner!

Jessica Petrochuk

 

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Catnip Magic was a Protection Against Mosquitoes

Posted on February 25, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Catnip is a plant that can bring about a euphoric state and cause most cats to act unusually. Scientists long thought the only driving force of their obsession was the euphoric experience, just like when humans drink alcohol. However, researchers have found that the chemical in catnip called nepetalactone is an effective mosquito repellant, and protects cats from infectious diseases.

If you own a cat, you may have used catnip products and witnessed your cat rolling, flipping, and rubbing, just like in the video below. Some cats even zone out!

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Video Credit: Wild At Heart | BBC Earth

As mentioned in the narrative, catnips are harmless to cats, and the euphoric effect does not last long. The responses to catnip are also observed in other felids such as lions and bobcats.

“For cats, catnip may be a recreational drug but it’s totally harmless. […] After about 10 minutes, the cats come back down to Earth” (Wild At Heart, BBC Earth)

Why do cats behave in this way?

Since first found by a British botanist back in 1759 (9), this behaviour remained mysterious for a long time. However, in January 2021, a team of scientists from universities in Japan and The University of Liverpool found that the responses allowed cats to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

The team found that in the catnip, the significant component that induces the characteristic behaviour is called nepetalactone, which is the oil in the plant that gives its distinctive odour. The team also found that it has mosquito repellent activity.

When cats sniff nepetalactone, it stimulates the brain system called u-opioid, which is a part of the brain that controls the rewarding effects. Researchers confirmed that the stimulation induces cats to rub their bodies and face against the chemical. These rubbing and rolling behaviours transfer the chemical onto their fur, allowing cats to gain a chemical defence against mosquitoes.

The research sheds light on developing new mosquito repellents for humans using nepetalactone.

The neurophysiological and functional significance of silver vine response in cats.
Image Credit: Chie Nakayama, adapted from Reiko Uenoyama, Iwate University. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd9135

You can access the research paper from here.

– Chie Nakayama

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