Parasitic Diseases

Parasite infections may prevent aging and disease - Medical News Today Parasite infections may prevent aging and disease - Medical News Today Posted: 07 Feb 2021 12:00 AM PST Research has suggested that the absence of parasite infections may be linked to an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions. According to a new review of existing studies, parasites may have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent aging. Controlled restorative therapies can be beneficial for regulating a proper immune response. Through centuries of evolution, the human body and its surrounding environments have adapted to improve health and promote longevity. For example, the increasing emphasis on hygiene has been effective in combating parasites that cause disease. These changes have been crucial, as evidenced by the greater life expectancies and lower disease rates in certain regions of the world. However, these benefits come with trade-of...

A female jigger flea with extended abdomen. Source: Wikipedia A jigger infestation, known as tungiasis, can be very painful; I speak from personal experience.  This tiny sand-flea has a variety of other colloquial names including nigua, chigoe and bicho de pé (Portugues for foot-bug). The last one, and its scientific name, Tunga penetrans , giving clues to its habit, as the adult female burrows into the skin, usually of the foot. Originally endemic in pre-Columbian Andean society and the West Indies jiggers were spread to other tropical and sub-tropical regions via shipping routes. They are now present in the Caribbean, Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and India, but not in Europe or North America. Life cycle of T. penetrans , the human, domestic, and sylvatic cycles overlap closely. Source:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003133.g002 The jigger life cycle Jigger larvae live a few centimetres under sand or soil, feeding on organic matter. They are often...

COVID-19 has a profound impact on lives across the globe. Not only has it claimed the lives of more than 3 million globally and infected over 150 million, with a significant portion of those now displaying symptoms of 'Long COVID' that threaten long term health, the pandemic has also threatened mental health, shaken economies, and increased poverty and hunger. In reaction to this, scientists and agencies around the world are striving to understand the virus so that it can be controlled better. Part of this approach involves understanding how to prevent transmission. Additionally, emphasis has been put on communicating methods of preventing the spread of infectious disease in general, given that the COVID-19 virus is not the only pathogen capable of initiating a global pandemic. Here, we discuss the recommended methods of preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Spread of Disease. Image Credit: Lightspring/Shutterstock.com Strategies that prevent the spread of inf...

(Getty) Orange juice may seem like a healthier option than a can of soft drink. But many brands on South African supermarket shelves contain as much sugar as a Coke or Pepsi – and only traces of vitamin C. Although some have added vitamin C during the production process, no leading brand has more than a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Here's how several leading brands of orange juice stack up on the vitamin C and sugar fronts. For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za. Nutritionally, processed orange juice isn't much healthier for you than a glass of a typical soft drink. At best, it may contain a few added vitamins and a couple of grams less sugar - at worst, it contains more sugar than vitamin C. Much of the perceived health benefits of a glass of orange are little more than the result of what some call a healthy eating halo effect - a cognitive bias, often pounced on by food and drink manufacturers to increase sales. In the United States, where ...

Hearts, brains, energy sapped: Long-COVID sufferers beg for answers - WRAL.com Hearts, brains, energy sapped: Long-COVID sufferers beg for answers - WRAL.com Posted: 27 Jun 2021 06:47 AM PDT By Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer Chapel Hill, N.C. — Even though Angela Hogan and her daughter, Rachel Hogan, were hospitalized with coronavirus more than eight months ago, they're both still struggling with symptoms. They're among the millions of people across the globe who are continuing to experience symptoms of COVID-19, months after their initial infection. During the day, Angela is so fatigued and dizzy, she can hardly move. Her heart is racing and she has pain in all of her joints. "I'm actually to the point of getting a cane," Angela, from Asheboro, said. She can hardly stand up straight. At night, when she wants to sleep, she has to use supplemental oxygen. Her daughter, Rachel, only 23, is struggling w...

One of the many issues that have flummoxed scientists researching COVID-19 is the nose-to-toes diversity of its symptoms, which extend well beyond the usual range of respiratory infections: from loss of smell to blood clots and stroke to limb pain and discolored COVID toes. One of the most common nonrespiratory manifestations is gastrointestinal trouble. As many as 50 percent of COVID patients have nausea, diarrhea and/or abdominal pain. And according to a Canadian review paper, for 16 percent in one large study, those were the only symptoms. Research indicates that SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID—can directly attack the epithelial cells that line the GI tract, entering via the molecular doorway of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). These cells express high levels of ACE2, as do the cells lining the lungs, the primary site of infection. But the gut is not merely a passive target for the virus. Evidence suggests it is also a player in determining the severity of COVI...

Recent Law Clarifies and Expands CARES Act Employee Retention Credit The Internal Revenue Service urges employers to take advantage of the newly-extended employee retention credit, designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, modified and extended the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), for six months through June 30, 2021. Several of the changes apply only to 2021, while others apply to both 2020 and 2021. Effective January 1, 2021, employers are eligible if they operate a trade or business during January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021, and experience either: A full or partial suspension of the operation of their trade or business during this period because of governmental orders limiting commerce, travel or group meetings due to COVID-19, or A decline in gross receipts in a calendar quarter in 2021 where the gross receipts of...

Meal replacement shakes are a convenient form of nourishment. Whether you're in a hurry or losing weight, meal replacement shakes help you stay on track. However, there are thousands of meal replacement shakes products available today – and not all are made equal. Some protein powders label themselves as meal replacement shakes, for example. Other superfood powders claim to be meal replacement shakes. A meal replacement shake should contain many of the same nutrients you get from a meal. It should contain calories, carbs, fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other compounds. It should leave you feeling full – not hungry. With so many meal replacement shakes available, it's hard to choose the right one. Today, we're listing the best meal replacement shakes of 2021 . Our Rankings After much deliberation and testing, here's how our editorial team ranked the best meal replacement shakes available today. Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal Garden of Life...