أخبار سارة عن coronavirus ، فيروس كورونا Some good news

Quote: The woman who discovered the first human coronavirus was the daughter of a Scottish bus driver, who left school at 16. By Steven Brocklehurst BBC Scotland News. 15 April 2020. June Almeida with her electron microscope at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto in 1963. June Almeida went on to become a pioneer of virus imaging, whose work has come roaring back into focus during the present pandemic. Covid-19 is a new illness but it is caused by a coronavirus of the type first identified by Dr Almeida in 1964 at her laboratory in St Thomas's Hospital in London. The virologist was born June Hart in 1930 and grew up in a tenement near Alexandra Park in the north east of Glasgow. She left school with little formal education but got a job as a laboratory technician in histopathology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Later she moved to London to further her career and in 1954 married Enriques Almeida, a Venezuelan artist. Common cold research The couple and their young daughter moved to Toronto in Canada and, according to medical writer George Winter, it was at the Ontario Cancer Institute that Dr Almeida developed her outstanding skills with an electron microscope. She pioneered a method which better visualised viruses by using antibodies to aggregate them. Mr Winter told Drivetime on BBC Radio Scotland her talents were recognised in the UK and she was lured back in 1964 to work at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in London, the same hospital that treated Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was suffering from the Covid-19 virus. On her return, she began to collaborate with Dr David Tyrrell, who was running research at the common cold unit in Salisbury in Wiltshire. Mr Winter says Dr Tyrrell had been studying nasal washings from volunteers and his team had found that they were able to grow quite a few common cold-associated viruses but not all of them. One sample in particular, which became known as B814, was from the nasal washings of a pupil at a boarding school in Surrey in 1960. They found that they were able to transmit common cold symptoms to volunteers but they were unable to grow it in routine cell culture. However, volunteer studies demonstrated its growth in organ cultures and Dr Tyrrell wondered if it could be seen by an electron microscope. They sent samples to June Almeida who saw the virus particles in the specimens, which she described as like influenza viruses but not exactly the same. She identified what became known as the first human coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope. Mr Winter says that Dr Almeida had actually seen particles like this before while investigating mouse hepatitis and infectious bronchitis of chickens. However, he says her paper to a peer-reviewed journal was rejected "because the referees said the images she produced were just bad pictures of influenza virus particles". The new discovery from strain B814 was written up in the British Medical Journal in 1965 and the first photographs of what she had seen were published in the Journal of General Virology two years later. According to Mr Winter, it was Dr Tyrrell and Dr Almeida, along with Prof Tony Waterson, the man in charge at St Thomas's, who named it coronavirus because of the crown or halo surrounding it on the viral image. Dr Almeida later worked at the Postgraduate Medical School in London, where she was awarded a doctorate. She finished her career at the Wellcome Institute, where she was named on several patents in the field of imaging viruses. After leaving Wellcome, Dr Almeida become a yoga teacher but went back into virology in an advisory role in the late 1980s when she helped take novel pictures of the HIV virus. June Almeida died in 2007, at the age of 77. Now 13 years after her death she is finally getting recognition she deserves as a pioneer whose work speeded up understanding of the virus that is currently spreading throughout the world. Ref BBCNEWS. By Steven Brocklehurst BBC Scotland News. 15 April 2020

Quote: Coronavirus chronicles: Here's some good news amid the dire reports From vaccine progress to people uniting in friendship and solidarity, some positive COVID-19 news to keep things in perspective. Coronavirus is affecting people across the world, but there are reasons to be hopeful. Mehedi Hasan/NurPhoto/Getty Images For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website. Right now the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 are all anyone can talk about. You're not alone if you feel overwhelmed or find yourself focusing on worst-case scenarios. So let's take a second, breathe deep and look at some of the positive things going on in these strange times. Keep in mind that the pandemic is far from over and you should continue to play your part to look after yourself and others. Here's how to protect yourself from coronavirus, how to look after yourself in quarantine and how to keep your spirits up. Remember, there are many reasons not to sink into worry or fear. We'll keep updating this page with encouraging, reassuring and uplifting news. *** C/net

Quote: We know how to slow the spread Follow the advice of your local authority to minimize your chances of getting or spreading the virus, in particular by washing your hands regularly, not touching your face and avoiding non-essential trips outside your home. If you're in any doubt, the impact of these measures is clear: in countries that have acted fast and taken social distancing seriously, the spread of the virus has been dramatically slowed or even contained. In China, Singapore and other affected countries, social distancing played a big part in turning the tide. Acting early and following the advice is crucial, and we all have a part to play. *** C/net

Quote: Uplifting scenes of coronavirus solidarity around the world China has reported a drastic reduction in new cases, although this was achieved using extensive lockdown measures, which ended this week. Singapore managed to contain the spread of the virus by acting fast, without imposing the draconian measures seen in China. Hong Kong and Taiwan were able to tackle the virus thanks to their experience with SARS in 2002, teaching the world valuable lessons about investing time and resources into dealing with an outbreak. Germany and Denmark are reopening small shops and schools and many countries have now reportedly passed their peaks of new cases. *** C/net

Quote: We're working on a cure Scientists around the world are looking for a coronavirus vaccine. It's essential not to rush this process, and it will take months or even years to develop the vaccine and make sure it's safe. But the work has begun and some promising avenues have already been identified. Researchers have a head start as the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is similar to coronaviruses we've encountered before, including the SARS virus that struck in 2002. Clinical trials of potential vaccines are underway in China, testing methods of stimulating our immune system to fight the virus. The first US clinical trials for a potential vaccine have begun in Seattle. Biotech company Moderna has taken a piece of the genetic code for the pathogen's S protein -- the part that's present in other coronaviruses, like SARS -- and fused it with fatty nanoparticles which can be injected into the body. Imperial College London is designing a similar vaccine using coronavirus RNA, its genetic code. Pennsylvania biotech company Inovio is generating strands of DNA it hopes will stimulate an immune response. Johnson and Johnson and French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi are both working with the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop vaccines. Sanofi's plan is to mix coronavirus DNA with genetic material from a harmless virus, while Johnson and Johnson will attempt to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and switch off its ability to cause illness. In the meantime, existing antiviral drugs may have an effect on the new coronavirus, such as remdesivir or the anti-flu drug favipiravir. Formula 1 racing engineers at Mercedes have joined forces with University College London to develop a breathing device that can be used instead of taking patients to intensive care and placing them on a ventilator. *** C/net

Quote: Covid-19 vaccine: All you need to know about the next steps © Provided by Khaleej Times Covid-19 vaccine: All you need to know about the next steps With US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech applying for an emergency use authorisation in the United States for their coronavirus vaccine and US biotech company Moderna expected to do so soon, here are the next steps in the approval and distribution process: - Evaluation begins right away - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will immediately begin evaluating the results of the Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials conducted by Pfizer/BioNTech. They will concentrate on the safety of the vaccine and its effectiveness, which has been billed at 95 per cent by Pfizer/BioNTech. FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said the approval process will include a public meeting of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, which includes experts in infectious diseases, paediatrics, biostatistics and industry representatives. The committee's recommendations are not binding, however, and a final decision on whether or not to authorize the vaccine will be up to the scientists at the FDA. - Green light: December - The FDA could provide emergency authorisation as soon as the first two weeks of December, according to Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientist for "Operation Warp Speed," the US government initiative to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. It would be a conditional approval in the context of the global health crisis and would restrict distribution of the vaccine to certain members of the population. Children, for example, would not be included because Pfizer has not yet conducted widespread testing of the vaccine among those under the age of 18. Another US government agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), would determine the order of priority for distribution of the vaccine. Front-line medical workers and elderly residents of nursing homes would probably be among the first to be inoculated. In Europe, Britain, Canada, Japan and Australia, the process is slightly different and regulators there have been constantly reviewing the data from clinical trials being conducted by several manufacturers. The European Union could give a green light to a vaccine as early as the second half of December, according to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. - Distribution: late December - Pfizer/BioNTech said doses of the vaccine would be ready for distribution "within hours" after US authorization, which could mean shipments beginning in the second half of December. They would initially be provided by a US factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a Belgian plant in Puurs. The vaccine must be stored at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 degrees Fahrenheit), temperatures much colder than those of a standard freezer. Pfizer would distribute the doses to vaccination centers in containers filled with dry ice which should keep the vaccine at the required temperature for 15 days. - Next vaccines: early 2021 - The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine could be ready for distribution soon after that of Pfizer/BioNTech and could be followed by February by that of Johnson and Johnson, according to Slaoui, with AstraZeneca/Oxford also expected in the next few months. While high-risk groups will be the first vaccinated, the US government hopes that there will be enough vaccines by April 2021 to offer it to the broader population and provide high coverage by the summer. Ref Provided by Khaleej Times AFP 6 hrs ago 21.11.2020

Quote: TURKISH IMMIGRANTS’ CHILDREN BEHIND PFIZER’S COVID-19 VACCINE Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech say their experimental vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19. Behind the vaccine, however, is an understated “dream team” of children of Turkish immigrants. BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin, 55, now figures among the 100 richest Germans, together with his wife and fellow board member Oezlem Tuereci, 53, according to weekly Welt am Sonntag. (Reuters Archive) A vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has 90 percent effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials, the companies have announced. The statement on Monday was released as soaring coronavirus cases across the world have forced many millions of people back into lockdown, causing further damage to ravaged economies. European stock markets and oil prices jumped on the announcement. And US President Donald Trump, who lost last week's election to Joe Biden in part over his administration's response to the pandemic, hailed the announcement as “such great news.” Biden welcomed the development but said it doesn't change “urgent reality” that masks, distancing and other health measures are needed well into 2021. Critical milestone The companies said they expect to supply up to 50 million vaccine doses globally in 2020, and up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. “The first set of results from our Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine's ability to prevent Covid-19,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis,” he said. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development programme at a time when the world needs it most.” UPDATE: We are proud to announce, along with @BioNTech_Group , that our mRNA-based #vaccine candidate has, at an interim analysis, demonstrated initial evidence of efficacy against #COVID19 in participants without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ؟ Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) November 9, 2020 BioNTech bosses are children of Turkish immigrants The positive data on BioNTech and Pfizer's vaccine is, however, an unlikely success for the married couple behind the German biotech firm, who have devoted their lives to harnessing the immune system against cancer. From humble roots as the son of a Turkish immigrant working at a Ford factory in Cologne, BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin, 55, now figures among the 100 richest Germans, together with his wife and fellow board member Oezlem Tuereci, 53, according to weekly Welt am Sonntag. The market value of Nasdaq-listed BioNTech, which the pair co-founded, had ballooned to $21 billion as of Friday؟s close from $4.6 billion a year ago, with the firm set to play a major role in mass immunisation against the coronavirus. Today is a great day for both science and humanity, as the first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides compelling evidence of our vaccine؟s ability to help prevent COVID-19. https://t.co/UjcoSD75tThttps://t.co/UjcoSD75tT ؟ AlbertBourla (@AlbertBourla) November 9, 2020 “Despite his achievements, he never changed from being incredibly humble and personable,” said Matthias Kromayer, board member of venture capital firm MIG AG, whose funds have backed BioNTech since its inception in 2008. He added Sahin would typically walk into business meetings wearing jeans and carrying his signature bicycle helmet and backpack with him. Doggedly pursuing his childhood dream of studying medicine and becoming a physician, Sahin worked at teaching hospitals in Cologne and the southwestern city of Homburg, where he met Tuereci during his early academic career. Medical research and oncology became a shared passion. Tuereci, the daughter of a Turkish physician who had migrated to Germany, said in a media interview that even on the day of their wedding, both made time for lab work. How a Little-known German Biotech Firm Founded by the Children of Turkish Immigrants Became a Leader in Global #Coronavirus Vaccine Race https://t.co/IeDPy0Axanhttps://t.co/IeDPy0Axan ؟ Rachael Ruble (@RachaelRuble) November 9, 2020 'Within the realms of possibility' The BioNTech story took a twist when Sahin in January came across a scientific paper on a new coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan and it struck him how small the step was from anti-cancer mRNA drugs to mRNA-based viral vaccines. BioNTech quickly assigned about 500 staff to project “light speed” to work on several possible compounds, winning pharma giant Pfizer and Chinese drugmaker Fosun as partners in March. Matthias Theobald, a fellow oncology professor at Mainz University who has worked with Sahin for 20 years, said his tendency towards understatement belies a relentless ambition to transform medicine, exemplified by the leap of faith to a Covid-19 vaccine. “He is a very modest and humble person. Appearances mean little to him. But he wants to create the structures that allow him to realise his visions and that's where his aspirations are far from modest,” Theobald said. Sahin told Reuters news agency on Monday the read-out amounted to an “extraordinary success rate” but that he did not know earlier in the year how difficult the task overall would be. “It؟s certainly not something that you would easily voice as a serious scientist, but it was within the realms of possibility from the beginning.” Ref Source: TRTWorld and agencies

Quote: Khaleej Times Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine: US will likely issue allergy warning, official says AFP 8 hrs ago If the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decides to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine, it will probably ask people with a known history of severe allergic reactions to not take it, a top government scientist said on Wednesday. The news follows a similar warning in Britain after two health care workers suffered allergic reactions and needed treatment. Both Britain and Canada have already approved the two-dose vaccine regimen on an emergency basis and the US is expected to follow suit within a matter of days, after an FDA advisory panel meets on the issue on Thursday. Also read: Coronavirus: Pfizer chief insists no corners cut on vaccine testing Coronavirus: Only half in US want Covid-19 vaccine as shots near, poll shows Moncef Slaoui, who is the chief advisor to the US program for Covid vaccine and treatment development, told reporters: "Looking into the data, patients or subjects with severe allergic reaction history have been excluded from the clinical trial. "I assume -- because the FDA will make those decisions -- that tomorrow this will be part of the consideration, and as in the UK, the expectation would be that subjects with known severe reactions, (will be asked) to not take the vaccine, until we understand exactly what happened here." The FDA will probably also ask providers to watch for whether people develop a rare but temporary and not very serious form of facial paralysis called Bell's palsy, after data showed four people out of about 19,000 in the vaccine arm of the trial got the condition. Overall, Slaoui said he was impressed by the vaccine data that had emerged in briefing documents submitted to the FDA, including importantly that strong protection began after the first dose -- though the recommendation remains to take both injections, 21 days apart. It isn't known when exactly the regulatory agency could issue its emergency use authorisation but health secretary Alex Azar indicated that officials have early next week in mind. General Gus Perna, who is overseeing logistics nationwide, said he had given the order Wednesday to begin distributing syringes, needles, alcohol wipes and dilutants required for the Pfizer vaccine, a process expected to be completed by Friday. The US hopes to vaccinate 20 million people this month, with long-term care facility residents and health care workers at the front of the line. The goal is to reach 100 million by the end of February and the whole population by June. The next vaccines to receive approval might be those made by Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and AstraZeneca, most likely in that order. *** Ref Khaleej Times Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine: US will likely issue allergy warning, official says AFP 8 hrs ago 10.12.2020

Quote: Coronavirus chronicles: Here's some good news amid the dire reports From vaccine progress to people uniting in friendship and solidarity, some positive COVID-19 news to keep things in perspective. For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website. Right now the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 are all anyone can talk about. You're not alone if you feel overwhelmed or find yourself focusing on worst-case scenarios. So let's take a second, breathe deep and look at some of the positive things going on in these strange times. Keep in mind that the pandemic is far from over and you should continue to play your part to look after yourself and others. Here's how to protect yourself from coronavirus, how to look after yourself in quarantine and how to keep your spirits up. Remember, there are many reasons not to sink into worry or fear. We'll keep updating this page with encouraging, reassuring and uplifting news.

Quote: Khaleej Times Covid-19: First batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines reach UAE Web Report 53 mins ago © Provided by Khaleej Times Covid-19: First batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines reach UAE The first batch of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech has reached the UAE from Brussels via Emirates SkyCargo last night at 22:15 UAE time. Video player from: YouTube (Privacy Policy, Terms) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Group, thanked everyone who has worked over the last year to protect the lives of those most vulnerable against the disease. "Emirates is proud to be transporting the first batch of Pfizer vaccines for Covid-19 into the UAE for the Dubai Health Authority. It has been our honour to transport these vaccines free of charge on our flight. Our healthcare ecosystem has played an absolutely critical role in every step of the fight against Covid-19," Sheikh Ahmed said. Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo said: "Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world's largest airside hub dedicated to distributing Covid-19 vaccines and we stand ready to support not just Dubai, but countries around the world, including markets with limited cool chain infrastructure with our advanced capabilities. By transporting Covid-19 vaccines across our extensive network, we look forward to helping people around the world get back on their feet after the devastating impact of the pandemic." On arrival at Dubai airport, the containers with the vaccines were unloaded on priority from the aircraft and then taken to Emirates SkyCargo's dedicated pharma facility Emirates SkyPharma to await clearance for delivery. Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world's largest dedicated airside storage and distribution hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Dubai with the capacity to store up to an estimated 10 million doses of vaccine at the 2-8C temperature range at any one point of time. Emirates SkyCargo has already commenced distribution of Covid-19 vaccines from a range of manufacturers and geographies. *** Khaleej Times Covid-19: First batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines reach UAE Web Report 53 mins ago

Quote: Khaleej Times Get Covid jab to end pandemic: Emirati among first to get Dubai Pfizer vaccine Saman Haziq 6 hrs ago Khaleej Times Get Covid jab to end pandemic: Emirati among first to get Dubai Pfizer vaccine Saman Haziq 6 hrs ago © Provided by Khaleej Times Get Covid jab to end pandemic: Emirati among first to get Dubai Pfizer vaccine Urging the public to get the newly-rolled out Covid-19 vaccination in order to get "normalcy" back to life, an 84-year-old Emirati Ali Salem Ali Al Adidi was among the first few to take the jab on Wednesday. Al Adidi, who has diabetes and who has previously had heart surgery, said he was approached by Dubai Health Authority officials to take the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine as he was in the high-risk category and more vulnerable to Covid-19 given his age. Also read: Dubai's free Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine drive: How to book a jab Pfizer Covid jab UAE: Dubai vaccinates first few residents "After conducting some tests, I was given the go-ahead by the DHA doctors and I happily took the jab at a DHA centre today. I feel completely fine after taking it and there have been no side effects or uneasiness," he said, flashing His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's famous three-finger salute denoting win, victory and love, and expressing his pride and happiness after taking the jab. Dubai Media Office @DXBMediaOffice First senior Emirati citizen to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 6:55 PM · Dec 23, 2020 42 See the latest COVID-19 information on Twitter Being one of the oldest to receive the vaccine shot, Al Adidi said he has witnessed many plagues and diseases in his lifetime but was happy how the UAE leadership is handling the Covid-19 pandemic, trying to bring normalcy back to life by introducing precautionary measures. " Everyone must get the Covid-19 vaccine so we can get back to living like pre-Covid times and avoid any further lockdowns," he said. Setting an example for the people of their city and showing their keenness to protect the public from risk of infection, a number of Emiratis as well as government employees came forward to volunteer for the newly rolled out Pfizer- BioNTech vaccination drive launched in Dubai on Wednesday. These included representatives from the Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Ambulance and DHA who willingly volunteered to take the vaccine that has a proven efficacy of up to 95 per cent. Dubai Media Office @DXBMediaOffice #Dubai launches free Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination campaign. https://twitter.com/i/status/1341787431398420482https://twitter.com/i/status/1341787431398420482 8:47 PM · Dec 23, 2020 41 See the latest COVID-19 information on Twitter The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has recently been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and registered by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. In the first phase of the rollout of the campaign, the Dubai Health Authority said it will target four main categories; the first category includes Emirati and resident elders aged 60 years and above, people with chronic diseases and people of determination; the second category includes frontline workers in both the public and private sectors; the third category includes vital-sector workers; and the fourth category includes members of the public who wish to get vaccinated. The first batch of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech landed in Dubai from Brussels via Emirates SkyCargo late on Tuesday night. The shipment of the Pfizer vaccine was offloaded and cleared on a priority basis on arrival at Emirates' dedicated SkyPharma facility. Geared up to store the Covid-19 vaccines, Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world's largest dedicated airside storage and distribution hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Dubai with the capacity to store up to an estimated 10 million doses of vaccine at the 2-8C temperature range at any one point of time. The vaccinations will be available at six DHA health facilities that include: Zabeel Primary Health Care Centre, Al Mizhar Primary Health Care Centre, Nad Al Hamr Primary Health Care Centre, Barsha Primary Health Care Centre, Uptown Mirdif Medical Fitness Centre and Hatta Hospital. UAE residents can register and book appointments for vaccination through the DHA app or the DHA's toll-free number 800 342. mailto:[email protected]@khaleejtimes.com *** Khaleej Times Get Covid jab to end pandemic: Emirati among first to get Dubai Pfizer vaccine Saman Haziq 6 hrs ago mailto:[email protected]@khaleejtimes.com

Quote: Autopsies of COVID-19 patients reveal clotting concerns Filed Under: COVID-19 Mary Van Beusekom | News Writer | CIDRAP News | May 07, 2020 Share Tweet LinkedIn Email Print and PDF blood_clot_in_vein.jpg Blood clot in vein urfinguss / iStock A study of autopsy findings of the first 12 patients who died of COVID-19 in a hospital in Hamburg, Germany, has found that 7 (58%) of them had undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis, suggesting that the virus may cause abnormal blood clotting. In the prospective cohort study, published yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers discovered that the direct cause of death in four patients was massive pulmonary embolism from deep vein blood clots in the legs that lodged in a lung artery, causing a blockage. High viral RNA loads, abnormal lung findings High concentrations of COVID-19 genetic material were detected in the lungs, and also in the liver, kidney, or heart in five of six patients who had moderate viremia (COVID-19 viruses in the blood). All had abnormal lung computed tomography (CT) findings, and eight of them (67%) had alveolar damage indicative of early acute respiratory distress syndrome. Most lungs were congested and heavy, with a maximum combined weight of 3,420 grams (more than 7.5 pounds) in one patient. Mean combined lung weight was 1,988 grams (4.4 pounds). In comparison, standard lung weights for men are 840 grams (1.9 pounds) and 639 grams (1.4 pounds) for women. Only two patients had relatively low lung weights (550 and 890 grams). In many cases, the lungs showed signs of mild pleurisy, inflammation of the thin layers of tissue that separate the lungs from the chest wall, as well as a patchy pattern consisting of pale areas contrasting with slightly protruding, firm, reddish-blue areas with high capillary-to-fiber ratios. The lungs were firm but crumbled easily. In the 10 patients who died in the hospital, initial laboratory tests showed elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (indicating tissue damage), D-dimer (indicating blood clots), and C-reactive protein (indicating inflammation or heart damage), as well as mild thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets needed for clotting) in 4 of 10 patients. Median patient age was 73 years (range, 52 to 87), 75% were men, and all had underlying medical conditions, the most common of which were coronary heart disease and asthma (50%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (25%). Many were obese, with a mean body mass index of 28.7 kg/m2. Anti-clotting drugs may decrease risk The authors said that COVID-19 may lead to pulmonary embolism by activating the coagulation system or causing a cytokine storm, in which high levels of proinflammatory cytokines start to attack the body's own tissues rather than just the virus. Factors such as immune-mediated damage from antiphospholipid antibodies involved in autoimmune responses may also contribute. Regardless of the cause, the researchers said that doctors should always suspect pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients who have deteriorating heart and lung function. "That patients with COVID-19 who have increased D-dimer levels, a sign of coagulopathy, may benefit from anticoagulant treatment seems plausible," they wrote. They called for further research into the molecular mechanism and clinical incidence of coronavirus-related death and possible treatment options such as the use of anti-clotting therapies for COVID-19 patients. ***

Quote: Khaleej Times UAE schools: 50% students may return to campus next week Web Report 9 hrs ago © Provided by Khaleej Times UAE schools: 50% students may return to campus next week About 50 per cent of students of some grades may return to school from January 17, the UAE's Ministry of Education has announced. About half of the total number of students in Grades 9-12 can return to schools. Schools will implement a set of Covid-19 safety measures to keep students safe. Students of public schools and all educational institutions in Abu Dhabi have been learning remotely since the new academic term began on January 3. Dubai schools reopened as usual on January 3, with a mix of in-person and distance learning. ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi schools to wait till Jan 17 for in-person learning *** Ref Khaleej Times UAE schools: 50% students may return to campus next week Web Report 9 hrs ago

Quote: Khaleej Times President-elect Joe Biden receives second Covid vaccine dose AFP 11 hrs ago © Provided by Khaleej Times President-elect Joe Biden receives second Covid vaccine dose President-elect Joe Biden on Monday received his second Covid-19 vaccine dose. The incoming president, 78, said "I'm a little underdressed for my shot," before removing his blazer, thanking a medic and pulling up his sleeve for the injection of the Pfizer vaccine. "My number one priority is getting vaccine in people's arms, as rapidly as we can," he told reporters. Gallery: These 12 Vaccines Saved the Most Lives *** Ref Khaleej Times President-elect Joe Biden receives second Covid vaccine dose AFP 11 hrs ago

Quote: Emirateswoman.com The UAE has reached a major global milestone in COVID-19 vaccinations Olivia Morris 4 hrs ago As countries are beginning vaccination processes against the COVID-19 vaccine, the UAE has already reached a major global milestone. With the aim of vaccinating half of the population by March, the nation now ranks first across the globe in the daily distribution of doses of coronavirus vaccines. According to the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the rate for vaccinations over the last seven days in the UAE has been 1.16 per 100 people. NCEMA UAE @NCEMAUAE Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri: The UAE ranked first worldwide in terms of daily doses over the past seven days at a rate of 1.16 doses per 100 people, and fifth in terms of the availability of Covid-19 vaccines. Reaching another milestone, the UAE has also now administered over two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Sinophram vaccine There are currently two vaccines available in the UAE, the first to being the Sinopharm vaccine. The vaccine underwent clinical trials in Abu Dhabi during summer last year and it was confirmed by health authorities saying that the “analysis [from the trial of 31,000 people] shows no serious safety concerns”. High-up government officials including His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaab, the Minister of Culture and Youth and more have received the Sinopharm vaccine. Pfizer vaccine Then, at the end of December, the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved to be administered in Dubai. After undergoing numerous clinical trials, the vaccine has been found to have 95 per cent efficacy. Recently, the DHA outlined exactly who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The vaccine has already started to be rolled out, with some government ministers already receiving their first doses. As of today, this now includes Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) Her Excellency Mona Al Marri. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Feature Image: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash Gallery: Signs displayed around the world amid coronavirus outbreak *** Ref Emirateswoman.com The UAE has reached a major global milestone in COVID-19 vaccinations Olivia Morris 4 hrs ago