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Day: September 4, 2020

Tech vs. COVID-19: Exploring Disease Tolerance

Posted on by Staff Writer

Over the course of the many months, it has become apparent that asymptomatic cases of COVID are common. Though estimations vary, some research suggests up to 45 percent of cases are completely without symptoms. These individuals have little to no awareness that anything is wrong. At the same time, symptomatic individuals can be severely affected and succumb to their illness. These reasons for these differences continue to baffle researchers and scientists.

The original explanation for variations among individuals exposed to the pandemic coronavirus focused on the immune system. Those who lacked symptoms were suspected of having a more robust response in fighting the virus. But this no longer appears to be the case. As additional research evolves, scientists are recognizing that this is often not the case. Instead, a feature known as disease tolerance seems to be more relevant among asymptomatic people. And this might just be important in efforts to develop better COVID immune treatments.

“Our traditional view has been to survive an infection, you have to kill it. We have a very disease-centric approach to biology.” – Janelle Ayres, Infectious Disease Physiologist, Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Explaining Disease Tolerance in COVID

Disease tolerance is a concept that differs from previous ideas about how we deal with infections. Disease tolerance describes how some people are resistant to a disease because of genetics, lifestyle, or some other facet they possess. While our immune system is important in fighting disease, it doesn’t appear to be the only one. The human body looks to have other ways of managing infections including some that allow them to coexist. Therefore, instead of trying to develop COVID immune treatments, scientists may be looking to boost disease tolerance. Both are likely to be important in our efforts to fight COVID and other pathogens.

Someone getting a shot in the arm
Why do some have a greater disease tolerance than others?

Disease tolerance is a concept that has been well appreciated in plants. Rather than trying to kill a disease-causing agent, plants adapt to tolerate them. It’s quite probable that human beings have done the same, which can explain why many may be asymptomatic from COVID. Studies have now shown that asymptomatic people with COVID actually have a weaker immune response than those with symptoms. This undermines the theory that they lack symptoms because of a stronger immune system. It also gives weight to concepts like disease tolerance as well.

“With things like COVID, I think it’s going to be very parallel to TB, where you have this Goldilocks situation, where you need that perfect amount of inflammation to control the virus and not damage the lungs.” – Andrew Olive, Immunologist, Michigan State University

Existing COVID Immune Treatments

Since the early days of COVID, much has been learned by the medical and scientific community. This is especially true concerning COVID immune treatments. In general, symptomatic COVID patients range from mild to severe. But it became increasingly evident that severe didn’t necessarily have a worse case of the coronavirus. Instead, many became incredibly ill because of an exaggerated immune and inflammatory response. This led many physicians to try medications that “cooled off” the immune system in more severe individuals. Though this seems counterintuitive, it’s an approach that seems to have merit.

COVID immune treatments that suppress the immune system can be grouped into 3categories. The first group of COVID immune treatments is the steroid group. Drugs like dexamethasone appear to help more severe COVID patients if given early. In fact, the Recovery Trial out of the University of Oxford supported these findings. The second group of COVID immune therapies include various types of interferons. These occur naturally within the body, and they serve to modulate the immune system. Interferons early in the course of the coronavirus seem to be beneficial as well.

The final group of COVID immune treatments are getting the most attention, and they are called biologics. Many are monoclonal antibody drugs that are also designed to reduce the immune system’s response. Several companies and universities are exploring the benefits of these COVID immune treatments. For example, British biotech company Synairgen is testing the leronilimab in trials, which is a more recent HIV treatment innovation. Another biotech company’s drug, Kineret, is similarly undergoing trials to assess its potential benefit. Early data from both suggest these drugs may be quite helpful in more advanced patients with COVID.

“[Investigations have] all been focused on the pathogen as an invader that has to be eliminated some way. What we really should be thinking about is how do we keep the person from getting sick.” – Jeremy Luba, Virologist, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Shifting Perspectives to Disease Tolerance

The use of these COVID immune treatments are important in saving lives and reducing disease burden. But at the same time, many of the COVID patients that survive will have longstanding health issues. This may be particularly true of respiratory function. More intriguing, and potentially more effective, are disease tolerance mechanisms. If these could be elucidated, then protective efforts could be employed to reduce the severity of a COVID infection. The goal is to identify specific mechanisms that allow our bodies to tolerate COVID. Taking this approach may eliminate the need for these other COVID immune treatments altogether.

Unfortunately, this burgeoning research field is relatively young. While disease tolerance has been studied for years in plants, this is new for human health investigations. Some of the current pursuits related to COVID are trying to explain why bats are not affected by the coronavirus. Clearly, they harbor large quantities of the virus, yet they show no signs of illness at all. Researchers wonder if a mechanism of disease tolerance might underlie these phenomena. And if so, then perhaps similar strategies could be used to protect human beings also.

Current State of Knowledge About COVID

While much has been learned in a few short months, an enormous number of unknowns persist concerning COVID. Survival rates have improved among symptomatic COVID patients. However, these rates are nowhere near where physicians want them to be. New COVID immune treatments have provided new ways to address an overactive immune response. But no viral medications, including remdesivir, have been definitively proven to help. Technological advances are making progress regardless, and exploring disease tolerance offers a new direction to consider. Combining these efforts along with coronavirus vaccine development may be our best hope for the future.

 

COVID-19 has certainly been a challenge for the world. To read more about challenges and those who have overcome them, check out Ed Kopko’s PROJECT BOLD LIFE: The Proven Formula to Take on Challenges and Achieve Happiness and Success.

Air Travel and Climate Change – Are We Ready to Give Hydrogen Fuel Cells a Try?

Posted on by Staff Writer

For decades, the aviation industry has been under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. The perils of air travel and climate change have been well documented. Overall, air travel accounts for 2.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world. And while other industries have seen declines in their greenhouse gas figures, aviation has not. Up until the pandemic, increases in air travel were resulting in a steady rise. This is a major reason why alternative fuel options are being explored, including hydrogen fuel cells.

Within the aviation sector, exploring new fuel alternatives has tremendous potential. Several companies are exploring how lithium batteries might advance an eco-friendly aviation industry. However, lithium batteries have their own set of problems, of which limited distance travel is currently a major one. But this is not the only solution as several startups are exploring hydrogen fuel cells as more viable options. Given that the technology already exists in cars, boats, and buses, this makes perfect sense.

“This will probably be the most disruptive technology in aviation since the founding of the industry. People are talking about the third revolution in aviation. The first was the invention of heavier-than-air flight. The second was transatlantic flight. The third will be electric.” – Julian Renz, Business Development, ZeroAvia

Air Travel and Climate Change Options

The use of combustible fuel is not an ideal solution for air travel and climate change improvements. Some have suggested that biofuels may be an immediate alternative. However, these fuels also release hydrocarbons and emit soot and aerosols into the atmosphere. Therefore, any alternative fuels would preferably non-combustible, which is why electricity is so attractive. The obvious choice has been to investigate lithium ion batteries. However, their weight-to-energy ratio is far from ideal. Likewise, lithium batteries need frequent replacement and are expensive to make. These factors have limited advancement of this technology in the aviation sector to date.

Solar, wind and hydrogen fuel options
Hydrogen fuel cells just might be a safe, clean energy option.

This is where hydrogen fuel cells come into play. Unlike lithium batteries, hydrogen fuel cells weigh much less and can generate a significant amount of electrical energy. Hydrogen fuel cells are also non-combustible in nature, generating electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen from the air. The key issue has been safely storing and transporting hydrogen for use as an alternative energy source. The use of hydrogen as fuel for planes naturally triggers images of the Hindenburg catastrophe. But that was in 1937, and this is now. And a few innovative companies are showing just how much progress has been made since then.

“There is fundamentally an incrementalist mindset in the incumbents. Hydrogen is a fairly drastic step for the industry. I think it’s a necessary step, given the industry has no other way to meet the goals of the Paris agreement.” – Paul Eremenko, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of United Technologies Corporation

Companies Leading the Way in Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Understanding that air travel and climate change improvements are needed, a few bold businesses are emerging in the field. ZeroAvia, previously based in California, is now experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells in the UK. In September, they will plan their first small aircraft flight using hydrogen fuel cells. The company also expects flights under 500 miles that use hydrogen fuel will be ready by 2023. And by the mid-2030s, ZeroAvia anticipates larger, trans-Atlantic flights will similarly be operating.

Universal Hydrogen Company represents another emerging startup in this field as well. Committed to air travel and climate change progress, UHC is also investing efforts in hydrogen fuel cells. Specifically, UHC has designed Kevlar-coated storage pods for hydrogen that can be stacked and transported safely. In fact, these pods can be used for airplane fuel without the need to pipelines, hoses and other infrastructures. UHC also expects to be retrofitting small aircraft with hydrogen fuel cells by 2024. And it hopes to attract the attention of larger airplane designers in the process. This would then accelerate the use of hydrogen fuel in larger planes perhaps by the mid-2030s as well.

“We think a demonstrated flight in a large aircraft is definitely possible by 2035. Up to 2023 we will be retrofitting existing planes, but in the future planes will be built from scratch to run on hydrogen fuel cells, especially as we move to 200-seat and longer-range aircraft.” –Julian Renz

Is Safety a Big Concern for Hydrogen Fuel Cells?

In terms of safety concerns, hydrogen fuel is certainly flammable. The potential for it resulting in a hazardous event is always possible. But in reality, it is no different than other fuels used in aircraft in this regard. Yet, it is more eco-friendly for air travel and climate change, and its safety has improved greatly. This is evident by the fact that hybrid cars, buses and other transportation vehicles utilize hydrogen fuel cells today. Thus, while safety is always important, today’s hydrogen fuel cells have been proven to be as safe as other fuels in the industry.

It is also important to note that hydrogen fuel cells are better for air travel and climate change in other ways. For one, the carbon footprint that results from hydrogen fuel cells being manufactured is much less than even lithium batteries. Likewise, their ability to generate electricity only requires hydrogen, oxygen from the air, and a chemical catalyst. This makes their structure simpler while only releasing water as their only byproduct. In addition to the advances in the safety of newer hydrogen fuel cells, these benefits highlight their potential. It therefore seems like hydrogen fuel cells should be a no-brainer for the future of the airline industry.

Convincing the Industry’s Major Players

While implementing hydrogen fuel cells in smaller aircraft will be easier, the larger planes may take some time. Companies like Boeing and Airbus design such models in advance. Therefore, they would need to consider hydrogen fuel in their design process if such changes were to become reality. But this is not too far-fetched. Boeing has already tested a manned flight using a hybrid model of hydrogen fuel and lithium batteries. Thus, this is clearly on the company’s radar. Both ZeroAvia and UHC both hope to further persuade these companies with their upcoming developments. If successful, then we may all be flying planes with hydrogen fuel cells by 2040.

You Are What You Breathe – The Gut Health/Clean Air Connection

Posted on by Staff Writer

Air quality is a major health issue throughout the world. Presently, air pollution is the fifth leading risk factor in mortality globally accounting for nearly 9 million deaths. Presumably, air pollution effects on human health have been thought to relate to respiratory function. While this is indeed true, recent gut health research is highlighting other links between health and air quality. In short, researchers have now shown that poor air quality causes unwanted microbiome changes. And these changes may lead to a number of health conditions.

It’s no secret now that our microbiome significantly impacts our health and wellness. Gut health research has shown that microbiome changes can not only contribute to inflammatory bowel disease but a host of other health issues. These include obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. However, air pollution effects on human health were not previously believed to relate to similar microbiome changes. But based on a recent trial at the University of Colorado, Boulder, this looks to actually be the case.

“We know from previous research that air pollutants can have a whole host of adverse health effects. The takeaway from this paper is that some of those effects might be due to changes in the gut.” – Tanya Alderete, PhD, Researcher of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder

The Effect of Ozone on Gut Health

The gut health research that was recently performed examined a total of 101 young adults over a period of time. The air quality where each participant lived was repeated examined. This included measurements of ozone, particulate matter, and nitrous oxide. The participants then provided periodic fecal samples that were analyzed for DNA sequencing. The results demonstrated that those individuals exposed to higher ozone levels had a less diverse microbiome. This suggested that air pollution effects on human health may definitely extend beyond the respiratory system and into the gut.

A woman taking a deep breath of fresh air
According to recent gut health research, the air you breathe affects gut health, too.

Some of the findings in this gut health research were actually quite interesting. When the researchers compared the effect that gender, ethnicity and even diet had on participant microbiomes, ozone’s impact was greater. In fact, changes in ozone amounts accounted for an 11 percent change in individual’s microbiome content. Because a less diverse microbiome is linked to several diseases, these findings are quite relevant. Negative microbiome effects could be one of the more significant air pollution effects on human health.

“The lining of the gut designed to serve as a barrier to keep bad bacteria out of the body and allow good bacteria to do its thing. If something happens to impact the integrity of lining of wall, this can create little holes where pathogenic microbes to get it, which can trigger immune response.” – Gilaad Kaplan, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary

Other Gut Health Research Implicating Air Pollution

The current research linking air pollution effects to human health via the gut is not the first. A few years prior, a study out of the UK demonstrated that poor air quality increases the risk of several gastrointestinal disorders. Specifically, appendicitis occurrence and severity were associated with poor air quality as was complaints of abdominal pain. It was also noted that Crohn’s disease was more common among young adults exposed to higher amounts of nitrous oxide in the air. This gut health research supports the more recent findings described.

The precise mechanism by which poor air quality interferes with gut health is not yet clear. However, those involved in gut health research suspect that pollutants selectively allow some less favorable bacteria to thrive. At the same time, good bacteria do less well and are believed to be unable to compete with bad bacteria. Therefore, not only does the microbiome become less diverse but also filled with bacteria less capable of promoting wellness. The air pollution effects on human health could therefore involve our gut as well as our lungs.

“Ozone is likely changing the environment of your gut to favor some bacteria over others, and that can have health consequences.” – Tanya Alderete, PhD

Immediate Solutions to Improve Gut Health

While improving air quality is an obvious goal to improve gut health, more immediate measures are needed. In this regard, Dr. Steven Gundry has performed extensive investigations into various approaches to improve microbiome health and diversity. His gut health research has led him to some important discoveries. Specifically, he has noted that certain foods containing lectins can damage the microbiome over time. Likewise, overuse of antibiotics in foods and medical care also are causing problems. As a result, his approach to better microbiome health is a dietary one.

In essence, Dr. Gundry encourages the use of not only probiotics but also prebiotics. Prebiotics provide good bacteria in our gut the nutrients they need to thrive. In contrast, probiotics replenishes our microbiome with more favorable bacteria. In addition to these measures, he recommends a product that helps prevent lectins from cause damage. Taken in relation to one’s diet, this too can promote better gut health. These therapies notably do not directly deter air pollution effects on human health in the gut. However, they do help counterbalance their negative impacts.

Long-Term Considerations for Better Health

While dietary changes and supplements offer immediate therapies to improve gut health, long-term ones are also needed. Based on the recent gut health research, efforts to improve air quality is needed. Unfortunately, trends are moving in the wrong direction. Between 2009 and 2016, air quality in the U.S. declined by 24 percent. A further decline of 5.5 percent then occurred between 2016 and 2018. Understanding air pollution effects on human health, public health policies must address these issues more comprehensively.

At the same time, antibiotic use must be evaluated with much greater caution. Excessive use of these drugs in our food supply is undermining gut health on a large scale. Individual dietary changes and precautions certainly help. But bigger impacts could be made with larger scale changes in food production practices. As more gut health research emerges, it is becoming clear that our microbiome plays a major role in our well-being. And it’s not just what you eat that matters… it’s also what you breathe.

 

Health is an important Pillar in a Bold Life. To read more about the Seven Pillars, check out Ed Kopko’s PROJECT BOLD LIFE: The Proven Formula to Take on Challenges and Achieve Happiness and Success.

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