Dr Benjamin Krishna and the Virology & Immunology team at Cambridge University have identified a protein, elevated in the blood of Long Covid patients, that could act as a potential biomarker for the condition. This week, we spoke to Dr Krishna about their study, published in Science, which sampled the blood of Long Covid patients across several years. They found Interferon Gamma (IFNɣ) at, an average of, six times the normal level. IFNɣ is a key protein in the body’s immune response, a moderator of inflammation and a mediator for fighting infection. These raised levels of IFNɣ are indicative of the immune system remaining active throughout Long Covid. The team found that levels returned to normal in patients once they recovered from the disease. These findings could help develop treatment strategies and offer a clear diagnosis for some Long Covid patients.Living with Long Covid? How was your week?Website - https://www.tlcsessions.net/Twitter - @SessionsTlc https://twitter.com/sessionstlcInsta - @tlcsessions https://www.instagram.com/tlcsessions
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Episode 77: Dr Theoharis Theoharides - The Mast Cell Master
Dr Theoharis Theoharides, aka “The Mast Cell Master”, has been exploring the world of Mast Cells, their influence on our bodily functions, neurology and genetic make up, for over half a century. The Director of the Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research and Professor at the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine at Nova Southeastern University joins us this week to discuss the role that Mast Cells play in neurological conditions such as Long Covid, and the way in which we influence and change our mast cells' behaviour with our infections, stress levels, trauma and activity.Living with Long Covid? How was your week?Website - https://www.tlcsessions.net/Twitter - @SessionsTlc https://twitter.com/sessionstlcInsta - @tlcsessions https://www.instagram.com/tlcsessions
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Episode 76: Conor Browne - biorisk consultant
Conor Browne, an independent Biorisk Consultant, analyses biosecurity risks for governmental bodies, commercial enterprises and NGOs, aiding with business continuity, forecasting and policy. He understood that Covid-19 was airborne in February 2020 but, he says, “it’s the first message that sticks”. In this week’s episode he discusses how our governments’ initial messaging of handwashing and surface-to-surface transmission had a huge impact on the course of the pandemic. We talk about the need for clean air in mitigating the perpetual spread of Covid-19, and he highlights the ultimate risks, of Long Covid, Covid-related illness and the viral mutations that could leave us with an even heavier burden than anticipated.Living with Long Covid? How was your week?Website - https://www.tlcsessions.net/Twitter - @SessionsTlc https://twitter.com/sessionstlcInsta - @tlcsessions https://www.instagram.com/tlcsessions
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Episode 75: Prof. David Cutler - the economics of Long Covid
David Cutler, Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University, has spent his career assessing the economics of healthcare. Over the past four years he has applied his skills to assessing the cost of Covid, and subsequently Long Covid, on the U.S. economy. His original analysis, published in JAMA in 2022, suggested that Long Covid would cost the U.S. economy $2.6 trillion, but with the chronic condition proving more prevalent and prolonged than originally estimated, those figures were revised to a massive $3.7 trillion.In this week’s episode Cutler explains these costs and their implications. We discuss what has been included in projecting these staggering costs, and what needs to be done, on governmental and clinical levels, to manage these costs and the condition. Whilst the findings may seem bleak, it is Cutler’s hope that in highlighting the enormity of the problem, policymakers may see the urgent need to address it. Living with Long Covid? How was your week?Website - https://www.tlcsessions.net/Twitter - @SessionsTlc https://twitter.com/sessionstlcInsta - @tlcsessions https://www.instagram.com/tlcsessions
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Episode 74: Nancy Klimas M.D. - Neuroimmunology
Dr Nancy Klimas, Director of the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, is an immunologist internationally renowned for her work in multi-symptom illnesses. In this week’s episode she explains her work, from HIV through ME/CFS and Gulf War Syndrome, that has led to her having insight and an amazing team to channel efforts into Long Covid research and treatment. In an insightful overview she describes her work in understanding the mechanisms (viral persistence, viral reactivation), impacts of (MCAS, cell dysfunction, T-cell dysregulation) and potential alleviation of the disease. She has been involved in studies looking at clinical therapeutics such as LDN and has seen remarkable results with the use of MABs which she is hoping to replicate in a larger clinical trial in the coming weeks.Living with Long Covid? How was your week?Website - https://www.tlcsessions.net/Twitter - @SessionsTlc https://twitter.com/sessionstlcInsta - @tlcsessions https://www.instagram.com/tlcsessions
A podcast dedicated to Long Covid. Noreen Jameel and Emily Kate Stephens talk to fellow sufferers, doctors and experts searching for answers about this new, debilitating post-viral condition. So if you are one of the millions suffering from, or interested in, this new condition - tune in to our weekly podcast.
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