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'Vitamin A could hold key to restoring sense of smell after Covid'

One of the hallmarks of a Covid infection is loss of the sense of smell, which often affects the sense of taste too.

Not that Covid is the first virus to do this – many upper respiratory viruses do the same thing, including the flu virus.

Most people regain their sense of smell in a few weeks but some never do. Smell loss is due to damage to the sensors in the nose lining. But is there a remedy to help them heal?

Previous research from Germany has shown the potential benefit of vitamin A, and researchers at the University of East Anglia and James Paget University Hospital will now explore how this treatment helps repair damaged nose tissues.

Smell-loss expert Prof Carl Philpott from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “The huge rise in smell loss caused by Covid-19 has created ­worldwide demand for treatment.

And around one in 10 people who experience smell loss report their sense of smell has not returned to normal four weeks after falling ill.

“It’s a big problem, and our previous research has shown the impact of smell loss – including depression, anxiety and isolation, as well as risk of danger from hazards such as gas and spoiled food, and changes in weight due to reduced appetite.

 Getty Images/iStockphoto getty

“We want to find out whether there is an increase in the size and activity of damaged smell pathways in patients’ brains when they are treated with vitamin A nasal drops.

“This would show recovery of the damage caused by common viral infections, including Covid-19, in the nose.”

Patients will either receive a 12-week course of nasal vitamin A drops or inactive drops, and have their brains scanned before and after treatment.

The scans will be compared to those of a control group who haven’t been treated with vitamin A drops.

Prof Philpott said: “The patients will be smelling distinctive odours, roses and rotten eggs, while special MRI brain scans are taken.

“We will look for changes in the size of the olfactory bulb – an area above the nose where the smell nerves join together and connect to the brain.

“We will also look at activity in areas of the brain linked to recognising smells,” he added.

To take part in this trial, patients need to be referred to The Smell and Taste Clinic at the James Paget ­University Hospital by their GP.

Recruitment is expected to begin in December 2021. 

Reference: Mirror: Miriam Stoppard 

Diabetes: The unusual sign of high blood sugar in the eyes - ‘Lesser-known symptom'

Diabetes is a condition that is characterised either by the body's inability to respond to, or produce insulin. The eventual outcome of this is chronically high blood sugar levels that damage the nervous system and organs, causing unwanted complications. Although diabetes has few connections to clinical symptoms, levels of 'advanced' blood sugar could manifest in different parts of the body. One sign in the eyes could be indicative of high blood sugar.

The complications associated with prolonged high blood sugar levels are often concentrated in the feet.

This is because the nerves in the foot are more sensitive to touch, enabling heightened awareness of damage.

Pain, tingling, and infections are all symptoms of high blood sugar, but so is better eyesight.

According to The Joint Chiropractic's website, an unusual and sudden improvement of eyesight could be one of the unusual signs of high blood sugar.

"Sudden improvement of eyesight isn't necessarily a good thing," explains the body.

"These irregular blood sugar levels can make your vision irregular [...].

"Your sight may actually seem better with elevated blood sugar levels, and worse when they are normal.

"This is just another reason to talk to your doctor about checking for diabetes." 

The Sight and Hearing Foundation of Southern California explains that a sudden improvement in eyesight could be related to the fluid inside the eyes.

The health body explains that high blood sugar can cause sudden changes in fluid levels throughout the body.

And the eyes are no exception, particularly because they comprise chambers filled with thin watery fluid.

"This fluids helps your eye maintain its shape. Any changes in those fluid levels can impact your eyesight, making it better or worse," explains the health body.

High blood sugar is the culprit behind the bad reputation of diabetes because it progressively sets the body up for heart disease.

The longer sugar levels are left untamed, the greater the risk they pose to one's health.

In the worst-case scenario, the nerves in the limbs can become so damaged that amputation is required.

Other complications that diabetics are predisposed to include stroke and heart attack, so managing blood sugar levels efficiently is paramount.

 

How to avoid diabetes

Managing high blood sugar is the mainstay of diabetes management, and this is done mainly through diet.

Avoiding foods that score highly on the glycemic index, such as simple carbohydrates and refined sugars will help manage blood glucose.

Exercise can also help, with the NHS recommending lower intensity sports for longer-lasting effects.

"Moderate exercise that lasts a while, like walking or cycling, can cause a slow drop in blood glucose levels," explains the health body. 

Reference: Daily Express: Solen Le Net 

These are four defining traits of a psychopath, according to a neuroscientist

A neuroscientist has explained four key traits linked with psychopathy.

During a virtual seminar from The Science and Information Exchange, Georgetown University psychology professor and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh explained that the illness exists on a spectrum and shared four characteristics: pitilessness, remorselessness, an inability to love, and insensitivity to the possibility of harm, linked with the condition.

Speaking about pitilessness, she said: “When someone close to a psychopath feels sad or fearful, they can’t understand the emotion, because it’s something they don’t feel themselves,” she said.

© Getty Images/iStockphoto mental health child.jpg

On love, she said: “They do not experience close, loving bonds with other people in quite the same way other people do. More than one child or adolescent I’ve interviewed said they don’t love anybody, not their family, not their friends.” She added that they may think of loved ones as “associates” who can help them but are beneath them.

“They’re really insensitive to the possibility of future harm. In the words of one girl we studied, ‘Nothing scares me, nothing,’” she added.

Finally, speaking about their lack of remorse, she added that she studied a boy whose mother checked in at a mental health facility due to the stress of caring for him. When Marsh asked the boy how he felt, he said it didn’t affect him.

“He said, ‘The things I do hurt her, but she doesn’t really say how much, so it doesn’t have any effect on me.’ He was blaming his mum for his total absence of remorse, for all the negative effects that had occurred because of his behavior,” Marsh said.

So that’s psychopaths, in a nutshell. 

Reference: Indy 100: Kate Plummer  

Hero NHS surgeon dies of Covid after spending months away from family

A hero surgeon has died of coronavirus after spending months away from his family on the pandemic frontline.

Dr Irfan Halim, 45, who had been working in Swindon, Wiltshire, passed away at a London hospital last weekend after a nine-week battle with with the virus.

The devoted husband and father spent his last moments in the arms of his wife, who said she was 'whispering prayers and love into his ears'.

It comes as daily Covid cases in the UK continue to rise while hospital admissions fall and deaths remain flat, as the epidemic becomes increasingly unpredictable.

There were 46,807 positive tests in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number since October 22 and a 10 per cent increase on last Thursday.

Infections have increased week-on-week on seven of the previous eight days, following the return of schools from half-term at the start of the month. 

There were also 199 coronavirus deaths registered yesterday, marking a two per cent increase on last week's toll.

Latest hospital data shows there were 799 admissions on November 14, down 9 per cent in a week.

Dr Halim, who was a father of four children under the age of 12, was a skilled surgeon at Swindon Hospital, specialising in laparoscopic surgery.

The medic also worked on the prestigious Harley Street in central London for private clients.

He was described as a medical powerhouse who was like '10 men in one body' and treated more than 250,000 patients during an incredible career.

Dr Halim had one of the highest volume practices in Britain, with about 300 new patients arriving monthly and him operating on more than 1,200 people.

He went to work on September 10 but never returned after catching coronavirus and becoming increasingly ill.

His wife Saila said: 'My beloved Irfan passed away on the Sunday, November 14 at 7.51pm peacefully whilst I held him in my arms whispering prayers and love into his ears along with his brother and sister surrounded by his beautiful friends.'

She added: 'Irfan you gave me fifteen magical years as your wife, four beautiful children, wonderful memories that will last me until my remaining days in this world.

'You gave 25 dedicated years service to the NHS working as a Consultant General Surgeon.

'Irfan you were not only my best friend but a best friend to all our children and so many others.'

Dr Halim had spent the past two years saving Covid patients and on September 10 was on a ward round when he collapsed having allegedly caught Covid at work.

He was treated in Swindon Hospital ICU for two weeks before being transferred to The Royal Brompton Hospital in London.

He received treatment on a special artificial lung, called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Hash Syed, who worked on a new digital health platform with Dr Halim earlier this year, told the Mirror: 'I will cherish the fun we had building Entero at the Antler hub near Liverpool Street.

'Whether it be you riding around on your scooter, or our favourite burger bar. You were the definition of service to others, and believing in more.

'A man of many talents across being a doctor, a pilot and a lawyer. Most importantly, loving father and husband and great friend. '

Another colleague added: 'Being a fighter, he never gave up. He kept believing he would recover.

'He didn't smoke or drink, a friend said, and was someone who just 'helped people all the time.'

A GoFundMe for Dr Halim was set up and has so far raised more than £75,000 towards a £100,000 target.

It says: 'This fund has been set up for the family of Dr Irfan Halim, a wonderful talented and incredible NHS Doctor who worked hard to help others.

'Irfan was dearly loved and touched so many peoples lives. Sadly, he was taken far too soon from those who love him.

'Not only was he a loving husband, a devoted father of four young beautiful children, but an incredibly awesome human being to all that were blessed to have met him.

'He spent four months away from his family at the height of the pandemic, working in the covid wards.

'Irfan and the NHS worked frantically to bring him home to his beautiful family, but tragically he passed away after a nine week fight against Covid.

'We have set up this fund as close friends and family to ease the burden of losing Irfan.

'Irfan was the sole breadwinner for his family. May Irfan's memory be a blessing to all who met and loved him.' 

His death comes as Britain braces for another winter battling coronavirus, with death and cases data becoming increasingly hard to predict.

The Government has not put a threshold on the number of daily hospital admissions it is willing to tolerate before rolling back restrictions.

But one of its top scientific advisers, 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson suggested last month that figure could be 1,200.

Meanwhile Britain's largest symptom-tracking study found the number of people falling ill with the virus every week fell by a tenth last week.

Professor Tim Spector, the eminent King's College London scientist who runs the study, said he was 'cautiously optimistic' restrictions will not be needed.

Fears of Christmas curbs were raised this week when Boris Johnson admitted the draconian action was not off the cards.

The PM pointed to infection across Europe, which have sent nations back into lockdowns, as a sign of what could happen here.

Professor Spector said: 'In terms of what it means for Christmas, I'm cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year. It's becoming clear that children and the school holidays play a key role in the waves of infection. 

'I think it's safe to say that we can expect to see another rise in the new year after the holidays.' But he still called on all Britons to get fully vaccinated against the virus, as well as ensuring they have their booster doses.

And he urged everyone to start using face masks in crowded spaces such as public transport. This was a softening of his tone from barely three weeks ago when he warned ministers should consider Plan B.

Professor Spector's symptom study relies on daily reports from more than 750,000 Britons on whether they are feeling unwell and if they test positive for Covid.

It is based on self-reporting and dose not ask participants to give evidence of their symptoms. The latest estimates used 40,000 tests for the virus over the fortnight to November 13.  

Mr Johnson said earlier this week that it still was not possible to rule out some Covid restrictions being reimposed.

He told a Downing Street press conference: 'Clearly we cannot rule anything out and the most important thing people can do to prevent further NPIs from being taken is to — non-pharmaceutical interventions that is, further restrictions — get the boosters.'

But he added there was still nothing in the data to suggest further restrictions were needed. Scientists fear further Covid measures may be needed if a new variant emerges that is more transmissible and better able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity.

Last winter the Kent 'Alpha' variant triggered a spike in Covid cases, leading to Christmas day plans being thrust into chaos at the last minute. 

Reference: James Gant For Mailonline