The coronavirus pandemic in five powerful charts — CVD

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Nature.com From papers published to carbon emissions to confirmed cases, these data reveal an unprecedented viral outbreak and its impacts around the world. A worker disinfects a mosque in Istanbul as part of city-wide efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty How is the coronavirus spreading around the world?

via The coronavirus pandemic in five powerful charts — CVD

This is an interesting view on the pandemic.

Gut Check! Two Mediterranean Diet Studies

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In conclusion, these two outstanding studies support the fact that (1) it is not the quantity of calories per se that matters but the quality of the diet and (2) even in subjects of advanced age, adherence to a MedDiet is rapidly associated with different metabolic effects and reduced disease risk factors.

Mediterranean diet, gut microbiota and health: when age and calories do not add up!

 

This is Not About YOU

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BLOG 2020 Covie

But I’m Not Even Sick!

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms that feel like a typical common cold, or you don’t even have symptoms at all, it’s probably hard to understand the importance of staying home. We understand and want to stress that this is not about YOU.

It is about your grandparents.

It is about your aunt with high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

It is about the volunteers in the nursery at your place of worship.

It is about the hourly workers still making your coffee.

It is about the healthcare workers who continue to put themselves in harm’s way.

We are asking all of our Oklahomans to be good neighbors.

  • Limit your time out and about in the community to just the essentials.
  • Observe social distancing guidelines. If you are waiting in line to pick up necessities at the grocery store, or need to pay for gas at the gas station, keep your distance from the next person in line, or ask the person behind you to take a few steps back if you need to.
  • Practice good personal hygiene. Any time you interact with members outside of your own household, remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you return home.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings. Are you in a crowded room with elderly? Is it hard to walk in between people to get to the counter? If you or someone you love is at higher risk, remove yourself from that situation.

While data continues to become available to help medical experts understand how COVID-19 is being spread, we know our best weapon is personal responsibility. Let’s make future generations proud of how we worked together to mitigate a public health crisis. Let’s serve as leaders in responding with empathy, compassion and respect for our neighbors.

Visceral fat delivers signal to the brain that hurts cognition

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“We have identified a specific signal that is generated in visceral fat, released into the blood that gets through the blood brain barrier and into the brain where it activates microglia and impairs cognition.”

Visceral fat delivers signal to the brain that hurts cognition

Quote and article link presented without the usual sarcasm.

Molecule found in oranges could reduce obesity and prevent heart disease and diabetes

In mice, so don’t start gorging on oranges.

Sorry, sarcasm restriction didn’t last long.

Early studies on the diet suggested red wine was a major contributor to the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet because it contains a compound called resveratrol, which activated a certain pathway in cells known to increase lifespan and prevent aging-related diseases. However, work in Mashek’s lab suggests that it is the fat in olive oil, another component of the Mediterranean diet, that is actually activating this pathway.

Olive oil in the diet may also help mitigate aging-related diseases

 

Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020

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This is an excerpt from the latest CDC report cited above and below.

OlRedHair:  Yes, our younger generations need to take this situation very seriously.

mm6912e2-F2

Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 18 March 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6912e2external icon.

Among 508 (12%) patients known to have been hospitalized, 9% were aged ≥85 years, 26% were aged 65–84 years, 17% were aged 55–64 years, 18% were 45–54 years, and 20% were aged 20–44 years. Less than 1% of hospitalizations were among persons aged ≤19 years (Figure 2). The percentage of persons hospitalized increased with age, from 2%–3% among persons aged ≤9 years, to ≥31% among adults aged ≥85 years. (Table).

Among 121 patients known to have been admitted to an ICU, 7% of cases were reported among adults ≥85 years, 46% among adults aged 65–84 years, 36% among adults aged 45–64 years, and 12% among adults aged 20–44 years (Figure 2). No ICU admissions were reported among persons aged ≤19 years. Percentages of ICU admissions were lowest among adults aged 20–44 years (2%–4%) and highest among adults aged 75–84 years (11%–31%) (Table).

Among 44 cases with known outcome, 15 (34%) deaths were reported among adults aged ≥85 years, 20 (46%) among adults aged 65–84 years, and nine (20%) among adults aged 20–64 years. Case-fatality percentages increased with increasing age, from no deaths reported among persons aged ≤19 years to highest percentages (10%–27%) among adults aged ≥85 years (Table) (Figure 2).

 

COVID-19 – Oklahoma 03.19.20

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I’ve spent most of my life learning about what kills people.  Hey, it’s a job and I love it.

The numbers in Oklahoma are blessedly small.  Too small for statistical significance but there are some interesting aspects to these numbers.  The 2 out of state positives are professional basketball players.  We shouldn’t expect a huge increase from out of state since Oklahoma is not exactly a vacation tourist type destination and no one is traveling much nowadays.   The first positives were in Tulsa county.  That number hasn’t really moved much but Oklahoma county numbers have,  a clear indicator of community spread.

The most disturbing numbers are the positives ages 18-64.  This is not Wuhan.  This is not Italy.  This is not Iran.  This is not Spain.  This is Oklahoma.

Stay safe and act accordingly to your specific locale.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
Positive (In-State) 29
Positive (Out-of-State) 2
Negative 378
PUIs Pending Results 110

COVID-19 Cases by County
County COVID-19 Cases by County*
Canadian 2
Cleveland 4
Jackson 1
Kay 2
Oklahoma 14
Payne 1
Tulsa 4
Pawnee 1
Total 29

COVID-19 Cases by Age Grouping
Age Group, Years COVID-19 Cases*
00-04 1
05-17 0
18-49 13
50-64 10
65+ 5
Total 29
Age Range 0-75 yrs

COVID-19 Cases by Gender
COVID-19 Cases by Gender
Female 13
Male 16
Total 29

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-03-18 at 07:00 AM.

Best Practices For Social Distancing To Mitigate COVID-19 — The Skeptical Cardiologist

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To flatten the curve and mitigate the impact of coronavirus we should be practicing social distancing. It is not obvious to most how this should be accomplished but there is a great article on this at The New Yorker which discusses an information sheet on the topic provided by Dr. Asaf Bitton, The New Yorker…

via Best Practices For Social Distancing To Mitigate COVID-19 — The Skeptical Cardiologist

Thank you Anthony C. Pearson, MD, FACC.

Covid-19 – Your Daily Dose 03.18.20

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The few small businesses that aren’t bankrupted by quarantines and lock downs will be destroyed by Washington’s Covid-19 legislation.

Small business

via Covid-19 Rescue Plan Should Be Vehemently Opposed, by Bruce Wilds — STRAIGHT LINE LOGIC

Remember that the concept and practice of social distancing isn’t about avoiding everything.  Small businesses in your community need your patronage now more than ever.  STAT news reported the following on the shelter in place order in effect in San Francisco:

“The order allows residents to leave their homes for limited purposes, such as to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy, or to go for a solitary walk or run. It also allows people to leave their homes to care for a family member or a vulnerable person in another household. People who live outside the affected counties will also be able to leave to return to their homes.”

Here’s an informative article from NPR – It’s Time To Get Serious About Social Distancing. Here’s How

It’s sad to see how many people are unable to assess risk.  Do pay attention to community spread in your specific location.  Follow virus statistics in your state and adjust your behavior accordingly.  At the present time I am personally behaving as if a shelter in place order has been issued.  Please do the same and stay safe.

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results
Positive (In-State) 17
Positive (Out-of-State) 2
Negative 247
PUIs Pending Results 82

Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
*As of 2020-03-17 at 08:15: AM.