<div dir="ltr"><div>Interesting results from my workplace.</div><div><br></div><a href="https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63">https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63</a><br><div><br></div><div>A Supercomputer Analyzed Covid-19 — and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged<br></div><div><br></div><div><p id="gmail-a171" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df gmail-jn"><span class="gmail-am gmail-jo gmail-jp gmail-jq gmail-jr gmail-js gmail-jt gmail-ju gmail-jv gmail-jw gmail-dg">E</span>arlier this summer, the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee set about <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/computing/hardware/has-the-summit-supercomputer-cracked-the-covid-code.amp.html" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">crunching data</a> on more than 40,000 genes from 17,000 genetic samples in an effort to better understand <a href="https://coronavirus.medium.com" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>. Summit is the <a href="https://www.top500.org/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">second-fastest</a>
computer in the world, but the process — which involved analyzing 2.5
billion genetic combinations — still took more than a week.</p><p id="gmail-1245" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">When Summit was done, researchers analyze<span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm"><span id="gmail-rmm">d</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
the results. It was, in the words of Dr. Daniel Jacobson, lead
researcher and chief scientist for computational systems biology at Oak
Ridge, a “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2020/08/05/your-lungs-can-fill-up-with-jell-o-scientists-discover-a-new-pathway-for-covid-19-inflammatory-response/#1c4172e824be" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">eureka moment</a>.” The computer had revealed a new theory about how Covid-19 impacts the body: <a href="https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/is-a-bradykinin-storm-brewing-in-covid-19--67876" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">the bradykinin hypothesis</a>. The hypothesis provides a model that explains many aspects of Covid-19, including some of its most <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/every-covid-19-symptom-we-know-about-right-now-from-head-to-toe-bd1d47584096">bizarre symptoms</a>. It also suggests 10-plus potential treatments, many of which are already FDA approved. Jacobson’s group <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/59177" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">published their results</a> in a paper in the journal <em class="gmail-kc">eLife</em> in early July.</p><p id="gmail-b66e" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">According
to the team’s findings, a Covid-19 infection generally begins when the
virus enters the body through ACE2 receptors in the nose, (The
receptors, which the virus <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/meet-ace2-the-enzyme-at-the-center-of-the-covid-19-mystery/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">is known to target</a>,
are abundant there.) The virus then proceeds through the body, entering
cells in other places where ACE2 is also present: the intestines,
kidneys, and heart. This likely accounts for at least some of the
disease’s cardiac and GI symptoms.</p><div class="gmail-kd gmail-ke gmail-kf gmail-kg gmail-kh gmail-ki">But
once Covid-19 has established itself in the body, things start to get
really interesting. According to Jacobson’s group, the data Summit
analyzed shows that Covid-19 isn’t content to simply infect cells that
already express lots of ACE2 receptors. Instead, it actively hijacks the
body’s own systems, tricking it into upregulating ACE2 receptors in
places where they’re usually expressed at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7186534/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">low or medium levels</a>, including the lungs.<br></div><p id="gmail-5e64" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">In this sense, Covid-19
is like a burglar who slips in your unlocked second-floor window and
starts to ransack your house. Once inside, though, they don’t just take
your stuff — they also throw open all your doors and windows so their
accomplices can rush in and help pillage more efficiently.</p><p id="gmail-5672" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The
renin–angiotensin system (RAS) controls many aspects of the circulatory
system, including the body’s levels of a chemical called bradykinin,
which normally helps to regulate blood pressure. According to the team’s
analysis, when the virus tweaks the RAS, it causes the body’s
mechanisms for regulating bradykinin to go haywire. Bradykinin receptors
are resensitized, and the body also stops effectively breaking down
bradykinin. (ACE normally degrades bradykinin, but when the virus
downregulates it, it can’t do this as effectively.)</p><p id="gmail-bd8d" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The
end result, the researchers say, is to release a bradykinin storm — a
massive, runaway buildup of bradykinin in the body. According to the
bradykinin hypothesis, it’s this storm that is ultimately responsible
for many of Covid-19’s deadly effects. Jacobson’s team says in their
paper that “the pathology of Covid-19 is likely the result of Bradykinin
Storms rather than cytokine storms,” which <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/this-is-how-your-immune-system-reacts-to-coronavirus-cbf5271e530e">had been previously identified</a> in Covid-19 patients, but that “the two may be intricately linked.” <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267506/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Other papers</a> had previously identified bradykinin storms as a possible cause of Covid-19’s pathologies.</p><blockquote class="gmail-ld"><p id="gmail-2770" class="gmail-le gmail-lf gmail-fk gmail-fl gmail-b gmail-lg gmail-lh gmail-li gmail-lj gmail-lk gmail-ll gmail-jm er">Covid-19 is like a burglar who slips in your unlocked second-floor window and starts to ransack your house.</p></blockquote><p id="gmail-76f2" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-lm gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ln gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-lo gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-lp gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-lq gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">As
bradykinin builds up in the body, it dramatically increases vascular
permeability. In short, it makes your blood vessels leaky. This aligns
with recent clinical data, <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/coronavirus-may-be-a-blood-vessel-disease-which-explains-everything-2c4032481ab2">which increasingly views Covid-19 primarily as a vascular disease</a>,
rather than a respiratory one. But Covid-19 still has a massive effect
on the lungs. As blood vessels start to leak due to a bradykinin storm,
the researchers say, the lungs can fill with fluid. Immune cells also
leak out into the lungs, Jacobson’s team found, causing inflammation.</p><div class="gmail-kd gmail-ke gmail-kf gmail-kg gmail-kh gmail-ki"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/coronavirus-may-be-a-blood-vessel-disease-which-explains-everything-2c4032481ab2"><div class="gmail-kj gmail-n gmail-as"><div class="gmail-kk gmail-n gmail-r gmail-p gmail-kl gmail-km"><h2 class="en gmail-dc gmail-kn gmail-ko gmail-ih gmail-kp gmail-kq gmail-kr gmail-ks gmail-kt gmail-df">Coronavirus May Be a Blood Vessel Disease, Which Explains Everything</h2><div class="gmail-ku gmail-am"><h3 class="en eo gmail-hh eq gmail-ih gmail-kv gmail-kq gmail-kr gmail-ks gmail-kt er">Many of the infection’s bizarre symptoms have one thing in common</h3></div><div class="eb gmail-am"><h4 class="en eo ep eq gmail-ih gmail-kv gmail-kq gmail-kr gmail-ks gmail-kt er">elemental.medium.com</h4></div></div><div class="gmail-kw gmail-am"><div class="gmail-lr gmail-am gmail-ky gmail-kz gmail-la gmail-kw gmail-lb gmail-lc gmail-ki"></div></div></div></a></div><p id="gmail-62d3" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">And
Covid-19 has another especially insidious trick. Through another
pathway, the team’s data shows, it increases production of hyaluronic
acid (HLA) in the lungs. HLA is <a href="https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-hyaluronic-acid-skin-care" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">often used in soaps and lotions</a>
for its ability to absorb more than 1,000 times its weight in fluid.
When it combines with fluid leaking into the lungs, the results are
disastrous: It forms a hydrogel, which can <a href="https://www.azolifesciences.com/news/20200729/Supercomputer-analyses-point-to-a-new-pathway-for-COVID-19-inflammatory-response.aspx" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">fill the lungs in some patients</a>. According to Jacobson, once this happens, “it’s <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-gene-pathway-covid-inflammatory-response.html" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">like trying to breathe through Jell-O</a>.”</p><p id="e1d3" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">This may explain why ventilators have <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-analysis-recommends-less-reliance-on-ventilators/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">proven less effective</a>
in treating advanced Covid-19 than doctors originally expected, based
on experiences with other viruses. “It reaches a point where regardless
of how much oxygen you pump in, it doesn’t matter, because the alveoli
in the lungs are filled with this hydrogel,” Jacobson says. “The lungs
become like a water balloon.” Patients can suffocate even while
receiving full breathing support.</p><p id="gmail-bbcf" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The bradykinin hypothesis also extends to many of Covid-19’s effects on the heart. About <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heart-damage-in-covid-19-patients-puzzles-doctors/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">one in five hospitalized Covid-19 patients</a>
have damage to their hearts, even if they never had cardiac issues
before. Some of this is likely due to the virus infecting the heart
directly through its ACE2 receptors. But the RAS also controls aspects
of cardiac contractions and blood pressure. According to the
researchers, bradykinin storms could create arrhythmias and low blood
pressure, which are often seen in Covid-19 patients.</p><p id="gmail-5611" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The bradykinin hypothesis also accounts for <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/what-covid-19-did-to-my-brain-2c8ee0b64c6e">Covid-19’s neurological effects</a>, which are some of the most surprising and concerning elements of the disease. <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">These symptoms</a> (which include dizziness, seizures, delirium, and stroke) are present in <a href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/86926" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">as many as half of hospitalized Covid-19 patients.</a>
According to Jacobson and his team, MRI studies in France revealed that
many Covid-19 patients have evidence of leaky blood vessels in their
brains.</p><p id="gmail-b35b" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Bradykinin — especially at high doses — can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0169409X9500004Q#:~:text=Bradykinin%20is%20a%20very%20powerful,-brain%20barrier%20%5B34%5D." class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">lead to a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier</a>. Under normal circumstances, this barrier <a href="https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-blood-brain-barrier" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">acts as a filter</a>
between your brain and the rest of your circulatory system. It lets in
the nutrients and small molecules that the brain needs to function,
while keeping out toxins and pathogens and keeping the brain’s internal
environment tightly regulated.</p><p id="gmail-9545" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">If
bradykinin storms cause the blood-brain barrier to break down, this
could allow harmful cells and compounds into the brain, leading to
inflammation, potential brain damage, and many of the neurological
symptoms Covid-19 patients experience. Jacobson told me, “It is a
reasonable hypothesis that many of the neurological symptoms in Covid-19
could be due to an excess of bradykinin. It has been reported that
bradykinin would indeed be likely to increase the permeability of the
blood-brain barrier. In addition, similar neurological symptoms have
been observed in other diseases that result from an excess of
bradykinin.”</p><p id="gmail-902b" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Increased bradykinin levels could also account for other common Covid-19 symptoms. ACE inhibitors — a class of drugs <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/ace-inhibitors/art-20047480" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">used to treat high blood pressure</a> — have a similar effect on the RAS system as Covid-19, <a href="https://cvpharmacology.com/vasodilator/ACE#:~:text=ACE%20inhibitors%20produce%20vasodilation%20by%20inhibiting%20the%20formation%20of%20angiotensin%20II.&text=ACE%20also%20breaks%20down%20bradykinin,vasodilator%20action%20of%20ACE%20inhibitors." class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">increasing bradykinin levels</a>.
In fact, Jacobson and his team note in their paper that “the virus…
acts pharmacologically as an ACE inhibitor” — almost directly mirroring
the actions of these drugs.</p><div class="gmail-kd gmail-ke gmail-kf gmail-kg gmail-kh gmail-ki">By acting like a natural ACE inhibitor, Covid-19 <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m406/rr-27" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">may be causing</a>
the same effects that hypertensive patients sometimes get when they
take blood pressure–lowering drugs. ACE inhibitors are known to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/ace-inhibitors/art-20047480" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">cause</a>
a dry cough and fatigue, two textbook symptoms of Covid-19. And they
can potentially increase blood potassium levels, which has also been <a href="https://medium.com/beingwell/in-some-patients-with-covid-19-the-blood-potassium-levels-are-high-f1ef9f65e9cf" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed in Covid-19 patients</a>.
The similarities between ACE inhibitor side effects and Covid-19
symptoms strengthen the bradykinin hypothesis, the researchers say.<br></div><p id="gmail-92df" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">ACE inhibitors are also known to cause a <a href="https://coronavirus.medium.com/a-new-study-explains-why-covid-19-causes-a-loss-of-smell-e3f9e7082bdd" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">loss of taste and smell</a>.
Jacobson stresses, though, that this symptom is more likely due to the
virus “affecting the cells surrounding olfactory nerve cells” than the
direct effects of bradykinin.</p><p id="gmail-4d2c" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Though
still an emerging theory, the bradykinin hypothesis explains several
other of Covid-19’s seemingly bizarre symptoms. Jacobson and his team
speculate that leaky vasculature caused by bradykinin storms could be
responsible for “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/health/coronavirus-covid-toe.html" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Covid toes</a>,” a condition involving swollen, bruised toes that some Covid-19 patients experience. Bradykinin can also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1665827/" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">mess with the thyroid</a> gland, which could produce the <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/the-coronavirus-may-mess-with-thyroid-levels-too-87f94e45c5c9">thyroid symptoms</a> recently observed in some patients.</p><p id="gmail-60ca" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The
bradykinin hypothesis could also explain some of the broader
demographic patterns of the disease’s spread. The researchers note that
some aspects of the RAS system are sex-linked, with proteins for several
receptors (such as one called TMSB4X) located on the X chromosome. This
means that “women… would have twice the levels of this protein than
men,” a result borne out by the researchers’ data. In their paper,
Jacobson’s team concludes that this “could explain the lower incidence
of Covid-19 induced mortality in women.” A genetic quirk of the RAS
could be giving <a href="https://coronavirus.medium.com/why-do-men-fare-worse-with-covid-19-a5debff87dc1" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women extra protection against the disease</a>.</p><p id="gmail-f600" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The
bradykinin hypothesis provides a model that “contributes to a better
understanding of Covid-19” and “adds novelty to the existing
literature,” according to scientists Frank van de Veerdonk, Jos WM van
der Meer, and Roger Little, who <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/59177" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">peer-reviewed the team’s paper</a>.
It predicts nearly all the disease’s symptoms, even ones (like bruises
on the toes) that at first appear random, and further suggests new
treatments for the disease.</p><p id="e2ea" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">As
Jacobson and team point out, several drugs target aspects of the RAS
and are already FDA approved to treat other conditions. They could
arguably be applied to treating Covid-19 as well. Several, like danazol,
stanozolol, and ecallantide, reduce bradykinin production and could
potentially stop a deadly bradykinin storm. Others, like icatibant,
reduce bradykinin signaling and could blunt its effects once it’s
already in the body.</p><p id="gmail-917b" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Interestingly, Jacobson’s team also suggests <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/what-black-people-need-to-know-about-vitamin-d-and-covid-19-5bf5885d5288">vitamin D</a>
as a potentially useful Covid-19 drug. The vitamin is involved in the
RAS system and could prove helpful by reducing levels of another
compound, known as REN. Again, this could stop potentially deadly
bradykinin storms from forming. The researchers note that vitamin D has
already <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3571484" class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">been shown to help those with Covid-19</a>. The vitamin is readily available over the counter, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3126987/#:~:text=vitamin%20D%20deficiency-,The%20prevalence%20of%20mild%2C%20moderate%20and%20severe%20vitamin%20D%20deficiencies,%25%2C%20and%2026.9%25%20respectively." class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">around 20% of the population is deficient</a>.
If indeed the vitamin proves effective at reducing the severity of
bradykinin storms, it could be an easy, relatively safe way to reduce
the severity of the virus.</p><p id="gmail-41f9" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Other
compounds could treat symptoms associated with bradykinin storms.
Hymecromone, for example, could reduce hyaluronic acid levels,
potentially stopping deadly hydrogels from forming in the lungs. And
timbetasin could mimic the mechanism that the researchers believe
protects women from more severe Covid-19 infections. All of these
potential treatments are speculative, of course, and would need to be
studied in a rigorous, controlled environment before their effectiveness
could be determined and they could be used more broadly.</p><p id="gmail-cbb5" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">Covid-19 stands out for both the scale of its global impact and the apparent randomness of <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/every-covid-19-symptom-we-know-about-right-now-from-head-to-toe-bd1d47584096">its many symptoms</a>. <a class="gmail-av gmail-jx gmail-jy gmail-jz gmail-ka gmail-kb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://elemental.medium.com/9-things-experts-know-about-covid-19-that-they-didnt-know-then-5f22819807c4">Physicians have struggled to understand the disease</a>
and come up with a unified theory for how it works. Though as of yet
unproven, the bradykinin hypothesis provides such a theory. And like all
good hypotheses, it also provides specific, testable predictions — in
this case, actual drugs that could provide relief to real patients.</p><p id="gmail-be6d" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">The
researchers are quick to point out that “the testing of any of these
pharmaceutical interventions should be done in well-designed clinical
trials.” As to the next step in the process, Jacobson is clear: “We have
to get this message out.” His team’s finding won’t cure Covid-19. But
if the treatments it points to pan out in the clinic, interventions
guided by the bradykinin hypothesis could greatly reduce patients’
suffering — and potentially save lives.</p><p id="gmail-be6d" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">--</p><p id="gmail-be6d" class="gmail-iu gmail-iv gmail-fk gmail-iw gmail-b gmail-gd gmail-ix gmail-iy gmail-iz gmail-gg gmail-ja gmail-jb gmail-jc gmail-jd gmail-je gmail-gl gmail-jf gmail-jg gmail-jh gmail-go gmail-ji gmail-jj gmail-jk gmail-gr gmail-jl gmail-jm gmail-fc gmail-df">See also <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/computing/hardware/has-the-summit-supercomputer-cracked-the-covid-code">https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/computing/hardware/has-the-summit-supercomputer-cracked-the-covid-code</a></p></div></div>