Science Fridays!
We're dropping the "Fun" again as we look at some info regarding the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Researchers in London analyzed the organs of 41 patients who died of Covid-19 between February and April 2020 at the University Hospital of Trieste.
They found just under 90% showing characteristics typically seen in pneumonia death, and this could explain why many who recover from the virus have lingering symptoms.
What they're seeing is extensive blood clotting in the lung's blood vessels, and a study released earlier this week suggests the virus itself triggers the release of autoimmune antibodies that cause blood clotting.
They've also found evidence of syncytia - the fusion of different cells into single large cells. Lung cells were found to be abnormally large with many nuclei.
Further, they discovered RNA of the virus still lurking in the single-celled layer that lines the blood vessels and the surface epithelial cells of the lungs, which might explain long-term complications as well.
These findings should also help in developing new treatments, such as a drug that could block the spike protein that causes cells to fuse.
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