Chronic

A study has reported that immune dysregulation persists in long COVID patients up to eight months after initial infection. The research found long COVID is characterized by elevated levels of specific immune biomarkers.

New research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has identified a link between long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome, adding to a growing understanding of the overlap between the two illnesses.

The FDA authorized a first-of-its-kind VR system designed to help reduce pain in patients with chronic lower back pain. The authorization follows a successful clinical trial demonstrating the system producing clinically meaningful reductions in pain.

A large study led by researchers from King’s College London has found fully vaccinated adults are around 50 percent less likely to suffer from long COVID if they are unfortunate enough to experience a breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection.

New research is offering a thorough look at the lasting impact of COVID-19 on immune system activity. Tracking a variety of biomarkers the research found immune abnormalities persisting at least six months after patients recover from acute disease.

Australian scientists have found chronic pain is associated with lower levels of key neurotransmitters in the brain. It is believed this chemical disruption plays a role in the difficulties people with chronic pain have in regulating negative emotions.

A big flush of funding in the UK is pushing new research on ways to diagnose and treat long COVID. A University of Cambridge team is now working on a blood test to objectively diagnose this emerging chronic condition using immune biomarkers.

A new understanding of the way tarantula toxins shut down electrical signals in the spider’s prey has given scientists hope of recreating this effect, but in a positive way through advanced drugs that treat chronic pain.

For some time now, bacteria-killing ozone gas has been used to help heal chronic wounds such as diabetic skin ulcers. Such treatment could soon be a lot more practical and effective, thanks to an experimental new wearable system.

Two new imaging breakthroughs demonstrate a PET/MRI approach to locate specific locations of chronic pain in a patient, and a full-body scanner that can visualize the complete systemic burden of inflammatory arthritis for the very first time.

New research describes the successful results of animal studies testing a novel experimental peptide designed to inhibit the receptors responsible for chronic neuropathic pain. The research is now moving towards initial human trials.

For decades, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome have battled to prove this illness is not a psychological condition, but in fact an actual biological disease. Now a team has developed a new type of blood test that could offer doctors the first diagnostic tool to identify it.