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The endothelial disease that can be managed by increasing heart rate variability and the number and functions of endothelial progenitor cells
The virus injures the endothelial lining of the cardiovascular system and the pulmonary alveolar epithelial system because the ACE2 receptors are abundant on them and ACE2 is one of the most important receptors for COVID-19 (1)(2)(3) Naturally, the major risk groups have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, old age, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer. (4) Elevated d-dimer predicts mortality…
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Pulmonary diffusion/ gas exchange problems are dependent also on autonomic nerve functions
The pulmonary diffusion capacity is also reduced in diabetics that is dependent on impaired autonomic functions that can be measured by heart rate variability (HRV) (1) In clinical trials, proinsulin C-peptide increased significantly HRV in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. (2) It is an interesting fact that COVID-19 is dangerous only to the groups e.g. elderly…
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Methods to avoid the severe outcome of COVID-19: the role of the injured central nervous system (CNS) in lymphopenia and oxygen deficiency
It is an emerging concern that the virus may damage the CNS, the brainstem, particularly the part of it regulating cardiopulmonary functions. The medulla oblongata may be infected also but not exclusively by the neural pathways connecting the lung and the CNS leading to breathing difficulties and oxygen deficiency. (1) Lung inflammation may increase inflammatory…
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Central proinsulin C-peptide may improve immune cell imbalances in severely affected patients
Heart rate variability (HRV) is in inverse association with inflammatory markers, which is, for this reason, an indicator of the anti-inflammatory reactivity of the immune system. (1) In the most severe COVID-19 cases with poor outcome an increased neutrophil and a decreased lymphocyte and monocyte number was measured. (2)(3) It is a striking peculiarity that…
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Obesity and mortality risk
Overweight and obese people have a higher probability of a more severe disease course and of pulmonary complications than individuals with normal weight. (1)One of the most important reasons of this fact may be the weakened parasympathetic functions and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway marked by decreased heart rate variability (HRV). (2) Moreover, overweight people have…
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Dark chocolate may avert cytokine storm and improve the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
Scientist found that daily consumption of 10g dark chocolate (minimally 70% cacao) significantly increased heart rate variability (HRV). (1) This effect of dark chocolate may indicate that it can decrease the cytokine storm induced by COVID-19 infection. The fatal consequences of COVID-19 are prognostized by the persistent elevation of the cytokine Il-6. (2) HRV is…
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Effect of air pollution for death rates and the possible mediating role of the cholinergic anti inflammatory pathway measured by heart rate variability (HRV)
According to a recent study air pollution is significantly increasing the death rates of coronavirus infection. Indeed, the effect of increased particulate matter in the air for the mortality rate of COVID-19 caused infection is 20 times greater than that of all cause mortality. (1) Particulate matter impairs HRV that is indicative of the damage…
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Proinsulin C-peptide as an inhibitor of virus invasion and inflammation in the brain and body
It is a recent discovery that coronavirus uses a protein CD147 also called EMMPRIN, to invade cells. (1) The amount of this protein is increased by mechanical ventilation according to experimental results. (2) For this reason mechanical ventilation may significantly enhance the virus infection of lung tissues. By activating PPARgamma, a nuclear receptor, it is…
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Gut barrier functions and lung injury
According to a retrospective study 86,7% of COVID-19 patients have gastrointestinal symptoms. (1) With the help of angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) protein the virus has access to the human cells. It is abundantly present in the gastrointestinal tract and mostly in the epithelia of the small intestine and lung and in arterial and venous endothelial…
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Consequences of low oxygenation
It is among the most severe effects of the coronavirus infection that the high risk patients may have breathing problems. The oxygen supply of their body decreases. Independently of the causes of this problem, the oxygen deficiency, hypoxia may decrease heart rate variability (HRV). (1) HRV or the parasympathetic nervous system and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory…