health and wellness
New test may predict COVID-19 immunity
The paper test measures the level of neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample and could help people decide what protections they should take against infection.
Newswise — CAMBRIDGE, MA — Most people in the United States have some degree of immune protection against Covid-19, either from vaccination, infection or a combination of the two. But, just how much protection does any individual person have?
MIT researchers have now developed an easy-to-use test that may be able to answer that question. Their test, which uses the same type of “lateral flow” technology as most rapid antigen tests for Covid-19, measures the level of neutralizing antibodies that target the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a blood sample.
Easy access to this kind of test could help people determine what kind of precautions they should take against Covid infection, such as getting an additional booster shot, the researchers say. They have filed for a patent on the technology and are now hoping to partner with a diagnostic company that could manufacture the devices and seek FDA approval.
“Among the general population, many people probably want to know how well protected they are,” says Hojun Li, the Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson Clinical Investigator at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. “But I think where this test might make the biggest difference is for anybody who is receiving chemotherapy, anybody who’s on immunosuppressive drugs for rheumatologic disorders or autoimmune diseases, and for anybody who’s elderly or doesn’t mount good immune responses in general. These are all people who might need to be boosted sooner or receive more doses to achieve adequate protection.”
The test is designed so that different viral spike proteins can be swapped in, allowing it to be modified to detect immunity against any existing or future variant of SARS-CoV-2, the researchers say.
Li, who is also an attending physician at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, is the senior author of the study, which appears online today in Cell Reports Methods. Guinevere Connelly, a former Koch Institute research technician who is now a graduate student at Duke University, and Orville Kirkland, a research support associate at the Koch Institute, are the lead authors of the paper.
A simple test
Li, who joined the Koch Institute in the fall of 2019, studies blood cell development and how blood cells become cancerous. When SARS-CoV-2 emerged, he started thinking about ways to help combat the pandemic. Many other researchers were already working on diagnostic tests for infection, so he turned his attention to developing a test that would reveal how much immune protection someone has against Covid-19.
Currently, the gold standard approach to measuring immunity involves mixing a blood sample with live virus and measuring how many cells in the sample are killed by the virus. That procedure is too hazardous to perform in most labs, so the more commonly used approaches involve noninfectious modified “pseudoviral” particles, or they are based on a test called ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), which can detect antibodies that neutralize a fragment of a viral protein.
However, these approaches still require trained personnel working in a lab with specialized equipment, so they aren’t practical for use in a doctor’s office to get immediate results. Li wanted to come up with something that could be easily used by a health care provider or even by people at home. He drew inspiration from at-home pregnancy tests, which are based on a type of test called a lateral flow assay.
Lateral flow assays generally consist of paper strips embedded with test lines that bind to a particular target molecule if it is present in a sample. This technology is also the basis of most at-home rapid tests for Covid-19.
Li did not have experience working with this type of test, so he reached out to two MIT faculty members with expertise in devising diagnostics based on lateral flow assays: Hadley Sikes, an associate professor of chemical engineering, and Sangeeta Bhatia, the John and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and a member of the Koch Institute.
With their help, his lab developed a device that can detect the presence of antibodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) from binding to ACE2, the human receptor that the virus uses to infect cells.
The first step in the test is to mix human blood samples with viral RBD protein that has been labeled with tiny gold particles that can be visualized when bound to a paper strip. After allowing time for antibodies in the sample to interact with the viral protein, a few drops of the sample are placed on a test strip embedded with two test lines.
One of these lines attracts free viral RBD proteins, while the other attracts any RBD that has been captured by neutralizing antibodies. A strong signal from the second line indicates a high level of neutralizing antibodies in the sample. There is also a control line that detects free gold particles, confirming that the solution flowed across the entire strip.
To develop the reagents needed for the test, members of Li’s lab worked with the labs of Angela Koehler, an associate professor of biological engineering, and Michael Yaffe, a David H. Koch Professor in Science, who are both members of the Koch Institute.
Predicting immunity
Along with a testing cartridge, which contains the paper test strip, the testing kit also includes a finger prick lancet that can be used to obtain a small blood sample, less than 10 microliters. This sample is then mixed with the reagents needed for the test. After about 10 minutes, the sample is exposed to the test cartridge, and the results are revealed in 10 minutes.
The output can be read two different ways: One, by simply looking at the lines, which indicate whether neutralizing antibodies are present or not. Or, the device can be used to obtain a more precise measurement of antibody levels, using a smartphone app that can measure the intensity of each line and calculate the ratio of neutralized RBD protein to infectious RBD protein. When this ratio is low, it might suggest that another booster shot is needed, or that the individual should take extra precautions to prevent infection.
The researchers tested their device with blood samples collected in December 2020 from about 60 people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 30 people who had not. They were able to detect neutralizing antibodies in the samples from people previously infected by the virus, with accuracy similar to that of existing laboratory tests. They also tested 30 serial samples from two people before they received an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine and at several time points after vaccination. The level of neutralizing antibodies in the vaccinated individuals peaked around seven weeks after the first dose, then began to slowly decline.
Previous studies of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses have shown a strong correlation between the amount of neutralizing antibody circulating in an individual’s bloodstream and their likelihood of infection.
The test could be easily adapted to different variants of SARS-CoV-2 by swapping in a reagent that is specific to the RBD from the variant of interest, Li says. The researchers now hope to partner with a diagnostics company that could manufacture large quantities of the tests and obtain FDA approval for their use.
https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/health-and-wellness
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Family
5 consejos para la salud del corazón para las fiestas
La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
(Family Features) La comida, las bebidas, los regalos y el tiempo con la familia hacen de las fiestas una ocasión feliz para las personas de todo el país. Sin embargo, toda esa celebración a veces puede convertirse en una distracción para mantener la salud del corazón.
De hecho, las alegrías de la temporada pueden estropearse para muchos, ya que las investigaciones muestran un aumento en los eventos cardíacos y las muertes por ataques cardíacos durante la última semana de diciembre. Según un estudio publicado en la revista de la American Heart Association, “Circulation”, ocurren más muertes por problemas cardíacos el 25 de diciembre que cualquier otro día del año, seguidas por el segundo número más grande el 26 de diciembre y el tercero el 1 de enero.
“Las vacaciones son un momento ajetreado, a menudo estresante, para muchos de nosotros”, dijo Mitchell S.V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, director de ciencias clínicas de la American Heart Association. “Las rutinas se interrumpen. Es posible que tendamos a comer y beber más y a hacer menos ejercicio y relajarnos menos. Dormimos muy poco y experimentamos demasiado estrés. Si bien no sabemos exactamente por qué hay más ataques cardíacos mortales durante este tiempo, es importante tener en cuenta que estos factores pueden incrementarse, aumentando el riesgo de un evento cardíaco mortal”.
Ser consciente de este fenómeno anual y tomar algunas medidas importantes y saludables para el corazón puede ayudar a salvar vidas. Considere estos consejos del Dr. Elkind y los expertos de la American Heart Association.
- Conozca los síntomas y tome medidas. Los signos de un ataque cardíaco varían en hombres y mujeres, pero es importante reconocerlos temprano y llamar al 9-1-1 para obtener ayuda. Cuanto antes comience el tratamiento médico, mayores serán las posibilidades de supervivencia y de prevención del daño cardíaco.
- Celebre con moderación. Comer saludablemente durante las fiestas no tiene por qué significar privarse. Hay maneras de comer de manera inteligente, como limitar la ingesta de sodio y buscar pequeños intercambios saludables para que continúe sintiéndose lo mejor posible mientras come y bebe con moderación.
- Practique la buena voluntad hacia sí mismo. Tómese un tiempo para cuidarse durante esta temporada ajetreada. Leer un libro favorito, meditar o incluso jugar con mascotas son formas productivas de reducir el estrés de las interacciones familiares, las finanzas tensas, los horarios agitados, los viajes y otros factores estresantes que pueden provocar las vacaciones.
- Siga moviéndose. El ajetreo y el bullicio de la preparación para las fiestas a menudo deja de lado el ejercicio, pero es importante mantenerse activo tanto como sea posible. Sea creativo para mantenerse en movimiento dando un paseo familiar o jugando juegos físicamente activos con sus seres queridos.
- Tome sus medicamentos. Los horarios ocupados pueden hacer que algunas personas se salten los medicamentos, a veces incluso los olvidan en casa o no renuevan las recetas a tiempo. Trate de usar un cuadro de medicamentos como recordatorio y asegúrese de controlar los números de su presión arterial.
Descubra más formas de vivir una vida saludable para el corazón durante las fiestas y durante todo el año en heart.org.
Foto cortesía de Getty Images
SOURCE:
American Heart Association
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fitness
Scaling Back: 5 ways to manage your weight
For many people who wish to work toward a healthier weight, one of the greatest obstacles is figuring out where to begin.
(Family Features) For many people who wish to work toward a healthier weight, one of the greatest obstacles is figuring out where to begin.
These tips from SlimFast consultant and registered dietitian Maryann Walsh show it doesn’t take a drastic lifestyle overhaul to make an impact.
Eat Mindfully
Many people who struggle with their weight benefit from being more conscious about what they’re eating and why. For example, consider your eating habits, such as eating even when you’re not hungry whether that’s because it’s mealtime and you think you should eat, you’re satisfying a craving or using a tasty snack to cope with stress.
Recognizing why you’re eating is an important step toward correcting destructive eating patterns, but so is paying attention to the other details of the eating experience, including what you eat and how it makes you feel. Ultimately, this may allow you to choose healthier foods that nourish your body for the long-term, rather than the brief satisfaction that comes with less nutritious choices.
Consider Intermittent Fasting
One weight-loss method many people find success using is intermittent fasting, which involves abstaining from all food and beverages for a specified time period each day or week. While going too long without food can sometimes lead to excess hunger then overeating later, in shorter, controlled fasting timeframes one can often more easily achieve a caloric deficit, which is required for weight loss.
Prepare for your fasting phase by choosing foods that support satiety. Options like SlimFast’s Intermittent Fasting line of meal bars and protein shakes can help avoid a sense of deprivation with tasty flavors like the Vanilla Cupcake Snack Shake Mix and Vanilla Almond Crunch Complete Meal Bar. The shake mixes deliver 15 grams of slow-digesting protein, compared to whey protein, to help curb hunger, along with more than 20 vitamins and minerals. The meal bars clock in with 15 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.
Manage Stress
When you’re stressed, your body produces cortisol, which also raises insulin and can drive hunger and trigger cravings for comfort foods. In fact, that’s the very reason people tend to overeat when they’re under pressure. Light exercise and meditative practices can help you manage your mental strain. You might also consider talk therapy with a friend or professional or spend time unwinding with a book or music.
Get Proper Sleep
Poor sleep habits affect your weight in numerous ways. One is that when you’re feeling tired, your hunger and satiety hormones, ghrelin and leptin, can be affected, leading to an increase in caloric intake and subsequent weight gain. Additionally, when you’re tired, you’re more likely to take shortcuts like skipping workouts or opting for unhealthy convenience foods. All are reasons to make better rest a bigger priority.
Track Eating and Exercise
When you’re not paying attention to what you eat and how you move, you may not even realize how your habits are affecting your health. Logging what you eat, especially if you use a tool like an app that helps you see the nutrition breakdown, may give you a clearer idea of the quality and quantity of your intake. Similarly, when you’re specifically writing down the time you’re committing to physical activity, you’ll find it easier to identify patterns and pinpoint where you can make adjustments to increase your exercise.
Visit SlimFast.com to find more resources on weight management and intermittent fasting.
3 Tips for Intermittent Fasting
If you’re new to the idea of intermittent fasting, these tips can help you find greater success so you can see results.
- Pace yourself. Make a gradual transition so your body gets used to going without food for shorter periods of time before you work up to extended fasting periods.
- Stay hydrated. Avoid confusing thirst for hunger by upping your fluid intake. Staying hydrated and energized while you fast helps keep fatigue and brain fog at bay. Options like fruit-flavored SlimFast Intermittent Fasting Energizing Hydration Supplement Drink Mix won’t break your fast and can help you add variety as a flavorful alternative to water. They can provide the energy and focus you need between meals and are perfect for those who feel groggy or run-down while fasting.
- Set goals. Know what you want to achieve and why, so your “why” can keep motivating you to follow your intermittent fasting plan even when you’re tempted to quit.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images (woman and man exercising)
SOURCE:
SlimFast
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scooping chocolate ice cream
Wells Enterprises, Inc., America’s largest privately held, family-owned ice cream manufacturer, has initiated a nationwide voluntary recall affecting more than 50,000 gallons of ice cream and frozen yogurt products due to potential plastic contamination.
Key Recall Details
Affected Products: Nearly 18,000 three-gallon containers across 22 varieties
Popular Brands Involved: Blue Bunny, Halo Top, and other Wells Enterprises products
Distribution: Products shipped to 103 distribution centers nationwide
Best-By Dates: March through October 2026
Recall Classification: FDA Class II recall
Consumer Safety Alert
The company took immediate action after discovering the possibility of foreign material (plastic) in select products. While no injuries have been reported, consumers are urged to:
Check product codes against the recall list
Stop using affected products immediately
Return items to the place of purchase for a full refund
Contact Wells Enterprises customer service with questions
Affected Product Information
The recall specifically impacts 3-gallon bulk containers of various ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors. Wells Enterprises, known for producing popular brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top Creamery, and The Cheesecake Factory At Home ice cream products, initiated the voluntary recall on April 25, 2025.
For More Information
Consumers can visit the FDA’s official website or follow STM Daily News’ Food and Drink section for the latest updates on this recall and other food safety alerts.
Related Links:
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ice-cream-maker-issues-recall-concerns-plastic-121931178
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.
https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
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