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It is back to school time for many children and we are in a COVID wave. The good news is that it is a smaller wave than past ones. The bad news is that data continues to come in showing that any COVID infection can lead to Long COVID and/or long-term chronic diseases like diabetes. One of this week’s biggest stories is that any COVID infection- mild, moderate or severe- causes premature aging of arteries particularly in women.
For some reason, the CDC recalibrated their wastewater data this week “and now it makes no sense”. As of yesterday, the CDC wastewater site now says: “Due to a technical issue, wastewater data is currently delayed for COVID-19, influenza A, and RSV. Data will be updated as soon as possible.”
High SARS-CoV-2 levels are seen in wastewater across the United States as of 8/24/25 on WastewaterSCAN though:
From: https://data.wastewaterscan.org/
Using Emergency Department visits for COVID data, JP Weiland estimates that there are about 430,000 new COVID infections daily in the United States now with 1 in 77 people currently infected. He believes that the summer wave will probably peak in early September.
Children under age 12 continue to be the group most often being seen for COVID infection in the Emergency Departments across America now. In Florida and Hawaii, kids under age 12 are being seen at the highest level in more than a year. Teenagers are now also increasingly being seen for COVID in the Emergency Department in Florida, while people age 75+ are increasingly being seen in Hawaiian EDs.
From: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#ed-visits_separated_by_age_group
Variants
The CDC has not updated COVID variant data since 6/21/25. However, according to JP Weiland and Raj Rajnarayanan XFG continues to be the top variant causing infection in the U.S. now at about 65% of cases, with NB.1.8.1 in second place at around 10 to 15%.
Acute COVID infections, General COVID info
The CARTESIAN study followed almost 2,400 participants across 18 countries and found that COVID infection of any severity accelerated vascular aging by at least 5 years. Women were disproportionately affected, and Long COVID symptoms were found to correlate with arterial stiffening. Vaccination offered partial protection against this effect, suggesting early intervention may reduce cardiovascular risks.
“Here we have demonstrated there is something measurable in the blood vessels that corresponds to the symptoms of long-covid patients,” said Dr. Bruno.
From: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf430/8236450
This week, Dr. Eric Topol wrote an excellent article called “Covid and Our Arteries” reviewing mechanisms of COVID’s impact on our vascular system including: 1) endothelial inflammation, 2) promotion of atherosclerosis, and now 3) accelerated arterial aging. He discussed the new large international, multicentre study above showing that arteries, especially in women, became stiffer after COVID infection with about 5 years of accelerated arterial aging regardless of the severity of the original COVID infection.
A new study of 13 macaques at NIH found that BCG vaccination did not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, but BCG did reduce viral loads in the lungs by day 7. The protective effect was linked to enhanced monocyte efferocytosis and neutrophil recruitment, strengthening innate immune defenses. Researchers suggest BCG may offer cross-protection against respiratory pathogens.
Pediatrics
“Eighteen children under 2 years old with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and seven healthy controls were enrolled between December 2021 and June 2022.” Researchers analyzed stool samples and found significant disruptions in gut microbiota composition after SARS-CoV-2 infection in these young children. These changes were linked to predicted immune dysregulation, including reduced beneficial bacteria and increased pro-inflammatory species. The findings suggest that early-life COVID infection could have lasting impacts on immune system development via the gut microbiome.
Vaccines
Canada has approved the Pfizer LP.8.1 COVID booster for all people ages 6 months and older. The vaccine will be “available in Canada in the coming weeks."
AAP
On August 19th the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) updated their evidence-based immunization schedule recommending universal COVID vaccination for all children aged 6 to 23 months ahead of the fall/winter respiratory season which is a clear divergence from recent federal policy. For older children (ages 2 to 18), the AAP recommends vaccination for those at higher risk and those whose “parents desire protection”. HHS Secretary RFK Jr, a lawyer who is not a physician or a scientist, attacked the AAP hours later on social media.
“The FDA [initially] authorized Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use for children in 2021, following trials that found the vaccine was 90.7% effective in preventing infection and did not lead to any serious side effects.”
“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents,” AAP President Susan J. Kressly said in a statement.
From: https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf
On August 22, ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) updated their recommendations on maternal immunization against COVID, Influenza and RSV:
“It is well documented that respiratory conditions [like COVID, Flu and RSV] can cause poor outcomes during pregnancy, with pregnant women facing both severe illness and threats to the health of their pregnancy. Thanks to vaccines, severe outcomes from respiratory infections are largely preventable,” said Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, president of ACOG. “ACOG’s updated respiratory guidance documents repeat what we have long known: that vaccines continue to be the best tool available for pregnant patients to protect themselves and their infants from these viruses.”
According to the Washington Post, despite our ongoing COVID wave, “the federal committee that would recommend the updated coronavirus vaccine is not expected to meet until at least mid-September.” It appears that pharmacies have not restocked their vaccine supplies while they are awaiting the latest version. I am not sure when the next COVID vaccines will become available. Respirator masks like N95s and KN95s can help prevent COVID and other infections.
Antiviral treatments
A large Kaiser Permanente case-control study of U.S. adults from 2020–2023 found that COVID vaccination before infection and early antiviral treatment with Paxlovid or Remdesivir significantly lowered the risk of Long COVID.
Long COVID
We were surprised by how many people ordered the synbiotic that I formulated to help my daughter. It is now back in stock at VivaBiome.com. If you do take it, I would really appreciate it if you could fill out the symptom survey to get an idea of who it helps most.
Three new studies offer possible mechanisms for severe fatigue in people with Long COVID and those with ME/CFS. Bhupesh Prusty’s lab studied 40 ME/CFS and 16 Long COVID patients and found that serum IgG antibodies caused fragmentation of mitochondria in endothelial cells leading to disruption of mitochondrial energy production while increasing inflammatory marker signaling. Authors suggest that this mechanism may be responsible for both fatigue and immune dysregulation in these patients and may show a possible shared pathological process across ME/CFS and Long COVID. In ME/CFS patients, autoantibodies were found against SPEG (muscle protein) and immune system proteins. In Long COVID, autoantibodies bound KLKB1 which is a protein involved in clotting.
Another study from UCL of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 27 Long COVID patients revealed that an enzyme called ATP synthase was running abnormally (both backwards and forwards) in mitochondria which led to lower levels of ATP being made for energy. Fatigue and exercise intolerance in Long COVID may be causally related to this defect in mitochondrial energy production.
A group from Barcelona showed that adding serum from ME/CFS or Long COVID patients to healthy lab-grown skeletal muscle triggered impaired energy production and then mitochondrial and structural collapse in the muscle cells with prolonged exposure after 48 hours. They noted that there may be factors in the blood of people with ME/CFS or Long COVID that directly impair muscle function and contribute to severe fatigue.
Figure 7. Graphical representation of key findings: (A) baseline structure of a myofiber (B) key changes after 48 h of exposure to ME/CFS and LC-19 sera. (C) Progressive atrophy during long exposure to patient sera. From: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1758-5090/adf66c
Yale researchers studied 682 people with Long COVID or post-vaccination syndrome and found that each group had a distinct set of clinical symptoms, despite overlap. People with Long COVID had more brain fog, loss of smell and breathlessness, while those with post-vaccine syndrome had more neuropathy. The two syndromes may be caused by different biological mechanisms.
A New York study of 80 Long COVID patients found that more than a third still had high levels of IL-6 or CRP six months after COVID infection. Elevated IL-6 was strongly linked with fatigue, anxiety, PTSD, and worse cognitive performance. The findings suggest IL-6 may be a marker for neuropsychiatric manifestations of PASC.
Over 170 scientists, clinicians, advocates, and people living with Long COVID gathered in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Keystone Symposia conference focused on Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions (IACCs). The Sick Times reported on the conference, including upcoming clinical trials of medications for Long COVID of anti-inflammatory bezisterim, JAK inhibitor baricitinib, monoclonal antibody sipavibart and the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. The conference emphasized the need for a unified approach to research, including sharing data and biospecimens, with collaboration to build consensus on the underlying biology and clinical trials needed.
In a U.S. study of over 12,000 military personnel, wearable devices detected persistent changes in heart rate and heart rate variability in 9.4% of COVID-positive cases. These subtle alterations lasted for weeks to months and correlated with Long COVID. Researchers suggest that passive monitoring may enable earlier detection and tracking of post-COVID conditions without invasive testing.
After COVID began, disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) like irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia became more common and severe, lowering quality of life and increasing healthcare use. Repeat COVID infections, GI symptoms during COVID infection, and Long COVID were noted to increase these gut-brain disorders.
San Francisco researchers developed a laser-based technique called pulsed speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (p-SCOS) that can detect microclots in the plasma, but not whole blood, of people with Long COVID without the need for dyes or labels. The rapid, non-invasive test could be useful for monitoring clot-related conditions.
In a new review of aging, Drs. Proal and VanElzakker looked at evidence that various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can accelerate biological aging. Mechanisms include chronic inflammation, mitochondrial damage, telomere shortening, and epigenetic alterations. The authors highlight the overlap between infection-related changes and those seen in age-related diseases, suggesting that preventing or treating infections could help preserve long-term health.
From: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163725002119?via%3Dihub
ME/CFS
Researchers identified unique circulating cell-free RNA patterns in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. These RNA signatures reflect immune system dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways and were able to diagnose ME/CFS with 77% accuracy.
Measles
As of August 19, 2025, a total of 1,375 confirmed measles cases were reported by 42 jurisdictions, 13% of cases hospitalized (173 of 1375), and 3 confirmed deaths from measles.
Government Health News
It is really hard to be a public servant in health in the United States now. Colin Carlson and Sean Kennedy described the recent CDC shooting on August 8th as “Public Health’s Jan. 6th,” noting the role of disinformation and political hostility in fostering violence against public health workers at the CDC. Days later, the Washington Post reported that between 500 and 600 CDC employees were permanently laid off, part of broader cuts directed by RFK Jr. In response, current and former health agency staff have issued an open letter that you can sign to support safe work environments for CDC, NIH and HHS employees and accurate public communication.
Letter that you can sign (with name or as anonymous) to support HHS staff:
https://www.savehhs.org/read-the-letter
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reported that NIH grant terminations had removed nearly $2 billion from medical schools and teaching hospitals, halting more than 160 clinical trials. A Supreme Court ruling this week upheld the government’s authority to end the NIH grants, reinforcing the funding cuts’ impact on biomedical research and medical education.
Other News
A new review in Nature’s Cellular & Molecular Immunology explains how the gut, immune system, and brain are all connected by a complex communication system. The authors note that disruptions in gut bacteria can contribute to a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, suggesting that new treatments could focus on restoring a healthy gut microbiome.
From: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-025-01333-3/figures/2
A 12-week trial of 60 Alzheimer's patients found that a specific probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum, significantly improved their serum amino acid levels. This suggests that certain probiotics may help manage metabolic imbalances in Alzheimer's patients by influencing the gut-brain connection.
Scientists from Florida developed a universal mRNA cancer vaccine that completely eliminated different types of cancer tumors in mouse models. The vaccine worked by training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, showing both curative and protective effects. While results are early and limited to animals, the findings suggest a promising off-the-shelf vaccine against cancers. Human studies have been launched by the same team for pediatric high-grade glioma and osteosarcoma.
A new analysis of UK and US patient data identified 77 novel genes linked to endometriosis, of which many involve autophagy and macrophage biology, providing new insight into the disease's biology and potential for new treatments.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny pledged a record $2 billion to Oregon’s Knight Cancer Institute, the largest single gift ever to a U.S. university or health center. The donation will fund research, clinical trials, and patient care, strengthening OHSU as a global leader in cancer treatment.
In Sweden's northern city of Kiruna, a historic 113-year-old wooden church was moved intact on a two-day, 3-mile journey to escape ground subsidence caused by iron ore mining. This feat of engineering is part of a larger, multi-decade effort to relocate the city's old center to safer ground.
From: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde3xp4xlw9o
At age 98, American painter Lois Dodd is finally gaining international recognition with her first European retrospective show. Known for her observational paintings of everyday life, she is being celebrated for her quiet, deeply felt work.
‘The Painted Room’ (1982) by Lois Dodd
Hannah Cairo, a homeschooled 17-year-old math prodigy, recently solved a long-standing mathematical problem known as the Mizohata-Takeuchi conjecture. She developed her skills during the COVID pandemic and is skipping the rest of high school and college to directly start a PhD in mathematics at the University of Maryland this fall.
From: Valerie Plesch for Quanta Magazine
Have a great week,
Ruth Ann Crystal MD
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