The exact nature of long COVID is still coming to light, but we just got some of the best evidence yet that this debilitating condition stems from a brain injury.
Using high-resolution scanners, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have shown microscopic, structural abnormalities in the brainstems of those recovering from COVID-19.
Signs of brain inflammation were present up to 18 months after first contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
[…]
In living brains of those with long COVID, however, conventional MRI studies have shown no structural abnormalities in the brainstem.
Do these people not proof-read their own articles?
Normal hospital-type MRI scanners can’t see inside the brain with the kind of chemical and physical detail we need. But with 7T (7 Tesla) scanners, we can now measure these details
Not the best article, but I think what they are trying to say over multiple paragraphs is that new higher resolution MRI machines can see the damage that normal lower resolution MRI can’t see
FTA: Signs of ongoing inflammation in the brainstem, something that is seen in people with traumatic brain injury and people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
so this new study is saying they can see on a small enough scale to find that scientifically consistent and significant inflammation in the brainstem directly linked to covid?
Precisely. They had previously been unable to see this in living patients due to limitations of typical MRI machines but had found signs in the deceased. The major change is that, using a more powerful (7 Tesla) MRI machine, they were able to see these same symptoms in living patients for the first time.
I have to choose what to spend my time on. If an article contradicts itself that obviously after I spent 2-5 minutes reading, I’ll go look for more intelligent texts.
It’s not contradicting itself though. Your first quoted statement says “using high-resolution scanners”. The last one says “conventional MRI studies”. The methodology is what is different.
Let me break it down so you see the point I was making - in case the bold wasn’t enough:
Using high-resolution scanners, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have shown microscopic, structural abnormalities in the brainstems of those recovering from COVID-19.
Signs of brain inflammation were present up to 18 months after first contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Here, they refer to people recovering from COVID-19, thus clearly indicate that patients are alive.
[…]
In living brains of those with long COVID, however, conventional MRI studies have shown no structural abnormalities in the brainstem.
This paragraph immediately follows one that talks about autopsy(!) results, and here, they start a sentence with “in living brains […], however”, setting the sentence up as a contradiction to the previous one, with an emphasis on the word living in the article itself.
Here’s an example how the sentence should be written to not seemingly cause a contradiction / misdirect the reader:
However, previous studies conducted with conventional MRI had shown no structural abnormalities in the brainstem in living brains.
They put emphasis on the change in observation from autopsy to living brains, linking this paragraph more strongly to the preceeding one, when they should have put emphasis on the conventional studies, building the context for the subsequent paragraph.
yes, I can guess that explanation when trying to figure out the seeming contradiction. I don’t read scientific articles to end up guessing because the author can’t string together a well structured text. :)
Do these people not proof-read their own articles?
Normal hospital-type MRI scanners can’t see inside the brain with the kind of chemical and physical detail we need. But with 7T (7 Tesla) scanners, we can now measure these details
Not the best article, but I think what they are trying to say over multiple paragraphs is that new higher resolution MRI machines can see the damage that normal lower resolution MRI can’t see
what type of abnormalities are they seeing specifically?
FTA: Signs of ongoing inflammation in the brainstem, something that is seen in people with traumatic brain injury and people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
oh, interesting.
so this new study is saying they can see on a small enough scale to find that scientifically consistent and significant inflammation in the brainstem directly linked to covid?
Precisely. They had previously been unable to see this in living patients due to limitations of typical MRI machines but had found signs in the deceased. The major change is that, using a more powerful (7 Tesla) MRI machine, they were able to see these same symptoms in living patients for the first time.
okay, got it. thanks.
that is a heck of a development, I now understand the cause for the hullabaloo.
Removed by mod
Who hurt u?
deleted by creator
Dude read the rest of the article
I have to choose what to spend my time on. If an article contradicts itself that obviously after I spent 2-5 minutes reading, I’ll go look for more intelligent texts.
It’s not contradicting itself though. Your first quoted statement says “using high-resolution scanners”. The last one says “conventional MRI studies”. The methodology is what is different.
Let me break it down so you see the point I was making - in case the bold wasn’t enough:
Here, they refer to people recovering from COVID-19, thus clearly indicate that patients are alive.
This paragraph immediately follows one that talks about autopsy(!) results, and here, they start a sentence with “in living brains […], however”, setting the sentence up as a contradiction to the previous one, with an emphasis on the word living in the article itself.
Here’s an example how the sentence should be written to not seemingly cause a contradiction / misdirect the reader:
They put emphasis on the change in observation from autopsy to living brains, linking this paragraph more strongly to the preceeding one, when they should have put emphasis on the conventional studies, building the context for the subsequent paragraph.
The abnormalities are only visible with a 7T scanner, and not conventional MRIs.
yes, I can guess that explanation when trying to figure out the seeming contradiction. I don’t read scientific articles to end up guessing because the author can’t string together a well structured text. :)
No guesswork was needed, only a modicum of reading comprehension.