07/06/2021 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Many patients with COVID-19 produce immune responses against their body’s own tissues or organs, study finds

A University of Birmingham-led study funded by the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium has found that many patients with COVID-19 produce immune responses against their body’s own tissues or organs.

COVID-19 has been associated with a variety of unexpected symptoms, both at the time of infection and for many months afterwards. It is not fully understand what causes these symptoms, but one of the possibilities is that COVID-19 is triggering an autoimmune process where the immune system is misdirected to attack itself.

The study, published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Immunology, investigated the frequency and types of common autoantibodies produced in 84 individuals who either had severe COVID-19 at the time of testing or in the recovery period following both severe COVID-19 and those with milder disease that did not need to attend hospital. These results were compared to a control group of 32 patients who were in intensive care for another reason other than COVID-19.

An autoantibody is an antibody (a type of protein) produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual’s own proteins and can cause autoimmune diseases.

Infection can, in some circumstances, lead to autoimmune disease. Early data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger long-term autoimmune complications and there are reports of SARS-CoV-2 infection being associated with a number of autoimmune disorders including Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the study found higher numbers of autoantibodies in the COVID-19 patients than the control group and that these antibodies lasted up to six months.

Non-COVID patients displayed a diverse pattern of autoantibodies; in contrast, the COVID-19 groups had a more restricted panel of autoantibodies including skin, skeletal muscle and cardiac antibodies.

The authors also find that those with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have an autoantibody in their blood.

First author Professor Alex Richter, of the University of Birmingham, explained: “The antibodies we identified are similar to those that cause a number of skin, muscle and heart autoimmune diseases.

“We don’t yet know whether these autoantibodies are definitely causing symptoms in patients and whether this is a common phenomenon after lots of infections or just following COVID-19. These questions will be addressed in the next part of our study.”

Senior Author Professor David Wraith, of the University of Birmingham, adds: “In this detailed study of a range of different tissues, we showed for the first time that COVID-19 infection is linked to production of selective autoantibodies.

“More work is needed to define whether these antibodies contribute to the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hence could be targeted for treatment.”

Professor Paul Moss, Principal Investigator of the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium and Professor of Haematology at the University of Birmingham added: “This is an interesting study that reveals new insights into a potential autoimmune component to the effects of COVID-19.

“Research like this has been made possible by the huge collaborative efforts made by those that are a part of the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium. This study is another important step towards delivering real improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 to patients.”

The study participants were separated into four cohorts:

Group one: 32 individuals sampled during their stay in intensive care for reasons other than COVID-19. 41% of individuals had autoantibodies. In this group, there were many different causes of their illness (over half was pneumonia) and autoantibodies were found against nearly all of the different autoantigens examined, indicating a more random distribution.

Group two: 25 individuals who were sampled during their stay in intensive care following a diagnosis of severe COVID-19. 60% had autoantibodies. Of those who tested positive for autoantibodies, 41% had epidermal (skin) antibodies, while 17% had skeletal antibodies.

Group three: 35 individuals who had been admitted to intensive care with COVID-19, survived and were sampled three to six months later during routine outpatient follow up. 77% of individuals had autoantibodies. Of those who tested positive for autoantibodies, 19% had epidermal (skin) antibodies, 19% had skeletal antibodies, 28% had cardiac muscle antibodies; and 31% had smooth muscle antibodies.

Group four: 24 healthcare workers sampled one to three months after mild to moderate COVID-19 that did not require hospitalisation. 54% of individuals had autoantibodies. In those who tested positive for autoantibodies, it was against only four autoantigens: 25% had epidermal (skin) antibodies; 17% had smooth muscle antibodies; 8% had anti-neutrophil cytoplasm (ANCA) antibodies that target a type of human white blood cells; and 4% had gastric parietal antibodies which are associated with autoimmune gastritis and anaemia.

University of Edinburgh offers green micro-grants

In the run up to COP26, The University of Edinburgh is running ‘The Green Micro-grants’, a grants scheme for community projects with the natural environment and social impact at their heart.

In November 2021, Glasgow will be hosting the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). This conference brings together countries from all over the world in order to address the climate crisis.

Following Patrick Geddes (a Scottish biologist, philanthropist, pioneering town planner and lecturer at the University of Edinburgh), we want to encourage people to ‘think global, act local’ by funding grassroots projects that, in their own way, take action against the climate crisis.

And each of us has a part to play. That’s why, in the run up to COP26, the University’s micro-grant scheme is going green!

We welcome applications for projects or activities that will involve and benefit people living and/or working in the Edinburgh City Region (The Region includes the City of Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders).
Applications are welcome from not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises.
The funding is available until Friday 19th August, but you can apply at an point up to that date, and all applications will be reviewed by a panel.

If you would like to apply for a larger grant, please apply to our Community Grants Scheme, open twice a year for awards of up to £5,000.

The green microgrants

Through its micro-grant scheme, the University will support community organisations and charities based in the Edinburgh region to do their bit to tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis, and improve the sustainability of our local spaces and communities.

There is already lots of fantastic work happening across the city and wider region in relation to the climate crisis, and we hope that extra funding will enable some more great activities and projects to take place.

Groups can apply for up to £1000 through our micro-grant scheme for small scale community activities. The purpose of the scheme is to provide micro-grants to community groups, charities or businesses for projects which aim to:

Improve their local natural environment and
Have a positive social impact for local communities

What is meant by ‘supporting the local natural environment’?

This is where projects will improve environmental sustainability, increase local biodiversity and/or contribute to tackling the climate crisis at a local level. This might include seeking to reduce carbon emissions, reducing waste, teaching your community green behaviours, or other ways of improving your local natural environment.

What is meant by ‘positive social impact’?

This is the beneficial effect for local people and communities that you expect your project to create or contribute to. It could include improved wellbeing, access to better nutrition, improved educational opportunities, improved quality of life, greater sense of community, reduction in anxiety or improved financial circumstances. You should set out as clearly as possible how your project will involve and/or benefit local communities living in the Edinburgh City region (the City of Edinburgh and/or East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Scottish Borders, Fife).

How to apply

The application process is simple and a member of the Edinburgh Local team will be on hand to support you if you have any questions, just contact local@ed.ac.uk.

You can apply for a green micro-grant at any time by filling in the application form below and sending it back to local@ed.ac.uk. Green micro-grant application form (83.83 KB Word)

Please read the Guidance notes below before completing your application form.

Green Micro-grants Guidance Notes 2020-21 (79.06 KB Word)

You do not need to complete this form just yet, but please ensure you have read our Terms and Conditions before submitting your application:

Community Grant Terms and Conditions (71.3 KB Word)

Accessibility

If you require the application form in another format, please email local@ed.ac.uk.

Lesley Kelly’s alternative Edinburgh pandemic series launched in braille

Edinburgh author Lesley Kelly’s pandemic crime thriller series has been launched in braille for blind and partially sighted readers.

The ‘Health of Strangers’ crime fiction series, set in an alternative Edinburgh struck by a deadly virus, was penned in 2016-2020 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The four novels follow the investigations of the North Edinburgh Health Enforcement Team as they fight to contain a spreading virus, encountering mystery, murder and corruption along the way.

Partnering with the Scottish Braille Press, based in Edinburgh, to produce all the ‘Health of Strangers’ titles in braille, Lesley is delighted that the series will now be even more accessible for blind and partially sighted crime fiction fans who read braille.

Lesley, who is based in Edinburgh and whose first novel, A Fine House in Trinity, was longlisted for the William McIlvanney Prize, said: “I am thrilled that my books are being published in braille for blind and partially sighted readers.

“The series is based on my work experiences in emergency planning, and accurately predicted a number of pandemic issues, including vaccine passports, hoarding, and debates about civil liberties. It also deals with isolation, which may reflect some of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people during lockdown. 

“Reading has been a comfort to many people during Covid, and we’ve seen a huge interest in books with contagion themes, from Camus’s The Plague, to Scotland’s own Louise Welsh with her trilogy of virus novels.  I hope braille readers enjoy my contribution to pandemic literature.”  

The real-life Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted and compounded the challenges many blind and partially sighted people face in the community, with many experiencing additional challenges such as difficulties with being able to adhere to social distancing and increased social isolation.

Easy and reliable access to accessible formats, including more literature and information available in braille, audio and large print, is essential to ensure blind and partially sighted people have equal access to important information, as well as the joy of reading for pleasure.

The Scottish Braille Press, which is run by sight loss charity Sight Scotland, is a leading provider of accessible media for businesses and individuals and has been producing accessible formats for over 125 years.

Mark O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to Lesley Kelly and Sandstone Press for allowing the Scottish Braille Press to transcribe and publish Lesley’s Health of Strangers series in braille, enabling us to give braille readers access to Lesley’s fantastic crime thriller series.

“It is extremely important for equality, inclusion and personal security that accessible formats, including braille, are easily and readily available to people who require them.”

The Health of Strangers series braille editions are available to buy online at Sightscotland.org.uk through Sight Scotland’s Braille Bookshop, or call 0131 662 4445 to order.

Live Music Now Scotland launches brand new website to make live performance as accessible as possible this summer

Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS) puts musicians centre stage with launch of new website
Heralding a return to live music and in person performance post pandemic the website features a roster of musicians available to book, alongside public performance listings
You can find the new LMNS website HERE

Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS) is putting musicians centre stage with a brand new website aimed at bringing live music back to venues across Scotland as we come out of lockdown.

Key to the redesign is a new and improved roster of the many and varied musicians that LMNS represents. Whether you’re looking for a jubilant jazz quintet, or a scintillating string ensemble, this comprehensive catalogue of artists includes the very best musical talent the country has to offer, and it is the only place to start your search.

Live Music Now Scotland is committed to giving access to music for all, including older people and vulnerable audiences, as well as children with additional support needs.

The musicians now listed on the LMNS website are specially trained and experienced in playing for these audiences and the LMNS team can support in planning such events, including in settings such as care homes and special schools.

The new website will also feature a performance page listing live and online events, including live public performances, that are beginning to take place across the country as things start to open up. Updated as and when new events are booked you can check upcoming performances and events here.

Instrumental in turning the ambition for the new LMNS website into a digital reality were the Scottish Tech Army and Mull based creative studio think.in.form. Set up in early 2020 to help bring creative, digital solutions to businesses and individuals across Scotland in the wake of the pandemic, the Scottish Tech Army supported LMNS in putting a website brief and tender together, which is when creative studio and consultancy think.in.form came on board.

Carol Main MBE, Director at Live Music Now Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to share our new website with everyone from audiences through to musicians, and we hope it enables everyone to get back to enjoying live music again, as soon as possible.

“We wanted our website to facilitate this return to live performance and music, which is why we have included have both an updated roster of the musicians we work with and a programme of upcoming performances.

“Whether you are looking to host a summer garden party for friends and family, or an event for care home residents in their own home, we encourage you to check it out and get in touch.”

LMNS Website: https://livemusicnow.scot/

LMNS Twitter: @LiveMusicNowSCO

LMNS Instagram: @LiveMusicNowScotland

LMNS Facebook: @livemusicnowscotland

George Heriot’s pupils raise £2,616 by taking part in Invisible Cities’ ‘In Our Shoes’ Challenge

As part of their Poverty Week focus, students kept their shoes on for 48 hours straight to raise awareness around homelessness

George Heriot’s School took part in Invisible Cities’ ‘In Our Shoes’ Challenge: an innovative new challenge introduced by the social enterprise, where pupils are asked to keep their shoes on for 48 hours straight (without removing them at all).

The mission behind the challenge is to help school children to understand more about and discuss some of the issues faced by rough sleepers while on the streets such as podiatry issues, lack of access to adequate shoes, etc.

Zakia  Moulaoui  Guery, CEO and Founder of Invisible Cities said: “We are delighted to say, that through completing this challenge, George Heriots School raised an amazing £2616 which we split with our fellow social enterprise and friends at the Grassmarket Community Project.”

Based right next to the school, Grassmarket Community Project have been a long-standing partner of Invisible Cities and have supported with recruiting new guides and working on collaborative projects together.

Katherine Duncan, Principal Teacher of Curricular Enhancement, explained: “Our Junior School pupils took part in Poverty Awareness Week at the end of March as part of our annual Financial Education focus.

“It created an opportunity for them to learn more about the causes of poverty (both locally and globally) and how poverty impacts on the rights of everyone affected.

“Putting themselves “in the shoes” of rough sleepers not only allowed our pupils to empathise with rough sleepers, but also helped them to make a difference by raising £2616 for Invisible Cities and the Grassmarket Community Project.”

Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that trains people who have previously experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city in Edinburgh, Glasgow , York and Manchester. 

Zakia  Moulaoui  Guery, CEO and Founder of Invisible Cities, said: ” This challenge was designed to give a different perspective on homelessness and focus on a very practical issue that people can face.

“We are so thankful to the school, teachers and pupils alike for taking part and supporting us with such a generous donation.”

Jonny Kinross, CEO for Grassmarket Community Project, said: “We are delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of George Heriots School’s incredible fundraising effort as part of their poverty awareness week.

“With this donation we will be able to provide practical support, training, access to free IT classes, free IT equipment, free food 5 days a week and one to one support including counselling and therapies to many of the City’s homeless and vulnerable.

“As the lockdown relaxes and we are able to provide one-to-one face to face support this donation will enable us to re-connect to people who are exceptionally vulnerable and isolated – to help them sustain their tenancies, ensure they receive the benefits and support to which they are entitled as well as get the emotional and mental health support they need.

“What an exceptional fundraising initiative and our huge thanks go out to the pupils and their families who got behind and will help us to ensure that no one is left behind in the city’s recovery.”

For more information on Invisible Cities visit https://invisible-cities.org/   

New report finds one third of carers are struggling to cope

Our new research finds that 72% of carers have not had any breaks from their caring role during the pandemic

Our report Breaks or breakdown, released for Carers Week, found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on carers’ ability to access breaks. More than a third (35%) of people caring unpaid for family members or friends feel unable to manage their caring role, and three quarters (74%) reported being exhausted as a result of caring during the pandemic.

https://technology-trust-news.org/15AY-7EFBE-259UKT-4GQ2KM-1/c.aspx

The report also found that carers lost, on average, 25 hours of support a month they previously had from services or family and friends before the pandemic and that fewer than one in five (14%) are confident that the support they relied on before the pandemic will continue in the future.

Read the report

This Carers Week, we’re campaigning to increase funding for carers’ breaks. Nearly 900 people have now written to their MP asking them to raise the need for better breaks support in Parliament.

If you’ve not yet joined our campaign, click the button below:

Join the campaign

Closing the digital divide

Around 23,000 people will be given new online skills and training to help improve their chances of securing a job or to reduce isolation.

The £26 million Connecting Scotland programme, which helps those on lower incomes and groups like the elderly, will offer online training skills as well as providing people with devices like iPads and Chromebooks, and unlimited data for two years.

This builds upon previous funding aimed at helping more people access the internet, include those who were at high risk from COVID-19, care home residents, disadvantaged families with children and young people leaving care. This latest funding also provides an existing group of 36,000 recipients with another year of unlimited data.

Organisations can apply for phase 3 funding until 5 July.

Finance and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: “We are committed to seizing Scotland’s economic potential, creating secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs and supporting businesses recover from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“With technology playing an increasingly important role in our society, ensuring people can get online and have the right skills and training is even more important to Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

“The Scottish Government committed to helping more people get online within our first 100 days plan and that is why we are providing an additional £26 million to help a further 23,000 households experiencing difficulties with online access.

“This investment will help thousands of people get online, making sure they are not further disadvantaged by providing the necessary hardware, data, and skills they need to get connected and get the skills they need to enter the workforce.”

One recipient of the Connecting Scotland Programme was Cath MacInnes from Inverness, a single mother of four children under 12, who received a Chromebook during an earlier round of funding.

Ms MacInnes said: “It has been a huge benefit to our online schooling and lockdown. The device enabled my children to independently work on their google classrooms, which in turn increased their confidence and helped improve their school work.

“There was also a positive effect on their wellbeing in general by being able to connect digitally with friends and family during lockdown.”

Since launching in May 2020 the programme has delivered to over 36,000 households including:

Families with children: 17,289

Isolating and high vulnerability group: 8,061

Young care leavers: 4,120

Older and disabled people: 4,899

Other vulnerabilities: 1,695

Connecting Scotland is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and local authorities in collaboration with a broad range of local, public and third sector organisations.

Individuals can be nominated to receive a device by local public or third sector organisations.

There will be two application routes, one aimed at boosting employability and a fast-track process targeting those isolated as a result of the pandemic, particularly single parents, older or disabled people.

Trams: Normal Service Resumed

For the first time in almost 16 months, trams in the city are to resume normal timetable. From today (Monday 7 June), services will operate from every seven minutes throughout the day.

With the easing of lockdown restrictions, demand for tram travel is expected to continue to increase. Additional services will not only help meet demand, but allow customers to easily practice safe physical distancing.

What’s more, Ticket Inspectors are back, so the public are being encouraged to ensure they have purchased a ticket, validated their smartcard or activated their mticket before boarding, otherwise the £10 on-board fare will apply.

Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams said: “Resuming our normal timetable doubles the services we were previously operating, and will help our customers feel more comfortable when travelling by tram.

“We’re still urging customers to respect the Scottish Government’s guidance when travelling by public transport, which includes wearing a face covering (unless exempt) and maintaining 1m physical distancing, wherever possible. If you think the tram is too busy, please wait for the next one, which will now only be seven minutes later.”

Services to the city centre commence at 5am from Gyle Centre and 6.18am from Edinburgh Airport. Services to Edinburgh Airport commence at 5.30am from York Place.

Full route services to the city centre terminate at 10.48pm from Edinburgh Airport. Full route services to Edinburgh Airport terminate at 11.30pm from York Place.

For more information on planning your journey, click here.

If you need help with your Ridacard, citysmart card or mtickets, please contact us here or visit one of our TravelHubs at Shandwick Place or Waverley Bridge.

To find out more about Edinburgh Trams latest travel advice, click here.

Care for Carers from NHS 24

People across Scotland are being reminded about the information and support available to carers from NHS 24.

As part of 2021’s Carers Week, the national health board is highlighting its online service ‘Care Information Scotland’ to help people with caring responsibilities find what they need in one handy place.

NHS 24’s Associate Medical Director, Dr Paul Perry said carers play an important role so it’s vital we support them: “Looking after a loved one, a friend or neighbour can be rewarding but it can also be demanding, physically and emotionally.

“Carers need support too and our service, Care Information Scotland, offers a wide range of advice and information. Bringing all the different resources together in one place makes it easier for people to find what they need and helps us to care for our carers.”

Local organisation Capital Carers (formerly Nort West Carers) has organised a full programme of events and activities for Carers Week:

For more information visit: www.careinfoscotland.scot