In the US, the prevalence of the oncogenic virus KSHV is 10%. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of KSHV may be as high as is 50%. SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain drugs used to treat SARS-CoV-2, and, possibly, vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, can cause reactivation of KSHV. Both natural infection (“natural immunity”) and vaccination with the currently available vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are understudied.
Classification and surgical treatment of chronic lymphoedema in the 1950s – a quality text by Archibald McIndoe.
The classification and the proposed mechanisms are of interest despite the fact that the text was written in the 1950s.
The conclusion of the author is very sound: edema, leg swelling, and associated inflammatory process, should be treated and brought under control at the earliest stages.
Cytokine IL-10 as the “Master Regulator” of immune response to infection.
IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. During infection it inhibits the activity of Th1 cells, NK cells, and macrophages, all of which are required for optimal pathogen clearance but also contribute to tissue damage. In consequence, IL-10 can both impede pathogen clearance and prevent immunopathology. Characteristic immunopathology of COVID-19 is a major factor implicated in severe forms of the disease and in “long COVID”.
Prolonged fasting as a medical intervention to protect hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from damage during chemotherapy.
In this article, we share several notes on a 2014 study by Cheng and coworkers (Valter Longo group), as well as on a commentary by Hine and Mitchell, 2014 (1), on the use of prolonged fasting in mice and humans to prevent chemotherapy-induced damage.
We also mention a heart-breaking story of an activist doctor Sarah Hallberg who was diagnosed with cancer.
Pfizer’s BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine: “no correlation was seen between levels of neutralizing antibodies (“NT50s”) and adverse effects (“AEs”)”.
This post contains an excerpt from a more detailed article about a noteworthy study from Japan, by Maeda et al., 2021(1).
The goal is to underline an important fact that we learn from that study, that is, levels of neutralizing antibodies elicited by vaccination with Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine do NOT correlate with the severity of adverse effects. Those who suffer from adverse effects suffer “for nothing”. More severe adverse effects do NOT mean that “the vaccine is working”.
Human saliva is apparently good at neutralizing viruses WITHOUT any vaccination and virus-specific antibodies. A study by Sheikh-Mohamed et al., 2021.
Despite high levels of anti-Spike and anti-RBD IgG, neutralizing activity of saliva samples from vaccinated subjects was NOT superior to that of pre-pandemic pre-vaccination saliva.
Secretory IgA (sIgA) were also found in saliva of vaccinated subjects. sIgA in saliva may have been produced because Spike-protein fabricated by mRNA-infected cells of the vaccinated subjects reached salivary glands. In some subjects, there were a lot of sIgA. A lot of Spike-protein of vaccine origin must have reached their salivary glands… and other organs. Notably, testes, ovaries. Indeed,, during animal and human studies, vaccine particles were detected in testes, ovaries, and many other organs.
We learn nothing encouraging about the current COVID-19 mRNA and vector vaccines.
However, we may be learning that human saliva is good at neutralizing viruses WITHOUT any vaccination and virus-specific antibodies.
Tan et al., 2021 (1): Serum of (two of the eight) patients who survived SARS-CoV-1 infection 17 years ago, and were vaccinated with mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, inhibited by 100% all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and many bat CoVs.
The paper by Tan et al., 2021 (1), is of interest. We learn several factoids about our immune system and its handling of CoVs. However, COVID-19 vaccines so far have been a fiasco. There is a useless “efficacy” in phase-3 trials, that is, protection against hospitalization, but this “efficacy” does not translate in protection in real-life. Mortality in vaccinated remains the same. Severe cases remain the same. Transmission of SRAS-CoV-2 is not slowed.
Other protection measures needs to be taken. Immediate prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment are indispensable. A literate person should avoid all respiratory infections throughout his or her lifetime.
“Standing desk” is to avoid. A Summary Statement.
Ortega et al., 2021: “Quiet standing for 30 min was enough to trigger an inflammatory response in the venous wall.”
Maeda and coworkers, 2021: “Both young and older vaccinated individuals with good neutralization response would lose mRNA vaccine protection in 6 to 7 months after the 1st dose.”
A noteworthy study from Japan by Maeda and coworkers, 2021 (1), shows that vaccine-elicited immunity memory is short-lived. After 6 to 7 months, antibody neutralizing activity is expected to be below detection level. If vaccine-elicited immunity memory is short, other protective measures would be needed. The other protective measures that we recommend protect against a large majority of respiratory viruses and other pathogens. Our current view (as of August 2021), is that only for the most vulnerable individuals, the benefits of vaccination may outweigh the associated risks.
A Test: Predict the levels of thyroid hormones, TSH, T3, fT3, T4, and fT4, in these cyclists: “Young elite cyclists can handle 700 grams of carbs and 4800 kCal of total calories a day without apparent metabolic damage.”
A Test of Physiological Literacy on thyroid hormones in athletes.