Here is a list of Health Blogs ordered by Last Commented, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
online today!
Ironic....people attacking other people
Before this virus...well...even during it....there are people who attack other people. dem vs rep rich vs poor....the list just goes on and on and on and on.....
Ironic though....
This virus is reported to set our immune system in hyper mode, where it actually attacks ourselves.
Ironic though....
This virus is reported to set our immune system in hyper mode, where it actually attacks ourselves.
online today!
My "How close is it to you" blog...
Every night I read the dashboard results for the COVID-19 data in the state of Florida. I'll do a screenshot and check it again in the morning to see changes as the numbers are usually higher. Probably a recount or late entry from the previous day causing the numbers to change.
The website data can do a detailed map by zip code. Because the area where I live has several communities packed in high density, the amount of reported cases are higher here than a few miles away that is used for farming. However, it's many people in a few square miles that concerns me.
It's mandatory to have some form of face covering when in public. Security won't let you into the grocery store without one. Many of the stores have added plastic barriers at the cash registers. Every building entrance and register has 6' markings on the floor as distancing reminders. I went to the Post Office on Saturday and they have a plastic curtain from ceiling to counter all the way across the service area.
I'm still in contact (by phone) with people I used to work with. They probably networked with a few hundred. Last month, I heard the wife of the warehouse supervisor who works in the medical field had tested positive for the virus. I didn't hear any more details on that. An associate who's wife works for an air conditioning service with more than 50 employees is able to do her job from home. She said none of their crew have been directly affected. Another friend's wife is a nurse and she recently tested negative. These are all good signs of containment.
Hearing of one episode about 2 weeks ago that annoyed me... a client went to the showroom without an appointment to see the sales rep to go over her order. When the rep said you need to make an appointment, the woman said it was her only opportunity as her son tested positive and is home under quarantine. The rep was angered and shouted "You tell me this? I've got family with young children at home. No we cannot have a meeting! Please leave." So far the rep is okay and has no symptoms.
The Condo Association president sent out a message (a few weeks ago) that anyone who has the virus MUST notify them and special precautions will be taken to disinfect hand rails, elevator interior and control panels, etc. I'm thinking that information should be noted on the condo bulletin board so the other residents can avoid those units. So far, I've seen no notices.
The website data can do a detailed map by zip code. Because the area where I live has several communities packed in high density, the amount of reported cases are higher here than a few miles away that is used for farming. However, it's many people in a few square miles that concerns me.
It's mandatory to have some form of face covering when in public. Security won't let you into the grocery store without one. Many of the stores have added plastic barriers at the cash registers. Every building entrance and register has 6' markings on the floor as distancing reminders. I went to the Post Office on Saturday and they have a plastic curtain from ceiling to counter all the way across the service area.
I'm still in contact (by phone) with people I used to work with. They probably networked with a few hundred. Last month, I heard the wife of the warehouse supervisor who works in the medical field had tested positive for the virus. I didn't hear any more details on that. An associate who's wife works for an air conditioning service with more than 50 employees is able to do her job from home. She said none of their crew have been directly affected. Another friend's wife is a nurse and she recently tested negative. These are all good signs of containment.
Hearing of one episode about 2 weeks ago that annoyed me... a client went to the showroom without an appointment to see the sales rep to go over her order. When the rep said you need to make an appointment, the woman said it was her only opportunity as her son tested positive and is home under quarantine. The rep was angered and shouted "You tell me this? I've got family with young children at home. No we cannot have a meeting! Please leave." So far the rep is okay and has no symptoms.
The Condo Association president sent out a message (a few weeks ago) that anyone who has the virus MUST notify them and special precautions will be taken to disinfect hand rails, elevator interior and control panels, etc. I'm thinking that information should be noted on the condo bulletin board so the other residents can avoid those units. So far, I've seen no notices.
online today!
Prone to recovery from COVID-19...
A few weeks ago, I got into a discussion and made some blog comments that hospitals in China and Italy where coronavirus patients in ICU where placed on their stomachs in a face-down prone position instead of the usual position of being slightly propped up were recovering without the use of ventilators.
One theory was to drain fluids in the lungs and another (more importantly) was to relieve pressure on the diaphragm from the effects of gravity.
The technique is called "proning" and it's helped patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) increase the amount of oxygen in their blood without the use of intubation!
I've seen a few articles that confirm this:
One theory was to drain fluids in the lungs and another (more importantly) was to relieve pressure on the diaphragm from the effects of gravity.
The technique is called "proning" and it's helped patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) increase the amount of oxygen in their blood without the use of intubation!
I've seen a few articles that confirm this:
OK - this could be bad news. Preliminary evidence indicates Corona Virus on air pollution particles
Today from weather.com;
In response to:
Researchers Find Coronavirus on Pollution Particles
By Ron Brackett 5 hours ago
At a Glance
Preliminary results find evidence of the novel coronavirus on air pollution over Bergamo, Italy.
Bergamo is one of Italy's most polluted provinces. Scientists agree more study is needed.
Italian researchers say they have found evidence of the novel coronavirus on tiny particles of air pollution.
The work is preliminary, and it appears on a site that preprints studies before they have been peer reviewed.
Air samples were collected at two sites in Bergamo province in northern Italy's Lombardy region, the area of the country hit hardest by the pandemic. Testing found a gene highly specific to COVID-19 in multiple samples from the province, one of the most polluted in Italy.
An independent laboratory confirmed the gene detection by blind testing, The Guardian reported.
Separate research groups have suggested pollution particles may carry the coronavirus particles farther.
The work was led by Leonardo Setti, an industrial chemist at the University of Bologna. He said it's important now to investigate whether the coronavirus can be carried more widely by air pollution.
“I am a scientist and I am worried when I don’t know,” he told The Guardian. “If we know, we can find a solution. But if we don’t know, we can only suffer the consequences.”
Jonathan Reid, a Bristol University professor researching airborne transmission of coronavirus, told The Guardian, “It is perhaps not surprising that while suspended in air, the small droplets could combine with background urban particles and be carried around.”
Earlier studies have found that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution were more likely to die from COVID-19.
Researchers Find Coronavirus on Pollution Particles
By Ron Brackett 5 hours ago
At a Glance
Preliminary results find evidence of the novel coronavirus on air pollution over Bergamo, Italy.
Bergamo is one of Italy's most polluted provinces. Scientists agree more study is needed.
Italian researchers say they have found evidence of the novel coronavirus on tiny particles of air pollution.
The work is preliminary, and it appears on a site that preprints studies before they have been peer reviewed.
Air samples were collected at two sites in Bergamo province in northern Italy's Lombardy region, the area of the country hit hardest by the pandemic. Testing found a gene highly specific to COVID-19 in multiple samples from the province, one of the most polluted in Italy.
An independent laboratory confirmed the gene detection by blind testing, The Guardian reported.
Separate research groups have suggested pollution particles may carry the coronavirus particles farther.
The work was led by Leonardo Setti, an industrial chemist at the University of Bologna. He said it's important now to investigate whether the coronavirus can be carried more widely by air pollution.
“I am a scientist and I am worried when I don’t know,” he told The Guardian. “If we know, we can find a solution. But if we don’t know, we can only suffer the consequences.”
Jonathan Reid, a Bristol University professor researching airborne transmission of coronavirus, told The Guardian, “It is perhaps not surprising that while suspended in air, the small droplets could combine with background urban particles and be carried around.”
Earlier studies have found that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution were more likely to die from COVID-19.
Immune Booster Not.
In biblical era plagues were punishments from God. (Some people think so even these days.) We are not dealing with a plague but a pandemic, some will say. Whatever. ...(I will learn the difference if someone doesn't point out the difference between a plague and a pandemic.)
However, as us humans and science evolved, we are more aware of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. How they infect us and how they spread.
Anyway, understanding science is not a strength I am born with.
Just like Trump, none of us are medical experts to talk about medications and treatment. And as we all know internet and media are full of shit and lots of non experts giving expert advice. One moment you think you have learnt something, the next article tells that it is not true. (That is if you read in research mode rather than believe everything mode )
At this moment in time, it is better to understand our bodies and it's systems and functions than fall for every bullshit.
Our immune system is designed to protects us from infections through various lines of defence. It's a complex system. The function of our immune system is made up of the reciprocal reaction between our diet, stress, lifestyle and environment other than our genetic material and various types of cells and even memory cells that are stored to combat similar pathogens.
There are lots of bullshit about boosting the immune system these days.
But the truth is, the immune system is not designed to be Boosted. The correct message should be of maintaining a healthy immune system so that it would function when necessary to fight diseases,
by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and minimum stress levels.
Yes, there are certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals required for the function of our immune system. Lack of them in our diets will hinder the functions. But no secret ingredient, super food or a magic supplement can boost our immune system.
Non expert Usha marveled by the immune system signing off on a glorious Wednesday in month of April, year 2020.
Be safe. Stay home but not glued to a screen.
Have a nice day.!
Feel free to add any other facts about the immune system and its functions.
However, as us humans and science evolved, we are more aware of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. How they infect us and how they spread.
Anyway, understanding science is not a strength I am born with.
Just like Trump, none of us are medical experts to talk about medications and treatment. And as we all know internet and media are full of shit and lots of non experts giving expert advice. One moment you think you have learnt something, the next article tells that it is not true. (That is if you read in research mode rather than believe everything mode )
At this moment in time, it is better to understand our bodies and it's systems and functions than fall for every bullshit.
Our immune system is designed to protects us from infections through various lines of defence. It's a complex system. The function of our immune system is made up of the reciprocal reaction between our diet, stress, lifestyle and environment other than our genetic material and various types of cells and even memory cells that are stored to combat similar pathogens.
There are lots of bullshit about boosting the immune system these days.
But the truth is, the immune system is not designed to be Boosted. The correct message should be of maintaining a healthy immune system so that it would function when necessary to fight diseases,
by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and minimum stress levels.
Yes, there are certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals required for the function of our immune system. Lack of them in our diets will hinder the functions. But no secret ingredient, super food or a magic supplement can boost our immune system.
Non expert Usha marveled by the immune system signing off on a glorious Wednesday in month of April, year 2020.
Be safe. Stay home but not glued to a screen.
Have a nice day.!
Feel free to add any other facts about the immune system and its functions.
Virus vaccines update
From The Mercury News;
(continued in my first comment below)
In response to:
Coronavirus: In a race against time, vaccine testing expands
In the battle to prevent COVID-19 infection, a vaccine will be our safest armor.
As casualties climb, pharmaceutical companies and young volunteers are racing to design, build and test a defense that can protect us. Unless a vaccine is developed soon, people susceptible to the virus will continue to be at risk.
Human testing has begun of six potential vaccines in an effort to prove that they’re safe and can produce an immune response. Over 70 more are being reviewed for safety and effectiveness in preparation for human testing. In promising news, this week Chinese researchers reported that one candidate has already proven its usefulness in animals, protecting monkeys from infection.
Meanwhile, more than 3,200 young volunteers from 52 nations have enlisted to speed up research, registering with the group 1DaySooner.org to be vaccinated and then deliberately exposed to the virus in the final phase of testing, so scientists can more quickly learn if this armor works.
“If it accelerates vaccine development by a month, that prevents hundreds of thousands of infections, saving lives,” said Carson Poltorack, 23, a Stanford graduate soon to pursue dual MD/PhD degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. Young and healthy, he signed up to volunteer because “I would much rather be the one shot at — I have a far lower chance of dying or having a serious outcome than other groups.”
Despite these efforts, the battle will be neither simple nor fast. Determining a vaccine’s safety and effectiveness takes time, said experts.
The process will take a year to a year and a half, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in early March. Other experts think it will take even longer.
Until a vaccine is developed, it’s likely that there will be a new wave of infections when stay-at-home orders are eased. People at high risk of developing COVID-19 — including those over 65 or with underlying medical conditions — will again be vulnerable to infection by the potentially deadly disease.
Vaccines are important because the human body responds to infection too slowly to protect itself.
When a person is exposed, their immune system launches a defense. It responds by generating antibodies that specifically recognize proteins from the virus, called SARS-CoV-2. These antibodies trigger white blood cells that eliminate the virus.
But by the time these immune cells are ready, the virus has already taken over host cells. It’s too late.
A person is protected from future infection only after recovery. So-called “memory cells” prompt a faster immune response the next time SARS-CoV-2 invades their body.
Vaccines work by triggering production of these antibodies and memory cells — without forcing a person to suffer through the illness.
One approach, used by the Massachusetts biotech company Moderna, introduces a spike-shaped protein found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, which could put our immune systems on alert without actually giving us the disease. A second round of tests is being conducted at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, suggesting there were no adverse effects so far.
Another approach, used by China-based Sinovac Biotech and others, uses an inactivated form of the virus, which could prime our immune systems without the consequences of COVID-19. Seven days after monkeys vaccinated by Sinovac were exposed to the virus, it could not be detected in their bodies, according to a report published April 19 on the preprint server bioRxiv. But only eight monkeys were tested, and they don’t develop the most severe symptoms the virus causes in humans.
Coronavirus: In a race against time, vaccine testing expands
In the battle to prevent COVID-19 infection, a vaccine will be our safest armor.
As casualties climb, pharmaceutical companies and young volunteers are racing to design, build and test a defense that can protect us. Unless a vaccine is developed soon, people susceptible to the virus will continue to be at risk.
Human testing has begun of six potential vaccines in an effort to prove that they’re safe and can produce an immune response. Over 70 more are being reviewed for safety and effectiveness in preparation for human testing. In promising news, this week Chinese researchers reported that one candidate has already proven its usefulness in animals, protecting monkeys from infection.
Meanwhile, more than 3,200 young volunteers from 52 nations have enlisted to speed up research, registering with the group 1DaySooner.org to be vaccinated and then deliberately exposed to the virus in the final phase of testing, so scientists can more quickly learn if this armor works.
“If it accelerates vaccine development by a month, that prevents hundreds of thousands of infections, saving lives,” said Carson Poltorack, 23, a Stanford graduate soon to pursue dual MD/PhD degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. Young and healthy, he signed up to volunteer because “I would much rather be the one shot at — I have a far lower chance of dying or having a serious outcome than other groups.”
Despite these efforts, the battle will be neither simple nor fast. Determining a vaccine’s safety and effectiveness takes time, said experts.
The process will take a year to a year and a half, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in early March. Other experts think it will take even longer.
Until a vaccine is developed, it’s likely that there will be a new wave of infections when stay-at-home orders are eased. People at high risk of developing COVID-19 — including those over 65 or with underlying medical conditions — will again be vulnerable to infection by the potentially deadly disease.
Vaccines are important because the human body responds to infection too slowly to protect itself.
When a person is exposed, their immune system launches a defense. It responds by generating antibodies that specifically recognize proteins from the virus, called SARS-CoV-2. These antibodies trigger white blood cells that eliminate the virus.
But by the time these immune cells are ready, the virus has already taken over host cells. It’s too late.
A person is protected from future infection only after recovery. So-called “memory cells” prompt a faster immune response the next time SARS-CoV-2 invades their body.
Vaccines work by triggering production of these antibodies and memory cells — without forcing a person to suffer through the illness.
One approach, used by the Massachusetts biotech company Moderna, introduces a spike-shaped protein found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, which could put our immune systems on alert without actually giving us the disease. A second round of tests is being conducted at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, suggesting there were no adverse effects so far.
Another approach, used by China-based Sinovac Biotech and others, uses an inactivated form of the virus, which could prime our immune systems without the consequences of COVID-19. Seven days after monkeys vaccinated by Sinovac were exposed to the virus, it could not be detected in their bodies, according to a report published April 19 on the preprint server bioRxiv. But only eight monkeys were tested, and they don’t develop the most severe symptoms the virus causes in humans.
(continued in my first comment below)
Gov.Dewine's plans have changed and he won't be reopening Ohio until May 29th.
Dang it all cause I was looking forward to it happening.
Virus vaccine trials on BCG look promising but no quick fix
Not quick because of the testing but tests are being run on THOUSANDS of people, not handfuls of brave volunteers, which does mean results far, far sooner than new vaccines, and look at the results already ... That said, the WHO has cautioned (April 11, 2020) there is no guaranteed link between the BCG vaccine and Covid19 prevention. Their concern is obviously to ensure there is no shortage of the vaccine in the countries where it is essential, because of a sudden rush of demand. Fair comment. However they are closely monitoring several trials but don’t expect to be able to get your shot – or have it ruled out – in a week or so. 
There is however definite interest and some huge studies / trials are in progress.
Published April 6, 2020 -
“While we expected to see a protective effect of BCG, the magnitude of the difference (almost 10 fold) in incidence and mortality (of Covid-19) between countries with and without a BCG vaccination program was pleasantly surprising,” said Dr. Ashish Kamat, a co-author of the paper and professor of Urologic Oncology (Surgery) and cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
The study looked at Covid-19 instances and mortality for 15 days between 9 and 24 March in 178 countries and concluded that “incidence of Covid-19 was 38.4 per million in countries with BCG vaccination compared to 358.4 per million in the absence of such a program. The death rate was 4.28/million in countries with BCG programs compared to 40/million in countries without such a program.” Out of the 178 countries studied, 21 had no vaccination program, while the status was unclear in 26 countries. The latter group was treated as not having a policy for the purpose of this study.
The link for the above excerpts is
Published April 23, 2020
The WHO is closely monitoring the progression of two clinical trials investigating the effect of BCG vaccination in healthcare workers
- Phase III BRACE clinical trial, an Australian study sponsored by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in collaboration with The Royal Children’s Hospital (4000 participants)
- Phase III BCG-CORONA trial, a Dutch study sponsored by the University Medical Center Uterecht in collaboration with Radbound University (1500 participants)
Baylor College of Medicine and Ain Shams University are both conducting similar trials in which the patient population consists of health workers, and the trials are under Phase IV and Phase III level of development, respectively. One will last 9 months and the other 6 months. Number of participants not advised.
Two more trials have recently been registered. A Phase IV study in the Netherlands aims to test an elder patient cohort, where participants are ages 60 years or older. (1600 participants, 6 months)
A Phase II trial located in Egypt sponsored by Assiut University will assess the severity of Covid-19-positive patients ages 12–80 years previously vaccinated with a BCG vaccine to assess if the vaccine decreases the impact but will only use 100 subjects. Duration will be 2.2 months.
Link to the above excerpts is
I chose to start a new blog rather than add to my original blog about BCG because there was so much new data - also chose not to add to another blog about vaccines for the same reason.
There is however definite interest and some huge studies / trials are in progress.
Published April 6, 2020 -
“While we expected to see a protective effect of BCG, the magnitude of the difference (almost 10 fold) in incidence and mortality (of Covid-19) between countries with and without a BCG vaccination program was pleasantly surprising,” said Dr. Ashish Kamat, a co-author of the paper and professor of Urologic Oncology (Surgery) and cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
The study looked at Covid-19 instances and mortality for 15 days between 9 and 24 March in 178 countries and concluded that “incidence of Covid-19 was 38.4 per million in countries with BCG vaccination compared to 358.4 per million in the absence of such a program. The death rate was 4.28/million in countries with BCG programs compared to 40/million in countries without such a program.” Out of the 178 countries studied, 21 had no vaccination program, while the status was unclear in 26 countries. The latter group was treated as not having a policy for the purpose of this study.
The link for the above excerpts is
Published April 23, 2020
The WHO is closely monitoring the progression of two clinical trials investigating the effect of BCG vaccination in healthcare workers
- Phase III BRACE clinical trial, an Australian study sponsored by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in collaboration with The Royal Children’s Hospital (4000 participants)
- Phase III BCG-CORONA trial, a Dutch study sponsored by the University Medical Center Uterecht in collaboration with Radbound University (1500 participants)
Baylor College of Medicine and Ain Shams University are both conducting similar trials in which the patient population consists of health workers, and the trials are under Phase IV and Phase III level of development, respectively. One will last 9 months and the other 6 months. Number of participants not advised.
Two more trials have recently been registered. A Phase IV study in the Netherlands aims to test an elder patient cohort, where participants are ages 60 years or older. (1600 participants, 6 months)
A Phase II trial located in Egypt sponsored by Assiut University will assess the severity of Covid-19-positive patients ages 12–80 years previously vaccinated with a BCG vaccine to assess if the vaccine decreases the impact but will only use 100 subjects. Duration will be 2.2 months.
Link to the above excerpts is
I chose to start a new blog rather than add to my original blog about BCG because there was so much new data - also chose not to add to another blog about vaccines for the same reason.
European Updates: Good to be single, hey!!!!!!
I've always thought that the demise of mankind would come from a least likely source......it's the ole Mosquitoe: 
I own stock in a company called Intrexon....very innovative in the world of energy, oncology, GMO (genetically modified organisms)foods, and now the first in the world with a GMO mosquitoe.
There are currently two virus's these mosquitoes are spreading: 1)Zika virus and 2)Dengue virus....
Not deadly, but they have found out the Zika virus can be transmitted sexually and causes pregnancies that are bearing brain deformed children. Currently in Brazil the infected are over 1.5 million people. The Dengue virus is affecting in the millions of people.
Intrexon's subsidiary Oxitec (a British company) has developed a GMO mosquitoe that is effective up to 99%. The female mosquitoe is the one who bites (hmmm!) so they inject the male mosquitoe eggs with two genes and when mated with the female the offspring die.
This blog is really just for information purposes. Here is the website for Oxitec.......science is incredible day by day. Intrexon just received FDA approval for GMO salmon.....the salmon grows twice as fast....world population growing fast, we need science to help the growth.....
this blog is not supporting the purchase of Intrexon stock in any way...
I own stock in a company called Intrexon....very innovative in the world of energy, oncology, GMO (genetically modified organisms)foods, and now the first in the world with a GMO mosquitoe.
There are currently two virus's these mosquitoes are spreading: 1)Zika virus and 2)Dengue virus....
Not deadly, but they have found out the Zika virus can be transmitted sexually and causes pregnancies that are bearing brain deformed children. Currently in Brazil the infected are over 1.5 million people. The Dengue virus is affecting in the millions of people.
Intrexon's subsidiary Oxitec (a British company) has developed a GMO mosquitoe that is effective up to 99%. The female mosquitoe is the one who bites (hmmm!) so they inject the male mosquitoe eggs with two genes and when mated with the female the offspring die.
This blog is really just for information purposes. Here is the website for Oxitec.......science is incredible day by day. Intrexon just received FDA approval for GMO salmon.....the salmon grows twice as fast....world population growing fast, we need science to help the growth.....
this blog is not supporting the purchase of Intrexon stock in any way...
A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, your thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you have learned. It's your own page on Connecting Singles that you can update on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. You can write about an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with Connecting Singles members. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about members you have met here. Please be sure to read the blog rules before posting.
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