3083 replies to this topic

[Gal220]

CEBM says Vitamin D not part of the CoVid equation.

 

Interesting page in general

[DanCG]

CEBM says Vitamin D not part of the CoVid equation.

 

Interesting page in general

Of course CEBM would find no evidence by searching the literature. This is all too new. This was published on May 1. I think that more information linking D deficiency to COVID disease has come to light since then.

 

This part is noteworthy:

 

“The current advice is that the whole population of the UK should take vitamin D supplements to prevent vitamin D deficiency. This advice applies irrespective of any possible link with respiratory infection.”

 

I was not familiar with CEBM (thanks!). Is it considered “mainstream’? If so, how refreshing to see them actually advise a supplement. 

[Gal220]

I was not familiar with CEBM (thanks!). Is it considered “mainstream’? If so, how refreshing to see them actually advise a supplement. 

 

"The CEBM is part of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford"  

 

I would expect deficient D to result in a bad outcome regardless of what disease we are talking about.  BBC probably got their info from them.

[Gal220]

Clinical observations  - physicians share clinical information on Twitter to help others

 

From China  -Three leading infectious disease experts in China were invited to share their bedside observations

 

 

[Gal220]

I was not familiar with CEBM (thanks!). Is it considered “mainstream’? If so, how refreshing to see them actually advise a supplement. 

 

Reading a few more articles, it is interesting that so many of them are hesitant to recommend supplementation because the evidence isnt perfect - Link

 

"Meanwhile, as uncontroversial as the results might be, a single study ahead of peer review shouldn't be the basis for medical advice. Science just doesn't support making the leap between reading about healthy amounts of vitamin D in the blood and popping a supplement."

 

Yet the safe upper limit is set at 4000IU.  ACE2 expression is the only concern, but the more I think about that, if you arent deficient as Masterjohn recommends, then ACE-2 is going to be stimulated. I doubt you can straddle the fence.

[Corri]

Is there one form of selenium that is better than another?

 

I also know there are concerns about what form to take.
 

 

Organic selenium like selenomethionine is recommended, sodium selenite is deadly at very high doses.

Preparations containing organic selenium are safer and more bioavailable than inorganic selenium salts. Selenomethionine, which is a dominant form in selenium yeast formulations, consists of selenium in proteins; therefore, its use is preferred to prevent selenium deficiency in humans. In rats the LD50 of sodium selenite was 21 mg/kg, the LD50 of selenium from yeast was higher than 700 mg/kg.

[lancebr]

Maybe a little good news:
 

New coronavirus mutation mirrors changes of weakening 2003 SARS virus

https://nypost.com/2...eakening-study/

 

 

 

[Corri]

I didn't notice the anti-clotting effect of selenium mentioned in any of your links. Do you know where you saw that and in what context? Thanks!

 

The Researcher Identifies Link between COVID-19, Selenium article links to posts by Ethan Will Taylor. Ethan Taylor's post "Blood Clotting in Covid-19 Can also Be Explained by a Severe Impact on Host Selenoprotein" refers to files about Ebola and selenium. At Ref 6 of those files, are four abstracts about the Antithrombotic Effects of Se.

Edited by Corri, 06 May 2020 - 05:55 AM.

[joelcairo]

Correlating COVID-19 data for 17 cities with the population's selenium levels is quite weak evidence. I haven't researched the topic so maybe there are other good reasons to think selenium is of value.

 

As for taking supplements specifically to counteract blood clotting, this seems like a dangerous strategy. Take too little and it'll be ineffective; take too much or take a cocktail of such supplements and they could cause extremely serious side effects. I don't usually say "check with your doctor", but in this case if you get sick you could tell your doctor of your concerns and get advice on what to take and how much.

 

[DanCG]

The plot thickens—another vitamin D connection:

 

https://medicalxpres...ry-failure.html

 

The early predictor of disease severity is soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR).

 

"These results show that the higher the plasma suPAR level, the worse the outcome will be in the lungs of these patients..If we measure suPAR as part of diagnosing COVID-19, we may know whom to watch more and whom to send home," 

 

The publication on which the medicalexpress article is based has this to say:

 

      “Higher plasma levels of suPAR are predictive of and potentially causally involved in kidney disease which can be a feature of severe COVID-19 infection.”

 

Guess what :

 

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) Inhibits Podocyte uPAR Expression and Reduces Proteinuria

 

“ urokinase receptor (uPAR) and its soluble form have been shown to cause podocyte injury and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here, our findings showed that 1,25(OH)2D3 did inhibit podocyte uPAR expression and attenuate proteinuria and podocyte injury.”

 

[FSL]

"Analysis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the Mount Sinai Health System using electronic medical records (EMR) reveals important prognostic factors for improved clinical outcomes"

 

https://www.medrxiv....4.28.20075788v1

 

[Daniel Cooper]

 

Maybe a little good news:
 

New coronavirus mutation mirrors changes of weakening 2003 SARS virus

https://nypost.com/2...eakening-study/

 

 

This is expected in a viral pandemic and I actually mentioned it early on.

 

Random mutations in viral replication occur, particularly with RNA viruses like coronavirus.  

 

Some of these mutations will make the virus more severe (more severe symptoms, more deadly), some will make the virus less severe.  Because the more severe strain will at a higher rate take those infected out of the population that is spreading the infection (because they are dead or in their sickbed), and conversely those infected with the least severe strains will stay in the population spreading the infection (because they are not dead or because their symptoms are so light they stay at work or out in public mixing with people), the less severe form will be selected for and preferentially spread.  

 

So long as the less severe form gives at least partial immunity to all the other forms (usually the case), it will over time become the dominate strain in circulation.  That's why the other four coronaviruses in circulation give us a 3 day cold instead of killing us.  They also very likely jumped a species barrier in the distant past and were more severe in their initial pandemic, but over time were selected for the least severe variations.

 

This is the general pattern for viral infections with a few exceptions.  Particularly so with RNA viruses because they don't use the host cell's mechanisms to correct DNA replication errors because they don't work for RNA replication.  They have a very high transcription error rate.

 

Two notable exceptions come to mind - The 1918 pandemic and smallpox.

 

In the 1918 pandemic this trend was reversed because of external conditions - namely those soldiers on the front lines that were infected with the most severe strains were sent back to hospitals in the rear so they became the preferred spreaders.  Those soldiers that had the least severe forms generally stayed at the front where they had a limited population to spread to (mainly the other soldiers in their particular trench).

 

The other exception I can think of is small pox.  If you look at it's history it did show signs that it was becoming less lethal over time, but very slowly. This is probably because small pox is a DNA virus, which does utilize the host cell's error correction mechanisms when it replicates.  So the error rate per replication is dramatically lower.  So the same trend will happen, just not very rapidly.

 

This is a good sign, and gratifying that we see evidence of it occurring so early.

[Gal220]

In studies, supplementation of between 50 and 400 mcg/day of selenium has been used. The average daily intake is around 60 mcg/day, and the tolerable upper intake level is 300 to 450 mcg/day. So 50 mcg/day is enough to boost selenium above the average intake, and will be safe long term and so should be used for prevention. The dose in the Naturelo One Daily multivitamin is around that. If someone actually gets the coronavirus, then they should take an additional 100 mcg/day, which is available in a selenium supplement.

 

I didn't notice the anti-clotting effect of selenium mentioned in any of your links. Do you know where you saw that and in what context? Thanks!

 

Just as a reference - Some of the better multi 2 a days like Thorne and Life extension have 200mcg. of selenium

[Mind]

The Researcher Identifies Link between COVID-19, Selenium article links to posts by Ethan Will Taylor. Ethan Taylor's post "Blood Clotting in Covid-19 Can also Be Explained by a Severe Impact on Host Selenoprotein" refers to files about Ebola and selenium. At Ref 6 of those files, are four abstracts about the Antithrombotic Effects of Se.

 

This seems like a tenuous link, but worth considering. It seems many studies are finding that nutrient deficiencies lead to poor COVID-19 outcomes, to which I would say (and most life-extensionists would say) DUH!

[lancebr]

New innovative type of vaccine may be ready by September:

 

https://www.nbcnews....dy-end-n1200776

Edited by lancebr, 06 May 2020 - 06:34 PM.

[Gal220]

As for taking supplements specifically to counteract blood clotting, this seems like a dangerous strategy. Take too little and it'll be ineffective; take too much or take a cocktail of such supplements and they could cause extremely serious side effects. I don't usually say "check with your doctor", but in this case if you get sick you could tell your doctor of your concerns and get advice on what to take and how much.

 

The Linus Pauling Institute has a good write up on immunity - Vitamin E, selenium, and Omegas are all mentioned as nutrients for immunity but they all contribute as blood thinners. I take Life extension health booster for E+K, jarrow also makes a good vitamin E supplement.  You can get natural Vitamin A and omegas from CoD liver oil, Wiley or Virgin are good products.

 

Cheapest blood thinner is grounding , just getting barefoot on the earth.  

 

I would read up on products like Block Buster All Clear or Serracor , which have been around a long time. They dont really thin your blood as much as they clean it up, but the result is the same.  I been taking 1 a few years now to control scar tissue from a hernia.  The Dr solution for scar tissue is come in and get my stomach pumped for 3 days.  Will also thin mucus.  There are other formulations on Amazon and you can read their reviews.

[Gal220]

Thailand medical news is reporting the word is getting out about blood thinners and covid survival.  I bet this will be a turning point in treatment.

 

I would like say this next link is just FUD, but they are right, the CDC is has no information about getting nutrients that support immunity.  Even anti-supplement groups like Harvard are at least suggesting a multivitamin.

 

Looks like Canada has given up on Hydroxychloroquine.

 

 

[Daniel Cooper]

The Linus Pauling Institute has a good write up on immunity - Vitamin E, selenium, and Omegas are all mentioned as nutrients for immunity but they all contribute as blood thinners. I take Life extension health booster for E+K, jarrow also makes a good vitamin E supplement.  You can get natural Vitamin A and omegas from CoD liver oil, Wiley or Virgin are good products.

 

Cheapest blood thinner is grounding , just getting barefoot on the earth.  

 

I would read up on products like Block Buster All Clear or Serracor , which have been around a long time. They dont really thin your blood as much as they clean it up, but the result is the same.  I been taking 1 a few years now to control scar tissue from a hernia.  The Dr solution for scar tissue is come in and get my stomach pumped for 3 days.  Will also thin mucus.  There are other formulations on Amazon and you can read their reviews.

 

Is there a peer reviewed paper on grounding being an effective blood thinner?  I am unaware of one.

[Mind]

Thailand medical news is reporting the word is getting out about blood thinners and covid survival.  I bet this will be a turning point in treatment.

 

I would like say this next link is just FUD, but they are right, the CDC is has no information about getting nutrients that support immunity.  Even anti-supplement groups like Harvard are at least suggesting a multivitamin.

 

Looks like Canada has given up on Hydroxychloroquine.

 

Wow! What an opinionated article about COVID treatments by Thailand News.

 

 

 

It is unlike countries like the US that made a blunder of making chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine  and even in combination with azithromycin, a lethal treatment protocol with no efficacy against COVId-19 as part of their treatment protocol while endangering the lives of thousands of Americans.

 

Dr. Raoult, et al, observed almost no adverse effects from the drug combo. Strange they say it is "lethal" considering both drugs have been around for decades, thoroughly tested, were used and tested against SARS with no "lethality" observed, and have minimal side effects at recommended dosages.

 

Notice, the U.S. is highlighted, but the treatment started in France and has been trialed in many countries. It reads like another obvious biased hit-piece on hydroxychloroquine.

[Gal220]

Is there a peer reviewed paper on grounding being an effective blood thinner?  I am unaware of one.

 

Sinatra has been involved with the research himself along with all things related to heart health.  But you can find before and after pictures of blood where you can see the difference.  Suffice to say, if you already spend lots of time barefoot, its of little consequence.

[Gal220]

Notice, the U.S. is highlighted, but the treatment started in France and has been trialed in many countries. It reads like another obvious biased hit-piece on hydroxychloroquine.

 

They appear more anti-US actually, they were equally harsh on Remdevisir and took several pot shots at us.  Still it is interesting that Canada has moved on from it, I wonder if they ever tested it with zinc?

 

I cant deny the criticism about the lack of immunity discussion by the CDC/govt.  Looking around, I think Mercola.com might have the best info for prevention and they are updating it.  See the bottom of this page for their top 11 picks

[gamesguru]

Selenium could be right up there with Zinc and Vitamin D.  If you're not getting enough through your diet, that sucks.

 

 

Here's some new preliminary leads out of Korea

 

Two drugs show promise against COVID-19

 

Both drugs are FDA-approved for other illnesses

Korean researchers have screened 48 FDA-approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and found that two, that are already FDA-approved for other illnesses, seem promising.

    1.  Niclosamide an anti-helminthic drug demonstrated "very potent" antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2

    2.  Ciclesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis, also showed promise against SARS-CoV-2

[Hebbeh]

Another study on COVID-19 and vitamin D confirmation:

https://www.scienced...00507131012.htm

Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate, study finds
New COVID-19 research finds relationship in data from 20 European countries

A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries.

The research, led by Dr Lee Smith of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Mr Petre Cristian Ilie, lead urologist of Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, is published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.

Previous observational studies have reported an association between low levels of vitamin D and susceptibility to acute respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D modulates the response of white blood cells, preventing them from releasing too many inflammatory cytokines. The COVID-19 virus is known to cause an excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Italy and Spain have both experienced high COVID-19 mortality rates, and the new study shows that both countries have lower average vitamin D levels than most northern European countries. This is partly because people in southern Europe, particularly the elderly, avoid strong sun, while skin pigmentation also reduces natural vitamin D synthesis.

The highest average levels of vitamin D are found in northern Europe, due to the consumption of cod liver oil and vitamin D supplements, and possibly less sun avoidance. Scandinavian nations are among the countries with the lowest number of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates per head of population in Europe.

Dr Lee Smith, Reader in Physical Activity and Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "We found a significant crude relationship between average vitamin D levels and the number COVID-19 cases, and particularly COVID-19 mortality rates, per head of population across the 20 European countries.

"Vitamin D has been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections, and older adults, the group most deficient in vitamin D, are also the ones most seriously affected by COVID-19.

"A previous study found that 75% of people in institutions, such as hospitals and care homes, were severely deficient in vitamin D. We suggest it would be advisable to perform dedicated studies looking at vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients with different degrees of disease severity."

Mr Petre Cristian Ilie, lead urologist of Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our study does have limitations however, not least because the number of cases in each country is affected by the number of tests performed, as well as the different measures taken by each country to prevent the spread of infection. Finally, and importantly, one must remember correlation does not necessarily mean causation."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Anglia Ruskin University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Petre Cristian Ilie, Simina Stefanescu, Lee Smith. The role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01570-8

[Hebbeh]

And another:

https://www.scienced...00507121353.htm

Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates
Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience major complications

After studying global data from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, researchers have discovered a strong correlation between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates.

Led by Northwestern University, the research team conducted a statistical analysis of data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States.

The researchers noted that patients from countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates, such as Italy, Spain and the UK, had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries that were not as severely affected.

This does not mean that everyone -- especially those without a known deficiency -- needs to start hoarding supplements, the researchers caution.

"While I think it is important for people to know that vitamin D deficiency might play a role in mortality, we don't need to push vitamin D on everybody," said Northwestern's Vadim Backman, who led the research. "This needs further study, and I hope our work will stimulate interest in this area. The data also may illuminate the mechanism of mortality, which, if proven, could lead to new therapeutic targets."

The research is available on medRxiv, a preprint server for health sciences.

Backman is the Walter Dill Scott Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. Ali Daneshkhah, a postdoctoral research associate in Backman's laboratory, is the paper's first author.

Backman and his team were inspired to examine vitamin D levels after noticing unexplained differences in COVID-19 mortality rates from country to country. Some people hypothesized that differences in healthcare quality, age distributions in population, testing rates or different strains of the coronavirus might be responsible. But Backman remained skeptical.

"None of these factors appears to play a significant role," Backman said. "The healthcare system in northern Italy is one of the best in the world. Differences in mortality exist even if one looks across the same age group. And, while the restrictions on testing do indeed vary, the disparities in mortality still exist even when we looked at countries or populations for which similar testing rates apply.

"Instead, we saw a significant correlation with vitamin D deficiency," he said.

By analyzing publicly available patient data from around the globe, Backman and his team discovered a strong correlation between vitamin D levels and cytokine storm -- a hyperinflammatory condition caused by an overactive immune system -- as well as a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and mortality.

"Cytokine storm can severely damage lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients," Daneshkhah said. "This is what seems to kill a majority of COVID-19 patients, not the destruction of the lungs by the virus itself. It is the complications from the misdirected fire from the immune system."

This is exactly where Backman believes vitamin D plays a major role. Not only does vitamin D enhance our innate immune systems, it also prevents our immune systems from becoming dangerously overactive. This means that having healthy levels of vitamin D could protect patients against severe complications, including death, from COVID-19.

"Our analysis shows that it might be as high as cutting the mortality rate in half," Backman said. "It will not prevent a patient from contracting the virus, but it may reduce complications and prevent death in those who are infected."

Backman said this correlation might help explain the many mysteries surrounding COVID-19, such as why children are less likely to die. Children do not yet have a fully developed acquired immune system, which is the immune system's second line of defense and more likely to overreact.

"Children primarily rely on their innate immune system," Backman said. "This may explain why their mortality rate is lower."

Backman is careful to note that people should not take excessive doses of vitamin D, which might come with negative side effects. He said the subject needs much more research to know how vitamin D could be used most effectively to protect against COVID-19 complications.

"It is hard to say which dose is most beneficial for COVID-19," Backman said. "However, it is clear that vitamin D deficiency is harmful, and it can be easily addressed with appropriate supplementation. This might be another key to helping protect vulnerable populations, such as African-American and elderly patients, who have a prevalence of vitamin D deficiency."

Backman is the director of Northwestern's Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering and the associate director for Research Technology and Infrastructure at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Northwestern University. Original written by Amanda Morris. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Ali Daneshkhah, Vasundhara Agrawal, Adam Eshein, Hariharan Subramanian, Hemant Kumar Roy, Vadim Backman. The Possible Role of Vitamin D in Suppressing Cytokine Storm and Associated Mortality in COVID-19 Patients. medRxiv, Posted April 30, 2020; [link]

[bladedmind]

Several reports about blood clotting and use of anticoagulants to ease Covid-19 patients.

 

COAGULOPATHY IN COVID-19: REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS

https://www.facs.org...agulopathy.ashx

 

The mystery of the pandemic's ‘happy hypoxia’

https://science.scie...nt/368/6490/455

 

Blood thinners may improve survival among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

https://www.eurekale...h-btm050420.php

 

Anticoagulation Associated With Improved Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

https://www.acc.org/...alized-covid-19

 

 

I’m frightened about getting sick enough for hospitalization because my university health system has proudly declared that it will not use any unproven treatments, by that they mean FDA approved after multiple trials.  Thus, only supportive care.  For those with hospital experience, does this mean also that they would fail to apply clinical observations from elsewhere, for example, that proning might reduce the need for ventilation?  https://www.webmd.co...ight-covid-19#1

That’s not proven.  Would they just charge ahead with ventilation because that is the standard?  Use of anticoagulants also is not proven.   Would these purists spurn blood thinners if my blood is clotting?   What’s the point of sharing clinical observations if they are classified as having no epistemic value? 

 

Some things I self-administer and would self-administer if mildly infected.  But with 70 years and polypharmacy it strikes me as too hazardous to self-administer OTC blood thinners in a medical crisis, so that is one reason I might choose hospitalization.  The disadvantage is that they take away all your medications and supplements and you are at the mercy of their paternal wisdom.  I’m informed and at peace about all the other aspects of CV-19.  Loss of control during hospitalization (based on my few past hospital experiences - twice having to fight off medical blunders) is my one big worry.

 

 

 

[DanCG]

 

 

 

I’m frightened about getting sick enough for hospitalization because my university health system has proudly declared that it will not use any unproven treatments, by that they mean FDA approved after multiple trials.  Thus, only supportive care.  For those with hospital experience, does this mean also that they would fail to apply clinical observations from elsewhere, for example, that proning might reduce the need for ventilation?  https://www.webmd.co...ight-covid-19#1

That’s not proven.  Would they just charge ahead with ventilation because that is the standard?  Use of anticoagulants also is not proven.   Would these purists spurn blood thinners if my blood is clotting?   What’s the point of sharing clinical observations if they are classified as having no epistemic value? 

 

Some things I self-administer and would self-administer if mildly infected.  But with 70 years and polypharmacy it strikes me as too hazardous to self-administer OTC blood thinners in a medical crisis, so that is one reason I might choose hospitalization.  The disadvantage is that they take away all your medications and supplements and you are at the mercy of their paternal wisdom.  I’m informed and at peace about all the other aspects of CV-19.  Loss of control during hospitalization (based on my few past hospital experiences - twice having to fight off medical blunders) is my one big worry.

I know how you feel. If I went into a hospital, I would probably get rebound scurvy because they would think that the amount of vitamin C I have been taking daily for the last 30 years is more than I need.

 

I don’t know if any natural products would be potent enough to treat severe clotting in an established infection, but it seems like it might be worthwhile to start early for prevention or at the first sign of possible infection. I knew quercetin has anti-coagulant activity. This paper popped out as I was looking into it.

Biflavones from Ginkgo biloba as inhibitors of human thrombin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of major constituents in Ginkgo biloba on human thrombin...Among all tested natural compounds, four biflavones (ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, bilobetin and amentoflavone), and five flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) were found with thrombin inhibition activity, with the IC50 values ranging from 8.05 μM to 82.08 μM

 

 

I never thought much of Ginkgo biloba, but this might be a reason to take it.

Here’s another, unrelated one:

 

Ginkgolic acid inhibits fusion of enveloped viruses.

Borenstein R, Hanson BA, Markosyan RM, Gallo ES, Narasipura SD, Bhutta M, Shechter O, Lurain NS, Cohen FS, Al-Harthi L, Nicholson DA.

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 16;10(1):4746. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61700-0

Ginkgolic acids are alkylphenol constituents of the leaves and fruits of Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE) have been used as herbal supplements since at least the 16th century and remain widely in use. Major constituents of GBE include terpine trilactones (ginkgolide A, B, C, J, and bilobalide), flavonoid glycosides (quercetin and rutin), as well as Ginkgolic acids...

Additionally, we report that GA inhibits human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome replication and Zika virus (ZIKV) infection of normal human astrocytes (NHA). We show a broad spectrum of fusion inhibition by GA of all three classes of fusion proteins including HIV, Ebola virus (EBOV), influenza A virus (IAV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV). In addition, we show inhibition of a non-enveloped adenovirus. Our experiments suggest that GA inhibits virion entry by blocking the initial fusion event. Data showing inhibition of HSV-1 and CMV replication, when GA is administered post-infection, suggest a possible secondary mechanism targeting protein and DNA synthesis.

Thus, in light of the antiviral effect of GA on established viral infections of permissive cells, GA potentially could be used to treat acute viral infections (e.g. Coronavirus (COVID-19), EBOV, ZIKV, IAV and measles), and it might be determined to be useful in topical application for the successful treatment of active lesions (e.g. HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV).

[Hebbeh]

Another disappointing report of hydroxychloroquine with and without azithromycin started within 2 days of admission and 2 more trials compared to placebo on the way (One involves COVID-19 patients, and the other whether the drug can help prevent infections in health care workers exposed to the virus. Both got started in April.)

 

https://apnews.com/2...1c3dc7c0c952191

 

Malaria drug shows no benefit in another coronavirus study

 

A new study finds no evidence of benefit from a malaria drug widely promoted as a treatment for coronavirus infection.

 

Hydroxychloroquine did not lower the risk of dying or needing a breathing tube in a comparison that involved nearly 1,400 patients treated at Columbia University in New York, researchers reported Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

 

Although the study is observational rather than a rigorous experiment, it gives valuable information for a decision that hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 patients have already had to make without clear evidence about the drug’s risks and benefits, some journal editors and other doctors wrote in an editorial.

 

“It is disappointing that several months into the pandemic, we do not yet have results” from any strict tests of the drug, they wrote. Still, the new study “suggests that this treatment is not a panacea.”

 

President Donald Trump repeatedly urged the use of hydroxychloroquine, which is used now for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It has potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against its use for coronavirus infections except in formal studies.

 

Doctors at Columbia tracked how 565 patients who did not get the drug fared compared to 811 others who received hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin, a combo Trump also has touted.

 

In all, 180 patients required breathing tubes and 232 died, and the drug did not seem to affect the odds of either.

 

Patients given hydroxychloroquine were generally sicker than the others, but widely accepted methods were used to take that into account and still no benefit was seen for the drug.

 

Its use started within two days of admission for nearly all who received it. Some critics of earlier studies have said treatment may have started too late to do any good.

 

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, which has launched two of its own trials comparing hydroxychloroquine to placebo -- the gold standard for establishing safety and effectiveness.

 

One study involves COVID-19 patients, and the other aims to see whether the drug can help prevent infections in health care workers exposed to the virus. Both got started in April. 

 

[xEva]

wapo quote of the day:

 

On May 1, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the antiviral drug remdesivir in patients who are hospitalized and seriously ill.

But trials of other treatments, including those involving hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug touted by President Trump, have been stopped because of a lack of efficacy and concerns about toxicity.

 

https://www.washingt...onavirus-clots/

 

looks like there will never be a proper hydroxychloroquine trial. In the US that is. All hope is on Europe now. 

[gamesguru]

Ginkgolic acid inhibits fusion of enveloped viruses.

Thus, in light of the antiviral effect of GA on established viral infections of permissive cells, GA potentially could be used to treat acute viral infections (e.g. Coronavirus (COVID-19), EBOV, ZIKV, IAV and measles), and it might be determined to be useful in topical application for the successful treatment of active lesions (e.g. HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV).

Do we actually know if ginkgo works against this new virus?

 

Do we know if it works non-topically?  Or at concentrations obtained by the tiny 120mg standard dose?

 

Another disappointing report of hydroxychloroquine with and without azithromycin started within 2 days of admission

Anyone else not surprised if a no-name, first generation immunosuppressive drug and anti-parasite is found ineffective against this new respiratory virus? 

 

looks like there will never be a proper hydroxychloroquine trial. In the US that is. All hope is on Europe now. 

I mean they found increased mortality in the one Veterans study, so I guess they're done?  On the other hand, there seems to be a growing consensus it is not all that.

[Daniel Cooper]

I mean they found increased mortality in the one Veterans study, so I guess they're done?  On the other hand, there seems to be a growing consensus it is not all that.

 

Did you actually read that VA study?

 

It was a non-randomized, non-controlled study that looked at patient mortality retrospectively - those than had received hydroxychloroquine versus those that had not.

 

Now tell, what might be wrong about that methodology?