Thursday, May 08, 2025

Evil Anti-Jewish Terrorists at Columbia

This scene is not the Middle East. These are Jew-hating terrorists who violently took over the library at Columbia University yesterday.

They should all be deported to Iran or to Gaza, where they can be with their own sick kind. 

We don't want them here.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

COVID Quack Remedy News

This is lunacy. It's amazing to me that a person won't take a proven vaccine but thinks nothing of taking a prescription made for horses.

Some people never learn, even after five years.

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From AOL News 5/6/25: NC House committees approve sale of an unproven COVID remedy without a prescription

"Ivermectin would be available without prescription from North Carolina pharmacists under a bill moving quickly through the state House. 

"The drug is FDA-approved for use to treat parasitic infections and skin conditions. It is also used to treat parasitic infections in animals. Ivermectin for humans is now available only by prescription. 

"The drug became more widely used during the pandemic as an alternative to COVID-19 vaccines, and some claimed it helped prevent COVID infections. 

"Though some small, early studies suggested ivermectin could be an effective COVID treatment, larger clinical trials found that it does not help

"State legislatures this year are interested in allowing greater access to the drug. 

"Rep. Jonathan Almond (R-Cabarrus), House Bill 618’s lead sponsor, said 14 states are considering similar bills. At least three states, Idaho, Tennessee, and Arkansas, have laws allowing purchases without prescriptions. 

"Tennessee has had its law since 2022. Governors in Idaho and Arkansas signed ivermectin laws this year.

"The renewed interest is fueled by right-wing influencers, the New York Times reported.

"Though North Carolina buyers would not need ivermectin prescriptions, they would need to ask pharmacists for it. 

“It’s about access,” Almond said. Costs to obtain ivermectin would be lower because people would not need to see a doctor for a prescription, he said. 

"Allowing over-the-counter ivermectin purchases would be a sharp departure from the state’s position during the pandemic. The former state health director sent a letter to doctors in 2021 cautioning them about prescribing ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID. 

"Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) questioned whether using ivermectin with a prescription is safe. Studies show “that there can be severe side effects using this drug without a prescription or doctor’s oversight,” she said. 

"The FDA warns that taking ivermectin in large doses can be dangerous, and even at approved doses it can interact with other medications. 

"During the pandemic, poison control centers reported spikes in calls for ivermectin overdoses, NPR reported. People boasted of purchasing ivermectin meant for animals from tractor supply stores. 

"Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort) read a list of side effects, and suggested ivermectin’s side effects were not as severe as those for aspirin. 

“There are a lot of people who take ivermectin,” he said. “I can tell you that I know a number of people personally who took ivermectin during COVID. And they got immediate relief as a result of taking ivermectin.”

"The bill had enough votes to move out of the House Judiciary 3 and House Rules Committees on Tuesday on its way to the House floor. 

"Three speakers told the Judiciary Committee ivermectin improved their health. It would be safer for people to buy it at pharmacies rather than from overseas suppliers or animal feed stores, they said. 

"Kathy Page of Alamance County said ivermectin helped her recover from serious illnesses. She has taken ivermectin prescribed by a holistic doctor for about a year, she said, and imagines she may continue for the rest of her life. 

"Purchases from the pharmacy are safer than buying ivermectin meant for animals and having to figure out the human dosage, she told the committee."

Tuesday, May 06, 2025

These Campus Jew-Haters Are Terrorists, Not "Protesters"

Setting fires is not "protesting".  This is terrifying for Jewish students.  What does this have to do with getting a college education, anyway?

I always find it outrageous that these terrorists always ignore the pogrom of October 7, 2023, which is why Israel fought back in the first place! YOU started it, we didn't.

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Fox News, May 6, 2025: Anti-Israel protesters occupy University of Washington building, 30 arrested; The protesters demanded that UW divest cut ties with Boeing

"A group of anti-Israel protesters occupied a building at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle on Monday before police in riot gear intervened and arrested at least 30 of them, according to officials.

"The protesters occupied an engineering building on campus for hours and demanded that the school divest from Boeing, the large aerospace and defense manufacturer which has a long history with the university. 

"Video from the scene shows several dumpsters on fire as police moved in to regain control of the building after the demonstrators had locked themselves inside. One protester outside could be heard shouting: "Abolish the police. Every cop dead is a victory for the resistance."

"The UW said in a statement that the protesters had created a "dangerous environment" in and around the building. 

"The protesters, who mostly covered their faces, blocked access to two streets outside the building, blocked entrances and exits to the building and ignited fires in two dumpsters on a street outside, the university said. 

"UW Police worked with local police to contain the situation and began clearing the area outside the building at around 10:30 p.m. before moving into the building at 11 p.m. 

"About 30 protesters who occupied the building were arrested and charged with trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit all three, the university said.

"The UW is committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday," UW said in a statement. "The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms."

"The Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return, a student group at UW, said it helped organize the protest and said that Boeing funded the building to the tune of $10 million. 

"The University of Washington is a direct partner in the genocide of the Palestinian people through its allegiance to its partnership with Boeing," the group said in a social media post Monday night while rallying others to join the protest. "Wear a mask, and cover identifiable features," the group wrote. 

"The group accused Boeing of building weapons of mass destruction which they said are then used by the government of Israel in its war in Gaza.

"We refuse to be complicit while our education is directly funded and controlled by a corporation whose business leads to a mass genocide of Palestinian people," the group said. "These bombs, missiles, and other weapons of destruction are made possible through Boeing's access to UW's campus, research facilities, and student labor."

"After occupying the building, the protesters erected a banner reading "Sha'ban Al-Dalou Building," symbolically renaming it after a 19-year-old Palestinian man from Gaza who was killed during the bombing of the Al-Aqsa Hospital on Oct. 14, 2024. Israel said it targeted a Hamas command center embedded in the facility."

Your Local Epidemiologist - The Dose, 5/6/25

Here's The Dose newsletter at Your Local Epidemiologist, 5/6/25, written by Katelyn Jetelina
and Hannah Totte, MPH 

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The Dose: Measles slowing? Flu deaths, water safety, and lots of talk in vaccines 

"Good morning! This is coming a day late—I was in New York over the weekend for a graduation, and there's truly nothing more energizing than being around students.

"Here’s your dose: the context behind this week’s public health headlines. From shifting disease trends and overlooked drowning risks to the latest in vaccine falsehoods and messy talking points—here’s what you need to know, and why it matters.


Infectious disease alerts

"Flu and Covid activity remain very low nationwide—normal for this time of year. But we’re now seeing final tallies from this past winter, and the U.S. just recorded the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in recent years.

"Flu vaccination rates continue to decline—year after year since 2019. This may be our new normal, and it’s hard to swallow.

Measles

"As of Sunday, the U.S. had 967 confirmed cases. We are getting closer and closer to reaching the record high (1,200) since we eliminated measles in 2000.

"Of that, 817 cases are from the Southwest outbreak. The good news is that it may be slowing down in West Texas. We know this from three soft data points:

  1. This is the first week with no hospitalized children in West Texas for measles.

  2. A downward trend in reported weekly cases (a promising “epi curve” below). Ultimately, we want a bell-shaped curve, which may be starting to take shape.

  3. Fewer new cases are reported anecdotally by clinicians on the ground.

Source: Yale School of Public Health; Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist.

"Transmission continues, just at a slower pace. While any case could still spark a new outbreak in communities with low vaccination rates (for example, all eyes are on El Paso right now), big thanks to the public health workers working to contain.

"Other sporadic cases continue to pop up in the past week. Also, a small outbreak in Montana continues to grow, and a new outbreak in North Dakota:

Figure by Your Local Epidemiologist

For the latest full SITREP report, go here:

Ysph Vmoc Special Report Measles Outbreak Southwest Us 5 3 2025 Ver1
2.49MB ∙ PDF file
Download

"What this means for you: You are very well protected if you’re up-to-date on vaccines. Here are the top 10 FAQ about your measles protection. If you have a child under 12 months and there is an outbreak (3+ cases) near you, they can get a vaccine as early as 6 months. Be sure to talk to your pediatrician.


HPV vaccine: Is one dose enough?

"We already know the HPV vaccine is one of the most powerful tools in cancer prevention—protecting against cervical, penile, anal, and some head and neck cancers.

"The standard schedule is two (or three) doses, depending on age.

"But a large clinical trial from the National Cancer Institute just reported something great: In a study of 20,000 girls in Costa Rica, a single dose of the HPV vaccine provided protection that was just as strong—even 4.5 years later. This could expand access globally—especially in places where getting two doses is hard.

"What it means for you: Not much, as the dosage recommendation hasn’t changed. Stick with the two/three dose series as we still have many unanswered questions. For example, these results apply specifically to cervical cancer. We don’t yet know if they apply to other HPV-related cancers.


Vaccines & placebos: Let’s clear the air

"RFK Jr. recently claimed that “none of the vaccines on the CDC’s childhood recommended schedule was tested against an inert placebo, meaning we know very little about the actual risk profiles of these products.” That’s not true—but it’s also more nuanced than a soundbite allows.

"A lot of our vaccines have been tested against placebos, like saline. (Here is a running list a few infectious disease doctors put together.) When we have a brand new pathogen, like Covid-19 or RSV, this is important in evaluating safety and efficacy.

"However, some vaccines haven’t been tested against a saline placebo but rather against another vaccine. Scientists do this when they combine vaccines, change strains, or develop a next-generation vaccine. These “bridge studies” allow scientists to see if the new vaccine (or drug) is as good or better than the original vaccine (that went through a placebo clinical trial). If not, they don’t go to market. This is like building blocks, advancing from a foundation rooted in randomized placebo trials.

Vaccines placebo tested as well as bridge tested in the United States. Figure by YLE but adapted from Dr. Vincent Iannelli.

"Two reasons why we do it this way:

  1. Ethics: We can’t withhold known protection. In other words, we cannot give someone a placebo vaccine if there’s already a better alternative to getting the disease. Imagine testing a better car seat by giving half the kids no seat.

  2. Feasibility: Some vaccines (like flu) are updated yearly to match circulating strains. These are tweaks—not new products. In this case, we don’t have a randomized control trial because the virus mutates too quickly.

"What it means for you: Vaccine science is complex, but our current processes are top of the line. Falsehoods, half-truths, or messy talking points—especially when amplified by the highest health office in the U.S.—can be confusing and do real harm.


State legislation targeting mRNA vaccines

"Falsehoods can turn into policy changes. Several states are considering bills that would restrict or even criminalize mRNA vaccines:

  • Iowa: Providers could face fines of up to $500 for administering mRNA vaccines (approved by a Senate subcommittee).

  • Idaho: Would ban mRNA vaccines for ten years; six counties already restrict the health department from distributing Covid vaccines.

  • Montana: Considered a similar action, but was defeated in the House.

  • Minnesota: A bill to label mRNA vaccines “weapons of mass destruction” (unlikely to pass).

"These bills build upon false claims that mRNA technology is gene-editing and/or gene-based, a falsehood we debunked as early as 2020.

"Why would this be bad? Beyond Covid-19, mRNA technology is revolutionizing treatments for cancer and other diseases. Early clinical trials show dramatic survival improvements in pancreatic cancer (overall survival, which was previously 10%, has increased to 50% in a Phase 1 clinical trial) and kidney cancer (in a Phase 1 trial, the vaccine appeared to be essentially curative), with the potential to transform outcomes for some of the hardest-to-treat illnesses. Cutting off this technology would be devastating for patients—and medical progress.


Happy National Water Safety Month!

I"f you ask my husband the number one thing I worry about with my 4- and 5-year-olds, you’ll always get the same answer: drowning. (That episode on The Pitt TV show wrecked me.)

"The number one killer for children aged 1-4 is drowning. Unfortunately, rates have remained relatively steady over the past 30 years because it’s a neglected public health area. It will likely not get better, either: the CDC’s drowning prevention team and program were cut dramatically impacting capacity for local education, such as through the YMCA.

"While a lot of communication on drowning has centered around adult supervision (which is important!), that’s not when the majority of drownings happen. Around 70-90% are during non-swimming times when no one expected the child to be anywhere near the pool.

"What it means for you: Multiple layers of protection are important, like fences, but early, consistent water familiarization and aquatic competency will get kids exposed and comfortable with water from an early age. In two words: back float. (Yes, there’s a lot more to it, but if you have to boil it down to one needed skill, it’s this.)

"Big thanks to Acacia Clark, an injury/drowning prevention researcher, for helping the YLE team provide context here.


Question grab bag: “Are immigrants bringing in measles?”

"This narrative resurfaces every outbreak. So what do the data say?

"Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, which means it isn’t just randomly floating around the community. It has to be imported, find an unvaccinated pocket, and spread. However, most measles cases are among U.S. citizens who traveled abroad and brought the virus home. Thus far, in 2025, 92% of index measles cases were among U.S. residents who traveled abroad.

"Here’s a deep dive from our archives:

Where is measles coming from?

·
"April 11, 2024
Where is measles coming from?

"As measles cases increase, online rumors follow. Encased in some recent rumors is the underlying assumption immigrants— especially illegal immigrants from the Southern border— are fueling U.S. measles outbreaks.


Bottom line

"You’re all caught up! Have a great week.

"Love, the YLE team"

Monday, May 05, 2025

More COVID-Related Symptoms You Don't Really Want

When you keep reading about the long-term consequences of getting COVID, why on earth would you refuse to be vaccinated? Do you  prefer living like this?

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From CIDRAP 5/5/25:  "Data link long-term COVID-related loss of smell to depression, anxiety

"COVID-19 survivors who lose their sense of smell for at least 6 months have more serious depression and anxiety than those without the dysfunction, University of Mons researchers in Belgium write in the Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

"At a single medical center, 218 patients with olfactory dysfunction (OD) and 102 asymptomatic controls completed the Olfactory Disorder Questionnaire, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and underwent the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 and threshold, identification, and discrimination testing from August 2023 to January 2024. 

"The average age was 51.3 years in OD patients and 41.2 in controls. Thirteen OD patients (5.9%) and 5 (4.9%) controls reported a depression diagnosis in the last 5 years.

"The olfaction plays a crucial role in human social interactions, in transforming eating from a simple vital function to a pleasant activity, and for detecting environmental hazards," the authors noted. 

Women had higher burden of both measured conditions

"At enrollment, the average duration of OD was 31.1 months. OD patients had anosmia (loss of smell; 26.3%), hyposmia (reduced ability to smell; 33.7%), or parosmia (distorted sense of smell; 40.0%), respectively.

"The average PHQ-9 score was significantly higher in OD patients (6.12; mild depression) than in controls (4.4; minimal depression), as were average GAD-7 scores (4.6 vs 3.5; mild and minimal anxiety, respectively). 

"Rates of mild-to-severe depression (51.2% vs 44.1%) and mild-to-severe anxiety (39.5% vs 32.4%) were significantly higher in OD patients than in controls; OD patients had a significantly higher percentage of moderate and severe depression and anxiety than those with intact olfaction. 

"Relative to hyposmia and parosmia, anosmia was tied to severe anxiety. Women scored higher on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 than men. The average PHQ-9 scores of unvaccinated patients were significantly higher than those of vaccinated participants, indicating a higher depression burden (6.9 vs 5.9). The severity of depression and anxiety increased with OD severity and nasal symptoms.

"While the causality relationship remains unclear, depression and anxiety symptoms must be investigated in this subgroup of patients with long COVID-19," the authors concluded."

No More Excuses: Antisemites are Plain Evil

Dave Portnoy's response to this brazen display of Jew-hatred? Paying these haters' way to Auschwitz for a "teachable moment". I doubt that will help at all.

Item: (USA Today 5/5/25)  Student suspended, Dave Portnoy responds after antisemitic sign seen at Barstool bar in Philadelphia

"A Temple University student was suspended and police are investigating after Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy responded to videos showing an antisemitic sign was displayed at the company's downtown Philadelphia bar over the weekend.

"When customers order bottle service at the Sansom Street bar, they can also choose a few words to put on a large sign displayed inside. At least one student was involved with an order for “(expletive) the Jews” to be mounted on the sign Saturday, May 3, according to the university and Portnoy.

"The incident was followed by widespread condemnation once images of the hate speech circulated online."

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These losers hate Jews so much they will even attack a special needs school.

Item: From Israelly Cool, 5/4/25: Israel-Haters Target School For Autistic & Intellectually Disabled Kids

"Pro-Hamas protesters in Montreal have been filmed chanting “All the zionists are racists. All the Zionists are terrorists. Zionists, fascists, it’s you the terrorists!” – in French, of course 

"Chanting that at least 95% of the world’s Jews are terrorists and fascists is itself merdique. But what elevates this to even plus merdique status is that this took place outside The Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Center.

"According to their website, Yaldei is a not-for-profit developmental centre and school devoted to helping children reach their full potential. It includes a school offering special education for students diagnosed with autism, moderate to several intellectual disability, and profound intellectual disability.

"One can assume it was targeted because the building is named after Sylvan Adams, a proud Jew and supporter of Israel, who obviously donated a lot to the center.

"But autistic kids be damned, right? Just like kids with cancer and other patients.

"Because these protesters are morally disabled."

Sunday, May 04, 2025

Dr Ruth's COVID & Health News, 5/4/25

Here's the latest information-packed newsletter from Dr Ruth Ann Crystal:

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COVID & Health News, 5/4/25

Acute respiratory illness levels are now LOW across America. Influenza B is decreasing and COVID cases are declining as well.

COVID

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels are at LOW levels according to the CDC in most places in the U.S., as are Emergency Department visits for COVID and COVID deaths.

JP Weiland estimates about 220,000 new COVID infections per day in the United States with 1 in 152 Americans currently infected as of May 3. COVID transmission is slowly declining and is at low levels. Per WastewaterSCAN, the highest SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels are in Bangor, Maine; Boise, Idaho; Millbury, MA; and Montpelier, Vermont. Most counties in California are reporting low wastewater levels, but San Luis Obispo County is very high this week.

LP.8.1 is still the dominant COVID variant without major challengers at this point. Our immunity is starting to wane and many people have not had a COVID booster since the fall, but transmission is low in most places right now.

From: https://data.wastewaterscan.org/

Antiviral treatments

Two new antiviral compounds, AVI4516 and AVI4773, developed by UCSF and the Gladstone Institute are broad-spectrum coronavirus MPro inhibitors that outperformed Paxlovid in preclinical models against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS. The new drugs show broad pan-coronavirus protection, a million-fold reduction in viral load compared to Paxlovid, exceptional brain penetration and minimal side effects. Researchers are pushing for clinical trials despite losing key federal funding, emphasizing their potential as shelf-stable treatments for future coronavirus outbreaks.

COVID and Mast Cells

A new study from China shows that coronavirus spike proteins can trigger mast cell degranulation by binding to cellular receptors and activating the Src/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, leading to increased calcium levels and mast cell granule release. This mechanism was confirmed across several human coronaviruses and may contribute to the inflammation seen in COVID.

From: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00078-25

A group from Mexico found that serum levels of mast cell-derived mediators tryptase, CPA3, chymase, and prostaglandin D2 were elevated in COVID patients and correlated with markers of inflammation and coagulopathy. While individual markers showed limited ability to predict severe disease on their own, a combined profile improved predictive power, suggesting that a mast cell activation signature may serve as a useful biomarker and therapeutic target in COVID and other inflammatory conditions.

From: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165247825000598

About 20% of the US population have chemical intolerance and react to low levels of chemicals that are used in everyday life. Increased use of disinfectants and sanitizers during the pandemic worsened symptoms for many, leading to health challenges and social isolation. A new study from San Antonio, Texas showed that people with chemical intolerance were found to have a higher prevalence of COVID infections associated with more severe symptoms and also had a higher risk of Long COVID. In theory, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and chemical intolerance could possibly be related.

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Long COVID

Stanford researchers studied 24 patients with Long-COVID-associated POTS (LC-POTS) to identify underlying causes of autonomic dysfunction. Compared to healthy COVID-recovered controls, LC-POTS participants showed greater increases in heart rate during tilt-table testing, higher norepinephrine levels, impaired sweat responses, and reduced small nerve fiber density. Surprisingly, 8.7% had phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-Syn) deposits in skin biopsies which is a protein associated with Parkinson’s Disease. The study supports the idea that autonomic dysfunction in LC-POTS is driven by multiple pathophysiological mechanisms “including orthostatic tachycardia, sympathetic adrenergic hyperactivity, small fiber neuropathy, and dermal P-Syn deposition.”

A new study in Nature used high-resolution immune profiling and proteomics to compare people with Long COVID to healthy COVID convalescents. Although immune cell types and T cell responses were mostly similar between groups, individuals with Long COVID had weaker neutralizing antibody responses and elevated levels of co-inhibitory receptors (like PD-1 and TIM-3) on non-spike-specific CD8+ T cells. Plasma protein analyses linked breathlessness in Long COVID to a distinct protein signature associated with inflammation and cell death, particularly involving CD40, IL-18, and NF-κB pathways. Persistent respiratory symptoms after COVID may reflect localized lung inflammation and damage from residual antigen exposure rather than broad immune dysfunction.

H5N1

Top virologists from more than 40 countries are urging global leaders to take immediate action against the growing threat of H5N1 avian flu. They emphasize strengthening global surveillance, investing in preparedness, and improving response capabilities to avoid a future pandemic. Without action, the experts warn that the virus could evolve to spread more easily among humans.

The CDC canceled a planned National Academy of Sciences workshop focused on preventing human H5N1 bird flu infections, despite growing concerns over the virus's spread among U.S. cattle and poultry. The event was set to train farmworkers and veterinarians on proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), but was abruptly terminated by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Measles

As of May 1, 2025 in the US, a total of 935 Measles cases were reported by 29 states, 13% have been hospitalized for measles complications and 3 deaths have been reported.

Ontario, Canada has a major Measles outbreak with more than 1,200 cases reported this year. MMR vaccination rates are low in Ontario with only 38% of 5 year olds and 70% of 7 year olds vaccinated.

"Less than 80% of eligible children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Romania were vaccinated with MCV1 in 2023”. Low vaccination rates due to pandemic disruptions fueled resurgence of measles in 2024 particularly in some WHO European Region countries like Romania (30,692 cases) and Kazakhstan (28,147 cases).

Vaccines, HHS, and Misinformation

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread misinformation about vaccines. In recent interviews, he falsely claimed that the MMR vaccine contains "aborted fetus debris" and advised parents to "do your own research" rather than trust decades of proven vaccine science. The MMR vaccine does not contain fetal tissue, and it has safely protected against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella for over 50 years.

Instead of promoting vaccination amid rising measles cases, RFK Jr. has now called for the development of new measles treatments. We do not need to waste time and money on new measles treatments when the MMR is proven to protect 97% against Measles. As Benjamin Franklin famously advised, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Kennedy is also now planning placebo vaccine trials for all vaccines, which experts say violate medical ethics since the effectiveness of existing vaccines is well established and giving a placebo would be akin to malpractice. Separately, FDA commissioner Marty Makary is reviewing whether to authorize updated COVID boosters for next winter citing “a lack of data on booster shots” despite the fact that billions of doses of COVID vaccines have been given safely worldwide. As of May 2023, 677 million doses of COVID vaccines had been given in the United States alone.

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Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Whooping cough (Pertussis) infections in the U.S. have more than doubled this year, with 8,077 cases reported through mid-April—marking the worst outbreak in 70 years. At least four deaths, including two infants, have been linked to the surge which experts attribute to waning immunity and falling childhood vaccination rates. With fewer than 93% of kindergartners fully vaccinated against pertussis for the 2023–2024 school year, health officials warn that protection against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis is weakening. The CDC urges up-to-date vaccinations and boosters especially for infants, pregnant individuals, and adults who have not been immunized.

Other news

A Stanford study shows that women who experienced hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia during pregnancy show changes in their blood protein profiles, especially in complement and coagulation pathways, for years. Proteomic signatures identified during the postpartum period continued to distinguish between affected women and controls in mid-life, suggesting a biological link between pregnancy complications and later cardiovascular disease risk.

A preliminary trial and studies in mice suggest a link between fibromyalgia chronic pain and alterations in the gut microbiome. Supplementing with specific gut microbes appeared to alleviate chronic pain symptoms in some patients.

A high-fat, low-fiber Western diet prevented gut microbiome recovery in mice after antibiotics, while a fiber-rich chow diet enabled full recovery of microbial diversity and function. The Western diet suppressed microbial diversity, reduced functional gene recovery, and prevented the re-establishment of metabolically supportive cross-feeding between microbes. The study showed that diet was more important than fecal transplants for restoring gut health, highlighting the need for complex carbohydrates to support recovery after antibiotics.

Researchers found that imbalances in the nasal microbiome may be linked to both smell loss and cognitive decline in older adults. These changes may affect the brain through inflammation or other pathways, suggesting a possible early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases. The findings could help identify new targets for early intervention in cognitive decline.

New government data shows that a single dose of the HPV vaccine provides strong protection against cancer-causing infections, similar to the traditional two-dose regimen. Giving only one dose could really help simplify vaccination efforts.

A case-control study found molecular similarities between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) viral proteins, particularly HPV18, and key receptors involved in thyroid eye disease (TED), suggesting that viral mimicry may trigger autoimmune responses. Patients with TED had significantly different levels of HPV18 antibodies in orbital tissue compared to controls, with the strongest differences seen in those with active TED.

A large study from South Korea found that metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing dementia before age 65 by 24%. The risk was even higher among women and those diagnosed with the condition in their 40s. Researchers recommend early lifestyle changes to lower the risk of young-onset dementia.

From: https://www.neurology.org/doi/abs/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213599

In April, the Guinness World Records smallest dog Pearl met up with the world’s tallest dog Reggie. Despite Pearl the Chihuahua being 3.6 inches tall and Great Dane Reggie 3 foot, 4 inches tall, the unlikely duo played happily together.

From: Natalie Behring/Guinness World Records

Have a great week,

Ruth Ann Crystal MD

A Discovery Regarding Long COVID

It's so encouraging how these new answers on COVID are being found more often now.

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From UVA Health 5/2/25:

Discovery Explains Long COVID Breathing Problems 

"Groundbreaking research from the School of Medicine has revealed crucial new insights into the immune systems of COVID-19 survivors, particularly those struggling with persistent breathing issues. The study shows that these patients have distinct changes in their immune system that link to the severity of their lung damage. The discovery holds promise for developing targeted treatments for the lung complications of Long COVID.

"The researchers were struck by the diversity of immune patterns they discovered, and they say the findings highlight how varied the underlying drivers of Long COVID can be, even among patients with the same symptom. 

"A key innovation of the study was its ability to connect immune data from the blood with lung injury. For the first time, the team was able to differentiate immune patterns in patients suffering from more severe lung injury, offering a path toward more personalized and effective treatments.

“Long COVID is complex, with a variety of potential underlying causes. For this reason, understanding the immune response in patients with lung disease has been especially difficult,” said UVA Health’s Judith A. Woodfolk, MBChB, PhD, part of the Department of Medicine’s Division of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology. “Our findings reveal crucial differences in the blood that reflect the extent of lung damage. By analyzing many different immune measures, we can pinpoint potential targets that may not only predict who might experience worse outcomes but also help guide more tailored and effective treatments in the future.”

Understanding Long COVID

"To dive deeper into the persistent respiratory symptoms of Long COVID, Woodfolk and her team examined extensive clinical and immune datasets from 110 patients at UVA Health’s Long COVID Clinic. Most had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19 before vaccines were available, and many had been on ventilators during their hospital stay.

"Researchers used a form of artificial intelligence called machine learning to study long-term changes in patients’ T cells, a type of immune cell. Their analysis found marked differences in the numbers and types of T cells according to the severity of lung disease. After analyzing hundreds of additional cellular and molecular features, the team was able to link these changes in T cells to other important components of the immune system. This approach revealed strikingly different “immune landscapes” in patients with milder lung disease compared with more severe cases hallmarked by lung fibrosis (scarring).  

“By uncovering distinct immune patterns in patients who have different types of restrictive lung disease after infection, we can better understand the immune drivers of lung injury and how these patterns may reflect different stages of the same disease process,” Woodfolk said. “Our ability to distinguish immune changes linked to lung disease from those linked to other disorders typical of Long COVID also adds a new dimension to our understanding of this complex illness.”

“Our ultimate goal is to help patients by guiding new treatments that could stop or even reverse lung damage caused by COVID-19,” Woodfolk added “This study simply would not have been possible without the dedication of an exceptional team of physicians and scientists and the participation of patient volunteers. We’re excited to broaden our strategy into new areas so we can gain insight into other types of chronic lung diseases and inflammatory conditions.” 

Hating Trump

Here's the latest column by New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin 5/3/25. I''ve always said that these radicals hate Trump so much, and anyone associated with Trump like Elon Musk, that they have blinded themselves to the good they do.  Illegal aliens have become their sympathetic cause since Trump put an end to the incessant flow of aliens that Biden and Harris refused to stop. And they hate Jews and Israel so much that they are willfully blinded to the harm Hamas and other Islamic terrorist groups have done and will continue to do.  Can you imagine what it'd be like now if Kamala Harris had actually become President?  We have to keep the Democrats out of the White House and keep hitting back against this propaganda press.

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The press hates Trump more than it loves the truth — and the hyperbolic fear-mongering we’ve seen is proof 

"When there is a Republican president, the leftist-dominated White House press corps likes to gang up and try to put him on defense.

"The ultimate fantasy is repeating the glory days of Watergate by driving the president from office.

"That was certainly the aim in Donald Trump’s first term, where the hunt by Democrats with press passes — and the help of a corrupt FBI — was so intense that they produced a near-daily flood of lurid allegations, with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax being the grand climax.

"But Trump 2.0 is turning out to be a far different story, though not because the press has decided to be fair in its coverage.

"Far from it.

"Many editors and reporters are still predicting the end of the world every time he says or does something they don’t like. 

"Their definition of a scandal is when he deviates from past presidents, as if the Oval Office is a straitjacket.

"Take recent front page headlines in The New York Times describing the president’s moves and agenda:

“A Fusillade of Actions That Have Upended American Life”

“Behind The Rush To Discard Rules And Reshape Life”

“Driven by Vengeance, Trump Shreds Rules On His Crusade”

Shrill fear-mongering

"It’s hyperbolic fear-mongering, and largely explains why public trust in the media has plummeted since Trump entered politics.

"The press hates him more than it loves the truth.

"Although the media haven’t changed, the rules of the game they’re playing this time around have changed — because the president and his new team have learned how to fight back much more effectively.

"So much so that they are flipping the script in a big way.

"Now the media are being forced to play defense in a desperate bid to fight off the president’s effort to upend their monopoly on access to him and the administration.

"Given the technology revolution and Trump’s determination, the legacy outlets are fighting a losing battle.

"Make no mistake — the monopoly they hold is extremely valuable, both financially and in the power it gives them to set the terms of the national debate.

"If, for example, the large legacy outlets — of which there are only about 20 — declare that something the president said or did is outrageous or dangerous, that view will dominate national and even international coverage.

"Big TV and radio networks, small town papers and everything from comedy shows to many churches and synagogues will echo the same narrative.

"Opposing views will die in darkness.

"The big twist of Trump’s second term is that he’s attacking the power of the monopoly by democratizing access.

"The media landscape is expanding with new outlets that reach increasing numbers of Americans in different ways, and Trump’s communication team is opening the White House doors to them.

"At the same time, the president, as part of his budget cuts, aims to shut off the money spigot to PBS and NPR, government-funded outlets that parrot the Democrats’ agenda.

"Because he is making headway on both fronts, the media pushback is instructive — and occasionally hilarious.

"The heart of their defense is based on the outrageous claim that they deserve unique access and favored treatment because they are “independent.”

"Independent of what?

"Because members of the White House press corps all think and act in unison, as if they are members of a guild, they’ve already lost the argument.

"Consider that none of them saw any sign of Joe Biden’s cognitive decline — until it jeopardized his chances of beating Trump.

"Instantly, they all joined the call for Biden to step aside and anoint Kamala Harris as the Dem nominee.

Independence daze

"Still, the vague claim of “independence” is the only argument they have and it’s not a coincidence that both the Times and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting used the word to defend their perks and declare themselves holier than thou.

"In a recent article that covered nearly two full pages in the print edition, the Times sneered at White House attempts to broaden access to the president in the Oval Office and briefing room by making space for newcomers, including bloggers and podcasters.

"To the Gray Lady, letting in upstarts who don’t subscribe to leftist pieties is an affront to all that is good and decent.

“Longtime White House reporters say the result has been an erosion of their independence,” the Times sneered, without defining what independence it was referring to.

"It went on to claim that adding newer media outlets “has undercut the briefing as a space to relay accurate information to the American public and hold the president to account.”

"It offers no evidence of those claims, except to show that the newer outlets sometimes get to ask questions of the press secretary that are different from the ones the Times thinks should be asked.

"Heaven forbid!

"That’s the left in a nutshell: Diversity is a good idea as long as everybody thinks alike!

"NPR reacted with the same don’t-you know-who-we-are arrogance.

"It said Trump’s executive order defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which in turn funds PBS and NPR, is “an affront to the First Amendment rights of NPR . . . and locally owned and operated the First Amendment rights of station listeners and donors who support independent news and information.”

"So let’s get this straight: By saving taxpayers $500 million a year by pulling the funding, Trump is violating the First Amendment rights of both recipients and listeners.

"Is there a lawyer in the house?

Free speech gatekeepers

"The sense of entitlement perfectly captures the arrogance of the leftist outlets.

"They not only want a monopoly, they also demand that taxpayers fund it.

"What they really fear is that breaking their stranglehold will lead to the public hearing different perspectives and that will be the end of their cookie jar.

"Think about the implications: These are the supposed guardians of the First Amendment, yet they try to squelch the free flow of information because it threatens their sinecures and control of what the public knows about its government.

"Bad as it is, the position would be more defensible if the legacy media didn’t distort everything by putting their leftist spin on all news and commentary. 

"Their lack of fairness and balance is the ultimate reason why they should lose their dominance.

"Unfortunately for them, the second Trump White House sees the pattern and is determined to throw open the doors.

"Moreover, the administration is wise to the grifters’ false claims of being independent and is now insisting they actually live up to the word.

"In his Friday executive order ending funding for PBS and NPR, Trump cited why the outlets should be forced to do without government money.

“Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” the president wrote.

"Touche!"

Saturday, May 03, 2025

New COVID Drugs That Work Better Than Paxlovid

Here's an encouraging piece of news, excerpted from the SciTech Daily article:

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From SciTech Daily May 3, 2025: "New Drugs Outperform Paxlovid – A Game Changer for COVID and Future Pandemics", by University of California - San Francisco, May 3, 2025

"Researchers at UC San Francisco and the Gladstone Institutes have developed new drug candidates that show strong potential against the virus responsible for COVID-19, as well as other coronaviruses that could drive future pandemics.

"In preclinical studies, these compounds outperformed Paxlovid in combating both SARS-CoV-2 and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, a pathogen known for causing deadly outbreaks around the world.

“In three years, we’ve moved as fast as a pharmaceutical company would have, from start to finish, developing drug candidates against a totally new pathogen,” said Charles Craik, PhD, UCSF professor of pharmaceutical chemistry and co-corresponding author of the paper, which appears April 23 in Science Advances.

“These compounds could inhibit coronaviruses in general, giving us a head start against the next pandemic,” Craik said. “We need to get them across the finish line and into clinical trials.”

"The work was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to prepare for the next coronavirus epidemic – work that pharmaceutical companies have largely abandoned. But the grant to UCSF has since been terminated, and the group’s antiviral drug candidates face an uncertain future.

"The discovery came out of UCSF’s Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern, which funded the work of several hundred scientists at UCSF and beyond. It is one of nine centers that NIAD created in 2022 to bolster the nation’s pandemic preparedness."