Excess deaths continue in 2022

I went to the CDC Wonder website to see if excess deaths are still present in 2022. February 2022 is still incomplete, so I compared only the month of January for each year from 2018 to 2022. Using the same month from 2018 to 2022 removes the seasonal variations in deaths. 2018 and 2019 are…

Aphasia is a stroke symptom

You may have heard that the famous movie star Bruse Willis has aphasia, and he will step away from making movies. I have seen a lot of aphasia. I worked in a comprehensive stroke center for many, many years in Buffalo, New York. What is aphasia? Aphasia is a neurologic deficit! That means a part…

The Triglyceride/HDL ratio detects insulin resistance and predicts diseases

Anyone who had a blood test called a lipid profile has probably heard of triglycerides and HDL. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, commonly called the “good cholesterol.” HDL is a lipoprotein carrier and cleans up the arteries of atherosclerosis. Metabolic Syndrome Triglycerides are also good, but they are bad for the body in excess. A…

Microplastics found in the Human Placenta, Intestines and Sputum

Microplastics can be found in different body organs and affect human health. Microplastics in the placenta A study published in the journal Environmental International detected microplastics in the human placenta. Raman Microspectroscopy was used to examine six human placentas to evaluate microplastics. Twelve microplastic fragments (ranging from 5 to 10 μm in size) were found…

Autoimmune antibodies and diseases after COVID-19 disease and injections

A newly released study, Autoantibodies linked to autoimmune diseases associate with COVID-19 outcomes, discovered elevated autoantibodies in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infections.[1] The study included 248 adults from five states of the USA. One hundred seventy-one of them had COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR testing. Seventy-seven are healthy controls. The…

Intermittent fasting results in better COVID-19 outcomes

July 10, 2022 update. This paper is now peer-reviewed and published in the BMJ Prevention and Health. A new study showed that regular fasting people have better COVID-19 outcomes. The study was made in Utah by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute. Mormons comprise 62% of the residents in Utah, and they observe fasting. Beliefnet…

Delta and Omicron recombinant SARS-CoV-2 detected in the US

A study headed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has detected nine SARS-CoV-2 viruses with genetic information from the Delta (AY.119.2) and Omicron (BA.1.1) variants in several mid-Atlantic states of the US. The states where the recombinants were detected are New Jersey, Tennesse, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. RNA viruses like the…

Tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo after COVID vaccines

This article talks about tinnitus and other hearing complications after receiving COVID-19 injections. What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is a sound that you hear, not from an external source. It can happen to one or both ears and be continuous or intermittent. The sound can be buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or humming. It can be loud…

Physical Activity Prolongs Life

I initially posted on August 15, 2020. This article is updated with more information. This article shows several studies that show that minor improvements in the level of physical activities can make a difference in life expectancy no matter what age or gender. Highlights Exercise lowers the risk of dying early from all causes. “All…

Exercise releases myokines from skeletal muscles

This article was initially published on May 16, 2019. It has been updated. What is Cytokine? Cytokines are signaling proteins. Think of cytokines as text messages from one organ to another organ. The signal may be a ‘yes,’ “no,’ ‘make some more” (positive feedback loop), or that’s enough (negative feedback loop). The signals may be…

Intermittent Fasting while on Diabetes Medications

This post was initially released on October 25, 2020. It has been updated. Intermittent fasting in diabetics has many benefits. It reduces blood sugar, lowers weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and decreases the need for medications. However, people with Type 2 diabetes or adult-onset diabetes who would like to do intermittent fasting should avoid complications. Possible…

The Moderna patented genetic sequence in SARS-CoV-2 makes it more infectious

This article is based on the research, MSH3 Homology and Potential Recombination Link to SARS-CoV-2 Furin Cleavage Site published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Virology. Briefly, it talks about the genetic sequence present in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic to be similar to a nucleotide sequence patented by Moderna in 2016….

Three Deltamicron cases in Southern France

Genetic recombination is when gene sequences from two organisms combine. It is common among RNA viruses like coronaviruses. Recombination can happen when infected with two distinct mutants or variants. Two pandemic variants, Delta and Omicron 21K succeeded in southern France but co-circulated for several weeks. That explains why three people in southern France got infected…

Natural immunity vs. Pfizer BNT162b2 vs. Coronavac

The study, Comparison of the immunogenicity of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Respirology. The two injections are different. The Pfizer BNT162b2  uses the modified RNA technology enclosed in a lipid nanoparticle. In contrast, the Coronavac uses an old vaccine technology using inactivated viruses that cannot replicate…

Risk-benefit analysis shows a higher risk of COVID vax death than COVID-19 disease for those under 80 years old

Decisions about taking medications, including vaccines, should include a risk-benefit analysis. Will I have more significant benefits from getting the vaccine (prevent death from COVID-19), or will I die from it? Death is the most significant endpoint, and it is not easily confounded by bias. Vaccine studies usually use other endpoints like “preventing severe disease”…