For the past several months we all have heard and watched on our TVs from our health experts the same repetitive, boring – and sometimes even rather simplistic statements- of the different ways to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. I relate my feelings to my broad and varied academic training and vocations-16 years attendance at Canadian universities getting my 4 academic degrees- B.Sc.Hons Biology from U of Manitoba in 1949, M.Sc in biochemistry from U of Alberta in 1952, Ph.D in Plant Pathology and Cytogenetics from U. of Toronto in1955, and an MD in medicine from U of Manitoba in 1960. Regarding vocations I first worked for 7 years as a plant pathologist with the Canad. Dept. of Agriculture, then on returning to Manitoba I graduated from medicine in 1960, did cancer Research in Saskatoon for 4 years, 3 years setting up and directing Winnipeg Clinic Research Institute Lab followed by medical practice in Winnipeg for 35 years I was also a medical officer with the Workers compensation of Manitoba for 8 of those 35 years. I also set up and directed 2 private Research labs- one at the Winnipeg Clinic in 1965-68 and my own private research lab called the Kildonan Institute of Gerontology in 1974 . After retiring from medicine in the mid 1990’s I also closed my private Research lab and devoted most of my spare time informing the public about various health issues using different educational tools including a blog and a website. I am in relative good health and will turn 93 in June 2020 -but lets get to the topic of the Covid-19 pandemic.
First a few general statements re RNA retroviral infections
- The epidemics/pandemics of Spanish flu,Ebola, HIV/AIDS, SARS, and now COVID-19 are all caused by the same group of viruses namely -the RNA retroviruses- One would expect that they would all have some features in common.- and they certainly do. For an introduction to retroviruses. -indeed Virology 101, I recommend this link Retrovirus <en.wikipedia.org/ Our specialists never tell us to review and compare these retroviruses/pandemics that way.
2 Also since The HIV Life Cycle-AIDS is the most extensively studied RNA retrovirus pandemic and is the longest persisting pandemic- especially still prevalent in Africa, I would recommend that the reader use this RNA retrovirus to search for details on Covid-19 This link also details one of the major complications- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. This syndrome develops because after the HIV virus enters the host cell – specifically the CT4 helper lymphocytes-its transcriptase enzyme directs the host DNA genome to make copies of the HIV virus- and presumably all the other RNA retrovirus – including Covid-19 . When the cytoplasm of these special lymphocytes become engorged with newly formed RNA virus copies they die releasing the viruses which can repeat the process of invading new cells The ability of the host to function immunologically and/or their death of these special lymphocytes or reducing their blood levels to 200/ml or less. (The normal blood level of the CT4 lymphocyte is between 500-1500 /ml). When these low levels are reached we say the person now has AIDS- acquired immune deficiency syndrome . The most common signs of syndrome includes weight Karposi cancer (sarcoma) and non specific pneumonia leading to death. By coincidence doctors have recently reported that children with Covid-19 were developing vascular lesions resulting in strokes and deaths while others were developing unusual skin lesions-Could either of these conditions be suggestive of HIV symptoms of AIDS .
This link also details the history of how scientists after studying the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS developed a specific medical treatment-not a vaccine called ART -anti retroviral treatment which gave the HIV victims a new life from not dying prematurally. Imagine the joy and relief of these emaciated AIDS victims finding that the virus no longer could be demonstrated in their biological fluids and that they would therefore not transmit HIV but more importantly they could even live a normal full life expectancy . Again our health specialists fail to tell the public about this unique special medical treatment.
they reduce the target lymphocytes which the retrovirus invades and grows- are the CT4 helper lymphocytes- these blood cells drop to such low levels that they loose their ability to assist in the production of antibodies- The result is that the victims usually die die from acquired immunity deficiency syndrome. By coincidence doctors have recently reported that children with Covid-19 were developing vascular lesions resulting in strokes and deaths while others were developing unusual skin lesions-Could either of these conditions be suggestive of HIV symptoms of AIDS .
-This link also details the history of how scientists after studying the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS developed a specific medical treatment-not a vaccine called ART -anti retroviral treatment which gave the HIV victims a new life from not dying prematurally. Imagine the joy and relief of these emaciated AIDS victims finding that the virus no longer could be demonstrated in their biological fluids and that they would therefore not transmit the HIV but more importantly could even live a normal full life expectancy . Again our health specialists fail to tell the public about this unique special medical treatment.
3 Probably most importantly the Specialists failed to mention the fact that RNA retrovirus must first enter the host cell before they can begin their division and growth No host cell wall penetration no viral growth no pandemic! Theyonly stress the 2 meter avoidance and also to wash their hands to prevent infection.
4. I would also recommend to your readers to check 2 other links:
< lifescience.com> <medscape.com > In these 2 links the scientists interviewed explain why some patients with Covid-19 may have oxygen saturation levels of 70% or less and yet do not exhibit clinical features of hypoxia. This raises the question should they be put on ventolaters- a procedure normally started when the O2 saturation level drops below 90%- raising the dilemma of whether we should treat the clinical findings of the patient or the test. According to the interview of this website the ER physician was removed from the ward and returned to the ER when he refused to intubate such patients with low O2 saturation and no clinical symptoms of hypoxia.. This issue that maybe doctors should treat the patient and not the test also was not mentioned/considered by specialists.
5. Since all of these RNA retroviruses have the same unique property namely of directing the host DNA to make copies of the virus RNA. and that this RNA then becomes transcribed into part of the host DNA genome !. This raises a very fundamental question : Should individuals after recovery from COVID-19 and presumably still have their RNA virus as part of the host DNA should ever give blood for transfusions and/or plasma. An issue -to my knowledge.Never mentioned or discussed.
6 Regarding development of a specific vaccine.Specialists should warn the public that some procedures used in making vaccines incorporate parts of living virus particles that accidentally could create potentially new viral pathogens –Thisisnever discussed and/or even mentioned by our specialists .
