Blog
My recent post described a newly identified mechanism by which mom’s placenta protected the developing fetus from mom’s viral infections. Here you can read about how the unhindered interferon pathway leads to major damage during Zika virus infection. This virus creates life altering brain damage th...
Although both scientists and parents express relief for the general protection of developing fetuses from the average viral infection, neither have understood the means of protection. While specific infections do evade this barrier and cause harm, the vast majority of viruses are stopped, and moms d...
Another study our of The Karolinska Institute indicates that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is not associated with neonatal complications. Two thirds of the moms who tested positive were asymptomatic from the virus.
Mia Ahlberg, Martin Neovius, Sissel Saltvedt, Jonas Söderling, Karin Petterss...
While Britain may be locking down again, at least their researchers are uncovering some good news. The Imperial College of London released findings that COVID-19 infection “appears rare in newborn babies”.   Buried in the report, they also reaffirmed recommendations to NOT separate COVID-19 positi...
With all the hysteria surrounding, COVID-19, one would think that the virus is a death sentence for everyone. In fact, we are learning a lot about risk factors which indicate many are not at high risk. Initially there was concern that pregnant moms and their newborns might be at higher risk, but a...
Mast cells seem to be everywhere and do everything. In this study, they appear to help us survive starvation by inducing ketogenesis, the burning of fats when we do not get carbohydrates in our diet.
Alessandra Misto, Gustavo Provensi, Valentina Vozella, Maria Beatrice Passani, Daniele Piomelli. M...
While I appreciate novel therapeutic options, in this case, I wonder if this therapy might lead to unexpected consequences. If the other articles this week are true, then excessively blocking mast cells and IGE coud raise our risk of severe bacterial infections. We use natural therapies to lower ma...
Even in 2010, we were learning of the critical role of mast cells in immune defenses outside of allergic responses.
N. Dietrich, M. Rohde, R. Geffers, A. Kroger, H. Hauser, S. Weiss, N. O. Gekara. Mast cells elicit proinflammatory but not type I interferon responses upon activation of TLRs by bacte...
Writing to a European audience, Starkl et al note that not only do 150 million Europeans now suffer from some type of allergy, but by 2025 over half of Europe will have allergies if current trends hold true. Many would initially blame the IgE antibody and allergic cells like mast cells for this med...
Abobaker provides another recent review of vitamin C potential for COVID-19 therapy. See more here: Overview of the possible role of vitamin C in management of COVID-19.
Abobaker, Anis et al. “Overview of the possible role of vitamin C in management of COVID-19.” Pharmacological reports : PR, 1–12....
Feyaerts and Luyten provide a quick overview of potential and known mechanisms by which COVID 19 is causing medical complications and how vitamin C could address many of these mechanisms. They agree that research should be done but are hopeful it could help COVID-19 patients. Read more here: Vitamin...
William Simonson PharmD shares his thoughts on the potential for COVID-19 in an editorial. Several studies are cited which reveal how vitamin C has lowered hospital stays and ventilation days in specific patient groups. His words and his references are worth an hour or two of reading. Read more: V...