[Fis] Fwd: Covid-19 immune therapy

Mon Mar 16 13:56:30 CET 2020

Hello Mark,

I am Argentinean/Cuban, perhaps I can offer some extra information about
the potential possibilities of Cuban biotechnology, although I am not an
expert in Interferon, so I am not sure about the effectiveness against
coronavirus.
I read the news about interferon also here (sorry, the webpage is in
Spanish!), in the second most important Cuban newspaper:
http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2020-03-13/cuba-tiene-capacidad-suficiente-para-asumir-tratamiento-de-pacientes-con-covid-19

The Cuban Biotechnology Center produce medicines that otherwise Cuban
cannot afford due to the embargo, and they are really experts in
Interferon. Among other things, it was used against dengue.

Cuban professionals were trained in Soviet Union and other socialists
countries until 1998, but after the collapse of the socialist block Cuba
got completely isolated, and had to innovate. Recently, Cuba and China have
strong economical links and technological collaboration. For example, the
Cuban Neuroscience Institute has merged with China's institutions. So, I am
not surprise if the Chinese are using Cuban technology as much as this
sounds like science - fiction.

I was in Cuba during several dengue epidemics in the 1980's . There were
also recent epidemics of dengue and Zica in the last few years in Cuba. The
Cuban epidemic control system was actually very effective, perhaps due to
more rigid state control and sanitary measures as compared with other Latin
American countries, but also because medicine was readily available and
free. Because of tropical conditions the spread of infections is common,
and that explains the focus on viruses in the Biotechnology Center.

The Italian province of Lombardia, by know the most affected by
coronavirus, just asked for medical help to China, Cuba and Venezuela,
because of their expertise
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200314/lombardia-pide-medicos-cuba-venezuela-china-para-afrontar-crisis-del-coronavirus-italia/2010066.shtml

https://www.mbs.news/a/2020/03/authorities-from-the-italian-region-of-lombardy-ask-cuba-for-support-to-fight-covid-19.html

Perhaps they know how to fight epidemics "on the field", and that's why
they were required.

Finally, interferon is apparently used in coronavirus therapy (see
attachment),  although I cannot properly judge, since I am not an expert.

Best,

Ramon

On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:29 AM Mark Johnson <johnsonmwj1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> A friend of mine drew my attention to this:
>
> http://blog.yalebooks.com/2020/03/12/cubas-contribution-to-combating-covid-19/
>
>
> "Cuban Interferon Alpha 2b has proven effective for viruses with
> characteristics similar to those of COVID-19"
>
> anyone know about this?
>
>
> On Sun, 15 Mar 2020 at 20:23, Pedro C. Marijuan <pcmarijuan.iacs at aragon.es>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> The exchanges below have been taken from Plamen's authors list about
>> immune overreaction to COVID-19. I think it is of general interest.
>> Best--Pedro
>>
>> 
>> Dear Plamen,
>> Cytokine storm is still a big therapeutic problem similar to sepsis. It's
>> been known to arise in SARS patients. Here is a good summary:
>>
>> https://www.sinobiological.com/cytokine-storm-cytokine-storms-a-5800.html
>>
>> Treatment in infection related cytokine storm is like walking on thin
>> ice. One needs to turn down the lymphocytes' overreaction without harming
>> the immune defense. That is why corticosteroids are actually counter
>> indicated. Using standard immunosuppressants would be similar unless they
>> are carefully targeted like the OX40 inhibition. Nevertheless, I am curious
>> what exactly was done and how does it differ from corticosteroid action
>> (e.g. - Cyclosporine also blocks immune signaling very much upstream and
>> antiproliferative drugs  kill off protective lymphocytes).
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Anastas
>>
>>
>> One can try curcumin for a start. See
>> http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/1.full
>> Best,
>> Arran
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 15, 2020, 1:27 AM Plamen <plamen.l.simeonov at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>> just briefly:
>>> here is what Bob Ulanowitz just shared with me. You may also share this
>>> with others who may find it helpful.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm very excited right now by something I just heard on NPR. Italian
>>> doctors are reporting some success with saving grave,elderly patients
>>> by giving them auto-immune suppressant drugs. Three days ago I wrote
>>> to my sister (a pathologist) that is exactly what should be tried.
>>>
>>> About 15 years ago the frozen remains of young explorers who had died
>>> of the 1918 flu were discovered and autopsied. It was revealed that
>>> they were killed by their own healthy immune systems run amok.
>>>
>>> Now last week a fellow by the name of Menachery ran some experiments
>>> on mice that were exposed to COVID-19 like virus. He discovered that
>>> young mice were not affected much, but mortality was high with old
>>> mice. Furthermore, the immune systems of the old mice had run wild and
>>> killed them.
>>>
>>> So why not try treating old human patients with auto-immune suppressant
>>> drugs?
>>>
>>> Voila!
>>>
>>> More later,
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>
>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Libre
>> de virus. www.avast.com
>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
>> <#m_6096481057917309955_m_6034893263793958008_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
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>
>
> --
> Dr. Mark William Johnson
> Institute of Learning and Teaching
> Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
> University of Liverpool
>
> Phone: 07786 064505
> Email: johnsonmwj1 at gmail.com
> Blog: http://dailyimprovisation.blogspot.com
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