<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello Mark, <br></div><div><br></div><div>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. <br></div><div>I read the news about interferon also here (sorry, the webpage is in Spanish!), in the second most important Cuban newspaper: <a href="http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2020-03-13/cuba-tiene-capacidad-suficiente-para-asumir-tratamiento-de-pacientes-con-covid-19">http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2020-03-13/cuba-tiene-capacidad-suficiente-para-asumir-tratamiento-de-pacientes-con-covid-19</a></div><div><br></div><div>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. <br></div><div><br></div><div>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. <br></div><div><br></div><div>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. <br></div><div><br></div><div>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 <br></div><div><a href="https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200314/lombardia-pide-medicos-cuba-venezuela-china-para-afrontar-crisis-del-coronavirus-italia/2010066.shtml">https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200314/lombardia-pide-medicos-cuba-venezuela-china-para-afrontar-crisis-del-coronavirus-italia/2010066.shtml</a></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.mbs.news/a/2020/03/authorities-from-the-italian-region-of-lombardy-ask-cuba-for-support-to-fight-covid-19.html">https://www.mbs.news/a/2020/03/authorities-from-the-italian-region-of-lombardy-ask-cuba-for-support-to-fight-covid-19.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps they know how to fight epidemics "on the field", and that's why they were required. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Finally, interferon is apparently used in coronavirus therapy (see attachment), although I cannot properly judge, since I am not an expert. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Best, <br></div><div><br></div><div>Ramon<br></div><div><br></div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:29 AM Mark Johnson <<a href="mailto:johnsonmwj1@gmail.com">johnsonmwj1@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">A friend of mine drew my attention to this:<div><a href="http://blog.yalebooks.com/2020/03/12/cubas-contribution-to-combating-covid-19/" target="_blank">http://blog.yalebooks.com/2020/03/12/cubas-contribution-to-combating-covid-19/</a> <br></div><div><br></div><div>"<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:14px">Cuban Interferon Alpha 2b has proven effective for viruses with characteristics similar to those of COVID-19"</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:14px">anyone know about this?</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><br></span></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, 15 Mar 2020 at 20:23, Pedro C. Marijuan <<a href="mailto:pcmarijuan.iacs@aragon.es" target="_blank">pcmarijuan.iacs@aragon.es</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p>Dear All,</p>
<p>The exchanges below have been taken from Plamen's authors list
about immune overreaction to COVID-19. I think it is of general
interest. </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>Best--Pedro</div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="auto">Dear Plamen,
<div dir="auto">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:</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><span style="font-family:sans-serif"><a href="https://www.sinobiological.com/cytokine-storm-cytokine-storms-a-5800.html" target="_blank">https://www.sinobiological.com/cytokine-storm-cytokine-storms-a-5800.html</a></span><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><font face="sans-serif">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).</font></div>
<div dir="auto"><font face="sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div dir="auto"><font face="sans-serif">Best regards,</font></div>
<div dir="auto"><font face="sans-serif">Anastas</font></div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold"> One can try curcumin for a start. See <a href="http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/1.full" id="gmail-m_6096481057917309955gmail-m_6034893263793958008LPlnk757221" target="_blank">
http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/1.full</a><br>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold"> Best,</div>
Arran</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Mar 15, 2020,
1:27 AM Plamen <<a href="mailto:plamen.l.simeonov@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">plamen.l.simeonov@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto">
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Dear All,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>just briefly: </div>
<div>here is what Bob Ulanowitz just shared with me.
You may also share this with others who may find
it helpful. <br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>I'm very excited right now by something
I just heard on NPR. Italian</span><br>
<span>doctors are reporting some success with
saving grave,elderly patients</span><br>
<span>by giving them auto-immune suppressant
drugs. Three days ago I wrote</span><br>
<span>to my sister (a pathologist) that is
exactly what should be tried.</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>About 15 years ago the frozen remains of
young explorers who had died</span><br>
<span>of the 1918 flu were discovered and
autopsied. It was revealed that</span><br>
<span>they were killed by their own healthy
immune systems run amok.</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Now last week a fellow by the name of
Menachery ran some experiments</span><br>
<span>on mice that were exposed to COVID-19
like virus. He discovered that</span><br>
<span>young mice were not affected much, but
mortality was high with old</span><br>
<span>mice. Furthermore, the immune systems of
the old mice had run wild and</span><br>
<span>killed them.</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>So why not try treating old human
patients with auto-immune suppressant drugs?</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Voila!</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>More later,</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Bob</span><br>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr">Dr. Mark William Johnson<br>Institute of Learning and Teaching<br>Faculty of Health and Life Sciences<br>University of Liverpool<br><br>Phone: 07786 064505<br>Email: <a href="mailto:johnsonmwj1@gmail.com" target="_blank">johnsonmwj1@gmail.com</a><br>Blog: <a href="http://dailyimprovisation.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://dailyimprovisation.blogspot.com</a></div>
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