Can Dogs Detect Infected Patients with Covid 19? – Virus 20

 

A dog in the middle of street, just for illustration only.

As we might all know that dogs are “excellent” to use their sense. It is fact that dogs have smell capability 10,000 times more than human to detect crucial substances include:

- blood

- illegal electronic devices

- explosive devices

- illegal drugs

In medical world, dogs are trained to diagnosed diseases such as cancer. They success to recognize cancer types such as:

- skin cancer

- bladder cancer

- breast cancer.

By understanding that diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and even malaria may cause specific odors, thus dogs may help to detect the diseases.

Dogs are standing under the tree in our neighborhood.

Scientists have trained dogs to help them to detect patients infected with corona virus (Sars Cov 2).

Dogs are projected to be able to detect the Covid 19, even the patients have no symptoms.

Researchers from University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany have good primary result:

- dogs can be trained to sniff out virus (Sars Cov 2) infection

- dogs may determine who got infected by virus or virus free persons through smelling the saliva

- the accuracy (success rate) is 94%

Just for comparisons, the available tests and methods have accuracy ranging from 84% to 100%.

Hence, 94% accuracy of detection by using dogs is “not bad,” at least for early warning purposes.

Then, suspect infected patients may be examined by more accurate devices furthermore.

What do you think?

Measuring Oxygen Level in the Blood - Virus 19

Pulse Oximeter (Credit to Insider)

We always hear and familiar with the word “ventilator,” a life saving device during current pandemic Covid 19.

Why Covid 19 patients need ventilator?

You might know that it is because low concentration of oxygen level in the blood, and the fact that virus drown the lung, thus lung can’t inhale and exhale air in normal ways.

How we can say our oxygen level is normal?

There are two common available methods:

1) Measurement of PaO2 (partial pressure of oxygen dissolved).

- the normal reading is 80 mm Hg

2) Measurement of Oxygen saturation or pulse Oxygen (SpO2).

- the normal level of oxygen is 95% to 100%

The lawn mower, just for illustration

You may have medical device called Pulse Oximeter to measure Oxygen saturation or pulse Oxygen at your home.

Oximeters are available in many stores or Pharmacy such as Walgreen, CVS, Target, Walmart or Amazon.

Prices of Pulse Oximeter are ranging from US$ 4.77 to US$ 299. Quite reasonable for me if price is about US$ 19.99.

Moreover, in case your Pulse Oxygen level below 90%, it is mean the oxygen level is not normal.

In addition to lower pulse oxygen level, people should go to hospital and need treatments when they face with conditions of:

- serious illness

- difficult to breathing

Do you think that should you have this kind of medical device available at your home?

BinaxNOW - Quick, Cheap and Accuracy of Covid 19 Test – Virus 18

Card and application for an antigen test (credit to Alere)

We talked about tools or instruments for testing of Corona virus on several previous posts:

- Is there Affordable Kit to Detect Corona Virus? - Virus 2

- The Fastest Test with RT-PCR Technology Based – 5 Minutes Result - Virus 7

- Should We Get Covid-19 Antibody Test to Avoid Lock-down? - Virus 10

What are important different between the available test methods?

1) Old Fashion PCR test

- this “Polymerase Chain Reaction” test is based on detection of virus (SARS Cov2) genetic sequences.

- using expensive and complicated instruments, and run by professional.

- take several days to know the result

Beautiful cat, just for illustration

2) Antibody test

- after exposing to SARS Cov2 virus, the antibodies may be detected in the blood.

- the same with PCR test in term of expensive, complicated machine and long hours result to know

3) “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card”

- this is a new test based on detection of antigen on Corona virus or detection of molecular structure of antigen on Corona virus surface.

- simple, quick result and very cheap.

The “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card” is created by Abbott Laboratories, and has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The card, credit card size is accompanied with nasal swab and extraction reagent. Nasal swab is stuck to card, then connect to mobile (Cell Phone) application called as Navica.

Result can be seen in 15 minutes with cost US$ 5 only. The accuracy of test is 97.1% to 98.5%.

We may show our test results to enter public buildings such as schools, offices and even groceries. Make everybody convenient. 

How Immune System Work to Fight Covid 19? – Virus 17

Fig-01- The summer hat for women, just for illustration

We might wonder why some people could survive after infected of Corona virus, Sar Cov 2, Covid 19?

The simple answer is that because they have “very good” immune system. We have at least 7 component of immune systems:

- antibodies

- white blood cells

- the lymphatic system

- the spleen

- the thymus

- the bone marrow

- the complement system

Of these 7, the white blood cells are a major component of the body's immune system.

Fig-02- White bulb, flowers, just for illustration

White blood cells have sub-type called a Lymphocyte. Sub-type Lymphocyte have crucial cells:

- natural killer cells

- T cells

- B cells

When corona virus infected our body, our immune system produced antibodies and T cells to fight corona virus, Sar Cov 2.

Unfortunately, those who dead, it is because their immune system not react properly, not enough to produce antibodies and no or less respond of T cells to combat corona virus.

These facts are supported by research from several institutions:

- Erasmus University Medical Center and La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), Holland, by observed 10 infected patients of Covid 19.

- the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne hospital, Australia showed that a 40 years old, healthy woman was able to survive from corona virus infection.

Hope, our own immune system is in “perfect” condition to fight virus, while we are waiting vaccine and drugs.

Two Countries with Zero New Cases of Covid 19 – Virus 16

 Two Peacocks, just for illustration

Americans have faced worse Corona virus crisis compared to some other countries such as:

- Brazil

- India

- Russia

- Mexico.

As of today, not like other industry countries, gloomy data shown on pandemic of Covid 19 in the USA:

- 5.6 million infected cases

- 174.6 thousand total deaths

- 171 infected cases per 1 million people

However, the virus had affected to almost all countries of the world with 23.3 million total infection cases and 806 thousand death.

The wall art, illustration only

Luckily, two countries have no new cases in recently, they are:

- Saint Lucia

- Mauritius

Saint Lucia is an island in Caribbean, no dead record due to Covid 19. The total cases 25 only. No new infection cases recently.

Population is 183,000, thus 0 (zero) cases per 1 million people. The lowest in the world.

Another country with no new cases of Corona virus is Mauritius. You might not know this country where about.

Mauritius is a country consists of 16 islands, locates in Indian ocean, by the coast off Madagascar.

Total population is about 1.27 million. In term of Covid 19, total infected cases are 344 with total death was 10. Hence, almost 0 (zero) cases per 1 million people

These two countries have a very good health system to overcome Covid 19 pandemic crisis. Industry countries such as USA should learn from these two developing nations.

Hope, Corona virus disappear soon.

What is mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine? - Virus 15

                                                         Painting at my neighborhood

As we might know that messenger ribonucleuc acid (mRNA) play crucial role to supply information to DNA in protein synthesis to regulate cells and tissues in our body.

Unfortunately, virus, in this case Covid-19 “manipulate” RNA to enable to enter cells, then duplicate itself. Consequence of this activity:

- infected people to be sick or dead

- if virus infected lung, then patient to be difficult to breath.

Vaccine is one of effective methods to control virus. Traditionally, vaccine was made by weaken or killed virus, then injected into body to stimulate immune system to produce antibody.

The traditional method has taken long time (could be years and even a decade) to develop, because of:

- make sure that weaken or dead virus be able to stimulate immune system to produce antibody

- we must certain that virus is dead or weak, not strong enough to infect human.

- search suitable media for virus to well growing

- need large scale to test effectiveness and safety of vaccine.

In 1990, scientist develop mRNA vaccine which contain viral protein. This viral protein could trick immune system to “think” that body is attacked by real virus. Then, immune system responses by producing antibody to fight virus.

In case of Covid-19, the technique is quite advance where:

- additional certain substance into mRNA to reduce negative effects of vaccine such as inflammation.

- using spike protein, a kind of protein for virus to enter cells. Thus, antibody result from vaccine to be effective to combat Covid-19.

The mRNA vaccine shown good result in first and second clinical trials, hope, will be the best result in the final trial.

What is Safe Dosage of Covid-19 Vaccines? – Virus 14

A vaccine for Covid-19 (credit to Reuter UK)

At previous posts, we talked about possible vaccines for Covid-19 (please read: Updates of Vaccines to Combat Covid-19 – Virus 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update and When Will Vaccine for Covid-19 Available? - Virus 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update).

The good news that we are in phase 3 clinical trials with 30,000 volunteer at 89 different site in the USA now.

We might have questions:

- is safe for human?

- what is safe dosage of Covid-19 vaccines?

Yes, vaccine, in this case, developed by cooperation between federal agency and biotechnology company, National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) and Moderna is safe.

It is reported safe because it had been went through two clinical phases, and will complete final phases with thousand volunteer soon.

There are 3 dosages are tested so far:

- 25 micro gram (µg)

- 100 µg

- 250 µg

The results shown that all 3 dosages have positive impacted where its generated immune responses. No serious effects have been recorded.

The phase 3 will involve dose of 100 µg, it is medium doses. Researchers use this medium dose, because:

- at first shot, there is little reaction.

- after 1 month, there is moderate reaction at second shot.

In case of 25 µg dosage, the reaction is mild. There is severe reaction when using 250 µg dosage.

We are waiting the best outcome from clinical trials of 300,000 volunteer as soon as possible, probably by next 3 months!

Rising and Falling of Prices during Covid-19 Pandemic – Virus 13

One of Japanese foods, just for illustration

Last two shopping trips at grocery stores, we noticed price increasing. Yes, we heard news from mainstream medias about price increasing of grocery items. We are not aware so much in real life.

It is said that grocery prices have been increased by average of 2.6%. But, we believe several items more expensive, may be more than 3.5%. Some of them:

- eggs (We saw supply shortages).

- bread

- doughnut

- muffin

- cookies

- fruits (oranges, apples, citrus)

- soft drinks, juice

- protein sources (chicken, fish, meat)

- vegetables, especially canned vegetables

Clothes inside Walmart supermarket

Panic shopping is the reason price increase at the beginning of Covid-19 Pandemic, now, here two prominent reasons:

- disrupting of “food supply chains” which include production, processing and delivery systems from farmers (producers) to stores across the nation.

- demand keep continue, even higher in some foods after panic shopping, but supply chains such as meat processing are closing, thus causes food shortages.

However, we have good news that rising and falling in price come together. I noticed these items are getting lower in price:

- sausage

- butter

- tomatoes

- cupcakes

In addition to groceries, following items and services are dropping in prices as well:

- gasoline (raw and at stations)

- clothes

- car and car insurances

- airfare (travel tickets)

Do you notice any increasing and tumbling in prices in your areas? What items and services?

Virus relate postings

- When Will Vaccine for Covid-19 Available? - Virus 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Homemade Face Masks to Combat Spread of Covid-19 – Virus 5 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Will We Have Hantavirus Outbreaks or Pandemic? - Virus 6 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Updates of Vaccines to Combat Covid-19 – Virus 12

Vaccine candidates

Since my first post about vaccine (When Will Vaccine for Covid-19 Available? - Virus 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update), the development is so fast.

We have about 20’s vaccine candidates at the beginning, then developed to be 70’s, then, at least 100 vaccine candidates now.

The vaccines belong to government, private and even NGO research institutes around the globe.

At least four countries have been involved in vaccine development and test its with quite clear steps:

1. Germany

- Vaccine called “BNT162” has been injected to 200 human volunteer with doses 1 to 100 microgram. No result was reported yet.

2. China

- This country has conducted clinical trial to 108 volunteer with vaccine called Ad5-nCoV, but no report yet.

3. USA

- USA had completed first clinical trial with “progression well” results. Vaccine called mRNA-1273 has been shot to two initial groups of 28 and 17 volunteer.

- Other 60 adults will be included in the trials.

- Second shot has been administered and will be followed about 13 months whether the vaccine is safe and effective.

4. United Kingdom

- Vaccine called ChAdOx1 has been success to cure infected monkeys with Corona virus.

- Then, 550 volunteers have been injected with vaccine. The temporary results shown that vaccine is safe to human.

Since ChAdOx1, UK vaccine is the most promising so far, moreover, one of largest pharmaceutical companies in the world ask for the production license.

This Indian based drug company intends to produce ChAdOx1 (vaccine) as soon as possible, might be by next month or no later than September this year.

However, UK government and scientists do not quite sure about timetable of mass production.

Research is still on going, not complete yet. It might be by the end of this year year (2020) or early 2021 for production.

We just wait and see. 

Is Remdesivir a Potential Drug Against Covid-19? - Virus 11

A potential drug to combat Corona Virus

(credit to Daily Mail)

At previous posted, we discussed about the time length to produce possible vaccine of Covid-19 (When Will Vaccine for Covid-19 Available? - Virus 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update).

We just listening and watching “good news” about prospect to combat SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19 in recent days.

Drug called “Remdesivir” was designated to control the Ebola virus, but the effect “not so good.”

Since its able to block “the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase” enzyme which is used by virus to replicate itself (by helping from human cells), the “Remdesivir” then applied to combat SARS and MERS viruses.

Remdesivir ables to control both SARS and MERS viruses in the laboratory and animal experiments.

In case of Covid-19, the drug has been given to 1,063 patients in 22 countries, include:

- USA

- China

- Japan

- UK and other several European countries.

Reported from several resources showed that drugs have positive effects on:

- shorten recovery from 15 days to 11 days.

- reducing mortality rate from 11% to 8%.

Yes, the result was “promising,” but not significant statistically, thus it needs to be further analyzed, and the trial might be expanded.

However, CEO of Gilead Sciences, the company which produced “Remdesivir,” has planned to supply the drugs to hospitals in the USA by next week.

The drugs will be used to treat about 200,000 infected patients. If success, the drugs will be developed into three forms:

- administered through IV

- by injection

- pills

We wait and pray for the best, hope, Covid-19 disappears soon.