health and wellness – Page 42

COVID: NAD+ and Zinc

Posted on 2020/10/212020/11/13 by admin

NAD+ is a crucial part of the immune system. COVID depletes your NAD+. The body needs the time and materials necessary to replenish NAD+. Included in the elements you need are Vitamins C, B3, D, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium.

Ade Wentzel, co-author of “COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency” was asked about about zinc. Ade replied:
Zinc decreases viral replication directly.
35% of Americans over 65 yrs have low zinc NHANES 3 trial.

Zinc and NAD+ are both needed and consumed for Sirt1 activation

SIRT 1 decreases viral replication directly

Sirt1 decreases TACE activity which decreases TNFa

Lower TNFa leads to lower IL6 and IL1

The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)- and zinc-dependent molecule, the Silent Information Regulator 1 (SIRT1) represents a potential common thread in the aetiology of the hyperinflammatory response and increased mortality.

When NAD gets low it uses nicotinic acid which is limited in the diet, as well as, tryptophan.

Tryptophan is the base for serotinin. Serotonin controls loads of stuff. A lot of symptomatology is tryptophan based.

You should take the recommend daily allowance of zinc for your weight and age. The problem is that there are many zinc products which deliver different amounts of free zinc per milligram.

Robert Miller added, “Try to find zinc picolinate or zinc citrate.”

NOTE: Zinc may interfere with your iron intake. If your doctor recommends iron supplements, they should be taken at a different time of day than the zinc. Most people don’t need extra iron. Too much iron is thought to contribute to cardiovascular problems. Too little iron makes you anemic.

The Miller/Wentzel/Richards COVID NAD+ protocol:
NAD+: Vitamin B3, Vitamin D and sunlight, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium

What you need to know about COVID and NAD+ deficiencies.

COVID-19: NAD+ Deficiency

Posted on 2020/10/212020/11/07 by admin

The Miller/Wentzel/Richards COVID NAD+ protocol
NAD+: Niacin B3, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium

Vitamin B3 / Niacin is the most important ingredient. It must be the correct type of Niacin. Please click here for detailed B3 information.

Vitamin C is best ingested in whole foods not juice or supplements. If it is not possible to consume whole foods, 1,000mg / day is plenty for adults.

Vitamin D is best synthesized by your body. Adults can take an additional 1,000iu / day BUT supplements will not create the photoproducts with unique biologic properties required for your immune system. Exposure of the skin to sunlight is preferred for your body to photosynthesize its own Vitamin D.

Quercetin is best consumed as part of your diet and is contained in abundance in onions, apples, honey, raspberries, red grapes, cherries, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, green tea, coffee, and red wine.

Zinc supplements should be taken daily at the recommend daily allowance for your weight and age. The problem is that there are many zinc products which deliver different amounts of free zinc per milligram.

Selenium should be consumed as part of your diet. Selenium supplements may cause an overdose. Brazil nuts, seafoods, meat, eggs, dairy, and brown rice are the richest food sources of selenium.

In general, it takes 3-6 months to replenish a NAD+ deficiency. You can’t just take higher doses. Your body can only create so much NAD+ in a day. Exercise, inflammation, stress, and/or anxiety can aggravate or prolong long haulers syndrome.

Ade's Original NAD+ Diagram — Ade’s Original NAD+ Diagram

ABOUT NAD+
“Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is both a crucial coenzyme and a cosubstrate for various metabolic reactions in all living cells. Maintenance of NAD+ levels is essential for cell energy homeostasis, survival, proliferation and function. Mounting evidence points to NAD+ as one of the major modulators of immuno-metabolic circuits, thus regulating immune responses and functions. Recent studies delineate impaired host NAD+ metabolism during chronic infections and inflammation, suggesting NAD+ replenishment as an avenue to ameliorate deleterious inflammatory responses.” (Host NAD+ metabolism and infections: therapeutic implications)

NAD+ is often referred to as the anti-aging part of your immune system or “the fountain of youth”. In fact, NAD+ does decline with age. Quite possibly NAD+ deficiencies contribute to most premature deaths. The natural reaction is to want to boost your NAD+; however, there is little evidence that your body will produce more NAD+ than your natural baseline. The best you can do is to make sure you are reaching your baseline level.

REFERENCE
COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity Miller/Wentzel/Richards (2020)

MORE ON COVID: COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Novel Coronavirus

COVID, Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid), and the Immune System

Posted on 2020/10/192021/07/30 by admin

By Daniel Brouse

Vitamin B3 / Niacin / Nicotinic Acid

Attn: Long Haulers focus on supplementing with nicotinic acid.

A research paper co-authored by Ade Wentzel found, “The SARS-CoV-2 hyperinflammatory response is associated with high mortality.” In essence, COVID-19 ‘eats’ the immune system’s NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and restricts your ability to make more. NAD+ is one of the most critical pieces to your immune system puzzle. A deficiency in NAD+ needs to be corrected over time by allowing the body to produce a new supply of NAD+. Nicotinic acid can help reduce the severity of COVID-19, as well as, treat long-COVID long haulers syndrome. Nicotinic acid is also the most important supplement to prevent aging, hypertension, type II diabetes, and obesity NAD+ deficiencies.

NAD+ is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The formula to create NAD+ is complicated (see diagram below). The simplest way to explain it is: add Vitamin B3 Niacin (nicotinic acid) to your diet. Ade suggests, ‘You can take nicotinic acid orally or niagen (if you have deep pockets). However you supplement, you need to keep going for at least a good few months.”

Ade added, “I’d rather use nicotinic acid and not nicotinamide, as the latter can be a SIRT1 inhibitor.
Nicotinic acid is also probably the most direct way to save tryptophan.
There is no need to limit nicotinic acid to 35mg.
It has been used in lipid trials up to 3000mg a day (44mg/kg body weight)”

I have to take 150mg of nicotinic acid with each meal (3 times per day) to treat my long-COVID “long haulers syndrome”. To save money, I buy 500mg tablets and break them into pieces. It costs me about 3 cents per day to treat my NAD+ deficiency.

“When you dig down deep enough it’s amazing how often you end up at NAD+,” added Robert Miller, another co-author of COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency.

Vitamin B3 / niacin is the most crucial component for creating NAD+; however, you also need to be concerned about Vitamins C, D, Quercetin, Zinc, Methyltetrahydrofolate, and Selenium. All of these elements need to be considered both on their own merits, as well as, combined with the others. Vitamin D is particularly complex and should be part of a well thought out plan. If brain fog makes this too complicated, start with the nicotinic acid. Lack of nicotinic acid causes your body to hi-jack tryptophan and all hell breaks loose. Focus on supplementing with nicotinic acid.

Ade asked, “My American bread check didn’t show Niacin fortification?”

I replied, “Unfortunately, most Americans get their Niacin from fortified breakfast cereal.” They spray Niacin on the outside with several other vitamins. It would take 100 bowls of Wheaties/day to correct a niacin deficiency (not recommended).

Robert added, “17.5mg nicotinic acid per 100g of Kellogg’s cereal BUT this isn’t enough given the destructive diet of many of those eating the cereal. Continually hyperglycaemia like you would expect from the sugar in the cereal drives up CD38 and drives down NAD+ meaning you would need substantially more nicotinic acid. We are seriously beginning to suspect that many people actually have pseudo pellegra which is not easy to diagnose. However low Vitamin D levels and plasma tryptophan could be a good indicator of this as well as your risk from Covid-19.”

I replied, “The problem in the USA is… it is difficult to get prescribed Nicotinic Acid… and I have not been able to find it over-the-counter. Doctors and insurance companies don’t cover it. I have been trying to increase my dietary intake, as well as, taking a Inositol Nicotinate supplement.”

Robert offered, “Avoid Inositol Nicotinate (non-flushing B3 Niacin).”

Ade added, “We suggest you use nicotinic acid (niacin B3). We also believe it works most directly to increase NAD+. Niacin doesn’t cause liver problems. Non-flush niacin does though.”

After searching, I said, “It is surprisingly hard to find at a drug store. Neither CVS nor Walgreens carry it. I think I found it at Rite Aid. I’ll try to buy some today. If not, I’ll have to order it online.”

Robert explained, “The problem is that nicotininc acid costs around $15 per kg, so the nicotinic acid in bottle of 90 35mg tablets costs $0.047 . There is no money in it so big pharma isn’t interested in it.”

Finally, I found it, “If anybody is looking to get Niacin, I found it at Rite Aid… currently buy 1 get one free… confirmed with the pharmacist that it is the correct type.”

DOSAGE

WARNING: Niacin may cause flushing. Niacin flush is a common side effect of taking niacin supplements. It appears as red flushing skin, and may be accompanied by itching or burning. It usually lasts under 15 minutes. In almost all cases, flushing is not harmful. [If you have a severe flushing experience and are freaking-out, ingest apples or apple juice (pectin).] Start with 20mg consumed with a meal. Increase to 50mg with each meal. Keep increasing your daily dosage until you stop flushing. That is how you know the proper dosage for you. The more deficient you are the worse the flushing. If you do not flush the first time, you probably are not taking the right type of B3 Niacin. Some people prefer to smash it up and dissolve the dosage in a drink or mix it into their food.

Niacin may aggravate some medical conditions. You should consult your doctor prior to taking Niacin. Your doctor may prescribe higher does to help correct an NAD+ deficiency.

A complete NAD+ immune boosting diet.

COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity R.Millerc, A.R.Wentzel, G.A.Richards

What you need to know about COVID and
NAD+ deficiencies.

COVID, Vitamin D, Health, and Wellness

Posted on 2020/10/192022/07/03 by admin

By Daniel Brouse

Vitamin D Essentials
Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.[1] Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make. The active form of vitamin D tempers the damaging inflammatory response of some white blood cells, while it also boosts immune cells’ production of microbe-fighting proteins.[2] Studies have linked Vitamin D and the immune system to autoimmune diseases, some cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, and COVID.[3]

Vitamin D insufficiency affects almost 50% of the population worldwide.[4]

Sunlight is required for ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced vitamin D production in the skin. During exposure to sunlight 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin absorbs UV B radiation and is converted to previtamin D3 which in turn isomerizes into vitamin D3. Previtamin D3 and vitamin D3 also absorb UV B radiation and are converted into a variety of photoproducts some of which have unique biologic properties.[5} One of the photoproducts is transformed by UVB to corresponding, biologically active, secosteroids. New secosteroids are excellent candidates for therapy of fibrosing, inflammatory or hyperproliferative disorders including cancers and psoriasis (and COVID-19.)[5b]

How You Photosynthesize (And Why a Vitamin D Supplement Is Not the Same)

Immune Factories
Vitamin D is mostly produced in the skin in response to sunlight and is also absorbed from food eaten (about 10% of vitamin D is absorbed this way.)[6] The amount of Vitamin D you absorb through ingestion is probably not even adequate to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. Even if it were adequate, it is not the synthesis of Vitamin D necessary for your immune factories. The creation of Vitamin D is only part of the synthesis creation. For instance, if you get COVID and it’s attacking your lungs, your skin, blood, circulatory system, lungs, respiratory system, and neurological system start a series of chemical reactions. These immune factories do a whole bunch of processes, assembly, creation, and attacks at the location needed. This is of particular importance when fighting COVID, and just as importantly, COVID’s long haulers syndrome. The creation of antibodies, memory T cells, naive T cells, and cytotoxic T cells at the location needed is dependent on the creation of Vitamin D. Synthesized Vitamin D is crucial for fighting the COVID infection. Long haulers syndrome involves another part of your immune factories. Synthesized Vitamin D is essential in correcting the depletion of NAD+. Your immune factories need Vitamin D, but more importantly, they need the other by-products produced when synthesizing Vitamin D (including production of microbe-fighting proteins, the hormone variety of D, previtamin D3, cholecalciferol, a variety of photoproducts with unique biologic properties including secosteroids, and photolyzed lymisterol and tachysterol.)

The Dangers of Vitamin D
Ingesting Vitamin D is not enough. Since Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, the body has no easy way of getting rid of excess Vitamin D and consuming Vitamin D may result in overdosing. Even worse, the body will not reap the full benefits from the Vitamin D that is not synthesized by the body. Which brings us to the larger DANGER of Vitamin D — sunlight

Exposure of the skin to sunlight is essential to create active Vitamin D (which includes the hormone variety of D, previtamin D3, cholecalciferol, a variety of photoproducts with unique biologic properties, and the ability to regulate calcium and phosphate metabolism.) The skin is responsible for producing vitamin D. During exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet radiation penetrates into the epidermis and photolyzes provitamin D3 to previtamin D3. Previtamin D3 can either isomerize to vitamin D3 or be photolyzed to lymisterol and tachysterol.[7]

Exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation can cause premature aging of the skin and signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, and solar elastosis. UV rays can also cause eye problems. Most skin cancers are a result of exposure to the UV rays in sunlight. Both basal cell and squamous cell cancers (the most common types of skin cancer) tend to be found on sun-exposed parts of the body, and their occurrence is typically related to lifetime sun exposure.[8]

The Vitamin D Dilemma: How to Synthesis D Without Killing Yourself
As a general rule of thumb, you want to minimize the skin’s exposure to sunlight because UV radiation can kill you. On the other hand, not synthesizing Vitamin D by exposing your skin to sunlight can kill you. What to do? The answer is unique to every individual.

Obtaining the Optimal Amount of Sunshine
Sun induced vitamin D synthesis is greatly influenced by season, time of day, the weather, latitude, altitude, air pollution, skin pigmentation, sunscreen use, passing through glass and plastic, and aging.

You should never expose your eyes directly to the sun. People with blue eyes are at the greatest risk of permanent eye damage through exposure to UV radiation.

You should expose your skin based on the above factors. As an example, I am light skinned and live in Pennsylvania. On a clear summer day, I attempt five 3-minute exposures between 8-10 AM (for a total of 15 minutes.) I keep my head, face and ears protected. While keeping in motion doing an activity that takes me in and out of the shade, such as gardening, I try to remember to expose the inside of my wrists and forearms. Many afternoons (after 3PM) I will swim in a semi-shaded area. These controlled exposures are dependent on many factors most importantly air quality. There are countless uncontrolled exposures. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 50, and a loss fitting long sleeve shirt are recommended. Your exposure plan should be well thought out in consultation with your doctor.

Vitamin D in the Big Picture
Nnicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) depletion is of particular concern when it comes to COVID-19 and the resulting syndromes.[9] Synthesized Vitamin D and the bi-products of creating and metabolizing Vitamin D are part of a larger chemical equation. NAD+ depletion can be caused by COVID. NAD+ is essential for a functioning immune system. Lack of NAD+ in recovered COVID patients results in “long haulers syndrome“. Ade’s protocol to replenish NAD includes Vitamins C, B3, D, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium.[10] Each of these ingredients need to be considered both individually and combined. Taking mega-doses of any can be ineffective and deadly. A well thought out plan in consultation with medical professionals is prudent.

“Important not to forget that low NAD+ inhibits vitamin D activation. When you dig down deep enough it’s amazing how often you end up at NAD+,” added Robert Miller, co-author of COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency. “The three main steps in vitamin D metabolism, 25-hydroxylation, 1α-hydroxylation, and 24-hydroxylation are all performed by cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidases (CYPs). These enzymes are located either in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (e.g., CYP2R1) or in the mitochondria (e.g., CYP27A1, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1). The electron donor for the ER enzymes is the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent P450 reductase. Decreased intracellular NAD+ availability, leads to decreased NADPH availability.”[11]

We do not know Vitamin D’s role in the production of NAD+. We do know that the bi-products of photosynthesized Vitamin D are crucial to the immune system’s ability to fight infections. The photosynthesis of Vitamin D produces the Vitamin D you need, but more important is the timing of the unique photoproducts that are also created in the photosynthesis process — interferons. The interferons (IFNs) are the result of unique proteins made in the photosynthesis process that work with NAD+ to boost immune cells’ ability to fight microbes. The synergistic effects of IFNs and Vitamin D are part of the nonspecific immune system.

Vitamin D, Sunlight, the Season, and People of Color

Your Immune System and Photosynthesized Vitamin D

Interferons Interfere With Disease

What you need to know about COVID and NAD+ deficiencies.

1. Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin D NHS
2. Vitamin D Harvard / The Nutrition Source
3. Relationships between hyperinsulinaemia, magnesium, vitamin D, thrombosis and COVID-19 British Cardiovascular Society
4. Vitamin D deficiency Holick MF / N Engl J Med. 2007;357:266–81
5. Sunlight and Vitamin D NIH
5b. Novel vitamin D photoproducts and their precursors in the skin NIH
6. Vitamin D Society For Endocrinology
7. Skin as the site of vitamin D synthesis NIH
8. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation American Cancer Society
9. COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity Science Direct
10. COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity Ade Wentzel, R.Miller, G.A.Richards
11. Vitamin D Metabolism, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Applications Science Direct

Vitamin-D / C38PDF

COVID-19: Immunity, Antibodies, Memory T Cells and B Cells

Posted on 2020/09/022022/01/04 by admin

by Daniel Brouse
email: help@membrane.com

Omicron Update January 4, 2022

The effects of antibodies produced by the immune system’s “memory B cells” against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are weakened. After the body learns to recognize SARS-CoV-2, B cells generate fresh antibodies against the virus if there are not enough antibodies circulating in the blood.

“Omicron seemed to evade a very large share of the memory B cells,” said Matthieu Mahevas and Pascal Chappert of Universite de Paris.

The research was published in Immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant from mRNA vaccination-elicited RBD-specific memory B cells. “Memory B cells (MBCs) represent a second layer of immune protection against SARS-CoV-2. Whether MBCs elicited by mRNA vaccines can recognize the Omicron variant is of major concern. We used bio-layer interferometry to assess the affinity against the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of Omicron spike of 313 naturally expressed monoclonal IgG that were previously tested for affinity and neutralization against VOC prior to Omicron. We report here that Omicron evades recognition from a larger fraction of these antibodies than any of the previous VOCs. Additionally, whereas 30% of these antibodies retained high affinity against Omicron-RBD, our analysis suggest that Omicron specifically evades antibodies displaying potent neutralizing activity against the D614G and Beta variant viruses. Further studies are warranted to understand the consequences of a lower memory B cell potency on the overall protection associated with current vaccines.”

Updated August 4, 2021

COVID-19 Delta Variant and Vaccines
The efficacy of mRna vaccines is about 79% against contracting the Delta variant. Non-mRna vaccines are between 40-60% effective against Delta. Vaccines lose efficacy at about 3%/month after six months of being fully vaccinated. Vaccines appear to help contain the Delta variant to the nasal passage — you are less likely to develop the epigenetic changes to your genes (long-COVID).

We know the epigenetic changes caused by COVID partially dismantle your immune system including dysfunction of NAD+ optimization and suppression of T and NK cells.

There is no natural immunity from previous infection. Everybody needs to get vaccinated.

COVID Vaccine Breakthrough Cases
Q: Why are there so many breakthrough cases of COVID in the vaccinated?

A: There are several reasons why there are breakthrough cases with any vaccine; however, COVID is different. Many of the vaccinated people getting COVID already had COVID prior to being vaccinated. This is the second time they have contracted the virus. Once you have had COVID, your immune system is compromised. You should consider yourself immune compromised. The vaccine will not fully compensate for that fact.

THE ORIGINAL COVID STRAIN
A study published in The Lancet entitled Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibody responses and duration of immunity: a longitudinal study found the immunity from a COVID reinfection varies widely from individual to individual from days to decades.

“We identified five distinctive patterns of neutralising antibody dynamics as follows:
* negative, individuals who did not, at our intervals of sampling, develop neutralising antibodies at the 30% inhibition level [12%];
* rapid waning, individuals who had varying levels of neutralising antibodies from around 20 days after symptom onset, but seroreverted in less than 180 days [27%];
* slow waning, individuals who remained neutralising antibody-positive at 180 days post-symptom onset [29%];
* persistent, although with varying peak neutralising antibody levels, these individuals had minimal neutralising antibody decay [32%];
* and delayed response, a small group that showed an unexpected increase of neutralising antibodies during late convalescence (at 90 or 180 days after symptom onset [2%]).

Persistence of neutralising antibodies was associated with disease severity and sustained level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. By contrast, T-cell responses were similar among the different neutralising antibody dynamics groups. On the basis of the different decay dynamics, we established a prediction algorithm that revealed a wide range of neutralising antibody longevity, varying from around 40 days to many decades.

The question may also apply to vaccines: will the COVID immunity offered by vaccinations last for 40 days to many decades? What is the durability of vaccines and will it be uniform or vary widely from person to person?

Previously released on January 24, 2021:
1) Natural Immunity
If you get a moderate to severe case of COVID-19, most people maintain viable antibodies for 90 days and memory T-cells for 5 months. This will likely give you natural immunity to the same strain of COVID for up to 5 months. The resistance to the UK variant is thought to be diminished. The resistance to the South African variant is thought to be none. There is some concern that COVID may erase all or part of your T cells’ memory for other pathogens.

2) Vaccines
You should anticipate that vaccines will give you a very similar immune response as the natural immunity acquired from contracting COVID. It doesn’t matter which vaccine you receive. You should get whatever vaccine you can get and as soon as possible. You should anticipate needing to get vaccinated every 90 days once vaccines are developed for all the different variants.

The message is — we have to stop the community spread and the exponential rise in variants WORLDWIDE. Individual countries can not obtain herd immunity.

More Information on COVID-19

What We Use to Know about Immunity
Q: What do we know about immunity to COVID-19, the immune system, antibodies, memory T cells, and autoimmune disfunctions?
A: Not much. Today is September 2, 2020. The virus is still new. We probably won’t be able to know the longterm affects of COVID-19 until the longterm; however, there is a growing body of research that is starting to uncover some of the mysteries.

Q: Do we know if recovered COVID-19 patients have immunity to reinfection.
A: No. We do not know the durability of the antibodies, nor the length of memory of the T cells. Originally, researchers thought you could only catch COVID-19 once, and you would gain immunity. Scientists started off thinking you would have a minimum of 1 year immunity and quite possibly 2-3 years. Now, 6 months later, that theory is history.

There are several cases globally where reinfection was confirmed by identifying that the second infection was by a different mutation of COVID than the original infection. “So far, there are three patients known to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 twice, and in at least one case the second time around was asymptomatic.”(1) Reinfection is rare, researchers said, but people should still be cautious. “If you’ve had it, you can’t necessarily be considered invulnerable to the infection,” Mark Pandori, one of the authors and director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory said.(2)

An extensive case study was conducted on the reinfection case from Nevada”
“These findings suggest that the patient was infected by SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions by a genetically distinct virus. Thus, previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not guarantee total immunity in all cases. All individuals, whether previously diagnosed with COVID-19 or not, should take identical precautions to avoid infection with SARS-CoV-2. The implications of reinfections could be relevant for vaccine development and application.”(3) Half of the those that became reinfected had more serious symptoms with the reinfection.

Since this paper was first published, a study done by the Imperial College of London found a 26% decline in antibodies over a three month period. The study all but eliminates the possibility of herd immunity. The study also indicates any post-COVID immunity is short lived and chances of being reinfected are large.(4)

Q: Why do so many recovered patients appear to be getting reinfected?
A: Most recovered individuals are not getting reinfected, rather their immune system mistakes inactive strands of COVID RNA as active virus. The autoimmune system reacts with an autoimmune disconnect resulting in cycles of recurring symptoms.(5) In the short term, it is thought the recurring symptoms will not cause irreparable damage. The long haul for long haulers is less certain with the duration of your body attacking your own organs in question.

Q: How long do COVID antibodies last?
A: Again, we do not know. Originally, it was thought the antibodies would last for a long period and the memory T cells might give you lifelong immunity. That is no longer the science. “There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 are protected from a second infection.”(6) A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that antibody levels against the novel coronavirus decreased by about half every 73 days and, if that rate were sustained, would be depleted within about a year. The findings are similar to those of several previous reports showing rapidly decreasing antibody levels after infection, including one published Jun 18 in Nature, which showed that levels of antibodies against COVID-19 began to decrease within 2 or 3 months of infection.(7)

Q: What immunity do T Cells give?
A: We don’t know. There are two types of T Cells. Memory T cells live for six months or less in healthy humans (Westera et al., 2013), whereas naive T cells can live for up to nine years (Vrisekoop et al., 2008). Memory T cells are the ones that remember your previous infections and how to fight them. Memory T cells reproduce passing on their memory. There is growing concern that the memory T cells may be forgetting. It is possible that COVID erases the memory of your T cells making you susceptible to get infected by any other disease or illness you have previous had or have been vaccinated for (as measles can do.) Measles seem to wipe out immune cells that ‘remember’ encounters with specific bacteria and viruses.(8)

RECOMMENDATION:
Until more is known, recovered COVID patients should take great care and avoid exposure to all bacteria and viruses, including COVID, that may cause illness.

1. Patients Reinfected with Coronavirus in Hong Kong, Europe (The Scientist)
2. 1st U.S. COVID-19 Reinfection Reported in Nevada Patient (WebMD / NBC)
3. Genomic evidence for reinfection with SARS-CoV-2: a case study (The Lancet)
4. Declining prevalence of antibody positivity to SARS-CoV-2: a community study of 365,000 adults Imperial College London
5. COVID-19 Long Haulers: autoimmune response due to inactive particles of the virus (Daniel Brouse)
6. “Immunity passports” in the context of COVID-19 (WHO)
7. COVID-19 antibodies decay quickly after mild illness (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
8. Measles erases immune ‘memory’ for other diseases (Nature)

COVID-19 Index

COVID-19 and Negative Feedback Loops

Posted on 2020/09/022022/11/12 by admin

As more time passes and more information is gathered on the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, there is growing evidence that any infection from COVID-19 may cause chronic damage to your body.

Negative Feedback Loops
The more often your body suffers damage, than the more severe each additional exposure will become. After you recover from COVID, there is likely some damage to one or more of your organs. Even asymptomatic individuals may suffer chronic illness. Immunity from COVID antibodies appears to be short lived. A person gets COVID, spreads COVID, and gets it again. Each time you get COVID-19, you are more compromised. The negative feedback loop repeats until failure.

Originally, researchers thought you could only catch COVID-19 once, and you would gain immunity. Scientists started off thinking you would have a minimum of 1 year immunity and quite possibly 2-3 years. Now, 6 months later, that theory is history.

UPDATE: COVID-19: Chronic Conditions
October 15, 2021

COVID causes negative feedback loops. COVID appears to cause the most damage to the weakest or most vulnerable parts of the body. If you were predisposed to a condition prior to COVID, you will likely develop the condition after COVID. An example would be people with type II diabetes. If you have diabetes prior to COVID, then you are at high risk of dying from COVID. If you are prediabetic, COVID will likely make you diabetic. If you are not inclined to develop diabetes, COVID will likely increase the probability of developing diabetes. The same holds true with NAD+, IDO, P53 tumor suppression genes, and all the other conditions listed above. The more times you contract COVID, the more cumulative damage you will suffer.

UPDATE: Reinfection Greater Risks & Exacerbates Underlying Conditions
November 11, 2022

The study Acute and postacute sequelae associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was published in the Journal Nature.

* The evidence shows that reinfection further increases risks of death, hospitalization and damage to multiple organ systems
* COVID exacerbates underlying conditions including pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematological, diabetes, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders

First infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with increased risk of acute and postacute death and sequelae in various organ systems. Compared to no reinfection, reinfection contributed additional risks of death, hospitalization, and sequelae including pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematological, diabetes, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. The risks were evident regardless of vaccination status. The risks were most pronounced in the acute phase but persisted in the postacute phase at 6 months. Compared to noninfected controls, cumulative risks and burdens of repeat infection increased according to the number of infections. Limitations included a cohort of mostly white males. The evidence shows that reinfection further increases risks of death, hospitalization and sequelae in multiple organ systems in the acute and postacute phase. Reducing overall burden of death and disease due to SARS-CoV-2 will require strategies for reinfection prevention.

COVID-19 Index

COVID-19 Long Haulers: SARS-CoV-2 Causes Dysfunctional Autoimmune Response

Posted on 2020/08/182021/12/18 by admin

By Daniel Brouse
Email: help@membrane.com
Last Updated December 18, 2021

Long haulers syndrome is in part due to “an autoimmune response that makes you feel symptoms in waves, or due to stress, and anxiety that triggers your immune system.”
— Daniel Brouse (August, 2020)

My original description of long-COVID was, “It feels like my body is having lots of micro cytokine storms.” Now two years later, the hypothesis has been proven true. “‘It is important to note that the severity of disease in humans is not determined only by virus replication but also by the host immune response to the infection, which may lead to dysregulation of the innate immune system, i.e. “cytokine storm”‘ (Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and better)

My gravest concerns about long-COVID remain the same — what are the long term consequences of my immune system attacking my healthy body?

Do recovered coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 patients have immunity?
Why do some people appear to be reinfected?

Maybe. Those who recover from COVID-19 appear to have some immunity.(1) “It’s reasonable to assume that there will be protection for a time frame of one to three years,” says Florian Krammer.(2) Though recent examples suggest immunity, if any, may be very short lived. The Omicron variant appears to escape immunity from both prior infection and vaccination.

It appears there are 2 different types of COVID damage: direct damage from the COVID infection, as well as, a variety of post-COVID syndromes. The direct damage appears to be dependent on the severity of the COVID infection (which likely has to do with viral load, age, and underlying conditions.) The post-COVID long haulers syndrome appears to have little to do with the severity of the COVID infection and more to do with the post-infection immune response.

Then, why do some people appear to get reinfected?
“Over the last 2 weeks, I’ve been working with my doctor about recurring symptoms. It turns out I have ‘long haulers’ syndrome. Every couple of weeks I go through a wave of symptoms. Though not as severe as the original experience, it is still not pleasant. The symptoms don’t come on all at the same time, rather they cycle through over two weeks or so (and not necessarily in the same order.) I’m not infected again, nor am I contagious.(3) The symptoms include:
* difficulty breathing (feeling like you’re not taking in enough oxygen)
* congestion / mild cough
* stomach issues / diarrhea
* loss of taste, smell, and appetite
* night sweats
* nightmares / vivid dreams
* dizziness / the spins / foggy thinking
* headaches / body aches / soreness
* fatigue
* ear aches

What causes the recurring COVID symptoms?
It is too early for a definitive answer; however, an examination of cases appear to point to an autoimmune response due to epigenetic changes caused by the virus.

Is the person still contagious? No.

How long will it take for the immune system to recognize that there is no longer a threat? It’s too early to tell. So far, symptoms have been observed for over 2 years. BUT, there are still many questions about COVID-19 and autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

“Emerging reports show that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection precedes the appearance of various autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, including paediatric inflammatory multisystemic syndrome (PIMS) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), thus adding to the growing mystery of this virus and raising questions about the nature of its link with autoimmune and autoinflammatory sequelae.” (4)

What is long haulers syndrome?
The vast majority of long haulers experience fluctuations both in the type and intensity of symptoms over the course of being symptomatic.(5)

Research is pointing to “an autoimmune response due to changes in the genes of the infected host” for causing “long haulers syndrome” in adults. “Support groups on Facebook include thousands of people who say they have been wrestling with serious COVID-19 symptoms for at least a month, if not two or three. The groups have coined a name for themselves: ‘long-haulers.’ But their lives have been irrevocably changed by the onslaught of symptoms — relentless and rolling waves of fever, headache, nausea, and the terrifying inability to catch their breath. For Roberts, it’s robbed her of time. ‘I was so good. This COVID-19 has stolen my life,’ she says.” (6)

According to a WHO report, most people fall into one of two groups when it comes to the virus. Approximately 80% of those with COVID-19 end up having a mild response and most of those cases resolve in about two weeks. For people who have a severe response to the virus, it can take between three and six weeks to recover.

But now, there is growing concern over a separate group that doesn’t seem to fall into either of those categories. A number of people are now reporting lingering symptoms of the illness for one, two or even three months. This new group is mixed with those who experienced both mild and severe cases. As health experts step in to try to manage these patients and learn more, many are referring to this group as coronavirus “long-haulers” or “long-termers.”

“We’re now seeing a percentage of patients whose symptoms seem to be lasting a while,” explains family medicine provider Christopher Babiuch, MD. “This is challenging because everyone’s needs are so unique. We’re finding that collaborating as a team between different specialists helps to manage and support these patients, but there’s a lot that we just don’t know yet.” (7)

What is actually causing the immune system to have an autoimmune disconnect?
All the research is still theoretical. More studies and longer recovery times are required to confirm the theories. So, we still do not know for sure about the antigen presentation of COVID-19.

Possibly for the longhaulers it’s cytokine imbalance which causes an Down Regulating NAD+, * Up Regulating IDO, Rogue Antibodies, and other conditions that result from genetic changes. The symptomatology improves vastly with NAD+ precursors but if cellular damage or organ damage is to occur the damage is likely permanent.

“The SARS-CoV-2 hyperinflammatory response is associated with high mortality. This hypothesis suggests that a deficiency of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) may be the primary factor related to the SARS-Cov-2 disease spectrum and the risk for mortality, as subclinical nutritional deficiencies may be unmasked by any significant increase in oxidative stress.

NAD+ levels decline with age and are also reduced in conditions associated with oxidative stress as occurs with hypertension, diabetes and obesity. These groups have also been observed to have high mortality following infection with COVID-19. Further consumption of NAD+ in a pre-existent depleted state is more likely to cause progression to the hyperinflammatory stage of the disease through its limiting effects on the production of SIRT1,” said Ade Wentzel, co-author of the research.(9)

Does an auto-immune disconnect explain all long haulers’ symptoms?
No. Evidence is mounting that long haulers are unique and may have a variety of ailments. Many post-viral COVID cases exhibit the Lyme-like autoimmune disfuntions. Many also exhibit symptoms, such as, dysautonomia (10)(11). Long haulers have reported over 100 different symptoms. COVID appears to impact many of the body’s systems including respiratory, circulatory, cardiovascular, neurological, and immune systems to name a few. This makes diagnosis and treatment very confusing for doctors. And, those aren’t the only difficulties. An additional problem for diagnosing is memory T-cells. Some people’s memory T-cells may be getting erased. That means your body does not recognize previous infections nor vaccines. So, long haulers syndrome may be a combination of new conditions (Lyme-like autoimmune, dysautonomia, chronic fatigue, etc.) AND re-infections to everything you use to be immune to… with no one person having the same ailments as another.

Is there a treatment or cure for long haulers syndrome?
No. Currently, there is no cure or treatment for the onset of these autoimmune responses. The closest comparison appears to be when Lyme disease was first discovered or HIV.

Ade Wentzel replied: You can take nicotinic acid orally or niagen (if you have deep pockets). The IV will help, but however you supplement, you need to keep going for at least a good few months.

Ade has developed a protocol for a NAD+ deficiency: NAD+: Vitamin B3, Vitamin D and sunlight, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium

COVID-19 Index

FOOTNOTES:
0. Technically speaking a virus is never alive. It is only RNA. Dead is not the scientifically correct way to describe it. But, in all essence, the virus is dead.

REFERENCES:
1. Potent antibodies found in people recovered from COVID-19 (NIH)
2. How Long Will Immunity To The Coronavirus Last? (NPR)
3. COVID-19 Testimonial (The Membrane Domain)
4. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases following COVID-19 (Nature)
5. COVID-19 Prolonged Symptoms Survey – Analysis Report (MIT)
6.What It’s Like When COVID-19 Lasts For Months (NPR)
7. What It Means to Be a Coronavirus “Long-Hauler” (Cleveland Clinic)
8. Study: COVID-19 antibodies decay quickly after mild illness (University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
9. COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity (Science Direct)
10. Dysautonomia: An Overlooked Neurological Manifestation in a Critically ill COVID-19 Patient (NIH)
11. Redefining Covid-19: Months after infection, patients report breathing difficulty, excessive fatigue (CNN)

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
A. Long-term consequences of COVID-19: research needs (The Lancet)
B. Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland (New England Journal of Medicine)
C. Is a Bradykinin Storm Brewing in COVID-19? (The Scientist)
D. The Power of Antibody-Based Surveillance (New England Journal of Medicine)
E. Coronavirus Infection and PARP Expression Dysregulate the NAD Metabolome: A Potentially Actionable Component of Innate Immunity bioRxiv
G. Relationships between hyperinsulinaemia, magnesium, vitamin D, thrombosis and COVID-19: rationale for clinical management British Cardiovascular Society

COVID-19 Testimonial

Posted on 2020/08/162020/12/18 by admin

By Daniel Brouse
help@membrane.com

I’ve been reluctant to talk about my COVID experience for several reasons, but have decided — if my testimony can convince just 1 person to avoid contracting or spreading the disease, it will be worth it.

I had COVID back at the end of January and the first weeks of February and conducted a study of people that got infected along with me. The sample size of infected individuals in my study sample is 6.
Ages 30-80
16.7% died
33.3% had severe symptoms
33.3% had moderate symptoms
16.7% were asymptomatic
Age and blood type appear to be the dominant factors.

I’ve been working with my doctor for a couple months. In May, he first told me not to bother with the antibody test. That my symptoms were most certainly COVID. Insurance only covers the antibody test if you have previously tested positive, and getting tested doesn’t tell you anything, anyway. (eg inaccurate test results, inability of tests to determine the amount of antibodies and T cells, etc.) He believes I’ll have immunity until around December.

Now, here’s the interesting part…
I’ve been questioning whether recovered patients have immunity and how some people have appeared to be reinfected? Over the last 2 weeks, I’ve been working with my doctor about recurring symptoms. It turns out I have “long haulers” syndrome. Every couple of weeks I go through a wave of symptoms. Though not as severe as the original experience, it is still not pleasant. The symptoms don’t come on all at the same time, rather they cycle through over two weeks (not necessarily in the same order.) I’m not infected again, nor am I contagious. Exercise or anything that causes inflammation aggravates my symptoms. The symptoms include:

* difficulty breathing (feeling like you’re not taking in enough oxygen)
* congestion / mild cough
* stomach issues / diarrhea
* loss of taste, smell, and appetite
* temperature regulation / night sweats
* nightmares / vivid dreams
* dizziness / the spins / foggy thinking
* headaches / body aches / soreness
* fatigue
* ear aches
* peripheral neuropathy (tingling of the hands and feet)

There is currently no treatment or cure for long haul syndrome.

IMPORTANT UPDATE (November 2020)
A treatment has been found for long haulers syndrome. After 8 long, long, brutal months of long haulers, I am back to better than I was before. I am a scientist living in Pennsylvania (USA). In August of 2020, I joined a COVID survivors group. There I met Dr. Ade Wentzel from Port Elizabeth (South Africa). Ade and his colleagues, Robert Miller (Cape Town) and Guy Richards (Johannesburg), developed a diet based protocol based on their research COVID-19: NAD+ deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity.

Long haulers syndrome is the depletion of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). NAD+ is involved in cell creation, maintenance, metabolism, and regulating cell processes. COVID both increases the breakdown of NAD+ and decreases the production of NAD+. The result is the same as the disease pellagra. A niacin deficiency results in pellagra. Long haulers syndrome is COVID-19 Induced Secondary Pellagra (CISP).

Once I started the protocol, my symptoms diminished and then disappeared completely. In fact three weeks later, my quality of life improved back to when I was 20 years younger. Obviously, I was NAD+ deficient prior to contracting the virus, and COVID depleted my NAD+ even further (bringing me close to death.)

THE PROTOCOL is:
Niacin B3, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and Selenium

Here’s what I’m doing:
Vitamin C, Quercetin and Selenium you can get from your diet. Careful not too much Selenium. I eat 1 Brazil nut a day. The Vitamin D is best gotten from 15 minutes a day in the sun. You can take 1000iu, too. A 15mg zinc/day supplement. The niacin is the trickiest and most important part. You need to make sure you get the right kind. Non-flush is no good. You can start with 35mg/day, but it will depend on your deficiency. I take 50-75mg with each meal. Here’s the walk through on getting the niacin right. It is recommended I stay on the protocol for 6 months. This is how Ade and Rob walk me through getting the correct Niacin B3.

COVID-19 Index

Methane Emissions Soar to Record High

Posted on 2020/07/232020/07/23 by admin

Methane is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases… and, is part of an exponential negative feedback loop:
Methane in the atmosphere causes the climate to warm
A warmer climate causes permafrost to melt…
Releasing more methane and CO2…
Making the climate warmer…
Melting more permafrost…
Releasing more methane and CO2…
Melting, more permafrost, etc., etc., etc

“And is there a tipping point that could trigger rapid thaw? Scientists estimate that there is about twice as much carbon stored in permafrost as circulating in the atmosphere. … Once the organic matter within permafrost decomposes and releases CO2 and methane, there is no getting it back,” said Dr Christina Schädel.

In a report for Stanford University, Josie Garthwaite states:

lobal emissions of methane have reached the highest levels on record. Increases are being driven primarily by growth of emissions from coal mining, oil and natural gas production, cattle and sheep ranching, and landfills.

Between 2000 and 2017, levels of the potent greenhouse gas barreled up toward pathways that climate models suggest will lead to 3-4 degrees Celsius of warming before the end of this century. This is a dangerous temperature threshold at which scientists warn that natural disasters, including wildfires, droughts and floods, and social disruptions such as famines and mass migrations become almost commonplace. The findings are outlined in two papers published July 14 in Earth System Science Data and Environmental Research Letters by researchers with the Global Carbon Project, an initiative led by Stanford University scientist Rob Jackson.

Globally, fossil fuel sources and cows are twin engines powering methane’s upward climb. “Emissions from cattle and other ruminants are almost as large as those from the fossil fuel industry for methane,” Jackson said. “People joke about burping cows without realizing how big the source really is.”

Throughout the study period, agriculture accounted for roughly two-thirds of all methane emissions related to human activities; fossil fuels contributed most of the remaining third. However, those two sources have contributed in roughly equal measure to the increases seen since the early 2000s.

Methane emissions from agriculture rose to 227 million tons of methane in 2017, up nearly 11 percent from the 2000–2006 average. Methane from fossil fuel production and use reached 108 million tons in 2017, up nearly 15 percent from the earlier period.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, carbon emissions plummeted as manufacturing and transportation ground to a halt. “There’s no chance that methane emissions dropped as much as carbon dioxide emissions because of the virus,” Jackson said. “We’re still heating our homes and buildings, and agriculture keeps growing.”

The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment

COVID-19 Durability, Enhancement, Infection and Exposure?

Posted on 2020/07/152020/09/06 by admin

I asked:
have you seen any studies on COVID immunity durability and enhancement?

No, but here is some material on the difficulty of testing for
COVID infection and COVID exposure

Article by lowe in science blogs:

“from The Lancet on a large study in Spain. Testing tens of thousands of people across the country continues to show that (on average) only about 5% of the population is seropositive (that is, has antibodies to the virus).”

“at least one-third of the people who now test positive never showed any symptoms at all. ”

“we are still not sure if this means that 95% of the Spanish population has never been exposed to the virus, because we don’t know how many people might have cleared it without raising enough of an antibody response to still be detectable. ”

” 40% of asymptomatic patients went completely seronegative during their convalescence.”

“At a minimum, you’d want to know antibody levels over time, T-cell response over time, and (importantly) what a protective profile looks like for both of those. We barely have insight into any of this: the large-scale data are just a snapshot of antibody levels, and that’s not enough.”

“We could have people who look vulnerable but aren’t – perhaps they show no antibodies, but still have a protective T-cell response. Or we could have people who look like they might be protected, but aren’t – perhaps they showed an antibody response many weeks ago that has now declined, and they don’t have protective levels of T-cells to back them up.”

https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/07/07/more-on-t-cells-antibody-levels-and-our-ignorance

This references a twitter thread by Bleicher:

” Virus must get through mucous membranes, a physical barrier. 2. Innate immunity can destroy virus before it starts. 3. Neutralizing antibodies and memory B cells protect against future infection 4. T cells destroy infected cells”

https://twitter.com/pbleic/status/1278357445023109121

Note that it is much more difficult to test for T-cell and B-cell response than it is to test for antibodies. Very few results have been published for T and B cell response compared to the antibody serological results.

sidd