How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 2 – Virus 40

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Handcrafted, just for illustration

The mutated protein is crucial, because it could block HIV to enter and infect immune cells.

Bone marrow ultimately produces immune cells which able to resist HIV, and slowly replace infected or vulnerable cells.

Then, HIV patients will be cured in certain periods. WHO (2022) reported that the first man who remission from HIV got 12 years treatment by “bone marrow stem cell transplant.”

Fig 02- Hibiscus flowers, illustration

Fairly interesting that there are plenty of donors, about 22 thousand and even more have mutant CCR5 proteins, and donors mainly from the countries of Northern Europe so far.

Scientists could identify more donors from any part of the world if they wish in the near future. 

Fig 03- Yellow Jessamine flowers, illustration

This is the good news for all of us to combat AIDS epidemic!

# Previous postings:

- 40 million Guests Sleep on Camping Sites in the USA – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Push-Ups are Good for Our Health– Part 1

- Growing Some Sweet Fruits at Our Backyard – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 22 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- 40 million Guests Sleep on Camping Sites in the USA – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Push-Ups are Good for Our Health– Part 2

How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40

Surprisingly, the first AIDS patient has been cured first time in 2007, about 16 years ago, but since then, no or very few repeats are success.

Fig 01- Great shot of HIV (credit to Imperial College London)

One the most crucial reason that It is because bone marrow transplant technique face with “harsh side effects that can last for years,” and even causes patients almost to die.

Then, number of people infected by HIV is increasing year by year worldwide:

- more than 36.9 million people recently

- at least 940 thousands death in 2017 alone.

- and the condition is the worst in developing countries.

Fig 02- Red berries of Yaupon plant

Fig 03- Two Tangerines, illustration only

Researchers determined to develop transplant technique and procedure with less suffer side effects.

Interestingly, the transplant included CCR5 protein which has been mutant in a donor.

We might wonder that what is CCR5 protein which has been mutant?

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:

- Vaccine Efficacy Rate Increases from 90% to 94.5% - Virus 27 | Tanza

- Bonsai Trees Show in the City Garden – Gardening and Hobby 12 | Tanza

- Have You Heard about Second Infection of Corona Virus? - Virus 28

- Are Raw Peanuts Good for Health? - Food Variety 6 | Tanza Erlambang

- When Will be the First Shot of Covid 19 Vaccine? - Virus 29 | Tanza

Could Microchips Detect Covid 19 Virus in the Blood? - Part 2 - Virus 39

You may read the previous posting (Part 1):

- Could Microchips Detect Covid 19 Virus in the Blood? - Part 1 - Virus 39

Fig 01- Empty garden in the early morning

In fact, a vaccine such as Biontech - Pfizer contains the following ingredients (What are Ingredients in the Biontech-Pfizer Vaccine? – Virus 33):

- Active ingredient called mRNA

- Lipid

- Sugar

- Salts

Moreover, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have developed a microchip to detect the present of Covid 19 virus in our blood.

Fig 02- Red chili, just for illustration

Fig 03- Mug, just illustration.

By implanting the Microchip under the skin, it will give a signal if virus enter our body.

This is a kind of early warning, make the patients could get further examinations and even early treatments.

Yes, this method might end the pandemic soon.

The question then: will people or army accept it?

What do you think?

# Previous posting:

- Why Income Annuity is Getting Favorite?

- Why 3 billion Birds Have Lost in North America?

- How Lipotoxicity Relate to Diabetes? - Diabetes 6

## Some source of readings:

- Daily Mail, April 12, 2021

- Independent, April 12, 2021

- Money Control, April 13, 2021

Could Microchips Detect Covid 19 Virus in the Blood? - Part 1 - Virus 39

During Covid 19 pandemic, especially at early stage of pandemic wave, we might familiar with many “words” whether to make us confuse, clear (doubtless) or in between.

Fig 01- Improvement of a little garden in our city, just illustration.

Some words include:

- PCR machine test.

- testing kits

- vaccines

- microchip (in the vaccines)

Great developments to detect Covid 19 virus infection recently. The improvements are in terms of:

- accuracy

- shorter time to know the testing results

- cheaper

- easy to find testing sites

Fig 02- Lemon fruit in the backyard.

As of today, we may detect the virus even in our home, free of charge from US government, then our health insurance is planning to send the testing kit 8 times a month soon.

Fig 03- Illustration only

It was several days to even weeks to know the results whether we get infection or free of virus.

Today, we need several minutes only.

Accuracy of detection was improved from about 70% - 90% to nearly 100% now days.

One of “conspiracy theory” suggested a vaccine contain “microchips” to tracks people (citizens) every moves.

Is it true?

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:

- China Turns Military Robots to Help Civilians

- The Butterfly Farm is One of Popular Tourist Destinations in Kentucky

- Why Many Big Cities are Sinking?

- Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3

100% of Gibraltar Adult Population had been Vaccinated – Virus 38

Fig 01- Mountain and sky view. Illustration only

Yes, Gibraltar is a small territory in respect to size and population. But, there are about 10 million tourist visit this British Overseas Territory per year.

In addition to tourism industry, Gibraltar economics depends very much on resources of:

- bank and finance
- ship repairing
- online gaming
- tobacco

Hence, even single cases of Covid 19 in tourist destinations, they will hesitate to visit to those areas.

Indeed, tourism and service industries almost collapse in Gibraltar during pandemic:

- declining visitors
- empty duty free shops, restaurants and hotels

What a Gibraltar government did?   

Fig 02- Crowd without face masks recently 

(credit to SLATE/ Getty Images)

Fig 03- White magnolia flower

Gibraltar government vaccinated the cititizens, since small population just about 35,000 and no “anti-vaccine (anti vaxxer)” movement:
- all adult population had been vaccinated quickly.

The results?

Zero new cases and death of Covid 19.

People start to socialize without masks anymore, like before pandemic:

- crowd in the streets
- shop and market are visited by many people.
- economics seem move on, even not in full speed yet.

The most important thing that it is proven fact:
- higher rate of vaccinated population, then will lead to lower cases of infection and death.

Can Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Contain New Covid 19 Virus Variants? - Virus 37

Kit Kat Chocolates for Valentine’s day, just illustration

We have at least 3 new dangerous variants of Sars Cov 2 viruses (Covid 19) so far:

- UK variant, identified as B.1.1.7

- South Africa variant, called as 20H/501Y.V2 or B.1.351

- Brazil variant, known as P.2

As reported by BBC News (February 9, 2021), the scary facts that South Africa halted the employing of UK’s AstraZeneca – Oxford vaccine, because the vaccine didn’t effective against new virus variant (20H/501Y.V2 or B.1.351).

I have posted about AstraZeneca – Oxford vaccine compared to other two American vaccines, Pfizer – Biontech and Moderna vaccines. Please find at:

- Is AstraZeneca Covid 19 Vaccine Suitable for Poor Countries? - Virus 31

The good news that another American vaccine, Johnson & Johnson has “good” efficacy to contain South Africa variant with one shot only, after proved by clinical trials.

Effective rate of Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine in 3 important places (regions):

- 72% in the USA.

- 66% in Latin America, include Brazil

- 57% in South Africa

Hence, a Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine is “estimated” able to give protection against Covid 19 virus and its new variants.

May Covid 19 Reduce Men’s Fertility? - Virus 36

Plants in front a house, just for illustration

Men’s fertility mainly relates to sperm accounts, sperm movement and semen quality (Mayo Clinic, 2021).

It is believed the male fertility is decreasing globally due to many causes, include:

- exposure to pesticides

- obesity

- smoking

- stress

- exposure to chemical substances

- certain infections and illness

- lifestyle factors

Then, the question: May Covid 19 Reduce Men’s Fertility?

Yes

Based on study published in the Journal Reproduction, then reported by CNN on January 29, 2021

One of corner in the city garden

People who infected by Sars Cov 2 virus (corona virus) may affect on their fertility.

Based on primary observation to groups of fertile men with and without corona virus infections, then, the result shows that virus lead to impair of:

- sperm quality

- semen quality

The more serious infections, the lower sperm quality, thus higher possibility to reduce men fertility.

Even this is early observations, the findings make researchers to concern.

Take care!!  

Virulence of Covid 19 Variants in Japan – Virus 35

Pretty Bougain villae bonsai

When I am writing this post, there are very said facts about Covid 19 in the world and other countries. 93.8 million cases, and 2.01 million deaths in the world

Top 5 countries with cases and deaths (from several sources as of January 16, 2021) are following:

- 23.6 million cases, and 393,000 deaths in the USA

- 10.5 million cases, and 152,000 deaths in India

- 8.39 million cases, and 208,000 deaths in Brazil

- 3.84 million cases, and 63,558 deaths in Russia

- 3.32 million cases, and 87,295 deaths in UK

However, the threaten of new variant of Covid 19 virus creates the condition even worst while inoculation of vaccines just start in many places.

First, the UK’s variant, then South Africa, and lately was from Japan. The question then :

How dangerous those new variants?  

Red chili from backyard

What we know about UK and South Africa Covid 19 variants until now:

- much more dangerous than original strains

- more transmissible

- mutations occurred to “spike protein”

What we know about Japan Covid 19 variants until today:

- Japan strain comes from Brazil

- higher infectiousness

- mutations not only to spike protein, but also on the variant ability to evade of our immune system memory.

Good news that the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine ables to fight effectively the UK and South Africa Covid 19 (Sars Cov 2) variants.

However, studies are underway to observe whether any vaccines will work to fight virus variants in Japan.

If not, we might need to upgrade our current vaccines. Hope, we will know soon.

Was there Virus Outbreak before Covid 19? - Virus 34

White flowers in the winter

We faced with devastating pandemic during 2020, and even until today. Vaccine roll out, might end this pandemic soon.

Unfortunately, America experienced 30 months outbreak of virus called as Hepatitis A virus (HAV) before this recently pandemic.

The infection started from March 2017, and end at August 2019 which caused 244 deaths of 24,952 cases in 30 states.

The virus infects liver, the very important organ. Then lead to liver inflammation or damage, to disturb organ functions as:

- to process nutrients

- to filter the blood

- to fight infections

Hepatitis A virus is very contagious. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that about 7 thousand people dead per year worldwide due Hepatitis A.

Beautiful color of autumn trees

In addition to virus, liver damage may be caused by some factors such as:

- using of alcohol

- some medications

- certain toxins

- medical conditions

People get infected due to consumed contaminated water and food. Many foods could be contaminated by HAV, just examples:

- shellfish

- salads

- vegetables

- fruits

- orange juice

- ice cream

- cheese

- custard

- milk

- bread

- cookies

- raw or under cooked foods.

Good news that this diseases is preventable by vaccines. All children and teenagers are recommended by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get vaccines in the USA.