Category: Biology

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Dynatomy Products . Com

So we have a mini-update on disposeable face shields. I am looking to stock up on some gear. I found this company that makes FDA Registered Single-Use Face Shields (10 shields per pack) and made in USA. They were fast to confirm shipment and update me (I like having a papertrail). They shipped the shields very securely (no damaged product). The shields feel like a good quality product and substantial for a “disposeable” item.

Anywhere else and the price is double. If you want to try them, buy direct from the company. I like having a few options in case things get worse. I also have the hard-shell ratchet (construction work or heavy duty use non-disposeable) face shields. Go see my PPE post for those.

Dynatomy also sells hand/finger exercises (like for hand physical therapy). Those are nice to work your hand and finger mobility and grip (and extension) strength.

Link here.

www.dynatomyproducts.com

and specifically for the face shields here https://www.dynatomyproducts.com/products/dynatomy/single-use-face-shield-10-pack/?fbclid=IwAR22zqLhfix4XCPfT2OSPDGHYSpBZMgm74Z6z8vwUo_d5e9X3qlz-viU7Ss

Their info video here.

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Gain-of-Function (GOF) Research, Part 1

Gain-of-function (GOF) research are studies that involve exploring, manipulating, and augmenting the pathogenicity and/or transmissibility of pathogens—especially with the possibilities of launching a pandemic, biowarfare, bioterrorism, and “other” military uses. GOF literally means that the pathogen has “gained a new level of function” (as compared to its original function), whatever that may be. GOF research challenges biosafety, biosecurity, and bioethics—like teetering on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

These are highly controversial studies with PPP (potential pandemic pathogens) that most people probably won’t know is going on. GOF research is not something you advertise.

The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) was a federally formed committee (consisting of up to 25 voting members) to advise the White House Office of Science and Technology regarding GOF research. NSABB reports directly to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. NSABB members represented expertise including (but not limited to): molecular biology/genomics; bacteriology; virology; clinical infectious diseases/diagnostics; institutional and/or laboratory biosafety and biosecurity; public health/epidemiology; health physicist/radiation safety; pharmaceutical production; veterinary medicine; plant health; food production; bioethics; national security; military biodefense programs and military medicine; intelligence; biodefense; law; law enforcement; academia; scientific publishing; export controls; industry perspective; public perspective. [2]

To quote directly from the NSABB’s objective and scope of activities:

“The purpose of the NSABB is to provide, as requested, advice, guidance, and recommendations regarding biosecurity oversight of dual use research, defined as biological research with legitimate scientific purpose that may be misused to pose a biologic threat to public health and/or national security. The NSABB will provide advice on and recommend specific strategies for the efficient and effective oversight of federally conducted or supported dual use biological research, taking into consideration both national security concerns and the needs of the research community to foster continued rapid progress in public health and agricultural research. Toward this end, the NSABB will also provide strategies to raise awareness of dual use issues relevant to the life science and related interdisciplinary research communities. In addition, pursuant to Section 205 of the PAHPA, when requested by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the NSABB shall also provide to relevant Federal departments and agencies, advice, guidance, or recommendations concerning (1) a core curriculum and training requirements for workers in maximum containment and biological laboratories; and (2) periodic evaluation of maximum containment biological laboratory capacity nationwide and assessments of the future need for increased laboratory capacity.” [2]

NSABB has deliberated on influenza, MERS, and SARS—most recently in January 2020. Some of NSABB’s activity is part of public record, or what government likes to call Government in the Sunshine Act (U.S. Law passed in 1976) which is one aspect of the Freedom of Information Acts—”supposedly” with the goal of operating “more transparently”. Read into that what you will.

Interestingly enough, there is recorded video of some of their sessions at this link: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=35665

References

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What is a Cytokine Storm?

A “cytokine storm” (CSS, cytokine storm syndrome or cytokine release syndrome) is when the body reacts to a situation, and releases a massive amount of inappropriate cytokines into the bloodstream too quickly during an immune response (NCI, n.d.). This overproduction of inappropriate cytokines (and release thereof) can then stimulate even more inappropriate cytokines to be released (positive feedback loop)—hence the “storm” (hypercytokinemia) descriptor. While the release of cytokines is a normal immunological response, higher (or much higher) than normal amounts of cytokines can promote severe adverse reactions (including but not limited to multiple organ failure). Cytokine storms are a characteristic of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS).

When the body’s immune response goes haywire and starts attacking itself in an “overreaction”, it can cause leaky blood vessels, fluid build-up in the lungs (from leaky vessels), blood clots forming (further impeding blood flow), a steep drop in blood pressure, and multiple organ failure as seen in some of the COVID-19 cases (Dance, 2020). Symptoms may include (but not limited to) fever, headache, impaired nervous system, seizures, and coma (Dance, 2020).

In COVID-19 patients, the onset of CSS can present quickly. It is a very fine line to walk. While respiratory failure from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains the primary cause of COVID-19 deaths, the second leading cause of deaths seems to be due to secondary (or acquired) haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) with ensuing hypercytokinemia and multiorgan failure from the inappropriate persistence of histiocytes and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) (Mehta et al., 2020; Sandler et al., 2019).

Severe COVID-19 cases presented with sHLH have a profile of: “increased interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, interferon-γ inducible protein 10, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α, and tumor necrosis factor-α” (Mehta et al., 2020).

There is no single test/diagnostic that can detect CSS. Doctors have noted elevated levels of ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a study of 150 confirmed COVID-19 cases: “mean 1297·6 nanograms/ml in non-survivors vs 614·0 ng/ml in survivors; p<0·001) and IL-6 (p<0·0001)” (Mehta et al., 2020).

It is posited that this hyperinflammatory state/response may be an additional outcome of the COVID-19 disease.

References

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The Math of Epidemics

Lingo in the media are sometimes confusing or downright erroneous. This post tries to make the definitions clearer.

Case Fatality Rate (CFR) = (number of deaths) / (number of confirmed cases of the disease that have resolved)

The number of confirmed cases of the disease that have “resolved” means that we’re only counting those cases that have resulted in either recovery or death. Now there may still be people who are infected but have not yet recovered or not yet died. We’re not considering those in the denominator. Resolved cases means either the persons recovered or the persons died.

The difficulty with CFR is that the number of confirmed cases may not be accurately reflected. With a novel disease, it is difficult (especially in the beginning stages) to actually confirm a case due to the lack of testing and the lack of information regarding the characteristics of a pathogen. However, the CFR can help us understand the pathogen better, because scientists can look at data in a different way. Examples are (but not limited to): population by age groups; geographical locations; and other comorbidities.

Two other numbers (Infection Fatality Rate and Crude Mortality Rate) gives information about the risk of dying.

Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) describes the risk of dying if someone is infected. A population X is studied and the number of infections (V) within that population is counted. Out of those counted infections (V) of population X, F is the number of fatalities. Thus, the IFR for population X may be expressed as:

IFR = F / V

Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) is a number that describes the risk of dying relative to the entire population.

Crude Mortality Rate = (number of deaths) / (number of at-risk population)

Please take a few minutes to watch this video (below) by The Guardian. I, myself, was getting confused by all these “rates” until I slowed everything down and digested the video. I’ve read many articles and posts, and the video below is the best explanation with helpful animations.

https://youtu.be/sMtzWVTPmLI

References

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What is RT-PCR?

If you haven’t seen our other article on PCR (polymerase chain reaction), you can find that here.

Download the high-quality poster here.

RT-PCR, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a variation on the original PCR whereby the template to be amplified is RNA (e.g. genomes of RNA viruses like HIV, HCV, Ebola, SARS, SARS-CoV-2). It is a very RNA-sensitive procedure–more sensitive than northern blot and RNase protection assay.

The Taq polymerase (used in PCR) from the heat-loving bacteria Thermus aquaticus cannot work with RNA directly. Primers are added and anneal to the RNA target if present. Reverse transcriptase (an enzyme that catalyzes the building of DNA from an RNA template) is used to form a complementary DNA strand (cDNA) transcribed from the template RNA. Reverse transcriptase works between 50-60 degrees C.

The cDNA (becomes our “new” template) is then subsequently used in the PCR process. It is important that the RNA strand be high-quality and of high purity. RNase H (ribonuclease H) is an endonuclease enzyme that cleaves RNA from an RNA-DNA substrate. RNase H usually has the job of removing RNA primers from Okazaki fragments during DNA replication. Reverse transcriptase has a RNase H function. As it builds the cDNA, it also compromises the integrity of the original RNA template strand. Note that RNase H treatment is not required before proceeding to PCR.

The solution is heated to 95 degrees C to separate the RNA from the cDNA. The temperature is then lowered to anneal the primers to the cDNA. The rest of the procedure follows PCR and it’s thermocycling process.

References

https://youtu.be/EU39PDzz9co