Steelers vs. Titans postponed.  

game might be played Monday or Tuesday.

Eagles are playing the Steelers in Week 5 btw

1 minute ago, Dave Moss said:

Steelers vs. Titans postponed.  

game might be played Monday or Tuesday.

Eagles are playing the Steelers in Week 5 btw

I vote for Tuesday.  I also vote the Steelers should touch everything in the Titans facility while they are there.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/88883

 

Don't insert bleach or UV lights either.

South Park pandemic episode released tonight.  Should be on HBO Max tomorrow.  Should be good for a laugh about all this crap at least.

9/27 COVID-19 update from the doc

https://www.nothingbutthetruthmd.com/2020/10/92720-covid-19-update.html

 WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

Around the world, the number of cases of Covid-19 are increasing.  Experts attribute this to societies growing tired of living under the constraints necessitated by Covid-19 and abandoning masks and physical distancing.  Unfortunately the virus has not tired of them.

BIG TEN FOOTBALL

Earlier this week, in a press release, from a meeting of Big 10 representatives attempting to restart the Big 10 football season, Dr. Jeff Mjaanes, Director of Sports Medicine, Head Team Physician, Northwestern University was quoted as saying, "you're catching somebody with a positive test before they're contagious.  That is a huge breakthrough in this.  If we can do this on a daily basis which is what's in our proposal than we can identify people before they are infectious and really maintain the sanctity and health of the team."

I don't believe that such a test exists and I have spent several hours this week reviewing the literature that I have previously spent many days reading.  I think that student athletes and their parents should know that the ideal environment that Dr. Mjaanes describes can not be produced.  I could have missed an important piece of literature and I therefore emailed Dr. Mjaanes on Tuesday seeking reference.  He has not responded.  I also sent a copy of the email to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Head Team Doctor for the Penn State Football Program, a member of the Big 10.  He very kindly  replied that he was not aware of the comments by Dr. Mjaanes, and forwarded an article on the dynamics of testing and on the benefits of daily surveillance protocols.  The article talks about limiting outbreaks but does not say or even suggest that a patient can have a positive test who is not infectious. ("Test Sensitivity is Secondary to Frequency and Turnaround Time for Covid-19 Surveillance" - NOTE - this article was released in a preprint form several months ago and does not appear to have been accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal, therefore SHOULD NOT be used to guide clinical practice at this time)

The email that I sent to Dr. Mjaanes is forwarded to all of you in a separate email.

As will be discussed later in this email, we are finding that in many young people who had minimal symptoms, significant health problems are arising in up to 10% of them.  This disease is not nearly as benign in the younger populations as initially thought.

TRISTON HOGE - OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AT BYU

Triston is one of many players on the squad who tested positive for Covid after playing Navy.  After an initially mild course and completing his quarantine period, he went back to practice.  He has now developed pneumonia.  In a video posted to twitter, his father states, " ends up that he has pneumonia and it's affected his lungs severely.  Luckily there is no fluid in his heart."

This looks like a case that is being termed "long hauler".  As I have stated several times over the past couple of months I think lineman will be at particular risk for more serious forms of Covid-19. 

COVID-19 TRANSMISSION (SEPTEMBER UPDATE):  ARE CHILDREN WITH COVID-19 AS CONTAGIOUS AS ADULTS?  ARE THEY AS INFECTIOUS AS ADULTS?

Lawrence Steinman, MD

Stanford University School of Medicine

1.  Children up to age 10 have a much reduced chance of getting ill, rarely get really sick

2.  The respiratory system is the portal of entry for this virus, and children under 10 have a much reduced concentration of ACE II receptors which are the receptors the virus looks to attach to.  They can however still have viral particles in their passageways which can be coughed out and possibly are infectious.

3.  After age 10 the density of the ACE II receptors increases so that by high school they are like adults.

FREQUENCY OF CHILDREN vs. ADULT CARRYING SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 ASYMPTOMATICALLY

G. Milani, MD

JAMA Pediatrics 9-14-20

In a study from Italy, patients who were admitted to either adult (>18) or pediatric hospitals (<18) in Milan from 3-1-20 to 4-30-20 were tested for Covid-19 by nasopharyngeal swab.  Patients with signs or symptoms of infectious disease, Covid-19 or a history of Covid 19 like symptoms in the prior 21 days were excluded.   There were 881 pediatric admission, 83 met inclusion criteria and there were 3610 adult admissions, 131 met inclusion criteria.  All patients who had an initial negative nasopharyngeal swab for Covid-19 were retested in 24 to 48 hours.

There was 1 patient in the pediatric group who tested positive (1.2%) and 12 in the adult group who tested positive (9.2%)

This study suggests that patients under 18 are infrequent, asymptomatic carriers of Covid-19 as compared to adults. There is a study published in JAMA (pediatrics), 9-25-20, a meta-analysis that shows, as we have been observing for some time, that children under age 12-14, are much less likely to become infected by SARS-CoV-2.

AS THEIR NUMBERS GROW, COVID-19 "LONG HAULERS" STUMP EXPERTS

Rita Rubin

JAMA 9-23-20

"Anecdotally there's no question that there are a considerable number of individuals who have a post viral syndrome that really, in many respects, can incapacitate them for weeks and weeks following so called recovery and clearing of the virus." (Anthony Fauci, MD)

A UK team estimated that 10% of those who have had Covid-19 experience prolonged symptoms.  This group of patients is young. (France average age 40)  Most of these patients had mild disease that did not require hospitalization.

A study  in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on July 31, showed that among patients 18 to 34 years with no chronic medical conditions, 20% had not returned to their usual state of health after 2 to 3 weeks.

The symptoms seemed to be generated commonly from the heart, lungs and brains.  Dr. Fauci notes that the "long haulers" symptoms like brain fog and fatigue are highly suggestive of myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. HOWARD BAUCHNER (EDITOR JAMA)

Guest - Dr. Michael T. Osterholm

Director of the Center of Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota

9-23-20

1.  Very concerned that the fall will be severe, due to laxity in masking and distancing and more people spending more time indoors

2.  Studies at his Institute suggest that 5-10% of the college students have been infected, therefore the remaining 90% represent a rich reservoir for the virus and he believes that this will contribute to the fall spread and crisis of this Pandemic which he is certain will occur.

3.  Both Dr. Bauchner and Dr. Osterholm feel that we should not tie ourselves into what we have done in years past and look at this as a "covid year off" and prioritize the health of our children over everything else. (not so concerned about sending children back to school)

4.  The subject of "Long Haulers" was discussed.  Dr. Osterholm puts the percentage of  "long hauler" as high as 20-30% which is greater than I have seen in most of the literature on the subject.

5.  Dr. Osterholm states that the CDC, in some cases has succumbed to the long arm of Politics, and in some cases as was recently evidenced on the position and then quick retraction of the significance of aerosol transmission, which he believes was a purely administrative (non-political) occurence should never have happened.  Some in the CDC should be questioning their ability to perform the  job that needs to be done and is disappointed in the leadership at the CDC.

NUMBERS

Deaths 204,499

Bed utilization compared to 9-20-20:  Five states this week have registered increased bed utilization.  Last week only South Carolina was up.  Wisconsin was up 76%!!!

Weekly increase in new cases: 10 states registered increases in new cases.  New Jersey, for the fifth week in a row, Texas up by 69%, South Carolina up 41%

Live Safer

Be Well

More masks in Stockholm now. Still can’t be more than max a couple percent but noticeably more anyway. 

2 hours ago, Phillyterp85 said:

I don't believe that such a test exists and I have spent several hours this week reviewing the literature that I have previously spent many days reading.  I think that student athletes and their parents should know that the ideal environment that Dr. Mjaanes describes can not be produced.  I could have missed an important piece of literature and I therefore emailed Dr. Mjaanes on Tuesday seeking reference.  He has not responded. 

I had similar thoughts myself when I read the article. Can you pass along any info if your dad hears back from him on this?

2 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

More masks in Stockholm now. Still can’t be more than max a couple percent but noticeably more anyway. 

Hope you're wearing yours Doc. They still provide a significant amount of protection from others, it's not just to protect others from you.

17 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Hope you're wearing yours Doc. They still provide a significant amount of protection from others, it's not just to protect others from you.

No, I don't wear one in Stockholm though I'm happy to wear one if I travel somewhere that recommends them though.

I'm going to get tested in a couple of weeks as I'm having my gall bladder removed and a COVID test is a required part of the process.  I'm 90% sure I had it back in early February as you may recall so I may very well test positive for antibodies assuming they test for those as well.

1 minute ago, DrPhilly said:

No, I don't wear one in Stockholm though I'm happy to wear one if I travel somewhere that recommends them though.

I'm going to get tested in a couple of weeks as I'm having my gall bladder removed and a COVID test is a required part of the process.  I'm 90% sure I had it back in early February as you may recall so I may very well test positive for antibodies assuming they test for those as well.

You really should

29 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

I had similar thoughts myself when I read the article. Can you pass along any info if your dad hears back from him on this?

Sure thing, will do.

5 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

You really should

Thanks

7 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

No, I don't wear one in Stockholm though I'm happy to wear one if I travel somewhere that recommends them though.

I'm going to get tested in a couple of weeks as I'm having my gall bladder removed and a COVID test is a required part of the process.  I'm 90% sure I had it back in early February as you may recall so I may very well test positive for antibodies assuming they test for those as well.

I doubt they'll test for antibodies in prep for your gall bladder removal.  They want to test to see if you currently have it, as that's what they'd care about.  Good luck with the surgery.

2 minutes ago, Phillyterp85 said:

I doubt they'll test for antibodies in prep for your gall bladder removal.  They want to test to see if you currently have it, as that's what they'd care about.  Good luck with the surgery.

Yep, and it's probable any antibodies he may have had, assuming he actually got it back in Feb (highly unlikely) would be vanishingly low by now.

5 minutes ago, Phillyterp85 said:

I doubt they'll test for antibodies in prep for your gall bladder removal.  They want to test to see if you currently have it, as that's what they'd care about.  Good luck with the surgery.

Yeah I know that.  I'm just hoping they would include the antibody part as well but I suppose you are right.

Thanks.

2 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Yep, and it's probable any antibodies he may have had, assuming he actually got it back in Feb (highly unlikely) would be vanishingly low by now.

Could be.

Why do you think it is unlikely that I had it in February?  Sweden was an early hot spot and I attended a conference the first week of February with 200 people of which 50 got sick.  We had people from Northern Italy and from Singapore/HongKong in that conference plus some from California as well.  Many of them had been traveling all over the place and plenty in Asia.

1 minute ago, DrPhilly said:

Could be.

Why do you think it is unlikely that I had it in February?  Sweden was an early hot spot and I attended a conference the first week of February with 200 people of which 50 got sick.  We had people from Northern Italy and from Singapore/HongKong in that conference plus some from California as well.  Many of them had been traveling all over the place and plenty in Asia.

Because it hadn't taken hold yet. The numbers don't bear out a high likelihood. First week of Feb makes it even more unlikely.

7 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Because it hadn't taken hold yet. The numbers don't bear out a high likelihood. First week of Feb makes it even more unlikely.

Ok.  One month later it was all over the place in Stockholm and we know for sure that people had it well before that though no one was tested.  Who knows?  I said it at the time that I thought I'd had it and I still think that was the case.

Read an article over coffee this morning.

38% of COVID misinformation in the USA was repeated in public by the President.

Probably out of bounds

 

But I lol’d

is/was there anything to the theory that folks who have gotten the flu shot experience more serious covid symptoms if they get it?     

2 minutes ago, mr_hunt said:

is/was there anything to the theory that folks who have gotten the flu shot experience more serious covid symptoms if they get it?     

No

7 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

No

That's exactly the kind of thing someone would say that's in on the conspiracy to inject everyone with Covid via a flu shot.

1 minute ago, VanHammersly said:

That's exactly the kind of thing someone would say that's in on the conspiracy to inject everyone with Covid via a flu shot.

It's a Soros brain chip not COV...er...no it isn't. 

They do say that due to social distancing the flu season might not suck so hard.