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COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) AND IMMUNE MODULATION
What you need to know
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped RNA viruses that are distributed broadly among humans and other mammals, as well as birds, and cause primarily respiratory but also gastrointestinal, hepatic and neurologic disease. The virus, initially called 2019-nCoV, has officially been named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2, based on taxonomic similarity to an earlier coronavirus.
How to prevent illness
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick, to protect yourself, co-workers and others you're in contact with.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern or have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas you should call ahead to your health care provider before going in for treatment.
Keep your immune system strong. This includes getting enough sleep, and eating well.
Restrictive Travel
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea with Level 3 travel advisories; Japan, with Level 2; and recommends that all non-essential travel to these countries be avoided.
If you travel to any of these areas, you are asked to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days upon your return to the U.S.
Incubation
It is estimated that COVID-19 can live for nine days at room temperature (longer in cold conditions), but this is not known for certain and can likely be killed by disinfectant. While "current estimates suggest that symptoms of COVID-19 usually appear within around five days or less in most cases, but the range could be between one and 14 days." (1)
As this information changes rapidly, please consult the CDC travel alerts for the most up-to-date recommendations on travel.
Testing
Please see your local MD for testing of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) through LabCorp or Quest.
Ways to Improve Or Maintain A Great Immune System
IVIG is a great way to strengthen your immune system especially for patients who are immune deficient or exhibit certain autoimmune disorder. This treatment allows you to better fight off infections and stay healthy. If you are getting IVIG, continue to do so.
Another way to regulated and avoid and reduce inflammation and keep your immune system functioning at its optimal state especially in a setting of respiratory disease and or symptoms is by Exosome Therapy. Exosomes assist in calming an overactive immune system or modulating it to respond in a coordinated and thus more effective fashion.
Please contact our office at 212-288-8832 for more information.
Help Strengthen Your Immune System - Naturally
To keep the immune system, and overall health, functioning optimally:
Keep a balanced diet: Your diet should be filled with adequate protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. sourced from vegetables and fruit, and the remainder should be protein-rich foods (chicken, fish, beans, etc.). Vegetables and fruits are especially important; choosing a colorful array — perhaps carrots, peppers, oranges, leafy greens, berries or apples — will provide vitamins A and C, which both play important roles in immune function. It is also vital to get enough vitamin D, because vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased susceptibility to infection.
Aim to be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week
Take strategies to reduce stress
Get adequate sleep — about seven or eight hours per night.
Immune Booster
Not all immune boosters are the same. These three ingredients are crucial for reducing your symptoms and how long you suffer from a cold, while also enhancing your immune system: Zinc, L-Lysine, and Probiotics.
Children’s ENT-Pro® is a pleasant-tasting strawberry-flavored proprietary probiotic lozenge that:
• Promotes the biological mechanisms that support otolaryngeal tissues and organs • Shows antagonist activity towards opportunistic microflora • Exhibits immuno-modulating effects • Stimulates production of B cell lymphocytes, IgA • Demonstrate high clinical result with positive effect on the microbiocenosis of the upper air passages
Bio - Immunozyme Forte - A unique, broad-spectrum multiple designed to specifically support normal, healthy immune function.
STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM: Contains a variety of nutrients and factors designed to support a powerful immune system.
POTENT ANTIOXIDANT: Contains enzyme that aids in cell repair and provides antioxidant protection against cellular damage from free radicals and environmental toxins.
PROMOTES NORMAL GUT FLORA: helps promote a healthy gut microbial balance and overall GI function, which is necessary to produce the immune-boosting nutrients.
Bio-D-Mulsion Forte® supplies 2,000 IU per drop of vitamin D3 as a micro-emulsion for enhanced absorption and utilization, which is particularly important for those with malabsorption conditions.
Mixed Ascorbate Powder™ supplies vitamin C as mixed mineral ascorbates, otherwise known as buffered forms, which are more "GI friendly" at higher intakes.
SpectrumNeeds® is a nutritional supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and activated cofactors used to optimize the nutritional status of children and adults with autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders (including ADD/ADHD), used to stimulate specific biological pathways in order to promote health. SpectrumNeeds® contains 33 active ingredients, which provide a wide basis of metabolism for individuals, including those with neurodevelopmental disorders.
COVID-19 and IVIG treatment
For the past few weeks, we have been receiving lots of questions regarding the safety of IVIG (Intravenous immunoglobulin) products in relation to COVID-19 screening/testing, and virus inactivation during the IVIG process.
We reached out to IDF (Immune Deficiency Foundation) to receive the following statement in regards to the growing concerns around Coronavirus and screening procedures.
"According to PPTA, “based on strict screening procedures for plasma donors and the established processes of virus inactivation and removal during the manufacturing of plasma-derived products, PPTA concludes that the SARS-CoV-2 is not a concern for the safety margins of plasma protein therapies manufactured by PPTA member companies.”
You can read the full statement here.
We have also reached out to Grifols, a pioneer in the field of the plasma science, and one of the largest plasma companies in the world to receive the following statement
"SARS-CoV-2 and Blood or Blood-Components There is currently little information about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in blood or blood-components of infected people; however, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been reported at low level in plasma from a small portion (15%) of hospitalized patients showing clinical symptoms. It is important to note that the presence of RNA is not synonymous with the presence of infectious virus.
Routine donor screening measures that are already in place should prevent individuals with clinical respiratory infections from donating. For example, blood donors must be in good health and have a normal temperature on the day of donation. In addition to the aforementioned health screening measures, source plasma donors are repeat donors, so if any indication of illness is detected, previous plasma donations in the inventory hold period of not less than 60 days can be identified and removed.
While blood-borne transmission cannot be theoretically discarded, respiratory viruses, in general, are not known to be transmitted by blood transfusion. No transmission by blood has been documented for SARS-CoV-2, nor have there been any documented or reported cases of transmission of MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV by blood or blood products.
Inactivation/removal of Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are sensitive to physicochemical conditions that serve to inactivate the virus. These conditions include heat, pH, inactivation by chemical agents such as detergents, organic chemicals, formaldehyde, oxidizing agents, and methylene blue treatment.
Thus, the specific steps with inactivation capacity of enveloped viruses in Grifols plasma protein manufacturing processes, such as pasteurization, heat treatment and solvent/detergent treatment (18), will have similar efficacy against an enveloped virus such as SARS-CoV-2.
Also, manufacturing steps that serve to purify the product by partitioning, such as precipitation by PEG or by Cohn-process cold ethanol fractionation , along with dedicated steps with virus removal capacity, including nanofiltration, provide, by independent mechanism of action, additional clearance capacity for viruses such as SARS-CoV-2."
You can read the full GRIFOLS statement here.
