A Few Items This week
Like how my mind works..Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Seems that this has been a busy week. Going touch on a few items of interest.
Famotidine and Long CVOID
What does an acid blocker have to do with PASC? This drug was used in a trial this year to treat common PASC symptoms of cognitive, mood, and behavioural symptoms. Before rushing out and emptying the shelves of Pepcid and Zantac, let take a closer look at the history of this drug and COVID-19.
Let’s go back to 2020 and look at trials find drugs that can be repurposed to treat COVD-19. This was one such trial. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.01.20086694v2
Some controversial issues arose though. Pepcid-COVID study raised red flags weeks after $21M grant https://apnews.com/article/92e6cabd8834e6865eee67f116b006c1
Former president received a cocktail of drugs such as: dexamethasone, Remdesivir, REGN-COV2 (through "expanded access"—technically known as 21 CFR 312.310—allows physicians to request "compassionate use" of experimental treatments), Zinc, Vitamin D, Melatonin, Aspirin and, of course, Famotidine.
PPI (Proton pump inhibitors), hydroxychloroquine, famotidine (Histamine Type-2 Receptor Antagonists or H2 Blockers) was not shown to be effective in this study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33982938/ However, other results have resulted in a mixed bag. IDSA and NIH COVID-19 treatment guideline recommend tocilizumab (an arthritis anti-inflammatory drug) instead. Famotidine does offer some promise, as Dr Offit said. ““Famotidine is kind of a poor man’s tocilizumab,” said Offit, a member of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. He added that famotidine would have a far less dramatic effect than tocilizumab, but it would also have fewer side effects.
Offit encouraged more research on famotidine to treat Covid-19.
“I’m always up for studying more. That’s the last refuge of the academic scoundrel: more studies,” Offit said.” https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/health/covid-famotidine-study-results/index.html
Fast forward to present day and Long COVID. So,this trial that was mentioned by Dr Griffin: “Effect of famotidine on cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions induced in post-COVID-19 infection: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study” Their conclusion? “Our study supports safety and efficacy of famotidine in treating cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety symptoms induced by COVID-19.” Sounds great until you look at the details. A bit underpowered and underwhelming with a N of 50. Results looked more significant but not impressive really. So,when you see the headlines, we could really use more data. Not to say there isn’t value in more trials, it would be nice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10229204/
Earthquakes, Flooding, Weather..OH MY!
Not your imagination, it has been a unusual weather this year.
U.S. has seen a record number of weather disasters this year. It’s only September.
“It takes a lot to surprise me," said a government scientist who tracks billion-dollar disasters. "But this year has been a surprise.”
Maui Fires Death Toll Revised Down To At Least 97
Still a truly horrible disaster due to lack of planning and preparation.
https://weather.com/news/news/2023-09-15-maui-fires-lahaina-rebuilding-update
‘We knew ahead of time’: A decade of turmoil left Libya unprepared for a catastrophic storm
“Storm Daniel, also known as Cyclone Daniel, was the deadliest and costliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone ever recorded.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/knew-ahead-time-decade-turmoil-114723090.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
What To Know About The Morocco Earthquake
Watching these buildings collapse is like watching a building demolition with explosives. This is why it was so deadly.
https://weather.com/news/news/2023-09-11-morocco-earthquake-what-to-know-aid-facts
Powerful 6.2 Earthquake Rattles Chile, Caught On Camera
Don’t forget the Ring of Fire with quakes and volcanoes. Dramatic video of this one.
https://weather.com/news/video/powerful-62-earthquake-rattles-chile-caught-on-camera
Remember, the aftermath from these events are still ongoing and may continue for months, maybe years. We will see more of this in the near future and need more planning preparations from infrastructures to disaster responses.
Thanks for the update on famotidine especially, I haven’t kept up with Twiv lately so glad I’m not missing anything dramatic, agree low power with n=50!