Virology
An Extremely Successful Vaccine Story
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey One of the most noteworthy advances in biomedical science is the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV). It has significantly changed the diagnostic and prognostic landscape in the field of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, and it is a particular problem in low-income countries …
Effect of Diabetes and Obesity on Influenza Outcomes
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Flu season is in full swing, and hospitalizations related to influenza virus infection are on the rise. During the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic it became evident that diabetes and obesity increase one’s risk for severe influenza disease, a correlation that was also later observed in the context of COVID-19. A series …
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There Is No Need to Panic About Bird Flu
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Public health officials are continuing to monitor the spread of avian H5N1, the strain of influenza virus associated with “bird flu.” Although there is still no evidence that this virus can transmit from one person to another, two recently infected individuals are attracting close attention because the source of their infection …
Where Did HIV Come From?
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey As discussed in my previous post, we first became aware of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1980s. However, when did the virus actually emerge in humans, and where did it come from? There are two strains of HIV – HIV-1 and HIV-2. The vast majority of infections are caused …
Why Don’t We Have an HIV Vaccine?
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey This post was written in honor of Virus Appreciation Day, which occurs annually on October 3. Public awareness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) began in the early 1980s when separate clusters of infected individuals were identified in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. These individuals all shared a group of …
Sloth Fever
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey Recent news headlines have featured a mysterious and presumably new illness termed “sloth fever.” More aptly named Oropouche fever, the disease is caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod-borne virus that is transmitted primarily through the biting midge Culicoides paraensis. OROV typically circulates in sloths, non-human primates, and birds, but it …
David Tuller
Trial By Error: My Article on the Cochrane Mess in The Sick Times
By David Tuller, DrPH In November, 2023, journalists Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis launched The Sick Times, a publication whose tagline is “chronicling the Long Covid crisis.” Since then, the publication has diligently tracked the political and medical developments of this post-pandemic pandemic and has become a go-to source for intelligent reporting on the situation. …
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Trial By Error: Professor Edwards’ Letter to BMJ on the Cochrane Mess
By David Tuller, DrPH The Cochrane mess, which I wrote about the other day, is threatening to take on a life of its own. Perhaps Cochrane thinks the fuss over the big Christmas “fuck you” it delivered to members of the ME/CFS community will blow over quickly. That could happen, I suppose, but I suspect …
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Trial By Error: Norwegian Long Covid Rehab Trial Misrepresents Clinically Insignificant Findings As “Effective”
By David Tuller, DrPH If the results for a trial’s primary outcome do not meet the threshold for what is considered a “clinically significant” benefit, it goes without saying—or at least it should–that investigators have no legitimate grounds for promoting their intervention as “effective.” This is especially true when the trial in question is unblinded …
Trial By Error: Cochrane’s Decision on Exercise Review is Hurting Patients, Says Longtime Insider
By David Tuller, DrPH I have written frequently about Cochrane, the organization renowned for its systematic reviews of medical interventions, and its deeply flawed review of exercise therapies for ME/CFS–including its decision last month to abandon its commitment to produce a new version. Now Hilda Bastian, an Australia health consumer advocate and longtime Cochrane insider, …
Trial By Error: Interview with Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis, Founders/Editors of The Sick Times
By David Tuller, DrPH In November, 2023, journalists Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis launched The Sick Times, a publication devoted to, per its tagline, “chronicling the Long Covid crisis.” Both of them had been covering the pandemic, and Griffis had written of his own Long Covid experience. The Sick Times has gained both readers and …
Trial By Error: BMJ Has Corrected the REGAIN Trial Paper–But Not the Editorial or Systematic Review Touting REGAIN’s Findings
By David Tuller, DrPH Last February, The BMJ published a paper called “Clinical effectiveness of an online supervised group physical and mental health rehabilitation programme for adults with post-covid-19 condition (REGAIN study): multicentre randomised controlled trial,” from McGregor et al. The study purported to have proven that this multi-disciplinary intervention was “clinically effective” in reducing …