I've read that they are having some success with using blood from people who recovered from Covid-19 to treat those who have not. I have also read that children under the age of 10 are damn near immune to the virus.
It therefore follows, it seems, that we should at least TRY "borrowing" some blood from the children to see if that works as well as the recovered people's blood.
This may seem cruel, but needles don't feel pain.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 A pioneer in bringing young blood to the assistance of the elderly https://en.wikipedi...zabeth_B%C3%A1thory"The use of needles was also mentioned by the collaborators in court" [pertinax, Mar 31 2020] Pope Innocent VIII https://en.wikipedi...Innocent_VIII#DeathNot so very Innocent. Didn't end well for anyone involved. [8th of 7, Mar 31 2020] Old Hammers https://www.youtube...watch?v=uUtyVg4a6zsBeen binging on the old stuff again have you [pert]? [Skewed, Mar 31 2020] Stochastic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StochasticUseful [8th of 7, Mar 31 2020] Elemelatonintary my dear Watson https://www.science...i/S0024320520303313 [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 31 2020] How to stun birds. https://www.youtube...watch?v=4iWvedIhWjMIf Wile E had got it right. [Skewed, Mar 31 2020] The Countess Elizabeth Bathory Children's Hospital would like to get in touch.-- pertinax, Mar 31 2020 Yes, they've been ringing the main office at 21st Century Quest Engineering for some time now. They are persistent over there.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 She certainly pioneered the use of children's blood as a TOPICAL remedy. This is somewhat complementary I'd say.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 This brings up the question of whether we have a set amount of 'essence' per lifetime. Take from others what one has personally spent? . This is definitely a case for user pays.
May be if you knew the kid was going to live way past the median life expectancy. That is, they have it to give.-- wjt, Mar 31 2020 Extract blood from a recovered victim of a virus (discard corpse), centrifuge to separate out the red blood cells from the serum (or the plasma? not quite the same thing, always getting those two confused) this fluid will contain a heavy load of antibodies to the virus which can be used to treat an individual with the virus, aiding & speeding their recovery.
You don't 'have' to drain the donor entirely of course, but where's the fun in that?
There may be other steps involved.-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 <link>-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 //Countess Elizabeth Bathory Children's Hospital//
Not a lot to do but watch old films right now is there pert].
<link>
Worth noting the Hapsburg Crown owed her rather a lot of money.
The king wanted her executed (which would have seen all her estates & wealth, including those debts, revert to the crown), the final decision was house arrest & the debt was written off, which casts some doubt on the allegations against her perhaps?-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 [8th] that's interesting... The article says he received the first blood transfusion from a doctor who had him bathe in blood... I'm not sure if they understand how a transfusion works.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 //they// being the writers of the article?-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 <Marlowe>
"But that was in another country; And besides, the Pope is dead ..."
</Marlowe>-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 There is something very mysterious about the kiddos and their immunity. I mean even kids with crappy, lowered immunity aren't catching it. Like kids with leukemia, or that are having chemo. So someone, 'splain that please to me.-- blissmiss, Mar 31 2020 They're not "immune". They catch it and then their juvenile systems with limited prior exposure (compared to adults) looks at the virus, goes "Oh look, a new virus, that's naughty, SPLAT. OK, what else you got ?"
The virus needs to get its RNA into host cells. If those host cell structures don't key with the virus's protein structures, it can't "dock". If the host has too many antigens, they swamp virus particles before they can invade, and then the leucocytes and the rest of the clean-up squad grind them to fragments.
A few very unlucky cases will suffer from a cytokine storm as a consequence of the virus, and it can be quickly fatal.
Immune systems are heuristic and have a remarkably efficient memory for previous threats. Since the life experience and exposure of every individual is different, their immune systems will always react in unique but stochastically predictable ways (Chaos theory).
<link>-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 I presume a juvenile immune system is simply more reactive to new viruses than older ones [8th]? due to the older ones ('believing' they already know about everything that's out there) not being quite as on guard for the new?
ie The 'identify bad & respond' functions of the immune system simply stand down a bit as you age because they're 'normally' not needed as much.-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 Older immune systems tend to be slower to react, and more "complacent".
It's in a way necessary to protect against false alarms that can cause autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and the like.
For the transfusion thing to work it would probably need to be bone marrow, not blood, and then you need tissue type matching, not just blood group matching.-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 Or, put another way..
In a similar way that we have fast twitch & slow twitch muscle fibres that perform slightly different functions the immune system can be broken down into two broad categories.
1. The 'identify new' non-self that are going to be a problem systems.
2. & the 'respond' to known offenders (whose picture is already up on the staff room notice board) systems.
As more & more known offenders are added to the list the 'identify new' systems get less exercise (simply because there are fewer & fewer unknown non-self's out their that need identifying) so much like an unused muscle withers the immune systems 'identify new' bits do too, it gets slower identifying a new virus & the viral load can become to large for the 'respond' systems to deal with by the time it has.
So, basically, "Use it or lose it"
How does that (extremely unscientifically worded) Hypothesis fit with what we know about the immune system?-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 Remarkably well, even extending to the existence of vicious rogue psychotic geography teachers who roam the corridors looking for victims to beat up, whether they've done anything or not.-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 [8th], would you like to head up the R&D department for this venture? You can do live experiments...-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 As long as an agreement on the issue of the substantial remuneration can be resolved to mutual satisfaction, yes.
How much will we have to pay you ?-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 I'm going to assume you can supply your own tools and equipment?-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 Always.-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 We're going to move to a part of the interview called "word association". I'll say a word or phrase, you just say whatever comes immediately to mind. The first phrase is "Geneva conventions".-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 "Irrelevant"-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 You're hired.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 I have a very hands off management style. Just report back when you have results.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 // a very hands off management style //
That's very wise in the circumstances, because the blood gets everywhere, and it will save you the trouble of having to wear gloves*.
*or rubber waders and apron, a rubber balaclava helmet**, and a snorkel.
** not always entirely necessary.-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 //not always entirely necessary//
But the chances of needing it are never zero.-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 Prior to puberty children produce excessive amounts of melatonin. There is some evidence to conclude that melatonin plays a part in childhood resistance to viruses.
Form the [link]:
"inflammation, oxidation, and an exaggerated immune response very likely contribute to COVID-19 pathology. This leads to a cytokine storm and subsequent progression to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and often death. Melatonin, a well-known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative molecule, is protective against ALI/ARDS caused by viral and other pathogens. Melatonin is effective in critical care patients by reducing vessel permeability, anxiety, sedation use, and improving sleeping quality, which might also be beneficial for better clinical outcomes for COVID-19 patients. Notably, melatonin has a high safety profile. There is significant data showing that melatonin limits virus-related diseases and would also likely be beneficial in COVID-19 patients. Additional experiments and clinical studies are required to confirm this speculation."
Welp, my work here is done. If anybody needs me I will be in the workshop finishing my latest solid stone bird house.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 31 2020 Is it the bird that is stone, or the house ?
If the bird, why does it need a house? Stone is very durable.
If the house, if it is solid, of what utility is that to a bird ? It needs to be a hollow stone bird house, shirley, so a bird can go inside ?-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 Sorry for the confusion.Hollow bird houses made from solid-stone. Hobby of mine. People seem to like the idea of bird houses that will last longer than their own homes. Hundreds of years maybe, I don't know how long epoxy takes to degrade.Little chimneys, courtyards, tiny stacked cord-wood, wheelbarrows made from spoons etc. etc.
True story.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 31 2020 //if it is solid, of what utility is that//
A faux stone bird house with a painted bird hole / door, for those who really hate birds in their garden?
Cue video of Wile E Coyote slamming into a painted stone wall <link>-- Skewed, Mar 31 2020 A most satisfying visual ^-- 21 Quest, Mar 31 2020 // Sorry for the confusion. //
Don't apologize yet, you'll be a lot sorrier before we've finshed with you...
// Hollow bird houses made from solid-stone. //
Hollow birds die. We know this from extensive testing. If you take a bird and empty the works out, it stops going. Even if you then put them back, it doesn't go any more- just like kittens.
What you are struggling feebly to express, and of course failing to do because of your sad inadequacy, is "Hollow houses for normal birds, constructed using solid stone to create an enclosed volume suitable for a live bird to occupy on an intermittent basis".
Now, apologize to all the nice ladies and gentlemen and then go and stand in the corner and turn your face to the wall.-- 8th of 7, Mar 31 2020 Don't make me sic my crows on you guys....on second thought that would detract from them bringing me gold trinkets and nuggets and such... hmmmm...
...I will have to finish my programmable RC Canada goose magnet-collar project earlier than expected.
Your wipers will be of no use whatsoever!MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 01 2020 //Prior to puberty children produce excessive amounts of melatonin.//
Yes, watching over mine as they spin in circles knocks me flat out sometimes.-- RayfordSteele, Apr 01 2020 Mine are grown now. You will miss these days. They go fast. Don't blink.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 01 2020 What 2 Fries said ^-- 21 Quest, Apr 01 2020 ^ You just get back to saving for her University.
Oh my God I swear I had no idea what it would take.Sometimes ignorance isn't just bliss...
...it's a prerequisite.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 01 2020 Hardly surprising - birds of prey in general aren't very bright, and although they're very handsome birds (beautiful plumage) Prerequisite Falcons are, as you point out, pretty ignorant.-- 8th of 7, Apr 01 2020 random, halfbakery