Viral Fusion Inhibitors

This is the FIRST in a series of brief expositions about disease-causing viruses among humans.

Because everyone and anyone can be infected by deadly viruses, it is best to be educated and enlightened about these deadly diseases as well as what type of virus could have been causing it, how to know when one is affected and how long does the infection take. These information is especially important in determining how to avoid, prevent or treat these diseases.

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)

Considered as the most widely known type of virus, the HIV is the one that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) or the severe damage in the most effective “built-in” defense mechanism of the human body, the immune system.To date, About 40 million people in the world are living with HIV or AIDS. This estimate includes 37 million adults and 2.5 million children.

Its mode of transmission can be through exchange of body fluids (e.g. sexual contact), sharing of needles or blood transfusion. It can also be passed on to a baby when the mother is infected during pregnancy.

Usually, the duration of an HIV infection or its incubation period is from 1 to 6 months which spans from the time of infection to the time when antibodies (elements released by the body in order to fight the attacker) can be detected in the blood. Furthermore, the time from the HIV infection to the diagnosis of AIDS has been noted to be anywhere from 2 months to 10 years or longer.

Signs and Symptoms:

To the Immune System:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, axilla, or groin (lymphadenopathy)
- Fever / night sweats

To the GI Tract:
- Rapid weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Poor appetite
- Profound fatigue

To the Respiratory System:
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough / productive cough

To the Skin and Mucous Membranes:
- Skin rash
- Red, brown, pink or purple lesion on the skin – suggestive of Kaposi’s sarcoma
- White patches on the tounge, inside of the mouth, or gums – could be signs of thrush, candida
- Canker sores / apthous ulcers

Towards the Neurological / Emotional aspects:
- Depression
- Numbness, tingling, or burning in the feet, hands, or face. (peripheral neuropathy)
- Confusion, weakness, or changes in level of consciousness

(Source: iFeel Great Health News)

=============

Okey… that title may sound way too alarming or scary for ordinary people like you and me… going about our ways, trying to earn a living for our families and loved ones. But many are not aware or would totally disregard the hidden threats the moment they step out of their homes.

Worst… these threats may have entered their homes already…

We’re not talking about the crazy jeepney or bus driver plying our everyday routes, trying to convert their 4-wheeled vehicles into flying machines. No… we’re talking about the type and quality of air that we let into our lungs every time we breathe.

Figures for asthma cases and respiratory problems among children continue to rise. Not only that, but several people are continually suffering from bouts of allergic rhinitis, allergies of all types, eczema and other skin diseases, and growing cases of anaphylaxis that some doctors can’t even identify… much less cure.

Wait… wait… what was that?… Ana-something?

Oh… anaphylaxis… a word many may not have heard yet… but with a meaning that is as scary as it sounds. The term is used to describe something that is completely the opposite of protection. In medical terms, it means a quick allergic reaction that is extremely serious and often times fatal. A condition you would not want to mess around with.

And that’s not all.

Studies in the US and Great Britain have indicated that pollution from traffic and smoke-emitting factories can be linked to the significant reduction of normal lung growth of exposed children. Not only that, these pollutants can also cause bronchitis, respiratory virus infections and a host of other ailments and diseases.

Okey… so I’ll wear a gas mask…. Hmm… okey… if you’re comfortable with that… but pollution in the air is not the only problem.

It’s everything else actually.

We load ourselves, on a daily basis, a host of toxic substances coming from what we eat, drink and touch everyday. Poultry and livestock we buy are loaded with growth-enhancing hormones. Additives are used in the water that we drink. Toxic substances are present in everything that we touch and feel from the paint in our walls to the fabric that we use for our clothes.

The results — people’s immune systems continue to deteriorate each and every day.

Do these scenarios look familiar?

* Muscle aches

* Heart burns and other irregularities

* Easily gets exhausted

* Mild or severe headaches

* Sleep disorders

* Constant sneezing, colds and other flu-like symptoms

* Constant ringing or pressure in the ears

* Eyes that burn (and not because of your looks!)

* Loss of balance

* Loss of concentration

* Worry or even panic attacks (and not because of reading this article!)

There are a whole lot more symptoms that are very hard to diagnose… but your annual physical exams tell you that there is nothing wrong with you. Well… guess again!

Environmental illnesses such as these are still very difficult to diagnose, making it much harder for treatments to commence. But there are certain things that people can do to prevent the onslaughts of such threats, and can even reverse the damages wrought by years of being exposed to such threats.

* Sweat it out — Detoxify by sweating these toxins out through exercise, steam baths or saunas.

* Eat organic foods — These may be more expensive than your regular food selections, but you can be sure that they are free from pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. And they taste better too!

* Eat your fruits and veggies — People in urban areas tend to forget or neglect eating fruits and green vegetables. They are compromising their health by doing so resulting in a significant decrease in anti-oxidants that help protect the body from these harmful toxins.

* Boost your immune system with a little help from friends — Food supplements can help reverse the effects to toxic exposure, as well as help boost the immune systems by giving the body an extra shot of nutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

These include L-glutamine, Carnitine, Magnesium, Manganese and other helpful substances that promotes a healthy and more disease-resistant body and immune systems. Aside from that, the body can also benefit from Humic and Fulvic acid complex that comes from naturally powerful plant biomolecules. A single molecule of these substances is so powerful that it is capable of carrying 60 or more mineral and trace elements into the cells. Humic and fulvic acids have shown to block the keys to keep foreign micro-invaders from entering the cells.

To tap this resource, Alfa HFI contains the most natural and purest form of humic and fulvic acid made from rich dark deposits of this organic matter (humates) locked in the earth’s soil. Alfa HFi is a high quality humic and fulvic acid supplement that has been the subject of extensive scientific research, and is an important part of a daily plan used the world-over to aid the body’s ability to maintain overall health.

The chelating action of humic and fulvic acid has indicated an ability to both deliver healthy minerals, facilitating their absorption, while attracting and trapping heavy metals to remove them. This unique dual activity has shown to improve energy and overall health.

So next time you go out into the world, question yourself — is my body and health protected from all these threats? Is my family protected too? Do not make the mistake of disregarding these tell tale signs — act now.

Before it’s too late.

February 22, 2010 — The rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) for swine-origin 2009 A (H1N1) influenza virus (S-OIV) in children may be most useful in young children who present early after symptom onset, according to the results of a large pediatric cohort study reported online February 15 in Pediatrics.

“Data on the test performance of the RIDT for S-OIV have been limited,” write Michael Hawkes, MD, from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues. “The few available reports in mixed adult-pediatric populations have shown variable sensitivity between 11% and 69%…. The rapidly evolving pandemic of novel 2009 [S-OIV] demands that accurate and practical diagnostics be urgently evaluated for their potential clinical utility.”

The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of RIDT and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assay for S-OIV, using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as the reference standard. Between May 22 and July 25, 2009, the investigators prospectively recruited 820 children from birth to age 17 years who were evaluated for influenza-like illness in the emergency department of a pediatric referral hospital (n = 651) and a community pediatric clinic (n = 169).

To examine the sensitivity and specificity for S-OIV of RIDT (performed on-site) and of DFA, these tests were compared with the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR. In addition, the sensitivity of RIDT for S-OIV was compared with sensitivity for seasonal influenza during 2 preceding seasons.

For RIDT, sensitivity for S-OIV was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52% – 70%), and specificity was 99% (95% CI, 92% – 100%). Sensitivity of DFA was 83% (95% CI, 75% – 89%), which was significantly higher than that of RIDT (P < .001). When using DFA supplemented with culture as the reference standard, RIDT sensitivity for S-OIV was similar to that for seasonal influenza. Sensitivity of RIDT for influenza viruses was significantly higher in children not older than 5 years of age (P =.003) and in those evaluated not longer than 2 days after onset of symptoms (P < .001).

“The sensitivity of RIDT for detection of S-OIV is higher than recently reported in mixed adult-pediatric populations but remains suboptimal,” the study authors write. “Nonetheless, RIDTs may have a role in clinical practice for diagnosis of S-OIV in young children who present early after symptom onset, for whom the test sensitivity is superior.”

Limitations of this study include lack of generalizability to children with preexisting medical comorbidities and possible variation in test collection methods.

“Our findings support a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance statement that, when influenza viruses are circulating in a community, a positive RIDT result indicates that influenza infection is likely present; however, a negative test result does not rule out infection,” the study authors conclude. “In the face of a negative test result, a diagnosis of influenza should still be considered, empiric therapy and appropriate infection-control measures should be instituted if indicated, and confirmatory testing should be sought if necessary. Future studies are warranted to examine the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of RIDTs in the context of the current S-OIV pandemic.”

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research/SickKids Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the University of Toronto supported this study. The study authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Pediatrics. Published online February 15, 2010.

Clinical Context

Obesity or simply the state of exceeding the ideal body weight by 100 lbs. for males, or 80 lbs. for females, is associated with a higher risk of disease, which leads to early death. Apparently, with the numbers rising to approximately 350 million obese people around the world, wherein about 500, 000 of them are Filipinos; it is alarming to note that some of these patients are very young and need surgical intervention.

Interestingly, while many of us are trying to take pleasure in an unhealthy diet and in a lifestyle with less or no exercise, these patients are beginning to feel the pains and emotional regrets of being obese. Largely affected are women who suffer ridicule and discrimination that significantly affect their self-confidence and integrity. Studies have shown that obese people also experience complications like diabetes, heart problems, osteoarthritis, stroke, cancers, weak stamina, and chronic depression, among others.

It is well-known that increased food intake and decreased physical activity eventually result in obesity. In the recent years, however, scientific research discovered another possible reason; they identified an epidemic known as the Human Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) or the Obesity Virus, which can be caught as easily as a common cold from other people’s coughs, sneezes and dirty hands.

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, an associate professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Lousiana, said the parasitic virus, causes sniffles and sore throats as it infects the lungs then whisks around the body forcing fat cells to become fatter and multiply at a tremendous rate. In their experiments, Ad-36 has been shown to cause obesity in chicken, mice and monkey. In one test, Ad-36 infected 30% of obese humans but only 11% of thinner humans and these subjects are heavier compared with their Ad36-negative counterparts.

Ad-36 was first described in 1980, when it was originally isolated from a German girl with diabetes. Afterwards, prevalence of obesity increased by 30% between 1980 and 1990, and by 61% between 1990 and 2000; with no indication that this numbers are lessening.

Understanding the alarming growth of the obese population worldwide, health advocate Mr. Hans Palacios and Civic Leader for Public Awareness and Education Mr. Jake Ortiz indulge in efforts to spread a public awareness campaign about obesity and the Ad-36 virus, at DWIZ every Sunday at 10-11:00 AM, in partnership with www.thebignm.com - the only network management website for Filipinos.

Obesity virus attacks the body’s immune system, and interferes with its normal functions. This in turn makes the body more vulnerable to other deadly viruses like influenza, typhoid, dengue, hepatitis, hanta virus, chicken pox, herpes, gastroenteritis, swine flu (A H1N1), and HIV/AIDS. Researchers reported some 50 adenovirus strains that cause respiratory and eye infections, and various vaccines for these are not yet developed.

Backed by 15 years of study and clinical tests, Alfa HFI is a breakthrough discovery and was created by scientists as the nature’s most powerful broad spectrum antiviral solution to address this concern. It is an all-natural, pure and safe dietary supplement. It is refined and formulated from the powerful plant and animal bio-molecules found in ancient deposits of decomposed organic matter, which are humus layers of the earth’s soil that play an important role in the transfer of minerals within the living organism.

Alfa HFI works by penetrating the invading ultramicroscopic viruses and preventing their attachment into healthy cells through agents called Viral Fusion Inhibitors, which block and wrap the viruses in a coating substance. If the virus cannot attach to the cell’s DNA, it cannot survive and reproduce. Alfa HFi also has the amazing Alert Mode Ability that signals the immune system to flush the viruses out.

Alfa HFi also works both as preventive and immune system supportive and will be a valuable support for people seeking relief from nutritional imbalances, immune system disorders and viral diseases. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-allergic, anti-arthritic, anti-ulcerogenic, immuno-modulatory and other health benefis.

As a potent chelator and detoxifier, it attracts and attaches itself to toxic heavy metals and other toxins and removes them from the body as waste. It contains trace amounts of 70 mineral phyto-nutrients that give more energy. It increases polysaccharide sugars and combats the spread of free radicals in the body. It improves stress resistance, appetite, and the ability to focus during strenuous activities.

Consumption of Alfa HFI immediately restores and supercharges the body’s resistance to disease and infection by helping the body in manufacturing necessary glycoproteins within. It also perks up the gastrointestinal tract as pro-biotic, strengthens the joints and bones, provides amino acids and electrolytes, and boosts oxygen for the red blood cells.

Enzacta prides itself on having Alfa HFI Humic/Fuvic Acid Supplement as a product of their state-of-the-art technology and special proprietary process called BioReady Nutrients© (BRNs).  BRNs are nutritional complexes extracted, concentrated and naturally-enhanced for better bio-availability.

For more information, visit www.enzacta.com or call Enzacta at 706-5876 and look for Ms. Arra Inayon, company nurse and corporate researcher.

Early year 2009, alert was raised in almost all parts of the globe as Swine flu rapidly spread among humans. The flu was caused by a new virus strain Influenza A subtype H1N1. Origin of the virus, according to a report from the New York Times, probably developed in pigs in Asia and then carried by human to America. This flu virus is highly contagious though its virulence is classified as mild. However, it caused panic among nations when it established a second wave during the cold since the mortality rates went up. While there was face mask shortage during its first attack, today, there is a shortage in vaccines.

Vaccines were developed since the 1770s. These were used as biological preparations for a disease, classically employed to prevent small pox and other types of flu. To prevent a certain type of disease, a vaccine – which is a milder version of the virus causing the disease – is injected to a person early on. This alerts and strengthens the immune system.

Though vaccines are acceptable, many still debates about its safety. Actually, in 1976, a swine flu vaccine was already developed and was used to immunize nearly the entire US population. However, according to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, it had been found to be linked with the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) – an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, usually triggered by an acute infectious process.

The latest issue about swine flu vaccines today is that the US stock for this immunizer is running dry. The priority recipients of the vaccines are children and pregnant women only. Healthy individuals infected by the virus are advised to take other forms of medications.

Other options to prevent or control swine flu include the medication Oseltamivir Phosphate and the most popular brand for it is the Tamiflu. It acts by interfering with the production and release of virus from cells that line the respiratory tract. This may slow the spread of the infection within the airways and lungs.

INTRODUCING: Viral Fusion Inhibitors

As an additional anti-viral solution to address the Swine flu hitch, a group of scientists developed a product which was derived from a naturally occurring substance, the Alfa HFi.

Against viruses, Alfa HFi works by encapsulating the invader with a coating carried out by agents called Viral Fusion Inhibitors. Because of the coating, viruses will not be able to penetrate a healthy cell and reproduce from it. What’s more is that Alfa HFi exhibits an Alert Mode Ability wherein the immune system is given a signal about the invader prompting it to dispatch the cause of the disease.

Alfa HFi is a very small but powerful naturally occurring water-soluble substance which has the ability to transform the molecular structure of water enabling it to better carry dissolve and transport elements to or from the cell. Thus, cells are effectively provided with nutrients while waste products are carried away from it. Furthermore, this Alfa HFi-activated water molecules help in neutralizing toxins and invaders.

Nutritional experts suggest that the breakthrough discovery of the Hfi substance is a vitally important nutrient, together with vitamins and minerals. This helps the body increase its resistance to colds and flu, and infections.

Moreover, Alfa HFi aids in supercharging the immune system; cleansing, neutralizing and removal of toxins and the purging of parasites, pathogens and viruses.