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GOOD NEWS FROM AMAZING ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN

Posted By on April 19th, 2020

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Positive coronavirus treatment news. Six critically ill Israeli coronavirus patients with organ failure are still alive after 1-week’s Pluristem’s PLX cell-therapy in three separate Israeli medical centers. Four show improved respiratory parameters – three of those could soon be weaned off ventilators with two showing clinical recovery.  

Latest – The first critically ill US coronavirus patient has received Pluristem’s treatment (in New Jersey).

https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-covid-19-treatment-shows-100-percent-survival-rate-preliminary-data-624058 
 
Italy approves Israeli coronavirus treatment. (TY JNS) Italy has approved Opaganib from Israel’s Redhill Biopharma to treat some 160 severe COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory problems at three hospitals in northern Italy. Phase2 tests on 131 US patients were positive and two critically ill Israeli patients are improving.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-israeli-covid-19-patients-improve-in-experimental-drug-trial/
 
Passive vaccine saves 29-year-old coronavirus patient. (TY Hazel) A 29-year-old coronavirus patient in Ashdod has improved from serious to serious but stable condition, after receiving multiple doses of plasma from a donor who recovered from coronavirus. Another patient who received plasma has also improved.
https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/29-year-old-among-first-to-be-treated-with-MDA-passive-vaccine-624353  https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israels-MDA-to-treat-coronavirus-patients-with-new-passive-vaccine-623172
 
Targeting coronavirus proteins. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute are working with a UK laboratory and others to develop an anti-viral treatment that targets Protease – a protein essential for coronavirus activity.  Meanwhile, Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists are testing many chemicals against similar proteins.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/science-will-conquer-this-inside-the-race-for-a-coronavirus-treatment/
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/accelerated-oxford-weizmann-project-aims-to-identify-anti-covid-19-drug-in-weeks-1.498547  
 
Decoys to trap coronavirus. Technion scientists are using their NanoGhost technology(reported here) to send NanoGhost stem cells into the lungs. The coronavirus cells then bind with the NanoGhost decoy cells rather than the cells in the lung, thus reducing the ability of the virus to propagate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxdcMVnDA4
 
Radar for the lungs. Israel’s Sensible Medical has developed a radar-based system that continuously monitors a patient’s lung fluid levels to prevent deterioration. It has already in operation in four Italian hospitals and a US hospital has bought 20 units. Israel is also about to adopt it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8v1GKdeKa0
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3804703,00.html  https://sensible-medical.com/
 
New coronavirus test is 10 times faster. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed and implemented a new test for coronavirus infections that is much faster, cheaper and hasn’t the resource issues of current tests. It extracts RNA from swabs as now, but with a magnetic bead-based cleanup process called SPRI.
https://www.jwire.com.au/hebrew-university-researchers-develop-a-covid-19-diagnostic-test-10x-faster/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuWu9uGrmrk
 
Recovered. The many critically ill Israeli coronavirus patients being cured include a couple from Ashkelon aged 90 and 87 who can now celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Also, Eli Beer, CEO of Israel’s United Hatzalah has awoken from a coma.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-couple-aged-90-87-recover-from-covid-19-in-ashkelon/
https://worldisraelnews.com/united-hatzalah-of-israel-founder-awakens-from-coronavirus-coma/
 

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AI, the Economy’s Backbone | Chuck Brooks

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://blog.engati.com/chuck-brooks-ai-economy/

AI, the Economy’s Backbone | Chuck Brooks | Engati Engage

In the current digital era, Chuck Brooks reveals that technology defines who we are and what we do and AI will be the backbone of the Economy. We also discuss the emergence of digital in Customer Service and the growth of the remote economy.

Chuck Brooks is a globally recognized thought leader for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies. He is President of Brooks Consulting International and an Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University. LinkedIn named Chuck as one of “The Top 5 Tech People to Follow on LinkedIn.” He was named by Thompson Reuters as a “Top 50 Global Influencer in Risk,” by IFSEC as the “#2 Global Cybersecurity Influencer,” and as a “Top 50 Global Marketer.” He is also a Cybersecurity Expert for “The Network” at the Washington Post, Visiting Editor at Homeland Security Today, and a Contributor to FORBES.

Summary of Interview on AI on the Economy with Chuck Brooks

We’ve summarized most of the answers to this interview in this section. But if you’d like to go through the full interview, there’s a link to the YouTube video below this section. 

How ready for a change do you think the customer service industry is and what role do you think AI plays in bringing about that change?

Chuck believes a technological transformation is already taking place. With or without COVID-19, the world has been progressing to digital in the last few years. He believes that tapping into Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning has the capability to reshape the landscape. According to Chuck Brooks, with AI and ML, one has the ability to analyze data to focus on trends. In fact, AI and ML has already been used in many industries- from medical to cybersecurity, to manufacturing and industrial. We’re using these technologies to even fight the virus!

POLITICS Comments turned off

Funny how that Michelle Obama ‘endorsement’ for Joe Biden requires ‘talks’ By Monica Showalter

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/04/funny_how_michelle_obamas_endorsement_of_joe_biden_is_something_that_requires_talks.html

If Joe Biden were a good candidate, doesn’t it seem as though it would be a breeze for any Democrat to endorse him?

He’s not a normal candidate, at least when it comes to the Obamas.

Michelle Obama is in “talks” with the Biden team on all the conditions necessary to obtain her endorsement.

According to Fox News:

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s team is speaking with former first lady Michelle Obama about winning her endorsement and having her play a role in his campaign, according to a report.

Former President Obama endorsed Biden last week soon after Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race and Biden emerged as the apparent Democratic nominee.

“We know what pretty much everyone in America does: Michelle Obama is probably the most beloved member of the Democratic Party and her support is a big deal,” a Biden aide told The Hill. “Any future announcement would reflect the incredible impact her voice has.”

Hear that? Talks.

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Coronavirus Outbreak Eases in New York as U.S. Protesters Push Against Restrictions New York Gov. Cuomo says, ‘You could argue that we are past the plateau and we are starting to descend’By Peter Grant, Chuin-Wei Yap and Valentina Pop

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-04-18-2020-11587197819?mod=hp_lead_pos3

The coronavirus pandemic in America’s hardest-hit state is starting to wane, its governor said, as more U.S. protesters rallied to lift social-distancing restrictions.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at news conference on Saturday that the number of people currently hospitalized in the state for Covid-19, is under 17,000 compared with about 18,000 at its peak

With more than 235,000 reported coronavirus cases, New York accounts for about one-third of all cases in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It has nearly three times as many as the No. 2 state, New Jersey, despite a population just over twice as large.

But the average person infected with Covid-19 in New York now infects 0.9 other people, compared with 1.4 at the height of the outbreak, according to Mr. Cuomo, indicating that the virus’s spread is now slowing.

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Truth, the Ongoing Casualty of COVID-19 Peter Smith

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2020/04/truth-the-ongoing-casualty-of-covid-19/

his is from Health Minister Greg Hunt’s website, reporting a transcript of an interview he gave on  April 14.

It’s very different from this concept of herd immunity that has been raised a little bit, but that would mean 60 per cent of the population, 15 million people. If you had a one per cent loss of life, that would be catastrophic. That is absolutely not our policy.

So, to add to Mr Hunt’s arithmetic. One percent of 15 million would mean 150,000 Australian deaths from COVID-19. He is right, that would be catastrophic. It would be unacceptable. Such a death rate, relatively speaking, is in the same order of magnitude that the Imperial College (IC) report, which I reviewed, estimated would apply in the US and the UK if no mitigation/suppression measures were implemented.

I don’t want to pull punches. The IC report has been largely discredited as alarmist. But that aside, a month has passed since the report was issued. Hunt is now armed with more knowledge. Also, he is apparently a very bright bloke and can’t hide behind dimwittedness. He is therefore deliberately putting out misleading information to excuse the governments gross, damaging and continuing overreaction. That is regrettable. Let me explain.

First, no-one ever suggested that nothing be done. The alternative strategy was to protect the vulnerable, build-up additional hospital capacity, and to allow people to continue working and life to go on, while at the same time, taking extra precautions in social situations and at the workplace to cut down the incidence of transmissions.

Second, there is increasing evidence that the fatality rate of those contracting this disease is much less than one per cent; and this particularly applies in a country like Australia with first-class medical resources. For example, virologists tested 80 percent of the population in a town in Germany (Gangelt) finding an estimated fatality rate of 0.37 percent. This was known on or before April 9.

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Coronavirus death toll estimate DROPS again

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8232131/Adherence-social-distancing-spurs-dip-projected-U-S-coronavirus-deaths.html?ito=push-notification&ci=13334&si=5694542

Coronavirus death toll estimate DROPS again: Top COVID-19 model shows predicted US fatalities have fallen by 12% from 68,841 to 60,308 – just a month after it projected that 84,000 would die

The University of Washington’s model projected on Friday that the US death toll will reach 60,308 by August 4
This marks a 12 percent decline from 68,841 deaths forecast earlier in the week
Better-than-expected social distancing practices and strict state shutdowns have helped slow the outbreak and improve the outlook for Americans
States with low death rates could relax some restrictions on May 4, experts said.

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After Repeated Failures, It’s Time To Permanently Dump Epidemic Models Michael Fumento

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://issuesinsights.com/2020/04/18/after-repeated-failures-its-time-to-permanently-dump-epidemic-models/

“Assuming it’s possible to model an epidemic at all, any that the mainstream press relays will have been designed to promote panic. Take it from Fauci, who early on so eagerly employed them – they are to be ignored. Now and forever.”

The … crisis we face is unparalleled in modern times,” said the World Health Organization’s assistant director, while its director general proclaimed it “likely the greatest peacetime challenge that the United Nations and its agencies have ever faced.” This was based on a CDC computer model projection predicting as many as 1.4 million deaths from just two countries. 

So when did they say this about COVID-19? Trick question: It was actually about the Ebola virus in Liberia and Sierra Leone five years ago, and the ultimate death toll was under 8,000.

With COVID-19 having peaked (the highest date was April 4), despite the best efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase numbers by first saying any death with the virus could be considered a death from the virus and then again this week by saying a positive test isn’t even needed, you can see where this is going.

Since the AIDS epidemic, people have been pumping out such models with often incredible figures. For AIDS, the Public Health Service announced (without documenting) there would be 450,000 cases by the end of 1993, with 100,000 in that year alone. The media faithfully parroted it. There were 17,325 by the end of that year, with about 5,000 in 1993. SARS (2002-2003) was supposed to kill perhaps “millions,” based on analyses. It killed 744 before disappearing.

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Trump to Give Commencement to West Point; Pence Delivering Speech to Air Force Academy By Zachary Stieber

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-to-give-commencement-to-west-point-pence-delivering-speech-at-air-force-academy_3317096.html

President Donald Trump said he will give a commencement speech at West Point, a U.S. military academy in New York.

Trump told reporters in Washington Friday that cadets will be spread out to comply with social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year.

“I understand they’ll have distancing, they’ll have some big distance, so it will be very different than it ever looked. Do I like the look? No, I don’t,” he said.

Eventually, graduations will return to normal, with people “nice and tight,” he added.

POLITICS Comments turned off

Pelosi ‘Satisfied’ with Biden Campaign’s Response to Sexual Assault Allegation By Zachary Stieber

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.theepochtimes.com/pelosi-satisfied-with-biden-campaigns-reponse-to-sexual-assault-allegation_3317170.html#

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), one of the top Democrats in Congress, said she accepted a statement from presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign in response to a sexual assault allegation made by a former Biden staffer.

Tara Reade, 56, filed a lawsuit against Biden, 77, last week accusing him of sexually assaulting her at the U.S. Capitol in 1993. Reade said her impetus for filing the suit was the harassment she received since coming forward in April 2019 with allegations against her former boss.

In a statement sent to news outlets, Biden campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said: “Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.” Biden himself has not addressed the matter and has not been asked about it by reporters yet.

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Beat” on Friday night, host Ari Melber asked Pelosi about the “accusation of misconduct.” Was she satisfied with the response?

“Yes, I am,” Pelosi said.

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It’s Time for the White House to Focus on Drug Approvals . By Ryan Streeter

Posted By on April 18th, 2020

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/04/18/its_time_for_the_white_house_to_focus_on_drug_approvals_142941.html

In this COVID-19 era, it’s the scientists who will ultimately get us back to work. It is time for the Trump administration to acknowledge this and adjust its public communication strategy accordingly. It is hard to envision a scenario looking like the “normal” we all crave until we have therapeutics to protect us from the coronavirus’s effects as we await a vaccine to prevent us from catching it. Once we all know we can take a drug that will minimize symptoms and possibly prevent infection in the first place, we can interact safely in ways that even a ramped-up testing regime will not allow.

Daily White House briefings, and as a result the media and the American public, have been fixated up to now on the response to the pandemic from the administration and Congress. These updates primarily focus on three of the four main categories of activity: federal aid to businesses and displaced workers, needed supplies and equipment for our health care system, and the social distancing regimen complete with handwashing and homemade masks. The two medical faces of this crisis, Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, have concentrated on the last two and keep faithfully explaining what the administration is doing, or should be doing, to increase testing, equip frontline workers, and ultimately flatten the curve. 

We hear much less about the fourth category of activity, that is, the race to find a therapeutic solution to combat the virus while we await a vaccine. Therapeutics include anti-viral drugs that inhibit the coronavirus and antibody therapies that boost immunity to the virus, and possibly off-label use of existing drugs.