2020.10.14 10:53
2020.10.14 11:07
2020.10.14 11:31
This is a very long story, going on and on...
At about the halfway, I quit reading and concluded that it was a good national policy
to get rid of the senior populations that will save a lot of money in the socialistic society.
Well, let them do whatever they wanted. Save money but don't try to save older people.
That will definitely work for them. God bless.
Good thing is that there is a government that runs the test of herd immunity for the rest of the world.
We appreciate their contribution to the double-blind research on their own people.
2020.10.14 12:12
Indeed, I was really shocked and dismayed to see how such smart Swedish people would allow/follow such a stupid theory/hypothesis of 'herd immunity'. But I learned they stopped the policy way before they get into the disaster as anticipated, but apparently, it was too late and too little to stop the ball rolling to continue to pay the price, I heard.
Anyhow, not much different from what we see here in the U.S. idiot screwed up! We see every day mother fucker Donald herding the White trash- 39% or more of the whole population?-, only wishing them to become the lemmings to follow Pied Piper.
BB Lee
P.S. I would like to share one private communication with one of my old pals who retired now to resettle at his hometown in Sweden in regard to what Swedish do so far on last May as below. So they no longer apply such stupid 'herd immunity' through the year as I know of.
From: xxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2020, 4:45 AM
To: bblee38@comcast.net
Subject: Corona in Sweden
Dear BB,
Thank you for your concerns. The Swedish restrictions have not been as hard as in many other countries which have worked out with one exception. The mortality in the homes for the elderly has been very high which is a failure of the Swedish system. The caretakers for all these homes were not prepared and without needed protection. This has slowly been rectified. In Sweden the authorities rely very much on the individual responsibility to follow the rule and regulations keeping the social distance, washing your hands, not gather in large groups, etc. The largest group allowed is 50 people. All sporting events are still prohibited which especially hit the soccer league. All the borders from our Scandinavian neighbors are still closed. Monica and I lead a fairly normal life, go shopping, I play tennis. Social life is restricted. The financial effects of this crisis are devastating especially for small companies and cultural events.
Vänliga hälsningar/Best regards
Bo
2020.10.14 12:54
Yes, WM,
It is indeed a long report. Yet there are more details of bad things
in the latter part of the story.
I always had a favorable perception towards Sweden so that
my disappointment is that much greater, I believe.
I love the phrase "the lemmings to follow the Pied Piper" by Prof.
We have our Pied Piper, Donald, and found out Sweden has one also.
When I was in practice, so many times I used to feel like I was dealing
with nothing but blind people who cannot see what's waiting for them
around the next corner on the street, i.e. another heart attack or death.
Now, this world has so many lemmings everywhere, like those blind people,
who are happily marching towards destruction.
We can only watch, I suppose.
2020.10.14 13:11
Yes, more specifically 'human garbage' I shouldn't use, Dr. Lee, but I helplessly use this word again- I once used this word carelessly and it almost terminated my career soon after I started to work at Georgetown Univ-. Yes, all the white trash like Trumpists/white supremacists are the human garbage on my interpretation. Too many human garbage!
Nevertheless, the Swedish information you posted as above made me totally confused, Dr. Lee.
Apparently the way I understood about the infamous 'herd immunity' led by Swedish government through my Swedish friend till the last May, as I shared as above', mustn't be right and then changed back???? Indeed, my another friend at Malmo General Hospital ridiculed such stupid herd immunity which is no longer effective throughout Sweden over the zoom conference we had a few months ago. I would be better to write them to find out to make sure I understood correctly.
BB Lee
2020.10.14 13:37
The letter was dated, May 21, and this report is today.
So much must've happened there in between, according to this report.
At any rate, we get to know so much about inside stories through your
international friends all over the world.
We all appreciate it, I'm sure.
2020.10.14 15:36
Most of European countries and United States are out of control.
Most of Asian countries are doing much better. China, Singapore,
'Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan are much better off than
England, France, Spain etc. The East is better than the West. What
happen?
2020.10.15 05:32
For your information:
A recent genetic association study1 identified a gene cluster on chromosome 3 as a risk locus for respiratory failure after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A separate study (COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative)2 comprising 3,199 hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and control individuals showed that this cluster is the major genetic risk factor for severe symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization. Here we show that the risk is conferred by a genomic segment of around 50 kilobases in size that is inherited from Neanderthals and is carried by around 50% of people in south Asia and around 16% of people in Europe. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2818-3)
Importantly, an analysis of the individuals in the 1000 Genomes Project found that the Neanderthal-derived haplotypes are almost completely absent in Africa, consistent with previous studies that have shown that gene flow from Neanderthals into African populations was limited and probably indirect. The Neanderthal core haplotype occurs in South Asia at a frequency of 30 percent, in Europe at 8 percent, among admixed Americans at 4 percent, and at lower frequencies in East Asia, the researcher said. (https://www.genomeweb.com/genetic-research/covid-19-genetic-risk-factor-passed-down-neanderthals-study-finds#.X4g_reaSkb4)
2020.10.15 07:00
Thank you, Dr. 홍, for alerting us for the new information.
In the below there is more update on the subject from NIH as well.
2020.10.15 07:09
How about that, Dr. Hong! Something new!
So such variation/difference in the genomic segment/genetic background would provide a possible racial difference in its infection rate, etc?
It would be very nice of you to provide more information on how to impact actual epidemiological outcomes throughout the world.
Learn every day, thanks!
BB Lee
2020.10.15 07:23
By the way, Dr. Lee HJ, I got fresh information directly from Sweden through the night!
Indeed, to find out whether Sweden still carries the initial attempt of 'herd immunity' as reported above, I wrote to Bo Eklof, one of my buddies last night, who is one of few life-long close colleagues of mine, happened to have traveled together quite often to deliver the lectures through years so that we were able to build personal ties. And the response is NOT quite the same as the report you shared with us, as following;
From: moboek@telia.com <moboek@telia.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 5:56 AM
To: 'BB Lee' <bblee38@comcast.net>
Cc: monne.eklof@telia.com
Subject: Sv: Corona in Sweden
Dear BB and Marietta, nice to hear from you. The authority for community health denies that they were striving for herd immunity. The figures right now show that the immunity in the Swedish population is less than 20%. In Sweden like many other countries, a second corona wave is observed, less here than in many countries in Europe e.g. France, Spain, Italy Portugal, and the UK. The restrictions are still the same with social distancing, hand wash, no more than 50 people in public gatherings which hits hard on cultural and sports events. They let up the restrictions to visit at the homes for the elderly but with better protection. The financial hardship continues with increasing unemployment. The air industry is at a halt where we can expect major bankruptcies. Travel is still restricted in Europe. France institutes curfew from Saturday. The problem will persist for a long time.
Monica and I are fine. We lead a fairly normal life seeing our children and friends. Of course no more traveling, all the major meetings canceled.
Vänliga hälsningar/Best regards
Bo and Monica
Bo Eklöf, MD, PhD
Wow, what a speedy help to ease my curiosity, Bo, thanks!
So there is NO official policy of ‘herd immunity’ in Sweden nor excellent results so far as we were mistakenly informed!
Here in the U.S. one odd bird, Scott Atlas, allegedly retired(?) neuroradiologist from Stanford U but self-claimed world authority of viral epidemiologist specialized in ‘herd immunity’ became the adviser to idiot Trump to encourage mass infection with no mask, no social distancing, etc to let nature take care of it based on ‘outstanding result in Sweden.
Amazingly the majority of the people/Republicans, Trumpists, buy that stupid idea idiot Trump selling hard these days so that we are now in deep trouble as you might have already known.
Thanks again, buddy and stay safe.
Warm regards,
BB and Marietta.
P.S. So you don't need to travel to Cyprus in these days since you sold the summer house up there? BTW, how Peter Neglen's doing these days? Is he still in Cyprus? I don't hear much about him from other Cypriots like Nicos Angelides or Andy Nicolaides though we had a couple of zoom conferences throughout the year. Hope he is OK! Marietta wonders you still sing loud alone when you would feel like, missing the audience like us!
2020.10.15 09:29
Thank you, Professor, for sharing the information.
I suspect as alluded to in the report politicians like Trump and those of Sweden
never officially advocate "herd immunity "per se yet in practice and actuality that's what
they have been doing passively by not actively administering science-based public health
measures as has been the case in the USA.
More on the herd immunity in the below.
2020.10.15 09:42
Beyond the scientific interpretation, it is a matter of common sense, average people should be able to understand how stupid this theory is. Indeed, how in the world, one fucking whatchamacallit guy, Atlas? the retired radiologist could dare to encourage the idiot to sell this theory hard lately? Who the fuck this guy is? I wish to curse this SOB to go to hell alone, not dragging other innocent people but all the Trumpists/Republicans like the lemmings. 어물전 망신은 꼴대기가 시킨다더니 의사망신은 왠 쓰래기 같은 놈이 다 시키누먼! 살다살다보니 별꼴을 다보누먼!
BB Lee
2020.10.16 09:18
Some more information in regard to Swedish approach to this Corona Virus, Dr. Lee, another friend of mine at Malmo replied to my inquiry I just received, which includes very interesting comments, ect through Quora:
https://www.quora.com/Why-didn-t-Sweden-go-into-an-official-lockdown-unlike-other-countries.
Very amusing discussions!!!
I also will attach this gentleman's personal experience with this Corona Virus by himself, you might be interested to learn as following;
Dear BB and Marietta,
Yes, long time no see. I missed 9 congresses since March… Last 3 weeks I have been speaking in Stockholm, Cairo, Kazan (Tatarstan; autonomous republic of Russia) and Cairo through Zoom, it works but not the same at being there on site. One of my PhD-students had her public defence through Zoom in Malmö, the opponent was 300 km in Linköping, the examination board was in Finland and Sweden, her supervisors in the same room as the PhD-student and all listeners through Zoom...
Well, I had Covid-19 after skiing in Andorra in March. I was hospitalized 4 days. The first 2 tests were negative and I went home. Then, with the symptoms and neg test I thought of pulmonary embolism… A pulmonary angiogram showed no embolism, but typical picture as of corona. A new test was taken which was positive. They reanalyzed the first 2 tests and they became positive…. After 2 weeks I was back in work and now all is fine. I tested antibodies twice and have both IgG and IgM. my wife and children are well. I hope both of you are well.
I am not an expert on epidemiology, but here are some explanations on Quora:
https://www.quora.com/Why-didn-t-Sweden-go-into-an-official-lockdown-unlike-other-countries
If you catch covid-19 in Sweden you are treated regardless of age. As you may know hospital care and educationn is ”free” in Sweden as well as in many other EU countries. We pay this through taxes. In addition I paid 10 USD/day in the hospital and had excellent care. So if you are unemployed by some reason or retired, you have the same accessibility to health care as those who work.
I will retire June next year, when i am 68. I still operate 2 days a week, 1 day full without patient visits and 1 day for admin or helping the residents. Today I will operate a patient with endocrine ophthalmopathy with severe exophthalmos. I will open the orbit through incisions in the upper and lower eyelid and dissect between eye muscles almost back to the optical nerve and remove as much adipose tissue as possible. It is an interesting operation. The mechanism of adipose tissue deposition in the orbit is the same as in lymphedema, inflammation which up-regulates genes responsible for transferring stem cells to adipose tissue, see pictures below; before and after surgery.
I do hope we anyhow will meet a meeting in the future, maybe at the International Congress of Lymphology in Athens 2021.
All the best,
Håkan and Karin
__________________________________________________________
Håkan Brorson, MD, PhD
Professor of Plastic Surgery (Lund University, Lund, Sweden)
Professor (Faculty of Medicine, EGAMA, Buenos Aires)
Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Director, Lymphedema Center
Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jan Waldenströms gata 18, 2nd floor
Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, SWEDEN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past President International Society of Lymphology
2020.10.16 11:10
Thank you, Professor, for sharing.
I learned more about Sweden how that country is run.
glad to know your friend survived the COVID19 ordeal
and fully recovered, although they missed Dx initially,
which turns out to be not uncommon because in some cases
nasopharyngeal specimen fails to show virus, yet
bronchoscopic specimen would, and chest x-ray and CT scan
may show the clue as it was in his case.
2020.10.17 07:38
Precisely, Dr. Lee, there are many ways to go wrong with the tests we use now, not only on how and where and when the specimen is collected but also how to prep and manage the specimen till the test is carried on, as well. So the test results especially the negative outcome doesn't have much meaning but simply speaking the fact that ' the test FAILED to confirm/detect the virus, no more no less!'.
That's the reason why we need the 'competent' clinicians who will be able to assess the patient 'as a whole' while limiting the role of tons of the tests ONLY as the supporting if not confirming the 'clinical' evidence.
My friend, Hakan Brorson was lucky to have such competent clinician team/judgment to have managed the corona virus infection safely, instead of worshipping of the lab test results blindly.
BB Lee
P.S. Indeed, over the zoom conference we had lately, someone specilaized the virology mentioned about common mishaps to retrieve the specimen while neglecting the predilection site for the sample collection which should be carefully selected depending upon the stage of infection and especially the age group- younger one has more virus at the nasopharyngeal region for much longer period while the older one with more virus deep down the throat/trachea in much early stage of infection -. And also heard more about the value of the test to the stool specimen as well.
Sweden and the USA are the two worst countries in the outcomes of COVID19 handling.
What a shame for Sweden with a small population to make such a terrible mistake!
The story is unbelievable in that Sweden sounds like
one of the backward countries full of uneducated people. What a shame!
New Zealand with a similar population wiped out the virus for the second time
with the same policy, S. Korea and others took.
One thing we all are learning individually as well as collectively is that
there are no other alternatives other than wearing masks, social distancing, and handwashing
until everyone receives a vaccine. It seems so hard to drive this truth into the stone heads of
some politicians and so many young and old.