Long COVID brain fog drug: https://www.aol.com/news/addiction-drug-shows-promise-lifting-101204918-200556089.html . This seems like some of the most promising research into the mystery and tragedy of long COVID. The reference here to “cytokines” as an inflammatory source caught my eye. The theory here is that infections trigger your microglia (immune cells in your central nervous system) to produce cytokines, which in turn causes long-term inflammation at the root of long COVID. Low dose naltrexone (a drug used to treat alcohol and drug addiction) supposedly calms your microglia and reduces cytokine production.
We have seen “cytokines” in the newsletter before. The original appearance (September 1, 2020) described COVID as reducing the interferon response, which then led to these damaging cytokine storms. Next (September 20, 2020) we have the alternate theory that “bradykinin storms” are the actual damage mechanism. This seemed to have a lot of legs because it emerges from two researchers working independently.
Next (November 2, 2020), we learn that different cytokines have pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. And then on September 13, 2021, we got additional insight into interferon’s mechanism, which helps explain severe COVID in diabetics. So there was promising early research that we haven’t heard much about in a while. This discovery concerning naltrexone could further unlock the severe inflammation puzzle.
Bottom line, chronic inflammation is a serious health risk across many diseases. Anything that helps us understand it will ultimately improve both length and quality of life.
Moderna supplies 100 million vaccine doses: https://www.stripes.com/covid/2022-10-17/moderna-covid-vaccine-poor-countries-7720346.html . Up to 100 million bivalent COVID doses will be supplied to GAVI (previously the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations) to be distributed through COVAX to poorer countries. Because this supersedes orders for the vaccine without the Omicron-specific mRNA, it is unclear how many additional doses Moderna is committing to, or will actually deliver. The vaccines are being delivered under Moderna’s lowest price, but are not free to GAVI.
Cancer vaccine hopes: https://abcnews.go.com/International/cancer-vaccine-ready-2030-founders-covid-vaccine-makers/story?id=91614621 . So while this article is accurately reported, it is not news. Moderna was founded to seek messenger RNA solutions to cancer. Cancer is a family of diseases, not one disease. So it is quite possible there will be a vaccine for one or more of these illnesses by 2030 – or not. They adapted their technology to the pandemic, and it will continue to revolutionize our existing vaccines for viruses. The pandemic has also given Moderna more resources to seek a cancer vaccine. But we’re not there yet.
WSJ: Minority flu hospitalizations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/black-hispanic-and-american-indian-people-less-likely-to-be-vaccinated-against-influenza-11666112419 .
US sends experimental Ebola drug to Sudan: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-18/u-s-sends-experimental-antibody-antiviral-drug-to-uganda-for-ebola-outbreak .
WSJ: The effect of inflation in US tax brackets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-causes-irs-to-raise-tax-brackets-standard-deduction-by-7-11666116021 . The “bendpoints” increase by 7%. Because we have a progressive tax system, the increased tax rates will kick in at higher levels in 2023.
WSJ: US has lower pension liability leveraging risk than the UK: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-based-pensions-rush-to-assess-interest-rate-risk-11666093167 . Yes, of course. The pension actuaries in the readership find this article obvious, but the Journal apparently wrote it to inform Wall Street types who have no idea. More interesting is the identification of large US companies at some risk: GM, Eli Lilly and GE.
European Central Bank heads toward another 75 basis point increase: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-10-18/ecb-to-go-big-again-on-oct-27-with-75-bps-rate-hike-reuters-poll . My real focus is the Fed. I think the Fed is locked into a 75 basis point increase at its November meeting. The ECB action won’t change that, but it will further cement it. Like the US, the factors causing inflation in Europe can’t be solved by raising interest rates, but it’s the only tool they have.
Bank of Canada will raise rates again: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-10-18/boc-to-dial-down-size-of-rate-rises-again-but-not-done-yet-reuters-poll . Same comment as for the ECB rate rise above.
WSJ: UK corporate bonds hammered in global bond retreat: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-corporate-bond-selloff-is-one-for-the-books-11666084472 . Liz Truss’ abject lack of understanding of economics has dramatically exposed UK companies to higher borrowing costs. And it has had a similar effect on the Bank of England: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bank-of-england-pushes-on-with-plan-to-start-selling-bonds-11666101227 . That’s why they’re not selling bonds with maturities over 20 years. The discount is too great.
WSJ: US supply chain contracting in advance of holiday season: https://www.wsj.com/articles/freight-operators-peak-shipping-season-is-crumbling-11666118281 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-b-hunt-expects-weaker-freight-volumes-this-holiday-season-11666140934 . So, another sign emerges of the coming recession.
Russian apartment fire death toll raised to 14: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-plane-crash-su-34-yeysk-higher-death-toll/ . This is more believable than the original toll of 4. From a religious standpoint, this looks like karma’s response to Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Why are military flights going over residential areas?
WSJ: Russia targets Ukraine’s power grid as Ukraine increases its pressure on Kherson: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-launches-fresh-missile-strikes-widening-attacks-on-ukrainian-power-plants-11666091361 .
Utah’s senior senator feels the heat … and melts: https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-evan-mcmullin-campaigns-utah-presidential-5acb6ef3fc32f22cfeeeb575bef6d381 . Come on, Mike. You’re texting the OJ White House before January 6 about how you could support them, and that’s legal research? Evan McMullin has been a long-time independent and he’s been true to his colors. He even debated in front of a crowd loaded in your favor and stood tall. You, on the other hand, are hardly an independent voice in the OJ cult, and will just say whatever to hold power. Sorry, that’s not independent, in Utah or anywhere else.
Meanwhile, the DeMentis joke continues – but only MAGA Republicans are laughing: https://www.aol.com/news/wrong-state-video-shows-stunned-090000949.html . Obviously, no judge is going to convict on a third-degree felony requiring “willful” conduct. This crap just unfairly disrupts the lives of (mostly) minority voters trying to get on with their lives. Its real purpose is to intimidate the over 1 million felons now legally allowed to vote in Florida. Educated Americans must continue to work to rinse our democracy of this DeMentia.
Special master tells Orange Julius legal team to put up or shut up on privilege claims: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/special-master-asks-trump-team-to-back-up-privilege-claim/ar-AA1364pL?cvid=7e339ff264f64fdbb800399f48515066 . There’s no beef there, and the legal team will be hard pressed to draw this out further. The DOJ appeal to the 11th Circuit has apparently made Dearie feel he’s got to move this forward and get this decided. Otherwise, his work may become irrelevant.
WSJ: OJ’s special prosecutor loses both of his cases in the so-called Russia probe: https://www.wsj.com/articles/igor-danchenko-acquitted-of-lying-to-fbi-about-trump-russia-dossier-11666124849 . So OJ’s “enduring” conspiracy theory about Hilary and the pee pee tape goes down in flames. Note that US taxpayers spent $4 million over two years on this crap.
WSJ: Yanks advance to AL Championship: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-yankees-guardians-astros-alds-11666136020 . Unfortunately, they have played 4 games in the last 5 days and must now play 3 straight against the rested Astros. This will be tough on the Yankees’ pitching staff. It will be a major accomplishment to advance to the World Series.
Daniel Craig receives the CMG – a British royal honor also (according to Ian Fleming’s books) bestowed on James Bond: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/daniel-craig-named-companion-order-203500444.html .
WSJ: Astronaut James McDivitt passes at 93: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astronaut-james-mcdivitt-commander-of-apollo-9-dies-at-93-11666107495 .
WSJ: Carter AG Benjamin Civiletti dies at 87: https://www.wsj.com/articles/benjamin-civiletti-post-watergate-attorney-general-dies-at-87-11666113366 .