This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Monday, 27 September 2021
The Milk of Covid Kindness?
Workers at Mount Sinai hospital in New York, studied 75 breastfeeding women who had recovered from a Sars-CoV-2 infection. Almost 90% had milk antibodies to counter the virus. These antibodies remained in the milk for 10 months after the Covid infection (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/sep/27/antibodies-in-breast-milk-remain-for-10-months-after-covid-infection-study). The predominant milk antibody was Secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA). It is different from the antibody found in the blood. This IgA could prevent the virus from entering the body of the mother's baby. Their study also looked at 50 lactating women, who had been jabbed with the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Individuals treated with Pfizer or Moderna (both RNA) vaccines, generally showed high levels of milk antibodies. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine was much less effective in this respect. It appears that vaccines that produce a marked blood antibody response, also generate high levels of IgA in the milk. The authors of the study suggest, that IgA extracted from breast milk, could be given to adults with severe Covid infections. A nebuliser could be used to deliver the antibody to the respiratory tract. Yet another weapon in the war against Sars-CoV-2?
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Birder's Bonus 241
Noted a Curlew ( Numenius arquata ) on the Loughor estuary at Bynea.
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Greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua ) has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, skin conditions and digestive problems.
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Green buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tartaricum ) is also called 'Tartar buckwheat'. It's a domesticated food plant, producing kernels. ...
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Daily shots of my fully compostable Oyster mushroom pot, received for Christmas. Omelettes ahoy!
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