Grouppe Kurosawa: HIV - Letters From Blanche Vol. 2, Part 4 (print)

Letters From Blanche
Vol. 2, Part 4

Dear Dr. Steve:
Hooboy, am I in trouble!

Viral load 3mos ago = undetectable

July 19th = "over 100,000"

CD4s 3mos ago = 694

now = about 55

Yoikes!

The nurse actually asked me if I had stopped taking my meds. Luckily, we had a fuzzy connection and I mumbled something generic at her. I'm not ready for that fight yet. All my poor doctor can do is say I should be taking this stuff but he can't arrange to have it paid for. Still, he's gonna rag on me something ferocious.

I also mentioned the Shingles and the stress that led to the outbreak. I reminded her that stress made HIV very happy also and secondary infections were a plus for the little buggers. A lot of treatment failures in third world countries are due to other infections giving the HIV too damned much room.

I then explained that I would come in when I could, but currently had Shingles up the ass (not a euphemism here folks). I have also had a touch of diarrhea and I do not have a car. No way I'm getting down there until I can walk sit etc. Taking a leak is painful. Diarrhea is having boiling acid poured over the ol' anatomy and I really want to eliminate that feeling asap. I could just see myself at a bus stop madly taking off my pants and wiping the shit off my behind with a pantleg! Oh, and probably screaming. No thanks.

I believe the Shingles outbreak is actually over, and what I'm left with are hard-to-heal lesions in warm, damp, crowded places. I've tried everything I can think of, but in the middle of the night I wake up -- on fire. Then I have to wash everything off and start again, all the while muttering piteously. Not fun.

I sent you my protocol the other day, at your request. Do we need to change something or is this maybe the "spike" we expected, running overtime because of the shingles? I have to have something to tell my CIGNA doctor (another Dr. Martin, by the way) about these numbers and why my ass fell off, asap. -- Blanche

Blanche,
SHIT!!!

I got home at 7PM here and I've been on the computer since then.

You DO NOT have AIDS. You have a fucking huge systemic shingles infection. I am really starting to hate this shitty virus. If you had AIDS, with a T cell count that low, you'd have severe diarrhea, night sweats, chronic fatigue, no appetite, psychotic delusions (which you probably have anyway), loss of body weight and more fun stuff. Have any of these symptoms? AIDS is about more than just the CD4 count. I found out that herpes zoster, our shitty friend, is quite different from other herpes viruses and actively infects CD4 t cells and macrophages. It preferentially infects the very same T cell population infected by HIV. The HIV count is caused by the shingles infection. Also, this population of T cells is the subset that migrates out of the blood INTO THE SKIN. This CD4 count and viral titer are temporary. Normally, people don't have their CD4 count goes this low, but yours wasn't that great to begin with.

I rechecked all the components in the protocol and nothing has changed, they are all solidly anti-HIV. I even checked to see if blocking the proteasome could cause an increase in zoster expression. No info. This might be a problem, so give me some time to find out. If so, we will drop EGCG and use quercetin. But not yet.

They only found out that zoster infected the cells of the immune system two years ago. No one studies this virus any more. Scientists can't make a career studying chicken pox/shingles so the info on the spread of this virus is poor, at least compared to HIV.

None of the components in the protocol has been reported to induce latent herpes infection. Once this shingles shit is taken care of, the numbers will get better. Also keep in mind, and I can't stress this enough, stress will massively compromise your immune system.

One suggestion. We've been doing this lately with cancer patients. Increase the nightly dose of melatonin to 20 or so milligrams. Then take 3 mgs at 8 AM , 3 mgs at noon and 3 mgs at 5PM . The 20 mgs is taken at 10PM . Melatonin is an anti-stress hormone, and a major anti-oxidant, among many other things. See if this helps. Doesn't cost much.

We've used this protocol on two people with active HIV infections and their symptoms disappeared (swollen lymph nodes gone--do you have these?) and their T cell counts went up. The protocol works.

Also, we might up the EGCG to at least four grams a day. Wait until I get back to you on this. Let me check out a few things.

You are under a great deal of stress, of all kinds, including the weather. This will pass. I am going looking for something that will drive the fucking zoster virus back into latency. I'll find out and get to you tonight.

Sorry this happened to you Blanche but this is a temporary setback. You DON 'T have AIDS. Period.

Steve

Note: This scientific abstract was sent to Blanche for her, and now your information. Shingles is more than an annoying and painful virus. It can mean death to someone infected with HIV. Infectibility of separated peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations by varicella-zoster virus (VZV, or Shingles virus, also called herpes zoster).

Koenig A, Wolff MH.
Institute of Microbiology and Virology, University of Witten/Herdecke , Stockumer Strasse 10, D-58448 Witten , Germany

" Varicella zoster-virus (VZV) is a humanpathogenic alpha-Herpesvirus that causes chickenpox after primary infection. The virus spreads by aerosol or direct contact with infectious vesical fluids, and enters the body via the respiratory tract.

In a first viremic stage it replicates in local lymph nodes, followed by a secondary viremic stage. In the course it spreads through the body to endothelial cells in the periphery. During acute viremia of chickenpox viral DNA can be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by PCR and in situ hybridization. Recently published results quantified the viral DNA load in PBMC and subpopulations by real-time PCR . In the animal SCID-hu mouse model system VZV showed a tropism for T-lymphocytes. The aim of this work was the investigation of viral ability to infect and to replicate in purified primary subtypes of PBMC, i.e., T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and monocytes. These cells were isolated from whole peripheral blood or tonsils and infected with cell-free VZV for different time periods.

In all cell types, transcriptional activity was shown by amplification and detection of immediate early (IE) and late (L) viral mRNA by NASBA or RT- PCR . Expression of viral glycoproteins was analyzed and proved in lymphocytes by immunofluorescence microscopy." Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Blanche,
I am mentally back from the dead. Stop taking the EGCG and curcumin and substitute 6 grams of quercetin, a common flavonoid available everywhere. It tastes fine.

I have two clients with active HIV who use quercetin and the rest of your protocol, minus EGCG and curcumin. In the first case, the EGCG and curcumin worked wonderfully in driving the CD4 count back up, dramatically so, and in decreasing the HIV level. Unfortunately, he was latently infected with hepatitis B and the combination of EGCG and curcumin or one or the other reactivated the virus. They did this by inhibiting the proteasome complex in the liver cells, a target for anti-HIV therapies. But not for hepatitis B virus. So we substituted quercetin for EGCG and curcumin and his HBV infection went back into latency. He hasn't had another HIV test yet, but we have evidence from another fellow, who had a CD4 count about 500 that quercetin works against HIV. We just got these results a few weeks ago. All the guy’s swollen lymph nodes disappeared, and he feels great. Both men are doing extremely well.

I think it’s possible that zoster may also be reactivated by inhibitors of the proteasome. The other herpes viruses are inhibited by proteasome inhibitors, but the other herpes viruses don't infect CD4 T cells, either and zoster does, BIG TIME. This is the problem. The combination of stress and EGCG or curcumin or both may have reactivated the zoster virus, causing it to infect the very cells that harbor latent HIV viruses and causing the HIV virus to become reexpressed. The lack of CD4 cells is because they are in the skin fighting off the zoster; they haven't been destroyed like the case in HIV (this conclusion is now questionable-Editor).

In zoster, an enzyme, a kinase called ORF47, is required for replication of virus in human T cells and for migration of said cells into the skin. We have to inhibit this enzyme. There isn't that much, comparatively speaking, about ORF47 in the literature. Most of the info is new. But, ORF47 is similar to the herpes simplex kinase UL13. So I worked this route and found out that quercetin and other flavonoids are powerful inhibitors of this herpes simplex enzyme. Maybe they are powerful inhibitors of ORF47 also.

Also, found out that quercetin enhances the anti-viral activity of TNF, an inflammatory immune hormone, against herpes viruses. Seems like quercetin induces beta interferon synthesis, which is news to me. Good news, very good.

So immediately go to the quercetin. This stuff is yellow, but it won't stain your fingers. 500 mg capsules. Take 3 grams twice a day with the rest of your protocol. Drop the EGCG and curcumin for the sake of

safety, although I don't know if they are a problem, and use the higher dose of melatonin I suggested.

I emphasize again, the problem here is the zoster virus, not the HIV virus. Quercetin in combination with the other supplements should take out both viruses at once.

Stay cool, Blanche. Stay cool, mentally and physically.

I had a damn nightmare, small variety, about curcumin last night, although it’s a great natural supplement. I hate it when I can't find the information I want. As priority viruses go, varicella zoster has very little priority in the scientific community. Few scientists work on it.

Keep me informed.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Am I supposed to take quercetin caps or put in coconut milk? Something else? Will take straight caps unless advised otherwise. – Blanche

Blanche,
Coconut milk. No straight caps, ever.

Dear Dr. Steve:
Gotcha – Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve:
What's the best way to get the quercetin dissolved in the coconut milk? I've tried boiling but there's still some solids. I haven't dragged out the blender yet; is that the answer, or does this need an emulsifier of some sort? I kinda thought the coconut milk had everything (Editor: the solids in quercetin, known as the insoluble crap, is highly variable and depends on the brand of quercetin purchased).

This sure tasted better than the curcumin/EGCG mix!

Also, another quickie: how will we know when the Shingles has slunk off? I still have a lot of lesions, but they are obviously old, old, old. Ugly, too; little (or not so little) craters with scabs in the bottom; yuck! However, everything -- I mean everything -- is definitely drying up. Does that mean the worst is over? Any advice on how to hurry this unwelcome guest on its way? -- Blanche

Blanche,
Both quercetin and curcumin are known for their residue. Just dump it after it cools.

Coconut milk dissolves insoluble molecules well, but some crap exists in both quercetin and curcumin after boiling and cooling. Drink it or dump it.

Its funny, you'd think there'd be more research on herpes zoster than herpes simplex 1, the cold sore virus. Wrong!!!. I don't know how we can tell that the zoster virus is completely under control, other than the lesions stop forming. We are going to stick with the present quercetin based protocol anyway. Something just occurred to me. I was dealing with a man with a CD4 count of 850 and an HIV viral count of 55,000. If there was a direct relationship between CD4 counts and AIDS, your HIV count should be over one million. It isn't. You DON 'T have AIDS. You have shingles and we have to get rid of it because it is a pain in the ass, literally, and it interferes with our treatment protocol.

The melatonin will help with the stress. You have to do the rest.

Keep in close touch. I don't want my buddy Blanche itching herself to death or stressing her self out necessarily. You are going to be OK, Blanche dahling. Dr. Steve will protect you. GOD is on our side.

OK, do your stuff and report in tomorrow.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Sounds good. I've also increased the 5-HTP to 300 mg/day. I believe you said something about that increasing CD4 numbers. Last night was better and I do believe the lesions are all drying. It's kinda hard to tell because I can't really see the latest affected area.

I was not particularly surprised about the Shingles/CD4 count. In 1999, when the combo of Shingles and HIV tried their level best to kill me off, I was convinced then and am now that the Shingles are what sent the HIV over the edge. After three weeks in the hospital, I was sent home with instructions to "put my affairs in order," probably because my numbers weren't really improving.

Once I got on medication to knock down the Shingles I started to improve rapidly, and wound up amazing doctors far and wide with my progress. Once these buggers are out of the picture, I'm sure the HIV numbers will do an equally-impressive reversal.

If you come up with something else out of your bag of tricks, let me know. – Blanche

Blanche,
The quercetin is a wonderful product. It actually does activate the interferon response against viruses, among many other things. I can't get over this shingles virus. It activates the same T cells as HIV. If you have a latent HIV infection in a T cell, and it becomes infected with the shingles virus, the shingles virus will activate the HIV virus and there you go. Your immune system immediately turns to mush. This is exactly what happened to you. I wish I knew if EGCG and/or curcumin had a role in the shingles infection, but I don't know. Blocking the proteasome activates HBV latent infections, but it could be something entirely different in this case.

I am checking out some other stuff that might be useful. I will let you know. For now, keep up the protocol and everything will eventually go back to normal. Quercetin blocks numerous biochemical pathways, one of which is absolutely required for the HIV virus to infect new cells. You are going to be OK. Must admit, you did scare the hell out of me. I kept thinking that this was impossible, EGCG and curcumin don't kill CD4 cells. Little did I realize what the shingles virus does to T lymphocytes. I got quite an education in a very short period of time.

If your CD4 count was due to destruction of the cells, your HIV count would be over a million, not 100,000. Your missing CD4 T cells are not dead, they are hiding somewhere (Editor: correct statement, finally).

Steve

Blanche
Indole-3-carbinol is a natural product from broccoli that has anti-cancer properties. It also apparently inhibits the synthesis of herpes simplex virus. The info is an abstract with no summary so I have no details. Also, this stuff activates the receptor for interferon gamma which is involved in activating the immune response against viruses. Does other stuff like blocking the cell cycle in G1. If an HIV infected cell is blocked in G1, it cannot produce virus. Worth looking into.

Take 2x200 mg pills a day. That should be enough. This stuff is sold all over the net and in most health food stores. Its a fad supplement now, but it works (Editor: not against HIV infections).

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Still kickin'. Am taking the quercetin and waiting for the Indole-3 carbinole to arrive, along with more quercetin and a large bottle of melatonin.

That seems to be doing a lot of good (the melatonin). I'm sleeping better; in spite of the discomfort I'm actually cutting a few zzzzzz's. That has to help. I'm reminded that I was told by every doctor that ever

treated me that stress is a killer for me. What nobody told me is how to avoid it. Answer: take mass quantities of melatonin. Yay!

I do have one strange thing happening. I doubt that most of your HIV clients are nearly-60 females, so you may have never run into this. I'm spotting. Yep. Blood. At my age, no less. I have (along with a family

history of same) ovarian cysts, and I noticed some pain on my left side a few days ago. How much this hurts depends on how close to the cyst the egg actually erupts, I believe. So I'm ovulating? Have you invented an

over-the-hill fertility treatment here? In my case it scarcely matters for several reasons, but really! This is weird. Not much help in my current situation, I realize, but weird all the same.

Just in case it's not a good thing, I will be getting a Pap smear as soon as I can get my poor little (well, poor anyway) ass to the doctor. Weird. -- Blanche

Lucky Blanche,
Quercetin is also a powerful anti-cancer agent. Ovulating? What's next? Are you certain you are ovulating? Is this something that happened after you switched to quercetin?

This is really curious. Keep me informed. I'll look into the literature tomorrow.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Strange lucky Blanche! If not it's appendicitis. I suppose it could be some weird nerve thing caused by the Shingles? Ovarian cysts don't let you ignore them. Sharp pains in the lower abdomen, on the side. This happened to be the left side.

The first time I ovulated through a cyst I thought it was appendicitis; it is really painful but doesn't last but a couple of hours at most. Not long before I quit having a period, I would sometimes get a pain on one side, then a few days later it would hit on the other. Twins! Thankfully I had a tubal ligation many years ago. I mean, at that time I was nearly 50! I'm certain about the spotting, that's for sure; kinda hard to miss. I just can't guarantee the cause.

The spotting seems to have stopped now. Kinda a "periodette." The little pains have stopped and I won't have any more information for a few months at least; I'm pretty sure I'm past the age where this can possibly be a monthly occurrence. This is no big deal, but it IS very strange.

Oh, by the way, I know you have stuff for ants. Do you have any compound that will keep mosquitos away? One that's "wearable?" West Nile virus has hit the valley and I really don't think this would be a particularly good time to contract it. -- Blanche

Steve,
Forgot. No, it happened before the switch. – Blanche