Recreational Drugs and HIV Progression
Many physicians who have treated and followed up HIV/AIDS patients have observed and reported that most of the patients who smoked tobacco(cigarette) or drank alcohol rapidly went out of health and succumbed to full-blown AIDS.
Recent studies have shown that cocaine activates quiescent white blood cells(T-lymphocytes) and causes them to take up the HIV but the cells stop short of destroying the HIV or dying with the virus, in defense, to save the patient. Rather the infected white cells provide a sanctuary for the the virus, which eventually replicates and infects other cells, following further episodes of cocaine activation trigger. In fact during viral latency the virus exploits the host's autophagy system to supply nutrients, prevent death and prolong the survival of the host cell and by corollary its own very viability and then slows down both the host cell's and its own activity, prevents viral protein synthesis and the expression of antigens so as to escape detection until such a time when the host's defense is laxed as to permit the virus to replicate. Or some reactivation stress stimulus presents and overrides(eases on) the brakes on the host cell but falls short of engaging the accelerator that would enable the cell destroy the virus, before it replicates, by apoptosis and/or heterophagy.
Cocaine is a brain 'stimulant' and a local anesthetic(nerve blocker), blocking fast sodium channels and stabilizing cell membranes, at the same time; a kind of push-and-pull effect, which means that it can at the same time depress cells. It actually blocks brain (nor)adrenaline from being taken up and destroyed by the nerve cell, hence its stimulant effect results from the blockade of this process which raises (nor)adrenaline levels on nerves. Increased (nor)adrenaline activates the brain. Cocaine does not directly activate the brain.
Alcohol inhibits the glutamate receptor, reducing cognition and at the same time inhibits communication between nerves and other cells, slowing down action and reaction. It also blocks GABA nerves which provide social inhibition(control)and this leads to apparent excitement.
Noradrenalne(norepinephrine) and adrenaline(epinephrine) levels in peripheral blood are increased following brain stimulation and sympathetic drive(stress). These transmitters activate the lymphocytes and their binding and receptor for HIV, promoting the vius uptake. This is through an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated stimulation of lymphocytes, an effect modulated by beta2- and dopamine-(D2) receptors. This offers another push-and-pull system that will facilitate virus uptake and cell survival needed for eventual replication of the HIV. The slowdown on lymphocytes will allow the virus to escape heterophagy(lysis) and equally apoptosis will be prevented, both of which are energy-dependent defense mechanisms subject to activation. On the contrary, metabolic stimulants namely the B vitamins, niacin and thiamine with antioxidants, vitamins C and A(a U effect) which have the push(stimulant effect) but little pull(deactivation effect) on the cellular system, usually when taken together so that the latter modulates the free radical effet of the former, slow the progression of HIV. This they do by counteracting the slowing down effect on lymphocyes by the virus, thus promoting apoptosis and/or heterophagy(lysis of the virus by the host cell).
In addition, all brain stimulants are stress-inducers. Too much stimulation of the brain leads to oxidative stress(oxygen free radical formation and damage) from high metabolic activity which in turn leads to the release of cellular stress mediators called cytokines which first stimulate, then damage and deactivate cells. Above all, chronic(unresolved) psychological stress which causes oxidative stress(damage) directly and indirectly leads to the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, which weakens cellular activity further, and especially of the immune(white blood) cell.
Initially due to oxidative stress from elevated uptake of oxygen and increased metabolism of especially the muscle cells to which blood flow is higher, white blood cells are briefly activated but then later deactivated by both the same free radicals and, then cortisol whose effort is to prevent shock and maintain oxygen and nutrients supply by blood to needy parts for activity.
Immunity then takes the back seat in psychological stress, except in severe infection or tissue damage which primarily activates and summons immune cells for repair work and defense as priority. In this case, muscles are forced into inactivity by the huge energy demand and toll of these activities. There is lethargy. But then defense and repair are still mitigated by cortisol, which is anti-inflammatory, and this, in its attempt, to quell down shock and pain.
Thus stress is analogous to the effect on HIV of cocaine, possibly tobacco and alcohol, which all produce oxidative stress, from increased neural and muscular activity(brain dopamine- and norepinephrine-induced) and otherwise, which initially activates defense, directly by (nor)adrenaline and indirectly by free radicals but may be different by not being as repetitive as the effect of consumption of recreational drugs. Sustained stress, possibly less than stimulants, activates but then keeps the cells depressed for much longer and will be promoting principally the uptake of the virus in the regular lymphocytes with more or less slightly raised activity rather than in quiescent cells with low activity. Since stress eventually suppresses the lymphocytes, the cells take up the virus but will not be able to kill it, and further, like with most intracellular microbes, the virus delays the death of the host cell, whose death would normally lead to the death of the virus as well.
Cortisol produced by the HIV stress is one reason why it takes very long for full blown AIDS to manifest. It allows infected cells to accumulate slowly for a long time to a point when they will need very little trigger to produce the full-blown disease, when they are so weak from senescence and insiduous damage inflicted by the virus, making them unable to produce functional entities, cortisol helping(with the possibility of free radical generation from faulty mitochondria), as to be readily killed by cytokines generated by infected and uninfected cells. Alternatively, sensitivity to cortisol wanes with time and infected cells become intrinsically activated. Reactive increased cotisol will no longer correlate with lymphocyte inactivity. One way to hasten the appearance of and trigger AIDS, following an HIV infection, is for a major infection to activate these quiet infected HIV cells, from outside, to enable HIV replicate and produce copies for other equally active or activated but non-infected white cells to pick up and internalize. Another means is through their activation by recreational drugs like cocaine. These activated infected white cells and even non-infected cells(through cytokines) will now undergo rapid white cell death. There is emaciation, vomiting and diarrhea accompanying multiple infections. Prior to this, however, seemingly harmless microbes will have been causing chronic(non-resolving) opportunistic infections from lower number of viable(uninfected) white cells.
Another recent study has revealed that eudaimonic well-being, one that comes from a deep sense of purpose and meaning in life(helping others) stimulates the immune system to fight infections, especially those caused by viruses, without producing any damaging inflammation. This type of well-being produces the kind of happiness referred to in theological language as bliss, which produces sustained medium level(non-damaging) happiness. However those who manifested hedonic well-being, one that comes from consummatory self-gratification showed a profile characterized by high damaging inflammation and low virus(intracellular microbe)-fighting ability, similar to that found in stressed persons. This type of happiness is short-lived, damaging, pro-inflammatory and bad for immunity.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, M.D.
Recent studies have shown that cocaine activates quiescent white blood cells(T-lymphocytes) and causes them to take up the HIV but the cells stop short of destroying the HIV or dying with the virus, in defense, to save the patient. Rather the infected white cells provide a sanctuary for the the virus, which eventually replicates and infects other cells, following further episodes of cocaine activation trigger. In fact during viral latency the virus exploits the host's autophagy system to supply nutrients, prevent death and prolong the survival of the host cell and by corollary its own very viability and then slows down both the host cell's and its own activity, prevents viral protein synthesis and the expression of antigens so as to escape detection until such a time when the host's defense is laxed as to permit the virus to replicate. Or some reactivation stress stimulus presents and overrides(eases on) the brakes on the host cell but falls short of engaging the accelerator that would enable the cell destroy the virus, before it replicates, by apoptosis and/or heterophagy.
Cocaine is a brain 'stimulant' and a local anesthetic(nerve blocker), blocking fast sodium channels and stabilizing cell membranes, at the same time; a kind of push-and-pull effect, which means that it can at the same time depress cells. It actually blocks brain (nor)adrenaline from being taken up and destroyed by the nerve cell, hence its stimulant effect results from the blockade of this process which raises (nor)adrenaline levels on nerves. Increased (nor)adrenaline activates the brain. Cocaine does not directly activate the brain.
Alcohol inhibits the glutamate receptor, reducing cognition and at the same time inhibits communication between nerves and other cells, slowing down action and reaction. It also blocks GABA nerves which provide social inhibition(control)and this leads to apparent excitement.
Noradrenalne(norepinephrine) and adrenaline(epinephrine) levels in peripheral blood are increased following brain stimulation and sympathetic drive(stress). These transmitters activate the lymphocytes and their binding and receptor for HIV, promoting the vius uptake. This is through an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated stimulation of lymphocytes, an effect modulated by beta2- and dopamine-(D2) receptors. This offers another push-and-pull system that will facilitate virus uptake and cell survival needed for eventual replication of the HIV. The slowdown on lymphocytes will allow the virus to escape heterophagy(lysis) and equally apoptosis will be prevented, both of which are energy-dependent defense mechanisms subject to activation. On the contrary, metabolic stimulants namely the B vitamins, niacin and thiamine with antioxidants, vitamins C and A(a U effect) which have the push(stimulant effect) but little pull(deactivation effect) on the cellular system, usually when taken together so that the latter modulates the free radical effet of the former, slow the progression of HIV. This they do by counteracting the slowing down effect on lymphocyes by the virus, thus promoting apoptosis and/or heterophagy(lysis of the virus by the host cell).
In addition, all brain stimulants are stress-inducers. Too much stimulation of the brain leads to oxidative stress(oxygen free radical formation and damage) from high metabolic activity which in turn leads to the release of cellular stress mediators called cytokines which first stimulate, then damage and deactivate cells. Above all, chronic(unresolved) psychological stress which causes oxidative stress(damage) directly and indirectly leads to the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, which weakens cellular activity further, and especially of the immune(white blood) cell.
Initially due to oxidative stress from elevated uptake of oxygen and increased metabolism of especially the muscle cells to which blood flow is higher, white blood cells are briefly activated but then later deactivated by both the same free radicals and, then cortisol whose effort is to prevent shock and maintain oxygen and nutrients supply by blood to needy parts for activity.
Immunity then takes the back seat in psychological stress, except in severe infection or tissue damage which primarily activates and summons immune cells for repair work and defense as priority. In this case, muscles are forced into inactivity by the huge energy demand and toll of these activities. There is lethargy. But then defense and repair are still mitigated by cortisol, which is anti-inflammatory, and this, in its attempt, to quell down shock and pain.
Thus stress is analogous to the effect on HIV of cocaine, possibly tobacco and alcohol, which all produce oxidative stress, from increased neural and muscular activity(brain dopamine- and norepinephrine-induced) and otherwise, which initially activates defense, directly by (nor)adrenaline and indirectly by free radicals but may be different by not being as repetitive as the effect of consumption of recreational drugs. Sustained stress, possibly less than stimulants, activates but then keeps the cells depressed for much longer and will be promoting principally the uptake of the virus in the regular lymphocytes with more or less slightly raised activity rather than in quiescent cells with low activity. Since stress eventually suppresses the lymphocytes, the cells take up the virus but will not be able to kill it, and further, like with most intracellular microbes, the virus delays the death of the host cell, whose death would normally lead to the death of the virus as well.
Cortisol produced by the HIV stress is one reason why it takes very long for full blown AIDS to manifest. It allows infected cells to accumulate slowly for a long time to a point when they will need very little trigger to produce the full-blown disease, when they are so weak from senescence and insiduous damage inflicted by the virus, making them unable to produce functional entities, cortisol helping(with the possibility of free radical generation from faulty mitochondria), as to be readily killed by cytokines generated by infected and uninfected cells. Alternatively, sensitivity to cortisol wanes with time and infected cells become intrinsically activated. Reactive increased cotisol will no longer correlate with lymphocyte inactivity. One way to hasten the appearance of and trigger AIDS, following an HIV infection, is for a major infection to activate these quiet infected HIV cells, from outside, to enable HIV replicate and produce copies for other equally active or activated but non-infected white cells to pick up and internalize. Another means is through their activation by recreational drugs like cocaine. These activated infected white cells and even non-infected cells(through cytokines) will now undergo rapid white cell death. There is emaciation, vomiting and diarrhea accompanying multiple infections. Prior to this, however, seemingly harmless microbes will have been causing chronic(non-resolving) opportunistic infections from lower number of viable(uninfected) white cells.
Another recent study has revealed that eudaimonic well-being, one that comes from a deep sense of purpose and meaning in life(helping others) stimulates the immune system to fight infections, especially those caused by viruses, without producing any damaging inflammation. This type of well-being produces the kind of happiness referred to in theological language as bliss, which produces sustained medium level(non-damaging) happiness. However those who manifested hedonic well-being, one that comes from consummatory self-gratification showed a profile characterized by high damaging inflammation and low virus(intracellular microbe)-fighting ability, similar to that found in stressed persons. This type of happiness is short-lived, damaging, pro-inflammatory and bad for immunity.
Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso, M.D.
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