PepperJackson's recent activity
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end all monkey research in ~science
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end all monkey research in ~science
PepperJackson Link ParentI'm not actually familiar with the advances you mention here. Do you mind filling in an old immunologist on what we've learned with AI? In my experience there just hasn't been much of anything...With advancements in AI (not LLMs) we've seen some pretty amazing advances in genomics and understanding the human biome.
I'm not actually familiar with the advances you mention here. Do you mind filling in an old immunologist on what we've learned with AI? In my experience there just hasn't been much of anything that has impressed me.
Ideally at some point we can stop doing most animal modeling because computer modeling will be close enough for the statistical noise and variation it generates to be within the parameters of how well animal models reflect human biology.
I agree this would be ideal, but I'm incredibly skeptical of the ability to computationally model complex biology. At that point we would essentially be stimulating life itself!
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end all monkey research in ~science
PepperJackson Link ParentThis is an important point; I worked at a vaccine research institute for a number of years and the 3-5 number was what was thrown around for the experiments they were able to afford. I would link...This is an important point; I worked at a vaccine research institute for a number of years and the 3-5 number was what was thrown around for the experiments they were able to afford. I would link to the papers themselves but I don't want to identify myself. With my other comments it would be easy to identify me.
But for the big pharma number, that is based on a degree of separation: the investigators I worked with had collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and they said even the pharma companies didn't do larger experiments. But I can't say if their experience actually represents all of big pharma (likely does not, vaccine regulations are a bit different than new drug discovery).
So that is to say from personal experience for the small academic researchers, but hearsay for the big pharma number, which should be challenged!
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end all monkey research in ~science
PepperJackson LinkAs someone who has been involved in non-human primate (NHP) research, I actually think this isn't terrible. These experiments are insanely expensive. Even big pharma companies will test their...As someone who has been involved in non-human primate (NHP) research, I actually think this isn't terrible. These experiments are insanely expensive. Even big pharma companies will test their study drugs in experiments with around 5 NHPs. And most academic labs can only afford 3. But then the data from these 3 animals drives all of the experiments in humans. It's a difficult position. I want to say we should have some testing before humans, but I also don't think we necessarily learn that much in NHP studies. Additionally, because these experiments are so expensive, almost all of the NHPs are in multiple experiments, meaning, they will be subject to one study drug, and then a few months later they will be subject to another, etc. So it's actually hard to know which study is responsible for an outcome, which is hard to parse. In the end, I find it difficult to justify many of these studies, though I'm sure there are a number of studies that I'm not aware of that are doing good work and will be affected terribly by this change.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
PepperJackson LinkI don't listen to music terribly often but I got a new set of headphones (HD 6XX) and it inspired me to seek out some new stuff from the last couple years. Of these, I am digging Geordie Greep's...I don't listen to music terribly often but I got a new set of headphones (HD 6XX) and it inspired me to seek out some new stuff from the last couple years.
Of these, I am digging Geordie Greep's The New Sound. What a wild, beautiful, melodic ride. I recommend the single from that album, Holy Holy, to get an idea of what the album is like. It is both a tune that makes me want to dance, and the musings of a totally deranged man (heads up, rated R). I think it's just about as fun as music gets for me and recommend it to people who like prog rock, jazz, Calypso, tango. It's a good track.
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Comment on Epstein-Barr virus appears to be trigger of lupus disease in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentI guess I would add, just in case anyone was curious, that the latest research I had heard is that lupus may at its core be the result of lysosomal trafficking dysregulation. I've seen some mouse...I guess I would add, just in case anyone was curious, that the latest research I had heard is that lupus may at its core be the result of lysosomal trafficking dysregulation. I've seen some mouse models of disease that are incredibly similar to lupus (SLE in particular) that are deficient in a lysosomal trafficking gene, but I can't remember which one off the top of my head. Could EBV cause this? Sure, but I wonder if we will eventually subcategorize lupus based on the etiology of this dysfunction
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Comment on Epstein-Barr virus appears to be trigger of lupus disease in ~health
PepperJackson (edited )Link ParentTo your point, it would not be terribly helpful, but could provide some benefit. The best use case for vaccines is, as you suggest, to prevent a primary infection from a pathogen. There are some...To your point, it would not be terribly helpful, but could provide some benefit. The best use case for vaccines is, as you suggest, to prevent a primary infection from a pathogen. There are some indications for secondary exposure vaccines in limited cases. Herpesviruses like EBV do have an example of this in the shingles vaccine, but it is more useful in this case because shingles tends to have very distinct viral reactivation in the context of immunocompromise (typically age and other environmental factors). Does EBV act in this way to cause the secondary pathologies is central to the question of utility of vaccination.
I do feel qualified to speak on this to a degree, I am an immunologist and physician. But I don't do vaccine development or virology in particular, which explains a bit of my hedging!
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Comment on First death linked to red meat allergy triggered by tick bites, researchers say in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentDefinitely, I'm not sure if the same species of tick would feed on both mammals and dinosaurs though. It certainly seems plausible, but I'm no entomologistDefinitely, I'm not sure if the same species of tick would feed on both mammals and dinosaurs though. It certainly seems plausible, but I'm no entomologist
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Comment on First death linked to red meat allergy triggered by tick bites, researchers say in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentTo expand on this, the real question would be, are there ticks that bite mammals and also dinosaurs? Which I couldn't even begin to answer.To expand on this, the real question would be, are there ticks that bite mammals and also dinosaurs? Which I couldn't even begin to answer.
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Comment on First death linked to red meat allergy triggered by tick bites, researchers say in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentIt depends what you mean by " People don't develop it naturally or through exposure to allergens like how bee stings can cause bee allergies.". The reason you get the allergy from ticks is because...It depends what you mean by " People don't develop it naturally or through exposure to allergens like how bee stings can cause bee allergies.". The reason you get the allergy from ticks is because you are exposed to the allergen (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose) from the mammal blood that the ticks have in a blood meal. So in that regard the sensitization to the antigen is exactly the same.
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Comment on First death linked to red meat allergy triggered by tick bites, researchers say in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentI would consider it very likely that dinosaurs could get alpha gal allergy because they do not make alpha gal, and the gene that leads to the glycosylation is quite old!Other curiosity, I wonder if alpha-gal be found on older tick specimens? Imagine the dinosaurs being allergic to mammals.
I would consider it very likely that dinosaurs could get alpha gal allergy because they do not make alpha gal, and the gene that leads to the glycosylation is quite old!
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Comment on First death linked to red meat allergy triggered by tick bites, researchers say in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentI wouldn't classify it as an autoimmune disease. In the medical community it is classified as an allergy, because the type of immune response is the same as typical allergies (i.e., IgE mediated)....I wouldn't classify it as an autoimmune disease. In the medical community it is classified as an allergy, because the type of immune response is the same as typical allergies (i.e., IgE mediated). Unless you consider allergies autoimmune diseases.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
PepperJackson Link ParentYes, sorry for not responding earlier, these were off market vapes too. So there's even less reason to be afraid of vapes from a medical perspective.Yes, sorry for not responding earlier, these were off market vapes too. So there's even less reason to be afraid of vapes from a medical perspective.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
PepperJackson LinkA number of my physician colleagues are still reeling from the VAPI/EVALI crisis years ago when vitamin E acetate contaminated vapes were killing young people. I think it's pretty clear that vapes...A number of my physician colleagues are still reeling from the VAPI/EVALI crisis years ago when vitamin E acetate contaminated vapes were killing young people. I think it's pretty clear that vapes are preferable to cigarettes now, though of course not using either is preferable.
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Comment on What are your favorite low cost main dishes/meals? in ~food
PepperJackson LinkWe have a few "go-to" meals for when we want simple, low cost food. Speed rice bowl with a fried egg. We will break up a box of salted seaweed and mix it into a bowl of rice, then fry an egg in...We have a few "go-to" meals for when we want simple, low cost food.
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Speed rice bowl with a fried egg. We will break up a box of salted seaweed and mix it into a bowl of rice, then fry an egg in sesame oil with a bit of soy sauce, and pour it on top of the rice. It's quite salty, but I'm a big fan.
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Refried beans. These are quite versatile, use them in a burrito, taco, bowl, whatever. I use Samin Nosrat's recipe.
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Sweet potato and bean quesadilla. This one is a bit of a wildcard and best for when I want something warm and filling but not very involved to cook. I toss a sweet potato in the microwave, rinse a can of black beans, spread out the cooked sweet potato onto a tortilla, press in the beans, add some cheese, then cook in a skillet. It's not terribly fast, but I quite like the flavor.
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Classic beans and greens stew. I use Mark Bittman's recipe.
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Pasta Alla Norma (tomato and eggplant based sauce), again Mark Bittman's recipe.
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Comment on Starter comments on Tildes? in ~tildes
PepperJackson LinkI've thought about this myself. There is often a link with no comment from more than a day ago on the front page. I've thought that tildes could benefit from a system where link posts do not...I've thought about this myself. There is often a link with no comment from more than a day ago on the front page. I've thought that tildes could benefit from a system where link posts do not appear for others until the original poster adds a top level comment. Is this a strict improvement? Probably not, but I think the way I am interested in using tildes would benefit, though I do not necessarily use tildes the same way as others.
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Comment on Looking for low-cost ways to replace industrially processed foods in ~food
PepperJackson Link ParentI guess it's true. I just don't think the difference between "instant pot" and "instapot" is as different as "Cocker Spaniel - Miniature Poodle crossbreed" and "Cockapoo"I guess it's true. I just don't think the difference between "instant pot" and "instapot" is as different as "Cocker Spaniel - Miniature Poodle crossbreed" and "Cockapoo"
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Comment on Looking for low-cost ways to replace industrially processed foods in ~food
PepperJackson Link ParentI think this is very reasonable, thank you. I was just curious. Calling it an instapot really has caught on!I think this is very reasonable, thank you. I was just curious. Calling it an instapot really has caught on!
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Comment on Looking for low-cost ways to replace industrially processed foods in ~food
PepperJackson Link ParentSorry, what I specifically meant here is that "instant pot" is different than "instapot". Where the other ones took the name from the other products, this one took something very similar but not...Sorry, what I specifically meant here is that "instant pot" is different than "instapot". Where the other ones took the name from the other products, this one took something very similar but not what they were referencing. The only other thing I can think of is how it is common to call espresso, "Expresso"
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Comment on Looking for low-cost ways to replace industrially processed foods in ~food
PepperJackson Link ParentWith those it makes sense because there is a thing that actually has the name "Kleenex" or "Jacuzzi" or "Velcro". But how did Instant pot get shortened this way? And why do so many people say it...With those it makes sense because there is a thing that actually has the name "Kleenex" or "Jacuzzi" or "Velcro". But how did Instant pot get shortened this way? And why do so many people say it that way? Language works in mysterious ways
Very interesting, thanks for sharing these. I've heard of Evo, but haven't seen it be used in the lab yet, but perhaps it will soon. It's obviously young technology. As I understand it, it seems useful for hypothesis generation, but maybe not so useful for hypothesis testing in it's current state.
I hope we can use machine learning to better categorize large datasets to help patients soon.