AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES CAUSED BY AN INFECTION?

SeekinTruth said:

No those were not the threads I was thinking of, truth seeker. But thanks for your help. If I remember correctly, they were from maybe 2007.

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SeekinTruth said:

No, that was the only thread that came up that had any relevance when I kept trying different searches (though it's only tangentially relevant - as I used mycoplasma as a keyword). Thanks for your help too. The threads I'm thinking of have very long background material on the military development of mycoplasma and other pathogens as biological weapons and also testing them on the unsuspecting public. At least one of them also included the work of Donald Scott.

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In a paper last year (Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences, DOI: 10.1007/s12539-009-0036-7), Montagnier described how he discovered the apparent ability of DNA fragments and entire bacteria both to produce weak electromagnetic fields and to "regenerate" themselves in previously uninfected cells. Montagnier strained a solution of the bacterium Mycoplasma pirum through a filter with pores small enough to prevent the bacteria penetrating. The filtered water emitted the same frequency of electromagnetic signal as the bacteria themselves. He says he has evidence that many species of bacteria and many viruses give out the electromagnetic signals, as do some diseased human cells.

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The scientists’ results show that it is possible to transplant the complete set of DNA—the genome—from one species into the genome of a different species, so that the recipient organism is phenotypically and genotypically identical to the donor organism.

In their experiment, the researchers used two species of bacteria that belong to a group of organisms called mycoplasmas due to their small genomes (making them easier to handle) and lack of a cell wall (enabling easier insertion of DNA). In the experiment, Mycoplasma mycoides Large Colony (LC) served as the donor, and Mycoplasma capricolum the receiver. Both bacteria are mild pathogens of goats, and are genetically similar, sharing about 75% of their genomic material.

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What may be the most thorough study ever of a single organism has produced a beta code for life’s essential subroutines, and shown that even the simplest creatures are more complex than scientists suspected.

The analysis combined information about gene regulation, protein production and cell structure in Mycoplasma pneumoniae, one of the simplest self-sustaining microbes.

It’s far closer to a “blueprint” than a mere genome readout, and reveals processes “that are much more subtle and intricate than were previously considered possible in bacteria,” wrote University of Arizona biologists Howard Ochman and Rahul Raghavan in a commentary accompanying the findings, which were published last Thursday in Science.

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gaman said:

I show "Protein Linkage" - a condition that gives clues that the body is having a difficult time digesting the protein that is ingested.

I have a lot of "Rouleau" - A sticking together of red blood cells which can be caused by physical or mental stress. Rouleau results in the poor circulation of the blood and therefore decreases the amounts of oxygen and nutrients available for the body to use. This condition results in fatigue and weakness. Best evaluated after tapping away the electro-static glass charge that over rides discovering the true negative charge of the clients red cells. (no clue what this last part means).

Also show "Erythrocyte Aggregation" tied to Rouleau - Sometimes called "blood sludge". This process is obviously worse than the rouleau formation. Saturated fat and abnormal protein causes the red cells to stick together, causing poor circulation. Best evaluated after tapping the cover slip with a pencil to reduce the electro-static charge between the two pieces of glass close together. (maybe the electro comments are meant for the practitioner.

I have a moderate amount of "Mycoplasma" - Under Brightfield and Phase Contrast they show up as small dark circules either out in the blood rserum or on or withing the red blood cell. Usually the red blood cell will be suffering from Poikilocytosis. These microorganisms often develop inside the cell and can contribute to hundreds of diseases, mental as well as physical.

I have a lot of "Poikilocytosis" - Deformed red blood cells that show antioxidant deficiency and/or liver conditions, or heavy metais. (I did a hair lab test a couple of years ago that didn't show heave metals and I take lots of antioxidant supplementations. Not sure about the liver. I take the milk thistle extract to help it out but I have had low liver function as measured by a regular MD in the past - maybe 5 years ago).

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With cancer [DMSO] specifically zooms in on cancer cells and can be used to carry remedies along and is good for treating brain tumours which are otherwise difficult to reach. It is also beneficial with breast and prostate cancers, leukaemia and lymphomas. Relatively weak (2%) solutions of DMSO were killing leukaemia cells and, with the addition of suitable remedies, induced a variety of cancer cells to become normal cells. DMSO has been shown to protect against radiation damage, especially in regard to cancer treatment.

DMSO kills the pleomorphic microbes that are the basic cause of cancer and autoimmune diseases. One of its most impressive functions is its ability to easily enter cells and kill viruses and mycoplasma that may hide there. There are patents combining DMSO with antiviral remedies, anti-tumour agents, and amino acids and other nutraceuticals to enhance memory and other brain functions. DMSO is also excellent for healing deep tissue, muscle injuries, burns, and other wounds. It has been extensively used in sports medicine and horse racing.

Because it is so rapidly absorbed – it can be tasted in the mouth only minutes after applying it to the skin – and combined with its ability to block pain signals to the brain, DMSO also acts very fast to stop or greatly reduce pain from arthritis, muscle injuries, and other sites of pain or inflammation. While the pain may come back after several hours, it tends to lessen with each re-application of DMSO. Unlike other pain relievers, especially of the medical kind which may cause long-term damage, DMSO greatly speeds up healing of damaged areas. This is due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and its ability to improve blood circulation, nutrient supply, dissolve obstructions, and remove stress.

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First book "The Extremely Unfortunate Skull Valley Incident" by Donald and William Scott

http://www.trafford.com/02-0367

196 pages
quality trade paperback (softcover)
catalogue #02-0367
ISBN 1-55369-554-2
US$24.95
C$33.95
EUR22.10
L15.30

And second book "The Brucellosis Triangle"

http://www.consumerhealth.org/books/index.cfm?ID=2675

The Neurodegenerative/Systemic-Degenerative Diseases

SCOTT, Donald, MD, & William

Other Information
Publisher: The Chelmsford Publishers
Date: 1998
Price: $25.00
Length: 146
Size: 9 x 11
Categories: Health Hazards

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Shared Joy said:

Shouldn't we treat anemia first??

There are various forms of anemia:
_http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/basics/treatment/con-20026209

Why should one treat anemia first?

Hemoglobin has the important role of delivering oxygen to all parts of the body for consumption and carries back carbon dioxide back to the lung to exhale it out of the body. If the hemoglobin level is too low, this process may be impaired, resulting in low levels of oxygen in the body (hypoxia).
Note:
- all parasites thrive in an acidic, oxygen deprived medium,
- without a good bloodflow the whole body stagnates (remember lymph also is carried by the bloodflow) toxins are not eliminated,
- Without good bloodflow the tissues are not nourished and cannot regenerate (_http://www.stemcellnutrition.net/the-circulation-system-and-stem-cells)
- the circulatory system ensures that the body is able to fight disease or maintain a stable internal environment — such as proper temperature and pH — known as homeostasis.
- also, even if the blood cell count is good, the problem might be that one hasn't got the right volume of blood, as other systems are out of sync, like the digestive system.
- we have also seen that these unfriendly microorganisms thrive on iron, and one shouldn't take iron, so maybe one should think of ways of replenishing the organism with blood without feeding the critters.

So, maybe one has to start with fortifying the body before one gets rid of unfriendly microorganisms?

Just my opinion
Joy

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A Babesia infection can destroy red blood cells which can lead to anemia
People diagnosed with Babesia, Bartonella, and/or Mycoplasma can have their red blood cells (RBCs) destroyed by their infections. Babesia and Bartonella slip inside of and eat out the insides of RBCs. Mycoplasma pneumonia can stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that destroy RBCs.[/b] As more and more RBCs get destroyed, a condition called hemolytic anemia can occur which is defined as the abnormal destruction of these cells faster than bone marrow can produce them. Symptoms of anemia can also affect the brain.

Anemia can also mess up problem solving, thinking speed, and memory recall
In one study, anemic women scored worse on planning, speed, spatial working memory and strategy tests than those with normal iron levels. When their iron levels increased after eating iron rich foods, their scores increased significantly

1. In another study on a similar protozoa infection to Babesia, Severe Malarial Anemia (SMA) is associated with long-term impairment in cognitive ability, whereas Cerebral Malaria (CM) is associated with additional impairment in the areas of attention and associative memory. SMA is hypothesized to be a major contributor to long-term neuro-cognitive impairment in children
2. Anemia can also produce symptoms of extreme fatigue, pale complexion, and shortness of breath. Infectious anemia can persist despite being treated with antimicrobial drugs.

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Here are five herbs for relieving recurring symptoms of anemia from co-infections
In Chinese herbal medicine, there are groups of herbs that are classified as “Blood Building or Tonifying” and “Blood Invigorating” herbs. Many of these have been used safely for thousands of years to treat patients with anemia. Within these groups, there are five main herbs that have helped patients like Ivan to reduce or eliminate recurring fatigue, brain fog, and memory problems related to an underlying anemia. Ivan received a liposomal mixture of these herbs, which is made up of microscopic particles of his herb formula that are wrapped in a fat called lecithin. Liposomes penetrate more deeply into cells than their non-liposomal equivalent medications. Liposomal drugs were 40 times more effective at delivering medicine into and clearing out a malaria infection from red blood cells in a mouse study10.

Build Blood Herb #1: Angelica sinensis, Chinese name: Dang Gui
This herb derives its name from a tragic love story. A newly married man is taunted by other men in his village. He goes off to prove his manhood by seeking his fortune. He tells his wife that she is free to remarry if he does not return in three years. Three years passes and she remarries. He returns and both of them are heartbroken. She becomes bedridden as a result of her heartbreak. He gives her a root which brings her health back. Dang translates to “should” and Gui can be translated to “come back.”11

“Dang Gui is characterized as sweet, warm, and acrid. It has been used for treating anemia for thousands of years. This herb is also used for symptoms of pale complexion, brittle nails, dizziness, blurred vision, and palpitations. It has also been used to treat postpartum fatigue, weakness, insomnia, excessive dreaming and worrying, forgetfulness, hot flashes, irritability, abdominal pain, menstrual disorders, blood stagnation which is similar to hypercoagulation, insufficient lactation, traumatic injuries, numbness and pain in the extremities, coldness, sores, abscesses, ulcers, swelling, burning, constipation, cough, and dryness.

This herb is cautioned in patients with abdominal distention, loose stools, or diarrhea. It is contraindicated in patients with excess heat. It is suggested that Dang Gui may potentiate the effects of anticoagulant or anti-platelet drugs. In multiple studies, Dang Gui increases overall blood circulation by decreasing blood viscosity, reduces plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and decreases the risk of atherosclerosis. It has also increased macrophage activity, protects the liver. This herb has shown an inhibitory effect on Salmonella typhi, E. Coli, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Vibrio cholerae, alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, and beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

It has been used to treat the following conditions: low back and leg pain, arrhythmia, coughing, stroke, migraine, nephritis, pain, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, menstrual pain, uterine prolapse, insomnia, herpes zoster, alopecia, psoriasis, and deafness12.”

Build Blood Herb #2: Cooked Rehmannia Root, Chinese name: Shu Di Huang
“Cooked rehmannia is characterized as sweet and slightly warm. This herb has been used for blood deficiency, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, menstrual disorders, irregular menstruation, chronic uterine bleeding, infertility, restless fetus, miscarriage, and postpartum issues. It is also used for soreness and weakness of the low back and knees, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, tidal fever, night sweats, cough, wheezing, and frequent urination. This herb is used to replenish vital energy, also called “Jing” in Chinese. Jing depletion symptoms include premature gray hair, forgetfulness, blurry vision, impotence, and developmental delay in children.

This herb is cautioned in patients with slow digestion, excess mucus, or stagnation. It is often used with Dang Gui13.”

Build Blood Herb #3: Ligusticum Root, Chinese name: Chuan Xiong
“Ligusticum is characterized as sweet and warm. This herb is used to activate life energy (Qi) and blood circulation. It is used to treat gynecological disorders, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, difficult labor, postpartum bleeding, abdominal pain with chest and gastric distention, stabbing pain in the chest and abdomen, angina, bone spurs, numbness and paralysis of the extremities, traumatic injury pain, non-healing ulcers and sores, headaches, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, trigeminal nerve pain, and musculo-skeletal and joint pain.

Ligusticum has been found to: lower blood pressure, increase blood perfusion, have a marked antiplatelet and anticoagulation effect, reduce brain swelling, sedate the central nervous system in animal studies, and have a protective effect against radiation in animal studies. It has been used to treat cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer’s disease, and migraine headache.

This herb is contraindicated in patients with heat signs, dry mouth, and a red tongue. It is used with caution in cases of hypermenorrhea. It is suggested that ligusticum may potentiate the effects of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. This herb is often used in combination with Dang Gui and rehmannia14.”

Build Blood Herb #4: Polygonum multiflorum, Chinese name: He Shou Wu
This herb also has an unusual story associated with it. “Neng Si was born chronically weak. He had never married and gave up on having children. He enthusiastically followed a Taoist teacher who lived on a mountain. After falling into a drunken stupor in the forest, he awoke and found a pair of vines entwined together. He dug up the root of the plant, which he showed to a hermit from the mountain who told him to take it. He swallowed a small amount each day. In seven days, he started to feel an unknown vitality flowing through his veins. He could barely control his new found sexual desire. Over the next several years he became strong, his hair grew dark again, and he eventually fathered several boys15.”

“The characteristics of this herb are sweet, bitter, astringent, and slightly warm. It is used to replenish Jing or vital energy, nourish the blood of the liver and kidneys, eliminate toxins, treat malarial disorders, moisten the intestines and unblock bowels, and lower cholesterol and treat cardiovascular disorders. This herb is especially used with patients with anemia, postpartum women, the elderly, and people that are recovering from a chronic illness. Polygonum is used to treat dizziness, blurred vision, gray hair, soreness and weakness of the low back and knees, early signs of aging, anemia, numbness of the limbs, menstrual disorders, irregular menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding. It also is used to treat toxic sores, abscesses, scrofula, goiter, neck lumps, non-healing sores, constipation, high cholesterol, angina, coronary heart disease, hypertension, insomnia, schizophrenia, and epigastric pain.

It has also been used to treat malarial toxins and symptoms of fever, chills, weakness, and fatigue. In multiple lab studies, polygonum slows the aging process and increases life expectancy, increases T-lymphocytes, and white blood cells, and increases hormonal secretions by the adrenal and thyroid glands. This herb is used with caution in patients with loose stools or diarrhea. It is contraindicated in patients with excess mucus16.”

Build Blood Herb #5: White Peony Root, Chinese name: Bai Shao
“The properties of this herb are bitter, sour and cool. White peony is used to strengthen the blood and moisten dryness in the body. This herb treats a dull and pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, and brittle, pale nails. White peony regulates menstruation and helps to alleviate pain. It is used to treat these conditions: irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, uterine bleeding, breast distention, pre-menstrual symptoms, mood swings, restlessness, and gestational and post-partum disorders. Other conditions treated by this herb include: night sweats, spontaneous sweating, and excessive perspiration.

White peony is also used to treat long standing pathogenic illnesses with symptoms of muscle spasms, twitches, tremors, alternating flexion and extension of the extremities, tonic-clonic spasms, and convulsions. It is also used to treat excess heat conditions marked by dizziness, tinnitus, flushed face, red eyes, irritability, bad temper, headache, vertigo, poor balance, delirium, burning diarrhea, burning upon urination, and loss of consciousness. White peony is also used to treat numbness, spasms, and pain in the muscles, tendons, sinews, and extremities. It is also used for epigastric, intercostal, flank, hypochondriac, and abdominal pain.

This herb is contraindicated in patients with eczema or rashes that are aggravated by wind. It is also contraindicated in post-partum patients with stabbing fixed pains or who are still bleeding. White peony may cause drowsiness or sedation. People who operate heavy machinery need to exercise caution.

White peony has an inhibitory effect against Bacillus dysenteriae, E. coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Diplococcus pneumoniae, and some dematophytes17.”

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Internal Stressors with Dr. Tim Jackson: Zeroing in on the Root Causes of Leaky Gut, Thyroid Issues, Adrenal Fatigue & More

You’ve been treating your “adrenal fatigue” for years. But if you stop your adaptogens, DHEA or other adrenal supplements, you fall apart.

You’ve been addressing your leaky gut for a year, but if you stop your probiotics, glutamine, aloe vera, etc., your stomach begins to hurt and you get diarrhea.

You gave up gluten, but your thyroid antibodies remain elevated.

You can’t seem to warm up despite taking thyroid medication.

Your cortisol and DHEA won’t balance, despite correcting your sleep hygiene/circadian cycle.

You exercise several days per week, but the more you exercise, the fatter you get.

You don’t have the energy to play with your children any more.

You eat an Epi-Paleo diet, but you still have a tendency toward high blood sugar.

What do all of these things have in common?

Internal Stressors!

When we consider toxicity in the body, often we consider environmental toxins, i.e. endocrine-disrupting chemicals, heavy metals and other pollutants. But the total body burden of pathogens that act as internal stressors is equally, if not more, significant to high cortisol and conditions like leaky gut, adrenal fatigue, every hormone dysfunction known to man (PCOS, endometriosis, fatigue, weight gain, infertility, impotence, lack of sex drive, moodiness, estrogen dominance and more) and autoimmune disease (fibromyalgia, hashimotos, type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, cancer, lupus, cushing’s syndrome, etc.).

Since most of us did not arrive in this world with our present level of functional medicine knowledge, there was likely a period, or periods, of time where we weren’t optimal — from an immune, hormonal and digestive perspective. This means there were likely opportunistic periods in our lives where these ‘stealth pathogens’ became active and began their assault on our bodies.

These pathogens are common, often-overlooked contributors to leaky gut (which dominoes into a whole host of hormone and immune issues), and by not addressing them, we derail all other attempts we might make to become optimal. Said another way, optimal is not possible until we eradicate these pathogens. Anecdotally, I’d suggest that 95% of people have them.

We are all exposed to viruses. Whether that virus becomes active or not depends on our immune function, hormonal status, digestive health, circadian sleep cycle, our glutathione levels, and much, much more. Common infectious culprits include Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, Coxsackie B virus, Parvovirus, mycoplasma, Lyme and Candida Albicans. As I’ve mentioned during the Heal Your Hormones Bootcamp, testing your IGG and IGM antibodies to the above pathogens can help to shed some light on whether you are experiencing any immune stressors.

How do we Overcome Internal Stressors?

We obviously need to optimize digestive health, hormonal health, etc. But how do we optimize immune function? Many people think that when they have an issue with a pathogen, they need to ‘boost’ their immune system. This is incorrect and could potentially lead to adverse outcomes if treated improperly.

An over-active immune system is just as problematic as an under-active immune system. Blindly stimulating the immune system can lead to assault on our tissues—be it our thyroid, joints, brain, DNA, etc. So, how can we determine if our immune system is over or under-active?

The following is a list beneficial immune tests:

CD4/CD8=T-helper cells/T-suppressor cells
CD56=natural killer cells
ESR=erythryocyte sedimentation rate
ANA
CD-57: a specific type of immune cell that is often low in those dealing with a Lyme infection
RA factor
SLE panel for lupus antibodies
Cytokine panel: Pharmasan Labs offers a stimulated cytokine panel that is very comprehensive

Addressing a high pathogen load requires a multi-faceted approach, including ensuring optimal levels of vitamins A and D; optimal DHEA, cortisol and thyroid levels; and eradicating any dysbiosis in the gut.

Still Experiencing Active Infections?

If you’ve done all of the above and are still experiencing active infections, there are a number of integrative treatments that can help eradicate pathogens.

1. GcMAF is a very promising treatment for a number of immune disorders. It serves as an immune ‘rebuilder’ that aids the body in addressing its pathogen load, not by killing itself but allowing our immune cells to do their jobs. Pathogens such as HHV-6, Lyme, HIV and others inhibit our immune responses by increasing the level of a molecule called nagalase. Nagalase effectively renders our macrophages weak and inactive against these stealth microbes. GcMAF works by lowering the nagalase level, allowing the immune system to then do what nature intended and eradicate the pathogen.

I know, I know. You’re saying, “You can’t kill a virus because it was never alive to begin with.” That’s true, but you can prevent the viral DNA from being expressed.

GcMAF is typically given by injection 1x/week for 8 weeks. Depending on your situation, you may benefit from numerous rounds or you may only require one round (8 shots). While nagalase may indicate one’s potential benefit from GcMAF, testing your natural killer cells using the CD-56 test also serve as biomarker that indicates possible benefits.

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2. Another effective integrative treatment for a high pathogen load includes optimizing levels of glutathione and vitamin C. Glutathione can be taken in the liposomal form or transdermally. Glutathione fortifies our immune systems and serves as a natural anti-viral. While our bodies produce glutathione naturally though methylation, if the genes MTHFR, GSTM1 or GSTM3 are present in our bodies, it may hinder our natural production.

IV glutathione treatments (available by prescription) can bolster blood levels, help with detoxification, and improve overall healing. In addition, glutathione is crucial in preventing auto-immune disorders. Deficiencies of glutathione precede every major known disorder and chronic disease.

Vitamin C can also be taken in a liposomal format and/or given as an IV drip in doses of up to 100 grams daily. This treatment was pioneered by Dr. Tom Levy, M.D., J.D. To learn more, read Dr. Levy’s book, “Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins.”

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3. Numerous anti-microbials—both prescription and natural—can effectively lower your body’s pathogen burden, including:

Grape seed extract
Monolaurin/Lauricidin
Bee propolis
Olive leaf extract
1,3/1,6 Beta glucan
Biocidin
LDM-100

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The duration and dosing of these nutraceuticals will depend on the number of pathogens present and the immune status of the individual. As a general rule, addressing viruses is a months-long project and not the typical 10-14 day course length associated with antibiotics. I can’t over-emphasize the importance of balancing the immune system along with taking any type of killing agent. If the only angle one takes is to kill the various pathogens, the microbes will likely return once the anti-microbial is discontinued. Rotating nutraceuticals, meds, etc. can prevent the development of resistance by the microbes.

In addition, nutraceuticals that contain multiple nutrients working synergistically are preferable over mega doses of single nutrients, in many cases.

DHEA & Thyroid Hormones

Optimal levels of thyroid hormone and DHEA serve critical immune functions. Thyroid hormone ensures optimal levels of T and B cells, two major immune players. Additionally, as body temperature decreases (as through hypothyroidism), immune function drops considerably. DHEA works to ensure optimal numbers of natural killer cells and that they remain active. So it’s important to note that simply knowing the number of different immune cells may not provide the full picture of immune health. You need to know the activity of those cells to fill in the rest of the blanks, and unfortunately, to my knowledge, while testing the activity of all of the immune cells is not available, the number and the activity of the natural killer cells can be tested through Pharmasan Labs.

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Shijing said:

It's funny that my rolfer told me a couple years ago about a supplement made from ground-up earthworms that I could ask for at a local Chinese apothecary -- I never looked into it, but maybe I should! Thanks Alana for posting about nattokinase and lumbrokinase -- I still have some nattokinase from when LQB recommended it to me a couple years ago on the Endothelial Dysfunction thread, so I'm going to move that back into rotation.

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The number of people with asthma continues to grow. One in 12 people (about 25 million, or 8% of the U.S. population) had asthma in 2009, compared with 1 in 14 (about 20 million, or 7%) in 2001.2

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The Role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Asthma
Soo-Jong Hongcorresponding author

Respiratory infections can cause wheezing episodes in children and can influence the onset and severity of asthma via complex and intersecting mechanisms. Infections can trigger atopic asthma, and atopy can cause wheezing during airway infections and modify the course of airway infections. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), primarily recognized as a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia, has recently been linked to asthma. Infections with M. pneumoniae can precede the onset of asthma, exacerbate asthmatic symptoms, and cause difficulties with asthma management.1

The clinical association between M. pneumoniae infection and exacerbation of asthma symptoms has been suspected for longer than two decades; however, the nature of the correlation is still far from clear. In 1970, Berkovich et al.2 provided the first prospective study showing serological evidence of infection with either M. pneumoniae or a respiratory virus in 27 of 84 (32%) asthma patients. Huhti et al.3 analyzed 63 patients after severe episodes of acute asthma and found that 19% had associated viral or mycoplasma infections. Biscardi et al.4 reported that 20% (24/119) of the patients with previously diagnosed asthma had simultaneous acute M. pneumoniae infection and asthma exacerbation; of 51 patients experiencing their first episode, acute infection with M. pneumoniae was identified in 26 (50%) of the patients. Therefore, based on the current literature, M. pneumoniae appears to be an important trigger for the acute exacerbation of asthma, accounting for 3.3%-50% of exacerbations. [..]

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LQB said:

Shijing said:

It's funny that my rolfer told me a couple years ago about a supplement made from ground-up earthworms that I could ask for at a local Chinese apothecary -- I never looked into it, but maybe I should! Thanks Alana for posting about nattokinase and lumbrokinase -- I still have some nattokinase from when LQB recommended it to me a couple years ago on the Endothelial Dysfunction thread, so I'm going to move that back into rotation.

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I'm experimenting right now with a mix of NAC, bromelain, and D-mannose plus AST Enzymes Serracor NK:

- 1500 mg NAC
- 1/2 Tsp D-Mannose
- 4000 gdu bromelain
- Serracor (60,000 fu enzyme blend)

No herx reaction but I definitely feel positive effects. So far, just 1X per day.

Corrected: 400 ---> 4000 gdu

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What is Oral GcMAF?
Oral GcMAF is a form of GcMAF produced from bovine colostrum by Saisei Mirai which was developed in collaboration with Tokushima University.

How is Oral GcMAF different from Second Generation GcMAF?
Oral GcMAF is produced in a similar way to Second Generation GcMAF but uses bovine colostrum instead of serum. It is administered orally and sublingually. See GcMAF Therapy for more details below.

Who can take Oral GcMAF?
Anyone can take Oral GcMAF to stay healthy and fight off disease.

Is Oral GcMAF a replacement for Second Generation Gc-MAF?
For most serious diseases we recommend a combination of Oral GcMAF and GcMAF injections. Because the site of administration is different so too is the area of macrophage activation and the effect.

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Laura said:

Which makes me wonder if simply adding colostrum to the protocol will be helpful?

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Other important examples of immune support are immune modulators, such as bioactive whey protein, transfer factors and other colostrum-derived products and plant glucans. Good immune boosters have been isolated from mushroom extracts and are widely available from a number of manufacturers. These products have been used to maintain or boost immune systems to prevent infections.

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Altair said:

I set up a Google Doc file. Everyone (who has the link below) can edit it in browser (no registration by Google required)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uy2iTblKBKI162PkMe-lsdqUuLuiKBYYBMsebzfjk3Y/edit?usp=sharing

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Gaby said:

Laura said:

Which makes me wonder if simply adding colostrum to the protocol will be helpful?

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That is not a bad idea. At least Garth Nicolson was recommending colostrum as a complement to antibiotics in one of his papers, so probably he also saw some good results with it.

_http://www.immed.org/illness/bioterrorism.html

Other important examples of immune support are immune modulators, such as bioactive whey protein, transfer factors and other colostrum-derived products and plant glucans. Good immune boosters have been isolated from mushroom extracts and are widely available from a number of manufacturers. These products have been used to maintain or boost immune systems to prevent infections.

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It was one of the things Nora Gedgaudas recommended in PBPM as well.

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CONCLUSIONS: Thus, modulation of the cytokine network using colostrum PRP3 sub-class peptides by oral supplementation appears to balance or modulate the mammalian cytokine system, and thus reduce real time allergic pro-inflammatory symptoms. Continuous oral supplementation is required if further exposure to allergens exists. Cytokine and immune modulation by colostrum peptide supplementation, can help with many other challanging health conditions, these are discussed.

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author said:

Medically relevant biofilms have gained a significant level of interest, in part because of the epidemic rise in obesity and an aging population in the developed world. The associated comorbidities of chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and diabetic foot wounds remain recalcitrant to the therapies available currently. Development of chronicity in the wound is due primarily to an inability to complete the wound healing process owing to the presence of a bioburden, specifically bacterial biofilms. New therapies are clearly needed which specifically target biofilms. Lactoferrin is a multifaceted molecule of the innate immune system found primarily in milk. While further investigation is warranted to elucidate mechanisms of action, in vitro analyses of lactoferrin and its derivatives have demonstrated that these complex molecules are structurally and functionally well suited to address the heterogeneity of bacterial biofilms. In addition, use of lactoferrin and its derivatives has proven promising in the clinic.

Lactoferrin: a biofilm-targeted antimicrobial
The iron-chelating nature of lactoferrin suggests that this might be the primary mechanism of action of its antimicrobial activity. Iron is an essential nutrient for bacteria and a global regulator of biochemical, cellular, and metabolic functions. Among a large number or reactions, iron participates in DNA synthesis, the electron transport system, formation of heme, as a cofactor for enzymes, in oxygen transport, the synthesis of ATP, and nitrate reduction in the nitrogen cycle. In addition, iron is an essential nutrient for biofilm development and growth (Crosa 1989; Neilands 1981a, 1981b). Under physiological conditions of neutral pH and in the presence of oxygen, iron will undergo rapid oxidation from Fe2+ to Fe3+ to insoluble ferric oxyhydroxide if not bound by an iron-chelating molecule. While only about 10−9 to 10−18 M iron is bioavailable, most microbes need ∼10−8 M iron for normal cellular functions. Therefore, microbes have evolved a set of iron-chelating molecules called siderophores for scavenging iron from the environment (Neilands 1995). Siderophores fall into one of three categories depending on their iron-binding motif: the catecholates (or phenolates) such as the P. aeruginosa pyochelin, hydroxymates (or carboxylates) such as the staphyloferrin of staphylococcal species, and the mixed moieties (Miethke & Marahiel 2007). Although biosynthesis of siderophores varies between species, many of the species of biomedical concern such as the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa utilize non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), which do not use an RNA template for biosynthesis (Lamont et al. 2006). Once synthesized, siderophores are exported into the extracellular environment through one of three different types of protein families: the major facilitator superfamily; the resistance, nodulation, and cell division (RND) superfamily; and the ABC transporter superfamily. An example of the RND exporter family includes the P. aeruginosa MexA-MexB-OprM complex. Staphylococcus aureus utilizes an ABC transporter for exportation of siderophores (Poole et al. 1993; Vettoretti et al. 2009; Grigg et al. 2010; Beasley et al. 2011). Once secreted, siderophores, such as pyoverdine from P. aeruginosa, are examples of molecules with extracytoplasmic functions in that activation of the biosynthesis and export of siderophores is dependent on the detection of iron in the environment by the secreted siderophores. Thus a feedback mechanism regulates the energy input of the bacteria into scavenging iron based on environmental iron availability (Redly &Poole 2005). Iron scavenging is also important to virulence in the chronic wound, particularly for opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa. For example, siderophore mutants of P. aeruginosa form thin poorly attached biofilms (Banin et al. 2005). Additionally, activation of the pyoverdine expression and biosynthesis pathway is linked to expression of other virulence factors such as exotoxin A and the endoprotease Prpl (Wilderman et al. 2001). By understanding how wound-populating microorganisms such as P. aeruginosa acquire iron from the environment, the mechanism by which iron-chelation by lactoferrin affects the viability of bacterial biofilms begins to emerge.

While anti-biofilm efficacy has been demonstrated for lactoferrin and its derivatives, the mechanism of action remains an area of active research (Singh et al. 2002; Ammons et al. 2009). The most obvious mechanism of lactoferrin action is that by binding and sequestering the iron in the environment, lactoferrin deprives the biofilm of this essential nutrient, thus limits the capacity of the biofilm to survive. However, some evidence suggests that lactoferrin interaction with the biofilm may be more complex, especially considering that bacterial siderophores can strip iron from lactoferrin (Xiao & Kisaalita 1997). While iron chelation clearly plays an important role, in vitro analysis with iron saturated lactoferrin does not completely abrogate the anti-biofilm capacity of the native molecule, suggesting that other mechanisms might be at work. Interestingly, iron saturation of lactoferrin significantly decreases the efficacy of the bacteriocidal effect of lactferrin on planktonically grown bacteria in comparison to biofilm grown bacteria, thus indicating that the alternative modes of action of lactoferrin and its derivative may be better suited for treatment of the biofilm mode of growth (Ammons et al. 2011).

Essential characteristics of the biofilm phenotype include altered metabolic states and phenotypic heterogeneity. Therefore, it is also of interest to consider how lactoferrin may affect the survivability of biofilms through changes in the central metabolism of bacteria. Stoichiometric systems biology modeling utilizing the elementary flux mode analysis of E. coli identified >10 million mathematically unique biochemical pathways when only a single substrate was considered, indicating the vast complexity of the central metabolism of even these simple organisms (Carlson 2007, 2009). The systems based approach assesses ecologically competitive trade-offs between nutrient investment into a metabolic pathway and the efficiency of energy extraction from that investment. For example, in E. coli metabolic adaptations can be utilized to minimize the requirement for anabolic resources such as iron. However, this is at the risk of low substrate yields (Carlson & Taffs 2010). Biofilms contain significant heterogeneity in nutrient resources including factors that contribute to metabolic adaptation to microniches of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism (Stewart & Franklin 2008). This variability in metabolic investment has the potential to alter bacterial virulence and the ability to form robust biofilms (Bowden & Li 1997). Indeed, oxygen concentration can be directly related to expression of virulence factors (Fuchs et al. 2007). A comprehensive and mathematically robust analysis of how changes in iron availability in the context of the biofilm mode of growth mediate adaptations in the central metabolism of opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa and S. aureus will provide significant insight into how metabolism and virulence are correlated in the chronic wound environment, including how nutrient scavenging by iron-chelating lactoferrin contributes to these adaptations.

Finally, lactoferrin and its antimicrobial peptide derivatives have been shown to enhance the efficacy of clinically relevant agents. Within the current set of antimicrobial tools, none have been completely unaffected by the development of antibiotic resistance. Indeed, 50-60% of hospital-acquired infections are likely the result of microbes that have developed antibiotic resistance, demanding the development of synergistic tools which are not vulnerable to the development of resistance (Jones 2001). Lactoferrin has successfully been utilized in combination with antibacterials for treating mammary gland infections originating from antibiotic resistant pathogens (Lacasse et al. 2008) and infections with E. coli (Sanchez & Watts 1999; Chen et al. 2004). Clinically, lactoferrin and peptide derivatives have been successfully used in combination with antibiotic resistant Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis C infections (Kaito et al. 2007; Zullo et al. 2007). In addition, lactoferrin and its peptide derivatives have been used in combination with antifungal agents against clinically relevant Candida species in vitro (Wakabayashi et al. 1996; Lupetti et al. 2003; Naidu et al. 2004; Venkatesh & Rong 2008; Harris & Coote 2010). Lactoferrin has been shown to be synergistically efficacious both in vitro and in vivo in combination with another bioinspired, anti-biofilm therapy, xylitol (Ammons et al. 2009; Ammons, Ward, Dowd et al. 2011; Ammons,Ward, James 2011). A rare sugar alcohol, xylitol is taken up by bacteria, but cannot be metabolized (Granstrom et al. 2007). In vitro analysis of combined treatment with xylitol/lactoferrin of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa suggested that xylitol and lactoferrin act synergistically against P. aeruginosa grown as a biofilm. While lactoferrin destabilizes the membrane, allowing xylitol to cross the bacterial membrane more effectively, xylitol inhibits the expression of the pyochelin pathway, which, as described above, directly competes with lactoferrin for bioavailable iron (Ammons et al. 2011). Furthermore, in vitro challenge of P. aeruginosa biofilm with a hydrogel formulated with lactoferrin and xylitol demonstrated significantly improved antimicrobial efficacy of commercially available silver wound dressings (Ammons et al. 2011). The efficacy of this multipronged approach to treating bacterial biofilm in vitro has further been shown to be effective in the clinic (Wolcott & Rhoads 2008). Such multi-targeted approaches are mostly likely to succeed at treating pathogenic biofilms, given the heterogeneous phenotypic character of such biofilms.

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