Chronic diseases can stem from infectious agents

Evidence now confirms that noncommunicable chronic diseases can stem from infectious agents. Furthermore, at least 13 of 39 recently described infectious agents induce chronic syndromes.

Identifying the relationships can affect health across populations, creating opportunities to reduce the impact of chronic disease by preventing or treating infection. As the concept is progressively accepted, advances in laboratory technology and epidemiology facilitate the detection of noncultivable, novel, and even recognized microbial origins. 

A spectrum of diverse pathogens and chronic syndromes emerges, with a range of pathways from exposure to chronic illness or disability. Complex systems of changing human behavioral traits superimposed on human, microbial, and environmental factors often determine risk for exposure and chronic outcome. Yet the strength of causal evidence varies widely, and detecting a microbe does not prove causality.

Nevertheless, infectious agents likely determine more cancers, immune-mediated syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other chronic conditions than currently appreciated.

full paper
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291059/

Potential Pathogens cause of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a commonly misunderstood, sometimes misdiagnosed rheumatic disease. The main symptoms are achiness, pain (more in the muscles than in the joints), stiffness, fatigue, accompanied by headaches, depression, sleep disorders, Raynaud's and irritable bowel syndrome. The sites of pain are located in specific areas called tender or trigger points.

The painful tender points are located where the ligament attaches the muscle to the bone. There are 18 tender point locations. Sensitivity at 11 points defines a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. FM is not life threatening nor does it cause physical deformities. Many lab tests are within normal range. In fact, most patients look extremely well and fit, making it difficult to account for the degree of clinical suffering they are experiencing, yet 10-30% of fibromyalgia patients are disabled to some degree because of their disease symptoms.
It is 9 times more common among women than men, usually between the ages of 40 and 60, is more common in Caucasians than other races, and is the second or third most common disorder treated by rheumatologists.

Potential Pathogens
As is the case of most forms of "arthritis," no known cause has been established, but a number of possibilities are mentioned in the medical literature. Like many forms of arthritis, the cause of FM is probably not limited to one single factor.

1.      55% of patients identify a "flu-like" or viral type illness,

2.      33% physical trauma/injury and

3.      14% emotional stress as a precursor to the onset of symptoms. 

The connection of FM to infections is well documented in the literature, especially in relation to Lyme disease, mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumoniae., Hepatitis C, Parvovirus B19, HIV, and Epstein-Barr.

Source: www.cpnhelp.org

Association of Active HHV-6, -7 and Parvovirus B19 in ME/CFS

http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/av/2012/205085.pdf

Adv Virol. 2012;2012:205085. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Association of Active Human Herpesvirus-6, -7 and Parvovirus B19
> Infection with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Myalgic
> Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
>
> Chapenko S, Krumina A, Logina I, Rasa S, Chistjakovs M, Sultanova A,
> Viksna L, Murovska M.
> August Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Riga
> Stradins University, Ratsupites Street 5, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
>
> Abstract
>
> Frequency of active human herpesvirus-6, -7 (HHV-6, HHV-7) and
> parvovirus B19 (B19) infection/coinfection and its association with
> clinical course of ME/CFS was evaluated.
>
> 108 ME/CFS patients and 90 practically healthy persons were enrolled
> in the study.
>
> Viral genomic sequences were detected by PCR, virus-specific
> antibodies and cytokine levels-by ELISA, HHV-6 variants-by restriction
> analysis. Active viral infection including concurrent infection was
> found in 64.8% (70/108) of patients and in 13.3% (12/90) of
> practically healthy persons.
>
> Increase in peripheral blood leukocyte DNA HHV-6 load as well as in
> proinflammatory cytokines' levels was detected in patients during
> active viral infection.
>
> Definite relationship was observed between active betaherpesvirus
> infection and subfebrility, lymphadenopathy and malaise after
> exertion, and between active B19 infection and multijoint pain.
> Neuropsychological disturbances were detected in all patients. The
> manifestation of symptoms was of more frequent occurrence in patients
> with concurrent infection.
>
> The high rate of active HHV-6, HHV-7 and B19 infection/coinfection
> with the simultaneous increase in plasma proinflammatory cytokines'
> level as well as the association between active viral infection and
> distinctive types of clinical symptoms shows necessity of simultaneous
> study of these viral infections for identification of possible subsets
> of ME/CFS.
>


>
> Full paper: http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/av/2012/205085.pdf

My question to dr Schwarzbach

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_programs/boston/speakers/bio_schwarzbach.php

Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
8:10-8:40am

Chlamydia Pneumoniae and Borrelia Burgdorferi as Intracellular and Cystic Bacteria: A Study About Symptoms, Laboratory Problems and Therapeutical Consequences

Dr. Armin Schwarzbach, MD, PhD is a specialist in laboratory medicine from the Borreliose Centrum Augsburg/ Germany. He began by studying biochemistry at Hoechst AG, Frankfurt/Germany where he worked as a medical assistant in internal medicine and infectiology. By 1993 he had started specializing in laboratory medicine. Dr. Schwarzbach is the Chair of the laboratory test, international and international membership committees of ILADS. His friends call him the German Lyme Fighter.
Company: Infectolab
Address: Morellstr. 33, Augsburg, Germany D-86399
Phone: 0049(0)8214550740
Website: www.infectolab.de

My question:

Could Lyme symptoms be mimicked by chlamydia pneumonia + chronic EBV + chronic CMV (and others) + low B12 + adrenal insufficiency + hypothyroid + low ATP + ANA antibodies + low VIP + monocytosis + partial immunoglobulines deficiency + MCS + mycoplasma + calcifications in joints + artritis like lesions?

 

Dr Schwarzbach:

Absolutely! I got the impression, that not Lyme is worldwide problem no 1, but Chlamydia and Mycoplasma pneumoniae and the symptoms are nearly the same according literature. Also EBV and all other problems you mention can overlap this situation and the symptoms.

For more information about the intracellular bacterial infection Chlamydia Pneumonia, please visit www.cpnhelp.org
Symptoms, diagnosis, related illnesses, protocols, forum, patient stories, ...

Chlamydia pneumonia is more than an energy parasite

http://www.cpnhelp.org/pdfs/Host:CellEnergyDepl.pdf

The pathogenesis of Systemic Chlamydial Infections: Theoretical Considerations of Host Cell Energy Depletion and its metabolic consequences

Chlamydiae are prokaryocytes that
develop in eukaryotic cells and utilize
part of the host cell metabolism.

...
Moreover,
electron microscopic studies have shown
that replicating chlamydiae are always
found in close proximity to mitochondria.
Therefore, it has been suggested
that chlamydiae behave in the reverse
manner of mitochondria in that mitochondria
import ADP from the host cell
cytoplasm and export ATP, while
chlamydiae import ATP and export ADT.
...
Depletion of host cell energy by the
intracellular infection with Chlamydia
species might cause additional energyrelated
complications. As fewer electrons
are available to move through the
electron transport chain of the host cell
mitochondrial matrix membrane, the
citric acid cycle produces more succinyl-
CoA which. in turn, promotes increased
synthesis of d-ALA. The net result is an
increased amount of heme precursors
and heme porphyrins. The presence of
porphyrins in the mitochondrial matrix
may damage the cell as these molecules
are unstable and form free radicals.
...
The clinical result of the intracellular
and extracellular accumulation of porphyrins,
if extensive, could be an tissue/
organ specific secondary porphyria
which might produce the classical manifestations
of porphyria including neuropsychiatric
symptoms and signs. As
the chlamydial-infected host cells lyse,
as can happen in the normal life cycle
of Chlamydia, the intracellular porphyrins
are released and result in porphyria

Source:
http://www.cpnhelp.org/pdfs/Host:CellEnergyDepl.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyria

Latent CMV impairs NK-cells after acute exercise

rain Behav Immun. 2012 Jan;26(1):177-86. Epub 2011 Sep 10.

NK-cells have an impaired response to acute exercise and a lower expression of the inhibitory receptors KLRG1 and CD158a in humans with latent cytomegalovirus infection.

Bigley AB, Lowder TW, Spielmann G, Rector JL, Pircher H, Woods JA, Simpson RJ.

Source

Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, 3855 Holman Street, Houston, TX 77204, USA.

Abstract

NK-cells and γδ T-cells are cytotoxic effectors of the immune system that are preferentially mobilized into the blood compartment in response to acute stress and exercise.
...
EBVpos had higher proportions of CD8+ NK-cells, but cellular responses to exercise were not influenced by EBV. The frequency and exercise-responsiveness of γδ T-cells was not affected by CMV or EBV serostatus (p>0.05). In conclusion, latent CMV infection is associated with lowered numbers of NK-cells expressing inhibitory receptors and a blunted mobilization of NK-cells in response to acute exercise. This may indicate a compromised immune response to "fight-or-flight" situations in those infected with CMV.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

pubmed/21933704

Sanitary cover up of bartonella?

What if bacterial infections were the cause of an epidemic of chronic illnesses but your government looked the other way?

Let's say bartonella was prevalent in 90% of beef cattle. Would you still feel comfortable eating it?
What if your cat could transmit bartonella by its flees or a scratch, would you still pet it?
What if your child could get if via head lice in school, would you believe it?
What if your endocarditis, muscle or joint paint was not due to getting old, but to a bacteria that is hard to find by a bloodtest, would you doubt about a negative result?
What if you knew antibiotics had a hard time against bartonella, would you find the courage to continue?

Read more:
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=660519&pageID=1&sk=&date=
Bartonellosis: An emerging and potentially hidden epidemic?

PCR detection of Bartonella bovis and Bartonella henselae in the blood of beef cattle.

Cherry NA, Maggi RG, Cannedy AL, Breitschwerdt EB.

Source

Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States.

Abstract

Although an organism primarily associated with non-clinical bacteremia in domestic cattle and wild ruminants, Bartonellabovis was recently defined as a cause of bovine endocarditis. The purpose of this study was to develop a B. bovis species-specific PCR assay that could be used to confirm the molecular prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection. Blood samples from 142 cattle were tested by conventional PCR targeting the Bartonella 16S-23S intergenic spacer (ITS) region. Overall,Bartonella DNA was detected in 82.4% (117/142) of the cattle using either Bartonella genus primers or B. bovis species-specific primers. Based upon size, 115 of the 117 Bartonella genus ITS PCR amplicons were consistent with B. bovis infection, which was confirmed by PCR using B. bovis species-specific primers and by sequencing three randomly selected, appropriately sized Bartonella genus PCR amplicons. By DNA sequencing, Bartonella henselae was confirmed as the two remaining amplicons, showing sequence similarity to B. henselae URBHLIE 9 (AF312496) and B. henselae Houston 1 (NC_005956), respectively. Following pre-enrichment blood culture of 12 samples in Bartonella alpha Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) B. henselae infection was found in another three cows. Four of the five cowsinfected with B. henselae were co-infected with B. bovis. To our knowledge this study describes the first detection of B. henselae in any large ruminant species in the world and supports the need for further investigation of prevalence and pathogenic potential of B. henselae and B. bovis in cattle.

https://sites.google.com/site/marylandlyme/pets/cows

Dr Stoff

Dr. Stoff  was a compassionate man who really seemed to understand what a CFS sufferer was going through. Here is a passage from his book that I thought was beautiful and still makes me cry. The journey inward is like a quest to the top of the mountain that rises above the chaos in your life and body. The trek is not by way of an escalator. It is a long, hard climb. The only way out of this mess is through it. Together we will walk the path, guided by signposts. The climb to the top, beyond illness, is worth the effort. When we have reached the summit you will have learned more about yourself and grown more than you ever dreamed was possible. There will be many hills and valleys along the way, and there may be times when you wonder, "Why bother?" Just remember this: when you are ascending the mountain you can look back down and know what was. But when you're deep in the valley you can't look up through the fog to see what will be. Trust.
When you cross a small valley along your trek, the memory of what you have already seen and learned will sustain you. If you stop along the way to really take in the signposts, then you are a special person indeed, for you are ready to put aside the fear of the unkown, of yourself, and really examine who and what you are. You are ready to love, accept, and appreciate yourself for who and what you are. You will learn to listen to yourself and to your body to fulfill its needs. When you reach the summit, you can pause and reflect on what you have learned and re-create yourself. the power to do so is yours. And with your new strength you can now bring greater love to your family and friends.
You will have gained a sense of maturity and perspective with which you can offer them a hand. THIS IS WHAT I WILL SEE WHEN I LOOK AT YOU ON THE MOUNTAINTOP: A PERSON WHO CAN LOVE, A PERSON WHO CAN LISTEN. AN AUTHENTIC HUMAN BEING. When you look back, there will be no regret and remorse over lost time and opportunities. Instead, you will see that the greatest opportunity of your life is the illness now before you. Give me your hand and let us begin our journey.

Dr. Stoff quit his practice and went into research only.

Gras maaien

Vandaag voor het eerst in twee maanden weer een goede dag gehad. Van de gelegenheid gebruik gemaakt om de moestuin onder handen te nemen. Dit jaar groeit er niets behalve metershoog onkruid. Om 12 uur nog even een paar uurtjes in bed gekropen maar tegen 15 uur zijn we erin gevlogen. Voor de gelegenheid mijn strakste sportoutfit van enkele jaren geleden aangetrokken. Felt great!

De grasmaaier kreeg ik niet aan de praat. Een paar keer aan de draad trekken met een stel pijnlijke armen is voldoende om de motor te doen verzuipen. De puberzoon wilde wel even helpen en vond het geronk van de nieuwe machine blijkbaar leuk genoeg om de grasmachine te bedienen. Onderweg hebben we nog een jonge pad van een bloederige dood gered. Met de hark in de hand heb ik wat instructies gegeven en de rest zo goed mogelijk bijeen geveegd. Cardio!

De moestuin is weer een lapje grond geworden. De wildernis is tegen de vlakte gegaan. De vlinders kunnen nog naar hartelust op het veld er vlak achter rondfladderen.

De jongste heeft nog wat zwarte bessen geplukt die als bij wonder tussen het onkruid groeiden. Vanavond lekker smullen!

Lyme tijdens zwangerschap

Deze avond bijna van mijn stoel gevallen van het verschieten bij het zien van onderstaande foto.
Dit zou een reactie op antibiotica na een tekenbeet bij een zwangere vrouw in haar zesde maand.
Toeval wil dat ik een gelijkaardige uitslag heb gehad in augustus 1995 en zeven maanden zwanger was.
De arts van dienst weet het aan oververhitting en warmte-uitslag wat me toen wel mogelijk leek omdat we pas naar de tropen waren verhuisd.

Mijn zoon is kort na de geboorte op intensive care beland met een macrocytose en sepsis door bacteriële besmetting. Ikzelf heb kort daarna drie maanden mijn bed niet kunnen verlaten voor een tot nu toe onbekende reden.

De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Lymepatienten bevestigt dat een besmetting kan doorgegeven worden via zwangerschap en dat babies o.a. milde sepsis, systemische ziekten en andere vervelende kwalen kunnen krijgen. Mijn aandacht is alvast gewekt.

Bronnen
http://www.dr-hopf-seidel.de/mediapool/87/874128/data/Vortrag_fuer_Europaem_7-12.pdf
http://server1.lymevereniging.nl/LJNL/NVLP_LJNL%202007_3.PDF

Nog andere interessante documenten ivm Lyme (en zwangerschap):
http://www.neurologie.nl/uploads/131/144/richtlijnen_-_niet-NVN_protocollen_CBO_lyme.pdf

Dit document vermeldt dat pas bevallen vrouwen lange tijd uitgeput zijn in de maanden na de bevalling als ze Lyme besmetting oplopen tijdens de zwangerschap.
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf