These pages on research articles are now reorganized into separate pages for each category. Doing this has been needed for some time, but it is with some trepidation we do this because in some diseases the research is very equivocal and incomplete.
While you may be on this site for MSi [1], CFSi [2] or FMSi [3], it is the pattern of ALL the research that provides the depth and impressive volume about CPn and how it causes chronic human disease that makes the picture clear. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is some new idea or that it has only a few studies just because it is relatively unknown in one field and the page on your specific disease includes only a couple of studies. This is as significant to human disease as understanding staphylococcus, only we are talking in this case about chlamydia pneumoniae.
Information about the germ applies and transfers from one field to the next: the important thing is to understand the pathogen and how it reacts in the body. Of interest you will find the material in the general, clamydia pneumoniae bacterial research, and the cardiac sections provide a very great depth. Read these sections in addition to the one related to your disease and you will be miles ahead. Of course I recommend reading all of this stuff it is interesting!
And hey we can add to this with so much room now so send along anything you think ought to go in....
Marie
General information [4]: read this section for general information on chlamydia pneumoniae
Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia [5]
Cardiovascular Issues and Chlamydia pneumoniae [8] Please do read THIS material even if you are here for something other than cardiovascular problems!
Arthritis and Chlamydia pneumoniae [9]
Respiratory Issues and Chlamydia including asthma [10]
CPn and other diseases [11] Lots of interesting stuff here! interstitial cystitis, protstate enlargement....check it out
Lab analysis of Chlamydia Pneumoniae [12] This is an important read for everyone
Antibiotic research in CPn [13] This section contains links and abstracts of research on how antibiotcs affect CPn in different stages as well as research on how the antibiotics recommended for CAPs penetrate various tissues.
Porhyria and CAPs [14]
Endotoxin Research [15] Of interest to the person in treatment
Chlamydia Pneumoniae Bacterial Research [16] Don't miss this section no matter what you are here for!
Supplements Research and monographs for Natural substances usd in the protocols [17]
Vitamin D [18] Vitamin d is now on its own page
Chlamydia Pneumoniae Miscellaneous related material [19]
Polymicrobial Aspects /Research [20] This section is for the curious and serious investigator and will be of less interest to those who just want to do the treatment. It has become clear that there are some important implications for the person infected with more than one pathogen and that this is common. The combination of one or more pathogens that live and "work" symbiotically may possibly be the key to how people can have something like MS.
CPn infection promotes transmigration of monocytes through human brain endothelial cells [21]
Chlamydophyla (chlamydia)pneumoniae in the AD brain [22] More work by Brian Balin. Once again we see very good evidence of CPn being a neural pathogen.
Chlamydia pneumoniae in the alzheimers brain [23] This work is on AD but the authors discovered CPn in the cells of the brain near the AD plaques. This should help establish CPn as a potentially neural pathogen
-Chlamydia pneumoniae in the Alzheimer's brain varies with APOE genotype [24] The APOE genotype apparently interacts with CPn in alzheimers patients carrying that genotype. This suggests an interesting theory: that a bacteria is not the same in every person in terms of effects but rather an interaction between genesi [25] and bugs results in the pathology an individual experiences. This is a whole new understanding of how we interact with our environment.
The Balin research related to CPn in Alzheimer's Disease [26] This list of research abstracts with links is an important study for anyone interested in CPn in the brain. Of note, this researcher like Dr Sriram also finds CPn in the brain consistently when others do not. This is likely due to the fact that both VU and Balin use frozen, not formalin fixed, tissue.
High prevalence of CPn antibodies in vascular dementia [27] While VD is not alzheimers it is another indication that CPn has an affinity for cerebral tissue and is related to loss of brain integrity
Int J Med Microbiol. 2008 Sep 29. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read
Initial characterization of Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae cultured from the late-onset Alzheimer brain.
Dreses-Werringloer U, Bhuiyan M, Zhao Y, Gérard HC, Whittum-Hudson JA, Hudson AP. Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Gordon H. Scott Hall, 540 East Canfield Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Previous studies from this laboratory provided evidence that the intracellulari [28] bacterial pathogen Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae is present in the late-onset Alzheimer's diseasei [29] (AD) brain. Here we report culture of the organism from two AD brain samples, each of which originated from a different geographic region of North America. Culturable organisms were detectable after one and two passages in HEp-2 cells for the two samples. Both isolates, designated Tor-1 and Phi-1, were demonstrated to be authentic C. pneumoniae using PCRi [30] assays targeting the C. pneumoniae-specific genesi [25] Cpn0695, Cpn1046, and tyrP. Assessment of inclusion morphology and quantitation of infectious yields in epithelial (HEp-2), astrocytic (U-87 MG), and microglial (CHME-5) cell lines demonstrated an active, rather than a persistent, growth phenotype for both isolates in all host cell types. Sequencing of the omp1 gene from each isolate, and directly from DNA prepared from several additional AD brain tissue samples PCR-positive for C. pneumoniae, revealed genetically diverse chlamydial populations. Both brain isolates carry several copies of the tyrP gene, a triple copy in Tor-1, and predominantly a triple copy in Phi-1 with a minor population component having a double copy. This observation indicated that the brain isolates are more closely related to respiratory than to vascular/atheroma strains of C. pneumoniae.
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CAPi [31]i [31] for Cpni [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33]i [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Doxycycline versus doxycycline and rifampin in undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, with special reference to chlamydia-induced arthritis a; 9 month study [34]A combinaiton protocol is effective here vs a monotherapy.
-Antibiotic treatment of arthritis [35] Osteoarthritis when treated with doxycycline has significantly reduced joint space narrowing 40% better than controls.
Persisitant CPn and Arthritis [36] Great paper overviews the concept of CPn and C. trachomatis as causitive agents in arthritis.
Sjogren's and CPn [37]
Find the article at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1005260 [38]
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery -Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Human beta-defensin 2 is an antimicrobial peptide that is produced by several epithelial cells after stimulation with micro-organisms and inflammatory mediators. Gram-negative bacteria, which are typically detected in periodontal pockets in periodontitis, elicit a stronger antibacterial peptide response of human beta-defensin 2 by epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated whether Chlamydia pneumoniae is able both to enter and grow in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), to modify the production of cytokinesi [50], and is involved in regulation of beta-defensin 2 expression. Gingival fibroblasts discarded from periodontal procedures on healthy young individuals were infected with viable C. pneumoniae or with heat- or ultraviolet-inactivated organisms at a multiplicity of infection of 4 inclusion-forming units per cell. Our results demonstrate that after 48 h of incubation with viable C. pneumoniae, gingival fibroblasts showed a proliferative response as seen by both colorimetric assay and direct cell count (40% and 45%, respectively). Moreover, cells incubated with viable or ultraviolet light-inactivated C. pneumoniae organisms showed an increase in the levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and human beta-defensin 2 in a time-dependent fashion, while the cells infected with heat-killed bacteria did not show a significant production either of the cytokines or beta-defensin 2 at any time. In conclusion, we demonstrate the correlation between multiplication of C. pneumoniae in human gingival fibroblasts and release of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and up-regulation of beta-defensin 2, suggesting that gingival fibroblasts may be a periodontium niche for obligate intracellulari [28] C. pneumoniae and may play a role in innate gingival immunei [51] system and inflammatory response mechanisms of periodontitis.
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden.
Osteoporosis is associated with a general bone loss. Whether infectionsi [39] could contribute to osteoporosis is not known. Chlamydia pneumoniae causes chronic infections and produces potentially bone resorptive cytokinesi [50]. The effect of C. pneumoniae infection was investigated in vivo in 10-week old mice (c57BL/6) and in vitro in the human osteoblast-like cell line hFOB 1.19 (hFOB). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured before and 16 days after infection. C. pneumoniae-infected mice had decreased (p<0.05) total and subcortical BMD at the distal femur and proximal tibia compared with controls, but no body-weight gain differences. IL-6 (56 vs. 39pg/mL, p=0.02) and IL-1beta (11 vs. 0pg/mL, p=0.003) levels in sera, and CD3(+) T-cells (p=0.04) were higher in infected mice compared with controls. In vitro, hFOB infected with C. pneumoniae was associated with increased IL-6 (p=0.01) and RANKL (p<0.05) mRNA expression; additionally, IL-6 secretion increased in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). In summary, mice infected with C. pneumoniae had generalized bone loss associated with increased IL-6 and IL-1. In addition, C. pneumoniae established an infection in an osteoblast cell line in vitro with similar cytokinei [42] profiles as those in vivo, supporting a causal linkage.
Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have shown Chlamydophila pneumoniae seropositivity to be related to overweight status and inversely related to insulin sensitivity. The present study was performed to investigate the potential effects of C. pneumoniae infection of adipocytes. METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells and primary epididymal preadipocytes were infected with C. pneumoniae either before or after induction of differentiation, and the effects on adipogenesis and insulin signaling were determined. Tumor necrosisi [71] factor (TNF)-alpha signaling was examined by assessing the effects of C. pneumoniae infection in preadipocytes isolated from epididymal adipose tissue of both wild-type and TNF-alpha(-/-) mice. RESULTS: C. pneumoniae successfully infected both undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells in vitro. The bacteria were also detected in adipose tissue of infected low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice. TNF-alpha protein levels were significantly increased in cells infected with either live or heat-killed C. pneumoniae or treated with lipopolysaccharidei [72] or heat-shock protein 65; this increase was associated with inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and down-regulation of insulin-stimulated tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor and its substrate. In contrast, C. pneumoniae infection in TNF-alpha(-/-) adipocytes produced no apparent changes, but addition of recombinant TNF-alpha reversed this effect. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate for the first time that C. pneumoniae can infect murine pre- and postdifferentiated adipocytes and, through a TNF-alpha-mediated inflammatory mechanism, can impair differentiation and insulin signaling.
This is a quite excellent review by Dr. Nicholson published in a mainstream peer reviewed scientific journal. He gathers together a considerable breadth of the research available on infectious sources of these diseasesi [73] while being even handed in acknowledging the lack of scientific concensus and negative findings. Dr. Nicholson has been a leading researcher in the infectious paradigm for a number of illness, especially CFIDSi [74] and Gulf War syndrome.
Chronic Bacterial and Viral Infections in Neurodegenerative and Neurobehavioral Diseases [75]
Garth L. Nicolson, PhD(Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA)
LABMEDICINE
This is the research that we have relating Chlamydia pneumoniae to CFSi [2] and Fibromyalgiai [3]:
-Cpn in Chronic Fatigue [76] -This work supports the above work in CFS and cryptic organisms. This time done by researchers in California.
-Infections and Fibromyalgia [77]- If you are using or prescribing this treatment, please read this paper. It overviews the idea of infectious causes for chronic illness and is excellent.
Burden of infection and insulin resistance in healthy middle aged men [78] This paper finds inflammation and infection related to blood glucose
Cpn in "wet" macular degeneration [79] This article in the lay press details new findings that CPn is responsible for the inflammation seen in AMD. The abstract of the actual research is HERE [80]
Behcets may be CPn related. [81] A disease traditionally thought to be autoimmune is found to have significant titers of CPn.
-Cpn in prostate pathology [82] This research found CPn in prostates with pathology. It even offers the theory that patholgy from hypertrophy to cancer represents different stages of infection.
-Chlamydia Pneumoniae in Interstitial Cystitis [83] Is IC a mystery disease or is it a bacteria? This paper outlines the results of research investigating this.
Interstitial cystitis and CPn [84] Link out to paper on this subject.
The General Information Page:
CPn Epidemiology [86] Epidemiology means the study of how often and where a germ crops up.
Early events in CPn infection of host cells [87] Short pubmed abstract.
Pharmacodynamics of Antichlamydials [88] This paper addresses the issues of various lifecycles and pharmacodynamics. It is very clear that various agents are needed to eradicate CPn. Link out. Whole citation.
Chlamydiae.com link [89] This site has tremendous technical information about CPn
Slides [90] for a powerpoint slide presentation by Charles Stratton on Cpn.
Chlamydia pneumoniae: crossing the barriers? [91] This long paper is included in totality. It addresses the issue of how CPn crosses epithelial barriers, causes inflammation and how it invades and parasitizes cells. A must read for the physician contemplating using this approach. Provides background.
Research by Charles Stratton and co-researchers [92] This is a simple list of the finished work, includes a link to a complete list. Much of this relates to MSi [1].
Cpn in chronic diseases [93] This is a link out to work that overviews the main issues in CPn in chronic illness. A must read for the serious investigator.
Preliminary report on Wheldon/Stratton case studies [94] This report outlines the theory and usefulness of metronidazolei [95] being added to the CPn protocol.
Persistent Chlamydial Envelope antigens [96] This paper describes finding that chlamydia trachomatis can continue to induce inflammation well after treatment. This indicates that persistence of inflammation may well be a feature of CPn infection.
Review: Bacterial host Interactions [97] This review of material relating to bacteria and how persistent infections may be supported by faulty mechanisms inside the idividual body is a must read. Somehwat technical, it's in depth look at the current research regarding this subject is essential for understanding that persistence is well recognized even if clarity about just exactly how it happens is just beginning.
Potential Role of Infections in Chronic Inflammatory Disease [98] This self explanatory title names a referenced opinion paper written by a medical researcher and professor. It is a PDF file.
Another recent interesting article on FIRi [99] Sauna, this time suggesting that it improves pulmonary hypertensioni [100] in patients with COPD:
Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Metabolic Medicine, Graduated School of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: Repeated Waon therapy, which uses a far infrared-ray dry sauna system, improved the vascular endothelial function and the cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with a poor prognosis. We investigated whether repeated Waon therapy improves PH, cardiac function, exercise tolerance, and the quality of life (QOL) in patients with COPD. METHODS: Consecutive 13 patients with COPD, who met the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria and had breathlessness despite receiving conventional treatments, were recruited for this study. They underwent Waon therapy at 60 degrees C in sauna for 15 min following 30 min warmth with blankets outside of the sauna room. This therapy was performed once a day, for 4 weeks. Cardiac function, exercise tolerance, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed before and 4 weeks after Waon therapy. RESULTS: Right ventricular positive dP/dt at rest elevated significantly from 397 +/- 266 to 512 +/- 320 mmHg/s (p = 0.024) after the therapy. While the PH at rest did not significantly decrease, the PH during exercise decreased significantly from 64 +/- 18 to 51 +/- 13 mmHg (p = 0.028) after Waon therapy. Furthermore, the therapy prolonged the mean exercise time of the constant load of cycle ergometer exercise test from 360 +/- 107 to 392 +/- 97 s (p = 0.032). The total scores of SGRQ improved from 59.7 +/- 16.9 to 55.3 +/- 17.2 (p = 0.002). In addition, no adverse effects were observed related to Waon therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated Waon therapy improved right ventricular positive dP/dt, PH during exercise, exercise tolerance and the QOL in patients with severe COPD.
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PCR analysis of CPN [103] This technical paper is a must for the professional and interested techies. How can it be some say it's there and other researcher say it's not? The answer is here.
-Results, and Clinical Performance of Five PCR Assays for Detecting Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells [104] A must read for the interested person interested in the technical details of finding these cryptic bacteria. You must understand this if the research that is done using other tests which find no relationship to CPn is to be properly understood.
Comparison of Five Serologic Tests for Diagnosis of Acute Infections by Chlamydia pneumoniae [105] Another page with 5 tests being compared this one from 2000. Full citation available.
MSi [1] is covered in this page. Please read more from the other research pages also as it is the whole picture that makes it compelling not just what is here....
A review of PCR in CPn infection by David Wheldon [106]There are many studies on MS using the PCR to look for CPn. this review by David Wheldon is insightful
Chlamydia Pneumoniae infection in Neuronal cells lines [107]
CPn respiratory infection associated with relapse in MS [108]
Annotation by Marie with links on nitric oxide CPn and MS [109]
Nitric Oxide and CPn: Multiple sclerosis link? [109]
CPn infection induces transmigration of monocytes through human brain epithelial cells [21] This work was undertaken to see if CPn might transmigrate because there is some work associating CPn with AD. Once you see that it can migrate across the BBBi [110] and that it can infet microglia and brain cells, is it such a leap to imagine it could cause MS?
Detection of chlamydial bodies and antigens in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis [111] The newest published research on CPn in MS released October 1 2005. This work used several methods for detection of CPn in these MS patients, proving this work to be very thorough and extremely convincing. Many others have "tried" to find CPn using one method such as PCR, but his work also reaffirmed the assertion that CPn was present with other approaches as well.
-Pilot study to examine the effect of antibiotics on MRI outcomes in RRMS [112] This is the most recent research to read if you are interested in MS and CPn. This study was small but it highlights interesting points about the reaction of the MS brain to antibiotic treatment.
The clinical response to minocycline in multiple sclerosis is accompanied by beneficial immune changes: a pilot study. [113] This study was looking at minocin as an imunomodulatory agent but the positve responses in terms of gad enhancing lesions and relapses makes a person consider that there is likely more than one reason to do CAPs.
-Assoc. of Chlamydia pneumonie with nervous sytem disease [114] This paper is a must read if you have MS.
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of microglial cells [115] Very important paper. Please read.
CSF molecular demonstration of CPn DNA is associated with cinical and brain magnetic resonance in RRMS [116] This paper from 2004 shows that several neurolgoical diseases are associated with evidence of CPn in the brain, but also indicates that active disease of MS has a higher association. Importantly taken with Balin's work on AD we are beginning to see a neurological pathogen that possibly causes several kinds of brain pathologies. Since we know other germs like staph has the same kind of differing presentations, is that really so odd?
Epidemiologic Evidence for MS as an infection- J F Kurtzke [117] Classic important paper. Kurtzke is clear that an infectious agent is to blame for MS. This in depth report includes an immene amount of data on the Faroese.
Section of Infectious Diseasesi [73], Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. cnc@unife.it [125]
Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA and mRNA transcripts were investigated by PCRi [30] and RT-PCR in fresh CSF and PBMC specimens co-cultured in Hep-2 cell lines and collected from 14 patients with definite RR MSi [1] and 19 patients with other inflammatory (OIND) and non-inflammatory (NIND) neurological controls. A positivity for C. pneumoniae DNA and mRNA was detected in CSF and PBMCs of 9 RR MS patients (64.2%) with evidence of disease activity, whereas only 3 controls were positive for Chlamydial DNA. These preliminary findings suggest that C. pneumoniae may occur in a persistent and metabolically active state at both peripheral and intrathecali [126] levels in MS, but not in OIND and NIND.
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CAPi [31]i [31] for Cpni [32]i [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Section of Infectious Diseasesi [73], Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. cnc@unife.it [125]
The presence of Chlamydia-like organism DNA was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCRi [30]) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 27 patients previously found positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA: 12 with multiple sclerosis (MS), grouped according to clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity, 8 with other inflammatory neurological disorders and 7 with non-inflammatory neurological disorders. PCR evidence of Chlamydia-like organisms in CSF was observed only in two relapsing-remitting MS patients with clinical and MRI disease activity. These findings suggest a possible association between C. pneumoniae and Chlamydia-like organism brain infectionsi [39] as a cofactor in MS development.
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CAPi [31]i [31] for Cpni [32]i [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Asthma and Infections, [130]
Seroprevalence of CPn infections in otolaryngeal infections [131]
Mechanisms of chlamydiophilia mediated GM-CSF release in HUman Bronchial cells [132]How does CPn tirgger inflammatoin in lung tissue? this attempts to pinpoint the answer
Serum IgG and IgA antibodies to CPn in Emphysema [133]This article indicates that serology is positive in emphysema and that clinical course and worsening is tied to CPn status
Asthma and CPn [134]. Explains interaction of patient immune system with the CPn. Technical.
-Cpn in recurrent respiratory infections [135] This work with children with recurrent respiratory infections indicates that treating for cryptic bacteria improves outcomes. Treatment was prolonged due to the nature of cryptic, or "atypical" bacteria.
Chlamydia Pneumoniae and COPD [136] This reserach indicates that acute exacerbations of COPD re associated with CPn.
-Cpn in asthma [137] This research indicates that cryptic bacteria play a role in asthma. Outcomes were improved by adding abxi [138].
CPn and Cardiovascular Issues -
Statins and CPn [139]
Persistent CPn infection of cardiomyocytes associated with acute MI [140]
Atherothrobotic events and CPn [141] Long term study on CPn IgG and IgA findings in atherothrombosis
CPn and atherosclerosis [143] Article which is in depth and includes many interesting diagrams and pictures. An overview of the understanding of the role CPn plays in cardiovascular issues with many links in the work
Experimental Chlamydia pneumoniae infection model: effects of repeated inoculations and treatment [144] This article is about mice repeatedly infected with CPn and the impact on the cardiovascular system. luteolin in mentioned.
The role of endothelial dysfunction and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with ischemic stroke [145] Intimal thickness is a measure of atherosclerosis this research correlates it with CPn seropositivity
Cpn in heart disease [146] Think all this research is done by one or two people? Not at all. This link out highlights work done in Seattle on several cryptic organisms in CFSi [2].
Doxycycline use and incidence of CAD [147] This retrospective study of clients in a Greek cardiac practice reviewed use of doxy and later incidence of CAD. A reduction was seen.
The CDC on CPn [148] The centers for disease control recognizes CPn as an emerging issue in atherosclerosis and other diseases. Once again CPn is becoming more recognized in chronic illness traditionally thought "autoimmune"
The Influence of CPn on aortic stiffness in healthy young men [149]Is CRP a response to CPn in cardiovascular issues? C reactive protein and pulse wave velocity measurement of stiffness were both statistically higher in the IgA positive group for CPn.
Antibodies to 60-kilodalton heat shock protein and outer membrane CPn in people with CAD (coronary artery disease) [150] Again, if you have CAD you have antibodies to the various proteins of CPn.
Autoimmunity to human heat shock protein 60, CPn infection, and inflammation in predicting coronary artery risk [151]Autoimmunity plays a role in CPn infection
Antibody respose to Chlamydial heat shock protein strongly associated with cornoary artery disease [152] HSPi [153]'s are a contributing factor in CPn disease in study after study.
Serological evidence of CPn LPS antibodies in atherosclerosis of various vascular regions [154] There are several proteins associated with CPn tht are immunogenic.
Chronic CPn infection associated with serum lipid profile known to be a risk for CAD [155] CAD is coronary artery disease
Elevated antibody levels against Chlamydia pneumoniae, human HSP60 and mycobacterial HSP65 are independent risk factors in myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease. [156] How have we missed this for so long?
Synergistic effect of persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, autoimmunity, and inflammation on coronary risk. [157] Several factors at work accounting for the research into other risk factors.
Azithromycin for the secondary prevention of coronary events [160] Azithromycin alone, a bacteriostatic agent, is incapable of ridding the body of CPn. The EB'si [161] are not touched by this drug, the cryptic and peristant forms are encouraged, and it's bacteriostatic nature means the bacteria simply stop actively replicating and metabolizing until the coast is clear. You cannot create any meaningful research into this subject until you account for all lifecycle forms. We are essentially dealing with a form of resistance here. The conclusion of this study was that azith did not decrease coronary events.
Effect of prolonged treatment with azithromycin, clarithromycin, or levofloxacin on Chlamydia pneumoniae in a continuous-infection model [162] This paper finds that treatment with standard chlamydia effective antibiotics does not eradicate persistence. This highlights the need for combination and very long term treatment if one wishes to eradicate CPn.
Azithromycin therapy in patients with chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary heart disease: immediate and long-term [163] This one indicated a possibly positive outcome on fibrinolysis though again the azith did not impact CPn positivity. Taken with the abstract above we have a situation that is confusing to the clinician - until you understand the pathogen and it's lifecycle. Then these studies are clearly incomplete and therefore inconclusive.
The final report on the ROXIS study [164] This paper outlines the ROXIS study on roxithromycin use in patients who had experienced an acute non q wave coronary problem. The folow up reposts a positive effect. This links to the whole citation.
Effect of Treatment for Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori on Markers of Inflammation and Cardiac Events in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes [165]
Another antibiotic study with positive results though serologic markers of CPn and H pylori were not affected by treatement. It might be suggested this means it was some other aspect of the abxi [138] that influenced the disease (ie antiinflammatory) but since persistent CPn is not reflected in serologic markers it is likely moot. The whole citation is linked here.
Heat-shock protein 60-reactive CD4+CD28null T cells in patients with acute coronary syndromes [166] We can certainly recognize how that crafty CD4+CD28 combo from MSi [1] shows up in this cardiac study and also in RAi [167], somehow researchers from different fields don't seem to recognize them yet as possibly caused by the same source CPn, not autoimmunity.
Fulminant carditis and CPn [168] This is a case of carditis that turned out to be CPn and CP together.
The charts alone make it crystal clear: lack of sun exposure, low D levels and a host of diseasesi [73] result. Critical for all of us living in northern climates, but especially true for people of African descent with dark skin. It's apparent from his presentation that even 2000 units a day is not enough for the elderly, African Americans, and those of us with illness. 4000 units a day is more like it.
http://wildhorse.insinc.com/directms13oct2005/ [187]
Just ran across this fairly easy to read recent review article on Vit D3 and thought others might be interested:
The Complex Role of Vitamin D in Autoimmune Diseases [188]
It's well worth a read...
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Gotta love this one.
[Note: the full text of this open-access article, outlining evidence that sun/vitamin Di [189] status could have "profound implications for the prevention of influenza" is available free at http://www.virologyj.com/content/5/1/29 [190] ]
The epidemiology of influenza swarms with incongruities, incongruities exhaustively detailed by the late British epidemiologist, Edgar Hope-Simpson [191]. He was the first to propose a parsimonious theory explaining why influenza is, as Gregg said, "seemingly unmindful of traditional infectious disease behavioral patterns."
Recent discoveries indicate vitamin D upregulates the endogenous antibioticsi [138] of innate immunity and suggest that the incongruities explored by Hope-Simpson may be secondary to the epidemiology of vitamin D deficiency. We identify – and attempt to explain – nine influenza conundrums:
1. Why is influenza both seasonal and ubiquitous and where is the virus between epidemics?
2. Why are the epidemics so explosive?
3. Why do they end so abruptly?
4. What explains the frequent coincidental timing of epidemics in countries of similar latitude?
5. Why is the serial interval obscure?
6. Why is the secondary attack rate so low?
7. Why did epidemics in previous ages spread so rapidly, despite the lack of modern transport?
8. Why does experimental inoculation of seronegative humans fail to cause illness in all the volunteers?
9. Why has influenza mortality of the aged not declined as their vaccination rates increased?
We review recent discoveries about vitamin D's effects on innate immunity, human studies attempting sick-to-well transmission, naturalistic reports of human transmission, studies of serial interval, secondary attack rates, and relevant animal studies.
We hypothesize that two factors explain the nine conundrums:
• Vitamin D's seasonal and population effects on innate immunity,
•And the presence of a subpopulation of "good infectors."
If true, our revision of Edgar Hope-Simpson's theory has profound implications for the prevention of influenza.
Source: Virology Journal, Feb 2008, 5:29; DOI:10.1186/1743-422X-5-29 by Cannell JJ, Zasloff M, Garland CF, Scragg R, Giovannucci E. Department of Psychiatry, Atascadero State Hospital, California; Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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CAPi [31]i [31] for Cpni [32]i [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33]i [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Most prescription D is D2 rather than the more effective D3. This article has an excellent review of the state of the science and why D3 is preferred for supplementation.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/4/694 [192]
A lot of people coming to the site here have questions about the Marshall Protocol and the Cpni [32] CAPi [31], where we recommend Vitamin Di [189] supplementation in contrast to MPi [193]. The most detailed analysis of the MP in relation to what is known in the scientific literature about Vitamin D occurs in this link:
http://stuff.mit.edu/people/london/universe.htm [194]
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Since so many on the site are dealing with thyroid issues, I thought I'd pass this along...
First, here's a little news blurb on the study:
Modern Medicine: Vitamin D Directly Affects Thyroid Function in Mice [196]
Below is the full study article. While the article focuses on Graves' hyperthyroidism, the discussion and conclusion sections list some interesting findings of recent research on Vitamin D3's importance for proper thyroid function in general. It's well worth a read:
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Posting this one as a whole, seems "fair use" for an informational web site, because it includes a useful discussion of the limitations of the methodology of the study not found in the abstract. Still, it behooves those of us with pain to consider Vitamin Di [189] levels as at least a variable that either modulates pain itself or contributes to other factors, like infection, that generate pain and inflammationi [60].
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Chronic Pain in Women
Medscape Medical News 2008. © 2008 Medscape
August 18, 2008 — Women with low vitamin D levels have more chronic widespread pain, a new study has found. The modest findings do not support the use of vitamin D status as a key determinant for chronic pain, researchers suggest, but they do raise interesting questions about the possible influence of endocrine or immunological factors. The work is published online August 12 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseasesi [73].
Chronic widespread pain is thought to be a multifactorial condition. To date, the focus has been on psychosocial influences, note the study investigators, led by Kate Atherton, MD, from the University College London Institute of Child Health, in the United Kingdom. Although associations between chronic pain and general psychological distress, depression, somatization, and other factors have been consistently reported, translating these observations into management strategies has been fairly unsuccessful, they note.
Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested as a new modifiable risk factor for chronic pain. Vitamin D is a hormone precursor, which is obtained either through diet or skin synthesis. Using a nationwide population sample of white British adults, the researchers wanted to examine the link between vitamin D and chronic pain.
Women With Vitamin D Levels of 75 to 99 nmol/L Had Less Pain
"To our knowledge, this study is the largest population-based examination of the association between vitamin D status and chronic widespread pain to date," write the researchers. The work is also the first to consider related variations in lifestyle factors or to focus on white ethnic groups, they add.
The study included more than 9300 participants in England, Scotland, or Wales born during 1 week in March in 1958 who had completed a biomedical assessment at age 45 years. Of these, 6824 participants had data on 25-hydroxyvitamin D and pain.
Investigators found that chronic pain levels varied by 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in women, but not in men. "In our study, the lowest prevalence of chronic widespread pain was observed for women with 25-hydroxyvitamin D 75 to 99 nmol/L," Dr. Atherton and her team report. "This is intriguing given that 25-hydroxyvitamin D 75 nmol/L has been previously suggested as the cutoff point for optimal bone health."
Prevalence of Chronic Pain in Relation to Vitamin D Concentrations in Women
| 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (nmol/L) | Women with Chronic Pain (%) |
| < 25 | 14.4 |
| 25 – 49 | 14.8 |
| 50 – 74 | 11.6 |
| 75 – 99 | 8.2 |
| > 100 | 9.8 |
The investigators report there was an interaction between vitamin D concentration and sex in relation to chronic pain (interaction P = .006), which was not fully explained by differences in lifestyle or social factors (adjusted interaction P = .03).
The researchers point to a number of limitations of the work. They note the vitamin D status of participants was obtained during the study and may not represent the patient's status during the time that chronic pain developed, which may have been years earlier.
They also suggest that given the cross-sectional design of the study, it is not possible to establish whether suboptimal vitamin D status results in an increased risk for pain or whether changes in the behavior of subjects with pain result in reduced vitamin D concentrations.
"The lack of a stronger association between vitamin D and chronic pain in our general population sample may suggest that pain is primarily indicative of a severe vitamin D deficiency rather than a more gradual response to varying concentrations," the researchers write.
Dr. Atherton and her team report that it is unclear why an association between vitamin D and pain was observed in women but not in men. They suggest that since the women in the cohort are still mostly premenopausal, perhaps the influences of hormonal vitamin D on the regulation of estrogen activity may at least partly contribute to this sex difference.
"Nevertheless," they add, "given the observational nature of these data, we cannot exclude the possibility that our finding of an association between vitamin D status and chronic pain in women (or the lack of any association in men) is confounded by unmeasured factors.
"Follow-up studies are needed to evaluate whether higher vitamin D intake might have beneficial effects on [chronic widespread pain] risk," they conclude.
The researchers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Ann Rheum Dis. Published online August 12, 2008. Abstract [198]
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CAPi [31] for Cpni [32]i [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33]i [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Following are some new Vitamin Di [189] abstracts by Holick. With 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D involved in regulating more than 200 genesi [25], you would think it might not be such a good idea to formulate treatment around Vitamin D starvation...
Jim
Mol Aspects Med. 2008 Sep 2. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links
The vitamin D deficiency pandemic and consequences for nonskeletal health: Mechanisms of action.
Holick MF.
Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States.
Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is important for childhood bone health. Over the past two decades, it is now recognized that vitamin D not only is important for calcium metabolism and maintenance of bone health throughout life, but also plays an important role in reducing risk of many chronic diseasesi [73] including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, deadly cancers, heart diseasei [199] and infectious diseases. How vitamin D is able to play such an important role in health is based on observation that all tissues and cells in the body have a vitamin D receptor, and, thus, respond to its active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. However, this did not explain how living at higher latitudes and being at risk of vitamin D deficiency increased risk of these deadly diseases since it was also known that the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are normal or even elevated when a person is vitamin D insufficient. Moreover, increased intake of vitamin D or exposure to more sunlight will not induce the kidneys to produce more 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. The revelation that the colon, breast, prostatei [200], macrophages and skin among other organs have the enzymatic machinery to produce 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D provides further insight as to how vitamin D plays such an essential role for overall health and well being. This review will put into perspective many of the new biologic actions of vitamin D and on how 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is able to regulate directly or indirectly more than 200 different genes that are responsible for a wide variety of biologic processes.Curr Diab Rep. 2008 Oct;8(5):393-8.Links
Diabetes and the vitamin d connection.
Holick MF.
Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, M-1013, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mfholick@bu.edu [201]
Vitamin D deficiency, which is common in children and adults, causes rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Most organs and immunei [51] cells have a vitamin D receptor, and some also have the capacity to metabolize 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D is a potent immunomodulator that also enhances the production and secretion of several hormones, including insulin. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of type 1 diabetes. Glycemic control and insulin resistance are improved when vitamin D deficiency is corrected and calcium supplementation is adequate. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (measure of vitamin D status) of less than 20 ng/mL is vitamin D deficiency and 21 to 29 ng/mL is insufficiency. Children and adults need at least 1000 IU of vitamin D per day to prevent deficiency when there is inadequate sun exposure.
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CAPi [31] for Cpni [32]i [32] 11/04. Dx: 25yrs CFSi [2]i [2] & FMSi [3]i [3]. Currently: 150mg BID Roxithromycin, Doxycycline 100mg BID, Tinii [33]i [33] 1000mg/day pulses; Vit D2000 units, T4 & T3
Reports describing Vitamin D3's benefits by Oliver Gillie, a freelance medical researcher and writer, are available online.
Here's the latest. Note the recommendations by Drs Vieth, Holick, Holis, etc on pages III and IV. It's a very interesting article, and one well worth the 30 minutes it takes to skim:
Scotland's Health Deficit: An explanation and a plan [202]
His older books can be viewed from here:
The Health Research Forum: Reports [203]
About the Author:
Oliver Gillie is a freelance medical researcher and writer. Formerly he was medical correspondent of The Sunday Times, then medical editor and later special correspondent of The Independent newspaper. He has a BSc and PhD degrees from Edinburgh University where he studied geneticsi [25] and developmental biology under Professor C.H. Waddington at the Institute of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh. He also undertook research at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, under Sir Peter Medawar.
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The tolerability and biochemical effects of high-dose bolus vitamin D2 and D3 supplementation in patients with vitamin D insufficiency.
Leventis P, Kiely PD.
Department of Rheumatology, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Objectives: To investigate the practicality and tolerability of high-dose intramuscular (i.m.) vitamin D2 or oral vitamin D3 replacement in vitamin D-insufficient patients, and to evaluate the biochemical efficacy of each formulation.
Methods: Sixty-nine patients with vitamin D insufficiency [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <40 nmol/L] were recruited from the Rheumatology Outpatient Department of St George's Hospital, London.
In study 1, 50 patients received 300 000 IU i.m. vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).
In study 2, 19 patients received 300 000 IU oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) under observation.
Biochemical response was measured at baseline, and at 12 and 24 weeks. Results: Bolus i.m. vitamin D2 or oral vitamin D3 was well tolerated.
The change from baseline in serum 25(OH)D was significantly greater at 6 and 12 weeks in study 2 (p<0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively).
In study 1, a modest increase in mean serum 25(OH)D at 6, 12, and 24 weeks was observed but no patients achieved a serum 25(OH)D concentration >/=50 nmol/L. PTH remained elevated in 42% of patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism at 12 weeks.
In study 2, 100% and 89% of patients had serum 25(OH)D>50 nmol/L at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively.
All patients with elevated baseline PTH were fully suppressed at 12 weeks. No cases of hypercalcaemia were observed in either group.
Conclusion: The 300 000-IU bolus of vitamin D2 or D3 was practical, well tolerated, and safe.
Vitamin D3 had greater potency than equimolar vitamin D2, with a higher, sustained serum 25(OH)D response and efficacious PTH suppression.
To adequately treat vitamin D insufficiency we would recommend administering 300 000 IU oral vitamin D3 approximately three times per year.
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