Re: Reuters Health article

[Guest guest]

Dear listmates:

In reference to the Reuters Health article of 2/19/01 posted to the

listserv on 2/26, I would make the following comments:

First, Dr. Caruso and colleagues findings were presented as case

studies in the journal, which is a second-line but reputable journal

in the field of child neurology. The fact that it is a case study

means that it did not go through the meticulous process of peer

review to establish the validity of their findings. This means that

either Dr. Caruso's group did not have enough data or did not feel

their findings had significant enough validity to withstand a peer

review by the editors of the journal.

Second, this is a presentation on FIVE patients only.

Third, if Dr. Caruso's premise, that EBV encephalitis is more common

than people are aware of is true, then the fact that all kids with

meningitis/encephalitis have spinal fluid routinely sent for viral

studies EXACTLY for this purpose should have triggered findings from

the CDC or similar organizations based on the virology lab results

years ago.

In summary, I take this case study for what it is - a presentation of

five cases of EBV encephalitis with the symptoms of these five kids.

I, for one, will not tap every child that comes into my office for

EBV, nor do I think any of my colleagues will.

The prudent thing to do is to wait for a large group study, which is

multicenter and prospective (that is, you tap several hundred normal

kids, and several hundred apraxic/aphasic kids without knowing what

will happen) to show the TRUE prevalance of EBV antigen in the CSF.

Larry Laveman, MD

Consultant, CHERAB Fdn.

[Guest guest]

Except for my elbows, most other sites of P have started with a wound. My

leg was a cat bite, my navel was laproscopic surgery. I don't know about my

scalp though--can't think of anything. My ears started with an infection.

It goes on and on. This article makes perfect sense to me.

Ks Di

[ ] Reuters Health Article

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> I don't post a lot, but this article came up today and shows some

> hope for our skin!

> Sandy

>

> Mice Study Opens Door to Psoriasis Treatment-Study

>

> Sun Dec 12, 1:01 PM ET Health - Reuters

>

>

> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers said on Sunday they may have

> discovered what causes psoriasis, a common and irritating skin

> ailment, and said their findings may open the way to an effective

> treatment.

>

> Health

> Have questions about your health?

> Find answers here.

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> They found that it takes a combination of a protein called STAT3 and

> an active immune system to cause psoriasis, which experts estimate

> affects as much as 2 percent of the population.

>

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> Their finding suggests that psoriasis may start with an over-

> enthusiastic attempt by the body to heal wounds.

>

>

> And the researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Cancer

> Center made a skin cream that blocked the process that leads to

> psoriasis in mice.

>