Mitochondrial function - my translocator test results

June 17, 2006

Hi,

A while back I posted that I have a very poor conversion of ADP to

ATP and part of that was thought to be caused by receptor site

blockage.

I've recently had the translocator test done which looks at the

mitochondrial membrane and translocator protein (TL)(TL is used to

transport ATP and ADP across the mitochondiral membrane - I think it

might be the site of ADP to ATP conversion too, but not 100% sure on

this). I've just got the results back.

I have high nickel and glutathione conjugates in mitochondria.

Pictures showed glutathione conjugates with nickel in the

mitochondria, that I have an odd appearance of the inside of the

mitochondrial membrane and also few cristae in the membrane (TL

sites are on the christae). I had a low normal magnesium and

potassium. Calcium at the outer mitochondrial membrane was a high

normal. Other mitochondrial results were normal (i.e. no organic

sulphates, peptide complexes, lactic acid, keto-acids,

organochlorides, PCBs, PBBs, dichlorobenzene, organophosphates,

DNA/RNA).

Serum liver derived glutathione-S-transferase was high - 53 (normal

range 12-46) and red cell glutathione-S-transferase 157 (range 68-

167). Glutathione levels were normal at 1.94 mmmol/l . Affinity

chromatography showed an enzyme band consistent with exposure to

toxic metals. Atomic emission analysis showed the presence of nickel

in the abnormal form of the enzyme. The high serum glutathione-S-

transferase was unusual as nickel is usually detoxified by red cells

and not the liver.

The results mean that I have nickel poisoning and that nickel will

be causing some energy problems. I've also got Lyme borreliosis,

and I've heard that heavy metal problems are common with lyme.

Cheers,

Carol

June 17, 2006

Hi, Carol.

Thanks very much for posting these results. I think that this is a

wonderful test, in that it can tell you specifically which toxin or

toxins you are dealing with.

Do you mean to say that the glutathione was found to be conjugated

with the nickel, or that both nickel and glutathione conjugated with

something unknown are present, or that the test is not able to tell

whether the glutathione is conjugated with the nickel, but that it

looks for both of them separately, and it found both of them?

I can tell you for sure that the site of the conversion of ADP to

ATP is not the translocator protein. The translocator protein

strictly moves the ADP in and the ATP out of the mitochondria. The

conversion is done by a separate enzyme, located on the inside of

the mitochondrial inner membrane, and it is called ATP synthase.

I gather that pictures were made of your mitochondria using an

electron microscope. That's great! And they also did emission

spectroscopy to nail down the nickel. That's also great.

So your glutathione level is normal. But the glutathione

transferase results are a little puzzling. I'm wondering if you

have SNPs in one or the other your glutathione transferases. I

don't think Dr. evaluates that, although his affinity

chromatography can probably identify irregularities in the structure

of the glutathione transferases. If you should happen to get a

Genovations Detoxi-Genomic profile, that would nail down whether or

not there are SNPs in the glutathione transferase enzymes.

I may have asked you this before, and if so, please forgive me (yes,

I get a little brain fog myself, probably from old age!), but do you

know how you might have been particularly exposed to nickel? I

recall your comments about sensitivity to your earrings, and jewelry

often does contain nickel, but would you have had much exposure from

jewelry? How about cooking utensils? Some stainless steels contain

nickel, such as the 300 series stainless steel alloys, which are

used for cooking utensils, I think, but their corrosion rates should

be pretty low. Did you live downwind of any mining or metal

refining works? Did you have any work-related exposure that you

know of?

I'm wondering whether you have had a particularly large exposure to

nickel, or whether there is a genetic issue in your detox system

that makes it less able to take out normal exposures to nickel.

Rich

>

> Hi,

>

> A while back I posted that I have a very poor conversion of ADP to

> ATP and part of that was thought to be caused by receptor site

> blockage.

>

> I've recently had the translocator test done which looks at the

> mitochondrial membrane and translocator protein (TL)(TL is used to

> transport ATP and ADP across the mitochondiral membrane - I think

it

> might be the site of ADP to ATP conversion too, but not 100% sure

on

> this). I've just got the results back.

>

> I have high nickel and glutathione conjugates in mitochondria.

>

> Pictures showed glutathione conjugates with nickel in the

> mitochondria, that I have an odd appearance of the inside of the

> mitochondrial membrane and also few cristae in the membrane (TL

> sites are on the christae). I had a low normal magnesium and

> potassium. Calcium at the outer mitochondrial membrane was a high

> normal. Other mitochondrial results were normal (i.e. no organic

> sulphates, peptide complexes, lactic acid, keto-acids,

> organochlorides, PCBs, PBBs, dichlorobenzene, organophosphates,

> DNA/RNA).

>

> Serum liver derived glutathione-S-transferase was high - 53 (normal

> range 12-46) and red cell glutathione-S-transferase 157 (range 68-

> 167). Glutathione levels were normal at 1.94 mmmol/l . Affinity

> chromatography showed an enzyme band consistent with exposure to

> toxic metals. Atomic emission analysis showed the presence of

nickel

> in the abnormal form of the enzyme. The high serum glutathione-S-

> transferase was unusual as nickel is usually detoxified by red

cells

> and not the liver.

>

> The results mean that I have nickel poisoning and that nickel will

> be causing some energy problems. I've also got Lyme borreliosis,

> and I've heard that heavy metal problems are common with lyme.

>

> Cheers,

> Carol

>

June 17, 2006

Hi Carol,

Thanks for sharing your test results. They are very interesting.

Now that you have this information, what kind of program will you

follow to improve your health?

carolwxyz99 wrote:

>A while back I posted that I have a very poor conversion of ADP to

> ATP and part of that was thought to be caused by receptor site

> blockage.

>

> I've recently had the translocator test done which looks at the

> mitochondrial membrane and translocator protein (TL)(TL is used to

> transport ATP and ADP across the mitochondiral membrane - I think

it might be the site of ADP to ATP conversion too, but not 100% sure

on this). I've just got the results back.

>

> I have high nickel and glutathione conjugates in mitochondria.

>

> Pictures showed glutathione conjugates with nickel in the

> mitochondria, that I have an odd appearance of the inside of the

> mitochondrial membrane and also few cristae in the membrane (TL

> sites are on the christae). I had a low normal magnesium and

> potassium. Calcium at the outer mitochondrial membrane was a high

> normal. Other mitochondrial results were normal (i.e. no organic

> sulphates, peptide complexes, lactic acid, keto-acids,

> organochlorides, PCBs, PBBs, dichlorobenzene, organophosphates,

> DNA/RNA).

>

> Serum liver derived glutathione-S-transferase was high - 53 (normal

> range 12-46) and red cell glutathione-S-transferase 157 (range 68-

> 167). Glutathione levels were normal at 1.94 mmmol/l . Affinity

> chromatography showed an enzyme band consistent with exposure to

> toxic metals. Atomic emission analysis showed the presence of

nickel in the abnormal form of the enzyme. The high serum

glutathione-S-transferase was unusual as nickel is usually

detoxified by red cells and not the liver.

>

> The results mean that I have nickel poisoning and that nickel will

> be causing some energy problems. I've also got Lyme borreliosis,

> and I've heard that heavy metal problems are common with lyme.

>

> Cheers,

> Carol

>

June 18, 2006

Hi ,

I will be continuing to do FIR saunas as Dr M has suggested for a

while and get my DNA adducts retested. I am already taking a few

things to help heavy metals as I have recently had my amalgams out,

but they are only very mild. I'm taking Humet R, platinum plus

(free form amino acids) and lipoceutical glutathione. I may need to

add in something to mop up more heavy metals but don't know what yet.

Cheers,

Carol

> >A while back I posted that I have a very poor conversion of ADP

to

> > ATP and part of that was thought to be caused by receptor site

> > blockage.

> >

> > I've recently had the translocator test done which looks at the

> > mitochondrial membrane and translocator protein (TL)(TL is used

to

> > transport ATP and ADP across the mitochondiral membrane - I

think

> it might be the site of ADP to ATP conversion too, but not 100%

sure

> on this). I've just got the results back.

> >

> > I have high nickel and glutathione conjugates in mitochondria.

> >

> > Pictures showed glutathione conjugates with nickel in the

> > mitochondria, that I have an odd appearance of the inside of the

> > mitochondrial membrane and also few cristae in the membrane (TL

> > sites are on the christae). I had a low normal magnesium and

> > potassium. Calcium at the outer mitochondrial membrane was a high

> > normal. Other mitochondrial results were normal (i.e. no organic

> > sulphates, peptide complexes, lactic acid, keto-acids,

> > organochlorides, PCBs, PBBs, dichlorobenzene, organophosphates,

> > DNA/RNA).

> >

> > Serum liver derived glutathione-S-transferase was high - 53

(normal

> > range 12-46) and red cell glutathione-S-transferase 157 (range

68-

> > 167). Glutathione levels were normal at 1.94 mmmol/l . Affinity

> > chromatography showed an enzyme band consistent with exposure to

> > toxic metals. Atomic emission analysis showed the presence of

> nickel in the abnormal form of the enzyme. The high serum

> glutathione-S-transferase was unusual as nickel is usually

> detoxified by red cells and not the liver.

> >

> > The results mean that I have nickel poisoning and that nickel

will

> > be causing some energy problems. I've also got Lyme

borreliosis,

> > and I've heard that heavy metal problems are common with lyme.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > Carol

> >

>

June 18, 2006

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the reply. Please can you tell me what SNPs are?

The test sheet showed glutathione and nickel separately. However,

the notes alongside the picture said " glutathione conjugates with

nickel " , and in the biochemist's notes at the bottom it said " there

are significant changes to the inner mitochondrial membrane AND

nickel-related glutathione conjugates are present IN the

mitochondria " .

The test used an " epifluorescence " microscope showing images several

orders of magnitude better than that of a conventional light

microscope.

I've no idea how I've ended up with som much nickel in me. Nothing

obvious. I started to get very sensitive to many of my earrings

soon after getting the classic symptoms of Lyme borreliosis in 1991,

when my ME/CFS started. I do use stainless steel saucepans and

often burn them, I wonder if they can release more nickel if burnt.

I'll start using glass saucepans I think. I would guess that it is

something about me that can't detox nickel properly. Another

potential source would be my amalgam fillings, however my dentist

told me that nickel has not been put in fillings for a long time and

he didn't think I could have any nickel in mine. I am going to

reclarify this with him as I had some very old fillings about 25

years old that were leaking recently (a splint I was wearing went

black in parts from leakage of the fillings). I've recently had my

amalgams removed.

I have also had thyroid problems, low TSH and lowish T4/T3 and

goitre - I believe heavy metals can suppress both TSH and T4/T3 at

the same time. I also have nickel DNA adducts. The biochemist

believes these may have been formed by an allergy to glutathione

conjugates to nickel - my system was kicking off the nickel from the

glutathione which was then attaching to DNA.

One very interesting thing - the biochemist studied my glutathione-S-

transferase in detail around 7 years ago. Affinity chromatography

of the serum liver derived enzyme showed evidence of tissue

breakdown (estrogenic tissue) and not nickel or heavy metals. The

red blood cell enzyme was normal - no nickel etc. This raises lots

of questions - have I been exposed to lots of nickel or not detoxing

it properly since 7 years ago? - or did I have lots of nickel a

while back but it was not being conjugated at the time of the test,

but for some reason it is being conjugated now? My health is

slightly better now than 7 years ago.

I have been doing FIR saunaing twice a week since January and so I

suppose I could be mobilising nickel. I had my amalgams removed

last autumn and have been taking platinum plus (free form amino

acids with a small bit of MSM), lipoceutical glutathione and Humet R

(minerals with humic and fulvic acid) so maybe these things are

boosting the gluathione transferase.

I'm trying to think of anything that could have given me nickel

poisoning during the last 7 years. I have changed stainless steel

pans and my amalgams started leaking. I had stopped wearing

jewellery many years ago but now wear a supposedly copper bracelet

with magnets in it. My diet has been similar - I removed junk foods

many years ago, but some supplements have changed.

Another interesting thing that has happened to me is that after I

started borrelia treatments (with herbs - including Samento) I

started getting more breast cysts and the fluid inside them was

black with a dark green

tinge). I had had breast cysts before but the fluid was a brown

colour. I am now not herxing as badly and can cope with much higher

doses of antiborrelial herbs (Samento plus chinese herbs), and the

fluid in the most recent cyst

2 or 3 months ago was not black but was brown again. I wrote to the

biochemist a while back and asked him what could cause the

black/green colour and he said bacterial infection or nickel were the

only things he knew of. I would guess it was the nickel as I

haven't heard of borrelia causing black fluid - which could indicate

that herxing from borrelia treatment was possibly affecting nickel

detox in some way. Nickel can be estrogenic, by the way, so could

easily end up in breast tissue.

Would you know if glutathione-S-transferase is used to detox

borrelia toxins? I was not herxing at the time of the translocator

test so not stressing the system so much. Do you know if there is a

link between heavy metal poisoning and Lyme? I know some LLMDs say

they find heavy metal poisoning quite often in Lymies.

If ADP is not converted to ATP on the TL protein, would you have any

idea how blockage of the " active TL site " could reduce ADP to ATP

conversion.

Cheers,

Carol

-- In , " rvankonynen "

<richvank@...> wrote:

>

> Hi, Carol.

>

> Thanks very much for posting these results. I think that this is

a

> wonderful test, in that it can tell you specifically which toxin

or

> toxins you are dealing with.

>

> Do you mean to say that the glutathione was found to be conjugated

> with the nickel, or that both nickel and glutathione conjugated

with

> something unknown are present, or that the test is not able to

tell

> whether the glutathione is conjugated with the nickel, but that it

> looks for both of them separately, and it found both of them?

>

> I can tell you for sure that the site of the conversion of ADP to

> ATP is not the translocator protein. The translocator protein

> strictly moves the ADP in and the ATP out of the mitochondria.

The

> conversion is done by a separate enzyme, located on the inside of

> the mitochondrial inner membrane, and it is called ATP synthase.

>

> I gather that pictures were made of your mitochondria using an

> electron microscope. That's great! And they also did emission

> spectroscopy to nail down the nickel. That's also great.

>

> So your glutathione level is normal. But the glutathione

> transferase results are a little puzzling. I'm wondering if you

> have SNPs in one or the other your glutathione transferases. I

> don't think Dr. evaluates that, although his affinity

> chromatography can probably identify irregularities in the

structure

> of the glutathione transferases. If you should happen to get a

> Genovations Detoxi-Genomic profile, that would nail down whether

or

> not there are SNPs in the glutathione transferase enzymes.

>

> I may have asked you this before, and if so, please forgive me

(yes,

> I get a little brain fog myself, probably from old age!), but do

you

> know how you might have been particularly exposed to nickel? I

> recall your comments about sensitivity to your earrings, and

jewelry

> often does contain nickel, but would you have had much exposure

from

> jewelry? How about cooking utensils? Some stainless steels

contain

> nickel, such as the 300 series stainless steel alloys, which are

> used for cooking utensils, I think, but their corrosion rates

should

> be pretty low. Did you live downwind of any mining or metal

> refining works? Did you have any work-related exposure that you

> know of?

>

> I'm wondering whether you have had a particularly large exposure

to

> nickel, or whether there is a genetic issue in your detox system

> that makes it less able to take out normal exposures to nickel.

>

> Rich

>

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > A while back I posted that I have a very poor conversion of ADP

to

> > ATP and part of that was thought to be caused by receptor site

> > blockage.

> >

> > I've recently had the translocator test done which looks at the

> > mitochondrial membrane and translocator protein (TL)(TL is used

to

> > transport ATP and ADP across the mitochondiral membrane - I

think

> it

> > might be the site of ADP to ATP conversion too, but not 100%

sure

> on

> > this). I've just got the results back.

> >

> > I have high nickel and glutathione conjugates in mitochondria.

> >

> > Pictures showed glutathione conjugates with nickel in the

> > mitochondria, that I have an odd appearance of the inside of the

> > mitochondrial membrane and also few cristae in the membrane (TL

> > sites are on the christae). I had a low normal magnesium and

> > potassium. Calcium at the outer mitochondrial membrane was a high

> > normal. Other mitochondrial results were normal (i.e. no organic

> > sulphates, peptide complexes, lactic acid, keto-acids,

> > organochlorides, PCBs, PBBs, dichlorobenzene, organophosphates,

> > DNA/RNA).

> >

> > Serum liver derived glutathione-S-transferase was high - 53

(normal

> > range 12-46) and red cell glutathione-S-transferase 157 (range

68-

> > 167). Glutathione levels were normal at 1.94 mmmol/l . Affinity

> > chromatography showed an enzyme band consistent with exposure to

> > toxic metals. Atomic emission analysis showed the presence of

> nickel

> > in the abnormal form of the enzyme. The high serum glutathione-S-

> > transferase was unusual as nickel is usually detoxified by red

> cells

> > and not the liver.

> >

> > The results mean that I have nickel poisoning and that nickel

will

> > be causing some energy problems. I've also got Lyme

borreliosis,

> > and I've heard that heavy metal problems are common with lyme.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > Carol

> >

>

June 18, 2006

Hi, Carol.

>

> Hi Rich,

>

> Thanks for the reply. Please can you tell me what SNPs are?

***SNP stands for " single nucleotide polymorphism. "

***The story goes like this: In the nucleus of each human cell

(except red blood cells and a small number of other types, which

don't have nuclei) there are DNA molecules that represent about

35,000 genes. Genes incorporate the code that tells the cell how to

make the various enzymes and other proteins it needs. The code for

one enzyme in the DNA is made up of a specific series of nucleotides

in a long chain (actually there are two complementary chains in the

double-helix structure of the DNA molecule, which have the same

information coded into each of them). There are four different

types of nucleotides, and the sequence in which they are present in

a the DNA molecule is what tells the cell what the sequence of amino

acids should be in the enzyme that is coded for.

***When we started with Adam and Eve, there were presumably no

mistakes in the coded sequence of nucleotides. (I realize that

everyone doesn't look at it that way, so if macroevolution is your

favorite theory, that's fine.) In any case, down through the years,

there have been mutations or changes that have occurred in the germ

line of humans. The germ line includes the sperm and ova cells that

eventually became new people down through the years. There are

several classes of changes, but one of the main classes is the SNPs,

in which only one nucleotide has been changed, which may change one

amino acid in the resulting enzyme, such as one of the glutathione

transferase enzymes. (I might mention that SNPs are being

interpreted a little more broadly than that, and can include things

like deletions of nucleotides altogether.) It is now estimated that

there are over 10 million possible SNPs in the entire human genome

of about 35,000 genes. We all have a bunch of them, inherited from

our ancestors. The only question is which ones we have. And of

course, the next question is " so what? " Lots of them don't have any

effect. Some are important enough to prevent a person from being

born alive in the first place. Others produce significant birth

defects, and some only show up if they are " provoked " by something

that goes on in a person's life, such as a toxin exposure or

exposure to some disease.

***The reason I brought up SNPs in connection with your glutathione

transferase enzymes is that there must be a reason why you developed

nickel toxicity. One possibility is that you had a big exposure.

Another possibility is that your detox system has genetic issues

that cause it to work less efficiently than normal. You've

established that you have enough glutathione. The next question is

whether your body can use it efficiently to take out toxins, such as

nickel. (Incidentally, I'm not sure whether glutathione conjugation

is the only route for detoxing nickel.) That may depend on whether

you have SNPs in your glutathione transferase enzymes that interfere

with their normal efficient operation. Just slowing them down some

might be enough to allow the nickel to build up.

>

> The test sheet showed glutathione and nickel separately. However,

> the notes alongside the picture said " glutathione conjugates with

> nickel " , and in the biochemist's notes at the bottom it

said " there

> are significant changes to the inner mitochondrial membrane AND

> nickel-related glutathione conjugates are present IN the

> mitochondria " .

***O.K., so they are hooked together.

>

> The test used an " epifluorescence " microscope showing images

several

> orders of magnitude better than that of a conventional light

> microscope.

***Oh, O.K. I was pretty sure an ordinary light microscope would

not be able to resolve the detail of the mitochondria.

>

> I've no idea how I've ended up with so much nickel in me. Nothing

> obvious. I started to get very sensitive to many of my earrings

> soon after getting the classic symptoms of Lyme borreliosis in

1991,

> when my ME/CFS started. I do use stainless steel saucepans and

> often burn them, I wonder if they can release more nickel if burnt.

***I think they would. That would speed up the corrosion quite a

bit. If some of the corrosion products became incorporated in your

food, that would give you a bigger exposure. Also to chromium and

iron, which are generally beneficial. I doubt if you would eat

burnt food, and no doubt you scrub the pans after they get burnt.

The next time you used them, though, they would probably release

some nickel and iron until the new chromium-oxide-rich protective

layer formed on the surface of the metal.

> I'll start using glass saucepans I think. I would guess that it is

> something about me that can't detox nickel properly.

***I'm suspecting that, too. Glass is pretty inert. At least it

doesn't contain nickel.

Another

> potential source would be my amalgam fillings, however my dentist

> told me that nickel has not been put in fillings for a long time

and

> he didn't think I could have any nickel in mine. I am going to

> reclarify this with him as I had some very old fillings about 25

> years old that were leaking recently (a splint I was wearing went

> black in parts from leakage of the fillings). I've recently had

my

> amalgams removed.

***The old fillings do seem like a possibility.

>

> I have also had thyroid problems, low TSH and lowish T4/T3 and

> goitre - I believe heavy metals can suppress both TSH and T4/T3 at

> the same time. I also have nickel DNA adducts. The biochemist

> believes these may have been formed by an allergy to glutathione

> conjugates to nickel - my system was kicking off the nickel from

the

> glutathione which was then attaching to DNA.

>

> One very interesting thing - the biochemist studied my glutathione-

S-

> transferase in detail around 7 years ago. Affinity chromatography

> of the serum liver derived enzyme showed evidence of tissue

> breakdown (estrogenic tissue) and not nickel or heavy metals. The

> red blood cell enzyme was normal - no nickel etc. This raises

lots

> of questions - have I been exposed to lots of nickel or not

detoxing

> it properly since 7 years ago? - or did I have lots of nickel a

> while back but it was not being conjugated at the time of the

test,

> but for some reason it is being conjugated now? My health is

> slightly better now than 7 years ago.

***I'm not sure what to make of this.

>

> I have been doing FIR saunaing twice a week since January and so I

> suppose I could be mobilising nickel. I had my amalgams removed

> last autumn and have been taking platinum plus (free form amino

> acids with a small bit of MSM), lipoceutical glutathione and Humet

R

> (minerals with humic and fulvic acid) so maybe these things are

> boosting the gluathione transferase.

***I don't know.

>

> I'm trying to think of anything that could have given me nickel

> poisoning during the last 7 years. I have changed stainless steel

> pans and my amalgams started leaking. I had stopped wearing

> jewellery many years ago but now wear a supposedly copper bracelet

> with magnets in it. My diet has been similar - I removed junk

foods

> many years ago, but some supplements have changed.

>

> Another interesting thing that has happened to me is that after I

> started borrelia treatments (with herbs - including Samento) I

> started getting more breast cysts and the fluid inside them was

> black with a dark green

> tinge). I had had breast cysts before but the fluid was a brown

> colour. I am now not herxing as badly and can cope with much higher

> doses of antiborrelial herbs (Samento plus chinese herbs), and the

> fluid in the most recent cyst

> 2 or 3 months ago was not black but was brown again. I wrote to the

> biochemist a while back and asked him what could cause the

> black/green colour and he said bacterial infection or nickel were

the

> only things he knew of. I would guess it was the nickel as I

> haven't heard of borrelia causing black fluid - which could

indicate

> that herxing from borrelia treatment was possibly affecting nickel

> detox in some way. Nickel can be estrogenic, by the way, so could

> easily end up in breast tissue.

Hmmm. Do you mean cysts that form on the surface of the skin, or

are you talking about cysts inside the breasts, that have to be

removed surgically? In any case, they don't sound like a lot of fun.

>

> Would you know if glutathione-S-transferase is used to detox

> borrelia toxins?

***No, I don't.

I was not herxing at the time of the translocator

> test so not stressing the system so much. Do you know if there is

a

> link between heavy metal poisoning and Lyme?

***I do know that Borrelia depletes cysteine and glutathione, and

since glutathione is necessary to detox heavy metals, it would make

sense that they would build up if Borrelia infection is present.

I know some LLMDs say

> they find heavy metal poisoning quite often in Lymies.

***I think that would make sense, except you tested normal for

glutathione.

>

> If ADP is not converted to ATP on the TL protein, would you have

any

> idea how blockage of the " active TL site " could reduce ADP to ATP

> conversion.

***It may be a bottleneck effect. If the ADP and ATP cannot be

transported in and out of the mitochondria, respectively, fast

enough, then that would limit the rate of conversion of ADP to ATP,

because there wouldn't be enough ADP present in the mitochondria at

a given time to convert to ATP, even though the machinery in the

mitochondria might be perfectly ready to do it.

>

> Cheers,

> Carol

>

***Cheers to you, too!

***Rich

June 19, 2006

Hi,

Thanks for the info. Glass saucepans definitely on the agenda.

Regarding breast cysts, the cysts are inside. I have lots of very

small ones. The odd one then sometimes gets bigger. They can be

seen clearly by ultrasound. They insert a long needle into the

larger cysts to syringe the fluid out - a quick procedure with no

anaesthetic but probably not for the squeamish. The radiologist

told me that they sometimes get all sorts of strange colours in the

cyst fluid of patients - it makes you wonder what estrogenic

environmental toxins people have got that they are not testing for.

Regarding glutathione and Lyme herxing. I have not had such bad

herxes now and I am able to increase the herb dosages much quicker,

and although this has correlated with being on the herbs for longer,

it has also correlated with me starting lipoceutical glutathione.

Unfortunately, I don't know what my glutathione levels were before

starting the lipoceutical glutathione. My SODase is poor too which

won't be helping.

Cheers,

Carol

> > Another interesting thing that has happened to me is that after I

> > started borrelia treatments (with herbs - including Samento) I

> > started getting more breast cysts and the fluid inside them was

> > black with a dark green

> > tinge). I had had breast cysts before but the fluid was a brown

> > colour. I am now not herxing as badly and can cope with much

higher

> > doses of antiborrelial herbs (Samento plus chinese herbs), and

the

> > fluid in the most recent cyst

> > 2 or 3 months ago was not black but was brown again. I wrote to

the

> > biochemist a while back and asked him what could cause the

> > black/green colour and he said bacterial infection or nickel

were

> the

> > only things he knew of. I would guess it was the nickel as I

> > haven't heard of borrelia causing black fluid - which could

> indicate

> > that herxing from borrelia treatment was possibly affecting

nickel

> > detox in some way. Nickel can be estrogenic, by the way, so could

> > easily end up in breast tissue.

>

> Hmmm. Do you mean cysts that form on the surface of the skin, or

> are you talking about cysts inside the breasts, that have to be

> removed surgically? In any case, they don't sound like a lot of

fun.

>

> >

> > Would you know if glutathione-S-transferase is used to detox

> > borrelia toxins?

>

> ***No, I don't.

>

> I was not herxing at the time of the translocator

> > test so not stressing the system so much. Do you know if there

is

> a

> > link between heavy metal poisoning and Lyme?

>

> ***I do know that Borrelia depletes cysteine and glutathione, and

> since glutathione is necessary to detox heavy metals, it would

make

> sense that they would build up if Borrelia infection is present.

>

> I know some LLMDs say

> > they find heavy metal poisoning quite often in Lymies.

>

> ***I think that would make sense, except you tested normal for

> glutathione.

>

June 19, 2006

What is the translocator test, and what lab does it? Thanks!

>

> Hi,

>

> Thanks for the info. Glass saucepans definitely on the agenda.

>

> Regarding breast cysts, the cysts are inside. I have lots of very

> small ones. The odd one then sometimes gets bigger. They can be

> seen clearly by ultrasound. They insert a long needle into the

> larger cysts to syringe the fluid out - a quick procedure with no

> anaesthetic but probably not for the squeamish. The radiologist

> told me that they sometimes get all sorts of strange colours in the

> cyst fluid of patients - it makes you wonder what estrogenic

> environmental toxins people have got that they are not testing for.

>

> Regarding glutathione and Lyme herxing. I have not had such bad

> herxes now and I am able to increase the herb dosages much quicker,

> and although this has correlated with being on the herbs for

longer,

> it has also correlated with me starting lipoceutical glutathione.

> Unfortunately, I don't know what my glutathione levels were before

> starting the lipoceutical glutathione. My SODase is poor too which

> won't be helping.

>

> Cheers,

> Carol

>

> > > Another interesting thing that has happened to me is that after

I

> > > started borrelia treatments (with herbs - including Samento) I

> > > started getting more breast cysts and the fluid inside them was

> > > black with a dark green

> > > tinge). I had had breast cysts before but the fluid was a brown

> > > colour. I am now not herxing as badly and can cope with much

> higher

> > > doses of antiborrelial herbs (Samento plus chinese herbs), and

> the

> > > fluid in the most recent cyst

> > > 2 or 3 months ago was not black but was brown again. I wrote to

> the

> > > biochemist a while back and asked him what could cause the

> > > black/green colour and he said bacterial infection or nickel

> were

> > the

> > > only things he knew of. I would guess it was the nickel as I

> > > haven't heard of borrelia causing black fluid - which could

> > indicate

> > > that herxing from borrelia treatment was possibly affecting

> nickel

> > > detox in some way. Nickel can be estrogenic, by the way, so

could

> > > easily end up in breast tissue.

> >

> > Hmmm. Do you mean cysts that form on the surface of the skin, or

> > are you talking about cysts inside the breasts, that have to be

> > removed surgically? In any case, they don't sound like a lot of

> fun.

> >

> > >

> > > Would you know if glutathione-S-transferase is used to detox

> > > borrelia toxins?

> >

> > ***No, I don't.

> >

> > I was not herxing at the time of the translocator

> > > test so not stressing the system so much. Do you know if there

> is

> > a

> > > link between heavy metal poisoning and Lyme?

> >

> > ***I do know that Borrelia depletes cysteine and glutathione, and

> > since glutathione is necessary to detox heavy metals, it would

> make

> > sense that they would build up if Borrelia infection is present.

> >

> > I know some LLMDs say

> > > they find heavy metal poisoning quite often in Lymies.

> >

> > ***I think that would make sense, except you tested normal for

> > glutathione.

> >

>

June 19, 2006

Hi,

The translocator test is a mitochondrial test for those with a

blockage to the translocator protein or mitochondrial membrane

problems.

Here's some more info from part of an info sheet

Background. For the past few months, we have been asessing ATP

related metabolism. In about 40% of patients with abnormalities

there is a block or partial block at the TL sites in the

mitochondrial membranes This specialised protein transports ADP

from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria for re-conversion to ATP.

The same protein also transports this ATP and newly made ATP from

oxidative phosphorylation back into the cytoplasm. It is THE most

important step in maintaining energy availability at thte cellular

level. A block at this site is potentially serious and will lead to

poor energy availability. Early in the energy expenditure cycle,

patients with this problem will switch to anaerobic metabolism

leading to lactate accumulation - acidosis. An acid environment

further inhibits reliable TL function.

The aim of further studies is to identify the cause of the block to

the TL site. Suspects include environmental contaminants such as

pesticides, other organic chemicals and toxic metals, partial

detoxification products such as glutathione conjugates and organic

sulphate conjugates, flame-retardent chemicals, peptide complexes

(hormones or cytokines or peptides that mimic these) and nucleotides

(RNA/DNA) from " invaders " such as viruses or bacteria.

A number of fluorescence probes are used to explore these

possibilities and to look at calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and

pH levels aroud the mitochondrial membranes. Phase-contrast with

digital image deconvolution is among several microscopic techniques

we use to explore the mitochondrial membrane structure, membrane

stability and to semi-quantify mitochondrial DNA.

Cheers,

Carol

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > Thanks for the info. Glass saucepans definitely on the agenda.

> >

> > Regarding breast cysts, the cysts are inside. I have lots of

very

> > small ones. The odd one then sometimes gets bigger. They can

be

> > seen clearly by ultrasound. They insert a long needle into the

> > larger cysts to syringe the fluid out - a quick procedure with

no

> > anaesthetic but probably not for the squeamish. The radiologist

> > told me that they sometimes get all sorts of strange colours in

the

> > cyst fluid of patients - it makes you wonder what estrogenic

> > environmental toxins people have got that they are not testing

for.

> >

> > Regarding glutathione and Lyme herxing. I have not had such bad

> > herxes now and I am able to increase the herb dosages much

quicker,

> > and although this has correlated with being on the herbs for

> longer,

> > it has also correlated with me starting lipoceutical

glutathione.

> > Unfortunately, I don't know what my glutathione levels were

before

> > starting the lipoceutical glutathione. My SODase is poor too

which

> > won't be helping.

> >

> > Cheers,

> > Carol

> >

> > > > Another interesting thing that has happened to me is that

after

> I

> > > > started borrelia treatments (with herbs - including Samento)

I

> > > > started getting more breast cysts and the fluid inside them

was

> > > > black with a dark green

> > > > tinge). I had had breast cysts before but the fluid was a

brown

> > > > colour. I am now not herxing as badly and can cope with much

> > higher

> > > > doses of antiborrelial herbs (Samento plus chinese herbs),

and

> > the

> > > > fluid in the most recent cyst

> > > > 2 or 3 months ago was not black but was brown again. I wrote

to

> > the

> > > > biochemist a while back and asked him what could cause the

> > > > black/green colour and he said bacterial infection or nickel

> > were

> > > the

> > > > only things he knew of. I would guess it was the nickel as I

> > > > haven't heard of borrelia causing black fluid - which could

> > > indicate

> > > > that herxing from borrelia treatment was possibly affecting

> > nickel

> > > > detox in some way. Nickel can be estrogenic, by the way, so

> could

> > > > easily end up in breast tissue.

> > >

> > > Hmmm. Do you mean cysts that form on the surface of the skin,

or

> > > are you talking about cysts inside the breasts, that have to

be

> > > removed surgically? In any case, they don't sound like a lot

of

> > fun.

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Would you know if glutathione-S-transferase is used to detox

> > > > borrelia toxins?

> > >

> > > ***No, I don't.

> > >

> > > I was not herxing at the time of the translocator

> > > > test so not stressing the system so much. Do you know if

there

> > is

> > > a

> > > > link between heavy metal poisoning and Lyme?

> > >

> > > ***I do know that Borrelia depletes cysteine and glutathione,

and

> > > since glutathione is necessary to detox heavy metals, it would

> > make

> > > sense that they would build up if Borrelia infection is

present.

> > >

> > > I know some LLMDs say

> > > > they find heavy metal poisoning quite often in Lymies.

> > >

> > > ***I think that would make sense, except you tested normal for

> > > glutathione.

> > >

> >

>

June 19, 2006

HI RIch,

Do you think the translocator test would pick up old exposures (eg.

mercury from fillings that have been removed several years ago or toxins

from vaccines) ?

I ask because red blood cells only live 120 days so I wonder if this

test only reflects recent or ongoing exposure.

Re: Mitochondrial function - my

translocator test results