Is there any relation between moldy building exposure and chronic fatigue syndro

[Guest guest]

Why don't they just ask?

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Is there any relation between moldy building exposure and chronic

fatigue syndrome?

Journal: Med Hypotheses. 2006 Mar 7; [Epub ahead of print]

Authors: Shahriar Gharibzadeh and Sayed Shahabuddin Hoseini

Affiliations: Neuromuscular Systems Laboratory, Faculty of

Biomedical

Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Somayyeh, Hafez,

Tehran

15875-4413, Iran, and Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of

Medical

Sciences, Enghelab Street, Tehran, Iran

Tel.: +9821 6454 2369; fax: +9821 6649 5655. E-Mail:

shahab337@...

Available online 9 March 2006.

It is reported that workers who are employed in moldy buildings,

show

different symptoms like respiratory difficulties, fatigue, fever and

headache. Hirvonen et al. have reported elevated cytokines

(interleukin-1,

interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor a) and nitric oxide (NO)

levels in

nasal lavage of workers in exposure to moldy buildings. Due to

laboratory

tests, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichoderma, Actinomycetes, etc. were

detected in indoor air [1].

On the other hand, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the current

name for a

disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue and several

associated

complaints including headache, sleep disorder, low grade fever and

concentration difficulties [2]. It is mentioned that post-

infectious,

immunological, and psychological factors are involved in the

syndrome [3].

Researches in patients with CFS have shown a significant elevation

in serum

levels of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factors a and ß [4].

which can

result in the appearance of CFS symptoms. Small amounts of

circulating

cytokines can enter the cerebrospinal fluid and the parenchyma of

the brain

[5]. Cytokines administered systemically or directly into the

central

nervous system have shown to alter the activity of hypothalamus,

hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex [6].

In addition, elevated nitric oxide levels have been documented in

CFS

patients. It is hypothesized that NO plays a significant role in

pain

sensitization, which is seen in these patients [7]. Moreover,

excessive NO

production is an important factor in pulmonary manifestations

including

vasodilation, edema and cytotoxicity [1].

It seems from the abovementioned points that, in accordance with the

post-infectious theory of CFS, the exposure to moldy conditions may

be a

trigger for the onset of CFS. Moreover, the working of persons with

CFS in

moldy conditions may aggravate their symptoms including pulmonary

pain and

psychoneurological manifestations. Surely, our hypothesis needs to

be

validated by experimental evaluation.

References

[1] M.R. Hirvonen, M. Ruotsalainen, M. Roponen, A. Hyvarinen, T.

Husman and

V.M. Kosma et al., Nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines in

nasal

lavage fluid associated with symptoms and exposure to moldy building

microbes, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 160 (1999) (6), pp. 1943-1946.

[2] N. Afari and D. Buchwald, Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review, Am

J

Psychiatry 160 (2003) (2), pp. 221-236.

[3] K. Fukuda, S.E. Straus, I. Hickie, M.C. Sharpe, J.G. Dobbins and

A.

Komaroff, The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to

its

definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study

Group,

Ann Intern Med 121 (1994) (12), pp. 953-959.

[4] A. Linde, B. Andersson, S.B. Svenson, H. Ahrne, M. Carlsson and

P.

Forsberg et al., Serum levels of lymphokines and soluble cellular

receptors

in primary Epstein-Barr virus infection and in patients with chronic

fatigue syndrome, J Infect Dis 165 (1992) (6), pp. 994-1000.

[5] W.A. Banks, A.J. Kastin and E.G. Gutierrez, Interleukin-1 alpha

in

blood has direct access to cortical brain cells, Neurosci Lett 163

(1993)

(1), pp. 41-44.

[6] S. Zalcman, J.M. Green-, L. Murray, D.M. Nance, D. Dyck

and H.

Anisman et al., Cytokine-specific central monoamine alterations

induced by

interleukin-1, -2 and -6, Brain Res 643 (1994) (1-2), pp. 40-49.

[7] J. Nijs, B. Van de Velde and K. De Meirleir, Pain in patients

with

chronic fatigue syndrome: does nitric oxide trigger central

sensitisation?,

Med Hypotheses 64 (2005) (3), pp. 558-562.

[Guest guest]

I agree.Great article.

Thanks

KC

>

> Why don't they just ask?

> -

> --------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Is there any relation between moldy building exposure and chronic

> fatigue syndrome?

>

> Journal: Med Hypotheses. 2006 Mar 7; [Epub ahead of print]

>

> Authors: Shahriar Gharibzadeh and Sayed Shahabuddin Hoseini

>

> Affiliations: Neuromuscular Systems Laboratory, Faculty of

> Biomedical

> Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Somayyeh, Hafez,

> Tehran

> 15875-4413, Iran, and Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of

> Medical

> Sciences, Enghelab Street, Tehran, Iran

> Tel.: +9821 6454 2369; fax: +9821 6649 5655. E-Mail:

> shahab337@...

>

> Available online 9 March 2006.

>

> It is reported that workers who are employed in moldy buildings,

> show

> different symptoms like respiratory difficulties, fatigue, fever

and

> headache. Hirvonen et al. have reported elevated cytokines

> (interleukin-1,

> interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor a) and nitric oxide (NO)

> levels in

> nasal lavage of workers in exposure to moldy buildings. Due to

> laboratory

> tests, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichoderma, Actinomycetes, etc.

were

> detected in indoor air [1].

>

> On the other hand, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the current

> name for a

> disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue and several

> associated

> complaints including headache, sleep disorder, low grade fever and

> concentration difficulties [2]. It is mentioned that post-

> infectious,

> immunological, and psychological factors are involved in the

> syndrome [3].

>

> Researches in patients with CFS have shown a significant elevation

> in serum

> levels of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factors a and ß [4].

> which can

> result in the appearance of CFS symptoms. Small amounts of

> circulating

> cytokines can enter the cerebrospinal fluid and the parenchyma of

> the brain

> [5]. Cytokines administered systemically or directly into the

> central

> nervous system have shown to alter the activity of hypothalamus,

> hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex [6].

>

> In addition, elevated nitric oxide levels have been documented in

> CFS

> patients. It is hypothesized that NO plays a significant role in

> pain

> sensitization, which is seen in these patients [7]. Moreover,

> excessive NO

> production is an important factor in pulmonary manifestations

> including

> vasodilation, edema and cytotoxicity [1].

>

> It seems from the abovementioned points that, in accordance with

the

> post-infectious theory of CFS, the exposure to moldy conditions

may

> be a

> trigger for the onset of CFS. Moreover, the working of persons

with

> CFS in

> moldy conditions may aggravate their symptoms including pulmonary

> pain and

> psychoneurological manifestations. Surely, our hypothesis needs

to

> be

> validated by experimental evaluation.

>

> References

> [1] M.R. Hirvonen, M. Ruotsalainen, M. Roponen, A. Hyvarinen, T.

> Husman and

> V.M. Kosma et al., Nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines in

> nasal

> lavage fluid associated with symptoms and exposure to moldy

building

> microbes, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 160 (1999) (6), pp. 1943-1946.

> [2] N. Afari and D. Buchwald, Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review,

Am

> J

> Psychiatry 160 (2003) (2), pp. 221-236.

> [3] K. Fukuda, S.E. Straus, I. Hickie, M.C. Sharpe, J.G. Dobbins

and

> A.

> Komaroff, The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach

to

> its

> definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study

> Group,

> Ann Intern Med 121 (1994) (12), pp. 953-959.

> [4] A. Linde, B. Andersson, S.B. Svenson, H. Ahrne, M. Carlsson

and

> P.

> Forsberg et al., Serum levels of lymphokines and soluble cellular

> receptors

> in primary Epstein-Barr virus infection and in patients with

chronic

> fatigue syndrome, J Infect Dis 165 (1992) (6), pp. 994-1000.

> [5] W.A. Banks, A.J. Kastin and E.G. Gutierrez, Interleukin-1

alpha

> in

> blood has direct access to cortical brain cells, Neurosci Lett 163

> (1993)

> (1), pp. 41-44.

> [6] S. Zalcman, J.M. Green-, L. Murray, D.M. Nance, D. Dyck

> and H.

> Anisman et al., Cytokine-specific central monoamine alterations

> induced by

> interleukin-1, -2 and -6, Brain Res 643 (1994) (1-2), pp. 40-49.

> [7] J. Nijs, B. Van de Velde and K. De Meirleir, Pain in patients

> with

> chronic fatigue syndrome: does nitric oxide trigger central

> sensitisation?,

> Med Hypotheses 64 (2005) (3), pp. 558-562.

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I still find it a bit strange that after all my years of posting on

> this subject, CFS researchers find the mycotoxin connection to be of

> insufficient interest to follow up on the clues.

> Although Rich should like the mention of the NO elevation in CFS.

> -

> --------------------------------------------------------

So strange, in fact, one would get the impression that those who fail

to see the value in this clue aren't seriously looking for answers at

all.

If you are trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle, what good would it do to

throw away those troublesome pieces that just don't seem to go

anywhere, when you know that since they were in the box, that they

must be part of the puzzle?

The best you could do is consider the puzzle finished when you run

out of the parts that weren't thrown out, although it looks kind of

odd with the pieces missing.

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