Re: Science News 3/25/06 Moldy Whiff Kills Brain Cells

[Guest guest]

" Specificity " is the EXACT term that I used when I described this

response to NIH researchers in 1999.

-

:

Date: Thu Mar 9, 2000 8:57 am

Subject: Fw: Stachybotrys Chartarum & CFS (Incline Village)

Stachybotrys Chartarum & CFS

I'm one of the '85 Incline Village epidemic. I've been saying since

day one with this illness that mold is primary in my illness. Drs.

Cheney & disagreed and would not help me research it. I

decided to trustmy perceptions and conduct my life as if my symptoms

of anxiety and depression and fatigue represented an exposure to

toxic mold. In the 2 years since I've applied my mold avoidance

strategy I have eliminated almost all of my long standing CFS

symptoms. My recovery continues but at present I am finally able to

work full time, have no headaches or cognitive dysfunction, no

fatigue and if it weren't for the reactivity I have to people and

objects who come into my presence from contaminated buildings, I

could live a completely normal life. I have been trying to tell

doctors and CFS patients about this but despite seeing my recovery,

nobody thinks it could possibly apply to them. While they tell me

this, I'm shaking with the reaction I get to their clothes. I see

know after the 48 Hours special that some people want to look into

this but find little information and so far, no feedback from CFS

patients with this experience. I have been diagnosed by the famous

doctors Cheney and as the perfect case of CFS and yet I

have told them about this mold and my recovery and they are

completely uninterested. Even if Stachybotrys is not the primary

cause of CFS, I believe that there must be a connection between the

illness and an extreme reactivity to mold.

-

Science News Online

Week of March 25, 2006; Vol. 169, No. 12

Moldy whiff kills brain cells

Janet Raloff

From San Diego, at a meeting of the Society of Toxicology

Watch out, Hurricane Katrina and Rita cleanup crews. A common black

mold that blooms on moist cellulose-based materials—from wallboard

and ceiling tiles to cardboard— creates a toxin that can kill

certain brain cells. In an experiment with mice, the chemical,

satratoxin, targeted neurons running from the inside of the nose to

the brain's smell center.

" This is the first demonstration that a neuron can be killed by

satratoxin, " notes Jack R. Harkema of Michigan State University in

East Lansing.

The fungal toxin's " specificity is what's really unique, " notes

Harkema's Michigan State colleague J. Pestka. Among the

exposed nasal cells, the toxin proved lethal only to those that

sense odors.

The black mold Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly found in water-

damaged buildings, had already been linked to people's respiratory

irritation and asthma. To identify nasal effects, Harkema, Pestka,

and Zahidul Islam, also of Michigan State, made mice inhale a

single dose of satratoxin and then monitored tissue changes over the

next month.

Within a day of exposure, 75 to 80 percent of the olfactory neurons

in the animals' noses had died, Harkema notes. Although these cells

can regenerate, he says, even after a month, many had still not been

replaced.

As little as 25 micrograms of toxin per kilogram of mouse-body

weight elicited this neural toxicity. The scientists now plan to

evaluate whether prolonged exposure to even lower doses—as could be

assaulting hurricane-cleanup crews—might trigger similar changes.

A full report of the findings will appear in an upcoming

Environmental Health Perspectives.

>

>

>

>

>

> If you have a comment on this article that you would like

considered for publication in

> Science News, send it to editors@... Please include your name and

location.

>

>

>

> References:

>

> Islam, Z., J.R. Harkema, and J.J. Pestka. In press. Satratoxin G

from the black mold

> Stachybotrys chartarum evokes olfactory sensory neuron loss and

inflammation in the

> murine nose and brain. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Available at http://dx.doi.org/

> 10.1289/ehp.8854.

>

>

> ______. 2006. Satratoxin G from the black mold Stachybotrys

chartarum evokes olfactory

> sensory neuron loss and inflammation in the murine nose and brain.

Society of Toxicology

> meeting. March 6-9. San Diego.

>

>

>

>

> Sources:

>

> Jack R. Harkema

> Michigan State University

> Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> East Lansing, MI 48824

>

>

> J. Pestka

> Michigan State University

> Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> East Lansing, MI 48824

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060325/note14.asp

>

>

> From Science News, Vol. 169, No. 12, March 25, 2006, p. 190.

>

>

> Copyright © 2006 Science Service. All rights reserved.

>

[Guest guest]

--just check out the writings of DOCTOR A.V. Constantini----former head

of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. He said that--long ago. He is, at least

in my humble opinion, a VERY brilliant man.

Stachybotrys Chartarum & CFS

I'm one of the '85 Incline Village epidemic. I've been saying since

day one with this illness that mold is primary in my illness. Drs.

Cheney & disagreed and would not help me research it. I

decided to trustmy perceptions and conduct my life as if my symptoms

of anxiety and depression and fatigue represented an exposure to

toxic mold. In the 2 years since I've applied my mold avoidance

strategy I have eliminated almost all of my long standing CFS

symptoms. My recovery continues but at present I am finally able to

work full time, have no headaches or cognitive dysfunction, no

fatigue and if it weren't for the reactivity I have to people and

objects who come into my presence from contaminated buildings, I

could live a completely normal life. I have been trying to tell

doctors and CFS patients about this but despite seeing my recovery,

nobody thinks it could possibly apply to them. While they tell me

this, I'm shaking with the reaction I get to their clothes. I see

know after the 48 Hours special that some people want to look into

this but find little information and so far, no feedback from CFS

patients with this experience. I have been diagnosed by the famous

doctors Cheney and as the perfect case of CFS and yet I

have told them about this mold and my recovery and they are

completely uninterested. Even if Stachybotrys is not the primary

cause of CFS, I believe that there must be a connection between the

illness and an extreme reactivity to mold.

-

Science News Online

Week of March 25, 2006; Vol. 169, No. 12

Moldy whiff kills brain cells

Janet Raloff

From San Diego, at a meeting of the Society of Toxicology

Watch out, Hurricane Katrina and Rita cleanup crews. A common black

mold that blooms on moist cellulose-based materials-from wallboard

and ceiling tiles to cardboard- creates a toxin that can kill

certain brain cells. In an experiment with mice, the chemical,

satratoxin, targeted neurons running from the inside of the nose to

the brain's smell center.

" This is the first demonstration that a neuron can be killed by

satratoxin, " notes Jack R. Harkema of Michigan State University in

East Lansing.

The fungal toxin's " specificity is what's really unique, " notes

Harkema's Michigan State colleague J. Pestka. Among the

exposed nasal cells, the toxin proved lethal only to those that

sense odors.

The black mold Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly found in water-

damaged buildings, had already been linked to people's respiratory

irritation and asthma. To identify nasal effects, Harkema, Pestka,

and Zahidul Islam, also of Michigan State, made mice inhale a

single dose of satratoxin and then monitored tissue changes over the

next month.

Within a day of exposure, 75 to 80 percent of the olfactory neurons

in the animals' noses had died, Harkema notes. Although these cells

can regenerate, he says, even after a month, many had still not been

replaced.

As little as 25 micrograms of toxin per kilogram of mouse-body

weight elicited this neural toxicity. The scientists now plan to

evaluate whether prolonged exposure to even lower doses-as could be

assaulting hurricane-cleanup crews-might trigger similar changes.

A full report of the findings will appear in an upcoming

Environmental Health Perspectives.

>

>

>

>

>

> If you have a comment on this article that you would like

considered for publication in

> Science News, send it to editors@... Please include your name and

location.

>

>

>

> References:

>

> Islam, Z., J.R. Harkema, and J.J. Pestka. In press. Satratoxin G

from the black mold

> Stachybotrys chartarum evokes olfactory sensory neuron loss and

inflammation in the

> murine nose and brain. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Available at http://dx.doi.org/

> 10.1289/ehp.8854.

>

>

> ______. 2006. Satratoxin G from the black mold Stachybotrys

chartarum evokes olfactory

> sensory neuron loss and inflammation in the murine nose and brain.

Society of Toxicology

> meeting. March 6-9. San Diego.

>

>

>

>

> Sources:

>

> Jack R. Harkema

> Michigan State University

> Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> East Lansing, MI 48824

>

>

> J. Pestka

> Michigan State University

> Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> East Lansing, MI 48824

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060325/note14.asp

>

>

> From Science News, Vol. 169, No. 12, March 25, 2006, p. 190.

>

>

> Copyright © 2006 Science Service. All rights reserved.

>

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

I agree completely, my CFS started right along with the first

symptoms I had from Stachy exposure, and it continued and got worse

the longer I was exposed, and it continued after I got out of the

moldy homes, but has got somewhat better, but a assult to mold and/or

any chemical tottally drains me of energy. I dont know about anyone

else, but my MCS, with or without coughing, with or without smelling

it, causes the CF, fibromyaligia like symptoms, dizziness, not being

able to consentrate, slurred speach, loss of balance, and something

to happen in my viens that I can fell happening and it hurts for

someone to touch me. a bad MCS attack, which can be instant and

strong, or a not so strong, for a longer amount of time can put me in

bed for 3 or 4 days. weak and acky and not funtioning at

all.

>

> " Specificity " is the EXACT term that I used when I described this

> response to NIH researchers in 1999.

> -

>

>

> :

> Date: Thu Mar 9, 2000 8:57 am

> Subject: Fw: Stachybotrys Chartarum & CFS (Incline Village)

>

> Stachybotrys Chartarum & CFS

>

>

> I'm one of the '85 Incline Village epidemic. I've been saying

since

> day one with this illness that mold is primary in my illness. Drs.

> Cheney & disagreed and would not help me research it. I

> decided to trustmy perceptions and conduct my life as if my

symptoms

> of anxiety and depression and fatigue represented an exposure to

> toxic mold. In the 2 years since I've applied my mold avoidance

> strategy I have eliminated almost all of my long standing CFS

> symptoms. My recovery continues but at present I am finally able to

> work full time, have no headaches or cognitive dysfunction, no

> fatigue and if it weren't for the reactivity I have to people and

> objects who come into my presence from contaminated buildings, I

> could live a completely normal life. I have been trying to tell

> doctors and CFS patients about this but despite seeing my recovery,

> nobody thinks it could possibly apply to them. While they tell me

> this, I'm shaking with the reaction I get to their clothes. I see

> know after the 48 Hours special that some people want to look into

> this but find little information and so far, no feedback from CFS

> patients with this experience. I have been diagnosed by the famous

> doctors Cheney and as the perfect case of CFS and yet I

> have told them about this mold and my recovery and they are

> completely uninterested. Even if Stachybotrys is not the primary

> cause of CFS, I believe that there must be a connection between the

> illness and an extreme reactivity to mold.

> -

>

>

>

>

> Science News Online

>

> Week of March 25, 2006; Vol. 169, No. 12

> Moldy whiff kills brain cells

>

>

> Janet Raloff

>

>

> From San Diego, at a meeting of the Society of Toxicology

>

> Watch out, Hurricane Katrina and Rita cleanup crews. A common

black

> mold that blooms on moist cellulose-based materials—from wallboard

> and ceiling tiles to cardboard— creates a toxin that can kill

> certain brain cells. In an experiment with mice, the chemical,

> satratoxin, targeted neurons running from the inside of the nose to

> the brain's smell center.

>

> " This is the first demonstration that a neuron can be killed by

> satratoxin, " notes Jack R. Harkema of Michigan State University in

> East Lansing.

> The fungal toxin's " specificity is what's really unique, " notes

> Harkema's Michigan State colleague J. Pestka. Among the

> exposed nasal cells, the toxin proved lethal only to those that

> sense odors.

> The black mold Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly found in water-

> damaged buildings, had already been linked to people's respiratory

> irritation and asthma. To identify nasal effects, Harkema, Pestka,

> and Zahidul Islam, also of Michigan State, made mice inhale a

> single dose of satratoxin and then monitored tissue changes over

the

> next month.

>

> Within a day of exposure, 75 to 80 percent of the olfactory

neurons

> in the animals' noses had died, Harkema notes. Although these

cells

> can regenerate, he says, even after a month, many had still not

been

> replaced.

> As little as 25 micrograms of toxin per kilogram of mouse-body

> weight elicited this neural toxicity. The scientists now plan to

> evaluate whether prolonged exposure to even lower doses—as could

be

> assaulting hurricane-cleanup crews—might trigger similar changes.

>

> A full report of the findings will appear in an upcoming

> Environmental Health Perspectives.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > If you have a comment on this article that you would like

> considered for publication in

> > Science News, send it to editors@ Please include your name and

> location.

> >

> >

> >

> > References:

> >

> > Islam, Z., J.R. Harkema, and J.J. Pestka. In press. Satratoxin G

> from the black mold

> > Stachybotrys chartarum evokes olfactory sensory neuron loss and

> inflammation in the

> > murine nose and brain. Environmental Health Perspectives.

> Available at http://dx.doi.org/

> > 10.1289/ehp.8854.

> >

> >

> > ______. 2006. Satratoxin G from the black mold Stachybotrys

> chartarum evokes olfactory

> > sensory neuron loss and inflammation in the murine nose and

brain.

> Society of Toxicology

> > meeting. March 6-9. San Diego.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Sources:

> >

> > Jack R. Harkema

> > Michigan State University

> > Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> > East Lansing, MI 48824

> >

> >

> > J. Pestka

> > Michigan State University

> > Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

> > East Lansing, MI 48824

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060325/note14.asp

> >

> >

> > From Science News, Vol. 169, No. 12, March 25, 2006, p. 190.

> >

> >

> > Copyright © 2006 Science Service. All rights reserved.

> >

>