h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

2legs,

Read with great interest you article on Lupus. Nicely done, concise, thorough.

Now I would like to add in the last pieces to your puzzle about what causes Lupus (and similar Th1 related diseases like ME/CFS, Sarcoidosis, Lyme/Borellia, ALS, RA, FM and others).

The new theory (and one that is being proved out thru successful cures of some of these diseases) is that CWD (Cell Wall Deficient) bacteria that actually infect the macrophage cells and hide from the immune system are the cause of these diseases. There are many species of these bacteria and possibly the order in which they first infected plus the number of different types that are in the body (and their preference for settling in this or that body tissue(s) have an effect on how the symptoms are expressed and the type of Th1 disease you get.

The main mechanism which causes the inflammation typical in all of these diseases is high levels of 1,25D (an active hormonal form of Vitamin D (25D)). Normally the body regulates this hormone precisely, but in Th1 patients its dysregulation is at the core of many of the symptoms expressed since this hormone is a Master Hormone affecting the regulation of many others. (The CWD bacteria co-opt the protein producing centers of the cells that they infect to produce excess amounts of this hormone (exact reason is does this is not yet known but it does allow them to be masked from the immune system). Being associated with Vit D, it is of course affected by sunlight and florescent lighting (the body produces Vit D which is the precursor for creating 1,25D) which is the mechanism which makes sun sensitivity and also ironically also make some Th1 people feel better (for a while) after sunning themselves.

There is much more to the CWD story, which has been the research subject of Dr. Trevor Marshall (as well as others who came before him) for around twenty years and in the last 4 or 5 years he has put the science behind this to produce a method of detecting the extent of the systemic strength of these diseases (thru the measurement of 25D and 1,25D) and also has constructed a curative protocol based on genomic strengths of the drugs used and the genomic weak points of the CWD bacteria being attacked.

It is really eye-opening to read the explanation of exactly how the ARBs and ABXs work together to allow the hosts own immune system to finally attack the weakened bacteria. What it means is for the first time instead of simply throwing this or that ABX against a patient at some dosage and seeing if anything happens, a doctor can now logically orchestrate the application of just the right ARBs and ABXs at just the right levels with some real medical scientific logic behind their application. And best of all it is NOT just trying to suppress inflammation and the immune system. That is a very bad thing to do in the long term for any of these types of diseases since because we know it is a bacterial infection you simply do NOT want to supress your own immune system since it just allows the bacteria to multiply unchecked -- which they will do.

I hope you'll take a look at some of the articles that Dr M has posted.

Here is one that goes directly to "What is it"

http://www.marshallprotocol.com/forum2/4213.html

ANd here's another one with some more in depth details of all sorts:

http://www.marshallprotocol.com/forum2/364.html

I am sure once you dig down into the mountain of information you'll have that eureka moment where it all makes sense with what you are seeing in Lupus.

let me know what you think ...

jim

this is what I get for having been out of accademia for... a far too many years I'll have a look at those articles

One comment on your comment about being out of Academia too long. From Dr M's reports of his sparring matches with the NIH (populated by former Academicians) you get the impression that only research conforming to the Status Quo will ever come out of Academia (which is what the NIH supports). It is the proving ground for how well a researcher can go along with what their peer researchers are doing, not a ground for striking forth on a new paradigm shift. Just my impression (I am not a researcher -- just a humble software engineer with a mind so open you could drive a truck thru it ) (where's the truck-going-thru-head smiley when you need one ??? )

jim

As someone who *does* do research for the NIH, I feel the need to say that this opinion is far from being an accurate reflection of reality. There's research funded every quarter that 'goes against the grain' -- but the research that is funded is strongly grounded, both in terms of the methodology and in terms of basic science and preliminary research that serve as foundation.

I looked up the marshall protocol site. I think he is dangerous, and it is a scam to make money from those who are ill.

His work all sounds very scientific but his research is not "peer reviewed" or published in proper scientific journals. (why not if he has such belief in his theories plus so many people who are on the protocol, it is relatively easy to get scientific articles published)

His theories on vitamin D and lupus actually contradict most of the "proper" scientific research (peer reviewed and in numerous different reputable scientific journals) which shows that Vitamin D supplements can help lupus.

Please if you have lupus (or other Th1 disease) consider other options, and do research outside the marshall protocol site before you consider his "treatment" - Scientifically his "treatment" could be very dangerous!
and always let your GP and consultant know if you are going to stop any medication that you are on

By the way he is not a medical doctor, and for those of you who think I don't know what I'm talking about I'm educated with BSc in Biological Science and MSc in Biomedical Science yet I am open minded enough to consider the arguements for anything that may help my lupus.