ProHealth reports on the results of a study involving exercise, CFS and genes. The results were published in The Journal of Pain.
Moderate Exercise Increases Expression for Sensory, Adrenergic, and Immune Genes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [and CFS/FMS] Patients but Not in Normal Subjects – Source: The Journal of Pain, Jul 30, 2009
thanks Dr Speedy!
ReplyDeleteNational CFIDS
Foundation Funds New
Cutting-Edge Research
8/18/09
The National CFIDS Foundation (NCF) of Needham,
MA has funded additional cutting-edge CFIDS
research to add to its list of current grants totalling
$346,160 for 2009.
A team, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is
the latest recipient of a research award from the
NCF.
The $91,160 grant is aimed at screening patient
samples for a cyanobacterial toxin known as BMAA as
well as to study the effects of various toxins on
mitochondria and other cells.
The principal investigator is Harry Davis, Ph.D.,
Professor of biochemistry at the John A. Burns School
of Medicine whose expertise is in the area of
mitochondrial metabolism.
The co-investigators include Yoshitsugi Hokama,
Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of pathology and
toxicology, and Ken Yabusaki, Ph.D., biochemistry
researcher.
They will be assisted by Cara Empey-Campora, Ph.D.,
cellular and molecular biologist.
The title of this grant is:
"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Screening for
Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in CFS
Serum Samples and the Effects of Toxins, Lipid
Substances, and Antibodies to Phospholipids on
Mitochondria and Neuroblastoma Cells."
In addition, the University of Hawaii group has
teamed up with Paul Cox, Ph.D., Director of the
Institute for Ethnomedicine in Jackson Hole, WY and
Sandra Banack, Ph.D., also with the Institute for
Ethnomedicine.
Both Cox and Banack are considered to be leading
experts in cyanobacteria and BMAA.
According to the National CFIDS Foundation's
President, Gail Kansky, "This work is of critical
importance to our research efforts regarding CFIDS.
Since our previous research had established a link
between ciguatera poisoning and CFIDS, it seemed
only logical to pursue an investigation into
cyanobacteria since there exists a scientific link
between this type of bacteria and ciguatera.
BMAA is one of several toxins that are produced by
cyanobacteria. Futhermore, since cyanobacteria have
been found in the ocean, lakes and ponds, the
fallout could be enormous."
Alan Cocchetto, Medical Director for the NCF stated:
"Cyanobacteria are suspected in the development
of a neurological disease called Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex
which has symptoms of ALS, Parkinson's or
Alzheimer's Disease.
Since cyanobacteria are considered to be
photosynthesizing bacteria, this is particularly
intriguing since our research has yielded certain
markers that do indicate the possible involvement
of toxic photosynthesizing bacteria in CFIDS.
By looking for BMAA in patient blood samples while
pursuing the identification of other toxins and by
examining their effects on mitochondria, the
energy production power plants in the human
body, we will be able to answer key questions that
we believe pertain directly to not only the disease
process but could provide important clues
regarding the etiology of CFIDS."
Several months ago, the NCF awarded research
grants to Tsvee Lapidot, Ph.D., Professor of
immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in
Israel and to Hany El-Shemy, Ph.D., Professor of
biochemistry at Cairo University in Egypt. These
recipients received $ 255,000.
Founded in 1997, the goals of the Foundation are to
help fund medical research to find a cause, expedite
treatments and eventually a cure for this devastating
disease.
The Foundation is funded solely by individual
contributions and has no paid employees.
Additional information can be found on our website
at: www.ncf-net.org - and in The Forum quarterly
newsletter.