Yeast and Cancer

The Warburg and Crabtree effects: On the origin of cancer cell energy metabolism and of yeast glucose repression.

Diaz-Ruiz R, Rigoulet M, Devin A.

Source

Oxygen Sensing and Cancer Laboratory, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., Karolinska Institute, Nobels väg 3, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

" From a metabolic point of view, the fermenting yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and tumor cells share several features. "

Yeast therapy for the treatment of breast cancer: a nude mice model study.

Ghoneum M, Wang L, Agrawal S, Gollapudi S.

Source

Drew University of Medicine and Science, Department of Otolaryngology, Los Angeles, CA, USA. mghoneum@ucla.edu

"S. cerevisiae is a promising anti-cancer agent that induces significant levels of apoptosis in malignant cells in vivo. However, yeast therapy for the treatment of breast cancer has yet to pass controlled clinical trials."

Yeasts encoding tumour antigens in cancer immunotherapy

Franzusoff A, Duke RC, King TH, Lu Y, Rodell TC

GlobeImmune, Inc., 12635 E. Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80010, USA.

"Recombinant yeast cells are capable of stimulating the immune system to produce highly specific and potent cellular responses against target protein antigens with little toxicity. Data from animal models suggest that Tarmogens (yeast-based immunotherapeutics) can elicit protective immunity against xenografted and chemically induced tumours."

A Brief Explanation of my Serotonin-Autoimmunity Research

On the off chance that anyone out there besides me is reading these studies I am posting, and wondering where it's all leading, I wanted to write up a little explanation.

I started this blog not long after I learned that I suffer from esophageal motility dysfunction. I also have mild Raynaud's Phenomenon, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and an elevated ANA. For the past 18 months (just about) I have been pursuing treatment in the effort to prevent further progression of autoimmune disease... toward Lupus, RA or Scleroderma.

I follow the antibiotic protocol developed by Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown who believed that mycoplasma infection underlay arthritis and rheumatic disease.

My feeling has been that even if they have not yet proved the infectious theory, it doesn't matter - I just want to get well. I haven't really cared about the mechanism for *why* the antibiotic at low doses work... I am just so grateful that they have helped me to get so much of my life and strength back.

Recently I stumbled across a study that proved serotonin as the link between vascular disease and fibrosis. This was a real eye opener to me.

Scleroderma patients suffer from the following problems:

Reduced motility of the esophagus (reduced or no peristalsis in the lower 2/3 of the esophagus)
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Telangiectasias
Calcinosis
Sclerodactyly
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Cardiac Problems
Kidney Fibrosis

Could serotonin be the common link that connects the vascular disease (Raynaud's) that proceeds onset of scleroderma to the process of fibrosis?

Even more importantly, the study I read stated that it was possible to REVERSE and even prevent fibrosis:

"Dermal fibrosis was reduced in 5-HT2B mice using both inducible and genetic models of fibrosis. Pharmacologic inactivation of 5-HT2B also effectively prevented the onset of experimental fibrosis and ameliorated established fibrosis. Moreover, inhibition of platelet activation prevented fibrosis in different models of skin fibrosis."

This is pretty incredible stuff.

If fibrosis can be reversed by the inactivation of the 5-HT2B serotonin neurotransmitter, it might save the lives of people I now know and care about... people who live courageously with scleroderma every day.

Heck, it might save me too!

And that would be more wonderful than I can say. I have three small children and I don't want to miss a minute with any of them.

That's the thing about autoimmunity - it seems to mainly strike women in our reproductive years. I have a lot of friends now, all somewhere near my age, with kids... who suffer from Lupus, RA, Sjogrens and scleroderma.

This is a very personal research story then... I want to figure this thing out and save us all.

Unfortunately, I am not a scientist!

I was an English major in college and then an elementary and middle school teacher for 10 years. I scurried away from math and science just as quickly as my feet could carry me back in the day before my health went south.

So grappling with the language in these studies is really tough for me. I feel like I need a science dictionary just to wade through the different terms.

My husband, bless his heart, was a biology major and he understands much of this stuff a lot better than I do. I've been turning to him then, frequently, to ask what the scientific jargon means.

What I'm trying to do here in this blog is aggregate all of the articles I can find that show the relationship between the serotonin receptor function and development of autoimmune disease.

I'm hoping that if I can read enough articles, maybe I'll finally understand the "big idea" - the relationship between genetics, pathogens, tryptophan, serotonin and the development of autoimmune problems that I and countless others face.

Here's the catch:

I can't tell yet whether I have too much or too little serotonin in my system!

I can't tell yet what the feedback loops are between serotonin in the brain and serotonin in the rest of the body.

I haven't been able to figure out whether I need MORE serotonin (possible to achieve through supplementation, exercise and diet) or LESS serotonin, possible to achieve with medications and reduction in the amount of tryptophan I consume.

The whole thing is still a mystery to me.

What I do know is that taking doxycycline has helped me vastly with inflammation. I also learned in the last few days that doxycycline actually increases the thickness of serotonin receptors... which could explain how it helps to modulate the amount of serotonin released. This may explain why doxycycline and minocycline have shown themselves to be very helpful in the management of collagen vascular diseases.

In time when I have collected enough research I want very badly to share it with medical researchers who can understand it all... who might be able to have that "Aha!" moment where they put 2 and 2 together and come up with an actual cure or treatment for these devastating chronic diseases.

I don't need to be a hero and nobody even needs to know my name. I just want to motivate scientists and physicians to look harder at the connection between serotonin and autoimmunity... and to encourage everyone from pharmaceutical companies to Chinese medicine doctors to naturopaths to pursue targeting the 5-HT2B receptor so that millions of us will be freed from our disease conditions and able to pursue worthy, fulfilling, productive lives.

If you are out there reading this and you understand the science that I do not, please continue reading and examine these 57 studies (and counting!) I have put together. I really believe there is something important here.

From the bottom of my heart, I ask you to take a good look and see if there isn't an answer here to a perplexing mystery that has brought strong men to their knees, torn families apart, taken away the freedom and mobility that many of us so cherish... and ended lives too soon.

Thank you!

Serotonin and Liver Function

Serum Serotonin Levels are Associated with Antiviral Therapy Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. (2010)
Loftis JM, Morasco BJ, Menasco D, Fuchs D, Strater M, Hauser P.
Source

Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University; Research & Development Service, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA.

"Significant differences in serotonin levels were found between patients who achieved sustained viral responses (SVRs) and those who did not. Regression analysis revealed that serotonin was the only variable with a statistically significant relationship with antiviral therapy outcomes, even after controlling for other variables known to be associated with outcomes. "

The function of serotonin within the liver
Ruddell RG, Mann DA, Ramm GA.
Hepatic Fibrosis Group, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, PO Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia. Richard.Ruddell@qimr.edu.au

"Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is known to regulate several key aspects of liver biology and these functions include hepatic blood flow, innervation and wound healing."

Liver Function and Alzheimer's Disease

Peripheral reduction of β-amyloid is sufficient to reduce brain β-amyloid: implications for Alzheimer's disease.
Sutcliffe JG, Hedlund PB, Thomas EA, Bloom FE, Hilbush BS. (2011)

"We show that the activity of mouse Psen2, as measured by levels of mRNA accumulation, unexpectedly is heritable in the liver but not the brain, suggesting liver as the origin of brain Aβ deposits. Administration of STI571, a cancer therapeutic that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, reduced accumulation of Aβ in both the blood and the brain, confirming brain Aβ's peripheral origin and suggesting that STI571 and related compounds might have therapeutic/prophylactic value in human Alzheimer's disease."


Peripheral Amyloid-β Levels Regulate Amyloid-β Clearance from the Central Nervous System
Marcos A. Marques,abc1 J. Jacob Kulstad,abd1 Christopher E. Savard,be Pattie S. Green,be Sum P. Lee,be Suzanne Craft,abc G. Stennis Watson,abc and David G. Cookabef (2009)

"These data also support and extend previous findings by illustrating the substantial contribution of the liver to peripheral Aβ clearance. To the extent the peripheral circulatory system can act as an Aβ sink, these data demonstrate that the liver is the primary drain."

Deficient liver biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid correlates with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease.
Astarita G, Jung KM, Berchtold NC, Nguyen VQ, Gillen DL, Head E, Cotman CW, Piomelli D.
Department of Pharmacology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America. (2010)

"Reduced brain levels of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3), a neurotrophic and neuroprotective fatty acid, may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Here, we investigated whether the liver enzyme system that provides docosahexaenoic acid to the brain is dysfunctional in this disease...The results indicate that a deficit in d-bifunctional protein activity impairs docosahexaenoic acid biosynthesis in liver of Alzheimer's disease patients, lessening the flux of this neuroprotective fatty acid to the brain."

Silymarin attenuated the amyloid β plaque burden and improved behavioral abnormalities in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.
Murata N, Murakami K, Ozawa Y, Kinoshita N, Irie K, Shirasawa T, Shimizu T.
Molecular Gerontology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan. (2010)

"In vivo studies had indicated a significant reduction in brain Aβ deposition and improvement in behavioral abnormalities in amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice that had been preventively treated with a powdered diet containing 0.1% silymarin for 6 months. The silymarin-treated APP mice also showed less anxiety than the vehicle-treated APP mice."


Fatty liver disease can mimic symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
By Roz Zurko on 2011-06-18

"The doctors explained that Wilson's memory lapses and erratic behavior was due to liver disease. "When you think about this kind of thing, you think about dementia or Alzheimer's," Patricia says. "You don't think about the liver," which is most likely what any average person would be thinking under the circumstances.

The diagnosis was cirrhosis of the liver, just like alcoholics get, but Wilson's disease was not from alcohol, it was caused by fat that was deposited in his liver over the years. He is overweight and too much fat in his liver eventually caused it to malfunction. This is not an isolated incident by any means."


Heme Oxygenase: A Font of Multiple Messengers
Solomon H Snyder MD and David E Baranano
The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Psychiatry, Baltimore, MD USA

"We have recently obtained direct evidence for a neuroprotective role of HO2 linked to Alzheimer's disease (Takahashi et al. 2000). Yeast 2-hybrid and other protein-binding studies reveal HO2 and HO1 binding to the amyloid precursor protein (APP). This interaction has no effect on APP processing but does result in inhibition of HO activity. The APP derivatives that occur in familial forms of Alzheimer's disease are much more potent than normal APP in inhibiting HO activity. To examine in vivo consequences of this finding, we utilized mice with the "Swedish" mutant APP. HO2 activity in cerebral cortical cultures from these mice is markedly reduced as is evident by profoundly diminished staining for bilirubin. Moreover, neurotoxicity elicited by hemin or hydrogen peroxide is markedly increased in cultures from Swedish mutant brain. While the HO inhibitor tin protoporphyrin IX worsens neurotoxicity in control cultures, it is ineffective in Swedish cultures in which NO activity is already diminished. We presume that the loss of physiologic protection by bilirubin in brains of patients with familial Alzheimer's disease increases sensitivity to the neurotoxic effects of the high levels of amyloid beta peptide generated in these patients."

Decreased plasma antioxidants in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Kim TS, Pae CU, Yoon SJ, Jang WY, Lee NJ, Kim JJ, Lee SJ, Lee C, Paik IH, Lee CU.
Department of Psychiatry, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. (2006)

"A significant reduction in the albumin, bilirubin, and uric acid levels in the AD group was found compared to those of the control group... This study showed that oxidative injuries could be involved in the pathogenesis of AD."


Controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine for patients with probable Alzheimer's disease.
Neurology. 2001 Oct 23;57(8):1515-7.
Adair JC, Knoefel JE, Morgan N.
Neurology Service, Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New Mexico, USA.

"Comparison of interval change favored NAC treatment on nearly every outcome measure, although significant differences were obtained only for a subset of cognitive tasks."

Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease--a 48 months follow-up analysis.
Hager K, Kenklies M, McAfoose J, Engel J, Münch G.
Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Henriettenstiftung, Hannover, Germany. (2007)

"The treatment led to a stabilization of cognitive functions in the study group, demonstrated by constant scores in two neuropsychological tests (the mini mental state exam, MMSE and the Alzheimer's disease assessment score cognitive subscale, ADAScog)... our data suggest that treatment with alpha-lipoic acid might be a successful 'neuroprotective' therapy option for AD."

Research on Serotonin Levels in Autoimmunity

Absence of reuptake of serotonin influences susceptibility to clinical autoimmune disease and neuroantigen-specific interferon-gamma production in mouse EAE
HH Hofstetter,* R Mössner,† KP Lesch,† RA Linker,*‡ KV Toyka,* and R Gold*‡ (2005)

"These findings suggest a potential role of extracellular 5-HT homeostasis in the fine-tuning of neuroantigen-specific immune responses."


Sustained remission of rheumatoid arthritis with a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant: a case report and review of the literature

"In the present case, we see that treatment of co-morbid depression with an SSRI led to complete remission of arthritis in a 60-year-old individual. Postulated mechanisms through which antidepressants mediate this effect include their agonistic action on 5-HT2A receptors or inhibition of the signaling of Toll-like receptors that are responsible for mediating innate immunity. The relation between mediators of inflammation and biologic substrates of mood seem to be bidirectional."


Blood serotonin and joint pain in seropositive versus seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.
Sigvard Kopp and Per Alstergren
Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Box 4064, 141 04 Huddinge, Sweden.

"RESULTS: The patients with seropositive RA had higher serum (median = 1130 nmol/l) and plasma (55 nmol/l) levels of 5-HT than the healthy individuals (704 nmol/l, p = 0.044 and 23 nmol/l, p < 0.001, respectively), and higher plasma levels of 5-HT than the seronegative patients (14 nmol/l, p < 0.001)." Effect of Clonazepam on Raynaud's Phenomenon and Fingertip Ulcers in Scleroderma
Murat Colakoğlu, MD
Associate Professor in Nephrology, Departmen of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
Veli Cobankara, MD
Associate Professor in Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University
Tekin Akpolat, MD

"Clonazepam, unlike many other benzodiazepines, appears to have serotonergic effects, which may contribute to its psychotropic and antimyoclonic properties. While the therapeutic action remains unclear, clonazepam's serotonergic effects may be responsible for the beneficial effect on Raynaud's phenomenon and fingertip ulcers.

Raynaud's phenomenon and erythromelalgia are both vascular acrosyndromes. Serotonin has been involved in the pathogenesis of both Raynaud's phenomenon and erythromelalgia."


Genetic variations in the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor gene (HTR2A) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis
A Kling1, M Seddighzadeh2, L Ärlestig3, L Alfredsson4,5, S Rantapää-Dahlqvist3, L Padyukov2
Accepted 1 November 2007

"In our study, genetic polymorphisms at the HTR2A gene are associated with susceptibility for RA, suggesting possible links between the serotonergic system and development of the disease."



Association between the use of serotonin receptor 2A–blocking antidepressants and joint disorders
Anders Kling1,*, Marit Danell-Boman1, Hans Stenlund2, Rune Dahlqvist1
Article first published online: 29 SEP 2009

"In the Swedish material, the 5-HT2A antagonists were 45 times more often reported to give joint ADRs when related to sales figures and compared with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; P < 0.001). Joint disorders constituted 6.6% of the total number of reports of possible ADRs for the three 5-HT2A–blocking substances mianserin, mirtazapine, and nefazodone compared with 0.5% for the SSRIs (P < 0.001). In the WHO material, the joint disorders constituted 1.3% of all ADRs for the 5-HT2A–blocking antidepressants and 0.6% for the SSRIs (P < 0.001)." Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:816-819 doi:10.1136/ard.2005.042473 Decreased density of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in rheumatoid arthritis
A Kling1, S Rantapää-Dahlqvist2, H Stenlund3, T Mjörndal1

"The density of 5-HT2A serotonin receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is markedly reduced. This could either reflect a difference involved in the susceptibility to the disease or be a secondary effect of the disease"

5-Hydroxytryptamine and tryptamine pathways in scleroderma
A. STACHOW, S. JABLONSKA, A. SKIENDZIELEWSKA (2006)

"These results suggest impaired transformation of serotonin into 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. A disproportionately high ratio of total indoles to indoleacetic acid suggests the presence of excess of tryptamine. The results of the study may indicate that in scleroderma metabolism of biogenic amines derived from tryptophan is abnormal, probably as a result of impaired activity of monoamine oxidase."


Intraplatelet and urinary serotonin concentrations in systemic lupus erythematosus with reference to its clinical manifestations
Kanai H, Tsuchida A, Yano S, Naruse T.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan

"Active SLE showed a significantly higher urinary 5-HT concentration, 0.37 +/- 0.15 nmol/ml/mg Cr, than normal controls, 0.21 +/- 0.08 nmol/ml/mg Cr (p less than 0.01). Serial measurements of intraplatelet and urinary 5-HT levels in five patients with SLE revealed a significant correlation between clinical activity and intraplatelet and urinary 5-HT levels. "


Serum Factors Releasing Serotonin from Normal Platelets: Relation to the Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
MARK H. GINSBERG, M.D.; and MICHAEL O'MALLEY, B.S.

"In three patients with episodes of thrombocytopenia, increases in serotonin releasing activity temporally coincided with drops in platelet count. These data show that levels of circulating platelet serotonin releasing factor(s) vary in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus and these variations may be inversely related to the platelet count in particular patients."


Headache, Raynaud’s syndrome and serotonin receptor agonists in systemic lupus erythematosus


Analysis of 5HT3Ra gene expression by real time PCR in Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE) patients
Mohammad Sabery Anvar, Ghasem Ahangari, Mohiedin Jafari, Shahin Dokht Samangouei, Raheleh Torabi
,Mohammad Taghi Sadeghi Kohpaieh

"We found over expression of 5HT3Ra in patients in comparison with healthy individuals group. Interestingly, some nucleotide changes have been found in 5HT3Ra gene in patients but not found sequential nucleotide changes in healthy individuals group. This study supposed that over expression of 5HT3Ra gene in SLE patients lead to over activation of immune cells that derived from over stimulation of them from serotonin blood serum that finally lead to autoimmune reactions that terminated in SLE."

Platelet 3H-imipramine uptake receptor density and serum serotonin levels in patients with fibromyalgia/fibrositis syndrome.
Russell IJ, Michalek JE, Vipraio GA, Fletcher EM, Javors MA, Bowden CA.
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7874.

Alteration of serotonin transporter density and activity in fibromyalgia
by Laura Bazzichi, Gino Giannaccini, Laura Betti, Giovanni Mascia, Laura Fabbrini,

The Expanded Biology of Serotonin
Annual Review of Medicine
Vol. 60: 355-366 (Volume publication date February 2009)
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.med.60.042307.110802

"Additionally, new work suggests that serotonin may regulate some processes, including platelet aggregation, by receptor-independent, transglutaminase-dependent covalent linkage to cellular proteins. We review this new “expanded serotonin biology” and discuss how drugs targeting specific serotonin receptors are beginning to help treat a wide range of diseases.'
Miles Berger,1 John A. Gray,1,2 and Bryan L. Roth


Ablation of Serotonin 5-HT2B Receptors in Mice Leads to Abnormal Cardiac Structure and Function
Circulation. 2001;103:2973-2979
doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.103.24.2973

"Conclusions—Mutation of 5-HT2B receptor leads to a cardiomyopathy without hypertrophy and a disruption of intercalated disks. 5-HT2B receptor is required for cytoskeleton assembly to membrane structures by its regulation of N-cadherin expression. These results constitute, for the first time, strong genetic evidence that serotonin, via the 5-HT2B receptor, regulates cardiac structure and function."
(Circulation. 2001;103:2973.)




Recent advances in understanding serotonin regulation of cardiovascular function
Francine Côté1, Cécile Fligny1, Yves Fromes2, Jacques Mallet1, , Guilan Vodjdani1

"Recent studies have provided evidence that, in the absence of peripheral serotonin synthesis, blood serotonin (which is almost exclusively stored in platelets) is markedly reduced, and that this drop leads to heart failure. This implies that the level of circulating serotonin is a key factor in maintaining normal cardiovascular activity. These findings offer new prospects for the use of serotonin in therapies for cardiovascular diseases."


Int J Cardiol. 1988 Jun;19(3):335-9.
Plasma free and intraplatelet serotonin in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

"Serotonin was significantly higher in plasma (P less than 0.005) and in platelets (P less than 0.005) from Raynaud's patients than from normal controls. Moreover, plasma circulating serotonin could differentiate primary from secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, with significantly higher levels (P less than 0.05) for patients with an underlying connective tissue disease. Our data indicate a role for serotonin in Raynaud's phenomenon."
Biondi ML, Marasini B, Bianchi E, Agostoni A.
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Scleroderma and L-tryptophan: a possible explanation of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome
SM Connolly, SR Quimby, WL Griffing, RK Winkelmann

"These findings confirm previous data that show altered tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism in some patients with scleroderma and fasciitis, particularly with tryptophan loading."

Relationship between Infection (Viral, Bacterial) and Serotonin

Rotavirus Stimulates Release of Serotonin (5-HT) from Human Enterochromaffin Cells and Activates Brain Structures Involved in Nausea and Vomiting
Marie Hagbom1#, Claudia Istrate1,2#¤a, David Engblom3, Thommie Karlsson4, Jesus Rodriguez-Diaz5¤b, Javier Buesa5, John A. Taylor6, Vesa-Matti Loitto4, Karl-Eric Magnusson4, Håkan Ahlman7, Ove Lundgren8, Lennart Svensson1*
1 Division of Molecular Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden, 2 Unidade de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Malaria e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, 3 Division of Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden, 4 Division of Medical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden, 5 Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 6 School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 7 Department of Surgery, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, 8 Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

More research on Serotonin, Depression and Scleroderma

Commonly Used Antidepressants May Also Affect Human Immune System 2006

Depression may involve autoimmune attack on serotonin (5-HT) Dec 2011

"The incidence of anti-5-HT antibody activity was significantly higher in depressed patients (54.1%), and in particular in those with melancholia (82.9%), than in controls (5.7%)."

Biogenic amines derived from tryptophan in systemic and cutaneous scleroderma.
(PMID:84460)

"An increased T/IAA ratio seems to be of prognostic significance in scleroderma, suggesting an adverse course of the disease."

NeuroScience - Offers Urine Test for 5HT levels

How to lower serotonin levels naturally... (Livestrong)

Effect of antibiotics on D-serotonin-reactive structures

Balancing gut flora and the "second brain" without prescription medication

Cardiac fibrosis and Serotonin

Tryptophan Depletion and Mood Disorders


Tryptophan, serotonin, and aging This man is a genius (Ray Peat)

Increased brain serotonin turnover in panic disorder patients in the absence of a panic attack: Reduction by a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Neurogenesis and Serotonin

Too much not too little serotonin may trigger depression

The Other Brain Also Deals With Many Woes
By HARRIET BROWN
Published: October 11, 2011

Serotonin Findings Cause Depression Rethink

Serotonin Syndrome

Think Twice: How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being

Serotonin and Gut/Esophageal Peristalsis (Important to Scleroderma Patients)
The effect of erythromycin on human esophageal motility is mediated by serotonin receptors.


Acute autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. II. Susceptibility is controlled by the combination of H-2 and histamine sensitization genes.

Compounds that induce autoimmunity in the Brown Norway rat sensitize mast cells for mediator release and interleukin-4 expression
David B. G. Oliveira1,*, Kathleen Gillespie1, Karen Wolfreys1, Peter W. Mathieson1, Faieza Qasim1, John W. Coleman2


Elevated Serotonin Levels in Autism: Association with the Major Histocompatibility Complex
Article first published online: 23 NOV 2005

Inhibition of Hypoglycemia-Induced Cortisol Secretion by the Serotonin Antagonist Cyproheptadine

Effect of the Serotonin Precursor, Tryptophan, on Pituitary Hormone Secretion
These effects are presumably mediated by conversion of tryptophan to serotonin within the central nervous system and suggest that serotonin is a potent inhibitor of hypothalamic CRF elaboration in man.

Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Thyroid Function in Depressed Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism or Normal Thyroid Function
Gisah Amaral de Carvalho, Saint-Clair Bahls, Anke Boeving, and Hans Graf. Thyroid. July 2009, 19(7): 691-697. doi:10.1089/thy.2008.0261.

Serotonin and its precursors as modulators of the immunological responsiveness in mice.

Association of erythromelalgia and Raynaud's disease responding to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor
1999, Vol. 10, No. 2 , Pages 141-144

Scleroderma treatment differs between experts and general rheumatologists
Janet E. Pope, Janine M. Ouimet, Adriana Krizova
"Erectile dysfunction (25–30) and depression (31–35) seem to be frequent problems in scleroderma, each with a substantial impact on patients, and this has been reported in the literature." = excess serotonin!!!

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor suppression of HIV infectivity and replication.
Psychosom Med. 2010 Nov;72(9):925-32. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Serotonin and Scleroderma (Fibrosis)

Platelet-derived serotonin links vascular
disease and tissue fibrosis 2011

Modulation of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by serotonin receptor antagonists in mice
A. Fabre 1 , 2 , J. Marchal-Sommé 1 , S. Marchand-Adam 1 , 3 , C. Quesnel 1 , R. Borie 1 , M. Dehoux 1 , 4 , C. Ruffié 1 , J. Callebert 5 , J-M. Launay 5 , D. Hénin 2 , P. Soler 1 and B. Crestani 1 , 3

"Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is known to increase proliferation and collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. Two receptor subtypes, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B, have been shown to play the most important roles in the lung. Serotonin antagonists promoted an antifibrotic environment by decreasing the lung mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-β1, connective growth factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA... Interestingly, the 5-HT2B receptor was strongly expressed by fibroblasts in the fibroblastic foci in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis samples."

Treatment of Carcinoid Fibrosis

Positive data from Lexicon LX1032 Phase 2 study on carcinoid syndrome

Potaba ® Potassium P-Aminobenzoate, U.S.P.

Development of a Scleroderma-like Illness during Therapy with L-5-Hydroxytryptophan and Carbidopa

Our data and studies in the literature suggest that two factors may be important in the pathogenesis of some scleroderma-like illness: high plasma serotonin and the abnormality associated with elevated kynurenine. (N Engl J Med. 1980; 303:782–7.)


Depression, osteoporosis, serotonin and cell membrane viscosity between biology and philosophical anthropology


At the time it is shown that the viscosity of the platelet membrane is a general influencing factor for serotonin receptor uptake, a general principle governing the handling of serotonin itself is established with regard to its relations with the depressive disorder. It may also be involved, to a certain extent, in some pathologies that recognise serotonin changes; that is, scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease, neuroinflammation, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis.

The high incidence of depression, in these pathological conditions, leads us to consider a general phenomenological rule rather than a specific error in gene expression or loss of enzyme function. The viscosity of the membrane appears to be a concept more plausible than the fact that it is a phenomenon to which changes may contribute more general factors compared to the exclusivity of a gene expression error and/or an abnormality of enzyme function. The serotonin receptors and their subtypes, together with the modification of gene expression of transporters, represent a very complex and intriguing network. We must understand if it is possible to find a general and common rule to explain all the different molecular aspects of the serotonin pathways, tissue connections and responsibilities in its involvement in pathologies.

Raynaud's Phenomenon and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine

Plasma free and intraplatelet serotonin in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon

Management of Vasculopathy in Connective Tissue Disease

Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2007;(178):347-63.
A novel conditional knockout strategy applied to serotonin receptors.

The Serotonin Signaling System: From Basic Understanding To Drug Development for Functional GI Disorders
Michael D. Gershon⁎, , , Jan Tack‡
Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Doxycycline and Serotonin

Serotonin 5HT-1A receptor density in the brain of the spontaneously hypertensive rats
After doxycycline treatment, serotonin 5HT-1A extracellular domain receptor density was significantly increased in the treated SHRs (p<0.05). These results suggest that doxycycline can increase extracellular domain receptor density.

Many Benefits Of N-Acetyl Cysteine

Protective effect of n-acetylcysteine in a model of influenza infection in mice.
Ungheri D, Pisani C, Sanson G, Bertani A, Schioppacassi G, Delgado R, Sironi M, Ghezzi P.
Zambon Research, 20092 Bresso, Milan (2000)

N-Acetylcysteine: Multiple Clinical Applications
PAUL J. MILLEA, MD, MA, Department of Integrative Medicine, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., Falls Church, Virginia
Am Fam Physician. 2009 Aug 1;80(3):265-269.

High-Dose N-Acetylcysteine Therapy for Novel H1N1 Influenza Pneumonia
Kang Yiu Lai, MRCP; Wing Yiu Ng, MRCP; Pik Kei Osburga Chan, MRCP; Kit Fai Wong, MD, MRCP; and Fanny Cheng, MRCP (2009)

Inhibitory effect of N-acetylcysteine on adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae to human oropharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro.
Riise GC, Qvarfordt I, Larsson S, Eliasson V, Andersson BA.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. gerdt.riise@hjl.gu.se (2000)

Antifibrotic Effects of Antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine in a Mouse Model of Human Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutation
Ali J. Marian, MD, FACC*, Vinitha Senthil, PhD, Suet N. Chen, MS and Raffaella Lombardi, MD
Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (2005)

High-dose oral N-acetylcysteine, a glutathione prodrug, modulates inflammation in cystic fibrosis
Rabindra Tirouvanziam,*† Carol K. Conrad,‡ Teodoro Bottiglieri,§ Leonore A. Herzenberg,* Richard B. Moss,‡ and Leonard A. Herzenberg*†
*Departments of Genetics and
‡Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305; and
§Institute of Metabolic Disease, Baylor University, Dallas, TX 75226 (2006)

High-Dose Acetylcysteine in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Maurits Demedts, M.D., Juergen Behr, M.D., Roland Buhl, M.D., Ulrich Costabel, M.D., P.N., Richard Dekhuijzen, M.D., Henk M. Jansen, M.D., William MacNee, M.D., Michiel Thomeer, M.D., Benoit Wallaert, M.D., François Laurent, M.D., Andrew G. Nicholson, M.D., Eric K. Verbeken, M.D., Johny Verschakelen, M.D., Christopher D.R. Flower, M.D., Frédérique Capron, M.D., Stefano Petruzzelli, M.D., Paul De Vuyst, M.D., Jules M.M. van den Bosch, M.D., Eulogio Rodriguez-Becerra, M.D., Giuseppina Corvasce, Ph.D., Ida Lankhorst, M.D., Marco Sardina, M.D., and Mauro Montanari, Ph.D. for the IFIGENIA Study Group
N Engl J Med 2005;

N-acetylcysteine improves the clinical conditions of mustard gas-exposed patients with normal pulmonary function test.
Ghanei M, Shohrati M, Jafari M, Ghaderi S, Alaeddini F, Aslani J.
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. (2008)

Health Benefits of Saffron

Saffron Shows Promise In Preventing Liver Cancer

Saffron: A potential candidate for a novel anticancer drug against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Saffron Valued for Supporting Liver Health

Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A pilot double-blind randomized trial [ISRCTN45683816]

Studies Connecting Autoimmunity to Viral and Bacterial Infection

Infections and autoimmunity: the multifaceted relationship.
Sfriso P, Ghirardello A, Botsios C, Tonon M, Zen M, Bassi N, Bassetto F, Doria A.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. (2009)

Infections and autoimmunity: a panorama.
Pordeus V, Szyper-Kravitz M, Levy RA, Vaz NM, Shoenfeld Y.
Clinical Research, Pro Cardiaco Hospital Research Center-PROCEP, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (2008)

From infection to autoimmunity.
Fairweather D, Kaya Z, Shellam GR, Lawson CM, Rose NR.
The Department of Pathology and The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. (2001)

Infection, vaccines and other environmental triggers of autoimmunity.
Molina V, Shoenfeld Y.
Department of Medicine B and The Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. (2005)


Infections and autoimmune diseases.
Bach JF.
Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Hôpital Necker, 161 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France. bach@necker.fr
(This abstract is really thorough and fascinating!)

Infection in systemic lupus erythematosus: friend or foe?
Francis L, Perl A.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine State University of New York, College of Medicine 750 East Adams Street Syracuse, New York 13210, USA

Can infections protect against autoimmunity?
Gaisford W, Cooke A.
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. (2009)

Induction, exacerbation and inhibition of allergic and autoimmune diseases by infection.
Kamradt T, Göggel R, Erb KJ.
Institut für Immunologie, Klinikum der Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, 07740 Jena, Germany. (2005)


Regulation of type 1 diabetes, tuberculosis, and asthma by parasites.
Liu Z, Liu Q, Bleich D, Salgame P, Gause WC.
Source
Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. (2010)


Parasitic worms and inflammatory diseases.
Zaccone P, Fehervari Z, Phillips JM, Dunne DW, Cooke A.
Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK. (2006)

My Hands Jan 2011

This one shows the small blister under the skin of the third digit, top joint.

LDN Miracle

A few weeks ago, I began taking a very low dose of LDN. I had three reasons for this - it has been documented to help lyme disease sufferers in addition to thyroiditis and other autoimmune conditions. I figured it was worth a try, and my LLMD/ND agreed.

For those who have never heard of LDN before, it is low dose naltrexone. If you google it you will find a lot of information about its off-label use for many chronic conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's Disease, cancer and other autoimmune problems... even HIV/AIDS. LDN has been in use since the mid-1980s and is becoming better recognized studies are being run to see how it affects many kinds of conditions.

From my understanding, LDN is an opiate receptor inhibitor and immune system booster. Here is a link to the site that can best explain more.

My experience so far with this low dose drug has been nothing short of a miracle.

Although I have a wide variety of lyme-induced symptoms ranging from thyroid and adrenal problems to interstitial cystitis and GERD, the problem that has recently been most debilitating for me has been pain, aching and severe inflammation from spinal injuries that I have had for a few years. Recently my L4-5 disc herniation has been very inflamed, making it difficult for me to bend forward or walk without pain. I have also (thanks to a recent fall and lots of stroller lifting in and out of the car) managed to injure my mid-thoracic spine and it has been a source of great pain.

I did not have much expectation surrounding LDN in fact I was quite nervous about taking it, especially after having a bad initial reaction to 1.5mg which is considered a low dose.

My LLMD encouraged me not to give up on the LDN after my first bad experience but to wait a week and try again at a lower dose, then gradually build up. I started again at .5mg which went much better, and have now built up to .75mg a night with no problems.

After taking the LDN for about four nights, I woke one day to discover that I had literally no pain anywhere in my body. Zero. My spine felt amazing and I felt about fifteen years younger. I thought it was a fluke but since that time I am happy to report that the absence of pain is real. I can function with great stamina and even a spring in my step upon occasion. I have to remind myself about the back injuries so that I will not overdo it, since the injuries are real and diagnosed by MRI. If I didn't know they were there though, I would never guess. The LDN has given me a lot of joy back. I just hope that throughout the rest of my life there will always be a physician willing to prescribe it in such a low dose to me for this off-label use. I worry about the government banning off-label prescription of medications now... something I never would have imagined worrying about before.

If you suffer from an autoimmune or rheumatic condition, I can only say that in my case it has been absolutely amazing. I am telling everyone I know that suffers from chronic pain just how much it has helped me. I am also sleeping better than I have in years.

I am excited to see what the future will hold for me, and can honestly say that I am feeling so much better. I feel very lucky and blessed to be on this path back to wellness. I am starting to genuinely believe that I will be around to watch my children grow into adulthood and maybe even meet my own grandchildren someday. This kind of genuine hope is such a blessing.

May this post bring you hope and perhaps insight into a new mode of treatment.

Falling down the staircase...

A few days ago I was cleaning my house with my young daughter when I realized that my feet were cold so I went upstairs, pulled on a pair of fuzzy synthetic "fun" socks and began to run back down. Out of nowhere, and for the first time in my 34 years, I lost my footing and began to fall down the staircase. Time seemed to go in slow motion as I felt myself flying, trying to find my footing, slipping anew, and finally coming down hard on my extended right arm... whereupon I heard a large crack and felt a stabbing/aching pain all throughout my shoulder.

In all, I managed to tumble down six stairs - an entire flight.

I spent the morning at Urgent Care where they took 5 xrays and determined that I had not broken any bones. The doctor told me that until the inflammation went down they would not be able to determine if I had herniated any discs - and so for now, I've been icing and waiting to see a chiropractor on Monday.

As much pain as I am in, I know I was really lucky not to have broken a vertebrae or cracked my head on anything. I am grateful for that.

It made me think about how quickly something can happen that can change your life irrevocably. In a single instant, everything can shift.

My autoimmune journey really kicked off about one year ago (despite having had the Hashimoto's for a few years prior) and since that time, I have often felt like I was free falling down Alice's rabbit hole, unsure of my footing or where I would land. It has been an exhausting, frightening, anxious time.

Yet nearly four months since I learned that I might have a devastating collagen vascular disease, I am hopeful that I did hit bottom this Summer... that my diagnosis with lyme and babesia were just the beginning of my journey back to vibrant health.

So far, I have not noticed a lot of difference from the herbs I am taking - other than the diuretic effect of the Smilax. I am slowly trying to build up my tolerance to them, adding more drops every seven days.

Wonderfully, the treatment for my low progesterone seems to be extremely helpful and I have seen definite measurable improvements in some of my most frustrating symptoms since beginning to use progesterone cream. Before taking it, my progesterone levels were menopausal... now I am beginning to feel like a woman again.

I still have dark days, moments when I wonder what is yet to come and how I will get through all of this. I pray to find peace with each step of my path, even the difficult ones. I worry about the fact that there is no cure for Lyme and that I don't know what it will take for me to go into remission and stay well, with no advent of wretched autoimmune problems or other disease.

Yet, there are also spots of great illumination that keep me going... stories of remission from the Road Back Foundation bulletin board... new research breakthroughs... and even a story I read last night in the New York Times about a woman who was dying of incurable Clostridium difficile who received a transplant from her husband's healthy fecal matter and was cured within one day... thanks to his healthy bacteria completely wiping out the C.Diff.

Miracles do happen every single day in this world, in this country, in this city. For all I know, I am one of those miracles ~ currently in process.

May this post find you well and bring you even more health.

A little progress, a lot of hope...

For the first time in a year, I almost feel like my head is clear. It doesn't last all day, and it does come and go. Yet, I can think! My brain is working for me again and I love it!!!! There have been so many days - weeks really - in the last calendar year that were lost to exhaustion, depression, and mostly a feeling like I was swimming through pudding all the time. I forgot the words for simple items and found my speech slurring inexplicably. It was scary and frustrating, and more than anything, it simply wasn't me. After almost 35 years in this body, I know the difference between ME and NOT ME and let me tell you, I really wasn't myself.

It has been almost four months now that I have been actively treating the mycoplasma pneumoniae infection I was diagnosed with in July, and three months since I went gluten free again. Thanks to the wonders of Moducare 6x a day plus other supplements, good nutrition, better sleep, less stress and now a whole plethora of antimicrobials and anti-parasitic herbs, I am slowly getting my groove back. Better yet, I feel the fear receding. I now understand what I am challenged with, and I am up to the challenge. Just knowing what is happening has been a huge part of the battle for me.

Yesterday I got back more bloodwork results and - unsurprisingly to either of my LLMDs - I am positive for babesia microti. This is in addition to the positive Western Blot test for borrelia burgdorferi and the positive mycoplasma. My bugs and protozoa have names! Perhaps better still, we now know definitively that they exist in me and that they are at the root of much of the havoc that has taken place for me medically in the last year.

How can I explain to anyone who doesn't suffer from a health challenge, just how wonderful it is to actually know why these mysterious "autoimmune" things keep happening in my body! The explanation alone is so empowering, and better yet I know I am actively fighting this stuff. So I feel proactive and excited to see just how much I can heal in the next few years.

This is the list of miracles I would love to see happen:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis - gone


• Adrenals healthy again


• Interstitial cystitis - gone


• Raynaud's phenomenon - gone


• Esophageal motility back to normal or improved


• Vulvadynia - gone


• All yeast and fungal infections - gone


• Continued heart, lung, kidney health!


• Direct bilirubin - normal


• Brain fog and anxiety - gone


• Able to remember things with sharp clarity again


• Parasthesias, electric charges, twitching - all gone


• ANA negative with no pattern... that would be AWESOME!

This is what I am praying for every day, and yet what really keeps me motivated is the simple goal that I will be here to spend time with my children, help guide them, watch them grow up and maybe even see my own grandchildren. I want to watch them go through all of the seminal life events - graduations, weddings, holidays, births - and to give them love every step of the way.

For the first time in a full year, I really believe this is going to happen. I have assembled such a crackerjack team of professionals to help me - great lyme doc, great naturopath, great rheumatologist, great support network... I feel on fire with love for the world and confidence that I DO have a permanent place here, at least for two more generations :-)

It is good to feel optimistic again. That is probably the best gift of all.

If you are reading this and dealing with an autoimmune problem, lyme disease, babesia or just a group of mysterious symptoms that no-one seems to be able to pin down, I hope that this post will give you the hope to persevere until you can actually find a diagnosis and begin healing.

Much love.

My "Balance" Doctor

This is an excerpt from a response I wrote today to a lady on the Road Back Foundation Bulletin Board about whether or not to pursue lyme treatment. I feel that it really sums up where I am right now in terms of my healing and my view on health altogether... so I am going ahead to post it here on my autoimmune blog as well. Maybe someday it will help bring encouragement or faith to someone suffering from a "mysterious" autoimmune problem ~ and that would be wonderful.

I wrote:

"At the end of the day, I had almost every single lyme symptom on any lyme checklist I could find. I figured it was better to embark on a treatment and see what happened, rather than continuing to live feeling awful and foggy - and having so many MDs offer to give me antidepressants because they couldn't come up for an explanation for my symptoms. Or even more frustrating, to have multiple doctors tell me that I was likely developing an autoimmune disease but only time would tell which one, and there were no cures for any of them anyway.

I am seeing a well respected LLMD/ND (naturopathic doctor) and I have to say that I am already noticing positive changes based on the protocol I have been on for 3 weeks. They are small changes. However, just knowing that I am actively doing something to improve my health makes me feel better and more positive.

I honestly view my lyme doctor as a "balance" doctor. She is helping me to get my body back into balance - and frankly, who cares how it got that way. I have tested positive twice (via Labcorp) for active mycoplasma infection, my hormones are off, my adrenals aren't functioning normally, I have Hashimoto's - you name it. Plenty of "traditional lab" bloodwork to show that my body isn't happy with something. I believe that following up with the lyme by taking appropriate antimicrobials, balancing out the hormones, healing my gut with probiotics, cutting out gluten and if necessary taking antifungals... all of this is just getting my body back into balance.

So many people have told me in the past week how much better I am looking, and I don't even need this wonderful validation because overall, I have more energy and I can think more clearly. I am less depressed. Something is really helping me.

Thanks to all of the last 3 months, I no longer believe in autoimmune disease or even cancer. (I was checking out the studies last night on PubMed showing a proven causal relationship between bacteria/viruses and cancer... there is so much evidence out there.) At this point, I simply believe that we are [mammals] exposed to bacteria, protozoa, viruses and environmental toxins - which combined with poor diet, lack of sleep and stress, create illnesses that we have classified into different categories and given names like "Alzheimer's" or "Scleroderma". I think the main thing is to be proactive in getting your body back into balance.

The great thing about Lyme doctors, is that they really do look at you holistically. My LLMDs are the only people who look at me and don't think it is crazy or tragic that I have thyroid, adrenal, bladder and vulvadynia problems, along with disc hernations. They nod their heads and say, "Yep, all of that is typical lyme and babesia." For them, I'm just a run-of-the-mill patient. I can't tell you how good that feels, to be viewed as simply a normal person who has contracted lyme and possibly co-infections."

I really am feeling different. It is hard to quantify just yet, since I have only been on treatment for 3 weeks. However, I know for sure the treatment isn't hurting me - I just had a CBC run last week and my creatinine was at its best level in the last year, my kidney function is awesome :-) All of my numbers looked great. Other than that, my skin has got its color back, my acid reflux is about 85% improved, my digestive tract has normalized in such a great way, I have more energy, and I can think more clearly. I don't think I have been slurring my words as much either. I feel positive and optimistic.

Of course, there are plenty of symptoms I'd love to see cleared up. I'd love to have the parasthesias around my body go away, for one. I'd love to improve my spinal alignment... had a disc go out this weekend and it was excruciating until the chiro put it back in. I'd love to stop feeling itchy, to have physical stamina, and to be able to remember things as sharply as I used to. Having been a "smart" person most of my life, it has been enormously humbling to feel not very smart most of the time. I'd love to have just a little bit of my mental edge back again, if only to enjoy spirited debates with my adorable husband again.

Still, I feel like I am on the right track for which I am so grateful. I'm not as worried right now that I won't be here to see my kids grow up... I'm feeling more optimistic all the time.

Sending love into the great beyond...

Things have been going very well for me. I have started on my protocol and so far, so good. At this point I have not had any terrible reactions to any of the herbs I am taking or the Transfer Factor, am relieved to have gotten all of the bloodwork done (still waiting on co-infection results) and best of all I have had a lot of energy and optimism. Since I stopped eating gluten again, my brain has lost its fog and I can think clearly. I've even found a new product that I am experimenting with for some of my less comfortable daily symptoms and that one seems to be stirring things up quite a lot.

But all that to the side for the day.

I just read on the Road Back Foundation bulletin board that a member from Pennsylvania that I had briefly corresponded with has passed away, quite suddenly, leaving behind his beloved wife. Tears filled my eyes the instant I read her post, letting us know that he has gone to heaven. I have read of so much miraculous healing on the Road Back board, I'd sort of let myself forget the gravity of scleroderma. This poor man had only just found AP one month before he became gravely ill, and had only barely started in on the treatment. He had suffered from scleroderma off and on for almost 50 years. Yet I know when I first read his posts, I truly believed that he would survive and thrive. Tragically, his case was very advanced and he has now passed away.

I grieve the loss of his life, and that his wife is now parted from the man she writes was her soul mate.

I will continue praying for him, keeping him in my warmest of well wishes and prayers, wherever his spirit may be along the journey beyond. Perhaps he and my father who died last year are both part of something bigger and brighter now, free of their suffering. I know one thing, the love that they gave and received will live on forever.

This news makes me more determined than ever to treat my lyme and co-infections, and follow whatever diet or lifestyle choices are necessary to beat these bugs and regain my full health and strength. Three children - jewels brighter than the stars - are counting on me to do so. I will do whatever it takes!

Starting Treatment Protocol for Lyme Disease

I've been a little nervy all day today. Things are going to change, starting tomorrow, and I'm praying that it will turn out to be for the better :-)

I never really explained throughout the last two months what has been happening with me, and I realize that to the average reader who is not already one of my friends or family members, it may have suddenly gotten a little difficult to follow my path.

In a nutshell:

1) After seeing two GI specialists, I learned that I do not have eosinophilic esophagitis or esophageal cancer. The peristalsis in my esophagus is very slow and smooth muscle is hypotensive, also the LES is hyptotensive. Oh, and a 2cm hiatal hernia. This is apparently seen in a variety of collagen vascular disorders, diabetes, hypothyroidism and untreated GERD. My GI in Sacramento said that he believes this is severe GERD and of course wants me on a PPI. I didn't respond well to the drug, and am now trying to go the way of probiotics, dietary change and sleeping elevated.

2) The rheumatologist said there are no current signs of Scleroderma. Bloodwork remains negative, although ANA was positive at 1:40 with a speckled pattern. Rheumatologist said this could be from my Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or possibly even just "normal". Apparently 1/3 of population has this particular finding. He will check me again in November.

3) I tested positive for Lyme disease via an IgM Western Blot serum test. Diagnosis was given in late July by one LLMD and confirmed yesterday by another LLMD/ND. Also confirmed via biofeedback, but I still don't know where I stand on those machines. I have also tested positive, twice, for Mycoplasma Pneumonaie IgM and IgG. Today I had my blood drawn for the last of the co-infection tests... babesia (two kinds), bartonella (two kinds). Also h.pylori. Very, very interested to get results back from this testing.

4) I have begun working with a very talented and highly regarded LLMD/ND who is going to help me walk this path of healing slowly and deliberately. We are going to address all of my known imbalances - female hormones, adrenals, thyroid, heavy metals, candida, bacteria. Starting up slowly with only adrenal support and one anti-microbial. Going to take it from there. It should be a long path but I am ready to do anything to be with my children well into their adulthood. I have been told that healing from chronic lyme and co-infections can take anywhere between 9 months and 3 years on average, possibly longer. I am ready.

5) I am following the lyme diet which means that once again I am going gluten free, and mostly dairy and sugar free. Hoping I will be able to re-add rice into the rotation without hurting my gut too much. I miss the comfort of the wheat bread but not the exhaustion, brain fog and acid reflux I was getting after every slice.

6) Thanks to the incredible generosity of a local clinic owner I am going to get infrared sauna treatments 2 - 3x per week for a price that my family can afford... also, they offer massage covered through Aetna (yay!!!) and I will continue acupuncture and using EFT for inner balance. Also acupuncture on Sundays, with the best acupuncturist in the entire world.

7) Not to mention, church on Sundays and spiritual reading/meditation every day!

8) And exercise as I can tolerate it :-) Lots and lots of sunshine.

9) Last but certainly not least, I am so hugely indebted to the support network I have found on the Road Back Foundation bulletin board. I can't believe how far I have come emotionally in the last two months and how much progress I have made in terms of getting a diagnosis and getting on treatment. I would never have come this far so fast without the RBF and I have received so much valuable advice and support from the other members of the group. I laugh and cry when reading their posts, and after hearing so many staggering stories of healing and remission, I truly believe in miracles.

10) Tomorrow is the big day.

I have been told by many, many, many people including doctors and clinic owners that I should expect to get worse before I get better... expect to feel like I have a terrible flu or strong flares of my symptoms as the actual bacteria or protozoa begin to react to getting chased by antimicrobials/antimalarials. Even though I am going low and slow with herbs and homeopathics to start, I am still expecting this.

But I am not very scared of the Herxheimer response ("herxing", they call it). I am more afraid that I will somehow be the one lyme patient for whom none of the many treatment options or modalities will work... and that I will just get sicker instead of getting well.

That isn't the best of me talking, though. Just the small, scared part. The best part of me knows that I have a ton more to do and accomplish in this world... most of all, to love and care for my children and husband who I adore. I have found the path of Road Back, AP, Lyme treatment, etc. because I am willing to do whatever it takes to get well and somewhere deep down, I really believe that I will. I am very excited to step into the miraculous!

So, that said... I'll let you know how it goes!

Long Time, No See

I haven't posted for quite a while. However, this is not all bad. August was by and large a wonderful month for our family which included a much needed vacation to a local island (our first family trip in over two years) and also our annual 4-birthday bash. I felt blessed to spend time with my family, including my siblings who came from distant cities. It was a happy time, and in the midst of it, I saw the rheumatologist in Riverside who is so highly regarded by many. He did a thorough workup and said that for now, he saw no sign of scleroderma. Not only did he tell me this, but he also wrote it on his chart notes (which I got a copy of). That one phrase at the bottom: "No sign of Scl" is something I have re-read in bed at night, when I have had too much anxiety and could not sleep. Because really, I have to admit that I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I will be seeing him again in November for a followup checkup.

A lot of the supplements I was taking were making me feel terrific - clear brain, no fog, optimistic, patient. I made the mistake of trying to go cold turkey off of my proton pump inhibitor (Prevacid 30mg) though and boy has that been a HUGE mistake. The rebound hyperacidity has been outrageously intense, so much worse than any reflux I ever had in my entire life before going on the drug. That alone tells me that these pharmaceuticals are not healthy. I don't like the feeling that I have to go back on the drug to suppress the acid that is being caused by the drug. That feels like a pharmaceutical industry ploy to get people addicted to these things for life. So I am going to tough it out and pray that the acid will not damage my esophagus too much in the next few weeks. I am taking natural acid products instead, and have found a very good probiotic called GoodBelly BigShot 50 which has significantly helped.

I am excited about my upcoming appointment with a local LLMD/ND on Monday. I have read her book about the Lyme Diet and she shares my philosophy that food is medicine and that one can heal bacterial infection/hormone imbalance/candida overgrowth with the use of diet, herbals, antifungals and homeopathics - rather than relying solely upon antibiotics. I am open to both but really believe that rebuilding my gut ecosystem is going to be the key to all healing. The lyme connection may tie all of my autoimmune problems together, give them a root cause, and get me on my way to total health. I really believe the day will come when I feel 'normal' - energetic, optimistic, active and healthy just like I did years ago before having children.

I'll let you know how it goes :-)

Great First Step!

Essentially I am facing two problems currently.

1) My esophagus has stopped working correctly and has no wave function in its lower 2/3, making it impossible for me to swallow solid food. I would like very much to resolve this, so that I can eat dinner with my family.
2) Something has happened that has caused my esophagus to stop working. We need to figure out what it is, and make it better.

Today, I took a fantastic first step toward figuring out step 1. Hurray!

Over the weekend I have found two very exciting articles about the use of electro-stimulation to improve esophageal dysmotility. Here are the abstracts:

Kansas Research Hospital and Medical Center, Kansas City, MO.

Background: The treatment of progressive oropharyngeal dysphagias of neurological origin as well as esophageal motility disorders is extremely difficult and may involve artificial means of maintaining nutrition and hydration, such as the use of percutaneous gastrostomy and other surgeries. Acupuncture has been found to be beneficial in poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Objective: To describe acupuncture treatment of a patient with progressive oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal motility disorder of undetermined etiology.

Design, Setting, and Patient: Case report of a 68-year-old woman at a solo private practice in Kansas City, Missouri, treated beginning in 2004 and followed up through early 2007.

Intervention: Acupuncture treatment including electroacupuncture for 11 sessions. Points used were SP 6 and SP 9 (connected with 2.5-Hz stimulation), LU 7, LI 4, and ST 36, bilaterally. From the second treatment onward, CV 22 was added. Each treatment lasted 25 minutes.

Main Outcome Measure: Symptom response following acupuncture.

Results: The patient reported complete resolution of symptoms after 11 sessions, and she has remained symptom-free for 2 years without needing further acupuncture treatment or any other therapy.

Conclusion: Acupuncture should be considered as one of the therapeutic tools for treating oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal motility disorder.

and then,

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) improves upper GI symptoms and balances the sympathovagal activity in scleroderma patients.

Sallam H, McNearney TA, Doshi D, Chen JD.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
Abstract

To assess the impact of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at gastrointestinal (GI) acupoints on GI symptoms and quality of life in scleroderma patients, 17 patients filled out SF-36 and GI symptom questionnaires before the electrocardiogram was recorded for two intervals: baseline and TENS. At home, patients applied TENS for 14 days, then were reassessed. Acutely, TENS application significantly increased sympathetic and vagal activities vs. baseline (P=0.02 and P=0.004), respectively. Prolonged TENS application normalized the sympathovagal balance (P=0.04), decreased GI symptom scores (P=0.02) and increased the physical functioning score (SF36), which strongly correlated with the change in the sympathovagal balance (r=0.6, P=0.02). In conclusion, TENS at GI acupoints offers a potential option in the treatment of upper GI symptoms, but further study is necessary.

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With these two studies in hand, I visited the wonderful acupuncturist who has been treating me for the past eight months. Not only was he impressed with my research but he was very willing to give me the identical treatment that worked on the woman in the original study. So, we did it!

When he inserted the two thin needles in my abdomen (near my esophagus), my entire stomach jumped! It had such a quick and strong reaction. After he started the low electric stimulation in the needles in my calves, my stomach started to make all sorts of noises. It was bubbling and gurgling merrily away, things were really moving down there. I could not stop smiling the entire time. I kept thinking to myself, "This worked for that woman after only 11 treatments and I am already having my first treatment! I am on my way!"

I have no idea if there was any effect at all upon my own esophageal motility but I can definitively state that my entire body responded to the acupuncture and electro-stim today, and my stomach was digesting very well. When my gut jumped as he inserted the needles, my acupuncturist gave me a huge smile and said, "That is a very positive sign. Something was sluggish down there and it just turned back on."

Is it possible to do a happy dance online? I am so happy. It was such a wonderful day. I am feeling 200% better than I did just two weeks ago, my skin is looking so much healthier and my brain fog has lifted. I even managed to take 6 neprinol today and I feel that the supplements have been helping me so much. My whole aura is positive right now. I just know I am on the right path.

So, tomorrow morning we leave... and I hope that after Wednesday, I can write definitively that there is no cancer in my esophagus - that we are on the right track with the healing steps being taken, and that there will be plenty of time for my healing journey.

Sending much love and healing to you.