Thursday, 28 June 2007
Professor Gordon Stewart's warnings about DTP in the 1980's
Professor Gordon Stewart was Emeritus Professor of Public Health into the eighties at the University of Glasgow when he began to have very serious concerns about the DTP vaccine. He was particularly worried about increasing reports of adverse reactions including convulsions and white shock after the vaccine in some children and death in some others. Professor Stewart worked with committees looking at these reactions, thought to be linked to the live pertussis antigen.
He was to be shocked when others in the committee were making public announcements that the vaccine was perfectly safe. He knew this was simply not the case.
Time moves on and political spin has whipped up a veritable confection trying to convince the public that there are no reactions to vaccine, even saying that reported adverse reactions are simply co-incidences.
Biological studies (see Dish of the Day below) on Thimerosal with its 49.6% Mercury content show the damage it can do to cells, the retina and to the way it collects in certain organs. Mercury's potential to draw live viruses to it as well as other vaccine ingredients is never even mentioned to the public.
Did Mercury draw the pertussis antigen to it, or did it act alone/separately? How will we know if the lies and spin continue despite the vast evidence of adverse reactions in VAERS in the US, the Yellow Card scheme in the UK, the Brighton Collaboration spanning both and through the work and warnings of men of high integrity such as Professor Gordon Stewart?
Read the recent Spectator article about the tragic case of Sally Clark whose children had just had vaccines when they died.
Other cases known to me of babies whose deaths followed the DTP ( and in some cases the MMR) also involved parents having to take the blame.
Professors who have remained completely silent on the issue of vaccines even when stood in Court speaking on Oath and who have led the way in this blame game, also sat on Adverse Reactions to Vaccination Committees. One of these is Professor Sir Roy Meadow who said there was a 73 million to 1 chance that Sally Clark's two babies died 'naturally'. Meaning that she must have killed them. No mention of the vaccines.
Professor David Southall has also been involved in studies linked to CONI schemes - Care of the Next Infant, run by the FSID (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) - after a baby died. Many died after a vaccine but he never mentions that either.
Could it be that for 25 years certain powerful individals have crafted theories to blame parents for the evidence of adverse reactions to vaccines set down right before their eyes? whilst others battled in vain to protect the public by raising concerns?
Will a new British Government headed by Gordon Brown, now, finally, protect the public and expose what has been happening to so many children ?
http://www.spectator.co.uk/archive/30630/what-killed-sally-clarks-child.thtml
He was to be shocked when others in the committee were making public announcements that the vaccine was perfectly safe. He knew this was simply not the case.
Time moves on and political spin has whipped up a veritable confection trying to convince the public that there are no reactions to vaccine, even saying that reported adverse reactions are simply co-incidences.
Biological studies (see Dish of the Day below) on Thimerosal with its 49.6% Mercury content show the damage it can do to cells, the retina and to the way it collects in certain organs. Mercury's potential to draw live viruses to it as well as other vaccine ingredients is never even mentioned to the public.
Did Mercury draw the pertussis antigen to it, or did it act alone/separately? How will we know if the lies and spin continue despite the vast evidence of adverse reactions in VAERS in the US, the Yellow Card scheme in the UK, the Brighton Collaboration spanning both and through the work and warnings of men of high integrity such as Professor Gordon Stewart?
Read the recent Spectator article about the tragic case of Sally Clark whose children had just had vaccines when they died.
Other cases known to me of babies whose deaths followed the DTP ( and in some cases the MMR) also involved parents having to take the blame.
Professors who have remained completely silent on the issue of vaccines even when stood in Court speaking on Oath and who have led the way in this blame game, also sat on Adverse Reactions to Vaccination Committees. One of these is Professor Sir Roy Meadow who said there was a 73 million to 1 chance that Sally Clark's two babies died 'naturally'. Meaning that she must have killed them. No mention of the vaccines.
Professor David Southall has also been involved in studies linked to CONI schemes - Care of the Next Infant, run by the FSID (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) - after a baby died. Many died after a vaccine but he never mentions that either.
Could it be that for 25 years certain powerful individals have crafted theories to blame parents for the evidence of adverse reactions to vaccines set down right before their eyes? whilst others battled in vain to protect the public by raising concerns?
Will a new British Government headed by Gordon Brown, now, finally, protect the public and expose what has been happening to so many children ?
http://www.spectator.co.uk/archive/30630/what-killed-sally-clarks-child.thtml
The Tapestry of disorders is becoming all too obvious
In the early nineties I began to see that the usual approaches to diagnosis with black and white diagnostic methods were not that helpful. So many children then emerging fell through the net.
That is because they were increasingly complex. They had a complex interweave of conditions - such as the Autism, ADHD and Asthma Generation Rescue finds as being higher in vaccinated boys. It was then that I began to use the metaphor of the Tapestry.
There also seemed at that stage to probably be a complex interweave of causes and certainly there need to be a complex interweave of interventions to maximise the chances of success so the metaphor worked on various levels of explanation.
Tragically and astonishingly, the system has done all in its power to deny this tapestry, and to play games with diagnosis and indeed with those doing the diagnosing.
Once respectable professionals now take the stand one after the other against children to talk about studies with clear conflicts of interest as a glance at the transcripts in the Cedillo case now running in New York will show. Shame on them.
It all started with that tapestry of corruption - Big Pharma in bed with Governments and now we have a tapestry of crippling life-long disorders in the lucky ones who survive adverse reactions to vaccinations. But until the tapestry of disorders and the causes are fully understood by the public, the majority of these children will continue to suffer as we have not even begun to address their complex needs as we should in our so called advanced society.
That is because they were increasingly complex. They had a complex interweave of conditions - such as the Autism, ADHD and Asthma Generation Rescue finds as being higher in vaccinated boys. It was then that I began to use the metaphor of the Tapestry.
There also seemed at that stage to probably be a complex interweave of causes and certainly there need to be a complex interweave of interventions to maximise the chances of success so the metaphor worked on various levels of explanation.
Tragically and astonishingly, the system has done all in its power to deny this tapestry, and to play games with diagnosis and indeed with those doing the diagnosing.
Once respectable professionals now take the stand one after the other against children to talk about studies with clear conflicts of interest as a glance at the transcripts in the Cedillo case now running in New York will show. Shame on them.
It all started with that tapestry of corruption - Big Pharma in bed with Governments and now we have a tapestry of crippling life-long disorders in the lucky ones who survive adverse reactions to vaccinations. But until the tapestry of disorders and the causes are fully understood by the public, the majority of these children will continue to suffer as we have not even begun to address their complex needs as we should in our so called advanced society.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
The FIVE YEAR STRUGGLE for parents to get this to Court
This schedule provides a glimpse at the struggle parents have been put through and the extraordinary lengths the system will go to in order to prevent the public becoming aware of a well known phenomenon - adverse reactions to vaccinations in some children.
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/OSM/AutismDocket.htm
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/OSM/AutismDocket.htm
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Madeleine McCann - another victim
The Official Website to find Madeleine McCann
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Madeleine Parents to go through Period of Reflection
Christian Today
12/06/2007
UK police to post photos of Maddie on Second Life
Middle East Times
12/06/2007
We Think Madeleine Is Still Alive
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12/06/2007
Martin Brunt In Rabat As Search Continues
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12/06/2007
Madeleine McCann Still Alive Parents Believe
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12/06/2007
If Shes There, They Will Find Her
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12/06/2007
Hunt for Madeleine reaches Morocco
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11/06/2007
The route kidnappers could have used to spirit her to Morocco
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11/06/2007
McCanns begin final leg of Madeleine campaign
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11/06/2007
Parents to stay in Portugal for summer
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Madeleine parents to take time off search
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10/06/2007
Madeleine is more than a news story, she symbolises the dangers all children face
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10/06/2007
Madeleine McCann Family Harassed by Portuguese Police
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Search continues for Madeleine McCann
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Madeleine phone call is dismissed
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Capital gets ready for Madeleine church service
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Moroccan support for missing Madeleine
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12/06/2007
Madeleine Parents to go through Period of Reflection
Christian Today
12/06/2007
UK police to post photos of Maddie on Second Life
Middle East Times
12/06/2007
We Think Madeleine Is Still Alive
SKY News
12/06/2007
Martin Brunt In Rabat As Search Continues
SKY News
12/06/2007
Madeleine McCann Still Alive Parents Believe
National Ledger
12/06/2007
If Shes There, They Will Find Her
SKY News
12/06/2007
Hunt for Madeleine reaches Morocco
Scotsman
11/06/2007
The route kidnappers could have used to spirit her to Morocco
Daily Mail
11/06/2007
McCanns begin final leg of Madeleine campaign
Guardian Unlimited
11/06/2007
Parents to stay in Portugal for summer
Inthenews
11/06/2007
Madeleine parents to take time off search
Inthenews
10/06/2007
Madeleine is more than a news story, she symbolises the dangers all children face
Sunday Herald
10/06/2007
Madeleine McCann Family Harassed by Portuguese Police
National Ledger
10/06/2007
Search continues for Madeleine McCann
Herald Sun, Australia
09/06/2007
Madeleine phone call is dismissed
IC Liverpool
08/06/2007
Capital gets ready for Madeleine church service
Scotsman
08/06/2007
Argentina link to Madeleine?
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08/06/2007
Children raise cash for Madeleine search
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08/06/2007
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Dish of the Day: Red Herrings stuffed with Thimerosal - guaranteed 49.5% Mercury. Lisa Blakemore Brown 5th March 2005 British Medical Journal
Dish of the Day: Red Herrings stuffed with Thiomersal - guaranteed 49.5% Mercury.
5 March 2005
Lisa C Blakemore-Brown, Psychologist UK based
Send response to journal: Re: Dish of the Day: Red Herrings stuffed with Thiomersal - guaranteed 49.5% Mercury.
Thiomersal/Thimerosal, a preservative developed in the late 1920's was manufactured by Eli Lilly and has been routinely used in vaccines and many other products since that time.
Thiomersal/Thimerosal contains 49.5% ethyl mercury. Methyl mercury is known to accumulate in fish and for this reason there is a safe daily limit for the amount of mercury adults are advised to not exceed. This is 0.1 mcg of Methyl Mercury per kilogram of weight. Babies have been given 25 microgrammes in each of the following vaccines: whole cell DTP and Hib, and the Hep B in the US. During this same period many very small premature babies have survived whereas in the past they would not have done so.
Over the course of the last century, individuals were given single vaccines with single amounts of mercury, but with the introduction of triple vaccines the amount of mercury contained within the preservative was multiplied and the cumulative effects are only just now being discovered by the public. Early papers on autism and battered baby syndrome appeared following the introduction of vaccines containing this preservative in the 30's and 40's and following the introduction of triple vaccines there has been an epidemic of autism - and genetic epidemics do not occur without some outside influence. It is also interesting that the Shaken Baby Syndrome and parent blame theories for odd medical presentations, have also vastly increased since these triple vaccines were brought in.
Thiomersal is still used in flu vaccines and other products but has been phased out in many childhood vaccines, but only very recently. For the UK it was August 2004 when the announcement was made.
Public Health agencies around the world have known about concerns with this neurotoxin for some years, and certainly since 1997 when the US Congress passed the FDA Modernization Act requiring the FDA to review all drugs that contained Mercury and determine their effect on humans. (3)
In 2000, recognising the cumulative amount of mercury in the triple vaccines, the FDA stated that children were receiving levels of mercury via this preservative far in excess of the 'safe' guidelines. Rough estimates suggested a child could be injected with 40 times the amount of mercury considered safe (3)
Despite the expected red herring arguments of the defensive, and the collaborative efforts of many countries to handle worrying data, many lab studies have explored the toxic effects of Thiomersal in humans and animals.
Evidence that Thiomersal can create changes at cellular level is rife in the literature (6,7,14,17,18.)A recent study concluded 'thimerosal is genotoxic in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes. These data raise some concern on the widespread use of thimerosal.'(12)
Changes to phenotypes have been recognised (13) and the tapestry model allows for these various synergistic effects. For instance, it has been consistently shown that Thiomersal(Thimerosal) is a neurotoxin which is linked to the depletion of the protective anti-oxidant, glutathione (1,13,14,15,18,19)and that some individuals are more susceptible than others to such effects (4,16) Autistic individuals have been found to have lowered levels of glutathione and to have greater difficulties excreting mercury.
It is not impossible that earlier generations of constitutionally susceptible individuals were affected by the Mercury in their very early vaccinations, phenotypes were altered and in turn their offspring increased their risk factors for susceptibility to mercury damage.
Such susceptibilities, combined with an already weak immune system - in a baby. a medically vulnerable individual or an elderly person - further increase the risk factors.
As the changes triggered by Thiomersal appear at cellular level, including cell death and increased cellular permeability, it is not surprising that many forms of impairment are found.
'Exposure to organic mercury leads to primarily neurologic effects but a number of other organ systems may also be involved, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, hepatic, immune, dermal, and renal.' (2) Travis Haws has discussed Louis Reik's Disseminated Vasculomyelinopathy:an Immune Complex Disease relating to the multiple effects of infection once the immune system has been compromised. (20)
Effects of the preservative in preparations have found retinal (21) and corneal damage. (22)
The consistent reference to allergic effects and immune system interference (4, 5) maps onto my own findings that early vaccines seemed to trigger various allergies and intolerances in some children (See CASE ONE 2004 ebmj as an example taken directly from the medical notes)
My very early observations during the mid to late 1990's was that it was these medically vulnerable and allergic individuals who were more likely to have reacted to the MMR - which contains no Thiomersal. (23) Unfortunately because of Red Herring arguments and denial of what is known, we have yet to fully explore in a scientific way, why so many children reacted to vaccines.
In 2000 a meeting held in Simpsonwood US, revealed significant findings in a study by Verstraeten in relation to the emergence of a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders including tics, ADHD, speech and language and motor impairments - and Thiomersal. It has taken the Freedom of Information Act to expose what was shown in that meeting - and the steps taken to cover it up.
The epidemic of health and developmental problems in so called advanced countries is now undeniable. 1 in 10 children suffer from gastrointestinal disorders, 1 in 4 have asthma. A colleague last week mentioned that out of 16 children on a school trip involving his child, 15 had asthma. Children are arriving at school unable to use a knife and fork, pay attention or understand their social worlds, highly sensitised to all aspects of the real world.
When we have removed the Red Herrings - and those who cook them up - we might begin to take responsibility again for the health of millions across the world.
Refs:
1: Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8.
Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with glutathione depletion: protection with glutathione precursors.
James SJ, Slikker W 3rd, Melnyk S, New E, Pogribna M, Jernigan S.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. jamesjill@uams.edu
Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (-SH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100 microM glutathione ethyl ester or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 microM Thimerosal. Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.
2: Toxicol Ind Health. 2002 Apr;18(3):109-60.
Organic mercury compounds: human exposure and its relevance to public health.
Risher JF, Murray HE, Prince GR.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology, Toxicology Information Branch, Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Humans may be exposed to organic forms of mercury by either inhalation, oral, or dermal routes, and the effects of such exposure depend upon both the type of mercury to which exposed and the magnitude of the exposure. In general, the effects of exposure to organic mercury are primarily neurologic, while a host of other organ systems may also be involved, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, hepatic, immune, dermal, and renal. While the primary source of exposure to organic mercury for most populations is the consumption of methylmercury-contaminated fish and shellfish, there are a number of other organomercurials to which humans might be exposed. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of organomercurials have resulted in their long use as topical disinfectants (thimerosal and merbromin) and preservatives in medical preparations (thimerosal) and grain products (both methyl and ethyl mercurials). Phenylmercury has been used in the past in paints, and dialkyl mercurials are still used in some industrial processes and in the calibration of certain analytical laboratory equipment. The effects of exposure to different organic mercurials by different routes of exposure are summarized in this article.
3. Trade Off: Vaccine Maker Profits and Autism. Evelyn Pringle . Independent News Media. 4th March 2005
4: Med Pr. 2001;52(1):45-51.
[Genetic polymorphism of glutathione s-transferase as a factor predisposing to allergic dermatitis]
[Article in Polish]
Lutz W, Tarkowski M, Nowakowska E.
Zakladu Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej, Instytutu Medycyny Pracy, Lodzi.
In the inductive phase of contact allergic dermatitis, simple chemical compounds (haptens) produce together with epidermic proteins adducts presented by Langerhans cells to T lymphocytes. Binding to protein carrier is a necessary condition of transforming a low-molecular allergen into immunogenic one and evoking immunological reaction. The production of allergen adducts with proteins is conditioned by the presence of electrophilic groups in their molecules, or their acquiring during biotransformation phase I. Active allergen metabolites undergo further alterations during biotransformation phase II which leads most frequently to the decline in their chemical activity and more rapid excretion from the body. The number of reactive metabolites (reactive allergens) available for producing adducts with proteins keeps the balance between activation and deactivation reactions. Glutathione S-transferases play a particular role in the allergens (or their metabolites) deactivation process in biotransformation phase II. These enzymes catalyse reactions responsible for the declined electrophilic potential of allergens (or their metabolites), and thus for the decrease in the number of allergen molecules able to produce protein covalent bindings (adducts). Glutathione S-transferases, occurring in the human cellular cytoplasm belong to five classes: alpha(GST A), mu(GST M), theta(GST P), pi(GST T) and Z(GST Z), as well as to one class present in microsomes. The study indicated the presence of isoenzymes GST T1 and GST M1 in the skin. Both isoforms participate in the process of low-molecular allergen biotransformation. Carriers of defective genes GST T1 and/or GST M1 are more vulnerable to allergenic effect of some allergens, e.g. thimerosal, which is associated with the absence of or decrease in the activity of isoenzymes GST T1 and GST M1.
5: Cell Biol Toxicol. 1999 Feb;15(1):57-62.
Mechanisms of drug-induced allergic contact dermatitis.
Lebrec H, Bachot N, Gaspard I, Kerdine S, Guinnepain MT, Laurent J, Pallardy M.
INSERM U 461, Faculte de Pharmacie Paris Sud, Chatenay-Malabry, France. hlebrec@infobiogen.fr
Allergic contact dermatitis is induced by a wide variety of drugs that trigger specific immune responses following topical exposure. Identified chemical structures involved in such reactions include the mercuric and thiosalicylic acid groups of thimerosal, the diphenylketone group of the anti- inflammatory drug ketoprofen, the amide or ester structure of local anesthetics, and the side-chain and thiazolidine ring of beta-lactams. The T cell responses to such compounds involve CD4+ and CD8+ alphabeta+ T lymphocytes and also CD4 /CD8 gammadelta+ T cells. Although "T helper 2" cytokine production by drug- specific human T cells from patients with allergic contact dermatitis has been described, T helper 1-like and T cytotoxic 1-like responses clearly play key roles in this cutaneous reaction.
6. Int J Biochem. 1994 Jan;26(1):93-6.
Effect of thimerosal on cytosolic calcium and phosphatidylserine synthesis in Jurkat T cells.
Pelassy C, Breittmayer JP, Ticchioni M, Aussel C.
INSERM U343, Faculte de Medecine, Nice, France.
1. We investigated the effect of the thiol reagent, thimerosal on calcium movements in the Jurkat T cell line. 2. Thimerosal induced a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration due both to a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and a Ca2+ influx. 3. Thimerosal, released Ca2+ from the same intracellular stores than CD3 mAb and ionomycin. 4. Emptying the Ca2+ intracellular stores was accompanied by a marked decrease of phosphatidylserine synthesis indicating that phosphatidylserine synthesis occurs within or close to the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-stores as previously described in CD3-, ionomycin- or Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor-treated lymphocytes.
7. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992 Oct 19;1111(1):65-74.
Effect of the sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal on cytosolic free Ca2+ and membrane potential of thymocytes.
Gukovskaya AS, Trepakova ES, Zinchenko VP, Korystov YN, Bezuglov VV.
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region.
The sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal at concentrations 5-100 microM has been found to induce a variety of changes in ion transport in rat thymocytes. In particular, [Ca2+]i increases about 10-fold from the basal level. The [Ca2+]i response to thimerosal displays a two-stage time course, with the main [Ca2+]i rise during the second stage. Evidence has been obtained for the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ pools in thimerosal-treated cells, however, Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores does not contribute significantly into [Ca2+]i rise. Thimerosal elicits permeability not only for Ca2+, but also for Mn2+ and Ni2+, which is Ca(2+)-dependent. We failed to get any evidence on thimerosal- induced inhibition of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. The induction of Ca2+ influx, rather than inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase, accounts for the disturbance of [Ca2+]i homeostasis in thimerosal-treated cells. Thimerosal also elicits changes in monovalent ion fluxes resulting in marked depolarization. The latter seems unrelated to the changes in [Ca2+]i and is suggested to be mediated both by increased permeability for Na+ and a decreased one for K+. Thimerosal significantly stimulates AA release from thymocytes. Evidence has been presented that AA metabolite(s), probably, LO product(s), may mediate the changes in the transport of mono- and divalent cations elicited by the sulfhydryl reagent. Prolonged treatment of thymocytes with thimerosal resulted in cell death.
8. Lancet. 1991 Aug 3;338(8762):315-6.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1985 Oct;10(2):150-8.
Effect of organomercurial poisoning on the peripheral blood and metabolite levels of a freshwater fish.
Gill TS, Pant JC.
This work evaluated the hematological and biochemical changes in the fish, Puntius conchonius, under experimental organomercurial poisoning. Long- term (8 weeks) exposure to 3.63 and 6.03 mg/liter methoxyethyl mercuric chloride (MEMC) (0.2 and 0.33 fractions of 96-hr LC50) led to morphological aberrations in mature erythrocytes including nuclear and cytoplasmic deterioration, vacuolation, chromatin condensation, and hypochromia. Immature erythrocytes showing membrane leakage were also encountered. Erythrocyte count and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lowered after 1 and 3 weeks followed by a marginal rise persisting upto 8 weeks. Differential leucocyte counts revealed significant thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, and neutropenia. Collateral evaluation of blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels revealed significant hyperglycemia as well as glycogen depletion in liver and brain. Heart glycogen content evinced a substantial increase after 5 and 8 weeks exposure.
9. Rev Neurol (Paris). 1979;135(11):827-33.
[Morvan's fibrillary chorea]
[Article in French]
de Bray JM, Emile J, Basle M, Morer T, Bastard J.
Two cases of Morvan's chorea are reported. One of the patients presented the characteristic of having had two attacks, the first after organic mercury preparations, and the second after gold salts for inflammatory rheumatism. The second case had facial fibrillations only, and this was followed by a regressive polyradiculoneuritis one month later. This latter case raises certain diagnostic problems. The existence of a particular type of immuno-allergic tendency could be validly related to a triggering effect of various etiological agents (metals such as mercury or gold salts, or infective agents). The absence of hypotonia, and a regressive course appear to be the characteristics that distinguish fibrillary chorea from the continuous activity syndrome of the muscle fibers described by Isaacs.
10. Contact Dermatitis. 1980 Jun;6(4):241-5.
Merthiolate hypersensitivity and vaccination.
Forstrom L, Hannuksela M, Kousa M, Lehmuskallio E.
Epicutaneous tests with 0.1% merthiolate in petrolatum showed hypersensitivity in 96 of 4647 eczema patients (2.0%) and in seven of 105 healthy recruits (7%). There was a marked preponderance of young age classes in the eczema group. Twelve of 41 merthiolate-positive patients tested reacted to mercury alone, three to thiosalicylic acid alone and one to both. The remaining 25 patients reacted to neither of the individual components although the merthiolate complex as a whole gave a positive test result. Forty-five of the merthiolate- positive patients were tested subcutaneously with 0.5 ml of a 0.01% merthiolate solution, i.e. a dose equal to that contained in one shot of tetanus toxoid, for example. Nine patients developed a local reaction at the site of the injection, and the area became eczematous in four cases. In one of the patients the eczema spread over the body, causing fever. Since merthiolate-sensitive patients also react to merthiolate administered intracutaneously, the vaccinator should avoid the use of a needle whose outer surface has been contaminated when the vaccine was aspirated from the bottle. However, even when this precautionary measure is taken, local reactions can be expected in such a high percentage of merthiolate-sensitive persons that merthiolate in vaccines should be replaced by another antibacterial agent.
11. Contact Dermatitis. 1986 Nov;15(5):309-10.
Reactions to merthiolate in infants.
Novak M, Kvicalova E, Friedlanderova B.
12. Arch Toxicol. 2003 Jan;77(1):50-5. Epub 2002 Nov 06.
Thimerosal induces micronuclei in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes.
Westphal GA, Asgari S, Schulz TG, Bunger J, Muller M, Hallier E.
Department of Occupational Health, Georg-August-University Gottingen, Waldweg 37, 37073 Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
Thimerosal is a widely used preservative in health care products, especially in vaccines. Due to possible adverse health effects, investigations on its metabolism and toxicity are urgently needed. An in vivo study on chronic toxicity of thimerosal in rats was inconclusive and reports on genotoxic effects in various in vitro systems were contradictory. Therefore, we reinvestigated thimerosal in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test. Glutathione S-transferases were proposed to be involved in the detoxification of thimerosal or its decomposition products. Since the outcome of genotoxicity studies can be dependent on the metabolic competence of the cells used, we were additionally interested whether polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1, GSTT1, or GSTP1) may influence the results of the micronucleus test with primary human lymphocytes. Blood samples of six healthy donors of different glutathione S-transferase genotypes were included in the study. At least two independent experiments were performed for each blood donor. Significant induction of micronuclei was seen at concentrations between 0.05-0.5 micro g/ml in 14 out of 16 experiments. Thus, genotoxic effects were seen even at concentrations which can occur at the injection site. Toxicity and toxicity-related elevation of micronuclei was seen at and above 0.6 micro g/ml thimerosal. Marked individual and intraindividual variations in the in vitro response to thimerosal among the different blood donors occurred. However, there was no association observed with any of the glutathione S-transferase polymorphism investigated. In conclusion, thimerosal is genotoxic in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes. These data raise some concern on the widespread use of thimerosal.
13. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2001 Jul;203(5-6):479-81.
Inhibition of the human erythrocytic glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GST T1) by thimerosal.
Muller M, Westphal G, Vesper A, Bunger J, Hallier E.
Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, Georg-August- University Gottingen, D-37073 Gottingen, Germany. mmuelle3@gwdg.de
We have investigated the interaction of thimerosal, a widely used antiseptic and preservative, with the human erythrocytic GST T1 (glutathione-S- transferase T1). This detoxifying enzyme is expressed in the erythrocytes of solely the human species and it displays a genetic polymorphism. Due to this polymorphism about 25% of the individuals of the caucasian population lack this activity ("non-conjugators"), while 75% show it ("conjugators") (Hallier, E., et al., 1993). Using our newly developed HPLC-fluorescence detection assay (Muller, M., et al., 2001) we have profiled the kinetics of enzyme inhibition in erythrocyte lysates of two individuals previously identified as "normal conjugator" (medium enzyme activity) and "super-conjugator" (very high activity). For the normal conjugator we have determined a 2.77 mM thimerosal concentration to inhibit 50% of the GST T1 activity. In the case of the super-conjugator a 2.3 mM thimerosal concentration causes a 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity. For both phenotypes a 14.8 mM thimerosal concentration results in residual enzyme activities equal to those typically detected in non-conjugator lysates. Thus, sufficiently high doses of thimerosal may be able to change the phenotypic status of an individual--at least in vitro--by inhibition of the GST T1 enzyme.
14. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Aug;73(6):384-8.
Homozygous gene deletions of the glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 are associated with thimerosal sensitization.
Westphal GA, Schnuch A, Schulz TG, Reich K, Aberer W, Brasch J, Koch P, Wessbecher R, Szliska C, Bauer A, Hallier E.
Abteilung fur Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
OBJECTIVE: Thimerosal is an important preservative in vaccines and ophthalmologic preparations. The substance is known to be a type IV sensitizing agent. High sensitization rates were observed in contact-allergic patients and in health care workers who had been exposed to thimerosal-preserved vaccines. There is evidence for the involvement of the glutathione system in the metabolism of thimerosal or its decomposition products (organomercury alkyl compounds). Thus detoxification by polymorphically expressed glutathione S-transferases such as GSTT1 and GSTM1 might have a protective effect against sensitization by these substances. METHODS: To address this question, a case control study was conducted, including 91 Central European individuals with a positive patch-test reaction to thimerosal. This population was compared with 169 healthy controls and additionally with 114 individuals affected by an allergy against para-substituted aryl compounds. The latter population was included in order to test whether possible associations were due to substance-specific effects, or were a general feature connected with type IV immunological diseases. Homozygous deletions of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Glutathione S-transferase M1 deficiency was significantly more frequent among patients sensitized to thimerosal (65.9%, P = 0.013) compared with the healthy control group (49.1%) and the "para-compound" group (48%, P = 0.034). Glutathione S-transferase T1 deficiency in the thimerosal/mercury group (19.8%) was barely elevated versus healthy controls (16.0%) and the "para-compound" group (14.0%). The combined deletion (GSTT1-/GSTM1-) was markedly more frequent among thimerosal-sensitized patients than in healthy controls (17.6% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.0093) and in the "para- compound" group (17.6% vs. 6.1%, P =0.014), revealing a synergistic effect of these enzyme deficiencies (healthy controls vs. thimerosal GSTM1 negative individuals, OR = 2.0 [CI = 1.2-3.4], GSTT1-, OR = 1.2 [CI = 0.70-2.1], GSTM1/T1-, OR = 3.1 [CI = 1.4-6.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Since the glutathione-dependent system was repeatedly shown to be involved in the metabolism of thimerosal decomposition products, the observed association may be of functional relevance.
PMID: 11007341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15 Toxicol In Vitro. 2004 Oct;18(5):563-9.
Property of thimerosal-induced decrease in cellular content of glutathione in rat thymocytes: a flow cytometric study with 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate.
Ueha-Ishibashi T, Tatsuishi T, Iwase K, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nishizaki Y, Nishimura Y, Oyama Y, Hirama S, Okano Y.
Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanjima 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.
There is a concern on the part of public health community that adverse health consequences by thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines for infants, may occur among infants during immunization schedule. Therefore, the effect of thimerosal on cellular content of glutathione was examined on thymocytes obtained from 4-week-old rats using a flow cytometer and 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate. Thimerosal at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 microM reduced the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, and the complete depletion of cellular glutathione was observed when the cells were treated with 30 microM thimerosal. L-Cysteine significantly attenuated the actions of thimerosal to reduce the glutathione content and to increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Prolonged incubation (24 h) with 1-3 microM thimerosal induced the apoptosis. The cytotoxic action of thimerosal was greatly augmented when the cells suffered oxidative stress induced by H2O2. It may be unlikely that thimerosal exerts potent cytotoxic action under the in vivo condition because the blood concentration of thimerosal after receiving vaccines does not seem to reach micromolar range and nonprotein thiols at micromolar concentrations are present in the blood.
16: J Invest Dermatol. 2003 Nov;121(5):1039-44.
Thiol antioxidants block the activation of antigen-presenting cells by contact sensitizers.
Bruchhausen S, Zahn S, Valk E, Knop J, Becker D.
Department of Dermatology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Strong contact sensitizers are able to induce signal transduction mechanisms such as tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinases in antigen-presenting cells. We studied the capacity of different antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, N- acetylcysteine, and glutathione) to block the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in human monocytes seen after stimulation with strong contact sensitizers. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazolinone plus 2-methylisothiazolinone in the presence or absence of these antioxidants. The total amount of membrane-associated phosphotyrosine in CD14+ cells was quantified using flow cytometric techniques. Complete inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation was noticed when cells were stimulated in the presence of N-acetylcysteine or glutathione. Using N-acetylcysteine as inhibitor similar results were obtained for cells stimulated with formaldehyde, thimerosal methyldibromoglutaronitrile, diphenylcyclopropenone, p-phenylenediamine, toluene-2,5-diamine, and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. By use of a trinitrophenyl-specific monoclonal antibody it was shown that N-acetylcysteine as well as cysteine prevents the binding of 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene to proteins in monocytes and monocyte-derived mature dendritic cells. Furthermore, the capacity of N-acetylcysteine to block the activation of p38 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases by 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene was demonstrated. The radical scavengers ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol as well as the nuclear factor kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate failed to prevent the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Our data present evidence that reactive oxygen species as well as transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB seem to be unimportant for the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation by contact sensitizers. On the other hand, protection of thiol groups using compounds with free sulfhydryl groups is very effective to block this process. This finding may have implications for prevention of occupational sensitization to strong contact allergens.
17. Toxicology. 2004 Jan 15;195(1):77-84.
Effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on intracellular Ca2+ concentration of rat cerebellar neurons.
Ueha-Ishibashi T, Oyama Y, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nishizaki Y, Tatsuishi T, Iwase K, Murao K, Seo H.
Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.
The effect of thimerosal, an organomercurial preservative in vaccines, on cerebellar neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats was compared with those of methylmercury using a flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent dyes. Thimerosal and methylmercury at concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 10 microM increased the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in a concentration-dependent manner. The potency of 10 microM thimerosal to increase the [Ca2+]i was less than that of 10 microM methylmercury. Their effects on the [Ca2+]i were greatly attenuated, but not completely suppressed, under external Ca(2+)-free condition, suggesting a possibility that both agents increase membrane Ca2+ permeability and release Ca2+ from intracellular calcium stores. The effect of 10 microM thimerosal was not affected by simultaneous application of 30 microM L-cysteine whereas that of 10 microM methylmercury was significantly suppressed. The potency of thimerosal was similar to that of methylmercury in the presence of L-cysteine. Both agents at 1 microM or more similarly decreased the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting an increase in oxidative stress. Results indicate that thimerosal exerts some cytotoxic actions on cerebellar granule neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats and its potency is almost similar to that of methylmercury.
18: Genes Immun. 2002 Aug;3(5):270-8.
Biochemical and molecular basis of thimerosal-induced apoptosis in T cells: a major role of mitochondrial pathway.
Makani S, Gollapudi S, Yel L, Chiplunkar S, Gupta S.
Cellular and Molecular Immunology Laboratories, Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA.
The major source of thimerosal (ethyl mercury thiosalicylate) exposure is childhood vaccines. It is believed that the children are exposed to significant accumulative dosage of thimerosal during the first 2 years of life via immunization. Because of health-related concerns for exposure to mercury, we examined the effects of thimerosal on the biochemical and molecular steps of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thimerosal and not thiosalcylic acid (non-mercury component of thimerosal), in a concentration-dependent manner, induced apoptosis in T cells as determined by TUNEL and propidium iodide assays, suggesting a role of mercury in T cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, but not of caspase-8. In addition, thimerosal in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited the expression of XIAP, cIAP-1 but did not influence cIAP-2 expression. Furthermore, thimerosal enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species and reduced intracellular glutathione (GSH). Finally, exogenous glutathione protected T cells from thimerosal-induced apoptosis by upregulation of XIAP and cIAP1 and by inhibiting activation of both caspase-9 and caspase-3. These data suggest that thimerosal induces apoptosis in T cells via mitochondrial pathway by inducing oxidative stress and depletion of GSH.
19. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Aug;73(6):384-8.
Homozygous gene deletions of the glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 are associated with thimerosal sensitization.
Westphal GA, Schnuch A, Schulz TG, Reich K, Aberer W, Brasch J, Koch P, Wessbecher R, Szliska C, Bauer A, Hallier E.
Abteilung fur Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
OBJECTIVE: Thimerosal is an important preservative in vaccines and ophthalmologic preparations. The substance is known to be a type IV sensitizing agent. High sensitization rates were observed in contact-allergic patients and in health care workers who had been exposed to thimerosal-preserved vaccines. There is evidence for the involvement of the glutathione system in the metabolism of thimerosal or its decomposition products (organomercury alkyl compounds). Thus detoxification by polymorphically expressed glutathione S-transferases such as GSTT1 and GSTM1 might have a protective effect against sensitization by these substances. METHODS: To address this question, a case control study was conducted, including 91 Central European individuals with a positive patch-test reaction to thimerosal. This population was compared with 169 healthy controls and additionally with 114 individuals affected by an allergy against para-substituted aryl compounds. The latter population was included in order to test whether possible associations were due to substance-specific effects, or were a general feature connected with type IV immunological diseases. Homozygous deletions of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Glutathione S-transferase M1 deficiency was significantly more frequent among patients sensitized to thimerosal (65.9%, P = 0.013) compared with the healthy control group (49.1%) and the "para-compound" group (48%, P = 0.034). Glutathione S-transferase T1 deficiency in the thimerosal/mercury group (19.8%) was barely elevated versus healthy controls (16.0%) and the "para-compound" group (14.0%). The combined deletion (GSTT1-/GSTM1-) was markedly more frequent among thimerosal-sensitized patients than in healthy controls (17.6% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.0093) and in the "para- compound" group (17.6% vs. 6.1%, P =0.014), revealing a synergistic effect of these enzyme deficiencies (healthy controls vs. thimerosal GSTM1 negative individuals, OR = 2.0 [CI = 1.2-3.4], GSTT1-, OR = 1.2 [CI = 0.70-2.1], GSTM1/T1-, OR = 3.1 [CI = 1.4-6.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Since the glutathione-dependent system was repeatedly shown to be involved in the metabolism of thimerosal decomposition products, the observed association may be of functional relevance.
20. Travis Haws Re:Re:Re:Re: A Fatal Misdiagnosis. bmj. February 18th 2005.
21, J Neurosci Res. 1996 Apr 15;44(2):149-56.
Pharmacological characterization of inositol-1,4,5,-trisphosphate binding to membranes from retina and retinal cultures.
Lopez-Colome AM, Lee I.
Instituto de Fisiologia Celular, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
Light and excitatory amino acids (EAA) stimulate the phosphoinositide cycle in the vertebrate retina. The regulation of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores by inositol-1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) involves an interaction of this compound with specific receptors. By means of [3H]IP3-specific binding, we studied the kinetic and pharmacological properties of IP3 receptors in the chick retina as well as in primary cultures of neurons and glia from this tissue. The equilibrium time for the binding reaction was 15 min and was optimal at alkaline pH (8.3). IP3 receptor displayed high affinity (K(B) approximately 40 nM) and selectivity for D-IP3, compared to D-IP4 > L-IP3 > D-IP2 > D- IP1. These characteristics were the same in subcellular fractions from outer (P1) and thinner (P2) plexiform layers, binding sites being more abundant in P2 (2.65 pmol/mg protein). IP3 receptors were present in both neuronal and glial cultures, but were concentrated in neuronal cultures. Binding was not affected by ryanodine, or caffeine, related to calcium-induced calcium release (CICR)channels, nor by the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, while heparin affectively inhibited IP3 binding. GSSG and thimerosal increased the affinity of [3H]IP3 binding from IC50 approximately 80 nM to IC50 approximately 40 nM; this effect was reversed by DTT. Binding in zero Ca2+ was decreased by low concentrations of Ca2+ (350 nM). These results suggest that actions of IP3 in the retina are regulated by physiological changes in intracellular pH and Ca2+ concentrations, as well as by the oxidation state of the receptor. Additionally, the presence of IP3 receptors in Muller glia opens the possibility of IP3 participation in nonsynaptic signalling through Ca2+ waves in glial cells.
22. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1977 Apr;16(4):273-80.
Effect of the ophthalmic preservative thimerosal on rabbit and human corneal endothelium.
Van Horn DL, Edelhauser HF, Prodanovich G, Eiferman R, Pederson HF.
Widespread use of the mercurial-containing preservative thimerosal as an antibacterial agent in ophthalmic drugs and solutions warranted an investigation into its possible cytotoxic effects on the functional and ultrastructural integrity of the corneal endothelium. No changes in corneal thickness were observed during 5 hours' perfusion of the endothelium of rabbit and human corneas with 0.0001 and 0.0005 percent thimerosal in glutathione bicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the endothelium of the 0.0001 percent group revealed normal ultrastructure. SEM and TEM of the endothelium of corneas perfused with 0.0005 percent thimerosal for 5 hours revealed condensed mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cytoplasmic flaps at the apical end of the cellular junctions. Perfusion of higher concentrations (0.001 and 0.005 perecnt) of thimerosal in GBR resulted in increases in corneal thickness after 2 hours and irreversible ultrastructural damage to the endothelial cells by 5 hours. Corneas perfused with 0.01 and 0.1 percent thimerosal in GBR showed a rapid and immediate increase in corneal thickness and endothelial cell death and necrosis within 1 hour. It is postulated that the mercury in thimerosal becomes bound to the cell membrane protein sulfhydryl groups, causing an increase in cellular permeability; These results suggest that the prolonged exposure of the corneal endothelium to thimerosal in the accepted antimicrobial dosage of 0.005 to 0.001 percent may result in functional and structural damage to the endothelium.
23. Blakemore-Brown Reweaving the Autistic Tapestry. Jessica Kingsley Publishers London 2002.
Competing interests: Expert in Autism and associated tapestry impairments
5 March 2005
Lisa C Blakemore-Brown, Psychologist UK based
Send response to journal: Re: Dish of the Day: Red Herrings stuffed with Thiomersal - guaranteed 49.5% Mercury.
Thiomersal/Thimerosal, a preservative developed in the late 1920's was manufactured by Eli Lilly and has been routinely used in vaccines and many other products since that time.
Thiomersal/Thimerosal contains 49.5% ethyl mercury. Methyl mercury is known to accumulate in fish and for this reason there is a safe daily limit for the amount of mercury adults are advised to not exceed. This is 0.1 mcg of Methyl Mercury per kilogram of weight. Babies have been given 25 microgrammes in each of the following vaccines: whole cell DTP and Hib, and the Hep B in the US. During this same period many very small premature babies have survived whereas in the past they would not have done so.
Over the course of the last century, individuals were given single vaccines with single amounts of mercury, but with the introduction of triple vaccines the amount of mercury contained within the preservative was multiplied and the cumulative effects are only just now being discovered by the public. Early papers on autism and battered baby syndrome appeared following the introduction of vaccines containing this preservative in the 30's and 40's and following the introduction of triple vaccines there has been an epidemic of autism - and genetic epidemics do not occur without some outside influence. It is also interesting that the Shaken Baby Syndrome and parent blame theories for odd medical presentations, have also vastly increased since these triple vaccines were brought in.
Thiomersal is still used in flu vaccines and other products but has been phased out in many childhood vaccines, but only very recently. For the UK it was August 2004 when the announcement was made.
Public Health agencies around the world have known about concerns with this neurotoxin for some years, and certainly since 1997 when the US Congress passed the FDA Modernization Act requiring the FDA to review all drugs that contained Mercury and determine their effect on humans. (3)
In 2000, recognising the cumulative amount of mercury in the triple vaccines, the FDA stated that children were receiving levels of mercury via this preservative far in excess of the 'safe' guidelines. Rough estimates suggested a child could be injected with 40 times the amount of mercury considered safe (3)
Despite the expected red herring arguments of the defensive, and the collaborative efforts of many countries to handle worrying data, many lab studies have explored the toxic effects of Thiomersal in humans and animals.
Evidence that Thiomersal can create changes at cellular level is rife in the literature (6,7,14,17,18.)A recent study concluded 'thimerosal is genotoxic in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes. These data raise some concern on the widespread use of thimerosal.'(12)
Changes to phenotypes have been recognised (13) and the tapestry model allows for these various synergistic effects. For instance, it has been consistently shown that Thiomersal(Thimerosal) is a neurotoxin which is linked to the depletion of the protective anti-oxidant, glutathione (1,13,14,15,18,19)and that some individuals are more susceptible than others to such effects (4,16) Autistic individuals have been found to have lowered levels of glutathione and to have greater difficulties excreting mercury.
It is not impossible that earlier generations of constitutionally susceptible individuals were affected by the Mercury in their very early vaccinations, phenotypes were altered and in turn their offspring increased their risk factors for susceptibility to mercury damage.
Such susceptibilities, combined with an already weak immune system - in a baby. a medically vulnerable individual or an elderly person - further increase the risk factors.
As the changes triggered by Thiomersal appear at cellular level, including cell death and increased cellular permeability, it is not surprising that many forms of impairment are found.
'Exposure to organic mercury leads to primarily neurologic effects but a number of other organ systems may also be involved, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, hepatic, immune, dermal, and renal.' (2) Travis Haws has discussed Louis Reik's Disseminated Vasculomyelinopathy:an Immune Complex Disease relating to the multiple effects of infection once the immune system has been compromised. (20)
Effects of the preservative in preparations have found retinal (21) and corneal damage. (22)
The consistent reference to allergic effects and immune system interference (4, 5) maps onto my own findings that early vaccines seemed to trigger various allergies and intolerances in some children (See CASE ONE 2004 ebmj as an example taken directly from the medical notes)
My very early observations during the mid to late 1990's was that it was these medically vulnerable and allergic individuals who were more likely to have reacted to the MMR - which contains no Thiomersal. (23) Unfortunately because of Red Herring arguments and denial of what is known, we have yet to fully explore in a scientific way, why so many children reacted to vaccines.
In 2000 a meeting held in Simpsonwood US, revealed significant findings in a study by Verstraeten in relation to the emergence of a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders including tics, ADHD, speech and language and motor impairments - and Thiomersal. It has taken the Freedom of Information Act to expose what was shown in that meeting - and the steps taken to cover it up.
The epidemic of health and developmental problems in so called advanced countries is now undeniable. 1 in 10 children suffer from gastrointestinal disorders, 1 in 4 have asthma. A colleague last week mentioned that out of 16 children on a school trip involving his child, 15 had asthma. Children are arriving at school unable to use a knife and fork, pay attention or understand their social worlds, highly sensitised to all aspects of the real world.
When we have removed the Red Herrings - and those who cook them up - we might begin to take responsibility again for the health of millions across the world.
Refs:
1: Neurotoxicology. 2005 Jan;26(1):1-8.
Thimerosal neurotoxicity is associated with glutathione depletion: protection with glutathione precursors.
James SJ, Slikker W 3rd, Melnyk S, New E, Pogribna M, Jernigan S.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. jamesjill@uams.edu
Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (-SH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100 microM glutathione ethyl ester or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 microM Thimerosal. Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.
2: Toxicol Ind Health. 2002 Apr;18(3):109-60.
Organic mercury compounds: human exposure and its relevance to public health.
Risher JF, Murray HE, Prince GR.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology, Toxicology Information Branch, Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Humans may be exposed to organic forms of mercury by either inhalation, oral, or dermal routes, and the effects of such exposure depend upon both the type of mercury to which exposed and the magnitude of the exposure. In general, the effects of exposure to organic mercury are primarily neurologic, while a host of other organ systems may also be involved, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, hepatic, immune, dermal, and renal. While the primary source of exposure to organic mercury for most populations is the consumption of methylmercury-contaminated fish and shellfish, there are a number of other organomercurials to which humans might be exposed. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of organomercurials have resulted in their long use as topical disinfectants (thimerosal and merbromin) and preservatives in medical preparations (thimerosal) and grain products (both methyl and ethyl mercurials). Phenylmercury has been used in the past in paints, and dialkyl mercurials are still used in some industrial processes and in the calibration of certain analytical laboratory equipment. The effects of exposure to different organic mercurials by different routes of exposure are summarized in this article.
3. Trade Off: Vaccine Maker Profits and Autism. Evelyn Pringle . Independent News Media. 4th March 2005
4: Med Pr. 2001;52(1):45-51.
[Genetic polymorphism of glutathione s-transferase as a factor predisposing to allergic dermatitis]
[Article in Polish]
Lutz W, Tarkowski M, Nowakowska E.
Zakladu Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej, Instytutu Medycyny Pracy, Lodzi.
In the inductive phase of contact allergic dermatitis, simple chemical compounds (haptens) produce together with epidermic proteins adducts presented by Langerhans cells to T lymphocytes. Binding to protein carrier is a necessary condition of transforming a low-molecular allergen into immunogenic one and evoking immunological reaction. The production of allergen adducts with proteins is conditioned by the presence of electrophilic groups in their molecules, or their acquiring during biotransformation phase I. Active allergen metabolites undergo further alterations during biotransformation phase II which leads most frequently to the decline in their chemical activity and more rapid excretion from the body. The number of reactive metabolites (reactive allergens) available for producing adducts with proteins keeps the balance between activation and deactivation reactions. Glutathione S-transferases play a particular role in the allergens (or their metabolites) deactivation process in biotransformation phase II. These enzymes catalyse reactions responsible for the declined electrophilic potential of allergens (or their metabolites), and thus for the decrease in the number of allergen molecules able to produce protein covalent bindings (adducts). Glutathione S-transferases, occurring in the human cellular cytoplasm belong to five classes: alpha(GST A), mu(GST M), theta(GST P), pi(GST T) and Z(GST Z), as well as to one class present in microsomes. The study indicated the presence of isoenzymes GST T1 and GST M1 in the skin. Both isoforms participate in the process of low-molecular allergen biotransformation. Carriers of defective genes GST T1 and/or GST M1 are more vulnerable to allergenic effect of some allergens, e.g. thimerosal, which is associated with the absence of or decrease in the activity of isoenzymes GST T1 and GST M1.
5: Cell Biol Toxicol. 1999 Feb;15(1):57-62.
Mechanisms of drug-induced allergic contact dermatitis.
Lebrec H, Bachot N, Gaspard I, Kerdine S, Guinnepain MT, Laurent J, Pallardy M.
INSERM U 461, Faculte de Pharmacie Paris Sud, Chatenay-Malabry, France. hlebrec@infobiogen.fr
Allergic contact dermatitis is induced by a wide variety of drugs that trigger specific immune responses following topical exposure. Identified chemical structures involved in such reactions include the mercuric and thiosalicylic acid groups of thimerosal, the diphenylketone group of the anti- inflammatory drug ketoprofen, the amide or ester structure of local anesthetics, and the side-chain and thiazolidine ring of beta-lactams. The T cell responses to such compounds involve CD4+ and CD8+ alphabeta+ T lymphocytes and also CD4 /CD8 gammadelta+ T cells. Although "T helper 2" cytokine production by drug- specific human T cells from patients with allergic contact dermatitis has been described, T helper 1-like and T cytotoxic 1-like responses clearly play key roles in this cutaneous reaction.
6. Int J Biochem. 1994 Jan;26(1):93-6.
Effect of thimerosal on cytosolic calcium and phosphatidylserine synthesis in Jurkat T cells.
Pelassy C, Breittmayer JP, Ticchioni M, Aussel C.
INSERM U343, Faculte de Medecine, Nice, France.
1. We investigated the effect of the thiol reagent, thimerosal on calcium movements in the Jurkat T cell line. 2. Thimerosal induced a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration due both to a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and a Ca2+ influx. 3. Thimerosal, released Ca2+ from the same intracellular stores than CD3 mAb and ionomycin. 4. Emptying the Ca2+ intracellular stores was accompanied by a marked decrease of phosphatidylserine synthesis indicating that phosphatidylserine synthesis occurs within or close to the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-stores as previously described in CD3-, ionomycin- or Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor-treated lymphocytes.
7. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992 Oct 19;1111(1):65-74.
Effect of the sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal on cytosolic free Ca2+ and membrane potential of thymocytes.
Gukovskaya AS, Trepakova ES, Zinchenko VP, Korystov YN, Bezuglov VV.
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region.
The sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal at concentrations 5-100 microM has been found to induce a variety of changes in ion transport in rat thymocytes. In particular, [Ca2+]i increases about 10-fold from the basal level. The [Ca2+]i response to thimerosal displays a two-stage time course, with the main [Ca2+]i rise during the second stage. Evidence has been obtained for the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ pools in thimerosal-treated cells, however, Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores does not contribute significantly into [Ca2+]i rise. Thimerosal elicits permeability not only for Ca2+, but also for Mn2+ and Ni2+, which is Ca(2+)-dependent. We failed to get any evidence on thimerosal- induced inhibition of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. The induction of Ca2+ influx, rather than inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase, accounts for the disturbance of [Ca2+]i homeostasis in thimerosal-treated cells. Thimerosal also elicits changes in monovalent ion fluxes resulting in marked depolarization. The latter seems unrelated to the changes in [Ca2+]i and is suggested to be mediated both by increased permeability for Na+ and a decreased one for K+. Thimerosal significantly stimulates AA release from thymocytes. Evidence has been presented that AA metabolite(s), probably, LO product(s), may mediate the changes in the transport of mono- and divalent cations elicited by the sulfhydryl reagent. Prolonged treatment of thymocytes with thimerosal resulted in cell death.
8. Lancet. 1991 Aug 3;338(8762):315-6.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1985 Oct;10(2):150-8.
Effect of organomercurial poisoning on the peripheral blood and metabolite levels of a freshwater fish.
Gill TS, Pant JC.
This work evaluated the hematological and biochemical changes in the fish, Puntius conchonius, under experimental organomercurial poisoning. Long- term (8 weeks) exposure to 3.63 and 6.03 mg/liter methoxyethyl mercuric chloride (MEMC) (0.2 and 0.33 fractions of 96-hr LC50) led to morphological aberrations in mature erythrocytes including nuclear and cytoplasmic deterioration, vacuolation, chromatin condensation, and hypochromia. Immature erythrocytes showing membrane leakage were also encountered. Erythrocyte count and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lowered after 1 and 3 weeks followed by a marginal rise persisting upto 8 weeks. Differential leucocyte counts revealed significant thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, and neutropenia. Collateral evaluation of blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels revealed significant hyperglycemia as well as glycogen depletion in liver and brain. Heart glycogen content evinced a substantial increase after 5 and 8 weeks exposure.
9. Rev Neurol (Paris). 1979;135(11):827-33.
[Morvan's fibrillary chorea]
[Article in French]
de Bray JM, Emile J, Basle M, Morer T, Bastard J.
Two cases of Morvan's chorea are reported. One of the patients presented the characteristic of having had two attacks, the first after organic mercury preparations, and the second after gold salts for inflammatory rheumatism. The second case had facial fibrillations only, and this was followed by a regressive polyradiculoneuritis one month later. This latter case raises certain diagnostic problems. The existence of a particular type of immuno-allergic tendency could be validly related to a triggering effect of various etiological agents (metals such as mercury or gold salts, or infective agents). The absence of hypotonia, and a regressive course appear to be the characteristics that distinguish fibrillary chorea from the continuous activity syndrome of the muscle fibers described by Isaacs.
10. Contact Dermatitis. 1980 Jun;6(4):241-5.
Merthiolate hypersensitivity and vaccination.
Forstrom L, Hannuksela M, Kousa M, Lehmuskallio E.
Epicutaneous tests with 0.1% merthiolate in petrolatum showed hypersensitivity in 96 of 4647 eczema patients (2.0%) and in seven of 105 healthy recruits (7%). There was a marked preponderance of young age classes in the eczema group. Twelve of 41 merthiolate-positive patients tested reacted to mercury alone, three to thiosalicylic acid alone and one to both. The remaining 25 patients reacted to neither of the individual components although the merthiolate complex as a whole gave a positive test result. Forty-five of the merthiolate- positive patients were tested subcutaneously with 0.5 ml of a 0.01% merthiolate solution, i.e. a dose equal to that contained in one shot of tetanus toxoid, for example. Nine patients developed a local reaction at the site of the injection, and the area became eczematous in four cases. In one of the patients the eczema spread over the body, causing fever. Since merthiolate-sensitive patients also react to merthiolate administered intracutaneously, the vaccinator should avoid the use of a needle whose outer surface has been contaminated when the vaccine was aspirated from the bottle. However, even when this precautionary measure is taken, local reactions can be expected in such a high percentage of merthiolate-sensitive persons that merthiolate in vaccines should be replaced by another antibacterial agent.
11. Contact Dermatitis. 1986 Nov;15(5):309-10.
Reactions to merthiolate in infants.
Novak M, Kvicalova E, Friedlanderova B.
12. Arch Toxicol. 2003 Jan;77(1):50-5. Epub 2002 Nov 06.
Thimerosal induces micronuclei in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes.
Westphal GA, Asgari S, Schulz TG, Bunger J, Muller M, Hallier E.
Department of Occupational Health, Georg-August-University Gottingen, Waldweg 37, 37073 Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
Thimerosal is a widely used preservative in health care products, especially in vaccines. Due to possible adverse health effects, investigations on its metabolism and toxicity are urgently needed. An in vivo study on chronic toxicity of thimerosal in rats was inconclusive and reports on genotoxic effects in various in vitro systems were contradictory. Therefore, we reinvestigated thimerosal in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test. Glutathione S-transferases were proposed to be involved in the detoxification of thimerosal or its decomposition products. Since the outcome of genotoxicity studies can be dependent on the metabolic competence of the cells used, we were additionally interested whether polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1, GSTT1, or GSTP1) may influence the results of the micronucleus test with primary human lymphocytes. Blood samples of six healthy donors of different glutathione S-transferase genotypes were included in the study. At least two independent experiments were performed for each blood donor. Significant induction of micronuclei was seen at concentrations between 0.05-0.5 micro g/ml in 14 out of 16 experiments. Thus, genotoxic effects were seen even at concentrations which can occur at the injection site. Toxicity and toxicity-related elevation of micronuclei was seen at and above 0.6 micro g/ml thimerosal. Marked individual and intraindividual variations in the in vitro response to thimerosal among the different blood donors occurred. However, there was no association observed with any of the glutathione S-transferase polymorphism investigated. In conclusion, thimerosal is genotoxic in the cytochalasin B block micronucleus test with human lymphocytes. These data raise some concern on the widespread use of thimerosal.
13. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2001 Jul;203(5-6):479-81.
Inhibition of the human erythrocytic glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GST T1) by thimerosal.
Muller M, Westphal G, Vesper A, Bunger J, Hallier E.
Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, Georg-August- University Gottingen, D-37073 Gottingen, Germany. mmuelle3@gwdg.de
We have investigated the interaction of thimerosal, a widely used antiseptic and preservative, with the human erythrocytic GST T1 (glutathione-S- transferase T1). This detoxifying enzyme is expressed in the erythrocytes of solely the human species and it displays a genetic polymorphism. Due to this polymorphism about 25% of the individuals of the caucasian population lack this activity ("non-conjugators"), while 75% show it ("conjugators") (Hallier, E., et al., 1993). Using our newly developed HPLC-fluorescence detection assay (Muller, M., et al., 2001) we have profiled the kinetics of enzyme inhibition in erythrocyte lysates of two individuals previously identified as "normal conjugator" (medium enzyme activity) and "super-conjugator" (very high activity). For the normal conjugator we have determined a 2.77 mM thimerosal concentration to inhibit 50% of the GST T1 activity. In the case of the super-conjugator a 2.3 mM thimerosal concentration causes a 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity. For both phenotypes a 14.8 mM thimerosal concentration results in residual enzyme activities equal to those typically detected in non-conjugator lysates. Thus, sufficiently high doses of thimerosal may be able to change the phenotypic status of an individual--at least in vitro--by inhibition of the GST T1 enzyme.
14. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Aug;73(6):384-8.
Homozygous gene deletions of the glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 are associated with thimerosal sensitization.
Westphal GA, Schnuch A, Schulz TG, Reich K, Aberer W, Brasch J, Koch P, Wessbecher R, Szliska C, Bauer A, Hallier E.
Abteilung fur Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
OBJECTIVE: Thimerosal is an important preservative in vaccines and ophthalmologic preparations. The substance is known to be a type IV sensitizing agent. High sensitization rates were observed in contact-allergic patients and in health care workers who had been exposed to thimerosal-preserved vaccines. There is evidence for the involvement of the glutathione system in the metabolism of thimerosal or its decomposition products (organomercury alkyl compounds). Thus detoxification by polymorphically expressed glutathione S-transferases such as GSTT1 and GSTM1 might have a protective effect against sensitization by these substances. METHODS: To address this question, a case control study was conducted, including 91 Central European individuals with a positive patch-test reaction to thimerosal. This population was compared with 169 healthy controls and additionally with 114 individuals affected by an allergy against para-substituted aryl compounds. The latter population was included in order to test whether possible associations were due to substance-specific effects, or were a general feature connected with type IV immunological diseases. Homozygous deletions of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Glutathione S-transferase M1 deficiency was significantly more frequent among patients sensitized to thimerosal (65.9%, P = 0.013) compared with the healthy control group (49.1%) and the "para-compound" group (48%, P = 0.034). Glutathione S-transferase T1 deficiency in the thimerosal/mercury group (19.8%) was barely elevated versus healthy controls (16.0%) and the "para-compound" group (14.0%). The combined deletion (GSTT1-/GSTM1-) was markedly more frequent among thimerosal-sensitized patients than in healthy controls (17.6% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.0093) and in the "para- compound" group (17.6% vs. 6.1%, P =0.014), revealing a synergistic effect of these enzyme deficiencies (healthy controls vs. thimerosal GSTM1 negative individuals, OR = 2.0 [CI = 1.2-3.4], GSTT1-, OR = 1.2 [CI = 0.70-2.1], GSTM1/T1-, OR = 3.1 [CI = 1.4-6.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Since the glutathione-dependent system was repeatedly shown to be involved in the metabolism of thimerosal decomposition products, the observed association may be of functional relevance.
PMID: 11007341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15 Toxicol In Vitro. 2004 Oct;18(5):563-9.
Property of thimerosal-induced decrease in cellular content of glutathione in rat thymocytes: a flow cytometric study with 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate.
Ueha-Ishibashi T, Tatsuishi T, Iwase K, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nishizaki Y, Nishimura Y, Oyama Y, Hirama S, Okano Y.
Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanjima 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.
There is a concern on the part of public health community that adverse health consequences by thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines for infants, may occur among infants during immunization schedule. Therefore, the effect of thimerosal on cellular content of glutathione was examined on thymocytes obtained from 4-week-old rats using a flow cytometer and 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate. Thimerosal at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 microM reduced the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, and the complete depletion of cellular glutathione was observed when the cells were treated with 30 microM thimerosal. L-Cysteine significantly attenuated the actions of thimerosal to reduce the glutathione content and to increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Prolonged incubation (24 h) with 1-3 microM thimerosal induced the apoptosis. The cytotoxic action of thimerosal was greatly augmented when the cells suffered oxidative stress induced by H2O2. It may be unlikely that thimerosal exerts potent cytotoxic action under the in vivo condition because the blood concentration of thimerosal after receiving vaccines does not seem to reach micromolar range and nonprotein thiols at micromolar concentrations are present in the blood.
16: J Invest Dermatol. 2003 Nov;121(5):1039-44.
Thiol antioxidants block the activation of antigen-presenting cells by contact sensitizers.
Bruchhausen S, Zahn S, Valk E, Knop J, Becker D.
Department of Dermatology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Strong contact sensitizers are able to induce signal transduction mechanisms such as tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinases in antigen-presenting cells. We studied the capacity of different antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, N- acetylcysteine, and glutathione) to block the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in human monocytes seen after stimulation with strong contact sensitizers. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazolinone plus 2-methylisothiazolinone in the presence or absence of these antioxidants. The total amount of membrane-associated phosphotyrosine in CD14+ cells was quantified using flow cytometric techniques. Complete inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation was noticed when cells were stimulated in the presence of N-acetylcysteine or glutathione. Using N-acetylcysteine as inhibitor similar results were obtained for cells stimulated with formaldehyde, thimerosal methyldibromoglutaronitrile, diphenylcyclopropenone, p-phenylenediamine, toluene-2,5-diamine, and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. By use of a trinitrophenyl-specific monoclonal antibody it was shown that N-acetylcysteine as well as cysteine prevents the binding of 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene to proteins in monocytes and monocyte-derived mature dendritic cells. Furthermore, the capacity of N-acetylcysteine to block the activation of p38 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases by 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene was demonstrated. The radical scavengers ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol as well as the nuclear factor kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate failed to prevent the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Our data present evidence that reactive oxygen species as well as transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB seem to be unimportant for the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation by contact sensitizers. On the other hand, protection of thiol groups using compounds with free sulfhydryl groups is very effective to block this process. This finding may have implications for prevention of occupational sensitization to strong contact allergens.
17. Toxicology. 2004 Jan 15;195(1):77-84.
Effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on intracellular Ca2+ concentration of rat cerebellar neurons.
Ueha-Ishibashi T, Oyama Y, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Nishizaki Y, Tatsuishi T, Iwase K, Murao K, Seo H.
Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.
The effect of thimerosal, an organomercurial preservative in vaccines, on cerebellar neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats was compared with those of methylmercury using a flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent dyes. Thimerosal and methylmercury at concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 10 microM increased the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in a concentration-dependent manner. The potency of 10 microM thimerosal to increase the [Ca2+]i was less than that of 10 microM methylmercury. Their effects on the [Ca2+]i were greatly attenuated, but not completely suppressed, under external Ca(2+)-free condition, suggesting a possibility that both agents increase membrane Ca2+ permeability and release Ca2+ from intracellular calcium stores. The effect of 10 microM thimerosal was not affected by simultaneous application of 30 microM L-cysteine whereas that of 10 microM methylmercury was significantly suppressed. The potency of thimerosal was similar to that of methylmercury in the presence of L-cysteine. Both agents at 1 microM or more similarly decreased the cellular content of glutathione in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting an increase in oxidative stress. Results indicate that thimerosal exerts some cytotoxic actions on cerebellar granule neurons dissociated from 2-week-old rats and its potency is almost similar to that of methylmercury.
18: Genes Immun. 2002 Aug;3(5):270-8.
Biochemical and molecular basis of thimerosal-induced apoptosis in T cells: a major role of mitochondrial pathway.
Makani S, Gollapudi S, Yel L, Chiplunkar S, Gupta S.
Cellular and Molecular Immunology Laboratories, Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA.
The major source of thimerosal (ethyl mercury thiosalicylate) exposure is childhood vaccines. It is believed that the children are exposed to significant accumulative dosage of thimerosal during the first 2 years of life via immunization. Because of health-related concerns for exposure to mercury, we examined the effects of thimerosal on the biochemical and molecular steps of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thimerosal and not thiosalcylic acid (non-mercury component of thimerosal), in a concentration-dependent manner, induced apoptosis in T cells as determined by TUNEL and propidium iodide assays, suggesting a role of mercury in T cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, but not of caspase-8. In addition, thimerosal in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited the expression of XIAP, cIAP-1 but did not influence cIAP-2 expression. Furthermore, thimerosal enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species and reduced intracellular glutathione (GSH). Finally, exogenous glutathione protected T cells from thimerosal-induced apoptosis by upregulation of XIAP and cIAP1 and by inhibiting activation of both caspase-9 and caspase-3. These data suggest that thimerosal induces apoptosis in T cells via mitochondrial pathway by inducing oxidative stress and depletion of GSH.
19. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Aug;73(6):384-8.
Homozygous gene deletions of the glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 are associated with thimerosal sensitization.
Westphal GA, Schnuch A, Schulz TG, Reich K, Aberer W, Brasch J, Koch P, Wessbecher R, Szliska C, Bauer A, Hallier E.
Abteilung fur Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany. gwestph@gwdg.de
OBJECTIVE: Thimerosal is an important preservative in vaccines and ophthalmologic preparations. The substance is known to be a type IV sensitizing agent. High sensitization rates were observed in contact-allergic patients and in health care workers who had been exposed to thimerosal-preserved vaccines. There is evidence for the involvement of the glutathione system in the metabolism of thimerosal or its decomposition products (organomercury alkyl compounds). Thus detoxification by polymorphically expressed glutathione S-transferases such as GSTT1 and GSTM1 might have a protective effect against sensitization by these substances. METHODS: To address this question, a case control study was conducted, including 91 Central European individuals with a positive patch-test reaction to thimerosal. This population was compared with 169 healthy controls and additionally with 114 individuals affected by an allergy against para-substituted aryl compounds. The latter population was included in order to test whether possible associations were due to substance-specific effects, or were a general feature connected with type IV immunological diseases. Homozygous deletions of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Glutathione S-transferase M1 deficiency was significantly more frequent among patients sensitized to thimerosal (65.9%, P = 0.013) compared with the healthy control group (49.1%) and the "para-compound" group (48%, P = 0.034). Glutathione S-transferase T1 deficiency in the thimerosal/mercury group (19.8%) was barely elevated versus healthy controls (16.0%) and the "para-compound" group (14.0%). The combined deletion (GSTT1-/GSTM1-) was markedly more frequent among thimerosal-sensitized patients than in healthy controls (17.6% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.0093) and in the "para- compound" group (17.6% vs. 6.1%, P =0.014), revealing a synergistic effect of these enzyme deficiencies (healthy controls vs. thimerosal GSTM1 negative individuals, OR = 2.0 [CI = 1.2-3.4], GSTT1-, OR = 1.2 [CI = 0.70-2.1], GSTM1/T1-, OR = 3.1 [CI = 1.4-6.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Since the glutathione-dependent system was repeatedly shown to be involved in the metabolism of thimerosal decomposition products, the observed association may be of functional relevance.
20. Travis Haws Re:Re:Re:Re: A Fatal Misdiagnosis. bmj. February 18th 2005.
21, J Neurosci Res. 1996 Apr 15;44(2):149-56.
Pharmacological characterization of inositol-1,4,5,-trisphosphate binding to membranes from retina and retinal cultures.
Lopez-Colome AM, Lee I.
Instituto de Fisiologia Celular, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
Light and excitatory amino acids (EAA) stimulate the phosphoinositide cycle in the vertebrate retina. The regulation of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores by inositol-1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) involves an interaction of this compound with specific receptors. By means of [3H]IP3-specific binding, we studied the kinetic and pharmacological properties of IP3 receptors in the chick retina as well as in primary cultures of neurons and glia from this tissue. The equilibrium time for the binding reaction was 15 min and was optimal at alkaline pH (8.3). IP3 receptor displayed high affinity (K(B) approximately 40 nM) and selectivity for D-IP3, compared to D-IP4 > L-IP3 > D-IP2 > D- IP1. These characteristics were the same in subcellular fractions from outer (P1) and thinner (P2) plexiform layers, binding sites being more abundant in P2 (2.65 pmol/mg protein). IP3 receptors were present in both neuronal and glial cultures, but were concentrated in neuronal cultures. Binding was not affected by ryanodine, or caffeine, related to calcium-induced calcium release (CICR)channels, nor by the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, while heparin affectively inhibited IP3 binding. GSSG and thimerosal increased the affinity of [3H]IP3 binding from IC50 approximately 80 nM to IC50 approximately 40 nM; this effect was reversed by DTT. Binding in zero Ca2+ was decreased by low concentrations of Ca2+ (350 nM). These results suggest that actions of IP3 in the retina are regulated by physiological changes in intracellular pH and Ca2+ concentrations, as well as by the oxidation state of the receptor. Additionally, the presence of IP3 receptors in Muller glia opens the possibility of IP3 participation in nonsynaptic signalling through Ca2+ waves in glial cells.
22. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1977 Apr;16(4):273-80.
Effect of the ophthalmic preservative thimerosal on rabbit and human corneal endothelium.
Van Horn DL, Edelhauser HF, Prodanovich G, Eiferman R, Pederson HF.
Widespread use of the mercurial-containing preservative thimerosal as an antibacterial agent in ophthalmic drugs and solutions warranted an investigation into its possible cytotoxic effects on the functional and ultrastructural integrity of the corneal endothelium. No changes in corneal thickness were observed during 5 hours' perfusion of the endothelium of rabbit and human corneas with 0.0001 and 0.0005 percent thimerosal in glutathione bicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the endothelium of the 0.0001 percent group revealed normal ultrastructure. SEM and TEM of the endothelium of corneas perfused with 0.0005 percent thimerosal for 5 hours revealed condensed mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cytoplasmic flaps at the apical end of the cellular junctions. Perfusion of higher concentrations (0.001 and 0.005 perecnt) of thimerosal in GBR resulted in increases in corneal thickness after 2 hours and irreversible ultrastructural damage to the endothelial cells by 5 hours. Corneas perfused with 0.01 and 0.1 percent thimerosal in GBR showed a rapid and immediate increase in corneal thickness and endothelial cell death and necrosis within 1 hour. It is postulated that the mercury in thimerosal becomes bound to the cell membrane protein sulfhydryl groups, causing an increase in cellular permeability; These results suggest that the prolonged exposure of the corneal endothelium to thimerosal in the accepted antimicrobial dosage of 0.005 to 0.001 percent may result in functional and structural damage to the endothelium.
23. Blakemore-Brown Reweaving the Autistic Tapestry. Jessica Kingsley Publishers London 2002.
Competing interests: Expert in Autism and associated tapestry impairments
As predicted - media spinning itself dizzy
I have given it a couple of days to see how the media have reported on the crucially important vaccine trials in New York, as an experiment really.
As predicted, the US media in general are ill informed but consistently serve up the mantra 'there is no connection' etc. At least David Kirby is being given a chance to speak in a number of news programmes. Maybe he can make them see sense.
For the UK media, shamefully sunk deep in New Labour spin, the story has not even made it as a serious issue. Clare Dyer, long standing supporter of medical theories gone wrong, made a cynical passing reference to it whilst putting the boot in for the UK families who are consistently thwarted in their efforts to find justice for their damaged children. It is sad yet amusing that Tony Blair heavily criticised the UK media yesterday calling them 'feral' when in fact the Press have been very protective and supportive of the Blair spin machine for a decade. What would he say if they did their jobs properly and exposed this and many other atrocities against children?
There is evidence of startling ignorance in the Press reporting of the vaccine trials. For instance stories have referred to MMR and Mercury (as part of the Thimerosal) But MMR does not and cannot contain this preservative - because it contains live viruses which the Thimerosal would kill. This means that there is either: an additional problem with the MMR (and secret meetings indicate this to be the case with some named vaccines such as the Urabe vaccine standing out as dangerous, leading to its removal ) and/or the damage done to the immune system of some vulnerable children by the earlier Thimerosal containing DTP will make it easier for the MMR to cause more damage later. Boyd Haley, a chemist, also speaks convincingly of the synergistic effect of the mercury and other heavy metals - maybe also the pertussis antigen - and the live viruses.
Another consistent blind and ignorant Press line is that Thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 1999. Not true. The longstanding serious concerns about Thimerosal over decades led to a decision to gradually remove it from childhood vaccines in 1999 - but there is NO EVIDENCE that it has been removed, or how much of it has been removed.
As an example of what happens, in the UK, the Press reported that Thimerosal had been removed in 2004. However, in a 2005 FOIA request to the Department of Health I was informed personally that THERE HAD BEEN NO PRODUCT RECALL.
That means that the product could still be in use. There is NO EVIDENCE to say this is not happening in the US.
It is in flu vaccines and my own mother had a series of heart attacks after she was given it.
Furthermore, the media reference to Thimerosal being removed is designed to dismiss concerns. This is not appropriate when :
1. It has been removed in the West (given concerns about evidence of harm)
2. It can remain in vaccines for the Third World as there is no evidence of harm.
The fact that MMR does not contain Thimerosal does not give Pharma schills a chance to sneer that this leaves the argument about Thimerosal flat on its face.
Far from it. It makes the whole situation infinitely worse for the Pharmaceutical Industry.
As predicted, the US media in general are ill informed but consistently serve up the mantra 'there is no connection' etc. At least David Kirby is being given a chance to speak in a number of news programmes. Maybe he can make them see sense.
For the UK media, shamefully sunk deep in New Labour spin, the story has not even made it as a serious issue. Clare Dyer, long standing supporter of medical theories gone wrong, made a cynical passing reference to it whilst putting the boot in for the UK families who are consistently thwarted in their efforts to find justice for their damaged children. It is sad yet amusing that Tony Blair heavily criticised the UK media yesterday calling them 'feral' when in fact the Press have been very protective and supportive of the Blair spin machine for a decade. What would he say if they did their jobs properly and exposed this and many other atrocities against children?
There is evidence of startling ignorance in the Press reporting of the vaccine trials. For instance stories have referred to MMR and Mercury (as part of the Thimerosal) But MMR does not and cannot contain this preservative - because it contains live viruses which the Thimerosal would kill. This means that there is either: an additional problem with the MMR (and secret meetings indicate this to be the case with some named vaccines such as the Urabe vaccine standing out as dangerous, leading to its removal ) and/or the damage done to the immune system of some vulnerable children by the earlier Thimerosal containing DTP will make it easier for the MMR to cause more damage later. Boyd Haley, a chemist, also speaks convincingly of the synergistic effect of the mercury and other heavy metals - maybe also the pertussis antigen - and the live viruses.
Another consistent blind and ignorant Press line is that Thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 1999. Not true. The longstanding serious concerns about Thimerosal over decades led to a decision to gradually remove it from childhood vaccines in 1999 - but there is NO EVIDENCE that it has been removed, or how much of it has been removed.
As an example of what happens, in the UK, the Press reported that Thimerosal had been removed in 2004. However, in a 2005 FOIA request to the Department of Health I was informed personally that THERE HAD BEEN NO PRODUCT RECALL.
That means that the product could still be in use. There is NO EVIDENCE to say this is not happening in the US.
It is in flu vaccines and my own mother had a series of heart attacks after she was given it.
Furthermore, the media reference to Thimerosal being removed is designed to dismiss concerns. This is not appropriate when :
- Children were damaged before that date when it indisputably was in the DTP vaccines
- It could still be in use given the above facts
- It is STILL IN FLU VACCINES
- It is in vaccines sent to the Third World
1. It has been removed in the West (given concerns about evidence of harm)
2. It can remain in vaccines for the Third World as there is no evidence of harm.
The fact that MMR does not contain Thimerosal does not give Pharma schills a chance to sneer that this leaves the argument about Thimerosal flat on its face.
Far from it. It makes the whole situation infinitely worse for the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Smoke, Mirrors and Spin - how they dragged us into the nettlebed. Lisa Blakemore-Brown
'Women and Children first' - er...not these days. All is not honourable when money and power take over. Even the children get trampled under the golden soles of the rich and powerful - and don't worry, none of that gold will rub off - they make sure of that.
For as long as Thimerosal has been in vaccines - since 1930 - various forms of persuasion and suggestibility have been used to hide and spin out the truth of the damage it does and the damage other vaccines such as MMR may have done. This may come as a shock because you might wonder how any ethical corporation can deny the truth that Mercury is the second deadliest poison on this Earth - and we have been injecting it into infants for 77 years.
For decades this was relatively easy - no internet, not even phones and TV for the majority in the earliest days.
Commercial meetings involving the most eminent and the most trusted, could be held in secret, no notes to be removed from the room and all heads to be emptied before leaving, mouths to utter only the agreed mantras - on pain of loss of job. Any mouth inclined to whisper the truth would find itself silenced forever. No doubt handsome rewards were also in place to buy silence. Maybe even Knighthoods !
Disasters could easily be put to the back of one's corporate mind only to very occasionally explode in the middle of a long night to leave those with some conscience in a cold sweat - briefly.
As time went on, and public communications improved, things became a little more difficult. There was the media for a start and the scoops it was so fond of. No worries - a little infiltration and the same tactics could be used from the inside. But the forms of spin, the methods used to slam shut every door behind which the truth may lay, had to become more and more complex - especially as the problems were increasing not decreasing with mass propaganda and accelerated vaccine programmes during the 1980's.
These tactics included parent blame when a child succumbed to an adverse reaction, training of professionals to see vaccine damage symptoms as indicative of child abuse (but never iatrogenic), vilification of professionals who spoke out, debate silenced, denial of any alternative to the mantra - 'there is no connection between death and vaccines/autism etc and vaccines/brain damage and vaccines/auto immune disorders and vaccines - there's no evidence of harm'. The latter phrase entered the mantra after David Kirby wrote his book 'Evidence of Harm' about three mothers who uncovered through FOI the secret Simpsonwood meeting in Atlanta Georgia. In that meeting Dr Verstraeten who worked for the CDC displayed his slides on the effects of Thimerosal on the child's developing system. It was so clear he could say what a child would develop depending on the day he had the vaccine and the weight of the child. In other FOI obtained emails he said it didn't matter what he did, the data sang out the same message. There was a significant association between the Thimerosal containing vaccine and neurological damage. Clearly this was unwanted news and Dr Verstraeten soon found himself out of work with the CDC - to a job with Big Pharma. He soon changed his tune.
Governments and their health agencies could easily be won over with a bit of lobbying, touch of infiltration, threats and promises, engagement of a 'dirty layer' of dodgy people who would happily do their dirty work, spreading spin and rumour, vilifying and harrassing critics, setting up smoke and mirrors to disguise the truth etc. Before you knew it - we were all in the nettlebed.
We all stung so much we couldn't think straight - and in that state could easily miss what was staring us in the face - and that was just how Big Pharma and those in an unholy alliance with them wanted it.
Conflicts of interest abound in anything to do with vaccine issues. Big Pharma funds the Health agencies epidemiology and data is held close to the corporate chest. They mark their own homework. Even conflicts exist within Courts.
Spin entered the picture with a vengeance in 1980's and 90's. Adverse reactions morphed into 'coincidences', anyone and everyone who reacted must have some genetic problem - so why did this not manifest itself in the same symptoms before the vaccine? The answer shifts to 'well it would have happened anyway'. But it didn't - until the vaccine. All else is theory.
When the smoke clears, and the stinging dies down, it's the children we see, and the crystal clear audit trail that leads right back to the before and after stories when they had their vaccinations.
Lets hope the Judges in New York can climb out of the nettlebed to see through the smoke - and put the children first, at last.
For as long as Thimerosal has been in vaccines - since 1930 - various forms of persuasion and suggestibility have been used to hide and spin out the truth of the damage it does and the damage other vaccines such as MMR may have done. This may come as a shock because you might wonder how any ethical corporation can deny the truth that Mercury is the second deadliest poison on this Earth - and we have been injecting it into infants for 77 years.
For decades this was relatively easy - no internet, not even phones and TV for the majority in the earliest days.
Commercial meetings involving the most eminent and the most trusted, could be held in secret, no notes to be removed from the room and all heads to be emptied before leaving, mouths to utter only the agreed mantras - on pain of loss of job. Any mouth inclined to whisper the truth would find itself silenced forever. No doubt handsome rewards were also in place to buy silence. Maybe even Knighthoods !
Disasters could easily be put to the back of one's corporate mind only to very occasionally explode in the middle of a long night to leave those with some conscience in a cold sweat - briefly.
As time went on, and public communications improved, things became a little more difficult. There was the media for a start and the scoops it was so fond of. No worries - a little infiltration and the same tactics could be used from the inside. But the forms of spin, the methods used to slam shut every door behind which the truth may lay, had to become more and more complex - especially as the problems were increasing not decreasing with mass propaganda and accelerated vaccine programmes during the 1980's.
These tactics included parent blame when a child succumbed to an adverse reaction, training of professionals to see vaccine damage symptoms as indicative of child abuse (but never iatrogenic), vilification of professionals who spoke out, debate silenced, denial of any alternative to the mantra - 'there is no connection between death and vaccines/autism etc and vaccines/brain damage and vaccines/auto immune disorders and vaccines - there's no evidence of harm'. The latter phrase entered the mantra after David Kirby wrote his book 'Evidence of Harm' about three mothers who uncovered through FOI the secret Simpsonwood meeting in Atlanta Georgia. In that meeting Dr Verstraeten who worked for the CDC displayed his slides on the effects of Thimerosal on the child's developing system. It was so clear he could say what a child would develop depending on the day he had the vaccine and the weight of the child. In other FOI obtained emails he said it didn't matter what he did, the data sang out the same message. There was a significant association between the Thimerosal containing vaccine and neurological damage. Clearly this was unwanted news and Dr Verstraeten soon found himself out of work with the CDC - to a job with Big Pharma. He soon changed his tune.
Governments and their health agencies could easily be won over with a bit of lobbying, touch of infiltration, threats and promises, engagement of a 'dirty layer' of dodgy people who would happily do their dirty work, spreading spin and rumour, vilifying and harrassing critics, setting up smoke and mirrors to disguise the truth etc. Before you knew it - we were all in the nettlebed.
We all stung so much we couldn't think straight - and in that state could easily miss what was staring us in the face - and that was just how Big Pharma and those in an unholy alliance with them wanted it.
Conflicts of interest abound in anything to do with vaccine issues. Big Pharma funds the Health agencies epidemiology and data is held close to the corporate chest. They mark their own homework. Even conflicts exist within Courts.
Spin entered the picture with a vengeance in 1980's and 90's. Adverse reactions morphed into 'coincidences', anyone and everyone who reacted must have some genetic problem - so why did this not manifest itself in the same symptoms before the vaccine? The answer shifts to 'well it would have happened anyway'. But it didn't - until the vaccine. All else is theory.
When the smoke clears, and the stinging dies down, it's the children we see, and the crystal clear audit trail that leads right back to the before and after stories when they had their vaccinations.
Lets hope the Judges in New York can climb out of the nettlebed to see through the smoke - and put the children first, at last.
The Vaccine Hearings - Anne McElroy Dachel
The Vaccine Hearings: "Science has spoken"
By Anne McElroy Dachel
We're in the midst of an epidemic of autism. There is no other word for it. On average in the U.S., one in every 150 kids is autistic. One in every 94 boys has the disorder. Some places have much worse statistics. New Jersey tops the nation with one in every 94 kids affected, including one in every 60 boys. Another child is diagnosed with autism every 20 minutes in America. These statistics however, don't seem worrisome to officials.
The one in 150 rate came out in February and the numbers should have gotten everyone's attention. We should be moving mountains to figure out what's happening to our children, but that just isn't the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the rate with no sense of alarm. The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post both had brief items about new autism numbers in which we were told not to worry, "the new data do not mean that autism is on the rise because the criteria and definitions used were not the same as those used in the past." Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, chief of the developmental disabilities branch at the CDC said only that the new rate shows that autism is an "urgent public health issue" and a "major public health concern." Neither of those terms indicates that autism is anything to worry about and news reporters writing on the subject take their cue from the CDC.
The scariest thing about the fact that so many hundreds of thousands of U.S. children have autism, is the fact that hundreds of thousands of adults don't. Eighty percent of autistic Americans are under the age of 18. That figure is based on the well-kept statistics coming out of California. It would seem only logical that someone somewhere should be doing something. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still can't decide if autism is really increasing or if it just seems that way because doctors are better at diagnosing it. They are also the first to throw up their hands and proclaim that autism has no known cause and no known cure. The one thing they can emphatically tell us is that vaccines do not cause autism.
In 2004, they directed the Institute of Medicine to look at the vaccine question and report back. The IOM did just that and found a host of population studies that showed no connection between vaccines with the mercury-based preservative, thimerosal, or the MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) vaccine and the explosion in autism. They happily declared vaccines to be safe and recommended researchers look elsewhere for the cause of autism. It didn't bother the IOM that in the case of thimerosal, there wasn't a single toxicological study that showed the mercury used in vaccines was safe.
The findings of the IOM Report were supposed to have settled the issue. Hundreds of articles on the controversy have faithfully reported that "studies show no link" between vaccines and autism based on the IOM Report. Still, the parents have persisted, joined by a growing number of doctors and scientists and on June 11th, they'll get a chance to make their case fairly in a special federal "Vaccine Court." Or will they?
Experts will be called in for both sides. One for the defense will be Eric Fombonne, MD of Montreal. He's periodically in the news where he repeats "studies show no link" based on his population studies done in Canada. While Fombonne is usually described as an expert, it's rarely noted that his expertise in mercury toxicity comes from being a psychiatrist, not a toxicologist.
David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, recently wrote an article called, See You in (Vaccine) Court, in which he discusses the proceedings, including the fact that parents are prevented from seeing certain information on vaccine injuries.
Kirby tells us, "Petitioners were just denied access to the government's vast vaccine safety database of HMO patients, which was used by CDC officials to conduct a four-year study that ultimately found no link between thimerosal and autism. Earlier versions of the study, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, however, clearly showed increased risks for many neurodevelopmental disorders, depending on the dose of thimerosal administered."
Kirby relates that parents filing suits "will be forever barred from seeing the actual raw data, in order to replicate what the CDC researchers found. (Exact replication is impossible because original datasets, culled at taxpayer expense, somehow "went missing" and are no longer available for re-analysis - a possible felony violation of the federal Data Quality Act)."
The mainstream press has publicized the hearings that involve 4,800 suits. An AP article by Kevin Freking, Vaccine Claims to Get Their Day in Court, was published by a number of news outlets. Freking begins his piece by telling readers, "Science has spoken when it comes to the theory that some childhood vaccines can cause autism. They don't, the Institute of Medicine concluded three years ago. Soon, it will be the courts turn to speak." Those disconcerting statements make the outcome sound like a foregone conclusion, but Freking does allow one of the parents, Scott Bono of Durham, N.C., to say that the 2004 IOM Report findings were "preordained by the federal government."
To be fair and balanced, Freking includes commentary to the contrary from vaccine patent holder, Paul Offit, MD. Offit retreats to the traditional mantra of thimerosal defenders: "The report from the Institute of Medicine pointed to five large studies, here and abroad, that tracked thousands of children since 2001 and found no association between autism and vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal." That is yet another rendition of "studies show no link." No one, of course, ever asks, "What studies?" Those large studies Offit refers to are epidemiological studies. Epidemiological studies were made famous by the tobacco industry in the 1940s when they were used to show smoking didn't cause lung cancer. This type of research is easily flawed and the numbers manipulated. Any reputable scientist knows that population studies alone are not proof.
Someday someone in the press will ask Dr. Offit how he can defend thimerosal as safe, when volumes of toxicological research show it isn't. Maybe a reporter will further bring up the pathetic history of thimerosal and ask Offit why he seems untroubled by the fact that it was never tested by the FDA.
In the AP article, mercury isn't a big concern for Paul Offit. He tells us that mercury is "part of the natural environment. There's no escaping it." One might wonder what Dr. Offit would consider a "safe level" of something that's the second deadliest element on Earth and known neurotoxin.
Offit also had a piece in the Boston Globe recently about the hearings. In At Risk: vaccines, he warns that unfavorable judgments will threaten the vaccine supply. Manufacturers will be scared out of the business. Children's very lives will be put at risk if we dare to question vaccine side effects. Parents have nothing to back their claims, according to Offit in the article. He again tells us "There is plenty of evidence to refute the notion that vaccines cause autism. Fourteen epidemiological studies have shown that the risk of autism is the same whether children received the MMR vaccine or not, and five have shown that thimerosal-containing vaccines also do not cause autism." While parents don't seem to have a prayer according to Dr. Offit, the hearings will proceed.
The first one of the 4,800 claims will be heard next week by a special three judge panel. In an article, Thimerosal and Autism: Final Round? posted online by Michael Krauss we are told that there will be three weeks of testimony in the first case, Cedillo v Secretary of Health and Human Services. Krauss tells us, "a 1986 federal law provides that, in lieu of suing manufacturers for negligent design or warning, those claiming to be injured by vaccines may choose to file claims against the government in the Court of Claims. Special masters acting as trial judges hear such cases and award damages if a causal connection has been established. No fault on the part of the manufacturers need be established, only causation."
While that sounds fair, a closer look reveals some unsettling things about the proceedings. Robert Krakow, an attorney who represents families in the proceedings and the father of a son with a pending claim, wrote a response to Paul Offit's Boston Globe article saying, "That vaccines have had a great impact on human health is no justification for the trampling of children's rights and relegation of their claim for compensation under law to legal insignificance. Offit seems to think that anything that threatens the vaccine program has no social value. The vaccine program has saved so many lives, according to Offit, that harm caused by vaccines merits no investigation."
Krakow further tells us, "Offit is simply wrong and his view, moreover, lacks any semblance of balance. He wants protection for the vaccine industry at any cost - including the price of the health of thousands of children."
It's strange that in the face of an epidemic number of children with autism and a heated controversy over the cause, Dr. Offit doesn't welcome the hearings. If he is so confident that the science has settled the issue, why does he need to resort to dire predictions that manufacturers will abandon the business? What happened to the democratic process? Has the stage already been set in the press with reports like Freking's AP story where the lead sentence announces, "Science has settled the issue"?
Wendy Fournier, President of the National Autism Association, says this about Offit's remarks: "He writes of massive litigation that could force companies to leave the vaccine business, when the vaccine manufacturers in fact cannot be held liable. Any money awarded to these suffering families will be paid by you and me. A $.75 fee is added to the cost of every vaccine and put into The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to compensate people who are injured by them. The manufacturers are not held responsible and therefore have no incentive to produce safe vaccines for consumers."
Michael Krauss notes that "thousands of parents will 'virtually' attend the trial, by speakerphone." They will be listening for their side to be told and the overwhelming science on deadly and damaging vaccines to be honestly presented. This is the side that so far hasn't been heard.
According to Kevin Freking and Paul Offit, "science has already settled the issue." Let's hope the three special masters hearing the case don't agree. If that were true, these hearings are nothing but a kangaroo court. The definition of such a court is "a sham legal proceeding.. The outcome of such a trial is essentially made in advance." A huge audience will be listening to hear their side; they won't accept the the IOM findings again based on the same evidence that "studies show no link."
Anne McElroy Dachel
Chippewa Falls, WI USA
715-723-0913
amdachel@msn.com
Member:
A-CHAMP
(Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning)http://www.a- champ.org
National Autism Association (NAA)
http://www.national autismassociatio n.org
By Anne McElroy Dachel
We're in the midst of an epidemic of autism. There is no other word for it. On average in the U.S., one in every 150 kids is autistic. One in every 94 boys has the disorder. Some places have much worse statistics. New Jersey tops the nation with one in every 94 kids affected, including one in every 60 boys. Another child is diagnosed with autism every 20 minutes in America. These statistics however, don't seem worrisome to officials.
The one in 150 rate came out in February and the numbers should have gotten everyone's attention. We should be moving mountains to figure out what's happening to our children, but that just isn't the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the rate with no sense of alarm. The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post both had brief items about new autism numbers in which we were told not to worry, "the new data do not mean that autism is on the rise because the criteria and definitions used were not the same as those used in the past." Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, chief of the developmental disabilities branch at the CDC said only that the new rate shows that autism is an "urgent public health issue" and a "major public health concern." Neither of those terms indicates that autism is anything to worry about and news reporters writing on the subject take their cue from the CDC.
The scariest thing about the fact that so many hundreds of thousands of U.S. children have autism, is the fact that hundreds of thousands of adults don't. Eighty percent of autistic Americans are under the age of 18. That figure is based on the well-kept statistics coming out of California. It would seem only logical that someone somewhere should be doing something. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still can't decide if autism is really increasing or if it just seems that way because doctors are better at diagnosing it. They are also the first to throw up their hands and proclaim that autism has no known cause and no known cure. The one thing they can emphatically tell us is that vaccines do not cause autism.
In 2004, they directed the Institute of Medicine to look at the vaccine question and report back. The IOM did just that and found a host of population studies that showed no connection between vaccines with the mercury-based preservative, thimerosal, or the MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) vaccine and the explosion in autism. They happily declared vaccines to be safe and recommended researchers look elsewhere for the cause of autism. It didn't bother the IOM that in the case of thimerosal, there wasn't a single toxicological study that showed the mercury used in vaccines was safe.
The findings of the IOM Report were supposed to have settled the issue. Hundreds of articles on the controversy have faithfully reported that "studies show no link" between vaccines and autism based on the IOM Report. Still, the parents have persisted, joined by a growing number of doctors and scientists and on June 11th, they'll get a chance to make their case fairly in a special federal "Vaccine Court." Or will they?
Experts will be called in for both sides. One for the defense will be Eric Fombonne, MD of Montreal. He's periodically in the news where he repeats "studies show no link" based on his population studies done in Canada. While Fombonne is usually described as an expert, it's rarely noted that his expertise in mercury toxicity comes from being a psychiatrist, not a toxicologist.
David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, recently wrote an article called, See You in (Vaccine) Court, in which he discusses the proceedings, including the fact that parents are prevented from seeing certain information on vaccine injuries.
Kirby tells us, "Petitioners were just denied access to the government's vast vaccine safety database of HMO patients, which was used by CDC officials to conduct a four-year study that ultimately found no link between thimerosal and autism. Earlier versions of the study, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, however, clearly showed increased risks for many neurodevelopmental disorders, depending on the dose of thimerosal administered."
Kirby relates that parents filing suits "will be forever barred from seeing the actual raw data, in order to replicate what the CDC researchers found. (Exact replication is impossible because original datasets, culled at taxpayer expense, somehow "went missing" and are no longer available for re-analysis - a possible felony violation of the federal Data Quality Act)."
The mainstream press has publicized the hearings that involve 4,800 suits. An AP article by Kevin Freking, Vaccine Claims to Get Their Day in Court, was published by a number of news outlets. Freking begins his piece by telling readers, "Science has spoken when it comes to the theory that some childhood vaccines can cause autism. They don't, the Institute of Medicine concluded three years ago. Soon, it will be the courts turn to speak." Those disconcerting statements make the outcome sound like a foregone conclusion, but Freking does allow one of the parents, Scott Bono of Durham, N.C., to say that the 2004 IOM Report findings were "preordained by the federal government."
To be fair and balanced, Freking includes commentary to the contrary from vaccine patent holder, Paul Offit, MD. Offit retreats to the traditional mantra of thimerosal defenders: "The report from the Institute of Medicine pointed to five large studies, here and abroad, that tracked thousands of children since 2001 and found no association between autism and vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal." That is yet another rendition of "studies show no link." No one, of course, ever asks, "What studies?" Those large studies Offit refers to are epidemiological studies. Epidemiological studies were made famous by the tobacco industry in the 1940s when they were used to show smoking didn't cause lung cancer. This type of research is easily flawed and the numbers manipulated. Any reputable scientist knows that population studies alone are not proof.
Someday someone in the press will ask Dr. Offit how he can defend thimerosal as safe, when volumes of toxicological research show it isn't. Maybe a reporter will further bring up the pathetic history of thimerosal and ask Offit why he seems untroubled by the fact that it was never tested by the FDA.
In the AP article, mercury isn't a big concern for Paul Offit. He tells us that mercury is "part of the natural environment. There's no escaping it." One might wonder what Dr. Offit would consider a "safe level" of something that's the second deadliest element on Earth and known neurotoxin.
Offit also had a piece in the Boston Globe recently about the hearings. In At Risk: vaccines, he warns that unfavorable judgments will threaten the vaccine supply. Manufacturers will be scared out of the business. Children's very lives will be put at risk if we dare to question vaccine side effects. Parents have nothing to back their claims, according to Offit in the article. He again tells us "There is plenty of evidence to refute the notion that vaccines cause autism. Fourteen epidemiological studies have shown that the risk of autism is the same whether children received the MMR vaccine or not, and five have shown that thimerosal-containing vaccines also do not cause autism." While parents don't seem to have a prayer according to Dr. Offit, the hearings will proceed.
The first one of the 4,800 claims will be heard next week by a special three judge panel. In an article, Thimerosal and Autism: Final Round? posted online by Michael Krauss we are told that there will be three weeks of testimony in the first case, Cedillo v Secretary of Health and Human Services. Krauss tells us, "a 1986 federal law provides that, in lieu of suing manufacturers for negligent design or warning, those claiming to be injured by vaccines may choose to file claims against the government in the Court of Claims. Special masters acting as trial judges hear such cases and award damages if a causal connection has been established. No fault on the part of the manufacturers need be established, only causation."
While that sounds fair, a closer look reveals some unsettling things about the proceedings. Robert Krakow, an attorney who represents families in the proceedings and the father of a son with a pending claim, wrote a response to Paul Offit's Boston Globe article saying, "That vaccines have had a great impact on human health is no justification for the trampling of children's rights and relegation of their claim for compensation under law to legal insignificance. Offit seems to think that anything that threatens the vaccine program has no social value. The vaccine program has saved so many lives, according to Offit, that harm caused by vaccines merits no investigation."
Krakow further tells us, "Offit is simply wrong and his view, moreover, lacks any semblance of balance. He wants protection for the vaccine industry at any cost - including the price of the health of thousands of children."
It's strange that in the face of an epidemic number of children with autism and a heated controversy over the cause, Dr. Offit doesn't welcome the hearings. If he is so confident that the science has settled the issue, why does he need to resort to dire predictions that manufacturers will abandon the business? What happened to the democratic process? Has the stage already been set in the press with reports like Freking's AP story where the lead sentence announces, "Science has settled the issue"?
Wendy Fournier, President of the National Autism Association, says this about Offit's remarks: "He writes of massive litigation that could force companies to leave the vaccine business, when the vaccine manufacturers in fact cannot be held liable. Any money awarded to these suffering families will be paid by you and me. A $.75 fee is added to the cost of every vaccine and put into The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to compensate people who are injured by them. The manufacturers are not held responsible and therefore have no incentive to produce safe vaccines for consumers."
Michael Krauss notes that "thousands of parents will 'virtually' attend the trial, by speakerphone." They will be listening for their side to be told and the overwhelming science on deadly and damaging vaccines to be honestly presented. This is the side that so far hasn't been heard.
According to Kevin Freking and Paul Offit, "science has already settled the issue." Let's hope the three special masters hearing the case don't agree. If that were true, these hearings are nothing but a kangaroo court. The definition of such a court is "a sham legal proceeding.. The outcome of such a trial is essentially made in advance." A huge audience will be listening to hear their side; they won't accept the the IOM findings again based on the same evidence that "studies show no link."
Anne McElroy Dachel
Chippewa Falls, WI USA
715-723-0913
amdachel@msn.com
Member:
A-CHAMP
(Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning)http://www.a- champ.org
National Autism Association (NAA)
http://www.national autismassociatio n.org
Michael Moore, Filmmaker for the people on Eli Lilly and Thimerosal
Thank you Michael for listening to the multiple thousands of parents - not just in the US - who KNOW their child reacted to a vaccine containing this 49.6% Mercury preservative.
Open this link and scroll down to see what Michael said to the Big Pharma schills trying to harrass him over Sicko - right there in Cannes.
http://pharmamkting.blogspot.com/2007/06/phrma-sent-sicko-spy-to-cannes.html
Open this link and scroll down to see what Michael said to the Big Pharma schills trying to harrass him over Sicko - right there in Cannes.
http://pharmamkting.blogspot.com/2007/06/phrma-sent-sicko-spy-to-cannes.html
Friday, 8 June 2007
Understanding Mercury Concentration by Tim Kasemodel
Understanding Mercury Concentration
Imagine an 8 story building, 100’ square filled with water (6,229,000 gallons) divided into 1 billion parts
1 part per billion = 1.2 inches square
To understand mercury concentration, dilute 6,229,000 gallons of water with the amounts of mercury below:
Preservative level mercury – including Pediatric flu:
50,000 parts per billion concentration
44 inches square of mercury
Trace level mercury vaccines:
DtaP+Hib 600 ppb concentration 10 inches square of mercury
Hepatitis B 1000 ppb concentration 12 inches square of mercury
Adult flu 2500 ppb concentration 16.5 inches square of mercury
Mercury levels mentioned in peer reviewed science and its noted effects:
100 ppb causes immune system cell death (Pessah ¹) 5.5 inches square of mercury
10 ppb causes immune system inhibition (Pessah¹) 2.6 inches square of mercury
3 ppb causes brain neuron cell death (Haley²) 1.7 inches square of mercury 0.2 ppb causes inhibition of enzyme methionine synthetase –the main pathway of mercury excretion in the body (Waly/Deth³), 3/4 inches square of mercury Low levels such as these also inhibit the production of heme by blocking the porphyrin pathway; decrease in heme production prevents the normal production of hemoglobin and affect the production of glutathione, an important antioxidantDecreasing of heme levels makes one susceptible to many other toxins.
*100 ft per side
44 in. per side
10” to 16 5”
5.5”
1.7”
¾” – A “sugar cube” of mercury diluted into 6,229,000 gallons of water eliminated activity supporting the excretion of mercury itself
1 - http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/8881/8881.html
2 - http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/haley.pdf
3 - http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v9/n4/abs/4001476a.html
Prepared by the Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project
Imagine an 8 story building, 100’ square filled with water (6,229,000 gallons) divided into 1 billion parts
1 part per billion = 1.2 inches square
To understand mercury concentration, dilute 6,229,000 gallons of water with the amounts of mercury below:
Preservative level mercury – including Pediatric flu:
50,000 parts per billion concentration
44 inches square of mercury
Trace level mercury vaccines:
DtaP+Hib 600 ppb concentration 10 inches square of mercury
Hepatitis B 1000 ppb concentration 12 inches square of mercury
Adult flu 2500 ppb concentration 16.5 inches square of mercury
Mercury levels mentioned in peer reviewed science and its noted effects:
100 ppb causes immune system cell death (Pessah ¹) 5.5 inches square of mercury
10 ppb causes immune system inhibition (Pessah¹) 2.6 inches square of mercury
3 ppb causes brain neuron cell death (Haley²) 1.7 inches square of mercury 0.2 ppb causes inhibition of enzyme methionine synthetase –the main pathway of mercury excretion in the body (Waly/Deth³), 3/4 inches square of mercury Low levels such as these also inhibit the production of heme by blocking the porphyrin pathway; decrease in heme production prevents the normal production of hemoglobin and affect the production of glutathione, an important antioxidantDecreasing of heme levels makes one susceptible to many other toxins.
*100 ft per side
44 in. per side
10” to 16 5”
5.5”
1.7”
¾” – A “sugar cube” of mercury diluted into 6,229,000 gallons of water eliminated activity supporting the excretion of mercury itself
1 - http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/8881/8881.html
2 - http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/haley.pdf
3 - http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v9/n4/abs/4001476a.html
Prepared by the Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project
Lift off - Monday 11th June 2007 New York Vaccine Court
Welcome to Thimerosal Thoughts.
On this site you can explore a little known subject which is about to lift off in a Vaccine Court Monday in New York, when 4800 children's cases will be looked at.
This is the first time this has ever happened and Thimerosal has been in vaccines since 1930!
So welcome to stuff that might blow your mind - or it might have already done that.
The Pharmaceutical Industry allied to Western Governments have ensured this subject remains out of the public view for 77 years.
Its time that changed.
On this site you can explore a little known subject which is about to lift off in a Vaccine Court Monday in New York, when 4800 children's cases will be looked at.
This is the first time this has ever happened and Thimerosal has been in vaccines since 1930!
So welcome to stuff that might blow your mind - or it might have already done that.
The Pharmaceutical Industry allied to Western Governments have ensured this subject remains out of the public view for 77 years.
Its time that changed.
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