Organic solvents as risk factor for autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Organic solvents as risk factor for autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23284705

Barragán-Martínez C, Speck-Hernández CA, Montoya-Ortiz G, Mantilla RD, Anaya JM, Rojas-Villarraga A.
PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e51506. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051506. Epub 2012 Dec 19.

Source
Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Genetic and epigenetic factors interacting with the environment over time are the main causes of complex diseases such as autoimmune diseases (ADs). Among the environmental factors are organic solvents (OSs), which are chemical compounds used routinely in commercial industries. Since controversy exists over whether ADs are caused by OSs, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the association between OSs and ADs.

METHODS AND FINDINGS:
The systematic search was done in the PubMed, SCOPUS, SciELO and LILACS databases up to February 2012. Any type of study that used accepted classification criteria for ADs and had information about exposure to OSs was selected. Out of a total of 103 articles retrieved, 33 were finally included in the meta-analysis. The final odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained by the random effect model. A sensitivity analysis confirmed results were not sensitive to restrictions on the data included. Publication bias was trivial. Exposure to OSs was associated to systemic sclerosis, primary systemic vasculitis and multiple sclerosis individually and also to all the ADs evaluated and taken together as a single trait (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.25-1.92; p-value<0.001).

CONCLUSION:
Exposure to OSs is a risk factor for developing ADs. As a corollary, individuals with non-modifiable risk factors (i.e., familial autoimmunity or carrying genetic factors) should avoid any exposure to OSs in order to avoid increasing their risk of ADs.

PMID: 23284705

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Taking refuge from modernity: 21st century hermits.

[COMMENT:  This has to be one of the most poorly researched articles ever.  This study isolated a tiny segment of the MCS population and completely ignores the vast research on the majority of people with MCS who still function in the modern world as they are able and fight for their rights to be a part of society, work, attend school, and social activities.  This study ought to be retracted!]

Taking refuge from modernity: 21st century hermits.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23288087

Boyd I, Rubin G, Wessely S.  J R Soc Med. 2012 Dec;105(12):523-9. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2012.120060.

Source
King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Weston Education Centre, London SE5 9RJ, UK.

Abstract
Idiopathic environmental intolerances, such as 'multiple chemical sensitivity' and 'electrosensitivity,' can drastically affect the quality of life of those affected. A proportion of severely affected patients remove themselves from modern society, to live in isolation away from the purported causal agent of their ill health. This is not a new phenomenon; reports of hermits extend back to the 3(rd) century AD. We conducted a literature review of case reports relating to ancient hermits and modern day reclusion resulting from idiopathic environmental intolerance, in order to explore whether there are similarities between these two groups and whether the symptoms of these 'illnesses of modernity' are simply a present-day way of reaching the end-point of reclusion. Whilst there were some differences between the cases, recurring themes in ancient and modern cases included: dissatisfaction with society, a compulsion to flee, reports of a constant struggle and a feeling of fighting against the establishment. The similarities which exist between the modern-day cases and the historical hermits may provide some insight into the extreme behaviours exhibited by this population. The desire to retreat from society in order to escape from harm has existed for many centuries, but in different guises.

PMID:  23288087  [PubMed - in process]

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Denied Disability: Social Security Recognizes Fibromyalgia

Denied Disability: Social Security Recognizes Fibromyalgia
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/denied_disability/interview-wrongly-denied-disability-claims-insurance-18356.html?utm_expid=3607522-0#.UOp726yPzTM

"Cathy, who suffers from fibromyalgia, was denied disability from her health insurance provider because her doctor did not provide enough information on her condition. Cathy then applied for benefits from Social Security, which recently ruled that fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment."

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Unique immunologic patterns in fibromyalgia

Unique immunologic patterns in fibromyalgia

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6890-12-25.pdf

Frederick G Behm1, Igor M Gavin2, Oleksiy Karpenko2, Valerie Lindgren1, Sujata Gaitonde1, Peter A Gashkoff1
and Bruce S Gillis1*  BMC Clinical Pathology 2012, 12:25

Abstract

 

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic pain and allodynia. The diagnosis of FM has been one of exclusion as a test to confirm the diagnosis is lacking. Recent data highlight the role of the immune system in FM. Aberrant expressions of immune mediators, such as cytokines, have been linked to the pathogenesis and traits of FM. We therefore determined whether cytokine production by immune cells is altered in FM patients by comparing the cellular responses to mitogenic activators of stimulated blood mononuclear cells of a large number of patients with FM to those of healthy matched individuals.
 

Methods: Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 110 patients with the clinical diagnosis of FM and 91 healthy donors. Parallel samples of PBMC were cultured overnight in medium alone or in the presence of mitogenic activators; PHA or PMA in combination with ionomycin. The cytokine concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MIP-1β , MCP-1, and MIP1-α in plasma as well as in cultured supernatants were determined using a multiplex immunoassay using bead array technology.
 

Results: Cytokine levels of stimulated PBMC cultures of healthy control subjects were significantly increased as compared to matched non-stimulated PBMC cultures. In contrast, the concentrations of most cytokines were lower in stimulated samples from patients with FM compared to controls. The decreases of cytokine concentrations in patients samples ranged from 1.5-fold for MIP-1β to 10.2-fold for IL-6 in PHA challenges. In PMA challenges, we observed 1.8 to 4-fold decreases in the concentrations of cytokines in patient samples.
 

Conclusion: The cytokine responses to mitogenic activators of PBMC isolated from patients with FM were significantly lower than those of healthy individuals, implying that cell-mediated immunity is impaired in FM patients. This novel cytokine assay reveals unique and valuable immunologic traits, which, when combined with clinical patterns, can offer a diagnostic methodology in FM.

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Refractory Lyme Arthritis May Be Autoimmune

Refractory Lyme Arthritis May Be Autoimmune
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/36694

"Activated T- and B-cell responses to an autoantigen in synovial tissue may explain the development of resistant arthritis among a small number of patients with Lyme disease, researchers suggested."

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and pediatric asthma in children: a case--control study

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and pediatric asthma in children: a case--control study
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/12/1/1/abstract

Nasser M Al-Daghri, Majed S Alokail, Sherif H Abd-Alrahman, Hossam M Draz, Sobhy M Yakout and Mario Clerici
Environmental Health 2013, 12:1 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-1.  Published: 3 January 2013

Abstract (provisional)

Background
Bronchial asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Arab children. Environmental pollution has been suggested to be considered causative of asthma, nasal symptoms and bronchitis in both children and adult. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between serum polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels, asthma and allergic outcomes among Saudi children aged up to 15 yrs. We hypothesized that increased serum PAHs are associated with allergy, asthma, or respiratory symptoms.

Methods
A total of 195 Saudi children (98 asthma pediatric patients and 97 healthy controls) were randomly selected from the Riyadh Cohort Study for inclusion. The diagnosis of Asthma was based on established pediatric diagnosis and medications taken.

Results
Asthma related markers showed highly significant differences between children with and without asthma. Thus IgE, resistin and IL-4 were significantly increased (p 0.004, 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) in children with asthma compared with non-asthma control subjects. GMCSF, IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-8 and IL-10, on the other hand, were significantly decreased in children with asthma (p 0.003, 0.03, 0.001, 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Strong associations between serum PAHs levels and biomarkers of childhood asthma were detected in Arabic children. Data confirmed the role of naphthalene, 4H-cyclobenta[def]phenanthrene, 1,2-benzanthracene, chrysene and benzo(e)acephenanthrylene in childhood asthma; levels of these PAHs were correlated with asthma related biomarkers including IgE, resistin, GMCSF and IFN-gamma as well as IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and IL-10 cytokines.

Conclusions
This data highlight the pivotal role of specific PAHs in childhood asthma.

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Triclosan fears lead to alternative soaps

Triclosan fears lead to alternative soaps
http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Triclosan-fears-lead-to-alternative-soaps-4160267.php

"CleanWell's hand soaps promise to slay germs, and foam and ooze - just as soap should.

But unlike many antibacterial soaps, the ones from this young San Francisco company and a growing number of other manufacturers lack a potentially harmful chemical: triclosan.

Triclosan was created more than 40 years ago as a surgical scrub for hospitals. Now it appears in soaps, detergents, skin cleansers, deodorants, toothpastes and dishwashing liquids. It is so widespread that it has been detected in three-fourths of Americans over age 5, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

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