X-Message-Number: 28207 From: "John de Rivaz" <> References: <> Subject: Re: #28193: Emerging Infectious Determinants of Chronic Diseases Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:23:33 +0100 In http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=28193 David Stodolsky quoted: >>> Evidence now confirms that noncommunicable chron- ic diseases can stem from infectious agents. Furthermore, at least 13 of 39 recently described infectious agents induce chronic syndromes. Identifying the relationships can affect health across populations, creating opportunities to reduce the impact of chronic disease by preventing or treat- ing infection. As the concept is progressively accepted, advances in laboratory technology and epidemiology facili- tate the detection of noncultivable, novel, and even recog- nized microbial origins. A spectrum of diverse pathogens and chronic syndromes emerges, with a range of pathways from exposure to chronic illness or disability. Complex sys- tems of changing human behavioral traits superimposed on human, microbial, and environmental factors often deter- mine risk for exposure and chronic outcome. Yet the strength of causal evidence varies widely, and detecting a microbe does not prove causality. Nevertheless, infectious agents likely determine more cancers, immune-mediated syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other chronic conditions than currently appreciated. <<< I think this says that apparently trivial infectious diseases can leave victims in a condition that causes them to develop chronic and serious illnesses later in life. This is something I have surmised for a very long time. It is nice from the point of view of "me being right" to see this validated by learned research, but of course it is also a case of "my worse fears confirmed". A few years ago I started a web site and associated Yahoo Group to encourage the extermination of the Noro Virus (aka Norwalk, or winter vomiting disease) in the same manner smallpox has been eliminated. the article http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/noro_virus/message/179 suggests that infection of children with this common easily spread illness can cause kidney damage. Other articles in the group suggest that many people are too lax with preventing the spread, such as going to work or using public transport whilst infectious. Fortunately there are military and economic advantages from a solution to this problem, and there is a lot of money available for research. This disease will go, with or without my Yahoo group. However it is interesting to follow the discussion there by both lawyers and virologists. Here the legal profession may well offer some benefit by rattling a few cages to encourage solutions to be found more quickly. There is, of course, a contra point of view that has deeper roots in history that "a bit of suffering is good for you". This has been translated into the idea that if the immune system is presented with no challenges, it turns in on its body and produces allergies or autoimmune diseases. It is likely that both concepts are correct, ie life is a matter of checks and balances. I suggest the correct way forward is 1. Eliminate common infectious diseases 2. Engineer a solution to the allergy and autoimmune problem, by for example introducing known harmless viruses and bacteria which produce no symptoms and have no long term effects to exercise the immune system. (Maybe this is why yogurts and similar products are beneficial?) Although this relates to long healthy life, it is not directly related to cryonics (the subject of cryonet - preservation of people at death as legally defined so this if future science can restore them to healthy life, it can). Therefore I recommend further discussion in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LongevityReport/ Readers interested in the related subjects are referred to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/noro_virus/ http://www.cryonet.org there is no charge for any of these. -- Sincerely, John de Rivaz: http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy, Nomad .. and more Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=28207