Dutch Magazine: Confirmation of Link Between CFS and XMRV To Be Published Soon
(June 22, 2010) According to a circulating news release, researchers at the NIH and the FDA have confirmed a link between some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and XRMV, a novel retrovirus.
Journalists at the Dutch magazine Ortho base the claim on statements made by Dr. Harvey Alter. The statements were made in a closed-door lecture in Zagreb, Croatia.
In October 2009, researchers at the Whittemore-Peterson Institute found the retrovirus, XRMV, in 68 of 101 CFS patients, despite finding the virus in less than 4 percent of healthy controls.
The research findings quickly prompted a strong backlash from many CFS researchers, many of whom have long favored non-viral theories for the illness. Quickly, several studies and papers challenged the findings.
But according to Alter's presentation, which has been circulating around the internet, "the data in the Lombardi, et al Science manuscript are extremely strong and likely true, despite the controversy... Although blood transmission to humans has not been proved, it is probable.
XMRV and related MLV's are in the donor supply with an early prevalence estimate of 3% to 7%. We (FDA and NIH) have independently confirmed the Lombardi group findings."
Alter states that WPI has already been able to demonstrate infectivity of XMRV in studies in which they "transmitted XMRV to rhesus macaques by the IV route and demonstrated infectivity."
Alter, who is a clinical studies chief at Department of Transfusion Medicine at the NIH, is well-known for his role in the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. He allegedly made the statements on XMRV and CFS at the IPFA/PEI 17th Workshop on 'Surveillance and screening of Blood Borne Pathogens.
The International Plasma Fractionation Association (IPFA), an organization based in Amsterdam, represents Dutch companies involved in plasma fractionation and blood donor safety.
If true, the findings will prompt questions about the direction and commitment of federal programs for CFS. At a late May 2010 CFS Advisory committee meeting, scientists and clinicians passed a recommendation urging the HHS to remit blood donations from CFS patients.
However, Dr. Eleanor Hanna, director of the CFS research program at the Office of Research on Women's Health, stated that a decision to not remit CFS blood donation would prevent unnecessary public concern or fear about CFS. In at the same meeting, Dr. Elizabeth Unger asserted that her program at the CDC remained committed to theories on metabolic syndrome and stress response, despite the published link between CFS and XRMV.
In recent weeks, several researchers have lashed out at the published link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and XMRV. In an April 2010 letter to the Journal of Science, a group of CFS researchers expressed dismay that the link between CFS and XMRV was published. Just last week, an article in the Chicago Tribune implied that XMRV research was harming scientific consensus and presented a danger to the CFS patient community.
Love that last sentence above. God forbid anyone do research......all kinds of terrible things could come from finding the answer apparently. (sarcasm)
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I found the info about the article above when I was reading Hillary Johnson's blog.
The Big One June 22, 2010
Excerpts:
I received a call today from an investigator at a major American university who is involved with XMRV research.
He is the second reseacher-scientist to have advised me in as many weeks that a major research paper is about to be published in which the conclusions reached by the authors of the Science paper of October 9, 2009-- which linked the gammaretrovirus XMRV to chronic fatigue syndrome and proved it was infectious-- have been replicated.
In addition, the new data may be even stronger.
The agencies involved are the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. The paper is currently in press at a highly respected journal.
There initially was some concern that senior staff at the Centers for Disease Control might try to suppress this paper by intimidating the editors at the journal.
If this viral connection to CFS and also other conditions is accepted it will mean the loss of BILLIONS of dollars to the drug gurus. Guess who will oppose or discredit the research .
It's a world of greed and corruption we live in.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Why would it be a loss? I would think that they will adapt research from HIV to apply to make drugs for XMRV...
Seems like they will be opening up a new market.
The mystery is why they have denied money to research CFS all of these years. (See the thread I posted about money to research various illnesses.)
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Since the CDC didn't find anything in their studies (of course they wouldn't) they're trying to prevent the other research results from being published.
Man what a racket.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Pinelady - Usually, that blog is pretty conservative...
"The sequence analysis revealed the expected vaccine strains in each preparation, and in three cases, other unexpected viral sequences. The retrovirus avian leukosis virus was found in the measles vaccine, but at a very low level (700 nucleotides from 4 sequence reads). A virus similar to simian retrovirus was identified in Rotateq (276 nucleotides from 1 sequence read). Significant levels of porcine cirovirus 1 were found in Rotarix. The entire viral genome sequence was deduced from 6344 sequence reads, comprising over 40% of the reads done for that vaccine."
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This doesn't necessarily mean there a link between vaccines & XMRV but it's not good. I would avoid all vaccines...
I've been hearing the MMR vaccine is particularly nasty. Some get autism after that one....
--
BTW- Is there some co-incidence of lack of funding for CFS & blocking evidence about it's retroviral origin...? I think not.
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
I am so furious!!! The Department of Health and Human Services stepped in and stopped this FDA/NIH study from being published.
Supposedly they were stopping the negative CDC study from being published as well until they could figure out why the results were different.
Well of course today the negative CDC study was published just as scheduled!!!
So the only one that got stopped was the positive FDA/NIH study! GRRRRR!
Both should be published...NOT just the one that the government wants everyone to see.
Posted by jarjar (Member # 8847) on :
The gov't will step in and do whatever it wants to do to discredit whatever disease they choose.
I remember back in the 90's Dr. Myra Preston use to work down the hall from Dr. Cheney and completed her PHD. study by doing a detailed study of his cfs patients with a QEEG.
Well over 90% of his patients all showed abnormal QEEG results. The study was showing parts of the patients brain were operating in Delta and other deep sleep waves on and off while sitting upright taking test. It was plainly abnormal and not seen in the healthy population.
She submitted it to a prestigious medical review journal and they got back with her and said they wanted to publish it and said could you please downsize it as it is lengthy.
Meanwhile you guessed it when she resubmits it the powers that be stepped in and so NO we will not publish that.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Well between these studies & the lack of funding - you can see where this is going.
It's pretty obvious to me but I like to study conspiracy theories. Is there any other reason why people who are very ill with CFS, etc. are being denied? Maybe I missed something...?
Why is it OK to have diabetes, cancer, obesity, drug addiction, heart problems, etc. & not CFS, Fibromyalgia, Gulf War syndrome. or Lyme?
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
I have no words.
[ 07-01-2010, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: onbam ]
Posted by Diana 85 (Member # 23929) on :
Perhaps the CDC should be renamed to the CDP - Center for Disease Proliferation
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
They are afraid to open pandora's box. Very scary what's inside for everyone.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Sparkle this is the technology they have been discussing whether to use or not in all vaccines for detection.
For me it is a no brainer---but for them they seem to be on a barb wired fence afraid they are going to rip their britches....
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
It will be a political decision first, and any scientific considerations will be second in line.
Head lines that read "vaccines have been tainted with disease causing viruses" is not going to be readily accepted, even if it is true.
People are already suspicious of vaccines, and this would mean they were right to be. And by proxy, it means the government cannot be trusted. I am sure you can see the ramifications here. Not to mention the huge pressure that the vaccine producers might be exerting to keep this from being researched. They control much of the funding for research.
I do not know if these viruses are a serious threat in vaccines or not, but I am pretty sure the research that would tell us, is going to be shut down if possible, at least in the U.S.
Dan
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
It's already come out that the polio vaccines in the 1950's-60's have been tainted with SB-40 virus. This has been going on for decades! SB-40 gives people cancer. It's not a freak of nature that the cancer rate has drastically risen.
It's nothing new... The question is - why does it continue? You have to connect the dots yourself now.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Dan I read someplace---can't remember where----that
the records of the 50-60's Polio vaccines were
pulled for research...In case you hear anything---
I am just hoping they don't get lost like some of our vaccines did.