GULF WAR SYNDROME, POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTIVE FACTORS: I note two papers: The first: -----quote----- The Lancet, Vol 348, October 19, 1996, page 1070: Author: P Marquet, P Vignon, G Lachatre Correspondence to: Dr. P. Marquet, M.D. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Dupuytren Hospital, 87042 Limoges, France Case Report: A Soldier who had seizures after drinking a quarter litre of wine. "...We found that the composition of gun barrels had recently changed, with the inclusion of tungsten to harden the steel." ----end quote---- The soldier in question had drunk a litre of wine dispensed down the barrel of a 155 mm gun after several shots had been fired, according to a custom. 1/4 hour later the subject began to have seisures. Second report: ---quote---- Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Vol. 32, 655-661 (1996) J Wang, D T Tsukayama, B H Wicklund, R B Gustilo Correspondence to: Department of Medicine Hennepin County Medical Center Mailcode 865B Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415 Inhibition of T and B cell proliferation by titanium, cobalt, and chromium: Role of IL-2 and IL-6 ---end quote----- Speculation 1: In the environment of the Gulf War Theatre of Operations, concentrations of micro-particles of similarly composed gun steel as noted in the first case would perfuse the atmosphere. It is a commonplace that heavy metal ions deactivate pancreatic and other enzymes essential to homeostasis. Speculation 2: That other ingredients as noted in the latter report, which deals with immune suppression from prosthetics composed of the noted metals, are also ingredients of gun metal, shell casings, or other parts or explosive ingredients. Recommendation: patients complaining of the non-specific Gulf War Syndrome may be suffering from toxemic reactions to heavy metal ions or micro-particles, and should be tested for such poisoning, and a general detoxification protocol instituted immediately. Possible relevant prophylactic resources: chelation therapies; malic, citric and glucuronic acid supplementation; pancreatic enzyme supplementation; hydrogen sulfide or hydrazine sulfate reactivation of pancreatic tryptic enzymes; magnesium sulphate and dolomite lyme; esterified vitamin C in megadoses; or diets which contain related compounds or provide similar action: raw foods, sprouts, fruit juice fasts, etc.. Further details on protocols, resources and support will be provided at this web site in later updates.(www.europa.com/~rsc) ----------- For further enquiries, contact: rcrs@europa.com ---- I put the above notice on the Public Notices page at our web site, listed in sig below. I am not suggesting that this is all GWS is, but from what we know about mycoplasmas and related viral, bacterial and other parasitic infections, heavy metal toxicity may act synergistically towards compounding a problem that begins with suppression of the pancreatic enzymes, as a generally unrecognized and essential component of the immune response. The pancreatic proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes are required to deshield the sialomucinous coating (sialoglycoprotein) of cell wall deficient forms, such as the mycoplasmas. Similar glyco-protein coatings are found on cancer cells and some bacterium and parasites. The cancer cells and parasites also excrete anti-tryptic enzymes and this of course causes a spiraling down of the nitrogen balance, through inadequate digestion of proteins. The immune complex, white blood cells, macrophage, T-cells, etc. are powerless to act on anything behind the sialomucinous coating mentioned as they both share the same electrochemical charge. Thus the pancreatic enzymes are an essential adjunct. Furthermore, the compounds mentioned in the Lancet articles have other immuno-suppressive action and toxic effects on cell cytochrome, transmethylation, and altering the pH balance of the serum. If germ weaponry were not experienced at all, still heavy exposure to these compounds could lead also to pleomorphic alterations of already resident dormant mycoplasmas and non-pathogenic bacterium to an agressive or virulent form. Some of the suspected toxins may also induce detoxification/activation route of carcinogenesis. Thus, we feel that along with the contributing factors of life-style, (soldiering); diet, (PX); and without even addressing possible germ warfare infections, the heavy metal and other undetermined toxins perfusing the war theatre may have acted synergistically to induce an extreme immune disturbance and flourishing endogenous germ population. Such factors will excite individual responses, with a general picture of CFS, aching joints, and gastrointestinal disorders, including so-called toxemia reactions similar to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, arterial hypertension, albuminuria, hyperemesis, etc. Other such contributing factors: lack of sleep, stress and worry lowers the efficiency of digestive enzymes and thus immune responsiveness. Needless to say, we know that all three of these factors were in play in the war zone. However we feel these latter factors alone would be incapable of aggravating complaints to the degree we are witnessing in veterans. Sincerely, Roger Cathey Robert Cathey Research Source E-mail: rsc@europa.com http://www.europa.com/~rsc/ >In my haste to share this information...I've been sitting on it for several weeks after first reading these reports at our Medical Library at OHSU, I neglected to ask you if you could confirm this speculation about the contents of US forces gun metal, casings, projectiles, gunpowder and primers. Also, I would like to know if there has been any systematic blood element analysis of GW vets. It would be good to have ICP (inductively coupled plasma) emission spectrometry run on samples from a random selection of veterans, similar to tests run on the artilleryman noted in the first email. I will make this recommendation to the Vice president today. Perhaps this is redundant, and doubtlessly others have already suggested it, but I don't have the time to check. I would appreciate your feedback.