Auto-immune diseases

Dear Group - I've been asked to speak to our local scleroderma support
group about the Antibiotic Protocol. As I have RA I'd like to ask for some
help from people in this group who have scleroderma.
Perhaps -1. points you think I particularly need to mention about AP for
scleroderma
2. greetings from some of you to the Christchurch Scleroderma Support Group
, which I could print and take with me.
It will be an informal meeting ,about 10 present. I plan to talk to talk a
litle about my own experience , outline AP and answer questions.
This has come about because my Arthritis Society visitor arrived one day
when I just happened to be on line so I showed her the rheumatic.org site.
She was very surprised at the range of disorders listed in the success
stories (and the number) she knew I was on antibiotics but so far I've kept
a fairly low profile as I wanted to get established myself before doing
anything public. So I suppose this is the big step!
The meeting is Thurs 10th June.
Thanks - Barbara

Psychideliscope:

Seems to me that every supplement known to man has been
tried by someone here and no miraculous cure. Are we just
grasping at straws?
Sarah
--
Clark Signs:
http://members.xoom.com/sclark/
AP Support Group:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/
Lots of arthritis and health links:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/supportlinks.htm

I wanted to share with you a product I've been using for my
intestinal health. It's called "Stomach Formula " by Naturade. It has
double strength Aloe Vera Gel, FOS, Slippery Elm, Chamomile,
Marshmallow, Borage, Ginger, Pau d' Arco, Blessed Thistle and
Peppermint. Organically grown aloe and herbs.Mix 1ounce of formula into
2ounces of water. Use 2-3 times a day. Taste great , a light peppermint
taste.Cost 16.99 for 32 fl. oz. (1 quart) Try it, Yoly

AP stands for Antibiotic Protocol (as used for treating
rheumatic disease)
Sarah
--
Clark Signs:
http://members.xoom.com/sclark/
AP Support Group:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/
Lots of arthritis and health links:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/supportlinks.htm

Hi Gang, I too have started getting more hair. I never was hairy (very
little). Now I have hair on my legs, and some fuzz on my face and
shoulders YIKESSSSSS!!!. I though I was imagining things till my
husband said he could notice the hair on my shoulders. GROSS!!
I'm only on Olive leaf as my AP. On it for 4 months now. I feel great
only take a Tylenol now and then. Maybe once a week. (use to be, I could
not get out of bed without my Indocine )
They say that your hair and nails are a sign of your health. I have
long nails , that I never had before and my hair is thicker on my head
and has been growing faster.
I better stock up on the hair color and the NAIR!!!!! LOL, Take
care, YOLY

In Case you missed some of the Arthritis Action Day Chats, here's a site
with transcripts - some interesting stuff.
http://arthritisnet.com/acchattran.htm
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

Hello to all the list ,i am a new subscriber in your list ,i had RA from
1992 and from that time i am suffering with it ,i took a lot of medicines
and nothing work as salphasalsine,plaquenil,methotraxate,
gold and a lot of anti inflamatory drugs by the way the RA affect my
knees and of course i hardly can walk.
By chance i knew about the antibiotics from the net so i decied to take
doxycyclin so i want to ask if anyone had tried before ,did any better from
it,and how many time did he take it??????
Thank you for helping.

Sorry folks - forgot the link to the women's issue:
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/women/9906/01/hormone.study.ap/index.html
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

A Web site that my be of interest to women.
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

Hi:
That is very interesting....the exact same thing happened to me.....I went to
the doctor and was full of huge, swollen, hot hives...when the did bloodwork
it showed that my white count was high and put me on antibiotics....my white
count came down but my body went wacko and now have been diagnosed with
Uticaria Vasculitus...would love to hear your story.
blessings,
Terri

All back copies of "Health News" are on Dr. Mercola's web site at
www.mercola.com. You can subscribe to his newsletter via onelist - it's
called 11HealthNews@onelist.com or via www.rheumatic.org/mednews.htm once
the webpage comes back up again (probably Tues/Wed next week).
Chris.

Hello all.
I was reading up on the AP again (thanks Chris for the FAQ etc), and realized
I was never tested for mycoplasmas.When I started, I felt fortunate that my
doc would test me for ASO titre (for strep). He thought that was wacky
enough as I have never (to my knowledge had strep throat etc.). I was so
happy to go on AP, I bit my tongue about the tests for mycoplasma though I
had info with me. I figured I could get it done later (by him or someone
else). But after reading FAQ list, and reading some other correspondence, it
seems that you must get tested prior to treatment. As I just started (about
one month) I am reluctant to stop for a month to get a test.
Chris said on Question 11, part h, that test should be repeated in 3-6 months
if it is negative initially. Does that mean I can get one 3 to 6 months into
treatment?Or do I have to stop Minocin for a test though I don't want to?
Also I was struck by the comment that "the cause may be viral." I thought
Dr. Brown and his followers assume bacterial causes. I did not know that
this protocol won't work for some people because their RA is caused by a
virus instead.
Where would I find more information on this? What do people do who have a
viral cause? How many people in the group have had a mycoplasma test? It
would be awful to take it for years only to find out you had no infection to
begin with.(although I know the antibiotics have many other actions that
relieve pain and inflammation too, other than killing bacterial toxins).
Any answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated. Don't want to
be a "pest" but I want to do this AP thing right, and not lose any more time.
I
Again, my thanks.
I hope I may one day know enough to give back the support I've found here.
Warmest regards,
Susan

<A HREF="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/locatorplus/"
Page
</A
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/locatorplus/

Pierre, Anita, and Group,
I just researched Klebsiella pneumoniae, and
unfortunately for Pierre found
nothing to indicate it as a cause of ulcers.
Klebsiella species are however the
second most common gut colonizer after E. coli
(remember, some E. coli strains
kill, but normally they are our best friend in the
gut). As the word pneumonae
indicates, as a disease it most often manifests
itself as pneumonia or
bronchitis. It can also be found in blood and it
can infect external wounds and
apparently causes urinary tract infections as
well. I am far more inclined to
lean towards a lung infection or UTI as the most
common route to AS when caused
by K pneumoniae. I did begin this journey one
#&%*%# of a lung infection and am
95% sure that I have no ulcers. Below is the quick
info I gleaned. I haven't been
to Medline yet to read any of the articles for
which Pierre sent me citations.
Needless to say I think the assertion that you
can't have AS without having an
ulcer is seemingly logical jump by Pierre to a
very wrong conclusion once one
understands something about the pathogen.
Organism: Klebsiella pneumoniae
Microbiology: Commonly colonize the GI tract.
Distinguished morphologically by
appearance on
gram stain (large bacilli), and growth in large
mucoid colonies. Both properties
felt to be secondary to
a prominent polysaccharide capsule. Other
biochemical characteristics include:
lactose fermenting,
indole negative, non-H2S producing, capable of
growing in KCN, and a positive VP
reaction.
Epidemiology: Most commonly seen as a nosocomial
pathogen. Community-acquired
infection is
usually associated with some type of debilitating
illness such as alcoholism, DM,
or COPD.
Clinical Manifestations:
1. Pneumonia -- classically described as a cause
of lobar pneumonia with a "bowed
fissure" sign and
"currant jelly" sputum. More commonly causes
bronchopneumonia.
2. UTI
3. Biliary tract infection
4. Wound infecion
5. Bacteremia -- most commonly as a complication
of one of the above.
Treatment: Cephalosporins are the preferred
treatment, although mezlocillin or
piperacillin usually
effective. Intrinsically resistant to ampicillin,
carbenicillin, and often to
ticarcillin including Timentin (R).
Treatment for pneumonia should probably include an
aminoglycoside.
And from:
http://www.mcg.edu/PedsOnL/fcox/Klebsiella.htm
Sample Collection - site
dependent. Routine CSF or blood
culture; sputum or stool.
Comments - Klebsiella is an
aerobic, enteric, Gram
negative rod with a large
polysaccharide capsule. The
capsule results in large, slimy,
mucoid colonies on blood or
other selective agars. It is
lactose positive, produces
endotoxin and is a common
nasocomial pathogen.
Resistance is plasmid mediated.
Clinical Correlation
The 2 most common aerobic,
Gram negative rods in
stool are E. coli and
Klebsiella.
Causes bronchopneumonia and
lobar pneumonia
with "currant" jelly sputum
(prune whip) with a
red-purple color. Abscess
formation is common
(non-putrid lung abscess)
especially in patients with
alcoholism, diabetes mellitus
or COPD.
Common cause of nosocomial
urinary tract infection,
bacteremia and ventilator
pneumonia.
Transmission to neonates same
as with E. coli
resulting in early and late
onset sepsis. Ampicillin and
an aminoglyroside are equally
effective as third
generation cephalosporins for
treatment (community
acquired strains).
Multiple drug resistant
strains are common in
hospitalized patients usually
requiring a third
generation cephalosporin and
an aminoglycoside.
Ciprofloxacin or imepenm are
also effective.
Most infections require 2-3
weeks of therapy.
Use TMP/SMX or ciprofloxacin
in penicillin allergy.
Best - Jan K

In a message dated 6/4/99 9:41:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pierre14@... writes:
<< What I am saying is that you cannot be infected throughout your body by a
gut bacteria unless the bacteria had a way to migrate from the gut into the
bloodstream. And that's an ulcer.
Hello Pierre,
What I hear you saying (reading, LOL) is that I had an ulcer 26 years ago and
through those lesions the bacteria was spread throughout my body resulting in
RA. If I had an ulcer back then, I sure didn't know about it. Had a gut
like an iron pot until about 1990-92. Treated for H-Pylori in 1995 and was
cured of the duodenal ulcer.
Anita
RA 26 years, Fibro, AP 16 months P.S. Somewhere in the reaches of my
mind I am remembering something about everyone having H-Pylori in the gut.
Is this true?

Hi Gang! Geoff Crenshaw here.
More good news! If this keeps up NOBODY will speak to me anymore. (Ha,
ha, ha)
When I first got this rotten RA my doc buddy put me on tons of
Prednisone and (predictably in hindsight) my hair fell out - by the ton!
Of course, all my buddies teased me, including my doc friends, and all
told me it was just age finally catching up to do to me what it had done
to them before. About time they would smilingly add!
Well as I was washing my face this evening I looked into the mirror and
"NOT" shining back at me off my bald pate were .... itsy bitsy little
peach fuzz sprouts of new HAIR!!!!!! Yippee!!!
Hey - I don't care if the Doxy works on the RA or not right this second.
If it makes my hair grow we're going to be friends for life!
Wake up, fellas! Add hair, dump RA, and improve your sex life in three
easy lessons!! Hooray! (LOL)
--
Regards,
Geoff Crenshaw, ACC

Well, my appetite has gone again completely. It returned after tetracycline
and then I lost it again. It did not respond to bactrim, and only slightly to
cipro, but the response to minocycline (the first time) was excellent. My
appetite returned and remained for about 6 weeks.
However, my gastro put me on minocycline again at the beginning of this week
(when I lost my appetite again) and it has had no effect on my appetite this
time whatsoever. He believes that I have bacterial overgrowth of the small
intestine.
Does anyone have any idea why I would respond so dramatically the first time
I took minocycline, and yet this time I am having no response?
Thanks,
Melanie.

Sorry about the spelling. Could Geoff or I think it was Wanda
repost the message about the color the black light makes
vitiligo or the fungus thingy. I thought I printed it out
but can't find it. But I did find a black light and am
going to try it tonight. Thanks, Vern (brainfog)

Well, Sunday will be my first dose of mtx (5mgs once/week).
My rhumey here in Denver did all the blood work and chest
xrays so we have a baseline in case of problems. The test
results (every 2 weeks) will go to Dr. Franco. He also
x-rayed my hands and I already (RA 15 mo) have some joint
destruction. Isn't that amazing that it happens so fast!!!
I'll be on Pred and Mtx both for a while (until I can get
off the Pred) so I guess I won't have an immune system at
all! Which brings me to my question: How can anything be
accomplished when I'm on drugs that suppress the immune
system and at the same time I'm watching what I eat and
taking $200 supplement/month? It doesn't make sense but
then again I'm so new to all of this. Maybe someone can
explain.
Side Note: I guess I'm lucky to find a doctor here that
will cooperate with Dr. F. I've been turned down by 3
others. I think the rhumey here is very curious about the
AP. He's asked me some interesting questions and wants to
read any info I can give him. I'll give him the FAQ and
protocol of Dr. M from the website. Is this good? Should I
do more? Should I ask Dr. F to send him his protocol? Is
it different from Dr. M? Wow all these questions!

All this talk of weight loss is making me hungry :) I have the opposite
problem!
blessings,,
Terri

Hello everyone,
I am back from my docs place in Ottawa. I was literally "pumped" up with IV
vitamins and minerals, which by the third day of them, I was a little more
sensitive from it so I had a heating pad to calm down the pain. But then
since I wasn't feeling anything too much , my IV, started to infiltrate and
it must have been quite a while because I had an arm that looked like
"Popeyeafter eating spinach". Donna, myself and another frined of mine were
just gabbing away that when we saw this, we all broke out laughing. My arm
looked soooo distorted.
Then we all went out abit to a safe place to eat as many of you know how
allergic I am. I had to play a joke on the waitress and told her I must be
allergic to something because take a look at my arm. Well she had a blank
face and Donna jumped in real quick to tell her it was a joke so she laughed
along with us.
I was pretty tired from all the IV's I had been on them for eight hours, so
I get pretty giddy then.
I had inhalation therapy too every three hours, three types of treatments.
My doc listened to my lungs and agreed with the nurses and my family doc how
crappy they were. I had to be on oxygen all day and had my own portable at
Donna's although we talked alot it didn,t go on too much. We looked pathetic
one night when both of us were sitting on the couch, her legs propped up and
wrapped in ice because of the swelling and me on my oxygen. We laughed at
the thought that when her husband would walk in and see us there.It looked
like an "in-home" hospital.
So, now for the next ten weeks I will be having intravenous therapy five
days a week four to six hours a day, plus my inhalation therapy and oxygen.
I also "have" to take prednisone which I am really not fond of.
If I don't take it, my lungs will be even worse, so which could land me in
the hospital again which I would like to stay away from. I have quite a
severe allergy to "hospitals"!
Thats my update, hope the rest of you are going in the right direction.
Hugs to all,
Kathryn

Hi Gang, The stabbing pain was in the middle of my upper stomach right
between my rib cage. It was really tender as I pressed to the right side
of my stomach. It always hit me a night after I ate. I had the belches,
and could only get comfortable sitting up. I was also yellow, jaundice
is an other symptom. The pain lasted 7 hours!!!!. My lower back started
hurting really bad. I thought it was just my A.S. So my husband fixed me
an ice pack for my back. With in 30 min. the pain in my back went away
and so did the stomach pain. I finally feel asleep at 7:30 in the
morning. Sonogram confirmed the stones and the gallbladder walls are
thick and diseased.
I'm going to have it removed through my bellybutton. They said as
long as it fits through there. I sure hope so. I have a scare from my
partial hysterectomy, will have scares from double hip replacement (one
day) and don't want a scare on my stomach to boot. By the end of this
run of poor health . I'm going to look like RAGGEDY ANN !!!! Hugs, Yoly

I remember it being mentioned that anklosing spondylitis affects
certain joints more than others. I keep trying to figure out what
type of arthritis I am dealing with, seeing as my doctor isn't
being of any help with regards to diagnosing me with anything
because my blood tests are always negative and my pain comes and
goes in different joints. Sometimes I wish one of the tests would
come back positive, just so I would have an answer.
The recurring pain I get is in my hips and sacriolic area, lower
back, heels, left ankle, left shoulder and chest and neck
stiffness and pain.
I get the odd pain in my knees, but I have patella-femoral
syndrome in my knees from overexercising as a teenager.
Everyone is always telling me that my posture is bad and I try to
correct it, but always end up stooping forward again. But I'm
certainly not aware of doing this to relieve any back pain. Just
seems like a bad habit to me. :)
I also keep getting this scaly patch of itchy eczema in the area
between my eyes and on my right cheek. I swear it flares up
whenever my joints do. Does anyone know if skin rashes are common
in those with AS?
My mom has iritis, which I know can be associated with AS, but
has tested negative for HLA-B27. I have yet to be tested myself.
Funny though, I keep thinking back to when I was diagnosed with
juvenile arthritis. The pain affected my knees, elbows and right
foot. But the one thing that really sticks out in my mind was
this painful lump on the side of my right foot. It looked like
some sort of nodule that had come to a "head" and was releasing
pus. The pain from this lump was the reason I couldn't walk on my
foot, but the doctors just kept calling it heel pain. I was also
running a high fever. My mom kept asking them what the lump was,
and they said they had no idea. I do remember them testing me for
tuberculosis. I have no idea why.
When I got my first flare after 13 years in remission, that same
area swelled up and became painful, but there was no oozing of
fluid this time. Very odd. Some sort of bacterial infection
perhaps?
~Kyla~

Has anyone experienced their throat muscles hurting? When I swallow my
throat hurts, but it's not like it's inside my throat, but rather outside,
i.e., not like a sore throat but more like sore muscles. It usually goes
away by midday, but today it hasn't.
Also - anyone got any suggestions besides drugs on what to do for shoulders
that just scream during the night? I know you're all screaming with
laughter now! :) I can't get any decent sleep - around 2 p.m. every night,
it wakes me up - I can't sleep on my side, I can't sleep on my back - the
only way to get relief is to get up. Once I'm up, it calms down, but so far
I haven't been able to manage sleeping while standing. It's weird that it
is so much better once I sit up or stand up vs. lying down.
Well that's enough weird questions for one day!
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

wow! Interestingly, I went to hospital twice last year because of major
pain (right front, below stomach) - I was told it was a "blockage"...
The third time it happened (after a meal) a threw up (forced myself) and the
pain quickly subsided. I have psoriatic arthritis (with AS i think) - I
wonder....
I have not had any attacks (pain) for months - I wonder what is going on!
-Mike-

I've been reading more about bovine colostrum - and the many benefits
(immunomodulating). Is anyone on it?
Does anyone recommend a brand/source?
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Gang, I wanted to share my story of how VERY important it is to get
a second opinion. I have been having bouts of severe pain in my upper
stomach since October 98. After my 4th attack in Jan.99 I was in the
hospital for 6 days.I kept telling my G.P. about this stabbing pain that
later turned into pain after eating,loss of appetite, and diarrhea. In
the hospital I was seen by the top G.I. Dr. in a group who told me that
I have Inflammatory bowel disease because of my Ankylosing Spondylosis.
He said I needed to have my colon removed and use a bag the rest of my
life. At 35 this was devastating to me. By the grace of GOD , one of the
other partners in the group was on call. He visited me in the hospital
and review my chart . He felt is was more to do with my pancreas, liver
or gallblader.He sent me to have test done on all three and the results
showed I have Gallbladder disease with stones in it. The mystery
solved!!!!. I can live without my gallbladder. He was the only one who
really listened to me and my symptoms. Everyone else just assumed since
I had A.S., inflammatory bowel disease had to be it. Can you imagine if
I would have listen to the first guy.
Please get second and third opinions, Feeling very relieved,
Yoly

Hi Group,
Melanie wrote about excessive weight loss and loss of appetite. Sure wish I had
an answer. In fact, I have the same problem, but without the loss of appetite.
This is my dilemma: I want to do everyhing possible to improve my heath and
beat this RA. Hence, I have cut out all sugar, cut way back on fruit (my
favorite food), only use olive oil in a very limited amount and cut back on
carbohydrates (mostly rye and rice). Dr. Mercola would be proud of me, right?
However, I was weighed in a doctor's office yesterday and tipped the scales at
9l, yes, 91 pounds. I was 94 a week ago. Yikes, at this rate I'll be the
Invisible Woman by Christmas. I'm usually around 102. Was always a
lightweight, but this is rediculous. Any director would quickly snap me up for
a death-camp scene. I eat well, but how can anyone maintain their weight on
veggies, a little fruit, limited carbs, and a few legumes. I'm one of Dr.
Franco's patients. So, I get lots of vitamins and minerals through supplements
including UltraImflamX which has 200 calories per scoop of which I take 2 per
day. Dr. F thought this would help with the weight loss. I love the stuff, but
it's a washout as far as weight maintenance let alone weight gain. I'm on the
verge of eating sugar and fats just to gain some weight. Believe me, it would
only take a little nudge since I LOVE sweets.
Does anyone have an answer? I'm completely stumped. Thanks.
Shrinking Sheila, RA 2 years, AP 1-l/2 months: Minocin 200mg MWF

Hi! This is a bit off topic, but I figured this might be the place to go
for information on this. A friend of mine possibly has a tumor on her
kidney. Someone had mentioned the Gerson Therapy for cancer. Has anyone
heard of this? What's it all about (i.e. what type of approach -
nutritional, herbal, etc.) How effective is it proving to be, etc.?
I know about the Essiac tea - and if my friend's ultrasound on Monday shows
a tumor, we'll look into getting her on the Essiac immediately.
Thanks, guys!
Blessings,
Linda C.
lrc@...

<A HREF="http://ephedrainjury.com/"
Injury Page http://ephedrainjury.com/
</A
This is information I wanted to provide to Maria because she is taking Alert
and also taking Procardia. Given the right situation I'm sure ephedrine can
be useful. There was a segment done on it with the Good Morning America
Doctor last week. I'm sure if you go to their website and look it up it will
be more help to you in making a decision. I really fill strongly on this
because you have sclerderma and are taking Procardia, I think you are
traveling a dangerous road with the combination. Please at least talk to
your doctor in regards to this. I would hate to see anything happen to you.
We have enough to worry about just having to deal with the slceroderma and
life in general. Good Luck Maria. (Try a protein drink for energy in
the morning) its cheaper and better for you.)

<A HREF="http://ephedrainjury.com/about-ephedrine.html"
Ephedrine and Ephedra Injury Page: About
...http://ephedrainjury.com/about-ephedrine.html
</A
and ephedrine. Please read this Maria

Dr Graham Chiu,
I put a post up a couple of weeks ago about my bloodwork results several years
ago where I showed a high white cell count at the very beginning of this
illness.
I've never seen a reply and wondered if it had gotten lost somewhere. It went up
when you were possibly out of town. At least it was a period of several days,
perhaps a week when you weren't replying. Perhaps you had unsubscribed for the
time period and I need to repost it?
Thank you,
Jan Kirsten

Hello Chris and everyone,
Just to add a quick follow-up on your efforts:
1- Let's not "overdo" it on the integrity of the Web site, turning down the
sponsorship of a major drug company. Pfizer, for one, sells Zithromax
capsules for $5 Canadian each. You can figure the cost to patients with a
prescription of 4 or 5 capsules per week for one year or more. I wouldn't
mind any public acknowledgment of the contribution of Pfizer if it were to
allow us to run our Web site, free of charge, from the servers of their
Internet service providers.
There would be no additional cost to Pfizer, they would support a non for
profit patients group, it would be a good deed, it would be good for their
public image and it wouldn't change anything to their pricing policy.
If Pfizer could be persuaded to help the Group, I'm all for it. We need help
and it might as well come from Pfizer.
Besides, like it or not, we advocate the use of Antibiotics to cure every
form of Rheumatic disease, Connective Tissue disease and Arthritis. That's
mainstream medicine and pharmaceutical companies' drugs.
2- We have to refer to the Web page every time we want to subscribe or
unsubscribe to the Support Group and that generates an added number of
"hits" to the Web page without any increase in the number of people we
reach.
It would be great if we could come up with another way to subscribe and
unsubscribe.
Pierre

Hello Everyone,
Just thought I would mention that we had our last Antibiotic Interest Group
Meeting before the summer break on Mon.We had 35 people there.We are
celebrating our first anniversary-started the group last April and have seen
the group grow from 10 to a mailing list of about 65-70.The big announcement

Where is everyone. I feel like I'm out here all alone. :Diane

hi YU ALL GEE iAM BACK, FEELING GOOD BUT A LITTLE ON hmo
LIVE IN mAINE, YES SOME OF MY FRIENDS GOING THRUAND THEY ARE VERY UNHAPPY
ABOUT IT THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR ds i HAVE IT BUT my TWO drS ARE ON hmo SO I
GUESS IAM LUCKY SO i HOPE THINGS TURN OUT, BUT i WILL FINE OUT WHEN i GO TO
THEARPHY. MARIE FROM mAINE

is the list down?

Hi Diane, thanks, for imforation, the alert make me go like a yo yo I work
around the clock I can move fast with it, what about life guarid, thats is
surpose to helpSTARLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, ALERT ITS A VITALIZING FOMULA
comes from MONTEREY< CALIFORNIA 93940 I BUY IT OF RELITIVES< ALL naternation
food supplement, LIFEGUARD ADAVANCED ANTIOXIDANT THERAPY
SUPPLEMENT, now i just found out DIFFERENT CO FOR HANDS< VITAL LINK
COLOSTRUM life fFOOD < its for MY HANDS I think////////// NOW ANY ONE can
you all tell me what is the different from these or drug store over the
counter, HELP???????????its does cost me 100 a MONth, what do you all
think, think we are better off at wall MART???????? gee Diane and who ever,
dont forget I have three Deases. well i talk too much But gee I would like
to know write anyone Diane thank too like to hear more write ok anyone
MAINE FROM MAINE

I've been having problems with loss of appetite (having to force myself to
eat) which has responded to both tetracycline and minocycline. However, even
though I'm now on minocycline again, my appetite still does not feel
completely normal. Also, I have extreme difficulty in gaining any weight.
Has anyone else had similar problems? (I have scleroderma). Any information
would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Melanie.

Group, I remember reading here someone posting the hydrogen peroxide
protocol and in that article the author said that it could be used in a
jaccuzzi. If that is so, could it not also be used in a hot tub? Surely the
manufacturers should be able to answer that. Just wondering. Carol/Piney/Canada

Two years ago a subscriber to this list posted a formula for Peroxy Gel
for external use from a booklet titled Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy by
Conrad LaBeau, now in its eleventh printing.
The following formula will make one pint.
1. Squeeze 1-1/3 cup of aloe vera gel into a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl mix 1/3 cup glycerin and 1/3 cup 35% hydrogen
peroxide.
3. Pour the glycerin and 35% H202 solution mixture into the bowl
containing the aloe vera gel. Use a spatula to stir all these
ingredients together. It will be soupy at first but it will thicken as
you stir. Pour into a wide mouthed jar.
4. Store in the refrigerator when not in use. Mark jar clearly "Peroxy
Gel" for external use only. 6% solution.
There are formulas in the book for 3% solution and spray.
If anybody tries this, remember a 35% solution of H2O2 can damage the
skin so do be careful. If you get it on your skin irrigate the area well
with cool water.
Ethel

Hi Group! Geoff Crenshaw here.
Mini report w/ praise:
Today I was able to run in place! That is legs up and down and feet
POUNDING HARD onto the floor! Whoopee!!!
I haven't ran since having to give up tennis back in '86 with the RA.
This was a really wonderful feeling of improvement for me. Just a note
of progress and encouragement for those getting started.
My routine, FWIW, is RA SPES (4/d) since July 1998 and Doxy (200mg/d)
for the last 45 days.
HOORAY!!!!!
--
Regards,
Geoff Crenshaw, ACC

Finally, I'm going shopping for a jacuzzi, and wondered if there were any
models that you could use Hydrogen Peroxide in instead of clorine (I hate
that smell!)? I hope to cut some hours off my morning stiffiness, but I can't
decide between a small one or one large enough to do resistance exercises in.
Has anyone in the group had experience using a spa with HP, and has it helped
(I'm trying to justify the cost, I guess)? Thanks for your help, you are a
great group for info!
Deborah
RA 2 years, AP 1 year

I thought I would ask this because I'm curious to know if this is just me.
About 30 minutes after taking Mincoin, mainly my morning dose which comes 2
hours after breakfast, I get a feeling in my throat that I need to clear it,
that there is some sort of congestion. No matter how many times I clear my
throat or cough, it doesn't help. Within an hour the sensation goes away.
Does anyone else get this?
Linda

Dear group,
We have an agreement with another local provider here and our web page
will be back up in a few days, probably early next week. We have to get
the domain name hosted, Steve will edit the Internic record to point to
the new server and then it takes one to two days for the domain name to
update around the world. So some of you will be able to see it before
others.
Thanks for all your patience and for the suggestions. The arrangement with
the new provider took some negotiating, but now looks good and should
provide a permanent home for our page with no more interruptions.
Chris.

Hi Diana, hope you get this I am knew at this new IBM com, my husband brought
it for me gee I am haveing fun, well I am onZolf 1 a day50mg cuprimine
250mg three a day Prilosec, 20mg 1aday, Procardiaxl60mg 1aday for scl ray.
ra. three in one, I had it for 1995 i smoke 2 pack a day, quit when i left
Doc office when i heard the new, he sid marie you will lose your fingers they
are black, hands were tight, pain ful, i never got sick sick on medicine but
did i have crying problems so i am on zolf, nince, i am calm and cool, i dont
drink thank God, 60 years old full of vinger i also take sullment for two
years, are they good to me, iam full of vinger, I take alert for engery, i
coulding walk good get in out of car hurt to go on long rides tierd all the
time, well not now anyway, iam in good hands just fingers, oh yes heart
burns ??????????????????? well now they are little ones they were bad dr
says scl. does it iam lucky i do have good md rum DRS. but they cant help
my fingers i wanted to operate cut them they said no way, i would be sorry,
if you hear or any one please let me know well i wish all good luck out
their, may god be with uSall

Couldn't resist jumping in on this one. I lived in England for over twenty
years, and always received good health care. The past fifteen years in America
have not been so good. The insurance I have is okay for the occasional broken
arm, or cold, although I dislike being told which Dr I have to go see. My gripe
is that if you have the misfortune to have something a little more serious than
the sniffles you find out (usually at the worst possible time) that the coverage
is inadequate to put it politely. We spent over $30 grand, in essence our life
savings, for treatment for depression (and we still have horrendous out
standing bills). Although our insurance policy stated that they cover treatment
for depression, their idea of treatment did not jive with any physicians
treatment plan. Fighting with the bureacratic case manager became a constant
battle, and my recovery suffered because of it. People I met during this time
who didn't have insurance or insufficient insurance, who couldn't afford
treatment ended up in the State Asylum. (Just to give you an idea of cost, a 15
min visit with your psychiatrist for drug refills costs $75 and up, and no, they
wouldn't write out the next months prescriptions without seeing you in their
office. One hour therapy session starts at $95 and up.) If only half of their
horror stories were true, it is no place for anyone. I dread to think what
would have happened if we hadn't had the savings. We always used to joke that
once I was pronouced cured I would be hit by a pick up truck. The joke came
true in the sense that I was diagnosed with arthritis. I knew from experience
how the insurance co did not pay out for treatment of mental illness as they
love to call it. Now I am finding out how they cover or rather don't cover
physical illness. Already they are starting to grumble about expensive blood
work ups and refusing to pay adequately for rheumatologist visits, leaving
guess who to pay the difference, over $100 after my copay, after my monthly
insurance bill. I would love to find out just exactly what illnesses my
insurance would adequately cover.
I would gladly pay for coverage if it did just that, cover. I wouldn't mind a
co payment, if the insurance co would pay their rightful share. But instead, I
get left with bills which I then have to resubmit, and argue my case as to why I
went to the Dr in the first place. I am still fighting over bills from three
years ago. Meanwhile, they get turned over to collection agencies.....
Best stop as I have become way too mad for one night. If anyone has the answer
to this insurance dilemma, I for one would love to hear it.
Catherine

Hi Gang, Can you please explain what PROBIOTICS and PREBIOTICS is.
Thanks, yoly

The article below is from the Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab's newletter.
Linda
- PROBIOTICS, PREBIOTICS: POTENTIAL POWERFUL TOOLS IN MEDICINE
==============
- HOW OUR HEALTH HANGS IN THE BALANCE OF THE GUT'S MICROFLORA
Some of the most exciting recent medical discoveries have emerged in the
field of nutrition and gut microbiology. Writing in the prestigious British
Journal of Medicine, two senior British scientists review the recent
literature on promising treatment strategies utilizing probiotics and
prebiotics, which promote optimal health by encouraging proper balance in
the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.
"The colonic microflora normally presents a barrier to invading organisms,"
the scientists write, "but pathogens often become established when the
integrity of the microbiota is impaired through stress, illness, antibiotic
treatment, changes in diet, or physiological alteration in the gut."
To improve the barrier function of the gut, probiotics directly colonize the
GI tract with beneficial microbes, such as lactobacilli or bifidobacteria,
through the ingestion of foodstuffs such as yogurt. Prebiotics utilize
non-digestible substances such as oligosaccharides and their derivatives
(found in garlic, beans, Jerusalem artichokes, etc.) which encourage the
growth and activity of the beneficial microbes already inside the GI tract.
This two-pronged approach represents an important strategy for treating
gastrointestinal disorders, preventing cancer, and boosting immune function.
Studies show that many beneficial bacteria and yeast can effectively
eradicate nasty gut pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium
difficile, and E. coli, relieving symptoms of diarrhea in conditions such
as colitis and enteritis. They can also act as powerful preventatives
against gut infection, reducing incidence of diarrhea from 71% to 43% in
tourists traveling abroad.
Research reveals strong cancer-fighting properties as well. Certain species
of bifidobacteria bind and inactivate mutagens created during high
temperature cooking, break down carcinogens such as N-nitrosamines, and
reduce the number of pre-neoplastic markers in the intestine. These "good"
gut microbes can also stimulate destruction of tumor-growing cells and
reduce toxic metabolites in the body.
Besides stimulating anti-carcinogenic effects, probiotics can also modulate
central mechanisms of immune function and the inflammatory response,
according to recent evidence. Clinical study shows that lactobacillus helps
to alleviate allergic reactions and atopic eczema, for example, by improving
the ability of the gut mucosal barrier to eliminate antigens.
The authors stress the importance of further delineating the specific
mechanisms and strains of microbes involved in the effective use of
prebiotics and probiotics. "The ability to target specific organisms in the
large intestine for defined, health promoting purposes will clearly be of
great value and needs to be developed," they urge.

HI Iam feeling good now, gt to learn not to get cold again, the med made me
have suffer for one week, DR. was upset with me so he put me on 2oo NYSTATIN
100000 sus well you swish and swallow boy does it work. two days went away, i
had a mouth full ,of soresi throught I had cancerwell was i wrong. but ask
your dr, my DR
that the med for ya, wish you all luck. Marie
well my other three deases, , fine doing good DR says he dont want to see me
for 6 months, instead of every 1 months but I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE
HAD THEIR fingers straging outMY DR is good both of them, but they dont like
to touch my fingers, they are bending bad, scl. ra. rayuands are working out
of control, i still think someone can help they got new fingers hands working
BIONIC, ha ha oh well please write back anyone my med is great never got sick
on med, just heartburn the DR say GOES WITH SCL. RA Marie from MAINE

In a message dated 6/2/99 9:38:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Anihan@...
writes:
<< phenohoman
the dictionary. Ho hum
I knew I had spelled that wrong and meant to use my Spell check but forgot,
Brain fog too you know.
Anita

Hello to everyone on the list!
I would like to thank all who replied to my post concerning the use of
antibiotics for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). I was very impressed by the
number of replies that I received. This seems to be a very supportive and
informative group. I am so happy I found you!
After reading the AP info and The New Arthritis Breakthough, I went to see
my rheumatologist. And the great news is that he has agreed to put me on
minocycline (200 mg per day). I am very excited!!! However, he wants me
to keep taking sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
I have been taking sulfasalazine for 8 weeks, and it appears to be doing a
pretty good job (much better than NSAIDS). I am in much less pain and my
flexibility has improved greatly. However, the sulfasalazine has some side
effects including terrible insomnia, very sore throat, dizziness and
shakiness. In addition, I have a very impaired sense of taste (metallic
taste) caused by a white coating on my tongue. It is not thrush (I have
seen 3 different docs). Everything tastes so bad that I have lost quite a
bit of weight because I don't want to eat.
Here are my questions:
Are any of you on sulfasalazine? Do you have similar side effects?
I have mentioned these side effects to my rheumy, and he said that if they
bother me too much, he will switch me to methotrexate. Should I consider
going on the methotrexate?
What are your thoughts on taking minocycline concurrently with
sulfasalazine or methotrexate?
My doc has prescribed minocycline at 200 mg daily. The AP suggests 100 mg
M/W/F. Which prescription should I follow? Should I send a copy of the AP
to my doc?
The important thing is that I now have access to minocycline. There is no
law that says I must take the doses and drugs that my doc prescribes. So I
am considering stopping the sulfasalazine and taking minocycline 100 mg
M/W/F. I would absolutely love your comments before I start!
Thanks in advance!!!
Myron

In a message dated 6/2/99 7:29:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, KPSB2@...
writes:
<< I started getting a sinus infection and my FMF began hurting again in the
places where it had still not quite healed,
What is FMF?
Anita

Hi Group,
This is a mystery. This is the second time I have experienced this
phenohoman. When I began the elimination diet I gave up all liquids except
water and I measured out 2 quarts every morning to make sure I drank enough.
Well, drank that much and more. Some days as much as 3 quarts because I was
so thirsty. I had to eat bananas to make sure my electrolites didn't go out
of balance.
Lo and behold yesterday the thirst stopped. Now I have to force myself to
drink almost any water. It has been 15 days. Like I said, this happened
before also.
Any ideas, anyone, I am stumped?
Anita,
RA 26 years, Fibro, AP 16 months

I agree that hearing from any of you that feel you are in
remission would be a real boost to all of us. Let us know
how long it took and how long you've had the disease.
Thanks in advance!

This is a link to an article related to an "Ideas" radio broadcast on the
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. network. Much of it is concerned with Lyme
disease, but many others are mentioned. They talk with my GI.
http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/ideas/sounds/99-05-28-ideas.ra
Shaun A. Firth
"There is no one right way to live."

Dear Ethel or Chris or whomever,
I was under the impression (don't ask me why tho') that it was alright
to take both minocycline and azithromycin "together" (alternate days)
but that it was NOT alright to take doxycycline and zithro in the same
manner "together".
Help straighten me out please. Are both "combos" OK?
Starla :o(

Hi Gang, I got this in the mail from a friend, Nancy.
Now noting again the mention of arthritis and antibiotics, let me tell you of
a recent experience.
I started getting a sinus infection and my FMF began hurting again in the
places where it had still not quite healed, my hips and my right shoulder. I
went to the ear, nose and throat dr and he gave me a new anti-biotic which
helped but didn't quite do the job so he gave me cipro which did. I again
returned to place where the colchicine had taken me with only a little pain
in the hips and shoulders.
Now, I am not sure that I have talked with you abt FMF since DNA testing has
been available. But here is the info you need to give to your dr so that he
can draw your blood and get a sample in. The DNA testing is FREE!! You just
have to pay for the blood drawing and a FedEx chg for mailing it in, abt
$20.00.
<<
Dr Daniel Kastner of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD is
researching
FMF. His phone number is: 1-301-496-8364. He will speak only with your
doctor. He will
send your dr some information on FMF. You can then have your dr draw blood and
FedEx it to Dr. Kastner. You will have to pay for the blood drawing and the
FXing but
Dr. Kastners work is FREE. Since it takes 2/3 months for this to be done,
and I was in
pain, I asked my doctor for a trial of colchicine.
I am continuing to improve with the colchicine. Hope you will at least have
the DNA done. :-) We need to get enough Mlgn descendants to do this to see if
we have the same strains as everybody else or if we have a mutation of a
mutation. Dr. Kennedy has received his DNA back and it connects him to the
Turks, Armenians, etc.
Love
Nancy S

Hi Group! Geoff Crenshaw here.
This isn't about rheumatic diseases - it's about our ability to pay to
get well.
Like many of you, I am unable to obtain insurance. I have read so many
posts from people who won't get the treatment they need because they
don't want to pay for it themselves; They believe the insurance company
should pay for it. The insurance companies, of course, are not ill and
as such have much greater "staying power" in the end game of who wins
and who loses. As always, in the final analysis it is up to us to take
care of ourselves, to make and to execute decisions on our own behalf to
the best of our abilities.
Today I was reminded of the realities of choice, socialization, and
money. Today I received a bill for a routine office visit to my personal
physician. I saw him for 8 minutes. I see he and his colleagues less
than the other members of my family, for obvious reasons as noted below.
I have known him since we were young children. I tutored him in biology.
He sees my wife and I, and our children are seen by his colleagues.
My bill was US $72. My wife and children have insurance. Their $72 bill
is "negotiated" to $36 of which the insurer pays $26 and we pay $10.
Do I like this? No.
Do I think socialized medicine is the key to 'fixing' this? No.
I am of the opinion that routine health care should be the
responsibility of the individual and insurers should be removed from the
loop. Catastrophic health care, on the other hand, is an entirely
different issue.
Somewhere someone has to introduce a sense of reality into these things.
Does the "negotiated buying power" of the insurer force the market price
to $36 for the visit? Interesting question. Remember, at $36 the
physician is not LOSING money but making a tidy profit after overhead,
expenses, wages, benefits, bonuses, insurance, retirement, etc. Were it
not so, the physician could not accept $36/visit.
So why is there a 100% increase in cost for the uninsured? It does not
realistically reflect the additional risk of nonpayment the vendor
suffers. Nor does it take into account possibilities for negotiation
between the vendor and purchaser for cash-on-demand payment for services
rendered at time of service versus the billing overhead of dealing with
the insurers. It is called - The Game.
Across California I have found and continue to be fortunate enough to
find Physicians, Dentists, Chiropractors, et al who eschew insurance.
They refuse to play "The Game". They don't file the forms, they don't
accept assignment of payment. They don't act like a bank and extend
credit. Nope. You visit, they treat, you pay. If you want to have your
insurer involved you take it up with the insurer yourself but leave them
out of it. If you need a loan - go to a bank.
Guess what?
In each and every case, bar none, the service is at least 50% less
expensive than an identical service performed by an identically licensed
professional who accepts insurance. That's half the price. And these
folks are, also in every case, seasoned, well respected, top of their
class with honors pro's. And the really interesting thing about it is -
these guys make more, significantly more, than their "insurance roped"
counterparts.
This is, I hope, a growing trend. Because to my way of thinking it is
the only way those without insurance will ever be able to get treatment
- by breaking off yet another layer of profit from the already horridly
profit burdened health care sector. I honestly don't think you and I and
people like us will stand a chance in another 30 years of getting care
unless this "Anti Game" trend continues. We will be stuck with licensed
lackeys of those with the most to gain doling out ONLY the latest and
greatest and most expensive (and doubtless most dangerous and least
effective) drugs. And those who didn't like "The Game", those who would
prescribe tetracyclines for RA or homeopathy or whatever will be nothing
but a dim memory of the past.
So before you cry for "better insurance coverage" or "socialized
medicine" or "government controls" mark my words. The deeper the camel's
nose gets into the tent, the more room inside the tent goes to the camel
and the less room there is for you - or me.
--
Regards,
Geoff Crenshaw, ACC

From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)
http://www.drkoop.com/healthnews/newsframe.asp?page=/healthnews/r
hn0531/t053
110.asp
Great article, Mark. I notice it also mentions the protective
role of estrogen and hormone replacement therapy after the
menopause in guarding against the development of rheumatoid
arthritis.
Has anyone on the list started taking the birth control pill or
hormone replacement therapy in hopes of seeing an improvement
with their arthritis? I know this was discussed some time ago on
the list. Just curious if any of you have had any success.
I've been on the Pill again for almost three months now, and
rarely have any pain (knock on wood!). Just the odd dull ache in
my shoulder or hips. But I was forced to go off the Pill for
just
over a week, as I had to have some hormonal blood tests done
which it interfered with. My hips started to act up a bit, but
since going back on the Pill last Friday, the pain is almost
gone. I have always been extremely sensitive to hormonal
changes,
and I guess my joints are too. Talk about PMS'ing in your
joints,
eh? :)
Kyla MacKenzie
celticfox@...
http://www.attcanada.net/~celticfox/index.htm

http://www.drkoop.com/healthnews/newsframe.asp?page=/healthnews/rhn0531/t053
110.asp
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

If you want to achieve a good understanding of how our immune systems works,
check out:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/immune-system.htm
You might also be interested in wandering around the howstuffworks web
site - quite interesting.
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

If you are taking generic Doxy you can get it mail order at this place for a
really
good price. Jan P. and I am getting ours from here. He charges a tad more if you
use
a credit card and if you get pills instead of capsules.
Sarah

Hello All,
I have a question mainly for Chris or Ethel or Dr. Chui...
As I reread "Why Arthritis" I am once again asking myself the question
of which is truly the right drug for IV therapy? Dr. Clark talks mostly
about IV tetracycline, as did Dr. Brown in "The Road Back" (remember the
story about the gentleman who came into the hospital in a wheelchair and
Dr. Brown administered IV tetracycline for 2 weeks straight and at the
end the man was able to walk again?). Anyway, most of the talk on the
web site and this group centers around IV Clindymician not IV
Tetracycline or Doycycline. Why is this? Is clindy the better med for
the IVs?
I am asking because I am going to seek out IV therapy and I want to make
sure I use the right antibiotic.
Can someone also list the protocol for IVs? I've heard the
300,300,600,600,900 5-day regimen then I guess it's 1200 mg every so
often after that (how often?!). Is that the correct for everybody or is
that the one for people who have to travel to get the IVs? I believe I
will not have to travel far for them, so I am curious what doses I
should start at...
Thanks in advance,
j.

I can't figure out what's going on with me. A few months ago I thought I
turned the corner and was getting better. Three weeks later I started
getting worse again....
I'm on Sulfasalazine 3g/day which SHOULD reduce inflammation
considerably...but my feet, hips, and back hurt like never before...I've
been on minocin 200mg every 2days (for 8 months) , with Erybid every other
day (2 months).
I've taken diflucan for 4 weeks total, nystatin for 8 months (no signs of
thrush or other fungal).
My ASO has been dropping from 180s to 160s and still going...
I just did heavy metal testing (results due in 3 weeks) - and had all
mercury fillings replaced 5 months ago.
I'm getting concerned that if this back pain continues, I'll need vertebrae
fusion or something..
Thoughts anyone? I'm considering switching to Doxy and Zithromax...
Thanks,
Mike

<< Mark Holmes and I were exchanging thoughts the other day, as we often do,
and we were both wondering about how many of you are in remission, or have
been in remission and how long did it take and how long did it last. Please
share with us.
I'm not sure I would call where I'm at as "in remission" but I am MUCH
better since the AP. I "turned the corner" after 9 or 10 months on the
AP...that was back in Sept./Oct 1997. Now 2 1/2 years on the AP I continue to
improve s-l-o-w-l-y day by day. I have very few "bad days"...maybe 1 or 2
every couple of months. I'm reducing my NSAIDS (Relafen) s-l-o-w-l-y...down
to 250 mg per day (compared to 1000 mg per day at the start of AP). I take no
other perscription drug (except for the minocycline). I sleep great EVERY
night...something I NEVER did before the AP. My life is 100 % better. I have
very little pain, more energy, no depression, a sense of well being, joy, and
happiness.
How long will this last??? I pray forever.
Cindi/Iowa RA 42 yrs (my entire life) AP 2 1/2
yrs

The text below was taken from Dr. Weil's weekly e-mail newsletter for May
31. Dr. Bernie Seigel is joining him. If you've never read any of his
books, I highly recommend them for anyone dealing with chronic diseases.
Linda
Dear Friends:
Long time readers will remember when Ask Dr. Weil left the Hotwired network
and joined the Time Inc. New Media network of websites. Now, exactly two
years later, there's a new member of the Ask Dr. Weil family - Dr. Bernie
Siegel. On Wednesday June 2, Dr. Bernie Siegel, surgeon turned spiritual
guide, comes to the Web as part of Ask Dr. Weil. Dr. Siegel, or "Bernie" as
he prefers to be called, will be offering advice and support especially for
people with cancer, or other life-threatening diseases, and their loved
ones.
You'll be able to get to Dr. Siegel's new site easily from Ask Dr. Weil or
by going directly to http://www.drbernie.com (wait til Wednesday!). Twice a
week, Dr. Siegel will share his words of wisdom in response to the survivor
stories sent in to him. In addition, there are questions from Bernie to
you, designed to get you to look inward and a "Daily Fortune" meant to
remind you that laughter is sometimes the best medicine.
You'll also find quite a respectable database of physicians from around the
country who share Dr. Siegel's approach to healing as well as a large
directory of resources for people with a variety of conditions. Naturally
there are message boards for everyone to connect on and Dr. Siegel will
also have his own free weekly email bulletin like this one for you to
subscribe to.

Carol:
I had terrible thrush for about 1 year due to prednisone...they originally
prescribed diflucan and then went to nystatin--(I think diflucan is pretty
heavy duty stuff.) If this is a one time thing....call the doctor and get a
prescription...the thrush never went away when I was on prednisone...I thank
god that I am no longer taking that!!
Good luck!!
blessings,
Terri

Chou CT, Uksila J, Toivanen P, Enterobacterial antibodies in Chinese
patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, Clinical &
Experimental Rheumatology, 16(2):161-4, 1998 Mar-Apr.
Granfors K, Host-microbe interaction in HLA-B27-associated diseases, Annals
of Medicine, 29(2):153-7, 1997 Apr.
Maki-Ikola O, Lehtinen K, Granfors K, Similarly increased serum IgA1 and
IgA2 subclass antibody levels against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria in
ankylosing spondylitis patients with/without extra-articular features,
British Journal of Rheumatology, 35(2):125-8, 1996 Feb.
Maki-Ikola O, Leirisalo-Repo M, Turunen U, Granfors K, Association of gut
inflammation with increased serum IgA class Klebsiella antibody
concentrations in patients with axial ankylosing spondylitis (AS):
implication for different aetiopathogenetic mechanisms for axial and
peripheral AS?, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 56(3):180-3, 1997 Mar.
Scofield RH, Etiopathogenesis and biochemical and immunologic evaluation of
spondyloarthropathies, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 8(4):309-15, 1996
Jul.
Smith GW, Blackwell CC, Nuki G, Faecal flora in spondyloarthropathy, British
Journal of Rheumatology, 36(8):850-4, 1997 Aug.
van der Linden S, van der Heijde DM, Clinical and epidemiologic aspects of
ankylosing spondylitis and spondyloarthropathies, Current Opinion in
Rheumatology, 8(4):269-74, 1996 Jul.

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37(3):298-9, 1978 Jun.
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Cameron FH, Russell PJ, Sullivan J, Geczy AF, Is a Klebsiella plasmid
involved in the aetiology of Ankylosing Spondylitis in HLA-B27-positive
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Sep.
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immunology in the rheumatic diseases, Oxford, Blackwell Scientific, 1976, WE
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streptococci in pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis, Indian Journal of
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Eastmond CJ, Calguner M, Shinebaum R, Cooke EM, Wright V, A sequential study
of the relationship between faecal Klebsiella aerogenes and the common
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Diseases, 41(1):15-20, 1982 Feb.
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Frequency of faecal Klebsiella aerogenes in patients with ankylosing
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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 39(2):118-23, 1980 Apr.
Ebringer A, Ankylosing spondylitis and Klebsiella: a genetic correlation?
[German, Original Title: Spondylitis ankylosans und Klebsiellen: Ein
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Ebringer A, Ankylosing spondylitis is caused by Klebsiella. Evidence from
immunogenetic, microbiologic, and serologic studies, Rheumatic Diseases
Clinics of North America, 18(1):105-21, 1992 Feb.
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spondylitis, Baillieres Clinical Rheumatology, 3(2):321-38, 1989 Aug.
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uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis, British Medical Journal, 1(6160):383,
1979 Feb 10.
Ebringer R, Cawdell DR, Cowling P, Ebringer A, Klebsiella pneumoniae
[letter], Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 37(6):577, 1978 Dec.
Ebringer R, Symposium on the Spondylarthritides. Spondylarthritis and the
post-infectious syndromes, Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, 18(4):218-29, 1979
Nov.
Ebringer RW, Cawdell DR, Cowling P, Ebringer A, Sequential studies in
ankylosing spondylitis. Association of Klebsiella pneumoniae with active
disease, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 37(2):146-51, 1978 Apr.
Edmonds J, Geczy AF, Sullivan JS, Prendergast JK, Upfold LI, Bashir HV,
Enteric bacteria and HLA-B27 associated cell surface modification in
patients with seronegative spondarthritis, British Journal of Rheumatology,
22(4 Suppl 2):75-82, 1983 Nov.
Espinoza LR, Aguilar JL, Gutierrez F, Infections in the seronegative
spondyloarthropathies, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 1(2):151-8, 1989
Aug.
Ferraz MB, Atra E, Trabulsi LR, Goldenberg J, Sato EI, A study of the
gram-negative bacterial flora in patients with ankylosing spondylitis,
Brazilian Journal of Medical & Biological Research, 23(1):29-36, 1990.
Francois RJ, Debouche C, Klebsiella, ankylosing spondylitis, and statistics
[letter], Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 41(6):644-5, 1982 Dec.
Geczy AF, Bashir HV, Prendergast JK, Sullivan JS, Edmonds JP, Ankylosing
spondylitis. A disease in search of microbes [letter], Journal of
Rheumatology, 10(6):1001-2, 1983 Dec.
Giordano N, Fioravanti A, Calabria AA, Frati E, Castagna ML, Contu L.
Menegale G, Marcolongo R, Pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis: relation
between HLA-B 27 and Klebsiella aerogenes [Italian, Original Title: Ricerche
eziopatogenetiche sulla apondilite anchilosante: rapporti tra HLA-B 27 e
Klebsiella aerogenes], Bollettino - Societa Italiana Biologia Sperimentale,
59(12):1995-2001, 1983 Dec 30.
Healey LA, Ankylosing spondylitis -- a clue to the cause, Medical Times,
103(9):123-4, 1975 Sep.
Huang F, Cai XH, Shi GY, Role of enteric Klebsiella pneumonia infection and
HLA-B27 in ankylosing spondylitis [Chinese], Chung-Hua Nei Ko Tsa Chih
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, 31(7):398-400, 443, 1992 Jul.
Hunter T, Harding GK, Kaprove RE, Schroeder ML, Fecal carriage of various
Klebsiella and Enterobacter species in patients with active ankylosing
spondylitis [letter], Arthritis & Rheumatism, 24(1):106-8, 1981 Jan.
Inman RD, Scofield RH, Etiopathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis and
reactive arthritis, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 6(4):360-70, 1994 Jul.
Keat A, Infections and the immunopathogenesis of seronegative
spondyloarthropathies, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 4(4):494-9, 1992
Aug.
Khan MA, Pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis: recent advances
[editorial], Journal of Rheumatology, 20(8):1273-7, 1993 Aug.
Kihlstrom E, Gronberg A, Bengtsson A, Immunoblot analysis of antibody
response to Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with reactive arthritis and
ankylosing spondylitis, Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, 18(6):377-83,
1989.
Kinsella TD, Fritzler MJ, McNeil DJ, Ankylosing spondylitis. A disease in
search of microbes. [editorial], Journal of Rheumatology, 10(1):2-4, 1983
Feb.
Kuberski TT, Ankylosing spondylitis associated with Trichomonas vaginalis
infection, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 13(5):880-1, 1981 May.
Lahesmaa R, Skurnik M, Granfors K, Mottonen T, Saario R, Toivanen A,
Toivanen P, Molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathies.
A critical appraisal of cross-reactivity between microbial antigens and
HLA-B27, British Journal of Rheumatology, 31(4):221-9, 1992 Apr.
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pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathies?, Immunologic Research, 12(2):193-208,
1993.
Luxembourg A, Cailla H, Roux H, Roudier J, Do viruses play an etiologic role
in ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis?, Clinical Immunology &
Immunopathology, 45(2):292-5, 1987 Nov.
Maki-Ikola O, Lehtinen K, Granfors K, Vainionpaa R, Toivanen P, Bacterial
antibodies in ankylosing spondylitis, Clinical & Experimental Immunology,
84(3):472-5, 1991 Jun.
Mateicka F, Kozakova D, Cebecauer L, Ondrasik M, Bosmansky K, Antibodies to
Klebsiella pneumoniae in ankylosing spondylitis [Slovak, Original Title:
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Casopis Lekaru Ceskych, 128(5):132-4, 1989 Jan 27.
Mielants H, Veys EM, Goemaere S, Goethals K, Cuvelier C, De Vos M, Gut
inflammation in the spondyloarthropathies: clinical, radiologic, biologic
and genetic features in relation to the type of histology. A prospective
study, Journal of Rheumatology, 18(10):1542-51, 1991 Oct.
Mielants H, Veys EM, Joos R, Noens L, Cuvelier C, De Vos M, HLA antigens in
seronegative spondylarthropathies. Reactive arthritis and arthritis in
ankylosing spondylitis: relation to gut inflammation, Journal of
Rheumatology, 14(3):466-71, 1987 Jun.
Moreland LW, Koopman WJ, Infection as a cause of reactive arthritis,
ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatic fever, Current Opinion in
Rheumatology, 4(4):534-42, 1992 Aug.
O'Mahony S, Anderson N, Nuki G, Ferguson A, Systemic and mucosal antibodies
to Klebsiella in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease,
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 51(12):1296-300, 1992 Dec.
Pease P, England J, Tyler R, Mackintosh P, HLA B27, Yersinia enterocolitica,
and ankylosing spondylitis [letter], Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases,
39(4):415-6, 1980 Aug.
Pease PE, Balmer SE, Bartlett RL, Colthorpe DR, Ebringer A, Ebringer R,
Properties of Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from ankylosing
spondylitis patients [letter], European Journal of Clinical Microbiology,
1(4):256-7, 1982 Aug.
Pease PE, Chahal H, Tallack JE, Lane MR, Allan RN, Cross-reactivity studies
on bacteria believed to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),
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Rheumatology, 27 Suppl 2:32-3, 1988.
Pease PE, Tyler RA, England JR, Colthorpe D, Ebringer A, An investigation
into the properties of klebsiella strains isolated from ankylosing
spondylitis patients, Journal of Hygiene, 89(1):119-23, 1982 Aug.
Prendergast JK, McGuigan LE, Geczy AF, Kwong TS, Edmonds JP, Persistence of
HLA-B27 cross-reactive bacteria in bowel flora of patients with ankylosing
spondylitis, Infection & Immunity, 46(3):686-9, 1984 Dec.
Prendergast JK, Sullivan JS, Geczy A, Upfold LI, Edmonds JP, Bashir HV,
Reiss-Levy E, Possible role of enteric organisms in the pathogenesis of
ankylosing spondylitis and other seronegative arthropathies, Infection &
Immunity, 41(3):935-41, 1983 Sep.
Prendergast JK, Sullivan JS, Geczy AF, Upfold LI, Edmonds JP, Bashir HV, The
enigma of the Klebsiella connection and ankylosing spondylitis: a
commentary, Human Immunology, 9(3):131-6, 1984 Mar.
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Experimental Rheumatology, 6(1):1-2, 1988 Jan-Mar.
Russell AS, Suarez Almazor ME, Ankylosing spondylitis is not caused by
Klebsiella, Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America, 18(1):95-104, 1992
Feb.
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11(1):96-7, 1984 Feb.
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klebsiella carriage in ankylosing spondylitic patients by diet: correlation
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Zanen HC, Serum IgA to enterobacteria in ankylosing spondylitis,
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, 15(3):305-9, 1986.
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Enterobacterial involvement in the pathogenesis of secondary ankylosing
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British Medical Journal, 1(6167):889, 1979 Mar 31.
Warren RE, Brewerton DA, Faecal carriage of klebsiella by patients with
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patients subsequently developing AS is unexplained [letter], Journal of
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Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, 21(3):105-8, 1992.
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Rheumatism, 31(3):453-4, 1988 Mar.
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Society of Medicine, 59(5):451-3, 1966 May.

Dear group,
Any suggestions or words of wisdom on the problem of yeast in the mouth
or thrush, I think its called? Anyone have this problem and if so how to you
treat it? Thanks in advance.

Group,
Right now my right knee hurts so bad that I can't sit here long enough
to respond to you individually , but I want to thank everyone who
replied to my plea for help, and to say to any newcomers that this
group of people are wonderful and always come through for you. When i
wrote the other day I was feeling as low can be and just hearing from
you and getting some very good advice and kind words made me feel much
better- emotionally anyway. Thanks again,
Love to all, Helen

From Reuter's Health section today:
Study questions role of "super aspirins"
NEW YORK, Jun 01 (Reuters Health) -- Recently approved "super-aspirins" may
not be as effective as previously believed at relieving the pain and
inflammation of arthritis, a preliminary study in rodents suggests.
A study in June's issue of Nature Medicine questions whether the so-called
super-aspirin, a new class of arthritis drugs known as cyclooxygenase(COX)-2
inhibitors including Merck's rofecoxib (Vioxx) and G.D. Searle's celecoxib
(Celebrex) help or hinder the treatment of chronic pain in the long run.
The drugs work by selectively blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which is thought to
play a role in causing arthritis pain, without blocking the COX-1 enzyme
which protects the gastrointestinal system.
But a new study of lung inflammation in rats suggests that the COX-2 enzyme
may actually have anti-inflammatory properties later in the inflammation
process, thus blocking it may prolong inflammation in the long-term.
This observation may explain why non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
(NSAIDs) alleviate the immediate symptoms of an arthritis flare-up, but do
little to arrest disease progression over time, report a team led by Dr.
Paul Richard Colville-Nash of the department of experimental pathology at
the William Harvey Research Institute in London.
Colville-Nash and colleagues found that COX-2 is associated with an
inflammatory reaction during the early phase of an inflammatory response, at
two hours. The surge of this enzyme, however, occurs later in the
inflammatory process, at 48 hours and is actually shown to have
anti-inflammatory effects in the rats studied.
At 48 hours, COX-2 expression was 350 times greater than at two hours, the
study showed.
While drugs including the new COX-2 inhibitors and older arthritis
medications do alleviate the inflammation early on, they tend to aggravate
inflammation at 48 hours, the study found.
The team also suggest that their findings may lead to changes in how NSAIDs
are prescribed for arthritis pain, "removing or reducing their use during
periods of remission rather than their continuous application may improve
their efficacy in controlling chronic inflammatory diseases."
In an editorial accompanying the new report, Karen Seibert and colleagues
from GD Searle and Company, based in Skokie, Illinois, point out that while
the report "raises questions about the roles of COX-2", the fact that the
research was conducted in rats, and studied lung inflammation rather than
joint diseases raises issues such as species and tissue differences in
cellular responses.
"The final analysis, as always, will come from clinical (human) data," they
conclude.
SOURCE: Nature Medicine 1999;5: 621-622, 698-701"
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

If your child has RA, you might want to read this.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9905/28/arthritis.children.ap/index.html
Mark
http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes
RA 4/98 AP 7/98
Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Lodine 400mg 3x/day
RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

Ok,
Kathryn is here and nothing is getting done. The poor husband just listens to
us yack yack yacking. Oh..well...laundry can wait.
Anyway...just to let you all know that she is fine and we are "pumping her up."
Better go....her husband called about 3 hours ago for her to call and that
didn't get done either.
Donna
Ottawa, Canada
Scleroderma, Jan.95, AP Oct.97
(My Story) www3.sympatico.ca/mousepotatoes

I have been diagnosed with vasculitus---they tell me that it is an
auto-immune disease. Is this what they diagnosed your son with?
blessings,
Terri

Hi Group,
I just talked to my doctor and he wants me to try Arava. Has anyone tried
it, and has it helped and did you have any side effects.
Thanks in advance,
Pat

Coulter Pharmaceutical Acquires Rights to Therapeutic Antibody from Pharma
Pacific
Bw Healthwire 01-JUN-99
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SYDNEY, Australia--(BW HealthWire)--June 1,
1999--Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq:CLTR) and Pharma Pacific Pty. Ltd.
(an Australian company) today announced that they have entered into an
agreement granting Coulter worldwide rights to Pharma Pacific's 64G12, a
therapeutic monoclonal antibody specific for the Type I interferon receptor
which may represent a new approach to the treatment of autoimmune diseases
and transplant rejection.
Type I interferons (interferons alpha, beta & omega) play a critical role in
immune response systems. Abnormal production of Type I interferons is
associated with a number of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, insulin dependent
diabetes and transplant rejection. Preclinical in vivo data suggest that the
64G12 antibody provides selective and prolonged neutralization of Type I
interferons which may have important implications for the treatment of
autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Coulter will receive exclusive worldwide
rights for all human therapeutic and prophylactic uses for 64G12 and related
intellectual property, as well as other antibodies recognizing the Type I
interferon receptor. Coulter will be responsible for worldwide clinical
development, manufacturing and commercialization. In return for worldwide
rights, Coulter will pay Pharma Pacific an upfront payment of $1.5 million
and potential licensee fees and milestone payments of up to $10.25 million.
Pharma Pacific also will receive royalties on future product sales.
"We are delighted with the addition of this new product to our therapeutic
antibody pipeline," said Michael F. Bigham, president and chief executive
officer at Coulter. "We believe that the 64G12 antibody approach has
significant potential in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases,
an area of increasing focus within our company arising from our expertise in
immunology."
"We are impressed with Coulter's knowledge of antibody-based therapies as
well as their demonstrated capability in clinical development," said Robert
Reis, general manager of Pharma Pacific. "We appreciate being able to work
with Coulter on the commercial applications of our 64G12 antibody
technology."
Autoimmune diseases are disabling, chronic diseases which affect between
five to seven percent of the population. These diseases are characterized by
an abnormal immune response against host tissue, including the
overproduction of Type I interferons. By blocking the activity of these
interferons, the 64G12 antibody represents a potentially novel therapeutic
approach to the treatment of such diseases.
I have wondered if pharmaceutical corporations will come up with a designer
antibiotic. After all, if it turns out the cheap antibiotics cure the
inflammatory arthritis diseases we can't have those multinational
corporations losing all the billions of bucks they make off arthritis.
Denise
Jun. 1, 1999
Coulter Pharmaceutical Acquires Rights to Therapeutic Antibody from Pharma
Pacific
Bw Healthwire
01-JUN-99
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SYDNEY, Australia--(BW HealthWire)--June 1,
1999--Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq:CLTR) and Pharma Pacific Pty. Ltd.
(an Australian company) today announced that they have entered into an
agreement granting Coulter worldwide rights to Pharma Pacific's 64G12, a
therapeutic monoclonal antibody specific for the Type I interferon receptor
which may represent a new approach to the treatment of autoimmune diseases
and transplant rejection.
Type I interferons (interferons alpha, beta & omega) play a critical role in
immune response systems. Abnormal production of Type I interferons is
associated with a number of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, insulin dependent
diabetes and transplant rejection. Preclinical in vivo data suggest that the
64G12 antibody provides selective and prolonged neutralization of Type I
interferons which may have important implications for the treatment of
autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Coulter will receive exclusive worldwide
rights for all human therapeutic and prophylactic uses for 64G12 and related
intellectual property, as well as other antibodies recognizing the Type I
interferon receptor. Coulter will be responsible for worldwide clinical
development, manufacturing and commercialization. In return for worldwide
rights, Coulter will pay Pharma Pacific an upfront payment of $1.5 million
and potential licensee fees and milestone payments of up to $10.25 million.
Pharma Pacific also will receive royalties on future product sales.
"We are delighted with the addition of this new product to our therapeutic
antibody pipeline," said Michael F. Bigham, president and chief executive
officer at Coulter. "We believe that the 64G12 antibody approach has
significant potential in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases,
an area of increasing focus within our company arising from our expertise in
immunology."
"We are impressed with Coulter's knowledge of antibody-based therapies as
well as their demonstrated capability in clinical development," said Robert
Reis, general manager of Pharma Pacific. "We appreciate being able to work
with Coulter on the commercial applications of our 64G12 antibody
technology."
Autoimmune diseases are disabling, chronic diseases which affect between
five to seven percent of the population. These diseases are characterized by
an abnormal immune response against host tissue, including the
overproduction of Type I interferons. By blocking the activity of these
interferons, the 64G12 antibody represents a potentially novel therapeutic
approach to the treatment of such diseases.
Pharma Pacific is an Australian-based company engaged in the development of
therapeutic applications and modifications of interferons and cytokines. It
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fernz Corporation, an international
manufacturer and supplier of agricultural and industrial chemicals listed on
both the Australian and New Zealand stock markets.
Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc. is engaged in the development of novel drugs and
therapies for the treatment of people with cancer. The company currently is
developing a family of cancer therapeutics based upon two drug discovery
programs: therapeutic antibodies and targeted oncologics. The company's most
advanced investigational product candidate is Bexxar(TM), a monoclonal
antibody conjugated to a radioisotope for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma. Initial efforts in the targeted oncologics program are focused on
the development of a tumor-activated peptide pro-drug version of doxorubicin
to potentially treat certain solid tumor cancers. For more information,
please visit the Coulter Pharmaceutical web site at www.coulterpharm.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties related to product
development, uncertainties related to the need for regulatory and other
government approvals, dependence on proprietary technology, uncertainty of
market acceptance of Bexxar(TM) or the company's other product candidates
and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In particular, see "Risk Factors"
in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1998. f CONTACT: Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc., South San Francisco

Hi Chris (and all), you wrote in response to Twinkie's post:
I'm really trying to get all these different APs straight in my noggin,
but having a little trouble. Should I interpret the above statement to
mean:
Increase the *total* weekly dose by only 50-mg per week, in ref. to
doxycycline. Example, 50-mg doxy M/W/F. Next week, 100-mg Mon.,
and 50-mg W/F? So on and so forth?
Also, are the achieved dosages basically the same re. either Minocin or
doxycycline? It kind of looks that way. I realize they are not taken
"together."
Thanks for any assistance. I did go to the doctor's again today with
my mother (72 y/o - OA). He (D.O.) was unfamiliar with doxy for OA (or
any AP for RA [etc] I'm sure). Anyway, to make a long story shorter, I
came prepared with 9 medical abstracts on the subject (or close to the
subject). We discussed it, and shock of all shocks he wrote a 6-mo.
doxy rx to get her started.
thanks again!
Starla (Hazel's daughter)

My five year old was recently dagnosed with vascularitis. It went away
after 3 days. Is this a sign of potential rheumatic disease?
Andrea K.

I frequently receive information from a non-profit orgnization
called Canadians For Mercury Relief. I just received a newsletter
from them today. Here is an little article for those interested
in mercury amalgam health issues.