TSEs

Originally from: Richard Mawdsley
                        
Mark.

Sad news on all counts.

I don't know if these questions have been asked publicly before: just in case here goes.

Of all proven BSE cases recorded what is the proportion of Holstein or Holstein crosses?

Of all proven cases in the UK how many were pure-bred native cattle?

Why have so many of the top level, yet privately questioning TSE scientists suffered a similar fate, and always happening during the most sensitive political junctures in the BSE story???

If you fancy treading in another quagmire ask another question.

Who has made money (and continues to make it) out of TSEs and BSE in particular?

 Richard.
                        

Originally from: Richard Mawdsley
                        
Hi ,

This was hidden on page 43 of Friday's Daily Mail. Better there than ignored totally I suppose.

It is really more mark Purdey's field.

 Richard.

Are most of us immune to mad cow disease?

Daily Mail Reporter (Daily Mail, Friday, 21 Oct '05; page 43.)
THE feared 'epidemic' of variant CJD may never happen, researchers are claiming.

They believe most people have built up an immunity to the lethal brain condition, which is caused by eating beef from animals with 'mad cow disease', BSE.

Scientists from the U.S. and Japan used mice to show that persistent exposure to mild versions of the condition, like the related sheep disease scrapie, can protect against vCJD.

It also explains why people are not normally infected by scrapie after eating meat from sheep.

Public health experts feared vCJD would strike down thousands, if not millions, of people who ate contaminated beef in the 1980s.

But the latest tally of cases in the UK stands at just 157.

The research team, led by Professor Laura Manuelidis, from Yale University, also makes the controversial claim that BSE, variant CJD and other related diseases are probably caused by a virus.

The orthodox view is that such 'transmissible spongiform encephalopathies' are triggered and spread by the misshapen prion proteins found in affected brain and nerve tissue.

But the researchers, whose findings are published in the journal Science today, say there is no conclusive evidence for this and a virus is the more likely cause.
                        

Originally from: Joyce
                        
quote:
But the researchers, whose findings are published in the journal Science today, say there is no conclusive evidence for this and a virus is the more likely cause.
end quote

Most visits to a doctor with an off colour child [in particular] will come away with a 'virus' label attached. It usually means "I don't have a clue as to the cause of the malady"

Joyce

—No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.361 / Virus Database: 267.12.4/146 – Release Date: 21/10/2005
                        

Originally from: Bill
                        
It's beyond belief that supposed 'scientists' can glibly trot out statements such as the following;-

"They believe most people have built up an immunity to the lethal brain condition, which is caused by eating beef from animals with 'mad cow disease', BSE."

There has never been a shred of hard evidence to support the theory that nvCJD has anything at all to do with eating beef. In fact the first victim was a life-long vegetarian.

All the best,
Bill.
                        

Originally from: mark purdey
                        
Exactly Bill,

The immune system is'nt even involved in TSEs. They should produce the studies which demonstrate that the immune system is depleted in those suffering from TSEs, before they start to talk about impaired immunity !

 if they study the biochemical profile of TSE victims, it seems that the only defence mechanisms that are depleted in TSEs are;

1, the antioxidant enzyme systems – which neutralise the free radical chain reactions which are evident in TSE diseased brain.

2. the antimineralisation proteoglycan molecules – which inhibit the growth of rogue crystals in the tissues .

This provides a good indication of the pathogenic dynamic that is operating in TSEs.