Posted by TENA/DIAMOND on 3/26/2009, 3:07 am, in reply to "Live Chat with Martin L. Pall, PhD – July 6, 2007: Professor of Biochemistry Explains Mechanisms of "
Live Chat with Martin L. Pall, PhD – July 6, 2007: Professor of Biochemistry Explains Mechanisms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia & Suggested Protocol#2
Q: Would this protocol work for myofascial pain syndrome?
Dr. Pall: That would be my guess – we need data on this.
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Q: How does the cycle correspond to the presence of multiple infections like HHV-6, Epstein-Barr virus, etc.?
Dr. Pall: These are probably opportunistic infections caused in part by the changes in immune function produced by superoxide, oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and the inflammatory cytokines – all of which are part of the cycle.
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Q: How does reducing the NO toxic levels in the body get rid of the infections that we have accumulated over the years?
Dr. Pall: One needs to normalize not just nitric oxide, but the whole cycle. However, normalizing the cycle should restore normal immune function. I think the question you raise is whether we should also be treating the opportunistic infections that often accompany CFS and related illnesses. They are likely to exacerbate the NO/ONOO- cycle, so such treatment is likely to be helpful.
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Q: Do you think there is a link between sleep and CFS, FM, and other illnesses?
Dr. Pall: Yes. The question is, what is the mechanism? I think it may involve peroxynitrite oxidation of a compound called tetrahydrobiopterin. Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency has an important role in the production of serotonin and melatonin, both of which help control sleep
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Q: I have severe MCS [multiple chemical sensitivity] with CFS and have been having terrible breathing difficulties when exposed to various things ever since I came down with walking pneumonia recently. These reactions seem to get worse each year. [Might the antioxidant regimen you designed provide a benefit?]
Dr. Pall: Dr. Ziem finds that many of her patients with “reactive airways disease” respond well to the protocol that she and I developed, when they simultaneously avoid chemical exposure. So I think it is likely that these approaches can produce substantial normalization of lung function – but again, one needs to also avoid chemical exposure, and that is difficult in our society. [Note: this refers to Dr. Grace Ziem, MD, DrPH, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chemical injury, and with whom Dr. Pall cooperated in his work to evolve a nutritional protocol for support of patients with unexplained illnesses.]
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Q: How do you rid the body of these pesticides?
Dr. Pall: I’m not sure you need to. I think the main focus needs to be on how to recover from the effects of pesticides and other toxicants. Most of the damage – presumably through the initiation of the NO/ONOO- cycle – is produced by toxicants that are long gone in the chronic phase of illness. This shows up in MCS, because MCS people react very quickly to new chemical exposure; so it is primarily their sensitivity to chemicals that is the problem, not stored toxicant chemicals in the body.
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Q: Why are so many Gulf War vets ill?
Dr. Pall: Because of the NO/ONOO- cycle mechanism. Gulf War syndrome is basically a combination of CFS, Fibromyalgia, MCS and PTSD initiated by at least a dozen stressors that the Gulf War military were exposed to.
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Q: There are confirmed cases of transmission of the illness (CFS-like) from Gulf War vets to their families. How is this possible? The initial stressor was already non-existent and OH/ONOO state is not considered contagious, is it?
Dr. Pall: That is a good question, but I can’t really answer it. I think it needs more study to confirm that this is really going on.
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Q: Please explain how PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] relates?
Dr. Pall: The severe psychological stress that initiates cases of PTSD can also, like the other stressors, produce increases in nitric oxide. So the initiation can involve the same mechanism as in these other illnesses. PTSD shares many symptoms and signs with these other illnesses, as well – this is reviewed in Chapter 3 of my book. The question about PTSD is whether you can explain the characteristic psychiatric symptoms as being a consequence of the NO/ONOO- cycle. I do make arguments in my book that these can be explained as being caused by the cycle, but you will have to read the PTSD chapter to see what the arguments are.
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