[ RadSafe ] FW: [gulflink] Low Level Radiation Exposures duringDesert storm

[Roger Helbig]

Mike,

Sadly, this is not a joke.  I almost expect it is this organization's bid
for a piece of the research pie that they are trying to gin up.  

Roger

Does anyone know anything about the supposed Irish or Australian research?

This was a paid publicity release since it came out through PRNewsWire and
it got the attention of a group of Gulf War veterans

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Jerry Cohen
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 5:18 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] FW: [gulflink] Low Level Radiation Exposures
duringDesert storm

Mike,  
Of course this is nonsense, but then many of our low-level radiation
protection 
policies are based on similar nonsense.     Jerry


_______________________________
From: "Brennan, Mike (DOH)" <Mike.Brennan at DOH.WA.GOV>
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList 
<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Wed, August 25, 2010 4:39:20 PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] FW: [gulflink] Low Level Radiation Exposures 
duringDesert storm

Is this a joke?  

"They had identified exactly the same unique mitochondria
characteristics to be due to the direct effects of low level radiation
exposure."

A random event such as radiation interaction inside a cell is going to
produce "exactly" the same characteristic in mitochondria?  Do they have
an idea of how that might happen?

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Roger Helbig
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:06 PM
To: Radsafe
Subject: [ RadSafe ] FW: [gulflink] Low Level Radiation Exposures
duringDesert storm


National CFIDS Foundation (NCF) Announces Link between Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome and Low Level Radiation Exposure


NEEDHAM, Mass., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National CFIDS
Foundation Inc., of Needham Mass, has announced its formal disease model
For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) also known as Chronic Fatigue Immune
Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) as well as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
According to the NCF, a subgroup of patients with CFS fit a unique
Disease profile based on a model for a radioactive toxin.

Since starting its formal research grant program, the NCF has provided
One million dollars in grant funding to pursue its own directed research to
study ciguatera toxicology; a critical immune protein known as STAT-1;
and myelodysplasia as well as myeloid leukemia -- all of which have been
identified in the patient subgroup.
 
According to Alan Cocchetto, Medical Director, "Our research suggested
That a relationship existed between ciguatera poisoning, STAT-1 and
myelodysplasia as well as leukemia. Early evidence also suggested that
some type of catalyst was potentially involved in this disease process.
Because of some very unique characteristics identified during the course of
our
research, what emerged was the potential for low level radiation to act
as the catalyst to evoke a specific response that fit the profile for our
patients. We believe this to be very important since radiation not only
adversely impacts STAT-1 but it has also been found to cause
myelodysplasia as well as myeloid leukemia, the very things we have been
studying. In
addition, the bystander effects associated with low level radiation
exposure cause real problems at the cellular level and this unfortunately
translates into an increased risk for cancer."

Gail Kansky, President, stated, "The Foundation's real revelation came
When our staff linked specific research on mitochondrial DNA deletions,
first
published by Australian scientists in 1995, to work published by
scientists in Ireland in 2005. They had identified exactly the same unique
mitochondria characteristics to be due to the direct effects of low level
radiation
exposure. This same defect had been mirrored in CFS but it hadn't been
classified for ten years. Because this fits our disease model, we are
pursuing additional research studies. There is no doubt in my mind that
we have found several key pieces to this disease puzzle tied to our patient
group." Furthermore, Kansky added "What is especially discouraging is
that the global implications here could prove to be staggering!"

The Foundation has also noted that CFS has been previously identified as
a characteristic aftermath of radioecological catastrophe. A lengthier
article including references will be in the fall edition of the newsletter.
Founded in 1997, the goals of the NCF are to help fund medical research
To find a cause, expedite treatments and eventually a cure for CFIDS/ME.
The NCF is funded solely by individual contributions. Additional information
Can be found on the Foundation's website at  <http://www.ncf-net.org>
www.ncf-net.org or in The National Forum quarterly newsletter. The NCF
can be reached by phone at 781-449-3535.