That's way cool Rita. I'm sure they talked to her while there and I'm looking forward to the study being published. Can you make sure to publish it???? Will it be in spanish?
Well, this is in another theard
http://www.elperiodico.com/es/notici...a/469776.shtml
A common virus detected 2 out of 3 patients with chronic fatigue
Researchers do not yet know its role in the syndrome
The institute IrsiCaixa advances in detection methods and in vitro study models
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Recent studies have found that a human retrovirus called XMRV is present in 67% or even more, of patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, a correlation which has created a hope for progress on possible treatments, although there are still numerous uncertainties . "We do not know if the virus is the cause or result of disease or replication site, nor the transmission process," the specialist assumes Juli Blanco, IrsiCaixa Institute, located in the Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona.
The syndrome, characterized by severe fatigue cause, substantial loss of concentration and memory, spatial disorientation and restless sleep, among other problems, affects between 0.4% and 1% of world population. There is no effective medical treatment.
Using the experience gained in the study of HIV-AIDS virus, with which it shares some characteristics XMRV the IrsiCaixa has initiated a program to improve knowledge of retroviruses, isolated in samples from patients and improve diagnosis. "We advanced," says White, "in the immunological characterization of patients in different detection techniques and in various in vitro models that allow us to analyze the infection."
The first results will be presented this month at a conference in Maryland (USA).
SIMILARITIES WITH HIV / The XMRV, discovered in 2006, is simpler than HIV, but it works in a similar way, since it uses the cell machinery to reproduce them by inserting their genetic material. Perhaps the XMRV is not solely responsible for the chronic fatigue syndrome, but a path.
The IrsiCaixa, with the support of the Fundaci La Caixa and the Department of Health, among other centers collaborating with the University of Nevada (Reno, USA), where an analysis showed that the retrovirus was present in that 67% of suffering from the disease. The results showed a surprising way-or not, since it also happens with HIV-who was also at 3.7% in healthy patients.
The "statistical correlation" has aroused the interest of a large number of laboratories, but most studies are still unable to confirm the presence of the virus, White recalls. This point becomes the viral origin of the syndrome in a highly controversial subject.