http://www.medicaldaily.com/how-flu...-children-case-autoimmune-disease-made-265324
There is a link to the study, or to an abstract, in the article.
There is a link to the study, or to an abstract, in the article.
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They found that part of the flu virus impersonates an arousal protein in the brain, called hypocretin — a type of cell lost during narcolepsy. The scientific term for this case of mistaken identity is “molecular mimicry.”
When T-cells from narcoleptics are exposed to the flu, they are tricked to attacking these hypocretin-producing brain cells.
"Narcoleptics carry unique mutations in a set of immune-associated genes — called human leukocyte antigens — that govern how T-cells recognize friends from foes. These genetic aberrations predispose narcoleptics for this autoimmune disorder"
A random google search for history of narcolepsy theory:
"Most of the early theories on the cause of narcolepsy were based on patient named von Zastow. He was a convicted rapist in the 19th century. Doctors believed that due to too much of masturbation and suppressed homosexuality, von Zastow suffered from excessive day time sleepiness..."
http://www.rocketswag.com/health/disease/n/narcolepsy/History-Of-Narcolepsy.html
The article indicates that mutations in Human Leukocyte Antigens genes are the culprit.Maybe genetics, more than the so common mutations in the B12/folate metabolism among PWME´s, will show a similar connection, or even causation, to ME/CFS and the immune reactions. Wish the Stanford group would do research on ME/CFS too...
It isn’t the vaccine per se that causes narcolepsy, but the underlying influenza virus on which the drug is based.
They found that part of the flu virus impersonates an arousal protein in the brain, called hypocretin — a type of cell lost during narcolepsy. The scientific term for this case of mistaken identity is “molecular mimicry.”
A bit like saying 'it isn't the dog that bit you, but part of the dog called canine teeth ... '.
Beyond silly.
Let me see if I understand --The vaccine originally used was one from 2009. I have yet to read this entire report, but narcolepsy is not a result of the vaccine, it would seem, and vaccines change year on year I believe:
"This intersection of genetically susceptible people with a particular environmental trigger, in the form of the H1N1 virus or the Pandemrix vaccine, gave us a powerful scientific opportunity to begin to understand the molecular basis of narcolepsy," Mellins said.
Let me see if I understand --
It's the H1N1 virus that caused the narcolepsy, so the people who developed narcolepsy from the vaccine would have developed narcolepsy if they had been infected with the virus independently of the vaccine...? So it's not the vaccine that's flawed; it's the concept of vaccines in general? Or maybe the belief that everyone can safely be injected with an attenuated virus?
For me the biggest problem is the pretty much blanket statement that the flu vaccine is safe for everyone. It's that sort of attitude which continues to cause problems. Currently healthy people obviously can have very adverse reactions to vaccines, yet there is no interest in determining why that is happening, or in screening people to see if they should be getting vaccinated, or in even warning people that they might have an adverse reaction.It was the 'fault' of Glaxo to not determine beforehand that there was a potential problem with the vaccine. That is not being argued here. What I find very interesting, is the acknowledgement that this strain of the flu can trigger narcolepsy in those that are genetically susceptible. What is even more interesting, is the acknowledgement that autoimmune disease triggered by a virus such as the flu, can lead to neurological (and potential irreversible) damage. If any of that is wrong, I apologise, as I said I haven't read the links in the report in detail.
Yup. But why is it still a numbers game? Why do we have to gamble and play the odds when scientific research could hold the answers if anyone cared to look?To some extent things like vaccines have to be a numbers game: risk of exposure to the actual virus and whatever infection might entail vs. risk of a side-effect no matter how serious that effect might be.