Posted on 10/29/2009 10:30:41 AM PDT by Pharmboy
New research in the FASEB Journal opens the door for new drugs that could prevent severe flu-related lung damage As the nation copes with a shortage of vaccines for H1N1 influenza, a team of Alabama researchers have raised hopes that they have found an Achilles' heel for all strains of the flu—antioxidants. In an article appearing in the November 2009 print issue of the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) they show that antioxidants—the same substances found in plant-based foods—might hold the key in preventing the flu virus from wreaking havoc on our lungs.
"The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza and the rapid spread of this strain across the world highlights the need to better understand how this virus damages the lungs and to find new treatments," said Sadis Matalon, co-author of the study. "Additionally, our research shows that antioxidants may prove beneficial in the treatment of flu."
Matalon and colleagues showed that the flu virus damages our lungs through its "M2 protein," which attacks the cells that line the inner surfaces of our lungs (epithelial cells). Specifically, the M2 protein disrupts lung epithelial cells' ability to remove liquid from inside of our lungs, setting the stage for pneumonia and other lung problems. The researchers made this discovery by conducting three sets of experiments using the M2 protein and the lung protein they damage. First, frog eggs were injected with the lung protein alone to measure its function. Second, researchers injected frog eggs with both the M2 protein and the lung protein and found that the function of the lung protein was significantly decreased. Using molecular biology techniques, scientists isolated the segment of the M2 protein responsible for the damage to the lung protein. Then they demonstrated that without this segment, the protein was unable to cause damage. Third, the full M2 protein (with the "offending" segment intact) and the lung protein were then re-injected into the frog eggs along with drugs known to remove oxidants. This too prevented the M2 protein from causing damage to the lung protein. These experiments were repeated using cells from human lungs with exactly the same results.
"Although vaccines will remain the first line of intervention against the flu for a long time to come, this study opens the door for entirely new treatments geared toward stopping the virus after you're sick," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, "and as Thanksgiving approaches, this discovery is another reason to drink red wine to your health."
###
Receive monthly highlights from the FASEB Journal by e-mail. Sign up at http://www.faseb.org/fasebjournalreaders.htm. The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) is published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). The journal has been recognized by the Special Libraries Association as one of the top 100 most influential biomedical journals of the past century and is the most cited biology journal worldwide according to the Institute for Scientific Information. FASEB comprises 22 nonprofit societies with more than 80,000 members, making it the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States. FASEB advances health and welfare by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences through service to its member societies and collaborative advocacy.
Details: Ahmed Lazrak, Karen E. Iles, Gang Liu, Diana L. Noah, James W. Noah, and Sadis Matalon. Influenza virus M2 protein inhibits epithelial sodium channels by increasing reactive oxygen species. FASEB J. doi:10.1096/fj.09-135590 ; http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/11/3829
Would anybody be interested in starting a homeopathy ping list? I’d do it, but I don’t know how.
I’m an allopath, so personally, no. But to do a ping list, collect some screen names of freepers who comment on vitamin/mineral threads like this and then keep them in a document on your computer or on your homepage. Then, after you find an article of interest, cut and paste the names you’ve collected and voila! you’ve got a ping list...
One thing you’ll come across eventually if you read much on this: Muscadines and scuppernongs require very little care, and not many pests bother them, and grapes produce resveratrol as a defense against fungus diseases. It’s thought that, since muscadines often aren’t sprayed at all, that they produce more resveratrol fighting off fungi with no assistance from man. - So, it might be best to not spray unless absolutely necessary.
A lot is this is probably still being studied, but I’ve seen that stated in several different articles.
Drinking peroxide (heavily diluted and on an empty stomach) is murder on internal pathogens. If the stomach is empty the oxygen is absorbed. IV peroxide infuses even more oxygen into the blood. I've used it on numerous occasions and stopped a throat tickle or swollen throat lymph in a matter of hours. I understand this is anecdotal, but there is a plethora of research (mostly European) on peroxide treatments all with extremely positive results.
An amazing side effect for me--it cured my toe nail fungus.
Thanks!
Ya, it’s called NAC folks ... (N-Acetyl Cysteine) google it and the flu
Red, red wine...
I eat chocolate.
Haven’t been sick either.
What is that? What are you?
...are you protected by the "hate crimes" bill? LOL!
HA! An allopath is a traditional western medicine guy or gal. I am a physician, but it can refer to any health care provider.
Gross, how can you drink Peroxide? Won’t that kill you? I use it for mouthwash or for cleaning ears and wounds, but to drink it? Are you sure? It also tastes really bad.
I once had a classmate from the Eastern shore of Maryland. She got really sick, seemed like the flu, and her family put onions in stockings and then tied the stockings around different parts of her body. I think this was supposed to help with the fever.
Eventually, she got so sick she had to go to the ER. By this point she was almost out of it (turned out it was meningitis), but the last thing she remembered was the ER team cutting off the stockings and hearing onions roll all over the floor.
The health care on the eastern shore must be horrible. Before the ER she went to 2 doctors; neither took a throat culture or blood sample. She could have died, and ended up losing so much time from school that she had to drop out, all because these ‘doctors’ didn’t run the simplest of tests. Sounds like Obamacare.
What is that?
Have you heard about Moringa? I’m taking that. Don’t know if it’s helping anything, but I haven’t had a cold. I’m really taking it to lower my Cholesterol. There are lots of testimonials out there.
You don't drink the stuff out of the brown bottle from the drug store. You have to get 33% food grade peroxide. That is diluted heavily with distilled water (pure water with no additives). The peroxide you drink in this manner is measured in drops. For instance, three drops to 8 oz of water. It still doesn't taste very good.
The 33% peroxide is highly caustic and will melt your skin as I can personally attest. 90% peroxide is rocket fuel. The reason you must take on an empty stomach and use distilled water is that because if the solution or your stomach have any metals present it will oxidize them creating free radicals. A poster earlier mentioned this and was completely correct.
are you talking about every day peroxide and does swishing every day help? I mean what is the diluting amounts with water? Let me know because I am one of those people who can’t get a flu shot, too sensitive on most meds. I have only had two flu shot and got deathly sick both times. My daughter is the same way.
≤]B^)
Same here. I’m an old person and take everything under the sun, except for prescription medicines. It’s a full time job just keeping track of all the pills and capsules.
Does your NAC stink as bad as mine does? I opened the bottle the other day and nearly passed out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.