All rights Reserved
Egret Publishing Inc. April
2002
After
my letters to my provincial representative and the minister of Health, someone
in the ministry called the Patient Relation at the Toronto General Hospital
about the report. The Patient Relation called me by telephone, informing me
that they had sent a copy of the report to my doctor. I told her that I want a
copy for myself. Next day I went to the reception for the Patient Relation to
fill a form, requesting a copy of the report. When I returned home, I found a
message left on the recording machine, stating that a copy of the report had
already been sent to my doctor. Next day I went to the reception for the
Patient Relation again to fill another form, requesting a copy of the report
directly from their hand into my hand and I would take it to my doctor and place
it into his hand, because in the past few months, this report seemed to be able
to evaporate into the thin air while on its way to my doctor’s office. This
went on about three or four times. Eventually they gave me a copy of the
report.
According
to this report (PCR Analysis for Mycobacterium leprae or Hansen’s bacterium),
the result was negative. The protocol was established by Williams, D et al (J
Infect Dis 1990 Sept; 162 (3): 768) as stated in the report. The actual paper
is JID 1990; 162 (July): 193.
According
to this paper, 1000 and 100 M. leprae showed positive signals but not 10 M.
leprae. The detection limit most likely is between 10 and 100 M. leprae (my
opinion). If a line is drawn at the mid point, it would be at 55 M. leprae.
“Uninfected” skin was added in the sample preparation. If my hypothesis is
correct, it is more likely to find infected than uninfected skin. Therefore,
the detection limit may be actually higher than 55 M. leprae.
The
negative result in the report indicates that I am not seriously infected. A low
number of M. leprae still can cause my immune system to act up, resulting in
serious damages to my musculo-skeletal and neurological systems over a long
period.
Other
methods, such as mass-spectrometric methods, detecting the DNA and antigens of
M. leprae (Hansen’s bacterium), could be developed but I cannot wait for these.
Could I be treated according to the protocol of Hansen’s disease? If results
are beneficial, it will prove the decision is correct. There is a parallel case
in the history of science. Avogadro’s hypothesis had worked out every time long
before it was proven.
How
do I get the treatment I need?
Ching-Chee
Chan, PhD
February 27, 2002
Apart
for my diabetes, degenerative disc disease, arthritis (just diagnosed) in
my knees, I also have had a cold nodule removed from my thyroid gland.
One member of my family has MS, diabetes and degenerative disc disease and
another may have ALS.
If your theory works for me, it could help my entire family, especially my
brother who may only have 18 months to live due to ALS.
How do I get the information I need to present to my physician? Thank you
and may God richly bless you and your valuable work.
n
Reply:
Hi
n,
I
am sorry to hear that you and members of your family are having health
problems. Perhaps you could print out a few relevant articles, e.g., the
Shortened Versions of my two booklets, from my web page and show it to your
doctor. He/she could write to me, if he/she has any question. The medical
profession in advanced countries is strictly regulated. Medical doctors are not
permitted to deviate from accepted practices. I shall discuss this point later
on my web page.
My
old computer was hit by viruses and worms in January. I was out of action for a
few months, losing most of my e-mails. I have just connected my new computer to
the Internet. As soon as I get the whole system working, I shall put the latest
development on the Internet. Please check my web-page regularly, especially “My
Personal Problems” and “Notes and Comments.”
I
shall discuss shortly the following points:
My recent experience with the medical bureaucracy and how to overcome the obstacles; the observation of the antigens of the bacterium concerned in the central nervous system of patients in actual experiment.
This
may be a step closer to the solution to our health problems.
Ching-Chee
Chan, PhD
April 22, 2002
Previously
neurological diseases of the central nervous system were only linked to other
diseases and Hansen’s bacterium by their variation patterns (see my booklets). It
is generally believed that Hansen’s disease does not afflict the central
nervous system. The observation of the antigens of Hansen’s bacterium in the
central nervous system by a Japanese team (see Notes and comments #2)
has cast some doubt on this belief. The bacterium and its antigens are very
difficult to detect when it is present in small number. Hansen’s disease is
generally believed to be a skin disease.
Evidences
from different and independent sources are strong evidences if they correlate
well. In this case, the evidence based on statistics and variation patterns,
and the other based on actual observation in experiment, are combined together
synergistically.
A
new treatment, single-dose ROM, which consists of three drugs, rifampin (600
mg), ofloxacin (400 mg) and minocycline (100mg) for Hansen’s disease, has been
tried and published. cos, maj This seems promising. If the bacteria
are killed, the number of its antigens cannot increase, hence the disease will
not progress fast. The immune system can slowly remove the fragments of the
bodies of dead bacteria with antigens. In some cases, the immune system may
fail to do this. Some publications claim that the immune system can be taught
to do this. Next there are the reactions, ENL, reversal reaction . . . etc. these can be treated with
thalidomide, steroids and zafirlukast. vid
Medical
doctors are not permitted to deviate from accepted practices. Infectious
disease specialists normally will not treat patients, who are not diagnosed as
having Hansen’s disease or positive for Hansen’s bacterium, according to the
protocol of Hansen’s disease. With low concentration level of Hansen’s bacteria
below the detection limits of most methods, there may be enough antigens to
cause the immune system to act up, resulting in damages in various organs,
glands, musculo-skeletal and neurological systems. This is a case of
chicken-or-egg-first. Appeal to higher authorities, the highest in this
province is the Minister of Health. He is a politician and subjected to public
opinion. The general public is the ultimate authority. The readers, you
representing a section of the public, please give me your support. If I am successful,
the treatment will become routine and available, from infectious disease
specialists, to the general public.
Ching-Chee
Chan, PhD
April 23, 2002
E-mail from reader pp
Dear Dr. Chan,
I can relate to your problems. I have severe leg pain, muscle/nerve
twitching and pain in my legs, arms especially my right side. I also have
severe fatigue.
I have been to two GPs, a neurologist, and an infectious disease specialist. I have had every test known to man, including an MRI and a lumbar puncture. Nothing serious was found.
They said I have latent TB and I'm on preventive therapy (rifampin) for that right now. My neurologist thinks I may have multiple sclerosis. He said the pain I have is nerve pain and that whatever this illness is, it will eventually "manifest itself."
I was just wondering what you would think of this? I am still a
VERY ILL individual and I'm in severe need of an outside opinion. What
would you suggest I do next? Thanks for your service and I will be
anxiously awaiting your reply. P from Texas
Reply:
Dear P,
Thank you. There is a Chinese saying that people suffering from similar diseases have sympathy for one another.
The fundamental problem is the misconception that only people in underdeveloped countries can be afflicted by Hansen’s bacterium. Very little research is being done on detection of the suspected pathogen present in small number. A person infected with the pathogen may accumulate in his body enough antigens of this bacterium over the years to cause the immune system to act up and damage the body, while the pathogen remain undetectable by most methods available now. I think this is why we could not solve the problem. I am going to appeal to the Ministers of Health of Ontario and the Federal Government, and the President of College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario.
Your immune system may be acting up a little bit, causing inflammation. Avoid stress. Maintain a positive attitude. Mental state can affect the immune system. I suggest you ask your infectious disease specialist to watch out for you, unfavourable immune reactions like ENL. If he/she is not familiar with these, he/she can consult a specialist experienced in treating Hansen’s disease. It is important to stop the disease before it has done irreparable damages.
Your country has more resources. The problem of detection of this bacterium present in small number can be solved in a few months, if enough resources are channelled in the right direction. Tell Michael J. Fox, Mohammad Ali, your representative that these diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, diabetes, other autoimmune diseases and cancer are linked together by their similar variation patterns. You can cite my booklets and the Supplements. The solution may be closer than you think. I am not despondent neither should you be.
For further detail, please see my next posting in “My Problems.”
Best wishes.
Ching-Chee Chan, PhD
May 25, 2002
It
cost me several months trying to get the PCR report because of the bureaucratic
run-around. The method used for the PCR work is not latest version, with
synthetic standards, consisting of human skin. The PCR is subject to interference
from inhibitors in the sample.
With
all the evidences, I expected that most people, including myself, afflicted
with autoimmune diseases would test positive for Hansen’s bacterium. Obviously
I was wrong because the present analytical methods are not sensitive enough.
Good living conditions such as clean water, decent infrastructure in cities may
be able to prevent multiplication of Hansen’s bacterium to a level that will
result in Hansen’s disease or test positive by most methods available now. This
is a probable reason that Hansen’s disease disappeared in Europe and North
America soon after the Industrial Revolution long before effective drugs
against the disease were discovered. Based on the evidences cited in the two
booklets, autoimmune diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, asthma,
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease), cancer, Crohn’s disease,
diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, Lyme disease, Parkinson’s disease and scleroderma
are linked to Hansen’s bacterium. It is a fact that dead bodies of Hansen’s
bacteria can remain in human for a long time. The dead bodies containing
antigens can go anywhere including the central nervous system (see Notes and Comments #2).
Suppose the bacterium multiplies very slowly but the antigens may accumulate to
a level that will incite the immune system to react, resulting in an autoimmune
disease and yet not enough bacteria to test positive for most methods available
now. The autoimmune diseases may be man-made by the inadequacy of present
detection methods.
The
fundamental problem is the misconception that Hansen’s bacterium afflicts
people in poor countries only. There is very little investment in the
development and improvement of the detection methods for this bacterium.
Perhaps
this is nature’s way of compensation. The poor get curable diseases but cannot
afford the cost of treatments. The rich get diseases of unknown causes like heart
disease and high blood pressure, which may be linked to inflammation and
amyloidosis and Hansen’s bacterium (see supplement).
Section Five: Recent Developments Regarding ALS by
Other Individuals or Organizations
ALS-TDF
reported that ALS patients, treated with dapsone, developed
pneumonia. Did it look like ENL in the lungs? It would be interesting to
hear the opinion of a Hansen’s disease specialist.
Someone
related to the founder of ALS Therapy Development foundation has begun taking a
leprosy (Hansen’s disease) drug to slow down the course of his ALS, reported in
alsd1016.
I communicated with the communications coordinator of this organization (TDF).
She expressed some interest in my hypothesis, so I mailed copies of my two
booklets (printed and bound versions) to her, for further detail, see My
Personal Problems: Part 4. They may be trying my idea.
According
to a study by investigators at McGill University Health Centre Research
Institute, minocycline
may slow progress of ALS, reported in the als-tdf web site.
Minocycline
is used for treating acne and as one of the three components of ROM treatment
for Hansen’s disease. For some reason, we seem to see thing in similar way.
When
huge financial and technical resources are channelled into a certain direction,
and produce very little positive results, you know something is wrong. In the
case of scientific research, the direction of research should be suspected.
Looking around a lemon grove, you are not likely to find oranges. The most
obvious cases are the War on Cancer and the War on AIDS. Now the bottleneck is
detection of the suspected pathogen present in small number.
Instrumentation
is no problem for advanced countries. Mass spectrometers of high resolving
power are available therefore no pre-separation of components is necessary.
Ionization technology has made so much progress that most high molecular-weight
material can be ionized, sorted and detected. The sensitivity of mass
spectrometry is well known. Use human tissues for comparison purpose but do not
assume it is uninfected and never use it as a blank. A trained physical-organic
chemist with the help of a technologist can analyze many samples per working
day. The mass-spectrometric route is the best bet for detecting the DNA and the
antigens of Hansen’s bacterium present in small number.
Detection
of the antigens of Hansen’s bacterium by histological, immunochemical methods
(see Notes and
Comments #2) can be carried out for crosschecking purpose. But skilful
technologists are hard to come by and easily lured away by higher pay.
What
to do for those with autoimmune diseases progressing to a life-threatening
stage, such as cancer, pulmonary function failure? They may be infected with
Hansen’s bacterium but they do not test positive until new facilities are
available.
There
are immunological evidences, such as rheumatoid factor, indicating probable
relationships with Hansen’s disease. There are other circumstantial evidences.
On top of all these, there are statistical evidences cited by me in the two
booklets.
The
drugs, such as ROM, cos, maj used
to treat Hansen’s disease have been used to treat other diseases and have been
around for a long time and proven “safe.”
ROM plus low-dose convit vaccine as an adjuvant maj can also be tried. Of course there is a risk but it is accepted
by millions of Hansen’s disease patients everyday. Patients should be permitted
to have such treatment. If there is any positive result, it will help
justifying the cost of developing new and improving old detection methods for
Hansen’s bacterium.
A
large chunk of the healthcare cost is due to the patients suffering from these incurable
diseases. They keep coming back to the doctors and run up a bill for the
taxpayers. Some doctors get frustrated because nothing can be done for the
patients.
Patients
are opting for alternative medicine in droves. This is not very complimentary to
the evidence-based medicine (scientific medicine).
Changes
mean pain for the establishment. No changes mean continuing the same painful
path for patients. Patients should act and push for changes.
Ching-chee
Chan, PhD
May
28, 2002
cos. Costa MB, Cavalcanti Neto PF, Martelli CMT, et
al. Distinct histopathological patterns in single lesion leprosy patients
treated with single dose therapy (ROM) in the Brazilian multicentric study. Int
J Lepr 2001; 69: 177-186.
maj. Majumder V,
Saha B, Hajra SK, et al. Efficacy of single-dose ROM therapy plus
low-dose convit vaccine as an adjuvant for treatment of paucibacillary leprosy
patients with a single lesion. Int J Lepr 2000; 68: 283-290.
Vid. Vides EA, Cabrera A, Ahern KP and Levis WR.
Effect of zafirlukast on leprosy reactions. Int J Lepr 1999; 67 71-75.
Readers
are welcome to e-mail me to discuss
relevant problems.
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Continues in part 6