New study confirms findings of Mark Purdey and David Brown

[Kathy]

When it comes to scientific research you need to be patient.

I have believed all along in what Mark Purdey and Dr. David R. Brown have been trying to expound on - that the prion protein is a copper binding protein, which misfolds when manganese replaces copper.

Here is an abstract which was published in November 2005 in the "Journal of Geochemical Exploration" - a magazine for the mining and oil industries.

This research explains how "bio-availability" of these metals/minerals plays a key role in whether plants and animals are able to absorb them. Soil pH and other important factors also relate to the uptake of metals from the soil. Just because the levels appear normal or high, this does not mean that they are readily utilized. Specific location conditions must be analyzed to determine their bioavailability.

The paper "Bioavailable Copper and Manganese in soils from Iceland and their relationship with scrapie occurrence in sheep" details, in part, how Purdey and Brown have had it right all along.

Bioavailable copper and manganese in soils from Iceland and their relationship with scrapie occurrence in sheep

K. Vala Ragnarsdottir, and Darren P. Hawkins

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
Published in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration.
Received 22 June 2005; accepted 19 August 2005. Available online 28 November 2005.

Abstract
The bioavailability of trace metals can be directly linked with many common animal and human diseases. It is easier to correlate regional geochemical trends with disease distribution in the developing world because local populations and animals live from the land. In the western world, humans tend to live from the global food market whereas animals graze on the land. Recent biochemical studies have shown that the prion protein needs copper to keep its structure. If copper is not available, the prion protein can take up manganese and unfold. Preliminary results for trace metals in soil samples from scrapie-affected areas in Iceland show that bioavailable manganese manganese (easily reducible and exchangeable Mn) is very high whereas soluble copper and free copper are very low.

Keywords: Manganese; Copper; Bioavailability; Soil; Scrapie

Corresponding author. Fax: +44 117 925 3385.

Final comments from the above paper include:

Our working hypothesis is that in areas where scrapie is prone bioavailable manganese may be high and copper low. Studied areas in Italy and France show that in scrapie-prone areas, easily reducible and
exchangeable Mn is relatively high (although not as high as in Iceland) but exchangeable copper and free copper activity is low (Charlet et al., unpublished data). In Iceland, soluble copper and the free Cu2+
activity (pCu2+) are also low. Results for the studied areas in France, Italy and Iceland are in line with our working hypothesis. Further analysis is needed to correlate soil pH, type of land, fertiliser use, mineral licks (e.g. Schultz and Johnson, 1992) Mo concentrations and metal uptake in plants.

Remember the Chinese study on Yaks with "Shakenback" syndrome which I posted a few days ago. The molybdenum levels caused the copper to be chelated and the Yaks suffered symptoms very similar to BSE.


Of note, Dr. KV Ragnarsdottir has a history of investigating the toxic effects of "organophosphates".

Environmental fate and toxicology of organophosphate pesticides

Source: Journal of the Geological Society, Volume 157, Number 4, July 2000, pp. 859-876(18)

Abstract:
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are generally regarded as safe for use on crops and animals due to their relatively fast degradation rates. Their degradation varies as a function of microbial composition, pH, temperature, and availability of sunlight. Under laboratory conditions (25°C and pH 7) biodegradation is about one order of magnitude faster than chemical hydrolysis, which in turn is roughly ten times faster than photolysis. Microbial biomass often needs a lengthy adaptation period in which soil bacteria mutate to be able to metabolize OPs. Biodegradation is thus in general an order of magnitude faster in soils that have had repeated applications of OPs compared to control soils which have never had OP applications. Because OPs are relatively soluble, they often enter surface and groundwaters. In the latter OPs are primarily broken down through chemical hydrolysis, which is pH dependent. Hydrolysis half-life of an OP pesticide of 10 days in the laboratory increases to one year if the pH of the water is 6 and the temperature 5°C, suggesting that OPs can persist in the environment for long periods of time. Indeed, OPs are detected in soils years after application. Why this environmental persistence occurs is not clear, but it may be due to sorption of the OPs to soil particles, making them unavailable for microbial metabolism. Example calculations and literature data show that conditions can occur in soil where OPs are preserved and transferred to humans through food. A review of the literature shows that OPs are highly toxic and that human exposure is undesirable. Evidence suggests that OPs are mutagenic and teratogenic and that a large number of modern-day diseases of the nervous and immune system of mammals can be linked to these pesticides. These include BSE (mad cows disease), CJD, Gulf War syndrome, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, arguing for a thorough examination of the environmental fate and toxicology of OPs as well as their use.

Affiliations: 1: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK (e-mail: [email protected].)

 

[Kathy]

When will we start to question everything that is IN VACCINES.

Mercury was and is commonly found in vaccines. Once again, iatrogenic transmission blamed for scrapie in this Italian situation. What is the agent causing disease? What is actually being transmitted? What is the situation with these animals, regarding the bio-availability of copper, manganese and other metals/minerals?

Vet Rec. 2001 Apr 28;148(17):531-6.

Evidence for the transmission of scrapie to sheep and goats from a vaccine against Mycoplasma agalactiae.

Caramelli M, Ru G, Casalone C, Bozzetta E, Acutis PL, Calella A, Forloni G.

Centro per le Encefalopatie Animali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Torino, Italy.

An accidental infection from a vaccine was suggested as the explanation for the sudden increase in outbreaks of scrapie in Italy in 1997 and 1998. This paper describes a recent outbreak of scrapie in sheep and goats which were exposed to the same vaccine. No ewes or goats had been imported into the herd since 1992, but a vaccine against Mycoplasma agalactiae had been administered twice, in 1995 and 1997. High rates of crude mortality and scrapie incidence were experienced by both species, all birth cohorts were involved and a large proportion of aged animals was affected. A pattern of brain lesions was observed, with slight differences between the sheep and goats, which was very similar to the pattern observed in animals previously exposed to the same vaccine but clearly different from that observed in the brains of sheep with scrapie in a flock not exposed to the vaccine. Regardless of their exposure status, genotype analysis of the sheep showed the presence of polymorphism only at codon 171. The patterns of both incidence and brain lesions provide evidence that the epidemic of scrapie was due to the use of the vaccine.

PMID: 11354646

 

[RobertMac]

Kathy, this line of thinking is why I believe that diet is directly connected to health issues. I may have mentioned this to you, but a book you may find interesting..."Soil, Grass, and Cancer" by Andre' Voisin. Originally published in 1959. I could get more out of it with refresher courses in micro and organic chem.

 

[Kathy]

Thanks, yes you mentioned it before. I haven't picked it up yet. I did read a book titled, A World Without Cancer, which was very enlightening about the politics, the history and the science around cancer and laietral (?spelling) (Vit B17).

I will make a point of getting my hands on the book you've mentioned this spring.

Diet is very important and another is air quality. There is an excellent article on how submicron sized air particulate is associated with all kinds of disorders. The link to it is:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20030802/bob8.asp

Air Sickness - How microscopic dust particles cause subtle but serious harm by Janet Raloff

It mentions at least 10 different doctors researching the various aspects.

Metals and hydrocarbon particulate is discussed. an interesting quote:

Interestingly, Vincent notes, his team could trigger increases of endothelin only with the kind of dirty dust usually encountered outside—particles that carry some chemical hitchhikers, including metals and hydrocarbons. When the researchers washed the particles to remove those hitchhikers, the PM-2.5 exposures had no impact on blood concentrations of endothelin.

Some docs are finding these nanoparticulate have hitch-hikers that are responsible for the damage to the endothelial lining of blood vessels, resulting in damage to the heart, etc. It is a very good news article (well written). I recommend copying it out and giving it to friends and your MLA's and MPs, Senators, Health Authorities, etc. The health consequences of not cleaning up our atmosphere (stop polluting and utilize the scrubbing technologies that exist to sequester these dangers particles) have huge, huge health care costs - not to mention the suffering of people.

More is coming out supporting Mark and Brown's findings regarding prion disorders; but, it has farther reaching implications. There is definitely a link to industrial pollution and decreased bioavailability of copper and other elements like selenium. The more aware people are of this; the sooner we can start to force clean up measures. Sure things like electricity will cost more... It is the price we will have to pay for our health, and the health of future generations.