wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Gary from Queens October 09, 2009 - 10:58AM

  Biological pathogens are too often blamed for diseases.

  Thousands of lives have been sacrificed to [the] bias for infectious theories of disease, even before AIDS appeared. For example, the U.S. Public Health Service insisted for over 10 years in the 1920s that pel­lagra was infectious, rather than a vitamin B deficiency as had been proposed by Joseph Goldberger (Bailey, 1968). Tertiary syphilis is commonly blamed on treponemes, but is probably due to a combination of treponemes and long-term mercury and arsenic treatments used prior to penicillin, or merely to these treatments alone (Brandt, 1988; Fry, 1989).

  “Unconventional” viruses were blamed for neurological diseases like Kreutzfeld-Jacob's disease, Alzheimer's disease and kuru (Gaj­dusek, 1977). The now extinct kuru was probably a genetic disorder that affected just one tribe of natives from New Guinea (Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992). Although a Nobel Prize was given for this theory, the viruses never materialized and an unconventional protein, termed “prion,” is now blamed for some of these diseases (Evans, 1989c; Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992).

  Shortly after this incident, a virus was also blamed for a fatal epidemic of neuropathy, including blinding, that started in the 1960s in Japan [the SMON epidemic], but it turned out later to be caused by the prescription drug clioquinol (Enterovioform, Ciba-Geigy) (Kono, 1975; Shigematsu et al., 1975). In 1976 the CDC blamed an outbreak of pneumonia at a convention of Legionnaires on a “new” microbe, without giving consideration to toxins. Since the “Legionnaire's disease” did not spread after the convention and the “Legionnaires bacillus” proved to be ubiquitous, it was later concluded that “CDC epidemiologists must in the future take toxins into account from the start” (Culliton, 1976). The Legionnaire's disease fiasco is in fact the probable reason that the CDC initially took toxins into account as the cause of AIDS (Oppenheimer; 1992).

  
  
• [2] Gary from Queens October 09, 2009 - 10:59AM

  The pursuit of harmless viruses as causes of human cancer, supported since 1971 by the Virus-Cancer Program of the National Can­cer Institute's War On Cancer, was also inspired by indiscouragable faith in the germ theory (Greenberg, 1986; Duesberg, 1987; Shorter, 1987; Anderson, '99'; Editorial, '99'; Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992). For example, it was claimed in the 1960s that the rare Burkitt's lym­phoma was caused by the ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus, 15 years after infection (Evans, 1989c). But the lymphoma is now accepted to be non-viral and attributed to a chromosome rearrangement (Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992).

  Further, it was claimed that noncontagious cervical cancer is caused by the widespread herpes virus in the 1970s, and by the widespread papilloma virus in the 1980s—but in each case cancer would occur only 30 to 40 years after infection (Evans, 1989c). Nonin­fectious causes like chromosome abnormalities, possibly induced by smoking, have since been considered or reconsidered (Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992). Further, ubiquitous hepatitis virus was proposed in the 1960s to cause regional adult hepatomas 50 years (!) after infection (Evans, 1989c). In the 1980s the rare, but widely distributed, human retrovirus HTLV-I was claimed to cause regional adult T-cell leukemias (Blattner, 1990). Yet the leukemias would only appear at advanced age, after “latent periods” of up to 55 years, the age when these “adult” leukemias appear spontaneously (Evans, 1989c; Blattner; 1990; Duesberg and Schwartz, 1992).

  
  
• [3] chris from NYC October 09, 2009 - 01:44PM

  S/O in my family was diagnosed recently with CJD--and we are gravely concerned about the hereditary aspect because of his children. What is the hereditary aspect? And is there a pathognomic sign on MRI or CT for diagnosis? He was diagnosed circa four months ago but his wife says that minor signs -- now looking back may have started over a year ago. From what date is survival expectancy counted?? He is going downhill very rapidly.

  
  
• [4] Arnold L Rose October 09, 2009 - 01:49PM

  Not clear as to what causes prions to form. What is infecting or genetic agent.

  
  
• [5] Seth Kalichman from Connecticut October 09, 2009 - 01:51PM

  Gary

  I hope this is on topic. Your comments rely heavily on a paper by Peter Duesberg - the defamed biologist who is best known for refuting his own early work on oncogenes and for his AIDS Denialism. My question is whether you think we should be concerned to trust Duresberg’s research on anything – not because of his views on AIDS but because of his blatant disregard for 25 years of sound medical science on AIDS? Can we believe Duesberg will be objective and data driven on things other than AIDS? It would seem that your comments do not hinge entirely on Duesberg, but do speak to his credibility.

  THANKS

  Seth Kalichman

  http://denyingaids.blogspot.com

  
  
• [6] db from nyc October 09, 2009 - 01:53PM

  How does one contract CJD? Is there a test for exposure to prions?

  
  
• [7] lisa from westchester October 09, 2009 - 01:54PM

  Lived in the UK in the 80s - does this mean that I also barred from organ donation?

  
  
• [8] john from hudson and spring streets October 09, 2009 - 01:55PM

  in india,a percentage of long term users of bettle nut, are aflicted with a condition which causes mouth collogen to proliferate and become stiff rather then flexible. It continues until the sufferer can no longer eat . The condition is not cancer.

  Prion dease?

  
  
• [9] Adam from NY, NY October 09, 2009 - 01:55PM

  A recent study suggests that CJD can be passed from bone meal fed to farmed fish into humans. Should we stop feeding fish untested beef products?

  
  
• [10] j from b'klyn October 09, 2009 - 02:00PM

  prions cannot be destroyed by heat except for above 700 degrees at least, which is the temperature laboratory glass is sterilized at. This has led to a some of French researchers [that i've found] trying to find a connection between prions and deep sea organisms that live around heated vents at the sea bottom. You can look this up on scirus.com , a math and science search engine.

  
  
• [11] Gary from Queens October 09, 2009 - 05:08PM

  Dear Seth Kalichman:

  The last thing I expected to see returning home today was a critique of Duesberg. He is not the only person alleging bias by health officials in incriminating biological pathogens. My post supplied published references. Why didn't you try rebutting one of them, instead of alleging guilt by association?

  Duesberg is indeed "defamed". The defamation began right after he published, by people like you. But that's what poor scientists do when they cannot refute an inconvenient truth. If anything, there's a growing net increase in renowned scientists joining his GROUP.

  Your "25 years of sound medical science on AIDS" has yet to find a cure. Yet to isolate pro virus HIV. Yet to explain how a virus with barely enough genes to reproduce itself can cause a myriad 2 dozen disparate diseases. Yet to explain how it's the only infectious agent able to kill cells when it is not biochemically active. The only retro virus that supposedly kills cells. Who's defining diseases vary by country?! A non sex-linked disease that still kills mostly males 25 years into the supposed epidemic?! The paradoxes are endless----and unrefuted.

  His credibility is just fine. I cannot say the same for his critics.

  
  
• [12] Gary from Queens October 09, 2009 - 05:24PM

  Dear Seth Kalichman:

  I forgot to address your comment, "refuting his own early work on oncogenes".

  I find that perplexing. Since when had he refuted it? He was able to induce tumors in chickens whose immune systems were bred to get cancer. What he was not able to do was take a giant leap and claim that oncogenes cause cancer in more complex life, outside the artificial conditions of a lab. Humans, for example, carry oncogenes for lifetimes, without ever getting cancer.

  I can understand pharma getting annoyed with someone like that. Their profits are affected. But why you?

  
  
• [13] Terry from Texas October 10, 2009 - 11:46AM

  Greetings,

  I thought I would leave a few links here for those that want to follow this mad cow cover up in the USA. it's been going on for over a decade. It's not pretty. First, lets just start at the largest beef recalls, that were claimed to be of 'abuse'. but it tell you, they do not have the largest beef recall in USA history, because a few cows were abused. Facts is, this was a USDA CERTIFIED SCHOOL LUNCHER PROGRAM, THAT WAS FEEDING OUR CHILDREN ALL ACROSS OUR NATION THE MOST HIGH RISK CATTLE FOR MAD COW DISEASE I.E. DEAD STOCK DOWNER COWS.

  who will follow the childred ???

  I will also show you 3 videos of this cover-up, and show evidence that in fact sporadic CJD is rising in the USA (sporadic CJD is just a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, human), of unknown origin. The route and source is unknown. sporadic CJD is NOT a single phenotype, but one of many. The UKBSEnvCJD only theory is bogus, and always has been. ...

  I lost my Mom to the Heidenhain Variant of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease 'confirmed' in 1997.

  just promised here i would fight to have cjd reportable OF ALL AGE GROUPS, in all states. I have failed at that. and that I would prove that she was NOT a happen stance of bad luck, from a spontaenous/sporadic event. I have proven that to myself. sadly, the average consumer does not have a clue as to what's going on. with a pathogen that does not kill you right away, the consumer does not seem to care. it's the incubation period that fools them. however they are exposed, and they just play the 'pass it forward' and or 'friendly fire' game from then on out.

  these are the facts as I have come to know them. ...

  Thursday, September 24, 2009

  Suit: Meatpacker used `downer' cows for 4 years TO FEED OUT CHILDREN ALL ACROSS THE NATION, the most high risk for mad cow disease

  http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2009/09/suit-meatpacker-used-downer-cows-for-4.html

  TSS

  
  
• [14] Terry from Texas October 10, 2009 - 11:47AM

  Sunday, May 17, 2009

  WHO WILL WATCH THE CHILDREN ? SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM FROM DOWNER CATTLE UPDATE

  http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2009/05/who-will-watch-children.html

  http://downercattle.blogspot.com/

  Sunday, September 6, 2009

  MAD COW USA 1997 SECRET VIDEO

  http://madcowusda.blogspot.com/2009/09/mad-cow-usa-1997-video.html

  U.S.A. HIDING MAD COW DISEASE VICTIMS AS SPORADIC CJD ? see video at bottom

  http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2009/07/usa-hiding-mad-cow-disease-victims-as.html

  DAMNING TESTIMONY FROM STANLEY PRUSINER THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER ON PRIONS SPEAKING ABOUT ANN VENEMAN

  http://maddeer.org/video/embedded/prusinerclip.html

  2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006

  http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html

  http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2009/08/characteristics-of-established-and.html

  Tuesday, July 14, 2009

  U.S. Emergency Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Response Plan Summary and BSE Red Book Date: February 14, 2000 at 8:56 am PST

  WHERE did we go wrong $$$

  http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/2009/07/us-emergency-bovine-spongiform.html

  Sunday, December 28, 2008

  MAD COW DISEASE USA DECEMBER 28, 2008 an 8 year review of a failed and flawed policy

  http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/12/mad-cow-disease-usa-december-28-2008-8.html

  Wednesday, August 20, 2008

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Mad Cow Disease typical and atypical strains, was there a cover-up ? August 20, 2008

  http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/08/bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy-mad.html

  Saturday, June 13, 2009

  Monitoring the occurrence of emerging forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United States 2003 revisited 2009

  http://cjdusa.blogspot.com/2009/06/monitoring-occurrence-of-emerging-forms.html

  TSS