Lupus FAQ

Question:

On 18 Jun 2005 23:32:24 -0700, "Ankur" <ankuraror…@yahoo.co.in> wrote: >hello everyone … i  have almost 10% of my hair turned into white hair >in age of 18 (4 yrs ago )…. i want to know what can cause it ….

It just happens in some people and is called alopecia areata.  Let me guesss that you also have soe thinning of the hair also. It can also be caused by:     * a hormonal imbalance (hypo or hyperthyroid or other)     * diabetes     * anemia     * systemic lupus erythematosus (butterfly rash on face)     * poisoning (X-rays, pesticides, lead, mercury)     * thrush     * kidney or liver problems >1.can sinus infection cause it . ( i mean common cold ) .. i always get >cold from my birth in cold season …

No >2. Can depression cause it ?  3-4 years ago i was very depressed due to >low marks in college exams .

Stress can cause it. >3. can leaver problem ( digestion problem ) cause it … a friend of >mine told me that  leaver ( i dont know how to spell it exactly but its >something we have in our body to digest food ) .. problem cause it ….

Liver problems can cause it.

Response:

I have a stepsister that got white hair at 16 years old. This was inherited as her Mother had the same problem at a young age too. She has 4 sisters and none of them inherited it. As she is older now, her MD told her she has a high Mercury count. She had to replace the Amalg (silver) fillings in her teeth. shirley

Response:

hello everyone … i  have almost 10% of my hair turned into white hair in age of 18 (4 yrs ago )…. i want to know what can cause it …. 1.can sinus infection cause it . ( i mean common cold ) .. i always get cold from my birth in cold season … 2. Can depression cause it ?  3-4 years ago i was very depressed due to low marks in college exams . 3. can leaver problem ( digestion problem ) cause it … a friend of mine told me that  leaver ( i dont know how to spell it exactly but its something we have in our body to digest food ) .. problem cause it …. also i   am feeling throat irritation at my right side of throat … when i try to excell a  white color  puss (  fluid that usually comes out of nose ) comes out ..  why  it is falling in my throat .. ?? can it be due to medicines that i am taking is drying my nose ? ..                      Thanks                         Ankur

Response:

Question:

Successful treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) of life-threatening refractory systemic lupus erythematosus with renal and central nervous system involvement. Lupus. 2003;12(10):798-800. Saito K, Nawata M, Nakayamada S, Tokunaga M, Tsukada J, Tanaka Y. Bruce

Response:

However, I read that because in some ’study patients’, they observed high levels of antibodies against rituximab (human anti chimeric antibodies -*HACA) they think that for future treatments the monoclonal antibody (rituximab) will probably be used in combination with other immunosuppressive treatments. Where did you get your info Bruce? Hugs from Shelagh http://members.shaw.ca/tiderington. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"blader" <bla…@chartermi.net> wrote in message > Successful treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) of > life-threatening refractory systemic lupus erythematosus with renal and > central nervous system involvement. > Lupus. 2003;12(10):798-800. > Saito K, Nawata M, Nakayamada S, Tokunaga M, Tsukada J, Tanaka Y. > Bruce

Response:

Shelagh wrote: > However, I read that because in some ’study patients’, they > observed high levels of antibodies against rituximab (human anti > chimeric antibodies -*HACA) > they think that for future treatments the monoclonal antibody > (rituximab) will probably be used in combination with other > immunosuppressive treatments.

It’s in Phase I (usually toxicity) trials http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00036491?order=6 J

Response:

"Shelagh" <tidering…@shaw.ca> skrev i meddelandet news:3B5sc.572806$Ig.343946@pd7tw2no… > However, I read that because in some ’study patients’, they > observed high levels of antibodies against rituximab (human anti > chimeric antibodies -*HACA) > they think that for future treatments the monoclonal antibody > (rituximab) will probably be used in combination with other > immunosuppressive treatments.

 Those HACA antibodies can be a major problem, since they can both cancel the treatment effects and cause severe allergic reactions. Remicade (infliximab), which I have been on,  is also a monoclonal antibody with non-human regions and I developed HACA antibodies against the mouse part in it. Anyway, concomitant use of Imuran or Methotrexate reduces the formation of antibodies in Remicade patients (although it didn’t in me), so it makes sense that same would apply to Rituximab. Nnia

Response:

To the question, "where did I get my information?", from a search of the Medline data base using either http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd or http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi Bruce

Response:

Question:

Hhhhm,  Two of my favorite people.  You get JD and DrSusan rowing the same boat and you are going places. LOL Harv – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – JD, Thanks for posting this. As some of you may know, I am the rheumatologist at Hahnemann associated with this protocol in collaboration with Michelle Petri at Hopkins.  We have treated a number of patients (reported in the August issue of the journal Lupus) and are part of a N.I.H. funded study comparing standard dosing of cyclophosphamide (once monthly for 6 months, then q 3 months for 2 years) with ablation dosing of cyclophosphamide.  It is too early to tell for sure but we remain upbeat about the potential of this therapy to minimize some of the side effects of long term prednisone as well as cyclophosphamide. Obviously high dose cyclophosphamide isn’t for everyone, nor even for everyone with systemic lupus erythematosus.  But now we have another alternative to offer patients. It’s been very exciting to me being part of this protocol at Hahnemann. I will be glad to answer any questions regarding this protocol if people are interested. DrSusan "Chemo Treatment Shows Promise Against Lupus It helps to reprogram immune system, new research says. By Colette Bouchez HealthScoutNews Reporter" For the *REST* of the story; go here: http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=511214

Response:

"Chemo Treatment Shows Promise Against Lupus It helps to reprogram immune system, new research says. By Colette Bouchez HealthScoutNews Reporter"  For the *REST* of the story; go here: http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=511214                     — JDShine

Response:

Thanks JD I appreciate all I can learning about my illness.  Thank you again. janers

Response:

JD, Thanks for posting this. As some of you may know, I am the rheumatologist at Hahnemann associated with this protocol in collaboration with Michelle Petri at Hopkins.  We have treated a number of patients (reported in the August issue of the journal Lupus) and are part of a N.I.H. funded study comparing standard dosing of cyclophosphamide (once monthly for 6 months, then q 3 months for 2 years) with ablation dosing of cyclophosphamide.  It is too early to tell for sure but we remain upbeat about the potential of this therapy to minimize some of the side effects of long term prednisone as well as cyclophosphamide. Obviously high dose cyclophosphamide isn’t for everyone, nor even for everyone with systemic lupus erythematosus.  But now we have another alternative to offer patients. It’s been very exciting to me being part of this protocol at Hahnemann. I will be glad to answer any questions regarding this protocol if people are interested. DrSusan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Chemo Treatment Shows Promise Against Lupus It helps to reprogram immune system, new research says. By Colette Bouchez HealthScoutNews Reporter"  For the *REST* of the story; go here: http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=511214

Response:

Dr Susan,. I am very much interested in this.  is there a way I can find out more info about this? thanks so much janers

Response:

Hi Dr Susan – What qualifying criteria does the patient have to meet for entry in the study? Toni

Response:

Question:

This comes from the Explore site. If one knows a little about lots .. then one can look at this .. and say .. well hell .. Dr. Shute pronounced a tocopherol regimen to be a CURE for this very problem. So would tocopherol or lack thereof BE .. ‘linked’ here? Somewhat like a lack of vitamin C/ascorbate is linked to porphyria? Since porphyria does not manifest UNTIL there is excess iron in the body .. and iron is KNOWN to deplete destroy vitamin C and vitamin E/tocopherol .. then the fact porphyria is linked to iron .. and linked to MS .. then could it BE .. the iron which destroys vitamin E which leads to a lack of E to produce the factors required to PREVENT the body from ‘turning on itself’ .. ?                        Solving the Pregnancy Paradox             Researchers have found proteins that play a key role          in protecting an embryo from its mother’s immune system–                    and that may one day help treat women                      who suffer multiple miscarriages.    The Complement System    Antibodies (blue) attach to antigens (red) on an invading cell’s    membrane (gray), attracting a series of complement proteins (purple)    (top two frames). A membrane attack complex opens a lesion, through    which water rushes in and bursts the cell (bottom two frames).                complement Image: The University of Wisconsin                            MORE EXPLORE FEATURES    Pregnancy has long presented scientists with a paradox: A mother’s    immune system should attack any foreign tissue, and her developing    child is just that–because it bears some of its father’s genetic    material. So why don’t all pregnancies end in miscarriage, just as    many organ transplants ultimately meet with rejection?                                            normal Image: Hector D. Molina      NORMAL EMBRYO. A nine-day-old mouse embryo, which produces a protein          (Crry), develops without damage inflicted by its mother’s immune                                                                   system.    In searching for a resolution, immunologists have sought out factors    that might somehow suppress a mother’s so-called acquired immunity,    which sics T and B cells on "non-self" invaders, like a baby. But this    form of immunity is only one of several cooperating systems. And it    now seems that scientists have been looking in the wrong place.    Hector D. Molina and his colleagues at Washington University in St.    Louis recently discovered that factors controlling innate immunity–an    evolutionarily older and more primative arsenal than our acquired    defenses–are essential for maintaining normal pregnancies in mice.    They reported their work in the January 20th issue of Science.    Molina wasn’t trying to tackle the pregnancy paradox when he started    his work. Instead he was hoping to learn whether the murine gene,    complement receptor-related gene Y (Crry), and its product Crry,    helped protect the body from damage inflicted by inflammation. The    swollen, hot, red splotches inflammation causes on the outside of the    body speak of a cellular hell on the inside, where sundry immune cells    attack and destroy infected or foreign tissues in a variety of ways.    One crucial tactic involves complement proteins that parachute down to    foreign cells and, through a series of steps, tag them for destruction    or eventually blast fatal holes through their membranes. Crry acts to    prevent two complement proteins, C3 and C4, from marking foreign cells    early on in the cycle.                                          abnormal Image: Hector D. Molina    ABNORMAL EMBRYO. A nine-day-old mouse embryo, which lacks a protective          protein (Crry), is being attacked by its mother’s immune system.    Molina planned to further elucidate Crry’s function in vivo by    creating Crry knockout mice. He disrupted the genes in one group of    animals and crossed them with healthy animals to form a generation of    mice having one normal and one mutant copy of Crry. The group expected    that at least a quarter of the offpring from these mice would inherit    two mutant copies of Crry and so have no Crry protein regulation of C3    or C4.    Instead they found no Crry deficiency among the 245 births in their    study. All of the animals inheriting two mutant copies of Crry had in    fact died as embryos some 10 days after conception. Although Crry is    not the only complement regulator, it appeared as though its absence    was enough to leave an embryo vulnerable to its mother’s complement    system. Normal animals, they found, did express early on large amounts    of Crry on fetal cells called trophoblasts–which help form the    boundary between mother and child.    To shore up the argument, Molina also created mice that lacked both    Crry and complement proteins. These animals gave birth to    Crry-deficient but otherwise healthy pups–further proving that Crry    served to protect normal developing embryos from their mother’s    immunity. No complement, no danger. "It appears that the mother has to    constantly control complement activation, especially on the surface of    the placenta, for an embryo to survive," Molina notes.    Crry exists only in rodents, but two substances–decay accelerating    factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP)–serve a like purpose    in people. And it is possible that DAF and MCP deficiencies might play    a role in miscarriages. Molina’s team plans to test this idea next,    focusing on women who have suffered multiple miscarriage or have    autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus. "Using the mouse    studies as a framework," Molina adds, "we can jump to human studies    and see whether miscarriages in women also involve complement    regulation." If they do, therapies to help certain women carry to term    may not be far off.    –Kristin Leutwyler      _________________________________________________________________    RELATED LINKS:    The Complement System, from the University of Wisconsin’s Why Files    Complement Review, from the Integrated Medical Curriculum Homepage      _________________________________________________________________ Who loves ya. Tom — Jesus was a Vegetarian! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman Moses was a Mystic! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman/light.html

Response:

watchman <watch…@nucleus.com> wrote: > This comes from the Explore site. > If one knows a little about lots .. then one can look at this .. and say > .. well hell .. Dr. Shute pronounced a tocopherol regimen to be a CURE for > this very problem. > So would tocopherol or lack thereof BE .. ‘linked’ here?

Looks like Dr. Shute was right .. fifty years ago .. Trophoblast .. Gotta love Medline ..    J Biol Chem 2001 Jan 19;276(3):1669-72 Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein is important for the normal development of placental labyrinthine trophoblasts in mice.     Jishage K, Arita M, Igarashi K, Iwata T, Watanabe M, Ogawa M, Ueda O,     Kamada N, Inoue K, Arai H, Suzuki H    Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.,    1-135 Komakado, Gotemba, Shizuoka, 412-8513 Japan.    Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP), a cytosolic protein    that specifically binds alpha-tocopherol, is known as a product of the    causative gene in patients with ataxia that is associated with vitamin    E deficiency. Targeted disruption of the alpha-TTP gene revealed that    alpha-tocopherol concentration in the circulation was regulated by    alpha-TTP expression levels. Male alpha-TTP(-/-) mice were fertile;    however, placentas of pregnant alpha-TTP(-/-) females were severely    impaired with marked reduction of labyrinthine trophoblasts, and the    embryos died at mid-gestation even when fertilized eggs of    alpha-TTP(+/+) mice were transferred into alpha-TTP(-/-) recipients.    The use of excess alpha-tocopherol or a synthetic antioxidant (BO-653)    dietary supplement by alpha-TTP(-/-) females prevented placental    failure and allowed full-term pregnancies. In alpha-TTP(+/+) animals,    alpha-TTP gene expression was observed in the uterus, and its level    transiently increased after implantation (4.5 days postcoitum). Our    results suggest that oxidative stress in the labyrinth region of the    placenta is protected by vitamin E during development and that in    addition to the hepatic alpha-TTP, which governs plasma    alpha-tocopherol level, the uterine alpha-TTP may also play an    important role in supplying this vitamin.    PMID: 11076932, UI: 21125713      _________________________________________________________________    Save the above report in [Macintosh] [Text] format    Order documents on this page through Loansome Doc      _________________________________________________________________ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Somewhat like a lack of vitamin C/ascorbate is linked to porphyria? > Since porphyria does not manifest UNTIL there is excess iron in the body > .. and iron is KNOWN to deplete destroy vitamin C and vitamin E/tocopherol > .. then the fact porphyria is linked to iron .. and linked to MS .. then > could it BE .. the iron which destroys vitamin E which leads to a lack of > E to produce the factors required to PREVENT the body from ‘turning on > itself’ .. ? >                        Solving the Pregnancy Paradox >             Researchers have found proteins that play a key role >          in protecting an embryo from its mother’s immune system– >                    and that may one day help treat women >                      who suffer multiple miscarriages. >    The Complement System >    Antibodies (blue) attach to antigens (red) on an invading cell’s >    membrane (gray), attracting a series of complement proteins (purple) >    (top two frames). A membrane attack complex opens a lesion, through >    which water rushes in and bursts the cell (bottom two frames). >                complement Image: The University of Wisconsin >                            MORE EXPLORE FEATURES >    Pregnancy has long presented scientists with a paradox: A mother’s >    immune system should attack any foreign tissue, and her developing >    child is just that–because it bears some of its father’s genetic >    material. So why don’t all pregnancies end in miscarriage, just as >    many organ transplants ultimately meet with rejection? >                                            normal Image: Hector D. Molina >      NORMAL EMBRYO. A nine-day-old mouse embryo, which produces a protein >          (Crry), develops without damage inflicted by its mother’s immune >                                                                   system. >    In searching for a resolution, immunologists have sought out factors >    that might somehow suppress a mother’s so-called acquired immunity, >    which sics T and B cells on "non-self" invaders, like a baby. But this >    form of immunity is only one of several cooperating systems. And it >    now seems that scientists have been looking in the wrong place. >    Hector D. Molina and his colleagues at Washington University in St. >    Louis recently discovered that factors controlling innate immunity–an >    evolutionarily older and more primative arsenal than our acquired >    defenses–are essential for maintaining normal pregnancies in mice. >    They reported their work in the January 20th issue of Science. >    Molina wasn’t trying to tackle the pregnancy paradox when he started >    his work. Instead he was hoping to learn whether the murine gene, >    complement receptor-related gene Y (Crry), and its product Crry, >    helped protect the body from damage inflicted by inflammation. The >    swollen, hot, red splotches inflammation causes on the outside of the >    body speak of a cellular hell on the inside, where sundry immune cells >    attack and destroy infected or foreign tissues in a variety of ways. >    One crucial tactic involves complement proteins that parachute down to >    foreign cells and, through a series of steps, tag them for destruction >    or eventually blast fatal holes through their membranes. Crry acts to >    prevent two complement proteins, C3 and C4, from marking foreign cells >    early on in the cycle. >                                          abnormal Image: Hector D. Molina >    ABNORMAL EMBRYO. A nine-day-old mouse embryo, which lacks a protective >          protein (Crry), is being attacked by its mother’s immune system. >    Molina planned to further elucidate Crry’s function in vivo by >    creating Crry knockout mice. He disrupted the genes in one group of >    animals and crossed them with healthy animals to form a generation of >    mice having one normal and one mutant copy of Crry. The group expected >    that at least a quarter of the offpring from these mice would inherit >    two mutant copies of Crry and so have no Crry protein regulation of C3 >    or C4. >    Instead they found no Crry deficiency among the 245 births in their >    study. All of the animals inheriting two mutant copies of Crry had in >    fact died as embryos some 10 days after conception. Although Crry is >    not the only complement regulator, it appeared as though its absence >    was enough to leave an embryo vulnerable to its mother’s complement >    system. Normal animals, they found, did express early on large amounts >    of Crry on fetal cells called trophoblasts–which help form the >    boundary between mother and child. >    To shore up the argument, Molina also created mice that lacked both >    Crry and complement proteins. These animals gave birth to >    Crry-deficient but otherwise healthy pups–further proving that Crry >    served to protect normal developing embryos from their mother’s >    immunity. No complement, no danger. "It appears that the mother has to >    constantly control complement activation, especially on the surface of >    the placenta, for an embryo to survive," Molina notes. >    Crry exists only in rodents, but two substances–decay accelerating >    factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP)–serve a like purpose >    in people. And it is possible that DAF and MCP deficiencies might play >    a role in miscarriages. Molina’s team plans to test this idea next, >    focusing on women who have suffered multiple miscarriage or have >    autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus. "Using the mouse >    studies as a framework," Molina adds, "we can jump to human studies >    and see whether miscarriages in women also involve complement >    regulation." If they do, therapies to help certain women carry to term >    may not be far off. >    –Kristin Leutwyler >      _________________________________________________________________ >    RELATED LINKS: >    The Complement System, from the University of Wisconsin’s Why Files >    Complement Review, from the Integrated Medical Curriculum Homepage >      _________________________________________________________________ > Who loves ya. > Tom > — > Jesus was a Vegetarian! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman > Moses was a Mystic! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman/light.html

– Jesus was a Vegetarian! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman Moses was a Mystic! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman/light.html

Response:

Question:

GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

Response:

much save all my outgoing mail, so I should still have what you’re looking for… -GX – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

Response:

Steve: Here is the article! Thursday December 20 1:13 PM ET Smoking Ups Lupus Risk: Report NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Smokers are at increased risk of developing the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus, according to the results of a recent study. Lupus can occur in several forms, but systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)–usually referred to simply as lupus–is the most serious type. It is an incurable disease marked by inflammation and damage to tissue and organs throughout the body, including the joints, skin, heart, kidney and central nervous system. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue. “The results of this study provide further evidence for smoking as an important risk factor for the development (of lupus),” Dr. Najeeb O. Ghaussy and colleagues from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque write in their report published in the Journal of Rheumatology. “This is the first study showing an association between SLE and smoking in a predominantly Hispanic group,” they add. The researchers interviewed 125 patients with SLE and 125 healthy adults who were matched by age and sex to the lupus patients. The investigators found that people who were current smokers were seven times more likely than nonsmokers to have lupus. Those who were former smokers were nearly four times as likely to develop lupus as never-smokers. “It is not surprising that cigarettes might have some effect on autoimmunity, as there are at least 55 chemical factors that affect cell growth or viability in cigarette smoke including carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrazine, hydroquinone and others,” Ghaussy and colleagues point out. “It is also possible that cigarette smoking may act in concert with other environmental triggers, such as infection, to initiate the autoimmune process,” the authors add. SOURCE: Journal of Rheumatology 2001;28:2449-2453. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

Response:

GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

Response:

much save all my outgoing mail, so I should still have what you’re looking for… -GX – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

Response:

Steve: Here is the article! Thursday December 20 1:13 PM ET Smoking Ups Lupus Risk: Report NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Smokers are at increased risk of developing the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus, according to the results of a recent study. Lupus can occur in several forms, but systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)–usually referred to simply as lupus–is the most serious type. It is an incurable disease marked by inflammation and damage to tissue and organs throughout the body, including the joints, skin, heart, kidney and central nervous system. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissue. “The results of this study provide further evidence for smoking as an important risk factor for the development (of lupus),” Dr. Najeeb O. Ghaussy and colleagues from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque write in their report published in the Journal of Rheumatology. “This is the first study showing an association between SLE and smoking in a predominantly Hispanic group,” they add. The researchers interviewed 125 patients with SLE and 125 healthy adults who were matched by age and sex to the lupus patients. The investigators found that people who were current smokers were seven times more likely than nonsmokers to have lupus. Those who were former smokers were nearly four times as likely to develop lupus as never-smokers. “It is not surprising that cigarettes might have some effect on autoimmunity, as there are at least 55 chemical factors that affect cell growth or viability in cigarette smoke including carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrazine, hydroquinone and others,” Ghaussy and colleagues point out. “It is also possible that cigarette smoking may act in concert with other environmental triggers, such as infection, to initiate the autoimmune process,” the authors add. SOURCE: Journal of Rheumatology 2001;28:2449-2453. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GX — You posted something here a while back which I would very much like to forward to someone but have alas mislaid Please give me a holler. Steve — All your base are belong to us. http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/sjgrant ICQ #37620434 One year, seven months, one week, two days, 2 hours, 4 minutes and 16 seconds. 17642 cigarettes not smoked, saving $3,749.31. Life saved: 8 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes.

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Question:

I think this means that pycnogenol(Pine Bark extract) fights Interferon Gamma induced inflammation . Which sound good to me. See you all in the forest. Jack P.S. Hint — They are the trees with the needles… 1: Free Radic Biol Med 2000 Jan 15;28(2):219-27Related Articles, Books Pine bark extract pycnogenol downregulates IFN-gamma-induced adhesion of T cells to human keratinocytes by inhibiting inducible ICAM-1 expression. Bito T, Roy S, Sen CK, Packer L. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720-3200, USA. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is necessary for leukocyte/keratinocyte interactions. Upregulation of ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes has been observed in several inflammatory dermatoses, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and lupus erythematosus. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), upregulate ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes. Because of potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol (Horphag Research, Geneva, Switzerland), its effects were investigated on the interaction of T cells with keratinocytes after activation with IFN-gamma and the molecular mechanisms involved in such interactions. Studies were performed using a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. Cell adhesion in the presence of IFN-gamma was studied using a coculture assay. Treatment of HaCaT cells with 20 U/ml IFN-gamma for 24 h markedly induced adherence of Jurkat T cells to HaCaT cells. PYC pretreatment (50 microg/ml, 12 h) significantly inhibited IFN-gamma induced adherence of T cells to HaCaT cells (p < .01). ICAM-1 plays a major role in the IFN-gamma-induced adherence of T cells to keratinocytes. Thus, the effect of PYC on IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated as well. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PYC significantly inhibited IFN-gamma-induced expression of ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. The downregulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC was both dose and time dependent. A 50 microg/ml dose of PYC and a 12 h pretreatment time (i.e., before activation with IFN-gamma) provided maximal (approximately 70%) inhibition of inducible ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. Gamma-activated sequence present on the ICAM-1 gene confers IFN-gamma responsiveness in selected cells of epithelial origin (e.g., keratinocytes) that are known to express ICAM-1 on activation with IFN-gamma. Gel-shift assays revealed that PYC inhibits IFN-gamma-mediated activation of Stat1, thus suggesting a transcriptional regulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC. These results indicate the therapeutic potential of PYC in patients with inflammatory skin disorders.

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Idaknow, some guy in a health food store tried to sell me the stuff, gave a free book too…….I gave him the excuse that I couldn’t take anything without my doc’s permission…….I was in there buying boxes and boxes of herbal tea…….that’s as about "herbal" as I’m able to get. All I know is that when I used to get a real Christmas tree, most of them affected my breathing, they irritate my throat when in my home, so the thought of INGESTING a pine-needle based "alternative med/herb" convinced me that I would certainly croak! "carmel" <car…@cyberwizards.com.au> wrote in message

news:3B636C5C.847C8D2C@cyberwizards.com.au… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> What if you’re scared of needles? > Carmel > jack n dalton wrote: > > I think this means that pycnogenol(Pine Bark extract) fights Interferon > > Gamma induced inflammation . Which sound good to me. See you all in the > > forest. > > Jack > > P.S. Hint — They are the trees with the needles… > — > "Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel. > Stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself!" > Web sites at http://www.jaragun.com/ > http://www.geocities.com/peripata/

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"jack n dalton" <jdal…@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message news:9jvi33$6h7$1@slb7.atl.mindspring.net… > I think this means that pycnogenol(Pine Bark extract) fights Interferon > Gamma induced inflammation . Which sound good to me. See you all in the > forest. > Jack > P.S. Hint — They are the trees with the needles…

Don’t forget to take your burner, solvents and separator with you, Jack.   Gotta be careful you don’t end up just sucking turpentine outta that bark.   Ask any old studio painter in oils what that stuff does to your liver and your thinking. <G> —           ((((((((((U)))))))))) Michael <muirh…@island.net>    -=| Livin’ on Island Time |=- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> 1: Free Radic Biol Med 2000 Jan 15;28(2):219-27Related Articles, > Books > Pine bark extract pycnogenol downregulates IFN-gamma-induced adhesion of > T cells to human keratinocytes by inhibiting inducible ICAM-1 > expression. > Bito T, Roy S, Sen CK, Packer L. > Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, > Berkeley 94720-3200, USA. > Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is necessary > for leukocyte/keratinocyte interactions. Upregulation of ICAM-1 > expression in keratinocytes has been observed in several inflammatory > dermatoses, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and lupus > erythematosus. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma > (IFN-gamma), upregulate ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes. Because of > potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the French > maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol (Horphag Research, Geneva, > Switzerland), its effects were investigated on the interaction of T > cells with keratinocytes after activation with IFN-gamma and the > molecular mechanisms involved in such interactions. Studies were > performed using a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. Cell adhesion in > the presence of IFN-gamma was studied using a coculture assay. Treatment > of HaCaT cells with 20 U/ml IFN-gamma for 24 h markedly induced > adherence of Jurkat T cells to HaCaT cells. PYC pretreatment (50 > microg/ml, 12 h) significantly inhibited IFN-gamma induced adherence of > T cells to HaCaT cells (p < .01). ICAM-1 plays a major role in the > IFN-gamma-induced adherence of T cells to keratinocytes. Thus, the > effect of PYC on IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated as > well. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PYC significantly inhibited > IFN-gamma-induced expression of ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. The > downregulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC was both dose and > time dependent. A 50 microg/ml dose of PYC and a 12 h pretreatment time > (i.e., before activation with IFN-gamma) provided maximal (approximately > 70%) inhibition of inducible ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. > Gamma-activated sequence present on the ICAM-1 gene confers IFN-gamma > responsiveness in selected cells of epithelial origin (e.g., > keratinocytes) that are known to express ICAM-1 on activation with > IFN-gamma. Gel-shift assays revealed that PYC inhibits > IFN-gamma-mediated activation of Stat1, thus suggesting a > transcriptional regulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC. These > results indicate the therapeutic potential of PYC in patients with > inflammatory skin disorders.

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But it SMELLS so good!!!!  Ahhh, me old turps-sniffing days…….. Carmel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Michael wrote: > "jack n dalton" <jdal…@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message > news:9jvi33$6h7$1@slb7.atl.mindspring.net… > > I think this means that pycnogenol(Pine Bark extract) fights Interferon > > Gamma induced inflammation . Which sound good to me. See you all in the > > forest. > > Jack > > P.S. Hint — They are the trees with the needles… > Don’t forget to take your burner, solvents and separator with you, Jack.   Gotta > be careful you don’t end up just sucking turpentine outta that bark.   Ask any > old studio painter in oils what that stuff does to your liver and your thinking. > <G> > — >           ((((((((((U)))))))))) > Michael <muirh…@island.net> >    -=| Livin’ on Island Time |=- > > 1: Free Radic Biol Med 2000 Jan 15;28(2):219-27Related Articles, > > Books > > Pine bark extract pycnogenol downregulates IFN-gamma-induced adhesion of > > T cells to human keratinocytes by inhibiting inducible ICAM-1 > > expression. > > Bito T, Roy S, Sen CK, Packer L. > > Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, > > Berkeley 94720-3200, USA. > > Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is necessary > > for leukocyte/keratinocyte interactions. Upregulation of ICAM-1 > > expression in keratinocytes has been observed in several inflammatory > > dermatoses, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and lupus > > erythematosus. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma > > (IFN-gamma), upregulate ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes. Because of > > potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the French > > maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol (Horphag Research, Geneva, > > Switzerland), its effects were investigated on the interaction of T > > cells with keratinocytes after activation with IFN-gamma and the > > molecular mechanisms involved in such interactions. Studies were > > performed using a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. Cell adhesion in > > the presence of IFN-gamma was studied using a coculture assay. Treatment > > of HaCaT cells with 20 U/ml IFN-gamma for 24 h markedly induced > > adherence of Jurkat T cells to HaCaT cells. PYC pretreatment (50 > > microg/ml, 12 h) significantly inhibited IFN-gamma induced adherence of > > T cells to HaCaT cells (p < .01). ICAM-1 plays a major role in the > > IFN-gamma-induced adherence of T cells to keratinocytes. Thus, the > > effect of PYC on IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated as > > well. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PYC significantly inhibited > > IFN-gamma-induced expression of ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. The > > downregulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC was both dose and > > time dependent. A 50 microg/ml dose of PYC and a 12 h pretreatment time > > (i.e., before activation with IFN-gamma) provided maximal (approximately > > 70%) inhibition of inducible ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. > > Gamma-activated sequence present on the ICAM-1 gene confers IFN-gamma > > responsiveness in selected cells of epithelial origin (e.g., > > keratinocytes) that are known to express ICAM-1 on activation with > > IFN-gamma. Gel-shift assays revealed that PYC inhibits > > IFN-gamma-mediated activation of Stat1, thus suggesting a > > transcriptional regulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC. These > > results indicate the therapeutic potential of PYC in patients with > > inflammatory skin disorders.

– "Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel.   Stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself!" Web sites at http://www.jaragun.com/ http://www.geocities.com/peripata/

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What if you’re scared of needles? Carmel jack n dalton wrote: > I think this means that pycnogenol(Pine Bark extract) fights Interferon > Gamma induced inflammation . Which sound good to me. See you all in the > forest. > Jack > P.S. Hint — They are the trees with the needles…

– "Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel.   Stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself!" Web sites at http://www.jaragun.com/ http://www.geocities.com/peripata/

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Question:

 http://www.mayo.edu/pulmonary/staff.htm Physician and Allied Health Care Staff Directory See listing of physicians by clinical area of practice. J. P. Utz, M.D. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Medical School: Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN Internal Medicine: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN Pulmonary: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

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6) Utz, P.J., M. Hottelet, P.H. Schur, and P. Anderson. (1997). Proteins phosphorylated during stress induced apoptosis are common targets for autoantibody production in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Exp. Med. 185(5), 843-854. Is this you, PJ Utz?

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 http://www.mayo.edu/pulmonary/staff.htm Physician and Allied Health Care Staff Directory See listing of physicians by clinical area of practice. J. P. Utz, M.D. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Medical School: Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN Internal Medicine: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN Pulmonary: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

Looks like we’ve got a classic case of Usenet Fixation getting up to speed.  For the past week or so this particular kook has been demanding personal details about one J. P. Utz and seems unable to post about anything else. Followups set. — |   Engineers solve problems — it’s what we do.  | |            Do you want to be a problem?         |

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**Looks like we’ve got a classic case of Usenet Fixation getting **up to speed. no, dc, you are using typical JunkQuackLogic we have an entity claiming to be a pediatrician who gives medical advice as such … posts prolifically many places on the internet attempting to sway parents opinions as to the vaccination issue … and yet REFuses to identify himself. the VAC / Pharmaceutical Industries pay way more than pediatricians earn to spread their propaganda … and it appears that is what is happening here. had JPUTZ (or who/whatever lies behind that email name) answered the first time (or tenth or fifteenth), instead of being fixated on hiding information about who he really is … your JunkQuackism would have been unnecessary.

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{snp} IR Is this you, PJ Utz? Obsessed a little are you, ‘lena? Jeeze. ..dejatroll

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Question:

 http://www.mayo.edu/pulmonary/staff.htm Physician and Allied Health Care Staff Directory See listing of physicians by clinical area of practice. J. P. Utz, M.D. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Medical School: Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN Internal Medicine: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN Pulmonary: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

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6) Utz, P.J., M. Hottelet, P.H. Schur, and P. Anderson. (1997). Proteins phosphorylated during stress induced apoptosis are common targets for autoantibody production in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Exp. Med. 185(5), 843-854. Is this you, PJ Utz?

Response:

 http://www.mayo.edu/pulmonary/staff.htm Physician and Allied Health Care Staff Directory See listing of physicians by clinical area of practice. J. P. Utz, M.D. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Medical School: Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN Internal Medicine: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN Pulmonary: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

Looks like we’ve got a classic case of Usenet Fixation getting up to speed.  For the past week or so this particular kook has been demanding personal details about one J. P. Utz and seems unable to post about anything else. Followups set. — |   Engineers solve problems — it’s what we do.  | |            Do you want to be a problem?         |

Response:

**Looks like we’ve got a classic case of Usenet Fixation getting **up to speed. no, dc, you are using typical JunkQuackLogic we have an entity claiming to be a pediatrician who gives medical advice as such … posts prolifically many places on the internet attempting to sway parents opinions as to the vaccination issue … and yet REFuses to identify himself. the VAC / Pharmaceutical Industries pay way more than pediatricians earn to spread their propaganda … and it appears that is what is happening here. had JPUTZ (or who/whatever lies behind that email name) answered the first time (or tenth or fifteenth), instead of being fixated on hiding information about who he really is … your JunkQuackism would have been unnecessary.

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{snp} IR Is this you, PJ Utz? Obsessed a little are you, ‘lena? Jeeze. ..dejatroll

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Question:

Digging out my copy of _The Honest Herbal_ by Varro E. Taylor (who knows his stuff): "[There is] evidence that alfalfa saponins are hemolytic and may interfere with the utilization of Vitamin E."

Thanks, Allyn!  Now I know what information to go looking for, anyway. Enjoy your sprouts .

Oh, I do!  And they’re a lot easier to grow than lettuce, especially in Texas in the summertime. Dale

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I’d avoid alfalfa though, it has some worrisome things in it (it’s not good for people in large quantities, either…)

OK, no fair!  Don’t just drop a bombshell like that and walk away. Could you please be a little more specific about "worrisome things" and "large quantities"? Thanks. Dale (Sheesh!  And while I’m eating my turkey sandwich—with sprouts!)

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I’d avoid alfalfa though, it has some worrisome things in it (it’s not good for people in large quantities, either…) OK, no fair!  Don’t just drop a bombshell like that and walk away. Could you please be a little more specific about "worrisome things" and "large quantities"?

Digging out my copy of _The Honest Herbal_ by Varro E. Taylor (who knows his stuff): "[There is] evidence that alfalfa saponins are hemolytic and may interfere with the utilization of Vitamin E." (snip) "If you enjoy the taste of alfalfa sprouts in salads, they are refreshing and generally harmless, so feel free to eat them, at least in moderation.      "There is good reason to insert the words "in moderation" in the last sentence.  Since 1981 it has been recognized that eating very large quantities of alfalfa seeds daily could produce reversable blood abnormalities (pancytopenia) in human beings.  Subsequent studies have shown that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an inflammatory connective tissue disease, can be induced in normal monkeys by feeding alfalfa seeds or sprouts. [...] It seems likely that a non-protein amino acid, L-canavanine, contained in  alfalfa may play a role in causing blood abnormalities and in inducing or reactivating SLE in persons having a predisposition to that condition.  These individuals should be very cautious about consuming any alfalfa product, and since predisposition may not always be recognized, moderation seems generally advisable." Any typos are mine, all mine… Since kitty biochemistry is very strange, I tend to be overcautious about what I let them have access to… Enjoy your sprouts . — Pacific NW Native Plant Gardening: http://www.tardigrade.org/natives/ My email address is in WA State.  Anyone sending me bulk email of any sort agrees to pay me a $500 handling fee per message.

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We have a leopard tortoise who love the stuff.  When she was younger it’s about all she would eat.  I believe it’s wheat grass Jim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Usually either wheat grass or buckwheat. … Carefull though.  My cats like to pull it out of the pot, and eat the whole thing. Here’s the cure for that: Seed it in a terracotta pot with a good "lip".  Stretch cheesecloth over the pot and anchor it with florist’s wire secured around the pot tightly under the lip.  The greens will grow up through the cheesecloth and kitty can worry at it to her heart’s delight without being about to uproot it. — Jessie ex-PA (z.7), ex-NYC (z.6), now MN (z.4, brrrrr!) entwold at att dot net note the spamnot trap "Thoreau never mentioned the icky little bugs." – City Boy

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When I was little we had a tom who adored chili – beans, tomatoes and onions, as well as the meat.

We had a calico, Cally the Alley Cat, who loved salad with italian dressing on it…..and peas and carrots mixed <G.  She lived to 18 or so. — Ann, Gardening in Zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA http://www.annzoid.com

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When I was little we had a tom who adored chili – beans, tomatoes and onions, as well as the meat.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had a cat for 17 years who loved the following people food: spaghetti sauce, bacon and popcorn!

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Stoned pets from pet grass. Gandy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a Pet Rock so I suppose Pet Grass is ok. Richard… "Adhesive Solutions Engineer", Duct Tape

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Or rye. I think it’s just a pot of decent dirt seeded with some sturdy grass. I dunno about dogs, but cats do eat (a few blades of) grass from time to time. Sometimes I think it’s sort of self-medication, as they often throw up afterwards as if they were seeking a trigger for their (seems active enough to *me*) gag reflex.    The gourmet pots are for bringing this outside remedy indoors, should the pet desire it.

I have a cat that I think is part cow!  Everytime we go outside, she heads straight to her pot of grass and chows down.  Although, watching her you can tell that cats are not vegetarians… it takes her a while to get enough because her teeth can’t properly grind the plant.  I get lots of leaves with puncture marks from where she bit it but couldn’t get it to tear off.  Really fascinating to watch in an odd way. Rebecca

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Usually either wheat grass or buckwheat. … Carefull though.  My cats like to pull it out of the pot, and eat the whole thing.

Here’s the cure for that: Seed it in a terracotta pot with a good "lip".  Stretch cheesecloth over the pot and anchor it with florist’s wire secured around the pot tightly under the lip.  The greens will grow up through the cheesecloth and kitty can worry at it to her heart’s delight without being about to uproot it. — Jessie ex-PA (z.7), ex-NYC (z.6), now MN (z.4, brrrrr!) entwold at att dot net note the spamnot trap "Thoreau never mentioned the icky little bugs." – City Boy

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I had a cat for 17 years who loved the following people food: spaghetti sauce, bacon and popcorn! Popcorn and bacon she would literally steal out of your fingers (with her claws out – ouch!), and I’d always let her lick my bowl when I had spaghetti… one weird cat. One explanation is that she had IBS, and while cat food would make her throw up, people food never did… <go figure Have fun, Michele — .

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – onto the floor.  Deep pots help keep the stuff alive longer, too.  A lot of cats like steamed corn, and other veggies.  Experiment, especially with kittens; you might be suprised.  I’d avoid alfalfa though, it has some worrisome things in it (it’s not good for people in large quantities, either…)

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Or rye. I think it’s just a pot of decent dirt seeded with some sturdy grass.

Yup.  Usually wheat, barley, or something similar.  Ordinary ‘wheat berries’ at a health food store has a decent germination rate, and costs about 20-30 cents a pound.  It grows well enough in normal potting soil. I’ve tried sprouting pearl barley, but the germination rate was too low to bother with.  YMMV. I dunno about dogs,

It’s normal for dogs to eat grass, too. but cats do eat (a few blades of) grass from time to time.

Cats choose to have about 10% vegetation in their diet.  Either as fresh stomach contents from an herbivore, or as straight plant leaves.  Cats eating commercial food want those greens, the processed stuff obviously doesn’t count.  Grass is cheap and safe for the kitties, and will usually keep them away from houseplants, which is often their only other alternative.   I find that freshly sprouted wheat grass is less likely to make mine regurgitate than older coarse grasses, especially lawn grasses. Try to keep two pots of grass going so you can rotate them.  Use a deep pot with several inches of free space at the top, because as the roots grow, they start to take up a lot of room, and they can push the soil out onto the floor.  Deep pots help keep the stuff alive longer, too.  A lot of cats like steamed corn, and other veggies.  Experiment, especially with kittens; you might be suprised.  I’d avoid alfalfa though, it has some worrisome things in it (it’s not good for people in large quantities, either…) Sometimes I think it’s sort of self-medication, as they often throw up afterwards as if they were seeking a trigger for their (seems active enough to *me*) gag reflex.

Maybe, but I’ve never been convinced.  All of my cats and dogs have been perfecly well able to upchuck on short notice with no artificial aids!  I think it’s more likely that they want to eat it anyway, but if it’s coarse and stiff, it tickles the insides and comes up again. — Pacific NW Native Plant Gardening: http://www.tardigrade.org/natives/ My email address is in WA State.  Anyone sending me bulk email of any sort agrees to pay me a $500 handling fee per message.

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Oats Tom There is an extra Bee in the Email address after the AOL.com

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Sometimes wheat grass Tom There is an extra Bee in the Email address after the AOL.com

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Or rye. I think it’s just a pot of decent dirt seeded with some sturdy grass. I dunno about dogs, but cats do eat (a few blades of) grass from time to time. Sometimes I think it’s sort of self-medication, as they often throw up afterwards as if they were seeking a trigger for their (seems active enough to *me*) gag reflex.    The gourmet pots are for bringing this outside remedy indoors, should the pet desire it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Sometimes wheat grass

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How did you know my rock is stone_d? Richard        | |           | |        | |   0   0   | |        |        | |     –     | |       |        | |   ___/   | |      |        | |___     ___| |

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Stoned pets from pet grass. Gandy I have a Pet Rock so I suppose Pet Grass is ok. Richard… "Adhesive Solutions Engineer", Duct Tape

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They were selling this stuff in containers at the grocery store (plant section).  Claimed dogs, cats etc. love it. What really is it?

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This sounds vaguely familiar… Gandy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They were selling this stuff in containers at the grocery store (plant section).  Claimed dogs, cats etc. love it. What really is it?

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My cat likes sprouted mung beans, which can be purchased at any health food store.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Usually either wheat grass or buckwheat.  It’s a good source of vitamins and fiber for cats.  I feed it to my cats to curb their hairball problems. You can get the seed for very cheap at health food stores as sprouting seed, or for a marginal cost at any Burt’s Bees location. If you let it grow, it will form wheat stalks.  Kinda neat lookin’. Carefull though.  My cats like to pull it out of the pot, and eat the whole thing. I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff? — The Ashcrow Crowin’ and Growin’ in Zone 9, in the hot SoCal sun. — "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." ? Albert Einstein Check out my homepage at http://home.att.net/~ashcrow Check out my ebay page at http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/ashcrow

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I have a Pet Rock so I suppose Pet Grass is ok. Richard… "Adhesive Solutions Engineer",  Duct Tape

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This sounds vaguely familiar… Gandy They were selling this stuff in containers at the grocery store (plant section).  Claimed dogs, cats etc. love it. What really is it?

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All I can think of is: Catnip? The equivalent to kitty pot????  LOL!!! Bev – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff?

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I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff?

A ripoff; all grass is safe for dogs and cats as long as you haven’t treated it with dangerous chemicals. Chris Owens

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Usually wheat grass, but be aware that cats do not have the specific enzymes to digest greens and they will hack it up…usually. victoria-who’s kitties loved their wheat grass  :( – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff?

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I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff?

Response:

Usually either wheat grass or buckwheat.  It’s a good source of vitamins and fiber for cats.  I feed it to my cats to curb their hairball problems. You can get the seed for very cheap at health food stores as sprouting seed, or for a marginal cost at any Burt’s Bees location. If you let it grow, it will form wheat stalks.  Kinda neat lookin’. Carefull though.  My cats like to pull it out of the pot, and eat the whole thing. I was in the grocery store today and they were selling containers of "pet grass" safe for cats, dogs, etc. What exactly is this stuff?

– The Ashcrow Crowin’ and Growin’ in Zone 9, in the hot SoCal sun. — "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." ? Albert Einstein Check out my homepage at http://home.att.net/~ashcrow Check out my ebay page at http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/ashcrow

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Question:

Hi Mitchell, Thank you very much for the information. Evelyne and Kurt – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Mitchell McClain wrote: > Some info on The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania > Check below for Dr. Scott L. Gottlieb > Lupus Center > This center provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to > the diagnosis and care of patients with systemic lupus > erythematosus, including advanced diagnostic procedures, new > therapies, and lifestyle counseling. >      Director > Peter E. Callegari, MD >  http://www.med.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_doctor.phtml?id+100 > Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania > http://www.med.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_practice.phtml?id+188 >                Rheumatology >                Rheumatology Division >                Suite G, >                3 Ravdin Building >                University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 >                Spruce Street , Philadelphia PA >  The of University of Pennsylvania Health System. > http://www.med.upenn.edu/health/ >                Provider Profile >                  Scott L. Gottlieb, MD >                Dermatology >                Faculty Appointment >                Clinical Associate >                Affiliation > Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania > http://health.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_practice.phtml?id+153 >                Board Certification >                Dermatology >                Residency >                New York Hospital; Hospital of the University of >                Pennsylvania >                Fellowship >                Rockefeller University, NY; Hospital of the University >                of Pennsylvania >                Educational Background >                MD, Cornell University Medical College >                Professional Memberships >                American Academy of Dermatology; Pennsylvania >                Medical Society >                Special Interests >                Psoriasis >                This provider practices at: >                Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania >                Dermatology >                Department of Dermatology >                Second Floor, >                Rhoads Pavilion >                University of Pennsylvania Medical Center 3400 >                Spruce Street , Philadelphia PA >                            1-800-789-PENN > Mitchell

Response:

Some info on The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Check below for Dr. Scott L. Gottlieb Lupus Center This center provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and care of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, including advanced diagnostic procedures, new therapies, and lifestyle counseling.      Director Peter E. Callegari, MD  http://www.med.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_doctor.phtml?id+100 Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania http://www.med.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_practice.phtml?id+188                Rheumatology                Rheumatology Division                Suite G,                3 Ravdin Building                University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400                Spruce Street , Philadelphia PA  The of University of Pennsylvania Health System. http://www.med.upenn.edu/health/                Provider Profile                  Scott L. Gottlieb, MD                Dermatology                Faculty Appointment                Clinical Associate                Affiliation Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania http://health.upenn.edu/php/physicians/output_practice.phtml?id+153                Board Certification                Dermatology                Residency                New York Hospital; Hospital of the University of                Pennsylvania                Fellowship                Rockefeller University, NY; Hospital of the University                of Pennsylvania                Educational Background                MD, Cornell University Medical College                Professional Memberships                American Academy of Dermatology; Pennsylvania                Medical Society                Special Interests                Psoriasis                This provider practices at:                Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania                Dermatology                Department of Dermatology                Second Floor,                Rhoads Pavilion                University of Pennsylvania Medical Center 3400                Spruce Street , Philadelphia PA                            1-800-789-PENN Mitchell

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