Our Immune Systems, According to Dogtorj

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Our Immune Systems, According to Dogtorj

Post by tex »

Hi All,

Dogtorj is definitely a creative thinker, and a prolific writer. I still have a lot of reading to do, to catch up with all the fresh information that has been added since the last time I visited his site, but I'd like to start a discussion on some of the concepts mentioned there, to see how others feel about his theories.

First off, I have never been comfortable with the concept that our immune systems attack our own bodies, (during an MC reaction, for example). I have to agree with him that our internal control systems are far too sophisticated to allow that to happen.

Secondly, we, (the members of this board), have always assumed that we had overactive immune systems, and therefore, corrupt immune systems. Now, (if his theory turns out to be true), it appears that our immune systems might be entirely normal, after all. I always wondered why, if we had such overactive immune systems, we would still catch colds and/or flu viruses, just like anyone else, if we let our guard down.

Accepting the claim that viruses are the final trigger, responsible for almost everything that can go wrong with our bodies is a little tough to grasp at first, but I have to say that it makes a lot of sense. I'm convinced that's why cancer has proven to be so tough to conquer, despite all the money and research that has been thrown at it, over so many decades.

Okay, so if researchers have known for a long time that viruses are definitely responsible for certain types of cancer, why has this informatiion not been published? Is there some kind of conspiracy going on? Could the government have a hand in this? Where have the media been all these years, if they are so dedicated to presenting the truth, so that all can see?

Enthused and baffled,
Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Matthew »

Wayne
I am still reading, pondering and trying to absorb the whole virus/lectin connection that DogtorJ has done so much research on. It is all very new to me in that I have never read anything about the cancer/virus connection. To say the least he is a prolific writer and a brilliant mind,their is a lot of ground to cover on his sight.

The knee jerk reaction is to go after the pharmaceutical companies under the theory that if they only create drugs to treat symptoms they have patients/ consumers for life. If they go after a cure they have a one time consumer. Some people feel that that is big reason why some cutting edge technology and ideas are never heard about. I have a hard time buying into the conspiracy theory but like any widely held theory it probably contains some truth.

Much the same can be said about diet that DogtorJ recommends.
Eliminating all grains in the first few months of my recovery was a major breakthrough for me. I simply took it on faith that since I felt better it was the thing to do. His much more scientific basis for removing all grains is certainly a vindication of what I have found to be right for me. Making the very broad assumption that his concept that the lectin attaches to the glycoprotein receptor on the cell and the virus inside reacts could very well put a multi trillion dollar medical industry out of business over night. Of course it won’t in that the country and the world is never going to take on such a drastic diet change.

In the mean time I have have had a grand time reading DogtorJ’s articles and discovering that my immune system might very well be doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Pretty exciting stuff that will surely change my whole conceptual approach once I get my mind wrapped around it. Then will decide what to take, and not take on as truth. Just as I have done with my whole MC experience.

In other words I am still working on it. :roll:

Thanks for the great post

Matthew
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Post by tex »

Matthew,

Yeah, I've still got a lot of reading and consolidating of information to do too, yet. There are so many thoughts going round and round in my head right now, though, that I thought I'd wait until tomorrow to take in some more information, so that I might retain more of what I have already read.

I don't know if you're ever studied the suspected link of the Paratuberculosis Mycobacterium, (Avium subspecies), (MAP), that causes Johne's disease in cattle, with Crohn's disease, in humans, but it occurs to me that the behaviour of MAP, with regard to the way that it is known to hide inside cells of the host, and only become active when "triggered", has a striking resemblence to the behaviour of a virus. But what if MAP is merely a shill for a virus?

Consider this quote:

"Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is one of the most enigmatic bacteria known.[35] It lives inside the hosts' cells, but has no known toxins and doesn't seem to damage the cells.[36] The damage, much like in diseases like hepatitis, comes from the hosts' reaction to it. MAP triggers a massive immune reaction against the body's own tissues in which MAP is hiding, in this case the gut.[37]" from this website:

http://www.mad-cow.org/00/paraTB.html

From the same source, here is another quote:

"While one can easily pick out MAP in most cases of Johne's disease with a simple light microscope, to this day attempts to stain and view MAP in Crohn's disease has been largely unsuccessful.[41] The landmark of most mycobacterial infections is the presence of acid-fast bacilli, so called because the mycobacterial cell wall soaks up and retains a particular acid stain.[42] Although failure to see acid fast bacilli in general is not uncommon,[43] in the intestines of Johne's disease infected cattle, one can see swarms of acid-fast bacilli; in Crohn's there are none. The mystery wasn't solved until 1984, when Rodrick Chiodini, a microbiologist at Brown University's Rhode Island Hospital published a landmark study in which he actually cultured live paraTB germs from the gut walls of children with Crohn's disease.[44]"

Ok, so they are seeing cultured bacteria, but what if these are simply opportunistic bactiria that just happen to like to hang out there? Maybe that's why they can't be found in every Crohn's case. MAP takes the rap , and distracts the researchers, while the real agent, a virus, remains undetected.

Of course, if antibiotics controlled MAP linked diseases, then that would blow my theory to bits. Get this, though: There is no known cure for Johne's disease. That sounds a lot like a virus, doesn't it?

It has long been suspected by many, (including me), that MAP, (or whatever it is hiding), might be the true cause of IBDs in humans. If MAP, (or the real pathogen, associated with MAP), turned out to actually be a virus, though, it would make that possibility look a lot more substantive.

For a long time, MAP were considered to be associated only with ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, goats, etc. Recently, though, MAP has been discovered in non-ruminant species. Here, for example, is a USDA report on a research project that found that feral cats, that hang around dairies with MAP infected cattle, also have MAP in their lymph nodes, (28%), and in their intestines, (43%). 11% of mice in the area, were also found to be carrying MAP. This report was published in July, 2005:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/public ... 115=174362

It's looking more and more to me, that IBDs might actually not be an autoimmune disease. In fact as DogtorJ suggests, maybe there is no such thing as an autoimmue disease.

Thanks for your insight.

Wayne
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Polly »

Thanks for this thread......and the very nice summary.

I, too, am in the process of wrapping my brain around all of the new info. It's so much fun to encounter another curious and creative thinker, isn't it? Most of the illnesses that still baffle us require out-of-the-box thinking, I believe. The dogtor has certainly done his research.

The viral etiology is intriguing. Remember when I emailed Dr. Fine lately, he said believes it very possible that MC has an infectious component. The tuberculosis bacillae DO react quite differently from other bugs. I was always amazed at the way of the regular TB bug operated - walling itself off and often not causing disease until years later. Like at puberty or during a period of great stress. And I had already become a believer in the lectin theory (thanks to Marsha) and my own experience with eliminating legumes and all grains and not just gluten and dairy.

I also believe that we have an intact immune system - a BETTER system perhaps than those without MC. I know Dr. Fine believes this. The two may go together - genetically - similar to the way that having sickle cell anemia confers some degree of immunity to malaria. Although I certainly do get the usual viruses, my ability to fight them is superb, I believe. A cold for me lasts half as long as it does for most. I have never had a herpes fever blister or a strep throat. And, believe me, I have been exposed to LOTS of sick kiddies. Knock on wood!

I noticed the Dogtor said that some researchers are exploring a viral role in breast cancer and even developing a vaccine. Has anyone ever heard about this?

Matthew, your comment about the drug companies is interesting. I hate to think that they consciously avoid CURES, but they cannot always be trusted, IMHO. Did you see "The Constant Gardener"?

Anyway, I also plan to keep reading and digesting all of this super new info. I hope that whenever anyone has a "AHA" moment that they immediately walk to the computer and post it here!

Love,

Polly
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Post by annie oakley »

I am wondering if when I was In Arizona and got a mild case of the Valley fever.....that maybe that triggered my Colitis, along with over use of Ibruprohen. I got a mild case of the fever and was shortly there after diagnosed with MC. Love Oma
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Post by tex »

Hi Oma,

You may very well be correct. If MC is caused by a virus, the combination of your immune system fighting the valley fever, together with the effects of the NSAID, may have caused the virus to trigger MC, because it thought it was under attack, so it began to reproduce, as fast as it could, in order to survive.

Love,
Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by tex »

Polly,

I'm the same way with colds/viruses. I don't get them as often as most people, but I think that is because I take precautions to avoid them.

When I do catch something, I never seem to be anywhere near as sick as everyone else, and instead of it lasting for a week or two, (or three), I'm usually over it in just a few days, with much less chest congestion, etc.

Like you, I don't get fever blisters, and I've never had strep throat.

Here is some information on a vaccine for breast cancer, but it is targeted at existing tumors:

http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/lmi.html

Here's a report on a case history, from 2003:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditio ... index.html

Here is a more recent report, and I'm not sure, but this one may be referring to a different vaccine. This report suggests that the vaccine may also create a protective immune response in patients at risk for breast cancer:

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/94/102645.htm

Love,
Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Matthew »

From Viruses, Friend or Foe
In response to R
"The lectin attaches to the glycoprotein receptor on the cell and the virus inside reacts. This would also explain why that same lectin does not do this to everyone or to every cell. How else do we explain that simple fact? The lectin is the same no matter what it attaches to. It is the CELL of the individual that is different. AND, even the cells of that individual are different."

This seems to me to be a great explination for why some of only react to gluten containing grains and why others are MI. An individuals reactions will depend on what viruses they have collected and where they are. We all have a different set with some in common. It also explains why the lectin response makes one person get Celiac disease another MC arthritis, Lupus,or any of the other immune responses. It just depends on what viruses you have and where they are.

Perhaps the genetic similarities we have found here have something to do with where the viruses are and how the cells react to the lectins.

Matthew
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.

Post by artteacher »

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to mention, not in response to any one person or topic, that I often wondered why I got sick so often if having lupus made my immune systemoveractive. Overactive ISystem should mean no colds, viruses, infections, etc. But if you have a chronically overactive IS, I think what happens is that it's often overwhelmed and exhausted, and not able to keep up with the demands of always being on alert. So you do get sick often, despite it being "overactive". The correct term might be a "overreactive immune system".

It must be a confusing or not well tracked subject, because lupus sufferers' websites say they get many more infections (esp yeast types and mucus membranes), yet my rheumotologist said, when I asked, that lupus patients don't get sick any more frequently than the general population. He also said it's really rare for lupus to affect the digestive tract, although it can happen. He thought instead that they were two different conditions.

Sigh. Love you all, Marsha
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Post by Lucy »

I've GOT to read all this!

As some of you may recall, I've always maintained that the immune system was just doing it's join in reacting to something that's foreign to it, at least in the undigested form of proteins.

I will have to read the articles to really understand specifically what all this about viruses has to do with the statement about drug companies, but I believe that most biomed folks kind of think of viruses in a different way than the average person does.

These are essentially just molecules that replicate themselves or otherwise interfere with the operations of cells. Thus, the RNA and DNA becomes relevant, particularly when they go astray, and repeat errors time and time again. This is why cancer research has been working on these issues for some time now.

Afraid that's not the best of explanations, but hope it'll help someone who might not understand what viruses are. Bacteria are very different, but I think that since they can both be pathogens, that lay people think of them as being more similar then they really are.

Wow, I need more hours in the day, so that I can catch up on all this interesting stuff!
Thanks, Luce
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Link?

Post by celia »

Wayne,

This sounds interesting. I would love to read more about it. How do I find doctorj's site or articles?


Just before we left on vacation, my husband got an email from his doctor indicating test results showing a mycoplamsa infection...but it's not clear if it was a previous one that has cleared or might be persisting. His doctor is not fluent on interpreting the results, and she hasn't sent a copy to him yet.

Thanks, Celia
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Post by tex »

Celia,

I'm sorry, the link is in another thread. Here it is:

http://dogtorj.tripod.com./

The new article of interest is the one titled Viruses - Friend or Foe?

The article on Food Intolerance in Aniomals and Man is excellent, too.

There's a lot of interesting reading there.

Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by celia »

Thanks Tex, you are the best! c.
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Post by moremuscle »

Hi friends,

I have loved dogtorJ ever since I read his article on gluten intolerance over a year ago - he writes in a wonderful way and he seems very creative; I can't wait to get the time to read his new article/research on viruses and the link to food intolerances. It would be great if one day we will actually understand what is going on in our bodies.

I think my immune system works very very well - I cannot complain. I am (knock on wood) never sick. I haven't had a cold for ages and I don't have problems with my sinuses or anything else like that; I hear most people complain about those things time and time again.

Wayne, the immune system attacks the partially digested proteins that slip through the permeable gut; the leaky gut, right? It is my understanding that it attacks a foreign object that is not supposed to be there - it doesn't actually attack our tissue. Did I misunderstand this?

Thank you for this inspiring thread.

Love,
Karen
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living w/o gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and yeast.
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Post by tex »

Hi Karen,

Correct, according to this theory, our immune systems are not actually attacking our own bodies, and I guess it's possible that they might be attacking partially digested proteins, for all I know, but the gist of Dogtorj's theory is that the inflammation we experience, is caused by a virus that attacks the lectins in the foods that we ingest, that we react to. I'm assuming that the antibodies that show up, are the results of our immune systems attacking the virus. The virus is there to try to help us adapt to the foods that our digestive system was not evolved to handle, but the immune system perceives the virus as an enemy invader, because of the inflammation.

It's fairly complex logic, and you will need to read his article, in order to fully understand what he is saying. You have to learn enough about viruses, to completely change the way you presently think about them. Viruses are not what most people picture. Viruses do not resemble other pathogens, (such as bacteria), at all, and according to the theory, they do not normally behave as pathogens--rather, they are there for our benefit.

This is pretty profound stuff. The article is long, and takes a while to read, but it contains a wealth of information and insight, and I think it explains a lot of things that have been needing an explanation.

For example, you probably recall the post I made about the research that showed that if the fecal stream was diverted from the colon, (by an ileostomy), the inflammation would disappear from the colon. It was suggested by the researchers, that there must therefore be a toxic agent in the fecal stream, since it's removal, allows the colon to recover. Dogtorj's theory offers a solution to that puzzle--the toxic agent may be the lectins.

Theoretically, oils shouldn't have any proteins in them, and yet some of us react to them. So why are some of us intolerant of some of the oils? You guessed it. Oils contain lectins.

Love,
Wayne
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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