thromboxane-b2 and Virus-Diseases

Transmission of viral diseases through blood products remains a problem in transfusion medicine. We have developed a photochemical decontamination system (PCD) for platelet concentrates (PC) utilizing treatment with long wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVA, 320-400 nm) and 8-methoxypsorlan (8-MOP). This system is capable of inactivating 25-30 logs/hour of bacteria E. coli or S. aureus, 6 logs/hour of bacteriophage fd, 0.9 log/hour of bacteriophage R17, and 1.1 logs/hour of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in PC. Immediately following 6 hours of PCD treatment, platelet integrity and function of PCD-treated and control PC were equivalent. After overnight storage, PCD-treated and control PC platelet properties were equal, but there was a slight reduction in TXB-2 production of PCD-treated PC compared to controls. Following PCD treatment, PC were stored for 48 to 96 hours. Platelet counts, morphology scores, extracellular LDH levels, aggregation response, dense body (db) content, and alpha granule (alpha g) content of PCD-treated and control PC were comparable. We assessed the ability of the PCD technique to inactivate intracellular and extracellular virus, quantified the degree of DNA adduct formation in contaminating lymphocytes, and measured the inhibition of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mediated amplification of intracellular DNA. High titers of cell-free murine cytomegalovirus added to human platelet concentrates (final concentration 10(6)) were inactivated by PCD within 30 minutes. Cat renal fibroblasts infected at high levels with feline rhinotracheitis virus (FeRTV) were seeded into PC followed by PCD treatment with inactivation of 4.8 logs of FeRTV within 10 minutes. Purified human lymphocytes were seeded into PC and treated with PCD in the presence of 3H 8-MOP. Six hours of PCD treatment resulted in the formation of 9.3 to 12.8 8-MOP adducts per 1000 base pairs (bp) of DNA. PCR amplification of a 242 bp segment at the HLA-DQ alpha locus was examined. Inhibition of PCR DNA amplification was dependent on the numbers of 8-MOP adducts formed, and no amplification was present when greater than 12 adducts per 1000 bp were formed. These studies indicate that PCD can effectively inactivate high titers of cell-associated and cell-free virus seeded into standard human PC. The efficiency of DNA adduct formation can be quantitated, and the level of 8-MOP adduct formation in lymphocytes contaminating PC is comparable to the level of adduct formation in cellular

Topics: Blood Component Transfusion; Blood Platelets; Blood Preservation; Cells, Cultured; DNA Damage; DNA Replication; Fibroblasts; Hepatitis C; Humans; Incidence; Leukocytes; Methoxsalen; Photochemistry; Platelet Aggregation; Thromboxane B2; Ultraviolet Rays; Virus Diseases; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Virus Replication; Viruses

In many cases of chronic intractable pain without any discernible causes, when both Western medical treatment and acupuncture treatment failed to eliminate the pain, this pain is often due to the unrecognized presence of viral or bacterial infection. Even effective anti-viral or bacterial agents often fail to eliminate or inhibit the infection, as these drugs may also fail to reach the most painful area where often unrecognizable circulatory disturbances co-exist. Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test Molecular Identification Method, we were able to localize substance P and thromboxane B2 (a good indicator of the presence and degree of circulatory disturbances) in the painful area along with virus or bacteria. Based on the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test localization method for specific substances or microbes, the author has successfully treated cases of chronic intractable pain by the combination of anti-viral or bacterial agents with either manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical stimulation through a pair of surface electrodes. Among a variety of infections, the most common cause of severe intractable pain was herpes simplex virus, and the most common bacterial cause of intractable pain of moderate degree was campylobacter. In addition, chlamydia was a very common cause of mild intractable pain. When peripheral nerve fibers are hypersensitive from nerve injury due to viral infection, in addition to the drug therapy for infection, use of Vitamin B1 25 mg., 2 times a day for an average adult often accelerates recovery time. As an anti-viral agent for the herpes virus family, the author found that EPA (Omega 3 fish oil, Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid, C20:5 omega 3), at doses between 180 mg. and 350 mg (depending upon body weight) 4 times a day for 2 to 6 weeks, without prescribing the common anti-viral agent Acyclovir, often eliminated the symptoms due to viral infection including all well-known types of the herpes virus, such as herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are usually not associated with intractable severe pain, but they are often associated with a recurrent burning or itching sensation and they can cause intractable frequent muscle twitching. Viruses belonging to the herpes family almost always exist between the midline of one side of the spinal cord and the midline of the front of the body where these nerves from the spinal cord end and the same virus is localized only on

Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Pain, Intractable; Thromboxane B2; Virus Diseases