Cheney Research

How do Cell Signaling Factors Work?

pcheney — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:30:14 +0000

I have been fascinated for years about the sensitivity of my ETM approach to very minor interrrogations by cell signaling factors (by skin or oral routes) such as tap water vs spring water and fructose vs

GcMAF studies presented at IACFS/ME meetings in Ottawa

pcheney — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:25:54 +0000

At he IACFS/ME meetings in Ottawa, Canada in September, 2011, three studies on GcMAF therapy in CFS cases were presented by Kenny DeMeirleir MD, PhD out of Belgium and by Paul R. Cheney MD, PhD out of NC. GcMAF

GcMAF studies presented at IACFS/ME meetings in Ottawa

pcheney — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:19:10 +0000

Changing status of XMRV / HGRV research

pcheney — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:42:31 +0000

Recent events and especially negative events have overshadowed research into XMRV (also known as HGRV or possibly a family of Human Gamma Retroviruses including XMRV). There have been retractions of parts of the data presented in the original Science publication

Negative XMRV study by Singh

pcheney — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:52:13 +0000

I talked to Judy Mikovits on the 6th of May about the latest failure to find XMRV in 100 CFS cases and 200 controls by Ila Singh at ARUP/U. of Utah in Salt Lake City funded by the CFIDS Association

XMRV negative studies out of the CDC and elsewhere

pcheney — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:10:49 +0000

William Switzer of the CDC’s HIV/AIDS laboratory branch published an article in Retrovirology in April 2011 (Retrovirology 2011:8). He presented the same work at the NIH conference in Bethesda, MD in September, 2011. Below is my response to a colleague’s

Change in GcMAF Protocol #2

pcheney — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:28:06 +0000

Calcitriol and Nagalase are becoming the key biomarkers for GcMAF therapy. Calcitriol or 1-25 dihydroxy-vitamin D is already being followed monthly by the present protocol but I would consider following Nagalase as well on a monthly basis. Nagalase is inexpensive at $58 and serves to tell us the future clinical course as a dropping Nagalase means the immune system is returning and clinical improvement is expected. The opposite is true if it rises.

Calcitriol is rather expected to rise on GcMAF. However, a rise in Calcitriol will increase immune activation and promote IRIS and that will lower plasma calcium and then that could raise PTH. A rise in PTH can precipitate hypercalcemia and the threat of renal failure from this has been described in Europe. However, the key biomarker of success or failure will be Nagalase and its direction over time.

As far as timing to a favorable response, one patient of mine (age 19) took almost 2.5 months before responding and I hear that in Europe, some patients took 4-5 months before responding. The best indicator of a future response is a declining Nagalase. If Nagalase rises, it may mean that immune activation via GcMAF is activating any number of viruses including herpes virus. I am thinking about adding Famvir or Acyclovir to those whose Nagalase is rising on GcMAF. I will also consider raising GcMAF to 200 ng if Calcitriol is failing to rise or possibly add vitamin D or sunlight. However, increasing Vit D and/or sunlight or a tanning bed could precipitate hypercalcemia and renal failure might ensue.

It is important to follow and work the problem. Calcitriol and Nagalase are the key biomarkers and BUN/Creatinine (in all Chem Panels) is key to rule out acute renal failure. The biggest risk factor for acute renal failure is failure to adequately hydrate or getting dehydrated and not following the chem panel just before GcMAF is started and every 30 days at a minimum and immediately if you get generalized itching, a sign of acute renal failure.

If you start to feel worse on day 2-3 after the GcMAF is taken, consider a trial of 400-800 mg of Tagamet once or twice a day PRN (200 mg tabs are OTC). If it makes you feel better, this has implications as Tagamet blocks the cytokine burst associated with herpes group viruses that GcMAF might wake up in the days after you use it. If Tagamet does not work implies that GcMAF may need more power and this can be obtained by dose increase to up to 200 ng (expensive) or by Vitamin D either by capsule or direct sunlight. However and as mentioned above, Vitamin D can also increase Calcitriol and raise calcium and cause IRIS and/or rarely renal failure so watch the BUN/Creatinine every two weeks if you go down this road. Hydration is the key to preventing renal failure evoked by GcMAF. We have seen one case here and one in Europe. Both cases were associated with Vitamin D and/or sunlight and dehydration was a big issue in the case here.

Initial VDR Polymorphism Data

pcheney — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:26:18 +0000

We have fascinating data on an initial survey in 16 patients of BsmI and FokI restriction enzyme maps for VDR polymorphisms in CFS. I understand that in HIV, a BB/ff haplotype has a reduced response to GcMAF which is a key to proper immune recognition and could negatively impact CFS and XMRV as well. I will have another 20 patients tested shortly for a total of 36 to date.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

BsmI (b,B)

For Europeans BB = 22%, Bb = 43% and bb = 35%; B frequency alone is 44% and is the mutation, b frequency alone is 56% and is the wild type.

For sub-sahara Africans BB = 7%, Bb = 42% and bb = 51%; B frequency alone is 28%, b frequency alone is 72%. Perhaps due to reduction in sunlight in northern Europe favored a switch to the B mutation which was a distinct minority in Africa at 28% and even less as homozygous BB (7%). The B allele VDR may be more sensitive to less vitamin D, for better or worse.

FokI (F,f)

For Europeans ff = 20%, Ff = 43%, FF = 37%; f alone is 41% and F alone is 59%. f is the mutation and F is the wild type.

For sub-Sahara Africans ff = 3.6%, Ff = 31%, FF = 65%; f alone is 19% and F alone is 81%. Again, perhaps due to reduction in sunlight in Northern Europe favored a switch to the mutant f for some sort of survival advantage. However, the f allele VDR may be more sensitive to less vitamin D, for better or worse jumping from 19% in Africa to 41% in Europeans.

In the case of CFS, the BB/ff haplotype was found in 12.5% (N = 16) with an expected frequency of 4.4% or 2.8 times the frequency expected by chance alone. 50% of the patients had a BB or ff vs 42% or less by chance alone. Looking at clinical status, it looks like the ff genotype seems to best select for the sickest patient. All were infected with XMRV. Data for response to GcMAF vs VDR polymorphism is too scant to report.

PRC

Lecture in The Hague, The Netherlands

pcheney — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:17:17 +0000

Below is an abstract of a paper that I will be presenting at a medical conference in The Hague, The Netherlands in September, 2011. Plasma Nagalase Activity in The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome associated with XMRV infection Paul R. Cheney MD, PhD

EEG Biofeedback for sleep and cognition

pcheney — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:08:36 +0000

We have begun to use the NeurOptimal EEG biofeedback system here in Asheville, see in CFS cases. The system is much simpler and more advanced than previous biofeedback systems that try to “control” the brain’s electrophysiologic pattern and the “control” effort is diagnosis dependent and therefore needs an expert in charge. The NeurOptimal system works at all frequencies and at all brain levels and does not require a “diagnosis” and lets the brain correct itself. We used the older systems in the 1990′s in CFS with an EEG Biofeedback expert in Charlotte and the major reproducible effect was significantly improved sleep patterns and cognitive improvement in CFS but the benefits only persisted if the EEG biofeedback was persistent and therefore differed from say fixed injury of the brain such as physical or psychological trauma and likely due to the possible presence of XMRV in the brain. XMRV did not go away so the EEG biofeedback benefits, if any, could not be halted so it was very expensive and logistically difficult for my patient population. In any event, we are seeing dramatic improvement in sleep patterns after a single 30 minute treatment session with the NeurOptimal System. The patient with family assistance can easily hook themselves up at home and watch their favorite movie or listen to their favorite music and the system works to correct aberrant electrophysiologic patterns. The Zengar Institute will offer a new “dumbed-down” system this fall that can be “loaned” or “rented out” to patients in their homes so the cost will be quite reasonable. I suspect the greatest benefit will be for sleep control and possibly psycho-social stress and trauma all of which really makes the patients worse. We will keep you posted on further developments.

PRC