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First time here? Please read below-"The
advantages which have been derived from the caution with which
hypothetical statements are admitted, are in no instance more obvious
than in those sciences which more particularly belong to the
healing art. It therefore is necessary, that some conciliatory
explanation should be offered for the present publication: in which, it
is acknowledged, that mere conjecture takes the place of experiment;
and, that analogy is the substitute for anatomical examination, the
only sure foundation for pathological knowledge." "When,
however, the nature of the subject,and the circumstances under which it
has been here taken up, are considered, it is hoped that the
offering
of the following pages to the attention of the medical public, will not
be severely censured. " Parkinson's Disease has the unwanted distinction of existing at the juncture of, at least, four disciplines - neurology, immunology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. The inevitable inefficiencies that go with that position have been a major block to progress. A second has been a flood of data that has accumulated over the last few decades faster than anyone could take it in and integrate it into the whole. That is the goal of this effort - to promote the integration of the data from these multiple fields into a coherent whole from which solutions may emerge. We have begun the task by collecting a vast amount of data from the literature and arranging it here to form the basis for discussion of the hypothesis that has emerged. Parkinson's Disease is the result of an inflammatory process driven by twin factors - the immune response that arises from hypersensitivity to lipopolysaccharide (endotoxins) paired with the dysregulated stress response of the endocrine system. Both of these come from the fetal programming by maternal immune insults and maternal stress exposure, being further influenced by both genetic and epigentic factors as well as the ever-popular environmental insult. In short, most of the hypotheses advanced to explain PD are correct but incomplete. We make a strong case for this view by grouping the works of others in such a way as to highlight the various elements. But we have taken this as far as we can. We have no labs. We have no standing in the research community. We are simply patients with the temerity to attempt to waken the established authorities and ask that they take a look. Truth be told, we expect little from that authority. Everyone is busy. Everyone has a vested interest in the way things are. Where our hopes lie are with the graduate student. Freshly armed with the latest thinking and yet to settle into a comfortable position, they have both time and open minds. They have careers ahead of them and perhaps our influence will one day bear fruit. We know better than anyone what that means for us and will not object if it happens sooner.  | Science Ah, Science! That noble endeavor in pursuit of Truth! And, alongside its cousin, Medicine, the ceaseless striving to bring relief to suffering humanity. Humble servants of the common good..... Oh, enough of that. Like any other group of human beings, science and medicine have a generous measure of ego-driven cutthroats who would stick a knife in your grant while buttering their toast. You know who you are. But there was a time when most of us believed those noble ideas. Perhaps it came wrapped with a tiny microscope underneath a long gone Christmas tree. Or, as in my case, with the contemplation of a precious horde of flasks and beakers adorning a garden shed lab bench. Whatever its origins, like so many precious things, it did not always age well. The realities of career and mortgages dealt it some serious blows. And yet, it lingers. Whatever clay may be upon the feet of their servants, Science and Medicine in the abstract remain pure. These thoughts come to mind here unbidden and I think that I will leave them as they came. It was my intent to exhort you to put aside rivalry and territorial battles, dogma and prejudice. Perhaps I have said enough. . |