Journal of IiME Volume 5 Issue 1 (May 2011) PRESENTERS at the 6th INVEST in ME INTERNATIONAL ME/CFS CONFERENCE stainable enteroviral protein and dsRNA is demonstrated in the stomach biopsies of few responders on oxymatrine/Equilibrant therapy. Previous evidence for enterovirus infection in ME/CFS from over a decade ago has been confirmed and extended in recent studies. Mechanism of viral persistence through the formation of dsRNA is similar to observations in tissue cultures and in animal models. Development of antiviral therapy against enteroviruses needs to be expedited; and the importance of enteroviruses in ME/CFS can be realized with a randomized, placebo-controlled antiviral drug trial. Dr. James Baraniuk James N. Baraniuk was born in Alberta, Canada. He earned his honours degree in chemistry and microbiology, medical degree, and unique bachelor's degree in medicine (cardiology) at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Thereafter, he moved to Akron, OH, USA, for his internship and internal medicine residency at St Thomas Hospital. After another year of internal medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, he trained with Dr C.E. Buckley, III, in allergy and clinical immunology. He moved to the laboratory of Dr Michael Kaliner at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, and there began his long-standing collaboration with Dr Kimihiro Ohkubo. After 2 years studying neuropeptides, he joined Dr Peter Barnes' laboratory at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Brompton Hospital, London, UK. Dr Baraniuk returned to Washington, DC, and Georgetown University, where he is currently Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Medicine. (from Georgetown University site http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/baraniuj/) Our research team is examining proteomic (protein) differences between veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) and healthy veterans in hopes of learning more about how GWI works. In our first study, we are also looking at differences in genetics, pain sensitivity, muscular, and autonomic nervous system function between GWI vets and healthy vets. Based on current data, we believe that GWI may be related to a certain genotype for an enzyme (carnosine dipeptidase-1) that degrades two of the body's important antioxidants. Our second project is a treatment study using Carnosine, one of these antioxidants. If this genetic difference does contribute to GWI, then replacement of this antioxidant could provide relief of symptoms. Finally, we are conducting a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome research study. The CFS study is similar to our GWI study, except that we are also doing lumbar punctures (sometimes called a spinal tap) for the people who participate in this study. We are doing the lumbar puncture procedure for two reasons: 1) We believe that increased spinal pressure could be associated with some of the symptoms like recurrent headaches, sleep problems, memory problems, chronic fatigue and pain. For this reason, we measure the spinal fluid pressure during the procedure. 2) During a previous study, our research team and our research collaborators discovered some specific proteins in the spinal fluid of CFS and GWI patients. In this study we will have a larger group of people with and without CFS/GWI and will look for those and other unique sets of proteins in the spinal fluid and blood using more sensitive equipment. Our hypothesis is that these specific proteins are seen in the spinal fluid of CFS and Gulf war Illness but not in healthy controls and that those proteins will help us understand the cause of these conditions. http://explore.georgetown.edu/people/baraniuj/?action=viewresearch Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) www.investinme.org Page 53/58
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