Thought the following new studies might be of interest. (The first two
investigate a mechanism which is the suspected culprit in the problems
associated with grain consumption.)

Love Liza


-- 
[log in to unmask] (Liza May)

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Chlamydia's way to the heart

Chlamydia produces a sexually transmitted disease, and
those
infected have been known to develop heart disease. However,
the link between the two has remained a mere correlation.
Now it seems that the bacteria, when they infect humans,
employ a strategy known as molecular mimicry. They hide
themselves in a protein that looks very much like a natural
human protein to avoid eliciting an immune response from
their host. But sometimes the host's immune system is not
fooled. The resulting immune response can then be directed
at the real protein mimicked by the bacteria. Such an
autoimmune response occurs during Chlamydia infections
when the body recognizes a bacterial protein that looks
like a specific protein in the heart. 
                           

Reference: Bachmaier, K., Neu, N., de la Maza,
L.M. et al. 1999. Chlamydia infections and heart
disease linked through antigenic mimicry. Science
283(5406):1335-1339.

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Prions are suspected of being infectious forms of proteins
that can cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies,
including Creuzfeldt-Jakob and "mad cow" disease. Although
still controversial, prions have gained enough credibility
to
earn their discoverer a Nobel Prize. Recent research shows
that yeast cells contain a protein that looks a lot like a
prion. Now the suspected prion, Ure2p, appears to be
capable, in vitro, of forming amyloid structures, which are
characteristic of a prion-infected brain. The finding
strengthens the suggestion that Ure2p is a prion. 
                          
Reference: Taylor, K.L., Cheng, N., Williams,
R.W. et al., 1999. Prion domain initiation of
amyloid formation in vitro from native Ure2p.
Science 283(5406):1339-1343.

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Anecdotal evidence suggests that an episode of bacterial
gastroenteritis increases the risk of irritable bowel
syndrome. Researchers quantified this in a cohort study of
patients with a confirmed first episode of gastroenteritis.
After excluding those with irritable bowel syndrome, the
researchers followed all cases for a year, or until an
occurrence of irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, alcoholism,
or death. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed in only
0.3% of a general population group, but it was found in
3.8%
of the gastroenteritis group. Persons with gastroenteritis
are 12 times as likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome
as
those without it. 
                   
Reference: Rodríguez, L. and Ruigómez, A.. 1999.
Increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome after
bacterial gastroenteritis: Cohort study. Br. Med.
J. 318(7183):565-566. 

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Vitamin A deficiency is a common occurrence that may
adversely affect maternal health and survival in south
Asia.
In a study in rural Nepal, researchers followed over 44,000
women of reproductive age who were randomly allocated to
receive a recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A or
placebo for 3-1/2 years. Over 22,000 pregnancies in this
group were followed up to 12 weeks postpartum. Overall,
deaths related to pregnancy were reduced by 44% in women
receiving supplements. Similarly, weekly dosing with
beta-carotene lowered the risk of pregnancy-related
mortality by 49%. 

Reference: West, K., Katz, J. et al. 1999. Double
blind, cluster randomised trial of low dose
supplementation with vitamin A or beta-carotene
on mortality related to pregnancy in Nepal. Br.
Med. J. 318(7183):570-575.