-Caveat Lector- ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2000 8:28 PM Subject: [firebase-news] Bone problems in Gulf WAr Veterans > > Chemicals Implicated in Reduced Bone Formation in Gulf War Veterans > > > By Pam Harrison > > TORONTO (Reuters Health) - Impaired bone formation has been identified > in Gulf > War veterans with symptoms of ill health, including musculoskeletal > symptoms > ascribed to the Gulf War syndrome, British researchers report. The > findings were > presented here during the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society > for Bone > and Mineral Research. > > Dr. Juliet Compston, of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical > Medicine, > and colleagues assessed eight undecalcified sections of bone taken on > iliac crest > bone biopsy from 17 British Gulf War veterans, mean age 35 years, who > were > involved in litigation related to symptoms ascribed to the Gulf War > syndrome. > Thirteen healthy, age-matched men served as controls. > > "Basically what we found is that the cells which make bone are forming > less well > than normal and the rate at which bone is turning over is also very low > [among > veterans compared with controls]," Dr. Compston told Reuters Health in > an > interview. These changes may or may not predispose veterans to > osteoporosis over > the next few decades, she observed. > > Interestingly, though, 14 of the 17 Gulf War veterans assessed reported > a history of > fracture, Dr. Compston said. While some of these fractures were > definitely > traumatic, "some seemed to be related to fragility, even though it's > hard to be > absolutely certain about this from history alone," she added. > > Dr. Compston cautioned that the reduced bone formation observed in these > veterans may have more to do with changes in lifestyle than exposure to > multiple > chemicals during the Gulf War. Veterans involved in the British study, > for example, > were not working, some of them drank quite heavily and some smoked, and > they > engaged in little physical activity. > > "All of these factors in themselves could lead to abnormalities in > bone," Dr. > Compston noted, "so we cannot say from this work that the abnormalities > we > defined are directly related to the multiple chemical insults we know > soldiers had in > the Gulf War." > > Nevertheless, she said, it is theoretically possible that the chemical > exposure that > veterans experienced during the Gulf War could interfere with cellular > mechanisms > that produce normal bone formation. Organophosphates, among other > chemicals > that veterans were exposed to during the war, can break down > acetylcholine > esterase and thus impair bone cell formation. > > Dr. Compston also noted that, as other investigators have reported, > farmers > exposed to organophosphates in sheep dip have similar histomorphometic > changes > associated with reduced bone formation. > > > > FIREBASE HQ http://www.firebase.net > <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
