Morgellons Video 2

[tcmgpt13]

I think they are studying more than just skin lesions and these lesions are not necessarily those found on just on the skin. They can exist on other soft tissues too. AFIP appears to do a lot of research on people who are military, many of whom are stationed in foreign countries. And on animals too, as there is a large veterinary component in this facility. I did not post all I found here about them, but they have done/are doing some interesting studies.

Archives of the AFIP -- RadioGraphics 1995; 15: 893-917

AFIP Atlas of Tumor Pathology: Mammary [Chapter 4]

An Onchocercal Nodule Appearing during Diethylcarbamazine Therapy -- Boye and Connor 31 (6): 1123 -- American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Imaging of Tropical Diseases: With ... - Google Book Search

Just a few of the many studies this institution has undertaken. I know there are many more. How much they or Kaiser will reveal about what they find with morgellons and its lesions, well that is the question. Who knows? I hope that they will be honest, but who knows?

[jonsi]

Thanks tcm for that link.

It worked and I learned something new! (left foot or right foot in my mouth?)

I tried to copy and paste their objective on the Morgellons study but got booted out of this site. It did state that they plan on being finished in a year (starting in April or May '08-I can't remember and I don't want the boot again).
For those of you who want to check it out go to tcm's post and click this link (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) - Welcome) there:


Itwl,
~jonsi

[tcmgpt13]

Hi Jonsi,

Glad you could get on the site with the link. I think I managed to copy that part of the morgellons announcement on the AFIP site so will post it here:

Publication Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

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AFIP to Assist CDC Unravel Mysteries of Morgellons

The AFIP will assist the Centers for Disease Control to unravel the mystery of a potentially emerging illness now known as Morgellons.

According to Dr. Michele Pearson, principal investigator for the CDC, people who suffer from Morgellons report a range of dermatologic symptoms, such as skin rashes and sores associated with abnormal skin sensations, such as crawling, biting and stinging. During a January media roundtable, Pearson said that many also "have reported the presence of thread fibers or other foreign material on or beneath the skin." Other reported symptoms include fatigue, mental confusion, memory loss, joint pain and changes in vision.

The condition was named Morgellons based on a 17th century medical paper that described a similar set of symptoms.

Morgellons cases have been reported in several areas of the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia and several European countries. In the United States, Northern California has one of the highest self-reported rates of Morgellons. So in addition to partnering with AFIP, the CDC has enlisted the aid of Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Division of Research to identify patients for participation in the study.

"The primary goals of this study are to learn more about who may be affected with this condition, the symptoms they experience and to look for clues about factors that might contribute to the condition," Dr. Pearson said.

Participants will undergo detailed clinical evaluations, including a general medical examination, a dermatologic examination, skin biopsies and blood tests.

The AFIP will examine sections from skin biopsies and fiber specimens using routine light microscopy, according to Dr. Michael Lewin-Smith, Chief of the AFIP's Division of Environmental Pathology. The Department of Dermatopathology will participate in the light microscopic evaluation of skin biopsy slides.

"Additional analysis to enable further characterizations of materials of interest identified in the skin biopsy sections or submitted fibers, such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and infrared spectroscopy, will also be used," Dr. Lewin-Smith said.

Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis is a technique which provides information about which elements are components of particular unidentified materials, Dr. Lewin-Smith explained. Infrared spectroscopy provides information on the molecular characteristics of unidentified materials.

Dr. Lewin-Smith said the study is expected to last approximately one year. AFIP staff expect to be able to commence analytical work within a few months.

[kmar]

Ok, finally something on the CDC study!

Thanks for the infomation and it was interesting.

I do hope they tell the truth.