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diseases, cardiology, allergy and pathology—to look more closely at the issue. Previous controversial studies linked CMV infection to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which leads to hypertension, heart and kidney disease, and stroke. help prevent strokes", etc. A stroke in the form of a haemorrhage pours blood into the affected areas of the brain and damages the brain cells and nerve connections. A stroke in the form of a clot does not allow blood to get to the cells. Obviously, much more research needs to be done in this area. If bacteria are universally present in the blood, they may play a role in stroke formation. a es Bacteria and the heart area. If bacteria are universally present in the blood, In an autopsy study entitled "Mycobacterial forms in they may playa role in stroke formation. myocardial vascular disease," published in 1965, my mentors Virginia (Wuerthele- Bacteria in kidney disease Caspe) Livingston and Eleanor It is well known that chronic Alexander-Jackson first showed . high blood pressure can lead to acid-fast bacteria in the Near If bacteria are slaney gisease. The rove ° muscle, the coronary bloo 0 0 acteria particularly vessels and the aorta. Later, universally present in pleomorphic cell-wall-deficien they proposed a vaccine to bacteria) in renal and urinary combat the bacteria that they the blood, they may diseases has been studied Secsse but in eincer ana | Play arole in stroke microbiologist. Gerald degenerative disease as well. formation. Domingue, author of Cell Wal (A summary of their research Deficient Bacteria (1982). (The can be read by Googling US PubMed website posts his Patent 4692412.) many publications concerning Figure 2 shows bacteria in the heart muscle at autopsy cryptic bacterial infection of the blood, kidneys and in a fatal case of AIDS. urinary tract. There is also an extensive biography on Figure 3 shows bacteria in the heart muscle from an Domingue on Wikipedia.) autopsied case of lymphoma cancer (mycosis Tragically, there is little interest in studying the role o fungoides). bacteria in kidney disease. Figure 4 shows bacteria Most recently, according to a BBC news report of 25. detected in the kidney in a fatal case of systemic May 2009, a scientific team headed by Arne Schaefer at scleroderma. Note the similarity of these round the University of Kiel found a common gene mutation in bacterial forms to the bacterial forms depicted in the patients with periodontitis (gum disease) and in heart — skin of scleroderma cases (figure 1) and in the hear attack patients (see http://tinyurl.com/qdmwé6y). The muscles of patients who died of AIDS and cancer team also found similarities between the bacteria found _ (figures 2, 3). in the oral cavity and those in coronary plaques. One theory is that the bacteria involved in gum disease trigger a low-grade inflammatory response throughout the body, resulting in changes in the arteries which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. Another possibility is that the bacteria disturb the way blood vessels dilate directly, since some bacteria can enter the bloodstream. universally present in the blood, they may play arole in stroke formation. Bacteria and stroke Only recently has there been mild interest in investigating the role of bacteria in strokes. A Google search using key words such as "bacteria + strokes" leads to numerous web articles, such as "Ulcer bacteria linked to stroke", "Bacteria in mouth could predict strokes", "Antibiotics NEXUS ¢ 33 If bacteria are Figure 2: Bacteria in the heart muscle at autopsy in a fatal case of AIDS AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com