Nexus - 1803 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Stress and Other Factors Alter the Blood-Brain Barrier possibility that elevation of body temperature and Let's examine the recently proven alterability of the related brain temperature will have a significant effect on blood-brain barrier. In 1996, research was done _ increased BBB permeability and edema is quite likely". involving Gulf War soldiers and also mice. Further, they state that "histamine actively participates in One study’ found that 213 Gulf War soldiers had he response to stress" and that "histamine H2 receptors suffered significant central nervous system (CNS) are involved in the physiological mechanism of stress symptoms—headache, drowsiness, nervousness, response". They note that the reduction in cerebra attention deficit and calculation deficit—after ingestion blood flow (hypoperfusion) appears to be caused by of the drug pyridostigmine. It was administered increased oxygen and decreased carbon dioxide (CO2). supposedly to block the effects of possible nerve gas The finding of lowered carbon dioxide in histaminic exposure. (Some have alleged that the belief tha alteration of the BBB indicates that breathing techniques pyridostigmine could offer some protection agains o increase CO2 levels may act as an antihistamine and neurotoxins was not totally based on fact...) This drug may benefit problems caused by BBB permeability. This was not supposed to elicit adverse CNS reactions — is perhaps another validation of the Buteyko breathing because it wasn't supposed to cross the BBB~ method to raise the CO2 level. Another natura appreciably. Researchers hypothesised that the stress o antihistamine is water. war led to a weakened BBB, which led to a greater So we can conclude that heat—and other stress, such entrance of the drug into the brain. as trauma to the brain—results in cerebral histamine Others then experimented on mice that underwent the release, which then leads to BBB permeability, cerebra "forced-swim" stress protocol.’ hypo-perfusion and cerebra In the stressed mice, it was oedema. found that only 1/100th the dose Do allergies play a role in of (peripherally administered) Researchers hypothesised these matters? Do those who pyridostigmine was needed to suffer from “brain allergies" inhibit a brain enzyme by 50 per that the stress of War led to have greater histamine release cent, as compared to control g into the brain? Or do they have mice. This demonstrated that a a weakened BBB, which led more histamine receptors? And very significant amount of the to a greater entrance of do they thus have leaky blood- the drug into the brain. brain barriers much of the time due to their brain allergies? This may be analogous to food drug crossed the BBB in the stressed mice. So the emotional stress of war led to a breakdown of the BBB in soldiers, and the allergies causing permeability stress of forced swimming led to in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the breakdown of the BBB in mice. as with leaky gut syndrome. This points out the need to Another possible exacerbating factor with the Gulf War ascertain and eliminate foods that might be causing soldiers was heat stress in that part of the world. Earlier "brain allergies" and subsequent histamine release into animal studies found that immobilisation, cold, _ the brain. isolation and chronic or acute heat stress all resulted in Some researchers have found that mast cells, along increased permeability of the BBB to drugs, with endothelial cells, must be a component of the neurotransmitters and viruses. It was a shock in the — physical BBB. Their research indicates that mast cells medical field that the BBB was so alterable. under certain conditions regulate the BBB permeability.’ Let's examine heat stress. In 1992, it was This means that BBB alteration/permeability can be part demonstrated that heat stress in rats is mediated by _ of allergic diseases. Mast cells are found in the skin, GI histamine’ and results in "a profound increase in blood- tract, lungs, brain and other tissues. Mastocytosis is a brain barrier permeability...along with a significant disorder whereby mast cells either are present in excess reduction in cerebral blood flow" and increased brain or are malfunctioning and degranulating too readily, oedema. Pretreatment with cimetidine, an H2-receptor releasing histamine. Mast cell disease thus may be antagonist (a type of antihistamine and an ulcer drug), _ involved in the aetiology of those who suffer from many "significantly thwarted the increases...in the blood-brain _ allergies or allergy-like reactions to foods, chemicals and barrier permeability". The researchers postulate that EMF. "histamine might be released as a result of noxious Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is known to cause or thermal stimuli from histaminergic neurons which — worsen mast cell disease; thus MSG may adversely affect project profusely to nearly all parts of the brain, cerebral the BBB. MSG may then get into the brain more readily mast cells and/or from peripheral sources". But they and cause more harm. Some foods, including meat, fish also note that histamine is elevated in the brain, and dairy, have high histamine levels that may also be cerebrospinal fluid or blood following traumatic brain involved in these mechanisms. injuries and other disorders. The authors state that "the If there is alteration of the BBB, the brain may have a Researchers hypothesised that the stress of war led to to a greater entrance of the drug into the brain. Some researchers have found that mast cells, along with endothelial cells, must be a component of the physical BBB. Their research indicates that mast cells under certain conditions regulate the BBB permeability.’ This means that BBB alteration/permeability can be part of allergic diseases. Mast cells are found in the skin, GI tract, lungs, brain and other tissues. Mastocytosis is a disorder whereby mast cells either are present in excess or are malfunctioning and degranulating too readily, releasing histamine. Mast cell disease thus may be involved in the aetiology of those who suffer from many allergies or allergy-like reactions to foods, chemicals and EMF. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is known to cause or worsen mast cell disease; thus MSG may adversely affect the BBB. MSG may then get into the brain more readily and cause more harm. Some foods, including meat, fish and dairy, have high histamine levels that may also be involved in these mechanisms. If there is alteration of the BBB, the brain may have a 36 * NEXUS APRIL - MAY 2011 a weakened BBB, which led www.nexusmagazine.com