Comments on: Airborne Germs and Handwringing http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html Science Blog from Freelance Science Writer David Bradley Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:41:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536942 David Bradley Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:08:45 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536942 Okay, thanks for the additional insights Mark. I guess I was, as you say, splitting hairs. Okay, thanks for the additional insights Mark. I guess I was, as you say, splitting hairs.

]]> By: Mark http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536914 Mark Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:33:08 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536914 You are splitting hairs sir. I did not claim that D is an anabolic steroid. Vitamin D most certainly is an immunosuppresive steroid and will block the VDR and stop transcription of antimicrobial substances. Judging by the depth of your statement I am sure you are quite aware of the fact that D3 is converted by the liver into 25-D, which functions as a steroid. 1,25-D, the activated form of vitamin D, functions as both a steroid and a hormone. It is produced inside various types of cells, including those of the immune system and the kidneys, as well as in response to sunlight. The problem with 25-D is that it binds the Vitamin D Receptor which decreases the activity of the receptor, causing the innate immune system to slow down and shut off. The point I am trying to make is that exogenous D is immunomodulatory and should be handled with great care and caution under medical supervision. Also - and I am sure you are already aware of this - The VDR is the primary nuclear receptor for the innate immune system so shutting it off with D will have consequences. Thank You for your reply Mr. Bradley You are splitting hairs sir. I did not claim that D is an anabolic steroid. Vitamin D most certainly is an immunosuppresive steroid and will block the VDR and stop transcription of antimicrobial substances.

Judging by the depth of your statement I am sure you are quite aware of the fact that D3 is converted by the liver into 25-D, which functions as a steroid. 1,25-D, the activated form of vitamin D, functions as both a steroid and a hormone. It is produced inside various types of cells, including those of the immune system and the kidneys, as well as in response to sunlight.

The problem with 25-D is that it binds the Vitamin D Receptor which decreases the activity of the receptor, causing the innate immune system to slow down and shut off.

The point I am trying to make is that exogenous D is immunomodulatory and should be handled with great care and caution under medical supervision.

Also – and I am sure you are already aware of this – The VDR is the primary nuclear receptor for the innate immune system so shutting it off with D will have consequences.

Thank You for your reply Mr. Bradley

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536542 David Bradley Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:23:12 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536542 No problem Mark. On a point of order though, just because something has the word steroid in its name does not mean it is a steroid in the strict sense, and certainly does not mean there is a direct link between that compound and the anabolic steroids abused by athletes and others. Indeed, the fact that vitamin D is called a seco-steroid actually means that it is not a steroid, i.e. it does not have the molecular skeleton of the archetypal sterol molecule on which the more commonly known steroids, such as testosterone are based. The seco part means it is split and so it is a chain of chemical groups (including rings) rather than a multiply fused ring system like testosterone. No problem Mark. On a point of order though, just because something has the word steroid in its name does not mean it is a steroid in the strict sense, and certainly does not mean there is a direct link between that compound and the anabolic steroids abused by athletes and others. Indeed, the fact that vitamin D is called a seco-steroid actually means that it is not a steroid, i.e. it does not have the molecular skeleton of the archetypal sterol molecule on which the more commonly known steroids, such as testosterone are based. The seco part means it is split and so it is a chain of chemical groups (including rings) rather than a multiply fused ring system like testosterone.

]]> By: Mark http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536333 Mark Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:32:19 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536333 David - I was commenting on Mr. Mc Coll, Mr. Singletons statements and persons in general that think supplementing with steroids is a good idea. I forgot to mention - Vitamin D is not a Vitamin - Yes it is called a Vitamin but it's really a seco-steroid and hormone. My apologies for the mixup. Mark David – I was commenting on Mr. Mc Coll, Mr. Singletons statements and persons in general that think supplementing with steroids is a good idea. I forgot to mention – Vitamin D is not a Vitamin – Yes it is called a Vitamin but it’s really a seco-steroid and hormone. My apologies for the mixup.
Mark

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536307 David Bradley Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:16:58 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536307 Mark, I don't take any vitamin supplements. Don't think I ever said I did. Mark, I don’t take any vitamin supplements. Don’t think I ever said I did.

]]> By: Mark http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-536265 Mark Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:49:23 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-536265 Vitamin D stops gene transcription of the VDR nuclear receptor in humans. It is not a nutrient - It is a seco-steroid. That's your business if you want to take steroids but lets be clear about it. Vitamin D stops gene transcription of the VDR nuclear receptor in humans. It is not a nutrient – It is a seco-steroid. That’s your business if you want to take steroids but lets be clear about it.

]]> By: Barrie Singleton http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-285955 Barrie Singleton Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:40:37 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-285955 PEOPLE FORGET HISTORY - HOW TRUE Grace "Sunshine" Filby gets some heavy endorsement! See below. This excerpt from http://www.amazingphage.info/page6.htm#11271 "Many thanks for your letter. You are absolutely right about sunlight: people forget history - they seem to have forgotten that airing beds in the morning is a great way of reducing infection too. Thank you for writing. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Lord McColl PROFESSOR THE LORD MCCOLL CBE MS FRCS FACS House of Lords London SW1A 0PW" PEOPLE FORGET HISTORY – HOW TRUE

Grace “Sunshine” Filby gets some heavy endorsement! See below. This excerpt from
http://www.amazingphage.info/page6.htm#11271

“Many thanks for your letter. You are absolutely right about sunlight: people forget history – they seem to have forgotten that airing beds in the morning is a great way of reducing infection too.

Thank you for writing.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,

Lord McColl

PROFESSOR THE LORD MCCOLL
CBE MS FRCS FACS
House of Lords London SW1A 0PW”

]]> By: Barrie Singleton http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-285792 Barrie Singleton Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:52:09 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-285792 I am firmly of the opinion that we humans are always (gestation to death) struggling with “malnutrition” in its broadest sense. This becomes even more true when we get past the life-span that nature so obviously intended. (You can define – I am 70 and know!) The vitamin D discussion would be fine if we could be sure that no other vital factors impinge on the expression of L-form bacteria – or any other lurking agent, come to that. I suggest that trying to pin down SIMPLE cause and effect in a massively interactive system like the human organism, is as impossible as knowing both location and momentum of a sub-atomic particle. A touch of Taoism required: as you approach certainty, you are inexorably more in error. In the end, what counts is “what works”. I am currently cheating a lot of “diseases of old age” by trial and error with supplements. I remain out of the clutches of my doctor but could meet a cheerful, active death at any moment from “side effects”. See you on the other side – I’ll be the one with the healthy glow. I am firmly of the opinion that we humans are always (gestation to death) struggling with “malnutrition” in its broadest sense. This becomes even more true when we get past the life-span that nature so obviously intended. (You can define – I am 70 and know!) The vitamin D discussion would be fine if we could be sure that no other vital factors impinge on the expression of L-form bacteria – or any other lurking agent, come to that. I suggest that trying to pin down SIMPLE cause and effect in a massively interactive system like the human organism, is as impossible as knowing both location and momentum of a sub-atomic particle. A touch of Taoism required: as you approach certainty, you are inexorably more in error. In the end, what counts is “what works”. I am currently cheating a lot of “diseases of old age” by trial and error with supplements. I remain out of the clutches of my doctor but could meet a cheerful, active death at any moment from “side effects”. See you on the other side – I’ll be the one with the healthy glow.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-285601 David Bradley Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:07:26 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-285601 Of course, there are others who comment regularly on this site about vitamin D, who would point out that the last thing you need depending on your ailment is sunshine and more vitamin D as it increases inflammation and helps breed <a href="http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/quick-fix-for-chronic-disease.html" rel="nofollow">L-form bacteria</a>. Of course, there are others who comment regularly on this site about vitamin D, who would point out that the last thing you need depending on your ailment is sunshine and more vitamin D as it increases inflammation and helps breed L-form bacteria.

]]> By: Barrie Singleton http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html/comment-page-1#comment-285541 Barrie Singleton Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:34:06 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/airborne-germs-and-handwringing.html#comment-285541 Grace Filby (a very sunny lady) has made clear, many a time, that we need sunshine in our lives. The problem that is air gets trapped and shared in our stygian "places of healing". Get the bugs out in the open and give 'em a dose of Sun! As Corporal Jones would say: "They don't like it up 'em!" Grace Filby (a very sunny lady) has made clear, many a time, that we need sunshine in our lives. The problem that is air gets trapped and shared in our stygian “places of healing”. Get the bugs out in the open and give ‘em a dose of Sun! As Corporal Jones would say: “They don’t like it up ‘em!”

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