HyperMED - AIDS SUPPORT

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is perhaps the most feared disease on the planet. Usually fatal, it slowly destroys the immune system until the individual is vulnerable to a wide variety of diseases that rarely affect non-infected persons. Those diseases may affect brain, lungs, eyes, or other organs, as do pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and Karposi sarcoma. People with AIDS also can experience debilitating weight loss, diarrhoea, weakness and depression.

AIDS is the most controversial disease of our time. Because the condition initially infected homosexuals, bisexuals and intravenous drug users, governmental attitudes and policies have been slow to respond to this growing epidemic. There has also been a great deal of controversy surrounding treatment methods.

AIDS has given birth to an entire industry involving specialist physicians and drug therapies (Altman 1998). It is estimated that the United States Public Health Service’s annual AIDS research budget was over $1.5 billion in 1994 (Division PHS Budget 1994). Burroughs Wellcome, the manufacturers of AZT, the most commonly used drug to inhibit the replication of HIV, reports sales in excess of $379 million of AZT during the 1992-1993 fiscal year.  These early figures indicate that this has been a boom industry for those associated with the manufacture of AZT and other drug related companies servicing this market.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that since the initial discovery associated with HIV/AIDS, out of approximately 30.6 million people around the world who were infected with HIV, approximately 11.7 million had died from AIDS by mid 1997. It is estimated that 860,000 adults and children are living with HIV/AIDS in North America alone. (UNAIDS/WHO report : ‘Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic’ November 27, 1997).

 

Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus) and AIDS

Medical literature states that Mycoplasma fermentans has been recognized as an infectious pathogen in humans, and is associated with an acute fatal disease in previously healthy patients without AIDS (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology). Mycoplasma incognitus has now also been linked with AIDS (Nicolson 1998).

Shih Ching-Lo of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has stated that ‘Mycoplasma fermentans can cause death on its own’. Despite this mycobacterium’s link to AIDS and its invasive nature, most people are not aware of how it affects the body.

Mycoplasma fermentans has been described as a ‘co-factor’ in the progression of AIDS (Nicolson 1998). Growing evidence identifies Mycoplasma’s as an opportunistic pathogen and possibly a co-factor in many other chronic disease processes. M. fermentans was shown to be associated with lesions in the kidneys of HIV-positive patients, and was detected in 40% of HIV positive homosexual men, but in less than 1% of the general population.

Luc Montagnier, the founder of the HIV virus reports that Mycoplasma infections accelerate the progression of HIV disease by stimulating the replication of HIV-1 through selective activation of CD4+ T-lymphocytes. When a cell lysate of human Mycoplasma was added to cultured lymphocytes infected with HIV, significant enhancement of HIV replication was observed. This organism has the ability to produce systemic infections, manifesting itself in numerous organ systems. He further states that this Mycoplasma is highly invasive, and can activate, either directly or indirectly, CD4 lymphocytes and render them susceptible to viral infections.

Nicolson reports that Mycoplasma fermentans produces systemic infections in AIDS patients and in previously healthy non-AIDS patients, manifesting itself as a flu-like illness. It also enhances the cytopathic effect of HIV, producing fatal wasting illnesses (Human Pathology, May 1993). This report made the first association between Mycoplasma fermentans infection and AIDS-like illness in HIV-negative patients.

Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus strain) can generate toxic oxygenated products that damage the host cell. This damage, probably to the cell membrane, allows the Mycoplasma access to the interior of the cell. Once inside the cell wall, the Mycoplasma can alter the cell structure, possibly incorporating itself into the cell during division. If this occurs, the original cell has been altered, and the Mycoplasma continues to proliferate.

Nicolson (1998) has demonstrated that Mycoplasma fermentans:

  • co-factor of HIV in AIDS patients

  • pathogen in rheumatoid and other forms of arthritis, damaging connective tissues (tendons and ligaments) in the joints

  • cytocidal (killing) effect on white blood cells, promoting a suppression of the immune system. This effect can kill the body's first line of defence in fighting disease

  • retains the ability to induce a lethal toxicity in white blood cells, further destroying the immune system

  • inflames the uterine tubes, leading to further infections and problems, which may include painful or irregular menses

  • infects the kidneys, leading to nephropathy (kidney damage), affecting the body's ability to filter liquid waste, and thus increasing the body's toxin levels

  • triggers the production of necrosis factors and nitric oxide in the CNS, which may lead to a decrease in nerve impulse and spinal cord transmission and accelerate degenerative tissue damage

  • exerts strong immune suppressive properties

  • cause fatal respiratory disease within respiratory epithelial cells

  • produces ‘wasting syndrome’ and can cause fatal systemic infection, manifesting a physical appearance similar to that of late stage AIDS patients

  • cause liver infection, mimicking chronic alcoholism and cirrhosis

  • transferred transplacental and may cause chorioamnionitis

  • infect the peritoneal lining, causing peritonitis

In addition to the above documented tissue damage and diseases, Mycoplasma fermentans has been found to activate female hormones. Many female sufferers of Gulf War Syndrome and Mycoplasma fermentans infections begin to show physical signs of false pregnancy, or pseudocyesis. Nicolson reports that the body reacts as if conception has taken place and begins to gain weight to support a foetus. The weight gain and torso swelling persists since there is no birth to signal the body to stop producing the necessary amount of hormones. Thus the woman may constantly appear pregnant, and there have also been reports of women passing placental-like masses.

Mycoplasma fermentans has the ability to infect the entire body. Detection is difficult unless DNA detection using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory testing is used. Furthermore, Mycoplasma fermentans passes intra-cellular, invading different types of tissue. This means that it can be migrate through cells selectively, damaging cells as it goes.

HIV and its co-factors (viruses and bacteria accompanying HIV) impair the cellular walls of all structures including blood vessels, nerve cells and soft tissue structures. This damage can result in blockages of both small and large blood vessels. Obstructions reduce further the flow to the limbs, brain, heart and other vital structures. In fact, transient ischemic attacks, strokes and heart attacks have been recorded in extremely high numbers amongst patients in advanced stages of AIDS Neubauer 1988). Daily transient ischemic attacks increase as AIDS progresses, resulting in mental impairment, loss of muscle control, decreased memory, and reduced independence.

The drug Doxycycline has been demonstrated to be effective in the overall management of Mycoplasma fermentans. It has the ability to enter the cell and is considered effective against fighting this organism. The antibiotics are not a cure but a treatment. As Montagnier states, ‘the presence of this organism (Mycoplasma fermentans) can greatly increase the number of target cells, and raise the level of virus (HIV) replication too high to be controlled by the immune system.

Eradication of the Mycoplasma will not be possible by antibiotic treatment alone, since it undergoes an intracellular phase’ (International Conference on AIDS, 6-11 June 1993). Mycoplasma fermentans has the ability to enter any cell and alter itself, changing its cellular makeup with every cell division. This makes it almost impossible for readily available antibiotics to clear the body of this organism.

 

Hyperbaric Oxygenation and AIDS

Mycoplasma has been identified as a ‘co-factor’ and has a synergistic effect increasing the hold of HIV. Further immune suppression accelerates the host effect and promotes further secondary opportunistic effects including circulatory AIDS disturbances.

'Hyperbaric Oxygenation has been demonstrated to be effective in the management of HIV/ AIDS. HBOT can force oxygen into all body fluids, by-passing the red blood cells, which are the regular oxygen carriers (Jain 1995). This by-pass overcomes the continuing complications associated with oxygen starvation in the tissues (hypoxia). HBOT helps reduce the severity of secondary complications arising from opportunistic infections' (Jain 1995).

In previous sections we have discussed the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygenation associated with patients who have suffered strokes, TIAs and peripheral vascular disease. Neubauer also reports that the mechanism of HBOT may benefit AIDS patients. Reillo in AIDS Under Pressure (1997) reports numerous patients with fully developed AIDS that have benefited from HBOT.

Dr Kief, treated a number of AIDS patients in the 1980s with ‘hyperbaric ozone blood washings’. He reported improvement of many associated symptoms including thrush, fungal infections, gastrointestinal problems and chronic low energy (Kief 1993).

Neubauer (1998) reports on a 29-year old male with AIDS related circulatory problems. The man suffered a sudden cerebral haemorrhage secondary to an HIV infection of the brain. The cerebral attack left him with left-sided paralysis and an inability to walk without a walker. Hyperbaric Oxygenation was commenced daily for one hour at 2 ATA. He also received physical therapy on an outpatient basis. After two weeks he began to regain use of his left leg. During this period he reported that he was not experiencing the levels of debilitating fatigue associated with his AIDS. He also gained ten pounds during the initial several weeks of HBOT due to his increased appetite. After one month, the patient had greater control of his previously paralysed lower limb and could now open and close and move his left arm and hand. Continued HBOT has enabled him to return to independent activities with improved mobility.

One of the secondary effects of circulatory compromise is evidenced with Kaposi’s sarcoma. Kaposi’s sarcoma has been linked to one of the many human herpes viruses as recorded by Moore and Chang. This opportunistic infection attacks blood vessels causing purplish lesions both externally and internally with multiple associated secondary complications. Normally treated with chemotherapy and radiation, these lesions have been reported to benefit from HBOT. Reillo (1998) has documented the benefits of HBOT with Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is another secondary infection responsible for killing a significant number of AIDS patients. Despite preventative drug treatments, this secondary infection is also devastating, dramatically affecting AIDS sufferers. Reillo has found that patients with AIDS who use HBOT in conjunction with medication have the best results for minimizing secondary complications.

  • 'Hyperbaric Oxygenation when administered as an on-going treatment prolongs both the quantity and quality of life of the patients suffering AIDS. HBOT alleviates the blood vessel problems directly associated with HIV and herpes infections. HBOT is safe, enhances the effectiveness of drug therapies, reduces adverse side effects and shortens the length of time associated with secondary infections. Hyperbaric Medicine clearly has a supportive role in the management of chronic illness, including AIDS' (Reillo 1999).