NAVIGATION

THIS JUST IN . . .
ARCHIVE 2003 - 2004
(most recent studies here)

The latest news about cardiovascular germs and inflammation, strokes, heart attacks, and Alzheimer's from medical journals around the world, updated weekly, with commentary by
Dr. Dvonch.

DATE	KEYWORDS	STUDY NAME
08-12-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae peripheral artery disease (PAD)	Genomic, serologic, and clinical case-control study of Chlamydia pneumoniae and peripheral artery occlusive disease.
06-12-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae Alzheimer's	Infiltration of the brain by pathogens causes Alzheimer's disease.
05-01-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae	Three new studies about the Heart Attack Germ
03-22-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae Alzheimer's	Chlamydia pneumoniae induces Alzheimer-like amyloid plaques in brains of BALB/c mice
03-07-04	Inflammation	TIME MAGAZINE The Secret Killer: The surprising link between inflammation and heart attacks, cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases
03-06-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae Red Wine	Red wine, resveratrol, Chlamydia pneumoniae and the French connection.
01-17-04	Chlamydia pneumoniae statins	Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody with the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins.
10-23-03	Penicillin Stroke	Antibiotics in primary prevention of stroke in the elderly
08-10-03	Gum Disease, Infection Inflammation	Antibodies to periodontal pathogens are associated with coronary heart disease
07-19-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae atherosclerosis inflammation	Acute-phase response of human hepatocytes after infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus.
07-12-03	C-reactive protein heart attack ruptured plaque	C-Reactive Protein and Lesion Morphology in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction
07-05-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae strokes	Evidence of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and cerebrovascular accidents
06-28-03	C-reactive protein stroke	C-Reactive Protein, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, and Incidence of Ischemic Stroke in the Elderly.
06-08-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae antibiotics	Antichlamydial Therapy May Decrease Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Elderly, Hypertensive Patients
05-31-03	C-reactive protein Inflammation	A quick test predicts acute coronary events.
05-18-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae Inflammation	Trio of trouble: Infection, autoimmunity & inflammation gang up on heart
05-11-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae Aspirin	Aspirin inhibits Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced NF-kappaB activation, cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and attenuates chlamydial growth
04-20-03	Stroke Chlamydia pneumoniae	Science Highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu 2003 - Part 2
04-13-03	Statins Alzheimer's Inflammation	Science Highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu 2003 - Part 1
04-06-03	SARS Chlamydia pneumoniae	A Link Between SARS and Chlamydia Pneumoniae?
03-30-03	Chlamydia pneumoniae Multiple Sclerosis	Three Conflicting Chlamydia Studies: What Do They Mean?
03-23-03	Statins Inflammation	Effects of statins on inflammation in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes.
03-16-03	Inflammation	Vascular biology of atherosclerosis: overview and state of the art.
03-09-03	Alzheimer's Chlamydia pneumoniae Inflammation	Chlamydia pneumoniae infection promotes the transmigration of monocytes through human brain endothelial cells.
03-02-03	Aorta Chlamydia pneumoniae Infectious burden	Chlamydia pneumoniae and multiple infections in the aorta contribute to atherosclerosis.
02-23-03	Infectious burden Coronary artery Chlamydia pneumoniae	Increased "Pathogen Burden" by Cardiovascular Germs Leads to Greater Coronary Artery Narrowing After Surgery

08-12-04
Genomic, serologic, and clinical case-control study of Chlamydia pneumoniae and peripheral artery occlusive disease.

Yes, the title of the study is a mouthful, but it has a lot to say about your risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) if you are infected by the Heart Attack Germ, Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Peripheral artery disease is a catch-all phrase for disease caused by the obstruction of large peripheral arteries (such as the arteries in the arms and legs) by atherosclerosis. A common symptom of PAD is pain in the legs while walking. The pain is caused by a lack of circulation because the build up of atherosclerotic plaque chokes off the blood supply to the legs. People with diabetes and people who smoke are more likely to be affected by peripheral artery disease.

And people infected by the Heart Attack Germ also seem to be at risk. The new study, published in the August edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery studied many different markers of Chlamydia infection to see how they correlated to the risk of developing peripheral artery disease. What they found was so important that their conclusions deserve to be quoted in full:

"CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that C pneumoniae is related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic peripheral artery occlusive disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study explored the infectious hypothesis in the context of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This hypothesis has been supported by findings that certain infectious agents can cause or accelerate the course of diseases in which the possibility of a microbial cause was not previously proposed, as in the case of peptic ulcer and spongiform encephalopathy. The present study demonstrated the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and seropositivity in atheromatous plaques in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease. These results contribute to a body of research that is opening up the possibility of treating atherosclerotic disease with antibiotic agents, and preventing it with immunization."(32)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As we mention in The Heart Attack Germ, every place in the body where atherosclerosis exists is likely to be infected by Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the coronary arteries, the carotid arteries, the renal arteries, the peripheral arteries, even the aorta itself. If it's an artery clogged by cholesterol plaque, the odds are it is infected by the Heart Attack Germ. And as the study authors suggest, treating infection with antibiotics is a reasonable response to the problem.

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06-12-04
Infiltration of the brain by pathogens causes Alzheimer's disease.

A new study published this month in the medical journal Neurobiology of Aging summarizes the evidence for infectious germs -- especially Chlamydia pneumoniae (the Heart Attack Germ) and herpes simplex virus -- as a cause of Alzheimer's.(30) The web magazine Newswire has a nice summary of the study. Here is an excerpt from the Newswire article.

"This paper provides a synopsis of the current evidence of how pathogens, both Herpes Simplex Virus type I and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae are involved in Alzheimer’s disease and concludes that pathogens have the ability to cause late-onset sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, by far the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease (accounts for >90% of all cases). ...

Both Herpes Simplex Virus type I and Chlamydia pneumoniae have been found in AD brain tissues. The presence of one or both of these infections in brain tissue can cause inflammation. Inflammation is considered a major factor in the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease. While current thought is that amyloid accumulation causes the inflammation, the researchers of this paper believe the infection causes inflammation and possibly glial and nerve cell damage followed by amyloid accumulation and subsequently, more degeneration, which is followed by more inflammation and more damage. Thus, the cycle would initially begin with infection followed by cascading of amyloid and nerve cell damage."(31)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Readers of the website are well-acquainted with the evidence that Chlamydia and other infectious germs are linked to Alzheimer's. Our main article on the subject limits the discussion to the role of stroke and the symptoms of Alzheimer's. But in our book, The Heart Attack Germ, we devote a whole chapter tp every aspect of infection and Alzheimer's disase, expanding the subject to include an explanation of how Chlamydia and the herpes simplex virus infect the actual cells of the brain inducing inflammation, which leads to the development of Alzheimer's. Subsequent updates of this subject on our website can be found here, here and here.

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05-01-04
Three new studies about the Heart Attack Germ

Just released are three international studies that provide more evidence on the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae -- The Heart Attack Germ -- in the development and strokes and heart disease.

First a study from China. Researchers from the Institute of Cardiovascular Disease of Guangdong Province studied the relationship between people infected by C. pneumoniae and the development and progression of coronary heart disease. (Coronary heard disease (CHD) is the build-up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries of the heart that leads to heart attack.) Like many researches before them, they found that people infected by the Heart Attack Germ are significantly more likely to develop coronary heart disease.(27)

Next, a study from the School of Medicine in Ankara University in Turkey that investigated the association of C. pneumoniae infection with atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries. (Diseased carotid arteries are a common source of strokes.) In their own words, the researchers "demonstrated an association between C. pneumoniae to atherosclerosis" and found that their study "support[s] the association of C. pneumoniae with atherosclerotic events" such as strokes.(28)

And finally, researchers from Budapest, Hungary studied the relationship between C. pneumoniae infection, heart disease and heart attacks. Their results demonstrated that people with high levels of antibodies to C. pneumoniae (an indication of infection) were associated with an increased risk of heart attack.(29)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

From the very beginning, research into the role of C. pneumoniae and cardiovascular disease has been vigorous both here in the United States and abroad. In Chapter Three of The Heart Attack Germ I wrote about the significance of the the worldwide explosion of research into C. pneumoniae:

"It truly was an explosion. So much new research was done in so short a time that it became clear that current medical therapy was deeply flawed. If medical therapies such as bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty and other cutting-edge treatments were really effective in preventing strokes and heart attacks, then why the rush to investigate an infectious cause? Why would dozens of researchers from medical clinics, university departments and hospitals from Japan to Argentina leap into investigating the Heart Attack Germ and other possible infectious agents?

The very fact that the explosion of studies and experiments took place underscores the dissatisfaction with current theory and treatments; you don't rush to find an answer to a problem that is already solved!

Clearly, the problem of strokes and heart attacks was not being solved by the current treatments that medicine had to offer. That's why researchers were so eager to study Cp and the other infectious agents. At last, here was a cause of atherosclerosis, not just a description of it."

Read the whole thing in The Heart Attack Germ.

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03-22-04
Chlamydia pneumoniae induces Alzheimer-like amyloid plaques in brains of BALB/c mice

A new animal study supports earlier research linking the bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- to Alzheimer's.

C. pneumoniae had previously been found infecting parts of the human brain damaged by Alzheimer's disease. American researchers took C. pneumoniae from human Alzheimer's brains and infected mice with the pathogen by having them inhale the germ. (This is the common way people are infected with the germ, inhaling it like a cold or flu virus.) Three months later, the researchers found that the germ had infected the brains of the mice. Further, the brains of the infected mice developed amyloid plaques, a distinguishing characteristic of Alzheimer's brains.(26)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

This is a very important study. The amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's brains are thought to be created in response to inflammation, and C. pneumoniae is known to be a source of inflammation in the brain. For the first time, we have a study that shows a direct link between brain cells infected with C. pneumoniae leading to the inflammatory amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Want to learn more? We dedicate an entire chapter on the many links between the symptoms of Alzheimer's, infectious germs and brain inflammation in The Heart Attack Germ.

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03-07-04
TIME MAGAZINE
The Secret Killer: The surprising link between inflammation and heart attacks, cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases

The Time Magazine cover story for the week of March 1, 2004 was devoted to inflammation as a source of many diseases, including heart disease and Alzheimer's.

The subtitle calls inflammation a "surprising" link, but it's no surprise to readers of this web site.

From the beginning, The Heart Attack Germ on-line has offered its readers a continuing update on the many studies detailing how inflammation leads to Alzheimer's, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. Follow the links above and you'll see a year's worth of studies. And our book The Heart Attack Germ contains over a decade's worth of studies and suggestions on how to prevent inflammation and reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack.

Following are a few quotes from the Time article and quotes from The Heart Attack Germ where I discuss each idea in detail:

Inflammation and Plaque Rupture
TIME MAGAZINE - p.45
"[Inflammation] destabilizes cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries, leading to heart attacks and potentially even strokes."

THE HEART ATTACK GERM - p.101
"The presence of [inflammation] plays an active role in undermining the integrity of plaque. Chronic inflammation weakens the plaque, making the fibrous cap turn thin and easy to break open. Simply stated, vulnerable plaques are prone to rupture because chronic inflammation actively weakens cholesterol plaque."

Inflammation and Alzheimer's
TIME MAGAZINE - p.46
"[Inflammation] chews up nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer's victims."

THE HEART ATTACK GERM - p.220
"Many scientists hypothesize that the plaques and tangles that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's are themselves the products of inflammation and act to keep the inflammatory process going. Much of the recent data points to chronic inflammation as the reason why nerve cells degenerate and die in the brains of Alzheimer's victims."

The Risks of CRP - C-reactive Protein
TIME MAGAZINE p.47
"By 1997, Ridker and his colleagues...had shown that healthy middle-aged men with the highest CRP levels were three times more likely to suffer a heart attack in the next six years..."

THE HEART ATTACK GERM - p.316
"After examining the data, Dr. Ridker concluded that "high-sensitivity CRP was the single strongest predictor for a first-time heart attack."

Statins and Inflammation
TIME MAGAZINE - p.46
"It turns out that statins don't just lower cholesterol levels; they also reduce inflammation."

THE HEART ATTACK GERM - p. 151
"It's thought that the benefits of [satins] are due in part because of their ability to reduce inflammation within atherosclerotic arteries. Previous studies suggest that [a statin drug] had an inhibiting effect on many of the inflammatory elements found in vulnerable plaque, thereby stabilizing the lesion and making it less prone to rupture."

The Time Magazine article just gives the barest outline of what our book The Heart Attack Germ discusses in detail. More importantly, our book provides a five-step program called WIN/WIN Therapy that will tell you how to reduce inflammation in your body to protect your health. Read it for yourself!

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03-06-04
Red wine, resveratrol, Chlamydia pneumoniae and the
French connection.

As reported in the medical journal Atherosclerosis, researchers from the University of Illinois subjected animal cells infected with Chlamydia pnumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- to solutions of a polyphenol, the antibiotic azythormcyin and red wine (a California Pinot Noir) under conditions similar to those found in the lungs, the initial site of all C. pneumoniae infections. The result? The polyphenol and red wine was just as effective in destroying the C. pneumoniae germ as the antibiotic.

The British newspaper The Evening Standard, in an article titled "Scientists say red wine is even better for us ; It attacks potentially fatal bacteria," reported an interview with one of the authors of the study, Gail Mahady:

"Researcher Gail Mahady said: "At very low concentrations, probably equivalent to those in a glass of wine, we found that these components inhibited the bacteria in cell culture."

Scientists say there is some evidence that a bacterium like chlamydia pneumoniae aggravates inflammation and furs up arteries with fatty deposits.

The antibacterial effects of red wine might help to explain why fewer French people suffer heart problems despite eating fatty foods. But Ms Mahady said other aspects of French lifestyle such as low sugar intake might also play a role." (25)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Several studies have suggested that drinking red wine helps prevent heart attacks. Much of the research has centered on polyphenols, a potent antioxident found in many wines, which are known to inhibit inflammation. This study suggests that the polyphenols in red wine may directly kill the Heart Attack Germ as well. And as explained in our book The Heart Attack Germ, stopping infections can be an effective prevention against heart attacks.

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01-17-04
Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody with the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins.

Researchers in Japan studied the effects of statin drugs on two groups of patients with high cholesterol levels. One group was infected by Chlamydia pneumoniae, and the other group was not infected. At the end of two years they measured the severity of atherosclerotic disease between the two groups, reporting that:

"These observations suggest that C. pneumoniae infection reduces the effect of lipid-lowering therapy on carotid atherosclerosis and that this organism may play a role in the progression of atherosclerosis."(24)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Some statin drugs, which are designed to lower cholesterol levels, have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack. At first it was thought that statins reduced risk because they reduced cholesterol levels, but statins also reduce inflammation, which may be the real key to their benefit.

The researchers wanted to find out what effect C. pneumoniae infection played on the effectiveness of statins in preventing the advancement of atherosclerosis. It turned out that in un-infected patients, the statins appeared to effect a significant reduction in the advancement of the disease. In infected patients, however, the statins didn't appear to work at all.

It's too early to draw a hard and fast conclusion from a single study, but it may be that if you're infected by C. pneumoniae, statins alone may not be enough to reduce the risks associated with atherosclerosis. Other measures, discussed at length in The Heart Attack Germ, need to be taken.

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10-23-03
Antibiotics in primary prevention of stroke in the elderly

A new study in the medical journal Stroke reported the following:

An increasing number of reports have linked infections to atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Thus, use of antibiotics may lower the risk of developing cerebrovascular disease. We investigated whether antibiotic use is associated with the risk of stroke in elderly individuals treated for hypertension.(22)

The researchers looked at the past record of antibiotic use by patients hospitalized for stroke and compared it to other disorders. The researchers analyzed several types of antibiotics, but only one associated with a significant reduction of risk...penicillin.

An article in Family Practice News quotes the lead researcher of the study, Dr. Paul Brassard of McGill University

"Taking penicillin appears to halve the risk of stroke in elderly hypertensive patients, according to Dr. Paul Brassard"..."Many studies have linked chronic infection and inflammation to heart disease and stroke. This study's results suggest that treating infection with penicillin “might prevent the start of cardiovascular disease, halt its progression, or stop the cascade of events resulting in stroke,” Dr. Brassard and his associates said.(23)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

There's not much I can add to Dr. Brassard's comments - they reflect what I've already written in The Heart Attack Germ, where I report on similar studies that have found the same result with different antibiotics.

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08-10-03
Antibodies to periodontal pathogens are associated with coronary heart disease

For several years now, study after study has shown that patients who suffer from gum disease (also called periodontal disease) are much more likely to suffer from heart disease, as well. Here is the latest study to make the connection, this time out of Finland, a country well-known for its groundbreaking medical research into the connection between infection, inflammation and heart disease.

Researchers from the University of Finland looked for evidence of dental infections in the blood of 1163 men. They also noted the amount of tooth loss in each of the men - people with the most severe gum disease are likely to have the largest number of teeth missing.

The research showed that men with gum disease had 50% more heart disease than men with healthy gums. Not surprisingly, tooth loss was also associated with heart troubles. Almost 20% of the men without teeth also suffered from heart disease, compared to about 12% of those who kept their teeth. The researchers concluded that:

...periodontal infection or response of the host against the infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease.(21)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As the researchers noted, the connection between gum disease and heart disease is found in two factors - infection by germs and inflammation, which is the body's response to germs. Research has shown that increasing levels of inflammation in the body (such as C-reactive protein), raises the risk of stroke and heart attack. Further, infections are known to increase inflammation, which is why gum disease and respiratory disease (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) are associated with heart disease. Simple things like visiting the dentist regularly and having a yearly flu shot may have a significant protective effect against future heart troubles - all because of the risks of infection and inflammation.

For a complete discussion of how gum and respiratory diseases increase your risk of stroke and heart attack - and what you can do to protect yourself - read The Heart Attack Germ.

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07-19-03
Acute-phase response of human hepatocytes after infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus

When elevated levels of inflammatory substances such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are present in the bloodstream, it's thought that this type of "systemic inflammation" may contribute to the beginnings of atherosclerosis or even accelerate the rupture of cholesterol plaque, creating the blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks. It's known that the Chlamydia pneumoniae - the Heart Attack Germ - and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause inflammation by directly infecting the artery wall. But it's also thought that infections by these germs elsewhere in the body can lead to the type of systemic inflammation noted above.

A new study published in the August, 2003 edition of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation supports this idea. Researchers infected cells of the liver (which are a source of many inflammatory substances) with Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus. Sure enough, there was a significant rise in the levels of several inflammatory substances, thought to aggravate the course of atherosclerosis. The researchers concluded:

"We conclude that in addition to direct vascular wall infection by C. pneumoniae and CMV, virus-related development of atherosclerosis might also be initiated by chronic liver infection and subsequent production of inflammatory and procoagulant mediators released in the circulation. This may be another pathophysiological link for the observed relation between infections and the development of atherosclerosis."(20)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

For a complete discussion of how systemic inflammation - including gum disease and respiratory diseases - are thought to increase the risk of stroke and heart attack, read The Heart Attack Germ.

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07-12-03
C-Reactive Protein and Lesion Morphology in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

A new study abstract published in the online edition of the medical journal Circulation (June 30, 2003) supports the association of inflammation with ruptured plaque and heart attacks. The study compared levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) - a marker of inflammation - in 90 patients who suffered a heart attack. The researchers found significantly more plaque rupture in the elevated CRP groupthan in the normal CRP group. The study concluded:

"ElevatedCRP may be related to the presence of ruptured plaque. Our results suggest that in the setting of [heart attack], elevated CRP levels mayreflect the inflammatory activity of a ruptured plaque."(19)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I explain here, when a mound of cholesterol plaque ruptures, blood clots are formed that may kick off a stroke or heart attack. It is believed that inflammation weakens plaque, making it vulnerable to breaking open. People with this type of "vulnerable plaque" are more likely to suffer from acute coronary events such as angina and heart attack. This new study supports the role of inflammation and C-reactive protein in plaque rupture that we discuss in detail in The Heart Attack Germ.

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07-05-03
Evidence of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and cerebrovascular accidents

The authors of an article appearing in the July 2003 edition of the European Journal of Neurology reported the following:

"The authors report results of a retrospective pilot study showing a strong association between patients with stroke/TIA and the presence of circulating IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae. These results support the hypothesis that chronic active or persistent infection may play a role in the mechanism of thrombosis. The risk for stroke associated with Chlamydial circulating antibodies appeared to be independent of other risk factors such as diabetes and hypercholesterolemia."(18)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

A "retrospective study" examines data from previous studies. The authors found that people suffering from strokes were much more likely to be infected by the Heart Attack Germ - Chlamydia pneumoniae - compared to people without strokes. This isn't surprising because strokes and heart attacks come from the same basic source: inflammation in the arteries - often caused by germs such as Chlamydia pneumoniae - which leads to cholesterol plaque and "thrombosis," the sudden appearance of a blood clot. Blood clots can stop the flow of blood through the artery, kicking off a stroke or heart attack. For a full explanation of the association of stroke and heart attack with Chlamydia pneumoniae, read The Heart Attack Germ.

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06-28-03
C-Reactive Protein, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, and Incidence of Ischemic Stroke in the Elderly.

A new paper released by The Cardiovascular Health Study and published in the medical journal Circulation studied over 5000 patients over the age of 65 to discover whether levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) could predict the risk of stroke. Here are the key paragraphs from the study. (Note: Iintima-media thickness (IMT) is one way to measure atherosclerotic disease in the carotid arteries, which is a source of strokes.)

"Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are both associated with the occurrence of stroke. We investigated whether elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke independent of carotid IMT and studied the interaction between CRP and IMT. ...

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, independent of atherosclerosis severity as measured by carotid IMT. The association of CRP with stroke is more apparent in the presence of a higher carotid IMT. CRP and carotid IMT may each be independent integrals in determining the risk of ischemic stroke."(17)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

C-reactive protein (CRP), a substance associated with inflammation, has become an important independent predictor of heart disease, even in people who appear to be healthy. The researchers already knew that people with high levels of CRP and evidence of atherosclerosis were at a higher risk for stroke. They wanted to learn if CRP levels, by themselves, could indicate a higher risk.

The study results showed that they could, which is not surprising. Ischemic stroke and heart attacks both come from the same source - inflammation in the arteries. Just as CRP levels are now accepted as a better predictor of heart disease than cholesterol levels, I expect the same to happen for the risk of stroke. For a complete discussion of inflammation and C-reactive protein - and the risk they cause for strokes and heart attacks - read The Heart Attack Germ.

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06-08-03
Antichlamydial Therapy May Decrease Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Elderly, Hypertensive Patients

A Doctor's Guide Review dated 06/05/03 discussed a new study appearing in The American Heart Journal. Here are some excerpts:

Antichlamydial Therapy May Decrease Risk of Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) in Elderly, Hypertensive Patients

New research suggests a tendency for reduced incidences of myocardial infarction (MI) among elderly, high-risk patients administered antibiotics effective against Chlamydia pneumoniae. ...

Seeking to investigate the effect of antichlamydial therapy on the risk level of MI, Paul Brassard, M.D., MSc., of McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and colleagues selected 6282 patients from a population of 29,937 elderly subjects of receiving treatment for hypertension for study inclusion.

... researchers noted a trend in a reduced number of MIs for patients receiving antibiotics effective against C pneumoniae.

Of particular interest, data suggest that the use of tetracyclines within 3 months (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.23 -0.95) or the use of fluoroquinolone within a year (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.51 - 0.98) may incur a protective effect. In contrast, antibiotics not effective against C pneumoniae showed no benefit for MI risk reduction. (16)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Here is a new study that supports the role antibiotics to control the germ Chlamydia pneumoniae - The Heart Attack germ - and thus prevent heart attacks. My book The Heart Attack Germ is the most comprehensive and easy to understand explanation of how Chlamydia pneumoniae does its dirty work and how to use antibiotics and other anti-inflammatory measures to protect yourself.

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05-31-03
A quick test predicts acute coronary events.

An article published in the May, 2003 edition of the Journal of Critical Care explains the benefits of testing for inflammation to predict acute coronary events, such as angina and heart attack:

Inflammation of the coronary arterial wall plays a major role in atherosclerosis and ultimately thrombosis by contributing to vascular constriction, spasm, and thrombus formation. Measurement of hs-CRP level is a readily available laboratory blood test that serves as a gauge of coronary plaque inflammation. As a result, hs-CRP has become a very useful biological marker for predicting the risk of acute coronary events and for making decisions regarding treatment. ... Endothelial dysfunction is a product of plaque inflammation and as such can predict acute CV events. Endothelial function can be assessed during cardiac catheterization by measuring the vasoactive response to pharmacological or physiological stress. However, the routine use of cardiac catheterization to measure drug-induced coronary vasoactivity can have potential adverse effects in patients with unstable coronary disease. Time and costs can also be additional constraints in the routine use of this procedure. Consequently the simple and readily available hs-CRP test is accurate and preferable. (15)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

This article provides a nice summary of several key points that I discuss in The Heart Attack Germ, such as the importance of inflammation, blood clots (thrombus formation), and the role of artery spasm (or as the article says, vasoactivity) in angina and heart attack -- and why testing for inflammation with the hs-CRP test is critically important.

But let me focus on one particular issue: the dangers of invasive testing. Invasive testing has been known to provoke episodes of angina, stroke and heart attack in patients. It is safer and more cost effective to test for inflammation as a predictor of heart troubles. And when it comes to testing for artery spasm, the safe and non-invasive Sit-Down Stress Test is much more preferable.

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05-18-03
Trio of trouble: Infection, autoimmunity & inflammation
gang up on heart.

The following is taken from a May 13, 2003 press release from the American Heart Association, describing a new study that linked infectious germs, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, with inflammation and heart disease:

Trio of trouble: Infection, autoimmunity & inflammation gang up on heart.

DALLAS, May 13 – Chronic infections, autoimmune conditions and inflammation work together to increase the risk of heart disease, according to the first study to examine a possible relationship between the three conditions and the development of heart attacks. It's reported in today's rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. ...

Researchers analyzed data from 4,081 men in the Helsinki Heart Study, a large study of middle-aged Finnish men with high blood cholesterol. Researchers tested blood samples from 241 men who had fatal or non-fatal heart attacks and from 241 men (controls) without heart attack. Researchers were looking for the presence of three factors: C pneumoniae antibodies, human heat-shock protein 60 (hHsp60) antibodies and C-reactive protein (CRP). ...

"Ours is the first study to look for possible synergistic effects of these three factors, and those effects appear to be strong," Huittinen-Sävykoski says.

After adjusting for age and smoking status, the researchers found that during more than eight years of follow up, men with persistently elevated levels of antibodies to C pneumoniae or hHsp60 had about twice the risk of having a fatal or non-fatal heart attack than those with low levels of C pneumoniae and hHsp60 antibodies.

However, the risk of heart attack associated with C pneumoniae and hHsp60 antibodies was much higher when CRP level was also elevated. Men with persistently elevated CRP and C pneumoniae antibody levels had more than four times higher risk for coronary events than men with normal CRP and C pneumoniae antibody levels, Huittinen-Sävykoski says. The risk was similar for those with elevated CRP and hHsp60 antibody levels. The risk was highest when all three factors were elevated.(14)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

This study clearly demonstrates the relationship between infection, inflammation and heart disease as described in The Heart Attack Germ. The more infection and inflammation in the arteries of the heart and brain, the greater the risk of stroke and heart attack. That's why WIN/WIN Therapy (Whip Infection/Weaken Inflammation) is critical to cardiovascular health.

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05-11-03
Aspirin inhibits Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced NF-kappaB activation, cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and attenuates chlamydial growth

A study published in the May, 2003 edition of the Journal of Medical Microbiology noted that "Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae has been implicated as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis," so researchers designed a study to "investigate the mechanisms of the anti-chlamydial activity of aspirin." The researchers drew the following conclusion from their efforts:

"These results indicate that aspirin not only has an anti-inflammatory activity ... but also has anti-chlamydial activity at high doses....(13)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I note in The Heart Attack Germ, it's well-established that aspirin has anti-inflammatory effects, which may be a chief reason for aspirin's ability to reduce the risk of future events in people with heart disease. This is the first study I'm aware of that also suggests that aspirin can also hinder the growth of Chlamydia pneumoniae - The Heart Attack Germ - itself.

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04-20-03
Science Highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu 2003 - Part 2

A statement by the American Academy of Neurology summing up their 55th Annual Meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 29 – April 5, 2003 included the following:

"Chlamydia infection and its association with stroke was examined by collaborators from Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control. They showed that Chlamydia infection increased stroke risk in both men and women independent of other known risks, including high blood pressure and smoking. This suggests that treatment of infection may help lower the risk of stroke."(12)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Another week, another study that supports The Heart Attack Germ.

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04-13-03
Science Highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu 2003 - Part 1

A statement by the American Academy of Neurology summing up their 55th Annual Meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 29 – April 5, 2003 included the following:

"Use of statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs, were shown by a six-state consortium of researchers to be associated with a slight decrease in the rate of cognitive decline among the elderly, although not in those who had already developed dementia. These results suggest that statins may favorably influence the course of Alzheimer’s disease early on in its progression."(11)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I discuss in The Heart Attack Germ, the use of statins has been been shown to reduce inflammation in arteries. Reduced inflammation lowers the risk of stroke, and strokes are strongly associated with the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Most strokes - even small, "silent" ones - greatly enhance the risk of developing the symptoms of Alzheimer's in people with the disease. So the less likely you are to suffer stroke, the less likely you are to suffer the symptoms of Alzheimer's. This may be the link between the use of statins and the slowing of mental decline in Alzheimer's patients.

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04-06-03
A Link Between SARS and Chlamydia Pneumoniae?

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a type of pneumonia that is much in the news lately. It appears to have originated in China and spread quickly to various parts of the world, causing acute sickness and death. News reports, such as the following exerpt from Reuters, have suggested a possible link between SARS and the Heart Attack Germ, Chlamydia pneumoniae:

"Chinese doctors said they had found evidence of a very common microbe, chlamydia pneumoniae, in some of the SARS patients and suggested that this might be the main suspect."(9)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

At this stage it's too early to say exactly what the cause of SARS may be. Much of the evidence suggests a new strain of coronavirus, which is known to cause the common cold. I'll keep an eye on the subject and update when there's additional news.

UPDATE: 04-08-03

A report in Canada's Globe and Mail had this to say about the SARS-Chlamydia association:

This has led some researchers to speculate that there may be a second infectious agent involved and that two kinds of bugs [Chlamydia pneumonaie and coronavirus] are working together. Researchers don't know much about how co-infections work. The idea is a relatively new one that microbiologists are studying. It is possible that one microorganism weakens the body and the other one moves in for the kill. ...

The [Chlamydia pneumoniae] bacteria are fairly common, and many people carry them without developing any symptoms. The germ has also been associated with heart disease, says Jo-Anne Dillon, an expert in chlamydia at the University of Ottawa.(10)

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03-30-03
Three Conflicting Chlamydia Studies: What Do They Mean?

In addition to cardiovascular disease, the Heart Attack Germ -- Chlamydia pneumoniae -- has been associated with several other types of diseases, notably Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which leads to muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances.

Recently, Honolulu, Hawaii hosted the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Several scientific papers were released at the meeting, dealing with the links between Chlamydia pnemoniae and Multiple Sclerosis.

On April 2, 2003 a paper was released by one group of researchers which concluded that:

"Individuals who are infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae do not appear to be at increased risk of multiple sclerosis." (6)

The very next day, on April 3, 2003 another paper by a different group of researchers reported that:

"Chlamydia pneumoniae infections are associated with an increased risk for exacerbations in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis." (7)

A third study, unrelated to Multiple Sclerosis, contradicted previous studies which linked the use of antibiotics to a reduction of risk of heart disease. An article commenting on the study, reported it this way:

"Treating acute myocardial infarct patients with roxithromycin [a type of antibiotic] had no effect on event rates after 12 months, a large German trial has shown. ... 'Our findings do not support the routine use of antibiotic treatment with a macrolide in patients with [acute heart attacks]...'"(8)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I warn in The Heart Attack Germ, in any new field of medical exploration, there is bound to be conflicting evidence and opposing viewpoints. The two Multiple Sclerosis studies above are a good example of this -- one finds an association with Chlamydia, the other does not. And while the new roxithromycin study contradicts earlier antibiotic studies, everything we know about Chlamydia pneumoniae and the inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis compels us to take the safe and simple precautions of antibiotic therapy to eliminate infection and inflammation.

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03-23-03
Effects of statins on inflammation in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes.

A study published in the February 20, 2003 edition of the American Journal of Cardiology reported that:

"Inflammation plays a crucial role in the cell biology of atherosclerosis. Coronary risk factors, and particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, injure the endothelium and decrease the bioavailability of nitric oxide to promote the expression of proinflammatory genes, cellular adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. ... As part of this response, soluble markers of inflammation that are released into the blood offer insights into the cell biology of inflammation in atherosclerosis. In groups of patients, these markers have provided a means to study inflammatory mechanisms and have supported the value of many of our interventions that prevent cardiovascular disease. Statins have potent effects to reduce LDL cholesterol in the plasma and the artery wall and also appear to have a number of nonlipid effects that decrease inflammatory stimuli. Because statins also reduce some soluble markers of inflammation, it is likely that at least part of their benefit reflects a reduction in vascular inflammation in stable and unstable coronary syndromes. Although these inflammatory markers are valuable tools for studying the mechanisms of atherosclerosis, their use in clinical practice to stratify cardiovascular risk or assess treatment in individual patients requires further evaluation." (5)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

Statins are a relatively new class of drugs which were designed to lower excessive cholesterol levels in the body. By lowering excessive cholesterol, it was hoped that the heart troubles would diminish.

Stains have met with some success in reducing cardiovascular events, but it is unclear exactly why.

It turns out that even people with normal cholesterol levels have benefited from statins. So simple cholesterol-lowering may not be the reason for the effectiveness of statins. More and more research points to the ability of statins to limit inflammation in the artery as the reason for their success.

Cholesterol is only one source of inflammation, and as the study points out, statins reduce inflammation from other sources, as well. Once again, inflammation seems to be the most important risk factor for heart disease. For a full discussion of statins and inflammation, read The Heart Attack Germ.

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03-16-03
Vascular biology of atherosclerosis: overview and state of the art.

An article in the February 6, 2003 edition of the American Journal of Cardiology states that:

"Our current understanding of the vascular biology of atherogenesis and its clinical manifestations suggests a pathophysiology that is much more complex than mere lipid storage. Recent advances support the current view of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory process that initiates and promotes lesion development to the point of acute thrombotic complications and clinical events. Inflammatory cells localize in early-stage atherosclerotic lesions, and recent basic research has established a causal relation between inflammatory mediators or cytokines, and the steps involved in progressing from local inflammation through plaque formation. ... Increased circulating levels of inflammatory markers indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Thus, the time has come to embrace inflammation as a common pathway for atherogenic risk factors and for providing new opportunities for therapeutic intervention." (4)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

This abstract is an excellent summary of the "state of the art" of modern medicine's view of atherosclerosis. This view can be summed up in one word
-- inflammation.

It is inflammation in the arteries of the heart and brain that is the root cause of strokes and heart attacks. This inflammation can come from many sources, including the germs of cardiovascular disease. And, as the abstract points out, fighting inflammation is the key to developing new therapies against strokes and heart attacks. For a complete and understandable explanation of how inflammation leads to strokes and heart attacks, read The Heart Attack Germ.

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03-09-03
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection promotes the transmigration of monocytes through human brain endothelial cells.

A study published in the March 1, 2003 edition of the Journal of Neuroscience Research reported this:

"We have investigated the effects of Chlamydia pneumoniae on human brain endothelial cells (HBMECs) and human monocytes as a mechanism for breaching the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). HBMECs and peripheral blood monocytes may be key components in controlling the entry of C. pneumoniae into the human brain. Our results indicate that C. pneumoniae infects blood vessels and monocytes in AD brain tissues compared with normal brain tissue. C. pneumoniae infection stimulates transendothelial entry of monocytes through HBMECs. ... In this way, C. pneumoniae infection in these cell types may contribute to increased monocyte migration and promote inflammation within the CNS resulting from infection at the level of the vasculature. Thus, infection at the level of the vasculature may be a key initiating factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as sporadic AD." (3)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

An entire chapter of The Heart Attack Germ is dedicated to explaining the links between stroke, infection and the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The progression of Alzheimer's in the brain is associated with inflammation of neurons and other brain cells. Since cardiovascular germs like Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- and herpes simplex virus have recently been found infecting brain tissue, it's thought that these germs may be responsible for inflammation in the brain. This report reveals that Chlamydia pneumoniae infects brain tissues in patients with Alzheimer's, and the resulting inflammation is thought by many to be a key factor in the development of the disease.

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03-02-03
Chlamydia pneumoniae and multiple infections in the aorta
contribute to atherosclerosis.

A study published in the December, 2002 edition of Pathology International -- the official English journal of the Japanese Society of Pathology -- reported that:

"In atherosclerotic aorta, 40% of tissues examined were positive for C. pneumoniae in contrast to absence of this bacteria in non-atherosclerotic aorta. Elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae were found in macrophage-like cells in the intima of atherosclerotic aorta by electron microscopy. ... Our findings suggest that multiple infections in aortic tissue contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the absence of C. pneumoniae compared to herpesviruses in normal arterial tissue suggests that C. pneumoniae is specific for atherosclerotic lesions. In contrast to 'abortive infection' of viruses in arteries, C. pneumoniae infection was demonstrated in macrophages by electron microscopy and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry in atherosclerotic lesion. Chlamydia pneumoniae may be the most important pathogen related to the development of atherosclerosis."(2)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I report in The Heart Attack Germ, infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae -- the Heart Attack Germ -- has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta. Here's the latest study that confirms the association. Chlamydia pneumoniae has also been implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysms, an often fatal consequence of atherosclerosis in the aorta.

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02-23-03
Increased "Pathogen Burden" by Cardiovascular Germs Leads to Greater Coronary Artery Narrowing After Surgery

Pathogens are germs that cause disease. The total amount of disease-causing germs that a patient has in his body is referred to as his pathogen burden (or infectious burden).

In a study published in the September, 2002 issue of the American Heart Journal, researchers studied the progress of heart patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), that is, heart surgery such as balloon angioplasty and atherectomy. This type of surgery is designed to widen arteries clogged by cholesterol plaque. Unfortunately, a few months after the operation, a large percentage of widened arteries will re-narrow again in a process called restenosis, resulting in a failure of the surgery.

The researchers of the study discovered that the patients who had the most amount of the germs of cardiovascular disease—Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus and Helicobacter pylori—where most likely to suffer re-narrowing of the artery. In other words, the pathogen burden of the patient with the germs of cardiovascular disease was a significant predictor of the eventual failure of the surgery due to restenosis.(1)

Dr. Dvonch comments:

As I discuss in The Heart Attack Germ, several studies have found that the total pathogen burden of a patient with the germs of cardiovascular disease increases his risk for stroke and heart attack. This latest study indicates that pathogen burden also predicts the risk of failure for heart surgery such as balloon angioplasty and atherectomy, another reminder of the critical role that infectious germs such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus and Helicobacter pylori can play in the course of cardiovascular disease.

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HOME	WHAT IS THE HEART ATTACK GERM?	MEDIA WATCH	ANNOUNCE- MENTS

Horne BD, Muhlestein JB, Strobel GG, Carlquist JF, Bair TL, Anderson JL: Intermountain Heart Collaborative (IHC) Study Group. Greater pathogen burden but not elevated C-reactive protein increases the risk of clinical restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Am Heart J 2002 Sep;144(3):491-500 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Shi Y, Tokunaga O.: Chlamydia pneumoniae and multiple infections in the aorta contribute to atherosclerosis. Pathol Int 2002 Dec;52(12):755-63 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
MacIntyre A, Abramov R, Hammond CJ, Hudson AP, Arking EJ, Little CS, Appelt DM, Balin BJ.: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection promotes the transmigration of monocytes through human brain endothelial cells. J Neurosci Res 2003 Mar 1;71(5):740-50 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Libby P.: Vascular biology of atherosclerosis: overview and state of the art. Am J Cardiol 2003 Feb 6;91(3A):3A-6A (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Kinlay S, Selwyn AP: Effects of statins on inflammation in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes. Am J Cardiol 2003 Feb 20;91(4A):9B-13B (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Jill Stein AAN: No Causal Role Found for Chlamydia Pneumoniae in Multiple Sclerosis April 2, 2003 Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Jill Stein AAN: Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infections Linked to Disease Flare-Ups in Multiple Sclerosis Patients April 3, 2003 Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Harvey McConnell Roxithromycin Has No Effect On 12-Month Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction 03/19/2003 Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Rico Ngai and Carrie Lee Killer Bug Spreads as Experts Hunt Clues to Origin Reuters April 6, 2003 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
ANNE McILROY Chlamydia bacteria may play a role in syndrome The Globe and Mail April 8, 2003 - Page A10 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Public release date: 14-Apr-2003 Science highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu March 29 – April 5 American Academy of Neurology (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Public release date: 14-Apr-2003 Science highlights of AAN Annual Meeting in Honolulu March 29 – April 5 American Academy of Neurology (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Yoneda H, Miura K, Matsushima H, Sugi K, Murakami T, Ouchi K, Yamashita K, Itoh H, Nakazawa T, Suzuki M, Shirai M: Aspirin inhibits Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced NF-kappaB activation, cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and attenuates chlamydial growth. J Med Microbiol 2003 May;52(5):409-415 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
American Heart Association Press Release Trio of trouble: Infection, autoimmunity & inflammation gang up on heart. May 13, 2003 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Futterman LG, Lemberg L. A quick test predicts acute coronary events. Am J Crit Care 2003 May;12(3):262-6 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Jill Taylor Antichlamydial Therapy May Decrease Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Elderly, Hypertensive Patients 06/05/03 (a review of "Antibiotics in primary prevention of myocardial infarction among elderly patients with hypertension" appearing in the May, 2003 edition of the American Heart Journal) (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Cao JJ, Thach C, Manolio TA, Psaty BM, Kuller LH, Chaves PH, Polak JF, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Herrington DM, Price TR, Cushman M. C-Reactive Protein, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, and Incidence of Ischemic Stroke in the Elderly. The Cardiovascular Health Study. Circulation. 2003 Jun 23 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Bucurescu G, Stieritz DD. Evidence of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and cerebrovascular accidents. Eur J Neurol. 2003 Jul;10(4):449-52 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Toshihiko Sano MD, Atsushi Tanaka MD^*, Masashi Namba MD, Yoshiharu Nishibori MD, Yukio Nishida MD, Takahiko Kawarabayashi MD, Daiju Fukuda MD, Kenei Shimada MD, and Junichi Yoshikawa MD . C-Reactive Protein and Lesion Morphology in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Online Circulation 2003, 10.1161/01.CIR.0000079173.84669.4F (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Verkerk MS, Visseren FL, Paul Bouter K, Diepersloot RJ. Acute-phase response of human hepatocytes after infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus. Eur J Clin Invest. 2003 Aug;33(8):720-5 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Pussinen PJ, Jousilahti P, Alfthan G, Palosuo T, Asikainen S, Salomaa V. Antibodies to periodontal pathogens are associated with coronary heart disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003 Jul 1;23(7):1250-4. Epub 2003 Apr 24. (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Brassard P, Bourgault C, Brophy J, Kezouh A, Suissa S. Antibiotics in primary prevention of stroke in the elderly. Stroke. 2003 Sep;34(9):e166-7. (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Penicillin Reduces Stroke Risk in Elderly Patients Mary Ann Moon Family Practice News October 1 2003 • Volume 33 • Number 19 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Sawayama Y, Tatsukawa M, Okada K, Maeda N, Shimizu C, Kikuchi K, Hayashi J. Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody with the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins. Atherosclerosis. 2003 Dec; 171(2): 281-5 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Sawayama Y, Tatsukawa M, Okada K, Maeda N, Shimizu C, Kikuchi K, Hayashi J. Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody with the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins. Atherosclerosis. 2003 Dec; 171(2): 281-5 / Scientists say red wine is even better for us ; It attacks potentially fatal bacteria Evening Standard; London (UK) (Jan 08, 2004) (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Little CS, Hammond CJ, MacIntyre A, Balin BJ, Appelt DM. Chlamydia pneumoniae induces Alzheimer-like amyloid plaques in brains of BALB/c mice. Neurobiol Aging. 2004 Apr;25(4):419-29 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Sun YY, Jiang WL, Luo XL, Chen JY. Detection of serum Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) immune complex and Cpn antibody in patients with coronary heart disease. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2004 Apr;24(4):365-6 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Colpan ME, Attar A, Colpan A, Karahan C, Seckin S, Sargon MF, Egemen N. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection related atherosclerotic clinical variables on carotid stenosis. Clin Neurosci. 2004 May;11(4):389-94 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Heltai K, Kis Z, Burian K, Endresz V, Veres A, Ludwig E, Gonczol E, Valyi-Nagy I. Elevated antibody levels against Chlamydia pneumoniae, human HSP60 and mycobacterial HSP65 are independent risk factors in myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease. Atherosclerosis. 2004 Apr;173(2):337-44 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Itzhaki RF, Wozniak MA, Appelt DM, Balin BJ Infiltration of the brain by pathogens causes Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2004 May-Jun;25(5):619-27 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Infiltration of the Brain by Pathogens Causes Alzheimer's Disease Newswise.com original article found at: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/505517/ Released: Fri 11-Jun-2004, 06:10 ET (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)
Linares-Palomino JP, Gutierrez J, Lopez-Espada C, de Dios Luna J, Ros E, Maroto C. Genomic, serologic, and clinical case-control study of Chlamydia pneumoniae and peripheral artery occlusive disease. J Vasc Surg. 2004 Aug;40(2):359-66 (Back to Article). (Back to Top of Page)

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