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This website provides information on chronic human illness caused
by exposure to toxins produced by living organisms (biotoxins). Many
biotoxins are neurotoxins in that they adversely affect neurologic
function. Registered users will be able to complete questionnaires on
exposure history, medical history and current symptoms. Users can also
take a vision screening test that helps determine whether or not their
health problems are likely to be caused by biotoxins. Deficits
on the vision test, visual contrast sensitivity, have been associated
with chronic illness caused by biotoxin exposure (1-8). If the data suggest
biotoxin-induced illness, users can obtain a treatment protocol
that has been used to successfully treat many people. This paradigm for
diagnosing and treating chronic, biotoxin-mediated illness is based on
research by Ritchie C. Shoemaker, MD and
on the clinical experiences of Dr. Shoemaker (1-8).
Organisms that Produce Biotoxins
Many types of organisms produce substances that are toxic to humans. These
include dinoflagellates found in estuaries and the ocean, cyanobacteria
(blue-green algae) found in fresh water, fungi (mold) found in
indoor air and outdoors, and some types of bacteria. Our initial research
on acute and chronic, biotoxin-induced illness associated a complex of
non-specific symptoms and deficits in visual contrast sensitivity with
exposure to estuaries inhabited by the fish-killing dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria
piscicida, and other toxic dinoflagellates in the toxic Pfiesteria
complex (1-8). Treatment for this illness, called Possible Estuary
Associated Syndrome (PEAS) by the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC; 9), according to our protocol was associated with recovery
of vision and resolution of symptoms. Subsequent research indicated that
this paradigm generalizes to chronic illness thought to be caused by toxins
from a marine dinoflagellate, Ciguatera
(Chronic Ciguatera Seafood Poisoning), cyanobacteria such as Cylindrospermopsis
and Microcystis, various species of fungi such as Stachybotrys,
Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium, and
by spiders such as the Brown Recluse. Our research also
suggested that toxins from tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia
burgdorferi (Lyme disease organism) and Babesia microti
may cause chronic illness even after the spirochetes or intracellular
protozoa (also called apicomplexans) have been killed by antibiotics.
People who cannot naturally eliminate biotoxins develop chronic illness.
The toxins can be eliminated, however, by using our treatment protocol,
and good health can be restored.
Previous Diagnoses
Chronically ill patients successfully treated by Dr. Shoemaker and others
using our treatment protocol had many previous diagnoses, including Depression,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Multiple
Sclerosis, Sick Building Syndrome, Bell's Palsy, learning disability,
endometriosis, sensory-neural deafness, low vision, Chronic Soft Tissue
Injury (usually from an automobile accident) and Post-Lyme
Disease . The diagnosing physicians did not realize that their
illness was caused by biotoxins. Some other diagnoses were thought to
involve biotoxins, including Chronic Ciguatera
Seafood Poison, Possible Estuary
Associated Syndrome (PEAS) , spider bite and Mycotoxicosis, but
there was no objective indicator like the vision test to assist in diagnosis,
and no treatment like cholestyramine (CSM) to greatly enhance toxin elimination
rates. We have also successfully treated people with the rare genetic
disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This is a condition
in which toxins are produced within the body, causing chronic illness.
How We Can Help You
Standard medical diagnostic tests are usually normal in patients
who have these biotoxin-induced illnesses, which makes it difficult
to diagnose and treat. We have a simple tool that assists in diagnosis
by showing evidence of a neurological deficit. That screening tool
is the visual contrast sensitivity test (VCS). A positive VCS test,
in the presence of biotoxin exposure potential, and a symptom complex
involving multiple systems, and in the absence of other historical,
medical or treatment conditions that likely explain the symptoms,
provide a basis for making a diagnosis of Probable Biotoxin-Mediated
Illness. Users of this website can take a screening version
of the VCS test and complete questionnaires on exposure potential,
symptoms and medical history. When biotoxins are suspected, users
can purchase a package that includes the treatment protocol and
three additional vision tests that can be used to monitor recovery
during treatment. Patients can request treatment by taking the protocol
and the associated research articles to their local physician or
to Dr. Shoemaker.
How the VCS Test Works
The visual system includes a complex neurological network that involves
the retina, optic nerve, brain nuclei and the visual cortex. One of the
main outputs of the visual system is pattern vision. The VCS tests is
an indicator of ability to detect visual patterns. The test measures the
least amount of contrast between light and dark bars (sinusoidal grating)
that is needed for the viewer to detect the bars. VCS is measured at five
different bar sizes (spatial frequencies) because perception of different
bar sizes is mediated by different physiological components, and these
components are differentially susceptible to effects from different toxic
substances (10-17). The largest effects of biotoxins are at the mid-size
bars (1-8). To measure VCS, viewers are presented a series of bar patterns
at each of the five bar sizes. Viewers respond by indicating that the
bars are tilted to the left, tilted to the right, are straight up and
down, or that they cannot see any bars. The pattern with the lowest contrast
that is correctly identified is the measure of VCS for that bar size.
Upon completing the VCS test, viewers receive a message indicating that
biotoxins are (positive) or are not (negative) likely to be involved in
their illness. The criteria for getting a "positive" VCS result
is set high to avoid false positive results. This occasionally results
in a false negative result; some cases of chronic-biotoxin induced illness
may pass the VCS test a some times. VCS can be measured during treatment
to monitor recovery.
To Learn Much More, Please Register (at NO COST)
Disclaimer
No guarantees for a cure for any disease are implicitly or explicitly
given to anyone. No single vision test can fully describe function of
the visual system or conclusively indicate the presence or absence of
neurotoxins or neurotoxicity. Diagnoses cannot be made and medications
cannot be prescribed without seeing a physician in person.
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