UK Gulf War Veteran's Life Plagued by Gulf War Syndrome, Still No Effective Treatment

Editor's Note: The U.S. Government officially recognized Gulf War Illness in a November 2008 report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses.

As noted in the article below, the UK has yet to do the same, adding to the struggles of the UK's ill Gulf War veterans.

There are still no effective treatments for Gulf War Illness, which, at best, is treated only by medicating for each symptom as best as possible.


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Written by Alison Sanders, the [South Wales, UK] Argus

Newport, South Wales, UK (South Wales Argus) - A Newport First Gulf War veteran who said his life was turned upside down after being plagued with a form of arthritis for the last 15 years is urging the ministry of defence to recognise ‘Gulf War syndrome’.

Phil Brown, 39, of Sheridan Close, The Gaer, was diagnosed with Reiter’s syndrome (a condition that affects the joints and eyes) in the early 1990s just before leaving the army.

His life is now a constant battle against joint pain, short-term memory loss, conjunctivitis, and bowel problems.

He said: “My memory is useless. I get arthritis which moves around my body. It used to stay for about three weeks in one joint but for the last two or three years it’s in my knee and ankle.”

But Mr Brown said he was completely fit before joining the army and now has to constantly alter his life around his illness.

He puts these problems down to Gulf War syndrome - an illness the MOD refuses to recognise.

The National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association describe Gulf War syndrome sufferers as having symptoms such as chronic fatigue, sweats, fevers, joint pain, headaches, cognitive problems and memory problems.

Mr Brown joined the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers in 1989 aged 18.

The father-of-one and step-father-of-three was a craftsman working on tank transporters and went out to Jubail in Saudi Arabia in December 1990.

He worked on moving tanks up to Kuwait and then shifting armour back along the route fixing any trucks along the way.

Mr Brown was in Iraq for four months and said the most traumatic part was seeing the carnage left along the roads.

About a year after leaving Iraq, Mr Brown, who was a keen rugby player, noticed he was aching a lot more than usual after any form of exercise, taking three or four days to recover.

He was rushed to hospital on one occasion after his knee swelled up when trying to bend down.

He said: “My knee ballooned up. It was full of fluid and you could even see my kneecap.

“Everything went downhill from then. I felt like a 90-year-old man in a 20-year-old’s body.”

The former soldier, who left the army in 1994, said he was in and out of hospital for five months, having MRI scans and various types of medication.

This meant an end to his rugby career and he was still ill for more than a year later.

He said: “I couldn’t physically work for more than a year but I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. I wanted to work.”

He got a job as a garage mechanic where he worked for five years but had to give the job up last year when bending over the bonnets made his back worse.

Mr Brown, now a self-employed HGV lorry driver, said: “I don’t see why I should still be suffering now when I came out of the army when I was 25.”

He said he was concerned for the soldiers currently fighting in Afghanistan.

He added: “What’s happening now is not just physical, it’s mental. Later on in life it can come back and bite them. They’ve got to set up some form of programme.”

Mr Brown said he felt and his colleagues were “tossed to the side” but said that hopefully current studies into the Gulf War syndrome will help soldiers when they leave Afghanistan.

Help for UK Gulf War veterans and their families can be found at www.ngvfa.org.uk


SIDEBAR: MoD denies existence of 'syndrome' from First Gulf War

The First Gulf War started after Iraq invaded the Gulf state of Kuwait in August 1990 and ended with the liberation of Kuwait and after Iraq accepted all UN resolutions the following February.

The subject of Gulf War Syndrome has remained a controversial topic and has been linked by some to the troops’ exposure to depleted uranium used during the war.

A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesman said medical assistance is provided to veterans by the MOD’s medical assessment programme based at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, and the NHS.

He said financial support is also available to veterans and dependants through MOD war pensions and the armed forces occupational pension schemes, when illness or death is due to service.

WALB-TV: Former Gulf War POW Tells His story

Written by Jay Polk - bio | email

VIDEO: Former POW tells his story [2:27]

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB News) - Friday [September 18, 2009] is national POW/MIA Recognition Day and people gathered on the Georgia Southwestern University campus to hear a story about a former soldier who was captured in the Persian Gulf War.

Retired Army Sergeant First Class Daniel Stammaris remembers February 27th, 1991. The day he was captured by Iraqi forces during the Persian Gulf War.

"Probably, about the time we got shot down, I would guesstimate about 5:30. It was getting to be dusk," Stammaris said.

Stammaris was shot down while serving as the crew chief of a Blackhawk helicopter. After eight days, he was turned over to the International Red Cross. But like many former POWs, the memories of his time in captivity are long lasting.

"I was writing a deposition on it when all these thoughts came flooding back in with them punching me and slapping me," he said.

Thursday at Georgia Southwestern University in Americus, Daniel found the strength to tell his story to an audience of about 200.

For the students, staff and the general public who were in attendance, the lecture was an eye opening experience. Many of them have served or have had relatives who have served.

"I have a brother who just retired from the military," said Miranda Thomas, a Student Service Coordinator at Georgia Southwestern University.

And for the students who were here, there is an important lesson for them, one that isn't necessarily in the history books.

"They should have gotten a very honest reflection of a POW that were able just to self-reflect," said Thomas.

The speech today by Sgt. 1st Class Stammaris is one of several events being planned this week at Andersonville and here at Georgia Southwestern.

The Andersonville National Historic Site worked with the university on the lecture. They have several activities going on for the rest of the week, beginning on Friday: "we're having...at 11:00 o'clock in the morning, a dedication by the former Korean War Prisoners of War," said Brad Bennett, Superintendent of the Andersonville National Historic Site.

And lasting through Saturday: "we're having the final ceremony within the park, and that is the ceremony for those who have returned," said Bennett.

Despite his time as a prisoner, Daniel holds no resentment towards the Iraqi people.

"The Iraqi people, like any people, you have good, bad and regular in between," he said.

And the one lesson that he wants the people to take away from his lecture is that: "(sighs) we always need to remember."

A lesson that all Americans need to learn, regardless of the conflict.

Founding Member of Desert Storm Veterans of Wisconsin Dies, Age 39

Obituary, Green Bay Press Gazette

Rasmussen, David "Dave"

(Green Bay, Wis. - Sunday, September 13, 2009) - David "Dave" Rasmussen, 39, De Pere, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly Friday evening, Sept. 11, 2009, at home, after a short battle with cancer. The son of Deloris (Worsch) Rasmussen and the late Jerry Rasmussen was born May 8, 1970, in Green Bay. He was a 1988 graduate of West De Pere High School. Dave served his country in the U.S. Army from March, 1989 to December 1992. He was a proud veteran of Operation Desert Storm and was Sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge.

Dave was a founding member of Desert Veterans of Wisconsin and a member and secretary of the Friends of Brown County Veterans. Dave organized and coordinated the veterans for the De Pere Memorial Day Parade and was a member of De Pere VFW Post 2113. During the Memorial Day gatherings, he volunteered at the Vietnam Vets of America, Chapter 224. David was recently appointed to Congressman Kagen's Advisory Board for Wisconsin Veterans.

Dave enjoyed riding his Harley, spending time up north and enjoying social time with his family and friends. He was employed as a Sergeant at the Wisconsin Correctional Institution in Oshkosh.

His family includes his mother, Deloris; his very special friend, Teri Christensen; nine siblings, Jean and Mike Vande Hei, Marlene Rasmussen, Wayne Rasmussen, Diane and Randy Peters, Joan Van Den Elsen, Cheryl and Bill Veazie, Lori and Cary Hendricks, Tammy and Kevin Verheyen, and Todd and Carrie Rasmussen; his godchild, Breanna; nieces, nephews, including a special nephew and friend, Jon Peters; and cousins. Dave is also survived by three aunts and an uncle, Janice and John Nooyen, Shirley Worsch and Ruth Ver Haagh.

He was preceded in death by his father; an infant sister, Mary; and his grandparents, Alvin and Ella Rasmussen and Otto and Margaret Worsch.

Family and friends may call at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 305 North Tenth Street, De Pere, from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. Visitation will continue on Tuesday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Lourdes Avenue at Suburban Drive, De Pere, from 9 a.m. until time of service. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Church with Father Tim Shillcox, O. Praem., officiating. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Rasmussen family.

"A nation that does not remember its heroes will not long endure".

President Lincoln

New Chronic Fatigue Drug in the FDA pipeline

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

(91outcomes.blogspot.com) - A new drug for chronic fatigue syndrome -- a presumptive condition for veterans of the 1991 Gulf War -- is in the FDA pipeline and the FDA approval application is expected to be decided this fall according to recent news.

In clinical trials, Ampligen has been shown to improve cognition, exercise tolerance, neuropsychological health and overall function in people with ME/CFS; decrease activity of HHV-6 (a virus believed to be linked to ME/CFS); and decrease RNase L activity.
According to Ampligen's manufacturer, Hemispherx Biopharma Inc., more than 40,000 doses of Ampligen were given to about 500 patients in clinical trials at more than 20 U.S. clinics. One of those clinics, the Hunter-Hopkins Center, says 80% of its patients improved on Ampligen, and 50% improved significantly.

As with all drugs, there are potential side effects.

Possible side effects of Ampligen include:

• Mild flushing
• Tightness of the chest
• Rapid heartbeat
• Anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling hot
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Liver enzyme level changes
• Diarrhea
• Itching
• Low blood pressure
• Rash
• Arrhythmias
• Low white blood cell count
• Dizziness
• Confusion

Some patients have flu-like symptoms for a few hours after receiving a dose of the drug, and the company says these effects typically went away after several months of treatment.

Telegaph: UK Soldier died from exposure depleted uranium during Gulf War

The death of a former soldier from colon cancer was "more likely than not" caused by his exposure to depleted uranium during the first Gulf War, an inquest has heard.

Published: 2:22PM BST 10 Sep 2009

(United Kingdom -- Telegraph.co.uk) -- The hearing in Smethwick, West Midlands, was told that Stuart Dyson died 17 years after being exposed to particles of the substance used in munitions during the 1991 conflict.

Mr Dyson, who served in the Royal Pioneer Corps, died aged 39 in June last year after a battle against colon cancer which spread to his liver and spleen.

Giving evidence to an inquest jury, Professor Christopher Busby, an expert on the effects of uranium on health, said Mr Dyson's cancer was ''more likely than not'' caused by ingestion and inhalation of the substance during his service in the Gulf.

The witness, a visiting professor at the University of Ulster, added: ''It (uranium) is actually much more dangerous than it originally appeared to be.

''The interesting thing about Mr Dyson's cancer is that he was extremely young - the chances of him acquiring cancer were something like six per million per year.''

Professor Busby said he had visited Iraq in 2000 and had found particles of depleted uranium with dangerously high radiation levels near the wrecks of tanks destroyed during the war.

The expert told the jury: ''We also know in this case that he was cleaning tanks and generally walking about in Gulf War One, where there was a significant amount of depleted uranium in the air.

''Mr Dyson was exposed by inhalation and ingestion.

''My feeling about Mr Dyson's colon cancer is that it was produced because he ingested some radioactive material and it became trapped in his intestine.

''It's certainly much more probable than not that Mr Dyson's cancer was caused by exposure to depleted uranium.''

Mr Dyson's widow Elaine, who lives in Brownhills, West Midlands, said her husband had suffered from a variety of complaints after leaving the military.

The soldier served in the Gulf between January and May 1991, cleaning tanks before they were sent back the UK, and left the Army in 1992.

Mrs Dyson said her husband had once been very fit, even boxing and playing rugby for the army, but had suffered sleep problems, night sweats, creaking bones, and cold sores as his health deteriorated over the years.

''He was convinced that his time in the Gulf was where the cancer had come from,'' she told the inquest.

Mrs Dyson said there was no history of colon cancer in her husband's family and his immune system had appeared to "run down" once he returned from the Gulf.

Summing up the evidence to the jury panel, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said he had received a submission from a scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence, who had concluded Mr Dyson's cancer arose naturally and there was no evidence to associate it with his exposure to depleted uranium.

The MoD, which was informed in March that Mr Busby had been called to give expert evidence, was not represented at the hearing.

"It is in my view somewhat disappointing that the Ministry of Defence chose not to come here and assist you with any expert evidence which might have put forward the contrary view," the coroner told the jury.

Novel CDMRP-Funded Clinical Trial: Acupuncture

Editor's note:  A new treatment trial for Gulf War Illness, funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), focuses on the use of a potentially novel treatment, Acupuncture -- an ancient Eastern form of medicine. The study is being conducted by the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA).

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According to the New England School of Acupuncture:

Our study investigates the benefits of acupuncture for reducing symptoms of GWI, compared to usual care. We plan to recruit 120 veterans with GWI, who will receive individualized acupuncture twice per week for 2 months, followed by once per week for 4 months. Because the syndrome is characterized by a highly individualized presentation of symptoms, this type of acupuncture may be particularly well suited to its treatment. Changes in symptom severity will be tracked by reliable, validated scales and questionnaires. We also plan to gather data from blood samples from participants to study biological markers of inflammation, immune function, and effects of stress. We expect this line of research will be helpful in understanding the pathology of the disease and also the effects of acupuncture. Since GWI is a new disease, our study team will characterize it in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), based on clinical observation, the biological effects of the disease, and according to source materials of the Oriental Medicine (OM) tradition. Often, as scholars of OM, we focus on its traditional aspects, its 2000-year old history. But OM is also a living tradition, a model of health and healthcare that can be used to treat modern diseases, such as neurological damage from poisoning.

NESA’s study team is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Lisa Conboy, Co-Director of Research. Meredith St. John, an Associate Professor at NESA, is a Co-Investigator. “One of the greatest benefits of this study for me is the opportunity to work with some of the top researchers on acupuncture. “ Meredith indicated. “Lisa is a social epidemiologist whose work has focused on researching OM naturalistically, the way it’s actually practiced by clinicians, and its impact on patients’ quality of life.” Dr. Rosa Schnyer, of Harvard Medical School’s Osher Institute, is a consultant on our study, and has published extensively on issues of acupuncture research. ”I feel so fortunate to be able to provide acupuncture to these veterans, whose service in this war led to these injuries. It’s just not right that so little has been done to help them. We already know that acupuncture often is helpful for many of the symptoms these vets have, and we expect to help many of them feel a lot better.”

Source: Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Scientific Findings and Recommendations. Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2008. (www1.va.gov/RAC-GWVI/)

Meredith St. John’s acupuncture practice is in South Natick, MA. (www.acupuncture-online.com)

CDMRP Seeking Consumer Reviewers for Gulf War Illness, PTSD, TBI Research Programs

SOURCE: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program

(CDMRP - September 7, 2009) -- The following Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)—Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Gulf War Illness, Lung Cancer, Peer Reviewed Cancer (skin cancers and genetic cancers as related to exposure during deployments), Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic, Psychological Health (including PTSD)/Traumatic Brain Injury, and Spinal Cord Injury—are looking for current or former U.S. military personnel and/or family caregivers to serve as consumer reviewers of scientific proposals to help determine the research that will be funded this year.

This program was established to fund and manage research grants designed to address the
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation of these conditions, diseases and/or illnesses.
Consumers participate in the scientific peer review process as representatives of those living with the condition/disease/illness that has touched their lives.

They provide a broad perspective of condition-related issues important to their community. They may be survivors who have been affected by the conditions, diseases and/or illnesses or family members caring for individuals with the condition/disease/illness. Consumers who are not active duty military are nominated by their advocacy, outreach, support organization or treatment professional to participate in this important process. Consumers who are military personnel may apply directly.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity call (301) 360-2150, or e-mail Ann Dodelin at ann_dodelin@sra.com or Carolyn Branson at carolyn_branson@sra.com.

You can also check the CDMRP Web site at http://cdmrp.army.mil for additional information.

Boston Univ. Study Adds More Evidence for Role of Pesticides, Pills in Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

(91outcomes.blogspot.com - Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, September 3, 2009) -- The early results of a new study of pesticide exposures and anti-nerve agent pills in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War provides additional evidence that their multiple exposures contributed to their continued, chronic ill health. The study, funded by the Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), was presented this week at the 2009 Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City, Missouri.

These early findings by Boston University epidemiologist Kimberly Sullivan, Ph.D. and her team of scientists are consistent with other similar studies of people chronically exposed to low doses of pesticides, which showed similar subtle effects on cognition and mood resulting from the exposures. The study's results are also consistent with major U.S. Government studies concluding that these types of pesticides could be among the contributing factors to some of the undiagnosed illnesses in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

The pesticides are in the same class of chemicals -- acetylcholinesterase (AcHE) inhibitors -- as the pyridostimine bromide (PB) anti-nerve agent pills taken by about 250,000 (DOD estimate) troops during the 1991 Gulf War. In all, 696,842 U.S. troops served during the war, with the federal government now acknowledging that approximately 175,000 to 210,000 or more remain ill with a unique form of chronic multi-symptom illness commonly known as Gulf War Illness (GWI) or Gulf War Syndrome.

Sullivan's research team interviewed 298 pest control military personnel who served in the 1991 Gulf War, including physicians, entomologists, environmental science officers, preventive medicine specialists, field sanitation team members, military police, and other pest controllers. In total, 159 inviduals were recruited from among the group for neuropsychological examination during a four-year time period.

The study subjects were divided into four groups, depending upon which combination of exposures they had to low- and high-dose pesticides and PB pills. The group with both high pesticides and PB had significantly higher rates of reported health and mood symptoms, were significantly more likely to meet criteria for chronic multi-symptom illness (CMI), and performed significantly worse on psychomotor testing.

Prior to Sullivan's study, it was unknown whether the cohort of Gulf War pesticide applicators had lasting neuropyschological or health problems, and if so, whether their health issues might correspond to their level of AcHE exposures.

In November 2008, a definitive U.S. federal government report on Gulf War veterans' health released by the Congressionally-chartered Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses found that the combination of pesticides and PB used during the Gulf War were common factors in many Gulf War veterans and at least partially caused their resultant chronic multi-symptom illness. Several other toxic exposures, including sarin and cyclosarin nerve agent, microfine particulate matter from the hundreds of oil well fires lit by retreating Iraqi troops, and other Gulf War exposures could also not be ruled out as additional causes.

VA Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans to Meet in D.C. Sep. 15-16

[Federal Register: August 31, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 167)]
[Notices] [Page 44901]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au09-136]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans; Notice of Meeting

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Public Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that the Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans will meet on September 16-17, 2009, in Room 819 at the Lafayette Building, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The meeting is open to the public.

The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on issues that are unique to Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during 1990-1991 period of the Gulf War.

The principal purpose of the meeting is to finalize the Committee's report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A public comment period will take place on September 16 from 9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

Individuals wishing to speak must register not later than September 11, 2009 by contacting Lelia Jackson and by submitting 1-2 page summaries of their comments for inclusion in the official record.

Public comments will be limited to five minutes each. A sign-in sheet will be available each day. Members of the public may also submit written statements for the Committee's review to the Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420.

Interested parties may also listen in by teleconferencing into the meeting. The toll-free teleconference line will be open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). To register for the teleconference, contact Lelia Jackson at (202) 461-5758 or via e-mail at lelia.jackson@va.gov.

Any member of the public seeking additional information should
contact Laura O'Shea, Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 461-5765.

Dated: August 26, 2009.
By Direction of the Secretary.

E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-20979 Filed 8-28-09; 8:45 am]

Can Mifepristone Improve Gulf War Illness Symptoms? Trial at Mount Sinai Intends to Find Out

ProHealth article

“A positive outcome would provide a new therapeutic avenue for treating ill gulf War veterans, for whom there are currently few treatment options.”

Presentations at the Military Health Research Forum this week, convened to share information on treating Gulf War Illness (GWI), Aug 31-Sep 3 in Kansas City, MO, include a paper on this ongoing trial at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York:
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Mifepristone in Gulf War Veterans with Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI)

The trial is funded and managed by the DOD's Gulf War Illnesses Research Program and Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, respectively.

In summary, according to a related news release:

• A large percentage of Gulf War veterans - estimates range from 34% to 65% - continue to suffer from chronic multi-symptom illness, also known as GWI.

• Symptoms can include fatigue, joint pain, headache, rash and cognitive problems, which may reflect altered regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

• The HPA axis is responsible for regulating many things in the body, from the immune system and energy usage, to controlling reactions to stress and trauma.

• Abnormal functioning of the HPA leads to negative effects on many systems in the body, including the immune system and the nervous system.

• Studies have shown that veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have an enhanced [exacerbated] neuroendocrine response to a specific type of hormone called glucocorticoids.

• The increased physical response is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which can occur with chronic multisymptom illness.

• This study aims to determine if the prescription drug mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist could decrease the enhanced response and therefore improve the physical and mental health and cognitive functioning of Gulf War veterans. [Commonly known as 'the morning after pill,' mifepristone has been studied as therapy for a variety of ills, from uterine fibroids to major depression.]

• Researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx are evaluating veterans of the 1991 Gulf War with chronic multisymptom illness but without any exclusionary psychiatric or medical conditions.

• All subjects will be treated for a six-week time period with the mifepristone compound and then, a month later, treated with an alternative compound (placebo) in a crossover design. [To see the ClinicalTrials.gov listing of the trial - NCT00691067 - click here.]

• Researchers will then evaluate physical health, cognitive functioning and mental health in subjects and determine if there is improvement in these areas in relation to mifepristone administration.

"A positive outcome would provide a new therapeutic avenue for treating ill Gulf War veterans, for whom there are currently few treatment options," says principal investigator Julia Golier, MD. "The trial will also provide an important proof of concept of whether this type of drug will improve physical health and cognitive outcomes in symptomatic Gulf War veterans, thus improving their overall health."

DALLAS MORNING NEWS EDITORIAL: "Find the Truth About Gulf War Illness"

Dallas Morning News Editorial

(Dallas, Tex. - September 1, 2009) -- Just a few weeks ago, congressional influence and a large dose of common sense seemed to have saved UT Southwestern Medical Center's research efforts into why so many veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War returned home with unexplained illnesses.

But despite the efforts of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, to resolve the dispute, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last week pulled the research plug.

It's critical that this potentially ground-breaking research doesn't wilt on the bureaucratic vine. Unless a new arrangement is reached quickly, the VA's decision would dash the hopes of veterans seeking answers to their illnesses and could leave UT Southwestern holding the bag for millions of dollars in research for which it hasn't been paid.

The solution rests with the VA. In the same report in which it urged termination, the VA's inspector general noted that the project could have been funded with a federal grant instead of a contract. Moreover, it was noted that this change would have reduced bureaucratic red tape associated with federal contracts and averted the disputes that led to the contract's cancellation.

It is particularly ironic that it was the VA that originally pressed for a contract instead of a grant, which is the more common scientific research agreement.

This strikes this newspaper as a relatively simple change that would allow the research to move forward.

Research findings could change the lives and treatment options for thousands who bravely served their country and have lived for nearly two decades without answers. Reactions to nerve gas, other chemical weapons, pesticides, depleted uranium munitions or some combination are among the possible causes being investigated.

Too many avoidable squabbles have stalled the research since Hutchison earmarked the original $75 million in 2005 to fund the five-year research program. VA officials say the agency will continue its own research into the source of the illnesses and not abandon Gulf War veterans.

Perhaps, but given the ongoing battle between Vietnam veterans' organizations and the VA over the effects of Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant used throughout that conflict, we think Gulf War vets deserve the sort of independent research that UT Southwestern can provide.

========================

SIDEBAR: Anatomy of a stalemate

Complications in the partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and UT Southwestern Medical Center:

•The two have struggled over which owns data generated by research on Gulf War veterans.

•UT Southwestern tried to stop the VA from accessing some research info. Both sides cited concerns about veterans' privacy.

•UT Southwestern's method of calculating researcher salaries prevented the VA from determining whether they complied with the contract.

•The VA initially claimed ownership of all $5,000 and up equipment, including laptop computers.

•The VA rejected invoices for reimbursement because of errors involving unauthorized travel, salary rates and other matters.

•The two disagreed about research personnel training of research personnel.

•The VA moved personnel to UT Southwestern to help researchers, but their laptops didn't have the proper software to do their jobs.

SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General

TELEGRAPH: Story of Injured UK Gulf War Veteran's Hero Dog to be Made into Movie

The story of an "heroic" dog who helped his owner cope with life after he was injured in the Gulf War is being turned into a multi-million pound Hollywood film.

Written by Lucy Cockroft, The Daily Telegraph (UK)

Endal pictured at the graveside of a cat named Simon

(London, UK - The memoir of Allen Parton's assistance dog, Endal, was noticed by producers after it became an international best-seller.

Mr Parton, 50, from Clanfield, near Portsmouth, wrote the book about how his labrador, Endal, helped him adjust to life as a wheelchair user.

He had suffered head injuries in the first Gulf War and was in hospital for five years.

When he woke form a coma he did not even know he was married.

But with the help of Endal, who passed away in March, he regained his independence and family life.

Mr Parton said: "The book was an international best-seller – it touched so many people.

"We were approached earlier in the year because they wanted to do a movie about it.

"They have been working on it for quite some time now and the producers have been sending contracts across London in the back of taxis. It's all very exciting."

Endal was hailed as one of the world's most intelligent dogs after it emerged he had learnt to help Mr Parton use a cash machine and a washing machine.

He could even put his master in the recovery position if he fell unconscious and would then get help.

A documentary about Endal captured the imagination of producer Simon Brooks who said he wants either Colin Firth or Michael Sheen to play Allen with Kate Winslet or Rachel Weisz as his wife, Sandra.

Mr Brooks, owner of Canyon Creek Films, said: "I'm a dog owner as well and one night I was flicking through the channels when I came across Endal's story by accident.

"The more I looked into it, the more moved I became and I thought: 'this is a movie'.

"Allen and Sandra's story is simply extraordinary. I can't comprehend how they have made it through."

Work has started on the first draft of the script by Calendar Girls scriptwriter Juliette Towhidi.

Filming should begin in Britain or Ireland next year with a budget of up to £5 million.

Mr Parton said it will end on a high note with his new assistance dog, EJ, taking Endal's place.

Researchers Discuss New study on Gulf War Illlness Treatment at Military Health Research Forum

Clinical Trial of the Drug Mifepristone Aims to Evaluate Treatment of Gulf War Illness Symptoms

(KANSAS CITY, Mo. — September 1, 2009 // CDMRP Release ) — New research on treating Gulf War Illness (GWI) was presented today at the Military Health Research Forum (MHRF), a scientific meeting hosted by the Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). GWI is a condition that affects approximately 25 percent of service men and women who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It is characterized by symptoms including fatigue, headache, joint pain, sleep disturbances, and memory problems, and is potentially a result of the veterans’ exposure to toxic elements during their time on duty.

The study was funded by the Gulf War Illnesses Research Program (GWIRP) and managed by the CDMRP. The GWIRP strives to improve the health and lives of veterans who have GWI by supporting innovative research to improve its diagnosis, to better understand its pathobiology and to identify effective treatments for its array of symptoms.

“This program represents much needed movement to address the health concerns of those individuals who served the United States during the Gulf War,” said Captain E. Melissa Kaime, M.D., Director of the CDMRP. “In order to further assist our veterans, more extensive research of GWI and effective treatments for its various conditions is much needed.”

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Mifepristone in Gulf War Veterans with Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI)
Principal Investigator: Julia Golier, M.D., Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Inc.

A large percentage of Gulf War veterans – estimates range from 34 to 65 percent – continue to suffer from chronic multisymptom illness, also known as GWI. Symptoms can include fatigue, joint pain, headache, rash and cognitive problems, which may reflect altered regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is responsible for regulating many things in the body, from the immune system and energy usage, to controlling reactions to stress and trauma. Abnormal functioning of the HPA leads to negative effects on many systems in the body, including the immune system and the nervous system.

Studies have shown that veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have an enhanced neuroendocrine response to a specific type of hormone called glucocorticoids. The increased physical response is [also] associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which can occur with chronic multisymptom illness. This study aims to determine if mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, could decrease the enhanced response and therefore improve the physical and mental health and cognitive functioning of Gulf War veterans.

Researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx are evaluating veterans of the 1991 Gulf War with chronic multisymptom illness but without any exclusionary psychiatric or medical conditions. All subjects will be treated for a six-week time period with the mifepristone compound and then, a month later, treated with an alternative compound (placebo) in a crossover design. Researchers will then evaluate physical health, cognitive functioning and mental health in subjects and determine if there is improvement in these areas in relation to mifepristone administration.

“A positive outcome would provide a new therapeutic avenue for treating ill Gulf War veterans, for whom there are currently few treatment options,” says Julia Golier, M.D., a psychiatrist at Mount Sinai. “The trial will also provide an important proof of concept of whether this type of drug will improve physical health and cognitive outcomes in symptomatic Gulf War veterans, thus improving their overall health.”

A webcast of the Presentation with PowerPoint slides and corresponding audio is available online.

About the CDMRP Gulf War Illness Research Program

The Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) strives to improve the health and lives of veterans who have Gulf War Illness by funding innovative research to improve its diagnosis, better understand its pathobiology, and identify effective treatments for its array of symptoms.

In the GWIRP, Gulf War veterans participate equally with research professionals on review panels and play a pivotal role in maintaining an appropriate focus within the program. For the 2008 fiscal year, the program offered three award mechanisms to support research in the pathobiology, detection and treatment of GWI. In 2009, the program is offering two award mechanisms focusing on development of treatments and one award mechanism focusing on pathobiology and improved diagnostics. To date, the GWIRP has funded 9 awards from 2006 with approximately 12 more approved for funding from 2008 that are still in negotiations.

Nearly 700,000 men and women served in the 1990–1991 Gulf War. Population-based studies consistently indicate that as many as 225,000 of these veterans experience a variety of symptoms including chronic headaches, widespread pain, persistent fatigue, gastrointestinal difficulties, respiratory conditions, skin irritations, and cognitive problems. These symptoms are potentially a result of exposure to neurotoxins including pesticides and anti-nerve agents. Gulf War veterans are also twice as likely to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’) than the general population, though the reasons for this incidence are not yet understood. Although the research community has answered some medical questions pertaining to Gulf War veterans’ experiences, more extensive knowledge of GWI pathophysiology and effective treatments for these various symptoms are still needed.

Department of Defense-funded GWI research began in fiscal year 1994 with the establishment of a Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Research Program (GWVIRP) to study the health effects of service members deployed in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. From the mid-1990s to 2005, the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) managed the GWVIRP. Research pertaining to GWI was also funded intermittently through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

The MOMRP shared management responsibility for the GWVIRP with the CDMRP in fiscal year 2006 with separate $5 million appropriations. Although the GWVIRP did not receive funding in fiscal year 2007, a $10 million appropriation in fiscal year 2008 renewed the program, under the new name GWIRP, for full management by the CDMRP. In fiscal year 2009, a congressional appropriation of $8 million continued the GWIRP. Congress also directed separate funding for ALS research through the CDMRP in 2007 and again in 2009.

Promising Research on Gulf War Illness, other Deployment Health Issues Presented at Key Scientific Meeting

(KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ CDMRP Release) -- From Gulf War Illness to traumatic brain injury to post-traumatic stress disorder to suicide, veterans face some of the most pressing conditions confronting the health care system today. And today's troops fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan return home with medical challenges often unique to members of the military.

Research to address these needs is underway, and the work of hundreds of investigators engaged in the effort is being showcased September 1-3 at the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City. The Forum is a conference designed to bring together investigators funded by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs as well as invited speakers, consumers, members of the military health care system and DOD policy makers to facilitate the exchange of information and the development of new collaborations, and learn about research advancements funded through the host programs.

Areas of research include Gulf War Illness, psychological health, neuroprotection, rehabilitation, substance abuse, family issues and many more.


To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/militaryhealth/39824/

Among the highlighted abstracts:

* New research on treating Gulf War Illness, a condition that affects approximately 25 percent of service men and women who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. [ Read more about cutting edge Gulf War Illness treatments research ]

* Treatment for, and prevention of traumatic brain injury. Often called the "signature injury" of the Iraqi war, TBI can lead to a range of symptoms including headache, confusion, behavior change, memory trouble, convulsions and others. Topics examined include brain tissue regeneration, driving problems after mild TBI and the use of biomarkers to determine the extent of TBI. [ Read more about brain injury disagnostic and treatment oriented research initiatives ]

* Innovative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depending on the conflict in which they served, 10 to 30 percent of soldiers who have spent time in war zones experience the debilitating and life altering symptoms of PTSD. Topics examined include employing virtual environments and novel medicines to help military personnel diagnosed with PTSD and or/other co-morbidities, and the use of psychiatric service dogs to help troops manage the symptoms of PTSD. [Read more about groundbreaking PTSD research ]

* General military health, including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family based reintegration program. [Read more ]

About the Military Health Research Forum

The MHRF is a scientific conference for presenting research studies funded by the DOD CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Medical, Gulf War Illness, and Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Programs. Research supported by these programs addresses the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces and their families, veterans and the American public.

The MHRF brings together scientists, clinicians, consumer advocates, policymakers and the military to learn about research and product development advancements supported by the host programs. The conference includes invited presentations by noted scientists, educational sessions on topics of general interest and poster and symposium presentations by CDMRP-funded investigators across programs. The MHRF is designed to promote the exchange of ideas to facilitate research progress, the development of new partnerships and the translation of research findings into field-ready methods and products.

About the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

In the early 1990s, the breast cancer advocacy community launched a grassroots effort to raise public awareness of the crucial need for increased funding of breast cancer research. Beginning in fiscal year 1992 (FY92), Congress appropriated $25 million for breast cancer research to be managed by the Department of Defense. The following year, Congress continued to respond to the advocacy movement and appropriated $210 million for breast cancer research, marking the beginning of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The CDMRP represents a unique partnership among the public, Congress and the military. Because of continued and expanded advocacy efforts, the CDMRP has grown to encompass multiple targeted programs and has received more than $5.3 billion in total appropriations for all CDMRP programs from its inception in FY93 through FY09.

Please visit www.cdmrpcures.org/press for updates on the Military Health Research Forum.

FRANCE: Insect Repellant Affects Nervous System, Research May Shed Light on Gulf War Syndrome

Written by Marlowe Hood, Agence France-Presse

(PARIS, Agence France Presse (AFP)) - One of the world's most common insect repellents acts on the central nervous system in the same way as some insecticides and nerve gases, according to a study released on Wednesday.

Moderate use of the chemical compound, called deet, is most likely safe, the researchers say.

But experiments on insects, as well as on enzymes extracted from mice and human neurons, showed for the first time that it can interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system.

The researchers say further studies are "urgently needed" to assess deet's potential toxicity to humans, especially when combined with other chemical compounds.

Their findings may also shed some light on the so-called "Gulf War Syndrome," the name given to a complex and variable mix of neurological symptoms reported by tens of thousands of U.S. military veterans who served in the first Gulf War against Iraq in 1990-1991.

Developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists just after the Second World War, deet has been available as a bug repellent for more than five decades.

Sold as lotions, creams and sprays in concentrations from five to 100 per cent, it has been widely used not just by weekend campers but as a frontline barrier against malaria, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Some 200 million people use deet-based products every years, according to the study, published in the British-based open-access journal BMC Biology.

Scientists still don't know exactly how the compound works on blood-seeking insects. Some say it blocks the sensory neurons that would be titillated by a potential meal, while others hypothesize that bugs are simply put off by the smell.

More surprising still, there is relatively little research on the effects of deet in humans.

"It has been used for many years, but there are recent studies now that show a potential toxicity," said Vincent Corbel, a researcher at the Institute for Development Research in Montpellier, France, and lead author of the study.

"What we have done is identify a neurological target for this compound," he told AFP by phone.

In experiments, Corbel and a team of scientists co-led by Bruno Lapied of the University of Angers discovered that deet interferes with the normal breaking down of acetylcholine (ACh), the most common neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

It does so by blocking the enzyme that normally degrades ACh, acetylcholinesterase, or AChE. The result is a toxic build-up of ACh that ultimately prevents the transmission of signals across the neuron synapse, the study found.

A class of insecticides called carbamates, as well as the nerve gas sarin, work in the same way, only the effects are stronger and last much longer.

Which is where the Gulf War Syndrome comes in.

"Many of the pesticides used in the Gulf War, as well as PB and nerve agents, exert toxic effects on the brain and nervous system by altering levels of ACh," a U.S. government report issued last November concluded.

PB, or pyridostigmine bromide, was widely used to protect against nerve gas exposure.

The 450-page report, entitled "Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans," points to earlier evidence that overexposure to deet may be toxic for the nervous system, but fails to recognize its potential role as a booster for the more potent chemicals to which soldiers had been exposed.

"For U.S. soldiers, the cocktail of high doses of PB and insect repellents to protect against mosquito bites may have caused symptoms, as both act on the central nervous system in the same way," said Corbel.

Fortunately, deet is "reversible," meaning its impact is short-lived. But further studies are needed to determine at what concentration it may become dangerous to people, especially small children and pregnant women, he added.

Diabetic Mich. Gulf War Veteran Rescued by Iraq War Veteran

Written by Robb Westaby, Fox 17 Web Producer

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Tuesday, September 1, 2009) - Iraq War veteran Jason Hilla was awarded Tuesday the first-ever Grand Rapids City Manager's Special Recognition Award for helping a Gulf War vet during a seizure.

The award was presented during the week's City Commission meeting.

It was on March 24 this year when Hilla, while doing some volunteer work at the Veterans Cemetery next to the Grand Rapids Veterans Home, noticed a man going into a diabetic seizure.

Gary Elya had forgotten to eat, but fortunately for him, Hilla's Iraq training kicked in.

"I took his jacket off, took his shirt off, took my sweatshirt and put it on top of him, reassured him that everything was going to be okay," said Hilla that day.

Tuesday was Hilla's day, as the new Grand Rapids city manager, Greg Sundstrom, inaugurated a new honor, the first Grand Rapids City Manager's Special Recognition Award.