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Healthy Living in a Toxic World, Issue #15
May 16, 2015
Good Evening

THE BIOTOXIC MOLD ILLNESS PANEL


The cause of chronic illness is often very elusive since symptoms can be vague and involve multiple body systems. Do you feel like you’re still missing pieces of a puzzle after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Sinus Infections or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Or maybe you just feel sick and tired and are experiencing headaches, GI problems, muscle aches and pains or depression and anxiety and there is simply no diagnosis! Unfortunately, mold exposure is often misdiagnosed and some doctors will even tell you mold illness cannot be diagnosed, or there is no such thing!

But the truth is…Mold is a key element of indoor air contamination that few people understand. What many people don't realize is that mold can make you extremely sick, or even kill you. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all molds have the potential to cause ill health.1

The Comprehensive Biotoxic Mold Illness Panel is designed to look at the chronic inflammatory response set in motion when a person is exposed to toxic mold.

Biotoxic illness refers to the cause of a person’s illness. All biotoxic illnesses have one common denominator…toxins produced by living things. The tests contained in this panel look at the complex cascade of events throughout multiple inflammatory pathways produced by biotoxic mold exposure.2 Let's take a look:

Stage 1: The Biotoxic Effect

You are exposed to biotoxic mold and your immune system does not respond appropriately to remove the foreign invader. (See LC167120 HLA typing for more information)

Stage 2: Cytokine Effects

Cytokines are cell signaling molecules that aid in communication during immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells toward sites of inflammation. Symptoms in this stage might include– headaches muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, unstable temperature and difficulty concentrating. Tests included for stage two include: Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) Stage 3: Reduced VEGF

Reduction in VEGF may lead to fatigue, muscle cramps and shortness of breath. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Stage 4: Immune Effects

This stage triggers autoimmunity and activation of the complement pathway. Complement C4a is an inflammatory marker of great significance. Since these short lived products are re-manufactured rapidly, an initial rise can be seen in the blood within 12 hours of exposure to biotoxins. Levels remain elevated until effective therapy is initiated. Complement C4a Stage 5: Low MSH

MSH is a potent anti-inflammatory compound. Reduced MSH is at the heart of the “Biotoxic pathway” with many negative downstream effects. VIP plays a similar role to MSH in regulating inflammatory response. Symptoms may include sleep disturbances, chronic pain, leaky gut syndrome, shortness of breath during exercise, hormone abnormalities and mood swings. Melanocyte-Stimulating hormone (MSH) Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) Stage 6: Antibiotic Resistant Staph bacteria

People exposed to biotoxins frequently come down with staph colonization, caused by biofilm-forming microorganisms that live deep in the nose without causing nasal symptoms. This step would require a nasal culture to be performed by your doctor and is not included in the panel.

Stage 7: Pituitary hormone effects

Symptoms may include frequent thirst, susceptibility to shocks from static electricity, lower production of sex hormones loss of libido, and abnormal cortisol production. This panel looks at the following test for stage 7 effects.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) Fasting is not required. Take all medications as prescribed.


BASIC BIOTOXIC MOLD ILLNESS PANEL


VEGF

COMPLEMENT C4a

MSH

ADH

RETAIL COST 932.00 COST THROUGH LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION 524.25 plus 75 dollar yearly membership fee.

Biotoxic Mold Illness Panel Basic

COMPREHENSIVE BIOTOXIC MOLD ILLNESS PANEL


MMP9

TNFalpha

VEGF

C4a

MSH

VIP

ADH

RETAIL COST IS 1,598.66 COST THROUGH LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION 899.25 plus 75 dollar yearly membership fee.

Biotoxic Mold Illness Panel Basic

HLA GENOTYPE TEST

HLA GENOTYPE TEST TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE A GENOTYPE THAT HAS PREDISPOSITION TO BE SENSITIVE TO MOLD EXPOSURE.

RETAIL COST IS 453.33 COST THROUGH LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION IS 261.75

HLA DR1 3 4 5 DQ Intermediate Resolution













STAY MOLD FREE AND HEALTHY,

Dr. Mary Ray DO

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