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Julianne Hough abused as a child: Hough recalls abusive past in new interview
Julianne Hough has opened up about a painful part of her past in a new interview with Cosmopolitan magazine.
The 24-year-old talent recalls an abusive childhood in London when she was training to be a dancer.
She moved away from her parents and her home of South Jordan, Utah, at the age of 10 to train at London's Italia Conti Academy of the Arts, where her brother Derek was also studying.
But while overseas, "I was abused, mentally, physically, everything," she told Cosmo. "I was 10 years old looking like I was 28, being a very sensual dancer. I was a tormented little kid who had to put on this sexy façade because that was my job and my life. But my heart was the same, and I was this innocent little girl. I wanted so much love."
The abuse grew worse "when I started hitting puberty, when I started becoming a woman and stopped being a little girl," she said. "I was told if I ever went back to the United States, three things were going to happen. One: I was going to amount to nothing. Two: I was going to work at Whataburger. And three: I was going to end up a slut. So, it was like, I can't go back. I have to be this person."
Hough declined to go into details about the manner of abuse, or who was abusing her. "I'm a very forgiving person, and I don't want to hurt anybody. What's past is past," she said. "This is the farthest I've ever gotten into my London situation."
Through it all, Hough clung to her goals of becoming a pro dancer by 18, a singer by 19 and then a movie star by 22. While she might not have included "date a guy just as driven" on her list, Hough has found that in Ryan Seacrest.
"We love what we do," she said. "We take pride in giving it our all, but then when we're alone, we really focus on going to dinners and being extra romantic and affectionate and just being there for each other."


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Standard Room, Pool View
- One King Bed
Hotel with an outdoor pool, in Cancun (Cancun Hotel Zone)
Grand Royal Lagoon is centrally located in Cancun, walking distance from Cancun Golf Club at Pok Ta Pok and close to Nautilus Diving and Training Center.
This hotel is within close proximity of Plaza Caracol and Playa Chac Mool.
Cable television is provided for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and a turndown service, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an outdoor pool, or other amenities including babysitting/childcare and a television in the lobby. This hotel also features tour/ticket assistance and a picnic area.
Continental breakfasts are available for a fee.
Featured amenities include limo/town car service, a technology helpdesk, and currency exchange. Guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle for a surcharge, and free parking is available onsite.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
- General
Grand Royal Lagoon features a marina and an outdoor pool. This hotel offers access to a technology helpdesk and limo/town car service. This Cancun hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, multilingual staff, and a picnic area. Onsite parking is complimentary.
Grand Royal Lagoon has designated areas for smoking.
- Free parking
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Express check-out
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Babysitting or childcare
- Swimming pool - outdoor
- Concierge desk
- Currency exchange
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Express check-in
- Designated smoking areas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Marina on site
- Multilingual staff
- Secure parking
- Patio
- Picnic area
- Porter/bellhop
- Self parking
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Technology helpdesk
- Television in lobby
- Parking
Free parking, Secure parking, Self parking
- Room Amenities
- Climate control
- Access via exterior corridors
- Refrigerator (on request)
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Private bathroom
- Complimentary toiletries
- Shower only
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Cable TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Dining
Continental breakfasts are available for a surcharge.
- Recreation
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Golf - driving range nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Rafting nearby
- Rowing or canoeing nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Boat launch nearby
- Motor boating nearby
- Pilates classes/instruction nearby
- Yoga classes/instruction nearby
- Running track/path nearby
- Basketball nearby
- Volleyball nearby
- Tennis nearby
- Aerobics nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Parasailing nearby
- Helicopter/airplane tours nearby
- Horse riding/rental nearby
- Fishing nearby
- Playground nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Personal motorized watercraft on site
- Dock on site
- Swimming on site
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- Check-out
Check-out time is noon
- Payment types
Accepted at this hotel: MasterCard, Visa
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 18 years old.
No elevators
- Fees
- The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Breakfast fee: MXN 50 per person (approximately)
- Additional Details
Local laws may restrict unmarried guests from sharing rooms. Guests are responsible for providing proof of marriage, if requested by the hotel. Children 11 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.

subset: commoncrawl


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"These arrived last night and I'm simply thrilled with the result.They are for my upcoming winter wedding at a ski resort in British Columbia. I went with rounded edges and paid to have the glossed finished! Perfect!"
"This invitation is absolutely amazing! The quality is perfect. I could not have asked for a more perfect invite to set the tone for our formal wedding! And the custom charcoal color came out to match perfectly!"
"I ordered these in the gray (as shown). They were absolutely stunning! We were planning a classy event that was not casual but not super formal. These were the perfect invitation to capture the simple elegance we were going for. Our family and friends raved about them! Plus the thermography always adds a little something extra as opposed to flat ink on a page. (The ink is raised on the page - very sophisticated). They order was shipped quickly and the design team was wonderful to work with. When I edited the invitation, it looked perfect but then when I went to finalize it the text tightened up and the text didn't fill out the page (horizontally) as much. I mentioned this to the design team and they agreed and fixed it immediately. LOVE LOVE LOVE these. You can't go wrong."
"The overall quality of this product was flawless! It was just what I was looking for, it is perfect for my perfect day! I got so many compliments on them!"
"The process allowed me to find a style that I wanted and then make a lot of changes. I changed the background color and even the flower colors and font color too."


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LED Icicle Strings and Lights
LED icicle Christmas lights from EnvironmentalLights use up to 98% less energy than incandescent light strings and have up to 100,000 hours of bulb life! The brilliant illumination and money saving features of our LED Christmas lights make them a great choice for many years of holiday celebration.
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Learn about the benefits of working with LED Christmas lights, and the variety of options of lighting available to you.
All your questions answered!
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*Due to broadcast restrictions, all nationally-broadcast Preseason games are blacked out and all locally-televised Preseason games are blacked out in their home markets. Blacked-out games will be made available on-demand in the NFL Preseason Live archives. Preseason games that do not sell out in either team's home or away markets and games broadcast nationally on ESPN will be available 24 hours after the conclusion of those games. All other blacked-out games will be available shortly after the conclusion of the original telecast in the NFL Preseason Live archives. NFL Preseason Live access is not available on smart phones. NFL Preseason Live is only available to users within the United States, Bermuda, Antigua, the Bahamas, and any U.S. territories, possessions and commonwealths (including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands).
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Whether you're using yours to carve, decorate or cook, it wouldn't be fall without pumpkins! Pumpkins lining the grocery store sidewalks and trips to the pumpkin patch are a sure sign that the temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter. Embrace the season by enjoying some of our favorite pumpkin recipes that use a little bit of honey!
And don't forget to check out our favorite Fall Recipes and Apple Honey Recipes too!
Soft and Puffy Pumpkin Spice Honey Cookies from Averie Cooks
Sue Bee Pumpkin Cheesecake
Gluten Free Honey Pumpkin Muffins from Peanut Butter Fingers
Honey Pumpkin Dessert Bars from Recipe Doodle
Healthy Honey Pumpkin Pie from Miss Make
Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread from Shrinking Kitchen


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ShibuiKnits Cima Suit (2016)
- Material
- 70% Baby Alpaca
- 30% Merino Wool
- Gauge
- 7-8 sts=1"
- Weight
- Laceweight
- Physical Weight
- 1.8 oz / 49 g
- Yardage
- 328 yd / 299.9 m
- Care
- Hand wash, dry flat.
- Needle Size
- US 1-3 (2.25 - 3.25mm)
Spun from the finest baby alpaca and merino fibers, Cima is a sprightly lace-weight yarn that combines sharp stitch definition with buttery softness. Held single, double, or triple, it creates smooth fabrics with clean lines, perfect for modern garments. A palette ranging from vivid brights to calm neutrals lets you unleash your creative vision.
Try Cima on its own for airy lace pieces such as a shawl or cowl. Combine it with a coordinating Shibui yarn to create your ultimate blend or hold it double to knit a hat such as the Shibui Mix No. 10.
We currently have 6 skeins in stock and available — we first started selling this in February 2013.


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- Volume 4, 2013
- Volume 3, 2013
- Volume 2, 2013
- Volume 1, 2013
- Volume 4, 2012
- Volume 3, 2012
- Volume 2, 2012
- Volume 1, 2012
- Volume 4, 2011
- Volume 3, 2011
- Volume 2, 2011
- Volume 1, 2011
- Volume 3, 2010
- Volume 2, 2010
- Volume 1, 2010
- Volume 4, 2009
- Volume 3, 2009
- Volume 2, 2009
- Volume 1, 2009
- Volume 4, 2008
- Volume 3, 2008
- Volume 1, 2008
- Volume 1, 2007
- Volume 3, 2006
Volume 3, 2010 - Online Edition | In This Issue
A Major Advance in Use of Steroids >
Faces of Lupus: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS >
The Role of Vitamin D in Lupus >
Registries Help Guide Lupus Research and Treatment >
Milestones in an Illustrious 10-Year History >
Lupus News Corner >
The Role of Vitamin D in Lupus
Preliminary evidence suggests Vitamin D may offer some protection from diseases like diabetes, some forms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune diseases.
But what is the relevance to lupus?
To help answer this question, an ALR-funded investigation — conducted by Professor John Hardin of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York — attempted to discover how Vitamin D might impact lupus.
It is widely known that lupus patients overproduce a cytokine called interferon alpha — which is produced by cells to help regulate the immune system. One consequence of overproduction is that the dendritic cell, which is critical to protecting the body against foreign invaders, might cause the production of antibodies that mistakenly target the patient's healthy tissues.
So what is the connection to Vitamin D?
Dr. Hardin and others have documented that a significant number of patients with lupus are profoundly deficient in Vitamin D. He also noted that one of the things that Vitamin D appears to do, at least in test tubes, is block the maturation of dendritic cells.
Although science is far from proving that there is a direct correlation, Dr. Hardin is attempting to examine what genes are regulated by interferon alpha and how the activity of those genes change as a result of increasing the levels of Vitamin D in patients. Then, he will assess how the levels of cytokines change and whether inflammation will be affected by Vitamin D.
Taking too much Vitamin D as a supplement can be dangerous — especially for people with lupus. The body has no way to shut down the absorption of Vitamin D from supplements — which could result in buildups to toxic levels.
This is why the ALR advises everyone to seek professional medical advice before taking Vitamin D.
Vasculitis is a condition that involves inflammation in the blood vessels. The condition occurs if your immune system attacks your blood vessels by mistake. This may happen as the result of an infection, a medicine, or another disease or condition.
Vasculitis can affect any of the body's blood vessels. These include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to your body's organs. Veins carry blood from your organs and limbs back to your heart. Capillaries connect the small arteries and veins.
Source: NIH.org
Uremia is a term used to loosely describe the illness accompanying kidney failure (also called renal failure), in particular the nitrogenous waste products associated with the failure of this organ.This is not to be confused with uricemia, or hyperuricemia, a build up of uric acid in the blood.
In kidney failure, urea and other waste products, which are normally excreted into the urine, are retained in the blood. Early symptoms include anorexia and lethargy, and late symptoms can include decreased mental acuity and coma. Other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, cold, bone pain, itch, shortness of breath, and seizures. It is usually diagnosed in kidney dialysis patients when the glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney function, is below 50% of normal.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases
The term undifferentiated connective tissue diseases is used to define conditions characterized by the presence of signs and symptoms suggestive of a systemic autoimmune disease that do not satisfy the classificative criteria for defined connective tissue diseases (CTD) such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and others. A small percentage of patients presenting with an undifferentiated profile will develop during the first year follow up of a full blown CTD, however an average of 75% will maintain an undifferentiated clinical course. These patients may be defined as having a stable undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). The most characteristic symptoms of UCTD are represented by arthritis and arthralgias, Raynaud's phenomenon, leukopenia, while neurological and kidney involvement are virtually absent. Eighty percent of these patients have a single autoantibody specificity, more frequently anti-Ro and anti-RNP antibodies. Stable UCTD are considered as distinct clinical entities and therefore it has been proposed to define those conditions as UCTD. Classificative criteria have also been proposed and a work to better define them is still under way.
Source: NIH.gov
Playing a unique role in the immune system, Tregs — or Regulatory T cells — are crucial in suppressing aberrant pathological immune responses in autoimmune diseases like lupus. These cells help the immune system from attacking healthy tissue.
Acting as a system of checks and balances, Tregs prevent excessive reactions within the body.
Toll-Like Receptors
Toll- like receptors (TLR) play a critical role in early immune response to invading pathogens. The signaling by TLRs result in a variety of cellular responses including the production of interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines that direct immune response.
Capable of producing immunological tolerance.
T Follicular Helper cells (TFH)
T follicular helper cells (TFH) are a type of helper T cells that direct the development of antibodies. TFH cells normally function to direct B cells to make antibodies against pathogens.
However, an increase in their number or function is associated with lupus, and their accelerated development or persistence is believed to drive the production of those dangerous autoantibodies. The ALR is currently funding a study to better understand the function of TFH.
T cells
T cells are a type of blood cell that belong to a group of white blood cells (WBCs) called lymphocytes, which help the body fight infection. T cells play a major role in protecting the immune system by identifying, directly attacking, and destroying infectious agents.
Like B cells, T cells are produced in bone marrow. But unlike B cells, they mature and develop in the thymus, an organ in the chest — hence the name, T cells. When fully matured, T cells are present in the blood and lymph nodes.
The function of B cells and T cells is vital to the immune system, allowing humans to ward off and better cope with often-hostile bacteria, viruses, and other foreign matter.
Systemic refers to something that is spread throughout, system-wide, affecting a group or system such as a body, economy, market or society as a whole.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Synovitis is the medical term for inflammation of the synovial membrane. This membrane lines joints which possess cavities, known as synovial joints. The condition is usually painful, particularly when the joint is moved. The joint usually swells due to synovial fluid collection.
Synovitis may occur in association with arthritis as well as lupus, gout, and other conditions. Synovitis is more commonly found in rheumatoid arthritis than in other forms of arthritis, and can thus serve as a distinguishing factor, although it can be present to a lesser degree in osteoarthritis. Long term occurrence of synovitis can result in degeneration of the joint.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Sub-acute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE)
Sub-acute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) is one of three subsets of the general lupus skin disorder called cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Characterized by lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to sun, SCLE makes up approximately 10 percent of lupus cases. Lesions from SCLE do not cause permanent scarring.
Classification of a mass of data (obtained from research or survey) into categories and sub-categories on the basis of one or more chosen criteria.
Steroids is the shortened term for corticosteroids, a drug commonly used to reduce inflammation in lupus. The term steroids is not to be confused with the male hormone-related steroid compounds designed to enhance athletic performance.
A disease activity index for lupus patients- Find here
Sjogren's syndrome
Sjogren's syndrome is a disease that causes dryness in your mouth and eyes. It can also lead to dryness in other places that need moisture, such as your nose, throat and skin. Most people who get Sjogren's syndrome are older than 40. Nine of 10 are women. Sjogren's syndrome is sometimes linked to rheumatic problems such as rheumatoid arthritis.
In Sjogren's syndrome, your immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. It may also affect your joints, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive organs and nerves. The main symptoms are:
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.
Source: NIH.gov
Serositis refers to inflammation of the serous tissues of the body, the tissues lining the lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), and the inner lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and organs within. It is commonly found with fat wrapping or creeping fat.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease that involves changes in the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. It is a type of autoimmune disorder, a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.
The cause of scleroderma is unknown. People with this condition have a buildup of a substance called collagen in the skin and other organs. This buildup leads to the symptoms of the disease.
The disease usually affects people 30 to 50 years old. Women get scleroderma more often than men do. Some people with scleroderma have a history of being around silica dust and polyvinyl chloride, but most do not.
Widespread scleroderma can occur with other autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis. In such cases, the disorder is referred to as mixed connective disease.
Source: NIH.gov
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs.
No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery.
Source: NIH.gov
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Renal disorder
Renal disorder, or nephropathy, means damage to or disease of a kidney. Nephrosis is non-inflammatory nephropathy. Nephritis is inflammatory kidney disease.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Raynaud's phenomenon
Raynaud's Phenomenon is a rare disorder that affects the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to different parts of your body.
Raynaud's sometimes is called a disease, syndrome, or phenomenon. The disorder is marked by brief episodes of vasospasm (VA-so-spazm), which is a narrowing of the blood vessels.
Vasospasm of the arteries reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes. In people who have Raynaud's, the disorder usually affects the fingers. In about 40 percent of people who have Raynaud's, it affects the toes. Rarely, the disorder affects the nose, ears, nipples, and lips.
Source: NIH.gov
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which carry oxygen and blood from the heart to the lungs, is much higher than normal.
- Pulmonary hypertension usually occurs along with another disease or condition, such as pregnancy, heart and blood vessel diseases, lung diseases, liver diseases, sleep apnea, connective tissue diseases such as lupus and scleroderma, thyroid diseases, HIV infection, or use of certain diet medicines or illicit drugs.
- In 2002, pulmonary hypertension led to 15,668 deaths and 260,000 hospital visits in the United States.
- Pulmonary hypertension can affect men and women of all ages and racial/ethnic groups. However, the majority of people who have this condition are older women.
Source: CDC.gov
Proteinuria-also called albuminuria or urine albumin-is a condition in which urine contains an abnormal amount of protein. Albumin is the main protein in the blood. Proteins are the building blocks for all body parts, including muscles, bones, hair, and nails. Proteins in the blood also perform a number of important functions. They protect the body from infection, help blood clot, and keep the right amount of fluid circulating throughout the body.
Proteinuria is a sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD). If CKD progresses, it can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), when the kidneys fail completely. A person with ESRD must receive a kidney transplant or regular blood-cleansing treatments called dialysis.
Sources: NIH.gov
Proliferative lupus nephritis
The term for severe stages of lupus nephritis — or inflammation of the kidneys due to lupus – is proliferative lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is a serious condition, which occurs when autoantibodies affect the filtering structure of the kidneys. Proliferative lupus nephritis may lead to blood or protein in the urine, impaired kidney function, or even kidney failure.
At any stage of lupus nephritis, early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve outcomes.
Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain (usually sharp) when you take a breath or cough.
Pleurisy may develop when you have lung inflammation due to infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. This inflammation also causes the sharp chest pain of pleurisy.
It may also occur with:
- Asbestos-related disease
- Certain cancers
- Chest trauma
- Pulmonary embolus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
Source: NIH.gov
Pleural effusion
A pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.
Your body produces pleural fluid in small amounts to lubricate the surfaces of the pleura, the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. A pleural effusion is an abnormal, excessive collection of this fluid.
There are two different types:
- Transudative pleural effusions are caused by fluid leaking into the pleural space. This is caused by increased pressure in the blood vessels or a low blood protein count. Congestive heart failure is the most common cause.
- Exudative effusions are caused by blocked blood vessels or lymph vessels, inflammation, lung injury, and tumors.
Source: NIH.gov
The phenomenon of one gene being responsible for or affecting more than one phenotypic characteristic.
Photosensitivity is an abnormal reaction to sunlight
Source: NIH.gov
Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs.
When phlebitis is associated with the formation of blood clots (thrombosis), usually in the deep veins of the legs, the condition is called thrombophlebitis. These clots can travel to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolisms that can be fatal.
Source: Wikipedia.org
The term phenotype refers to the physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism as determined by its genetic makeup.
PGA, short for "Physician's Global Assessment," is a term that refers to the scale of a patient's well being based on the impression of the clinician. Ratings are made on a scale from 0 to 3, measuring the severity of disease (0 = inactive, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe).
Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed. The cause of pericarditis is often unknown or unproven, but is often the result of an infection such as:
- Viral infections that cause a chest cold or pneumonia, such as the echovirus or coxsackie virus (which are common in children), as well as influenza
- Infections with bacteria (much less common) and some fungal infections (even more rare)
Other causes include:
- Heart attack
- Heart surgery or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or heart
- Certain medications and some drugs used to treat cancer or suppress the immune system
- Swelling or inflammation of the heart muscle
Source: NIH.gov
Pericardial effusion
Pericardial effusion is the buildup of fluid in the sac
Source: NIH.gov
Peer Review
Oral ulcers
Oral ulcers are sores or open lesions in the mouth.
Source: NIH.gov
Nucleic Acid Binding Polymers (NABPs)
Nucleic acids are molecules that are essential to the structure of DNA, RNA, and all forms of life. A polymer is a large molecule composed of many smaller molecules lined together.
NABPs inhibit toll-like receptor (TLRs) activation and subsequent cytokine production of dendritic cells and B cells. In lupus, TLRs play a critical role in innate and adaptive immune responses by responding to pathogenic nucleic acids.
With funding from the Alliance for Lupus Research, David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, from Duke University Medical Center, NC is looking at ways that NABPs can be used in lupus treatment. "These polymers can bind tightly to DNA and RNA and prevent the formation of immune complexes and the resulting stimulation of internal receptors. The hope is that the polymers will be able to block the ability of extracellular nucleic acids to stimulate immune system activity that can underlie autoimmunity," said Dr. Pisetsky.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
The muscle and joint pain associated with lupus—as well as other chronic conditions where inflammation is present—are most often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of over-the-counter NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.
NSAIDs work by preventing an enzyme called cyclooxygenase from functioning. This enzyme protects the stomach lining, which is why NSAIDs can cause stomach upset and bleeding.
The most abundant type of white blood cells in humans, neutrophils are important for the defense against infection. Neutrophils are fast acting, arriving at the site of infection within an hour. They can ingest and kill bacteria and are the main component of pus.
More than 50 percent of all white blood cells occurring in the human body are neutrophils.
With ALR funding Michael Denny, PhD, at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, worked to broaden the understanding of the relationship between neutrophils and lupus. Dr. Denny and his team identified an abnormal pool of neutrophils in people with the disease. "These cells may contribute to disease manifestation like skin rashes," explained Dr. Denny.
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are chromatin structures loaded with antimicrobial molecules. They can trap and kill various bacterial, fungal and protozoal pathogens, and their release is one of the first lines of defense against pathogens.
Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, the vast communications network that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to every other part of the body. Peripheral nerves also send sensory information back to the brain and spinal cord, such as a message that the feet are cold or a finger is burned. Damage to the peripheral nervous system interferes with these vital connections. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral neuropathy distorts and sometimes interrupts messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Source: NIH.gov
Neurologic disorders
Neurologic disorders are diseases of the brain, spinal cord and nerves throughout your body. Together they control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing or learning. You can also have problems with your memory, senses or mood.
There are more than 600 neurologic diseases. Major types include
- Diseases caused by faulty genes, such as Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy
- Problems with the way the nervous system develops, such as spina bifida
- Degenerative diseases, where nerve cells are damaged or die, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
- Diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain, such as stroke
- Injuries to the spinal cord and brain
- Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
- Cancer, such as brain tumors
- infections, such as meningitis
Source: NIH.gov
When, in the living body of a plant or animal, NETs are released during a form of pathogen-induced cell death.
Lupus nephritis is kidney inflammation caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). SLE is an autoimmune disease—a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells and organs. Up to 60 percent of people with SLE are diagnosed with lupus nephritis, which can lead to significant illness and even death.
Source: NIH.gov
Neonatal lupus
Neonatal lupus is a rare condition – about 1 to 2 percent of babies born to mothers who have autoimmune disease or carry the antibodies to SSA/Ro and/or SSB/La [1,2] will develop neonatal lupus. The disease is presumed to be the result of these antibodies crossing the placenta in pregnancy from mother to her developing baby.
Neonatal lupus is usually benign and the signs — such as skin rash, liver problems, and low blood cell counts —are generally short lived. Symptoms usually disappear within months after birth, when infants begin to develop their own immune system — and, the mother's antibodies leave the baby's body.
Myositis is inflammation of your skeletal muscles, which are also called the voluntary muscles. These are the muscles you consciously control that help you move your body. An injury, infection or autoimmune disease can cause myositis.
The diseases dermatomyositis and polymyositis both involve myositis. Polymyositis causes muscle weakness, usually in the muscles closest to the trunk of your body. Dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness, plus a skin rash. Both diseases are usually treated with prednisone, a steroid medicine, and sometimes other medicines
Sources: NIH.gov
Monoclonal antibodies
Naturally occurring in the human body, antibodies are a "sticky" protein that targets a specific antigen. These antibodies circulate in the body, find and attach to the antigen, and recruit other parts of the immune system to destroy the cells containing the antigen.
A monoclonal antibody is a man-made, laboratory-produced protein that is designed to target a certain antigen. The advantage of infection-fighting proteins is that they are highly specific, identical, and can be produced in large quantities.
Monoclonal antibodies are now used as therapies for a number of diseases.
Mixed connective tissue disease
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a autoimmune disorder that causes overlapping features of three connective tissue disorders: lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. MCTD may also have features of rheumatoid arthritis. This condition is most often diagnosed in women in their 20's and 30's. Occasionally, children are affected. At this time the cause of this condition is unknown.
Source: NIH.gov
Found in plants and mammals, microRNAs (miRNA) are small RNA molecules, which increase or decrease the production of specific gene protein or RNA. Aberrant expression of miRNA has been seen in numerous disease states.
The role of microphages is not completely known, but scientific research has shown that these cells attack foreign substances and infectious microbes through destruction and ingestion. Derived from Greek, macrophages translates as "big eaters."
Recent research suggests that macrophages in people with lupus may have intrinsic defects that hamper its normal function.
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell that is responsible for immune responses.
Lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are small organs of the immune system spread throughout the body. They behave as filters or traps for foreign particles. Lymph nodes contain cells that become lymphocytes and are important in the proper functioning of the immune system.
Lupus is one of many disorders of the immune system known as autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system turns against parts of the body it is designed to protect. This leads to inflammation and damage to various body tissues. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. Although people with the disease may have many different symptoms, some of the most common ones include extreme fatigue, painful or swollen joints (arthritis), unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems.
Leukopenia is an abnormal reduction of circulating white blood cells, especially the granulocytes. The term leukopenia is often used interchangeably with neutropenia. It may result from reduced production of white blood cells or increased utilization and destruction, or both. Infection, drugs, malignancy, megaloblastosis, hypersplenism and immunoneutropenia are responsible for most cases of neutropenia. Primary neutropenia is very rare. Sometimes, particularly in children, primary neutropenia is hereditary and may be associated with other developmental defects. The major danger of neutropenia is the risk of infection. Management requires identification of the cause and effective antimicrobial therapy, especially when serious systemic infection is present.
Source: NIH.gov
A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism (in layman's terms, "damage"), usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Kinase inhibitor
A protein kinase inhibitor is a type of enzyme inhibitor that blocks the action of one or more protein kinases. Protein kinases are enzymes that add a phosphate (PO4) group to a protein or other organic molecule. Phosphate groups can turn a protein off.
Intravenous (IV) infusion
Intravenous infusion or IV infusion is a medical term that describes the way certain kinds of medicines or other substances, such as nutrition, are delivered to the body. This method is often used when the substance cannot be taken orally. Sometimes the therapy must bypass the gut or go directly into the veins.
Many therapies are delivered via IV infusion—including intravenous steroids and chemotherapeutic agents for people with lupus.
Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF 5)
IRF5 is one of the interferon regulatory factors, a group of transcription factors with diverse roles within the body. Among its many functions, IRF-5 influences virus-mediated activation of interferon, the modulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune system activity.
It acts as a molecular switch that controls whether macrophages will promote or inhibit inflammation. The ALR has funded investigations to better grasp an understanding of RF5 in regard to lupus manifestation.
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites or tumor cells. They allow for communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that eradicate pathogens or tumors.
An inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause. The damaged cells release chemicals including histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These chemicals cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling. This helps isolate the foreign substance from further contact with body tissues.
Source: NIH.gov
Immunosuppressive is a term that refers to the lowering of the body's normal immune response. It can occur naturally through the aging process, as the side effect of medical therapy, or it can be deliberately induced to treat diseases like lupus.
In lupus, immunosuppressive drugs are sometimes used to address the hyperactivity of the immune system, which triggers the inflammatory response and can cause severe pain in the joints, skin, and kidneys of patients with the disease.
Immunosuppressive drugs are also used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ. Along the same lines, this therapy is used in lupus to prevent the from body attacking or rejecting healthy tissue.
Alteration of the immune system or of an immune response by agents that activate or suppress its function.
Immunologic disorder
An immunologic disorder is a dysfunction of the immune system. These disorders can be characterized in several different ways:
- By the component(s) of the immune system affected
- By whether the immune system is overactive or underactive
- By whether the condition is congenital or acquired
It has been suggested that most people have at least one primary immunodeficiency. Due to redundancies in the immune system, though, many of these are never detected.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Immune system
The human immune system is a complicated organization of cells and pathways within the body that seeks and responds to foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents — as well as foreign material such as pollen. Composed of numerous and varied cells—each with a specific task — the immune system is the body's defense mechanism.
Immune complex
Immune complex occurs when an antibody binds to an antigen, such as toxins, microorganisms, and proteins that are foreign to the body. Immune complex molecules help fight disease—but in lupus, individuals form autoantibodies that attack the person's own tissue and organs.
IgG (Immunoglobulin G)
IgG is a type of antibody. Found in all body fluids — and the main antibody found in blood — IgG protects against bacterial and viral infections.
Measuring immunoglobulin levels is useful in evaluating patients for autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease.
Hematologic disorders
Hematolic disorders affect one or more parts of the blood and prevent your blood from doing its job. They can be acute or chronic. Many blood disorders are inherited. Other causes include other diseases, side effects of medicines, and a lack of certain nutrients in your diet.
Types of blood disorders include
- Platelet disorders, excessive clotting, and bleeding problems, which affect how your blood clots
- Anemia, which happens when your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body
- Cancers of the blood, such as leukemia and myeloma
- Eosinophilic disorders, which are problems with one type of white blood cell.
Source: NIH.gov
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged.
Damage to the glomeruli causes blood and protein to be lost in the urine.
A quarter of people with chronic glomerulonephritis have no history of kidney disease.
Source: NIH.gov
Function of B-cells and T-cells
B-cells and T-cells work together. When a T-cell recognizes an antigen, it will produce chemicals known as cytokines that cause B-cells to multiply and release many immune proteins (antibodies). Circulating widely in the bloodstream, antibodies recognize foreign particles and trigger inflammation to help the body rid itself of the virus or bacteria.
B-cells and T-cells play a vital role in protecting the immune system.
Flares can refer to either the recurrence of symptoms or an onset of more severe symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread pain, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbance, fatigue and often psychological distress. People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms; such as
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Cognitive problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog")
- Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog")
Source: CDC.gov
The FDA (or Food and Drug Administration) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), and veterinary products.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Ex Vivo
Means that which takes place outside an organism. In science, ex vivo refers to experimentation or measurements done in or on tissue from an organism in an external environment with the minimum alteration of natural conditions. Ex vivo conditions allow experimentation on an organisms cells or tissue under more controlled conditions than is possible in in vivo experiments (in the intact organism), at the expense of altering the "natural" environment.
Examples of ex vivo specimen use include: assays; realistic models for surgical procedure development; investigations into the interaction of different energy types with tissues;
Drug-Induced Lupus (DIL)
Drug-induced lupus (DIL) is an autoimmune disorder similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As with SLE, the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. DIL is caused by an overreaction to a medication.
People with DIL may have symptoms that affect the joints, heart, and lungs. Lupus nephritis and other symptoms associated with SLE are rare in people with DIL.
Once the medication that caused DIL is stopped, symptoms may go away over time. Treatment usually involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or antimalarial drugs.
Diuretics are sometimes called "water pills" because they increase the rate of the body's urine output. They are prescribed to treat congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, edema (water retention), and certain kinds of kidney or liver disease.
For lupus patients, diuretics are used to treat nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys.
Discoid rash
Discoid rash is red, scaly patches on skin that cause scarring.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Discoid lupus
Discoid lupus is the most common manifestation of the skin disorder chronic cutaneous lupus. It is characterized characterized by red, inflamed disc-like patches that have a scaling, crusty appearance. Discoid lupus usually occurs on the scalp, face, and neck. The condition can strike at any age among people of all ethnic groups.
Discoid lupus lesions can be induced or exacerbated by exposure to the sun. Early diagnosis and treatment and precautionary measures greatly improve outcomes. Untreated, discoid lupus can lead to scarring and permanent hair loss.
Dendritic cells
Dendritic cells play a critical role in the regulation of the immune response in humans. They are antigen-presenting cells, meaning that their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the surface of other cells of the immune system.
These cells can be found in tissue that is exposed to the external environment, such as skin, the inner lining of the nose, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
The part that dendritic cells play in the manifestation of lupus is uncertain, which is why the ALR has funded several studies to grasp a better understanding of how these cells work.
Cytokines are chemicals produced by T-cells in response to the presence of an antigen. Cytokines cause B-cells to release antibodies.
Cyclophosphamide is an immunosupressive medication used to treat cancer, severe SLE and lupus nephritis. In lupus, cyclophosphamide is used when other drugs prove ineffective or are too invasive. However, cyclophosphamide can cause an adverse drug reactions.
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Lupus is a serious disease that can affect multiple organs and systems of the body — including the skin, which may lead to eruptions of hives and lesions. There are three lupus-specific lesions and non-specific lesions — and cutaneous lupus may be divided into three categories: chronic cutaneous lupus (CCLE), subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) and acute cutaneous lupus (ACLE). All three subsets are aggravated by exposure to sunlight.
- Chronic cutaneous lupus (CCLE): The most common form of CCLE is discoid lupus. It is a painful chronic skin condition characterized by red, inflamed disc-like patches that have a scaling, crusty appearance. Discoid lupus usually occurs on the scalp, face, and neck. The condition can strike at any age among people of all ethnic groups.
Discoid lupus lesions can be induced or exacerbated by exposure to the sun. Early diagnosis and treatment and precautionary measures greatly improve outcomes. Untreated, discoid lupus can lead to scarring and permanent hair loss.
- Sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE): Characterized by lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to sun, SCLE makes up approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases. Lesions from SCLE do not cause permanent scarring.
- Acute cutaneous lupus (ACLE): This skin condition occurs when lupus is active and is generally characterized by rash and lesions. Often localized across the bridge of the nose and spreading to both sides of the face, it appears in a butterfly pattern.
But ACLE is not restricted to the face. It can appear on other parts of the body, as well. ACLE usually occurs as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light.
CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
CRP is a blood protein that is produced by the liver. High levels of CRP are caused by inflammation and infections. Levels of CRP can dramatically elevate in a period of hours and are usually present in people with SLE. Measuring the amount of CRP in the body is a screen for infectious and inflammatory diseases like lupus.
Corticosteroids are drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that is naturally produced in the adrenal glands.
In one of the most common treatments for lupus, corticosteroids—or steroids as they are more commonly termed—are used to reduce the production of inflammation and reduce the activity of the immune system in order to minimize tissue damage. A physician's decision to prescribe steroids is based on the potential benefits and risks, which vary from patient to patient.
Connective tissue
Connective tissue is the material inside your body that supports many of its parts. It is the "cellular glue" that gives your tissues their shape and helps keep them strong. It also helps some of your tissues do their work. Cartilage and fat are examples of connective tissue.
There are over 200 disorders that impact connective tissue. Some, like cellulitis, are the result of an infection. Injuries can cause connective tissue disorders, such as scars. Others, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta, are genetic. Still others, like scleroderma, have no known cause. Each disorder has its own symptoms and needs different treatment.
Source: NIH.gov
A group of people used in a study who have something (such as lupus) in common.
Clinical trial
Clinical trial is a prospective biomedical or behavioral research study of human subjects that is designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions (drugs, treatments, devices, or new ways of using known drugs, treatments, or devices). Clinical trials are used to determine whether new biomedical or behavioral interventions are safe, efficacious, and effective.
Source: NIH.gov
Chronic disease
Chronic diseases are noncommunicable illnesses that are prolonged in duration, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely.
Although chronic diseases are more common among older adults, they affect people of all ages and are now recognized as a leading health concern of the nation. Growing evidence indicates that a comprehensive approach to prevention can save tremendous costs and needless suffering.
Source: CDC.gov
Chronic Cutaneous Lupus (CCLE)
Chronic cutaneous lupus (CCLE) is one of three subsets of the general lupus skin disorder called cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
The most common type of CCLE is discoid lupus, a painful chronic skin condition characterized by red, inflamed disc-like patches that have a scaling, crusty appearance. Discoid lupus usually occurs on the scalp, face, and neck. The condition can strike at all ages and among all ethnic groups.
Butterfly rash
Butterfly rash is a red flat facial rash involving the malar region bilaterally and the bridge of the nose. The presence of a butterfly rash is generally a sign of lupus erythematosus (LE), but it can also include a plethora of conditions. The case presented here is of a female with butterfly rash along with typical bright red discoloration of gingiva. The clinical, histopathological and biochemical investigations suggested the presence of rosacea.
Source: NIH.gov
BLyS-specific inhibitors
BLyS-specific inhibitors are a class of medications, such as belimumab, that prevent BLyS proteins from stimulating the growth of auto-reactive B cells.
Biomarkers are essentially proteins, enzymes, or other molecules in the body that can be used as tracers of diagnosis or indicators of disease activity. In the case of lupus, immune cells that are either more common in —or exclusive to — patients with lupus produce biomarkers.
Today, scientists are looking to at biomarkers as early predictors of lupus flares. Biomarkers also hold the promise of enhancing diagnostic accuracy, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment response.
Biologic is a process or phenomenon connected with life or living organisms.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Belimumab, commonly known as Benlysta, is the first new drug therapy to be approved by the FDA in more than 50 years. Belimumab is a human antibody that inhibits B-cell activating factor (BAFF).
Significant decreases in the number of activated B cells have been observed in some patients. However, in testing, the drug was not effective with all types of lupus and showed little benefit among African Americans. More testing is planned for the more severe cases of lupus, including people with kidney and brain damage. Belimumab holds the promise of reduced disease manifestation and the sparing use of corticosteroid.
Is the acronym for the term B-cell activating factor.
B-lymphocyte stimulator
Also known as B-cell activating factor, or BAFF, B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is a cytokine that is vital for the survival of B cells. High levels or overproduction of BLyS is linked to lupus.
The BLyS protein is expressed by a wide variety of cell types, including monocytes, activated neutrophils, and T cells.
B cells
Like T cells, B cells are a type of blood cell that belong to a group of white blood cells (WBCs) called lymphocytes, which help the body fight infection.
When B cells encounter an antigen (infection or a foreign body), they become activated and produce molecules called antibodies that attach to the surface of the infectious agent. These antibodies either kill the infection-causing organism or make it vulnerable to attack by other WBCs. This process guards the body against infection.
These vital cells are called B cells because they are created in bone marrow. Once matured, B cells are present in the blood and lymph nodes.
The function of B cells and T cells is vital to the immune system, allowing humans to ward off and better cope with often-hostile bacteria, viruses, and other foreign matter.
Autoreactive B cells
B cells are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. In lupus this process malfunctions, causing the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Therefore, B cells are essential for the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.
Autoreactive B cells are generally considered to be the source of autoantibodies, causing the body to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism in recognizing its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity is often caused by a lack of germ development of a target body and as such the immune response acts against its own cells and tissues. Prominent examples include Celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), Sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Addison's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and allergies. Autoimmune diseases are very often treated with steroids.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Autoimmune disease
An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, including infectious agents. Patients with autoimmune diseases frequently have unusual antibodies circulating in their blood that target their own body tissues.
An autoantibody is an antibody that works against one's own tissues or cells.
An assay is an investigative (analytic) procedure in laboratory medicine, pharmacology, environmental biology, and molecular biology for qualitatively assessing or quantitatively measuring the presence or amount or the functional activity of a target entity (the analyte) which can be a drug or biochemical substance or a cell in an organism or organic sample.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints and it involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Usually the joint inflammation goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur in men or women. Osteoarthritis is the most common type.
Source NIH.gov
Apoptosis is the natural process of cell death, which is a normal function of the body. When cells die, the debris is cleared by macrophages, or white blood cells within tissues. In people with lupus, however, apoptosis may play a role in disease manifestation.
Lupus patients may not be able to effectively clear apoptotic cells, which can evoke the production of cytokines. The cytokines cause B-cells to release antibodies—and in lupus, antibodies mistakenly attack healthy tissue and organs.
Antiphospholipid antibodies
Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) are a type of protein that usually helps the body ward off infection. However, in lupus, APLAs mistakenly attack phospholipids, which is a type of fat found in in all living cells, including blood and the lining of blood vessels.
APLAs can interfere with blood vessels' normal function, potentially altering clotting and leading to strokes, blood clots, miscarriages, and low platelet counts.
APLAs are present in about one-third of people with SLE.
Antinuclear antibodies
Antinuclear antibodies are antibodies that target proteins within the nuclei of cells. In autoimmune diseases like lupus, antinuclear antibodies can signal the body to begin attacking itself.
Most people have autoantibodies, but the presence of large amounts of them may indicate an autoimmune disease. There is a test that measures pattern and amount of autoantibodies. More than 95 percent of people with lupus test positive.
In immunology, an antigen is a substance that evokes the production of one or more antibodies. Each antibody binds to a specific antigen by way of an interaction similar to the fit between a lock and a key. The substance may be from the external environment or formed within the body. The immune system will try to destroy or neutralize any antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. The term originally came from antibody generator[1][2] and was a molecule that binds specifically to an antibody, but the term now also refers to any molecule or molecular fragment that can be bound by a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and presented to a T-cell receptor.[3] "Self" antigens are usually tolerated by the immune system, whereas "non-self" antigens can be identified as invaders and can be attacked by the immune system.
Anticoagulants are substances that hinder blood from clotting by suppressing coagulation. Among their many benefits, anticoagulants are used in preventing stroke and thrombosis (formation of a blood clot in the heart). They are also used in drawing blood and flushing catheters.
Anticoagulant therapy is used to treat lupus patients. About one-third of people with the disease have antibodies to molecules that make them susceptible to blood clots.
Antibodies are the cells and molecules of the immune system that detect and attack invaders. In diseases like lupus, antibodies mistakenly attack a patient's own tissue and organs.
Anti-SM are antibodies closely associated with lupus. Nearly all individuals with anti-SM antibodies have lupus—but only 20 percent of people with lupus have these antibodies. Anti-SM is rarely found in people with other rheumatic diseases and its incidence in healthy individuals is less than 1 percent. The presence of anti-SM is an indication of systemic lupus and is a factor in diagnosing the disease.
Anti-RNP antibodies
Ribonucleprotein (RNP) is a protein that is structurally associated with DNA. Anti-RNP antibodies are autoantibodies that are associated with lupus and are detected in nearly 40 percent of lupus patients. Anti-RNP is also closely associated with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), which features signs and symptoms similar to those of lupus.
RNP is a factor in both lupus and MCTD, which leads to an abnormal immune reaction causing inflammation of and damage to various body parts and can affect joins, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and the brain.
The term anti-inflammatory refers to an agent or mechanism that counteracts or suppresses inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory drugs help to reduce the inflammatory response and are the most common type of medication used to treat the pain and discomfort of people living with lupus.
Anti-inflammatories are divided into two categories—non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids or steroids.
Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (ACA)
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are antibodies that are present in autoimmune diseases like lupus to directly attack cardiolipin, a protein that is very common in the body. As the name implies, cardiolipin is found mostly in the heart, and secondly in skeletal muscles.
Much remains unclear about the presence of ACA. Possible risks for pathological conditions in patients with lupus include: thrombosis (clotting), fetal loss, and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) – yet, ACA are also present in individuals with no apparent ill effects. It appears that more research is needed to grasp a better understanding of this antibody.
AMP – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
Acute Cutaneous Lupus (ACLE)
Acute cutaneous lupus (ACLE) is one of three subsets of the general lupus skin disorder called cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
This condition occurs when lupus is active and is generally characterized by rash and lesions, often localized across the face in a butterfly pattern. However, ACLE can appear on other parts of the body, as well. ACLE usually occurs as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light. Without predictability, symptoms may come and go and severity varies greatly from person to person.
(JAK) Janus Kinase Inhibitors
Janus kinase inhibitors also known as JAK inhibitors are a type of medication that functions by inhibiting the activity of one or more of the Janus kinase family of enzymes (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2), thereby interfering with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. These inhibitors have therapeutic application in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.


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Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
A place for the discussion of all things not closely related to the sport and its competitive side. (as always, locked for the duration of major international championship)
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
It is interesting to see some of the comments from some people that seem to not care at all that Lance may have been doing PED. Maybe all cyclists of a generation (or more) were doing drugs and he was part of that era. That is no excuse for the collective group to have led the sport to where it is, all for the sake of their own personal glory and wealth.
Lance Armstrong going down may be one of the biggest things to happen for the sporting community in a very positive way. It may finally open the eyes to a deceived and naive public many people about the doping problem in sports and the fact that athletes (even heroes) often get away with it. Perhaps that will lead to some changes that will help clean up sports in the future.
I believe Lance will go down in shame and also believe it is deservedly so. He has trampled on countless people who have stated what they did in the belief it would help the sport and has done so to maintain his personal glory and fame. It is a shame there are so many that have been complicit in this deception on the public.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
There were three things that I thought were notable from Hamilton's 60 Minutes interview.
1) Hamilton said that U.S. Postal already had a doping program before Armstrong joined the team.
2) He also said that Armstrong never tried to encourage or pressure him into doping, and that it was only after he asked Armstrong for dope that Armstrong put him in contact with his doping contacts.
2) He said that Armstrong flunked a drug test in the 2001 Tour of Switzerland that got swept under the rug. I find this interesting because having been to the 2000 and 2001 Tours de France, the one thing that amazed me is the strong American presence at Tour during the Armstrong era. It was common to walk into restaurants and bars in which half the patrons were American cycling fans and I remember thinking that Armstrong's dominance was probably a cash cow for the French tourism industry. In 2004, the year Armstrong broke the record for Tour victories, I remember Phil Liggett reporting that there were a half million Americans on the Champs Elysees when the peleton road into Paris. Is it plausible that the powers-that-be decided that there was simply too much money to be lost by too many people to let Lance's positive drug test stand? Would that have been any different than how the NCAA handled Cam Newton and "the Ohio State 5" during last year's bowl season?
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Of course!! This is part of our corrupt culture in the world, he who has the gold makes the rules. (And those who get the crumbs keep trying to make sure those crumbs benefit them!)
Interesting in that interview where the Swiss lab who handled the 2001 Tour produced a document where they informed anti-doping agencies about irregularities, and also mentioned somehow a meeting was arranged between the lab and Lance's group. Wonder how much green backs traded hands over that whole fiasco. Not just the "donations" to UCI but to "others" involved
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Just watched 60 Minutes on the DVR and yup, Lance is toast. The General Public is indeed pretty blasé about this sort of stuff, but once the perp gets fingered, they throw him immediately under the bus. This ain't gonna be pretty.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
You can catch the video here. Hamilton lays it on the line, to be sure. Interesting use of Marion Jones.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
different game now ... same rules as then ... "follow the money"
hopefully this won't get strung out like that 'other' game
well "I am not a crook"
not a surprise but
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
at this point the topic diverged widely enough (into the NBA) that it warranted splitting, so hoops is now found elsewhere. (Amstrong is found hiding under a rock somewhere)
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
A FB friend found this on letsrun:
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read. ... z1NCYeBPo3
"I am a former professional cyclist. I competed briefly in Europe for a pro-continental team. I wasn't very good but I did see a lot of clean athletes trying to break through and I just want to put to rest this idea that lance doped in a culture of doping so it was a level playing field.
YES it was a culture of doping and YES if all his TDF results were nullified his successor would almost certainly also be doped.
1) However, there are hundreds of clean pro cyclists who, skipped college to pursue a dream, also biked 4-6 hours day, and earned 15-25k a year for a relatively short period.
I have friends who train like mad men and are unemployed or drawing a meager wage because doped riders jump past them and suck up money.
If lance et al. had not doped there would have been CLEAN athletes who would have extended their careers and increased their wages. They wouldnt have won the tour de France but they would have been more competitive in races. Velonews has a report on a rider right now who quit postal because he decided he did not want to do drugs and felt he had no other choice.
2) Dopers suck money out of the sport. Teams fold and clean cyclists, team managers, mechanics, and soigneurs lose their jobs when these scandals come out. For every doping scandal there is a financial fall out that hurts people that are just trying to make a decent living working in a sport they are passionate about. When Floyd Landis's scandal broke, I was actively seeking a pro contract, and saw first hand how the scandal had a ripple effect that went all the way down to the grass roots of the sport. MOney that would have been there for young developing cyclists disappeared.
3) Lance has not just denied doping he has vindictively destroyed careers, smeared people in the name of extending lies. He does not deserve a break in any way. He seems to have a Godfather morality where anyone who breaks away from the "family" deserves to be destroyed.
Take the example of Simeoni, when Lance chased down that breakaway. I cannot even begin to express how crucial those early breaks are in the TDF for a riders career. Getting in the early break, something that is never shown on TV, is incredibly difficult on so many levels. When a rider gets in a break, on a TDF stage where the GC teams are trying to let a break go, that is their BIG shot. Their Eminem lose yourself moment. When Lance chased down Simeoni he was essentially destroying a man's once a year opportunity and directly harming his ability to put food on his kids table all because he decided to start telling the truth. He also directly affected everyone else in that breakaway who wasn't even involved. When Simeoni dropped out of the breakaway so Telekom would stop chasing it was an incredibly honorable thing to do where he sacrificed this career changing opportunity so that his breakaway companions could have a shot at a life changing TDF stage win.
He has dragged Betsy Andreu's name through the mud all because she decided not to be a wife who accepts immorality. She decided not to silently accept a culture of doping. She's not even a cyclist but Lance has publicly trashed her name and drug her through the mud because she told the truth.
He has trashed journalists, former employees, newspapers et al. who have only told the truth.
He lied in order to get a multi million dollar bonus from a company that had insured his bonus for winning the the TDF. He cost that company millions of dollars in legal fees and the pay out and don't think that didn't cost honest people jobs.
Lance Armstrong is an amazing athlete, yes. But the man has done things that are reprehensible to continue lying. Lets not make excuses for him because he's a great athlete."
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
There is yet another conundrum with Lance which is that a lot of people made a lot more money in the sport because he brought in a ton of new money. The money there is not a zero-sum game.
I must say, I never really liked him as an individual, however. I liked Greg LeMond better but he has certainly rubbed me the wrong way a bunch as well.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I think it's unfair to lay cycling's PED problem at the feet of Amrstrong. Lance won his first Tour in 1999 and Alex Zulle, an admitted doper, was second that year. In 1996, the year Lance was diagnosed with cancer, Bjarne Riis, an admitted doper, won the Tour, Jan Ullrich, a convicted doper, was second and Richard Virenque, an admitted doper was third. In 1997, the year Lance was recuperating from cancer, Ullrich won the Tour, Virenque was second and Marco Pantani, a convicted doper, was third. In 1998, Pantani won and Ullrich was second.
My main problem I have with him is that he went after folks like Betsy Andreu, who wasn't a rat, but was subpoenaed. She had no intention of ever spilling the beans prior to being dragged into the courtroom. At least Barry Bonds and Mark McGuire have never carried out these types of vendettas. Also, I think Floyd Landis is a rat who was only out to save his own ass and didn't care who he had to bring down in order to do it. There is no honor among dopers like Landis and Jose Canseco.
As for the Simeoni affair in 2004 (or was it 2005?), that's when I became convinced that the entire peleton was dirty. Before Lance pulled that stunt, he could be seen dropping back into the peleton to consult with his "assistant patrons", especially a few of the top Italian cyclists to see if they were okay with what he was about to do. After Simeoni was forced to drop back, into the peleton, you could see riders going up to Lance and patting him on the back.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I'd certainly agree with this and have consistently held the position that--among the top finishers--it's been a "level playing field" for a long time. It's just that Armstrong is the biggest fish in that pond.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I agree with jazz's post, which was well done.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Good grief yes. Whatever you think of LA it was a problem long before he showed up. There were a number of deaths of Dutch cyclists in the 80's from some form of blood boosting agent, when Armstrong was still a teenager. But I suppose it was still his fault.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I don't know where I have read that stated that doping was all Lance's fault. But it almost sickening to me to see people say it does not matter, or look at all the other good things he is doing, just leave him alone. I like the post from Dr. Jay. There are plenty of people who have been hurt.
Almost all of his top competitor's have fallen and his deserves to fall as well.
No one forced a drug culture on cycling. Collectively one by one cyclists over time compromised their principles for the sake of personal gain until it consumed virtually the entire peleton. But I am willing to bet that there were cyclists who were clean that were possibly cheated out of the fame and fortune and due rewards because of those who were willing to compromise their integrity. Therefore, if the sponsorship money dries up for cycling as a whole for a while, so be it, they will have earned it.
Lance also appears to have had help that many others have not had, which is the willingness of people in high places to cover for him when things haven't gone right (i.e. TdS in 2001). His fame and fortune were able to help him dope in ways his competition were not able to duplicate.
Also, the people that Lance has turned against and tried to destroy aren't all the Landis and Hamilton's of the world. Some of these people simply wanted to clean up a dirty sport and many are now labled as "rats" because they simply wanted a level playing field and what is best for the sport. That is sad.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
And long before the Dutch, remember that the first Olympic death that was drug related was a Danish (?) cyclist on amphetamines in '60.
I have nothing to back this thought other than the logic of the whole thing, but I suspect that after the WWII experience of doping soldiers to the gills to keep them functioning that it wasn't long thereafater that somebody put two and two together and the peloton was changed forever.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
A good bit of this DOES date back to the of performance enhancers in WWII, and not just in cycling. But, again, at the time all this was just seen as smart science.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Didn't the Swedes take the fartlek interval training to higher altitude forests in the thirties already? They may or may not have known the exact physiology of hematocrit enhancement, but they clearly saw the results.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I can't answer that offhand, but I've been the one saying that all this "really" dates from the 1870s/80s and the use of stimulants.
The bottom line is: there is no era of "modern" athletics in which one can say, absolutely, that NO ONE was doing anything we'd now call "illegal." This has nothing to do with illegality at the time (because these things weren't) and we're not talking about "everyone" doing anything. Nevertheless, by today's Puritan standards, there is no era that would obviously qualify as "pure" or "untainted."
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
That is clearly so. My focus was a lot more narrow since with the cycling "doping", we are primarily talking about manipulation of hematocrit/O2 transfer that progressively graduated from interval to altitude training to hyperbaric chambers to allotransfusion to autotransfusion to EPO. I might have omitted some others.
What I am saying is that this is a lot more physiological than, say, steroids or HGH (with EPO being an exception as it could be life-threatening). Not only are the suits not considering legalization of autotransfusion, but from what I read, they are considering banning hyperbaric and even some versions of altitude training. This is insane, IMHO.
All (or at least most) of those deaths attributable to high hematocrit could be avoided by transferring their administration from snake oil salesmen to professionals familiar with hematology and exercise physiology.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Backing up E Garry, remember that Eddy Merckx, who raced professionally from 1965-1976, was caught doping twice. This goes back in cycling to at least the 1920s, although back then it was mostly amphetamines.
Because of my Olympic interest I get asked to do some other stuff, and recently finished a book called Historical Dictionary of Cycling. Here are the opening paragraphs for the entry on doping, which gives an outline for how far back this goes:
The first implication of doping in cycling may go back to the 19th century, when trainer Choppy Warburton was banned from the sport for suspicions of drugging his riders. Warburton coached Arthur Linton, who won Bordeaux-Paris in 1896, but was suspected of being doped by Warburton during that race.
In 1924 Henri Pélissier and his brother, Charles, admitted to various doping methods, describing in an interview their use of strychnine, cocaine, chloroform, aspirin, and horse ointments, although they later noted that the writer had exaggerated their claims. By the 1940s Italian campionissimo Fausto Coppi freely admitted to doping, calling it "la bomba," and said there was no alternative if one hoped to stay competitive.
In 1955 French rider Jean Malléjac collapsed in the Tour de France near the top of Mont Ventoux, and it was attributed to doping. He had been riding wildly and sporadically and fell off his bike with one foot still in his toe clip. He later stated he had been drugged against his will and proclaimed his innocence to his death in 2000. Roger Rivière, a star of the late 1950s, who was paralyzed after a crash in the 1960 Tour, later admitted to doping during his career, and even said his career-ending accident was possibly due to the use of painkilling drugs which had affected his reflexes and judgment.
At the 1960 Olympic Games, Danish rider Knud Enemark Jensen fell off his bike during the team time trial. His fall caused a fractured skull, but blood analysis in the hospital also showed that he had used Ronicol, a peripheral vasodilator, and amphetamines. Because of the fractured skull, however, the drugs were not implicated as the direct cause of death. But Jensen's death would later lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to start an anti-doping campaign, which would begin with the 1968 Olympics.
In 1965 Tour superstar Jacques Anquetil admitted during a television interview that he used drugs, stating that it was common at the time, and that a man could not ride Bordeaux-Paris or the grand tours while riding only on water. On 1 June 1965, performance-enhancing drugs were made illegal in France and in July 1966 the Tour authorities began testing the riders for drugs, with Raymond Poulidor the first rider to be tested on 29 July.
During the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France Tom Simpson fell off his bike near the summit of Mont Ventoux. He could not be revived and died later that day. His autopsy would reveal that he had been on amphetamines and alcohol while riding, and his death was probably the major impetus to begin the fight against doping.
In 1969 and 1973, the greatest rider of all-time, Eddy Merckx, twice tested positive for banned substances and was disqualified from races. In that era, there were no long-term bans and he continued riding. At the 1972 Olympics Jaime Huélamo was disqualified after placing third in the men's road race, having tested positive for coramine. Another rider, Aad van den Hoek, also tested positive for coramine and was disqualified, which eliminated the Dutch team from the team time trial, after they had placed third.
In 1979 the polka dot jersey, Giovanni Battaglin, tested positive for doping on stage 13. He was penalized 10 minutes in general classification, and lost the mountain points he won on stage 13, but continued to race and eventually won the mountains classification. Shortly thereafter, Freddy Maertens admitted to the French newspaper L'Équipe that he had used amphetamines during his career, and said that it was just like all other professional riders who did the same.
Just after the 1984 Olympics, the United States' cyclists were implicated in doping for the first time, when it was revealed that several members of the US cycling team had undergone blood doping to prepare for the Games. At the time this was not illegal and no penalties were assessed, though it was considered a doping practice. Blood doping became illegal in international sport in 1985.
In the late 1980s eryrthropoietin (EPO) became widely available as a way to increase a person's hematocrit (Hct), a measure of blood count. Initially used by anemic patients, especially those on dialysis or undergoing chemotherapy, professional cyclists and runners soon found that using it could boost their Hct, allowing for more oxygen carrying capacity, without resorting to blood doping. Unfortunately overuse of EPO can raise a healthy person's hematocrit to dangerous levels, causing the blood to sludge, possibly causing strokes or heart attacks. Between 1987 and 1991 18 different European professional cyclists, seemingly healthy young men, died suddenly, and EPO was suspected in many of the unusual deaths. One rider was Dutch cyclist Johannes Draaijer, whose wife stated that he became ill after using EPO.
It goes on, but I'll stop at the Festina Scandal of 1998.
As to Dr Jay's post, a few guys I know on the inside say that Armstrong is one of the most despicable people they have ever known. As to the mention of LeMond, I really like LeMond and think he has never gotten due credit for being the American to break through the European hegemony in pro cycling. I think some of the stuff he has done going after Armstrong has been a little weird. But if you ask me, I would suspect LeMond probably used some stuff in the 1980s as well - everybody was doing it, even then.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
French climbers (and thus, probably others) were using amphetamines on big peaks in the 1950s. See "Aconcagua South Face" by Rene Ferlet. He was quite casual in his descriptions of taking them high on the 10,000' face, as casual as we'd describe taking a few Advil today.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Apparently because we have an athlete we're supposed to like, we can come up with rationalizations. Had we had an athlete we're supposed to dislike, it would be hang em high.
While I'm not particularly against the use of PEDs, there are standards here which appear that there's a good chance were broken whether anyone received an advantage or not. If this were not the problem that some are trying to downplay then it would be no issue for the athletes and they could simply state that they took them and move on. Instead we have athletes denying usage despite all common sense analysis to the contrary and couching their words in a way to avoid being caught whether it be legally or public opinion.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Swiss mountaineers (guides, rescuers) have traditionally used strychnine. They would start with a low dose, progressively increasing it beyond a standard lethal dose.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Thanks. This is excellent and sobering stuff. Makes it a bit hard to pretend that nailing one guy to the wall now is going to solve much of anything. I'm all for guilt being punished, etc., but what we're really talking about here is not primarily a personal failing, but something much bigger.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I hear Italian beef is pretty good right now, and in demand the last three weeks....
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Armstrong wants an apology from "60 Minutes".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/0 ... 69597.html
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
I think 60 Minutes is on the edge of losing its credibility on this one in a manner that was unnecessary:
[from link above]
""60 Minutes" also reported that the UCI officials brokered a meeting involving Armstrong and Saugy's World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab, which tested the Swiss race samples.
Saugy told the Swiss daily Neue Zurcher Zeitung last week that he met with Armstrong and then-U.S. Postal team manager Johan Bruyneel, but not in Lausanne as Hamilton claimed and unconnected to a suspicious test result."
Why [did 60 Minutes] put in something that they are not sure of and have everyone say 'what else is not right'. This situation presents itself in spades because the primary discussants are two individuals who have been 'loose with the truth' on this score for a long time. It lets Armstrong keep with his same strategy without having to dodge and weave at all.
Several have cited Canseco and how people did not believe him. There is a fundamental difference in that he did not deny for years having used PEDs even after having tested positive. Rather he stated his and implicated others initially.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
What about Andreu and Hincapie?
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
Hincapie did not say anything; they have you taking their word for it that he said some things and someone broke the law by passing it on. This is exactly the form of content that gets its credibility diminished by having one of their other pieces 'shown' to be wrong.
I think that they thought they had to many many things, and by reaching too far they may have taken a hit on the credibility, especially if they have to publicly retract something. I think it was an unfortunate choice of strategy. I am not sure have the typical person will view this, since I cannot put myself in that role because I know too much to be 'typical' in this sense.
Now 'everyone' will say -- I guess I will wait until the Feds do something and then if they do not have the smoking gun for real I am all for Lance... [I guess that I am saying that I have gone more and more to the Lance is guilty as well as a self-centered individual who can be a jerk. I have never wanted to 'go meet him', although there are various opportunities because Trek is just down the road. Jazz, you are probably one reason for my deepening skepticism.]
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
It strikes me more of Saugy bowing to pressures being exerted on him from outside forces. He tells 60 minutes one thing (probably the truth) and is now facing problems of his own. Why would a lab director meet with Lance and his coach in an approximate time to when this was all supposed to have gone down? Still way too odd. My guess is the Saugy has felt some heat he did not expect and is trying to wiggle his way out of it the best he can.
Re: Columnist looks at "trolls" who are anti-Armstrong
There are several relevant pieces on Cyclingnews.com, especially:
"Gerard Vroomen has never shied away from the discussion on doping and in two recent blog posts on his personal website he raised issues over the media's reporting of the issue. After a recent restructure at Cervelo, in which he stepped down from his position as CEO, the former manager of the Cervelo TestTeam was quick to point that the views posted on his blog were his alone but talked openly about his feelings on Ivan Basso, Fränk Shleck and the journalistic endeavour into doping."...
Vrooman is the co-founder of the team that then had Basso win the Giro and Shleck linked to Operation Puerto.
Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" accused and stripped - first of six acts June 29 2012
Last Prophet predicted 2004 that the greatest cycling champion ever, Lance Armstrong would be executed the same way as Marion Jones:
- first: falsely accused of doping, as may others before, as oart of the agenda behind the illuminati doping conspiracy; (1)
- second: all major TITLES erased from the official medals table, which is also part of the "Rewrite History" agenda pushed to the utter limits.
In 2007 Last Prophet explained that Usain Bolt would be executed the same way as Lance Armstrong.
In 2008 after the Usain Bolt set his world records in Beijing Olympics, Last Prophet explained that Usain Bolt became the fastest man ever AND FOREVER.
Immediately after the illuminati were forced to use plan B for the 2008 elections and have "Obama" play counterfeit president and have him detonate as suicide bomber (like Nixon) later,
Last Prophet explained that illuminati actor "Obama" would be executed the same way (2) as the two greatest sports champions ever, Armstrong and Bolt:
- accused of all sort of crimes (forging birth certificazte; murdering his "granny", etc);
- stripped of his title, i.e. Hillary Clinton declared 44th president and successor of GW Bush.
All this part also of the supervised ethnic civil war script, to be launched together with the collapse of banks and anihilation of savings and pension funds of human cattle.
The first of these six acts (accusation, titles stripping of Armstrong. Bolt and "Obama") timely took place (3) on June 29, 2012, hours before the start of the Tour de France. The
(1) http://doping-conspiracy.blogspot.pt/20 ... ll-be.html
(2) http://rewrite-history.blogspot.pt/2009 ... nia-v.html
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Notes (continued)
The next five acts won't take as long as the first did. Actually they are all scheduled for 2012.
(3) Lance Armstrong to face charges from U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
June 29, 2012
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/o ... igs30.html
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Matt, you're the best.
You are the sunshine of my life.
You are the wind beneath my wings
You are the . . . well. you get the picture.
I love you, man!
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Where are the Men In The White Suits when you need them ?!
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Maybe they are watching him, with a computer in his rubber room. This could be part of the therapy. Post nonsense here, instead of going out and doing real damage.
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
Yo Matt, if you think your Prophet is impressive for coming up with "Lance Armstrong to face charges from U.S. Anti-Doping Agency", then I think you should upgrade to a A standard guy!
Re: Lance Armstrong. Usain Bolt, "Hussein Obama II" stripped
i never understood why the obamaphobes are so obsessed with the "hussein" part of his name, when "barack" is a perfectly good arab name as well...
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