The Rule In / Rule Out Method of Diagnosis: It should be clear.

October 1, 2005

The more I read about this " not being proven " , the more I am wondering about how

new disease states are discovered. I have never been to medical school, but

physicians are taught in medical school " SPin " and " SNout " .

In other words,

" SPin " : a specific test rules a disease in. 'Specificity' means are we

measuring the right thing.

" SNout " : a sensitive test rules a disease out. 'Sensitivity' means what is the

lowest amount detectable.

As far as ruling diseases out, tests for Lupus, MS, Rheuamatoid arthritis, and

numerous others come back negative. Being that they ruled these diseases out,

it must be " something else " . Even allergy tests (blood and skin) come back

negative, so you know it is something esle than allergies. A recent article

posted by KC from the Mayo Clinic explains that in cases of 'toxic mold

syndrome', 25% of them were not allergic and they stated that further

investigation is needed.

As for ruling diseases in, (from Dr. Shoemaker) the susceptible genotypes (which

is 24% of people, which is eerily similiar to the 25% statistic above), VCS

test, MSH, immunosuppression and other physiological changes are a common thread

of symptoms among exposed individuals. With the re-exposure trials, where he

re-exposes patients to the contaminated building after treating them with

cholestyramine, only to see their symptoms return and their test results return

to abnormal, shows the cause and effect.

I have stated this before, but the paradigm of treating patients is:

1. History - we were healthy before moving in

2. Physical - we all have similiar symptoms. (see above)

3. Diagnostic Testing - the 'case definition' of this illness has been

described by Dr. Shoemaker

4. Lifestyle Change - our symptoms improve with avoidance, unless the

susceptible genotypes who can't get the toxins out of their system.

5. Pharmacotherapy - cholestyramine shows symptomatic and physiological

improvements. It is not a cure, but more of a shield.

The facts are here. The people are here. The non-believers can say whatever

they want. This illness is real. We are real. And we will get better and

prevail.

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for Good

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