Michael Vick pleads NOT GUILTY…to DOG Fighting Charges…

In from RICHMOND, Virginia, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded not guilty Thursday to dogfighting charges, and a trial date was set for November after his defense attorney asked a judge for a delay, citing the complexity of the case.

Attorney Lawrence Woodward, in making the request of U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, noted that some of the charges against Michael Vick involve activities outside the Eastern District of Virginia and that forensic evidence must be collected.

Under federal guidelines, prosecutors must be ready to go to trial within 70 days. Hudson set Michael Vick’s trial date for November 26.

Mickey Sherman, a criminal defense attorney not involved in the Vick case, told CNN, “This case I don’t think is winnable.”

If he were Michael Vick’s lawyer, “I’d be making a deal as quickly as possible,” Sherman said on “CNN Newsroom.” “… I would admit responsibility. I would be asking for mercy, for forgiveness, and just explaining how incredibly stupid my client was and how he’s going to make amends to society by contributing a billion hours of volunteer work, his next year’s NFL salary, God knows what.”

But apparently, that is not the strategy Micheal Vick’s attorneys are pursuing.“I take these charges very seriously and look forward to clearing my good name,” Michael Vick said through one of his lawyers, Billy Martin.

At an earlier bond hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Dohnal allowed Michael Vick to continue his release under certain conditions. He ordered Michael Vick to surrender his passport and dog-breeding license; not travel outside the Eastern District of Virginia without prior approval; and not buy or sell any dogs.

Michael Vick also cannot violate the law, even traffic laws and cannot have contact with his three co-defendants Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia.

Dohnal said Peace, Phillips and Taylor must undergo random drug tests, but not Michael Vick, as he has no prior convictions.

No cameras were allowed inside the courtroom during the proceedings, which began around 3:30 p.m. ET.

Curious spectators, animal rights activists and Michael Vick supporters, who crowded around the courthouse in anticipation of his arrival, erupted into boos and cheers as he approached, wearing a coat and tie and accompanied by U.S. marshals. Michael Vick did not acknowledge the crowd as he entered the building.

After the hearings, Michael Vick left the courthouse to more boos and cheers, including one woman’s “We love you, Michael!” He stepped into a white Ford SUV, which quickly drove off.

Moments later, Martin said his client “said in a loud and clear voice that he is not guilty of these allegations.”

In his statement, Michael Vick apologized to his mother, family and teammates for the trouble and distraction the case has caused them.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has told Michael Vick to stay away from the Falcons’ training camp while the league finishes its review of the indictment. Goodell also told the Falcons to hold off on any disciplinary action until the review is complete, team owner Arthur Blank said.

Blank called the allegations “very repulsive to all of us,” adding, “It’s not the young man that I’ve gotten to know, certainly.” But he said he has not asked Michael Vick directly whether the allegations are true.

“I felt that was part of a legal process he needs to go through,” Blank said.

Michael Vick and the three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury last week on charges they conspired to organize bloody and vicious dogfights on a piece of property that Michael Vick bought in 2001.

If convicted on both portions of the conspiracy charge, they each could be sentenced to up to six years in prison and fined $350,000, prosecutors said.

According to the federal indictment, dogs that didn’t show enough fighting spirit, or that lost matches, were put to death by a variety of methods, including shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution.

Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, Michael Vick participated in the killing of eight dogs.

Michael Vick is one of pro football’s highest-profile and highest-paid players, signing a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons in 2004. He was a standout at Virginia Tech and the first player chosen in the 2001 NFL draft.

In addition to his Falcons contract, he also has endorsement deals with several companies one of which, shoe giant Nike, has suspended the release of a shoe bearing the quarterback’s name
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Thank you CNN News for this report…
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I THINK THIS REPORT SAYS IT ALL…THUMBS DOWN FOR Michael Vick!

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

MY SPACE and other communituies…Safety and Precautions…ALERT…ALERT

If you have children who are on MySpace or other online communities, you need to re-acquaint yourself and them with this information…

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ ALL OF THIS and HAVE CHILDREN READ IT TOO!

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line. She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:

ByAngel213:
Hi. I’m glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!

GoTo123:
LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you?
Don’t you live in a safe neighborhood?

ByAngel213:
Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz’ I didn’t see anybody when I looked out.

GoTo123:
Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven’t done that have you?

ByAngel213:
Of course not. I’m not stupid you know.

GoTo123:
Did you have a softball game after school today?

ByAngel213:
Yes and we won!!

GoTo123:
That’s great! Who did you play?

ByAngel213:
We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL

GoTo123:
What is your team called?

ByAngel213:
We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.

GoTo1 23:
Did you pitch?

ByAngel213:
No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don’t want them mad at me. Bye!

GoTo123:
Catch you later. Bye

Meanwhile…….GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.

Her name: Shannon
Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
Age: 13
State where she lived: North Carolina

Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School . She had told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He had enough information to find her now.

Shannon didn’t tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day. She didn’t want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacti ng and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn’t be so overprotective.

By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.

Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.

He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn’t look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.

After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.

Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon ’s home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.

Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon ’s house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.

Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room.

‘ Shannon , come here,’ her father called. He sounded upset and she couldn’t imagine why. She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.

‘Sit down,’ her father began, ‘this man has just told us a most interesting story about you.’

Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!

‘Do you know who I am, Shannon ?’ the man asked.

‘No,’ Shannon answered.

‘I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123.’

Shannon was stunned. ‘That’s impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He’s 14. And he lives in Michigan !’

The man smiled. ‘I know I told you all that, but it wasn’t true. You see, Shannon , there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line. You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. You named the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze.’

Shannon was stunned. ‘You mean you don’t live in Michigan ?’

He laughed. ‘No, I live in Raleigh . It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn’t it?’

She nodded.

‘I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn’t as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope you’ve learned a lesson from this and won’t do it again. Tell others about this so they will be safe too?’

‘It’s a promise!’

That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom all knelt down together and thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragic situation.
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We were all there…once…teenagers who thought they knew everything and were so grown up…
Baby Boomers if you have children or grandchildren, let them read this.

And Baby Boomers…remember…this could be you too. You don’t know who you are talking to on the net…be savy, be smart, be safe!

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

WHAT??? Diet Sodas make you FAT???

From the Desk of Dr. Allen:

KATIE COURIC Reports on a CBS NEWS STORY
DIET SODAS ARE FATTENING

Tonight on CBS News, Katie Couric, broke the story that diet sodas are fattening and can increase risk of Metabolic Syndrome and heart disease. This was startling news to the public, and baffling to scientists.

Susan Feely, President of the American Beverage Association, stated “How can something with zero calories that’s 99% water with a little flavoring in it . . cause weight gain?”

CBS quoted studies that show people who drink more than one soft drink a day had a 48 percent increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

DIET SODA CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN

New studies involving over 1,500 subjects have shown that people who drink diet soft drinks don’t lose weight in fact, they gain weight. Researchers stated “What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher.”

In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas. There was a 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day.

For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

* 36.5 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
* 37.5 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
* 54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
* 57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.

For each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person’s risk of obesity went up 41 percent.

WHY?

Cephalic Response: Key Code to Obesity
The real issue for the soda researchers, which was addressed by Katie Couric on CBS news, was why diet sodas cause weight gain. It may be a mystery to most researchers, but the SKINNY SCIENCE research team already has the answer.

Clinical researchers at Glycemic Research Laboratories (GRL) know exactly why and how diet sodas cause weight gain. It’s caused by the Cephalic Response, and the GRL SKINNY SCIENCE team has been studying the effects on humans for the past 20 years.
They, in fact, received the first patent awarded worldwide for this research.

With combined expertise of 90 years, the SKINNY SCIENCE team has delved into the biochemistry that causes the Cephalic Response, including the glycemic index and glycemic response of foods.

The CV’s of the SKINNY SCIENCE researchers reads like a Who’s Who, and actually includes a scientist that is listed in the Who’s Who of American Inventors, the top genetic researcher in the world from NIH, and a renowned MD, PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology, who just won a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The SKINNY SCIENCE research team includes Dr. Ann de Wees Allen, Dr. Clair Francomano, and Dr. Randall Maxey. They can be found at:

www.GlycemicResearchLaboratories.com
www.Glycemic.com
www.SkinnyScience.com
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Thank you Dr Allen…
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Hello Baby Boomers…
It took a long time for this to register in my mutton head…the groves that I call the power source..but it is true!

When I had my last surgery for cancer…yes the BIG C…I was told not to drink diet sodas…because of the very specail kind of cancer I had…the diet suppliment that goes in MOST sodas is very harmful to me and could make my cancer return. Those were very powerful words to a three [3] time cancer survivior!

SO…my point is beware…we all will pass on to some kind of disease or old age…but because I was drinking diet sodas??? Not this Baby Boomer! LOL

Remember EAT and DRINK HEALTY! I want you reading my blogs, until I can’t blog any more!

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

The AMERICAN PIT BULL was once a smiling DOG…via “Our Gang and Buster Brown Shoes…”

In from RALEIGH, North Carolina,the image of the American pit bull terrier was once the smiling dog living in a shoe with Buster Brown, or the lovable pooch with the circle around one eye that used its powerful jaws to pull members of the “Little Rascals” from danger.

But today, many see the pit bull as something very different: As either the center of a rural, Southern white tradition of animal baiting, or the vicious devil dog snarling on the covers of rap CDs or mauling other dogs for big-time purses, as in the recent indictment of NFL star Michael Vick.

“It’s important to understand that this isn’t about race, but it is about culture,” said Cindy Cooke of the United Kennel Club. “One is rural, and the other is urban. But both are equally horrible.”

The colors they have in common, says Cooke, an attorney and legislative specialist for the Michigan-based group that first officially recognized the breed nearly 110 years ago, are the red of blood and green of money.

The blood sport has operated underground for years, but many agree the hip hop use of pit bull images moved it out of the shadows and the Michael Vick case placed it at center stage.

The star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, who is black, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in U.S. District court in Richmond, Virginia, on charges of sponsoring, along with three others, a brutal dogfighting ring on property he owns in Smithfield, site of their Bad Newz Kennels.

The document outlines a cruel operation in which dogs with names like Maniac and Big Boy are forced to do battle in carpeted pits for purses as high as $26,000. The men allegedly “rolled” young dogs in test bouts, and those animals lacking the desired killer instinct were “executed” shot, drowned, electrocuted, hanged or, in one case, bodyslammed to the ground.

“People have this image of them as some kind of uberdog,” Cooke says. “More powerful, more fierce, more terrifying.”

This could not be further from the description put forth by the United Kennel Club. “The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life,” the group’s Web site declares. “This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children.”

The American pit bull was developed in the late 19th century by British breeders crossing bulldogs with terriers. They were “looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog,” the kennel club says.

But to a dogfighter, “gameness” is code for a dog’s ability to keep struggling, even as its body goes into shock from blood loss.

The breed’s image remained largely positive until the late 1970s, when some widely publicized attacks on children started to turn the public’s perception, says Karen Delise, a veterinary technician who has studied fatal dog attacks for 15 years and is the author of the book “The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression.”

Every generation has had its guard dogs the German shepherd, the Rottweiler and others over the years, she says. She blames the music industry in concert with the media and the Internet for making the pit bull the devil dog du jour.

“It’s all tied into the hip hop culture, the image and projection of a dog as an extension of your manhood,” she says. “The pit bull is the ultimate accessory.”

It’s not just white people like Delise saying that.

“Hip-hop culture put Michael Vick in this bind,” declared the headline on a recent column in The Kansas City Star. Staff columnist Jason Whitlock, who is black, said he hoped Michael Vick’s troubles would “serve as yet another wakeup call for black athletes to reject the hip-hop/prison culture that glorifies much of the negative behavior and attitude that has eroded the once-dignified and positive reputation of black athletes.”

Gerald Early, a professor of English and African-American studies at Washington University in St. Louis, thinks there is some truth to the argument that rap and hip hop music have helped make the pit bull the “tough dog of the day.”

Early, who is black and has written extensively on athletics in black culture, says football is a macho sport dominated by black men, many of them raised on rap and “fired up by the sort of romantic image of being a gangster.” Some arrests of players has brought an NFL crackdown effort.

“Michael Vick, of course, becomes a perfect storm,” Early says. “Because just as they’re trying to deal with this image problem, this whole thing comes up.”

The Humane Society of the United States points to CDs such as DMX’s “Grand Champ” — code in the dogfighting world for an animal that’s won five straight contests — or to the video for Jay-Z’s “99 Problems,” which features a pit bull lunging at the camera.

But rap impresario Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records and manager of such acts as Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys, says those images are just reflections of what is happening on our streets.

“That’s the reality,” he told the AP in a telephone interview. “That’s why we have poets, have always had poets and artists in society, to say things that sometimes people don’t say otherwise.”

Simmons co-signed a letter last week with the Rev. Al Sharpton and others denouncing “these hideous crimes” and calling on the sporting world to join the fight.

Simmons says the Michael Vick case “is a blessing in the fact that he’s brought this to light, that this is happening in our society.” The question now is “how we handle it now that it’s on the front page.”

Caught in the middle of this whole thing is the breed itself.

Cooke says research has disproved common myths about the pit bull, such as the one about its bite force being greater than that of other breeds. “It can’t really be the T-rex in a dog suit that it’s portrayed as in the media,” she says, noting it’s Americans’ 30th most popular breed, ahead of even Dalmatians and collies.

But the breed’s image problem is not helped when Web sites such as www.gamedogs.org carry links to kennels with names like Hellz Comin’ and Death Before Dishonor. Many breeders take great pains to distance themselves from the blood sport.

“No pup will be sold for illegal or cruel purposes,” declares the Web site of Pitfall Kennels, the Atlanta breeding operation started by Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, a founding member of the hip hop group OutKast. His site boasts tennis star Serena Williams, and musicians 50 Cent and Usher among Pitfall’s clients.

Authorities say North Carolina has become something of a center for pit bull breeding and fighting. According to the indictment, several of Michael Vick’s dogs came from North Carolina.

Tom Garner, who lives outside of Raleigh, is a leading breeder. A 1985 dogfighting conviction, he says, was the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In an e-mail response to the AP, Garner said he would not knowingly sell to someone who wanted to fight one of these “magic animals.” But dogs are out of his control once they leave his yard.

“I am aware that some dogs from my bloodline are fought,” he wrote. “This is analogous to criminals using Toyotas for getaway cars because of their reliability. Certainly Toyota doesn’t set out to build getaway cars, but nevertheless the criminal will often find a way to get the item that serves their purpose.”
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Thank you AP News
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Hello Dog Lovers and Baby Boomers…

As you know I am against cruelity and even more the damage that is being done to this breed of dog.

Those of you who have this breed of dog, knows how loyal they are.

ADOPT ONE FROM A SHELTER OR SAVE ONE FROM WORSE DISTRUCTION…!

Remember Captain Kangaroo? He would have never endorsed a wild, mad dog! And on “Our Gang,” Pete was one of my favorite characters! Don’t judge a book by its cover…read the book first!

Smiles, world peaceand wet noses,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

SAVE MISS KIKI

Hello Baby Boomers and dog lovers

This is my dear friends new adoptee, KiKi.

This ia not a scam…this little dog is gravely ill.

My dear friend, Marlaine, has another dog Trixie who is a “Theraphy Dog” as well. She loves her dog [now the three of them]and like me, she takes them every where.

I hope that you might be able to assist her, with her dogs operation. It is not me that I am asking for…but for KiKi and those that love her.

The information is below.
Thank you
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Hi my name is Miss Kiki, I was rescued by my new mom on February 9th. She just knew that some thing just wasn’t right with me. My Vet found out after doing a Bile Acid Blood Test on me that I have a Hepatic Liver Shunt which means my blood is full of toxins all the time.

This is a very costly operation with a stay in the hospital required.

Could you please help me by making a donation of any size even a Loonie would be appreciated and if there are any corporations on this site that would like to help that would be great. Please help save my life so I can become a “Therapy Dog” like my Sister Trixie.

Donations can be made by PayPal on Ebay search for MissKikiLiverShuntFund or you can send your donations to Marlaine Albert, #404-171 Church Street East, Brampton, Ontario, L6V 1H5. You can feel free to call my mom with any questions at 416-899-2407.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Miss Kiki
and my Mom Person, Marlaine Albert

Here Trixie [the one on the ground] is the opening parade dog at the Blue Jay’s Park Day Parade! We have great fun and I wish that KiKi [I am holdiong her] could do more but she is a very ill puppy dog…but I love her any way.

Medical Treatments for Lupus…or is it Treatment???

Medical Treatments for Lupus

Let me state right off from the start that I DO NOT believe in Pharmaceuticals…I am posting this piece, so you will see what is available out there, for you…and I want you to pay special attention to what the WARNINGS are.

And even though the STEROIDS that they suggest, are not the same as athletes are taking…the result are worse for Lupus persons…because we are very reactive to any drugs!

I have had steroids…and they make you feel so wonderful…like you can go out dancing all night again [something, I truly miss, horribly]…but do not be disillusioned…they are harmful. I will not allow them in my person again. No matter how low my immune system goes. They are poison.

So…with that said…here you go…I will always print the other side so you can make an intelligent decision. I pray that it will be the right one!

~The Baby Boomer Queen~
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Steroids

Tissue inflammation is the major cause of Lupus symptoms. While the body naturally produces cortisone to decrease inflammation, it may not be solely effective in reducing the inflammation in Lupus patients. Therefore, synthetic steroids are used to decrease the swelling, warmth, tenderness, and pain in lupus patients.

Corticosteroids are a commonly prescribed medication.

Corticosteroids are produced by the outer part of the adrenal gland, and they differ from the anabolic steroids that weightlifters use illegally to increase their strength and size.

The most commonly used corticosteroid is Prednisone, while others used include hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and dexamethasone (Decadron). They usually relieve symptoms right away. Corticosteroids can be helpful in serious cases of inflammation like pleurisy, pericarditis, or organ threatening disease, but they do have some serious side effects.

While steroids are remarkably effective at decreasing Lupus symptoms, they come with numerous side effects. Common side effects include acne, the development of a moon-shaped face, and increased appetite. The increase in appetite can also cause weight gain.

They can redistribute fat and lead to more fragile skin. The psychological effects of steroids include irritability, agitation, euphoria, and depression. Also, insomnia can set in. There is a higher susceptibility of getting an infection and the possibility of aggravating any diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

However, it should be noted that steroids do not cause cancer.

Long-term use of steroids can result in some serious conditions.

Avascular necrosis of the bone is usually associated with high doses of prednisone taken over a long time period. The disease usually occurs in the hip, and it is very painful. Relief usually comes in the form of a core bone biopsy or joint replacement.

Osteoporosis is another common result of long-term steroid use, but it can usually be prevented with calcium, vitamin D, hormones, calcitonin, biphosphonates, and certain hormones.

Cataracts, and muscle weakness are also caused by long-term use. Plus, there is a relationship between premature arteriosclerosis and long-term steroid use. It is due to these potential side effects that steroids need to be used with great care and under a physician’s watchful eye.

Immunosuppressives

The fourth class of drugs used to treat Lupus are known as Immunosuppressives. As the name implies, Immunosuppressives are used to suppress or inhibit an over-active immune system.

Immunosuppressives are normally used in transplant patients to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. Immunosuppressives are often used in patients with more serious systemic lupus. Doctors consider using immunosuppressives when major organs like the kidneys are affected, severe muscle inflammation is present, or there is intractable arthritis. Immunosuppressives can also be helpful in decreasing the amount of steroids needed to treat inflammation, saving patients who are susceptible to more severe side effects from added discomfort.

There are several immunosuppressives available in the treatment of Lupus, though five are the most commonly used: azanthioprine (Imuran®), cycolphosphamide (Cytoxan®), methotrexate (Rheumatrex®), cyclosporine (Neoral®), and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®). They each work in different ways, but all immunosuppressives function to decrease or prevent an immune response.

Azanthioprine (Imuran):

For Lupus patients, azathioprine is one of the most often prescribed immunosuppressives. It is also an antimetabolite, meaning it blocks metabolic steps in immune cell, thus helping to control the underlying processes in a disease. It also has fewer side effects than other Lupus drugs.

Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan):

Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent and a very strong drug. It is usually only used in Lupus patients that have kidney or other organ threatening disease. Cycolphosphamide goes after autoantibody producing cells. This activity suppresses the immune response and decreases disease activity. However, its use can produce severe side effects.

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex):

Methotrexate was first used as a treatment for cancer and then used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is also an antimetabolite and often used for Lupus arthritis. There is some concern about toxicity, so doctors will have to do regular CBC and liver function tests.

Cyclosporine (Neoral):

Cyclosporine is commonly used to threat rheumatic diseases, and it is an antimetabolite.

Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept):

Mycophenolate mofetil is a strong immunosuppressive and is sometimes used in place of cyclophosphamide in patients that have kidney involvement. It functions by preventing the replication of T and B-lymphocytes.

Some of the side effects associated with immunosuppressives include an increased risk of infection and bone marrow suppression. Also malignancies can develop from their use. Some patients experience alopecia, nausea, vomiting, esophagitis, hematuria, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. With high doses, pulmonary fibrosis can develop. Side effects like amenorrhea and impotence reverse themselves with the discontinuation of the medication.

DHEA

DHEA is one of the new hopes in medicinal treatment of lupus symptoms, but it comes with cautious optimism. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone that occurs naturally in all mammals. It is an androgen produced by the adrenal glands, and is used to make other hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

DHEA has not been without its controversy. In 1980 the supplement was banned by the FDA after the FDA declared DHEA was a drug (by declaring it a drug the law required it be tested for safety and efficacy by the FDA). However, Canada and the U.K. have banned over-the-counter sales of DHEA altogether.

Basically DHEA is used in Lupus patients to decrease dosages of steroids, because it helps to relieve pain, inflammation, and fatigue. Much of the documented research has been done by Genelabs with most of the participants reporting that they felt better. While the researchers do not know the mechanism by which DHEA affects Lupus, they do know that women with Lupus have lower DHEA levels. They also know that DHEA increases testosterone and estrogen levels.

The side effects of DHEA have not been fully studied. However there is concern that it may influence certain types of cancers that are directly related to hormones (i.e. breast, ovarian, uterine, and prostate cancer). In men it can increase aggression, but upon decrease of dosage this problem can go away. Also, a too-high dosage of DHEA can cause facial hair growth and a deepening of the voice in women.
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{{{SOUNDS LIKE STERIODS TO ME!!!}}}
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Thank you Freedom from Lupus
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Though I am not a Doctor or someone who has a degree from Harvard, I do not have to be a rocket scientist to see the warning signs of Pharmaceutical usage.

I am a Lupus survivor and am grateful for every day here in earth.
Pain and depression or not, it beats the alternative!

I chose the non-pharmaceutical life.

Please read my other posts to see how I cope with Lupus.

Smiles, world peace and wellness,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Dancing Dog Duet…too cute! YouTube

I don’t know who enjoys this the most…the dog, Rookie, the Owner or the crowd!

[youtube=[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM]

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