You are right Fiona; this needs its own thread. I recopied your post here. My friend and I have been digging a little since you first posted it and we don't like what we see. What's the difference if it's not exactly the same disease? There are so many causes - that reasoning should not apply.

From Fiona:

WELDING FUME LITIGATION STATUS REPORT
AUGUST 2007


"Finally, earlier this year, Drs. Warren Olanow and Daniel Perl published an
article reviewing pathologic studies of patients with manganism and primates experimentally intoxicated with manganese.11 Their findings do not support plaintiffs’ contention that manganese causes Parkinson’s disease, but rather show that manganese induced parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease are distinct and separate diseases.

In short, the large body of reliable scientific evidence finding no connection between exposure to welding fumes and movement disorders continues to grow.

Conclusion
Over the last 18 months, thousands of plaintiffs have abandoned their claims against the welding defendants, a number of the cases developed for trial were dismissed after discovery revealed that the plaintiffs had provided false information about their condition or medical history, and juries in federal and state courts around the country continued to reject plaintiffs’ claims. At the same time, the body of epidemiological data supporting the defense position has continued to grow. Finally, plaintiffs have chosen to dismiss many more cases rather than provide any factual basis for them, further confirming that the supposed welding fume mass tort is simply a shrinking collection of meritless claims."

wow...I am so glad that THAT distinction was cleared up by our doctor pals.

http://www.weldinginfonetwork.com/li...st%20_2007.pdf
end Fiona.

I am so fed up with medical researchers on the take. Consulting their way to the bank, screwing the people who pay everyone - that would be the patients. I know my temper is leaking out around the edges....I'm ready for a krackatoa response.

Any idea why Olanow is no longer at Mt. Sinai?

paula
__________________

Thanks, Paula, I was just about to move it myself. No, no official idea about Olanow's stepping down.

I am sure there is no connection between his resigning and that $1.6 million in unreported consulting fees from welding manufacturers reported by Mother Jones. I feel certain that Mt. Sinai would stick by such a respectable figure no matter what he had done. Er, I mean no matter what he was charged with. Uh, no, I mean no matter what he had hidden from them. Gosh, it's hard to phrase this in an appropriate manner befitting the station involved.

Of course not Rick. It was clearly stated that it was the welders' fault.

paula

Here's the link to the Mother Jones article; one of the suspect researchers is now working for Amgen; the Parkinson's Institute is also implicated:


http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15132

"Two consulting firms linked by court documents to C. Warren Olanow, a Manhattan neurologist who has published at least a dozen articles cited by defense experts, got almost $2.9 million. And the Parkinson's Institute in California got nearly $3.4 million to conduct a four-year study*—not limited to welders—seeking links between Parkinson's symptoms and factors other than manganese, including smoking and drinking. (The institute's research director says the work was neither influenced by its funders, nor will she let them see the resulting manuscript until it has been accepted for publication.)

Fryzek, who now works for Amgen, a California biotech company, did not return phone calls and emails; Olanow and Lees-Haley declined comment. IEI president Joseph McLaughlin insisted in written statements that the manufacturers "had no say whatsoever" in the study's conduct or content, and that it is "common" for funders to view unpublished results."

Does anyone know - are people even talking about this kind of corruption on other PD forums? Just curious -took a cursory look at NPF and didn't seem like it....

I just reread these words above in my original quote, and I am just so appalled that any thinking judge or person of any compassion and literacy whatsoever could read them and not see the horrendously smirking cynicism behind them. You guys don't have Parkinson's - you have manganese-induced Parkinsonism - "an entirely different disease" hah-hah, you stupid fools! Then followed by the completely illogical non-sequitur that this proves manganese doesnt have anything to do with movement disorders....what would manganese-induced Parkinsonism be but a movement disorder??? And if they've discovered whole new disease, shouldn't that be worthy of some scientific news at least??

I think of those ooor welders, each probably demolished on the stand personally about if they ever even had a cocktail or an off-on period....and then the thousands who quietly retreated in despair while the industry crows gloatingly about their 'meritless claims.' And the welders' unwillingness to supply evidence, when the top neurologists in the world have accepted millions of dollars to play word games that are laughable in their sollipsistic logic. Really, I read this and feel I am looking into the eyes of pure evil.

I have a much-too-late brilliantly stupid idea! Since one of the main diagnostic confirmations of Parkinson's Disease is whether or not you respond to the medication (my doctor insists to me that a normal brain will have absolutely no response or effect if that person takes a Sinemet), then why not just have all the welders take a Sinemet and see what happens???

Better yet, have all the industry people and their counsel and families put on manganese inhalers for us for a little demonstration that it's so safe......

Many of this same group is now talking sub-types and telling the world that PD is many diseases.

paula

Hey Fiona - where did you read that Olanow is no longer at Mt Sinai? He still comes up as Neurology Dept Chair on their website.

Thanks; just doing some research!

Recently saw my doctor, former colleague of Dr. Olanow. We were discussing the patent application which we had brought to our doctor's attention, and he said he would ask Dr. Olanow the next time he saw him if he had any advice about the use of mucuna for interested patients. I said, "oh, is he still chair over at Mt. Sinai?" He said, "No, he stepped down a month or so ago."

Doing my own research - manganese-induced Parkinsonism is considered a separate disease - can sometimes get better if exposure is ceased and chelation or other cleasing therapy is conducted, but often can continue unabated. Levodopa therapy apparently won't help. I think one could most definitely describe it as a movement disorder.