X-Message-Number: 18475 From: "John de Rivaz" <> Subject: CryoNet #18464 (flu vaccines and stroke) Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 16:08:30 -0000 Yes, the bit I posted was exactly as reported on Infobeat. Unfortunately there are no links to other sources to check in more detail what actually happened and whether the research was properly conducted in the manner Dr Harris suggested it should have been. I have tried the University mentioned, http://www.sigu7.jussieu.fr/ without result. The following was from http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/33/2/513 To get the full article costs $15 - maybe some professional readers of cryonet have access and can comment. The email address of one of the authors is given in this abstract, however I feel it would be inappropriate of me to forward Dr Harris' comments directly to this author. I would however be most interested if Dr Harris has the time and inclination so to do and then post the results of the interaction to us here on CryoNet. As a layman's cursory glance it would seem that the authors have performed some but not nearly enough of the precautions that Dr Harris recommends as leading to a worthwhile and reliable result. >>> Association Between Influenza Vaccination and Reduced Risk of Brain Infarction Philippa Lavall e, MD; V ronique Perchaud, MD; Marion Gautier-Bertrand; David Grabli, MD; Pierre Amarenco, MD From the Department of Neurology and Stroke Center and the Formation de Recherche en Neurologie Vasculaire (Association Claude Bernard), Bichat Hospital, Denis Diderot University (P.L., V.P., D.G., P.A.), and INSERM Unit 360, La Salp tri re Hospital (M.G-B.), Paris, France. Correspondence to Pierre Amarenco, MD, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, Bichat Hospital, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. E-mail Background and Purpose Because infections subsequent to influenza may play a role in promoting the complications of atherosclerotic disease and may also induce hypercoagulation, we hypothesized that influenza vaccination may protect against brain infarction. Methods During the influenza epidemic period we studied 270 subjects, including 90 consecutive patients older than 60 years admitted to the hospital for brain infarction and 180 population-based controls, matched for age, sex, and district of residency in Paris. We conducted a structured interview on whether they had been vaccinated during the last influenza vaccination campaign or every year during the 5 last years. Results We found significantly fewer vaccinated subjects during the last vaccination campaign among patients with brain infarction than among controls (46.7% versus 59.4%; P=0.036) and fewer patients vaccinated every year during the last 5 years (41.1% versus 56.1%; P=0.017). After adjustment for age, traditional risk factors, and recent use of antibiotics, the risk of stroke was reduced in the subjects vaccinated during the year of the study and in those vaccinated during the last 5 years, with an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.26 to 0.94; P=0.033) and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.81; P=0.009), respectively. Similar associations were observed in cases and controls free of previous cardiovascular history. Subjects younger than 75 years and subjects free of risk factors or in high social class were significantly less often vaccinated than controls. Conclusions Influenza vaccination may protect against brain infarction by reducing infections or may identify a subgroup of patients at low risk for stroke because of a better lifestyle. These results give rise to a new hypothesis for research into stroke prevention. Key Words: cerebral infarction infection influenza vaccine stroke prevention <<<< I feel it is important to those interested in extending lifespan to be aware of the risks associated with infections diseases if such risks exist - they may be more than a mere irritation. -- Sincerely, John de Rivaz: http://www.deRivaz.com my homepage links to Longevity Report, Fractal Report, music, Inventors' report, an autobio and various other projects: http://www.geocities.com/longevityrpt http://www.autopsychoice.com - http://www.cryonics-europe.org - http://www.porthtowan.com Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18475