Giuseppe
Emeritus
On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich et al. (Abstract, excerpts, edited)
[Original Full Document: LINK. EDITED.]
On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich et al.
Virology Journal 2009, 6:121 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-6-121
John J Cannell (jcannell@ash.dmh.ca.gov) - Michael Zasloff (maz5@georgetown.edu) - Cedric F Garland (cgarland@earthlink.net) - Robert Scragg (r.scragg@auckland.ac.nz) - Edward Giovannucci (egiovann@hsph.harvard.edu)
ISSN 1743-422X
Article type Commentary
Submission date 24 June 2009
Acceptance date 11 August 2009
Publication date 11 August 2009
Article URL http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/121
Abstract
On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich LJ, Martinello RA, Hodgson M, Milton DK, Nardell EA. Influenza and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Virol J. 2008, 5:149
Commentary
To the Editor:
We thank Radonovich et al (1) for commenting on our paper (2), in which we attempted to use the epidemiology of vitamin D to clarify the manifold mysteries surrounding the epidemiology of influenza. Since our publication, Ginde et al (3) have produced additional evidence in support of our theories. They studied the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and recent upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in 18,883 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination.
Compared to individuals with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels of >30 ng/ml, those with levels <10 ng/ml had 55% higher odds of a recent URI. Furthermore, very recent evidence indicates 25(OH)D levels of even 30 ng/ml often signify chronic substrate starvation (4), thus the full antimicrobial properties of vitamin D may be understated.
Radonovich et al did not supply any evidence against the main hypotheses proposed in our paper, only to a speculation we made about ultraviolet germicidal air irradiation. They take factual issue with our theory that the ultraviolet C radiation (UVC) lamps, used in the past to sterilize the upper air in some VA hospitals, may have exerted some, or most, of their effects ? not by sanitizing air ? but by increasing 25(OH)D levels.
(...)
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[Original Full Document: LINK. EDITED.]
On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich et al.
Virology Journal 2009, 6:121 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-6-121
John J Cannell (jcannell@ash.dmh.ca.gov) - Michael Zasloff (maz5@georgetown.edu) - Cedric F Garland (cgarland@earthlink.net) - Robert Scragg (r.scragg@auckland.ac.nz) - Edward Giovannucci (egiovann@hsph.harvard.edu)
ISSN 1743-422X
Article type Commentary
Submission date 24 June 2009
Acceptance date 11 August 2009
Publication date 11 August 2009
Article URL http://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/121
Abstract
On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich LJ, Martinello RA, Hodgson M, Milton DK, Nardell EA. Influenza and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Virol J. 2008, 5:149
Commentary
To the Editor:
We thank Radonovich et al (1) for commenting on our paper (2), in which we attempted to use the epidemiology of vitamin D to clarify the manifold mysteries surrounding the epidemiology of influenza. Since our publication, Ginde et al (3) have produced additional evidence in support of our theories. They studied the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and recent upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in 18,883 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination.
Compared to individuals with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels of >30 ng/ml, those with levels <10 ng/ml had 55% higher odds of a recent URI. Furthermore, very recent evidence indicates 25(OH)D levels of even 30 ng/ml often signify chronic substrate starvation (4), thus the full antimicrobial properties of vitamin D may be understated.
Radonovich et al did not supply any evidence against the main hypotheses proposed in our paper, only to a speculation we made about ultraviolet germicidal air irradiation. They take factual issue with our theory that the ultraviolet C radiation (UVC) lamps, used in the past to sterilize the upper air in some VA hospitals, may have exerted some, or most, of their effects ? not by sanitizing air ? but by increasing 25(OH)D levels.
(...)
-
-----