Diagnostic Testing for Billy
Jonathan Tommey

We have over the past five weeks conducted a number of tests on Billy using hair, blood, urine and stool samples with the hope of creating a greater awareness, appreciation and understanding of Billy’s physiological state of health. There are other tests that I feel would benefit our understanding and will mention those possibilities later on in this article. I am putting all of the information and results obtained with laboratory comments along with my thoughts and feelings so I hope it will not be too confusing. I shall be listing his tests under the following headings:

• IMMUNOLOGY AND BLOOD PROFILE
• HAIR ANALYSIS
• URINE ANALYSIS
• ALLERGY TEST
• STOOL ANALYSIS
• TREATMENTS
• CONCLUSIONS

IMMUNOLOGY AND BLOOD PROFILE

It has been suggested that a number of children are harbouring possible viral, bacterial and toxic factors that will lead to suppressed and misdirected immune system activity. This is an area that is somewhat confusing to me and I shall be seeking advice and guidance from a paediatric immunologist to help me look in the near future at his immune responses to such influences.We looked at viral antibody screen for:

• Influenza ‘A and B’
• Measles
• Mumps
• Adenovirus
• Cytomegalovirus
• Herpes
• Psittacosis/LGV
• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Coxiella bur
• Coxsachie virus
• Echovirus and Epstein Bar

THE RESULTS SO FAR …
VIRAL ANTIBODY SCREEN
All results were negative apart from a finding of a recent acute infection from the Epstein Barr virus (glandular fever) which showed up positively to one of these antigens. This could indicate a suppressed immune system. I shall be conducting tests for streptococcus and chicken pox as he has had both viral strains and may show antibodies to these if still active.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
IgG allergy screen for casein and gluten. Comments: These results observed are in favour of an immune reaction against these allergens, but no normal values have ever been determined. These results may be considered as an argument in favour of a food sensitisation in case of clinical food intolerance. (This confirmed that the allergy tests we had done were accurate … I shall mention those a little later on.)
BIOCHEMISTRY
This looks predominantly at liver function and how stressed it may be. The results show Billy was extremely high in alkaline phosphatase with a measured value of 217 IU/L against the normal range of 30–95, and asparate transferase with a value of 52 IU/L against a range of 10–35. This indicates a stressed liver. I am looking further into this at the moment.

TESTS STILL TO BE COMPLETED
LYMPHOCYTE IMMUNOPHENOTYPE
The laboratory was not able to complete this test due to a technical problem, so we shall have to re-run it. I shall ask for the following to be observed:
1 Natural Killer cells 2 T cells 3 B cells
4 Total immunoglobulin for IgA, IgE, IgG 1, IgG 2, IgG 3, IgG 4
BIOCHEMISTRY
Mercury (showed negative exposure). I shall be conducting other biochemistry tests for aluminium, zinc, manganese and magnesium.
BLOOD COUNT
All normal. I am awaiting blood test results from Dr Singh in the USA to see if there are antibodies present to myelin protein

PSIONIC HAIR ANALYSIS

A small sample of hair was sent for psionic analysis, in order to ascertain the ‘toxic’ factors that are present. Hair is an accurate replicator of the body’s state of health and through observation of its DNA structure can show imbalances and toxicity within the individual.
RESULTS
We found that Billy has inherited ‘toxins’ linked to ‘dormant’ viruses such as Epstein Barr (glandular fever). There were also acquired ‘toxins’ relating to previous measles (vaccine) and to streptococcal infection. The other toxin present was aluminium which was classified as an inherited toxin. It was also found that Billy was not making effective use of cysteine or manganese and utilisation of essential fatty acids. It was also noted that aluminium or one of the inherited viruses, was affecting his digestive tract, notably colon and small intestine and also his solar plexus (which affects mental/emotional make up). All of this was very interesting and I was curious to look into these ‘toxic’ factors.

In brief I will make the following comments:
Cysteine utilisation: Cysteine hydrochloride is found in Ferring secretin, which was used for Billy – could it be this compound in the solution that brought about the noticed improvements in Billy rather than the secretin? Dr William Shaw commented on this and suggested there would be 500% more cysteine in a boiled egg.
QUESTION: If the body cannot digest proteins sufficiently to release the cysteine amino acid into the blood, then is there a possibility of it not ever reaching the blood system in its correct sulphate carrying form? I shall mention cysteine later on.
QUESTION: Measles – could there be a link with Dr Andrew Wakefield’s work at The Royal Free with ileum and colonic ‘lymphoid nodular hyperplasia’ caused by the MMR vaccine? If so, then why did his IgG and IgM viral screen for measles show negative findings?
QUESTION: Streptococcus – could this be a toxic factor relating to the constant chest and respiratory tract infections Billy acquired from 9 – 16 months?
I am looking into the manganese, aluminium and poor essential fatty acid utilisation now.All of the above are being treated homeopathically. I decided to conduct the same tests on myself, Polly, Bella and Toby. They showed the following:

Jon

SENSITIVE TO ALUMINIUM FUNGAL OVERGROWTH ­ TINEA EVIDENCE OF MEASLES

Polly

SENSITIVE TO ALUMINIUM EVIDENCE OF MEASLES

Bella

SENSITIVE TO ALUMINIUM POOR USE OF CYSTEINE EVIDENCE OF MEASLES (MMR)

Billy

SENSITIVE TO ALUMINIUM POOR USE OF CYSTEINE EVIDENCE OF MEASLES (MMR) POOR USE OF MANGANESE COLONIC AND SMALL INTESTINE PROBLEMS STRESSED SOLAR PLEXIS

Toby

SENSITIVE TO ALUMINIUM POOR USE OF CYSTEINE EVIDENCE OF WHOOPING COUGH (DPT)

URINE ANALYSIS

URINE ANALYSIS
The organic acid test was completed by The Great Plains Laboratory in the United States. The test primarily looks at metabolites associated with the presence of intestinal yeast or bacteria passing from the gut into the blood and excreted through the urine. The test also reveals nutritional and antioxidant deficiencies, inborn errors of metabolism, amino acid or fatty acid problems, exposure to solvent toxins, deficiencies of B and C vitamins and unusual levels of neurotransmitters. Dr Shaw provided a complete interpretation and treatment suggestions with all of the results returned. This test also suggests treatment with anti-fungals, dietary supplementation and dietary modification.

RESULTS
We found Billy had elevated yeast/fungal metabolites which indicate an overgrowth in the gastro intestinal tract and also a bacterial overgrowth. Low hippuric levels suggested a depletion of glycine by competing detoxification reactions in fatty acid oxidation disorders, (again reconfirming the psionic test results). Increased citric since the enzyme needed to metabolise citric is dependent on glutathione – a biochemical derived from cysteine, again a link with the poor utilisation of this very important amino acid. Elevated kynurenic, a tryptophan metabolite that requires vitamin B6 for its further metabolism – possible B6 deficiency? We ran the same tests for myself, Bella and Tobias and from the results, especially the children, they came up with virtually the same identical abnormalities.

ALLERGY TESTS

RESULTS
Both of the boys were allergy tested in their earlier days, Billy was 18 months old and Tobias was only six months. Findings showed the following food allergy or intolerances.

BILLY
wheat, rye, barley, chicken, eggs, beef, pig, azodye,s tap water.

TOBY
wheat, rye, barley, chicken, eggs, beef, azodyes, tap water, onion, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines.

These results are interesting and one common element is clear. Cysteine is found in the following foodstuffs: egg yolks, poultry, yogurts, oats, wheatgerm, garlic, onions, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Both our boys cannot eat 65% of the foodstuffs in which cysteine is present. So is there a link between food allergy/intolerance and the foodstuffs that contain cysteine? The boys have reacted to these allergens even though Tobias, and pretty much Billy, were not exposed to these foodstuffs. This therefore is not a classic allergy unless the motheršs antibodies have been passed to the child during pregnancy, or it is in the genes and becomes a metabolic disorder inherited from either parent. Is it the gene that may be responsible for a certain enzyme not being produced to carry out its function? If there are one or more enzyme deficiencies, certain amino acids such as cysteine may not be metabolised sufficiently to produce bio-chemicals such as lipoic acid, glutathione co-enzyme A, heparin and biotin. Help! Someone please explain.

STOOL ANALYSIS

We have also had two stool tests completed. One by Parascope in Leeds to look at possible parasitic infection and the other by The Great Smokies Laboratory in the USA who completed a comprehensive stool analysis.
RESULTS
Parascope found elevated 3+ levels in two parasites: Blastocystis hominis and dientamoeba fragilis. The Great Smokies Laboratory also ran a parasitology test and found elevated levels in both blastocystis hominis and dientamoeba fragilis plus trophozoites. They made the following comments:
Blastocystis hominis is considered by most authorities to be a pathogen. It often lodges within the intestinal mucosa making eradication difficult. Symptoms may include sleeplessness, irritable/inflamed bowel and fever, although asymptomatic infections can occur.
Dientamoeba fragilis is a pathogenic flagellate. The organism usually resides in the caecum and proximal colon and symptoms may include diarrhoea, abdominal tenderness and weight loss.
The Great Smokies Laboratory also looked at his digestion, absorption, microbiology, metabolic markers, mycology and immunology and made the following comments relating to each:
DIGESTION
Meat fibres and the putrefactive short chain fatty acids valerate (iso and n) and iso-butyrate are above the reference range. This pattern suggests Protein malabsorptive and maldigestive.
Elevated meat and vegetable fibres are indirect indicators of maldigestion due to hydrochloric acid/pepsin insufficiency, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency and a rapid transit time.
QUESTIONS: I commented in the first issue of The Autism File that whilst travelling on holiday, Billy’s vomit resembled albumin – if it was mucus in the stomach and he did not have a trace of a cold could this be present due to insufficient acid in his stomach? If so, does this link with the poor digestion of proteins and the suppressed release of secretin and thereafter pancreatic enzymes? Could secretin have triggered the release of pancreatic enzymes from the blood born side rather than the gut side? Elevations in putrefactive short chain fatty acids generally indicate inadequate protein digestion in the small intestine. Paul Shattock research data shows absorbed gluten and casein peptides result in fermentation of proteins in the large intestine. Poor protein digestion may be associated with inadequate mastication (chewing), increased protein intake, hypo or achlorhydria, inadequate proteolytic enzyme or malabsorption.
ABSORPTION
All markers were in the reference range.
MICROBIOLOGY
Lactobacilla and bifidobacteriaI were found in lower then optimal levels.
These are important for gastrointestinal function as they are involved in vitamin synthesis, natural antibiotic production, immune defence, digestion, detoxification of pro-carcinogens and a host of other activities. Imbalanced gut flora may occur as a result of a parasite or bacterial infection, yeast overgrowth or poor nutrition and maldigestion – all of which Billy has!
MYCOLOGY
It may reflect a yeast overgrowth (also found in his urine metabolites) and may lead to symptoms showing deficient beneficial bacteria.
METABOLIC
All metabolic markers are within the reference range.
IMMUNOLOGY
Secretory IgA (S-IgA) is within the normal range. As this is normal does it indicate that there is no viral infection of the GI Tract?

As you can see from only doing what I feel are the basic tests I have got some very precise and interesting data. I see these results as identifying problems that can easily be treated. This is what we started on 7 November 1999. All samples were taken prior to any treatments as these would possibly lead to confusion with some of the results. We did not do Paul Shattock’s urinary peptide test as Billy has been off gluten and casein for 20 months.

THE TREATMENTS

PARASITIC CONTROL
Citramesia
YEAST/FUNGAL OVERGROWTH
Amphotericin B (Fungizone brand, from France). After three weeks we will introduce diflucan (systemic anti-fungal).
SUPPLEMENTATION
l Super Nu Thera*
l Colostrum Gold*
l Trinethyglyline*
l Methylsulfonglmethane*
* From Kirkman Labs, www.kirkmanlabs.com
We are currently about to introduced ambritose, phyt-aloe and sea-cure (from Mannetech, www. mannetech.com).
FOR GUT FLORA
Lactobacillus acidophillus and Se Fos - Fructooligosaccarides
We have already seen major improvements in Billy. His eye contact is excellent and his speech is much more spontaneous. He’s happy, alert and playing well with his brother, sister and classmates. His teacher has commented, ’Whatever he’s on – keep it going. He’s brilliant at the moment.’ Initially, however, after six days he was looking yellowish and his behaviour and compliance went off the scale. This was most likely the herxheimer reaction or what is more commonly known as the ‘die off’. Yeast cells explode and their contents, ie toxins, are released into the blood stream and stress
the liver.
Yet more testing times ahead
I still have to finish my diagnostic testing protocol and I must look at finding any abnormalities with sulphate levels in his urine, hydrochloric acid and pepsin levels in his stomach. I’ll complete all tests probably every 6-8 weeks to check his progress and change treatment protocols if necessary.

MY CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic testing is a must if you are to correct any found imbalances with your child’s health. Only when the body is mended can it start to function again. I have found parasites; an imbalance of gut flora; allergies to foods; a recent infection due to glandular fever; a number of toxins, whether inherited or acquired; abnormalities within the organic acid test (this will need further explanation along with fatty acid metabolism and cysteine utilisation). All of these found ‘toxins’ from these primary sources such as the ‘inherited’ ones and the ‘acquired’ secondary ones such as the yeasts, gut floral imbalance, Epstein Barr and the like, have formed this multi-layered cocoon that has engulfed the functioning of my son. With the correct treatment this can be eradicated.
Once, and only once, these burdens have been lifted from him maybe he’ll be able to restore his obvious gut disorder and that in turn will allow for normal functioning of the gut, the correct digestion, absorption and utilisation of the foodstuffs that he is eating and a restoration of normal functioning and homeostatic balance. Who knows what the final outcome will be? I’m certain that removing these layers of primary and secondary toxins that surround and cocoon Billy’s development will make Billy a healthier, happier little boy. If I can only do that for Billy, then for me and everyone who knows and loves him it will have been well worth it.