Detecting strange diseases like AIDS in Asia

Researchers have discovered a new, mysterious disease that causes dozens of people in Asia and some in the United States to have symptoms similar to ' AIDS of the century' even if they are not infected with the HIV virus.

The immune system of patients with strange diseases will be destroyed, making them unable to fend off pathogens like healthy people. The scientific world is still unclear about the cause of this condition, but the disease does not seem easily spread by contact.

According to Dr. Sarah Browne from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this is a new, non-genetic and immunosuppressed form of immunodeficiency in adults. The disease does not spread through viruses like AIDS.

Ms. Browne and her colleagues conducted research in Thailand and Taiwan, where most of the unknown cases have been discovered since 2004. Their research report has just been published in today's issue. (August 23) of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr. Sarah K. Browne (right) is chatting with one
patients with strange diseases like AIDS on August 22.

Associated Press quoted Dr. Dennis Maki - an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin (USA), that he has monitored at least 3 patients with strange diseases during the past 10 years. The disease, he said, could come from some form of infection, although the disease itself does not seem to spread from person to person.

In terms of the mechanism of disease, if in AIDS, the HIV virus destroys T cells - the key 'warriors' of the immune system to fight pathogens, the new disease does not affect these cells. but causes another form of damage. Research by Browne's team for more than 200 people in Thailand and Taiwan found that the bodies of most strange people secrete substances called 'autoantibodies' , blocking interferon-gamma - one signal Chemical effects help the body eliminate infections.

Preventing warning signals makes people with strange diseases like AIDS patients, susceptible to viruses, fungal infections and parasites, especially bacteria that attack, leading to death.

Currently, for patients, antibiotic treatment does not always work. Therefore, doctors have tried many different measures, including taking an anti-cancer drug that inhibits the production of antibodies. The disease does not develop strongly in some patients once the infection is overpowered. However, a malfunctioning immune system is more likely to become a chronic condition.

The team also found that, on average, strange diseases attacked victims when they were about 50 years old but did not appear in other members of their families. This rejects the possibility that a single gene is the cause of the disease. Browne said some people with strange diseases died of too many infections, including Asians currently living in the United States.

However, due to the fact that almost all patients to date are Asian or born in Asia and reside elsewhere, the team concludes the genetic or environmental factors. Some may lead to the onset of the disease.