New Medical paper on Hydrogen Sulfide and the colon

Some people complain of having a rotten egg body odor at times

Quite often a common odor complaint (among many odors) in the body odor community is of rotten egg, which would seem to make the chief suspect compound Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Quite often a common odor complaint (among many odors) in the body odor community is of rotten egg, which would seem to make the chief suspect compound Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). H2S has got interest in certain medical research areas, since it has over the last decade or so become a suspect factor in bowel conditions such as 'inflammatory bowel disease' and 'ulcerative colitis'. A candidate gut bacteria for production of H2S in the gut has been the 'sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB)' bacteria.

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New study "Influence of diet, medications and behavior on odor"

Aurametrix,
Founded by MEBO Research's
Scientific Advisor,
Irene Gabashvili, PhD

is rolling out a new software solution helping people understand relationships between their diets, medications, daily activities and body odor. As many of you know, Dr. Gabashvili has been overseeing MEBO's scientific projects and has also done a slideshow presentation for MEBO Research found in this blog entitled,'Microbes and Us.'

a new software solution helping people understand relationships between their diets, medications, daily activities and body odor

The study is anonymous
and there is no charge for participating.

If you would like the opportunity to use this tool, please express interest in an email to,

aurametrix.mebo@meboresearch.org

After you submit your e-mail expressing interest, you will receive a private link with description and advice on how to best use the tool for your condition. You will be able to observe progress of other anonymous participants by checking cumulative results and emerging patterns. One or two month after signing up, you will be asked to answer an anonymous survey. Results of the survey will be discussed on this Blog.

My Personal Experience with Aurametrix

After having used this software solution for only 5 days so far, I have been able to see preliminary correlations between my diet, medications, and mental state and my personal odor level. I also noted that due to my current diet aimed at controlling my odor, I discovered that I was very low on certain nutrients that I could introduce into my diet without it triggering my odor. I have also noted that I need to discuss with my doctor whether there still is a need for me to continue taking folic acid since my copper level intake is too high. Folic acid served its purpose while I was taking another medication, but I am no longer taking the other medication.

These discoveries has only touched the surface of what I have learned about my health, nutrition, and body odor management, and I am looking forward to learning more in order to have greater control over my physical and mental health and my body odor.

María

Petition

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

A Public Charity
www.meboresearch.org
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org
MEBO's Blog (English)
El Blog de MEBO (español)
The MEBO Forum Please sign the MEBO Petition

Update : MEBO TMAU Test Program with the Cleveland Clinic

MEBO Research has received an update from the Cleveland Clinic regarding the 50 samples they have received from us, of which 20 are control samples (of persons who do not have a body odor condition), and 30 are from sufferers. All is going very well.

The lab manager tells us that they have begun processing all 50 samples this week and will continue into next week. Once the actual assays have been completed, integrations will be performed and results calculated. The first thing they will do is determine a reference range based on the results of the 20 normal samples. After data is QC'd and reviewed it will be sent to MEBO in spread sheet form as we have previously discussed.

It is difficult to determine a time line but they are hoping to have data transferred to MEBO by the end of next week. There are many factors that could alter this course, but this is the plan as of today.

María

petition

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

A Public Charity
www.meboresearch.org
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org
MEBO's Blog (English)
El Blog de MEBO (español)
The MEBO Forum Please sign the MEBO Petition

The New MEBO/Menssana Breath Test/Study

Topics discussed in this post:

• BACKGROUND EFFORTS OF THIS PROGRAM
• WHO IS MENSSANA, AND HOW CAN THEY HELP US?
• WHICH PROGRAM WAS SELECTED BY MEBO?
• WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE TEST/STUDY PROCESS?
• WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE TEST RESULTS?
• HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE SUFFERER WHO PAID FOR HIS/HER TEST?
• HOW IS THIS TEST DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO TEST FOR ORAL HALITOSIS?

MEBO/Mensanna Alveolar Breath Test Study

First of all,I would like to thank Mike, MEBO’s Financial Advisor and my right hand person in MEBO’s administration, for having taken the initiative
to contact Dr. Michael Phillips, MD, PACP, to initiate this testing process. Mike has written a very good post introducing the program he and Dr. Phillips designed for our community, New alveolar breath test for chemicals study! This post has stirred up our international community with a sense of newly found hope, and your emails have been pouring in to Mike, much to our delight. In an effort to help Mike handle this large volume of emails, I would like to write this post to answer some of your questions.

BACKGROUND EFFORTS OF THIS PROGRAM
MEBO Research first approached Dr. Phillips in January 2009, five (5) months before MEBO registered as a company in England, since we were impressed with his work and credentials. Dr. Phillips was very moved with desire to help our community, but we were so scattered and not organized under one flagship, and the efforts soon fell apart. In fact, it was this very depressing experience that drove me to create MEBO Research registered in the UK and the US, and eventually upgraded to a Charity. Then, Mike joined MEBO now in 2011, and without knowing of our efforts back in 2009, initiated this effort again. He too sensed that we need to “think out of the box” and to think beyond TMAU to research the cause of odor not only of persons who do not suffer with TMAU, but also of those who do suffer with TMAU. This time, Dr. Phillips was impressed at just how far our community has grown and organized in less than three years (3), and was moved to work with Mike to offer us a series of testing/research programs that we could select from, and I’m very happy to say that this is where we are today.

WHO IS MENSSANA, AND HOW CAN THEY HELP US?
As we published in a post in this blog back in January 2009, Dr Michael Phillips Breath test talk at Pittcon 2009 Chicago, March 10, Menssana’s equipment has been used to perform breath tests sensitive enough to evaluate and predict the following conditions before symptoms are fully manifested,

• lung cancer *
• breast cancer *
• heart transplant rejection *
• kidney disease
• ischemic heart disease
• diabetes mellitus
• development of the next-generation BCA *

Dr. Phillips assures us that this test is sensitive enough to detect alveolar volatile organic compounds (VOCs), also referred to as odorous chemicals that flow in our blood and comes out in our breath, as well as other “cleansing organs” of our body.

Studies in these areas have been “supported by grant funding from the United States National Institutes of Health” in collaboration with clinical studies noted in Menssana’s website.

With such an impressive level of sensitivity, MEBO became very interested and enthusiastic in pursuing this type of testing for our community. Dr. Phillips assures us that this test is sensitive enough to detect some metabolic deficiencies through the detection of alveolar chemicals, which may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), also referred to as odorous chemicals that flow in our blood and comes out in our breath, as well as other “cleansing organs” of our body.

WHICH PROGRAM WAS SELECTED BY MEBO RESEARCH, INC.
Based on MEBO’s financial limitations, and with a clear understanding and consideration of the financial limitations of sufferers in the current day global economy, we have selected a program that will be supported with a small grant and sufferer-funded (by persons testing). The small grant will cover the program set-up fee, which includes the cost of a control group of 20 subjects, and each sufferer wishing to test will be charged as low a rate as possible, thanks to the help of MEBO volunteers who offer their time and efforts without compensation.

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USA newborn screening program : Nominate a condition

Suggest TMAU1 for screening program 

Trimethylaminuria will someday probably be added to the list of genetic disorders newborns are suggested to be screened for (each State decides it's own screening program), but not for the foreseeable future. All the other disorders are serious disorders that cause severe obvious physical problems, but you would imagine someday 'FMO3 deficiency' (which causes genetic TMAU) will be added due to the predicted 'psycho-social' problems.

Anyone wishing to draw attention to genetic TMAU to the authorities could fill out the form provided by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children . The ACHDNC would not be interested in other forms of TMAU other than the genetic (primary) form. Other countries will have similar newborn screening programs.

List of homeworking sites for those with odor issues

This is an email we received from someone informing us about sites for those interested in homeworking. We can not verify the genuity of the links and pass the information to you in good faith.

Those of you interested in telecommuting opportunities please check out a few of
the below listed sites. I am by NO MEANS ENDORSING any of these sites. These
are just a few sites that I've run across. Fortunately, my current employer
(government) is now offering telecommuting opportunities. Please note that some
sites do require a minimal subscription fee but MOST are free sites to reputable
companies offering telecommuting opportunities. Check it out for yourself!

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personal blog of a lady with TMAU

personal blog of a lady with TMAU

A lady with the moniker 'Blackrose' has started keeping a blog to write her personal thoughts about life with TMAU in the blog blackrosesafehaven.blogspot.com. Hopefully it brings her some comfort, and also is a very useful way of encouraging and raising awareness in society. Thank you Blackrose.

Blogger is Google's free blogging service. Another popular free blogging service is Wordpress

FMO3 coding sequence for 'wild type'

This page contains the amino acid sequence to make up an FMO3 protein. The coding sequence for FMO3 is 532 amino acids long (and a stop codon), and to read them here you group the letters into blocks of 3 (eg GGA). The sequence shown is the 'wild type' sequence, which presumably would be the sequence for a 'normal' FMO3 protein (until proven otherwise by new research). This sequence would be repeated in the other parent, giving the person 2 strands of 'normal' wild-type protein. Most people probably have little changes from this sequence which probably do not make enough difference to affect the person in practice. It's when the changes can affect the building of proper FMO3 protein that people can have problems. Sometimes this can be what are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) where the wrong amino acid is built in a codon. If someone is a carrier of this wrong amino acid, sometimes if they have another SNP in their FMO3 code they can both affect the function of the FMO3 protein. This is known as being a 'compound heterozygote'. An example would be common SNPs at codons 158 and 308 which when on the same strand (from the same parent) are known to likely decrease FMO3 function. SNPs are common little errors (missense mutations). There are other errors which can have an even more profound affect, such as nonsense mutations or deletions.

FMO3 coding sequence

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Batch of 30 samples off to Cleveland Clinic

On September 2, 2011, MEBO Research began shipping TMAU urine sample kits to sufferers who had purchased their test with the Cleveland Clinic, who was declared to be "One of the America's Top 4 Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report 2011-12 'Best Hospitals" Rankings. MEBO's commitment to the lab is to send them urine samples in batches of 20 for them to analyze in order to provide us with a low test cost.

I am please to announce that on October 10th, MEBO will be sending a shipment to the lab of 30 samples instead of 20 for the first batch! Also, there are 16 other samples already in the possession of sufferers, and just today we received payment for the 17th sample. Anyone wishing to test is welcomed to fill out the Trimethylaminuria Test Requisition Form. As soon as MEBO receives these samples back from sufferers as well as samples from three new orders, we'll have the 2nd batch ready to go to the lab as well. In addition, the lab has already received 20 "control" samples from MEBO of people who do not have an odor condition.

We hope to receive the results from the lab within a few weeks after they receive them. Once they send them to MEBO in an Excel format, we'll be ready to transpose them into the TMAU Test Results Form already approved by Dr. Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, who is overseeing this testing/study program and email them expediently to each respective sufferer. If your test result is positive, you may show your test results to your physician for treatment.

even if your TMAU Test result comes back negative, MEBO will not give up on you or any and all sufferers. We are ceaselessly pursuing innovative testing programs that will break into new uncharted territory

If your TMAU test result is negative, MEBO Research is at work for you. Among other projects, we are working on a new Alveolar Breath Test Program with Dr. Michael Phillips, MD, FACP, FRCP
Founder & CEO, Menssana Research Inc. (see post below)This test is part of a joint, sufferer funded and hopefully a grant/donations supported research program to detect up to 200 chemicals that flow systemically in the sufferer's bloodstream. Some of these chemicals may be odorous, and others are not. The sufferer will be given a report indicating which chemicals were detected by the Breath Collection Apparatus.

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NEW alveolar breath test for chemicals study !

The following is a message from Mike, the MEBO Research Director of Finance :

MEBO/Mensanna Alveolar Breath Test Study

Okay what’s next from Mebo? Plenty! We have been busy bees launching the TMAU program with the Cleveland Clinic, and will shortly announce a DNA testing program which fully sequences the coding exons of the FMO3 gene (details to be released soon). However, we are excited to give notice of an Alveolar Breath Test of Chemicals Research Program with Dr. Michael Phillips MD, FACP, FRCP, a world leader in breath analysis. His Breath Collection Apparatus can identify 200 chemicals emitted from the alveolar breath, “system’s analyzers can detect compounds in the breath in concentrations of parts per billion”.

A detection of TMA, along with other sulfides and amines that make good FMO3 substrates, may indicate an FMO3 deficiency and would allow you to correlate the chemical with your odor type.

Menssana Research will conduct a study for Mebo to discover the spectrum of compounds in the breath of systemic body malodor/halitosis sufferers against a normal control group. This is significant as our symptoms can mean changes in the body’s production and use of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Mebo will obtain a Breath Collection Apparatus from Dr. Phillips and obtain alveolar breath samples from sufferers that would like to participate in the study. The research would analyze any volatile organic compound emitted from the upper airway. Menssana Research will desorb the VOCs from the sorbent tubes which will be concentrated in an automated thermal desorber and separated by gas chromatography, each would be identified/quantified by mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis yields approximately 200 compounds in a typical sample of human breath. Chemicals Identified in each alveolar breath sample will be given to the testers, and will be used by Dr. Phillips for the study.

Alveolar Breath Test in Chicago : Would you like to test ?

As a patient advocacy group in the community we wanted to open the study to the community. Since the logistics of obtaining air samples outside the clinical setting is not practical due to the each subject having their own environmental signature, each alveolar breath sample would have to be done directly into the breath machine during a meet up. Two Breath Collection Apparatus systems will be maintained at Mebo’s HQs in Miami and in Chicago. Alveolar breath samples testing will begin in the Chicago area. We will ship Dr. Phillips breath machine to a volunteer that would conduct the breath samples in London or somewhere international where demand exists.

To participate in the study and receive your testing interpretation and reporting, Dr. Phillips has agreed to a low cost to help the community. Each alveolar breath sample will be $275 per subject which covers delivery of samples to the Breath Research Laboratory of Menssana Research.

If you have tested negative for TMAU, this would be an alternative option into researching your body odor/ halitosis condition or PATM condition.

If you have tested negative for TMAU, this would be an alternative option into researching your body odor/ halitosis condition or PATM condition. The biochemist at Menssana says “there is good chance that the breath test will also be able to identify TMA Trimethylaminuria” which would significantly bring value in researching your condition. A detection of TMA, along with other sulfides and amines that make good FMO3 substrates, may indicate an FMO3 deficiency and would allow you to correlate the chemical with your odor type.

This is a great opportunity available from Dr. Phillips and I hope we all take advantage. If you are interested in participating in the program please send an email to mike@meboresearch.org

Translated into Spanish

MEBO Research

TMAU mentioned in popular UK fiction drama show 'Doc Martin' last night

Last night Trimethylaminuria was mentioned in a new episode of the popular doctor fiction drama show in the UK, Doc Martin. The series screens at peak evening viewing time on the popular ITV channel. Last nights show (it's first screening), called 'Mother knows best' included a short filler scene where a young man was at the Dr's surgery with a 'fishy smell'. Doc Martin told him he suspected TMAU and asked for a urine sample. That was basically it.

Whoever did the research on TMAU seemed to have got the current facts slightly mixed up. They were confusing trimethylamine with tyramine. At one point the Dr said it was tyramine that caused the smell. He asked the patient if cheese made his pulse race, cheese often being high in tyramine. Ironically tyramine is associated with the FMO3 enzyme, likely being a pathway to partly detoxify tyramine. High tyramine levels have been associated with migraines, though this does not seem to be consensually agreed. It can also be found in foods such as cheese and chocolate. Dr Eileen Treacy did some research a number of years ago to see if people with FMO3 deficiency tended to have high blood pressure, the theory being high levels of circulating catecholamine releasing agents (such as tyramine) can raise blood pressure, but it was found not to be so. Nevertheless, in theory it may be suspected that people with FMO3 deficiency may be sensitive to catecholamines (if they use the FMO3 enzyme for detoxification) until consensus shows this is not so.

So even though the researcher for the show got their facts confused, perhaps they are right about tyramine and raised pulses with FMO3 deficiency afterall !

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Young lady talks of her 'fecal body odor' on youtube

Expert comment on the new paper connecting TMA level with PYROXD2 enzyme

The new paper about trimethylamine and enzyme PYROXD2 has been a lot of new information to take in. How significant the paper will be to people with genetic TMAU due to FMO3 deficiency is yet to unfold.

 An expert in TMAU/FMO research, Dr Ian Phillips of Queen Mary University of London, has kindly given us his first observations of the new paper, which is posted below :

Comment by Dr Ian Phillips
Queen Mary University of London

TMA PYROXD2 paper

The paper describes a so-called metabolite quantitative trait locus (mQTL) study. Basically, the researchers looked for associations between the concentrations of various metabolites (small molecules involved in biochemical processes) in urine and plasma and genetic variation (single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) from across the entire human genome. They found that ‘high’ concentrations of trimethylamine (TMA) in urine were associated with a T version of a T/C SNP (rs7072216) present in the PYROXD2 gene, which encodes a probable pyridine nucleotide-disulphide oxidoreductase. The gene is on chromosome 10, whereas the FMO3 gene is on chromosome 1.

The results suggest that common variants of the PYROXD2 gene or of a gene that is close to it can affect the amount of TMA excreted in urine. However, the authors state that the 'high' urinary concentrations of TMA associated with TT homozygotes are within the range found in individuals unaffected by primary genetic TMAuria, which is caused by defects in FMO3. Also, the T version of the SNP is present in Europeans at high frequency (70%), which indicates that a relatively high proportion of individuals will be homozygous for the T version of the SNP. Therefore, the SNP is not relevant to primary genetic TMAuria. However, if a person with primary TMAuria is homozygous for the T version of the SNP, the condition might be worse. In addition, it is possible that mild or transient forms of TMAuria, involving common polymorphisms of FMO3, would be exacerbated in people who are homozygous for the T version of the SNP.