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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-30, Page 29Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Page 29 Interleukin identified as H1N1 factor Shan Lam sun media Scientists have found the first clue as to why some people are hospitalized and die when in- fected with the H1N1 virus, while others only have a mild form of the pandemic flu. A new study by Canadian and Spanish re- searchers shows the difference was related to the amount of interleukin 17 in a patient's blood. There were high levels in patients with se- vere canes of H1N1, while those with mild symptoms had low levels. Interleukin 17 helps regulate white blood cells, which fight infection and disease. The finding could lead to development of a drug to prevent the severe form of H1N1. "In rare cases, the virus causes lung infec- tions requiring patients to be treated in hos- pital," said Dr. David Kelvin, of the Toronto • General Hospital Research Institute. "By targeting or blocking interleukin 17 in the future, we could potentially reduce the amount of inflammation in the lungs and speed up recovery," he said, adding such treatment would be years away. A test to determine who has high levels of the molecule is possible in the near future, Kel- vin said. "A diagnostic test could let us know early who is at risk for the severe form of this illness quickly," he said. High levels of this molecule would indicate a failure of the immune system to eliminate the virus, similar to what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu when huge numbers of deaths occurred due to an already deadly influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. Dr. Jesus Bermejo-Martin, an immunologist at the National Influenza Centre in Spain, said interleukin 17 was previously found by other scientists to be elevated in people with autoim- mune diseases. "When we think in a pandemic, everything relies on the virus' treatment, antivirals, vac- cines, hygienic measure, but much less atten- tion is paid to the role of the host individual's response to the virus. We believe the treatment strategies targeting the host's responses to the virus can represent a good alternative to im- prove severe disease caused by influenza vi- ruses," Bermejo-Martin said. The study is published in the journal Critical Care. Olympic flame guarded close by for Christmas Kato Dubinsfci sun media Their Christmas celebrations included movies, a massive meal, video games and a Secret Sant4 gift exchange. Pretty normal fare — but most of their families were thousands of kilometres away, and there was a certain flame they needed to guard 24-7. For the almost 200 people who spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a London hotel, guarding the Olym- pic flame and waiting to move on to Wood- stock and the rest of the country yesterday, the holidays were a little different this year. "We had people trying to time their Skype phone calls for when their families were hav- ing dinner back home," said Chris Shauf, a spokesperson for the torch relay team, which spent three nights over the holidays in the London Hilton. "We've had a family brunch, people got to sleep in, there were some gifts exchanged — it's fantastic. After 56 days on the road together, we're friends and we're family." While tens of thousands of Canadians have already seen the Olympic torch, as it winds its way to Vancouver on a 45,000 -ki- lometre journey, few see the entourage of flame keepers that travels with the torch and its commercial sponsors. On Christmas Day, 183 people were booked into the London hotel — the vast majority of the 250 people in the torch en- tourage. The rest had moved on to upcoming torch relay destinations, advance parties to make sure things go smoothly. While some had to spend the holidays with new friends and not family — there are team members from Italy, France and the U.S. — others were surprised by visiting relatives. Two couples got engaged over the holi- days. One of the torch photographers pro- posed to his visiting girlfriend Dec. 24, and the torch relay's finance manager's boyfriend came Dec. 25 to propose to her. Both women said yes. "This whole thing brings people together," Shauf said. seeking money. �r201Q capital projects frri Lomas- cdee sattr. By contracting out the Streetscape Cafe, the YMCA stands to save $49,250. However, minimum wage hikes will add about $49,000 to the Y's budget, effectively cancelling out the money saved. YMCA Sarnia-Lambton board member Bruce Potter point- ed out the total capital investment for all YMCA upgrades at Ag Park would be in the neighbourhood of $1.06 million. The Ag Park plan of 2005 was pegged much higher, at $1.6 mil- lion. Needed work includes a new arena floor, light standard up- grades, and roofing for both the stables and the grandstand. A total capital request was made for $132,000 this year. .±'ii,...f s'?e. ,.. At the hotel on Christ- mas Day, amid a pretty competitive game of Risk, some team mem- bers munched on cook- ies while others chatted about holiday traditions. How the Grinch Stole Christmas played on TV in the background, and, in the next room, A Christmas Carol. Mickael Vinet, the torch relay manger for sponsor Coca-Cola, is from France. His wife and four -month-old son flew in from Van- couver to spend Christmas together. "I have family at home, but this is a fam- ily — we live together, we are on the same journey of spreading happiness to all Cana- dians," Vinet said. There is lots of holiday fun to be had for those away from their families: there were Olympic sport competitions on the Wii gam- ing console and a pyjama breakfast, among others. As for the sacred Olympic flame, it spent Christmas in an undisclosed location -- or six, if you want to be technical about it. The "Mother flame" as the relay team calls it, is divided into six safety lanterns, ensuring it's constantly burning whether on a plane, train, in a car or someone's hotel room. "It rests each night, and there are guard- ians that keep a 24-hour watch on it," said Shauf. "It's very pure and sacred and there's a lot of meaning behind it. It brings people and nations together. There's a lot of symbol- ism." Before heading out yesterday, Shauf said the team was happy to have some down- time to re-energize for the second half of the flame journey. "It's good to have some down time and to connect to one another," Shauf, who grew up in Estevan, Saskatchewan, said. The torch passed through Walkerton and Kincardine on Monday, Dec. 28. MUSSO Appraisals & Consulting Inc. SPECIALIZING IN: • Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Farm • Capital Gains • Foreclosure • Investment • Matrimonial Property Covering Port Elgin, Kincardine, Goderich, Hanover, Wingham and Grand Bend Area! Musso For further information www.mussoappraisals.com 519-741-8700 Appraisals &" Consulting Inc Mario C. Musso AACI, P.App/Owner SALE DATES: SUN Dec.27 12-4 MON Dec. 28 9-6 TUE Dec. 29 9-6 WED. Dec. 30 9-6 THU Dec.31 9-6 New Year's Day CLOSED SAT Jan. 2 916 SUN • Jan. 3 12-4 G LER o FINE FURNITURE • ,1111trIrlritrA 519 345 2750 • 1 800 265 6584 ((i1`,1fI(I\tili[1 1IN',!4] {fli1i