A study by the Mayo Clinic (conducted by Dr. Jens Ponikau) demonstrated a causal connection between fungi and CRS in 93% of cases studied. The researchers who were led by Dr. Ponikau said “This is a potential breakthrough that offers great hope for the millions of people who suffer from this problem.” SOURCE: Mayo Clinic Study Implicates Fungus as Cause of Chronic Sinusitis 9/9/99 – link retrieved 7/13/11. http://www.princeton.edu/~gpmenos/mold_facts/ MayoClinicStudyImplicatesFungusasCauseofChronicSinusi.pdf In 2003 Donald P. Dennis, M.D. presented a paper to a symposium in Dallas. In it he stated: “Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects approximately 37 million Americans, or 1 in 6 (16.3%). It is more common than arthritis (12.4%), orthopedic impairment (12.14%), or hypertension (11.44%) CRS costs patients and insurance companies over $2.4 billion per year for medication, hospitalization, and surgery. In excess of 200,000 sinus surgeries are performed very year in the U.S. with 46.9 million prescriptions and non-prescription medications ordered annually.” SOURCE: Dennis, Donald P. M.D., Chronic Sinusitis: Defective T-Cells Responding to Superantigens, Treated by Reduction of Fungi in the Nose and Air, July, 2003. Link retrieved 7/13/11 http://tennmold.com/medicaljournals/DrDennis.pdf The Immune Response to Fungal Infections “With the increasing number of immune compromised patients, fungi have emerged as major causes of human disease. These pathogens are largely opportunists, causing infection when host defences are breached…. During the past two decades, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major threat to immunocompromised hosts. Patients with neoplastic diseases are at significant risk for such infections as a result of their underlying illness and its therapy. Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus and emerging 54 Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis With hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a reaction usually develops six to twelve hours after relatively high intensity exposure. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough and fever. Unlike allergy symptoms, symptoms do NOT include runny nose, watery eyes, headache and the like. Toxicosis In laboratory studies, dramatic and carcinogenic effects have been recorded in animals and humans exposed to high levels of mycotoxins in laboratory studies. Symptoms of exposure to mycotoxins may include: Cold and flu-like symptoms Headache Nosebleeds Dermatitis Immune suppression Serious threats to individuals with immune suppression pathogens, such as the zygomycetes, dark walled fungi, Trichosporon and Fusarium, are largely opportunists, causing infection when host defences are breached. The immune response varies with respect to the fungal species and morphotype encountered. The risk for particular infections differs, depending upon which aspect of immunity is impaired.” Shmuel Shoham, Section of Infectious Diseases, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC and Stuart M. Levitz, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA SOURCE: Shmuel Shoham and Stuart M. Levitz, The immune response to fungal infections, 2005, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, British Journal of Haematology, 129, 569–582. Link retrieved 7/13/11