[Coordinator's note: Ordinarily, we don't accept messages from non-subscribers, but this ] [seems to me to be of compelling interest, and I am using my discretion to pass it on. ] [If anyone is upset by this, please blame me, and not the Beeb. ] [ ] [If you can help them, you might want to contact them directly, and possibly CC: the list ] [ Steve ] Douglas Kell from Aberystwyth recommended writing to you as we are seeking advice about an experiment we would like to conduct as part of a BBC documentary. We're investigating recent claims which have been made that extremely high (sub-molecular) dilutions of histamine can inhibit basophil activation in the presence of anti-IgE. This effect has been claimed both through counting stained cells and measuring CD63 using flow cytometry. (See for instance: Belon P, Cumps J, Ennis M et al, Inflammation Research 1999; Res 48, Sup 1: 17-18 Sainte-Laudy J, Belon P, Ultra Low Doses 1991; Taylor and Francis: 127-138 ) Clearly these results are very surprising and we would like to independently test these claims by carrying out an experiment. The experiment would involve preparing the histamine dilutions and controls (which we could do at a lab here in London). These would then be tested by adding them to samples of human basophils, incubating with anti-IgE and measuring their activation. The experiment would obviously need to be performed a number of times. We are looking for a lab which might be able to help us perform this analysis. Do you know of any laboratories world wide who would be able to carry out this experiment? Any suggestions you have would be much apprectiated. Best regards, Rosie Rosie Schellenberg Researcher, Horizon BBC TV Room 4523, White City, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS Tel: + 44 20 8752 7421 Fax: + 44 20 8752 6155 This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this.
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