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"A statistically significant increase was seen in the frequency of symptoms among women compared with men; and ... the most frequently reported symptoms were neurological (i.e., headache, memory difficulty, slurred speech, spaciness, lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness, coordination problems, and changes in vision), state of well-being (excessive fatigue, bloating, rash, discomfort, and muscle spasms), and ophthalmic and upper/lower respiratory (nasal symptoms, sinus discomfort, coughing, watery eyes, throat discomfort, weak voice, chest tightness, and wheezing)." (Gray et al, 2003)
Click here: Mixed mold mycotoxicosis: immunological changes in humans following exposure in water-damaged buildings (Gray, et al)
see page 9 on that article, Table 1
Symptoms, in Mold-Exposed Patients vs. Controls
Mold-
exposed
patients Controls
(n = 209) (n = 28)
Symptom * x SD x SD p
Excessive fatigue 5.8 1.9 4.3 2.1 0.0001
Headache 5.2 1.9 4.1 2.0 0.005
Nasal symptoms 5.1 2.2 4.1 2.0 0.02
Memory problems 5.1 2.1 3.3 1.6 0.0002
"Spaciness"/disorientation 4.8 2.3 3.2 1.8 0.0007
Sinus discomfort 4.7 2.2 3.6 1.8 0.01
Coughing 4.6 2.2 3.2 1.6 0.001
Watery eyes 4.6 2.1 3.4 1.7 0.004
Throat discomfort 4.5 2.1 3.4 1.7 0.008
Slurred speech 4.5 2.3 3.1 2.0 0.002
Lightheadedness 4.4 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.006
Joint discomfort 4.4 2.3 3.7 2.1 NS
Dizziness 4.3 2.1 3.1 1.4 0.005
Weakness 4.2 2.3 3.0 1.7 0.008
Bloating 4.2 2.2 3.2 1.6 0.02
Insomnia 4.1 2.2 3.8 2.0 NS
Weak voice 4.1 2.2 2.8 1.4 0.003
Spasms 4.0 2.2 3.8 2.1 NS
Coordination problems 4.0 2.2 2.9 1.4 0.01
Vision changes 3.9 2.3 2.9 1.4 0.02
Rash 3.9 2.2 2.9 1.7 0.02
Numbness 3.9 2.2 3.4 1.7 NS
Cold intolerance 3.9 2.4 3.1 1.8 NS
Heat intolerance 3.8 2.4 3.6 2.0 NS
Chest tightness 3.8 2.2 2.6 1.3 0.006
Chest discomfort 3.7 2.2 3.0 1.3 NS
Frequent urination 3.7 2.3 3.8 2.1 NS
Excessive thirst 3.6 2.3 3.4 2.0 NS
Ringing ears 3.6 2.2 4.4 2.4 NS
Wheezing 3.6 2.0 2.6 1.3 0.02
Swallowing problems 3.2 2.0 3.0 1.7 NS
Skin flushing 3.1 2.1 2.8 1.6 NS
Bladder control problems 3.1 2.0 2.8 1.4 NS
Rapid pulse 3.0 2.0 2.6 0.9 NS
Palpitations 2.8 1.9 2.4 0.8 NS
Bruising 2.8 1.7 2.4 0.9 NS
Swelling ankles 2.7 1.8 2.6 1.5 NS
Hearing changes 2.7 1.8 2.6 1.5 NS
Symptom * p females
Excessive fatigue 0.001
Headache < 0.006
Nasal symptoms
Memory problems 0.005
"Spaciness"/disorientation < 0.01
Sinus discomfort
Coughing
Watery eyes
Throat discomfort
Slurred speech < 0.02
Lightheadedness 0.01
Joint discomfort
Dizziness
Weakness
Bloating
Insomnia
Weak voice 0.02
Spasms 0.04
Coordination problems 0.009
Vision changes 0.008
Rash 0.02
Numbness
Cold intolerance 0.002
Heat intolerance 0.003
Chest tightness
Chest discomfort 0.02
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst 0.01
Ringing ears
Wheezing
Swallowing problems 0.008
Skin flushing 0.04
Bladder control problems
Rapid pulse 0.04
Palpitations 0.003
Bruising 0.003
Swelling ankles 0.02
Hearing changes
Notes: x = mean, SD = standard deviation, and NS = not significant.
* Symptoms were compared for females vs. males.
Table 2.--Lymphocyte Phenotypes Observed in Males vs. Females, and in
Combined Sexes (All Patients)
%
Expected variation
range from
Cell type Designation (95% CI) expected
B CD20+ 5, 15 > 15
IL-2 receptor bearing T CD5+CD25+ 0, 8 > 8
Activated T CD3+CD26+ 0, 30 > 30
CD3+HLA-DR+ 0, 7 > 7
Activated and suppressor CD8+CD38+ 0, 8 > 8
CD8+HLA-DR+ 0, 3 > 3
Complement-receptor-bearing
suppressor CD8+CD11b+ 5, 45 < 5
Natural killer CD3-CD16+CD56+ 5, 20 < 5
Phytohemagglutinin PHA 96, 195 < 96
Concanavalin A Con A 94, 354 < 94
All patients *
(n = 206)
%
Cell type x SD abnormal
B 17.9 6.1 75.6
IL-2 receptor bearing T 9.2 4.7 68.9
Activated T 45.9 11.8 91.2
11.8 5.9 95.1
Activated and suppressor 15.4 6 56.6
4.7 5 62
Complement-receptor-bearing
suppressor 5.7 3.7 ([dagger]) 15.6
Natural killer 7.6 11 38.5
Phytohemagglutinin 104 23.5 26.2
([double dagger])
Concanavalin A 108 27.2 5.9
([double dagger])
Males
(n = 83)
%
Cell type x SD abnormal
B 18.1 6.9 75.6
IL-2 receptor bearing T 8.9 4.7 70.7
Activated T 44.0 12.2 91.5
11.9 7.5 92.7
Activated and suppressor 15.6 6.4 54.9
5.2 6.4 61.0
Complement-receptor-bearing
suppressor 6.3 4 ([section]) 18.3
Natural killer 9.8 16.1 48.8
Phytohemagglutinin 104.0 21.4 (#) 25
Concanavalin A 108.0 23.9 (#) 6.3
Females
(n = 123)
%
Cell type x SD abnormal
B 17.7 5.5 75.6
IL-2 receptor bearing T 9.4 4.7 67.5
Activated T 47 11.3 91.0
11.7 4.5 96.7
Activated and suppressor 15.3 5.8 57.8
4.4 3.7 63.6
Complement-receptor-bearing
suppressor 5.3 3.5 ** 13.1
Natural killer 6.1 3 31.7
Phytohemagglutinin 104 25 ** 27
Concanavalin A 108 29.2 ** 5.7
Notes: CI = confidence interval, z = mean, and SD = standard deviation.
Not all tests were performed on all individuals, as noted.
* t and z tests of males and females revealed no significant
differences; therefore, the 2 sexes were combined to form All Patients.
([dagger]) n = 204.
([double dagger]) n = 202.
([section]) n = 82.
(#) n = 80.
** n = 123.
Table 3.--Percentage of Individuals with Antibody Titers > 1:4 against
Central Nervous System (CNS) Myelin and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Myelin for Each Isotype, in Mold-Exposed Patients vs. Controls
CNS myelin antibodies
IgG IgM
Subject n % n %
All patients 199 67.3 201 43.3
Controls * 32 12.5 32 12.5
Odds ratio 14.40 5.34
95% CI 4.85, 42.9 1.8, 15.8
CNS myelin PNS myelin
antibodies antibodies
IgA IgG
Subject n % n %
All patients 201 55.7 201 61.7
Controls * 32 12.5 32 12.5
Odds ratio 10.59 14.40
95% CI 3,58, 31.3 4.86, 42.87
PNS myelin antibodies
IgM IgA
Subject n % n %
All patients 201 45.8 201 60.2
Controls * 32 12.5 32 6.25
Odds ratio 5.39 19.10
95% CI 1.82, 15.93 4.44, 82.6
Notes: Ig = immunoglobulin, and CI = confidence interval.
* The percentage of controls that exceeded 1:4 had antimyelin titers
of 1:8.
Table 4.--Percentage of Individuals with Abnormally High
Titers to Neurofilament Antigen, in Mold-Exposed Patients
vs. Controls
% abnormal
Subject IgG IgM IgA
Patients (n = 93) 6.45 31.6 36.2
Controls (n = 100) 0.0 2.0 2.1
Odds ratio Infinity 22.615 27.767
95% CI 5.224, 99.900 6.437, 119.784
Notes: Ig = immunoglobulin, and CI = confidence interval.
Table 5.--Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence
Intervals (CIs) for Antinuclear Autoantibodies (ANA) and
Autoantibodies against Smooth Muscle (ASM)
Autoantibody OR 95% CI
ANA 11.00 2.56, 46.50
ASM 2.58 1.26, 6.26
Note: Autoantibodies for males and females were combined
and compared with combined controls A and B.
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