In 1979 and based on some inferred features of ‘slow’ viruses and lentiviruses, we proposed the DNA must be the repository of long-term memories in living systems (LTM)… particularly in brain and the immune system (Smith, 1979).  Our analyses suggested that a priori changes from adenine*thymine-rich regions to guanine*cytosine-richer regions in non-proteomic regions of the genome then give rise to a posteriori byproducts comprising elements of LTM (e.g., immunoglobulins, unique T-cell receptors, odorant receptors, and neural networks; Smith, 1979; Smith, 2003a). Because slow viruses and lentiviruses contribute to dementia in brain, we also inferred that an analogous ’immune dementia’ could be anticipated, and would be associated with dysfunctions in the immune system (Smith, 1979; cf. Sigurdsson, 1954a; Sigurdsson. 1954b; Sigurdsson, 1954c). We subsequently reported that HIV/AIDS is one manifestation of the anticipated immune dementia (Smith, 1984).

Our investigations of HIV and AIDS, and their implications for LTM, then led to the discovery of autotoxicity, autotoxicity and context-specificity (Smith, 1983; Smith, 1984). Autotoxicity, which comprises transmissible and infectious non-nucleic-acid cellular substituents and which subsumes all prions, is known to affect brain and mind.

Autovirulence comprises transmissible and infectious virus secondary small RNA particles that often contribute to ‘hit-and-run’ and ‘beneath-the-radar’ epigenetic phenomena and syndromes. Stress-activated autovirulence (e.g., associated with Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] and some adenoviruses) is implicated in the etiologies of many genetic, epigenetic and epigenomic phenomena (Smith, 2003b; Fisher, 2009). These include: autoimmune disorders; chronic fatigue syndrome; molecular mimicry; schizophrenia; autism spectrum disorders (ASD); schizophrenia; aneuploidies and other congenital conditions; de novo mutations; cancers; et al.

This report focuses on neuropsychiatric consequences of autovirulence. Phenomenological observations of more than 50 cancer patients during a 4 month period at a California cancer radiation therapy clinic and, separately and independently, during a 3 month period at a Mexico cancer chemotherapy clinic, now reveal a potential cancer 'brain-mind’. The phenomenon is observed in approximately 70% of the cancer patients. Because of known effects of radiation and chemotherapy on DNA, it is not unreasonable to presume that radiation therapy and chemotherapy can affect LTM and G*C :: A*T base-pair ratios. Yet, insofar as stress-activated EBV can contribute to distortions in one’s sensorium (e.g., in ASD and schizophrenia), our observations pose an important conundrum. To wit, do stress and anxiety associated with disorders in common sense contribute to cancers (cf. Smith, 2007a; Smith, 2007b; Smith, 2008/2009)? Alternatively, is there a neuropsychiatric cancer 'brain-mind’ (perhaps associated with stress-activated autovirulence) that may be unrelated to disorders in common sense?

In this presentation, I report both possibilities … along with elements of the potential cancer 'brain-mind’. Importantly, these findings underscore the need for the detection, assessment and management of stress in medical and clinical professions. Our findings also reveal a need to disambiguate among the effects of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and autovirulence on brain and its sensorium. Finally, our findings affirm the theoretical and experimental potential of our recently patented preliophic moleculator invention (Smith and Shadel, 2010). 

References

Sigurdsson, B. (1954a). Mædi, a slow progressive pneumonia of sheep: An epizoological and a pathological study, British Veterinary Journal 110, 254-70.

Sigurdsson, B. (1954b). Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) of sheep in Iceland, British Veterinary Journal 110, 307-22.

Sigurdsson, B. (1954c). Rida, a chronic encephalitis of sheep, British Veterinary Journal 110, 341-54.

Fisher, C. (2009). A Novel and Potentially Groundbreaking Viral Theory of Autism and Schizophrenia. Behavioral Medicine Report (Available online at <http://www.bmedreport.com/archives/1411>; Thursday March 19th, 2009)

Smith, R. W. (1979). Long-Term Memories: Where Does the 'Buck' Stop? — Toward a Testable Theory of Debugging the Molecular Basis of Long-Term Memories in Living Organisms. Abstracts, Seventh Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry [Jerusalem, ISRAEL — September 2-6], p. 590.

Smith, R. W. (1983). How Would You Recognize and Detect a Virally Modified Code? Could Kuru be Caused by Cannibalism of Autotoxic Factors in Brain and Lymphoid Tissue? Does Purification of Molecular Function Differ from Purification of Molecular Structure? *** A Critique of Impure Reasoning in Biological Sciences.  Abstracts, 7th International Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science [Salzburg, AUSTRIA — July] 4:358-362.

Smith, R. W. (1984). AIDS and 'Slow Viruses'. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 437:576-607. Based on a presentation to the Conference on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), New York Academy of Sciences [New York, NY — November 1983].

Smith, R. Wm. (2003a). Revisiting the Molecular Biology, Genetics and Genomics of Long-Term Memory in Living Systems. Abstracts, XIX International Congress of Genetics [Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – July 6-11], Abstract #5.C.0802, p. 133.

Smith, R. Wm. (2003b). Autovirulence – An Epigenetic Model of Molecular Mimicry in Living Systems: Broad Implications for Aberrant Translation Products and Autoimmunity. Abstracts, XIX International Congress of Genetics [Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – July 6-11], Abstract #2.G.246, p. 225.

Smith, R. Wm. (2007a). On the Biogenesis, Development and Evolution of Common Sense and Spirituality: Implications for Critical Reasoning in the Sciences, Religions and Society. A presentation to the San Francisco Tesla Society (January 14th, 2007; see <http://www.sftesla.org/Newsletters/2007/SFTS_news_2007_01_14.htm>).

Smith, R. Wm. (2007b). A Transpersonal Approach to Helping Unknowingly Needy and Worried Well Persons: An Example of In Situ Diagnoses and Follow-Up in the Study of Common Sense and Aberrant Common Sense in Post-World War II Germany, Karl Jaspers Forum Target Article 100 (December 15, 2007; available online at <http://www.kjf.ca/100-TASMI.pdf>).

Smith, R. Wm. (2008). Common Sense – Its Development and Disorders, ExtraOrdinary Technology 6(2-Apr/May/Jun):49-64 (expanded version of this article is available online at <http://www.teslatech.info/ttmagazine/v6n2/v6n2smith.pdf>).

Smith, R. Wm. (2009). More on Common Sense – Its Development and Disorders, ExtraOrdinary Technology 7(1-Spring/Summer):49-64 (expanded version of this article is available online at <http://www.teslatech.info/ttmagazine/v6n2/v6n2smith.pdf>).

Smith, R. Wm. and Shadel, R. R. (2010). Preliophic Moleculator Using Electric Fields and Gradients for Manipulating Molecules. US Patent #7,826,974 (November 2, 2010; also see <http://www.patent2pdf.com/pdf/07826974.pdf>).

Smith, R. Wm. (2011)  The Cancer Brain-Mind.  Paper presented to the San Francisco Tesla Society on April 10, 2011.

Dr. Roulette Wm. Smith is the Director of the Institute for Postgraduate Interdisciplinary Studies in Palo Alto, California.  Previous lectures by Roulette to the San Francisco Tesla Society include the following:

2009        Using Logistic Reasoning to Discover the Etiology of the Autism Spectrum & Schizophrenia

2007        On the Biogenesis, Development and Evolution of Common Sense and Spirituality

2006        Evolution & Long-Term Memories in Living Systems.

2002        On the Biogenesis and Development of Terrorism  

2001        Transmissible Agents of Slowly Progressive Diseases - Parsimony and New Perspectives