How cells move about the body

If we want to understand how disease spreads in the body, we have to take a look at the way the cells move through a body. This is easy to explain in the case of red and white blood cells: these cells are just carried along in the blood stream. However, it is more difficult to imagine how cells composing other organs can move through a body's strong connective tissue. This happens constantly every second inside our bodies.

In order to move through the connective tissue, any cell has to be capable of temporarily dissolving the surrounding tissue – the collagen and elastic fibers – and so it can make its way through. For this purpose the cells use enzymes that can temporarily digest and weaken the connective fibers surrounding them. All enzymes are proteins, which are produced by the cells themselves and then secreted. In order to become active, many enzymes bind to other specific molecules, such as trace elements, which change their biochemical structure and induce their activity. Cellular migration through dense tissue requires that the cell secrete enzymes that can dissolve the surrounding collagen. This is why these protein molecules are known as collagen-dissolving enzymes.

In addition, the cell often needs to secrete activators – the molecules that can vitalize dormant enzymes located outside the cell, thereby enabling them to digest and loosen up the surrounding collagen molecules.

Collagen-Dissolving Cell Systems

Most cells of the body are capable of producing enzymes that can "eat" their way through connective tissue. In healthy people this takes place in certain, biologically defined physiological stages. In the case of a disease this happens when cells and cellular systems become reprogrammed. Cancer cells, for instance, use these "biological weapons" to multiply inside an organ and then spread through the entire body (metastasis). Viruses and other micro-organisms also use this collagen-dissolving "weapon" to spread an infection to other parts of the body.

How is it possible that a single disease mechanism – the destruction of collagen by protein-digesting enzymes – is of such extraordinary value that it plays a vital role in all serious diseases? The body itself uses the same mechanism in a healthy person for its normal functions, in various metabolic pathways or to restructure some organs. For instance, enzymatic degradation of the connective tissue is important in the function of the body's immune system during growth, but also in the restructuring of the reproductive organs during the monthly female cycle and in pregnancy.

However, our bodies are completely helpless when the mechanism that is normally used becomes activated and abused, such as by invading microbes. As soon as the virus or cancer cell is capable of overcoming the body with its own collagen-dissolving weapons, the disease starts spreading aggressively.
To explain this fundamental principle that distinguishes our health from disease, we will look how the body uses this collagen-solving mechanism to perform its normal physio-logical functions.

Restructuring of Collagen in Healthy People

Protection against infections
The body's basic protection against invaders (microbes) is secured by the white blood cells ("police cells"). There are several subgroups of white blood cells that perform specific functions in the immune system. Especially important are the macrophages, which can "eat" and digest invaders. Immature forms of these "eating cells", called monocytes, can reach every part of the body through the blood stream. If an infection takes place in a particular part of the body, such as in the lungs, the body releases "alarm substances" that attract monocytes to the source of the microbial invasion.

The police cells arriving through the blood stream then have to traverse the blood vessel wall and move into the lung tissue with the help of collagen-digesting enzymes. Using this mechanism in the blood capillary wall, the police cells can temporarily create a little space between the cells in the blood vessel wall (endothelium), which allow them to move from the blood into the lung tissue.
To reach the place in the lungs that has been invaded by viruses and bacteria, the eating cells must be able to move through the lung tissue. In order to do this, monocytes use the same collagen-dissolving mechanism. They secrete collagen-dissolving enzymes in the direction of the infection. This way cells can loosen up the dense connective tissue that surround them and move through the tissue much like an expedition that cuts its way through the jungle with a machete.

The connective tissue will close again right after the cell has passed through, using the compensating mechanisms that can repair the tissue. This repair is assured by the optimal production of collagen molecules that require a sufficient supply of vitamin C and other cell factors in the diet.

Ovulation

One of the most fascinating functions in which the body continuously uses a collagen-dissolving mechanism is the ovulation process in the female body. Monthly hormonal changes in the first half of the female cycle stimulate certain cell types (granulocytes), which build the wall around the ripening egg cell (follicle). These cells produce large amounts of fluid that is rich in collagen-digesting enzymes.

In the middle of the cycle, the ripened egg contains so much collagen-digesting enzyme that it is capable of temporarily disrupting the collagen tissue of the ovarian wall. This is the mechanism that operates every month, allowing the egg cell to move from the ovary through the fallopian tube and into the womb (uterus).
It is understandable that this mechanism needs to be precisely times and be confined to a specific location. This mechanism must assure that only one egg per cycle ripens and passes through. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that collagen-digesting enzymes remain in a timely and physiological balance with the mechanism that blocks these enzymes and initiates self-healing of the tissue.
Immediately after the egg cell has left the ovary, the activity of collagen-digesting enzymes is blocked by the body's own enzymatic blocks. This shifts the balance toward collagen-producing mechanisms, which become prevalent over the collagen-destroying process. Using this mechanism the tissue of the ovary wall can heal quickly and close itself. Four weeks later, during the next cycle, the whole process repeats itself, taking place in the body of every healthy woman until menopause.

Collagen Dissolving in Infectious Diseases

Degradation of Collagen as a Precondition for the Spread of Diseases
The collagen-dissolving mechanism plays an important role in infectious diseases. Without the disruption of the surrounding connective tissue, the agents that cause diseases (viruses, bacteria) cannot invade the body and spread the disease.
Contrary to all other cells, which contain both metabolic software (in the nucleus) and hardware (production system for protein and other metabolic molecules), a virus consists only of software (genetic information). If it wants to reproduce it has to multiply inside a host cell using the host cell's hardware. In the case of a flu virus, the host cell can be a cell of the mucous membrane in the nose, throat, or lungs. As soon as the virus has invaded the host cell, it incorporates its genetic information into the nucleus of the host. This allows the virus to convert metabolic functions of the host cell for its own purposes and spread the infection through:

1. Multiplication of the virus. The metabolic production system of the host cell
receives an order to multiply the virus particles. After multiple reproduction
cycles, virus particles are released by the host cell into the surrounding area
where the newly made viruses can invade new cells.

2. Mass production of collagen dissolving enzymes. The virus also orders the host
cell to produce collagen digesting enzymes. The host cell excretes these
enzymes, which start to dissolve the surrounding tissue. The infection can then
easily spread to other parts of the body.

The more a virus is capable of using the metabolism of a host cell for these purposes, the faster a virus infection will spread and the sicker a patient will feel.

Collagen Dissolving in Cancer

All forms of cancer spread with the help of the tissue-dissolving mechanism. The liver is the body's central metabolic organ and is responsible for neutralizing and removing toxins from the body. Of the toxins that enter the body through the diet, such as pesticides, preservatives are the most common cause of liver cancer. Also, all pharmaceutical drugs have to be detoxified by the liver. In this context, in January 1996, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) issued a warning that all cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) used on the market at that time were carcinogenic (causing cancer).

Liver cells that are exposed to these poisonous substances can either be destroyed or permanently damaged. This damage often involves an error in the genetic program of the cells (cell's software), similar to what we have seen in virus infections. This damage can trigger two processes that facilitate the development of cancer:

1. Uncontrolled cell multiplication. The software of a cancer cell is
reprogrammed in such a way that it causes constant reproduction and
multiplication of the cell. This uncontrolled cellular multiplication is the first
precondition for cancer to develop.
2. Mass production of collagen dissolving enzymes. The second precondition
is the production of enzymes that destroy the surrounding connective tissue
that would otherwise keep the cancer cells confined.
Research has established that the more enzymes a cancer cell produces, the
more aggressively the cancer develops. The faster the cancer can spread
through a body, the shorter the life expectancy of the patient if the mechanism
is not stopped.

How Cancer Spreads – Metastasis

The collagen-dissolving mechanism also plays a decisive role in the spread of cancer and the growth of secondary tumors in other organs or parts of the body (metastasis). Small blood vessels provide oxygen and nutrients to tumor cells. The walls of these blood capillaries are no obstacles for a cancer cell. With the help of collagen dissolving enzymes, a cancer cell can "eat" its way into the lumen of the small blood vessel and into the blood stream. The blood can then carry away cancer cells, by which they can spread and invade other organs. The obstacles for the cancer cell in the blood stream are small lung capillaries that supply oxygen to the blood. The diameter of these capillaries is smaller than a hair, so the cancer cell attaches itself to the wall of the capillary and "eats" its way in with the help of collagen-dissolving enzymes. This way the cell can invade the lung tissue. In the lung, the cancer cell starts to multiply and develop into a secondary tumor, the metastasis. Inside the lung the same kind of tumor will now grow as the original one did in the liver.

The same rule applies to the development of secondary tumors: the more collagen digesting enzymes a specific cancer cell can produce, the faster secondary tumors will develop – not only in the lungs but also in other organs – and the more ill a patient will become.

Collagen Dissolving in Chronic Inflammation

Collagen-digesting enzymes also play a crucial part in the spread of other diseases.
The body's defense cells play a crucial role in the fight against inflammation. As you already know, the defense cells belong to the group of white blood cells (leukocytes). Because of their function, these cells are often called the "police cells". Especially important in this group in the battle against "foreign" substances and also in the "clearance of the inflammation battlefield" are the so-called "eating cells" (macrophages).

What happens if an inflammation continues for a long time, for example because the invaders' attack is too powerful and the body engages too much of its police cells? The result is that the eating cells secrete high quantities of their "defense substances" over a long period of time. This defense weapon consists not only of collagen-digesting enzymes but also of a load of free radicals. As we saw in the example of the lung infection, the police cells use collagen-destroying enzymes to move through thick connective tissue to get to the area of infection. If the immune system's battle at the site of the inflammation takes too long, huge amounts of collagen-dissolving enzymes are secreted, creating a problem: the inflammation will erode the connective tissue and turn into a chronic (long-term) process.
Chronic inflammations are not simply restricted to bone joints but can also be found in all organs of the body. What is important is that, independent of the organ where the inflammation takes place, the body will always use the same defense cells and mechanisms.

Collagen Dissolving in Advanced Atherosclerosis

During the growth of atherosclerotic plaques (deposits), even in advanced stages of atherosclerosis, the process of collagen destruction plays an important role.
It is generally known that, as in the sailor's disease scurvy, the initial step in the development of atherosclerosis is a lack of vitamins in the arterial wall. As a result of this vitamin deficiency the arteries of the heart weaken, which triggers a repair process to stabilize the wall of these blood vessels. Initially, the body mobilizes fatty particles (lipoproteins) and other repair molecules from the blood to deposit them in the weakest areas of the arterial wall.

When these repair measures become insufficient the weakening arterial wall is further stabilized through an uncontrolled growth of the cells that build the vascular wall. These cells, called smooth-muscle cells, migrate from the outermost cell layer of the artery to the area that contains atherosclerotic fatty deposits. These muscle cells have to move through a very strong and dense intermediate layer of collagen fibers and connective tissue – the basal membrane. In order to do that, smooth-muscle cells produce collagen-digesting enzymes that can make the collagen soluble and let them pass through the basal membrane and move in the direction of the plaque.

Naturally, the effective approach in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis is to preserve the integrity of the artery walls, which can be achieved through an optimal supply of vitamins.

Lysine as a Natural Enzyme Activity Block

Natural Prevention of Collagen Degradation and the Purpose of Enzyme-Blocking Therapy
In the previous chapters we have learned about the role of collagen dissolving in facilitating the spread of diseases through the body. The activation of this collagen-dissolving mechanism is a precondition for the development of aggressive diseases such as cancer and microbial infections. Apart from that, this mechanism plays an important role in all diseases that progress to advanced stages. Every therapeutic possibility that will halt this mechanism or even slow it down will therefore be one of the most important therapeutic successes in the field of medicine.

Nature itself provides us with two large groups of molecules that can block collagen digestion and its dissolving actions. The first group is the body's intrinsic enzymatic block that can stop the action of collagen-digesting enzymes in a few moments. The second group is the enzyme-blocking substances that come from our diet or as dietary supplement. The most important one in this group is the natural amino acid L-lysine. When lysine is supplied in a sufficient amount as a dietary supplement, it can block the anchor sites in the connective tissue that collagen-digesting enzymes use to attach themselves to the tissue. This way lysine prevents these enzymes from uncontrollably disintegrating connective tissue.

While the cells still produce high levels of collagen-digesting enzymes, in the presence of lysine these enzymes are no longer effective in breaking down collagen. Therefore, uncontrolled destruction of collagen and connective-tissue structure can be prevented. This way the spread of diseases can be slowed down or stopped.

The Remarkable Value of Lysine

All metabolic functions in the human body are controlled by biological language. To date, some twenty amino acids are known, and these compose all the proteins in our bodies. These building blocks of life function like the letters of the alphabet. Our body uses various combinations of amino acids to create innumerable biological words (pep-tides) and sentences (proteins). Separate amino acids (letters) also have important "individual" metabolic functions, and lysine is a prime example.

The cells of the body can produce most amino acids themselves. These amino acids are called nonessential. However, there are nine known amino acids that our body cannot produce, and they have to be supplied through the diet. These amino acids are called essential (needed for life).

Within the group of essential amino acids, lysine plays a similarly important role as vitamin C does within the vitamin group. The daily requirement of lysine surpasses that of all other amino acids. Among its many functions, lysine is the basic building block of the amino acid carnitine, which is important for energy metabolism in every cell.

The fact that the human body can store a large amount of this amino acid is proof enough of its importance for our health. About 25% of collagen, the most abundant and important structural molecule of bones, skin, blood vessel walls, and all other organs, consists of two amino acids, lysine and proline. As the summary below shows, a person weighing 70 kg has about 500 g (1.1 lb.) of lysine stored in the body at all times.

An overdose of lysine is as impossible as an overdose of vitamin C. Our metabolism is familiar with handling large amounts of lysine, and it will simply excrete the molecules that are not used. Rather, the opposite is generally the case: almost all people suffer from a chronic deficiency of lysine.

How much lysine can our bodies handle?

• human body weighing 70 kg contains about 10 kg of proteins.
• 50% of this protein mass is present as the connective tissue proteins,
collagen and elastin
• The amino acid lysine forms about 12% of the collagen and elastin
mass, which means some 500 to 600 g.
• A human body weighing 70 kg. therefore contains about 1.1 lb. (500 .
of lysine.

Since our bodies are accustomed to such large amounts of lysine, taking 4 oz. or 8 oz. of lysine daily as a dietary supplement should not be
considered an "overdose."

The Balance between Collagen-Dissolving Enzymes and Lysine

We have already learned that enzyme activity can be blocked with the body's own molecules and with those supplied through the diet, such as with lysine. The body's own block (enzymatic inhibitor) is the first line of defense that assures the balance among the body's systems and keeps them in check. Lysine molecules have the same function but are the second line of defense, ready to step in when the body's own systems are insufficient. The lysine block cannot overshoot its goal, not even when taken in high amounts, such as 4 oz. or 8 oz. a day.

A second important fact is the balance between the collagen-dissolving mechanism and its blocking mechanism during sickness and health. In normal conditions these systems are in perfect balance. When "police cells" are wandering through the body, the balance is disturbed. But the healthy body then restores the balance within moments.
In cancer and other previously described diseases, this balance becomes disrupted in favor of the collagen-dissolving mechanism. Because the natural cellular mechnisms cannot sufficiently block the collagen-disintegration process, a high-dosage dietary supplement of lysine is the only possible therapy to stop or to slow down this process. The goal of this therapy is to correct the disrupted balance with a long-term high concentration of lysine to block disintegration.

The Use of Enzyme Blocks in Cancer Therapy

Efficient control of the spread of a disease by collagen-dissolving enzyme blocks has been successful with several diseases. This is especially important in diseases for which orthodox medicine has no preventive or healing therapies yet. This includes the forms of cancer illustrated on the next page.

To date there are hundreds of studies that have established that a high-dosage supply of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and other dietary supplements can prevent several forms of cancer. You can find more information on this subject in the literature listed in the bibliography. A supply of vitamins in high dosages forms the basis for every current cancer therapy. Vitamin therapy has achieved therapeutic success in hormone-independent forms of cancer, whereas in hormone-dependent forms of cancer the natural therapies have been either hardly effective or not successful.

Now, for the first time we have at our disposal an effective form of a natural therapy, which is based on blocking the enzymatic destruction of collagen. As it was seen in the example of ovulation, these collagen-dissolving enzymes are in particular activated by hormones; therefore the use of lysine in high dosages can be effective in treating all forms of cancer. In 1977, a Swedish research group led by Dr. Astedt from the University of Lund reported about the successful treatment of breast cancer with enzyme blocks:

"Secondary tumors were already developing in the brain of the patient with breast cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy were without results. While under the treatment with enzymatic blocks the brain metastasis and other symptoms of the illness began to diminish. One year after the treatment the patient was free of complaints.

This patient was treated with tranexamic acid, a synthetic derivative of the natural amino acid lysine. This chemically modified form of lysine is many times stronger than the natural substance; it is artificial and can be used on prescription only. High dosages of lysine will have a similar result but without the side effects associated with the use of tranexamic acid.

In the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), July 11, 1977, the same research group presented spectacular successes in the treatment of ovarian tumors. Even in very advanced cases – with secondary tumors in other organs – the enzyme-blocking therapy led to the encapsulation of the tumors, stopping them from spreading further.

In 1980, a group of scientists from the University of Tokyo led by Dr. Suma published the following:

"The treatment was successful in a patient with advanced, inoperable ovarian cancer. The disease had already caused secondary tumors and fluid accumulation in the stomach. Even in this advanced stage the cancer was brought to a standstill with the help of enzyme block therapy." The researchers had observed the development of the disease for several years and closed the case as follows: "Three years after the start of the treatment the patient had no more complaints."

By far the most common form of cancer in women is breast cancer, followed by the uterine and ovarian cancers. The physiology of the breast tissue and its hormonal restructuring during the monthly cycle makes it particularly prone to cancerous transformations. If there is some kind of disturbance in the regulatory mechanism, the tissue slips toward steady restructuring, which can eventually lead to an uncontrolled growth of tissue and the forming of tumors.

Considering the fact that in Europe alone hundreds of thousands of women die of this form of cancer every year, the question poses itself: Why does it take so long before safe and potentially successful forms of therapy, such as enzyme-blocking therapy, are generally applied?
The answer is simple: Cancer and chemotherapeutic drugs are the second most lucrative market for the pharmaceutical industry after the heart disease market. The global market for chemotherapeutics alone makes a profit of over a hundred billion dollars a year. This is why the pharmaceutical industry has no interest in the development of therapies that could put an end to cancer.

Even in the few cases when the blocking of collagen-digesting enzymes was studied, only synthetic derivatives of lysine were used. The reason is also economical: contrary to the natural substance lysine, its chemical forms could be patented and could therefore be profitable for the pharmaceutical business. A wider use of even these patented substances could also mean the end of cancer.
For years the first successful reports on this new therapy have been ignored by the pharmaceutical industry. It was only in 1992, with the publication of my scientific research, that the meaning of this medical breakthrough and the therapeutic use of lysine in all fields of medicine have become known.

The Use of Enzyme Blocks in Other Serious Diseases

The therapeutic applications for lysine in the fight against disease are not restricted to cancer. It can be used in the natural treatment of many other diseases for which orthodox medicine has not yet found a solution.
In atherosclerosis, lysine can help in stopping the spread and growth of deposits (atherosclerotic plaques) in the arteries of the heart and brain. At the same time, with the help of vitamins and other dietary supplements, a natural healing process of the arterial walls can commence.

In infectious diseases caused by viruses, such as flu, herpes, and AIDS, or caused by bacteria, such as lung, inner ear, and bladder infections, lysine can stop or slow down an aggressive spread of infection. A combination of high dosages of vitamin C and other dietary supplements can bring additional benefits.
Even in the case of chronic inflammation of the stomach, intestines, joints, and bones the use of lysine can help keeping the inflammation in check. Effective treatment of chronic inflammation involves the use of high dosages of lysine combined with other important dietary nutrients.

Even very common allergic problems, such as hay fever, neurodermatitis, or nettle rash, can benefit from the use of lysine, which can relieve the illness or prevent it. In these cases I also recommend combining lysine with vitamin C and other dietary supplements.

Vitamin C and Lysine – Key Molecules of Cellular Medicine

With vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the amino acid lysine, we have established the most important natural substances of which deficiency in humans can lead to disease. There are two basic reasons why almost every human suffers from a deficiency of these cell factors: the human body cannot produce them, and our modern dietary habits cannot provide them in sufficient amounts. The result is that only marginal amounts of these substances are found in the body.
Almost all diseases thrive on a lack of vitamin C and lysine to spread through the body. This is related to the extra-ordinary value of these substances for the body's own connective tissue. We can summarize this as follows:

1. Lysine inhibits the destruction of the connective tissue by preventing enzymatic digestion of collagen molecules. At the same time the amino acid lysine is a component of collagen and it is used for making the collagen in the body.

2. Vitamin C stimulates the production of the connective tissue and it is essential for its optimal structure. Deficiency of vitamin C leads to tissue weakness and eventually to scurvy. On the other hand, an optimal supply of vitamin C assures optimal production of collagen and elastic fiber molecules and contributes to having strong connective tissue in the body.

Collagen Production – A Key to Disease Prevention and Control

Optimal production of collagen molecules is the precondition for the control of aggressive diseases. Muscle cells of the arterial wall in addition to other physiological tasks, have to produce enough collagen molecules to maintain the arterial wall strong and elastic. For optimal collagen production the cells require three major nutrients:

• Vitamin C, which controls the collagen production from the cell nucleus' software. Vitamin C is also responsible for collagen molecules, which wind around each other like a twilled rope, attaining their optimal structure essential for biological activity and stability of collagen. To obtain this biological conformation, the oxygen and hydrogen atoms – the so-called "OH group" – have to be anchored to specific places on lysine and proline molecules and connect collagen strands like "bridges" to stabilize the entire structure. This "hydroxylation" process is catalyzed by vitamin C.
• Lysine, which is a building block of the chain of amino acids that form collagen fibers. Since our body cannot produce its own lysine, every single lysine molecule must be supplied through the diet or from dietary supplements.
• Proline, which is another important amino acid component of collagen.
Our body can produce it, but only in limited amounts. In people with long-term or aggressive diseases accompanied by the enzymatic destruction of tissue collagen, the body's capacity to produce proline can be exhausted. This often leads to a deficiency of this important amino acid.
• Not only cancer and some selected diseases, but also practically all known
diseases use the collagen-dissolving mechanism to spread through the body.
• The collagen-dissolving mechanism plays an important role in the formation of
plaques in advanced atherosclerosis.
• The use of high-dosage lysine or lysine derivatives can slow down or halt the
spread of almost every disease. The fact that lysine in combination with vitamin
C can stabilize the connective tissue in the body is a medical breakthrough in
the control of many diseases so far considered incurable.
• The widespread use of this therapy will lead to a break-through in the fight
against cancer, infectious diseases – including AIDS – and almost all other
diseases.
The breakthrough in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases could have been established long ago, saving the lives of millions of people. The following is a list of studies that found evidence of the successful application of blocking collagen-dissolving enzymes. Please note that most of these publications are over 10 years old, and some are even over 25 years old! These early research data were also known to the pharmaceutical industry, since in some studies artificial lysine derivatives (Tranexamic Acid) were used. Yet the prospect of ending cancer and other serious diseases also meant the end to enormous profits for the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, further research in this field has been neglected in order not to endanger a billion dollar market of chemotherapeutics and other expensive pharmaceutical drugs.

First publications on various aspects of enzyme-blocking therapy:

Skin cancer (melanoma):
Bramsen, T. (1977) Effect of tranexamic acid on
choroidal melanoma. Acta Opthalmologica 56: 264-269.

Ovarian cancer:
Soma, H., Sashida, T., Yoshida, M., et al. (1980)
Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with fibrinolytic inhibitor (tranexamic acid). Acta obstetrica et gynecologica scandinavica 59: 285-287.

Astedt, B., Glifberg, I., Mattson, W., et al. (1977) Arrest of growth of ovarian tumor by tranexamic acid. JAMA 238: 154-155.
Sigurdsson, K., Johnsson, J.E., Trop, C. (1983) Tranexamic acid for the treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma. Acta obstetrica et gynecologica scandinavica 62: 265-266.

Cervical cancer:
Larsson, G., Larsson, A., Astedt, B. (1987) Tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase in normal, dysplastic and cancerous squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 58(3): 822-826.

Allergic swelling (angioedema):
Blome, G. (1972) Treatment of hereditary angioneurotic oedema with tranexamic acid. A random double-blind cross-over study. Acta Medica Scandinavica 192: 293-298.
Sheffer, A.L., Austen, K.F., Rosen, F.S. (1972) Tranexamic acid therapy in hereditary angioneurotic oedema. New England Journal of Medicine 287: 452-454.
Marasini, B., Cicardi, G.C., Martignoni, G.C., et al. (1978) Treatment of hereditary angioedema. Klinisches Wochenschrift 56: 819-823.

Nettle rash (urticaria):
Martens, B.P.M. (1984) Clinical Experience with tran-examic acid in urticaria and angioedema. British Journal of Dermatology 111: 481-482.

Chronic intestinal inflammation (colitis ulcerosa):
Hollanders, D., Thomson, J.M., Schofield, P.F. (1982) Tranexamic acid therapy in ulcerative colitis. Postgraduate Medical Journal 58: 87-91.

Rheumatism:
Werb, Z., Mainardi, C.L., et al. (1977) Endogenous activiation of latent collagenase by rheumatoid synovial cells. New England Journal of Medicine 296: 18.
The full text of the above review is posted at Dr. Matthias Raths Website click

Vitamin C and Cancer: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy