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Contents: Please view this first!  My theory My treatment plan FAQ My story My research Off-site links The big picture My treatment diary Contact Home
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Author: Jason Cameron About the author: I am a 34 year old singer, songwriter and musician. I have no medical training or biology background. I have suffered from Hidradenitis Suppurativa for at least 13 years.
Why would you listen to me? I have done extensive internet research and derived a theory that makes so much sense that I can’t believe no one else has considered it. If someone is considering it, they’re keeping it a secret. My treatment plan, which depends on my theory being at least partially true, has been highly successful in my use of it so far. Will I try to sell you products to cure or treat HS? No. I do not sell any medicines, supplements or products related to HS or any other medical condition. I will not link to product pages. I will not even list specific products by their brand names. If you would like to know what products I am using, email me. I do not collect email addresses for lists or any other purpose. I will email a list of the products that are working for me, along with my treatment program instructions (at no charge). It simply lists the products I am using, explains how they are used, how often they are used and what each product is intended to treat. It is not a recommendation of these products. Similar products from other manufacturers may give you better, equal or worse results. I can only speak for the products I have personally used. I will not try to sell you products when I email my product list and my personal treatment instructions. I will not contact you for any reason other than in response to your email(s) to me. Am I selling a book? No. I write songs, not books. Am I soliciting donations? No. I am capable of earning a living. Is the treatment program expensive? Initially the cost may seem a little high, but it really depends on which products you choose and where you buy them. You may already have some of the products. I would estimate my overall initial cost at $100 U.S., but it could be nearly twice that depending on the prices you find. Also, it varies according to the quantities you purchase. Compared to treatments from doctors, this cost is rather low. Will you need a prescription? No. I do not recommend any products that require a prescription. Are there any side effects? I have not experienced any serious negative side effects. Your condition may be different from mine for any number of reasons. Also, you may have allergies to products used in this treatment whereas I do not. I recommend researching all of these products before using them. I also recommend adding only one or two products to your treatment at a time (instead of starting everything at once) so that if you do have a negative reaction to something, you can isolate which product is most likely to blame. Why am I giving this information away? Because I have personally suffered from this disease and no one should have to suffer from this, especially if an effective treatment is readily available and inexpensive. Is this a cure? Probably not, but that remains to be seen. It’s possible. This is intended as a form of maintenance. Initial results are very positive, but the necessity for treatment may be ongoing, possibly for the rest of our lives. On the bright side, it’s inexpensive and doesn’t require a doctor’s care. Should you tell your doctor about this treatment? Absolutely. Somebody has to teach them about this problem and how to treat it. What they are doing now is likely not only not the right treatment, but the wrong treatment. They will most likely make your situation worse! But if you are under a doctor’s care, you should share any information about your treatment plan with them. Just don’t expect them to like this theory or treatment plan. It doesn’t fit into what they have been taught. They are likely to reject it or advise against it, even though there is nothing in this program that will harm you if used correctly (provided you are not allergic to any of the products). Do I hate doctors? No. I hate pharmaceutical companies. Doctors can’t help it if they are misinformed. Pharmaceutical companies could stop being greedy little piggies and start trying to help people instead of trying to make so much money. And here’s the legal disclaimer, just to cover my butt: The information contained in this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Only a licensed medical practitioner can offer medical advice. Testimonial from enthusiastic user is for educational purposes only. You agree that you must evaluate and bear all risks associated with the use of any content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such content. In this regard, you acknowledge that you may not rely on any content created by this web site. And now, the part you’ve all been waiting for…
What makes me think that Candida albicans is the cause of
HS? I have had this disease for at least 13 years. I have been to 5 or more doctors about it. They each told me it was a staph infection (Staphylococcus aureus) and prescribed an antibiotic. A couple of them told me I would need surgery to clear it up completely. I never had any surgery. I just suffered. Like so many others who have been told the same thing or worse. Some people have been told that they just need to wash better! But antibiotics didn’t work, and often made matters worse. So I thought maybe it is caused by a pathogen that is not a bacteria. That would explain why antibiotics don’t work. Then I began researching non-bacterial pathogens. There’s a long list of viruses, yeasts, funguses and microbes that can infect the human body. I spent a lot of time researching “ringworm” which isn’t a worm at all. It’s a fungus. There’s a whole group of funguses called “Tinea” which can cause jock itch, athletes foot, “ringworm” and nail infections. I spent a lot of time researching them, but nothing really looked very promising. Then somewhere in my internet travels, I stumbled on a web site that was selling a product to treat Candida albicans overgrowth. I noticed a lot of similarities between symptoms and diseases associated with Candida overgrowth and symptoms and diseases associated with HS. Also, HS is largely ignored by the medical community. So is Candida albicans overgrowth (called “Candidiosis” or “Candidiasis”). The product was a little expensive so I didn’t buy it. But I did research Candidiosis. What I found was incredible, and it made sense that HS could actually be caused by Candida. To test my theory I bought a product that is available without a prescription and used it on my HS. The product is a fungicide that is specifically made to treat Candida albicans. The results were outstanding. I was pretty sure I was on the right track, but I wanted to be sure, so I did a lot more research. Here is a closer look at the pathogen that might cause HS according to my theory and research: I realize that I haven’t really established a connection between HS and Candida yet, except to say that there are similar symptoms and that my personal treatment of HS using a medicine intended to treat Candida is proving to be somewhat effective so far, especially in treating what I consider to be related symptoms. I wish to clarify my theory on this relationship as much as possible. I will try not to be too technical so this doesn’t read like a medical textbook. I apologize if I oversimplify my explanation. It is not my intention to insult anyone’s intelligence. I just want the information to be as easy to understand as possible. I ) Micro-organisms, like all living things, have certain biological imperatives (instincts) and certain requirements that need to be met in order for them to achieve these biological imperatives. To put that more simply, these tiny living things have only two goals which are to survive and to reproduce. If their surroundings provide enough food and whatever environment they require, they will survive and reproduce. II ) Micro-organisms will reproduce as long as they survive and their
environment is still conducive. Translation: They will live and make babies as long as they can in the place where they are until they can’t live there anymore. III ) Micro-organisms are not exempt from the laws of evolution,
therefore the ones in existence today are the most highly adapted to their
surroundings. In other words, these “bugs” or “germs” are the toughest ever because they are the survivors that have adapted best to available host environments. With that in mind, consider the
following possible scenario: Candida Albicans can be present
in and on people, pets and is often found in soil. It is a yeast, but it can also take-on traits of a fungus and
reproduce by producing spores. Spores
are very resistant to many of the things that can kill the yeast. Candida in the yeast form will take on the
fungal form and create spores when there is a danger or threat to it’s
existence. The spores are released and
can survive for a long time (possibly a thousand years or more). They will begin to grow when they reach a
place that provides the right environment. Candida in the yeast form can
reproduce without sporing. Candida lives very well in and
on human and animal hosts. It prefers a
temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) and can live in
temperatures up to 104 (40). It can use
a variety of substances for food.
Sugar, carbohydrates, protein and alcohol are easily converted into food
by Candida yeast. Even our amino acids
are a food source. Candida lives in the intestines
of most people. Overgrowth is prevented
by the presence of “helpful” bacteria that also lives in the intestines and
aids in our digestion of food. Our
immune system also prevents Candida from becoming overgrown. Most people never experience an overgrowth
of Candida. Some people do experience an
overgrowth of Candida. Exactly why is
unknown as it can vary from person to person.
Here are some things that can cause a Candida overgrowth: Antibiotics: Used to fight or
sometimes to prevent bacterial infection, broad-spectrum antibiotics kill all
bacteria indiscriminately. That means
they kill the helpful bacteria in your intestines as well as the harmful
ones. Antibiotics do not kill
Candida. Candida is a yeast (or a
fungus, depending on the environment and stage of growth) so it is relatively
unaffected by the use of antibiotics.
However, it does take the opportunity to colonize in the areas where
bacteria has been killed-off by antibiotics.
The Candida life cycle may be as
short as an hour, and when reproducing in their yeast form (as opposed to
sporing) they can double their numbers every hour. A single Candida organism is 2 organisms in 1 hour, 4 in 2 hours,
8 in 3 hours, etc. That means that a
single Candida organism can increase to a total of 16,777,216 organisms in 24
hours. My numbers may not be exact
here, but this is only meant to give you a simple example of how quickly an
overgrowth can occur. From one organism
to nearly 17 million in 24 hours is pretty fast. But Candida can live in many
different tissues in the human body, and is not restricted to the intestines. Selenium Deficiency: Candida can live
in the mouth. It sometimes causes a
condition known as Thrush which is most often seen in young children. In the mouth, Candida, along with various
bacteria, can be responsible for tooth decay.
Many people have cavities filled by a dentist who uses an amalgam
filling, which consists primarily of silver and mercury. The presence of mercury can cause a selenium
deficiency in the human body. Selenium
is a trace mineral that the body needs for immune functions and for proper
thyroid function. The depletion of
selenium in the body is similar to an immunodeficiency where the immune system
is essentially compromised and unable to fight Candida. This may allow for an overgrowth. Additionally, the presence of mercury acts
as an antibiotic that kills or incapacitates the bacteria in the intestines,
allowing for Candida to become overgrown.
Mercury does not get eliminated from the body very easily. It can cycle between the liver and
intestines for years. Lead exposure may be another
cause for selenium deficiencies that occur in some people. There are also many normal
functions of the human body that affect the immune system. Stress can be a factor. Anything that suppresses the immune system
or kills a lot of helpful bacteria may contribute to a Candida overgrowth. So how is all of this related
to HS? The apocrine sweat glands are
special sweat glands that are concentrated in the areas under the arms, on the
buttocks and the groin area. While most
of our sweat glands are called eccrine sweat glands and produce only water and
salt (essentially) when we sweat, the apocrine glands produce a substance that
contains protein and carbohydrates.
This is a potential food source for Candida, as well as various
bacteria. It may be common for Staph
(S. aureus) to move into the apocrine gland.
It may be common for Candida to move into an apocrine gland. While there is little research on this
matter, I feel that waste material from the Candida may act as a plug that
seals the opening of the apocrine gland.
Candida prefer a low-oxygen, acidic environment. It has been stated often that HS results
from a plugged apocrine gland. Once the
opening is plugged and the environment inside the apocrine gland is just right,
reproduction begins. The rapid
reproduction creates swelling, as millions of Candida organisms are now living
in the single apocrine gland. As
Candida devours the contents of the apocrine gland, or as heat is generated by
the Candida, the gland may actually begin creating more protein and
carbohydrate-rich sweat either in an attempt to keep a ready supply of sweat
for cooling the body or as an attempt to reduce the temperature in a reaction to the heat. This provides more food for the Candida. This may be responsible for the side effect
called “hyperhidrosis”, or excessive sweating. The swollen apocrine gland is
what we call Hidradenitis Suppurativa, or simply “HS”. As the apocrine gland becomes
swollen beyond it’s limit, something has to give. Something breaks. If it
is the skin that breaks open, the swollen lump drains and the living Candida
organisms have an opportunity to infect other apocrine glands. If the skin surface does not break, then the
side of the apocrine gland breaks and the Candida organisms may be released
into nearby skin or into the blood stream.
Colonization continues under the skin, creating sinus tracts. When another area is reached where Candida
can thrive, rapid reproduction starts and the process begins again. Another swollen lump results, connected to
the previous one by a sinus tract. Related Symptoms: As I said, Candida can live on
many if not all of our organs. Candida
can live on skin that does not contain apocrine glands. It can cause dandruff and hair loss, as well
as many other rashes and dry, flaky skin.
As Candida tries to colonize our skin, the body’s reaction is to shed
the infected layers and quickly grow new layers underneath. This can have an age-accelerating
effect. The body is working at making
new skin and shedding old skin faster than normal. In addition to the direct destruction
being caused by Candida, there is indirect destruction caused as well. As Candida eats, it also must eliminate
waste. There are about 100 toxic
substances included in Candida waste.
These toxins are released into our bodies. Naturally, our immune system tries to remove the toxins. In a medium to severe case of Candida
overgrowth, a lot of the intestines and skin have been colonized. The amount of toxins being released into the
system is more than the body can handle.
But the body has no choice but to try.
So your body’s immune system is now fighting as hard as it can all the
time and still can’t remove all the toxins.
The overall effect of this is similar to the damage that your car would sustain if you drove it as fast as it
can go all the time. The engine is not
designed to run at top speed for extended periods of time, and things will
overheat, break, or melt down. It is
similar to your body fighting the Candida and it’s toxins as hard as it can all
the time. Your body begins to break
down. In addition to the breaking down
of your body, you still have the build-up of toxins, and more toxins, and more
toxins. All of this really runs the
endocrine system ragged. This is the
system that regulates the hormones in your body. Once this system is thrown out of balance, it can be difficult to
get it back to a state of normal. The
unbalanced endocrine system can really cause some symptoms. There are too many to name, but since your
blood sugar is affected, you could suffer from Diabetes, thyroid problems, and
many other disorders. Unfortunately, doctors don’t
often look at the whole picture of a person’s health. They treat symptoms individually, as if each symptom was an
individual disease with it’s own, independent cause. But the human body is a complex system where every change in a
system or organ affects many if not all other organs and systems. It is this failing of the medical community
that has lead us to treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa as a disease, when actually,
it may only be one of many symptoms of a larger problem; that of Candidiosis. So how do we treat it? We need to start by treating the
Candida albicans overgrowth in the places where we can reach it easily. On the skin I recommend a topical medication
which I will name later. In the
intestines we can use various supplements to eliminate it, or at least bring
it’s population under control. Consider this: If Candida lives on a person’s skin and in their intestines, it lives on the surface of two organs of the human body that present an enormous amount of surface area, area that comes into contact with the outside world either directly, or indirectly through the food and drinks we consume. This allows for the possibility that a Candida overgrowth in these two areas could represent an infection that is overall much larger than most other types of infections we experience. As such, the amount of toxins released into our bodies by such an infection could be much more than in the case of a localized infection of any kind or even a vaginal yeast infection (which is also caused by Candida). This could explain why many treatments of Candida and HS are ineffective (if HS is indeed related to Candida overgrowth). It requires a more comprehensive approach to eliminate as much Candida as possible from these two organs simultaneously in order to reduce the amount of toxic by-products being released into our system. Once the Candida is under control, hormone levels should return to normal or near normal. While Candida overgrowth certainly could return, it could probably be kept under control if we maintain our internal flora (the helpful bacteria that live there) and occasionally use an anti-fungal agent to wash our entire bodies, especially where HS occurs. I don’t know if other microbial elements such as staph, other bacteria, viruses or fungus play any role, but I am not opposed to occasional use of an antibacterial soap/body wash to help keep them in check. My current treatment plan covers all of this, but I just want to point out how large a Candida infection can be, given the organs involved and how that would effect toxin levels and overwhelm our body beyond it’s capability to defend itself. Here is how I chose to treat it: I.)
I started by purchasing a dandruff shampoo that contained ketoconazole, an
anti-fungal agent used specifically to treat Candida Albicans on the
scalp. Ketoconazole is also
available in a pill form by prescription, but I wouldn’t recommend using it
internally. It has been known to cause
severe liver damage, and there have been reported instances where patients have
died from a single dose. That’s a
little too risky for me! I used the
shampoo containing ketoconazole on my entire body, including the draining lesions in my
groin. There is no warning from the
manufacturer regarding using it in this fashion, but I’m sure they don’t
recommend it! I decided to take my
chances. I lived. I have been using it in this manner twice a week, or every three days, not every
day. I also use an anti-bacterial body
wash on my entire body. In fact, I wash
head to toe with the antibacterial body wash first, then I wash head to toe
with the ketoconazole shampoo. I did not
experience any pain, burning or tingling when using the shampoo. The antibacterial body wash can sting a
little when it comes in contact with an open wound. II.)
I began taking olive leaf
extract that I bought from my local health food store. Olive leaf
extract reportedly
breaks down the Candida cell wall, thus killing individual organisms. I am taking it 4 times a day. The only side effect was that I had a lot of
rumbling in my stomach and intestines, and some gas. This subsided considerably after taking olive leaf extract for a
few days. III.)
Two days after I started taking the olive leaf extract, I
began taking acidophilus. The brand I
purchased actually contains 12 different kinds of helpful bacteria. I take
this once a day. As the olive leaf extract kills
the Candida, I want to replace it with helpful bacteria. If my intestines are colonized by helpful
bacteria, Candida will not have a place to grow. IV.)
Two days after starting my acidophilus, I began taking zinc, iron and selenium
supplements. These are minerals that
are very important for immune system function.
I felt that my Candidiosis could have been caused by a selenium deficiency
because I have had amalgam fillings containing mercury. These trace minerals should not be taken in
large quantities. An overdose of any
one of them can be very harmful, if not fatal.
V.)
Lastly, I added a multi-vitamin to my diet because I do
not always eat very nutritious foods. I
also began taking a fiber supplement just to keep
things moving through the intestines. I
need to get rid of the dead Candida in my intestines. Hopefully they have not released spores, but even if they have,
my continued use of olive leaf extract and acidophilus should prevent them from growing and colonizing. I intend to taper-off my use of
some of these products as my health improves.
There are also products I would like to add as soon as I can afford
them. The products I would like to
taper-off are: The ketoconazole shampoo. I would like to confine my use of this to my hair and scalp
only, and I would like to use it once a week or less. I am considering using an iodine soap product in the areas
affected by HS (mine is currently limited to the groin and buttocks, but I have
had breakouts in the armpits) instead of the shampoo. While the zinc seems to have had an almost instant
positive effect on my hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) I will probably reduce
my intake to every other day. I will
probably do the same with the iron and selenium supplements. I
will have to monitor the results of this decrease and adjust accordingly. As far as products I would like to
add, there are a few: There is an “oxygen” supplement
that is supposed to deliver oxygen to the internal organs. Since Candida does not like an oxygenated
environment, this might be helpful for providing a deeper cleansing beyond the
skin and GI tract (stomach and intestines). Something called “chlorella” is
supposed to be very good for removing heavy metal toxins from the system. Heavy metals lodge in various places in the
body, including the brain. Mercury is
often introduced into our bodies through amalgam fillings in our teeth and
through inoculations we receive when we are young. The body is not very successful at eliminating mercury. Chlorella is an algae that is said to be
effective at removing mercury from the body. I would like to try using
colloidal silver externally as an antibacterial agent, possibly
replacing the antibacterial body wash I am using. The body wash can be a little harsh. I wasn't going to mention colloidal silver at all, but it's not a required part of the treatment. It's just something I am thinking of trying. I know there is a lot of talk about colloidal silver turning
people’s skin blue or gray, but my research indicates that these rare instances
resulted from using excessive quantities of home-made solutions, or from using
a silver compound that was manufactured many years ago and does not even really
resemble the modern products I have seen advertised. I see no need at this time to treat myself internally for
bacterial infections. So I am
comfortable with the idea of using colloidal silver topically, and I am
convinced that it is an effective antibacterial agent. The goal is to eliminate as much
Candida as I can. Beyond that, I will
need to maintain a balance in my internal flora (helpful bacteria) and get my
immune system and endocrine system back to normal. What results can you expect
from this treatment? I can’t say for sure how any of
these treatment options will effect anyone.
I know that I have experienced significant relief and improvement of the
following symptoms: Hidradenitis Suppurativa (buttocks and groin) Dandruff Dry, sensitive skin Rash on chest “Acne” on body and face Deep itching in ears (which has resulted in occasional ear infections) Slimy coating on hands Occasional peeling of skin on hands Heartburn/acid reflux Upset stomach (almost constant) Irritable bowels Irregular heartbeat Cravings for sweets Cravings for carbohydrates Cravings for alcohol Depression Anxiety (both general anxiety and anxiety attacks) Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) Back,
neck and joint pain Calluses
on feet Extreme
sensitivity to temperature and temperature changes There are probably more, and some
of these were unexpected benefits.
Overall, I feel better than I have ever felt in my entire life. I am healthier and happier. I have a much more positive outlook, I am
friendlier and more social. Does diet effect the results of
this treatment? Most likely. I believe it has been written that Candida
can be controlled by diet alone. But it
is a pretty strict diet that seems similar to the Atkins diet. I didn’t want to have to go on a strict diet
or make drastic lifestyle changes. So I
came up with this treatment. I will
admit that I have been cutting back on carbs, sugar and alcohol because these
are foods that Candida can use, but I haven’t been strict about it. I have the occasional cookie. I still eat the bun when I get a
hamburger. And I’m not giving up french
fries. I drank 10 beers a few nights
ago when a friend came to visit. The
nice thing is that my cravings for these things have decreased so much that I
don’t want them as much as I used to.
Believe me, this is not willpower on my part. But I can see a box of cookies and eat one or two, instead of
eating half the box like I used to. I
find that a cookie or two is satisfying.
The only other dietary change I have made is that I am positively
drowning myself with the amount of water I am drinking. I seem to be thirsty all the time (this was
true before I began treatment) and I used to drink 2 quarts of sweetened iced
tea a day. There’s 3/4cup of sugar in 2
quarts of iced tea when I make it. Now
I drink water instead. I have an
occasional sports drink, soda or fruit juice.
Oh, I almost forgot – I gave up my morning latte. I just don’t crave it like I used to. I wake up refreshed and just don’t need the
coffee to get me going anymore. How long have I been on this
treatment? I started my treatment on July 18, 2005 with the shampoo. The results were remarkable, so I expanded my research into Candidiosis and what can be used to fight it. As of this writing, it is August 1, 2005, so I have been treating myself for 15 days. Is there a downside? I have experienced very slight headaches. They don’t hurt much and they don’t seem to last long. A single aspirin is usually enough to get rid of them. I don’t usually even bother with taking the aspirin because the headaches are so mild. Also, there is some danger of
becoming infected by another micro-organism such as a virus while you are
adjusting your body’s flora. All
pathogens are opportunistic and will take advantage of the opportunity to colonize
parts of your body while they are available (not colonized by helpful
bacteria). Even Candida can take
advantage of the situation and re-colonize if you stop treatment or neglect any
part of it. Anyone who knows that their
immune system is compromised by HIV or for any other reason should not
attempt a treatment of this nature without consulting their doctor. If you even think you may have problems with
your immune system, definitely talk to your doctor about any treatment that
involves adjustments to your body’s flora.
In people who have a relatively normal, healthy immune system, a viral
attack during this treatment may not be a serious health issue because their
body may still be capable of fighting off viruses. In people with immune system problems, a viral infection presents
a bigger risk because they can not effectively fight off the virus. What will happen if you stop
treatment? There is no way for me to know for sure, and your reaction will be very dependent on your specific treatment. Candidiosis will most likely return. It might not be as bad, it might be about the same, or it might be worse than it was before. There are too many factors for anyone to predict what will happen if a person stops treatment. Final note: I must stress again that I am not
a doctor and that this theory and treatment plan was devised for my personal
use. It is the result of conclusions I
have drawn based on my understanding of my research on the internet and from
personal experimentation and experiences only.
I have not consulted a physician regarding this treatment. I am not currently under the care of a
doctor. I strongly recommend that each
person research the topics covered in this web page so that you may draw
your own conclusions and determine the best treatment for your condition. I urge everyone not to rely on
this or any other single source for information regarding their condition,
symptoms and/or disease(s). Remember,
vitamins, minerals and some herbal or probiotic supplements may be toxic or
otherwise harmful if taken in excessive quantities. BE SURE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF
REACH OF CHILDREN! Please do not rely on
child-resistant caps. Many children are
poisoned each year by an overdose of vitamins or minerals. While they are beneficial or harmless in the
proper dosage, they may be extremely harmful or fatal if taken in excess. And just to be on the safe side, here’s that
disclaimer again: The information contained in this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Only a licensed medical practitioner can offer medical advice. Testimonial from enthusiastic user is for educational purposes only. You agree that you must evaluate and bear all risks associated with the use of any content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such content. In this regard, you acknowledge that you may not rely on any content created by this web site. Here’s another disclaimer, just for luck: The information
provided above is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to
either directly or indirectly give medical advice or prescribe treatment. The
information has not been scientifically validated or approved by any government
or regulatory agency. Please consult with your physician or other licensed
health care professional for medical diagnosis, prescription, and treatment. |
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