Hall v. Baxter Healthcare Corp.

 OPINION AND ORDÉR ROBERT E. JONES, District Judge: 1. INTRODUCTION Currently pending in this court are a number of silicone breast implant cases brought by or on behalf of the plaintiffs against various breast implant manufacturers. 1 Plaintiffs seek damages for injuries they claim to have suffered as a result of implantation with silicone gel breast implants. Among other things, the plaintiffs assert that silicone from the implants has migrated and degraded in their bodies and has caused a systemic syndrome or illness, which they generally refer to as “atypical connective tissue disease” (ACTD). In essence, plaintiffs claim a “unique constellation of symptoms” consisting of hundreds of symptoms commonly experienced by the general population. 2 This opinion addresses the defendants’ motions in limine to exclude testimony by plaintiffs’ experts concerning any causal link between silicone breast implants and the alleged systemic disease - or syndrome. 3 To resolve these motions, the court, in its role as “gatekeeper” (see Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 , 113 S.Ct. 2786 , 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993) (hereinafter Daubert I), initiated proceedings under Federal Rule of Evidence 104. The process through which the court has endeavored to ■ resolve the pending motions, a process the *1392 court believes to be unique in federal practice to date, is described below. II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The breast implant cases at issue here were either filed initially in this court or removed from state court. The cases were then transferred to the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation, In re Silicone Gel Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 926, 1994 WL 114580 , where they have been managed expeditiously under the watchful eye of the transferee judge, Chief Judge Sam C. Pointer, Jr. In 1995 and 1996, Judge Pointer remanded a number of cases to Oregon for trial. All breast implant cases remanded to Oregon, federal district court have been assigned to this judge. After a series of status conferences involving all interested parties and counsel, I determined that, at least initially, similar cases should grouped for trial. I designated the following three trial groups: Plaintiffs Defendants) Group 1 4 Hall Pope Stern Preskey Baxter Group 2 5 . Andrews , Johnston Eisele Bentley Tytlar Bristol-Myers Squib Group 3 6 Shervey Zingarelli Adamson D. Hall Young Mitchel Bristol-Myers and Medical Engineering Corp. After initial trial dates were set, the court instructed counsel for Groups 1 and 2 to provide a list of all lay and expert witnesses to be called at trial, together with a narrative statement of each witness’ proposed testimony. The court also instructed counsel to summarize each expert witness’ opinion, to identify all the materials upon which each expert would rely for his or her opinions, and to submit transcripts of any testimony given by the witness in similar cases. Once the witness materials were duly filed, in July 1996, defendants jointly filed a series of motions in limine to exclude plaintiffs’ experts’ testimony concerning causation. 7 To address these motions, I scheduled an integrated hearing under Rule 104(a) on the admissibility of the scientific evidence. All interested parties and counsel were invited to attend the hearing, which I set for August 1996. In view of the complicated scientific and medical issues involved and in an effort to effectively discharge my role as “gatekeeper” under Daubert I, I invoked my inherent authority as a federal district court judge to appoint independent advisors to the court. 8 See, e.g., Goetz v. Crosson, 967 F.2d 29, 37 (2d Cir.1992) (VanGraafeiland, J., concurring and dissenting) (citing Scott v. Sponger Bros., Inc., 298 F.2d 928 (2d Cir.1962)); see also 1972 Advisory Committee Notes to FRE 702. Pursuant to that inherent authority, I began a search to find technical advisors with the necessary expertise in the fields of epidemiology, immunology/toxicology, rheumatology, *1393 and chemistry to assist in evaluating the reliability and relevance of the scientific evidence. 9 Dr. Richard Jones, M.D., Ph.D., 10 assisted the court by screening dozens of potential appointees and ultimately selecting four totally unbiased and uncommitted experts in the necessary fields, which the court approved and appointed. The technical ad-, visors and their fields of expertise are: Mer-wyn R. Greenlick, Ph.D. (epidemiology); Robert F. Wilkens, M.D. (rheumatology); Mary Stenzel-Poore, Ph.D. (immunology/toxicology); and Ronald McClard, Ph.D. (polymer chemistry). . With the exception of Dr. McClard, whom I appointed shortly after the initial Rule 104 hearing terminated, the technical advisors reviewed the parties’ voluminous materials in preparation for the hearing and observed most of the testimony in court. After his appointment, Dr. McClard reviewed all of the relevant materials and the videotaped arguments of counsel, and participated in all subsequent proceedings. I structured the Rule 104 hearing according to subject matter, with plaintiffs presen^ • ing their experts in a particular field, followed by defendants’ witnesses in the same field. All participating parties stipulated to the experts’ qualifications under Rule 702. Because in proceedings pursuant to Rule 104(a) the court is not bound by rules of evidence, except those that pertain to privileges I ruled that no evidentiary objections would be permitted. 11 At the hearing, which spanned four intense days (August 6-8, 1996), 12 experts on both sides were questioned by counsel, the court, and the technical advisors. The parties then submitted videotaped summations, which the court and all technical advisors reviewed. 13 The court also asked the parties to submit proposed questions to guide the technical advisors in evaluating the testimony and preparing their reports. After considering the parties’ proposed questions, the court prepared and submitted the following questions to the advisors: 1. Is the expert’s opinion supported by scientific reasoning and methodology that is generally accepted in the expert’s particular scientific community or otherwise qualified as stated in Daubert II, as quoted above? 14 *1394 2. Is the expert’s opinion based upon scientifically reliable data? 3. If epidemiological studies have not been done or are inconclusive, what other data, such as animal studies, biophysical data, clinical experience in the field, medical records, differential diagnosis, preliminary studies, general scientific knowledge, and medical literature can justify, to a reasonable medical probability, a conclusion concerning the cause of the syndrome or disease at issue? 4. Do the methodology and data support the expert’s conclusions? 5. Does the scientific data relied upon by the expert apply to the syndrome or disease in issue in these cases? For instance, are epidemiological studies directed at other typical or classical diseases relevant to an atypical disease? The court also submitted almost all of the parties’ proposed questions 15 to the technical advisors for their consideration, with this instruction: We are also enclosing suggested questions and references provided by counsel. Do not feel obligated to answer all of counsel’s questions, but respond to those that you feel are relevant and that you feel will be helpful to the court in discharging our “gatekeeping” role. For instance, the defense contends that the record of the hearing does not reflect the plaintiffs’ reconstruction of their witness’ testimony. We leave that issue to you. 16 The technical advisors submitted their reports to the court in September 1996, 17 and on September 13, 1996, the court gave counsel on both sides an opportunity to question them. Following this hearing, the court expressed preliminary concerns that plaintiffs’ position could not be sustained and asked defense counsel to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. Plaintiffs then filed objections and proposed alternative findings, and the defendants filed a further response. Having fully reviewed the entire record and the reports of the advisors, I am now prepared to rule on the pending rule 104 hearing motions in limine. For the reasons explained below, the defendants” motions in limine to exclude plaintiffs’ expert testimony concerning causation of any systemic disease or syndrome are GRANTED. I note, however, that while this court was in the midst of the Rule 104 proceedings, Judge Pointer appointed a national panel of experts pursuant to FRE 706 to assist in a similar evaluation of the scientific evidence in the MDL. As recognized by Senior Judge Jack B. Weinstein and Judge Harold Baer, Jr., in their recent joint opinion in breast implant cases pending in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York (see In re Breast Implant Cases (Amended Preliminary Memorandum Oct. 23,1996)), it will probably be some time before the national panel completes its important work. 18 In view of the ongoing national proceedings and the potential for further scientific developments during their pendency, the court will defer the effective date of this opinion until the findings of the national Rule 706 panel are available. 19 Depending on the court’s evaluation of those findings, plaintiffs *1395 in these cases may seek reconsideration, if appropriate, of this decision. Plaintiffs’ motion to add the national Rule 706 panel members to the witness lists in Groups 2 and 3 20 is also deferred pending completion of the panel’s work. III. ADMISSIBILITY STANDARDS A. Rule 702 and Rule 104(a) The Federal Rules of Evidence govern in diversity cases, except in the rare circumstance where a state rule of evidence is “ ‘intimately bound up’ with the rights and obligations being asserted * * Wray v. Gregory, 61 F.3d 1414, 1417 (9th Cir.1995) (quoting Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78 , 58 S.Ct. 817, 822 , 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938)). With respect to the issues presently before the court, no state evidence rule supplants the federal rules. 21 Rule 702 is the starting point for any evaluation of the admissibility of expert testimony. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 589 , 113 S.Ct. at 2794-95 (Rule 702 is the “primary locus” of the expert screening “obligation”). Rule 702 provides: If the scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise. The assessment of whether proffered expert testimony is admissible under Rule 702 is a preliminary question for the court under Rule 104(a). Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 592 , 113 S.Ct. at 2796 . Rule 104(a), which provided the framework for the hearing in this case, states: Preliminary questions concerning the qualification of a person to be a witness, the existence of a privilege, or the admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the court, subject to the provisions of subdivision (b). In making its determination it is not bound by the rules of evidence except those with respect to privileges. 22 The Ninth Circuit recently emphasized that the proponent of the expert testimony bears the burden of proving admissibility under Rule 104. Lust v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 89 F.3d 594 , 598 (9th Cir.1996) (“[i]t is the proponent of the expert who has the burden of proving admissibility”); see also Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 43 F.3d 1311, 1316 (9th Cir.1995) (hereinafter Daubert II) (“the party presenting the expert must show that the expert’s findings are based on sound science”). In this case, the plaintiffs, as proponents of the evidence, have the burden of establishing admissibility by a preponderance of the evidence. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 592 n. 10, 113 S.Ct. at 2796 n. 10. In determining whether the plaintiffs have met their burden of establishing the admissibility of their expert evidence, the court is guided by Rule 702 and the recent *1396 Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit decisions interpreting it, particularly Daubert I and Daubert II. In Daubert I, the Supreme Court clarified that adoption of Rule 702 displaced the traditional Frye 23 test, which made “general acceptance” in the relevant scientific community the prerequisite to admissibility. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 589 , 113 S.Ct. at 2794-95 . Instead, under Daubert I, which. focused closely on the language of Rule 702, expert scientific opinion is admissible if it qualifies as “scientific knowledge” and is therefore sufficiently “reliable.” Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 589-90 , 113 S.Ct. at 2795 ; see also Lust, 89 F.3d at 597. According to Daubert I, “the adjective ‘scientific’ implies a grounding in the methods and procedures of science,” and “the word ‘knowledge’ connotes more than subjective belief or unsupported speculation.” 509 U.S. at 590 , 113 S.Ct. at 2795 . The Court explained that in order to qualify as “scientific knowledge,” an inference or assertion must be derived by the scientific method. Proposed testimony must be supported by appropriate validation — i.e., “good grounds,” based on what is known. Id. The requirement that an expért’s testimony pertain to “scientific knowledge” “es^ tablishes a standard of evidentiary reliability,” i.e., trustworthiness. 509 U.S. at 590 and n. 9, 113 S.Ct. at 2795 and n. 9. The Supreme Court charged district courts with the duty to act as “gatekeepers,” to ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant, but reliable. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 597-98 , 113 S.Ct. at 2798-99 . Thus, the court must determine at the outset, pursuant to Rule 104(a), “whether the expert is proposing to testify to (1) scientific knowledge that (2) will assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue.” Id. at 592-93 , 113 S.Ct. at 2796 . This determination “entails a preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts in issue.” Id. The task before this court, then, is two-pronged. First, the court must determine whether plaintiffs’ experts’ testimony reflects “scientific knowledge,” constitutes “good science,” and was “derived by the scientific method.” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1316 . Second, the court must ensure that the proposed testimony “fits,” that is, that the testimony is “‘relevant to the task at hand’ ” in that it “logically advances a material aspect of the proposing party’s ease.” Id. at 1315 (quoting Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 597 , 113 S.Ct. at 2798-99 ). 1.Reliability. Daubert I and Daubert II list several factors to guide federal courts in deciding the first prong, whether the expert testimony is scientifically valid and therefore reliable. These factors, which may or may not apply in a particular case, include: 1. Whether the theory or technique employed by the expert, is generally accepted in the scientific community; 2. Whether the theory has been subjected to peer review and publication; 3. Whether the theory can be and has been tested; 4. Whether the known or potential rate of error is acceptable; and 5. Whether the experts are. proposing to testify about matters growing naturally or directly out of research, or whether they have developed their opinions expressly for purposes of testifying. 24 *1397 Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 593-94 , 113 S.Ct. at 2796-97 (first four factors); Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1316-17 (adding fifth factor). The list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1317 . As mentioned earlier, with respect to the first listed factor, whether the expert’s theory or method is generally accepted, the Ninth Circuit explained in Daubert II that in certain circumstances it may be sufficient if a minority in the scientific community accepts the methods employed, but only if the proponent demonstrates in “some objectively verifiable way that the expert has both chosen a reliable scientific method and followed it faithfully.” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1319 n. 11. 2. Fit. Even if the proponents meet their burden of establishing that an expert’s testimony qualifies as scientific knowledge, the court must still exclude the evidence if it does not “fit” the matters at issue in the case. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 591 , 113 S.Ct. at 2795-96 . As the Ninth Circuit in Daubert II, explained, to “fit,” testimony must “logically advance a material aspect of the proposing party’s case.” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1315 ; see also In re Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, 35 F.3d 717, 743 (3d Cir.1994) (hereinafter Paoli II 25 ). In Paoli II, Judge Becker described the “fit” requirement as follows: For example, animal studies may be methodologically acceptable to show that chemical X increases the risk of cancer in animals, but they may not be methodologically acceptable to show that chemical X increases the risk of cancer in humans. Daubert explains that, “‘[f]it’ is not always obvious, and scientific validity for one purpose is not necessarily scientific validity for other, unrelated purposes.” * * * Thus, even if an expert’s proposed testimony constitutes scientific knowledge, his or her testimony will be excluded if It is not scientific knowledge for purposes of the case. “Rule 702’s ‘helpfulness’ standard requires a valid scientific connection to the pertinent inquiry as a precondition to admissibility.” * * * For example, in order for animal studies to be admissible to prove causation in humans, there must be good grounds to. extrapolate from animals to humans, just-as the methodology of the studies must constitute good grounds to reach conclusions about the animals themselves. Thus, the requirement of reliability, or “good grounds,” extends to each step in an expert’s analysis all the way through the step that connects the work of the expert to the particular case. Paoli II, 35 F.3d at 743 (citations omitted; emphasis in original). As the defendants correctly point out in their proposed findings and conclusions, the issue before the court, as in the Bendectin litigation considered in Daubert II, is causation. In Daubert II, the Ninth Circuit concluded that the plaintiffs in that case failed to make any objective showing of admissibility under the first prong of Rule 702. Because the plaintiffs had submitted their expert materials while Frye was the law of the circuit, however, rather than remand the case to permit the plaintiffs to augment the record, the court proceeded to reach the second prong, or “fit” requirement, of the Daubert I analysis. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1320 . In doing so, the court explained that in assessing whether proffered expert testimony “will assist the trier of fact” in resolving the causation issue, the court must look to the substantive standard — in that case, California tort law. The court commented: California tort law requires plaintiffs to show not merely that Bendectin increased *1398 the likelihood of injury, but that it more likely than not caused their injuries. * * * In terms of statistical proof, this means that plaintiffs must establish not just that their mothers’ ingestion of Ben-dectin increased somewhat the likelihood of birth defects, but that it more than doubled it—only then can it be said that Bendectin is more likely than not the source of their injury. Because the background rate of limb reduction defects is one per thousand births, plaintiffs must show that among children of mothers who took Bendectin the incidence of such defects was more than two per thousand. Id. at 1320 (citation omitted). 26 The substantive standard under Oregon tort law is quite similar to the California standard. Under Oregon law, the plaintiffs in this litigation must prove not merely the possibility of a causal connection between breast implants and the alleged systemic disease, but the medical probability of a causal connection. See Harris v. Kissling, 80 Or. App. 5, 9 , 721 P.2d 838 (1986); see also Griffin v. K.E. McKay’s Market of Coos Bay, Inc., 125 Or .App. 448, 451-52, 865 P.2d 1320 (1993), in which the court stated: [The plaintiff] must introduce evidence which affords a reasonable basis for the conclusion that it is more likely than not that the conduct of the defendant was a substantial factor in the result. A mere possibility of such causation is not enough * * * (Citation omitted.) 27 Under this substantive standard, if an expert cannot state the causal connection in terms of probability or certainty, the expert’s testimony must be excluded under the second prong of Rule 702. In Daubert II, for example, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s exclusion of certain of plaintiffs’ experts’ opinions, reasoning that: As the district court properly found below, “the strongest inference to be drawn for plaintiffs based on the epidemiological evidence is that Bendectin could possibly have caused plaintiffs’ injuries.” * * * The same is true of the other testimony derived from animal studies and chemical structure analyses—these experts “testify to a possibility rather than a probability.” * * * Unlike these experts’ explanation of their methodology, this is not a shortcoming that could be corrected on remand; plaintiffs’ experts could augment their affidavits with independent proof that their methods were sound, but to augment the substantive testimony as to causation would require the experts to change their conclusions altogether. Any such tailoring of the experts’ conclusions would, at this stage of the proceedings, fatally undermine any attempt to show that these findings were ‘derived by the scientific method.’ Plaintiffs’ experts must, therefore, stand by the conclusions they originally proffered, rendering their testimony inadmissible under the second prong of Fed. R.Evid. 702. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1322 (citation omitted; emphasis added). 28 *1399 3. Methodology v. Conclusions. The plaintiffs insist that this court must focus solely on the expert’s methodology and may not consider the experts’ conclusions in any respect. Certain language in Daubert I can be read, superficially, to support plaintiffs’ position. The Daubert I Court wrote: The inquiry envisioned by Rule 702 is, we emphasize, a flexible one. Its overarching subject is the scientific validity — and thus the evidentiary relevance and reliability— of the principles that underlie a proposed submission. The focus, of course, must be solely on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions that they generate. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 595 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797 (emphasis added). Since Daubert I was decided, however, courts and commentators have wrestled with the methodology/eonclusion distinction, concluding that the distinction is of limited practical import. In Paoli II, for example, Judge Becker offered the following cogent analysis: Plaintiffs are correct, of course, that Dau-bert requires the judge’s admissibility decision to focus not on the expert’s conclusions but on his or her principles and methodology. * * * But we think that this distinction has only limited practical import. When a judge disagrees with the conclusions of an expert, it will generally be because he or she thinks that there is a mistake at some step in the investigative or reasoning process of that expert. If the judge thinks that the conclusions of some other expert are correct, it will likely be because the judge thinks that the methodology and reasoning process of the other expert are superior to those of the first expert. This is especially true given that the expert’s view that a particular conclusion “fits” a particular case must itself •constitute scientific knowledge — a challenge to “fit” is very close to a challenge to the expert’s ultimate conclusion about the particular, case, and yet it is part of the judge’s admissibility calculus under Dau-bert. 35 F.3d at 746 (emphasis added). In a footnote, Judge Becker added that: The methodology/eonclusion distinction remains of some import, however, to the extent that there will be cases in which a party argues that an expert’s testimony is unreliable because the conclusions of an expert’s study are different from those of other experts. In such eases, there is no basis for holding the expert’s testimony inadmissible. 35 F.3d at 746 n. 15 (citations omitted). In Claar v. Burlington Northern R. Co., 29 F.3d 499 (9th Cir.1994), the Ninth Circuit emphasized that a district court is “both authorized and obligated to scrutinize carefully the reasoning and methodology” underlying the expert’s proffered testimony. 29 F.3d at 502 (emphasis added). According to the court in Claar : This requirement means that the court had to determine that [the experts] arrived at their conclusions using scientific methods and procedures, and that those conclusions were not mere subjective beliefs or unsupported speculation. 29 F.3d at 502 (emphasis added). 29 More recently, in Lust v. Merrell Dow Pharmdceuticals, Inc., supra, the Ninth Circuit acknowledged that a district court need not ignore an expert’s anomalous conclusions in determining admissibility under Rule 702. In Lust, plaintiff’s expert, Dr. Done, proposed to testify that ingestion of the drug Clomid causes a substantial increase in the probability of all birth defects on the ground that human epidemiological studies and animal studies show an association between the drug and a wide variety of problems. Un-contradicted testimony from defendant’s expert, however, indicated that Done’s chief *1400 premise — that if there is evidence of a positive association between an agent and a wide variety of birth defects in human epidemiological and animal studies, then the agent substantially increases the probability of all types of birth defects — was not espoused by a relevant minority of teratologists. Lust, 89 F.3d at 596. The Ninth Circuit held that the district court properly excluded Done’s testimony. Responding to Done’s contention that the district court “violated Daubert’s command that “ ‘[t]he focus ... must be solely on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions that they generate,’ ” the court stated: Done’s conclusions did arouse the district court’s suspicion, but that is to be expected. When a scientist claims to rely on a method practiced by most scientists, yet presents conclusions that are shared by no other scientist, the district court should be wary that the method has not been faithfully applied. It is the proponent of the expert who has the burden of proving admissibility. To enforce this burden, the district court can exclude the opinion if the expert fails to identify and defend the reasons that his conclusions are anomalous. Lust, 89 F.3d at 598 (emphasis added; citation omitted). In a recent law review article evaluating the admissibility of scientific evidence after Daubert, the author suggests the following approach to the methodology/conclusion debate: Rule 702 seeks to ensure that there is a valid scientific connection to the pertinent inquiry, and scientific validity for one purpose is not necessarily scientific validity for other purposes. * * * In a case where a plaintiff alleges personal injury from exposure to a substance, the issue at hand is not whether the agent can potentially cause that injury. Rather, the issue is whether the agent caused the particular plaintiffs injury. To return to the animal study hypothetical, the court should not simply ask whether the type of animal study relied on by the expert can be validly used to determine whether Bendectin is a teratogen, but should also ask whether scientists reasonably rely on that type of animal study to prove that Bendectin is a teratogen in humans. If the answer is yes, the court should ask whether the animal study provides sufficient information to allow a scientist to reasonably rely on it to prove that Bendectin caused a birth defect in a particular individual. Finally, assuming those questions are answered to the court’s satisfaction, the ■ court must determine whether the expert’s principles and methodology are sound. In other words, has the expert properly extrapolated from the animal study at issue, or is her reasoning flawed? Some have argued that Daubert forbids courts to ask this question. * * * This reasoning is wrong-headed. When Daubert forbids courts to examine an expert’s conclusions, it is obviously alluding to the Frye rule. Some courts used Frye to exclude novel expert testimony if it conflicted with the established view in the scientific community, regardless of the soundness of the expert’s methodology and reasoning. That is no longer permissible after Daubert. But Daubert does demand that courts assess the scientific validity of the expert’s testimony. Daubert demands that in reviewing the expert’s principles and methodology, a court should determine whether “the principle supports what is purports to show.” * * * Daubert therefore not only allows, but requires, courts to determine whether an expert’s extrapolations from underlying studies or data are proper, or whether the expert has committed scientific or mathematical errors. David E. Bernstein, The Admissibility of Scientific Evidence After Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 15 Cardozo L.Rev. 2139, 2165-66 (1994) (emphasis added; footnotes omitted). In Paoli II, 35 F.3d at 745 , Judge Becker noted that Daubert’s requirement that the expert testify to scientific knowledge — conclusions supported by good grounds for each step *1401 in the analysis — means that any step that renders the analysis unreliable under the Dauberb factors renders the expert’s testimony inadmissible. This is true whether the step completely changes a reliable methodology or merely misapplies that methodology. (Emphasis in original; footnote omitted.) There appears to be no clear demarcation between scientific methodology and the conclusions it generates. Daubert I acknowledged this much, recognizing that science is a process, not “an encyclopedic body of knowledge.” 509 U.S. at 590 , 113 S.Ct. at 2795 (citation omitted). This court need not and should not ignore any step in that process, but must ensure that in each step, from initial premise to ultimate conclusion, the expert faithfully followed valid scientific methodology. In other words, this court need not accept, as scientifically reliable, any conclusion thát good science does not permit to be drawn from the underlying data but which, instead, constitutes “unsupported speculation,” or, in the words of Dr. Stenzel-Poore, a “leap of faith.” The Ninth Circuit requires no less. See Claar, 29 F.3d at 502 ; see also Lust, 89 F.3d at 598. Accordingly, in resolving the pending issues before me, this court will examine the evidence to ensure, as Judge Becker noted in Paoli II, that every step in the expert’s reasoning process, including the expert’s formulation of conclusions, are grounded in good science. IY. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS Physicians have used silicone 30 products in the human body for various purposes since the 1950s. Medical devices made from hard silicone include shunts, finger joints, hip joints, and heart valves. In addition, the United States and Japan experimented with injecting liquid silicone' directly into the human body in the 1950s and 1960s. However, the FDA eventually classified silicone liquid directly injected as a drug and has approved it only for experimental investigations. The silicone- gel breast implants involved in this litigation consist of 80 to 90 percent liquid silicone combined with 10 to 20 percent silicone gel, contained in a silicone rubber shell. Plaintiffs’ theory of causation — or, as they refer to it, bioplausibility — begins with the premise that silicone from breast implants is released into a woman’s body, either through implant rupture or through “gel bleed,” the slow but continuous release of very small droplets (“mierodroplets”) of silicone gel through the silicone rubber implant cover. Once released into the body, plaintiffs assert, silicone migrates throughout the body, either by diffusing through cell membranes or by being carried by macrophages, the cells in a person’s body that devour and eliminate invading foreign bodies and wastes. In the process, the silicone degrades, or is chemically converted, into more reactive molecules such as silanols. The released silicone and the reactive products of silicone degradation purportedly elicit an autoimmune response from the woman’s immune system, essentially turning her immune system against her. The result, plaintiffs conclude, is general, systemic disease and particular signs and symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, headaches, rashes, and an inability to concentrate. *1402 Plaintiffs’ theory of causation thus brings four general areas of science into play: epidemiology; rheumatology; immunology/toxicology; and polymer chemistry. As has been described, the Rule 104 hearings and many of the parties’ arguments have been generally structured around these scientific fields. Thus, while I am mindful that the motions in limine actually address the exclusion of particular expert witnesses, my findings and conclusions will track the various disciplines at issue. A. Atypical Connective Tissue Disease Plaintiffs premise many of their claims on the existence of a variously-titled atypical connective tissue disease (ACTD). 31 This “disease” allegedly manifests itself through a constellation of various symptoms 32 and is allegedly caused by an autoimmune response to silicone from breast implants. Plaintiffs have offered Dr. Eric Gershwin and Dr. Kip Kemple as experts in rheumatology' to testify that silicone exposure is the probable cause of plaintiffs’ atypical constellation of symptoms. By definition, ACTD is not one of the classical autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, plaintiffs’ expert Dr. Goldsmith testified that ACTD does not exist even as a hypothesis yet. “Epidemiologically, the question that you have asked me twice is where we are with these atypical diseases. And I am telling you we are back at the beginning of formulating studiable hypotheses to test. We are really at the beginning of that.” TRANS. Of Pretrial Hearings before the Honorable Robert E. Jones (hereinafter Portland Trans.), Aug. 6, 1996, at 164:23 to 165:2. A silicone research group has proposed criteria for this alleged disease, but these criteria have not yet been tested, nor does the rheumatology community generally accept the existence of ACTD. Dr. Gershwin has acknowledged that he would not rely on these criteria as authoritative for his medical opinion. Portland Trans., Aug. 5, .1996, at 78:25 to 79:23. He also admitted that there is no specific diagnostic test for this alleged disorder. Portland Trans., Aug. 5,1996, at 88:1-4,15-19. Finally, women who allegedly have ACTD do not uniformly exhibit the same signs and symptoms, and there is no “signature” disorder to suggest either that the cause is silicone exposure or that the cause is the same for all women showing this constellation of symptoms. 33 Instead, the asserted constellation of symptoms comprising ACTD overlaps significantly with those comprising chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. 34 , Because ACTD is at best an untested hypothesis, there is no scientific basis for any expert testimony as to its causes and presence in plaintiffs. Therefore, defendants’ motions are GRANTED as regards any expert testimony relating to the existence and causation of any atypical, silicone-caused, autoimmune disorder. With the possible exception of plaintiff LeaAnn Hall, moreover, plaintiffs have not been diagnosed as having classical autoimmune disorders. Therefore, the rest of this *1403 opinion will address expert testimony in regards to plaintiffs’ individual signs and symptoms. B. Epidemiology Plaintiffs offer Dr. David Goldsmith as an expert to testify that there is epidemiological and other scientific data showing that women with silicone breast implants have significantly elevated probability of suffering from classical diseases when compared to women without breast implants. 35 In contrast, plaintiffs offer Dr. Shanna Swan, through transcripts of her previous testimony in other cases, to testify that no valid epidemiological studies regarding the relationship of silicone breast implants and disease have been completed as of August 1996. Epidemiology is the medical science devoted to determining the causes of disease in human beings. Epidemiologists compare control groups of unexposed individuals to groups of individuals exposed to a hypothetical cause of the disease being studied to determine whether exposed individuals have a greater risk of manifesting that disease. In epidemiological terms, any difference in risk of getting the disease between the two groups is the exposed individuals’ relative risk. The existence or nonexistence of relevant epidemiology can be a significant factor in proving general causation in toxic tort cases. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1320-21 ; Brock v. Merrill-Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 874 F.2d 307, 311-13 (5th Cir.1989). To support admissible expert opinions, epidemiological evidence must fit the legal as well as the substantive issues of the case. Because this is a diversity action, Oregon substantive standards of law must apply. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 , 58 S.Ct. 817 , 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938). 36 As discussed above, under Oregon law, a plaintiff seeking to prove causation must “ ‘introduce evidence which affords a reasonable basis for the conclusion that it is more likely than not that the conduct of the ■ defendant was a substantial factor in the result.’” Griffin v. K.E. McKay’s Mkt., 125 Or.App. at 451-52 , 865 P.2d 1320 (quoting Eitel v. Times, Inc., 221 Or. 585, 594 , 352 P.2d 485 (1960)). This burden requires plaintiffs to demonstrate that exposure to breast implants more than doubled the risk of their alleged injuries. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1320 . In epidemiological terms, Oregon’s standard of proof means that plaintiffs must be able to show a relative risk of greater than 2.0: The threshold for concluding that an agent was more likely the cause of a disease than not is relative risk greater than 2.0. Recall that a relative risk of 1.0 means that that agent has no effect on the incidence of disease. When the relative risk reaches 2.0, the agent is responsible for ah equal number of cases of disease as all other background causes. . Thus, a relative risk of 2.0 implies a 50% likelihood that an exposed individual’s disease was caused by the agent. Bailey, et al., Reference Guide on Epidemiology, REFERENCE MANUAL ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE at 168. The Ninth Circuit has reached a similar conclusion under California’s standard of proof, which is very similar to Oregon’s, holding that “[f]or an epidemiological study to show causation under a preponderance standard,, ‘the relative risk of [the condition at issue] arising from the epidemiological data ... will, at minimum, have to exceed “2”.’ ” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1321 (quoting DeLuca v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 911 F.2d 941 , 958 (3d Cir.1990)). *1404 Although, as discussed above, epidemiological studies showing a relative risk of less than 2.0 might be relevant under some circumstances, here, as in Daubert II, “plaintiffs’ experts did not seek to differentiate these plaintiffs from the subjects of the statistical studies. The studies must therefore stand or fall on their own.” Id. at 1321 n. 16. Plaintiffs’ experts base their proffered expert opinions on the sixteen epidemiological studies 37 assessing the relationship of silicone breast implants to classical connective tissue disease. In addition, plaintiffs have called this court’s attention to the 1996 Liang-Schottenfeld abstract recently presented at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology that reports a relative risk of 2.27 for Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Diseases (UCTD). 38 Dr. Goldsmith testified in the proceedings before this court that he was not willing to testify, based on the 16 then-available studies, that silicone more likely than not could cause disease in women. That testimony was as follows: DR. GREENLICK: You were asked a question if you had an opinion on causality based on whatever other evidence was left, case studies, other animal evidence. I think there is a sense that when you talked about there was a suggestion from some of the things that would mean you had a very low certainty of causality and that causality could go from saying, “We don’t know if there’s any link at all,” all the way to saying, “We are really quite certain, short of randomly implanting women, we are very certain.” Given the fact that there is no epidemiological data on this, where would you say your sense of certainty of your causality is? How close to zero as opposed to 100 percent are you? Are you in certainty with your opinion that there is a causal relationship with breast implants and atypical connective tissue disease? *1405 DR. GOLDSMITH: Let me also make sure that I give you an answer that I think is reflective of the — of the question in front of us. I don’t believe it should go from zero to — to fully sure. I think it’s also possible that breast implants could, in fact, be negatively related to those atypical syndromes as well. DR. GREENLICK: Right. I was just starting from a zero, yes, could you have gone all the way from they are highly protective through no relationship, all the way to certain causality. But let’s just — I assume you don’t — you are not suggesting that the current data would tell you they are protective against atypical disease. So let’s start from zero at “I have no certainty whatever there’s a relationship,” all the way to “I am absolutely certain there’s a relationship from the existing data given no epidemiological data.” I was wondering where you would— DR. GOLDSMITH: At the moment, I must suggest to you that the evidence looks to me as if it’s just that, that it’s a possibility, and I would have to characterize it as less than 50 percent. That would be where I am at the moment. But where the new evidence is going to show that there is or is not an association, I think we have to wait for the science to tell us. We have to wait for the epidemiology. PORTLAND Trans., Aug. 6, 1996, at 241:14 to 243:4 (emphasis added). With the release of the Liang-Schottenfeld abstract, Dr. Goldsmith now indicates a willingness to testify that such causation is “more likely than not.” 39 This court cannot accept his proffered change in testimony because it finds the methodology supporting this changed testimony unreliable under Daubert I and Daubert II. First, none of the- 16 epidemiological studies found that women with silicone breast implants faced a relative risk of classical diseases or disease signs and symptoms of anywhere near 2.0. Indeed, only one study — the Hennekens study — found any statistical relationship between the presence of silicone breast implants and disease, and there the relative risk was only 1.24. Therefore, these studies cannot support expert testimony that silicone “more likely than not” causes disease or signs and symptoms of disease in women. Second, the Liang-Schottenfeld abstract cannot in itself support Dr. Goldsmith’s change in testimony. The abstract is not yet published, nor is a full write-up of the study, including the supporting data, yet available. Indeed, Dr. Goldsmith admitted in his New York testimony that his only knowledge of the details of the study came from a telephone inquiry. New YorK Trans., at 71:17-24. According to the abstract, moreover, the study included only three women with breast implants, calling its epidemiological significance severely into question. In addition, the abstract explicitly concludes that “silicone breast implants were not significantly associated with UCTD,” suggesting that silicone gel breast implants are not associated with disease. In contrast, the abstract concludes overall that, “[ajmong all types of implanted devices, including breast implants, both those containing silicone * * * and those that did not contain silicone * * * were significantly associated with UCTD.” This apparent internal contradiction within the abstract’s conclusions calls the value of this study further into question. In light of these shortcomings 40 and in the face of the other 16 studies, which Dr. Goldsmith has already admitted do not support expert testimony that silicone “more likely than not” causes *1406 disease in women, this court GRANTS defendant’s motion to exclude Dr. Goldsmith’s epidemiological testimony. 41 As for defendants’ motion to exclude Dr. Swan’s proffered testimony, the motion must be GRANTED because Dr. Swan’s testimony is unreliable and no longer “fits” plaintiffs’ theory of the case. I first note that several courts have rejected Dr. Swan’s testimony and her “reanalysis” approach as unreliable. 42 Dr. Swan’s reanalysis of the silicone epidemiology has never been subjected to peer review. Merlin HEARING TRANS., at 73-76. Moreover, her theory has not been espoused by any other scientist whose work has been subjected to the peer review process. Merlin Hearing Trans., at 73-74. Peer review and publication weigh heavily in the calculus of the reliability of expert testimony because such peer review “increases the likelihood that substantive flaws in methodology will be detected.” Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 594 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797 . Thus, the lack of peer review for Dr. Swan’s theories weighs heavily against the admissibility of Dr. Swan’s testimony. In addition, Dr. Swan’s testimony involves only her opinions and criticisms of others’ work; as such, it is-not based on any technique that can be scientifically tested. Moreover, her criticisms of the existing epidemiology for silicone gel breast implants have not been generally accepted. In fact, they have not been accepted at all. Merlin Hearing Trans., at 92-93. In contrast, Dr. Swan admits that no studies have established a causal link of any scientific significance between silicone breast implants and disease, Merlin Hearing Trans., at 82, and this is the reeog-nized consensus of the relevant scientific community. As the Supreme Court stated, “widespread acceptance can be an important factor in ruling particular evidence admissible, and a known technique that has been able to attract only minimal support within the community may properly be viewed with skepticism.” Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 594 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797 . Many courts have recognized that an unexplained conflict with the generally accepted methodology or theories in a given scientific field can be a basis for excluding proffered expert testimony. See Turpin v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 959 F.2d 1349, 1360 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 826 , 113 S.Ct. 84 , 121 L.Ed.2d 47 (1992) (finding no scientific basis for testimony of a causation expert who did “not testify on the basis of the collective view of his scientific discipline^ nor [did] he take issue with his peers and explain the grounds for his difference”); O’Conner v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 807 F.Supp. 1376, 1398 (D.Ill.1992), aff'd 13 F.3d 1090 (7th Cir.), cert. denied — U.S. -, 114 S.Ct. 2711 , 129 L.Ed.2d 838 (1994) (holding that “an expert opinion that actually contradicts directly the scientific consensus is inadmissible”); Conde v. Velsicol Chem. Corp., 804 F.Supp. 972, 1024 (S.D.Ohio 1992), aff'd 24 F.3d 809 (holding that “when an expert expresses an opinion which is not generally accepted within the medical and scientific communities, he has an obligation to provide a reasoned explanation of why his methodology and opinions differ”). In addition to not being peer-reviewed and to being untestable, Dr. Swan’s proffered testimony inexplicably conflicts with the general con *1407 sensus of the epidemiological community. Thus, it is unreliable and hence inadmissible. In addition, Dr. Swan’s testimony has no “fit.” As discussed above, even if the proponents of expert testimony establish that that testimony is reliable scientific knowledge, the court must still exclude the evidence if it does not fit the issues to be decided in the case. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 591 , 113 S.Ct. at 2795-96 . In the Ninth Circuit, testimony only “fits” a ease if it logically advances a material aspect of the proponent party’s case. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1315 . Here, Dr. Swan seeks to testify that current epidemiology regarding the relationship of silicone breast implants and classical disease is invalid. However, this court has already determined that the proffered testimony based on that epidemiology is inadmissible, and it will determine, see discussion below, that plaintiffs cannot base their entire case on differential diagnosis. In addition, to the extent that plaintiffs intended to use Dr. Swan’s testimony to support their argument that silicone breast implants can cause ACTD, I have already ruled that no- testimony regarding ACTD will be permitted. Therefore, Dr. Swan’s testimony is now a stepping stone that leads nowhere; it no longer “fits” plaintiffs’ case. There is no doubt but that Dr.- Swan has impressive credentials, as Justice Black-mun himself recognized in Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 583 n. 2, 113 S.Ct. at 2792 n. 2 (noting that Dr. Swan has “a master’s degree in biostatics from Columbia University and a doctorate in statistics from the University of California at Berkeley, is chief of the section of the California Department of Health and Sciences that determines causes of birth defects, and has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization, the Food and Drug Administration,, and the National Institutes of Health.”) However, as Judge Wein-stein noted in the Agent Orange litigation, the jury should “not be permitted to be misled by the glitter of an expert’s accomplishments outside the courtroom” if the expert opinion is based on “untrustworthy” data or is otherwise not reliable. 43 , In re “Agent Orange” Product Liability Litigation, 611 F.Supp. 1223, 1245 (E.D.N.Y.1985) (citations omitted). As in that ease, “‘the speculation and unfounded assumptions underlying [the] testimony [of Dr. Swan] decrease its probative value, perhaps to the level of the gossamer.’ ” Id. at 1256 (quoting American Bearing Co. v. Litton Indus., Inc., 729 F.2d 943 , 950 n. 14 (3d Cir.1984)). In this litigation, Dr. Swan’s well-traveled opinions are no more than educated guesses dressed up in evening clothes. Therefore, for all of the above reasons, I GRANT defendants’ motions to exclude Dr. Swan’s testimony. C. Immunology and Toxicology Plaintiffs have offered Dr. Eric Gershwin as an expert in immunology to testify that silicone is capable of causing plaintiffs’ constellation of symptoms because (1) silicone in contact with human tissue results in chronic inflammation through immune activation and cellular reactions; (2) silicone is an immune adjuvant and thus can produce enhanced immune responses when in the presence of a triggering condition and exacerbate existing *1408 immune-mediated conditions; and (3) the surface of silicone changes or degrades in vivo into silanol groups and/or silica. He relies on the epidemiological studies discussed above, his own clinical experience, biomarker, immune activation, and toxicological studies, 44 and the work of the Harvard *1409 NMR Center on the degradation of silicone as the bases of his proffered opinion. Plaintiffs also offer Dr. Kip Kemple to testify that silicone can produce an immunological response in women. Dr. Kemple relies on immunological studies showing that autoantibodies are elevated in women with breast implants 45 and his own study of anti-ganglioside antibodies in women with breast implants. The court submitted immunological/toxicological issues to its expert, Dr. Mary Stenzel-Poore, 46 who specifically looked at the adju-vant potential of silicone gel implants, the potential for immune stimulation of T cells by silicone gel implants, altered natural, killer cell activity, and immune system cancer formation in rodents. She opined that the studies relied upon by plaintiffs’ experts justified the following conclusions regarding silicone gel adjuvant potential: la. Silicone gel emulsified with antigen may act as an adjuvant in humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in rodents. lb. Silicone oils that are both linear and low molecular weight, emulsified with antigen do not act as adjuvants in rodents. le. Silicone oils that are low molecular weight and cyclic (D4) emulsified with antigen may act as adjuvants. Appendix D, at 2. However, “[djirect attempts to demonstrate that immunization with these agents emulsified with ‘auto-antigens’ or given in the absence of antigens failed to show evidence of autoimmune disease despite obvious disease induction by Freund’s adjuvant,” except in a genetic strain of rat developed to have a high susceptibility of developing arthritis. Id. Thus, in rodents only, “enhanced immune responses are not found if the antigen is not emulsified with the silicone agents * * Id. at 2-3 (citations omitted). Dr. Stenzel-Poore 'further stated that “[fjorming the conclusion that elicitation of autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease occurs in women with SBI based on the evidence that silicone gel acts as an adjuvant when emulsified with antigen is unsupported by the data since peer-reviewed, studies failed to show evidence of any autoimmune-mediated disease.” Appendix D, at 3. Although “[t]he scientific methodology used in the aforementioned studies is generally sound,” - Dr. Gershwin’s opinion regarding the adju-vant properties of silicone gel requires a substantial leap of faith since it is undeter.mined from these studies whether silicone gel breast implants would lead to adjuvant actions, much less autoimmune responses or systemic inflammation; indeed, studies designed to test this hypothesis argue *1410 against such an outcome. Thus, the position of Dr. Gershwin is not well-supported by the data available in the published scientific literature nor is it derived from valid conclusions of the studies cited above. Id. (emphasis added). With regard to T-cell stimulation, Dr. Stenzel-Poore opined that “[t]he view that SBIs stimulate antigen-specific T cell mediated responses in vivo is not well substantiated by the experimental studies reported in the literature.” Appendix D, at 4. Moreover, although “[s]everal studies have been performed attempting to establish a link between silicone breast implantation in women and silicone-specific T-cell responses,” “these studies have a number of methodological shortcomings and thus should not form the basis of an opinion.” Id. at 5. As a result, those opinions of Dr. Gershwin regarding the role of silicone gel breast implants in stimulating specific T cell immunity and thereby providing a plausible mechanism of autoimmune induction are not upheld by the literature discussed above. The position of Dr. Gershwin is simply not well-supported by studies available in the published scientific literature nor is it derived from appropriate conclusions regarding the studies cited above. Id. at 8. Dr. Stenzel-Poore also examined the literature regarding changes in natural killer cell function. . She noted that “[c]hanges in natural killer (NK) cell function have been reported to be associated with silicone gel exposure in rodents and humans.” Appendix D, at 9. Such an association could be significant because “changes in NK cells have also been associated with increased susceptibility to pathogens and tumor formation.” Id. However, “[g]iven the concerns raised by the degree of irreproducibility and fluctuations in time and dose-dependency [in the silicone gel/NK cell studies], conclusions made regarding the suppressive effect of silicone gel on NK function based on these studies are premature.” Id. Moreover, “although the data indicate that 50% of symptomatic women with implants had lower NK activity prior to removal of the implant, it is misleading since the degree of variation is not shown in the implanted women, or in women without implants. It is invalid to conclude that silicone-gel breast implants in women lead to a depressed NK cell activity that is reversible with explanation.” Id. at 10. Finally, in evaluating the studies evaluating the development of immune system cancer in response to silicone, Dr. Stenzel-Poore stated that “Dr. Gershwin’s opinions regarding the development of immune system cancers in women with silicone breast implants is unwarranted” from the current studies, which are all animal studies. Appendix D, at 11. “There is no conclusive evidence to date that this model of tumor formation in mice has any human correlate.” Id. I agree with and accept Dr. Sten-zel-Poore’s assessments of Dr. Gershwin’s scientific methodology in fight of legal standards for Daubert hearings. As a preliminary matter, I note that most if not all of the studies that Dr. Gershwin and Dr. Kemple rely upon are animal studies (generally involving rodents), case reports or collections of case reports, and/or studies involving crystalline silica. Extrapolations of animal studies to human beings are generally not considered reliable in the absence of a scientific explanation of why such extrapolation is warranted. See Viterbo v. Dow Chemical Co., 826 F.2d 420 (5th Cir.1987) (excluding the evidence where there was only a single animal study of picloram and it showed a link to a disease completely different than plaintiffs diseases); Richardson v. Richardsort-Merrell, Inc., 857 F.2d 823, 830 (D.C.Cir.1988) (excluding animal studies of Bendeetin because of the overwhelming body of contrary epidemiological evidence and the admissions of the expert that animal studies merely raise a suspicion of causation in humans); Lynch v. Merrell-National Laboratories, 830 F.2d at 1194 (excluding animal studies of Bendeetin where they stood in the face of significant contrary epidemiological data); Turpin v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 959 F.2d at 1360 (excluding testimony where the record failed to make clear how the animal studies were sufficient to show that Bendeetin causes birth defects more probably than not). Plaintiffs offer no explanation of why extrapolations from the rodent *1411 studies their experts rely upon to humans are warranted here. Similarly, case reports and case studies are universally regarded as an insufficient scientific basis for a conclusion regarding causation because case reports lack controls. Casey v. Ohio Medical Products, 877 F.Supp. 1380 (N.D.Cal.1995); Muzzey v. Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp., 921 F.Supp. 511, 519-20 (N.D.Ill.1996); In re Three Mile Island Litigation Cases Consolidated II, 911 F.Supp. 775, 795-96 (M.D.Penn.1996); Grimes v. Hojfmann-LaRoche, Inc., 907 F.Supp. S3, 35 n. 2 (D.N.H.1995). Therefore, these cannot be the basis of an opinion based on scientific knowledge under Daubert. Third, as will be discussed below, studies based on crystalline silica cannot support the testimony of plaintiffs’ experts because plaintiffs make no showing that silicone breast implants are associated with the presence of crystalline silica in women. In other words, the purported disease-causing agent in the silica studies has not been show to be scientifically relevant regarding the purported disease-causing agent — namely, silicone gel — in these cases. Finally, Daubert’s establishment of the court as gatekeeper requires that proffered scientific expert opinions that make too great a leap of faith from the scientific knowledge currently available be excluded. As . discussed above, an evaluation of whether scientific methodology is valid for Daubert purposes should include an examination of how the proffered conclusions relate to the bases upon which the expert relies. The court’s neutral technical advisor has advised that Dr. Gershwin — and, by implication, Dr. Kemple, who relies on most if not all of the same studies as Dr. Gershwin — has made too great a leap from the underlying data to his conclusions. In other words, those conclusions are themselves not the result of the faithful application of valid scientific methodology. Therefore, defendants’ motions to exclude Dr. Gershwin’s and Dr. Kemple’s testimony on these issues is GRANTED. D. Chemistry Plaintiffs offer Dr. Christopher Batich as an expert in chemistry to testify that: (1) silicone migrates out of breast implant capsules; (2) there is an increase in surface area of silicone from gel breast implants to which the body reacts over time; (3) silicone changes in the body and forms bioreactive silanol groups on its surface; (4) silicone degrades into silica in the body; and (5) there is similar surface chemistry in all silox-ics (silicones, silicates, and silicas) that make the siloxics reactive in humans. In addition, plaintiffs offer Dr. Harold Alexander, a biom-aterials engineer, to testify that: (1) silicone microdroplets and/or particles are released from breast implants through gel bleed or rupture and have a high potential to cause inflammatory reactions in body tissues, and (2) the small size-’ of silicone microdroplets and/or particles allows them to migrate through the body via microphages and other migrating cells, and' their low molecular weight allows them to diffuse through tissue. The court’s technical advisor for polymer chemistry, Dr. Ronald McClard, carefully reviewed the question of whether the scientific evidence supports Dr. Batich’s and Dr. Alexander’s proffered testimony that silicone degrades to silica in mvo. 47 In reviewing the plaintiffs’ main scientific support for silica-induced biological reactions, a paper published by B. Razzaboni and P. Bolsaitis in Environmental Health Perspectives, 48 Dr. McClard stated that: The Razzaboni article * * * clearly attempts to offer a biochemical explanation for the silica-caused hemolytic process. This article seems scientifically sound. If silicones are converted to silica then this article seems relevant to the issue at hand. I am unaware that any of the papers that I reviewed clearly demonstrated the conversion of silicone to silica (most likely amorphous forms thereof), though the process seems possible given the known chem *1412 istry of silicon. The link between silicones and the Razzaboni article is a prospective one. Appendix E, at 11 (emphasis added). In other words, the opinions plaintiffs’ experts proffer regarding the in vivo degradation of silicone to silica are currently unsupported by the scientific literature. As with the immunological/toxieological conclusions discussed above, plaintiffs’ experts again make too great a leap of faith in their proffered testimony that silicone gel from breast implants degrades to silica. This is especially true for any testimony that silicone gel degrades in vivo to crystalline, as opposed to amorphous, silica. Therefore, I hereby GRANT defendants’ motions as pertains to such testimony. In addition, because there is no scientifically valid evidence to support the conclusion that silicone gel degrades to silica in the human body, any other immunological or toxicological studies involving the inhalation, ingestion, or absorption of crystalline, silica cannot “fit” the issue of whether silicone breast implants can cause signs or symptoms of disease in women. Therefore, as discussed above, I must also exclude testimony based on this evidence under the “fit” prong of Daubert I and Daubert II. ■ Dr. McClard also had several strong reservations about the other chemical studies upon which Dr. Batich and Dr. Alexander rely. Nevertheless, Dr. McClard consistently reported that these studies are supported by. valid scientific reasoning and methodology. Moreover, while plaintiffs’ experts’ opinions are, in his view, “controversial,” he concluded that those opinions are generally scientifically valid in that they properly may be derived from the chemical studies: It’s a bit like two doctors looking at a chest X-ray (having both agreed that a chest X-ray was the correct diagnostic procedure to use) and disagreeing, sometimes heatedly, over the interpretation of a shadow on the film and perhaps how long the exposure should have been. I have no doubt that all of the chemical studies examined in these hearings are based on appropriate methods, whether or not there are serious questions about fine points of technique or far-reaching conclusions. Indeed some of the work is inadequately documented and of clearly debatable value, but that is really not for me to decide, to be sure. Appendix E, at 12. I find Dr. McClard’s exposition of the numerous methodological flaws in the other chemical studies troubling. Nevertheless, I need not decide whether this evidence is admissible on the basis of valid scientific methodology because the evidence now does not “fit” plaintiffs’ case, as Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 594 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797 , and Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1315 , require. Testimony as to how silicone behaves chemically inside the human body cannot, in itself, establish that silicone gel breast implants cause signs and symptoms of disease in women in the absence of any epidemiological, rheumatological, or immunological/toxicological evidence linking those breast implants to disease. Thus, such testimony no longer logically advances a material aspect of the proponent party’s case. Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1315 . Therefore, I hereby GRANT defendants’ motions to exclude the testimony of Dr. Batich and Dr. Alexander. E. Differential Diagnosis Plaintiffs have offered Dr. Robert Bennett, M.D., both to testify that silicone gel breast implants can cause disease in women and to testify as a case-specific expert in LeaAnn Hall v. Baxter Healthcare. 49 Dr. Bennett is plaintiff Hall’s treating physician and is prepared to testify, on the basis of differential diagnosis, that plaintiff Hall suffers from systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma, manifested by her pulmonary fibrosis, as a result of having silicone gel breast implants. As has been noted, the issue before me in this Daubert hearing is silicone gel’s ability to cause disease in women with breast implants. Courts, however, have recognized two levels of causation: general causation *1413 (la, whether silicone gel can cause disease in anyone) and specific causation (ie., whether silicone gel breast implants caused disease, in this plaintiff). In Re: Silicone Gel Breast Implants Products Liability Litigation, 887 F.Supp. 1469 , 1477 (N.D.Ala.1995); Jones v. United States, 933 F.Supp. 894, 900 (N.D.Cal.1990); DeLuca v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 911 F.2d at 958; Rutigliano v. Valley Business Forms, 929 F.Supp. 779, 783 (D.N.J.1996). Differential diagnosis is a patient-specific process of elimination that medical practitioners use to identify the “most likely” cause of a set of signs and symptoms from a list of possible causes. However, differential diagnosis does not by itself prove the cause, even for the particular patient. Nor can the technique speak to the issue of general causation. Indeed, differential diagnosis assumes that general causation has been proven for the list of possible causes it eliminates: The process of differential diagnosis is undoubtedly important to the question of “specific causation.” If other possible causes of an injury cannot be ruled out, or at least the possibility of their contribution to causation minimized, then the “more likely than not” threshold for proving causation may not be met. But, it is also important to recognize that a fundamental assumption underlying this method is that the final, suspected “cause” remaining after this process of elimination must actually be capable of causing the injury. That is, the expert must “rule in” the suspected cause as well as “rule out” other possible causes. And, of course, expert opinion on this issue of “general causation” must be derived from scientifically valid methodology. Cavallo v. Star Enterprise, 892 F.Supp. 756, 771 (E.D.Va.1995) (emphasis added), aff'd on this ground, rev’d on other grounds —100 F.3d 1150 (4th Cir.1996). Testimony regarding specific causation in a given patient is irrelevant unless general causation is established. DeLuca, 911 F.2d at 958; Jones, 933 F.Supp. at 900 ; Rutigliano, 929 F.Supp. at 783 ; Grimes, 907 F.Supp. at 38. Hopkins v. Dow Corning Corp., 33 F.3d 1116 (9th Cir.1994), does not require a different conclusion for differential diagnosis. First, nothing in Hopkins indicates that any witness used differential diagnosis to establish any level of causation, let alone both general and specific causation. 50 Second, even if the expert’s medical examination of the plaintiff in Hopkins were a differential diagnosis (and that is far from clear), it was not, as would be the case here, the only evidence of causation proffered. Although the court concluded “that Hopkins’ experts based their opinions on the types of scientific data and utilized the types of scientific techniques relied upon by medical experts' in making determinations regarding toxic causation where there is no solid body of epidemiological data to review,” id. at 1124 , this data was collective ánd included: toxicological experience; reviews of medical records; reviews of Dow’s studies; “general scientific knowledge of silicone’s ability to cause immune disorders as established by animal studies and biophysical data”; published scientific studies; personal research; “participation in a preliminary epidemiological study involving over 200 women”; animal studies; clinical experience; “preliminary results of an epidemiological study”; medical literature; and an examination of the plaintiff. Id. at 1125 . Most of- this information; as this Daubert hearing has demonstrated, would have been offered to establish general causation — that is, the issue of whether silicone gel breast implants can cause disease in anyone. Finally, the Hopkins court, because of the timing of the case, was reviewing a pre- Daubert district court decision to admit the *1414 expert testimony. As a result, the district court had reached that decision on a record not shaped by Daubert’s elucidation of the court’s gatekeeping function, nor did the Ninth Circuit delve into the methodology underlying the scientific data upon which Hopkins’ experts relied. Because I have done so and have excluded all proffered testimony regarding general causation, Dr. Bennett’s testimony now stands in isolation — an evi-dentiary predicament substantially different from that in Hopkins . Plaintiffs have consistently claimed that this court has jumped the gun in stating that plaintiffs cannot make out a prima facie case. Plaintiffs assert that they have more evidence to present at trial in the nature of differential diagnosis as well as pursuing their theory of “bioplausibility.” The fact of the matter is that plaintiffs cannot resort to these purported additional arrows in their legal quiver because neither differential diagnosis nor their bioplausibility theory can make out a prima facie case to prove specific causation of a systemic disorder or particular signs and symptoms absent proof of general causation. Moreover,, plaintiffs cannot use Dr. Bennett’s testimony, by itself, as part of their proof of general causation because a single differential diagnosis is a scientifically invalid methodology for such a purpose. Therefore, I must exclude Dr. Bennett’s testimony for all cases to the extent that plaintiffs proffer it to prove general causation. Nor is Dr. Bennett’s testimony admissible to prove specific causation in LeaAnn Hall’s case, and for two reasons. General causation issues aside, an expert must rule out other potential causes of the patient’s condition in order for differential diagnosis testimony to be admissible. Conde v. Velsicol Chemical Corp., 24 F.3d 809, 814 (6th Cir.1994); Paoli II, 35 F.3d at 759 . Here, Dr. Bennett has not testified as to how he eliminated other potential causes of Ms. Hall’s disease. Moreover, ■ his conclusion is inconsistent with the epidemiology for classical diseases. Therefore, his testimony is unreliable and exclusion of it is warranted on that basis. See Conde v. Velsicol Chemical Corp., 24 F.3d at 814 (upholding the district court in excluding doctors’ opinions purporting to link plaintiffs health problems to ehlordane exposure when they failed to exclude other potential causes for the symptoms and their theories were inconsistent with the scientific literature). In addition, in the absence of proof of general causation, Dr. Bennett’s testimony regarding his differential diagnosis does not “fit” LeaAnn Hall’s case because there will be no evidence that silicone gel breast implants are a legitimate possible cause of Ms. HalTs disease. 51 Therefore, for all of the above reasons, I hereby GRANT defendants’ motions to exclude the testimony of Dr. Bennett. V. CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, those portions of defendants’ motions in limine (## 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 (filed in Group 2)) that seek exclusion of any expert testimony concerning a general causal link between silicone gel breast implants and ACTD or any systemic illness or syndrome are GRANTED. The remaining portions of the above-listed motions are MOOT, with leave to refile as necessary in further pretrial proceedings. In light of these rulings, the court will sever plaintiffs’ local injury claims 52 from their claims for ACTD or any systemic illness or injury. The eases that do proceed to trial will do so on a much more restricted basis than Judges Weinstein and Baer may even contemplate in the New York litigation. 53 Specifically, I will exclude as irrelevant any testimony or evidence of the following: ACTD; any systemic illness or syndrome or autoimmune disorder of any kind; any emotional distress claims arising out of any alleged fear of developing any *1415 systemic disease or injury or fear of cancer. 54 Finally, as stated earlier, I will defer the effective date of this decision pending the reports of the national Rule 706 panel, and likewise will defer plaintiffs’ motion to incorporate the panel members as witnesses. Nonetheless, I wish to make it abundantly clear that while I will evaluate the Rule 706 panel reports before finalizing my decision, I am unlikely to amend these findings and conclusions absent substantial and compelling developments in the scientific arena. I am mindful that this opinion goes farther in evaluating and in eliminating plaintiffs’ claims than any other opinion in breast implant litigation pending in this country. However, litigation over the ability of silicone gel breast implants to cause disease in women has been chaotic in its results, in part because, as Hopkins demonstrates, the interjection of the Daubert standards into the screening process for proposed scientific evidence has substantially heightened the scrutiny through which such evidence must pass. In my opinion, Daubert I and Daubert II and their progeny command this disposition. Postscript: It should be noted, as a matter of ease management in mass toxic tort litigation, that at the outset of proceedings after remand from the MDL, counsel for all sides presented an all-day “tutorial” to the court on the complex science involved in these cases. The tutorial demonstrated the need for and prompted the court to appoint the technical advisors. It should also be noted that Judge Sam Pointer appointed Dr. Richard Jones to serve with Professor Margaret Berger, Chair, on the national Rule 706 selection panel. APPENDIX A Jonathan M. Hoffman, OSB # 75418 MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON LANGSLET & HOFFMAN 3100 First Interstate Tower 1300 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, OR 97201-5667 Telephone: (503)’224-3113 Fax: (503)224-9471 Mary A. Wells WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE LLC 1700 Broadway, Suite 1850 Denver, CO 80290 Telephone: (303) 830-1212 Fax: (303)830-0898 Kelly P. Corr BOGLE & GATES Two Union Square, 51st Floor 601 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101 Telephone: (206)682-5151 Fax: (206) 621-2660 Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER. HEALTHCARE .CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON LeaAnn DeGraw Hall, Plaintiff, v. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, et al., Defendants. Case No. CV 92-182-JO-LEAD . 94-892-JO 94 — 903-JO 94-907-JO PROPOSED QUESTIONS REGARDING . METHODOLOGY UTILIZED BY PLAINTIFFS’ EXPERT ORGANIC CHEMIST, CHRISTOPHER BATICH, Ph.D. Defendants, Baxter Healthcare Corporation and Baxter International Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, and 3M, propose the following questions regarding the methodology utilized by plaintiffs’ expert organic chemist, Christopher Batich, M.D.: *1416 QUESTION 1 Are Dr. Batich’s opinions that silicone degrades into silica in the human body supported by scientifically rehable methodologies? QUESTION 2 Even if it is biologically plausible that silicone degrades in the human body, is that sufficient evidence to support scientifically a conclusion that silicone breast implants cause “atypical” connective tissue disease as described by Drs. Gershwin, Bennett, or Kem-ple? QUESTION 3 Does the potential rate of error associated with the methodology employed by Dr. Ba-tich render unreliable his conclusion that silicone degrades to silicates or silica in the human body? QUESTION 4 Is Dr. Batich qualified to opine that silicone degradation results in disease in implanted women? QUESTION 5 Does the methodology employed by Dr. Batich support his conclusion that silicone degrades to silanol groups, converts to silica, and results in disease in implanted women? QUESTION 6 Is any portion of Dr. Batich’s opinion that silicone gel degrades into silica which leads to disease in implanted women based on speculation, hypotheses, or assumptions? QUESTION 7 Does the underlying methodology in the Garrido Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy studies, and the conclusions therein, relied upon by Dr. Batich, support his conclusion that silicone degrades to silicates or silica resulting in disease in implanted women? QUESTION 8 What “fit” (or relevancy) do the Batich opinions have if the opinions of Drs. Gershwin, Bennett, and Kemple are not founded on accepted scientific methodology? DATED this 16th day of August, 1996. MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON, LANGSLET & HOFFMAN By: /s/ Jonathan Hoffman Jonathan Hoffman, OSB # 75418 WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE By: /s/ Mary Wells Mary Wells, Pro Hac Vice Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. TOOZE, SHENKER, HOLLOWAY & DU-DEN By: - Paul Duden, OSB # 66035 Of Attorneys for Defendant, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN, LLP By: - William Crow, OSB # 61018 Of Attorneys for Defendant, MINNESOTA, MINING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY (3M) Jonathan M. Hoffman, OSB # 75418 MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON LANGSLET & HOFFMAN 3100 First Interstate Tower 1300 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, OR 97201-5667 Telephone: (503)224-3113 Fax: (503)224-9471 Mary A. Wells WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE LLC 1700 Broadway, Suite 1850 Denver, CO 80290 Telephone: (303) 830-1212 Fax: (303)830-0898 Kelly P. Corr BOGLE & GATES Two Union Square, 51st Floor 601 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101 Telephone: (206) 682-5151 Fax: (206)621-2660 *1417 Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON Leaann DeGraw Hall, Plaintiff, v. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, et al., Defendants. Case No. CV 92-182-JO-LEAD 94-892-JO 94-903-JO 94-907-JO PROPOSED QUESTIONS REGARDING METHODOLOGY UTILIZED BY PLAINTIFFS’ BIOMATERIALS EXPERT, HAROLD ALEXANDER, Ph.D. Defendants, Baxter Healthcare Corporation and Baxter International Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, and 3M, state that plaintiffs have failed to satisfy their burden of proof concerning the admissibility of the testimony of Dr. Harold Alexander. Plaintiffs did not submit any briefing in opposition to defendants’ motion to exclude the testimony of this witness, nor did plaintiffs submit an affidavit from any expert supporting the methodology utilized by this witness in forming his opinions. Therefore, defendants request that this Court grant their motion in limine and exclude the testimony of Dr. Alexander. To assist the Court in making its decision, defendants propose that the following questions be considered regarding the methodology utilized by Dr. Alexander. QUESTION 1 Based upon his own research, as well as the generally accepted definition of biocom-patibility, is "it scientifically sound for Dr. Alexander to conclude that silicone as used in silicone breast implants is not bioeompatible? QUESTION 2 Is the methodology utilized in Dr. Alexander’s research regarding silicones associated with an unreasonably high rate of error? QUESTION 3 Is Dr. Alexander’s research regarding sil-icones consistent with the published scientific literature on the biocompatibility of silicones? QUESTION 4 Based upon his research as well as the generally accepted bioeompatibility testing methodology standards, is it scientifically sound for Dr. Alexander to conclude that silicone has not been adequately tested for biocompatibility? . DATED this 16th day of August, 1996. MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON, LANGSLET & HOFFMAN By: /s/ Jonathan Hoffman Jonathan Hoffman, OSB # 75418 WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE By: /s/ Mary Wells Mary Wells, Pro Hac Vice Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. TOOZE, SHENKER, HOLLOWAY & DU-DEN By: - Paul Duden, OSB # 66035 Of Attorneys for Defendant, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN, LLP By:- William Crow, OSB # 61018 Of Attorneys for Defendant, MINNESOTA, MINING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY (3M) Jonathan M. Hoffman, OSB # 75418 MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON LANGSLET & HOFFMAN 3100 First Interstate Tower 1300 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, OR 97201-5667 *1418 Telephone: (50B) 224-3113 Fax: (503)224-9471 Mary A. Wells WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE LLC 1700 Broadway, Suite 1850 Denver, CO 80290 Telephone: (303) 830-1212 Fax: (303)830-0898 Kelly P. Corr BOGLE & GATES Two Union Square, 51st Floor 601 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101 Telephone: (206) 682-5151 Fax: (206)621-2660 Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON LeaAnn DeGraw Hall, Plaintiff, v. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, et al., Defendants. Case No. CV 92-182-JO-LEAD 94-892-JO 94-903-JO 94-907-JO PROPOSED QUESTIONS REGARDING METHODOLOGY UTILIZED BY PLAINTIFFS’ EXPERT PATHOLOGIST, NANCY HARDT, M.D. Defendants, Baxter Healthcare Corporation and Baxter International Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, and 3M, state that plaintiffs have failed to satisfy their burden of proof concerning the admissibility of the testimony of Dr. Nancy Hardt. Plaintiffs did not submit any briefing in opposition to- defendants’ motion to exclude the testimony of this witness, nor did plaintiffs submit an affidavit from any expert supporting the methodology used by this witness in forming her opinions. Therefore, defendants request that this Court grant their motion in limine and exclude the testimony of Dr. Hardt. To assist the Court in making its decision, defendants propose that the following questions be considered regarding the methodology utilized by Dr. Hardt: QUESTION 1 Have plaintiffs established by the greater weight of the evidence that Dr. Nancy Hardt’s opinion, that silicone migrates through the breast capsule, is based on valid scientific methodologies? QUESTION 2 Given that Dr. Nancy Hardt has not examined tissue slides from any portion of the anatomy of the four Andrews plaintiffs other than the breast capsule, is her opinion that silicone has migrated outside the breast capsule in these women based on accepted scientific or medical practices or methodologies? QUESTION 3 Is any portion of Dr. Hardt’s opinions as described in her witness statement based on speculation, hypotheses, or assumptions? QUESTION 4 Is Dr. Hardt qualified to testify as to any alleged chemical interaction between silicone and protein? DATED this 16th day of August, 1996. MARTIN, BISCHOFF, TEMPLETON, LANGSLET & HOFFMAN By: /s/ Jonathan Hoffman Jonathan Hoffman, OSB # 75418 WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE By: /s/ Mary Wells Mary Wells, Pro Hac Vice Of Attorneys for Defendants, BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION and BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. TOOZE, SHENKER, HOLLOWAY & DU-DEN By: -,- /s/Paul Duden, OSB # 66035 Of Attorneys for Defendant, BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB *1419 MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN, LLP By: - William Crow, OSB # 61018 Of Attorneys for Defendant, MINNESOTA, MINING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY (3M) Michael L. Williams, OSB # 78426 Gayle L. Troutwine, OSB # 83106 Kathleen M. Dailey, OSB # 88188 Kathryn A. Stebner, OSB # 93126 WILLIAMS & TROUTWINE, P.C. 1001 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 1900 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 295-2924 Of Attorneys for Plaintiffs IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON In re Breast Implant Litigation Pending in the United States District Court, District of Oregon (Group 1) Case Nos. Group 1: 92-182-JO LEAD 94-892-JO 94-903-JO 94-907-JO PLAINTIFFS’ PROPOSED QUESTION REGARDING NMR TECHNOLOGY AND THE PUBLISHED PEER-REVIEWED STUDIES OF DR. GARRI-DO AND OTHERS Plaintiffs propose the following question regarding nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology: QUESTION Is nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, as used by Leoncio Garrido and his colleagues and other groups conducting research on silicone, a scientifically valid method to identify and monitor the presence of silicon compounds in tissue and blood and to detect changes in the chemical composition of silicone after it has been introduced into animals and humans when: A. Results have been published in three different peer-reviewed journals on eight different occasions between 1991 and 1995, as follows: 1. Garrido, L., Mark, J.E., Sun, C.C., Ackerman, J.L., Chang, C., NMR Characterization of Elastomers Reinforced With In Situ Precipitated Silica, 24(14) Macromolecules, 4067-72 (1991). 2. Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., Garrido, L., In Vivo1 H Chemical Shift Imaging of Silicone Implants, 29(5) Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 656-6549 (1993). 3. Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Papisov, M.; Ackerman, J.L., In Vivo Degradation of Silicones, 29(6) Magnetic Resonance op Medicine, 839-843 (1993). 4. Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., Garri-do, L., In Vivo Localized Proton NMR Spectroscopy of Silicone, 30 Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 149-154 (1993). 5. Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., Garri-do, L., Migration and Biodegradation of Free Silicone Gel-Filled Implants after Long-Term Implantation, 30 Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 534-543 (1993). 6. Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Jenkins, B.G., Hulka, C.A., Kopans, D.B., Migration and Chemical Modification of Silicone in Women with Breast Prostheses, 31 Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 328-330 (1994). 7. Pfleiderer, B., Xu, P., Ackerman, J.L., Garrido, L., Study of Aging of Silicone Rubber Biomaterials with NMR, 29 JJBiomedical Materials' Research 1129-MO (1995). 8. Pfleiderer, B., Garrido, L., Migration and Accumulation of Silicone in the Liver of Women with Silicone Gelr-Filled Breast Implants, 33(1) Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 8-17 (1995). B. Additional abstracts have been published or presented to colleagues at scientific conferences, as follows: 1. Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., Moore, J., Characterization of Biom-aterials with NMR, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 217:49-54 (1991). 2. Pfleiderer, B., Moore, J., Ackerman, J.L., Garrido, L., Study of the Aging Pro *1420 cess of PDMS Implants In Vivo and Ex Vivo by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging, 330 PolymeR PREPRINTS (published by the American Chemical Society) 767-768 (1992). 3. Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., Brady, T.J., Detection of Silicone Migration and Biodegradation with NMR, Abstract Presented at the National Institutes of Health Immunology of Silicones Workshop, Bethesda, Maryland, Mar. 13-14,1995. C. Data is the result of a collaborative effort of multiple scientists at the NMR Center, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; D. Data is the result of numerous tests run on animal and human tissue and blood samples; E. Other scientists in the field, including those who work for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA, use almost identical methods to identify silicone in tissue and blood; 1 , 2 F. Local NMR specialist, Dr. David Pey-ton, from Portland State University agrees that Dr. Garrido is most likely seeing a real silicone signal, even in the one study that is being questioned by Dr. Peter Macdonald. 3 G. Only one paper exists that criticizes a single conclusion made by Dr. Garrido’s group when they used a single NMR technique 4 to identify silicone levels in the blood but which does not address any other conclusions made, the appropriateness of NMR techniques to identify molecule structure in general 5 or other NMR techniques used by Dr. Garrido in identifying or analyzing silicone in any other circumstance; 6 and has *1421 only used one set of samples in attempting to confirm the work of Dr. Garrido and his colleagues; H. Even the study which allegedly brings Dr. Garrido’s methodology into question confirms Dr. Garrido’s ultimate conclusions. 7 DATED this 13th day of July, 1996. Respectfully Submitted, WILLIAMS & TROUTWINE, P.C. /s/ [Signature] Michael L. Williams, OSB # 78426 Gayle L. Troutwine, OSB # 83106 Kathleen M. Dailey, OSB # 88188 Kathryn A. Stebner OSB # 93126 Of Attorneys for Plaintiffs Mike L. Williams, OSB # 78426 Gayle L. Troutwine, OSB # 83106 Kathleen M. Dailey, OSB # 88188 Kathryn A. Stebner, OSB # 93126 WILLIAMS & TROUTWINE, P.C. 1001 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1900 Portland, OR 97204 Telephone: (503) 295-2924 Of Attorneys for Plaintiffs Pursuant to L.R. 120-l(e), a complete list of all counsel submitting this document for filing appear on the signature page to this motion. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON In re Breast Implant Litigation Pending in the United States District Court, District of Oregon (Group 1) Case Nos. Group 1: 92-182-JO-LEAD; 94-892-JO 94-903-JO; 94-907-JO PLAINTIFFS’ PROPOSED QUESTIONS REGARDING CHEMISTRY AND PLAINTIFFS’ EXPERT CHEMIST Plaintiffs propose the following questions regarding chemistry and expert chemist, Christopher D. Batich, Ph.D. QUESTION 1 Have plaintiffs established by the greater weight of evidence that Dr. Batich used a scientific methodology to arrive at his conclusion that silicone liquid, in the form of micro-droplets, as well as isolated small molecules, diffuse through the thin silicone elastomer and migrate throughout the body, by using the following methodology? A. Reviewing the medical literature that demonstrates silicone fluids injected into animals are picked up by macrophages and migrate throughout the body? (Ex. C, # 1, 2, 3) B. By reviewing the medical literature on migration of silicone in women: *1422 (1) Dr. Nancy Hardt’s studies; (Ex. A # 100,162,163) (2) Dr. Garrido’s studies on migration in animals; Ex. C, # 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) (3) Dr. Garrido’s studies on migration in women; (Ex. A, # 3, 6) (4) The FDA abstract confirming migration of silicone to the liver of women using NMR techniques; (Ex. A, #80) (5) Published studies showing elevated levels of silicon in tissue and blood of implanted women. (Ex. A, # 97, 98, 166,167; Ex. C, # 9) C. By reviewing internal Dow Corning reports showing migration of silicone in animals to distant parts of the body; (Ex. C, # 10; Ex. B, Le78.DC, La68, K087, Cu85, Re67, Tr88) D. By conducting his own studies showing that silicone leaves the implant and migrates to the brains of animals; (Ex. C, # 11) E. By reviewing the literature indicating that the 80% liquid constituting the bulk of the silicone gel materials inside an implant steadily depolymer-izes, forming new low molecular weight silicone chains as the earlier formed ones bleed out and diffuse into the body; (Ex. C, # 13; Ex. B, MC87-DC) F. By conducting his own peer-reviewed, published gel bleed study? (Ex. C, #12) QUESTION 2 Have plaintiffs established by the greater weight, of the evidence that Dr. Batich used scientific methodology to arrive at his conclusion that silicone is chemically changed in the body in ways that would make it more biologically active? A. By reviewing internal Dow Corning studies on metabolism of silicone compounds in animals? (Ex. C, # 14, 15) B. By reviewing published reports in the scientific literature, and sworn expert testimony of Dow Corning chemists, on the degradation of silicones into silica in the environment? (Ex. C, #16, 17; Ex. B, An94-Dc; Ex. B, Vo82, Ge82 & Ma83) C. By reviewing published reports in the scientific literature showing that silicone physical properties decline over time when exposed to the body’s environment? (Ex. A, # 18; Ex. C, # 22, 23) D. By reviewing internal Dow Coming studies showing that in people who accidentally inhaled vapors of silicone, the methyl groups were chemically removed before the material was excreted in urine? ■ (Ex. B, An80-Dc) E. By conducting his own experiment with his masters student, Mr. DePal-ma, using contact angle measurements to estimate the rate of change to a hydrophilic surface, (i.e., rate of formation of silanol groups on silicone surfaces in the body), and by reviewing the Dow Coming (Kennan) study which confirmed thé DePalma data? (Ex. C, # 20,21) F. By reviewing studies which show that the toxic effects of both crystalline and amorphous silica derive from the surface chemistry of silanol group formation on particles inside cells, indicating that there is no qualitative difference, only a quantitative difference, between the cellular toxicity of amorphous and crystalline silica? (Ex. A, # 30, 40, 45, 115,112; Ex. B, Zh87a, Le78de, Ra90) G. By conducting his own research to conclude that the surface area of silicone mierodroplets exposed to the body’s chemical machinery greatly increases over time? (Ex. A, # 45) H. By reviewing published, peer reviewed studies demonstrating silicone degradation in animals? (Ex. B FE70, FE67; Ex. C, 19) I. By reviewing published, peer-reviewed articles containing evidence of silicone degradation in in vitro experiments, animals and humans? (Ex. A #43, 169; Ex. B Ga93a, COc76, SP80-dc) *1423 Respectfully submitted, this 13th day of August, 1996. WILLIAMS & TROUTWINE, P.C. By /s/ [Signature] Michael L. Williams OSB # 78426 Gayle L. Troutwine, OSB # 83106 Kathleen M. Dailey, OSB # 88188 Kathryn A. Stebner, OSB # 93126 Of Attorneys for Plaintiffs EXHIBIT A 1. Smalley, D.L.;, D.R.; Hall, M.F.; Stevens, M.V.; Hanissian, A.; “Immunologic Stimulation of T Lymphocytes by Silica After Use of Silicone Mammary Implants”, The FASEB Journal, 9:424-427 (March 1995). 2. Ciapetti, G.; Granchi, D.; Stea, S.; Cenni, E.; Schiavon, P.; Giuliane, R.; Pizzoferrato, A.; “Assessment of Viability and Proliferation of In Vivo Silicone-Primed Lymphocytes after In Vitro Re-Exposure to Silicone”, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 29:583-590 (1995). 3. Ojo-Amaize, E.A; Conte, V.; Bin, HC; Brueker, R.F.; Agopian, M.S.; Peter, J.B.; “Silicone-Specific Blood Lymphocyte Response in Women with Silicone Breast Implants”, Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, l(6):689-695 (November 1994). 4. Narini, P.P.; Semple, J.L.; Hay, J.B.; “Repeated Exposure to Silicone Gel Can Induce Delayed Hypersensitivity”, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 96(2):371-380 (August 1995). 5. Wolf, L.E.; Lappe, M.; Peterson, E.D.; Ezrailson, E.G.; “Human Immune Response to Polydimethylsilox-ane (Silicone): Screening Studies in a Breast Implant Population”, The FA-SEB Journal, 7:1265-1268 (October 1993). 6. 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Kossovsky, N.; Zeidler, M.; Chun, G.; Nguyen, A.; Rajguru, S.; Stassl, J.; Gehnan, A.; Sponsler, E.; “Surface Dependent Antigens Identified by High Binding Avidity of Serum Antibodies in a Subpopulation of Patients with Breast Prostheses”, Journal of Applied Biomaterials, 4:281-288 (1993). 17. McDonald, A.H.; Medical College of Wisconsin; Weir, K; Sanger, J.R.; “Silicone-Induced T Cell Proliferation in Mice”, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology — Immunology of Silicones, Potter, M. and Rose, N.; Editors, No. 210, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pgs. 189-198,1996. 18. Potter, M.; Morrison, S.; Wiener, F.; Zhang, S.K.; Miller, F.W.; “Induction of Plasmacytomas with Silicone Gel in Genetically Susceptible Strains of ■. Mice”, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 86(14):1058-1065 (July 1994). 19. Claman, H.; Robertson, A.D.; “Antinuclear Antibodies and Breast Implants”, Western Journal of Medicine, 160:225-228 (1994). 20. Bar-Meir, E.; Teuber, S.S.; Line, H.C.; Alosacie, L.I.; Goddard, G.; Terybery, J.; Barka, N.; Shen, B.; Peter, J.B.; Blank, M.; Gershwin, M.E.; Shoenfeld, Y.; “Multiple Au-toantibodies in Patients with Silicone Breast Implants”, Journal of Autoimmunity, 8:267-277 (1995). 21. Teuber, S.S.; Yoshida, S.H.; Gershwin, M.E.; “Immunopathologic Effects of Silicone Breast Implants”, Western Journal of Medicine, 162(5):418-425 (May 1995). 22. Rowley, M.J.; Cook, A.D.; Teuber, . S.S.; Gershwin, M.E.; “Antibodies to Collagen: Comparison Epitope Mapping in Women with Silicone Breast Implants, Systemic Lupus Erythema-tosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis”, Journal of Autoimmunity, 7:775-789 (1994). 23. Yoshida, S.H.; Teuber, S.S.; German, J.B.; Gershwin, M.E.; “Immunotoxici- . ty of Silicone: Implications of Oxidant Balance Towards Adjuvant Activity, Fd.Chem.Tox., 32(11):1089-1100 (1994). 24. 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Love, L.A.; Weiner, S.R.; Yasey, F.B.; Crofford, L.J.; Oddis, C.V.; Starr, M.R.; Bridges, A.J.; Targoff, I.N.; Gurley, R.C.; Miller, F.W.; “Clinical and Immunogenetic Features of Women Who Develop Myositis After Silicone Implants”, Abstract accepted for presentation; (1992). 165. Cuellar, M.L.; Espinoza, L.R.; Ochs, R.; Tan, E.M.; “Development of Monoclonal Gammopathy and Hypergam-maglobulinemia in Silicone Breast Implant (SBI) Women after Long-Term Exposure”, Abstract presented 2/1/96 to Southern Regional Meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research, New Orleans, LA. 166. Sun, L.; Ricci, J.L.; Alexander, H.; Klein, A; Lattarulo, N.; Blumenthal, N.C.; “Silicone in the Blood and Capsule of Women with Breast Implants”, Fifth World Biomaterials Congress, Toronto, Canada (1996). 167. 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[Sci. 174] Dr. Chris Batieh Aug., 1996 *1434 EXHIBIT B EXHIBIT B OUTLINE WITH REFERENCES I.Silicone is released from breast implants into the body A. Rupture of gel implants 1. PNS involvement (SA92) 2. many papers, eg. (R089), 38% ruptured 3. gel depolymerized at 36 deg C, penetration 70-350 (MC87-dc) B. Gel bleed sweating of gel — contracture (WI83) implants in rats (GA93a) imaging 29Si (GA93b) in capsules (GA79) implants in rabbits (Habal + EPG) (HA93) UF/Lenny Yu sticky surfaces on explants (27%) (R089) C. Also released from saline filled (low mol. wt. in envelope) (WI83) (VA79) “Grazing” caused by pectoralis muscle friction (K083) Adjuvant effect in saline implant (HE92) in capsule (GA79) erosion of edges->leakage (gel too) (SC80) sheet used to treat burns (HA94) extraction of shell (2-6%) and bioresponse (CU85) D. Gel had much lower mol. wt. sol. (PE77) (ST77) (DU77) II.Silicone is distributed to various organs from the capsule surrounding the implant A. Sub Q to throughout body (LA68-dc) B. Oral (Le73-de),(LA68-dc) C. Molecular weight makes little difference (LA68) (FDA83) (K087) D. Injection and implants in rats, to liver (GA93a) E. Histology in rats, likely to RE system (CU85) F. Below hexamers of PDMS, readily absorbed and distributed (LE78) G. Lungs pick-up 20% of breathed mist and excrete in urine in 8 (AN80) hrs. for 344 cs fluid (mainly D4) H. Sub-Q or peritoneal, thru RE system in mice (RE67) I. Lymphoadenopathy if ruptured (TR88) TEM shows in vacuoles J. Contrary Data vs. Garrido (MA95) III.Silicone is biologically active A. Protein, Lipid ad/absorption (K087) B. Thrombogenesis, worse when filled (OP94) C. Cell stimulation 1. Monoeyte/macrophage a. IL-1 production (MI89) b. interferon (p. 219 LA94d-dc) e. increased numbers (scores) (MA94) 2. Fibroblast a. proliferation and collagen synthesis (MI89) (K087) b. faster growth from sheet with D4, cf. 85 paper by Quinn on burns (HA94) c. cellularity (CU85) 3. liver, 38% inc. in 2 wks of D4 (BI90) *1435 D. calcification of capsule (PR83, VA79) without steroid (FE84) F. eye inflammation — gone in 24 hrs. p351 “as with any good solvent, avoid repeat contact” ocular toxicity (Nadamura and Refojo) (R048-Dow) (NA91) G. possible teratogen H. Adjuvant 1. PDMS to Si02 “a well known adjuvant” (GA93a) 2. 10/10 ANA’s in saline/silieone women (SH93) 3. Plasma cells in one case (GA79) 4. Cell-mediated immunologic response (K087a) 5. in “Ab to PDMS”S looks like to Alb] (W093) 6. D4 an adjuvant in mice 0.1 to 0.4ml/mouse (Lake’s study) overt toxicity at 0.4 + most tests. (LA75-de) 7. Scleroderma reversal on removal very unusual. (SC92 p. 8. 10/4 with ANA’s in silicone gel patients w. symptoms. (PR92) 9. Gel an adjuvant, fluid not (DC) (MA93a) 10. " " " " " (Naim) (NA93) 11. of silicone-protein complexes (K087b) 12. DNA changes in lymphocyte (DA92) 13. Antigenicity of collagen augmented by silicone in mice. (TA92) 14. D4 0.05ml. emulsion and BSA in rats 10” x saline, lasts 2 mo. (B074) 15. sililized S aureus provoked reduced but lengthened immune response (IS73de) I. Capsule Formation 1. Thicker for textured PDMS (BE92) 2. B cells and others present (GA79) J. Pharmaceutical use/activity 1. brain dopamine increase from diphenyl D4 (DC patent) (BE74p) 2. D4 is an for (LE78) 3. 2,6-cis and D4 iner. rat uterus (HA72-Dow) K. Inhibition 1. immune (fluid) (NA93) 2. allows bacteria in valve to grow (MA92) L. Embolism (YU93) M. Wt. loss in rabbits, hence spontaneous abortion (BI90) N. dimethicone toxic to lice (L079) O. (as seen in autoimmun) (p225 LA94d-dc) P. hepatomegly, enzyme induction in rats (ME89-dc) Potentiates infection depletes C3a (MA96) IV. Composition changes in PDMS A. Reactions (hydrolysis and oxidation) 1. hydrophobic to hydrophilic (LE91pl4), (BA92) ie us 2. oral D4 in rats to MeSi03 species in urine [crosslinking reaction?] oxidative removal of Me groups in D5 called “adverse effect” (MA88-dc) 3. oxidation in rat livers to Si02 (GA93a) 4. environmental degradation, clays in rivers cause hydrolysis (Fe and Ca aid oxidation of Me groups) (MA83) also PDMS to silanols in soil then silica DC lit. (AN94) 5. silicone compounds more reactive than carbon esp. to nucleo-attack 476) 6. loss of Et group seen in rat urine (FE67), also breathed of D4 formed 20% in urine in 8 hrs and monomethyl silicon seen (demethylated in human) (AN80-dc) 7. oxidation of Ph and CH3 in PhSilanes (FE70,SP80-de) 8. slow increase in sol in extracted elastomers under mild conditions (V082) 9. increased adhesion to polar surfaces (GE82) *1436 10. stress relaxation 25 deg, moist air (OS54) 11. rupture increases with age (de93) 12. RT hydrol. in dioxin/H20 if piperidine cat. (V078) 13. Ultrasound accelerates SiO bond cleavage (V078,p85) 14. Depolymerization at >1.75 ppm K at 36 deg C seen by penetration (Mc87-dc), normal gel is lOOppm K (WE70-dc) 15. non-enzymatic hydrolysis if low mol wt pdms due to solubility (LE88-dc) 16. yeast grow into and under pdms surface (NE93) B. Background on oxidation 1. long lived oxidants in PMN’s (WE83) 2. oxidative burst by opsonized PEC + bact (GI85) C. Silanols 1. conjugation a., stable in vivo (LE78-dc) b. surf silanols adsorb proteins in electrophoresis (TO90) 2. reactivity a. for cryst. or amor. Si02, inc. in SiOH gives inc. in cell lysis (RA90) b. bioaetivity of silicones proportional to hydrolysis rate (LE78-dc) 3. surface silanols a. toxicity of Si02 depends on silanols (reduced after heating to 800 deg) (SH89, p 442) b. SiOH dep. on processing, not type of Si02 (ZH87) c. scleroderma inc. with Si02 exposure (C087) d. all a-Si02’s c.4.9 OH’s per nm2 (ZH87a) e. Si diols more reactive than C (LE78-dc) f. modification of surface changes react (LE91-dc,pl2) g. catalase lowers hemolysis, more needed per OH (RA90) 4. related silica phenomena not mentioning SiOH a. V. Data not perfect A. variable mfg. and materials, FDA B. ETO release? C. elong. data discarded by DC if low (C091) D. uncertain adjuvant study? (CR93) E. DC altered implant data (AP92) F. gel formulation is trial and error (Mc87-de,p6) EXHIBIT B Cited Literature: AN80-dc Annelin, R B DC Toxicology Dept. Report May 29,1980 344 cs mist (mainly D4), breathed gave 20% in urine in human in 8 hrs, showed monome-thyl silicone, hence demethylated. Same general results in human milk (but more mono Me than di) AN94~dc anonymous Materials News (DC literature) Jul/Aug 94 p. 11 Degradability of silicone fluids pdms goes to silanols in soil, then to silica BE74p-dc Bennett, D. and Levier, R. US Patent 3,821,373 (June 28,1974) Organosilicone compositions in methods of treatment involving increasing the dopamine content of the brain (2,6-cis) BE92 Bern, S. et al. Biophysical and histologic properties of capsules formed by smooth and textured silicone *1437 implants in the rabbit Has Recon Surg 89:1037-1042 (1992) textured silicone surface forms thicker, more inflammatory capsule than smooth surfaced saline implants (how does cell know?) [applied stress] BI90-de Birdsáll, A. D4 — US EPA Reports (a DC repori/sum-mary to Stark et al.) Nov 5,1990 (+related later reports) 14 day exposure to high oral levels of D4 in rats data: 38% increase of liver wt., chronic inflammation liver hyperplasia, not hypertrophy conclusion: “no health risk” also rabbit wt loss and spontaneous abortions BL71 Blocksma, R Experience with Pdms fluid in soft tissue augmentation Pías Reeon Surg 48:564^567 embolism problems, migration noted B074-dc Boley, W. and LeVier, R. Immunological enhancing activities of orga-nosilicone compounds and non-functional fluids DC report 4319 0.05 ml emulsion plus BSA in rat footpad, D4 10b6 X salinej lasts 2 months CA92 Callahan, Thomas (FDA report) Significance of Dow Corning Studies Omitted From Their PMAs June 24,1992 CE93 Centeno, J. and Johnson, F. Microscopic Identification of Silicone in Human Breast Tissue by IR-microscopy and X-ray Applied Spectroscopy, vol 47, p. 341-345 ? CH92 Chwirut, L. Dow Corning Single and Double Lumen SI- LASTIC II and MSI Breast Prostheses March 13,1992 CH91 Chemistry Group Leader (FDA?) Pharmacologist, Chemistry Group, DMMS, OST, HFZ-150 Pg. 10; September 20,1991 variable production p7 ETO release p9 COe76 Cotton and Wilkinson Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd ed. silicon more reactive than carbon, esp. nu-cleophilic attack C087 Cowie, R. Silica dust exposed mine workers with sclero-derma (systemic sclerosis) Chest 92:260-262 increased in gold miners C091 Coyne, Laurence Dow Corning Single and Double Lumen Si- lastic II and Silastic MSI Breast Protheses: In-Depth Review of Gel Bleed and Mechanical testing Submitted in December 13 Amendment December 20,1991 elongation at b values discarded if low hard to read data CR93 Cruzas, Susan Immunology Studies on Silicone Gel March 22,1993 FDA release mentions Naim and DC studies, uncertainties CU85 anonymous Cox-Uphoff international report Oct. 10,1985 Characterization of C-U silicone elastomer shells pl7 shell extract (2-6%) c. 1000 mol wt, low bleed extracts sometimes had aromatic residue from diPh+di-Me layer; absorbs oil from gel and weakens (plastici-zation) artifacts on surface , ,. silicone lost from paraffin histology (not plastic) *1438 ■ less response (lymphocytes) to extracted shells ? DA81 Davies, R Effects of Synthetic Silicas on Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages In Vitro American Society for Testing and Materials 1981 pg 67-81 ? D091 Dow Corning Corporation Pharmacologist, Chemistry Group, DMMS, OST, HFZ-150 pg 7, 9 September 20,1991 DU77 Duncan, E 3M Memo: McGhan Mammary prostheses analysis 28 June 1977 Molecular weight distributions and percent solubles ? EP88 Epidemiology Branch A review of the article titled “the Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Augmentation Mammaplasty....” July 25,1988 FE70 Fessenden, R Et al Metabolic Fate of Phenyltrimethylsilane and Phenyldimethylsilane Journal of Medical Chemistry 12 52- (1970) Phenyl group oxidized, and Me group in Ph silanes FE67 Fessenden, Ralph Et al The Metabolic Fate of Come Silicon-Containing Carbamates Journal of Medical Chemistry 10 810 (1967) dealkylation a metabolic path for organosili-cones in rat urine GA79* Gayou, R. Histological comparison of contracted and non-contracted capsules around silicone breast implants Pías Recon Surg 63:700-707 (1979) Si in most capsules, inc. saline, saw some plasma cells GA93a Garrido, Leoncio et al In Vivo Degradation of Silicones [vinyl 7% ] Mag. Res. in Med. 29:839-843 (1993) silicones not inert in rats, form Si02, known adjuvant GA93b Garrido, Leoncic et al Echo-Planar Chemical Imaging of Silicone Gel Prostheses Mag. Res. Imaging 11:625-634 (1993) shows gel bleed (14-28% extractable), can see rupture GA93c ? Garrido, L Mag.Res. in Med. p. 53 Human livers GA94 Gabriel, S. et al. Risk of connective-tissue diseases and other disorders after breast implantation NE JM 330:1697-1749 only morning stiffness effect, did not look at age of implant, did look at classical forms of scleroderma etc. GE82 Gent A and Vondracek P Spontaneous adhesion of silicone rubber J Appl Polym Sci 27:4357-4364 erosslinked rubber slowly adheres to polar surface with time, accelerated by moisture, due to hydrolysis GI85 Ginsburg, I. et al Chemiluminescence and superoxide generation by leukocytes stimulated by polyeleetrolyte-opsonized bacteria Inflammation 9:245-271 oxidative burst background HA72 (DOW) Hayden, J and Barlow, S Toxicology and Appl. Pharm. 21 p68-79 Structure activity relationships of Organosi-lanes on the female reproductive system. 2,6-cis active (+ 4), D4 active (+1 +) HA94 Haggard, W; Lemmons, J Response of normal dermal and keloid scar fibroblasts to cyclic siloxanes *1439 Trans Soc Biomat 20th meeting, pl47 D4, D5 etc most common low mol wt released caused altered fibroblast growth HA93 Habal M., ... Goldberg Evaluation of silicone gel mammary prostheses in a rabbit implant model Trans soc biomat. 19th meeting, 2-12 mg pdms per gm of tissue in capsule * * *move to “M” * * * MA93a MalczewaM, R et al A Humoral Adjuvant Study in the Rat of Dow Corning Silicone Gel Preparations and Mammary Gel Bleed September 1,1993 confirms Naim’s results, gel is an adjuvant, fluid not HE92* Heredero, F. and Semper, E. Polyarthralgia after augmentation mamma-plasty with saline-filled implants Eur J Pías Surg 15:1-8 (1992) ANA’s and pain resolved after removal IL79 Iler, Ralph The Chemistry of Silica Pg. 753, 764, 768, 769, 770, 774, and 776; 1979 p770: exposure in open wound very bad but unlikely IS73de Isquith, A. Exploratory antigen modification proj. 0833-01 exhibit D in silicone toxicity symposium (Texas Oct. 1994) sililated S aureus provoked lowered but longer (X2) immune resp. J073 Jolles, P and Parf A Chemical and Biological Basis of Adjuvants Springer 1973 p70 reported in 1958, Ab to autologous RBC’s with adjuvant, did not cause persisting disease KH93 Khan, M. et al. Evaluation of_for sustained release of antigen Int. J Pharmaceutics 90:255-262 (1993) continuous release of BSA antigen much more effective than 3X bolus. K083 Kossovsky, Nir et al. Analysis of the surface morphology of recovered b. implants Plast. and Recon. Surg. v.71, 795-802 cells embedded in shell; rubbing or grazing K087a Kossovsky, Nir et al. Bioreactivity of silicone CRC Crit Rev Bioeompatibility 3:53-85 (1987) cell mediated immunological reaction, lit review, inhibits also silanol groups can interact with protein K087b Kossovsky N, Heggers J and Robson M Experimental demonstration of the immuno-genicity of silicone-protein complexes J Biomed Mat Res 21:1125-1133 pll31 silica free high surface area fluid KL93 Klykken, P Et Al A Humoral Adjuvaney Study of Dow Corning Silicone Fluids Alone (360 Fluid, 20 cs, 7-2317, 1000 cs) and DOW CORNING 360 Fluid, 20 cs, Mixed with Dow Coming Mammary Gel (Q7-2159A) or McGhan Mammary Gel in the Rat. March 9,1993; Pg 9 KL94^dc Klykken, P. et al. Humoral adjuvaney study of D4, gel bleed, sheared gel, etc. DC report 3-29-94 sheared gel amarked adjuvant, bleed and D4 not so LA68 Lacefield, R. et al (Stark) Biological distribution of PDMS (restricted report) DCC Report # 3323, June 3,1968 D4 and linear in bile, brain, fat and liver LA75-de Lake, R. and Radonovich, M Action of PDMS on the reticuloendothelial system of mice: basic cellular interactions and structure/aetivity relationships *1440 DC report 4509, Oet 30,1975 Fig 1 shows lowest dose (0.1ml) gave adju-vant effect (IF after endotoxin), overt toxicity at 0.4ml, most tests at 0.4ml. Max effect at 2 days L3, L4, D4, D5: incr. interferon production after endotoxin deer, e-partiele clearance larger than 5-dms units, caused eosinophilia ? LA94d-de Lake, Robt. depo April 20,1994 pl60 in 70’s DCC worked with Beecham to develope adjuvant p219 D4 stimulates MPh to produce interferon p219 D6, L6 and above cause eosinophilia, ef autoimmune dis. Le73-dc LeBeau, J. and S. Girwunski (Dow-Corning) Primate Absorption and Elimination Balance Studies Studies Including Pulmonary, Urinary, biliary and fecal excretion of 2,6-eis and D4 Soc of Toxicology, March 19, Abstract # 18 pl3 absorbed and passed thru the liver, excreted in urine and air LE78-dc LeVier, R., et al. The Pharmacology of silanes and siloxanes from ‘Biochemistry of silicon and related problems’ ed. G. Bendz and I. Lindquist, Plenum pub. 1978 p480 silanols stable in vivo 481 inertness required for biomat. 486 below hexamers of pdms absorbed 487 antifoams absorption and excretion 499 silicone diol more reactive 501 activity related to ease of hydrolysis (silanol formation) 507 rapid distribution, reversible sequestering in tissues *496 D4 is agonistic to reserpine LE88-dc Levier letter 1-2-88 revised 1-20-88 (DCC-010006223) possible immunotox study. We have known DMS’s of low mol wt have extensive in vivo degradation dependent on non-enzymatic hydrolysis if siloxane is sufficiently soluble in water. LE91 LeVier, Robt. “Shanklin Manuscript” May 14,1991 DC report(?) to Jack Fisher, M.D. attack on some submitted paper? pl2 surf adsorp. on Si02 decreases bioactivity pl4 superoxide may oxidize off a Me group surface becomes hydrophilic, then hydrophobic pl5 “no in .vivo mechanism that can reduce the chain length.” [hydrolysis and also redistribution] L079P Lover, Myron et al (Block Drug Co.) Siloxane Toxicants (patent) simethicone toxic to lice ? MA83 Mahone, L. et al. Method for qualitative and quantitative characterization of waterborne organosilicones Env.Tox. and Chem. 2:307-313 Clay in rivers causes hydrolysis, Fe and Ca cause oxidation MA88 -dc Malczewski, R.M. et al. An assessment of the MeSi03/2 content of feces and urine obtained 24 hours after oral Administration of D4 to Rats Dow-Corning Study, (internal) Aug 17,1988 ? MA92 Marshall, Wilm, and Leggett, J. Misdiagnosis, a timely reminder Ann Plast Surg 29:444-445 valve stems of double lumen HS implants had coag. neg Staph showed palindromic rheumatism resolved when removed MA94 Malczewski, RM et al Comparative histology study of cellular responses to common implant materials Trans soc biomat. 20th meet p 436 all low level responses to 120 days *1441 Pdms fluids caused significantly higher macrophage scores * * *move to right spot* * *MA66 Martellock A (Wayne state U) The hydrolytic degradation of silicone polymers Int. Conf in Elastoplastics Technology March 24,1966 t, T, acids, bases cause hydrolysis, mol wt equilibration, see some cross-linking (Si-C cleavage p5) MA95 McDonald, Peter et al (u. Toronto) Anal-Chem. v.67, p3799-3801 Si-29 sensitivity for Garrido’s work too low to detect Si in liver (DC funded) Mc87-dc MA96 Marosok, R. et al. Contribution of vascular catheter material to the pathogenesis of infection: Depletion of complement by silicone elastomer in vitro J Biomed.Mat.Res. v30,245-250 quotes Sherertz paper showing PDMS worse than PU, PTFE, PVC for infection in catheters. McCoy, Sharon DC report 0058 April 1,1987 Potassium >1.75 ppm causes depolymerization of gel at 36 deg C cured at 160 deg, penetration spec 70-320, trial and error used to formulate gel Me88 McCauley effects of pdms on fibroblast growth Surg.Forum v39, 632-633 tissue culture effects ME87 Medtox Project Analysis of Internal Safety Studies Relevant Health Care Materials and Products pg. 4,10,11,12, 25, 33, and 35; February 23, 1987 p 11 bolus gives 1-2 weeks response pl2 prolonged response may promote autoan-tibodies ME89-dc Mehendale, H. Evaluation of the liver microsomal enzyme induction potential of D5 DC file no. 3724-10 April 17,1989 2000mg/kg orally in rats, hepatomegly, induction of drug metabolizing enzymes (similar to phenobarbitol), reversed upon cessation ? MI36 Miller, J. et al. The Physiological Response of Peritoneal Tissue to Certain Industrial and Pure Mineral Dusts U.S. Public Health Repts 51:1677-99: December 4,1936 MI89 Miller, k. et al. (Jim Anderson) ILl-like activity due to implants ... JBiomedMatRes v23,1007-1026 Polymer surfaces change growth and IL-1 production NA66 Nash, T. et al. Physio-chemical properties of silica in relation to its toxicity Nature 210 p 259-261 long known that silicic acid reacts with proteins/lipoproteins large H-donor molecules are tanning agents (eg. silicic acid) stronger interaction with phospholipids than proteins NA93 Naim, J., Lanzafame and van Oss The adjuvant effect of silicone-gel on antibody formation in rats Immunological investigations 22, 151-161 (1993) c lmg gel strong adjuvant, fluid weaker and inhibits immune response in rats. NA91 Nakamura, K.: Refojo, M. et al. Ocular toxicity of Low-molecular weight components of silicone and flurosilieone oils Investigative Ophthalmology and visual science 32:3007-3020 D4 causes severe inflammation and edema in eye NE93 Neu, T. et al. Biodegradation of medical grade silicone rubber used in voice protheses: SEM study *1442 Biomat. vl4, 459-463 yeast grow under surface of PDMS and 700 microns into surface. OP94 Oppelt, William deposition Jan. 11,12,1994 static developed during dipping which attracted particles which stuck to shell OS54 OsthoffR. etal(GE) Chemical stress relaxation of PDMS JAmerChemSoc 76:4659-4668 moist air at 25 deg (move) RA90a Randurangi, R. et al. Surface and bulk infrared mikes of crystalline and amorphous silica particles: study of the relation of surface structure to cytotoxicity of respirable silica. Environ Health Perspect 86:327-36 more silanols for both crystalline and amorphous, more cell lysis PE77-dc Peters, S. Mammary Gel Review, Part II Oct. 20,1977 much extractable ? PF93 Pfleiderer, Bettina et al (and Garrido) In Vivo H Chemical Shift Imaging of Silicone Implants 1993 can detect Si at .5%, see none in nodes at 3 or 6 months ? PF93 Pfleiderer, Bettina et al In Vivo Localization Proton NMR Spectroscopy of Silicone Mag.Res. in Med. 30:149 (1993) ? PF93 Pfleiderer, Bettina Migration and Biodegradation of Free Silicone from Silicone Gel-Filled Implants after Long-Term Implantation July 7,1993 PR92 Press, R. et al Antinuclear autoantibodies in women with silicone breast implants The Lancet 340:1304-1307 10 of 11 patients with autoimmune symptoms had ANA’s RA90 Razzaboni, B. et al. (MIT) Evidence of an oxidative mechanism for the hemolytic activity of silica particles Environmental Health Perspectives 87, 337-341 more catalase needed for crystalline Si02 than amorp. to reduce hemolysis. Propose H202 production by silanols, reaction with Cu or Fe to produce OH rad. ref 6 (Nolan) shows SiOH hemolysis relation. SiOH known to react with C = 0 in proteins. RE 67 Rees, Thomas et al. (NYU) Visceral response to subcutaneous and Intra-peritoneal injections of silicone in mice Pías Rec Surg vol 39, p402-410 DC’s MDX 4-4011 pdms fluid went thru RE system (nodes, spleen etc.), nice histology ? RE78 Research Veterinary Medical Officer Pathology Report on Monkeys Exposed to Amorphous Silica-F September 6,1978 R048-Dow Rowe, V. et al. Toxicological Studies on certain commercial silicones and ... J Ind Hygene and Tox v30, 332 R089 Rolland C et al. (Quebec) Nondestructive investigations of 97 excised mammary pros. J Biomed.Mat res 23, p285-298 sticky surfaces, 38% ruptured, memory folds, deposits SA88 and SA73 Saunders, k.j. Organic Polymer Chemistry Chapman and Hall p. 397 process of equilibration for mixtures of siloxanes p. 408 oxidation of Me group above 150 C in air increases fluid viscosity (cross-linking), -CH3 to -CH200H *1443 to SiO + CH20 (p. 365 in SA73) SA92 Sanger, J et al. Gel infiltration of Nerve. Plast ree surg 89, p949 SC(57?) Sehepers G W et al Biological action of Degussa submicron amorphous silica dust (Dow Corning Silica) AM.A. Archives of Industrial Health 16:125— 146 a-Si02 toxic, effects resolve when exposure stops (breathing) surface highly variable SC92 Seheer, Robt. and O’Connor, Kathleen The Cosmetic Surgery Revolution Summit Pines Press (1992) p 99 reversal of scleroderma on removal very unusual SC80* Schmidt, G Mammary implant shell failure AnnPlasSurg 5:369-371 (1980) shell of gel and saliné types erode SH89 Shi, X. et al. The chemical properties of silica particle surface in relation to silica-cell interactions J Toxicology and Environ.Health 27:435-454 silanols cause cell lysis, few years acute, 20-30 yrs chronic SH93* Shoaib, B. and Patten, B Systemic disease in women following the insertion of saline breast implants Southern med ass abstract, Oct 1993 10/10 ANA’s plus other neuropathies SP80-de Spielvogel, D. and Robinson, R. Metabolism of D4 in monkey [oral delivery] DC report Dec 10 about 75% recovered in urine and feces as HO(Me2Si)nOH, n=1,2,3 p3 refers to 2,6 cis study showing PhSi(OH)3 formed ST77 Stutheit, Jan GPC Study of Mammary Bleed Silicones American Hospital Supply Corp. study Sept 23 report to Tom Taleott/Heyer-Schulte, all 4 types showed much D4 mol wt and also 10,000 mol wt ST83-dc, vol I and II Stark, F .FDA Advisory Panel Hearing on Mammary Prothesis Classification January 26-27,1983 vol I: no C-14 detected in C02, heneé no loss of Me p25 more oil added to make more responsive implant 1976 vol II: small cyclies teratogen at high dose TA92 Takayama E et al. Is injectable collagen truly safe? J Laryngology and Otology 106:704-708 collagen becomes antigenic when mixed with silicone TE93 ■ ! Teuber, S., et al.. Anti-collagen autoantibodies are found in women with silicone breast implants J Autoimmunity 6:367-377 (1993) 35% of implant women had anti native type II collagen, all developed symptoms after 2 years TR88 Truong, L. et al. AmerJSurgPath 12, 484-491 Silicon lymphoadenopathy with implantation, shows TEM of vacuoles TO90 Towns, J and Regnier, F J Chrom v516, 69-78 SiOH groups on silica tubes need blocking to prevent protein adsorption VA79 Vargas, A Shedding of silicone particles from inflated breast implants PlasReconSurg 64:252-253 particles containing Si-C bonds by IR on implant V078 Voronkov, M. et al The Siloxane-Bond *1444 Consultants Bureau (Plenum), NY pl48 at room temp., in homogeneous medium, hydrolysis goes if trace catalyst present (HC1, or piperidine, etc.) for D3,Me6Si20 p. 85 ultrasound accelerates SiO cleavage V082 Vondraeek P. and Gent A. Slow decomposition of silicone rubber JApplPolymSci 27:4517-4523 sol content slowly increases in wet air (after extraction), NH3 accelerates this hydrolysis, also stress relaxation, ref 4 to human body induced changes? WE70-dc Wetters, J. Mammary problems DC memo to Burdick et al., Feb. 4, 1970 normal gel has 100 ppm K (cf. Mc87-dc) WE83 Weiss, S. et al. Long-lived oxidants generated by human neutrophils Science 222:625-628 superoxide, H202, HOC1, hydroxyl radical, chloramines formed WI83 WUflmgseder, P et al. Tissue reations ... Minerva Chirugia 38, 877 gel bleed W093 Wolf, L. et al Human immune response to pdms: screening studies in a breast implant population FASEB Journal 7:1266-1268 (1993) says Ab to pdms (IgG), but looks like Ab to albumin YU93 Yu-min Chen et al. Silicone fluid-induced pulmonary embolism Am Rev Respir Dis 147:1299-1302 3 new cases, one death, review of other cases, one fibrosis ZH87a Zhuravlev, L. Concentration of hydroxyl groups on the surface of amorphous silicas Langmuir 3:316-318 all a-Si02’s have c. same OH surface cone of c. 4.9 OH’s per square nm; surface H20 lost at 175 C, leaving silanols. ZI92 Zimmer, M Teratology Studies DEPOS FR94D Frank, Curt June 27,1994 hard to remove low molecular weight cyclies LA94D Lake, Robt. (Ph.D. PSU 1970, microbiology, now at Lorillard) vol 1, April 20 pl43 impaired phagocytosis of MPh affects whole cell network pl60 DC worked with Beecham to develop silicone adjuvant p219 D4 stimulated MPh directly —> interferon D6 and L6 —> eosinophilia p225 eosinophilia —> immune complex disease, autoimmunity June 13,1996 EXHIBIT C 1. Andrews, J.; “Cellular Behavior to Injected Silicone Fluid: A Preliminary Report,” Plast.Recon.Surg., 38(6):581 (1966). 2. Ben-Hur, N.; Ballantyne, D.; Rees, T.; and Seidman, I.; “Local and Systemic Effects of Dimethylpolysiloxane Fluid in Mice,” Plast.Recon.Surg, 39(4):423 (1967). 3. Failes, J.; Faulbom, J.; Erb, P.; “The Phagocytosis of Silicone Oils of Different Viscosities by Peritoneal Macrophages in the Mouse,” KMn.Mbl.Augenheilk, 184:450 (1984). 4. Pfleiderer, B.; Moore, J.; Ackerman, J.L.; Garrido, L.; “Study of the Aging Process of PDMS Implants In Vivo and Ex Vivo by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging,” Polymer Preprints, 33(l):767-768 (1992). 5. Garrido, L.; Pfeiderer, B.; Papisov, M.; Ackerman, J.L.; “In Vivo Degradation *1445 of Silicones,” Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 29(6):839-843 (1993). 6. Pfleiderer, B.; Ackerman, J.L.; “In Vivo Localized Proton NMR Spectroscopy of Silicone,” Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 839-843 (1993). 7. Pfleiderer, B.; Ackerman, J.L.; “Migration and Biodegradation of Free Silicone Gel-Filled Implants after Long-Term Implantation,” Magnetic Resonance In Medicine, 30:534-543 (1993). 8. Pfleiderer, B.; Zu, P.; Ackerman, J.L.; Garrido, L.; “Study of Aging of Silicone Rubber Biomaterials with . NMR,” Biomedical Materials Research, 29:1129-1140 (1995). 9. Teuber, S.S.; Saunders, R.L.; Halpern, G.M.; Brueker, ILF.; Conte, V.; Goldman, B.D.; Winger, E.E.; Wood, W.G.; Gershwin, M.E.; Abstract — “Elevated Serum Silicon Levels in Women with Silicone Gel Breast Implants, Biological Trace Element Research, 121-130 (1994). 10. Zimmer, M.A.; Bejarano, M.A.; “Oc-tamethylcyclotetrasiloxane — An Investigation of Hepatic Weight increases,” Plaintiffs’ Exhibit LeVier 7, GEG 032621-032634. 11. Marotta, J.; LaToree, G.; Batich, C.; Hardt, N.S.; Yu, L.; “Measurement of silicon in Tissue Sites Both Adjacent to and Distant from Ruptured and Intact Silicone Breast Implants,” Presented at the Fifth World Biomaterials Congress, May 29-June 2, 1996, Toronto, Canada. 12. Yu, L.T.; Latoree, G.; Marotta, J.; Ba-tich, C.; Hardt, N.S.; “In Vitro Measurement of Silicone Bleed From Breast Implants,” Plast. and Recon. Surg., 756-764 (1996). 13. Smith, A.L.; The Analytical Chemistry of Silicones, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Vol. 112, p. 18. (1991). 14. Malczewski, R.M.; Varaprath, S.; Bol-ger, C.L.; Report 92: “A Study of the Excretion of MeSI03/2 Moieties After Oral Administration of D5,” Internal Dow Coming Study, (10/25/88). 15. Spielvogel, D.E.; Robinson, R.J.; “Report: Metabolism of Octramethylcy-clotetrasiloxane in the Monkey,” Internal Dow Coming Study, 12/10/80 16. Lentz, C.W.; “It’s safe to use silicone products in the environment,” Indus- ' trial Research & Development, 139-143 (1980). 17. Stark, F.O.; MDL Deposition of Forest O. Stark, pp. 279-80; 464-65 (3/8/94). 18. Wolf, C.J.; Brandon, H.J.; Young, V.L.; Jerina, K.L.; Srivastava, A.P.; “Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Analysis of Explanted Breast Implants,” Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology — Immunology of Sil-icones, Potter, M. and Rose, N.; Editors, No. 210, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pgs. 25-37 (1996). 19. LeVier, R.R.; Bennett, D.R:; Hunter, M.J.; “Chapter VII. Effects of Oral 2, 6-cis-Diphenylhexamethyl-cyclo-tetrasiloxane on the Reproductive System of the Male Macaca Mulatta,” Bioscienee Research and Development Laboratory, Dow Corning Corporation. 20. DePalma, D.; “Surface Hydrolysis of Polydimethylsiloxáne (Silicone Elas-tomer),” Thesis presented to the Graduate School, University of Florida, 1-95 (1992). 21. Kennan, J.J.; Peters, Y.A.; Swarthout, D.E.; Owen, M.J.; Namkanisorn, A.; Chaudhury, M.K.; “Effect of Saline Exposure to the Surface and Bulk Properties of Medical Grade Silicone Elastomers,” Dow Corning Corporation and Lehigh University. 22. Robinson, O.G.; “Rate of Rupture of Silicone Prostheses: Excerpts from a Study of Over 3000 Personal Cases and Twenty-Five Years Excerpts,” Presented at the Symposium on Reop-erative Aesthetic Surgery of the Face and Breast, Naples, Florida, (March 18, 1992). 23. de Camera, D.L., et al.; “Rupture and Aging of Silicone Gel Breast Im *1446 plants,” Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 91(5):828-834 (1993). CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that I served a true and complete copy of the foregoing PLAINTIFFS’ PROPOSED QUESTIONS REGARDING CHEMISTRY AND PLAINTIFFS’ EXPERT CHEMIST, on opposing counsel at the address indicated below: Paul R. Duden Tooze Shenker Duden Creamer Frank & Hutchinson 333 S.W. Taylor Street Portland, OR 97204-2496 Attorney of Record for BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY MEDICAL ENGINEERING CORPORATION Bill Crow, Esq. Miller Nash, et al. Suite 3500 111 SW 5th Ave. Portland, OR 97204 Attorney of Record for MINNESOTA MINING & MANUFACTURING CO. Jonathan Hoffman Martin, Bishoff et al Suite 3100 1300 SW 5th Ave. Portland, OR 97201 Attorney of Record for BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION AND BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. via hand delivery on this 13th day of August, 1996. WILLIAMS & TROUTWINE, P.C. By/s/ [Signature] Michael L. Williams OSB # 78426 Gayle L. Troutwine, OSB #83106 Kathleen M. Dailey, OSB #88188 Kathryn A. Stebner, OSB #93126 Of Attorneys for Plaintiffs APPENDIX B September 10,1996 ROBERT E. JONES U.S. District Judge NELY L. JOHNSON Circuit Judge, Multnomah County, State of Oregon Room 702 United States Courthouse 620 S.W. Main Portland, Oregon 97205 Herewith are my answers to the general questions you set forth in your letter of August 16, 1996 to the court-appointed Rule 104 experts in the pending breast implant cases. I’ve reviewed the epidemiological testimony and have viewed the video-taped closing arguments provided by the attorneys for the plaintiffs and for the defense in all four of the areas — epidemiology, immunology/toxi-eology, rheumatology, and chemistry. In addition, I’ve reviewed the suggested questions put forth by the plaintiffs and the defense in the area of epidemiology. As previously instructed I will generally restrict my opinions to testimony in the area of epidemiology. Before I address the specific questions put forth in your letter I’d like to submit a general statement after observing the process and reviewing the material provided. It is clear to me that the expert witnesses in the area of epidemiology, especially the two epidemiologists whose testimony I witnessed — Dr. Goldsmith and Dr. Ory — generally base their proffered opinions on sound scientific data. In fact they both, at least in part, based their opinions on assessments of the same set of scientific studies. At issue is whether the reasoning or methodology underlying their testimony is scientifically valid. i And that assessment is complicated because of a clash between the culture of science and the culture of the legal system. The culture of science is by its nature both conservative and collaborative. Its function is to produce general “truths” — in the case of epidemiology, truths about disease causality. The legal system brings a culture that is by its nature adversarial, with the intention of *1447 producing particularistic “truths” — truths about a single set of events in a case before the court. The latter truths must emerge out of an adversarial process. Each of these cultures includes a set of beliefs and values and a normative structure that defines the rules of practice and, to a large extent, the nature of the appropriate language to be used in its discourse. When I say that the culture of epidemiology is conservative, I mean conservative within its basic function, that of investigating diseases in order to determine the causes of those diseases. As described in the testimony before the court, scientists first look, using a variety of techniques, for associations between possible causal factors and diseases in human populations. And then, using increasingly more rigorous research designs, they seek to make increasingly more certain statements about the causal link between the factor(s) under investigation and the studied disease. Because disease processes in human beings are so complex, the scientific process is complex and the norms of science protect against premature assertions of causality. In addition to the complexity of the disease process, there are two major sources of variation within this scientific process that increase the complexity of the process and increase the appropriateness of a conservative approach. The first source of variation derives from variability in human physiology. For example, if a single person’s blood pressure is carefully measured time after time, a set of measurements will be observed that includes some variation. That variation is caused by a bit of variation in the measurement and a great deal of natural variation in the underlying biological process. A second source of variation is sampling variation. For example, if blood pressure is measured in a number of samples of 100 subjects and averaged for each set of 100 people, the averages of the samples will vary, within a range. The sampling variation derives from the fact that the universe from which the sample is drawn is made up of people with a wide range of average blood pressures and drawing samples of 100 from that universe will result in samples made up of people with different average blood pressures. Of course, over the years statistical techniques have developed that allow scientists to estimate and account for some of this variation. ii The conservative nature of epidemiology reflects more than the natural variation in physiological processes and in its measurement. It reflects, in addition, the complexity of disease processes and the variety of potential biases that can enter individual studies. These and other factors make if very difficult to determine definitive causality in human populations. In the American criminal justice system the odds are stacked against delivering an incorrect guilty verdict for an innocent defendant. Similarly, in epidemiological science the odds are stacked against incorrectly rejecting the “null hypothesis” that is tested in all experiments — namely, that there is no relationship between the suspected causal factor and the disease. An investigator must be prepared to say that a finding of a positive association shown in a single experiment would have happened by chance alone less than five times in 100 similar experiments. That is the scientific analogue of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” And there are other similar conservative forces that pervade the process. Because of the nature of the system, the language used within epidemiological discourse is also very conservative. During the testimony of Dr. Goldsmith I asked some questions of Dr. Goldsmith about his level of certainty concerning the causal link between SBI and atypical connective tissue disease in implanted women. He was relatively cautious in his response,, a caution that was picked up by Ms. Wells in her final arguments. I was probing Dr. Goldsmith on that matter to provide some clarification on a point that had been raised early in the testimony by the Court. I probed Dr. Rosen-baum on a similar point during his testimony. The process of epidemiological inquiry can be characterized by the formation of a suspicion of causality, followed by slow and *1448 careful, sometimes agonizing, movement along a continuum from a zero level of certainty about causality toward, but rarely to, a level of absolute certainty. The language that epidemiologists and other scientists use to describe their level of certainty is a very conservative language, one that generally understates their degree of certainty about an association between a factor and a disease and about a causal link between those factors. The reason that I dwell on this point is that it is clear to me that when expert witnesses testify within the culture of the adversarial judicial process, they construct their opinions on a base of science, but they easily depart from the norms of science in the language they use to offer their opinions. While they are cautious and conservative as they state opinions in formal scientific discourse, in the court room they describe their views in far stronger and more certain language then they would use in presenting a paper at a scientific meeting or a journal article in a peer-reviewed publication. Having said that, I’ll move to the specific questions, but will refer to this problem as I answer them. 1. Is the expert’s opinion supported by scientific reasoning and methodology that is generally accepted in the expert’s particular scientific community or otherwise qualified as stated in Dambert II, as quoted? % Is the expert’s opinion based upon scientifically reliable data? As I stated above, I believe that both Dr. Dry’s and Dr. Goldsmith’s opinions are based on scientifically valid data. In fact, both of their epidemiological opinions are based on the same set of scientific studies. It .is also clear, however, that they have arrived at somewhat different positions as a result of different, but legitimate, interpretations of the results of those 16 epidemiology studies. Dr. Ory reads the studies cited and concludes: “These 16 studies constitute a very strong body of evidence that silicone breast implants do not cause classical connective tissue diseases.” iii That is an opinion that could be supported by scientific reasoning and methodology when an epidemiologist reads the studies. Further, Dr. Ory later agreed with the following question put by counsel: “The bottom line, Dr. Ory, is that it is your opinion that as to both classical disease and as to symptoms, it is more likely than not that breast implants don’t cause that?” iv I believe that Dr. Ory used valid scientific reasoning to arrive at that conclusion, especially since this question included the modifier “more likely than not.” On the other hand, Dr. Goldsmith also used valid scientific reasoning and methodology when he concluded that the 16 epidemiological studies are not appropriately designed or sufficiently powered to answer definitively the question of atypical connective tissue disease. v Similarly, his opinion at that same juncture of his testimony, assessing the impact of the Hennekens study on the question of the link between SBI and typical diseases, is also a scientifically based opinion, although differing to a large degree from Dr. Ory’s opinion on the same topic. The language question I raised above comes to the fore when Dr. Goldsmith is pushed to state an opinion about the causal relationship between SBI and atypical connective tissue disease. Dr. Goldsmith testifies that “We are trying to — we are trying to frame a hypothesis to test.” vi This causes Mr. Schachtman to comment, in the defense closing argument tape on immunology and toxicology, that the plaintiffs expert’s position is “merely a hypothesis — not proven — not science.” vii That represents a serious misunderstanding of what is intended by Dr. Goldsmith’s statement. In fact, Dr. Goldsmith’s statement is at the heart of science. Inter *1449 preted through the eyes of an epidemiologist, Dr. Goldsmith is saying that work in the area has progressed to the point that his confidence in the notion of an association has moved far enough away from zero that he and others have begun to make a serious investment in studying the problem. That is to say, even if the level of confidence in an association or in causality hasn’t reached the level of 50% certainty, he has begun to take the possibility of an association seriously. In another example of language that would be considered somewhat extreme in scientific circles, Dr. Rosenbaum departs, to a large degree, from scientifically-based opinion with his epidemiological assessment that “the epidemiology is fairly cogent that silica and silicosis [sic] are not associated with autoimmune diseases.” viii ' That statement is at odds with the way some, or perhaps most, epidemiologists would assess the literature. Perhaps the difference arises because Dr. Rosenbaum is not basically an epidemiologist. But it is a serious assertion, because a great deal of the bioplausibility argument made by Dr. Goldsmith depends upon a different reading of the epidemiological literature concerning inhaled silica. I believe that most epidemiologists would interpret the inhaled silica literature more like Dr. Goldsmith’s interpretation, although their would be sufficient disagreement about other aspects of the bioplausibility argument. S. If epidemiological studies have not been done or are inconclusive, what other data, such as animal studies, biophysical data, clinical experience in the field, medical records, differential diagnosis, preliminary studies, general scientific knowledge, and medical literature can justify, to a reasonable medical probability, a conclusion concerning the cause of the syndrome or disease at issue? I don’t know the precise legal meaning of “a reasonable medical probability,” but I do know that physicians need to treat patients in a clinical context, even when there are not sufficient epidemiological studies to provide explicit guidance. I think physicians do achieve a level of reasonable medical probability, doing the best they can in an uncertain situation. They use all of the sources of information at their disposal, including animal studies, case reports, small or inclusive epidemiological studies, expert opinions, conversations with respected colleagues and, most importantly, their own clinical experience and judgment. In order to achieve a differential diagnosis, they need to formulate some theory that appears to them to possess biological and clinical plausibility given the specific clinical circumstances, the nature of the signs and symptoms, and the likely diagnostic alternatives available in a given case. The clinician certainly pays attention to the question of biological plausibility of competing alternative explanations. That is the reason we are hearing so much about the epidemiology of inhaled silica in this case. Since there isn’t sufficient epidemiological data on SBI, the clinicians will be more likely to accept the notion of a causal link between SBI and atypical connective tissue disease if they can consider another clinical situation where there was an analogous chain of events that resulted in a similar disease pattern, and where a plausible link can be drawn between the biology of the two situations. This link is particularly important to the physicians because they are not dealing with the general scientific question “What causes disease in women?”; they are dealing with the particularistic clinical question “What is causing disease in this particular woman?” Those are very different questions. And the physician must draw some working causal model in the case of a single patient, even in the face of a great deal of uncertainty. The scientist has the luxury of reporting that there isn’t yet sufficient data to draw a conclusion. That luxury isn’t available to the clinician, because the decision to do nothing in a clinical situation is selecting a specific course of action. In a similar manner, the scientist uses all of the same sources to begin to formulate alternative scenarios concerning disease causality and to use preliminary studies to move along the continuum of certainty away from zero. When a sufficient level of certainty is *1450 reached about one or the other of the scenarios, the scientist formulates the likely candidates in the form of a testable hypothesis and seeks'the resources necessary to test the hypothesis. But that is not done lightly because it is difficult to gather the necessary research resources for complex tests of causality, so usually a research program is designed of successively complex and expensive research projects. 4- Do the methodology and data support the expert’s conclusions? 5. Does the scientific data relied upon by the expert apply to the syndrome or disease in issue in these cases? For instance, are epidemiological studies directed at other typical or classical diseases relevant to an atypical disease? As can be inferred from my answers to question 1, I believe there is sufficient scientific data upon which to base the opinions both of Dr. Goldsmith and Dr. Ory, the principal epidemiology witnesses, and I believe it would be appropriate to accept both of their testimonies. The studies prior to the Hen-nekens et al. study did not produce much evidence of a causal relationship between SBI and any specific disease or set of symptoms. Dr. Goldsmith is probably correct in his assessment that these 15 studies each had sufficiently serious design flaws to limit the likelihood that they would show a significant relationship between SBI and disease. But on the other hand, Dr. Ory has an appropriate scientific basis for his assessment that it is possible to look at the 15 studies together and come to a reasonable scientific conclusion that were there a relatively high-level causal link between SBI and connective tissue disease one would have expected stronger evidence of that link to have emerged from one or another of the studies. And it is even possible for reasonable epidemiologists to arrive at diametrically opposed conclusions, as do Drs. Ory and Goldsmith, with regard to the Hennekens study, especially since it is a single study and it is somewhat dangerous to put too much weight on the findings from any one study. But I do tend to pay more attention to the findings of that study then do either Dr. Hennekens or Dr. Ory. That study is significant because of its size and because of its findings. Included among the 400,000 women studied were more than 10,000 who reported having breast implants and nearly 12,000 who reported experiencing connective-tissue disease between 1962 and 1991. The study produces some convincing evidence of small, but significant increased risks of connective tissue diseases among women with breast implants, when no other large study had ever documented that risk. The point estimate of the increased risk of connective-tissue disease (excluding non-specific disease) was 24%, which I do not find intuitively “reassuring” as did Hennekens et al. In addition to the overall finding, they reported increased risks (all at borderline significance but with relative risks approaching 2.0 in some of the cases) of each of a set of specific diseases including RA, dermatomyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, and a group of other specific connective-tissue diseases. Question 5 raises two issues that most be addressed with this study. The first has to do with the question of whether the relative risk of 1.24 can be disregarded because it is less than a relative risk of 2.0. The second question is whether a study directed at typical or classical diseases is relevant to an atypical disease. With regard to the question of the relative risk of less than 2.0, it is true that under a preponderance standard a relative risk of 2.0 is critical, since a relative risk of greater than 2.0 can be interpreted to mean that disease in an individual patient will have been more than 50% likely to have been caused by the factor in question. Consequently in Daubert v. Merrell, Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the question was raised whether children of mothers who took Bendeetin during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to develop limb reduction birth defects as were children of mothers who didn’t. From a scientific point of view it is not appropriate to disregard relative risks of less than 2.0. First of all, relative risk is a term that applies to a population, not to an individual. While it is possible to estimate the average increased risk for members of a *1451 population, it is really not appropriate to assume that each individual in a population actually had a similar risk. It is much more appropriate to believe that the average increased risk is made up of a wide range in individual risks in the population, just as an average blood pressure is made up by averaging across individuals with a range of blood pressures. However, the more important reason for considering the 1.24 relative risk in the Hennek-ens study comes into play in answering the second part of the question, concerning the relevance of findings from a study investigating typical disease for the consideration of atypical disease. The answer to this question depends upon bioplausibility and on the extent to which there have been analogous situations in which an increased risk of typical disease is linked with an increased risk of atypical disease. If a scientist had reason to believe that there truly was a relative risk of 1.24 among women with SBIs for typical connective tissue disease, he or she would take the significance of that risk seriously. Hennekens himself points out that the magnitude of the relative risk alone does not predict the magnitude of the public health problem, it is only a measure of the strength of the association between an exposure and disease and provides information that can be used to judge whether a valid observed association is likely to be causal. ix The number of exposed cases and the incidence of the disease must be taken into consideration in estimating the magnitude of the problem. The extent to which certainty about a causal link for typical disease would provide evidence for atypical disease would depend upon a biologically plausible link between the two situations. For example, if it could be shown that in inhaled silica exposure there was a certain increased risk of typical disease, and a significantly larger increased risk of atypical disease, a physician (and perhaps even an epidemiologist) might reasonably surmise that a 1.24 relative risk of typical disease in SBI provides a basis to believe that there is an even larger risk of atypical disease. And if that pattern can be shown to have occurred in other kinds of silicone exposure, as Mr. Williams began to assert in closing argument and in rebuttal, the apparent link would become stronger. I’m not suggesting that an irrefutable case has been made for that pattern. I’m simply pointing out the circumstances under which a finding like that of the Hennekens study would provide evidence for the causal link to atypical disease at a relative risk even greater than that for typical disease. Summary In summary, I believe that both Dr. Cry’s and Dr. Goldsmith’s opinions are supported by scientific reasoning and methodology that is generally used in the epidemiology field. I believe the only way one can ultimately assess • the significance of the epidemiological data in this case is through relatively complex integration of that information with the scientific testimony from the other fields. /s/ Merwyn R. Greenlick Merwyn R. Greenlick, Ph.D. 712 NW. Spring Portland, OR 97229 APPENDIX C Robert F. Willkens, M.D. Internal Medicine Rheumatology 1229 Madison Street, # 1490 Seattle WA 98104 (206)886 6860 FAX(206)386 6740 September 8 1996 Robert E. Jones U.S. District Judge Nely L. Johnson Circuit Judge, Multnomah County For the District of Oregon United States Courthouse, Room 702 Portland, Oregon 97205 Judges Jones and Johnson, In response to the charge to me to determine whether the expert’s opinions are supported *1452 by reasoning and methodology that is scientifically valid I hope to limit my evaluation to the clinical rheumatologic facets of the testimony. It is my understanding of the criteria, established as a result of the Dabert II hearings, that general acceptance in the scientific community may be important but the reliability of the methodology may not necessarily be linked to what is generally accepted; but that methods accepted by a minority in the scientific community may be accepted. I am also guided by the necessity of the party proffering the evidence must explain the expert’s methodology and demonstrate in some objectively variable way that the expert has chosen a reliable scientific method and followed it faithfully. The scientific methodology of arriving at a hypothesis by observation, in the matter of symptoms in patients who have previously undergone silicon breast implantation would seem appropriate and incontestable. A clinician considers the history of the development of symptoms, performs a physical examination, obtains laboratory studies and other information about a patient with various technological studies such as x-rays, electrocardiograms and additional studies in establishing a diagnosis. But in arriving at a specific diagnosis he must consider all those conditions which might present with some or all of the findings and finally the diagnostician selects the diagnosis which best fits the findings on the basis of common knowledge. This process is called differential diagnosis. Cardinal elements of arriving at a correct diagnosis are objective determinations in any of the facets of the examination. (DeGown & DeGown, 1969). In arriving at a diagnosis the physician is encouraged to employ the principle called the Law of Parsimony that encourages the choice of a single disease to explain the patient’s disease manifestations. This “law” must be applied cautiously since the experienced clinician recognizes the likelihood of multiple disorders contributing to the patient’s symptoms. The clinician must then differentiate, if he can, the patient’s symptoms as unique to a disease which he designates as being present. Drs. Gershwin, Kemple, and perhaps Dr. Bennett can be criticized in the matter of their hypothesis since first of all they failed to consistently demonstrate unique objective physical finding among the patients they examined Local chest wall findings seen in conjunction with complication of the implants placement or wear were seen but it is contention of those proposing criteria for a systemic disorder (SSRD) associated with SBI that these local symptoms do not need to be present to develop the SSRD. I will discuss the laboratory findings of antinuclear antibodies and other serologic findings subsequently. The atypical syndrome being formulated by Dr. Gershwin, Kemple, and members of the Silicone-Related Syndrome Study (Research) Group is not generally recognized by most members of the rheumatology community. The majority of the components of that syndrome are already part of either the fi-bromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. (Wolfe 1994, Buchwald 1996). To be sure, SBI is one of the proposed major unique criteria for that disorder. But it is possible to have the coexistence of FMS with SSRD and both of these disorders, if distinct, may be part of what some authors have called stress related disorders. (Crofford & Demi-traek, 1996). The authors of the proposed criteria may concur with the possibility of comorbidity with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome since FMS and CFS are not exclusionary as are many of the connective tissue disorders. I would single out breast and chest pain, capsular contracture, and improvement after explantation as unique from FMS among the symptom complex proposed. It has been pointed out in criticism of explanation as indicative of justification of the immune character of the SBI that “improvement in condition following explanation actually argues against an autoimmune effect operating. Once established, progression of an autoimmune condition is not normally dependent upon the continuing presence of the initiating factor (Gott & Tinkler 1994).” Further, Yoshida et al (1993) citing improvement in patients following implant removal as evidence that implants can cause harm, ignore the lack of controlled *1453 studies, the placebo effect of surgery, and the anecdotal nature of their report. In view of the data presented at these hearings regarding local reaction to silicone, capsular rupture, and scarring, I think these symptoms are creditable as representing a local foreign body reaction. In reviewing the MSS about unique types of foreign body reaction to silicone, I must defer to the im-munopathologist. I would however report that xiphodynia (a kind of chest pain) is often seen with fibromyalgia and the musculoskele-tal symptom complex seen as part of affective spectrum disorder. (Hudson & Pope 1994). This raises another issue about which I questioned Dr. Kemple at the time of his testimony. He responded to my questions about the psychological evaluation of his patients implying that he has not routinely applied any testing to assess emotional dysfunction. Stress related syndromes such as the affective spectrum disorders have a symptom pattern similar in many criteria of the proposed SSRD. Hudson and Pope are psychiatrists, who, for example have defined a group of illnesses seen in association with psychiatric disorders, particularly mood and anxiety disorders, which they have included under the title of affective spectrum disorder. Three lines of evidence supporting the Hudson and Pope in this association are: 1. Frequent depressive and anxiety symptomatology and high rates of mood and anxiety disorders have been reported in FMS and syndromes of chronic fatigue and chronic muscle pain. a. Studies using psychological test or rating scales have reported abnormalities among FMS patients similar to those found in mood and anxiety disorders. 2. Patients with mood and anxiety disorders frequently exhibit myalgia and fatigue. Muscle tension, aches, or soreness is one of the criteria for the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Revised (DMS-IV-R) (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). 3.Family studies have suggested a possible genetic link between fibromyalgia and mood disorders. Plaintiffs attorneys have stressed the forthcoming meeting of the Silicone-Related Syndrome Study Group at the national meeting of the American College of Rheumatology as a milestone in the recognition of this new disorder. I enclose correspondence of Michael E. Reed, Attorney for the ACR, to Dr. Stuart Silverman, dated August 1,1996, disavowing any implication of ACR endorsement of this group simply because of its meeting in Orlando. Also enclosed is a definition of what constitutes a Study Group which is provided to me by Sherrie Cathcart, Executive Secretary of the Education Council of the Meetings Committee of the ACR. The actual numbers of ACR members necessary to establish one of these groups is about fifty. The meeting of the Silicone-Related Syndrome (Research) Group in Orlando is to present a proposed set of criteria which have been distributed at these hearings. The acceptance and testing of the criteria will require a formal evaluation with testing against appropriate control groups. (Feinstein, 1979). If an atypical connective disease can be distinguished by testing from such disorders as FMS, CFS, and early undifferentiated connective tissue disease such criteria can be used to further the understanding of the natural history of the symptom complex. It can also aid in its treatment, estimate its prognosis, but not necessarily define its causation (Willkens, 1984). For example, notwithstanding the distinction of Reiter’s Syndrome from four other disorders by a criteria study, its - causation in a given individual remains speculative. Reiter’s syndrome, is a disorder that occurs in genetically predisposed persons following exposures to infections with one of a number of organisms and perhaps to traumatic events. It may be reasonable to hypothesize a disorder related to a reaction to SBI on the basis of the history and physician examinations of women presenting with the constellation of symptoms enumerated by Drs. Gershwin and Kemple. The lack of consistent *1454 objective findings is problematic as many of the symptoms of the proposed complex are not specific and are subjective. Testing of this hypothesis in case control and cohort studies is imperative. The observations made must be repeated by others and must demonstrate consistency and a temporal relationship to the presumed cause. The temporal relationship and latency of occurrence of any new disease could well be guided by disorders that have been recognized with in the last generation. AIDS can have a long latency but is often recognized early in its development by multiple symptoms once HIV is detected. Similarly, the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome was quickly recognized because of it epidemic proportions and distinctive presentation. I have carefully reviewed the provisional criteria for the SSRD and have made comments about each of the criteria as shown: Criteria for Systemic Silicone Related Disease (SSRD) Inclusionary Criteria Presence of silicone gel filled breast implant — current or in the past Presence of local disease capsular contracture documented rupture chest wall pain persistent breast pain unrelated to menses axillary adenopathy entrapment neuropathy or thoracic outlet syndrome immune related skin rash (petechiae, tel-eangiectasia or poikiloderma not related to sun exposure on chest wall) immmune granuloma in histopathology of the capsule Plus The Following Criteria 3 Major 2 major and 4 minor 1 major and 7 minor Major Symmetrical myalgia with 4-11 tender points Tender points are one of the important criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyal-gia (FMS) — those FMS criteria call for 11 of 18 specific locations to be tender to b kgm of pressure. Chronic fatigue — 6 months of longer This a symptom common not only to chronic fatigue syndrome but to fibro-myalgia^ depression and many forms of musculoskeletal disease. Cognitive dysfunction • This is a vague and problematic area in which much investigation is taking place in both CFS and FMS. A recent editorial and an article in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry which dealt with sophisticated neu-roimaging emphasized the overlap of depression with chronic fatigue syndrome and that in studies where proper controls were used so specifically different findings could be applied to CFS. (Cope 1996). Objective sicca complex Abnormal Schimer tests can occur after the administration of many medicines, abnormal Rose Bengal staining can occur after various forms of injury, salivary scintigrams, sialograms, and even abnormal lib biopsies can be non-specifically abnormal and the pathologist often request clinical correlation before making a positive interpretation. Minor local pain after the onset of systemic disease if BI is polyurethane arthraligia This is common to many musculoskele-tal disorders. enthesopathy This is a manifestation of many muscu-loskeletal disorders such as tendonitis. subjective sicca complex Dry eyes, dry mouth, dry vagina — so often seen in a variety of disorders. cerebello-vestibular dysfunction — Physical Exam or by eleetrophysiologie testing Dizziness is a very frequent and difficult symptom and occurs often in the *1455 setting of many illness and states of apprehension and depression. non scarring alopecia Hair loss occurs with many illnesses where changes in hormonal interactions are disturbed. Raynaud’ phenomenon The great majority who individuals with these colar changes in their extremities turn out not to have demonstrable systemic disease. photosensitive skin rash This is influenced by many factors— especially drugs which are in common use. improvement of 2 major or 1 major and 4 minor within 18 mos of explantation positive ANA elevated ESR abnormal quantitative immunoglobins Differential diagnosis The authors of these SSRD criteria might counter my reservations about individual components of the criteria and emphasize the grouping of findings they describe as minor and major as essential to making a diagnosis. The criteria for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are listed below. They are prominent considerations in the presence of the symptoms included in the SSRD. Diagnostic Criteria of Fibromyalgia (Goldernberg) Chronic widespread pain Presence of 11 of 18 tender points on examination Characteristic Features Fatigue Sleep disturbance Stiffness Paresthesias Headache Irritable bowel syndrome Raynaud’s-like symptoms Anxiety Depression Criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 1. Fatigue for more than 6 months causing significant impairment of normal activities not resolving with bed rest 2. Neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms New symptoms may include depression but exclude phenotypically characteristic conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance abuse. 3.Musculoskeletal symptoms most commonly meeting the criteria for fibro-myalgia. Drs Greshwin and Kimple have made a hypothesis, after the observation of SBI patients, that SBI has been a cause of the patients symptom complex. Heretofore, this is not generally accepted in the scientific community as cause and effect relationship. Dr. Gershwin’s hypothesis has some of its basis in his animal and immunologic research on anticollegen antibodies and assessment of lymphocyte subsets. These areas of research were performed with reasonable standards, but with limited controls, and published in peer reviewed journals. However, the relevance of anticollagen antibodies to diseases seen in man is moot. Type II collagen has been used to induce a disease in animals which has similarity to rheumatoid arthritis. Type II Collagen also has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of the hypothesis that oral administration can induce tolerance. One . small study using Type II collagen is reported which equated improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by the decreased used of other therapies that were in place, at the start of collagen therapy (Tretham 1994). But this too is an area shrouded in controversy and question with considerable reservation by the rheumatolo-gy community. Further, the transposition of animal findings to human disease has been notably problematic and no animal model to match the disorder proposed by the SSRD criteria has been demonstrated. It is necessary for other physicians to see, test, and retest this hypothesis in the context of clinical controls. Anecdotal reports have appeared in the peer reviewed literature describing patients with many of the symptoms which have been grouped by Dr. Gershwin. I must confess to not having read all of these but am relying upon the judgment of the 1994 report of the Medical Devises of the United Kingdom when they state of these anecdotal reports, “they are bedeviled by the probability of selection bias, subjective rather than objective results and a lack of agreed criteria, not simply for disease diagnosis but also for definition of a positive laboratory finding.” *1456 ■ One must ask if, in the current climate of this litigation and its wide spread recognition, it is possible to test a hypothesis for which there is limited specific objective finding. None of the criteria that have been raised are singly sufficient to satisfy rigid scientific prescription. The scatter of overlap for antinuclear antibody positivity, immu-noglobulin levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) elevation are too imprecise upon which to make an objective diagnosis. It may be necessary to await a more specific objective finding or laboratory abnormality to fulfill the axioms of science. I would like to examine the laboratory findings described among patients with symptoms. GENETIC TYPING This is an important area of continuing research, not only with respect of SBI, but with prevalent disorders seen in our population. It may ultimately enable us to identify predisposition of an individual to many environmental vectors. I am particularly interested in this area and currently involved in a project that involves the determination of the genome of a tribe Native Americans shown to have ah increased prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis with Dr. Leroy Hood. Dr. Hood was recruited to chair the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Washington. The intriguing possibility that a subset of women with SBI can be culled from all those having implants who were susceptible to connective tissue disease by genetic typing has been addressed by a number of scientists. Young and colleagues (Young, 1995) evaluat-' ed four groups of women for the presence of specific alleles DR53 and DQ2. The findings were that symptomatic women with SBI had a greater prevalence of DR53 (68%) than asymptomatic women (37%). Female volunteers were positive for this allele at 52% and 31 women with fibromyalgia had a 65% prevalence. The numbers are perhaps too small for generalizations. I believe the science was good but not consistent with earlier work. Jane Morse had previously evaluated a group of women with symptoms following SBI, several of whom had recognized connective disorders, and failed to find elevations of DQ2. She found decreases in CD2 and CD8. The nomenclature and designations are changing in this exciting area of science but she essentially showed decreases in DQ2. Love and colleagues also suggested muscle symptoms may occur in women with another genotype DQA1*0102. This last investigation has not been repeated or confirmed by others. All of this is in an area which may be fruitful in anticipating susceptibility to disease but at this time the Young and Morse data conflict and the numbers are too small to draw meaningful conclusions. DQ2 and particularly DR53 occur with a high prevalence in the general population and make correlations with specific disease problematic. Once again the findings of similar genotypes among patients with FMS and SBI patients confounds the problems of separating those groups of patients both clinically and with genetic and biomarkers. ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES In the matter of antinuclear antibodies occurring in women with SBI the report of Claman and Robertson has been held as evidence of more frequent occurrence of these antibodies in implanted women, da-man’s definition of positivity is a dilution of four tubes (1:256) and his methodology, poorly described in his publication in the Western Journal of Medicine, allegedly uses standard Hep-2 commercially provided cells. Dr. Cla-man is an excellent investigator and has been interested in scleroderma. This MS, published in a regional journal, was based on a presentation at the Western Association of Physicians (WAP). The WAP is a prestigious organization of senior physicians and I presume that this MS was invited and would have had limited critical peer review. Cla-man has not published much in the area of antinuclear antibodies recently and the quoted MS is actually the last he has published as listed in my MEDLINE' search. The numbers of patients tested by Claman is small and the resulting data is at variance with three other series of SBI who were evaluated for ANA positivity (Gabriel et al, Sanchez-Guerrero, and Peters et al.). Curiously the *1457 numbers of patients without disease who are ANA negative are surprisingly few, also at variance with the usual background positivity of this test. It is to be noted that the percentage of SBI who were positive was not statistically different from patients with fi-bromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Eng Tan, a former President of the American College of Rheumatology, has reevaluated a group of sera from Japan and confirmed the presence of ANAs described in 1984. Most of the small number of patients in that group had scleroderma. In this MS he describes evaluating 300 sera, received from Dr. Espinsoa of Tulane University, from patients with symptoms suggestive of some connective tissue disease Tan writes, “When 170 patients with fatigue were further analyzed, 46/170 (27%) fulfilled the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, and 79/170 (43.4%) fulfilled criteria for fibromyalgia. Tan (Cuellar) also appears as an author on an abstract of a study presented at the American College of Rheuma-tology national meeting in 1995 in which ANA positivity retreated from 61.3% to 28% following explantation of SBI in a relatively small group of women (21). This data is a variance with ANA data in a considerably larger series (1601 SBI patients and 762 controls) presented by Fritzler, a former trainee of Tan’s. In Fritzler’s study ANA positivity was 32.4% in implant patients and 34.4% in controls. Neither of these presentations have been published nor subjected to extensive peer review. Presumably the last two studies utilized the same techniques and standards to perform the ANA test. Despite the best of intentions and the use of positive and negative controls good laboratories will come up with quite difference results. The handling, storage, and manipulation of sera can influence the outcome of laboratory results under the most rigid circumstances. Because of this I make it a practice, as a clinician to use the same laboratory from year to year to minimize the variation that seems inherent in different laboratories (Feigenbaum 1982, Cu-ellar 1994). The ANÁ being discussed here is to single stranded nueleoprotein. It is the basic test. If the basic test is positive, elaborate tests against other cellular components are performed that give more specific diagnostic and prognostic significance. Silverman et al, in a non-peer reviewed MS to appear in the Potter and Rose book, indicates an incidence of less than 1% of symptomatic breast implanted patients with positive subtype ANAs. The significance of antinuclear antibodies has long frustrated the scientist. John Klip-pel (Klippel & Dieppe 1994) in his textbook, Rheumatology, writes “Numerous studies have documented the presence of ANAs in normal healthy people. In general, the antibody titer is low (<1:40) and the pattern of a homogenous or diffuse pattern. The frequency increases with age — 20-25% of persons over the age of 60 years are ANA positive — and is probably higher in families in which there is a patient with rheumatic illness.” Lewy et al, again in the Potter and Rose book, feels he has corrected for age in his evaluation of breast implant women. But his study is flawed by the use of historical controls and by the fact that his evaluations were not done in a blinded (to diagnosis) manner. Patterns of positivity such as homogeneous or speckled may or may not be important. A speckled pattern is generally associated with certain illnesses like scleroderma. Mongey, (Mongey 1988) in an extensive review of antinuclear antibodies concludes, “While these antibodies play an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of connective tissue diseases, their possible pathologic importance has in many cases yet to be determined.” While much is made of the titer or dilution as it relates to disease, it may be less important in midrange. I have enclosed a report (from a large New England commercial laboratory) diagram which is meant to illustrate how high the titers of these antibodies can rise in normal patients relative to titers in patients with some of the classical connective tissue diseases. I use this diagram to emphasize the relative non-specificity of this test in interpretation of patients’ symptoms and disease and non-disease. Importantly, antinuclear antibodies are found in >30% of patients with FMS (Bridges, 1993) and 15% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. (Bates 1995). *1458 The presence of ANAs in SBI could well represent the result of polyclonal immune stimulation secondary to the individual’s exposure to a number of environmental substances including drugs. Well over thirty five drugs are associated with the occurrence of ANAs and some of these drugs induce an illness that has manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. (Slater 1996). The presence of anti-tissue antibodies and the understanding of their relation to disease is poor. The production of disease by ANAs has never been confirmed except in unusual neurologic diseases like myasthenia gravis. Thus one could question both the significance and relevance of the data about ANA and SSRD. Little if anything is known about serologic findings in the woman prior to implantation who are subsequently shown to have positive ANAs in the aftermath of their SBI. Did they pre-exist? Controls for studies have been non-implanted women or historical controls. What drugs are these women taking; what are their co-morbid conditions; their life stress situations? Other Serologic Findings In the matter of silicone blood levels, antibodies to silicone, and elevated levels of im-munoglobulins I am not persuaded by the testimony and the provided documentation that these changes are sufficiently tested in large population groups and controlled conditions to confirm the likelihood that they are unique to SBI women. It cannot have escaped the court’s awareness that the group of physicians who have attracted SBI patients are more likely than not seeing symptomatic patients and not necessarily those who contiriue to be asymptomatic with prostheses in place. This is well illustrated in the matter of the widely publicized case controlled study (also quoted by plaintiff’s attorneys) of 56 children breast fed by mothers with SBI (Levine & Ilowite) These children were referred by physicians or support groups concerned about second generation effects. This MS attracted considerable international recognition. The criticisms raised by Gott and Tinkler include, “the use of a highly selected group of patients with bias evident at each stage of selection, inadequate controls in terms of matching, inadequate numbers investigated, inaccuracies in clinical correlations, lack of evidence that abnormalities were clinically significant, lack of corroborative evidence, the effect of any anesthetic agents used on esophageal motility, inappropriate statistical methods and lack of any evidence that silicone was present in milk or ingested.” The authors themselves also point that four of the eight children they identified as being abnormal came from one family and that a genetic abnormality to account for the findings was not excluded. The hypothesis of Drs. Greshwin and Kem-ple needs to be tested. This is best done with epidemiologic studies as has been thoroughly explored and evaluated by the court. I would ask that I be permitted a few comments in this area as a clinician who has been and continues to be involved in such studies of rheumatic disease. The Henneken’s study was one in which female health professionals responded to a questionnaire about five connective tissue diseases (RA, SLE, PSS, DM/PM, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and any other connective tissue disease (including mixed) [italics mine]. These were diagnoses that their physician allegedly provided. Who is a female health professional? As defined by the MS a female health professional is: She is an RN, practical or vocational nurse, physician, dental hygienist, dental assistant, pharmacist, radiologic technician, speech, hearing and language professional. To my estimation some of these categories represent persons with little medical sophistication. These women were not examined and therefore the data they provided must be viewed skeptically. As a practicing rheumatologist, and one who has participated in epidemiologic studies, no diagnosis of rheumatologic disease is solid unless the patient has been critically evaluated by a physician, preferably by a rheumatologist, or the patient’s record carefully reviewed and diagnoses established according to pre-es-tablished criteria for disease. General physicians are not particularly adept at making early rheumatologic diagnoses. You are all already aware of the criticisms of this study by Silverman (1996) as being biased by its *1459 timing (post 1992) referral to the media exploitation of this area. So let me farther question this study. I take particular issue with the category other connective tissue disease including mixed. This is so indefinite as to be meaningless. Over the last 15 years a consortium of physicians, in which I participate, has been trying to decide what undifferentiated connective tissue disease is and have learned that it probably does not exist but is simply part of existing disorders. (Alarcon 1991, Clegg 1991, Bulpitt 1993). Among the other epidemiologic studies, the Mayo Clinic study (Gabriel 1994) while also flawed by failure of physicians to personally interact with the patients, had a better likelihood of identifying individuals with non-typical connective tissue disorders. Such signs and symptoms as joint swelling, dry eyes, dry mouth, keratoconjunctivitis, malar or dis-coid rash, seizures, psychosis, oral ulcers, photosensitivity, saliva gland enlargement, symmetric muscle weakness, and morning stiffness were sought in the records of these resident’s of Olmstead County. A criticism by Silverman (Silverman 1995) in the FDA meta-analysis of this MS is that follow-up at one of the Mayo clinic affiliates was not guaranteed and patients could be lost to follow up. This is a veiy weak criticism. Rochester, Minnesota is a small community, once enrolled at that institution for care of a chronic condition it is highly unlikely that a patient would seek follow-up care elsewhere. Notwithstanding the reservations put forward by Silverman about the Gabriel and Sanehez-Guerro studies I feel that they are among the best we can do in science at this time. Those studies are published in what could be the most prestigious medical publication in the United States. Marcia Angel, executive editor of that publication, indicates that the peer review process for those MSS involved 17 reviewers. It will be a long time before we can equal the numbers in the Harvard nurses study or the rigidity of both these studies and the peer review process of the New England Journal of Medicine. In concluding, I would like to emphasize the confidence I have in science and the individuals involved with the generation of much of the data that has accumulated both in support and refutation of this controversy. However, in criticizing some of the material used to support arguments I would recommend that peer reviewed literature is to be preferred. Material that appears in reviews, book chapters, abstracts, and oral presentations is subject to much less scrutiny. Errors do occur and some investigators are more careful than others without any implication of deceit. The best scientists are rewarded for their care with publication in prestigious journals whose assessments are most rigid. This is why, for example, I find it difficult to find fault with studies published in places like the New England Journal of Medicine or the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. I don’t place a premium on the volume of publications about a subject particularly in a era when support for research is guided by what is fashionable rather than by a scientists true curiosity. Many thanks for the opportunities provided me to educate myself in details about this controversy. I hope you understand that the material provided was extensive and I have tried to evaluate it to the best of my ability as a clinical rheumatologist. Sincerely, /s/ Robert F. Wilkens Robert F. Willkens MD APPENDIX D OREGON HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, L220 Portland, Oregon 97201-3098 (503) 494-7768 Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology September 9,1996 To: Robert E. Jones, U.S. District Judge /s/ Mary Stenzel-Poore From: Mary Stenzel-Poore, Ph.D. Re: Silicone Breast Implant Cases — Analysis of Scientific Reasoning and Methodology Regarding Immunological Studies *1460 This report constitutes my evaluation of scientific literature relied upon and used to form the opinion of the expert witness, Dr. Eric Gershwin. My analysis is restricted to issues involving immunology. The guidelines that I have followed in my analysis were set forth in the Daubert opinion and outlined for the Rule 104 experts by the Court. In my evaluation of the testimony and scientific literature regarding silicone gel breast implantation, I have applied the following questions which were also provided by the Court: 1. Is the expert’s opinion supported by sound scientific reasoning and methodology that is generally accepted? 2. Is the expert’s opinion based upon scientifically rehable data? 3. Do the methodology and data support the expert’s conclusion? I have evaluated the following scientific issues: 1. Adjuvant potential of silicone gel implants. 2. Potential of immune stimulation of T cells by silicone gel implants 3. Altered natural killer cell activity 4. Immune system cancer formation in rodents My analysis is by no means an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on these issues. I have focused my discussion on the scientific merits or lack thereof found in some of the specific studies that Dr. Gershwin has relied upon to form his opinions. 1. Do the findings from studies evaluating the adjuvant potential of silicone gel and various components that make up silicone gel and silicone oil support the opinion that SBI cause autoimmune or inflammatory disease in women? Studies show the following: la.Silicone gel emulsified with antigen may act as an adjuvant in humoral (Naim, Lanzafame et al. 1993; Naim, Ippolito et al. 1995; Naim, Lanzafame et al. 1995; Hill, Landavere et al. 1996; Klykken and White 1996; Nicholson, Wong et al. 1996) and cell-mediated immune responses (Naim, Lanza-fame et al. 1995; Naim, Ippolito et al. 1996) in rodents. lb. Silicone oils that are both linear and low molecular weight, emulsified with antigen do not act as adjuvants (Naim, Ippolito et al. 1995; Hill, Landavere et al. 1996; Klykken and White 1996; Nicholson, Wong et al. 1996) in rodents. lc. Silicone oils that are low molecular weight and cyclic (D4) emulsified with antigen may act as adjuvants (Naim, Ippolito et al. 1995; Klykken and White 1996). Direct attempts to demonstrate that immunization with these agents emulsified with “auto-antigens” or given in the absence of antigens failed to show evidence of autoimmune disease despite obvious disease induction by Freund’s adjuvant (Chang 1993; Naim, vanOss et al. 1993; Naim, Lanzafame et al. 1995; Naim, Ippolito et al. 1996). Only in the Dark Agouti rat, a genetic strain well known to have high susceptibility to the development of arthritis was evidence reported of arthritis occurring with the use of the antigen, collagen II emulsified with silicone gel (not peer-reviewed); importantly, silicone gel alone was not arthritogenic (Naim, Ippoli-to et al. 1996). Direct injection of silicone gel into the joint of the DA rat appears to induce a foreign body reaction, not a true arthritis; this latter study (Yoshino 1994) implicated the partial involvement of T cells. Thus, in rodents, silicone gel, high molecular weight silicone oils and D4 appear to act as adjuvants to stimulate antigen-specific antibody responses and specific T cell-mediated immunity if the antigen and silicone agents are emulsified; enhanced immune responses are not found if the antigen is not emulsified with the silicone agents (Bradley, Munson et al. 1994; Bradley, White et al. 1994) or given in the absence of antigen (Bradley, Munson et al. 1994; Bradley, White et al. 1994; Naim, Ippolito et al. 1996). Thus far, these effects have been reported in animal models only. Forming the conclusion that elicitation of autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease occurs in women with SBI based on the evi- *1461 denee that silicone gel acts as an adjuvant when emulsified with antigen is unsupported by the data since peer-reviewed studies failed to show evidence of autoimmune-mediated disease. In addition, induction of antigen-specific antibodies using silicone gel as an adjuvant mixed with antigens (foreign or self) may not correlate with autoimmune disease. Induction of a cell-mediated immune response using silicone gel as an adjuvant may not correlate with autoimmune disease. Studies designed to mimic physiological conditions of silicone gel breast implantation (Bradley, Munson et al. 1994; Bradley, White et al. 1994), have failed to conclusively show an increase in antigen-specific responsiveness in the absence of silicone gel-antigen emulsification. Although these studies show a modest increase in the IgG response t,o the antigen, SRBC, this enhancement was not observed at the peak of the response which is generally accepted as the optimal time to determine such differences. In addition, it was not clear in this study how many times it was replicated — an important consideration when doing these kinds of studies. The scientific methodology used in the aforementioned studies is generally sound, although it is not always peer-reviewed. However, I believe that Dr. Gershwin’s opinion regarding the adjuvant properties of silicone gel and its relationship to SBI-related disease requires a substantial leap of faith since it is undetermined from these studies whether silicone gel breast implants would lead to adjuvant actions, much less autoimmune responses or systemic inflammation; indeed, studies designed to test this hypothesis argue against such an outcome. Thus, the position of Dr. Gershwin is not well-supported by the data available in the published scientific literature nor is it derived from valid conclusions of the studies cited above. 2. Do the findings from studies evaluating T-lymphocyte responses to silicone gel and various components that make up silicone gel and silicone oil support the opinion that SBI cause specific immune responses to silicone and cause disease in women? The view that SBIs stimulate antigen-specific T cell mediated responses in vivo is not well substantiated by the experimental studies reported in the literature. The strongest experimental approach is taken by attempting to directly test the hypothesis posed. Such an approach was made by Brantley et al (Brantley, Davidson et al. 1990) in the Lewis rat by attempting to mimic the biological situation of silicone breast implantation. This study immunized rats with sonicated silicone gel followed by silicone gel implantation. Lymphocyte responses to mitogen, silicone and the combination were measured in vitro (by lymphocyte transformation assays); these measurements failed to show evidence for in vivo immune stimulation by silicone. In a recent study reported by Narini et al, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses were employed to assess whether specific T cell responses occur with silicone gel injection. This study (Narini, Semple et al. 1995) claims that specific immunity develops in response to immunization with silicone gel. This study actually provides rather questionable support for this claim and at the very most, the results may be taken as support for a non-specific inflammatory response to silicone oil. Narini et al describe the use of a radioactive lymphocyte quantitation assay to measure DTH. In addition to the fact that this assay is not the usual method for quantitating DTH reactions, the authors fail to demonstrate whether this assay correlates with the more conventional assay measuring local induration and swelling. More importantly, however, if one compares the effect of priming animals with saline, Complete Freund’s Ad-juvant (CFA) or silicone gel followed by challenge with silicone gel, the results are indistinguishable from one another (271 vs. 290 vs. 309 cpm). This does not indicate immunological priming that is antigen-specific. In contrast, the authors show that immunization with CFA followed by challenge with PPD (antigen found in CFA) causes an increase of "10-fold over saline challenge (saline = 290; PPD = 2403) which is much more likely to represent specific immune responsiveness. The results obtained in this study indicate *1462 essentially background levels of radiolabeled cell infiltration except in the case of PPD (as one would expect in a specific immune response). Thus, the most likely explanation for the small but significant difference the authors show between saline and silicone challenge in silicone-primed sheep is that the infiltration is due to a non-specific inflammatory reaction. It would be helpful, in this regard, to examine another similar gel-substance that does not contain silicone. One would predict that inclusion of such a much-needed control may lead to loss of what is at best, a marginal nonspecific effect of the silicone gel. In light of the discussion above, the results of this study should be viewed with caution and until further necessary controls are included, the conclusion that silicone gel acts as a T-eell specific immunogen to elicit delayed-type hypersensitivity is not warranted from this report. Several studies have been performed attempting to establish a link between silicone breast implantation in women and silicone-specific T cell responses (Ojo-Amaize, Conte et al. 1994; Ciapetti, Granchi et al. 1995; Granchi, Cavedagna et al. 1995; Smalley and Shanklin 1995; Smalley, Shanklin et al. 1995). While it is quite possible that there is an association between silicone breast implantation and specific T cell activation, these studies have a number of methodological shortcomings and thus should not form the basis of such an opinion. The study by Granchi et al in 1995 has questionable scientific value since the investigators in this study used an unconventional biological test to measure natural killer cell activity using as target cells, the cell line, K562 and subsequent FLOW cytometry analysis with propidium iodide staining (Granchi, Cavedagna et al. 1995). This assay does not measure antigen-specific responses. Age-matched controls were not used in this study, thus it is unclear how implanted women and the control group may have differed from one another in view of the significant age difference (16 years) between the test and control groups. In addition, there was not a group representing the co-variable of breast surgery. The stimulation “extract” described in this study as the silicone-containing antigen source is not defined nor well characterized. It is unclear what this antigen contains — how much silicone is present, if any. Finally, there was no strong evidence for in vitro T cell stimulation using the silicone extract among implanted and control women. The same study population used by Granchi et al in 1995 was examined again (Ciapetti, Granchi et al. 1995). In addition to the methodological problems discussed above, this study has additional interpretative difficulties rendering it unsuitable scientifically. Several figures indicate that the number of tests that were done is greater than the actual number of controls and sample patients. This suggests that tests were repeated on selected samples. Without any additional information, this is unsettling and leaves one with the concern that the data as presented has been manipulated in some way. Furthermore, the study suggests that both the control extract and silicone extract treatment decreased the TdR incorporation compared to untreated samples. Finally, the authors farther divide the study group into two subgroups based on their mammoplasty history (augmentation vs. reconstructive) without detailing how other factors such as age varied between these two groups. In this aspect of the study, the authors claim that “augmented” patients show a significant lymphocyte stimulation compared to the total implantation group whereas “reconstructed” individuals show no significant stimulation. This comparison should have been done comparing only “augmented” individuals treated with control extract to silicone extract treatment of the same individuals. Similar comparisons should have been done with the reconstructed population and control population. Comparing the silicone treatment of these subgroups to the control treatment of the total group of implanted women is incorrect. Overall, the numerous problems with this study (Ciapetti, Granchi et al. 1995) make it unsound scientifically and it should not be relied upon. The study published by Ojo-Amaize et al is often cited as support for silicone specific lymphocyte responses. This study (Ojo- *1463 Amaize, Conte et al. 1994) purported to find T cell specific responses in twice as many symptomatic implanted women as asymptomatic women exposed to silicone. However, the interpretation of the data obtained in this study must be viewed cautiously. The validity of the study both with respect to scientific methodology and data analysis has been strongly criticized (Cohen 1995). There is no information on the age of control and test samples; if controls and test samples are not similar, differences in lymphocyte response could exist due to sample bias. The authors place implanted and explanted women into a single group of asymptomatic individuals; this group of 13 women is used to form the basis of their conclusion that asymptomatic women exposed to silicone differ significantly from symptomatic women exposed to silicone implants. The study was reported to be done in a blinded fashion yet all but one of the figures in this paper indicate that the data has been specifically selected requiring knowledge of the sample history and identification. Information is not given for the complete population showing which antigens (and dose) yielded the stimulation indices used in Figure 1. The authors state that “the highest response obtained for each women in each group at any of the three concentrations tested against any of the three forms of silicon is shown”. Since no specific information is provided regarding the antigen and dose yielding the data in this figure one ■ cannot properly assess the significance of their findings. Moreover, it is very concerning that a large number of stimulation indi-ces are below 1.0 in Figure 1 since a value of 1.0 (not less than 1.0) would indicate that the stimulus had no effect. Figures 2 and 3 show stimulation indices of 0 which is difficult to know what this means. It is not the accepted, scientifically established method for data presentation of this type and therefore it should be interpreted with cáution. Finally, the use of median rather than mean would be far more valid in this case since a small number of stimulation values are quite-large which would have a major impact on the mean value. Two studies (Smalley and Shanklin 1995; Smalley, Shanklin et al. 1995) have cited evidence for enhanced lymphocyte stimulation responses to silicon in patients with silicone breast implants. These studies have a number of methodological and interpretive shortcomings that should be considered. The study populations fail to include asymptomatic implanted women. In addition, the control population does not control for the co-variable of breast surgery; one of the studies fails to control for gender differences (Smalley and Shanklin 1995). In both studies, silicon dioxide was used as the antigen which may not be relevant to silicone-gel breast implantation. There is serious concern regarding the stimulation indices reported. In particular, the unstimulated (background) levels are very low; they lie at the minimal threshold of detection. Given that the background levels of tritiated thymidine incorporation are at this threshold, they are unlikely to accurately detect differences among the unstimulated samples. It is difficult to know precisely how this would affect the data. The studies were performed using manual collection (Smalley and Shanklin 1995) which is not the convention for such experiments; again, it is unclear how this would effect the data, although, at the very least, it is generally considered subject to greater variability than automated harvesting. It is disturbing that there is no dose response and no kinetic analysis shown for the stimulation studies with silicon dioxide. Demonstration of T cell mediated memory responses to a presumed antigen generally requires experimental validation of dose-response, kinetic analysis and antigen specificity (such as the use of colloidal compounds lacking silicon). It is concerning that studies of the kinetics were not shown for antigen and mitogen stimulations since these kinds of stimulations are usually analyzed at different times (3 days for mitogen and 5-7 days for antigen); in these studies the investigators elected to use day 4. Selecting a timepoint intermediate for the two kinds of assays is not a conventional approach. In summary, based on the data in these two studies which are inconclusive, Smalley’s *1464 claim that “the method used demonstrates clearly that silicone implant patients frequently develop a T-cell-mediated immuno-pathic response to foreign material from the prosthesis.” is not substantiated. The scientific methodology used in the aforementioned studies is disappointingly poor. In general, the authors’ interpretations are invalid due to the lack of appropriate controls and unconventional data manipulations. Thus, I believe that those opinions of Dr. Gershwin regarding the role of silicone gel breast implants in stimulating specific T cell immunity and thereby providing a plausible mechanism of autoimmune induction are not upheld by the literature discussed above. The position of Dr. Gershwin is simply not well-supported by studies available in the published scientific literature nor is it derived from appropriate conclusions regarding the studies cited above. 3. Do the findings from studies evaluating natural killer cell functional changes in response to silicone gel and various components that make up silicone gel and silicone oil support the opinion that SBI cause specific disease in women? Changes in natural killer (NK) cell function have been reported to be associated with silicone gel exposure in rodents (Bradley, White et al. 1994; Wilson and Munson 1996) and humans (Campbell, Brautbar et al. 1994; Granchi, Cavedagna et al. 1995). While alterations in NK cell function alone do not support a link to a specific disease state, changes in NK cells have been associated with increased susceptibility to pathogens and tumor formation. In long term implant studies performed in rats and mice, a modest depression in cyto-lytic actions of NK cells was reported in two publications (one of which was not peer-reviewed) by the same laboratory (Bradley, White et al. 1994; Wilson and Munson 1996). The results from these experiments may well indicate a modest diminution in NK activity; it is disturbing, however, that this finding was subject to significant variability in both rats and mice. Such variability lead to the comment by the authors that “No inhibition was seen in 3 of 9 studies.” In addition, the time course of this inhibition shows a modest depression at post-implantation day 30, enhancement at day 60, followed by a modest depression on days 90 and 180. Whether the proposed silicone gel actions on NK cell function are dose-dependent is somewhat confusing, again based on the disturbing variability shown in these studies. Given the concerns raised by the degree of irreprodueibility and fluctuations in time and dose-dependency, conclusions made regarding the suppressive effect of silicone gel on NK function based on these studies (Bradley, White et al. 1994; Wilson and Munson 1996) are pre-mature. In 1994, Campbell et al reported that symptomatic silicone-gel breast implanted women showed suppressed NK cell activity that was reversed following explantation. While it is possible that this may be a real finding, based on the findings reported in this study, it is not possible to make this conclusion (Campbell, Brautbar et al. 1994). The fundamental difficulties in this study arise from the failure to include appropriate control groups that would allow the evaluation of NK cell activity over time. In particular, NK activity should have been determined several times prior to explantation and again several times post-explantation since the degree of variability in NK assays done at different times could account for the observed changes. Moreover, NK activity is subject to variation within normal individuals, thus, control groups representing normal healthy women and symptomatic women without silicone implants are necessary. Thus, although the data indicate that 50% of symptomatic women with implants had lower NK activity prior to removal of the implant, it is misleading since the degree of variation is not shown in the implanted women, or in women without implants. It is invalid to conclude that silicone-gel breast implants in women lead to a depressed NK cell activity that is reversible with explantation. 4. Do the findings from studies evaluating the development of immune system cancer in genetically susceptible mice in response to silicone gel and various components that make up silicone gel and *1465 silicone oil support the opinion that SBI cause cancer in women? In 1994, Potter et al examined the potential of silicone gel and silicone oil to induce plas-macytomas in a mice. In this study (Potter, Morrison et al. 1994). two congenie mouse strains known to be highly susceptible to plasmacytoma formation, developed tumors in response to injection with silicone gel. More importantly, no tumors were elicited with silicone injection in five mouse strains which lacked genetic susceptibility to plasma-cytomas. In addition, high and low mw silicone oil failed to induce tumors in any strain tested, most notably, the genetically susceptible strains (Potter and Morrison 1996). Plasmacytomas that formed in response to silicone gel resembled those formed in response to pristane oil. Importantly, the requirement for tumor formation is chronic inflammation in the peritoneal space; there does not appear to be any specificity to the materials that induce the chronic inflammation since solid plastic, paraffin oil, mineral oil and silicone gels are effective tumor inducers in the genetically susceptible mouse strain. The data and the methods used in these studies are standard for plasmacytoma formation. The issue is whether this is an appropriate model of human tumor formation. This cannot be answered definitively as yet. However, in my opinion, this is a case where extreme caution should be exercised in making such analogies. In the mouse, this tumor occurs in a very specific context (in the peritoneum in response to certain inflammatory stimuli) and in a very specific genetic strain. Tumors in humans that may represent homologues to mouse plasmacytomas are unusually rare and not often in the peritoneum: extramedullary plasmacytomas are located in the submucosal regions of the upper respiratory tract and the nasopharynx, and GI tract; solitary myelomas of bone and multiple myelomas are thought to develop in bone marrow although the origin of the precursor is unknown. Based on the above discussion regarding plasmacytoma formation in genetically susceptible mouse strains, I believe that Dr. Gershwin’s opinions regarding the development of immune system cancers in women with silicone breast implants is unwarranted from such animal studies. There is no conclusive evidence to date that this model of tumor formation in mice has any human correlate. Literature Cited Bradley, S., A. Munson, et al. (1994). “Sub-chronic 10 day immunotoxieity of polydime-thylsiloxane (silicone) fluid, gel and elastomer and polyurethane disks in female B6C3F1 mice.” Drug Chem Tox 17:175-220. Bradley, S., K. White, et al. (1994). “Immu-notoxicity of 180 day exposure to polydime-thylsiloxane (siloxane) fluid, gel, and elastomer and polyurethane disks in female B6C3F1 mice.” Drug Chem Toxicol 17:221-269. Brantley, S., S. Davidson, et al. (1990). “Assessment of the lymphocyte response to silicone.” Plast Reconst Surg 86:1131-1137. Campbell, A, N. Brautbar, et al. (1994). “Suppressed natural killer cell activity in patients with silicone breast implants: reversal upon explantation.” Tox.Indust. Health 10:149-154. Chang, Y. (1993). “Adjuvantieity and arthri-togenicity of silicone.” Plast.Reconstr.Surg. 92:469-473. Ciapetti, G., D. Granchi, et al. (1995). “Assessment of viability and proliferation of in vivo silicone-primed lymphocytes after in vi-tro re-exposure to silicone.” J. Biomedical MatRes. 29:583-590. Cohen, J. (1995). “T-cell response in women with silicone breast implants.” Clin Diag Lab Immunol 2:253-254. Granchi, D., D. Cavedagna, et al. (1995). “Silicone breast implants: the role of the immune system on capsular contracture formation.” J. Biomedical Mater. Res. 29:197-202. Hill, S., M. Landavere, et al. (1996). The adjuvant effect of silicone gel and silicone elastomer particles in rats. Immunology of Silicones. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 123-137. Klykken, P. and K. White (1996). The adju-vancy of silicones: dependency on compart *1466 mentalization. Immunology of Silicones. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 113-121. Naim, J., K. Ippolito, et al. (1995). “The effect of molecular weight and gel preparation on humoral adjuvancy of silicone oils and silicone gels.” ImmunolJnvestig. 24:537-547. Naim, J., K Ippolito, et al. (1996). Induction of Type II collagen arthritis in the DA rat using silicone gel as adjuvant. Immunology of Silicones. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 103-111. Naim, J., R. Lanzafame, et al. (1995). “The effect of silicone gel on the immune response.” J. Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition 7:123-132. Naim, J., C. vanOss, et al. (1993). “The induction of autoantibodies to thyrogobulin in rats with silicone gel as adjuvant.” Surgical Forum XLTV: 676-678. Naim, J.O., R.J. Lanzafame, et al. (1993). “The adjuvant effect of silicone-gel on antibody formation in rats.” ImmunolJnvest. 22:151-161. Narini, P., J.. Semple, et al. (1995). “Repeated exposure to silicone gel can induce delayed hypersensitivity.” Plast.Reconstr. 96:371-380. Nicholson, J., 6. Wong, et al. (1996). Silicone gel and oetamethylcyclotetrasiloxane potentiate antibody production to bovine serum albumin in mice. Immunology of Sil-icones. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 139-144. Ojo-Amaize, E., V. Conte, et al. (1994). “Silicone-specific blood lymphocyte response in women with silicone breast implants.” Clin Diag Lab Immunol 1:689-695. Potter, M. and S. Morrison (1996). Plasma-cytoma development in mice injected with silicone gels. Immunology of Silicones. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 397-407. Potter, M., S. Morrison, et al. (1994). “Induction of plasmacytomas with silicone gel in genetically susceptible strains of mice.” J Nat Cancer Instit. 86:1058-1065. Smalley, D. and D. ShanHin (1995). “Immunologic stimulation of T lymphocytes by silica after use of silicone mammary implants.” FASEB 9:424-427. Smalley, D., D. Shanklin, et al. (1995). “Detection of lymphocyte stimulation by silicon dioxide.” Intemat.J.OccupatMed Tox 4:63-70. Wilson, S. and A. Munson (1996). Silicone-induced modulation of natural killer cell activity. Immunology of Silicones. Berlin. Springer-Verlag. 199-208. Yoshino, S. (1994). “Silicone-induced arthritis in rats and possible role for T cells.” Immunobiol 192:40-47. APPENDIX E REPORT TO JUDGE ROBERT E. JONES, U.S. DISTRICT COURT, ON THE SCIENTIFIC MERIT OF CHEMICAL EVIDENCE SUBMITTED IN ANDREWS ET AL. VS. BRISTOL MYERS ET AL. Submitted by Ronald W. McClard, Ph.D., Arthur F. Scott Professor of Chemistry, Reed College, on September 10, 1996 INTRODUCTION Having been supplied with more documents and videotapes than a human could possibly evaluate critically in the short time given me, I have endeavored to get at the heart of this matter as efficiently as possible. As a guiding principle I used the degree of emphasis placed by the Defendants’ Closing Arguments (presented by Ms. Mary Wells) to guide the emphasis I then placed on the documents. Outside of opening remarks and outline and closing summary the detailed discussions were distributed in the following way: 1) the challenge of Donald DePalma’s University of Florida M.S. thesis (about 52% of the time); challenge of Dr. Garrido and Dr. Pfleiderer’s 1 work on NMR (about 26% *1467 of the time); Challenge of Dr. Batieh’s “silicone-bleeding” results (about 12% of the time); and Challenge of Dr. Batich’s silicone migration results (about 10% of the time). Other work was certainly mentioned in passing (such as Dr. Hardt and the Dow Corning experiments) and will be woven into the listed categories. By and large, the emphasis I place on the various subjects will parallel that of the Defendants’ closing argument, in respect of the fact that they have raised this issue. Clearly the DePalma thesis has attracted by far the greatest attention in the chemistry portion of these hearings and will receive a similar degree of attention in my analysis. The NMR work of Garrido and others will then be next in attention and so on. I have taken the liberty to summarize the various questions posed by the two sides in the interest of producing a more efficient and coherent discussion. The headings I have created are: 1) Does silicone depolymerize and change chemically in vitro and in vivo ? 2) Does silicone bleed out of implants (and are the methods used to detect silicone and silicone products adequate) and move throughout the body? 3) Do chemical and physical methods demonstrate that the surface area of silicone microdroplets increase significantly with time? 4) Does silicone degrade to silica in vivo? The reader should bear in mind that the subject matter I have been asked to address contains materials that spans several disciplines. Thus one should not expect that I am expert across all of them. Parenthetical comments are offered as running footnotes and specific papers and other documents are referenced sequentially and set off in parentheses. DISCUSSION OF ISSUES 1) Does silicone depolymerize and change chemically in vitro and in vivo ? The DePalma 2 Masters Thesis Clearly this one document (1) has been made the biggest issue in the part of the proceedings dealing with chemistry and will require the greatest discussion. In short, Donald DePalma, under the tutelage of Prof. Batich at the University of Florida, set out to study a model system that would mimic conditions analogous to those on the surface of a silicone breast implant. I believe their choice was a good one. They then set out to study surface chemistry changes that occurred by two independent methods that they compared: surface tension measurements called contact angle goniometry and the surface analytical method called X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS, also sometimes called ESCA). These measurements were used to establish rates of conversion of the silicone polymer to presumed siloxy functionalities. The attendant increase in hydrophilicity was observed as a decrease in the receding contact angle as one might observe as a drop of water might move from a well-waxed (very hydrophobic) part of an automobile to a more hydrophilic part (perhaps non-waxy and covered with dirt). The theory behind such measurement is classical. Experts brought forward by the Defendant’s are extremely critical that Mr. DePalma did not report advancing contact angles. Dr. Wamser, in his affidavit, pointed out circumstances where advancing angles can be of little use in some cases and he provided literature examples thereof. It seems to me that Mr. De- *1468 Palma was doing what any scientist would do in such a circumstance — if the advancing angle shows little change in the domain of interest and the receding angle does then by all means pursue the latter course. Now, this fact that advancing angles were done and not reported only came to light recently and Rattner’s admonition in this regard is highly appropriate. Had Mr. DePalma made that choice because he knew it would bias his results in some direction he wanted his data to take, then I would consider the subjective choice to be scientifically invalid. In this case his choice was reasonable, in my opinion. However, further discussion should, to a large extent, bear out the reasonableness of his choice. Were it not for DePalma’s thoroughness in doing the work to be discussed next, I think that objections raised by Kennan et al (that the hysteresis in advancing and receding angles was due to artifacts) might have been a stickier issue. The XPS studies afforded DePalma the opportunity to make more convincing measurements of the degree of hydrolysis of the silyl groups to bare siloxy groups by trapping them with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and then measuring the build in of a nitrogen signal on the thin surface as an indirect measure of the -OH functionality appearing at the surface. In my opinion the chemistry proposed is entirely reasonable, and borne out by other studies by other investigators. Despite Dr. Rattner’s forceful claim that DePalma should have used “direct” XPS rather than indirect assumes that the former would be superior— that the various different types of Si valence electrons would yield adequately resolved peaks that could be quantified. DePalma’s method, though perhaps suboptimal for the reasons given, does offer the advantage that a highly resolved N peak can now be used (of course entering into the picture a whole new set of potential artifacts). The XPS studies apparently then enable DePalma to cross-calibrate his contact angle results in reasonable fashion. At this point I should mention the testimony of the Defendants’ expert witness, Prof. Uhlmann, who most unfortunately muddied the waters by making the odd supposition that the nitrogen that DePalma observed was possibly due to atmospheric N2. Perhaps Dr. Uhlmann is thinking of metallurgic surfaces at extremely elevated temperature and pressure where “nitriding” can occur. The studies of DePalma are run at room temperature or just slightly above (by comparison to metallurgical processes. 100°C can be considered “slightly above” room temperature), and under high vacuum to boot where the adsorption of nitrogen would be a truly novel finding, which had he discovered it should have caused him to win the Nobel prize. Dr. Uhlmanris suggestion that the exceedingly unreactive N2 molecule would react with the materials present on the surface of this polymer is not consistent with present chemical knowledge. Yes, N2 can react, but only under the most extreme conditions, such as in a bolt of lightning or at the spark of an internal combustion engine at elevated pressure and temperature. Indeed the mystery of fixation of N2 by microbes eluded chemists for decades. The further suggestion that a nitrogen oxide compound (suggested by Ms. Pole during the testimony of Dr. Batich) might be the culprit is easy to suggest but its origin must be explained— such compounds exist in the atmosphere in vanishingly small partial pressures. Dr. To-rikey made some of these points, along with several others, in his affidavit supporting the Plaintiffs’ case. 3 The next stage of DePalma’s work was to use these time-dependent measurements of the appearance of putative siloxy groups (certainly functional groups capable of reacting with a triethoxysilane) to measure rate constants. Here is where a serious problem arises which I believe is the one potential major flaw in DePalma’s work (clearly noted and dealt with nicely by Dr. Wamser 4 ). *1469 Equations 7 and 8 in the thesis are clearly incorrect and I am surprised that neither Dr. Batich nor any member of the examination board (assuming there was one) at the University of Florida caught this. The standard integrated rate law (differential form in parentheses) for a first order decay where reactant, R, is converted to product, P, (and I agree with DePalma’s apparent recognition of likely first-order behavior) is the following: lnRt = lnR0 - kt for (dR/dt = — kRt) where Rt, R0, k, and t respectively stand for amount of R at time t, amount of R at t = 0, the first order rate constant, and time. Unfortunately Mr. DePalma unjustifiably mangled the equation to get (using my terminology) an equation of the form Pt = Po + k*ln(t) where In refers to the natural logarithm. This equation has no basis whatsoever in kinetic theory and cannot yield correct rate constants. Presumably DePalma desired a simple equation for the time-dependent formation of product — but, alas, one can’t just make it up. Mathematically speaking, his subsequent graphs of the linear equation cannot yield a meaningful rate constant because the logarithm of a dimensioned quantity (here it is time) is undefinable! 5 Dr. Wamser’s analysis of DePalma’s kinetic data is largely correct having employed the equation I listed. In actuality DePalma’s system calls for a more complex analysis since the system does not go to “completion” and the integral calculus is a bit messier but not undoable. I have attached an appropriate section of a recent Physical Chemistry text that deals with this special case (Appendix 1). Dr. Wamser’s analysis is an excellent first approximation and may well yield the same results. The only other analyses that DePal-ma could have carried out would have been zeroth and second order fits of his data, but I believe that this reaction is most likely simple first order, as does Dr. Wamser. 6 DePal-ma then took his measured rates and used them to generate an Arrhenius plot to obtain the energy of activation (Eaet), which could be used to extrapolate down to 37°C and estimate the rate of reaction at human physiological temperature. That is standard practice. 7 From these data DePalma gets two different values of Eaet depending on whether he uses the contact angle measurements or the XPS data, which, by the way, parallel each other reasonably well. A result such as that tends to convince me that a worker is on the right track. Indeed, regardless of whether or not they agree on the conclusions, the data of Kennan et al (2) are in reasonable agreement, which makes me feel DePalma is making good measurements, despite his erroneous kinetic analysis. One issue that has caused much debate is DePalma’s supposed deletion of the 100°C point of the contact angle work. In my opinion he dealt with this issue as honestly as a scientist can, and, in fact, I would have to praise him for being *1470 more forthcoming than most in this regard. He offers a perfectly reasonable (I am not claiming he is right or wrong) explanation for why the point could be tossed out but leaves it on the graph for all to decide as they see fit. To me this is the epitome of the scientific method at work. 8 So, does having made an inexcusable blunder in the kinetic analysis of the data render this work worthless? Perhaps not. The data now belong to the scientific community and anyone is free to interpret them as they will. Dr. Wamser has concluded (and I take no issue with his approximate rendering of the data) that the Eact projects a value of approximately one month for the half life of the conversion of surface silicone to siloxy groups at 37°C. Internal Dow Coming results aren’t far off (see below). Despite the obvious mistake in the kinetic analysis, this work is reasonable scientific exploration. That various individuals can find various flaws in the thesis does not distinguish this work from nearly the entire body of published work in the scientific literature I am sorry to say. Had this work been submitted for publication I would assume it would have been “tentatively accepted for publication with major revision,” possibly including a requirement for more data, particularly more controls. I suspect that a good journal would also require more substantive figure legends, which in their original form are inadequate. That various individuals wish to argue over the conclusions that can be drawn from these data is par for the course and is what makes scientific investigation lively and interesting. I must re-emphasize that I am indeed bewildered how it could be that Dr. Batich, who did a post-doctoral fellowship in physical chemistry, did not catch the blatant error 9 in the kinetic analysis in the thesis or in the meeting abstract (3) that he and DePalma later “published.” In short, the scientific reasoning and methodology of DePalma were scientifically valid. The data were properly obtained and the conclusions that can be drawn are reasonable, once the correct kinetic data analysis was forthcoming and is now established, whether or not performed by Mr. DePalma himself. Clearly these results bear on the matter at hand. Whether or not a masters thesis constitutes a peer-reviewed publication is clearly a matter of debate. The NMR Data of Garrido et al — 29Si NMR Work (for example: b, 5) Here I will discuss the controversy that has arisen over whether or not Dr. Garrido et al have actually been able to observe various silicon-containing species by employing MAS NMR (magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy to observe 29Si. The choice of method was entirely appropriate given the overwhelmingly vast literature on multinuclear applications in biology. The controversy arose when Dr. Macdonald of the University of Toronto published a paper (6) in which he presents findings that dispute whether Garrido et al could have ever measured a 29Si signal given amounts of silicon found by atomic absorption. I believe that Macdonald has faithfully reported what he has observed. Garrido claims he sees 29Si in his instrument and Macdonald claims that he cannot find a signal when he tries to “repeat” the experiment. I agree with Dr. Peyton, who offered a scrupulously thorough and even-handed analysis of the controversy, when he characterizes the situation as “very much at the limits of detection.” It is in this region where the greatest potential for controversy exists. Speaking as a scientist, and not attempting to use legal terminology in this case, the scientific burden of proof in this controversy lies with Dr. Macdonald.. The single most distressing aspect of his paper is that he expects us to ignore one of the major *1471 tenets of science: “Absence of evidence is not evidence for absence.” The Defendants in their closing argument correctly assert that scientific results are only valid when they can be reproduced. But in this instance the admonition can also be applied to Macdonald. Both laboratories used 9.4 Tesla magnets that allowed for observation of 29Si at the same frequency of 79.5 MHz and thus had the same intrinsic sensitivity. However, Macdonald’s instrument is made by Varían and Gamdo’s by Bruker. 10 Since the two instruments may differ widely in probe design (as I recall Macdonald did not address this issue), it is entirely possible that Garrido could have up to an order of magnitude over Macdonald’s instrument. Another factor for which it is very difficult to account is the talent and patience of the person tuning the instrument. It is entirely possible that a person wanting to see a signal at the edge of the detection limit might work extremely hard to shim their magnet whereas another person might subconsciously stop short of getting the maximum from theirs. I am not saying that Macdonald did this, but how can we possibly know? This is a highly subjective matter but cannot be ruled out at all. Had Garrido published brilliant, clear, huge S/N peaks I would be far more suspicious. Unless the probe sensitivity issue can be cleared up unambiguously, I believe Dr. Gar-rido must be given the benefit of the doubt. To be perfectly frank I am surprised that an excellent journal like Analytical Chemistry published Dr. Macdonald’s paper without holding him to a higher standard of proof. One thing about Garrido’s spectra that plagues me is illustrated in Figure 2 of the paper that Macdonald cited (4). He offers Figure 2a as a clear example of background in a control with little or no detectable Si. Figure 2b apparently then reveals lots of signal. I disagree with Dr. Peyton’s evaluation on this point. Why didn’t Garrido et al show us the noise on either side of the signal to prove to the reader that the area of interest is indeed different from the noise? Since Garrido et al did not specifically state that these spectra were presented in the absolute intensity mode (AIM), can we be 100% sure that Figure 2b is nothing more than the same noise in 2a scaled to fill the screen, which the instrument will do automatically unless instructed to work in the AIM. All of Garrido’s subsequent spectra leave this doubt in my mind. Regrettably, Macdonald offered a somewhat pejorative explanation of how he believed Garrido obtained his weak signals. His explanation was that Garrido may have inadvertently manufactured them during the data work-up. 11 Indeed I have seen all kinds of artifacts crop up in NMR spectra including peaks attributed, by better experts than I, as harmonics from local radio stations. "While artifacts from data handling is a good superficial explanation of the existence of Garri-do’s 29Si peaks, I have to agree with Dr. Peyton that it seems odd that the presumed artifacts came and went in correlation with the different types of samples studied in appropriate fashion over many years and different tissues. Dr. Macdonald’s conclusions are based on a greater faith in the AA Si determinations than I would give them. In fact, Garrido is entirely candid about finding over an order of magnitude more Si by NMR than by AA in some cases, and offers a very *1472 reasonable possible explanation. Low molecular weight silanes and alkoxysilanes are notoriously volatile and may not survive the harsh ashing procedure. Macdonald is overstating his case (104 Testimony, p. 588 1. 11-21) when he claims that 99.9% of the Si would have to have evaporated unless he chooses to ignore all other possible sources of discrepancy between his and Garrido’s results. He (Macdonald) does admit (104 Testimony, p. 584 1. 1-3) that his AA Si values were á factor of five or so lower than those of a group at Berkeley. Is the difference that he used a clean room or that the two sets of workers have samples of different composition, for whatever reason? One last point, I recall that AA by silicates (what all forms are converted to for analysis) is greatly suppressed by such common lab agents as K+, HF, and boric acid. I assume that all possible interferences were eliminated, but can we be certain? We trust that they were. The “controversy” over what S/N constitutes a peak is a legal matter and not a scientific one since there is no generally-agreed upon criterion that I know of in this regard, although I will defer to Dr. Peyton’s criterion of 2. Macdonald claims that Garrido would need 10,000 times more scans (thus 60 million scans at 10 seconds/scan, thus 600 million seconds, thus 10 million minutes) thus 19 years per spectrum rather than the “multiple centuries” claimed incorrectly by Macdonald. If the discrepancy between AA and 29Si NMR standards accounted for one to two orders of magnitude and probe sensitivity, probe tuning, and careful shimming were another factor of ten you have two. laboratories who are now arguing over pocket change. I have racked my brain for hours trying to discover the key reason for this discrepancy and I cannot find it, if it exists— other than my own intuition offered above. So, there we are — basically nowhere. In the end, both Macdonald and Garrido are doing science, but cannot seem to reach the same conclusion. What I don’t understand is why Garrido doesn’t seek out a 750 MHz (*H frequency) instrument, which must be somewhere in the Boston area, and simply try a blood sample in a standard wide bore tube, and employing inverse-gated ^-decoupling, as suggested by Macdonald, to sharpen signals while eliminating negative nuclear Over-hauser effects, where his S/N would go up at least an order of magnitude and all of this uncertainty could probably be laid to rest! In the end I would like to suggest that Dr. Macdonald make the following change to his statement near the end of his testimony (p. 588 1. 15, bold words are mine): “... the levels of silicon are just too low to observe via silicon MNR [sic] on our instrument, In short, I believe that Garrido’s claimed observations of 29Si in the NMR is supported by scientifically valid reasoning and methodology. In my opinion his data are bordering on the edge of detection limit as one would expect. These data are clearly relevant to the matter at hand. I am unable to say whether they are right or wrong. I doubt anyone really can at this point. The NMR Results of Garrido et al in General Given the above discussion, I believe that the NMR work of Garrido and coworkers, particularly Dr. Pfleiderer, are valid as relates to the question at hand. This is particularly true of the *H NMR and MRI work which is cutting edge research and beyond criticism. Clearly Garrido and Pfleiderer sought a method that would not only detect the Si atom but could also provide information as to the chemical nature of the Si atom as it underwent putative chemical transformations. They were absolutely correct to pick 29Si NMR as the method of choice. The literature on biological NMR is absolutely vast and they are following in a marvelous tradition. 12 Their assignments of peaks in all of their work are entirely reasonable, and although they might not be able to be absolutely certain about the precise identity of chemical species observed, they should be able to make conclusions as to number of *1473 -OH, alkoxy, or alkyl groups attached. In my opinion they have taken proper care to do this. In summary, the NMR work of Garrido, et al used to detect silicone being converted to other, generally more highly oxidized, species is relevant to the matter at hand, is based on good scientific methodology and reasoning, although the 29Si data are, in my opinion, controversial yet not “discredited” as has been alleged. The 4H NMR and MRI work does not appear to be challenged. Dow Coming Internal Studies The study by Spielvogel et al (7) clearly shows that an aryl D4 siloxane is taken up through ingestion and, most importantly, absorbed gastrointestinally unchanged and then later metabolized to various derivatives, which were unambiguously characterized by gas ehromatography/mass spectrometry. These derivatives were found to have varying degrees of oxygenation on the aryl groups, alkyl side chains, and frequently de-polymerized to give various mono-, di-, and trisilanols. These products were formed by biotransformation after gastrointestinal adsorption and thus occurred under relatively neutral pH conditions in various tissues. The products were eventually cleared to some extent via excretion through the kidneys. Similar results were obtained in proprietary studies by Spielvogel and Robinson (8), R.B. Annelin at the Dow Corning Toxicology Department using the Aqueous Sila-nol Functionality Test (9), Spielvogel and Robinson (10), who also found that radioactive D4 completely disappeared and was converted to various smaller silanols some of which appeared in lymph nodes of monkeys within ten days. All of that work was serious, exhaustively precise, internally reviewed science. The identities of the metabolic produets are clear. There can be no doubt whatsoever that siloxane polymers are metabolized to silyl polyols of smaller molecular weight. The29Si Tl Study of Stroman etal (11) A group in Quebec (11) has recently demonstrated that the spin lattice relaxation time of Si drops in animal-imbedded implants over a time-span of months. This effect is interpreted by the authors as an indication of redistribution of the siloxy groups in the polymer to an overall distribution to species that tumble more efficiently. This could be redistribution among linear forms along with formation of more highly branched species. Such an effect is consistent with silicon chemistry that has been accepted for some time. 13 2) Does silicone bleed out of implants (and are the methods used to detect silicone and silicone products adequate) and move throughout the body? Work of Dr. Batich I reviewed “published” materials of Dr. Ba-tich and found them to be somewhat unimpressive. He lists several submitted meeting abstracts (such'as 3, 12, 13), which end up as one-page mini-papers, as “reviewed publications” in his C.V. but I am skeptical as to the extent of peer review in this work. 14 This misgiving is' fed by continual inputs of odd treatment of data. For example, in Marotta et al (12) the table of results reports mean values of PPM PDMS (found in brain and capsule) that are reported to five significant figures even though the reported standard deviations are sometimes nearly twice the magnitude of the nominal value. I cannot understand how one can get SD’s twice the mean unless several of the silicon values are negative. This requires explanation. I plotted the data from that “paper” and offer *1474 them as Appendix 2. If the odd variance, particularly due to the apparent inclusion of negative Si concentrations in some samples, 15 in the data is that enormous how can anyone conclude anything meaningful from them? For example, statistically speaking ZERO is a reasonable result for each of the cases in the brain experiment since that value is included within one standard deviation of the mean, regardless of the observation that the mean is higher than those of the means of the other groups. Perhaps the standard deviations reported are done so in error, which would not leave us a particularly assuring option. Additionally, my reading of “Instrumental Analysis” by G.D. Christian and J.E. O’Reilly states that the ICP method has a detection limit of 10 PPM (or gg/g, or gg/mL which is Batich’s way of reporting PPM). Reporting means and standard deviations with three orders of magnitude greater precision than the detection limit of the method seems cavalier. The lack of detailed discussion of experimental procedures is the crux of the problem with evaluating meeting abstracts. I have little faith in the results in that abstract and I seriously doubt Dr. Ba-tich has a firm grasp of error analysis. If the abstracts of the Fifth World Biomaterials Congress were indeed “peer-reviewed” then I would assume that they were reviewed for little more than appropriateness of subject matter and typing format. Dr. Batich seems to prefer to offer his results in the form of tiny snippets rather than to produce even medium-sized scientific papers published in bona fide peer-reviewed journals where all the detailed methods and data are well documented and exposed to critical analysis prior to printing. Outside of the DePalma thesis and other papers in other areas, I regard the bulk of his silicone work to be marginal science as presented. Since he seems to resist publication of his data as Ml papers I have reservations as to the reliability of the conclusions therein. I can only speak to my own familiarity in organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, molecular biology where the word “publication” holds a much higher expectation for details and thoroughness. The ever increasing demand put on journal space has caused their editors to demand more and more conciseness — but not that much. In his Rule 104 testimony he appears fairly competent 16 , especially when responding to criticisms raised by Ziegler 17 and Rattner, so I don’t understand why he (Batich) doesn’t publish. Overall I would confess that he is, at some level, employing reasonable scientific approaches but one wonders if he is overly distracted when it comes to presenting his data. One last thought: some claim that meeting abstracts do offer peered review science because individuals can attend the talks or posters and comment/argue at the meeting, but those who did not attend those discussions are not *1475 privy to what arises therefrom. No, the rest of us are left with the written record, the abstract, which preceded the discussion and could well be entirely in error. Other Gelr-Bleed Papers My impression from reading through the literature is that this phenomenon is generally accepted (see for example, Peters, et al (14)). I shall not pursue this further. The NMR Results of Garrido et al The NMR work of Garrido, et al used to detect silicone bleeding from implants and reaching other tissues is relevant to the matter at hand, is based on good scientific methodology and reasoning, although the data are, with the exception of the *H studies, controversial. 3) Do chemical and physical methods demonstrate that the surface area of silicone microdroplets increase significantly with time? This issue depends solely on the paper by Dr. Nancy Hardt, Chris Batich, and coworkers (15), as I understand it. The concept of increased surface area attending increased number of particles is a simple matter of geometry, of course. Their conclusion rests on the identity of objects that were apparently observed by light microscopy. Then “... in selected cases the identity of observed foreign materials was confirmed by applying 4 drops of the aspirate to an infrared crystal for infrared spectroscopy (Hardt et al., 1994).” This method is presumably what they refer to in the text as “microscopically directed FTIR”; unfortunately the paper to which they referred (16), I was unable to obtain before submitting this report. However, I was able to obtain an abstract by running an internet Medline search through the University of Washington. The abstract states that relevant FTIR spectra were reported, but I have not seen them. This method has been around for some time, and if applied correctly should be informative if, and only if, Hardt et al (16) unambiguously demonstrated the capability of their method to chemically confirm the presence of silicone, and this must be with spectral analysis versus controls. I would consider this claim to be within reason. I am not aware of any studies on the kinetics of drop size changes, per se. 4) Does silicone degrade to silica in vivo? The Razzaboni article (17) clearly attempts to offer a biochemical explanation for the silica-caused hemolytic process. This article seems scientifically sound. IF silicones are converted to silica then this article seems relevant to the issue at hand. I am unaware that any of the papers that I reviewed clearly demonstrated the conversion of silicone to silica (most likely amorphous forms thereof), though such a process seems possible given the known chemistry of silicon. The link between silicones and the Razzaboni article is a prospective one. A SHORT COMMENT ON THE TESTIMONY OF DR. ALEXANDER It is my understanding that I have been asked to comment on the testimony of Dr. Harold Alexander, Plaintiffs’ biomaterials expert. I read and studied the testimony given by Dr. Alexander in the Jennings case, and, assuming it is anticipated he will give similar testimony in the current ease, I must say that I find it difficult to find much at all within my field on which to comment. I would agree that he holds strong opinions and that he seems to claim an extraordinary power to read minds, but those matters do not seem to involve me. What chemistry he discusses seems properly explained. OVERALL CONCLUSIONS I believe I will use the metaphor of Mr. Williams, attorney for the Plaintiffs, to sum up my conclusion on this matter. It’s a bit like two doctors looking at a chest X-ray (having both agreed that a chest X-ray was the correct diagnostic procedure to use) and disagreeing, sometimes heatedly, over the interpretation of a shadow on the film and perhaps how long the exposure should have been. I have no doubt that all of the chemical studies examined in these hearings are based on appropriate methods, whether or not there are serious questions about fine points of technique or far-reaching conclusions. Indeed some of the work is inadequately documented and of clearly debatable *1476 value, but that is really not for me to decide, to be sure. If I have accomplished nothing more than to clarify some areas where the ensuing conversations can be made more efficient and more to the points at hand, then I will feel that I have done some good. SPECIFIC LITERATURE CITED 1. DePalma, Donald (1992) Masters Thesis, University of Florida School of Engineering. 2. Kennan, J.J., Peters, Y.A., Swarthout, D.E., Owen, M. J., Namkanisorn, A., and Chaudhury, M.K. apparent Dow Corning study submitted to unknown venue as presumed meeting abstract. 3. Batich, DePalma, and others, Fifth World Congress on Biomaterials meeting abstr., I misplaced my copy of this but it has the incorrect kinetic equation prominently displayed. 4. Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Jenkins, B.G., Hulka, C.A., and Kopans, D.B. (1994) Magn. Reson. Med. 31,328-330. 5. Pfleiderer, B., Ackerman, J.L., and Gar-rido, L. (1993) Magn. Reson. Med. 30, 534-543. 6. Macdonald, P., Plavac, N., Peters, W., Lugowski, S., and Smith, D. (199X) Analyt. Chem., rest of citation unknown. 7. Spielvogel, Robinson, Hanneman, Dow Coming Corporation, report # 5027, July 3, 1979). 8. Spielvogel and Robinson, Dow Corning Corporation, report # 5088, November 15, 1979). 9. R.B. Annelin, Dow Corning Toxicology Department, File # 3135-1. 10. Spielvogel and Robinson, Dow Corning Corporation, report #5265, December 10, 1980). 11. Stroman, P.W., Alikaeem, N., Mayanloo, M., Dorvil, J.C., and Guidon, R. abstract of paper presented at the Fifth World Bioma-terials Conference. 12. Marotta, J., LaTorre, G., Batich, C., Hardt, N.S., and Yu, L. “Measurement of Silicon in Tissue.” abstract subm. to Fifth World Biomaterials Conference, Toronto, 1996. 13. Batich abstract: Fifth World Biomateri-als Conference. 14. Peters, W., Smith, D., Lugowski, S., McHugh, A., and Baines, C. (1995) Ann. Plast.Surg. 34, 343-347. 15. Hardt, N.S., Emery, J.A, LaTorre, G., Batich, C., and Winter, W.E., “Macrophage-Silicone Interactions in Women with Breast Prostheses,” citation seems unavailable from materials supplied. 16. Hardt, N.S., Emery, J.A., LaTorre, G., Batich, C., and Winter, W.E., Mod. Pathol. 7, 669-676. 17. Razzaboni, B.L. and Bolsaitis, P. (1990) Environ. Health Perspec. 87,337-341. . In the videotaped closing arguments presented by Ms. Wells, the Defendants quoted Dr. Wamser as having said “The Ln function requires kinetic energies, which do not make chemical sense to me.” (Emphasis is mine.) The quote was presented verbally, highlighted by preparing a full-screen graphic, and then presented in transcript form — faithfully repeated in all three cases. Unfortunately, all three quotes by the Defendants are absolutely incorrect and potentially misleading. What Dr. Wamser actually wrote in his affidavit (I point your attention to p. 7 lines 1-3) is the following: "The Ln function requires kinetic equations (7) and (8), which do not make chemical sense to me.” (Emphasis is mine.). Swapping the word "equations” for the word "energies” AND deleting additional text (in this case equation numbers' 7 and' 8) without dots to indicate such a deletion/ligation, is a substantive change in the meaning of what is presented as a literal quote and is certainly not acceptable practice in academic circles, to say the least. I have no idea what the custom is in a United States District Court but I feel compelled to report this misrepresentation of the facts, whether intentional or just clumsy. 1 .The defendants involved in the present proceedings are Baxter Healthcare Company, Baxter International Inc. (collectively, "Baxter”), Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (together referred to as "defendants”). An early defendant in breast implant litigation, Dow Coming Corp., sought protection under bankruptcy law in May 1995. The bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing. 2 . The defense refers to these symptoms as "diseases of ordinary life,”-e.g., headache, fatigue, joint pain, confusion, etc. 3 . Many, of the plaintiffs also allege "local injuries" from the implants, such as rupture, cont-racture, and chest wall pain. This opinion does not address the admissibility of plaintiffs' witnesses' testimony concerning any local injuries. The "scope of what constitutes a "local” injury is discussed infra. 4 . Group 1 consists of Case Nos. 92-182 (LEAD), 94^892, 94-903, and 94-907. 5 . Group 2 consists of Case No. 94-258. 6 . Group 3 consists of Case Nos. 93-589 (LEAD), 94-260, 94-765, 94-902, 94-949, and 94-1280. Although they were invited to participate and attended all four days of the Rule 104 hearing, counsel for the Group 3 plaintiffs repeatedly requested, and the court agreed, that this decision does not apply to them. 7 . The motions in limine were filed in Group 2 (dkt. Nos'. 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79,' 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95). Some of the motions address plaintiffs' experts’' testimony on issues other than a general causal link between silicone and systemic disease. Those portions of the above-listed motions are moot, with leave to refile as necessary in further pretrial proceedings. 8 .To keep the advisors independent of any ongoing proceedings, I appointed them under FRE 104, not FRE 706, which requires court-appointed experts, in effect, to act as additional witnesses subject to depositions and testifying at trial. Although certain plaintiffs (in Group 3) moved to invoke Rule 706 procedures (in No. 93-589, dkt. Nos. 31 and 36), I denied those motions. 9 . Although I requested federal funding for the Rule 104 experts’ fees, my request was denied. The fees, approximately $76,000, have been paid by the parties. Because I did not appoint the experts under Rule 706, their fees are not "costs” that may . be awarded to the prevailing party under Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d) and 28 U.S.C. § 1920 (6). See, e.g., In re Philadelphia Mortg. Trust, 930 F.2d 306, 308-09 (3d Cir.1991); State of Kansas v. Deffenbaugh Indus., Inc., 154 F.R.D. 269, 270 (D.Kan.1994) (“The legislative history of § 1920(6) expressly refers to court-appointed expert witnesses 'as permitted by rule 706 of the Federal Rules of Evidence’ ”). 10 . Dr. Jones is the former acting president of Oregon Health Sciences University and is the longtime chair of the University's biochemistry department. 11 . This ruling was remarkably effective, both in permitting the' parties to focus on presenting their evidence and in expediting the proceeding. In four days of hearings, only rare objections were made, yet counsel and the witnesses confined the testimony to what, for the most part, would be admissible under the rules of evidence. 12 . This court and state court Judge Nely Johnson jointly presided at the hearing. Judge Johnson has been assigned all of the Oregon state court breast implant cases pending in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Judge Johnson participated extensively in the Rule 104 hearings, and her contributions are greatly appreciated. Judge Johnson has yet to rule on the admissibility of the scientific evidence in the state court proceedings. 13 . The video presentations by plaintiffs’ -counsel Mike Williams and defense counsel Mary Wells, Nathan Schachtman, and Jane Thorpe demonstrated the highest professional skills I have had the pleasure to observe in 33 years on first the state and then the federal bench. The level of professionalism and competency shown by all counsel throughout these proceedings is appreciated and commended. I highly recommend viewing of the four and one-half hours of video argument to any serious student of advanced advocacy, (copies available through counsel). 14 . This reference is to the following language from Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 43 F.3d 1311 , 1319 n. 11 (9th Cir.1995): [t]he focus * * * is on the reliability of the methodology and in addressing that question the court and the parties are not limited to what is generally accepted; methods accepted by a minority in the scientific community may well be sufficient. However, the party proffer *1394 ing the evidence must explain the expert's methodology and demonstrate in some objectively verifiable way that the expert has both chosen a reliable scientific method and followed it faithfully. 15 . Only certain questions posed by one plaintiff (LeaAnn Hall) concerning specific causation were withheld. 16 . Counsels’ questions that the court submitted to the advisors are appended to this opinion as Appendix A. 17 . The advisors’ reports, which were marked as court exhibits; are appended to this opinion as Appendices B, C, D, and E (the appended copies do not include any exhibits that were attached to the original reports). 18 . Because the national Rule 706 panel has not completed its work, Judges Weinstein and Baer determined that the defendants’ motions for summary judgment on the systemic claims were not yet ripe for adjudication. 19 . My decision will only be changed in the unlikely event that new scientific research would require such modification. The views of the Rule 706 panel will be carefully considered, but this opinion is not dependent upon the testimony or conclusions of the Rule 706 experts. 20 . Docket No. 175 in No. 94-258. Plaintiff Laura Bentley settled her case; accordingly, her separate motion (# 177 in No. 94-258) is moot.' 21 . In any event, Oregon law concerning scientific evidence, as first articulated in State v. Brown, 297 Or. 404 , 687 P.2d 751 (1984) and explicated in State v. O’Key, 321 Or. 285 , 899 P.2d 663 (1995), does not significantly differ from federal law as outlined in Daubert I and II. As the author of State v. Brown, a unanimous decision that predates Daubert 7 by 10 years, I wish to assure Judge Nely Johnson, who will be facing these issues in the state cases, that the Brown court was the first court in the nation to adopt the Weinstein/Berger thesis, which Justice Black-mun utilized in writing Daubert I. In United States v. Downing, 753 F.2d 1224 (3d Cir.1985), Judge Becker utilized the same procedures as set forth in Brown for federal litigators. Judge Becker has since amplified Downing and Daubert I in In re Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, 35 F.3d 717 (3rd Cir.1994) (hereinafter Paoli II). By like token, Justice Richard L. Unis, writing for the Oregon Supreme Court in O’Key , amplified Brown without any fundamental changes. I do nbt interpret Justice "Van Hdomissen’s recent opinion for the Oregon Supreme Court in State v. Lyons, 324 Or. 256 , 924 P.2d 802 (1996), as altering the message of Brown, O’Key, or Dau-bert. 22 .See also FRE 1101 ("The rules (other than with respect to privileges) do not apply * * * [to] [t]he determination of questions of fact preliminary to admissibility of evidence when the issue is to be determined by the court under rule 104”). . 23 . Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C.Cir.1923). 24 . Bias is more important at trial than at the Rule 104 level, where the focus is on the expert’s methodology. Even if an expert is a highly paid trial expert or the expert's research is litigation-driven, the expert's testimony may nonetheless reflect valid methodology and sound science. Because of this, I did not allow the parties to raise bias in their questioning. Interestingly, only the plaintiffs objected to this ruling — a curious fact given that the motions in limine were directed solely to plaintiffs’ experts, some of whom are paid extraordinary sums for their testimony. I assume that both plaintiffs' and defendants' experts were fully compensated for their present and past services. I have not relied, however, on any of the defense experts in decid *1397 ing the Rule 104 issues, but have restricted my evaluation solely to the validity of the plaintiffs’ experts’ presentations. 25 . The Paoli litigation involved two trips to the Third Circuit. In In re Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litigation, 916 F.2d 829 (3d Cir.1990), commonly referred to as Paoli I, the Third Circuit, under pre-Daubert analysis, reversed the district court’s exclusion of certain expert witnesses pursuant to FRE 702 and 703 because the district court’s analysis was not sufficiently detailed. Paoli I, 916 F.2d at 853-54 . After remand, the Third Circuit again reviewed the district court’s exclusion in Paoli II, this time pursuant to the standards elucidated in Daubert I. 26 . The court did note that, in certain circumstances, "[a] statistical study showing a relative risk of less than two could be combined with other evidence to show it is more likely than not that the accused cause is responsible for a particular plaintiff's injury.” Daubert II, 43 F.3d at 1321 n. 16. At the very least, however, plaintiffs making use of this exception must demonstrate that they differ in some significant way from the subjects of the statistical study, so as to eliminate another, higher relative risk cause. Id. 27 . Plaintiffs argue that all they need to prove at the Rule 104 hearing level is “possibility” and that the “probability" test is to be reserved for trial. As will be demonstrated, infra, the probability test is relevant in deciding the causation issue at the Rule 104 stage of the proceedings. 28 .The question of whether expert testimony is admissible under Rule 702 is separate from the question of whether the testimony is sufficient to submit the case to the jury. The “admissibility” and "sufficiency” of scientific evidence "necessitate different inquiries and involve different stakes.” In re Joint Eastern & Southern Dist. Asbestos Lit., 52 F.3d 1124, 1132 (2nd Cir.1995) ("Admissibility entails a threshold inquiry over whether a certain piece of evidence ought to be admitted at trial. * * * A sufficiency inquiry, which asks whether the collective weight of a litigant's evidence is adequate to present a jury question, lies further down the litigational road”). Although Daubert II's discussion of the “more likely than not” standard at first glance could be interpreted as a discussion of sufficiency, the emphasized portion of the quoted language makes it quite clear that the Ninth Circuit was analyzing the expert evidence against sub *1399 stantive law under the second prong, or "helpfulness" requirement, of Rule 702. 29 . One of plaintiffs’ counsel, Linda Eyerman, insists that Claar prohibits the court from scrutinizing the experts' conclusions in any respect, but Claar does not permit that reading. Claar itself makes clear that the court must scrutinize the validity of the reasoning leading to the experts’ conclusions, if not the conclusions themselves. 29 F.3d at 502 . Ambrosini v. Labarraque et al, 101 F.3d 129 (D.C.Cir.1996), recently cited by Ms. Eyerman, is consistent with this court's analysis under relevant Ninth Circuit law. 30 . The terminology surrounding silicone can be confusing. “Silicon” is an element, chemically very similar to carbon. "Silica” is any combination of elemental silicon with elemental oxygen. Silicas occur in nature and either have a more ordered structure, referred to as "crystalline silica,” or a less ordered structure, referred to as “amorphous silica.” Both crystalline and amorphous silicas are solids, but they differ in structure much, as a diamond (crystalline carbon) differs from graphite (amorphous carbon). “Silicone,” by contrast, is a human invention, the combination of elemental silicon with elemental carbon. Silicone molecules are chains of carbon and silicon atoms, with hydrogens attached to the sides, and can be made to almost any length. The chains can also be cross-linked to form sponge-like networks. Shorter chains are fluid, forming liquid silicone; longer, cross-linked chains form silicone gels. Different configurations can also form silicone rubber or a hard silicone "plastic.” "Silanols” are silicone molecules containing a silanol group. In silanols, a silicon atom in the chain bonds to an -OH, or hydroxyl, group instead of to a carbon atom and its attached hy-drogens, collectively referred to as a -CH3, or methyl group. Hydroxyl groups, which are the defining group for alcohols, are generally more reactive than methyl groups. 31 . The parties have referred to the atypical, silicone-caused disease or disorder variously as "systemic silicone related disorder,” "systemic silicone-related disease,” "silicone-related disorder,” "silicone-induced disorder,” and "silicono-sis." For purposes of this opinion, “ACTD" refers to any postulated, non-classical, autoimmune disease that exposure to silicone can allegedly cause. 32 . According to plaintiffs, this constellation of symptoms allegedly always includes fatigue, myalgias (muscle pain), arthralgias (joint pain), and a sicca complex of dry eyes and dry mouth. Cognitive dysfunction, such as memory loss or concentration problems, is almost always present. Other symptoms and signs can, but do not always, include hair loss, skin changes, headaches, elevated levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs); elevated SED rates, chronic inflammation, and "other signs of immune system disturbance.” 33 . A signature disease is one so associated with a particular cause that the presence of the disease presumes that cause. For example, malignant mesothelioma is a signature disease for asbestos causation. In re Joint Eastern & Southern Asbestos Litigation, 52 F.3d at 1130 . 34 . Fibromyalgia is a condition of pain in the connective tissue and muscles near joints. The plaintiffs’ proposed constellation of symptoms overlaps significantly even with the notoriously subjective "sick building syndrome.” 35 . Plaintiffs also offer Dr. Goldsmith to testify that there is epidemiological and other scientific data showing that women with silicone breast implants have a significantly elevated probability of suffering from ACTD than women without such implants. However, as was discussed above, no expert testimony regarding ACTD will be allowed because, given the pre-hypothetical state of ACTD, there is no scientific basis for such testimony. Therefore, this proffered testimony is excluded on that basis. 36 . As is discussed elsewhere, however, the federal standards of evidence under Daubert is applicable to this litigation because screening of evidence under FRE 104 is a procedural, not a substantive, matter. In contrast, the standard of proof in a toxic tort case is a substantive issue and Oregon law applies. 37 . These studies are: Dugowson, C.R., et al. Silicone Breast Implants and Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 35[9] (Supp.) Abstract 192:566 (Sept. 1992). Englert, H.J., et al. Scleroderma and Augmentation Mammoplasty — A Causal Relationship? Aust. NZ J. Med. 24:74-79 (1994). Gabriel, S.E., et al. Risk of Connective-Tissue Diseases and Other Disorders After Breast Implantation. MPJM 330[24]:1697-1702 (June 1994) ("Mayo Clinic Study”). Giltay, Eric J., et al. Silicone Breast Prostheses and Rheumatic Symptoms: A Retrospective Fol low-Up. Study. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 53:194-196 (1994). Goldman, j.A., et al. Breast Implants, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Connective Tissue Diseases in a Clinical Practice. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 48[4]:571-582 (1995). Hennekens, Charles H., et al. Self-Reported Breast Implants and Connective-Tissue Diseases in Female Health Professionals. JAMA 273:8 616-621 (February 28, 1996). Hochberg, B., et al. Association of Augmentation on Mammoplasty with Systemic Sclerosis Preliminary Results from a Case-Control Study. Amer. College of Rheum., Abstract 1249 (October 26, 1994). McLaughlin, et al. Correspondence Re: Breast Implants, Cancer, and Systemic Sclerosis. J. Of the Nat. Cancer Inst. 87[18] (Sept. 20, 1995). Sanches-Guerrero, J., et al. Silicone Breast Implants and the Risk of Connective-Tissue Diseases and Symptoms. NEJM 332[25]:1666-1670 (June 1995) (“Harvard Nurses Study”). Schollenfield, D., et al. The Design of a Population-Based Case-Control Study of Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma). Commentary on the University of Michigan Study. J. Clin. Epide-miol. 48[4]:583-596 (1995). Schusterman, Mark A., et al. Incidence of Autoimmune Disease in Patients After Breast Reconstruction with Silicone Gel Implants Versus Autogenous Tissue: A Preliminary Report. Ann. Plastic Surg. 31[1]:1 — 6 (1993). Strom, P.L., et al. Breast Silicone Implants and Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 47[10]: 1211-1214 (1994). Weisman, Michael H., et al. Connective Tissue Disease Following Breast Augmentation: A Preliminary Test of the Human Adjuvant Disease Hypothesis. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 82[4]:626-630 (1988). Wells, Karen E., et al. The Health Status of Women Following Cosmetic Surgery. Plastic Reconstr. Surgery 93[5]:907-912 (1994). Williams, James, et al. Silicone Based Implants in Patients with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. Amer. College of Rheum., Abstract 1562. Wolfe, P. Silicone Breast Implants and the Risk of Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Ctr. & Univ. Of Kansas, Wichita, KS USA 87214. 38 . The court notes that Dr. Goldsmith has admitted that UCTD is not the same disease as the ACTD plaintiffs claim they have. Trans. Of Hearing before the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein, Nyitray v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., No. 93-159 (E.D.N.Y.) (hereinafter New York Trans.), at 130:16-20, 133:19-24 (Oct. 7, 1996). 39 . Indeed, he did so testify in the proceedings before Judge Weinstein in the District Court of New York, on the basis of the new Liang-Schot-tenfeld abstract. New York Trans., at 75:8-22, 122:22 to 123:3. I find this change in so-called ‘‘scientific opinion” not only suspect, but shocking, with no scientific basis to support it. This is exactly the type of "junk’science” that the Supreme Court in Daubert I commanded courts to exclude. However, this is not to say that at some future date new studies may justify what is now unjustifiable. 40 . I concur in Judge Weinstein’s assessment that the Liang-Schottenfeld abstract is not "in the form that scientists would want” and that Dr. Goldsmith “can’t get information like this over the phone that is critical.” Like Judge Wein-stein, moreover, "I'm very unimpressed by this.” New York Trans., at 80:2-6. 41 . During the course of these proceedings, plaintiffs accused defendants of improperly concealing the Liang-Schottenfeld abstract, to the plaintiffs' prejudice. I find these accusations to be unfotmded. 42 . See Lynch v. Merrell-National Laboratories, 646 F.Supp. 856 (D.Mass.1986) (noting that "this Court still could not accept result-based reanalysis of epidemiological studies and criticisms of others' methodology, such as that performed here by Dr. Swan, as reliable data upon which to base an opinion on causation”); Lynch v. Merrell-National Laboratories, 830 F.2d 1190, 1195 (1st Cir.1987) (“Swan's study has never been r.efereed or published in a scientific journal or elsewhere * * *. On the basis of what we have, it could not form the foundation for an expert opinion challenging the scientific consensus * * *.”); Ealy v. Richardson-Merrell, Inc., 897 F.2d 1159, 1162 (D.C.Cir.1990) (“the plaintiff's epidemiology expert, Dr. Shanna Swan, tried to refute the validity of the published epidemiological data through her own unpublished reanalysis”); Lee v. Richardson-Merrell, Inc., 772 F.Supp. 1027, 1030 (W.D.Tenn. 1991); Turpin v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 736 F.Supp. 737, 743 (E.D.Ky.1990). 43 . Judge Weinstein was relying on FRE 403 as he made this assessment. In re "Agent Orange" Product Liability Litigation, 611 F.Supp. at 1245 . Nevertheless, his comments are applicable here because Rule 403 remains in play during a Dau-bert hearing. Daubert I, 509 U.S. at 595 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797-98 . See also United States v. Powers, 59 F.3d 1460, 1471 (4th Cir.1995) (“In determining whether the evidence will be helpful to the trier of fact, the Supreme Court warned that throughout an admissibility determination, a judge must be mindful of other evidentiary rules, such as FRE 403, which permits the exclusion of relevant evidence 'if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury.” (quoting FRE 403 and citing Daubert, 509 U.S. at 595 , 113 S.Ct. at 2797-98 )); Robinson v. Missouri Pacific Railroad Co., 16 F.3d 1083, 1088 (10th Cir.1994) (observing that, under Rule 403, “trial judges should carefully and meticulously examine proposed animation evidence for proper foundation, relevancy, and the potential for undue prejudice.”). Therefore, the relevance and probative value of Dr. Swan's testimony, as well as its scientific reliability, is an issue currently before this court. Dr. Swan’s testimony would be excludable pursuant to FRE 401, 402, and 403 because it is now, in light of my other rulings, irrelevant and potentially prejudicial. However, because I find Dr. Swan's testimony to be scientifically unreliable and to lack “fit,” I do not base its exclusion on these grounds. 44 . These studies include: Abeles, M. An Evaluation of Silicone Breast Implants for Silicone Associated Disease. ACR 38[9], Supp. (Sept. 1995). Baker, M. Treatment of Silicone Implant Associated Symptoms. Abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting (1996). Baldwin, C. Silicone-Induced Human Adju-vant Disease. Annals of Plastic Surg. 10[4]: 172 — 175 (April 1983). Bar-Meir, E., et al. Multiple Antibodies in Patients with Silicone Breast Implants. J. Of Autoimmunity 8:267-277 (1995). Bernstein, M. A Multiple Sclerosis Like Syndrome Associated with Silicone Breast Implants. Abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting (1996). Borenstein, D. Siliconosis: A Spectrum of Illness. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 24:1, Supp. 1 (Aug. 1994). Bridges, A.J., et al. Autoantibodies in Patients with Silicone Implants. Potter, M., and Rose, N., Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology-Immunology of Silicones 210:277-290 (1996). Bridges, A.J., et al. Clinical and Immunological Evaluation of Women with Silicone Breast Implants and Symptoms of Rheumatic Disease. Supp. Arthritis and Rheumatism 35(90):S46:184 (Sept. 1992). Bridges, A. A Clinical and Immunological Evaluation of Women with Silicone Breast Implants and Symptoms of Rheumatic Disease. Annals of Internal Med. 118[ 12] (June 15, 1993). Brozena, S. Human Adjuvant Disease Following Augmentation Mammoplasty. Arch Dermatology 124:1383-1386 (Sept. 1988). Claman, H.N., Robertson, A.D., Antinuclear Antibodies in Apparently Healthy Women with Breast Implants. Potter, M., and Rose, N., eds., Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology-Immunology of Silicones 210:265-268 (1996). Cuellar, M. Clinical Outcome of Silicone Breast Implant Women Following Implant Removal. Amer. Coll. Rheumatology 38[9], Supp. (Sept. 1995). Davis, J. Clinical Characteristics of 343 Patients with Breast Implants. ACR 38[9], Supp. (Sept. 1995). Gutierrez, F. Progressive Systemic Sclerosis Complicated by Severe Hypertension: Reversal After Silicone Implant Removal. Amer. J. Med. 89:390-392 (Sept. 1990). Kaiser, W. Human Adjuvant Disease: Remission of Silicone Induced Autoimmune Disease After Explantation of Breast Augmentation. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 49:937-938 (Nov. 1990). Kemple, K., and Pestronk, A. Antiglycolipid Antibodies in Symptomatic Women with Silicone Breast Implants. Abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting (Sept. 1995). Lugowski, S., et al. Silicon Levels in Blood, Breast Milk, and Breast Capsules of Patients with Silicone Breast Implants and Controls. Fifth World Biomaterials Congress, Toronto, Canada (1996). Mease, P. Clinical Symptoms/Signs and Laboratory Features in Symptomatic Patients with Silicone Breast Implants. ACR 38[9], Supp. (Sept. 1995). Peters, W„ et al. Silicon and Silicone Levels in Patients with Silicone Implants. Potter, M., and Rose, N., Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology — Immunology of Silicone 210:39-48 (1996). Peters, W., et al. Do Patients with Silicone Gel Breast Implants Have Elevated Levels of Blood Silicon Compared with Control Patients? Annals of Plastic Surg. 34[4]:343-347 (April 1995). Romano, T.J. Clinical Characteristics of Silicone Breast Implant Patients. Amer J. Of Pain Management 6[1]:13 — 16 (Jan. 1996). Rowle, M.J., et al. Antibodies to Collagen: Comparison Epitope Mapping in Women with Silicone Breast Implants, Systemic Lupus, Er-ythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. J. Of Autoimmunity 7:775-789 (1994). Sahn, E. Scleroderma Following Augmentation Mammoplasty. Arch. Dermatology 126:1988-1202 (Sept. 1990). Sanchez-Roman, J., .et al. Multiple Clinical and Biological Autoimmune Manifestations in 50 Workers After Occupational Exposure to Silica. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 52:534— 538 (1993). Seleznick, M. Is Silicone Associated with Connective Tissue Disease? 78[2]:85-87 (Feb. 1991). Shons, A. Silicone Breast■ Implants and Immune . Disease. Annals of Plastic Surg. 28[5]:491 — 501 (May 1992). Silver, R. Demonstration of Silicon in Sites of Connective-Tissue Disease in Patients with Silicone-Gel Breast Implants. Arch. Dermatology 129[l]:63-68 (Jan. 1993). Solomon, G. Clinical and Serologic Features of 639 Symptomatic Women with Silicone Gel Implants: Evidence for a Novel Disease Silico-nosis. Amer. Coll. Rhematology (1994). Solomon, G. A Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Symptomatic Women with Silicone Breast Implants. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 24[1], Supp. 1 (Aug. 1994). Solomon, G. Clinical Features of a Subset of Symptomatic Women with Silicone Breast Implants and Extreme Elevations of Serum IGM. Abstract presented at the Amer. Coll. Rheum. Annual Meeting (1996). *1409 Spiera, H., and Kerr, L.D. Scleroderma Following Silicone Implantation: A Cumulative Experience of 12 Cases. Rheumatology 20:958-961 (1993). Spiera, H. Immunological Reactions to Silicone Implants. Clin. Immunology 1[6] (1994). Steenland, K., and Goldsmith, D., Silica Exposure and Autoimmune Diseases. Amer. J. Of Indus. Med. 28:603-608 (1995). Sun, L., et al. Silicone in the Blood and Capsule of Women with Breast Implants. Fifth World Biomaterials Congress, Toronto, Canada (1996). Teuber, S.S., et al. Serum Silicon Levels Are Elevated in Women with Silicone Gel Implants. Potter, M., and Rose, N., eds., Immunology of Silicones 210:59-65 (1996). Teuber, S.S., et al. Anti-Collagen AUtoantihodies Are Found in Women with Silicone Breast Implants. J. Of Autoimmunity 6[3]:367~377 (June 1993). Teuber, S. Remission of Sarcoidosis Following Removal of Silicone Gel Breast Implants. Intl. Arch. Allergy Immunology 105:404-407 (1994). Uretsky, B. Augmentation Mammoplasty Associated with Severe Systemic Illness. Annals of Plastic Surg. 3[3]:445-447 (Nov. 1977). Vasey, F. Observations on Women with Breast Implants. J. Fla. Med. Assn. 82:5 (May 1995). Vasey, F. Clinical Findings in Symptomatic Women with Silicone ‘Breast Implants. . Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 24[1], Supp. 1 (Aug. 1994). Vasey, F. Prospective Clinical Status Comparison Between Women Retaining Gel Breast Implants vs. Women Removing Breast Implants. Abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting (1996). Young, V.L., et al. HLA Typing in Women with Breast Implants. Plastic & Reconstr. Surg. 96[7]:1497-1520 (Dec. 1995). 45 . The studies Dr. Kemple relies on are essentially the samé as those Dr. Gershwin relies upon. 46 . -See generally Dr. Stenzel-Poore's Report at Appendix D. 47 . See generally Dr. McClard's report at Appendix E. 48 . Razzaboni, B., and Bolsaitis, P. Evidence of an Oxidative Mechanism for the Hemolytic Activity of Silica Particles. Envtl. Health Perspectives 87:337-341 (1990). 49 . LeaAnn D. Hall v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., Case No. 92-182-JO. 50 . Indeed, it is difficult to discern from the Hopkins opinion how exactly the causal connection was made. In March 1979, one of Hopkins’s treating physicians, Dr. Stephen Gospe, "diagnosed plaintiff with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)." Hopkins, 33 F.3d at 1118 . However, neither Dr. Gospe nor plaintiff's physician, Dr. Pelfini, could provide information to her regarding a causal connection between silicone breast implants and her disease. Id. at 1119 . Indeed, ”[n]one of plaintiff’s physicians informed her that the ruptured implant could be responsible for the connective tissue disease from which she suffered.” Id. Apparently, plaintiff initially made the causal connection herself after she “learned from her mother that a possible connection between the ruptured implants and the immune disorder might exist.” Id. at 1119, 1121 . 51 .This conclusion would hold for any proffer of differential diagnosis, plaintiffs may offer in the future without supporting proof of general causation. 52 .In addition to what is explicitly excluded here, see also discussion supra note 3. 53 .See discussion above. 54 . This list is not exhaustive. To the extent any plaintiff claims injuries that are not plainly local in nature, the court will rule on the admissibility of evidence of those claimed injuries as the need arises. 1 . Mukundan, S. Jr., Dixon, W.T., Kruse, B.d., Monticciolo, D.L., Nelson, R.C., MR Imaging of Silicone Gel-Filled. Breast Implants In Vivo with a Method That Visualizes Silicone Selectively, 3(5) Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 713-717 (1993). This article concluded that using STIR (short-inversion-time inversion-recovery) technique combined with a radio-frequency pulse frequently used for water suppression in spectroscopy was a successful method to identify silicone leakage in tissue. This technique is substantially similar to what Garrido describes as 1H NMR. 2 . Rajan, S.S., Clauw, D.J., Grossman, L.W., Myers, K.J., Patt, R.H., Breath-Hold MRS for the Detection of Silicone Migration to the Liver, Abstract Presented at the Proceedings of the Society of Magnetic Resonance and the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology, Nice, France, Aug. 19-25, 1995. This abstract concluded that MRS (a single-voxel proton spectroscopy technique) was a valid and efficient way to obtain a liver spectrum. This technique is substantially similar to what Garrido describes as 1H NMR. 3 . Testimony of Dr. David Peyton (In re Breast Implant Litigation Pending in the U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Oregon (Groups 1, 2, and 3, Transcript of Pre-Trial Proceedings, Aug. 7, 1996, at 605, 608, 617). 4 . The only technique and question addressed by Macdonald, P., et al. in Failure of 29Si NMR to Detect Increased Blood Silicon Levels in Silicone Gel Breast Implant Recipients, 67(20) Analytical Chemistry 3799-3801, 3799 (1995): is 29Si NMR a scientifically valid technique to detect the presence of silicone in the blood of women with breast implants? 5 . Dr. Peter Macdonald admits that NMR is a proper technique to determine the structure of molecules. Testimony of Dr. Peter Macdonald (In re Breast Implant Litigation Pending in the U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Oregon (Groups 1, 2, and 3, Transcript of Pre-Trial Proceedings, Aug. 7, 1996, at 550) ("Testimony of Dr. Peter Mac-donald”). He goes on to say that through the NMR technique a signal or spectrum is created and "from this so-called NMR spectrum we can draw conclusions regarding the structure of the molecule that we put in the NMR spectrometer.” Id. at 552. Hence, all that Dr. Macdonald is actually criticizing is the conclusions Dr. Garrido and his group made, rather than the methods used to identify the structure of the molecules in question. 6 . The use of AA in quantifying the concentration of silicon in the blood of women with breast implants has been criticized. "|T]he difference between values between AA and NMR could be due to the fact that Macdonald’s study "is flawed by improper experimental design" in that "part or all of the silicone may be lost during the [AA] preparations steps, drying & oxidation & prior to detection by AA. The analysis of blood by NMR does not require sample preparation and all silicon compounds present in the blood are measured at the same time." Garrido, L., Ackerman, J.L., Re: Do Patients with Silicone-Gel Breast Implants Have Elevated Levels of Blood Silicon Compared with Control Patients? (letter to the editor) 35(4) Annals of Plastic Surgery 441-442 (1995). *1421 It should also be noted that Dr. Macdonald doesn’t consider himself an expert in AA spectroscopy. “Well, I — I state openly, I am not an expert in atomic absoiption spectroscopy.” Testimony of Dr. Peter Macdonald at 600. 7 . Although Dr. Macdonald, et al. could not obtain the exact same levels of blood silicone in their experiment using both Si NMR and atomic absoiption (AA) spectroscopy, they reached the same conclusion on the levels that Dr. Mac-donald, et al. could obtain: "somewhat higher values [of blood silicon levels] were found in patients with implants” than in the control patients. Macdonald, P., et al. Failure of 29S¿ NMR to Detect Increased Blood Silicon Levels in Silicone Gel Breast Implant Recipients, 67(20) Analytical Chemistry 3799-3801, 3799 (1995). Dr. Macdonald also admits, "[e]arlier studies from Dr. Peters and Dr. Smith, at the University of Toronto in which I was not involved, hut with which I am familiar, they found that there was a significantly higher level of silicon in the blood of breast implant patients ... about twice as much.” Testimony of Dr. Peter Macdonald at 580. i . Federal Judicial Center. Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence. 1994, p 2. ii . See further discussion on this point in David H. Kaye and David A. Freedman "Reference Guide on Statistics”, Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, pp 331-414. iii . Transcript of Pretrial Hearings, August 6, 1996, p 291. iv . Transcript of Pretrial Hearings, August 6, 1996, p 299. v . Transcript of Pretrial Hearings, August 6, 1996, pp 163-165. vi . Transcript of Pretrial Hearings, August 6, 1996, p 166. vii . About minute 23:00 of that tape. viii . Transcript of Pretrial Hearings, August 5, 1996, p 292. ix . Hennekens, C.H., J.E. Burning, Epidemiology in Medicine, Little, Brown and Company, 1995, p 93. 1 . Please note that in at least one paper entered as evidence Dr. Bettina Pfleiderer is listed as first author and “author to whom correspondence should be addressed.” As such she should be regarded as the leading scientist and I invite others to join me in recognizing that much of “Garrido’s work,” is, in fact, at least half Dr. Pfleiderer’s since she is regarded by the journal and her coauthor(s) as the principal investigator, according to standard conventions in scientific publication. 3 . I will not elaborate further on this testimony, but, in general, I found Dr. Torikey’s analysis to be level-headed and based on good scientific reasoning. The Defendants’ closing statement suggested that his remarks should be taken as “self-serving" and therefore ignored. Reference was made to the supposition that he was a collaborator and therefore predisposed to DePalma’s conclusions. Although Batich admits that he and Dr. Torikey hold patents together I do not see why that automatically should impugn his integrity as a scientist. 4 . Here I must take issue with two points raised by the Plaintiffs in their rebuttal videotape. Mr. *1469 Williams characterized Dr. Wamser's kinetic analysis as "better" than DePalma's. There should be no doubt that Dr. Wamser's analysis is based in chemical theory and DePalma’s was simply grabbed out of the air, inasmuch as I or Dr. Wamser could tell. “Better" is an understatement here. Also Mr. Williams' claim, that throwing out the 100 °C point actually decreased the projected rate at 37 °C rather than increasing it, is not- correct without qualification. The direct effect of DePalma’s act was unquestionably to increase the extrapolated rate. After Dr. Wamser's analysis, however, the ultimate effect, unknown to DePalma, might have been to increase the rate at 37 °C once the data were fitted to a nearly correct theoretically-based equation. 5 .One must resist the temptation to conclude that the same flaw crops up in an Arrhenius plot where the logarithm of the rate constant is plotted on the ordinate. One gets the rise part of the slope from the difference between values of In(k). Recall that this is mathematically equivalent to the logarithm of the ratio of rate constants which is then dimensionless. • 6 . In the closing statement, Ms. Wells (Defendants) posed the possibility of several other types of functions such as hyperbolic and parabolic, etc. That remark has no basis in the theory of kinetics, where only certain functions derive from differential rate laws specified by distinct mechanisms. I am unaware of any expert witness that made such a suggestion. 7 . Ms. Wells (Defendants) raised the question why an Arrhenius plot was used over alternative methods for obtaining the energy of activation from rate data. I can categorically state that there is absolutely no other method for obtaining that value outside of an Arrhenius plot, so I am at a loss as to what she means. 8 . There is much discussion, particularly by Dr. Ziegler, about DePalma throwing out “25% of his data." This is so much hyperbolae. X am repeating myself, I know, but Mr. DePalma merely suggests what result one gets IF one were to not consider the ONE point. I am sure that Dr. Ziegler knows what kind of response he would get if he made that claim in front of a scientific meeting. 9 . It is also important to point out that the Defendants' expert witness, Dr. Uhlmann, also failed to notice this glaring error. Thus I put him, Dr. Rattner, Dr. Ziegler, and Dr. Batich in the same category of having apparently forgotten their basic kinetics training. 10 . I happened to choose a Bruker instrument over Varían myself because of the (potentially apocraphyl) better reputation Bruker has in building NMR instruments, particularly probes. The main point here is that practical sensitivities can vary among instrument manufacturers. I am surprised that Dr. MacDonald did not speak to that possibility surely knowing that he was effectively condemning the work of Garrido et al. it is apparently due to that condemnation that Dr. Ziegler unfairly refers to Garrido's work as largely discredited. 11 . I discussed this possibility with Dr. Martine Ziliox at Bruker Instruments in Billerica, Massachusetts. She informed me that the type of operation that MacDonald suggested is not possible on the model of spectrometer that Garrido et al used in their studies. Therefore, the accusation he launches at Garrido in the MacDonald paper and in the 104 testimony (p.575 1.15-16), is unwarranted. Additionally, I find it rather uncolle-gial on the part of MacDonald to have relied on the good offices of Dr. Garrido at the early stage of his work leading to the Analytical Chemistry paper, yet never returned the courtesy by giving Garrido an opportunity to answer to his (MacDonald's) findings in the manuscript. 12 . For a good example of the relevancy of this method one only need to look at the book “Silicon-Based Polymer Science," edited by Zeigler and Fearon (kindly supplied to me by the Defendants) wherein there is a chapter by Doughty, Assink, and Kay entitled "Hydrolysis and Condensation Kinetics of Dimeric Sol-Gel Species by 29Si NMR Spectroscopy." 13 . I quote Eugene Rochow from his book “Silicon and Silicones," (1987, Springer Verlag, p. 101) in a discussion of the formation of silicone polymers: "... although the average molecular weight of such a chain-stoppered silicone oil can be regulated by using the appropriate proportions of M and D units in the' initial reaction mixture, a statistical distribution of molecular sizes and weights will always result. This is a consequence of the random redistribution reaction which we call equilibration.” This results from an expected dynamic Si-0 bond. 14 . One such abstract (3) blindly recounts the inarguably incorrect DePalma kinetic analysis, which is most unfortunate — it certainly makes me wonder whether Dr. Batich is paying attention when he repeatedly fails to notice what most freshman chemistry students know about simple kinetics. 15 . Since the region of plus or minus one standard deviation only encompasses 68% of the data points, there must be negative [Si] outliers to account for values given. If Dr. Batich is not concerned that he is measuring negative Si levels then he needs to explain. 16 . In the Rule. 104 Transcript I must assume there is a clerical error. On page 415 1. 3-5 Dr. Batich seems to be agreeing to the term “amino-saline,” uttered by Ms. Pole, when I would assume he was hearing "amino-silane.” The former would make absolutely no sense whatsoever. A similar error occurs at p. 415 1.3-6. 17 . Let me deal with Dr. Ziegler's testimony here. First, my overall impression is that his testimony is overly harsh. He makes a very valid point that DePalma and Batich should have felt obliged to report the results of the advancing angle measurements (p. 444 1. 17-23) but then seems to admit unfamiliarity with contact angle hysteresis and admits that receding angles are more relevant under some circumstances (p. 451 1. 16 to p. 452 1. 3). His later willingness to even discuss the kinetic results and Arrhenius graph indicates to me that he accepts them at some level. His entire discussion of the Arrhenius theory, multiple processes, and the “A” factor (p. 459) is completely irrelevant yet superficially impressive. That he buys into the incorrect kinetic analysis of DePalma and Batich causes this discussion to be a waste of time. Dr. Ziegler seems so intent on his point of view that he makes the absolutely bizarre claim (p. 491 1. 6-10) that because D4 has a boiling point of 274 °C that it is not appreciably volatile. The boiling point of water is 100 °C yet a bowl of water kept at room temperature, 22 °C, will disappear over the weekend. Where did it go? Mr. Williams caught Dr. Ziegler on this when he correctly raised the issue of enthalpy of vaporization (p. 495 1. 9-12), to which Dr. Ziegler's response is evasive. Dr. Ziegler’s answers regarding the Dow results are, in my opinion, biased.