***Systematic Review: Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaws***
I must say, that I'm very used to the mainstream media gathering a research study done on a natural compound and interpreting the results completely out of context, making that natural compound look poor. However, in this case we have the same with Fosamax class of drugs, where specific finding in a research study got blown way out of proportion. In this case, patients taking IV biphosphonates during cancer treatment had an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw bones--the bones basically started to rot. When they expanded the study to the population at large, it was found that treatment with this class of drugs in non-cancer patients did result in osteonecrosis, but at relatively low levels. The bottom here is, though, that I feel strongly that this is the wrong approach for bone health. Ultimately, we will admit that Vit D, exercise and anti-inflammatory lifestyles are the best things we can do for our bones. http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/144/10/753

***A Phase II Study with Antioxidants, Both in the Diet and Supplemented, Pharmaconutritional Support, Progestagen, and Anti-Cyclooxygenase-2 Showing Efficacy and Safety in Patients with Cancer-Related Anorexia/Cachexia and Oxidative Stress***
Wow--if you can get through that title, your way ahead of the game....I remember a patient a little while back now who went for chemotherapy for breast cancer. Her oncologist specifically told her not to take any kind of supplement because he didn't want it to "interfere" with his chemotherapy. To be blunt, this guy probably hadn't cracked a medical journal in decades. For every provider, this is inexcusable. For an oncologist it goes beyond words. The patient ended up with a colostomy bag for about 6 months and had a very rough time with the chemo. How much of that could've been avoided? http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/1030

***Secular Trends in Deaths From Cardiovascular Diseases***
It's good to know that the number of CVD deaths is decreasing, but let's look at this a little closer. The authors contend that a 4.8% decrease in 24 years is "marked." "Marked?" Billions in treatment. Billions in research. And we only get a measly 4.8% drop? This is advancement in medicine? From a LIFESTYLE disease? We should be ashamed, not touting the results. From what we've learned about prevention of CVD, this condition should be virtually eradicated. But alas!! Still a top killer of men and women. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/19/2285

***Anti-TNF Antibody Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Risk of Serious Infections and Malignancies***
Of all the new drugs on the market, this one definately has me worried. By blocking one of our tools we use to fight both infections and cancer, you open up a Pandora's box of problems if used long term. But never fear!! The powers that be have fully evaluated the risk of cancer (a disease which takes decades to manifest..) and serious infection when someone has been taking this class of drugs for up to one year. Wow. How short sighted can we be? So now, when a patient is questioning their doctor about this class of drugs, he can honestly say that studies have found increased rates of cancer, but the numbers were small. Not to sound like a doomsayer, but check this again after 10 years. Most of the patients on this class of drugs are NOT being told about anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory diets and how much they can influence the disease severity in these patients. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/19/2275

***Red yeast rice stimulates bone formation in rats***
Keep in mind that this was a rat study, but not bad news overall. But, given that an approach to bone health is systemic and requires consistant exercise, sunlight exposure and anti-inflammatory lifestyles, I've never been a big fan of using one nutriceutical to manage any condition and this is no different.... http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TB1-4K07PN5-4&_coverDate=03/31/2006&_alid=404749868&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=5129&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1764ff61eaa23a227428ec8e1e66d9f9

***A Positive Dose–Response Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Site-Specific Bone Mineral Augmentation in Adolescent Girls***
I firmly believe that the no-holds barred discrimination against sunlight ranks among one of the most damaging things public health has done in the name of "health." This is yet another study in the hundreds that support the health benefits of Vit D, which of course, is produced w/ exposure to sunlight. http://www.jbmronline.org/doi/abs/10.1359/jbmr.060302

***Inflammatory Markers and Loss of Muscle Mass (Sarcopenia) and Strength***
We already know that inflammation is a major risk factor for just about every chronic disease you can think of, but there are two that don't quickly jump to mind: osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). I'm not sure what the evolutionary advantage is to this mechanism, but I would envision something along the lines of providing a rapid source of protein or calcium into the bloodstream for short term survival after injury or sustained physical exertion. Either way, our pro-inflammatory lifestyle may not be killing us right away, but they sure as heck are keeping the nursing homes full. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TDC-4K3K9GK-H&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2006&_alid=410776539&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=5195&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=5404899dc78844aa303fe1c1a3b8aade

***Personality, lifestyle, and risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer***
The irony of this is almost laughable if it weren't so ingrained in society. Basically, those who felt they had control over their health had lower risk of cardiovascular disease. So what's the catch? Mainstream medicine fosters anything BUT a belief in our control over our health. Something going wrong?--take this pill because the problem is coming from outside you, not within you. Completely opposite thought process to what this study found protected against CVD. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/332/7554/1359

***Usefulness of Preoperative C-Reactive Protein and Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Level for Predicting Future Cardiovascular Events After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting***
The routine analysis of CRP levels is still resisted by the mainstream cardiologists. However, in this study, elevated CRP levels produced a 3.9 times risk in a cardiac event following bypass surgery. Cardiology in this country still does not entertain the idea that lifestyle changes (those that would lower CRP levels) are an integral part of management of the cardiology patient. Maybe that's why CVD deaths still rank #1 despite enormous amounts of research suggesting that in excess of 90% of these deaths are preventable with lifestyle changes.... http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T10-4JSF4WD-5&_coverDate=06%2F15%2F2006&_alid=412235697&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=4876&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b53eeeaed669a20f4fa776f85cae0626

***Gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens by affecting the mucosal barrier in mice***
While this is a mouse study, there is much clinically to support the notion that altered gut microflora plays a large role in our systemic health. If you think about it, our physiology has spend tens of thousands of years developing a commensal relationship with the little buggers growing in our GI tracts. Now, in a mere blip on the timeline, we have been handing out antibiotics like they're candy to everyone with a sniffle or who even thinks they may have a sniffle. The resulting destruction of normal flora w/o replacement can truly be linked to a key role in our rising incidence of chronic diseases like certain cancers, neurological disorders, almost every GI disorder and autoimmune diseases. http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/55/7/954

***Tamoxifen protects against acute tumor necrosis factor α-induced cardiac injury via improving mitochondrial functions***
Not that I'm a fan of tamoxifen, but it is interesting to note that it's cardioprotection abilities are mediated by making the mitochondria more efficient. Since soy and flax have similar mechanisms of action as tamoxifen, would they as well support mitochondrial energetics? Regular readers of the Updates know that I consider mitochondrial dysfunction as the route of almost all evil... http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T38-4HS3GG6-4&_coverDate=04%2F01%2F2006&_alid=379066145&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=4940&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=032fba1d3e170a61d102aa1c670eca23

***Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease***
A full approach to managing insuline resistance is three pronged--diet, exercise and stress reduction. In my lifestyle management class, the diet is actually the easiest part. Once people realize eating healthy doesn't have to be painful, they quite nicely improve their diets. Stress management and exercise, on the other hand, require the most dedication to improve. But, as this study finds, there are unquestionable benefits to the use of some form of stress reduction to improve health. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/11/1218

Dr. James Bogash, D.C.
1830 S. Alma School Rd, Bldg 7, Ste 135, Mesa, AZ 85210
(Alma School Road, just south of the Superstition Freeway/Highway 60)
Chiropractic Health Care for Chandler, Mesa and Tempe Arizona
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