***Monocytes from type 2 diabetic patients have a pro-inflammatory profile 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 works as anti-inflammatory***
As if Vitamin D didn't do enough already...here we see it having an anti-inflammatory effect in T2 DM patients who have low grade inflammation. The benefits of Vit D sometimes seem endless, which makes the very common levels of deficiency in our country that much more disturbing. Interestingly, one of the inflammatory chemicals that Vit D lowered was TNF-alpha, a major player in many autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohns' disease and psorias. Maybe we could scrap the $1000 / month drug infusions to block TNF-alpha activity and replace it with $4 worth of Vit D... Read More

***Sustained beneficial metabolic effects 18 months after a 30-day very low calorie diet in severely obese, insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes***
When I read articles like this, I try to rack my brain and try to figure out how, with interventions as potent and safe as these, do we still have diabetes and CVD as major killers in our country? Granted, 450 calories per day ain't much, but could we all struggle for 30 days to know it was going to have a massive impact on our health? ALL patients were off insulin at the end of 30 days. And less than 1/3 went back on insulin after 1 1/2 years. Considering that I have yet to see a patient following the "standard" recommendations from their PCP NOT need less meds down the line, this news should be pasted everywhere. Read More

***Resveratrol stimulates AMP kinase activity in neurons***
Personally, I'm all for protecting my brain, and I'm sure many in my same mindset would be glad to hear that red wine is probably a part of that equation. Resveratrol has been known for some time now to pack quite a punch when it comes to antioxidant potential, and can be found in muscadine qrapes and peanut butter, and now we have some additional evidence as to how well it may serve to protect the brain. Based on this research, resveratrol will play a major role in protecting against migraines, seizures, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's with no down sides. Read More

***Physician Knowledge of National Cholesterol Guidelines Before and After an Interactive Curriculum***
It never ceases to amaze me how unfamiliar many PCPs and internists are with aspects of cholesterol management. The NCEP III guidelines clearly recommend therapeutic lifestyle changes as THE firstline approach for alterations in cholesterol levels. And yet, to date, I do not believe I have ever had a patient get any real meaningful recommendations for impacting their lipid levels. One of my more insulin resistant patients (at a triglyceride of 600 or so) was told to avoid animal fats and fried foods. And then we wonder how we get commercials with actors saying they tried "lifestyle changes" but they "weren't enough." I'm sure the definition of "lifestyle changes" in these cases are a little bare. As a perfect example, I had a recently, very healthy 48 yr old women add a handful of almonds to her diet to raise her HDL. She notes some 20 point increase in HDL levels and her PCP told her to exercise more to bring down the now slightly elevated total cholesterol. Talk about viewing lipids with blinders on!! Read More

***Bacteriocin production as a mechanism for the antiinfective activity of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118***
It is rare that a week doesn't go by that I have a discussed with some parent about recurrent ear infections in their child. It is hard to get them to understand that a course of antibiotics becomes a risk factor for future infections, but most grab the concept with a little education. Pediatricians, however, may take a few more decades to catch on... Infants are still managed with antifungals with trush shows up after antibiotic use. The bottom line is that there are certain bacteria that are SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!!! I cannot stress this concept enough and the list of what a healthy population of bacteria in our gut do to help us is endless. One thing is for sure--they are very territorial, and use a variety of methods to keep other bacteria, yeast and parasites at bay. Once we kill them off with antibiotics, it is likely we will see an increase in other infections. Read More

***Altered arterial function in migraine of recent onset***
I have repeatedly blown the horn on the fact that migraines are a systemic disorder. With all the evidence to support this, treatment of only the pain portion of a migraine with medications should be malpractice. Not only do we run the risk of side effects from the medications, but we also allow pathologically altered physiology to continue unaddressed and increase the risk of chronic diseases like stroke and heart disease. Even worse, we are in now way "fixing" the problem. To truly deal with migraines, the patient has to address the lifestyle habits that are creating the headaches. My wife has a good friend who suffers debilitating headaches several times per month and has spent many years on some heavy duty meds to minimally control the headaches. In addition to some poor lifestyle habits, she is a smoker. If ethics and care about patient outcomes where foremost in her physician's minds, they would look her in the eye, refuse her meds and tell her she needs to quit smoking before any further management of her headaches will occur. Read More

***Dietary carbohydrate modification induces alterations in gene expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in persons with the metabolic syndrome***
Talk about some serious stuff. This is a clinical study where patients were fed either a high or a low glycemic index diet and the gene expression in their fat cells were evaluated after 12 wks. The results? In the low glycemic index subjects, some 70 genes related to disease were slowed down. The opposite effect was true for the high glycemic index diets. All other aspects of the diets were matched as close as possible. The only difference was in the glycemic index. The diets only were "talking" directly to the DNA of the patient--telling the DNA to promote sickness and disease or health. Pretty powerful and clear cut. At what point in medicine do we wake up and realize that the food we put into our mouth is of the utmost importance and, in almost all cases, one of the most powerful tools we can use to affect the health of our patients. Any clinical approach that DOESN'T involve nutrition is substandard at best, harmful at worst. Read More

***Effects of low- and high-advanced glycation endproduct meals on macro- and microvascular endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus***
While most are aware that we check the values for HbA1C levels in diabetics to get an idea of how well they are controlling their sugar levels over the previous 3 months. What we are actually checking for is the damage that high sugar levels creates on proteins (glycosylation). And this damage is irreversible and very harmful and likely reflects much of the damage to the body that diabetics suffer. What many are not aware of, however, is the fact that these damaged proteins (advance glycation endproducts or AGEs) are present in the foods we eat and when ingested, have a negative consequence on our health. To minimize AGEs in foods, always cook foods slowly, especially when grilling (boiling, steaming produces the least) and avoid processed foods, which develop AGEs while processing. AGEs are principally derived from animal sources. Read More

***The CYP1A2 Genotype Modifies the Association Between Coffee Consumption and Breast Cancer Risk Among BRCA1 Mutation Carriers***
This definitely goes on the list of "research that should hit mainstream media but never seems to.." The BRCA1 gene carries a greatly increased risk of breast cancer, to the point that some women have prophylactic mastectomies. But, even with both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, 20% of these women escape breast cancer. As we look closer at this data, we can begin to understand how. Of women in this study who had the BRCA1 gene, 2 specific variants of this gene (called a SNP) led to a whopping 64% reduction in breast cancer risk if they drank coffee. No effect was seen either way in the standard BRCA1 gene without the variation. This is one hell of a reduction. So, as I always ask, does this type of information never seem to make it out to the public, who could greatly benefit from this information. Someone needs to call Starbuck's.... Read More

***Effect of Rosiglitazone on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes***
This one actually caught some attention when the study findings were released. Basically, 70% of all diabetics will die of cardiovascular complications. So, keeping the CV system at it's best sounds important, right? So, why, if one of the major diabetic drug classes increases the risk of cardiovascular death, are these even on the market?? It actually increases the risk of the one thing diabetics need to protect against. How's this for an idea? Clean up the lifestyle and diet and increase exercise to lower CVD risk. Very few actually die from taking better care of themselves.. Read More

James Bogash, DC and Amy Strock, DC
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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