Lifecare Chiropractic
James Bogash, D.C.
1830 S. Alma School Rd
Bldg 7, Ste 135
Mesa, AZ 85210
(480) 839-CARE (2273)
Research Updates June 20, 2005
***H pylori and stress on the augmentation of gastric mucosal damage and its prevention with á-tocopherol***
Regular readers of the Updates will know that I feel that H. pylori infection is merely opportunistic as a result of predisposing factors such as stress, hypochlorhydria (which is a frequent side effect of chronic stress), reduced vit C intake, etc... This article further supports my position, finding that mice subject to chronic stress have drastically worsened ulcers. This situation was remedied with the addition, of Vit E (which, ironically, many would now believe will kill us as result of unbalanced media attention on slightly increased mortality rates from Vit E which I have addressed in prior Updates). As an aside, I'm not sure I like the idea of immersing mice in water for up to 8 hrs just to see if the stress will make their ulcers worse; something they could've just asked me...
***Increased Rates of Chromosome Breakage in BRCA1 Carriers Are Normalized by Oral Selenium Supplementation***
I know that I have had at least one patient come through my office that had had prophalactic bilateral mastectomy because she carried the BRCA gene. I think few things demonstrate the influence that environment has on our genes than this situation. We have also seen that tamoxifen use attenuates the increased risk found in patients with the BRCA1 and 2 genotypes and now we may be able to add selenium to the list.
***High total cholesterol levels in late life associated w/ reduced risk of dementia***
I just had a discussion with a patient today in which I showed concern with the increasingly aggressive approach mainstream medicine is taking with statin drugs. "Medicine for the masses" is a great thing for society, but for the individual patient it just plain sucks. This study is perfect example of what may happen if we blanket everyone with the same approach. As to why cholesterol may be protective, I can't explain at this time. But, what I do tell patients is to clean up their lifestyle and not worry so much about where their cholesterol is. If a patient has an otherwise good lifestyle but may have a cholesterol of 220 or 250, than I usually tell the patient not to worry. The other beneficial compounds in their diet will protect the cholesterol from being damage and causing problems within our cardiovascular system.
***High Rates of Adverse Drug Events in a Highly Computerized Hospital***
Okay, well... Computerize drug ordering and we'll all be safer. Apparently not. 52% adverse drug events. 9% of these resulted in serious harm. Hey--here's another statistic from the study--74% of these reactions most likely resulted in additional services provided by the hospital, for which they were able to bill and recieve reimbursement. I wonder if this would work for me? Spray some Pledge on the floor outside my office, give a little shove to patients leaving the office...then bill all over again for services rendered after my patient wipes out on the tile...
***Oral Cyanocobalamin Supplementation in Older People w/ Vit B12 Deficiency***
Right off the bat, might I just say that I truly hate it when I'm right. When I give patients my opinion of the RDAs, I use a wonderful B12 supplement from Biotics that has 2,000 mcg, a whopping 33,333% of the RDA, to illustrate my near disdain for the RDAs. Well, given the fact that none of my patients have died from this level of B12 and I have seen good clinical response, now we have a very nice study suggesting that 1,000 mcg is a good dosage.
***Steve Wilson Exposes Huge Prescription Drug Price Markups***
While I usually stick to peer reviewed literature, I do occasionally stray and this one answered one question that has perplexed me for many years now. How can we have competing drug stores on 3 corners of every 3rd intersection and they all thrive? Now I guess we know how...huge profit margins!
*** Vit D Inadequacy in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Osteoporosis Therapy***
Vit D is one of those compounds (it is actually a hormone--not a vitamin) that is recieving much attention in the research lately. More and more researchers are starting to scream that our society is extremely Vit D deficient, largely at the fault of our irrational fear of the sun. I get questions about how to help fight osteoporosis all the time, and I always reply that osteoporosis is a disease of lifestyle--NOT a calcium deficiency disease. It needs to be approached from many angles--diet (plant based vs animal based), calcium supplementation along with other minerals known to positively affect bone, exercise and Vit D. It appears that my approach is not favored, and that the multi-pronged approach is not as favorable as just giving a drug and ignoring Vit D...
***Potassium, Calcium on Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Women***
While we're on the subject of bone. I mentioned above that lifestyle is a key determinant in developing osteoporosis. This has to do with maintain more of an animal based/acid diet. Our body then has to use more calcium to buffer the acids, resulting in increased bone loss. This study finds that the addition of potassium citrate goes a long way in shifting towards an alkaline environment and protecting bone.
***Changes in Glucose Tolerance over Time in Women with Polycystic Ovaries***
The research pointing to the link between insulin resistance and PCOS is very, very strong. And yet I read an article in a pregnancy/mother magazine about PCOS. The last therapy mentioned was managing insulin resistance. While I was exuberant that it was mentioned at all, why last? This should absolutely, unquestionably be the first line therapy. If infertility associated with PCOS is treated with fertility drugs, then the doctor just missed the true problem of insulin resistance and should be liable for malpractice. Quite frankly, I am sick of patients coming through my office that have a glowing light above their head flashing "insulin resistant" and yet, despite multiple providers that they see, no one has addressed the insulin resistance. Their is no longer any excuse not the know this. Any physician in clinical practice today that does not fully understand the negative ramifications of insulin resistance on their patients should be kicked out of medicine. Period.
***The Pathobiology of Diabetic Complications***
Well, I need to just wrap it all up right here. For those of you who's eyes glaze over as I talk about mitochondrial dysfunction being the root of all that is evil in today's chronic diseases (my wife just rolls her eyes now--she stopped throwing stuff sometime last year...), turns out I wasn't quite ready for the looney bin. This article may be worth paying for full text access for some getting this update. It truly begins to tie in the cause as well as the potential routes of management for diabetes.
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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