***Nearly half of patients with migraine with aura are found to have a heart defect, study finds***
This one has created quite a stir in the cardiologist community. Many have moved on this information and are doing septal defect repairs in greater numbers. Skeptics point out that risk of stroke from this condition (known as paradoxical embolism - an emboli forms in the deep veins of the leg, breaks free, goes to the right chamber of the heart just as a patient is bearing down - called valsalva manuever- to allow enough pressure for the emboli to pass through septal defect to left chamber on, then still only 20% of this blood goes on to the brain) is very low. We may be looking at this from the wrong angle. Studies have shown an increase in heart defects when a pregnant mom has increased oxidative stress. Maybe this is all just an inkling of the bigger picture that the migraine sufferer has been dealing with since he or she was in the womb. Either way, the migraine patient still needs to be viewed as a whole for full resolution of their headaches.
Read More

***Plasma IL-6 concentration is inversely related to insulin sensitivity, and acute-phase proteins associate with glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy subjects***
What a tangled web we weave...It is known that insulin resistance leads to inflammation (hyperinsulinemia leads to increased TNF-alpha which turns on inflammation), but this study and several others point to the fact that inflammation also increases insulin resistance. So it becomes a feed forward cycle. This is one of the reasons why I am against drug therapies like metformin because they do not address the overall levels of inflammation present in the body. Only by addressing lifestyle factors that contribute to inflammation (exercise, increased intake of omega 3 fatty acids, decreased intake of omega 6 fatty acids, heavy metal and chemical avoidance, increased fruits and veggies...) will we be able to control both the inflammation and the insulin resistance.
Read More

***Relation between dietary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome***
Can't say I'll use this info every day in practice, but thought I'd include it to show how far reaching the benefits of a diet high in healthy fats can go. Of course, give it some time, and I'm sure you'll skin eye cream made with quacamole with a line stating that "clinical studies PROVE that quacamole can reduce wrinkles..
Read More

***Pomegranate fruit juice for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer***
There are several multi level martketing groups out there promoting certain juices with high antioxidant properties. Mangosteen (Xango) and noni juice are two that come to mind. These are very expensive because you are paying for the MLM structure. However, I do believe these have strong benefits because of their antioxidant properties. I usually recommend pomegranate, which I believe delivers an equivalent amount of antioxidant power for a heck of alot cheaper.
Read More

***Glycemic and insulinemic responses in women consuming extruded amaranth***
It's always good to keep up to date on information on the grains that we replace wheat for. This study looks at amaranth and finds the glycemic index higher than that of white bread. The authors do note, however, that the amaranth was from processed snacks and this may have had a large effect on the glycemic index. You can bet the processing definately puts a negative factor to the grain.
Read More

***Calorie Restriction Promotes Mitochondrial Biogenesis by Inducing the Expression of eNOS***
Despite reading the ads and articles you see everywhere, the ONLY approach that has been shown to improve lifespan in mammals is calorie restriction without nutrient restriction. Period. However, the pharmaceutical companies are looking for what physiological pathways are triggerred with caloric restriction so they can make a drug that does the same thing. We want to have our cake and eat it too (all chocked full of refined carbs and saturated fat...), but we definately, as a society, do not want to do what's right. Heck, we can't even do the high protein diets right; we have to load up our favorite foods with artificial sweeteners instead of avoiding them.
Read More

***Nitrate and nitrosative chemistry within Barrett's oesophagus during acid reflux***
I personally think we are severely mismanaging reflux disease. Despite lack of evidence for too much stomach acid production, we prescribe acid blockers. It's not that these drugs are not effective for symptomatic improvement, it's just that they don't fix the problem, and open a Pandora's box of problems when you shut down an essential process in human health. This article supports another little recommended approach for those with reflux--avoidance of nitrate containing foods. Basically, the dietary nitrates make it into the saliva which, when it meets the acidity in the esophagus, creates nitrous acid, which increases risk for esophageal cancer.
Read More

***Influence of intestinal bacteria on induction of regulatory T cells: lessons from a transfer model of colitis***
Ok--follow this one closely because it's important. Take white blood cells from a mouse that has never been exposed to any bacteria along with white blood cells from another mouse that was grown normally with exposure to bacteria. When the white blood cells from a sterile mouse are put into another mouse, that mouse develops intestinal inflammation (consistent w/ colitis, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) sooner than when white blood cells from the normally grown mice are given. Additionally, when these types of WBCs are given to mice with colitis, the sterile mouse WBCs had no effect, but the normal WBCs were able to calm the disease. So what does this mean? It means that the WBCs from normally grown mice have the ability to control or even stop the intestinal inflammation, but WBCs from the sterile mice do not have this control. This strongly supports the idea that destruction of normal bacterial flora in an infant with a developing immune system can have long reaching, damaging effects on their long term intestinal health.
Read More

***Comparison of the effects of amitriptyline and flunarizine on weight gain and serum leptin, C peptide and insulin levels when used as migraine preventive treatment***
This definately goes into the "we're mismanaging migraines" file folder. Since we are truly beginning to view migraines as a local manifestation of a systemic problem, drug therapy that worsens overall health is definately a step in the wrong direction. Migraine patients need to be addressed with full attention to lifestyle to manage their headaches as well as lowering their risk of certain chronic diseases that migraine patients are at risk for.
Read More

***Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Gargling***
Wow. This one surprised me a little. Merely gargling with water several times per day drastically cut the risk of upper respiratory infections (about a 40% reduction), and even when an URTI did start, the severity was less. From gargling water. As a preventative method, how much do you think this would cost? Less than the cost of merely one antibiotic pill to treat the infection, I'm sure. Looking at the above study, what a great method to lower antibiotic use among everyone. Of course, little evidence suggests that antibiotics are useful for URTIs anyway...
Read More

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
• (480)839-CARE (2273) • Map • Sitemap
Copyright © 2005-2008 • New Patient Forms