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April 16, 2003 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Plasma ghrelin following cure of Helicobacter pylori
Occasionally I come across an article that gets me so excited that I have to hurriedly explain to my wife the findings. Needless to say she just gives me that "I need therapy" look... Regular readers of the Updates know that I feel that H. pylori is an opportunistic infection that just happens to grow when other physiological factors are unbalanced. Here we see a marked increase in plasma ghrelin levels with H. pylori eradication. This elevated ghrelin would cause increased appetite and weight gain. I hope you all are as excited about the implications of this article as I am!!!
Gut -- Abstracts: Nwokolo et al. 52 (5): 637
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Study provides new evidence that cranberry juice may help fight CVD
This is good news to know. 2-3 glasses per day lowered CVD risk by 40% and contains some of the highest levels of protective compounds among its fellow fruits. It is interesting to note that some of these compounds found in fruits are designed to protect the fruit from pests and insects. These fruits produce more levels when threatened by these pests. So, when pesticides are used, these fruits will have lowered levels of protective compounds. This may be one of the reasons why organic fruits and veggies are much higher in these compounds.
American Chemical Society News Service
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Changing Use of Antibiotics in Community-Based Outpatient Practice
I remember when Cipro came out several years ago. This stuff was designed to save the lives of people who were on the edge of death from systemic infections. I remember one of my instructors touting that Cipro could sterilize your sputum. Now I see patients in my office who are given strong antibiotics like Cipro for run of the mill infections (many of which do not even need antibiotics in the first place!!).
Annals of Internal Medicine: Article
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Colonic fermentation influences lower esophageal sphincter function in reflux disease
I must admit that I had to do a little additional research on this one not just because it was new news, but also because production of short chain fatty acids by colonic flora is actually a therapeutic goal for many conditions. Although the mechanism remains unknown, this association is a consistent finding. This would suggest care be taken for patients with reflux disease and use of soluble fibers such as fructooligosaccarhides (FOS).
Gastroenterology Online
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Long-Term alpha-Tocopherol and Vit C Have No Detectable Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Healthy Men
Thought I would comment on this one in case any readers come across this article first. Basically, Vit E and C had no effect on inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 or CRP. Many would use this as another opportunity to denounce these supplements in disease prevention, but I would disagree. I generally do not consider these supplements as having direct anti-inflammatory effects. Rather, these antioxidants serve more of a protective function; protecting cells and cellular components from damage from oxidation from both normal and pathological processes.
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Bruunsgaard et al. 133 (4): 1170
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Are placebos necessary to test new antidepressants and anxiolytics?
While I've always believed that natural approaches are more powerful and safer in the long run than drugs for psychological intervention, I usually contend that there are patients that need them. Well, I am seriously beginning to question whether many of the drugs have any effect at all. This review evaluated over 10,000 depressed patients in 52 clinical trials and 8340 anxious patients in 40 trials and found the drugs more effective than placebo LESS THAN HALF THE TIME!!! So basically, a large chuck of these drugs out today are worthless. Actually, I would put them well below worthless--worthless things don't earn long lists of side effects worse than the psychological state the patient began with.
Cambridge Journals Online - CUP Abstract Page
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Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy Induces Insulin Resistance
While this article address growth hormone as used for true deficiency states, this illustrates one of the primary dangers with many so called "anti aging" miracle supplements. Growth hormone has been big on this front for many years. However, remember that Mother Nature does things for a reason. The lowering of hormone production as we get older is done as a protective mechanism. So, naturally, when we go mess with Mother Nature with things like growth hormone and HRT than side effects that can be life threatening are fair game on the side effects list.
JCEM -- Abstracts: Bramnert et al. 88 (4): 1455
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Cortisol and the metabolic syndrome in South Asians
Until the day I quit practicing (or die, whichever comes first...) I will always come across patients who skip breakfast in an attempt to lose weight. And, like a robot, I go on to explain that this is probably one of the absolute worst things they can do to lose weight. Remember that the brain needs fuel, and if you deprived the brain of fuel through your diet, cortisol will be secreted to break down lean muscle mass to get the glucose of the brain. Less muscle mass = worsening of insulin resistance and weight gain. This article once again illustrates the intimate connection between insulin and cortisol and the snowball effect one has on the other.
Abstract
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Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, Blood Pressure, and Renal Perfusion
ADMA is still a relatively new concept. Basically, it is the arch-villian to nitric oxide. Recall that nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator and helps to lower blood pressure. When ADMA levels are high, it overrides the vasodilator effects of NO and raises blood pressure. Here we see that, in elderly patients, ADMA levels were directly correlated with blood pressure. Keep in mind that ADMA levels rise with insulin resistance (higher insuln inactivates the enzymes that degrades ADMA levels; essentially raising levels of ADMA) and insulin resistance climbs as we get older due to muscle loss.
Circulation -- Abstracts: Kielstein et al. 107 (14): 1891
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