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April 22, 2004 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Cytokines evaluation in nasal lavage of allergic children after Bacillus clausii administration: A pilot study
Just because we find bacteria growing somewhere does not mean that the best course of action is to obliterate them. While I am unfamaliar with Bacillus clausii referenced in this study, the concept of probiotics in human health is covered very frequently in the Updates. Studies like these always bring to light the true harm of antibiotic overuse--the destruction of normal, protective flora and the chronic diseases this loss of protection can lead to.
Cytokines evaluation in nasal lavage of allergic children after Bacillus clausii administration: A pilot study - Pediatr Alle..
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Treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis with lactic acid bacteria
Ditto.
Treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis with lactic acid bacteria - Pediatr Allergy Immunol, Vol 15, Issue 2, pp. 152-158 (A..
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CRP and Other Circulating Markers of Inflammation in the Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease
Articles like these, if they get to the mainstream press (and I did see this one in one of the Phoenix major newspapers) will just add confusion. Basically, CRP is a risk factor for CHD. No question. This study evaluated the available data and determined that the risk factor for higher CRP levels in about 1.45 times the risk. The authors strongly downplay this risk. However, they also note that cigarette smoking increases risk 1.87 times and elevated cholesteol 2.35 times. Considering how easy it is to lower CRP levels through dietary means, and considering that lowering overall inflammation will probably lower you risk of other chronic diseases, I cannot see why we would not consider CRP in our workup of CHD.
NEJM -- C-Reactive Protein and Other Circulating Markers of Inflammation in the Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease
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Phenotypic effects of leptin replacement on morbid obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, and behavior in leptin-deficient adults
Remember that leptin is a hormone secreted by the adipose cell that, in a healthy state, will decrease appetite and speed up metabolism. It should act as a regulator of body weight--more adipose tissue, more leptin and faster metabolism to lose the fat--less fat, less leptin and metabolism slows down again. I really do believe that somewhere in the leptin pathway lies an important approach to obesity. As soon as we start to learn ways to make cells more responsive to leptin's message, we will begin to see more effective approaches to weight loss.
PNAS -- Abstracts: Licinio et al. 101 (13): 4531
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Walnut Diet Improves Endothelial Function in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects
Many people still avoid nuts because of their high fat content. Unfortunately, these people are losing out on some wonderful health benefits of nuts. Not only that the fat content of many types of nuts has shown positive benefits on lipids, but the presence of Vit E and other tocopherols (Vit E's powerful cousins) confer additional protection. Just remember to choose natural nuts--not those soaked in additional oils such as cottonseed.
Circulation -- Abstracts: Ros et al. 109 (13): 1609
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Allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites: evaluation of the efficacy of specific sublingual immunotherapy
Sublingual immunotherapy, which I classify under the oral tolerance category, has been around for many years. Essentially, the clinician evaluates what the patient is allergic to and then gives the patient small vials with minute amounts of the allergen to be taken under the tongue. This is believed to work by de-activating the GALT cells of the GI tract (the immune system that surrounds the GI tract) against that antigen. The GALT then sends the same "safe" signal out to the rest of the body, thus reducing or eliminating the reaction against the allergen. Very safe, very inexpenisve, no side effects.
Allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites: evaluation of the efficacy of specific sublingual immunotherapy - Allergy, Vol 59,..
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FDA warns against commercial prenatal ultrasound videos
By now, most of us have seen the 3-D pictures of developing fetuses. Kind of neat. But wait--the FDA puts out a warning about these, saying that "Ultrasound is a form of energy and can't be considered harmless, even at low levels, it says." Really? Then why the excessive use of ultrasounds as a standard approach in all pregnancies? Should we not warn against those as well? Keep in mind that there has NEVER been any studies about the safety of ultrasound on the fetus. We have seen studies that suggest that ultrasound may give a tendency for the child to be born left handed--suggesting that the ultrasound is not as benign as we would like to think. And, considering that ultrasound rarely changes the outcome of a pregnancy, should we not be questioning the routine use of ultrasound in pregnancies?
bmj.com Tanne 328 (7444): 853
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GPs should help patients avoid unhealthy breakfast cereals, expert says
Expert? Sometimes this stuff just amazes me. They never call ME to ask my opinion. But seriously, how hard is it to look for "enriched wheat flour" or "partially hydrogenated oil" or "sugar" or "high fructose corn syrup?" Spend one minute explaining it to a patient. Unfortunately, you just wiped out most of the cereals out there...
bmj.com Burke 328 (7444): 854
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Electroacupuncture for Tension-type Headache on Distal Acupoints Only
Let the sticklers in acadamia figure this one out. Acupuncture is definately gaining ground on the research front.
Electroacupuncture for Tension-type Headache on Distal Acupoints Only: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial - Headache, ..
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Reduction in diversity of the colonic mucosa associated bacterial microflora in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease
With a switch to a more "sterile" envrionment, we have been oblivious to the concurrent destruction in normal bacterial flora and the role they play in our health and disease. Although they have many other functions such as vit B12 production and detoxifying exogenous chemicals, a major purpose they serve is purely protective: they are territorial and secrete compounds such as lactic acid that inhibit the growth of many other organisms.
Gut -- Abstracts: Ott et al. 53 (5): 685
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