August 12, 2002 Research Update

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com

Resistance Exercise and Physical Performance in Adults Aged 60 to 83

There is more than enough information to strongly support resistance training in ALL seniors. I have been pushing all my older patients towards a combination of aerobic and resistance training for some time now and the results are always positive. Of course, motivation is the number one problem with implementing any kind of program like this. Elastic tubing is an inexpensive, safe and easy way for many patients to get a start on this type of training.

Synergy Abstract

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Western medicine: a confidence trick driven by the drug industry?

There have been times I have seen the general public realize just how much of a travesty has been played on them by the pharmaceuticals--but at that point I usually wake up in a cold sweat with one of my dogs licking my nose... But seriously, I am strongly against any kind of governmental controls on the costs or practices of the pharmaceutical countries. I would rather see the general public coming to terms with the lack of efficacy or increased efficacy of new drugs over old ones and of the side effects of many medications and the damage to our physiology. Alas, I truly, truly believe that this will never happen and the control that the pharmaceuticals have over many's daily lives will increase. I do know that there will always be a small percentage of the population that will educate themselves and resist drugs in all cases except the most necessary.

bmj.com 325 (7358): 0h

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Effect of olanzapine, risperidone on risk of diabetes in schizophrenia

As if these patients didn't have enough to worry about!! This article falls on the heels of the previous article; where we see newer, more expensive meds with more harmful side effects. Interestingly, I just recently had a patient on zypraxia that was having difficult coming off the medication. This is still a very new drug and anyone taking this drug is in the "guinea pig" group. Additionally, I realize that most mental health professionals would committ me for this, but I firmly believe that many psychological problems have their origins in physiological imbalances/toxicologies and can be lessened and/or alleviated with addressing the dysfunction. Unfortunately, while the research is generally very sound, few, if any, patients with psychological condition are counseled in this approach.

bmj.com Abstracts: Koro et al. 325 (7358): 243

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Association between competing interests and authors' conclusions

This isn't "beat up on the pharmaceuticals" week, but when they make such a juicy target its very hard to resist. Basically, this article supports what we all already know--money talks and can influence research. Remember this next time your doctor wants to give you a "new" drug that is supposed to be more effective. The "free samples" are always a clue... To further confound the issue or faulty data, the "placebos" that are used in many of these trials are not "sugar pills" as they so lightly mention in the commercials. When was the last time you sucked down a sugar packet and experience nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea?? Many times the placebos are actually compounds known to contain substances that mimic the side effects of the testing medication. Starting to wonder what you can believe??

bmj.com Abstracts: Kjaergard and Als-Nielsen 325 (7358): 249

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Efficacy, safety, and cost of new anticancer drugs

Really--it's not me!!! This is stuff coming out in one single issue of one of the more prestigious medical journals!! Does it shock anyone that new cancer drugs are many times more expensive and less effective?? Anyone out there up for an "ounce of prevention" instead??

bmj.com Garattini and Bertele' 325 (7358): 269

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Folic Acid Supplementation and Prevention of Birth Defects

We've seen much research and opinion supporting folic acid in women of child bearing age to lower risk of neural tube defects. This article, however, looks for effective levels of supplementation for women with prior NTD births and suggest 4,000 micrograms. Considering that it took four decades just to get up to the 400-800 mcgs and this dose is 5 to 10 fold higher don't expect this to hit the newstand anytime soon.

nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Green 132 (8): 2356S

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IDDM 3 Years After Hemophilus Influenza B (HiB) Immunization

This is an example of one of those article that proves that immunizations are not always (and actually, rarely) benign. Studies like this are scattered throughout the medical literature and can sometimes be difficult to track down. But they are there. These findings need to be disclose to EVERY parent before their child is vaccinated. Let the parent make a decision with true informed consent. I believe we would start seeing lowered rates of immunizations if parents really knew these immunizations had the potential for serious adverse side effects.

Taylor & Francis Group - Article

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Betaine Increases Intraepithelial Lymphs in Duodenum and Increases Functional Properties of Phagocytes

I know this seems like one of those big long technical titles, but the take home message here is that betaine, considered as a strong methyl donor akin to folic acid, may have positive effects on the immune system being able to fight off infections.

nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Klasing et al. 132 (8): 2274

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Role of endogenous oestrogen in aetiology of coronary heart disease

I just hate it when research finds that estrogen, the wonder-substance of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women designed to eliminate all age related diseases and bring a woman back to her twenty-something health, really has little impact on heart disease and environmental risk factors are the major role. What a novel concept!! Imaging lifestyle changes such as exercise, healthy plant-based diets having more power to prevent disease that a prescription drug!!

bmj.com Lawlor et al. 325 (7359): 311

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