|
November 16, 2000 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
NSAIDs, Intestinal Integrity & Bacterial Translocation in Chronic Heart Failure
This is truly a wonderful editorial illustrating how the systems of the body do not work alone, but rather as an intricate web. It demonstrates other side effects that those of us in natural medicine have always warned about with the use of NSAIDs. As little as 800 mg of ibuprofen can begin to destroy the integrity of the barrier in the intestine, thus allowing molecules to leak through that otherwise should not. NSAIDs, Intestinal Cell Integrity, and Bacterial Translocation in Chronic Heart Failure http://archinte.ama-assn.org/issues/v160n19/ffull/ilt1023-3.html
The initial care of newborn infants and subsequent hay fever
This is another article supporting the fact that exposure to bacteria as our immune systems develop is instrumental in this process. Dr. Wakefield, the author that continues to receive much criticism for his research linking measles vaccine and autism, was one of the researchers for this study. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=al%2E2000%2E14&filetype=abstracts&article=74946
Treatment of Fibromyalgia with Antidepressants
This is always a touchy subject when it comes to patients who experience pain in any form. Many patients do experience some reduction in symptoms with antidepressants, but this may be from the overlay of psychological stress leading to additional pain, NOT from the original pain generator itself. This does not mean the symptoms are psychological in origin. Unfortunately, many physicians are so limited in their arsenal against many chronic diseases that antidepressants are their only tool. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=jgi%2E2000%2E9&filetype=abstracts&article=75043
Early exposure to cows' milk raises risk of diabetes in high risk children
Do I need to say more? Granted, information linking diabetes and cow's milk exposure are still new and questionable, but many times in the past, when new research flies in the face of current thinking (i.e. "milk does a body good") the "opposition" has a strong ability to influence research supposedly discounting the unfavorable research results. bmj.com Gottlieb 321 (7268): 1040d http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7268/1040/d
Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention
More evidence supporting antioxidants and health. The dosages used in this study were relatively low, and yet beneficial effects were shown. And this study does not touch on the hundreds of other benefits from antioxidant supplementation. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=jim%2E2000%2E11&filetype=abstracts&article=75378
H. pylori May Be Implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
I try to stay away from articles on SIDS, but the association was very strong between H. pylori exposure and SIDS in this study.
Arch Dis Child 2000;83:429-434 "Infection has long been suspected to play a role in SIDS, and there is evidence implicating gastrointestinal infection," lead researcher Dr. Jonathan R. Kerr of the University of Manchester, UK, told Reuters Health. "There is extensive overlap in the epidemiology of both H. pylori infection and SIDS," he added. "Both are associated with poor communities, overcrowded living conditions, and show clustering within families." Considering results for both sequences, 28 of 32 (88%) of SIDS cases showed evidence of H. pylori infection compared with only one of eight (12.5%) controls. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in infants in developed countries is generally less than 2%, so the 88% prevalence in this SIDS population is very high by comparison, Dr. Kerr said. "We have therefore identified a possible bacterial cause of SIDS, but emphasize that our findings must be independently confirmed," he added. As for the connection between SIDS and H. pylori infection, Dr. Kerr and his colleagues theorize that "death may result from aspiration of stomach contents containing H. pylori urease into the lung with consequent release of ammonia into the circulation."
Lead Exposure Linked With Long-Term Cognitive Decline
Lead exposure is relatively common today, and the results of this study are no surprise. What this article does support is the identification of patients with high lead levels and chelation therapy to rid the body of this lead excess if found. Hair analysis is still one of the most effective, cheapest and easiest method I've come across to determine heavy metal exposure. What is stunning in this article is that the author suggests that much of what we term "age related cognitive decline" may actually be from lead exposure.
Neurology 2000;55:1144-1150 Cognitive function continues to decline in older adults years after occupational exposure to lead ends, report researchers in the October 24th issue of Neurology. "Former lead workers exhibited greater annual declines in adjusted test scores than did controls for 17 of 19 cognitive tests," the investigators write. These reached significance for the Rey complex figure copy test, and the Rey auditory verbal learning test for immediate recall and recognition. Former lead workers also exhibited significantly greater age-related annual declines for four cognitive tests: block design, digit symbol, serial digit learning, and finger tapping non-dominant hand tests. Annual declines were larger with increasing peak tibia lead levels, though not for baseline blood lead levels. "An increase of 15.7 mcg/g of peak tibia lead was equivalent in its effects on annual test decline to 5 more years of age at the baseline visit," the investigators write. "Some of what we have been calling 'normal aging' may in fact be due to past exposures to chemicals or other agents that can affect the central nervous system," Dr. Schwartz commented in an American Academy of Neurology statement. "This is potentially a very important health problem."