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November 23, 2000 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Found to Be Underdiagnosed
Symptoms of IBS have been present for quite a long time, but it seems that national attention to the syndrome has been increasing over the past 2 years. Some may say that that is because there is a new drug out to treat IBS. Of course, it's not very effective and has caused some deaths...
(article) Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a significantly lower quality of life than patients without IBS, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The research findings were released at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in New York City. The data indicate that primary care physicians underdiagnose IBS. "We were somewhat surprised to learn that of the 94 patients who met the Rome criteria for IBS, only four had been diagnosed by a physician during the past year," said Dr. Eisen. "This finding may indicate a need for greater diligence on the part of primary care physicians to diagnose these patients and commence appropriate treatment." These data also imply that gastroenterologists need to educate primary care physicians about both the diagnosis and management of IBS in order to maximize patient satisfaction for these IBS patients. IBS is a common medical disorder usually involving abdominal pain, bloating and constipation, and/or diarrhea in alternating patterns that is diagnosed when a patient has a cluster of symptoms that cannot be attributed to a specific disease for which diagnostic tests exist.
Bifido from resident infant GI exert antimicrobial activity
It's always exciting to read articles like this in the major medical journals. I have been recommending probiotics to parents for several years now. Side effects are virtually unheard of, and the benefits can be truly astounding....skin rashes clearing up immediately, diarrhea reduced or eliminated....the list goes on. The only important thing when choosing a probiotic supplement is that most research studies have used dosages in the billions, even for infants, and most preparations do not have these levels. Gut -- Abstracts: Liévin et al. 47 (5): 646 http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/47/5/646
A systemic phenomenon for oxidative stress in cholestatic liver disease
Physicians practicing functional medicine have known for years that the liver, if the two detoxification phases are not working in sinc, can damage itself. The process is called metabolic activation and this article suggests that this process is also creating damage systemically as well. And, normal "liver function tests" will not pick this up. A true liver function tests needs to look at just that...the function of the liver. Unfortunately, many gastroenterologists are unaware that panels exist that check the liver's detoxification pathways. Gut -- Abstracts: Ljubuncic et al. 47 (5): 710 http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/47/5/710
HRT Use Linked to Increased Risk of Asthma in Women
Okay, okay. Explain to me again why HRT is consistantly one of the most heavily prescribed pharmaceuticals?? I just don't understand. And why did these results not end up all over the news media?
(article) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased risk of adult-onset asthma but not chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researches reported here at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. Analysis of the data revealed that "current users of estrogen alone had an increased risk of asthma (RR 1.8) compared with never-users of HRT after adjustment for age and smoking," and this risk increased with the dose and length of estrogen use. In addition, women who took estrogen and progestin and past users of HRT "had similarly elevated risks of asthma." "This is a large increase in risk for developing asthma. However, the number of women who develop asthma in this age range is relatively small, particularly compared with those who develop heart disease or osteoporosis," Dr. Barr told Reuters Health. Also, Dr. Barr pointed out, the analysis so far indicates that HRT is not associated with worsening of pre-existing asthma. Dr. Barr's group also found that "current users of estrogen also were at increased risk of a new diagnosis of both asthma and COPD (RR 2.0) compared with never-users of HRT." The risk of COPD alone was the same for HRT and non-HRT users, after adjusting for age and smoking, and there were no effects associated with dose or duration of HRT.
Antibiotics in early childhood increases risk of asthma/allergic disease
This is yet another research study pointing to this association. It really is not a difficult concept to follow. Antibiotics destroy the normal, developing flora in the infant. These flora are instrumental in protecting the infant from the environment, and also play a key role in regulation of the entire immune system. We have had such incredibly large blinders on when we view the only bad effects of overuse of antibiotics as antibiotic resistance. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=cea%2E2000%2E12&filetype=abstracts&article=75574
Microflora characteristics in faeces from allergic & nonallergic infants
All this information on normal, healthy flora in the GI tract, and yet neither pediatricians nor gastroenterologists "believe" in them. This article again supports the association between antibiotic use and allergies. The artilce suggests that the presence of bacteria in the GI tract is instrumental in the developing infant's immune system. It helps to balance out the Th1/Th2 ratio; a very important balance of our immune systems. Without proper balance, the likelihood of atopic diseases and autoimmune disorders is increased. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=cea%2E200 %2E12&filetype=abstracts&article=75580
Probiotics in the management of atopic eczema
Every healing system in the world..Auryvedic, traditional chinese medicine, Indian wise women, shamans....they all relate dermatological disturbances to the GI tract. Every healing system, that is, except Western dermatologists. With the rest of the world's view, treating a skin disorder with probiotics is a perfectly sane and effective method. I would imagine it would take a long, long time to find a dermatologist practicing this method. Keep in mind the side effects of probiotics vs standard dermatological methods. Probiotics: 0, standard drugs: numerous. Synergy Abstract http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/journals/processfree2.asp?contentid=cea%2E2000%2E12&filetype=abstracts&article=75576