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November 7, 2002 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Gastroesophageal Reflux and Cow Milk Allergy: Is There a Link?
As with any condition in infants (skin problems, chronic diarrhea, allergies) food allergies need to be ruled out first unquestionably. That would include dairy, soy and corn (wheat doesn't normally get overexposed until later), and any other food that an infant is bombarded with while their delicate immune systems are developing.
Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Salvatore and Vandenplas 110 (5): 972
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Cancer immunoediting: from immunosurveillance to tumor escape
My thoughts on most cases of cancers is that development of cancerous cells is constantly occurring and the immune system picks off these cells as they arise. It is only when the immune system is depleted (and pick your cause--stress, poor lifestyle, reductions that occur with aging) that cancer gains a foothold. The problem with this is that traditional approaches to treating cancer with chemotherapy destroys the immune system. Combining alternative therapies such as antioxidants, lifestyle changes, detoxification and herbs with "standard" care is showing strong trends towards being more effective. I believe this is from supporting the immune system while the chemotherapy works on the rapidly dividing cancerous cells. Traditional thinking has believed that antioxidants such as vitamin C and reduced glutathione would interfere with the chemo. However, research shows that their actions (such as inducing apoptosis--programmed cell death) only occur in ABERRANT cells--not healthy ones.
Nature Immunology
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Reduced Progression of Atherosclerosis w/ Antibiotic Treatment & C. pneumoniae Seropositivity
The research that supports the role of infectious organsims in cardiovascular disease is building, and now we're seeing the next step...treatment of the condition leads to reduction in the progression of the condition. My only thought...instead of antibiotics I would wonder if certain lifestyle changes designed to improve cardiovascular health may not exert a portion of their effects via supporting the immune system.
Circulation -- Abstracts: Sander et al. 106 (19): 2428
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HRT and Incidence of Alzheimer Disease in Older Women
The sideline view of this whole debacle is very entertaining. We are now seeing a scramble to find a use for this multi-billion dollar gold mine. Lets see...lower your risk of Alzheimer's only to die from breat or endometrial cancer or heart disease. If Alzheimer's is a concern, how about boosting antioxidant intake (the ApoE4 genotype leads to increased risk unless balanced out with increased antioxidants), lowering aluminum exposure and balancing with increased zinc, ginko biloba use and checking for wheat allergy that can increase risk as well.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Incidence of Alzheimer Disease in Older Women: The Cache County Study
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Long-range destruction of Der p 1 using commercially available ionizers
I've been consiering buying the new style of air cleaner, such as the Quiet Breeze from Sharper Image, but have been concerned as to their effectiveness. This article seems to support the fact that they do have a positive effect for removing allergens from the air.
Synergy Abstract
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Fiber Down-Regulates Colonic TNF alpha and Nitric Oxide Production
While this is a rat study, it does show the potential for fiber to have an anti-inflammatory effect via the production of short chain fatty acids (which require presence of beneficial bacteria for the conversion). TNF alpha was one of the regulators that was studied. Remember that the hot new drug for Crohn's and RA is a TNF-alpha blockade. It is very feasible that soluble fiber could show a similar benefit to this drug without the side effects and possibly additional benefits such as lowering colon cancer risk.
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Rodríguez-Cabezas et al. 132 (11): 3263
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Improved Vit B-6 Status Positively Related to Lymphocyte Proliferation
Add Vitamin B6 to the list of agents that can help our bodies deal with chronic viral infections, if it wasn't there already. Keep in mind as well, that sugar and refined carbs deplete the immune system as well, and these should be avoided like the plague if you are trying to fight off any type of infection.
nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Kwak et al. 132 (11): 3308
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California Confirms Rise in Autism Cases
I know the rising rates of autism has been denied by many in the medical profession, explaining that increased diagnosis is what has accounted for the rise. A 273% increase. Want my opinion? We're doing something to our kids that are predisposing them to this condition. Multiple vaccinations, food allergies, poor prenatal/pregnancy care? I personally believe that not every child will get autism from the MMR vaccine (which is the vaccine most blamed for the onset), but that a certain percentage of children have the genes that make them suseptable, probably when combined with other factors such as a poor diet. This is NOT from the genes...it is from the way we are treating the genes. It takes hundreds of thousands of years for true genetic variation to occur, and this is occurring in decades.
article
California researchers say that the state is seeing a sharp rise in the number of autistic children--but said they were mystified about what caused the unprecedented spread of the developmental disorder.The report by researchers at the University of California-Davis' M.I.N.D. Institute released on Thursday showed a 273% increase in the number of autistic children entering various state treatment centers between 1987 and 1998.The findings also indicate that the increase could not be accounted for by other factors such as the misclassification of cases or changing diagnostic criteria."Speculation about the increase in autism in California has led some to try to explain it away as a statistical issue or with other factors that artificially inflated the numbers," lead investigator Dr. Robert Byrd said."Instead, we found that autism is on the rise in the state and we still do not know why. The results of this study are, without a doubt, sobering," he added.Medical experts say it is difficult to compare California's autism numbers with other states' because tracking systems are different. But they say anecdotal evidence indicates rates may also be rising elsewhere in the country.The California study, which was launched this year in an effort to determine why observed cases were increasing, looked at a statewide sample of 684 children from both English- and Spanish-speaking families.But the research did little to solve the mystery.Dr. Byrd's team found that the rising number of autism cases could not be attributed to a loosening of the criteria for diagnosis, or an appreciable rise in the number of mentally retarded children misdiagnosed as autistic.They also found more than 90% of children in the survey were native born--blowing a hole in theories that the migration of children with the condition to California might be behind the higher numbers."While this study does not identify the cause of autism, it does verify that autism has not been over-reported" in California, Dr. Byrd said.
Pfizer's Zyrtec Gains Approval for Use in Children as Young as 6 Months
Am I the only one that sees a major problem with this? First of all, any drugs given to infants (geez...that's practically still a newborn!) that are designed for potential lifetime use scare the heck out of me. Next, are none of these doctors that intend to prescribe medication to these tiny guinea pigs interested in finding out why allergies are present at all? How about addressing the mother's diet (if the infant is still nursing) or the infant's diet? My gosh!! This concept just scares me. If you want to have the best odds against beating allergies, you need to start ASAP, not after years of drug suppression that never address the problem. By then it might be too late.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Oct 22 - Pfizer's blockbuster antihistamine Zyrtec has gained a supplemental US approval for use in children as young as six months, the US Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride), which is currently indicated to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis and to treat itching and hives in adults and in children age two and older, has now been cleared for those two indications in children six months and older, Pfizer confirmed.