September 18, 2000 Research Update

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

Cannabidiol is anti-arthritic in murine collagen-induced arthritis

This article talks about the non-psychoactive component of cannibas being used orally as a treatment for arthritis. It was shown to lower TNF levels...the same messenger that the new expensive drugs for Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis lower. PNAS -- Abstracts: Malfait et al. 97 (17): 9561

Inactivation of catecholamines by superoxide and septic shock

Superoxide is a free radical generated by inflammation and damage to the body, and is inactivated by superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD is a very important antioxidant enzyme in the human body and is instrumental in quenching free radicals. This article suggests that SOD may be of value in septic shock from blood infections. It works by allowing our fight or flight hormones (i.e. adrenaline) to do it's job. Incidently, SOD is found as a tableting base in many high quality vitamin supplements and zinc is very important for maintaining healthy SOD levels. PNAS -- Abstracts: Macarthur et al. 97 (17): 9753

Ketogenic Diet Linked With High Rate of Kidney Stones

Remember, this diet is very similar to the high protein/Atkin's diet. Trust me...anyone on this diet would gladly put weight back on instead of trying to pass those kidney stones!!!

J Urol 2000;164:464-466 The ketogenic diet, which is increasingly being used to treat refractory epilepsy in children, induces several metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of nephrolithiasis. Dietary modification can be an appropriate prophylactic measure, but refractory stone disease may require discontinuation of the ketogenic diet completely. Lithiasis rate in this population reportedly ranges from 3% to 10%, significantly higher than in the general pediatric population. Dr. Kielb's group recommends screening urinalysis and renal ultrasonography at 1 and 2 years for children on the ketogenic diet.

Antibiotics of Limited Benefit in Pediatric Acute Otitis Media

When we look at the side effects of antibiotics, we typically only look at immediate effects such as rashes or diarrhea. Very rarely do we look at the fact that much of the normal flora is destroyed in the process and the long term health effects can be quite damaging. So, not only do we have potentially very damaging long term effects, immediate side effects, increased cost AND the development of antibiotic resistance...but antibiotics are not much more effective than placebo!!!

Over 80% of children with acute otitis media improve without antibiotic therapy within a week. That compares with 93% recovery during the first week with antibiotic treatment, according to a study released by the Agency for Healthcare research and Quality (AHRQ). The study also found that children treated with amoxicillin had similar outcomes to those treated with more expensive antibiotics such as cefaclor, azithromycin and clarithromycin. The authors recommend that further research look into "watchful waiting" as standard practice in the management of acute otitis media. The practice is common in the Netherlands, where antibiotic resistance runs as low as 1%, compared to as high as 25% in the United States. It is estimated that 5 million episodes of otitis media occur each year in the United States at a total cost of $3 billion.

Perchlorate in Water in AZ and Abnormal Neonatal Thyroid Function

Yet another reason to be sure you drink proprerly filtered water. Ammonium perchlorite affects the thyroid's ability to take up much needed iodide, thereby lowering the efficiency of the thyroid gland. This study suggests that even newborn infants are affected. Technology is surely killing us, albeit slowly.

J Occup Environ Med 2000;42:777-782 Ammonium perchlorate contamination of drinking water drawn from the Colorado River is associated with significantly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in newborns. The Colorado River below Lake Mead supplies drinking water to approximately 20 million people. In their introduction, the authors of the report explain that the water is contaminated with ammonium perchlorate, which is used in the manufacture of rocket fuel, ammunition and fireworks, and which has been discarded in large quantities in Nevada since the 1950s. The perchlorate ion, they elaborate, can persist in water for long periods, and can act "as a competitive inhibitor of iodide transport in the thyroid." Dr. Brechner and colleagues collected data on TSH levels from 1099 newborns in Yuma whose water is contaminated with ammonium perchlorate and from 443 newborns in Flagstaff whose drinking water has no detectable levels of ammonium perchlorate. The team found that the level of ammonium perchlorate contamination was 6 parts per billion in Yuma's drinking water. After adjusting for age and for race/ethnicity and factors known or suspected to increase TSH levels in newborns, the investigators found that median TSH levels in the subjects exposed to ammonium perchlorate were significantly higher than those in the control group--19.9 vs 13.4 mU/L.

Revaccination Safe in Children W/ Prior Adverse Event

The decision whether or not to vaccinate is becoming a more difficult one as more and more questions arise about the safety of numerous vaccines given today. Here are a few of my thoughts. First, I feel that the safety aspects of these vaccinations are not completely studied and many are released too soon. A good example of this was the recently pulled rotavirus vaccine that was found to increase the risk for a specific intestinal disorder. Next, underreporting of adverse effects is very high. I remember one patient telling me that her son's pediatrician refused to call a several day sustained high fever immediately following a vaccination as an adverse effect. These vaccines do have a benefit, and one can't deny that certain previously lethal diseases have been all but eradicated (smallpox); but the questions being raised are definate cause for concern for all parents. If you have a child almost due for vaccination, please be as informed as you possibly can...many doctors do not give full disclosure on the issue.

Arch Dis Child 2000;83:128-131 Children who have a past history of an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) can be safely revaccinated in most cases, according to a report in the August issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood. Between 1996 and 1999, 469 children with a prior AEFI attended one of three special immunization service centers. According to the report, 63% had minor post-vaccination reactions and 37% experienced hypotonic hyporesponsive episodes, convulsions, skin rash, anaphylaxis, apnea, or various miscellaneous symptoms. Most children (90%) were revaccinated after careful clinical review, the authors report. Among the 421 children vaccinated, 83% experienced no AEFI. All but one of the remaining children experienced only minor reactions, including fever, local reactions, and/or lethargy, during the 7 days following immunization.