• Eating the right Food Determines your Health

    Eating the right Food Determines your Health

    April 13, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

    CNN had an interview with Dr. Leana Wen about the fact that eating the right food determines your health. Dr. Wen is a wellness expert, an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University. How much does the quality of food we eat influence our health? There are detailed studies … [Read More...]

  • Regular Exercise Makes you 9 years younger

    Regular Exercise Makes you 9 years younger

    March 30, 2024 by · 2 Comments

    A recent publication noted that regular exercise makes you 9 years younger. The researchers meant that the biological age is 9 years younger than your chronological age. They went one step further and proved that regular exercise elongates your telomeres, which is why people who exercise regularly live longer. … [Read More...]

  • New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

    New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

    March 16, 2024 by · Comments Off on New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

    A recent study explained that a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease is very reliable. Specifically, it determined with 96% accuracy elevated levels of beta amyloid. It also accurately identified tau protein, another Alzheimer’s marker, with 97%. The original research study was published at JAMA … [Read More...]

  • Living with the Aging Process

    Living with the Aging Process

    March 2, 2024 by · Comments Off on Living with the Aging Process

    The following article describes living with the aging process. Older adults undergo the process of aging between the ages of 50 and 80. This is a complex process affecting various systems parallel. There are hormone factors that are particularly prominent in women during menopause. Joints are affected by … [Read More...]

  • Ashwagandha’s Benefits

    Ashwagandha’s Benefits

    February 17, 2024 by · 1 Comment

    Medical news today had an article in October 2023 that reviewed ashwagandha’s benefits. I thought it would be useful to discuss this topic in an abridged version. Often things get distorted on the Internet and a reality check helps to separate facts from fiction. Ashwagandha (botanical name: Withania somnifera) is a … [Read More...]

  • Beef and Dairy May Cause Cancer and MS

    Beef and Dairy May Cause Cancer and MS

    February 4, 2024 by · Comments Off on Beef and Dairy May Cause Cancer and MS

    New cancer research suggests that chronic virus particles in beef and dairy may cause cancer and MS (multiple sclerosis). The Medical journal Medscape.com had a review article that summarized this line of research. Papillomaviruses and cervical cancer Harald zur Hausen, M.D., D.Sc., a German virologist, detected … [Read More...]

    Oct
    01
    2004

    What Went Wrong With VIOXX

    By | Arthritis, Heart Disease, Prevention, Stroke

    Merck &. Co., Inc. announced on Sept. 30, 2004 that VIOXX® (rofecoxib), an arthritis and acute pain medication, would be withdrawn voluntarily worldwide. VIOXX was FDA approved as a new anti-inflammatory drug for osteoarthritis in 1999. Later it was also cleared for rheumatoid arthritis. As a Cox-2 inhibitor it was different from aspirin and the conventional anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen, Motrin or Voltaren.

    In a study called VIGOR , which is detailed more under this link, VIOXX was compared to Naproxen in terms of gastrointestinal side-effects. It was found that the risks of bleeding ulcers, perforation and bowel obstruction were 50% reduced (frequency of cases with naproxen 1.22% versus VIOXX with a frequency of 0.52%). Surprisingly, in this study of 4000 patients over 1 year the cardiovascular risks such as heart attacks, strokes, blood clots for VIOXX was 1.8%, 3-fold higher than Naproxen, which had only 0.6% such complications. In addition it was noted that high blood pressure was more common in rheumatoid patients. The FDA made Merck add a warning on the drug label regarding these added risks, but this went more or less unnoticed by the public.

    It has been known for some time that aspirin (ASA) has polyp preventative action on the colon and thus reduces the risk of colon cancer. A specific study, called APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on VIOXX) trial, was designed to show that VIOXX could do the same as aspirin, but with less toxic side effects. In 2000 Merck started enrolling patients into this 3 year long trial.

    What Went Wrong With VIOXX

    What Went Wrong With VIOXX

    After 18 months into the trial cardiovascular side-effects started to show up that were statistically significant when compared to controls. This is what prompted the recent press release that VIOXX would be taken off the market altogether.

    More info on treatment of osteoarthritis: http://nethealthbook.com/arthritis/osteoarthritis/treatment-osteoarthritis/

    Comments: One of the potential problems with receptor specific medications is that they can be so specific that the metabolism in the human body is changed. What’s good for the gut may not be good for the circulation, blood pressure and the heart. Merck did the right thing to withraw the medication altogether. It is not known at this time whether other similar medications such as Celebrex, which has a different molecular configuration, will stand up in the future to post-marketing testing.

    Addendum on Nov. 6, 2012: In 2005 Bextra was also taken off the market by the FDA, but Celebrex was allowed to stay, but required to label their product with warnings about potentially serious side-effects.

    Last edited October 27, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2004

    Herbal Medicine To Control Menopausal Symptoms

    By | Women’s Diseases

    Hot flashes have been plaguing menopausal women, and some patients have resorted to hormone replacement therapy. However, quite a few concerns have arisen over deleterious effects of hormone replacement lately. It is not surprising, that many women turn to herbal remedies for relief.
    Of the commonly used alternatives, the most useful one seems to be black cohosh (the botanical name is Actaea racemosa, or the older name Cimicifuga racemosa). Three trials out of four showed that black cohosh was beneficial for patients suffering of hot flashes. Another review showed that in nine out of ten studies black cohosh relieved menopausal symptoms. At this point the safety of long-term use is not known, as none of the trials lasted longer than 6 months.
    A recently published review involved 2800 women, and all forms of black cohosh were taken into account. The incidence of adverse effects was low at 5.4 % and most effects were mild, like stomach upsets.

    As there are isolated reports of adverse effects to the liver, it may be necessary to monitor liver function on patients who take black cohosh preparations. Dosage is also of importance: of the crude drug amounts between 40 and 80 mg per day should be taken.

    Herbal Medicine To Control Menopausal Symptoms

    Herbal Medicine To Control Menopausal Symptoms

    If the dried rhizome or root is taken, dosage should be 40 mg, but not exceeding 200 mg (or 5 to 30 drops of the fluid extract) per day.

    More info on bioidentical hormone replacement: https://www.askdrray.com/bioidentical-hormone-replacement/

    Reference: The Canadian Journal Of Diagnosis, September 2004,Vol 21,Nr.9, pg.43

    Last edited October 27, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2004

    Hamburger Disease – A Sizzling Problem

    By | Infectious Disease, Nutrition, Prevention

    One of the many strains of the bacterium E. coli (type 0157:H7) became famous after a 1982 outbreak of bloody diarrhea across the U.S. The infection could be traced back to contaminated hamburgers sold by a fast food chain. Canada also had some smaller food-related outbreaks, but a large disastrous outbreak occurred in Walkerton, Ontario. In this case the culprit was cow manure that was washed into surface water. The water was not optimally treated at the local water works and then consumed by the local community. It is important to know, that infection with E. coli bacteria can be spread in various ways as shown in this table.

    Hamburger Disease – A Sizzling Problem

    Hamburger Disease – A Sizzling Problem

    The symptoms of infection usually present themselves after an incubation period of 3 to 8 days in the form of abdominal cramps, diarrhea that can also be bloody, and vomiting. Unfortunately, a more severe form can occur in 2 to 10% of patients due to the toxic substances of the bacterium. The dreaded form of “hamburger disease”, is medically known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, and children are at the highest risk, along with older adults or those with immune suppression (AIDS patients, cancer patients). The disease is life threatening, requires blood transfusions, dialysis and life-support therapy in an intensive-care unit setting.

    Hamburger disease is caused by:
    Contact with livestock (or feces)
    Human-to-human contact
    Consumption of non-chlorinated contaminated water
    Consumption of insufficiently cooked ground beef, salami, unpasteurized milk, even vegetables like
    lettuce or alfalfa sprouts that have not been washed.

    Prevention is of utmost importance, and fortunately a lot of it is common sense about food safety and safe food-handling practices:

    Hints to prevent Hamburger disease:
    Wash your hands after handling animal and livestock after using the washroom and after changing diapers.
    Wash your hands before and after preparing or eating food and handling raw meat.
    Never put raw meat in contact with cooked meat and disinfect areas of meat preparation like
    counters or cutting boards.
    Make sure all the pink color is gone from cooked meats, and juices after cooking should never
    be bloody!
    Drink only pasteurized milk, fruit juices or ciders.
    Never drink water from untreated sources (creeks, ponds).
    Practice strict hand hygiene when dealing with persons who have diarrhea, especially when changing diapers of children with diarrhea.

    Besides prevention, vigilance is important: if any case of E. coli infection has been found, the local health units have to be notified, so the source of infection can be found and further spread can be prevented.

    More info on food safety: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/food-safety/

    Reference: The Canadian Journal of Continuing Medical Education, September 2004, Vol.16, Nr.9, pg.49.

    Last edited January 4, 2015

    Sep
    01
    2004

    Second Hand Cigarette Smoke Kills

    By | Cancer, Heart Disease, Men's Health, Women’s Diseases

    A recent publication in the British Medical Journal was reviewed in the Aug.10 issue of The Medical Post. The study was concerning detailed census data from New Zealand where two cohorts of the population were compared in 1981 and 1996.

    The 1981 study involved 286,796 people, the 1996 study involved 382,462 people. Both cohorts were further classified into exposure to second hand smoke and non-exposure meaning that they lived in a smoke-free home (controls). I have elected to show the results in a graph below for ease of reference. The authors Dr. Tony Blakely and others from the University of Otago had followed each cohort for 3 years and recorded death rates (mortality rates) for each of the subgroups.

    They pointed out that there was a 15% increase in premature death for those exposed to second hand smoke when compared to the controls who were not exposed.

    Comments: 1. The mortality in the 1996 study (in blue bars in the graph below) for males is what the authors quoted (15.1%). However, for females, the death rate was even higher with regard to exposure to second hand smoke: mortality was 26.7% higher when the exposed group is compared to the controls.

    Second Hand Cigarette Smoke Kills

    Second Hand Cigarette Smoke Kills

    2. The 1981 study (green bars in the graph below) had a much higher overall mortality than the overall mortality in the 1996 study (blue bars). This likely is due to the 15 year interval between the two study groups and the fact that during that time in New Zealand as in many other industrialized countries the death rate from cigarette smoke exposure has declined significantly.

    One such study indicates a reduction between 1981 and 1997 of 38% in all preventable deaths, which includes death as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke. The average death rate reduction in the New Zealand study over the 15 years was 31.7% for men and 29.35% for women when the exposed groups and control groups were pooled.

    3. The controls and the relationship of the subgroups within the 1996 study (the blue bars in the graph below) were very consistent , but were not consistent within the 1981 study (green bars).

    For instance, the controls of death rates should always be smaller in both males and females when compared to the groups that were exposed to second hand cigarette smoke. In the 1996 study this was the case, but in the 1981 study this was not the case. This may indicate that there were other negative factors included in the 1981 study leading to premature death or that the controls were simply also exposed to cigarette smoke in the past.

    Mortalitiy Rates (%) Resulting From Exposure to Second Hand Smoke in New Zealand Study
     Second Hand Cigarette Smoke Kills1

    Conclusion: This is an important study as it is based on large numbers and it shows that even relatively small concentrations of cigarette smoke in the environment make a measurable difference in terms of death rates among the population. It also confirms the fact that the death toll has been reduced by about 30% in the population within 15 years (between 1981 and 1996), because many people have quit smoking during that time period and this is measurable as indicated above (green bars higher on average than blue bars).

    More info on:

    Heart attacks: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/heart-disease/heart-attack-myocardial-infarction-or-mi/

    Lung cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/lung-cancer/

    Reference: The Medical Post, Aug. 10, 2004, page 48

    Last edited October 27, 2014

    Sep
    01
    2004

    Green Vegetables Preserve Brain Function

    By | Alzheimer’s disease, Prevention

    Popeye needed spinach for a bulging biceps, but new research points to more exciting possibilities. The regular intake of green leaf vegetables and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage) is associated with a preservation of cognitive function. In the Nurses’ Health Study starting in 1984 women were asked to fill out food-frequency questionnaires. They were asked about their usual intake of a specified portion of food items, including 15 fruits and 28 vegetables. At a later date, between 1995 and 2001, researchers decided to ask the oldest participants (70 years and older) to participate in a cognitive function study. The tests were repeated 2 years later.

    The main finding of the study is that women with the highest intake of green, leafy vegetables had the least decline in their cognitive function, when compared to those with the lowest intake. The vegetable lovers, who consumed five serving of cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower had less decline in their cognitive function. On the other hand the highest decline showed up in the group that averaged only 2 servings per week. These findings were significant enough to be presented at the ninth International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease by Dr. Jae Hee Chang, a researcher at the Channing Laboratory of Harvard Medical School. The effect may seem modest, but nutritional habits can obviously delay or prevent the onset of dementia.

    Green Vegetables Preserve Brain Function

    Green Vegetables Preserve Brain Function

    This effect seems to be independent from the beneficial effect of bioflavonoids that vegetables also contain.

    Other interesting observations about Alzheimer’s research: http://nethealthbook.com/neurology-neurological-disease/alzheimers-dementia-and-delirium/alzheimers-research/

    Reference: The Medical Post, August 17, 2004, page 8

    Last edited October 26, 2014

    Sep
    01
    2004

    Epstein-Barr Virus Linked With MS

    By | Infectious Disease, Multiple sclerosis

    MS, the debilitating and at times fatal disease which affects about 50,000 Canadians continues to be a puzzle to medical researchers. New findings are shedding new light on this illness and may help to unravel its complexities and bring more effective treatment to patients.

    Dr.Brenda Banwell from the Department of Pediatrics and the Pediatric MS Clinic at The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto found that 83 % of children with a diagnosis of MS showed evidence of a previous Epstein-Barr virus infection. (Healthy controls only showed a rate of 42 %). No differences were found for other viruses (like herpes, parvovirus, chicken pox). Researchers have yet to determine, whether there is a link between Epstein-Barr virus infections and MS, or whether MS patients are more susceptible to Epstein-Barr infections.

    With regard to MS treatment amazing improvement has been demonstrated on MS patients who were treated with the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin. A reduction of MS induced brain lesions by 44 % was achieved in patients treated with the drug, and animal experiments show similar results. Researchers are cautioning MS patients that more investigations will be needed, till this treatment will become a new standard in the treatment of MS.

    Epstein-Barr Virus Linked With MS

    Epstein-Barr Virus Linked With MS

    Link to more information on multiple sclerosis.

    Reference: Parkhurst Exchange, Vol.12, Nr.8, August 2004,page26

    Last edited December 8, 2012

    Sep
    01
    2004

    Stop That Heart Attack

    By | Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure

    There is a window of opportunity for the patient who is rushed to hospital with a heart attack.

    To be precise: if the patient is brought to hospital without delay, and there are changes in the ECG, which traces the heartbeat, and there are changes that point to the possibility of a heart attack, there is a chance to administer medication that prevents blood clots. If these “clot busters” are administered within one hour, as many as 25 % of heart attacks in the making can be aborted. This procedure is called “fibrinolysis”.

    Dr. Paul Armstrong, professor of medicine at the University of Alberta, explains, that the aborted heart attack (or “aborted MI”) is a new term in cardiology. If treatment is received early, the patient will avoid heart muscle damage. Even if the treatment with the anti-clotting medication is given after only two hours, the patients still have a more favorable outcome. Patients with aborted heart attacks also have smaller infarcts than those who go on to have a full-blown MI (or heart attack). Dr. Armstrong points out that it is important to not only watch out for known high-risk factors (previous coronary artery bypass surgery, hypertension and diabetes), but also to pay close attention to treating the patient early.

    Stop That Heart Attack

    Stop That Heart Attack

    More info on heart attacks: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/heart-disease/heart-attack-myocardial-infarction-or-mi/

    Reference: The Medical Post, July 27,2004, Vol.40, No. 29,pg.8

    Last edited October 26, 2014

    Sep
    01
    2004

    Calcium Prevents Kidney Stones

    By | Health, Nutrition

    Forget what your grandmother may have taught you about kidney stones. In the past there may have been a bias towards thinking that calcium may be one of the causes of kidney stones. But Dr. Curhan and collegues from the Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens’ Hospital, Boston, MA put this question to the test. Other food factors were also examined in this Nurses Health Study II, which was published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine (in April of 2004) and reviewed by The Medical Post (Aug. 24, 2004 edition).

    I have summarized the results in the bar graph below. What is shown is the cumulative risk for developing kidney stones in a population of 96,245 nurses aged 27 to 44 over eight years without a history of kidney stones in this prospective study. At the same time detailed records were kept regarding food and health habits. The risks between the highest and the lowest quintile regarding various food groups were computed, which is an accepted way to tease out the effects of the food group studied.

    Calcium Prevents Kidney Stones

    Calcium Prevents Kidney Stones

    Dr. Curhan and his collegues found that calcium protects from getting kidney stones as does meat. Sugar is a risk for stone development. Fluid intake has a protective effect as uric acid and other stone forming substances are kept in solution preventing kidney stone formation. Phytates that are found in soybeans, beans and peas have a protective effect. The control value of the study was the average risk for the population, which was set at 1.0 meaning that there is no added risk to develop kidney stones.

    Relative risk of developing kidney stones from exposure to different foods in younger nurses

    Calcium Prevents Kidney Stones1

    Study shows Calcium To Prevent Kidney Stones

    Conclusion: Contrary to popular belief calcium and meat as well as phytones have a protective effect against the development of kidney stones. Fluid intake is protective as well. On the other hand sugar is a risk factor for kidney stones, a fact that seems to not be generally known.

    More info on kidney stones: http://nethealthbook.com/abdominal-pain/left-upper-abdomen/kidney-stone-renal-calculus/

    Ref.: 1. Dr. G.C.Curhan et al., Arch Intern Med 2004 Apr 26; 164 (8), pp. 885-91  2. The Medical Post, Aug. 24, 2004, p.17

    Last edited October 26, 2014

    Aug
    01
    2004

    Uric Acid Blood Test Predicts Future Health Problems

    By | Arthritis, Heart Disease, Stroke

    A 12 year prospective, well controlled follow-up study from Finland determined that uric acid blood tests are not only useful in following patients with gout or kidney stones, but are also predictive for future health problems including death. Dr. Leo K. Niskanen from Kuopio University in Finland and colleagues followed 1,423 middle-aged Finnish men who at the beginning of the study were free from cancer, heart disease, strokes and diabetes. After about 12 years the researchers found that 157 men had died, 55 from heart disease or strokes. When men with elevated uric acid levels were classified into low, medium and high levels, an interesting observation was made when subclasses were compared with each other. Those men in the upper range of uric acid levels had a risk of more than 2.5-fold to die from a heart attack or stroke when compared to men with uric acid levels in the lower range. Also, men in the higher range were 1.7-fold more at risk to die from any cause than men in the lower range of uric acid levels.

    Dr. Niskanen said that uric acid simply seems to be another good marker for spotting troubles in health. The mechanism of this connection is not known at this point in time, but the test is easy to do and is very useful in screening a middle aged population.

    Risk of Developing a Heart Attack or Stroke with Elevated Uric Acid Blood Test

    Uric Acid Blood Test Predicts Future Health Problems1

    Uric Acid Blood Test Predicts Future Health Problems

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Other investigators in the past have also observed a similar association, but this seems to be the first longterm and prospective study.

    More info on:

    1.heart attacks: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/heart-disease/heart-attack-myocardial-infarction-or-mi/

    2. strokes: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/stroke-and-brain-aneurysm/

    3. Gout: https://nethealthbook.com/gout/

    Reference: Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1546-1551

    Last edited October 26, 2014

    Aug
    01
    2004

    Birth Control Pill Increases Strokes And Heart Attacks

    By | Heart Disease, Hormones, Stroke, Women’s Diseases

    At the recent 86th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in New Orleans/Louisiana a Canadian delegation presented data from a meta-analysis of 14 trials regarding side effects of the birth control pill (BCP) when taken on a prolonged basis. The researchers were interested to know the risk of heart attacks or strokes that would be associated with the prolonged use of the low dose estrogen BCP. All of the studies between 1980 and October of 2002 were examined and 14 independent studies qualified for the meta-analysis. The strength of such a meta-analysis lies in the pooling of data and the fact that the data is derived from a much larger patient population, which generally makes the results more reliable. Dr. J. Baillargeon from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Sherbrooke, Quebec/Canada, stated that they found a 1.85-fold risk for developing heart attacks with longterm use of the BCP and at the same time there was a risk of 2.54-fold of hemorrhagic strokes with longterm use of the low-dose BCP.

    I have depicted these findings below in graph form where the risk is readily seen when compared to women who did not use any birth control pills. In discussions following this presentation the authors explained that with short-term use of the BCP using the modern low dose formulations heart attacks and strokes would likely not be noticeable.

    Birth Control Pill Increases Strokes And Heart Attacks

    Birth Control Pill Increases Strokes And Heart Attacks

    But women should know that long-term use does have this risk. These decisions of whether to take the BCP and for how long needs to be discussed with the treating physician also in the view that other risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes or the metabolic syndrome would be added risks where heart attacks and strokes can occur more frequently. In these conditions the BCP likely should be avoided.

    Risk of Developing Heart Attack or Stroke after Longterm Use of The Birth Control Pill
     Birth Control Pill Increases Strokes And Heart Attacks1

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Dr. Ricardo Azziz, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California, stated that these findings from this meta-analysis would be very important because it was based on such a large data base and was measuring the effect of the BCP over a long period of time. He stressed that the benefits of any medication must always be weighed against the risks by the treating physician. In diabetic patients on the BCP, for instance, the benefits likely outweigh the risks as the metabolism is stabilized through an improved insulin sensitivity, improved managability of the diabetes and avoidance of the high risk pregnancies in diabetics.

    More info on:

    Heart attacks: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/heart-disease/heart-attack-myocardial-infarction-or-mi/

    Strokes: http://nethealthbook.com/cardiovascular-disease/stroke-and-brain-aneurysm/

    Reference: The Medical Post, Vol.40, July 20, 2004, page 20

    Comments on Nov. 6, 2012: What was not discussed by these experts is the fact that the BCP contains a mix of two artificial hormones (estrogen and progesterone equivalents) that the body’s estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors cannot recognize. Bio-identical estrogen and progesterone creams on the other hand would be recognized by these receptors, but nobody has researched their use for BCP purposes, only for post-menopausal hormone replacement.

    Last edited Oct. 26, 2014