Poison in our Environment

In a recent report from The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that two insecticides and one herbicide cause cancer — or may cause cancer — in humans.

I was struck by their report of Lindane, also known as Kwell, which has been associated with a 60% increased risk of lymphoma. Although this is banned in many countries, it is still available here and - unfortunately - is mostly used in children for treatment of head lice. Most lice are already resistant, and this could result in multiple treatments. I hope it is banned soon!

Also carcinogenic were DDT (already banned, but not for that reason), which still persists in the environment, and probably the herbicide 2,4-D.

In another report, researchers found an increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease in women exposed to higher levels of air pollution. The subjects also showed decreased number of brain cells at an earlier age.

We really need to continue to remove the environmental poisons. Anyone who does not support the organic and green movements is fooling themselves.

Medical Marijuana a veiled way of legalizing recreational use?

A few states have legalized marijuana for recreational use; but many have allowed medical use.

In those states it seems relatively easy to get a prescription - I only say that because the last time I was on Venice Beach I was approached many times by someone offering to get me a certificate for $40!

In a recent review of the literature, most studies have shown only marginal or no efficacy of marijuana for claimed results.

Furthermore, sampling of many edible products now for sale showed that 60% of the labels overstated THC content and about a quarter understated it.

There are some individuals with pain and cancer who feel it is the only product that helps. However the editorialists suggest that states could be using medical marijuana "as a veiled step" toward allowing recreational access and that "the medical community should be left out of the process, and instead marijuana should be decriminalized."

You can't overdose on Sesame Street!

Television watching and screen time in young children has been associated with lower tests scores and decreased success. It has been recommended that a total of 1-2 hours screen time (includes phones and tablets) per day or less.

Now, a study reviewed specifically the show Sesame Street, which has been developed to enhance education. And as expected children who watched Sesame Street regularly did score better and do better in school.

So keep your kids away from TV except for Sesame Street. Apparently you can not overdose on Sesame Street!

Ineffective Drugs - Still on Market even after FDA declares useless

Looking at the approval process for drugs in this country, we often see that big drug companies manage to hide side effects (like Vioxx), or market ineffective medications (like Zetia) at huge profits; without significant oversight.

This continues to occur. Recently the FDA determined that two of the generic versions of an ADD drug, Concerta, was not equivalent to the brand drug. Rather than last 24 hours they lost effectiveness after 7. The FDA gave the drug company 6 months to prove equivalence or remove from the market.

Now, 7 months later, neither has shown this yet continue to account for 30% of prescriptions.

I think these should have been immediately removed from the market, rather than let the companies continue to profit from possibly ineffective medications.

Check out the New York Times Article

Every Virus you ever Had?

 A new blood test has been developed, at a very reasonable cost, that looks for antibodies against almost every virus that you have had.

Using this test would allow us to find out the best time to give immunizations, and may help look at viruses that could lead to chronic illnesses.

In a study of about 600 people they found the average person had 10 different viral infections, with up to 25. There were some interesting patterns in areas around the world.

Check out this New York Times Article

Smoking Mental Illness and Heart Attacks

More and more reasons not to smoke appear almost every day. Fortunately for researchers there are plenty of people who do smoke so they can find things to study!

In a review of over a million individuals in Sweden, smoking any amount caused a significant increased risk of schizophrenia; more that 10 cigarettes a day was associated with a 3-4 times increased risk.

In another review, researchers found that smoking resulted in accelerating the risk of heart disease about 7-10 years; and even stopping after 20 years still made you lose 3-4 years.

Mental illness, Cancer, Strokes, Heart Attacks, Lung Disease - how can anyone think it is worth it?

Acid Reflux Medications and Heart Disease

A recent study suggested an association of PPI's such as Prilosec and heart disease. Although this will result in further research, it is premature to assume a cause and effect.

The study was something called "data mining". Using many existing research papers, the authors looked backward at patients who had developed heart disease to try and find medications more commonly found prior to the attack.

They did find that Prilosec was more commonly used. However, because this was a retrospective (looking backwards) study, they could not eliminate other causes which were not accounted for.

For example, smokers are more likely to get acid reflux and hence be prescribed PPIs. Similarly for overweight patients. As well, angina, or chest pain from heart disease, can sometimes start as a burning for which Prilosec may be inadvertently prescribed.

In my opinion this report does not show any cause and effect, and is fodder for more specific research. I would not change my medication use based on that.

Diet and Artificial Sweeteners - A Path to Diabetes?

Non-nutritive artificial sweeteners are commonly used to flavor low calorie drinks and food. These not only include synthetics like saccharin and aspartame, but also naturally occurring substances such as Stevia and sucralose.

None of these products are "natural" in our diet. Recent research has shown that their use actually increases our appetite, causes weight gain, and also can result in diabetes by impairing regulation of glucose (sugar) and insulin.

The study found that one of the ways this happens is by altering the bacteria (microbiota) in the intestines to the pattern commonly found in obesity.

Still, these products find their way into many many foods, including low-calorie yogurt

, certain exercise supplements (HEED by Hammer Nutrition) and many exercise electrolyte additives (from GU to Hammer products).

I have contacted Hammer Nutrition and GU and they say these are added for taste enhancement. Although the amount is small, I make sure I avoid them! Read the ingredients and stay away from these products - that is my advice!

A Balloon for Weight Loss

Another treatment for obesity has been developed. This one involves placing a balloon in the stomach and inflating it so that there is limited capacity.

Since it is reversible, this is more similar to banding (where a strap is tied around the stomach) than other methods.

The results of studies show that it may be effective, but there is limited research. The duration is limited to 6 months; so a change in eating habits is critical.

The main complications are leakage and intestinal blockage.

The balloon is placed through an endoscope as an outpatient.

We will see if this becomes the next craze.

New Female Viagra - no....

There has been a lot of publicity about the new drug which purportedly increases the sex drive in women.

Unfortunately the hype is much more significant that the actual results.

Flibanserin (to be marketed as Addyi) is a drug related to the SSRI antidepressants.

Previously the FDA advisory committee twice declined to recommend the drug because the treatment effect was not much larger than placebo. In three new studies, flibanserin was associated with an increase of 0.5–1 satisfying sexual events per month — up from a baseline of 2–3 per month — compared with placebo. That's roughly a 10% greater treatment effect over placebo.

One panel member said following the vote: "The benefits are modest, maybe less than modest, which puts it in good company with other approved drugs, unfortunately."

So for women with lowered sex drive this may become an expensive waste of time. Unlike Viagra like medications, which actually improve male performance, this drug may only increased the sex drive; and then minimally.

Expect and expensive and likely successful advertising campaign once the FDA approves it.

Our Immune System is Seasonal

Some diseases have a higher incidence in certain seasons. For example, the incidence of heart attack deaths, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and some psychiatric conditions is greater in winter. These diseases also are characterized by inflammation.

A European team examined thousands of blood samples from ethnically diverse populations in the Northern and Southern hemispheres and the equatorial region to see if seasonal differences could be identified in the immune system.

They discovered that almost one quarter of the genes related to inflammation and immunity have seasonal variations. Some increase activity in the summer, others decrease; similarly in the winter. In regions of Africa, where there is less temperature change, the genetic changes were evident in the rainy season.

This could be an evolutionary response to diseases more prevalent in different seasons. However, it could also result, when abnormal responses occur, in disease states (like autoimmune disorders).

Right now this does not have any clinical applications, except to demonstrate thee complex interaction of humans with their environment.

FBI Investigates Johnson and Johnson

About 10 years ago Johnson and Johnson produced a device, called a power morcellator, which was promoted to be a way to treat abnormal uterine bleeding.

In the past year, the FDA has stopped the use of this after it was discovered that, as compared with other treatments, this technique could lead to spread of undiscovered cancer.

Now the FBI has found that as the company may have known about this as early as 2006.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the FBI has recently interviewed three people connected to the devices: a pathologist who warned Johnson & Johnson about the potential for cancer spread in 2006, a woman whose cancer became worse after undergoing the procedure in 2013, and a physician assistant who has compiled a list of hundreds of people potentially harmed by the devices.

After what we have seen in corporate America with automobile recalls, and the story of Vioxx (the company knew of it's dangers many years before it became public) we are not surprised if these allegations are true.

Maybe it's time we hold corporate executives personally and criminally responsible for such negligent activity!

Check out the Wall Street article here

Why Cancer Spreads

When cancer spreads, we find growth of tissue in places it does not belong; like breast cancer in the brain or bones. Normal breast tissue would not be able to grow in these locations. So how does cancer do it.

In a new, and possibly groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that, in mice, pancreatic cancer releases chemicals in small capsules (exosomes) which release their proteins in the liver. These proteins inhibit the liver's defense cells (macrophages) and allow the spread of the cancer.

When the researchers block the chemicals, they found the metastases could not survive and were destroyed.

Although very preliminary, this new discovery could generate a breakthrough in preventing spread of cancer. Lets hope!