tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229790932024-03-18T22:53:30.634-06:00Denver Doc OnlineThe latest in medical research -- relevant, bizarre, humorous, but always up-to-date -- and office notes from a PCP of the West. Feel free to post your comments or questions, or e-mail me at japaley@denverdoconline
This information is intended to be general in nature and should not be relied upon for specific treatment. If you need medical attention, please contact your personal physician's office for an appointment.denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.comBlogger570125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-81846881311576524512021-08-24T18:29:00.002-06:002021-08-24T18:29:46.045-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hope for wannabe writers and a bit of a laugh
for anyone<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Our united opinion is entirely against the book.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is very long and rather old-fashioned.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does it have to be about a whale?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>From
a publisher’s rejection of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-82119027777362705682021-08-21T12:42:00.005-06:002021-08-21T12:42:42.865-06:00<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: right;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14pt;">“The pedestal upon which humans place
themselves</span></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">in terms of neurological abilities <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">continues to crumble.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<i><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Professor Malcom Kennedy</span></i></div></i><p style="text-align: right;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFgkPnZhg8Pi1_VFbXIjeyG5kYJMZUe1ZzKX7hEVtZQYTdfBd80tT1t8W91srUykUkV_QpMCd_5zaJ7xw-WYk7TwVhzV-m3veAT20m1JNsSxl82KEA5KSSiPImH-zWIa0vVZV/s890/cuttlefish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="890" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFgkPnZhg8Pi1_VFbXIjeyG5kYJMZUe1ZzKX7hEVtZQYTdfBd80tT1t8W91srUykUkV_QpMCd_5zaJ7xw-WYk7TwVhzV-m3veAT20m1JNsSxl82KEA5KSSiPImH-zWIa0vVZV/s320/cuttlefish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I always
felt an affinity for the T.J. Maxx slogan “never the same place twice.” Indeed,
my essential necessities (glasses, pens, cell phone, current book I’m reading,
etc.) are truly never the same place twice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Consider
then, the clever Cuttlefish. They are invertebrates and, therefore, have no
spine. But their brains are among the largest of the cephalopods, and they can
remember “the </span><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">what, where, and when specific things happened right up to
their final days of life, according to new research” as confirmed by the lead
study author, Dr Alexandra Schnell from the University of Cambridge. Equally
interesting, though not relevant to this study, the amazing Cuttlefish </span><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">have three hearts, eight arms, blue-green
blood, regenerating limbs, and the ability to camouflage and </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/cuttlefish-have-ability-to-exert-self-control-study-finds"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">exert self-control</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You’ve probably heard of the Stanford
marshmallow test in which a child is offered one marshmallow to eat immediately
or, better yet, two marshmallows if the kid can sit with the first untouched
treat in an otherwise empty room for twenty minutes in order to get the second
one as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The cuttlefish were trained to
approach a certain part of the tank where two meals were offered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One entrée was king prawns served hourly, but
these are not their favorite dish. The other offer was grass prawns which they
much prefer; these were available every three hours in another tank location.
Cuttlefish live two years, and the youngsters (a year or less) were tested
along with the geriatric bunch (between 1-2 years).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both groups were easily taught where the
prize was no matter how young or old. The elders, however, outdid the young’uns
in remembering where the food was left as the locations kept changing after the
initial training.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“As
they get older,” summarizes Dr. Schnell, “They show signs of declining muscle
function and appetite, but it appears that no matter their age, they can
remember what they ate, where and when, and use this to guide their future
feeding decisions</span><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.” </span><span style="background: white; color: #121212; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On the other
hand, our memory center, the two sea-horse shaped hippocampi in the temporal
lobes of our brain, deteriorate along with our hearing, our knees, and many
other parts, and we tend to lose track of past experiences including the where,
when, and who of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Past
experiences such as where did I last see my walking shoes and perhaps my
prescription glasses are on the radiator in the bathroom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-51372437493027753782021-08-14T14:42:00.000-06:002021-08-14T14:42:06.748-06:00<p> </p><br /><br />A "Cat in the Hat" moment <br /><br />Honey, I love you, but this is out of control! <br /> <br /> With some difficulty,<br /> I scooped semi-crystallized honey<br /> with a knife<br /> out of the jar<br /> and onto my yogurt. <br /> <br /> A large glop fell to the floor<br /> as I reached for a spoon<br /> to scrape off the knife. <br /> that swiped at the blob<div>that clung to my elbow<br /> and stuck to the table<br />as I started to eat.<br /><br />A newspaper clung <br /> to the drips on my sleeve, <div>soft sucking noises </div><div>arose from my shoes<br />as I walked to the sink<br /> 'cross honey-streaked floor.<br /><br /></div><div> My partner pointed out </div><div>with non-sticky finger<br />a huge dollop on counter<br /> not even in range<br />of the gooey affair.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-33281336246605051332021-08-14T13:51:00.001-06:002021-08-14T13:51:34.697-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">Do nine gin-soaked raisins a day keep arthritis pain away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what about COVID, could tipsy raisins be
a decent anti-inflammatory medicine for the infected?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least one woman recently vouched for that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">Reading about this raisin product
is intriguing, particularly on drunkenraisins.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This company’s website promotes their “21<sup>st</sup>
century recipe” as opposed to the longstanding homemade variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter involves store-bought golden
raisins soaked in any old gin for nine days, then eaten each morning, 9-at-a-time.
DrunkenRaisins, however, uses a “Choice Jumbo Golden Raisin”, adds a ‘correct’
juniper berry influenced gin, then marinates the dried fruit in a sealed
container with honey and imported cinnamon bark oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each batch takes 10-14 days to finish ‘giving
birth to the magic of one of the best anti-inflammatory foods available.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My mouth is watering, and I don’t even really care for
gin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This goodbye to aching joints habit
dates back 100 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is this
placebo or an actual non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that needs no
rx?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Placebo or not, it could very well
be a very pleasant way to dial down arthritic pain. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">Perhaps you’ve heard of Lucia
DeClerck; she’s recently made headline news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On her 105<sup>th</sup> birthday in January, she was diagnosed with
COVID, one day after getting her second Pfizer vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She isolated for 2 weeks, had very few
symptoms, missed her chats with her friends, then went back to her room in a
New Jersey nursing home, all the while never missing a single morning dose of
her nine golden raisins which she’s been taking for decades. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">Was it the vaccine? Prayer and no
junk food which she practices daily?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
raisins?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t really matter does
it…vaccines 1 &2 with rising protection, anti-inflammatory juniper berry
phenols toning down an overactive immune system, and/or belief in raisins and
religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There you have it, whatever
‘it’ is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Interested?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
drunken raisin recipes all over the internet, or call DrunkenRaisins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll ship a super fresh batch to you
within 2 to 3 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-21873536619326638512021-08-12T10:09:00.003-06:002021-08-12T10:09:51.842-06:00<p> Ugh says the retired doctor who got the two-dose Pfizer vaccines in March and just found out this news regarding Delta Variant:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pfizer vaccines only effective against Delta at 42%. Still seems to minimize severe illness, hospitalization, or death. Other MDs who have gotten the Delta variant tended to have a rather bothersome illness for about 8 days.</li><li>All it takes is less than 5 seconds to catch the darned variant, and the spreader, whether ill or infected without symptoms, tends to infect 8-10 other people.</li></ul><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-67323151578417304742021-08-10T17:24:00.002-06:002021-08-10T17:24:25.903-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><b><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Odoribacteraceae<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><b><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></em></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“In people over
the age of 100, an enrichment <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in a distinct
set of gut microbes generate <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">unique bile
acids.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Professor Kenya
Honda<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New research on the gut microbiome of old folks in Japan was
reported in the latest issue of </span></em><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nature Research</span></em><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></em><i><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The scientists analyzed the </span><a href="https://www.studyfinds.org/tag/gut-health/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">gut bacteria</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> of more
than 300 adults in Japan, including 160 </span><a href="https://www.studyfinds.org/longer-life-humans-124-years-old/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">over 100 years-old</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, 112 between
85 and 89, and 47 under 55 years-old.<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Principal investigator Honda and colleagues
found that bacterial isolates in fecal samples from </span></em>centenarians were
often enriched with microbes capable of synthesizing potent bile acids that
were not present in the younger groups. <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Odoribacteraceae</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> strains in particular came out as star
producers of </span></em></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">isoallo-lithocholic acid (LCA). LCA is a potent
antimicrobial against gram-positive, multidrug-resistant strains such as </span><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Clostridioides
difficile </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and<i> Enterococcus faecium</i>.</span><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
conclusion of this study, per Prof. Honda: “</span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There are centenarian-specific
members of the gut microbiota which, rather than representing a </span><a href="https://studyfinds.org/tag/aging" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">mere consequence of
aging</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, might actively contribute to resistance against pathogenic
infection and other environmental stressors.”</span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
are a host of responses to this study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many readers had their own theories of aging well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One young lady declared that skinny was the
perfect answer, and her daily intake, delivered in anorectic detail, made me
cringe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another woman, struggling with
C. diff unresponsive to various medications, took matters into her own
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She announced to her daughter
that she needed a stool sample from her. The daughter, first appalled, then
complied. The sample was inserted into one end or another (we got no info over
which), and mom felt increasingly normal in a gut sort of way within four days!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’d like to get ahold of a distinct set of those Odori-bugs,
but alas, no search on Amazon or Google offered hope for bottles of such
supplements just yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">______<o:p></o:p></span></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-78466275779977796732021-08-09T13:43:00.001-06:002021-08-09T13:43:55.534-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Repurposed Drugs Offer Hope for Preventing/Treating COVID<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A new
approach to the war on COVID has potential according to a study published in
the June 30<sup>th</sup> issue of <i>Science Advances</i>. The University of
Cambridge is investigating the possibility that a host of drugs, already
approved for other uses, may uncover new weapons against this pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Historically, many drugs originally developed
to favorably outwit one disease have proven useful in other ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, <i>zidovudine</i>, now known as
</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">azidothymidine</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (AZT)</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">did not work as a cancer drug but 20 years later proved to
work well for the prevention and treatment of HIV.</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cambridge
researchers used computer models to screen some 2,000 drugs as potential
anti-viral treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The researchers
narrowed the field down to 200, then chose a subset of 40 to test in the lab
using cell lines cultivated from humans and non-human primates; all cell lines
were infected with SARS-CoV-2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two drugs
in particular—<i>proguanil,</i> an anti-malaria drug, and <i>sulfasalazine</i>,
a medication for rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis—successfully
stopped COVID viral replication in the cells. </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
study, this one<i> </i></span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">from the Tokyo University of Science,
has also come up with a duo of drugs with great promise, perhaps even better
than the Cambridge findings.</span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Source Serif Pro",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These
researchers also tested a panel of already approved drugs in similarly infected
cell model cultures. They found a different duo of drugs that effectively
blocked the virus: </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
anti-inflammatory drug <i>cepharanthine</i> and the HIV viral protease*
inhibitor </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/nelfinavir" title="Learn more about nelfinavir from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"><i><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nelfinavir</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>Cepharanthine</i>
inhibited SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells by blocking viral entrance into
target cells while <i>nelfinavir</i> suppressed viral replication through </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/proteinase-inhibition" title="Learn more about protease inhibition from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">protease inhibition</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLbkAJhBhnkwEwNBc-Lv6VQ2rWN6Oxv7Ana3ywC8tiBvcWWGwk1uiDm2jUeC_2QF1tehp9CF8Gmb05IbupYWBDJGoLMwvQ1qZzR7yKEjJV0uagpwHpE9Kvr7-dYVY6lBYHT6p/s996/ceph%2526nel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLbkAJhBhnkwEwNBc-Lv6VQ2rWN6Oxv7Ana3ywC8tiBvcWWGwk1uiDm2jUeC_2QF1tehp9CF8Gmb05IbupYWBDJGoLMwvQ1qZzR7yKEjJV0uagpwHpE9Kvr7-dYVY6lBYHT6p/s320/ceph%2526nel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This picture shows that <i>cepharanthine</i>
in the upper left-hand corner sporting fashionable pale turquoise and grey
blocks the ugly brown COVID spike from entering the cell. In the lower
left-hand corner, a lump of lovely lime green <i>nelfinavir</i> enters the cell
and rips apart the protease which stops viral reproduction. The color choices
are for artistic purposes and do not represent the actual cells, virions, or
drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">__</span><span style="background: white; color: #424242;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*Protease is an enzyme that breaks down
proteins into shorter molecules called peptides which allows the virus to
construct new proteins in order to replicate new virions inside the host cell. <o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">_____<o:p></o:p></span></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-80934031173188933762021-08-04T14:16:00.002-06:002021-08-04T14:16:22.224-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I like coffee a lot even though I can hardly
taste it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dentist can’t stand the
coffee stains on the inner </span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">surfaces of my teeth; apparently stains are good places for
bad biofilms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Biofilms are ‘communities’
of bacteria co-existing perhaps with a dash of fungi, a smidgen of
bacteriophages, and volunteer viruses. They are held together by </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">extracellular
polymeric substances (EPS) and </span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tethered to inert surfaces such as teeth, catheters, prostheses,
and implants. Home for the wee beasties becomes long-term quarters in what one
article on PubMed.gov calls “the biofilm lifestyle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More on biofilms in an upcoming post. Meanwhile,
for the sake of my dentist, I dilute my morning coffee with water, or drink it
with soy milk. I still can’t taste it, and I still love it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 107%;">But let’s move on to important coffee
news. Researchers from the University of
South Australia have found that drinking too much coffee can contribute to osteoarthritis,
joint disease, and obesity. This same group determined that six cups a day was
the absolute safe level of consumption. </span><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Another study, conducted at the Australian
Centre for Precision Health at the South Australian Health and Medical Research
Institute, was based on 17,702 participants aged 37 to 73 and their
relationship with coffee. Principal investigator Kitty Pham declared “W</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">e consistently found that </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.studyfinds.org/drinking-25-cups-coffee-stiffness-arteries/" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: black;">higher coffee consumption</span></a><span style="background: white;"> was significantly associated with reduced brain volume” and
increased risk of dementia. They declare “Rethink your drink” if your
consumption comes even close to six cups a day. Earlier studies declared coffee
drinking protects the brain from dementia. What is it then: A good-for-the-brain
drink or bad? Six cups too much or just fine?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">To end on an up-note, a
prospective study over 12 years determined that coffee does not cause cardiac arrhythmias.
Analyzing data from <i>UK Biobank, </i>the investigators determined “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">each additional cup of habitual
coffee consumed was associated with a 3% lower risk of incident arrhythmia</span>.”
That sounds completely ridiculous to me, but it was printed in JAMA in July of
this year, so could it be so?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m down to one diluted cup per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven forbid they ever investigate dark
chocolate!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-8897736832529432402021-08-04T14:12:00.004-06:002021-08-04T14:12:56.016-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Oh Yuck<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re not even safe in our beds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Medical Microbiology lecturer at the
University of Westminster, Manal Mohammed gives us too much information when it
comes to bedtime. She notes:<o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We shed around 5 million
skin cells each night in bed. (How can they know this?) The microscopic dust
mites have a field day eating those old dead cells. The mite droppings can
cause itching, allergies, and asthma.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those dead cells,
along with saliva, sweat, and dandruff, is the perfect environment for
bacteria, viruses and fungi.<o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><em><span style="color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></em><!--[endif]--><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gram negative
bacteria like Staph aureus and E. Coli can find their way into your bed!<o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em><em style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ick, ick, ick. Care
to know more? You can find her complete article at:</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://theconversation.com/your-bed-probably-isnt-as-clean-as-you-think-a-microbiologist-explains-163513">https://theconversation.com/your-bed-probably-isnt-as-clean-as-you-think-a-microbiologist-explains-163513</a></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">_____<span style="mso-tab-count: 11;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-88210492034200664392021-07-28T10:24:00.002-06:002021-07-28T10:24:39.295-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From “The
Week” Magazine<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Health
officials in Seoul banned gyms from playing music with a tempo faster than 120
beats per minute, on the grounds that such music inspires gymgoers to exercise
and breathe harder, thus raising the risk of spreading COVID.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-65210396141751220552021-07-28T10:22:00.001-06:002021-07-28T10:22:12.967-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is PM2.5 and Why Do I
Itch?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">PM refers to particulate
matter that hangs in the air creating haze and off-color sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 2.5 refers to the size of these
particles, which is 2.5 microns or less, which are produced by vehicle exhaust,
burning fuels (wood, oil, coal), and wildfires. They are easily carried over
long distances. As you can well imagine, such tiny particles can pass deep into
lungs and through blood vessel walls into the bloodstream thus increasing risk
for heart and lung disease. Several thousand of the smaller particles could fit
on the period at the end of this sentence. What came as a surprise to me as I
investigated this hazardous air-borne matter was its effect on the skin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #052049; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“These pollutants often
contain chemical compounds that act like keys, allowing them to slip past the
skin’s outer barrier and penetrate into cells, where they can disrupt gene
transcription, trigger oxidative stress or cause inflammation.” </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Past studies have found a link
between atopic dermatitis (AD, aka eczema) and air pollution in cities with
high background levels of PM2.5 from cars and industry.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">The latest study, published in April of this
year in JAMA Dermatology, was conducted by researchers in San Francisco as they
perused medical records from November, 2018. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">At that time, a serious wildfire nearby (Camp
Fire), while extinguished in about two weeks, caused a notable increase in the
number of clinic visits for itching and new rashes in both pediatric and adult
populations. The authors of the study concluded that even short-term exposure
to high PM2.5 environmental particulate matter is associated with increased skin
woes, and the majority of new patients scratching n’ rashing had no history of
dermal disorders.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Ugh, walked this morning
through the PM2.5 haze, and now I’m itching all over! Little red itchy bumps on
the forearm; PM2.5 or creepy little noseeums (a catch-all name for 5,000 species of tiny biting flies)?</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-2296713824781084472021-07-28T10:17:00.002-06:002021-07-28T10:17:56.873-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here Comes Delta!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Q:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is the Delta
Variant so transmissible?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because people
infected with it carry a viral load of roughly 1,000 times higher than those
infected with the original coronavirus strains. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Understatements
of the Pandemic<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Putting
it all together, Delta’s really difficult to stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Benjamin Cowling, University
of Hong Kong<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“This virus has surprised us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Emma Hodcraft, University of Bern<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-13902350097624147172021-07-23T15:57:00.001-06:002021-07-23T15:57:15.577-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kanopy.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> A</o:p></span></b></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> free streaming site is yours
by signing up through your local library. City librarians were available by phone at the Denver Public Library (and others, I assume, throughout the country). Denver libraries are finally open; what a pleasure to browse for books rather than wait at the curb for one's order.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">For a good laugh, Kanopy streams the silly movie “What We
Do in the Shadows 2014.”</span><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;">Not the series
which is mildly funny through the first episode but then collapses into plain
stupid, watch the movie!</span><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;">It is also
available on YouTube for $2.99. A wide range of other movies, both short (and well-done) and long.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-73053322315398585342021-07-23T15:47:00.001-06:002021-07-23T15:47:03.193-06:00<p> </p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“There’s always a little bit of
tension around<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">these issues of, well, is the drug
going<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">to work, or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dr. Robert Shafer, Stanford
infectious disease specialist<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good news
from a phase 2 investigation pitting Molnupiravir (an oral antiviral agent
still in clinical trials) against SARS-CoV-2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After years of testing <i>this-a-vir</i> and <i>that-a-vir</i> in various
labs, Molnupiravir and Remdesivir proved most likely to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the background story followed by the
test results.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">RNA viruses
rely on their RNA-dependent polymerase (RdRP)* to stitch together<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>viral messenger RNA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sequenced mRNA in turn produces various
proteins used for the production of new virions as the invading virus overtakes
host cells. What’s needed for halting viral reproduction is a reliable RdRp
inhibitor. Many <i>those-a-virs</i> created in labs have been tested against
SARS-CoV-2. A successful compound will plop itself into the developing viral
sequence causing mutations in the proteins and…hurray! no new offspring
created. Remdesivir showed strong inhibition in lab and animal trials, and was
subsequently approved for treatment in patients. Unfortunately, while it works
well in toning down the severity of the illness thus speeding recovery, it requires
IV infusion in a hospital setting and doesn’t reduce deaths in difficult cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are
currently 246 antivirals in development. Creating antiviral meds is rather
tricky, the difficulty being how to stop propagation of more virions produced
within the host cell without killing the cell itself. Merck’s Molnupiravir,
originally developed by Emory University then bought by Ridgeback Bio that sold
it to Merck, originally targeted Influenza for Phase 1 animal trials. The drug </span><span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">proved to be
effective at curbing flu infections in mice, guinea pigs, ferrets and
human-airway organoids (human cells grown in petri dishes into viable tissues).</span><span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But then
along came March, 2020 and the onset of SARS-CoV-2 which completely changed their
plans. A successful test with ferrets proved that Molnupiravir blocked both
developing cases as well as ferret to ferret transition. They went on to a
Phase 2 safety trial with 202 outpatients with early symptoms of SARS-CoV-2.
Those who received 400 or 800 mg. daily were completely free of virus by Day 5.
Only 11.1% of the placebo group had similar clearance. Phase 2/3 testing is
underway with results expected in September.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s hoping!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-57221318467245838912021-07-13T11:22:00.001-06:002021-07-13T11:22:33.291-06:00<p> By the way, I began publishing my e-mail newsletter again. If you would like to receive this type of information via e-mail, please feel free to send me your e-mail to denverdoconline@gmail.com. There will be overlap between the newsletter and the blog. I will not share your e-mail with anyone, and you can always unsubscribe by replying to the newsletter with 'unsubscribe.'</p><p>Best wishes,</p><p>DenverDoc</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-69893710871855980012021-07-13T11:18:00.002-06:002021-07-13T11:18:41.866-06:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1C-SkinYy0Aa3rvmec7CDyEV-_hR4u7RX_JCei7CmLUkZ3Ls0QQAX0I-K-aaRKmkH3OOKmd5dZeJXEZPubgGlNmSfqN61CqUqhScUFsP8K4cnCOBVF972-ikQyO64-kRTDp/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="513" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1C-SkinYy0Aa3rvmec7CDyEV-_hR4u7RX_JCei7CmLUkZ3Ls0QQAX0I-K-aaRKmkH3OOKmd5dZeJXEZPubgGlNmSfqN61CqUqhScUFsP8K4cnCOBVF972-ikQyO64-kRTDp/" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oops, I forgot to include the illustration that goes with yesterday's post.</div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-16765788066369609292021-07-12T15:07:00.007-06:002021-07-12T15:07:39.508-06:00<p> </p><h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I spend hours on the
internet reading various e-magazines, often going down a path of interest
leading me far from my goal—namely getting a thought-provoking newsletter to
you more or less every two weeks. Yesterday, I found this study in the
journal ‘<i>Brain Communications’</i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-weight: normal;">about how near-death experiences (NDE) in
humans may have an evolutionary origin; it’s a definite read and share
investigation. Let’s start with thanatosis (feigned death or ‘playing
possum’) as it occurs in animals under attack by predators. </span><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">An artist created
the above cartoon from a real-life video involving an impala who goes limp
after being caught by a cheetah who then is bullied by a hyena thus allowing
the impala to make a get-away. If you would like to see the actual
dramatic footage from Africa, check out: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlGjX1MtVg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlGjX1MtVg</a>.
After that, google ‘thanatosis’ or ‘thanatosis in insects’ to see an enormous
array of animals, and insects, many on their backs with feet in the air,
feigning death when threatened by those higher on the food chain. Another
interesting link is found at <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/why-some-animals-play-dead-373909">https://www.thoughtco.com/why-some-animals-play-dead-373909</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The authors of this
study define NDEs as “</span><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14pt;">unique
conscious, self-related emotional, spiritual and mystical unexplained
experiences occurring in life-threatening situations or situations that may
feel life-threatening, including cardiac arrests, traffic accidents, physical
assaults and drug abuse.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">They searched for
examples of encounters between humans and big animals including sharks, and
heard or read testimonials from survivors of mass executions, genocide, or
terrorists attacks for examples of thanatosis or NDEs. After compiling their
data, they concluded that thanatosis occurs across a wide range of creatures
from arthropods to humans, and that playing dead or going into an NDE sort of
dream or trance was definitely associated with survival. See below for an
archived account of a human/lion interaction in the 19<sup>th</sup> century,
and a few other such stories are included in the material in “Brain
Communications”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You can skim or
read the entire study material at </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/3/3/fcab132/6307709" style="font-size: 14pt;">https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/3/3/fcab132/6307709</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
. Next newsletter I will include the physiology that accompanies human
and probably other animal species when flight is not an option but feigning
death or entering a dreamlike state may be a life saver. And the NDEs
associated with “</span><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14pt;">out-of-body
experiences, feeling one with the universe, feeling peace and acceptance,
sometimes even joy, and visual and auditory hallucinations, including seeing
bright lights, being in a tunnel and meeting spirits or ancestors” can become a
life-changing memory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14pt;">Interested in reading the entire study? Visit: </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/3/3/fcab132/6307709" style="font-size: 14pt;">https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/3/3/fcab132/6307709</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14pt;">Thanks for reading, double thanks for feedback!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> DenverDoc</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">______</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-21465019190493748592021-07-10T09:17:00.002-06:002021-07-10T09:17:31.827-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Developing…
not on the market yet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
recently-tested new topical goo for atopic dermatitis (AD) suggests that a
combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and aspartame applied regularly to the itchy,
inflamed, scaley skin of AD alleviates or clears all those symptoms in a
satisfying sort of way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trial
included 57 people who were randomized to control group, CBD cream alone, or
the new combo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Researchers used the ISGA
score (investigator’s static global score) to record baseline symptom
assessment compared to change after 2 weeks of use. ISGA scores range from 0
(no trouble at all) to 4 (a hot mess of skin misery).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 14 days, 50% of the group receiving
CBD/aspartame scored 0-1, down 2-3 points from the start of the trial whereas
the CBD and control group participants scored the satisfying ISGA 0-1 in just
20% and 15% respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">CBD-enriched
creams have proven success in multiple dermatological problems including AD,
acne, </span><span style="background: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">psoriasis,
skin cancer, pruritus, and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But who
thought aspartame was an effective dermal soother?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aspartame apparently has </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">analgesic<span style="color: #2e2e2e;"> functions that are similar to those of </span></span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/nonsteroid-antiinflammatory-agent" title="Learn more about Nonsteroid Antiinflammatory Agent from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs</span></a><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. </span><span style="background: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A rodent trial
in 2015 exposed the mice to topical 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene thus creating the
mousy version of AD. </span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sucrose
in the mice’s drinking water did nothing to soothe the itch and inflammation
whereas drinking aspartame in water inhibited ear swelling and skin eruptions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please note, the International Sweeteners
Association does not recommend adding aspartame to your drinking water based on
other not-so-successful animal studies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">______<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-7446732982050927322021-07-07T10:03:00.000-06:002021-07-07T10:03:00.992-06:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Scientist’s Fashion Tip<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Once you can accept the universe
as matter expanding into nothing that is something,
wearing stripes with plaid comes easy."<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Albert Einstein<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-27346335461988323662019-11-17T13:07:00.003-07:002019-11-17T13:07:57.014-07:00Make the Most of Your Calcium Intake<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What you need to know about calcium</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recommended daily intake
of calcium is 1200 mg for women over 50. This should be roughly ½ from diet and ½ from supplements.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can only absorb 500
mg of calcium at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Calcium supplements
require stomach acid to dissolve, so they should be taken with a
meal. The food stimulates secretion of acid. The
exception: calcium citrate dissolves without acid.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once dissolved, a small
amount of calcium can be absorbed in the intestine alone, but vitamin D is
required for calcium to be actively absorbed in useful quantities. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Calcium and D are
necessary, but not sufficient for best bone health. The two alone
may increase bone density, but at best really just reduce the rate of bone
loss. The recommended daily dose is 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.
Some people absorb D better than others; a blood test to check for adequate D
levels is recommended.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Accelerated bone loss among
women during the peri-menopausal period occurs between the ages of 40 to 54 years, and then stabilizes. A second period of accelerated
bone loss begins at age 70 among women, notably in the total hip, which can lead to a substantial drop in bone density and strength by age 75 years. This loss is associated with the increased incidence
of hip fractures. </span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">If your calcium intake
is less than your body needs, parathyroid glands imbedded in the
thyroid gland are activated to produce parathormone (PTH). This hormone stimulates osteoclasts to breakdown bone in order to release calcium. Blood
levels of calcium are maintained in a narrow normal range, and bone
reserve is tapped when levels fall at the expense of bone density. </li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"> Use of potent meds to control acid reflux or gastritis such a Prilosec
(omeprazole) interferes with calcium dissolution and absorption
contributing to low blood levels of calcium.</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-44137295489542268572015-02-02T11:23:00.000-07:002015-02-02T11:23:30.301-07:00My Trainer, My Desk<em>Everybody get on your feet, </em><br />
<em>You make me nervous </em><br />
<em>When you're in your seat </em><br />
<em>-----Jerry Jeff Walker</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<br />
What on earth would our Ice Age ancestors think? Genetically identical
to our 21st century selves, they were perfectly suited to a life of obligatory
physical exercise, periodic famine, and unrelenting cold. We, on the
other hand, no longer running from predators or chasing our dinner,
pass our days on the job and at leisure slouched in our chairs, inert,
well-fed, and warm.<br />
My <a href="http://fitbit.com/" target="_blank">Fitbit</a>, a pedometer-plus, tallies steps, stairs, and calories. Gizmos within know when I am active and know when I am not. After a day at home or at work, add housework or laundry plus a walk and a trip to the store, I might manage to reach the 10,000 step goal. Syncing with Fitbit on-line turns daily data into a pie chart of motion, gray for sedentary with blue, yellow, and pink for light, moderate and heavy action. Alas, my so-called busy day is awash in inert--big yawning gray, a thin slice of sky, a sliver of sun, and one slash of pink.<br />
Perhaps it's time for on beyond Fitbit. A smart--and very pricey!--desk might be the next best thing to a personal trainer. For several thousand dollars, you can buy a work station at <a href="http://stirworks.com/">stirworks.com</a> that greets you by name, gently nags you to move, keeps a log of your day, week, and month, and advises you how long until you're next scheduled to fidget. When you've been too still for too long, the thing takes a 'whisperbreath', heaving beneath your laptop like an impatient dog past due for a walk.<br />
Sit-stand workstations are today’s medical news; studies prove they decrease
on-the-job sedentary behavior (SB), may or may not affect productivity, and
mostly don’t cause workplace injuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ingenius,
creepy, or just a sign of our times?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-82280006298318704142014-11-29T11:50:00.000-07:002014-11-29T11:50:09.012-07:00Probiotics as dental insurance
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our microscopic fellow travelers are all the rage today,
rating their own study group known as the Human Microbiome Project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve long recommended intestinal probiotics
for years to my patients as they’re treated for infections in an effort to
avoid some of the intestinal upset associated with antibiotics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never gave a thought to probiotics for oral
and dental health until I was invited to try this brand for review. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Probiotics means ‘for life’, referring to the beneficial
relationship we’ve developed with the enormous numbers of bacteria living on
our surfaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Latest research suggests
that as many as 700 different varieties hang out in our mouth where the living
is easy—warm, wet, with a frequent barrage of incoming nutrients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on which microbes set up shop in
our mouths, we are more or less prone to bad breath, cavities, gingivitis, or upper
respiratory infections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the scoop
on the bacterial blend in Pro-Dental:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lactobacilli paracasei:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This germ is a gem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italian researchers added L paracasei to ‘an
artichoke product’ (?!?), and volunteers ate 180 gm of the probiotic-chokes over
15 days while a control group ate the lactobacilli-less variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bacteria survived the acid journey
through the upper GI tract, colonized the colon, and ‘antagonized’ the e coli
and colistridium bacterium already in residence there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter is an increasingly common cause of
serious colon infections after antibiotic therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, a sub-study of constipated study
subjects found their symptoms much improved post-use of probiotic-spiked
artichokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a dental sense, daily use
of L paracasei-containing toothpaste developed in Germany has proven effective
in reducing by 50% the amount of streptococcus mutans in users’ mouths without
affecting other useful bacterial communities living therein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strep mutans is known to form bio-films on
oral surfaces—picture bacteria eating, working, playing in slimy sheets on your
teeth and gums, then metabolizing sugars to acids that decay your teeth,
inflame your gums, and confound your immune system!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lactobacilli reuteri:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This amiable microbe also competes with Strep mutans, seriously disrupting
its biofilm gangs. In a study population, significant decreases of s mutans
populations were noted after 3 weeks of L reuteri supplements per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that probiotics must be ingested daily
in order to avoid their elimination from the oral cavity or GI tract. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Streptococcus salivarius:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As opposed to Strep mutans (and group A strep—the cause of strep
throat), this Strep salivarius is a good guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The K12 strain has been shown in various studies to decrease the
incidence of strep throat, tonsillitis, and viral upper respiratory infections
in small children and adults with medical histories of frequent infections of
both varieties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also looks promising
as a preventive measure against oral thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth
common in the elderly and persons with immune deficiencies. The M18 strain was
a stand-out in a study of kids prone to cavities and plaque—New Zealand researchers
found that Strep mutans bacterial counts dropped most dramatically in those young
subjects best colonized by Strep salivarius M18 after 3 months of probiotic
use.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My hygienist informs me that I’m outliving my gums which seem
to be receding down to my chin and up towards my cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result, she promises, will be cavities
along what formerly was known as my gum-line. Dental probiotics and an upscale
sonic brush are, therefore, my teeth’s newest best buddies!</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-59010915763493857842014-09-29T17:49:00.001-06:002014-09-29T17:49:53.741-06:00Matcha Green Tea PowderThis stuff is big-time polyphenols for big-time health benefits!<br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll admit that I got my bag of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matcha-Green-Tea-Powder-Antioxidant/dp/B00DDT116M/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412034410&sr=1-1&keywords=matcha+green+tea+powder" target="_blank">KissMe Organics Matcha</a> for
free with a request for a review. I’ve been a one cup of green tea per day is
plenty kind of believer, good for the health but, honestly, I prefer
coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green tea’s not fun, green tea
tastes odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I had no idea just how
odd green tea could taste until I tried a half teaspoon of this green Matcha
powder which doesn’t even really dissolve when mixed in hot water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Odd is not necessarily unpleasant, the flavor
is like a slightly gritty, mild infusion of grass clippings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what a great way to get one’s green tea
intake out of the way in one earthy serving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(yeah, I fact-checked; it really does have 137X the anti-oxidants of the
brewed China Green Tips variety), and. oh my, check out the health benefits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s a host of worthy molecules in green tea called
polyphenols, the best and most plentiful of which is epigallocatechin gallate
or EGCG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pubmed.gov search for EGCG
and cancer returns 1,299 articles on research studies wherein EGCG messes with
the dastardly growth, reproduction, and metastasis of prostate, breast
(including the triple negative scary kind), glioma, and colon cancers and
T-cell leukemia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s just from
the first page of results!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clinical evidence
suggests it has chemopreventive properties as well with respect to preventing
or reversing the cellular changes that lead to malignancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diabetic animals—both rats and humans—display
improved cholesterol levels and glucose control when green tea is added to
their diets, and some even lose weight in amounts that may or may not be
significant depending on which study results you consult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HDL-cholesterol (the good kind) rises while
total cholesterol and LDL levels fall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I’m sold on Matcha, and I’m ordering some for a friend
recently diagnosed with breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
probably won’t try green tea cupcakes because, honestly, I prefer the good old
brown-from-chocolate variety.</span><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-32795411239802509182014-06-09T20:31:00.001-06:002014-06-09T20:32:11.656-06:00Oil pulling revisited after five years and a lot of sesame oil!While I don't remember where I came upon this Ayurvedic practice, I do know what I found immediately appealing about it. Whiter teeth without a bleach tray, less plaque without scraping. I have no way of knowing what the state of my oral health would be had I not swished and spit a tablespoonful of sesame oil more mornings than not for more than five years, but I am entirely satisfied with my current dental status and teeth so sparkly--despite daily coffee and green tea--that my dental hygienist asked me at my last visit what my secret was.<br />
<br /><br />
I took another pass through the medical literature on oil pulling recently, and discovered new information on how this pulling business works. Given a busy life and hectic mornings, it's hard to carve out 15-20 minutes for an oral work-out around a mouthful of oil. As a result, I did the multi-tasking thing that we all do, making coffee and breakfast, packing lunch, reading a book or the paper, often holding that mouthful of oil with just an occasional swish. Turns out, however, the magic is in the agitation.<br />
<br /><br />
Scientists conducted trials wherein they sampled the oil from the mouths of willing subjects at various intervals during the pulling process. Heaven only knows how they did this without sending sesame oil and spit down the volunteers' chins. Early samples revealed big globules of oil in saliva while later specimens showed that the washing machine action of hard-working jaws had broken the oil into tiny droplets upon which bacteria and old dead mouth cells clung. This did not occur until 15 minutes or more into the activity. Thus, indifferent, distracted oil pulling while dashing around the kitchen for 10 minutes just doesn't get your mouth that soap-like cleansing effect. Give it your all for 15 minutes, spit the thin, milky stuff out, rinse, and SMILE!<br />
<br /><br />
For more on oil-pulling, see <a href="http://femailhealthnews.blogspot.com/search?q=oil+pulling">Bacteria, bad breath, and oil pulling</a> and <a href="http://femailhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/11/oil-pulling-testimonial.html">Oil pulling testimonial</a><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22979093.post-9632169198791417462013-10-25T15:01:00.000-06:002013-10-25T16:08:28.325-06:00What should I ask my doctor?<em>How to handle a medical handoff...advocate for yourself or a family member when heading home from the hospital or off to a consult for specialty care.</em><br />
<br />
This morning I completed an online continuing medical education course on medical handoffs. I wasn't even sure of what this meant when I registered and embarked on the course. Turns out that it's just what it says, namely the handoff of a patient's medical care from one professional to another, say, for example, from me as primary care provider to a specialist consultant, or from a hospitalist to me as one of my patients is discharged from an inpatient admission back into my care. These handoffs are risky business (and so this course is sponsored by my medical malpractice company) if information is incompletely or inaccurately transferred. <br />
<br />
I can't tell you how many times I've been in this situation--a patient comes to my office for follow-up to hospital care, and the discharge summary is not available. Sometimes, I've heard the history via phone from the doc in charge at the hospital. Too often, I did not even know that the admission occurred. More than once, the patient does not know the names of the physicians that were in charge of their inpatient care, and, worse yet, may not even know their final diagnosis! You may be nodding in recognition because this has happened to you or a family member.<br />
<br />
This course gave a nice summary of that which a patient should know on leaving the hospital. With just slight adjustments, many of these items could apply to any handoff situation where more than one professional is in charge of any aspect of your medical care. <br />
<ul>
<li><strong>What are warning signs of a relapse?</strong> (<em>I would add that any change that alarms you is worrisome enough to inquire about).</em></li>
<li><strong>What are side effects to look out for from new medications?</strong></li>
<li><strong>Whom should I contact in case of difficulty?</strong> (<em>I feel like your primary care doctor should be available to advocate for you in this matter even if they are not fully apprised on the matters at hand)</em></li>
<li><strong>Does my primary care doc know that I was in the hospital and that I am leaving?</strong></li>
<li><strong>Do I understand why I was hospitalized, what was the diagnosis, and what is the treatment plan?</strong></li>
<li><strong>What results are pending? Whom do I contact to find out these results?</strong> (<em>this is extremely important, and applies as well to outpatient tests ordered by a specialist; find out if the specialist or your PCP will be the one to get the results, and call them if you don't hear from them within a reasonable amount of time).</em></li>
<li><strong>Have any new medications been reconciled with my usual medications? How long must I be on these meds, and who will order refills?</strong></li>
<li><strong>Where, when, and with whom do I follow-up?</strong> </li>
</ul>
On average, PCPs only hear back from hospitalists 10% of the time after their patients are discharged from inpatient care. An estimated 60% of discharges are made before all the in-hospital test results are in. The hospitalist may assume that the PCP will follow-up; the PCP may not even know that the test has been done. <br />
<br />
Be your own best advocate on behalf of yourself or a loved one; ask these questions and make sure you get answers!<div class="blogger-post-footer">ca-pub-1793295148737117 </div>denverdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09574453567392165275noreply@blogger.com1