• Immunotherapy for Cancer

    Immunotherapy for Cancer

    February 15, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

    Dr. Joseph Maroon discussed immunotherapy for cancer at the Anti-Aging Conference in Las Vegas, which I attended. He was one of the keynote speakers Dec. 14, 2024. He was a neurosurgeon in the past and has given many lectures at these yearly Anti-Aging Conferences before. The full title of his presentation was … [Read More...]

  • Treatment of Hormone Deficiencies with Bioidentical Hormones

    Treatment of Hormone Deficiencies with Bioidentical Hormones

    February 1, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

    Dr. Thierry Hertoghe discussed treatment of hormone deficiencies with bioidentical hormones at the Anti-Aging Conference in Las Vegas, which I attended. He was one of the keynote speakers Dec. 13, 2024. He is a well-known endocrinologist from Brussels/Belgium and has given many lectures at these yearly Anti-Aging … [Read More...]

  • Menopause Revisited

    Menopause Revisited

    January 19, 2025 by · Comments Off on Menopause Revisited

    At the 32nd Anti-aging Conference in Las Vegas menopause was reviewed, which I call “menopause revisited”. The presenter was Dr. Sara Gottfried who is the director of Precision Medicine. She is also affiliated with the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, … [Read More...]

  • Anti-Inflammatory Diets Improve Inflammation

    Anti-Inflammatory Diets Improve Inflammation

    December 28, 2024 by · Comments Off on Anti-Inflammatory Diets Improve Inflammation

    A CNN review article noted that anti-inflammatory diets improve inflammation. This is important for medical conditions that also have inflammation attached to it. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or chronic kidney disease all carry inflammation with them. But according to a 2019 study more than 50% of … [Read More...]

  • Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    November 24, 2024 by · Comments Off on Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    An article in the medical journal “Medical News Today” found that ultraprocessed food leads to premature aging. What are ultraprocessed foods? The NOVA Food Classification System explains what ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are and what other ones are not. Examples of ultraprocessed foods are: fatty, sweet, savory … [Read More...]

  • Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    November 9, 2024 by · Comments Off on Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    Most people know about statins to treat high cholesterol, but they do not have vital information about cholesterol drugs. Recently an article appeared in CNN, which was very informative. In the following I will review what is new about cholesterol lowering drugs. PCSK9 inhibitors, which are monoclonal … [Read More...]

    Dec
    01
    2005

    Lycopene For Bone Health

    By | Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

    The tomato pigment Lycopene in the diet has been demonstrated to be a beneficial agent in reducing age-related diseases, cardio-vascular disease and even prostate cancer. A new aspect has now been investigated.
    Consuming more lycopene in the diet is of significant benefit to post-menopausal women, as it reduces oxidative stress and bone turnover. The findings come from head researcher Erin Collins from the University of Toronto. The study results also suggest, that dietary lycopene is readily absorbed, particularly in combination with vitamin C. These results are encouraging, as lycopene may be one of the main agents important for the prevention of osteoporosis.” We found that women who consumed more tomato products on a daily basis had a lower bone turnover and lower oxidative stress than women of the same age group who did not consume as much”, reports Ms. Collins. The participants of the research project were between 50 and 60 years. Lycopene levels in the blood were analyzed, and a seven-day food record was completed. The lowest quartile of estimated lycopene intake was 1.8 mg per day, and the highest was 8 mg per day. Lab tests also showed that higher levels of lycopene were associated with a lower level of protein oxidation and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen, for short NTx. The latter one is a marker of bone turnover. The intake of vitamin C appeared to work together with lycopene, but it only showed to have a correlation, if 500 mg per day or more of vitamin C was consumed. The effect was not observed among the volunteers who consumed less than 500 mg per day of vitamin C.
    An intervention study will begin shortly, which will be the first of its kind. It will assess the bone parameters in women treated with different doses of lycopene pills.

    Lycopene For Bone Health

    Lycopene For Bone Health

    It is likely that follow-up studies will confirm initial findings, and dietary lycopene could become a simple, inexpensive way of helping to prevent osteoporosis.

    More information about osteoporosis: http://nethealthbook.com/arthritis/osteoporosis/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 8

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Dec
    01
    2005

    Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

    By | Cancer, Women’s Diseases

    Surgery for breast cancer in past years often involved the removal of the entire breast (=mastectomy). The cancer patient often dreaded this procedure because of the physical and psychological impact. With early-stage breast cancer the removal of the breast lump proved to be the more acceptable choice (=lumpectomy). There was however the question, whether any treatment after the surgical procedure would make a difference in the long-term cure.
    Dr. Martin Keisch, a radiation oncologist at Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Florida reports about his experience with a specific radiation therapy called balloon brachytherapy. He led a study with 43 women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent the procedure following lumpectomy. None of them had a cancer relapse over the next four years. Importantly, there were also no serious long-term side effects. The cosmetic results were rated good to excellent by 85 % of the women.

    Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

    Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

    The brachytherapy system, called the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System, is approved for use in the U.S. and Canada.

    More information on breast cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/breast-cancer/

    Reference: The Medical Post, November 22, 2005, page 48

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

    By | Fitness, Health, Men's Health, Stress management, Women’s Diseases

    Physical activity and good nutrition are the keys for a healthy immune system. Dr. David Nieman, PhD, from the Appalachian State University of Boone, N.C. has found that exercise and nutrition play a strong role in boosting immunity. His past research showed that women who walked briskly for 30 to 45 minutes five days for 12 to 15 weeks had colds half as often as inactive women. This is true even for the aging population, where immunity tends to decline; some research has shown that fit elderly people have better-preserved immune systems.
    It is tempting to conclude, that more exercise would lead to even better benefits, but the research results are quite different. Exercising for too long (beyond 90 minutes) appears to cause a steep drop in immune function that can last up to 24 hours. In the 1987 Los Angeles Marathon, Dr. Nieman surveyed 2,311 runners and found those who raced were six times more likely to get sick afterward compared with those who dropped out of the race for non-medical reasons. Runners who trained more than 96 km per week during the two months before a race doubled their chances for sickness compared with those who trained less than 36 km per week.
    In lab tests on marathon runners who ran on a treadmill for 90 minutes to 3 hours at 80% aerobic capacity, the level of immune cells had decreased (neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells and B cells). All these players in the immune system leave the blood and concentrate on the effort to do repairs and maintenance on the muscles. As a result the front line soldiers are unavailable for defense when viruses are present.

    More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

    More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

    The best strategies for active as well as not-so-active individuals remain similar.
    -Minimize life stresses-mental and emotional.
    -Avoid over training and chronic fatigue.
    -Curb exercise if you have a fever or systemic infection.
    -Eat a well-balanced diet with adequate energy.

    More about fitness: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/fitness/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 19

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    By | Cancer, Nutrition, Prevention, Substance abuse

    The old adage of “everything in moderation” has become something like an excuse-me note for those who do not wish to change their lifestyle. And the little bit that supposedly does not harm is another variation in the theme of excuses. Yet the truth remains, that this does not apply to various lifestyle habits. It still matters, what you ingest in your food or drink, as Dr. Joseph Anderson found out in a study of 2,291 patients.

    All of these individuals presented for screening colonoscopy. It turned out that those who had a history of consuming more than 8 drinks of spirits or beer per week for at least ten years were more than twice as likely as abstainers to have significant cancer of the colon. The group that drank beer and hard liquor (and hard liquor also applies to the category of mixed drinks) faced at least a one in five chance to have significant colorectal neoplasia (meaning cancer of the colon or rectum). This came as no surprise to the researchers, as beer and hard liquor seem equally pernicious.
    Even though wine does not seem to carry the same risk, Dr. Anderson is in no position to condone counseling patients to drink wine instead.

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    His advice to other doctors is to ” counsel the patients on what they are drinking and counsel them to temper their drinking.”

    More information about causes of colorectal cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/colon-cancer/food-risk-factors-colon-cancer-rectal-cancer/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 46

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    By | Cancer, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

    Mammography has been considered a reliable screening test for breast lumps. It has become a crucial diagnostic tool for the early recognition of breast cancer. Nevertheless there are situations when the test has its limitations, which is especially true for women who have very dense breast tissue.
    Dr. Martin Yaffe, PhD, a biophysics professor at the University of Toronto and Women’s College Health Sciences Center has done the groundwork for digital mammography, and 20 years of research and development have finally paid off. For women who have dense breast tissue, digital mammography will be the superior diagnostic tool, as opposed to the conventional film mammography. In a study that involved 42,760 patients who were asymptomatic both film mammography and digital mammography were used for screening. In the general study population the accuracy of the two methods was found to be similar. In the group of women under 50 years of age the digital method showed significantly more accuracy (84% vs. 69%). Accuracy for women with dense breasts was also higher with the digital method (78% vs. 68%). It also was superior for premenopausal women (82%vs.67%).

    The digital equipment used was still in its development stages, and the potential of the technology will become even greater with more sophisticated equipment down the road. At this point it is not cost effective to use the digital method for all women. The digital system costs between one and a half to four times as much as the film systems.

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    “There is certainly no indication that digital is any less accurate than film mammography, but certainly the benefit is in a defined subgroup of women at this time,” states Dr.Yaffe. For most women film mammography remains a method that works well.

    More information about breast cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 4, 2005, page1, 62

    Last edited November 2, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    By | Health, Nutrition, obstetrics, Prevention, Vitamins and supplements

    The importance for good maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been emphasized for a long time. Of course in this case it was up to the mom-to-be to avoid toxins, such as smoking and alcohol and to take prenatal supplements along with sensible nutrition. Enticing the women away from the excesses of the standard Western diet would yield handsome health benefits for the country. Dr. David Barker, a medical advisor to the British government pointed out, that this approach would reduce heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the mothers as well as in their offspring. This concept does not address all the aspects, which are important for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
    For the past 20 years a group of around 20 British family physicians, obstetricians and researchers under the name of Foresight has been putting a program into practice, which identifies and addresses the health deficiencies in prospective parents. Almost all couples that followed the pre-conception program had previously experienced problems relating to conception, pregnancy and birth. In one follow-up study of 367 couples that followed the Foresight program from 1990 to 1992, 327(89%) of the women became pregnant and had healthy, well-developed babies. None of the babies suffered malformations and none was transferred to special care. Of the 367 couples, 217(59 %) had suffered from infertility (from 1 to 10 years) and 139 (38%) had histories from 1 to 5 previous miscarriages. Eleven (3%) had previously given birth to a stillborn child, 40 had small-for-date babies and 15 had already had a low birth weight baby (less than 2,500 g). Seven couples had a previous baby with malformations and three had lost a baby to sudden infant death.
    In a larger follow-up study of 1,076 couples, almost all of whom had previous fertility or miscarriage problems, 846 conceived success rate of 78%, as reported by Belinda Barnes, who runs Foresight. There were four problem pregnancies, including one Down syndrome baby, two terminations and one child with an adhesion of the intestine, which was correctable. This is a complication rate of only 0.47 %.

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    As the complication rate in the general population amounts to 6.43%, the pre-conception program has only 1/7th of the complications, a strong indicator that a pre-conception program does make a difference.

    More info about healthy nutrition: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 33

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    By | Health, Nutrition, Vitamins and supplements

    Antioxidants provide powerful cellular protection, and several sources are available through food. One of them under the name ergothioneine was known to be available through food sources like wheat germ or chicken liver. The latter is not necessarily a popular choice for a lot of people! However, antioxidants are necessary to protect us from diseases like arthritis, Alzheimers disease and cancer.
    Researchers at Penn State have better news in the meantime. Joy Dubost, who led the research team, stated in a recent press release, that exotic mushrooms like shiitake, oyster mushrooms, king oyster or maitake mushrooms contain up to 13 mg of the desirable antioxidant ergothioneine in a typical serving, about 40 times as much as wheat germ.
    Consumers who are reluctant to try these varieties and are more used to Portobello mushrooms, crimini mushrooms (brown mushrooms) or even the ubiquitous white mushrooms, still get a good dose of up to 5 mg ergothioneine per serving.

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    Antioxidant levels do not decrease when the mushrooms are cooked.

    More information about antioxidants, which  are explained in detail here: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/vitamins-minerals-supplements/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 21

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Obesity, Stress management

    Life expectancy between the sexes has always been different: females generally outlive males by several years, but close observation from the Office of Health Economics in Great Britain shows a shift in Life expectancy. Males have been catching up, and their life expectancy rates have been rising faster than those of females. There is still a difference for a boy born in 2002. He will have a life expectancy of 76 years, whereas his sister will live to age 81.

    Researchers believe that the reason for the shift is lifestyle change in females. Many of them now face the same workplace stress that has been traditionally shouldered by males. Detrimental habits are also more common in females. Heavy drinking in young females has more than tripled in the last 17 years, and 10% of young females exceed the recommended drinking limit (compared to 12% males). Non-smoking campaigns are less successful in women. Males have cut their smoking habits. 51% smoked in 1974, and by 2002 only 28 % were smokers. Female smokers amounted to 41 % in 1974, but by 2002 there were still 26 % smokers. The results show most dramatically in cancer statistics. Since 1973 lung cancer rates in men have been reduced to half and the lung cancer survival rate has increased. In comparison lung cancer in females during the same time period has increased by 45%. As a result of sedentary lifestyles the body mass index has also shown an increase.

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    Estimates showed that by the year 2010, life expectancy will likely converge for both sexes at an age of 81.

    Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:656 (24 September)

    Last edited December 6, 2012

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    By | Health

    Stuttering is a frustrating problem for kids and their parents, and about 5% of all preschoolers are found to stutter. The onset of the problem usually occurs between the ages 3 and 4. Opinions about intervention have been divided so far. Some voices called for early treatment, but there was no research to back up a better success rate. Others suggested that kids would outgrow the problem and it was early enough to seek treatment, if the stuttering persisted once the children were entering school.
    Researchers tested a new behavioral program (the Lidcombe program) to establish whether early treatment intervention would show a better success rate as opposed to natural recovery. They conducted a study in which 54 children in the age group of 3 and 4 years were enrolled. All of them had a stuttering problem. 29 of them received the Lidcombe program, and 25 were a control group who did not receive the program.

    At the end of the study the children of the control group had reduced their stuttering by 43 %, but only 15% had reached a minimum level of stuttering. The results of the children who had received the Lidcombe program were impressive: they had reduced their stuttering by 77%, and over half of them (52%) had reached a minimum level of stuttering.
    The experts concluded that the Lidcombe approach is more successful than the normal discovery, and initiating the program early is crucial for the following reasons: it works best in preschoolers.

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    Also it is more beneficial to intervene early, as in school a child with a stuttering problem has to face frustration and social problems among classmates.

    Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:659 (24 September)

    Last edited December 6, 2012

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    By | Nutrition

    Eating healthy and exercising is considered the key to healthy lifestyle and also thought to be a reliable way to natural weight loss. There seem to be other aspects that matter, according to some thought provoking research that comes out of the Food and Brand Lab at the University of Illinois.
    One of the lab’s more recent experiments looked at mindless eating: people snack totally oblivious to the fact that they are not really hungry. The researchers looked at the most common venue for this habit and investigated 158 moviegoers in Philadelphia with an average age of 28.7 years. They gave them 120g pails and 240 g pails of fresh and stale popcorn. Those who received the large size pails consumed more popcorn (45.3 % more when it was fresh and 33.6 % more of the old and stale product.) When it comes to overeating, the researchers suggest, that portion size is more important than taste! The study appeared in the September/October edition of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. It also confirms the results of similar research. One member of a family who had been given a bulky 900g bag of candy to munch on during a film reported, that between four people they consumed a pound-and-a-half of M&Ms during the show. They just could not stop!
    The shape of drinking glasses can also fool even veteran bar tenders. The “vertical-horizontal illusion” is an innate human sensory deficiency, and people think that a tall, skinny glass holds more than a squat tumbler, even though they both hold the same volume.

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    The founder of the Food and Brand Lab, Professor Brian Wansink, PhD is aiming his research at helping consumers to become more responsible in eating small quantities of more nutritious foods.

    More information about food intake and changing eating habits: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/weight-loss-and-diet/changing-eating-habits/

    Reference: National Review of Medicine, September 15,2005, page 1,5

    Last edited October 29, 2014