Month: November 2019
Patients Are Consumers: Ignoring that Fact is Futile
In a recent Medscape editorial, noted bioethicist Art Caplan, PhD remarked on a published commentary by Hastings scholars in Health Affairs titled ‘Patient-Centered Care, Yes; Patients As Consumers, No’. Medscape followed up on the assertions in the published commentary by polling its physician and nurse readers for feedback—results strongly evidencedRead
Exposure to Blue Light may Accelerate Aging in the Brain and Retinas
New research at Oregon State University suggests that the blue wavelengths produced by light-emitting diodes damage cells in the brain as well as retinas. The study, published today in Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, involved a widely used organism, Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, an important model organism becauseRead
Serotonin and a Popular Anti-depressant Affect the Gut’s Microbiota
A new study in mice led by UCLA biologists strongly suggests that serotonin and drugs that target serotonin, such as anti-depressants, can have a major effect on the gut’s microbiota — the 100 trillion or so bacteria and other microbes that live in the human body’s intestines. An estimated 90%Read
Cleveland Clinic’s Functional Medicine Outcomes in JAMA: Six Perspectives
Today’s Practitioner recently posted the press article for a recent JAMA study, showing that a functional medicine model at the Cleveland Clinic was associated with improvements in health-related quality of life. The following is a commentary from various health professionals as part of John Week’s regular column. The decision ofRead
Two New Studies on E-cigarettes and Heart Disease Risk Factors
Somehow the notion that e-cigarettes are healthier than traditional cigarettes has permeated popular culture. At an upcoming American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2019 — November 16-18 in Philadelphia, that myth will be busted. Two studies show that e-cigarette use takes a serious toll on heart health — a big concernRead
Science Review: Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Potential of Tamarindus Indica
Abstract / Chronic inflammation is one of the causes of a number of non-infectious diseases in the world. Over the years, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Tamarindus indica has played fundamental roles in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug. It is a commercialized biocompatible medicinal plant speciesRead
Case Report: Vaginal Candidiasis Infection Treated Using Apple Cider Vinegar
In this case study from our partners at Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Betul Ozen, RN, PhD; Mürüvvet Baser, RN, PhD reviews a patient’s history of Candida albicans, infertility and apple cider vinegar treatment to cure the infection. Abstract: A 32-year-old married woman was admitted with intense vaginal dischargeRead
Cannabis for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Therapy
A new study shows that cannabis may be helpful to address the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to health survey data collected by Statistics Canada from more than 24,000 Canadians, researchers from the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and University of British Columbia (UBC) found that peopleRead
Controversial Antibody Testing Accurately Predicts Sesame Allergies
Investigators at the National Institutes of Health have found that sesame allergy is common among children with other food allergies, occurring in an estimated 17% of this population. In addition, the scientists have found that sesame antibody testing–whose utility has been controversial–accurately predicts whether a child with a food allergyRead
