A View of the Immunology of Age-Related Disease
In this open access paper, the authors present their view of the role of the immune system in age-related disease. Chronic inflammation is the primary focus of many considerations of immune aging, but there are arguably many other areas of disarray and dysfunction in the aging immune system that are just as relevant to the progression of age-related disease. Like other researchers, the authors here divide the complexity of immune aging into two broad categories: inflammaging, changes that increase chronic inflammation and inappropriate immune activation, and immunosenescence, changes that weaken the efforts of immune cells...
Source: Fight Aging! - July 24, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Nima for do-it-yourself gluten testing
The people who developed the at-home personal gluten testing device, Nima, recently sent me one of their devices to test. I shall therefore be putting this device to work in coming weeks and posting the results here.
Here is the device with one of the single-use capsules for testing:
The first meal I tested was a Shrimp, Crab, Avocado & Mango Stack ordered at The Chart House in Boston, where my son and I were visiting my sister. My son’s girlfriend, Liz, is an exquisitely sensitive 23-year old with celiac disease and she needs to be vigilant for any cross-contamination at all. (I once served my son and Liz a mea...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - July 16, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Undoctored Wheat Belly Lifestyle autoimmune celiac disease Dr. Davis gluten grains Inflammation joint pain Source Type: blogs
Undoctored: Health Should Be (Almost) Free
Follow the current debate on “healthcare reform”–which has NOTHING to do with healthcare reform, but healthcare insurance reform, by the way–and you will hear comments about the escalating and uncontrolled cost of healthcare and how people need access to it.
What you will NOT hear is that fact that, because the healthcare system fails to deliver genuine health, real health is actually quite easy, straightforward, and inexpensive–nearly free.
We achieve a life of being Undoctored, not becoming a profit source for the healthcare industry, not being subjected to the predatory practices of Big P...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - July 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Undoctored Wheat Belly Lifestyle acid reflux anti-aging autoimmune blood sugar bowel flora cholesterol Dr. Davis energy Gliadin gluten gluten-free grain-free grains health healthcare Inflammation joint pain low-carb Source Type: blogs
FDA Drug Approvals on an Uptick
Already in 2017, the FDA has approved a number of new drugs, which Regulatory Focus points out as a trend away from the low number of new drugs approved in 2016. They caution, however, it is unlikely to match the approval highs from 2014 and 2015. The pace for 2017 may not continue at this level and we could see an average, or perhaps slightly above average year for approvals.
2017 vs. Past
It has been reported that coming into 2017, the environment was looking better for approvals. According to the FDA’s Office of New Drugs, 36 new molecular entity NDAs were received by FDA through mid-December 2016, already beating t...
Source: Policy and Medicine - July 13, 2017 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan - Policy & Medicine Writing Staff Source Type: blogs
A Pill to Replace Needles: Interview with Mir Imran, Chairman and CEO of Rani Therapeutics
Operating within InCube Labs, a multi-disciplinary life sciences R&D lab based in Silicon Valley, Rani Therapeutics is developing a novel approach for the oral delivery of large-molecule drugs such as basal insulin, which is currently delivered via injections. By replacing painful injections with a painless, easy-to-take pill, the technology has the potential to drastically improve the lives of millions of patients suffering from diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and many other chronic conditions.
The idea is that the pill allows biological drugs, such as proteins, that would otherwise b...
Source: Medgadget - July 5, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Exclusive Medicine Oncology Pediatrics Source Type: blogs
Needle-Free Viscous Drug Injections: Interview with CEO of Portal Instruments
High viscosity biologic drugs generally require syringe injections, but many patients are extremely uncomfortable around long needles and injection times can create a great deal of anxiety. Portal Instruments, a company out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed a nearly automatic needle-free injector that reminds us of something doctors in science fiction movies would use. We spoke with Patrick Anquetil, CEO of Portal Instruments to find out exactly how a viscous liquid can be made to enter the body without a needle, what this means for the treatment of different diseases, and what additional features the companyR...
Source: Medgadget - June 30, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Exclusive Medicine Pediatrics Source Type: blogs
How important is Vitamin D?
FACT: A vitamin D deficiency may result in as much as a 50 percent increased potential for diabetes.
FACT: A vitamin D deficiency puts you at a higher risk for cancer, especially breast, prostate, colon, ovarian, and melanoma.
VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY is a widespread phenomenon with significant implications for health. In modern society vitamin D deficiency is the rule, rather than the exception. While we can blame more severe cases of deficiency on grains, it also commonly occurs independent of grain consumption. The restoration of vitamin D levels is second only to grain elimination when considering the most powerful healthy...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Cancer Depression Diabetes News & Updates Undoctored Vitamin D Weight loss Source Type: blogs
Unprecedented range of therapeutic options for rheumatic diseases is now available — challenge is to make them accessible
From The Lancet:Small molecule inhibitors of Janus kinase (JAK)Much of the recent knowledge of the underlying mechanisms that drive rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases has come from preclinical studies of key cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, and granulocyte –macrophage colony-stimulating factor. New Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors include tofacitinib and baricitinib which are approved for treatment of arthritis and other rheumatoid diseases.Aggressive treatment, earlyFor a complex, progressive, chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, the timing of intervention is critical. In...
Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog - June 12, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Tags: Rheumatology Source Type: blogs
Finding Support Resources
In my personal experience the most important thing to do after a ' yucky ' diagnosis (after going to the doctor and taking your meds) is to find support resources. I keep saying that the emotional part of you is just as important of the physical side of you and this is yet another example.First I would ask your doctor for information and then look at the source of the information they give you. For example, at my breast cancer diagnosis I was given a folder of information with resources - including a flyer from the American Cancer Society, and one from a local support organization. Two good places to start. But I was also ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - June 9, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer resources cancer support emotional toll emotions support group Source Type: blogs
Exercise versus caffeine: Which is your best ally to fight fatigue?
Chronic lack of sleep makes it hard to focus on a task. As if this didn’t make complete logical sense, multiple research studies have shown that sleep deprivation has about the same effect on our cognition and coordination as a few alcoholic beverages.
What do you do when you need to concentrate, but you’re tired?
Many of us reach for a cup of coffee, or a soda. Mountains of solid research have shown us that caffeine (in doses ranging between 30 and 300 milligrams) improves attention, alertness, reaction time, and mood, especially when we’re tired. An average cup of brewed coffee contains between 80 and 100 milligram...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - June 8, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Behavioral Health Exercise and Fitness Source Type: blogs
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis with a Blood Test: Interview with IQuity CEO, Dr. Chase Spurlock
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that afflicts an approximate 2.5 million patients world-wide, giving rise to multiple issues regarding quality of life and the potential for disability. Up to 15,000 people are newly diagnosed with MS every year in the US, while another 45,000 experience a clinical precursor with similar symptoms. Distinguishing between MS and other possible neurological conditions typically requires multiple brain MRIs and cerebrospinal fluid testing, which are costly and take a long time. Fortunately, the diagnostic technology company IQuity (pronounced I-Q-witty) has been working to spee...
Source: Medgadget - June 5, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Mohammad Saleh Tags: Exclusive Genetics Neurology Pathology Source Type: blogs
Once Upon A Time, I Was A Healthy Person
I have many friends who, after cancer, get back to their old lives for the most part. I ' m not talking about that ' new normal ' bull, but just doing normal things like going back to work, taking part in all their family activities and all sorts of regular, every day life things.Me, I did not get to go back to my regular life after breast cancer. My body had other plans for me. It decided it was time to fall apart.After breast cancer, I got gall stones and had my gallbladder out six months after radiation ended. That winter I slipped on the ice, landed on my left hand and started all my lymphedema crap.The following fall ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 31, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: ailments being healthy being me Source Type: blogs
MIT Scientists Develop Microfluidic Device to Screen Biologics for Quality During Production
Biologics, which are drugs made of biochemical compounds produced by living organisms, are becoming more common to treat a variety of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, chronic plaque psoriasis, and breast cancer. They’re usually proteins that are immensely easier to produce by plant or animal cells than synthesizing them from scratch in a complex chemical process. Yet, the same difference in manufacturing is a reason for the difficulty of maintaining quality control of such drugs: synthesizing allows for purity of production, but letting nature do it can lead to imperfect results.
Researchers at MIT have n...
Source: Medgadget - May 23, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Genetics Source Type: blogs
Over-the-counter pain relievers and your heart
Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen are and have been the go-to “benign” pain medication for doctors and patients alike. Why? They aren’t addictive, and it’s not easy to overdose. Serious side effects like gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding seemed to be limited to high doses taken for longer periods or time, or to people with significant medical problems.
Even before the era of the opioid epidemic, it was raining NSAIDs, across the country.
In 2004, the manufacturer of the NSAID Vioxx pulled it from the market because the drug was associated with serious cardiovascular ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - May 15, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Back Pain Drugs and Supplements Headache Health Heart Health Injuries Pain Management Source Type: blogs
