Pfizer and 23andMe Collaborate to Study Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lab industry observers have long suggested that that the 23andMe business model ultimately involved selling anonymized client genomic data to the deep-pockets pharmaceutical industry (see: 23andMe as an Example of "Big Bang" Market Disruption; 23andMe Builds Online Sarcoma Research Community). This model required abundant capital up-front to attract clients with a relatively low lab testing cost. At some point, it's even possible for these costs to drop to zero but this might arouse suspicion and reveal more about the business model than was necessary. At any rate, a recent article discussed a new...
Source: Lab Soft News - August 25, 2014 Category: Pathologists Authors: Bruce Friedman Tags: Clinical Lab Industry News Clinical Lab Testing Healthcare Delivery Lab Information Products Lab Regulation Laboratory Industry Trends Medical Consumerism Medical Research Pharmaceutical Industry Public Health Informatics Source Type: blogs
Fertilize the garden called “bowel flora”
I like to think of bowel flora, the thousand or so species of microorganisms that inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract, as a garden. Probiotics, i.e., anything that provides microorganisms believed to be among the desired inhabitants such as the various Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria species, are like planting seeds for peppers and zucchini in your garden in spring time.
But what if you planted your seeds, then neglected to water and fertilize your garden? If you’re lucky, you might have a few peppers and zucchini after a few weeks, but you’re more likely to have a few stunted vegetables or nothing except ...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - July 2, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle butyrate microbiota prebiotic resistant starch Source Type: blogs
NIDA’s Dark View of Teen Marijuana Use
In conclusion, the strict demands of causality mean that the long-term effect of chronic marijuana exposure is not known with any certainty. It is possible, even likely, that these effects can vary dramatically from one smoker to another. But the equally persuasive demands of common sense dictate that inhaling dried, super-heated vegetable matter on a regular basis is likely to degrade your health, the more so if you are young and healthy to begin with.As for other health issues: “The authoritative report by the Institute of Medicine, Marijuana and Medicine, acknowledges the potential benefits of smoking marijuana in sti...
Source: Addiction Inbox - June 15, 2014 Category: Addiction Authors: Dirk Hanson Source Type: blogs
Gastrointestinal recovery after the wheat battle is won
Josie posted this comment that addresses the issue of bowel health recovery post-grain removal.
I have been wheat-free for almost a year now and I no longer fall asleep during the day, and my mental fog has disappeared. My wheat-free life is great!
However, I am experiencing major digestion problems. I went to see a dietitian and explained to her I do not eat wheat and try not to eat grains. She emphasized that I need fiber in my diet and based on my current food intake I was not receiving an adequate amount, which was most likely the cause of my digestion problems.
She respects that I do not eat wheat, but is encouraging...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 26, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Bowel flora Gastrointestinal effects of wheat Source Type: blogs
Gastrointestinal Recovery After The Wheat Battle Is Won
Josie posted this comment that addresses the issue of bowel health recovery post-grain removal.
“I have been wheat-free for almost a year now and I no longer fall asleep during the day, and my mental fog has disappeared. My wheat-free life is great!
However, I am experiencing major digestion problems. I went to see a dietitian and explained to her I do not eat wheat and try not to eat grains. She emphasized that I need fiber in my diet and based on my current food intake I was not receiving an adequate amount, which was most likely the cause of my digestion problems.
She respects that I do not eat wheat, but is enco...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 26, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Bowel flora Gastrointestinal effects of wheat Source Type: blogs
NJ jury orders drugmaker Roche to pay $1.5M at Accutane trial
Drugmaker Roche must pay more than $1.5 million in damages to a woman who developed bowel disease after using the company’s Accutane acne medicine, a jury ruled in her retrial.Officials of Basel, Switzerland-based Roche failed to properly warn Kamie Kendall’s doctors that Accutane could cause ulcerative colitis and were liable for her injuries, jurors in state court in New Jersey concluded today.It was the second trial of Kendall’s Accutane claims. A New Jersey appeals court overturned a $10.5 million verdict in 2010, ruling that a judge improperly barred Roche from using evidence about the medication’s use. Roche ...
Source: PharmaGossip - March 11, 2014 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Weird wheat re-exposure reactions
As the world of people who are wheat-free continues to grow, I am witnessing a range of weird re-exposure reactions when people, intentionally or inadvertently, get re-exposed.
Among the peculiar reactions:
Congestive heart failure–A woman with a clear-cut syndrome of wheat intolerance that was evidenced by diabetes, excessive expression of small LDL particles (around 2000 nmol/L at the start), high triglycerides, gastrointestinal distress, widespread joint pain, and a peripheral neuropathy (impaired coordination, reduced sensation to the legs), and negative blood markers for celiac disease, improved substantially a...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - November 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Re-exposure syndromes Source Type: blogs
Healthcare Update Satellite — 10-09-2013
Government getting pissed because providers are beating it at its own game? When feds started pushing electronic medical records and threatening to penalize patient, a funny thing happened … the amount of money the feds spent on healthcare increased by billions of dollars. Now Kathleen Sebelius and Eric “Fast N Furious” Holder are warning that doctors that copying and pasting patient data between patient medical record entries should not occur because it risks medical errors and overpayments. They promise to “prosecute health care fraud” and will “consider future payment reductions as warranted.”
In other wor...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - October 10, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: WhiteCoat Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs
Gliadin: The Universal Human Poison
Autoimmunity is the process describing an immune response waged against our own organs. The complex collection of mechanisms consisting of T and B lymphocytes, antibodies, and others, meant to provide protection against viruses, bacteria, and other body invaders, is misdirected against proteins of the body’s organs, such as liver, pancreas, thyroid, or brain. Autoimmune conditions now affect 8% of the American population–it is increasingly looking like diseases of autoimmunity are out of control.
Dr Alessio Fasano was recently awarded the Linus Pauling Award, the highest award from the Institute for Functional...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - October 7, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Autoimmunity Gliadin Source Type: blogs
Fecal transplants taken up by American Hospital Association in letter to HHS about Medicare/Medicaid
Interesting discussion of Fecal Transplants is this letter from the American Hospital Association to HHS about Medicaid / Medicare: Marilyn Tavenner September 6, 2013 Page 1 of 33 September 6 ...
Key text is below:
"FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANTATION
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), also known as fecal bacteriotherapy, or human probiotic
infusion, is a medical treatment for patients with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) enteritis or
ulcerative colitis. C. difficile infection occurs in patients who have been administered antibiotics
for a long period of time. The antibiotics ...
Source: The Tree of Life - September 7, 2013 Category: Medical Scientists Authors: Jonathan Eisen Source Type: blogs
Fecal Transplantation
This article discusses the issues of fecal transplantation and describes a case of successful resolution of ulcerative colitis with fecal transplant. No doubt, the high technology involved in the symbiotic relationship with bacterial populations on and in our body is an important frontier for health. (Source: Fixin' Healthcare)
Source: Fixin' Healthcare - July 7, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Source Type: blogs
Living with Ulcerative Colitis
Recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and learning to live day-by-day. From living by the seat of my pants to learning to take each day as it comes, good or bad.Contributor: Amy BennettPublished: Jul 02, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - July 2, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
A Watershed For Biosimliars: EU Recommends Copies Of Remicade
In a defining moment for the advent of biosimilars, European regulators have recommended two versions of the Remicade blockbuster injectable treatment, marking the first time that such an endorsement has been issued for monoclonal antibodies.
The recommendation by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use was given to biosimilars from South Korea’s Celltrion and Hospira for the same indications granted Remicade – a range of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis (here is the...
Source: Pharmalot - June 28, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
The Right Germs: Gut Bacteria and Diabetes
By David Spero
Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families: If parents have it, children are likely to get it too. But is that because of having similar genes, or similar behaviors? Maybe it's neither. Maybe it's having the same kind of bacteria in their guts.
This is an exciting idea, because if we find a way to change gut bacteria, we might be able to cure diabetes. The right germs have cured several other diseases, so why not diabetes?
What's the evidence for a bacteria/diabetes connection? A Swedish study of 145 women found that the genes in intestinal bacteria predict diabetes more accurately than waist-to-hip ratio or b...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - June 26, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: David Spero Source Type: blogs
