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Research Corner

My former life before becoming a doctor included being a researcher, originally as a bench chemist, and then doing clinical research in natural medicine originally as a research assistant at Bastyr University and then as Research Director at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. To be honest, I started mostly as a way to earn money to help pay for medical school, but the geek in me really enjoyed it.

The interest in and appreciation of the clinical research has stayed with me, and I still spend a lot of time reviewing the latest research. There are more articles coming out every week then any one person could possibly even scan, never mind truly read and review, but I try and keep on top of those things that relate to our field, and often patients will bring things to my attention that I didn't even know about, and then go and research.

Over the years I've amassed thousands of research articles which have some relation to our work. Over time I will be posting some of the older articles here, as well as some of the newer research that I feel is most interesting or clinically useful.

The articles are listed here according to category, with some explanation of what they are, and then some of my comments about where they might be important for our work.

Disclaimer:
The opinions and ideas expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the medical community. Nothing contained herein is intended as medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for medical advice.

Integrative Oncology Support Update 1-22-12

Submitted by Dr B on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 22:37
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Formatted Version

Dear Patient,

As promised, I will be sending the Integrative Oncology Support Updates as I process the research.

Some will be more formal, with long rambling commentary, and some will be quick informal notes of the study and my thinking. This informality is what will allow me to keep this dialogue relevant and updated as I process the huge amount of information that comes in.

Dr B

Intravenous Vitamin C

Integrative Oncology Support Update

Submitted by Dr B on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 22:35
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Formatted Version

"The perfect is the enemy of the good" Voltaire

Dear Patient,

Welcome to the first Integrative Oncology Support Update.

Solvent exposures and parkinson disease risk in twins.

Submitted by Dr B on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 22:46
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COMMENT:

Having worked as chemist with a lot of solvents before becoming a doctor, this study caught my eye. Ever exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) was associated with a 6 times increased risk of Parkinson's Disease.
We do treat Parkinson's, and are successful at stabilizing the condition, but this article is a good reminder that detoxing from chemical exposure is very important.

CITATION

Long-term cardiovascular mortality after radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Submitted by Dr B on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 21:17
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COMMENT:
This is a long-term study on heart disease in women who have under gone radiation treatment for breast cancer. It shows a 1/3 increase in deaths from heart disease in any women treated with radiation, and a over 56% increase for women who received radiation on the left breast.

Anyone who has received radiation treatment for breast cancer should be extra careful with their cardiovascular risk factors. Heart disease is very easy for us to treat.

CITATION:

Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults

Submitted by Dr B on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 20:56
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COMMENT:
There are a few key findings here -
1. Vitamin D supplementation reduces mortality by about 6% over an average of two years.
2. Only Vitamin D3, the natural form we use, shows that effect. The Vitamin D2 that doctors prescribe (e.g.: rocaltrol) does not show that effect.

A Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Diet Slows Tumor Growth and Prevents Cancer Initiation.

Submitted by Dr B on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 08:48
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COMMENT: A very important study on how much effect proper diet can have on controlling cancer. By reducing the carbohydrates and increasing the protein in their diet, they showed that "carcinomas grew slower in mice on diets containing low amylose CHO and high protein compared with a Western diet characterized by relatively high CHO and low protein.

Dietary Flax Seed and Breast Cancer

Submitted by Dr B on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 09:32
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COMMENT: The conclusion says it all: Dietary flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in patients with breast cancer.' We usually recommend it in the form of a high-lignan flax seed oil that we carry, rather then the muffin. It is important to shake the oil VERY well, otherwise the lignans will sink to the bottom and you won't get the full benefit.

Cell Phones and Cancer

Submitted by Dr B on Tue, 06/07/2011 - 11:05
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COMMENT:
After many years of concerns being raised, this is a fairly strong beginning statement from a conservative international body. It does not say that cell phones cause brain cancer, but that "the evidence, while still accumulating, is strong enough to support a conclusion ...The conclusion means that there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk."

Improved Survival in Melanoma

Submitted by Dr B on Tue, 06/07/2011 - 10:28
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COMMENTS:
This study of a new drug treatment does show improved survival (about 20%) in melanoma patients at 6 months. However, by 9 months, there was no difference between the groups, and 85-90% of patients were progressing in their disease. So we see a slight improvement at 6 months that fades.
For stage III or IV (cancer has already spread to other parts of the body) melanoma patients, this new drug may give them a few more months of controlled disease.

Singing for Snorers

Submitted by Dr B on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 16:25
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COMMENT:
And the answer is...yes, singing can reduce snoring. IF it's the correct exercises.
The author of the paper has a CD and program available for sale at her website .

Snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, and can have far greater ramifications than just disturbing your sleep, including increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.


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