A new case study provides additional evidence that chiropractic care may correct infertility. According to the report, “a 23 year old female presented for chiropractic care to improve her overall health, in the hope that she may ultimately be able to have a child. At the time of the physical exam there was a six week history of numbness and tingling in her left foot, and within a month the temporary bouts of numbness included both of her legs and feet. The patient was referred to a neurologist for consultation.”

“Examination protocols of Diversified Technique were utilized to detect and adjust vertebral subluxations for the first 2 ½ months of care and Toggle/Webster Technique protocols were used exclusively thereafter. Visits included thermography as an instrumentation procedure. The patient had her first natural menstrual cycle 3 ½ months into care and discovered she was pregnant 4 ½ months after initiation of chiropractic care. Ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy shortly after.”

“Marked resolution of the patient’s signs and symptoms was obtained concomitant with a reduction in subluxation findings at multiple levels. Further research is called for to evaluate the safety, cost, and effectiveness of chiropractic care in women’s health.”
Source:
JVSR – August 6, 2008:1-6. www.jvsr.com

Researchers have detected compounds in broccoli that may prevent cancer.
The scientists isolated compounds called glucosinolates from broccoli sprouts. During chopping, chewing and digestion, these phytochemicals morph into nutritional powerhouses called isothiocyanates — compounds that the scientists believed play a role in inhibiting cancer.

When the scientists treated human and mouse bladder cancer cells with isothiocyanates proliferation decreased. The strongest effect was on the most aggressive cell type — human invasive transitional cell carcinoma.

While young sprouts naturally have higher concentrations of these phytochemicals than full-grown broccoli spears, eating the spears also provides health benefits, confirms co-author Steven Schwartz.

“There’s no reason to believe that this is the only compound in broccoli that has an anti-cancer effect,” comments study co-author Steven Clinton. “There are at least a dozen interesting compounds in the vegetable.

“Cruciferous veggies have an effect on other types of cancer, too,” Schwartz added. “We already know that they contain compounds that help detoxify carcinogens. We're thinking more along the lines of progression and proliferation, such as once cancer starts, is there a way to slow it down?”
Source:
Institute of Food Technologists – July 18.

Vitamin D deficiency is a major factor in osteoporosis-related hip fractures, say scientists in Scotland

Specifically, out of 548 patients age 60 and older with hip fractures, 97.8% had lower than normal vitamin D levels. In a quarter of all cases, levels were so low they were “effectively unrecordable.”

Source:
Current Medical Research and Opinion – August 3, 2005;21(8).
http://www.cmrojournal.com/

Are muscular tender spots associated with cervical radiculopathy? To find out, researchers examined 16 patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy. Of these, 12 had C7 radiculopathy and 4 had C6 or C8 radiculopathy.

Findings showed that “among subjects with C7 radiculopathy, the number of tender spots in C7 innervated muscles was greater on the side of radiculopathy … . In contrast, no significant difference in the number of tender spots between sides was found when only non-C7 innervated muscles … were considered.”
“Cervical radiculopathy was associated with increased tender spots on the side of radiculopathy, with predilection toward muscles innervated by the involved nerve root,” concludes the study.
Source:
APMR – July 2005;86:1333-7. http://www.archives-pmr.org/

The investigation found notable differences between case-control studies (where diet was analyzed after cancer diagnosis) and cohort studies (where diet was analyzed prior to cancer diagnosis). Case-control studies showed low-fat milk consumption negatively associated, and whole milk consumption positively associated, with the risk of ovarian cancer.

In contrast, prospective cohort studies indicated that high intakes of milk may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. They also revealed a 13% boost in ovarian cancer risk with a daily increase of 10 grams of lactose (the approximate amount in one glass of milk).

When case-control and cohort studies were considered in combination, yogurt consumption was associated with a non-significant increase in cancer risk, while cheese was not associated with risk.

Study lead author Suzanna C. Larsson and her team explain that the differences between the findings of case-control studies and those of cohort studies could be explained by a number of factors: selection bias, recall bias, or changes in dietary practices after cancer diagnosis. They might also be due to the time interval between diet assessment and illness, since cohort studies may record dietary practices decades before illness occurs, while case-control studies assess diet around the time of diagnosis.

“In conclusion,” they write, “prospective cohort studies, but not case-control studies, support the hypothesis that high intakes of dairy foods and lactose may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.”
Source:
International Journal of Cancer – August 5, 2005;Online.
http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/ijc

Australian researchers have discovered a toxin that plays a crucial role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
“We found that all of the brains of dementia patients showed quinolinic acid neurotoxicity,” reveals study co-author Bruce Brew. “This acid kills nerve cells in the brain, leading to brain dysfunction and ultimately death.”

“Quinolinic acid is part of a biochemical pathway called the kynurenine pathway,” adds lead author Dr Gilles Guillemin. “The activation of that pathway is also found in other major brain diseases including Huntington's disease, stroke, dementia and schizophrenia.”
“Quinolinic acid may not be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but it plays a key role in its progression,” notes Alzheimer’s researcher, Dr Karen Cullen. “It's the smoking gun, if you like.”
Source:
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology – August 31;4:395-404.

Obesity and morbid obesity are associated with increased rates of work absenteeism, with estimated costs of $4.3 billion per year in the United States, reports a study in the December Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Led by John Cawley, PhD, the researchers used nationally representative health data to analyze the rates and costs of obesity-related absenteeism. Obese women were 61% more likely to miss work time, compared to women of healthy weight. For morbidly obese women, the figure rose to 118% . For women, obesity was linked to missed work time across all occupational categories.

For men, the relationship varied by occupation. For example, for men in professional and sales occupations, the likelihood of missed work time increased along with weight category. In other occupations — including managers, office workers, and equipment operators — the risk of missed work time was increased only for morbidly obese men.

The total costs of obesity-related absenteeism in the United States were estimated at $4.3 billion (in 2004 dollars). Female workers accounted for about three-fourths of the total: $3.2 billion. Among women, the professional occupational category made the greatest contribution to obesity-related costs: 28% of the total. for men, managers made the greatest contribution: 37%.The new study confirms the strong association between obesity — especially morbid obesity — and job absenteeism. The results also show some important differences by sex and occupational group.
Source:
JOEM – December 2007 www.joem.org

People age 65 and older who regularly walk and get other forms of moderate exercise appear to significantly lower their risk of developing vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new four-year study.

The analysis enrolled 749 men and women in Italy who were over age 65 and did not have memory problems at the beginning of the study. Researchers measured the amount of energy exerted in the participants’ weekly physical activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and moderate activities, such as house and yard work, gardening, and light carpentry. By the end of the study, 54 people developed Alzheimer’s disease and 27 developed vascular dementia.

The study found the top one-third of participants who exerted the most energy walking were 27% less likely to develop vascular dementia than those people in the bottom one-third of the group. Participants who scored in the top one-third for the most energy exerted in moderate activities lowered their risk of vascular dementia by 29% and people who scored in the top one-third for total physical activity lowered their risk by 24% compared to those in the bottom one-third.

“Our findings show moderate physical activity, such as walking, and all physical activities combined lowered the risk of vascular dementia in the elderly independent of several sociodemographic, genetic and medical factors,” comments study author Giovanni Ravaglia, MD. “It’s important to note that an easy-to-perform moderate activity like walking provided the same cognitive benefits as other, more demanding activities.”
Contrary to some reports, the study found that physical activity was not associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but Dr. Ravaglia says more research is needed before concluding that Alzheimer’s disease is not preventable through exercise.
Source:
Neurology – December 19, 2007;Epub. www.neurology.org

Elective caesarean sections are growing in popularity. However, this procedure is more likely to result in adverse effects to the mother and baby, compared with vaginal birth. Now, a new study reveals that C-sections dramatically boost a newborn’s odds of developing respiratory problems especially when performed earlier than 39 weeks.

The analysis included 34,458 births, 2,687 of which were delivered via C-section. Findings revealed that “compared with newborns delivered vaginally or by emergency caesarean sections, those delivered by elective caesarean section around term have an increased risk of overall and serious respiratory morbidity. The relative risk increased with decreasing gestational age.” Specifically, babies born via caesarean at 37 weeks had nearly a fourfold boosted risk of breathing difficulties, compared with a threefold increase at 38 weeks and double the risk at 39 weeks. The study’s authors urge mothers who choose elective C-sections to wait until 39 weeks to have the surgery.
Source:
BMJ – December 2007;Epub. www.bmj.com

One in 110 American 8-year-olds has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a 57% jump in four years.

“This is a dramatic increase in the number of kids classified as autistic or documented on the spectrum of similar disorders,” explains study co-author Beverly Mulvihill, PhD. “It is not entirely clear what is causing the rise, but we know major collaborative efforts are needed to improve the understanding and lives of people and families impacted.”

The study also found that boys are 4.5 times more likely than girls to have ASD, a finding that confirms earlier studies, says co-author Martha Wingate, Dr.PH.

“It still is not clear why males more frequently are affected. One thing we know for sure is that more research is needed to quantify the effects of single or multiple factors such as diagnosis patterns, inclusion of milder cases and other components.”
Source:
MMWR – December 18, 2010. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/

A mere 8% of high school students get adequate sleep on school nights, according to a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which surveyed 12,000 students in grades 9 through 12.

The authors found that 10% of adolescents sleep only five hours and 23% sleep only six hours on an average school night. More females than males have sleep deficits as do more African-Americans and whites compared to Hispanics. Nearly 20% more 12th-grade students have sleep deficits than do those in ninth grade.

“The natural sleep-wake pattern shifts during adolescence, making earlier bed time and wake times more difficult. The result for students with early school start-times is a chronic sleep deficit,” notes lead study author Danice Eaton, PhD, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Sleep Foundation research shows that delaying school start-times by an hour or more increases the amount of sleep adolescents get and improves their performance in school. However, to promote optimal sleep, Dr. Eaton said that adolescents should have set bedtimes before 10 pm. on school nights and consistent wake-sleep times every night.
Source:
Journal of Adolescent Health – January 4, 2010;Epub. www.jahonline.org

A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is not recommended to treat chronic low-back pain (LBP).

Researchers reviewed data on the use of TENS for LBP lasting more than three months. The analysis did not include studies on acute back pain.

"The strongest evidence showed that there is no benefit for people using TENS for chronic low-back pain,” said guideline author Richard M. Dubinsky, MD, MPH. “Doctors should use clinical judgment regarding TENS use for chronic low-back pain. People who are currently using TENS for their low-back pain should discuss these findings with their doctors.”

On the other hand, Dr. Dubinsky notes that evidence indicates that TENS may be effective in treating diabetic neuropathy.
Source:
Neurology – December 30, 2010;Epub. www.neurology.org

Researchers from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Lebanon, New Hampshire, report intriguing information about trends in chiropractic usage and expenditure between 1997 and 2006.

The investigators pooled information from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), which included data on between 789 and 1,082 chiropractic patients each year.

Findings indicated that “the total number of U.S. adults who visited a chiropractor increased 57 percent from 7.7 million in 2000 to 12.1 million in 2003. From 1997 to 2006, the inflation-adjusted national expenditures on chiropractic care increased 56 percent from U.S.$3.8 billion to U.S.$5.9 billion. Inflation-adjusted total mean expenditures per patient and expenditures per office visit remained unchanged.”

The study concludes that “the large increase in U.S. adult expenditures on chiropractic care between 1997 and 2006 was due to a 57 percent increase in the total number of U.S. adult chiropractic patients that occurred from 2000 to 2003. From 2003 to 2006, the total number of U.S. adult chiropractic patients has remained stable.”
Source:
Health Services Research – December 4, 2009;Epub.

When care for back pain extends beyond primary care, chiropractic is far less expensive than medical care. These findings are from a study that examined the costs of managing low-back pain (LBP) in a managed care organization in northeast Wisconsin.

Investigators compared the expense of managing LBP by medical providers (both primary care and other providers) with the expense of managing LBP by chiropractors.

According to the report, “allowed costs of chiropractic treatment were 12% greater than medical primary care and 60% less per case than other types of medical care combined, on a per-case basis: median cost of medical primary care was $365.00, chiropractic care was $417.00, and medical nonprimary care was $669.00.”

“This study suggests chiropractic management as less expensive compared with medical management of back pain when care extends beyond primary care. Primary care management alone is virtually indistinguishable from chiropractic management in terms of costs.”

Source:
JMPT – November 2009;32:734-9. www.jmptonline.org

In today’s modern world of medicine the FDA just will not let companies that sell products make medical claims about them unless they have been tested at great expense, and approved as a drug. But this was not always the case.

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