Friday Chronic Roundup is Now Monday Chronic Roundup

Rule 1 for having a crazy life and chronic pain/illness: schedule yourself accordingly. In that vein (pardon the pun), I am moving the chronic roundup to Mondays, so I'll have more time to truly prepare. That way, first thing in the week you'll have the roundup for the previous week.

Sorry for the confusion. And enjoy your weekend!

Friday Chronic Roundup: September 12, 2008

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• A study shows that intensive glucose control in people with Type II diabetes helps control microvascular complications
• Can acupuncture help PCOS?
• Vitamin K shows promise for insulin resistance reduction in men
• A comprehensive study about pre-teen IR and its effects later on
• Carb blockers help fight diabetes--I didn't know such things existed really
• Hepatitis C patients may have abnormal blood sugar
• Is once-a-week Byetta better than the daily?
  

Interstitial Cystitis/IBS/Vulvodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

• Is your gait associated with your ability to orgasm?
• Topical gambupetrin for vulvodynia
  

Allergies/Asthma/Celiac Disease

• A biomedicine joint research group has been formed to develop drugs to fight cancer and cure pollen allergies
• Should pregnant women go to the farm?
• Global warming increasing allergies
• Is there hope on the horizon for those of us with allergies and asthma
• Day care and being exposed to infections early on may help cut allergies and asthma later on in life
• Yoga therapy for asthma?
• Guidelines for detecting celiac disease
  

Friday Chronic Roundup: August 22, 2008

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• Daughters of women with PCOS are at an increased risk of having PCOS (duh)
• A test to spot insulin resistance?
• A new stody is able to stop aging in mice livers--impacts on insulin resistance.
• Just wanted to put it here again: fit and fat do mix.
• Very interesting: babies born to mothers with high folate levels and low vitamin B-12 levels are more insulin resistant
  

Interstitial Cystitis/IBS/Vulvodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

• Nothing new to report: painful bladder syndrome/IC difficult to treat and diagnose
  

Allergies/Asthma/Celiac Disease

• Another bad thing about global warming: more ragweed allergies.
• Allergy mechanisms discussed.
• Boys outgrow asthma symptoms more/faster than girls
• Do Puerto Ricans have a higher rate of asthma?
  

Mental Health

• Does severe depression + antidepressants = bad driving?
  

Friday Chronic Roundup: 8/8/08

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• Can insulin resistance lead to cancer?
• How good is metformin to induce ovulation?
• The role of certain receptors in insulin resistance and "obesity"
• A certain tissue may contribute to insulin resistance
• Byetta may reduce risk of death
  

Interstitial Cystitis/Vuvlodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/IBS

• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases and NIH publish on urologic and kidney disorders
• IBS or fructose malabsorbtion?
• IC and pelvic pain syndromes
• The use of TENS units to ease vaginal pain
  

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• The possible significance of CFS and Fibro
• Acupuncture to treat fibro?
• Fibromyalgia: unreal or misunderstood?
  

Allergies/Asthma

• Global warming linked to allergy problems?
• Wyndham Hotels to offer allergy-friendly rooms and meeting spaces
• What molecule holds the key to allergic reactions?
  

Mental Health

• Type I diabetes patients also are at risk for depression
• Exercise does not alleviate anxiety and depression (?????)
• Common signs and symptoms of depression
  

Friday Chronic Roundup: August 1, 2008

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes/Infertility

• The "fat gene" talk again
• One nutritionist's approach to PCOS treatment
• Another hint that tumeric might help Type 2 diabetes
• Can metformin or glyburide help prevent Alzheimer's in Type 2 diabetics
• The heredity/genetic link of PCOS
• Researchers have identified the functional role of the Lrh1 gene in regulating ovulation.
  

Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/Vulvodynia/IBS

• What treatments for IC reduce healthcare costs?
• Another IBS drug trial moves forward.
  

Asthma/Allergies/Celiac Disease

• Results from heart research to be applied to asthma research
• Research on alternative allergy therapies is promising
• Does the consumption of nuts during pregnancy contribute to childhood asthma
• I guess this is supposed to be grand: people with long term asthma, hay fever or allergies are up to 25% less likely to get the most common type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
  

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia/Lyme Disease

• Caution: Lyme disease rates are up this summer.
  

Mental Health

• Depression is shown to abate with constant electrical stimulation
• Does spanking lead to depressed toddlers?
• The work of proteins in DNA that cause depression
• Scientists have found the mechanism that causes postpartum depression in mice
  

Friday Chronic Roundup

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• The causes of insulin resistance and sensitivity in horses--might this be a clue for people?
• A new partnership to develop pre-diabetes diagnostics and provide data on IR
• Growth hormone therapy may decrease the risk of diabetes in some girls
• Drugs Repaglinde and Metformin show results in people with Type II Diabetes
  

Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/Vulvodynia/IBS

• Does sauerkraut have anti-inflammatory properties for IBS?
• Overactive bladders have an affect on the mind
• Another story about the potential uses of Botox on the pelvic floor
• Case study of overactive bladder syndrome
• An overview of stress urinary incontinence
  

Allergies/Asthma/Celiac Disease

• Can your DNA tell that you have celiac disease?
  

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Another anecdotal tale of the difficulty surrounding diagnosis of fibromyalgia
• Intestinal gluten receptor is gateway for celiac disease
  

Friday Chronic Roundup

It's another Friday!!! Time for some news updates...

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• The absence of an "acute insulin response" predicts Type 2 Diabetes in white folks.
• If you understand this: RBP4 is related to decreased insulin sensitivity, mostly through its association with nonoxidative glucose metabolism.
• Insulin has inflamation-reducing properties. Interesting.
• How does the brain contribute to insulin resistance?
• Excessive weight loss can affect women's ability to conceive.
• A gene essential to ovulation has been isolated by Canadian and European researchers.
  

Interstital Cystitis/Vulvodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/IBS

• Defining the urologic chronic pain syndromes
• Aloe very was my grandpa's all-time cure, maybe he was right for IBS.
• Someone is studying the pelvic floor!!! (In Oregon)
• Chronic gynecological conditions no longer silent on the internet.
  

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• The treatment of Fibromyalgia through alternative therapies.
• Sisters who share fibromyalgia.
• Surprise, surprise--Fibromyalgia patients have to fight for prescriptions to be covered.
• Another surprise--Fibromyalgia is little understood, says CNN.
  

Allergies/Asthma/Celiac Disease

• A gluten-free diet isn't right for everyone.
• Fibromyalgia takes time to diagnose.
  

Friday Chronic Roundup

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• One study shows that a combination of sitaglipin and metformin show substantial beta-cell function improvement at 2 years
• Trans-fatty Acids do not increase the risk of diabetes
• Higher levels of the blood protein "fetuin-A" linked to diabetes
• Another article about the benefits of cinnamon
• The new path--more drugs earlier on for Type 2 Diabetics
  

Interstitial Cystitis/Vulvodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/IBS

• A primer on Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) for IC
• Incontinence is not the disease, it is a symptom
• Beneficial bacteria for IBS
• Urinary incontinence leads to decreased mental health and stress
  

Celiac Disease/Allergies/Asthma

• Celiac disease is an "illusive iceberg"
• How one person lived and thrived on a gluten free diet
  

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• The importance of support for fibromyalgia sufferers
• The importance of education for fibromyalgia sufferers
• An ancient retro-virus might be the cause for CFS, MS and autoimmunity
• FDA asks for warning on epilepsy drugs, which Lyrica is one of many
• Is a new CFS drug on the horizon?
  

Other

• A new documentary looks at Lyme Disease
  

Friday Chronic Roundup

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes
Good sugar and bad sugar--what's the difference?


Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/Vulvodynia
Is Sjogren's Syndrome linked to IC?


Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Celiac Disease
An IBS drug trial continues and is in the third phase.
The backlash against colon cleansing continues.
Celiac disease is more common than realized.
Home-based cognitive behavioral therapy relieves IBS symptoms.

Allergies/Asthma


Fibromyalgia/CFS
Treating fibromyalgia.
Treating CFS.
Did the fibromyalgia drug treatment approvals legitimize the condition?
Acupuncture and chiropractic for fibro?
Exercise and fibro.
Fibro disability issues.

Other
Does a happy doctor equal a healed patient?

Friday Chronic Roundup

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston have found a defect in beta cells that make and release insulin that has implications in the development of diabetes.
  
• Once a week Byetta is on its way--in one form or another.
• Is an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant agent going to be the next step in treating diabetes?
• Men and women process fructose differently.
• Does Actos keep diabetes at bay?
• Metformin slows early-onset puberty in girls.
  
• 
  

Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/Vulvodynia

• Defining and treating IC--are we dealing with "a heterogeneous and poorly defined spectrum of disorders? (I think so!)
• IC drives managed costs up--2.4 times.
• Pelvic Floor Prolapse associated with levator trauma
  

Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Celiac Disease

• Irritable bowel syndrome linked to an overactive chili pepper pain receptor?
  

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia

• Different thalamic (brain) structures have a relationship to sleep problems in CFS patients
• Diagnostic and treatment challenges of CFS
• Cymbalta has been approved for Fibromyalgia.
  

Other

• A primer on food allergies versus food intolerance
• Could tumeric be more than a spice? (I'm skeptical since curry sends my body aflame)
• Is it true? Do gay men and straight women have similar brains? And do lesbians and straight men have similar brains?
  

Friday Chronic Roundup

There's a lot of stories out there this week. Enjoy!

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes

• Another Inflammation Theory alert--researchers ID the inflammation fighting pathway in fat cells.
• The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in women of "child bearing" age.

Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction/Vulvodynia

• A fun and good quick and dirty primer on vulvodynia for those who are searching for a reason for their pain.
• An overview of incontinence and the physical therapy versus surgical treatments.
• A chronic pain in the vage--at Feministing.
• A surgical robot helps solve Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia

• A new fibromyalgia drug enters phase III of testing.
• Is it CFS or is it electrosensitivity?

Other

• When are antibiotics necessary to treat Lyme disease?
• Gluten free products are gaining popularity.

Friday Chronic Roundup

PCOS/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes
Reasons for insulin.
Thin folks get diabetes too.
High blood sugar leads to pregnancy complications.
A "Mediterranean" diet prevents diabetes.

IC/Bladder/Vulvodynia/Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
A new incontinence drug is being marketted in Switzerland.
A new mast cell study for bladder pain that quantifies mast cells.
A new study suggests that multiple pelvic surgeries lead to pelvic floor dysfunction.


CFS/Fibromyalgia/Pain
One fibromyalgia sufferer turns to medical marijuana...and must fight for the right to do so.
Clearing up the confusion surrounding CFS.
The link between thyroid malignancy and CFS.

IBS
Five tips for entrepreneurs (and anyone else really) with IBS.

Friday Chronic Roundup: 5/23/08

IC/Pelvic Floor/Vulvodynia
Allegedly so-called "obese" people are more likely to have urinary problems. I think this is not a root cause study--this is one of those just so happens that fat people are having urinary problems study.

IBS
At least one study shows Amitzia may work for those who suffer from IBS-C.

Insulin Resistance/PCOS/Diabetes
Is insulin resistance the tie that binds the Syndrome X?

A very complicated study on early growth restriction and insulin resistance.

The importance of PCOS early intervention.

Other
Fibromyalgia treatment is best when multi-faceted.

Friday Chronic Roundup

I'm starting a new series. So often there are stories that don't necessarily call for a full commentary, but I'd like to post on here. From now on, those will be here on Fridays in the Friday Chronic Roundup.

If you have a story you'd like to submit, leave it in the comments.
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Basic Health and Chronic Illness Issues

• The Five Mistakes Women Make at the Doctor's Office, from CNN.com. I disagree with the over-researching being a "mistake" because I don't believe the medical profession takes so many women seriously.

Pelvic Floor/Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder/Vulvodynia Issues

• One study shows that women treated for pelvic floor dysfunction with surgery reported a greater sense of accomplishment of treatment goals than those who did not have surgery.
• There is a new pilates DVD out for those with IC.
  
• This summer there will be a gathering of the great minds that be in pelvic pain to discuss classifications.

Digestive/IBS Issues

• You've seen them--those nasty pictures on the internet about colon cleansing. Why you shouldn't jump the gun on that trend...
• Amitza, a new IBS-C drug has been approved by the FDA.

Insulin Resistance/Diabetes/Glucose Issues

• Researchers in Switzerland at (get this) the Nestle Center believe they've found a new link between "gut microbiota" and insulin resistance and a way to reverse it.
  
• Another story shows the ALK7 receptor as playing a key role in glucose management.