Inflammation Theory: Now More Credible Than Ever

A new study shows that my Inflammation Theory is more credible than ever now.

DeLano and his collaborator, Geert Schmid-Schonbein, a professor of bioengineering at UCSD, have been working with a widely used laboratory model of disease, a rat bred to have high blood pressure.

They have found that proteases, whose function is to clear away molecular debris, can go awry and split apart a number of different cell wall receptors. If insulin receptors are damaged, normal metabolism of glucose is not possible, and diabetes can be the result. Proteases can also damage receptors that are vital for the functioning of infection-fighting leukocytes.

And there's more...

The researchers also found that protein receptors on the surface of cells are clipped off as the rats develop high blood pressure. "Many receptors in blood vessels cause them to relax," DeLano said. "Many proteases we see in the animals cleave receptors responsible for relaxation." Giving the rats doxycycline, an antibiotic that is also a protease inhibitor, brought down their blood pressure and restored normal immune system function.

What does this all mean?

"This is really an important observation," said H. Glenn Bohlen, a professor of cellular and integrative physiology at Indiana University Medical School, who wrote an accompanying editorial. "It ties in information that high blood pressure and insulin resistance have the same cause, damage to receptors."

And the real kicker:

The newly reported studies might also help explain why antioxidants such as vitamins C and E help against inflammation, he said.

"The next approach probably would be to treat an inflammatory state," Bohlen said. "There is something going on that we can interact with. There are many commercially available methods for blocking proteases."

In addition to antibiotics such as doxycycline, drugs such as ACE inhibitors are protease inhibitors, DeLano said. Protease inhibitors are also used to control HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

(Emphasis mine.)

Let's home this memo makes it to our doctors.

It's In The Way You Walk

Or it could be anyhow.

Researchers have stumbled (pardon the pun) upon an interesting discovery. It appears that people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) walk a little differently than those without it.

Methods: Twelve individuals with CFS and 12 matched controls participated in the study. Each subject walked along a 7.2m walkway three times at each of three velocities: self-selected, relatively slow (0.45 ms-1) and a relatively fast (1.34 ms-1).

A motion analysis system was used to investigate the sagittal plane joint kinematics and temporal spatial parameters of gait.

Results: At self-selected velocity there were significant differences between the two groups for all the temporal and spatial parameters measured, including gait velocity (P=0.002).

Very interesting. But does it get us anywhere?

Conclusions: The self-selected gait velocity and/or pattern of individuals with CFS may be used to monitor the disease process or evaluate therapeutic intervention.

I guess that's something. It's an interesting find nonetheless.

Study Opportunity

The National Vulvodynia Association is conducting a large-scale study of women who have pain with intercourse. The info is below.
--------------------------------------------------

Dear NVA Friend,

Below please find information on a national clinical trial that is currently recruiting participants.

Sincerely,

Chris

---

Christin Veasley

Associate Executive Director

National Vulvodynia Association

PO Box 4491

Silver Spring, MD 20914

www.nva.org

Is Intercourse Painful?

Clinical Study for the Treatment of Vaginal Pain

If you suffer from Vaginal Pain you may qualify to participate in a clinical research study.

This study is currently taking place only in the United States and participation will last approximately 18 weeks and will require approximately 8 visits to the doctor's office.

The following are requirements to be considered for the study:

- You must be 18-50 years of age

- You must be continuing to have periods

- You must be in a steady relationship for more than 6 months and having vaginal intercourse

- You must be willing to abstain from intercourse for 2 weeks

- You must use effective contraception

- You must be in general good health

To find out more about the study and locate a participating physician, please refer to the below listings and contact their office directly to talk to the study nurse about the study and if you may qualify.

If you qualify, you may receive: study-related medication, study-related lab tests, study-related exams and compensation for your time and travel.

STUDY SITES

Montgomery, AL

Montgomery Women's Health Associates, PC

Contact: Muray Marshall

334-281-1191; mmarshall@montgomerywomenshealth.com

Chandler, AZ

Star W Research

Contact: Stephanie Wells

480-732-7405; swells@womenshealtharizona.com

Phoenix, AZ

Precision Trials, LLC

Contact: Debbie Romesburg

602-931-4507 x 225; DebbieR@PrecisionTrials.com

Searcy, AR

SearcyMedicalCenter

Contact: Cindy Savinsky

501-278-2800 x 6789; csavinsky@researchsolutionscorp.com

San Diego, CA

San Diego Clinical ResearchCenter

Contact: Kellie Harden

858-793-7220; kellieharden@hotmail.com

Lakewood, CO

Physicians' Research Options

Contact: Victoria Webb

303-985-9100; Victoria.Webb@proslc.com

Clearwater, FL

Women's Medical Research Group, LLC

Contact: Nina Zaniefski

727-724-9730; ninaz@xxresearch.com

Hudson, FL

Clinical Research of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Contact: Linda Queen

352-263-3462; lqueen@tampabayrr.com

Largo, FL

Innovative Research of West FL, Inc.

Contact: Marianne Segal

727-584-6368; hm4hands@aol.com

Tampa, FL

Insignia Clinical Research

Contact: Holly Ruhlig

813-739-1174; hruhlig@tbwc.com

West Palm Beach, FL

Comprehensive Clinical Trials, LLC

Contact: Val Allen

561-478-3177; vallen@cctllc.net

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Women's Research Inst.

Contact: Crystal Smith

678-867-9410; crystals@awhg1.com

Roswell, GA

Atlanta North Gynecology, PC

Contact: Randi Baill

770-992-2691; Researchrn1@aol.com

Boise, ID

The Woman's Clinic

Contact: Amanda Cambra

208-947-9805; cambraa@slrmc.org

Idaho Falls, ID

Rosemark Women Care Specialists

Contact: Lisa Clark

208-557-2927; lclark@rosemark.net

Champaign, IL

Women's Health Practice

Contact: Jan Dedrick

217-356-3736 x 370; Jan.Dedrick@womenshealthpractice.com

Grand Rapids, MI

Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogynecology Institute of Michigan

Contact: Beth Rogers

616-742-5614; rogersbv@gvgobgyn.com

South Bend, IN
Northern Indiana Women's Health Research
Contact: Terri Stoll
574-280-3946; www.niwhr.com

Paw Paw, MI

Women's Health Care Specialists, PC

Contact: Michelle Padley

269-657-6189; whcsresearch2@yahoo.com

Brooklyn, NY

BoroPark Ob-Gyn

Contact: Lena Basilio

718-216-0667; lbasilio@premresearch.net

New Bern, NC

Eastern Carolina Women's Center

Contact: Amanda Corman

252-633-3942 x 485; ccrc@womensctr.com

Winston-Salem, NC

Carolina Medical Trials

Contact: Amanda Moore

336-794-0149; akikermoore@bellsouth.net

Winston-Salem, NC

Lyndhurst Clinical Research

Contact: Lisa Cumming

336-354-1076; research@lyndhurstgyn.com

Englewood, OH

HWC Women's ResearchCenter

Contact: Heather Groff

937-771-5103; hgroff@hwcwrc.com

Gallipolis, OH

Holzer Clinic

Contact: Laurie Wayland

740-441-3990; lwayland@holzerclinic.com

West Reading, PA

Advanced Clinical Concepts

Contact: Jan Petrie

610-929-9484; aclinical@advancedclinicalconcepts.com

Simpsonville, SC

Hillcrest Clinical Research

Contact: Becky

864-962-5146; becky@hillcrest-cr.com

Chattanooga, TN

Southeastern Clinical Research

Contact: Kim Norwood

423-778-6947; kimsnorwood@msn.com

Jackson, TN

The Jackson Clinic

Contact: Patient Recruitment

800-685-7633; study.info@scresearch.net

Memphis, TN

Adams Patterson Gynecology & Obstetrics

Contact: Patient Recruitment

901-255-2254; study.info@scresearch.net

Memphis, TN

Research Memphis Associates, LLC

Contact: Regina Bernard

901-507-2248; rbenard@wccmemphis.com

Austin, TX

Professional Quality Research

Contact: Teddy Brose

512-374-0677; tbrose@pqrinc.com

Corpus Christi, TX

Advanced Research Associates

Contact: Bonnie Gutierrez

361-906-9178; info@araresearch.com

Houston, TX

The Women's Hospital of Texas

Contact: Nelda Fraga

713-790-8500; Nelda.Fraga@hclhealthcare.com

Sandy, UT

Physicians Research Options

Contact: Peggy Genebach

801-352-9228; genebach@proslc.com

Salt Lake City, UT

Salt LakeResearch

Contact: Christy Christiansen

801-288-9778; cchristiansen@saltlakeresearch.com

This seems like a no brainer...

but now there's research to back it up. Apparently having pelvic floor issues impacts a woman's libido.

(Sarcasm alert)

No crap! I thought I was the only one! Why wouldn't women with pain in their pelvis want to engage in intercourse? That's the real question!

(End of sarcasm)

About time

A new study is going forward in the Netherlands about the effectiveness of regular care from a nurse practitioner in dealing with incontinence issues.

I can tell you from personal experience that the nurse practitioner I see for those issues has always been innovative and on top of things, so I'm interested to see what the outcome of this study is.

Bitter to Swallow--Sweet to Savor

Researchers have found that an extract from Bitter Melon is good at combating diabetes and insulin resistance.

In the current study, Tan and colleagues isolated and described several compounds from bitter melon known as cucurbitane triterpenoids, and tested their effects on glucose (sugar) and fat metabolism in cells and in mice.

When tested in muscle and fat cells, the researchers found, the compounds stimulated the glucose receptor GLUT4 to move from the cell interior to the cell surface, thus promoting more effective glucose metabolism. Several of the tested compounds had effects comparable to those of insulin.

Don't get too excited...they still have some work to do:

The researchers note that there may be as many as 70 active compounds in bitter melon. "The present study provides an important basis for further analysis of structure-activity relationship to develop optimized leads from (bitter melon) for the treatment of insulin resistance and obesity," they conclude.

All in all, a small step to find a new viable treatment. I am glad it's good for something, though, because it is one scary-looking plant.

Another Reason to Hate Insulin Resistance

Not that this surprises me much as there seems to be a good deal of insulin resistance and Alzheimers in one side of my family, but now there's a link to show that it's more than just speculation.

A new study on men living in Sweden suggests that a poor insulin response in midlife, the main characteristic of diabetes, is linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease up to 35 years later.

It doesn't get much clearer than that.

Impaired insulin secretion, glucose intolerance, and estimates of insulin resistance, were all linked with elevated risk of any dementia and cognitive impairment.

Geez. Talk about a downer. Now not only are we losing control of our bodies, but we're losing control of our minds. Seeing that I'm a likely candidate for Alzheimer's disease due to family history, it just makes things even more urgent. Maybe taking care of my insulin resistance is more important than I thought.

Women Who Lack Sleep More Prone to...well...everything

Researchers have discovered what many women already knew--women who go without sleep are at a higher risk for complications from the lack of sleep than are men.

Blood samples taken from the volunteers were measured for levels of biomarkers associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, including insulin and glucose levels, fibrinogen (a clotting factor) and two inflammatory proteins, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.

Ah....inflammatory proteins. The Inflammation Theory strikes again!

In addition to a greater level of irritability and depression from sleep deprivation, more biological signs were evident in the women tested.

Women who reported higher degree of sleep disruption also had higher levels of all the biomarkers tested. For women, poor sleep was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, measures of inflammation that have been associated with increased risk of heart disease, and higher levels of insulin. The results were so dramatic that of those women considered poor sleepers, 33 per cent had C-reactive protein levels associated with high risk of heart disease, says Suarez.

This probably also plays into the reasoning (if it's ever acknowledged) of why women have far more chronic illnesses than their male counterparts. Unfortunately, sometimes it is a biological thing.

I guess it's just one more reason to hit the hay early tonight.