Archive for July, 2010

Asthma Attacks and Mold in Your Home

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

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A recent study online that will be published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reported that an increased risk of asthma attacks may occur among people with the chitinase gene variants when exposed to high levels of fungus. The researchers found that an ” interaction between environmental mold exposure and certain variants of chitinase genes were positively associated with severe asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalization.” Data from children enrolled in the Childhood Asthma Management program between the ages of 5 and 12 with mild to moderate persistent asthma were used. Mold was measured in the subjects homes at the beginning of the study and classified as having more or less than 25,000 mold colonies per gram of household dust. Blood samples were used to determine chitinase genes and a chitinase-like gene within the study population. Finally the researchers compared different variants of chitinase genes in the population with levels of mold exposure and number of hospital visits for severe asthma exacerbations. Findings showed that certain variants of the chitinase gene CHITI in conjunction with high mold exposure were associated with higher risks of severe asthma attacks. Further studies to replicate and expand these findings is planned.

Seasonal Allergies to be Discussed on the Holistic Health Show on Saturday

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

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Dr Carl O Helvie, Host will interview Dr Fred Pescatore and Dr Lauren Feder on Saturday. Dr Pescatore , M.D. is a traditionally trained physician who also holds a Masters of Public Health and who practices nutritional medicine. He is the author of the best selling book, Thin For Good, and the number one best selling children’s health book Feed Your Kids Well. His latest book is The Allergy and Asthma Cure released in February 2003.

For five years, Dr Fred was the Associate Medical Director of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine before starting his own medical center with extremely busy and popular practices in New York City and Dallas, Texas.

Dr Fred is internationally recognized as a health, nutrition, and weight loss expert who often travels around the world lecturing in such exotic locales as India and Japan-usually returning with some new medical techniques to share with his patients. He also lectures across the United States and is actively involved in clinical research.

After medical school, Dr Fred studied in Southeast Asia, India, Japan, Africa, and Europe. The techniques he gathered have become part of his broad knowledge of healing. He delights in adding to his knowledge and then sharing it with patients and colleagues.

Now, Dr Fred is often called upon by major television and radio shows to be the medical expert on all things nutritional. His work has been featured on such shows at The View, The Today Show, Day and Date, The O’Reilly Factor, Extra and many more,. He has spoken on hundreds of radio shows across America. In fact, for years he was heard daily as the host of the number 1 health radio show in New York City called The Logical Alternative. He is now featured regularly on the radio show, Healthy by Nature a radio show in Dallas, Texas.

Because of the respect he has earned in the nutritional supplement industry, Dr Fred is a consultant for many firms and has been instrumental in developing and clinically testing many of the leading nutritional products. He is president of the AHCC Research Association, President-elect of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists, member of the National Association of Physician Broadcasters, and belongs to many more professional organizations.

Dr Fred is the Founder of Dr Pescatore’s Healthy For Good product line and wanted products that could live up to his high standards. Consequently he started his own company. MacNut Oil is the first product to bear his brand. More information can be found at:

My second guest, Dr Lauren Feder, is a nationally recognized, Los Angeles based physician who is in a private group practice specializing in primary care medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, pregnancy, natural childbirth, homeopathic medicine, holistic health, natural parenting, and chiropractic care. Known for her holistic approach and combining both traditional and homeopathic medicine with a holistic approach she is a frequent lecturer for parents and professionals.

Dr Feder has been seen nationally on various health-oriented television and radio programs including most recently Oprah and Friends interviewed by Dr Mehmet Oz. She is the author of Natural Baby and Childcare and The Parents Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccines that was selected as book of the month by the Holistic Moms Network. More information can be found at: www.drfeder.com

Bacteria in the Gut and Colon Cancer

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

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Research published in the May/June issue of the journal Gut Microbes suggests that a shift in the balance of the good and bad bacteria in the gut could be associated with colon cancer. Using molecular methods that have evolved to the point where all bacteria in the gut can be identified and characterized the researchers studied biopsies from 45 patients undergoing colonoscopies. They found that there was a higher bacterial diversity and richness in individuals found to have adenomas than in those without these colorectal cancer precursors. A particular group called Proteobacteria was higher than in the controls but it is not clear whether these follow the development of the adenoma or were the cause of the adenoma. Further research is planned in animal models to see if these or other bacteria promote cancer growth. Additional samples from up to 600 patients will be analyzed. The researchers stated “What a great way to address colon cancer–you could know your risk and lower it by eating your yogurt every day.”