The Return

Hello everyone...

I'm back!

It's The Heart That Matters Most

I live in Europe where cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death 1. Coronary heart disease (CHD), the likely precursor to myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack, is the leading killer in Western nations and is increasing in developing countries as they increase their consumption of animal products 2. Incidentally, MI may be silent, or manifest as prolonged pain and discomfort as associated with simple angina 2. Diagnosis of coronary artery disease in women is more difficult because of lower specificity of symptoms and diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive testing, in other words, woman may be difficult to read 3. Comparatively, men are more likely to experience crushing substernal chest pain, whereas woman are more likely to experience shortness of breath, jaw or back pain, nausea / vomiting 2. Analogously, the symptoms in woman are multi-colored however, in men more like black and white. Moreover, women are at greater risk for worse outcomes associated with acute coronary syndrome (a medical condition caused by or involving disease of the coronary arteries, including angina pectoris and heart attacks, ACS) than are men, possibly because they tend to be treated less aggressively than men, even when more aggressive treatment is needed 4. Elsewhere, in China, female patients with (ACS) were older than male subjects and thus more often had concomitant (happening or existing along with or at the same time as something else) diseases further complicating the situation 5. Similarly, In Korea invasive treatment was more commonly performed in males than females 6. Unfortunately, proper cardiac care for woman may be delayed or misguided because caregivers as well as patients may believe that woman are not at significant risk for cardiac disease 2. Perhaps raising local awareness of ACS signs and symptoms may save the lives of mothers and daughters here and elsewhere.

eddie S

References:
1. Abreu A, Bettencourt N, Fontes P: Overview of cardiac rehabilitation in Portugal 2007-2009, Rev Port Cardiol 2010, 29:545-558
2. Barnard ND, Reilly JK, Weissinger R, Jaster BJ, Kahan S, Smyth C: Nutrition Guide for Clinicians. Edited by Washington, DC, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 2009, p.pp. x, 745 p.
3. Wiviott SD, Cannon CP, Morrow DA, Murphy SA, Gibson CM, McCabe CH, Sabatine MS, Rifai N, Giugliano RP, DiBattiste PM, Demopoulos LA, Antman EM, Braunwald E: Differential expression of cardiac biomarkers by gender in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a TACTICS-TIMI 18 (Treat Angina with Aggrastat and determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 18) substudy, Circulation 2004, 109:580-586
4. Tavris D, Shoaibi A, Chen AY, Uchida T, Roe MT, Chen J: Gender differences in the treatment of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, Clin Cardiol 2010, 33:99-103
5. Song XT, Chen YD, Pan WQ, Lu SZ: Gender based differences in patients with acute coronary syndrome: findings from Chinese Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CRACE), Chin Med J (Engl) 2007, 120:1063-1067
6. Lee KH, Jeong MH, Ahn YK, Kim JH, Chae SC, Kim YJ, Hur SH, Seong IW, Hong TJ, Choi D, Cho MC, Kim CJ, Seung KB, Chung WS, Jang YS, Cho JG, Park SJ: Gender differences of success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention and short term cardiac events in Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, Int J Cardiol 2008, 130:227-234

Milk = Osteoporosis

Milk = Osteoporosis

As a bone fan and potential orthopedic surgeon, the milk lie needs additional addressing. Firstly, the most common joint disorder, especially in western cultures, is osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease[1]. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis which is characterized by inflammation and swelling, OA usually produces little swelling however, degeneration of hyaline cartilage and bone hypertrophy within the joint are OA hallmarks[1]. Incidentally OA usually starts as joint stiffness lasting less than 15 minutes a day then slowly progressing into full blown pain with joint movements [1]. Since my focus is preventive medicine; what can be done to prevent this common condition? Well, obesity increases the risk for OA, so weight control lowers the odds of developing this disease [2]. Additionally, there is also a correlation between poor diet (such as high fat)early in life and OA[3]. This suggest that a plant based diet may slow or even prevent the disease [1]. This means OA dose not have to stay a “common condition” in this new era, starting with the youth.
Got milk…get osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease distinguish by progressive thinning of the bone matrix and cortex[1]. Consequently, Americans consume more milk and its products than most of the worlds populations[4]. In particular, American woman over the age of 50 have one of the highest rates of hip fracture in the world, second only to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand where they consume even more milk than the United States[5]. Additionally, in a 2000 study it was found that hip fracture, a major health problem, varies in incidence among the populations of different countries and is directly related to animal protein intake, a finding that suggests that bone integrity is compromised by endogenous acid production consequent to the metabolism of animal proteins. Hence, plant based foods provide a countervailing effect, because they are a rich source of base (bicarbonate) in the form of metabolizable organic anions, which can neutralize protein-derived acid and supply substrate (carbonate) for bone formation [5]. Put down that chicken leg or loose mobility of your own leg! Conversely, the study of 72, 000 woman for 18 years found milk consumption had no benefit in the prevention of hip fractures or bone strength and may have even contributed to overall bone weakness [5]. Wow, wipe off that milk mustache Serena!
Lastly, a new day is dawning in wellness creation. Treatment should be focused on prevention, symptomatic therapy and slowing disease progression [1]. Currently, there are many therapies for people suffering from osteoporosis however, the primary therapy is to immediately eliminate all dairy from the diet , consume adequate amounts of calcium backed by vitamin D and frequent weight bearing exercises to increase bone mineral density [1]. Welcome to the 21st century and wellness creation!
eddie S


References:
1. Barnard ND, Reilly JK, Weissinger R, Jaster BJ, Kahan S, Smyth C: Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, vol. 2. Washington, DC: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; 2009.
2. Lievense AM, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Verhagen AP, van Baar ME, Verhaar JA, Koes BW: Influence of obesity on the development of osteoarthritis of the hip: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2002, 41(10):1155-1162.
3. Peterson RO, Vucetich JA, Fenton G, Drummer TD, Larsen CS: Ecology of arthritis. Ecol Lett 2010.
4. Campbell TC, Campbell TM: The China study : the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted and the startling implications for diet, weight loss and long-term health, 1st BenBella Books edn. Dallas, Tex.: BenBella Books; 2005.
5. Frassetto LA, Todd KM, Morris RC, Jr., Sebastian A: Worldwide incidence of hip fracture in elderly women: relation to consumption of animal and vegetable foods. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2000, 55(10):M585-592.

I stand in the doorway of a new leg on my educational journey. This term, it’s statistics and diseases of the human body. Not much to report other than the huge workload this term. Conversely, even though the work load is heavy my brain muscles are strong and ready. Through all this, I still chant 3 hours a day…Got to get back to work…

eddie S

In the photo: Dandelion leaves and I.

Dandelions make a strong paper after all!

At first, writing a research paper on dandelions seemed a thin prospect at best, because I didn’t believe there was enough evidence to substantiate the benefits of eating the plant.

However, I was prepared to dig deep and also had a back up topic just in case the dandelion reasearch withered.

Surprisingly, I discovered much more than I had believed possible.

Not only is dandelion a super food, the extracts of this lawn pest have been scientifically proven to reduce the size of breast cancer tumors and slow the progression of prostate cancer.

If you are interested, I can send you a copy of my research report.

Additionally, I received an “A” on my final research paper in anatomy and physiology honors class; my topic was on the subject of the breast; I received an “A” for this course as well.

I have off till the 28th, where on that day I will begin “diseases of the human body and statistics.

For now, I’m going to enjoy the rest of this night!

Lastly, thank you Professor Vinson, tough yet right.

What you believe you achive.

eddie S

Bizarro's Dan Piraro on Vegan Issues

Step by step we’ve climbed, now we’ve arrived at a new apex.

Obviously, we have many more steps to take however, at this echelon, it’s a profound moment to enjoy the view from our new life location.

Collaterally, we can use our recent progress as a stepping stone for further advancement, to rise higher yet, and expand our lives.

This is also a great time to hold appreciation in our hearts for supportive family members, friends, fellow classmates, university staff and last but not least, our professor.

In My opinion, Education is the great chronological equalizer, the more time that passes, the more knowledge one accumulates and the closer one gets to the degree.

After all these years ( 30+) I’m back in school building the brain, bettering the life and getting closer to the MD title.

So, let the gray hairs come.

Hopefully, I’ll have some of you in my coming classes.

Lastly, I bow to all the mothers in this class.

“Human civilization has flourished and survived because of the special characteristics of woman; all humanity owes a profound debt to woman and mothers”, according to former United Nations Under-Secretary-General K Chowdury (2010).

Raising a family while balancing class loads may be the biggest challenge of all.

You’ve done it!

Congratulations!

eddie S