According to Dr. Kellman, nearly half of his chronic fatigue syndrome patients actually suffer from hypothyroidism, which is a gland that helps regulate a person’s energy level. He finds that many of the patients also have vitamin C and B-complex deficiencies. Dr. Elizabeth Vliet says that the standard thyroid hormone panel does not usually detect… Read more

Researchers knew that there was a connection between post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance-use disorder (SUD). Also, researchers already knew that a patient with PTSD is at risk for developing a SUD–in particular drug dependence. What researchers were uncertain of is if PTSD patients were more likely to be at a greater risk for… Read more

Long-term use of calcium channel blockers appear to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, while no such association was seen for other high blood pressure medications. Christoph R. Meier, PhD, MSc, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, studied 7,374 men and women over the age of 40. One-half of the group had Parkinson’s disease, the other half–the control group–had… Read more

Pharmaceutical company, Novartis, has the first FDA approved patch for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The advantage of a patch is that medication is released on a more consistent basis than when the medication is given orally. Because the medication is absorbed through the skin, and enters the blood stream directly, the patient’s tolerability is… Read more

A Marine is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and given an “administrative separation.” The VA medical center loses his paperwork and he resubmits it–4 times! Finally, he’s denied benefits. He was told that the injuries were not compensable or service-connected. When the Marine asked why his injury did not qualify he was told, “…because they… Read more

Diabetes patients have a high production of glucose, which can cause cellular damage to blood vessels. Matt Whiteman, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula Medical School, South West of England has found that resveratrol, a compound naturally found in grape skin, can protect against cellular damage to blood vessels caused by… Read more

The Oregon Health & Science University is one of 9 sites in a year long study to determine whether CERE-120 can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is thought to be caused by the death of nerve cells that produce dopamine. CERE-120 is comprised of both a gene and a virus using a process… Read more

Mayo rheumatologist researcher Kevin Moder, M.D., led an investigative team for alternate ways to reduce inflammation flare ups in patients with Lupus. The disease causes inflammation of connective tissues that can involve the skin, joints, and kidneys. The cause is unknown. The researchers evaluated mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplant cases… Read more

It sounds like a good idea. You are unable to work and long disability insurance will pay you a portion of your annual salary. At least that is what CIGNA insurance promised Susan Kristoff. When Kristoff found herself battling cancer she found that she would also have to battle CIGNA insurance for the protection she… Read more

Karen Kaplan’s August 18, Los Angeles Times article, U.S. military practices genetic discrimination in denying benefits, tells how the U.S. Military denies disability benefits to both active and veteran military personnel. The problem began in 1999, when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) decided that soldiers with a genetic predisposition for a disease will be denied benefits for… Read more

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) nearly 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and 17 million have been diagnosed with asthma. The NIAID web site offers excellent information on allergies through a wide offering of fact sheets, brochures, news releases, and a variety of resource links… Read more

Approximately 75% of patients with diabetes die from cardiovascular disease. Determining the optimal treatment for diabetes patients with coronary artery disease is the subject of a recent JAMA article. Steven E. Nissen, MD, Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues, compared the effectiveness of two alternative approaches for treating hyperglycemia, an insulin-providing strategy (glimepiride) versus an insulin-sensitizing strategy… Read more