Gum Disease and Arthritis

Gum Disease and Arthritis

Researcher at the University of Leeds in the UK have completed a four-year study that links gum disease to rheumatoid arthritis.  They found a direct correlation between gum disease and both the severity of and exacerbations of rheumatoid arthritis.  Various species of the bacteria Streptococcus are the culprits.  When a person with gingivitis chews or brushes their teeth the bacteria enter the bloodstream.  This activates the immune system to make antibodies.  As it turns out the antibodies that attack the…

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Dear Dr. K; 

Dear Dr. K; 

I recently heard about a mental technique to help me cope with tinnitus.  But for the life of me I can’t remember what it was, can you help?  I think so.  I suspect you heard about a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called somatic tracking exercise.    There are good academic studies instantiating its benefit.  It has proven effective not only for tinnitus but for other unpleasant or painful sensory inputs.  Basically, you pretend you are a non-emotional observer of yourself.  …

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Indoor Pollution

Indoor Pollution

In 1986 the World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term “sick building syndrome”.  It was the dawn of understanding that indoor pollution can have health consequences.  WHO has concentrated its research on “the big six”: tobacco smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) trichloroethylene and benzene and tiny agglomerate particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5). The average American spends 88% of their time indoors.  The higher the levels of these pollutants the greater the health consequences. …

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Processed Foods and Health

Processed Foods and Health

The industrial techniques used to make processed foods not only add unhealthy ingredients but also change the foods themselves and therefore how they interact with our bodies.  In Western countries half the food consumed is processed.  Over one hundred scientific studies have all shown that diets high in processed foods lead to earlier death, more cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, dementia, stroke, diabetes and heart attack.  Such diets also compromise immune function.  It’s not the fat, salt and sugar that…

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Q – Tips:

Q – Tips:

Group Weston has developed a user-friendly micro air screen face mask, Q Mask Pro, that uses a unique accordion pleated design that makes it highly efficient at removing pollen and dust.   Web site www.groupweston.com With increasing pollution of our planet’s oceans and seas there is a rise in ciguatera fish poisoning which is often mistaken for a food allergy.  The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itchiness, hot/cold sensitivity and numbness.  The culprit is a dinoflagellate that prospers in polluted waters…

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XX or XY: For Better or For Worse

XX or XY: For Better or For Worse

Are there sex differences in the human immune system?  Yes, there are.  Women have stronger immune systems than men.  But, similar to a coin this presents two sides.  Women are less likely to catch infections and develop cancer, and if they do the infection tends to be less severe than in men.  This has been well demonstrated during the Covid pandemic.  But, the other side of the coin is that women are more likely to suffer auto-immune diseases than men. …

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Dear Dr. K; I heard something on the news about a Strep germ making allergies bad.  Isn’t Strep what causes sore throats?

Dear Dr. K; I heard something on the news about a Strep germ making allergies bad.  Isn’t Strep what causes sore throats?

Yes, Strep causes sore throats but there are many types of Strep.  Strep is short for Streptococcus which is the genus of the family.  And then there are many species of Streptococcus.  In fact, there are so many species in the family tree they are in groups from “A” to “H”.  Streptococcus pyogenes is the specific organism that causes “Strep throat” but it also causes impetigo.  Streptococcus pneumonia causes ear, sinus, bronchial and lung infections.  Streptococcus faecalis causes urinary infections. …

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Difelikefalin

Difelikefalin

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a research article on a drug trial of difelikefalin (who comes up with these names?) to treat Notalgia paresthetica.  Notalgia paresthetica is an allergic mimic; it is actually a form of localized neuropathy.  It is sometimes called the itch that rashes.  It is characterized by chronic recurrent localized itching (usually unilateral) in the interscapular paravertebral area.  (i.e., the shoulder blade).  It is felt to be due to dysfunction of the cutaneous branches…

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MRGPRX2 in Drug Allergy

MRGPRX2 in Drug Allergy

True or classic drug allergy is mediated by the drug activating the allergic protein (IgE) which in turn causes Mast cells in the skin and throughout the body to release histamine.  However, it has been known for quite some time that some drug reactions are not mediated by IgE.  These have been referred to as pseudo-allergic reactions or anaphylactoid (as opposed to anaphylaxis).  Then comes the discovery of Mas-related G protein – coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) which sits on the…

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Virovores

Virovores

A recent article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences discussed the discovery of a bacteria whose only diet is viruses; hence the name virovore.  Actually, the scientific one is Halteria ciliate. These bacteria were first discovered in fresh water ponds.  In the lab, each Halteria organism consumed 1 million viruses daily, but when studied in their natural element they consumed 1 quadrillion viruses daily.  Since Halteria do not seem to be pathogenic to humans there is ongoing…

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