Browsed by
Category: Uncategorized

Heads up: Cashew nut’s apple “cousin” deserves attention

Heads up: Cashew nut’s apple “cousin” deserves attention

Cashew nuts are not new to the American diet, but cashew apple is.

Cashew trees native to Brazil and the West Indies also grow in Central America, Asia and Africa. People in these countries have long eaten not only the cashew nut, but the apple itself.

The cashew apple has a fibrous juicy pulp which can be eaten directly or squeezed to make cashew apple juice – a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants.

This juice is starting to appear in American health food stores. Despite its healthy nature, it can be a source of allergic difficulties.

As it turns out, the cashew tree is a member of the Anacardiaceae Family, which includes poison ivy and oak, poison sumac, mango, lacquer tree, Indian marking tree and rengas tree.

The common allergen found in all these plants is urushiol and hence, there can be cross- reactivity with all the plants.

In the case of the cashew, the apple has a higher concentration of urushiol than the nut. Hence, it has greater likelihood to lead to allergic problems. These can occur via contact with the skin, resulting in the typical poison ivy-type rash of itchy bumps and blisters. Ingestion can cause irritation of the lips, tongue, mouth and GI tract.

Of special interest is that ingestion of cashew nut or cashew apple can lead to reappearance a previously healed case of poison ivy/oak. It seems the area of the skin that broke out from contact with urushiol has immunologic memory that can cause the same area to redevelop the rash from ingestion of urushiol.

Researchers concentrate on this unwelcome gut bacteria

Researchers concentrate on this unwelcome gut bacteria

Dear Dr. K: I’ve read several articles by you about the immune health benefits of probiotics. In a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article I read that gut flora could lead to colon cancer. Can you tell me more?

Yes I can. You are actually touching on a subject of cutting-edge research. There have been three recent publishings (probably the fodder for the WSJ piece) on this subject: New England Journal of Medicine, Genome Research and Cell Host Microbe.

The bacterial species that seems to be the culprit is Fusobacterium nucleatum. This unwelcome gut bacteria is not considered part of the normal flora. It seems to create its mischief by producing a unique protein called FadA, which is a sticky protein called an adhesion antigen. This molecule “sticks” to colon cells and causes both inflammation and eventually cancerous changes in the cells.

Studies done in mice models demonstrate that blocking adherence of this protein, even without removing the Fusobacterium, protects the mouse colon from inflammation and cancer. Thus, human research is looking at ways to accomplish the same thing in people, and also ways to eradicate the bacteria.

This research shouldn’t come as too big a surprise in view of the discovery about 15 years ago that another bad gut bacteria called helicobacter pylori is the cause for most stomach ulcers (inflammation) and stomach cancer.

Priming the immune pump – deposits to the health bank

Priming the immune pump – deposits to the health bank

My paternal grandparents had no indoor plumbing. When I visited them as a child I was put in charge of bringing in water for coffee and breakfast oatmeal. I would run to the well and pump hard — with no result.

Then I’d remember the priming glass of water kept inside. Pouring it in the pump first always led to bountiful water.

The dramatic aspect of priming happens with many vaccines, which is one reason many are given as a series. Examples are DPT and polio. Priming also can occur with the flu vaccine, even though each year’s vaccine is different.

The reason I bring this up is because in the past few years many people — who previously received annual flu shots — have chosen not to.

What the media fail to report is that it is precisely that older population who have received flu shots over many years, who have the best chance of getting better “bang for the buck” via priming from all their previous vaccines.

And the strategy the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is now considering is to give two identical flu vaccines in the same season, with the first one being the priming dose for the second.

Q – Tips: Probiotics and pregnancy

Q – Tips: Probiotics and pregnancy

  • Research at the University of Turkey in Finland demonstrates that if expectant mothers take probiotics during the pregnancy, their infants have a significant reduction in the risk for eczema.  And at another Norse medical center, Glostrup University in Copenhagen, scientists have finished a multi-year study looking at individuals on allergy shots and the frequency of autoimmune disease. They discovered a marked reduction in autoimmune disease in those receiving allergy shots.
Q – Tips: Silver Ingestion

Q – Tips: Silver Ingestion

  • Argyria is a blue-gray discoloration of the skin caused by ingestion of silver. Colloidal silver is available in a variety of OTC tonics and has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial. Unfortunately, chronic use of silver can cause a permanent Tin Man appearance (and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 issued a final rule establishing that all over-the-counter (OTC) drug products containing colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts for internal or external use are not generally recognized as safe and effective, and are misbranded.
New antihistamine: less congestion, fewer side effects

New antihistamine: less congestion, fewer side effects

Researchers at Creighton University have developed a new antihistamine that blocks the H3 histamine receptor.  The new drug that blocks H3 is called by its research name – PF-03654746. It’s an exciting discovery because it appears to be the first antihistamine that reduces congestion.
Up until now the only way to reduce nasal congestion was to take an antihistamine/decongestant combination such as Allegra-D or Zyrtec-D. These drugs contain Sudafed, which works, but brings the potential issues of causing insomnia and raising blood pressure. Additionally, taken on a daily basis the body eventually becomes tolerant of its effects and the congestion comes back. Furthermore, because Sudafed can be used to make street drugs it has become closely controlled by the government.
This new antihistamine doesn’t raise blood pressure, cause insomnia or lead to tolerance. It seems to treat congestion by blocking the H3 receptors found in nerves in the nasal membranes.  Blocking the H3 on the nasal nerves keeps blood vessels from being engorged and leading to tumescence (i.e. nasal congestion).  Clinical trials done with the drug have shown it to be safe and effective. Hopefully, FDA approval will be forthcoming.
(There are currently four known histamine receptors in the human body numbered 1 through 4: H1 blockers are well known and include Benadryl, Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec and others. H2 blockers are also known and numerous and include Zantac, Pepcid, Tagamet and Axid. H4 blockers are still an early research topic.)
Internal medical devices: Reactions spotlight metal allergy

Internal medical devices: Reactions spotlight metal allergy

Dear Dr. K: Do you have anything to share from your recent trip to the Southeastern Allergy meeting?
The meeting was excellent. The presentation I found most provocative was on allergy to medical devices. Unfortunately, this is becoming a more common source of allergic difficulty.  The spectrum of reactions has included allergy to joint replacements, fracture-stabilizing metals, spine-straightening rods, cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators and their wires, coronary and other arterial stents and dental products, including implants and orthodontic materials.
Although some reactions are to glues and adhesives, it seems that metal allergy is the primary cause for these reactions. The reaction to metals is found more commonly in people who already have known metal allergy, such as nickel allergy to earring materials. In fact, nickel allergy is the most common metal allergy, followed by chromium and cobalt allergies.
People who have multiple body piercing sites have a greater likelihood of developing metal allergy. The American Academy of Allergy recommends avoiding ear or other piercings until age 10 to lessen the chance for developing metal allergy.  It was once thought that titanium was allergenically inert but, unfortunately, allergic reactions are occurring to some titanium alloys.
The most common manifestation of the allergic reaction is a rash in the skin surrounding the implant site, or in the mucous membranes in the mouth in the case of dental allergy. In some patients there can also be sites of remote rash and other systemic symptoms, such as achiness and pain.
A special scenario can exist with arterial stent allergy. Sometimes the only manifestation is what is called rapid re-stenosis. That is, the artery that was reopened with the stent quickly closes again due to the allergic inflammation.
If someone has a known metal allergy and needs an implanted material, it is recommended that a patch test be done with the material prior to its being used.  Unfortunately, there are not yet any standardized test kits, so the approach is more seat-of-your- pants in nature. Usually a small piece of the to-be implanted metal can be obtained and a patch test carried out. In some very special cases, instead of a patch test, the test metal is actually surgically placed in a superficial pocket below the skin for several weeks to see if an allergy develops.  Obviously, this more invasive test is only undertaken in special high-risk cases.
Congratulations to our very own world-class paddleboard team!

Congratulations to our very own world-class paddleboard team!

Bucking waves, currents and winds made a really  tough  task  for  the athletes competing in  the 2013 World Paddleboard Championship in Hawaii even tougher. But our favorite relay team of Dr. Patrick and Dr. Steve Klemawesch beat the elements and finished the 32-mile, open-ocean stand-up paddleboard competition in July.
The crossing in open Pacific waters begins on Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay  on  the  south  shore  of Oahu. Competing as a  team  for  the  first  time,  the docs finished in –  try  to grasp how grueling – 6:48:57! Not exactly like doing laps at North Shore Pool! Tropical Storm Flossie threatened to sink the whole endeavor, but held off long enough to let the race follow its schedule.
Good for you, guys!
Q – Tips: Elemental Silver

Q – Tips: Elemental Silver

• Elemental silver has been used for centuries for its antimicrobial properties. In the Middle Ages it was successfully used to treat syphilis, TB and other infections. It is still available today, but caution should be used because excessive doses of silver tonics available over the counter can be toxic to internal organs.