Gut Microbiome and Prostate Cancer

Gut Microbiome and Prostate Cancer

A recent article published in Science looked at the effect of gut microbiome and prostate cancer.  Obesity alters the gut flora.  It has been known for some time that obese men are more prone to prostate cancer.  Now, it seems there is a cause and effect.  A current treatment for prostate cancer is castration (to remove the driving force of testosterone) either chemical via anti-androgens or surgical.  This almost uniformly leads to a very good clinical response.  But in some…

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Ivermectin for Covid

Ivermectin for Covid

Ivermectin in an FDA approved drug for the treatment of intestinal strongyloidiasis (round worm) and onchocerciasis (filarial worm).  It is also used in veterinary medicine to treat parasites in pets and in livestock.  Because of significant use of Ivermectin off label to either try and prevent or to try and treat Covid, scientists have scrutinized its potential.  Of interest in vitro (in a test tube) Ivermectin does inhibit replication of the virus.  Unfortunately, in vivo (in actual patients) multiple studies…

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Transplant Immunology

Transplant Immunology

Since the first kidney transplant in 1950 and the first heart transplant in 1967 the field of transplant immunology has grown by leaps and bounds.  As successful as transplant medicine has become, there is still a major problem:  not enough donors.  This has led many scientists to explore the field of xenotransplantation, using non-human animals as a source for organs.  Other than the circumstance of receiving an organ from an identical twin, human to human transplants require immunosuppressive therapy to…

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New Covid Strategies

New Covid Strategies

The FDA has recently approved (emergency use authorization) two oral antivirals and a monoclonal antibody for Covid.  The antivirals are designed for out patient use in mild to moderate Covid-19.  Both have proven to be active against the original Corona virus and its new variants.  Paxlovid uses two agents:  nirmatrelvir (a viral protease inhibitor) and ritonavir (a CYP3a inhibitor).  The treatment is for 5 days and can be used down to the age of 12.  Lagevrio contains molnupiravir a nucleoside…

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Dear Dr. K;

Dear Dr. K;

My sister is on a JACK medicine for her ulcerative colitis but she said it may soon be used for allergies.  Is that true? Well, kind of.  First of all, not to be too picky but there is a whole family of JAK drugs and the “JAK” refers to Janus kinase which is a pathway that transmits signals across cell membranes.  The JAK system plays important roles in embryonic development, stem cell development, blood cell production and inflammation signaling.  This…

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Irisin

Irisin

Patients who come to this office know well the exercise sermon both doctors preach.  Exercise is one of the key foundational elements of general health and also allergic/immunologic health.  New research is adding cognitive health to the list of benefits.   Recent journal articles in the Journal of Cellular Physiology and in Journal of Nature Metabolism contain new data on the fact that exercise leads to the production of a hormone irisin.  It has been known for some time that…

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Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Or polyomavirus…

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Or polyomavirus…

It has been known for quite a while that certain viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (the common cold) have been associated with the development and/or worsening of asthma.  Both of these viruses are RNA viruses.  This fact led researchers to wonder about certain DNA viruses.  The one most recently studied is polyomavirus.  This virus is widespread and consists of 117 species.  Once thought to be totally innocuous, it is now understood that these viruses can cause…

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Microbiome and Medicines

Microbiome and Medicines

Previous issues of the Allergic Reaction have had several articles about the human microbiome and its impact on health including its effects on the immune system and other systems.  Now, add an additional new finding to this list.   This research was recently published in Nature and it studied interactions of gut bacteria with oral drugs.  Among people who have the same disease a particular medicine can vary greatly in its effectiveness and side effects.  Much of this variability has been…

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C- Tips: (Christmas Tips)

C- Tips: (Christmas Tips)

-Nuts (especially walnuts & chestnuts), chocolate, cinnamon and “re-gifted” fruit cake can be non-allergic irritants to the mouth and tongue even to the point of causing canker sores, so tread lightly -Mistletoe can be a contact irritant similar to poison ivy so when kissing stand beneath it but don’t hold it -“Fresh” Christmas trees are often not so fresh but are often harvested weeks beforehand and kept damp.  This in turn can lead to mold contamination which can be both…

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Dear Dr. K;

Dear Dr. K;

My husband and I are pre-planning for our first pregnancy.  I’ve had asthma since I was 11years old, can I stay on my asthma medications while pregnant?  The short answer is yes.  The emphatic answer is yes, its vital.  The long answer comes next.  Asthma affects 5 to 8% of women of childbearing age and is one of the most common underlying health conditions that can complicate pregnancy.  Poorly controlled asthma is associated with increased risk of maternal morbidity, spontaneous…

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