(Photo Credit: AP/Rich Pedroncelli)

Medical Fascism Descends in California, While A New Civil (and Human) Rights Movement in the US is Being Born

read more

While California’s tragic fall into what might rightly be described as a medical police state has many up in arms, RFK. Jr’s spontaneously delivered speech helped transform the anger and grief experienced by thousands of shooken onlookers into inspiration and hope, no doubt contributing to catalyzing further what is clearly becoming this country’s next, truly grassroots civil rights movement. 

read more

PMID: 

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018 ;14:1505-1512. Epub 2018 Jun 12. PMID: 29928122

Abstract Title: 

The effect of evening primrose oil on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: 

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS.Materials and methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 52 patients with MS were chosen and categorized into 2 groups which received 2 doses of EPO and placebo. In addition, the quality of life and fatigue scale in these patients were investigated before the treatment and again 3 months after therapy. The findings were then compared between the 2 groups.Result: EPO consumption significantly increased cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction and also reduced pain and fatigue compared to placebo (

read more

PMID: 

Ann Dermatol. 2018 Aug ;30(4):409-416. Epub 2018 Jun 27. PMID: 30065580

Abstract Title: 

Effect of Evening Primrose Oil on Korean Patients With Mild Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

Abstract: 

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is related to a deficiency of delta-6-desaturase, an enzyme responsible for converting linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Evening primrose oil (EPO) as a source of GLA has been of interest in the management of AD.Objective: The aim of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EPO in Korean patients with AD.Methods: Fifty mild AD patients with an Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) score of 10 or less were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. The first group received an oval unmarked capsule containing 450 mg of EPO (40 mg of GLA) per capsule, while placebo capsules identical in appearance and containing 450 mg of soybean oil were given to the other group. Treatment continued for a period of four months. EASI scores, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin hydration were evaluated in all the AD patients at the baseline, and in months 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the study.Results: At the end of month 4, the patients of the EPO group showed a significant improvement in the EASI score (=0.040), whereas the patients of the placebo group did not. There was a significant difference in the EASI score between the EPO and placebo groups (=0.010). Although not statistically significant, the TEWL and skin hydration also slightly improved in the EPO patients group.Conclusion: We suggest that EPO is a safe and effective medicine for Korean patients with mild AD.

read more

PMID: 

Res Pharm Sci. 2019 Feb ;14(1):36-45. PMID: 30936931

Abstract Title: 

Regulatory effects of hemp seed/evening primrose oil supplement in comparison with rapamycin on the expression of the mammalian target ofandgenes in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Abstract: 

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling plays a critical role in lipid synthesis and immune responses. The T regulatory cells (Treg) as suppressor of T cells, are a subset of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance, and prevent autoimmune diseases.. The interleukin (IL) -10 derived from the Treg and T helper (Th) 2 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Due to the exclusive roles of rapamycin (RAPA) in mTOR inhibition, we evaluated the regulatory effect of the hemp seed oil/evening primrose oil (HSO/EPO) supplement in comparison with RAPA in EAE. EAE was induced by using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide and complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) in C57BL/6 mice, total mRNA was extracted from local lymph nodes and real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression level of the rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR complex 2 () andgenes. The expression ofandgenes were significantly increased in HSO/EPO group. In contrast with RAPA groups, histological findings have shown that the HSO/EPO treated group remarkably reduced cell infiltration and promoted remyelination. The EPO/HSO has beneficial effects on the repair of myelin, which was confirmed by immunological and histological findings.

read more

PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Aug 15 ;135:203-211. Epub 2019 May 17. PMID: 31108145

Abstract Title: 

Hemp seed polysaccharides protect intestinal epithelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress.

Abstract: 

The purpose of this study was to investigate structure of Hemp seed polysaccharide (HSP) and the protective effect of HSP from HO-induced oxidative damage in IPEC-1 cells and the possible mechanism of this protection. Analysis of monosaccharide composition and structure of two fractions HSPand HSPfrom polysaccharide of Hemp seed (HSPc) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that both HSPand HSPcontain sulfate groups, which are sulfated polysaccharides. In IPEC-1 cells model, the release of LDH and MDA was significantly decreased, and the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT were significantly increased in HSPand HSP-treated group. HSPdramatically increased the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and phase II detoxification enzymes measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, HSPup-regulated the expression level of intracellular transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibited the level of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) with Western blot analysis. Collectively, the present study suggested that HSPhas the protective effect of IPEC-1 cells against HO-induecd oxidative stress. This protection mechanism may be related to activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

read more

PMID: 

J Family Med Prim Care. 2019 Jun ;8(6):2150. PMID: 31334198

Abstract Title: 

Hemp seed pill may improve chronic constipation of the elderly and reduce the burden of helpers.

Abstract: 

Traditional Chinese medicine Hemp seed pill () could improve chronic constipation of elderly in the difficult case.

read more

PMID: 

Brain Sci. 2019 Aug 10 ;9(8). Epub 2019 Aug 10. PMID: 31405115

Abstract Title: 

α-Tocopherol Modulates Non-Amyloidogenic Pathway and Autophagy in an In Vitro Model of Alzheimer's Disease: A Transcriptional Study.

Abstract: 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. The hallmarks of AD are the extracellular amyloid plaques, which are formed by amyloidβ (Aβ) aggregates derived from the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), and the intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, which are formed by the hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The aim of this work was to study the effects of α-tocopherol in retinoic acid differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to Aβevaluating the transcriptional profile by next-generation sequencing. We observed thatα-tocopherol was able to reduce the cytotoxicity induced by Aβ treatment, as demonstrated by Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis evidenced that α-tocopherol treatment upregulated genes involved in the non-amyloidogenic processing of APP, while itdownregulated the amyloidogenic pathway. Moreover, α-tocopherol modulated the expression of the genes involved in autophagy and the cell cycle, which are both known to be altered in AD. The treatment with α-tocopherol was also able to reduce oxidative stress, restoring nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and decreasing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry.

read more

PMID: 

Redox Biol. 2019 Aug 6 ;26:101292. Epub 2019 Aug 6. PMID: 31419755

Abstract Title: 

α-Tocopherol preserves cardiac function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and new treatment strategies are highly sought-after. Paradoxically, reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium, as achieved with early percutaneous intervention, results in substantial damage to the heart (ischemia/reperfusion injury) caused by cell death due to aggravated inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Chronic therapy with vitamin E is not effective in reducing the cardiovascular event rate, presumably through failing to reduce atherosclerotic plaque instability. Notably, acute treatment with vitamin E in patients suffering a MI has not been systematically investigated.METHODS AND RESULTS: We applied alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH), the strongest anti-oxidant form of vitamin E, in murine cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 min. α-TOH significantly reduced infarct size, restored cardiac function as measured by ejection fraction, fractional shortening, cardiac output, and stroke volume, and prevented pathological changes as assessed by state-of-the-art strain and strain-rate analysis. Cardioprotective mechanisms identified, include a decreased infiltration of neutrophils into cardiac tissue and a systemic anti-inflammatory shift from Ly6Cto Ly6Cmonocytes. Furthermore, we found a reduction in myeloperoxidase expression and activity, as well as a decrease in reactive oxygen species and the lipid peroxidation markers phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0)-9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE) and PC(16:0)-13-HODE) within the infarcted tissue.CONCLUSION: Overall,α-TOH inhibits ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses, and ultimately preserves cardiac function. Therefore, our study provides a strong incentive to test vitamin E as an acute therapy in patients suffering a MI.

read more

PMID: 

Sr Care Pharm. 2019 May 1 ;34(5):325-333. PMID: 31054591

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Chronic Proton-Pump Inhibitor Use on Kidney Function in Older Adults.

Abstract: 

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with adverse renal outcomes in older adults; however, there are little data regarding the magnitude of the change in renal function in this population. The objective of this study was to quantify the change in kidney function associated with chronic PPI therapy at two years in older adults using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).The study was a retrospective, pre/post, observational cohort.The study included University of Colorado Health primary care patients 60 to 89 years of age who were newly initiated on a PPI between August 1, 2012, and March 1, 2015, and remained on therapy for at least two years. The primary outcome was the change in kidney function, measured by eGFR, two years after starting PPI therapy. Secondary outcomes included change in kidney function and incidence of reduction in eGFR to

read more