A new study of 24,452 participants published in JAMA Dermatology confirms what we see in clinic – that diet makes a huge difference in acne. In particular, foods that are high in a combination of fat and sugar, sugary drinks, and dairy products are associated with adult acne. Our success in treating acne comes from the review of all potential drivers of immune reactivity and inflammation that can be unique to each individual.
DetailsMy research and analysis on the important connections between furin and SARS CoV-2 has been accepted as a preprint article on SSRN. Thank you, David Riley, for making that happen! Abstract: Furin is a protease that is ubiquitous in the mammalian metabolism. One of the innovations that make SARS-CoV-2 more infectious than its ancestor viruses…
DetailsMore validation is emerging for the furin protease (“furin”) hypothesis I posited in this blog: The Furin Protease Connection: From SARS CoV-2 and Anthrax, to Diabetes and Hypertension and that is now available as a pre-print publication here. Considering furin protease inhibitors Scientists are validating furin inhibition as a possible pathway to addressing COVID. And in this Medical News Today…
DetailsPotential good news for those with high blood pressure… taking antihypertensive medication, including ACE-inhibitors and ARBs, does not seem to increase the risk of more severe COVID-19 infection. This is based on a collective meta-analysis of group data from Wuhan, China reported in the European Heart Journal. This had previously been a potential concern since…
DetailsLast week, the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, retracted two COVID-19-related papers. One of those papers had reported on negative effects of hydroxycloroquine as a potential treatment option, leading to much controversy over the use of the drug. The reason for the retraction? Surgisphere Corporation, the company providing the underlying database of information that was…
DetailsFood label regulations have been temporarily loosened by the FDA in response to supply disruptions reported by the food industry. What does this mean for consumers? Importantly, consumers should know that food manufacturers are allowed to make formulation changes, including omissions or substitutions, of ‘minor’ ingredients without making note of those changes on the label.…
DetailsApoE4 is known for increasing the risk for dementia. New analysis of UK data suggests that it may also increase the risk for more severe outcomes from COVID-19 – double that of those with the ApoE3 gene variants. This finding held true independently of pre-existing dementia, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. More research is…
DetailsGood news, and perhaps why so many of us experience COVID-19 without symptoms: Cross reactive immunity
DetailsBiosensors that provide realtime feedback on health-related parameters are considered profoundly useful tools for optimizing health status and encouraging adherence to healthier activities. A new wearable device now does this for vitamin C. The device contains the enzyme ascorbate oxidase, which on contact with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) changes the electrochemical current flow. Given the…
DetailsFrom the folks that brought us Specialized Pro-resolving Lipid Mediators (SPMs), comes a new peer-reviewed paper that highlights the potential for SPMs in addressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production and cytokine storm in COVID-19. SPMs stimulate macrophage-mediated clearance of cellular debris and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. They also promote anti-viral B cell antibodies and other white blood…
DetailsThis infographic from Scientist illustrating the many organs that the virus can gain entry to using ACE2 or TMRPSS2 receptors (definitive evidence for viral presence in the various organs is still being established, but the presence of the receptors provides a road map for investigation). Certainly this influences the wide variety of COVID presentations we…
DetailsABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the respiratory infection known as COVID-19. From an immunopathological standpoint, coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 induce increased levels of a variety of T-helper 1 (Th1) and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, CCL2 protein, and CXCL10 protein. In…
DetailsIn this paper, the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) added to the list of nutraceuticals and botanicals introduced earlier in their first article, The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Virus-Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents. Periodically, IFM will update the original list to highlight other agents that may be considered as complementary treatments against COVID-19. Along…
DetailsWe know this virus can be lethal. Our local hospital needed to devote three floors to COVID-19 ICU (this hasn’t occurred in 100 years for influenza)….We know that the receptors (ACE2, TMPRSS2) and the furin cleavage site are why its everywhere in some folks, and why the breadth of signs and symptoms is so broad….(although…
DetailsI am honored to have contributed to this important publication on interventions for all four potential phases of COVID-19 – prevention, infection, inflammation and recovery. In this paper, intended for healthcare professionals, we address: Five key support targets: foundation, Natural Killer cell support, T Helper Type 1 cell support, Anti-inflammatory Support, Anti-Oxidant Support Why underlying…
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