liveonearth: (Default)
2011-06-06 09:29 am

Grand Rounds (week 10): Herb/Drug Interactions

Francis Brinker ND
1981 NCNM grad, prof at SCNM and U of Az College of Med
Botanical Pharmacokinetic Interactions with Drugs and Botanical Adjuncts
with NSAIDS & Analgesics for Arthritis
Useful Website: http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/DDIs/table.aspx
**print interaction summary page from moodle
consumer info: http://WWW.DRUGDIGEST.ORG/WPS/PORTAL/DDIGEST
arthritis part of talk at the very end, first part of talk all about drug interactions
interactions with St John's Wort, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Garlic, Peppermint, and as usual Grapefruit
Expandnotes )
liveonearth: (Default)
2011-05-05 12:25 pm

Aspirin and Ibuprofen for Cancer Prevention

Dr Lawrence was recommending just about everyone get on low dose aspirin because of its cancer preventative effects. I hadn't heard that, so I just googled it (scholar) and found this review of 91 studies that shows a strong anti-cancer effect in many common cancers. In my current schooling NSAIDS are considered evil because they are hard on the intestine and kidneys. Specifically they can cause a breakdown of the gut lining that leads to immune dysregulation and even autoimmune disease. But as with coffee, the evil is balanced with the good: the lesson I take from this new information is that moderation is the key. No point in overreacting to any one piece of information, no point in being a tee-totaller or a total obsessive nutcase about your intakes.

Expandabstract )
liveonearth: (Default)
2011-02-01 05:26 pm

Meta-analysis shows Ibuprofen causes the most Strokes

...of all tested Cox 2 inhibitors, that is. It was also the least studied of the NSAIDS they looked at. They conclude that naproxen seems least harmful, however the analysis did not consider GI side effects, only cardiovascular.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/736039?src=mp&spon=27
liveonearth: (Default)
2008-02-11 07:42 pm

Biochemistry: Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism

What is arachidonic acid? It's a 20 carbon fatty acid that is unsaturated in four places. It is also known as eicosatetraenoic acid. 20:4 delta 4, 8, 11, 14. It's a precursor to local (autocrine & paracrine) signalling molecules known as Eicosanoids.
Expandprocrastinating on microbiology )