ClickCease
+1-915-850-0900 spinedoctors@gmail.com
Select Page

Wellness

Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.

It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.

It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.

Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.


Functional Medicine Treatment Approaches | Southwest Chiropractor

Functional Medicine Treatment Approaches | Southwest Chiropractor

According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, most chronic diseases are preventable and reversible if a comprehensive, individualized approach that addresses genetics, diet, stress, physical activity, and sleep is implemented through integrated functional medicine teams and based on empirical research.

 

What are the functional medicine treatment approaches?

 

In this way, health is perceived as more than the absence of illness, just as illness is more than the absence of health.�In order for the body to live up to this principle, it needs to be supplied with the necessary nutrients through a healthy diet, adequate sleep, movement/exercise, and management of stress.

 

Functional Medicine Approach #1 – A Elimination Diet

 

Remember that every time someone eats, that changes body chemistry. A functional medicine clinic often guides patients to implement a modified removal diet. Patients are educated to remove certain foods from their diet, such as those containing gluten or dairy, and are encouraged to adjust (increase) the consumption of fruits and vegetables that encompass every color of the rainbow. Patients are advised to remove all added sugars. This practice is often difficult for people; therefore, the FM team must work to encourage their compliance with the elimination diet.

 

Utilization of an elimination diet requires a patient to remove the most frequent causes of food sensitivity (milk, gluten, high saturated fats, highly processed foods) while tracking clinical symptoms to see if there’s an improvement. In addition, patients are advised to eat protein, healthy fats, nuts and seeds, beans, and beverages to support a more anti-inflammatory way of life. Whenever possible, we urge that individuals select meats that are wild-caught organic, and grass-fed. Basically, patients are directed to consume only “actual” food, not processed.

 

Patients are advised to follow this diet for 3 months (detoxification period) and log any changes that exist within their physique. Patients are taught to read and understand food labels, to ask questions of restaurants and manufacturers, and to ask their healthcare staff about any food ingredients of concern. At the end of 3 weeks, patients are given the choice to keep with the outlined diet or to go back to their dietary lifestyle.

 

Functional Medicine Approach #2 – Physical Exercise

 

The focus then is to review the individual’s improvement on her or his detoxification procedure during the elimination diet. Patients are encouraged to raise questions about any foods that they avoid, or need to have more or less of, add, or refrain from eating. Assessing a patient’s food logs, and directing the steps every patient plans to take with respect to dietary alterations during the week can further help achieve this.

 

This process is further eased using mindfulness eating techniques. Mindfulness is an exercise in consciousness, or only noticing. We believe that mindfulness is the basis that has been missing for a lot of people, and is the key to helping them conquer food cravings, addictive eating, binge eating, emotional eating, and stress eating, as well as immunity to or limits in their physical activity plan. This technique is also helpful in different aspects such as stress and sleep.

 

The objective of mindfulness is not to alter anything so much as to allow the mind to go where it wants, and also to be aware if it wanders. Being mindful entails the capacity to detect one’s ideas and sensations (eg, taste, smell, preferences). The aim of mindfulness is to raise patients’ awareness of feelings, their own body functions, and ideas.

 

The second pillar focuses on physical exercise. Physical exercise is any activity that includes stretching, strengthening, cardiovascular health, or other exercises, and enhances or preserves physical fitness and general wellness and health. In this session, we emphasize the need for strength knowing that aerobic exercises are generally promoted. Strengthening exercises work on muscles to help give equilibrium that is physical and added strength. Cardiovascular (aerobic) exercises may include walking, biking, and swimming, and needs to be carried out regularly for at least 30 minutes each or according to the person’s tolerance levels.

 

When working with people with chronic pain, it is important to adjust an exercise program to accomodate the patient’s requirements and capacities. While others could be stiff or sore, many chronic pain patients are deconditioned. Some people are prone to pushing though some could be preoccupied with dread of pain which causes an avoidance of the action altogether to complete a job. Often, people wait for a “great day” to finish rigorous activity. A cycle of overactivity can happen on a recurring basis and cause unwanted effects, such as injury or re-injury.

 

During this particular session, patients receive instruction on time-based actions to help them pace themselves while completing daily tasks. In pacing, time provides the guide for activity participation, instead of the feeling of pain. To put it differently, patients must measure the amount of time that they could engage before sensing pain, instead of waiting to grow to signal them to stop. Pacing helps to keep a consistent action level over time, which can be rehabilitative and involves taking breaks.

 

Functional Medicine Approach #3 – Sleep Hygiene

 

In the third session, the supplier starts with a review to assess a patient’s progress toward his or her personal objectives. The focus would be to introduce education about the psychology of proper sleep hygiene and stress control. Many patients that suffer with chronic pain normally have unsatisfactory or poor sleep patterns.

 

During this particular session, patients are educated about sleeping influencers and are invited to make changes to some element that may be impeding sleep in a negative way. Providers may also suggest stimulation control and provide guidance designed to associate bedtime with all the rapid onset of sleep and also to establish a normal sleep-wake schedule that’s consistent with the person’s circadian sleep cycle.

 

The psychologist and individual also identify any psychological issues and stressors that may exert a negative impact on sleep. Patients are taught to use relaxation techniques to help reduce anxiety and initiate sleep and are directed through a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) workout which can be employed at home to promote sound sleep. PMR is a method which will help reduce muscle tension by alternately tensing and relaxing the muscles. PMR entails a physical and mental component. The component involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups, whereas the mental component focuses on differentiating between feelings of anxiety and relaxation. With exercise, the patient learns how to effectively introduce relaxation to attain a decrease in muscle strain, which reduce stress as well as enhance sleep.

 

Functional Medicine Approach #4 – Stress Management

 

The group therapy protocol concludes from the fourth semester with a concise overview of important topics in the previous sessions, with an emphasis on progress made toward human goals, problem-solving against some barriers to treatment recommendations, and encouraging each player to make personal goals for posttreatment.

 

Patients are challenged to maintain their diet regime going ahead or opt to reintroduce foods back into their diets. Patients who opt to incorporate back foods are encouraged to include select foods, one at a time, each for one day. Patients are taught to integrate the food back into the diet if no detectable symptoms or sensitivity reactions happen.

 

This consideration is presented to reinforce the notion that incorporating back foods might come in the resurfacing of symptoms that were removed or greatly diminished when certain foods were removed from the diet, allowing the individual to create a decision regarding his or her priorities according to her or his level of commitment. Although this can be a 4-session application, patients are also encouraged to create follow-up appointments for individual consultation visits to explore targeted concerns and requirements. The goal of the program is to educate and support self-care for the length of the program, but also for a lifetime, not only among chronic pain sufferers.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

blog picture of cartoon paperboy big news

 

TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: About Chiropractic

 

 

Functional Medicine and Chronic Pain Care | Central Chiropractor

Functional Medicine and Chronic Pain Care | Central Chiropractor

Functional Medicine can help with according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, chronic diseases and ailments, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type two diabetes, obesity, and arthritis, are the most common, expensive, and preventable of all health problems. The prevalence of chronic pain is higher than that of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined.

 

What is the prevalence of chronic pain?

 

In the USA, 86% of all healthcare spending in 2010 has been directed at people with one or more chronic ailments. Alarming projections indicate future generations may have shorter, less healthy lifestyles, and health care costs are estimated to grow to $4.153 trillion. Behaviours, such as being inadequate nutrition, sedentary, tobacco use, and alcohol intake, lead to much of distress, this illness, and death linked to chronic diseases and ailments.

 

According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, many chronic diseases are preventable and reversible in the event a comprehensive, individualized strategy that addresses genetics, diet, stress, physical activity, and sleep is executed through integrated functional medicine teams and based on empirical research. Health is perceived as more than just as illness is greater than the lack of health in the person’s body.

 

What’s Functional Medicine?

 

Functional medicine (FM) addresses the underlying causes of illness, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both practitioner and patient at a healing partnership. The practitioner can support the healing process by viewing illness and health as part of a cycle, all components of the biological system interact dynamically with the surroundings by changing the attention of clinic to a patient-centered approach. Functional medicine also takes as its focus, one relationship: the sacred trust between the person and the doctor who chooses to be the patient of the provider. Functional medicine is further directed by 6 core fundamentals:

 

  • Recognizing the biochemical individuality of every Individual, based on the theories of genetics and environmental influence
  • Emphasis on a patient-centered rather than a disease-centered approach to remedy
  • Trying to find a dynamic equilibrium among the internal and external experiences
  • Familiarity with the intricate relations of internal physiological things
  • Identification of health as a positive vitality, not merely the absence of disorder
  • Promotion of organ preservation because the capacity to enhance the well-being span, not only the lifespan of every individual. The role of professionals would be to spend time listening to their histories and taking a look at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that could influence complicated and long-term health disease, such as chronic pain. Experiences can result in the upkeep of chronic pain, exercise, diet, thoughts, feelings, and environmental consequences.

 

Science has given support to what may be known unconsciously, how we live, the quality of our relationships, how the food that we eat, and how we use our own bodies, have a much bigger effect than genetics ever will. By fixing these poor habits, in other words, pain is treated by functional medicine. This is also a basic principle of health. Functioning correctly, FM helps practitioners treat patients, to prevent, and cure chronic conditions efficiently and at lower cost compared to traditional medical paradigm.

 

The “I” in disease underlines how disease affects the body or thoughts of the individual, and also the “w” in health leads us to work together to attain a condition of being in great physical and psychological health. Thus, the approach into the management of pain is delivered in a group format. The group therapy protocol includes 4 sessions which are approximately 60 to 75 minutes each in duration. The treatment team consists of a dietitian an osteopath doctor, and a health psychologist. Patients are coached to modify their surroundings and live an anti inflammatory lifestyle through 4 important pillars: 1) diet, 2) exercise, 3) stress control( and 4) sleep hygiene.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

blog picture of cartoon paperboy big news

 

TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: About Chiropractic

 

 

Technology: Becoming A Pain In Your Child�s Neck?

Technology: Becoming A Pain In Your Child�s Neck?

Did you know people send an average of 250 million texts daily? Along with the convenience that technology provides, also comes the need to avoid or minimize injuries. This is particularly true of young people, who are still growing.

With the ever increasing daily use of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and handheld games, chiropractors are seeing an increase in corresponding Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s), known by names like text neck and Blackberry thumb. RSIs are injuries of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that are often caused by repetitive activities, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression (pressing against hard surfaces), or sustained awkward positions.

What Is Text Neck?

technology infographic F4CP posture el paso tx

Text neck shows itself as curved shoulders, head hanging forward and down and is caused by poor posture from being�hunched over a mobile device for a long time. This prolonged poor posture is often related to chronic headaches, shoulder, neck pain and can have long term impact.

text neck technology boy looking at phone el paso txFor every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head�on the backbone by an additional 10 pounds.

 

 

Physiology Of Joints & Technology

Young men and women are especially at risk as they are heavy users of advancing technology i.e. smartphones and handheld gaming devices.

 

Text neck and neck strain can cause postural abnormalities and change the growth pattern, especially in the spine.

Technology isn’t going anywhere, so how can we help our children minimize the risks? The trick is to stress the importance of posture and how to attain it, since text neck is a postural abnormality.

 

 

Chiropractic And Strong Posture

Recommendations To Avoid Text Neck

There are several things parents and young people can incorporate into their daily activities to alleviate the symptoms of text neck, related RSIs and fortify their posture:

  • Sit up straight with chest out and shoulders back.
  • Bring your arms up to eye level so you don’t have to look down to see the screen.
  • If you must look down, tuck your chin into your neck instead of hanging your head forward.
  • If you use your mobile device for extensive typing, consider investing in an external keyboard.
  • Rest your forearms on a pillow while typing to minimize neck tension.
  • Avoid using mobile devices in bright sunlight. Straining to see the screen often leads forward chin movement which, strain the head muscles.

Try For A Balanced Lifestyle

The best way to minimize the risk of RSIs related to mobile devices is to balance the use of these devices and all around techology.

Balance is critical. Encourage your child to take breaks from devices that are mobile and get regular physical activity to offset the effects of leaning over a smartphone, tablet or computer.

“You want to neutralize the stress,” says Doctor of chiropractic Brian Gushaty. “Strenuous physical activity for the upper body, such as racquet sports, can provide a good counterbalance for the strain caused by poor posture.”

Another key element is to introduce your child to a regular stretching program:

  • Hand stretches and squeezing a stress ball can help fingers.
  • Pull shoulder blades down and back to help alleviate neck and shoulder strain.
  • Stretch the chest by standing up straight with arms down at your side. Turn forearms until thumbs are pointing at the wall behind you.
  • Posture strengthening programs, like Straighten Up Alberta, is a fun, fast and effortless method to incorporate stretching into your daily routine.

If you are worried your child is suffering from a repetitive strain injury like text neck, speak to a health care provider. A chiropractor is trained to treat RSI’s in all age groups and can provide advice on achieving a balanced healthy lifestyle for your whole family.

El Paso, TX Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense

El Paso, TX Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense

Science based Chiropractor Dr. Alexander Jimenez takes a look at oxidative stress, what it is, how it affects the body and the antioxidant defense to remedy the situation.

Esra Birben PhD,1 Umit Murat Sahiner MD,1 Cansin Sackesen MD,1 Serpil Erzurum MD,2 and Omer Kalayci, MD1

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by living organisms as a result of normal cellular metabolism and environ- mental factors, such as air pollutants or cigarette smoke. ROS are highly reactive molecules and can damage cell structures such as carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins and alter their functions. The shift in the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants is termed �oxidative stress.� Regulation of reducing and oxidizing (redox) state is critical for cell viability, activation, proliferation, and organ function. Aerobic organisms have integrated antioxidant systems, which include enzymatic and non- enzymatic antioxidants that are usually effective in blocking harmful effects of ROS. However, in pathological conditions, the antioxidant systems can be overwhelmed. Oxidative stress contributes to many pathological conditions and diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia/perfusion, diabetes, acute respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma. In this review, we summarize the cellular oxidant and antioxidant systems and discuss the cellular effects and mechanisms of the oxidative stress.

Key Words: antioxidant, oxidant, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, redox

(WAO Journal 2012; 5:9�19)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by living organisms as a result of normal cellular metabolism. At low to moderate concentrations, they function in physiological cell processes, but at high concentrations, they produce adverse modifications to cell components, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA.1�6 The shift in balance between oxidant/ antioxidant in favor of oxidants is termed �oxidative stress.� Oxidative stress contributes to many pathological conditions, including cancer, neurological disorders,7�10 atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia/perfusion,11�14 diabetes, acute respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,15 and asthma.16�21 Aerobic organisms have integrated antioxidant systems,� which include enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants that are usually effective in blocking harmful effects of ROS. However, in pathological conditions, the antioxidant systems can be overwhelmed. In this review, we summarize the cellular oxidant and antioxidant systems and regulation of the reducing and oxidizing (redox) state in health and disease states.

OXIDANTS

Endogenous Sources of ROS

ROS are produced from molecular oxygen as a result of normal cellular metabolism. ROS can be divided into 2 groups: free radicals and nonradicals. Molecules containing one or more unpaired electrons and thus giving reactivity to the molecule are called free radicals. When 2 free radicals share their unpaired electrons, nonradical forms are created. The 3 major ROS that are of physiological significance are superoxide anion (O22.), hydroxyl radical ( OH), and hydro- gen peroxide (H2O2). ROS are summarized in Table 1.

Superoxide anion is formed by the addition of 1 electron to the molecular oxygen.22 This process is mediated by nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NAD(P)H] oxidase or xanthine oxidase or by mitochondrial electron trans- port system. The major site for producing superoxide anion is the mitochondria, the machinery of the cell to produce adenosine triphosphate. Normally, electrons are transferred through mitochondrial electron transport chain for reduction of oxygen to water, but approximately 1 to 3% of all electrons leak from the system and produce superoxide. NAD(P)H oxidase is found in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. Upon phagocytosis, these cells produce a burst of superoxide that lead to bactericidal activity. Superoxide is converted into hydrogen peroxide by the action of superoxide dismutases (SODs, EC 1.15.1.1). Hydrogen peroxide easily diffuses across the plasma membrane. Hydrogen peroxide is also produced by xanthine oxidase, amino acid oxidase, and NAD(P)H oxidase�23,24 and in peroxisomes by consumption of molecular oxygen in metabolic reactions. In a succession of reactions called Haber�Weiss and Fenton reactions,H2O2 can breakdown to OH2 in the presence of transmission metals like Fe21 or Cu21.25

Fe31 +�.O2�?Fe2 +�O2 Haber Weiss

Fe2 +�H2O2�?Fe3 +�OH�+ .OH Fenton reaction

O 2 �itself can also react with H2 O2 and generate OH�.26,27 Hydroxyl radical is the most reactive of ROS and can damage proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and DNA. It can also start lipid peroxidation by taking an electron from polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Granulocytic enzymes further expand the reactivity of H2O2 via eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase (MPO). In activated neutrophils, H2O2 is consumed by MPO. In the presence of chloride ion, H2O2 is converted to hypochlorous acid (HOCl). HOCl is highly oxidative and plays an important role in killing of the pathogens in the airways.28 However, HOCl can also react with DNA and induce DNA�protein interactions and produce pyrimidine oxidation products and add chloride to DNA bases.29,30 Eosinophil peroxidase and MPO also contribute to the oxidative stress by modification of proteins by halogenations, nitration, and protein cross-links via tyrosyl radicals.31�33

Other oxygen-derived free radicals are the peroxyl radicals (ROO$ ). Simplest form of these radicals is hydro- peroxyl radical (HOO$ ) and has a role in fatty acid peroxidation. Free radicals can trigger lipid peroxidation chain reactions by abstracting a hydrogen atom from a side- chain methylene carbon. The lipid radical then reacts with oxygen to produce peroxyl radical. Peroxyl radical initiates a chain reaction and transforms polyunsaturated fatty acids into lipid hydroperoxides. Lipid hydroperoxides are very unstable and easily decompose to secondary products, such as aldehydes (such as 4-hydroxy-2,3-nonenal) and malondialdehydes (MDAs). Isoprostanes are another group of lipid peroxidation products that are generated via the peroxidation of arachidonic acid and have also been found to be elevated in plasma and breath condensates of asthmatics.34,35 Peroxidation of lipids disturbs the integrity of cell membranes and leads to rearrangement of membrane structure.

Hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), MDAs, isoprostanes, carbonyls, and nitrotyrosine can be easily measured from plasma, blood, or bronchoalveolar lavage samples as biomarkers of oxidation by standardized assays.

Exogenous Source of Oxidants

Cigarette Smoke

Cigarette smoke contains many oxidants and free radicals and organic compounds, such as superoxide and nitric oxide.36 In addition, inhalation of cigarette smoke into the lung also activates some endogenous mechanisms, such as accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages, which further increase the oxidant injury.

Ozone Exposure

Ozone exposure can cause lipid peroxidation and induce influx of neutrophils into the airway epithelium. Short-term exposure to ozone also causes the release of inflammatory mediators, such as MPO, eosinophil cationic proteins and also lactate dehydrogenase and albumin.37 Even in healthy subjects, ozone exposure causes a reduction in pulmonary functions.38 Cho et al39 have shown that particulate matter (mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air) catalyzes the reduction of oxygen.

Hyperoxia

Hyperoxia refers to conditions of higher oxygen levels than normal partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs or other body tissues. It leads to greater production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.40,41

Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation, in the presence of O2, converts hydroxyl radical, superoxide, and organic radicals to hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides. These hydroperoxide species react with redox active metal ions, such as Fe and Cu, via Fenton reactions and thus induce oxidative stress.42,43 Narayanan et al44 showed that fibroblasts that were exposed to alpha particles had significant increases in intracellular O2 2. and H2O2 production via plasma membrane-bound NADPH oxidase.44 Signal transduction molecules, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38, and transcription factors, such as activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), and p53, are activated, which result in the expression of radiation response�related genes.45�50 Ultraviolet A (UVA) photons trigger oxidative reactions by excitation of endogenous photosensitizers, such as porphyrins, NADPH oxidase, and riboflavins. 8-Oxo-7,8- dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) is the main UVA-mediated DNA oxidation product formed by the oxidation of OH radical, 1-electron oxidants, and singlet oxygen that mainly reacts with guanine.51 The formation of guanine radical cation in isolated DNA has been shown to efficiently occur through the direct effect of ionizing radiation.52,53 After exposure to ionizing radiation, intracellular level of glutathione (GSH) decreases for a short term but then increases again.54

Heavy Metal Ions

Heavy metal ions, such as iron, copper, cadmium, mercury, nickel, lead, and arsenic, can induce generation of reactive radicals and cause cellular damage via depletion of enzyme activities through lipid peroxidation and reaction with nuclear proteins and DNA.55

One of the most important mechanisms of metal- mediated free radical generation is via a Fenton-type reaction. Superoxide ion and hydrogen peroxide can interact with transition metals, such as iron and copper, via the metal catalyzed Haber�Weiss/Fenton reaction to form OH radicals.

Metal31 1 $O2 /Metal21 1 O2 Haber Weiss Metal21 1 H2 O2 /Metal31 1 OH 2 1 $OH Fenton reaction

Besides the Fenton-type and Haber�Weiss-type mechanisms, certain metal ions can react directly with cellular molecules to generate free radicals, such as thiol radicals, or induce cell signaling pathways. These radicals may also react with other thiol molecules to generate O22.. O22. is converted to H2O2, which causes additional oxygen radical generation. Some metals, such as arsenite, induce ROS formation indirectly by activation of radical producing systems in cells.56

Arsenic is a highly toxic element that produces a variety of ROS, including superoxide (O2 2), singlet oxygen (1O2), peroxyl radical (ROO ), nitric oxide (NO ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and dimethylarsinic peroxyl radicals [(CH3)2AsOO ].57�59 Arsenic (III) compounds can inhibit antioxidant enzymes, especially the GSH-dependent enzymes, such as glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and GSH reductase, via bind- ing to their sulfhydryl (�SH) groups.60,61

Lead increases lipid peroxidation.62 Significant decreases in the activity of tissue SOD and brain GPx have been reported after lead exposure.63,64 Replacement of zinc, which serves as a cofactor for many enzymes by lead, leads to inactivation of such enzymes. Lead exposure may cause inhibition of GST by affecting tissue thiols.

ROS generated by metal-catalyzed reactions can mod- ify DNA bases. Three base substitutions, G / C, G / T, and C / T, can occur as a result of oxidative damage by metal ions, such as Fe21, Cu21, and Ni21. Reid et al65 showed that G / C was predominantly produced by Fe21 while C / T substitution was by Cu21 and Ni21.

ANTIOXIDANTS

The human body is equipped with a variety of antioxidants that serve to counterbalance the effect of oxidants. For all practical purposes, these can be divided into 2 categories: enzymatic (Table 2) and nonenzymatic (Table 3).

Enzymatic Antioxidants

The major enzymatic antioxidants of the lungs are SODs (EC 1.15.1.11), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), and GSH-Px (EC 1.11.1.9). In addition to these major enzymes, other antioxidants, including heme oxygenase-1 (EC 1.14.99.3), and redox proteins, such as thioredoxins (TRXs, EC 1.8.4.10), peroxiredoxins (PRXs, EC 1.11.1.15), and glutaredoxins, have also been found to play crucial roles in the pulmonary antioxidant defenses.

Since superoxide is the primary ROS produced from a variety of sources, its dismutation by SOD is of primary importance for each cell. All 3 forms of SOD, that is, CuZn- SOD, Mn-SOD, and EC-SOD, are widely expressed in the human lung. Mn-SOD is localized in the mitochondria matrix. EC-SOD is primarily localized in the extracellular matrix, especially in areas containing high amounts of type I collagen fibers and around pulmonary and systemic vessels. It has also been detected in the bronchial epithelium, alveolar epithelium, and alveolar macrophages.66,67 Overall, CuZn- SOD and Mn-SOD are generally thought to act as bulk scavengers of superoxide radicals. The relatively high EC-SOD level in the lung with its specific binding to the extracellular matrix components may represent a fundamental component of lung matrix protection.68

H2O2 that is produced by the action of SODs or the action of oxidases, such as xanthine oxidase, is reduced to water by catalase and the GSH-Px. Catalase exists as a tetra- mer composed of 4 identical monomers, each of which con- tains a heme group at the active site. Degradation of H2O2 is accomplished via the conversion between 2 conformations of catalase-ferricatalase (iron coordinated to water) and com- pound I (iron complexed with an oxygen atom). Catalase also binds NADPH as a reducing equivalent to prevent oxidative inactivation of the enzyme (formation of compound II) by H2O2 as it is reduced to water.69

Enzymes in the redox cycle responsible for the reduction of H2O2 and lipid hydroperoxides (generated as a result of membrane lipid peroxidation) include the GSH-Pxs.70 The GSH-Pxs are a family of tetrameric enzymes that contain the unique amino acid selenocysteine within the active sites and use low-molecular-weight thiols, such as GSH, to reduce H2O2 and lipid peroxides to their corresponding alcohols. Four GSH- Pxs have been described, encoded by different genes: GSH- Px-1 (cellular GSH-Px) is ubiquitous and reduces H2O2 and fatty acid peroxides, but not esterified peroxyl lipids.71 Esterified lipids are reduced by membrane-bound GSH-Px-4 (phospholipid hydroperoxide GSH-Px), which can use several different low-molecular-weight thiols as reducing equivalents. GSH-Px-2 (gastrointestinal GSH-Px) is localized in gastrointestinal epithelial cells where it serves to reduce dietary peroxides.72 GSH-Px-3 (extracellular GSH-Px) is the only member of the GSH-Px family that resides in the extracellular compartment and is believed to be one of the most important extracellular antioxidant enzyme in mammals. Of these, extracellular GSH-Px is most widely investigated in the human lung.73

In addition, disposal of H2O2 is closely associated with several thiol-containing enzymes, namely, TRXs (TRX1 and TRX2), thioredoxin reductases (EC 1.8.1.9) (TRRs), PRXs (which are thioredoxin peroxidases), and glutaredoxins.74

Two TRXs and TRRs have been characterized in human cells, existing in both cytosol and mitochondria. In the lung, TRX and TRR are expressed in bronchial and alveolar epithelium and macrophages. Six different PRXs have been found in human cells, differing in their ultrastructural compartmentalization. Experimental studies have revealed the importance of PRX VI in the protection of alveolar epithelium. Human lung expresses all PRXs in bronchial epithelium, alveolar epithelium, and macrophages.75 PRX V has recently been found to function as a peroxynitrite reductase,76 which means that it may function as a potential protective compound in the development of ROS-mediated lung injury.77

Common to these antioxidants is the requirement of NADPH as a reducing equivalent. NADPH maintains catalase in the active form and is used as a cofactor by TRX and GSH reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), which converts GSSG to GSH, a co-substrate for the GSH-Pxs. Intracellular NADPH, in turn, is generated by the reduction of NADP1 by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the pen- tose phosphate pathway, during the conversion of glucose- 6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconolactone. By generating NADPH, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is a critical determinant of cytosolic GSH buffering capacity (GSH/ GSSG) and, therefore, can be considered an essential, regulatory antioxidant enzyme.78,79

GSTs (EC 2.5.1.18), another antioxidant enzyme family, inactivate secondary metabolites, such as unsaturated aldehydes, epoxides, and hydroperoxides. Three major families of GSTs have been described: cytosolic GST, mitochondrial GST,80,81 and membrane-associated microsomal GST that has a role in eicosanoid and GSH metabolism.82 Seven classes of cytosolic GST are identified in mammalian, designated Alpha, Mu, Pi, Sigma, Theta, Omega, and Zeta.83�86 During non-stressed conditions, class Mu and Pi GSTs interact with kinases Ask1 and JNK, respectively, and inhibit these kinases.87�89 It has been shown that GSTP1 dissociates from JNK in response to oxidative stress.89 GSTP1 also physically interacts with PRX VI and leads to recovery of PRX enzyme activity via glutathionylation of the oxidized protein.90

Nonenzymatic Antioxidants

Nonenzymatic antioxidants include low-molecular-weight compounds, such as vitamins (vitamins C and E), b-carotene, uric acid, and GSH, a tripeptide (L-g-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-L- glycine) that comprise a thiol (sulfhydryl) group.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Water-soluble vitamin C (ascorbic acid) provides intracellular and extracellular aqueous-phase antioxidant capacity primarily by scavenging oxygen free radicals. It converts vitamin E free radicals back to vitamin E. Its plasma levels have been shown to decrease with age.91,92

Vitamin E (a-Tocopherol)

Lipid-soluble vitamin E is concentrated in the hydrophobic interior site of cell membrane and is the principal defense against oxidant-induced membrane injury. Vitamin E donates electron to peroxyl radical, which is produced during lipid peroxidation. a-Tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E and the major membrane-bound antioxidant in cell. Vitamin E triggers apoptosis of cancer cells and inhibits free radical formations.93

Glutathione

GSH is highly abundant in all cell compartments and is the major soluble antioxidant. GSH/GSSG ratio is a major determinant of oxidative stress. GSH shows its antioxidant effects in several ways.94 It detoxifies hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides via action of GSH-Px. GSH donates its electron to H2O2 to reduce it into H2O and O2. GSSG is again reduced into GSH by GSH reductase that uses NAD(P)H as the electron donor. GSH-Pxs are also important for the pro- tection of cell membrane from lipid peroxidation. Reduced glutathione donates protons to membrane lipids and protects them from oxidant attacks.95

GSH is a cofactor for several detoxifying enzymes, such as GSH-Px and transferase. It has a role in converting vitamin C and E back to their active forms. GSH protects cells against apoptosis by interacting with proapoptotic and antiapoptotic signaling pathways.94 It also regulates and activates several transcription factors, such as AP-1, NF-kB, and Sp-1.

Carotenoids (b-Carotene)

Carotenoids are pigments found in plants. Primarily, b-carotene has been found to react with peroxyl (ROO ), hydroxyl ( OH), and superoxide (O22.) radicals.96 Carotenoids show their antioxidant effects in low oxygen partial pressure but may have pro-oxidant effects at higher oxygen concentrations.97 Both carotenoids and retinoic acids (RAs) are capable of regulating transcription factors.98 b-Carotene inhibits the oxidant-induced NF-kB activation and interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-a production. Carotenoids also affect apoptosis of cells. Antiproliferative effects of RA have been shown in several studies. This effect of RA is mediated mainly by retinoic acid receptors and vary among cell types. In mammary carcinoma cells, retinoic acid receptor was shown to trigger growth inhibition by inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or both.99,100

THE EFFECT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS: GENETIC, PHYSIOLOGICAL, & BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS

Oxidative stress occurs when the balance between antioxidants and ROS are disrupted because of either depletion of antioxidants or accumulation of ROS. When oxidative stress occurs, cells attempt to counteract the oxidant effects and restore the redox balance by activation or silencing of genes encoding defensive enzymes, tran- scription factors, and structural proteins.101,102 Ratio between oxidized and reduced glutathione (2GSH/GSSG) is one of the important determinants of oxidative stress in the body. Higher production of ROS in body may change DNA structure, result in modification of proteins and lipids, activation of several stress-induced transcription factors, and production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Effects Of Oxidative Stress On DNA

ROS can lead to DNA modifications in several ways, which involves degradation of bases, single- or double- stranded DNA breaks, purine, pyrimidine or sugar-bound modifications, mutations, deletions or translocations, and cross-linking with proteins. Most of these DNA modifications (Fig. 1) are highly relevant to carcinogenesis, aging, and neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases. Tobacco smoke, redox metals, and nonredox metals, such as iron, cadmium, chrome, and arsenic, are also involved in carcinogenesis and aging by generating free radicals or bind- ing with thiol groups. Formation of 8-OH-G is the best- known DNA damage occurring via oxidative stress and is a potential biomarker for carcinogenesis.

Promoter regions of genes contain consensus sequences for transcription factors. These transcription factor�binding sites contain GC-rich sequences that are susceptible for oxidant attacks. Formation of 8-OH-G DNA in transcription factor binding sites can modify binding of transcription factors and thus change the expression of related genes as has been shown for AP-1 and Sp-1 target sequences.103 Besides 8-OH-G, 8,59 -cyclo-29 -deoxyadenosine (cyclo-dA) has also been shown to inhibit transcription from a reporter gene in a cell system if located in a TATA box.104 The TATA-binding protein initiates transcription by changing the bending of DNA. The binding of TATA-binding protein may be impaired by the presence of cyclo-dA.

Oxidative stress causes instability of microsatellite (short tandem repeats) regions. Redox active metal ions, hydroxyl radicals increase microsatellite instability.105 Even though single-stranded DNA breaks caused by oxidant injury can easily be tolerated by cells, double-stranded DNA breaks induced by ionizing radiation can be a significant threat for the cell survival.106

Methylation at CpG islands in DNA is an important epigenetic mechanism that may result in gene silencing. Oxidation of 5-MeCyt to 5-hydroxymethyl uracil (5-OHMeUra) can occur via deamination/oxidation reactions of thymine or 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine intermediates.107 In addition to the modulating gene expression, DNA methylation also seems to affect chromatin organization.108 Aberrant DNA methylation patterns induced by oxidative attacks also affect DNA repair activity.

Effects Of Oxidative Stress On Lipids

ROS can induce lipid peroxidation and disrupt the membrane lipid bilayer arrangement that may inactivate membrane-bound receptors and enzymes and increase tissue permeability.109 Products of lipid peroxidation, such as MDA and unsaturated aldehydes, are capable of inactivating many cellular proteins by forming protein cross-linkages.110�112 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal causes depletion of intracellular GSH and induces of peroxide production,113,114 activates epidermal growth factor receptor,115 and induces fibronectin production.116 Lipid peroxidation products, such as isoprostanes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, have been used as indirect biomarkers of oxidative stress, and increased levels were shown in the exhaled breath condensate or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lung of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients or smokers.117�119

Effects Of Oxidative Stress on Proteins

ROS can cause fragmentation of the peptide chain, alteration of electrical charge of proteins, cross-linking of proteins, and oxidation of specific amino acids and therefore lead to increased susceptibility to proteolysis by degradation by specific proteases.120 Cysteine and methionine residues in proteins are particularly more susceptible to oxidation.121 Oxidation of sulfhydryl groups or methionine residues of proteins cause conformational changes, protein unfolding, and degradation.8,121�123 Enzymes that have metals on or close to their active sites are especially more sensitive to metal catalyzed oxidation. Oxidative modification of enzymes has been shown to inhibit their activities.124,125

In some cases, specific oxidation of proteins may take place. For example, methionine can be oxidized methionine sulfoxide126 and phenylalanine to o-tyrosine127; sulfhydryl groups can be oxidized to form disulfide bonds;128 and carbonyl groups may be introduced into the side chains of proteins. Gamma rays, metal-catalyzed oxidation, HOCl, and ozone can cause formation of carbonyl groups.129

Effects of Oxidative Stress on Signal Transduction

ROS can induce expression of several genes involved in signal transduction.1,130 A high ratio for GSH/GSSG is important for the protection of the cell from oxidative dam- age. Disruption of this ratio causes activation of redox sensitive transcription factors, such as NF-kB, AP-1, nuclear factor of activated T cells and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 , that are involved in the inflammatory response. Activation of transcription factors via ROS is achieved by signal transduction cascades that transmit the information from outside to the inside of cell. Tyrosine kinase receptors, most of the growth factor receptors, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and receptor for platelet-derived growth factor, protein tyrosine phosphatases, and serine/threonine kinases are targets of ROS.131�133 Extra- cellular signal-regulated kinases, JNK, and p38, which are the members of mitogen-activated protein kinase family and involved in several processes in cell including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, also can be regulated by oxidants.

Under oxidative stress conditions, cysteine residues in the DNA-binding site of c-Jun, some AP-1 subunits, and inhibitory k-B kinase undergo reversible S-glutathiolation. Glutaredoxin and TRX have been reported to play an important role in regulation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways, such as NF-kB and AP-1, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and JNK.134�137

NF-kB can be activated in response to oxidative stress conditions, such as ROS, free radicals, and UV irradiation.138 Phosphorylation of IkB frees NF-kB and allows it to enter the nucleus to activate gene transcription.139 A number of kinases have been reported to phosphorylate IkBs at the serine residues. These kinases are the targets of oxidative signals for activation of NF-kB.140 Reducing agents enhance NF-kB DNA binding, whereas oxidizing agents inhibit DNA binding of NF-kB. TRX may exert 2 opposite actions in regulation of NF-kB: in the cytoplasm, it blocks degradation of IkB and inhibits NF-kB activation but enhances NF-kB DNA binding in the nucleus.141 Activation of NF-kB via oxidation-related degradation of IkB results in the activation of several antioxidant defense�related genes. NF-kB regulates the expression of several genes that participate in immune response, such as IL-1b, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, IL-8, and several adhesion molecules.142,143 NF-kB also regulates angiogenesis and proliferation and differentiation of cells.

AP-1 is also regulated by redox state. In the presence of H2O2, some metal ions can induce activation of AP-1. Increase in the ratio of GSH/GSSG enhances AP-1 binding while GSSG inhibits the DNA binding of AP-1.144 DNA binding of the Fos/Jun heterodimer is increased by the reduction of a single conserved cysteine in the DNA-binding domain of each of the proteins,145 while DNA binding of AP-1 can be inhibited by GSSG in many cell types, suggesting that disulphide bond formation by cysteine residues inhibits AP-1 DNA binding.146,147 Signal transduction via oxidative stress is summarized in Figure 2.

 

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress can arise from overproduction of ROS by metabolic reactions that use oxygen and shift the balance between oxidant/antioxidant statuses in favor of the oxidants. ROS are produced by cellular metabolic activities and environmental factors, such as air pollutants or cigarette smoke. ROS are highly reactive molecules because of unpaired electrons in their structure and react with several biological macromolecules in cell, such as carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, and alter their functions. ROS also affects the expression of several genes by upregulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors and chromatin remodeling via alteration in histone acetylation/ deacetylation. Regulation of redox state is critical for cell viability, activation, proliferation, and organ function.

REFERENCES

1. Valko M, Rhodes CJ, Moncol J, Izakovic M, Mazur M. Free radicals, metals and antioxidants in oxidative stress-induced cancer. Chem Biol Interact. 2006;160:1�40.
2. Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC. Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press;1999.
3. Marnett LJ. Lipid peroxidationdDNA damage by malondialdehyde. Mutat Res. 1999;424:83�95.
4. Siems WG, Grune T, Esterbauer H. 4-Hydroxynonenal formation during ischemia and reperfusion of rat small intestine. �Life Sci. 1995;57:785�789.
5. Stadtman ER. Role of oxidant species in aging. Curr Med Chem. 2004;11:1105�1112.
6. Wang MY, Dhingra K, Hittelman WN, Liehr JG, deAndrade M, Li DH. Lipid peroxidation-induced putative malondialdehyde�DNA adducts in human breast tissues. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1996;5:705�710.
7. Jenner P. Oxidative stress in Parkinson�s disease. Ann Neurol. 2003;53: S26�S36.
8. Lyras L, Cairns NJ, Jenner A, Jenner P, Halliwell B. An assessment of oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA in brain from patients with Alzheimer�s disease. J Neurochem. 1997;68:2061�2069.
9. Sayre LM, Smith MA, Perry G. Chemistry and biochemistry of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disease. Curr Med Chem. 2001;8:721�738.
10. Toshniwal PK, Zarling EJ. Evidence for increased lipid peroxidation in multiple sclerosis. Neurochem Res. 1992;17:205�207.
11. Dhalla NS, Temsah RM, Netticadan T. Role of oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases. J Hypertens. 2000;18:655�673.
12. Kasparova S, Brezova V, Valko M, Horecky J, Mlynarik V, et al. Study of the oxidative stress in a rat model of chronic brain hypoperfusion. Neurochem Int. 2005;46:601�611.
13. Kerr S, Brosnan MJ, McIntyre M, Reid JL, Dominiczak AF, Hamilton CA. Superoxide anion production is increased in a model of genetic hypertension: role of the endothelium. Hypertension. 1999;33:1353�1358.
14. Kukreja RC, Hess ML. The oxygen free-radical system: from equations through membrane�protein interactions to cardiovascular injury and protection. Cardiovasc Res. 1992;26:641�655.
15. Asami S, Manabe H, Miyake J, Tsurudome Y, Hirano T, et al. Cigarette smoking induces an increase in oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, in a central site of the human lung. Carcinogenesis. 1997;18:1763�1766.
16. Andreadis AA, Hazen SL, Comhair SA, Erzurum SC. Oxidative and nitrosative events in asthma. Free Radic Biol Med. 2003;35:213�225.
17. Comhair SA, Ricci KS, Arroliga M, Lara AR, Dweik RA, et al. Correlation of systemic superoxide dismutase deficiency to airflow obstruction in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172:306�313.
18. Comhair SA, Xu W, Ghosh S, Thunnissen FB, Almasan A, et al. Superoxide dismutase inactivation in pathophysiology of asthmatic airway remodeling and reactivity. Am J Pathol. 2005;166:663�674.
19. Dut R, Dizdar EA, Birben E, Sackesen C, Soyer OU, Besler T, Kalayci O. Oxidative stress and its determinants in the airways of children with asthma. Allergy. 2008;63:1605�1609.

20. Ercan H, Birben E, Dizdar EA, Keskin O, Karaaslan C, et al. Oxidative stress and genetic and epidemiologic determinants of oxidant injury in childhood asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118:1097�1104.
21. Fitzpatrick AM, Teague WG, Holguin F, Yeh M, Brown LA. Severe Asthma Research Program. Airway glutathione homeostasis is altered in children with severe asthma: evidence for oxidant stress. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;123:146�152.
22. Miller DM, Buettner GR, Aust SD. Transition metals as catalysts of “autoxidation” reactions. Free Radic Biol Med. 1990;8:95�108.
23. Dupuy C, Virion A, Ohayon R, Kaniewski J, D�me D, Pommier J. Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide formation catalyzed by NADPH oxidase in thyroid plasma membrane. J Biol Chem. 1991;266:3739�3743.
24. Granger DN. Role of xanthine oxidase and granulocytes in ischemiareperfusion injury. Am J Physiol. 1988;255:H1269�H1275.
25. Fenton HJH. Oxidation of tartaric acid in the presence of iron. J Chem Soc. 1984;65:899�910.
26. Haber F, Weiss JJ. The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by iron salts. Proc R Soc Lond Ser A. 1934;147:332�351.
27. Liochev SI, Fridovich I. The Haber�Weiss cycled70 years later: an alternative view. Redox Rep. 2002;7:55�57.
28. Klebanoff SJ. Myeloperoxidase: friend and foe. J Leukoc Biol. 2005;77:598�625.
29. Whiteman M, Jenner A, Halliwell B. Hypochlorous acid-induced base modifications in isolated calf thymus DNA. Chem Res Toxicol. 1997;10:1240�1246.
30. Kulcharyk PA, Heinecke JW. Hypochlorous acid produced by the myeloperoxidase system of human phagocytes induces covalent cross-links between DNA and protein. Biochemistry. 2001;40:3648�3656.
31. Brennan ML, Wu W, Fu X, Shen Z, Song W, et al. A tale of two controversies: defining both the role of peroxidases in nitrotyrosine formation in vivo using eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidasedeficient mice, and the nature of peroxidase-generated reactive nitrogen species. J Biol Chem. 2002;277:17415�17427.
32. Denzler KL, Borchers MT, Crosby JR, Cieslewicz G, Hines EM, et al. Extensive eosinophil degranulation and peroxidase-mediated oxidation of airway proteins do not occur in a mouse ovalbumin-challenge model of pulmonary inflammation. J Immunol. 2001;167:1672�1682.
33. van Dalen CJ, Winterbourn CC, Senthilmohan R, Kettle AJ. Nitrite as a substrate and inhibitor of myeloperoxidase. Implications for nitration and hypochlorous acid production at sites of inflammation. J Biol Chem. 2000;275:11638�11644.
34. Wood LG, Fitzgerald DA, Gibson PG, Cooper DM, Garg ML. Lipid peroxidation as determined by plasma isoprostanes is related to disease severity in mild asthma. Lipids. 2000;35:967�974.
35. Montuschi P, Corradi M, Ciabattoni G, Nightingale J, Kharitonov SA, Barnes PJ. Increased 8-isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress, in exhaled condensate of asthma patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;160:216�220.
36. Church DF, Pryor WA. Free-radical chemistry of cigarette smoke and its toxicological implications. Environ Health Perspect. 1985;64:111�126.
37. Hiltermann JT, Lapperre TS, van Bree L, Steerenberg PA, Brahim JJ, et al. Ozone-induced inflammation assessed in sputum and bronchial lavage fluid from asthmatics: a new noninvasive tool in epidemiologic studies on air pollution and asthma. Free Radic Biol Med. 1999;27:1448�1454.
38. Nightingale JA, Rogers DF, Barnes PJ. Effect of inhaled ozone on exhaled nitric oxide, pulmonary function, and induced sputum in normal and asthmatic subjects. Thorax. 1999;54:1061�1069.
39. Cho AK, Sioutas C, Miguel AH, Kumagai Y, Schmitz DA, et al. Redox activity of airborne particulate matter at different sites in the Los Angeles Basin. Environ Res. 2005;99:40�47.
40. Comhair SA, Thomassen MJ, Erzurum SC. Differential induction of extracellular glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide synthase 2 in airways of healthy individuals exposed to 100% O(2) or cigarette smoke. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2000;23:350�354.
41. Matthay MA, Geiser T, Matalon S, Ischiropoulos H. Oxidant-mediated lung injury in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit Care Med. 1999;27:2028�2030.
42. Biaglow JE, Mitchell JB, Held K. The importance of peroxide and superoxide in the X-ray response. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1992;22:665�669.
43. Chiu SM, Xue LY, Friedman LR, Oleinick NL. Copper ion-mediated sensitization of nuclear matrix attachment sites to ionizing radiation. Biochemistry. 1993;32:6214�6219.
44. Narayanan PK, Goodwin EH, Lehnert BE. Alpha particles initiate biological production of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide in human cells. Cancer Res. 1997;57:3963�3971.
45. Tuttle SW, Varnes ME, Mitchell JB, Biaglow JE. Sensitivity to chemical oxidants and radiation in CHO cell lines deficient in oxidative pentose cycle activity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1992;22: 671�675.
46. Guo G, Yan-Sanders Y, Lyn-Cook BD, Wang T, Tamae D, et al. Manganese
superoxide dismutase-mediated gene expression in radiationinduced
adaptive responses. Mol Cell Biol. 2003;23:2362�2378.
47. Azzam EI, de Toledo SM, Spitz DR, Little JB. Oxidative metabolism
modulates signal transduction and micronucleus formation in bystander
cells from a-particle irradiated normal human fibroblasts. Cancer Res.
2002;62:5436�5442.
48. Leach JK, Van Tuyle G, Lin PS, Schmidt-Ullrich R, Mikkelsen RB.
Ionizing radiation-induced, mitochondria-dependent generation of reactive
oxygen/nitrogen. Cancer Res. 2001;61:3894�3901.
49. Dent P, Yacoub A, Fisher PB, Hagan MP, Grant S. MAPK pathways in
radiation responses. Oncogene. 2003;22:5885�5896.
50. Wei SJ, Botero A, Hirota K, Bradbury CM, Markovina S, et al. Thioredoxin
nuclear translocation and interaction with redox factor-1 activates the AP-1 transcription factor in response to ionizing radiation. Cancer Res. 2000;60:6688�6695.
51. Cadet J, Douki T, Gasparutto D, Ravanat JL. Oxidative damage to DNA: formation, measurement and biochemical features. Mutat Res. 2003;531:5�23.
52. Yokoya A, Cunniffe SM, O�Neill P. Effect of hydration on the induction of strand breaks and base lesions in plasmid DNA films by gammaradiation. J Am Chem Soc. 2002;124:8859�8866.
53. Janssen YM, Van Houten B, Borm PJ, Mossman BT. Cell and tissue responses to oxidative damage. Lab Invest. 1993;69:261�274.
54. Iwanaga M, Mori K, Iida T, Urata Y, Matsuo T, et al. Nuclear factor kappa B dependent induction of gamma glutamylcysteine synthetase by ionizing radiation in T98G human glioblastoma cells. Free Radic Biol Med. 1998;24:1256�1268.
55. Stohs SJ, Bagchi D. Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radic Biol Med. 1995;18:321�336.
56. Leonard SS, Harris GK, Shi X. Metal-induced oxidative stress and signal transduction. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004;37:1921�1942.
57. Shi H, Shi X, Liu KJ. Oxidative mechanism of arsenic toxicity and carcinogenesis. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004;255:67�78.
58. Pi J, Horiguchi S, Sun Y, Nikaido M, Shimojo N, Hayashi T. A potential mechanism for the impairment of nitric oxide formation caused by prolonged oral exposure to arsenate in rabbits. Free Radic Biol Med.2003;35:102�113.
59. Rin K, Kawaguchi K, Yamanaka K, Tezuka M, Oku N, Okada S. DNAstrand breaks induced by dimethylarsinic acid, a metabolite of inorganic arsenics, are strongly enhanced by superoxide anion radicals. Biol Pharm Bull. 1995;18:45�58.
60. Waalkes MP, Liu J, Ward JM, Diwan LA. Mechanisms underlying arsenic carcinogenesis: hypersensitivity of mice exposed to inorganic arsenic during gestation. Toxicology. 2004;198:31�38.
61. Schiller CM, Fowler BA, Woods JS. Effects of arsenic on pyruvate dehydrogenase activation. Environ Health Perspect. 1977;19:205�207.
62. Monterio HP, Bechara EJH, Abdalla DSP. Free radicals involvement in neurological porphyrias and lead poisoning. Mol Cell Biochem. 1991;103:73�83.
63. Tripathi RM, Raghunath R, Mahapatra S. Blood lead and its effect on Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe and hemoglobin levels of children. Sci Total Environ. 2001;277:161�168.
64. Nehru B, Dua R. The effect of dietary selenium on lead neurotoxicity. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 1997;16:47�50.
65. Reid TM, Feig DI, Loeb LA. Mutagenesis by metal-induced oxygen radicals. Environ Health Perspect. 1994;102(suppl 3):57�61.
66. Kinnula VL, Crapo JD. Superoxide dismutases in the lung and human lung diseases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167:1600�1619.
67. Kinnula VL. Production and degradation of oxygen metabolites during inflammatory states in the human lung. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 2005;4:465�470.

68. Zelko IN, Mariani TJ, Folz RJ. Superoxide dismutase multigene family: a comparison of the CuZn-SOD (SOD1), Mn-SOD (SOD2), and EC-SOD (SOD3) gene structures, evolution, and expression. Free Radic Biol Med. 2002;33:337�349.
69. Kirkman HN, Rolfo M, Ferraris AM, Gaetani GF. Mechanisms of protection of catalase by NADPH. Kinetics and stoichiometry. J Biol Chem. 1999;274:13908�13914.
70. Floh� L. Glutathione peroxidase. Basic Life Sci. 1988;49:663�668.
71. Arthur JR. The glutathione peroxidases. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2000;57:1825�1835.
72. Chu FF, Doroshow JH, Esworthy RS. Expression, characterization, and tissue distribution of a new cellular selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, GSHPx-GI. J Biol Chem. 1993;268:2571�2576.
73. Comhair SA, Bhathena PR, Farver C, Thunnissen FB, Erzurum SC. Extracellular glutathione peroxidase induction in asthmatic lungs: evidence for redox regulation of expression in human airway epithelial cells. FASEB J. 2001;15:70�78.
74. Gromer S, Urig S, Becker K. The thioredoxin systemdfrom science to clinic. Med Res Rev. 2004;24:40�89.
75. Kinnula VL, Lehtonen S, Kaarteenaho-Wiik R, Lakari E, P��kk� P, et al. Cell specific expression of peroxiredoxins in human lung and pulmonary sarcoidosis. Thorax. 2002;57:157�164.
76. Dubuisson M, Vander Stricht D, Clippe A, Etienne F, Nauser T, et al. Human peroxiredoxin 5 is a peroxynitrite reductase. FEBS Lett. 2004;571:161�165.
77. Holmgren A. Antioxidant function of thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2000;2:811�820.
78. Dickinson DA, Forman HJ. Glutathione in defense and signaling: lessons from a small thiol. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002;973:488�504.
79. Sies H. Glutathione and its role in cellular functions. Free Radic Biol Med. 1999;27:916�921.
80. Ladner JE, Parsons JF, Rife CL, Gilliland GL, Armstrong RN. Parallel evolutionary pathways for glutathione transferases: structure and mechanism of the mitochondrial class kappa enzyme rGSTK1-1. Biochemistry. 2004;43:52�61.
81. Robinson A, Huttley GA, Booth HS, Board PG. Modelling and bioinformatics studies of the human kappa class glutathione transferase predict a novel third transferase family with homology to prokaryotic 2-hydroxychromene-2-carboxylate isomerases. Biochem J. 2004;379:541�552.
82. Jakobsson P-J, Morgenstern R, Mancini J, Ford-Hutchinson A, Persson B. Common structural features of MAPEGda widespread superfamily of membrane associated proteins with highly divergent functions in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism. Protein Sci. 1999;8:689�692.
83. Hayes JD, Pulford DJ. The glutathione S-transferase supergene family: regulation of GST and the contribution of the isoenzymes to cancer chemoprotection and drug resistance. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol. 1995;30:445�600.
84. Armstrong RN. Structure, catalytic mechanism, and evolution of the glutathione transferases. Chem Res Toxicol. 1997;10:2�18.
85. Hayes JD, McLellan LI. Glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes represent a co-ordinately regulated defence against oxidative stress. Free Radic Res. 1999;31:273�300.
86. Sheehan D, Meade G, Foley VM, Dowd CA. Structure, function and evolution of glutathione transferases: implications for classification of nonmammalian members of an ancient enzyme superfamily. Biochem J. 2001;360:1�16.
87. Cho S-G, Lee YH, Park H-S, Ryoo K, Kang KW, et al. Glutathione S-transferase Mu modulates the stress activated signals by suppressing apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1. J Biol Chem. 2001;276:12749�12755.
88. Dorion S, Lambert H, Landry J. Activation of the p38 signaling pathway by heat shock involves the dissociation of glutathione S-transferase Mu from Ask1. J Biol Chem. 2002;277:30792�30797.
89. Adler V, Yin Z, Fuchs SY, Benezra M, Rosario L, et al. Regulation of JNK signalling by GSTp. EMBO J. 1999;18:1321�1334.
90. Manevich Y, Feinstein SI, Fisher AB. Activation of the antioxidant enzyme 1-CYS peroxiredoxin requires glutathionylation mediated by heterodimerization with pGST. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004;101:3780�3785.
91. Bunker VW. Free radicals, antioxidants and ageing. Med Lab Sci. 1992;49:299�312.
92. Mezzetti A, Lapenna D, Romano F, Costantini F, Pierdomenico SD, et al. Systemic oxidative stress and its relationship with age and illness. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996;44:823�827.
93. White E, Shannon JS, Patterson RE. Relationship between vitamin and
calcium supplement use and colon cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1997;6:769�774.
94. Masella R, Di Benedetto R, Vari R, Filesi C, Giovannini C. Novel mechanisms of natural antioxidant compounds in biological systems: involvement of glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes. J Nutr Biochem. 2005;16:577�586.
95. Curello S, Ceconi C, Bigoli C, Ferrari R, Albertini A, Guarnieri C. Changes in the cardiac glutathione status after ischemia and reperfusion. Experientia. 1985;41:42�43.
96. El-Agamey A, Lowe GM, McGarvey DJ, Mortensen A, Phillip DM, Truscott TG. Carotenoid radical chemistry and antioxidant/pro-oxidant properties. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2004;430:37�48.
97. Rice-Evans CA, Sampson J, Bramley PM, Holloway DE. Why do we expect carotenoids to be antioxidants in vivo? Free Radic Res. 1997;26:381�398.
98. Niles RM. Signaling pathways in retinoid chemoprevention and treatment of cancer. Mutat Res. 2004;555:81�96.
99. Donato LJ, Noy N. Suppression of mammary carcinoma growth by retinoic acid: proapoptotic genes are targets for retinoic acid receptor and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II signaling. Cancer Res. 2005;65:8193�8199.
100. Niizuma H, Nakamura Y, Ozaki T, Nakanishi H, Ohira M, et al. Bcl-2 is a key regulator for the retinoic acid-induced apoptotic cell death in neuroblastoma. Oncogene. 2006;25:5046�5055.
101. Dalton TP, Shertzer HG, Puga A. Regulation of gene expression by reactive oxygen. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1999;39:67�101.
102. Scandalios JG. Genomic responses to oxidative stress. In: Meyers RA, ed. Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine. Vol 5. 2nd ed. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH; 2004: 489�512.
103. Ghosh R, Mitchell DL. Effect of oxidative DNA damage in promoter elements on transcription factor binding. Nucleic Acids Res. 1999;27:3213�3218.
104. Marietta C, Gulam H, Brooks PJ. A single 8, 50-cyclo-20-deoxyadenosine lesion in a TATA box prevents binding of the TATA binding protein and strongly reduces transcription in vivo. DNA Repair (Amst). 2002;1:967�975.
105. Jackson AL, Chen R, Loeb LA. Induction of microsatellite instability
by oxidative DNA damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998;95:12468�12473.
106. Caldecott KW. Protein-protein interactions during mammalian DNA single-strand break repair. Biochem Soc Trans. 2003;31:247�251.
107. Cooke MS, Evans MD, Dizdaroglu M, Lunec J. Oxidative DNA damage: mechanisms, mutation, and disease. FASEB J. 2003;17:1195�1214.
108. Jones PL, Wolffe AP. Relationships between chromatin organization and DNA methylation in determining gene expression. Semin Cancer Biol. 1999;9:339�347.
109. Girotti AW. Mechanisms of lipid peroxidation. J Free Radic Biol Med. 1985;1:87�95.
110. Siu GM, Draper HH. Metabolism of malonaldehyde in vivo and in vitro. Lipids. 1982;17:349�355.
111. Esterbauer H, Koller E, Slee RG, Koster JF. Possible involvement of the lipid-peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal in the formation of fluorescent chromolipids. Biochem J. 1986;239:405�409.
112. Hagihara M, Nishigaki I, Maseki M, Yagi K. Age-dependent changes in lipid peroxide levels in the lipoprotein fractions of human serum. J Gerontol. 1984;39:269�272.
113. Keller JN, Mark RJ, Bruce AJ, Blanc E, Rothstein JD, et al. 4- Hydroxynonenal, an aldehydic product of membrane lipid peroxidation, impairs glutamate transport and mitochondrial function in synaptosomes. Neuroscience. 1997;806:85�96.
114. Uchida K, Shiraishi M, Naito Y, Torii Y, Nakamura Y, Osawa T. Activation of stress signaling pathways by the end product of lipid peroxidation. 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal is a potential inducer of intracellular peroxide production. J Biol Chem. 1999;274:2234�2242.
115. Suc I, Meilhac O, Lajoie-Mazenc I, Vandaele J, Jurgens G, Salvayre R, Negre-Salvayre A. Activation of EGF receptor by oxidized LDL. FASEB J. 1998;12:665�671.

116. Tsukagoshi H, Kawata T, Shimizu Y, Ishizuka T, Dobashi K, Mori M. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal enhances fibronectin production by IMR-90 human lung fibroblasts partly via activation of epidermal growth factor receptor-linked extracellular signal-regulated kinase p44/42 pathway. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2002;184:127�135.
117. Montuschi P, Collins JV, Ciabattoni G, Lazzeri N, Corradi M, Kharitonov SA, Barnes PJ. Exhaled 8-isoprostane as an in vivo biomarker of lung oxidative stress in patients with COPD and healthy smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;162:1175�1177.
118. Morrison D, Rahman I, Lannan S, MacNee W. Epithelial permeability, inflammation, and oxidant stress in the air spaces of smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;159:473�479.
119. Nowak D, Kasielski M, Antczak A, Pietras T, Bialasiewicz P. Increased content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and hydrogen peroxide in the expired breath condensate of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: no significant effect of cigarette smoking. Respir Med. 1999;93:389�396.
120. Kelly FJ, Mudway IS. Protein oxidation at the air-lung interface. Amino Acids. 2003;25:375�396.
121. Dean RT, Roberts CR, Jessup W. Fragmentation of extracellular and intracellular polypeptides by free radicals. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1985;180:341�350.
122. Keck RG. The use of t-butyl hydroperoxide as a probe for methionine oxidation in proteins. Anal Biochem. 1996;236:56�62.
123. Davies KJ. Protein damage and degradation by oxygen radicals. I. General aspects. J Biol Chem. 1987;262:9895�9901.
124. Stadtman ER. Metal ion-catalyzed oxidation of proteins: biochemical mechanism and biological consequences. Free Radic Biol Med.
1990;9:315�325.
125. Fucci L, Oliver CN, Coon MJ, Stadtman ER. Inactivation of key metabolic enzymes by mixed-function oxidation reactions: possible implication in protein turnover and ageing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983;80:1521�1525.
126. Stadtman ER, Moskovitz J, Levine RL. Oxidation of methionine residues of proteins: biological consequences. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2003;5:577�582.
127. Stadtman ER, Levine RL. Free radical-mediated oxidation of free amino acids and amino acid residues in proteins. Amino Acids. 2003;25:207�218.
128. Stadtman ER. Protein oxidation in aging and age-related diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001;928:22�38.
129. Shacter E. Quantification and significance of protein oxidation in biological samples. Drug Metab Rev. 2000;32:307�326.
130. Poli G, Leonarduzzi G, Biasi F, Chiarpotto E. Oxidative stress and cell signalling. Curr Med Chem. 2004;11:1163�1182.
131. Neufeld G, Cohen T, Gengrinovitch S, Poltorak Z. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. FASEB J. 1999;13:9�22.
132. Sundaresan M, Yu ZX, Ferrans VJ, Sulciner DJ, Gutkind JS, et al. Regulation of reactive-oxygen species generation in fibroblasts by Rac1. Biochem J. 1996;318:379�382.
133. Sun T, Oberley LW. Redox regulation of transcriptional activators. Free Radic Biol Med. 1996;21:335�348.
134. Klatt P, Molina EP, De Lacoba MG, Padilla CA, Martinez-Galesteo E, Barcena JA, Lamas S. Redox regulation of c-Jun DNA binding by reversible S-glutathiolation. FASEB J. 1999;13:1481�1490.
135. Reynaert NL, Ckless K, Guala AS, Wouters EF, van der Vliet A, Janssen Heininger
YM. In situ detection of S-glutathionylated proteins following glutaredoxin-1 catalyzed cysteine derivatization. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006;1760:380�387.
136. Reynaert NL, Wouters EF, Janssen-Heininger YM. Modulation of glutaredoxin-1
expression in a mouse model of allergic airway disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2007;36:147�151.
137. Filomeni G, Rotilio G, Ciriolo MR. Cell signalling and the glutathione redox system. Biochem Pharmacol. 2002;64:1057�1064.
138. Pande V, Ramos MJ. Molecular recognition of 15-deoxydelta (12,14) prostaglandin J(2) by nuclear factor-kappa B and other cellular proteins. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2005;15:4057�4063.
139. Perkins ND. Integrating cell-signalling pathways with NF-kappaB and IKK function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007;8:49�62.
140. Gilmore TD. Introduction to NF-kappaB: players, pathways, perspectives. Oncogene. 2006;25:6680�6684.
141. Hirota K, Murata M, Sachi Y, Nakamura H, Takeuchi J, Mori K, Yodoi J. Distinct roles of thioredoxin in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. A two-step mechanism of redox regulation of transcription factor NF-kappaB. J Biol Chem. 1999;274:27891�27897.
142. Ward PA. Role of complement, chemokines and regulatory cytokines in acute lung injury. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1996;796:104�112.
143. Akira S, Kishimoto A. NF-IL6 and NF-kB in cytokine gene regulation. Adv Immunol. 1997;65:1�46.
144. Meyer M, Schreck R, Baeuerle PA. H2O2 and antioxidants have opposite effects on activation of NF-kappa B and AP-1 in intact cells: AP-1 as secondary antioxidant-responsive factor. EMBO J. 1993;12:2005�2015.
145. Abate C, Patel L, Rausher FJ, Curran T. Redox regulation of fos and jun DNA-binding activity in vitro. Science. 1990;249:1157�1161.
146. Galter D, Mihm S, Droge W. Distinct effects of glutathione disulphide on the nuclear transcription factors kB and the activator protein-1. Eur J Biochem. 1994;221:639�648.
147. Hirota K, Matsui M, Iwata S, Nishiyama A, Mori K, Yodoi J. AP-1 transcriptional activity is regulated by a direct association between thioredoxin and Ref-1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94: 3633�3638.

Nutrition Counseling In A Clinical Practice

Nutrition Counseling In A Clinical Practice

Wellness Chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez takes a look at discussing nutrition with patients in a clinical setting.

How Clinicians Can Do Better

Despite overwhelming evidence that relatively small dietary changes can significantly improve health, clinicians seldom discuss nutrition with their patients. Poor nutritional intake and nutrition-related health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and many cancers, are highly prevalent in the United States,1 yet only 12% of office visits include counseling about diet.2 Even among high- risk patients with CVD, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia, only 1 in 5 receive nutrition counseling.2 It is likely that many patients receive most of their nutrition information from other, and often unreliable, sources.

These data may reflect the minimal training, time, and reimbursement allocated to nutrition counseling (and preventive services in general) in clinical practice.3 Most physicians and other health care professionals receive limited education on nutrition in medical school (or other professional schools) or in postgraduate training. Just 25% of medical schools offer a dedicated nutrition course, a decline since the status of nutrition education in US medical schools was first assessed in 1985, and few medical schools achieve the 30 hours of nutrition education recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.4 As a result, physicians report inadequate nutrition knowledge and low self-efficacy for counseling patients about diet.3 In addition, time pressures, especially in primary care, limit opportunities to counsel on nutrition or address preventive issues beyond patients� acute complaints. Lack of time is frequently cited as the greatest barrier to counseling on nutrition and obesity.3

Moreover, nutrition and behavioral counseling have traditionally been non-reimbursed services. Few state Medicaid programs cover nutrition or obesity counseling, and before 2012, Medicare explicitly excluded coverage for obesity counseling; although now a reimbursed service for Medicare beneficiaries, just 1% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries receive this counseling.5 Dietitian counseling is also excluded by Medicare, unless patients have diabetes or renal disease. Although the Affordable Care Act mandates coverage for services graded A or B by the US Preventive Services Task Force, including nutrition counseling for patients with CVD risk factors and obesity counseling for patients with a body mass index of 30 or greater, existing private health insurance benefits are in- consistent, and the covered services are often unclear to both clinicians and patients, thereby limiting use.

Furthermore, health behavior change counseling is often frustrating given the current food environment, in which less nutritious foods tend to be less expensive, larger portioned, more easily accessible, and more heavily marketed than healthier options, making patient adherence 6 to nutrition advice challenging. Conflicting and confusing nutrition messages from popular books, blogs, and other media further complicate patient decision making.

Despite these unfavorable trends, there has been progress in this area. The evidence base supporting the benefits of nutrition intervention and behavioral counseling is expanding. Renewed focus on nutrition education in health care professional training is being driven by both student demand and the health care system. Although time pressures and reimbursement remain impediments, incentives and reimbursement options for nutrition and behavioral counseling are growing, and value-based care and health care team approaches hold promise to better align time demands and incentives for long-term care management. Initiatives to integrate clinical care and community resources offer opportunities to leverage resources that alleviate the clinician�s time commitment. There is evidence of some success; for instance, the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages consumed by individuals in the United States has declined substantially over the past 10 years.7

Clinicians can take the following reasonable steps to include nutrition counseling into the flow of daily practice:

1. Start the conversation. Several short, validated screen- ing questionnaires are available to quickly assess need for nutrition counseling, such as the Starting the Conversation tool8 (Table). This approach can be efficiently used prior to seeing the patient at an appointment, either delivered by medical assistants as part of vital sign assessment or as prescreening paperwork for patients to complete online or in the waiting room.

2. Structure the encounter.�Using methods such as the �5 A�s� (assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange), which has been adapted from tobacco counseling. Motivational interviewing, which has documented efficacy in numerous behavior change settings, is particularly helpful to engage patients who are not yet committed or are hesitant to consider behavioral change.

3. Focus on small steps. Changing lifelong nutrition behaviors can seem overwhelming, but even exceedingly small shifts can have an effect (Table). For example, increasing fruit intake by just 1 serving per day has the estimated potential to reduce cardiovascular mortality risk by 8%, the equivalent of 60 000 fewer deaths annually in the United States and 1.6 million deaths globally.9 Other examples include reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food meals, processed meats, and sweets, while increasing vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Emphasize to patients that every food choice is an opportunity to accrue benefits, and even small ones add up. Small substitutions still allow for �treats,� such as replacing potato chips and cheese dip with tortilla chips and salsa, the latter lowering trans fats and saturated fat and increasing whole grain and vegetable intake (Table).

4. Use available resources. Numerous extracurricular resources are readily available for clinicians. The Nutrition in Medicine program offers online, evidence-based nutrition education and tutorials for clinicians and an online, core nutrition curriculum for medical students. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans offers evidence- based and freely available nutrition guidance, tutorials, and tools for clinicians and patients alike. A companion website, Choose My Plate, offers nutrition and counseling advice for clinicians and handy resources for patients, including recently added videos with useful examples of small substitutions that patients will appreciate.

5. Do not do it all at once. Expecting to create long-term behavioral change during a single episode of care is a recipe for frustration and failure, for both the patient and clinician. Empowering and sup- porting patients is an ongoing process, not a 1-time curative event. Use a few minutes at the close of a patient visit to identify opportunities for future counseling, offer to serve as a resource, and be- gin a discussion and support that can be reinforced over time. Take solace in knowing that small initial steps can quickly improve health; for example, reducing trans fats at a single meal (eg, replacing baked goods with fruit or nuts or fried foods with non-fried alternatives) promptly improves endothelial function.10

6. Do not do it all alone.�The primary care physician need not be the sole clinician who provides nutrition counseling. Proactive use of physician extenders (eg, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, and health coaches) and referrals can alleviate much of the burden for the busy clinician. Receptionists can distribute assessment and screening questionnaires for patients to complete in the waiting room; medical assistants can document behavioral change progress while assessing vital signs; administrative staff can identify and con- tact patients who are overdue for interaction. Large practices may benefit from including nutrition or health coaches on staff. Referring to clinical specialists and community-based support programs can significantly extend the clinician�s reach.7 In addition to registered dietitians, numerous clinical and community resources are available and often covered by insurance plans. Board-certified obesity medicine specialists, certified diabetes educators, and physician nutrition specialists are available as referrals in many areas. Diabetes Prevention Program group counseling sessions are now covered by Medicare and available throughout communities, such as in many YMCA sites, and electronically.

Summary

Although there is no conclusive evidence that these steps will improve diet and health outcomes for patients, there is virtually no harm in counseling and the potential gains, especially at the population level, are substantial. Nutrition and health behavior change must become a core competency for virtually all physicians and any other health professionals working with patients who have or are at risk for nutrition-related chronic disease.

A Healthier You

 

Scott Kahan, MD, MPH Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; and George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.

JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.

ARTICLE INFORMATION
Published Online: September 7, 2017. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.10434 Conflict of Interest Disclosures: All authors have
completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.

REFERENCES

1. Ward BW, Schiller JS, Goodman RA. Multiple chronic conditions among US adults: a 2012 update. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014;11:E62.
2. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People 2020. www.healthypeople.gov/2020/data-search/Search-the-Data#srch=nutrition. Accessed January 23, 2017.
3. Kolasa KM, Rickett K. Barriers to providing nutrition counseling cited by physicians. Nutr Clin Pract. 2010;25(5):502-509.
4. Adams KM, Kohlmeier M, Zeisel SH. Nutrition education in U.S. medical schools: latest update of a national survey. Acad Med. 2010;85(9):1537-1542.
5. Batsis JA, Bynum JPW. Uptake of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid obesity benefit: 2012-2013. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016;24(9):1983-1988.
6. Kahan S, Cheskin LJ. Obesity and eating behaviors and behavior change. In: Kahan S, Gielen AC, Fagan PJ, Green LW, eds. Health Behavior Change in Populations. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press; 2014:chap 13.
7. Rehm CD, Pe�alvo JL, Afshin A, Mozaffarian D. Dietary intake among US adults, 1999-2012.JAMA. 2016;315(23):2542-2553.
8. Paxton AE, Strycker LA, Toobert DJ, Ammerman AS, Glasgow RE. Starting the conversation performance of a brief dietary assessment and intervention tool for health professionals. Am J Prev Med. 2011;40(1):67-71.
9. Mozaffarian D, Capewell S. United Nations� dietary policies to prevent cardiovascular disease. BMJ. 2011;343:d5747.
10. Williams MJA, Sutherland WHF, McCormick MP, de Jong SA, Walker RJ, Wilkins GT. Impaired endothelial function following a meal rich in used cooking fat.J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999;33(4):1050-1055

What Is Functional Medicine: An Introduction

What Is Functional Medicine: An Introduction

El Paso, Tx. Wellness chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez examines Functional Medicine.�What it�is and how it can help in having a healthy lifestyle.

The Challenge

Of total healthcare costs in the United States, more than 86% is due to chronic conditions.1 In 2015, health care spending reached $3.2 trillion, accounting for 17.8% of GDP.2 This exceeded the combined federal expenditures for national defense, homeland security, education, and welfare. By 2023, if we don�t change how we confront this challenge, annual healthcare costs in the U.S. will rise to over $4 trillion,3,4 the equivalent�in a single year�of four Iraq wars, making the cost of care using the current model economically unsustainable. If our health outcomes were commensurate with such costs, we might decide they were worth it. Unfortunately, the U.S. spends twice the median per-capita costs of other industrialized countries, as calculated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),5 despite having relatively poor outcomes for such a massive investment.6

Our current healthcare model fails to confront both the causes of and solutions for chronic disease and must be replaced with a model of comprehensive care geared to effectively treating and reversing this escalating crisis.This transformation requires something different than is usually available in our very expensive healthcare system.7

A Contributing Factor�Outdated Clinical Model

Despite notable advances in treating and preventing infectious disease and trauma, the acute-care model that dominated 20th century medicine has not been effective in treating and preventing chronic disease.

Adopting a new operating system for 21st century medicine requires that we:

  • Recognize and validate more appropriate and successful clinical models
  • Re-shape the education and clinical practices of health professionals to help them achieve proficiency in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of chronic disease
  • Reimburse equitably for lifestyle medicine and expanded preventive strategies, acknowledging that the greatest health threats now arise from how we live, work, eat, play, and move

This problem can�t be solved by drugs and surgery, however helpful those tools may be in managing acute signs and symptoms. It can�t be solved be adding new or unconventional tools, such as botanical medicine and acupuncture, to a failing model. It can�t be solved by pharmacogenomics (although advances in that discipline should help reduce deaths from inappropriately prescribed medication�estimated to be the fourth leading cause of hospital deaths12). The costly riddle of chronic disease can only be solved by shifting our focus from suppression and management of symptoms to addressing their underlying causes. Specifically, we must integrate what we know about how the human body works with individualized, patient-centered, science-based care that addresses the causes of complex, chronic disease, which are rooted in lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and genetic influences.

This perspective is completely congruent with what we might call the �omics� revolution. Formerly, scientists believed that once we deciphered the human genome we would be able to answer almost all the questions about the origins of disease.What we actually learned, however, is that human biology is far more complex than that. In fact, humans are not genetically hardwired for most diseases; instead, gene expression is altered by myriad influences, including environment, lifestyle, diet, activity patterns, psycho-social-spiritual factors, and stress.These lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can push us toward (or away from) disease by turning on�or o � certain genes.That insight has helped to fuel the global interest in Functional Medicine, which has that principle at its very core.

A Strategic Response

Functional Medicine directly addresses the underlying causes of disease by using a systems-oriented approach with transformative clinical concepts, original tools, an advanced process of care (see box below), and by engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership.

Functional Medicine practitioners look closely at the myriad interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease (see Figure 1).A major premise of Functional Medicine is that, with science, clinical wisdom, and innovative tools, we can identify many of the underlying causes of chronic disease and intervene to remediate the clinical imbalances, even before overt disease is present.

Functional Medicine exemplifies just the kind of systems-oriented, personalized medicine that is needed to transform clinical practice.The Functional Medicine model of comprehensive care and primary prevention for complex, chronic illness is grounded in both science (evidence about common underlying mechanisms and pathways of disease as well as evidence about the contributions of environmental and lifestyle factors to disease) and art (the healing partnership and the search for insight in the therapeutic encounter).

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine asks how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. It is an approach to health care that conceptualizes health and illness as part of a continuum in which all components of the human biological system interact dynamically with the environment, producing patterns and effects that change over time. Functional Medicine helps clinicians identify and ameliorate dysfunctions in the physiology and biochemistry of the human body as a primary method of improving patient health. Chronic disease is almost always preceded by a period of declining function in one or more of the body�s systems. Functional Medicine is often described as the clinical application of systems biology. Restoring health requires reversing (or substantially improving) the specific dysfunctions that have contributed to the disease state. Each patient represents a unique, complex, and interwoven set of environmental and lifestyle influences on intrinsic functionality (their genetic vulnerabilities) that have set the stage for the development of disease or the maintenance of health.

To manage the complexity inherent in this approach, IFM has created practical models for obtaining and evaluating clinical information that lead to individualized, patient-centered, science-based therapies. Functional Medicine concepts, practices, and tools have evolved considerably over a 30-year period, reflecting the dramatic growth in the evidence base concerning the key common pathways to disease (e.g., inflammation, oxidative stress); the role of diet, stress, and physical activity; the emerging sciences of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics; and the effects of environmental toxins (in the air, water, soil, etc.) on health.

Elements Of Functional Medicine

The knowledge base�or �footprint��of Functional Medicine is shaped by six core foundations:

  • Gene-Environment Interaction: Functional Medicine is based on understanding the metabolic processes of each individual at the cellular level. By knowing how each person�s genes and environment interact to create their unique biochemical phenotype, it is possible to design targeted interventions that correct the specific issues that lead to destructive processes such as inflammation and oxidation, which are at the root of many diseases.
  • Upstream Signal Modulation: Functional Medicine interventions seek to influence biochemical pathways �upstream� and prevent the overproduction of damaging end products, rather than blocking the effects of those end products. For example, instead of using drugs that block the last step in the production of inflammatory mediators (NSAIDs, etc.), Functional Medicine treatments seek to prevent the upregulation of those mediators in the first place.
  • Multimodal Treatment Plans: The Functional Medicine approach uses a broad range of interventions to achieve optimal health including diet, nutrition, exercise and movement; stress management; sleep and rest, phytonutrient, nutritional and pharmaceutical supplementation; and various other restorative and reparative therapies.These interventions are all tailored to address the antecedents, triggers, and mediators of disease or dysfunction in each individual patient.
  • Understanding the Patient in Context: Functional Medicine uses a structured process to uncover the significant life events of each patient�s history to gain a better understanding of who they are as an individual. IFM tools (the �Timeline� and the �Matrix� model) are integral to this process for the role they play in organizing clinical data and mediating clinical insights.This approach to the clinical encounter ensures that the patient is heard, engenders the therapeutic relationship, expands therapeutic options, and improves the collaboration between patient and clinician.
  • Systems Biology-Based Approach: Functional Medicine uses systems biology to understand and identify how core imbalances in specific biological systems can manifest in other parts of the body. Rather than an organ systems-based approach, Functional Medicine addresses core physiological processes that cross anatomical boundaries including: assimilation of nutrients, cellular defense and repair, structural integrity, cellular communication and transport mechanisms, energy production, and biotransformation.The �Functional Medicine Matrix� is the clinician�s key tool for understanding these network effects and provides the basis for the design of effective multimodal treatment strategies.
  • Patient-Centered and Directed: Functional Medicine practitioners work with the patient to find the most appropriate and acceptable treatment plan to correct, balance, and optimize the fundamental underlying issues in the realms of mind, body, and spirit. Beginning with a detailed and personalized history, the patient is welcomed into the process of exploring their story and the potential causes of their health issues. Patients and providers work together to determine the diagnostic process, set achievable health goals, and design an appropriate therapeutic approach.

To assist clinicians in understanding and applying Functional Medicine, IFM has created a highly innovative way of representing the patient�s signs, symptoms, and common pathways of disease. Adapting, organizing, and integrating into the Functional Medicine Matrix the seven biological systems in which core clinical imbalances are found actually creates an intellectual bridge between the rich basic science literature concerning physiological mechanisms of disease and the clinical studies, clinical diagnoses, and clinical experience acquired during medical training.These core clinical imbalances serve to marry the mechanisms of disease with the manifestations and diagnoses of disease.

  • Assimilation: digestion, absorption, microbiota/GI, respiration
  • Defense and repair: immune, inflammation, infection/microbiota
  • Energy: energy regulation, mitochondrial function
  • Biotransformation and elimination: toxicity, detoxification
  • Transport: cardiovascular and lymphatic systems
  • Communication: endocrine, neurotransmitters, immune messengers
  • Structural integrity: sub-cellular membranes to musculoskeletal integrity

Using this construct, it is possible to see that one disease/condition may have multiple causes (i.e., multiple clinical imbalances), just as one fundamental imbalance may be at the root of many seemingly disparate conditions (see Figure 2).

Constructing The Model & Putting It Into Practice

The scientific community has made incredible strides in helping practitioners understand how environment and lifestyle, interacting continuously through an individual�s genetic heritage, psychosocial experiences, and personal beliefs, can impair one or all of the seven core clinical imbalances. IFM has developed concepts and tools that help to collect, organize, and make sense of the data gathered from an expanded history, physical exam, and laboratory evaluation, including:

The GOTOIT system, which presents a logical method for eliciting the patient�s whole story and ensuring that assessment and treatment are in accord with that story:

G = Gather Information

O = Organization Information

T = Tell the Complete Story Back to the Patient

O = Order and Prioritize

I = InitiateTreatment

T = Track Outcomes

  • The Functional Medicine Timeline, which helps to connect key events in the patient�s life with the onset of symptoms of dysfunction.
  • The Functional Medicine Matrix, which provides a unique and succinct way to organize and analyze all of a patient�s health data (see Figure 3).

The patient�s lifestyle influences are entered across the bottom of the Matrix, and the Antecedents,Triggers, and Mediators (ATMs) of disease/dysfunction are entered in the upper left corner.The centrality of the patient�s mind, spirit, and emotions, with which all other elements interact, is clearly shown in the figure. Using this information architecture, the clinician can create a comprehensive snapshot of the patient�s story and visualize the most important clinical elements of Functional Medicine:

1. Identifying each patient�s ATMs of disease and dysfunction.

2. Discovering the factors in the patient�s lifestyle and environment that influence the expression of health or disease.

3. Applying all the data collected about a patient to a matrix of biological systems, within which disturbances in function originate and are expressed.

4. Integrating all this information to create a comprehensive picture of what is causing the patient�s problems, where they are originating, what has influenced their development, and�as a result of this critical analysis�where to intervene to begin reversing the disease process or substantially improving health.

A Functional Medicine treatment plan may involve one or more of a broad range of therapies, including many different dietary interventions (e.g., elimination diet, high phytonutrient diversity diet, low glycemic-load diet), nutraceuticals (e.g., vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, botanicals), and lifestyle changes (e.g., improving sleep quality/quantity, increasing physical activity, decreasing stress and learning stress management techniques, quitting smoking). Nutrition is so vital to the practice of Functional Medicine that IFM has established a core emphasis on Functional Nutrition and has funded the development of a set of unique, innovative tools for developing and applying dietary recommendations.

Scientific support for the Functional Medicine approach to treatment can be found in a large and rapidly expanding evidence base about the therapeutic effects of nutrition (including both dietary choices and the clinical use of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients such as sh oils)13,15,15; botanicals16,17,18; exercise19 (aerobics, strength training, flexibility); stress management 20; detoxification 21,22,23; acupuncture�24,25,26; manual medicine (massage, manipulation)27,28,29; and mind/body techniques 30,31,32 such as meditation, guided imagery, and biofeedback.

All of this work is done within the context of an equal partnership between the practitioner and patient.The practitioner engages the patient in a collaborative relationship, respecting the patient�s role and knowledge of self, and ensuring that the patient learns to take responsibility for their own choices and for complying with the recommended interventions. Learning to assess a patient�s readiness to change and then providing the necessary guidance, training, and support are just as important as ordering the right lab tests and prescribing the right therapies.

Summary

The practice of Functional Medicine involves four essential components: (1) eliciting the patient�s complete story during the Functional Medicine intake; (2) identifying and addressing the challenges of the patient�s modifiable lifestyle factors and environmental exposures; (3) organizing the patient�s clinical imbalances by underlying causes of disease in a systems biology matrix framework; and (4) establishing a mutually empowering partnership between practitioner and patient.

A great strength of Functional Medicine is its relevance to all healthcare disciplines and medical specialties, any of which can�to the degree allowed by their training and licensure�apply a Functional Medicine approach, using the Matrix as a basic template for organizing and coupling knowledge and data. In addition to providing a more effective approach to preventing, treating, and reversing complex chronic disease, Functional Medicine can also provide a common language and a uni ed model that can be applied across a wide variety of health professions to facilitate integrated care.

Functional Medicine is playing a key role in the effort to solve the modern epidemic of chronic disease that is creating a health crisis both nationally and globally. Because chronic disease is a food- and lifestyle-driven, environment- and genetics-influenced phenomenon, we must have an approach to care that integrates all these elements in the context of the patient�s complete story. Functional Medicine does just that and provides an original and creative approach to the collection and analysis of this broad array of information. Using all the concepts and tools that IFM has developed, Functional Medicine practitioners contribute vital skills for treating and reversing complex, chronic disease.

Sourced From:

The Global Leader in Functional Medicine

References
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 14, 2017, www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease.
2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. NHE Fact Sheet. Accessed April 14, 2017, www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statisticstrends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/nhe-fact-sheet.html.

3 DeVol R, Bedroussian A. An unhealthy America: the economic burden of chronic disease�charting a new course to save lives and increase productivity and economic growth. Milken Institute; 2007. Accessed April 14, 2017, assets1c.milkeninstitute.org/assets/Publication/ResearchReport/PDF/chronic_disease_report.pdf.
4 Bodenheimer T, Chen E, Bennett H. Confronting the growing burden of chronic disease: can the U.S. health care workforce do the job? Health Aff. 2009;28(1):64-74. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.64.
5 Bureau of Labor Education, University of Maine. The U.S. Health Care System: Best in the World, Or Just the Most Expensive? 2001. Accessed April 14, 2017, www.suddenlysenior.com/pdf_files/U.S.healthcare.pdf.
6 Radley DC, McCarthy D, Hayes SL. Aiming higher: results from the Commonwealth Fund scorecard on state health system performance (2017 ed.). The Commonwealth Fund; 2017. Accessed April 14, 2017, www.commonwealthfund.org/interactives/2017/mar/state-scorecard/.
7 Jones DS, Hofmann L, Quinn S. 21st century medicine: a new model for medical education and practice. Gig Harbor, WA: The Institute for Functional Medicine; 2011.
8 Jones DS, Hofmann L, Quinn S. 21st century medicine: a new model for medical education and practice. Gig Harbor, WA: The Institute for Functional Medicine; 2009.
9 Willett WC. Balancing life-style and genomics research for disease prevention. Science. 2002; 296(5568):695-97. doi: 10.1126/science.1071055.

10 Thorpe KE, Florence CS, Howard H, Joski P. The rising prevalence of treated disease: effects on private health insurance spending. Health Aff. 2005;Suppl Web Exclusives: W5-317-W5-325. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.w5.317.
11 Heaney RP. Long-latency deficiency disease: insights from calcium and vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78(5):912-9.
12 Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998; 279(15):1200-05.
13 Ames BN, Elson-Schwab I, Silver EA. High-dose vitamin therapy stimulates variant enzymes with decreased coenzyme binding affinity (increased K(m)): relevance to genetic disease and polymorphisms. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;75(4):616-58.
14 Lands B. Prevent the cause, not just the symptoms. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 201;96(1-4):90-3. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2011.07.003.
15 Sofi F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92(5):1189-96. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29673.
16 Mulrow C, Lawrence V, Jacobs B, et al. Milk thistle: effects on liver disease and cirrhosis and clinical adverse effects (No. 21). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2000. Accessed April 14, 2017, www.pkids.org/files/milkthistle.pdf.
17 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Green Tea; 2016. Accessed April 14, 2017, nccih.nih.gov/health/greentea.
18 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. St. John�s Wort; 2016. Accessed April 14, 2017, nccih.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/ataglance.htm.
19 McArdle WD, Katch EI, Katch VL. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2001.
20 McCraty R, Childre D. Coherence: bridging personal, social, and global health. Altern Ther Health Med. 2010;16(4):10-24.
21 Yi B, Kasai H, Lee HS, Kang Y, Park JY, Yang M. Inhibition by wheat sprout (Triticum aestivum) juice of bisphenol A-induced oxidative stress in young women. Mutat Res. 2011;724(1-2):64-68. doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.06.007.
22 Johnson CH, Patterson AD, Idle JR, Gonzalez FJ. Xenobiotic metabolomics: major impact on the metabolome. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2012;52:37-56. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010611-134748.
23 Scapagnini G, Caruso C, Calabrese V. Therapeutic potential of dietary polyphenols against brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2010;698:27-35.
24 Colak MC, Kavakli A, Kilin� A, Rahman A. Postoperative pain and respiratory function in patients treated with electroacupuncture following coronary surgery. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2010;15(1):7-10.
25 Cao H, Pan X, Li H, Liu J. Acupuncture for treatment of insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Altern Complement Med. 2009;15(11):1171-86. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0041.
26 Lee A, Fan LT. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point P6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;15(2):CD003281. doi: 10.1002/14651858.
27 Rubinstein SM, Leboeuf-Yde C, Knol DL, de Koekkoek TE, Pfeifle CE, van Tulder MW. The benefits outweigh the risks for patient undergoing chiropractic care for neck pain: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. J Manipulative Physiol Ter. 2007;30(6):408-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.04.013.
28 Beyerman KL, Palmerino MB, Zohn LE, Kane GM, Foster KA. Efficacy of treating low back pain and dysfunction secondary to osteoarthritis: chiropractic care compared to moist heat alone. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006;29(2):107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.10.005.
29 Kshettry VR, Carole LF, Henly SJ, Sendelbach S, Kummer B. Complementary alternative medical therapies for heart surgery patients: feasibility, safety, and impact. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006;81(1):201-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.06.016.
30 Ornish D, Magbanua MJM, Weidner G, et al. Changes in prostate gene expression in men undergoing an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention. PNAS. 2008;105(24):8369-74. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0803080105.
31 Xiong GL, Doraiswamy PM. Does meditation enhance cognition and brain plasticity? Ann NY Acad Sci. 2009;1172:63-9. doi: 10.1196/annals.1393.002.
32 H�lzel BK, Carmody J, Vangel M, et al. Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Res. 2011;191(1):36-43. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006.

1918 Flu Epidemic & Chiropractic Care

1918 Flu Epidemic & Chiropractic Care

Historical Chiropractic News

Editors Note: The information provided here was forwarded to Planet Chiropractic by a chiropractor in Texas. Far too many people (including chiropractors) are not aware of historical events that took place during the 1917 � 1918 Spanish Flu years, which involved chiropractors caring for thousands that suffered influenza infection during those times. With such a firestorm of media coverage and fear surrounding the Swine Flu Pandemic, it would be irresponsible not to attempt seeking knowledge regarding influenza events of the past.

The Official History of Chiropractic in Texas
By Walter R. Rhodes, DC
Published by the Texas Chiropractic Association � 1978

CHAPTER VI:
THE THREE GREAT SURVIVAL FACTORS
[Excerpts by Dan Murphy, DC]

�The 1917 � 1918 influenza epidemic swept silently across the world bringing death and fear to homes in every land. Disease and pestilence, especially the epidemics, are little understood even now and many of the factors that spread them are still mysterious shadows, but in 1917-1918 almost nothing was known about prevention, protection, treatment or cure of influenza. The whole world stood at its mercy, or lack of it.�

�But out of that particular epidemic, the young science of chiropractic grew into a new measure of safety. While many struggles would lie ahead this successful passage of the profession into early maturity assured its immediate survival and made the eventual outcome of chiropractic a matter for optimism. If there had been any lack of enthusiasm among the doctors of chiropractic, or a depleting of the sources of students then the epidemic took care of them too. These chiropractic survivors of the flu epidemic were sure, assured, determined, and ready to fight any battle that came up. The effect of the epidemic becomes evident in interviews made with old-timers practicing in those years. The refrain comes repeatedly,�

�I was about to go out of business when the flu epidemic came � but when it was over, I was firmly established in practice.�

�Why? The answer is reasonably simple. Chiropractors got fantastic results from influenza patients while those under medical care died like flies all around.� �Statistics reflect a most amazing, almost miraculous state of affairs. The medical profession was practically helpless with the flu victims but chiropractors seemed able to do no wrong.�

�In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases, with 274 deaths. In the same city, 150 chiropractors including students and faculty of the Palmer School of Chiropractic, treated 1,635 cases with only one death.�

�In the state of Iowa, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths � a loss of one patient out of every 15. In the same state, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases � a loss of one patient out of every 789.�

II.

�National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors treated 46,394 patients for influenza during 1918, with a loss of 54 patients � one out of every 886.�

�Reports show that in New York City, during the influenza epidemic of 1918, out of every 10,000 cases medically treated, 950 died; and in every 10,000 pneumonia cases medically treated 6,400 died. These figures are exact, for in that city these are reportable diseases.�

�In the same epidemic, under drugless methods, only 25 patients died of influenza out of every 10,000 cases; and only 100 patients died of pneumonia out of every 10,000 cases. This comparison is made more striking by the following table:�

Influenza Cases Deaths � Under medical methods � Under drugless methods �In the same epidemic reports show that chiropractors in Oklahoma treated 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths. But the best part of this is, in Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 233 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients, and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all these lost cases but 25.�

�Statistics alone, however, don�t put in that little human element needed to spark the material properly. Dr. S. T. McMurrain [DC] had a makeshift table installed in the influenza ward in Base Hospital No. 84 unit stationed in Perigau, in Southwestern France, about 85 kilometers from Bordeaux [during WWI]. The medical officer in charge sent all influenza patients in for chiropractic adjustments from Dr. McMurrain [DC] for the several months the epidemic raged in that area. Lt. Col. McNaughton, the detachment commander, was so impressed he requested to have Dr. McMurrain [DC] commissioned in the Sanitary Corps.�

III.

�Dr. Paul Myers [DC] of Wichita Falls was pressed into service by the County Health Officer and authorized to write prescriptions for the duration of the epidemic there � but Dr. Myers [DC] said he never wrote any, getting better results without medication.�

Dr. Helen B. Mason [DC], whose �son, when only a year old, became very ill with bronchitis. My husband and I took him to several medical specialists without any worthwhile results. We called a chiropractor, as a last resort, and were amazed at the rapidity of his recovery. We discussed this amazing cure at length and came to the decision that if chiropractic could do as much for the health of other individuals as it had done for our son we wanted to become chiropractors.�

Dr. M. L. Stanphill [DC] recounts his experiences: �I had quite a bit of practice in 1918 when the flu broke out. I stayed (in Van Alstyne) until the flu was over and had the greatest success, taking many cases that had been given up and restoring them back to health. During the flu we didn�t have the automobile. I went horseback and drove a buggy day and night. I stayed overnight when the patients were real bad. When the rain and snow came I just stayed it out. There wasn�t a member of my family that had the flu.�

When he came to Denison he said: �I had a lot of trouble with pneumonia when I first came. Once again took all the cases that had been given up. C. R. Crabetree, who lived about 18 miles west of Denison, had double pneumonia and I went and stayed all night with him and until he came to the next morning. He is still living today. That gave me a boost on the west side of town.�

�And when interviews of the old timers are made it is evident that each still vividly remembers the 1917-1918 influenza epidemic. We now know about 20 million persons [recent estimates are as high as 100 million deaths] around the world died of the flu with about 500,000 Americans among that number. But most chiropractors and their patients were miraculously spared and we repeatedly hear about those decisions to become a chiropractor after a remarkable recovery or when a close family member given up for dead suddenly came back to vibrant health.�

�Some of these men and women were to become the major characters thrust upon the profession�s stage in the 20�s and 30�s and they had the courage, the background and the conviction to withstand all that would shortly be thrown against them� [including being thrown in jail for practicing medicine without a license].

�The publicity and reputation of such effectiveness in handling flu cases also brought new patients and much acclaim from people who knew nothing of chiropractic before 1918.�

IV.

�The first survival factor for chiropractic: they were the legal and legislative salvation. But the fabulous success of chiropractic in combating the 1917-1918 influenza outbreak was the public relations breakthrough that can certainly be called the second great survival factor. Better acceptance by the public followed and more patients meant financial safety for practicing chiropractors. Dedicated chiropractors came into the profession in increasing numbers and they had a sure sense of certainty, heady conviction, and a great willingness to fight for the cause.�

Other Texas Chiropractic History (view more at chirotexas.com)

1916 � Texas State Chiropractic Association Formed

1916 � First TSCA annual convention held at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio

1917 � First chiropractic bill introduced into Texas Legislature

1923 � Second chiropractic bill introduced into Texas Legislature

Source:

PlanetChiropractic.com