The diseases … the cures …

Whole-Fat Dairy Associated with Heart Benefit in PURE Study

—Even the saturated fat from it appears acquitted in observational data

https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/prevention/75058

MedPage Today

September 12, 2018

Eating dairy daily – including full-fat products – was associated with lower risk of death or cardiovascular disease in the large multinational PURE cohort study.

Consumption of more than two servings of dairy versus no intake each day was linked with a lower risk of death or a major cardiovascular event, including death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal MI, stroke, and heart failure

[more at website]

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Drinking full-fat milk can 'lower the risk of heart disease' - Good news for whole-fat milk enthusiasts – a new study suggests consuming same can lower your chances of death by heart disease.

https://www.thejournal.ie/study-full-fat-milk-heart-disease-4229225-Sep2018/

thejournal.ie

Sep 12th 2018

CONSUMING THREE PORTIONS of full fat milk a day could lower rates of heart disease, according to a new study.

The study, carried out on a global observational cohort of 130,000 people in 21 countries and published in The Lancet, suggests that up to three servings per day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as opposed to lower levels of consumption.

While that claim is broadly in line with previous analyses and observational studies of people’s heart health, it is contrary to the current dietary guidelines issued by health watchdogs worldwide, which suggests that two-to-four servings of fat-free dairy each day is optimal.

[more at website]

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Aspirin could play valuable role as additional treatment for cancer

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-aspirin-valuable-role-additional-treatment.html

September 26, 2018, Cardiff University

Regular use of aspirin could help in the treatment of some cancers, finds a new review of 71 medical studies.

The systematic review, which looked at the survival of 120,000 patients with cancer who took aspirin, compared with 400,000 patients who did not, showed that at any time following the diagnosis of some cancers the proportion of patients who were still alive was 20-30% greater in those taking the drug. The spread of cancer to other parts of the body was also substantially reduced in patients using aspirin.

Peter Elwood, Honorary Professor at Cardiff University, who directed the study said: "The use of low-dose aspirin as a preventive in heart disease, stroke and cancer is well established but evidence is now emerging that the drug may have a valuable role as an additional treatment for cancer too."

[more at website]

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Bacteria-fighting viruses could provide new approach to promoting gut health

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-bacteria-fighting-viruses-approach-gut-health.html

September 26, 2018 by Jeff Dodge, Colorado State University

Intentionally putting viruses into one's body might seem like a bad idea, but a study conducted at Colorado State University has demonstrated that a combination of bacteria-killing viruses is not only safe for humans, but seems to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation and combat E. coli.

Results from the research by CSU have confirmed the safety and tolerability of using viruses known as bacteriophages to reduce targeted bacterial species in the gut. The new treatment could be used to reduce inflammation-causing bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria known to enhance gastrointestinal health, immune function, and anti-inflammatory processes.

"If you told someone to go eat viruses for a month, they'd probably say you're crazy," said study co-investigator Tiffany Weir, an associate professor in CSU's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. "Bacteriophages are pretty cool, because their host range is so specific that you're not going to get sick from them. The ones we used infect E. coli cells and cause them to explode."

[more at website]

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The diseases … the cures … (Part 2)

Reclassification recommendations for drug in 'magic mushrooms'

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-reclassification-drug-magic-mushrooms.html

September 26, 2018, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

In an evaluation of the safety and abuse research on the drug in hallucinogenic mushrooms, Johns Hopkins researchers suggest that if it clears phase III clinical trials, psilocybin should be re-categorized from a schedule I drug—one with no known medical potential—to a schedule IV drug such as prescription sleep aids, but with tighter control. …

Following the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, any drug with the potential for abuse is categorized based on criteria that take into account whether the drug has accepted medical use, and its safety and the potential for abuse. Although preliminary research studies suggest that psilocybin may be effective for smoking cessation and for disorders such as cancer-specific depression and anxiety, it must clear phase III clinical trials before the Food and Drug Administration can be petitioned to reclassify it.

Studies in animals and humans both show low potential for abuse, the researchers say. When rats push a lever to receive psilocybin, they don't keep pushing the lever like they do for drugs such as cocaine, alcohol or heroin. When it comes to human studies, people who have used psilocybin typically report using it a few times across their lifetime.

As for safety, studies show it frequently falls at the end of the scales with the least harm to users and society, say the researchers. Psilocybin also is lowest in the potential for lethal overdose as there is no known overdose level.

[more at website]

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Can taking a hallucinogen curb cocaine use?

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-06-hallucinogen-curb-cocaine.html

June 28, 2018 by Holly Gainer, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Unlike with alcohol or nicotine, there is not a pharmacological option available to individuals addicted to cocaine to help them stop using the drug. However, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham believe the tool to help individuals treat their addiction may very well exist.

Researchers in the School of Public Health are conducting a clinical trial to see whether psilocybin, the active compound found in Psilocybe mushrooms, will help individuals addicted to cocaine stop using the harmful drug. …

Psilocybin is theorized to work from three angles: biochemical, psychological, and transcendental/spiritual. Biochemically, psilocybin disrupts the receptors in the brain that are thought to be responsible for reinforcing addictive behaviors. Psychologically, it is thought to reduce cravings, increase a sense of one's self-efficacy and increase motivation. Transcendentally or spiritually, psilocybin is thought to increase one's sense of purpose and a sense of oneness with a higher power, which have both been shown to be powerful protective factors against addiction.

[more at website]