Azelaic Acid for Acne

A study in a recent issue of Pharmacokinetics shows that both Azelaic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide have a moderate to strong antibacterial effect when applied to the skin for acne. The advantage of these two ingredients over applying antibiotics is that the acne causing bacteria do not become resistant to either ingredient.

Azelaic Acid and Acne Rosacea

A recent study has shown that Azelaic acid is very effective when applied for Acne Rosacea. It is a first-tier treatment meaning try it first and it has been shown to reduce the inflammation and redness when applied topically. The study appears in the May-June, 2004 issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

Algae and Reducing AIDS Incidence - an interesting hypothesis

Researchers at the Center for Health Promotion Education and Behavior, the Norman J Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Cancer Center propose that in areas where algae is consumed there is a decreased incidence of AIDS/HIV because the algae fights the viruses. They state that differences in sexual habits and IV drug use is not enough to cause the huge difference in incidence between countries. In Eastern Asia the AIDS rate is 1:10,000, in parts of Africa it is frequently as high as 1/10 adults. In Japan and Korea they eat seaweed daily, and in Chad there are consistently lower rates of HIV/AIDS (2-4:100) versus the rest of Africa. In Chad one of the major tribal groups eats Spirulina daily. Regular consumption of dietary algae may help prevent HIV infection according to the researchers and suppress viral load (decrease the number of viral cells). In vivo (in living organisms) and in vitro (in a cell culture) studies show that algae fights the AIDS virus. The study is published in the recent issue of Medical Hypotheses.

Synthetic Progesterone Decreases Sex Drive

Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center recently reported that giving medroxyprogesterone, a synthetic version of the female sex hormone progesterone, to female macaque monkeys decreased their sex drive, and made them anxious and aggressive. Estrogen improves libido, adding synthetic progesterone to it actually decreased the sex drive. This occurred only with the synthetic progesterone and not estrogen alone, or estrogen when given with natural bio-identical progesterone. The study shows a significant advantage of natural progesterone over the most commonly used synthetic version. The study appears in the June 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Mercury and Autism

In a study of susceptible mice, giving thimerosal to them caused behavior changes and changes in the brain similar to autism. Thimerosal is a mercury preservative commonly used in vaccines given to children. The study appears in the July issue of Molecular Psychiatry.

Fruits and Vegetables and Rheumatoid Arthritis

In a study of 23,000 men and women followed for 4 years, those with arthritis ate fewer fruits and vegetables. The researchers believe it was the vitamin C content of the produce more than anything else that reduced the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis. The study appears in the July issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.