"Virtual" colonoscopy or CT colonography is relatively new,
constructing a 3D image of the colon by using an X-ray CT scan.
Many people opt for it because unlike a traditional colonoscopy
it is noninvasive, but is it accurate?
248 consecutive patients who were at increased risk of developing
colon cancer were first checked by a virtual colonoscopy, and then
double-checked by the traditional colonoscopy. Two different
reviewers checked all of the results independently. 8 Large polyps
were missed by the virtual colonoscopy and picked up by the
traditional colonoscopy. The virtual colonoscopy missed many flat,
non-stalked polyps. There were a large number of false positives
with virtual colonoscopy. The study is published in the July 2004
issue of Gastroenterology.
A High Uric Acid Level is Dangerous
A study of 1423 middle-aged Finnish men supports the abundant
epidemiological evidence that highly elevated blood levels of
uric acid are predictor of death from cardiovascular disease.
The men were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes
at the start of the study and the men were followed for an
average of almost 12 years. Those men with a serum uric acid level
in the top third of all men had a 2.5 fold higher risk of dying
from cardiovascular disease than men with levels in the lower third.
If risk factors for cardiovascular disease and variables for gout
were factored in the risk for these men rose to 3.73 fold. Factoring
in adjustments for metabolic syndrome (a prelude to diabetes)
increased their risk to 4.77 fold greater than men in the lowest
third of uric acid levels. Serum uric acid levels are a strong
predictor of cardiovascular disease mortality in healthy middle-aged
men. The study is published in the July 26th issue of the Archives
of Internal Medicine.
Perilla Frutescens Extract Inhibits Seasonal Allergy Symptoms and Rhinoconjunctivitis
In a 21-day study patients with mild seasonal airborne allergies
were treated with a concentration of Perilla frutescens vs. placebo,
patients on Perilla had significant decreases in the intensity of
the following symptoms - itchy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and total
symptoms. The release of immune system chemicals and allergy-associated
cells was also greatly reduced including fewer neutrophils and
eosinophils. There were no side effects from the Perilla. The study
is published in the July 2004 issue of the journal of Experimental
Biology and Medicine.
Perilla Frutescens Contains Many Ingredients that Aid Inflamed Tissue
In a study of 9 different ingredients in Perilla frutescens, 8 had
a strong ability to inhibit inflammation and the 9th strongly
inhibited tumor growth in a variety of ways. Five of the compounds
strongly inhibited the Epstein Barr virus. The study is published
in the January 2004 issue of the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology
and Biochemistry.
Perilla Frutescens Inhibits Dust Mite Allergy-Associated Asthma in Animals
In mice prone to dust mite allergen induced asthma, supplementing
with Perilla frutescens effectively blocked the allergic response
and associated asthma attacks. The Perilla decreased the release of
allergy-associated chemicals and inflammatory chemicals such as
cytokines, chemokines and allergiy-specific antibodies in the mice
airways and lungs. The study appears in the June 2004 issue of the
journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy.
