Breast cancer is the most aggressive form of all cancers, with high incidence and mortality rates. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism by which methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) inhibits breast cancer growth in mice xenografts. MSM is an organic sulfur-containing natural compound without any toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated that MSM substantially decreased the viability of human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. MSM also suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3, STAT5b, expression of IGF-1R, HIF-1α, VEGF, BrK, and p-IGF-1R and inhibited triple-negative receptor expression in receptor-positive cell lines. Moreover, MSM decreased the DNA-binding activities of STAT5b and STAT3, to the target gene promoters in MDA-MB 231 or co-transfected COS-7 cells. We confirmed that MSM significantly decreased the relative luciferase activities indicating crosstalk between STAT5b/IGF-1R, STAT5b/HSP90α, and STAT3/VEGF. To confirm these findings in vivo, xenografts were established in Balb/c athymic nude mice with MDA-MB 231 cells and MSM was administered for 30 days. Concurring to our in vitro analysis, these xenografts showed decreased expression of STAT3, STAT5b, IGF-1R and VEGF. Through in vitro and in vivo analysis, we confirmed that MSM can effectively regulate multiple targets including STAT3/VEGF and STAT5b/IGF-1R. These are the major molecules involved in tumor development, progression, and metastasis. Thus, we strongly recommend the use of MSM as a trial drug for treating all types of breast cancers including triple-negative cancers.

Source: PLoS One

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

April 13, 2012

Grand Blanc, MI - When most people think of non-surgical scoliosis treatment, they usually talk about bracing around the torso, or performing activities like massage, yoga, stretching, or craniosacral therapy. Now, a local chiropractor has published a book highlighting the a new scoliosis treatment called ARC3D Therapy.

The book, titled “Scoliosis and ARC3D Therapy: Restoring Hope Through Non-Surgical Treatment” is the collective work of Dr. Mark Morningstar, a Grand Blanc chiropractor with a unique perspective on scoliosis treatment. His treatment works with the body, not against it. According to Morningstar, “Conventional scoliosis treatment mainly involves the orthopedic treatment of the spinal curvature, whether by bracing or surgery. In recent years many studies looking at the underlying causes of scoliosis suggest that scoliosis does not start as a spine problem, but likely as a neurological and hormonal disorder that results in the initiation of a spine curvature that perpetuates itself as the patient grows.”

In addition to unique exercises and treatments, Dr. Morningstar uses specific lab testing to predict the potential of a scoliosis progress through genetic testing, called ScoliScore. He also looks at the nutritional status of each scoliosis patient, and works to improve the spine curvature as well as their overall quality of life, pain, and emotional health.

This is Morningstar’s first published book on scoliosis. He has also published several medical studies on scoliosis and his comprehensive approach to scoliosis. “My goal in writing this book is to get parents vital information they may not be getting other places. I want patients and parents alike to understand that there should be a lot more to treating a patient with scoliosis than just straightening the spine. We have to begin to address these other neurological and hormonal deficits if we ever want hope of preventing this disease in the first place.”

Scoliosis and ARC3D Therapy: Restoring Hope Through Non-Surgical Treatment, is available for purchase online through Infinity Publishing, and through online book retailers. Dr. Morningstar has two practices in Grand Blanc and Richmond, MI, where he focuses his practice on neurological disorders and the treatment of scoliosis. He is the developer of the TornadoSuit, an activity suit specifically designed for scoliosis, and currently serves as the President of the International Chiropractic Scoliosis Board. His website is arc3dtherapy.com, or drmorningstar.com.

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Source: FixScoliosis.com

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

March 19, 2012. An article published online on March 16, 2012 in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows a clear decline in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or from all causes over a 14 year average period in association with the presence of a greater number of mainly controllable health factors.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Atlanta analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of 1988-1994, 1999-2004 and 2005-2010 for their research, which included a total of 44,959 participants. Survey responses and physical examinations provided information on the following cardiovascular health metrics: smoking status, physical activity level, body mass index, healthy diet intake, total serum cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose. Mortality data obtained through 2006 ascertained 2,673 deaths, including 1,085 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 576 ischemic heart disease deaths over a median follow-up period of 14.5 years.

Subjects were scored on optimal status for each of the seven health metrics, i.e., not smoking, being physically active and having healthy body mass index, diet, serum cholesterol, blood pressure and hemoglobin A1C (indicating desirable glucose levels). Less than 2 percent of all participants met all seven goals. Having two or more optimal factors was associated with a 27 percent lower adjusted risk of dying of cardiovascular disease compared to one or no factors, and this risk continued to decline in association with an increasing number of factors to reach a 76 percent reduction with the presence of six or more factors. Additionally, having six or more factors was associated with a 51 percent lower risk of dying of any cause.

“Our findings indicate that the presence of a greater number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with a graded and significantly lower risk of total and cardiovascular disease mortality,” the authors conclude.

Source: Life Extension Foundation

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

Seems like the reasons to not eat at fast food restaurants just keep on piling up. We’ve heard all about the unseemly practices that go into obtaining their meats and innumerable other horrors. But now, let’s look at the quality of the soda fountains–another staple of the fast food experience. A recent study has revealed that a full 48% of soda fountains at fast food restaurants contain coliform bacteria–a bacteria that commonly grows in feces. Oh, and 11% contained E. Coli, too.

The study was done by a team of microbiologists at Hollins University, and the findings were just published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Fecal Bacteria and Co. in Fast Food Soda Fountains
From the abstract of the scientists’ report:

Coliform bacteria was detected in 48% of the beverages and 20% had a heterotrophic plate count greater than 500 cfu/ml. [...] More than 11% of the beverages analyzed contained Escherichia coli [E. Coli] and over 17% contained Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. Other opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms isolated from the beverages included species of Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia. Most of the identified bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested.

That’s right–not only do soda fountains contain bacteria that originated in poop and potentially dangerous amounts of E. Coli, but they’ve become resistant to antibiotics as well. Fantastic.

Journalist Tom Lawskawy, who broke news of the study, points out, however, that the researchers say there’s only been one certified outbreak over in the last ten years. And to be clear, coliform bacteria does not only grow in feces, though it commonly does–and the majority of coliform bacteria are not dangerous. But Lawskawy also notes that there’s an “awful lot of ‘gastric distress’ that goes unreported.”

Which is undeniably true–how many times can you remember having a meal at a fast food restaurant and inexplicably not feeling so hot afterward? Perhaps our friend the coliform bacteria–you know, the one that grows in feces and that you have something like a 50% chance of ingesting if you drink from fast food soda fountains–has played a part.

Gross.

Can Fecal Bacteria in Soda Really Make You Sick?
Now, while the whole concept does indeed seem disgusting, it’s useful to remember that there is a small amount of coliform bacteria in much of the stuff we drink–it’s legal, and safe, in certain percentages in US drinking water. And there’s only one strain of E. Coli (O157:H7) that’s dangerous, which is why outbreaks attributed to soda fountains are so extremely rare–and why nobody really needs to fear for their lives when going for a refill of Dr. Pepper.

That said, there are still people getting needlessly sick to their stomachs by the poor cleaning practices of fast food joints. As the scientists conclude in their abstract:

These findings suggest that soda fountain machines may harbor persistent communities of potentially pathogenic microorganisms which may contribute to episodic gastric distress in the general population and could pose a more significant health risk to immunocompromised individuals. These findings have important public health implications and signal the need for regulations enforcing hygienic practices associated with these beverage dispensers.

Source: preventdisease.com

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

Do those depressed pursue fast food or is it the fast food that creates depression? According to a recent study headed by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada, eating commercial baked goods and fast food is linked to depression.

Published in the Public Health Nutrition journal, the results reveal that consumers of fast food, compared to those who eat little or none, are 51% more likely to develop depression.

Furthermore, a dose-response relationship was observed. In other words this means that “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression,” explains Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, lead author of the study, to SINC.

The study demonstrates that those participants who eat the most fast food ((hamburgers and hotdogs) and commercial baked goods are more likely to be single, less active and have poor dietary habits, which include eating less fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables and olive oil. Smoking and working more than 45 hours per week are other prevalent characteristics of this group.

A long-term study

With regard to the consumption of commercial baked goods, the results are equally conclusive. “Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression,” as the university researcher from the Canary Islands points out.

The study sample belonged to the SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). It consisted of 8,964 participants that had never been diagnosed with depression or taken antidepressants. They were assessed for an average of six months, and 493 were diagnosed with depression or started to take antidepressants.

This new data supports the results of the SUN project in 2011, which were published in the PLoS One journal. The project recorded 657 new cases of depression out of the 12,059 people analysed over more than six months. A 42% increase in the risk associated with fast food was found, which is lower than that found in the current study.

Sanchez-Villegas concludes that “although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being.”

The impact of diet on mental health

Depression affects 121 million people worldwide. This figure makes it one of the main global causes of disability-adjusted life year. Further still, in countries with low and medium income it is the leading cause.

However, little is known about the role that diet plays in developing depressive disorders. Previous studies suggest that certain nutrients have a preventative role. These include group B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil. Furthermore, a healthy diet such as that enjoyed in the Mediterranean has been linked to a lower risk of developing depression.

Source:  preventdisease.com

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

The results of two double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials described online on December 14, 2011 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition conclude a beneficial effect for calcium and vitamin D in reducing visceral adipose tissue—fat that accumulates in the abdomen which is associated with several metabolic disorders.

A team from Massachusetts General Hospital randomized 88 overweight or obese men and women to receive a glass of orange juice fortified with 350 milligrams calcium and 100 international units vitamin D3, or nonfortified orange juice three times daily for 16 weeks. A separate trial of 83 men and women evaluated the effects of calcium and vitamin D-fortified “lite” orange juice, which has fewer calories than regular orange juice. Physical examinations conducted at the beginning of the study and at four week intervals ascertained weight and waist circumference. Computed tomography (CT) examination of the abdomen assessed visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue before and after treatment.

While changes in body weight, body mass index and waist circumference did not differ significantly between those who received fortified and nonfortified juice in either trial, the reduction in visceral adipose tissue was significantly greater among those that received fortified beverages. For those who received regular orange juice, the reduction averaged 12.7 cm2 in comparison with a loss of 1.3 cm2 in the control group, and in the lite orange juice group, the addition of calcium and vitamin D resulted in a 13.1 cm2 reduction in visceral adipose tissue compared to 6.4 cm2 in the control group.

“The data underscore the possible role of these two nutrients in fat metabolism and support a potential role of calcium and vitamin D in the preferential and beneficial reduction of visceral abdominal tissue,” the authors conclude.

Source: Life Extension Foundation

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

As bacteria evolve to evade antibiotics, common infections could become deadly, according to Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization.

Speaking at a conference in Copenhagen, Chan said antibiotic resistance could bring about “the end of modern medicine as we know it.”

“We are losing our first-line antimicrobials,” she said Wednesday in her keynote address at the conference on combating antimicrobial resistance. “Replacement treatments are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment, and may require treatment in intensive care units.”

Chan said hospitals have become “hotbeds for highly-resistant pathogens” like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, “increasing the risk that hospitalization kills instead of cures.”

Indeed, diseases that were once curable, such as tuberculosis, are becoming harder and more expensive to treat.

Chan said treatment of  multidrug resistant tuberculosis was “extremely complicated, typically requiring two years of medication with toxic and expensive medicines, some of which are in constant short supply. Even with the best of care, only slightly more than 50 percent of these patients will be cured.”

Antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella, E. coli, and gonorrhea have also been discovered.

“Some experts say we are moving back to the pre-antibiotic era. No. This will be a post-antibiotic era. In terms of new replacement antibiotics, the pipeline is virtually dry,” said Chan. “A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it. Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill.”

The dearth of effective antibiotics could also make surgical procedures and certain cancer treatments risky or even impossible, Chan said.

“Some sophisticated interventions, like hip replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy and care of preterm infants, would become far more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake,” she said.

The development of new antibiotics now could help stave off catastrophe later. But few drug makers are willing to invest in drugs designed for short term use.

“It’s simply not profitable for them,” said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “If you create a new drug to red cholesterol, people will be taking that drug every day for the rest of their lives. But you only take antibiotics for a week or maybe 10 days.”

Schaffner likened the dilemma to Ford releasing a car that could only be driven if every other vehicle wasn’t working.

“While we try to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to create new antibiotics, we have to be very prudent in their use,” he said.

But there are ways to limit the potential for bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance: Use antibiotics appropriately and only when needed; follow treatment correctly; and restrict the use of antibiotics in food production to therapeutic purposes.

“At a time of multiple calamities in the world, we cannot allow the loss of essential antimicrobials, essential cures for many millions of people, to become the next global crisis,” said Chan.

Source:  ABC News Blog

There are other natural anti-bacterial options for people, including Silvercillin, grapefruit seed extract, and food-grade hydrogen peroxide. It’s only a matter of time before all bacteria are resistant to nearly all medications, and will likely happen within the next 2-3 generations.

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

Gretchen Fleischmann earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2000 from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She is certified as a Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. For the past several years her primary area of focus has been in Oncology while providing care to cancer patients.

Gretchen has partnered with Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Richmond, Michigan, where she has expanded her Oncology approach to include the incorporation of Integrative Cancer Therapies. This type of care is effective for patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer, past cancer survivors, and individuals with a strong family history of cancer. The treatment approach is very individualized and includes a detailed health history with the identification of risk factors as well as an overall plan to enhance the immune system and promote optimal health.

How To Contact Gretchen Fleischmann

Contact via Email New Patient Packet

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic

Candida albicans is a typical gastrointestinal fungus that is a component of a normal GI environment that, when under certain conditions of GI stress or imbalance, can proliferate to the point of being pathogenic. One manifestation of this pathogenic overgrowth is the creation of barriers known as biofilms.

Allicin, a powerful and active metabolite of garlic, was shown to disrupt the membrane and reduce the proliferation of candida. Also, allicin demonstrated the ability to decrease biofilm production more effectively than the anti-fungal drug fluconazole.

Source: Science Direct

Natural Wellness and Pain Relief Centers of Michigan - Results, naturally | Flint, Grand Blanc, Genesee County Bio-Identical Hormones, Scoliosis, Autism, Fibromyalgia, and Chiropractic