Category Archives: Detoxification

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors

August 6, 2014

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Are Gaining Popularity In Cancer Treatment

Cancer cells just like the healthy normal body cells have specific process that have to be accomplished in order for them to survive. Cancer doctors have known this for a long time and most of the alternative cancer treatments that we have today are best on the understanding of certain survival mechanisms. There are certain cancer treatment alternatives that are geared towards making them more vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs and are hence used alongside the chemotherapy as well as other conventional cancer treatment medications like radiation therapy. There are other more effective cancer treatment alternatives that aim at interfering with the cancer cell metabolism mechanisms hence starve them by denying them the ATP energy that they need to accomplish some of their cellular functions like growth and division to give rise to new cancer cell. The use of alternative cancer treatment are gaining popularity not because the conventional cancer treatment medications do not work but to find better ways of treating cancer patients by targeting the cancer cells while safeguarding the healthy body cells. This is a loophole that has to be filled. In conventional medicine the treatment targets killing of the cancer cell but the healthy body cells are also affected by the chemotherapy drugs and they die as well leaving the patient with lots of side effects that are very life threatening. The cancer doctors and researchers are trying to treat cancer strategically so that the patient is not put through the pain of going for repeated chemotherapy. Due to these different alternatives to cancer treatments that work effectively in different cases to combat cancer, the new breed of cancer doctors; the integrative doctors have become a favorite for cancer patients. This is because they are very knowledgeable in oncology and puts in use all the alternative cancer treatments (naturopathic) and the conventional cancer treatment in a bid to achieve a whole person healing of the cancer patient.

One of the best ways of treating cancer is to use inhibitors. These inhibitors affect the normal functioning of the cancer cells and hence a slow their growth and survival rates. Some of these inhibitors are also strong enough to induce apoptosis of the cancer cells. Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors are some of the inhibitors that help in strategic fighting of cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases, often known as MMPs are a group of enzymes that are involved in a number of normal cellular processes, such as regulation of endometrial growth and menstruation, and abnormal processes, such as tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases play a major role in angiogenesis. This is because they degrade the basement membrane and stromal tissue which is an important process for migration of endothelial cells needed to form new blood vessels. They also play an important role in the entry and exit of tumor cells into the blood vessels hence foster metastasis. Due to their critical contributions in angiogenesis and metastasis they can be strategically targeted in cancer treatment by utilizing Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors that will main all their activities.

Matrix metalloproteinases can be produced in two ways; either the tumor cells produce them themselves or they tissues surrounding the cancer cell produce them. Because of their role in cancer etiology they are highly regulated especially through gene expression. They are secreted in inactive forms and must be cleaved to be active. Moreover they activities are also controlled by the Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors that surround the tumor cell.

Researchers have done lots of work in trying to investigate if the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors can be used to maim the functions of the Matrix metalloproteinases and help in cancer treatment. Their research are based on the logic that Matrix metalloproteinases are crucial enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis and is targeted the spread of cancer can be curbed. This treatment however does address the formation of primary tumors but again it can work in controlling the spread of tumor hence important.

Doxycycline as a Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor

Doxycycline is a semisynthetic, chemically modified tetracycline compound that is rapidly absorbed and exerts biological effects courtesy of its antimicrobial activity. It has been used in the past in wound treatment and is also one of the most effective Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor.

Clinical as well as lab tests have been one to show the effectiveness of Doxycycline in inhibiting Matrix metalloproteinases activities. As all these activities were done with a view of finding a possibility of using it in curbing metastasis. The study pointed out that an enzyme; MMP-2 is needed for the cancer cells to dig in or other to penetrate the normal tissues. Doxycycline has an inhibitory effect on the MMP-2 expression. This was verified by a lab test on smooth muscle cells and human aortic aneurysm tissue explants. The test revealed that Doxycycline inhibited the activities of MMP-2 on these tissues. However for effectiveness the concentration of the Doxycycline matters in its activity against the MMP-2. In the normal serum concentration just 5ml of Doxycycline affects the production of MMP-2 greatly.

By use of Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors like Doxycycline, the cancer treatment becomes more effective and strategic as the cancer cells become targeted. With controlled metastasis and growth of cancer cells the patient can have a longer life and possibly the disease will be managed done with completely by an integrative cancer doctor who will combine other therapies to make the treatment more effective.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors Are Gaining Popularity In Cancer Treatment

 

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Obstacles of quitting Smoking

August 6, 2014

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Things Not to do when helping a smoker to quit

Smoking

there are so many obstacles for quitting smoking. it should be our collective responsibility to put this problem to manageable levels.

I believe that you are not hearing for the fast time the dangers of smoking cigarettes or any other drug. The human body has no association with smoke emanating from cigarettes and in fact it is not just the smokers who are at risk of contracting smoking related health condition but research has established that even the secondary smokers find themselves with all the smoking related health complication just in the same way as full addicts. How then do we help our people who have subjected their lives in to drug addiction and in this case we are looking into smocking.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Helping smokers quit

It may not concern you that your friend is smoking and you’re not, you may hate to be near smokers because of the strong smell emanating from them due to the substances they smoke. This attitude may be justified due to secondary infections however this is not the best way to go about it. This should be a concern of everyone you and I included. We must do all we can to encourage smokers to stop and quit this habit completely.

The benefits of having a smoking free society is healthy for everyone and we must be persuaded to collective and individually do what we can. Therefore for you to be of help to your smoking loved one or any other person quit their habit, it is very important that you get to know what applications will work and those that may not work. This piece of information is very necessary as it will help you face the smoking obstacles when you finally begin the journey of being an instrument of bringing change in our smoking society and so if you have tried all you can to influence your target from smoking or this will has just crossed your mind and you are considering giving it a try, you must ensure that you take all the precautionary measures so that you do not end up falling prey to the effects of smoking as a result of secondary smoking. Your target is to win the mind of your friend into seeing the benefits of quitting smoking. Smoking causes serious damage to almost every single organ in the human body, so it can’t be good not now or ever. It may interest you to know that much as you may hate smoking those whom you’re trying to encourage to quit smoking may not share the same opinion with you and they may be doing the exact opposite which is loving what they do (smoking).

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Hazardous Nicotine

Nicotine and all the associated habits that come along with smoking like holding, inhaling and reaching for cigarettes throughout the day are physically and emotionally addictive to smokers. Research has established that smoking is a killer the world over. Many people are losing their lives because of smoking and the statistics is worrying. In US for example about 393,000 lives are lost annually from smoking related illness. This is therefore a motivation for you and I to ensure that this figures come down by changing our attitude towards those who smoke, we must desire to love them and not hate them even if we hate their actions. It cost you nothing trying to bring help a smoker quit their habits and so if you haven’t been able to get that smoker in your life to quit, it’s important to keep trying again and again, even if you become a bother to them persist on you may become bad in their site but don’t let this discourage you because there is great benefit when you finally win and they quit entirely.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – What not to do in helping a smoker quit

Love is a very powerful element is unlocking this smoking problem. It’s said that love and kindness is the language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear. Loving someone who’s tried repeatedly to quit but failed each time they try is very important. These people need to be cared for and letting them know that someone is there for them despite their struggle with smoking will encourage them not to give up. Words of encouragements are very necessary and you must avoid negative remarks like “I give up! You’re never going to quit!” these are very weighty statements and can impact negatively to the smoker they may wonder whether quitting smoking is possible or worth the effort they are putting. Nonetheless words of encouragement like “I’m not giving up on you and will be with you on this journey to the end of it” are useful statements which will remain in their minds for a long time and positively influences your loved one’s decision to stay the course.

Giving up on methods that aren’t working is a good idea, though. With smoking, it may be the “same approach, different day” or even “different day, different approach,” because it’s hard to know when something just might click and connect with a smoker’s desire to quit. It is therefore important that you keep trying and showing concern while you figure out what definitely isn’t working or what’s driving them to smoke more. Doing this on your own may be overwhelming at times and so you may need the guidance of a professional from time to time. At AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center you will meet addiction professionals who will help you in your effort of quitting smoking in the most natural way. This facility was founded by Doctor Dalal Akoury who has been in this line of treatment for over the last two decades making her to be very experience to handle your smoking problems in a much more dignified way. While at this facility, doctor Akoury together with her team of experts will work round the clock to ensure that your smoking problem is no more. They will attend to you in many ways among them will be by focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE  and your life will never be the same again.

Obstacles of quitting Smoking – Things Not to do when helping a smoker to quit

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Genetic Predisposition

August 5, 2014

 

Genetic and Viral Predisposition To Cancer Is A Crucial Subject In Cancer Treatment

Cancer has caused serious threat to the world’s population and has still continued to affect the people of all continents. It is among the leading causes of death in the world today. Despite the many alternative cancer treatments, the disease is not yet conquered as it is still causing pain to us every day after grabbing our loved ones away from us. According to a world health report of 2002, close 7.1 million deaths are caused by cancer each and every year. With the most prevalent of these cancers being lung, stomach, colon, liver, breast and esophagus cancer, in that order of occurrence. Conclusively, these cancers are responsible for over 4.2 million deaths. Additionally, another World Cancer Report of 2003 (IARC 2003) predicts that deaths caused by cancer will increase by 50% in the next 20 years. In the past cancer was thought of as diseases of the developed countries but as years passed by even the third world countries became infested with this disease. The cases of cancer in the third world countries are attributed to the demographic changes as well as changes in lifestyle. The way of life has changed even in these third world countries and this may even increase the percentages of cancer infection.

Cancer is a disease that has many causes and of the many cause are very complex gene interactions. A person may not be born with cancer but he may have higher chances of getting cancer. This is what is known as genetic predisposition. Genetic predisposition maybe caused by a presence of one or more gene mutations and this may happen even if the allele’s combination is normal.

Genetic predispositisions is a subject that has made researchers as well as health organizations like World Health Organization to do lot of research work to find out how far genetic predisposition can lead to the disease. Apparently the researches done were not only done in relation to cancer but other non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and some mental illnesses.

In cancer, a person may be born with genes whose compositions were altered by lifestyle habits or exposure to harmful chemicals that goes along way in changing the DNA composition of the body cells. The body has tumor suppressors that help it in fighting and preventing tumors but when these tumor suppressors become weak which may be caused by exposure to harmful chemicals then a person becomes more vulnerable to cancer infection. Carcinomas are the most probable result of failure of the tumor suppressors.

It is important to understand how genetic predisposition affects a person. Cancer is not a disease that should be toyed with and so it calls for early examination to show whether a person has genetic predispositions that can play a role in making them to have cancer. Doctors advice that by knowing if a person has these genetic predispositions, it can help them to adopt lifestyles that will help them evade the formation of cancer cells in them. It is good to note that not all people who are born with genetic predispositions to cancer eventually get the disease; the choice of lifestyle will either make him evade the disease or will even hasten the formation of the cancerous cells in them. Those who are born with genetic predispositions to cancer can avoid the disease by avoiding such behaviors that may increase their risk to cancer such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual activities with many sexual partners. There are lifestyle modifications that will help a person who is born with genetic predispositions to cancer live longer without being affected by the disease. These may involve healthy eating and detoxifying the body naturally by eating those vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidants. It is also advisable for such a person to seek help from an integrative cancer centre where the doctors may offer guidance on how to live a life that is cancer free despite the genetic predisposition to cancer he was born with.

Promotes cancer cell formation

As known, cancer cell forms when there is mutation in the genes that play a major role in cell multiplication and repair. When these mutated genes are passed over to an offspring, the offspring becomes highly vulnerable to cancer. However the process through which these genes may turn cancerous may take time probably beyond 20 years. The mutation of vital genes such as suppressor genes, oncogenesis and genes involved in DNA repair leads to genetic instability and to progressive loss of differentiation. Tumors grow because cancer cells lack the ability to balance cell division by cell death and by angiogenesis. The transformed cells lose their ability to interact with each other and exhibit uncontrolled cell growth. They will eventually invade the tissues that surround them and spread into the blood stream after which they can reach very organ in the body.

GeneticGenetic predisposition to cancer undeniably has a role in cancer formation. One of the mostly inherited mutations of BRCA 1 gene is known to cause breast cancer in women. Those who have this gene mutation have higher chances of getting a breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer. Earlier identification of the germline mutations can be achieved through genetic testing. This will allow the person to adopt cancer preventive measures by seeking help from integrative cancer centers that will give natural means of suppressing the mutated gene expression.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

Genetic and Viral Predisposition To Cancer Is A Crucial Subject In Cancer Treatment

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Alcohol Abuse Kills

August 4, 2014

Alcohol Abuse Kills — Let’s Discuss the Magnitude

Alcohol

Alcohol is a killer drug it is very addictive and destructive to its users irrespective of the age and genda

If we say that alcohol is friendly and does not kill we are cheating ourselves and the society we live in. it is true that alcohol is legally allowed for human consumption and if you consume it moderately you may not find yourself in the wrong side of the law and still live a happy life. However this is not just a drug but a lethal one not just to the direct consumer but even to the people around the direct user. According to the World Health organization, alcohol is killing more than 3 million people globally each year translating to one person every 10 seconds. Does that one scare you? The picture illustrated by these statistics is that more than the population of people losing their lives due to AIDS, tuberculosis, and violence put together die as a result of alcohol. It must be made clear that these statistics includes alcohol-related driving fatalities, violence, and health issues arising from excessive alcohol consumption.

Because alcohol is legal in most countries, and because especially in the US and western culture in general it is promoted in advertising and glamorized in film, its dangers are often minimized or disregarded by young people, and the warnings about problem-drinking and its consequences are viewed as the admonitions of uptight grownups. Unfortunately, the facts support the admonitions.

So, how can alcohol kill you? Here are a few ways it can and does end lives:

  • Drunk driving accounted for ten thousand deaths in 2010 that was over thirty percent of all traffic fatalities. For how long will we be losing lives because somebody is sitting on their jobs, the authority, the drivers, passengers and the other general public must work and pool together to reduce deaths on our roads.
  • It is estimated that an acute alcohol poisoning kills over one thousand people each year.
  • The available findings from a study done about some years ago indicated that sixteen thousand people died in 2010 from alcohol-induced liver disease.
  • Over fifty percent of people who die in fires have high blood-alcohol levels.
  • One quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol related.
  • Unintentional injuries related to alcohol consumption cause over eighteen hundred deaths each year among college students.
  • Health problems, including increased likelihood of stroke, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, esophageal cancer, and compromised immune system can lead, if untreated, to premature death.
  • Alcohol in combination with other drugs, especially pain medications, tranquilizers, and sleep medications, can cause death by slowing down respiration as well as by causing the aspiration of vomit.

The simple fact among many risks involved to those taking alcohol in large quantities is that alcohol impairs judgment, cognition, inhibitions regarding excessive risk-taking and acting out of aggressive tendencies, and other faculties that reduce the likelihood of accident or death. If alcohol consumption becomes regular, increases over time, or increases in amount, or if consequences of drinking are accumulating, treatment is indicated, because yes, alcohol can kill you.

If you are an addict to alcohol you may not be able to completely understand what we are discussing in this article because to you alcohol is all you know as the solutions to your problems however much as we may agree with you that for a while alcohol may make you forget your problem or stressing issues the truth of the matter is that as soon as the alcohol content is brought down to a manageable level and sobriety sets in you will get back to your frustrating condition which you were trying to escape from.

Alcohol Abuse Kills — The liver

The liver is the organ that takes toxins out of our blood and converts
them to a non-toxic substance that the body can easily dispose of. The liver takes alcohol, and using the liver cell enzymes, will convert it into
acetaldehyde, then to acetate, and then to CO2 and water.

Some who over-consumes alcohol in a very short period of time doesn’t
give the liver cells a chance to make enough enzymes needed to convert it and when left unconverted completely, it can cause it to become Toxic to the liver cells.

People who consume alcohol over long time periods can develop fat inside
the liver which causes pressure there and can damage the liver cells.

Taking alcohol with medications can cause an interaction to occur between
then that can instantly damage the liver cells. {Example: Alcohol taken
with acetaminophen]

Some people are more sensitive to alcohol and some are even allergic to it.
Just like someone taking any kind of drug…it can cause a serious problem
to occur in people immediately or over a long period of time or not at all.
Each person is different.

The real sign that the liver is not able to handle the amount of alcohol is
becoming drunk. The alcohol is one of the substances that can go pass
the blood brain barrier (that protects the brain) and cause mental changes
to take place. In simple understanding alcohol kills and you must run away from alcohol as you can by seeking help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. At this facility you will walk in with your alcohol problem heavy on your shoulder and leave that burden with them as the experts. Doctor Akoury together with her team of experts will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE

Alcohol Abuse Kills — Let’s Discuss the Magnitude

 

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

Cancer Vaccines

August 4, 2014

Role of Cancer Vaccine In Integrative Cancer Treatment,

VaccineCancer is a multi-faceted disease that needs to be treated with different approaches. This is the reason why we have different alternative to cancer treatment. The researchers and doctors have done much to avail us these alternative and one of the alternatives that is used widely in cancer treatment today especially by integrative cancer doctors is the use of cancer vaccines in treating cancer. There are several vaccines that have been made available to be used in curbing cancer. However we are going to learn about two major vaccines that are widely used in integrative cancer centers to help in the course of curbing cancer.

Cancer vaccines play a role in making the body more resistant to the cancer cells. It works in a ways that make the cancer cells more visible hence can be spotted by the white blood cells and killed. The cancer cells are known to camouflage to the surrounding cells making them be mistaken for healthy cells by the killer cells. The vaccines “remove this mask” and makes them more vulnerable to the attacks of the white blood cells and hence are killed outright.

Baculillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)

To those who might have heard of BCG can easily associate it with TB other than cancer. It is used against tuberculosis. However the recent research has found out that the Baculillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) can be used as a vaccine against cancer. It is found to have the abilities of stimulating the immune system to fight cancer naturally.

The researchers who led this research study were Dr Wai Liu and Professor Angus Dalgleish from St George’s, University of London. They opined that certain mechanism were likely to make the cancer vaccines more effective in enhancing the anticancer activity of the immune system. They said that these vaccines can be used alongside other cancer therapies as they will enhance the effectiveness of these treatments by awakening the immune system to fight cancer alongside these therapies.

The researchers used human tumor cells in a lab experiments. The researchers discovered that BCG played an apart by instructing the white blood cells to produce toxins that are known as cytokinins and use them in fighting the tumors. The cytokinins help by making the tumor cells more likely to be seen by the white blood cells. Hence making it easier for them to be fought.

“Cancerous cells are known to camouflage themselves as healthy cells. This means our blood cells responsible for immunity aren’t able to recognize the cancerous cells as being a problem and so the disease is able to continue to spread,” says Dr Wai Liu who led the research.

“This study found that a small quantity of BCG – similar to the amount that is administered in a TB inoculation can help the immune system recognize the cancer cells as ‘foreign’. The immune system can then attack these cells in the same way it would any other infection.” He concludes

When the BCG is introduced in the body cytokinins are released by the white blood cells in response, these cytokinins cause very many processes that begin by forcing the cancerous cells to switch off its camouflage or better yet “unmasking” the cancer cells. This makes the cancerous cells to be more visible to the white blood cells and the entire immune system. With this improved visibility of the tumor cells the white blood cells can now target the cancerous cell more strategically.

The effectiveness of the vaccine on different type of cancers was tested. The researchers did this by injecting BCG to the human cells from the lung, breast, colon, pancreatic and skin cancer. The test revealed that BCG increased the visibility of cancer cells on the colon, breast and lungs greatly. They verified that when camouflage of the cancer cells is reduced then they can be easily attacked and killed by the body’s immune system.

The Coley’s Vaccine

Coley’s vaccine also known as endotoxin treatment, Issel’s therapy or mixed bacterial vaccine was developed in New York City in 1890’s by a bone surgeon known as William Coley. Coley vaccine works and though currently doctors have found no scientific evidence that Coley’s vaccine can treat or prevent cancer there are many cancer survivors who claim to have used the Coley’s treatment.

Dr. William Coley developed the Coley’s therapy after realizing that the cancer      patients who got infections after surgery lived longer than those who did not get an infection. His basis for developing Coley’s treatment was an argument that the infection stimulated the immune system of the patients to fight cancer. The first approach to Coley’s treatment was rather risky as he would inject live bacteria in the tumors, in most cases this method caused serious illness and in some cases the patients died due to the infection. Having seen the dangers in using live bacteria, he began using killed bacteria which raised the patient’s temperatures but did not cause any threat to the patients’ lives.

The Coley’s vaccine uses infectious agents. The treatment has it that the infectious agents are injected in the bloodstream. These infectious agents however has to be prepared by a qualified doctor in the hospital to ensure that they are safe and not contaminated hence cannot harm the patient. The infectious agents maybe mixed in given proportions to come up with a Coley’s Vaccine personalized to the patient’s type of cancer. Coley’s Vaccine is mostly used with other traditional cancer treatment methods.

VaccineDr. Coley opined that fever induction is a key aspect of treatment. In his treatment he observed that a stronger febrile response was the symptom most associated with tumor regression. When researchers went deep to look into the Coley’s Vaccine treatment method it was found that it was more effective on patients whose fevers ranged between 38-40 degrees. The Patients who had no fever during treatment did not do so well in the treatment.

Dr. Dalal Akoury is an experienced integrative cancer doctor who has seen very many cancer patients journey to victory in their fight against cancer. She is available for consultations. Just call her now and begin your journey to victory against cancer.

Role of Cancer Vaccine In Integrative Cancer Treatment

Related articles
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin

  • Recent Posts

  • Blog Categories