new study finds Echinacea plus elderberry out performs Tamiflu in the treatment of early flu-like symptoms.  This study was fairly large for a head to head randomized study.  I love it when natural therapies out perform prescription meds.

Vitamin D plus calcium found to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in women with PCOS.  CRP and MDA were decreased.  Notice dosing.

TSH positively associated with increase stroke in those adults less than 65.

Gut-brain connection via gut microbiome starts to move mainstream.

High dietary sugar intake alters gut bacteria (increased Clostridia sp. and decrease Bacteroidetes sp).  This resulted in decreased memory learning and memory in rat study.  

Acute inflammation is a response to an alteration induced by a pathogen or a physical or chemical insult, which functions to eliminate the source of the damage and restore homeostasis to the affected tissue. However, chronic inflammation triggers cellular events that can promote malignant transformation of cells and carcinogenesis. Several inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β, and IL-10, have been shown to participate in both the initiation and progression of cancer. In this review, we explore the role of these cytokines in important events of carcinogenesis, such as their capacity to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, their potential mutagenic effect, and their involvement in mechanisms for epithelial mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Finally, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the participation of these cytokines in two types of cancer attributable to chronic inflammatory disease: colitis-associated colorectal cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

Sex difference of gut flora has different metabolic effects from the same diet.  Could it all begin in the get?  Are gut flora sexist?  Of course not, but this study highlights the sex difference of the gut flora and the gender different effects.

autoimmune disease sexual preference appears to have Gut origins.

Study finds low total Testosterone significantly associated with increased BMI in university employees. The definition of low T in this study was 280 ng/dl.

low total Testosterone is associated with increased central blood pressure elevation.  Less association was found with peripheral blood pressure.

Obesity in young girls increases Estradiol production compared to thin young girls.  Obesity increased  the Estrogen metabolite 16lpha-OH-E1  and this positively correlated with IL-6. 

low Testosterone is associated with increased risk of high grade prostate cancer at time of biopsy compared to normal Testosterone.

Ultra endurance athletic events associated with significant increase in systemic inflammation due to damaged gut.

HFCS increase biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.

in disease prostate, Testosterone down regulates transulfuration pathway and glutathione production.

Study used saliva to measure Testosterone levels in men.  Testosterone levels were inversely associated with age, but positively associated with CAG repeat sequences in the AR.

blood spot Estradiol, Progesterone, LH, and FSH levels shown to be comparable to plasma levels.

Topical hormones best evaluated via saliva and/or blood spot. Urine and particularly serum does not increase with dosing.  That does not mean the topical hormone therapy is ineffective, just that serum and urine are not optimal to follow topical therapy.  When looking at endogenous hormones without any therapies: serum, saliva, urine, and blood spot are equivalent.

exercise increases Testosterone production via catecholamine mechanism.  Free Testosterone increases independent from SHBG affinity.

Testosterone inhibits CRH and thus cortisol.