Dr. Goodyear

Animal model found that low Hg decreased NO availability.  The result is vasoconstriction induced by ROS and hypertension. The hypertension is the result of an activation of the renin angiotensin system.  The importance here is that low Hg levels induced this change.

Hg induces vascular ROS through depletion of glutathione.  This study found that low dose, chronic Hg exposure induced ROS that resulted in vascular dysfunction i.e. hypertension.

Hg damages the heart muscle.  In this animal study, protection of sulfhidyrl groups prevented this effect.  Examples of sulfhidryl groups is GSH, ALA, cysteine, and NAC.

Heavy metals play a role in the development of CVD.  Hg and Cd in particular play a role in hypertension.

Accumulating Hg associated with increased CIMT and carotid atherosclerosis.

Hg induces hypertension in rat model.

Nice review on the mechanism of Hg, Pb and gadolinium on the vascular system.  Oxidative stress is increased.  ACE is increased.  Increased vascular reactivity occurs.  Cardiovascular dysfunction results.

HOMA model for insulin resistance

Vitamin C and Cancer. 

Skeletal muscles are much more than just about contraction.  There produce inflammatory cytokines and other signals that have endocrine-like effects.  This article calls them myokines.  A decrease in physical activity would leave an altered myokine response effecting the liver, adipose tissue, immune system and pancreatic function.

Observational study finds BMI increase of 0.375 in both men and women per year.  The waist circumference also increased by 0.37% per year in women compared to 0.27% in men.  There was a significant reduction in physical activity over the same time period.  In women, the reporting of physical inactivity increased to 52% FROM 19% compared to 44% FROM 11% in men.  The authors found no association with change in calories.  However, an assessment in quality of calories would have likely shown a glaring difference.  Clear causation can not be concluded due to the fact that the study was observational.

Good review of hyperkalemia, causes and treatment.

low Vitamin D associated with insulin resistance in women with Lupus.  This was found to be independent of weight.  

Varicocele is associated with significantly lower serum Total Testosterone in men.  Varicocelectomy improved Testosterone levels in these men.

Increasing BPA levels associated with declining androstenedione levels,but positively associated with SHBG levels in exposed men.

vitamin D plus calcium in those with Diabetes and low vitamin D four to improve insulin resistance, HDL, LDL, beta cell function, and HgbA1c.  This was a short course study of 8 weeks.  Only abstract available.

Dietary lifestyle changes still prove to be the most effective treatment strategy for women with PCOS.

Low Testosterone is associated with increased IMT.  Low T is associated with Mets.  MetS is associated with low T.  MetS is associated with increased IMT.

fermented mild favorably alters gut flora.  

Interesting that insulin resistance appears to be associated with treatment failure and recurrent disease in papillary thyroid cancer.