Food Patch Testing: Relief for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

North Wales, PA (PRWEB) April 30, 2013

A groundbreaking medical study using the time-tested diagnostic tool of patch testing, traditionally used by dermatologists to determine causes for the skin rash eczema, has shown its usefulness in identifying foods that trigger irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dr. Michael Stierstorfer and his research team reported their findings in the March 2013 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Stierstorfer MB, Sha CT, Sasson M. Food Patch Testing for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol 2013;68:377-84), which may represent a major advance in the understanding and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Stierstorfer, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and founder of the IBS Centers for Advanced Food Allergy Testing, reports by applying a number of foods to the skin surface of people with IBS or IBS-like symptoms, we are able to screen for mild poison ivy-like reactions. When the foods causing these reactions are eliminated from the diet, many of these people report significant improvement in their IBS symptoms. It may be that the same allergic reaction detected by these tests on the skin is occurring in the gastrointestinal tract when the same foods are eaten. Inflammation resulting from the allergic reactions in the GI tract can alter normal intestinal function, giving rise to the IBS symptoms.

This is a completely new type of allergy testing for IBS, unlike the traditional prick and scratch skin testing and blood antibody testing, which have been deemed not helpful in a consensus report issued by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in 2010. Stierstorfer agrees, stating the search for food antibodies in most cases has been like barking up the wrong tree, asking the wrong question. The allergic skin reaction implicated by Stierstorfers group involves white blood cell lymphocytes (Type 4 allergy), and is a completely different type of allergy than the antibody-mediated allergies (Type 1 allergy) that have been the focus of prior research.

10 to 15% of Americans suffer from IBS, which consists of unexplained belly discomfort or pain along with constipation, diarrhea or both. Previously, the medical community has felt IBS to be more of a mental than physical disease, and there has been no satisfactory treatment. The role of foods has been suspected since 50% of IBS sufferers report foods contribute to their symptoms. Until now, there has been no effective way of identifying which foods are responsible. In their study, Stierstorfer's group tested 51 individuals with IBS or IBS-like symptoms to a panel of 40 select foods and food additives. All who were found to have an allergic skin reaction to one or more of the foods were instructed to avoid eating the foods in question. 27.5% of those participating in the study experienced significant relief from their IBS symptoms when the foods identified by the testing were eliminated from the diet.

The IBS Centers for Advanced Food Allergy Testing are dedicated to helping individuals with IBS identify foods contributing to their condition. The Centers' headquarters are located in North Wales, PA, near Philadelphia. 80 additional carefully selected foods and food additives have been added to the 40 tested in the original study, with the expectation that a greater number of food allergies may be detected and greater number of individuals with IBS may benefit. For more information, contact Dr. Stierstorfer at 215-661-9044 or visit http://www.IBSfoodallergy.com.

What's the Best Gift to Give Your Dad? Urologist Dr. Ashutosh Tewari Offers Tips on Prostate Cancer Prevention and Testing

New York, New York (PRWEB) June 14, 2013

With Father's Day here, now is the perfect time to show that special man in your life that you care. Not by buying him a necktie, but by helping him take charge of his health.

Dr. Ashutosh Tewari, a leading urologist and the director of the Center for Prostate Cancer at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, shares tips on what men need to know about prostate cancer prevention and screening. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 6.

Prostate Cancer Prevention

The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, so any advice about ways to prevent prostate cancer is somewhat speculative. But the American Cancer Society and many experts recommend maintaining a healthy weight, eating a variety of healthful foods derived from plants, and limiting consumption of high-fat and processed meat and dairy.

Certain specific foods have been linked to prostate cancer prevention, such as fatty fish, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, green tea, and soy products such as tofu. "Adding these foods to your diet won't guarantee you won't get prostate cancer, but including healthful foods in your diet has numerous other health benefits," says Dr. Tewari. He also notes that there have been several recent studies linking dietary changes to prostate cancer, and the Center for Prostate Cancer plans to open several clinical trials in the coming months to better understand the role of diet and prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Prostate Cancer Screening

Because prostate cancer can often be symptomless, detecting it early is critical. Prostate cancer is most often diagnosed by a digital rectal examination and/or by early testing of the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood.

In recent years, debate about the value of PSA testing has made headlines, leaving many men confused about whether or not to get screened and how often. Today, there are no universally accepted guidelines for prostate cancer screening; the most common advice is to confer with your doctor.

Dr. Tewari advises that men should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor at age 55 to make an informed decision, earlier if they have a family history, consistent with the American Urological Association (AUA) recommendations. "Many men might think that these newer guidelines suggest you don't need to worry about prostate cancer. That's not true. The guidelines just mean that men need to become more educated about what the results actually mean so they can make informed decisions about their health. Active surveillance could be a viable treatment option for many men, and we have one of the largest active surveillance programs in the country."

Dr. Tewari is also excited about newer tests and technologies that, when used in conjunction with a PSA test, can offer a better predictor of aggressiveness and staging of prostate cancer. "At the Center for Prostate Cancer, we also use genomic biomarkers and advanced imaging such as MRI to help guide decision making for men with a high PSA result. This year we have added fusion biopsy to our clinical practice. Using the Artemis

Edge Information Management, Inc. Offers Free Educational Webinar: Getting The Most Out of Your Drug Testing Policy

Melbourne, FL (PRWEB) February 06, 2013

Edge Information Management, Inc., a prominent provider of employment screening solutions, is offering an educational webinar entitled: Getting the Most Out of Your Drug Testing Policy. The webinar will be presented by Bill Current, President and founder of WFC & Associates, LLC, a national consulting firm that specializes in drug testing policy development and providing accurate drug testing law information to its clients.

Drug abuse is on the rise in America and employers can be held liable if they do not maintain a drug-free workplace program. Of course, many companies today conduct drug testing, but they often lack an up-to-date, well- written policy that can protect them if a workplace substance issue arises. By offering this free webinar, Edge and Mr. Current hope to educate companies, both big and small, on the benefit of having a successful drug-free workplace program in place.

In this informative webinar, attendees will learn:

The Texas Thyroid Institute is Now Offering BMR (Metabolic) Testing

Houston, TX (PRWEB) June 13, 2013

Weight loss is not an exact science. Popular perception is that losing weight is simple math: calories spent should exceed calories consumed. If it were this simple, we wouldnt be facing such a rapidly growing epidemic of obesity. Unfortunately, there are many variables complicating this simple formula.

Dr. Ridha Arem, world-renowned endocrinologist and founder of The Texas Thyroid Institute in Houston, TX explains in great detail in his recently published book, The Thyroid Solution Diet, how complicated metabolism really is. Hormones, lack of sleep, stress, environmental toxins, and genes all play a role in how a person gains and loses weight. At The Texas Thyroid Institute, Dr. Arem strives to incorporate mind-body wellness. With his plan, thousands of patients have been able to lose weight and keep it off. Now, Dr. Arem is offering additional testing to better individualize his plan for weight loss.

Basal Metabolic Rate refers to how much heat is produced while at rest, or in more simple terms: how many calories a person burns while doing nothing. Now, with a simple test, we are able to accurately evaluate precise caloric intake for weight loss based on an individual basis. So how does it work? The ReeVue measures the oxygen intake which then allows it to calculate a patient's Basal Metabolic Rate or Resting Metabolic Rate.

With the rampant growth of obesity, testing such as this opens the door to help patients more clearly understand how much they should be eating and what they can do to improve their diet and lose weight.

Dr. Arem utilizes this testing, alongside his standard evaluation and other diagnostic testing, to help patients who are struggling with stubborn weight gain and who wish to improve their quality of life, feel better and look great. With the use of his diet, The Thyroid Solution Diet, supplements and other components of his mind-body program, Dr. Arem offers a well-rounded, medically-based approach to weight loss.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Arem at The Texas Thyroid Institute in Houston, TX, please feel free to call and speak to a staff member at 713-790-0102.

To learn more about Dr. Arems unique program, thyroid health, weight loss, and more visit http://www.AremWellness.com.

If youd like to learn more about weight loss and Dr. Arems diet plan, The Thyroid Solution Diet is available for purchase via Amazon, Barnes and Noble and more.

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