At least 1 out of every 10 people will have a serious peptic ulcer episode in their lifetime.
That statistic concerns Lenard M. Lichtenberger, Ph.D., a professor and scientist in the UT Medical School at Houston's Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, and ulcer researcher for more than 30 years.
His focus has been on how the stomach protects itself from gastric acids. He and his colleagues are pooling their years of knowledge to develop a drug, not for our stomachs, but for our aches, pains and arthritic conditions that won't pick a fight with our stomachs. He is working on the stomach-friendly NSAID.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen as well as some new generation prescription drugs - can cause ulcers in many people if used over long periods.
NSAIDs are taken for many conditions ranging from headache to arthritis. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that, due to the aging baby boomers, the number of people with joint conditions is expected to rise sharply (57 percent) by 2020. That translates to a lot more possible NSAID-induced ulcers, not to mention other complications such as kidney compromise.
Lichtenberger says that just as many people take certain NSAIDs, like aspirin, to prevent cardiovascular events. And there is evidence that some NSAIDs are effective in Alzheimer's disease as well as reducing the risk of different cancers, such as ovarian and prostate.
"All of these are very strong medications. They have the same effect whether you take them on a full or empty stomach. Listen to your body," Lichtenberger advises.
"If you begin to feel weak or anemic, stop taking the medications and call your doctor to request a blood test to check for anemia (a result of a possible bleeding ulcer.) The GI tract can recover from most injuries very rapidly if the ulcer is not deep. A very shallow injury is called an erosion," he explains.
The GI tract has unique water-repellent properties. When any type of mechanical injury happens in the stomach, Lichtenberger says, it secretes an oily lipid mucus substance to coat itself. Both the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, the other cause of ulcers, and NSAIDs have the ability to remove that protective water-repellent coating after they form a chemical association with the molecules in the stomach.
Clinical studies reveal that people over 75 years of age, who have previously had an ulcer, have an increased risk of developing another ulcer with complications when taking a standard NSAID.
Understanding the caustic effect that these drugs have on the stomach, Lichtenberger and his colleagues began researching, then designing a medication that, like the Cox-2 inhibitors, would have anti-inflammatory and pain-relief properties but fewer risks and side effects.
The team worked to develop a new type of NSAID that would have a less toxic effect on the stomach. They reasoned that the compound would have to contain natural or synthetic elements that mimicked the self-protective properties of the GI tract. Lichtenberger's group has taken a natural approach and is working with soy phospholipids.
Currently, Lichtenberger's team is involved in drug trials with their new medication and a double-blind study involving arthritis patients is underway.
UPDATED: 9-07-2004
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Dr. Lenard M. Lichtenberger is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology & Pharmacology at the UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
See Dr. Lichtenberger also at:
Food Irradiation
and Safety
On August 22, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule that allows the use of irradiation to make fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach safer and last longer without spoiling.
Irradiating fresh iceberg lettuce and spinach will help protect consumers from disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli). Illnesses from these bacteria range from uncomfortable symptoms to life-threatening health problems.
The foods affected by the final rule are
Irradiation (also sometimes termed "ionizing radiation") is a process of treating products with a measured dose of radiation. Food irradiation is not new. FDA has conducted irradiation safety evaluations for more than 40 years and has determined the process to be safe for use on a variety of foods.
After studying the safety of irradiating fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach, FDA has determined that these greens, when irradiated under the conditions specified in the final rule, retain their nutrient value and are safe to eat.
FDA considers irradiation a complement to, not a replacement for, proper food-handling by producers, processors, and consumers. Irradiation is just another tool to reduce the levels of disease-causing microorganisms on fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh pinach.
Irradiation does not take the place of washing. FDA continues to recommend that consumers wash fresh and bagged produce before eating unless the packaging specifically states that the product has been pre-washed.
For more information, go to: http://www.fda.gov)
