- Email: [email protected]
Treatment of croup with topical ionic zinc
614
Correspondence / Medical Hypotheses 74 (2010) 613–621
References [1] Sprague BL, Trentham-Dietz. Prevalence of breast carcinoma in situ in the United States. JAMA 2009;302:846–8. [2] Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, et al. For the cholesterol and recurrent events trial investigators. N Engl J Med 1996;335:1001–9. [3] Merla R, Ye Y, Lin Y, et al. The central role of adenosine in statin-induced ERK1/ 2, Akt, and eNOS phosphorylation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007;293:1918–28. [4] Pearson GW, Hunter T. PI-3 kinase activity is necessary for ERK1/2-induced disruption of mammary epithelial architecture. Breast Cancer Res 2009;11:R29. [5] Mann D, Reynolds K, Smith D, Muntner P. Trends in statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among US adults: impact of the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. Ann Pharmacother 2008;42:1208–15.
Mark R. Goldstein Fountain Medical Court, 9410 Fountain Medical Court, Suite A-200, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, USA Tel.: +1 239 495 4508; fax: +1 239 495 3770 E-mail address: [email protected] Luca Mascitelli Comando Brigata alpina ‘‘Julia”, Udine, Italy E-mail address: [email protected] Francesca Pezzetta Ospedale di Tolmezzo, Tolmezzo, Italy E-mail address: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.016
Treatment of croup with topical ionic zinc Sir: While writing my article for this journal titled ‘‘Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – a review and hypothesis” [1], I reflected upon the long 25-year history of zinc in treating colds, and also remembered that the history of use of zinc to treat croup in infants and young children was much longer. The first published use that I found for treating croup with zinc was in 1899; yes, eighteen ninety-nine [2]. Apparently, topical zinc sulfate was routinely used to treat croup effectively during the 19th century. In 1984, Linus Pauling mentioned to me that he remembered physicians in the 1930s treating croup by painting the throats of infants and young children with mild zinc sulfate solutions. I used zinc gluconate tablets (50 mg zinc) as throat lozenges to treat croup in my young children during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Croup disappeared in about 15–30 min from a zinc gluconate lozenge treatment in my children. Without ionic zinc, their croup lasted about 5 days and required medical intervention. Even so, if one conducts a PubMed search, there are no entries for ‘‘croup” and ‘‘zinc”. I think it is important to revive old, effective treatments and try to explain their actions. Croup usually has both allergy and infectious components. Please remember that in my article [1], I mentioned that I used a half of an 18-mg zinc (zinc acetate) lozenge twice daily to effectively treat my severe respiratory allergy. Strongly astringent, ionic zinc compounds like zinc acetate, gluconate, chloride and sulfate temporarily prevent the release of all vasoactive mast cell and basophil granule ingredients including histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, serotonin, bradykinins and cytokines generally. There are no similar effects from bound, non-astringent zinc compounds. Concentrated ionic zinc is believed to protect cells from toxins and
viruses including parainfluenza viruses, the cause of about 75% of croup, by non-specific means [3]. Ionic zinc is also anti-viral to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) [4], a cause of some cases of croup. Complete inhibition of RSV plaque formation was observed at 1–10 mM, representing P106-fold reductions [4], which is the same range produced by effective zinc acetate lozenges. Herpes simplex occasionally causes prolonged croup [5], and ionic zinc has been long-known to be anti-viral to the herpes simplex viruses [6]. Common colds are often associated with croup, and topical ionic zinc was effective for my children’s colds with croup. Cell mediated immunity (CMI) is dependent upon zinc, and without sufficient zinc CMI can fail [7]. Zinc deficiency accounted for 6.7% of pneumonia deaths among children between 6 months and 5 years of age [8], and there is a global need for more zinc in the diet, especially in the diets of children [9]. Perhaps croup is a natural consequence of inadequate protective zinc in the diet. Obviously, it is my hypothesis that the barky, raspy cough of croup might be effectively treated with topical ionic zinc and it should offer hope and encouragement to physicians and parents willing to try an alternative treatment for croup. References [1] Eby GA. Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – a review and hypothesis. Med Hyp 2010;74:482–92. [2] Butler GF. Astringents. In: Text book of materia medica, therapeutics, and pharmacology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1899. p. 752. [3] Mahadevan D, Ndirika A, Vincent J, et al. Protection against membranemediated cytotoxicity by calcium and zinc. Am J Pathol 1990;136:513–20. [4] Suara RO, Crowe Jr JE. Effect of zinc salts on respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004;48:783–90. [5] Krause I, Schonfeld T, Ben-Ari J, et al. Prolonged croup due to herpes simplex virus infection. Eur J Pediatr 1998;157:567–9. [6] Eby GA, Halcomb WW. Use of topical zinc to prevent recurrent herpes simplex infection: review of literature and suggested protocols. Med Hyp 1985;17: 157–65. [7] Sandstead HH, Prasad AS, Penland JG, et al. Zinc deficiency in Mexican American children: influence of zinc and other micronutrients on T cells, cytokines, and antiinflammatory plasma proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:1067–73. [8] Fischer Walker CL, Ezzati M, et al. Global and regional child mortality and burden of disease attributable to zinc deficiency. Eur J Clin Nutr 2009;63:591–7. [9] Brown KH, Baker SK, IZiNCG Steering Committee. Galvanizing action: conclusions and next steps for mainstreaming zinc interventions in public health programs. Food Nutr Bull 2009;30(1 Suppl.):S179–84.
George A. Eby III George Eby Research Institute, 14909-C Fitzhugh Road, Austin, TX 78736, United States Tel.: +1 512 263 0805 E-mail address: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.015
Nebivolol in the treatment of metabolic syndrome: Making the fat more brownish
Metabolic syndrome represents a combination of cardiovascular risk determinants such as central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and lipid abnormalities [1]. The etiology or initiating events have not been clearly established. However, insulin resistance and/or visceral obesity seem to be responsible for the development of full-blown syndrome. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions thus the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased substantially [2].
Correspondence / Medical Hypotheses 74 (2010) 613–621
References [1] Sprague BL, Trentham-Dietz. Prevalence of breast carcinoma in situ in the United States. JAMA 2009;302:846–8. [2] Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, et al. For the cholesterol and recurrent events trial investigators. N Engl J Med 1996;335:1001–9. [3] Merla R, Ye Y, Lin Y, et al. The central role of adenosine in statin-induced ERK1/ 2, Akt, and eNOS phosphorylation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007;293:1918–28. [4] Pearson GW, Hunter T. PI-3 kinase activity is necessary for ERK1/2-induced disruption of mammary epithelial architecture. Breast Cancer Res 2009;11:R29. [5] Mann D, Reynolds K, Smith D, Muntner P. Trends in statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among US adults: impact of the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. Ann Pharmacother 2008;42:1208–15.
Mark R. Goldstein Fountain Medical Court, 9410 Fountain Medical Court, Suite A-200, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, USA Tel.: +1 239 495 4508; fax: +1 239 495 3770 E-mail address: [email protected] Luca Mascitelli Comando Brigata alpina ‘‘Julia”, Udine, Italy E-mail address: [email protected] Francesca Pezzetta Ospedale di Tolmezzo, Tolmezzo, Italy E-mail address: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.016
Treatment of croup with topical ionic zinc Sir: While writing my article for this journal titled ‘‘Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – a review and hypothesis” [1], I reflected upon the long 25-year history of zinc in treating colds, and also remembered that the history of use of zinc to treat croup in infants and young children was much longer. The first published use that I found for treating croup with zinc was in 1899; yes, eighteen ninety-nine [2]. Apparently, topical zinc sulfate was routinely used to treat croup effectively during the 19th century. In 1984, Linus Pauling mentioned to me that he remembered physicians in the 1930s treating croup by painting the throats of infants and young children with mild zinc sulfate solutions. I used zinc gluconate tablets (50 mg zinc) as throat lozenges to treat croup in my young children during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Croup disappeared in about 15–30 min from a zinc gluconate lozenge treatment in my children. Without ionic zinc, their croup lasted about 5 days and required medical intervention. Even so, if one conducts a PubMed search, there are no entries for ‘‘croup” and ‘‘zinc”. I think it is important to revive old, effective treatments and try to explain their actions. Croup usually has both allergy and infectious components. Please remember that in my article [1], I mentioned that I used a half of an 18-mg zinc (zinc acetate) lozenge twice daily to effectively treat my severe respiratory allergy. Strongly astringent, ionic zinc compounds like zinc acetate, gluconate, chloride and sulfate temporarily prevent the release of all vasoactive mast cell and basophil granule ingredients including histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, serotonin, bradykinins and cytokines generally. There are no similar effects from bound, non-astringent zinc compounds. Concentrated ionic zinc is believed to protect cells from toxins and
viruses including parainfluenza viruses, the cause of about 75% of croup, by non-specific means [3]. Ionic zinc is also anti-viral to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) [4], a cause of some cases of croup. Complete inhibition of RSV plaque formation was observed at 1–10 mM, representing P106-fold reductions [4], which is the same range produced by effective zinc acetate lozenges. Herpes simplex occasionally causes prolonged croup [5], and ionic zinc has been long-known to be anti-viral to the herpes simplex viruses [6]. Common colds are often associated with croup, and topical ionic zinc was effective for my children’s colds with croup. Cell mediated immunity (CMI) is dependent upon zinc, and without sufficient zinc CMI can fail [7]. Zinc deficiency accounted for 6.7% of pneumonia deaths among children between 6 months and 5 years of age [8], and there is a global need for more zinc in the diet, especially in the diets of children [9]. Perhaps croup is a natural consequence of inadequate protective zinc in the diet. Obviously, it is my hypothesis that the barky, raspy cough of croup might be effectively treated with topical ionic zinc and it should offer hope and encouragement to physicians and parents willing to try an alternative treatment for croup. References [1] Eby GA. Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – a review and hypothesis. Med Hyp 2010;74:482–92. [2] Butler GF. Astringents. In: Text book of materia medica, therapeutics, and pharmacology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1899. p. 752. [3] Mahadevan D, Ndirika A, Vincent J, et al. Protection against membranemediated cytotoxicity by calcium and zinc. Am J Pathol 1990;136:513–20. [4] Suara RO, Crowe Jr JE. Effect of zinc salts on respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004;48:783–90. [5] Krause I, Schonfeld T, Ben-Ari J, et al. Prolonged croup due to herpes simplex virus infection. Eur J Pediatr 1998;157:567–9. [6] Eby GA, Halcomb WW. Use of topical zinc to prevent recurrent herpes simplex infection: review of literature and suggested protocols. Med Hyp 1985;17: 157–65. [7] Sandstead HH, Prasad AS, Penland JG, et al. Zinc deficiency in Mexican American children: influence of zinc and other micronutrients on T cells, cytokines, and antiinflammatory plasma proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88:1067–73. [8] Fischer Walker CL, Ezzati M, et al. Global and regional child mortality and burden of disease attributable to zinc deficiency. Eur J Clin Nutr 2009;63:591–7. [9] Brown KH, Baker SK, IZiNCG Steering Committee. Galvanizing action: conclusions and next steps for mainstreaming zinc interventions in public health programs. Food Nutr Bull 2009;30(1 Suppl.):S179–84.
George A. Eby III George Eby Research Institute, 14909-C Fitzhugh Road, Austin, TX 78736, United States Tel.: +1 512 263 0805 E-mail address: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.015
Nebivolol in the treatment of metabolic syndrome: Making the fat more brownish
Metabolic syndrome represents a combination of cardiovascular risk determinants such as central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and lipid abnormalities [1]. The etiology or initiating events have not been clearly established. However, insulin resistance and/or visceral obesity seem to be responsible for the development of full-blown syndrome. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions thus the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased substantially [2].