Use of HDFx, a Novel Immunomodulator, to Stop the Germs from Winning in Hospitals and on The Battlefields : The Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance

Getting admitted to a civilian or battlefield hospital these days often poses considerable risks and dangers. The ever-growing number of emerging diseases worldwide makes treatment of patients difficult and sometimes impossible. Many antibiotics are no longer effective against the simplest infections, which result in further hospitalizations with increased costs to the patients and governments worldwide. Microorganisms of prime concern include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, multidrug and extensive drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and carbapenem- resistant Enterobacteriaceae, as well as bacteria that produce extensive spectram beta-lactamases, such as E. coli. An unusual decline in the discovery of new and effective antibiotics, these days, is only making matters worse

Synthetic Vasopressin and Oxytocin Analogs and Their Potential Use in Hemorrhagic, Traumatic and Septic Shock: A Personal Perspective

As one of us has stated many years ago, “shock is a significant and sustained loss of effective circulating blood volume. It will eventuate in hypoperfusion of critical peripheral tissues, thus leading to a deficit in transcapillary exchange function in critical organ regions. Clinically, there are five major types of circulatory shock: cardiogenic; septic; distributive; anaphylactic; and hypovolemic. Hypovolemic shock (HS) is, primarily, due to a marked decrease in venous return, falling arterial blood pressure, and ventricular preload, and usually is caused by hemorrhage, dehydration, excessive diarrhea, trauma, excessive fluid loss from severe burns, increased positive intrathoracic pressure, excessive urinary fluid loss resulting from diuretics, side effects of many chemotherapeutic agents and radiation in cancer patients, or depressed vasomotor tone in the microcirculatio

Genotoxic Effects of Magnesium Deficiency in the Cardiovascular System and their Relationships to Cardiovascular Diseases and Atherogenesis

The authors present evidence for a novel, new hypothesis whereby magnesium deficiency (MgD) acts as a genotoxic agent which probably causes numerous, hertofore, unrecognized consequences, even over a short-term, on the physiological, molecular and biochemical machinery of cardiovascular tissues and cells. The end result of these genotoxic effects of MgD probably plays important roles in the etiology and generation of diverse cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and strokes via alterations in the epigenome of cardiovascular tissues and cells. The importance of adequate water-borne and dietary levels of Mg is emphasized

Insights into the Possible Mechanisms By Which Platelet-Activating Factor and PAF-receptors Function in Vascular Smooth Muscle in Magnesium Deficiency and Vascular Remodeling: Possible Links to Atherogenesis, Hypertension and Cardiac Failure

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator and cell signaling molecule which displays multiple biological and pathophysiological attributes, running the gamut from inflammation to cell differentiation and proliferation [1-4]. As is well-known, PAF interacts with specific membrane PAF-receptors (PAF-Rs) to initiate all cellular responses via specific G-proteincoupled receptors [1-4]. Although these initiated membrane receptor phenomena are mostly established for several tissuecell systems [1-8], exactly how PAF and PAF-Rs cause vascular remodeling in hypertension and atherosclerosis is not clear. A little more than 15 years ago, PAF was identified as a molecule that stimulated activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB

Exposure to High Levels of Noise Poses Hazards and Risks for Development of Hypertension and Heart Disease: Potential Roles of Unrecognized Ionized Hypomagnesemia and Release of Ceramides and Platelet-Activating Factor

It has been demonstrated in numerous human and animal studies that audiogenic stress (AS) can induce elevation of arterial blood pressure and cardiac damage and that noise –induced hearing loss may be associated with alterations in magnesium (Mg) metabolism. Our laboratories, over a period of approximately 40 years, have been investigating why AS causes high blood pressure and cardiac damage. This review focuses on a number of newer discoveries on why AS causes dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system (CVS) This review discusses the pivotal physiological and biochemical importance of Mg to body health and the fact that most Americans and Europeans are deficient in daily Mg intake which perforce can cause severe dysfunctions of the CVS. Our ongoing studies clearly provide a solid microcirculatory basis for how and why AS above 65dB(A) often induces elevated blood pressure and cardiac damage. We review a body of data that points to the fact that AS does the latter, but appears to do so because noise stress levels result in Mg deficiency followed by release of certain sphingolipids (e.g., ceramides) and generation and release of platelet- activating factor (PDF). It is our opinion that all people exposed to high degrees of noise stress should be monitored for cardiovascular functions, ionized Mg levels, blood ceramide levels and levels of PDF. Lastly, we believe all people exposed to high levels of AS (i.e., maintenance people and pilots on aircraft carriers, musicians [particularly at rock concerts], motorman and conductors on trains and subways, construction site workers, etc.) should have at least the equivalent daily intake of 500-600 mg of Mg/day

Is the High Frequency of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac and Lung Surgeries Related to Hypomagnesemia and Releases of Ceramides and Platelet-Activating Factor?

The authors discuss the possible role of hypomagnesemia, ceramides and platelet-activating factor in the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac and lung surgeries

Magnesium Deficiency Results in Oxidation and Fragmentation of DNA, Down Regulation of Telomerase Activity, and Ceramide Release in Cardiovascular Tissues and Cells: Potential Relationship to Atherogenesis, Cardiovascular Diseases and Aging

The authors discuss the potential relationship between magnesium, cardiovascular diseases, and aging