Bindweed Hurts Crops, Helps Cancer Research
Known as the “cancer of weeds” and despised by farmers, bindweed, a common weed that spreads quickly, may have qualities that are valuable to cancer research.

Recent research presented at the Comprehensive Cancer Care Symposium in Arlington, Va, by researcher and scientist Neil Riordan, MS, PA-C, identified a new compound known as proteoglycan molecule (PGM) that is extracted from bindweed. Riordan’s research showed that PGM may inhibit new blood vessel growth formation, or angiogenesis, which is a key step in cancer progression. According to Riordan’s study, PGM compounds exhibited an average of 62% inhibition of tumor growth in laboratory tissue models.

“Without new blood vessel growth, tumors cannot grow more than the size of a pea,” said Riordan.

The results influenced other clinicians to pursue research on PGM compounds. Freidrich Douwes, MD, internist and oncologist, and current medical director of Clinic St George Cancer Hospital, Bad Ibling, Germany started preliminary testing of PGM compounds clinically with cancer patients 2 years ago. He is now using it with almost all of his cancer patients. Douwes tested PGM and several other angiogenesis inhibitors for their ability to inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most powerful inducers of new blood vessel growth in tumors.

“In the majority of patients, PGM is the most effective suppresser of VEGF and angiogenesis,” said Douwes.

To continue research of innovative nontoxic compounds and their role in cancer, Riordan founded the Aidan Foundation, Tempe, Ariz, at which Nick Calvino, DC, heads the research efforts as chief scientific consultant. The Aidan Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation that has helped develop five US and international patents related to the isolation, extraction, and use of PGMs.

“The overwhelming consensus is that controlling blood vessel growth is the ‘Achilles Heel’ of cancer and that it will largely replace current forms of cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and even surgery,” said Calvino. CP

Menopause Effects Studied Through Sheep
People may count sheep to help themselves fall asleep, but there may be a more important reason for women to stay abreast sheep-related news. Recent studies point out that older ewes experience similar symptoms and conditions as women, including hot flashes, eye trouble, and bone density loss.

Researchers at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo, suggest that studies about estrogen replacement therapy, osteoporosis treatments, prevention of arthritis, and sight-inhibiting changes can be conducted on ewes. One study measured hot flashes with tiny embedded temperature loggers in ewes and showed that estrogen replacement results in milder and less frequent hot flashes, a phenomenon previously unreported in other animals, with the exception of laboratory rats with their ovaries removed or in research monkeys.

Four separate studies using ewes recorded hot flashes, the effects of estrogen replacement therapy protecting against eye cataracts, the onset of osteoporosis, changes in cartilage, and the occurrence of hormone-caused dry-eye.

“We’ve found that characteristics of menopausal conditions can be reproduced in skeletally mature or aged, estrogen-deficient sheep,” said A. Simon Turner, a Colorado State University researcher and professor of veterinary medicine. “We’ve proven with multiple research projects that sheep can mimic many aspects of menopause in women once their ovaries are removed. The introduction of a large animal model to study body temperature changes and other effects of menopause may prove to be invaluable.” CP

Analgesics Eventually Cause Chronic Pain
A study published in Neurology examined the relation between analgesic use at baseline and the subsequent risk of chronic pain. Results showed that individuals who used analgesics daily or weekly at baseline showed significant increased risk for having chronic pain when reviewed 11 years later at a follow-up visit.

Researchers studied 32,067 adults. The risk ratios of chronic pain and the risk ratio of analgesic overuse in different diagnostic groups, such as migraine, nonmigrainous headache, neck pain, and low-back pain, were estimated in relation to analgesic consumption at baseline. CP

Fred H. Barge Suffers Fatal Heart Attack
On July 2, Fred H. Barge, DC, PhC, passed away at his home in La Crosse, Wis, from a heart attack. A graduate of Palmer College, Davenport, Iowa, Barge most recently served as vice-president of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA).

Respected by many in the chiropractic field, Barge, a second-generation chiropractor, contributed to the chiropractic profession through many organizations. As a lifetime member of the ICA, he served as its ninth president and chaired two successful ICA international symposiums. He was a member of the original Board of Directors of the World Chiropractic Alliance. Barge headed the ICA’s Philosophy Council and was a professor of philosophy at Palmer College. He was also the founder and president of Barge Chiropractic Publishing in La Crosse.

Barge is survived by his wife and two daughters. CP

Parker College Earns Reaccreditation
Receiving a perfect review of its facilities, the Department of Anatomical Sciences at Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, was recently reaccredited by the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas.

“The accreditation is vital to Parker College’s gross anatomy program,” said Geraldine Gaik, DC, professor and chair of the Department of Anatomical Sciences. “It allows students to use and dissect human cadavers to advance their learning in the anatomical sciences.”

Special features of the anatomy laboratory at Parker College include study book racks so students can view notes while working in the laboratory, state-of-the-art dissection tanks, mounted and retractable lights with multi-powered lenses, and hospital-grade flooring. CP

Study Tests Treatments for Spinal Pain
To compare medication, needle acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for managing chronic spinal pain, a study published in Spine documented a randomized clinical trial between 1999 and 2001. The results showed that spinal manipulation, if not contraindicated, results in greater short-term improvement than acupuncture or medication.

One hundred fifteen patients were subject to three treatment regimens: medication, needle acupuncture, or chiropractic spinal manipulation. Patients were assessed before treatment by a sports medical physician for exclusion criteria and by a research assistant using the Oswestry Back Pain Disability Index, the Neck Disability Index, the Short-Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire, visual analog scales (VAS) of pain intensity, and ranges of movement.

Although chiropractic spinal manipulation achieved the best overall results, acupuncture showed better results than manipulation on the VAS for neck pain. Confirming the need for larger studies in the future on various treatments for chronic spinal pain, the final data of the study did not support the use of only one form of treatment. CP

Michael Chance Parker Passes On
At the age of 38, Michael Chance Parker, grandson of James W. Parker, who founded Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, passed away at his home in Burleson, Tex. Parker, who was affectionately known as Chance, is survived by his wife, two children, and more than 25 Parker family members.

When his right kidney failed in 1997, Parker discovered he had renal cell carcinoma. After one year it spread to the bones in his right arm, followed by his left arm, his neck, and his sacrum and pelvis. He was expected to demise within 6 months on onset, but survived an additional 6 years.

“Chance really had a knack of making friends with everyone,” said his father, Karl Parker, DC. “His positive, uplifting attitude was never dampened by his condition and the pain he was suffering, even up to the very end. He was a model for many others in loving life, family, and friends, regardless of your life’s circumstances.” CP

UK Beam Trial Uses Diversified Package
For use in the UK Back Pain Exercise and Manipulation (UK BEAM) trial, a spinal manipulation package was created to help answer questions regarding various treatments for low-back pain. The package represents chiropractic, osteopathic, and physiotherapy treatments.

The UK BEAM trial is a national study of physical treatments in primary care that is funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Health Service Research and Development Programme. Early in the design of the trial, it was noted that the spinal manipulation treatment regimes provided by practitioners from the three professions shared more similarities than differences. Because the trial design specifically precluded comparison of the effect between the professions, it was necessary to devise a homogenous package representative of all three specialties. CP

DCs Reimbursed for PT Services
Under the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) Federal Employee Program (FEP), chiropractors will be reimbursed for providing physical therapy (PT) services, if such services lie within the chiropractors’ state scope of licensure.

“We are delighted to announce another tangible benefit of our ongoing legal action,” said Daryl D. Wills, DC, president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). “This policy change not only has obvious and substantial financial implications for the chiropractic profession, but it also demonstrates the ever-growing respect and recognition our profession enjoys.”

The ACA, the Virginia Chiropractic Association (VCA), and the other chiropractic plaintiffs decided in 2001 to remove BCBSA from a federal lawsuit against Virginia-based Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield. After discussions with the ACA, the BCBSA agreed to include a chiropractic manipulation benefit with limited x-rays in its FEP basic option, recognizing chiropractors as covered providers.

Under the FEP’s basic option, chiropractors will be reimbursed for PT services, plus up to 20 manipulations, an initial set of x-rays, and an initial office visit. Under the standard option, chiropractors will be reimbursed for PT services only. CP

ICD-10 Codes May Be Mandatory by 2005
The ICD-9 coding system may be replaced by the new ICD-10-CM (clinical modifications) and ICD10-PCS (procedure coding system). The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) testified before the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) Standards and Security Subcommittee in support of the new ICD-10 codes.

The AHIMA has also written a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to quickly adopt the ICD-10 codes for use in the US health care system. The United States is currently the only developed country that is not using the ICD-10 codes, even though the NCVHS declared ICD-9 codes 10 years ago.

Sue Prophet, AHIMA director of coding policy and compliance testified, “The ICD-9-CM procedural coding system is obsolete and must be replaced. This coding system was designed and implemented over 20 years ago, and since that time dramatic advances in medicine and medical technology have occurred that were not anticipated and have not been adequately accommodated.”

Ces Soyring, CA, Chiropractic Products’ CA Network columnist and editorial advisory board member said, “It has been rumored that the ICD-10s would have more chiropractic conditions listed—as opposed to working with the medical model in the ICD-9s.

I have heard that the ICD-10s would be out by 2004 and not mandatory for use until 2005. Also, the ICD-10s are supposed to be alphanumeric as opposed to the current ICD-9s, which are 3 to 5 numeric only codes. If this is true, computer software will need to be updated.” CP