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4A Daily News – Monday, October 3, 2011 Vitality & health (MCT) — Here, swallow these worms. Most patients receiving that advice would find another doctor. However, 15 Orlando, Fla.-area residents have volunteered to be first in line for a clinical study investigating a novel worm treatment for Crohn's dis- ease, an autoimmune disor- der that causes chronic intestinal upset. Though a hard concept to swallow, worm therapy may ultimately provide a remedy for a host of other immune diseases, from asthma to multiple sclerosis, said Dr. Ira Shafran. The Winter Park, Fla., gastroen- terologist is conducting one of three worm trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The notion of infesting patients with worms was prompted by the observa- tion that autoimmune dis- eases have soared as our environment became clean- er. "These diseases were unheard of in the early 1900s," said Dr. Joel Wein- stock, chief of gastroen- terology and professor of immunology at Tufts Uni- versity, and one of the pio- neers in the study of thera- peutic worms. "At the end of the 20th century they were commonplace in Treatment offers hope to those with Crohn's ORLANDO, Fla. said. "Based on what we know about evolution, that would indicate that some parasites should impart some survival advantage to their host." MCT photo Nick Magrone is one of 15 Orlando patients about to undergo a clinical trial in which they will swal- low worm eggs, which will hatch in his intestines, in an effort to find a treatment for Crohn's disease. America." The corollary gave way to what he and other scien- tists call the hygiene hypothesis. As an example, Wein- stock said, in the 1950s, inflammatory bowel disease affected about one in 10,000 people. Now it's closer to one in 250. Better diagnos- tics account for only a small part of that, and genetics don't change that fast. The culprit, Weinstock says, is the environment. Better hygiene, cleaner water and refrigeration have a downside: Worms disap- pear as water, food and soil get cleaner. In undeveloped coun- tries, where parasitic infes- tation is high, the incidence of most autoimmune dis- eases is low, Weinstock Since making that con- nection in the 1990s, he and others have conducted worm studies on mice and humans, which appear promising. Weinstock cited three, small human studies that have indicated worms have a beneficial effect on multiple sclerosis; others have shown promise in the treatment of allergies. Other targets could be rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. In the case of Crohn's and other inflammatory bowel diseases, an overzeal- ous immune system goes too far in attacking the bac- teria in the digestive track, most of which is healthy, and also attacks healthy tis- sue. Parasites interfere with that chain of events, and appear to confer protection and regulate the immune response or put the brakes on it, said Shafran. "Both in the test tube and in early clinical trials, we have established that we can control that autoimmune response with parasites," he said. Existing drug therapies for Crohn's fail 50 percent of the time, and raise the risk for infections and can- cer. fitness Quiz: Caloric good news (MCT) So often in this space, we've dwelled on the negative, tut-tutting about high-calorie foods dripping with fat and laden with nitrates. Today, we present only good caloric news, gleaned from "The Men's Health Big Book of Food & Nutrition." 1. Ground bison is a great alternative to ham- burger from, you know, a cow. How many calories does a 4-ounce bison burger (sans bun and condiments) pack? a) 310 b) 248 c) 172 2. Which of these so- called "other meats" has the fewest calories per 4-ounce serving? a) venison (deer tender- loin) b) alligator c) lamb 3. Which has the most •Weight Loss • Kickboxing • Muscle Tone • Boot Camps • Strength Training & Sport Specific Training J J & No Gym, No Problem! We come to you! or email: in.homefitness@yahoo.com Call Jacob (530) 529-0095 In Home Fitness protein? a) venison b) alligator c) lamb 4. Which of the follow- ing contains the least amount of fat per 4-ounce serving? a) bison b) rabbit c) alligator 5. Say you're at a deli and are faced with a choice of meat for your sandwich. Caloriewise, which is the best choice? a) bologna b) pastrami c) salami enison: 168; alligator:(v 260; lamb: 272); 3: b (alli- enison: 32gator: 52 grams; v grams; lamb: 20 grams); 4: b (rabbit: 4 grams; alligator: 5 grams; bison 16 grams); 5: b (pastrami: 41 calories; bologna: 87 calories; sala- mi: 114 calories). ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: a James W. Tysinger, Jr. M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Fellow American Academy of Ophtalmology We accept Medical, Medicare & most Insurances Office Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 8am-4:30pm Mon & Fri 1pm-5pm For Emergencies, After Hours, Week-ends, Call 530-567-5001 345 Hickory St. Red Bluff Tel: (530) 529-4733 Fax: (530) 529-1114