Clinical ecology: environmental medicine or unsubstantiated theory?

Article Abstract:

There is controversy over the medical subspeciality known as clinical ecology or environmental medicine. Clinical ecology concerns such modern day concepts as ''environmental illness,'' ''multiple chemical sensitivities,'' ''environmental hypersensitivity disorder,'' ''20th century disease'' and ''total allergy syndrome.'' There is increasing public awareness of the medical practice of clinical ecology because of public concern about environmental pollution. The underlying premise of clinical ecology is that the human immune system is adversely affected by chemicals in the environment at exposure levels too low to have obvious physiological effects. This depression of the immune system in turn adversely affects other bodily functions. Patients have multiple complaints, including tiredness, depression, headache, dizziness, anxiety, mood changes, memory failures and confusion. They do not have the ordinary symptoms of chemical exposure such as toxicity or allergies, and upon examination, no physical or laboratory abnormalities can be found. Clinical ecology has been systemically evaluated by three medical organizations. All three organizations have found no scientific evidence to support the theories and methods of diagnosis and treatment of clinical ecology and therefore clinical ecology cannot be accepted. Reviews of the cases of patients suggest that the patients suffer from somatoform disorders, neurologic disorders that are characterized by physical symptoms in which no dysfunction can be found, or depression, and that the causes of their disorders may be iatrogenic, brought on in part by treatment or diagnostic procedures. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Analysis, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Somatoform disorders, Pollution, Human beings, Humans, Environmental health, Immune system, Environmentally induced diseases, Environmental illness, editorial

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Mitochondrial DNA mutations and diabetes: another step toward individualized medicine

Article Abstract:

It may be beneficial to diagnose maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) early because it is very different from other types of diabetes and may require different treatments.. It is caused by a mutation in the mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) gene.

Editorial, Abnormalities, Diabetes, Diabetes mellitus, Genetic aspects, Mitochondrial DNA, Deafness

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