tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post1551976655045818069..comments2023-05-05T10:28:35.702-04:00Comments on Letters to Ellie: When Letters Become ConversationsDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11692756074193193644noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post-27404146086330302362014-04-03T10:45:26.811-04:002014-04-03T10:45:26.811-04:00Interesting. Yes, I've constantly stressed ab...Interesting. Yes, I've constantly stressed about the idea that the state of medical literature is always a few years ahead of the actually applied science. I wonder often how Ellie's treatment would have been different if she'd been born just 5 years later.Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11692756074193193644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post-88172758513131751892014-04-03T10:34:42.109-04:002014-04-03T10:34:42.109-04:00The classical knowledge that vitamin D was mostly ...The classical knowledge that vitamin D was mostly required for bone development has now been superseded by the knowledge that it is also required for optimal functioning and regulation of the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. <br /><br />Low vitamin D levels are still strongly linked to lung infections in neonates and infants. Here is one on Vitamin D and the lungs. <br /><br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21419273<br /><br />Will get off my soapbox now, I promise :) And yes, I hope there is no looking back!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post-91410328864560753612014-04-03T08:47:01.376-04:002014-04-03T08:47:01.376-04:00Yeah SciChick, I agree. I think steroids have alw...Yeah SciChick, I agree. I think steroids have always been an easy go-to treatment for so many things specifically because of their broad effects. Personally, I haven't seen much in the literature on Vitamin D for preemies as it pertains to lungs, but I do know there is recommendations that preemies get vitamin D supplements for bones. I would expect they might see inadvertent effects on lungs too, but I suppose that would depend on the dosage and delivery mechanism. <br /><br />Either way, it would seem she has crossed that bridge and hopefully we won't be looking back!Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11692756074193193644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post-64133466840850091252014-04-03T01:57:41.824-04:002014-04-03T01:57:41.824-04:00I am so very happy to read about Ellie improving. ...I am so very happy to read about Ellie improving. I never got a chance to reply to what you said about surfactants vs. steroids, and I'm really glad to know that she never needed to be on steroids. It is sort of amazing that they want steroids for only the anti-inflammatory effect, when they have a gzillion side effects.<br /><br />I tout Vitamin D like crazy, and the reason I do so is that in addition to its many other effects, it is crazy strong global anti-inflammatory agent. For my research, I was working on an natural autoantibody against apoptotic cells that shuts down inflammatory MAP kinase pathways by triggering a phosphatase, MKP-1.<br /><br />The really interesting thing (to me anyway) was the fact that this antibody worked the same way as dexamethasone (they both triggered MKP-1). Then I found a paper that said Vitamin D (at higher blood levels) also triggers MKP-1 and counteracts inflammatory signalling. It is amazing how nature has designed everything oh so perfectly, and how 3 different signals all have the same essential effect.<br /><br />Basically, as long as her vitamin D levels are high (above 30 ng/ml) inflammation should be somewhat well-controlled. I imagine it is higher in a preemie with so much to combat. Sorry for the overdose of nerdiness :)<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6535358117852117329.post-50638964817052094512014-04-02T18:20:10.511-04:002014-04-02T18:20:10.511-04:00Ah, but you'll want to document some of those ...Ah, but you'll want to document some of those conversations! We all say, "I should write a book" about the wonderful things our children come out with. Maybe you'll be the one to actually do so!<br />~DebbyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com