At Southern California Movement Disorder Specialists, we encourage all our patients to learn about hydrolyzed proteins.

Here's a little bit more detains on Hyrdrolyzed Proteins:

We define a hydrolyzed protein as a protein that has been broken down into its basic amino acids. Food companies usually boil their food-product in strong HVP avid or in a strong enzyme to simulate natural hydrolization.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the breakdown of proteins can spawn free-glutamates in the human body. Once created in the body, they join free sodium compounds to form MSG. American food companies can essentially add MSG to their products through this method and bypass any laws that require the labeling of MSG on the nutrition label.

Basically, food companies don't have to label the ingredient MSG on their labels when using hydrolzyed proteins.

Learn more about hydrolzyed proteins at MSGtruth.org

Do you or a loved one have Parkinson's Disease, or do you think you may have Parkinson's Disease?

Learn about the early warning signs and symptoms or Parkinson's Disease at:
Pasadena Senior Center
84 Easy Holly Street
Pasadena, CA

Event Date:
Wednesday, September 21 2011
10:00am — 4:00pm

To RSVP, email or call Email Barnard (see PDF flyer below for contact information - click to enlarge).

New scientific papers on Parkinson’s Disease were recently released. They gives Neurologists solid ways of predicting whether or not someone will have Parkinson’s Disease in the future:

Constipation in PD

Constipation (less than three bowel movements per week) is the most commonly reported (50–80%) gastrointestinal symptom in PD. It can occur during both preclinical and clinical stages of the disease and worsens with disease progression. Barium studies have shown that prolonged colon content transit time is the physiological basis of both symptomatic and asymptomatic constipation. Most patients experience only mild discomfort and distension, but the risk of life-threatening complications, such as megacolon and pseudo or true obstruction resulting in bowel perforation should be taken into account and prevented. Dysmotility may be related to poor fiber and fluid intake or reduced physical activity. Some authors point out that the neurodegenerative process in the enteric nervous system may be a potential target for future therapies.

Olfactory Dysfunction

They reported a preserved or mildly impaired olfactory function to be more likely for atypical parkinsonism such as multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, or corticobasal degeneration whereas markedly pronounced olfactory loss appeared to suggest PD. Similar to the results of Wenning et al., in a study on 50 Parkinsonian patients, we also found evidence for olfactory loss in MSA, but little or no olfactory loss in (the few investigated) patients with PSP and CBD.

REM Behavioral Sleep Disorder

RBD consists of recurrent episodes of sudden, abnormally vigorous body, head or limb movements that appear during REM sleep, often associated with dreams in which the patient defends against a threat or aggression. In its most severe form, patients may injure themselves or their bed partner but, in milder forms of RBD, patients may not be aware of the parasomnia, particularly if they sleep alone

All most all hotdogs have nitrates in them. Nitrates can have a negative affect on the human body specifically on how it is metabolized in the liver. Everyone has a different metabolism and some people can be more susceptible to nitrates than others. Nitrate Toxicosis in humans occurs through the conversion of nitrate to ammonia in the liver creating nitrite intermediates. The Nitrites then affect the iron atoms in hemoglobin decreasing its ability to carry oxygen. This can cause a different form of hemoglobin called methemoglobin to be formed and if someone has low or absent amounts of the enzyme to break down this type of hemoglobin can cause it to accumulate in the blood.

Medical Conditions such as food allergies, asthma, hepatitis, swelling, gallstones can occur. Nitrosamines have been linked to cancers of the lung, liver and esophagus. In the 1990s, a research group at Karolinska Institutet showed how nitrates can be converted to Nitrous Oxide which has been known to be important in mitochondrial function, cell metabolism, blood pressure regulation and the immune system. It has also been published in the medical journal Cell Metabolism that nitrates decrease oxygen consumption during physical exercise. Please make sure you read all FDA labels concerning all of your foods to see if they have nitrates. Also search the internet for nitrate free foods.

Read more about nitrates in hot dogs at USAToday and Gizmodo. You can learn more the chemical compounds at Answers.com.

I spent last weekend learning about MSG (monosodium glutamate) after realizing that it was in some salad dressing (hidden valley and Wishbone) that my relative bought. After a couple of minutes of research, I found out that the FDA doesn't require companies to list it in their ingredients if it's from a "natural source." It's safe to assume that every food product containing 'sodium' or 'hydrolized proteins' also contains MSG. In Canada, food product labeling is deceptive, and in the USA, the FDA is notoriously known for not taking action to protect consumers.

It's easy to make your own salad dressing with no MSG and other such additives. A friend of mine from Romania and one of my Italian patients inspired me to experiment with salad dressings. People from other countries tell me they usually make their own dressing instead of buying it. To make your own salad dressing use Extra Virgin Olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette or Lemon Juice (not both), salt, pepper and other herbs like basil. Companies take advantage of MSG's addictive properties to ensure you buy their product in the future. Read below to learn more about the drawbacks of eating MSG:

About Glutamic Acid

Glutamate is found in many foods, especially those with high protein content. The Food & Drug Administration does not require food corporations to list glutamate in their ingredients list. Tomatoes, cheese, soy sauce, and some yeast extracts all contain forms of glutamates. In Canada, food product labels can advertise "no MSG" and "MSG free" despite having glutamates in their food.

What products contain MSG, and how does it effect you?

According to TruthInLabel.com, MSG can be found in dairy products, protein powder, candy, gum, some nutritional supplements, and even soaps and shampoos.

Everyone knows that some people get reactions after eating the food ingredient monosodium glutamate — reactions that include migraine headaches, upset stomach, fuzzy thinking, diarrhea, heart irregularities, asthma, and/or mood swings.

Disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate are relatively expensive food additives that work synergistically with inexpensive MSG. Their use suggests that the product has MSG in it. They would probably not be used as food additives if there were no MSG present.

Reactions to MSG are dose related, i.e., some people react to even very small amounts. MSG-induced reactions may occur immediately after ingestion or after as much as 48 hours.  The time lapse between ingestion and reaction is typically the same each time for a particular individual who ingests an amount of MSG that exceeds his or her individual tolerance level.

Remember: By food industry definition, all MSG is “naturally occurring.” “Natural” doesn’t mean “safe.”  “Natural” only means that the ingredient started out in nature, like arsenic and hydrochloric acid.

What foods with MSG should you avoid?

Chicken, sausage products, ranch dressing, parmesan items, gravy, and dipping sauces and fries with any kind of seasoning on them except plain salt. Flavorited salty snack chips —especially Doritos® and Cheetos® or items with cheese powder added. At regular restaurants, you want to avoid parmesan encrusted anything, soups, caesar salad, fish sauce or extract, soy sauce, Boars Head® Cold Cuts, beef jerky (usually made with soy sauce) and anything that comes out of a can. Foods labeled “Low Sodium” or “Now with Sea Salt” are now suspect.

We've been busy making SoCalMDS.com a better resource for movement disorder education while making it easier to use.

New Pages

Dementia— Learn about the neurological movement disorder Dementia. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Mixed Dementia-Alzheimer's, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Parkinson's Disease Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia with Parkinsonism (Pick's Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Huntington's Disease, Wernicke, Korsakoff Syndrome, and Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Spinocerebellar Ataxia — Learn about the neurological movement disorder Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Sinocerebellar Ataxia.
Deep Brain Stimulation — Read about the treatments Southern California Movement Disorder Specialists offers. Understand our approach to managing movement disorders and the treatments we prescribe to help our patients.
Donations — Donate to SoCalMDS to support movement disorder research or donate to Ralph's movement disorder fund until 8/31.
Follow-Up Form — For returning patients - Download this PDF form and fill it in at your leisure in order for us to treat you better. Bring the filled out form into our office during your appointment.
Nutritional Supplements — Vitamin and Homeopathic Supplements provided by Metagenics.

Updated Pages

Recommended Products, Treatment, Disorders, Other Movement Disorders, About, Huntington's Chorea, Parkinson's Disease and more.

New Social Networks

Twitter    | Facebook    | LinkedIn    | YouTube

Thanks for stopping by the Southern California Movement Disorder Specialists website. We have many plans for the website, so stay tuned! You can keep in touch via our newsletter (enter your email in the sidebar of this blog) or follow us on the social networks above.

Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) is used to treat upper limb spasticity and cervical dystonia in adults. Watch this video to learn about your muscles and how exactly Botox works.

Learn about how...

• Botox interacts with nerve cells
• Botox stops involuntary muscle movements
• Muscles move and spasm
• Potential risks of Botox, possible symptoms.

Welcome to the new official Southern California Movement Disorders website! Here is a breakdown of what this site has to offer:

About SoCalMDS

About — Introduction to Southern California Movement Disorders; get directions, contact information, and learn about our services.
Contact Us — Get in touch with Dr. Jerome P. Lisk M.D. and his staff. Email, Tweet, or send us a Facebook message.
Our Physicians — Learn about our excellent team of highly trained and well educated movement disorder specialists and staff.
Treatment — Read about the treatments Southern California Movement Disorder Specialists offers. Understand our approach to managing movement disorders and the treatments we prescribe to help our patients.

Patient Forms

Referral Form — Fill out this digital form so we can contact your other doctors and pharmacies and send them a progress report.
Patient Form — Download this PDF form and fill it in at your leisure if you are a new or returning patient. Bring the filled out form into our office.

Learn about Movement Disorders

Dystonia — Learn about the neurological movement disorder Dystonia. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Dystonia.
Parkinson's Disease — Learn about the neurological movement disorder Parkinson's Disease. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Parkinson's Disease.
Huntington's Disease — Learn about the neurological movement disorder Huntington's Disease. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Huntington's Disease.
Restless Legs Syndrome— Learn about Restless Leg Syndrome. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Restless Leg Syndrome.
Tremor — Learn about the neurological movement disorder Tremor. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage Essential, Cerebellar, Dystonic, Orthostatic, Parkinsonian, and Rubral Tremor.
Other — Learn about other neurological movement disorders. Visit these websites to learn how to support and manage other common neurological disorders.

Additional Resources

Neurology News — The Southern California Movement Disorder Specialist's official blog. Read up on the latest neurology and movement disorder-related news.
Support Groups — Visit these popular and reputable movement disorder support groups for help or to help. They are always in need of donations and volunteers.
Trials & Research — The latest movement disorder research, scientific studies, and academic trials from reputable journals and online databases.
Recommended Products — Products we often recommend to our patients. Books, equipment, and other goods provided by Amazon.com.

Thanks for stopping by, and we hope SoCalMDS.com becomes your favorite source for neurology and movement disorder news!

There is a new technology called "DAT Scan" that can tell the difference between Parkinsonism and Essential Tremor.The description is very good in Wikipedia and GE Health Care and National Parkinson's Foundation Website.

This is an excerpt from GE Health Care's website about their new product:

DaTscan is an imaging drug that will be injected into the bloodstream to help your doctor assess a chemical in your brain called dopamine. A special device, called a gamma camera, will take pictures of your brain. These pictures and a report will be sent to your doctor, who can discuss the test results with you. The DaTscan results may help determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are the result of a Parkinsonian syndrome.

DaTscan is for adult patients who have signs or symptoms of Parkinsonian syndromes, such as shaking or stiffness. DaTscan is available only with a prescription from your doctor, and only your doctor can decide if this test is right for you.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia about the new drug/technology:

Ioflupane is the International Nonproprietary Name of a phenyltropane compound which is a neuro-imaging radiopharmaceutical drug, used by nuclear medicine physicians for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease over other disorders presenting similar symptoms. It is injected into a patient and viewed with a gamma camera in order to acquire SPECT images of the brain with particular respect to the striatum, a subcortical region of the basal ganglia. The drug is sold under the tradename DaTSCAN and is manufactured by GE Healthcare, formerly Amersham plc. It is not marketed outside of Europe and the United States.

 

Learn more about DaTscan on GE's website.

Featuring Sally Ward, Head of the devision of pediatric pulmonology, medical directory of the sleep laboratory at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

• Sleep is just as important as a healthy diet to children
• Poor night sleep can lead to bad grades, having a harder time in class

Misdiagnosis of sleep-related disorders

(2:30)

• How to diagnose a child's sleep disorder
• Asking questions to diagnose the sleep-related issue: sleep patterns, complaints (snoring, etc.)

Non-behavoiral sleep disorders

• Destructive sleep apnea - Obesity is the largest contributor, often effects children's education. Destructive sleep apnea is treatable.

Leading causes of sleep disorders in children

• Craniofacial adnormalodies
• Down syndrome (chromosonal adnormalodies)
• Children with large tonsils, adenoids
• Asthma
• Obesity (can lead to asthma)
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Hypoxia

Advice to families that are expecting a baby

(6:00)

• Have children initiate sleep in the correct environment.
• Review common sudden-infint-death syndrome causes.

Overweight children...

• Have more pressure on their air-ways and chest from additional fat, which can lead to sleep apnea.
• Are more likely to have asthma, which can cause coughing in the middle of their sleep.
• Sleep less due to obesity/apnea, which may lead to being less sated when eating due to sporadic leptin levels.

How sleep effects hormones and neurotransmitters

(9:00)

What impact does obesity/apnea have on a child's physiology?

(10:00)

• Effects mood at home and school
• Sleepier than peers making it hard to interact with others
• At risk for hypertension later in life
• At higher risk for Diabetes

Download at ReachMD XM Radio

Featuring Dr. David Fryer Director of the Life Survivorship & Transition Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Cancer does not discriminate, but there are cancer patients who do not receive the attention they should

• Adolescence and young adult patients are considered the "The Lost Generation of Cancer Patients"
• These 15-39 year old patients had a lower chance of survival as time passed. (2:00)

Reasons for the low survival rate in younger cancer patients

• Younger cancer patients tend not to take part in clinical studies. The survival rate is directly related to how much research has been dedicated to that age group.
• Younger patients may have different reactions to medication.
• Disease biology may be different in younger individuals.
• Adherence to treatment; younger individuals may take their medication less.
• Adolescence don't have access to good cancer treatment facilities
• Doctors treat younger cancer patients differently, not always on purpose (6:00)

Cancer survivorship

• Alive 5 years after diagnosis are considered long-term survivors.
• The cancer cure rate for adolescence is 80%, but these patients have long term issues (due to chemotherapy, heavy medication)
• Adolescence cancer patients need long term monitoring
• Young patients tend to leave medical surveillance after age 20. It's a busy time in their lives, so the cancer watching becomes less of a priority despite it being incredibly important.

Current research and options for "The Lost Generation"

(10:00)

• A lot of research is being done.
• Collaboration between Lance Armstrong and The National Cancer Institute called "The Livestrong Young-Adult Alliance"
• Many other alliances to help adolescence cancer patients bringing the issue in to the public's eye.

Download at ReachMD XM Radio

Parkinson's Disease (PD) affects 1 million people in the United States and this number will increase with the aging population. Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that occurs as a result of a loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. The cardinal features of Parkinson's Disease are Slowness of movement (bradykinesia), Rigidity annd Tremor. Non-Motor Symptoms begin 3-15 years before motor symptoms and patients usually have 50-70% loss of the cells that produce dopamine. However the accuracy of diagnosis is 70% with general neurologist and 90% with Movement Disorder Neurologists. Most neurologists have not completed formal fellowships for movement disorder specialization. We have come to find out that experience does not make up for formal training.

History of Parkinson's Disease

(1:00)

• James Parkinson wrote an essay on this disease he witnessed. Doctors later diagnosed it and established it as a disease, then named it after James Parkinson.
• 1875 — 2 year old child with Parkinson's disease, took 7 years to diagnose

The brain of Parkinson's disease patients

(4:00)

• Non-motor symptoms: decreased sense of smell, gastrointestinal issues, urinary issues, sexual disfunction, sleepiness, depression, anxiety, impaired color discrimination, contrast sensitivity, and restless leg syndrome

REM behavior sleep disorder

• Patients are able to act out their dreams when their brain is supposed to paralyze their body. These patients can move around during sleep and cause harm to others or themselves.

Patients often don't visit doctors for small signs of Parkinson's Disease (loss of smell, constipation, etc.). Patients visit their doctors after the first tremor or obvious neurological misfire five to seven years later. At this point, they have lost 50-70% of cells in the Substantia nigra (part of the brain). (8:00)

• About 1 million people in the United States have Parkinson's Disease.
• You are 1.5x more likely to get Parkinson's Disease if you are a female.

Rates of Parkinson's Disease in different cultures

• The Amish community has the highest promenence of Parkinson's Disease.
• Italy, India, and Nebraska (United States) also have a high ratio of Parkinson's Disease.
• Ethiopia and Korea have the lowest ratio.
• High agricultural areas and communities generally have higher rate of Parkinson's Disease. Studies show a link between pesticides and Parkinson's Disease. (11:00)

Pathology of Parkinson's Disease

• Starts effecting the Olfactory bulb (smell) and the brain stem that controls the GI tract (causing constipation). (12:00)
• Identifying Patients at Risk: (15:00)
• Genes
• Watching the movement of dopamine
• Smell identification test (scratch and sniff)
• Cardiac imaging

Neurologists don't have good tools to diagnose Parkinson's Disease yet (18:30).
Neurologists look through patient history, use tests, and employ their expertise to diagnose the disease.

Listen to the podcast on BlogTalkRadio

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability. It is important to recognize the different types of stroke, the symptoms and how to reduce your risk. Your stroke risk increases with age especially if risk factors are not controlled early in ones 20's to 40's. Learn how you can prevent Stroke and help someone having a stroke in your presence.

Stroke Statistics

• Every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke in the US.
• 750,000 people per year have one
• Surveys suggest that 38% of 50+ year old individuals don't know where stokes happen in the body, 19% don't know how to prevent them.
• 3rd leading cause of death
• #1 cause of disability in adults
• 2/3 of all strokes happen to individuals over 65 years old
• Can cause $60,000+ in medical charges
• Males have a higher risk of stroke (2:00)
• African Americans also have a higher risk
• Lifestyle has a large effect on the risk of stroke

What we can't do to prevent Stroke

• Age: Changes of getting a Stroke double per decade of life
• Genetics
• Heredity: Males and African Americans have a higher risk (4:00)
• Gender: Males have a higher risk of getting a stroke, women are more likely to die of stroke
• Women taking birth control pills and smoking can get a stroke at a young age
• TIA Stroke = "mini strokes" - When someone has mini stroke, they are 10x more likely to have a major Stroke

What you can do to prevent Stroke

• Hypertension - Leading cause of Stroke. Testing your blood pressure over many years is vital to preventing Stroke.
• Smoking - Smoking can really elevate the risk of Stroke in the youth (9:00)
• Lower your Cholesterol - Someones weight and health has an effect on the likelihood of stroke. LDL Cholesterol should be less than 100.
• Keep blood sugar down - Diabetes can increase the risk of Stroke
• Eating overall healthier - Eat less saturated fat, less sodium, less carbs, and less calories. Watch out for deceptive product labels when grocery shopping. Smaller servings are generally better.
• Eating fish can be healthy, but avoid fish with high saturated fat content (12:00).
• Understand the food labels on packaged foods.
• Consume Omega-3, 4 to 6 grams daily.
• Physical activity - helps reduce plaque in the blood (17:00)
• Sleep apnea - increases risk of memory loss, heart attacks, headaches, and Stroke.
• Drugs - cocaine can induce Stroke. Don't do heavy/illegal drugs.
• Auto-immune diseases can increase Stroke risk in women
• Multiple miscarriages can increase the risk of Stroke in women.

Symptoms of an upcoming Stroke

(19:30)

• One side of the body becomes numb or week
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
• Hard time understanding speech or seeing clearly
• Loss of balance
• Sudden severe headache (out of nowhere)

Different types of Stroke

• TIA stroke (mini-stroke)
• Ischemic Stroke
• Hemorrhagic Stroke

How does Stroke effect the brain?

(22:00)
Right-side brain Stroke = sight loss, can lead to behavioral issues, and loss of control of left side of the body.
Left-side brain Strokes = speech and language issues, behavioral issues, and loss of control of right side of the body.
Depression - Sadness, or suicidal.
Apathy - Don't won't to do anything (productive or fun) after having a stroke

Helping a Stroke patient

• Writing journal and sticky notes are great for helpful reminders
• Call 911, do not drive potential Stroke sufferers to hospital. The hospital prepares for Stroke patients upon 911 call. Clot-busting drugs will be given in ER. Extremely useful when given within
• 3 hours of Stroke, so 911 must be called to ensure a timely delivery.
• Strokes can effect neural network and may make the sufferer think he/she is fine and doesn't need help.
• F.A.S.T = Face, Arms, Speech Test = Does a smile effect one side of the face, does one arm drift downward, do they speak in normal sentences without slurring?

Listen to this podcast on BlogTalkRadio

• Patient would stretch his neck before and during workout sessions
• Started moving his neck in a certain direction followed by a constantly stiff neck
• Was told by multiple doctors that it would go away and he was fine
• Visited Chiropractor, didn't help stiff neck
• Dizziness arose, visited Orthopod?, was told degenerative disk disease was the culprit
• Was referred to an ear doctor for dizziness and was told that his neck problem caused it
• Physical therapy didn't help, was scared by his angled neck causing him pain
• His neck problem caused depression. He feared that his life would never be the same.
• Educated himself, thought it might be Dystonia
• Found Dr. Lisk. Lisk listened to his story and started testing for Dystonia
• Got Botox injections
• After several injections, he "feels great" and is "living his life like he used to"
• Dr. Lisk's compassion helped him get over his dystonia, depression

• 1/4 women die of heart disease.
• In 2004 ,60% of women died of heart disease - more than all cancers combined.
• Smoking, healthy weight, and poor diet contribute to heart disease.
• Exercise, lower stress and alcohol consumption, eat healthy foods all help fight off heart disease.

• Difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon
• What neurologists do
• What is a cat-scan? What is a MRI?
• Specialization in Movement Disorders
• "Fellowships" in neurology: becoming specialized with extra education
• Different types of Fellowships and sub-specializations
• Multiple scientific journals that specialize: Dystonia, Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke, Epilepsy,
• (9:00)

• • Genetic movement disorders
• • The state of neurology. What do we know?
• • Misdiagnosed disorders in neurology

• (14:00)

• • The most prevalent disorder: essential tremor
• • The most well known disorder: Parkinson's
• • Relying on experts for correct diagnosed
• • Dystonia often misdiagnosed (with an example)
• • Botox use for real diseases
• • B12 deficiency causing numbness and several movement disorders
• • Vitamin usage may help or harm
• • Parkinson's Disease causing brain cells to die, may cause depression

• (26:00)

• • Exercise and it's effect on Parkinson's Disease
• • Insist on seeing in neurologists if you think you may be having issues