HJAR Sep/Oct 2020

24 SEP / OCT 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs UAMS StudyWarns of CBD Supplements’ Harm to Gut Health Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the University of Mississippi are warning in the first study of its kind that CBD supplements in high doses can be harmful to the gut microbiome. The study, “Potential Probiotic or Trigger of Gut Inflammation – the Janus-Faced Nature of Can- nabidiol-Rich Cannabis Extract,” is published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements. While sales of cannabidiol (CBD) have skyrocketed, little is known about its potential side effects, said UAMS’ Igor Koturbash, MD, PhD, the study’s senior author and principal investigator. CBD is extracted from hemp (Cannabis sativa), which was removed from the federal list of con- trolled substances in 2018. The research team found that when taken orally, CBD disrupts the gut microbiome of mice and can damage the inner lining of the digestive tract, known as the gut mucosa. “Cannabidiol significantly affects the gut micro- biome, which in turn may affect the mucosa,” said Koturbash, associate professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, and co-director of the Cen- ter for Dietary Supplements Research. “In low doses, it may potentially improve gut health as a probiotic, but in high doses it can cause leaky gut syndrome.” Leaky gut syndrome is characterized by gaps in the intestinal walls that allow bacteria and other toxins into the bloodstream. It has serious health consequences and can be fatal. Koturbash said the study’s findings point to the need for clinical trials to determine the safest, most effective CBD dosages for people.  The study involved a dozen researchers – nine from UAMS and three from the University of Mis- sissippi. It drew expertise from several disciplines in the UAMS College of Public Health and the College of Medicine Departments of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Informatics, Pharmacol- ogy and Toxicology, Pathology, and Pediatrics. Among the changes in the gut, researchers observed multiple pro-inflammatory responses to CBD in the colon tissue. In addition, there were significant decreases in a gene that is closely associated with gut integrity. “Taken together, these findings raise concerns about the safety of long-term CBD usage and underline the need for additional well-designed studies into its tolerability and efficacy,” the study concludes. Northwest Health Offers Talk with a DocWebinar Northwest Health invited women to join them online for Talk with a Doc, a panel dis- cussion that’s part of the American Heart Associa- tion’s Go Red for Women educational series. The event was held in June. A panel of three Northwest Health physicians helped participants learn ways to take action to minimize their risk of heart disease and stroke. Northwest Arkansas American Heart Associa- tion Board Member and Non-Interventional Car- diologist Dr. Ashu Dhanjal served as the event moderator. Panelists included Dr. Ang-Poland, family medicine physician at Northwest Medical Plaza-Springdale; Dr. Maria Baldasare, interven- tional cardiologist at Northwest Cardiology-Ben- tonville; and Dr. Alexis McCollum, obstetrician/ gynecologist with Willow Creek Women’s Clinic. Dr. Anthony Bucolo Joins CHI St. Vincent Oncology Clinic CHI St. Vincent welcomed Dr. Anthony Bucolo to the team of leading oncologists and hematologists at the growing CHI St. Vincent Oncology Clinic in Little Rock. The clinic works to expand cancer treatment options and CHI St. Vincent’s healing ministry in the community. “We’re honored to welcome Dr. Bucolo to the CHI St. Vincent Oncology Clinic,” said Dr. Peter Emanuel, CHI St. Vincent director of oncology services. “His addition represents another step in our progress toward developing a comprehen- sive cancer center at CHI St. Vincent to provide outstanding, compassionate care for Arkansans.”  Bucolo joins CHI St. Vincent from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, where he provided peer review for medical oncology drug usage. He previously spent 27 years with Arkansas Oncology Associates and provided expert testimony in 60 medical malpractice cases in Little Rock.  After attending medical school at Georgetown University, Bucolo completed a residency in inter- nal medicine at Rhode Island Hospital of Brown University and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  The CHI St. Vincent oncology and hematology team treats cancer and all forms of blood disease in adults. Bucolo is now seeing patients alongside Director of Oncology Services Dr. Peter Eman- uel at the clinic located at 1 St. Vincent Circle, Suite 220. UAMS-Developed High- Accuracy COVID-19 Antibody Testing Begins in Arkansas The University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS) has developed and begun using high-accuracy antibody testing to determine the magnitude of COVID-19 infection in Arkansas and inform the decisions of policymakers. As part of the research program, UAMS will col- lect blood samples from nearly 7,500 Arkansas adults and children through October. By early August, a robotic-assisted immunoassay machine will enable processing of 2,500 samples per day for workplace, school and other community set- tings. UAMS researchers are now processing only up to 180 samples per day by hand. The effort is supported by $3.3 million in fed- eral coronavirus aid that was then allocated by the Arkansas Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Steering Committee created by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Unlike diagnostic tests, COVID-19 antibody testing looks back into the immune system’s his- tory. A positive antibody test means the person was exposed to the virus and developed anti- bodies against the virus. It will give state lead- ers a good idea how many Arkansans have been Anthony Bucolo, MD