Diagnosis and Treatment of Chemical Sensitivities’

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Chemical Sensitivity

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 15.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Over the last 50 years there has been an immense increase both in the use of synthetic chemicals and in exposure to chemical pollutants:  this is unparalleled in the history of man.  The increased exposure presents the human body with enormous problems of increase in the Total Body Burden of Toxics and ongoing increase demand on detoxification and excretion of the pollutants that they are exposed to. There is a great need to understand the hormesis and chronic low level exposure of environmental and food pollutants on human health.

The public is increasingly concerned about potential environmental health hazards and often want answers to very concrete questions, such as: is the water safe to drink? Could my miscarriage be due to my work environment?  Are pesticides used on fruit harmful?  What is the benefit of eating organic food?  Patients ask their physicians these questions because they trust them and value their advice.  Unfortunately, physicians often lack sufficient scientific knowledge and training with respect to environmental risks and health.

This program has been designed for primary care providers, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and allergy technicians who participate in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of chemical sensitivity in many chronically ill patients. Practitioners will leave knowing how to recognize the role of environmental factors, food and nutritional deficiencies in the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of chronic illnesses in their patients. Once the Total Body Burden is identified in the earlier stage of the disease process and if eliminated or modified at the earlier stage molecular dysfunction can be reversed and end stage disease can be prevented.

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Schedule

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.    The Goals and Objectives of the Course

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Articulate why understanding of environmental chemical toxicity is necessary

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.    Overview of the Principles of Environmental Medicine for the Diagnosis and                                  Treatment

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Define environmental load – chemicals, etc
  2. Articulate principles of homeostatis and hormesis

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.    The Comprehensive History of Chemical Sensitive Patient

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Identify an adequate environmental history
  2. Develop history of chemical injury

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.  The Comprehensive Physical Examination and Initial Lab Evaluation for the Work Up for the Chemically Sensitive Patient

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Define how to physically evaluate chemical injury
  2. Identify what lab tests to order based on history and diagnosis

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.      Break

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.      How Chemicals Affect the Immune System

Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., M.T.

  1. Identify the biomarkers of immunotoxicity and interpret the meaning & significance of these findings.
  2. Describe what encompasses the field of immunotoxicology.
  3. Discuss the possible immunotoxicological mechanisms.
  4. Describe how chemicals can induce Type I-IV allergy.
  5. Explain how toxic chemicals can skew the development of Th2 cells and inhibit Th1 and the significance of such an effect.
  6. Recognize the consequence of autoimmunity as a mechanism of immunotoxicity.

 

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.      The Neurological Mechanisms of Chemical Sensitivity and CDD.

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Discuss various toxic chemicals which affect us adversely.
  2. Describe the mechanisms of neural sensitivity of these chemicals
  3. List treatments for neurosensitivity.

11:30 – 12:00 p.m.      Immunomarkers of Immunotoxicity from Lab Tests Interpretation of Solvents,                                    Pesticides & Toxic Heavy Metals

Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., M.T.

  1. Describe how to interpret lab findings with regard to their significance in the chemically injured patient

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.    Lab Tests To Diagnosis the Presence of Chemicals and Their Systemic Effects

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Discuss the biological monitoring of toxic exposure as methodology for performing source assessment.
  2. Describe how to interpret lab findings with regard to their significance.

 

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.    An Overview of Skin and Sublingual Testing For Chemical Sensitivity

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Define what tests clinically give information about chemical sensitivity

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.    Water and Soil Pollution

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Discuss the nature of water pollution and its assessment.
  2. Discuss the nature of soil pollution and its assessment.

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.    The Role of Injection Therapies in the Treatment of Chemical Sensitivity: Chemicals, Viruses, Bacteria, and Neuropeptides

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Describe how to treat with injections for chemicals, virus, bacteria and neuropeptides.

 

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.    Break

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.    Practicum Case History and Intradermal Chemical Testing and Treatment

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Discuss what tests are available for assessing sensitivity to various chemicals, drugs, hymenoptera venoms, and latex, and how they are performed.
  2. Discuss how and when to use these tests.

4:30 – 5:00 p.m.    Case Presentation – Panel

Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., M.T.

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

5:00 – 5:30 p.m.    Questions and Answers

5:30 p.m.      Adjourn

April 1, 2012

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.    How to Evaluate and Optimally Document Findings of the Chemically Injured Patient- Practical Case Review for Causation – Injury from the Toxicology Viewpoint

William J. Meggs, M.D.

  1. Discuss different methods of evaluation of chemically injured patients.
  2. Describe how to document objective findings of evaluation to support the diagnosis of chemical injury.

 

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.    Pesticide and Pyrethroids Poisoning and Chemical Sensitivity

William J. Meggs, M.D.

  1. Recognize the full spectrum of organophosphate pesticide poisoning – neutrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, etc.
  2. Discuss the limitations of laboratory testing for organophosphate pesticide poisoning.
  3. Discuss the effect of low level organophosphate pesticide exposure and its sequelae.
  4. Identify the pattern and injury of pyrethroids.
  5. Discuss some of the scientific literature regarding organophosphate pesticide poisoning.

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.    Outdoor Air Pollution

William J. Meggs, M.D.

  1. Describe the major sources of outdoor air pollution and be able to define both general and individual responses to specific substances including hypersensitivity reactions.
  2. Discuss what medical interventions may be used to help the individual with adverse reactions to air pollutants.

9:30 –10:00 a.m.      Indoor Air Pollution

William J. Meggs, M.D.

  1. Discuss the sources of indoor air pollution and the potential clinical response of the individual including construction       products, combustion products, cleaning products and commonly used office equipment.
  2. Explain sick buildings syndrome
  3. Describe basic modifications to interiors to reduce indoor air pollution including heating and air conditioning systems and construction materials.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.      Break

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.      Respiratory Effects from Chemical Sensitivity

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. List what chemicals cause respiratory illness.
  2. Identify how to diagnose and treat
  3. Illustrate the reactive nature of the respiratory system to chemical exposure

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.      Cardiovascular Effects from Chemical Sensitivity

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. List what chemicals affect the CV system
  2. Describe the reactive nature of the CV system to chemical exposures.
  3. Identify how to diagnose and treat adverse CV effects from toxic chemical exposures.

11:30 – 12:00 p.m.      Food Pollution

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Describe the potential toxicity of specific foods and their additives.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.    Gastrointestinal and Genito Urinary System Dysfunction from Chemical Sensitivity

Robin Bernhoft, M.D.

  1. List what chemicals affect the GU system
  2. Explain the reactive nature of the GU system to chemical exposure.
  3. Identify how to diagnose and treat

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.    Ear, Nose, And Throat and Chemical Sensitivity

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. List what chemicals affect the ENT system
  2. Explain the reactive nature of the ENT system to chemical exposure.
  3. Identify how to diagnose and treat.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.    The Role of Optimal Macronutrient and Micronutrient Status in the Treatment of Chemical Sensitivity

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Integrate the knowledge of nutrients in the practice of environmental medicine.

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.                Musculoskeletal Syndromes and Chemical Sensitivity

Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., FAAEM

  1. List what chemicals affect the musculoskeletal  system
  2. Explain the reactive nature of the musculoskeletal system to chemical exposure.
  3. Identify how to diagnose and treat.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.    Break

3:30 – 4:15 p.m.    The Role of Toxic Heavy Metals in Chemical Sensitivity and

Do’s & Don’ts of Chelation Treatment

David W. Quig, Ph.D.

  1. Identify primary sources of commonly encountered toxic metals
  2. Explain overlap between exposures and chemicals with respect to mechanisms for combined adverse health effects.

4:15 – 4:45 p.m.    An Overview of Treatment Modalities – Avoidance, Sauna, and More

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Articulate an overview of modalities of treatment used to reduce effects of environmental exposure and re-create homeostatis and hormesis.
  2. Discuss the pertinent facts about how heat therapy can be used to treat chemical exposure.

4:45 – 5:15 p.m.    The Important Role of Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Chemical Sensitivity

William J. Rea, M.D., FAAEM

  1. Describe the use of oxygen therapy to cause tissue health with recovery from toxic stimulus
  2. Discuss the immune modulators and how to use them with oxygen treatment.
  3. Describe how to diagnose surgically removable chemicals that cause disease.
  4. List the details of safe surgery for the chemically sensitive and chronic disease patient.

5:15– 5:45 p.m.     Questions and Answers

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

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Date

Saturday and Sunday, March 31-April 1, 2012

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