Kevin D Pruitt

PBJ Medical Associates · Research

The review examines multiple myeloma, including pathophysiology, conventional treatments, current management strategies, treatment challenges, and emerging therapies. The disease, originating from malignant plasma cells, leads to bone marrow infiltration and osteolytic lesions. Common manifestations include anemia, bone pain, renal dysfunction, and...

This review highlights the significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the hematological system, revealing complications such as thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and hemolytic anemia, which contribute notably to morbidity and mortality, especially in critically ill patients. The underlying mechanisms involve direct viral effect...

The placebo effect has notable implications for clinical practice and research, demonstrating its ability to enhance therapeutic outcomes through psychological and physiological mechanisms. Evidence shows that placebos can impact treatment responses by influencing patients’ expectations and mental states, with mechanisms including neurobiological c...

Detox diets, including intermittent fasting, ketogenic, Paleo, vegetarian, Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Whole30, are notable strategies for managing obesity and metabolic syndrome. This review evaluates these diets, highlighting their benefits and limitations. Intermittent fasting methods like 16/8 and 5:2 aid...

The review discusses the risks posed by conventional medical imaging methods, including radiation exposure, allergic reactions, and environmental contamination. It explores recent innovations, such as advanced modalities like photon-counting computed tomography (CT) scanners and ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, which provi...

Late-onset psychiatric conditions, which emerge or are first diagnosed in older adulthood, present unique challenges. This review examines their prevalence, risk factors, and clinical presentations, providing a comprehensive overview of their impact on older adults. Late-onset psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ma...

Orthopoxviruses (OPXVs), belonging to the Poxviridae family, are large, double-stranded DNA viruses known for their zoonotic potential and impact on human and animal health. This review explores the transmission dynamics of OPXVs from animal hosts to humans and the underlying cellular pathophysiological mechanisms. Animal hosts such as rodents, pr...

Peripheral neuropathy is a complex disorder characterized by damage to the peripheral nerves, resulting in various sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. This review offers a detailed examination of peripheral neuropathy, covering its prevalence, effects on individuals and society, causes, diagnosis, mechanisms, treatment, and management, focusing...

Hypertension and depression are widely prevalent conditions with substantial comorbidity. Hypertension, characterized by persistently elevated arterial pressure, is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Depression, a multifactorial mood disorder, adversely affects mental and physical health through mechanisms involving...

Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that lead to abnormal movements and postures. This review examines environmental toxins and their etiology and pathogenesis of dystonia. Environmental toxins – organic solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals – disrupt neural pathways and neurotransmitter functions,...

This review discusses the significant health risks posed by exposure to environmentally toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and nickel. These metals can cause severe and sometimes irreversible damage to various organs and systems in the human body. Each metal has specific health impacts, including neurological diso...

Tinnitus, characterized by phantom auditory perceptions like ringing or buzzing, represents a complex interaction between auditory and neurological pathways. This review explores the significant role of environmental toxins—specifically organic solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals—in the pathogenesis of tinnitus. Organic solvents, pesticides, and...

This review explores how organic solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals, as prevalent environmental toxins, impact human health, particularly the nervous system, and their association with central sleep apnea (CSA). These toxins disrupt neural function through various mechanisms, including direct neurotoxic effects, neurotransmission interference,...

The review discusses pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) as a multisystem disorder with diverse manifestations across dermatological, ophthalmological, and cardiovascular systems. It covers the primary dermatological signs, such as yellowish papular lesions and altered skin texture, typically in flexural areas. The review also addresses ophthalmological...

Tattoos, an ancient form of body art with roots dating back 5000 years, have evolved from cultural markers to mainstream symbols of self-expression. While historically significant figures like Amunet and Captain James Cook contributed to tattoo lore, modern celebrities like David Beckham and Kat Von D have propelled tattoos into popular culture. Ho...

Entheogens, a class of psychoactive substances with profound cultural and religious significance, have been utilized for centuries across diverse traditions for healing, spiritual exploration, and communication with the divine. Their historical usage spans continents, from the pre-Columbian Americas to traditional African practices and Ayurvedic me...

The opioid epidemic poses a significant public health challenge, stemming from the widespread misuse and abuse of opioids for pain management. Stem cell therapy (SCT) and non-opioid anesthesia emerge as promising alternatives to traditional opioid-based treatments, offering effective pain relief while mitigating the risks of addiction and overdose....

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the societal pressures of maintaining a youthful appearance and the increasing popularity of BOTOX injections for aesthetic purposes. It discusses the motivation behind BOTOX use for personal psychological gains, partly driven by social media pressure and societal expectations. Ethical considerations...

Quercetin, an abundant flavonoid in various foods and plants, exhibits diverse therapeutic potential due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This review explores its biological and pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action, formulations, absorption, bioavailability, adverse effects, and potential therapeutic app...

Scoliosis is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It can lead to various health issues, affecting mobility, respiratory function, and overall quality of life. There are several types of scoliosis, including idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, degenerative, and functional. The severity of scoliosis is m...

This review observes the growing demographic of individuals identifying as transgender or non-binary, which currently represents approximately 1.3% (depending on the source) of the U.S. population. This population is shown to skew younger. Environmental xenobiotics, particularly those containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are scrutini...

This review depicts the epidemiology of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a relatively new eating disorder characterized by persistent food restriction leading to weight loss or nutritional deficiencies. The prevalence of ARFID varies, with the disorder occurring in both children and adults, although rates may be higher among femal...

Incorporating psychological considerations is an essential component in both the practice of medicine and the management of various complex situations. Psychological aspects can play a role in the etiology, diagnosis, and course of treatment. Psionic medicine is an approach to healing that combines traditional medicine with radiesthesia to address...

Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT)-guided radiation therapy simulation has transformed cancer treatment, ushering in enhanced precision and individualization. This discussion delves into clinical indications, applications, procedures, and limitations, providing a comprehensive overview across cancer types. Clinical indication...

This review explores the relationship between maternal psychological disorders and their impact on a child's academic performance. Maternal conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder can disrupt neurodevelopmental processes during pregnancy, affecting the formation of crucial neural circuits for cognitive functions. The consequenc...

Nonadherence to prescribed medications is a significant issue across many medical specialties and human conditions. Nonadherence affects individuals with chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, psychiatric disorders, and respiratory conditions, as well as in more acute conditions. Nonadherence can lead to treatment del...

Parthenogenesis is the process by which an ovum (also known as an egg) can develop into an individual without the participation of a male agent. Virgin births are possible in invertebrates and vertebrates such as birds, fish, and reptiles. Although mammals can begin the process of parthenogenesis, they do not typically give birth to parthenogenetic...

Plant seeds have been used for thousands of years for their nutritional, medicinal, and culinary benefits. Contemporary medical research is investigating plant seeds' therapeutic potential for improving and treating human diseases. Plant seeds contain bioactive components such as phytochemicals, polyphenols, and lignans, which express antioxidant...

Fluoride, naturally present in numerous foods and water sources, helps prevent tooth decay and promotes the remineralization of dental enamel. Two recent dental school graduates from the late 19 th and early 20 th century, Black and McKay, were the first to propose using fluoride as an effective caries prevention agent. In the past, individuals rel...

Iridology has been practiced for over a century and has recently attracted renewed attention in the era of complementary medicine. Iridology is a pseudoscientific method that examines the patterns, color, and other characteristics of the iris, the colorful portion of the eye, to diagnose health issues or identify potentially diseased or weak body p...

Treatment of cancer, especially liquid tumors, is remarkably effective when T cells carrying chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are used. The ability to develop CARs for specific oncological applications has made them a compelling alternative to established cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. CAR T cells are engineered from T...

Salus per Aquam (Spa) therapy (or medicine) uses "healing" waters as part of its treatment regimen-in particular, sulfate mineral water (containing predominantly sulfate anion SO4 2−). The therapy generally incorporates hydrotherapy, therapeutic drinks, medical massage, water jet massage, bathing, and physical therapy in thermal water. Over many ce...

Long COVID is a general term for a complicated multisystemic disease that develops after acute infection with COVID-19, regardless of severity, immediately or after a period of apparent recovery. Long COVID has been shown in studies to affect the entire spectrum of COVID-19 patients, from mild acute illness to the most severe manifestations. Long C...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term that denotes the use of a computer to simulate intelligent behavior with minimal or no human involvement. AI implementation will significantly benefit the healthcare industry and people's general health. Although AI cannot wholly replace clinical judgment, it can help medical experts make better clin...

Preterm birth (PTB) is a significant concern in obstetric care, affecting about 11% of all live births. It contributes significantly to perinatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term impairment (second to pneumonia). PTB can be prevented using a multimodal strategy, including public health initiatives, lifestyle changes, improved access to obstetric...

RNA vaccines are appealing because they share traits with live-attenuated vectors and subunit vaccines, such as flexible manufacturing and generating humoral and cellular resistance. In recent years, vaccine production employing ribonucleic acid (RNA) has emerged as the most promising and explored strategy for producing safe and effective novel vac...

The Independent Global Medical Research Consortium (IGMRC) comprising of a prolific core group of medical researchers who have collaborated for over five years. IGMRC's topics are contemporary and varied. The thirty-four articles published in 2022 spawned the concept of creating a compendium highlighting each published paper's distillation. In doin...

Liposuction is a safe cosmetic procedure for body contouring that removes excess fat and reshapes the body parts. It is a well-known and helpful body contouring procedure that uses quick, safe, and minimally invasive techniques to remove unwanted fat deposits. The removal of excess fat reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other...

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and very low-carbohydrate diet that stimulates the creation of ketones by mimicking the metabolism of the fasting state. A high level of blood ketone caused by a KD induces the state of ketosis, which has several physiological and therapeutic advantages. The KD first gained popularity as an e...

Tumors have become more common in recent years across the world. Although immunotherapy is a precise, quick, and efficient way to treat tumors, it generates serious side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Thus, the creation of an efficient and non-harmful immunotherapy approach is urgently required. Photochemical in...

The prospects of healthcare systems and their results may be influenced by nanotechnology. Researchers have recently become very interested in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) because of their superior physiochemical characteristics. AuNPs exhibit size-and shape-dependent optical and electronic properties and are noncorroding, biocompatible, and amenable...

Mutations in the surviving motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1) cause an autosomal recessive condition known as spinal muscular atrophy(SMA), characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. SMA is characterized by generalized muscle weakness and atrophy predominating in the proximal limb muscles. Depending on the age of onset and the l...

Several members of the Enterobacteriaceae family produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), which hydrolyze extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Clavulanic acid has been effective in inhibiting ESBL. Since their discovery in the early 1980s, ESBL producers are increasingly being found in patients with hospital-associated and community-acquired inf...

Binaural refers to something relating to or involving both ears. When 2 sounds of slightly different frequencies are heard simultaneously by different ears, the brain combines these 2 signals and creates a binaural beat, perceived as a new, third sound. The effects of BB stimulation on the brain are considerably similar to those experienced during...

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is a multidisciplinary method for treating musculoskeletal conditions. Although several medical experts practice it, only those having experience in MUA research and accreditation in the technique are supposed to perform MUA procedures. MUA helps regain the optimum range of motion (ROM). It provides the intended...

The ability to laugh is a trait shared by all people; studies have shown a positive association between humor and general health. Both humor and laughter therapy, a cognitive-behavioral therapy, have demonstrated verifiable psychological and physical benefits in certain health aspects-given that it lowers blood levels of cortisol, epinephrine, grow...

Vaping is smoking with electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). These battery-powered devices help users emulate the smoking experience by inhaling and vaporizing fluid within the device. Although tobacco is not a component of e-cigarettes, nicotine can be present in the form of a liquid solution. Vaping has increased among teens and young adults in r...

The vertebral arteries, which supply blood to the brain's posterior circulation, are clinically most significant. A rupture in a major cervicocerebral artery causes blood to penetrate the arterial wall and divide its layers, resulting in stricture or aneurysmal dilation of the vessel. Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is of particular concern in th...

Stem cells (SCs) are undifferentiated progenitor cells present in multicellular organisms. They have the remarkable capacity to proliferate and differentiate into a wide range of various types of specialized cells. SC treatment has emerged as a intriguing research topic and opportunity for new therapies. The phenomenal breakthrough in SC research h...

The feeling of pain encompasses a range of mental and physical states, sharing the scale of mild annoyance to debilitation. Pain is the most common symptom reported to health care professionals. Psychological pain results from negative emotions induced by any feeling of loss. Physical pain is an aversive state that originates from an injury or dise...

Postpartum urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and significant concern, affecting approximately 30% of women within the first three months of delivery. Multiple variables, such as unique genitourinary structure, pregnancy, number and type of delivery, menopause, constipation, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index (BMI), aggravate risk facto...

Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (blue-green alga) rich in vital nutrients, having tremendous potential as a "future food". The utility of algae is not limited to providing nutrition. Specific alga can perform the following functions: immunomodulator, anti-allergic, cleanses the body of toxins, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and abstergent (c...

According to psychobiotic research expansion, the gut microbiome-a colony of more than 1000 species-is connected to brain health and state of mind. Historically, even though a variety of body parts and systems were linked to the nervous system in the nineteenth century, researchers began researching the gut, especially the stomach, calling it 'the...

The intricate interplay of the primary elements of the neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiorespiratory systems underpins human gait. In elderly individuals, a preferred brisk walk is a strong indicator of overall health and quality of life (QoL). However, the physiology of walking is complicated. Thus, diagnosis of gait problems requires a tho...

Sound therapy is a revolutionary approach for medical treatment and prevention, transforming the current treatment landscape. The therapy is based on the notion of resonance. Typically, in homeostasis, electromagnetic fields-surrounding the body and all organs, cells, bones, tissues, and liquids-have a healthy a healthy vibratory frequency. Sound w...

Breathing is a fundamental activity of all living organisms and is necessary for life. Although breathing is a priority, greater than 90% of living organisms use less than 50% of their breathing capacity efficiently. How a person breathes affects the functions of their entire body. Breathing exercises are regularly recommended to maintain mental pe...

Psychedelics are regarded as mind-revealing drugs. They are considered a group of substances that act on serotonergic receptors (serotonin5-HT) and, thus, are also known as serotonergic hallucinogens. The origin of these drugs or substances dates back to various ritual beliefs and cultural practices. Current research has explored and highlighted th...

The nutritional and health benefits of Spirulina have been known for thousands of years. Spirulina has been grown and harvested by ancient cultures since written history, and likely before. Much anecdotal evidence has been put forth, and more recently, evidence-based scientific research confirms many of Spriluina's nutritional and health benefits....

The research and application for treatment determination and monitoring of biomarkers in hormone replacement therapy is a comparably novel domain. Currently, regulations are limited and insufficient, but are evolving. Nevertheless, there is decisive anticipation of what future biomarker research will reveal and apply more specifically to negative s...

Humans primarily consume microalgal products due to their nutritional and immunostimulatory properties. However, these products may not benefit all persons since specific microalgae may not be compatible with all humans. While consuming micro-algal products in autoimmune diseases and their coadministration with drugs (anticoagulants, hypoglycemics,...

In contemporary times, herbal medicine is used as an adjunct to conventional therapy and for health promotion. Herbs that have long been considered curative or prophylactic should be further studied in clinical trials. Can these time-tested natural therapies be used and trusted in exceptional circumstances, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? Tr...

Star anise belongs to the Schisandraceae family. About 166 varieties exist, and 42 species are grown in the tropics of East Asia and Southeast Asia. Many beneficial effects of star anise have been established, including ameliorating the symptoms of rheumatism and joint pain, warding off insects (insect repellant), lessening cold and flu symptoms, a...

Coffee, second only to water, is the most consumed beverage among adults. It is also the primary source of dietary caffeine, having a high antioxidant content. Numerous bioactive compounds are present in coffee. Regular coffee consumption is associated with multiple health benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, neu...

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by episodes of apnea or hypopnea that occur during sleep and lead to decreased oxygen and awakening. Persistent sleep deprivation and fall in blood oxygen levels can lead to certain long-term complications, such as cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, hypertension,...

The heart is extensively supplied with nerves of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). These nerves allow the brain to have neural control of vital cardiac activity. The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of ANS act antagonistically to regulate the mechanical and physiological functions of the heart, atrial and ventricular contractions, heartbe...

Nicotine in tobacco increases dopamine release, which boosts mood and provides a sense of stress release. However, tobacco's availability in numerous forms for consumption makes it difficult to control addiction-even after programs promoting the awareness of its harm to people, society, and the economy. The influence of family and friends is consid...

Inguinal hernia is frequently diagnosed by clinical exam. Imaging tests are recommended in the absence of definitive signs or associated symptoms that indicate complications. Ultrasonography (US) is the most common method used for examination of the various types of hernias. Inguinal hernias are the most prevalent type of hernia. US (grayscale or c...