News - week 4 - 2008
Conferenties - A Colloquium on
ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia
Southampton General Hospital, UK - Tuesday 12th February 2008
9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Chaired by
- Professor Stephen Holgate, Professor
of Clinical Pharmacology, Southampton University
- Professor David Peters, First Professor of
Integrated Health Care, Westminster University
- SPEAKERS
Professor Martin Pall, Professor of Biochemistry – Basic Medical Science Washington
State University
Converging mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and related conditions
- Dr. Jonathan Kerr, Senior Lecturer, St
George’s Hospital
New insights into ME (gene expression)
- Dr. Russell Lane, Consultant Neurologist,
Charing Cross Hospital
Peripheral components of ME (mitochondrial malfunction)
- Dr. Byron Hyde, Founder of Nightingale
Foundation, Canada
An understanding of ME/CFS through 20 years of clinical experience
- Dr. Estabiliz Olano-Martin, Bilbao, Spain
Genetic profi les in aggressive forms of ME and
Fibromyalgia
- Professor Malcolm Hooper, Professor of
Medicinal Chemistry, Sunderland University
Multiple chemical sensitivity
- Dr. Abhijit Chaudhuri/Dr. Federico Roncaroli
A view of the neuropathology of ME/CFS
- Professor Hugh Perry, Professor of
Experimental Neuropathy, Southampton University
Systemic Infl ammation of the brain
http://www.bhma.org/userfiles/file/Collab%20Wkshop%20GPs+speakers-2.pdf
Low vitamin E levels associated
with physical decline in elderly
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have
found that a low concentration of vitamin E in the blood is linked with physical decline
in older persons.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/yu-lve012208.php
Yale Team Identifies Key Factor in Stress Effects on the Brain
Acute and chronic stress can have
devastating effects on the brain, and Yale School of Medicine researchers have pinpointed
one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle, it was reported this week in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “This could provide new targets for
the development of antidepressant medications,” said Ronald Duman, professor of
psychiatry and pharmacology and senior author of the study. Duman said uncontrollable
stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders such as major
depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, which have been linked to cellular changes
in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is particularly
susceptible to stress.
http://www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/08-01-22-02.all.html
Study raises questions about diagnosis, medical treatment of ADHD
A new UCLA study shows that only about half
of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, exhibit the
cognitive defects commonly associated with the condition and further, found that in
populations where medication is rarely prescribed to treat ADHD, the prevalence and
symptoms of the disorder are roughly equivalent to populations in which medication is
widely used.
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/new-
thinking-revealed-about-adhd-43193.aspx
Burgers, fries, diet soda - Metabolic syndrome blue-plate special
Otherwise-healthy adults who eat two or
more servings of meat a day -- the equivalent of two burger patties -- increase their risk
of developing metabolic syndrome by 25 percent compared with those who eat meat twice a
week, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart
Association.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/aha-bfd012208.php
Queen's immunologists find better way to boost the immune system
Queen's University immunologists have
discovered how to manipulate the immune system to increase its power and protect the body
from successive viral infections.
http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=47960c19881ea
Regular, long-term aspirin use reduces risk of colorectal cancer
The use of regular, long-term aspirin and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk associated with colorectal cancer,
according to a study published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American
Gastroenterological Association Institute. However, the use of aspirin for chemoprevention
of colorectal cancer may require using the drug at doses that are higher than recommended
over a long period of time, which may cause serious side effects including
gastrointestinal bleeding.
http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=4789
New therapeutic target for treatment of multiple sclerosis
An international research team, led by a
scientist from the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, has identified new
therapeutic targets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In the February issue of
Nature Immunology, the team provides fresh answers concerning the role of novel adhesion
molecules in the pathogenesis of MS, a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system
that affects approximately 55,000 young adults in Canada.
http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=856&Itemid=206
Einstein researchers - Do national dietary guidelines do more harm than good?
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of
Medicine of Yeshiva University raise questions about the benefits of federal dietary
guidelines. The researchers, led by Paul Marantz, M.D., MPH, associate dean for clinical
research education at Einstein, outline their argument in the Jan. 22 online edition of
the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
http://www.aecom.yu.edu/home/news/PRdetails.asp?isPR=1&id=399
Gene variations associated with effectiveness of blood pressure medications
Patients with hypertension and certain gene
variations experienced varying results with some blood pressure medications, suggesting
matching a patient's genotype with certain hypertension medications could result in more
favorable outcomes, according to a study in the Jan. 23 issue of JAMA.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/jaaj-gva011708.php
Ovarian cancer risk not affected by alcohol and smoking, but reduced by
caffeine
A new study has found that cigarette
smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk, while
caffeine intake may lower the risk, particularly in women not using hormones.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/w-ocr011608.php
The missing link between belly fat and heart disease?
Overweight people have a higher risk of
heart attacks, strokes and other problems that arise from clogged, hardened arteries. Now,
a new study in mice gives the first direct evidence of why this link might exist -- and a
tantalizing look at how it might be broken.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uomh-tml012108.php
Researchers find relief for chronic pain
Researchers in the Department of Medicine
and Department of Neurosciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered that
chronic pain can be successfully treated with novel targeted gene therapy. In an effort to
find a more effective treatment for chronic pain, researchers at Mount Sinai developed a
gene therapy technique that simulates the pain-killing effect of opiate drugs.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/tmsh-rfr011808.php
Saline nasal wash helps improve children's cold symptoms
A saline nasal wash solution made from
processed seawater appears to improve nasal symptoms and may help prevent the recurrence
of respiratory infections when used by children with the common cold, according to a
report in the January issue of Archives of Otolaryngology, one of the JAMA/Archives
journals
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/jaaj-snw011708.php
Studies highlight MRSA evolution and resilience
Community-associated methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus infections are caused primarily by a single strain -- USA300 -- of
an evolving bacterium that has spread with "extraordinary transmissibility"
throughout the United States during the past five years, according to a new study led by
National Institutes of Health scientists. CA-MRSA, an emerging public health concern,
typically causes readily treatable soft-tissue infections such as boils, but also can lead
to life-threatening conditions that are difficult to treat.
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2008/MRSAevolution.htm
New Kaiser Permanente study fortifies caffeine's link to miscarriage
A new study by Kaiser Permanente offers the
strongest evidence to date linking caffeine consumption during pregnancy to miscarriage
because it's the first study to thoroughly control for pregnancy-related caffeine
aversion. Appearing in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the study of
1,063 pregnant women found that women who consumed 200 mg or more of caffeine per day
doubled their miscarriage risk.
http://www.dor.kaiser.org/dors/news/Jan2008_caffeine_miscarriage.shtmlTopOfPage
Epidemic superbug strains evolved from one bacterium
The drug-resistant "superbugs"
that have cut a swathe through day care centers, schools, locker rooms and prisons across
the United States in the last five years stem from one rapidly evolving bacterium, US
scientists said Monday.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h0Ye51HIxTIdDSriv5Wdb_LoSDzg
New recommendations for MMR vaccine in egg-allergic children
The MMR vaccine remains the best form of
protection against measles, mumps and rubella infection, yet the uptake of the MMR vaccine
is still below targets. As a result children are being exposed to unnecessary suffering
and occasional serious consequences as a result of developing these infections.
http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/rcp-new-recommendations-
mmr-vaccine-in-egg-allergic-children-$484483.htm
Cancer Data? Sorry, Can’t Have It
Not long ago, I asked a respected cancer
researcher if he could send me raw data from a trial he had recently published. He
refused. Sharing data would make the study team members “uncomfortable,” he
said, as I might use this to “cast doubt” on their results.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/health/views/22essa.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin
Walking an hour a week cuts colon cancer risk
A large new study confirms that physical
activity reduces colon cancer risk.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL17245820080121
Our Side Just Won Big
France has bent a vigorous battle ground
against genetically modified (GM) foods. The international peasants' organization,
"La Via Campensina" (literally, "Peasant Life") has been fighting GM
crops vigorously in France and elsewhere. They have gone to jail for burning GM crops in
France , organized marches, informed the public and brought court actions.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/49605
Study Says Implants Double Risk of Infection in Breast Reconstruction
Breast cancer patients who had
reconstructive surgery using implants immediately after mastectomies were twice as likely
to acquire infections as women who immediately had breast reconstruction using their own
tissue, according to a study published yesterday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/us/22breast.html?ref=us
Cell Phone Health Risks Prompt FDA Action
Cell phones and their health consequences
have become an increasing source of worry, especially as use of the wireless devices has
increased exponentially in the last several years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) is no calling for a re-examination of cell phone health risks saying that past
studies related to cell phone radiation need to be re-examined given the recent rise in
mobile devices and their use.
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/2421
Cell phones might interfere with sleep
Cell phone radiation might cause insomnia,
headaches, confusion and reduce the amount of deep sleep the body needs, U.S. and European
researchers report.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/study-cell-phon.html
Diet urges eating what great-grandparents ate
Earles said Price studied the diets of
healthy primitive peoples in various world locales and determined their foods lacked
processed foods such as refined sugar or corn syrup; white flour; canned foods;
pasteurized, homogenized, skim or low-fat milk; refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils;
protein powders; artificial vitamins or toxic additives and colorings.
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=187960
Diet may reduce frequency of gout attacks
Eating a diet low in purines may help lower
uric acid levels, reducing the frequency and severity of gout attacks.
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=10&a=324441
Investigative journalist questions causes of autism
Studies involving genetic mutations related
to autism, plus the results of removing the compound thimerosal from children's vaccines,
will be among topics addressed Sunday by investigative journalist David Kirby.
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_8007201
Altering Brain's Lipid Metabolism Reduces Alzheimer's Plaques In Mice
Increasing levels of a protein that helps
the brain use cholesterol may slow the development of Alzheimer's disease changes in the
brain, according to researchers studying a mouse model of the disease at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080118093354.htm
Cholesterol Drug Study Worries Patients
Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp.,
on Monday finally released results of a study meant to show how well Vytorin reduced
plaque buildup in neck arteries in people whose genes gave them stratospheric cholesterol.
Instead, it showed $100-a-month Vytorin, which combines Zocor and Zetia, was no more
effective and perhaps a bit worse than Zocor alone, which is sold as a generic for a third
as much.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5467670.html
Herb Triggers Cancer Cell Death
A substance found in the popular Chinese
herb huang qin triggers the death of tumor cells, while having virtually no effect on
healthy cells.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/19/
herb-triggers-cancer-cell-death.aspx
Microwave Radiation - Cell phones,
Wi-Fi - Are they safe?
Independent, medical science continues to
provide mounting evidence that radiation from wireless communication devices, including
cell phones, cordless, and the WiFi now deployed across schools, hospitals and offices,
produces dangerous health effects.
http://www.buildingbiology.net/cellphones.html
Scientist claims test reduce autism
WOMEN thinking of becoming pregnant can
greatly reduce the danger of having an autistic child by undergoing toxicity tests, a
Geelong scientist has claimed.
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/01/20/10639_news.html
Mutant gene puts mothers of babies with cancer at risk
Thousands of mothers whose children have
cancer could be at increased risk of developing breast cancer themselves, a study has
found.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?
in_article_id=509333&in_page_id=1774&ct=5
New SANCO website on veterinary
border control
The Directorate General for Health and
Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) launched on Wednesday, January 23, a new website on
veterinary border inspections. The website aims to address an increasing need for
information by both the competent authorities in the Member States and third countries and
the wider public.
> In its webpages, the visitor can find
the relevant Community legislation, data on the veterinary border inspection points (BIPs)
and approved warehouses/ship suppliers. Particular sections exist for news, photos and
useful links in order to provide to the user the latest information on these issues.
Special parts are dealing with training, guidelines and frequently asked questions and
answers.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/bips/index_en.htm
Video - The MoneyMasters - 2 hr 0
min 57 sec
Cultural Dwarfs. Ben Goldacre,
Quackbusting and Corporate Science
In his 2008 book Cultural Dwarfs and Junk
Journalism, Martin Walker investigates Guardian columnist and 'quackbuster' Ben Goldacre's
role in industry lobby groups and puts another point of view in defense of some of the
people whom he has attacked. Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism charts the development of
the corporate science lobby.
Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism is
Martin Walker's fourth book charting the development of the corporate science lobby that
has grown rapidly since New Labour came to power in 1997. One of the most recent exponents
of the Lobby is Dr Ben Goldacre who has regurgitated a bad 'Science' column in the
Guardian newspaper since 2003. Like other quackbusters Goldacre claims to write factually
based and scientifically accurate articles about health, medicine and science either
supporting scientists and doctors or criticising individuals involved in alternative or
nutritional health care. Goldacre's writing, however, actually reflects the ideology of
powerful industrial, technological and political vested interests.
Goldacre who it is claimed is a Junior
doctor working in a London NHS hospital is actually a clinical researcher working at the
centre of New Labour's Orwellian spin operation that puts a sympathetic gloss on anything
shown to create adverse reactions from MMR to Wi-Fi, while at the same time undermining
cost-effective and long tried alternative therapies such as acupuncture and homoeopathy.
Goldacre is involved with public health researchers well known for trying to prove that
those who claim to be adversely affected by pollutants in our modern high-technology
society, suffer from 'false illness beliefs'. Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism,
investigates Goldacre's role in industry lobby groups and puts another point of view in
defense of some of the people whom he has attacked, belittled, satirized, castigated,
vilified, maligned and opined against in his junk journalism
Download free ebook at:
http://www.slingshotpublications.com/dwarfs.html
Nele
Stem cell research aims to tackle
Parkinson's disease
Scientists in Sweden are developing new
ways to grow brain cells in the laboratory that could one day be used to treat patients
with Parkinson's disease, an international conference of biologists organized by the
European Science Foundation was told last week.
http://www.esf.org/research-areas/medical-sciences/news/ext-news-singleview/
article/stem-cell-research-aims-to-tackle-parkinsons-disease-392.html
Depression and anxiety can double
chances of heart ailments
Matters of the mind can affect matters of
the heart. A new study by McGill University and University of Montreal researchers has
found that major anxiety and/or depression, can double a coronary artery disease patient's
chances of repeated heart ailments. This is one of the first studies to focus on patients
with stable coronary artery disease -- not those who were hospitalized for events such as
a heart attack.
http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=822&Itemid=206
Schizophrenics and tobacco addiction
People afflicted by schizophrenia often
suffer from tobacco addition as well. In the general population, 20 to 30 per cent of
people smoke, but that number rises to 80 per cent for schizophrenics.
http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=811&Itemid=249
Combined radiation seed, chemotherapy wafer implants show promise in treating
cancerous brain tumors
In the battle against malignant brain
tumors, dual implantation of radioactive seeds and chemotherapy wafers following surgery
showed promising results in a study led by specialists at the Neuroscience Institute at
the University of Cincinnati and University Hospital.
http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.asp?id=7674
Enlarged Veins Could Warn of Vascular Problem
Enlarged blood vessels in the legs could be
more than just a cosmetic concern. Without treatment, problems with blood flow in the
veins can cause chronic leg pain and sometimes death, according to University of
Cincinnati (UC) vascular health experts. The good news is that problems usually can be
detected and treated before they become debilitating or life-threatening.
Enlarged blood vessels, known as varicose veins, appear as bulging or twisted blue veins
that are visible through the skin. They most commonly occur in the legs.
http://healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/6361/
Rare Lung Disease Cells Indicate Higher Death Risk
Large numbers of certain cells in the lungs
of patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may increase their chance of
death, UC researchers have discovered.
According to a new study, increased numbers of neutrophil (pronounced new-tro-fil)
cells—a type of white blood cell—in patients’ lungs were associated with a
30 percent increased risk of mortality in the first year following diagnosis with
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
http://healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/6347/
Study finds significant differences in protocols hospitals use to determine
brain death
A survey of some of the top hospitals in
the country has found that protocols followed to determine brain death differ
significantly among those institutions and often do not follow the standards established
by the American Academy of Neurology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/mgh-sfs011708.php
Alzheimer's molecule is a smart speed bump on the nerve-cell transport highway
Researchers at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that proteins carrying chemical cargo in nerve
cells react differently when exposed to the tau protein, which plays an important role in
Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uops-ami011708.php
Rapid effects of intensive therapy seen in brains of patients with OCD
In a study that may significantly advance
the understanding of how cognitive-behavioral therapy affects the brain, researchers have
shown that significant changes in activity in certain regions of the brain can be produced
with as little as four weeks of daily therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive
disorder. The discovery could have important clinical implications, according to principal
investigator Sanjaya Saxena, M.D., director of the obsessive-compulsive disorders program
at the UCSD School of Medicine.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uoc--reo011708.php
Jefferson scientists uncover role of cancer stem cell marker - controlling gene
expression
Scientists at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer
Center in Philadelphia have made an extraordinary advance in the understanding of the
function of a gene previously shown to be part of an 11-gene "signature" that
can predict which tumors will be aggressive and likely to spread. The gene, USP22, encodes
an enzyme that appears to be crucial for controlling large scale changes in gene
expression, one of the hallmarks of cancer cells.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/tju-jsu011708.php
Rapid Effects of Intensive Therapy Seen in Brains of Patients with OCD
In a study that may significantly advance
the understanding of how cognitive-behavioral therapy affects the brain, researchers have
shown that significant changes in activity in certain regions of the brain can be produced
with as little as four weeks of daily therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD). The discovery could have important clinical implications, according to
principal investigator Sanjaya Saxena, M.D., Director of the Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorders Program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine,
whose findings are published on line this week in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/health/01-08OCD.asp
Scripps research scientists find new genetic mutation that halts the
development of lupus
Scientists at the Scripps Research
Institute have uncovered a specific genetic mutation that suppresses the development of
systemic lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself. The
research suggests potential targets for future drug development.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/sri-srs011708.php
Report identifies research to bolster knowledge of health effects of wireless
communication devices
The rapid increase in the use of wireless
communication devices in recent years has been accompanied by a significant amount of
research into potential health effects from high exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy
emitted by these devices. A new National Research Council report, requested by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, identifies research that could further extend understanding
of long-term low exposure to these devices. The committee that wrote the report identified
research needs and gaps based on presentations made by international experts and
discussion sessions with attendees at a three-day workshop last August that evaluated
disciplines and topics such as measurement of RF energy and exposure, studies on human
populations, human laboratory measurements, and animal and cell biology. In the report,
research needs are defined as studies that, in the near term, could increase understanding
of any potential adverse effects of RF energy on humans. Gaps are defined as research
studies that are of lower priority or that should not be carried out until the results of
current research studies are evaluated. The committee did not evaluate potential health
effects or recommend how the identified research needs should be met.
One research need the committee identified
is studies of any potential health consequences from multiple, long-term, low-intensity RF
exposure as opposed to most of the present data that evaluates acute effects on healthy
adults during short exposures to RF fields. For instance, measuring the amount of RF
energy received by juveniles, children, pregnant women, and fetuses from wireless devices
and RF base station antennas could help define exposure ranges for various populations.
Although it is unknown whether children are more susceptible to RF exposure, they may be
at increased risk because of their developing organ and tissue systems. Additionally,
Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for children are likely to be higher than for adults,
because exposure wavelength is closer to the whole-body resonance frequency for shorter
individuals. The current generation of children will also experience a longer period of RF
field exposure from mobile phone use than adults, because they will most likely start
using them at an early age. The report notes that several surveys have shown a steep
increase in mobile phone ownership among children, but virtually no relevant studies of
human populations at present examine health effects in this population.
The evolving types of antennas for
hand-held wireless communication devices also should be analyzed for the amount of RF
energy they deliver to different parts of the body so the data would be available for use
in future studies, the committee said. Studies to understand the effects of RF energy
irradiation from cell phone antennas on the human head have already been conducted.
However, for most of these studies, the research has assumed that cell phones have
pull-out linear rod antennas and are held against a person's ear. Many newer telephones
use built-in antennas for which additional SAR data are needed, the report says. Also,
wireless technology is now used in laptop computers and hand-held texting and Web-surfing
devices, in which the antennas are close to other parts of the body.
http://www.nas.edu/morenews/20080117.html
A tricky tumor virus
Viruses use many tricks to gain control
over their host cells and to reprogram them to their own advantage. Dr. Arnd Kieser and
his colleagues of the Department of Gene Vectors of the Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Germany,
were able to show in a recent publication in PLoS Biology by which mechanism Epstein-Barr
virus exploits a signal protein of its host cell, which normally mediates programmed cell
death, in order to convert the cell into a cancer cell.
http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/press/press/press-releases-2008/
press-releases-2008-detail/article/746/9/index.html
Evidence found for genes that affect risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
Through one of the largest studies yet of
Alzheimer's disease patients and their brothers, sisters, and children, researchers at
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have found strong evidence that genes other than the well-known
susceptibility risk factor APOE4 influence who is at risk for developing the
neurodegenerative disease later in life.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-jax/4415.html
Consuming extra virgin olive oil helps to combat degenerative diseases such as
cancer
Researchers from the University of Granada
have for the first time analyzed the antioxidant properties of olive oil, a product rich
in polyphenols. The Environmental, Biochemical and Nutritional Analytical-Control Research
Group had already carried out the polyphenolic characterization of food products, such as
honey and beer.
http://prensa.ugr.es/prensa/research/verNota/prensa.php?nota=380
New gene test for prostate cancer at hand
Men with susceptibility for prostate cancer
will soon be identifiable through a simple DNA test. So hope scientists at the Swedish
medical university Karolinska Institutet, who have shown that men carrying a combination
of known risk genes run a four to five times higher risk of developing prostate cancer. At
present, men with suspected prostate cancer are identified mainly using what are known as
PSA tests. However, the test has a relatively low sensitivity and better methods are
needed.
http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?l=en&d=130&a=47461&newsdep=130
Diet and lifestyle critical to recovery, says study
Diet and lifestyle may play a much more
significant role in a person's ability to respond favorably to certain drugs, including
some cancer therapies, than previously understood, say scientists.
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/index.htm?id=130163
Altering brain's lipid metabolism reduces Alzheimer's plaques in mice
Increasing levels of a protein that helps
the brain use cholesterol may slow the development of Alzheimer's disease changes in the
brain, according to researchers studying a mouse model of the disease at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/wuso-abl011608.php
Toxoplasma infection increases risk of schizophrenia, study suggests
Findings from what is believed to be the
largest comparison of blood samples collected from healthy individuals and people with
schizophrenia suggest that infection with the common Toxoplasma gondii parasite, carried
by cats and farm animals, may increase the risk of schizophrenia.
http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/pages/news/pressdetails.cfm?newsid=403
A Diet Rich in MUFA's Can Reduce Belly Fat
According to a study that appeared in
Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association, a diet rich in
monounsaturated fats (MUFA) may help reduce abdominal fat better than a carbohydrate rich
diet.
http://diabetes.about.com/b/2008/01/13/mufa-rich-diet-can-reduce-belly-fat.htm
Low-fat milk link to prostate cancer
Drinking low or non-fat milk increases a
man's risk of prostate cancer, two new studies have found.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lowfat-link-to-
prostate-cancer/2008/01/12/1199988648041.html
Avoid too much protein
The effect of increased dietary protein on
kidneys has spawned an ongoing debate. There is a view that too much protein might promote
chronic kidney disease.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1144667
Researchers Find New Way to Block Destructive Rush of Immune Cells
Researchers have found a way to selectively
block the ability of white blood cells to “crawl” toward the sites of injury and
infection when such mobility drives disease, according to a study published today in The
Journal of Experimental Medicine. The results suggest a new treatment approach for
autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, and for
conditions made worse by misplaced inflammation, like atherosclerosis, stroke and
transplant rejection, researchers said.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=1832
Cigarettes Leave Deadly Path by Purging Protective Genes
A University of Rochester scientist
discovered that the toxins in cigarette smoke wipe out a gene that plays a vital role in
protecting the body from the effects of premature aging. Without this gene we not only
lose a bit of youthfulness – but the lungs are left open to destructive inflammation
and diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=1838
Artemisia Annua thee
Het gebruik van Artemisia thee is effectief
gebleken tegen Malaria bij vele gemeenschappen en gezondheidscentra. In China wordt de
Artemisia thee al meer dan 2000 jaar met succes toegepast. Vergeleken met moderne
geneesmiddelen en zelfs met de op artemisinine gebaseerde medicijnen, bevat de thee een
grotere hoeveelheid antimalaria componenten. Dit reduceert het gevaar van resistentie
ontwikkeling (bij het gebruik van natuurlijke medicijnen is nog nooit resistentie
opgetreden!).
http://www.kindereningambia.nl/mpp/index2.html
Research into effect of foods on autism
Researchers are currently recruiting 32
families for a pilot study – subject to funding – who will follow a completely
gluten and dairy-free diet for five months from April.
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/01/15/
research-into-effect-of-foods-on-autism-61634-20349881/
Study suggests heart risk from calcium supplements
Older women who take calcium supplements to
maintain bone strength may have an increased risk of heart attack, researchers in New
Zealand said on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN15478721
Are Herbal Remedies the New Big Pharma?
Most of the world has used plant-based
remedies for hundreds if not thousands of years. Here, there's plenty of skepticism, but
Chris Kilham, professor of ethnobotany and explorer in residence at the University of
Massachusetts, says herbal medicines are much safer than synthetic drugs.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/22667630
Medicine hunter - plant medicines
Plant medicines are used by over 5 billion
people worldwide. Here you can gain an understanding of the role of plant medicines in the
world. Chris and those he works with are dedicated to providing healing benefits,
protecting the natural environment, and promoting the interests of traditional indigenous
cultures.
http://www.medicinehunter.com/
Articles on herbs and superfoods
Useful information on herbs and superfoods
provided by Chris Kilham
http://www.medicinehunter.com/HerbsArticles.htm
Cholesterol Drugs Tied to Birth Defects
If you’re pregnant or thinking about
getting pregnant, there’s one more group of medications to add to the long list of
drugs you shouldn’t take because they can harm your baby: the cholesterol-lowering
medications called statins.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=123443
Antidepressants don't work as well as reported, study says
New England Journal of Medicine reports
that 88 per cent of clinical trials that showed the drugs didn't work either weren't
published in medical journals or were presented as positive findings
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080116.
wpharma1701/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
Books on amalgam
Amalgam Illness, The Roots of Disease, Let
the Tooth be Known
http://www.saveyourteeth.com/book_store.htm
Scientific Proof that Your Childhood Traumas are a MAJOR Factor in Your All
Your Illnesses
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
Study is an ongoing research project which is perhaps the largest scientific research
study of its kind. Its purpose it to analyze the relationship between multiple categories
of childhood trauma and health and behavioral outcomes later in life.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/17/scientific-proof-that-your-
childhood-traumas-are-a-major-factor-in-your-all-your-illnesses.aspx
Can Chinese Food Cause Cancer?
Their analysis of 134 patients found that
nearly half of those with stomach, rectal and colon cancer were regular consumers of
Chinese food from middle- or low-end restaurants. Most of them also had ulcers, which were
also linked to MSG.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/17/
can-chinese-food-cause-cancer.aspx
Use of Spirulina in Human Nutrition
As the demand for functional foods
continues to grow, spirulina, a cyanobacterial blue-green algae, is one of the most
nutritionally-packed dietary supplements available. Scientists have linked spirulina to
strengthening the immune system, supporting cardiovascular function, improving digestive
health, enhancing detoxification, and reducing cancer risks. Edited by worldwide
authorities in the field, The Use of Spirulina in Human Nutrition is the first book to
provide an abundant literature review of the basic and clinical use of spirulina in human
health, examining its production, distribution, toxicology, pharmacology, therapeutic
utility, oxidative stress, neurobiology, and more.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp
?r=1&ean=9781420052565
Patients raise fresh doubt over safety of cholesterol treatment
Unexplained seizures, dizziness and
insomnia among symptoms claimed by statin users
http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2008/011708/news011708_07.html
The Truth About Statins
But what about the millions of people with
elevated cholesterol who are taking statins but have no heart disease or other risk
factors?
"We have no evidence that taking a cholesterol-lowering medication like a statin will
present them from getting heart disease," said Elizabeth Nabel, director of the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/17/eveningnews/main3725545.shtml
Muted Morning Cortisol Response Linked to Chronic Fatigue in Women
Women with symptoms of chronic fatigue
syndrome have a muted morning cortisol response that may represent an underlying mechanism
of the condition, according to investigators here.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/AnxietyStress/tb/8018
New Function For Colon Cancer Gene Found
Dartmouth Medical School geneticists have
discovered a striking turnabout role for a gatekeeper known to put on the brakes for colon
cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117140848.htm
In the Real World, a Slew of Side Effects from Statins
In clinical trials of statins, side effects
were relatively rare. But many doctors believe they are more common in the real world,
afflicting perhaps as many as 15% of patients. After muscle aches, prominently mentioned
on Lipitor's label, common complaints include cognitive problems ranging from mild
confusion to loss of memory.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068057096279.htm
Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?
Research suggests that, except among
high-risk heart patients, the benefits of statins such as Lipitor are overstated
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068052092994.htm?
chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
Study explains how protein keeps hunger at bay
Diets high in protein may be the best way
to keep hunger in check, U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a study that offers insight
into how diets work.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1726777420080118
Study seeks clues on skin-crawling Morgellons syndrome
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has
contracted with Kaiser Permanente Northern California to investigate the mystery disease
which makes sufferers feel like bugs are crawling under their skin. Symptoms include
itching, biting and crawling sensations and red, blue or black filaments that emerge from
skin lesions.
http://www.mercurynews.com/healthandscience/ci_7995426?nclick_check=1
Vitamin B6 may slash colorectal cancer risk
Increased intake of vitamin B6 from dietary
and supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by over 20 per cent, suggests a
large Scottish study.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=82608-vitamin-b-colorectal-cancer-folate
FDA Warns Clot Risk Higher in Birth Control Patch Than Pill
A birth control skin patch used by many
American women carries a risk of serious blood clots that is higher than the risk already
recognized for the birth control pill.
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2008/01/18/hscout611887.html
Natural Weight-Loss Food - Carrots
Beta-carotene may ward off cancers of the
stomach, cervix, uterus, and the oral cavity, and it helps prevent heart disease due to
its antioxidant abilities. T
http://health.howstuffworks.com/natural-weight-loss-food-carrots-ga.htm
Is transcranial magnetic stimulation a new treatment of Bulimia Nervosa?
A group of investigators of the Innsbruck
University (Austria) reports on a new modality of treatment for bulimia nervosa,
transcranial magnetic stimulation, in the 2008 January issue of Psychotherapy and
Psychosomatics. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, neurophysiological
method, which affects cortical neurons with a short magnetic pulse. Bulimia nervosa (BN)
is often associated with depressive symptoms and treatment with antidepressants has shown
positive effects. A shared deficient serotonergic transmission was postulated for both
syndromes. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was argued to regulate eating behaviour
and to be dysfunctional in eating disorders.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=
readrelease&releaseid=526401&ez_search=1
The Drugs in Your Toothpaste Can Affect Your Health
One of the fastest ways to absorb anything
into the body is through the mouth. Drugs such as nitroglycerine for heart conditions and
natural homeopathic remedies are given under the tongue for fast absorption. Your daily
routine of brushing your teeth with your favorite toothpaste may also be delivering a
daily dose of antibiotics or other potentially toxic ingredients, without you realizing
it.
http://www.newstarget.com/022518.html
Pistachio Power - Lowers Cholesterol And Blood Sugar, Relieves Stress
The pistachio nut, a native to the Middle
East, is one of the oldest flowering nut trees with archaeological evidence of the nut
dating back to 7,000 BC.
http://www.newstarget.com/022516.html
FDA Collaboration with Big Pharma Raises Eyebrows
Plainly stated, the FDA is set on becoming
a drug company involved in every aspect of drug development for the next century. This
pipe dream involves using sophisticated FDA software and related technologies to set the
standards for the future of medicine, which will soon require your DNA in an FDA-owned
supercomputer if you would like medical care. The FDA will help design all drugs from the
ground up. The FDA, through the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, will control all
patents and licensing arrangements regarding the drugs that are developed.
http://www.newstarget.com/022514.html
Chemical Additives - Are They Slowly Killing Our Children?
Let me start by saying a chemical additive
doesn't necessarily 'appear' to be a problem immediately after ingestion. Quite often the
effects are cumulative; a gradual build-up in the body produces roller-coaster days, some
good, some bad. Some children are more sensitive to food chemicals and display immediate
effects soon after ingestion of additives, colours in particular. In small amounts
additives are not harmful. Effects are dose related and, tragically, dose for weight,
children are consuming several times more additives than the acceptable daily intake
(ADI). Before we get into the details of the most common problem foods, it is necessary to
understand the testing and approval process, with emphasis on those factors that may
confer the level of risk of toxic additives in infants and young children's diets.
http://www.newstarget.com/022512.html
Microwave Popcorn Flavoring Fumes Linked to Lung Disease
The two largest microwave popcorn
manufacturers in the United States have announced plans to phase out the use of a popcorn
flavoring chemical that has been linked to lung disease in factory workers, after a doctor
reported what may be the first case of a consumer becoming ill from the chemical.
http://www.newstarget.com/022513.html
Extend Your Life With Enzymes
Metabolism is the total of all chemical
changes that take place in a cell or an organism to produce energy and basic materials
needed for important life processes. Metabolic enzymes, perfectly named, are involved in
every process of the human body. In fact, even digestive enzymes start as metabolic
enzymes. Besides our day-to-day life processes of build up and breakdown, these little
powerhouses are catalysts that take an active role in repairing any damage done to our
body through injury, stress, poor eating or lifestyle habits, environmental contaminants,
and the passage of time.Unfortunately, we don't have an unlimited supply of metabolic
enzymes. We are born with a certain reserve of these petite miracles, and when we run out,
our life ends. Our body does, to some extent, replenish metabolic enzymes, but the numbers
used versus the numbers added still makes them something to cherish.
http://www.newstarget.com/022511.html
All Jacked Up - The Explosive Junk Food Documentary the Food Companies Hope You
Never See
All Jacked Up will simply blow your mind.
If you thought you knew the whole story on food corporations, the processed meat industry
and the harmful health effects of junk foods on children, think again: You'll be stunned,
shocked and outraged over what you'll see in this film -- how the food corporations use
manipulative marketing messages to take advantage of children and teens, how processed
ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup rapidly accelerate diseases like diabetes in
youngsters, and how junk foods destroy families, cause depression and even make kids
suicidal.
http://www.newstarget.com/022510.html
Shifts 'threaten women's health'
Women who work shifts are more likely to
retire early due to ill health than male counterparts, a study suggests.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7187093.stm
UMaine Psychologists Probe Gene’s Link to High Homocysteine, Lower
Cognitive Performance
Scientists have established a link between
high levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood and lower cognitive performance.
Now, new work by three University of Maine researchers provides evidence that the presence
of a particular variant of a neuron repairing gene may increase the risk of lowered
cognitive performance.
http://www.umaine.edu/news/article.asp?id_no=1974
[
news of week 3 ]
