News - week 5 - 2008
RAPEX Weekly Report: Week 4, 2008
RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for all
dangerous consumer products, with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical
devices. It allows for the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the
Commission of measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products
posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers. Both measures ordered by
national authorities and measures taken voluntarily by producers and distributors are
covered by RAPEX.
This week's RAPEX report consists of 52
items- 16 Toys, 8 Lighting Equipments, 5 Food-Imitating Products, 4 Clothing items, 4
Motor Vehicles, 4 Decorative Articles, 3 Lighting Chains, 3 Cosmetics, 2 Recreational
Crafts, 1 Childcare Article, 1 Chemical Product and 1 Stationary.
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/create_rapex.cfm?rx_id=168
Ditta
Name Change Website Launched!
Campaign for a Fair Name announced the launch this week of its website, aFairName.org. The
campaign is the grassroots patient and physician effort to change 'chronic fatigue
syndrome' to the acronym ME/CFS. 'ME' is considered by most physicians and patients to be
historically and diagnostically correct, and it has been used worldwide to describe the
disease for close to 50 years.
The Campaign's website presents the history of the name change effort, along with the
rationale for the selection of 'ME/CFS'. The website also offers additional information
and resources, including:
A petition to support the name change
Campaign activities and our cause
Message Board exchanges
Name Change Advisory Board members
Fair Name Implementation Committee (FNIC) members
The upcoming name change ratification Vote and how you can help
make a difference.
This effort could die without your support and participation. I am calling on you, your
friends and family members, and healthcare providers, to help us make the name change a
reality. Sign the name change petition, join the conversation on the Message Board, help
us spread the word. The demeaning label 'chronic fatigue syndrome' is about to disappear
forever. But now it is up to you. Please do your part.
Yours with passionate determination,
Rich Carson
Patient Advocate
Bron: http://www.afairname.org/forum/index.cfm
Hope4All
Consumption of fruits may reduce
the risk of Alzheimer's disease
Apples, bananas, and oranges are the most
common fruits in both Western and Asian diets, and are important sources of vitamins,
minerals, and fiber. A new study in the Journal of Food Science explores the additional
health benefits of these fruits and reveals they also protect against neurodegenerative
diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/press/pressitem.asp?ref=1600
Jefferson neurosurgeons using new liquid treatment for wide-neck brain aneurysm
Neurological surgeons at Jefferson Hospital
for Neuroscience are among the first surgeons in the United States using an FDA-approved
liquid system for treating wide-necked brain aneurysms, which could eventually replace
current treatments.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/tju-jnu013008.php
Study paves way for development of macular degeneration cures
A new study of age-related macular
degeneration, the disease that affects more than nine million Americans, will pave the way
for the biopharmaceutical industry to develop better treatments and cures, according to
the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which partially funded the research.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/ffb-spw013008.php
Babies excrete vaccine-mercury quicker than originally thought
February's issue of Pediatrics offers
another reason to rethink blaming the spike in autism diagnoses on thimerosal, a
mercury-containing preservative routinely used in several childhood vaccines until the
late '90s. New research from the University of Rochester suggests that infants' bodies
expel the thimerosal mercury much faster than originally thought -- thereby leaving little
chance for a progressive building up of the toxic metal.
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=1848
Deep brain stimulation may improve memory
A new study found that hypothalamic DBS
performed in the treatment of a patient with morbid obesity unexpectedly evoked detailed
autobiographical memories.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/w-dbs012408.php
Hot liquids release potentially harmful chemicals in polycarbonate plastic
bottles
When it comes to Bisphenol A exposure from
polycarbonate plastic bottles, it's not whether the container is new or old but the
liquid's temperature that has the most impact on how much BPA is released, according to
University of Cincinnati scientists.
http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.asp?id=7733
New vaccine against deadliest strain of avian flu tested by University of
Pittsburgh scientists
A vaccine against the most common and
deadliest strain of avian flu, H5N1, has been engineered and tested by researchers at the
University of Pittsburgh's Center for Vaccine Research and Novavax, Inc. The vaccine
produced a strong immune response in mice and protected them from death following
infection with the H5N1 virus. The vaccine is being tested in humans in an early-phase
clinical trial.
http://www.upmc.com/Communications/MediaRelations/
NewsReleaseArchives/2008/January/H5N1VaccinePaper.htm
Bamboo leaves again show anti-acrylamide potential
Using an antioxidant-rich extracts from
bamboo leaf and green tea could reduce the formation of acrylamide in an
asparagine-glucose model system heated by microwave, according to a new study.
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=
82863-acrylamide-bamboo-leaf-green-tea
Lungs' Mast Cells Could Provide New Treatment Target for Asthma, Other
Respiratory Disease
An enzyme released by mast cells in the
lungs appears to play a key role in the tightening of airways that is a hallmark of asthma
— pointing to a potential new target for treatment against the illness. Reporting in
the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team at Weill
Cornell Medical College explains that during an immune response, mast cells release the
enzyme — called renin — which in turn produces angiotensin, a potent constrictor
of the smooth muscle that lines airways. Mast cells are normally present in small numbers
in all organs, and are best known for their role in allergy, shock, wound healing and
defense against pathogens.
http://news.med.cornell.edu/wcmc/wcmc_2008/01_29b_07.shtml
Cough medications send 7,000 kids to emergency rooms
Cough medications send some 7,000 children
a year to US emergency rooms, according to a study by the US Centers for Disease Control.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5huCHEe2p48w7pI3u4xYDiUkEe6uw
Midlife Slump Finds People in Their 40s Down in the Dumps
Study of More Than 2 Million People
Provides Evidence of Midlife Crisis
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Depression/story?id=4208216&page=1
Seawater eases kid colds
There is no cure for the common cold, but
researchers might have found a safe and simple way to reduce a child's symptoms and the
chance of recurrence: washing out the nose with seawater.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-0129_
health_sea_rjan29,1,608557.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
MicroRNAs May Predict Colon Cancer Prognosis
Knowing whether or not a particular cancer
will be aggressive allows doctors to more effectively treat their patients, and a newly
found class of molecules called microRNAs may help doctors do just that.
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2008/01/29/hscout612154.html
CDC Suppressed Toxic Trailer Warnings
As CBS News first reported last spring,
FEMA has been under heavy fire for failing to acknowledge then adequately address health
problems like respiratory illness associated with the toxic chemical formaldehyde found in
travel trailers that became home for hundreds of thousands of survivors of Hurricane
Katrina.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/28/cbsnews_investigates/main3761948.shtml
Thin Bones Seen In Boys with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Results of an early study suggest that
dairy-free diets and unconventional food preferences could put boys with autism and autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) at higher than normal risk for thinner, less dense bones when
compared to a group of boys the same age who do not have autism.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2008/nichd-29.htm
Breastfeeding mice shed new light
French scientists studying lactating mice
say they can add an important piece of evidence to a charged debate as to whether
breastfeeding helps protect a child against asthma.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCHLL43bKhRGFcKN2IgKZDexNMMQ
Coffee bad for diabetics, study suggests
Drinking coffee appears to hamper efforts
by people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, and can exaggerate the
blood sugar rise which occurs after each meal, according to new research.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/jan/28/medicalresearch
HPV Vaccine Warning?
Death of two young women linked to cervical
cancer vaccine
http://www.momlogic.com/2008/01/gardakill.php
A bitter pill for Big Pharma
The strategy that has made the
pharmaceutical industry one of the wealthiest and most powerful on Earth is finally
starting to betray it.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-peterson27jan27,0,4463511.story
Breast Cancer Deception
Breast Cancer Deception, an eye-opening
special report by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. This is a shocking, tell-all report that
exposes the scam of today's breast cancer industry, revealing how conventional breast
cancer detection and treatment programs are actually designed to ensnare women into a very
harmful (but highly lucrative) system of toxic treatments that will only cause permanent
damage to her health.
http://www.newstarget.com/Report_Breast_Cancer_Deception_0.html
B vitamins and heart disease
The connection between cholesterol levels
and heart disease is widely recognized however, recent studies show that a lesser-known
compound called homocysteine also is associated with heart health.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/348847_bastyr28.html
Unsaturated Vegetable Oils - Toxic
Immunodeficiency (weakness of the immune
system) can take many forms. AIDS, for example, refers to an immunodeficiency which is
"acquired," rather than "inborn." Radiation and vegetable oils can
cause "acquired immunodeficiency." Unsaturated oils, especially polyunsaturates,
weaken the immune system's function in ways that are similar to the damage caused by
radiation, hormone imbalance, cancer, aging, or viral infections. The media discuss
sexually transmitted and drug-induced immunodeficiency, but it isn't yet considered polite
to discuss vegetable oil-induced immunodeficiency.
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturated-oils.shtml
Drug free therapy for asthma
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy reduces and
potentially eliminates asthma symptoms," Dr. Gillespie said. "The outcome for
asthmatic children who no longer need to live with the effects of this at times
life-threatening disease inspires me.
http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62389&Itemid=9
Air sampler gadget looks for asthma attack triggers
A new portable system is trying to predict
asthma attacks by sampling the air and identifying likely triggers. The 1-lb. device,
designed by a team at Georgia Tech, takes samples every two minutes, looking at recorded
air temperature and humidity, and testing the samples for particulates, volatile organic
compounds and gases like ozone.
http://gizmodo.com/349560/new-air+sampler-gadget-looks-for-asthma-attack-triggers
Nancy Klimas, MD - An Internationally-Respected ME/CFS Researcher Driving
Change
ME/CFS is a complicated illness, involving
interactions of the immune, autonomic and endocrine systems. In order to study all of its
many facets, Dr. Klimas has put together an amazing research team that crosses a variety
of disciplines. She said of her team, “I have some great scientists on the team - a
lot of senior scientists who bring a lot of experience to the question.
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/8653
No Such Thing as Bad Cholesterol
The 'noddy-science' offered by marketing
men to a generally scientifically-naive public has led many people to believe that we
should replace certain food choices with specially developed products that can help
'reduce cholesterol'. Naturally this comes at a price and requires those who can afford it
to pay maybe four or five times what a 'typical ordinary' product might cost. But is this
apparent 'blanket need' to strive towards lowering our cholesterol justified? And, indeed,
is it healthy?
http://www.newstarget.com/022553.html
Japanese diet to help Scottish business
THE Japanese have had a reputation as the
world leaders in business. Now a group of Scottish businessmen have taken a leaf out of
the books of their eastern counterparts – to see if the Japanese diet and way of life
improves their professional performance.
http://business.scotsman.com/business/Japanese-diet-to-help-Scottish.3719140.jp
Will Cholesterol Pills Save Your Life?
there is little, if any, data showing that
statin drugs prolong life in the majority of people who take them.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/will-cholesterol-pills-save-your-life/
Great Drug, but Does It Prolong Life?
“High-risk groups have a lot to
gain,” said Dr. Mark H. Ebell, a professor at the University of Georgia who is deputy
editor of the journal American Family Physician. “But patients at low risk benefit
very little if at all. We end up overtreating a lot of patients.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/health/29well.html?ref=science
Statin Drugs - Bad News Gets Worse
The mainstream media can no longer ignore
the mounting evidence that these drugs are not a panacea. One study found that for every
hundred people taking statins for three years, only one death will be prevented. Other
studies hint that the number is far higher – that up to 250 people would have to take
statins for at least three years to prevent a single death!
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/statin_bad_news/2008/01/28/68065.html
Study explores autism link to immune system
In another tantalizing link between the
immune system and autism, researchers at the University of California Davis have found 11
genes, all governing “natural killer“ immune cells, that are more active in
autistic children than in other youngsters.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/461721.html
Doctors, hospitals more accepting of acupuncture
Dr. Shyam Bhat, an internist and
psychiatrist with Southern Illinois University School of Medicine who is medical director
of integrative medicine at the Center for Living, said more and more physicians are
accepting acupuncture as an alternative for patients who haven’t found relief for
chronic pain and other long-term problems.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/health/x1151553424
Lab-made imitation breast milk puts infants at risk, study shows
A new study shows that efforts to imitate
human breast milk in the laboratory by fortifying infant formula with oils from algae and
fungus are a marketing gimmick that puts infants at risk.
http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/C_hildren_amp_W_omen_33/012510002008_
Lab-made_imitation_breast_milk_puts_infants_at_risk_study_shows.shtml
Replacing Mother — Imitating Human Breast Milk in the Laboratory
The lack of labeling of infant formula with
DHA- and ARA-containing oils does not adequately protect the health and well being of
infants who experience adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, and
gastrointestinal distress from the consumption of formula with DHA and ARA oils.
Currently, no labeling or warning is required, and formula manufacturers are not
voluntarily warning parents of the possibility of adverse reactions. Parents are unaware
that the simple switch to a non-DHA/ARA-supplemented formula may relieve their
infant’s pain and suffering from adverse reactions to Martek’s DHASCO and
ARASCO. Taking the action urged by Cornucopia and NABA would alert parents and caregivers
of formula-fed infants to the possibility of adverse reactions caused by algal DHA and
fungal ARA, providing them with knowledge that may help them end their infants’ pain
and distress. Cornucopia and NABA request that the FDA determine whether such a warning
label is warranted. We especially urge the FDA to undergo an investigation of the adequacy
and results of post-market surveillance by formula manufacturers. If deemed necessary, the
FDA should revise its existing regulations to require a label notice alerting parents to
the possibility of adverse reactions.
http://cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA_FullReport.pdf
New Study Shows that Fatigue Improves after Sinus Surgery
A new study shows after sinus surgery,
sinusitis sufferers who often times feel extreme fatigue will get more energy.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0108/490961.html
Cancer-Causing Benzene Still in Drinks
Benzene can form in beverages that contain
the preservative benzoate salt and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Beverages were reformulated
in the early 1990’s to avoid benzene formation, but it has recurred in recent years
because new manufacturers were unaware of the problem and added vitamin C to drinks.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/26/
cancer-causing-benzene-still-in-drinks.aspx
Fats and degeneration
50 years ago, in the first phase of
marketing the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), linoleic acid was “heart
protective,” and the saturated fats raised cholesterol and caused heart disease.
In the second phase, the other “essential fatty acid,” linolenic acid, was said
to be even better than linoleic acid. In the third phase, the longer chain omega -3 (omega
minus three, or n minus three) fatty acids, DHA and EPA, are said to be even better than
linolenic acid.
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fats-degeneration.shtml
Vegetables, etc.—Who Defines Food?
The toxins of plants include phenols,
tannins, lectins/agglutinins, and trypsin-inhibitors, besides innumerable more specific
metabolic inhibitors, including “anti-vitamins.” Unsaturated fats themselves are
important defenses, since they inhibit trypsin and other proteolytic enzymes, preventing
the assimilation of the proteins that are present in seeds and leaves, and disrupting all
biological processes that depend on protein breakdown, such as the formation of thyroid
hormone and the removal of blood clots.
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/vegetables.shtml
Ray Peat articles
I think only a new perspective on the
nature of living matter will make it possible to properly take advantage of the multitude
of practical and therapeutic effects of the various life-supporting
substances--pregnenolone, progesterone, thyroid hormone, and coconut oil in particular.
http://raypeat.com/articles/
New mouthguard for detection and treatment of bruxism
Researchers from the Universidad
Politécnica de Madrid are working on the development of a mouthguard prototype for the
evaluation and diagnosis of bruxism and its characteristic gnashing of teeth.
Bruxism is a parafunctional activity caused by the excessive activation of a reflex
chewing action during sleep, with the effect of grinding teeth or clenching the jaw. It
causes premature wear of the teeth along with a noise that can be loud enough to disturb
the sleep of some one sharing the bedroom.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=526731
Viruses for a healthy pregnancy
Sequences of DNA in the human genome that
originated from ancient viral infections have some surprising effects on our bodies and
are even essential for a healthy pregnancy, according to an article in the February issue
of Microbiology Today. Retrovirus infections represent the most intimate host-pathogen
relationship. The virus inserts a copy of its genome into the DNA of the host cell,
resulting in an irreversible, stable and sometimes lifelong infection. If a sperm or egg
cell is infected, the virus DNA can be passed down generations, permanently fixed in the
germ line. As a result, an endogenous retrovirus (ERV) can exist for millions of years.
http://www.socgenmicrobiol.org.uk/news/releases/MT.0208.2.cfm
Natural Tooth Cure for Curing Cavities and Preventing Root Canals
It is not true that conventional dental
treatments and fluoride are the only ways to heal your teeth from cavities. When struck
with the diagnoses of a dental cavity, most people feel totally helpless or powerless to
do anything about it themselves. The common belief about tooth decay is that once you have
a cavity, the tooth cavity cannot heal or reverse. The only solution seems to be to rush
off to the dentist and have a synthetic material placed in your teeth to cover the
breached tooth structure.
http://www.newstarget.com/022564.html
Food Additives Found to Cause Hyperactivity in Children
Two different cocktails of common food
colorings and preservatives increased hyperactive behavior in children, according to a
study conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton and published in the
journal The Lancet.
http://www.newstarget.com/022559.html
Video - The Science and Politics of
Cancer A discourse by G. Edward Griffin
1 hr 15 min 23 sec
Natural Detox Fac
Chlorella, a single celled algae, is well
know for strengthening the immune system and stimulating the body's natural detox process.
It helps to restore metallothioneine and damaged neurons (methyl cobalamin-B12). It
stimulates tissue growth and repair, macrophage, t-cells and interferon activity.
Chlorella helps to restore beneficial bacteria and sanitizes the intestines, stomach and
bowel.
https://www.bioray2000.com/Products.cfm
Organisms that Produce Biotoxins
Many types of organisms produce substances
that are toxic to humans. These include dinoflagellates found in estuaries and the ocean,
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) found in fresh water, fungi (mold) found in indoor air
and outdoors, and some types of bacteria. Our initial research on acute and chronic,
biotoxin-induced illness associated a complex of non-specific symptoms and deficits in
visual contrast sensitivity with exposure to estuaries inhabited by the fish-killing
dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, and other toxic dinoflagellates in the toxic
Pfiesteria complex (1-8).
http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/
Toxin-forming species of fungi
There are tremendous variations in the
kinds of buildings that can become home to toxin-forming species of fungi. Any building
that provides the proper mix of food and water can potentially be at-risk. When the
building has air circulation that is closed, with little outside air input and windows
that don't open, any intrusion of water can become the source of fungal blooms. The
variations on how the building became sick (water intrusion through leaky roofs, windows
or doors; wicking of water along a concrete slab or saturation of carpets; and pooling of
surface water in basements come to mind) are relatively few.
http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/learnmore/fungaltoxins.cfm
Breakdown of kidney's ability to clean its own filters likely causes disease
The kidney actively cleans its most
selective filter to keep it from clogging with blood proteins, scientists from Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveal in a new study. Researchers showed that
breakdown of this self-cleaning feature can make kidneys more vulnerable to dysfunction
and disease.
http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/10924.html
Carbon monoxide may cause long-lasting heart damage
Findings of a study by researchers at Rhode
Island Hospital suggests that heart damage caused by carbon monoxide may have long-lasting
effects even after the toxic gas has been eliminated from the blood.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/l-cmm012908.php
New research explains link between smoking and SIDS
A new study from McMaster University in
Hamilton sheds light on the relationship between women who smoke while pregnant -- or are
exposed to secondhand smoke -- and an increased risk of SIDS to their babies. Researchers
found that an infant's ability to respond to oxygen deprivation is dramatically
compromised by exposure to nicotine in the womb, even light to moderate amounts.
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=5183
Severe asthma may be a different form of the disease
A multi-center research project to
investigate severe asthma has found a key physiological difference between severe and
non-severe forms of the disease, a finding that could help explain why those with severe
asthma do not respond well to treatment. The study from the Severe Asthma Research Program
has found that those with severe asthma are much more likely to show signs of "air
trapping" in the lungs, a condition that prevents a full exhalation.
http://www.the-aps.org/press/journal/08/3.htm
McMaster test detects the most prevalent respiratory viruses
The new test simultaneously detects the
most prevalent respiratory viruses, including flu and the common cold, helping doctors
more accurately diagnose patients.
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=5179
Device zeroes in on small breast tumors
A new medical imager for detecting and
guiding the biopsy of suspicious breast cancer lesions is capable of spotting tumors that
are half the size of the smallest ones detected by standard imaging systems, according to
a new study. The results of initial testing of the PEM/PET system will be published in the
journal Physics in Medicine and Biology on Feb. 7.
http://www.jlab.org/news/releases/2008/SmallBreastTumors.html
Study finds genetic link to human herpes susceptibility
There's a high probability that people who
are prone to herpes simplex virus outbreaks can inherit that susceptibility through their
genes, University of Utah researchers report in a new study. The researchers further say
they pinpointed six specific genes in that chromosomal region as candidates for making
people prone to outbreaks of cold sores.
http://www.healthcare.utah.edu/publicaffairs/news/current/HerpesGene.html
Utah Diabetes Center Studying Whether Omega-3 Fatty Acid Can Prevent Type 1
Diabetes in Newborn Babies
The Utah Diabetes Center at University
Health Care is screening pregnant women in their third trimester and infants up to 5
months old for a study testing whether an omega-3 fatty acid found in some foods can
prevent Type 1 diabetes. The Utah Diabetes Center is one of nine centers nationwide
participating in the Nutritional Intervention to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes Pilot Trial, or
NIP for short. The goal is to intervene in the disease process before it begins in those
babies most likely to acquire Type 1 diabetes later in life. Babies in utero and up to 5
months old whose mother, father, brother, sister, half-sister or half-brother has Type 1
diabetes are eligible for the study. Screening consists of a simple blood test. Babies who
qualify will receive free testing and medical monitoring by diabetes researchers.
http://www.healthcare.utah.edu/publicaffairs/news/current/NIP%20Study_Diabetes.html
Over-the-counter eardrops may cause hearing loss or damage
A new study, led by researchers at The
Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC, has revealed that certain over-the-counter
earwax softeners can cause severe inflammation and damage to the eardrum and inner ear.
The results of the study, recently published in The Laryngoscope, suggest that use of
these medications should be discouraged.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/muhc-oem012808.php
Cutting caffeine may help control diabetes
Daily consumption of caffeine in coffee,
tea or soft drinks increases blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes and may
undermine efforts to control their disease, say scientists at Duke University Medical
Center.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/dumc-ccm012408.php
Modified Atkins diet can cut epileptic seizures in adults
A modified version of a popular
high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can significantly cut the number of seizures in adults
with epilepsy, a study led by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests. The Atkins-like diet,
which has shown promise for seizure control in children, may offer a new lifeline for
patients when drugs and other treatments fail or cause complications.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2008/01_28_08.html
EU - Commission calls on interested
parties to submit information on biocides in relation to resistance to antibiotics.
The Commission has requested the advice of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly
Identified Health risks (SCENIHR) on the assessment of the antibiotic resistance effects
of biocides. To ensure that the SCENIHR formulates its views on the basis of the most
complete relevant information, the Commission has published today a call for the
submission of information regarding quantities of biocides used in various applications
and regarding possible changes in microbial flora.
The details of the call for information are
found at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/scenihr_call_info_05_en.htm
The European Commission uses expert advice
on risk assessment from three non-food Scientific Committees when preparing policies and
proposals. These committees are made up of external, independent scientists and provide
authoritative scientific advice in the fields of consumer safety, public health and the
environment. The three non-food Scientific Committees are - the Scientific Committee on
Consumer Products (SCCP), the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks
(SCHER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
(SCENIHR).
Further information on the Scientific
Committees:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/committees_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/popularizing/popularizing_results_en.htm
Ditta
EU - Tobacco controll
The prevalence of smoking is a major public
health concern in Europe, given the links between tobacco consumption and a significant
proportion of cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The number of smokers in
the population is high, at about a third of the Community population, and the health
impact is similarly significant, with about 500,000 smoking related deaths per year in the
Community. Smoking also has established health effects on non-smokers, particularly on
vulnerable groups.
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/Tobacco/smoking_
prevention_tobacco_en.htm
Ditta
Camera in a pill offers cheaper,
easier window on your insides
A minuscule, single-eyed camera fits in a
easily swallowed pill. The device would conduct low-cost screens to prevent esophageal
cancer.
http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=39292
Deficient regulators in the immune system responsible for type 1 diabetes
The reduction in the regulating capacity of
some regulators of the immune system (called CD4+Treg cells,) seems to play a critical
role in the onset of type 1 diabetes, as demonstrated in the latest study by Dr. Ciriaco
Piccirillo, a researcher in the department of microbiology and immunology at the Research
Institute of the McGill University Health Center and the principal investigator for this
project. This study was published this month in the journal Diabetes.
http://www.muhc.ca/media/news/?ItemID=28763
Chopped up proteins trigger autoimmunity
Dutch biochemist Geurt Schilders has mapped
several proteins that can regulate the activity of the human exosome and which play a role
in the degradation of RNA molecules.
http://www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOA_7AUHZA_Eng
New approach to detect autism earlier
A new way of understanding autistic
disorders, incorporating both psychological and biological factors, could lead to the
conditions being picked up earlier, research from the University of New South Wales has
found.
http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2008/jan/Autism.html
Discovery of new cause of mental retardation simplifies search for treatments
Two to three children in 100 are born with
a mental handicap. This can be caused by a genetic defect, but in 80 percent of the cases
scientists do not know which genes are responsible. Now, VIB researchers have discovered
that, in a portion of these patients, the mental retardation is caused by a two-fold
production of two proteins.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/vfi-don012208.php
TNF-alpha antagonist stops inflammation-induced colon cancer in its tracks
Individuals with the inflammatory bowel
disease ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of developing colon cancer. New data have
identified a central role for the soluble factor TNF-alpha in the development of colon
cancer in mice induced to have inflammatory bowel disease. These data provide clear
rationale for the idea that drugs antagonizing TNF-alpha (such as those used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis) might reduce the risk of colon cancer in individuals with UC.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/joci-tas012108.php
Queen's study connects obesity with nervous system
A discovery by Queen's biologists and their
students sheds new light on the genetic roots of obesity -- a condition that is increasing
dramatically in North America and has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and some
forms of cancer.
http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=479788ea7fcf4
U of S scientists find plant gene that affects stress resistance
A University of Saskatchewan team of
scientists funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has isolated a gene that
has never before been identified in helping plants to resist stress. The study --
published this month in the top-ranked plant journal The Plant Cell -- could pave the way
for development of agricultural and forestry crops that are more tolerant to environmental
stresses such as ultraviolet light and other types of radiation.
http://announcements.usask.ca/news/archive/2008/01/u_of_s_scientis_4.html
ASGE encourages patients to see a physician if they experience symptoms
suggestive of GERD
A recent study from the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality shows that hospitalizations for disorders caused by
gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD rose 103 percent between 1998 and 2005. Also,
hospitalizations for patients who had milder forms of GERD (in addition to the condition
for which they were admitted), rose by 216 percent during the same time period. The
numbers underscore the importance of seeing a physician if symptoms suggestive of GERD are
present.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/asfg-aep012508.php
Environmental pollution and diabetes may be linked
Cambridge scientists are advocating
additional research into the little understood links between environmental pollution and
type 2 diabetes.
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/press/dpp/2008012501
Hungry mothers risk addiction in their adult children
Babies conceived during a period of famine
are at risk of developing addictions later in life, according to new research published in
the international journal Addiction. Researchers from the Dutch mental health care
organisation, Bouman GGZ, and Erasmus University Rotterdam studied men and women born in
Rotterdam during the Dutch "hunger winter." Those whose mothers had suffered
severe food shortages and starvation during their early pregnancy were significantly more
likely to be receiving treatment for addictive disorders.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/w-hmr012508.php
Turning on adult stem cells may help repair bone
The use of a drug to activate stem cells
that differentiate into bone appears to cause regeneration of bone tissue and be may be a
potential treatment strategy for osteoporosis.
http://www.massgeneral.org/news/releases/012508scadden.html
Deafness and seizures result when mysterious protein deleted in mice
Scientists have discovered that mice
genetically engineered to lack a particular protein in the brain have profound deafness
and seizures. The finding suggests a pathway, they say, for exploring the hereditary
causes of deafness and epilepsy in humans.
http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200801241/
New multi-drug-resistant bacteria emerge in U.S. cities on both coasts
A multi-drug-resistant variant of community
MRSA bacteria is emerging in cities on both coasts of the U.S., a new UCSF-led study
shows. The research found that men who have sex with men were at higher risk for infection
with a multi-drug-resistant variant of the so-called MRSA USA300 bacteria. The study
because of its retrospective nature was unable, however, to assess causes or links between
the multi-drug-resistant bacteria and specific sexual practices. The bacteria appear to be
transmitted most easily through intimate contact, but can also spread by direct contact
with contaminated skin or contaminated surfaces.
http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200801231/
N.Y. study raises caution flag for sushi lovers
A recent study done for the New York Times
found surprisingly high levels of mercury in sushi -- tuna sushi -- at 20 restaurants and
supermarkets in Manhattan. In some cases, the mercury levels were higher than allowed by
the federal government.
http://www.komotv.com/news/consumer/14444322.html
Can Yogurt Really Boost Your Health?
One of the hottest food marketing trends
these days involves adding live bacteria to dairy products as a way to boost health.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/can-yogurt-really-boost-your-health/
Doctor google
While some doctors … may find that
challenge threatening to their status as an expert, the Web is now providing the kind of
information doctors need to be aware of if we want to continue to be good at our job, and
the kind of trends that can help patients be smarter and healthier.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/medical-googlers-part-two/
Fighting With Your Spouse Is Good For Your Health
Turns out a good fight with your husband or
wife may also be good for your health, a new study finds. Preliminary results from a
University of Michigan study found couples that suppress anger die earlier than couples in
which one or both partners express their anger and resolve the conflict.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325293,00.html
Research Biased on Harmful Chemical BPA, New Report States
For decades, the federal government and
chemical-makers have assured the public that the hormone-mimicking compound Bisphenol-A is
safe. This chemical is found in baby bottles, aluminum cans and hundreds of other
household products. But a recent investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has found
that studies and research are heavily funded by the same companies that produce the
chemical. The article states that 80% of academically and government-funded research found
that bisphenol-A is harmful in laboratory animals. Most of the industry-funded studies
found there was no harm.
http://www.newstarget.com/022548.html
Western diet boosts colon cancer risk by 300 per cent
The rates of recurrence or death from colon
cancer were nearly 3.5 times higher among patients who ate a typical Western diet than
among those who followed it least closely, in a study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association. Researchers collected data on 1,009 people who had undergone
surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer in the two years between April 1999 and May
2001. In all cases, the cancer had metastasized to the lymph nodes but had not spread to
other organs. The participants filled out standardized surveys about their dietary
preferences and habits during chemotherapy and the six months following.
http://www.newstarget.com/022543.html
Olive Oil – A Definition of Standards and Health Benefits
Virgin olive oil consumption can possibly
exert positive outcomes in the prevention of several pathologies like cancer,
cardiovascular disease and aging by inhibiting oxidative stress. These beneficial
properties are mainly attributed to its composition, a high percentage of monounsaturated
acids (oleic acid) and significant amounts of minor components with strong antioxidant
activity postulated to be responsible for its antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory,
anticarcinogenic properties.
http://www.newstarget.com/022534.html
It's Winter - Do You Know Where Your Vitamin D Is?
After risk/benefit analysis the Canadian
Cancer Society has advised all Canadians to take 1000 IU of vitamin D daily. The Food and
Nutrition Board, that sets U.S. nutrient recommendations currently recommends 2000 IU of
vitamin D per day as a safe upper limit dosage for anyone over one year old.
So why aren’t U.S. public health organizations like the American Cancer Society
willing to increase the recommendations for adequate intake of vitamin D, like the
Canadian Cancer Society have done?
http://www.newstarget.com/022523.html
Green tea prevents bladder inflammation
Green tea might be useful as an herbal
remedy to treat or prevent inflammatory bladder disease, according to researchers from the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. According to a study presented at the annual
meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, California, two of the
chemicals that naturally occur in green tea protected cultures of bladder cells from
oxidative damage.
Researchers exposed cultures of both normal and cancerous bladder cells to
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), two varieties of a
flavonoid group called catechins, for 23 hours. They then exposed the cell cultures to
hydrogen peroxide, which is highly damaging to cells and may even kill them.
http://www.newstarget.com/022521.html
Autoimmunity Research Foundation
The Autoimmunity Research Foundation is a
501(c)3 charity whose educational efforts are focused on letting Health Professionals, and
the public, know the putative cause of Th1 chronic inflammatory disease. Many chronic
conditions, including Sarcoidosis, RA, MS, PTLDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS/ME,
Fibromyalgia, and Parkinson's, are succumbing to treatments based on our molecular
description of inflammatory disease biology.
http://autoimmunityresearch.org/
Checkenlads.com
Phil Morris Testicular Cancer Awareness
Site
http://checkemlads.com/
Alzheimer's helmet therapy hope
An experimental helmet is being tested by
scientists as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It delivers low levels of infra-red
light, which researchers at the University of Sunderland, believe may stimulate the growth
of brain cells.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7208768.stm
Is plastic making us fat?
Researchers are exploring whether exposure
to common chemicals during early development could set us up for a lifetime battle with
the bulge
http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/01/14/is_plastic_making_us_fat/
High Blood Sugar Boosts Women's Heart Disease Risk
Increased blood sugar levels signal a
heightened risk of heart disease, especially among women, a new study finds.
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080121/
high-blood-sugar-boosts-womens-heart-disease-risk.htm
New Results Challenge Concept of Vitamin D Deficiency
Low blood levels of vitamin D have long
been associated with disease, and the assumption has been that vitamin D supplements may
protect against disease. However, this new research demonstrates that ingested vitamin D
is immunosuppressive and that low blood levels of vitamin D may be actually a result of
the disease process. Supplementation may make the disease worse. In a report published
online in advance of February's issue of the journal BioEssays, Trevor Marshall, Ph.D.,
professor at Australia’s Murdoch University School of Biological Medicine and
Biotechnology, explains how increased vitamin D intake affects much more than just
nutrition or bone health. The paper explains how the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor (VDR) acts
in the repression or transcription of hundreds of genes, including genes associated with
diseases ranging from cancers to multiple sclerosis.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=
readrelease&releaseid=526621&ez_search=1
New research could help reverse the biological clock for dementia patients
Medical experts in the North-East believe
they could have found the key to turning back the brain’s biological clock and
reverse the effects of dementia and memory loss.
http://welcome.sunderland.ac.uk/news.asp?id=242
Infants with poor intestinal flora often develop eczema
In a healthy intestinal system there is a
great variety of natural bacteria. Today many people have an imbalanced flora of
intestinal bacteria. Now a new study, from Lund University in Sweden, shows that children
with only a limited variety of bacteria in their feces one week after birth more often
developed atopical eczema by the age of 18 months. In the study, published in Journal of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology, feces were examined from children in Göteborg, London,
and Rome. “A diversified intestinal flora seems to be better at stimulating the
immune defense," says Göran Molin, professor of food hygiene at the Faculty of
Engineering, Lund University, who co-directed the study with Siv Ahrné, also a professor
of food hygiene. The composition of a child’s bacterial flora is dependent on
the mother’s microflora, since she is the primary source for the child’s
bacteria at the outset. “A healthy vagina is totally dominated by lactobacilli, or
lactic acid bacteria. With a vaginal delivery the child will come into close contact with
the mother’s bacteria. If the mother has a good flora of bacteria, the contact is an
important help for the child to be able to be colonized by bacteria in the proper way. It
can be assumed that certain hygiene measures, such as antibiotics given in some countries
in connection with deliveries, in normal cases may have a deleterious effect, since the
mother then is at risk to get a skewed bacteria flora, which she passes on to the
child," Göran Molin reasons. Foods that promote the existence of lactobacilli are
soured vegetables, such as sauerkraut, marinated olives, capers, and salted pickles, as
well as cheese. The industry has discovered that certain living microorganisms are good
and therefore add them to certain products under the umbrella term of probiotica.
http://www.expertsvar.nu/publicIndex.asp?page=10&from
Page=public&lang=1&PRID=9170
Does Not Expressing Emotions During The Day Affect Your Sleep At Night?
A group of Finnish investigators has
explored the relationship between alexithymia (the inability to express emotions) and
sleep disturbances in the 2008 January issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
The Authors analyzed the association of alexithymic features with sleep disorder symptoms
in a representative sample of the Finnish adult population (n = 5,388: 2,464 men and 2,924
women). Their main interest was on whether the association was independent of depressive
symptoms, obesity, and the sociodemographic covariates of alexithymia and insomnia.
Alexithymia was assessed with the TAS-20 and with its three factor scales: “difficult
identifying feelings” (DIF), “difficult describing feelings”(DDF) and
“externally oriented thinking” (EOT).
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&
releaseid=526531&ez_search=1
The Healing Power of Magnets
Magnets have been used for their healing
properties since ancient times, and now a new study has found that they can reduce
swelling when applied immediately after an inflammatory injury.
In their initial study, researchers from the University of Virginia set out to investigate
the effect of magnetic therapy on microcirculation, which is blood flow through tiny blood
vessels.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/22/
the-healing-power-of-magnets.aspx
The Rise of Organic Makeup
Increasing numbers of women and men are
trashing their conventional, chemical-laden cosmetics and personal care products in favor
of more natural, organic varieties.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/22/
the-rise-of-organic-makeup.aspx
Scientific American Has Second Thoughts About Fluoride
Editors for Scientific American believe
recent studies suggest that fluoride raises the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones,
the brain and the thyroid gland, and in general “scientific attitudes” about
fluoridation may be shifting.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/22/
scientific-american-has-second-thoughts-about-fluoride.aspx
Winter Waistlines a Swelling Problem for Indianians Trying to Get Pregnant
More and more research is supporting the
idea that lifestyle and diet are a probable hindrance to fertility, and this is the time
of year to be particularly focused on diet," said Laura Reuter, M.D., medical
director at
Midwest Fertility Specialists, the largest single group of reproductive endocrinologists
in Indiana. "At the same time, it's becoming more of a necessity for us to preach the
gospel of a healthy diet and regular
physical activity, which is not always easy in the midst of winter.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&
STORY=/www/story/01-21-2008/0004739766&EDATE=
How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus
Some of the naturopaths suggest using
simple vapor rubs as simplest way to cure fingernail infection. However, there are no
researches, studies or clinical trials, but vapor rubs are considered to be effective
treating toenail infections especially the fungal infections.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/49749
Home Treatment for Vaginal Yeast Infection
Avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol which can
affect the pH balance of the vagina making you prone to infections. Eat yogurt, the live
cultures of lactobacillus acidophilus helps eliminate yeast infection. Keep yourself
hydrated by drinking eight glasses of water daily.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/49729
QAR publishes a research about acne antibiotics and upper respiratory
infections
The department of research writing at QAR
reports that according to Medical News Today, 'Individuals treated with antibiotics for
acne for more than six weeks were more than twice as likely to develop an upper
respiratory tract infection within one year as individuals
http://www.pr-inside.com/qar-publishes-a-research-about-acne-r397953.htm
RCT Shows Saline Lowers Illness Days and Use of Antibiotics in Children with
Colds
Regular nasal irrigation with a
seawater-derived saline solution improves nasal symptoms and may reduce a childs risk of
recurrence of upper respiratory tract infections, according to research published the
Archives of Otolaryngology.
http://www.insidermedicine.ca/archives/RCT_Shows_Saline_Lowers_
Illness_Days_and_Use_of_Antibiotics_in_Children_with_Colds_2104.aspx
Benefits of Statin Drugs Overrated
According to recent research, the benefits
of statin drugs are highly overrated, and the 13 million Americans using them may get
little, if any, benefit. Although statins can be life-saving for those who have high
cholesterol and have already had heart attacks, recent studies show no reduction in deaths
for people over the age of 65 – regardless of how much the drug lowered their
cholesterol – and no benefit at all for women of any age!
http://www.newsmax.com/health/statin_drugs_overrated/2008/01/22/66347.html
What That Cholesterol Trial Didn’t Show
The cholesterol drug Vytorin became known
for its commercials showing people who look oddly similar to foods like tacos and banana
cream pie. But now Vytorin is getting attention that is anything but funny.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/health/22well.html?ref=health
Ron Hoggan Articles
articles on many topics including acne,
adhd, alzheimer, leukemie etc
http://gluten-free.org/hoggan/
Why is Gluten Excluded in Candida Diets?
Many of the Candida diets also suggest
excluding gluten from the diet. What isn't explained is why this particular protein is
excluded and other proteins are not. Usually sugars are the main foodstuffs to exclude. In
this article Ron Hoggan explains his theory of why gluten is a problem for people
suffering from yeast problems.
http://gluten-free.org/hoggan/hyeast.txt
How foods actually fight cancer
That grilled chicken breast touted as a
healthy alternative to a bucket of fried chicken may actually contain cancer-causing
compounds. But broccoli is still tops when it comes to keeping cancer at bay.
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=75701
Marketing May Influence How Often Parents Feed Children Fast Food
Marketing may influence how often parents
feed their children fast food, according to a study by Sonya A. Grier, an associate
professor of marketing at American University’s Kogod School of Business.
The study, titled “Fast-Food Marketing and Children's Fast-Food Consumption:
Exploring Parents' Influences in an Ethnically Diverse Sample,” is in the current
issue of the American Marketing Association’s Journal of Public Policy &
Marketing. “Obesity rates are significantly higher among many ethnic groups other
than non-Hispanic whites, particularly African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and
Pacific Islanders” Grier said. “Yet much research in marketing does not include
ethnically diverse samples.”
http://www.american.edu/media/pr.htm
Allergic Disease Linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In a study of 125 adults, investigators at
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, found the likelihood of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS) was significantly higher in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (2.67 times),
patients with allergic eczema (3.85 times), and patients with depression (2.56 times),
suggesting a link between atopic disorders and IBS.0
http://www.acaai.org/NR/rdonlyres/51EB832E-CC5D-408F-
B1E1-A6F6297F29FD/0/0123_IrritableBowel.pdf
Pipe scales release hazardous metals into drinking water
Mineral deposits inside drinking-water
pipes can contain high levels of hazardous metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and
mercury, and the metals can contaminate tap water when they are disturbed, according to
new research published in ES&T (DOI: 10.1021/es0702488v).
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/jan/science/rr_pipescales.html
Sunscreens go viral on coral
Ingredients in commonly used sun-protection
products bleach reefs by stimulating latent viruses in algae.
The biological integrity of about 60% of the world's coral reefs is under assault, and the
percentage of threatened reefs is expected to continue rising. Coral bleaching, which
indicates the death of colored symbiotic algae that provide nutrients to coral, is a
visible sign of this damage.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/jan/science/bw_sunscreen.html
Effects of a high-protein ketogenic diet on hunger, appetite, and weight loss
in obese men feeding ad libitum
In the short term, high-protein,
low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets reduce hunger and lower food intake significantly more
than do high-protein, medium-carbohydrate nonketogenic diets.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/1/44
Plasma vitamin C concentrations predict risk of incident stroke
Plasma vitamin C concentrations may serve
as a biological marker of lifestyle or other factors associated with reduced stroke risk
and may be useful in identifying those at high risk of stroke.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/1/64
Chocolate consumption and bone density in older women
Older women who consume chocolate daily had
lower bone density and strength. Additional cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are
needed to confirm these observations. Confirmation of these findings could have important
implications for prevention of osteoporotic fracture.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/1/175
[
News of week 4 ]
