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News - week 11 - 2008
A natural mineral supplement
provides relief from knee osteoarthritis symptoms
This small preliminary study suggested that a multi mineral supplement (Aquamin) may
reduce the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis of the knee over 12 weeks of treatment and
warrants further study. Aquamin is composed of multiple minerals and the 'active
ingredient' for the complex is difficult to determine. A number of the minerals in Aquamin
may have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which might directly and/or
indirectly influence the efficacy of this unique complex. While the prominent mineral
present in Aquamin is calcium (dosage = 80% Ca U.S RDA), its role in joint health is
unclear. Magnesium however, was given at the daily dosage providing 14% (male) to 18%
(female) U.S. RDA [12] and over the course of this study, this increased consumption of
magnesium may have influenced OA symptoms by affecting the utilization of calcium or by
potentially reducing inflammation around the affected joint. Both manganese and selenium
were given at the daily dosage providing up to 16% and 4% of their RDA respectfully. Both
of these trace minerals have been reported to reduce the appearance of osteoarthritic
lesions and reduce the severity of symptoms in OA.
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/7/1/9
Comparison of glucosamine sulfate
and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee
Both reparagen and glucosamine sulfate produced substantial improvements in pain,
stiffness and function in subjects with osteoarthritis. Response rates were high and the
safety profile was excellent, with significantly less rescue medication use with
reparagen. Reparagen represents a new natural productive alternative in the management of
joint health.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/7/34
Glucosamine sulfate use and delay
of progression of knee osteoarthritis: a 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled,
double-blind study.
Long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of knee
osteoarthritis, possibly determining disease modification.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/162/18/2113
Resveratrol down-regulates the
androgen receptor at the post-translational level in prostate cancer cells
These results indicate that resveratrol down-regulates AR protein through a
post-translational mechanism and suggest that the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on AR
function is partly attributable to a decrease in the post-translational AR level
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/53/6/556/_pdf
Dietary Psyllium Protects Immature
Rats from Estrogenic Activity of Bisphenol A
These observations indicate that dietary Psyllium feeding can protect against the
estrogenic activity of BPA in rats.
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/fstr/13/4/13_305/_article
Relationship between Intake of
Vegetables, Fruit, and Grains and the Prevalence of Tooth Loss in Japanese Women
No association was observed between intake of green and yellow vegetables, soluble fiber,
or antioxidant nutrients and tooth loss. These findings suggested that consumption of
vegetables other than green and yellow vegetables and insoluble fiber may be related to a
decreased prevalence of tooth loss among young Japanese women.
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/53/6/522/_pdf
Fish and fat intake and prevalence
of allergic rhinitis in Japanese females - the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.
Our findings suggest that the intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids may be
associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17634174?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.
PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1
Nitric oxide levels in saliva
increase with severity of chronic periodontitis
In conclusion, NO levels are elevated in individuals with GPC and are correlated with a
periodontal clinical parameter. These results reveal that this form of periodontal disease
and its severity are related to salivary nitrite concentration, indicating that NO may
serve as a potential biological marker for detection and/or monitoring of GCP.
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/josnusd/49/4/271/_pdf
Anti-inflammation activities of
essential oil and its constituents from indigenous cinnamon
These findings demonstrated that essential oil of C. osmophloeum twigs have excellent
anti-inflammatory activities and thus have great potential to be used as a source for
natural health products.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17826984
In vitro studies of eggplant
(Solanum melongena) phenolics as inhibitors of key enzymes relevant for type 2 diabetes
and hypertension.
Results from this study indicate that phenolic-enriched extracts of eggplant with moderate
free radical scavenging-linked antioxidant activity had high alpha-glucosidase inhibitory
activity and in specific cases moderate to high angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitory activity. Inhibition of these enzymes provide a strong biochemical basis for
management of type 2 diabetes by controlling glucose absorption and reducing associated
hypertension, respectively. This phenolic antioxidant-enriched dietary strategy also has
the potential to reduce hyperglycemia-induced pathogenesis linked to cellular oxidation
stress. These results provide strong rationale for further animal and clinical studies.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17706416
Acrylamide exposure and incidence
of breast cancer among postmenopausal women in the Danish Diet
After adjustment for smoking behavior, however, a positive association was seen between
acrylamide-hemoglobin levels and estrogen receptor positive breast cancer with an
estimated incidence rate ratio (95% CI) of 2.7 (1.1-6.6) per 10-fold increase in
acrylamide-hemoglobin level. A weak association between glycidamide hemoglobin levels and
incidence of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer was also found, this association,
however, entirely disappeared when acrylamide and glycidamide hemoglobin levels were
mutually adjusted.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18183576
Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations
and the risk of colorectal cancer
In conclusion, these results suggest that increasing levels of plasma vitamin B12, alone
or together with other factors involved in one-carbon metabolism, may reduce the risk of
rectal cancer, whereas for colon cancer, the association appears to be less clear.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18092327
Role of Vitamin A in Gut Mucosal
Immunity
We found that dendritic cells in gut-associated lymphoid organs imprint gut-homing
specificity on T cells by producing retinoic acid from vitamin A and giving it to T cells
during antigen presentation. Furthermore, retinoic acid also plays a critical role in
imprinting B cells with gut-homing specificity and inducing their differentiation to
IgA-producing cells.
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jim/21/4/21_297/_article
Epigenetic changes discovered in
major psychosis
Scientists at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto have discovered
epigenetic changes in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This is the
first epigenome-wide investigation in psychiatric research, and this groundbreaking data
may be a significant step on the journey to fully understanding major psychosis.
http://www.camh.net/News_events/News_releases_and_media_
advisories_and_backgrounders/epigenetic_art_petronis.html
Genetic analysis reveals range of
Rett syndrome
The first comprehensive analysis of the clinical effects of genetic mutations involved in
Rett syndrome will enable affected families to receive a more accurate indication of their
child's prognosis.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/ra-gar031008.php
Sexual performance may hold key to
men's health
Men's pride in sexual performance may help the fight against increasing obesity, according
to internationally regarded expert on obesity, men's health and ageing Professor Gary
Wittert.
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news24881.html
New UC analysis shows alarming
increase in expected growth of China's carbon dioxide emissions
China's CO2 emissions are far outpacing previous estimates.
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/international/03-08
ChinasCarbonDioxideEmissions.asp
Key found to breakthrough drug for
clot victims
A team of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and Washington University
in St. Louis have described for the first time the mechanism that gives a mutant enzyme
molecule that they have engineered -- and patented -- the potential to become a
breakthrough drug for treating heart attacks and strokes.
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/bloodclot.cfm
Mayo Clinic proceedings highlights
research about cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
Thousands of research studies have documented how the oils known as omega-3 fatty acids
can benefit the cardiovascular system, particularly among people diagnosed with coronary
artery disease.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-rst/4701.html
How do infections and toxins launch
a cell's self-destruct and alarm system?
Some cells self-destruct peacefully. Others, exposed to toxins or infections, spill a
chemical warning when they die. The body responds with inflammation that can backfire and
damage vital tissues.
http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=40351
Research shows promise for
potential new gene therapy strategy for muscle-wasting diseases
Investigators in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital have identified
the role of a protein that could potentially lead to new clinical treatments to combat
musculoskeletal diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/gd/applications/
controller.cfm?page=204&id=479&type=new
Injection of human umbilical cord
blood helps the aging brain
When injected into aged laboratory animals, human umbilical cord blood cells improved the
brain's microenvironment, decreasing inflammation in the brain, increasing neurogenesis,
and restoring some lost capacity of stem/progenitor cells to proliferate and differentiate
into neurons. Researchers found that the number of proliferative cells increased within 24
hours of injection, with proliferation continuing for at least 15 days. Researchers
concluded that cell therapy may be an effective way of improving the microenvironment of
the hippocampus.
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=397
Pain in fibromyalgia is linked to
changes in brain molecule
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have found a key linkage between
pain and a specific brain molecule, a discovery that lends new insight into fibromyalgia,
an often-baffling chronic pain condition.
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2008/fibromyalgia.htm
Poor sleep more dangerous for women
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center say they may have figured out why poor sleep
does more harm to cardiovascular health in women than in men. Their study, appearing
online in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, found that poor sleep is associated
with greater psychological distress and higher levels of biomarkers associated with
elevated risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They also found that these
associations are significantly stronger in women than in men.
http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=10256
Yoga Decreases Menopausal Symptoms
in Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast cancer survivors often have more severe hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms
than other women, yet they have limited treatment choices. Hormone replacement therapy,
for example, is not an option for cancer survivors because it may increase their risk for
disease recurrence. Therapies widely used to prevent cancer recurrence, such as tamoxifen,
also tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms However, new research from Duke
University Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University offers an untraditional
source of relief: a tailored yoga program.
http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=10253
UCF researchers discover a new
protein family implicated in inflammatory diseases
A newly discovered new protein family may play an important role in preventing
inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, some forms of cancer and even heart disease.
http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=
00240041064ca053301188adf4463004eeb
Nasal polyps from analgesics
If a patient develops respiratory problems after taking analgesics, this indicates that
the active substances are poorly tolerated. This is pointed out by Professor Hanns-Wolf
Baenkler, Erlangen University Medical School, in the current edition of the Deutsches
Ärzteblatt International). One should also think of analgesic intolerance when patients
suffer from chronic irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, without any recognizable
allergy or infection.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/dai-npf031008.php
Low levels of PYY hormone a very
early indicator of type 2 diabetes
It may soon be possible to take a simple blood test and predict whether or not someone has
low levels of a particular molecule, predisposing them to the development of type 2
diabetes. If the test is positive, it may then be possible to use preventative treatment,
slowing down, or even halting that development.
http://www.researchaustralia.com.au/files/PR_33_PYY_absence.pdf
Maternal obesity not strongly
linked to obesity in offspring says study
Greater maternal body mass index during offspring development does not have a marked
effect on offspring fat mass at ages nine to eleven years, according to a new study from
the University of Bristol published today in PLoS Medicine.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2008/12017945178.html
Diesel exhaust inhalation stresses
your brain
If the smell of diesel exhaust isn't enough to make you avoid getting a lungful, new
research now shows that even a short exposure to the fumes can affect your brain. A study
published in the open access journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology reveals that an hour of
sniffing exhaust induces a stress response in the brain's activity.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/bc-dei030708.php
Increased carbon dioxide in
atmosphere linked to decreased soil organic matter
A recent study at the University of Illinois created a bit of a mystery for soil scientist
Michelle Wander -- increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was expected to increase
plant growth, increase plant biomass and ultimately beef up the organic matter in the soil
-- but it didn't. What researchers found instead was that organic matter decay increased
along with residue inputs when carbon dioxide levels were increased and they think the
accelerated decay was due to increased moisture in the soil.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/uoia-icd031108.php
Health problems in Persian Gulf War
veterans higher due to chemical exposure
A study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine shows
there is increasing evidence that high rates of illness in Persian Gulf War veterans can
be explained, in part, by exposure to certain chemicals, including pesticides and nerve
agents.
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/health/03-08GulfWarVeteransHealth.asp
Engineered Protein Shows Potential
as a Strep Vaccine
A University of California, San Diego-led research team has demonstrated that immunization
with a stabilized version of a protein found on Streptococcus bacteria can provide
protection against Strep infections, which afflict more than 600 million people each year
and kill 400,000.
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/03-08StrepVaccine.asp
Magnesium associated with lower
risk for some strokes in male smokers
Male smokers who consume more magnesium appear to have a lower risk for cerebral
infarction, a type of stroke that occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked,
according to a report in the March 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/jaaj-maw030608.php
New technique puts DNA profiling of
E. coli on fast track
Using new genetic techniques, scientists are unlocking the secrets of how E. coli bacteria
contaminate food and make people sick. Michigan State University has developed a new
technique to test the DNA of E. coli bacteria by examining very small genetic changes
called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Using SNPs, scientists analyzed 96
markers, making genetic analysis of pathogenic bacteria possible at a rate never before
accomplished.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/msu-ntp030508.php
Gender bias may affect care of
people with osteoarthritis, study finds
Unconscious prejudices among doctors may explain why women complaining of knee pain are
less likely than men to be recommended for total knee replacement surgery, a study in
today's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/uot-gbm030408.php
Oregon study raises questions on
synthetic progestins
The widely used synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate decreased endothelial
function in premenopausal women in a study done at the University of Oregon. The finding,
researchers said, raises concerns about long-term effects of MPA and possibly other
synthetic hormones on vascular health in young women.
http://pmr.uoregon.edu/science-and-innovation/uo-research-news/research-news-
2008/march-2008/oregon-study-raises-more-questions-on-synthetic-progestins/
Prostate Specific Antigen’s
Effectiveness Questionable
Question marks rise over the effectiveness of the prostate specific antigen or PSA, the
most commonly used diagnostic tool for prostate cancer. According to the latest
recommendation coming from the American Cancer Society, men over 50 have to get a manual
rectal exam, followed by a blood test to screen for prostate cancer.
http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Prostate_Specific_Antigens_
Effectiveness_Questionable_15027.html
A Puzzling Autism Case
The federal government’s concession that vaccines may have triggered brain
deterioration with symptoms like autism in a young girl is sure to exacerbate concerns
among parents worried about immunizations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/opinion/11tue3.html?ref=opinion
State claims Lilly tried to blur
Zyprexa-diabetes link
Drug companies aren't supposed to minimize the toxicity of medications, but that's what
Lilly was doing, a retired Food and Drug Administration medical officer, John Gueriguian,
testified. An expert witness for the state, Gueriguian was on the witness stand a second
day.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/341329.html
Do You Know What Toxic Chemicals
Lurk in Your Clothing?
Chemicals often used for finishing include formaldehyde, caustic soda, sulfuric acid,
bromines, urea resins, sulfonamides, halogens, and bromines. Some imported clothes are now
impregnated with long-lasting disinfectants which are very hard to remove, and whose smell
gives them away. These and the other chemical residues affect people with Multiple
Chemical Sensitivities. Also, people have developed allergic reactions, such as hives, to
formaldehyde through skin contact with solutions on durable-press clothing containing
formaldehyde.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022803.html
The End of Antibiotics and the Rise
of Iodine as an Effective Alternative
Antibiotics do not kill yeast. Many women find after taking antibiotics, they get vaginal
yeast infections (because their normal bacterial balance has been lost). Antibiotics bring
on fungal and yeast infections thus will eventually be seen as a major cause of cancer
since more and more oncologists are seeing yeast and fungal infections as an integral part
of cancer and its cause. With upwards of 40 percent of all cancers thought to be involved
with and caused by infections, the subject of antibiotics and the need for something
safer, more effective and life serving is imperative.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022800.html
Probiotic hope for kidney stones
Treating patients with bacteria may be an effective way of reducing their risk of
repeatedly developing painful kidney stones, a study suggests.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7277967.stm
Can a 60p pill from the chemist
really add years to your life?
Scientists agree that CoQ10 is key to survival. Without enough, not only do our energy
levels drop, but it's harder to ward off illness. "As we get older, the amount of
CoQ10 in our bodies can decrease," says Dr Ann Walker, a senior lecturer in human
nutrition at the University of Reading.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/thehea
lthnews.html?in_article_id=530236&in_page_id=1797
High GI diet causes cancer
HIGH GI diets with white bread and sugary breakfast cereals can increase the risk of
diabetes, heart disease and even cancer, new Australian research suggests.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23349005-5007185,00.html
Calls for Govt to Scrap Forcing
Aspartame on Kids
“Coca Cola has already started completely replacing its range of drinks in schools
with aspartame-sweetened drinks some 9 months ahead of the 2009 timeline – and in
spite of a growing body of research showing aspartame can affect children’s
behaviour.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00151.htm
White bread breakfast unhealthy?
He said that the impact of high GI foods on the likelihood of having diabetes was
"not surprising" because such foods inflate blood glucose and insulin levels.
"You may literally 'wear out' your pancreas over time and eventually it may lead to
type 2 diabetes in older age," Barclay said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/White_bread_breakfast_
unhealthy/articleshow/2851289.cms
Eczema, allergies sign of asthma to
come
TODDLERS who suffer from eczema and allergies are significantly more likely to develop
asthma than other kids, Australian researchers have found.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23349315-1702,00.html
Manuka Honey Heals Wounds, Clears
Infection and Reduces Pain
Researchers have found that the most potent type of honey is one that comes from New
Zealand called Manuka Honey. The differences in honey is predicated on the floral source,
meaning the nectar of the flower that the honeybees use when manufacturing the honey.
Manuka Honey is produced when bees use nectar from the flowers that grow on the Manuka
bush which is native to New Zealand and certain parts of Australia. Manuka Honey has
proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of wounds.
http://www.bignews.biz/?id=1247&keys=honey-wounds-infection
Acne drug can pose danger
tudents using Accutane, a popular drug used to treat acne, might be unaware of the severe
and potentially fatal side effects that accompany it, according to some skin care
therapists.
http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?option=com_content&
task=view&id=19903&Itemid=148
Fever Reduces Symptoms of Autism
Last December, Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, announced with great
fanfare that fever in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) reduced or even
eliminated the symptoms of autistic behavior not only during a fever, but also up to a
week after it subsided. Dr. Andrew Zimmermann, whose team ran the study for the child
neurological institute, which was founded in 1937 to study and treat kids with cerebral
palsy, must have wondered: What caused this?
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-3-7/67180.html
Trigger for Alzheimer's identified
A new study by the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato provides insight into the
cause of Alzheimer's disease and suggests it may be possible to short-circuit the
molecular mechanism that underlies it.
http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8484505
Secrets of cooperation between
trees and fungi revealed
Trees and fungi have constructed a close relationship with the passing of the ages. Fungi
like to grow between the roots of trees and the arrangement is beneficial to both
partners. Their delicate balance is now being revealed for the very first time. VIB
researchers at Ghent University in colaboration with an international team have succeeded
in unravelling the genetic code of the Laccaria bicolor fungus. This new information is
crucial to our knowledge. It will lead to a better understanding of how fungi help trees
to grow and how together they can be indicators of climate change.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/vfi-soc030308.php
Long Legs Identified as Cancer Risk
Tall women and those who put on weight are more likely to develop deadly melanoma,
according to a study by Australian scientists
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335903,00.html
Study questions low-dose lutein for
eye health
The fact that no effect was seen with a six milligram dose and that a positive effect was
seen with 12 mg dose suggests that there may be a dose effect," said Bartlett.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=83798-lutein-carotenoids-eye-health
Is Vitamin D the "Nutrient of
the Decade?"
While federal officials have resisted increasing the daily recommended level of vitamin D
out of fears of overdose toxicity, increasing evidence suggests that the currently
recommended intake levels are not adequate to prevent the serious diseases linked to low
vitamin D levels.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/8/is-
vitamin-d-the-quot-nutrient-of-the-decade-quot.aspx
The Link Between Obesity, Cancer,
and Toxicity
Many conventional media sources, known collectively as “Mainstream Media,” or
MSM, repeat the conventional wisdom of obesity’s causes: sedentary lifestyle and poor
nutrition. These factors are irrefutable contributors to the worldwide, growing obesity
epidemic. Yet lifestyle and nutrition factors do not tell the whole story. There are much
more nuanced and insidiously dangerous implications in the massive increase in obesity:
connections to rising cancer rates, and correlations to stored body toxicity. This article
illustrates the growing evidence linking this “unholy triad” of obesity, cancer,
and toxicity.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022804.html
Former Health Min. admitted
aspartame not for kids
Phoenix Organics initiative against aspartame will save many lives. Your former Health
Minister, the Honorable Pete Hodgson, with Minister/Education Steve Maharey made the deal
with Coke to leave only diet drinks in schools. Minister Hodgson knew aspartame damages
children.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0803/S00049.htm
New clinical research confirms that
natural trans fats are in a league of their own
The results of two new studies by Motard-Bélanger et al and Chardigny, Destaillats et al
published in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition* confirm that
naturally-occurring trans fatty acids (TFA) in milk are perfectly safe as part of a
healthy diet.
http://www.drinksmediawire.com/afficher_cdp.asp?id=2799&lng=2
Could A Gut Parasite Hold The Cure
For Asthma? UK
Asthma UK is funding research which aims to demonstrate that being infected with a gut
parasite reduces the likelihood of developing asthma. The research, led by British
researcher Professor John Britton, of the University of Nottingham, along with Dr Gail
Davey and colleagues at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, will study over 1,000 children
born in urban and rural areas of Butajira in southern Ethiopia to see whether infection of
the gut with either hook worms or other gut parasites protects against developing asthma
later in life.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/100079.php
Certain Oral Contraceptives May
Pose Health Risks, Study Suggests
The widely used synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) decreased
endothelial function in premenopausal women in a study done at the University of Oregon.
The finding, researchers said, raises concerns about long-term effects of MPA and possibly
other synthetic hormones on vascular health in young women.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310095812.htm
25% of Jamaicans may have diabetes
by 2020
One in every four Jamaicans could have diabetes by 2020. About half the Jamaican
population is struggling to deal with allergic sinusitis while more than one-fifth of the
island's children and young people struggle with asthma.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080311/news/news6.html
Report shows diabetes numbers
rising at alarming rate
The potential impact of rising diabetes numbers is "staggering", a new report
recommending urgent action says. The report, from Diabetes New Zealand, offers
recommendations to the Government and paints a grim picture of the growing world-wide
pandemic of Types 1 and 2 diabetes.
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Story/tabid/209/articleID/48928/cat/41/Default.aspx
Are dangerous toxins lurking in
your everyday products?
Americans are virtual petri dishes of industrial chemicals, which make their way from
products into our bodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tests more
than 2,000 people in an ongoing study, has found 148 synthetic substances flowing through
our bodies, many of which didn't exist half a century ago. Last year, a coalition of
environmental groups measured chemicals in the blood and urine of 35 Americans from across
the country and found that all participants contained flame retardants and 95 percent
contained chemicals commonly found in plastics.
http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-031108-chemical-main,0,2244086.story
Post brain injury - New nerve cells
originate from neural stem cells
In the study group of Prof. Dr. Magdalena Goetz in the Institute of Stem Cell Research of
the Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen and Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, another step has
been taken towards the understanding of processes to be able to substitute for injured
brain cells after accidents. Stem cells that originate from supporting cells can evolve
again into new nerve cells.
http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/press/press/press-releases-
2008/press-releases-2008-detail/article/768/9/index.html
New potential treatment for
muscular dystrophy appears to be safe
Myostatin, a protein that blocks muscle growth, has shown promising results as a potential
therapeutic target for treating muscular dystrophy in animal studies, where its inhibition
led to increased muscle mass and strength. A new study, the first to evaluate a myostatin
inhibitor in patients, assessed its safety in adults with muscular dystrophy and found
that it was well-tolerated. The study was published today in Annals of Neurology, the
official journal of the American Neurological Association.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/press/pressitem.asp?ref=1643
Travelling within the EU? Know your
rights and defend them
The European Union's "Air Passenger
Rights" have been applied since the 17th of February 2002. Both the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) and the Low Fares Airlines Association protested the rules
but on the 10th of January they were upheld as legal and enforceable by the European Court
of Justice.
So in what circumstances can you claim these rights?
- You must have a confirmed reservation and have checked in on time (and that means what
it says: blustering like some of those characters on that Airline show will get you
nowhere).
- You are due to travel on a domestic or international flight within the EU or from
anywhere in the world to an airport within the EU or an EU airport.
And what rights do you have?
So you're denied boarding owing to overbooking? The airline must invite volunteers to give
up their seats in return for a refund and compensatory benefits, including a free onward
flight.
If you don't volunteer you are entitled to:
€250 flight up to 1500 kms
€400 flight up to 3500 kms
€600 flight beyond 3500 kms
Plus refund or alternative transport to
destination along with refreshments, meals or - depending on time - accommodation.
http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/743/60/
Ditta
Researchers Find a Bias Toward
Upbeat Findings on Antidepressants
The makers of antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil never published the results of about a
third of the drug trials that they conducted to win government approval, misleading
doctors and consumers about the drugs' true effectiveness, a new analysis has found.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CEFDA163CF934A25
752C0A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
Why exercise might be bad for your
fat loss
Have you ever wondered why some healthy-looking people drop dead from a heart attack after
exercise? It’s never when they are exercising; it is when they stop and rest.
It’s not the exercise that killed them; it’s the poor recovery time. Exercise is
stress to the body and a healthy body is supposed to adapt to stress and rebound or bounce
back.
http://www.bergdiets.com/weight-loss-articles/whyexercisemightbebadforfatloss.pdf
Colonoscopy used to identify and
remove flat colon lesions
A study released this week from researchers at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare
System in California shows that non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms or flat colon lesions,
are more common in Americans than previously thought and may have a greater association
with cancer compared to polypoid neoplasms or the more commonly diagnosed colorectal
polyp. The study appears in the March 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association. Researchers identified these flat lesions through colonoscopy.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/asfg-cut030608.php
Researchers discover the structural
alphabet of RNA
A team of bioinformaticians at the Université de Montréal report in the March 6 edition
of Nature the discovery of a structural alphabet that can be used to infer the 3-D
structure of ribonucleic acid from sequence data, providing new tools to understand the
role of this important class of cellular regulators.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/uom-rdt030608.php
Research suggests link between
screen displays and musculoskeletal strain in schoolchildren
A new study by human factors researchers in Australia suggests that students' posture is
affected by the height at which they view classroom learning materials. The researchers
cited computer screen displays positioned at mid-level as causing less musculoskeletal
strain than high- and book-level displays. The mid display was found to promote a more
upright and symmetrical posture and lower average muscle activity than either the high- or
the book-level position.
http://www.hfes.org/web/DetailNews.aspx?ID=142
UCLA study finds that broccoli may
help boost the aging immune system
The study findings show that sulforaphane, a chemical in broccoli, switches on a set of
antioxidant genes and enzymes in specific immune cells, which then combat the injurious
effects of molecules known as free radicals that can damage cells and lead to disease.
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-study-reports-broccoli-may-46578.aspx
Scientists successfully treat new
mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers trying to improve cancer immune therapy have made an unexpected find: They've
produced the most accurate mouse model to date of inflammatory bowel disease, a cluster of
conditions that afflict approximately 1.4 million Americans with abdominal pain,
constipation and diarrhea.
http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11240.html
Brain network linked to
contemplation in adults is less complex in children
A brain network linked to introspective tasks — such as forming the self-image or
understanding the motivations of others — is less intricate and well-connected in
children, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have
learned. They also showed that the network establishes firmer connections between various
brain regions as an individual matures.
http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11243.html
Breakthrough in birth-defect
research
Scientists have discovered how to prevent certain craniofacial disorders in what could
ultimately lead to at-risk babies being treated in the womb.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/uom-bib030608.php
New protein discovery helps
researchers understand autoimmune diseases
APS-1 is an rare hereditary disease where the immune system attacks the body's own organs.
Within the framework of a major EU project, coordinated by Professor Olle Kämpe at
Uppsala university, scientists have now managed to identify a protein that opens new
possibilities of understanding both APS-1 and other autoimmune disorders. The discovery is
being published in the American journal The New England Journal of Medicine.
http://www.uu.se/news/news_item.php?typ=press&id=91
Chronically elevated blood sugar
levels disable 'fasting switch'
Continually revved up insulin production, the kind that results from overeating and
obesity, slowly dulls the body's response to insulin. As a result, blood sugar levels
start to creep up, setting the stage for diabetes-associated complications such as
blindness, stroke and renal failure. To make matters even worse, chronically elevated
blood sugar concentrations exacerbate insulin resistance.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/si-ceb030308.php
Soaking potatoes in water before
frying reduces acrylamide
Good news for chips lovers everywhere – new research in SCI’s Journal of the
Science of Food and Agriculture shows that pre-soaking potatoes in water before frying can
reduce levels of acrylamide. Acrylamide is a naturally occurring chemical that occurs when
starch rich foods are cooked at high temperatures, such as frying, baking, grilling or
roasting. There has been growing concern that acrylamide – found in a wide range of
foods – may be harmful to health and may cause cancer in animals. But the new
research by the UK team led by Dr Rachel Burch from Leatherhead Food International found
that a simple measure of pre-soaking potatoes before frying can dramatically reduce the
formation of acrylamide and may therefore reduce any subsequent risk it may pose. Dr
Rachel Burch said “There has been much research done by the food industry looking at
reducing acrylamide in products but less so on foods cooked at home and we wanted to
explore ways of reducing the level of acrylamide in home cooking.” The study found
that washing raw French fries, soaking them for 30 mins and soaking them for 2 hours
reduced the formation of acrylamide by up to 23%, 38% and 48% respectively but only if
they were fried to a lighter colour. The jury is still out on chips that are fried to a
deep, dark brown.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/soci-wtc030308.php
New bacteria contaminate hairspray
Scientists in Japan have discovered a new species of bacteria that can live in hairspray,
according to the results of a study published in the March issue of the International
Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/sfgm-nbc030708.php
New findings about the brain lead
to treatment for eating disturbances
The discovery of the brain's so-called melanocortin system and its central role in
controlling appetite has paved the way for entirely new possibilities for treating obesity
and anorexia. In the latest issue of the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Drug
Discovery, Uppsala University researcher Jarl Wikberg and one of his associates present a
review of pioneering research in this field that he and other scientists have conducted
over nearly two decades.
http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nrd2331.pdf
Allergic response tied to lipid
molecules in cell membrane
A team of Penn State University researchers is the first to demonstrate that lipid
molecules in cell membranes participate in mammals' reactions to allergens in a living
cell. The finding will help scientists better understand how allergy symptoms are
triggered, and could contribute to the creation of improved drugs to treat them.
http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Sheets3-2008.htm
Fugitive cancer cells can be
blocked by stopping blood cells that aid them
Cancer cells get a helping hand from platelets, specialized blood cells involved in
clotting. Platelets shelter and feed tumor cells that stray into the bloodstream, making
it easier for cancer to spread, or metastasize. Research at Washington University School
of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that inactivating platelets could slow down or prevent
metastasis.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/wuso-fcc030608.php
An efficient response in primary
care would reduce the use of hospitals by elderly people
Hospitalization rates could be reduced in more than 50 percent of cases of diabetic
ketoacidosis, digestive hemorrhage and chronic bronchitis. The study, carried out with 717
patients over 60, has found the main reasons for hospitalization among the older
population, regular users of these facilities.
http://prensa.ugr.es/prensa/research/verNota/prensa.php?nota=511
Typical North American diet is
deficient in omega-3 fatty acids
New research from the Child & Family Research Institute shows the typical North
American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids
and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development.
http://www.cfri.ca/aboutus/news/media/documents/CFRI_nutrition_Innis_JCN_mar07-08.pdf
Case Western Reserve University
researchers identify colorectal cancer gene
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers published a study in the
March 7 issue of The American Journal of Human Genetics identifying the hereditary
components of colorectal cancer. "Identification of Susceptibility Genes for Cancer
in a Genome-wide Scan: Results from the Colon Neoplasia Sibling Study" is the first
large linkage study of families with CRC and colon polyps in the country.
http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2008/03/07/crcstudy
German Authorities Report Problems
With Blood Thinner
Concerns about the safety of the blood thinner heparin have spread to Germany, after drug
authorities there received reports of patients being sickened after taking the drug.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/world/europe/08heparin.html?ref=world
Antibiotics and alcohol - Should I
avoid mixing them?
A few antibiotics — such as metronidazole (Flagyl), tinidazole (Tindamax) and
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) — should not be mixed with alcohol because
this may result in a more severe reaction. Drinking any amount of alcohol with these
medications can result in side effects such as flushing, headache, nausea and vomiting,
rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. Keep in mind that some cold medicines and
mouthwashes also contain alcohol. So check the label and avoid such products while taking
these antibiotics.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antibiotics-and-alcohol/AN01802
McCain Cites 'Strong Evidence' of
Link Between Vaccines and Autism
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate for president, has given
credibility to "strong evidence" of a link between autism and thimerosal in
childhood vaccines. He cited "divided scientific opinion" on the matter.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Campaign08/Campaign08/tb/8610
Diet Sweeteners Can Make You Sick
and Fat
A Purdue University study published 10 February 2008 in the journal Behavioral
Neuroscience reported that rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin
gained more weight than rats given sugary food, casting doubt on the benefits of
low-calorie sweeteners.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022785.html
Magnets in Toys - a Commission
Decision
On 28 February, a draft Commission Decision was endorsed by EU Member States represented
in the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) Committee, requiring that magnetic toys
placed or made available on the market, display a warning about the health and safety
risks they pose. The definition of ‘magnetic toys’ includes both toys that
contain magnets or magnetic components, which can be released during normal use, and toys
consisting of magnets, both of such size and shape that can easily be swallowed.The text
will next be submitted to the European Parliament before the measure is passed on to the
College of Commissioners for adoption.Magnets are increasingly used in toys and so this is
an area of concern, as major recalls took place in August 2007, to which the Commission
responded immediately with a thorough review of the product safety system in Europe and
beyond, and the completion of the proposal for the revision of the Toy Safety Directive
(88/378/EEC). These revealed the need for an EU-level measure, requesting specific
warnings for magnetic toys, to bridge the gap until the revision process of the toy
standard is finalized.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/consumervoice/create_cv.cfm?cv_id=414
Doctors reconsidering diet's
relationship to acne
Doctors used to dismiss chocolate or greasy foods causing breakouts as an old wives tale.
But a study by the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that may not be true, and
other foods could also cause flare-ups.
http://www.wsbt.com/news/health/16348331.html
Chemicals in plastic water bottles
can be a concern
recent studies show that the chemicals in plastic bottles No. 3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
and No. 7 Lexan/polycarbonate have been found to contain trace amounts of Bisphenol A
(BPA). It is a synthetic chemical that is an endocrine disruptor and has been linked to
breast and uterine cancer and other health issues. Of course, the amount of BPA that could
leach through normal handling is small, but the cumulative effects are the issue.
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/03/05/lifestyle/news/doc47cf6ef7f22d8731791022.txt
High levels of estrogen associated
with breast cancer recurrence
Women whose breast cancer came back after treatment had almost twice as much estrogen in
their blood than did women who remained cancer-free – despite treatment with
anti-estrogen drugs in a majority of the women –according to researchers in a study
published in the March issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal
of the American Association for Cancer Research.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/aafc-hlo030408.php
Protein that could fight obesity
discovered
Researchers in Sweden have discovered a protein that stimulates the formation of fat
cells, a finding that could potentially be used to treat obesity, the Karolinska Institute
said Wednesday.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jP1w7t8p-WHeuQP8IEBOirsR6ZuA
Vitamin K Status in Children
Improves Bone Health in New Study
Published online at the British Journal of Nutrition link, the researchers followed 307
healthy children, with an average age of 11.2 years, over a two year period and measured
skeletal bone mineral content. They found improved status of the K vitamins over the two
year period resulted in better mineral content and improved bone mass of the whole body.
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=20712&zoneid=28
Gardasil Vaccine Side Effects
Reason for Concern
While some conservative groups oppose Gardasil for philosophical and moral reasons, other
patient advocates are disturbed by Gardasil side effect reports and the aggressive
campaign Merck has waged to make the vaccine mandatory for girls in the US.
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/2668
Non-Stick Cookware Continues to
Prove Its Toxicity
More evidence has emerged regarding the dangers of Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA), which is
used in the production of non-stick cookware and stain-resistant snack food packaging.
PFOA is currently found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of American men, women, and
children.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/6/non-stick-
cookware-continues-to-prove-its-toxicity.aspx
Cancer and the Bacterial Connection
Germs may be able to teach your body how to fight back against tumors. While it has not
yet been proven, new studies have revealed that certain cancers may be reduced by exposure
to disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which result in a boost for your body's natural
immunity.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/6/cancer-
and-the-bacterial-connection.aspx
California bill to curb chemicals
in grease-proof packaging
The bill says that FDA scientists have noted that food packaging represents the worst case
scenario for PFCs to migrate into food. In one FDA study packaging released several
hundred times more PFCs than cookware coated with substances like Teflon (PFOA is used in
the making of Teflon).
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=83741-pfos-grease-proof-california
The Bad Science That Created the
Cholesterol Con
The war against cholesterol has become a profitable cottage industry. But the science
behind it has more than a few gaps.
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/78554/
Michael Pollan - Don't Eat Anything
That Doesn't Rot
one of my tips is, don't eat any food that's incapable of rotting. If the food can't rot
eventually, there's something wrong.
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/76987/
UA researchers on team that sees
link of autism to brain deficiency, inability to perceive self
Researchers are linking autism to a specific area of the brain and learning that the
condition is marked by a person's lack of self-awareness. The findings, by a team that
included researchers from the University of Alabama, are changing long-held concepts about
the condition, which affects more than a million Americans.
http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/living/
1204535726324950.xml&coll=2
Anti-cancer smart bomb ready for
human use
Scientists at the B.C. Cancer Agency have developed an anti-cancer weapon that is not
unlike a cruise missile, which is meant to hit targets with precision. It's been tested in
mice and they say it's now ready for testing in humans.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=f7ede9
49-b382-413b-a251-3f6417eeb034&k=12700
Medic's lupus breakthrough
"I was able to show that in patients with lupus there was an impaired function that
could be improved by Omega-3 fish oils." Patients taking low doses of Omega-3 fish
oil showed improvement in blood vessel function and a reduction in cell damaging
molecules. There was also an improvement in symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, rashes,
mouth ulcers and headaches.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3485383.ece
Statins awful side effects
While people may take statins ostensibly to prevent heart attacks and strokes, the
percentage of people who actually see any benefit is astonishingly small. One of the
biggest scandals going, in my estimation, is that statins are the largest selling drug
class on the planet and at least half the patients swallowing a statin every day are
women. For an otherwise healthy woman with high cholesterol, there is good evidence that
statins will not help her, whatsoever. So we've got a situation where women are subjecting
themselves to potential muscle pain, confusion and memory loss, when they stand a zero
chance of benefiting from the drug. That's scandalous.
http://commonground.ca/iss/200/cg200_cassels.shtml
Trans fats and cancer cells
Raman microspectroscopy has helped a Japanese team reveal the presence of high
concentrations of the trans form of unsaturated lipids in cancer cells. The discovery
could lead to new insights into how different cancers progress and potentially novel
therapies.
http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/detail.cda?id=18200&type=
Feature&chId=6&page=1
The Cholesterol Con -- Where Were
the Doctors?
In other words, researchers are questioning the bedrock assumption that high levels of
"bad cholesterol" cause heart disease. "Higher LDL levels do help set the
stage for heart disease by contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries. But
something else has to happen before people get heart disease," Dr. Ronald M. Krauss,
director of atherosclerosis research at the Oakland Research Institute, told Business
Week. "When you look at patients with heart disease, their cholesterol levels are not
that [much] higher than those without heart disease," he added. "Compare
countries, for example. Spaniards have LDL levels similar to Americans', but less than
half the rate of heart disease. The Swiss have even higher cholesterol levels, but their
rates of heart disease are also lower. Australian aborigines have low cholesterol but high
rates of heart disease."
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/77916/
A New Way to Kill Viruses - Shake
Them to Death
Scientists may one day be able to destroy viruses by mathematically determining the
frequencies at which they can be shaken to death.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/1
/a-new-way-to-kill-viruses-shake-them-to-death.aspx
Food “superallergies”:
the first Italian study proves that they can be cured with the incriminated allergen
By setting an alimentary desensitization protocol against milk and egg proteins, the
medical team of the Pediatric Clinic of the University of Trieste, located at the
Institute of Child Health Burlo Garofolo, has demonstrated the possibility to reeducate
the organism of “superallergic” children to accept incriminated foods without
suffering from severe, and occasionally lethal reactions such as anaphylaxis or edema of
the glottidis. The study – directed by professor Alessandro Ventura, Director of the
Clinic – lasted three years, at the end of which 36% of the children involved, once
severely allergic with important, generalized reactions to even minimal contact with the
dangerous food, and therefore life threatened, has re-achieved the ability to follow a
normal diet without presenting any adverse reactions. On the other hand, 54% of the
patients involved in the study were able to tolerate minimal quantities of the
incriminated food in their diet.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&
releaseid=527776&ez_search=1
Do fungi cause retinopathies ?
A research team from the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM) working in
collaboration with the Clínica Barraquer in Barcelona have focused their research on the
study of fungi as a possible cause of strange retinopathies such as AZOOR. There are
several retinopathies of unknown cause; among them AZOOR, Multifocal choroiditis,
Serpiginous choroiditis, Idiopathic Blind Spot Enlargement Syndrome … etc. The
progressive nature of these conditions causes most patients to gradually lose their vision
until many of them are left blinded. It must be considered that not only is the diagnosis
most patients not easy, especially in the early stages of the disease, but that the
identification of faster diagnosis methods would lead to the correct treatment sooner,
avoiding in this manner the increasing loss of visual acuity. Without a doubt, discovering
the cause of each of these retinopathies would bring new hope of their treatments. Three
years ago, with the help and financial support of ONCE, a research team led by Luis
Carrasco professor of microbiology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, noticed that a
patient suffering form AZOOR was also infected by a type of yeast called Candida famata.
In collaboration with the Clínica Barraquer, these studies have been extended to other
patients with AZOOR or with Serpiginous choroiditis.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease
&releaseid=527774&ez_search=1
Increased Level Of Magnetic Iron
Oxides Found In Alzheimer’s Disease
A team of scientists, led by Professor Jon Dobson, of Keele University in Staffordshire,
UK, have found, for the first time, raised levels of magnetic iron oxides in the part of
the brain affected by Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Their research has also shown that this
association was particularly strong in females compared to males. The group speculates
that this may be a result of gender differences in the way the body handles and stores
iron. Though the results are based on a small number of samples, they give an indication
that iron accumulation associated with Alzheimer's appears to involve the formation of
strongly magnetic iron compounds. As these compounds have a strong effect on MRI signal
intensity, with further study, it may be possible to use this as a biomarker for the
development of an MRI-based Alzheimer's diagnostic technique.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease
&releaseid=527771&ez_search=1
Interesterification - The Dangerous
Replacement for Trans Fats
Due to the terrible health problems associated with trans fats, the food industry has been
busily perfecting another 'man-made' replacement to ensure that company sales and profits
are kept at a high level. The new solution is a process called interesterification, a
technique for making butter-like products from liquid vegetable oils. Interesterification
can be used to make margarines, shortenings, baked goods, and confectionary that requires
the texture, mouth feel, and smoothness similar to saturated fats.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022759.html
Are Lower LDL Levels Always
Beneficial?
Lowering cholesterol is a core principle of cardiology. However, with the results of two
recent clinical trials, that theory is being seriously questioned, as is the value of some
widely used cholesterol-lowering medicines.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022757.html
DNA and Mitochondrial Time Bombs -
Uranium and Mercury
Simultaneous exposure to mercury and uranium shows markedly increased damage to the
kidneys than when exposure is to each metal singly. Insulin has three sulfur-containing
cross-linkages and the insulin receptor has a tyrosine kinase-containing sulfur bond,
which are the preferred targets for binding by both mercury and lead. Should mercury
attach to one of these three sulfur bonds it will interfere with the normal biological
function of the insulin molecule. Nephrotoxicity of the kidneys with necrosis of proximal
tubules has been seen to increase significantly with dual exposure to both uranium and
mercury.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022760.html
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds have become very popular in recent years because they offer balanced omega-3
and omega-6 fatty acids, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, high-quality protein,
antioxidants, and many other nutrients.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022780.html
Naturopathic Rights Were Included
in the Founding of America
The FDA, AMA and other powers in mainstream medicine would have us believe that it is
their legal and moral duty to protect us from nature and naturopathy and determine which
drugs and treatments we are allowed to have. Just the opposite is true: it is both immoral
and against the founding principles and laws of our nation - and the principles and laws
that predate the founding of our nation and governed our country at the time of its
founding.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022783.html
Recent Studies and Age Old Wisdom
Point to the Health Benefits of Butter
Although heart disease was seldom seen a hundred years ago, today it is the number one
killer. During this time period, the annual consumption of butter has decreases from
eighteen pounds per person to less than four. Butter is rich in nutrients that protect the
heart. First among them is the antioxidant, vitamin A, needed for health of the thyroid
and adrenal glands which help maintain proper functioning of the whole cardiovascular
system. Butter is the best and most readily absorbed source of vitamin A. Butter also
contains lecithin, a substance needed for the proper assimilation and metabolism of
cholesterol and other fat constituents. It also contains the antioxidant vitamin E and
selenium which are protective of the whole cardiovascular system.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022793.html
Create a Happy and Healthy Indoor
Environment With Plants
The amazing health benefits we derive from eating plants and drinking their juices are
just the beginning of the story. Research shows that when we bring plants inside to share
our environments, we multiply those benefits.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022796.html
How Mushrooms Can Help Save the
World
Mr. Stamets' own research led to the discovery that the extract of mycelium from the
mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis "protects human blood cells from infection by
orthopox viruses including the family of viruses that includes smallpox."Specific
varieties of mushrooms possess antiviral activity against such viruses as hepatitis B,
herpes simplex, HIV, influenza, pox, and tobacco mosaic virus. A useful table lists
various mushrooms and their antiviral activities.Several varieties of mushrooms are
sources of other medicinal compounds including triterpenoids and glycoproteins. Pages
38-39 provide a cross index of Mushrooms and Targeted Therapeutic Effects including
mushroom activity against specific cancers.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022797.html
Study finds reduced vitamin B6 and
elevated homocysteine levels more prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients
The March, 2008 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association published a
report by Kathleen Woolf, PhD, RD of Arizona State University in Mesa, and Melinda M.
Manore, PhD, RD of Oregon State University in Corvallis which revealed that women with
rheumatoid arthritis have higher homocysteine levels and lower vitamin B6 levels than
women without the disease.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2008_03.htm
Can Bacteria Cure Kidney Stones?
Anyone who has ever had a kidney stone can attest to the pain and agony they can cause.
But a bacteria found in the guts of a large proportion of the adult population may be just
what the doctor ordered.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=18325
Non-Stick Cookware Continues to
Prove Its Toxicity
More evidence has emerged regarding the dangers of Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA), which is
used in the production of non-stick cookware and stain-resistant snack food packaging.
PFOA is currently found in the bloodstream of 95 percent of American men, women, and
children.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10761.cfm
Pesticide Atrazine Found in
Missouri Groundwater Far Above Harmful Levels
In 2004 and 2005, monitors reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found
potentially harmful levels of the weedkiller atrazine in the South Fabius River and Youngs
Creek watersheds in northeastern Missouri. Some studies have shown that atrazine can
produce hermaphroditic frogs and male frogs with ovaries and eggs, although the level of
exposure has varied in those studies. One study of men who worked in a factory that
produced atrazine found prostate cancer levels in those exposed to the chemical were 8.4
times higher than in the general population.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10748.cfm
Concern in Europe on Cellphone Ads
for Children
The MO1 — developed by Imaginarium, a toy company, and Telefónica in Spain —
prompted some parent groups in Europe to demand a government ban on marketing to children.
Here in France, the health minister recently issued a warning against excessive mobile
phone use by young children.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/technology/08mobile.html
Smokers 'make their children ill'
A leading hospital says up to a third of the children it treats for certain conditions are
ill because their parents smoke in front of them.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/7284793.stm
Pregnant women exposed to household
pesticides may increase the risk of their children developing leukemia
Pregnant women exposed to household pesticides may increase the risk of their children
developing leukemia, according to a recent study conducted in France. In the study,
parents of leukemia patients were more likely to have used pesticides and insecticides
either at home or at work. Exposure to these chemicals is a risk factor for blood cancers,
particularly if children are exposed in the womb, the authors' conclude.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0205rudantetal.html
Assessing exposure to atrazine and
its metabolites using biomonitoring.
New research by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control indicates that the analysis
the CDC has used to estimate human exposure to atrazine and atrazine-related breakdown
products has strongly underestimated its extent.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2007/2007-1126barretal.html
Girl helps link autism to childhood
vaccines
In a move autism family advocates call unprecedented, federal health officials have
concluded that childhood vaccines contributed to symptoms of the disorder in a 9-year-old
Georgia girl. While government officials continue to maintain that vaccines don't cause
autism, advocates say the recent settlement of the girl's injury case in a secretive
federal vaccine court shows otherwise.
http://www.ewg.org/node/26109
Eat 'Green,' UT Southwestern
Medical Center dietitians say
Forget four-leaf clovers, lucky charms and finding the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow. The best way to get the luck o’ the Irish is to eat a well-balanced diet,
with plenty of green fruits and vegetables, nutrition experts atUT Southwestern Medical
Center say. While Popeye’s love of spinach catapulted that vegetable to stardom,
there’s a veritable cornucopia of green fruits and vegetables that pack many
nutrients but hardly fly out of the produce section.
http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/449809.html
Link Found Between Vegetables and
Decreased Risk of Breast Cancer
When your mother told you to eat your vegetables it appears that maternal wisdom had a
scientific basis. Researchers with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Shanghai Cancer
Institute in China have discovered a possible link between a diet rich in certain
vegetables and a decreased risk for breast cancer. The study appears in the March issue of
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Corresponding author Jay Fowke, Ph.D.,
assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt-Ingram, said 3,035 women diagnosed with
breast cancer were identified through the Shanghai Cancer Registry. They were closely
matched with 3,037 women randomly chosen from the general population there. The women
filled out questionnaires about their diet, including consumption of cruciferous
vegetables like Chinese cabbage, bok choi and turnips. Americans typically eat more
broccoli, kale and cauliflower in the cruciferous vegetable family. "Cruciferous
vegetables contain some compounds that may have a cancer-inhibitory effect,"
explained Fowke. "Here we were able to identify a group of women who seem to
particularly benefit from a high intake of these vegetables." While there was only a
small positive relationship between a diet high in these vegetables and a reduction in
breast cancer risk for the overall study population, there was a striking risk reduction
– 50 percent – among women with a certain genetic profile. Researchers
identified three forms of the GSTP1 genotype among the cancer patients: Ille/Ile, Ile/Val
and Val/Val.
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/newspub/crmQtG/2008/3/7/link-found-between-
vegetables-and-decreased-risk-of-breast-cancer
Chemotherapy with Chemoradiation
for Pancreatic Cancer Has Small Survival Benefit
The addition of the drug gemcitabine with chemoradiation for the treatment of patients who
had surgery for pancreatic cancer was associated with a survival benefit, although this
improvement was not statistically significant, according to a study in the March 5 issue
of JAMA.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/538209/
Study explores computers to detect
Alzheimer's in brain scans
Computers can be trained to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease in MRI brain scans,
according to a study from Mayo Clinic and other participating centers. The findings were
published in the March 2008 issue of Brain.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-sct/4688.html
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