- - European weblog on food, health and environment
News - Week 31 - 2008
Lindsey Williams with Butch Paugh -
$2 gallon gas
On July 9, 2008, Lindsey Williams gave
Pastor Butch an exclusive final interview about the elite's plan (as declared to Williams)
to lower the price of oil to $50 per barrel in order to ultimately crash the U.S. dollar.
This is a very audio broadcast with Lindsey Williams, a christian minister who has
been given great insight (by the people who know) in the developments in the US and world
economy as a whole in the next year to come.
New evidence of battle between
humans and ancient virus
Human ancestors fought back against an ancient retrovirus with a defense mechanism that
our bodies still use today. Evidence of this battle has been preserved in our DNA for
millions of years.
Researchers have developed an experimental tongue-based system that may allow individuals
with debilitating disabilities to control wheelchairs, computers and other devices with
relative ease and no sophistication.
Gene panel predicts lung cancer
survival, study finds
Researchers from four leading cancer centers have confirmed that an analysis involving a
panel of genes can be used to predict which lung cancer patients will have the worst
survival. The finding could one day lead to a test that would help determine who needs
more aggressive treatment.
Promising results in deep brain
stimulation for patients with treatment-resistant depression
New data from a study of patients with treatment-resistant depression who underwent deep
brain stimulation in the subcallosal cingulate region of the brain shows that this
intervention is generally safe and provides significant improvement in patients as early
as one month after treatment. The patients also experienced continued and sustained
improvement over time.
Discovery of a mechanism that
regulates cell movement
A study by researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), in
collaboration with the Instituto de Biología Molecular of CSIC, reveal a mechanism that
controls the movement of cells in a tissue by regulating cell adhesion. This same
mechanism may be defective in diseases such as cancer and metastasis, when tumour cells
lose their adhesion to neighbouring cells and migrate through the organism. The results
have been published in Nature Cell Biology.
Video released of rapid Alzheimer's
improvement after new immune-based treatment
New research into the treatment of Alzheimer's disease reports improvement in language
abilities using a novel immune-based approach. A video accompanying the research,
published today in the open access journal BMC Neurology, documents rapid language
improvement within minutes of using this new treatment.
In furthering the steps toward that goal, UCLA associate professor of neurology John
Ringman and his colleagues confirm in the current issue of the journal Neurology that
during Alzheimer's earliest stages, levels of specific proteins in the blood and spinal
fluid begin to drop as the disease progresses, making them potentially useful as
biomarkers to identify and track progression long before symptoms appear.
Water-diffusion technology
identifies brain regions damaged by prenatal alcohol exposure
Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often have structural brain damage. Recent
findings show that several specific white matter regions, as well as deep gray matter
areas, of the brain are particularly sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. These
abnormalities likely underlie the cognitive, motor, behavioral and emotional difficulties
that are associated with FASD.
It is obvious to most people that our health is affected by what we eat; now, however,
scientists have shown that it is also a matter of how often we eat. People who eat at
irregular times run a greater risk of developing insulin resistance and what is known as
metabolic syndrome, according to a study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska
Institutet. Metabolic syndrome is a condition whereby multiple risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes accumulate in one and the same individual. The chances
of developing the components of the syndrome – abdominal obesity, hypertension,
dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance – are affected by several lifestyle factors, of
which diet is thought to be one of the most important. Scientists at Karolinska Institutet
have now, for the first time, showed that the frequency of meals, regardless of their
content, affects the chances of developing metabolic syndrome. The study, which was based
on a survey and medical examination of over four thousand 60-year old men and women, shows
that irregular eating is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome.
Swedish and British scientists have shown using functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI) that the hormone oxytocin can inhibit feelings of anxiety in specific individuals.
Their discovery might lead to a better understanding and the improved treatment of
psychiatric affections in which people feel distressed when meeting others, such as in
cases of autism and social phobia.Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is secreted by the body
during massage, childbirth and breastfeeding to induce a calming, analgesic effect. Animal
studies have also shown that oxytocin promotes social interaction, such as during the
courting process. The hormone has a direct influence on the amygdala, a brain area that is
important for social interaction and for identifying immediate emotional threats. In a new
study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, scientists at the Swedish medical
university Karolinska Institutet and the Welcome Trust Functional Imaging Laboratory in
London show that oxytocin has a more targeted effect than simply producing a general
feeling of wellbeing.
Identification of protein able to
stimulate production of T-cells
A team of Canadian and Finnish scientists has identified a protein that stimulates the
production of T-cells, the white blood cells involved in the recognition and the
elimination of infectious agents. The discovery by researchers from the Université de
Montréal in Canada and the University of Oulu in Finland -- published in the latest
edition of the journal Immunity -- could help to combat age-related declines in immune
response.
Researchers prove that
insulin-producing cells can give rise to stem-like cells in-vitro
Université de Montréal and MUHC/McGill researchers uncover key theoretical mechanism
behind regenerative therapies for diabetes. The question of whether insulin-producing
cells of the pancreas can regenerate is key to our understanding of diabetes, and to the
further development of regenerative therapies against the disease. Dr Rosenberg from the
McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University together with Dr Bernard
Massie from the Université de Montréal (CHUM) have just concluded that they can. The
results of their study have been published in the July issue of the journal Laboratory
Investigation.
Whether a painless, portable device that uses electrical current rather than X-ray to look
for breast cancer could be an alternative to traditional mammograms is under study at the
Medical College of Georgia. MCG is one of 20 centers internationally studying new
technology developed by Z-Tech Inc., to compare traditional mammograms to impedence
scanning, a technique based on evidence that electrical current passes through cancerous
tissue differently than through normal tissue.
Checking more lymph nodes linked to
cancer patient survival
Why do patients with gastric or pancreatic cancer live longer when they are treated at
cancer centers or high-volume hospitals than patients treated at low-volume or community
hospitals? New research from Northwestern University found that cancer patients have more
lymph nodes examined for the spread of their disease if they are treated at hospitals
performing more cancer surgeries or at comprehensive cancer centers. The result is a more
accurate prognosis and treatment decision, which results in improved long-term outcomes.
Has cancer spread? Research
identifies best way to find answers so treatment can begin
New Saint Louis University research has found that the PET-CT scanner can be used as a
stand-alone tool to detect secondary cancers, which occur in 5 to 10 percent of head and
neck cancer patients.
Scientists Figure Out How the
Immune System and Brain Communicate to Control Disease
In a major step in understanding how the nervous system and the immune system interact,
scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have identified a new
anatomical path through which the brain and the spleen communicate. The spleen, once
thought to be an unnecessary bit of tissue, is now regarded as an organ where important
information from the nervous reaches the immune system. Understanding this process could
ultimately lead to treatments that target the spleen to send the right message when
fighting human disease. Mauricio Rosas-Ballina, MD, working with colleagues in the
laboratory of Kevin J. Tracey, MD, figured out that macrophages in the spleen were making
tumor necrosis factor, a powerful inflammation-producing molecule. When they stimulated
the vagus nerve, a long nerve that goes from the base of the brain into thoracic and
abdominal organs, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in the spleen decreased. This
study complements previous research performed in Dr. Tracey’s laboratory, which
showed that stimulation of the vagus nerve increases survival in laboratory models of
sepsis.
Threats From Above - Air Pollution
Impacts on Ecosystems and Biological Diversity in the Eastern United States
If you are living in the eastern United States, the environment around you is being harmed
by air pollution. From Adirondack forests and Shenandoah streams to Appalachian wetlands
and the Chesapeake Bay, a new report by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and The
Nature Conservancy has found that air pollution is degrading every major ecosystem type in
the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States.
Autism's social struggles due to
disrupted communication networks in brain
Picking up on innuendo and social cues is a central component of engaging in conversation,
but people with autism often struggle to determine another person's intentions in a social
interaction. New research from Carnegie Mellon University sheds light on the neural
mechanisms that are responsible for such social difficulties in autism, and on the
workings of these social brain mechanisms in all of us.
Scientists isolate compound in
human saliva that speeds wound healing
A report by scientists from the Netherlands published online in rhe FASEB Journal
identifies a compound in human saliva that greatly speeds wound healing. This research may
offer hope to people suffering from chronic wounds related to diabetes and other
disorders, as well as traumatic injuries and burns. In addition, because the compounds can
be mass produced, they have the potential to become as common as antibiotic creams and
rubbing alcohol.
The body's own "cannabis
(marijuana)" is good for the skin
Scientists from Hungary, Germany and the U.K. have discovered that our own body not only
makes chemical compounds similar to the active ingredient in marijuana (THC), but these
play an important part in maintaining healthy skin. This finding on
"endocannabinoids" just published online in, and scheduled for the October 2008
print issue of, The FASEB Journal could lead to new drugs that treat skin conditions
ranging from acne to dry skin, and even skin-related tumors. "Our preclinical data
encourage one to explore whether endocannabinoid system-acting agents can be exploited in
the management of common skin disorders," said Tamás Biró, MD, PhD, a senior
scientist involved in the research. "It is also suggested that these agents can be
efficiently applied locally to the skin in the form of a cream."
Get smart about what you eat and
you might actually improve your intelligence
New research findings published online in The FASEB Journal provide more evidence that if
we get smart about what we eat, our intelligence can improve. According to MIT scientists,
dietary nutrients found in a wide range of foods from infant formula to eggs increase
brain synapses and improve cognitive abilities. "I hope human brains will, like those
of experimental animals, respond to this kind of treatment by making more brain synapses
and thus restoring cognitive abilities," said Richard Wurtman, MD, senior researcher
on the project. In the study, gerbils were given various combinations of three compounds
needed for healthy brain membranes: choline, found in eggs; uridine monophosphate (UMP)
found in beets; and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish oils. Other gerbils were
given none of these to serve as a baseline. Then they were checked for cognitive changes
four weeks later. The scientists found that the gerbils given choline with UMP and/or DHA
showed cognitive improvements in tasks thought to be relevant to gerbils, such as
navigating mazes. After these tests were concluded, the researchers dissected the mouse
brains for a biological cause for the improvement. They found biochemical evidence that
there was more than the usual amount of brain synapse activity, which was consistent with
behaviors indicating higher intelligence.
Scientists at The University of Manchester are striving to discover how the body’s
natural sugars can be used to create stem cell treatments for heart disease and nerve
damage – thanks to a £370,000 funding boost. Sugars on mouse embryonic stem (ES)
cells. All cells that make up the tissues of the body – such as skin, liver, brain
and blood – are surrounded by a layer of sugars that coat the cells. These sugars
help the cells to know what type of cell they are and to respond to the other cells which
surround them and the chemical messages that pass between cells. Now Dr Catherine Merry
from The School of Materials has been awarded a prestigious New Investigator Research
Grant by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to investigate how different cells make
different sugar types and to test out theories on how sugars can influence cell behaviour.
Dr Merry, who is leading the research, said: “At present, the way in which cells make
these sugars is not well understood. From the little we do know, we believe isolated
fragments of these sugars could be used to instruct cells to behave in particular ways.
Oregano ingredient effective
against Inflammations
Oregano doesn´t only give a Pizza its typical taste. Researchers at Bonn University and
the ETH Zürich have discovered that this spice also contains a substance which, amongst
other qualities, appears to help cure inflammations. The researchers administered its
active ingredient - known as beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - to mice with inflamed paws. In
seven out of ten cases there was a subsequent improvement in the symptoms. E-BCP might
possibly be of use against disorders such as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis.
Heart disease is linked to worse
mental processes that, in turn, predict the onset of dementia
Coronary heart disease is associated with a worse performance in mental processes such as
reasoning, vocabulary and verbal fluency, according to a study of 5837 middle-aged
Whitehall civil servants. The study also found that the longer ago the heart disease had
been diagnosed, the worse was the person’s cognitive performance and this effect was
particularly marked in men. The study is published online in Europe’s leading
cardiology journal, the European Heart Journal [1] today (Wednesday 23 July); the authors
say it is important because impaired cognition predicts the onset of dementia and death,
while coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in many western
countries such as the UK. “It is important to elucidate the link between these two
diseases,” said Dr Archana Singh-Manoux, who led the research. “The prevalence
of dementia rises with age, doubling every four to five years after the age of 60, so that
over a third of people older than 80 are likely to have dementia.”
Manuka Honey Kills Resistant
Superbug Bacteria that Antibiotics Can't
According to biochemist Peter Molan, who has researched natural antibiotics including
honey for 25 years, manuka honey is effective at killing even the most antibiotic
resistant bacteria even when it has been diluted to a tenth of its original concentration.
"There's more evidence, clinical evidence, by far for honey in wound treatment than
for any of the pharmaceutical products," Molan said. He recommends it in particular
for people with weak immune systems.
Once-suspect Protein Found To
Promote DNA Repair, Prevent Cancer
An abundant chromosomal protein that binds to damaged DNA prevents cancer development by
enhancing DNA repair, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
report online in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
Scientists identify how gastric
reflux may trigger asthma
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center appear to have solved at least a piece of a
puzzle that has mystified physicians for years: why so many patients with asthma also
suffer from GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clinicians first noted a
relationship between the two diseases in the mid-1970s. Since then, studies have shown
that anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of patients with asthma experience some aspect of
GERD. But can GERD cause asthma, or, is it the other way around? Perhaps there is some
shared mechanism at the root of both disorders causing them to arise together. Physicians
could make a case for each scenario, but until now, the exact nature of the relationship
was not clear.
ALARMING new health warnings are to be issued over cholesterol-lowering wonderdrugs taken
daily by more than four million patients. In some cases, users of statins have suffered a
rare form of lung disease.
When they diagnosed him with bladder cancer five years ago, oncologists told Ray Wiseman,
a 79-year-old grandfather from Leicestershire, that the disease would probably kill him.
Scans now show that his cancer has stopped spreading. Wiseman puts this down to the
broccoli juice his wife Joan has whizzed up for him every morning since his diagnosis.
Could she be on to something?
Urine therapy can be a very effective healing modality. Sometimes when all else fails,
urine therapy will turn a person around. We will be covering some of the reasons why this
may be so, and in that regard will lightly touch on homeopathy and isopathy. Both of these
concepts are often discussed by holistic practitioners.
Omega-3-Rich Fish Oils Reduce
Weight Gain in Animal Study
A diet that contains fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help the body metabolize fat
better and thereby gain less weight, according to a study conducted by researchers from
the Kao Corporation in Tochigi, Japan, and published in the Journal of Nutrition.
One study published in The Journal of Food Protection found that in the presence of
mayonnaise, the growth of salmonella and staphylococcus bacteria in contaminated chicken
and ham salad slowed down or stopped completely. The more mayonnaise used, the more the
rate of growth decreased.
Epilepsy Study Incriminates
Aspartame in Medications
The most profound reason for the spectacular increase in seizures is the inclusion of the
drug ASPARTAME in with the new larger sized anti-seizure drugs - DILANTIN, DEPACOAT,
TEGRATOL and several others produced by major pharmaceutical corporations.
It appears that, in subgroups of individuals with CFS, baseline cortisol markers are
associated with outcome trajectories for non-pharmacologic treatment trials. The
implications of these findings are discussed.
DIETARY INTAKE of acrylamide, a probable human carcinogen, may be associated with an
increased risk of renal cell cancer, according to a report in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition (2008;87:1428-1438).
While most people know it's better for our health to cook using oils rather than saturated
fats such as butter, many don't realise that some oils should not be reheated or
overheated. That's because this turns them into dangerous trans fats. Having said that, I
don't think we should become obsessive about this. I've come across people who think they
need to get the thermometer out and be exceedingly careful about the temperature of the
oil, which just isn't the case.
Energy drinks linked to risk-taking
behaviors among college students
Over the last decade, energy drinks -- such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar -- have
become nearly ubiquitous on college campuses. Although few researchers have examined
energy drink consumption, a researcher at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute
on Addictions has been investigating links between energy drinks and public health
concerns like substance abuse and risky behaviors.
Imiquimod, an immune response
modifier, is dependent on the OGF-OGFr signaling pathway
Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey,
Pennsylvania have discovered that the efficacy of imiquimod, a clinically important immune
response modifier with potent antiviral and anti-tumor activity, is dependent on the
opioid growth factor receptor axis for its action. This discovery, reported in the Aug. 8
issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, provides new insights into a widely used drug
that may lead to development of new agents that will enhance effectiveness and attenuate
side-effects.
Lipshutz, a professor of chemistry at UC Santa Barbara, is the principal author of an
upcoming review, "Transition Metal Catalyzed Cross-Couplings Going Green: in Water at
Room Temperature," which will be published in Aldrichimica Acta in September. In it,
Lipshutz and post-doctoral researcher Subir Ghorai discuss how recent advances in
chemistry can be used to solubilize otherwise naturally insoluble compounds like CoQ10
into water.
Hyperactive immune resistance
brings blindness in old age
Opthalmologists at the University Clinic in Bonn, working in cooperation with researchers
from Göttingen, Regensburg and Great Britain, have now, for the first time, demonstrated
that in cases of senile blindness the patient's immune resistance is hyperactive
throughout his entire body.
Limiting fructose may boost weight
loss, UT Southwestern researcher reports
One of the reasons people on low-carbohydrate diets may lose weight is that they reduce
their intake of fructose, a type of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly,
according to a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
A new cellular pathway linked to
cancer is identified by NYU researchers
In the life of a cell, the response to DNA damage determines whether the cell is fated to
pause and repair itself, commit suicide, or grow uncontrollably, a route leading to
cancer. In a new study, published in the July 25th issue of Cell, scientists at NYU
Langone Medical Center have identified a way that cells respond to DNA damage through a
process that targets proteins for disposal. The finding points to a new pathway for the
development of cancer and suggests a new way of sensitizing cancer cells to treatment.
Researchers unravel key mechanism
of cellular damage in aging and disease
Researchers have taken a first snapshot of how a class of highly reactive molecules
inflicts cellular damage as part of aging, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, kidney
disease and Alzheimer's disease to name a few. According to a study published today in the
journal Cell, researchers have discovered a tool that can monitor related damage and
determine the degree to which antioxidant drugs effectively combat disease.
Scientists suspect omega-3 fatty
acids could slow acute wound healing
A recent study shows that popular fish oil supplements have an effect on the healing
process of small, acute wounds in human skin. But whether that effect is detrimental, as
researchers initially suspected, remains a mystery. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish
oils are widely considered to benefit cardiovascular health and other diseases related to
chronic inflammation because of their anti-inflammatory properties. But insufficient
inflammation during the initial stage of wound healing may delay the advancement of later
stages.
Toxic chemicals found in common
scented laundry products, air fresheners
A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found
the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at
least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those
chemicals was listed on the product labels.
'Green' potato health risk can be
eliminated by cutting away affected area
Green in potatoes may be a sign that the potato may potentially contain a naturally
occurring toxin, Glycoalkaloid but health risks can be reduced by cutting away the
affected part which is enough to eliminate most of the GAs according to a review in the
latest issue of SCI's Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
Researchers, growers and Industry specialists from 22 countries are sharing the latest
research into the use of Brassica species, such as mustard, radish, or rapeseed, to manage
soil-borne pests and weeds -- a technique known as biofumigation.
Plasma DNA level is a reliable
marker of recurrent esophageal cancer, study finds
New research published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of
Surgeons shows elevated plasma DNA is a reliable marker of recurrent esophageal cancer.
The study also suggests that plasma DNA levels rise before clinical evidence of cancer
recurrence in the majority of patients.
Knowing means simplifying -
gluten-free diet alone is enough to cure the bones of pediatric patients with celiac
disease
Individuals affected by celiac disease (gluten intolerance) often present an altered
calcium (Ca2+) metabolism that can cause osteopenia, a bone mass decrease due to the
impaired adsorption of this mineral, which can lead to osteoporosis (in 35-85% of the
cases). This phenomenon is particularly frequent among late-diagnosed celiac patients, as
in the case of adult people, but can be present in children too. With the aim of
recognizing calcium metabolism alterations and impaired bone mineralization, laboratory
and radiology exams, such as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), are often performed.
These exams – that provide information on the health status of the bones before the
onset of a specific therapy (namely the gluten-free diet) and help to monitor the
progression of the bone disease once the diet is started - are nowadays indicated in
children too. But are they really necessary in the celiac child?
Chemical Causes of Diabetes -
Overeating Is Not the Only Problem
Medical science has discovered how sensitive the insulin receptor sites are to chemical
poisoning. Metals such as cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, fluoride and possibly aluminum
may play a role in the actual destruction of beta cells through stimulating an auto-immune
reaction to them after they have bonded to these cells in the pancreas. It is because
mercury and lead attach themselves at highly vulnerable junctures of proteins that they
find their great capacity to provoke morphological changes in the body. Changes in
pancreatic function are among the pathogenetic mechanisms observable during lead
intoxication.
Homeopathy Proven Better Than
Conventional Medicine for Eczema
No benefit exists in using the highly toxic drugs for eczema pushed by conventional
medicine. Homeopathy has better results without the use of harmful products. A
peer-reviewed journal reports that there is no reason to subject your children to
life-threatening steroids for eczema.
More Children's Toys Contain High
Levels of Heavy Metals, Dangerous Chemicals
More than a third of toys tested contain toxic chemicals, according to a report released
by the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project and the Washington Toxics
Coalition.The groups tested 1,200 toys and other children's products using an X-ray
fluorescence analyzer that reveals objects' elemental composition. According to the
groups, this method is far more accurate than the types of home lead-testing kits that are
widely available.
