May 28-29, 2009

The Diagnosis Every Woman Dreads - Ovarian Cancer
PR Newswire 05-22-09
SARASOTA, Fla., May 21, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As a health care practitioner, Trina Hammack knew the statistics. So when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she knew her prognosis was bleak. Fortunately, Hammack was familiar with a clinic in Mexico offering effective new treatments for ovarian cancer. According to TMD Unlimited, a medical tourism corporation, thousands of Americans diagnosed with cancer will travel to Mexico for cutting edge alternative treatments.
Hammack owns Cornerstone Wellness Center in Monterey, California. Last year, she was feeling fatigued, and her waistbands were getting tight. "I just felt something was wrong, so I made an appointment with my GYN," she said. Her doctor did an ultrasound and told her he suspected she had ovarian cancer and referred her to an oncologist. Standard tests for ovarian cancer are a pelvic exam, a blood test for the CA-125 tumor marker, ultrasound and a biopsy of tissue and fluid samples.
In 2009, over 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and nearly 15,000 of them will die. According to the National Institutes of Health, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and is known medically as 'the silent killer' because there are often no symptoms and the disease is not discovered until the cancer has spread.
The ovaries are almond-sized organs that produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone and they release eggs during the monthly cycle. After menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and make fewer hormones. Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include abdominal or pelvic pain or pressure, sudden bloating, nausea and indigestion, gas, fatigue, constipation and diarrhea or there may be no symptoms at all. Risk factors are a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, being over 55 years of age, never bearing children and taking estrogen therapy for over 10 years.
Over the years, when Hammack's own clients were diagnosed with cancer, she sent them to Baja's Hope4Cancer Institute. She had met Hope4Cancer's medical director, Dr. Antonio Jimenez, at a medical conference, and they discussed natural cancer treatments. Impressed with his knowledge and compassion, she had always said that if she were ever diagnosed, she would call him immediately.
"My tumor was the size of a melon. Dr. Jimenez was the first call I made. Dr. Jimenez recommended that I have the tumor removed, and then send him my reports, which I did," Hammack says. "My oncologist wanted me to do surgery and chemotherapy. Dr. Jimenez recommended SonoPhoto Dynamic Therapy (SPDT), his Rapha-EL cancer vaccine, Poly MVA, Immunocare and his Total Health Program. Soon after my surgery, I headed for Mexico and met with Dr. Jimenez."
Hammack knew the side effects of chemo and radiation. These conventional treatments would mean being thrown into early menopause, hair loss, infections, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, risk of intestinal blockage, lymphadema, depression and shortness of breath. She'd seen friends undergo these treatments and knew she would never subject herself to those brutal side effects.
"I began the SonoPhoto treatments and during the first few weeks watched my CA 125 plummet," Hammack said. "All of my doctors were monitoring my lab reports and CT scans, and with each report the news was better and better. The cancer is completely gone."
SPDT is available in only a few facilities world wide. Dr. Jimenez trained with Ireland's Dr. Tom Cleary, who was internationally known for his work with SonoPhoto Dynamic Therapy, and with Dr. Donald Burke, researcher and professor at Harvard University. Dr. Jimenez uses a non-toxic sensitizing agent. Once absorbed into the body, this natural compound attaches itself only to cancer cells. Next, sound and light frequencies are pulsed through the body, which causes photosynthesis of the sensitizing agent, and that process explodes oxygen into the cancer cells and destroys them. The treatment is painless, non-invasive and free of side effects when used as directed.
According to Dr. Jimenez, SPDT produces excellent results in several types of cancer. "We use this treatment on ovarian cancer because it works quickly to stop the spread of cancer to other organs and eliminates stray cancer cells in the body. If tumors are large, I sometimes recommend having the tumor removed surgically first, followed by SPDT instead of conventional treatments," Jimenez explained. "Patients with smaller tumors often choose to forego surgery and just do SPDT along with other natural treatments we offer instead of any conventional treatment. We use SPDT on liver and pancreatic cancers, bone, stomach, breast, lung and prostate cancer."
Hammack is still cancer free. "I am staying on the Hope4Cancer maintenance program, and continue to enjoy good health. And I still send my own clients to Hope4Cancer whenever they present with a serious disease," Hammack says. "I am living proof that there are natural treatments out there that really do work."
Marla Manhart is a health writer and patient advocate. She can be reached at mkmsrq@gmail.com
SOURCE TMD Unlimited Corporation
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8298&Section=Disease

Vitamin K supplementation slows coronary artery calcification

In the June, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, along with scientists at the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of California, San Diego, report their discovery that supplementing with phylloquinone (vitamin K1) helps retard the progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in individuals with pre-existing disease. Increased coronary artery calcium has been demonstrated to independent predicts cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality.
In a double-blinded, randomized trial, 229 men and women aged 60 to 80 received 500 micrograms vitamin K1 and 223 subjects received a multivitamin that did not contain vitamin K for three years. Coronary artery calcium was assessed by computed tomography (CT), and blood samples were analyzed for vitamin K1, matrix Gla protein (MGP), inflammatory markers and other factors, at the beginning and end of the treatment period.
While there did not appear to be a difference in coronary artery calcium progression between the two groups, when the 295 participants whose adherence to their supplement regimen was at least 85 percent were separately examined, a protective effect for vitamin K1 against CAC progression was observed. When the analysis was restricted to adherent participants who had mild or greater CAC at the beginning of the study, those who received vitamin K experienced 6 percent less progression than those who did not receive the vitamin.
The decrease in coronary artery calcium progression observed in the vitamin K group was independent of changes in serum MGP levels or markers of inflammation, leading the researchers to conclude that the mechanisms by which vitamin K conferred a protective role in this study are still uncertain. Larger studies in other populations are recommended.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_05.htm#vitamin-K-supplementation-slows-coronary-artery-calcification

Menopause transition linked to learning difficulties
Last Updated: 2009-05-25 16:00:42 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many women may not be able to learn as well shortly before menopause compared to other stages in life, according to a new study. After menopause, however, brain function improves to its premenopausal level.
The results of the study, which appear in today's issue of the journal Neurology, also suggest that hormone therapy begun before the final menstrual period helps to boost cognitive function, while hormone therapy initiated after the last period may have a detrimental cognitive effect.
The findings stem from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a 4-year study looking at brain function during the menopause transition in 2362 women.
The women were given tests of memory and a test that measured the speed at which they processed information throughout four stages of the menopause transition: premenopausal (no change in menstrual periods), early perimenopausal (menstrual irregularity but no "gaps" of 3 months), late perimenopausal (having no period for three to 11 months) and postmenopausal (no period for 12 months).
Taken together, the results suggest that during the early and late perimenopause women do not learn as well as they do during other menopause transition stages.
"These perimenopausal test results concur with prior self-reported memory difficulties -- 60 percent of women state that they have memory problems during the menopause transition," Dr. Gail Greendale from University of California, Los Angeles, said in a statement.
As noted, the timing of hormone therapy initiation had an impact on cognitive performance. Taking estrogen or progesterone hormones before menopause helped memory and information-processing speed, but taking these hormones after the final menstrual period seemed to have a negative effect: postmenopausal women using hormones showed no improvement in either processing speed test scores or memory test scores, unlike postmenopausal women not taking hormones.
The results also suggest that "the 'critical period' for estrogen or progesterone's benefits on the brain may be prior to menopause, but the findings should be interpreted with caution," Greendale said.
SOURCE: Neurology, May 26, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/05/25/eline/links/20090525elin018.html

Prebiotic fibres may boost weight loss: Study

Nutraingredients.com, 26-May-2009

Daily consumption of prebiotic oligofructose may lead to weight loss by suppressing levels of hormones linked to hunger, says a new study from Canada.
Overweight and obese adults receiving supplements of oligofructose lost an average of one kilogram over 12 weeks, compared to a general increase in weight in the placebo group of almost half a kilo, according to results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Jill Parnell and Raylene Reimer from the University of Calgary report that the prebiotic fibres were associated with lower levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, and higher levels of a hormone in the gut, peptide YY (PYY), linked to increased feelings of fullness (satiety).
“Independent of other lifestyle changes, oligofructose supplementation has the potential to promote weight loss and improve glucose regulation in overweight adults,” wrote the researchers.
As obesity levels continue to rise around the globe, the study of food components for weight management is gaining momentum. Several studies have reported that daily supplement of prebiotic inulin and oligofructose may help in the maintenance of an appropriate body weight and BMI.
Indeed, a study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics (Sept. 2007, Vol. 151, pp. 293-298), reported that the prebiotics supplements of inulin/oligofructose (eight grams, BeneoSynergy1, Orafti) resulted in a much lower increment in BMI over the one year, compared to the control group. Body weight and body fat mass were also significantly lower in the prebiotic group, compared to the controls.
The new study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University of Calgary, used Beneo Orafti’s Orafti P95 (formerly Raftilose 95).
Study details
Parnell and Reimer recruited 48 overweight and obese, but otherwise healthy, adults and randomly assigned then to receive daily supplements of oligofructose (21 grams) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 12 weeks.
At the end of the study, people in the oligofructose lost on average 1.03 kg of body weight, while people in the placebo group gained an average of 0.45 kg.
While levels of ghrelin were suppressed by the prebiotic supplements, and PPY levels increased, no effects were observed on the satiety hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
Furthermore, the oligofructose group reported a reduction in self-reported caloric intake, in addition to decreased levels of glucose and a mirroring effect on insulin concentrations.
No adverse events were reported, showing that the ingredient was well tolerated.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
June 2009, Volume 89, Number 6, Pages 1751-1759, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27465
“Weight loss during oligofructose supplementation is associated with decreased ghrelin and increased peptide YY in overweight and obese adults”
Authors: J.A. Parnell, R.A. Reimer
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Prebiotic-fibres-may-boost-weight-loss-Study

Prebiotics may boost teenage magnesium absorption

Nutraingredients.com, 25-May-2009

Daily supplements of prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) may enhance a teenage girl’s absorption of magnesium, according to a new study from Cargill and TNO Quality of LIfe.
However, no effect on calcium absorption was observed, in disagreement with previous studies, which has reported a positive effect of prebiotics on calcium absorption, report the researchers in Nutrition Reviews.
“Magnesium absorption was increased in 12- to 15-year-old girls by 18 per cent after 36 days of an average 7 grams per day of short chain-FOS intake,” wrote the researchers from TNO Quality of Life and Cargill Research and Development Center.
“The absence of an effect on calcium absorption in this study may be due to habitual intake that was too low,” they added.
The study was welcomed by prebiotic expert Professor Glenn Gibson from the University of Reading as well-done and needed.
Prof. Gibson, who first coined the term 'prebiotic' in 1995 with Marcel Roberfroid from the Catholic University of Louvain, told NutraIngredients.com: “Human studies that are well done are needed to show the health effects or probiotics and prebiotics. This is one such study and has used good recruiting, control and analyses to show improved magnesium absorption in adolescent girls following intake of a known prebiotic.
“It is often stated that prebiotics do not have proven health benefits, yet studies such as this show that this is clearly not the case,” added Prof Gibson.
Study details
Researchers led by TNO’s Henk Hendriks recruited 14 teenage girls aged between 12 and 14, and randomly assigned them to receive either 10 grams of short chain-FOS (Actilight, Syral) or a maltodextrin placebo for 36 days in a cross-over design trial. The prebiotics were taken daily for 8 days, followed by random and intermittent intake over the next 28 days to “mimic non-continuous intake”, said the researchers. This random intake equated to an average daily intake of seven grams per day, said the researchers.
Results showed that magnesium absorption was increased by an average of 18 per cent after 36 days following FOS consumption, with no change after the initial 8 day period. No changes following the placebo were observed.
No effects on calcium absorption were observed. Hendriks and his co-workers report that the girls in this study had a low habitual calcium intake, which may explain the discrepancy with other published data. In addition, no effects on vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, or markers of bone resorption were observed.
Responding to the lack of an effect on calcium, Prof Gibson said this was “contrary to other published data.
“It would be very interesting to ascertain the mechanisms of effect behind improved mineral bioavailability following prebiotic ingestion. This would help understand some of the contradictory data,” he said.
Growing market
Prebiotic ingredients, or those that boost the growth of beneficial probiotic bacteria in the gut, are worth about €90 million in the European marketplace but are forecast to reach €179.7 million by 2010, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The big inulin producers have been influential in building the science behind inulin and oligofructose, backing research into potential benefits for a variety of health conditions ranging from bones to colorectal cancer, from immunity to satiety and weight management.
The chicory root is the major source of prebiotic ingredients. Inulin and oligofructose are the two major ingredients sourced from the root that is mainly grown in Belgium and Northern France where the world’s ‘big three’ suppliers are based.
Beneo-Orafti, Cosucra and Sensus dominate the market and supply almost all of the world’s inulin and oligofructose.
Source: Nutrition Research
Volume 29, Issue 4, Pages 229-237
"Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides improve magnesium absorption in adolescent girls with a low calcium intake"
Authors: Ellen G.H.M. van den Heuvel, Theo Muijs, Fred Brouns, Henk F.J. Hendriks
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Prebiotics-may-boost-teenage-magnesium-absorption

Canada approves high oleic acid GM soybeans

Foodnavigator-USA.com, 18-May-2009

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved a high oleic acid genetically modified (GM) soybean for cultivation and foods containing the oil could hit the market by 2010, says DuPont.
The high oleic trait, developed by DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred unit, means the resultant soybean oil consists of 80 percent oleic acid, more than three times the amount present in ordinary soybean oil. High levels of oleic acid have been shown to remove the need for hydrogenation, a process that increases stability and shelf life, but results in the creation of harmful trans fats.
Pioneer president and DuPont vice president and general manager Paul Schickler said: “This is a significant milestone in our effort to bring the high oleic soybean trait to market. We’re seeing strong results in field testing of soybeans with the high oleic trait and strong interest from food companies looking for a new oil product with improved nutritional qualities and performance characteristics.”
In the US, the trait is still being reviewed by the US Department of Agriculture but the variety will be field tested in Canada this year, with the potential for products containing the soybean oil to be released on the market from next year.
A spokesperson for DuPont told FoodNavigator-USA.com that it is working with “all the major oilseed processors” and has seen strong interest in the ingredient from food manufacturers.
Increased stability
The company claims that the high levels of oleic acid “significantly increase” the oil’s stability in food processing and frying, meaning it does not break down as quickly.
In addition to delivering at least 80 percent oleic acid content, DuPont said the high oleic trait has also demonstrated a 20 percent reduction in saturated fatty acids and the oil contains “negligible amounts” of trans fats.
“Soybeans are grown on more acres than any other oilseed crop in North America, making high oleic soybeans a cost-effective solution,” the company said.
Trans fat fears
Hydrogenation of oils, essentially turning them into semi-solids, gives them a higher melting point and extends their shelf life, making them better suited for use by the food industry.
Hydrogenated fats have been widely used by food producers for a century, but fears about trans fats – and the risk of coronary heart disease that these can cause – have prompted companies to look for alternative oils that provide the same function without the attendant dangers.
The company said it has planned or already made regulatory submissions to major soybean-importing countries. Attitudes to GM crops vary around the world, with people in the US, Canada and Japan generally positive about their use, while Europeans tend to hold a more negative view, according to research from Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Engineers.
In North America, consumers’ concerns about trans fats have led to companies investing heavily in researching new strains of oilseeds that can be used in place of hydrogenised oils.
DuPont added that the oil could have applications beyond food.
“The oil’s high stability in industrial settings will allow companies to develop renewable, environmentally sustainable options to petroleum-based products,” it said.

Turmeric Reduces Weight Gain, Suppresses Fat

Sherry Baker, Naturalnews.com  May 26, 2009

(NaturalNews) In addition to being the seasoning that provides flavor to Indian curries, the yellow-gold spice known as turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) has long been an important part of traditional Asian medicine. Throughout countless centuries, herbalists have prescribed it to treat gastrointestinal problems, lack of energy, arthritis pain and other conditions. Modern day Western medicine has recently taken a serious look at the spice and, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties of turmeric and its major polyphenol (a type of phytochemical), curcumin. Now researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (USDA HNRCA) have found another possible benefit of turmeric. The curcumin it contains appears to reduce weight gain and suppress the growth of fat tissue.

The new research, just published in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, does not involve humans but it does provide tantalizing clues that turmeric could be helpful in the fight against obesity. Tufts scientists studied mice fed high fat diets supplemented with curcumin from turmeric and they also investigated cell cultures incubated with curcumin. The phytochemical reduced weight gain in curcumin-supplemented mice. Moreover, it suppressed the growth of fat tissue in both the lab animals and in cell models.

"Weight gain is the result of the growth and expansion of fat tissue, which cannot happen unless new blood vessels form, a process known as angiogenesis," said senior author Mohsen Meydani, DVM, PhD, director of the Vascular Biology Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA, in a statement to the media. "Based on our data, curcumin appears to suppress angiogenic activity in the fat tissue of mice fed high fat diets."

Dr. Meydani and his research team fed lab mice a high fat diet for 12 weeks. One group of the animals eating the high fat diet also received curcumin while a control group did not. Both groups ate the same amount of food, which showed that the curcumin didn't change the appetite of the mice. However, the rodents fed the curcumin supplemented diet did not gain as much weight as the mice that didn't eat any curcumin.

"Curcumin appeared to be responsible for total lower body fat in the group that received supplementation," Dr. Meydani, professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts, said in the press statement. "In those mice, we observed a suppression of micro vessel density in fat tissue, a sign of less blood vessel growth and thus less expansion of fat. We also found lower blood cholesterol levels and fat in the liver of those mice. In general, angiogenesis and an accumulation of lipids in fat cells contribute to fat tissue growth."

In addition, the scientists found similar results in cell cultures. And, according to their published study, their data suggests curcumin has the ability to interfere with the expression of two genes which contribute to angiogenesis progression in both cell and rodent models.

"We have no way of telling whether curcumin could prevent fat tissue growth in humans," Dr. Meydani said in the press statement. "The mechanism or mechanisms by which curcumin appears to affect fat tissue must be investigated in a randomized, clinical trial involving humans."

Reference:
Ejaz A, Wu, D, Kwan P, and Meydani M. Journal of Nutrition. May 2009; 139 (5): 1042-1048. Curcumin Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Angiogenesis and Obesity in C57/BL Mice. 919-925.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026328.html

Living Near Trees Improves Physical, Mental and Social Health

David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  May 26, 2009

(NaturalNews) People living in areas with more parks, trees and grass live longer and happier lives, with less violence and improved mental and physical health, according to research presented at the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.

"Humans are evolved organisms and the environment is our habitat," lead researcher Frances Kuo said. "Now, as human societies become more urban, we as scientists are in a position to look at humans in much the same way that those who study animal behavior have looked at animals in the wild to see the effect of a changing habitat on this species."

A growing number of studies are showing that humans living in settings lacking living plants show physical, psychological and social disorders similar to those developed by other animals that have been removed from their natural habitats.

"In animals what you see is increases in aggression, you see disrupted parenting patterns," Kuo said.

On the physical level, a large-scale Dutch study found that the amount of green space within a one- to three-mile radius of a person's home is a significant predictor of their overall health. A Japanese study found that elderly people who lived within walking distance of a park or other green space had significantly longer life expectancies than those who lived farther away.

College students have been found to perform higher on tests of cognitive function if they live in rooms overlooking living plants, while people living far from natural settings demonstrate not only worsened cognitive function, but also impulse control and management of life conflicts. A walk in a park has been proven to reduce hyperactivity in children as much as standard drug treatments.

Finally, communities with more green space have lower levels of crime and violence than communities with more green space. Communities without green space, on the other hand, have higher levels of property, crime, graffiti and litter.

"We might call some of that 'soiling the nest,' which is not healthy," Kuo said. "No organisms do that when they're in good shape."
http://www.naturalnews.com/026327.html

Astaxanthin: The Miracle Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Nutrient

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews.com  May 25, 2009

(NaturalNews) For years, I've been a strong proponent of astaxanthin, a remarkable nutrient sometimes called "King of the carotenoids!" Derived from microalgae (and also found in wild salmon), astaxanthin is on my list as one of the top three most important nutrients for human health. I take an astaxanthin supplement (BioAstin) every day.

Today, I bring you a collection of quotes from authors talking about this amazing nutrient. And yet this collection barely scratches the surface of the whole story on astaxanthin. You may wish to read my full report on this nutrient here: http://www.naturalnews.com/023177.html

You might also be interested in downloading a professionally-written summary of a fantastic book on astaxanthin. It's a free download, and you can read about how to get it here: http://www.naturalnews.com/024521.html

There are two sources I recommend for astaxanthin. Both are revealed below these quotes. For the record, I have no financial ties whatsoever to astaxanthin manufacturers or retailers.

Authors' Quotes on Astaxanthin

Below, you'll find selected quotes from noted authors on the subject of Astaxanthin. Feel free to quote these in your own work provided you give proper credit to both the original author quoted here and this NaturalNews page.

The study found that mice that were fed astaxanthin and then run on a treadmill until exhaustion suffered less heart damage than mice that were similarly exercised without astaxanthin supplementation. On examination, they found astaxanthin concentrated in the mice's hearts. They concluded that astaxanthin can decrease exercise induced damage in the heart as well as in the skeletal muscle (Aoi, et al, 2003). At the Medical College of Wisconsin, another animal study with rats showed cardio-protective attributes for astaxanthin. In this study, astaxanthin was given to rats prior to heart attacks.

- ASTAXANTHIN: Natural Astaxanthin, King of the Carotenoids by Bob Capelli

Another nutrient that's excellent for eye protection and reduces the harm caused by excessive ultraviolet radiation is astaxanthin, now offered by a number of nutritional supplement companies. Astaxanthin also works as an internal nutritional sunscreen and actually boosts your skin's tolerance to ultraviolet radiation. It's one of my secrets for avoiding sunburn and getting a nice tan, even when I naturally have very white skin. Astaxanthin's protective benefits also extend to the eyes and the entire nervous system. - Natural Health Solutions by Mike Adams

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are normally found in the eyes. Astaxanthin is not. We spoke very briefly about groundbreaking work done by Dr. Mark Tso of the University of Illinois. Dr. Tso was the first person to prove that astaxanthin can cross the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers. He took laboratory rats and tested their eyes for astaxanthin. As expected, he did not find any present. Then he fed the rats astaxanthin and retested, this time finding astaxanthin present in the retina. - ASTAXANTHIN: Natural Astaxanthin, King of the Carotenoids by Bob Capelli

You probably never heard of astaxanthin, but it's the main carotenoid pigment found in aquatic animals and is responsible for giving salmon their pink color. The thing of it is, salmon get most of their astaxanthin from dining on crustaceans like shrimp. Why should you care? Because this red-orange pigment, closely related to other well-known carotenoids like beta-carotene and lutein, has stronger antioxidant activity than either of them (ten times higher than beta-carotene, in fact). - The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Astaxanthin suppresses production of prostaglandin (PGE2) 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg astaxanthin concentration. PROSTAGLANDIN E-2 Measurement of the anti-inflammatory action of astaxanthin in Upopoly saccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in rats, as measured by tumor necrosis factor and prostaglandin E-2. And comnared with the anti-inflammatory drugs orednisolone (Oheami. et al. 2003). Astaxanthin suppresses production of Nitric Oxide (NO) LPS 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 100mg/kg Predn. - ASTAXANTHIN: Natural Astaxanthin, King of the Carotenoids by Bob Capelli

You might also find antioxidant complexes with ingredients such as grapeseed extract, pine bark, blueberry extract, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin, derived from algae, is believed to be several hundred times more effective than vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals. Where minerals are concerned, in addition to the macrominerals (those needed in large amounts), such as calcium and magnesium, you'll also want to select a formula that has a wide range of trace minerals (those needed in small quantities), such as selenium, vanadium, chromium, boron, and iodine.  - The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps by Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith

Because organisms like many Astaxanthin-containing algae and plankton are the base of the food chain, astaxanthin can be found in many animals as well. Any sea animal that has a reddish or pinkish color contains natural astaxanthin. For example, you can find astaxanthin in salmon, trout, lobster, shrimp and crab. These animals eat krill and other organisms that ingest Astaxanthin-containing algae and plankton as a major part of their diets. And since lots of different animals such as birds, bears and even humans eat these sea animals, you can find astaxanthin in all sorts of places. - ASTAXANTHIN: Natural Astaxanthin, King of the Carotenoids by Bob Capelli

The antioxidant powers of fatty fish come from a substance called astaxanthin. This antioxidant hunts down and destroys free radicals that might damage cells in your body. When animals with lymphoma, a type of cancer, were given fish oil and the amino acid arginine, they lived longer and had longer periods without the disease than animals who were not treated. In addition, researchers have found that omega-3 can slow the growth of cancers, the exact opposite of what they found for omega-6, which can help cancers grow. But astaxanthin does even more.  - Eat and Heal (Foods That Can Prevent or Cure Many Common Ailments) by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing

Recent studies, however, have shown that the carotenoids, astaxanthin, and lutein - neither of which are converted to vitamin A, can also restore lost immune function in the elderly. When taking carotenoids it is best to take a mixture that includes a number of varieties, such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, canthoxanthin, astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and cryptoxanthin. Taking beta-carotene alone, especially the synthetic form, can actually reduce absorption of other carotenoids, such as lutein. - Health and Nutrition Secrets by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

Scientists investigated the effects of an antioxidant called astaxanthin in stress-induced, immune suppression in mice. When exposed to stress, the number of natural killer (NK) and other immune cells was reduced and an increase in liver lipid peroxidation was observed. After 4 days of astaxanthin administration, immune dysfunction induced by stress improved. In this same study, cancer cells were injected and effects of tumor development and metastatic lesions were evaluated in response to induced stress. - Disease Prevention and Treatment by The Life Extension Editorial Staff

The only two well researched carotenoid antioxidants that never become pro-oxidants are astaxanthin and zeaxanthin. So if you smoke, be sure to take Spirulina for its natural beta-carotene and zeaxanthin carotenoid antioxidants, take a natural astaxanthin supplement and take some Vitamin C as well. - Spirulina: Nature's superfood by Kelly J Moorhead

Zeaxanthin and astaxanthin are two carotenoids that never become pro-oxidants in any situation. These two facts about zeaxanthin are leading researchers to study zeaxanthin more and more, and as they do, they're finding out that it is a powerful antioxidant with many benefits. In the chart below, zeaxanthin beat out all other antioxidants tested except for astaxanthin in single oxygen quenching rates. It beat Vitamin E by over 400 times! (Please note that there are many different ways to measure antioxidant strength, and this is just one test).  - Spirulina: Nature's superfood by Kelly J Moorhead

http://www.naturalnews.com/026325.html

Study Shows How Traditional Chinese Healing Technique Works

Sherry Baker, NaturalNews.com  May 25, 2009

(NaturalNews) When ancient Chinese healing techniques work, Western doctors often assume the benefits must be due to the placebo effect. But researchers at the University of Oregon (UO) have repeatedly documented that a mind-body practice called integrative body-mind training (IBMT), derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has profound beneficial effects on human health. And amazingly, the ancient healing produces measurable physical and mental changes in just five days of practice.

In the l990s, IBMT was first adapted from ancient healing practices in China. Today, thousands of Chinese use IBMT. IBMT avoids struggling with controlling thoughts and relies instead on a state of restful alertness. A calm but focused mind is believed to be achieved through specific IBMT postures, relaxation, a harmonizing of body and mind and balanced breathing. How you do it: an experienced IBMT coach/instructor provides initial directions, breath adjustment guidance and mental imagery techniques while calming music is played in the background.

Research on the technique began at UO in l997 led by visiting UO professor Yi-Yuan Tang and UO psychologist Michael Posner. "Life is full of stress, and people need to learn methods to handle stress and improve their performance," Dr. Tang said in a media release. "There is physical training but we wanted to see about mental training. This method appears to have benefit for the modern society where the pace is fast."

The researchers published a study in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) in the late l990s documenting that doing IBMT prior to a mental math test resulted in low levels of the stress hormone cortisol among Chinese students. Moreover, the experimental group showed lower levels of anxiety, depression, anger and fatigue than students using a standard relaxation technique. The investigators also showed that measurable changes in stress reduction and attention occurred after just five days of practicing IBMT.

Dr. Tang and his research team, including UO's Dr. Posner, wanted to find out how the technique worked so fast and what specifically it might be doing to the brain. Now their new research, just published online ahead of regular publication in PNAS, specifically documents the brain and physiological changes caused by IBMT. The scientists studied and analyzed data from several technologies in two experiments involving 86 undergraduate students at Dalian University of Technology in China, where Dr. Tang is a professor.

For each experiment, the researchers studied participants who had never practiced relaxation techniques or meditation before. Each group received IBMT or general relaxation instruction for 20 minutes each day for five days. Although both groups of research subjects experienced benefits from the training, those in the IBMT group showed dramatic changes that were documented by brain imaging and physiological testing.

Specifically, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) revealed that IBMT subjects had increased blood flow in the right anterior cingulate cortex, part of the brain linked to self regulation of thought and emotion. Physiological tests also revealed IBMT subjects had lower heart rates and skin conductance responses, increased belly breathing amplitude and decreased chest respiration rates than the relaxation group. These results, the scientists noted in their paper, "reflected less effort exerted by participants and more relaxation of body and calm state of mind."

Another remarkable physical finding: IBMT subjects had more high-frequency heart-rate variability than their relaxation counterparts. In a statement to the media, the researchers explained this indicated "successful inhibition of sympathetic tone and activation of parasympathetic tone [in the autonomic nervous system]." Sympathetic tone is more active when stressed.

"We were able to show that the training improved the connection between a central nervous system structure, the anterior cingulate, and the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system to help put a person into a more bodily state," Dr. Posner said in a statement to the media.

Macrobiotic Diet Shown to Prevent Cancer

Sheryl Walters, NaturalNews.com  May 25, 2009

(NaturalNews) Macrobiotic is a word derived from Greek roots and means "long life". A macrobiotic diet combines simplicity in eating and avoidance of toxins in food with Buddhist Zen principles. Because of it's emphasis of nutrient-rich, whole foods the macrobiotic diet has been of interest in prevention of cancer.

A macrobiotic diet is a low-fat, high-fiber diet with an emphasis on whole grains and vegetables. Followers of a macrobiotic diet avoid meat, animal fats such as butter and lard, dairy products, eggs, artificial sweeteners, and chemical additives. The diet is made up of whole grains (brown rice, millet, buckwheat, wheat, corn, rye), vegetables, beans (and bean products such as tofu), sea vegetables (nori, kombu, hiziki), and smaller amounts of fruit, seeds, nuts, and white fish. Preferably these foods are organic, locally grown, and whole or very minimally processed. Vegetables such as avocados, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, and beets are discouraged.

Cooking food in accordance with a macrobiotic diet must be done with utensils made from materials such as wood, glass, enamel, and stainless steel. Cooking with microwaves and electricity is discouraged, as are dietary supplements.

Research is focusing on the benefits of a macrobiotic diet in the prevention of cancer. Because of the emphasis on soy products, a macrobiotic diet is high in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived estrogens that have been found to have health benefits including potential reduction in breast cancer and prostate cancer. A study published in the Journal Cancer Research compared women eating a macrobiotic diet with women eating a typical American diet and found that those following a macrobiotic diet had lower levels of blood estradiol levels. Research has shown a link between high estradiol levels and breast cancer.

Besides the benefits from phytoestrogens, eating a diet low in fat and high in fiber, such as the macrobiotic diet, also helps lower cancer risk. The limitations placed on certain foods such as animal fats, eggs, and dairy also decrease risk for cancers such as colorectal, ovarian, and prostate cancer. In addition, emphasis on organic foods decreases pesticide exposure which has also been shown to be associated with cancer.

Because of the restrictive nature of a macrobiotic diet, it must be followed with extreme care to ensure that nutrient requirements are met. A macrobiotic diet, with its focus on low-fat, high-fiber foods as well as including foods high in phytoestrogens is effective in decreasing risk of cancer.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026322.html

Zinc and Selenium are the Minerals that Fight Breast Cancer

Barbara Minton, NaturalNews.com  May 24, 2009

(NaturalNews) Any woman wanting to avoid breast cancer or its recurrence needs to be aware of the real risk factors. These are not the factors you hear about from the typical oncologist who is interested in pushing drugs. Imbalances in the body are the real risk factors that explain why women get breast cancer, not lack of drugs. The only way to avoid cancer or its recurrence is to address these imbalances. Two minerals, zinc and selenium, are key in maintaining balance in the body and keeping cancer away. Recent research has added to the pile of data underscoring the importance of these minerals in keeping women cancer-free.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have reported that glands in the breast have unique zinc requirements resulting from their need to transfer extraordinary amounts of zinc into milk during lactation. When nursing women's breasts are deficient in zinc, the result can be severe zinc deficiency in the infant, resulting in impaired growth and development. When zinc is deficient or not properly metabolized, breast cancer is often an additional outcome. Lack of zinc has been implicated not only in the initiation of breast cancer, but also in the transition, progression, and metastasis of the disease. When zinc is deficient, cellular functioning in the breast is compromised. (Genes and Nutrition, April 2)

In France, scientists report that estrogen receptor expression in breast cancers is associated with differentiated tumors and a more favorable prognosis. The greater the resemblance of cancerous breast cells to non-cancerous breast cells, the less threatening is the disease. Although the exact mechanism underlying the protection ERs play against cancer progression remains to be researched, these scientists studied the actions of ER alpha, and documented that one of the ways this ER inhibits invasion is though its first zinc finger. A zinc finger is a group of proteins organized around a zinc ion that can bind to DNA and influence gene regulation. (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2008)

In other research, Dr. David Watts reviewed the hair trace mineral reports of thousands of women and found that a pattern of elevated boron, copper and calcium levels with lower levels of zinc occurred in women with breast cancer. According to Dr. Watts, boron and copper appear to make the body more sensitive to the stimulatory effects of estrogen, and less responsive to the quieting effects of progesterone. Zinc is the mineral that aids in the production and utilization of progesterone, so this pattern of mineralization makes women less progesterone responsive and more estrogen sensitive. Raising zinc levels and lowering boron, copper and calcium levels can bring these women into mineral balance and help in the creation of hormonal balance.

The primary gene protecting women from breast cancer, p53, is thought to be the most frequently mutated or altered gene in the development of cancer. This gene requires zinc, and if it is missing, the gene becomes mutated, resulting in it becoming inactivated or suppressed. Dysfunction of p53 is well documented in the development of breast cancer, indicating that a zinc deficiency is a risk factor for breast cancer independent of the levels of boron, copper and calcium.

Zinc is important in prostate gland function and may help prevent and treat prostate cancer. It has another important role in the lives of women too. Zinc is required for protein synthesis and collagen formation. Without adequate levels of zinc, skin begins to sag and lose its elasticity. The optimal balance ratio for copper and zinc is 1 to 10 according to nutrition experts Phyllis Balch CNC and James Balch M.D.

In addition to sagging skin, deficiency of zinc may result in the loss of the senses of taste and smell. It can cause fingernails to become thin, peel and develop white spots. Other possible signs of zinc deficiency for women include hair loss, high cholesterol levels, impaired night vision, increased susceptibility to infection, memory impairment, diabetes, skin lesions, and slow wound healing.

Food sources for zinc are brewer's yeast, egg yolks, kelp, lamb, legumes, lima beans, liver, meats, mushrooms, pecans, poultry, pumpkin seeds, sardines, seafood, soy lecithin, sunflower seeds, and wheat germ. Zinc is found in alfalfa, burdock, cayenne, chamomile, dandelion, eyebright, fennel seeds, milk thistle, nettle, parsley, rose hips, sage, skullcap, and wild yam. Zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, and zinc as methionine are good choices for supplemental zinc. These are available from many supplement companies.

The relationship between selenium status and intake among breast cancer patients was studied by scientists in Kuala Lumpur. 64 women with breast cancer and 127 matched controls were interviewed to obtain information on their habitual dietary intakes, demographic data, and medical history. Selenium status was determined from toenail and hair analysis. The researchers found that total energy and protein intake was significantly higher among controls than among the breast cancer cases. The selenium intake among the women with breast cancer was significantly lower than the controls. Breast cancer risk decreased with the increasing quartiles of selenium intake. Selenium in hair did not differ among breast cancer cases and controls, but selenium status in the nails of controls was significantly higher compared to the breast cancer cases. (Sinapore Medical Journal, March).

In a recent study done at the University of Washington, scientists investigated the signaling pathways modulated by selenium. They compared global gene expression profiles in mammary tissues from pubescent female rats maintained on a selenium (3ppm) diet with those on a standardized diet. The selenium-enriched diet altered the steady-state levels of genes involved in various cellular functioning, the most dramatic of which was the changes in the expression of multiple genes that regulate circadian rhythm.

The normal mammary tissue of rats fed the standardized diet showed little circadian oscillation relative to liver tissue. However, the mammary tissue of the selenium fed rats showed a progressive, time-dependent increase in the expression of circadian gene Per2, and a circadian regulated transcription factor. Further, the results showed that the expression of Per2 and transcription mitigated RNA was significantly decreased in mammary tumors arising in selenium fed rate, but not in tumors of rats on the control diet. This suggests that selenium-induced elevation in the expression of circadian genes was incompatible with mammary cancer. The researchers concluded that the Per 2 gene is an important target of selenium for cancer prevention. (Cancer Prevention Research, July, 2008)

Selenium's main role is inhibiting the oxidation of fats as a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, one of the most powerful of the body's own antioxidants. When combined with vitamin E, selenium protects the immune system. It plays a vital role in regulating the effects of thyroid hormone on fat metabolism. In a study, men who consumed 200 mcg of selenium daily over a ten-year period had roughly half the risk of developing lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer compared with men who did not.

Symptoms of selenium deficiency are exhaustion, high cholesterol, infections, liver impairment, and pancreatic insufficiency. Westerners often do not have enough selenium, because it is processed out of the foods typically eaten. This is one of the reasons that American men are five times more likely than Japanese men to die from prostate cancer. The typical Asian diet contains four times the amount of selenium as the typical American diet.

Selenium is found in meat and grains, but the level depends on the soil content where the food was grown. It can be found in brewer's yeast, broccoli, brown rice, chicken, dairy products, garlic, kelp, liver, molasses, onions, salmon, seafood, vegetables, wheat germ, and whole grains. Perhaps the best source of selenium is Brazil nuts. Eating two of the nuts a day provides 240 mcg of selenium. Earl Mindell, in his Vitamin Bible, recommends 200 mcg of selenium intake daily.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026321.html

Glutamine May Treat Ulcers, Prevent Stomach Cancer

Sherry Baker, NaturalNews.com  May 24, 2009

(NaturalNews) It has been two decades since the discovery that many stomach ulcers result from an infection with the bacteria dubbed Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short. Now it is known that about six percent of people in the world carry this infection which is associated not only with ulcers but with stomach cancer. The primary treatment for H. pylori has been antibiotics -- but they can cause a host of side effects and, what's more, the bacteria are quickly becoming resistant to the drugs. But there's good news: a natural amino acid, glutamine, appears to protect from injury caused by H. pylori and could reduce the risk of gastric cancers associated with the infection, too.

Glutamine is an amino acid found naturally in many foods, including beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products and some fruits and vegetables. L-glutamine, the biologically active isomer of glutamine, is sometimes used in supplement form by body builders to increase their muscle mass. Now new research just reported in the May issue of the Journal of Nutrition concludes glutamine may prove beneficial in offsetting gastric damage caused by H. pylori infection. In fact, the study, which was conducted by scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), suggests glutamine could be a natural alternative to the use of antibiotics now prescribed widely for treating stomach ulcers.

"Our findings suggest that extra glutamine in the diet could protect against gastric damage caused by H. pylori," senior author Susan Hagen, PhD, Associate Director of Research in the Department of Surgery at BIDMC and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, said in a statement to the media. "Gastric damage develops when the bacteria weakens the stomach's protective mucous coating, damages cells and elicits a robust immune response that is ineffective at ridding the infection." She added that over time, years of infection can cause persistent gastritis and damage to cells in the digestive tract -- creating an environment conducive to the development of malignancies.

In earlier research, Dr. Hagen and her research team had shown that glutamine protects against cell death from H. pylori-produced ammonia. "Our work demonstrated that the damaging effects of ammonia on gastric cells could be reversed completely by the administration of L-glutamine," Dr. Hagen said in the press release. "The amino acid stimulated ammonia detoxification in the stomach -- as it does in the liver -- so that the effective concentration of ammonia was reduced, thereby blocking cell damage."

To find out if a similar mechanism could be at work in intact stomachs infected with H. pylori, the researchers divided 105 mice into two groups. One group of lab animals was fed a standardized diet which was 1.9 percent glutamine. The second group ate the same diet plus supplemental L-glutamine that upped the percentage of the animals' food intake of the amino acid to 6.9 percent. After two weeks, the mice were again divided into two additional groups with one group receiving a fake dose of H. pylori while the other group received a dose of the real bacteria.

The result was four separate mouse groups comprised of an uninfected control group, an uninfected glutamine group, an infected-with-H.-pylori control group, and an uninfected-with-H.-pylori glutamine group. During the next 20 weeks, the scientists took samples of blood and stomach tissues from the animals for analysis. Blood was checked for antibodies to specific types of T-helper immune cells, which mediate the body's immune system response when there's an active H. pylori infection. Stomach tissues were also analyzed for signs of damage, the presence of inflammatory substance called cytokines, and for signs of cancerous cells.

The results? Six weeks after infection, the mice had increased levels of three kinds of cytokines that all play an important role in the stomach's attempt to protect against the damaging effects of an H. pylori infection. In addition, by the 20th week, the researchers found that the H. pylori-infected animals that were fed the L-glutamine diet had far lower levels of inflammation than the mice eating the standard control diet.

"Because many of the stomach pathologies during H. pylori infection (including cancer progression) are linked to high levels of inflammation, this result provides us with preliminary evidence that glutamine supplementation may be an alternative therapy for reducing the severity of infection," Dr. Hagen said in the statement to the media.

"H. pylori bacteria infect more than half of the world's population and were recently identified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization," she stated. "Approximately 5.5 percent of the entire global cancer burden is attributed to H. pylori infection and, worldwide, over 900,000 new cases of gastric cancer develop each year. The possibility that an inexpensive, easy-to-use treatment could be used to modify the damaging effects of H. pylori infection warrants further study in clinical trials."
http://www.naturalnews.com/026318.html

Mystery Of Potentially Fatal Reaction To Smallpox Vaccine Solved

ScienceDaily (May 25, 2009) — Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have pinpointed the cellular defect that increases the likelihood, among eczema sufferers, of developing eczema vaccinatum, a severe and potentially fatal reaction to the smallpox vaccine. The research, conducted in mouse models, was funded under a special research network created by the National Institutes of Health in 2004. The network is working toward the development of a new smallpox vaccine that could be administered to the millions of Americans who suffer from atopic dermatitis, a chronic, itchy skin condition commonly referred to as eczema.
The La Jolla Institute's Toshiaki and Yuko Kawakami, M.D.s, Ph.D.s., a husband and wife scientific team, led the research group which found that activity levels of Natural Killer (NK) cells played a pivotal role in the development of eczema vaccinatum in the mice. The activity of the NK cells, which are disease fighting cells of the immune system, was significantly lower in the mice that developed eczema vaccinatum than in normal mice that also received the smallpox vaccine. This knowledge opens the door to one day developing therapies that could potentially boost NK cell activity in eczema sufferers.
"Since atopic dermatitis affects as many as 17 percent of children in the U. S. and since eczema vaccinatum carries a fatality rate of 5-10 percent, therapies that prevent or treat eczema vaccinatum successfully are crucial should the need for mass vaccination against smallpox arise in response to bioterrorism," said Harvard pediatrics professor Raif S. Geha, M.D., chief of immunology at Boston Children's Hospital and a principal investigator in the NIH funded network investigating eczema vaccinatum. "The discovery of the Kawakami team, who are participants in the NIH network, is an important step towards this goal."
People with active atopic dermatitis (eczema), or who have outgrown atopic dermatitis, and the people they live with currently cannot receive smallpox vaccinations because of the risk of eczema vaccinatum. While uncommon, eczema vaccinatum can develop when atopic dermatitis patients are given the smallpox vaccine or come into close personal contact with people who recently received the vaccine. It is estimated that a significant portion of the U.S. population is currently not eligible for smallpox vaccination.
"This discovery answers an important question that has long eluded the scientific community, "why people with atopic dermatitis were susceptible to developing eczema vaccinatum upon receiving the smallpox vaccine, while the general population was not," said Mitchell Kronenberg, the La Jolla Institute's president & scientific director. "It marks a significant advance toward the goal of ensuring that everyone can one day be protected against the smallpox virus."
The finding was published today in the online version of the Journal of Experimental Medicine in a paper entitled, "Inhibition of NK cell activity by IL-17 allows vaccinia virus to induce severe skin lesions in a mouse model of eczema vaccinatum." La Jolla Institute scientist Shane Crotty, Ph.D., also contributed to the study.
Regarded as the deadliest disease ever known to man, smallpox was officially eradicated worldwide in 1980 and routine vaccinations against the disease ended in the U.S in 1972. However, bioterrorism concerns have arisen over recent years regarding the deliberate distribution of the smallpox virus, which might make smallpox vaccinations once again necessary. Such concerns led to the creation of the Atopic Dermatitis and Vaccinia Network (ADVN), a consortium of medical and research institutions nationwide developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. The network, which provided grant funding for the Kawakami's studies under NIH contact N01-AI40030C, was launched in 2004 with the goal of developing a new smallpox vaccine that would be safe for atopic dermatitis sufferers. It includes three consortiums, involving data, clinical testing and animal studies, of which Drs. Kawakami and the La Jolla Institute are members.
The Animal Studies Consortium was created to establish animal models of atopic dermatitis and investigate their immune responses to vaccinia — the virus used in smallpox vaccine. Drs. Kawakami were invited to join the consortium due to their creation of a new, more effective atopic dermatitis mouse model in 2004.
In their study, Drs. Kawakami showed that eczema-infected mice had higher levels of IL-17 cells, which are known to inhibit NK cell activity. "This higher level of IL-17 cells slowed down the ability of the NK cells to kill the vaccinia virus," said Yuko Kawakami, noting people with atopic dermatitis are also known to have higher numbers of IL-17 producing cells. "This led to the development of eczema vaccinatum when these mice received the smallpox vaccine."
Drs. Kawakami tested their theory by stimulating more NK cell activity in the eczema-infected mice. The higher activity led to the elimination of the eczema vaccinatum infection. "We are very excited by these findings, " said Toshiaki Kawakami. "Developing a safer smallpox vaccine is the most important thing in this field."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090525105433.htm

People By Nature Are Universally Optimistic, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (May 25, 2009) — Despite calamities from economic recessions, wars and famine to a flu epidemic afflicting the Earth, a new study from the University of Kansas and Gallup indicates that humans are by nature optimistic.
The study, to be presented May 24, 2009, at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science in San Francisco, found optimism to be universal and borderless.
Data from the Gallup World Poll drove the findings, with adults in more than 140 countries providing a representative sample of 95 percent of the world's population. The sample included more than 150,000 adults.
Eighty-nine percent of individuals worldwide expect the next five years to be as good or better than their current life, and 95 percent of individuals expected their life in five years to be as good or better than their life was five years ago.
"These results provide compelling evidence that optimism is a universal phenomenon," said Matthew Gallagher, a psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas and lead researcher of the study.
At the country level, optimism is highest in Ireland, Brazil, Denmark, and New Zealand and lowest in Zimbabwe, Egypt, Haiti and Bulgaria. The United States ranks number 10 on the list of optimistic countries.
Demographic factors (age and household income) appear to have only modest effects on individual levels of optimism.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090524122539.htm

Ultraviolet LEDs Create Darker, Redder Lettuce Richer In Antioxidants

ScienceDaily (May 25, 2009) — Salad dressing aside, a pile of spinach has more nutritional value than a wedge of iceberg lettuce. That's because darker colors in leafy vegetables are often signs of antioxidants that are thought to have a variety of health benefits. Now a team of plant physiologists has developed a way to make lettuce darker and redder—and therefore healthier—using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Steven Britz of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Md., and colleagues will present the research at the 2009 Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC), which takes place May 31 to June 5 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The dark red tinges on a leaf of red leaf lettuce are the plant kingdom's equivalent of suntan lotion. When bombarded with ultraviolet rays from the sun, the lettuce leaf creates UV-absorbing polyphenolic compounds in its outer layer of cells. Some of these compounds are red and belong to the same family that gives color to berries and apple skin. They help block ultraviolet radiation, which can mutate plant DNA and damage the photosynthesis that allows a plant to make its food.
Polyphenolic compounds,which include flavonoids like quercetin and cyanidin, are also powerful antioxidants. Diets rich in antioxidants are thought to provide a variety of health benefits to human beings, from improving brain function to slowing the wear and tear of aging.
To create red leaf lettuce plants enriched with these compounds, Britz purchased low-power LEDs that shine with UVB light, a component of natural sunlight. In small quantities, this ultraviolet light allows humans to produce vitamin D, which has been cited for its health benefits. Britz exposed the plants to levels of UVB light comparable to those that a beach goer would feel on a sunny day, approximately 10 milliwatts per square meter.
After 43 hours of exposure to UVB light, the growing lettuce plants were noticeably redder than other plants that only saw white light. Though the team has yet to quantify this effect, it appears to increase as the intensity of the light increases. The effect also seems to be particularly sensitive to the wavelength used – peaking at 282 and 296 nanometers, and absent for longer wavelength UV. "We've been pleasantly surprised to see how effective the LEDs are, and are now testing how much exposure is required, and whether the light should be pulsed or continuous," says Britz.
To cut transportation costs and feed the market in the wintertime, more produce is grown in greenhouses. Crops grown in the winter in northern climes receive very little UVB to begin with, and plants in greenhouses are further shielded from UVB by the glass walls. Ultraviolet LEDs could provide a way to replace and enhance this part of the electromagnetic spectrum to produce darker, more colorful lettuces.
Britz also discussed the potential for using UV LEDs to preserve nutrients in vegetables that have already been harvested. Previous experiments have shown that the peel of a picked apple stays redder for a longer period of time when exposed to ultraviolet light. UVB LEDs are a promising technology for irradiating vegetables stored at low temperatures to maintain or even boost the amount of phytonutrients they contain.
Presentation PTuA3, "Shedding light on nutrition," Steven Britz, June 2.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518172659.htm

Novel Herbal Therapy For Men At High Risk Of Prostate Cancer Well-Tolerated In Phase I Trial

ScienceDaily (May 25, 2009) — Results of a phase I clinical trial of a novel herb-based therapeutic called Zyflamend have demonstrated that the therapy is associated with minimal toxicity and no serious adverse events in men at high-risk for developing prostate cancer.
The new findings, led by researchers from the Center for Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, are published in the current issue of the Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology.
In the study, 23 men ages 40-75 years-old who were diagnosed with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) at biopsy, lesions that indicate an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, were admitted into this prospective clinical trial, in order to determine the safety and tolerability of Zyflamend when administered orally for 18-months, either alone or along with various dietary supplements.
"Since we know that men with HGPIN have an increased risk for developing prostate cancer, new strategies formulated to decrease cancer risk, prevent or delay surgery, and improve quality of life, will be greatly beneficial for these men," said Aaron E. Katz, M.D., senior author of the study. He is associate professor of urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, director of the Center of Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center and a urologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.
Basic science studies have indicated that Zyflamend may have an anti-inflammatory mechanism of action and the agent has been shown to decrease prostate cancer proliferation in cell culture.
"Our results confirm that Zyflamend, in a dose of three times daily for up to 18-months, was well tolerated," said Jillian L. Capodice, M.S., director of the Acupuncture Research and Integrative Clinical Service of the Department of Urology's Center for Holistic Urology, at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Prostate cancer is a cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum). Prostate cancer usually occurs in older men. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2009 there will be 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed and 27,360 deaths attributed to prostate cancer in the United States.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090522154508.htm

Triglycerides Implicated In Diabetes Nerve Loss

ScienceDaily (May 23, 2009) — A common blood test for triglycerides – a well-known cardiovascular disease risk factor – may also for the first time allow doctors to predict which patients with diabetes are more likely to develop the serious, common complication of neuropathy.
In a study now online in the journal Diabetes, University of Michigan and Wayne State University researchers analyzed data from 427 diabetes patients with neuropathy, a condition in which nerves are damaged or lost with resulting numbness, tingling and pain, often in the hands, arms, legs and feet. The data revealed that if a patient had elevated triglycerides, he or she was significantly more likely to experience worsening neuropathy over a period of one year. Other factors, such as higher levels of other fats in the blood or of blood glucose, did not turn out to be significant. The study will appear in print in the journal's July issue.
"In our study, elevated serum triglycerides were the most accurate at predicting nerve fiber loss, compared to all other measures," says Kelli A. Sullivan, Ph.D., co-first author of the study and an assistant research professor in neurology at the U-M Medical School.
"These results set the stage for clinicians to be able to address lowering lipid counts with their diabetes patients with neuropathy as vigilantly as they pursue glucose control," says Eva L. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., senior author of the study and the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology at the U-M Medical School.
With a readily available predictor for nerve damage – triglycerides are measured as part of routine blood testing – doctors and patients can take pro-active steps when interventions can do some good, says Feldman.
"Aggressive treatment can be very beneficial to patients in terms of their neuropathy," says Feldman, who is also director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute and director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Center at U-M for the study of complications in diabetes.
People can reduce blood triglyceride levels with the same measures that reduce cholesterol levels: by avoiding harmful fats in the diet and exercising regularly.
Context
Diabetic neuropathy affects around 60 percent of the 23 million people in the United States who have diabetes. It is a complication in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Until now, doctors have lacked an effective way to predict which diabetes patients are at greatest risk of neuropathy. Most often, the condition becomes evident when irreversible nerve damage has already occurred. Neuropathy is the leading cause of diabetes-related hospital admissions and amputations that are not secondary to trauma.
Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, that the body makes from calories it doesn't need immediately. Triglycerides are stored in fat cells until they are needed to provide energy. When higher-than-normal amounts circulate in the blood, a person is at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research implications
The new finding adds to an emerging picture of the close connections between cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Elevated triglycerides are one of the most common features of the lipid disorders found in patients with type 2 diabetes, by far the most common form of diabetes, says Rodica Pop-Busui, M.D., Ph.D., one of the study's authors and an assistant professor in the metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes division of the Department of Internal Medicine at the U-M Medical School.
"Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of excess mortality among patients with diabetes. Research also has shown that the presence of neuropathy is an important predictor of these deaths," says Pop-Busui.
"Our findings in this study reinforce the tight links between cardiovascular disease and peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes. We demonstrated that the same lipid particles that contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis are also very important players in peripheral nerve fiber loss."
In addition, the study confirms a growing belief among some diabetes researchers that elevated blood levels of certain lipids, rather than solely elevated blood sugar, are key in the progression of diabetic neuropathy. The study pinpoints triglycerides as the critical indicator.
Research details
The researchers examined data from a previous clinical trial of a drug that showed promise for relieving neuropathy. They looked at data from 427 participants who had mild to moderate diabetic neuropathy at the beginning of the one-year trial. Among other factors, the trial measured myelinated fiber density in a peripheral nerve in the leg in participants over the course of the year. A decline in this density is a prime indicator that neuropathy is worsening.
The new findings from U-M are an example of how medical science often looks for one thing and doesn't find it—the drug trial found that a promising agent turned out to be ineffective for treating neuropathy—but the data can yield unexpected, useful knowledge about something else.
Realizing the trial data held potential clues, the U-M team selected trial participants who had similar characteristics regarding nerve function at the beginning of the study but significantly lower myelinated fiber densities at the end. They used microarray technology not available 15 years ago, when the data was collected.
"We then compared all of the other data concerning lipids and blood glucose. We found that out of all the data collected on these patients, elevated triglycerides were the factor that differed the most, when we compared the patients who lost nerve fibers with those who didn't," says Sullivan.
Elevated triglycerides correlated with the nerve fiber loss independent of disease duration, age, diabetes control or other variables.
Other U-M authors include Timothy D. Wiggin, M.S., co-first author; non U-M authors are Anders Sima, M.D., professor of pathology and neurology at Wayne State University Medical School, and Antonino Amato, M.D., from Sigma-Tau Research.
Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Center for the Study of Complic
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518161156.htm

Is Organic Overrated?

ScienceDaily (May 23, 2009) — Just a few short years ago, if you wanted to buy organic food, you had to make a special trip to an out-of-the-way grocery store. Today, organic products are, well, cropping up all over the place. Are they really worth the higher price or is it just another marketing maneuver?
What Is Organic?
First, let’s take a look at what exactly it means to be organic.
“Organic foods are grown without the use of chemical fertilizer or pesticides and have not been processed using irradiation or added hormones,” says Ashley Mullins, R.D., L.D., CNSC, a registered dietitian at Baylor All Saints Medical Center. “As with any product, it’s important to check the label to determine exactly what you’re getting.”
Products labeled “100 percent organic” must contain only organic ingredients with the exception of water and salt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Products labeled “organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. Products that are made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients are allowed to be labeled “made with organic ingredients.”
The Bottom Line
While organic food can cost up to two or three times that of regular foods, it may not be any better for you, Mullins says.
“From a nutrition standpoint, there isn’t enough research to show that organic foods are more nutritious than regular foods. The levels of pesticides currently used haven’t been found to be harmful,” she says. “Of course, there may be other benefits to buying organic, such as it being more environmentally friendly and, in some cases, fresher.”
It really comes down to personal preference and budget, adds Mullins. Whatever you do, don’t let your choice inhibit your ability to get the nutrients you need. “The most important thing to consider is the health benefit of consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables every day—whether or not they’re organic,” says Mullins. “That’s the biggest payoff.”
When It May Be Worth It
Want to buy organic, but don’t have it in your budget to do it across the board? Consider at least opting for organic when buying these fruits and vegetables, as they’re considered the top 10 worst offenders for pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group:

• Apples
• Celery
• Cherries
• Grapes (imported)
• Lettuce
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries
• Sweet bell peppers

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521200017.htm

Opposites attract in human search for mate
Last Updated: 2009-05-25 12:02:35 -0400 (Reuters Health)
LONDON (Reuters) - When it comes to choosing a mate, opposites really do attract, according to a Brazilian study that found people are subconsciously more likely to choose a partner whose genetic make-up is different to their own.
They found evidence that married couples are more likely to have genetic differences in a DNA region governing the immune system than were randomly matched pairs.
This was likely to be an evolutionary strategy to ensure healthy reproduction because genetic variability is an advantage for offspring, Maria da Graca Bicalho and her colleagues at the University of Parana in Brazil reported.
"Although it may be tempting to think that humans choose their partners because of their similarities, our research has shown clearly that it is differences that make for successful reproduction, and that the subconscious drive to have healthy children is important when choosing a mate," Bicalho said in a statement.
Scientists said it was not clear what signals attract the body to people who are genetically dissimilar to themselves, but suggested body odor or even face structure could play a role.
Many researchers have found evidence than animals are attracted to members of the opposite sex with differences in major histocompatibility complex or MHC, an immune system factor that also plays a role in having healthy offspring.
Bicalho, who will present her findings at a conference of the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna on Monday, said the team compared genetic data from 90 married couples with data from 152 randomly generated control couples.
They found the real couples had significantly more dissimilarities in MHC.
"Parents with dissimilar (genetic regions) could provide their offspring with a better chance to ward infections off because their immune system genes are more diverse," they wrote in a summary prepared for the meeting.
"If MHC genes did not influence mate selection we would have expected to see similar results from both sets of couples. But we found that the real partners had significantly more MHC dissimilarities than we could have expected to find simply by chance," Bicalho said.
"Our research has shown clearly that it is differences that make for successful reproduction, and that the subconscious drive to have healthy children is important when choosing a mate," she added.
Previous studies have suggested animals may use body odor as a guide to identify possible mates as being genetically similar or dissimilar, she added, but other physical factors may also be involved.