- - European weblog on food, health and environment
News - week 6 - 2008
Impaired fat-burning gene worsens
diabetes
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have
in collaboration with researchers from Finland, China, Japan and the US discovered new
cellular mechanisms that lead to in insulin resistance in people with diabetes. The
results are published in the scientific journal Cell. Type 2-diabetes is a chronic disease
resulting from a reduction in insulin-production from the pancreas or an inability of
other tissues in the body to respond adequately to the produced insulin, so called insulin
resistance. This leads to increased blood sugar, which in turn leads to a worsening of the
insulin resistance, increasing the risk of developing many serious diabetes-associated
complications.
First documented case of pest
resistance to biotech cotton
A pest insect known as bollworm, or
Helicoverpa zea, is the first to evolve resistance in the field to plants modified to
produce an insecticide called Bt, according to a new research report. University of
Arizona entomologists discovered the existence of Bt-resistant populations of bollworm in
Mississippi and Arkansas by analyzing published data from monitoring studies of six major
caterpillar pests of Bt crops in Australia, China, Spain and the US.
VEGF-B helps nerve cells cheat
death without unwanted side effects
The prototypical member of the VEGF family
of proteins, VEGF, protects cells in the nervous system from death and degeneration.
However, its clinical utility in this regard is limited, because it also induces blood
vessel growth, a process known as angiogenesis. However, a new study has revealed that
another VEGF family member, VEGF-B, does not have such limitations as it acts as a potent
inhibitor of murine retinal cell death while exerting minimal angiogenic effects.
Control of inflammation by the
innate immune system
Inflammation is a rapid yet coordinated
response that can lead to the destruction of microbes and host tissue. Triggers capable of
inducing an inflammatory response include tissue damage and infection by pathogenic and
nonpathogenic microbes. Each of these triggers represents a qualitatively distinct stress
to the host immune system, yet our understanding of whether they are interpreted as such
remains poor. Accumulating evidence suggests that recognition of these distinct stimuli
converges on many of the same receptors of the innate immune system. Here I provide an
overview of these innate receptors and suggest that the innate immune system can interpret
the context of an inflammatory trigger and direct inflammation accordingly.
Natural secretion marks difference
between mole and melanoma
A protein naturally produced and secreted
by the body can make the difference between your average mole and melanoma, which killed
more than 8,000 people in the United States last year, reveals a new study in the Feb. 8
issue of the journal Cell.
Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) scientists
have found another important clue to why nerve cells die in neurodegenerative diseases,
based on studies of the developing brain.
New study suggests link between
environmental toxins and early onset puberty in girls
Certain environmental toxins, such as the
mycoestrogen zearalenone produced by the Fusarium fungus species, can be found naturally
in the environment, have properties similar to the female reproductive hormone estrogen,
and are also structurally similar to anabolic growth agents used in animal breeding. A new
study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics suggests that certain
mycoestrogens may be directly linked to the early onset of sexual development in young
girls.
Treating acne - 2 different acid
peels are both effective, study finds
Chemical peels using either alpha-hydroxy
acid or beta-hydroxy acid are both highly effective in treating mild to moderately severe
facial acne, researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine have found --
the first study to compare the two different types of acid peels as therapies for the skin
disorder.
Europe's most common genetic
disease is a liver disorder
The exact origin of the genetic iron
overload disorder hereditary hemochromatosis has remained elusive. In a joint effort,
researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of
Heidelberg, Germany, have now discovered that HH is a liver disease.
Poor recognition of 'self' found in
high functioning people with autism
Contrary to popular notions, people at the
high end of the autism spectrum disorder continuum suffer most from an inability to model
"self" rather than impaired ability to respond to others, said Baylor College of
Medicine researchers in a report that appear in the journal Neuron. This inability to
model "self" can disrupt an individual's ability to understand the world as a
whole, said Dr. P. Read Montague Jr., professor of neuroscience, and director of the Human
Neuroimaging Lab and the Computational Psychiatry Unit at BCM. "It's an interesting
disconnect."
Researchers have pinpointed subtle deficits
in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder that they say could aid more precise
diagnoses and perhaps improve treatment of ASD.
Button mushrooms contain as much
anti-oxidants as expensive ones
The humble white button mushroom (Agaricus
bisporus) has as much, and in some cases, more anti-oxidant properties than more expensive
varieties. Although the button mushroom is the foremost cultivated edible mushroom in the
world with thousands of tonnes being eaten every year, it is often thought of as a poor
relation to its more exotic and expensive cousins and to have lesser value nutritionally.
But according to new research in SCI’s Journal of the Science of Food and
Agriculture, the white button mushroom has as much anti-oxidant properties as its more
expensive rivals, the maitake and the matsutake mushrooms - both of which are highly
prized in Japanese cuisine for their reputed health properties including lowering blood
pressure and their alleged ability to fight cancer.
Did you know that good health starts with
proper digestion and good digestion relies on the right enzymes in the right amounts being
at the right place and time? Sounds complex? It is, and is just another example of how
intelligent our bodies really are. As we age we become more challenged by various forms of
stress, environmental pollution, chemicals, and our emotional issues. All of these deplete
our body’s natural ability to make enough enzymes to meet the demands of daily life.
The unfermented soy category is a most
problematic one. It includes soy products, such as tofu, bean curd, all soy milks, soy
infant formulae, soy protein powders and soy meat alternatives, such as soy
sausages/veggie burgers, made from hydrolysed soy powder
Fatal and Vital Foods - Popular
Nutrition Myths Exposed
I often get asked to write down some basic
rules of what to eat and what not to eat. There's a lot of information out there but it's
often fragmented and, even worse, contradictory. All I can do is give you my vision on
fatal and vital foods. I base this on nothing but common sense. Here goes.
Sleep Duration May Play Important
Role in Childhood Obesity
Less sleep can increase a child’s risk
of being overweight or obese, according to
a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health. Their analysis of epidemiological studies found that with each additional
hour of sleep, the risk of a child being overweight or obese dropped by 9
percent. The results are published in the February 2008 edition Obesity, the
journal of The Obesity Society. “Our analysis of the data shows a clear
association between sleep duration and the risk for overweight or obesity in
children.
The risk declined with more sleep,”
said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD,
senior author of the study and associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s
Center for Human Nutrition. “Desirable sleep behavior may be an important low
cost means for preventing childhood obesity and should be considered in future
intervention studies. Our findings may also have important implications in
societies where children do not have adequate sleep due to the pressure for
academic excellence and where the prevalence of obesity is rising, such as in
many East Asian countries.
” “The influence of sleep quality
on obesity risk is another important area where future research is needed,” added
Xiaoli Chen, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author and a former postdoctoral fellow at the
Bloomberg School. For the study, Wang, Chen and colleague May A. Beydoun, also a
postdoctoral fellow at the Bloomberg School, reviewed 17 published studies on sleep
duration and childhood obesity and they analyzed 11 of them in their meta-analysis. The
recommended amount of daily sleep varied between
studies analyzed and with children’s age.
Some research suggests that children under
age 5 should sleep for 11 hours or more per day, children age 5 to 10 should sleep for 10
hours or more per day, and children over age 10 should sleep at least 9 hours per day. The
Hopkins researchers used these suggestions for their analysis. The results of the analysis
showed that children with the
shortest sleep duration had a 92 percent higher risk of being overweight or
obese compared to children with longer sleep duration. For children under age
5, shortest sleep duration meant less than 9 hours of sleep per day. For children
ages 5 to 10 it meant less than 8 hours of sleep per day and less than 7 hours of
sleep per day for children over 10. The association between increased sleep and
reduced obesity risk was strongly associated with boys, but not in girls. “Is Sleep
Duration Associated with Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis” was written by Xiaoli Chen, May A. Beydoun and Youfa Wang.
The study was supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Study Warns of Chemicals in Baby Items
Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may
expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems, a
small study suggests.
The chemicals, called phthalates, are found in many ordinary products including cosmetics,
toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make
plastics flexible.
Magnesium Sulfate Cuts
Cerebral Palsy Risk in Premature Births
But fully 10 percent of women give birth
before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy. These pre-term infants are at higher risk for
many kinds of problems, including cerebral palsy, as Rose Hoban reports.
Diets with high amounts of whole grains may
help achieve significant weight loss, and also reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as
diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a team of Penn State researchers at
University Park and the College of Medicine.
http://live.psu.edu/story/28577
Drug fights cystic fibrosis
An experimental drug, PTC124, has proven
effective in treating cystic fibrosis in mice, according to a new study. The University of
Alabama at Birmingham report adds to a 2007 study on this compound fighting muscular
dystrophy, and possibly many hundreds of genetic diseases, the study authors said.
http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=116365
RNA-associated introns guide
nerve-cell channel production
Researchers have discovered that introns,
or junk DNA to some, associated with RNA are an important molecular guide to making
nerve-cell electrical channels. They hope to relate this knowledge to understanding the
molecular underpinnings of memory and learning, as well as components of cognitive
dysfunction resulting from neurological disease.
Chemical chaperone could
open door to treatment of neurological disorder
An unexpected finding turned out to be a
clue leading researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to
propose a new treatment approach for Niemann-Pick disease, a rare, deadly
neurodegenerative disorder. They believe the approach also could be useful for more common
diseases -- such as cystic fibrosis -- that stem from a similar type of defect.
Research shows a daily does
of beetroot juice can beat high blood pressure
Researchers have discovered that drinking
just 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The findings
could have major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Could a simple vitamin A and zinc
supplement help protect young children from malaria? A randomized double blind trial
reported in the open access publication, Nutrition Journal, would suggest the answer is
yes.
Bug guts map brings
scientists closer to understanding different bugs' role in the body
Scientists have made a major step towards
understanding precisely which bugs in the gut are involved in which processes in the body,
by mapping the different species of bugs living in seven members of the same Chinese
family. Bugs in the gut are known as gut microbes and trillions live symbiotically inside
the human body. Different people can have very different populations of gut microbes
living inside them. The makeup of each person’s gut microflora influences their
health, and abnormalities in gut microbes have been linked to diseases such as diabetes
and obesity. Research has already shown that the makeup of an individual's gut microbes is
can be changed by their diet and other environmental factors. Scientists are hopeful that
many diseases could be tackled by creating drugs that target different gut bugs and
correct abnormalities in them.
Chemical signature of manic
depression discovered by scientists
People with manic depression have a
distinct chemical signature in their brains, according to a new study. The research,
published today in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, may also indicate how the mood
stabilisers used to treat the disorder counteract the changes in the brain that it appears
to cause.
Disrupted genetic regulation
causes common disturbance in metabolism of fat
The disease familial combined
hyperlipidemia is a common cause of disturbed metabolism of fat and early heart attacks.
Swedish scientists have now developed a pioneering method and can show for the first time
what genes are regulated by the gene USF1, which is known to cause the disease.
People with unrelenting pain are often
depressed, anxious and have difficulty making simple decisions. Northwestern University
researchers have identified a clue that may explain how suffering long-term pain could
trigger these other pain-related symptoms. Researchers found that in people with chronic
pain, a front region of the cortex associated with emotion fails to deactivate when it
should. It's stuck on full throttle, wearing out neurons and altering their connections.
Researchers identify a
worldwide-distributed clone of bacteria responsible for Legionnaire's disease
A study published online today in Genome
Research describes new insights into Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria responsible for
most cases of Legionnaires' disease. This report investigates the genetic background of L.
pneumophila, provides clues to the evolution and emergence of this pathogen, and describes
the identification of a worldwide-distributed epidemic clone.
Obesity may be wired in the
brain, rat study suggests
A predisposition for obesity might be wired
into the brain from the start, suggests a new study of rats in the February issue of Cell
Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. Rats selectively bred to be prone to obesity show
abnormalities in a part of the brain critical for appetite control, the researchers found.
Specifically, the researchers show that the obese rats harbor defects in neurons of the
arcuate nucleus (ARH) of the hypothalamus, which leaves their brains less responsive to
the hunger-suppressing hormone leptin. “The neurodevelopmental differences in these
animals can be seen as early as the first week,” said Sebastien Bouret of the
University of Southern California. “The results show that obesity can be wired into
the brain from early life. The three-million-dollar question now is how to get around this
problem.”
MSU researchers make new
discoveries on what does and doesn't affect immune system
Scientists know that a number of factors
can affect the body's immune system: poor diet, certain steroids, chronic stress. Now
researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that an appetite-controlling
hormone also affects the immune system, while natural versions of certain steroids do not.
Vet medicine researcher
examines link between cancer, Down syndrome
There's new hope for breast cancer
research, and it's coming from a very unlikely place. Researchers at the Texas A&M
University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences recently published
articles in the journals Molecular and Cellular Biology and Carcinogenesis indicating that
a protein long suspected to play a role in Down Syndrome may also contribute to treating
this devastating disease.
Grapefruit compound may help
combat hepatitis C infection
A compound that naturally occurs in
grapefruit and other citrus fruits may be able to block the secretion of hepatitis C virus
from infected cells, a process required to maintain chronic infection. A team of
researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Engineering in Medicine
report that the viral secretion required to pass on infection may be blocked by the common
flavonoid naringenin.
Researchers uncover key
interaction in cholesterol regulation
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical
Center have determined the specific way in which a destructive protein binds to and
interferes with a molecule that removes low-density lipoproteins, the so-called
"bad" cholesterol, from the blood.
Gene protects adults abused
as children from depression
Some forms of a gene that controls the
body's response to stress hormones appear to protect adults who were abused in childhood
from depression, psychiatrists have found. People who had been abused as children and who
carried the most protective forms of the gene, called corticotropin-releasing hormone
receptor one, had markedly lower measures of depression, compared with people with less
protective forms.
Folate deficiency associated
with tripling of dementia risk
Folate deficiency is associated with a
tripling in the risk of developing dementia among elderly people, suggests research
published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
For treating advanced
Parkinson's, new research points to serotonin
Studies in a mouse model of Parkinson's
disease show that side effects caused by repeated use of the drug L-DOPA can be minimized
by blocking the serotonin 1B receptor. The finding, reported by researchers at Rockefeller
University and the Karolinska Institute, suggests that targeting the 1B receptor may
provide an alternative approach for treating advanced Parkinson's disease.
Targeting astrocytes slows
disease progression in ALS
In what the researchers say could be
promising news in the quest to find a therapy to slow the progression of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, scientists at the University of California,
San Diego School of Medicine have shown that targeting neuronal support cells called
astrocytes sharply slows disease progression in mice.
Eye blinks may help to
identify children prenatally exposed to alcohol
Not all children prenatally exposed to
alcohol show distinctive facial anomalies usually associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.
New findings indicate that deficits in eyeblink conditioning can identify children with
probable FAS. EBC may also serve to identify alcohol-exposed children who lack distinctive
FAS features.
Video - Ron
Paul Explains the Facts to a Foolish Reporter
Waste water treatment: Commission
gives France final warning
The European Commission is sending France a
final written warning alerting it that it will be taken to the European Court of Justice
(ECJ) for the second time and possibly face fines unless it quickly brings its waste water
treatment up to EU standards. France is still not complying with the 1991 EU directive on
urban waste water treatment, despite having been condemned by the ECJ for this.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "Untreated urban waste water is a threat
to European citizens and detrimental to the environmental quality of Europe's rivers,
lakes and coastal waters. I urge France to act swiftly otherwise the Commission will
consider asking the Court to impose fines."
The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
Larger towns and cities across the European
Union are required to collect and treat their urban waste water under the EU Urban
Wastewater Treatment Directive.[1] Untreated waste water can be contaminated with harmful
bacteria and viruses and thus present a risk to public health. It also contains nutrients
such as nitrogen and phosphorous which can damage freshwaters and the marine environment
by promoting excessive growth of algae that chokes off other life, a process known as
eutrophication. The main type of waste water treatment envisaged by the directive is
biological or 'secondary' treatment. The deadline for this infrastructure to be
operational was 31 December 2000. If waste water is discharged into ‘sensitive’
water bodies, the directive requires stricter 'tertiary' treatment, involving removal of
phosphorous and/or nitrogen. This should have been in place by 31 December 1998.
Final warning for France
The Commission is sending France a final
warning for failing to comply with a 2004 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on the
treatment of urban waste water in certain sensitive areas. Under the ruling, the ECJ
condemned France for failing to designate eleven areas as sensitive and for inadequate
treatment facilities in a number of settlements[2] which discharge their waste waters into
these areas. The ECJ also found that 121 settlements breached the directive by discharging
their waste waters into previously designated sensitive areas.
In 2006 France designated the eleven areas
as sensitive. However, 140 settlements – including the city of Paris – continue
to discharge into these sensitive areas. With regard to the 121 settlements discharging
into the previously designated sensitive areas France proceeded to rearrange them into 164
settlements, resulting in some settlements no longer meeting the threshold level of 10,000
residents at which the directive applies. The Commission considers such rearranging of
settlements to avoid compliance with the directive unacceptable and calls on France to
implement the directive in all settlements covered by the ECJ ruling.
In May 2007 France notified the Commission
of the settlements' status and its agenda for complying with the ruling. It appears that
some remaining settlements will not be equipped with waste water treatment facilities
before 2011, some seven years after the ECJ court ruling and 12 years after the deadline
set by the directive. The Commission finds this delay deplorable and urges France to build
waste water treatment facilities in all concerned settlements as soon as possible. Should
France not respond satisfactorily to its warning, the Commission may ask the Court to
impose fines on France.
Legal Process
Article 226 of the Treaty gives the
Commission powers to take legal action against a Member State that is not respecting its
obligations.
If the Commission considers that there may
be an infringement of EU law that warrants the opening of an infringement procedure, it
addresses a "Letter of Formal Notice" (first written warning) to the Member
State concerned, requesting it to submit its observations by a specified date, usually two
months. In the light of the reply or absence of a reply from the Member State concerned,
the Commission may decide to address a "Reasoned Opinion" (final written
warning) to the Member State. This clearly and definitively sets out the reasons why it
considers there to have been an infringement of EU law, and calls upon the Member State to
comply within a specified period, usually two months. If the Member State fails to comply
with the Reasoned Opinion, the Commission may decide to bring the case before the Court of
Justice. Where the Court of Justice finds that the Treaty has been infringed, the
offending Member State is required to take the measures necessary to conform.
Article 228 of the Treaty gives the
Commission power to act against a Member State that does not comply with a previous
judgement of the European Court of Justice. The article also allows the Commission to ask
the Court to impose a financial penalty on the Member State concerned. For current
statistics on infringements in general see:
Video - USA Slaughterhouse animal
cruelty. When enough is enough?
Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. Slaughterhouse
Video Raises Abuse Questions; USDA to Investigate. A Southern California meat-packing
company was barred from supplying school lunch and other programs Wednesday while federal
investigators look into videotapes that showed workers mistreating sick dairy cows. Aired
on January 30, 2008
UC Davis Researchers Identify Gene
Expression Profile Distinctions in Children with Autism
A group of genes with known links to
natural-killer cells - the first to attack viruses, bacteria and malignancies - are
expressed at high levels in the blood of children with autism when compared to children
without the disorder, according to a new study from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute.
Researchers also found gene expression distinctions in children with early onset and
regressive forms of the disorder. The outcomes, published in the January issue of
Genomics, offer hope that gene expression analyses can provide biological evidence of
autism, currently diagnosed only through behavioral assessments, in some children.
Researchers Investigate Links Between Prostate, Cadmium, Zinc
Cadmium exposure is a known risk factor for
prostate cancer, and a new University of Rochester study suggests that zinc may offer
protection against
cadmium.
Allergieën voor schimmels uit woningen
zijn divers. Hoewel astma aan Alternaria alternata en aan hiermee verwante Dematiae
(Ulocladium, Epicoccum) vooral bij kinderen de meest voorkomende allergische aandoening
is, werden een hele reeks andere schimmels duidelijk geassocieerd met tal van rhinitis- en
astmagevallen.
Anti-parasite drug may provide new way to attack HIV
A drug already used to treat parasitic
infections, and once looked at for cancer, also attacks the human immunodeficiency virus
in a new and powerful way, according to research published today online in the open access
journal Retrovirology.
Researchers uncover more about how poxviruses evade the immune system
Scientists at St. Louis University and the
University of Alabama at Birmingham have uncovered important new information about a key
protein that allows viruses such as smallpox to replicate and wreak havoc on the immune
system.
In the first study to use imaging
technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers at Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so
relieving - and why it can be hard to stop. The work is reported online in the Journal of
Investigative Dermatology and will appear in a future print issue. “Our study shows
for the first time how scratching may relieve itch,” said lead author Gil
Yosipovitch, M.D., a dermatologist who specializes in itch. “It’s important to
understand the mechanism of relief so we can develop more effective treatments. For some
people, itch is a chronic condition that affects overall health.” The study involved
13 healthy participants who underwent testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) technology that highlights areas of the brain activated during an activity.
Participants were scratched on the lower leg with a small brush. The scratching went on
for 30 seconds and was then stopped for 30 seconds - for a total of about five minutes.
U of M researchers discover a pathway to turn off immune system cells
University of Minnesota researchers have
discovered a new way to turn genes off in human T cells, a type of white blood cell that
helps the immune system fight infections. Turning off genes, through a process known as
mRNA decay, is important for regulating the body's immune response after fighting
infection. This research could lead to development of new drugs that turn off the immune
system in patients with autoimmune diseases -- such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Allergic disease linked to irritable bowel syndrome
Adults with allergy symptoms report a high
incidence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, suggesting a link between atopic disorders and IBS
according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology,
the scientific journal of the American Collegeof Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Gene Predicts Heart Attack Response and Cardiac Damage
A protein has been found that influences
the response of the heart to a lack of oxygen and blood flow, such as occurs during a
heart attack, a team of Yale School of Medicine researchers report today in Nature.
This finding may present a new therapeutic approach to treating loss of blood flow and
oxygen to the heart.
Accelerated head growth can predict autism before behavioral symptoms start
Children with autism have normal-size heads
at birth but develop accelerated head growth between six and nine months of age, a period
that precedes the onset of many behaviors that enable physicians to diagnose the
developmental disorder, according to new research from the University of Washington’s
Autism Center. The study also indicates that this aberrant growth is present in children
who have the early onset form of autism as well as those later diagnosed with the
regression type of the disorder, according to Sara Webb, who led the research.
Brain region that can be stimulated to reduce the cognitive deficits of sleep
deprivation identified
A Columbia University Medical Center
research team has uncovered how stimulation of a particular brain region can help stave
off the deficits in working memory, associated with an extended sleep deprivation.
As organic farming becomes more common,
methods to identify fraud in the industry are increasingly important. In a study published
in the Journal of Environmental Quality, scientists used nitrogen isotopic discrimination
to determine if non-organic fertilizers were used on sweet peppers.
Bone mineral content continues to increase in obese adolescents during weight
loss
Obese teenagers who succeeded in losing
weight in a year-long medically supervised weight control program also saw their bone
mineral content increase over that period, say researchers from The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia. The finding was reassuring, because adolescence is a critical period for
bone health in later life.
Smokers have a two-fold increased risk of
developing colorectal polyps, the suspected underlying cause of most colorectal cancers,
according to a study published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American
Gastroenterological Association Institute.
Structure of important neurotransmitter regulator determined
Researchers from Virginia Tech and the
Brookhaven National Laboratory have solved the structure of an enzyme that is critical in
the regulation of the neurotransmitter system in the human brain.
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute researcher studies how In silico modeling
helps predict severity of mitochondrial disease
A team of researchers in Australia, the
United Kingdom and the United States has revealed how mitochondrial diseases are passed
from the mother to the next generation in a mouse model system.
The study, which was published on-line in Nature Genetics*, shows for the first time how
mitochondrial diseases that cause muscle weakness, diabetes, stroke, heart failure and
epilepsy are passed from mother to offspring. Mitochondria are the “engines”
present in each cell that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the key energy currency
that drives metabolism. Mitochondria also have their own DNA (mitochondrial or mtDNA) that
encodes a small but essential number of proteins required for energy production in cells.
Mitochondria, and the mtDNA that they contain, are inherited solely from the mother, as
the paternal mtDNA present in the sperm are destroyed after the egg is fertilized. In
almost all diseases caused by mutant mtDNA, the patient’s cells will contain a
mixture of mutant and normal mtDNA. The proportion of mutant mtDNA in most cases
determines the severity of the disease.
New, noninvasive prostate cancer test beats PSA in detecting prostate cancer
An experimental biomarker test developed by
researchers at the University of Michigan more accurately detects prostate cancer than any
other screening method currently in use, according to a study published in the Feb. 1
issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
In the journal Diabetes a research team
from Umeå University and Stockholm University in Sweden presents findings that indicate
that elevated levels of blood sugar may have a negative impact on the memory function. It
was previously known that patients with diabetes run a higher risk of developing various
forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This increased risk may be caused
by a combination of the risk factors for cardiovascular disorders that this patient group
has, including high blood pressure, high blood fats, heightened inflammatory activity, and
high blood sugar. Previously it was not know whether blood sugar alone could have a
negative effect in people without diabetes, and it has also been unclear what part of the
brain might be the most sensitive to high blood sugar levels. By analyzing 411 healthy
people who took part in both Västerbotten Health Examinations and the Betula Project, the
research team has been able to established that elevated blood sugar levels probably
affect a specific part of the brain, the hippocampus, and especially in women. The
hippocampus is a part of the brain that stores memories, and it is often the first part of
the brain to be impacted with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The study provides
key information that can serve as a basis for further studies designed to examine how
elevated blood sugar can affect the memory.
The study also shows that elderly people in
the north of China suffer the most from these painful and chronic joint complaints
including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) in mainland China ranged from 0.2% to 0.37%, a prevalence similar to most Asian and
South American countries, but lower than that in Caucasians. “Interestingly, we found
that the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in urban and suburban parts of Taiwan was
closer to the Caucasians rate,” says Dr Qing Yu Zeng who led the study. “These
areas are more developed than mainland China. Apart from genetic factors, it looks as if
environmental and socio-economic factors might be important risk factors for RA.
That’s something we'd certainly like to investigate further.”
Relationships of low serum vitamin D3 with anthropometry and markers of the
metabolic syndrome and diabetes in overweight and obesity
Previously reviewed mechanisms include that
1) low vitamin D3, may impair insulin action, glucose metabolism and various other
metabolic processes in adipose and lean tissue 2) fat soluble-vitamin D3 is sequestered in
the large adipose compartment, and low in serum, 3) obese people may be sensitive about
their body shape, minimising their skin exposure to view and sunlight (not tested). We
showed evidence for the first theory but no evidence to support the second. In the current
study, serum vitamin D3 was inversely related to weight, BMI and markers of TIIDM (large
waist, raised HbA1c) but not to adipose mass nor to MetSyn per se.
Cosmetic products may cause fatal infections in critically ill patients
Healthy consumers can handle the low levels
of bacteria occasionally found in cosmetics. But for severely ill patients these bacteria
may trigger life-threatening infections, as patients in the intensive care unit at one
Barcelona hospital discovered after using contaminated body moisturiser. The Burkholderia
cepacia bacteria outbreak is detailed in the open access journal, Critical Care.
Cancer is not a Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism
What you are about to read may rock or even
dismantle the very foundation of your beliefs about your body, health and healing. The
title, "Cancer Is Not a Disease" may be unsettling for many, provocative to
some, but encouraging for all. This book will serve as a revelation for those who are
sufficiently open-minded to consider the possibility that cancer and other debilitating
illnesses are not actual diseases, but desperate and final attempts by the body to stay
alive for as long as circumstances permit.
The Dangers in Hair Coloring and Safer Alternatives
Many consumers are growing in their
watchfulness as to what goes in their bodies, but health can be as greatly impacted by
what goes on their bodies. We already realize that chemicals in cosmetics such as skin
creams can break through the skin barrier, but what about the chemicals in hair coloring?
In response to recent bad press about hair dyes, many have turned to semi-permanent
solutions. However, there is reason to question the safety in the substances used in these
products as well. If you are among the 50% of women who color their hair, or a man who
covers his gray, you might want to do more investigation into your favorite hair coloring.
WiFi and EM Radiation - The Rest of the Autism Story
Carlo developed a theory that low frequency
cell phone signals are harmful to cell function. This results in cells protecting
themselves by stopping movement of nutrients and waste products through the cellular
membrane. Inability to move wastes outside cells results in a buildup of toxins. This led
him to suspect a connection with the enormous increase in autism. His hypothesis suggests
that autistic children are less able to process heavy metals, so they remain in their
bodies (primarily the brain) and cause neurological damage, including autism.
FDA Threatened Celestial Tea Company over Use of Natural Sweetener Stevia
Consumer health advocate Mike Adams, a
long-time supporter of stevia, disagrees. "The FDA has been stalling on stevia
approval for well over a decade in order to protect the profits of aspartame," Adams
said. "Stevia is safely used around the world by hundreds of millions of consumers
with absolutely no problems, while aspartame is tied to seizures, blindness, headaches and
other serious neurological problems. The FDA once ordered the destruction of books
containing stevia recipes. That's how desperate this criminal organization is to protect
the profit racket of aspartame," Adams concluded.
Protein in Common Virus Linked to Aggressive Brain Tumors
A protein found in the common human virus
cytomegalovirus (CMV) appears to be a key factor in making brain tumors more aggressive
and faster spreading. That’s the finding of a new study in the journal Cancer
Research. The researchers, from the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute,
say the protein known as IE1 plays a number of roles, modifying brain cancer cells in a
way that makes them grow more rapidly, and confirming a potential role for CMV in the
malignant process of this cancer. “IE1 delivers a one-two punch to tumor cells. We
detect the CMV IE1 protein in nearly all malignant brain tumors, and we find that it can
make tumor cells more aggressive by affecting two major pathways,” says Charles
Cobbs, M.D, the lead author of the study. “First, it inhibits two key tumor
suppressor proteins in the brain tumor cells; then it promotes the most important growth
signaling pathway in the tumor itself. By modulating these cellular pathways, this viral
protein makes the tumor cells more aggressive.”
Research Confirms Genetic Skin Barrier Defect Linked to Eczema
Atopic dermatitis, one of the most common
forms of eczema in this family of various inflammatory skin diseases, is a chronic disease
marked by red, cracked and itchy skin. It is estimated that atopic dermatitis affects
about 10 percent of children around the world and usually begins in the first year of
life. Although the disease tends to improve with age, most patients still experience dry,
sensitive skin and hand eczema.
The overuse of antibiotics in livestock
production is cited as a main cause of the increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 70 percent of all antibiotics in the U.S.
are used as feed additives for pigs, poultry and cattle. The American Medical Association
went on record in 2001 opposing the routine feeding of medically important antibiotics to
livestock and poultry.
The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2007
Mounting scientific evidence shows that the
routine feeding of antibiotics to farm animals that are not sick promotes development of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be transferred to people, making it harder to treat
bacterial infections in humans. Antibiotic feed additives are used to promote slightly
faster growth and to compensate for crowded, stressful, and often unsanitary
animal-husbandry conditions. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 70 percent
of antibiotics and related drugs in the United States are given as feed additives to
chickens, hogs, and beef cattle; such use occurs without a prescription.
Bronchitis Home Remedies and Bronchitis Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine views bronchitis as an
invasion of Wind, according to Efrem Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac. Sometimes the condition is
brought on by Wind Cold, which produces a dry cough and whitish mucus. For this type of
bronchitis, Dr. Korngold might prescribe ginger.
AN EXTRAORDINARY dispute has broken out
between people with autism and a charity that aims to help them. At stake is how such
people are perceived by the general public. Like many people with autism, an autistic
blogger who goes by the screen name "Abscout" is angry about the way the
condition is portrayed by some charities. To try and paint a different picture, Abscout
set up a spoof website called NTSpeaks.org, a parody of the site of the New York-based
charity Autism Speaks. The NT stands for neurotypical, a term sometimes used by people
with autism to describe the rest of the population.
Giving a woman an infusion of Epsom salts
when she goes into premature labor can help protect her baby from cerebral palsy, U.S.
researchers reported on Thursday.
Chocolate Linked to Weaker Bones ... But What Kind of Chocolate?
Despite the fact that this research study
dims the lights on the potential health benefits of ALL chocolate, it is important to make
a distinction between the type of chocolate consumed.
A significant association was found between
dietary cholesterol and change in strength. It was found that lower cholesterol levels
reduced muscle gain that occurred with exercise, while those with higher cholesterol
intake also had the highest gains in muscle strength.
Traces of cancer and psychiatric drugs were
found in Britain’s tap water, according to a 100-page report commissioned by the
Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
Girls with big breasts have a 68 percent
higher chance of developing diabetes by middle age than their small-breasted counterparts,
according to a new study by Canadian scientists.
Hot liquids dramatically increase the
amount of harmful chemicals released by plastic bottles, according to a study. Scientists
found that polycarbonate plastic bottles released a known environmental pollutant 55 times
more quickly when filled with boiling water
It's a tiny vacuum cleaner for the brain: A
new treatment for stroke victims promises to suction out clogged arteries in hopes of
stopping the brain attack before it does permanent harm. Called Penumbra, the newly
approved device is the latest in a series of inside-the-artery attempts to boost recovery
from stroke, the nation's No. 3 killer.
E-numbers should be banned in food and drink, say MPs
All artificial colourings in food and soft
drinks should be banned, a parliamentary committee urged yesterday in a report on the
effect of diet on the brain.
A Texas doctor leaked confidential research
to the makers of the popular diabetes drug Avandia weeks before a study was published
tying the drug to higher heart risks, the scientific journal Nature reported Wednesday.
Dr. Steven Haffner, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, broke
confidentiality rules for medical journal peer reviewers when he gave the Avandia study to
GlaxoSmithKline PLC 17 days before it was published last May in the New England Journal of
Medicine, the Nature report says.
Don't Believe the Hype -- There's Much More to Autism Than Genetics
Scientists have found a genetic mutation
linked to autism, but news coverage of the discovery have made it out to be far more
important than it actually is.
The mutations are present in only 1 percent of all kids with autism; in the other 99
percent, something else is going on.
More than a century ago, Canadian physician
William Osler prescribed diets low in sugar and fruits to prevent gout, an excruciatingly
painful swelling of the joints that was known to mostly afflict middle-aged men overly
fond of the drink and meat-rich meals.
Study Reveals Sensory Impact Of Water Distribution Piping
The Virginia Tech study is not the first to
examine the sensory impacts from polymer pipes interacting with drinking water oxidants.
What makes the study unique, however, was that both chemical and consumer-assessed sensory
characteristics of water in contact with the materials were compared.
Neurocognitive Changes among Elderly Exposed to PCBs/PCDFs in Taiwan
Our study showed dose-dependent
neurocognitive deficits in certain aspects of attention, visual memory, and learning
ability in women previously exposed to PCBs and PCDFs, but not in exposed men.
Long-Term Effects of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Mortality in a Dutch
Cohort (NLCS-AIR Study)
Traffic-related air pollution and several
traffic exposure variables were associated with mortality in the full cohort. Relative
risks were generally small. Associations between natural-cause and respiratory mortality
were statistically significant for NO2 and BS. These results add to the evidence that
long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased mortality.
Dental Amalgam Exposure and Urinary Mercury Levels in Children
One single measure of amalgam exposure is
insufficient. Studies of cumulative effects of mercury from amalgam exposure in children
are likely to have improved validity and precision if time-sensitive amalgam exposure
measures are used. In contrast, simple counts of current amalgam fillings are adequate to
capture amalgam-related current U-Hg.
Hair Mercury Negatively Correlates with Calcium Pump Activity in Human Term
Newborns and Their Mothers at Delivery
Maternal hair Hg negatively correlates with
Ca pump activity in maternal and cord blood erythrocytes. Pb and Hg both independently
correlate negatively with Ca pump activity without any statistically significant
interaction. After adjustment for potential confounders, Pb and Hg explain about 30% and
7% of total variance of Ca pump activity in newborns and mothers, respectively.
Conclusion - Our findings confirm results reported in previous experimental studies and
support the use of biomarkers in newborns from general population.
Lead exposure is linked to cognitive
deficits, cardiovascular disease risk, and behavioral problems, outcomes that potentially
follow dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In animal studies,
lead exposure has heightened the release of corticosterone, the counterpart to the human
stress hormone cortisol. New research now reveals for the first time a similar response in
children with blood lead levels below 10 µg/dL, the action level established by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [EHP 116:249-255; Gump et al.]. This finding
corroborates concerns that there is no safe level of lead exposure.
A new study from the University of Michigan
looked at belly fat -- also known as visceral fat -- in mice. It finds a link between
inflammation around the cells of visceral fat deposits and the artery-hardening process of
atherosclerosis. Results also show a widely used diabetes drug can ease that inflammation
and protect against further damage to the arteries.
Colon Cancer Blood Test -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview
We think by the end of 2008, we'll have a
good inventory of the proteins that make up colon cancer and precancers. By that time, we
will be involved in testing these candidate markers in the blood. Our goal is that by the
end of the first five years of the Ayers Institute Program, we will have candidate
markers, in other words, things that we think might turn into tests actually being
evaluated in clinical trials in preparation for FDA submissions for certification by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration of this as a diagnostic test.
Too much acetaminophen in the system at one
time or over an extended period can cause serious liver damage or can lead to liver
failure and even death. About 100 people die annually of accidental acetaminophen
poisoning and another 15,000 end up in the emergency rooms from unknowingly taking too
much.
Hospitalizations, seizures and deaths have
been reported after the use of Lindane Shampoo and Lindane Lotion, according to the
products' warning label. The FDA requires the prescriptions to carry that warning. The
warning label also cites "lindane toxicity, verified by autopsy" in two deaths:
an infant and an adult who used the product to commit suicide.
Senate Bill 2506 introduced by Senator
Kalani English, and also signed by Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland, as well as House Bill
2580 sponsored by Representative Millie Carroll will move to ban aspartame from the State
of Hawaii.
High-potency vitamins, melatonin
supplements, and other complementary remedies may help to relieve the debilitating pain
and fatigue experienced by most people with advanced pancreatic cancer, a new study
suggests.
Pesticide exposure and self-reported gestational diabetes mellitus in the
Agricultural Health Study
Women who reported mixing and applying
agricultural pesticides during early pregnancy have a two times higher risk of developing
gestational diabetes during the pregnancy. The strong association between first trimester
pesticide exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus suggests that pesticide exposures may
affect glucose metabolism and insulin resistance.
New data link low birth weight and body
mass to very low levels of commonly used chemicals found in consumer products ranging from
Teflon-coated cookware to water and stain repelling textiles.
Harmful pesticides found in everyday food products
Government promises to rid the nation's
food supply of brain-damaging pesticides aren't doing the job, according to the results of
a yearlong study that carefully monitored the diets of a group of local children.
The peer-reviewed study found that the urine and saliva of children eating a variety of
conventional foods from area groceries contained biological markers of organophosphates,
the family of pesticides spawned by the creation of nerve gas agents in World War II.
