DETROIT - Michigan researchers have developed a powerful new GPS-like tool to identify proteins that are affected by a chemical process that is key to aging and disease development.
The probe, which works like a GPS or navigation system for finding these proteins in cells, could lead to new insights into disease processes and identify new targets for disease treatments, according to the researchers.
KateCarroll and colleagues said that it has long been known that the excess build-up of highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules in cells can contribute to aging, and possibly to disorders like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
It is believed that a diet rich in antioxidants, which are abundant in fruits and vegetables, may help cease this cell-damaging process by blocking the accumulation of these molecules, also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS).
However, to date, scientists have not found any proper tools to study the effects of these molecules in detail.
Thus, the researchers developed a new molecule called DAz-2, which, according to them, functions like a tiny GPS device for quickly finding specific proteins that are affected by ROS.
The molecules do this by chemically “tagging” sulfenic acid, which is formed in cells and indicates that a protein has undergone a type of reaction - called oxidation - caused by ROS.
In lab studies using cultured cells, the scientists identified more than 190 proteins that undergo this reaction.
The researchers said that the study could lead to better strategies for fighting the wide range of diseases that involve these excessive oxidation reactions.
The study will be published in ACS Chemical Biology, a monthly journal
YAOUNDE - Gorillas carry the parasite that causes malignant malaria in humans, a finding that could help in efforts to develop a vaccine for malaria, researchers say.
Malaria is a sometimes fatal disease, usually contracted from mosquitoes, most commonly in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. People who contract malaria typically develop flu-like symptoms with high fevers and chills, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the new study, researchers analyzed fecal samples from 84 gorillas in Cameroon and blood samples from three gorillas in Gabon and found the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which was previously believed to only infect humans. P. falciparum causes 85 percent of malignant malaria infections in humans and nearly all deaths from malaria.
The scientists also found that the gorillas carried two closely related species of malaria parasites: Plasmodium GorA and Plasmodium GorB.
The discovery of P. falciparum in gorillas complicates efforts to eradicate malaria, according to the study published in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent each year toward ridding humans of malignant malaria. But success may be a pyrrhic victory, because we could be re-infected by gorillas — just as we were originally infected by chimps a few thousand years ago,” study co-author Francisco Ayala, a biologist at the University of California, Irvine, said in a university news release.
Along with potentially aiding in the development of a malaria vaccine, this finding helps improve understanding of how infectious diseases such as HIV, SARS and bird and swine flu can be transmitted from animals to humans, the researchers noted.
Each year, malaria sickens about 500 million people worldwide and causes 2 million infant deaths. Four kinds of malaria parasites can infect humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae. Infection with P. falciparum, if not promptly treated, may lead to death, according to the CDC.
Scientists Developing Probiotics to Ambush Disease-Causing Gut Bacteria
ADELAIDE - Scientists from University of Adelaide are working on developing diversionary tactics in a bid to fool disease-causing gut bacteria that often lead to infections, such as cholera.
According to ProfessorJamesPaton, bacteria produce toxins that damage human tissues when they bind to complex sugar receptors displayed on the surface of cells in the host’s intestine.
In the new study, researchers have shown how they had added molecular mimics of these host cell receptors onto the surface of harmless bacteria capable of surviving in the human gut.
If given during an infection caused by a toxin-producing bacterium, these “receptor-mimic probiotics” will bind the toxins in the gut very strongly, thereby preventing the toxins from interacting with receptors on host intestinal cells and causing disease.
An advantage of this approach to treatment is that the pathogenic bacteria are unlikely to develop a resistance to it, as that would destroy the basic mechanism by which they cause disease.
Moreover, receptor-mimic bacteria bind toxins more strongly than previous technologies.
They are also more cost effective, as the bacteria can be grown cheaply in large-scale fermenters.
“We initially developed this technology to prevent disease caused by strains of E. coli bacteria that produce Shiga toxin. These include the infamous E. coli O157 strain, which causes outbreaks of severe bloody diarrhoea and the potentially fatal haemolytic uraemic syndrome,” said Paton.
“Our prototype receptor mimic probiotic provided 100% protection against otherwise fatal E. coli disease in an animal model. We have also developed similar receptor mimic probiotics that are capable of preventing cholera and travellers’ diarrhoea.
“As well as being able to treat disease, these probiotics could be given to vulnerable populations following natural disasters to help prevent outbreaks of diseases like cholera,” he added.
The findings were presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s meeting at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
WASHINGTON - A Northeastern University neurobiologist is collaborating with Harvard University researchers to develop micro flying robots that will emulate the bees’ brain, body and collective behavior.
Biology professor JosephAyers would create robots, called the robobees, which would mimic the communal feeding behavior of bee colonies.
The project will draw on the knowledge of computer scientists, engineers, and biologists to construct an electronic nervous system, a supervisory architecture and a high-energy source to power the innovative robots.
“This project will integrate the efforts and expertise of a diverse team of investigators to create a system that far transcends the sum of its parts. We expect substantial advances in basic science at the intersection of these seemingly disparate disciplines to result from this effort,” said Ayers.
Inspired by the biology of the bee and the insect’s colonial behaviour, the project aims to advance miniature robotics and the design of compact high-energy power sources.
The project would also spur innovations in ultra-low-power computing and electronic “smart” sensors that mediate biomimetic control.
In addition, it would refine coordination algorithms to manage multiple, independent machines.
Ayers is widely known for his work in biomimetics- the science of adapting the control systems found in nature to inform design of engineered systems to solve real-world problems-including the development of RoboLobster and RoboLamprey.
The autonomous, biomimetic underwater robotic models emulate the operations of the animals’ nervous systems using an electronic controller based on nonlinear, moving models of neurons and synapses.
“Animals have evolved to occupy every environmental niche where we would hope to operate robots, save outer space. They provide proven solutions to problems that confound even the most sophisticated robots, and our challenge is to capture these performance advantages in engineered devices,” said Ayers.
The Pill Bottle Gets a Cell Phone, to Remind You to Take Your Medicine
CAMBRIDGE - “Hi! This is your aspirin bottle calling. I haven’t seen you in a while. Why don’t you come see me soon? I’m good for the heart, you know.”
That’s the spirit, if not the wording, of the calls that will come from new pill bottle caps that connect to AT&T Inc.’s wireless network.
A Cambridge, Mass.-based startup called Vitality Inc. was set to announce the pill-bottle system Thursday, saying it helps solve one of the biggest problems in medicine: that people don’t consistently take the drugs they’re prescribed.
That costs the U.S. $290 billion in added medical spending each year, according to a study published in August by the New England Healthcare Institute. Mortality rates are twice as high among diabetes and heart disease patients who don’t take their pills properly, it said.
With Vitality’s system, when a pill-bottle cap is opened, it uses a close-range wireless signal to tell a base station in the home. That station, which looks like a night light, essentially has a cell phone inside that can send messages through AT&T’s network.
If the bottle isn’t opened at the appointed time, the cap and night light start blinking to remind the owner to take the medication. If that doesn’t serve as enough of a hint, they start playing jingles as well. If the bottle stays unopened, the night light will send a message to Vitality’s system, which can then place an automated phone call or send a text message with a reminder.
That points to another possibility opened by the wireless bottle cap: making the pill-taking routine more than just a matter between the patient and the bottle. Vitality’s system can be set to alert a relative if someone isn’t taking medicine.
“The social aspect of this is important,” Vitality CEO DavidRose said. “Almost every successful behavior change program, the academics will tell you, involves social dynamics, whether it’s smoking cessation or Weight Watchers.”
A price for the new system hasn’t been disclosed. Vitality hopes insurance and drug companies will get on board with the system and cover the cost.
Vitality has been selling an earlier version of the product in small numbers from its Web site for $99. In that version, the night light doesn’t contain a cell phone. Instead it connects to a third piece of hardware, a “gateway” plugged into a home’s Internet router. But not all homes have routers, and configuring them can be tricky. The AT&T-powered night light simplifies the installation.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant closely related to onions, leeks, and chives. Extracts of the bulb and clove are sometimes used medicinally.
In herbal medicine, garlic is typically used to treat or prevent these conditions:
Heart disease
Cancer
Infections
Colds
Research suggests that garlic may help fight the following health problems:
1) High Cholesterol
A number of studies have shown that regular intake of garlic may lead to moderate changes in cholesterol levels. In a 2009 review that analyzed the results of 29 clinical trials, for instance, researchers found that garlic appears to reduce total cholesterol to a modest extent. A study published in 2000, however, indicates that although garlic is superior to a placebo in lowering total cholesterol levels, the use of garlic in treatment of high cholesterol is of “questionable value.”
2) High Blood Pressure
Garlic preparations are more effective than a placebo when it comes to reducing blood pressure in people with hypertension, according to a 2008 review and analysis of 25 studies. However, another review (published in 2009) concluded that garlic should not be recommended as a blood pressure-lowering remedy for hypertensive patients.
3) The Common Cold
Garlic may help fend off colds, suggests a 2001 study. For 12 weeks during cold season, 146 volunteers took either a daily garlic supplement or a placebo. By the end of the study period, 24 colds were reported in the garlic group, compared to 65 in the placebo group.
4) Colorectal and Stomach Cancer
In a 2001 review of 19 studies on garlic consumption and cancer incidence, researchers found that regular intake of garlic (in raw, cooked, or supplement form) may help prevent stomach and colorectal cancers.
While garlic is generally considered safe, possible adverse effects include:
Upset stomach
Headache
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Since garlic thins the blood, it’s important to discontinue use at least seven days before undergoing surgery. Garlic may also interact with a number of medications, including insulin, anticoagulants, immunosuppressive agents, and protease inhibitors.
How to Use Garlic
Garlic supplements (as well as topically applied garlic oils, often used in treatment of ear infections) are sold in many health food stores and drugstores. Eating chopped or crushed raw garlic may also offer medicinal benefits.
FOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL ISSUES
PLEASE SEE THE POST ON “POLICOSANOL” – NATURE’S STATIN
BEVERLY HILLS – US Tele-Medicine, the operators of this blog, rarely recommends any product because there are always opposing viewpoints with respect to ingredients, integrity or manufacture.There are no perfect products manufactured by man.There are close exception to that understanding.This is one of them.
Wheat is a mainstay of many peoples and national diets around the world.Wheat itself is quite healthy and beneficial source of carbs and fibers.Wheat becomes less healthywhen we add yeasts, preservatives, enhancers and flavors, in any baked goods.This is not to mention the sugars, syrups, fruits, emulsifiers and binders, added to the wheat by most mass- market commercial bakeries.This is when wheat becomes toxic.
All commercial brands of breads have some other “natural” product added to the wheat, which always disturbs the structure of the beneficial fibers and confuses the body looking for clean carbs.Except one.
In our opinion, the BEST commercial bread is found at Trader Joe’s Markets and branded as “Pain Pascal Organic Demi Miche.” The ingredients: Organic Whole Wheat Flour, Filtered Water, and Sea Salt.
The texture is incredibly soft, dense like a European country bread and very moist.The taste is superb and especially aromatic lathered with some good Irish or Danish butter.It toasts very heartily and the full crispy-on-the-outside, moist- on- the- inside effect is always there.
It is delicious, hearty, attractive, and very healthy for you to eat.Bon appetite.
NEW YORK - Researchers at the NYU School of Medicine say that they have gained significant insights into a mechanism that plays an important role in making human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis resistant to numerous antibiotics.
Writing about their work in the journal Science, they have said that their study provides evidence that Nitric Oxide (NO) is able to alleviate the oxidative stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics, and that it also helps to neutralize many antibacterial compounds.
Lead researcher Evgeny A. Nudler, The Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center, says in the report that eliminating this NO-mediated bacterial defence renders existing antibiotics more potent at lower, less toxic, doses. he researcher further says that the study’s findings pave the way for new ways of combating bacteria that have become antibiotic resistant.
A study Nudler led a few years ago had shown that bacteria mobilize NO to defend against the oxidative stress.
The new study supports the radical idea that many antibiotics cause the oxidative stress in bacteria, often resulting in their death, whereas NO counters this effect.
Based on this work, the researchers have come to the conclusion that scientists may use commercially available inhibitors of NO-synthase, an enzyme producing NO in bacteria and humans, to make antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA and ANTHRAX more sensitive to available drugs during acute infection.
“Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues. Here, we have a short cut, where we don’t have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well established ones, making them more effective at lower doses,” says Nudler.
“We are very excited about the potential impact of this research in terms of continuing to push the boundaries of research in the area of infectious diseases,” said Dr. Vivian S. Lee, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of NYU Langone Medical Center.
“With the emergence of drug resistant bacteria, it’s imperative that researchers strive to find conceptually new approaches to fight these pathogens,” Lee added.
CHICAGO — More than half a million U.S. children yearly have bad reactions or side effects from widely used medicines that require medical treatment and sometimes hospitalization, new research shows.
Children younger than age 5 are most commonly affected. Penicillin and other prescription antibiotics are among drugs causing the most problems, including rashes, stomachaches and diarrhea.
Parents should pay close attention when their children are started on medicines since “first-time medication exposures may reveal an allergic reaction,” said lead author Dr. Florence Bourgeois, a pediatrician with Children’s Hospital in Boston.
Doctors also should tell parents about possible symptoms for a new medication, she said.
A study based on national statistics on patients’ visits to clinics and emergency rooms between 1995 and 2005. The number of children treated for bad drug reactions each year was mostly stable during that time, averaging 585,922.
Bourgeois said there were no deaths resulting from bad reactions to drugs in the data she studied, but 5 percent of children were sick enough to require hospitalization.
The study involved reactions to prescribed drugs, including accidental overdoses. They were used for a range of ailments including ear infections, strep throat, depression and cancer. Among teens, commonly used medicines linked with troublesome side effects included birth control pills. Bad reactions to these pills included menstrual problems, nausea and vomiting.
Children younger than 5 accounted for 43 percent of visits to clinics and emergency rooms; followed by teens aged 15 to 18, who made up about 23 percent of the visits.
Similar numbers of hospitalized children — about 540,000 yearly — also have bad reactions to drugs, including side effects, medicine mix-ups and accidental overdoses, recent government research suggests.
The new report indicates children at home are just as vulnerable.
MichaelCohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, said a common problem involves giving young children liquid medicine. Doses can come in drops, teaspoons or milliliters, and parents may mistakenly think those amounts are interchangeable.
Cohen said doctors should be clear about doses and parents should be sure before leaving the pharmacy that they understand exactly how to give liquid medicine.
If you’ve got a bacterial infection, taking a course of antibiotics should help restore you to health. But these powerful drugs (which include penicillin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline, to name a few) can cause some unpleasant side effects, such as yeast overgrowth and gastrointestinal trouble.
The first step in protecting yourself from these adverse effects is to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. Since antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections (like strep throat, urinary tract infections, and severe sinus infections), they won’t be effective against viral infections that cause the common cold, flu, or bronchitis. In addition to the risk of unnecessary side effects, inappropriate use of antibiotics can promote the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and leave you vulnerable to incurable infections later on.
If you find yourself in need of antibiotics, however, you might want to consider ways to reduce your risk of side effects.
Complementary Care for Antibiotics Users
Here are three ways to support your system while you’re on antibiotics.
1) Probiotic Supplements
Antibiotics don’t just kill the bacteria causing your sickness; they also wipe out beneficial bacteria (called probiotics) that contribute to a healthy digestive system. Taking a probiotic supplement could help prevent gastrointestinal problems resulting from antibiotic use, according to a research review published in 2008. Probiotics, also found in fermented foods like yogurt and kefir, can help stave off yeast infections as well.
2) Herbal Tea
If you experience nausea while taking antibiotics, try sipping ginger tea to soothe your stomach. Another common complaint among patients on antibiotics? Loose stools, which may be relieved by drinking raspberry leaf tea.
3) Milk Thistle
Taking antibiotics can tax your liver, which is responsible for breaking down the medications you ingest. The herb milk thistle has been associated with protective antioxidant effects on the liver.
Prevent Bacterial Infection
To reduce your risk of bacterial infections and lower your chances of having to use antibiotics, strengthen your immune system by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and managing your stress with the help of relaxation techniques.
SYDNEY - Intake of iodine is a must for developing the full intellectual potential of children, a new study has revealed.
Otago University (O-U) researchers have shown that iodine supplementation to correct the mild deficiency common in children improves their performance in cognitive tests. Fish and seafood are rich sources of iodine.
Principal Investigator and O-U nutritionist SheilaSkeaff says that while moderate to severe deficiency of iodine sometimes has disastrous effects on children’s brain development, it had previously been thought that mild deficiency had no significant cognitive consequences.
O-U researchers in nutrition and psychology undertook a 28-week trial involving 184 Dunedin children aged between 10 and 13.
The children, who were found to be mildly iodine deficient at the outset, were randomly assigned to groups which either received daily iodine tablets or a placebo.
By the trial’s end, the researchers found that the children taking the iodine supplement had achieved adequate iodine status, while the placebo group remained mildly deficient.
“In the initial round of cognitive testing, there were no significant differences between the two groups’ scores. When tested again at the end of the trial, in two sub-tests measuring perceptual reasoning, the iodine group showed a significantly improved performance relative to the placebo group,” Skeaff said.
The findings have been published online by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
BEVERLY HILLS - Flower essences are the blossoms of plants prepared from a sun infusion in a bowl of water, then further diluted, potentized, and then preserved with brandy. These preparations embody the distinct imprint, or energetic pattern of each flower species. In holistic healing flower essence therapy is categorized under vibrational medicine. Vibrational medicine incorporates the use of chi energies within living organisms such as plants, gemstones and crystals, water, sunlight, and even the foods we eat.
Flower Essence Therapy Origins
The founder of flower essence therapy was an English surgeon named Dr.EdwardBach. He was a pioneer in understanding the connection of our emotional bodies to our physical health. The 38 original flower remedies, known as Bach Healing Herbs were used to treat the underlying emotional causes of diseases.
Ill health (physical imbalances and dis-eases) results when we are in imbalance or when we lose our awareness, are disassociated from others, or disconnected from our life purpose. The living forces of nature collected from the blooms of our flowering plants, prepared, and placed in liquid stock. and dosage bottles are used in healing our physical, etheric, astral, and spiritual bodies.
How Flower Essences Are Applied
Flower essences enjoy a reputation of being highly effective and very safe to use. Flower essences, or flower drops as I like to call them, can be taken directly from the stock bottle. A few drops are typically applied under the tongue. Alternately, three to four drops of stock essences are mixed into a liter of purified water that is sipped throughout the day.
Specialized combinations of essences are commonly prepared in one ounce dosage bottles. A dosage bottle will normally last ten to fourteen days.
The medical community is not convinced that there is enough evidence to support the effectiveness of flower essences. This is fair, admittedly, vibrational energy is very difficult to measure by scientific means. Yet, in the holistic community, flower essences are favored by practitioners to address emotional and spiritual imbalances. People suffering from clinical depression or other mental health issues should contact a licensed mental health professional for treatment.
Intuitively Selecting Flower Essences
Selecting essences can in itself be a process of inner growth and awareness. Through quiet reflection, meditation, self observation, and consulting and conversation with others, it is possible to become aware of issues in our lives that demand our attention. These may be related to any area of our lives, our work, our relationships, or our personal selves. I tend to see the flowers visually with my third eye, yet when I cross reference my visuals in my flower essence resource books. I am always amazed at how accurate intuitive-chosen flowers are. Kinesiology testing is another way that people can use to select the appropriate essences for themselves.
WASHINGTON - The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medi-cal Treatment Act (PAMTA, S. 619/H.R. 1549) was reintroduced in the Senate and House. Its purpose is to preserve the effectiveness of medically- important antibiotics used in the treatment of human and animal diseases by reviewing the safety of certain antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes in food-producing animals.
The end result: Drugs that are important for humans and used in animal feed for non-therapeutic purposes will be re-moved from the market unless the manufacturer can prove, within two years’ time, “reasonable certainty of no harm to human health due to the development of antimicrobial resistance that is attributable in whole or in part to the non-therapeutic use of the drug…”
