November 2, 2009
Reduced vitamin D levels could account for over half of end stage renal disease cases in African Americans
Life Extensions, October 30, 2009
Kidney failure disproportionately affects African Americans, which is largely attributable to the greater prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes in this population. In the December, 2009 issue of theJournal of the American Society of Nephrology, Michal L. Melamed, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his colleagues report a strong association between end stage renal disease (ESRD) in Africa Americans and reduced vitamin D levels, a condition that is also more common in this group compared to Caucasians due to increased skin pigmentation which results in reduced vitamin D synthesis from sun exposure.
The researchers evaluated data from Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey–linked Medicare claims files for 13,328 men and women which included information on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (activated vitamin D). Medicare data identified those who eventually required hemodialysis for end stage renal disease.
Thirty-four percent of African Americans had deficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of less than 15 nanograms per milliliter, compared to 5 percent of non-Hispanic Caucasians. "We found that the participants with the lowest 25(OH)D levels were 2.6 times as likely to end up on dialysis compared to those with higher levels," Dr Melamed stated. "We found that 25(OH)D deficiency was responsible for about 58 percent of the excess risk for ESRD experienced by African Americans."
"Our study adds to previous evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to the progression of kidney disease and the need for dialysis," he noted. “It also explains a fair amount of the increased risk of ESRD in African Americans.”
"We are currently in the process of enrolling for a clinical trial of vitamin D repletion in patients with chronic kidney disease to further test these hypotheses," he added.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_10.htm#reduced-vitamin-D-levels-could-account-for-over-half-of-end-stage-renal-disease-cases-in-african-americans
Coffee brims with health benefits, researchers say
The Palm Beach Post, Fla. 11-02-09
Oct. 31--Drink up, coffee lovers. Not only is coffee aromatic and delicious, it's good for you.
Who says? None other than Harvard Medical School.
Once considered questionable for your health, it turns out that the beloved beverage is actually healthful in moderation. That means a few cups a day.
At about 20 cents per 6-ounce cup, coffee is a good deal if you brew it yourself.
Harvard researchers say drinking coffee may help prevent diseases such as:
Cancer: Some studies have found coffee drinkers have lower rates of colon and rectal cancers and are 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer than coffee abstainers.
Type 2 diabetes: Coffee is thought to contain chemicals that lower blood sugar because heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as those who drink little or no coffee. Coffee also may increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help prevent diabetes.
Parkinson's disease: Coffee seems to help protect men from Parkinson's disease, but not women. The difference might be due to estrogen, researchers say.
Heart disease: Coffee is not linked to the development of heart disease. In the past few years, Harvard scientists say, coffee has been shown to be safe even for heart attack survivors. Scientists think antioxidants in coffee may reduce inflammation and protect blood vessel walls.
Life span: Recent studies suggest that drinking coffee decreases the risk of premature death, especially in women. Women who drank at least five to seven cups a week had a death rate 26 percent lower than non-consumers, a large investigation by researchers in Spain and at Harvard Medical School found.
It's not only Harvard researchers who are touting the brew's benefits.
Last month, a study led by Neal Freedman of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., showed that people with chronic hepatitis C and advanced liver disease who drank three or more cups of coffee a day cut their risk of the disease progressing by 53 percent.
Although caffeine might be considered the "active ingredient" in coffee, coffee is only 2 percent caffeine and 98 percent "other stuff," including more than 1,000 different compounds such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
It even contains fiber. Each cup contains from 1.1 to 1.8 grams of soluble dietary fiber, the kind that dissolves in water and helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by the intestines, according to researchers at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid.
Do researchers have any words of caution? Yes -- although regular coffee drinking isn't harmful for most people, that might not hold true for pregnant women. Research has linked miscarriage to caffeine consumption of 200 milligrams or more per day. A typical cup of coffee has 100 to 150 milligrams, Harvard reports.
Of course, we like to be able to justify our morning addiction as healthful, when the truth may be we can't get moving without it!
Is it possible to be caffeine-addicted? Yes, University of Florida professor and director of toxicology Bruce Goldberger says.
"It is one of the most commonly ingested drugs worldwide. It is addictive. One example of that is if you consume a lot of caffeine, then you don't, you start to crave it. If you consume a lot of caffeine, and it is not working, then you need to consume more," Goldberger said.
Like anything, experts advise, moderation counts. Anyone who's ever had the jitters from drinking too much coffee knows that.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8962&Section=Nutrition
Coffee may lower endometrial cancer risk
Last Updated: 2009-10-30 15:45:03 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women dread a diagnosis of endometrial cancer, but those who drink at least two cups of caffeinated coffee a day may have a lower risk for this cancer of cells lining the uterus.
Coffee drinking seemed to particularly protect overweight and obese women, study co-author Dr. Emilie Friberg, at the Karolinska Intstituet in Stockholm, Sweden, told Reuters Health by email.
Friberg's team twice surveyed 60,634 Swedish women about their coffee intake - when they enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort study between 1987 and 1990, and again in 1997.
During the 17 years, on average, that the researchers followed patients, 677 women - about 1 percent -- developed endometrial cancer. The average age at diagnosis was 67.
In the overall study group, those who daily drank 2 or more cups were significantly less likely to develop endometrial cancer, compared with those who drank fewer cups of coffee.
Each additional daily cup seemed tied to a 10 percent lower risk for endometrial cancer, after allowing for age and other factors potentially tied to endometrial cancer risk among all the women.
However, they observed the strongest effect among overweight and obese women, who, Friberg's team notes, have "the highest risk for endometrial cancer."
Each additional cup of coffee seemed to decrease endometrial cancer risk by 12 percent among overweight women and by 20 percent among obese women, Friberg and colleagues report in the International Journal of Cancer.
The investigators suggest that coffee may affect blood sugar, fat cells, and estrogen, all of which play a role in endometrial cancer. However, they write that the current findings should be confirmed in other populations.
In particular, "a study also including de-caffeinated coffee would make it possible to separate the effect of coffee and caffeine," Friberg said.
SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, November 15, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/10/30/eline/links/20091030elin001.html
New Research from UCLA Shows California Avocados Contribute Additional Beneficial Carotenoids-Consumers Advised to Nick and Peel Avocados to Get to the Nutrient-Rich Outer Section
Business Wire 11-02-09
LOS ANGELES, Oct 30, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New research published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reported that University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers were able to identify four additional carotenoids in the California Hass avocado, which had not been quantified until this study. In addition, the researchers reported that the total carotenoid concentrations were greatest in the dark green flesh of the avocado closest to the peel. Carotenoids are a class of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases.
The research, led by David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, studied California Hass avocados harvested in January, April, July and September 2008 from San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Riverside and San Diego and analyzed the fruit for total fat content, fatty acid profile, carotenoids and vitamin E.
Avocados are virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat, the fruit also contributes polyunsaturated fat (0.5 grams poly- and 3 grams mono- per 1 oz. serving). According to the American Heart Association, mono- and polyunsaturated fats (good fats), when consumed in moderation and eaten in place of saturated or trans fats, can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease risk for heart disease.
"Consumers should be reassured that avocados from different growing areas in California have a remarkable constancy of carotenoid content per gram of fat during the growing season," said Heber. "And, that they can get the most nutrients out of an avocado by peeling the fruit before slicing it in order to capture the maximum amount of carotenoids from the darker green flesh found directly under the skin."
The carotenoids that were uniquely characterized in California Hass avocados through this study include trans neoxanthin, neochrome, lutein-5, 6-epoxide and chrysanthemaxanthin. The scientists also confirmed the presence of lutein, zeaxanthin, b-cryptoxanthin, a-carotene and b-carotene.
The researchers noted that California Hass avocados grown in different regions of California have a similar phytochemical profile. However, there are increases in both total fat and carotenoids in fruit harvested later in the season. Ninety-five percent of American avocado production is located in California.
This research was supported by the California Avocado Commission through an unrestricted educational grant.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8963&Section=Nutrition
Vegetables in pregnancy lowers child's diabetes risk: study
Xinhua News Agency 11-02-09
LOS ANGELES, Nov 01, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Mothers who eat plenty of vegetables during pregnancy will have children who are less likely to have type 1 diabetes, a new study suggests.
The risk of type 1 diabetes was twice as high in children whose mothers rarely ate vegetables during pregnancy, and lowest among children whose mothers ate vegetables every day of their pregnancy, according to the study published in the latest issue of the journal Pediatric Diabetes.
The study was based on analysis of 6,000 five-year-olds, of whom three percent either had fully developed type 1 diabetes or had elevated levels of antibodies that indicate a risk of developing the disease.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, is the first of its kind to show a link between vegetable intake during pregnancy and the risk of the child subsequently developing type 1 diabetes.
More studies of various kinds will be needed before a definitive conclusion can be drawn, said study author Hilde Brekke, a clinical nutritionist at the academy.
"We cannot say with certainty on the basis of this study that it's the vegetables themselves that have this protective effect, but other factors related to vegetable intake, such as the mother' s standard of education, do not seem to explain the link," Brekke said. "Nor can this protection be explained by other measured dietary factors or other known risk factors."
While it's not known what actually causes type 1 diabetes, factors believed to play a role include immunological mechanisms, environmental toxins and genetic variations. Type 1 diabetes occurs throughout the world but is most common in Finland and Sweden.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8961&Section=Disease
Folic acid shows benefits for diabetic heart health
Nutraingredients.com, 02-Nov-2009
Supplements of folic acid may reverse the detrimental changes in blood vessel health associated with diabetes, according to results of a new mouse study from Hong Kong.
The cardiovascular benefits of folate and folic acid, the synthetic bioavailable form, have been reported previously, and are linked to the B vitamin’s effects on homocysteine levels, an amino acid that at high levels has been linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease.
The new study, led by Sai Wang Seto from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, found that diabetic mice fed a daily folic acid supplement equivalent to 5 milligrams per day for a 70 kg human, led to a reversal in the dysfunction occurring in the lining of blood vessels (endothelial dysfunction), compared to a lower dose of the micronutrient.
“Folic acid consumption may probably make it a beneficial addition to [improve] vascular disorders/complications associated with diabetes mellitus,” wrote the researchers in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
Diabetic stats
An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are almost 24 million people with diabetes, equal to 8 per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $174 billion, with $116 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2005-2007 American Diabetes Association figures.
Diabetic mice
For the new study, Seto and co-workers used diabetic mice and fed them daily supplements of folic acid. After one month, the observed that mice not fed the supplements experienced blunted vascular relaxation, while the supplements improved this process.
The improvements were linked to a protein pathway that involves eNOS – a molecule that promotes dilation of the blood vessels and prevents clotting – and Akt – a signaling protein linked to the regulation of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) pathways.
Folate and heart health
Epidemiological studies have linked increased blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been suggested that by lowering the levels of homocysteine in the blood with B-vitamins, people could cut the risk of CVD.
Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry “Folic acid consumption reduces resistin level and restores blunted acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation in obese/diabetic mice”Authors: S.W. Seto, T.Y. Lam, P.M.Y. Or, W.Y.W. Lee, A.L.S. Au, et al.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Folic-acid-shows-benefits-for-diabetic-heart-health
Salt reduction may also benefit bone health
Nutraingredients.com, 02-Nov-2009
Switching over to low-salt products may also benefit bone health by reducing calcium loss, suggests a new study from Australia.
Middle-aged women with pre- or stage 1 hypertension assigned to consumed a low-sodium diet experienced reductions in calcium excretion compared to people consuming a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
“The fall in urinary calcium excretion on the lower-sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-type diet is likely to have a beneficial effect on bone in the long term,” wrote the researchers, led by Caryl Nowson from Deakin University. “This reduction in urinary calcium was driven by the reduction in dietary sodium, but longer-term studies are required to confirm the benefits of this type of dietary pattern.”
Salt – some, but not too much
Salt is of course a vital nutrient and is necessary for the body to function, but the average daily salt consumption in the western world, between 10 and 12g, vastly exceeds recommendations from WHO/FAO of 5 grams per day to control blood pressure levels and reduce hypertension prevalence and related health risks in populations.
In countries like the UK, Ireland and the USA, over 80 per cent of salt intake comes from processed food, and people therefore do not realize they are consuming it.
The largest double-blind trial of modest salt reduction in a free-living population, which showed that moderate reductions do indeed result in clinically relevant and beneficial reductions in blood pressure
The study, published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal found that reducing salt intake from 9.7 to 6.5 grams per day reduced average blood pressure from 146/91 to 141/88 mmHg within six weeks.
New data
The new study indicates that salt reduction may also have benefits for bone health in women at risk of osteoporosis – a condition described by the World Health Organisation as its biggest global healthcare problem.
Ninety-two women aged between 45 and 75 with pre- or stage 1 hypertension were randomly assigned to consume either a low-sodium DASH-type diet or a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet. The former was characterized by a higher basic or alkaline load, while the latter was characterized by a higher acid load. Both diets contained 800 mg dietary calcium per day.
After 14 weeks, the researchers noted that sodium levels in the urine of the women on low-sodium diet fell by 26 per cent, while potassium excretion increased by 6.8 millimoles per day.
Furthermore, compared to the high-carb, low-fat diet, calcium levels in the urine decreased by 0.7 mmol per day in the low-sodium diet group.
Women consuming the hig-carb, low-fat diet also experienced an increased rate of bone turnover, compared with women in the low-sodium group.
“It would be worthwhile to assess if a lower-acid load diet assists in maintaining bone health on a lower-calcium diet, as this is particularly relevant for older individuals who usually find it difficult to consume sufficient dietary calcium from food sources,” concluded the researchers.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition Volume 102, Pages 1161-1170 “The effects of a low-sodium base-producing diet including red meat compared with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet on bone turnover markers in women aged 45-75 years”Authors: C.A. Nowson, A. Patchett, N. Wattanapenpaiboon
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science-Nutrition/Salt-reduction-may-also-benefit-bone-health
Diets High In Sodium And Artificially Sweetened Soda Linked To Kidney Function Decline
ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2009) — Individuals who consume a diet high in sodium or artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to experience a decline in kidney function, according to two papers being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's annual meeting in San Diego, California.
Julie Lin MD, MPH, FASN and Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, FASN of Brigham and Women's Hospital studied more than 3,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study to identify the impact of sodium and sweetened drinks on kidney function.
"There are currently limited data on the role of diet in kidney disease," said Dr. Lin. "While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function."
The first study, "Associations of Diet with Kidney Function Decline," examined the influence of individual dietary nutrients on kidney function decline over 11 years in more than 3,000 women participants of the Nurses' Health Study. The authors found that "in women with well-preserved kidney function, higher dietary sodium intake was associated with greater kidney function decline, which is consistent with experimental animal data that high sodium intake promotes progressive kidney decline."
The second study, also conducted by Dr. Lin and Dr. Curhan, "Associations of Sweetened Beverages with Kidney Function Decline," examined the influence of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages on kidney function decline in the same group of Nurses' Health Study participants. An analysis of the nationally representative NHANES III participants had previously reported an association between sugar-sweetened soda and urinary protein, but data on kidney function change was not available. This investigation reported "a significant two-fold increased odds, between two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda and faster kidney function decline; no relation between sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline was noted" said Dr. Lin. This association persisted even after the study authors accounted for age, caloric intake, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms for kidney decline in the setting of high intake of artificial sweetenters have not been previously studied and deserve further investigation.
The study participants were older Caucasian women and the authors note that the findings may not be directly applicable to men or people of other ethnicities.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091101132543.htm
A Solution To Darwin's 'Mystery Of The Mysteries' Emerges From The Dark Matter Of The Genome
ScienceDaily (Nov. 1, 2009) — Biological species are often defined on the basis of reproductive isolation. Ever since Darwin pointed out his difficulty in explaining why crosses between two species often yield sterile or inviable progeny (for instance, mules emerging from a cross between a horse and a donkey), biologists have struggled with this question. New research into this field by basic scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, published online Oct. 22 in Science Express, suggests that the solution to this problem lies within the "dark matter of the genome": heterochromatin, a tightly packed, gene-poor compartment of DNA found within the genomes of all nucleated cells.
"Speciation is one of the most fascinating, unsolved problems in biology," said Harmit Malik, Ph.D., an associate member of the Hutchinson Center's Basic Sciences Division and corresponding author of the paper.
Malik and first author Joshua Bayes, Ph.D., a former graduate student in the Malik lab, focused on understanding the cellular function of a particular fruit fly (Drosophila) gene dubbed Odysseus. The gene is so named because of its ability to cause havoc and male sterility when introduced into the genome of another species. Odysseus is a gene that is derived from a transcription factor, and it was long believed to be a protein that turned on expression of other genes in Drosophila testis.
Odysseus also had been previously shown to rapidly evolve in its DNA-binding domain. Based on this observation, Bayes and Malik reasoned that Odysseus must interact with some rapidly evolving DNA in the genome. They tested the hypothesis, first proposed by Malik and Hutchinson Center colleague Steven Henikoff, Ph.D., that such hybrid-sterility proteins may bind repetitive satellite DNA in heterochromatin. Such repeats are believed to evolve rapidly due to an "arms-race" for preferential transmission during the process of forming an egg, whereby only one of four chromosomes is non-randomly chosen to be included into the egg.
Consistent with this hypothesis, Bayes found that Odysseus proteins localize to heterochromatic DNA found next to centromeres and on gene-poor chromosomes, which leads to their decondensation. Dramatically, the hybrid-sterility-associated Odysseus from one species showed additional localization to the Y chromosome of the other species. Through experiments in cell lines and transgenic flies, Bayes further showed that Odysseus localization has rapidly evolved during recent evolution, evidence of the "arms-race" that drives rapid evolution of satellite DNA repeats. Altered expression and localization has profoundly deleterious consequences for the process of sperm formation, a process that remains a mystery and is under active study in the Malik lab.
The finding that rapidly evolving heterochromatin may underlie this phenomenon also ties in with other work in Malik's lab that explores how "mismatches" originating from rapid evolution of DNA and proteins could lead to chromosome segregation defects and aneuploidy events that are sometimes precursors in transitions to cancer.
Grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Mathers Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded this research.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026152816.htm
Fish Oil May Protect Against Stroke From Ruptured Carotid Artery Plaques
ScienceDaily (Nov. 1, 2009) — Research led by Hernan A. Bazan, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, has found that unstable carotid artery plaques – those in danger of rupturing and leading to a stroke – contain more inflammation and significantly less omega-3 fatty acids than asymptomatic plaques.
This suggests that increasing the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in carotid artery plaques could either prevent strokes or improve the safety of treatment. This may be accomplished by increasing dietary intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The study is an Article in Press in the journal, Vascular Pharmacology, currently online.
Our bodies produce only a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids, so most of what we need has to come from eating omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like fish (salmon, tuna, trout, herring, etc.) or from supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease, particularly heart attack and sudden cardiac death. Dr. Bazan’s team wanted to determine what the association might be with plaques in the carotid arteries, a common cause of strokes. Vulnerable plaques which can rupture in the carotid arteries may lead to transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), strokes, or vision loss by affecting the artery to the retina. The mechanisms leading to plaque rupture are still not fully understood but inflammation within the plaque is beginning to be recognized as an important cause of plaque rupture.
Dr. Bazan, an LSUHSC vascular/endovascular surgeon, in collaboration with researchers at Yale University and others at LSUHSC, analyzed plaques from 41 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to remove plaque buildup in their arteries. Twenty-four patients were asymptomatic and 17 were symptomatic, having had neurological symptoms. All of the fats in the plaques were assessed with mass spectrometry, in collaboration with Dr. Song Hong at LSUHSC. The team was measuring the amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – the components of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The plaques of asymptomatic patients contained more than twice as much DHA as the symptomatic patients, and about one and a half times as much EPA. Significantly less inflammation was also seen in the carotid atherosclerotic plaques from asymptomatic patients.
“In the future, a study to address whether supplementation with dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevents carotid-related events in patients with moderate or high-grade carotid stenosis will help answer whether this is a formidable therapeutic target for the prevention of stroke,” says Dr. Bazan.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, as well as a leading cause of serious long-term disability. About 795,000 strokes occur in the US each year and about 610,000 of these are first, or new, strokes. About 185,000 occur in people who have already had a stroke. Nearly 25% of strokes occur in people under the age of 65. Of all ischemic strokes occurring, carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques account for over a third of them. It has been noted for several decades that the southeastern United States has the highest stroke mortality in the country. It is not completely clear what factors might contribute to the higher incidence and mortality from stroke in this region.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health-National Center for Research Resources, an LSUHSC Cardiovascular Center Grant (“Mentoring in Cardiovascular Biology”), and the American Vascular Association.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001164100.htm
Can Charcoal Fight Heart Disease In Kidney Patients?
ScienceDaily (Oct. 31, 2009) — Charcoal may provide a new approach to managing the high rate of heart disease in patients with advanced kidney disease, according to preliminary research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.
Patients with advanced kidney disease have high rates of atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") and death from heart disease. Oral activated charcoal -- a product called AST-120 -- has traditionally been used as an emergency treatment for certain types of poisoning. Recent studies have suggested that AST-120 may exert beneficial effects in kidney disease.
"We found that oral activated charcoal lessens atherosclerotic lesions in experimental mice with kidney damage," comments Valentina Kon, MD (Vanderbilt University). "This is especially important because there is no effective treatment to reduce the high rate of cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease."
The researchers studied the effects of AST-120 in mice genetically engineered to develop atherosclerosis. The effects were assessed in mice with different levels of kidney mass.
In mice with profoundly reduced renal mass, treatment with AST-120 led to a dramatic decrease in atherosclerosis. This was so even when charcoal treatment was delayed. The improvement in atherosclerosis was unrelated to changes in blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Rather, the effect appeared related to reduced inflammation in the blood vessels.
In mice, oral activated charcoal appears to reduce atherosclerosis associated with kidney disease. The effect is present at different levels of kidney function, in very advanced atherosclerosis, and even when treatment is delayed. More research is needed to see if AST-120 offers similar benefits in humans with kidney disease.
The research was supported by Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, which makes AST-120.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091101132547.htm
Bodybuilding With Steroids Damages Kidneys
ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2009) — Athletes who use anabolic steroids may gain muscle mass and strength, but they can also destroy their kidney function, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA. The findings indicate that the habitual use of steroids has serious harmful effects on the kidneys that were not previously recognized.
Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common. Most people know that using steroids is not good for your health, but until now, their effects on the kidneys have not been known. Leal Herlitz, MD (Columbia University Medical Center) and her colleagues recently conducted the first study describing injury to the kidneys following long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The investigators studied a group of 10 bodybuilders who used steroids for many years and developed protein leakage into the urine and severe reductions in kidney function. Kidney tests revealed that nine of the ten bodybuilders developed a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a type of scarring within the kidneys. This disease typically occurs when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe.
When the bodybuilders discontinued steroid use their kidney abnormalities improved, with the exception of one individual with advanced kidney disease who developed end-stage kidney failure and required dialysis. Also, one of the bodybuilders started taking steroids again and suffered a relapse of severe kidney dysfunction.
The researchers propose that extreme increases in muscle mass require the kidneys to increase their filtration rate, placing harmful levels of stress on these organs. It's also likely that steroids have direct toxic effects on the kidneys. "Athletes who use anabolic steroids and the doctors caring for them need to be aware of the potentially serious risks to the kidney," said Dr. Herlitz.
This study was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Vivette D'Agati, MD at Columbia Univeristy Medical Center. Study co-authors include Glen Markowitz, MD, Joshua Schwimmer, MD, Michael Stokes, MD, Cheryl Kunis, MD, Vivette D'Agati, MD, (Columbia University Medical Center); Alton Farris, MD, and Robert Colvin, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).
The study abstract, "Development of FSGS Following Anabolic Steroid Use in Bodybuilders," (TH-PO163) will be presented as part of a Poster Session during the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition on Oct. 29 in the Scientific Exposition Hall of the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029141202.htm
Scientists Discover Influenza's Achilles Heel: Antioxidants
ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2009) — As the nation copes with a shortage of vaccines for H1N1 influenza, a team of Alabama researchers have raised hopes that they have found an Achilles' heel for all strains of the flu -- antioxidants.
In an article appearing in the November 2009 print issue of the FASEB Journal, they show that antioxidants -- the same substances found in plant-based foods -- might hold the key in preventing the flu virus from wreaking havoc on our lungs.
"The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza and the rapid spread of this strain across the world highlights the need to better understand how this virus damages the lungs and to find new treatments," said Sadis Matalon, co-author of the study. "Additionally, our research shows that antioxidants may prove beneficial in the treatment of flu."
Matalon and colleagues showed that the flu virus damages our lungs through its "M2 protein," which attacks the cells that line the inner surfaces of our lungs (epithelial cells). Specifically, the M2 protein disrupts lung epithelial cells' ability to remove liquid from inside of our lungs, setting the stage for pneumonia and other lung problems. The researchers made this discovery by conducting three sets of experiments using the M2 protein and the lung protein they damage.
First, frog eggs were injected with the lung protein alone to measure its function. Second, researchers injected frog eggs with both the M2 protein and the lung protein and found that the function of the lung protein was significantly decreased. Using molecular biology techniques, scientists isolated the segment of the M2 protein responsible for the damage to the lung protein. Then they demonstrated that without this segment, the protein was unable to cause damage. Third, the full M2 protein (with the "offending" segment intact) and the lung protein were then re-injected into the frog eggs along with drugs known to remove oxidants. This too prevented the M2 protein from causing damage to the lung protein. These experiments were repeated using cells from human lungs with exactly the same results.
"Although vaccines will remain the first line of intervention against the flu for a long time to come, this study opens the door for entirely new treatments geared toward stopping the virus after you're sick," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, "and as Thanksgiving approaches, this discovery is another reason to drink red wine to your health."
Ahmed Lazrak, Karen E. Iles, Gang Liu, Diana L. Noah, James W. Noah, and Sadis Matalon. Influenza virus M2 protein inhibits epithelial sodium channels by increasing reactive oxygen species. The FASEB Journal, 2009
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029125538.htm
New research from Japan: Green tea fights blood and liver cancer, as well as pneumonia
S. L. Baker, NaturalNews.com November 2, 2009
(NaturalNews) Three new studies by Japanese scientists add even more evidence to what already is an astounding mountain of data showing green tea protects and heals the human body. All of the research is based on findings from the huge Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohort Study in Japan which involved 41,761 Japanese adults between 40 and 79 years of age. None of the research subjects had a history of cancer when the study started and their diets, along with other lifestyle factors and any health problems they developed, were followed for about ten years.
In a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, Dr. Toru Naganuma of Tohoku University School of Medicine in Senda and colleagues reported that drinking at least five daily cups of green tea was found to slash the risk of blood cancers by 42% and lymph system cancers by 48%. What's more, these enormous reductions in cancer were consistent in both men and women and in people with various body mass sizes.
While Dr. Naganuma was looking at blood and lymph cancer rates, another research team in the Division of Epidemiology in Tohoku University's Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine was also searching the Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohort Study and they discovered yet another link between green tea and cancer prevention. Their study, published in the September issue of the journal Cancer Causes and Controlfound that green tea consumption was inversely associated with the incidence of liver cancer. The study documented that the more green tea consumed, the more the risk plummeted -- five cups or more offered the most protection from liver malignancies.
Yet another study of the Ohsaki data by scientists at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, published in the September edition of theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found a strong link between drinking green tea and protection against pneumonia in women. The researchers noted in their paper that experimental and animal studies have previously shown that catechins, antioxidant phytochemicals found abundantly in green tea, are active against infectious agents -- so that could be a possible explanation for green tea's apparent pneumonia-fighting ability.
They excluded any research participants who were missing information on their green tea consumption or who had reported a history of cancer, heart attack or stroke. In all, the scientists followed the research subjects' health for over 12 years. The results showed, at least for women, a dramatic reduction in the risk of pneumonia for green tea drinkers. Once again, drinking five or more cups a day appeared to offer the most benefit.
NaturalNews has consistently reported on research demonstrating how green tea can help prevent and heal a spectrum of diseases and conditions. For example, green tea appears to prevent leukemia (http://www.naturalnews.com/026911_g...) and prostate cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/026872_P...). Recently, scientists have found that green tea may help prevent and treat the bone-robbing condition known as osteoporosis, too
http://www.naturalnews.com/027379_green_tea_cancer_blood.html
Sedatives Increase Risk of Suicides in Elderly
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com November 2, 2009
(NaturalNews) Taking sedatives or sleeping pills increases the suicide risk of senior citizens by 300 percent, according to a study conducted by researchers from Gothenburg University in Sweden and published in the journal BMC Geriatrics.
"Clinicians need to be aware of this, as these drugs are widely prescribed to the elderly," the researchers wrote.
Researchers compared the medical records of 85 Gothenburg residents above the age of 65 who had committed suicide with a group of the same age who had not committed suicide. After adjusting for suicide risk factors relating to each individual's history of mental illness, the researchers found that neither antidepressant nor antipsychotic use led to an increase in suicide risk. In contrast, the rate of suicides was four times higher among those who took sedatives or hypnotics (sleeping pills) as among those who did not.
Sedative and hypnotics are widely prescribed to seniors suffering from anxiety, depression or insomnia. Previous research has indicated that having any of these conditions already increases a person's suicide risk.
"Persons with these problems might be more likely to seek health care and perhaps more likely to receive prescriptions for psychotropic drugs," the researchers wrote.
Sedatives and hypnotics are typically indicated only for short-term use, and doctors are already urged to prescribe them to older adults with caution, as they can increase the risk of falls. The current study only adds to the risks associated with the drugs.
"A careful evaluation of the suicide risk should be carried out when an elderly person presents with symptoms of anxiety and sleep disturbance," the researchers wrote.
The researchers could not determine from this study whether the drugs actually caused an increase in suicidal behavior -- such as by increasing impulsiveness or aggression, including the tendency to self-harm -- or simply provided an easy means for people to commit suicide, by overdosing.
The World Health Organization estimates that for every person that commits suicide, 10 to 40 attempts are made. An estimated 877,000 people kill themselves every year.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027375_suicide_suicides_risk.html
Venezuela Bans Coke Zero Citing Health Concerns
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com November , 2009
(NaturalNews) The Venezuelan government has banned the sugar-free soft drink Coke Zero, citing concerns that its artificial sweetener is harmful to human health.
"The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans," Health Minister Jesus Mantilla said.
The ruling called for the product to be removed from all store shelves and destroyed, and for all further production to cease pending an investigation into the drink's safety. Coke said that it would comply with the government order.
Coke Zero is a zero-calorie soft drink marketed at young men who are reluctant to drink beverages labeled "diet" because they associate the word with women. It is also billed as tasting more similar to Coca-Cola Classic than Diet Coke does.
In a number of Latin American countries, the product is sweetened with sodium cyclamate, which has been banned in the United States as a carcinogen since 1969. Although the Mexican government had authorized the ingredient as an additive in 2006, consumer pressure forced the Coca-Cola Company to removed it from Coke Zero in 2008.
In the United States, Coke Zero is sweetened with aspartame, which has been linked to neurological damage.
Mantilla said that Coke had failed to mention sodium cyclamate in its application to market the product in Venezuela, but that government tests turned up the sweetener in concentrations of 18 to 22 milligrams per 10 milliliters. This exceeded the threshold set by the Venezuelan Commission of Industrial Norms for safe human consumption.
According to Health Ministry official Divis Antunez, the maximum recommended intake of sodium cyclamate is only 11 milligrams per kilogram of weight.
The action against Coke Zero is only the latest by a government determined to increase regulation of industry. Venezuela has already nationalized several oil companies and has seized factories owned by agribusiness and pharmaceutical giants Cargill and Pfizer. It also recently expropriated a Coke parking lot to build housing for the poor.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027368_Venezuela_health_sodium.html
Junk food as 'addictive as drugs'
Junk food is almost as addictive as heroin, scientists have found.
The Telegraph, UK, 28 Oct 2009
A diet of burgers, chips, sausages and cake will programme your brain into craving even more foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat, according to new research.
Over the years these junk foods can become a substitute for happiness and will lead bingers to become addicted.
Dr Paul Kenny, a neuroscientist, carried out the research which shows how dangerous high fat and high sugar foods can be to our health .
“You lose control. It’s the hallmark of addiction,” he said.
The researchers believe it is one of the first studies to suggest brains may react in the same way to junk food as they do to drugs.
“This is the most complete evidence to date that suggests obesity and drug addiction have common neuro-biological foundations,” said Paul Johnson, Dr Kenny’s work colleague.
Dr Kenny, who began his research at Guy’s Hospital, London, but now works at Florida’s Scripps Research Institute, divided rats into three groups for his research, due to be published in teh US soon.
One got normal amounts of healthy food to eat. Another lot was given restricted amounts of junk food and the third group was given unlimited amounts of junk, including cheesecake, fatty meat products, and cheap sponge cakes and chocolate snacks.
There were no adverse effects on the first two groups, but the rats who ate as much junk food as they wanted quickly became very fat and started bingeing.
When researchers electronically stimulated the part of the brain that feels pleasure, they found that the rats on unlimited junk food needed more and more stimulation to register the same level of pleasure as the animals on healthier diets.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6451119/Junk-food-as-addictive-as-drugs.html
Junk food diet can give you depression
Times of India, 2 November 2009
People who indulge in diets high in processed food face an increased risk of depression, says a new study.
To reach the conclusion, researchers at University College London examined the link between the diet and depression.
Lead author Dr Archana Singh-Manoux discovered those who ate lots of vegetables, fruit and fish had a 26 per cent lower risk of future depression.
On the other hand, a mainly processed food diet, such as sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products, left consumers with a 58 per cent higher risk of depression, reports the British Journal of Psychiatry.
"There was a paper showing a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of depression but the problem with that is if you live in Britain the likelihood of you eating a Mediterranean diet is not very high,� The BBC quoted Dr Archana as saying.
“So we wanted to look at bit differently at the link between diet and mental health," she added.
Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation further said: "This study adds to an existing body of solid research that shows the strong links between what we eat and our mental health.
"Major studies like this are crucial because they hold the key to us better understanding mental illness."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Junk-food-diet-can-give-you-depression/articleshow/5188361.cms
Mercury-Free Flu Shots Available: But Vitamin D and Homeopathy Better Prevent the Flu
Melanie Grimes, NaturalNews.com November 1, 2009
(NaturalNews) Because of the outcry against mercury in the swine flu vaccine, six thousand doses of mercury-free flu shots are being made available. With 160 million doses of the regular flu shot being shipped, the mercury-free flu vaccine will go fast. Those who feel a need to be vaccinated, can ask for the mercury-free shot, which health providers will need to keep under refrigeration. Other options for preventing the flu include homeopathy and vitamin D therapy, both of which have been shown to be effective in preventing colds and flu.
Do the flu shots work? Influenza mortality, death from the flu, has not decreased in the last 15 years, even though the number of flu vaccinated people has increased from 10% to 60%.
Homeopathy has been effective in treating flu in the past, even showing great efficacy in the 1918 Flu Epidemic. (http://www.naturalnews.com/026148_h...). Many homeopathic remedies are specifics for the flu, and research this past year has shown that the remedies Nux vomica, Eupatorium, and Bryonia have acted well on this year`s flu strains. http://www.naturalnews.com/026279_t...
As concerns about dangers from the swine flu vaccine grow, many people are looking for alternatives. Natural remedies for the flu are plentiful in nature. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce colds and flu. A study published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection demonstrated that taking 2,000 I.U of vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of viral infections. Only one person out of 104 in the study had the flu while taking 2000 I.U. doses of vitamin D, while the people in the control group, who did not take vitamin D, had three colds EACH for a total of 312 colds.
According to the study, vitamin D protected the lining of the cells that line the respiratory tracts, acting as a barrier to infection. The study also showed that people who received the flu shot in the winter, when vitamin D supplies in the body are lower, had a greater chance of developing fevers after the vaccination. Vitamin D also prevents an "excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines," the study reported. Furthermore, they stated that a vitamin D deficiency actually predisposes children to infections in their lungs.
Many other natural nutrients and foods, some found in our kitchen cabinets, can provide both immunity and healing treatment for the cold and flu. Green tea, garlic, ginger, and even lemonade provide comfort and relief for flu symptoms.
By building strong immunity now, the H1N1 flu vaccine can safely be avoided by many, especially those who are concerned about mercury exposure. Even without concerns for mercury, specialists have noted that increasing vitamin D intake can reduce fever and side effects following vaccination. A recommended regime for avoiding the swine flu vaccination altogether should include 2,000 units of vitamin D daily, and homeopathic remedies.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027362_Vitamin_D_homeopathy_the_flu.html
Olive Oil is a Medical Marvel
Frank Mangano, NaturalNews.com October 31, 2009
(NaturalNews) In the 1930s comic strip "Popeye," Olive Oil was portrayed as a skinny weakling, a perpetual damsel in distress who couldn't survive without her Popeye coming to the rescue. But in the health world, olive oil is no nutritional weakling.
Besides being one of the best sources to go to for a healthy dose of monounsaturated fat - a key nutrient for lowering cholesterol levels - olive oil is something of a medical marvel. It's always been known as a healthy oil, but only recently have we come to know just what it is specifically aboutolive oil that makes it so darn healthy.
For starters, olive oil - particularly extra virgin olive oil - is very high in antioxidants, one in particular called DHPEA-EDA. When researchers exposed red blood cells under oxidative stress to this and other antioxidants, they found that the DHPEA-EDA provided the best "stress-alleviation," if you will, fighting off the free radicals to a greater extent than the three other antioxidant compounds used in the study.
Writing in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, the researchers say their findings give nutritionists the first glimpse of what makes olive oil so medically marvelous. But a new study linking extra virgin olive oil to Alzheimer's disease prevention suggests there's even more to olive oil than meets the eye.
It's called oleocanthal, and it's a natural compound found in rich supply in extra virgin olive oil. Some say oleocanthal is what gives olive oil its "peppery bite," but the only bite researchers were recently concerned with was whether it could take a bite out of Alzheimer's disease.
The answer? You bet it can!
Writing in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, researchers said the oleocanthal in olive oil binds to toxic proteins that clog the synapses on the hippocampus, which is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease onset. The hippocampus is the section of the brain that's most adversely affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Now, this study was not clinical, but researchers believe that future studies investigating olive oil's ties to Alzheimer's prevention will include humans. In the meantime, if history is any guide, it wouldn't be at all surprising if yet another study comes out pointing to yet another aspect of olive oil that makes it so medically marvelous.
It is generally recommended that people consume about two tablespoons worth of olive oil for maximum health benefit. And to reap the benefits of as many antioxidants as possible, purchase extra virgin olive oil, being sure to store it in an area that's not well lit. A study published in New Scientist found that extra virgin olive oils lost at least 30 percent of their antioxidant content after one year of storage in a well-lit area.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027356_olive_oil_health_antioxidant.html
Diet soda can damage your kidney
Times of India 2 November 2009
Too much diet soda can lead to decline in kidney function among women, say researchers.
The team from Brigham and Women's Hospital has found that individuals consuming a diet high in sodium or artificially sweetened drinks might be damaging their kidney.
"There are currently limited data on the role of diet in kidney disease," said Dr Julie Lin, MPH, FASN of Brigham and Women's Hospital.
"While more study is needed, our research suggests that higher sodium and artificially sweetened soda intake are associated with greater rate of decline in kidney function." Lin added.
In the study involving more than 3,000 women found that "in women with well-preserved kidney function, higher dietary sodium intake was associated with greater kidney function decline, which is consistent with experimental animal data that high sodium intake promotes progressive kidney decline."
Another study also conducted by Dr. Lin and Dr. Gary Curhan examined the influence of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages on kidney function decline in the same group of Nurses'' Health Study participants.
This investigation reported "a significant two-fold increased odds, between two or more servings per day of artificially sweetened soda and faster kidney function decline; no relation between sugar-sweetened beverages and kidney function decline was noted" said Dr. Lin.
The findings were presented at the American Society of Nephrology''s annual meeting in San Diego, California.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Diet-soda-can-damage-your-kidney/articleshow/5185795.cms
Kissing spreads bugs that protect pregnancy
Times of India, 31 October 2009
Kissing was created to spread germs which build up immunity to illness, believe scientists.
The loved-up gesture allows a bug, which is dangerous in pregnancy, to be passed from man to woman to give her time to build up protection against it, reports The Telegraph.
The bug, Cytomegalovirus, is found in saliva and generally causes no problems. However, it can turn nasty if caught while pregnant and can kill unborn babies or cause birth defects.
Researcher Dr Colin Hendrie from the University of Leeds, said: "Female inoculation with a specific male's cytomegalovirus is most efficiently achieved through mouth-to-mouth contact and saliva exchange, particularly where the flow of saliva is from the male to the typically shorter female."
He wrote in the journal Medical Hypotheses that kissing the same person for about six months provides the best protection. And as the relationship reach new levels, the kisses become more passionate, which results in building up of the woman's immunity and cutting her odds of becoming ill.
By the time she becomes pregnant, the odds of her unborn baby becoming infected are much lower.
Dr Hendrie said: "Information concerning body tone, smell, reproductive condition, disease state and, of course, personal physical and oral hygiene can all be gained solely from close physical proximity.
"The small amount of additional information from kissing is an unlikely pressure for its development."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Kissing-spreads-bugs-that-protect-pregnancy--/articleshow/5183985.cms
Nanotechnology: A risky frontier?
Star Tribune (Minneapolis), November 1, 2009
RUSHFORD, MINN. -- Inside a cramped back room at Rushford Hypersonic, a start-up headquartered in southeastern Minnesota, sits a cube-like machine that throws a mean atomic fastball.
At the push of a button, the reactor hurls atoms toward a substrate material at eight times faster than the speed of sound.
The result is a coating that significantly strengthens industrial tools such as knives and drill bits. Rushford's technology, licensed from the University of Minnesota, is just one example of how local companies, from corporate giants such as Medtronic Inc. and Seagate Technology to start-ups like Rushford, Vixar Inc., and BioCee Inc., are embracing nanotechnology.
"It's the next generation," said Rushford CEO Daniel Fox, who bills his start-up as the first nanotechnology company in rural Minnesota. "It's what's coming. Nanotech does not need to be done by just big corporations like IBM and Ford. If we don't do it, we're going to be left behind because the rest of the world is really pushing it."
Broadly defined, nanotechnology is the science of coaxing special properties out of matter less than 100 nanometers. At that small size -- one nanometer equals 1/10,000 the width of a human hair -- some matter displays unique characteristics, such as greater surface size, electrical conductivity and resistance to liquids like water. The result is batteries that pack more juice, light bulbs that use less energy, and, further down the road, medical devices that can deliver drugs and stem cells to diseased tissue anywhere in the body. In Rushford's case, the coating's nanoparticles bind closer together, increasing hardness, resisting fracture and better tolerating heat.
But if size is nanotechnology's greatest asset, it's also the science's greatest worry. Matter may be helpful at such a small size. But could it also be harmful? Some studies suggest carbon nanotubes could damage the lungs in the same manner as asbestos fibers. Nano-sized carbon and silver also can quickly reach the brain if inhaled. Scientists have yet to determine how humans and the environment react to nanomaterials over time and at different exposure levels.
Still lacking consensus
Despite decades of research, federal regulators, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration, are still struggling to define and identify nanotechnologies, let alone determine if they cause cancer or genetic mutation. Without clear scientific and legal guidance, some companies are hesitant to fully embrace nanotechnology, mindful of the billions of dollars in jury awards and cleanup costs associated with asbestos and pesticides. Insurance companies like Travelers Companies Inc. in St. Paul also wonder whether they should underwrite companies using nanotechnologies.
"The lack of clear regulations really keeps companies from finding markets," said Mark Bunger, a research director for Lux Research in San Francisco. "They're also not looking for product improvements they could get out of nanotechnology. If consumers aren't sure about it and the regulators aren't sure about it, then sellers of nanomaterials can't find buyers."
Companies are especially sensitive to how the public reacts to a new technology. In general, the public doesn't know much about nanoscience, which means any health or safety scare, even an unfounded one, could doom the technology, no matter how promising, experts say. For example, worldwide fears of genetically modified crops, introduced in the 1990s, cost U.S. farmers $100 million in export losses a year, according to the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., despite the lack of evidence biotech foods are unsafe.
"We're aware of that," said Darrel Untereker, Medtronic's vice president of research and technology. "We would be foolish not to realize that perception becomes reality. Unfounded worries will always be troublesome to some industries. But we have to use our heads and listen to the science. We should worry about things that are real."
Medtronic has used nanotech coatings on millions of its implantable devices for years without any problems, he said.
http://www.startribune.com/business/67823902.html
Scientists: Melting ice a growing concern
SeaCoast Online, November 02, 2009
Rafe Pomerance has been working as an advocate for climate change for more than 30 years, since that time long ago and far away when President Jimmy Carter first asked the country to wean itself from foreign oil and instituted rebates for solar panels.
The president of Portsmouth-based Clean Air-Cool Planet, Pomerance also served as deputy assistant Secretary of State for the environment and development during the Clinton administration. And he's held positions in Friends of the Earth, the World Resource Institute, the National Clean Air Coalition and the League of Conservation Voters.
All of these credentials are by way of saying he knows what he's talking about. And what he's talking about is not very encouraging for our planet.
Pomerance was in Hampton last Thursday, when Clean Air-Cool Planet held a conference to present the most recent findings of University of Maine and University of New Hampshire scientists who have been working on the coast of Greenland for the past 15 years.
Gordon Hamilton of UMaine and Mark Fahnestock of UNH both said the ice sheets there are melting at such a rate that they have concluded the coastline here in the Seacoast region will likely rise by as much as 3 feet in the next 100 years. Just a few years ago, scientists forecast a 1- to 2-foot rise.
While 3 feet may not sound like much, they created a year-2100 map of Hampton Beach, which would essentially be under water as the ocean took over more and more of the land.
Their research is bolstered by research released recently in the journal Nature. Researchers at the British Antarctic Survey analyzed millions of NASA satellite measurements to conclude ice loss is much more rapid than had been thought even a few years ago.
So I asked Pomerance, not unlike Ebenezer Scrooge asked the Ghost of Christmas Future, is this a vision of what will be, or is this a vision of what might be if we don't change our ways?
"The analysis assumes continued warming. There are things that can be done to limit the amount of warming, so that the results they're talking about isn't preordained," he said of Hamilton and Fahnestock's analysis. "But the odds of reversing the trend are significant, because the behavior of governments to this stage doesn't create optimism that this is going to change."
Governments. As I become more and more versed in this matter of climate change and global warming, I become more convinced it all comes down to governments.
That doesn't mean that each of us individually shouldn't do all we can within our means to reduce our own carbon footprint.
Quite the contrary, I think the more people who "get it," the more people who live more sustainable lives, the more they will feel it necessary to engage their governments, to contact their elected representatives, to advocate for movement.
And do they ever need moving, says Pomerance.
"This is a very, very serious matter. We've already committed ourselves to a significant warming with what has already happened," he said. "We need to turn this around really fast, and unfortunately, it takes a lot of time to change the system."
In December, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Copenhagen.
Like the previous conference in Kyoto 10 years ago, its aim is to establish a benchmark for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
Going into this conference, things don't look particularly rosy.
The United States failed to come out a leader in talks several months ago with the world's largest nations and developing nations. And make no mistake, the U.S. is the gorilla in the room. As Pomerance said, "it's hard to influence other countries if we don't take steps. They say, 'If the U.S. doesn't, why should we?'"
The U.S. Senate is currently debating a climate change bill, but it's getting bogged down and won't be passed in time for Copenhagen.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20091102-NEWS-911020351
Climate change 'killing children'
The Scotsman 02 November 2009
CLIMATE change could be responsible for the death a quarter of a million children next year, according to a leading charity. Save the Children said yesterday the figure could rise to more than 400,000 annually by 2030.
A report, Feeling the Heat, claims climate change is the biggest global health threat to children in the 21st century.
The charity predicts that 175 million children a year will suffer the consequences of natural disasters such as cyclones, droughts and floods by 2030. And it warns that more than 900 million children in the next generation will be affected by water shortages and 160 million more will be at risk of catching malaria – one of the biggest killers of children under five – as it spreads to new parts of the world.
Save the Children is urging world leaders to put children first during climate change negotiations in Barcelona this week, ahead of the Copenhagen summit in December.
Ultravox star Midge Ure, a Save the Children ambassador, recently returned to Ethiopia 25 years after the 1984 famine which prompted him to create Band Aid with Bob Geldof.
"Climate change is no longer a distant, futuristic scenario, but an immediate threat," he said.
"I asked one farmer in the highlands of Ethiopia what would happen if the food aid stopped coming. He replied, 'It is in the hands of the gods.' Maybe we could lend a hand as well?"
Save the Children's director of policy, David Mepham, said: "Climate change is a ticking time bomb. Global leaders need to act now to stop the needless deaths of millions of children."
http://news.scotsman.com/environment/Climate-change-39killing-children39.5785206.jp
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