December 11, 2009

Heart failure linked to gene variant affecting vitamin D activation
NewsRx.comb  12-10-09
Previous studies have shown a link between low vitamin D status and heart disease. Now a new study shows that patients with high blood pressure who possess a gene variant that affects an enzyme critical to normal vitamin D activation are twice as likely as those without the variant to have congestive heart failure (see also University of Michigan Health System).
"This study is the first indication of a genetic link between vitamin D action and heart disease," says Robert U. Simpson, professor of pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School and one of the authors of the study in the journal Pharmacogenomics.
"This study revealed that a critical enzyme absolutely required for production of the vitamin D hormone has a genetic variant associated with the development of congestive heart failure," Simpson says. "If subsequent studies confirm this finding and demonstrate a mechanism, this means that in the future, we may be able to screen earlier for those most vulnerable and slow the progress of the disease." Such a screening test would be years away.
Study co-authors Russel A. Wilke of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Catherine A. McCarthy of the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in Marshfield, Wis., analyzed the genetic profiles of 617 subjects from the Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Project, a large DNA biobank. They looked for variants in five candidate genes chosen for their roles in vitamin D regulation and hypertension. One-third of the subjects had both hypertension and congestive heart failure, one-third had hypertension alone and one-third were included as healthy controls.
The results showed that a variant in the CYP27B1 gene was associated with congestive heart failure in patients with hypertension. It is already known that mutations that inactivate this gene reduce the required conversion of vitamin D into an active hormone.
"This initial study needs to be confirmed with a larger study that would permit analysis of the full cardiovascular profile of the population possessing the gene variant," Simpson says. A future study also would need to include people of more diverse origins than this study's population of mostly European ancestry, the authors say.
Keywords: Biotechnology, Blood Pressure, Cardiology, Congestive Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Drugs, Heart Disease, Hormones, Hypertension, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacogenomic, Pharmacology, Therapy, Treatment, University of Michigan Health System.
This article was prepared by Hematology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Hematology Week via NewsRx.com.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=9114&Section=Vitamins

Concord Grape Juice Shown to Help Keep Hearts and Minds Healthy---Data from major scientific conference links consumption of Concord grape juice to improved blood pressure and memory

PR Newswire  12-10-09
HARROGATE, England, Dec, 9, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- An amazing 80 percent of Americans are currently consuming, or would be interested in consuming foods or beverages for health benefits.(1) For adults of all ages, a desire to maintain overall wellness is of utmost importance and likely driving interest in these 'functional foods'. Research presented this week at the 4th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH) further demonstrates that Concord grape juice may play a role in the preservation of health, by supporting blood pressure control and healthy brain function in certain populations.
New Food for Thought
Growing evidence suggests the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods and beverages, such as fruits and vegetables and their 100% juices, may help slow and possibly even reverse age-related cognitive decline. Preliminary research from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati was presented by Dr. Robert Krikorian at the ICPH, which demonstrated that drinking Concord grape juice may provide a benefit for older adults with early memory decline.
Dr. Krikorian included 12 older adults with early memory loss in his study. Each participant drank 100% Concord grape juice or a calorie-matched placebo for 12 weeks and was tested with measures of memory function including both verbal and non-verbal tasks. Krikorian reported, "While there were no differences between the groups at baseline, following treatment, those drinking Concord grape juice demonstrated significant improvement in list learning. In addition, trends suggested improved short-term retention and spatial (nonverbal) memory." He added, "These results with Concord grape juice are very encouraging and certainly warrant additional study. A simple, easy-to-incorporate dietary intervention that could improve or protect memory function, such as drinking Concord grape juice, may be beneficial for the aging population."
Power of the Concord Grape to Control Blood Pressure
Data demonstrates that nocturnal blood pressure, (blood pressure at night) reflects cardiovascular health. Under healthy circumstances, blood pressure will dip down at night; this is known as nocturnal dipping. Evidence suggests that "non-dippers" have increased risk for future cardiovascular events. At the conference, Dr. Joseph Vita of Boston University School of Medicine presented data from a study which compared the effect of Concord grape juice on blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels to the effects of a calorie-matched, non-polyphenol-containing, placebo beverage. His study included 64 men and women with blood pressures classified as pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. None of the study participants were on any medication for their elevated blood pressure.
While this research did not find a significant decrease in blood pressure using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, other results suggested that the consumption of Concord grape juice may have a beneficial impact on blood pressure control. This study showed that drinking Concord grape juice had favorable effects on nocturnal blood pressure, while body weight, blood glucose and fasting insulin levels were not impacted. The placebo had the opposite effect, with a rise both in nocturnal blood pressure and fasting glucose.
More than a decade of cardiovascular research suggests that Concord grape juice can help promote a healthy heart and flexible arteries (2,3,4,5) which contributes to healthy arterial function, circulation and blood pressure. These results further demonstrate that dietary approaches to maintaining healthy blood pressure should not be overlooked.
Welch Foods Inc. is proud to support the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health. Welch's is dedicated to investing in the promotion and expansion of the scientific understanding of food and nutrition.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=9113&Section=Nutrition

Registered Dietitians Identify Diet 'Gaps' - and How to Handle Them---Dietary Supplements Play a Significant Role in Wellness

PR Newswire 12-10-09
WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- It wouldn't be surprising to find that registered dietitians (RDs) are among the healthiest eaters in the United States, but their healthy habits extend beyond diet. Registered dietitians demonstrate a commitment to the three pillars of health: a healthy diet, supplements and regular exercise. According to new research from the "Life...supplemented" 2009 Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study, eight in 10 registered dietitians view dietary supplements as important for maintaining health.
The study shows 81 percent of registered dietitians agree most people have gaps in their diets that can be filled with vitamins and other dietary supplements. Many include themselves in this group, with 76 percent agreeing that supplement use can address their own diet gaps. Registered dietitians' actions follow suit, with nine in 10 (96 percent) taking supplements and recommending them to their clients (97 percent).
Which supplements are registered dietitians taking? Most commonly, they are taking a multivitamin (84 percent). RDs also take specialty supplements (64 percent take at least one specialty supplement), such as Omega-3 fish oils (47 percent), herbal or botanical supplements (46 percent) or fiber (22 percent). Over half of registered dietitians take supplements for improved bone health (58 percent) and overall health and wellness (53 percent).
"Registered dietitians know people's eating habits, and we know that people don't always eat correctly," says Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports medicine nutrition for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the Center for Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and advisor to the "Life...supplemented" campaign. "A healthy diet works in concert with exercise and responsible use of supplements for a wellness lifestyle. We're seeing RDs champion these three components to overall wellness."
Seven in 10 registered dietitians who recommend supplements to their clients report doing so for bone health (72 percent) and to fill nutrition gaps (69 percent).
According to Ms. Bonci the opportunity for registered dietitians to introduce the three pillars of health (healthy diet + dietary supplements + exercise) continues to grow as more consumers focus on wellness. Research shows the need for education about supplement use is significant: Less than one-quarter (23 percent) of RDs agree that their clients have a good understanding of the recommended daily intake of dietary supplements. "Registered dietitians can help fill the education gap for their clients," she said.
A good way to start the conversation with a registered dietitian is to visit www.lifesupplemented.org and take "My Wellness Scorecard." It's a free, fast, fun interactive wellness quiz that helps identify realistic and personalized steps people can take toward better health. Ms. Bonci recommends that individuals take their results to their registered dietitian or other healthcare professional to develop a wellness regimen that works for them.
Methodology: Results from the 2009 "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study went public in December 2009 and comprise three separate surveys - (300) nurse practitioners, (300) pharmacists and (300) registered dietitians. Seventy-four percent of RDs taking the study identified themselves as members of the American Dietetic Association, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Margins of sampling error at a 95 percent confidence level are +/- 5.7 percentage points for each of the groups of healthcare professionals surveyed. A nominal honorarium was given to each healthcare professional completing the survey. Ipsos Public Affairs conducted the survey online. The first "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study of primary care physicians, OB/GYNs and nurses was conducted online in November 2007. The second study of cardiologists, orthopaedic specialists and dermatologists was conducted online in September 2008.
About the "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study: The study is part of the "Life...supplemented" consumer wellness campaign, which is dedicated to driving awareness about the mainstream use of dietary supplements as an integral part of a proactive personal wellness regimen that combines healthy diet, supplements and exercise. The study evaluates the personal attitudes and use of dietary supplements by healthcare professionals and whether their attitudes toward supplements affect their clinical behavior and recommendations to patients. The "Life...supplemented" campaign is managed by the CRN Foundation, an educational affiliate of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association for the dietary supplement industry. For more information: www.lifesupplemented.org.
SOURCE Life...supplemented
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=9111&Section=Vitamins

Antioxidants may boost colon health: Study

Nutraingredients.com, 10-Dec-2009

Selenium-based antioxidant supplements may prevent the development of new colon polyps in people with a history of polyp formation, says a new study.
Over 400 people participated in the study, which saw them receive either placebo or a antioxidant-rich supplement containing selenomethionnine, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E. At the end of the study people in the antioxidant group experienced a 40 per cent reduction in the incidence of new polyps of the large bowel.
“Our study is the first intervention trial specifically designed to evaluate the efficacy of the selenium-based antioxidant compound on the risk of developing metachronous adenomas,” said lead researcher Luigina Bonelli, MD, from Italy’s National Institute for Cancer Research in Genoa.
The study represents another step on the ladder of supporting the potential anti-cancer effects of the mineral. Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration said there is “no credible evidence” to support qualified health claims for selenium dietary supplements and a reduced risk of urinary tract cancers other than bladder cancer, lung and other respiratory tract cancers, colon and other digestive tract cancers, brain cancer, liver cancer, or breast cancer.
The research findings are being presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held in Houston. NutraIngredients has not seen the full data.
Adenomatous polyps (or adenoma) are benign lesions of the large bowel that, in time, could progress to cancer, explain the researchers. Even though only a small proportion of adenomas will develop into cancer, it is said that almost 70 to 80 per cent of colorectal cancer stems from an adenoma.
Study details
Bonelli and her co-workers randomly assigned the 411 participants aged between 25 and 75 to receive either placebo or the antioxidant supplement. The supplement provided daily doses of 200 micrograms of selenomethionnine, 30 milligrams of zinc, 6,000 IU of vitamin A, 180 milligrams of vitamin C, and 30 milligrams of vitamin E. All the participants had already undergone surgery to remove one or more colorectal adenomas.
“Our results indicated that individuals who consumed antioxidants had a 40 percent reduction in the incidence of metachronous adenomas of the large bowel,”said Bonelli. “It is noteworthy that the benefit observed after the conclusion of the trial persisted through 13 years of follow up.”
Selenium and prostate health – controversial or convincing?
While the science may be lacking for selenium and colon health, a greater body of science exists for the mineral and prostate health. However, this subject is controversial. A number of studies, most notably the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer study and the Alpha-tocopherol, Beta-carotene Cancer Prevention study, have reported that the nutrients, alone or in combination, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
With over half a million new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year world wide, and the cancer directly causing over 200,000 deaths, potential preventive measures are highly desirable. Despite great promise over vitamin E and selenium, recent results from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) reported no significant differences between any of the groups in relation to prostate cancer risk.
The results were greeted with disappointment, while many in both academia and industry indicating that, given positive results from previous clinical trials and epidemiological studies, the design of SELECT, including the supplements used, may have undermined the results.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Antioxidants-may-boost-colon-health-Study

Study shows link to dietary fats and lower immunity

Foodnavigator-usa.com , 10-Dec-2009

Fatty food rather than obesity in itself affected the ability of animals in a study to fight off sepsis caused by bacteria, claims a doctoral thesis from Sweden.
Results from a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg indicate that S. aureus-induced mortality is associated with dietary fat consisting of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, but not polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Doctoral student Louise Strandberg, in her thesis, also investigated different variants of three genes that are important for the immune system and noted that several of the gene variants that strengthen immunity also result in less obesity.
Method
Strandberg said that S. aureus-induced mortality was investigated in mice fed a lard-based high fat diet (HFD), a diet rich in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (HFD/S) or a low fat diet (LFD).
She explained that after eight weeks on these diets, the mice were intravenously inoculated with S. aureus.
She said that a fourth group was added that included mice fed a HFD rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (HFD/P) from fish.
Results
According to Strandberg her results showed that the obese HFD/S-fed mice had increased S. aureus induced mortality compared with the lean LFD-fed mice. The HFD/S-fed mice showed signs of immune suppression as evident by increased bacterial load and decreased capacity to phagocytose bacteria.
Furthermore, she found that the HFD/P-fed mice displayed a degree of obesity and glucose intolerance that was milder than in the HFD/S-fed mice, but higher than in LFD mice.
But, she added, the S. aureus induced mortality and the bacterial load of HFD/P-fed mice were comparable with that of LFD-fed mice, and markedly lower than that of mice fed HFD/S.
"Obesity is usually associated with inflammation that does not result from an infection, which simply means that the immune defences are activated unnecessarily," said Strandberg. "Ironically, the mice on the high-fat diet (HFD/S) seem to have a less active immune system when they really need it."
The doctoral student concluded that the white blood cells of the mice on the HFD/S diet got worse at dealing with bacteria in the blood, which, she claims, could have contributed to many of them dying of sepsis.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Study-shows-link-to-dietary-fats-and-lower-immunity

Folic acid may help prevent fetal heart defects
Last Updated: 2009-12-09 13:00:45 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Here's another reason for pregnant women to take folic acid supplements: they help prevent fetal heart malformations, new research from the Netherlands suggests.
"Given the relatively high prevalence of congenital heart defects worldwide, our findings are important for public health," Dr. Ingrid M. van Beynum of Radboud University in Nijmegen and her colleagues write.
Folic acid supplements are now recommended for all pregnant women, and women planning on becoming pregnant, in order to prevent birth defects involving the neural tube such as spina bifida. Many countries, including the US, now require bread and other wheat products to be fortified with folic acid for this reason, but this practice hasn't been adopted in The Netherlands.
While there's been some evidence that folic acid may help prevent heart-related birth defects too, van Beynum and her team write, "this has not yet been definitively established." Such defects are quite common, they note, occurring in up to 2 out of every 100 newborns worldwide.
To investigate further, the researchers used a national register of birth defects to identify 611 mothers who had given birth to a child with a heart defect, matching them to 2,401 women who delivered babies with genetic defects or other birth defects unrelated to folate.
Women who took a supplement containing at least 400 micrograms of folic acid were nearly 20 percent less likely to have a child with a heart defect, compared to other non-folate-related malformations, while their risk compared to the general population was 26 percent lower.
Their risk of having a child with a heart defect involving the septum -- which separates one side of the heart from the other -- was nearly 40 percent lower than that of the general population.
The current study couldn't show whether taking more or less than 400 micrograms of folic acid would be more effective in preventing heart defects, the researchers note, although there's increasing evidence that heavier women may need to take more folic acid to get the same protective effects.
The researchers conclude that women who want to become pregnant should take folic acid supplements around the time of conception, not only to prevent neural tube defects but also to reduce the risk of congenital heart defects.
SOURCE: European Heart Journal December 1, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/09/eline/links/20091209elin006.html

Tax sugary drinks to fight the flab, says expert
Last Updated: 2009-12-09 13:01:14 -0400 (Reuters Health)
LONDON (Reuters) - If Barry Popkin had his way, sugary drinks would be taxed like cigarettes, and the levy would go up and up until societies were weaned off them and stopped piling on weight.
A nutrition expert who has advised the U.S. government and health policy makers around the world, Popkin says the epidemic of obesity and weight gain sweeping the globe could be slowed dramatically if people revised the mantra "you are what you eat" to include "you are what you drink".
Reviving a taste for water could cut between 300 and 600 calories a day from the diet of an average American or Mexican and almost as much from the intake of many Europeans, he says.
"Depending on the country you live in, we now have between 10 and 25 percent of all calories consumed in sugary or caloric beverages," Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, told Reuters during a visit to Europe.
"This change has been phenomenal, particularly in the past 25 years. It's not the sole cause of the global obesity problem, but it's the thing we can change with the least affect on people's food intake."
Data on weight gain and rising obesity levels leave little room for doubt that fat is threatening to overwhelm health care systems and government health budgets around the world.
A report released on Wednesday said one in three American adults is obese, while a 2008 study by Popkin on China suggested obesity levels there are also rising rapidly, with more than a quarter of the population overweight or obese.
The number of people with diabetes - one of the major chronic diseases caused by excess weight - is already reaching epidemic levels, with an estimated 180 million people suffering from it around the world.
Diabetes cases are forecast to triple in the United States in the next 25 years to 44 million with the costs of caring for them rising to $336 billion a year.
Popkin reckons there are now around 25 countries where more than half of adults are overweight or obese and in many rich countries as well as some middle-income nations like South Africa, Mexico and Egypt, the rate is between 60 and 70 percent.
The World Health Organisation said in October that being overweight has now overtaken being underweight among the world's leading causes of death.
Popkin, who has studied diet in many countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States say the shift away from water to sugary drinks could be responsible for between a third and two thirds of the weight gain in the past 30 years.
"The obesity and weight issue is now bearing heavily on us and our health care costs," he said. "And it's getting worse."
But Popkin says efforts to tackle rising weight levels are focused too much on promoting exercise and healthier eating, and ignore the huge impact of calorie-laden drinks like juices, alcohol, fizzy soda and high fat, sugary milkshakes.
"Activity is not the solution - you can't run off a Coke or an ice-cream cone or candy bar very easily - it takes a lot of exercise to offset an extra hundred calories," he said.
The nutrition expert says the basic problem is that when people shift from drinking water or unsweetened tea and coffee to sugary drinks and juices, they don't cut their food intake.
But since the biological mechanisms controlling thirst and hunger are separate, he says reducing calories by changing people's drinking tastes - rather than chasing elusive ways to cut their eating - is a viable way of fighting fat.
Popkin acknowledges it would take time - probably a decade - to change the world's tastes away from sugary drinks, but he said policy makers should look at tobacco as an example and use taxes as their weapon.
Ever higher taxes on smoking and policies to ban smoking in public paces are helping cut tobacco use in Europe - and studies show a positive effect on cancer rates.
"I'd like a system where sugary drinks were taxed the most, diet drinks less and water not at all," Popkin said. "If that tax added even 15 or 20 percent to the cost, it would have a significant effect on weaning society off sugary drinks."
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/09/eline/links/20091209elin025.html

Patients Lack Knowledge of Medications They Were Given in Hospital, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2009) — In a new study to asses patient awareness of medications prescribed during a hospital visit, 44% of patients believed they were receiving a medication they were not, and 96% were unable to recall the name of at least one medication that they had been prescribed during hospitalization. These findings are published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Inpatient medication errors represent an important patient safety issue, with one review finding some degree of error in almost one in every five medication doses. The patient, as the last link in the medication administration chain, represents the final individual capable of preventing an incorrect medication administration. Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine conducted a pilot study to assess patient awareness of their in-hospital medications and surveyed attitudes towards increased patient knowledge of hospital medications.
"Overall, patients in the study were able to name fewer than half of their hospital medications," said lead researcher Ethan Cumbler, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver. "Our findings are particularly striking in that we found significant deficits in patient understanding of their hospital medications even among patients who believed they knew, or desired to know, what is being prescribed to them in the hospital."
The study involved 50 participants, aged between 21 and 89, who all self-identified as knowing their outpatient medications, spoke English, and were from the community around the University of Colorado Hospital. Nursing home residents and patients with a history of dementia were excluded.
Patients younger than 65 were unable to name 60% of medications which they could take as needed, whereas patients older than 65 were unable to name 88% of these medications. This difference remained even after adjustment for number of medications. For scheduled medications, which need to be taken at specific times, there was no difference in recall according to age.
Antibiotics were the most commonly omitted scheduled medication with 17% of all omitted drugs being from this medication group, followed by cardiovascular medications (16%), and antithrombotics (15%). Among medications which could be taken as needed, analgesics (33%) and gastrointestinal medications (29%) were commonly omitted by patient recall.
"Our study suggests that adult medicine inpatients believe learning about their hospital medications would increase their satisfaction and has potential to promote medication safety," added Cumbler. "I believe the findings of this research raise very interesting questions about the role and responsibilities of patients in the hospital with respect to their medication safety."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091210000845.htm

Women With Breast Cancer Who Consume Soy Food Have Lower Risk of Cancer Recurrence

ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — Although there is a concern regarding the safety of soy food consumption among breast cancer survivors, researchers have found that women in China who had breast cancer and a higher intake of soy food had an associated lower risk of death and breast cancer recurrence, according to a study in the December 9 issue of JAMA.
"Soy foods are rich in isoflavones, a major group of phytoestrogens that have been hypothesized to reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, the estrogen-like effect of isoflavones and the potential interaction between isoflavones and tamoxifen have led to concern about soy food consumption among breast cancer patients," the authors write.
Xiao Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn., and colleagues examined the association between soy isoflavone intake with breast cancer recurrence and survival. The researchers analyzed data from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a large, population-based study of 5,042 female breast cancer survivors in China. Women ages 20 to 75 years with diagnoses of breast cancer between March 2002 and April 2006 were recruited and followed up through June 2009. Information on cancer diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle exposures after cancer diagnosis, and disease progression was collected at approximately 6 months after cancer diagnosis and was reassessed at three follow-up interviews conducted at 18, 36, and 60 months after diagnosis. A Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry database was used to obtain survival information for participants who were lost to follow-up.
After a median (midpoint) follow-up of 3.9 years, 444 total deaths and 534 recurrences or breast cancer-related deaths were documented among the group of 5,033 surgically-treated breast cancer patients. Soy food intake, as measured by either soy protein or soy isoflavone intake, was inversely associated with mortality and recurrence. Patients in the group with the highest intake of soy protein had a 29 percent lower risk of death during the study period, and a 32 percent lower risk of breast cancer recurrence compared to patients with the lowest intake of soy protein. The adjusted 4-year mortality rates were 10.3 percent and 7.4 percent and the 4-year recurrence rates were 11.2 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively, for women with the lowest and highest groups of soy protein intake.
"The inverse association was evident among women with either estrogen receptor-positive or -negative breast cancer and was present in both users and nonusers of tamoxifen," the researchers write.
"In summary, in this population-based prospective study, we found that soy food intake is safe and was associated with lower mortality and recurrence among breast cancer patients. The association of soy food intake with mortality and recurrence appears to follow a linear dose-response pattern until soy food intake reached 11 grams/day of soy protein; no additional benefits on mortality and recurrence were observed with higher intakes of soy food. This study suggests that moderate soy food intake is safe and potentially beneficial for women with breast cancer."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208162639.htm

Social Scientists Build Case for 'Survival of the Kindest'
ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are challenging long-held beliefs that human beings are wired to be selfish. In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.
In contrast to "every man for himself" interpretations of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, Dacher Keltner, a UC Berkeley psychologist and author of "Born to be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life," and his fellow social scientists are building the case that humans are successful as a species precisely because of our nurturing, altruistic and compassionate traits.
They call it "survival of the kindest."
"Because of our very vulnerable offspring, the fundamental task for human survival and gene replication is to take care of others," said Keltner, co-director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. "Human beings have survived as a species because we have evolved the capacities to care for those in need and to cooperate. As Darwin long ago surmised, sympathy is our strongest instinct."
Empathy in our genes
Keltner's team is looking into how the human capacity to care and cooperate is wired into particular regions of the brain and nervous system. One recent study found compelling evidence that many of us are genetically predisposed to be empathetic.
The study, led by UC Berkeley graduate student Laura Saslow and Sarina Rodrigues of Oregon State University, found that people with a particular variation of the oxytocin gene receptor are more adept at reading the emotional state of others, and get less stressed out under tense circumstances.
Informally known as the "cuddle hormone," oxytocin is secreted into the bloodstream and the brain, where it promotes social interaction, nurturing and romantic love, among other functions.
"The tendency to be more empathetic may be influenced by a single gene," Rodrigues said.
The more you give, the more respect you get
While studies show that bonding and making social connections can make for a healthier, more meaningful life, the larger question some UC Berkeley researchers are asking is, "How do these traits ensure our survival and raise our status among our peers?"
One answer, according to UC Berkeley social psychologist and sociologist Robb Willer is that the more generous we are, the more respect and influence we wield. In one recent study, Willer and his team gave participants each a modest amount of cash and directed them to play games of varying complexity that would benefit the "public good." The results, published in the journal American Sociological Review, showed that participants who acted more generously received more gifts, respect and cooperation from their peers and wielded more influence over them.
"The findings suggest that anyone who acts only in his or her narrow self-interest will be shunned, disrespected, even hated," Willer said. "But those who behave generously with others are held in high esteem by their peers and thus rise in status."
"Given how much is to be gained through generosity, social scientists increasingly wonder less why people are ever generous and more why they are ever selfish," he added.
Cultivating the greater good
Such results validate the findings of such "positive psychology" pioneers as Martin Seligman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania whose research in the early 1990s shifted away from mental illness and dysfunction, delving instead into the mysteries of human resilience and optimism.
While much of the positive psychology being studied around the nation is focused on personal fulfillment and happiness, UC Berkeley researchers have narrowed their investigation into how it contributes to the greater societal good.
One outcome is the campus's Greater Good Science Center, a West Coast magnet for research on gratitude, compassion, altruism, awe and positive parenting, whose benefactors include the Metanexus Institute, Tom and Ruth Ann Hornaday and the Quality of Life Foundation.
Christine Carter, executive director of the Greater Good Science Center, is creator of the "Science for Raising Happy Kids" Web site, whose goal, among other things, is to assist in and promote the rearing of "emotionally literate" children. Carter translates rigorous research into practical parenting advice. She says many parents are turning away from materialistic or competitive activities, and rethinking what will bring their families true happiness and well-being.
"I've found that parents who start consciously cultivating gratitude and generosity in their children quickly see how much happier and more resilient their children become," said Carter, author of "Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents" which will be in bookstores in February 2010. "What is often surprising to parents is how much happier they themselves also become."
The sympathetic touch
As for college-goers, UC Berkeley psychologist Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton has found that cross-racial and cross-ethnic friendships can improve the social and academic experience on campuses. In one set of findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, he found that the cortisol levels of both white and Latino students dropped as they got to know each over a series of one-on-one get-togethers. Cortisol is a hormone triggered by stress and anxiety.
Meanwhile, in their investigation of the neurobiological roots of positive emotions, Keltner and his team are zeroing in on the aforementioned oxytocin as well as the vagus nerve, a uniquely mammalian system that connects to all the body's organs and regulates heart rate and breathing.
Both the vagus nerve and oxytocin play a role in communicating and calming. In one UC Berkeley study, for example, two people separated by a barrier took turns trying to communicate emotions to one another by touching one other through a hole in the barrier. For the most part, participants were able to successfully communicate sympathy, love and gratitude and even assuage major anxiety.
Researchers were able to see from activity in the threat response region of the brain that many of the female participants grew anxious as they waited to be touched. However, as soon as they felt a sympathetic touch, the vagus nerve was activated and oxytocin was released, calming them immediately.
"Sympathy is indeed wired into our brains and bodies; and it spreads from one person to another through touch," Keltner said.
The same goes for smaller mammals. UC Berkeley psychologist Darlene Francis and Michael Meaney, a professor of biological psychiatry and neurology at McGill University, found that rat pups whose mothers licked, groomed and generally nurtured them showed reduced levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, and had generally more robust immune systems.
Overall, these and other findings at UC Berkeley challenge the assumption that nice guys finish last, and instead support the hypothesis that humans, if adequately nurtured and supported, tend to err on the side of compassion.
"This new science of altruism and the physiological underpinnings of compassion is finally catching up with Darwin's observations nearly 130 years ago, that sympathy is our strongest instinct," Keltner said.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208155309.htm

Big Pharma greed: free drugs are being pushed on the Internet to hook consumers
S. L. Baker, NaturalNews.com  December 10, 2009 

(NaturalNews) If you have a common condition like high cholesterol or asthma, you'll probably surf the Internet for info -- and odds are you'll be directed to a slick Big Pharma-sponsored Web homepage. It will appear to be oh-so-helpful. In fact, the drug company just can't wait to offer you free samples or a one-time discount on a top-selling prescription medication. New research concludes, however, this is not only a way to hawk (and hook people on) expensive prescription meds they don't even necessarily need but it's also a way to collect personal information about you so you can be targeted for more drug sales.

The study, recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows how Big Pharma's marketing tactics can be misleading and downright tricky. The drug company-backed web sites contain all sorts of positive hype about the drugs being pushed, including testimonials from patients who appear glowing with good health and enthusiastic words for their prescription fix. But what about risks, efficacy and side effects? Don't bother looking too close for that information. 

The research team, headed by Dr. William G. Weppner of the University of Washington (UW) Department of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, found that hard facts -- quantitative information on the medication's indications for use, effectiveness and risks -- are rarely mentioned. The omission is so glaring that the researchers are calling for additional studies to determine if Big Pharma's free offers are actually trying to distract or divert patients from reading risk information. 

What's more, the freebie drug offers may be pushing people to take medications they don't need. Patients surfing the web typically find a web site with a list of symptoms and information about a drug that will supposedly treat their health problems -- all they have to do is download and print the coupon or voucher on the web site, take it to a doctor to obtain a prescription and then give the coupon and prescription to a pharmacist. The researchers cited evidence that many physicians' decisions to prescribe specific drugs are influenced by patient requests based on direct-to-consumer advertisements and by the availability of free samples. In fact, the study found evidence that the freebie offers have a huge impact on exactly what drugs are being prescribed. Out of 50 of the most frequently prescribed medications, more than half have Internet free sample offers. 

And just how "free" are the Internet offered drug samples? Not very. The study concluded that people who take the drug companies up on these deals will have to pay to keep taking the shilled brand-name medication -- and in most cases there's no low-cost generic equivalent. "Many of these discounts are aimed at co-pays, which could increase costs to consumers via health insurance premiums," Dr. Weppner said in a statement to the press.

The study calculated that the average annual retail cost for the drugs being pushed with free samples was $1,559, with a range of $84 to $5,668. The total yearly value of the free samples for these medications had an average of $86 and the total yearly value of the discounts offered by Big Pharma-sponsored web sites had a mean of $75, with a range of $5 to $300. In other words, the coupon or voucher covered only about 5 percent of the expensive yearly bill for drugs that were often only prescribed in the first place because people took the free coupon to their doctors. 

And if you think these revelations about Big Pharma's questionable marketing-to-consumers-directly tactics couldn't get any worse in terms of greed or questionable ethics, there's even more to this story. The new study revealed that the pharmaceutical industry is gathering personal information on consumers with their freebie drug racket. 

To obtain the free offers, 71 percent of the web sites require a host of personal information including e-mail and/or postal addresses, and medical information such as symptoms, diagnoses, current medical treatments and insurance status. "Collection of such information may compromise patient privacy if made accessible to unauthorized users," the researchers noted. "An interesting feature of this marketing strategy is its potential role as a means in which Web users are coerced to provide consumer information that unwittingly drives the content of the Web sites they view. Such a new version of targeted direct-to-consumer advertising could automatically gather information from drug-offer forms, patient searches, previously visited web sites or even text from e-mail. The strategy would then provide advertising links to web pages offering discounted or free coupons for drugs."
http://www.naturalnews.com/027702_Big_Pharma_online_advertising.html

Eating Walnuts Cuts Cholesterol
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  December 10, 2009 

(NaturalNews) Eating a diet high in walnuts may decrease cholesterol and fight inflammation, two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"Consumption of nuts has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease events and death," the researchers wrote. "Walnuts in particular have a unique profile: they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which may improve blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease risk factors."

Walnuts are also considered good dietary sources of fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin E and other antioxidants.

Researchers analyzed the results of 13 different studies conducted on a total of 365 participants who had obtained between 10 and 24 percent of their calories from walnuts for four to 24 weeks. They found that participants on a high-walnut diet underwent significant decreases in total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

"When compared with control diets, diets supplemented with walnuts resulted in a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol and in LDL-cholesterol concentrations," the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found other indicators that even though a high-walnut diet is high in fat, it seems to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseaserather than raising it.

"Other results reported in the trials indicated that walnuts provided significant benefits for certain antioxidant capacity and inflammatory markers and had no adverse effects on body weight," the researchers wrote.

The researchers called for "larger and longer-term trials" to further understand the heart benefits of nut-rich diets.

Prior studies have linked diets high in nuts and berries to a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms related to cardiovascular disease. Other nuts previously linked to improved cardiovascular health include macadamia nuts and almonds.

Diets high in walnuts may also reduce the risk of breast cancer, studies show.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027699_walnuts_cholesterol.html

Fluoride Causes Premature Births, Brain Degradation, Bone Loss, Cancer and Hormone Disruption
Ethan Huff, NaturalNews.com  December 10, 2009 

(NaturalNews) A recent study conducted by researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) found that fluoride ingestion may be responsible for causing premature births. Presented to the American Public Health Association at its annual meeting, these findings ratchet up yet another detrimental consequence of ingesting this toxic poison that is added to most American municipal water supplies.

Sodium fluoride, a waste byproduct of the aluminum industry, is touted by most mainstream health bureaucracies as one of the greatest publichealth achievements ever discovered. The American Dental Association praises the medication of the public through fluoridated municipal water supplies, claiming that it has done wonders to prevent tooth decay. A simple investigation beyond the glaringly false rhetoric, however, reveals the dirty reality behind fluoride and the incredible harm it inflicts upon those who ingest it.

Contrary to popular belief, fluoride is not a natural substance; it is the byproduct of the aluminum and nuclear industries' use of fluorine gas. The Merck Index lists fluoride's primary use as rat and cockroach poison and it is a known carcinogen. It wasn't until the 1950s that the FDA was somehow convinced that the poison allegedly helped protect teeth.

Fluoride used in Nazi death camps
The first known instances of deliberate water fluoridation were in Nazi Germany ghettos and prison camps. Sodium fluoride was added to the human inmates' water to sterilize them and to cause them to become docile, subservient subjects willing to comply with orders.

Charles Perkins, a research chemist, wrote a letter to the Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research in 1954 about fluoride. In it, he stated that repeated ingestion of low doses of fluoride over a long period of time will destroy the areas of the human brain that trigger resistance to tyranny and unlawful coercion and control.

Conditions caused by fluoride ingestion
Fluoride ingestion is responsible for causing thyroid dysfunction. The National Research Council (NRC) warns that ingestion of .01 - .03 mg/kg/day of fluoride, which is easily achieved by drinking fluoridated water, can severely inhibit proper thyroid function.

Other problems caused by fluoride include dental fluorosis, a disease of the teeth, weakening of bones and bone loss, bone cancer, kidney problems, and hormone disruption.

Many communities have succeeded in removing fluoride from their water supplies through local campaigns and ballot measures. Since medical professionals and organizations are increasingly becoming opposed to fluoride use, the momentum is stronger than ever to rid the nation's water supplies of toxic fluoride.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027693_fluoride_cancer.html

Pistachios May Reduce Lung Cancer Risk
ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held Dec. 6-9.
"It is known that vitamin E provides a degree of protection against certain forms of cancer. Higher intakes of gamma-tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E, may reduce the risk of lung cancer," said Ladia M. Hernandez, M.S., R.D., L.D., senior research dietitian in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and doctoral candidate at Texas Woman's University -- Houston Center.
"Pistachios are a good source of gamma-tocopherol. Eating them increases intake of gamma-tocopherol so pistachios may help to decrease lung cancer risk," she said.
Pistachios are known to provide a heart-healthy benefit by producing a cholesterol-lowering effect and providing the antioxidants that are typically found in food products of plant origin. Hernandez and colleagues conducted a six-week, controlled clinical trial to evaluate if the consumption of pistachios would increase dietary intake and serum levels of gamma-tocopherol. A pistachio-rich diet could potentially help reduce the risk of other cancers from developing as well, according to Hernandez.
"Because epidemiologic studies suggest gamma-tocopherol is protective against prostate cancer, pistachio intake may help," she said. "Other food sources that are a rich source of gamma-tocopherol include nuts such as peanuts, pecans, walnuts, soybean and corn oils."
The study, conducted at Texas Woman's University -- Houston Center, included 36 healthy participants who were randomized into either a control group or the intervention group consisting of a pistachio diet. There were 18 participants in the control group and 18 in the intervention group. There was a two-week baseline period, followed by a four-week intervention period in which the intervention group was provided with 68 grams (about 2 ounces or 117 kernels) of pistachios per day; the control group continued with their normal diet.
The effect on the intake and serum cholesterol-adjusted gamma-tocopherol was investigated. Intake was calculated using the Nutrition Data System for Research Version 2007, and consumption was monitored using diet diaries and by measuring the weights of the returned pistachios.
Hernandez and colleagues found a significant increase in energy-adjusted dietary intake of gamma-tocopherol at weeks three and four in those on the pistachio diet compared with those on the control diet. The similar effect was seen at weeks five and six among those on the pistachio diet compared with those on the control diet. For those on the pistachio diet, cholesterol-adjusted serum gamma-tocopherol was significantly higher at the end of the intervention period compared to baseline.
"Pistachios are one of those 'good-for-you' nuts, and 2 ounces per day could be incorporated into dietary strategies designed to reduce the risk of lung cancer without significant changes in body mass index," said Hernandez.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208191956.htm

Most Antidepressants Miss Key Target of Clinical Depression, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2009) — A key brain protein called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) -- is highly elevated during clinical depression yet is unaffected by treatment with commonly used antidepressants, according to an important study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The study has important implications for our understanding of why antidepressants don't always work.
Researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) used an advanced brain imaging method to measure levels of the brain protein MAO-A. MAO-A digests multiple brain chemicals, including serotonin, that help maintain healthy mood. High MAO-A levels excessively remove these brain chemicals.
Antidepressant medications are the most commonly prescribed treatments in North America, yet 50 per cent of people do not respond adequately to antidepressant treatment. Dr. Jeffrey Meyer the lead investigator explains, "Mismatches between treatment and disease are important for understanding why treatments don't always work. Rather than reversing the problem of MAO-A breaking down several chemicals, most antidepressants only raise serotonin."
Understanding the Problem of a Persistent Illness
Depression ranks as the fourth leading cause of disability and premature death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Recurrent illness is a major problem. Even under the most optimal treatment circumstances, recurrence rates for clinical depression are at least 20 per cent over two years.
The new study also focused upon people who had fully recovered from past episodes of clinical depression. Some people who appeared to be in recovery actually had high levels of MAO-A. Those with high levels of MAO-A then had subsequent recurrence of their depressive episodes.
This new idea of high levels of MAO-A lowering brain chemicals (called monoamines), then falling into a clinical depression is consistent with the historical finding that medications which artificially lower monoamines can lead to clinical depression as a side effect. In the 1950's some medications to treat high blood pressure also lowered monoamines and people began to experience depressive episodes. When the medications were removed, people recovered.
From Technology to Treatment
VP of Research Dr. Bruce Pollock highlights the study's use of advanced brain imaging technology. "CAMH has the only positron emission tomography (PET) centre in the world that is dedicated solely to mental health and addiction treatment and research. As a consequence, we were able to develop this new technology to measure MAO-A levels."
Virginia Wilson knows first-hand the struggle it can be to find effective medication. After being diagnosed with depression, eight years passed before a medication was developed that worked well for her. "During this time I was on every type of antidepressant available. This process was enormously frustrating, painful -- and took a great toll on my personal life." The current research into depression gives Virginia hope for others who struggle as she did. "Understanding of the biochemical mechanisms behind depression is so important and can really improve the treatments that are available -- it can save lives."
Some early antidepressant medications did target MAO-A, but these MAO-A inhibitors fell out of favour in the 1970s due to adverse interactions with certain foods. There have been advances that overcome these problems, but the vast majority of antidepressant development and use has overlooked the MAO-A target.
According to Dr. Meyer, "Since most antidepressants miss MAO-A, we are counting on the brain to heal this process of making too much MAO-A, and that doesn't always happen. The future is to make treatments that tell the brain to make less MAO-A, even after the antidepressant treatment is over, to create better opportunities for sustained recovery."
Dr. Meyer is a Canada Research Chair in the Neurochemistry of Depression and the Head of the Neurochemical Imaging Program in Mood Disorders. The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.
Meyer et al. Brain Monoamine Oxidase A Binding in Major Depressive Disorder: Relationship to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment, Recovery, and Recurrence. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2009; 66 (12): 1304 DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.156
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091208132724.htm

Life may be shorter in poorer neighborhoods
Last Updated: 2009-12-08 14:15:23 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Residents of poor neighborhoods may die sooner than residents of wealthier neighborhoods - regardless of what they eat, how active they are, or other individual risk factors, new research suggests.
This finding - that where you live might affect how long you live - comes from a study of more than 565,000 middle aged and older Americans enrolled in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, which collected detailed data on diet, lifestyle, and medical history. Neighborhood characteristics were drawn from U.S. Census data for the year 2000.
"There was an increased risk of death from any cause or cancer in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods," Dr. Chyke Doubeni told Reuters Health. What's noteworthy, he said, is that this difference "remained even after taking into account differences in dietary patterns and other person-level health risks."
Doubeni, assistant professor of family medicine and community health and assistant vice provost for diversity at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, presented his team's findings today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research underway in Houston.
"We were expecting that once we controlled for these lifestyle and medical risk factors, the differences would go away," Doubeni noted in a conference statement. "We were surprised that the differences persisted after controlling for lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, exercise and medical risks."
Among the study participants, a higher percentage of adults from the most deprived neighborhoods reported poorer overall health and diet and higher average body weight. Even when these and other risk factors were taken into account, the chances of dying still rose as the level of deprivation in the place of residence increased, Doubeni and colleagues found.
Compared to people living in the least deprived neighborhoods, those living in the most deprived neighborhoods had roughly a 22 percent higher risk of dying over the 10-year study period, regardless of diet and lifestyle.
"This is a public health issue; we need to pay more attention to people who live in poor neighborhoods," Doubeni told Reuters Health.
"We need to target public health interventions to these neighborhoods that are deprived by improving health resources and the physical environments in those areas," Doubeni concludes.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/08/eline/links/20091208elin001.html

Breastfeeding may curb heart, diabetes risk factors
Last Updated: 2009-12-08 11:41:23 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Mothers who breastfeed seem to have a lower long-term risk of developing a collection of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease than women who bottle-feed, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that among 700 women followed for 20 years, those who had breastfed were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease that includes abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, lower-than-desirable levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides (a type of blood fat).
What's more, the apparent protective effect was stronger among women with a history of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that arises during pregnancy and goes away after childbirth.
Although it is temporary, gestational diabetes does raise a woman's odds of eventually developing type 2 diabetes.
These latest findings suggest that breastfeeding might help diminish that excess risk, said lead investigator Dr. Erica P. Gunderson, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, California.
However, she told Reuters Health, while the study suggests breastfeeding has a "strong protective effect" against metabolic syndrome, more research is needed to see whether that translates into lower rates of diabetes and heart disease.
The study, published online in the journal Diabetes, included 704 women who were between the ages of 18 and 30 and free of metabolic syndrome at the outset, and who gave birth for the first time during the study period.
Over 20 years of follow-up, 120 were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
The researchers found that among women with no history of gestational diabetes, those who had breastfed for more than one month were anywhere from 39 percent to 56 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome -- depending on how long they had breastfed.
Among women with a history of gestational diabetes, breastfeeding for more than one month was linked to a 44 percent to 86 percent lower risk of metabolic syndrome.
These lower risks were seen with a number of important factors taken into account -- including the women's weight, exercise levels and the presence of any metabolic syndrome components before pregnancy.
It is not yet clear why breastfeeding itself might lower a woman's chances of developing risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.
Abdominal obesity is one of the components of metabolic syndrome, and excess weight is closely linked to type 2 diabetes. But while it's widely thought that breastfeeding aids post-pregnancy weight loss, weight changes did not explain the benefits seen in this study, Gunderson said.
Breastfeeding may help women shed a few extra pounds in the months after giving birth, the researcher noted, but there may be other metabolic effects that explain the lower risk of metabolic syndrome.
Breastfeeding may, for example, have positive effects on blood sugar levels, body fat mass or how fat is distributed throughout the body.
Whatever the reasons for the findings, Gunderson said they do suggest that breastfeeding can have "long-term health benefits" for mothers.
SOURCE: Diabetes, online December 3, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/08/eline/links/20091208elin004.html

Lonely rats more prone to breast cancer
Last Updated: 2009-12-08 11:01:02 -0400 (Reuters Health)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Lonely, stressed-out rats were far more likely to develop breast tumors than rats living in a social group, a finding that suggests loneliness can have a profound effect on health, researchers said on Monday.
They said rats that were separated from a social group shortly after birth had a three times higher risk of developing breast tumors than did rats living in a social group, and the tumors in the isolated rats were more deadly.
"The leading suspect is poorly regulated stress," Gretchen Hermes, a researcher at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, who led the study, said in a telephone interview.
Hermes said many studies have suggested loneliness has a negative impact on human health.
"The effects are equal to or greater than the effects of cigarette smoking - that includes a significantly shortened life span," said Hermes, whose study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Stress has been shown to trigger cancer-causing genes in humans. Prior studies by the research team showed that fearful, anxious rats were more prone to tumors and death.
The latest findings suggest the stress of social isolation may be the trigger for ill health.
The study, done in conjunction with Martha McClintock of the University of Chicago, found rats in both groups developed breast tumors but many more and larger tumors were found in the isolated rats.
The team also found the isolated rats produced more of a stress hormone, corticosterone, and they found receptors for stress hormones in breast tissue.
Hermes believes the stress hormones may directly feed breast tumors.
McClintock, who studies the impact of social isolation on breast cancer, said the findings could help explain why many women living in high-crime neighborhoods, and especially black women in these settings, develop breast cancer earlier than other women.
"The work explains the role of a social network in protecting health," Hermes said.
She said social isolation may help explain why so many patients with psychiatric disorders have a shortened lifespan.
"I do feel it goes well beyond breast cancer," she said.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/08/eline/links/20091208elin012.html

Soy may slash breast cancer mortality: Study
Nutraingredients.com, 09-Dec-2009
Increased intakes of soy and soy products may reduce the risk of death and breast cancer recurrence, says a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Women with the highest intake of soy protein had a 29 per cent lower risk of death, and a 32 per cent lower risk of breast cancer recurrence compared to patients with the lowest intake of soy protein, according to findings from a study with Chinese breast cancer survivors.
The study adds to an ever-growing body of science supporting the role of soy, and the isoflavones it contains, with improved breast health.
Soy isoflavones are naturally occurring oestrogen-like compounds, and supplements are currently marketed as a way of reducing symptoms of the menopause and offer an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Conflicting reports however have clouded the picture about the beneficial effects of soy isoflavones, with some studies indicating that breast cancer cells in mice were stimulated by the isoflavones. Population studies have shown that women with a high-soy diet generally have lower rates of breast cancer.
“Soy foods are rich in isoflavones, a major group of phytoestrogens that have been hypothesized to reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, the oestrogen-like effect of isoflavones and the potential interaction between isoflavones and tamoxifen have led to concern about soy food consumption among breast cancer patients,” wrote the authors, led by Xiao Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The researchers analysed data from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a large, population-based study of 5,042 female breast cancer survivors aged between 20 and 75 in China.
After about four years of follow-up, 44 total deaths and 534 recurrences were documented. Soy food intake, as measured by either soy protein or soy isoflavone intake, was inversely associated with mortality and recurrence, said the researchers.
The researchers noted significant reductions in both mortality and breast cancer recurrence with increasing soy protein intake, up to a level of 11 grams per day. After this point, no additional benefits were observed.
“We did not find that risk estimates associated with soy isoflavone intake were stronger than risk estimates associated with soy protein intake,” they stated.
“The inverse association was evident among women with either oestrogen receptor–positive or –negative breast cancer and was present in both users and nonusers of tamoxifen,” they continued.
“In summary, in this population-based prospective study, we found that soy food intake is safe and was associated with lower mortality and recurrence among breast cancer patients… This study suggests that moderate soy food intake is safe and potentially beneficial for women with breast cancer,” they concluded.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association Volume 302, Issue 22, Pages 2437-2443
“Soy Food Intake and Breast Cancer Survival” Authors: X.O. Shu, Y. Zheng, H. Cai, K. Gu, Z. Chen, W. Zheng, W. Lu
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Soy-may-slash-breast-cancer-mortality-Study

Spices may boost breast health: Study

Nutraingredients.com, 09-Dec-2009

Compounds found in spices may reduce the risk of breast cancer formation by stopping the growth of the stem cells that spawn the tumours, says a new study.
Researchers from the University of Michigan report that curcumin, found in turmeric, and piperine, found in black peppers, decreased the number of stem cells while having no effect on normal differentiated cells.
The researchers used doses equivalent to 20 times to potency of what could be consumed through the diet – however, such potencies are possible from dietary supplements, said the researchers. Because the research is in vitro and relatively preliminary, the Michigan-based researchers cautioned against taking adding curcumin or piperine supplements to their diet at this time.
“If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with potential to form tumours,” explained lead author Madhuri Kakarala.
The results of the study, said to be the first to suggest these dietary compounds could reduce the risk of cancer by targeting stem cells, are published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, almost 195,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the US this year, and over 40,000 will die from the disease.
Furthermore, the researchers found that normal, non-cancerous stem cells were unaffected by the compounds, which appeared to selectively target the cancer stem cells.
“This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue,” said Kakarala says. “Women at high risk of breast cancer right now can choose to take the drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention, but most women won't take these drugs because there is too much toxicity. The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity.”
Ingredient facts
Curcumin is a natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow colour. Recent studies have investigated its potential to lower cholesterol levels, improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and diabetes as well as cancer-fighting properties.
The black pepper extract market, also known as piperine, is dominated by Sabinsa’s BioPerine ingredient, which has seen 250 per cent growth in two years, said the company recently.
The US market for piperine has the potential to reach about $25m, or 40 tons, estimates Sabinsa, but the company also holds patents and trades in Canada, the European Union and Japan and has a patent pending in India.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, while Sabinsa donated both the curcumin and piperine used in the study.
Source: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment  “Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine”Authors: M. Kakarala, D.E. Brenner, H. Korkaya, C. Cheng, K. Tazi, C. Ginestier, S. Liu, G. Dontu, M.S. Wicha

How fragile we are: Why the complexity of modern civilization threatens us all
Mike Adams, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009 

(NaturalNews) The fragility of our modern human civilization did not become clear to me until I began living full-time in South America. As a resident of Vilcabamba, Ecuador, I've grown accustomed to the idea of knowing where the things I consume come from.

The water I drink, for example, comes from a hole in the ground that taps into a water table replenished by the clouds hanging over the Podocarpus National Forest to the East. I can make a logical connection between the clouds, the rainfall, and the water in my glass. And if the well pump fails, I know I can always carry a bucket to the river a few hundred meters away and scoop up virtually unlimited quantities of water that recently fell out of the sky.

During a recent trip to Tucson, however, I found myself hesitating when I turned on the kitchen faucet. I paused, marveling at the magic of this water which apparently appears from nowhere. And it's always there, reliable and uninterrupted. That's when I noticed myself asking the commonsense question: "Where does the water come from around here?"

I had no idea.

The realization astonished me. I lived in Tucson for over five years and yet the thought suddenly occurred to me that if the water stopped magically flowing out of these pipes, I had absolutely no idea where to physically find water beyond the bottled water in the grocery stores, and that wouldn't last very long.

Sure, I know where the rivers are in Tucson, but these desert rivers are bone dry river beds for all but a few days of the year. And yes, I know how to get water out of cactus, but it's hard work, and the water isn't pure water. Try to live off cactus juice for a few days and you'll end up with severe diarrhea (which is dehydrating).

This thought never hit me when I lived in America, but now it struck me hard: Life in many U.S. cities is extremely fragile. Much of the abundance and convenience of city life is pure illusion, conjured up by a system of underground pipes that deliver water to your home and another set of pipes that magically dispose of your flushed liquid waste. A set of wires brings electricity that makes your home livable (at the great expenditure of energy for heat or cooling), and cheap gasoline makes it possible for fresh produce to magically appear in the grocery stores that feed us all with food from who-knows-where.

Take away any one of these -- electricity, water, sewers, fuel, food -- and virtually every U.S. city becomes an urban death trap for all its citizens.

It's not just Tucson, either: The entire American Southwest is extremely fragile when it comes to supporting life. The same story holds true with Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and many other cities and towns of all sizes. The population currently living in the Southwest USA is far greater than what those geographic regions could support on their own: It is the mass-importation of water, electricity, food and fuel that makes life possible there.

And all those mass imports are extremely fragile.

The flipside of this problem exists across Northern USA and Canada, where extremely cold winters make these regions unlivable without the steady importation of heating fuel. Most Americans and Canadians would freeze to death in less than a week if left without some ability to heat their homes during a severe winter freeze. Very few people (in the cities especially) still have free-standing, non-electric wood-burning stoves or effective fireplaces that can keep them warm and alive during such an outage. Most of the younger generation has never even chopped wood! (And wouldn't know where to start if they had to...)
The illusion of progress hides the frailty of complex civilizations
As U.S. cities have become increasingly complex and population dense, they have simultaneously become alarmingly fragile. Just one small break in the supply lines -- or one severe disruption in a single essential input -- can ripple through the entire system, causing widespread catastrophe.

I found this difficult to see when living in the USA. Everything seems fine on the surface. The water always appears when you turn on the faucet. Electricity seems ever-present. Food is magically replaced on store shelves each night (apparently by sleepless Elves of some kind) and no matter how much gasoline you pump out of the gas station, it always seems to have more!

But what if these essentials stopped? Could YOU survive for even one weekend without store-bought food, water pressure in your home, fuel, electricity and internet access? Increasingly, the honest answer is simply "No".

(This isn't an article about survival, by the way. But if you're interested in the concept of "surviving and thriving," then check out the "surthrival" website of Daniel Vitalis at www.Surthrival.com )
Our modern world lacks redundancy
In the quest for complexity, specialization and profit, our modern civilization has completely forgotten about redundancy. There is almost no slack in the systems that deliver your food, fuel, electricity, water or consumer products. That means if something goes wrong, even for a little while, you'll need to depend on yourself to provide these things. Yet how many people have the ability to provide all these essentials for themselves -- disconnected from the grid -- for even as little as one weekend?

Very few, it turns out. And that leads to one giant, disturbing realization: When the next great disruption occurs, the vast majority of the population will panic. That's because they're unprepared. They have unknowingly bet their lives on the reliability of just-in-time delivery systems and complex infrastructure interdependencies. When the water stops flowing, or the electricity goes off, or the gasoline runs out, they literally will have no idea what to do.

The very idea that such a thing could happen will be entirely foreign to them. It's as if they've all been living in The Truman Show (a Jim Carey film, one of my favorites) then suddenly the veil is lifted and they're shown the real world. In the real world, water doesn't just automatically flow through your pipes. Fuel doesn't materialize into existence out of nowhere. Food isn't mysteriously teleported to your local store each night while you sleep. In the real world, food, fuel, energy and water all depend on a long, intricate web of interdependent processes, and there isn't a person living today who truly understands the complexity of those dependencies.

In essence, we are all living a civilization experiment. It's an experiment that asks the question, "What happens if we all become specialists and give up our redundancies in the pursuit of higher specialized production?"
The cost of specialization
Let me rephrase it more simply: A hundred years ago, almost everybody was a farmer. If your neighbor's garden crop failed, that was no big deal because you had some extra garden food to share with them. But as society became more "advanced" and complex, people became specialists: Forklift operators, grocery store checkout clerks, bank paper pushers, auto alarm installers, and so on.

Importantly, in this process they all lost the knowledge of how to grow their own food, or fetch their own water, or heat their own homes. Instead, they pursued their own narrow specialized skills and traded their time (and money) for bits and pieces of other peoples' special skills, some of which include delivering the essentials we all need to survive. A newspaper journalist, for example, doesn't need to grow her own food. She writes stories that farmers want to read, and in exchange, she eats some of the food they grow. The medium of exchange for all this is called "money," of course.

As you can see, however, this specialization results in the mass loss of basic living knowledge such as how to raise chickens, how to prune fruit trees or how to plant garden seeds. I'm actually forcing myself to re-learn many of these basic skills now in Ecuador, and I'm finding myself astonished at how little I really knew about living off the land...

This loss of practical knowledge sets up precisely the kind of situation I hinted at earlier, where a disruption in the complex systems that deliver our essentials results in the masses panicking because they have no clue what to do. They've never had to use live-off-the-land skills, so they don't even know where to begin.

Where can you find water within walking distance? How to build a water filter out of a plastic barrel, some sand and some old tree stumps? How do you repair a flat tire on a bicycle without changing the inner tube? How do you protect your garden veggies from insects or rodents without using chemical pesticides? These are the kinds of things that most people just don't know, and yet in a breakdown emergency, these are precisely the kinds of skills that are desperately needed. (They're the skills your parents or grandparents probably knew very well, but have since been largely abandoned...)
Skills matter
The upshot of all this is that it's a good idea to acquire some essential preparedness skills so that you don't find yourself a complete noob when the lights go out. And this isn't about acquiring just stuff (gadgets and the like), it's about developing skills and know-how. Skills beat stuff any day.

For example, by working alongside some of the locals I've hired in Ecuador, I've learned how to cut wire without a wire cutter. I've learned how to repair irrigation pipes without pipe clamps (just using bailing wire and a nail). I've learned how to build water troughs out of bamboo and how to make a decent roof covering out of dried sugar cane leaves. It's all the more curious given that I came to Ecuador from what people call an "advanced nation" (the USA) and yet found myself clueless in so many areas that are considered common knowledge by the people of this "developing nation" (Ecuador).

I can tell you this: In a prolonged crisis, rural Ecuadorians will out-live USA city-dwellers by a hundred to one. Many skills that we might consider "advanced preparedness skills" in the USA are everyday knowledge to the Ecuadorians I know. There is much to learn from these knowledgeable people.

Come visit Southern Ecuador some time if you'd like to learn more for yourself. In cooperation with the local tourism bureaus, I plan to cover several tourist events and destinations throughout Ecuador in 2010. Watch for those announcements here on NaturalNews. For starters, the primary cities / towns to visit in Southern Ecuador include Loja, Zamora, Cuenca and Vilcabamba, where I live.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027694_complex_societies_civilization.html

Silver (and copper) bullets kill disease-causing bacteria
S. L. Baker, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009

(NaturalNews) In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) handed down a dictate against products known as colloidal silver -- tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid base. The FDA (http://www.naturalnews.com/010761_s...) proclaimed colloidal silver was not recognized as safe and effective by that government agency. Then the FDA sent warning letters to people selling colloidal silver that demanded an end to any claims that the silver products diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. While colloidal silver products have remained on the market, controversy has continued with the mainstream medical establishment attacking any use of colloidal silver while many natural health experts continue to advocate that it has beneficial uses, especially for fighting infections (http://www.naturalnews.com/027192_s...).

The bottom line: following the colloidal silver uproar, many people may now believe silver has no efficacy at all in protecting health. But that assumption is unscientific and downright wrong. 

In fact, silver has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and, in modern times, several prescription drugs contain the precious metal. For example, silver nitrate is used to prevent the eye condition conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids) in newborn babies and it treats corns and warts, too. Another medication, silver sulfadiazine (sold as Silvadene) contains a micronized form of silver that is applied topically to the body to treat burns. And now researchers have found that when silver is used with copper, the combination may offer protection against the majority of serious hospital-acquired infections.

The germ-killing properties of copper, like those of silver, have been recognized for hundreds of years. Scientists have discovered that copper ions are deadly to bacteria because they penetrate the micro-organisms and disrupt molecular pathways that are important for their survival. In fact, in 2008 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially registered copper alloys and allowed them to be marketed with the label "kills 99.9% of bacteria within two hours".

Scientist Dana Filoti successfully tested her hypothesis that the combination of silver and copper would work better to kill bacteria than the metals alone. She created zeolite (a porous mineral) ceramic structures to hold the metals. "The hard ceramic structure looks like Swiss cheese and inside the holes there are ions of silver and copper," Filoti explained in a statement to the press. By experimenting with the ratio of copper to silver and the texture of extremely thin films containing the metals, she was able to almost totally wipe out all microbes on the surface.

Filoti, a University of New Hampshire physicist, presented her findings at the recent national meeting of the American Vacuum Society (AVS), an organization that promotes the science and technology of materials, interfaces and processing, held in San Jose, California. Filoti unveiled her copper/silver films and told the group of scientists and engineers that silver and copper do work synergistically to effectively kill bacteria, including the type of pathogens that too often cause difficult-to-treat infections acquired in hospitals.

A practical application of the silver and copper combo's amazing ability to kill germs is on the horizon. Filoti is working with a New Hampshire company to design an antimicrobial face mask that will protect wearers against pathogens known to cause many hospital-acquired infections.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027690_colloidal_silver_microbes.html

Plant Disease Devastating Vegetable Crops in Eastern U.S.
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009

(NaturalNews) The same infectious fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s is now spreading across the Northeastern United States, causing alarm among farmers and raising the specter of another spike in food prices.

"People need to realize this is probably one of the worst diseases we have in the vegetable world," said plant pathologist Meg McGrath of Cornell University. "It's certain death for a tomato plant."

McGrath referred to the fungus, known as late blight, as "worse than the Bubonic Plague for plants."

Although not harmful to humans, late blight spreads easily between infected plants, whether in fields or on the shelves of a garden supply store. Although fungicides can be used to control it if applied before symptoms appear, it is considered far more reliable to remove and destroy any infected plant as quickly and completely as possible.

Late blight appears in the Northeast with some regularity, but this year the outbreak has been fueled by rainy weather and the proliferation of big-box stores with massive garden sections. The fungus has already been identified in Alabama, Ohio, Vermont, West Virginia and every East Coast state with the exception of Georgia. 

In response to the outbreak, Home Depot, Kmart, Lowe's and Wal-Mart have pulled all tomato plants from their New England and New York stores. It is still unclear whether the fungus has gained a significant foothold in agricultural fields, but growers are worried. Because containing a late blight outbreak is expensive, widespread contamination could lead to a significant jump in food prices.

Agricultural investigators are still trying to determine where the outbreak started. They are urging gardeners to keep alert for any signs of late blight in their plants. The first symptoms are usually brown spots on the stems, followed by the development of nickel-sized brown or olive-green spots on the tops of leaves and a fuzzy white growth on leaf bottoms.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027686_plant_disease_vegetable_crops.html

Hemp Protein: Eat the Nutrients
Amie Sugat, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009

(NaturalNews) Researchers claim that if no other food is consumed, hemp seeds could sustain a human life for a few months without causing nutrient deficiency problems. In fact, hemp protein was used in Europe during tuberculosis outbreaks to reverse the wasting away caused by the disease.

With a protein structure of 66% edestin and 33% albumin, hemp seeds (latin: sativa) contain all 8 essential amino acids plus 2 conditionally essential amino acids. In addition to its surprising protein profile, it also contains the perfect ratio of omega fatty acids researchers recommend for goodhealth: 3- omega-3`s to 1-omega-6.

Why Are Amino Acids Important?

A human being needs 21 amino acids to survive: Eight are essential and must be obtained from food; two are conditionally essential and can be synthesized if all the eight essential amino acids are consumed. No other plant or animal source, aside from hemp, contains the first ten amino acids necessary for health. Nor do any of them contain the fatty acid ratio essential for life.

Hemp seeds are not unique among plant seeds in having all the essential amino acids. However, they are unique in that they have them in the correct ratio and they are in the form of globulin edestin at 65% of the protein content. The other 35% of the protein content is albumin.

The globulins contained in hemp seeds are one of the seven classes of 100% pure amino acids. Globulins make up the portion of seed between the embryo and the seed coat and they are a fraction of all animal and human blood. Edestin globulin comes from seed; globulin is in blood plasma. Globulin and albumin are classified as globular proteins. All the enzymes, antibodies, many hormones, hemoglobin, and fibrogin are made from globular proteins.

Albumin, globulin, and fibrogin make up the fluid part of blood plasma. The protein portion of the blood answers the call of tissues in need by providing nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Similarly albumin and globulin provide all the nutrients to the seed embryo until it can begin to provide its own through leaf photosynthesis. The seeds of most plants contain all the necessary nutrients for metabolic activity.

Since globulin is the third most abundant protein in the human body, it is no surprise that it acts as a catalyst for many other processes, acts as an enzyme and performs necessary functions within the plasma. It is responsible for the activity of the cells which make up the immune system. These cells are responsible for recognizing and destroying foreign invaders such as toxins, viruses, and dangerous bacteria.

Our body also needs other amino acids in sufficient quantity in order to manufacture other globulin proteins and cells structures. Most foods do not contain sufficient quantities of these essential amino acids nor the right kinds. Additionally, amino acids in many foods, especially animal foods, are not available to the body most of the time. Part of the problem is the structure of the foods which contain them, the other because humans are not sufficiently equipped as meat eaters to digest them. This can result in certain globular protein deficiencies which can result in weakened immune systems.

Since hemp seeds contain 65% globulin edestin and 35% albumin, both in a highly digestible state, it contains a protein panel similar to that of human blood. In addition to the necessary amino acids, it contains the right 3:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids our bodies need to be healthy. Hemp seeds also contain sufficient quantities of zinc, iron, and magnesium, three of the most common vitamins implicated in vitamin deficiency diseases.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027691_hemp_protein_seeds.html

Branched chain amino acids show promise for the treatment of traumatic brain injury
Life Extensions December 07, 2009
An article published online on December 7, 2009 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed the findings of a team led by neuroscientist Akiva S. Cohen, PhD at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia of a reduction in brain levels of branched chain amino acids following traumatic injury to the brains of mice, as well as a restorative effect for these amino acids when supplied to brain injured animals.
Branched chain amino acids include valine, leucine and isoleucine. These amino acids are precursors to the neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, which balance brain activity. In research involving humans with brain injuries, functional improvements were associated with branched chain amino acids administered intravenously.
In the current study, the researchers compared amino acid levels in the hippocampuses of mice that received injuries to this area with animals that received sham injuries. (The brain’s hippocampus, which is involved in higher learning, is frequently damaged during traumatic brain injury.) Of 18 amino acids evaluated, only the three branched chain amino acids were found to be significantly lower compared to levels measured in the sham injured animals.
Mice given branched chain amino acids in their drinking water after brain injury showed similar learning responses to uninjured mice, and electrophysiological experiments with brain tissue demonstrated a normal balance of neural activity in the hippocampus. "The electrophysiological results were consistent with what we saw in the animals' functional recovery," Dr Cohen noted.
"We have shown in an animal model that dietary intervention can restore a proper balance of neurochemicals in the injured part of the brain, and simultaneously improves cognitive performance," Dr Cohen concluded. She suggests that branched chain amino acids administered as an oral supplement could be more beneficial than the intravenous route, which may flood brain receptors. A trial of oral branched chain amino acids in patients with traumatic brain injury is planned for next year.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_12.htm#Branched-chain-amino-acids-show-promise-for-the-treatment-of-traumatic-brain-injury

Soy waste compound may protect against inflammation

Nutraingredients.com, 08-Dec-2009

A compound often discarded as waste in soy-processing plants may stop inflammation, and protect against chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, says new research.
A soy protein called lunasin was found to significantly reduce levels of the pro-inflammatory compound interleukin-6, according to results from the University of Illinois.
If the study can be repeated in humans it offers promise for preventing chronic inflammation, brought about by an over-expression or lack of control of the normal protective mechanism. Chronic inflammation has been linked to range of conditions linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, type-2 diabetes, and arthritis.
The researchers, led by Professor Elvira de Mejia, have published a raft of papers supporting the benefits of the compound. A study published this year in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry supported the bioavailability of lunasin.
The bioavailability looked at the effect of consuming 50 grams of soy protein as part of a soy milk shake and a serving of soy chili for five days. “Significant levels of the peptide in the participants' blood give us confidence that lunasin-rich soy foods can be important in providing these health benefits,” said Elvira de Mejia.
The researchers followed this up with a study in Food Chemistry that reported the anti-inflammatory effects of lunasin for the first time. “We can see that daily consumption of lunasin-rich soy protein may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Future studies should help us to make dietary recommendations,”added de Mejia.
“We know that chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of malignancies, that it's a critical factor in tumor progression,” she added.
A third paper has just been published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, which reports that lunasin contains a specific sequence of amino acids - arginine, glycine, and aspartic acid – known as the RGD motif, which is known to offer cancer protective effects.
“Other scientists have noted the cancer-preventive effects of the RGD sequence of amino acids so it's important to find proteins that have this sequence,” said de Mejia.
Obtaining lunasin
While the results appear very promising for the development of a nutraceutical or lunasin-rich dietary supplement, the researchers note that it is relatively expensive to obtain lunasin from soy waste. On the flip side, soy flour does contain high concentrations of the peptide, said de Mejia.
According to the soybean germplasm collection maintained by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and housed at the University of Illinoi, some genotypes contain very high concentrations of lunasin, obviously making these of more interest for the development of lunasin-rich soy foods.
Sources: 1. Journal of Agricultural and Food ChemistryVolume 57, Issue 4, Pages 1260-1266
“Presence of Lunasin in Plasma of Men after Soy Protein Consumption”Authors: V.P. Dia, S. Torres, B.O. De Lumen, J.W. Erdman, Jr., E.G. De Mejia
2. Food Chemistry Volume 114, Issue 1, Pages 108-115“Isolation, purification and characterisation of lunasin from defatted soybean flour and in vitro evaluation of its anti-inflammatory activity” Authors: V.P. Dia, W. Wang, V.L. Oh, B.O.de Lumen, E. Gonzalez de Mejia
3. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research “Lunasin, with an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid motif, causes apoptosis to L1210 leukemia cells by activation of caspase-3”
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Soy-waste-compound-may-protect-against-inflammation

A little Mozart might benefit preemies' growth
Last Updated: 2009-12-07 14:01:12 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The sounds of Mozart might help slow premature infants' metabolism, potentially helping them to put on needed weight, a study published Monday suggests.
Most research into the so-called "Mozart effect" has focused on whether listening to the composer can boost a person's IQ. A 1993 study of 36 college students found that listening to a Mozart sonata appeared to temporarily boost performance on a test of spatial- temporal reasoning -- measured by participants' ability to make cuts in a folded paper while visualizing what the final results would be when the paper was unfolded.
But there is also evidence that music, more generally, may have benefits for premature infants -- including better weight gain and growth.
In the new study, Israeli researchers looked at the potential effects of Mozart on 20 premature infants' resting metabolism, based on the premise that lower metabolism might explain the increased weight gain studies have attributed to music.
They found that, on average, the infants' metabolism slowed by up to 13 percent within 10 to 30 minutes of listening to a "Baby Mozart" CD.
The findings support the theory that music might help preemies gain weight, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Ronit Lubetzky of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. However, the team did not directly measure the infants' weights.
Also still unclear is whether the study has detected a "Mozart effect" or a potential benefit of music in general, the researchers note in their report, published in the journal Pediatrics.
They do, however, point to a previous study of adults with seizures that found that compositions by Mozart, more so than other classical composers, appeared to lower seizure frequency. It's possible, according to Lubetzky's team, that the proposed Mozart effect on the brain is related to the structure of his compositions.
Compared with other famous composers, they explain, Mozart's music tends to repeat the melodic line more frequently. Other researchers have speculated that this more-organized musical structure may have greater resonance for the brain.
If this is true, Lubetzky's team writes, it would be "fascinating" to study whether it is also the case for preterm infants' immature brains.
The findings are based on 20 premature but healthy infants who were one month old, on average. The researchers measured the babies' resting metabolism as the infants listened to 30 minutes of Mozart on two consecutive days; for comparison they also measured the infants' metabolism during 30 minutes of silence on another two consecutive days.
Metabolism was gauged indirectly, through measurements of the babies' oxygen use and carbon dioxide production. The researchers found that starting at the 10-minute mark of their Mozart sessions, the infants' metabolism started to slow -- ultimately dipping by 10 percent to 13 percent, on average.
The researchers acknowledge that the implications of their findings for now "belong to the field of speculation."
Further studies, they conclude, are "essential" to determining whether music therapy has a place in premature infants' early care.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, January 2010.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/07/eline/links/20091207elin002.html

Exercise Reduces Death Rate in Prostate Cancer Patients

ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2009) — As little as 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce overall mortality rates in patients with prostate cancer, according to findings presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here, Dec. 6-9, 2009.
"We saw benefits at very attainable levels of activity," said Stacey A. Kenfield, Sc.D., epidemiology research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health and lead author of the study. "The results suggest that men with prostate cancer should do some physical activity for their overall health."
Researchers assessed physical activity levels for 2,686 patients enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, both before and after diagnosis (men with metastases at diagnosis were excluded).
Men who engaged in three or more hours of Metabolic Equivalent Tasks (MET) a week -- equivalent to jogging, biking, swimming or playing tennis for about a half-hour per week -- had a 35 percent lower risk of overall mortality.
Specific to walking, the researchers found that men who walked four or more hours a week had a 23 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to men who walked less than 20 minutes per week. Men who walked 90 or more minutes at a normal to brisk pace had a 51 percent lower risk of death from any cause than men who walked less than 90 minutes at an easy walking pace.
Walking didn't show any effect on prostate cancer specific mortality, but more strenuous exercising did. Men who engaged in five or more hours of vigorous physical activity a week were at a decreased risk of dying from their prostate cancer.
"This is the first large population study to examine exercise in relation to mortality in prostate cancer survivors," said Kenfield. Previous studies focused on how exercise affects risk of developing prostate cancer. Kenfield said that researchers aren't sure of the exact molecular effects exercise has on prostate cancer, but exercise is known to influence a number of hormones hypothesized to stimulate prostate cancer, boost immune function and reduce inflammation.
"How these factors may work together to affect prostate cancer biologically is still being studied," she said. "For now, our data indicate that for prostate cancer survivors, a moderate amount of regular exercise may improve overall survival, while five or more hours per week of vigorous exercise may decrease the death rate due to prostate cancer specifically."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207200911.htm

Spices Halt Growth of Breast Stem Cells, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2009) — A new study finds that compounds derived from the spices turmeric and pepper could help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells, the small number of cells that fuel a tumor's growth.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that when the dietary compounds curcumin, which is derived from the Indian spice turmeric, and piperine, derived from black peppers, were applied to breast cells in culture, they decreased the number of stem cells while having no effect on normal differentiated cells.
"If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with potential to form tumors," says lead author Madhuri Kakarala, M.D., Ph.D., R.D., clinical lecturer in internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and a research investigator at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Cancer stem cells are the small number of cells within a tumor that fuel the tumor's growth. Current chemotherapies do not work against these cells, which is why cancer recurs and spreads. Researchers believe that eliminating the cancer stem cells is key to controlling cancer. In addition, decreasing the number of normal stem cells -- unspecialized cells that can give rise to any type of cell in that organ -- can decrease the risk of cancer.
In this study, a solution of curcumin and piperine was applied to the cell cultures at the equivalent of about 20 times the potency of what could be consumed through diet. The compounds are available at this potency in a capsule form that could be taken by mouth. (Note: This work has not been tested in patients, and patients are not encouraged to add curcumin or piperine supplements to their diet at this time.)
The researchers applied a series of tests to the cells, looking at markers for breast stem cells and the effects of curcumin and piperine, both alone and combined, on the stem cell levels. They found that piperine enhanced the effects of curcumin, and that the compounds interrupted the self-renewal process that is the hallmark of cancer-initiating stem cells. At the same time, the compounds had no affect on cell differentiation, which is the normal process of cell development.
"This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue," Kakarala says. "Women at high risk of breast cancer right now can choose to take the drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention, but most women won't take these drugs because there is too much toxicity. The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity."
Curcumin and piperine have been explored by other researchers as a potential cancer treatment. But this paper, published online in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, is the first to suggest these dietary compounds could prevent cancer by targeting stem cells.
In addition, tamoxifen or raloxifene are designed to affect estrogen, which is a factor in most, but not all breast cancers. In fact, the aggressive tumors that tend to occur more often in women with a family history or genetic susceptibility are typically not affected by estrogen. Because curcumin and piperine limit the self renewal of stem cells, they would impact cancers that are not estrogen sensitive as well as those that are.
Researchers are planning an initial Phase I clinical trial to determine what dose of curcumin or piperine can be tolerated in people. The trial is not expected to begin accruing participants until spring.
Breast cancer statistics: 194,280 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 40,610 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society
Additional authors include Dean Brenner, Hasan Korkaya, Connie Cheng, Karim Tazi, Christophe Ginestier, Suling Liu, Gabriel Dontu and Max Wicha, all from U-M
Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health; curcumin and piperine were donated by Sabinsa Co.
Madhuri Kakarala, Dean E. Brenner, Hasan Korkaya, Connie Cheng, Karim Tazi, Christophe Ginestier, Suling Liu, Gabriela Dontu and Max S. Wicha.Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2009; DOI:10.1007/s10549-009-0612-x
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207181422.htm

Earth More Sensitive to Carbon Dioxide Than Previously Thought
ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2009) — In the long term, the Earth's temperature may be 30-50% more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than has previously been estimated, reports a new study published in Nature Geoscience.
The results show that components of the Earth's climate system that vary over long timescales -- such as land-ice and vegetation -- have an important effect on this temperature sensitivity, but these factors are often neglected in current climate models.
Dan Lunt, from the University of Bristol, and colleagues compared results from a global climate model to temperature reconstructions of the Earth's environment three million years ago when global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations were relatively high. The temperature reconstructions were derived using data from three million-year-old sediments on the ocean floor.
Lunt said, "We found that, given the concentrations of carbon dioxide prevailing three million years ago, the model originally predicted a significantly smaller temperature increase than that indicated by the reconstructions. This led us to review what was missing from the model."
The authors demonstrate that the increased temperatures indicated by the reconstructions can be explained if factors that vary over long timescales, such as land-ice and vegetation, are included in the model. This is primarily because changes in vegetation and ice lead to more sunlight being absorbed, which in turn increases warming.
Including these long-term processes in the model resulted in an increased temperature response of the Earth to carbon dioxide, indicating that the Earth's temperature is more sensitive to carbon dioxide than previously recognised. Climate models used by bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change often do not fully include these long-term processes, thus these models do not entirely represent the sensitivity of the Earth's temperature to carbon dioxide.
Alan Haywood, a co-author on the study from the University of Leeds, said "If we want to avoid dangerous climate change, this high sensitivity of the Earth to carbon dioxide should be taken into account when defining targets for the long-term stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations."
Lunt added: "This study has shown that studying past climates can provide important insights into how the Earth might change in the future."
(a) shows predicted global temperatures when processes that adjust on relatively short-term timescales (for example sea-ice, clouds, and water vapour) are included in the model
(b) includes additional long-tem processes that adjust on relatively long timescales (vegetation and land-ice).
This research was funded by the Research Council UK and the British Antarctic Survey.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091206162955.htm

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Risk of Colon Cancer

ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2009) — Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, primarily found in fish and seafood, may have a role in colorectal cancer prevention, according to results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held Dec. 6-9, 2009, in Houston.
"Experimental data have shown benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in colorectal carcinogenesis, ranging from reduced tumor growth, suppression of angiogenesis and inhibition of metastasis," said Sangmi Kim, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, N.C. "Our finding of inverse association between dietary intakes of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and distal large bowel cancer in white participants adds additional support to the hypothesis."
Although experimental and clinical data suggest that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids possess anti-neoplastic properties in the colon, epidemiologic data to date has been inconclusive.
Kim and colleagues studied the link between polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and distal large bowel cancer using data from a population-based control study. They recruited 1,509 white participants (716 cancer cases and 787 controls) and 369 black participants (213 cancer cases and 156 controls) using the State Cancer Registry and Division of Motor Vehicles records.
Nineteen polyunsaturated fatty acids were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, which included 124 questions on food items. The researchers used the questionnaire to collect information on the frequency and amount of foods typically consumed in the past 12 months. Patients who consumed more long-chain omega-3 fatty acids had a reduced risk of distal large bowel cancer. Compared to the lowest quartile, fat intake in the highest quartile was linked with a 39 percent reduced risk of cancer.
The researchers detected these associations in white participants, but not in black participants.
"We were surprised that the association was not also observed among blacks," Kim said. "We considered several possible explanations but were not able to account for this difference with the data we had. This finding warrants future study, but we should be careful about drawing conclusions about potential racial differences in the benefit from long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from this study."
"An increase in dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which mainly come from fish and seafood, may be beneficial in the prevention of distal large bowel cancer," Kim said.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207200913.htm

Antioxidant Compound Reduced Incidence of Colorectal Metachronous Adenomas

ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2009) — Supplementation with a selenium-based antioxidant compound decreased the risk of developing new polyps of the large bowel -- called colorectal metachronous adenomas -- in people who previously had colorectal polyps removed.
"Our study is the first intervention trial specifically designed to evaluate the efficacy of the selenium-based antioxidant compound on the risk of developing metachronous adenomas," said Luigina Bonelli, M.D., head of the unit of secondary prevention and screening at the National Institute for Cancer Research, in Genoa, Italy.
Bonelli presented these findings at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held in Houston, Dec. 6-9, 2009.
Adenomatous polyps (or adenoma) are benign lesions of the large bowel that, in time, could progress to cancer. Even though only a small proportion of adenomas will develop into cancer, almost 70 percent to 80 percent of colorectal cancer stems from an adenoma.
Adenomas are common in people aged 60 years or older; one in four people will have at least one adenoma.
Participants in this study were aged 25 to 75 years and had already had one or more colorectal adenomas removed, but did not have any other diagnosis of colorectal diseases, cancer or life-threatening illnesses and did not use vitamins or calcium supplementations. The researchers randomized 411 participants to the placebo group or to receive an antioxidant compound -- specifically selenomethionnine 200 μg, zinc 30 mg, vitamin A 6,000 IU, vitamin C 180 mg and vitamin E 30 mg.
"Our results indicated that individuals who consumed antioxidants had a 40 percent reduction in the incidence of metachronous adenomas of the large bowel," Bonelli said. "It is noteworthy that the benefit observed after the conclusion of the trial persisted through 13 years of follow up."
The researchers are currently conducting a study to evaluate the role of genetic alterations as predictors of metachronous adenomas in participants received the antioxidant compound compared with those in a placebo group.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207200906.htm

With Amino Acid Diet, Mice Improve After Brain Injury

ScienceDaily (Dec. 7, 2009) — Neurology researchers have shown that feeding amino acids to brain-injured animals restores their cognitive abilities and may set the stage for the first effective treatment for cognitive impairments suffered by people with traumatic brain injuries.
"We have shown in an animal model that dietary intervention can restore a proper balance of neurochemicals in the injured part of the brain, and simultaneously improves cognitive performance," said study leader Akiva S. Cohen, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The study appears December 7 in the online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
If these results in mice can be translated to human medicine, there would be a broad clinical benefit. Every 23 seconds, a man, woman or child in the United States suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The primary cause of death and disability in children and young adults, TBI also accounts for permanent disabilities in more than 5 million Americans. The majority of those cases are from motor vehicle injuries, along with a rising incidence of battlefield casualties.
Although physicians can relieve the dangerous swelling that occurs after a TBI, there are currently no treatments for the underlying brain damage that brings in its wake cognitive losses in memory, learning and other functions.
The animals in the current study received a cocktail of three branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), specifically leucine, isoleucine and valine, in their drinking water. Previous researchers had shown that people with severe brain injuries showed mild functional improvements after receiving BCAAs through an intravenous line.
BCAAs are crucial precursors of two neurotransmitters -- glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which function together to maintain an appropriate balance of brain activity. Glutamate excites neurons, stimulating them to fire, while GABA inhibits the firing. Too much excitement or, too little, and the brain doesn't work properly. A TBI upsets the balance.
In particular, a TBI frequently damages the hippocampus, a structure deep in the brain involved in higher learning and memory. In the current study, the researchers found that an injury to the hippocampus reduced levels of BCAAs. Although overall levels of glutamate and GABA were unchanged, the loss of BCAAs disturbed the critical balance of neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, making some localized regions more excitable and others less excitable. Cohen's team tested the hypothesis that providing dietary BCAAs would restore the balance in neural response.
In this study, Cohen's study team first created standardized brain injuries in mice, and one week later compared the animals' conditioned fear response to that of uninjured mice. A week after receiving a mild electric shock in a specific cage, normal mice tend to "freeze" when placed in the same cage, anticipating another shock. The brain-injured mice demonstrated fewer freezing responses -- a sign that they had partially lost that piece of learning.
On the other hand, brain-injured mice that received a diet of BCAAs showed the same normal response as the uninjured mice. The BCAA cocktail had restored their learning ability.
In addition to the behavioral results, the team conducted electrophysiological experiments in slices of hippocampus from brain-injured and non-injured mice, and showed that BCAA restored a normal balance of neural activity. "The electrophysiological results were consistent with what we saw in the animals' functional recovery," said Cohen.
If the results in mice can be reproduced in people, patients with traumatic brain injuries could receive the BCAAs in a drink. Cohen suggests that BCAAs as a dietary supplement could have a more sustained, measured benefit than that seen when patients receive BCAAs intravenously, in which the large IV dose may flood brain receptors and have more limited benefits.
Although much work remains to be done to translate the finding into a therapy, Cohen expects to collaborate over the next year with other researchers in an early-phase clinical trial of dietary BCAAs in patients with mild to moderate TBI.
The National Institutes of Health provided funding for this study. Cohen's co-authors were Jeffrey Cole, Ph.D., Christina M. Mitala, Ph.D., Suhali Kundu and Itzhak Nissim, Ph.D., all of Children's Hospital; Jaclynn A. Elkind of the University of Pennsylvania; and Ajay Verma, M.D., Ph.D., of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. Cohen and Nissim are also on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207151218.htm

ExxonMobil Providing Big Bucks to Climate Skeptics Groups

David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009 

(NaturalNews) In spite of a 2008 promise to stop funding global warming denial groups, oil giant ExxonMobil has given such groups hundreds of thousands of dollars since then, according to researchers from the London School of Economics.

"ExxonMobil has been briefing journalists for three years that they were going to stop funding these groups," said researcher Bob Ward. "The reality is that they are still doing it. If the world's largest oil company wants to fund climate change denial then it should be upfront about it, and not tell people it has stopped."

In a 2008 report on its corporate citizenship practices, the oil company promised to cut funding to groups that "divert attention" from the need to shift away from fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. Yet according to company records, ExxonMobil donated $75,000 to the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and $50,000 to the Heritage Foundation in 2008. both groups have, according to Ward, "published misleading and inaccurate information about climate change."

For example, the Heritage Foundation said in December that "growing scientific evidence casts doubt on whether global warming constitutes a threat, including the fact that 2008 is about to go into the books as a cooler year than 2007."

Climate scientists overwhelmingly accept that global average temperatures are rising due to human emissions of greenhouse gases, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. The relative cooling experienced in 2008 is widely accepted as a natural, short-term change that is part of a larger warming trend.

The NCPA announces on its Web site that "NCPA scholars believe that while the causes and consequences of the earth's current warming trend is [sic] still unknown, the cost of actions to substantially reduce [carbon dioxide] emissions would be quite high and result in economic decline, accelerated environmental destruction, and do little or nothing to prevent global warming regardless of its cause."

On July 20, Rajendra Pachauri, the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that the costs of addressing global warming will balance or outweigh the costs.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027681_Exxon_climate_skeptics.html

Many Types of Balsamic Vinegar Contain High Levels of Lead
Ethan Huff, NaturalNews.com  December 8, 2009

(NaturalNews) Findings from a November 9, 2009, Environmental Health News report have revealed that many varieties of balsamic vinegar contain trace amounts of lead that are contributing to neurological and other damage in both children and adults. Ingestion of a single tablespoon of vinegar with the highest tested levels of lead was found to potentially raise a child's blood lead level by 30% while two tablespoons a day would raise it by 55%.

Traditional balsamic vinegars have always been procured using time-tested methods of barrel fermentation that instill the rich balsamic flavor loved by many. However research is beginning to show that many of these vinegars, particularly those that are aged for the longest periods of time, contain dangerously high levels of lead that could be contributing to childhood behavior disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set the maximum threshold of lead exposure in children to 10 micrograms (mcg) per deciliter, a level that more recent research suggests is too high. The CDC itself recognizes that the toxicity of lead is so severe that there is no specific minimum threshold for which adverse effects do not occur.

In 2002, a California lawsuit concerning lead-tainted vinegar led to state mandates that established the maximum allowable daily level of lead at .5 mcgs per day, which translates to 34 parts per billion (ppb). Shelves in the state stocked with untested or threshold-exceeding balsamic vinegar must contain a warning sign indicating that the products contain lead and may be harmful to health.

Since not all balsamic vinegars contain lead, and some more than others, producers are expressing concern that balsamic vinegar is receiving a bad rap despite the fact that many other grape products also contain lead. They also allege that independent experts have verified that grapevines tend to absorb lead from the ground and that the occurrences are completely normal and to be expected.

Some toxicologists and others, however, oppose the idea that lead contamination is occurring due to soil conditions and rather suggest that production and storage methods are the culprits. Testing has revealed that vinegars aged the longest in wood barrels had the highest levels of lead contamination.

Many producers are now independently testing and verifying their vinegar products in order to meet guidelines and to assure customers that their products are safe. Many brands meet or exceed the California threshold requirements and some even print a stamp of approval on their labels.

Since trace amounts of lead can be found in all kinds of foods, it seems unfair to simply target balsamic vinegar. However it is best to practice caution and seek out those products that have verifiably minimal levels of toxic carcinogens like lead.

There are also a variety of heavy metal detoxification regimens that can be utilized in order to keep the body in tip-top shape, including supplementation with chlorella, spirulina, sulfur-rich foods like cabbage and garlic, and fresh juicing. While it is best to keep heavy metal ingestion at a minimum, nutrient-rich diets play an important role in continually purifying the blood and detoxifying the body.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027683_balsamic_vinegar_lead.html

Depression drives youth violence: Study

Times of India  8 December 2009

Depressed youngsters who do not socialise much are most likely to lash out violently at others, a new study has claimed. 

According to researchers at Texas A&M International University, the strongest risk factors for violent behaviour were depression and having delinquent peers. 

Other factors included a parent's psychological abuse of a partner, anti-social personality, negative relationships with adults and family conflict, they said. "The amount of time a youth spent watching violent movies on TV or playing violent video games didn't have anything to do with whether he or she would commit violent acts in real life," said Dr Christopher J Ferguson, the lead author of the study, appeared in The Journal of Pediatrics. 

Overall, the researchers found, the factors that did increase the risk of violent behaviour had pretty small effects. A lot of media attention tends to get focused on individual factors, like playing violent video games, Ferguson noted, even when there's no evidence that they're connected with violent behaviour. 

He and his colleagues investigated the interplay among various risk factors for violent behaviour by looking at 603 children 10 to 14 years old and their parents or guardians. Most of the children were Hispanic.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Depression-drives-youth-violence-Study-/articleshow/5314511.cms

Loneliness can make cancer deadlier

Times of India  8 December 2009

Loneliness can be deadly for people suffering from cancer, according to a new study. 

The research led by Yale University and the University of Chicago scientists have shown that socially isolated female rats develop more tumours - and tumours of a more deadly type - than rats living in a social group. 

"There is a growing interest in relationships between the environment, emotion and disease. This study offers insight into how the social world gets under the skin," said Gretchen Hermes, first author of the paper and a resident in the Neurosciences Research Training Program in the Yale Department of Psychiatry. 

They suspect that the real culprit is stress, triggered by being separated from a group. 
Stress is linked to many negative health outcomes-including activation of cancer-promoting genes. 

Lead researcher Martha K. McClintock at the University of Chicago, had previously shown that fearful and anxious rats were more prone to tumours and death. 

The new study shows that social isolation and neglect can trigger the fear and anxiety responsible for this susceptibility to cancer. 

Although both the solitary and social animals developed tumours, the isolated rats developed 84 times the amount of tumours as those living in groups. 

Those tumours also proved to be more malignant than those found in rats living in groups. 
According to Hermes, health effects of isolation need to be studied more closely in a broad range of human disease, particularly psychiatric disorders. 

"The costs of social neglect have unique relevance for psychiatric patients, the natural history of psychiatric illness and the profound co-morbidities associated with mental disease," she said. 

The expert added: "The results of this study make a physiological link between loss of the social network and disease states, and may help explain the shortened life expectancy of individuals with mental illness." 

The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Loneliness-can-make-cancer-deadlier/articleshow/5313467.cms

Brahmi herb can treat Alzheimer's

Times of India  7 December 2009

Researchers are coming by evidence that herbs like brahmi, associated with the ayurveda system of medicine, can help ward off Alzheimer's disease and preserve one's mental faculties. 

Although what exactly causes Alzheimer's is not known, sufferers experience inflammation of the brain, deposits of beta amyloid, traces of heavy metals and signs of oxidative stress. 

Brahmi, a semi-aquatic plant, acts on all of these, said Con Stough, director of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) involved in trials underway at Swinburne University of Technology Brain Sciences Institute (BSI). 

"It has an anti-inflammatory effect, is an antioxidant and collates and removes heavy metals and beta amyloid," he said. 

Two trials with a brahmi extract called CDRI08, conducted over 90 days, have shown improvements in working memory, particularly spatial memory accuracy. 

Pine bark, lemon balm, American ginseng, rosemary and brahmi, are some of the herbs showing promise in fending off Alzheimer's dementia, causing memory loss, depression and anxiety. 

A 50-day trial of a particular pine bark extract supplement for men aged 50 to 65 years has also shown improved speed in spatial working memory and immediate recognition tasks, along with lowering blood pressure. 

Another trial is investigating the short-term calmative effects of a special lemon balm product, because anxiety and agitation are major symptoms that Alzheimer sufferers experience. 

Andrew Scholey, who heads BSI's Herbal and Nutritional Medicine Research Unit, said that historically the field of alternative medicine has struggled to gain scientific credibility. 

"However, Swinburne's trials are performed to standards that provide acceptance within the mainstream scientific community," added Scholey. 

Consumer research indicates that more and more people are using some form of alternative health products as part of a proactive, preventative health strategy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/health/Brahmi-herb-can-treat-Alzheimers/articleshow/5307545.cms

Green tea compound helps destroy amyloid
Life Extensions   December 5, 2009
A compound known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea, along with another previously researched compound, have been shown to dissolve amyloid when administered in combination. Amyloids are proteins that form plaques in the brain that may be responsible forAlzheimer’s disease and other disorders. Amyloid plaques fill nerve cells or surround brain tissues, leading to memory loss, language difficulties, loss of motor function and even death. The stability of amyloids has rendered their dissolution challenging to laboratory researchers.
Writing in the December 9, 2009 issue of Nature Chemical Biology, Dr Martin L Duennwald of Boston Biomedical Research Institute and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine report the effect of EGCG and DAPH-12 on amyloids made by a yeast amyloid protein that produces structures similar to those found in damaged human brains. Although EGCG alone dissolved weak amyloid structures, it did not dissolve all of the stronger amyloids tested and caused some of them to develop resistance to the compound. However, the combination of EGCG with DAPH-12 resulted in the destruction of all of the amyloids.
"These findings are significant because it is the first time a combination of specific chemicals has successfully destroyed diverse forms of amyloids at the same time," noted Dr Duennwald, who led the study with Dr James Shorter of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine’s department of biochemistry and biophysics. "Our findings are certainly preliminary and we need further work to fully comprehend the effects of EGCG in combination with other chemicals on amyloids. Yet, we see our study as a very exciting initial step towards combinatorial therapies for the treatment of amyloid-based diseases."
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_12.htm#Green-tea-compound-helps-destroy-amyloid

Science: The pick of cranberry’s health benefits

Nutraingredients.com, 07-Dec-2009

In the third part of our special series on cranberries, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the reported health benefits of the little red berry.
According to the leviathan of the cranberry business, Ocean Spray, the health benefits of cranberries include mouth, bone, urinary, and stomach.
The fruit has long been considered an effective method of fighting urinary tract infections, something that has led to almost one third of parents in the US giving it to their children, according to a recent study.
In 2004 France became the first country to approve a health claim for the North American cranberry species Vaccinium macrocarpon, which states that it can 'help reduce the adhesion of certain E.coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls'.
A health claim has also recently been awarded in Korea for Decas Botanicals’ PACran product. “PACran is the only cranberry ingredient in the world to have a health claim,” said Dan Souza, director of sales and marketing.
Recently, researchers from St. Francis College, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and New York University reported that the anti-bacterial benefits may be matched by anti-viral benefits (Phytomedicine, Vol. 14, pp. 23-30).
Stomachs, and possibly anti-cancer
In terms of stomach health, the focus has been on cranberry’s effects on theHelicobacter pylori bacterium - the only bacteria that can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and known to cause peptic ulcers and gastritis.
Several reports have shown that the berries and their constituents are effective at inhibiting adhesion of the bacterium to the stomach wall, while a
There are also some reports in the literature for other health conditions. For example, researchers from Ohio State University and the Blueberry and Cranberry Research Center at Rutgers University reported that a proanthocyanidin-rich cranberry extract was found to inhibit the growth and spread of human oesophageal adenocarcinoma (a cancer in glandular tissue) cells (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, doi: 10.1021/jf071997t).
And earlier this year, a lab study from the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada reported that extracts from cranberry may prevent colon cancer via an anti-inflammatory mechanism (Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Vol. 89, pp. 542-547).
Finally, a study presented earlier this year at the Experimental Biology conference by Ted Wilson from Winona State University found that sweetened dried cranberries with a reduced sugar and increased fibre content may benefit type-2 diabetics by delivering healthier glycemic and insulin responses.
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Science-The-pick-of-cranberry-s-health-benefits

Dark chocolate may protect DNA from damage: Study

Nutraingredients.com, 04-Dec-2009

Consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate may protect DNA from oxidative damage, preventing artery hardening and heart disease, says a new study.
Writing in the British Journal of Nutrition, Italian researcher report that consumption of dark chocolate containing 860 milligrams of polyphenols, and 58 milligrams of epicatechin, led to a 20 per cent reduction in DNA damage two hours after consumption.
The study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the cardiovascular benefits of polyphenol-rich chocolate.
Led by Angela Spadafranca from the University of Milan and using chocolate supplied by Ferraro, the researchers assigned 20 healthy subjects with an average age of 24.2 to consume a balanced diet for four weeks. After two weeks the group was split in two, with one group receiving additional dark chocolate, while the other receiving white chocolate.
Measurements taken at regular intervals after consumption showed that the benefits were observed relatively quickly, with increases in blood levels of catechin observed two hours after consumption of the dark chocolate, with coincidental decreases in DNA damage in mononuclear blood cells.
However, the effects were not observed 22 hours after consumption, leading the researchers to speculate that this was related to the kinetics of the flavonoids.
"Similar epicatechin plasma levels at two hours following consumption of cark chocolate on the first and last occasions are not associated with a long-term increase in epicatechin plasma concentrations, and suggest that flavonoid plasma levels are dependent upon intake from recent food sources," wrote the researchers.
“The present results are clinically encouraging especially in the field of the diet therapy of obesity, pathology related to greater incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer,” they wrote.
“In fact, dark chocolate, habitually excluded by hypoenergetic diets for its high-fat and energy content, is a sweet food that should be reconsidered: if included in controlled amounts, in a weight loss programme it could have healthy effects, and could improve the compliance of patients to diet therapy,” added Spadafranca and her co-workers.
Chocolate is big business. Market researcher, Euromonitor, puts the market at $100bn and notes the rise of dark and premium chocolate that is boosting the category but remains at little more than a few per cent with the bulk of the growth coming from North America and Asia.
Euromonitor estimates the global market for functional chocolate at $371.9m in 2009, growing to $460.3m in 2012. In 2002 it was worth only $141.5m.
In 2009 the bulk of sales are coming from the Asia Pacific at $175m, followed by North America at $93.8m and western Europe at $95.9m.
But North America is expected to overtake next year and will be worth $128.2m in 2012, compared to near-stagnant western Europe at $103.2m. The Asia Pacific will be worth $221.2m by then.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, First View article, doi: 10.1017/S0007114509992698
“Effect of dark chocolate on plasma epicatechin levels DNA resistance to oxidative stress and total antioxidant activity in healthy subjects”
Authors: A. Spadafranca, C. Martinez Conesa, S. Sirini and G. Testolin
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Dark-chocolate-may-protect-DNA-from-damage-Study

Magnesium benefits male hearts, but not women: Review

Nutraingredients.com, 07-Dec-2009

Increased intakes of magnesium may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in men, but the evidence is lacking for women, says a new review.
And with the mineral being implicated in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body, and toxicity issues being rare “oral magnesium supplementation is recommended”, conclude Tavia Mathers and Renea Beckstrand from Brigham Young University in this month’s issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
“At this time, research is inadequate to prove that oral magnesium intake decreases the future risk of CHD development; but, in the meantime, maintaining a high normal serum magnesium level has been shown to have very few side-effects and is clearly beneficial after the diagnosis of CHD to prevent further complications of heart disease,” added Mathers and Beckstrand.
Dietary sources of magnesium include green, leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and milk. Earlier dietary surveys show that a large portion of adults does not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men).
Magnesium has been heralded as an ingredient to watch for 2010. The new review is therefore a timely appraisal of the cardiovascular benefits of the mineral.  Indeed, a recent report from The Freedonia Group reported that global demand for nutrients and minerals will reach $12.6bn by 2013; a 6.4 per cent increase on last year’s level.
The report, World Nutraceutical Ingredients, highlighted magnesium as one of the minerals with fastest growth, along with calcium. Other fact growing ingredients included soy proteins and isoflavones, psyllium and resistant maltodextrin fibres, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and carotenoids.
The Utah-based scientists searched the literature and found six randomised control clinical trials (RCT) and prospective studies that met their inclusion criteria. Magnesium doses used in the studies ranged from 130 to 800 milligrams of magnesium per day.
None of the studies reported any adverse effects from magnesium supplementation.
“There was a modest relationship between dietary magnesium intake and a reduced risk of CHD in male subjects; however, there was no noted decrease in the development of CHD disease in women who had high magnesium intake,”wrote the researchers. This relationship requires more research, they added.
Beyond the heart
Looking at the bigger picture, Mathers and Beckstrand noted that “magnesium may be helpful for other disease states”, including a reduction in the risk of stroke, improved skeletal growth and development, and a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia in women.
“Because magnesium is relatively safe, affordable, and vital for many functions in the body, oral magnesium supplementation is recommended,” they wrote.“Overall, studies suggest that additional research is needed to better explain the association between blood magnesium levels, dietary magnesium intake, and the risk of CHD development,” they concluded.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse PractitionersDecember 2009, Volume 21, Issue 12, Pages: 651-657 “Oral magnesium supplementation in adults with coronary heart disease or coronary heart disease risk”Authors: T.W. Mathers, R.L. Beckstrand
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Magnesium-benefits-male-hearts-but-not-women-Review

Soy may lessen risk of endometrial, ovarian cancers
Last Updated: 2009-12-04 14:20:16 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who eat more soy-based foods than average may have less risk for certain cancers in the ovaries and the lining of the uterus, according to the combined findings of a few studies.
The uterine lining cancers - also known as endometrial cancer - and the ovarian cancer are all known to be affected by hormones such as estrogen, which are mimicked by compounds in soy. While some soy compounds that act like estrogen are linked to a higher rate of breast cancer, studies have suggested the opposite for endometrial and ovarian cancer.
The new report, in BJOG, An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, hints that odds of developing these cancers may be 40 percent lower among women who eat the highest amounts of soy-based foods.
One of the authors of the new analysis, Dr. Kwon Myung, at the National Cancer Center in Goyang, Korea, told Reuters Health that the data is too preliminary to draw any firm conclusions.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 14,000 women will die of it in 2009. About 42,000 women will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer, according to the Institute, and about 8,000 will die of it.
The seven studies Myung's team reviewed - they rejected others that were of poorer quality -- included more than 169,000 women, of whom 3,516 had one of the two cancers. Most of the studies evaluated the intake of soy or soy components from foods such as legumes, soy curd, or soy protein.
Still, Myung said confirmation of the findings would require "a higher level of evidence," and scientists have yet to determine the optimal amount of soy-based foods.
SOURCE: BJOG, An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, December 2009
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/12/04/eline/links/20091204elin003.html

An antioxidant in broccoli and cauliflower may treat cystic fibrosis and other diseases
S. L. Baker, NaturalNews.com  December 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) In addition to the suffering and death they cause, cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration (any disease process that involves the death of brain cells) have something else in common: scientists believe they are inflammation-based disorders. Now comes word that researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that a natural antioxidant, thiocyanate, found in certain vegetables including broccoli and cauliflower, might treat and even prevent these chronic health problems. Bottom line: it appears thiocyanate protects cells from damage generated during the body's inflammatory response to infection and injury.

In a study published in the November edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a University of Pennsylvania research team headed by physiology professor Zhe Lu, MD, PhD, used cell culture studies and a synthesis of known antioxidant biochemistry to show that thiocyanate protects cells against potentially harmful chemicals -- hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite (the active ingredient found in household bleach) -- produced internally when the body is injured or fighting an infection. Moreover, they found that thiocyanate specifically protects cells from hypochlorite damage when that chemical is produced in immune system reactions involving an enzyme dubbed myeloperoxidase (MPO).

The researchers pointed out that thiocyanate is obtained naturally through a diet containing cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. Blood levels of thiocyanate in the general population have been found to vary greatly, from 10 to 140 micromolars. So what happens if people don't take in enough thiocyanate through their diets? In their paper, Dr. Lu and colleagues speculate that a lack of the antioxidant causes additional collateral damage to cells during times of inflammation. That could worsen inflammatory diseases and predispose humans to diseases linked to MPO activity, including atherosclerosis and diabetes.

For example, type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated blood levels of MPO and the University of Pennsylvania researchers noted that MPO-induced injuries to pancreas cells and endothelial cells used in their experiments were greatly reduced by adding relatively small amounts of thiocyanate. This finding raises the possibility that MPO contributes to diabetes if there is not an adequate amount of thiocyanate in the body.

What's more, the new findings could be particular useful in the search for a treatment for CF, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the US. CF results from a defective gene and its protein product that cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus which clogs the lungs and results in life-threatening lung infections. In fact, lung injuries caused by excessive inflammation and recurring infections cause about ninety percent of CF patients' symptoms and mortality. Dr. Lu's findings suggest that the lungs of people with the disease are more susceptible to the damaging effects of cellular oxidants so thiocyanate might potentially be helpful in treating the disease.

"In light of the obvious implications of this protective action of thiocyanate against the cell-damaging effect of MPO activity with regard to both CF disease and general population health, my colleagues and I will vigorously investigate the potential health benefit of thiocyanate," Dr. Lu said in a statement to the press. "Until the research community acquires a better understanding of both positive and negative impacts of thiocyanate on human health, it would be unwise for anyone to self-administer thiocyanate because like many other chemicals, thiocyanate has adverse side effects at improper doses and/or under inappropriate conditions."
http://www.naturalnews.com/027673_cystic_fibrosis_thiocyanate.html

Diabetes Drug Found to Promote Cancer Tumors, But FDA Urges Diabetics to Keep Using it Anyway

David Gutierrez, December 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) Although a number of studies have recently implicated a synthetic form of insulin in an increased risk of cancer, the FDA has urged patients to keep taking the drug.

"Based on the currently available data, the FDA recommends that patients should not stop taking their insulin therapy without consulting a physician, since uncontrolled blood sugar levels can have both immediate and long-term serious adverse effects," the FDA said.

Out of four studies on the issue recently published in the journal Diabetologia, three found that the synthetic insulin analogue Lantus (generic name insulin glargine), manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, significantly increased patients' risk of several kinds of malignant tumor.

In addition to appealing to the risks that diabetics face without taking insulin, the FDA sought to cast doubt on the validity of the new studies.

"The duration of patient follow-up in all four studies was shorter than what is generally considered necessary to evaluate for cancer risk from drug exposure," the agency said. "Further, inconsistencies in findings within and across individual studies raise concerns as to whether an association between the use of insulin glargine and cancer truly exists."

However, the FDA did encourage "both health care professionals and patients to report side effects from the use of insulin glargine to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program."

The American Diabetes Association also urged patients to keep taking their insulin, but its logic was slightly different than the FDA's, in that it acknowledged that insulin treatment might increase cancer risk.

"For patients using glargine and considering switching to another form of insulin, the data in these studies make it unclear as to whether any one type of insulin increases the risk of cancer more than other types of insulin," the association said. "Patients concerned about these studies or their insulin regimen should talk to their doctor and should not stop taking their insulin on the basis of the findings reported here."
http://www.naturalnews.com/027671_diabetes_drugs_cancer.html

Close friend of agriculture chief now a Monsanto lobbyist

Washington Examiner Columnist
December 2, 2009

Jerry Crawford, an Iowa lawyer and lobbyist with deep ties to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, recently registered as the Washington representative for Monsanto, a biotechnology and agrichemical giant that embodies the "special interests" President Obama planned to drive from the temple of federal government.
The Des Moines Register calls Crawford a "well-connected, high-profile Des Moines lawyer" and "Democratic power broker."
Examine his record, and you see what the paper means. Crawford was once chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. He was the Iowa chairman for the presidential campaigns of Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry. In 2008, he was Hillary Clinton's Midwest campaign chairman.
Of greater significance today, he is also a "longtime Vilsack friend and adviser," a "Vilsack ally," a "top Vilsack insider," and "a guru for and a big friend of Gov. Tom Vilsack," according to the Register.
In 1998, Crawford got in near the ground floor of Vilsack's rise in politics, putting his reputation and wealth behind the long shot gubernatorial candidate. Crawford hosted at least one fundraiser for Vilsack that year, which netted $23,000.
Questions arose early in Vilsack's tenure about conflicts regarding Crawford's work as a lobbyist and his closeness to Vilsack. A 1999 Register article reported that Vilsack, before firing members of the gambling commission disliked by the casinos, had raised $17,000 from gambling interests. "Most of the $17,000 Vilsack received came from Jerry Crawford, a lawyer for the Iowa Greyhound Association," the article reported.
At play here is not likely a quid pro quo or bribery, but just a close friendship: Crawford donates to his friend's campaign, and Vilsack takes his friend's calls on state issues. But this chumminess is exactly how special interest politics works. And the chumminess runs deep.
In 2001, as Vilsack ran for re-election, Crawford was Vilsack's top individual donor, giving him $31,000. When Vilsack traveled the Midwest stumping for Kerry in 2004, Crawford was one of Gov. Vilsack's two travel mates, according to CNN.
So, Sen. Kerry, Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary Vilsack are all tight with Crawford. And Vilsack and Hillary Clinton, Crawford told me, are "good friends, and have been for a long, long time."
Although Obama was Crawford's third choice in 2008 (after Vilsack and then Clinton), Crawford still ponied up a $10,000 check for the Obama Victory Fund last August. This contribution didn't violate Obama's no-lobbyist-cash pledge because Crawford was lobbying only state government (with Monsanto as a client), not the federal government.
But now Crawford has registered to represent Monsanto in Washington on "Competition/antitrust issues within the agricultural industry; environmental laws, regulations and policies related to the agricultural industry," according to a Nov. 10 filing. Monsanto is a multinational corporation most famous for its genetically modified seeds and for its herbicide Roundup. The company is also a leading member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, which in 2001 named Vilsack governor of the year.
This situation -- the agriculture secretary's top fundraiser, top donor and longtime confidant serving as a Monsanto lobbyist -- would seem to create an awkward situation for the Obama administration given the president's pledges to crush lobbyist influence. Crawford tells me he hasn't met with anyone yet on Monsanto's behalf. I called and e-mailed Vilsack's office Monday asking if he would meet with Crawford in the future if Crawford requested a meeting. By Tuesday evening, Vilsack's office hadn't responded.
Monsanto's lobbying army already has made an incursion into the Obama administration. The top food safety adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services is Michael Taylor, Monsanto's former vice president for government affairs. As I reported in my column on Friday, Obama has nominated Isi Siddiqui to be his agriculture trade representative; Siddiqui is the vice president for regulatory affairs and a former lobbyist at CropLife America, which is a pro-pesticide lobbying coalition of which Monsanto is a prominent member.
Monsanto, lying at the intersection of agriculture and biotechnology, is deeply dependent on government favor. The company stands to benefit from the House's global warming bill, which subsidizes biofuels and gives carbon credits to farmers who control weeds with herbicides rather than tilling the ground. Also, the company constantly fights to ward off new regulations on pesticides and genetically modified food.
Monsanto is a poster boy for special interests and is a favorite target of the environmental Left. With Secretary Vilsack's fundraiser, donor and confidant carrying its flag, Monsanto figures to have even more clout in Washington.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Crony-of-agriculture-chief-now-a-Monsanto-lobbyist-8612856-78264977.html

PATIENTS DEFICIENT IN VITAMIN D FARE WORSE IN BATTLE WITH LYMPHOMA
Sunshine vitamin may play protective role against common form of the blood cancer

ScienceNews.org Saturday, December 5th, 2009
NEW ORLEANS — A shortage of vitamin D may stack the deck against people fighting a common form of lymphoma, researchers reported December 5 at a meeting of the American Society of Hematology. The new study adds this cancer to the list of malignancies suspected of being more difficult to control in patients with vitamin D deficiency common in parts of the U.S. population.
From 2002 to 2008, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 374 newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a fast-growing cancer of white blood cells called B cells. It mainly hits people over 50 and accounts for roughly 40 percent of lymphomas.
The study participants averaged 62 years of age. The blood tests revealed that half were deficient in vitamin D at the start of treatment, having less than 25 nanograms per milliliter of blood.
The scientists monitored the patients for an average of three years. During the follow-up, patients who were deficient in vitamin D were twice as likely to die, compared with patients who had adequate vitamin D blood levels at the outset. Patients with low vitamin D concentrations were also about 50 percent more likely than the others to have their cancer worsen, says endocrinologist Matthew Drake of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who presented the findings.
All patients received standard treatment, including chemotherapy, and the researchers accounted for differences between groups in age and other factors that might bias the comparison.
Vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption in the body, an essential function. While the minimum healthy blood levels of vitamin D are a matter of debate, many scientists draw the line at 25 or 30 ng/ml. Others suggest we need more vitamin D and suggest the minimum healthy level should be defined as 40 ng/ml. “I think right now it’s a moving target,” Drake says. He and his colleagues chose 25 ng/ml because that is the point at which the body starts leaching calcium from bone to maintain appropriate blood levels of calcium.
Drake says more study is needed before supplementation of vitamin D should be ordered for lymphoma patients. Part of his hesitation stems from the lack of clarity surrounding the link between cancer and a vitamin D deficiency.
Past evidence has shown that the vitamin can promote gene regulation, programmed cell death when necessary, and other critical cell functions. “Whether or not vitamin D deficiency plays a role in lymphoma, we really can’t say at this point,’ he says.
But vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cancers in past studies. Maps suggest that mortality rates from cancer are higher in the northernmost areas of the United States — notable because less sun exposure means less vitamin D production — and some studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with a worse outcome in people with cancer of the breast, colon and throat.
The link between a vitamin D deficiency and a worse outcome for this cancer is plausible, says Ola Linden, a medical oncologist at Lund University in Sweden. But the finding might still be influenced by genetic differences among the patients and other factors, and needs to be validated in a trial in which patients are randomly assigned to get vitamin D supplements or not, he says. If the results from such a test were similar to these, he says, oncologists would have another weapon with which to fight this cancer — free of charge.
Although fortified foods provide some vitamin D, these may be inadequate to maintain ideal health levels. While the recommended daily dose of vitamin D, currently set at 400 IUs, stops rickets, many scientists suggest that three times that amount would be useful and wouldn’t risk an overdose.
Vitamin D can be obtained in food or manufactured in the skin by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation from the sun. The vitamin can be stored, but during winter months in temperate zones the supply dwindles. For bone health, Drake recommends that people in the Upper Midwest take vitamin D supplements during winter months and get an hour to an hour and a half of sun exposure each week in the summer. “We’ve become a society where we spend the vast majority of our time indoors,” he says. “It’s very hard to find what I call ‘free-range humans.’”
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/50452/title/Patients_deficient_in_vitamin_D_fare_worse_in_battle_with_lymphoma