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Turns out there is a more current version at:
Vitamin D and Prevention of Chronic Diseases VIDEO
University of California Television (UCTV) University of California Television (UCTV)
Very easy to watch hour video on Vitamin D benefits.
Commentary:
"Can vitamin D help prevent certain cancers and other diseases such as type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain autoimmune and chronic diseases? To answer these questions and more, UCSD School of Medicine and GrassrootsHealth bring you this innovative series on vitamin D deficiency. Join nationally recognized experts as they discuss the latest research and its implications. In this program, Michael Holick, MD, discusses vitamin D relating to bone and muscle health and the prevention of autoimmune and chronic diseases. Series: Vitamin D Deficiency - Treatment and Diagnosis [3/2009] [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Professional Medical Education]"
See the video at:
Dr. Aw: Key to extending human lifespans lies in preventing chronic inflammation, research suggests
Dr. James Aw | February 26, 2014, published in The National Post-Health.(Dr. James Aw is the medical director of the Medcan Clinic, a leading private health clinic in Toronto)
Excerpts:
"But as we get older, most of us grow worse at regulating the inflammatory response. We lapse into a state of chronic inflammation, or “inflamm-aging,” that isn’t precipitated by injury or disease. The body persists in an ongoing state of high alert, a bit like the multicoloured terrorist attack threat levels instituted by the U.S. Homeland Security Department. The inflamm-aging process sees cytokines, proteins the immune system typically uses to protect the body from harm, actually damaging the body’s ability to stay healthy — triggering aging."
"A study published last year by the Canadian Medical Association Journal illuminated just how harmful chronic inflammation can be to the body. The researcher, who worked out of INSERM in Paris, discovered that experiencing long-term chronic inflammation actually halves the odds of successful aging 10 years later — increasing the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events, and increasing the risk of death from noncardiovascular causes.
Conversely, research is showing that maintaining control over the body’s inflammatory response can help us to live longer. That’s the gist of a recent study on people who lived to or past the age of 100 on the Italian island of Sicily. The centenarians in this study never lapsed into chronic inflammation. Their immune system continued to act like a young person’s — going dormant when not needed, yet still able to fight off acute problems, such as infections. Who lives the longest may boil down to how efficient your immune system stays as you age. For centenarians — the immune system works smarter, not harder."
"Today, clinical medicine is beginning to harness and control the chronic inflammatory process. By testing levels in the blood of a substance called hsCRP, we can now assess whether a given patient is experiencing acute inflammation — and the future is likely to bring us more sophisticated testing of chronic inflammation with such biomarkers as interleukin, insulin growth factor and tumour necrosis factor.
Meanwhile, a new class of drugs, known as biologics, are targeting some diseases that arise from chronic inflammatory states, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disorders.
Could new types of biologic drugs help us control the inflammatory response associated with aging itself? Could environmental interventions, such as a customized diet, help regulate the chronic inflammatory response? And would that, in turn, help more people to live well to the age of 100? As I left Dr. Khoury’s presentation in New Orleans, I felt excited about the prospects."
Here's Episode 1 of Dr Lustig's video: The Skinny on Obesity:
The Skinny on Obesity Episode 2, by Dr. Robert Lustig. 9 minute video. (University of California TV) He illustrates the overabundance of sugar in today's processed convenience foods and explains how our bodies metabolize these sugars in the same way as alcohol or other toxins, causing damage to the liver and other organs. Series: "UCTV Prime: The Skinny on Obesity" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23591]
Is this part of the puzzle that gets you into chronic inflammation mode?
Video at:
National Heart Health Month and Preventing Chronic Inflammation from The Intermountain Healthcare Blog
By Amy Tuddenham , February 07, 2014 (a little late posting)
Excerpts:
"February is National Heart Health month, and it’s alarming to know that one in three – or over 79,000,000 – American adults have cardiovascular disease (CVD). Fortunately, you have the power to protect and improve your heart health through your lifestyle choices."
"One of the most powerful predictors of cardiovascular disease is a test called, Hs-CRP. This measures the c-reactive protein, which is an immune system protein made by the liver in response to recent injury or infection. As a person is injured, c-reactive protein levels go up drastically, but then return to normal within one to two months. If the number remains high, this could indicate an underlying health problem that must be explored and discovered. Elevated levels of Hs-CRP that are unrelated to injury or trauma usually have something do with chronic inflammation, sedentary lifestyle, diets consisting of large amounts of refined sugar and processed foods, obesity, and heavy stress. Chronic inflammation is directly related to diseases like arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes. The test is a simple blood test and does not require fasting. It is ideal to avoid exercise for 24 hours to minimize any inflammatory response which could make the test unreliable. Also, being healthy at the time of the test makes a more accurate result, since any illness can increase the levels. Once the Hs-CRP is available, you can make changes to lower the level and decrease risk for diseases."
Buzzed on inflammation By Brent Bauer, M.D., General Internal Medicine, Editorial Board member of Mayo Clinic Health Letter
From the Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Excerpts:
"Inflammation is the new medical buzzword. It seems as though everyone is talking about it, especially the fact that inflammation appears to play a role in many chronic diseases. The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter highlights inflammation's role in cardiovascular disease."
"chronic inflammation, also known as low-grade or systemic inflammation — can play a more puzzling and long-lasting role in the body. Consider the vast array of autoimmune disorders — such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and polymyalgia rheumatica — where the body's immune system mistakenly initiates an inflammatory response even though there's no apparent inflammation to fight off. Chronic inflammation plays a more obvious role in diseases such as asthma and the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
And what about the not-so-obvious role of chronic inflammation? Consider the possible connection between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that heart disease, clogged arteries, stroke and bacterial endocarditis may be linked to oral health. Although more study is needed to confirm this possible link, some scientists believe that bacteria from gum disease can enter the bloodstream and make its way to the heart.
Even less obvious — but of enormous interest to researchers — is the part inflammation plays in cancer. For instance, chronic bladder inflammation due to repeated urinary infections or cystitis may increase risk of a squamous cell bladder cancer. In some areas of the world, this type of cancer is linked to chronic inflammation caused by infection with a parasite."
"Some people advocate an "anti-inflammatory diet." Although there's less evidence such diets work to directly thwart inflammation, most of the recommended foods are typical of the Mediterranean style of eating and in principle are good choices. "
"You may wonder if nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen — would be helpful, as the drug class name would seem to imply. Research is underway into NSAID use as a possible new strategy for potentially treating or preventing cancer. The prospects are intriguing, but the data isn't solid. If you take aspirin or another NSAID under a doctor's direction for a health-related concern such as preventing heart attack or relieving chronic pain, that's an accepted and appropriate use for this class of drugs. As always, the risks of gastrointestinal bleeding have to be considered with regular NSAID use.
And then there's the huge area of dietary supplements, which is largely uncharted when it comes to carefully done clinical trials for safety and effectiveness. Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness. "
"My best advice concerning chronic inflammation is to stay tuned. This is a huge area of interest in the medical world and there are bound to be discoveries down the road that can improve well-being and the quality of health."
Newsletter at:
http://healthletter.mayoclinic.com/editorial/editorial.cfm/i/163/t/Buzzed%20on%20inflammation/
"Chronic brain inflammation causes a reduction in GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors and an increases in the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in the hippocampus" Article in: Molecular Brain by: Jinhua Ma, Bo-Ryoung Choi, ChiHye Chung, Sun Seek Min, Won Kyung Jeon and Jung-Soo Han
Abstract:
"Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the initiation and progression of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Chronic neuroinflammation results in diminished synaptic plasticity and loss of GluN1 N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the hippocampus, leading to the cognitive deficits that are the most common symptoms of AD. Therefore, it is suggested that chronic inflammation may alter expression levels of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors and associated intracellular signalling. Chronic neuroinflammation was induced by chronic infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the fourth ventricle in Fischer-344 rats. The status of hippocampus-dependent memory was evaluated in control rats and rats chronically infused with LPS. Microglial activation in the hippocampus was examined using immunohistochemical staining. Western blot analysis was used to measure membrane levels of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the hippocampi of these rats, and immunofluorescent double labeling was used to assess the cellular location of MAPK. Microglial activation was observed in the hippocampi of rats that showed memory impairments with chronic LPS infusion. Chronic LPS infusion reduced the levels of GluN2A and GluN2B and increased the levels of phosphorylated MAPKs in the hippocampus. MAPK-positive immunoreactivity was observed mostly in the neurons and also in non-neuronal cells. Reductions in GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors coupled with altered MAPK signaling, in response to inflammatory stimuli may be related to the cognitive deficits observed in AD."
Article at:
http://www.molecularbrain.com/content/7/1/33/abstract
"Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Silibinin in Animal Models of Chronic Inflammation" Research article in: Science and Education Publishing by: Tavga Ahmed Aziz1, Bushra Hasan Marouf1, Zheen Aorahman Ahmed2, Saad Abdulrahman Hussain3.
Silibinin is an extract from the Milk Thistle seed.
Excerpt:
"Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants [1]. This is related to cytokines and pro-inflammatory mediators secreted from macrophage. High concentrations of TNF-a, IL-1, and IL-6 are particularly destructive and are implicated in some of the pathologic responses that occur in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [2]. Inflammation has been recognized as a major risk factor for various human diseases. The chronic inflammatory responses predispose to pathological progression of chronic illnesses, characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive production of cytokines, dysregulation of cellular signaling and loss of barrier function; among these chronic illnesses rheumatoid arthritis is considered as the most common inflammatory disease and is a major cause of disability [3]. Attenuation of the chronic inflammatory response is a beneficial strategy to combat several human diseases. Although steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are currently used to treat acute inflammation, these drugs have not been entirely successful in curing chronic inflammatory disorders because such compounds are accompanied by unexpected side effects [4, 5]. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safer anti-inflammatory compounds, and traditional medicine offers many plant extracts and pure natural compounds as treatment options of a wide variety of disorders including acute and chronic inflammation [6]. Among the natural active constituents, flavonoids are a family of polyphenolic substances whose members have exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antithrombotic activities [7, 8, 9, 10]. Silibinin is a chemically defined flavonoid and the main active component of silymarin, a polyphenolic complex from Silybum marianum, which has anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and anticancer properties [11, 12, 13]. In spite of the presence of extensive medical literature that examining biological activity of silibinin, still insufficient data were reported on its anti-inflammatory effects in granuloma and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of silibinin in experimental animal models of chronic and granulomatous inflammations."
Interesting in that this is an Iraqi study and they chose another natural source to investigate for anti-inflammatory properties.
Article at:
http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajps/2/1/2/
Chronic Inflammation, Environment and Lifestyle Symposium to be held in Helsinki, Finland. ( Looks like more and more interest on chronic inflammation.)
Excerpt:
"An ever-growing proportion of populations world-wide suffers from chronic inflammatory diseases. The rapidly increasing trends in prevalence of allergic and autoimmune diseases, many cancers and even depression have been discernible in western societies for decades but are now becoming a major concern in many developing countries as well. Convincing data are available to show that living in a microbe-poor environment increases the risk of these chronic inflammatory conditions, as do sedentary lifestyle and western diet. The precise mechanisms and the factors involved at a single cell level remain, however, still largely unclarified.
This 60th Anniversary Yrjö Jahnsson Medical Symposium is organized to explore and discuss the interactions between the environment, lifestyle and the host’s immune system, to understand the forces that undermine the immune tolerance in urban environments and to highlight the possibilities to restore the broken tolerance. The Symposium will bring together top scientist from Europe, USA and Canada to fuel interaction between researchers and to provide ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm for future work.
The 3-day’s event is hosted by Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, which is a private trust that promotes academic research in economics, health economics and medical sciences."
Link at:
http://www.yjs.fi/en/2014-congresses/259-2/
Mass memory and reasoning tests 'track dementia risk' article in the BBC dated 5/1/2014
Excerpt:
"A third of a million adults in the UK are to be invited to take part in the world's biggest study of cognitive function.
The aim of the trial, funded by the Medical Research Council, is to try to predict what factors may increase the risk of developing dementia.
All the participants will be part of UK Biobank, and previously gave DNA samples and lifestyle information."
Article at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27236004
Dementia statistics posted on Alzheimers Diseases International.
Excerpts:
"As of 2013, there were an estimated 44.4 million people with dementia worldwide. This number will increase to an estimated 75.6 million in 2030, and 135.5 million in 2050. Much of the increase will be in developing countries. Already 62% of people with dementia live in developing countries, but by 2050 this will rise to 71%. The fastest growth in the elderly population is taking place in China, India, and their south Asian and western Pacific neighbours."
"The total estimated worldwide cost of dementia was US$604 billion in 2010. About 70% of the costs occur in Western Europe and North America. This figure includes costs attributed to informal care (unpaid care provided by family and others), direct costs of social care (provided by community care professionals, and in residential home settings) and the direct costs of medical care (the costs of treating dementia and other conditions in primary and secondary care)."
Article at:
http://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics
Pharmacologic Resolution of Inflammation as a Novel Therapeutic Approach (upcoming discussion group sponsored by New York Academy of Science)
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
The New York Academy of Sciences
Presented by the Biochemical Pharmacology Discussion Group
Uncontrolled, chronic inflammation is now considered a major component of many widespread diseases, which are now well-recognized as 'inflammatory diseases.' These include arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, periodontal disease and cancer. There is general agreement that inflammation is not likely to be the causative factor in these diseases, but that it plays a key role in disease progression, tissue dysfunction and ultimately organ failure. In recent years, evidence has emerged that resolution of inflammation is a biochemically active process driven by multiple chemical mediators. Elucidation of the biochemical pathways contributing to the resolution of inflammation has provided many new anti-inflammatory targets and an opportunity for resolution-based pharmacology for treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases. This symposium reviews recent discoveries and advances in the field, and demonstrates how this work translates into new approaches and new pharmacology to treat old diseases.
Article at:
http://www.nyas.org/Events/Detail.aspx?cid=1212ceec-c23c-4a26-a0b0-d72cdf1cfca7
Call for Poster and Presentation Abstracts:
Abstract submissions are invited for a poster session, and several abstracts will be selected for short 'Late-breaking abstract' presentations. For complete submission instructions, please send an e-mail to Inflammation@nyas.org with the words "Abstract Information" in the subject line. The deadline for abstract submission is September 26, 2014.
Chronic Inflammation and Heart Disease
by: DR. CONSTANTINE A. KOTSANIS, February 2014 of Natural Awakenings
"Inflammation is meant to be a lifesaver. When we get a splinter in our finger, for instance, a cellular response is triggered to fight the presence of any bacteria that may have entered the body along with the splinter. Additionally, a defensive system made up of specialized antibodies targets bacteria or viruses. These types of short-lived immune responses keep us healthy.
If the inflammation process doesn't halt when the threat is stabilized, it becomes a chronic, rather than a temporary, condition. This may lead to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and possibly even cancer.
Many people are aware that atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque (hardened fat and cholesterol) in the arteries, can lead to heart attacks or strokes. However, what many don't know is that chronic inflammation can increase the likelihood of the arterial plaques to rupture, causing a heart attack or stroke.
It is also possible that chronic inflammation can increase the production of abnormal cells, facilitating their conversion into cancer, or further damage nerve cells in the brains of those that suffer from Alzheimer's. Living the Western lifestyleof diets high in fats and sugars and low in exercise increases the likelihood that a person's body will become inflamed.
A recent study demonstrated that about 50 percent of heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. This suggests that many people with “healthy” cholesterol levels are actually at risk for a future incident. That's why it is important to go beyond routine cholesterol tests.
Inflammatory biomarker testing measures inflammation levels and can assess risk of heart attack, stroke or other conditions related to chronic inflammation. If it reveals a need for more investigation, a high-resolution ultrasound can be scheduled to assess the extent of plaque buildup in the arteries.
Also taken into account are genetic makeup and lifestyle habits. Risk factors include family history of heart disease or stroke; overweight; high cholesterol; age over 40; high-fat diet; tobacco use; high blood pressure; and diabetes. People should get themselves tested to find out how they can decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke due to inflammation.
Sugar is the hidden narcotic that may be causing many of the inflammatory conditions we see today. View this short 4 minute video and it may save your life! If your ship has sunk, you may need Anatabloc!
New amended SEC filing 10-K/A at:
http://www.starscientific.com/investors/sec-filings/
"What Really Causes Cancer" (and What You Can Do to Prevent It) video presented at the Riordin Clinic
Excellent basic video outlining 12 steps describing how Cancer is the result of sustained chronic inflammation (oxidative stress) wherein Apotosis cannot correct cell damage. Antioxidents improve survival from Cancer.
Video at:
Inflammation and obesity video by Professor Mark Febbraio
Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Postgraduate lecture dated 7 April 2014
Major takeaways:
Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease
Obesity is epidemic, especially in the southern United States
NF-kB is insulin resistance pathway
Obesity linked to diabetes, cancers, rhumatoid arthritis, and metabolic diseases
Video at:
Cholesterol gene may be responsible for increased inflammation
By Robin Arnette, National Institute of Health
Excerpt:
"People with a certain form of the cholesterol-controlling gene apolipoprotein E (APOE) may be more prone to inflammation than others, according to a new NIEHS study.
The APOE gene helps to regulate and distribute cholesterol and other lipids in the body. It exists in three forms, or alleles — APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4. The APOE3 allele maintains the proper cholesterol-removing function of the gene. NIEHS researchers and their collaborators were the first to report that people who have APOE4, which does not effectively remove lipids, experience much more robust inflammatory response. They published their results online March 20 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Michael Fessler, M.D., an NIEHS researcher and corresponding author on the paper, said that APOE4 has been associated with inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and that 15-20 percent of the human population has the APOE4 allele.
He noted that doctors can’t yet tailor therapy for a patient based on whether they have APOE4, but it may be feasible soon. In early clinical trials, researchers are using peptides that mimic APOE3 to treat a variety of human diseases, including brain disorders and heart disease. Peptides are small proteins with fewer than 50 amino acids.
“These peptides have been shown to be anti-inflammatory,” Fessler said, “so it’s possible, but not proven, that these APOE peptides could be used in patients — perhaps in patients with APOE4 specifically — to reduce their risk of developing inflammatory diseases.”
Article at:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2014/4/science-cholesterol_gene/
Inhibition of NF-?B-Mediated Inflammation in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-Infected Mice Increases Survival
Marta L. DeDiegoa, Jose L. Nieto-Torresa, Jose A. Regla-Navaa, Jose M. Jimenez-Guardeñoa, Raul Fernandez-Delgadoa, Craig Fettb, Carlos Castaño-Rodrigueza, Stanley Perlmanb and Luis Enjuanesa
Published in the latest issue of The Journaly of Virology from the American Society for Microbiology.
Abstract:
"Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of a respiratory disease that has a 10% mortality rate. We previously showed that SARS-CoV lacking the E gene (SARS-CoV-?E) is attenuated in several animal model systems. Here, we show that absence of the E protein resulted in reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines, decreased numbers of neutrophils in lung infiltrates, diminished lung pathology, and increased mouse survival, suggesting that lung inflammation contributed to SARS-CoV virulence. Further, infection with SARS-CoV-?E resulted in decreased activation of NF-?B compared to levels for the wild-type virus. Most important, treatment with drugs that inhibited NF-?B activation led to a reduction in inflammation and lung pathology in both SARS-CoV-infected cultured cells and mice and significantly increased mouse survival after SARS-CoV infection. These data indicated that activation of the NF-?B signaling pathway represents a major contribution to the inflammation induced after SARS-CoV infection and that NF-?B inhibitors are promising antivirals in infections caused by SARS-CoV and potentially other pathogenic human coronaviruses."
Article at:
http://jvi.asm.org/content/88/2/913.abstract
Why Questcor Buyout Will Not Deter Short Sellers
By Paul Ausick April 7, 2014 11:15 am EDT
The $5.6 billion acquisition of Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR) by specialty drugmaker Mallinckrodt PLC (NYSE: MNK) started the week off with a big bang. Shares of Questcor originally leaped over the 27% premium Mallinckrodt is paying, but the stock has pulled back some.
Questcor is something of a one-trick pony. But it is a big trick. The company’s H.P. Acthar injectable gel has been approved as a treatment for 19 different conditions, many of which are associated with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The drug generated sales of around $760 million in 2013, up nearly 50% from the prior year. Questcor’s total revenues for 2013 came to $799 million. Perhaps a one-trick pony, but the trick continues to get bigger.
Before the acquisition was announced, Questor’s market value was around $4.4 billion, so Questcor shareholders got a good deal. But what did Mallinckrodt get?
Of nearly 58 million Questcor shares floated, some 38% were held short as of March 14. In April last year, more than 27 million shares were short. A year ago the stock traded at around $28 a share, and over the 12 months the share price more than doubled to close Friday at $67.87. Doesn’t look particularly like a good short play, but the price has bounced around and at least some of the stock price gains have got to be attributable to short covering.
Questcor is also the target of a U.S. Department of Justice inquiry into its promotional practices, which poses a threat of fines and other sanctions. Mallinckrodt has now inherited that.
Nearly 14% of Mallinckrodt’s own float was held short prior to the announcement, and its days to cover are just over seven compared with Questcor’s days to cover of just under seven. Mallinckrodt’s float is about 55 million shares, and it trades about half as many shares a day as does Questcor. It is nearly a given that the shorts will be taking a run at Mallinckrodt.
Shares of Questcor traded up about 18% in the late morning Monday to $79.95, after posting a new 52-week high of $89.30 earlier in the morning. The stock’s 52-week low is $$26.80.
Read more: Why Questcor Buyout Will Not Deter Short Sellers - Questcor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:QCOR) - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/healthcare-business/2014/04/07/why-questcor-buyout-will-not-deter-short-sellers/#ixzz30InJycaa
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(Reuters) - Forest Laboratories Inc (FRX.N) said it would buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc (FURX.O) for up to $1.46 billion including milestone payments to access Furiex's promising treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
This is the latest in a series of healthcare deals and offers that have been structured to either gain scale or build up expertise in specific disease areas.
Article at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/28/us-furiex-offer-idUSBREA3R0P820140428
4 Things You Can Fix About Your Aging Body by Denise Logeland in the Huffington Post dated April 27, 2014
Excerpt:
"The major problem that we see with what we call the SAD, the Standard American Diet, is that it’s incredibly pro-inflammatory. We eat food that increases inflammation in the body and causes us to develop diseases — heart disease, vascular disease, dementia, depression. It’s just a recipe for disaster.
Our immune system is always on and always fighting. There’s collateral damage associated with this. Over time, we damage the lining of our arteries, the lining of our intestinal tract.
The first thing I do with patients who are looking to get back on track is develop an action plan that incorporates an anti-inflammatory diet. The most common one you’ve heard of is the Mediterranean diet: lean protein, little dairy, little sodium, no transfats and they typically will cook with olive oil.
By aggressively developing dietary habits that are anti-inflammatory in nature on a daily basis, you can reverse the damage that’s been done by the pro-inflammatory standard American diet."
Article at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/27/fixes-for-aging-_n_5222409.html
Medical Cannabis for Alzheimer’s Treatment in New Mexico by Stacy Lamy on April 27, 2014 in Liberty Voice
Excerpt:
"Another problematic medical condition that comes with AD is chronic brain inflammation. Ohio State University professor, Gary Wenk, has researched the effects of various pharmaceuticals and found a consistent failure in the reduction of inflammation. Then he began looking at medical cannabis and the results were positive. In fact, his studies showed cannabis to be the most effective brain anti-inflammatory."
Article at:
http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/medical-cannabis-for-alzheimers-treatment-in-new-mexico/
How ailing bodies hasten the progress of Alzheimer's
25 April 2014 by Andy Coghlan in NewScientist
Excerpts:
"The idea is simple: monitoring and prompt treatment [of inflammation] could prevent the decline from Alzheimer's," said Hugh Perry of the University of Southampton, UK, as he presented the research at the Alzheimer's Research UK annual meeting in Oxford last month.".....
"Perry and his colleague Clive Holmes have begun a pioneering trial in 40 people to see if a drug that acts to dampen inflammation in the body can help delay the progress of the brain disease. Etanercept is already prescribed to people with rheumatoid arthritis, and works by sponging up a molecule that aggravates inflammation.
According to Alzheimer's Disease International, 44 million people globally have dementia, of which Alzheimer's is the most common type. The beginnings of the disease are characterised by the appearance in the brain of plaques of amyloid proteins and tangles of tau proteins. They prompt the brain's native immune cells, the microglia, to multiply in a bid to dispose of the troublesome new debris.
The downside of this heightened state is that it also makes the microglia unusually sensitive to any other signs of trouble – for example, signals sent to the brain as a result of bodily inflammation. This stirs up the microglia even further, tipping them into a hyperactive state in which they attack healthy neurons, boosting the progression of Alzheimer's."....
"The results of Perry and Holmes's human trial of etanercept – also an anti-inflammatory – are expected later this year. The hope is that the drug will delay the progression of Alzheimer's. If it is found to, the results will bolster the theory that combating infection and chronic inflammation in the body is an effective strategy to keep Alzheimer's at bay.
It's an attractive theory because it implies that the disease could be slowed with drugs that work outside the brain. Recent research has focused on combating the plaques and tangles in the brain, with disappointing results. "They are clearly not irrelevant, but patients continue to get worse even if the plaques are cleared," says Cunningham.
The inflammation theory is also making sense to other teams. "We're already looking at the role of microglia as a causal factor linking diabetes to Alzheimer's," says Ewan McNay of the University at Albany in New York.
So can people help themselves steer clear of Alzheimer's by adopting lifestyles that avoid inflammatory disease? "We know that exercise and a healthy diet that avoids obesity and diabetes are sensible strategies for other aspects of our health. Emerging data suggest this will also slow brain decline," says Cunningham. "Actively treating bodily inflammation in middle age and beyond may lessen the effects of these conditions on the brain's decline in old age."
Article at:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229662.600-how-ailing-bodies-hasten-the-progress-of-alzheimers.html#.U12iY4FdXTo
Looks like more and more researchers are targeting inflammation as a cause of Alzheimers.
FDA War on Health video worth watching. Interesting that the FDA proposing 'safety and efficacy' for vitamins and supplements but not for GMOs. Probably over dramatized but makes one think about it.
Why not go to the clown board and ask? I'm only the 'messenger'. My take is Anatabloc and STSI are one and the same. What else would you see STSI showing profit(or loss) from?
Message posted on the Clown Board by enzanityreigns:
"For what it's worth
My friend XXXX is an accountant and a shareholder in Star. He says a'bloc WILL be profitable when earnings are announced in 2 weeks. He was willing to bet me, but I have lost on accounting bets with him before. I asked him to post why he is so sure, but he. "doesn't do message boards." Doesn't even read them He thinks the earnings announcement would be around May 9th.. If he's right about a"bloc now being profitable, that's very good news for Star."
Three Hidden Ways Wheat Makes You Fat by Dr Mark Hyman"
Excerpts:
"Yes, gluten is a real problem. But the problem is not just gluten. In fact, there are three major hidden reasons that wheat products, not just gluten (along with sugar in all its forms) is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, depression and so many other modern ills.
This is why there are now 30 percent more obese than undernourished in the world, and why chronic lifestyle and dietary driven disease kills more than twice as many people as infectious disease globally. These non-communicable, chronic diseases will cost our global economy $47 trillion over the next 20 years.
Sadly, this tsunami of chronic illness is increasingly caused by eating our beloved diet staple, bread, the staff of life, and all the wheat products hidden in everything from soups to vodka to lipstick to envelope adhesive.
The biggest problem is wheat, the major source of gluten in our diet. But wheat weaves its misery through many mechanisms, not just the gluten! The history of wheat parallels the history of chronic disease and obesity across the world. Supermarkets today contain walls of wheat and corn disguised in literally hundreds of thousands of different food-like products, or FrankenFoods. Each American now consumes about 55 pounds of wheat flour every year.
It is not just the amount but also the hidden components of wheat that drive weight gain and disease. This is not the wheat your great-grandmother used to bake her bread. It is FrankenWheat -- a scientifically engineered food product developed in the last 50 years.
How Wheat -- and Gluten -- Trigger Weight Gain, Prediabetes, Diabetes and More
This new modern wheat may look like wheat, but it is different in three important ways that all drive obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and more.
It contains a Super Starch -- amylopectin A that is super fattening.
It contains a form of Super Gluten that is super-inflammatory.
It contains forms of a Super Drug that is super-addictive and makes you crave and eat more."
"....Why is there an increase in disease from gluten in the last 50 years?
It is because, as I described earlier, the dwarf wheat grown in this country has changed the quality and type of gluten proteins in wheat, creating much higher gluten content and many more of the gluten proteins that cause celiac disease and autoimmune antibodies.
Combine that with the damage our guts have suffered from our diet, environment, lifestyle and medication use, and you have the perfect storm for gluten intolerance. This super gluten crosses our leaky guts and gets exposed to our immune system. Our immune system reacts as if gluten was something foreign, and sets off the fires of inflammation in an attempt to eliminate it. However, this inflammation is not selective, so it begins to attack our cells -- leading to diabesity and other inflammatory diseases.
Damage to the gastrointestinal tract from overuse of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Aleve and acid-blocking drugs like Prilosec or Nexium, combined with our low-fiber, high-sugar diet, leads to the development of celiac disease and gluten intolerance or sensitivity and the resultant inflammation. That is why elimination of gluten and food allergens or sensitivities can be a powerful way to prevent and reverse diabesity and many other chronic diseases."
Article at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/wheat-gluten_b_1274872.html
What You Need to Know About Inflammation by Dr Mercola:
Excerpts:
"The transcription protein Nuclear Factor-kappa Beta (NfKB) is a major inducer of inflammation. In cancer, a mutation in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue) is the likely driver that activates NfKB.
Some plant-based phytocompounds can enhance PTEN expression or inhibit PTEN mutation, including quercetin, resveratrol, and various isoflavones often referred to as phytoestrogens. An ever-growing body of evidence suggests that the use of these compounds can and should play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment.
NfKB modulation is an important target for cancer prevention and treatment....."
....."Conventional medicine will recommend anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and NSAIDs when treating inflammation, but I strongly advise against them. I was the first to publicly warn against these drugs in the late ‘90s, including about Vioxx, which ended up killing more than 60,000 people from strokes and heart attacks.
Statins are also now frequently prescribed to individuals who have normal cholesterol levels if they have elevated C-reactive protein levels, to combat inflammation, and presumably reduce their risk of developing heart disease.
But taking a statin in this case will NOT resolve the underlying problem causing the increase in inflammation and will expose you to an abundance of statin-related side effects.
The third drug often given to people with inflammation is the corticosteroid prednisone. This immunosuppressive drug, though necessary in some cases, is associated with serious long-term side effects such as cataracts, bone loss, weakening of the immune system, and many others. One of the most serious complications from prednisone is the risk of osteoporosis, which occurs from the bone loss.
Although prednisone is indeed occasionally needed and can actually be life saving, it is nearly always a poor choice to use for the long term. Prednisone will cover up the disease, but it is the underlying dysfunction -- the cause of the disease -- that must be repaired."
Article and video at:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/08/what-you-need-to-know-about-inflammation.aspx
Star Scientific, FDA Dispute Reflects NDI Uncertainty(from Natural Products Insider)
April 15, 2014 By Josh Long0 CommentsPosted in News, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Regulatory Issues, Government, Warning Letter, Litigation Print
WASHINGTON—A warning letter FDA sent to Star Scientific Inc., and the company's response, highlights a potential disagreement between the agency and the dietary supplement industry over the regulation of new dietary ingredients (NDIs).
Anatabloc, a Star Scientific dietary supplement that is intended to maintain lower levels of inflammation, includes an ingredient known as anatabine. In a Dec. 20, 2013 warning letter, FDA claimed Star Scientific needed to submit an NDI notification to the agency because anatabine was a new ingredient that had not been present in the food supply in a form that had not been chemically altered.
While acknowledging "anatabine is present as an inherent constituent of foods such as cauliflower, eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes," FDA said it was unaware "of any information indicating that anatabine itself is an article used for food."
Star Scientific of Glen Allen, VA, challenged FDA's interpretation of Section 413(a)(1) of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). That provision excuses a supplement firm from a requirement to notify FDA about an NDI at least 75 days before introducing a product into interstate commerce so long as the "dietary supplement contains only dietary ingredients which have been present in the food supply as an article used for food in a form in which the food has not been chemically altered."
Per DSHEA, a substance that was marketed as a dietary ingredient before Oct. 15, 1994 is not considered an NDI.
Paul Hyman, outside counsel for Star Scientific, didn't dispute that anatabine is an NDI, but he told FDA his client didn't have to submit a notification because Star Scientific satisfied Section 413(a)(1).
As the agency acknowledged, he noted, anatabine has been present as a constituent of foods. Hyman also said the substance had not been chemically altered.
In a Jan. 31, 2014 letter to FDA, Hyman indicated FDA is imposing a requirement in Section 413(a)(1) that doesn't exist: that an NDI—anatabine in this case—had to have been marketed to qualify for the notification exemption.
"Applying the exemption from notification in § 413(a)(1) to dietary ingredients that have been 'used as a food or as an ingredient in a food' is tantamount to requiring that the dietary ingredient have been 'marketed' as a food or food ingredient, and essentially reads section § 413(a)(1) out of the statute," Hyman of the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Hyman, Phelps & McNamara wrote.
Star Scientific declined to comment further beyond Hyman's letter.
FDA continued to defend its interpretation of DSHEA. "The answer is that we continue to stand by what we asserted in the warning letter," FDA spokesman Arthur Whitmore said.
Definitional Dispute
The legal question potentially dividing FDA and Star Scientific is what precisely qualifies under Section 413(a)(1) as "present in the food supply as an article used for food."
FDA is essentially declaring the constituent present in the food, such as anatabine, needs to have been marketed for its properties in order to qualify for the notification exemption under Section 413(a)(1), said one dietary supplement lawyer who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because of the uncertainty surround the issue.
"FDA is going to take a very narrow position as to what that means 'in the food supply," said another supplement lawyer.
The agency may clarify its position in the reissuance of the NDI draft guidance it hopes to release in 2014 after having consulted with dietary supplement representatives. The industry previously raised a number of concerns over the draft guidance FDA released in 2011, which included differences of opinion as to what constitutes chemical alteration under Section 413(a)(1).
"We are currently communicating with the FDA in an effort to reach an amicable resolution of the issues asserted in the warning letter," Star Scientific stated in its annual filing on March 17, 2014. "In light of our receipt of the FDA letter, we have substantially limited the marketing and advertising of our dietary supplements."
GNC is international. From the GNC corporate URL:
As of December 31, 2013, GNC has more than 8,500 locations, of which more than 6,300 retail locations are in the United States (including 1,012 franchise and 2,215 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in more than 50 countries (including distribution centers where retail sales are made)."
Having said that, I know that their Hong Kong and Macao stores DO NOT carry Anatabloc. For my friends there, I am the 'express shipping' person when I go there.
Some of their stores like Canada, Puerto Rico, etc might carry it.
Another possibility is Lucky Vitamins. They provide free shipping and Anatabloc normally costs about $76 and you get a $15 credit 30 days after purchase for your next order. Shipping is free for orders over $49. I got this from Lucky because I wanted to order from Hong Kong, you might want to chase this down for the UK.(?)
LuckyVitamin.com has partnered with a trusted third-party company, International Checkout, to fulfill orders for our International Customers (outside of the U.S. and Canada). Simply put the items you wish to purchase in our Shopping Cart and choose the "International Checkout Button" option on the shopping cart to see cost and complete your order. You may pay by International credit card, PayPal or bank transfer. International Checkout will process your order, including billing, shipping and customer service.
WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A QUOTE FOR SHIPPING RATES. Shipping is based on the weight of your order as well as the location to which you are shipping. Please contact International Checkout at "support@internationalcheckout.com" for additional information.
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Sweden Phone : +46.4069.35779
Hong Kong Phone : +852.8175.6057
Japan Phone : +81.50553.46826
Finland Phone : +358.(02)3619.0437
Brazil Phone : +55.(11)3717.5368
Dominican Republic Phone : +1809.202.3017
Ireland Phone : +01 443 3715
Mexico Phone : +55 8421 8266
New Zealand Phone : +09 889 0408
If your country is not listed during checkout, please contact International Checkout directly for additional information.
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Hope that helps.
Keystone Symposia on "Inflammation, Infection and Cancer"
Summary of the meeting:
"Summary of Meeting:
For many years, the presence of leukocytes in tumors had been thought to be a consequence of a failed attempt at cancer cell destruction. However, in the past decade it has emerged that tumors are not only effective in escaping from immune-mediated rejection, they also modify certain inflammatory cell types to render them tumor promoting rather than tumor suppressive. Indeed, inflammatory cells are an important component of the tumor microenvironment, and numerous clinical studies have established a positive correlation between inflammation and cancer progression. This conference will cover the latest research on the roles of inflammation and inflammatory cell subtypes on cancer initiation and progression. A special focus will be placed on emerging findings regarding the contributions of the host microbiome and infectious agents in eliciting an initial inflammatory response, and how that predisposes to specific types of cancer. Throughout the meeting there will be an emphasis placed not only on the mechanisms underlying the critical functions of infection and inflammation in cancers, but also on how to therapeutically target these processes in cancer. A critical component of this conference on “Inflammation, Infection and Cancer” will be the joint sessions held with the companion meeting on “Immune Evolution in Cancer”, emphasizing the latest results in understanding and therapeutically targeting the functions of different immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Article at:
http://www.keystonesymposia.org/14X1
"Aging Process Speeded By Chronic Inflammation" from Liberty Voice by Beth Balen:
Excerpts:
"Healthspan: the years of life spent relatively free of disability and serious illness. A study from the Yale School of Medicine released in the October, 2013, issue of Cell Metabolism shows that chronic inflammation can speed the aging process and significantly reduce healthspan.
Chronic inflammation is different from the swelling that occurs with a specific injury, such as a sprained ankle. Acute inflammation can typically be resolved with ice and time. Chronic inflammation is a slowly advancing disturbance that cannot be felt or tested for.
It starts with the immune system, the body’s first line of defense against damage or harm. During the aging process the body’s cells change, causing the immune system to produce low-level, chronic inflammation throughout the body. The Yale research is the first to show that inflammation is directly linked to functional deterioration during aging.
The Yale study has identified an immune sensor, Nlrp3, as the specific trigger of inflammation. Nlrp3 is activated with age and is the common start of inflammation-driven functional decline. This inflammation is associated with many chronic age-related diseases, including gout, arthritis, diabetes, impaired memory, and Alzheimer’s disease.
If the Nlrp3 immune sensor could be manipulated to reduce or delay the chronic inflammation that speeds the aging process, it could possibly lead to prolonged healthspan, and old age reasonably free of disability or disease.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in November, 2013, also said that chronic inflammation is associated with an array of unhealthy aging characteristics, and a likelihood of successful aging that is decreased.
Aging
And a study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, shows that Alzheimer’s disease is also associated with inflammation. The problem with Alzheimer’s is that there are not enough of the molecules needed for tissue recovery, so the resolution of the inflammatory process does not happen. The study determined that stimulating the resolution of inflammation may result in less loss of brain function."
"As the population over 50 increases, doctors are seeing an associated increase in age-related diseases. Researchers now say treating those individual diseases may be wrong, and that they may be more effectively handled by treating the chronic inflammation shown to speed the aging process."
Article at:
http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/aging-process-speeded-by-chronic-inflammation/
Scientific American Article: "Hallmarks of Cancer: Tumor-Promoting Inflammation" By Buddhini Samarasinghe (Buddhini Samarasinghe is a molecular biologist, with experience in cancer research. She completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, U.K. and then recently completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Hawaii. Her writing can be found at Jargonwall. She is also a passionate science communicator, engaging the public with current research in the life sciences. Where possible, she uses original research papers and describes the science minus the jargon! She is also involved in science outreach through broadcasts on YouTube and other social media sites, including Facebook and Google+. Follow on Twitter @DrHalfPintBuddy.)
Excerpt:
"We consider the immune system as our friend; it protects us by fighting infections while keeping us healthy. But there is a darker side to the immune system. Often, when it comes to cancer, we find that the immune system can turn traitor and actually promote cancer development.
The presence of white blood cells in tumors has been noted for many decades and provides the first clue that inflammation is linked to cancer. Yet it is only within the last few years that we have obtained clear evidence that inflammation plays a critical role in cancer development, and we are just beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms of how this happens. Indeed, chronic infections, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, environmental pollutants and high fat diets are now recognized as major risk factors for most common types of cancer; and, importantly, all these risk factors are linked to cancer through inflammation.
An extremely graphic yet apt way of describing a tumor is as “a wound that doesn’t heal.” Indeed, there are many similarities between a cancerous tumor and the process of wound healing. Both involve the growth, survival and migration of cells; both require the growth of new blood vessels. Importantly, all these processes are controlled by growth factors and signaling molecules. Just as the immune cells gather near a site of injury to secrete growth factors to begin tissue repair, tumors can also surround themselves with immune cells that secrete these same growth factors to promote their uncontrolled cell growth.
NF-?B: The First Violin
What orchestrates the inflammatory response? A protein known as NF?B (pronounced NF-kappa-B) has been described as “playing the first violin, if it is not the conductor of the inflammatory response.” Since NF?B is such an important first responder to inflammation it is already present in cells in an inactive state and does not require any protein synthesis to become activated. NF?B is held in an inactive state by a protein known as I?Ba, which binds to NF?B and prevents it from moving into the nucleus of the cell. I?Ba essentially behaves like a goalkeeper. So to activate the NF?B pathway, the goalkeeper must be neutralized. This is the role of an enzyme known as IKK (I?B kinase). Remember, kinases are enzymes that add phosphate groups to proteins. By adding a phosphate group to I?Ba the goalkeeper, IKK ‘tags’ it for degradation; the goalkeeper is neutralized. NF?B is now free to move into the nucleus of the cell and activate a wide range of genes that promote cell growth, survival, migration and the formation of new blood vessels. In the context of cancer, the activation of NF?B in immune cells induces the production of molecules that activate NF?B in cancer cells; these in turn induce molecules that attract more immune cells into the tumor. It is a feed-forward loop that results in a frenzy of uncontrolled growth, with the immune cells actively enhancing the Hallmark capabilities of the cancer cells."
Article at:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2014/04/18/the-hallmarks-of-cancer-8-tumor-promoting-inflammation/
Obesity and Cancer article titled: "FRONTLINE CANCER: Exploring the link between obesity and cancer" By Scott M. Lippman
In the current issue of the Del Mar Times
Excerpt:
"Obese people often suffer from chronic, low-level inflammation, which is associated with increased cancer risk. Indeed, Michael Karin, PhD, distinguished professor of pharmacology and pathology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and a faculty member at Moores Cancer Center, and others have shown that obesity-induced inflammation promotes development of liver cancer, the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide."
Article at:
http://www.delmartimes.net/2014/04/21/frontline-cancer-exploring-the-link-between-obesity-and-cancer/
Inflammation and Prostrate Cancer Article in Forbes:
"Is There A Link Between Prostate Cancer And Chronic Inflammation?"By Robert Glatter MD
Excerpt:
"Based on data from a new study from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, men who demonstrate evidence of chronic inflammation seen in prostate biopsies stemming from chronic prostatitis may have close to twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those without inflammation.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the US.
The link between developing cancer and having chronic inflammation was even more striking for men with aggressive or high-grade prostate cancer, reflected in a Gleason score between 7 and 10. The Gleason score is a numeric scale for assessing risk of developing invasive or high-grade prostate cancer based on microscopic evaluation of prostate tissue.
The research was published April 18 in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention."
Article at:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/04/21/is-there-a-link-between-prostate-cancer-and-chronic-inflammation/
Anti-inflammatory effects of RCP006--worth reposting.
"The Roskamp Institute is interested in finding new treatments for the diseases of aging associated with chronic inflammation. In this respect Roskamp Institute scientists are examining the properties of RCP006 whose active ingredient is anatabine. In further studies of NF-KB activity and anatabine's ability to decrease it, we see that LPS induced NF-KB activation in human white blood cells is decreased at dose equivalents to aspirin or celebrex (which is toxic at these doses)."
Article at:
http://www.rfdn.org/inflammaging3.html