EK
North Korean parents ‘eating their own children’ after being driven mad by hunger in famine-hit pariah state
Undercover reporters found a ‘shocking’ number of cannibalism incidents
Up to 10,000 people feared dead after ‘hidden famine’ in farming provinces
Drought and confiscated food contribute to desperate shortage, reports say
Reports of men digging up corpses for food and murdering children
By Becky Evans
A starving man in North Korea has been executed after murdering his two children for food, reports from inside the secretive state claim. A ‘hidden famine’ in the farming provinces of North and South Hwanghae is believed to have killed up to 10,000 people and there are fears that incidents of cannibalism have risen[U10] .
The grim story is just one to emerge as residents battle starvation after a drought hit farms and shortages were compounded by party officials confiscating food.–North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has spent vast sums of money on two rocket launches despite reports of desperate food shortages in the country and concerns that 10,000 people have died in a famine[U11] Undercover reporters from Asia Press told the Sunday Times that one man dug up his grandchild’s corpse and ate it. Another, boiled his own child for food. Despite reports of the widespread famine, Kim Jong Un, 30, has spent vast sums of money on two rocket launches in recent months. There are fears he is planning a nuclear test in protest at a UN Security Council punishment for the recent rocket launches and to counter what it sees as US hostility. One informant was quoted as saying: ‘In my village in May a man who killed his own two children and tried to eat them was executed by a firing squad.’Farming communities, such as these pictured outside the capital Pyongyang last year, have been desperately hit by drought which has led to reports of people turning to cannibalism in a bid to ward off starvation One official said the fields are in such a bad state from drought that he had to avert his eyes [U12] The informant said the father killed his eldest daughter while his wife was away on business and then killed his son because he had witnessed the murder. When his wife returned the man told her they had ‘meat’ but she became suspicious and contacted officials who discovered part of the children’s bodies. Jiro Ishimaru, from Asia Press, which compiled a 12 page report, said: ‘Particularly shocking were the numerous testimonies that hit us about cannibalism.’ Undercover reporters said food was confiscated from the two provinces and given to the residents of the capital Pyongyang. A drought then left food supplies desperately short[U13] . -Cannibalism has also been reported in the vast network of prison camps inside North Korea, such as Camp 22, pictured, where 50,000 are believed to be imprisoned
The Sunday Times also quoted an official of the ruling Korean Worker’s party as saying: ‘In a village in Chongdan county, a man who went mad with hunger boiled his own child, ate his flesh and was arrested. United Nations officials visited the area during a state-sponsored trip but local reporters said it is unlikely they were shown the famine-hit areas.–It has not the first time that reports of cannibalism have come out of the country. —In May last year, the South Korean state-run Korean Institute for National Unification said that one man was executed after eating part of a colleague and then trying to sell the remains as mutton. —One man killed and ate a girl and a third report of cannibalism was recorded from 2011. –Another man was executed in May after murdering 11 people and selling the bodies as pork. There were also reports of cannibalism in the country’s network of prison camps. North Korea was hit by a terrible famine in the 1990s – known as the Arduous March – which killed between 240,000 and 3.5million people.
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Chemotherapy can backfire, make cancer worse by triggering tumor growth
Scientists found that healthy cells damaged by chemotherapy secreted more of a protein called WNT16B, which boosts cancer cell survival. ‘The increase in WNT16B was completely unexpected,” —
Long considered the most effective cancer-fighting treatment, chemotherapy may actually make cancer worse, according to a shocking new study. The extremely aggressive therapy, which kills both cancerous and healthy cells indiscriminately, can cause healthy cells to secrete a protein that sustains tumor growth and resistance to further treatment[U14] . Researchers in the United States made the “completely unexpected” finding while seeking to explain why cancer cells are so resilient inside the human body when they are easy to kill in the lab. They tested the effects of a type of chemotherapy on tissue collected from men with prostate cancer, and found “evidence of DNA damage” in healthy cells after treatment, the scientists wrote in Nature Medicine.–Chemotherapy works by inhibiting reproduction of fast-dividing cells such as those found in tumors. The scientists found that healthy cells damaged by chemotherapy secreted more of a protein called WNT16B which boosts cancer cell survival. “The increase in WNT16B was completely unexpected,” study co-author Peter Nelson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle told AFP. The protein was taken up by tumor cells neighboring the damaged cells. “WNT16B, when secreted, would interact with nearby tumor cells and cause them to grow, invade, and importantly, resist subsequent therapy,” said Nelson. In cancer treatment, tumors often respond well initially, followed by rapid re-growth and then resistance to further chemotherapy. Rates of tumor cell reproduction have been shown to accelerate between treatments. -“Our results indicate that damage responses in benign cells… may directly contribute to enhanced tumor growth kinetics,” wrote the team. -The researchers said they confirmed their findings with breast and ovarian cancer tumors.
CANCER TREATMENT OVERVIEW
The result paves the way for research into new, improved treatment, said Nelson.”For example, an antibody to WNT16B, given with chemotherapy, may improve responses (kill more tumor cells),” he said in an email exchange. “Alternatively, it may be possible to use smaller, less toxic doses of therapy.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/shock-study-chemotherapy-backfire-cancer-worse-triggering-tumor-growth-article-1.1129897#ixzz2JNCoqn69
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Splenda’s Many Secrets– Gut Flora Destruction–Side Effects
It’s becoming increasingly clear that aspartame is bad news. But what about the other artificial sweetener, sucralose (Splenda)? Is Splenda safe?
Known commercially as Splenda, sucralose is a synthetic product—a chlorinated sugar molecule—of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Splenda continues to be avidly used by consumers watching their weight and blood sugar. The Calorie Control Council is only too happy to tear apart arguments that Splenda may not be as safe as purported, including studies—even by the prestigious Duke University—and assertions by alternative medicine practitioners like Dr. Mercola, who compared sucralose to DDT.
Splenda and DDT
As The Examiner states, “most pesticides are chlorocarbons and…the bonds holding carbon and chlorine atoms together in sucralose are more characteristic of a chlorocarbon than a salt.”—The Calorie Control Council (CCC) claims, rightfully, that DDT is virtually insoluble in water and soluble in fats, such as those found in the body. “The small amount of sucralose that is absorbed is rapidly eliminated in urine.” Splenda’s makers have admitted that, on average, 15 percent of sucralose is absorbed. (Remember that that’s an average, meaning some people may absorb significantly more, others significantly less.)—Because sucralose is not a naturally occurring product, however, it might be safe to say that the body, unable to metabolize it, absorbs it via the digestive system and ultimately stores it in the body. (Perhaps a scientist can peaceably weigh in on this.)
Sucralose and the Gut–Its absorption by the digestive system may explain why researchers at Duke University in 2008 found that Splenda negatively alters gut microflora in rats and may limit the bioavailability of drugs and nutrients (The study can be found here as published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.) A myriad other studies showing Splenda’s adverse effects—ranging from bowel disturbances, kidney mineralization, and tumor growth—can be reviewed here.–In one human (albeit small) study, nutritionist Tamara Duker Freuman found that “because [Splenda’s] sweet taste is not accompanied by the calories (energy) our brain expects it to be, the complex systems our bodies have to regulate energy balance may be thrown off kilter. The result is that of a diet high in artificial sweeteners may possibly, over time, cause people to seek out more calories from other sources in order to satisfy cravings that sweet—but calorically empty—foods create.”
Human Bias Affecting Studies
Although the CCC accuses studies like Duke’s as having flaws (specifically, “lack of proper control groups”), one may say the same of the studies used in defense of Splenda. One cited often was published in the November 2010 issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology, in which sucralose was found to have no genotoxicity.
It’s worth noting, however, that the makers of Splenda co-authored the study. Keep in mind, too, that Johnson & Johnson (affiliated with Splenda) was recently hit with a $1 billion fine for marketing Risperdal for unapproved uses and regularly puts toxins like formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates in many of its products. It was only in 2011 that they promised to take known and possible carcinogens out of its infant care products, and it will take them until 2015 (allegedly) to do the same for adult toiletries.
Here is some information regarding the 110 studies proving Splenda’s safety:
The 110 “animal and human studies” consisted of 2 studies involving humans, with a total of 36 people involved.
The longest human study lasted 4 days, and focused on Splenda’s impact on tooth decay.
Some of the remainder “safety studies” showed Splenda to cause decreased red blood cells, male infertility, brain lesions (at high doses), spontaneous abortions in a rabbit population.
Consumer-Reported Side Effects
Consumers of Splenda have themselves come forward with complaints (which can admittedly have mitigating factors), including:
Gastrointestinal problems
Migraines
Seizures
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Allergic response
Blood sugar increases
Weight gain
Splenda is comprised of the high-potency artificial sweetener sucralose (1.1%) and the fillers maltodextrin and glucose. Splenda was administered by oral gavage at 100, 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 12-wk, during which fecal samples were collected weekly for bacterial analysis and measurement of fecal pH. After 12-wk, half of the animals from each treatment group were sacrificed to determine the intestinal expression of the membrane efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolism system by Western blot. The remaining animals were allowed to recover for an additional 12-wk, and further assessments of fecal microflora, fecal pH, and expression of P-gp and CYP were determined. At the end of the 12-wk treatment period, the numbers of total anaerobes, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, Bacteroides, clostridia, and total aerobic bacteria were significantly decreased; however, there was no significant treatment effect on enterobacteria. Splenda also increased fecal pH and enhanced the expression of P-gp by 2.43-fold, CYP3A4 by 2.51-fold, and CYP2D1 by 3.49-fold. Following the 12-wk recovery period, only the total anaerobes and bifidobacteria remained significantly depressed, whereas pH values, P-gp, and CYP3A4 and CYP2D1 remained elevated. These changes occurred at Splenda dosages that contained sucralose at 1.1–11 mg/kg (the US FDA Acceptable Daily Intake for sucralose is 5 mg/kg). Evidence indicates that a 12-wk administration of Splenda exerted numerous adverse effects, including (1) reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, (2) increased fecal pH, and (3) enhanced expression levels of P-gp, CYP3A4, and CYP2D1, which are known to limit the bioavailability of orally administered drugs.
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Undiagnosed coeliac disease in patients with emphysema-
M. De Menthon*, D.J. Dusser#, L. Guillevin* and P.R. Burgel#
+ Author Affiliations
*Depts of Internal Medicine,
#Respiratory Medicine, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
P.R. Burgel, Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, 27 rue du Faubourg St Jacques, 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France. E-mail: [email protected]
To the Editors:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive and poorly reversible airflow obstruction due to small airway disease and emphysema. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD, but the disease also occurs in nonsmokers. In nonsmokers, environmental factors (e.g. second-hand smoking and inhalation of toxic gas), genetic factors (e.g. the rare α1-antitrypsin deficiency) and infectious factors (e.g. HIV infection) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. We report on two cases of COPD with emphysema in nonsmokers with long-standing undiagnosed coeliac disease.
A 71-yr-old female was referred to our hospital (Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France) for dyspnoea and cough, which had evolved over 5 yrs. She had suffered from alternating diarrhoea and constipation for many years, ascribed to functional bowel disease. She had never been exposed to inhaled toxics and had never smoked. Examination revealed a body mass index (BMI) of 18 kg·m−2 and a chest computed tomography (CT) image revealed pulmonary distension and emphysema (fig. 1). Spirometry revealed severe airflow limitation (table 1). Serum α1-antitrypsin was normal. Treatment with long-acting bronchodilators was initiated. After 7 yrs of follow-up, the patient complained of progressive weight loss (BMI 15 kg·m−2) and increased diarrhoea. Vitamin D deficiency was found, suggesting malabsorption. Anti-endomysium, anti-gliadin and anti-transglutaminase antibodies were detected. Gastroscopy revealed a macroscopic aspect of pavimental mucosa and duodenal biopsies showed subtotal villous atrophy with increased numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes, confirming coeliac disease. Diarrhoea and weight loss improved markedly on a gluten-free diet, but no significant changes in lung function were observed.
View larger version:
a) High-resolution computed tomography images obtained in patient 2 reveals focal areas of low attenuation (arrowheads) within a homogeneous background of lung parenchyma, characterising centrilobular emphysema. b) Bullous emphysema in the same patient.
Table 1– Characteristics of patients
A 59-yr-old female was referred to our hospital (Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris) after two episodes of acute bronchitis and weight loss of 5 kg. She had never smoked and had never been exposed to inhaled toxics. She also complained of asthenia, chronic pain of the wrists and fingers, and chronic itching for several years. She signalled that she had always had soft saddles. Examination showed mild malnutrition (BMI 18 kg·m−2). Laboratory tests showed chronic microcytic anaemia and severe iron deficiency. A chest CT image showed centrilobular and bullous emphysema, which predominated in lower lobes (fig. 1). Spirometry showed mild airflow limitation and plethysmography revealed pulmonary hyperinflation. Serum α1-antitrypsin was normal. The patient declined bronchoscopy and no bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. Gastroscopy was performed to explore iron deficiency and showed a typical pavimental aspect of duodenal mucosa. Biopsies revealed total villous atrophy with lymphocytic infiltrate of the mucosa. Antibodies against gliadin, endomysium and transglutaminase were all positive. Further exploration showed marked vitamin D deficiency and severe osteoporosis. Coeliac disease was treated with a gluten-free diet, which resulted in a rapid improvement in itching, joint pain and diarrhoea. No significant changes in pulmonary abnormalities occurred.
Coeliac disease was originally considered a rare malabsorption syndrome of childhood, but is now recognised as a common condition that may be diagnosed at any age. Coeliac disease may affect many organ systems including the neurological system, skin and liver 1. Previous reports have suggested links between coeliac disease and several pulmonary manifestations, including diffuse pulmonary nodules, interstitial fibrosis, lymphocytic bronchoalveolitis and pulmonary haemosiderosis 2. —An association between emphysema and coeliac disease has been previously suggested 3–5. In a study of a case of malabsorption, intestinal mucosal atrophy and ulceration, cirrhosis, and emphysema, the authors suggested that emphysema was unrelated to coeliac disease because the patient was a heavy smoker 3. In another report, coeliac disease was associated with emphysema, which was ascribed to α1-antitrypsin deficiency 5. In a pathological study of lung specimens obtained in 14 patients (10 current or ex-smokers) with coeliac disease complaining of respiratory symptoms (e.g. dyspnoea and/or cough), Edwards et al. 4 described airflow obstruction in seven patients and peribronchiolar fibrosis in 12 patients. However, because lung function was normal in the four nonsmokers and because most bronchiolar abnormalities were found in current or ex-smokers, the authors suggested that these findings were unrelated to coeliac disease 4. —Our cases differ from previous reports in that both patients were lifelong nonsmokers and had no α1-antitrypsin deficiency. Although we cannot rule out that the observed associations between coeliac disease and emphysema occurred by chance, our report is consistent with the findings of Tarlo et al. 6 who reported mild airflow obstruction in 18 subjects with biopsy-proven coeliac disease compared with 18 control subjects matched for age, sex and smoking.
Coeliac disease is a unique autoimmune disorder because the environmental precipitant (gluten) is known 1. Recently, evidence has emerged that auto-immunity may be involved in the pathogenesis of alveolar destruction characteristic of emphysema 7. Because autoimmune diseases are often associated, it is possible that both diseases coexist and/or that auto-antibodies share antigen specificity. Another possible explanation is related to long-standing malnutrition. Severe malnutrition caused by starvation during World War II or by anorexia nervosa has been associated with the development of emphysema 8. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency, which was present in our patients, has been linked with abnormal lung function 9. We suggest that long-standing malabsorption occurring in patients with coeliac disease may induce lung inflammation and emphysema. In support of the latter hypothesis, Brightling et al. 2 reported CD4+ lymphocytic bronchoalveolitis in a 68-yr-old female with a 1-yr history of dry cough, which improved markedly after several months on a gluten-free diet. We could not demonstrate such findings in our patients because patient 1 had severe bronchial obstruction and patient 2 declined bronchoscopy.
In summary, we suggest that coeliac disease diagnosis should be considered in patients with emphysema, especially when classical risk factors for emphysema (e.g. smoking) are absent. Further research is also warranted to examine the prevalence of emphysema in patients with coeliac disease. If confirmed, the association between emphysema and coeliac disease may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of emphysema and coeliac disease.
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. A case of cough, lymphocytic bronchoalveolitis and coeliac disease with improvement following a gluten free diet. Thorax 2002; 57: 91–92.
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A case of malabsorption, intestinal mucosal atrophy and ulceration, cirrhosis, and emphysema. BMJ 1970; 3: 207–212.
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. Bronchopulmonary disease in coeliac patients. J Clin Pathol 1985; 38: 361–367.
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Johnson DS,
Oskvig RM,
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Tarlo SM,
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. Association between celiac disease and lung disease. Chest 1981; 80: 715–718.
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Hydrogen Sulfide- The Next Anti-Aging Agent
Jan. 29, 2013 — Hydrogen sulfide* (H2S) may play a wide-ranging role in staving off aging, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biology. In this review article, a team from China explores the compound’s plethora of potential anti-aging pathways. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the third endogenous signaling gasotransmitter, following nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. It is physiologically generated by cystathionine-γ-lyase, cystathionine-β-synthase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. H2S has been gaining increasing attention as an important endogenous signaling molecule because of its significant effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. substantial evidence shows that H2S is involved in aging by inhibiting free-radical reactions, activating SIRT1, and probably interacting with the age-related gene Klotho. Moreover, H2S has been shown to have therapeutic potential in age-associated diseases. This article provides an overview of the physiological functions and effects of H2S in aging and age-associated diseases, and proposes the potential health and therapeutic benefits of H2S.
“H2S has been gaining increasing attention as an important endogenous signaling molecule because of its significant effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems,” the team writes. The evidence is mounting, they note, that hydrogen sulfide slows aging by inhibiting free-radical reactions, by activating SIRT1, an enzyme believed to be a regulator of lifespan, and probably through its interactions with a gene, klotho, which appears to have its own market basket of anti-aging activity.—-Hydrogen sulfide is produced within the human body, and has a variety of important physiological effects. For example, it relaxes the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells, which is important to maintaining clean arteries as one ages, says first author Zhi-Sheng Jiang, of the University of South China, Hunan. It functions as an antioxidant. And it inhibits expression of pro-inflammatory factors, all of which “imply an important role in aging and age-associated diseases,” according to the paper. For example, mice lacking CSE, the gene for an enzyme involved in producing H2S, manifest extensive, premature arteriosclerosis, an inevitable consequence of aging, says Jiang.—The gene, klotho, which appears to be upregulated by hydrogen sulfide, is thought to extend lifespan via a number of different pathways, some of which promote production of endogenous antioxidants, according to the report. Produced in the kidneys, it has direct angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting activity; that is, it’s an ACE inhibitor, just like certain drugs that mitigate high blood pressure. Not surprisingly, plasma H2S declines with age, and is lower in spontaneously hypertensive rats than in those with normal blood pressure. More generally, a lack of H2S is implicated in cardiovascular disease.—A decline in H2S is also thought to undermine neurological health. Endogenous H2S has been found wanting in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease, and is found to be depressed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. There are even suggestions, mostly in animal models, but also in human studies, that H2S may be protective against cancer, according to the report.—“Data available so far strongly suggest that H2S may become the next potent agent for preventing and ameliorating the symptoms of aging and age-associated diseases,” concludes Jiang. In the future, he says, people may take H2S via food, or as an anti-aging supplement.—-* Hydrogen sulfide (British English: hydrogen sulphide) is the chemical compound with the formula H2S. It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas that gives off the odor of rotten eggs.–Journal Reference-Y. Zhang, Z.-H. Tang, Z. Ren, S.-L. Qu, M.-H. Liu, L.-S. Liu, Z.-S. Jiang. Hydrogen Sulfide: Next Potent Preventive and Therapeutic Agent in Aging and Age-associated Diseases. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2013; DOI: 10.1128/MCB.01215-12
Function in the body
Hydrogen sulfide is produced in small amounts by some cells of the mammalian body and has a number of biological signaling functions. (Only two other such gases are currently known: nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO).)
The gas is produced from cysteine by the enzymes cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase. It acts as a relaxant of smooth muscle and as a vasodilator[28] and is also active in the brain, where it increases the response of the NMDA receptor and facilitates long term potentiation,[29] which is involved in the formation of memory.
SPECIAL NOTE!!!!
Dairy Products-Most Dairy Products contain Cysteine.–Eggs–Yolks Meats-Most Meats contain Cysteine.—Nuts-Most Nuts contain Cysteine. –Seeds-Most Seeds contain Cysteine.—Vegetables-Garlic & Onions—Broccoli—-Brussels Sprouts
Alliin (also known as S-allyl-L-Cysteine Sulfoxide or S-allyl-Cysteine) is a Cysteine derivative present in Garlic.
Cysteine Hydrochloride (Cysteine HCl) is a form of supplemental Cysteine that consists of 77% L-Cysteine bound to 23% Hydrochloric Acid (HCl).
L-Cysteine is the natural endogenous state of Cysteine (i.e. NOT D-Cysteine).
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is an endogenous derivative of Cysteine that is regarded by some researchers as the optimal form of supplemental Cysteine. NAC is more water-soluble than regular Cysteine.
S-allylmercaptocysteine is a Cysteine derivative present in Garlic.
S-methyl Cysteine is a Cysteine derivative present in Garlic.
Gamma-glutamyl S-allyl cysteine is a Cysteine derivative present in Garlic.
Eventually the gas is converted to sulfite in the mitochondria by thiosulfate reductase, and the sulfite is further oxidized to thiosulfate and sulfate by sulfite oxidase. The sulfates are excreted in the urine.[30]
Due to its effects similar to nitric oxide (without its potential to form peroxides by interacting with superoxide), hydrogen sulfide is now recognized as potentially protecting against cardiovascular disease.[28] The cardioprotective role effect of garlic is caused by catabolism of the polysulfide group in allicin to H2S, a reaction that could depend on reduction mediated by glutathione.[31]
Though both nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide have been shown to relax blood vessels, their mechanisms of action are different: while NO activates the enzyme guanylyl cyclase, H2S activates ATP-sensitive potassium channels in smooth muscle cells. Researchers are not clear how the vessel-relaxing responsibilities are shared between nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide. However there exists some evidence to suggest that nitric oxide does most of the vessel-relaxing work in large vessels and hydrogen sulfide is responsible for similar action in smaller blood vessels.[32]
Recent findings suggest strong cellular crosstalk of NO and H2S,[33] demonstrating that the vasodilatatory effects of these two gases are mutually dependent. Additionally, H2S reacts with intracellular S-nitrosothiols to form the smallest S-nitrosothiol (HSNO), and a role of hydrogen sulfide in controlling the intracellular S-nitrosothiol pool has been suggested.[34]
Like nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide is involved in the relaxation of smooth muscle that causes erection of the penis, presenting possible new therapy opportunities for erectile dysfunction.[35][36]
In Alzheimer’s disease the brain’s hydrogen sulfide concentration is severely decreased.[37] In trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) the body produces an excess of hydrogen sulfide.[30] Hydrogen sulfide is also involved in the disease process of type 1 diabetes. The beta cells of the pancreas in type 1 diabetes produce an excess of the gas, leading to the death of beta cells and to a reduced production of insulin by those that remain.[32]
Garlic has long been touted as a health booster, but it’s never been clear why the herb might be good for you. Now new research is beginning to unlock the secrets of the odoriferous bulb.
In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers show that eating garlic appears to boost our natural supply of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is actually poisonous at high concentrations — it’s the same noxious byproduct of oil refining that smells like rotten eggs. But the body makes its own supply of the stuff, which acts as an antioxidant and transmits cellular signals that relax blood vessels and increase blood flow.—In the latest study, performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, researchers extracted juice from supermarket garlic and added small amounts to human red blood cells. The cells immediately began emitting hydrogen sulfide, the scientists found. The power to boost hydrogen sulfide production may help explain why a garlic-rich diet appears to protect against various cancers, including breast, prostate and colon cancer, say the study authors. Higher hydrogen sulfide might also protect the heart, according to other experts. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine earlier this year found that injecting hydrogen sulfide into mice almost completely prevented the damage to heart muscle caused by a heart attack.
[U1]I love this term “missed” or would it mean over looked because they knew the issues in the day and now are beginning to further there agenda
[U2]Is someone else bell ringing on this??/they have the most sophistcaed equipment on the planet and they “ MISSED THIS!”—who are we kidding here
[U3]In other words never regrow this again
[U4]Catastrophic system failure!!! Are we talking famine and pestilence
[U5]Not Safe for Human consumption???—I have been saying this for over 10 years about the fact we are consuming viruses and now here it is and as a result we maybe consuming direct via vege fruit or
[U6]Now this is an irony we proclaim the dangers of this virus and now we do not know enough til future experiments—sounds like a money grab to me to further to agenda 21
[U7]What a lousy example to use –canada is worse—since there is no official labeling or unofficial –there is no bases for this statement—if there was labeling and people ate the food knowing what was in it would determine the cause of the illness or debilitation—since we do not record this then there is really no double blind just a stating of hypothesis
[U8]Question I ask how many people did they settle out of court or pay off just so this would not be reported—thereby altering the statistics?
[U9]Doesn’t this sound like a FDA buy out?? Is this not what happened to the USA and any other FDA affiliations globally!! When you read this and it is showing 54/86 GMO crops are contaminated and they are feeding this to the livestock and it can damage both animal and humans—what then is this saying???!!! It is saying here there will be a negotiation with the EFSA to hide research like this as well as other things being hidden so people cannot make accurate decisions and keep on following options that are presented rather then choices
[U10]Things to look forward to—and they want to disarm people here in North America when this kind of insanity is going on globally—if this were to happen here in North America) CAN/USA) then we will have a problem—a lot of people do not have any skills other then what they have programmed to do—others have lost there capacity to be autonomous—these people will panic and proceed to burglarize and kill to have what the perceive—stay armed and prepared and stocked
[U11]Guns instead of grains—what stupidty—or is it planned?
[U12]Could it be a weather modification attack—could it be a HAARP or RF attack?? Could the drought be a way to insure cooperation?? Makes me go hmm
[U13]Weather Modicfication
[U14]This is why if you must go through this insanity then take essiac teas—dandelion and turmeric teas to offset the side effect of the chemo —not to mention protecting your liver as a result of the detoxing these poison that you will excrete
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Show of the Month February 23 2013
Thyroid Tidbits
Men Taking Long-Acting Chronic Pain Meds Five Times More Likely to Have Low Testosterone Levels
Lipase Uses
Egg For Burns
Working Alone Won’t Get You Good Grades
Effectiveness of castor oil extract on Escherichia coli and its endotoxins in root canals
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Thyroid Tidbits
Let’s look at the thyroid and see what we can do to assist in sustaining a healthy thyroid—
Thyroxine is the primary Hormone synthesized and secreted by the Thyroid Gland – Thyroxine comprises 80% of the Thyroid Hormone secretions. Thyroxine is less potent than Triiodothyronine (T3).–Thyroxine is the second most prescribed Pharmaceutical Drug (based on the number of prescriptions dispensed in the USA during 1999[U1] ).—What does the thyroid really need to be optimal—would be things derived from foods unless there has been some kind genetic interference with what would normally regenerate the system—
T4–Some of the body’s Thyroxine content is converted to Triiodothyronine (T3).- Tyrosine is an essential cofactor (along with Iodine) for the production of Thyroxine within the body – Tyrosine comprises 35% of Thyroxine– Sunlight may stimulate the production of Thyroxine-Iodine is a cofactor for the production of Thyroxine from Tyrosine-Copper is involved in the conversion of Triiodothyronine to Thyroxine- Approximately 20% of the body’s supply of Iodine is used as an essential cofactor (with Tyrosine) in the production of Thyroxine within the body – Iodine comprises 65% of Thyroxine–Selenium is required for the conversion of Thyroxine (T4) into Triiodothyronine (T3)- Selenium is essential for the production of the enzyme that converts Thyroxine (T4) into Triiodothyronine (T3) -Vitamin C may facilitate the production of Thyroxine.
T3- Triiodothyronine is a type of minor Hormone produced in and secreted by the Thyroid Gland – Triiodothyronine accounts for 20% of Thyroid Hormone production. Triiodothyronine is approximately ten times more potent than Thyroxine (T4).–Although often under-discussed, the majority (80% – 85%) of biologically-active Triiodothyronine is produced in peripheral tissues other than the Thyroid Gland – specifically the Liver and (to a lesser extent) the Kidneys. This occurs via the conversion of Thyroxine (T4) to Triiodothyronine.– Tyrosine is an essential cofactor (in conjunction with Iodine) for the production of Triiodothyronine— Copper may enhance the conversion of Triiodothyronine to Thyroxine.—5% of the body’s Iodine is used in the production of Triiodothyronine (Iodine comprises 59% of the chemical structure of Iodine).— Phosphorus may help to prevent decreases in plasma Triiodothyronine levels.–Selenium is an essential cofactor for the production of Triiodothyronine:
Things that can interfere with T3 or T4
Soybeans may inhibit the production of Triiodothyronine (due to the Isoflavonoids content of Soybeans). Seeds-Fenugreek Seeds may lower the body’s levels of Triiodothyronine by inhibiting the conversion of Thyroxine to Triiodothyronine- Fluoride may inhibit the production and action of Thyroxine- Isothiocyanates- Excessive consumption of some types of Isothiocyanates[U2] may cause Goiter or Hypothyroidism by blocking the utilization of Iodine and consequently slowing down the function of the Thyroid.-These Iodine blocking Isothiocyanates were formerly known as Goitrogenic Substances– Legumes:Soybeans-Nuts:Peanuts-Vegetables: Cabbages—Cauliflower-Brussels Sprouts-Broccoli-Kale— Brussels Sprouts Chinese Broccoli-Choy Sum-Daikon-Kale-Kohlrabi-Mustard Greens-Radish-Rutabaga-Turnip—the same component that can shut down the thyroid as well can be of use in the body —but with a compromised thyroid these should be consumed sparingly til the thyroid is mended and even then to make sure that adequate iodine is use with selenium and copper
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Things to use to maintain or rebuild thyroid
Iodine-1-4 drops a day and increase 1 drop til at desired dose
Tyrosine -500-1,500mgs a day-fermented dairy
Selenium-100mcg’s 3-4 times a day-brazil nuts are the highest sources
Copper- 1-3 mgs a day—green leafy veges –Chlorophyll
Phosphorus -1000mgs –Nuts and Seeds—Sunflower Lecithin-Eggs
Vitamin C- 1-5 grams a day—Supplement Ascorbic acid in some form
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Men Taking Long-Acting Chronic Pain Meds Five Times More Likely to Have Low Testosterone Levels
Jan. 31, 2013 — Low testosterone levels occur five times more often among men who take long-acting instead of short-acting opioids for chronic pain, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in The Clinical Journal of Pain.–While it has been known that opioids cause low testosterone in men, this study is the first to show a significant difference in risk between short-acting (immediate release) and long-acting opioids.—The 81 men in the retrospective study were between 26 and 79 years old (median age 51) and were seen in the chronic-pain clinic at Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Rosa Medical Center (Calif.) between January 2009 and June 2010. All of the participants had been on a stable dose of an opioid for at least three months, and none had a previous diagnosis of low testosterone. A larger retrospective study of more than 1,500 male pain patients is currently under way.—-“There’s a large gap in the evidence base with regard to opioids,” said Andrea Rubinstein, MD, of the Departments of Chronic Pain and Anesthesiology, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center. “More safety and efficacy studies are needed. We need to know how we can prescribe these very useful medications in a way that brings the greatest benefits to our patients, without introducing additional risks.”—Once prescribed primarily to cancer patients, the use of opioid-based medications such as oxycodone (Oxycontin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin) for treating chronic, non-cancer pain has increased dramatically in recent decades. An estimated 4.3 million Americans use opioids on a daily basis for pain.—“For years, doctors have been encouraged to prescribe long-acting opioids rather than short-acting opioids because we believed they were safer, had less abuse potential, and offered more consistent pain control, but no study has ever been able to support this practice,” Dr. Rubinstein said.–The study compared the use of short-acting opioids, which immediately release the pain medication and are taken every four to six hours, and long-acting opioids, which slowly release the pain medication and are taken every eight to 12 hours.A healthy young man should have testosterone levels between 300 and 800 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL); in this study, low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, was defined as less than 250 ng/dL. Low testosterone levels have been associated with decreases in muscle mass, bone density (osteoporosis or osteopenia), cognition, mood, libido (sex drive) and general quality of life.—Seventy-four percent of the men on long-acting opioids had low testosterone levels, compared with 34 percent of the men using short-acting opioids. After controlling for daily dosage and body mass index, the study found that the odds of having low testosterone were 4.78 times greater for men taking a long-acting opioid than a short-acting opioid. Dose was not associated with an increased risk of low testosterone.—“These medications work well for short-term, acute pain,” said Dr. Rubinstein. “It has long been extrapolated that they can also be used safely long-term to control chronic pain. We are now finding that the long-term use of opioids may have important unintended health consequences.”
Co-authors of the study were Diane M. Carpenter, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research; and Jerome R. Minkoff, MD, Kaiser Permanente Department of Endocrinology, Santa Rosa Medical Center.–Story Source–The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Kaiser Permanente, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. —Journal Reference–Andrea L. Rubinstein, Diane M. Carpenter, Jerome R. Minkoff. Hypogonadism in Men With Chronic Pain Linked to the Use of Long-acting Rather Than Short-acting Opioids. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 2013; DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31827c7b5d
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Lipase Uses
Abstract: The pharmaceutical use of lipases related to the Thermomyces lanuginosus (Humicola lanuginosa) lipase comprising amino acids 1-269 of SEQ ID NO: 2, optionally in combination with a protease and/or an amylase. Examples of medical indications are: Treatment of digestive disorders, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes type I, and/or diabetes type II. The lipases of the invention have, e.g., an improved digestion performance in vitro, an improved activity at a pH in the neutral range, an improved stability at low pH, an are stable against protease-degradation, and/or are stable in the presence of pepsin and bile salts. The invention also relates to methods of determining digestion performance in vitro of lipases, as well as to certain novel variants of the lipase of T. lanuginosus.
Therapeutic Uses for Compositions Containing Stabilized Crosslinked Lipase Crystals
Also included in the invention are methods for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders in a mammal. According to this method, a therapeutically effective to amount of a crosslinked crystalline lipase, protease, amylase composition is administered to a subject in need of treatment. The subject to can be e.g., a human, dog, cat, mouse, rat, horse, cow, or other mammal. Preferably, the composition is administered orally, e.g., at mealtime. For example, the composition can be administered just before, just after, or while eating.
The compositions of the invention can be used to treat or prevent, for example, pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, fat malabsorption, low lipase secretion, and gastrointestinal complications associated with cystic fibrosis. The methods of this invention can be also be used to treat any condition characterized by inadequate amounts of or ineffective lipase. Such conditions include steatorrhea, essential fatty acid deficiency, failure to thrive, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency.
The effectiveness of the method of treatment can be assessed by measuring and comparing the coefficient of fat absorption (CFA) in healthy individuals with that of the subject being treated according to the methods of this invention. For example, a healthy mammal has a CFA greater than 90%. Subjects suffering from a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by pancreatic deficiency, pancreatitis, fat malabsorption or low lipase secretion, will typically have a CFA of less than 60%. Preferably, the methods of this invention are employed to increase the CFA of a subject in need of treatment to at least 60%. More preferably, the CFA is increased to greater than 80%. Most preferably, the CFA is increased to greater than 85%.
An alternative means for measuring the efficacy of treatment of a subject according to the methods of this invention is by performing a 72 hour stool test. For example, effective treatment according to the invention decreases stool fat content in an adult human subject to less than 7 grams a day
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Egg For Burns
young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it. He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors ignited and engulfed him. He jumped from his truck, screaming.. His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs and a bowl yelling: “bring me some more eggs!” She broke them, separating the whites from the yolks.
The neighbor woman helped her to apply the whites onto the young man’s face.
When the ambulance arrived and the EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this. Everyone pointed to the lady in charge. They congratulated her and said: “You have saved his face.” By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet of roses to thank her. His face was like a baby’s skin. Keep in mind this treatment of burns is being included in teaching beginner fireman.
First Aid consists of first spraying cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced which stops the continued burning of all layers of the skin. Then, spread the egg whites onto the affected area. One woman burned a large part of her hand with boiling water. In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet water on her hand, separated 2 egg whites from the yolks, beat them slightly and dipped her hand in the solution. The whites then dried and formed a protective layer. She later learned that the egg white is a natural collagen and continued during at least one hour to apply layer upon layer of beaten egg white. By afternoon she no longer felt any pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn. 10 days later, no trace was left at all and her skin had regained its normal color. The burned area was totally regenerated thanks to the collagen in the egg whites, a placenta full of vitamins.
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Working Alone Won’t Get You Good Grades
A graph showing interactions between 82 students during the last week of a course. High performing students are in dark blue and form a core where the highest density of persistent interactions can be observed. Mid-performing students are in red and low-performing student sin green. Persistent interactions are shown in thick blue edges, while dotted thin grey edges indicate transient interactions.—Jan. 31, 2013 — Students who work together and interact online are more likely to be successful in their college classes, according to a study published Jan. 30 in the journal Nature Scientific Reports and co-authored by Manuel Cebrian, a computer scientist at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California San Diego.—Cebrian and colleagues analyzed 80,000 interactions between 290 students in a collaborative learning environment for college courses. The major finding was that a higher number of online interactions was usually an indicator of a higher score in the class. High achievers also were more likely to form strong connections with other students and to exchange information in more complex ways. High achievers tended to form cliques, shutting out low-performing students from their interactions. Students who found themselves shut out were not only more likely to have lower grades; they were also more likely to drop out of the class entirely.—“Elite groups of highly connected individuals formed in the first days of the course,” said Cebrian, who also is a Senior Researcher at National ICT Australia Ltd, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence. “For the first time, we showed that there is a very strong correspondence between social interaction and exchange of information — a 72 percent correlation,” he said “but almost equally interesting is the fact that these high-performing students form ‘rich-clubs’, which shield themselves from low-performing students, despite the significant efforts by these lower-ranking students to join them. The weaker students try hard to engage with the elite group intensively, but can’t. This ends up having a marked correlation with their dropout rates.”—-This study co-authored by Luis M. Vaquero, based at Hewlett-Packard UK Labs, shows a way that we might better identify patterns in the classroom that can trigger early dropout alarms, allowing more time for educators to help the student and, ideally, reduce those rates through appropriate social network interventions.—Cebrian’s work is part of UC San Diego’s wider research effort at the intersection of the computer and social sciences, led by Prof. James H. Fowler, to enhance our understanding of the ways in which people share information and how this impacts areas of national significance, such as the spread of health-related or political behavior.–Story Source-The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California – San Diego. –Journal Reference-Luis M. Vaquero, Manuel Cebrian. The rich club phenomenon in the classroom. Scientific Reports, 2013; 3 DOI: 10.1038/srep01174
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Effectiveness of castor oil extract on Escherichia coli and its endotoxins in root canals.
Gen Dent. 2012 Jul-Aug;60(4):e204-9
Authors: Valera MC, Maekawa LE, Chung A, de Oliveira LD, Carvalho CA, Koga-Ito CY, Jorge AO
Abstract
This in vitro study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of castor oil extract used as an irrigating solution on Escherichia coli and its endotoxins in root canals. Sixty single-rooted teeth were prepared (using castor oil extract as irrigating solution) and divided into five groups (n = 12): Group 1 samples were treated with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), Group 2 samples were treated with polymyxin B, Group 3 samples were treated with Ca(OH)2 and 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX), and Group 4 samples were treated with castor oil extract. A control group used physiological saline solution as an irrigant. Canal content samples were collected at four different times: immediately after instrumentation, seven days after instrumentation, after 14 days of intracanal medication, and seven days after removal of intracanal medication. A plating method was used to assess antimicrobial activity and the quantification of endotoxins was evaluated by the chromogenic Limulus lysate assay. Data were submitted to ANOVA and a Dunn test (a = 5%). Irrigation with castor oil extract decreased E. coli counts but had no effect on the level of endotoxins. Samples taken seven days after removal of medication revealed a significant reduction in endotoxin levels in Groups 3 and 4. Compared to the saline solution irrigation, castor oil extract decreased microorganism counts in root canals immediately after canal preparation. None of the medications used completely eliminated endotoxins in the root canal.–PMID: 22782052 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
TOP C
[U1]This means that a drug such as this may reduce the effective capacity for the thyroid to work and regulate itself—when giving out a drug to replace what occurs naturally —you shut down the organ or gland and this can further perpetrate other health issues
[U2]Isothiocyanates [U2]—in small amounts can be of benefit butt with a weak or compromised thyroid —then the consumption should be very little or next o nothing and even then an adequate amount of iodine and copper and selenium should be incorporated