Happy Valentine's Day - Chocolate May Lower Your Risk of Stroke

A study conducted at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto has uncovered that eating chocolate may lower your risk of having a stroke. In addition, another study found that eating chocolate may also lower the risk of death after suffering a stroke.

Despite what people may think, chocolate is actually good for our health. It is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. These antioxidants in question may have a protective effect against stroke.

“The first study found that 44,489 people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22 percent less likely to have a stroke than people who ate no chocolate. The second study found that 1,169 people who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week were 46 percent less likely to die following a stroke than people who did not eat chocolate.”

Although this research sounds promising for those of us with a sweet tooth, they have only managed to uncover one other study that supports their own research. Fortunately, that one study did not find a link between eating chocolate and increased risk of stroke or death.

Studies have already linked the consumption of small amounts of chocolate with certain health benefits prior to this study. Cocoa or dark chocolate has been said to benefit the circulatory system as cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action that protects against LDL oxidation. Some studies have even observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming dark chocolate daily.

“A study performed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and appearing the Journal of Internal Medicine (September 2009), found that survivors of heart attacks who ate chocolate at least two or three times a week reduced their risk of death by a factor of up to three times compared to survivors who did not eat chocolate.”

Other known beneficial effects include: anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal effects. Research has discovered that theobromine, a chemical compound found in the cacao plant, is almost one third more effective than codeine. In addition, chocolate milk consumption assists in repairing muscle tissue following a workout. Moreover, other studies suggest that a specially formulated type of cocoa may delay brain function decline as people age.

On the other hand, milk chocolate or white chocolate, or drinking fat-containing milk with dark chocolate, appears to negate these health benefits, therefore not any and all amounts or kinds of chocolate suggest positive health benefits. Furthermore, the so-called aphrodisiac effect is still unproven. If anything, this news makes it possible to enjoy some chocolate this Valentine’s Day, without guilt as improved health may be a byproduct.

Can Chocolate Lower Your Risk of Stroke?
Chocolate

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Licorice Could Protect From Infection

“In a new research report published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, a team of scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch and Shriners Hospitals for Children shows how a compound from licorice root (glycyrrhizin from Glycyrrhiza glabra) might be an effective tool in battling life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections resulting from severe burns.”

Glycyrrhizin is the main sweet tasting compound from liquorice root. It is 30–50 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar).

The study observed the effect of glycyrrhizin on mice that suffered burns. The glycyrrhizin assisted in the creation of proteins called antimicrobial peptides. These proteins puncture the cell membranes of bacteria helping to ward off infections. This discovery could help improve the recovery of burn victims by avoiding complications with infection, thereby reducing associated rates of death.

Three groups of mice were studied: a normal sample, a burned and untreated sample, and a third group that was burned and treated with glycyrrhizin. Careful observation revealed that burned mice left untreated lacked any detectable antimicrobial peptides. Their skin also revealed immature myeloid cells. These cells indicate that the skin is not able to produce the much needed peptides to protect against infection. The skin of the mice in the normal sample did contain the antimicrobial peptides. The third group of mice treated with glycyrrhizin more closely resembled the normal mice with antimicrobial peptides and no immature myeloid cells.

Fujio Suzuki,Ph.D., a member of the research team, insists that “more research is necessary to determine if this finding would have any implications for people with cystic fibrosis, who can develop Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in their lungs.”

Pseudomonas is a genus of gamma proteobacteria, belonging to the larger family of pseudomonads. Pseudomonad literally means 'false unit', being derived from the Greek pseudo (false) and monas (a single unit). The term "monad" was used in the early history of microbiology to denote single-celled organisms.

For the biology experts, the characteristics of the pseudomonas genus are:

• Rod shaped (A literal description of the shape of the bacteria)
  
• Gram-negative (Bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. The test itself is used to classify two distinct types of bacteria based on the structural differences of their cell walls.)
  
• One or more polar flagella (A tail-like projection that protrudes from the cell body of certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and functions in locomotion), providing motility (an ability to move spontaneously and actively, consuming energy in the process)
  
• Aerobic (An ability to survive and grow in an oxygenated environment.)
  
• Non–spore forming (A spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions)
  
• Positive catalase test (A common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms which are exposed to oxygen, where it functions to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Pathogens that are catalase-positive make catalase in order to deactivate the peroxide radicals, thus allowing them to survive unharmed within the host.)

Most Pseudomonas are naturally resistant to penicillin and the majority of related antibiotics. The ability to thrive in harsh conditions is a result of their hardy cell wall that contains porins. Their resistance to most antibiotics is attributed to efflux pumps which pump out some antibiotics before they are able to act.

Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, John Wherry, Ph.D., hopes that this research will serve as an important step toward developing medications that will help to prevent and/or treat Pseudomonas.

Licorice Root: Trip to the Candy Store Might Help Ward Off Rare, but Deadly Infections
Pseudomonas

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Vitamin C May Cure Werner's Syndrome

A team of Canadian researchers have discovered that vitamin C stops and reverses the aging effects of Werner’s syndrome in mice. Their results can be found in the January 2010 print issue of the FASEB Journal. This fascinating news may some day be used to treat this disease in humans and may even be applicable to other progeroid syndromes.

Werner Syndrome, also known as "Adult progeria" is a very rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the appearance of premature aging. It is sometimes referred to as progeroid syndrome as it more closely resembles accelerated aging than any other segmental progeria.

The defect of Werner Syndrome is located on the short arm of the 8th chromosome. The disorder is directly caused by shorter-than-normal length telomere maintenance. This lack of protection from deterioration at the end of the chromosome results in impaired DNA replication.

Individuals with this syndrome typically develop normally until they reach puberty. Following puberty they age rapidly, so that by age 40 they often appear several decades older. The age of onset of Werner syndrome is variable, but an early sign is the lack of a teenage growth spurt, which results in short stature. Other signs and symptoms appear when affected individuals are in their twenties or thirties and include loss and graying of hair, hoarseness of the voice, thickening of the skin, and cloudy lenses in both eyes. Overall, people affected by Werner syndrome have thin arms and legs and a thick torso.

Affected individuals typically have a characteristic facial appearance described as “bird-like” by the time they reach their thirties. Patients with Werner syndrome also exhibit genomic instability, hypogonadism, and various age-associated disorders, such as cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and cataracts. However, not all characteristics of old-age are present in Werner patients; for instance, senility is not seen in individuals with Werner syndrome. People affected by Werner syndrome usually do not live past their late forties or early fifties, often dying from the results of cancer or heart disease.

In this study, “scientists treated both normal mice and mice with a mutation in the gene responsible for Werner's syndrome (WRN gene) with vitamin C in drinking water. Before treatment, the mice with a mutated WRN gene were fat, diabetic, and developing heart disease and cancer. After treatment, the mutant mice were as healthy as the normal mice and lived a normal lifespan. Vitamin C also improved how the mice stored and burned fat, decreased tissue inflammation and decreased oxidative stress in the WRN mice. The healthy mice did not appear to benefit from vitamin C.”

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for humans, in which it functions as a vitamin.

Some recommend the following daily dose of vitamin C:

• 75 mg/day: the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency
  
• 45 mg/day: the World Health Organization
  
• 60 mg/day: Health Canada 2007
  
• 60–95 mg/day: United States' National Academy of Sciences

Vitamin C has proven over time to be a valid treatment and necessary nutrient in the prevention of scurvy. Scurvy is commonly associated with other diseases of malnutrition. Most diets in industrialized nations are vitamin C rich enough to prevent such diseases.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Individuals should ensure adequate intake for health reasons, but supplements are probably not necessary in most cases.

Some studies have discovered that high doses of vitamin C may have protective effects on lead-induced nerve and muscle abnormalities, especially in smokers.
In addition, there exists a vast amount of research on Vitamin C's effect on the common cold.

However, too much vitamin C has been linked to the following:

• indigestion
  
• diarrhea
  
• vomiting
  
• flushing of the face
  
• headache
  
• fatigue
  
• disturbed sleep
  
• skin rashes in infants
  
• iron poisoning in people with rare iron overload disorders
  
• kidney stones
  
• suppression of progesterone production from the corpus luteum which could lead to miscarriage
  
• decreases in mitochondria production

The research suggests that vitamin C appears to be quite beneficial for some, but not others. It seems that those with a mutation in the WRN gene or any gene affected by the WRN protein, which results in accelerated aging, may benefit from a little extra vitamin C.

Sources:
Vitamin C 'Cures' Mice With Accelerated Aging Disease
Werner Syndrome
Vitamin C

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Professional Tips For Fighting The Holiday Hangover

Some simple, yet informative, hangover cures seem to be just what the doctor ordered in light of the holiday season. If you happen to overindulge during the celebrations, Dietitian, Tristaca Caldwell, explains that there are two main reasons that we are doomed by hangovers: dehydration and a build-up of acetaldehyde. How does she suggest we beat the dreaded hangover?

First, she suggests that ingesting plenty of water and other fluids, such as fruit juices, are fundamental when fighting a hangover. Second, the elimination of alcohol from the body forces the loss of electrolytes and potassium, which means that these need to be restored. Eating antioxidant-rich fruits like strawberries, blueberries and bananas will aid in this process. “I always recommend freshly grated or puréed ginger [...] it detoxifies the liver and helps repair the organ that has been working in overdrive all night long [...] it also decreases nausea”. Third, simple exercise that speeds up the metabolism and causes you to sweat will clear out the remaining alcohol from your system.

One of her recipes:

Ginger Fruit Smoothie

1 tbsp pureed ginger
1/2 cup each of blueberries and strawberries
1 banana
1 cup of milk
2 tbsp flax seeds
1 cup ice

Blend together. Add a touch of honey for sweetness if you prefer.

Will make 2 big smoothies. Serve with a side of scrambled eggs for the ultimate hangover fighter (smoothie is high in antioxidants, potassium,omega-3's, and ginger which is a liver detoxifier and nausea fighter).

In addition, Pharmacist, Craig Whistance-Smith concurs that rehydrating with water and mineral-replenishing sports drinks are crucial. This may be hard to swallow, but he suggests avoiding the “oh so good morning after coffee” as its diuretic effects lead to increased urination causing further dehydration, thus prolonging your hangover. “Ibuprofen can be helpful when it comes to dulling the pain, but it should be taken with food because it has a tendency to irritate the stomach when taken alone and may increase the nausea that you’re experiencing.” You should be sure to avoid any medication that contains acetaminophen as it may be toxic to your alcohol soaked liver. He suggests gravol for nausea, but cautions that it may cause further drowsiness.

Furthermore, Naturopath, Dr. John Dempster states that “when you’re dealing with a hangover, you’re trying to stimulate your liver and replenish the water and nutrients that have been stripped from the body”. He also suggests rehydrating with plenty of water and real fruit juices. Additionally, he believes that liver-detoxifying supplements, such as milk thistle pills, glutathione and dandelion extract mixed with water will help to recover from the ill effects of over consumption of alcohol. Of course, if you’ve got a serious hangover and probably a few damaged brain cells you could have him administer an IV drip composed of magnesium, calcium, zinc, B-vitamins, vitamin C and amino acids to cure your hangover for the small fee of $95 to $120!! Personally, I suggest duking it out with water first.

Happy New Year!

How to fight a hangover

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Medication That Treated Gonorrhea Could Help Fight Cancer

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is placing many older medications under the microscope to see if they may have other functions than that in which they had once been marketed. One of these medications, acriflavine, was used in the 1930s for the treatment of gonorrhea.

Results suggest it may help in the fight against cancer. “The drug, acriflavine, used in the 1930s for treating gonorrhea, has turned out to have the previously unknown ability to halt the growth of new blood vessels. Preliminary tests showed that mice engineered to develop cancer had no tumor growth if treated with daily injections of acriflavine.”

Dr. Greg Semenza, Professor C. Michael Armstrong and the director of vascular program at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering explain that because cancer cells divide so quickly they require plenty of oxygen to fuel the growth of a tumor. The supply of oxygen demands many new blood vessels to carry the oxygen to the cancer cells so that the tumor may continue to grow.

“Acriflavine stops blood vessel growth by inhibiting the function of the protein hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1”. If a cell is low on oxygen, HIF-1 will ensure genes are put to work to create new blood vessels to increase the flow of oxygen. Scientists in the study used a cell model to illustrate that when subunits of the HIF-1 would bind together it would cause the cell to light up. Next, over 3,000 drugs were tested until they found one, acriflavine, which turned the cell light out.

Professor Jun Liu hopes that some day this drug could be added to existing cancer treatments to prevent tumor growth so that more people win their battles with cancer.

“Hopkins is seeking even more new uses for old drugs. So far, drugs in the library have been screened for use against malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and the Ebola virus. In the future, Liu expects even more researchers to take advantage of the library, which is continuing to grow as more drugs are added to the collection.”

1930s Drug Slows Tumor Growth: Gonorrhea Medication Might Help Fight Cancer

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