Liver Cells Grown From Human Skin Cells

Scientists at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have successfully produced liver cells from patients’ skin cells opening the possibility of treating a wide range of diseases that affect liver function.

By Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee 
Oct 9, 2009 - 12:59:26 PM

Could Lead to Treatment of Liver Diseases

(HealthNewsDigset.com) - Scientists at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have successfully produced liver cells from patients’ skin cells opening the possibility of treating a wide range of diseases that affect liver function. The study was led by Stephen A. Duncan, D. Phil., Marcus Professor in Human and Molecular Genetics, and professor of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy, along with postdoctoral fellow Karim Si-Tayeb, Ph.D., and graduate student Ms. Fallon Noto.

“This is a crucial step forward towards developing therapies that can potentially replace the need for scarce liver transplants, currently the only treatment for most advanced liver disease,” says Dr. Duncan.

Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death among middle aged adults in the United States. Loss of liver function can be caused by several factors, including genetic mutations, infections with hepatitis viruses, by excessive alcohol consumption, or chronic use of some prescription drugs. When liver function goes awry it can result in a wide variety of disorders including diabetes and atherosclerosis and in many cases is fatal.

The Medical College research team generated patient–specific liver cells by first repeating the work of James Thomson and colleagues at University of Wisconsin-Madison who showed that skin cells can be reprogrammed to become cells that resemble embryonic stem cells. They then tricked the skin–derived pluripotent stem cells into forming liver cells by mimicking the normal processes through which liver cells are made during embryonic development. Pluripotent stem cells are so named because of their capacity to develop into any one of the more than 200 cell types in the human body.

At the end of this process, the researchers found that they were able to very easily produce large numbers of relatively pure liver cells in laboratory culture dishes. “We were excited to discover that the liver cells produced from human skin cells were able to perform many of the activities associated with healthy adult liver function and that the cells could be injected into mouse livers where they integrated and were capable of making human liver proteins,” says Dr. Duncan.

Several studies have shown that liver cells generated from embryonic stem cells could potentially be used for therapy. However, the possible use of such cells is limited by ethical considerations associated with the generation of embryonic stem cells from preimplantation embryos and the fact that embryonic stem cells do not have the same genetic make-up as the patient.

Although the investigations are still at an early stage the researchers believe that the reprogrammed skin cells could be used to investigate and potentially treat metabolic liver disease. The liver may be particularly suitable for stem-cell based therapies because it has a remarkable capacity to regenerate. It is interesting to note that the regenerative nature of the liver was referenced in the ancient Greek tale of Prometheus. When Prometheus was caught stealing the gift of fire from Zeus, he was punished by having his liver eaten daily by an eagle. This provided the eagle with an everlasting meal because each night the liver of Prometheus would re-grow.

The liver is a central regulator of the body’s metabolism and is responsible for controlling sugar and cholesterol levels, secretion of a variety of hormones, production of blood clotting factors, and has an essential role in preventing toxins from damaging other organs in the body.

It is possible that in the future a small piece of skin from a patient with loss of liver function could be used to produce healthy liver cells, replacing the diseased liver with normal tissue.

Recently, the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have provided Medical College researchers, in collaboration with Markus Grompe, M.D., at the Oregon Health and Science University, a $1 million research grant to pursue the possibility of using reprogrammed skin cells to study and treat metabolic liver disease. Using this support, as well as donations from individuals throughout Milwaukee, Medical College researchers are currently producing reprogrammed cells from patients suffering from diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypercholesterolemia in an effort to identify new treatments for these diseases.

www.mcw.edu

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Disease_420/Liver_Cells_Grown_From_Human_Skin_Cells.shtml

Controlling Liver Disease

Cigarette Smoking, Fructose Consumption Exacerbates Liver Disease

Modifying Risk Factors Essential in Controlling Liver Disease Progression 

By Wiley
Apr 27, 2010 - 7:30:42 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Recent studies suggest that modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking and fructose consumption can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver of overweight individuals despite drinking little alcohol, causing in some cases liver scarring that can lead to liver failure. Identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disease severity and progression is essential in improving patient outcomes. Details of these studies are published in the May issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

NAFLD is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide and research suggests the number of cases will climb given an increasing trend toward higher fat diets, obesity, decreased physical activity, and a rise in diabetes. Past studies indicate that more than 30 million Americans have NAFLD and approximately 8 million may have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

In the first study, Ramón Bataller, M.D., and colleagues from the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Spain investigated the effects of cigarette smoking (CS) in obese rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n=12 per group): obese smokers, obese non-smokers, control smokers and control non-smokers. Smoker rats were exposed to 2 cigarettes/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Researchers found that obese rats exposed to CS showed a significant increase in ALT serum levels (indicating liver disease), while this effect was not observed in control rats.

“Our results show that CS causes oxidative stress and worsens the severity of NAFLD in obese rats,” said Dr. Bataller. “Further studies should investigate longer exposures to CS, and assess whether this finding also occurs in patients with obesity and NAFLD.”

In her editorial, also published in Hepatology this month, Claudia Zein, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, noted that “the importance of these results is that taken together with other experimental and clinical data, they support that cigarette smoking appears to aggravate liver injury in patients with liver disease”. Dr. Zein added, “Studies characterizing the effects of cigarette smoking in human NAFLD will be crucial because of the vast number of patients that may benefit from modification of this risk factor.”

Additionally, prior studies suggest an over consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), primarily in the form of soft-drinks, have contributed to weight gain and the rise in obesity, particularly in children and adolescents. Table sugar (sucrose) and HFCS are the two major dietary sources of fructose. Over the past 40 years, consumption of dietary fructose has increased 1,000% according to Bray et al, and doctors believe it to be a major cause of NAFLD.

Researchers from Duke University studied 341 adults enrolled in the NASH Clinical Research Network who responded to a Block food questionnaire within 3 months of a liver biopsy. Fructose consumption was estimated conservatively by including that found in beverages, which accounts for 50% of dietary fructose intake. Results showed that 27.9% of participants consumed at least 1 fructose-containing beverage per day, 52.5% had 1 to 6 beverages with fructose per week, and 19.7% drank no beverages with fructose.

“In patients with NAFLD, daily fructose ingestion was associated with reduced fatty liver (steatosis), but we found increased fibrosis,” noted Manal Abdelmalek, M.D., M.P.H, and lead author of the study. “Further dietary intervention studies are needed to evaluate whether a low-fructose diet improves metabolic disturbances associated with NAFLD and improves patient outcomes for those at risk of disease progression,” concluded Dr. Abdelmalek.

A second fructose study led by Ling-Dong Kong, M.D., from Nanjing University in China investigated the effects of curcumin on fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver in rats. Curcumin, a compound derived from turmeric (curcuma root), is sold as an herbal supplement and is believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties. Researchers observed a hyperactivity of hepatic protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is associated with defective insulin and leptin signaling, in fructose-fed rats.

For the first time this study demonstrated that curcumin inhibited hepatic PTP1B expression and activity in fructose-fed rats. “Our results provide novel insights into the potential therapeutic mechanisms of curcumin on fructose-induced hepatic steatosis associated with insulin and leptin resistance,” said Dr. Kong.

These studies indicate modifying risks such as smoking and fructose consumption offer potential benefits for those with liver diseases. Further studies are needed to explore these benefits in preventing the progression of liver disease.

Article: “Cigarette Smoking Exacerbates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Rats.” Lorenzo Azzalini, Elisabet Ferrer, Leandra N. Ramalho, Montserrat Moreno, Marlene Domínguez, Jordi Colmenero, Víctor I. Peinado, Joan A. Barberà, Vicente Arroyo, Pere Ginès, Joan Caballería, Ramón Bataller. Hepatology; Published Online: February 22, 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.23516); Print Issue Date: May 2010.

Editorial: “Clearing the Smoke in Chronic Liver Diseases.” Claudia Zein. Hepatology; Published Online: March 26, 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.23694); Print Issue Date: May 2010.

Article: “Increased Fructose Consumption is Associated with Fibrosis Severity in Patients with NAFLD.” Manal F. Abdelmalek, Ayako Suzuki, Cynthia Guy, Aynur Unalp-Arida, Ryan Colvin, Richard J. Johnson, Anna Mae Diehl. Hepatology; Published Online: March 17, 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.23535); Print Issue Date: May 2010.

Article: “Curcumin inhibits hepatic protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B and prevents hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis in fructose-fed rats.” Jian-Mei Li, Yu-Cheng Li, Ling-Dong Kong, Qing-Hua Hu. Hepatology; Published Online: March 10, 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/hep.23524); Print Issue Date: May 2010. 

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Disease_420/Cigarette_Smoking_Fructose_Consumption_Exacerbates_Liver_Disease.shtml

Multivitamins with Minerals May Protect Older Women With Invasive Breast Cancer

 Findings from a study involving thousands of postmenopausal women suggest that women who develop invasive breast cancer may benefit from taking supplements containing both multivitamins and minerals.


By Staff Editor
Oct 9, 2013 - 11:59:00 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - BRONX, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2013  -- Findings from a study involving thousands of postmenopausal women suggest that women who develop invasive breast cancer may benefit from taking supplements containing both multivitamins and minerals. The new research, published today in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, found that the risk of dying from invasive breast cancer was 30 percent lower among multivitamin/mineral users compared with nonusers.

"Our study offers tentative but intriguing evidence that multivitamin/mineral supplements may help older women who develop invasive breast cancer survive their disease," said Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Ph.D., lead author of the study and distinguished university professor emerita of epidemiology and population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

Multivitamin/mineral supplements are the most commonly consumed dietary supplements among U.S. adults. They usually contain 20-30 vitamins and minerals, often at levels of 100 percent of U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances or less, and the usual label recommendation is to take them daily.

The research was conducted as part of the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trials and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study. Combined, the two studies include data from 161,608 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 when they first joined the study. These women were enrolled at 40 clinical centers throughout the United States during the years 1993-1998.

The current study focused on 7,728 participants who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during the WHI and were followed for an average of seven years after their diagnosis. Invasive breast cancer is defined as cancer that has spread outside the membrane of the milk glands or ducts and into the breast tissue. Two common types of invasive breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma.

After enrolling in the WHI and during repeated follow-up visits, all participants provided extensive information about their health including whether or not they had taken a multivitamin/mineral supplement at least once a week during the prior two weeks.

About 38 percent of the 7,728 women who developed invasive breast cancer during the WHI were using the supplements. The vast majority were taking the supplements before their breast-cancer diagnosis. A comparison of mortality rates revealed that women with invasive breast cancer who took multivitamin/mineral supplements were 30 percent less likely to die from their cancers than women with invasive breast cancer who hadn't taken the supplements.

Could differences between the multivitamin/mineral users and nonusers account for this finding? The researchers looked at many possible confounding factors including additional supplements that the women took, their smoking status, education, race/ethnicity, weight, depression, alcohol use, physical activity, age at breast cancer diagnosis, and diabetes. The association between regular use of multivitamin/mineral supplements and reduced risk of death persisted even after these factors were taken into account.

"Controlling for these other factors strengthens our confidence that the association we observed - between taking multivitamin/mineral supplements and lowering breast-cancer mortality risk among postmenopausal women with invasive breast cancer - is a real one," said Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller, who also holds the Dorothy and William Manealoff Foundation and Molly Rosen Chair in Social Medicine Emerita. "But further studies are needed to confirm whether there truly is a cause-and-effect relationship here. And our findings certainly cannot be generalized to premenopausal women diagnosed with invasive cancer or to other populations of women."

The paper is titled "Multivitamin and Mineral Use and Breast Cancer Mortality in Older Women with Invasive Breast Cancer in the Women's Health Initiative." Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller is the principal investigator of the WHI at Einstein. Other authors of the study at Einstein are Aileen McGinn, Ph.D., and Gloria Ho, Ph.D., and additional co-authors are affiliated with the following centers: University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Stanford Prevention Research Center, University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

The WHI is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2013-2014 academic year, Einstein is home to 734 M.D. students, 236 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 353 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2013, Einstein received more than $155 million in awards from the NIH. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical Center-Einstein's founding hospital, and five other hospital systems in the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Brooklyn, Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu and follow us on Twitter @EinsteinMed.

Web Site: http://www.einstein.yu.edu
###

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Cancer_Issues_660/Multivitamins-with-Minerals-May-Protect-Older-Women-With-Invasive-Breast-Cancer.shtml

Insulin Use as a Secondary Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Heart Disease, Death

Patients with type 2 diabetes who take a combination of metformin plus insulin may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and death compared with those who take a combination of metformin plus sulfonylurea ...

By Staff Editor
Jun 10, 2014 - 4:37:02 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Patients with type 2 diabetes who take a combination of metformin plus insulin may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and death compared with those who take a combination of metformin plus sulfonylurea, according to a new study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) that appears in the June 11 issue ofJAMA. The study, a review of medical records from national databases, found a greater association between insulin as a second-line treatment and risk of death and cardiovascular disease than sulfonylureas as second-line treatment.

Adults with type 2 diabetes are typically treated first with metformin, an oral medication that helps reduce elevated blood sugar. When combined with exercise and diet modification, metformin alone can help many patients control their blood sugar levels, keeping the disease in check. However, some patients require a second drug, usually an oral medication such as a sulfonylurea or a self-administered injection of insulin to bring their disease under control.

"Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition affecting millions of Americans, and they and their clinicians need good evidence to make informed decisions about the best treatment options," said AHRQ Director Richard Kronick, Ph.D. "The findings of this report may surprise those who had considered insulin to be a preferred secondary treatment for diabetes in most circumstances. However, consistent with AHRQ's mission, our goal is to generate evidence on critical treatment issues like this one and broaden the information available for patients and clinicians to use."

In the new study, AHRQ-funded researchers led by Christianne L. Roumie, M.D., M.P.H., of the Tennessee Valley Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, analyzed records from databases at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Center for Health Statistics. They studied more than 42,000 patient records and the National Death Index to assess the effects of insulin and sulfonylureas, the two medications most commonly prescribed in the study population as second-line treatment for diabetes.

The retrospective cohort study compared 2,500 VHA patients who added insulin to their metformin regimen with 12,000 VHA patients who added a sulfonylurea. On average, patients were about 60 years old, and about 35 percent had history of heart disease or stroke. The patients studied had been on metformin for an average of 14 months, and their average hemoglobin A1c count (a key indicator of success in controlling blood sugar) was 8.1 percent, which is higher than is preferred, when the second medication was prescribed.

The researchers identified patients who were taking one of two drug combinations: metformin-plus-insulin or metformin-plus-sulfonylurea. Then they compared the risks of heart attack, stroke or death for these patients. They found an association of metformin-plus-insulin to have a higher risk of cardiovascular events and death than metformin-plus-sulfonylureas, although harms were found for both regimens.

"Insulin has been shown to be a very good medication in achieving blood sugar control, and because of that, prior large studies have found that there is a reduced risk of developing diabetic kidney or eye disease," according to Dr. Roumie. "However, this study and others have shown that tighter glucose control doesn't necessarily have any benefit for heart disease, and these findings call into question recommendations that insulin is equivalent to sulfonylureas for most patients who can control their blood sugar with a second oral drug."

Dr. Roumie's research team also conducted a study published in 2012 on first-line treatments for adults with type 2 diabetes. In that study, which also was funded by AHRQ, the researchers compared the use of sulfonylurea with metformin for first-line treatment. They found that sulfonylureas, when used as a first-line treatment, increased patients' risk of death and cardiovascular events compared with metformin.

The new study looks only at second-line treatments. Together, these two studies of primary and second-line diabetes treatments can help clinicians better determine which medications are least risky for each patient, depending on the patient's clinical characteristics.

This study focused primarily on U.S. military veterans, and the study population was overwhelmingly white and male, so the study noted that there might be differences in the risks of using insulin as a secondary treatment in the broader population.. As a retrospective analysis of VHA medical records, the study is not a randomized controlled trial and thus does not determine definitively that insulin directly led to deaths and cardiovascular disease. More research is needed to determine if these differences exist and, if so, to what extent, researchers said. Insulin is a powerful drug and is an appropriate treatment when patients cannot control their blood sugar with oral agents alone, researchers said.

AHRQ is a research agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable and affordable, and to work with HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. For more information, visit www.ahrq.gov.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Diabetes_Issues_640/Insulin-Use-as-a-Secondary-Treatment-for-Type-2-Diabetes-Linked-to-Heart-Disease-Death.shtml

A Cup Of Tea May Keep Dementia At Bay

After water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. For centuries drinking tea has been recommended for its calming effect and to cure many ailments. Research evidence has shown that regular tea drinking can tame inflammation in the body, help to improve blood pressure, improve dental health and support healthy bones.

By Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN, Food & Nutrition Columnist - HealthNewsDigest.com
Mar 26, 2017 - 7:39:11 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - After water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. For centuries drinking tea has been recommended for its calming effect and to cure many ailments. Research evidence has shown that regular tea drinking can tame inflammation in the body, help to improve blood pressure, improve dental health and support healthy bones. Because of the powerful collection of antioxidants in tea there has been much speculation and some research to show that regular tea drinking may protect the brain from decline.

A recent study done at the National University of Singapore followed the tea drinking habits of close to 1,000 older Chinese. The researchers concluded that regular tea drinking could reduce a person’s risk for dementia by close to 50% in later life. For those who carry the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s the risk could be reduce by as much as 86%. Women received a stronger benefit from regular tea drinking than men. Though this study was done on Chinese elderly there is no reason to believe that the results would not hold for other populations as well.

The protective role of tea on cognitive decline is due to the bioactive compounds found in tea leaves – catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins and L-theanine. All these compounds exhibit strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can protect the brain against vascular damage and degeneration leading to memory impairment. The study showed that any type of tea was protective – green, black, oolong or white.

All types of tea come from the same plant. They differ in how they are processed after harvesting. The leaves of black and oolong teas are left to ferment, while green and white are just dried. Fermentation changes the chemical composition of the tea leaves, so that each tea has a different amount of the various flavonoid compounds. Green tea has more catechins while black tea has more theaflavins and thearubigins.  All these compounds have similar chemical actions in the body so that the health benefits between the different types of tea overlap quite a bit. That is probably the reason the researchers found that it did not matter what type of tea a person drank as long as they drank it regularly.

The benefits of drinking tea can extend to other health issues as well. In a very large study done in France, those who drank tea daily reduced their risk for heart disease by 24% compared against those who regularly drank coffee. The anti-inflammatory effects come into play to protect tea drinkers who have less stiffness in their arteries and lower blood pressure than those who do not drink tea.

Did you know that except for fluoridated water, brewed tea is the next best food source of the mineral fluoride? And, a couple of cups of black tea each day can help to suppress the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities and the buildup of plaque.

Freshly brewed hot tea contains the highest amount of flavonoid compounds, followed by decaf tea and ice tea. Ready-to-use teas have very few antioxidant flavonoid compounds. Simply squeezing a lemon wedge into your next cup of tea increases the levels of catechins.  But drink tea the British way, with added milk, and casein, the main protein in milk, inhibits some of the beneficial effects of catechins. All dried teas, if stored away from light, heat and moisture will last a long time, up to 2 years. Keep loose tea or teabags in an airtight container away from the sun, stove and sink.

Tea is readily available, inexpensive and has no side effects when used in moderation. Having a few cups of tea a day offers a simple preventive measure to support your health and protect your brain as you age.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/food%20columnist0/A-Cup-Of-Tea-May-Keep-Dementia-At-Bay.shtml

Still Wary of Heparin from China, U.S. Considers Options

China's appetite for pigs fills dinner plates, but it also fills half the world's orders for heparin, an anticoagulant made from the animals' intestines. However in 2007 and 2008, adulterated supply ...

By Staff Editor
Oct 12, 2016 - 9:50:14 AM


(HealthNewsDigest.com) - China's appetite for pigs fills dinner plates, but it also fills half the world's orders for heparin, an anticoagulant made from the animals' intestines. However in 2007 and 2008, adulterated supply from the country was linked to more than 80 deaths in the U.S. A story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, explores how regulators and companies are trying to reduce the risk of another such incident.

Jean-François Tremblay, a senior correspondent at C&EN based in Hong Kong, notes that ensuring the safety of heparin is a tall challenge. The drug, which is used in heart surgery, dialysis and for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis, is a highly complex mixture of polysaccharides. Its heterogeneity makes it difficult for testers to determine purity or animal origin. The U.S. currently only allows heparin derived from pigs. Bovine heparin was once an option, but after concerns over mad cow disease arose in the 1990s, it was banned in the U.S.

To try to ensure suppliers in China produce high-quality heparin, tighter controls have been set. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making surprise visits to heparin plants in China. There are new tests to verify the animal origins of the drug. And the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention has outlined new limits for impurities, including the adulterant oversulfated chondroitin sulfate that was used in the heparin scandal 10 years ago. But U.S. legislators and others are still wary of potential "bad apples." Moving forward, the FDA is considering whether to reintroduce bovine heparin to diversify sources. And researchers are working to develop a synthetic version of the drug.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Research_270/Still-wary-of-heparin-from-China-U-S-considers-ptions.shtml

10 Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight

When we see people who are overweight, many commonly assume that the individual is overeating and not exercising.   Neither of these instances is cause for prejudice, fat shaming or other negatives.  There are men and women who ...

By Staff Editor
Oct 5, 2016 - 1:41:01 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - When we see people who are overweight, many commonly assume that the individual is overeating and not exercising.   Neither of these instances is cause for prejudice, fat shaming or other negatives.  There are men and women who seemingly do everything right when it comes to diet and exercise and they are either gaining weight or simply unable to shed pounds.  This can be incredibly disheartening and wreak havoc one one’s self esteem. 

Here are 10 surprising reasons provided by Dr. Christopher Calapai as to why this might be occurring.  Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O. is a New York City anti-aging and stem cell specialist, and long-time nutrition advisor to the New York Rangers hockey team.

Lack of Sleep

There are two issues at work with sleep and weight gain. First, if you're up late, the odds are greater that you're doing some late-night snacking, which means more calories. The other reason involves what's going on in your body when you're sleep-deprived. Changes in hormone levels increase hunger and appetite and also make you feel not as full after eating.

Medication

“Many anti-depressant medications cause weight gain—so if you're depressed and taking pills for it, expect to see a bump in weight between 5 and 15 pounds, with continued gradual accumulation over the years,” says Dr. Calapai.  If you're not taking pills, there’s evidence that feelings of depression can correlate to weight gain. If patients are taking anti-depressants  that could be the culprit of their weight gain, they should see their prescribing doctor and be weaned off slowly. “There's a long list of medications that can cause weight gain: If you're taking birth control pills, excess hormones for hormone therapy, steroids, beta-blockers for heart disease and blood pressure, anti-seizure meds, breast cancer medications like Tamoxifen, some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and even some migraine and heartburn medications, you may notice pounds creeping on,” says Dr. Calapai.

Your gut is slow

Digestive issues, including slow bowel movements, may also account for excess pounds. "Ideally, you eat, and then, an hour or so later, you have a bowel movement," says Dr. Calapai. "But once or twice a day is still in the healthy range."  If you're not so regular, dehydration, medications, low fiber, or even a lack of good flora in your gut could be to blame. If constipation is your only symptom, then trying probiotics can help your digestive tract work properly.  If you're still having trouble, check with your doctor to rule out a range of disorders, including hypothyroidism or a neurological issue.

You're getting older

It's the one condition that's unavoidable. "Often, I hear patients tell me they think their metabolism is slowing down," says Dr. Calapai. "This is real. We don't burn as many calories at 40 or 50 as we used to burn at 20. So we need more exercise and less foo to keep the metabolism going.  "Remember that all calories are not equal when it comes to weight," says Dr. Calapai.  "Eating lean protein will cause your body to burn calories more efficiently. On the other hand, carbs are something your body tends to burn more slowly and even store in your body more readily."

You have plantar fasciitis

"Many musculoskeletal conditions, including plantar fasciitis, but also osteoarthritis and knee or hip pain, can result in unintentional weight gain," says Dr. Calapai. "Plantar fasciitis certainly can force you to cut back on your activity enough to cause weight gain."

You have Cushing's Syndrome

Weight gain accompanied by high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and changes in your skin tone and quality, including purple or silvery stretch marks on your abdomen and ruddy cheeks, could be a sign that your body isn't processing nutrients the way it should, due to a cortisol-producing tumor on one of your adrenal glands. The syndrome affects only about 15 in every million adults annually, so proceed with caution before demanding a battery of tests. "Cushing's Syndrome is not terribly common," says Dr. Calapai, "but one of the telltale signs is that your fat distribution is more in the midsection of your body, leaving your arms and legs looking more slender."

LIQUID CALORIES

It is often overlooked that liquids have calories. Calories from juices and soft drinks can quickly add up and at restaurants where free refills are the norm, the calorie build-up can go unrecognized. Wright also explains that liquid calories have no satiety factor. “Satiety relates to how long we stay satisfied after we consume something. If you ate 500 calories of healthy solid food, he/she would be full and unlikely to eat anything for quite some time, but after drinking the same amount of calories in orange juice, cola or root beer, you might be hungry minutes later.”

WEIGHT TRAINING

Many people do not realize that weight gain is not just fat gain. Weight training can increase your muscle mass, therefore increasing your weight. When you gain muscle faster than you lose fat, your body mass is increasing.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):

PCOS is one of the most common reproductive problems diagnosed in younger women, striking perhaps up to 10% of women who are of childbearing age (i.e. roughly 12-45 years old). It involves the development of many small cysts on the ovaries, as well as menstrual disturbances. The hormone disruption caused by PCOS has many unpleasant consequences, including unwanted weight gain (usually because of a higher resistance to insulin). If you also suffer from acne, find that you are hairier than most women and do not have regular periods, ask your doctor about being tested for PCOS. This usually involves blood tests and an ultrasound of your ovaries. If you do have PCOS then you can lose the unwanted weight, but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that you will have to adopt an attitude towards healthy eating and exercise that is substantially more diligent than that of your peers.

Quitting Smoking:

Although making the decision to stop smoking is extremely good for your body in a great many respects, most people who do quit smoking end up gaining around 7-10 pounds. Most of this is due to the fact that reaching for cigarettes tends to be replaced with reaching for snacks, but the new absence of nicotine in your body will also lead to a drop in metabolic rate (so you won't be able to eat as much as you used to without gaining weight).

“Carb intake makes it difficult for your body to burn fat as a primary fuel . Low carb diets work well to burn fat and lower cholesterol and lose weight, “says Dr. Calapai. If you suspect you are gaining weight that you can't attribute to your eating habits, medications, or lack of exercise, a few tests—including a blood test and urinalysis, to get an accurate check of your body's cortisol levels, will give your doctor the first clues to this condition. If the levels are deemed excessively high, then your doctor will order further tests, like a CT scan of your pituitary and adrenal glands, to determine if such a tumor exists. If the tumor is confirmed, doctors will likely perform surgery to remove the tumor (and possibly the affected gland), followed by a course of steroids to help regulate the remaining gland.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/News_10/10-Surprising-Reasons-You-re-Gaining-Weight.shtml

Peaches, Plums, Nectarines Give Obesity, Diabetes Slim Chance

By Staff Editor
Jun 19, 2012 - 2:04:09 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - COLLEGE STATION – Peaches, plums and nectarines have bioactive compounds that can potentially fight-off obesity-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to new studies by Texas AgriLife Research.

The study, which will be presented at the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia next August, showed that the compounds in stone fruits could be a weapon against “metabolic syndrome,” in which obesity and inflammation lead to serious health issues, according to Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, AgriLife Research food scientist.

“In recent years obesity has become a major concern in society due to the health problems associated to it,” said Cisneros-Zevallos, who also is an associate professor at Texas A&M University. “In the U.S., statistics show that around 30 percent of the population is overweight or obese, and these cases are increasing every year in alarming numbers.”

While he acknowledged that lifestyle, genetic predisposition and diet play a major role in one’s tendency toward obesity, “the major concern about obesity is the associated disease known as metabolic syndrome.

“Our studies have shown that stone fruits – peaches, plums and nectarines – have bioactive compounds that can potentially fight the syndrome,” Cisneros-Zevallos said. “Our work indicates that phenolic compounds present in these fruits have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties in different cell lines and may also reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol LDL which is associated to cardiovascular disease.”

What is unique to these fruits, he said, is that their mixture of the bioactive compounds work simultaneously within the different components of the disease.

“Our work shows that the four major phenolic groups – anthocyanins, clorogenic acids, quercetin derivatives and catechins – work on different cells – fat cells, macrophages and vascular endothelial cells,” he explained. “They modulate different expressions of genes and proteins depending on the type of compound.

“However, at the same time, all of them are working simultaneously in different fronts against the components of the disease, including obesity, inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” he explained.

Cisneros-Zevallos said this is believed to be the first time that “bioactive compounds of a fruit have been shown to potentially work in different fronts against a disease.”

“Each of these stone fruits contain similar phenolic groups but in differing proportions so all of them are a good source of health promoting compounds and may complement each other,” he said, adding that his team plans to continue studying the role of each type of compound on the molecular mechanisms and confirm the work with mice studies.

The studies on the health benefits of stone fruit are funded by the California Tree Fruit Agreement, The California Plum Board, the California Grape and Tree Fruit League and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The Cisneros-Zevallos lab team in this study included Freddy Ibanez, Paula Castillo, Paula Simons and Dr. Congmei Cao.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Diabetes_Issues_640/Peaches_Plums_Nectarines_Give_Obesity_Diabetes_Slim_Chance.shtml

Alzheimer's Expert Explains Its Causes, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment

By American Psychological Association
Jun 20, 2012 - 10:51:58 AM

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(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic brain disease that gradually erodes an individual’s memory, intellectual abilities and personality. As of 2012, an estimated 5.2 million Americans -- one in eight people age 65 or older -- have Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. And this number is expected to increase rapidly as America’s baby boomers reach retirement age. Psychologists play an important role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Glenn E. Smith, PhD, is a consultant in the Division of Neurocognitive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry & Psychology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He is associate director of Clinical and Translational Sciences Education Programs at the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research and clinical director of Alzheimer’s disease resources on MayoClinic.com. Smith received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska. He completed an internship in neuropsychology-geropsychology at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology and rehabilitation at the Mayo Medical School. He is past president of APA’s Div. 40 (Clinical Neuropsychology) and the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.

APA recently asked him the following questions:

APA: News about Alzheimer’s frequently focuses on the use of medications to treat the disease. Are there behavioral treatments that can help without medication?

Dr. Smith: Outcomes of clinical trials with medications for treating Alzheimer’s have been disappointing. Historically, these clinical trials involved patients with dementia because the presence of dementia was required for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. There is a growing concern that by the time dementia is present, the brain may be so ravaged that treatment at that point cannot be effective. Recently, substantial progress has been made in the ability to detect Alzheimer’s before dementia is present. For example, we can now reliably diagnose mild cognitive impairment. This ability has given rise to secondary prevention strategies that seek to prevent or delay progression to full dementia. A variety of behavioral treatments show promise as secondary prevention strategies. At the Mayo Clinic, we have launched an intensive multi-component intervention that combines daily physical activity, cognitive exercise, a memory compensation strategy, wellness education and support groups. We’ve observed that this intervention produces short-term improvement and longer-term stabilization of a patient’s ability to function.

APA: What is early-onset Alzheimer’s and do the symptoms differ between early-onset and when it occurs at a later age?

Dr. Smith: In normal aging, processing speed declines and word finding may worsen, but memory is relatively spared. By contrast, the hallmark first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetting. Indications of the illness first appear in brain structures that are critical for new learning and delayed recall of information. The disease soon spreads to regions supporting more complex understanding of language and executive function, which covers basic mental tasks such as planning, strategizing, organizing and setting goals. Simple attention (including processing speed), visual-spatial reasoning and other aspects of speech and language are generally spared early on. In distinction, with another form of dementia known as Lewy Body disease, organizing visual information and understanding how it can change if movement occurs and other aspects of attention are impaired early. Attention is also compromised early in vascular-based cognitive impairment. By recognizing these cognitive differences, neuropsychological assessment can contribute to early diagnosis among the various types of dementia.

Early-onset dementia is a label applied when the diagnosis is before age 65. Clinically, Alzheimer’s disease presents pretty much the same at age 63 as at age 83. But Alzheimer’s disease is highly associated with advancing age. For other causes of dementia, like fronto-temporal dementia and Lewy Body disease, peak incidence is at a younger age. So, early-onset dementia has a greater probability of not being caused by Alzheimer’s. Thus, differences between early- and late-onset dementias are based more in the different age-specific incidences of the various causes for dementia.

APA: If someone has parents and grandparents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, is it inevitable that person will someday also suffer from the disease? In other words, what is the role of genetics in the development of Alzheimer’s?

Dr. Smith: There are three major genes known to cause dementia and these genes follow what is known as the Mendelian inheritance pattern, in which the genetic trait displayed results from one parent's gene dominating over a gene inherited from the other parent. But these three genes are present in less than 5 percent of all dementia cases. There are also genes that increase susceptibility to develop Alzheimer’s. The most notable of the susceptibility genes is the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene. Carrying one copy of the ε4 form of the ApoE gene increases your risk up to four times. But you can carry the risky form of this gene and still not develop dementia, and many people develop the disease without carrying the ε4 gene. Finally, a family history of Alzheimer’s irrespective of ε4 status does increase your risk of developing the disease. Yet even with a family history, the chances are still greater that you will die without developing Alzheimer’s disease than with the disease, provided you do not carry a causative gene.

APA: What are the most important steps a person can take to prevent onset of the disease?

Dr. Smith: Physical and mental inactivity, smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and depression (each modifiable by behavioral intervention) have been shown to be risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Barnes and Yaffee, (Lancet Neurology, 2011) suggest that 25 percent improvement in these conditions among the general population would prevent as many as 16.5 percent of Alzheimer’s disease cases in the United States.

APA: How will the Obama administration’s National Alzheimer’s Plan incorporate behavioral health as part of a strategy to bring about a cure for Alzheimer’s disease?

Dr. Smith: The National Alzheimer’s Plan, released in May, involves five major strategies:

· prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025

· optimize care, quality and efficiency

· expand support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families

· enhance public awareness and engagement

· track progress and drive improvement

Each strategy is associated with several actions. With smoking, eating unhealthy foods and not getting enough physical or mental exercise among preventable risk factors for development of Alzheimer’s, behavior change strategies will play a critical role in the development and implementation of prevention programs. These treatment programs will include daily physical activity, cognitive and memory exercises and support groups.

To ensure timely and accurate diagnoses, psychologists, especially those who specialize in aging or cognition science, are particularly well positioned to recognize, formally assess and explain the implications of cognitive changes associated with the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, as more people find themselves in the role of caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s, psychologists are responding by developing state-of-the-art interventions to enhance caregiver resilience.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Alzheimer_Issues_680/Alzheimer_s_Expert_Explains_Its_Causes_Prevention_Diagnosis_and_Treatment.shtml

New CDC Test for Dengue Approved

By Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Jun 20, 2012 - 2:13:10 PM

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Test diagnoses dengue faster using existing flu diagnosis equipment

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a new diagnostic test to detect the presence of dengue virus in people with symptoms of dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever. The test, called the CDC DENV-1-4 Real Time RT PCR Assay, has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States and can be performed using equipment and supplies many public health laboratories already use to diagnose influenza.

The new test will help diagnose dengue within the first seven days after symptoms of the illness appear, which is when most people are likely to see a health care professional and the dengue virus is likely to be present in their blood. The test can identify all four dengue virus types.

This is the first FDA-approved molecular test for dengue that detects evidence of the virus itself. The other available FDA-approved test detects a certain type of antibody (immunoglobin M (IgM) class antibodies) to dengue virus. Most patients begin to develop these antibodies four days after they become ill. However, because not everyone develops these antibodies until seven days after they get sick, the antibody test might not recognize dengue early in a patient’s illness.

“The need for the new dengue diagnostic test was high,” said Jorge L. Munoz-Jordan, Ph.D., chief of the Molecular Diagnostics and Research at the CDC Dengue Branch. “Patients will be diagnosed sooner than before, and public health laboratories will have a clearer picture of the true number of dengue cases. Dengue is now a reportable disease in the United States, and the availability of state-of-the-art dengue diagnostics will improve patient management and the public health response to dengue. ”

One of the new test’s most important features is that it can be performed using equipment and supplies that many public health laboratories already use to diagnose influenza. This makes it possible to begin using the test in the many laboratories in the United States and internationally that already run influenza Real-Time PCR assays, a frequently used flu test also developed by CDC. The new test will be available to clinical and public health laboratories within the United States and internationally. Kits will be available for distribution beginning July 2, 2012 (see http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/ for more information).

Dengue is caused by any of four dengue viruses, which are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue is a major public health problem in the tropics and subtropics, which includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where thousands of U.S. citizens develop dengue every year. Dengue is leading cause of fever in travelers returning from Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. Transmission has occasionally occurred in the continental United States in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are found.

Symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash and mild bleeding involving the nose or gums, and easy bruising. Severe infections can result in hemorrhage, shock, and death.

Although there are no FDA-licensed vaccines to prevent dengue and no medicines specifically approved to treat the disease, timely medical care can greatly reduce the possibility of death. People who believe they have dengue should immediately contact a health care professional. Early identification may be very helpful in determining the best course of treatment.

More information about the new laboratory test can be obtained at the CDC dengue website at http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/

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United States Department of Health and Human Services

CDC works 24/7 saving lives, protecting people from health threats, and saving money through prevention. Whether these threats are global or domestic, chronic or acute, curable or preventable, natural disaster or deliberate attack, CDC is the nation’s health protection agency.

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http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/National_30/New_CDC_Test_for_Dengue_Approved.shtml

Cancer Fact or Fiction

From HealthNewsDigest.com

Cancer Issues
Cancer Fact or Fiction: Separating Myths from Good Information
By
Apr 3, 2012 - 6:00:14 PM


(HealthNewsDigest.com) - BETHESDA, Md., April 3, 2012 -- To many, cancer remains one of the most frightening diagnoses in modern medicine. But much of this fear is a result of myths that have circulated for years in spite of the good information that is available. Indeed, many of cancer's mysteries have been solved, and a great deal of success has been achieved in curing patients and helping them live longer and better lives. Despite advances in cancer treatment and prognosis, many continue to believe in myths surrounding cancer. In particular, studies have shown that Hispanics are more likely than whites to maintain some erroneous beliefs about cancer.

It is important to separate fact from fiction. Some of the most common cancer myths not only cultivate false ideas and fears but also can interfere with how people think and behave when facing cancer in themselves or in a loved one. It is important that the health messengers within the family and community have the most accurate information about cancer. In many Hispanic families, that is often the woman running the household. It is good for these health messengers and the people who listen to them to at least be aware of some of the most common cancer myths so that misinformation doesn't stand in the way of getting counsel from a medical professional.

What Will Happen to Me If I Get Cancer?


Myth--Cancer is a death sentence. The fact is that more than 12 million cancer survivors are living in the United States. Thanks to improved treatments and earlier diagnosis of some cancers, more than 3 of every 5 cancer patients are alive 5 years after their diagnosis. For children, the 5-year survival rate is 4 in 5.

Who Gets Cancer and Why

Myth--Cancer is contagious. You cannot catch cancer from someone who has it. What can spread among people are microorganisms (viruses and bacteria), and a few of these can cause cancer. Recent Hispanic immigrants may have a greater risk of some cancers caused by infectious agents if there was a higher prevalence of related infections in their country of origin.

Myth--If a parent or close family member had cancer, you will inherit it. Cancer develops when genes change in certain ways, but most of these changes occur during a person's lifetime and are not inherited. But some cancer-causing gene changes are inherited, so if a certain cancer seems to run in your family it is important to discuss this with a doctor.

Myth--People get cancer from . . . (just fill in the blank as to what you have heard). Scientists are continuously doing research to determine whether particular natural or manmade substances cause cancer. Research shows that the following are not likely to cause cancer: cell phones, microwaves, fluoridated water, hair dyes, deodorants, sugar, artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame, and low-frequency magnetic fields produced by power lines and household electric appliances.

What You Can Do About It


Myth--You have no control over your own cancer risk. Although scientists haven't figured out how to completely prevent cancer, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of certain cancers. For example:

-- Not smoking or quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of developing
and dying from lung cancer.
-- Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active cuts your risk
of several cancers.
-- HPV vaccines prevent infection with the virus that causes most cervical
cancers. And regular cervical cancer screening detects most cervical
abnormalities so that they can be treated before they become cancer.
-- Colorectal cancer screening reduces the risk of developing and dying
from colorectal cancer.
-- For women age 40 and older, getting regular mammograms reduces the
chance of dying from breast cancer.

Myth--Your attitudes and beliefs can help you beat cancer. Unfortunately, despite many studies, this appears to be a myth. But a positive attitude may improve the quality of your life during and after treatment. Many people say that focusing on the joys in life and things that they can control helped them get through cancer treatment. Spending time with family and friends, taking part in hobbies and activities when possible, and enjoying the little things in life may help one better manage the stresses and worries of cancer.

These are only some of the false and misleading ideas that can confuse and mislead people about the progress being made in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. You can learn more from NCI about cancer prevention and screening.

NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). More articles and videos in the culturally relevant Lifelines series are available at www.cancer.gov/lifelines.

Web Site: http://www.cancer.gov

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