Stem cell research continues to strive to create safe and reliable ways to generate cells for medical applications. A new study identifies the role of the protein Nanog in stem cell development.
By acting much like a conductor of an orchestra, Nanog must be present during the final reprogramming phase of adult stem cells in order for other genes and proteins to come together to create a constant state of development, also known as pluripotency.
Researchers aim to transform embryonic and adult stem cells into pluripotent cells. These cells might then be turned into any type of body cell, offering possible treatment for diseases such as Alzheimer’s or diabetes.
Reasearchers at University of California San Francisco have discovered a tiny cellular filament that may play a role in the most common malignant brain tumor in children as well as in basal cell carcinoma.
Known as primary cilium, the structure was shown to either prohibit or enhance the growth of tumors, depending on which mutated genes intiated the cellular aberrations to begin with. That the UCSF studies implicate primary cilia in two different tissues may indicate the finding to be very general, according to senior researchers in the study.
The study findings have lead to and investigation of primary cilia’s role in other brain tumors, and may also lead to a diagnostic strategy and therapeutic approaches to such diseases.
Dr. McMakin maintains a clinical practice, does research and teaches Frequency Specific Microcurrent seminars in the United States and internationally. She has lectured at the National Institutes of Health and at numerous medical and alternative medicine conferences on the differential diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain and fibromyalgia.
This lecture will focus on the current research describing the role of inflammation in liver pathology. It will also present the proposed mechanisms of action by which frequency modulated microamperage current increases ATP production and reduces inflammation.
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Growth of new fat tissue may be suppressed by a diet high in tumeric, according to a study conducted by researchers from Tufts University. Due to a naturally occurring phytochemical called curcumin found in tumeric, weight gain may be reduced as the expansion of fat tissue is inhibited.
A process known as angiogenesis allows new blood vessels to form in the body, which in turn permits the growth of fat tissue. By suppressing angiogenesis activity, the antioxidant curcumin reduces overall blood vessel growth and overall fat tissue growth.
The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a grant from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, also indicated a significantly lower blood cholesterol in conjuction with a diet high in tumeric, as well as a reduction in liver fat.
Highlights from a presentation given by Mitchell J. Ghen, DO, PhD at the 17th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine entitled, Regenerative Medicine Update: Stem Cells and Functional Testing.
Dr. Ghen has 27 years of experience in anti-aging, holistic and integrative medicine. He is the co-author of two textbooks including the Advance Guide to Longevity Medicine and the Ghen and Raines Guide to Compounding Pharmaceuticals. In addition, he has authored dozens of articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has been a host and guest on hundreds of radio programs as well as television, where he was been interviewed as the expert in alternative health. He is considered one of the top expert clinician and researcher in the field of stem cell transplantation. Dr. Ghen, in addition to being a physician, holds a Masters Degree in Biomechanical Trauma and has a Ph.D. in nutrition and psychoneuroimmunology. Dr. Ghen is an international lecturer on topics about stem cell transplantation and Oral and IV nutrition. He is noted to be one of the premier teachers at conferences and seminars on integrative medicine and his vast academic knowledge, coupled with his entertaining delivery, makes a well sought after presenter.
A study from University of California in Los Angeles used immune cells to help identify a suspected indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. By testing the ability of immune cells in the blood to absorb the peptide amyloid beta, researchers moved toward developing a blood test which can gauge a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Patients in the study with Alzheimer’s disease demonstrated poor uptake of amyloid beta, while participants without the disease showed high uptake. The results conclude that if the immune system is not adequately clearing amyloid beta, there is risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
MP Biomedicals LLC of Orange County has a contract to commercialize the the technology developed by UCLA, creating a diagnostic blood test for screening for Alzheimer’s disease.
A study led by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm shows that the antioxidants in cocoa are likely to increase survival of acute myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack. By eating cholcolate two or more times per week, heart attack survivors cut their risk of dying from heart disease threefold compared to those who do not eat chocolate.
Patients who had suffered a heart attack were questioned about their food habits in the year prior to hospitalization and then were monitored for eight years. Data indicated an inverse correlation between the incidence of fatal heart attacks and the amount of chocolate consumed.
Earlier research established a link between chocolate consumption and lowered blood pressure, citing the ability of antioxidants to protect against free radicals which contribute to heart disease, cancer and the aging process.
The National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that life expectancy in the U.S. has risen to nearly 78 years. Now at an all-time-high, expected life span has grown nearly one and a half years in the past decade.
Decreases in heart disease, cancer, HIV-related deaths, and diabetes contributed to an overall drop in the death rate, which has been on the decline for eight straight years. The U.S. continues to lag behind some 30 other countries in life expectancy, including Japan which leads globally with a life expectancy of 83 years according to the World Health Organization.
The preliminary new data for the U.S. is based on approximately 90 percent of death certificates collected in 2007 and also reflects an increase of nearly three months longevity for babies born in 2007 compared to those born in 2006.
Several studies of aging and mental health show that happiness and emotional well-being improve over time. As adults age, they exhibit increased emotional control, allowing them to avoid stressful situations and negative experiences.
Speaking at the convention of the American Psychological Association in Toronto, Susan Turk Charles of University of California, Irvine noted that “we know that older people are increasingly aware that the time they have left in life is growing shorter. They want to make the best of it so they avoid engaging in situations that will make them unhappy.”
While the findings presented at the convention may not apply to aging adults living in stressful situations or those with dementia, the general population may very well enjoy increased happiness as they age. Reports presented also point to the value of strong social connections in overall cognitive health and reduction of stress in older adults.
Leisure activities that exercise the brain may delay the rapid memory decline that occurs with the development of dementia in late life. Reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing board or card games, having group discussions, and playing music might help maintain brain vitality and delay memory loss.
In a study supported by the National Institue on Aging, partcipants reported daily participation levels in six activities using a point system over the course of several years. The average level of participation for participants who developed dementia was one activity per day. The onset of rapid memory loss was delayed by 0.18 years for engagement in each additional activity.
The results of the study, published in “Neurology”, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, also factored in the education level of participants. According to Charles B. Hall, PhD, “The effect of these activities in late life appears to be independent of education.”
