Wellness News

By Gordon Pedersen Ph.D.

Influenza viruses are the respiratory viruses of greatest public health importance, particularly Influenza A (1). Every year 36,000 people die from Influenza making it the 6th leading cause of death in America (1). The CDC estimates that it would cost America $71 – 166 billion if we have an Influenza epidemic today. Approximately 1 in every 1,000 swine flu patients dies from the infection. This is close to the same rate we have been seeing the past few years but antigenic drift and antigenic shift may create a new and fatal form of Influenza that humans have no immunity against (2). Antigenic drift is a variation within the HN sub-type. Antigenic shift is a variation between different HN sub-types, changes in the Heamagluttinin (H) and Neuraminiadase (N) makes large portions of the population immunologically naïve on a regular basis (1). The problem with Type A is that it undergoes both antigenic drift and antigenic shift making it more dangerous and unpredictable (1). The World Health Organization declared the H1N1 Swine Flu a pandemic in June of 2009 (3).

The annual average U.S. winter epidemics affect 5% to 20% of the population.
The CDC (1) reports the following pandemic death histories:

Health Care Practitioners Are At the Highest Risk

Doctors, nurses and other health care providers are at the highest risk of becoming infected with Influenza. Because doctors are exposed to the virus most frequently, it is significant to recognize the survivability of the Influenza virus in open environments.

Mammalian Influenza A survives 1 hour in mucous, while Avian Influenza survives 100 days in water, 200 days @ 63 degrees F, 1 day in feces and indefinitely when frozen. Influenza is easily transmitted from human to human as indicated in the following table.

Doctors have the obligation to protect themselves and their patients from the potentially pandemic Influenza viruses. This protection could come from many different sources including Vaccination, Hygiene, Anti viral drugs, Antibiotic drugs, Nutritional supplements, Air filters, Water purifiers, Masks, Topical gels and Silver Sol.

Past epidemics provide important insights into what might happen in the potential spread of the current Swine Flu (4-13). The most persistent viruses survive and the most diverse seem to go extinct within a few years (14, 15). This is most likely the result of strong host-mediated selection pressure, resulting in continual evolution at key antigenic sites, a process termed ‘antigenic drift’ (15, 16). This antigenic evolution is observed with major changes in antigenicity occurring periodically in patterns of approximately 3 years between episodes (17).

According to reports from the Army Medical records, (from the 1918 Spanish Flu, H1N1 epidemic) 24% of the people died from the virus and 76% died form a secondary bacterial infection that produced pneumonia in the lungs. There is a high probability that the swine flu will have similar death rates, and if this is the case, then preventing and treating the secondary bacterial infection will be as important if not more important. The conclusion is that the influenza virus will need to be treated by multiple or combination therapies crossing viral and bacterial lines.

Recommendations for Influenza prevention and treatment (1)
Hygiene: The CDC recommends washing the hands after any exposure because most influenza is transferred by hand contact. Masks and gloves can help but the mask must fit tightly with no leaks to be effective. A surgical mask helps protect the persons around the wearer, so if you have a fever, cough or sneeze, wear a surgical mask to protect the patients.

Anti viral drugs:
These drugs have the ability to destroy viruses but cannot be taken for an extended period of time. They produce side effects that mimic the flu making it difficult to diagnose the severity of the disease. If taken for prevention, Tamiflu produces resistance. 18% of the influenza virus is resistant to Tamiflu already (1). It is suspected that the health care professionals who were taking it for four months as a preventive agent were the persons that developed resistance. This indicates that we cannot use the antiviral drugs for long periods of time. In addition, some drugs cannot be used in children under 13 years of age (Tamiflu). Relenza cannot be used in children under one or in adults over 65. The antivirals must be given within 48 hours of the onset of illness or the virus will run its course. Combine this with the fact that 76% of H1N1 subjects in the Spanish flu 1918, died from a bacterial infection that produced pneumonia and you have an incomplete solution to the influenza problem. Because Tamiflu has developed resistance Relenza may be a better choice as long as you monitor the bronchospasms.

Antibiotic Drugs:
Antibiotic drugs provide no solution against the virus but can be very beneficial for pneumonia that develops later. A broad spectrum antibiotic should be used because there are numerous bacteria that can produce pneumonia. According to a Penn State publication, silver sol can be given with the antibiotics and produce up to a tenfold increase in antibiotic activity (18).

Nutritional Supplements:
There are hundreds of supplements that can be of significant benefit for the immune system and even some that claim to have antiviral activity. The best proven choices for nutritional supplements come in the form of immune stimulants and wellness products. These include: immunity Vit C, B complex, folic acid, vit D (prevention) ginseng, Echinacea, garlic, probiotics, expectorants and silver sol.

Air Filters:
CDC recommends one in every room. HEPA air filters use silver to inactivate viruses and can effectively kill 99% of all bacteria, and viruses in minutes.

Water Purifiers:
Proper hygiene and a water purifier are recommended by the CDC because the influenza virus can survive 100 hours in water. Get one that has a silver filter that can actually destroy the virus. Carbon, filtration, reverse osmosis does not destroy or remove the virus.

Topical Disinfectants:
Topical disinfectants are recommended by the CDC for use between each patient and can kill germs for 4-6 hours. Patients and health care professionals should use these 4 times a day or as needed. Silver so gel demonstrates effectiveness against some of the worst pathogens including: MRSA, VRE, Strep, and the other bacteria that cause pneumonia.

Silver Sol:
Prescription drugs and vaccines treat and help prevent viral infection and disease but are not capable of totally controlling a dangerous new or novel virus (18). Nutritional supplements such as Vitamins, Minerals, Echinacea, Ginseng, Probiotics and many others have the ability to help boost immune function and improve natural defenses which results in some defense against disease causing viruses and the associated secondary infections

Silver Sol provides proven prevention and treatment against viral and bacterial infections, while there is nothing else with such broad spectrum benefits (19). In addition, Silver Sol can be safely taken every day for prevention where it has been shown to provide protection against the very dangerous Bird flu H5N1. The combination of antibiotics with Silver Sol has been shown to enhance antibiotic function by as much as ten fold due to the fact that Silver Sol kills the residual pathogens that the antibiotics cannot (19). Results of the combination of 19 different prescription antibiotics and silver sol demonstrate safe additive and/or synergistic benefits across 7 different pathogenic strains (Staphyloccocus, MRSA, E coli, Pseudomonas arugenosa, Salmonella and Streptococcus). The results of this combination therapy result in significant pathogenic destruction while helping to reduce bacterial resistance (19). This can be attributed to the fact that Silver Sol does not produce resistance, nor does it destroy the benefitcial intestinal probiotic bacteria (18).

Discussion:
H1N1 is a serious threat to our health and way of life. The best way to treat it influenza is to prevent it. Prevention produces a problem is that drugs have serious side effects and cannot be used by the entire population and should not be used for long periods of time. The other problem is that approximately three fourths of the people who have died from H1N1 influenza have succumbed to a secondary bacterial infection in the lungs and no antiviral drug will treat this condition.

In order to control an epidemic, all types of treatment should be employed including prescription drugs, vitamins, mineral, herbs, proper hygiene, air filtration, water filtration and the proper use of diet and nutritional supplements, especially the newly patented, FDA approved Silver Sol technology. Silver Sol destroys bacteria, viruses, and mold so it demonstrates broader spectrum of activity than any antibiotic or antiviral drug. It can be taken daily due the fact that it passes through the body unchanged, and can prevent viral infections, treat them and work synergistically with antibiotics to produce as much as a ten fold increase in activity against the bacteria that cause death in influenza. It is evident that the newly patented EPA certified and FDA approved Silver Sol technology provides tremendous treatment options for prevention and combination therapies. Silver Sol gel can help stop viral spread on the most contagious areas like hands, nose, mouth and skin. It is sufficiently documented and proven to be considered to be a first line of defense against Influenza and a significant companion to antiviral and antibacterial drug regimens topically and orally.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control contributing Authors: Burke Squires (UTSW), Marc Gillespie (CSHL), Peter E’dustacio (CSHL), Adolfo Garc�a-Sastre (MSSM).

2. CDC. Update: swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus—United States and other countries. MMWR 2009;58:421.
3. Novel Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Investigation Team. Emergence of a novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in humans. N Engl J Med 2009;361.

4. World Health Organization. Situation updates—influenza A (H1N1). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009.

5. Rowe T, Abernathy RA, Hu-Primmer J, et al. Detection of antibody to avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in human serum by using a combination of serologic assays. J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:937–43.

6. Laver WG, Webster RG. Selection of antigenic mutants of influenza viruses. Isolation and peptide mapping of their hemagglutination proteins. Virology. 1968;34:193–202.

7. Sleigh MJ, Both GW, Underwood PA, Bender VJ. Antigenic drift in the hemagglutinin of the Hong Kong influenza subtype: correlation of amino acid changes with alterations in viral antigenicity. J Virol. 1981;37:845–853.

8. Fitch WM, Leiter JMF, Li X, Palese P. Positive Darwinian evolution in human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1991;88:4270–4272.

9. Bush RM, Fitch WM, Bender CA, Cox NJ. Positive selection on the H3 hemagglutinin gene of human influenza virus A. Mol Biol Evol. 1999;16:1457–1465.

10. Rvachev LA. Computer modeling experiment on large-scale epidemic. Dokl USSR Acad Sci. 1968;2:294–296.

11. Longini IM, Fine PE, Thacker SB. Predicting the global spread of new infectious agents. Am J Epidemiol. 1986;123:383–391.

12. Bonabeau E, Toubiana L, Flahault A. The geographical spread of influenza. Proc Biol Sci. 1998;265:2421–2425.

13. Grais RF, Ellis JH, Glass GE. Assessing the impact of airline travel on the geographic spread of pandemic influenza. Eur J Epidemiol. 2003;19:1065–1072.

14. Viboud C, Bjørnstad ON, Smith DL, Simonsen L, Miller MA, et al. Synchrony, waves, and spatial hierarchies in the spread of influenza. Science. 2006;312:447–451.

15. Buonagurio DA, Nakada S, Parvin JD, Krystal M, Palese P, Fitch WM. Evolution of human influenza A viruses over 50 years: rapid, uniform rate of change in NS gene. Science. 1986;232:980–982.

16. Fitch WM, Leiter JMF, Li X, Palese P. Positive Darwinian evolution in human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1991;88:4270–4272.

17. Fitch WM, Bush RM, Bender CA, Cox NJ. Long term trends in the evolution of H(3) HA1 human influenza type A. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1997;94:7712–7128.

18. Smith DJ, Lapedes AS, de Jong JC, Bestebroer TM, Rimmelzwaan GF, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. Mapping the antigenic and genetic evolution of influenza virus. Science. 2004;305:371–376.

19. Ferguson NM, Galvani AP, Bush RM. Ecological and immunological determinants of influenza evolution. Nature. 2003;422:428–433.

20. Thompson WW, Shay DC, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Cox N, et al. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA. 2003;289:179–186.

21. Thompson WW, Shay DC, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Bridges CB, et al. Influenza- Associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292:1333–1340.

22. Ina Y, Gojobori N. Statistical analysis of nucleotide sequences of the hemagglutinin gene of human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1994;91:8388–8392.

23. Hay AJ, Gregory V, Douglas AR, Lin YP. The evolution of human influenza viruses. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 2001;356:1861–1870.

24. Jenkins GM, Rambaut A, Pybus OG, Holmes EC. Rates of molecular evolution in NA viruses: a quantitative phylogenetic analysis. 2002;54:156–165.

25. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: influenza activity–United States and worldwide, 2006-2007 and composition of the 2007–2008 influenza vaccine. MMWR. 2007;56:789–794.

26. Roy, R. Ultradilute Material Research Innovations, Ag-aquasols with extradrdinary bactericidal properties: role of the system Ag-O-H2O. 2007 vol 11 no 1.

27. Pedersen, G., Effect of Prophylactic Treatment with ASAP – AGX-32 and nd ASAP Solutions on an Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infecrion in Mice.

28 Nelson Labs . Hepatitis B and Silver Sol.

29. De Souza. A., Mehta, D, Bactericidal activity of Combinations of Silver-Water Dispersion with 19 Antibiotics Against Seven Microbial Strains. Current Science, Vol 91, No 7, October 2006.

30. Leavitt, R, Pedersen G,. Resistance of Silver Sol and Bacteria: A Discussion, ABL, 2009.

31 Viridis BioPharma, Probiotic Bacteria and Silver Sol, 2007.

32. Laver WG, Webster RG. Selection of antigenic mutants of influenza viruses. Isolation and peptide mapping of their hemagglutination proteins. Virology. 1968;34:193–202.

33. Sleigh MJ, Both GW, Underwood PA, Bender VJ. Antigenic drift in the hemagglutinin of the Hong Kong influenza subtype: correlation of amino acid changes with alterations in viral antigenicity. J Virol. 1981;37:845–853.

34. Fitch WM, Leiter JMF, Li X, Palese P. Positive Darwinian evolution in human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1991;88:4270–4272.

35. Bush RM, Fitch WM, Bender CA, Cox NJ. Positive selection on the H3 hemagglutinin gene of human influenza virus A. Mol Biol Evol. 1999;16:1457–1465.

36. Rvachev LA. Computer modeling experiment on large-scale epidemic. Dokl USSR Acad Sci. 1968;2:294–296.

37. Longini IM, Fine PE, Thacker SB. Predicting the global spread of new infectious agents. Am J Epidemiol. 1986;123:383–391.

38. Bonabeau E, Toubiana L, Flahault A. The geographical spread of influenza. Proc Biol Sci. 1998;265:2421–2425.

39. Grais RF, Ellis JH, Glass GE. Assessing the impact of airline travel on the geographic spread of pandemic influenza. Eur J Epidemiol. 2003;19:1065–1072.

40. Viboud C, Bjørnstad ON, Smith DL, Simonsen L, Miller MA, et al. Synchrony, waves, and spatial hierarchies in the spread of influenza. Science. 2006;312:447–451.

41. Buonagurio DA, Nakada S, Parvin JD, Krystal M, Palese P, Fitch WM. Evolution of human influenza A viruses over 50 years: rapid, uniform rate of change in NS gene. Science. 1986;232:980–982.

42. Fitch WM, Leiter JMF, Li X, Palese P. Positive Darwinian evolution in human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1991;88:4270–4272.

43. Fitch WM, Bush RM, Bender CA, Cox NJ. Long term trends in the evolution of H(3) HA1 human influenza type A. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1997;94:7712–7128.

44. Smith DJ, Lapedes AS, de Jong JC, Bestebroer TM, Rimmelzwaan GF, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. Mapping the antigenic and genetic evolution of influenza virus. Science. 2004;305:371–376.

45. Ferguson NM, Galvani AP, Bush RM. Ecological and immunological determinants of influenza evolution. Nature. 2003;422:428–433.

6. Koelle K, Cobey S, Grenfell B, Pascual M. Epochal evolution shapes the phylodynamics of interpandemic influenza A (H3N2) in humans. Science. 2006;314:1898–903.

47. Rambaut A, Pybus O, Nelson MI, Viboud C, Taubenberger JK, et al. The genomic and epidemiological dynamics of human influenza A virus. Nature April 16; [Epub ahead of print]

48. Lavenu A, Leruez-Ville M, Chaix ML, Boelle PY, Rogez S, Freymuth F, Hay A, Rouzioux C, Carrat F. Detailed analysis of the genetic evolution of influenza virus during the course of an epidemic. Epidemiol Infect. 2005:1–7.

49. Nelson MI, Simonsen L, Viboud C, Miller MA, Taylor J, et al. Stochastic processes are key determinants of the short-term evolution of influenza A virus. PLoS Pathog. 2006;2:e125. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0020125.

50. Viboud C, Alonso WJ, Simonsen L. Influenza in tropical regions. PLoS Med. 2006;3:e89. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030089.

51. Nelson MI, Simonsen L, Viboud C, Miller MA, Holmes EC. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the global migration of seasonal influenza A viruses. PLoS Pathog. 2007;3:e131. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0030131.

52. Russell CA, Jones TC, Barr IG, Cox NJ, Garten RJ, et al. The global circulation of seasonal influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Science. 2008;320:340–346.

53. Holmes EC, Ghedin E, Miller N, Taylor J, Bao Y, et al. Whole-genome analysis of human influenza A virus reveals multiple persistent lineages and reassortment among recent H3N2 viruses. PLoS Biol. 2005;3:e300. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030300.

54. Nelson MI, Viboud C, Simonsen L, Bennett RT, Griesemer SB, et al. Multiple reassortment events in the evolutionary history of A/H1N1 influenza A virus since 1918. PLoS Pathog. 2008;4:e1000012. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000012.

55. Nelson MI, Holmes EC. The evolution of epidemic influenza. Nat Rev Genet. 2007;8:196–205.

56. Thompson WW, Shay DC, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Cox N, et al. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA. 2003;289:179–186.

57. Thompson WW, Shay DC, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Bridges CB, et al. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292:1333–1340.

58. Ina Y, Gojobori N. Statistical analysis of nucleotide sequences of the hemagglutinin gene of human influenza A viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1994;91:8388–8392.

59. Hay AJ, Gregory V, Douglas AR, Lin YP. The evolution of human influenza viruses. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 2001;356:1861–1870.

60. Jenkins GM, Rambaut A, Pybus OG, Holmes EC. Rates of molecular evolution in NA viruses: a quantitative phylogenetic analysis. 2002;54:156–165.

61. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: influenza activity–United States and worldwide, 2006-2007 and composition of the 2007–2008 influenza vaccine. MMWR. 2007;56:789–794.

62. Simonsen L, Reichert TA, Viboud C, Blackwelder WC, Taylor RJ, et al. Impact of influenza vaccination on seasonal mortality in the US elderly population. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:265–272.

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Original post

In the study, within an hour after subject mice sniffed droplets containing adult rat stem cells, the rat cells had migrated to the mice brains. The experiment was just as successful when they substituted the rat stem cells with human brain tumor cells. The effectiveness of this delivery technology was tripled when the mice first snorted hyaluronidase, an enzyme known to make connective tissue more permeable.

The researchers speculated that the cells found their way to the brain via the olfactory nerves through small holes in the cribriform plate and through the blood vessels that pass from the nose to the brain.

The team sees their delivery technique potentially benefiting patients with a wide variety of diseases. “Intranasal delivery of therapeutic cells could potentially benefit the treatment of head injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and so on,” says Frey.

They also believes this method of delivery is not limited to stem cells, but could be an important non-invasive and convenient method for delivering a wide range of medicinal treatment.

The team has applied for a patent for their delivery technology and will continue researching to determine how long the stem cells remain in the brain, and whether inflammation and infection results.

News Source: www.umn.edu

Original post

The findings of a cross-sectional study conducted by the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto are consistent with previous research showing the effects of vitamin C deficiency. Inadequate vitamin C levels have been shown to decrease the body’s ability to burn fat when exercising. A study conducted ten years ago by the Boston University School of Medicine and the Lunus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University concluded that vitamin C intake of 500mg per day can reduce blood pressure and hypertension.

The new study linking vitamin deficiency with high CRP levels is important because levels of C-reactive protein increases in the blood when infection and inflammation are present, and high c-reactive protein levels have been linked to atherosclerosis, cholesterol build-up, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers.

News links: The Examiner, Science Daily

Original post

Now 16 years old, Kyle Knopes was diagnosed with Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement, when he was just a baby. He has never walked or crawled, and he has been confined to a wheelchair since he was 18 months old. He couldn’t even open his fist and stretch his fingers.

Kyle, his mother and his brother decided to invest in a 5 ½-week journey from Janesville, WI to Qingdao Cheng Yang Peoples Hospital in Qingdao, China, where Kyle would undergo a round of stem cell injections. While there, he had daily sessions of physical therapy, acupuncture and electric wave therapy in addition to receiving eight injections of stem cells through an IV. The cells Kyle received were from umbilical cord blood.

The cost of treatment was $30,000 plus expenses — every penny of which the Knopes feel was worth all the fundraising and planning that enabled them to go to China. In fact, Kyle says he noticed improvements after his first injection. “I rolled from my back to my right side, which I haven’t done since I was 6,” he says. Later that same day, he was able to roll from his back to his left side, too. He has also gained strength in his arms, hands, wrists, head, neck and jaw. And he can open and close his fist, a simple task he could not previously accomplish without help. According to his doctors, he may experience more improvements for up to nine months.

Another Wisconsin youngster — 12-year-old Brooke Barels from East Troy — also underwent two stem cell injection procedures in China, first in 2007, then again this past spring. Brooke had been suffering from glucose transporter deficiency (GLUT-1), a “spontaneous gene mutation” that has resulted in cerebral palsy-like symptoms, as well as delayed brain development. After just one treatment, she was able to walk with a cane instead of a walker. Her motor and cognitive skills have also showed improvement. “It really sped up her progress,” says mom Vicki after the first round of treatments. “Although progress has normally been slow for Brooke, it kind of gave her a little jump in the physical area.” That progress motivated the family to return for a second round of injections. It has been almost three months since their second trip, and Vicki is hopeful that Brooke will see more improvements over the next few months.

News Release: Stem cell treatments making a big difference in the life of Janesville teen www.gazettextra.com July 25, 2009

Original post

Week of August 10, 2009

Gordon Pedersen, PhD
Director of the Institute of Alternative Medicine

Dr. Gordon Pedersen is an international best-selling author. He is the formulator of more than 150 nutritional products and is the host of the radio show “Common Sense Medicine”. He now serves as the Director of the Institute of Alternative Medicine and was nominated to chair the United States Pharmacopoeia Review Board, Natural Products Committee. Dr. Pedersen is an acclaimed scientist and sought after professional speaker and nutritional expert.

Dr. Pedersen received his Doctorate degree in Toxicology with emphasis in Virology from Utah State University and a Master’s degree in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness. Dr. Pedersen has authored a number of important protocols in virology.

At the upcoming Anti-Aging Conference: Clinical Applications for In-Office Procedures in San Jose, California (September 9-12, 2009), Dr. Pedersen will present, Protecting Yourself from Influenza Using Prescription Medication, Nutritional Supplements and Silver Sol, on Thursday, September 10th. This lecture will discuss the individual and prophylactic uses for a combination of Silver Sol, prescription drugs, nutritional supplements and improved personal hygiene as a method to reduce the risk of viral and secondary infections associated with potential pandemic diseases.

For more information call the A4M today; 1-888-997-0112.

Original post

Highlights from a presentation given by Brian Peskin, BS at the 17th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine entitled, Parent Essential Fatty Acids, Oxygeneration and Cancer Prevention: A New Solution

At the upcoming Anti-Aging Conference: Clinical Applications for In-Office Procedures, Mr. Peskin will present,The Failure of Vytorin and Statins to Improve Cardiovascular Health: Bad Cholesterol or Bad Therapy? on Friday September 11th, 2009. This lecture will explain physiologically why lowering LDL cholesterol is not the answer to preventing cardiovascular disease and will present a
better solution to prevent and reverse it.

Mr. Peskin earned his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). He received an
appointment as an Adjunct Professor at Texas Southern University in the Department of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. His focus is on
the cancer/oxygen connection and its ramifications. He founded the field of Life?Systems Engineering Science in 1995. This field is
defined as The New Science of Maximizing Desired Results by Working Cooperatively with the Natural Processes of Living Systems.

For more information, call; 1-888-997-0112.

Original post

Original post

A comprehensive meta-analysis of prior scientific literature was performed to determine whether soy protein and soy isoflavones affect male reproductive hormone levels. Led by Jill M. Hamilton-Reeves of St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, MN, the researchers examined a variety of clinical studies conducted prior to July 1, 2008, which looked at the effect of soy, which contain phytoestrogens, on male reproductive hormones. In total, the investigators analyzed 15 placebo-controlled treatment groups with baseline and ending measures. In addition, they assessed 32 reports involving 36 treatment groups in simpler statistical models. Their research, which has recently published online in Fertility and Sterility, showed no significant effect of soy protein or soy isoflavone intake on circulating levels of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin or free testosterone in men.

“As a high-quality source of protein that is relatively low in saturated fat, soy can be an important part of a heart-healthy diet and may contribute to a decreased risk of coronary heart disease,” says reproductive endocrinologist William R. Phipps of the University of Rochester Medical Center, a co-author of the analysis. “Some men have avoided soy-based foods because of worries about estrogen-like effects of soy isoflavones. But it is important for the public to understand that there is no clinical evidence to support these ideas. After conducting a comprehensive review of the existing literature, we found no indication that soy significantly alters male sex hormone levels.”

Citing the research study, Lisa Kelly, MPH, RD, of the United Soybean Board, says, “Soy is often praised for the positive role it can play in the diets of women. But, years of clinical research have shown that men stand to benefit from soy, too. I encourage men to incorporate soyfoods into a balanced and varied diet and talk to their healthcare provider about their own unique nutritional needs.”

News Release: Soy safe for men: study www.gourmetretailer.com July 26, 2009

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Rakesh Singh is a medical rarity for two reasons: Rakesh (named changed) took immuno-suppressant pills to prevent rejection of a donated kidney. He was able to live a normal life until about 18 months ago, when he became one of the only kidney transplant patients to develop multiple myeloma. For Rakesh, the disease caused large boils to erupt throughout his body, affecting his ability to speak.

Secondly, and more importantly, he is the only transplant patient in India who has undergone a stem cell transplant. And according to nephrologist Dr. Madan Bahadur, hematologist Dr. Sameer Shah and oncologist Dr. Ganpati Bhat, “Singh is the first kidney transplant patient in the world to undergo a stem cell transplant to beat multiple myeloma after ablative chemotherapy.” Rakesh just recently had a PET scan. The results? It’s been just over a month since the 49-year-old underwent the procedure, and his scan shows “categorically” that there are no remaining cancer cells in his body. He is also breathing much easier.

Rakesh’s story could have turned out quite differently. His doctors at Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital faced a real dilemma about how to treat him. Should they reduce the immuno-suppressants to let his body fight the cancer cells? If they chose that route, it could have led to a possible rejection of the donated kidney. That’s when they decided to give him a second transplant — bone marrow this time — with his own stem cells. The head of nephrology at KEM Hospital, Dr. V. Hase, says, “The Jaslok patient’s case is of great academic interest. Firstly, it is rare for a kidney transplant patient to develop multiple myeloma. Secondly, no transplant patient in India has undergone a stem cell transplant as a rescue mission against cancer.” And he adds that renal failure is a known complication of multiple myeloma. “So, in the western world, multiple myeloma patients would undergo a stem cell transplant first and a renal transplant later. In the Mumbai case, the opposite has happened.”

In the United States, there are 5 to 7 new cases per 100,000 persons each year who have this type of cancer of the plasma cells — cells that are a critical part of the immune system and produce immunoglobulins to help fight infection and disease. Multiple myeloma represents approximately one percent of all cancers in white U.S. residents and about two percent of cancers in African Americans.

News Release: Patient’s own stem cells used to cure cancer www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com July 2009

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Frustrated by the length of time it takes to perform DNA sequencing, a team of researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a new cell programming method that allows them to edit multiple genes in parallel instead of targeting one gene at a time. The new cell programming method called Multiplex Automated Genome Engineering (MAGE) promises to give synthetic biology a “powerful boost.”

“We initiated the project to close the gap between DNA sequencing technology and cell programming technology,” explains graduate student Harris Wang, the paper’s co-first author. And adds postdoctoral researcher Farren Isaacs, the other first author, “The goal was to use information gleaned from genetics and genomics to rapidly engineer new functions and improve existing functions in cells. We wanted to develop a new tool and demonstrate how to apply it; we were determined to hand labs a hammer and a nail.”

Why was the development of a new tool so important? With high-throughput sequencing, biologists have been able to scan millions of DNA letters, or bases, every hour. However, when having to revise a genome, they have been seriously impeded by outdated cell programming technology, getting bogged down with particular DNA sequences. The key was to find a way to “break free” of linear genetic engineering techniques in order to move past the serial manipulation of single genes.

The researchers accomplished this by rapidly refining the design of a bacterium. The MAGE programming method has enabled them to edit multiple genes in parallel instead of targeting one gene at a time. In essence, they transformed self-serving E. coli cells into “efficient factories” that produce a specific compound, reducing what normally takes most biotech companies months, if not years, into just three days.

“It’s nearly impossible to predict which combinations of mutations will confer the desired behavior,” explains Isaacs. “Biology is so complex that we don’t know the optimal solution.” As Wang notes, the team has “retooled evolution,” generating genetic diversity at an incredibly fast rate to increase their odds of finding cells with desirable properties. “We accelerated evolution, generating as many as 15 billion genetic variants in three days,” says Wang. “Can you imagine how long it would take to generate 15 billion genetic variants with traditional cloning techniques? It would take years.”

News Release: Researchers Rapidly Turn Bacteria Into Biotech Factories www.sciencedaily.com July 26, 2009

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