Pigs Help Danish Researchers In Fight Against Alzheimer’s And Psoriasis

In many ways, pigs resemble humans. So Danish researchers are utilising them in a large-scale project where “model pigs” will provide new insights into human diseases such as Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis and psoriasis, writes Jan Aagaard in magazine Focus Denmark Nr. 3 2010.

We might not like the thought. But the fact is that pigs resemble humans in more ways than we think. So it makes sense to use pigs when researching into human diseases.

This is the background for a series of spectacular projects jointly initiated by the Danish food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the research community. The aim is to research into the pig’s genetic makeup and use this knowledge to learn more about both porcine and human diseases.

In the part of the project which concerns human diseases, attempts are being made using gene technology and breeding to create “model pigs” which are particularly predis-posed to diseases that usually only affect humans. These model pigs could then be used by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of new drugs.

Minipigs with gene mutations

Pigs are in many ways more suitable for medical testing than “traditional” research animals such as mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys and dogs. Several of the pig’s organs are very similar to human organs, and the physiology and metabolism of the pig are relatively close to that of humans. At the same time, pigs reproduce well, grow quickly and are easy to handle.

A pig. Photo by www.sxc.hu.

Researchers are therefore using pigs to create models for a number of diseases for which they have failed to create models using smaller animals. American researchers have developed a genetically modified pig model for the hereditary lung disease cystic fibrosis – a disease for which it has not proved possible to develop an animal model using mice, despite numerous attempts. Disease models in pigs have also been established for osteoporosis and diabetes.

In the Danish project, researchers are seeking to develop model pigs for testing drugs and treatments for diseases including arteriosclerosis, psoriasis and, not least, Alzheimer’s.

In the Alzheimer’s and psoriasis projects, use is being made of special “minipigs” whose ancestors are Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs. These pigs, which come from the Danish company Ellegaard Gøttingen Minipigs, are well suited for experimental purposes because of their small size.

Successful cloning and breeding

The project with Alzheimer’s model pigs began in 2005 and after just two years caused a stir when the researchers created the world’s first cloned “Alzheimer’s pigs”. Seven identical pigs came into the world equipped with a gene that in humans produces a hereditary variant of Alzheimer’s disease.

Since then, several of the cloned pigs have become gestant by natural means and have given birth to healthy and viable piglets.

Today there are over 20 transgenic pigs available to the project. Getting the cloned pigs to reproduce naturally was an important milestone, as it would be too expensive and uncertain to base production of model pigs solely on cloning.

Hoping for a breakthrough

The original cloned pigs are now three years old, but the researchers are still waiting for the big breakthrough. Even at two years of age, the pigs have shown no sign of brain changes of the type seen in people around 10 years before they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“We originally hoped that we would see these changes in the pigs in one to three years, on the assumption that the age of the pigs would correspond to a human age of about 35 years. This is the earliest time that changes can be seen in the brain that progress to the depletion of brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients,” says project leader Dr. Arne Lund Jørgensen of the Department of Human Genetics at Aarhus University.

“How pig age translates into human age is a contentious topic, so for now we need to remain patient. At the same time we are endeavouring to accelerate the disease process, by creating pigs that have not one but two gene mutations that can lead to Alzheimer’s,” says Arne Lund Jørgensen.

Investigations into whether the transgenic pigs are showing preliminary signs of Alzheimer’s take place in several ways. Behavioural tests can show changes in the pigs’ memory, and the Danish researchers have also developed a test that can detect changes in the pigs’ sense of smell. The tests are performed while the animals live a fairly normal pig life in the stall.

In addition regular scans of the pigs’ brains are carried out and, once a year, one of the pigs is slaughtered and its brain studied using microscopy. As this article was being prepared, the researchers were planning to slaughter and analyse a 3 year old pig.

Valuable project

“We hope to see changes in this pig’s brain, or in some of the others in the next few years. A disease model in pigs would provide unprecedented opportunities for identifying the Alzheimer’s process and testing new drugs,” says Arne Lund Jørgensen.

At the same time, he stresses it is not certain that the pigs will develop Alzheimer’s.

“But the project could be valuable nonetheless because even a partial disease model, in which pigs develop certain aspects of the disease, may be useful in the testing of pharmaceuticals.”

In parallel with the Alzheimer’s project, other Danish researchers have created pigs with genes that can cause atherosclerosis, just as “psoriasis pigs” are on the way.

Blood Self Test Saves Lives

In Vejle, Denmark, patients take blood tests themselves – at home. It saves lives every year, writes Nadia Louise Kristensen in Focus Denmark Nr. 3 2010.

At Vejle Hospital patients are taught to take blood tests themselves – another area where the hospital is helping to think in new ways.

A little finger prick, then up comes a number on the screen.

Blood cells. Photo by www.sxc.hu.

It shows how quickly my blood clots. Had I been a real patient taking the test at home, I would only have had to turn on my pc, open a little programme and enter the number. The figure would tell my doctor if I needed more or less anticoagulant medication. From a remote location, the doctor can see my reading – I can even write a comment to the doctor if I have any concerns. The programme can also calculate the most appropriate dose and a lot else besides, which is a good thing when comparing and analysing patient data.

The programme, called CSO/AC, has been developed in collaboration with the Danish company IntraMed and is used by increasing numbers of Danish hospitals. It can be used both for patients receiving anticoagulant medication and for patients with diabetes. In Denmark, the little programme saves lives.

“Every year, 500 people die in Denmark because of insufficient anticoagulant medication. Without this system, patients only receive proper medication 60 percent of the time. With CSO/AC, the figure is 80 percent. None of those patients who are testing themselves have been hospitalised with blood clots,” says Ivan Brandslund, who is laboratory manager at Vejle Hospital.

Besides saving lives, it also means that a physician can attend to many more patients. Using this system, Ivan Brandslund can look at the numbers and adjust the doses of 20-30 patients in one hour. If he had to see the patient each time at the hospital, he would only be able to attend to six patients in an hour.

The part of CSO/AC which calculates doses is in use in several clinics in the US, where it makes a big difference. One of them is the Medical Center of Plano, Texas: “Our clinic has about 900 active patients. All patients enrolled into our clinic are added to CSO. The dosing suggestions of CSO are considered, but of course the nurses make the clinical judgment regarding dosage changes. The system has aided our ability to track 900 patients in a very organized and efficient way, despite our volume,” says Kim Williams, a nurse at The Medical Center of Plano, Texas.

Denmark is a relatively small country where the nearest hospital is never far away. But in countries like USA, Canada and Australia, where there can be great distances between people and hospitals, CSO/AC has even greater promise, opines Martin Couët, Channel Sales Director at IntraMed, which is a distributor of CSO in the US: “This product has got a lot of potential. The healthcare providers can manage more patients with the same resources. The patients can save time and money on transportation while being more in control of their condition. And in countries like USA and Canada, as soon as you get outside the big cities, it can be a challenge to find qualified nurses and physicians.”

The Health Care System’s Smart Robots

Outside the film world, robots are hardly as colorful and charming. They can do amazing things – but it is not always easy to see, writes Nadia Louise Kristensen in Focus Denmark Nr. 3 2010.

A window of a Denmark home in Kolding. Photo by www.sxc.hu.

At a hospital in Kolding – a small town in Denmark – there is on one of the many long corridors, a black box containing something reminiscent of the bullet chamber of a revolver. On each side of the box is a pipe not much thicker than a garden hose. The parts constitute the Tempus 600 robot, a small revolution in the world of blood test collection. The revolving chamber is not designed to contain bullets, but blood sample tubes, which are shot down the pipe with a hissing sound at 7 metres per second, or 25 kilometres per hour. In just 43 seconds the tubes arrive in a metal tray at the haematology lab. Tempus 600 is still being tested to see if the blood samples are damaged by the high speed transit, but so far it appears that they are damaged more by being transported on a hospital trolley than by Tempus 600. When the robot is fully integrated, it will not be a person who retrieves the blood sample from the metal tray – everything will be automated so that the samples are automatically centrifuged and analysed, and the test results relayed to the digital screen of the relevant physician.

Robots reduce waiting time

The revolutionary aspect is that the machine can reduce the time interval between a blood sample being taken and the doctor receiving the results from 3-5 hours to 30 minutes.

“Staff are expensive to run. When they transport something, it uses up time. They have coffee breaks or just chat to a colleague on the way. Robots are cheap to run and very reliable. If a person takes a blood sample and then delivers it, it can take a long time. The person must first collect a batch of 10 blood samples before delivering them. It can easily take an hour, and then at least ten minutes to deliver the blood samples to the laboratory,” says consultant Ivan Brandslund, who helped conceive the idea of the robot together with the Danish company FagTek Vacuum System A/S.

“A blood sample waiting on a table is a patient waiting in a bed. It costs money keeping a patient in a bed. The staff patient ratio is about 5:1, so you save money if you save patient waiting time. It is a question of reducing waiting time throughout the system. And there are limits to how much we can push people,” says Ivan Brandslund.

FagTek Vacuum System A/S, which has developed the system, is noting great interest both in Denmark and from abroad.

“The interest is quite overwhelming. We have not yet started sales activity, but we have already been contacted by several major companies such as Abbott in Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, and Siemens in Denmark and the US. They are all interested to know if the Tempus 600 is really that easy to operate. The other pneumatic transport systems on the market are complicated to operate. With Tempus 600 you just take the blood sample tube and put it in the hole, then you can go off and forget all about it,” says Daniel Blak, director of FagTek Vacuum System A/S.

Robots reduce waiting time

The revolutionary aspect is that the machine can reduce the time interval between a blood sample being taken and the doctor receiving the results from 3-5 hours to 30 minutes.

“Staff are expensive to run. When they transport something, it uses up time. They have coffee breaks or just chat to a colleague on the way. Robots are cheap to run and very reliable. If a person takes a blood sample and then delivers it, it can take a long time. The person must first collect a batch of 10 blood samples before delivering them. It can easily take an hour, and then at least ten minutes to deliver the blood samples to the laboratory,” says consultant Ivan Brandslund, who helped conceive the idea of the robot together with the Danish company FagTek Vacuum System A/S.

“A blood sample waiting on a table is a patient waiting in a bed. It costs money keeping a patient in a bed. The staff patient ratio is about 5:1, so you save money if you save patient waiting time. It is a question of reducing waiting time throughout the system. And there are limits to how much we can push people,” says Ivan Brandslund.

FagTek Vacuum System A/S, which has developed the system, is noting great interest both in Denmark and from abroad.

“The interest is quite overwhelming. We have not yet started sales activity, but we have already been contacted by several major companies such as Abbott in Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, and Siemens in Denmark and the US. They are all interested to know if the Tempus 600 is really that easy to operate. The other pneumatic transport systems on the market are complicated to operate. With Tempus 600 you just take the blood sample tube and put it in the hole, then you can go off and forget all about it,” says Daniel Blak, director of FagTek Vacuum System A/S.

Designed for efficiency

At neighbouring Vejle Hospital, where Ivan Brandslund works as a consultant and laboratory manager, one can see how the hospital of the future can be formed both in terms of technology and the way in which the various wards are equipped. Previously, laboratories were scattered around the various hospital wards. Over time, these laboratories began using many of the same technologies to handle their work – technologies which are still very expensive. By bringing together all the laboratories in the same building, staff can share the use of equipment, which both reduces equipment costs and minimises the time spent going from one place to another.

It became the start of a new building, which several Danish experts in streamlining working procedures have declared to be so efficient that they cannot see anything that needs to improved.

“Part of what makes the building unique is that, right from the start, we put strong emphasis on flexibility, so that the interior layout can be adjusted. User requirements change over time, and so it is essential that the building can do likewise,” says Niels Bøge of Søren Jensen Consulting Engineers, which helped plan the laboratory building.

Vejle Hospital’s laboratory building has served as a model for other hospitals, including Bergen in Norway, Santiago in Chile and Lund in Sweden.

The square building is five stories high, with the technical facilities housed in the centre.

“Having the technical facilities in the centre means that the distance to the places they serve is very short. This makes it easy to move installations when needs change,” says Niels Bøge.

It is not only cheaper and more efficient to run the laboratory in this way. It also results in more research and collaboration.

“When heads of laboratories talk to each other, so do their specialist staff. There is competition between these specialities – but also a synergistic effect. The academic level, quality and research all went up after we moved together. To put this in quantifiable terms, the number of articles we publish in international medical journals each year has risen from five or six to about 50,” says Ivan Brandslund.

Robots are the future

A few years from now, patients admitted to Vejle Hospital will be the first in Denmark to have a blood sample taken by a robot called Roblood, developed in collaboration between the University of Southern Denmark, Vejle Hospital, the Danish Design School and others.

“There is great potential in robots. We can streamline a lot of processes and enhance quality. The robots will perform the simple activities, so that staff can use their time and resources to care for seriously ill patients. The net effect will be to provide a better service with the number of staff that are available. A comparison can be made with craftsmen: if they have a power screwdriver, they can increase their work rate and produce better work. With robots, we can improve our offering and provide services to more people if our healthcare and nursing services adopt the technology in the same way as craftsmen and ourselves,” says Anders S. Sørensen, an associate professor at the University of Southern Denmark.

At present, 11-12 million blood samples are taken annually in Denmark, and each year the total increases by about seven percent. More diseases can be diagnosed by blood samples, and most treatments require that regular blood samples are taken. The pressure on staff is thus continuously increasing.

“Our goal is to develop a technology that can take the pressure off the haematology labs. The staff in outpatient clinics have more and more tasks to perform in the same period of time. They make the same movements day in, day out, which result in injuries to wrists and elbows,” says Professor Sørensen, who is involved in the competence network RoboCluster, where educational institutions and private sector businesses are working together to create a new generation of robots.

The technical challenge is to create a robot with three-dimensional awareness. It must both be able to locate a vein, know where the needle is, and keep the patient from moving about or be able to change course if the position of the vein moves a little. This is what the University of Southern Denmark and Vejle Hospital have just started to test.

Professor Sørensen reckons that Roblood will be fully functional in 5-7 years.

Both at Vejle Hospital and the University of Southern Denmark, they believe that the future will bring variations of Roblood.

“Robot technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Over time, robots might be used for other things – for example inserting an intravenous drip. What is almost impossible is to get robots to perform functions where they need to take complex decisions. If there is a cup on a table, how should it be picked up without spilling it? It’s easy if all cups are identical. The more well-defined the work the robot performs, the easier it is. Robots designed to show care, for example, are very difficult to develop because showing care involves a lot of information and many decisions,” says Professor Sørensen.

The Main Destroyers Of Collagen In The Human Body

Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins. In nature, it is found exclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content, according to Wikipedia.org.

Be it skin, muscle, bone, blood vessels or cartilage, collagen provides a mesh scaffolding for areas of regeneration. It combines with the protein Elastin, proteoglycans Glucosamine and with Chondroitin to keep the skin smooth and wrinkle-free. In order for the body to produce collagen, it needs the raw materials in the form of an adequate diet, especially high in vegetable proteins, sulphur containing foods and vitamin C.

The main destroyers of collagen are the sunlight and the stress.

Prolonged exposure to the strong ultra violet rays of sunlight is known to cause irreparable damage to the collagen fibres in the skin, leading to premature aging and wrinkles. Brown pigmentation and skin cancer are also a direct result of sun damage.

Photo by www.sxc.hu.

How to remedy that: high factor sunscreen, a good moisturiser, Vitamin B PABA (Para amino benzoic acid) 1000mg daily, adequate body cover and a diet rich in antioxidants and vegetable protein. Equally important – keep well hydrated with lots of water.

Prolonged and severe illness or trauma causes the body to overproduce hormones to be released by the pituitary and adrenal glands. This causes a tremendous and rapid breakdown of protein, if the diet is not adjusted. Cells in the lower layers of the skin are destroyed, scar tissue forms and contracts resulting in the wrinkled appearance of the skin.

How to remedy that: a diet rich in protein, vitamins B2, B5, B6 and Vitamin C - which is necessary for the formation of connective tissue – and Vitamin E which is instrumental in preventing scar tissue from becoming irreparable.

The lack of the mineral sulphur means lack of collagen too. Next to calcium and phosphorus, sulphur is the most abundant mineral in the body and vital for the production of collagen and the protein Keratin that makes up hair and nails. Large proportion of these two proteins is made up of sulphur. The organic sulphur occurs as part of the earths natural sulphur cycle. It collects in the stratosphere and falls to earth dissolved in rainwater and is abundantly available in the vegetation such as fresh fruit and vegetables that are grown outside, as well as raw milk from the cows that are pasture fed.

If you want some good supplements to keep the value of collagen in your body, we recommend to visit here.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

In today's fast paced, fast food, quick fix world it is quite reasonable to assume many of us are not consuming the broad spectrum of foods needed to ensure our bodies get the necessary intake of vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, even if you are one of the few that manage to get in a wide variety of foods, it is probable that with the current food processing methods, economical food supply and fast food, they do not contain enough of these nutrients to healthily meet the needed requirements.

Just as the body needs proteins, carbohydrates and fats daily in order to function properly (try starving yourself for a day and see how you feel!), it also needs vitamins and minerals to carry out a whole host of things. Vitamin B for keeping the nervous system healthy, Zinc for protein synthesis and collagen formation, Calcium for bones and teeth and so on and so forth.

Photo by www.sxc.hu.

Vitamins and minerals are needed by the body to function properly. It may not be apparent on a short term basis, but the long term deficiency of vital nutrients inevitably leads to health problems. Just as not getting enough protein, carbohydrates, fats etc. for any long periods of time will make you feel unwell, so will not getting enough of the needed vitamins and minerals. This often becoming evidenced in strange maladies, possible mood swings and other deficiency related illnesses. It is perhaps a little unfortunate that it may take longer to notice the effects of these deficiencies, but with right knowledge and the right supplementation, one does need to fall prey to this apparent oversight and therefore live a healthier, happier lifestyle!

If you want to help support your diet with some good supplements, we recommend you to visit here.

Health & Vitality For The Hair

There is nothing quite like radiant beautiful hair, and though many of us perhaps are not fortunate enough to have that pantene look naturally, there are some points we can address to help. Healthy hair is often a measurement to ones own personal health and vitality. Limp, dull and lifeless hair regardless of how you pamper it can be the result of poor nutrion. More than usual hair loss can also be the result of poor diet, luckily, if this is the case something can be done about it.

Lifeless hair can be a frustrating affair, but it need not be permanent if it is diet related. There can be a variety of factors responsible for hair loss, possibly one of the most common reasons and the easiest to rectify is bad nutrition. If your body is not receiving enough of the right nutriments it needs to repair itself, one of the first areas where you could notice a change will be your hair. Additional causes could be hormonal, hereditary, auto immune response, chemical use and aging.

Photo by thiquinho, www.sxc.hu.

Protein Importance For Healthy Hair:
This is vital for cell renewal and energy creation, especially when the body has to cope with a stressful situation. Under these conditions more protein and B5 than usual is needed by the body. Your protein foods are an excellent source of minerals, amino acids and the B vitamins, all of which are vital for hair growth, especially B5 and B6.

Good Sources:
Oily Fish, lean meat, lambs liver, poultry, all Soya products, cooked eggs, low fat dairy, whole grains, a combination of all legumes and brown rice and nuts are very good sources of protien.

If you want to help support your diet with some good supplements, we recommend to visit here.

Vitamin A For Health And Beauty

Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant that helps the cells to fight off diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. It lowers cholesterol levels and slows down the ageing process.

Used as a crème vitamin A reduces fine lines in skin and helps fade age spots. It also helps skin disorders such as acne.

This vitamin prevents night blindness and other eye problems. It enhances immunity and is needed for skin and mucous membranes. It is also an aid in fat storage and protects against colds, flu and infections of the kidneys, lungs, bladder and mucous membranes. Protein can not be utilised by the body without vitamin A.

Broccoli is a good source for vitamin A. Photo by lockstockb, www.sxc.hu.

Vitamin A deficiencies:
- Dry hair and/or skin;
- Dryness of conjunctiva and cornea;
- Poor growth and/or night blindness;
- Abscesses in the ears;
- Insomnia;
- Fatigue;
- Reproductive difficulties;
- Sinusitis;
- Pneumonia;
- Frequent colds;
- Skin disorders;
- Weight loss.

Sources of vitamin A:
- liver (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish) (21649 μg/IU 433%);
- sweet potato (20870 μg/IU 417%);
- carrot (16705 μg/IU 334%);
- broccoli leaf (800 μg 89%);
- kale (681 μg 76%);
- butter (684 μg 76%);
- spinach (469 μg 52%);
- leafy vegetables;
- pumpkin (369 μg 41%);
- collard greens (333 μg 37%);
- cantaloupe melon (169 μg 19%);
- egg (140 μg 16%);
- apricot (96 μg 11%);
- papaya (55 μg 6%);
- mango (38 μg 4%);
- pea (38 μg 4%);
- broccoli (31 μg 3%);
- winter squash.

Apricots contains vitamin A. Photo by el800cao, www.sxc.hu.

Sources: G&G newsletter; Wikipedia.org.

Vitamin D research into protecting against Swine Flu

Vitamin D has been making headlines recently with a host of benefits from helping to slow ageing, lowering cancer risk, dementia prevention and now tests are underway to see if may also help fight Swine Flu.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has revealed it will be conducting test to check the blood levels of vitamin D of those contracting the ailments of Swine Flu.

An article published in the Toronto Globe and Mail reported that the Public Health Agency of Canada will measure the levels of vitamin D in the blood of H1N1 patients and compare the levels with those of uninfected people.

"A finding of a link to the vitamin would mean that people could reduce the odds of being harmed by the new flu bug by simply popping a low-cost supplement"

"Scientists have long been wondering about a possible connection between vitamin D and influenza because of the striking observations in both the northern and southern hemispheres that flu is mostly a wintertime ailment.".

Photo by mrdisaster, www.sxc.hu

What the body does with Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is required for the absorption and utilisation of Calcium and Phosphorous. It is important for the normal growth of teeth and bones. It is a fat-soluble vitamin and has properties of both vitamin and hormone. In the treatment and prevention of colon and breast cancer, hypocalcemia, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis this vitamin is very important and is also necessary for normal blood clotting and thyroid function.


Vitamin D2 and D3:
D2, or Ergocalciferol unlike D3 (Cholecalciferol) is not produced by the body. It is found in plants in tiny quantity and can be taken as a supplement.
D3 (Cholecalciferol) is the natural source of vitamin D. It is the substance made in large quantities in the skin when sunlight strikes bare skin. It is thought to be the most potent form of vitamin D between the two.
Unfortunately, where the sun is scarce (most notably in the north of England and Scotland) people tend to have major vitamin D deficiencies. This is where supplements can help.

Vitamin D deficiencies:
- Loss of Appetite
- Burning sensation in throat & mouth
- Diarrhoea
- Insomnia
- Visual problems
- Weight Loss

Sources of vitamin D:
- Fish liver oils
- Sardines
- Salmon
- Fatty saltwater fish
- Dairy products and butter
- Egg yokes
- Cod liver oil
- Sweet potatoes and vegetable oils
- Sunlight

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet

Consistent treatment of irritable bowel syndrome IBS helps cut worker absenteeism while improving work productivity, a new study shows.

IBS symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and constipation are associated with impaired quality of life and are the second most common cause of work-related absenteeism, behind the common cold, Canadian researcher, of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, said in a prepared statement.

Bowtrol successfully targets all IBS symptoms without causing side effects of prescription drugs. Bowtrol is the most powerful combination of product on the market and it contains 100% natural ingredients.

Most individuals are surprised to learn they are not alone with symptoms of IBS. In fact, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-20% of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in medical treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines) and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.

Photo by www.sxc.hu.

Sometimes irritable bowel syndrome is referred to as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is generally classified as a "functional" disorder. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function (the way the body works), rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. It characterizes a disorder that generally can not be diagnosed in a traditional way; that is, as an inflammatory, infectious, or structural abnormality that can be seen by commonly used examination, x-ray, or blood test.

Vitamin A For Healthy Skin

Vitamin A is an essential vitamin and is best known for having positive effects on vision. However Vitamin A is just as much important to the largest organ: the skin.

Photo by seer, www.sxc.hu.

Clinical studies have shown vitamin A to have properties that block the absorption of harmful UVA and UVB rays, as well as a stimulating effect on cell regeneration. It has been clinically shown to improve the appearance of striae (stretch marks) and regulate epidermal (skin) cell growth.

Causes of Hair Loss in Women

We lose hair everyday, 100-150 strands actually, simply from brushing and manipulating. If you have long hair, this can look like a lot, but, considering the amount of hair on a head, it’s a tiny amount. If hair is coming out in clumps, or you notice circular patches of balding spots, however, there is definitely a problem, and treatment will be based upon the specific cause.

The following causes should be investigated if you are experiencing more-than-normal hair loss:
1. Diet: An unbalanced diet, especially one without enough protein, can cause temporary hair loss. Women who are anemic often experience loss.

2. Menopause: Because of the change in hormones during this period, hair loss can escalate, and, unfortunately, this can be permanent.

3. Frequent Shampooing: Shampoos contain a lathering ingredient called surfactant. This can be irritating to the scalp and cause itching and scratching, thus increased hair loss.

4. Improper Care: If you manipulate your hair too much, color and treat too much, blow dry and heat with curling irons and hot rollers too much, you will see increased hair loss. You need only to look at your bathroom floor, sink and countertops to notice this. Slow down!

Photo by www.sxc.hu.

5. Psychological/Physiological Stress: Increased hair loss can occur with pregnancies, major surgery, or a major life event, such as a death or divorce. These causes are temporary and hair growth will return to normal eventually.

6. Heredity: Heredity plays a part and comes from both sides of the family.

7. Other Health Conditions: Thyroid problems, lupus, and diabetes can accelerate hair loss. Obviously, these need to be diagnosed by a physician.

8. Alopecia Areata: This is an autoimmune condition characterized by circular patches of baldness. Basically, the body is attacking the hair follicles. Cortisone shots in the affected areas are required, and the earlier the better.

There’s a lot of research going on which may soon resolve most of the causes of hair loss in women.

Menopause Symptoms Can Be Predicted

Study Finds Menopause Symptoms Can Be Predicted

The number of eggs left in a woman's ovaries are like the grains of sand in an hourglass, ticking away the hours on her biological clock.

Researchers now say they may be able to predict when that clock will wind down.

And while doctors can't actually count the number of eggs in an ovary, they can measure ovarian volume. British researchers say there's a direct correlation between the two, and by measuring ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, doctors should be able to predict when menopause will set in and how many fertile years a woman has left.

Photo by Saquan Stimpson.

According to the study authors, this information will revolutionize the care of women looking for assisted reproductive technologies, including those who were treated for childhood cancers as well as women who want to put off starting a family for whatever reason.

Although information still needs to be validated in clinical studies, its benefit is most likely to start with women who are being treated for cancer and women attending fertility clinics, said Tom Kelsey, co-author of the study appearing June 17 in the journal Human Reproduction.

"If women looking for some sort of assisted conception and their physicians know that they've got a long time till menopause, then you could plan for a range of treatments," said Kelsey, who is a senior research fellow at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "If you knew menopause was likely in four to five years, you'd plan a different set of IVF [in vitro fertilization] treatments."

Others reiterate, however, that the findings should be treated with caution.

"Should a young woman who is 30 years old go for a test to figure out whether she's got three, five or 10 years left on her fertility? Should she make career decisions and life decisions? Are these data good enough to make those determinations?" asked Dr. Alan Copperman, director of reproductive medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "The answer is obviously no to all of those questions. The predictive value of this test is not good enough to go and tell someone to change their life."

According to the article, eggs form in a female's ovary while she is still in the womb, peaking at several million about halfway through gestation and then starting a continuous decline. At birth, there are several hundred thousand and, when menstruation begins, about 300,000. At about age 37, a woman has about 25,000 eggs left, and at menopause only about 1,000.

The time at which menopause sets in is widely believed to be based on the number of eggs reaching a critically low threshold.

The authors of this study measured ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, then looked at the relationship between ovarian volume -- ovaries shrink as a woman ages -- and number of eggs. They then applied mathematical and computer models to predict menopause.

The study authors are negotiating with a medical school to set up clinical trials. The idea would be to follow women to see if their predictions were indeed correct.

While these authors have come up with a tool to potentially help women plan their lives, a second study in the same issue of Human Reproduction warned that women might not want to leave it too late. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) could not be relied upon to fully compensate for lack of natural fertility after the age of 35, the article stated.

The authors used a computer simulation model to determine that the overall success rate of assisted reproductive technology would be 30 percent for those attempting to get pregnant from age 30, 24 percent for those trying from age 35, and 17 percent from age 40.

Sources: Tom Kelsey, Ph.D., senior research fellow, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland; Alan Copperman, M.D., director, reproductive medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York.

Healthy Breast Self Exam

Healthy Changes Through Life: Doing a monthly breast self exam is the best way to stay familiar with the cyclical changes in your breasts. You will get to know the territory better than your health care team, and will spot changes easily. Having an annual clinical exam helps document your breast health, so keep a regular appointment set up for that! Between puberty and menopause, your breasts will go through many changes, which are affected by hormones, diet, and exercise. Most of these changes are natural and healthy!

Teen Years (Puberty): In the teen years, with the start of your monthly cycle, your body enters the maturing process, and you gain curves and may notice skin changes (such as acne) and even hair may change color or texture. Breast tissue is developing during this time too, and may be dense and firm to begin with, especially if you are small-breasted.Family Resemblance: At this stage, it’s not too early to know your family health history, so ask your female relatives (mother, aunts, grandmother) if they had any fibrocystic problems with their breasts, or any regular cysts. If so, it’s likely that you may experience those too. Not to worry – cysts are benign – but you want to know where they are, and if they come and go, so they can be distinguished from other features in your breasts.



More Curves and Kids (Childbearing Years): After your body is prepared for motherhood, if you conceive and bear children, and also if you breastfeed the children, that will bring on more changes in your breasts, as well as in the rest of your body. Breasts may become larger and more tender during pregnancy, and may need more support. Don’t neglect your BSE during this time, stay familiar with the changes. Remember that pregnancy and breastfeeding will help combine to lower your risk of breast cancer.

Foto by Caitlinator.

Maturity (Menopause): Menopause also brings changes in your breasts, as your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, your breast tissue may become less firm and may drape differently than during your teen and child-bearing years. Keep up with your breast self exams in these years too, so that the normal changes are familiar to you. Less dense breast tissue will seem to have more lumps and bumps, but remember that 90% of breast lumps are benign.

For more information visit: www.breastactives.com.

About Hair Loss

It is normal to shed hair every day and the truth is we loose between 100-125 hairs on any given day. Hair that is shed falls out at the end of growth cycle. At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called a “resting phase” and after 2-3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair loss than is normal.

As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It’s a normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness.


Photo by Joyseph.

It is characterized by a receding hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand, don’t go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp.

Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a hair does fall out, it is not replaced.

Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss.

While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation.

Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase and no new hair growth is experienced.



Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows or tight rollers that end up pulling on the hair can scar the scalp and cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss.

For more information visit: www.provillus.com.

Unwashed Vegetables Are Dangerous

An unwashed vegetable can become a deadly weapon.

That's the healthy message of the social ads of Elter Drugs.



Source: AdsoftheWorld.com

Alway wash your vegetables in order to win the battle against foodborne illness such as amoebiasis, disentery and cholera.

Vitamin B12 may prevent memory loss

Scientific research reveals B12 may prevent memory loss, announced gandginfo.com.

An article published by the BBC reveals a scientific study into memory loss, and the link possibly caused by low levels of vitamin B12.

A vitamin found in meat, fish and milk may help stave off memory loss in old age, a study has suggested. The study conducted by Oxford University published its findings in the journal of neurology, testing some 107 subjects over a 5 year period.

The Oxford study looked at a group of people between 61 and 87, splitting it into thirds depending on the participants' vitamin B12 levels.

Photo by A. Belani.

Professor David Smith, who directs the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, said he now planned a trial of B vitamins in the elderly to see if taking them could slow brain shrinkage. He said: "This study adds another dimension to our understanding of the effects of B vitamins on the brain - the rate of shrinkage of the brain as we age may be partly influenced by what we eat."

"Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common problem among elderly people in the UK and has been linked to declining memory and dementia."

"This is another example of why it is crucial for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants."

Long-term Effects Of Quitting Smoking

That’s only for 12 hours. What more after a few days?

Well, yes it is more remarkable to note the improvement of your senses, particularly smelling and tasting. You will begin to breathe easier and cleaner and your smoker’s hatch would be gone, however, you may still be coughing every now and then.

See? For only a few days, you have lived a clean life, and have reduced the expenses of the luxury. You will also be free from the addiction you cannot even admit to yourself.

While withdrawing yourself from smoking cigarette or tobacco, you may start to feel worse for some time. But that’s while your body is repairing the damages of your smoking habit.

Photo by nicasaurusrex

Healing is not something that completely happens overnight, not even a small blister in your finger. It does not happen immediately, but it still happens for a few months. If you start to feel some withdrawal symptoms after you have quit smoking, do not be scared because there are symptoms of the process of recovery and it is normal.

Right after the “quitting” process, smokers have reported to amazing changes like temporary weight gain. This is because you may start to feel hunger more often, stress, tired and moody. The hunger is due to the fluid retention of the tongue. You may also start to cough a lot and have troubles in sleeping. But these are all signs that your body, being free from smoke, is starting to rebuild and clean itself from Nicotine, which sticks contain. Usually, Nicotine comes off the body in 2 to 3 days.

The result of quitting? A longer and healthier life ahead. The risks of having heart diseases, bronchitis, stroke, emphysema, and the likes (which may lead to death) are reduced. If worst comes to worse, it may even lead to lung cancer and other more cancers. Cigarette takes 130,000 lives every year from cancer. So think about this.



8 hours after quitting, oxygen level increases. And after 10 years, the death rate from lung cancer is decreased into half.

So, just think about it.

For more information visit: www.smokedeter.com

Some Surprising Healthy Foods

In the column Eating Healthy in Forbes Magazine was announced 10 Surprising Superfoods.
Here's a list with short explanation what they help and photo of each of them, which you need to know:

Avocado
Photo by eek the cat
Avocado can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, it promotes healthy skin and muscle tone, protects against cardiovascular disease and improves bone health. Also helps aid in digestion.

Black Tea
Photo by visualpanic
Not so popular as the green tea, but it is effective in preventing dementia and lowering cholesterol.

Blueberry
Photo by atul666
Blueberry improves brain function. It helps to increase the number of cells in the area of the brain responsible for memory.

Cacao nut
Photo by WordRidden
Cacao nuts help reduce the risk of heart disease and enhance the mood.

Cinnamon
Photo by shioshvili
Cinnamon helps to slow down the rush of sugar to the blood and affects insulin levels and sometimes cause weight gain. It can help delay the onset of aging.

Dark Honey
Photo by Vibrant Spirit
The dark honey heutralizes sugar levels. It helps improve brain and heart functions. It is used to help heal wounds too.

Egg
Photo by cursedthing
An egg contains 1.5 grams of saturated fat in average only. Eggs keep bones strong, aid in heart and brain health, keep hair and nails strong.

Pumpkin
Photo by Tambako the Jaguar
Pumpkins defense against cell damage and can help prevent some eye diseases.

Tomato Paste
Photo by *~sTeRnDaL~*
No-salt tomato paste is a natural blood thinner and a strong defense against certain diseases like prostate cancer.

Wasabi
Photo by Charles Haynes
It's said to help prevent everything from ulcers and tooth decay to blood clots and asthma. It also has antibacterial properties.

The full article and all the advices and researches you may read at Forbes.

European Union Members Want Smoke-free Europe

European Union makes political decisions to prevent smoking in member states.

Passive smoking kills some 80 000 people a year in the EU. But lighting up in public places may become a thing of the past.

Photo by akeg

In a bid to protect people's health, the EU has published a policy paper to drive forward the debate on smoking in public places. A recent survey suggests that this move will be welcome: the vast majority of respondents are in favour of a ban on smoking not only in the workplace but also in bars and restaurants.

All over Europe smokers are feeling the pinch. Ireland set the tone in 2004, with a ban in enclosed public places. Since then the idea has taken off in other EU countries, for example Sweden, Italy, Malta, Spain and Belgium who all enforce various levels of restrictions.

The policy paper puts forward five options: no change, self-regulation, guidelines, EU recommendations and new laws. It concludes that a comprehensive smoke-free policy would bring the greatest health benefit to the population. “The evidence from European countries with comprehensive smoke-free policies is that they work, produce results and are popular” says health commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

The other EU institutions and European countries have until 1 May 2007 to have their say - the commission will then consider the next step.

More press releases of EU are published in europa.eu.

Selenium Helps Anti-Aging

Here are some important facts about the positive effect of Selenium in anti-aging.

Medicinal properties to known:

Selenium is an important mineral, but the body needs a minimum quantities of it. Production and functions of a number of enzymes depend on its availability.

Effectively participate in the fight against some very serious diseases. In combination with vitamin E, it acts as a potent antioxidant.

Together they protect cells from so-called free radicals, which are highly toxic and damage healthy cells. Lately are associated with diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.

Selenium help in poisoning by mercury, cadmium, arsenic and others heavy metals.
Maintain elasticity of the tissues and slow maturing them. Similarly act of the skin, makes it smooth and strong. Selenium counteract the formation of scurf and help in treating it. And Selenium is important for the health of the eyes.

Discover Selenium With Tuna; Photo by avlxyz.

Selenium is particularly important for women in menopause, eases proceed because of hot and cold waves, and some other related inconveniences. Selenium men's positive influence is on the male sexual activity.

Selenium assist the body in its fight with influence and other viral infections. Already there is evidence in favor of the idea that perhaps delayed the development of HIV-virus and AIDS.
Selenium is heavily concentrated in the kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, and for men - in the testicles and around the prostate. Surpluses in the urine is separated and disposed of the body, if not much to adopt.

Selenium may be used as an antioxidant. In some sports it reduces pain in the muscles.
Selenium is available in several forms - entirely synthetic, completely natural and mixed. It is used in some products such as antioxidant.

Recommended Selenium daily intake:

55 micrograms for young people and adults;
20-40 micrograms for infants and children;
60 micrograms for pregnant women and 70 micrograms for breastfeeding;

Beef fillet contains Selenium too. Photo by VirtualErn.

Safe ceiling:

400 micrograms in a longer period of adoption;
600 micrograms for a shorter;
Good food sources for Selenium: kidney and liver, veal, tuna (preserved), lobster, shrimp, oysters, beef fillets, pork, brazil nuts, wheat, oveseni nuts, broccoli and others.

Safety Control:

It is estimated that dose of 600 micrograms Selenuim taken for several consecutive days or from time to time, does not lead to unpleasant consequences.
In case of long-term reception of such a huge dose the organism becomes oversaturated, which may lead to unpleasant consequences.
Large doses of Selenium lead to poisoning, which is characterized by nervousness, depression, nausea and vomiting, thorough sweating, general weakness, fragile hair and nails, colorless skin and others.
As the final result of constant abuse and overdose could be a serious damaged liver.