1. Could U.S. Capitalism Turn Nationalist?
2. I predicted 2020 would be a mess for the U.S. Could that help prevent a second civil war?
3. White Nationalists on the Attack
4. Trump used looted Venezuelan public money to build border wall with Mexico
5. The Rise of Strategic Corruption
6. US Military Confirms Bayonets Were Issued to Troops Responding to George Floyd Protests
7. Dead fish are popping up all along the Hudson River
8. Scientists Confused by Hundreds of Dead Elephants in Mysterious Mass Die-Off
9. Does the key to anti-ageing lie in our bones?
10. It’s not just coronavirus: America repeatedly fails at public health
11. The COVID-19 Pandemic Underscores the Need to Address Structural Challenges of the US Health Care System
12. How Revolutions Happen
13. Employment won’t recover for a decade, CBO says
14. Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History
15. Why the Covid-19 financial crisis will leave lasting scars on Gen Z
16. Profit study on organics yields data;
17. Fourth of July Musings: The Curse of Exceptionalism and the Perils of Patriotism
18. Western Supermarkets Drop Coconut Goods Picked By Slave Monkey
19. Coronavirus pandemic may not have started in China, experts say
20. Heatwave trends accelerate worldwide
21. CRISPR gene editing in human embryos “wreaks chromosomal mayhem” – Nature journal
22. 81 Percent of Clinical Trial Volunteers Suffer Reactions to CanSino Biologics’ COVID-19 Vaccine That Uses HEK293 Human Fetal Cell Lines
23. New Docs: NIH Owns Half of Moderna Vaccine
24. Police, Prisons, and the Pentagon
25. THERE’S A WAR GOING ON OVER KAMALA HARRIS’S WIKIPEDIA PAGE, WITH UNFLATTERING ELEMENTS VANISHING
26. Only bold state intervention will save us from a future owned by corporate giants
27. Some Small Businesses Received Just $1 in Covid-19 Relief Loans as Kushner Family, Wall Street Investors Raked in Millions
28. Tyranny Without a Tyrant: The Deep State’s Divide-and-Conquer Strategy Is Working
29. Unemployment Benefits Should Depend on the Pandemic
30. The Racist Underpinnings of the American Way of War
31. In An Insane World, Madness Looks Moderate And Sanity Looks Radical
32. Pandemic Capitalism
33. FBI EXPANDS ABILITY TO COLLECT CELLPHONE LOCATION DATA, MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA, RECENT CONTRACTS SHOW
34. Navajo Nation faces twin threats as wildfires spread during pandemic
35. A New Scientific Study Provides Evidence of Genetic Manipulation in COVID-19
36. Senator And Former Minnesota Family Doctor Of The Year Being Investigated For Questioning Covid Death Certificates
37. Increase in delirium, rare brain inflammation and stroke linked to COVID-19
38. Groundbreaking Study Shows Shielding EMF Improves Autoimmune Disease
39. At A Sanctuary In Thailand This Pianist Plays Classical Music For Blind And Elderly Elephants
40. Vaccine Bait & Switch: As Millions Pulled From WHO, Trump Gives Billions To Gates-Founded GAVI

Nutrients in microalgae: An environmentally friendly alternative to fish

Martin Luther University (Germany), July 7, 2020

Microalgae could provide an alternative source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids for humans while also being more environmentally friendly to produce than popular fish species. This is the result of a new study by scientists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The study was recently published in the Journal of Applied Phycology and offers an initial indication of the environmental effects of producing microalgae in Germany.

Microalgae have been the focus of several decades of research – initially as a raw material for alternative fuels, but more recently as a source of nutrients in the human diet. They are mainly produced in open ponds in Asia; however, these ponds are at risk of potential contamination. Also, some species of algae are easier to cultivate in closed systems, so-called photobioreactors. “We wanted to figure out whether microalgae produced in photobioreactors in Germany could provide a more environmentally friendly source of essential nutrients than fish,” says Susann Schade from the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences at MLU. Up to now, photobioreactors had usually only been compared to pond cultivation and they often scored worse due to their higher environmental impacts. “However, little research has been done on the precise extent of the environmental impacts of algae produced for human consumption, especially under climatic conditions such as those found in Germany,” adds Schade.

For their study, the researchers developed a model to determine location-specific environmental impacts. “One of the things we did was to compare the carbon footprint of nutrients from microalgae and fish. We also analysed how much both food sources increase the acidification and eutrophication in water bodies,” explains Dr Toni Meier, head of the Innovation Office nutriCARD at MLU. The researchers were able to show that microalgae farming has a similar impact on the environment as fish production. “However, if we compare the environmental effects in relation to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids produced, fish from aquaculture comes off far worse,” says Schade. One advantage of algae cultivation is its low land consumption; even infertile soils can be used. In contrast, both open ponds and the cultivation of feed for aquaculture require very large areas of land. In particular, fish species that are popular in Germany, such as salmon and pangasius, are primarily produced through aquaculture and therefore put the environment under a considerable amount of pressure. However, even fishing wild Alaska pollack had poorer values than microalgae for all environmental indicators.

“Microalgae should not and cannot completely replace fish as a food source. But if microalgae could be established as a common food, it would be another excellent environmentally friendly source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids,” explains Meier. Several algae are already used as a food supplement in powder or tablet form and as an additive to foods such as pasta or cereals. It would be a way to reduce the current gap in the global supply of omega-3 fatty acids. At the same time, it would provide considerable relief to the world’s oceans.

Naturally occurring flavonoid in herbs and vegetables found to induce cancer cell death

Southeast University (China), July 6, 2020

Luteolin is a flavonoid found in many herbs and vegetables that are part of the human diet. Examples of these plant-based foods include chamomile, celery, green peppers and thyme.

Being a widely studied flavonoid, luteolin’s biological activities are well-discussed in several studies. Besides having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, luteolin is perhaps best-known for its anti-cancer activities.

According to a study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, luteolin is able to prevent the development of tumors largely by inactivating chemical signals and gene expression pathways essential for cancer cells.

To explore the influence of luteolin on esophageal cancer cells, researchers at the Southeast University in China recently conducted an in vitro study using Eca 109 cells. Their objective was to determine the mechanisms underlying luteolin’s anti-cancer effects.

The researchers reported their findings in an article published in the journal Food Science and Human Wellness.

Luteolin stops the growth of cancer by inducing cancer cell apoptosis

For their experiment, the researchers exposed Eca 109 cells to different concentrations of luteolin (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 microMolar) for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively, and evaluated its effect on cell proliferation.

They also treated Eca 10 cells with 0, 40, 160 and 240 microMolar luteolin for 24 hours and used flow cytometry to determine its effect on cell cycle progression and apoptosis.

The researchers then analyzed the mRNA and protein expressions of caspase-9 and -3 — two enzymes involved in apoptosis — using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively.

They found that luteolin inhibited the proliferation of Eca 109 cells at all concentrations in a time-dependent manner. The relative inhibition rate showed an inverted U-shaped association with luteolin concentration.

Luteolin also arrested the cell cycle in the S phase and induced apoptosis of Eca 109 cells at 40, 160 and 240 microMolar.

Additionally, the researchers reported that as luteolin concentration increased, its effects changed from promotional to inhibitory — that is, the effect of luteolin on the mRNA and protein expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 first manifested as promotion, then inhibition.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that luteolin kills esophageal carcinoma cells by inducing cell apoptosis via increased expression of caspase-3 and -9.

Long-Term Vegan Meditation Improved Human Gut Microbiota

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, July 3, 2020

Objective. Meditation has been widely used for the treatment of a variety of psychological, cardiovascular, and digestive diseases as well as chronic pain. Vegetarian diets can effectively prevent hypertension, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and certain cancers. Meditation and vegetarian diets have been recognized as components of a healthy lifestyle and have therefore attracted more people around the world. Meditation can help regulate overall health through the neural-endocrine-immune network. Changes in dietary habits can affect the composition of the intestinal flora, which in turn affects human physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function through the bacteria-intestine-brain axis. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of long-term meditation and vegan diet on human intestinal flora.

Materials and Methods. The present study used 16S rDNA sequencing technology to detect the differences in intestinal flora between 12 healthy vegan subjects receiving long-term meditation training and 12 healthy omnivorous subjects who never received any meditation training.

Results. The results showed that, compared with the subjects in the omnivorous healthy control group who had never received any meditation training, the intestinal flora structure in the people who followed the long-term vegan meditation practices changed significantly. The intersection set between the results of the LEfSe analysis and the Wilcoxon rank sum test includes 14 bacterial genera. These 14 genera are defined as the dominant genera, and the AUC value was 0.92 in the ROC curve, which demonstrates that the 14 genera can be used as a biomarker to distinguish the two groups. Three beneficial bacteria genera (Bifidobacterium, Roseburia, and Subdoligranulum) were significantly enriched in the meditation group with a threshold of 4, according to the LDAs. The functional prediction of differentially enriched intestinal flora showed that the metabolism of tyrosine, propionate, niacin, and nicotinamide in the intestinal micro-organisms in the meditation group was significantly reduced compared with those in the control group, while the biosynthesis of flavones, flavone alcohols, butosin, and neomycin; flavonoid-mediated oocyte maturation; cytoskeleton protein pathways; and antigen processing and presentation were significantly enhanced.

Conclusions. These results indicate that long-term vegan meditation plays a positive role in improving the body’s immunity and adjusting endocrine and metabolic levels, enabling the body to be in a state of good health

Antioxidants in corn line could aid human IBD protection, therapy

Penn State University, July 7, 2020

Flavonoids from a specific line of corn act as anti-inflammatory agents in the guts of mice with an inflammatory-bowel-disease-like condition, according to a team of researchers who said flavonoid-rich corn should be studied to determine its potential to provide a protective effect on human health.

The researchers bred a novel line of corn at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center to produce compounds called flavan-4-ols. The team then conducted an experiment with mice to judge the effect of those powerful antioxidant compounds on induced inflammation of the colon.

“In this study, we utilized two corn lines—one containing flavan-4-ols and one lacking flavan-4-ols—to investigate the anti-inflammatory property of that flavonoid,” said Surinder Chopra, professor of maize genetics in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State. “They are near isogenic lines, meaning that their genetic makeups are identical except for a few specific genetic loci that are responsible for generation of the flavonoids.”

According to the researchers, inflammatory bowel disease, often referred to as IBD, is a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition that awaits safe and effective preventive strategies. Naturally occurring flavonoid compounds are promising therapeutic candidates against IBD due to their great antioxidant potential and ability to reduce inflammation and leaky gut syndrome.

A growing number of epidemiological studies show that diets rich in fruits and vegetables, which contain a significant amount of flavonoids, have been associated with reduced risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, naturally occurring flavonoids are safer than standard drugs.

In the study, researchers obtained seeds for an inbred corn line from the National Seed Storage Laboratory at Fort Collins, Colorado, and for a corn genetic stock containing genes required for the flavonoid pathway. After back-crossing the plants, the resulting hybrid possesses a higher antioxidant capacity than conventional lines—a promising trait that could be introduced into elite cultivars to increase dietary benefits, according to Chopra.

Mice in the study with the induced-IBD syndrome were divided into four groups. One group was fed a control, or standard, diet. The second and third groups’ diets were supplemented with corn containing flavan-4-ols at 15% and 25%. The fourth group was fed a diet supplemented with a genetically related corn that did not contain the flavonoids.

In findings recently published in Nutrients, researchers reported that mice consuming a corn-based diet with flavan-4-ols exhibited alleviated IBD-like symptoms resulting from the protective effect of flavonoids against colonic inflammation by restoring intestinal barrier function. The study, spearheaded by Binning Wu and Rohil Bhatnagar, doctoral candidates in Penn State’s Department of Plant Science, provides a rationale for breeding for flavonoid-enriched cultivars for better dietary benefits.

The idea that flavonoids coming from grains may promote human health is a new one, noted Lavanya Reddivari, assistant professor of food science at Purdue University, who helped guide the study. She and Chopra began collaborating on research related to antioxidant compounds in crop plants about five years ago when she was a faculty member at Penn State.

“Most of the epidemiological studies focus on flavonoid-enriched fruits, especially berries,” she said. “However, grains contain a high concentration of bound flavonoids that are thought to exert better antioxidant activity and prolonged presence in systemic circulation, compared to free-form flavonoids, due to their slower and continuous release during digestion and microbial fermentation. These results suggest the feasibility of a human intervention study with flavonoid-rich corn to investigate its protective effects.”

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) reverses gemcitabine-resistant gastric cancer

Northeast Normal University (China), July 6, 2020

According to news originating from Changchun, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), as one of the main ingredients of green tea, has been reported to have potential prevention on a variety of solid tumors. However, the system-wide molecular mechanisms targeted of EGCG’s anti-tumor effect has not been illustrated.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Northeast Normal University, “Here, AGS and SGC7901 GC cells were used to investigate the EGCG-mediated change of gene expression. Our data showed that EGCG retarded cell growth and promoted cell death of GC in dose-dependent manner. Analyses based on transcription, translation as well as function was performed explore the elusive anticancer role of EGCG. Of them, cell cycle was probably implicated key pathway of EGCG. Besides, our data revealed numerous LncRNAs activated after EGCG treatment. In this study, LINC00511 was discovered to be suppressed by EGCG and highly expressed in GC cells and tissues. What is more, enhanced level of LINC00511 was demonstrated in GC I/II along with III/IV stages. Knockdown of LINC00511 inhibited cell growth but promoted cell death ratio in GC. Additionally, our data suggested LINC0051 could decrease the expression of miR-29b, followed by inducing GC development. Knockdown of miR-29b recovered the effects of LINC00511 silencing. In addition, we found overexpression of KDM2A, a target of miR-29b, would rescue level of LINC00511.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “All the data showed that the LINC00511/miR-29b/KDM2A axis can be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for GC.”

As REM sleep declines, life span suffers

Stanford University, July 7, 2020

Deep sleep is essential for good health, and too little of it may shorten your life, a new study suggests.

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is when dreams occur and the body repairs itself from the ravages of the day. For every 5% reduction in REM sleep, mortality rates increase 13% to 17% among older and middle-aged adults, researchers report.

“Numerous studies have linked insufficient sleep with significant health consequences. Yet, many people ignore the signs of sleep problems or don’t allow enough time to get adequate sleep,” said lead researcher Eileen Leary. She is a senior manager of clinical research at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

“In our busy, fast-paced lives, sleep can feel like a time-consuming nuisance. This study found in two independent cohorts that lower levels of REM sleep was associated with higher rates of mortality,” she said.

How REM sleep is associated with risk of death isn’t known, Leary said. Also, this study couldn’t prove that poor REM causes death, only that it’s associated with an increased risk of dying early.

“The function of REM is still not well understood, but knowing that less REM is linked to higher mortality rates adds a piece to the puzzle,” she said.

It’s still too early to make recommendations about improving REM sleep based on this study, Leary said.

“As we learn more about the relationship, we can begin looking at ways to optimize REM. But that is outside the scope of this project,” she said.

For the study, Leary and her colleagues included more than 2,600 men, average age 76, who were followed for a median of 12 years. They also collected data on nearly 1,400 men and women, average age 52, who were part of another study and were followed for a median of 21 years.

Poor REM sleep was tied to early death from any cause as well as death from cardiovascular and other diseases, the researchers found.

REM sleep’s links to mortality were similar in both groups.

“REM sleep appears to be a reliable predictor of mortality and may have other predictive health values,” Leary said. “Strategies to preserve REM may influence clinical therapies and reduce mortality risk, particularly for adults with less than 15% of REM sleep.”

Previous studies have focused on total sleep time and have shown that both not enough total sleep and too much total sleep can be associated with increased risk of dying early, said Dr. Michael Jaffee, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“When we sleep, we go through different stages to include REM sleep. REM describes our eye movements during this stage and is also the state associated with when we have dreams,” he said.

This study shows that it is not just total sleep time that may be important, but assuring the right balance of the different stages of sleep, said Jaffee, who co-authored an editorial that accompanied the study.

Neurologists need to look for conditions affecting patients, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that can reduce REM, and doctors should also be aware that certain medications they prescribe can reduce REM, he said.

The study also opens up additional avenues for research to determine if scientists should focus on treatments that affect not just total sleep but target sleep stage balance, Jaffee said.

“This study shows yet another reason for the importance of proper sleep time—recommendations for adults is seven hours—and a good balance of sleep stages by assuring that any possible conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that can cause a reduction in REM be evaluated and managed,” he said.

“Anyone with difficulty with sleeping or with loud snoring can benefit from discussing this with their physician,” Jaffee added.

The report was published online July 6 in JAMA Neurology.

Olive oil polyphenols improve cardiovascular markers for young healthy men

University of Barcelona (Spain), July 9, 2020

Polyphenols from olive oil may reduce LDL cholesterol levels and the build-up of LDL in the arterial walls (LDL atherogenicity) in healthy young men, says a new study from Europe.

Young male volunteers consuming polyphenol-rich olive oil displayed a 12% reduction in total LDL particles, compared with a 5% increase in men consuming a low-polyphenol olive oil, according to findings published in the Journal of Nutrition .

The polyphenol-rich olive oil was also associated with a reduction in the atherogenicity of LDL, which was measured by a decrease in small LDL particles and enhanced resistance of LDL against oxidation, said the researchers.

“The present work shows that 3-week consumption of olive oil polyphenols decreased LDL concentrations and LDL atherogenicity in vivo and reveals, to date, some of the most considerable decreases in the number of total and small LDL particles that have been reported in humans due to dietary bioactive compounds,” they wrote.

Study details

The results were obtained from a randomized, cross-over controlled trial in a subset of participants in the EUROLIVE (Effect of Olive Oil Consumption on Oxidative Damage in European Populations) study. European men aged between 20 and 59 were randomly assigned to receive 25 mL of either a low or high polyphenol olive oil every day for three weeks. The polyphenol doses of the low and high groups were 2.7 mg/kg and 366 mg/kg, respectively.

Results showed that LDL concentrations, as measured by apolipoprotein B-100 levels and the total number of LDL particles, decreased in the high-polyphenol group, compared to baseline, and these changes were significant compared to those observed in the low-dose group. In addition, significant decreases in atherogenicity were also observed in the high-dose group, with the LDL oxidation lag time increasing by 5.0%.

“LDLs are […] associated with early atherosclerosis and high cardiovascular risk and were directly related to a greater incidence of cardiovascular events in some studies,” explained the researchers.  “In our data, the number of small LDL particles decreased by 15.3% after the consumption of olive oil polyphenols. This decrease was greater when there was a higher adherence to the [high polyphenol content olive oil] intervention.”

Elucidating the mechanism

Using another 18 men from the bigger EUROLIVE study, the researchers assessed the expression of genes to produce lipoprotein lipase. Results of this study showed that gene expression increased by 26% from baseline after consumption of the high-polyphenol olive oil, while no changes were observed in the low polyphenol olive oil group.

“[I]ncreases in the expression of LPL may help the organism to decrease concentrations of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (e.g., LDL), because LPL is the main enzyme involved in the removal of triglycerides from the blood and presents some LDL receptor activity,” explained the researchers.

The potential antioxidant activity of the polyphenols in olive oil may also be behind the results observed, noted the researchers, which would decrease the oxidation of LDL and reduce the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

“In conclusion, the consumption of olive oil polyphenols decreased LDL concentrations directly measured as concentrations of apo B-100 and the total number of LDL particles,” they wrote. “The consumption of olive oil polyphenols also decreased LDL atherogenicity, as reflected in the smaller number of small LDL particles and enhanced LDL resistance against oxidation.

“An improved oxidative status and an increased gene expression of LPL may contribute to explain these changes. These data support previous evidence indicating that olive oil polyphenols can contribute highly to the control of cardiovascular risk.”

 

Desk-based jobs may offer protection against poor cognition in later life

Cambridge University (UK), July 7, 2020

People who work in jobs that require less physical activity – typically office and desk-based jobs – are at a lower risk of subsequent poor cognition than those whose work is more physically active, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge.

Lack of physical activity and exercise are known risk factors for major health conditions, including cognitive impairments such as memory and concentration problems. However, evidence as to whether physical activity actually protects against cognitive decline has often been mixed and inconclusive.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge examined patterns of physical activity among 8,500 men and women who were aged 40-79 years old at the start of the study and who had a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and educational attainment. The individuals were all part of the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort. In particular, the team were able to separate physical activity during work and leisure to see if these had different associations with later life cognition.

“The often used mantra ‘what is good for the heart, is good for the brain’ makes complete sense, but the evidence on what we need to do as individuals can be confusing,” said Shabina Hayat from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge. “With our large cohort of volunteers, we were able to explore the relationship between different types of physical activity in a variety of settings.”

As part of the study, participants completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, including information on the level of physical activity during both work and leisure, and underwent a health examination. After an average 12 years, the volunteers were invited back and completed a battery of tests that measured aspects of their cognition, including memory, attention, visual processing speed and a reading ability test that approximates IQ.

While many studies have only been able to report cross-sectional findings, the ability to follow up EPIC-Norfolk participants over a long period allowed the researchers to examine data prospectively. This helped them rule out any bias resulting from people with poor cognition – possibly as a result of cognitive impairment or early dementia – being less likely to be physically active due to poor cognition, rather than poor cognition being a result of physical inactivity.

Among their findings, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers report:

• Individuals with no qualifications were more likely to have physically active jobs, but less likely to be physically active outside of work.
• A physically inactive job (typically a desk-job), is associated with lower risk of poor cognition, irrespective of the level of education. Those who remained in this type of work throughout the study period were the most likely to be in the top 10% of performers.
• Those in manual work had almost three times increased risk of poor cognition than those with an inactive job.

“Our analysis shows that the relationship between physical activity and cognitive is not straightforward,” explained Hayat. “While regular physical activity has considerable benefits for protection against many chronic diseases, other factors may influence its effect on future poor cognition.

“People who have less active jobs – typically office-based, desk jobs – performed better at cognitive tests regardless of their education. This suggests that because desk jobs tend to be more mentally challenging than manual occupations, they may offer protection against cognitive decline.”

It was not possible to say conclusively that physical activity in leisure time and desk-based work offer protection against cognitive decline. The researchers say that to answer this question, further studies will be required to include a more detailed exploration of the relationship of physical activity with cognition, particularly on inequalities across socio-economic groups and the impact of lower education.

 

Taking vitamin D by oral spray just as effective as taking a tablet

University of Sheffield (UK), June 23, 2020

Taking vitamin D by oral spray is just as effective as taking a tablet, and many users find sprays easier to take and more convenient.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield partnered with industry to conducts a head-to-head clinical trial comparing the rate of change of vitamin D status in response to a vitamin D3 (3000IU per day) dose, in both capsule and oral spray (sublingual) methods of delivery.

Healthy volunteers took vitamin D over the course of six weeks in 2017 during the height of winter – a time when many people’s stores from the summer months are depleted.

Published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition the study concluded that the oral spray method of vitamin D was equally effective as taking a capsule and supported the same rate of improvement in vitamin D levels amongst the trial volunteers.

Dr Bernard Corfe, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Gastroenterology at the University of Sheffield and Principal Investigator for the trial, said: “All participants achieved adequate levels of vitamin D after just 21 days of using an oral spray, with those individuals who were considered severely deficient at the beginning of the trial (with levels lower than 25(OH)D) experiencing the most effective uptake of the supplement.”

A 2016 Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report, highlighted the need for all UK adults and children to take a vitamin D supplement throughout the winter months, and the National Institute for Health Care Excellence extended this recommendation for children and young people to take a vitamin D supplement all year round.

“Vitamin D is essential to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy, and is especially important for children’s development,” Dr Corfe added. “It’s difficult for people to get enough vitamin D through their diet, and during the winter the sun isn’t strong enough to help the body boost its levels.

“There is now more awareness of the need for people to supplement their vitamin D, but only around 40% of adults in the UK are considered to have sufficient levels. So this research is the opportunity to highlight the importance of this essential vitamin in supporting overall health, and in providing a valuable alternative source for those who may struggle to, or prefer not, to take tablets.”

Of the participants that expressed a preference, 70% said they preferred taking vitamin D by an oral spray for ease of use and better taste.

Dr Corfe said: “Often people can forget, or don’t want to take a daily supplement, especially those who take multiple medications. Children and people who have trouble swallowing due to medical conditions also can also have difficulty taking tablets, so to find that a spray is just as effective at raising people’s vitamin D levels provides a real alternative for those whose vitamin D levels are low.”

 

The adjunctive effect of intravenous magnesium in acute exacerbation of COPD: a randomized controlled trial

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran), July 1, 2020

According to news reporting originating from Mashhad, Iran, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is a serious event during the natural course of the disease.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, “Despite many clinical trials on the management of AECOPD, treatment has not changed significantly during the past decades. Intravenous (IV) magnesium sulfate (MgS04) has been proposed to enhance the bronchodilator effects of inhaled beta2-agonists. Magnesium is involved in many enzymatic processes. It relaxes bronchial smooth muscles through its calcium channel blocking properties and inhibitory effects on the release of acetylcholine from neuromuscular junctions.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “It also exerts anti-inflammatory effects by attenuating the respiratory neutrophil burst and decreasing histamine release from mast cells.”

Using Qigong to manage COVID-19 in older adults

Massachusetts General Hospital,  May 25, 2020

A recent study published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry in May 2020 reports on the possible usefulness of the integrative practice called Qigong to prevent and manage COVID-19 in older adults.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused the COVID-19 pandemic that first began in Wuhan, China, has now spread to over 188 countries and territories, with a staggering 5.4 million cases and over 344,000 deaths so far. Disease trends show that the disease is more severe in older people as well as individuals suffering from pre-existing medical conditions.

Alternative Remedies for COVID-19

In the absence of an effective vaccine or specific therapeutic drug, researchers are exploring a host of possibilities, from drugs that block inflammatory pathways like tocilizumab to antivirals like remdesivir. However, practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine are not to be left behind.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Qigong are reported to have been valuable in controlling the spread of the pandemic in China. The National Health Commission of China has recommended the Chinese herbal decoction Qingfei Paidu for mild to moderate COVID-19. The same herbs were used in conjunction with Western medicine to treat severe COVID-19 disease.

In field hospitals set up to isolate patients with mild disease, rather than practice home quarantine, patients were treated with Ba Duan Jin Qigong under the tutelage of TCM practitioners. This was both a valuable means of exercise and a therapeutic approach.

COVID-19 is a viral infection which, however, becomes severe due to both immunosuppression and the cytokine storm syndrome. Patients with severe disease may rapidly develop severe respiratory difficulty. Once they recover, they may need rehabilitative management, including training of the respiratory muscles, whole-body exercise, and mental rehabilitation.

Gut bacteria improve type 2 diabetes risk prediction

Technical University of Munich, July 6, 2020

The microbial composition of the intestines is complex and varies widely from one individual to another. Many factors such as environmental factors, lifestyle, genetics or illnesses affect the intestinal ecosystem of helpful gut bacteria.

Dirk Haller, Professor for Nutrition and Immunology at TUM, and his team have examined the importance of daytime-dependent fluctuations of the gut microbiome in relation to type 2 diabetes; they present their study encompassing more than 4000 people and it is the first study in this field based on a large prospective human cohort.

The relationship between gut bacteria and medical conditions

“In order to see whether changes in the gut microbiome allow conclusions about medical conditions, so-called prospective cohort studies are required,” explained Prof. Haller.

In these prospective cohort studies, a cross section of the population is being observed; however, none of the participants showed any signs of disease. This population is being re-examined over time. This way, researchers can find out whether a certain observation may be typical for future occurrences of diseases.

Diagnosis and outlook of type 2 diabetes may be improved

“When certain gut bacteria do not follow a day-night rhythm, so if their number and function does not change over the course of the day, this can be an indicator for a potential type 2 diabetes disease. Knowing this can improve diagnosis and outlook of type 2 diabetes,” said Chronobiologist Dr. Silke Kiessling, another contributor to the study.

These arrhythmic bacteria – those that are not changing between day and night – are a marker for potential disease. Researchers refer to this as a risk signature. “Mathematical models also show that this microbial risk signature consisting of arrhythmic bacteria helps diagnosing diabetes,” explained Sandra Reitmeier, first author on the study.

Primarily, the scientists analyzed data from an existing independent cohort by Helmholtz Zentrum München. The diabetes-related results were validated using additional cohorts from Germany. “By comparing our data to cohorts in England, we could confirm that there is – among other things – a strong regional factor affecting the microbial ecosystem. Therefore, there is a demand for finding locally specified arrhythmic risk signatures,” elaborated Haller.

Nutritionist Haller emphasizes that “apart from bacteria and their variations over the course of the day, other parameters such as the body mass index play a role in being able to better predict a person’s future medical conditions.”

Intestinal bacteria’s day and night rhythm as starting point for further research

Registering the time of day when taking human fecal samples for research purposes can heavily influence disease diagnostics. “Documenting these timestamps is essential for improving risk markers,” Prof. Haller emphasizes.

This research substantiates the hypothesis that changes in the microbiome have an effect of nutrition-related diseases. How gut bacteria changing (or not changing) during the day affect other microbiome-associated diseases such as Crohn’s disease or intestinal cancer may be subject to further scientific examination.

The results of this study are of particular importance for further work in the Collaborative Research Center of “Microbiome Signatures” (https://www.sfb1371.tum.de/), as cohort studies offer valuable possibilities of comparing data of healthy and ill subjects, particularly in the context of clinical studies.

Walking along blue spaces such as beaches or lakes benefits mental health

New study identifies benefits to mood and well-being associated with short, frequent walks near bodies of water

Barcelona Institute for Global Health, July 6, 2020

Short, frequent walks in blue spaces–areas that prominently feature water, such as beaches, lakes, rivers or fountains–may have a positive effect on people’s well-being and mood, according to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation.

The study, conducted within the BlueHealth project and published in Environmental Research, used data on 59 adults. Over the course of one week, participants spent 20 minutes each day walking in a blue space. In a different week, they spent 20 minutes each day walking in an urban environment. During yet another week, they spent the same amount of time resting indoors. The blue space route was along a beach in Barcelona, while the urban route was along city streets. Before, during and after each activity, researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure and heart rate and used questionnaires to assess their well-being and mood.

“We saw a significant improvement in the participants’ well-being and mood immediately after they went for a walk in the blue space, compared with walking in an urban environment or resting,” commented Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal and coordinator of the study. Specifically, after taking a short walk on the beach in Barcelona, participants reported improvements in their mood, vitality and mental health.

The authors did not identify any cardiovascular health benefits, although they believe this may be due to the design of the study. “We assessed the immediate effects of taking a short walk along a blue space,” commented ISGlobal researcher Cristina Vert, lead author of the study. “Continuous, long-lasting exposure to these spaces might have positive effects on cardiovascular health that we were not able to observe in this study.”

The Importance of the Environment on Health

“Our results show that the psychological benefits of physical activity vary according to the type of environment where it is carried out, and that blue spaces are better than urban spaces in this regard,” commented Vert.

Numerous ISGlobal studies have identified health benefits associated with green spaces, including lower risk of obesity, better attention capacities in children and slower physical decline in older adults. The new study provides evidence showing that blue spaces are an environment favourable to mental health.

“According to the United Nations, 55% of the global population now lives in cities,” explained Nieuwenhuijsen. “It is crucial to identify and enhance elements that improve our health–such as blue spaces–so that we can create healthier, more sustainable and more liveable cities

Are the brain health benefits of B vitamins dependent on omega-3 levels?

Oxford University (UK), July 6, 2020

B vitamins may protect against age-related brain wasting, but only in people with high omega-3 levels, says a new study from the University of Oxford that extends our understanding of how nutrients work together.

Data from the VITACOG trial indicated that high-dose B vitamin supplementation slowed brain wasting (atrophy) in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by 40% but only when omega-3 levels were already high.

On the other hand, in people with low blood levels of omega-3, supplements of folic acid plus vitamins B6 and B12 had no beneficial effect, according to results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition .

In an accompanying editorial, Imrich Blasko from Innsbruck Medical University in Austria wrote that, even with the study’s small number of participants and the need for the findings to be repeated, the study has “important implications”.

‘Tightening the link between omega-3s and B-vitamin metabolism’

It also found a link between B vitamins, omega-3 and homocysteine, an amino acid linked to suspected or confirmed dementia. Tissue and plasma concentrations of homocysteine are known to be determined by vitamin B status, as they are cofactors for enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism.

Intervention studies with B vitamins have yielded disappointing results in people with MCI or dementia, but the new data suggests that omega-3 status is also vitally important.

“[T]he findings tighten the link between omega-3 fatty acids and B-vitamin metabolism,” wrote Blasko. “The mechanism by which omega -3 fatty acids are thought to exert their protective effect is by stimulating neurite outgrowth and reducing reactive oxygen species production. It appears that a sufficient B-vitamin status and low homocysteine concentrations are required for an optimal utilization and distribution of omega -3 fatty acids.

“Second, these data may improve our understanding in identifying elderly persons who could benefit from supplementation with B vitamins and/or omega-3 fatty acids.

“In this context, it is important to note that the annual conversion rate from MCI to dementia varies between 5% and 10% and most people with MCI will not progress to dementia even after 10 years of follow-up. We still do not know whether higher homocysteine concentrations predict conversion. The double-blind period of the VITACOG trial ended about five years ago and a report on the conversion rates to dementia in this population is eagerly awaited.”

‘An exciting finding’

Commenting on the study’s findings Harry Rice, PhD, VP of regulatory & scientific affairs for the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), told us: “That brain atrophy rates were lowest in those with the highest plasma omega-3 levels is clearly an exciting finding. Pending confirmatory results, this could lead to nutrition recommendations with a widespread impact on the aging population.

“While the authors alluded to it, they never came out and said it, but the results from this research provide further evidence that we need to be cognizant of a full range of nutrients, not just one.”

Study details

Brain functioning is known to naturally decline as we age, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional state when small changes in memory and other mental abilities coexist with normal functioning. Such declines in functions are often a warning sign of dementia – a term used to describe various different brain disorders that a progressive loss of brain functioning in common.

Led by Fredrik Jernerén, the researchers performed a retrospective analysis of data from the VITACOG trial of 168 elderly people over the age of 70 who had been randomized to receive either placebo or daily B vitamin supplements (0.8 mg folic acid, 20 mg B6, and 0.5 mg B12, TrioBe Plus; Meda AB/Recip AB) for two years.

Results showed that there was a significant interaction between the supplemental B vitamins and plasma omega-3 (EPA + DHA) levels on brain wasting rates.

The highest average omega-3 levels at the start of the study, defined as greater than 590 micromoles per liter, had a 40% slowed rate of atrophy compared with placebo, said the researchers, but no association was observed for the lowest average omega-3 levels, defined as less than 390 micromoles per liter.

“[W]e have shown that the effect of B vitamin supplementation on brain atrophy rates depends on pre-existing plasma omega-3 fatty acid concentrations; this finding could possibly explain why some B vitamin trials on brain function have failed,” wrote the researchers. “Conversely, our results suggest that homocysteine status may also determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cognitive decline and dementia and so could explain why some trials of omega-3 fatty acids have failed.

“Altogether, our results emphasize the importance of identifying subgroups in clinical trials.”

Study Finds Link Between Low Dietary Magnesium and High Blood Pressure

University of Hertfordshire, July 3, 2020

The University of Hertfordshire issued the following news:

University of Hertfordshire research suggests that low dietary intake of magnesium increases the risk of hypertension.

Previous research has shown that magnesium intake can help to reduce blood pressure but to date there has been little evidence to show that those who have high blood pressure have a diet that is low in magnesium.

The study found that habitual daily dietary magnesium intake in people with high blood pressure was lower than that ingested by the general population and also lower than the recommended nutritional intake in both the UK and US.

Women with high blood pressure had a significantly lower intake of dietary magnesium than the general healthy population and daily intake appeared to also significantly reduce with age.

Overall all study participants, whether or not they had high blood pressure, had a significantly lower dietary magnesium intake than reference nutrient intake suggested in both the UK and US.

Habitually low magnesium diet

The research, carried out by Lindsy Kass and colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire, is one of the first studies to investigate whether those with diagnosed hypertension habitually eat a diet low in magnesium, a micro nutrient that has been shown to benefit hypertension. There have been no previous assessments of habitual dietary magnesium intake in those clinically diagnosed as hypertensive.

For the study, 25 people diagnosed with primary hypertension (HT) and 21 normotensives (NT), without the condition were recruited from the same geographical area. Food diaries were completed and analysed to determine average daily magnesium intake. An external control of the general UK population (GP) aged 19 years and over was also established from data provided by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Average daily magnesium intake established from the food diaries was compared between the HT, NT and GP groups and also compared to both the UK and US recommended daily nutritional intake of magnesium.

Overall all study participants had a significantly lower dietary magnesium intake than recommended guidelines levels in both the UK and US.

The dietary magnesium intake for hypertensive men was significantly lower than in the general population. However, in hypertensive women dietary magnesium intake was significantly lower than the group of non-sufferers (NT) as well as the recommended guideline levels.

Intake reduces with age

The data was further analysed for all participants, with or without hypertension, to determine changes of magnesium intake with age. It was found that there was a significant difference between the age groups, with intake decreasing with age. In women there was a reduction of over 100 mg/day between all participants aged 51 – 64 and those aged over 65, giving a 37% reduction in magnesium intake with age.

With the exception of women in the 51 – 65 age group, all age groups consumed magnesium below the recommended nutritional intake (RNI) with the lowest intake in the over 65s.

Preventing costly drug intervention

Lindsy Kass said: “Magnesium (Mg) is a key factor in blood pressure regulation and our study suggests that not only can low dietary magnesium intake lead to hypertension but that worryingly, dietary magnesium intake is at lower than currently recommended levels across the board. Though recommended levels in the US are higher than the UK, the real issue lies with dietary intake and not with the recommendations themselves.

“It is important to understand how dietary magnesium impacts blood pressure as that way we can push initiatives to increase knowledge and awareness of this micronutrient, which may help to reduce blood pressure in the UK and subsequently save the NHS money on costly drug intervention. Figures show that by reducing the blood pressure of the nation as a whole, Pounds850 million of NHS and social care costs could be avoided over 10 years. Further, if 15% more people currently being treated for high blood pressure could control it better a further Pounds120 million could be saved.”

The study appears in the World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Food based carotenoids may lower lung cancer risk: Study

Montreal University, July 4, 2020

People consuming the highest intakes of carotenoids and vitamin C from fruit and vegetable sources may reduce their risk of lung cancer by 25%-35%, suggests a study in Frontiers in Oncology.

The research team from Montreal University also found that smokers, particularly males, who consume high quantities of fruit and vegetables, also reduce their risk.

“In our study, high dietary intakes of β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and vitamin C were associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer,” wrote Martine Shareck, lead author.

The risk reductions of 25-35% were irrespective of age, gender or smoking status.

Gender effect in smokers

When results were analysed by different levels of smoking history, the protective effects were more gender specific.

“Odds ratios (OR) suggestive of a protective effect were found for elevated intakes of β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene in male heavy smokers,” noted the team.

By contrast, only vitamin C provided a significant benefit in female heavy smokers.

Nevertheless, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene indicated protection in female moderate smokers.

For the two latter carotenoids, statistical significance was only reached for the middle tertile of carotenoid intake, rather than the highest.

Study details

Using data from a case control study of lung cancer, scientists examined the relationship between intakes of dietary carotenoids and vitamin C with lung cancer risk.

They calculated carotenoid intakes using food frequency questionnaires of participants’ fruit and vegetable consumption during the previous two years.

Intakes were divided into tertiles, and the risk reductions of 25%-35% compare upper versus lower tertile intakes.

The study also found a link between higher carotenoid intake and decreased cell development in different subtypes of cancer.

Beta-carotene, α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and vitamin C were inversely related to progression of squamous cell carcinoma.

Alpha-carotene and ß-carotene slowed adenocarcinoma cell growth, while ß-cryptoxanthin and lycopene show inverse associations with small cell carcinoma development.

Contrasting findings

The findings contrasted with two previous large randomised controlled trials, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) , and the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study.

Both concluded that β-carotene supplementation increased lung cancer risk in smokers, particularly females, with the latter recommending, “Smokers should avoid β-carotene supplementation.”

The researchers suggested that contrasting results could be because carotenoids in this study were from dietary fruit and vegetable consumption whereas in the CARET and ATBC trials they were supplement based.

“Fruits and vegetables containing carotenoids and vitamin C are also rich in other nutrients and phytochemicals which could be responsible for their observed protective role against lung cancer.”

In conclusion, they added, “even though smoking remains the strongest predictor of lung cancer risk, it appears desirable, in light of these findings, to further promote consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids and vitamin C to reduce the lung cancer burden among both smokers and non-smokers.”

Source: Frontiers in Oncology

 

Antioxidants could help protect against stroke-related increase in dementia

University of Oradea (Romania), July 03 2020.

 An article recently published in CNS & Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets suggested a potential benefit for the administration of antioxidants following ischemic stroke to help protect against an associated increase in the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer disease.

“To date there is growing evidence of the association of vascular risk factors like hypertension, high cholesterol levels or diabetes mellitus with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease,” noted authors Anamaria Jurcau and Aurel Simion of the University of Oradea. “Unfortunately, simply managing these risk factors had little effect in reducing the incidence of dementia. These factors, however, strongly increase the risk of a patient to suffer an ischemic stroke and incident stroke approximately doubles the risk of dementia.”

The destruction of neurons that occurs up to two weeks following ischemic stroke is caused by the initiation of apoptosis (programmed cell death), in which oxidative species play a role. Oxidative species are quenched by antioxidant compounds.

A 2019 study that included more than 10,000 participants revealed than an antioxidant known as edaravone administered within 48 hours following endovascular revascularization in patients with acute ischemic stroke was associated with a decreased risk of in-hospital mortality and greater independence at hospital discharge. Another study, reported at the International Stroke Conference 2020, found that nerinetide, a molecule that lowers intracellular nitric oxide (an oxidative species) during ischemia, improved the outcome of ischemic stroke patients who underwent blood clot retrieval.

The authors suggested that Alzheimer disease develops slowly with aging and the presence of established vascular risk factors, but the burst in oxidative stress that follows a stroke accelerates the development of dementia. Further investigation of this hypothesis may provide greater support for antioxidant treatment in acute ischemic stroke to delay the onset or progression of dementia.