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Geoengineering marks scientific gains in U.N. report on dire climate future
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Code Red to Apocalypse: U.N Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Presents Drastic Ultimatum: Change Immediately, Or Humanity Will Perish
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Military Contractor CACI Says Afghanistan Withdrawal Is Hurting Its Profits. It’s Funding a Pro-War Think Tank.
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Pipeline to Water Golf Courses in Drought-Stricken West Is US’ ‘Stupidest Project’
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The War in Afghanistan Is What Happens When McKinsey Types Run Everything
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A science in the shadows
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Dangerous Illusions
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Large Israeli Study Demonstrates The Power Of The Human Immune System Over Vaccines
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The government is going to use facial recognition more. That’s bad.
Today’s Videos:
3. Short Video Pregnant Women turned away from DR 50 secondsStudy identifies evening as optimal time for potassium, calcium and magnesium intake to reduce risk of cancer and premature mortality
Harbin Medical University (China), August 23, 2021
According to news reporting originating from Harbin, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Intake time of diet has recently been demonstrated to be associated with the internal clock and circadian pattern. However, whether and how the intake time of minerals would influence the natural course of cancer was largely unknown.”
Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Harbin Medical University, “This study aimed to assess the association of mineral intake at different periods with cancer and all-cause mortality. A total of 27,455 participants aged 18-85 years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were recruited. The main exposures were the mineral intakes in the morning, afternoon and evening, which were categorized into quintiles, respectively. The main outcomes were mortality of cancer and all causes. During the 178,182 person-years of follow-up, 2680 deaths, including 601 deaths due to cancer, were documented. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to the participants who were in the lowest quintile(quintile-1) of mineral intakes at dinner, the participants in the highest quintile intake(quintile-5) of dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium had lower mortality risks of cancer (HRpotassium = 0.72, 95% CI:0.55-0.94, P for trend = 0.023; HRcalcium = 0.74, 95% CI:0.57-0.98, P for trend = 0.05; HRmagnesium = 0.75, 95% CI:0.56-0.99, P for trend = 0.037) and all-cause (HRpotassium = 0.83, 95% CI:0.73-0.94, P for trend = 0.012; HRcalcium = 0.87, 95% CI:0.76-0.99, P for trend = 0.025; HRmagnesium = 0.85, 95% CI:0.74-0.97, P for trend = 0.011; HRcopper = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.68-0.94, P for trend = 0.012). Further, equivalently replacing 10% of dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium consumed in the morning with those in the evening were associated with lower mortality risk of cancer (HRpotassium = 0.94, 95%CI:0.91-0.97; HRcalcium = 0.95, 95%CI:0.92-0.98; HRmagnesium = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.92-0.98).”
According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This study demonstrated that the optimal intake time of potassium, calcium and magnesium for reducing the risk of cancer and all-cause mortality was in the evening.”
It’s never too late to get active
University of Bern (Switzerland), 24 Aug 2021
A study in more than 30,000 heart patients shows that becoming active later in life can be nearly as beneficial to survival as continued activity. The research is presented at ESC Congress 2021.1
“These encouraging findings highlight how patients with coronary heart disease may benefit by preserving or adopting a physically active lifestyle,” said study author Dr. Nathalia Gonzalez of the University of Bern, Switzerland.
Regular physical activity is advised for patients with heart disease, but recommendations are largely based on studies that used either a single assessment or an average of activity levels assessed over time. However, patients may modify the amount of exercise they do, and it remains unclear whether these changes are related to survival.
This study investigated activity levels over time and their relationship to the risk of death in patients with heart disease.
The meta-analysis included 33,576 patients with coronary heart disease from nine longitudinal cohorts. The average age was 62.5 years and 34% were women. The median follow-up was 7.2 years. Activity was assessed at baseline and follow-up using validated questionnaires and participants were classified as active or inactive at the two time points. Definitions of active and inactive varied across the studies but were in line with recommendations for healthy people: at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity, or a combination.2
Patients were divided into four groups according to their activity status at baseline and follow-up: inactive over time, active over time, increased activity over time, and decreased activity over time. All the studies defined “increased activity over time” as moving from the inactive to the active category and “decreased activity over time” as moving from the active to the inactive category.
The researchers examined the risks of all-cause death and death from cardiovascular disease according to the four groups. Compared to patients who were inactive over time, the risk of all-cause death was 50% lower in those who were active over time, 45% lower in those who were inactive but became active, and 20% lower in those who had been active but became inactive.
Similar results were observed for death due to cardiovascular disease. Compared to those who remained inactive, the risk for cardiovascular mortality was 51% lower among those who remained active and 27% lower for those whose activity increased. Cardiovascular mortality was not statistically different for those whose activity decreased over time, compared to those who remained inactive.
Dr. Gonzalez said: “The results show that continuing an active lifestyle over the years is associated with the greatest longevity. However, patients with heart disease can overcome prior years of inactivity and obtain survival benefits by taking up exercise later in life. On the other hand, the benefits of activity can be weakened or even lost if activity is not maintained. The findings illustrate the benefits to heart patients of being physically active, regardless of their previous habits.”
Antibodies act as natural antidepressants: Study
Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine (Germany), August 24, 2021
If the immune system attacks its own body, it can often have devastating consequences: autoantibodies bind to the body’s structures, triggering functional disorders. The receptors for glutamate, a neurotransmitter, can also become the target of autoantibodies. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Göttingen have been investigating the circumstances under which autoantibodies for a particular glutamate receptor — known as the NMDA receptor — are formed, and their effects in the brain. The researchers have discovered that the level of these autoantibodies in the blood can fluctuate considerably over a person’s lifetime — independent of health conditions — and increases with age. Chronic stress can, however, drive up the concentration of these autoantibodies in the blood even in early life. According to the researchers, when the antibodies are able to enter the brain to act on NMDA receptors, people suffer less depression and anxiety. These autoantibodies are clearly acting as the body’s own antidepressants.
Glutamate receptors sit in the nerve cell membrane and bind to glutamate, a neurotransmitter. The NMDA receptor is a receptor type essential for learning and memory. Up to 20 percent of the population have antibodies against this receptor in their blood.
Usually, the blood-brain barrier prevents these antibodies crossing from the blood into the brain. Only if this barrier is damaged can the antibodies have any greater effect. If the antibodies bind to NMDA receptors in the brain, these are then removed from the nerve cell membrane (‘internalized’). This disrupts the signalling to neighbouring cells. If an inflammation is present in the brain, for example, due to a viral infection, the presence of these autoantibodies can lead to a so-called ‘anti-NMDAR-encephalitis’: an illness brought to the public’s attention by the 2016 film ‘Brain on Fire’. The effect of these NMDA receptor autoantibodies can typically influence the symptoms of the underlying encephalitis, contributing to epileptic seizures, impaired movement, psychosis and loss of cognitive function.
Autoantibody levels increase with age
In a new study, Hannelore Ehrenreich and her colleagues from the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Göttingen have discovered that the concentration of these autoantibodies in the blood of mice and humans can fluctuate considerably over time. However, the level rises with age, as the body is continually exposed to factors which stimulate the immune system, and with it, autoantibody production. One of these factors is stress. According to the researchers, chronically stressed mice show a higher level of NMDA receptor autoantibodies in their blood compared to their non-stressed conspecifics.
Ehrenreich and her team also analysed the concentration of antibodies in the blood of young migrants. “People who are subjected to high stress in their lives have a greater probability of carrying NMDA receptor autoantibodies in their blood, even at a young age,” says Ehrenreich. These are like a ticking time bomb in the body. “If an infection or some other factor appears which weakens the blood-brain barrier, the autoantibodies enter the brain and can cause epileptic seizures or other neurological disorders,” says Ehrenreich. A good example would be Knut, the famous Berlin polar bear.
Positive effect of antibodies
However, the researchers’ recent study has for the first time indicated that the autoantibodies can also play a positive role in the brain. Mice with a more permeable blood-brain barrier and NMDA receptor autoantibodies in the brain were significantly more mobile and less depressed during times of chronic stress than their conspecifics with an intact blood-brain barrier. An analysis of a large patient database revealed that people with NMDA autoantibodies and a permeable blood-brain barrier also suffered significantly less depression and anxiety.
The NMDA autoantibody obviously plays a role in the brain similar to ketamine, an antidepressant that also acts on NMDA receptors. “The effect of these autoantibodies — whether they contribute to the symptoms of an encephalitis or inhibit depression — is evidently determined not only by their level in the brain, but also by any underlying condition, in particular the presence or absence of inflammation,” explains Ehrenreich.
Brain refreshing: why the dreaming phase matters
Researchers find that capillary blood flow in the brain, which is important for delivering oxygen and nutrients and removing waste products, is increased in mice during the dream-active phase of sleep
University of Tsukuba, Japan, August 25, 2021
Scientists have long wondered why almost all animals sleep, despite the disadvantages to survival of being unconscious. Now, researchers led by a team from the University of Tsukuba have found new evidence of brain refreshing that takes place during a specific phase of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is when you tend to dream a lot.
Previous studies have measured differences in blood flow in the brain between REM sleep, non-REM sleep, and wakefulness using various methods, with conflicting results. In their latest work, the Tsukuba-led team used a technique to directly visualize the movement of red blood cells in the brain capillaries (where nutrients and waste products are exchanged between brain cells and blood) of mice during awake and asleep states.
“We used a dye to make the brain blood vessels visible under fluorescent light, using a technique known as two-photon microscopy,” says senior author of the study Professor Yu Hayashi. “In this way, we could directly observe the red blood cells in capillaries of the neocortex in non-anesthetized mice.”
The researchers also measured electrical activity in the brain to identify REM sleep, non-REM sleep, and wakefulness, and looked for differences in blood flow between these phases.
“We were surprised by the results,” explains Professor Hayashi. “There was a massive flow of red blood cells through the brain capillaries during REM sleep, but no difference between non-REM sleep and the awake state, showing that REM sleep is a unique state”
The research team then disrupted the mice’s sleep, resulting in “rebound” REM sleep—a stronger form of REM sleep to compensate for the earlier disruption. Blood flow in the brain was further increased during rebound REM sleep, suggesting an association between blood flow and REM sleep strength. However, when the researchers repeated the same experiments in mice without adenosine A2a receptors (the receptors whose blockade makes you feel more awake after drinking coffee), there was less of an increase in blood flow during REM sleep, even during rebound REM sleep.
“These results suggest that adenosine A2a receptors may be responsible for at least some of the changes in blood flow in the brain during REM sleep,” says Professor Hayashi.
Given that reduced blood flow in the brain and decreased REM sleep are correlated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease, which involves the buildup of waste products in the brain, it may be interesting to address whether increased blood flow in the brain capillaries during REM sleep is important for waste removal from the brain. This study lays preliminary groundwork for future investigations into the role of adenosine A2a receptors in this process, which could ultimately lead to the development of new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Mediterranean diet shows promise in men with erectile dysfunction
University of Athens (Greece), 25 Aug 2021
A Mediterranean diet is associated with improvements in erectile dysfunction, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2021.1
Men with hypertension are twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction as their peers with normal blood pressure.2 Erectile dysfunction is primarily considered a disorder of the small arteries, which lose the ability to dilate and augment flow. Declining testosterone levels in middle age contribute to its onset. Previous research has shown that fitness is linked with improved survival in men with hypertension,3 while the Mediterranean diet lowers blood pressure4 and prevents heart attacks and strokes5 in individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
This study assessed adherence to the Mediterranean diet in middle aged men with high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction. This dietary pattern emphasises fruit, vegetables, whole grains and olive oil, modest consumption of dairy products, and limiting red meat. The researchers then examined whether dietary habits were linked with fitness, testosterone levels, blood flow, arterial stiffness, and erectile performance.
The study included 250 men with high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction. The average age was 56 years. Mediterranean diet consumption was assessed by questionnaire and participants received a score of 0 to 55, with higher values indicating greater adherence.6Exercise capacity was assessed with a treadmill test and testosterone was measured in blood samples taken before 09:00 am.
Regarding vascular health, echocardiography was performed to assess coronary flow reserve, which indicates the ability to increase blood flow when needed. Values of 2 or higher are considered normal and point to better vascular function. The researchers examined arterial stiffness using two measures: augmentation index and central pulse pressure. Higher values indicate stiffer arteries, which are associated with a higher risk of adverse heart events in men with erectile dysfunction.7
Severity of erectile dysfunction was assessed using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) which uses five questions about erectile ability to allocate a score of 0 to 25, with higher values correlating to better erectile performance.8
The researchers found that men with a higher Mediterranean diet score (above 29) also had higher coronary flow reserve and testosterone, better erectile performance (SHIM score above 14), and lower arterial stiffness.
When the relationships were analysed according to fitness, the researchers found that patients with greater exercise capacity (above 10 METs)9 had higher coronary flow reserve, testosterone, Mediterranean diet score (above 25) and SHIM score (above 12), and lower arterial stiffness.
Study author Dr. Athanasios Angelis of the University of Athens, Greece said: “In our study, consuming a Mediterranean diet was linked with better exercise capacity, healthier arteries and blood flow, higher testosterone levels, and better erectile performance. While we did not examine mechanisms, it seems plausible that this dietary pattern may improve fitness and erectile performance by enhancing function of the blood vessels and limiting the fall in testosterone that occurs in midlife.”
He concluded: “The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet could play a role in maintaining several parameters of vascular health and quality of life and in middle aged men with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.”
Microbiome may explain flavonoid blood pressure benefit
University of East Anglia (UK), August 25 2021.
Research reported on August 23, 2021 in Hypertensionsuggests that the gut’s microbial community may mediate the reduction in blood pressure associated with increased intake of dietary flavonoids, which occur in plant foods. According to lead investigator Aedín Cassidy, PhD, and colleagues, “There is mounting evidence that the composition of the gut microbiome can partly explain the association between dietary flavonoids and cardiometabolic health.”
In a previous study conducted by the researchers, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, up to 18.5% of the association between lower amounts of visceral abdominal fat (which is associated with inflammation and metabolic syndrome) and greater intake of foods that contained a high amount of flavonoids known as anthocyanins could be explained by increased gut microbial diversity and an abundance of Clostridiales and Ruminococ
caceaebacteria. The authors explained that flavonoid intake modifies gut microbiome composition, which contributes to flavonoid metabolism. The current research included 904 men and women from Germany’s PopGen biobank. Having a total flavonoid intake that was among the top third of subjects was associated with an average 2.9 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to a lowest third. When the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods was examined, a greater intake of anthocyanin-rich berries and red wine was associated with lower systolic pressure. These foods were also associated with greater microbiome diversity. Greater intake of berries as well as apples or pears was associated with a lower abundance of Parabacteroides bacteria.
The researchers determined microbial factors explained 15.2% of the association between the intake of flavonoid-rich foods and lower systolic blood pressure. “Our gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolizing flavonoids to enhance their cardioprotective effects, and this study provides evidence to suggest these blood pressure-lowering effects are achievable with simple changes to the daily diet,” Dr Cassidy commented.
Efficacy of homoeopathic treatment for diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy: A multicentric randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
D. P. Rastogi Central Research Institute of Homoeopathy (India), August 22, 2021
In course of diabetes, some 20–90% of individuals eventually develop diabetic neuropathy. Looking at the disease burden research studies in Homoeopathy were conducted and have shown positive results. These studies were not robust enough to prove the efficacy of individualized homoeopathy.
Objective
To assess efficacy of individualized homoeopathic medicines in management of DDSP.
Methods
A multi-centric double-blind, placebo controlled, randomised clinical trial was conducted by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy at six centres with a sample size of 84. Based on earlier observational studies and repertorial anamnesis of DDSP symptoms 15 homoeopathic medicines were shortlisted and validated scales were used for evaluating the outcomes post-intervention. Primary outcome measure was change in Neuropathy Total Symptom Score-6 (NTSS-6) from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in peripheral nerve conduction study (NCS), World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and Diabetic Neuropathy Examination (DNE) Score at 12 months.
Results
The results show that 25% of patients in the verum group showed improvement in the Nerve conduction study as compared to 13.8% patients in the placebo group. Data of 68 enrolled cases was considered for data analysis. Statistically significant difference (p<0.014) was found in NTSS-6 post intervention in the Verum group. Positive trend was noted for Verum group as per the graph plotted for DNE score and assessment done for NCS. No significant difference was found between the groups for WHOQOL-Bref. Out of 15 pre-identified homoeopathic medicines 11 medicines were prescribed in potencies in ascending order from 6C to 1M
A comparative study of the effects of yoga and clinical Pilates training on walking, cognition, respiratory functions, and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis: A quasi-experimental study
Dokuz Eylül University (Turkey), August 24, 2021
The purpose was to investigate the effects of yoga and clinical Pilates training on walking, respiratory muscle strength, cognition, and quality of life and compare the effects of two popular exercise methods in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).
Methods
Twenty-eight pwMS (Pilates group = 16, yoga group = 12) received the program once a week for eight weeks in addition to home exercises. At baseline and the end of the training, participants underwent assessments. The outcome measures were walking speed, mobility, balance confidence, respiratory muscle strength, cognition, and quality of life.
Results
Following the program, there was no significant difference in mobility (p = 0.482), perceived walking quality (p = 0.325), respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure: p = 0.263, maximum expiratory pressure: p = 0.866), and cognition (Symbol Digit Modalities Test: p = 0.324, California Verbal Learning Test-II: p = 0.514, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised: p = 0.279) between the two groups. Improvements were higher in balance confidence (p = 0.006), walking speed (p = 0.004), and quality of life (p = 0.019) in the clinical Pilates group compared to the yoga group.
Conclusion
This study showed positive effects in walking and respiratory aspects in pwMS who received yoga and clinical Pilates training. Pilates training was superior in improving walking speed, quality of life, and balance confidence compared to yoga training.
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