Life Extension back issues from November 2008:
Dangers of excess estrogen in the aging male.(AS WE SEE IT)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... We at Life Extension are sometimes asked why we check estrogen levels when testing the blood of our male members. Long ago, we published data showing that estrogen levels are often elevated in aging men and discussed the insidious health risks associated with excess estrogen ....
Brain food.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... In a recent issue of the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience, UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science Fernando Gomez-Pinilla summarized the latest findings concerning the effects of various foods on the brain, noting that some foods have a drug-like effect. * ...
Higher plasma vitamin C levels linked with reduced diabetes risk.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... In a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the University of Cambridge report an association between higher plasma vitamin C levels and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. * [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The study included 21,831 ...
Common spices help inhibit AGE.(IN THE NEWS)(advanced glycogen end-products)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... The Journal of Medicinal Food published a report by researchers at the University of Georgia which revealed that common spices not only confer antioxidant benefits, but offer significant protection against the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). * AGE compounds activate ...
Poor vitamin D status linked with greater eight-year mortality risk.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... In a recent report from the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins report an association between reduced vitamin D levels and a greater risk of dying over an eight-year period. * Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of ...
High omega-3 diet linked with lower heart disease risk.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Akira Sekikawa, MD, and colleagues concluded that, rather than genetic factors, the omega-3 content of Japanese diets may be responsible for the lower risk of heart disease observed in this population. * [ILLUSTRATION ...
Wonder drugs may treat many conditions.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... At the 2008 Congress of European Pharmacological Societies, Professor Marc Feldmann of the Imperial College London predicted that drugs he helped develop to treat rheumatoid arthritis may prove to be effective for many more medical conditions, including atherosclerosis. * The ...
Nutrient combination improves memory and learning.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... A combination of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with uridine and choline improved memory and learning in animals, and could offer benefits for Alzheimer's patients, according to a new study. * These nutrients, found in a range of foods including fish, eggs, and beets, ...
Soy isoflavones, curcumin synergize to thwart pancreatic cancer.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Soy isoflavones and curcumin work together to decrease activation of genes that help cancer cells survive, and could help avert pancreatic cancer, a new study reveals. * Pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, and effective prevention and treatment strategies ...
Lycopene lowers lipids, slows accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Lycopene slowed the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a high-fat diet, similar to the effects of fluvastatin, a new study reports. * Lycopene is a carotenoid found at high levels in tomatoes that has an antioxidant effect. Statin drugs like fluvastatin prevent ...
Resveratrol slows aging in mice.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Resveratrol, a compound found in red grapes and other foods, attenuates the effects of aging in mice, * similar to benefits previously found with calorie-restricted diets. Research has shown that resveratrol extends the life span of certain yeast, worms, flies, and fish. ...
Broccoli reduces prostate cancer risk.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Epidemiological studies suggest that men who consume at least one serving of cruciferous vegetables per week (e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.) are less likely to develop prostate cancer. * It's believed that chemical compounds called isothiocyanates are responsible for this ...
Pomegranate extract inhibits inflammation.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Pomegranate extract inhibited inflammatory activity in blood isolated from treated rabbits. * Pomegranate is known to have beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this study, four rabbits were given 10 mL of pomegranate fruit ...
Calorie restriction decreases oxidative stress, increases life span.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... The healthful benefits of calorie restriction may be related to decreased oxidative stress associated with consuming fewer calories, rather than decreased energy intake alone, according to a new report. * Calorie restriction extends life span in experimental animals, and has been ...
A breakthrough in the relief of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.(REPORT)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... A common and frustrating complaint we at Life Extension hear is how to stop urinary incontinence. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Our frustration has been that despite aggressive research, we could not identify a safe solution to this problem that plagues so many aging women ...
Detect your risk of sudden heart attack and stroke.(REPORT)(Plac test)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... A new blood test can accurately identify atherosclerotic plaque that is vulnerable to rupture, and help to stave off fatal cardiac events. By pinpointing individuals who are in imminent danger of an ischemic (no blood flow) event, the innovative PLAC[R] blood test alerts physicians and ...
Regenerative medicine breakthroughs: will BioTime reset the clock of aging?(Cover story)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Rapid advances in the field of stem cell therapeutics are bringing us closer to the elusive goal of harnessing the "immortal flame" that survives in all of us. Indeed, it has become clear that, in the words of internationally known gerontology researcher Dr. Michael West, "You and I are ...
Preventing cardiovascular disease naturally.(REPORT)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... In our war against heart disease, (1) too many Americans sadly continue to rely purely on risky surgical treatments that can only be effective after the fact--after years of neglect and even abuse of their naturally resilient bodies. (2-6) And while our pharmacopoeia of drugs is indeed ...
Apple stem cells offer hope for aging and damaged skin.(REPORT)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008; ... As we age, the reduced turnover of our cells means we can lose control over how our skin ages. Epidermal stem cells needed to create healthy new skin are significantly reduced and function less efficiently. A discovery based on promising plant stem cell research may allow you to regain ...
Marrow cell therapies for cardiovascular diseases.(Stem cells)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The nascent field of regenerative medicine has taken root in cardiovascular disease. Preclinical data demonstrating hemangioblast potential of marrow cells and cardioprotective effects of growth factors served as the basis for numerous early phase clinical trials. With the first wave of ...
Induced pluripotent stem cells generated from patients with als can be differentiated into motor neurons.(Stem cells)(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The generation of pluripotent stem cells from an individual patient would enable the large-scale production of the cell types affected by that patient's disease. These cells could in turn be used for disease modeling, drug discovery, and eventually autologous cell replacement therapies ....
Stem cell treatment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.(Stem cells)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease that targets motor neurons. Its origin is unknown but a main role of reactive astrogliosis and microglia activation in the pathogenesis has been recently demonstrated. Surrounding neurons with healthy adjoining ...
In vitro generation of a scaffold-free tissue-engineered construct (TEC) derived from human synovial mesenchymal stem cells: biological and mechanical properties, and further chondrogenic potential.(Stem cells)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The purpose of this study was to characterize a tissue-engineered construct (TEC) generated with human synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were cultured in medium with ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc-2P) and were subsequently detached from the substratum. The detached cell/matrix ...
Chondrogenesis from immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells: comparison between collagen gel and pellet culture methods.(Stem cells)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can differentiate into cells of connective tissue lineages, including cartilage. To overcome the limiting autogenous chondrocyte populations available in cartilage repair, various methods have been developed to maximize chondrogenesis of hMSCs in vitro, ...
Stem-cell based therapies for brain tumors.(Stem cells)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Advances in understanding neural stem cell (NSC) biology have facilitated the development of novel cell-based therapies for brain malignancies. NSCs are the most immature progenitor cells in the nervous system that have the ability to self-renew, differentiate into terminal neural cell ...
Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.(Stem cells)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Tissue culture of immortal cell strains from diseased patients is an invaluable resource for medical research but is largely limited to tumor cell lines or transformed derivatives of native tissues. Here we describe the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from patients with ...
The problem of deception in embryonic stem cell research.(Stem cells)(Report)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The field of embryonic stem cell research has been plagued by exaggeration and misrepresentation, as three major journals have had to retract significant claims about progress in this field. This problem is exacerbated by the politicized climate in which the research is conducted and ...
Stem cell research: cloning, therapy and scientific fraud.(Stem cells)(Report)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Stem cell research has generated intense excitement, awareness, and debate. Events in the 2005-2006 saw the rise and fall of a South Korean scientist who had claimed to be the first to clone a human embryonic stem cell line. From celebration of the potential use of stem cells in the ...
Human cloning and stem cell research: engaging in the political process. (legislation review: prohibition of human cloning act 2002 and the research involving human embryos act).(Stem cells)(Report)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Committees appointed by governments to inquire into specific policy issues often have no further role when the Committee's report is delivered to government, but that is not always so. This paper describes the activities of members of the Australian Committee on human cloning and embryo ...
Identifying the vulnerable patient with rupture-prone plaque.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and the obesity epidemic combined with aging of the population seems destined to increase the burden of this disease. Traditional cardiovascular risk assessment accounts for <50% of ...
The molecular basis of vulnerable plaque: potential therapeutic role for immunomodulation.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Athero-sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory/immune disease involving multiple cell types including monocytes-macrophages, T-lymphocytes, mast cells, and endothelial cells. Through recent studies the role of the immune system on development of atherosclerosis and ...
Enhanced expression of LP-PLA2 and lysophosphatidylcholine in symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(lipoprotein-associated phospholipase)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Circulating lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) has emerged as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular diseases. However, the correlation between the plaque expression of Lp-PLA(2) and plaque oxidative stress, inflammation, and stability as well as ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: A risk marker or a risk factor?(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Multiple cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Lipoprotein- associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) appears to be relatively unique in its high specificity for and the causal pathway of plaque inflammation. In both primary and ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2: an independent predictor of coronary artery disease events in primary and secondary prevention.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... In recent years, atherosclerosis has become recognized as an inflammatory disease whose activity can be assessed by circulating biomarkers. Along with C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) may now be considered as a biomarker with sufficient ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is an independent predictor of incident coronary heart disease in an apparently healthy older population: the rancho bernardo study.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... OBJECTIVES: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels predict incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in adults without known CHD, independent of heart disease risk factors. We examined whether the independent association was apparent in older adults. BACKGROUND: Serum levels ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and risk of stroke.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide and is a disabling disease of both older and younger adults. Stroke is also among the most highly preventable disorders because there are well-defined risk factors and preventatives. The establishment of new risk markers or factors for ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and risk for incident ischemic stroke in middle-aged men and women in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND: Measurement of inflammatory markers has been reported to identify individuals at increased risk for ischemic stroke. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a proinflammatory enzyme secreted by macrophages. We assessed Lp-PLA2 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ...
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 predicts progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and increased risk of cardiovascular events in heart transplant patients.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in nontransplant patients. We evaluated the association between Lp-PLA2, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) assessed by 3D intravascular ultrasound, and incidence of cardiac ...
Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with coronary calcification among American and Japanese men.(Atherosclerotic plaque)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) was substantially lower among Japanese than American men despite a less favorable profile of many traditional risk factors in Japanese men. To determine whether lipoprotein-associated ...
Current antiplatelet therapies: benefits and limitations.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Antiplatelet therapy is the current criterion standard for the treatment of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and patients who have acute coronary syndromes. Clopidogrel in combination with aspirin is the current standard of care for reducing cardiovascular events in ...
Variability in response to cardiovascular drugs.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Cardiovascular drugs are characterized by wide inter-individual variability in dose/plasma concentration/ response (therapeutic and/or toxic) relationships. Therefore, some patients achieve good therapeutic response to their drug therapy, while others do not. Also, some patients experience ...
Statins and peripheral arterial disease: effects on claudication, disease progression, and prevention of cardiovascular events.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs is the third most important site of atherosclerotic disease alongside coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Best medical treatment is beneficial even in patients who eventually need invasive treatment, as the ...
The significance of low HDL-cholesterol levels in an ageing society at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.(Cardiovascular Health)(high-density lipoprotein)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... In most developed and developing countries, the proportion of the population aged 60 years or more is growing faster than any other age group. Given that the vast majority of cardiovascular events occur in older individuals, new thinking is needed to reduce their risk. Epidemiological ...
Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in older adults: a review of the evidence.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND: Although statins have been demonstrated to be beneficial for secondary prevention in the elderly, their use for primary prevention has not been well described. OBJECTIVE: In this review, we summarize data regarding the efficacy, safety, and current recommendations for statins ...
Anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants as a possible "third great wave" in cardiovascular secondary prevention.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... There are 3 important factors that predispose patients to plaque rupture or recurrent events: plaque burden or multiple arterial plaques, the presence of persistent hyperreactive platelets, and ongoing vascular arterial inflammation. Successful therapeutic strategies focus on these ...
Receptor for advanced glycation end products: fundamental roles in the inflammatory response: winding the way to the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The multiligand receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) of the immunoglobulin superfamily is expressed on multiple cell types implicated in the immune-inflammatory response and in atherosclerosis. Multiple studies have elucidated that ligandRAGE interaction on cells, such as ...
Regulation of smooth muscle cells in development and vascular disease: current therapeutic strategies.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit extensive phenotypic diversity and rapid growth during embryonic development, but maintain a quiescent, differentiated state in adult. The pathogenesis of vascular proliferative diseases involves the proliferation and migration of medial vascular ...
Paraoxonases and cardiovascular diseases: pharmacological and nutritional influences.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the new articles published in the last year on paraoxonases, including their expression in cardiovascular diseases, and regulation by pharmacological and nutritional means. RECENT FINDINGS: The elucidation of the crystal structure of the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) ...
Dietary approach to attenuate oxidative stress, hypertension, and inflammation in the cardiovascular system.(Cardiovascular Health)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Imbalance between production and scavenging of superoxide anion results in hypertension by the inactivation of nitric oxide, and the increased oxidative stress from the resultant peroxynitrite that is produced promotes inflammatory processes such as atherosclerosis. Induction of phase 2 ...
Estrogens and vascular thrombosis.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... PIP: The incidence of thromboses among young women has increased with widespread use of oral contraceptives (OCs) due to the significant thromboembolic risk of estrogen. Estrogens intervene at the vascular, platelet, and plasma levels as a function of hormonal variations in the menstrual ...
Serum estradiol and risk of stroke in elderly men.(Estrogen)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... OBJECTIVE: To determine if levels of serum estradiol and testosterone can predict stroke in a population-based sample of elderly men. METHODS: Serum 17beta estradiol and testosterone were measured in 2,197 men aged 71 to 93 years who participated in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study from 1991 ...
Estradiol in elderly men.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... The role of estrogens in male physiology has become more evident, as a consequence of the discovery of human models of estrogen deficiency such as estrogen resistance or aromatase deficiency. In males, testosterone is the major source of plasma estradiol, the main biologically active ...
Low serum testosterone and high serum estradiol associate with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease in elderly men. the MrOS study in Sweden.(Estrogen)(Osteoporotic Fractures in Men)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether serum levels of testosterone and estradiol associate with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in a large population-based cohort of elderly men. BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the relationship between serum sex ...
Endogenous sex hormones and C-reactive protein in healthy postmenopausal women.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Background. Oral oestrogen replacement therapy increases levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is an established strong predictor of cardiovascular events. It is unknown whether endogenous oestrogen levels are associated with CRP. We therefore studied the relationship between endogenous ...
A potential paradox in prostate adenocarcinoma progression: oestrogen as the initiating driver.(Estrogen)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... One in 10 men in the developed world will present with prostate cancer (CaP), and in an ageing population developing strategies for its chemoprevention or treatment is of significance. For decades, androgen ablation has remained the frontline treatment for CaP that is no longer ...
Catechol quinones of estrogens in the initiation of breast, prostate, and other human cancers: keynote lecture.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Estrogens can be converted to electrophilic metabolites, particularly the catechol estrogen-3,4-quinones, estrone (estradiol)-3,4-quinone [E(1)(E(2))-3,4-Q], which react with DNA to form depurinating adducts. These adducts are released from DNA to generate apurinic sites. Error-prone ...
The role of estrogens and estrogen receptors in normal prostate growth and disease.(Estrogen)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Estrogens have significant direct and indirect effects on prostate gland development and homeostasis and have been long suspected in playing a role in the etiology of prostatic diseases. Direct effects are mediated through prostatic estrogen receptors alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta) with ...
Important functions of estrogens in men--breakthrough in contemporary medicine.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... Estradiol (E2) is traditionally recognised as the female sex hormone. Since discovery of estrogens in the early forties of XX century it has been believed, that these hormones caused impairment of the gonadal function in men or didn't exert any influence. New studies are contradictory, but ...
Estrogens and bone health in men.(Estrogen)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... It has generally been held that estrogen and testosterone are the major sex steroids regulating bone metabolism in women and men, respectively. However, the description of several "experiments of nature" led to a reconsideration of this notion. Thus, a male carrying homozygous mutations in ...
Estradiol, testosterone, and the risk for hip fractures in elderly men from the Framingham study.(Estrogen)(Clinical report)
Nov 01, 2008 ... BACKGROUND: Low serum estradiol has been more strongly associated with low bone mineral density in elderly men than has testosterone, but its association with incident hip fracture is unknown. We examined whether low estradiol increases the risk for future hip fracture among men and ...