Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Mouse Life Span

Inevitably, researchers who focus on slowing aging through metabolic manipulation will uncover ingested compounds that alter metabolism in beneficial ways, and thus very modestly raise life expectancy. Here is an example in mice: "Recent evidence points to a strong relationship between increased mitochondrial biogenesis and increased survival ... Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been shown to extend chronological life span in yeast. However, the role of these amino acids in mitochondrial biogenesis and longevity in mammals is unknown. Here, we show that a BCAA-enriched mixture (BCAAem) increased the average life span of mice. BCAAem supplementation increased mitochondrial biogenesis and sirtuin 1 expression in primary cardiac and skeletal myocytes and in cardiac and skeletal muscle, but not in adipose tissue and liver of middle-aged mice, and this was accompanied by enhanced physical endurance. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense system genes were upregulated, and ROS production was reduced by BCAAem supplementation. All of the BCAAem-mediated effects were strongly attenuated in [mice engineered to lack] endothelial nitric oxide synthase." Nitric oxide is important to stem cell and blood vessel function; it is interesting that this effect depends upon that component of metabolism.

View the Article Under Discussion: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2010.08.016

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Lifestyle Choices Matter

A brief summary of recent research into risk factors for disease and human longevity: "A set of currently known alleles increasing the risk for coronary artery disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes as identified by genome-wide association studies was tested for compatibility with human longevity. Here, we show that nonagenarian siblings from long-lived families and singletons older than 85 [years] of age from the general population carry the same number of disease risk alleles as young controls. Longevity in this study population is not compromised by the cumulative effect of this set of risk alleles for common disease." The way in which you choose to lead your life is a more important determinant - for example, being sedentary and fat raises your risk of suffering the common diseases of aging far more than most known genetic variants. It is true that there are many gene variants associated with exceptional human longevity, but it still seems to be the case that environment and choice trumps small variations in your biology.

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20921414

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Thoughts on Protein Turnover and Longevity

Your cells are constantly creating and destroying the protein components of their machinery. All of the known metabolic alterations that enhance longevity affect these processes in some way: "Cellular homeostasis, which is needed for the cells to survive, requires a well-controlled balance in protein turnover. Both protein synthesis and degradation are influenced by distinct genetic pathways that control aging in divergent eukaryotic species. ... In addition to providing building blocks for generation of new proteins and fuelling the cell with energy under starvation, the protein degradation processes eliminate damaged, nonfunctional proteins, the accumulation of which serves as the primary contributory factor to aging. Interestingly, a complex, intimate regulatory relationship exists between mechanisms promoting protein synthesis and those mediating protein degradation: under certain circumstances the former downregulate the latter. Thus, conditions that favor protein synthesis can enhance the rate at which damaged proteins accumulate. This may explain why genetic interventions and environmental factors (e.g., dietary restriction) that reduce protein synthesis, at least to tolerable levels, extend lifespan and increase resistance to cellular stress in various experimental model organisms of aging."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20886758

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Historical Inheritance of Life Span

Looking back at historical data on life span in human lineages, researchers find the result you might expect from centenarian studies - the most long-lived families tend to have more long-lived offspring, while for everyone else lifestyle choices and accident are more important determinants: "Although genetic factors are known to influence the human aging process, the proportion of life span and longevity variation explained by them is still controversial. We evaluated the genetic contribution to life span using historical data from three Alpine communities in South Tyrol, Italy. We estimated the heritability of life span and survival to old age (longevity), and we assessed the hypothesis of a common genetic background between life span and reproduction. The heritability of life span was [low], whereas the heritability of longevity [increased] as the longevity threshold increased. Heritability estimates were little influenced by shared environment, most likely due to the homogeneity of lifestyle and environmental factors in our study population. Life span showed both positive association and genetic correlation with reproductive history factors. Our study demonstrates a general low inheritance of human life span, but which increases substantially when considering long-living individuals, and a common genetic background of life span and reproduction, in agreement with evolutionary theories of aging."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20884848

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

How People With Type 2 Diabetes Can Lose Weight, Keep It Off: Study

(HealthDay News) -- An intensive lifestyle change program helped people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and keep it off, a new study shows.

The program also led to improved control of blood glucose levels and reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease, both of which are critical in preventing long-term complications caused by diabetes.

The study included 5,145 overweight or obese people, average age 58.7, with type 2 diabetes. About half were assigned to a lifestyle intervention that included diet changes and physical activity designed to achieve a 7 percent weight loss in the first year and maintain it in subsequent years.

The other participants were assigned to a diabetes education and support group that held three sessions a year to discuss diet, exercise and social support.

After four years, the participants in the lifestyle intervention group had lost an average of 6.2 percent of their body weight, compared with 0.9 percent for the diabetes support group. The lifestyle intervention group also had greater improvements in fitness, blood glucose control, blood pressure and levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Read more...

Detox and cleanse

Bacteria May Predict Chances of Colon Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Researchers report that germs living in your gut could affect your risk of developing colon cancer.

The findings suggest that signs of the existence of some germs "are more frequently detected in subjects with polyps, early lesions that can develop into cancer, while other bacterial signatures are less frequently observed in such individuals," Tyler Culpepper, a University of Florida researcher, said in a news release.

Culpepper and colleagues studied 91 patients and took biopsy samples from their colons. They analyzed the bacteria in 30 people who had at least one polyp and 30 people who didn't but were of similar age and gender.

Researchers found some bacterial signatures only in those who had polyps and others only in those who didn't. Others were more common in one group or the other.

The findings suggest that future screening tests could aim to detect signs of trouble in the colon by measuring bacteria levels, Culpepper said. Read more...

Detox the body

Herbs Help Treat Diabetes: Bilberry, Gymnema, Ginkgo and Salt Bush

(NaturalNews) Many herbal remedies are used to treat symptoms of diabetes and have shown results in naturally lowering blood sugar levels. Scientific research is now shedding new light on the mechanisms used since ancient times to treat diabetes with herbs and nutrition.

Diabetes was noted as far back as Ancient Greece. The name comes from two Greek words meaning the siphon and to run through, which describes the diabetic symptom of excess urine. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, where over twenty three million, almost eight percent of the population, have been diagnosed with the disorder. The number of cases of diabetes doubled from 1990 to 2005 and is expected to double again by 2050. Side effects of diabetes include kidney disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, blindness and hearing loss.

The cause of diabetes is not known but 90% of those with Type 2 diabetes are obese. Most consider that diabetes is triggered by numerous factors, including inheritance, nutrition, obesity, infection, hormonal imbalances, and stress. Read more...

Healthy blood

Colloidal silver to boost immunity and overall health

This article has some useful information but, of course, cannot openly tell their readers that this is truly valuable so they have to attack it somehow. If you are not taking ACS 200 yourself, maybe you do not believe that it has germ killing powers?

I believe that infections are part of our current health crisis! I believe that it is well proven that we have organisms in the mouth that are difficult to identify and dangerous when they make their way into the systemic circulation, which they ALWAYS manage to do. I hold my ACS 200 in the mouth at least a minute 2-3 times a day. I think that lowering my total body burden of infections is just as useful for optimizing my health as lowering my burden of other toxins, like heavy metals.

Your patients may be confused by this article so take a moment to see it lacks clarity and even contradicts itself. Read more...

Lose weight quick

Positive Brain Changes Seen After Body-Mind Meditation

(HealthDay News) -- Positive brain changes take hold after just 11 hours of practicing a form of meditation, the results of a new study suggest.

The study included 45 University of Oregon students who were randomly selected to be in either a study group that did integrative body-mind training (IBMT) or a control group that did relaxation training. IBMT was adapted from traditional Chinese medicine in the 1990s.

A comparison of scans taken of the students' brains before and after the training showed that those in the IBMT group had increased brain connectivity. The changes were strongest in connections involving the anterior cingulate, an area that plays a role in the regulation of emotions and behavior, Yi-Yuan Tang of Dalian University of Technology in China, University of Oregon psychologist Michael I. Posner, and colleagues found.

The boost in brain connectivity began after six hours of IBMT and became more apparent after 11 hours of practice, according to the report published in the Aug. 16-21 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more...

Memory concentration, loss of memory

Eating meat may cause severe allergic reactions in some people

Meat allergies may be much more common than previously thought and may even induce potentially fatal anaphylaxis in some people, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia and presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in New Orleans.

The researchers tested three groups of people across the U.S. Southeast with a history of recurrent anaphylaxis without known cause for an immune reaction to alpha-gal, a kind of sugar found in mammal meat.

Although most allergic reactions are caused by proteins, scientists recently discovered that alpha-gal is responsible for anaphylactic reactions to cetuximab, a cancer drug. Further studies revealed that people who experience immune responses to alpha-gal also develop allergic symptoms within three to six hours of eating mammalian meat.

Alpha-gal is not found in the flesh of bird or fish.

The researchers found that between 20 and 50 percent of participants tested positive for allergy to alpha-gal. Overall, 25 of 60 participants (42 percent) showed signs of meat allergy. Read more...

Female Sexual health

Careers in cell therapy & regenerative medicine


As you will see just below, this post falls under the category of a thinly veiled and somewhat shameless plug which I hope you'll tolerate if I'm transparent about it upfront and I add what may be a little useful commentary along the way.

I won't have to convince "regular" readers of this "irregular" blog that regenerative medicine is one of the fastest growing life science sectors.

Given the pace of the industry's growth, the amount of public money being "invested" in the sector, and the general enthusiasm that the science generates, it is no surprise that is increasingly an area of interest for those seeking a new career path.

One commonly held misconception is that career opportunities in the sector are limited largely to those in early-stage research.

While it is true that the industry is still in the nascent stages of commercial development compared to other more mature segments in the broader biopharmaceutical industry, careers in regenerative medicine span the full research and commercial spectrum from pre-clinical to clinical research in both academic and corporate settings, manufacturing, regulatory, quality, operations, logistics, finance, business development, marketing, sales, communications, and executive management.

As has been discussed here in the past, most analysts agree that in 2008 the industry passed the $1 billion mark in annual revenue generated from sale of approved therapeutic products falling under the regenerative medicine category (see here for more in-depth analysis).

Furthermore, most large multinational life science companies are now investing heavily into the sector on the promise that it will revolutionize healthcare in the coming decades.

I believe the 2008 decision by Pfizer to create a substantial new Regenerative Medicine division will be seen as a seminal turning point in corporate perspectives on the industry. Since that point most life sciences have begun investing in regenerative medicine strategies and the trend has even leaked outside of life science to companies such as Google Ventures which has informally identified regenerative medicine as one of their primary areas of interest when looking at companies in which to invest.

Most major universities have now created both academic and research programs dedicated to the emerging field of regenerative medicine such that there is a new class of graduates now emerging in both scientific and commercial disciplines with regenerative medicine as a primary focus.

However, one of the difficulties with finding a career in regenerative medicine is that it is comprised of what has heretofore been fairly discrete disciplines of stem cell biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, tissue engineering, stem cell transplantation, device technologies, cell therapies, etc.

Furthermore, most recruiters and online job sites have very little experience or focus on the industry making recruiting difficult for positions in regenerative medicine companies or departments. The task is further complicated by the fact that the candidate pool is small and diversely spread over a multitude of disciplines, centers, and a multitude of small companies.

Finally there are only now emerging industry publications, organizations, online communities, and websites that truly represent the broad spectrum of regenerative medicine and that can be used as central resources for recruiting.

All this is why my partners and I saw the need for an online recruiting tool that really focused on regenerative medicine in a way that would support the industry's maturation. What we wanted to bring was a very simple solution that would create as much value as possible for those looking to recruit the right talent into their regenerative medicine efforts. This was the genesis behind RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com.

(here comes the shameless part....)

About RMJ

At RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com, we believe the growth trajectory of this industry requires a specialized, online recruiting system – one that is more than just a website for posting jobs but also plugged into the large and diverse network of associations, publications, and social media that serves this industry.

RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com is a specialized online job board focused on recruiting for positions in the rapidly growing field of regenerative medicine. The site is simple to use and focused in scope. But this is more than just another website.

RMJ has developed a sophisticated system designed to leverage our extensive network in RM to ensure every post gets maximum attention and attracts the best candidates.

Traffic is pulled to the site and job postings are pushed to a targeted audience by focused social media and marketing campaigns. This is the latest way to recruit for any position in a regenerative medicine department, division, or company. This is regenerative medicine recruiting with a focus.

RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com (RMJ) is a collaboration between CTG Consulting, Co. and Pencilneck Software, Co. The personnel behind this collaboration created Cell Therapy News, Cell Therapy Blog, the LinkedIn Cell Therapy Industry Group, and have produced over a dozen organizational or event-based websites in the cell therapy, stem cell, and regenerative medicine space.

The site has been designed to be simple and intuitive with only one goal in mind: to be the best online tool for recruiting personnel into positions in the regenerative medicine industry.

We don't offer resume posting, career advice, assistance building your CV, hand holding, shoulders to cry on, or job postings outside of regenmed. We believe in the value of specialization.

The site is a listing of regenerative medicine jobs (period). All types of jobs for all types of organizations but only regenmed job (period).

We have only one rule: the jobs posted m
ust be for a position within the regenerative medicine space. We define regenerative medicine as anything involving cell therapy, stem cells as therapies or tools for discovery or toxicity testing, or non-cell based programs/products (e.g., small molecules, biologics, devices, etc) used to replace or regenerate cells, tissues, or organs to restore, repair, or establish normal function.

The site has a topical niche with no regional focus or bias. This is meant to be a global tool equally useful for a company or university in Poland, Taiwan, Brazil, the United States, etc.

The site is also meant to be useful for recruiting any positions scientific or commercial, business or technical, executive or laborer.

*

We hope you find it useful.

We hope it contributes to the industry's growth and maturation.

We hope you will provide us feedback on what we're doing well and what we can do better.



Careers in cell therapy & regenerative medicine


As you will see just below, this post falls under the category of a thinly veiled and somewhat shameless plug which I hope you'll tolerate if I'm transparent about it upfront and I add what may be a little useful commentary along the way.

I won't have to convince "regular" readers of this "irregular" blog that regenerative medicine is one of the fastest growing life science sectors.

Given the pace of the industry's growth, the amount of public money being "invested" in the sector, and the general enthusiasm that the science generates, it is no surprise that is increasingly an area of interest for those seeking a new career path.

One commonly held misconception is that career opportunities in the sector are limited largely to those in early-stage research.

While it is true that the industry is still in the nascent stages of commercial development compared to other more mature segments in the broader biopharmaceutical industry, careers in regenerative medicine span the full research and commercial spectrum from pre-clinical to clinical research in both academic and corporate settings, manufacturing, regulatory, quality, operations, logistics, finance, business development, marketing, sales, communications, and executive management.

As has been discussed here in the past, most analysts agree that in 2008 the industry passed the $1 billion mark in annual revenue generated from sale of approved therapeutic products falling under the regenerative medicine category (see here for more in-depth analysis).

Furthermore, most large multinational life science companies are now investing heavily into the sector on the promise that it will revolutionize healthcare in the coming decades.

I believe the 2008 decision by Pfizer to create a substantial new Regenerative Medicine division will be seen as a seminal turning point in corporate perspectives on the industry. Since that point most life sciences have begun investing in regenerative medicine strategies and the trend has even leaked outside of life science to companies such as Google Ventures which has informally identified regenerative medicine as one of their primary areas of interest when looking at companies in which to invest.

Most major universities have now created both academic and research programs dedicated to the emerging field of regenerative medicine such that there is a new class of graduates now emerging in both scientific and commercial disciplines with regenerative medicine as a primary focus.

However, one of the difficulties with finding a career in regenerative medicine is that it is comprised of what has heretofore been fairly discrete disciplines of stem cell biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, tissue engineering, stem cell transplantation, device technologies, cell therapies, etc.

Furthermore, most recruiters and online job sites have very little experience or focus on the industry making recruiting difficult for positions in regenerative medicine companies or departments. The task is further complicated by the fact that the candidate pool is small and diversely spread over a multitude of disciplines, centers, and a multitude of small companies.

Finally there are only now emerging industry publications, organizations, online communities, and websites that truly represent the broad spectrum of regenerative medicine and that can be used as central resources for recruiting.

All this is why my partners and I saw the need for an online recruiting tool that really focused on regenerative medicine in a way that would support the industry's maturation. What we wanted to bring was a very simple solution that would create as much value as possible for those looking to recruit the right talent into their regenerative medicine efforts. This was the genesis behind RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com.

(here comes the shameless part....)

About RMJ

At RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com, we believe the growth trajectory of this industry requires a specialized, online recruiting system – one that is more than just a website for posting jobs but also plugged into the large and diverse network of associations, publications, and social media that serves this industry.

RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com is a specialized online job board focused on recruiting for positions in the rapidly growing field of regenerative medicine. The site is simple to use and focused in scope. But this is more than just another website.

RMJ has developed a sophisticated system designed to leverage our extensive network in RM to ensure every post gets maximum attention and attracts the best candidates.

Traffic is pulled to the site and job postings are pushed to a targeted audience by focused social media and marketing campaigns. This is the latest way to recruit for any position in a regenerative medicine department, division, or company. This is regenerative medicine recruiting with a focus.

RegenerativeMedicineJobs.com (RMJ) is a collaboration between CTG Consulting, Co. and Pencilneck Software, Co. The personnel behind this collaboration created Cell Therapy News, Cell Therapy Blog, the LinkedIn Cell Therapy Industry Group, and have produced over a dozen organizational or event-based websites in the cell therapy, stem cell, and regenerative medicine space.

The site has been designed to be simple and intuitive with only one goal in mind: to be the best online tool for recruiting personnel into positions in the regenerative medicine industry.

We don't offer resume posting, career advice, assistance building your CV, hand holding, shoulders to cry on, or job postings outside of regenmed. We believe in the value of specialization.

The site is a listing of regenerative medicine jobs (period). All types of jobs for all types of organizations but only regenmed job (period).

We have only one rule: the jobs posted must be for a position within the regenerative medicine space. We define regenerative medicine as anything involving cell therapy, stem cells as therapies or tools for discovery or toxicity testing, or non-cell based programs/products (e.g., small molecules, biologics, devices, etc) used to replace or regenerate cells, tissues, or organs to restore, repair, or establish normal function.

The site has a topical niche with no regional focus or bias. This is meant to be a global tool equally useful for a company or university in Poland, Taiwan, Brazil, the United States, etc.

The site is also meant to be useful for recruiting any positions scientific or commercial, business or technical, executive or laborer.

*

We hope you find it useful.

We hope it contributes to the industry's growth and maturation.

We hope you will provide us feedback on what we're doing well and what we can do better.



Parkinsonian Power Failure: Neuron Degeneration May Be Caused by a Cellular Energy System Breakdown

In the past researchers have observed an association between poor mitochondrial function and Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs speech and motor functions and affects five million people worldwide. A new meta-analysis suggests that low expression levels of 10 related gene sets responsible for mitochondrial machinery play an important role in this disorder--all previously unlinked to Parkinson's. The study, published online today in Science Translational Medicine , further points to a master switch for these gene sets as a potential target of future therapies. [More]

Add to digg
Add to StumbleUpon
Add to Reddit
Add to Facebook
Add to del.icio.us
Email this Article


Stem Cells from Reprogrammed Adult Cells Found to Bring Along Genetic Defects of Their Donors

Realistic stem cell therapies to replace diseased or damaged tissue may still be years away, but researchers have uncovered a promising new use for these undifferentiated cells: they can be programmed to become patient-specific laboratory models of inherited liver disease. These new tools could be useful for teasing out disease mechanisms and testing new drug therapies.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge's Institute for Medical Research obtained skin cells from 10 patients--seven who had various forms of inherited liver disease, and three healthy controls. They reprogrammed the skin cells, rejuvenating them into an embryolike state (using the four-gene approach described in 2007). The researchers then cultured these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) in a mixture of chemical factors that triggered their conversion into liver cells, which had the appearance and functional properties of native liver cells.

[More]

Add to digg
Add to StumbleUpon
Add to Reddit
Add to Facebook
Add to del.icio.us
Email this Article




Stem cell - Cambridge University - Liver - Medical Research - Disease

Insights into the stem cells of CML

Insights into the stem cells of chronic myeloid leukemia by I Sloma, X Jiang, A C Eaves and C J Eaves, Leukemia 2010(Sep 23). [Epub ahead of print][PubMed citation]. Abstract:

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has long served as a paradigm for generating new insights into the cellular origin, pathogenesis and improved approaches to treating many types of human cancer. Early studies of the cellular phenotypes and genotypes represented in leukemic populations obtained from CML patients established the concept of an evolving clonal disorder originating in and initially sustained by a rare, multipotent, self-maintaining hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). More recent investigations continue to support this model, while also revealing new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that explain how knowledge of CML stem cells and their early differentiating progeny can predict the differing and variable features of chronic phase and blast crisis. In particular, these emphasize the need for new agents that effectively and specifically target CML stem cells to produce non-toxic, but curative therapies that do not require lifelong treatments.

Must the last CML cell be killed?

Do we have to kill the last CML cell? DM Ross, TP Hughes and JV Melo, Leukemia 2010(Sep 16) [Epub ahead of print][FriendFeed entry][PubMed citation][Full text]. The abstract of this OA review:

Previous experience in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemic (CML) has shown that the achievement of clinical, morphological and cytogenetic remission does not indicate eradication of the disease. A complete molecular response (CMR; no detectable BCR-ABL mRNA) represents a deeper level of response, but even CMR is not a guarantee of elimination of the leukaemic, because the significance of CMR is determined by the detection limit of the assay that is used. Two studies of imatinib cessation in CMR are underway, cumulatively involving over 100 patients. The current estimated rate of stable CMR after stopping imatinib is approximately 40%, but the duration of follow-up is relatively short. The factors that determine relapse risk are yet to be identified. The intrinsic capacity of any residual leukaemic cells to proliferate following the withdrawal of treatment may be important, but there may also be a role for immunological suppression of the leukaemic clone. No currently available test can formally prove that the leukaemic clone is eradicated. Here we discuss the sensitive measurement of minimal residual disease, and speculate on the biology of BCR-ABL-positive cells that may persist after effective therapy of CML.

Critical molecular pathways in CSCs of CML

Critical molecular pathways in cancer stem cells of chronic myeloid leukemia by Y Chen, C Peng, C Sullivan, D Li and S Li, Leukemia 2010(Sep); 24(9): 1545-54. Epub 2010 Jun 24. [Connotea bookmark][PubMed citation][Full text]. The abstract of this OA review:

Inhibition of BCR-ABL with kinase inhibitors in the treatment of Philadelphia-positive (Ph(+)) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is highly effective in controlling but not curing the disease. This is largely due to the inability of these kinase inhibitors to kill leukemia stem cells (LSCs) responsible for disease relapse. This stem cell resistance is not associated with the BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations resistant to kinase inhibitors. Development of curative therapies for CML requires the identification of crucial molecular pathways responsible for the survival and self-renewal of LSCs. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of these crucial molecular pathways in LSCs and the available therapeutic strategies for targeting these stem cells in CML.