beating disease Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Diet Detectives: Scientists Identify New Signposts in Blood and Urine to Reflect What We Eat and Drink

AHA Publisher — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 07:00:59 +0000

McMaster University via Newswise – Researchers at McMaster University have identified several chemical signatures, detectable in blood and urine, that can accurately measure dietary intake, potentially offering a new tool for physicians, dieticians and researchers to assess eating habits, measure the value of fad diets and develop health policies. Newswise — Researchers at McMaster University have identified several chemical signatures, detectable in blood and urine, that can accurately measure dietary intake, potentially offering a new tool for physicians, dieticians and researchers to assess eating habits, measure the value of fad diets and develop health policies. The research, published in the journal Nutrients, addresses a major challenge in assessing diets: studies in nutrition largely rely on participants to record their own food intake, which is subject to human error, forgetfulness or omission. “This has been a major issue in nutritional research and may be one of the main reasons for the lack of real progress in nutritional sciences and chronic disease prevention,” says Philip Britz-McKibbin, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University and lead author of the study, which was a collaboration with Dr. Sonia Anand and colleagues from the Departments of Medicine, and Health Research, Evidence, and Impact. Scientists set out to determine if they could identify chemical signatures, or metabolites, that reflect changes in dietary intake, measure those markers and then compare the data with the foods study participants were provided and then reported they had eaten. The specimens analyzed were from healthy individuals who participated in the Diet and Gene Intervention Study (DIGEST). Over a two-week period, researchers studied two contrasting diets: the Prudent diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, and a contemporary Western diet, rich in trans fats, processed foods, red meat and sweetened beverages. Researchers were able to validate a panel of metabolites in urine and plasma that correlated with the participants’ consumption of fruits, vegetables, protein and/or fiber. “We were able to detect short-term changes in dietary patterns which could be measured objectively,” says Britz-McKibbin. “And it didn’t take long for these significant changes to become apparent.” Britz-McKibbin cautions that food chemistry is highly complex. Our diets are composed of thousands of different kinds of chemicals, he says, and researchers don’t know what role they all may play in overall health. In future, he hopes to broaden this work by examining a larger cohort of participants over a longer period of time. His team is also exploring several ways to assess maternal nutrition during crucial stages of fetal development and its impact on obesity and metabolic syndrome risk in children. The study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Genome Canada, Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative Opportunities Fund, and the Faculty of Science at McMaster. To read the original article click here.

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Yale Scientists Help Immune System Find Hidden Cancer Cells

AHA Publisher — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 07:00:46 +0000

Yale University via EurekAlert – Cancer cells are masters at avoiding detection, but a new system developed by Yale scientists can make them stand out from the crowd and help the immune system spot and eliminate tumors that other forms of immunotherapies might miss, the researchers report Oct. 14 in the journal Nature Immunology. The new system reduced or eliminated melanoma and triple-negative breast and pancreatic tumors in mice, even those located far from the primary tumor source, the researchers report. “This is an entirely new form of immunotherapy,” said Sidi Chen, assistant professor of genetics and senior author of the study. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer but existing therapies don’t work on all patients or not at all against some cancers. Existing therapies sometimes fail to recognize all molecular disguises of cancer cells, rendering them less effective. To address those shortcomings, Chen’s lab developed a new system that weds viral gene therapy and CRISPR gene-editing technology. Instead of finding and editing pieces of DNA and inserting new genes, the new system — called Multiplexed Activation of Endogenous Genes as Immunotherapy (MAEGI) — launches a massive hunt of tens of thousands of cancer-related genes and then acts like a GPS to mark their location and amplify the signals. MAEGI marks the tumor cells for immune destruction, which turns a cold tumor (lacking immune cells) into a hot tumor (with immune cells). It is the molecular equivalent of dressing tumor cells in orange jump suits, allowing the immune system police to quickly find and eradicate the deadly cells, Chen said. “And once those cells are identified, the immune system immediately recognizes them if they show up in the future,” Chen said. The new system in theory should be effective against many cancer types, including those currently resistant to immunotherapy, he said. Upcoming studies will optimize the system for simpler manufacturing and prepare for clinical trials in cancer patients. To read the original article click here.

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Stem Cells: Your Best Ally Against ALL Disease

The AHA! Team — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – This new field of medicine is exciting and echoes what I’ve been telling my patients for years: keep your immune system strong. In the not-so-distant future, I see a world where all the chronic diseases that plague us today will be cured before they’ve even begun. That may sound like science fiction, but it’s not. In fact, it’s already happening with a revolutionary stem-cell treatment developed by oncologist and stem-cell pioneer Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj right here in South Florida. And that’s why I made Dr. Maharaj one of the key speakers at my Palm Beach Anti-Aging Summit at the historic Palm Beach icon Mara-a-Lago. You’ve probably heard about stem cells on the news and wondered if they can help you or a loved one with a chronic or autoimmune disease. The answer is YES. The problem is that most doctors won’t talk about stem cells. That’s because the latest breakthrough treatments – which have only recently become available to people who want to reverse or protect themselves from chronic disease – are considered “experimental.” Stem cells are the master cells from which all other human cells are made. They’re also the ultimate natural cure, because they let the body do what it does best: heal itself. Many stem cells have the power to morph into any kind of cell in your body, heart, brain, nerve, liver cells, you name it. That’s why scientists say that stem cells will be used someday to regenerate the damaged tissue of any organ. But stem cells in your bone marrow have a different purpose â€“ they are destined to become vital components of your immune system. And that’s the key to this breakthrough treatment that has already reversed various cancers, diabetes, and a number of autoimmune disorders. It’s based on the answer to a simple but important question: Why do some people get chronic diseases and others don’t? Because when chronic disease strikes, it means your immune system has broken down. A study published by the American Society of Hematology found thriving immune systems in centenarians and healthy seniors, but those who were younger and had chronic diseases all had weakened immune systems. Specifically, those with chronic diseases had fewer special killer cells called Natural Killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell that targets cancer and infected cells. And only adult stem cells in your bone marrow can make NK cells. At the first sign of trouble, your NK cells flood into your blood stream to infiltrate tumors and infections, and attack them. It’s all about bulking up your immune system. Take cancer, for example. Cancer isn’t the mysterious illness your doctor and the rest of the medical establishment want you to believe. Like other chronic diseases, cancer is your body’s natural reaction to the inflammation caused by the toxic, modern environment around you. That’s why cancer cells are constantly forming inside you; we live in a toxic world. But if your immune system is strong, it will swat those cancer cells like flies, along with every other disease going. The problem is that inflammation destroys your immune system. In fact, your immune system has been under attack from inflammation-causing irritants for years and you’ve been unaware of it, because it’s been happening at the cellular level. These silent irritants are slowly killing you: • Environmental toxins and pollutants; • Poor diet; • Excess weight; • Cigarette smoke. But there is one irritant that is worse than all of the above… I’m talking about stress. Chronic stress has a devastating effect on your immune system, and has been linked to the inflammation that causes heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. Here’s why: Your immune system responds to chronic stress with one, overriding reaction – and that’s inflammation. But here’s good news: The solution to repairing your broken immune system is found in the stem cells of your own bone marrow – no matter what your age or your state of health. This breakthrough therapy works by tapping the stem cells you already have in your own body, then freezing and storing them so you can use them against diseases you may get in the future. Storing your stem cells is perhaps also the ultimate in “bio-insurance.” But even if you already have a chronic disease, your immune system stem cells can still be “activated” with a special protein to produce more NK cells. This new field of medicine is exciting and echoes what I’ve been telling my patients for years: keep your immune system strong. It’s your best ally against disease – even cancer. So here are my top four immune-system boosters you can start with at home right away: 1. Watch your diet. Our modern diet has replaced nutritious, healthy protein and fats with “empty” calories like grains and starchy carbohydrates. Switch to a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins to boost your immune system and your ability to fight off infections. You should also avoid high fructose corn syrup, which causes inflammation. 2. Get plenty of sleep. Your stem cells and immune system need sleep. This is when your body’s maintenance work takes place. When you’re deprived of sleep, your immune system suffers and your body becomes vulnerable. 3. Cut your stress. Stress creates a hormone called cortisol. A little cortisol can help you. But a steady stream of it is toxic to your immune system. You should clear the stress from your mind and your body for at least 10 minutes every day. Mediation or yoga can be great stress busters. And so is exercise. 4. Take cat’s claw. There are a number of immune-system boosting herbs you can take, and one of my favorites is cat’s claw. This herb stimulates T-cells to boost the immune system and fight infection. You can find it in health food stores. Look for a supplement made from the inner bark of the plant and take 500 mg. per day. To your good health, Al Sears, MD, CNS To read the original article click here. For more articles by Al Sears, MD click here.

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