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Herbal pill may protect against prostate cancer

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New York: A pill containing olive oil and herbs could protect men from developing prostate cancer, according to scientists at Columbia University in the US.

The results of a trial, published in the medical journal Nutrition And Cancer, appear to confirm he herbal mixture has powerful anti-cancer properties. It was found that the supplement reduced the rate at which cancer cells grow and spread in the prostate by about 80 per cent.

Called Zyflamend, the supplement is based on olive oil and ten different herbs. It is already widely used as an alternative to prescription drugs in conditions such as arthritis. This is because it appears to reduce inflammation that causes painful, swollen joints.

Available through health food suppliers and costing around £25 for 60 capsules, Zyflamend attracted the attention of researchers at Columbia University after tests showed it stopped cancer cells multiplying.

But after testing the pill on almost 50 men, the team admitted they had not expected it to have such a potent effect.

‘These results were particularly surprising and show greater promise in the fight against prostate cancer,’ said Dr Debra Bemis, who led the study.

‘We hope the benefits shown will be confirmed in a larger scale trial already in progress.’

The disease is on the increase and although genetics are known to be a factor, studies show vegetarians are half as likely to get it as meat-eaters.

Treatments include surgery to remove the prostate, radiotherapy to kill cancer cells or hormone therapy, where testosterone levels in the body are reduced in order to starve the tumour.

In the search for ways to prevent the disease, most research has concentrated on lycopene — a substance found in tomatoes and shown to halt tumour growth.

But last year, the Columbia University team set up the first clinical trial to investigate the effects of Zyflamend.

The supplement includes concentrated extracts from a range of common herbs and spices, such as turmeric, ginger, rosemary and oregano. Other ingredients include green tea extracts, a type of basil found only in India and herbs from Japan and China.

Several ingredients have been found to block the effects of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2. This is responsible for triggering inflammation throughout the body in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.

Some experts believe it is also implicated in the development of certain cancers.

The U.S. researchers studied the herbal pill’s effects by looking at what impact it had on a condition called prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN.

This is where the top layers of cells of the prostate start to divide more rapidly than usual.

It’s a pre-cancerous state that greatly increases the chances of a man going on to develop a tumour. A man with PIN has a 50 to 70 per cent chance of getting cancer.

Tests showed that the supplement dramatically slowed the rate at which pre-cancerous cells grew.

Dr Bemis said: ‘Zyflamend has shown an ability to reduce cancer cell proliferation by as much as 78 per cent, and to induce cancer cell death. These results are exceptionally promising.’

A few squares of dark chocolate a day may stave off artery hardening in smokers

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Zurich: Dark chocolate may stave off artery hardening in smokers, and a few squares every day could potentially cut the risk of serious heart disease, finds a small study in Heart.

Researchers compared the effects of dark (74% cocoa solids) and white chocolate on the smoothness of arterial blood flow in 20 male smokers.

In smokers the activity of both endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and platelets, which are involved in the formation of blood clots, are continuously disrupted, making the arteries susceptible to the narrowing and hardening characteristic of coronary artery disease.

Before eating 40 g of chocolate (about 2 oz), smokers were first asked to abstain from other foods rich in antioxidants, such as onions, apples, cabbage, and cocoa products for 24 hours.

After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow, an effect which lasted for eight hours. Blood sample analysis also showed that dark chocolate almost halved platelet activity. Antioxidant levels rose sharply after two hours.

White chocolate had no effect on endothelial cells, platelets, or antioxidant levels.

Dark chocolate has more antioxidants per gram than other foods laden with the substances, such as red wine, green tea, and berry fruits, say the authors, who suggest that the beneficial effects of dark chocolate lie in its antioxidant content.

“…Only a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake and beneficially affect vascular health,” conclude the authors.

Passive smoking almost doubles risk of degenerative eye disease

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Cambridge: Passive smoking almost doubles the risk of the progressively degenerative eye disease, age related macular degeneration, shows research in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

The macula lies at the centre of retina at the back of the eye. It’s crucial for fine central vision, which is essential for tasks, such as reading and driving.

The risk of macular degeneration increases once someone is over the age of 60. It is a leading cause of partial sightedness and blindness in many European countries and the USA.

The researchers base their findings on 435 people with end stage macular degeneration and 280 partners who lived with them.

They found that the more a person smoked, the greater were their chances of developing age related macular degeneration, and the results showed that it was the amount smoked rather than whether someone had ever smoked that was critical.

Regularly smoking a pack or more a day for 40 years almost tripled the risk of age related macular degeneration compared with those who did not smoke, the research showed.

Smoking increased the risk of both types of macular degeneration (geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularisation).

Giving up for 20 years or more cut the risk to levels comparable with those for non-smokers, the research found

The risks were also increased for partners who were non-smokers, and had lived with a smoker for five years or more. Their risk nearly doubled.

Leucine-rich diet may slow age-related muscle loss

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New York: The amino-acid leucine, found in protein, may help to prevent age-related muscle loss.

French researchers, who tested elderly rats, found that a leucine-supplemented diet restored a more youthful pattern of muscle-protein breakdown and synthesis when added to the diet. The older animals had shown a tendency toward excessive protein breakdown before going on the leucine-rich diet, but the amino acid appeared to erase that imbalance, according to findings published in the December issue of the Journal of Physiology.

Leucine is an essential amino acid, which means the body cannot manufacture it and it must be ingested through dietary protein. Along with other essential amino acids, leucine helps maintain muscle mass — which has made leucine-containing supplements a favorite of bodybuilders and athletes.

It’s well known that after the age of 40 or so, people gradually lose muscle mass, and it’s thought that an imbalance in muscle-protein synthesis and breakdown is involved.

In younger people, this process is typically in balance. For example, research shows that after a meal, muscle-protein breakdown slows, whereas synthesis ramps up in response to the influx of amino acids from food.

But in the new study, older rats did not show this post-meal dip in protein breakdown, whereas their younger counterparts did. A short time on the leucine-supplemented diet, however, restored a youthful pattern of protein breakdown in the elder rats.

The researchers are currently studying whether the same might be true of older adults, study co-author Didier Attaix, of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in Ceyrat, told Reuters Health.

Leucine is one of the building blocks of protein, particularly from animal foods, and it can be consumed through meat, dairy, soy, beans and other protein-rich sources. It’s also widely sold as a dietary supplement.

There is research evidence, Attaix noted, that leucine supplementation can help build muscle in humans, though he said he is not aware of any studies that have focused on elderly adults.

Preventing age-related muscle loss is important, Attaix and his colleagues point out, because muscle wasting contributes to physical disability and poor overall health in the elderly.

Attaix said they suspect that as people age, the metabolic system that inhibits muscle-protein breakdown after a meal starts to become insensitive to the normal effects of food. It’s possible, he speculated, that high leucine concentrations in the body can counter this — though that remains to be demonstrated in future studies.

Longevity linked to happiness, says Carnegie Mellon research

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New York: There is growing evidence that positive emotions such as happiness are linked to good health and increased longevity, but too many questions remain unanswered to draw definitive conclusions, according to a review of research conducted over the past 10 years.

The paper, authored by Sheldon Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, and Sarah Pressman, a doctoral candidate in psychology at Carnegie Mellon, was published in the December 12 issue of the Psychological Bulletin.

The strongest links between positive emotions and health were found in studies that examined “trait” emotions, which reflect a person’s typical emotional experience, rather than “state” emotions, which reflect momentary responses to events. People who typically report more positive emotions experience lower rates of chronic illness, symptoms and pain.

Moreover, among the elderly who live on their own or with family rather than in retirement homes, positive emotional dispositions are linked to living longer. In contrast, positive emotions are not associated with increased longevity in studies of other populations, and though possibly beneficial for recovery from less serious diseases, extremely positive emotions are in some cases associated with poorer outcomes among those with serious illness.

“Overall, the literature suggests an association between positive emotions and some measures of good health, but there are many subtle weaknesses in these studies and it would be inappropriate to make any strong conclusions,” Cohen said.

One problem in interpreting the literature is that in many cases, it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of positive and negative emotions. For example, do elderly living on their own or with family live longer because they are happy or because they are not sad? Interestingly, people’s experiences of positive and negative emotions are partly independent in some circumstances. For instance, in looking back over the last month or year, one can reasonably report having been both happy and sad. A definitive answer to whether positive or negative emotions are contributing to a health outcome can only come from studies that measure both types of emotions and examine their independent effects. Consequently, it is difficult to conclude from the existing literature whether happiness leads to a healthier and longer life or unhappiness results in a less healthy, shorter one.

The authors also were concerned with the possibility that some measures of positive emotions may themselves be direct indicators of physical health. For example, adjectives such as “energetic,” “full-of-pep,” and “vigorous” may reflect a positive mood, but may also reflect how healthy one feels. Self-rated health has been found to predict illness and longevity above and beyond objective health measures such as physician ratings. Consequently, it is important for future research to include standard measures of self-rated health to help exclude the possibility that researchers are merely predicting good objective health from good perceived health masquerading as positive emotions.

Cohen and Pressman suggest that future research focus on determining how emotions “get under the skin” to influence health. In other words, what behavioral or physiological changes do positive emotions trigger to ward off illness? The authors propose that emotions can have a direct impact on health; for example, they may influence lifestyle choices, or the function of the immune and autonomic nervous systems. Alternatively, they suggest that positive emotions may also influence health by mitigating the harmful effects of stress.

“Overall, we consider this literature provocative but not definitive. It does not unequivocally indicate that positive emotions are beneficial for health, but instead suggests a more divergent view of when positive emotions may have positive, negative or no effects,” Cohen said.

Gum disease linked to high levels of bad cholesterol

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New York: Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have established a link between gum disease and high levels of a particularly bad form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

In the new study, researchers focused on 12 subjects with generalized aggressive periodontitis and 12 healthy controls. Researchers found that patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, a condition associated with chronically infected and inflamed gums, generally had elevated plasma levels of a subclass of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) called small-dense LDL. Past studies have linked small-dense LDL with a three to six fold increased risk of heart disease or stroke.

The study found that one reason the periodontitis subjects may have had an increased level of small-dense LDL is because they had a decreased level of activity of an enzyme known as platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). PAF-AH is able to break down some of the inflammatory, atherogenic components of LDL. The observed decrease of LDL-associated PAF-AH activity in patients with severe periodontitis may increase the cardiovascular risk of these patients and be partially responsible for the increased plaque build up in the arteries of periodontitis patients.

Currently, the researchers are conducting a larger study with a greater number of patients who have different degrees of periodontitis.

Selenium may cut risk of arthritis

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New York: Researchers in the US believe that low levels of the mineral selenium could increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the knees.

Levels of selenium were measured in the toenail clippings and those with high levels were found to have half the risk of developing severe osteroarthritis in their knees.

The conclusion is that the mineral acts as a protective antioxidant but more research is necessary to prove this.

Broccoli fights liver cancer, says new research

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Shanghai: A human trial conducted in China shows broccoli sprouts can help the body detoxify carcinogens, which may reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.

A team from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, in collaboration with scientists at the Qidong Liver Cancer Institute, Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, conducted the study. It is published in the November issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.

This is the first study to provide direct evidence that broccoli sprouts can enhance the body’s detoxifying system to help prevent cancer. Although previous laboratory studies indicated this was true, this is the first time that a direct observation of this effect in humans was possible.

The blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in Jiangsu Province near Shanghai, a rural area where the incidence of liver cancer is extremely high due to consumption of foods tainted with aflatoxin, a powerful carcinogen produced by mold contaminating the grain that the population grows and eats. The toxin binds to DNA and becomes a chemical indicator, or biomarker, for an increased risk of developing liver cancer.

Three-day-old broccoli sprouts with known levels of sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) were grown at the site in China and prepared as a liquid extract to ensure standard dosages. One hundred test subjects drank 5 ounces of the extract (equivalent to eating about 2 ounces of broccoli sprouts) each day for 2 weeks. A control group drank a similar extract that contained virtually no SGS.

Tests of subjects’ urine showed carcinogens were being detoxified and removed from the body in those who drank the SGS extract. As the levels of sulforaphane derivatives in the urine increased, the amount of DNA damage decreased, which may indicate a reduction in cancer risk.

“While this study did not directly look at liver cancer, it is clear that liver cancer has had devastating consequences in this region of China and in other parts of the world. This study is an initial step in evaluating dietary methods for preventing this disease, and it may be applicable to other types of cancers,” said participating epidemiologist Jian-Guo Chen, MD, of the Qidong Liver Cancer Institute.

Further studies are in the planning phases to examine dose levels and implications for other high-risk populations.

In 1992, scientists at Johns Hopkins first determined that broccoli contained high levels of the long-lasting antioxidant sulforaphane. In 1997, they discovered that 3-day-old broccoli sprouts contained more than a 20 times higher concentration of SGS than mature broccoli.

More than 350 studies have appeared in peer-reviewed scientific publications pointing to sulforaphane and SGS from broccoli and broccoli sprouts as powerful health protectors.

World’s oldest women is 116 years

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Quito:A 116-year-old woman from Ecuador is now officially the world’s oldest person.

Maria Esther Capovilla took the title froman American woman after relatives sent her birth certificate details to the Guinness World Records.

Elizabeth Bolden, 115, of Memphis, Tennessee, was previously believed to be the oldest.

Mrs Capovilla was born in Guayaquil, in western Ecuador, on September 14, 1889, and still lives with her son and his wife.

She has five children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1949.

Emiliano Mercado Dei Toro, 114, of Puerto Rico, is the world’s oldest man.

Sex is the new weightloss diet

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Miami: Now comes even more good news. Sex may be the easiest, most pleasurable way to exercise and lose weight. “You’re burning calories and it beats the heck out of jogging,” says Dr. Eva Ritvo of the University of Miami.

Author Kerry McCloskey recently rocked the Oprah Winfrey Show by revealing her “amazing secret.” Four years ago, McCloskey was overweight and frustrated. “All the popular diets I tried failed. Too much denial. Too many restrictions.” What finally worked? “Intense lovemaking with my future husband.” McCloskey quickly lost 23 pounds and kept them off. Her husband lost 15 pounds. To a cheering audience on Oprah, McCloskey explained that every half hour of sex burns 150-250 calories. “My husband and I have sex eight times a week. You do the math!”

Celebrities are also slimming down under the sheets. Salon.com reported that actress Angelina Jolie’s fabulous figure in “Tomb Raider” didn’t result just from pumping iron. Sex with her then husband, Billy Thornton, “did the trick.” British model Lisa Snowden has also confessed: “I don’t diet. I eat what I like… But what I love best is running off in the middle of the day to make love. It really burns off the calories!”

McCloskey believes that everyone should know the top 10 health benefits of sex. Learn about them at a href=”http://www.lovediet.com/”>lovediet.com

She also shares her scientific formula for achieving lasting weight loss and a more passionate relationship in her book, The Ultimate Sex Diet, available at lovediet.comand at leading online booksellers.

“Every couple should know exactly how to take advantage of the amazing benefits of making love,” recommends McCloskey, “as well as the passion- igniting secrets, the sexy exercises and the sensual eating strategies in The Ultimate Sex Diet. More loving is the ultimate gift we can give each other.”

Face transplant ethical says top surgeon

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Beverly Hills: Renowned plastic surgery expert says face transplants are “Absolutely Ethical.” Nationally recognized authority on plastic surgery, Dr. Anthony Griffin, is speaking out in support of face transplant technology. The first human transplant was recently performed in France, and many groups have questioned whether the procedure is ethical.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 9, 2005 — Nationally recognized authority on plastic surgery, Dr. Anthony Griffin, is speaking out in support of face transplant technology. The first human transplant was recently performed in France, and many groups have questioned whether the procedure is ethical.

“What is not ethical about helping to restore a person’s quality of life?” Says Dr. Griffin, Director of the Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgery Institute and star of ABC’s hit show Extreme Makeover. “Face Transplants are an outstanding part of the future of Plastic Surgery. We have the technology and we will use it, and it is absolutely ethical. However, the debate as to whether or not it is appropriate will continue to rage on.”

As the author of “Surgery Without Scars: A Worry-Free, Multi-Cultural Guide to Plastic Surgery Today,” Dr. Anthony Griffin specializes in minimally invasive procedures that minimize scars, and emphasizes procedures that result in a natural appearance. A diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Griffin has more than 17 years of training and experience in plastic surgery. He is board certified and an active member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Griffin has published many scientific articles and has made numerous presentations throughout the United States and abroad. He is currently writing a new book, “Extreme Satisfaction,” that will explore the trend of plastic surgery and offer tips and advice for those seeking these procedures.

Smoking can damage your sex life, says EU

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London: Smoking can seriously damage your sex life – that is the message from theEuropean Commission’s ‘HELP – For a life without tobacco’ campaign. While tobacco marketing regularly associates smoking with glamour, fun, and
attractiveness, the stark reality is far from the fantasy featured in
fashion shows, magazine editorials and tobacco advertising.

The bad news is that smoking can ruin your health, happiness and
relationships. The good news is that giving up smoking is beneficial. An article produced by the HELP campaign in conjunction with the ENSP (European Network of Smoking Prevention) highlights the harm that smoking can do to both men and women’s sex life.
The issues include: · Impotence (men) · Hormonal changes affecting appearance (women) · Damage to testes and to sperm (men) · Painful and irregular periods (women) · Cervical cancer (women) · Premature aging (men & women) · Fertility problems (men and women) When it comes to smoking, sex and romance, the picture is not a pretty one.

Smoking damages almost every aspect of our looks, our health and our relationships. The good news is that in young people, many of these effects can be avoided or even reversed by quitting. “Many young people view smoking as a pleasurable, relaxing activity after sex but they don’t think about the long term health consequences. Impotence and infertility are health messages we need to make young people aware of.

They need to know it’s not cool to light up after sex. QUIT advisors can help young people talk through all issues concerning smoking and sexual health,” said Ruth Bosworth, Director of Services, QUIT.

The Europe Community is actively developing a complete anti-smoking policy. You can find out more on thefollowing websites: www.help-eu.com and Smokers looking for help to quit smoking can call Quitline 0800 00 22 00 or
email stopsmoking@quit.org.uk for friendly advice on how to stop.

Ephedra – FDA seizes supplements – 6 December 2005

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FDA Press Release

This listserv covers mainly Class I (life-threatening) recalls. A complete listing of recalls can be found in the FDA Enforcement Report at: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/Enforce.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P05-94
December 6, 2005

Media Inquiries:
Catherine McDermott, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA
FDA Acts to Seize Ephedra-Containing Dietary Supplements
At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon filed Complaints for Forfeiture against Nature’s Treat Energy Plus #1, a dietary supplement that contains ephedra, an herbal source of ephedrine alkaloids. The supplement is distributed by Nature’s Treat, Inc., Gainesville, Texas and ACD Distributing, LLC, of Eugene, Oregon.

“FDA will do all we can to protect Americans from potentially dangerous dietary supplements,” said Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, Acting FDA Commissioner. “We will continue to warn consumers to avoid consumption of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.”

Ephedrine alkaloids are adrenaline-like stimulants that can have potentially dangerous effects on the heart. Recent studies have confirmed that ephedrine alkaloids raise blood pressure and otherwise stress the circulatory system, effects that are linked to adverse health effects like heart attacks and strokes. Based on this and other evidence in the scientific literature, FDA issued a rule in 2004 declaring that dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. According to the product’s label, the recommended daily dose of Energy Plus #1 contains 46.8 mg of ephedrine alkaloids.

U.S. Marshals seized 2634 bottles (120 capsules per bottle) of Nature’s Treat Energy Plus #1 (lot numbers 205108 and 205109) from Nature’s Treat, Inc., Gainesville, Texas. Also seized were 363 bottles of the same lot numbers from ACD Distributing. The seized products have a total retail value of approximately $150,000.

Ephedra supplement seized by FDA

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The US’s Food and Drug Administration has seized dietary supplements branded Nature’s Treat Energy Plus No1, a dietary supplement that contains ephedra, a herb linked to increased liklihood of heart attack and stroke.

“FDA will do all we can to protect Americans from potentially dangerous dietary supplements,” said Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, Acting FDA Commissioner. “We will continue to warn consumers to avoid consumption of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.”

Ephedrine alkaloids are adrenaline-like stimulants that can have potentially dangerous effects on the heart. Recent studies have confirmed that ephedrine alkaloids raise blood pressure and otherwise stress the circulatory system, effects that are linked to adverse health effects like heart attacks and strokes.

Based on this and other evidence in the scientific literature, FDA issued a rule in 2004 declaring that dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. According to the product’s label, the recommended daily dose of Energy Plus No 1 contains 46.8 mg of ephedrine alkaloids.The distributors are Nature’s Treat, Inc., Gainesville, Texas and ACD Distributing, LLC, of Eugene, Oregon.

US Marshals seized 2634 bottles (120 capsules per bottle) of Nature’s Treat Energy Plus No1 (lot numbers 205108 and 205109) from Nature’s Treat, Inc., Gainesville, Texas. Also seized were 363 bottles of the same lot numbers from ACD Distributing. The seized products have a total retail value of approximately $150,000.

Silicon may help prevent Alzheimer’s

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Toulouse: Elderly women are less likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s if they drink plenty of water containing the trace mineral silicon.

Doctors in Toulouse, France, carried out research on some 7,968 women over a seven year period. They discovered that women with lower intakes of water performed worse on cognitive function than those with higher intakes.

Those who went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease were three times as likely to have had low intakes of silicon from water.

The richest ditary sources of silicon are grains such as whet, oats and rice. Unrefined soy products also contain relatively large amounts and it can also be taken as a supplement.

Silicon has no known effect on the brain but it does inhibit the absorption of aluminium and increases its extretion in urine. Aluminium is a toxic metal thought to play a role in dementia and has been used in cooking pans.

Doctors believe that silicon make prevent the accumulation of aluminium in the brain.

Hormone explains why some dieters fail

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New York: Doctors at Columbia University Medical Centre believe they have discovered why some dieters find it difficult to maintain weightloss and pile the pounds back on. A hormone called leptin, which regulates the metabolism may be responsible.

Leptin levels fall when people diet making it increasingly harder to burn off calories, said the findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Dr Michael Rosenbaum, who led the research believes the findings could lead to a new diet drug containing leptin.

He said that leptin helps the body believe it is happy with a lower weight and help dieters keep off the pounds.

The research examined the reactions of 10 healthy men and women. As they lost weight their leptin levels fell. They were given leptin and maintained their weightloss.

In previous studies it has been found that leptin acts as an appetite suppressant. Levels also fall if we do not get enough sleep making us want to eat more.

Nose stem cells may be used to repair spinal cord damage

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London: British scientists are developing a technique to aid paralysed patients to walk using stem cells to repair spinal cord damage. It may also benefit stroke victims and allow some blind and deaf people to see and hear.

It takes self-regenerating stem cells from nerves in the lining of the nose and injects them into damaged points in the spine.

The cells provide a bridge enabling spinal nerves to grow and potentially to re-connect, alleviating or possibly curing paralysis.

The first ten patients will be treated next year at the National Hospital in Queen’s Square, London, following successful tests in dogs and rats.

The research has been called the ‘Superman’ spinal cure after actor Christopher Reeve, who played the superhero.

Reeve campaigned tirelessly for stem cell research after being paralysed in a horse riding accident in 1995.

He died last year aged 52 without seeing his dream come true.

Professor Geoffrey Raisman, who is leading the clinical trials, was presented with a research medal in the actor’s name by Meryl Streep in New York last week.

He told a London conference yesterday: ‘It will be historic if we can show it works. It will open the door.

‘There is enormous potential for treating injuries which at the moment cannot be cured.’

The stem cells used are in nerves which connect the nose with the brain, allowing us to smell.

Unlike most other cells in the body, these regenerate throughout adulthood.

The cells will be multiplied in the laboratory and injected into the spinal cord.

Harvesting the cells is difficult and currently only a small number can be retrieved, limiting the type of injury that can be treated.

‘At present we can only multiply the cells two or threefold,’ said Professor Raisman, who began his research 35 years ago.

‘We have to spread them as thinly as possible to form a bridge, so we can only treat small injuries.

‘If this works there will be a tidal wave of interest and we can then work to get bigger replication.’

The first patients will have suffered an injury where the nerves in their arm have lost their connection with the spinal cord, resulting in limited arm movement.

The injury normally occurs in motorbike accidents and never recovers of its own accord.

Professor Raisman, who is chairman of the committee on neurological regeneration at the Institute of Neurology, University College London, said: ‘We know that no one with this condition has ever recoveredso if we get one patient to recover it is important.

‘We are trying something that has never been done. This is a unique trial and we hope it will lead to an incredible advance.

‘There is no way currently of repairing damage to the spinal cord and nerves.

‘I have spent my lifetime on this, and this is the crucial step.’

Scientists in China are reported to have successfully treated spinal cord victims but this has not been independently corroborated.

Trials are being carried out in Australia, with results expected in 2007.

Professor Raisman added: ‘Stroke, blindness and deafness can all be caused by nerve damage and this is the first step towards a treatment.

It is something this country can absolutely lead on.’

Controversy has surrounded research on stem cells – which have the ability to become many different types of tissue in the body – where they are taken from embryos.

But the latest work uses the patient’s own stem cells – and it avoids the risks of rejection.

Professor Raisman’s team is funded entirely through donations raised by a consortium of charities including the British Neurological Research Trust.

‘Our programme costs half a million pounds a year which isn’t much in the great scheme of things, but I spend 90 per cent of my time fundraising,’ he added.

Health benefits of alcohol may be wrong

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Auckland: Researchers in New Zealand say that a daily glass of wine, long recommended as beneficial for heart disease, may have the opposite effect.

They say previous research failed to allow for the fact that people who stop drinking because of heart problems may be included in studies and misclassified as never having consumed alcohol. This would result in the misleading impression that small amounts of alcohol consumed regularly protect against heart disease.

The latest analysis, reported in the medical magazine, The Lancet, contrasts with the prevalent opinion in France, where a daily glass of wine is seen as part of a healthy way of life.

One influential study recently suggested having up to three drinks a day, each containing about ten grams of alcohol, could reduce heart attack risk by a quarter.

But Dr Rod Jackson, who led the latest study, says any benefit from light to moderate drinking is probably small and unlikely to outweigh the harm caused by alcohol. He says the first studies showing the protective effect of alcohol were published in the 1970s and 1980s. These early observations were confirmed by a meta-analysis – a pooling together of findings from different studies, which indicated a 20 per cent to 25 per cent cut in heart disease risk linked to light drinking. But sDr Jackson of the University of Auckland claims these studies failed to avoid confounding errors that gave misleading results.

For instance, a study published this year involving 200,000 U.S. adults found 27 of 30 cardiovascular risk factors were significantly more common in non- drinkers than light to moderate drinkers.

Such risk factors, already present in study participants, could sway the results, it is suggested.

If anything, the evidence of heart protection is more convincing for heavy drinkers, say the Auckland experts.

Post-mortem studies show alcoholics have relatively ‘clean’ arteries, but the risks of alcohol abuse for these people greatly outweighed any benefit from drinking.

Alcohol abuse harms almost every organ in the body, causing problems such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, stomach bleeding, high blood pressure, stroke, nerve damage, osteoporosis and dementia.

Dr Jackson said: ‘Any coronary protection from light to moderate drinking will be very small and unlikely to outweigh the harms.’

Surgeons carry out first face transplant

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Paris: French surgeons have carried out the world’s first face transplant in a controversial medical breakthough.

It was carried out in France on a 36-year-old woman who lost her nose, lips and chin when she was savaged by a dog.

Doctors replaced the central triangle of her face with tissue taken from a donor’s face.

The woman has survived the critical first 48 hours without rejecting the transplant but is still in intensive care. Some experts put the risk of rejection of facial tissue as high as 50 per cent within five to 10 years.

The operation will intensify the ethical and moral debate which has surrounded research into face transplants.

Four teams around the world have been working towards this point but efforts in the UK effectively stalled in 2003 when the Royal College of Surgeons called for more research, saying the psychological impact of failure would be ‘immense’.

The ultimate goal of the pioneers is to replace an entire face.

The operation, believed to have taken around ten hours, was carried out on Sunday and Monday in the northern town of Amiens.

The team was headed by Jean-Michel Dubernard, who carried out the first hand transplant in 1998.

The surgeons worked through the night to remove the facial skin, fat and some blood vessels from a donor in Lille who had been declared brain dead. Permission had been granted by relatives.

The team then placed the graft over the recipient’s face before using microsurgical techniques to connect the tissues. Donated material is superior to skin grafts taken from the patient because facial skin is so different from tissue elsewhere in the body, such as the thigh, as it is finer with a slimmer layer of underlying fat.

The woman, from the northern town of Valenciennes, was disfigured by a dog bite in May and it is believed she had undergone counselling to prepare her for a possible transplant.

The donor will have been matched for facial colouring and skin texture, but the recipient will not take on her appearance because underlying bone structure forms such an important part of an individual’s appearance.

The medical team will be monitoring the patient for signs of rejection. If there are serious complications the tissue will have to be removed.

Even if the operation is a success she will have to take drugs for life to suppress her immune system. These drugs heighten the risk of cancer.

A source at the hospital said ‘The team were very excited after the operation. It is a world first which has massive implications for many badly disfigured people around the world.’

Red wine may help osteoarthritis

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San Diego: Scientists have discovered that resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in red wine, appears to stop the damage caused to cartilage in osteoarthritis.

During laboratory experiments, tissue was taken from patients undergoing knee replacement surgery and cells were exposed to small doses of resveratrol. The results,presented at a recent American College Of Rheumatology meeting in San Diego, showed the wine chemical protected cells in the knee joint against further damage.

Osteoarthritis develops when cartilage becomes roughened and thin. In a healthy joint, the cartilage acts as a cushion, spreading forces evenly when pressure is applied. Its smooth, slippery surface also allows the bones to move freely. The cartilage stays slippery and smooth thanks to a thick fluid — called synovial fluid — produced by a membrane that surrounds the joint.

But if the cartilage breaks down, usually through wear and tear, the bone underneath starts to thicken and the joint becomes inflamed. In severe cases, the bones grind together, which can be extremely painful.

Treatments range from painkilling creams and pills to steroid injections, designed to curb the swelling inside the joint. But many people end up on a waiting list for replacement joints.

The latest findings from the New York University of Medicine may have found a new treatment based on red wine, although the research is still at a very early stage.

In the new study into resveratrol’s effects on osteoarthritis, tiny samples of cartilage taken from damaged knee joints were combined with the antioxidant compound.

The results showed it slashed production of chemicals that cause inflammation in the joints by between 50 and 90 per cent.

It also stimulated production of key proteins that make up an important part of the connective tissue in the joints.

Red wine also contains polyphenrols which reduce the amount of bad LDL cholesterol in the arteries and increase the levels of protective HDL cholesterol. This means blood is less likely to clot, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

The anti-oxidants in red wine -tannin and resveratrol – also help guard against cancer and slow tumour growth.

Studies have shown that a glass a day could be effective against lung cancer.

Patients do benefit from homeopathic medicine

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London: Researchers who examined more than 6,500 people over a period of six years have discovered that 70 per cent given homeopathic remedies had health improvements.

The results of the survey by Bristol Homeopathic Hospital have been published in the Journal of Compementary Medicine.

The researchers said the findings demonstrated the value of homeopathy to the NHS and showed that it should be made more widely available.

Another study in August in the Lancet suggested the opposite that the benefits of homeopathic remedies were all in the imagination and they had no more effect than placebo pills.

In homeopthy illnesses are are treated using highly diluted forms of herbs and minerals that in higher quantities could produce the symptoms of the illness they are attempting to cure.

The patients examined in the resarch had a range of conditions including asthma, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, menopausal problems and depression.
All had been referred for treatment by the GP after conventional medication had failed to fully control their symptoms.

The doctor recorded their condition at the first appointment and at each follow-up visit patients were asked about any improvement or worsening of their symptoms.
The study found that, overall, 70 per cent noted some improvement in their condition as a result of the homeopathic remedy they were given. Children particularly appeared to benefit.

Among under 16s with asthma, 89 per cent reported improvements and 75 per cent felt ‘better’ or ‘much better’.
Study author Dr David Spence, of the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital and chairman of the British Homeopathic Association, said the results demonstrated the value of homeopathy within the UK’s state medical system, the National Health Service.

A homeopath takes a detailed account of a patient’s medical history, symptoms and personality to create tailor-made pills for them. The study did not identify specific remedies that volunteers were given for their conditions.
However, those with asthma will often be prescribed complementary remedies such as arsenicum album, carbo vegetabilis and chamomilla to help ease anxiety, coughs and breathing problems.

The range of homeopathic substances given to those with eczema include calendula, petroleum and antimonium crudum which all help ease skin problems.
Other researchers cast doubt on the latest findings.
They directly contradict the study in The Lancet which concluded-that homeopathic remediesare no better than the ‘dummy pills’ in clinical trials.

Exercise boosts brainpower in rats

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Gothenburg: Moderate exercise stimulates the brain, according to new research from Sweden.

The key to being quick-witted lies in working out little and often, but taking too much exercise can have the opposite effect.

Biologist Andrew Naylor who led the research at Gothenburg University said that they had looked at how exercise affected the brains of rats. Half were given access to treadmills. After nine days the rats taking exercise had five times as many new brain cells in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory, than those who did not.

Another experiment showed who took lots of exercise were no better than those who took none.

Dr Naylor believes the results can be explained by the actions of hormones – ‘ feelgood’ endorphins and glucocorticoids, which are produced during stress.
The former are produced during exercise and stimulate the production of new brain cells. But if the body becomes stressed from over- exercise, their effects are cancelled out by the latter, which slows the production of new brain cells.

Mediterranean diet reduces heart disease risk – new research

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Marseille: A new study by French doctors has revealed that eating a Mediterranean-style diet for three months can reduce the risk of heart disease by 15 percent.

The report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that the heart-healthy effects of the Mediterranean diet, rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish and olive oil and light on red meat, are well documented.

But this study looked at the effects when 212 men and women at moderate risk for heart disease were put on a Mediterranean diet or a standard low-fat diet for three months. Participants on the Mediterranean diet were instructed to eat fish four times a week and red meat only once a week. Men were allowed two glasses of red wine daily, while women were limited to one.

Recommendations for people on the low-fat diet were to eat poultry rather than beef, pork and other mammal meats; eat fish two or three times a week; stay away from animal products rich in saturated fat; and eat fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and vegetable oils.

While study participants did not follow all diet recommendations, the researchers found, eating habits did change in both groups. Study participants took in fewer calories and consumed more proteins and carbohydrates and less total fat and saturated fat. Both groups showed a small but significant drop in body mass index.

Among people on the Mediterranean diet, total cholesterol dropped by 7.5 percent, and it fell by 4.5 percent in the low-fat diet group. Based on this reduction, the researchers write, overall cardiovascular risk fell 15 percent with the Mediterranean diet and 9 percent with the low fat diet.

Both diets significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors to an overall comparable extent said the researchers at the Faculty of Medicine Timone in Marseille

Beer may contain anti-cancer compound

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Oregon:Most beers contain a unique compound which inhibit cancer causing enzymes.

Scientists at Oregon State University say the substance found in hops called xanthohumol can help the body detoxify carcinogens and inhibit tumour growth. It also appears to be a powerful antioxidant with the ability to reduce bad cholesterol.

Most beers are low in hops, except for porters, ales and stouts. As a result a ‘health beer’ with enhanced levels of the compound is being developed. ‘

Fred Stevens, one of the Oregon researchers said that they could not definitively say that beer prevented cancer.

But he added: ‘Most beer has low levels of this compound, and its absorption in the body is limited. We need to discover how to increase the levels or use it as a nutritional supplement.’

Stress increases risk of heart disease

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London: High levels of stress can provoke an increase in bad blood cholesterol, researchers at University College London have discovered.

High levels of LDL cholesterol is the type implicated in a number ofillnesses including cancer, depression and heart disease. In the study by University College London, 199 healthy middle-aged men and women were set a computer task using words, colours and shapes designed to put them under pressure.

In later tests there was a large rise in their cholesterol levels, including LDL type which can lead to heart disease by damaging blood vessels and limiting circulation.

The research, reported in the journal Health Psychology, those whose levels had risen most after the task had higher levels overall even three years later. Some were three times more likely to have harmful cholesterol.

Stress and anxiety are one of the biggest causes of long-term sickness in developed countries and cost substantial amounts in lost production and health care.

Dr Andrew Steptoe, the lead researcher, said it is was not fully understood why stress raises cholesterol. It could be that it upsets how the body breaks down fats.
He said the responses to stress could be used to warn doctors about who may be at risk of heart disease.