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New gene plays role in ageing, scientists discover

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Texas: Scientists in the United States have discovered a gene that can keep mice alive for 30% longer than normal.

They say the gene, called Klotho, has a key role to play in many of the processes related to ageing. Mice and people with defective forms of the gene appear to age faster.

Because humans have a very similar version of the gene, the hope is that it will show a way to improve our declining years.

Now researchers have shown that by boosting the activity of the gene, they can extend the natural lives of male mice from two to three years. The effect is not quite so strong in female mice.

“It could be one of the significant steps for developing anti-ageing therapy,” Dr Makoto Kuro-o, assistant professor of pathology at the University of Texas’ Southwestern Medical Center and senior author of the study, told Science magazine.

Klotho seems to delay many of the effects of old age, like the weakening of bones, clogging of the arteries and loss of muscle fitness.

This is important for those researching the causes of ageing, whose intention is not so much to prolong life as to improve the quality of our final years.

But there may be downsides with Klotho. The long-lived mice in the new experiments tend to be less fertile. And the gene may also predispose people to diabetes.

The trick for researchers will be to find ways of getting the life-enhancing results of Klotho while avoiding the drawbacks. Klotho seems to delay the effects of old age in mice.

Folic acid could slow Alzheimier’s, says new study

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Washington: The vitamin, folic acid, a B vitamin, can help the over-50s improve their memory, scientists claim.

Taking a daily supplement of the vitamin can help slow mental decline, a study has shown.

It raises the possibility that the acid might help to keep Alzheimer’s at bay or reduce the symptoms.

The news adds to mounting evidence-that the vitamin plays an important role in preventing or alleviating a range of disorders.

Folic acid is already recommended for pregnant women to reduce the risk of brain and spinal cord defects in their unborn child.

Research also suggests it may ward off heart disease and strokes.

In the latest study, Dutch scientists tested whether otherwise healthy people could slow age-related deterioration in memory by taking a daily dose.

More than 800 volunteers aged 50 to 75 took either a vitamin containing 800 micrograms of folic acid a day, or a dummy pill, for three years.

Those taking folic acid had better memories, equivalent to that of a person more than five years younger. Lead researcher Jane Durga, of Wageningen University, released details of the study at a meeting of the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association in Washington.

The study involved healthy older people who did not have Alzheimer’s symptoms, so there is no indication whether it might help sufferers. ‘That’s the key question,’ she said.

Folic acid is found in such foods as oranges and strawberries, dark green leafy vegetables and beans. In the U.S., it is also added to cereal and flour products and pressure has been building for national fortification of foods in Britain. That is currently under consideration by an advisory committee to the Government.

The recommended daily dose is 0.4mg and doctors advise women of childbearing age to take a supplement to ensure they get that much.

Read more on research,drugs and supplements at this link to the Life Extension Foundation:

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Key workers get bird flu drug first

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London: Supplies of anti-viral drugs to combat the deadly bird flu being forecast by scientists are in such short supply in the UK they will only be given to key people such as politicans and police in an outbreak, it was claimed today.

It is estimated that the UK only has enough drugs to protect less than two per cent of the population for one week should the country be hit by an avian flu pandemic.

The UK’s Department of Health has ordered 14.6 million doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug thought to be effective against the H5N1 strain, but only 900,000 doses are currently held. The rest will not be delivered until mid 2007.

Doctors have warned against people hoarding the vaccine because it would stop those who need it getting treatment.

The lethal bird virus has killed 120 people so far, mainly in Asia, where they are believed to have come into close contact with infected birds. Scientists are monitoring the wild bird population whom it is feared may spread the virus into domestically reared poultry and fowl.

Those with a healthy immune system will likely be most resistant to this flu.

ShouldersBack – treatment for backpain

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London: Around 2.5 million people in the UK experience suffer chronic back pain at some point in their lives which results in over 80 million days off work and this in itself leads to over a million GP referrals and costs more than £1.6 billion every year to treat. In total, three quarters of all UK adults have experienced back pain and eight million of them for periods of more than four weeks.

Back pain affects all professions, from chefs, through to office workers, people who practice yoga, electricians, doctors, nurses and those who partake in all forms of sport – but there is something that can help which is a simple, effective way to correct posture.

ShouldersBack was designed by orthopaedic professionals and is a unisex undergarment designed to gently remind you to maintain the correct posture even as the muscles tire. Made entirely of elastic and un-obtrusive so can be worn beneath clothes, ShouldersBack is flexible enough to allow movement but sturdy so the wearer remains upright.

Good posture encourages your muscles, joints and ligaments to work as nature intended. It means your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Good posture can also contribute towards the normal functioning of the nervous system. Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. In the long term, poor posture can even affect the digestive and respiratory system.

Operating on orthopaedic principles, ShouldersBack gently coaxes your back and also opens up the chest encouraging proper breathing and correct alignment without hyper-extending the lower back.

ShouldersBack costs £39.95 (+£2.50 P&P) and is available from LK Distribution Ltd on Tel: 01737 700 020.

Woman looses anti-ageing skin cream case

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Beijing: A woman who tried to sue pharma giant Procter & Gamble for making an allegedly ineffective and harmful anti-ageing product has lost her case because of insufficient evidence, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The woman, Lv Ping, from the central province of Jiangsi alleged P&G’s SK-II skin tightening and anti-wrinkle cream did not work as advertised and gave her a painful skin rash.

Lv said she will appeal to the Nanchang Intermediate People’s Court before Sept 1.

In April, media reports said P&G was fined 200,000 yuan by the Administration for Industrial and Commerce in Nanchang for false advertising claims for its SK-II cosmetics.

Xinhua quoted Ke Ruisi, vice president of P&G’s Greater China Section as saying SK-II sales had been hurt by April’s fine, adding the company planned to launch a new campaign in September.

Anti-ageing food boom

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London:Foods designed to help slow ageing are exploding onto the European market, with mainstream manufacturers confirming that the trend may be here to stay.

Antioxidants are thought to fight the ageing process caused by damaging free radicals, and although some scientists disagree with this theory, food makers are increasingly positioning antioxidant-rich products towards those concerned about wrinkles or age-related conditions.
The last six months has seen a flurry of launches marketed with references to anti-ageing, including dairy products, chocolate bars, breads and hot and cold beverages.

“We are seeing more of these products in Europe than anywhere else,” Lucy Cornford, research analyst at Mintel.

Europeans, increasingly interested in taking an active approach to their health, are also aware of the growing life expectancy and are looking to ensure better quality of life when older.

Yet although elderly people are set to make up a quarter of the total European population by 2020, food makers have not previously directed much new product development towards this group.

In the last year however the tide seems to have turned. In May leading dairy group Parmalat introduced a range of dairy products on the domestic market under the brand name ‘Jeunesse’, clearly targeting women aged 35-44 years old.

A milk, dairy-based fruit drink, yoghurt and dessert all contain the antioxidant CoQ10, more commonly found in anti-wrinkle creams.

“This is the first example from a mainstream company,” said Cornford.

“Antioxidant vitamins have long been added to food products but companies are making a bigger deal of this now,” she added. “Companies are really working on the assumption that the consumer knows about antioxidants and links them to anti-ageing.”

Chocolate makers were among the first to counter the unhealthy image of confectionery with the natural antioxidants found in the main ingredient, cocoa.

Belgian firm New Tree promotes the rich polyphenol content on its products, while Germany’s Sarotti also highlights the antioxidant levels of the Purpur range introduced in March.

Another product using the concerns about ageing to counter an unhealthy image, is the anti-ageing beer developed by the Neuzeller Kloster brewery in Germany. It contains flavonoids, said to improve the skin’s elasticity, spirulina, iron and vitamins A and D, also known to benefit the skin.

Germany appears to be one of the biggest markets for anti-ageing products, related to its strong ‘wellness’ trend. The ‘Fit for Fun’ brand launched a bread developed by Pema called Powerbread last year, which contains amaranth and sprouts to help slow ageing.

A rapeseed oil fortified with CoQ10 has also been introduced under the same brand, manufactured by Teutoburger Olmuhle.

In the US, where companies tend to take more risks with claims, EccoBella Botanicals’ is offering a range under the Health by Chocolate brand, said to be ‘the most decadent way to soft, smooth, luxurious skin’.

However while Parmalat’s range makes direct references to anti-ageing, most European firms are merely relying on the consumer’s awareness of antioxidants.

“This trend is almost 100 per cent about marketing and positioning rather than new ingredients. We have seen products being relaunched with new packaging to highlight the antioxidant content for example,” added Cornford.

“But it will come up more and more. If mainstream companies are willing to put their money behind it, it suggests that these products are doing well.”

UK public support organ transplantation, says BBC survey

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London:Most people in the UK agree with organ donation, but 51% of them have never discussed the subject with their families, according to a BBC survey to raise awareness of the issues.

Just under half of those who had not joined the NHS Organ Donor Register said they had not thought about it.

A further 30% said they wanted to, but had “not got around to it”.

Six out of 10 people believe there should be a change in the law to an opt-out system to mean that everyone would automatically be considered a potential donor unless they have specifically registered that they do not wish to be.

The survey also found most people vastly over-estimated the number of organ transplants carried out last year. In fact, only 7,725 heart, lung, kidney, pancreas or liver transplants were carried out. There are currently 7,708 people waiting for an organ transplant.

One in 10 of those questioned said they would not wish to donate their organs, but many had misconceptions over what donation involves.

Over half said that they didn’t want their body to be experimented on after their death. A third believed they were too old or unwell for their organs to be of any use
A fifth were concerned doctors would not fight as hard to save them if they knew they wished to be a donor, or that they might not really be dead when organs were
A quarter felt it might “tempt fate” if they joined the register
Organ transplant experts said all of these concerns were incorrect.

In terms of their own organs, 54% said they were most concerned about their heart. The lungs were the main worry for one in six, over half of whom were smokers.

The survey also highlighted people’s lack of awareness about the human body.

A quarter didn’t know that the kidneys filter waste products out of blood – 3% believed it helped improve a person’s sex drive.

Chris Rudge, Medical Director of UK Transplant – responsible for matching and allocating donated organs for transplant, and for maintaining the NHS Organ Donor Register – said: “We are glad the BBC has chosen to draw attention to this very important issue.

“We hope that it will help raise awareness of the benefits of transplantation and encourage people to make an informed decision about joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“The BBC survey confirms the widespread support that exists for organ donation in the UK and emphasises the vital need for people to talk about their own wishes with those close to them.”

A British Medical Association spokeswoman said: “What is worrying is that there is clearly still a lot of misunderstanding about organ donation. “The survey revealed that a fifth of respondents thought that if they joined the register, doctors would not fight as hard to save their life. This is totally incorrect.”

Researchers discover protein that may stop baldness

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Standford: A protein called TERT, is a key component of telomerase, an enzyme that adds DNA to the tips of chromosomes and helps cells proliferate, could open up new treatments for ageing including baldness.TERT is activated in 90% of human cancers.

The new study showed that in skin, it can activate dormant hair follicle stem cells, resulting in “shaggy” mice. This process was distinct from its previously known role of adding caps, called telomeres, to the ends of chromosomes.

Manipulating TERT could open up new avenues for developing therapies, suggest the researchers, led by Dr Steven Artandi, from Stanford University in California.

In the journal Nature he said that the discoveries suggested there may be new strategies for manipulating TERT for treating disorders connected with tissue injury and ageing.

The fact that TERT promoted rapid hair growth in mice also raises the prospect of baldness cures.

However, whether or not the telomerase protein can ever be used to restore hair to bald heads is far from certain.

In an accompanying commentary, Dr Elizabeth Blackburn, from the University of California at San Francisco, wrote: “In ancient Egypt, men smeared their pates with hippopotamus fat in a desperate bid to stave off baldness.

“Is telomerase the new hippopotamus fat? Probably not. But this enzyme is already known to be vital in sustaining tissues in health and disease, and we should look beyond its eponymous function to understand the full spectrum of its potential roles.”

Pregnancy may release stem cells into mother’s body

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Boston: Pregnancy may rejuvenate a mother’s brain, scientists at the Tufts University School of Medicine, have discovered following experiments on mice.

Stem cells from growing mouse foetuses migrate to the brains of their mothers and mature into cells that carry out different tasks.

If, as researchers expect, the process also occurs in humans, it could lead to the treatment of brain damage caused by strokes or Alzheimer’s by injection of stem cells from aborted foetuses.

It is well known that during pregnancy a small number of foetal stem cells pass through the placenta and into the mother’s bloodstream, a phenomenon called microchimerism. They can survive for decades in parts of the body including the liver, spleen and skin, and can repair damage.

The process makes evolutionary common sense as the foetus has a better chance of survival if the mother is fit and healthy both during and after pregnancy. However, this effect has never been recorded for brain cells.

Diana Bianchi, professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and a leading authority on microchimerism, told New Scientist magazine: “This is the first study to show conclusively that foetal cells cross the blood-brain barrier.”

L’Oréal withdraws TV campaign in wrinkle row

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London: The international cosmetics company L’Oréal was yesterday told to withdraw a multimillion-pound television advertising campaign starring the model Claudia Schiffer after the UK’s advertising watchdog found it could not back up the claims made for creams to combat cellulite and wrinkles.

The ruling is the latest to suggest some claims made by manufacturers of expensive creams and lotions that promise to defy the ageing process are more mumbo-jumbo than miracle cure.

In May, the Advertising Standards Authority also branded adverts for an anti-cellulite cream from L’Oréal’s rival Estée Lauder “misleading”. Advertising for cosmetics and shampoos from Chanel, Max Huber, Procter & Gamble and Dior have also been criticised by the ASA in the past.

In a £15bn cosmetic market that has become increasingly competitive, the ruling against L’Oréal is one of the most damning to date.
In the UK, women spend an estimated £6bn a year on beauty products, fuelled by adverts on TV and in glossy magazines, and extravagant packaging.

In the adjudication, to be published today, some of the claims made in the TV adverts for the anti-cellulite cream Perfect Slim and L’Oréal’s Anti-Wrinkle De-Crease were found to be misleading.

The advert for the latter, which featured Ms Schiffer, claimed that 76% of women “reported visible reduction on expression lines” and rapidly reduced wrinkles “in only one hour”. But the ASA’s expert found evidence supplied by L’Oréal was insufficient to support the claims, implying as it did that the cream had a physiological effect on the body rather than just a cosmetic one.

Another claim, that the cream was “the first with Boswelox to counteract skin micro contractions” was accompanied by on-screen text that made clear that the claim applied to isolated skin tissues in laboratory tests and not to the human face. But because the camera zoomed in on Ms Schiffer’s face as she pulled a variety of expressions at the same time as the clarification appeared, the ASA said the overall effect was misleading.

The advert for Perfect Slim, which promises to reduce cellulite and comes in both gel and patch form, was found to be similarly obtuse.

The ASA objected to the use of the term “anti-cellulite” because it implied that the product could reduce or eliminate cellulite, the “orange peel” effect often mocked by women’s magazines and tabloid newspapers when detected on celebrity skin.

It said the evidence produced by L’Oréal was again insufficient to back up the claim that the product made a physiological difference, rather than a purely cosmetic one. The advert also claimed that the product “visibly reduces the appearance of cellulite” on the basis of a survey of 48 women, 71% of whom agreed with the claim. But the ASA expert found no evidence to back up the claim, pointing out that the survey used no control or blind testing.

The French cosmetics giant, which in 2004 recorded annual profits of £1.4bn and has a presence in 130 countries, said the adverts had been approved by the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre, which was set up to provide pre-approval for TV ads. The ASA expert disagreed with the centre on several key points.

L’Oréal said that while it disagreed with the verdict, it would amend the adverts as directed. “All L’Oréal products are the result of rigorous research and development. The benefits offered by all our products are substantiated by scientific evidence as well as customer research,” said a spokeswoman.

Nanotechnology – How to Make Money

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First Book on How to Make Money Investing in Nanotechnology Released

June 2005: www.nanotechnology.com[The Nanotech Company] is pleased to release the first book on how to make money investing in nanotechnology and other so-called “small technologies,” titled “Nanotech Fortunes.”

Authored by the company’s founder and managing director Darrell Brookstein, a 32-year career investment professional, author-personalized first-editions of the 256 page hardcover book are only available at the company’s website, www.nanotechnology.com for a discounted $22.95 (retail $27.95). Best current price for the new book is at www.atlasbooks.com where it appears for $18.45.

Mr. Brookstein is a Duke University graduate who went on to lead investment banking, investment advisory, private equity, venture capital and hedge fund firms. Specializing in speculative, “boom/bust” industries, he teamed with noted bio-nanoscientist, Erkki Ruoslahti, MD, PhD, in 2001, and focused his investment acumen on this misunderstood field.

Nanotech Fortunes which informs readers how to make money and avoid losing it in investing in nanotechnology, has already received acclaim in nanotechnology circles. From non-scientist, investor readers:

“This is the first book I have found that tailors to the financial professional as well as a novice like me.” – JH

“If you’ve not read it yet, you’re already behind the nanocurve.” – CJ

“Read this book before you make the mistakes I did.” – JP

Because of Mr. Brookstein’s presentation of other nano-professionals’ and nanoscientists’ input, and the useful appendix, the book is called “The Source” for executives, scientists and investors.

Now, high-tech investors can learn the secrets of investing in the dynamic areas of nanotechnology and other “small technologies” without being intimidated by scientific jargon or hampered by irrelevant information.

Mr. Brookstein said, “I wrote this book for the readers of investment newsletters and books; they are who will enable the profit-exploding commercialization of technologies developed by scientists and engineers. Nanotechnology will drive industries and will touch everyone over decades. Anyone interested in the future of investing should read “Nanotech Fortunes.”

The Nanotech Company assists emerging small tech companies to achieve their corporate development goals and professional investors in investing in “small tech” by accessing its significant scientific, corporate development, and financial advisory resources. The company publishes a free e-digest of international “small technology” news, “The Best of the NanoWeek”.

For more information about “Nanotech Fortunes” and how to Make money investing in nanotechnology and other small technologies

Giant algae virus may hold cure to ageing and cancer, researchers discover

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London: A virus that infects small floating plants called marine algae has been found to contain compounds that could be used in anti-ageing and cancer, a British research team has discovered.

In a joint project by the UK’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Sanger Institute in Cambridge scientists unravelled the genetic code of the largest algal virus ever analysed.

The discovery unveiled in the journal Science, describes how they unearthed a cluster of genes responsible for making ceramide, a key component of anti-wrinkle and anti-ageing creams. The genes have never been found in a virus before; they are more commonly seen in animal and plant cells.

Ceramide can control a “death mechanism” that prolongs the life of a cell and then kills it at will. It is the same mechanism that causes a tadpole’s tail to disappear as it develops into a frog.

Dr Willie Wilson explained: “For an invading virus, the ability to control when your host will die and ensure your own survival is quite incredible. Essentially the virus hijacks the cell and slows down the ageing process by keeping it healthy for as long as possible. It uses the cell as a kind of factory to replicate itself and eventually takes over completely, killing off the cell.”

The discovery of viral ceramide will be of great interest to scientists and industries looking for new sources of novel compounds for use in medicines and cosmetics.

Dr Wilson added: “This virus really is a giant. Most viruses only have a few genes – HIV, for example, has only nine – while this algal virus has 472 genes. We’ve only just scratched the surface – much more work is needed to understand what function most of the genes actually perform.”

The virus infects the chalk-covered marine algae species that form “blooms” on the surface of the sea and soaks up billions of tons of carbon dioxide. Incredibly, during infection, the virus is also thought to produce gas (dimethyl sulphide) that helps clouds to form.

Isolagen cell therapy used to treat stretch marks and gum disease

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London: The skin rejuvenation technique, Isolagen, in which a patient’s own cells are grown in a lab and reinjected into wrinkles, is undergoing patient trials to treat stretch marks and gum disease.

Twenty patients at University College, London, will be treated and then monitored over three to six months. Results are expected to be announced next year.

Researchers will also be using the same procedure to try to reverse gum disease. Forty people with gum disease will be given the same injection of cells to see if they can regenerate gum tissue, and even bone, following earlier promising trials in America.

The trial will look at patients with gum recession, which affects most adults over 40. The second part of the trial will be conducted on patients with true periodontal disease, where patients have significant gum and bone loss.

Results from the gum disease trial are expected later this year, with the dental treatment itself expected to be available shortly afterwards.

In the Isolagen treatment, a 3mm piece of the patient’s own skin is taken from behind the patient’s ear. The fibroblast cells, which control the productionof collagen and elastin in skin, are extracted and stimulated in a laboratory. After six weeks the new fibroblasts are injected into the skin.

The treatment is already being successfully used as a wrinkle treatment and scientists are now investigating other uses such as scarring and burns.

Scientists discover longevity genes

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Boston: Scientists at the Paul F Glenn Laboratories for Ageing Research at Harvard Medical School have discovered a whole family of genes that appear to control longevity.

In experiments on mice it has been discovered that they can been made to live longer on a low calorie diet. A gene called SIR2 is thought to be involved in this process, which also protects mammals against cancer and other age-related illnesses.

The scienits at Harvard have found four cousins of SIR2 that also seem to play a role in extending lifespan.

The research suggests potential targets for developing drugs to lengthen life and prevent or treat diseases associated with ageing.

Dr David Sinclair, director of the Paul F Glenn Laboratories for Ageing Research at Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, who co-led the study, said: “We think these new SIR2 genes are as important as any longevity genes discovered so far.

“There is a growing realisation from the ageing field that we might finally understand how to control certain aspects of the ageing process and one day have drugs that can fight some of the disabilities the process causes.” The new findings appear today in the online edition of the journal Science.

Dr Sinclair’s team previously reported the first genetic link between environmental stresses and lifespan.

Experiments with yeast showed that low salt, heat or extreme calorie restriction triggered a “master longevity regulator” called PNC1 which in turn stimulated SIR2 activity.

The new research demonstrates that PNC1 regulates a whole SIR2 family of genes. It suggests a human PNC1 gene might protect against diseases of ageing such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The world’s most expensive face creams

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London: Made from crushed pearls, caviar and exotic antioxidents such as grapeseed extract, alpha lipoic acid and green tea – these are the world’s most expensive face creams:

Révive Intensité Volumizing Serum – Cost $600 for 1 ounce/$600 per ounce

Made with keratinocyte growth factor, this serum is said to turn over dead skin cells eight times faster than normal skin, plumping trouble areas like frown lines and crow’s feet. Dr. Gregory Brown, RéVive’s founder and president and a plastic surgeon, says he never intended to use his research on epidermal growth factor–published in 1989 in the New England Journal of Medicine–to make a skincare line. “I started making it for my mother and me, then I started giving it to patients, and then a friend of a friend was head of Neiman Marcus and suggested I started making it for the store,” he says.

Sisley-Paris Sisleya Elixir – $390 for four 5 ml pumps/$582 per ounce

This elixir is said to fight everyday stresses and strains by stimulating the synthesis of HSP proteins with a natural extract of weeping willow. It also fights free radicals with vitamin E acetate, a natural extract of gingko biloba and marine extracts.
Packaged on a velvet tray, this haute-couture cream comes complete with a silver spatula for application. According to the company, “La Crème gently diminishes spots, freckles and uneven tone, rebuilds elasticity and resilience, and replenishes moisture lost from the daily effects of the environment and lifestyle on skin.”

Clé de Peau Beaute La Crème – $475 for 1 ounce/$475 per ounce

Packaged on a velvet tray, this haute-couture cream comes complete with a silver spatula for application. According to the company, “La Crème gently diminishes spots, freckles and uneven tone, rebuilds elasticity and resilience, and replenishes moisture lost from the daily effects of the environment and lifestyle on skin.”

Dermagentics DNA Test & Custom Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream – $400 for 1 ounce/$400 per ounce

After a quick swabbing of the inner lining of the cheek, the Dermagenetics lab measures genetic propensity for collagen breakdown and wrinkling. The company then makes a night cream based entirely on the custom needs of your face. www.dermageneticsusa.com/home.html

Natura Bissé Inhibit-Dermafill – $385 for 1 ounce/$385 per ounce

Formulated with a 40% concentration of a bioengineered octapeptide and 10% Dermafill Complex, this Spanish product is marketed as an alternative to Botox. It “naturally augments the tissue volume, to plump up deeper wrinkles and to replenish loss of volume experienced due to aging,” the company says. Piperina nigrum, an extract of black pepper, reportedly speeds up absorption.
www.naturabisse.es

Kanebo Sensai Ex La Crème – $500 for 1.36 ounces/$368 per ounce

Made with a moisturizing component called bio-hyaluronate and natural extracts from apricot kernels, this cult favorite among beauty insiders promotes microcirculation, enriches the skin and aids in the elimination of fine wrinkles. The product also contains a silk fibroin derivative, a protein that reportedly holds up to 300 times its weight in water, which means it’s a good moisturizer.
www.kanebousa.com

Dermalab Swissline Cell Shock 50% Pure Cellular Extract – $265 for 8 0.1oz pumps/$331 per ounce

50% pure cellular extract provides a high concentration of biological lifting and moisturizing ingredients that are said to increase the skin’s oxygen absorption, stimulate cell metabolism and accelerate cellular reproductive activity.
Available at www.dermalab.com

Darphin Replenishing Anti-Wrinkle Serium – £310 for 10 0.1oz ampoules/$310 per ounce

This serum is reported to provide both greater elasticity with iris isoflavones and firmer skin with vital essence of mamaku. Horsetail extract is said to improve skin tone, while rose extract softens. www.darphin.com

Valmont L’Elixir des Glaciers – $490 for 1.7oz/$288 per ounce

With extracts of coneflower, sea buckthorn and rosa moschata (don’t worry, we’re not sure what those things are either), this haute-couture Swiss-made product is said to promote cellular exchanges, energize cell metabolism and stimulate the skin’s natural defense systems. Available at www.cvl-cosmetics.ch/

N.V. Perricone MD Neuropeptide Facial Conformer – $570 for 2oz/$285 per ounce

Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone, dermatologist and author of The Perricone Promise and The Wrinkle Cure, has an array of anti-aging skincare therapies, the most expensive of which contain peptides and neuropeptides–amino acids and substances released by the brain that are said to transform the skin.
Available at www.nvperriconemd.com

Orlane Hynotherapy – $470 for 1.7oz/$277 per ounce

Though marketed as a “psychodermic anti-aging product,” the age-defying capabilities of this cream seem to come from a rather obscure ingredient: red tocol arctic cranberry, which is said to have a high concentration of Omego-3 fatty acids.

AmorePacific Time Response Skin Renewal Crème – $400 for 1.7oz/$235 per ounce

AmorePacific has isolated and stabilized EGCF–the most vital ingredient in green tea–and adapted it for skincare. The company even cultivates its own green tea at the foot of Halla Mountain on Iush Jeju Island off the coast of Korea. Other key ingredients include a form of red ginseng that is purported to stimulate collagen synthesis.

Guerlain Sérénissima – $210 for 1 oz/$210 per ounce

Guerlain Sérénissima has Guerlain’s patented ingredient, H-Captine Complex, which is meant to hydrate and replenish skin. Ginko biloba is also added to preserve the skin’s elasticity.
Available at www.guerlain.com

Estée Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Eye Crème – $100 for 1oz/$100 per ounce

With fifty-four ingredients from around the world–including a powder of crushed South Sea pearls that is said to even skin tone–Estée Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Eye Crème is said to even skin tone and radiance. Moisture magnet hyaluronic acid also plumps the skin, thereby diminishing the appearance of fine wrinkles.
Available at www.esteelauder.com

Exercise keeps you younger for longer, says new research

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Maryland: Exercise can’t hold off the effects of ageing, but it can improve an older person’s chances of keeping an independent lifestyle, researchers at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

In a treadmill test of different age groups, their aerobic capacity – the amount of oxygen consumed while exercising – declined at higher rates with each passing decade whether they exercised or not.

The researchers said the test revealed a greater decline that was known before said Dr. Jerome L. Fleg, a cardiologist who is lead author of the study and a medical officer at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Maryland.

However, he pointed out that those who exercise still end up ahead because their aerobic capacity was higher to begin with.

For the study published by the American Heart Association journal Circulation, researchers analyzed treadmill tests from 435 men and 375 women ages 21 to 87 taking part in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

The aerobic capacity was measured in the tests about every four years for a median of 7.9 years.

During their 20s and 30s, the volunteers’ aerobic capacity declined at a rate of 3 percent to 6 percent per decade. Those in their 70s and beyond faced a decline of more than 20 percent per decade, the researchers found. Those who exercised more strenuously had a higher aerobic capacity than those who didn’t.

Researchers said that one limitation of the study was that participants were healthy and able to walk on a treadmill, making it hard to make comparisons with less fit people in poorer health.

Transplant pioneer launches new hair loss site

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New York: Robert M. Bernstein M.D., F.A.A.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University in New York, announces the launch of BernsteinMedical.Com providing comprehensive answers to the most frequently asked questions of alopecia sufferers.

Using photos, diagrams, helpful links, video and animation, Dr. Bernstein has presented a virtual multi-media encyclopedia for hair loss and baldness related issues.

Though hair loss affects approximately 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States alone, few understand exactly how or why they are losing their hair. Most know that there are treatments for hair loss, but many have no real understanding of how these treatments actually work or when they are appropriate. There is now a reliable source for untangling fact from fiction regarding hair loss treatments. BernsteinMedical.com demystifies the complex field of surgical hair restoration and explains, in an easy to understand way, the newest hair transplant techniques.

Dr. Bernstein is recognized worldwide for his pioneering work in hair transplant surgery. His landmark publications on Follicular Unit Hair Transplants, which give results that mimic nature, and Follicular Unit Extraction, a new non-invasive hair replacement technique, have earned him international recognition and make him arguably the foremost authority on hair restoration and hair transplantation in the world. Known to Television audiences from his appearances on NBC’s Today Show with Matt Lauer, CBS’s The Early Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Discovery Channel and other nationally syndicated programs, Dr. Bernstein has been providing answers and solutions for hair loss from his Manhattan facility for over 20 years.

BernsteinMedical.com answers questions on hair loss treatments ranging from the simple “Will wearing a baseball cap make my hair fall out?” or “Is true that hair loss comes from the mother’s side of the family” to the more complex “What causes hair loss in women?” or “When will cloning be available to help with baldness?”

With over 500 patient photos, videos of Dr. Bernstein’s television appearances, graphs and illustrations, BernsteinMedical.com clears up the confusion regarding baldness with expert information from the leading authority on the subject.

Dr. Bernstein’s contributions to the field of hair transplantation and devotion to patient care have earned him the honor of “Surgeon of the Month” in Hair Transplant Forum International, Connolly Guide’s “ America’s Top Doctors,” and New York Magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York” from 2000 through 2005. Dr. Bernstein has also been selected for New York Magazine’s special issue “Best Beauty Docs in New York” for his pioneering work in Follicular Unit Transplantation and Follicular Unit Extraction.

The stay young apple

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Ontario: Researchers in Ontario, Canada, have discovered that Red Delicous apples have more anti-oxidants than any other variety.

The Agriculture and Agri-Food department examined the chemical content of eight different varities. In particular they looked for the highest level of polyphenols – anti-oxidants that help the body fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers, blood pressure and other diseases of ageing.

While Red Delicious has the highest content another variety Empire has the lowest. The scientists found that the skin of the fruit has five times the anti-oxidant level than the flesh.

Other fruit and vegetables rich in anti-oxidants include red grapes, berries, broccoli, garlic, spinach, green tea and soy.

World’s most expensive face cream at $2,000 a pot

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New York: A new face cream that is the most expensive in the world yet comes on the market this autumn. And stores in New York, London, Rome and Paris are installing safes to store.

The manufacturers Crème del Mer, a subsidary of Estee Lauder, have code-named the top secret serum to be launched this autumn, “Project Precious” because the ingredients are so rare.

But ElixirNews can reveal that the new cream is being called “The Essence” and its price tag will be around $2,000. There are already waiting lists at top department stores in New York, Paris, Rome and London. Despite the price the product only lasts three weeks.

How does Crème de la Mer justify this price? The company says that the ingredients are not only “precious and rare” but are living and kept active through magnetism. As well as the price the packaging will be novel too – delivered in test tubes stored in a magnetised chamber.

A spokesman for Harvey Nichols, London’s luxury department store, said they were considering whether to get safes to store the product.

“People will kill for these creams,” said Richard Gray.

Obesity and smoking cut more than a decade off life, says new study

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London: Young women who smoke and who are overweight will age faster than their slimmer friends, according to a new medical study by doctors at St Thomas’s Hospital in London.

Being obese will add an average of nine years to a woman’s biological age, while smoming will add another five years. The study concluded that these factors damage the genetic make-up of normally healthy cells.

The study – led byProfessor Tim Spector, of St Thomas’s Hospital in London – is published in the medical magazine, The Lancet.

Professor Spector said that the evidence from his study suggested that the whole body was being damaged.

He said: ‘These lifestyle factors mean you may die earlier. You’ll also be looking and feeling older before your time.’ The study looked at the length of telomeres – tiny ‘caps’ on the ends of chromosomes which help protect DNA from ageing processes.

Telomeres have been called the ‘chromosomal clock’ because they appear to be central to biological ageing. They shorten over time and after a certain point can no longer prevent the DNA from falling apart.

The team, which included U.S. researchers experts in telomeres, looked at 1,122 white women aged 18 to 76. Half were from pairs of identical and half from non-identical twins. Comparing identical and nonidentical twins can reveal which traits are purely inherited.

The telomeres in the women’s white blood cells were measured. On average, telomeres shortened by two base pairs – components of DNA – a year. However, there were enormous differences depending on smoking habits and body fat. On average, women who smoked at any time in their lives had an extra 4.6 years reduction in telomere length. Those who smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 40 years, or 40 a day for 20 years, added 7.4 years to their biological age. Being obese corresponded to 8.8 extra years, while the two factors together added at least 10 years.

Professor Spector said overweight women appeared to accumulate this level of cell damage at a relatively young age, probably by the time they are in their 30s.

Although the study only included women, he believes the findings would also apply to men.

It is thought smoking and excess body fat unleash free radicals and trigger inflammation, which boosts the turnover of white blood cells and speeds up the erosion of telomeres.

Breaking-up can give women wrinkles

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New York: The break-up of a relationship can give you wrinkles, research by cosmetic giant Estee Lauder has shown.

Published in the journal Skin Research and Technology, the researchers anyalsed 55 woman aged between 21 and 54, half of whom were going through a stressful relationship problem such as divorce or seperation.

All were given skin tests to assess the strength and recovery rate of the skin barrier, a protein ‘coating’ in the uppermost layer of the skin that keeps water in and harmful bacteria out.

The tests involved using tape to remove the outer layer of the skin on an area of the cheek and seeing how much water was lost from the skin before, during and after the procedure-The water loss was tested again three hours later and after 24 hours to show ‘skin recovery’.

Scientists also measured the strength of the skin barrier by noting how many tape strippings it took to reach a certain level of water loss.

Loss of water from the skin through evaporation causes the skin to dry out, which can lead to the formation of wrinkles. As we age, the skin produces less of the oils that help lock in moisture. The loss of water, plus fat tissue, causes a reduction in the skin’s elasticity.

All the women completed questionnaires to show their stress levels. The study team found there was no link between stress and the strength of the skin barrier. However, there were differences in skin recovery. The skin of women going through a difficult break-up took much longer to recover from the tests than the skin of happy women. Writing in

The researchers concluded: ‘Most of the non-stressed individuals had a totally recovered skin barrier while several of the stressed individuals exhibited poor barrier recovery.’

The research was carried out in New York by Estee Lauder, which owns the Clinique range of beauty products. Tom Mammone, its director of biological research, said: ‘The results demonstrate that skin can be compromised by the stress of a break-up.’

Stress has already been blamed for a host of health problems ranging from heart disease to cancer and depression.

Men with high sex drives earn most, says new survey

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London: Men who earn the most have the highest sex drives, according to an on-line survey from the UK’s BBC.

Over 250,000 men and women from 170 countries took part in the online survey for the BBC over the last ten months, in the world’s largest survey of sexual behaviour, it confirmed that power is indeed an aphrodisiac. The results are being aired in a UK TV programme tomorrow (Sunday) on BBC1 called Secret of the Sexes.

Professor John Manning, a psychologist at the University of Central Lancaster where the research was carried out commented: “There is a debate about whether differences arise because of the environment – society’s expectations – or whether they are also influenced by genes and hormones We wanted to see if these sex differences in behaviours went across large numbers of different human populations and many of them in the survey do.”

The survey asked more than 200 questions ranging from how high they rated their sex drive to how good they were at tasks such as map-reading. They were split into four salary groups – £10,000 a year and less, £10,000 to £25,000, £25,000 to £50,000 and above £50,000. The salaries were weighted according to which country the respondents were from.

They were asked to rate their sex drives on a scale of one to seven with one low and seven high.

In both genders sex drive increased gradually along with salary regardless of which country the respondent came from. But across the board, even the lowestearningmen had a higher sex drive than the best-paid women.

“You get the same increasing sex drive with increasing income whether you look at just the UK, the U.S., France or Ireland,’ said Professor Manning. ‘It might be that testosterone is the basis of these differences.”

Professor Manning said that high testosterone levels led to higher sex drive which in turn likely made men work harder.

Hormone jab to control obesity

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London: Scientists at Imperial College have discovered a hormone that can turn off hunger signals.

In trials patients injected with oxyntomodulin dropped more than 5lb in weight in a month. In similar trials with animals appetite was supressed to zero

The discovery paves the way for new treatment to tackle growing obesity epidemic in developed countries.

Scientists noticed that patients who had undergone surgery to reduce the size of their gut began to produce more of the hormone.

In Diabetes, the world’s top diabetes research journal, the team from Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust reveal how patients self injectioned oxyntomodulin, a naturally occurring digestive hormone found in the small intestine, to reduce body weight and calorific intak.

The injections boost existing levels of oxyntomodulin, normally released from the small intestine as food is consumed, signalling to the brain that the body is full and has had enough to eat.

Professor Steve Bloom (pictured right), senior researcher at Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospital, says: “The discovery that oxyntomodulin can be effective in reducing weight could be an important step in tackling the rising levels of obesity in society. Not only is it naturally occurring, so has virtually no side effects, it could be ideal for general use as it can be self administered. Despite this, we still need to conduct larger clinical trials to test its effectiveness over longer periods.”

The researchers found that over four weeks, injections of oxyntomodulin three times a day in 14 volunteers reduced their body weight by an average of 2.3kg. They also found that daily energy intake by the test group was reduced by an average of 170kcal after the first injection, to 250kcal at the end of four weeks. The average recommended intake is 2500 kcal per day for men, and 1940 for women.

The researchers also found that volunteers in the study group had lesser appetites without a reduction in food palatability.

Professor Bloom adds: “Obesity is fast becoming one of the biggest problems in society, affecting huge numbers in the western world, and with the latest figures showing 65 percent of American adults are overweight we desperately need new solutions. A reduction of up to ten percent in calorific intake would make a huge difference to the overweight, vastly improving their health. Obesity is well known as a major risk factor in all sorts of conditions, including coronary heart disease, cancer, and the development of late onset diabetes.”

The team looked at 26 volunteers over a four week period in a double blind randomised trial. The treatment group of 14 self administered oxyntomodulin 30 minutes before each meal, three times a day, over a period of four weeks. The control group of 12 volunteers administered saline at the same frequency for the same period.

The study found that leptin, a protein responsible for regulating the body’s energy expenditure was reduced in the study group. They also found reduced levels of adipose hormones, a hormone which encourages the build up of adipose tissues, a type of tissue where fat cells are stored.

Professor Bloom has set up a spin-out company, Thiakis, to commercialise this discovery, and run further trials.

The study was funded through project grants with project grants from the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.