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Qian W, Choi S, Gibson GA, Watkins SC, Bakkenist CJ, Van Houten B. “Mitochondrial hyperfusion induced by loss of fission protein Drp1 causes ATM-dependent G2/M arrest and aneuploidy through DNA replication stress.” J Cell Sci. 2012 Nov 23.
Vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids may enhance the immune system's ability to clear the brain of the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease.
US Baby Boomers are experiencing higher rates of chronic disease and lower self-rated health than members of the previous generation at the same age.
People who maintain cardiorespiratory fitness in mid-life may be less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, as they age.
Potential new anti-cancer therapy aims to halt cancer cell growth by knocking out a key mitochondrial protein.
Exposure to sunlight associates with a decreased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis, among women.
An eight-week long program involving the consumption of 40 g of soybean protein a day improved biomarkers of inflammation and adipocytokines.
Indulging in a small food treat yields as much psychological satisfaction as a larger portion.
By modulating the biological pathways involved in inflammation, humulones and bittering acids found in beer may beneficially impact diabetes and other diseases.
Older adults may improve their decision making and working memory simply by maintaining a positive mood.
Silibinin, the extract of milk thistle, kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation - which makes up about 95% of the sun’s radiation that reaches Earth.
The ancient Chinese mind-body practice of qigong reduces depressive symptoms and improves quality of life, among women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer
Regular consumption of deep-fried foods associates with an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Increased intakes of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) associate with significant reductions in the risk of colorectal cancer, among women.
Consuming unhealthy snacks may associate with development of colorectal carcinoma, in patients genetically at-risk for the disease.
Most American homes have levels of at least one flame retardant that exceed a federal health guideline.
Oleuropein, the main polyphenol compound present in olive oil, induces anti-metastatic effects on human breast cancer cell lines.
Resveratrol, an antioxidant compound found abundantly in red grape skins and red wine, makes prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment.
Green tea may lower the risk of developing digestive system cancers by as much as 27%, among women who are long-term tea drinkers.
Men who have Metabolic Syndrome may be at increased risk of diagnosis and death from prostate cancer.
Oranges and grapefruits contain flavonoids, potent antioxidant compounds that may lower the risk for aggressive prostate cancer.
Tip #127 - Delay Death with Vitamin D
The therapeutic role of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin," for bone health, has become well established. A number of recent studies now link vitamin D deficiency to adverse health consequences such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and some infectious diseases.
Johns Hopkins University (Maryland, USA) researchers reported that low blood levels of Vitamin D are associated with a 26% increased risk of death from any cause. The team analyzed data collected on 13,331 adults during a 6-year period after which the subjects were followed for 9 years. People with Vitamin D levels of less than 17.8 ng/mL had a 26% increased rate of death from any cause, compared to people with the highest Vitamin D levels (more than 32.1 ng/mL). Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (Massachusetts, USA) reported that those individuals taking vitamin D supplements are at a 7% lower risk of death, as compared to those who did not supplement. As well, Vitamin D inhibits the body’s inflammatory response and thus reduces the turnover of leukocytes (a type of white blood cell). The length of the leukocyte telomere (the endcap of the chromosome) is a predictor of aging-related disease, whereby it shortens as a result of increased inflammation. A team from King's College, London School of Medicine (United Kingdom) found that people with longer telomeres have higher levels of Vitamin D stored in their bodies. The team reports that: “The difference … was … equivalent to five years of telomeric aging,” suggesting that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels. |
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University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (Pennsylvania, USA)) researchers have uncovered a technique to halt the growth of cancer cells, a discovery that led them to a potential new anti-cancer therapy. All cells have a network of mitochondria, which are tiny structures inside cells that are essential for energy production and metabolism. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) helps mitochondria undergo fission, a process by which they split themselves into two new mitochondria. When deprived of a this key protein, some cancer cells are unable to properly divide. The researchers then identified compound called Mdivi-1 that makes cancer cells behave much the way they do when deficient in Drp-1. When used in combination with cisplatin, a drug already used to treat many solid cancers, rapid cell death can be induced in a wide range of cancer cells. This means that Mdivi-1 makes cisplatin work better. Mdivi-1 is being tested in cancer cells in a laboratory setting. Writing that: “dysfunctional mitochondrial fission directly induces genome instability by replication stress, which then initiates DNA damage response,” the study authors submit that: “ Our findings provide a novel mechanism that contributes to the cellular dysfunction and diseases associated with altered mitochondrial dynamics.”