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A group of astronomers, physicians and light experts in Chile investigated light pollution and pathogenecity as well as the effects of light and pollutant gases in astronomy. According to the reporter of borderless physicians' website, in this investigation which was contracted in West Chile, physicians stated that carbon dioxide gas and other pollutant gases emitted throughout the air as the result of human activities such as factories and movement of automobiles along with ground floodlights not only cause problems in accurate and correct observation of stars and planets, but also they are effective in pathogenecity, social problems and change of behavior in man. Different advertisements on neon boards and artificial lights in large cities not only prevent from observing the natural and beautiful view of the sky, but also affect on body nerves and cells and especially eyes. This conference was held by European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO). George Bernard, Professor of Neurology, told Reuters, "Now we know that light affects man's biology and that the interference and intensity of lights may cause diseases. We should redesign light in our environment so that in addition to eliminating the diseases we can cause positive effect of light on our lives. These changes will result in retraction of energy consumption as well.
The astronomer, Massimo Tarengi added, "Different cultures are present in this conference. People look at the land and the sky with different views and lights. Light is very important in the man's life. Furthermore, researches have shown that exposure to artificial light during sunset to sleep time affects sleep quality and may increase the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. In this research, scientists contracted researches on 116 people between the ages of 18 to 30. These people were exposed to light before sleeping for five days. Blood samples were taken from them within time intervals ranging from 30 to 60 minutes in order to determine the level of melatonin hormone of their bloods. Melatonin is a hormone which is discharged in man's brain at night.
The said hormone regulates sleep-wake cycle of every individual. According to researches, this factor plays a great role in regulating blood pressure and body temperature accordingly. These researches have revealed that exposure to light before to going to bed shortens required time for producing Melatonin Hormone for about 90 minutes. Moreover, if an individual is exposed to artificial lights during his sleep hours, extent of producing Melatonin Hormone shall decreased by over 50%. Exposure to artificial lights at sleep time may also raise the danger for development of kinds of cancers as well. Thus, these researches may be a warning for the employees, who work on shifts and are exposed to artificial lights at night. More researches need to be contracted in order to designate the effect of Melatonin Hormone in outbreak of various diseases. However, it would be better exposure to artificial lights after sunset be decreased as much as possible.
Study coauthor Shelly Gray, of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Washington, and colleagues publish their findings inThe BMJ.
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that increase the level of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, producing sedative, anti-convulsant, anti-anxiety, hypnotic and muscle relaxant effects.
Benzodiazepines are most commonly used to treat anxiety andinsomnia, though they are used for a number of other conditions, including alcohol withdrawal, panic disorders and seizures. Common types of benzodiazepines include diazepam, alprazolam and flurazepam.
In the US, benzodiazepine use is highest among older individuals; a 2014 study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that around 8.7% of adults aged 65-80 received a benzodiazepine prescription in 2008, compared with 2.6% of those aged 18-35.
Numerous studies, however, have associated benzodiazepine use in seniors with increased risk of dementia. A 2012 study reported by Medical News Today, for example, suggested adults aged 65 and older are 50% more likely to develop dementia within 15 years of using benzodiazepines, while a more recent study suggested benzodiazepine use for at least 3 months increases older adults' risk of Alzheimer's disease by 51%.
However, Gray and colleagues note that research assessing benzodiazepine use in older adults has been conflicting, with some studies finding no link with dementia.
"Given the enormous public health implications, we need a better understanding of the potential cognitive risks of cumulative benzodiazepine use," say the authors.
No dementia link, but seniors should still avoid benzodiazepines
With this in mind, the team set out to determine whether higher cumulative use of benzodiazepines among older adults is associated with increased risk of dementia or faster cognitive decline.
To do so, the researchers analyzed the data of 3,434 adults aged 65 and older who were part of the Adult Changes in Thought study, conducted within Group Health - a non-profit health care system in Seattle, WA.
All participants were free of dementia at study baseline, and cognitive screening was conducted at enrollment and every 2 years thereafter. Subjects were followed-up for an average of 7 years.
Pharmacy data from Group Health was analyzed to assess participants' daily use of benzodiazepines over a 10-year period.
During follow-up, 797 of the participants developed dementia. Of these, 637 developed Alzheimer's disease. The median level of benzodiazepine use among participants was the equivalent to 1 year of daily use.
The researchers found that subjects with the highest benzodiazepine use were at no higher risk for dementia or Alzheimer's than those with lower benzodiazepine use, nor did they experience faster cognitive decline.
While the researchers did identify a small increased risk of dementia among participants with low or moderate benzodiazepine use - the equivalent of up to 1 month of use or 1-4 months use, respectively - they suggest this may "represent treatment of prodromal symptoms" of dementia.
"It is also possible that people with prodromal dementia, even years before diagnosis, could be more sensitive to benzodiazepine induced acute cognitive adverse events (for example, delirium), resulting in discontinuation of the drug and avoidance, in turn leading to low levels of use," they add.
Commenting on their findings, the researchers say:
"Overall, our pattern of findings does not support the theory that cumulative benzodiazepine use at the levels observed in our population is causally related to an increased risk for dementia or cognitive decline."
Still, the team says that considering the other adverse effects associated with benzodiazepine use and the fact that evidence remains mixed as to whether the drugs may raise the risk for dementia, health care providers "are still advised to avoid benzodiazepines in older adults to prevent important adverse health outcomes, withdrawal and dependence."
Calcium and vitamin D are essential to keeping bones strong, dense and healthy as we age, as well as preventing bone loss, osteporosis, and skeletal fractures. Calcium builds and maintains healthy bones and vitamin D assists with absorption and increased uptake.
Alarmingly, 90 percent of women in the U.S. are deficient in calcium and 50 to 90 percent are deficient in vitamin D. These numbers are even higher among minorities, including Hispanics and African-Americans. Even among children, 30 to 40 percent are already deficient in calcium and vitamin D. Furthermore, about 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men aged 50 and older will have a fracture as a result of osteoporosis.
Clinicians and patients have become concerned about the possible, but unproven links between calcium supplements and heart attacks. In an editorial published in the current issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, E. Joan Barice, M.D., M.P.H., affiliate associate professor, and Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.P.H., first Sir Richard Doll professor and senior academic advisor to the dean in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, provide reassurances to clinicians and their patients about calcium and vitamin D supplements and cardiovascular disease.
The authors emphasize that the benefits of calcium and vitamin D supplements on bone health are conclusive, and that the totality of evidence is reassuring on cardiovascular disease. The totality of evidence includes all sources of information whether basic or clinical research, especially studies designed to test the question. Previous concerns were based largely on over-interpretation of results from studies not designed to test the question as well as overreliance on a few sub-groups of individual studies rather than looking at the totality of evidence.
To decrease disability and death from osteoporosis, many guidelines recommend daily intakes of 1,200 mg of calcium and 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D.
Hennekens and Barice conclude that it would be unfortunate if clinicians failed to prescribe the combination of calcium and vitamin D supplements as adjuncts to therapeutic lifestyles changes of proven benefit, especially regular physical activity, to the very large number of patients in whom the benefit-to-risk ratio in clearly favorable.
"While drugs to prevent and treat osteoporosis serve as bricks in strengthening bones and preventing bone loss, calcium and vitamin D serve as mortar," said Hennekens. "Without adequate intake of this combination, as recommended by most guidelines, we can neither achieve nor maintain healthy bone structure."
Barice has been a national leader in women's health as well as addiction medicine. She established the Florida Society of Addiction Medicine and achieved designation of the specialty by the Florida Medical Association and subsequent recognition by the American Medical Association. Her numerous other accomplishments benefiting public health include chronic pain management and the appropriate use of alternative and complementary medicines.
Hennekens has received numerous recent honors including the 2013 Fries Prize for Improving Health for his seminal contributions to the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, the 2013 Presidential Award from his alma mater, Queens College, for his distinguished contributions to society, the 2013 honoree as part of FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine from the American Heart Association for reducing deaths from heart attacks and strokes, and the 2014 Ochsner Award on cigarette smoking and disease. From 1995 to 2005, Science Watch ranked Hennekens as the third most widely cited medical researcher in the world and five of the top 20 were his former trainees and/or fellows. In 2012, Science Heroes ranked Hennekens No. 81 in the history of the world for having saved more than 1.1 million lives.
Today's Scientific Program of the 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) - Middle East-Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) Joint Meeting includes a report on beta carotene's ability to improve vision in people with certain incurable retinal diseases. The AAO-MEACO meeting-the world's largest, most comprehensive ophthalmic education conference-is in session October 16 through 19 at McCormick Place, Chicago.
cis Beta-Carotene Mat Boost Vision in Some Patients with Incurable Retinal Disease Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a cluster of hereditary disorders of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) that can result in incurable blindness. RP usually begins with night blindness in childhood, then loss of peripheral (side) vision leading to tunnel vision, and ultimately blindness. Since a specific form of the nutrient beta carotene, 9-cis, has been effective against one type of night blindness, researchers decided to test its effects in RP patients. One third of the 29 participating patients showed improved visual function while taking the prescribed oral dose for 90 days, but the other two-thirds showed no effect.
"We recommend repeating the study with patients with the genetic forms of RP that would be most likely to respond to oral beta carotene," said Dr. Rotensteich. "We know its positive effect is associated with retinoid cycle defect, which is involved in some but not all forms of RP. Also, future research should look for the optimal beta carotene dosage," he added.
Avocados have gotten massive amounts of attention in the press in recent years. In the news, on social media sites and health food blogs, people all over the country have been talking about how good avocados are for the body. For one thing, they are loaded with monounsaturated fats (also known as MUFAs) which improve heart health by lowering the blood pressure and by improving cholesterol levels, two major risk factors for cardiac disease. They are a great source of fiber, which can improve the function and overall health of the digestive system. But what many people don't know about avocados is that one of their biggest health benefits is their ability to ward off cancer or to help treat it once it has developed. Read on to find out more about the many ways in which avocados help to reduce cancer risk.
Kills off cancer stem cells
The fats in avocado contain a compound known as avocatin B. This compound has been studied for its anti-cancer benefits and researchers later published a paper in the journal Cancer Research which reported that, during their study, it was found that avocatin B was able to kill off leukemia stem cells that are the main cause of AML, a form of leukemia which traditionally has a very poor prognosis. It was also found that this compound did not harm the healthy tissues around the cancer cells themselves.
Provides carotenoids
Many of the avocado's anti-cancer benefits stem from the fact that this fruit is loaded with carotenoids. Carotenoids are bio-active compounds that have powerful anti-oxidant properties. In many studies, high levels of carotenoids have been shown not only to help prevent age-related illnesses like macular degeneration (a condition of the eyes which can lead to blindness) but also many forms of cancer.
Decreases inflammation
Increasingly, studies are revealing that chronic, low-level inflammation throughout the body is a major risk factor for cancer development. Regular consumption of avocados appears to help prevent this situation, however. In one study, those who consumed avocados on a regular basis had lower levels of interleukin 6, an indicator of inflammation.
Helps the body shed excess fat
Avocados are also a great food for those who are wanting to achieve a healthy body weight. The high fiber helps to curb the appetite naturally and increase the efficiency of the digestive system, while the healthy fats lead to a feeling of fullness, help the body absorb certain nutrients and boost the metabolism so that the body can burn fat more efficiently. Studies have shown that weight loss is a great way to reduce the risk of developing some forms of cancer.
So when choosing a shrimp-and-avocado salad or a side dish of guacamole, eat up without feeling guilty about it! Regular consumption of this amazing fruit can not only benefit the heart, it can also significantly reduce the risk of cancer development.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/050529_avocados_cancer_superfood.html#ixzz3gzpGK76T
A genetic predisposition to Type II diabetes is found among more than half of the U.S. population. But if this form of the disease "runs" in your family, you can lower your risk by losing weight and exercising. However, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found a specific nutrient -- beta carotene -- may also impact the genetic risk and could offer protection from the disease.
The genomes of 50 to 60 percent of Americans carries two copies of a gene variant that raises the risk of Type II diabetes slightly but significantly. For the new study, just published in Human Genetics, the Stanford scientists searched for interactions between blood levels of various substances and these gene variants. People with a double dose of one of the predisposing-to-diabetes genes were found to have a statistically significant, inverse association of beta carotene blood levels to their Type II diabetes risk.
Simply put, the higher the level of beta carotene, a red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits that is related to vitamin A, the lower the risk of developing Type II diabetes.
The researchers also found a positive association between one form of vitamin E, gamma tocopherol, and a risk of Type II diabetes. Although you can expect some news reports will declare this means vitamin E is a cause of diabetes, let's look at exactly at what the Stanford scientists actually found. Only one form of vitamin E (which happens to be the major form found in the typical American diet of fast, processed foods), gamma tocopherol, was associated with a possible increased risk of Type II diabetes in people with high blood levels of the vitamin. Gamma tocopherol is found in processed foods like margarine and in soybean and corn oils.
Natural health advocates have long advised that mixed tocopherols are the healthy form of vitamin E most beneficial to the body. In fact, the Stanford study shows that blood levels of alpha tocopherol, another form of vitamin E that predominates in most supplements, produced no Type II diabetes-promoting interaction with the predisposing gene variant.
"Type II diabetes affects about 15 percent of the world's population, and the numbers are increasing," Atul Butte, MD, PhD, associate professor of systems medicine in pediatrics and senior author of the new study said in a media statement. "Government health authorities estimate that one-third of all children born in the United States since the year 2000 will get this disease at some point in their lives, possibly knocking decades off their life expectancies."
With the disease reaching epidemic proportions, obviously more research is needed into the protection from Type II diabetes specific nutrients provide. But it is clearly a sensible idea to eat more beta carotene-rich foods like carrots, beets and sweet potatoes, and/or to take beta carotene supplements.
In addition, as Natural News has covered before, along with exercise and weight control, scientists have found several other nutritional strategies can also help prevent and/or treat Type II diabetes. For example, research published in the journal Nature strongly indicates an imbalance of "good" versus "bad" bacteria in the intestinal tract appears to trigger Type II diabetes and taking probiotics may help prevent the disease. And Harvard School of Public Health investigators published their discovery in the Archives of Internal Medicine which reveals that eating two or more servings of brown rice per week slashes the risk of Type II diabetes.
Sources:
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2013/january/butte.html
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/029143_brown_rice_diabetes.html