quinta-feira, 10 de março de 2016
terça-feira, 8 de março de 2016
A saúde do Planeta, artigo de Marcus Eduardo de Oliveira
[EcoDebate] De certa forma, a história da humanidade é marcada por profundas e constantes transformações – avanços tecnológicos, urbanização, explosão populacional, disseminação de informações -, para citar apenas esses poucos exemplos.
Inexoravelmente, essas – e quaisquer outras – transformações, cedo ou tarde, acabam nos acertando em cheio; razão pela qual sempre percebemos o mundo em frenético movimento.
Dentro desses poucos exemplos citados, vale dar especial atenção, primeiramente, a taxa de urbanização. Se, em 1800, apenas 3% dos indivíduos no mundo viviam em cidades, duzentos anos depois – dados de 2010 – metade da população mundial é citadina.
Para o ano de 2060, há uma previsão de que 80 por cento da população mundial estará habitando os centros urbanos, abandonando assim os costumes da vida rural.
Em 1900, quando a população mundial contava 1,6 bilhão de habitantes, apenas 12 cidades mundiais possuíam mais de 1 milhão de moradores. Cinquenta anos depois, esse número de cidades saltou para 83. Hoje, com 7,2 bilhões de habitantes, existem 23 megacidades com população superior a 10 milhões de habitantes.
Para 2050, com projeções indicando uma população global de 9,5 bilhões de pessoas, serão 50 as cidades mundiais que terão população superior a 10 milhões de indivíduos, pressionando por serviços ecossistêmicos, desequilibrando mais ainda a situação ambiental, agravando um pouco mais a já combalida saúde do planeta.
Esse inchaço populacional das megacidades, obviamente, permite então degradar a qualidade de vida dos povos de diferentes maneiras, quer seja nas inóspitas condições de moradia, no ar que se respira, no caótico trânsito, no aumento da marginalidade e da insegurança, na explosão do subemprego com salários aviltados pelo excesso de mão de obra entre outros.
Com isso, nem é preciso ressaltar que transformações tecnológicas e científicas, independentemente dos setores em que se manifestam, mudam completamente padrões de comportamento social e humano. Às vezes, para o bem; outras, nem tanto.
No estágio atual em que as coisas estão cada vez mais interligadas, afinal, tudo se conecta a tudo, uma vez que nada está separado, é comum parte considerável da humanidade não dar devida atenção às duas forças mais poderosas que conferem sentido ao universo: a vida e o amor.
Por conta disso, a maioria – mas não todos – dos indivíduos se afastam não raras vezes da busca espiritual, deixando de lado suas crenças religiosas, relegando, pois, a segundo plano a prática de alguns princípios e valores éticos, preferindo no lugar um mergulho no mundo material – objeto de cobiça para uma pretensa vida hedonista, recheada de satisfação e prazer, a partir da acumulação de bens e do usufruto de serviços.
Isso, inequivocamente, leva a civilização a um completo isolamento dos princípios mais elementares da vida, bem como das mais importantes relações sociais. Não obstante, opera-se no interior das pessoas a falsa sensação de se achar pertencente a uma raça superior, verdadeiros “senhores absolutos do universo”; muitos se julgam, comumente, capazes de subjugar a tudo e todos, incluindo às leis da natureza, usadas e exploradas ao próprio bel-prazer dos povos.
Talvez isso explique, em linhas gerais, a ruptura do ser humano com a natureza, do homem com o meio ambiente, da criatura com as coisas naturais (a água, o ar, o solo, as plantas, os animais) feitas pelo Criador.
Tal conduta leva à configuração de uma crise maior, por isso sistêmica, tal qual a vivenciada atualmente.
Desse modo, somos forçados a pensar que, desde que a modernidade colocou o indivíduo no centro de tudo, o aparecimento e acirramento de diversas crises – econômica, cultural, ambiental, agrícola, de ausência de valores morais – foi então facilitada, e cada vez mais se imiscui em nosso convívio.
Ademais, não é nossa intenção analisar aqui de forma pormenorizada cada uma dessas crises. Mesmo assim, três delas – ausência de valores morais, econômica e ambiental – merecem, en passant, algumas breves notas.
Dessas três crises, a mídia parece sempre dar mais destaque a econômica. Diante disso, os diferentes governantes, agindo como espécies de “médicos-salvadores” da enfermidade global, adotam sempre o mesmo tipo de remédio milagroso: doses excessivas de crescimento industrial injetado nas veias econômicas, a partir da recuperação e do incentivo ao consumo.
No entanto, esse “corpo médico”, não raras vezes, faz vistas grossas aos efeitos colaterais do medicamento aplicado, não se dando conta de que o aumento brutal do consumo verificado nas últimas décadas no mundo globalizado constitui, essencialmente, uma das causas principais (senão a principal) da patologia consumista que só faz agravar a já combalida saúde do planeta, decorrente do esgotamento dos serviços ecossistêmicos e da acintosa depleção natural imposta pelo modo de produção econômica global.
Tal qual uma infecção generalizada, da crise econômica resulta então a crise ambiental; por sinal, de proporções e consequências mais graves que a primeira.
Mapeando a origem da atual crise ambiental, a meu ver, ela pode ser contada justamente a partir da posição central que o indivíduo passou a ocupar na civilização, quando decidiu tomar decisões pautadas numa lógica que, de três séculos para cá, tem ditado o ritmo e o estilo de vida da humanidade.
Qual seria essa lógica? A que faz do consumismo espécie de escada de acesso à melhoria de vida pessoal, como se a aquisição (e o acúmulo) de coisas materiais resultassem automaticamente em mais felicidade e bem-estar.
Envolvido na busca das coisas materiais, quase que literalmente “consumido” pela ideologia consumista, adepto da financeirização da economia e da homogeneização cultural, sequioso de alcançar o progresso pessoal em curtíssimo prazo, o homem de hoje, erroneamente chamado de moderno, insiste em quantificar – pela via monetária – a vida em toda sua plenitude.
Lamentavelmente, isso parece conduzir os indivíduos à terceira crise que mencionamos: a ausência de valores morais.
Essa crise, como não poderia deixar de ser, também apresenta idiossincrasias próprias: começa a partir do “valor” e da prioridade conferidas ao mercado de consumo e as mercadorias, aos bens e serviços consumidos, a partir do momento em que os indivíduos passam a ser conduzidos pelo mercado publicitário, pela mania consumista, e, não obstante, acabam sendo “abduzidos” pela obsolescência programada, pela moda e pelo constante apelo de marketing.
Não por acaso, em pouco tempo a indústria da publicidade se tornou o segundo maior orçamento mundial, perdendo apenas para a indústria bélica.
Voltando a atenção para o ser humano, é fato indiscutível que em nenhum outro momento da história a humanidade se viu assim, mergulhada numa sociedade de descarte, em que “comprar algo novo” tem mais importância que consertar o usado; em que o “ter” tem mais “peso e valor” – em alguns casos até mesmo valor sentimental – do que o “ser”.
A taxa de derrelição material da humanidade nunca foi tão abusiva e tão sem sentido. Somos hoje transformadores de lixo; descartamos tudo. Na média, cada indivíduo consegue produzir 1 quilo de lixo por dia. No mundo, a cada 24 horas, dois milhões de toneladas de esgoto e outros efluentes são lançados nas águas do mundo, de acordo com estudos publicados pela UNESCO/WWAP-2003.
Por tudo isso é recorrente a afirmação de que essa crise de ausência de valores morais passa também pelo tratamento desdenhoso que a civilização confere à natureza, sempre subordinando-a às condutas econômicas que respondem, por sua vez, por mais produção, sem a prática mínima de ética alguma, sem o menor cuidado e parcimônia quanto aos limites existentes na natureza, especialmente no que concerne ao uso dos recursos naturais e energéticos.
A prova cabal disso é que a humanidade, desde os anos 1980, vem usando 20% a mais do que o planeta é capaz de oferecer. Se a saúde do planeta já estava debilitada, imaginemos um corpo (a Terra) 20% mais quente, em termos febris.
Colocando essa questão num terreno mais sólido, explicitamente o elo existente entre produção, consumo, seres humanos e biodiversidade, mostra uma relação bem conflituosa, resultando em considerável perda, alteração e fragmentação de habitats, e destruição do patrimônio natural.
Consoante a isso, as Pegadas Ecológica e Hidrológica – medidas de demandas da humanidade sobre os recursos naturais renováveis da terra – evidenciam de forma clara a insuportável pressão exercida pelos humanos sobre o Planeta.
Em torno disso, os números não mentem: 10% das terras férteis do mundo já viraram desertos; a cada ano, 13 milhões de hectares, equivalente ao território da Grécia, são desmatados para dar lugar a atividades agropastoris.
O mundo já perdeu, apenas nos últimos 50 anos, 35 por cento dos manguezais, 40 por cento das florestas e 50 por cento das áreas alagadas. O estoque de peixes, em âmbito global, nesse momento em que escrevo, está 80 por cento menor.
Assim, já adentramos na fase da defaunação, termo que indica a ação de defaunar, ou seja, remover ou destruir uma população de animais. A taxa de extermínio de espécies – plantas e animais – ocasionada pela ação humana, tem sido estimada de 50 a 100 vezes superior à perda por causas naturais. Por dia, a humanidade elimina quase 150 tipos diferentes de organismos vivos – componentes bióticos.
A saúde precária do planeta, como pode ser facilmente observada, é causa direta da interferência desordenada do ser humano no meio ambiente. Em outras palavras, por conta de nosso consumo excessivo, de nosso estilo de vida, de nosso jeito agressivo de lidarmos com o mundo natural, somos agentes causadores da enfermidade ecológica que tem desequilibrado as condições naturais da Terra.
Não há como esconder o sol diante de uma peneira: a combalida saúde do planeta tem tudo a ver com a nossa ação sobre o meio ambiente. Contra fatos, não há argumentos.
Marcus Eduardo de Oliveira, Articulista do EcoDebate, é economista e ativista ambiental prof.marcuseduardo@bol.com.br
in EcoDebate, 08/03/2016
"A saúde do Planeta, artigo de Marcus Eduardo de Oliveira," in Portal EcoDebate, ISSN 2446-9394, 8/03/2016, http://www.ecodebate.com.br/2016/03/08/a-saude-do-planeta-artigo-de-marcus-eduardo-de-oliveira/.
Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, parte III (Final), artigo de Roberto Naime
[EcoDebate] O professor Dr. Marcos Tadeu T. Pacheco, afirma que “é preciso aumentar em pelo menos 50 vezes o número de pesquisadores. O principal desafio para que o país se torne uma potência científica e não perca na disputa internacional é melhorar a educação desde o ensino fundamental. É essencial remunerar dignamente o professor deste ensino, motivar mais alunos e docentes, cultivar talentos, desenvolver as potencialidades do cidadão. No Brasil, apesar de termos recursos para determinadas pesquisas, após avaliação dos projetos submetidos em edital, os recursos não são totalmente utilizados, em função do baixo número de projetos com qualidade que são aprovados”.
A Coordenação de aperfeiçoamento do pessoal de ensino superior (CAPES) tem como objetivo colocar o Brasil na comunidade científica internacional. As universidades em geral preocupam-se com os rankings e tendem a incorporar a questão de publicação de artigos que recebem pontuação no momento em que são publicados.
RACANICCHI et. al. (2014), assevera que na concepção da professora Dra. Brigitte Rieckman Martins dos Santos “muitas vezes o pesquisador brasileiro prefere publicar no exterior, em revistas classificadas no sistema de avaliação de periódicos Qualis. Temos também artigos importantes e que não são publicados por falta de rigor científico”
Na opinião do professor Dr. Fernando Akaoui, salvo as indústrias, que têm interesse comercial no registro de patentes, e, portanto têm grupos de pesquisadores ligados às suas respectivas atividades, as universidades e o governo em geral pouco fazem em matéria de pesquisa científica, em face da falta de recursos, pois muitas destas pesquisas requerem um alto investimento, com retorno a longo prazo.
E, “somente com uma radical mudança de mentalidade, em que o governo crie consciência em relação a seu papel como fomentador de pesquisa científica, é que poderemos chegar a um nível tecnológico que possa colocar o Brasil no mapa do desenvolvimento técnico-científico”.
No Brasil mega-diverso podemos salientar que a questão da aplicação de biotecnologias se faz necessária com a produção responsável, baseada na utilização sustentável dos recursos naturais como forma de assegurar a preservação do meio ambiente.
RACANICCHI et. al. (2014) manifestam que a pesquisa de biotecnologia com uso da biodiversidade cresce, mas existem desafios para novas abordagens e investigação de questões locais para gerar ciência e tecnologia que também possam ser úteis sendo inevitável a parceria com instituições estrangeiras.
O Brasil caminha, mas ainda possui grande escassez de publicações científicas. Essa escassez se torna mais evidente quando comparada com outros países em relação à produção de produtos e patentes.
Hoje as universidades preocupam-se com os rankings e tendem a incorporar a questão de publicação de artigos. Pensar na necessidade do aumento da biotecnologia com critérios de sustentabilidade, no Brasil mega-diverso, é pensar também em política, economia, educação.
A legislação brasileira sobre recursos da biodiversidade é voltada mais para a manipulação genética e seus riscos. No presente momento o desenvolvimento técnico-científico brasileiro está em grande parte nas mãos do governo que necessita estimular e patrocinar mais pesquisas científicas.
RACANICCHI et. al. (2014) aduzem que é também relevante destacar a necessidade de investir mais em educação básica e melhor remunerar o professor do ensino fundamental para que a Universidade não sofra as consequências da falta dessa educação.
Referências:
BEGON, Michal, TOWSEND, Colin R. e HARPER, John L. “Ecologia” – De indivíduos a Ecossistemas. 4ª Ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2007. p.633
BRASIL. Lei 11.105 de 24 de março de 2005. Cria o Conselho Nacional de Biossegurança, reestrutura a Comissão Técnica Nacional de Biossegurança . Disponível em: http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/index.php/content/view/11992.html., acesso em 25 de Setembro de 2013.
BRASIL. MMA (Ministério do Meio Ambiente), Relatório Nacional sobre a Biodiversidade, 1998. http://www.mma.gov.br/estruturas/chm/_arquivos/cap2a.pdf, acesso em 02.09..2013 FAPESP. Fundação e Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. www.fapesp.br, acesso em 15.08.2013
IMS Health, Consultoria. Empresa de auditorias sobre o consumo e venda de medicamentos do mundo. Disponível em http://www.imshealth.com/portal/site/imshealth), acesso em 04.10.2013
JOLY, C. A. e BICUDO, C. E. M. Biodiversidade do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil: síntese do conhecimento ao final do século XX – vol.7. Infra- estrutura para conservação da biodiversidade. 1.ed. São Paulo.FAPESP, 1999. v.1. 150 p.
JOLY, C. A. et al. Diretrizes para a conservação e restauração da biodiversidade no estado de São Paulo. 1.ed. São Paulo: Secretaria do Meio Ambiente & Programa BIOTA, 2008. V1. 245p.
MILLER, G. Tyler Jr. “Ciência Ambiental”. São Paulo: Editora Thomson Learning. 2007 p.476 PORTUGAL. Portal da Escola Superior Agrária. Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo. http://portal.ipvc.pt/portal/page/portal/esa/esa_noticias_agenda/2011/esa_biotecnologia_motiv a_publicacao, acesso em 27.09.2013
RODRIGUES, Ana Cristina e FERRAZ Ana Isabel. Biotecnologia, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável. e-book ed. Porto: Editora Publindustria. 2011. 282p.
SCIMAGO JOURNAL & COUNTRY RANK – Portal com indicadores para avaliar e analisar domínios científicos. Disponível em http://www.scimagojr.com , acesso em 22.09.2013
RACANICCHI, Wanda Schumann, BASTOS, Robson e GIORDANO, Fabio Um diagnóstico crítico de especialistas sobre biodiversidade e biotecnologia no Brasil UNISANTA BioScience – p. 33 – 38; Vol. 3 nº 1, 2014
Dr. Roberto Naime, Colunista do Portal EcoDebate, é Doutor em Geologia Ambiental. Integrante do corpo Docente do Mestrado e Doutorado em Qualidade Ambiental da Universidade Feevale.
Sugestão de leitura: Celebração da vida [EBook Kindle], por Roberto Naime, na Amazon.
in EcoDebate, 08/03/2016
"Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, parte III (Final), artigo de Roberto Naime," in Portal EcoDebate, ISSN 2446-9394, 8/03/2016,http://www.ecodebate.com.br/2016/03/08/biodiversidade-e-biotecnologia-parte-iii-final-artigo-de-roberto-naime/.
Wine, roses and a walk on the beach: Valentine's Day ideas for those with diabetes
Date: February 1, 2016
Source: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
Summary:
If the person you love loves chocolate, grabbing a gift for Valentine’s Day is a breeze. But if the person you love has diabetes or prediabetes, you have to think outside the heart-shaped box, says a diabetes educator.If the person you love loves chocolate, grabbing a gift for Valentine's Day is a breeze. But if the person you love has diabetes or prediabetes, you have to think outside the heart-shaped box, says Debora Nagata, R.N., diabetes educator at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.
All holidays can be gift-challenging events when buying for people with dietary restrictions. But Valentine's Day is in a not-so-sweet league of its own for those who love a diabetic. The American Diabetic Association estimates that more than 29 million Americans have diabetes and 86 million have prediabetes.
Nagata recommends creating your own Valentine's traditions that preserve the romance of the holiday without compromising your loved one's health. And because Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year, your celebration can include together-time activities.
These will obviously vary from one person to another, but here are some suggestions:
1. Skip the box of chocolates altogether and instead share one really delicious cookie. Keep in mind that "sugar free" does not mean "carb free," and carbs raise blood sugar levels. "Don't buy the whole package of cookies," Nagata advises. "Just buy one."
2. Instead of a fancy restaurant dinner, plan a special outing that includes a hike, bike ride or invigorating walk with your sweetheart. This can be especially worthwhile if you take insulin because being active for at least 30 minutes a day helps insulin work better. "Take your Valentine to a museum, a public garden, on a trail hike or to the beach," says Nagata. "You'll both enjoy the together time and benefit from the exercise." Some of her favorite places are Santa Monica Beach, Palisades Park, the Will Rogers State Park, Leo Carillo Beach (it's amazing at low tide, she says) and the Huntington Gardens and Museum.
3. As part of your special outing, consider packing a picnic basket. Specialty low-fat cheese, olives, fresh veggies with a raita Indian yogurt dip, nuts, hummus, antipasto salad, sliced apple, smoked salmon or low-sodium, low-fat sliced turkey and a special bottle of sparkling water are all great in a picnic basket, says Nagata. "You could even include a small glass of red wine," she adds. "Be sure to have food with your wine," she cautions, "as alcohol can initially increase your blood sugar, but then it can cause a drop, or hypoglycemia."
4. Sugar-free chocolates or dark chocolates might be an option -- in moderation. Depending on the severity of your Valentine's diabetes, buy a piece or two of handmade candy. "Everyone needs an occasional treat or they feel deprived," she says, "but think quality, not quantity."
5. Raw, unsalted nuts can also make a nice gift. They have no sugar and lots of fiber, but it's important to remember that a ¼ cup typically has about 240 calories, so don't go overboard.
6. Exotic fruits and savory gift baskets can make a nice impression. Nagata offers caution here. Check the carbohydrate content -- often called CHO -- because some fruits are very high in carbs, which translate into sugar. Choose those with a lower CHO and a higher fiber content. Meat and cheese baskets can also be great, but again, choose low-fat, low-sodium items.
7. Go crazy with the roses. Valentine's Day wouldn't be Valentine's Day without roses, and it's one tradition that isn't limited at all by diabetes. "Jewelry's always great, too," adds Nagata with a chuckle.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Cite This Page:
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. "Wine, roses and a walk on the beach: Valentine's Day ideas for those with diabetes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160201220503.htm>.
The benefits of chocolate during pregnancy
Date: February 1, 2016
Source: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
Summary:
If the person you love loves chocolate, grabbing a gift for Valentine’s Day is a breeze. But if the person you love has diabetes or prediabetes, you have to think outside the heart-shaped box, says a diabetes educator.
In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, High-flavanol chocolate to improve placental function and to decrease the risk of preeclampsia: a double blind randomized clinical trial.
In light of previous studies showing conflicting results regarding the role of chocolate consumption during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia, this study set out to evaluate the impact of high-flavanol chocolate. Researchers conducted a single-center randomized controlled trial of 129 women with singleton pregnancy between 11 and 14 weeks gestation who had double-notching on uterine artery Doppler. The pregnant women selected were randomized to either high-flavanol or low-flavanol chocolate. A total of 30 grams of chocolate was consumed daily for 12 weeks and women were followed until delivery. Uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index was at baseline and 12 weeks after randomization. Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, placenta weight, and birthweight were also evaluated.
The result was that there was no difference in preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, placental weight or birthweight in the two groups; however, the uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (a surrogate marker of blood velocity in the uterine, placental and fetal circulations) in both groups showed marked improvement that was much greater than expected in general population.
"This study indicates that chocolate could have a positive impact on placenta and fetal growth and development and that chocolate's effects are not solely and directly due to flavanol content," explained Emmanuel Bujold, M.D., one of the researchers on the study who will present the findings. Dr. Bujold and Dr. Sylvie Dodin, principal investigator of the trial, are with the Université Laval Québec City, Canada.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Cite This Page:
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. "The benefits of chocolate during pregnancy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160201214629.htm>.
Natural clay deposit may hold keys to defeating hospital infections
Date: February 2, 2016
Source: American Society for Microbiology
Summary:
Researchers have uncovered potent antimicrobial activity in a natural clay deposit found on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. The research shows that the clay can kill members of the ESKAPE group of bacterial pathogens, the culprits behind some of the deadliest and most antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections.
Researchers have uncovered potent antimicrobial activity in a natural clay deposit found on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. The research, published this week in mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, shows that the clay can kill members of the ESKAPE group of bacterial pathogens, the culprits behind some of the deadliest and most antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections.
Kisameet clay, named for a nearby bay, has been used by the indigenous Heiltsuk First Nation people for several centuries to treat both internal and skin ailments. In the 1940s, doctors in Vancouver used the clay to successfully treat a variety of ailments such as ulcerative colitis, duodenal ulcer, arthritis, and burns. But, after antibiotics became widely available, the natural remedy was largely forgotten.
"We clearly need new antimicrobial agents," says Julian Davies, a microbiologist at University of British Columbia in Vancouver and senior researcher on the study. "Very few novel agents have been developed in recent years and we have increasingly multi-drug resistant strains appearing because of antibiotic overuse and misuse."
The ESKAPE group of bacteria includes pathogens such as MRSA, as well as those that cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections and septicemia. "These bacteria were identified as the leading problems in hospital-acquired infections because they are resistant to most antibiotics and are extremely difficult to treat," says Davies.
Davies and his graduate student Shekooh Behroozian wanted to determine if the clay harbored activity that could fight microbes in the lab. "When we started, we thought it was folk medicine, but it turned out to be much more than that," says Davies.
Using a collection of 16 bacterial strains mostly from local hospitals, Behroozian tested a diluted suspension of the clay for antibacterial activity against the strains. Incubating the bacteria with the clay suspension for 24-48 hours, the team showed that the clay had a strong antibacterial activity that killed all 16 strains.
Both water-based and solvent-based extracts of the clay also exhibit antibacterial activity. Extracts also killed Candida albicans, a pathogenic yeast, and prevented the formation of biofilms produced by two ESKAPE members,Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The exact mechanisms of how the clay kills bacteria and yeast are unknown, says Davies, largely because clay is a complicated mixture. Kisameet clay is about 24% by weight clay minerals, which are aluminum silicates with metal ions interspersed through their layers. Like soil, the clay also contains a complex microbial community. The clay's physical, chemical, and microbial properties are likely to contribute to its antimicrobial activity and may do so synergistically.
"It would be a dream to find isolates [from the clay] to make a new antibiotic," says Davies. But first, the clay and its extracts must be tested in animal models of bacterial infections to find out how it works and if it is a safe and effective treatment for moving forward to human trials.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by American Society for Microbiology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Shekooh Behroozian, Sarah L. Svensson, Julian Davies. Kisameet Clay Exhibits Potent Antibacterial Activity against the ESKAPE Pathogens.mBio, 2016; 7 (1): e01842-15 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01842-15
Cite This Page:
American Society for Microbiology. "Natural clay deposit may hold keys to defeating hospital infections." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160202174018.htm>.
Purified cashew proteins lend insight into allergic reactions
Date: February 3, 2016
Source: American Chemical Society
Summary:
It's well known that peanuts can cause severe reactions in people who are allergic, but research suggests that the risk of developing a life-threatening reaction could be higher for those allergic to cashews. Now scientists have come up with a fast and simple method to purify the three main cashew allergens to help better grasp how they work and their effects on people.
It's well known that peanuts can cause severe reactions in people who are allergic, but research suggests that the risk of developing a life-threatening reaction could be higher for those allergic to cashews. Now scientists have come up with a fast and simple method to purify the three main cashew allergens to help better grasp how they work and their effects on people. Their report appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Allergies to tree nuts and peanuts can cause mild symptoms, such as hives and itchy eyes. But some people who are allergic experience anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that includes shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness and other symptoms. Scientists have identified three proteins associated with cashew allergies, but no one had isolated them with a high degree of purity or characterized them. Doing so, however, would help identify which specific allergen people react to, how the proteins might cross react with other allergens and potentially how to treat the allergy. Harry J. Wichers and colleagues decided tackle this challenge.
The researchers used three different methods -- precipitation, ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography -- to purify the three main cashew allergens. They then identified the proteins' subunits. Additionally, testing found a difference in how allergens bound to immunoglobulin E, an allergen-binding antibody, in Dutch children and American adults, shoring up previous suggestions that geography and age can play a role in allergies. Researchers say further studies can build on these results to analyze allergen structure, cashew varieties and the stability of proteins during processing.
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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Marit Reitsma, Shanna Bastiaan-Net, Stefano Sforza, Johanna P. M. van der Valk, Roy van Gerth van Wijk, Huub F. J. Savelkoul, Nicolette W. de Jong, Harry J. Wichers. Purification and Characterization ofAnacardium occidentale(Cashew) Allergens Ana o 1, Ana o 2, and Ana o 3. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2016; DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04401
Cite This Page:
American Chemical Society. "Purified cashew proteins lend insight into allergic reactions." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160203110816.htm>.
Meditation eases pain, anxiety and fatigue during breast cancer biopsy
Date: February 4, 2016
Source: Duke University Medical Center
Summary:
Meditation eases anxiety, fatigue and pain for women undergoing breast cancer biopsies, according to researchers. They also found that music is effective, but to a lesser extent.
Meditation reduces stress during biopsy.
Credit: Mark Dubowski for Duke Health
Meditation eases anxiety, fatigue and pain for women undergoing breast cancer biopsies, according to researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute. They also found that music is effective, but to a lesser extent.
The researchers note that adopting these simple, inexpensive interventions could be especially helpful in light of recent reports citing anxiety and pain as potential harms from breast cancer screenings and testing.
"Image-guided needle biopsies for diagnosing breast cancer are very efficient and successful, but the anxiety and potential pain can have a negative impact on patient care," said Mary Scott Soo, M.D., associate professor of radiology at Duke Cancer Institute and lead author of the study published online February 4 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
"Patients who experience pain and anxiety may move during the procedure, which can reduce the effectiveness of biopsy, or they may not adhere to follow-up screening and testing," Soo said.
She added that the study comes at a time when federal reimbursement requirements are increasingly focusing on patient care and adjusting payments based on patient satisfaction.
"It's important that we address these issues to provide a better experience and more compassionate care for our patients," Soo said.
Soo and colleagues enrolled 121 women undergoing breast cancer diagnosis at Duke and randomly assigned them to receive one of three approaches as they underwent stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy: a recorded meditation, music, or standard care with a technologist offering casual conversation and support.
The meditation was a guided "loving/kindness" script that focused on building positive emotions such as compassion towards oneself and others and releasing negative emotions.
Patients in the music group listened to their choice of instrumental jazz, classical piano, harp and flute, nature sounds or world music.
Standard-care patients received supportive and comforting dialogue with the radiologist or technologist.
Immediately before and after biopsy, participants completed questionnaires measuring nervousness and anxiety, ranking biopsy pain between a low of zero to a high of 10, and assessing feelings of weakness and fatigue.
Patients in the meditation and music groups reported significantly greater reductions in anxiety and fatigue after biopsy than those receiving standard care. The standard-care patients reported increased fatigue after biopsy.
The meditation group also showed significantly lower pain during biopsy when compared to the music group.
"Listening to guided meditation resulted in significantly lower biopsy pain during imaging-guided breast biopsy, and both meditation and music reduced patient anxiety and fatigue," Soo said. "There are medical approaches to this -- providing anti-anxiety drugs -- but they sedate patients and require someone to drive them home.
"Meditation is simple and inexpensive, and could be a good alternative in these settings," Soo said. "We would like to see this study scaled up to include a multi-center trial, and see if the findings could be generalized to different practices."
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Duke University Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Mary Scott Soo, Jennifer A. Jarosz, Anava A. Wren, Adrianne E. Soo, Yvonne M. Mowery, Karen S. Johnson, Sora C. Yoon, Connie Kim, E. Shelley Hwang, Francis J. Keefe, Rebecca A. Shelby. Imaging-Guided Core-Needle Breast Biopsy: Impact of Meditation and Music Interventions on Patient Anxiety, Pain, and Fatigue. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 2016; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2015.12.004
Cite This Page:
Duke University Medical Center. "Meditation eases pain, anxiety and fatigue during breast cancer biopsy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204094915.htm>.
Is lignin the crude oil of the future? Maybe so, thanks to the Sun and photocatalysts
Date: February 4, 2016
Source: Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Summary:
We associate refineries with crude oil and a dense tangle of technical fittings. They may, however, change in the future -- if crude oil is replaced by lignin, a product currently treated as industrial waste. The research route leading towards this goal is being paved by new photocatalysts, developed by the Institute of Physical Chemistry, PAS. Under conditions that occur in nature, they allow lignin-based model compounds to be transformed into useful chemical substances.
A step towards photobiorefineries: photocatalysts from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, transform lignin-based model compounds into useful chemical substances. Pictured above: Prof. Juan Carlos Colmenares
Credit: IPC PAS, Grzegorz Krzyzewski
Is lignin the crude oil of the future? Maybe so, thanks to the Sun and photocatalysts!
We associate refineries with crude oil and a dense tangle of technical fittings. They may, however, change in the future -- if crude oil is replaced by lignin, a product currently treated as industrial waste. The research route leading towards this goal is being paved by new photocatalysts, developed by the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. They allow lignin-based model compounds to be transformed into useful chemical substances, in addition, the reactions take place under conditions that occur in nature.
It's not a pretty sight: an oily, almost black sludge. In addition, it stinks -- much, much worse than it looks. Inspecting lignin, especially up close and with an unblocked nose, it's hard to believe that it is being treated as a potentially important renewable source of valuable aromatic compounds for the chemical industry. Unfortunately, despite many years of attempts by teams of chemists from all over the world, we still have not managed to develop efficient methods of converting lignin. We are being brought a step closer to cheap solar biorefineries capable of processing lignin on an industrial scale by the new photocatalysts developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw, Poland, in cooperation with the Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Cordoba.
In nature, lignin is present primarily in wood, where it is responsible for wood's consistency and hardness. We can observe the spectacular results of its existence on a daily basis; it is the reason why trees do not creep over the ground, but conversely -- reach even dozens of metres up into the sky, in spite of gravity. The lignin content of wood is typically from 10 to 40% depending on the tree species (the species also affects the chemical composition of the lignin). In industry, lignin is produced in large quantities during the manufacture of paper, as a waste product in the wood softening process. World reserves of lignin are huge and they are continuing to increase. The current estimate is even 300 billion tons, so it is a raw material that is more ubiquitous than crude oil (whose reserves are approx. 230 billion tons).
"From the chemical point of view lignin is a natural polymer with a very complex three-dimensional structure, constructed of, among others, many derivative aromatic compounds including those from various phenyl alcohols. This chemical richness makes lignin a potentially very interesting raw material for the chemical industry. Unfortunately, at the same time, this is its curse, because it is very difficult to develop chemical reactions that would efficiently transform lignin into a specific, single chemical compound, readily suitable for further processing," says Prof. Juan Carlos Colmenares (IPC PAS).
The difficulty in processing lignin means that today it is an industrial waste product of minimum significance that is burdensome for the environment: only 2% of its reserves are further processed, and the resulting chemical compounds are, in any case, of relatively small added value.
A step towards the industrial transformation of lignin into valuable chemical intermediates is being taken by the development of two new photocatalysts. Their main component is titanium dioxide TiO2, deposited on a suitably selected carrier: in one case these are nanocomposites containing iron oxide Fe2O3, and in the second -- zeolites (aluminosilicates), with a small addition of iron. The photocatalyst with iron oxide nanocomposites came about in close cooperation with scientists from Spain, led by Prof. Rafael Luque.
"In order to ensure the most uniform coverage of the particles, the process of deposition of titanium dioxide on the medium is carried out in the presence of ultrasounds, according to a method developed at our Institute," stresses Prof. Colmenares.
In laboratory studies at the Institute, lignin with the addition of either one or other of the photocatalysts was exposed to ultraviolet light, simulating the spectrum of incoming radiation from the Sun. Both catalysts proved surprisingly effective in the transformation of the benzyl alcohol present in the structure of lignin into a benzaldehyde, a substance used, among others, in the production of dyes and in the perfume industry. In the best case, after only four hours, up to half of the original benzyl alcohol content of lignin underwent conversion. In industrial applications, the selectivity of the reaction is also important: the more selective the reaction, the less polluted its products are by unnecessary and usually difficult to separate additives. It turned out that in a solution that had reacted with the participation of photocatalysts there was up to 90% of the target substance.
"In the presence of our photocatalysts, illuminated by light imitating solar radiation, the reactions took place spontaneously in lignin-based model compounds, at ordinary atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of approx. 30 degrees Centigrade, thus in conditions naturally occurring in direct sunlight. This is the exact opposite of traditional refineries, which require very complicated and expensive to maintain technical infrastructure," notes Prof. Colmenares.
The new photocatalysts have one more advantage: they are cheap, because they do not require expensive precious metals, such as palladium, and their carriers are common materials. In addition, one of the photocatalysts has magnetic properties and thus after conversion has taken place, it can be easily recovered from the solution and reused.
The results obtained by the scientists from Warsaw and Cordoba are promising, however, they only apply to photocatalysts with model compounds. For the photocatalysts to effectively process real lignin -- heterogeneous and often with a varying chemical composition -- further studies and tests are required.
The work on photocatalysts involved a group of employees of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology, headed by Prof. Krzysztof Kurzyd?owski. It is there, using advanced research techniques, that a detailed determination of the physical parameters of the new photocatalysts was carried out.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Juan C. Colmenares, Weiyi Ouyang, Manuel Ojeda, Ewelina Kuna, Olga Chernyayeva, Dmytro Lisovytskiy, Sudipta De, Rafael Luque, Alina M. Balu. Mild ultrasound-assisted synthesis of TiO2 supported on magnetic nanocomposites for selective photo-oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2016; 183: 107 DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.10.034
Cite This Page:
Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. "Is lignin the crude oil of the future? Maybe so, thanks to the Sun and photocatalysts." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204111351.htm>.
Impact of high fructose on health of offspring
Date: February 4, 2016
Source: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Summary:
New findings show the effects of antenatal exposure to a high fructose diet on the offspring's development of metabolic syndrome-like phenotype and cardiovascular disease later in life.
In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in the oral session at 1:15 p.m. EST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings on the effects of antenatal exposure to a high fructose diet on the offspring's development of metabolic syndrome-like phenotype and cardiovascular disease later in life.
The study, titled High fructose diet in pregnancy leads to fetal programming of hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity in adult offspring, randomly allocated either a fructose solution or water as the only drinking fluid for pregnant mice from first day of pregnancy through delivery. Offspring were then started on regular chow and evaluated after one year of life. Percent of visceral adipose tissue was measured along with liver fat infiltrates using computed tomography, and blood pressure using a non-invasive monitor. Glucose tolerance testing was also performed and serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, leptin and adiponectin were measured.
Maternal weight, pup number and average weight at birth were similar between the two groups. Male and female offspring born to mothers who received the fructose solution group had higher peak glucose compared with controls. Female offspring from the fructose group were heavier and had a higher percent of visceral adipose tissue, liver fat infiltrates, fasting homeostatic model assessment scores, higher serum concentrations of leptin and lower concentrations of adiponectin.
No significant differences in these parameters were noted in male offspring. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were not different between the two groups or either gender.
"While this study was done in a mouse model, it is an important indicator of the effect of the mothers' diet during pregnancy on the health of their children later in life," explained Antonio Saad, M.D. with UTMB Galveston and the lead researcher of the study. "Through this study, we know that consuming high fructose during pregnancy putts the child at future risk for a variety of health conditions including obesity and the many complications it causes."
The study concluded that, while maternal intake of high fructose leads to fetal programming of adult obesity, hypertension, and metabolic dysfunction--all of which risk factors for cardiovascular disease; limiting high fructose enriched diets in pregnancy may have a significant impact on long term health.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
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Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. "Impact of high fructose on health of offspring." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204175642.htm>.
Milk, vitamin supplements and exercise raise children's vitamin D levels
Date: February 5, 2016
Source: University of Eastern Finland
Summary:
Sufficient intake of fortified dairy products is of significant importance for the serum vitamin D level in primary school children, shows a new study.
Sufficient intake of fortified dairy products is of significant importance for the serum vitamin D level in primary school children, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Children who drink at least three glasses of milk per day had a higher serum vitamin D level than their peers who drink milk in lesser amounts. The use of vitamin D supplements was also associated with a higher serum vitamin D level. Furthermore, children who exercise more than 2 hours per day had a higher serum vitamin D level than children who exercise less than 1.5 hours per day. The article "Determinants of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration in Finnish Children: The PANIC Study" was published online in British Journal of Nutrition and was selected as the Nutrition Society Paper of the Month for January 2016.
Low levels of vitamin D are common
Very few children had severely low serum levels of vitamin D. However, 20% had a serum vitamin D level lower than 50 nmol/l, which is often considered as a sufficient level. Children whose blood samples were taken in the autumn had the highest serum vitamin D levels. This may be explained by the fact that in the summer, vitamin D is formed on the skin due to sunlight exposure. In northern latitudes, there is not enough sun exposure to maintain sufficient vitamin D levels in the winter season, and vitamin D supplementation is often required. A sufficiently high serum vitamin D level is associated with better bone health and there is some evidence that it may also be associated with a lower risk of many chronic diseases.
Milk fortified with vitamin D is children's most important source of vitamin D
More than 80% of the children had a lower intake of vitamin D from food and vitamin supplements than recommended 10 μg per day in Finland. Furthermore, as many as 40% of the children did not use any vitamin D supplements at all. Milk was the most important source of vitamin D, amounting to nearly 50% of the children's intake. Approximately 30% of the vitamin D intake was from dietary fats and approximately 10% from fish. The majority of milk products and spreads available in Finland are fortified with vitamin D. The level of fortification of milk has been increased from 0.5 µg/100g to 1 µg/100g since the collection of the study data and therefore we suppose milk is even more important source of vitamin D in Finland at the moment. Vitamin D fortification of milk products could be an effective way to improve vitamin D status also in other countries where milk consumption is high.
Adherence to nutrition recommendations can improve serum vitamin D levels
The Finnish nutrition recommendations published in 2014 recommend a vitamin D supplement of 7.5μg per day to all 2-18 year old children and adolescents all year round. In addition, 5-6 dl (2.5-3 glasses) of dairy products fortified with vitamin D per day and 2-3 servings of fish per week are recommended. The diet should also contain vegetable oil based spreads which are fortified with vitamin D. Moreover, sufficient exercise -- and especially exercise taking place outdoors -- should be encouraged among children.
Population-based study provides insight into health and well-being of children and adolescents
The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study is an on-going lifestyle intervention study in the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland. A total of 512 children aged 6 to 8 years participated in the baseline measurements in 2007-2009, constituting a representative sample of their age group. The PANIC Study produces scientifically valuable information on children's lifestyles, health and well-being. The next follow-up round will begin in early 2016.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Eastern Finland. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Sonja Soininen, Aino-Maija Eloranta, Virpi Lindi, Taisa Venäläinen, Nina Zaproudina, Anitta Mahonen, Timo A. Lakka. Determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in Finnish children: the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. British Journal of Nutrition, 2016; 1 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515005292
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University of Eastern Finland. "Milk, vitamin supplements and exercise raise children's vitamin D levels." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160205100608.htm>.
Honey’s potential to save lives by destroying harmful fungus
Date: February 5, 2016
Source: Manchester University
Summary:
The healing powers of honey have been known for thousands of years. Now a researchers has discovered a powerful link between a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of a fungus that can cause blindness or even death.
The healing powers of honey have been known for thousands of years. Now a graduate from The University of Manchester has discovered a powerful link between a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of a fungus that can cause blindness or even death.
In the first study of its kind, student Zain Habib Alhindi used different concentrations of Surgihoney, a biologically engineered honey that produces chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, to test how effective it could be in destroying the fungus Fusarium, which is found on plants and in soil and can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people.
Zain discovered even the lowest concentrations had a significant effect in breaking down the cell wall of the fungus, demonstrating its potential as a future treatment for patients.
She said: "Chronic infections, such as those found in long-lasting wounds comprise about 60-80 per cent of infectious diseases in humans and the way fungi invades wounds is associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
"However, we know that biofilms -- thin layers of microorganisms, which group together -- contribute to the severity and delayed healing of chronic wounds.
"Through my research I wanted to show the potential for honey as a healing agent to break through these biofilms and in doing so increase the process of healing. What I found amazing is that honey actually works better than some antifungals."
Zain (29) from Saudi Arabia is one of only handful of students who have completed The University's new master's degree course in Medical Mycology which runs for just one year instead of the customary two, making it a world first.
Because of the way the course is structured Zain was able to spend almost a third of her time in the lab working on experiments to test her theory under the supervision of Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases in The University's Institute of Inflammation and Repair.
Dr Rautemaa-Richardson believes it's this intensive, hands-on approach, which appeals to her students and equips them for a career in specialised medicine or research.
She said: "This dynamic course provides a solid foundation to the scientific, practical and clinical aspects of fungal diseases, which allows clinically relevant research like this. In the world of increasing antimicrobial resistance new approaches to the management of infections, sparing the real antibiotics, are highly relevant and important."
Professor Malcolm Richardson, Professor of Medical Mycology at The University of Manchester added: "Honey has been used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases. Only a limited number of investigations have looked at its effect on pathogenic fungi.
"This opens an exciting door for further work on the application of honey for many fungal infections and allows researchers to adopt different options for treating a range of superficial infections."
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Manchester University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
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Manchester University. "Honey’s potential to save lives by destroying harmful fungus." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160205112639.htm>.
Hallucinogen may protect against intimate partner violence, researcher suggests
Date: February 5, 2016
Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary:
Hallucinogen research gains traction, suggests class of substance could be therapeutic for problem behaviors, including intimate partner violence, according to one researcher.
Evidence in a study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia along with University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health Associate Professor Peter S. Hendricks, Ph.D., suggests hallucinogens such as psilocybin or LSD may have therapeutic potential for reducing intimate partner violence, or IPV.
Hendricks says the identification of risk and protective factors for IPV is an important goal for public health research.
"A body of evidence suggests that substances such as psilocybin may have a range of clinical indications," he said. "Although we're attempting to better understand how or why these substances may be beneficial, one explanation is that they can transform people's lives by providing profoundly meaningful spiritual experiences that highlight what matters most. Often, people are struck by the realization that behaving with compassion and kindness toward others is high on the list of what matters."
The study looked at 302 men ages 17-40 in the criminal justice system. Of the 56 percent of participants who reported using hallucinogens, only 27 percent were arrested for later IPV as opposed to 42 percent of the group who reported no hallucinogen use being arrested for IPV within seven years.
From the 1950s through the early 1970s, thousands of studies reported on the medical use of hallucinogens, mostly LSD. Due to the classification of the most prominent hallucinogens as Schedule I controlled substances in 1970, research on health benefits was suspended, causing many of these studies to be forgotten. However, research with hallucinogens has experienced a rebirth.
"Recent studies have shown that psilocybin and related compounds could revolutionize the mental health field," Hendricks said. "However, additional research is needed. This study suggests that hallucinogens could be a useful avenue for reducing IPV, meaning this topic deserves further attention."
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Alabama at Birmingham. The original item was written by Alicia Rohan. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Cite This Page:
University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Hallucinogen may protect against intimate partner violence, researcher suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160205135508.htm>.
Using medical marijuana to stop seizures in kids
Date: February 8, 2016
Source: Texas A&M University
Summary:
Desperate for relief, parents are taking unusual steps to help children plagued with seizures. The relief, however, comes in a most unlikely form: marijuana.
Desperate for relief, parents are taking unusual steps to help children plagued with seizures. The relief, however, comes in a most unlikely form: marijuana.
As many as 30 percent of people with epilepsy -- or about one million Americans -- still have seizures while on Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments. It's left many who suffer from uncontrollable seizures -- or their parents, as many of them are children -- turning to medical marijuana and its derivatives in an attempt to take back control of a disease with no cure.
A seizure is an abnormal electrical storm in the brain that causes sudden alteration in consciousness, sensation and behavior that can manifest from an eye flicker to full-body convulsions. People with medication-resistant (also called intractable) epilepsy suffer from consequences of recurrent seizures, which could damage the brain and adversely impact their quality of life. This is commonly observed in children with certain types of devastating pediatric epilepsy, such as Lennox-Gastaut, Doose and Dravet syndromes.
Stories about desperate parents seeking anything to relieve their children's seizures abound, but how much scientific evidence is there for cannabis' effectiveness?
D. Samba Reddy, Ph.D., R.Ph., professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, studies novel therapies for epilepsy. He recently published an article, with co-author Victoria Golub, in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics about the current state of research into medical marijuana for treating epilepsy.
"There was a lot of media attention about how medical marijuana is good for epilepsy," said Reddy, who is a fellow of both the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). "We became interested in finding out whether there was scientific evidence in the literature to support the claims of these people who have seen great benefits."
There are at least 85 active components of the plant colloquially known as marijuana, but two major ones of have been the focus of study: delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the psychoactive component of the plant, while CBD doesn't cause any sort of a "high" and isn't thought to be addictive. Preliminary studies -- largely in animal models -- have shown CBD might have some anti-seizure potential.
Derivatives of marijuana high in CBD (but with negligible amount of THC) might offer some benefit for intractable epilepsy. CBD-enriched products, like Epidiolex and Realm Oil, exist, but their efficacy hasn't been proven and they exist in a sort of legal grey area. Homemade compounds exist, but since they don't go through rigorous best practice manufacturing procedures and haven't been approved by the FDA, it can be difficult for consumers to know exactly what they're getting.
Although THC is known to share the actions of anandamide (from the Indian Sanskrit word "anand" for bliss or happiness), a naturally occurring compound in the brain, the exact mode of anti-seizure action of CBD is unclear. "It is critical to know how CBD controls seizures, so pharmaceutical companies can design novel synthetic compounds for epilepsy that could surpass the hurdles of mixed CBD extracts," said Reddy, who directs an epilepsy research lab at Texas A&M. These compounds might provide the benefits without some of the risks -- or the legal issues -- associated with the marijuana plant.
A standard manufacturing process and clinical trials might help answer some of these questions, but conducting one isn't easy, and there are currently only 19 clinical trials going on to test the use of cannabinoids for epilepsy. For one thing, cannabis is still listed as a Schedule I substance by the federal government, meaning gaining permission to use it in research on human participants is extremely difficult.
Still, change is occurring at the state level. Recreational marijuana use is legal for adults in four states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington) and in 23 states and Washington, DC, medical marijuana is allowed. Texas, in a law passed during the last legislative session in 2015, legalized low-THC cannabis oils for people with intractable epilepsy while still prohibiting medical marijuana more broadly.
A new study at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is enrolling Dravet epilepsy patients who have tried Charlotte's Web, a specific strain of medical marijuana that is low in THC and high in CBD. The researchers will compare the genetics of those who have seen seizure activity decreased dramatically (at least 50 percent) in response to the drug versus those who did not. Although this research could yield useful information about how CBD and genetic factors interact in a Dravet population, it is not the gold standard of scientific drug trials: the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial in which patients were randomly assigned to either CBD or a placebo.
As for experts like Reddy, who is a Texas board-certified pharmacist, most are taking a cautious wait-and-see approach.
The American Epilepsy Society (AES) has released a statement on the use of medical marijuana in the treatment of epilepsy stating that due to the lack of data, no conclusion can be drawn at present.
The Epilepsy Foundation doesn't specifically discourage cannabis use, but urges anyone exploring treatment for epilepsy to work with their treating physician to make the best decisions for their own care and to follow applicable laws.
"Despite all of the controversy about medical marijuana as a potential therapy for epilepsy," Reddy said, "most people agree that what we need is greater rigorous scientific study into cannabinoids to prove or disprove their safety and efficacy."
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Texas A&M University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
Chase Carver and Doodipala Samba Reddy. Neurosteroid Structure-Activity Relationships for Functional Activation of Extrasynaptic delta-GABA-A Receptors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, February 2016 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.115.229302
Cite This Page:
Texas A&M University. "Using medical marijuana to stop seizures in kids." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160208140604.htm>.
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