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February, 2010

Stem Cell Therapy for Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy

After years of clinical trials, research shows that stem cell-derived retinal cells can rescue visual function in animals that otherwise would have gone blind.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that it filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase I/II multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived retinal cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD).

The treatment for eye disease uses stem cells to re-create a type of cell in the retina that supports the photoreceptors needed for vision. These cells, called retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), are often the first to die off in SMD and AMD, which in turn leads to loss of vision.

While there is currently no treatment for SMD, several years ago ACT and its collaborators found that human embryonic stem cells could be a source of RPE cells. Subsequent studies found that the cells could restore vision in animal models of macular degeneration. In the Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) rat model, implantation of RPE cells resulted in 100% improvement in visual performance over untreated controls without any adverse effects. The cells survived for more than 220 days and sustained extensive photoreceptor rescue. Functional rescue was also achieved in the 'Stargardt's' mouse with near-normal functional measurements recorded at more than 70 days.

Editor's Note: See nutritional information related to Stargardt's Disease.

Gene Therapy for Leber's Disease

In 2009, Dr. Jean Bennett and his team from Albert Maguire of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine injected a benign virus carrying a connected copy of an essential gene into a teenage boy's retina. This patient had lost vision due to a genetic disorder called "Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LGA)."

The result was improved vision as the gene therapy enabled the body to make new rods and cones (which normally are irreplaceable once lost).

Other young patients given the same procedure also were able to see better. This remarkable procedure is in a Phase I clinical trial, published in Lancet.

All the children that underwent this procedure gained enough vision to walk independently.

The Liberation Treatment: A whole new approach to MS

New study shows that a large buildup of iron in the brain may be a major contributor to MS. This buildup is due to the twisting or outright blockage of the veins that are supposed to flush blood from the brain, and that clearing the blockages can result in a decrease in the number of new MS attacks, a big reduction in the number of brain lesions that define MS, and improved quality of life.

Because the surgery performed in the study freed the blood flow, the research team dubbed the procedure "The Liberation Treatment."

Two foods to completely avoid

Avoid trans fats, found largely in commercially prepared baked and fried foods, These fats not only raise "bad" LDL cholesterol, but also lower levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol. High trans-fat intake has been linked to coronary heart disease, in which fatty plaques build up in the heart arteries, sometimes leading to a heart attack.

The food industry has been widely replacing trans fats with intersterified fat, another unnatural fat to completely avoid.

The interesterification process hardens fat, similar to the hydrogenation process, but without producing oils that contain trans fats. The end product, like trans fat, is less likely to go rancid and is stable enough to use to fry foods.

However, like hydrogenation which generates unnatural trans fats, interesterification also produces molecules that do not exist in nature.

Studies show that interesterified fat raises your blood glucose and depresses insulin production. These conditions are common precursors to diabetes, and can present an even more immediate danger if you already have the disease.

Nutrition & Metabolism 2007, 4:3doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-3

Editor's Note: Stay with healthy fats such as olive oil, and even saturated fats in moderation such as butter or coconut oil.

To round out your healthy fat intake, be sure to eat raw fats, such as those from avocados, raw dairy products, and olive oil, and also take a high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

Pomegranate offers hope in war on superbugs

Scientists have created an ointment that tackles drug resistant infections by harnessing chemicals that are contained in pomegranate rind.

They found that by combining pomegranate rind with other natural products such as vitamin C and a metal salt gave a much more potent effect; killing off, or inhibiting, drug-resistant microbes from growing created a strong, infection-busting compound.

The need for a new method of tackling superbugs is growing more and more desperate as they continue to develop resistance to common antibiotics.

Professor Declan Naughton, biomolecular scientist at the University of Kingston, Surrey, said the breakthrough by his team was significant and argued that one way to solve the problem of growing drug resistance was to investigate natural products.

He added: "A great deal of medicines come from plants, but the normal approach taken by the pharmaceutical industry is to try to find one particular active molecule."

Editor's Note: Nature designed nutrients ideally to be taken as part of a whole food. It is good that some scientists are open to seeking nature for help in solving our health problems with the understanding that there are secrets in whole foods that can help us.

For information on our whole food formulas. see Advanced Eye and Vision Support Formula and Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin.

EPA and DHA needed for optimal nervous system function

A report appearing in the December 2009 issue of the American Psychological Association journal Behavioral Neuroscience revealed that diets that fail to provide enough of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may negatively affect the nervous system. The finding could impact the understanding of information-processing deficits that occur in schizophrenia, bipolar disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntington's disease and other nervous system disorders.

Editor's Note: Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the super nutrients that help protect the heart, eyes, brain and are used by every cell in the body.

See an excellent omega-3 fatty acids fish oil.

D-Ribose Significantly Reduces Symptoms Associated with Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Studies shows that supplementing with D-Ribose, a naturally occurring pentose carbohydrate, at a dose of 5 g t.i.d. for a total of 280 g., significantly reduces symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Approximately 66% of patients experienced significant improvement while on D-ribose. Categories measured were energy; sleep; mental clarity; pain intensity; and well-being, as well as an improvement in patients' global assessment.

Editor's Note: See an excellent D-Ribose formula.

Lifestyle, Brain Health, & Dementia

There is growing evidence that lifestyle can affect your brain health and risk for dementia.

Here are some brain saving tips:

Walk backwards as an exercise - this has been found to have excellent brain stimulating effects.
Learn new dance steps
Surf the web
Eat healthy, don't smoke, avoid alcohol except a glass of red wine at night if you like, and get plenty of regular exercise. Study shows people with poor lifestyle habits are twice as likely to get dementia.

Editor's Note: Supplement with a high quality whole food multivitamin daily such as Dr. Grossman's whole food multivitamin.

Health and Peace

Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac.
Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac.
visionworksusa@earthlink.net
www.naturaleyecare.com
(845) 255-8222