Dark Chocolate Is Healthy Chocolate Dark Chocolate Has Health Benefits Not Seen in Other Varieties

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Aug. 27, 2003 -- Got high blood pressure? Try a truffle. Worried about heart disease? Buy a bon-bon.

It's the best medical news in ages. Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you.

Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

But that's no license to go on a chocolate binge. Eating more dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.

Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, and colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. Antioxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

"Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate ... and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."

Translation: Say "Dark, please," when ordering at the chocolate counter. Don't even think of washing it down with milk. And if health is your excuse for eating chocolate, remember the word "moderate" as you nibble.

The Studies

Taubert's team signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64. All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average, systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 84.

Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance its 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.

Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

In the second study, Serafini's team signed up seven healthy women and five healthy men aged 25-35. On different days they each ate 100 grams of dark chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate.

An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total antioxidants in their blood. And they had higher levels of epicatechin, a particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had the lowest epicatechin levels of all.

Rabies

Know before you go!

Infectious diseases not necessarily common in Canada can occur and may even be widespread in other countries. Standards of hygiene and medical care may differ from those at home. Before departure, you should learn about the health conditions in the country or countries you plan to visit, your own risk of disease and the steps you can take to prevent illness.

The risk is yours
Your risk of acquiring a disease depends on several factors. They include: your age, gender, immunization status and current state of health; your itinerary, duration and style of travel (e.g., first class, adventure) and anticipated travel activities (e.g., animal contact, exposure to fresh water, sexual contact); as well as the local disease situation.

Risk assessment consultation
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication (prophylaxis) and advise you on precautions to avoid disease.

Some facts from the experts
The information below has been developed and is updated in consultation with Public Health Agency of Canada's Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT). The recommendations are intended as general advice about the prevention of measles for Canadians travelling internationally.

Disease profile

Rabies is a viral infection of animals that can be transmitted to humans. It is caused by a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which attacks the central nervous system and eventually affects the brain. The virus is usually found in the saliva of an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms occur.

Transmission

Rabies can occur in any warm-blooded animal, domestic and wild. Commonly, rabies has been transmitted to humans from dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, monkeys, wolves and bats. As well, animals having potential interactions with people such as cattle, horses and deer can acquire rabies and may transmit the disease to humans.

The virus is transmitted through close contact with the saliva of infected animals, most often by a bite or scratch or by licks on broken skin or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose or mouth. In very rare cases, person-to-person transmission has occurred when saliva droplets were dispersed in the air.

Injury to the upper body or face poses the greatest risk of transmission. The risk of children is estimated to be four times greater than adults, and boys are at greater risk than girls.

Geographic distribution and incidence trends

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more deaths occur worldwide from rabies than from other common infections such as dengue fever, polio, meningococcal meningitis or Japanese encephalitis. Of the 50,000 human rabies deaths reported annually, it is estimated that over 30,000 deaths occur in the Indian Sub-Continent with most of the remaining cases occurring in South-East Asia (particularly, the Philippines), Africa and Latin America.

In most countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, infected dogs are responsible for most of the rabies deaths. India has a dog population of 50 million. Thailand has 10 million dogs for its population of 58 million. In Bangkok it is estimated that one in 10 stray dogs is infected.

In developed countries, rabies is found mainly in wild animals, from which infection can spread to domestic animals and humans. In Canada, the incidence of human rabies has substantially decreased, which is associated with the increase of rabies vaccination in domestic animals. However, rabies among wildlife - especially bats, raccoons and skunks - has become more prevalent in North America.

Although rabies is rare in international travellers overall, a significant proportion of deaths caused by rabies is reported among people in the developed world who acquired the disease while travelling. Over a period of 17 years, 33% of rabies cases reported in the United States acquired their infection in other countries. The UK reported 12 cases of rabies over 20 years, 10 of which came from the Indian Sub-Continent. In France, 18 of the 19 cases of rabies reported over a 20-year period were acquired abroad, the vast majority in Africa. There has been one Canadian case of rabies acquired abroad in the seven decades since statistics have been kept.

Symptoms

The time from exposure to first symptoms (i.e., incubation period) for rabies varies. It can be as short as 5 days, or as long as several years, usually taking 20 to 60 days. The first symptoms are usually non-specific, flu-like symptoms - fever, tiredness, headache that may last for a few days. In the acute stage, which quickly follows, an individual exhibits anxiety, confusion, insomnia, agitation, hallucinations and hyperactivity (furious rabies) or paralysis (dumb rabies). The acute period usually ends after 2 to 10 days. In both furious and dumb rabies, a complete paralysis develops, followed by coma. Death occurs during the first 7 days of illness without intensive care.

Testing and Treatment

It is very important to act quickly if an individual thinks he/she may have been exposed to rabies. Treatment for rabies is effective, but only if an individual begins treatment early.

Immediately following an exposure to a suspected rabies carrier through a bite, scratch or lick, an individual should:

• vigorously wash and flush the wound or point of contact with soap and water and apply alcohol or iodine, if available
• seek medical attention for post-exposure vaccination and, if necessary, wound care.

Vaccines

One vaccine against rabies is licensed for use in Canada. The vaccine is very effective, causes few adverse reactions, and is fairly expensive. The vaccine provides immunity to rabies when administered for protection before an exposure (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or after an exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis).

1- Vaccination before travel
Pre-exposure vaccination includes three doses given over 1 month. If an individual is subsequently exposed to rabies, two further doses will be needed.

Determining the need for pre-travel vaccination is complex: a personal risk assessment prior to travel will weigh an individual's risk of exposure with other factors such as itinerary, planned activities, rabies occurrence in countries to be visited, availability of vaccine in country of travel and the cost of the vaccine. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is not usually recommended for the general traveller. It may be considered for those with the greatest risk of animal exposure, such as:

• veterinarians,
• farm workers,
• spelunkers (cave explorers),
• young children who may not understand the need to stay away from animals or to report any bite,
• travellers in areas of high rabies activity where there is limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis.

2- Vaccination following an exposure
If an individual was not vaccinated before travel with three doses, a full course of five vaccine doses, plus one dose of the rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) are needed following exposure. Both the vaccine and RIG can be hard to obtain in some developing countries.

Once a post-exposure vaccine series has been started, the traveller should obtain as much information about the vaccine used as possible (e.g., manufacturer, type of doses, vaccination schedule used), so that treatment may continue without delay on his/her return to Canada. This information is important; without it, the traveller may have to restart the complete series, as partial vaccination may not prevent a fatal case of rabies.

Prevention and personal precautions

Taking personal precautions to avoid close contact with animals is the best means of preventing exposure to the rabies virus. As well, rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Recommendations

Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends all travellers obtain an individual risk assessment from a physician or travel medicine clinic before departure to determine their particular risk for rabies exposure. The need for vaccination is difficult to assess. A thorough risk assessment takes into consideration a traveller's proposed activities and itinerary, the cost of the vaccine and the availability of the vaccine while travelling.

Public Health Agency of Canada further recommends that travellers take personal precautions to avoid rabies exposure by:

• avoiding direct contact with unfamiliar wild or domestic animals, especially dogs in developing countries;
• not handling, feeding, or unintentionally attracting wild animals with open garbage cans or litter;
• instructing children to avoid unfamiliar wild or domestic animals, even if they appear friendly;
• preventing bats from entering living quarters.

If exposed to a potentially rabid animal:

• wash the area or wound thoroughly with soap and water, and
• seek medical attention immediately.

Domestic pets may be a risk for rabies exposure. If travelling with a pet:

• keep pets' rabies vaccinations up-to-date;
• keep pets under tight control to avoid contact with wild and/or other animals.

If travellers encounter any difficulty in obtaining a post-exposure vaccine, they should contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Some things to think about...

Given the unpredictable nature of a potential rabies exposure, consider all stray animals to be infected with rabies and avoid contact. As well, be aware that should contact occur, treatment for rabies exposure is not available everywhere.

For more information...

• For more Know before you go! information, click here.

• For world rabies trends information provided by the WHO, go to CCDR Canada Communicable Disease Report - Volume 26-02, 15 January 2000.

• Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response Division of the WHO offers more info on post-exposure treatment and surveillance of rabies worldwide;

• To see essential rabies maps and listing of the most current global incidence rates for rabies, go to: Essential rabies maps WHO website.

Mental Health

This site is designed to provide convenient access to a range of online materials related to the promotion of mental health, the planning, delivery, cost and evaluation of mental health programs and services in Canada, and the mental health issues, problems and disorders encountered by Canadians. The information is drawn from many areas within the Public Health Agency of Canada and other federal departments and agencies. Selected links to other sites are also included. Click on the menu categories for more information.

• Mental Health Promotion
• Mental Health Problems and Mental Disorders
• Mental Health Service Systems

Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI)

Nova Scotia's Health Insurance Programs are designed to provide eligible residents with coverage for medically required hospital, medical, dental and optometric services with some restrictions.

The Medical Services Insurance Programs are administered by Medavie Blue Cross on behalf of the Nova Scotia government. The Department of Health provides policy direction for the programs. The Hospital Insurance Program is administered directly by the Department of Health. The cost of providing these services to Nova Scotians is met through the general revenues of the province. You pay no premiums.

Please carry your signed Nova Scotia Health Card with you at all times. You must present it to the physician and/or hospital each time you need insured hospital or physician services.

This website is designed to provide Nova Scotians with general information on the features and benefits of Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance. Changes may be made from time to time.

What is Vibrio

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause cholera. It lives in brackish saltwater and causes gastrointestinal illness in humans. V. parahaemolyticus naturally inhabits coastal waters in the United States and Canada and is present in higher concentrations during summer; it is a halophilic, or salt-requiring organism.
Back to Top
What type of illness is caused by V. parahaemolyticus?
When ingested, V. parahaemolyticus causes watery diarrhea often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion. Illness is usually self-limited and lasts 3 days. Severe disease is rare and occurs more commonly in persons with weakened immune systems. V. parahaemolyticus can also cause an infection of the skin when an open wound is exposed to warm seawater.
Back to Top
How does infection with V. parahaemolyticus occur?
Most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Less commonly, this organism can cause an infection in the skin when an open wound is exposed to warm seawater.
Back to Top
How common is infection with V. parahaemolyticus?
An estimated 4500 cases of V. parahaemolyticus infection occur each year in the United States. However, the number of cases reported to CDC is much lower because surveillance is complicated by underreporting. Laboratories rarely use the selective medium that is necessary to identify this organism, and it is likely that many cases are undetected. To improve our ability to monitor trends, infections caused by V. parahaemolyticus and other Vibrio species became nationally notifiable in 2007. State health departments report cases to CDC, and these reports are summarized annually.
Back to Top
How is V. parahaemolyticus infection diagnosed?
Vibrio organisms can be isolated from cultures of stool, wound, or blood. For isolation from stool, use of a selective medium that has thiosulfate, citrate, bile salts, and sucrose (TCBS agar) is recommended. If there is clinical suspicion for infection with this organism, the microbiology laboratory should be notified so that they will perform cultures using this medium. A physician should suspect V. parahaemolyticus infection if a patient has watery diarrhea and has eaten raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters, or when a wound infection occurs after exposure to seawater.
Back to Top
How is V. parahaemolyticus treated?
Treatment is not necessary in most cases of V. parahaemolyticus infection. There is no evidence that antibiotic treatment decreases the severity or the length of the illness. Patients should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluids lost through diarrhea. In severe or prolonged illnesses, antibiotics such as tetracycline or ciprofloxicin can be used. The choice of antibiotics should be based on antimicrobial susceptibilities of the organism.
Back to Top
How do oysters get contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus?
Vibrio is a naturally occurring organism commonly found in waters where oysters are cultivated. When the appropriate conditions occur with regard to salt content and temperature, V. parahaemolyticus thrives.
Back to Top
How is V. parahaemolyticus infection prevented?
Most infections caused by V. parahaemolyticus in the United States can be prevented by thoroughly cooking seafood, especially oysters. Wound infections can be prevented by avoiding exposure of open wounds to warm seawater. When an outbreak is traced to an oyster bed, health officials recommend closing the oyster bed until conditions are less favorable for V. parahaemolyticus.
Timely, voluntary reporting of V. parahaemolyticus infections to state health departments and to regional offices of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will help collaborative efforts to improve investigation of these infections. Regional FDA specialists with expert knowledge about shellfish assist state officials with tracebacks of shellfish. When notified rapidly about cases, officials can sample harvest waters to discover possible sources of infection and may close oyster beds. Ongoing research may help us to predict environmental or other factors that increase the chance that oysters carry Vibrios.
Back to Top
How can I learn more about Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
You can discuss medical concerns with your doctor or other health care provider. Your local health department can provide information about this and other public health problems. Information about problems associated with raw seafood consumption can be obtained from the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (telephone 1-800-332-4010). At this number recorded information is available on many subjects including seafood consumption and handling. A public affairs specialist is available 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Seafood safety information is also available on the world wide web at http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov and http://seafood.ucdavis.edu. There is more information about other Vibrio infections, such as Vibrio vulnificus.
Back to Top
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found

What Is Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacteria that lives in soil, water, and even in environments like hot tubs. For most healthy people, this bacteria seldom poses a problem. Occasionally people will develop conditions like hot tub rash, and swimmer’s ear, which may be due to contact with these germs. These conditions can sometimes resolve without treatment, or with minimal treatment, like antibiotic drops for swimmer’s ear.
Unfortunately, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is much more dangerous to certain populations, including those who have weak immune systems, the elderly, and those who have been hospitalized for long periods of time. People with cystic fibrosis and with full-blown AIDs frequently die from infections created by the bacteria. Those who have undergone chemotherapy, have had transplants, or have any of a variety of immunosuppressed conditions are far more at risk for developing bacterial infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and because this bacteria is relatively resistant to most antibacterial medications, infection can be deadly, particularly when it becomes infection of the lungs or bloodstream.
Doctors and medical researchers often refer to Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a blue-green pus bacteria, and/or a gram-negative bacteria. The first reference is to the pus, which can show blue to green colors, and the second refers to the Gram method for staining bacteria to determine what type it is. When samples of gram-negative bacteria, particularly those that are considered aerobic, are stained, they resist color and typically show up in slides under the microscope as a pink color. Aerobic bacteria refers to bacteria that needs oxygen to survive, which Pseudomonas aeruginosa has in ample amounts, particularly in hospital settings.
As mentioned, though Pseudomonas aeruginosa tends to live all around us, it is most dangerous to those who are in weakened physical states or have immunodeficiencies. Despite hospital cleaning and safety the bacteria may aggressively survive in basic hospital equipment, like masks used to give oxygen, breathing apparatus, or catheters for urine. Typically most common infections induced by the bacteria are of the bladder, lungs or bloodstream. Inability to produce normal immune reactions to the presence of the bacteria can mean this germ can easily result in extremely grave health conditions.
Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually through intravenous multiple antibiotic combinations, and it unfortunately does not always work. However, there is hope in this field, which may ultimately put an end to the suffering this bacteria may cause. Preliminary studies on a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine are underway, and although these studies have not yet concluded that a currently developed vaccine is completely effective, early results do show that the vaccine can potentially reduce number of infections, as of mid-2007. These early results do not show complete protection from infection, but they are promising as to a reduction, when compared with a placebo group. Such a vaccine could indeed be a boon to the medical community and all those who are at particular risk for life-threatening infections from this bacteria

The serotonin syndrome.

Department of Psychiatry, UCLA-Neuropsychiatric Institute, Los Angeles.
OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: A review of the literature on the serotonin syndrome in animals and human beings was conducted, and 12 reports of 38 cases in human patients were then analyzed to determine the most frequently reported clinical features and drug interactions, as well as the incidence, treatment, and outcome of this syndrome. FINDINGS: The serotonin syndrome is most commonly the result of the interaction between serotonergic agents and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The most frequent clinical features are changes in mental status, restlessness, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, diaphoresis, shivering, and tremor. The presumed pathophysiological mechanism involves brainstem and spinal cord activation of the 1A form of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) receptor. The incidence of the syndrome is not known. Both sexes have been affected, and patients' ages have ranged from 20 to 68 years. Discontinuation of the suspected serotonergic agent and institution of supportive measures are the primary treatment, although 5-HT receptor antagonists may also play a role. Once treatment is instituted, the syndrome typically resolves within 24 hours, but confusion can last for days, and death has been reported. CONCLUSIONS: The serotonin syndrome is a toxic condition requiring heightened clinical awareness for prevention, recognition, and prompt treatment. Further work is needed to establish the diagnostic criteria, incidence, and predisposing factors, to identify the role of 5-HT antagonists in treatment, and to differentiate the syndrome from neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
PMID: 2035713 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

International Union of Pharmacology classification of receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin).

Sandoz Pharma Limited, Basel, Switzerland.
It is evident that in the last decade or so, a vast amount of new information has become available concerning the various 5-HT receptor types and their characteristics. This derives from two main research approaches, operational pharmacology, using selective ligands (both agonists and antagonists), and, more recently, molecular biology. Although the scientific community continues to deliberate about the hierarchy of criteria for neurotransmitter receptor characterisation, there seems good agreement between the two approaches regarding 5-HT receptor classification. In addition, the information regarding transduction mechanisms and second messengers is also entirely consistent. Thus, on the basis of these essential criteria for receptor characterisation and classification, there are at least three main groups or classes of 5-HT receptor: 5-HT1, 5-HT2, and 5-HT3. Each group is not only operationally but also structurally distinct, with each receptor group having its own distinct transducing system. The more recently identified 5-HT4 receptor almost undoubtedly represents a fourth 5-HT receptor class on the basis of operational and transductional data, but this will only be definitively shown when the cDNA for the receptor has been cloned and the amino acid sequence of the protein is known. Although those 5-HT receptors that have been fully characterised and classified to date (and, hence, named with confidence) would seem to mediate the majority of the actions of 5-HT throughout the mammalian body, not all receptors for 5-HT are fully encompassed within our scheme of classification. These apparent anomalies must be recognised and need further study. They may or may not represent new groups of 5-HT receptor or subtypes of already known groups of 5-HT receptor. Even though the cDNAs for the 5-ht1E, 5-ht1F, 5-ht5, 5-ht6, and 5-ht7 receptors have been cloned and their amino acid sequence defined, more data are necessary concerning their operational and transductional characteristics before one can be confident of the suitability of their appellations. Therefore, it is important to rationalise in concert all of the available data from studies involving both operational approaches of the classical pharmacological type and those from molecular and cellular biology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
PMID: 7938165 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

:: Angiogenesis in cancer

How angiogenesis complicates cancer
Angiogenesis performs a critical role in the development of cancer. Solid tumors smaller than 1 to 2 cubic millimeters are not vascularized. To spread, they need to be supplied by blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients and remove metabolic wastes.

Beyond the critical volume of 2 cubic millimeters, oxygen and nutrients have difficulty diffusing to the cells in the center of the tumor, causing a state of cellular hypoxia that marks the onset of tumoral angiogenesis.

New blood vessel development is an important process in tumor progression. It favors the transition from hyperplasia to neoplasia i.e. the passage from a state of cellular multiplication to a state of uncontrolled proliferation characteristic of tumor cells.

Neovascularization also influences the dissemination of cancer cells throughout the entire body eventually leading to metastasis formation.The vascularization level of a solid tumor is thought to be an excellent indicator of its metastatic potential.

The molecular factors involved in the stimulation of blood vessel growth are described in detail in The process of angiogenesis.







Shortcomings of standard therapies


Standard therapies to combat cancer are usually aimed at interfering with the cellular replication process which is accelerated in tumors. Despite the efforts made since 1971 to fight cancer -- the year the United States declared war on the disease -- new cases of most cancers have increased significantly. Ninety percent of all cancers are solid tumors and thus depend on angiogenesis to support their growth.

Resistance to treatment is a major issue in oncology. In hormone-dependent cancer for instance, after standard anti-hormonal therapy, it is common to see a recurrence of cancer. This occurs when a malignant cell is transformed a second time, thus making its replication independent of hormones. The same phenomenon takes place with cancers treated with chemotherapy. Often a transformed cell exposed to a powerful chemical agent goes through a mutation, giving it a selective advantage for growth, such as the production of a growth factor or resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

It has also been shown that the resection of a primary tumor is often accompanied by metastases caused by a systemic disturbance of the angiogenic balance of the body. All these standard therapies could profit from a concomitant treatment that would restrict latent tumors in a prevascular phase.


Antiangiogenesis as a strategy against cancer


As early as the 1970s, Dr. Judah Folkman of the Harvard Medical School suggested inhibiting new blood vessel formation as a way to fight cancer.

The malignant tissue would be deprived of its oxygen and nutrient supply, as well as be unable to eliminate metabolic wastes. This in turn would inhibit tumor progression and metastatic progression that accompanies most advanced cancers. These are the main steps of the angiogenic process that can be interrupted:

Inhibiting endogenous angiogenic factors, such as bFGF (basic Fibroblast Growth Factor) and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)


Inhibiting degradative enzymes (Matrix Metalloproteinases) responsible for the degradation of the basement membrane of blood vessels


Inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation


Inhibiting endothelial cell migration


Inhibiting the activation and differentiation of endothelial cells
However, the challenge is to develop an antiangiogenic factor that does not affect the existing vasculature.



Neovastat is an inhibitor of angiogenesis


A number of studies have shown Neovastat to have antiangiogenic properties. The mechanisms of action include:

Inhibiting degradative Matrix Metalloproteinases,


Blocking receptor sites for the angiogenic growth factor VEGF, which prevents endothelial cells from proliferating, migrating, and organizing to form new blood vessels in vitro.
As well, clinical and pre-clinical studies show Neovastat can be used alone or in combination with other therapies. Clinical experience with 540 patients, some of whom have been administered the drug for almost four years, have confirmed Neovastat’s excellent safety and tolerability profile in monotherapy and in concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

(Angio World)

Process of Angiogenesis

Physiological and pathological angiogenesis

Almost all tissues develop a vascular network that provides cells with nutrients and oxygen and enables them to eliminate metabolic wastes. Once formed, the vascular network is a stable system that regenerates slowly.

In physiological conditions, angiogenesis occurs primarily in embryo development, during wound healing and in response to ovulation.

However, pathological angiogenesis, or the abnormal rapid proliferation of blood vessels, is implicated in over 20 diseases, including cancer, psoriasis and age-related macular degeneration.

The angiogenic sequence



The angiogenic process, as currently understood, can be summarized as follows:

A cell activated by a lack of oxygen releases angiogenic molecules that attract inflammatory and endothelial cells and promote their proliferation.


During their migration, inflammatory cells also secrete molecules that intensify the angiogenic stimuli.


The endothelial cells that form the blood vessels respond to the angiogenic call by differentiating and by secreting matrix metalloproteases (MMP), which digest the blood-vessel walls to enable them to escape and migrate toward the site of the angiogenic stimuli.


Several protein fragments produced by the digestion of the blood-vessel walls intensify the proliferative and migratory activity of endothelial cells, which then form a capillary tube by altering the arrangement of their adherence-membrane proteins.


Finally, through the process of anastomosis, the capillaries emanating from the arterioles and the venules will join, thus resulting in a continuous blood flow.




The normal regulation of angiogenesis is governed by a fine balance between factors that induce the formation of blood vessels and those that halt or inhibit the process. When this balance is destroyed, it usually results in pathological angiogenesis which causes increased blood-vessel formation in diseases that depend on angiogenesis.

More than 20 endogenous positive regulators of angiogenesis have been described, including growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, and integrins. Growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factors (TGF-beta), fibroblast growth factors (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), angiogenin, can induce the division of cultured endothelial cells thus indicating a direct action on these cells.

However, other factors have virtually no effect on the division of cultured endothelial cells or, in the case of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha, paradoxically inhibit their growth indicating that their angiogenic action is indirect.

What Is Cancer?

Defining Cancer
Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.

Cancer types can be grouped into broader categories. The main categories of cancer include:

Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
(For definitions of other cancer-related terms, see NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms.)

Origins of Cancer
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.

The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.

However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.


(Image from Understanding Cancer Series: Cancer.)

Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
Some cancers do not form tumors. For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

Cancer Statistics
A new report from the nation's leading cancer organizations shows cancer death rates decreased on average 2.1 percent per year from 2002 through 2004, nearly twice the annual decrease of 1.1 percent per year from 1993 through 2002. (Read more about the Annual Report.)

Estimated new cases and deaths from cancer in the United States in 2008:

New cases: 1,437,180 (does not include nonmelanoma skin cancers)
Deaths: 565,650
NCI's Cancer Stat Fact Sheets provide frequently requested cancer statistics for a number of cancer types.

Additional Information
Find a type of cancer:

A to Z List of Cancers
Cancers by Body Location/System
Cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest frequency in the United States are listed below. (Read more about Common Cancer Types.)



Bladder Cancer Melanoma
Breast Cancer Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Colon and Rectal Cancer Pancreatic Cancer
Endometrial Cancer Prostate Cancer
Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma)
Leukemia Thyroid Cancer
Lung Cancer

More cancer topics:

Cancer Prevention
Cancer Genetics
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Screening and Testing to Detect Cancer
Cancer Treatment
Coping with Cancer
Cancer Statistics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Publications
The risk of developing many types of cancer can be reduced by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and not smoking. Also, the sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better the chances are that the treatment will be successful.

Contact Us for Help
NCI cancer information specialists can answer your questions about cancer and help you with quitting smoking. They can also help you with using this Web site and can tell you about NCI's printed and electronic materials. Contact us.

(National Cancer)

Eat Right for Your Type

What It Is
The Eat Right for Your Type diet encourages people to eat certain foods and avoid others based on their blood type -- A, B, AB, or O.

Peter J. D'Adamo, ND, the author of Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight, believes blood types affect the digestive system and that some foods good for people of one type are "dangerous" for another.



The Latest Diets

New diets and weight loss tricks pop up every month. Get the facts on how the new diets work and what's right.
Atkins
Best Life Diet
Biggest Loser
Cabbage Soup
Hallelujah Diet
Jenny Craig
NutriSystem
Ornish
South Beach
3 Day Diet
Weight Watchers
Zone
All Diets A-Z

Related to diet and weight loss Alli, apple cider vinegar, low carb diet, high protien diet, weight loss, metabolism, Mediterranean diet, diet pills, trans fat, BMI calculator, detox diet, diabetes diet, Body for Life
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
It goes further than that for D'Adamo, a naturopathic doctor, who believes that your blood type also determines your susceptibility to certain illnesses and how you should exercise.

Critics cite a lack of published evidence backing D'Adamo's blood type-based diet plan. "I know of no plausible rationale behind the diet," says John Foreyt, PhD, a researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

This diet may suit those enthusiastic about a plan that doesn't involve tracking calories or fat grams, while others may find it difficult to stay within the diet's confines, a challenge made greater if more than one person in a household follows the diet -- and has a different blood type.

What You Can Eat
What you can eat -- and how you exercise -- on this plan depends on who you are.

If you're blood type O ("for old," as in humanity's oldest blood line) your digestive tract retains the memory of ancient times, says D'Adamo, so you're metabolism will benefit from lean meats, poultry, and fish. You're advised to restrict grains, breads, legumes, and beans and to enjoy vigorous exercise.

Type A ("for agrarian") flourishes on vegetarian diets, "the inheritance of their more settled and less warlike farmer ancestors," says D'Adamo. The type A diet contains soy proteins, grains, and organic vegetables and encourages gentle exercise.

The nomadic blood type B has a tolerant digestive system and can enjoy low-fat dairy, meat, and produce but, among other things, should avoid wheat, corn, and lentils, D'Adamo says. If you're type B, it's recommended you exercise moderately.

The "modern" blood type AB has a sensitive digestive tract and should avoid chicken, beef, and pork but enjoy seafood, tofu, dairy, and most produce. The fitness regimen for ABs is calming exercises

Dark Chocolate Is Healthy Chocolate

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health NewsAug. 27, 2003 -- Got high blood pressure? Try a truffle. Worried about heart disease? Buy a bon-bon.

It's the best medical news in ages. Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you.



Romance and Chocolate

From the WebMD community

How often do you say, "I love you," to your partner? Everyday... several times a day... my husband likes to hear it and he doesn't let me go to bed until I've said it even if we're fighting. – Katelya

Read more of your thoughts on love
Favorite Screen Romances
Sweet History of Chocolate
Science of Attraction: Feelings or Pheromones?
Today's Love Lingo
Video: Getting the Most Out of Your Relationship

Related to modern love Science of Attraction: Feelings or Pheromones?, Relationship in Distress? Tips to De-stress, When Mars and Venus Collide, Is Modern Life Giving Your Heart a Beating?
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.


Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

But that's no license to go on a chocolate binge. Eating more dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.



Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, and colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. Antioxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

"Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate ... and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."

Translation: Say "Dark, please," when ordering at the chocolate counter. Don't even think of washing it down with milk. And if health is your excuse for eating chocolate, remember the word "moderate" as you nibble.



The Studies
Taubert's team signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64. All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average, systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 84.

Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance its 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.

Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

In the second study, Serafini's team signed up seven healthy women and five healthy men aged 25-35. On different days they each ate 100 grams of dark chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate.

An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total antioxidants in their blood. And they had higher levels of epicatechin, a particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had the lowest epicatechin levels of all.
( Web MD Health News )

Cholesterol

Knowing the facts about cholesterol can reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. But understanding what cholesterol is and how it affects your health are only the beginning.

To keep your cholesterol under control:

schedule a screening
eat foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and free of trans fat
maintain a healthy weight
be physically active
follow your healthcare professional's advice



How well do you know cholesterol? Take this brief quiz to test your cholesterol IQ.



Knowing the facts about cholesterol can help you improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease.



Be prepared with these tips for ordering low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol meals at any restaurant.




This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 04/03/08.

Awas, Bom Hipertensi!

Hipertensi, darah tinggi memang bukan pembunuh sejati. Tetapi ia digolongkan sebagai The Silent Killer (pembunuh diam-diam). Gejala penyakit ini tidak nyata, tapi harus tetap diwaspadai dan diobati sedini mungkin, karena hipertensi yang kronis dan diabaikan dapat membawa malapetaka tiba-tiba, serangan jantung dan stroke.

Di Amerika, setiap tahun hampir separuh jumlah kematian disebabkan oleh faktor kelebihan konsumsi garam (natrium/sodium). Sumber utama natrium di sana adalah garam dapur. Namun di Indonesia, selain garam dapur dan ikan asin, sumber lain yang lebih potensial adalah monosodium glutamat (MSG/vetsin).

Kadar natrium dalam 1 gram garam dapur setara dengan kadar natrium yang terkandung dalam 3 gram
(1 sendok teh) MSG/vetsin. Satu gram garam dapur bisa membuat 1 mangkuk sup menjadi asin.
Sebaliknya 3 gram MSG tidak terasa asin, justru terasa gurih, sehingga secara tidak sadar dengan
mudah bisa kebablasan konsumsi MSG dan keracunan. Ini belum terhitung dari paparan MSG dalam berbagai makanan lainnya, yang membuat konsumen secara perlahan mulai toleran dan menimbukan
efek kecanduan. Sehingga bila MSG diberikan dalam jumlah sedikit, tidak akan terasa gurihnya. Jika kebiasaan ini berlangsung berkepanjangan (10–20 tahun), tidak mustahil rakyat Indonesia akan mengalami gejala hipertensi akibat keracunan MSG.

Kenapa Bisa Darah Tinggi?

Seseorang dinyatakan mengidap hipertensi bila tekanan sistoliknya mencapai di atas 140 mmHg dan tekanan diastolik di atas 90 mmHg. Tekanan sistolik adalah tekanan maksimum dimana jantung berkontraksi dan memompa darah ke luar, sedangkan tekanan diastolik adalah tekanan dimana jantung sedang mengalami relaksasi, menerima curahan darah dari pembuluh darah perifer.

Ada dua bentuk hipertensi. Bentuk esensial, yang penyebabnya belum diketahui, kemungkinan karena faktor keturunan. Bentuk lannya, hipertensi yang disebabkan oleh faktor lingkungan yang biasanya sangat erat hubungannya dengan pola makan kurang baik. Faktor makanan yang sangat berpengaruh adalah kelebihan lemak (obesitas), konsumsi garam dapur yang tinggi, merokok serta minum alkohol.

Anak Sulit Makan Berakibat Fatal

Sulit makan pada anak dapat berakibat fatal bila dipicu oleh penyakit atau kelainan tertentu. Kesulitan ini bisa seperti anak tidak mau menelan makanan dan cuma ditahan dalam mulut, bahkan dikeluarkan lagi, juga menolak atau melawan pada waktu makan. Mungkin bisa juga makan terlalu sedikit atau sebaliknya, hanya mau makan jenis makanan tertentu misalnya susu, cepat bosan dengan makanan yang disajikan dan lain-lain

Gangguan tersebut dapat menimpa semua kelompok usia anak, dari mulai bayi yang baru lahir sampai akhir masa anak-anak (berkisar 18 tahun). Namun jenis, penyebab, derajat dan lamanya diperkirakan berbeda-beda. Derajat kesulitan makan mungkin sederhana, cuma berlangsung singkat seperti kurang nafsu makan, seperti yang biasa ditemukan ketika anak menderita penyakit infeksi akut. Kesulitan makan pun bisa berlangsung lama dan berat, sehingga berdampak fatal.

Memang kelainan tersebut dapat disebabkan oleh suatu penyakit tertentu, tetapi bisa juga muncul dari multifaktor. Faktor ini dibagi menjadi tiga kelompok, yaitu nutrisi (kemampuan untuk mengonsumsi makanan tertentu), kelainan organik, dan gangguan jiwa. Akibatnya, kesehatan tubuh, tumbuh kembang dan aktivitas sehari-hari anak menjadi terhambat. Misalnya pada kelainan yang singkat, anak menjadi kehabisan energi akut, sampai pingsan atau kejang-kejang, karena tak makan beberapa hari.

Sedangkan pada anak yang tidak menyukai sayuran atau buah-buahan dapat terkena kekurangan vitamin A. Anak pun bisa tekena anemia dan defisiensi besi, jika hanya mengonsumsi susu murni, sehingga berdampak buruk pada kekebalan dan kecerdasan otak. Kekurangan makan dalam waktu lama dapat menghambat pertumbuhan serta perkembangan, pada bayi disebut dengan ‘gagal tumbuh’ atau terjadi malnutrisi energi protein pada balita

Anak Kelebihan Beban?

Anak-anak yang memiliki masa depan cerah merupakan impian semua orang tua. Oleh karena itu, anak-anak jaman sekarang memiliki begitu banyak kegiatan di luar sekolah, di antaranya pelajaran les pelajaran (les matematika, les komputer, les bahasa inggris, dll) da, les tambahan (les piano, les balet, les melukis, les renang, les bela diri, dll). Namun jadwal yang padat seperti itu dapat membuat Anak menjadi kelebihan beban, sehingga dapat membuat mereka stres dan merasa tertekan.

1 di antara 4 anak usia sekolah menderita stres akibat aktivitas yang berlebihan. Anak-anak perlu agar mereka dapat bereksperimen dengan aktivitas yang dimilikinya, kemudian dibebaskan untuk memilih mana yang disukainya. Pakar berpendapat agar anak tidak memiliki 3 kegiatan pada suatu waktu, seperti 1 kegiatan sosial, 1 kegiatan olahraga, dan 1 kegiatan untuk meningkatkan keterampilan yang dimilikinya.

Namun jika Anda menemukan anak merasa tertekan, lakukan :

Monitor tingkah laku anak Perhatikan setiap tingkah laku anak Anda. Sikap kasar, perubahan perasaan yang mencolok (sebentar ia akan merasa murung, kemudian gembira, lalu kembali murung), prestasi menurun, perubahan pola makan, sulit tidur merupakan tanda-tanda anak stres.


Susun kembali agenda anak
Tanyakan kepada anak aktivitas apa yang mereka sukai. Kemudian tanyakanlah kepada diri Anda sendiri, apakah Anda lebih menyukai anak melakukan kegiatan-kegiatan tersebut dibanding anak Anda sendiri.


Berilah anak waktu untuk bermain dan menikmati masa kecil mereka
Sisihkan paling sedikit 1 jam setiap hari dan beberapa jam di akhir pekan agar anak-anak dapat bermain.

Biologi Hati & Kandung Empedu

Hati dan kandung empedu terletak di perut kanan bagian atas, dan keduanya dihubungkan oleh suatu saluran yang dikenal sebagai duktus biliaris (saluran empedu). Hati merupakan organ kompleks yang melaksanakan berbagai fungsi vital, mulai dari mengatur kadar zat kimia dalam tubuh sampai menghasilkan zat-zat pembekuan darah. Sedangkan kandung empedu merupakan tempat penyimpanan empedu, yaitu cairan pencernaan yang dihasilkan oleh hati.


HATI

Hati merupakan organ tubuh yang paling besar dan paling kompleks. Salah satu fungsinya adalah menghancurkan zat-zat yang berbahaya yang diserap dari usus atau bagian tubuh lainnya, kemudian membuangnya sebagai zat yang tidak berbahaya ke dalam empedu atau darah. Zat di dalam empedu akan masuk ke dalam usus lalu dibuang melalui tinja. Zat di dalam darah disaring oleh ginjal dan dibuang melalui air kemih.

Hati menghasilkan separuh dari kolesterol tubuh, sisanya berasal dari makanan. Sekitar 80% kolesterol yang dibuat di hati digunakan untuk membuat empedu. Kolesterol juga diperlukan untuk membuat hormon-hormon tertentu, seperti hormon estrogen, testosteron, dan adrenal.

Hati juga merubah zat-zat di dalam makanan menjadi karbohidrat, protein, dan lemak. Gula disimpan di dalam hati sebagai glikogen dan kemudian dipecah serta dilepaskan ke dalam aliran darah sebagai glukosa, sesuai dengan kebutuhan tubuh (misalnya ketika kadar gula darah terlalu rendah).

Fungsi lain dari hati adalah membuat berbagai senyawa penting, terutama protein, yang digunakan tubuh untuk menjalankan fungsinya.

Ada dua macam kelainan fungsi hati yang utama, yaitu:
Kelainan yang disebabkan oleh gangguan fungsi sel-sel di dalam hati (misalnya sirosis atau hepatitis)
Kelainan yang disebabkan oleh adanya penyumbatan aliran empedu dari hati melalui saluran empedu (misalnya batu empedu atau kanker)

KANDUNG EMPEDU

Kandung empedu merupakan kantong otot kecil yang berfungsi untuk menyimpan empedu, yaitu cairan pencernaan berwarna kuning kehijauan yang dihasilkan oleh hati. Jika kita makan, kandung empedu akan berkontraksi dan mengosongkan empedu ke dalam usus untuk membantu pencernaan lemak dan vitamin-vitamin tertentu.

Empedu itu sendiri terdiri dari:
Garam-garam empedu
Elektrolit
Pigmen empedu (misalnya bilirubin)
Kolesterol
Lemak
Fungsi empedu adalah untuk membuang limbah tubuh tertentu (terutama pigmen hasil pemecahan sel darah merah dan kelebihan kolesterol) serta membantu pencernaan dan penyerapan lemak.

Garam empedu dapat meningkatkan kelarutan kolesterol, lemak, dan vitamin yang larut dalam lemak, sehingga membantu penyerapannya dari usus. Hemoglobin yang berasal dari penghancuran sel darah merah akan diubah menjadi bilirubin (pigmen utama dalam empedu) dan dibuang ke dalam empedu. Berbagai protein yang memegang peranan penting dalam fungsi empedu juga disekresi dalam empedu.

Mengelola Diabetes

Tujuan kita mengelola Diabetes adalah peningkatan kualitas hidup para penyandang Diabetes dan untuk jangka pendek menghilangkan keluhan atau gejala, mempertahankan rasa nyaman dan tercapainya target pengendalian glukosa darah. Sedangkan tujuan jangka panjangnya adalah untuk mencegah dan menghambat terjadinya komplikasi. Semua ini akan menurunkan angka kesakitan dan resiko kematian akibat Diabetes. Konsep penanganan penyakit kardiometabolik yang saat ini dianut, menyarankan pengendalian glukosa darah bersama-sama dengan pengendalian tekanan darah dan lemak darah.

Studi terbesar dan terlama yang dilakukan di Inggris, yaitu United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), menunjukkan bahwa mengendalikan kadar glukosa darah dapat menurunkan risiko terjadinya komplikasi pada retina (selaput jala) mata yang dapat berakhir dengan kebutaan, komplikasi ginjal, dan komplikasi syaraf. Studi ini juga mendapatkan bahwa mengendalikan tekanan darah akan menurunkan risiko terjadinya stroke, kematian, gagal jantung, komplikasi ginjal, retina. Menurutnya kadar lipid darah) istilah awamnya: kolesterol) akan mengurangi risiko terjadinya serangan jantung, stroke, dan amputasi kaki.

Target parameter dari kadar / keadaan yang diharapkan :

Glukosa darah puasa (80 - 99 mg/dL)

Glukosa darah 2 jam sesudah makan (80 - 144 mg/dL)

Hemoglobin A1C (< 6.5 %)

Kolesterol total (< 200 mg/dL)

Kolesterol LDL (< 100 mg/dL)

Kolesterol HDL (wanita : > 50 mg/dL, pria : > 40 mg/dL)

Trigliserida (< 150 mg/dL)

Indeks massa tubuh (18.5 - 22.9 kg/m2)

Tekanan Darah (< atayu sama dengan 130 / 80 mmHg)

Indeks massa tubuh (IMT) adalah hasil pembagian berat badan dalam kilogram dengan kuadrat dari tinggi badan dalam meter (BB / (TB)2)

Sumber : www.kalbenutritionals.com

Tips Mengurangi Nyeri Tumbuh Gigi Pada Batita Anda

Tumbuh gigi seringkali sering disertai oleh rasa nyeri. Hal ini menjadikan anak menjadi rewel. Bagaimana cara menguranginya? Simak saja tips berikut di bawah ini.


Gosok dan pijat gusi bayi dengan kain halus yang dililitkan pada jari Anda. Pada umumnya bayi menyukai jika Anda melakukan hal ini.

Dinginkan gigi dengan memberikannya teether atau dot yang sudah didinginkan sebelumnya di dalam lemari es. Atau Anda dapat membasuh gigi dengan menggunakan kain basah yang telah direndam di dalam air es. Dengan begitu, maka rasa gatal dan nyeri di giginya akan berkurang.

Mainan yang digigit-gigit anak dapat membuat anak merasa nyaman, karena rasa nyeri di gusi teralihkan.

Jika anak merasa kesakitan selama 3 atau 4 hari, segeralah periksakan ia pada dokter. Mungkin saja kerewelannya disebabkan oleh hal lain, bukan karena gigi yang tidak mau keluar.

Keringat

Keringat tak selamanya memalukan. Siapa sangka, si bau selama ini tak diinginkan justru bisa jadi senjata untuk memikat lawan jenis. Ya, bau keringat pria terbukti merupakan pembangkit gairah yang tak kalah ampuh dari coklat atau afrodisiak lainnya.

Kehabisan untuk memikat lawan jenis? Bagi para pria, tak usah jauh-jauh mencari ’love potion’ ampuh untuk membuat wanita bertekuk lutut. Andalkan senjata yang melekat ditubuh Pria. Jangan salah sangka dahulu karena kita tidak sedang berbicara mengenai ’ senjata’ yang satu itu. Bau keringatlah yang dimaksud disini.

Para peneliti di University of Calivornia, Berkely, AS memastikan, menghirup bau keringat pria bisa membuat gairah seksual wanita meningkat. Diiringi peningkatan produksi hormon tertentu serta percepatan detak jantung.

Pada studi ini, 48 orang wanita usia rata-rata 21 tahun diminta menghirup 1 tabung berisi zat androstadienone, salah satu komponen dalam keringat, air ludah maupun sperma pria. Mereka diminta menghirupnya sebanyak 20 kali. Hasilnya, dalam waktu 15 menit saja terjadi lonjakan hormon kortisol di dalam tubh wanita. Hormon kortisol di dalam tubuh wanita. Hormon kortisol adalah hormon yang berperan dalam membuat perasaan sigap dan senang. Hormon ini juga berperan dalam membatu manusia merespons stres. Lonjakan yang terjadi bahkan bertahan hingga satu jam.

Para wanita juga dilaporkan mengalami peningkatan rangsangan seksual, perbaikan suasana hati juga peningkatan tekanan darah, denyut jantung pernapasan. Bagaimana bau zat ini? Sulit dilukiskan. Tapi yang jelas bernuansa musky atau tajam dan ’jantan’.

Mereka yang ambil bagian dalam studi ini adalah wanita heteroseksual. Ini memang disenggaja, karena para ahli khawatir wanita penyuka sesama jenis akan merespons keringat pria secara berbeda.

Studi yang dipublikasikan di Journal of Neuroscience edisi Maret 2007 ini untuk pertama kalinya memberi bukti nyata bahwa tubuh manusia mengeluarkan bau yang dapat mempengaruhi hormon lawan jenis.

Ada manfaat lain dari temuan ini selain dalam urusan rangsang-merangsang. Menghirup kortisol bisa jadi alternatif bagi pasien yang menderita penyakit akibat kekurangan hormon kortisol, seperti pasien Addison’s disease ( penyakit berciri lemah tubuh, tekanan darah rendah dan perubahan kulit menjadi kecokelatan). Selama ini, kortisol diberikan dalam bentuk pil yang memiliki efek samping seperti osteoporosis, pertambahan berat badan dan gangguan mood

Kegunaan Air Kelapa

Air kelapa memang banyak manfaatnya. Selain untuk kesehatan, air kelapa juga bermanfaat sebagai ramuan untuk kecantikan.

Menghilangkan jerawat
Tuang segelas air kelapa dalam wadah berisi parutan 3 ruas kunyit. Biarkan semalam dalam lemari es. Setelah itu, bubuhkan tiga sendok teh bubuk cendana ke dalamnya. Simpan lagi selama tiga hari, kemudian saring ramuan dengan kain kasa. Oleskan sari larutan tersebut pada wajah yang berjerawat dua kali sehari sampai jerawat lenyap.


Mencegah kerutan wajah dini
Wajah Anda berkerut? Basuhlah wajah dengan air kelapa, sesering Anda suka. Niscaya wajah Anda akan kencang.


Mencegah ubanan
Anda berusia muda namun rambut banyak ditumbuhi uban? Coba larutkan satu sendok teh garam dapur dalam air kelapa hijau segar. Gunakan setelah keramas. Setelah itu, biarkan selama beberapa menit di kepala sambil dipijat-pijat. Bilas dengan air bersih.


Meningkatkan gairah seksual
Kurang bergairah? Campurkan air kelapa muda dengan sedikit madu alam, lalu minum. Ramuan ini berkhasiat merangsang pusat-pusat seksual tubuh.


Suara merdu
Agar suara Anda lebih merdu, coba minum segelas air kelapa muda yang telah diembunkan selama semalam. Lakukan selama seminggu.

Kekurangan Asupan Gizi Pada Anak Akan Menyebabkan Tingkat Kecerdasan Anak menurun

Sebuah penelitian membuktikan adanya keterkaitan antara tubuh pendek dan tingkat kecerdasan. Bila sejak awal sudah tidak ada keseimbangan antara berat dan tinggi badan, maka akan berpengaruh pada pembentukan otak. Oleh sebab itu, kebutuhan gizi bayi sejak janin sampai usia lima tahun harus terpenuhi secara baik.

Anak yang perkembangannya sangat lambat disebabkan oleh pembentukan otak dan tubuhnya tidak baik akibat gizi yang buruk. Berarti hal paling penting adalah pemenuhan gizi bayi sejak dalam kandungan sampai berusia lima tahun dan bila tidak terpenuhi, pertumbuhan otak dan tubuhnya tidak baik. Anak dengan tubuh pendek menunjukkan status gizi pada masa lalunya sudah kronis. Namun begitu, sampai usia 18 tahun pun asupan gizi masih penting untuk pertumbuhan fisik anak. Jadi jika tubuh seseorang kurus, hal ini dipengaruhi oleh keadaan gizi pada saat itu.

Sekitar 62% anak di perkotaan memiliki tinggi badan normal dari segi umur, sedangkan anak di pedesaan hanya 49%. Maka disimpulkan bahwa anak di perkotaan memiliki keadaan gizi yang lebih baik dibandingkan anak di pedesaan. Meskipun demikian, obesitas (gemuk sekali) pada anak di perkotaan cenderung lebih tinggi dibanding anak di pedesaan. Namun, masalah itu mulai meningkat bukan saja di perkotaan, melainkan juga di pedesaan.

Atas dasar tersebut, program perbaikan gizi sekarang harus diubah dengan memperhatikan faktor yang terkait dengan pola hidup penduduk di perkotaan maupun pedesaan.

Sejumlah studi di Filipina, Jamaika, dan negara lainnya membuktikan adanya hubungan yang sangat bermakna antara tinggi badan dan kemampuan belajar. Bahkan, pemberian makanan tambahan pada anak bertubuh pendek berusia 9-24 bulan akan mampu meningkatkan kemampuan belajar anak ketika berusia 7-8 tahun. Dibuktikan pula dari beberapa studi bidang ekonomi di Ghana maupun Pakistan mengenai pentingnya gizi untuk mendukung pembangunan.

Tinggi Badan Anak

Bayi pada umumnya memiliki berat badan normal antara 2500 hingga 3000 gram, dengan panjang badan antara 48 hingga 50 cm. Selanjutnya, pertumbuhan tinggi dan berat badan bayi tidak akan sama. Menurut seorang dokter dari divisi Endokrinologi, pertumbuhan terbagi menjadi tiga tahap.

Pertama, dimulai dari bayi lahir hingga ia berusia tiga tahun. Pada tahun pertama, pertambahan tinggi badan mencapai 1, 5 kali panjang lahir. Usia dua tahun, rata-rata anak tumbuh sebanyak 6 hingga 10 cm per tahunnya. Tahap kedua adalah tahap anak-anak yang akan berakhir ketika anak memasuki pubertas (usia 6 hingga 12 tahun). Pada tahap ini penambahan tinggi badan anak mencapai 5 hingga 7 cm per tahunnya. Di tahap ini anak akan kelihatan memanjang, mengurus, dan perutnya tidak buncit lagi. Tahap terakhir adalah tahap pubertas (12 hingga 18 tahun) yang ditandai dengan percepatan dalam pertumbuhan karena pengaruh hormon seksual. Pertumbuhan tinggi badan anak remaja akan melaju dengan cepat, dan kemudian secara perlahan akan terhenti. Pada anak perempuan yang masa pubertasnya terjadi lebih awal, tinggi badannya akan mencapai 8 cm per tahun. Sedangkan pada anak laki-laki akan mencapai 10 cm per tahun. Bila tahap ini berakhir, maka berakhir pula proses pertumbuhan anak.

Jika tinggi anak berada pada atau melebihi 97 per seratus dari batas garis maksimal tinggi seseorang pada kurva pertumbuhan yang berlaku pada populasi tertentu, maka anak dapat dikatakan memiliki perawakan yang tinggi. Tinggi badan rata-rata anak Indonesia mulai dari ia lahir hingga berusia 5 tahun, adalah 48 hingga 120 cm.

Faktor genetik adalah elemen dasar penenti tinggi seseorang. Seorang anak akan mencapai tinggi badannya dengan gen penentu tinggi badan yang diwarisinya. Jika orang tuanya memiliki perawakan yang tinggi, maka secara genetis anak cenderung memiliki perawakan yang tinggi pula. Namun sering kita jumpai, anak lebih tinggi dari orang tuanya. Hal ini bisa saja terjadi karena dari kedua orang tua kita mengenal konsep Potensi Tingi Genetik (seorang anak dilahirkan berpotensi atau akan mencapai tinggi dewasa tertentu yang berada dalam rentang waktu tertentu).

Selain faktor genetik, faktor gizi juga harus diperhatikan, terutama sejak dalam kandungan. Beberapa zat gizi yang penting, seperti protein, lemak, vitamin (vitamin A dan D), mineral (zat besi, kalsium, seng, dan yodium) turut membantu dalam proses pertumbuhan anak.

Beberapa jenis hormon yang berperan penting dalam proses pertumbuhan tinggi dan berat anak, antara lain hormon pertumbuhan, hormon tiroid, dan hormon seks.Hormon pertumbuhan berfungsi untuk merangsang pertumbuhan tulang. Hormon tiroid dibutuhkan untuk membantu melancarkan proses metabolisme dalam tubuh. Sedangkan hormon seks terdiri dari hormon estrogen, progesteron, dan androgen, bertugas dalam proses pematangan seksual.

Faktor lingkungan, seperti imunisasi, kasih sayang yang cukup, dan kebutuhan ekonomi juga sangat mendukung pertumbuhan tinggi seseorang. Imunisasi sangat penting untuk melindungi anak dari berbagai penyakit yang dapat menghambar pertumbuhan fisiknya. Kasih sayang yang kurang akan memberi dampak kehilangan nafsu makan pada anak. Demikian pula halnya dengan kekurangan dalam kebutuhan ekonomi akan berdampak pada ketersediaan pangan yang mengandung gizi seimbang.

Ethics take center stage at fertility conference

By Michael Kahn

updated 2:08 p.m. ET July 7, 2008
BARCELONA - A U.S. researcher's argument that twins should be the goal of in vitro fertilization drew opposition from many researchers on Monday who warned of the risks of multiple pregnancies.

Presenting a study at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Norbert Gleicher said twins are a solution for infertile couples who want more than one child.

His review of previous studies found that it is cheaper for couples to have twins because it can cut the number of treatments and the risk is not significantly greater for mother and child

New test can help spot best embryos: researchers

By Michael Kahn

updated 1:00 p.m. ET July 8, 2008
BARCELONA - The same infrared technology that measures fat content in milk can more accurately predict which embryos have the best chance of resulting in a pregnancy, fertility experts said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the researchers estimated their new technique for couples attempting in vitro fertilization could help boost pregnancy rates by about 10 percent to 15 percent.

In vitro fertilization or IVF is the procedure commonly known as the test-tube baby treatment.

Babies from frozen embryos are just as healthy

BARCELONA, Spain - More evidence is emerging that babies conceived in test tubes might be just as healthy as those conceived naturally, researchers said Tuesday.

Two studies presented at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that in-vitro fertilization and the freezing of embryos did not significantly increase the babies' chances of medical problems.

"These procedures are relatively safe and patients shouldn't be overly concerned," said Dr. Christopher Barratt, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Dundee in Britain.

Kegunaan Buah Mahkota Dewa

PARA pakar phitopharmaka ( ahli tanaman obat ) sepakat bahwa Indonesia memang kaya potensi tanaman obat-obatan. Kekayaan plasma nuftah kita kedua terbesar di dunia setelah Brasil. Namun anehnya, dalam perkembangan percaturan bisnis phitofharmaka, kita malah kalah terkenal dibandingkan dengan Cina. Negara "Tirai Bambu" ini telah membangun citra bisnis obat-obatan herbal ini, konon sudah berumur lebih dari 6.000 tahun.

Hal ini dibuktikan dengan adanya buku-buku pengobatan kuno yang telah berumur ribuan tahun. Salah satu buku pengobatan kuno yang terkenal dan terlengkap adalah Huang Ti Nei Ching ( Pengobatan internal Kaisar Kuning ). Buku pengobatan kuno ini diperkirakan dibuat pada abad ke-3 sebelum masehi.

Para pakar mengatakan, dari sejumlah 40.000 jenis tanamana di dunia, 30.000 jenis di antaranya terdapat di Indonesia. Dari sejumlah itu sampai sejauh ini tidak kurang dari 1.375 jenis tanaman terdeteksi sebagai tanaman obat-obatan. Namun, yang sudah dimanfaatkan baru sekira 400 jenis dan yang masih diteliti hanya 10 jenis saja.

Melihat angka yang tertera itu, kita sangat prihatin sekali. Karena kendati kita kaya dengan sumber daya tanaman obat-obatan, penggunaannya kecil sekali. Di Indonesia, penggunaannya masih setengah-setengah. Sementara itu, di negara Eropa dan AS saat ini justru sedang gencar-gencarnya mengadakan penelitian dan langsung ke tingkat pemakain.

Tampaknya back to nature oleh orang-orang Barat sudah bukan semboyan lagi. Mereka justru melihat bahwa pemakaian bahan kimia sintetik untuk obat banyak menimbulkan masalah dan biayanya pun lebih tinggi. Untuk memasok kebutuhan bahan baku, mereka mengimpor dari Indonesia, Cina, Thailand, dan Malaysia yang cukup luas hutan-hutannya.

Hal lain yang menarik untuk diungkapkan dalam tulisan ini adalah terdapat banyak bahan-bahan obat alami asli Indonesia yang entah bagaimana mulanya, malah lebih terkenal di negara lain. Untuk ini, saya sebut satu saja, yaitu tanaman "Mahkota Dewa", di negeri "Tirai Bambu" banyak dijadikan sebagai bahan dasar obat tradisional mereka. Di Cina tanaman, yang habitat alamnya berasal dari Papua (Irian Jaya) ini dikenal dengan nama lain yaitu "Shian Thno".

Racun untuk pengobatan

Menurut H. Sarah Kriswanti, penduduk KPAD Geger Kalong Bandung, yang banyak mengoleksi tanaman obat-obatan mengungkapkan, Mahkota Dewa adalah tanaman aperduk yang bisa mencapai ketinggian lima meter. Ia dapat tumbuh dari ketinggian 10 m dpl ( di atas permukaan laut ) hingga 1.200 m dpl.

Bahan yang dapat dimanfaatkan untuk obat adalah bagian buahnya yang apabila telah tua benar-benar sangat menarik untuk dimakan. Padahal, buah itu sungguh sangat beracun apabila tidak diolah dahulu. Setelah diolah dikeringkan, buah irisan keringan itu bisa ditambah dengan campuran lain untuk memperkuat pengobatannya. Misalnya saja, agar tidak menjadi beser (kencing terus-menerus) bisa dicampur dengan daun mimba, dsb.

Diungkapkan Ny. Sarah, banyak peminat racikan "Mahkota Dewa" yang sudah divonis dokter setelah mencoba racikannya malah jadi sembuh total. "Dalam hubungan ini, saya sendiri selalu menganjurkan agar setelah meminum ramuannnya selalu konsultasi dengan dokter untuk memantau perkembangan kesehatannya. Dahulu, pada awalnya saya hanya hobi saja mengumpulkan tanaman obat-obatan untuk kebutuhan keluarga. Namun, setelah satu dua orang memohon pertolongannya untuk memberikan racikan tanaman obatnya. Eeeehhh, ternyata dia sembuh oleh tanaman obat itu.

Atas pertanyaan, ia juga mengungkapkan banyak pasien-pasien yang telah sembuh ahirnya membeli bibit tanaman obat hasil koleksinya. Selain membeli tanaman bibit, mereka juga memberi obat herbal yang sudah dikeringkan. "Karena banyak juga orang yang datang, tidak sabar menunggu tumbuh besarnya koleksi tanaman mereka. Untuk ini, mereka membeli langsung racikan koleksi tanaman obat saya," katanya serius.

Di rumahnya yang munggil, dari sejak halaman muka hingga ke belakang, dikoleksi tanaman obat, selain Mahkota Dewa, ada sambiloto, Kunyit putih, Jahe Merah, Pegagan atau antatan, dan Mimba. Namun, di atara tanaman-tanaman itu yang sangat dibanggakan adalah tanaman "Mahkota Dewa". Tanaman ini memang jadi andalannya karena fungsi penyembuhannya sangat luas dan banyak.

Beberapa jenis penyakit yang telah disembuhkan a.l. penyakit kanker ( bermacam-macam ). Banyak komentar dari para pasien penyakit ganas ini, mereka lebih memilih pangobatan dengan "Mahkota Dewa" dibandingkan dengan menggunakan bahan kimia. Hasilnya ternyata lebih baik dan cespleng.

Selain kanker, juga penyakait jantung, lever, diabetes, darah tinggi, rematik, atau asam urat tinggi, penyakit ginjal. Bahkan untuk penambah stamina, tidak kalah dengan obat-obat suplemen yang sudah ada sekarang. Ramuan "Mahkota Dewa" dicampur dengan ramuan jahe merah ternyata mampu membangkitkan "si Tole" yang telah lama tidur lelap. Banyak lagi jenis penyakit yang berhasil dilawan "Mahkota Dewa" ini, tapi bila ditulis di halamam koran kita ini mungkin tidak akan termuat.

Itulah sedikit gambaran bahwa ternyata tanaman liar yang ada di Bumi Pertiwi ini ternyata bisa mendunia dan lebih manjur dari obat-obat kimia yang jauh lebih berbahaya. Semoga bermanfaat. (Dedi Riskomar)***

Sumber :Sumber : http://www.pikiran-rakyat.com/cetak/0103/07/0603.htm

Mahkota Dewa atau Phaleria macrocarpa adalah tanaman asli Indonesia yang terbukti empiris menyembuhkan segala penyakit, dari yang ringan sampai berat.
Masyarakat sadar akan pentingnya “Back To Nature”, terlihat banyaknya penelitian tanaman pusaka para dewa ini. Tim peneliti Cancer Research Group Fak.Farmasi UGM dibawah naungan Dr. Edy Meiyanto, MSi, Apt. membuktikan ekstrak air daging buah Mahkota Dewa menghambat pertumbuhan kanker (pendekatan DNA supercoil).
Tidak mengherankan tanaman ini mulai diburu masyarakat guna menjaga kesehatan dan penyembuhan penyakit.

Khasiat Mahkota Dewa :
Secara empiris mampu menyembuhkan lever, kanker, jantung, lemah syahwat, rhematik, diabetes mellitus, ketagihan narkoba, asam urat, darah tinggi, dan penyakit ringan (seperti EKSIM, JERAWAT, DAN LUKA GIGITAN SERANGGA) bisa disembuhkan dengan pohon ini.

Mahkota dewa adalah tanaman asli Indonesia. Habitat asalnya di tanah Papua. Namun, entah bagaimana caranya, tanaman ini masuk ke Keraton Mangkunegara di Solo dan Keraton Yogyakarta. Di kedua tempat itu mahkota dewa dikenal sebagai tanaman obat. Dulu memang hanya kedua keraton itu yang mengenal khasiat mahkota dewa untuk keperluan pengobatan.

Ukuran :
Sosoknya berupa pohon perdu. Tajuk pohon bercabang-cabang. Ketinggiannya sekitar 1,5 - 2,5 meter. Namun, jika dibiarkan, bisa mencapai lima meter. Mahkota dewa bisa sampai berumur puluhan tahun. Tingkat produktivitasnya mampu dipertahankan sampai usia 10 hingga 20 tahun. Pohon mahkota dewa terdiri dari akar, batang, daun, bunga, dan buah. Akarnya berupa akar tunggang. Panjang akarnya bisa sampai 100 cm. Akar ini belum terbukti bisa digunakan untuk pengobatan.

Kandungan & Manfaat : Masalah yang mengganjal terhadap pemakaian mahkota dewa sebagai tanaman obat adalah terbatasnya pembuktian-pembuktian ilmiah akan kegunaan pohon ini. Selama ini pembuktian yang ada sebagian terbesar masih berupa pembuktian empiris, pembuktian yang hanya berdasarkan pada pengalaman pengguna.

Literatur-literatur yang membahasnya pun sangat terbatas. R. Broto Sudibyo, Kepala Bidang Pelayanan Sentra Pengembangan dan Penerapan Pengobatan Tradisional (SP3T) Rumah Sakit Bethesda, Yogyakarta, menguatkan keterbatasan literatur ini. Dalam literatur kuno pun, keterangan mengenai mahkota dewa sangat terbatas. Hanya kegunaan biji buah yang bermanfaat sebagai bahan baku obat luar, misalnya untuk obat kudis, yang dibahas.

Dari penelitian ilmiah yang sangat terbatas itu diketahui bahwa mahkota dewa memiliki kandungan kimia yang kaya. Itu pun belum semuanya terungkap. Dalam daun dan kulit buahnya terkandung ALKALOID, SAPONIN, dan FLAVONOID. Selain itu, di dalam daunnya juga terkandung POLIFENOL.

Seorang ahli farmakologi dari Fakultas Kedokteran UGM, dr. Regina Sumastuti, berhasil membuktikan bahwa mahkota dewa mengandung ZAT ANTIHISTAMIN. Zat ini merupakan penangkal alergi. Dengan begitu, dari sudut pandang ilmiah, mahkota dewa bisa menyembuhkan aneka penyakit alergi yang disebabkan histamin, seperti biduren, gatal-gatal, selesma, dan sesak napas. Penelitian dr. Regina juga membuktikan bahwa mahkota dewa mampu berperan seperti oxytosin atau sintosinon yang dapat memacu kerja otot rahim sehingga persalinan berlangsung lebih lancar. Pembuktian empiris yang ada cukup banyak. Kasusnya juga berbeda-beda, dari yang berat sampai yang sepele. Kasus Tuti di atas hanyalah salah satu contoh.

Sampai saat ini banyak penyakit yang berhasil disembuhkan dengan mahkota dewa. Beberapa penyakit berat (seperti SAKIT LEVER, KANKER, SAKIT JANTUNG, KENCING MANIS, ASAM URAT, REUMATIK, SAKIT GINJAL, TEKANAN DARAH TINGGI, LEMAH SYAHWAT DAN KETAGIHAN NARKOBA) dan penyakit ringan (seperti EKSIM, JERAWAT, DAN LUKA GIGITAN SERANGGA) bisa disembuhkan dengan pohon ini.

Pembuktian empiris juga dapat ditemui di sebuah pesantren yang getol menangani korban obat-obat psikotropika. Bahkan, beberapa orang dokter yang mengidap penyakit cukup gawat pun sudah membuktikan khasiat mahkota dewa.

PERHATIAN:
IBU-IBU YANG HAMIL MUDA DILARANG MENGKONSUMSI MAHKOTA DEWA. KARENA, MAHKOTA DEWA DAPAT MENINGKATKAN KONTRAKSI OTOT RAHIM SEHINGGA SANGAT BERBAHAYA BAGI KONDISI KEHAMILAN

Make a Contribution to the Healthy Schools Campaign

Healthy Schools Campaign needs your support. You have the power to help make healthy schools a reality by joining our effort to create healthy change at the local, regional and national levels.

Your contribution can make a real impact on our ability to continue to raise issues, raise standards and raise awareness of school environmental health and wellness.

The Healthy Schools Campaign is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization. (FEIN # 36-4308068.) Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Make a donation!
Your contribution will help make schools healthier places to learn and work. Click here to donate now »
Honor someone with a donation!
We will send your honoree(s) a card letting them know that a gift has been made in their honor.For a gift of $25 or more, we will send your honoree a copy of Fresh Choices, a cookbook written by HSC founder Rochelle Davis. Click here to honor someone with a donation »
(Reference : Healthy School Campaign

Stem cell

Stem cells are cells found in most, if not all, multi-cellular organisms. They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiating into a diverse range of specialized cell types. Research in the stem cell field grew out of findings by Canadian scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till in the 1960s.[1][2] The two broad types of mammalian stem cells are: embryonic stem cells that are found in blastocysts, and adult stem cells that are found in adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells, but also maintain the normal turnover of regenerative organs, such as blood, skin or intestinal tissues.

As stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture, their use in medical therapies has been proposed. In particular, embryonic cell lines, autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning, and highly plastic adult stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or bone marrow are touted as promising candidates.[3]

Contents [hide]
1 Properties of stem cells
1.1 Potency definitions
1.2 Identifying stem cells
2 Embryonic stem cells
3 Adult stem cells
4 Lineage
5 Treatments
6 Controversy surrounding human embryonic stem cell research
7 Key stem cell research events
8 Stem cell funding & policy debate in the US
9 See also
10 References
11 External links



[edit] Properties of stem cells
The classical definition of a stem cell requires that it possess two properties:

Self-renewal - the ability to go through numerous cycles of cell division while maintaining the undifferentiated state.
Potency - the capacity to differentiate into specialized cell types. In the strictest sense, this requires stem cells to be either totipotent or pluripotent - to be able to give rise to any mature cell type, although multipotent or unipotent progenitor cells are sometimes referred to as stem cells.

[edit] Potency definitions

Pluripotent, embryonic stem cells originate as inner mass cells within a blastocyst. The stem cells can become any tissue in the body, excluding a placenta. Only the morula's cells are totipotent, able to become all tissues and a placenta.Potency specifies the differentiation potential (the potential to differentiate into different cell types) of the stem cell.

Totipotent stem cells are produced from the fusion of an egg and sperm cell. Cells produced by the first few divisions of the fertilized egg are also totipotent. These cells can differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic cell types.
Pluripotent stem cells are the descendants of totipotent cells and can differentiate into cells derived from any of the three germ layers.
Multipotent stem cells can produce only cells of a closely related family of cells (e.g. hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, etc.).
Unipotent cells can produce only one cell type, but have the property of self-renewal which distinguishes them from non-stem cells (e.g. muscle stem cells).

[edit] Identifying stem cells
The practical definition of a stem cell is the functional definition - the ability to regenerate tissue over a lifetime. For example, the gold standard test for a bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) is the ability to transplant one cell and save an individual without HSCs. In this case, a stem cell must be able to produce new blood cells and immune cells over a long term, demonstrating potency. It should also be possible to isolate stem cells from the transplanted individual, which can themselves be transplanted into another individual without HSCs, demonstrating that the stem cell was able to self-renew.

Properties of stem cells can be illustrated in vitro, using methods such as clonogenic assays, where single cells are characterized by their ability to differentiate and self-renew.[4][5] As well, stem cells can be isolated based on a distinctive set of cell surface markers. However, in vitro culture conditions can alter the behavior of cells, making it unclear whether the cells will behave in a similar manner in vivo. Considerable debate exists whether some proposed adult cell populations are truly stem cells.


[edit] Embryonic stem cells
Main article: Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cell lines (ES cell lines) are cultures of cells derived from the epiblast tissue of the inner cell mass (ICM) of a blastocyst or earlier morula stage embryos.[6] A blastocyst is an early stage embryo—approximately four to five days old in humans and consisting of 50–150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent and give rise during development to all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. In other words, they can develop into each of the more than 200 cell types of the adult body when given sufficient and necessary stimulation for a specific cell type. They do not contribute to the extra-embryonic membranes or the placenta.

Nearly all research to date has taken place using mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) or human embryonic stem cells (hES). Both have the essential stem cell characteristics, yet they require very different environments in order to maintain an undifferentiated state. Mouse ES cells are grown on a layer of gelatin and require the presence of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).[7] Human ES cells are grown on a feeder layer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and require the presence of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF or FGF-2).[8] Without optimal culture conditions or genetic manipulation,[9] embryonic stem cells will rapidly differentiate.

A human embryonic stem cell is also defined by the presence of several transcription factors and cell surface proteins. The transcription factors Oct-4, Nanog, and SOX2 form the core regulatory network that ensures the suppression of genes that lead to differentiation and the maintenance of pluripotency.[10] The cell surface antigens most commonly used to identify hES cells are the glycolipids SSEA3 and SSEA4 and the keratan sulfate antigens Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81. The molecular definition of a stem cell includes many more proteins and continues to be a topic of research.[11]

After nearly ten years of research[12], there are no approved treatments or human trials using embryonic stem cells. ES cells, being totipotent cells, require specific signals for correct differentiation - if injected directly into another body, ES cells will differentiate into many different types of cells, causing a teratoma. Differentiating ES cells into usable cells while avoiding transplant rejection are just a few of the hurdles that embryonic stem cell researchers still face.[13] Many nations currently have moratoria on either ES cell research or the production of new ES cell lines. Because of their combined abilities of unlimited expansion and pluripotency, embryonic stem cells remain a theoretically potential source for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease.


[edit] Adult stem cells
Main article: Adult stem cell

Stem cell division and differentiation. A - stem cell; B - progenitor cell; C - differentiated cell; 1 - symmetric stem cell division; 2 - asymmetric stem cell division; 3 - progenitor division; 4 - terminal differentiationThe term adult stem cell refers to any cell which is found in a developed organism that has two properties: the ability to divide and create another cell like itself and also divide and create a cell more differentiated than itself. Also known as somatic (from Greek Σωματικóς, "of the body") stem cells and germline (giving rise to gametes) stem cells, they can be found in children, as well as adults.[14]

Pluripotent adult stem cells are rare and generally small in number but can be found in a number of tissues including umbilical cord blood.[15] A great deal of adult stem cell research has focused on clarifying their capacity to divide or self-renew indefinitely and their differentiation potential.[16] In mice, pluripotent stem cells are directly generated from adult fibroblast cultures.[17]

Most adult stem cells are lineage-restricted (multipotent) and are generally referred to by their tissue origin (mesenchymal stem cell, adipose-derived stem cell, endothelial stem cell, etc.).[18][19]

Adult stem cell treatments have been successfully used for many years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through bone marrow transplants.[20] Adult stem cells are also used in veterinary medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses.[21] The use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is not as controversial as embryonic stem cells, because the production of adult stem cells does not require the destruction of an embryo. Additionally, because in some instances adult stem cells can be obtained from the intended recipient, (an autograft) the risk of rejection is essentially non-existent in these situations. Consequently, more US government funding is being provided for adult stem cell research.[22]


[edit] Lineage
Main article: Stem cell line
To ensure self-renewal, stem cells undergo two types of cell division (see Stem cell division and differentiation diagram). Symmetric division gives rise to two identical daughter cells both endowed with stem cell properties. Asymmetric division, on the other hand, produces only one stem cell and a progenitor cell with limited self-renewal potential. Progenitors can go through several rounds of cell division before terminally differentiating into a mature cell. It is possible that the molecular distinction between symmetric and asymmetric divisions lies in differential segregation of cell membrane proteins (such as receptors) between the daughter cells.[23]

An alternative theory is that stem cells remain undifferentiated due to environmental cues in their particular niche. Stem cells differentiate when they leave that niche or no longer receive those signals. Studies in Drosophila germarium have identified the signals dpp and adherins junctions that prevent germarium stem cells from differentiating.[24][25]

Main article: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell
The signals that lead to reprogramming of cells to an embryonic-like state are also being investigated. These signal pathways include several transcription factors including the oncogene c-Myc. Initial studies indicate that transformation of mice cells with a combination of these anti-differentiation signals can reverse differentiation and may allow adult cells to become pluripotent.[26] However, the need to transform these cells with an oncogene may prevent the use of this approach in therapy.


[edit] Treatments
Main article: Stem cell treatments
Medical researchers believe that stem cell therapy has the potential to dramatically change the treatment of human disease. A number of adult stem cell therapies already exist, particularly bone marrow transplants that are used to treat leukemia.[27] In the future, medical researchers anticipate being able to use technologies derived from stem cell research to treat a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries,Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscle damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.[28][29] However, there still exists a great deal of social and scientific uncertainty surrounding stem cell research, which could possibly be overcome through public debate and future research, and further education of the public.

Stem cells, however, are already used extensively in research, and some scientists do not see cell therapy as the first goal of the research, but see the investigation of stem cells as a goal worthy in itself.[30]


[edit] Controversy surrounding human embryonic stem cell research
Main article: Stem cell controversy
There exists a widespread controversy over human embryonic stem cell research that emanates from the techniques used in the creation and usage of stem cells. Human embryonic stem cell research is controversial because, with the present state of technology, starting a stem cell line requires the destruction of a human embryo and/or therapeutic cloning. However, recently, it has been shown in principle that adult stem cell lines can be manipulated to generate embryonic-like stem cell lines using a single-cell biopsy similar to that used in preimplantation genetic diagnosis that may allow stem cell creation without embryonic destruction.[31] It is not the entire field of stem cell research, but the specific field of human embryonic stem cell research that is at the centre of an ethical debate.

Opponents of the research argue that embryonic stem cell technologies are a slippery slope to reproductive cloning and can fundamentally devalue human life. Those in the pro-life movement argue that a human embryo is a human life and is therefore entitled to protection.

Contrarily, supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that such research should be pursued because the resultant treatments could have significant medical potential. It is also noted that excess embryos created for in vitro fertilization could be donated with consent and used for the research.

The ensuing debate has prompted authorities around the world to seek regulatory frameworks and highlighted the fact that stem cell research represents a social and ethical challenge.


[edit] Key stem cell research events
1960s - Joseph Altman and Gopal Das present scientific evidence of adult neurogenesis, ongoing stem cell activity in the brain; their reports contradict Cajal's "no new neurons" dogma and are largely ignored.
1963 - McCulloch and Till illustrate the presence of self-renewing cells in mouse bone marrow.
1968 - Bone marrow transplant between two siblings successfully treats SCID.
1978 - Haematopoietic stem cells are discovered in human cord blood.
1981 - Mouse embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass by scientists Martin Evans, Matthew Kaufman, and Gail R. Martin. Gail Martin is attributed for coining the term "Embryonic Stem Cell".
1992 - Neural stem cells are cultured in vitro as neurospheres.
1997 - Leukemia is shown to originate from a haematopoietic stem cell, the first direct evidence for cancer stem cells.
1998 - James Thomson and coworkers derive the first human embryonic stem cell line at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2000s - Several reports of adult stem cell plasticity are published.
2001 - Scientists at Advanced Cell Technology clone first early (four- to six-cell stage) human embryos for the purpose of generating embryonic stem cells.[32]
2003 - Dr. Songtao Shi of NIH discovers new source of adult stem cells in children's primary teeth.[33]
2004-2005 - Korean researcher Hwang Woo-Suk claims to have created several human embryonic stem cell lines from unfertilised human oocytes. The lines were later shown to be fabricated.
2005 - Researchers at Kingston University in England claim to have discovered a third category of stem cell, dubbed cord-blood-derived embryonic-like stem cells (CBEs), derived from umbilical cord blood. The group claims these cells are able to differentiate into more types of tissue than adult stem cells.
August 2006 - Rat Induced pluripotent stem cells: the journal Cell publishes Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shinya Yamanaka, "Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors".
October 2006 - Scientists in England create the first ever artificial liver cells using umbilical cord blood stem cells.[34][35]
January 2007 - Scientists at Wake Forest University led by Dr. Anthony Atala and Harvard University report discovery of a new type of stem cell in amniotic fluid.[5] This may potentially provide an alternative to embryonic stem cells for use in research and therapy.[36]
June 2007 - Research reported by three different groups shows that normal skin cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic state in mice.[37] In the same month, scientist Shoukhrat Mitalipov reports the first successful creation of a primate stem cell line through somatic cell nuclear transfer[38]
October 2007 - Mario Capecchi, Martin Evans, and Oliver Smithies win the 2007 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their work on embryonic stem cells from mice using gene targeting strategies producing genetically engineered mice (known as knockout mice) for gene research.[39]
November 2007 - Human Induced pluripotent stem cells: Two similar papers released by their respective journals prior to formal publication: in Cell by Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shinya Yamanaka, "Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Human Fibroblasts by Defined Factors", and in Science by Junying Yu, et al., from the research group of James Thomson, "Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Somatic Cells": pluripotent stem cells generated from mature human fibroblasts. It is possible now to produce a stem cell from almost any other human cell instead of using embryos as needed previously, albeit the risk of tumorigenesis due to c-myc and retroviral gene transfer remains to be determined.
January 2008 - Human embryonic stem cell lines were generated without destruction of the embryo[40]
January 2008 - Development of human cloned blastocysts following somatic cell nuclear transfer with adult fibroblasts[41]
February 2008 - Generation of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Mouse Liver and Stomach: these iPS cells seem to be more similar to embryonic stem cells than the previous developed iPS cells and not tumorigenic, moreover genes that are required for iPS cells do not need to be inserted into specific sites, which encourages the development of non-viral reprogramming techniques. [42][43]

[edit] Stem cell funding & policy debate in the US
This article or section may be inaccurate or unbalanced in favor of certain viewpoints.
Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page.
The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

1993 - As per the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act, Congress and President Bill Clinton give the NIH direct authority to fund human embryo research for the first time.[44]
1995 - The U.S. Congress enacts into law an appropriations bill attached to which is the Dickey Amendment which prohibited federally appropriated funds to be used for research where human embryos would be either created or destroyed. This predates the creation of the first human embryonic stem cell lines.
1999 - After the creation of the first human embryonic stem cell lines in 1998 by James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin, Harriet Rabb, the top lawyer at the Department of Health and Human Services, releases a legal opinion that would set the course for Clinton Administration policy. Federal funds, obviously, could not be used to derive stem cell lines (because derivation involves embryo destruction). However, she concludes that because human embryonic stem cells "are not a human embryo within the statutory definition," the Dickey-Wicker Amendment does not apply to them. The NIH was therefore free to give federal funding to experiments involving the cells themselves. President Clinton strongly endorses the new guidelines, noting that human embryonic stem cell research promised "potentially staggering benefits." And with the guidelines in place, the NIH begins accepting grant proposals from scientists.[45]
02 November, 2004 - California voters approve Proposition 71, which provides $3 billion in state funds over ten years to human embryonic stem cell research.
2001-2006 - U.S. President George W. Bush signs an executive order which restricts federally-funded stem cell research on embryonic stem cells to the already derived cell lines. He supports federal funding for embryonic stem cell research on the already existing lines of approximately $100 million and $250 million for research on adult and animal stem cells.
5 May, 2006 - Senator Rick Santorum introduces bill number S. 2754, or the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act, into the U.S. Senate.
18 July, 2006 - The U.S. Senate passes the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act H.R. 810 and votes down Senator Santorum's S. 2754.
19 July, 2006 - President George W. Bush vetoes H.R. 810 (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act), a bill that would have reversed the Gingrich-era appropriations amendment which made it illegal for federal money to be used for research where stem cells are derived from the destruction of an embryo.
07 November, 2006 - The people of the U.S. state of Missouri passed Amendment 2, which allows usage of any stem cell research and therapy allowed under federal law, but prohibits human reproductive cloning.[46]
16 February, 2007 – The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine became the biggest financial backer of human embryonic stem cell research in the United States when they awarded nearly $45 million in research grants.[47]

[edit] See also
The American Society for Cell Biology
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Genetics Policy Institute
Cancer stem cells
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPS Cell)
Odontis

[edit] References
^ Becker AJ, McCulloch EA, Till JE (1963). "Cytological demonstration of the clonal nature of spleen colonies derived from transplanted mouse marrow cells". Nature 197: 452–4. doi:10.1038/197452a0. PMID 13970094.
^ Siminovitch L, McCulloch EA, Till JE (1963). "The distribution of colony-forming cells among spleen colonies". Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology 62: 327–36. doi:10.1002/jcp.1030620313. PMID 14086156.
^ Tuch BE (2006). "Stem cells--a clinical update". Australian family physician 35 (9): 719–21. PMID 16969445.
^ Friedenstein AJ, Deriglasova UF, Kulagina NN, Panasuk AF, Rudakowa SF, Luria EA, Ruadkow IA (1974). "Precursors for fibroblasts in different populations of hematopoietic cells as detected by the in vitro colony assay method". Exp Hematol 2 (2): 83–92. PMID 4455512.
^ Friedenstein AJ, Gorskaja JF, Kulagina NN (1976). "Fibroblast precursors in normal and irradiated mouse hematopoietic organs". Exp Hematol 4 (5): 267–74. PMID 976387.
^ FOXNews.com - New Stem-Cell Procedure Doesn't Harm Embryos, Company Claims - Biology | Astronomy | Chemistry | Physics
^ [1] , Mouse Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Culture-Current Protocols in Molecular Biology
^ [2], Culture of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) NIH
^ Chambers I, Colby D, Robertson M, et al (2003). "Functional expression cloning of Nanog, a pluripotency sustaining factor in embryonic stem cells". Cell 113 (5): 643–55. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00392-1. PMID 12787505.
^ Boyer LA, Lee TI, Cole MF, et al (2005). "Core transcriptional regulatory circuitry in human embryonic stem cells". Cell 122 (6): 947–56. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.08.020. PMID 16153702.
^ Adewumi O, Aflatoonian B, Ahrlund-Richter L, et al (2007). "Characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines by the International Stem Cell Initiative". Nat. Biotechnol. 25 (7): 803–16. doi:10.1038/nbt1318. PMID 17572666.
^ Thomson J, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Shapiro S, Waknitz M, Swiergiel J, Marshall V, Jones J (1998). "Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts.". Science 282 (5391): 1145–7. doi:10.1126/science.282.5391.1145. PMID 9804556.
^ Wu DC, Boyd AS, Wood KJ (2007). "Embryonic stem cell transplantation: potential applicability in cell replacement therapy and regenerative medicine". Front. Biosci. 12: 4525–35. doi:10.2741/2407. PMID 17485394.
^ Jiang Y, Jahagirdar BN, Reinhardt RL, et al (2002). "Pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult marrow". Nature 418 (6893): 41–9. doi:10.1038/nature00870. PMID 12077603.
^ Ratajczak MZ, Machalinski B, Wojakowski W, Ratajczak J, Kucia M (2007). "A hypothesis for an embryonic origin of pluripotent Oct-4(+) stem cells in adult bone marrow and other tissues". Leukemia 21 (5): 860–7. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2404630. PMID 17344915.
^ Gardner RL (2002). "Stem cells: potency, plasticity and public perception". Journal of Anatomy 200 (3): 277–82. doi:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00029.x. PMID 12033732.
^ Takahashi K, Yamanaka S (2006). "Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors". Cell 126 (4): 663–76. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.07.024. PMID 16904174.
^ Barrilleaux B, Phinney DG, Prockop DJ, O'Connor KC (2006). "Review: ex vivo engineering of living tissues with adult stem cells". Tissue Eng. 12 (11): 3007–19. doi:10.1089/ten.2006.12.3007. PMID 17518617.
^ Gimble JM, Katz AJ, Bunnell BA (2007). "Adipose-derived stem cells for regenerative medicine". Circ. Res. 100 (9): 1249–60. doi:10.1161/01.RES.0000265074.83288.09. PMID 17495232.
^ [3], Bone Marrow Transplant
^ Kane, Ed (2008-05-01). "Stem-cell therapy shows promise for horse soft-tissue injury, disease", DVM Newsmagazine. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.
^ [4],USDHHS Stem Cell FAQ 2004
^ Beckmann J, Scheitza S, Wernet P, Fischer JC, Giebel B (2007). "Asymmetric cell division within the human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell compartment: identification of asymmetrically segregating proteins". Blood 109 (12): 5494–501. doi:10.1182/blood-2006-11-055921. PMID 17332245.
^ Xie T, Spradling A (1998). "decapentaplegic is essential for the maintenance and division of germline stem cells in the Drosophila ovary". Cell 94 (2): 251–60. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81424-5. PMID 9695953.
^ Song X, Zhu C, Doan C, Xie T (2002). "Germline stem cells anchored by adherens junctions in the Drosophila ovary niches.". Science 296 (5574): 1855–7. doi:10.1126/science.1069871. PMID 12052957.
^ Takahashi K, Yamanaka S (2006). "Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors". Cell 126 (4): 663–76. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.07.024. PMID 16904174.
^ Gahrton G, Björkstrand B (2000). "Progress in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma". J Intern Med 248 (3): 185–201. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2000.00706.x. PMID 10971785.
^ Lindvall O (2003). "Stem cells for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease". Pharmacol Res 47 (4): 279–87. doi:10.1016/S1043-6618(03)00037-9. PMID 12644384.
^ Goldman S, Windrem M (2006). "Cell replacement therapy in neurological disease". Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361 (1473): 1463–75. doi:10.1098/rstb.2006.1886. PMID 16939969.
^ Wade N (2006-08-14). "Some Scientists See Shift in Stem Cell Hopes". New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
^ Firm Creates Stem Cells Without Hurting Embryos : NPR
^ The First Human Cloned Embryo: Scientific American
^ Shostak S (2006). "(Re)defining stem cells". Bioessays 28 (3): 301–8. doi:10.1002/bies.20376. PMID 16479584.
^ Good News for Alcoholics | Biotechnology | DISCOVER Magazine
^ Scotsman.com News
^ Amniotic fluid yields stem cells, Harvard researchers report - Boston.com
^ Cyranoski D (2007). "Simple switch turns cells embryonic". Nature 447 (7145): 618–9. doi:10.1038/447618a. PMID 17554270.
^ Mitalipov SM, Zhou Q, Byrne JA, Ji WZ, Norgren RB, Wolf DP (2007). "Reprogramming following somatic cell nuclear transfer in primates is dependent upon nuclear remodeling". Hum Reprod 22 (8): 2232–42. doi:10.1093/humrep/dem136. PMID 17562675.
^ "The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2007". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved on 8 October 2007.
^ Cell Stem Cell - Chung et al
^ http://stemcells.alphamedpress.org/cgi/reprint/2007-0252v1.pdf
^ Generation of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Mo...[Science. 2008] - PubMed Result
^ The Niche: Adult cell types besides skin are reprogrammed
^ Dispatches: The Politics of Stem Cells PBS
^ Dispatches: The Politics of Stem Cells PBS
^ Full-text of Missouri Constitution Amendment 2
^ Calif. Awards $45M in Stem Cell Grants Associated Press, Feb. 17, 2007.

[edit] External links
General
Tell Me About Stem Cells: Quick and simple guide explaining the science behind stem cells
Stem Cell Basics
Nature Reports Stem Cells: Introductory material, research advances and debates concerning stem cell research.
Understanding Stem Cells: A View of the Science and Issues from the National Academies
Scientific American Magazine (June 2004 Issue) The Stem Cell Challenge
Scientific American Magazine (July 2006 Issue) Stem Cells: The Real Culprits in Cancer?
National Institutes of Health
Stem Cell Research Forum of India
Ethics of Stem Cell Research entry at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy by Andrew Siegel
Peer-reviewed journals
STEM CELLS®
Cytotherapy
Cloning and Stem Cells
Stem Cells and Development
Regenerative Medicine
Isolation of amniotic stem cell lines with potential for therapy