Study Identifies Novel Role for a Protein That Could Lead to New Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

 A new study by rheumatologists at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York has shown that a powerful pro-inflammatory protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), can also suppress aspects of inflammation. The researchers say the identification of the mechanism of how this occurs could potentially lead to new treatments for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The study was published May 22 online in advance of publication in the journal Nature Immunology.

"Prior to this study, TNF has long been known as a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, but if you look carefully through the literature, there are hints that it also has some suppressive functions, but nothing was known about the mechanisms," said Lionel Ivashkiv, M.D., associate chief scientific officer and physician in the Arthritis and Tissue Degeneration Program at Hospital for Special Surgery who led the study. "This is really the first mechanism showing how TNF can turn inflammation down."

Because many proteins have homeostatic functions, both driving and suppressing certain actions so a cell can maintain internal equilibrium, researchers thought TNF might not be an exception. "Most strong activators in the immune system trigger a feedback response to restrain the amount of inflammation," Dr. Ivashkiv said.

To find out, researchers designed experiments stimulating macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a prototypical inflammatory factor that stimulates receptors important in inflammation. In test tube studies, the researchers treated human monocytes and macrophages, cells that have a key role in inflammatory diseases, with TNF and then challenged these cells with LPS. They found that the TNF suppressed the inflammatory response of the macrophages and monocytes. They then gave mice low doses of TNF followed by high doses of LPS and found that the mice were protected from the effects of high dose LPS, which is usually lethal. They discovered that the mechanism by which TNF suppressed the inflammatory response involved a protein known as GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3-alpha) and a gene known as TNFAIP3 that encodes the A20 protein. Experiments with a drug that can inhibit GSK3 as well as experiments with RNA interference of A20, which can block A20 gene function, helped identify the roles of this protein and gene.

Read Full Article At: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110522141600.htm

A Brief Overview of Marijuana as an Excellent Alternative Medicine

Cannabis indica, cannabis sativa, cannabis americanus, Indian hemp and marijuana (or marihuana) all refer to the same plant. Cannabis is used throughout the world for diverse purposes and has a long history characterized by usefulness, euphoria or evil depending on one’s point of view. Medical professionals in the western world have forgotten almost all they once knew about the therapeutic properties of marijuana, or cannabis.
Analgesia, anti-convulsant action, appetite stimulation, ataraxia, antibiotic properties and low toxicity have been described throughout medical literature. For the most part the therapeutic aspects of cannabis remain to be re-explored under modern clinical conditions. In fact, from 1839 to its removal from availability to physicians in 1937 at least 12 separate therapeutic uses for cannabis were described:

• analgesic-hypnotic
• appetite stimulant
• gastrointestinal sedative
• anti-epileptic
• anti-spasmodic
• prophylactic and treatment of the neuralgias, including migraine and tic douloreuz
• anti-depressant
• tranquilizer
• anti-asthmatic
• oxytocic
• anti-tussive
• topical anesthetic
• withdrawal agent for opiate and alcohol addiction
• childbirth analgesic
• antibiotic

Meanwhile, cannabis continues to be denied to sufferers by the government, despite efficacious preliminary results and entreaties of numerous patients to unresponsive government agencies rationalizing their intransigence by a "we can’t be too careful" stance.

Read Full Article At: http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/learning-center/conditions

Protein responsible for the Detection of Extreme Heat and Pain Discovered

The protein responsible for the detection of extreme heat and pain resulting from infections has been identified by a team of K.U.Leuven researchers led by Professor Thomas Voets. The protein is a promising target for the development of new analgesic medications.

A rapid pain response to extreme temperatures is of vital importance to prevent being burned by touching a hot object or accidentally swallowing scolding soup, for example. Sensory nerves throughout the body -- including in our skin and mucous membranes -- detect temperature. In people who suffer from certain conditions, such as infections or nerve damage, these nerves become extra sensitive. This sometimes results in oversensitivity to innocuous temperatures and chronic pain.

Read Full Article At: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110513064107.htm

General Fitness Training

General fitness training works towards broad goals of overall health and well-being, rather than narrow goals of sport competition, larger muscles or concerns over appearance.

A regular moderate workout regimen and healthy diet can improve general appearance markers of good health such as muscle tone, healthy skin, hair and nails, while minimizing age or lifestyle-related reductions in health.

Read Full Article At: http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/g/general_fitness_training.htm

How To Stay Fit Without A Gym Membership

There are many different ways to stay fit without having to leave your home, weather its working out in your garage, basement or backyard. There are many different exercise that you can do to accomplish whatever your fitness goals are.

The second most important part of getting into shape is to make sure your eating healthy, and also gaining all of the daily recommended nutrients. there are many great healthy food ideas on the blogs Health Food Recipes page.

All you need to remember is that you need should do it for 30 minutes a day at least 3 times a week, and eat healthier then your fitness goals will be your reality in no time.

How Self Esteem Affects Personal Health

It helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle because you enjoy your life more and are a more happy person overall because you feel happy on the inside and once you have that feeling you do not lose it because you love having that feeling, and begin to love life.  

How Individuals, Families and Communities Can Help to Improve Canada's Health Care System



Individuals can help to complete these goals and objectives by learning about how illnesses and diseases spread and how to prevent it. They also need to learn how to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. If they know all these things in the long run it will help Health Canada to improve the health care because more people will not need to attend the hospital for minor things because they will know how when to do without getting help from an emergence room or clinic.

Communities can help by offering more classes at cheaper costs so that they are more available to the general public which would help citizens stop the spread of illnesses and diseases and know what to do if they are faced with a certain illnesses or diseases. Also the community could hold fundraisers and community events to raise money for hospitals to improve the hospital condition or equipment or more staff or whatever they needed to do to improve the quality of the health care being provided.

Families could help to prevent the spread of illnesses and diseases by attending community run first ad classes which would teach not only how to not the spread of diseases and illnesses but also teach people what to do in certain types of emergences. They could help improve the quality of the healthcare by volunteering at events benefiting the hospital or by donating money or even an entire building to the hospital.



Cigarette Smoking and Arsenic Exposure: A Deadly Combination

Arsenic exposure and smoking each elevate the risk of disease. But when combined together, the danger of dying from cardiovascular disease is magnified, a new study finds.

Exposure to high or even moderate levels of the toxin arsenic through drinking water can elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, according to a new study published in British Medical Journal. Exposed individuals who smoke were hit with a dangerous double whammy: a combined mortality risk that exceeded the influence of either factor alone.


Read Full Article At: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505212318.htm

The Best Way Of Getting Into Shape



I think that the overall best and quickest way to get into shape quickly is swimming, because swimming uses all of your body's muscles. Which means that instead of exercising only one part of your body at a time, you can exercise your whole body at once.

I think that if you swim for 30 minutes a day, three times a week it will be equivalent to exercising for 60 minutes, three days times a week.

So if you need to get into shape fast i highly recommend that you try swimming for 30 minutes, three times a week. I think you should try it for your self and receive the benefits.