Excerpt:

Disinfection is an essential measure for interrupting human norovirus (HuNoV) transmission, but it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants due to the absence of a practicable cell culture system for these viruses. The purpose of this study was to screen sodium hypochlorite and ethanol for efficacy against Norwalk virus (NV) and expand the studies to evaluate the efficacy of antibacterial liquid soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer for the inactivation of NV on human finger pads. Samples were tested by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) both with and without a prior RNase treatment. In suspension assay, sodium hypochlorite concentrations of >or=160 ppm effectively eliminated RT-qPCR detection signal, while ethanol, regardless of concentration, was relatively ineffective, giving at most a 0.5 log(10) reduction in genomic copies of NV cDNA. Using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard finger pad method and a modification thereof (with rubbing), we observed the greatest reduction in genomic copies of NV cDNA with the antibacterial liquid soap treatment (0.67 to 1.20 log(10) reduction) and water rinse only (0.58 to 1.58 log(10) reduction). The alcohol-based hand sanitizer was relatively ineffective, reducing the genomic copies of NV cDNA by only 0.14 to 0.34 log(10) compared to baseline. Although the concentrations of genomic copies of NV cDNA were consistently lower on finger pad eluates pretreated with RNase compared to those without prior RNase treatment, these differences were not statistically significant. Despite the promise of alcohol-based sanitizers for the control of pathogen transmission, they may be relatively ineffective against the HuNoV, reinforcing the need to develop and evaluate new products against this important group of viruses.

 

Linda’s comments:  I attended a lecture by Dr Martin Pall regarding NO/ONOO and found it extremely interesting.  You can google him and get a large number of articles by Dr Pall.  Well worth your reading time.

Excerpt:

We are excited to present information from the forthcoming book by Martin L. Pall, PhD, who shows that all these conditions - and probably many others - involve the same key biochemical response: elevated levels of nitric oxide (NO) and its oxidant product peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which initiate a biochemical vicious cycle. Although the mechanisms underlying this ongoing NO/ONOO- cycle are well-documented, Dr. Pall presents new information about how this cycle interacts to produce patterns of symptoms. The theory elegantly answers many questions, including:

Continued

Linda’s comments:  Finally a university does a study and admits they find that Fiber boosts our immune systems.  AND yes, a good Fiber can reduce inflammation associated with obesity related diseases.  The BEYOND FIBER I take has more than just fiber….please go here and read about the fiber I take twice daily… www.longevityplus.com <BEYOND FIBER>  This Beyond Fiber is part of the FIGHT protocol that I have been on for over 1 1/2 years.   I had tried over 15 different fibers before Beyond FIber.  I will never go back.  Healing our cells helps us to recover faster from different infections. 

A new University of Illinois study touts the benefits of soluble fiber - found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters - saying that it reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system.

Continued

Linda’s comment:  WOW what a deal….I just had to share this…For those of us who struggle financially, this is a great deal….read on…

Full article: http://canadianfinanceblog.com/2010/03/03/how-i-got-8-glasses.htm

Excerpt:

During my teenage years I would get a new pair of glasses every other year. That was when my parents’ benefits allowed them to purchase new glasses for us, so we would update our prescriptions and get a new pair of frames and glasses. I was always so surprised at how much they cost! We were very limited by our choice of glasses, because there was such a big difference between $159 frames and $219 frames, let alone $289 designer frames! So we were stuck with about a dozen options, half of which obviously sucked and the rest were just “meh”. But that was the only way to get glasses, and I needed glasses to see, so I always put up with it.

A couple of years ago in college, I found out that I needed to get new glasses, yet again. At this point, I was no longer underneath my parental coverage, and as such, could not get them to cover the incredibly expensive cost of a new prescription and new glasses. Even if I got “cheap” frames, at about $150, I’d still have to pay for the lenses, which would double the cost to about $300. That was money I simply didn’t have. Luckily, I had been reading a couple of personal finance websites, and one of them mentioned buying glasses online for cheaper. So I looked at a couple of websites, and wandered around online, cautiously collecting information. I was hesitant for a couple of reasons. First, this was a classic “too good to be true” situation. Why would glasses that regularly cost hundreds of dollars be sold for so much cheaper? Something must not be right. Second, even if they were legitimate, how could I guarantee that they would look good on me without trying them on first?

Despite these hesitations, I decided I would rather invest $40 into a potential scam or a crappy pair of glasses rather than drop $300 for glasses I didn’t really like. So I ordered a pair, and I’ve been wearing them everyday for the last two years. They’re awesome.

Ticks can transmit a variety of viruses, bacteria or parasites
that can cause serious infections or conditions in humans and
animals. While tick-borne diseases are becoming an increasing and
serious problem in Europe, tick-borne diseases are also
responsible for major depressions in livestock production and
mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. This
review will focus on the most important circulating
tick-transmitted pathogens in Europe (Borrelia spp., Anaplasma
phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus,
Rickettsia spp. and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus).

Increased tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been reported in central Europe. To investigate temporal trends in the altitude at which TBE cases occur in Slovakia, we analyzed the number of TBE cases during 1961–2004. Since 1980, TBE cases moved from lowlands to submountainous areas, most likely because of rising temperature.

If the observed trend continues, the number of TBE foci in the mountain areas >500 m will probably increase in future decades. Whether this would affect the total number of TBE cases is a matter for discussion. Higher areas are less densely inhabited by local residents but often visited for leisure activities and recreation. The possibility of TBE emergence should be therefore considered by the management of recreation facilities and tourist resorts in areas with habitats suitable for TBE vectors

Linda’s comment:  Were you aware that formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol embalms living tissue and damages DNA??  Most people don’t realize how dangerous that Aspartame can be.  There has been a rise in brain cancers, which we know according to Dr Russell Blaylock, MD, a renowned neuro surgeon.  Yet the food industry continue to poison people.  However, all the blame can’t be put on the food industry. WE the people need to take the responsibility for buying this deadly neuro poison.  If people would stop purchasing the products that contain Aspartame then the industry would change, after all they are in it to make money and don’t give a damn about our health.

What comes to mind is the scripture in Jeremiah that the wicked will
sleep a perpetual sleep and never awaken.  Aspartame Disease is now a
heinous global plague causing sickness and death throughout the
world.  The history and toxicity of aspartame has reached critical
mass as consumers avoid it like the plague it is.  For this reason,
and to erase history, Ajinomoto has changed the name to AminoSweet.
This itself is deceiving since it’s the deadly free methyl alcohol
that sweetens, not the amino acids. Be warned!

Linda’s comment:  Please pay attention to PLU Codes Do Not Indicate Genetically Modified Produce.  GMO foods have become a serious health hazard and we must protect our children.  If you as an adult want to ignore the warnings, please do not place our children in jeporady.  Make sure you join the Institute for Responsible Technology and help us spread the word.

Full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/plu-codes-do-not-indicate_b_473088.html

Excerpt:

Let’s put a rumor to rest. No, the 5-digit PLU codes on produce do not tell you what is genetically modified or natural. This urban legend has circulated long enough, even on the best of websites. It’s time to take it down.

Continued

Linda’s comments:  There is a lot of controversy regarding XMRV and doctors are scrambling to find some answers.  Doctors are now thinking that this virus is in Lyme patients. 

Excerpt:

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is a recently discovered gammaretrovirus that has been linked to prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. This virus is therefore an important potential human pathogen and, as such, it is essential to understand its host cell tropism. Intriguingly, infectious virus has been recovered from patient-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These cells express several antiviral restriction factors that are capable of inhibiting the replication of a wide range of retroviruses, including other gamma retroviruses. This raises the possibility that, similar to HIV, XMRV may have acquired resistance to restriction. We therefore investigated the susceptibility of XMRV to a panel of different restriction factors. We found that both human APOBEC3 and tetherin proteins are able to block XMRV replication. Expression of human TRIM5alpha, however, had no effect on viral infectivity. There was no evidence that XMRV expressed countermeasures to overcome restriction. In addition, the virus was inhibited by factors from nonhuman species, including mouse Apobec3, tetherin, and Fv1 proteins. These results have important implications for predicting the natural target cells for XMRV replication, for relating infection to viral pathogenicity and pathology, and for the design of model systems with which to study XMRV-related diseases.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is EPIDEMIC and we suffer from this lack of B12 with many health problems including fatigue and early memory loss. This report found that 50% of TYPE 2 Diabetics have B-12 deficiency, which contributes to the more rapid development of diabetic complications including dementia and neuropathy.

It is so easy to correct this condition using Longevity Plus’s sublingual Beyond B12, which includes the ideal form of B12 Methylcobalamin to support methylation, as well as ACTIVE forms of Folic Acid. Folic acid is also so vital for health and again when properly tested, 5′MTHF is almost routinely deficient in our aging population.