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.

 

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: If CFS, MCS, FM, PTSD and GWS have a common biochemical link, why is there such a variety of symptoms? Why do symptoms vary among sufferers of the same condition? What roles do infection, chemical exposure, physical trauma, and severe psychological stress play? How do short-term stressors initiate chronic illness? What are the common symptoms and signs? What is an approach that corrects the cause, rather than treating the symptoms? How does the biochemistry of the NO/ONOO- cycle produce chronic illness? What are the principles underlying the NO/ONOO- cycle mechanism? Can the NO/ONOO- cycle explain other previously unexplained properties of these illnesses? How might 14 additional illnesses/diseases also be caused by the NO/ONOO- cycle etiology? And many more… All this is backed up with more than 1,500 references to scientific literature.

Key Points Symptoms are generated by elevated levels of nitric oxide, peroxynitrite and several other consequences of the NO/ONOO- cycle, such as elevated activity of NF-kappa B, superoxide, inflammatory cytokines and activity of two transmitter systems, the vanilloid receptor and the NMDA receptor. Therapy should focus on down-regulating the NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry. Peroxynitrite is a potent oxidant, and it or its products initiate oxidative chain reactions, causing damage to both proteins and DNA. When its levels are sufficiently elevated, it can cause programmed cell death (apoptosis), an important mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases. Peroxynitrite attacks several of the important proteins in mitochondria, acting along with superoxide and nitric oxide in lower energy metabolism. Such energy metabolism dysfunction lowers the availability of ATP, the energy currency in cells, and is an important part of NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry. Much of the mechanism of the NO/ONOO- cycle is local, impacting one tissue but not necessarily impacting an adjacent tissue. Different people suffering from these illnesses may have distinct tissues impacted by NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry, and this variation in tissue distribution leads to an almost infinite variation of symptoms and signs. This is proposed to be responsible for the extraordinary variation in symptoms and signs reported in comparisons of one patient with another. Conditions caused by the NO/ONOO- cycle are best treated by using agents that are expected to down-regulate NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry. At least 30 therapeutic agents or classes of agents are available today that are expected to down-regulate cycle biochemistry. Of these 30, clinical trial studies have been performed on 12, and all 12 show evidence of efficacy in treatment of these multisystem diseases or closely related illnesses. Clinical observations and/or anecdotal reports suggest that six additional agents or classes of agents are also effective in treatment.

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.

“Soluble fiber changes the personality of immune cells - they go from being pro-inflammatory, angry cells to anti-inflammatory, healing cells that help us recover faster from infection,” said Gregory Freund, a professor in the U of I’s College of Medicine and a faculty member in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Division of Nutritional Sciences.

This happens because soluble fiber causes increased production of an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-4, he said.

The study will appear in the May 2010 issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and is available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08891591.

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).

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

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!

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.

The 4-digit PLU codes on the sometimes-pain-in-the-neck labels glued to apples, for example, tell the checkout lady which is a small Fuji (4129) and which is a Honeycrisp (3283). She’ll know what to charge you and the inventory elves will know what’s what. If there’s a 5-digit code starting with 9, then it’s organic.

These numbers, organized by the Produce Marketing Association, have nothing to do with you. According to Kathy Means, Association Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs, this is an optional convention for retailers and their supplier and is not designed as a communication tool for customers. If you want to know which items are organic, look for the word Organic; and stop squinting at tiny codes.

GMO codes are hypothetical

Those that run PLU-universe figured that someday some retailer might want to distinguish between a GMO and a non-GMO for price or inventory purposes. So they created a convention of 5 digits starting with an 8, just in case it catches on. But it hasn’t. No one uses that number 8 as far as we can tell. And why would they? Most Americans say they would avoid GMOs if they were labeled.

Some seed companies don’t even want gardeners to know which seed is genetically modified. One company that sells zucchini seeds outfitted with virus genes announced that they would refuse to sell seed packets in Vermont, since the state legislature requires GM seeds to be labeled.

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.