As the planet warms and the ice thaws, scientists warn we could see the re-emergence of ancient pathogens currently unknown to science. These viruses, which have laid dormant and locked away in glaciers and permafrostpermanently frozen soilfor hundreds if not thousands of years, could "wake up," researchers have said.

Earlier this year, scientists analyzing two ice core samples from Guliya ice cap, Tibet, identified several of such viruses. One of the core samples dated back 520 years, while the other held sediments locked away 15,000 years ago. Four of the virus generathe taxonomic rank between species and familywere already known, but 28 had never been seen before.

The study authors say the research provides evidence of an "ultra-clean" method of microbial and viral samplingone clean enough to extract virus from the glacier unharmed and uncontaminated

Yet it also reveals a chapter in the planet's biological history, exposing some of the microbes that inhabited the soil hundreds and thousands of years ago that could, theoretically, re-emerge as the ice melts.

The study's authors warn that ice melt "will release glacial microbes and viruses that have been trapped and preserved for tens to hundreds of thousands of years."

This melt could destroy microbial "archives" that may help us understand the Earth's climate regimes in the past. "However, in a worst-case scenario, this ice melt could release pathogens into the environment," they add.

Their research is in the preprint stage, meaning it has not been reviewed by a panel of experts to confirm the findings. As such the results should be viewed with caution. It is also not clear how complete or infectious these viruses would be post-thaw. However, scientists have previously revived viruses that have been dormant for thousands of years, suggesting it is at least a possibility.

Could ancient viruses pose a public health risk? "Maybe," Jean-Michel Claverie, Professor of Genomics and Bioinformatics at Aix-Marseille University in France, who was not involved in the Tibetan glacier study, told Newsweek.

"They could be ancient viruses that we already knowsuch as smallpox virusthat we wrongly think were eradicated," he added.

"There also could be viruses that caused animalor humanextinctions in the past, and that modern medicine is not aware of. The same is true of pathogenic bacteria, such as those causing anthrax."

Claverie's research has shown that viruses can "survive" tens of thousands of years"since the Neanderthal era"unperturbed, provided the conditions are right. In 2014, he co-authored a paper describing a 30,000-year-old "giant virus" extracted from Siberian permafrost. Out of the permafrost and in the lab, it revived, becoming infectious after a millenia spent dormant.

Giant viruses like these get their name because they are so large, relatively-speaking, they can be easily viewed under a light microscope. While an average virus can be as small as 20 nanometers, a giant virus cannot fit through a hole 200 nanometers or smaller.

The one discovered in 2014 has been named Pithovirus sibericum; "pithos" being the name of a large storage container used by the Ancient Greeks. Since then, the team has discovered at least one other ancient virus, Mollivirus sibericum, found in the same 30,000-year-old ice sample.

Fortunately, both attack amoebassingle-celled organisms with the ability to shape-shiftand not animals or humans. This means its resurrection did not pose a public health risk. However, researchers say their existence raises the question of what other, more deadly pathogens maybe waiting in the permafrost, ready to activate.

The virus' impressive longevity stems from the fact that technically, they are not living things. To activate and reproduce, they must penetrate the cell of a living organism. Outside of a cell, they are metabolically inert particles called virions, which can be imagined as seeds to the activated virus, said Claverie.

This means they cannot die in the typical sense. Virions can either be infectious and ready to "germinate" or inactivated, too damaged to infect or germinate.

This deterioration process can take place rapidly outside of a celllight, for example, is incredibly damaging to the virus DNA or RNA. The loss of moisture can also cause damage to the point of inactivation.

However, if the conditions are conducive to their "survival," they can remain infectious for extended periods of time.

"UV light, oxygen, high temperature is bad, cold and darkness is better, cold, darkness and no oxygen [anoxic] is best," said Claverie. That makes permafrost and deep ocean sediments cold, dark, anoxicexcellent environments for microbes like viruses.

The increased interest in ancient viruses and ice-locked microbes has not only been spurred by Claverie and others' research, but by scientific data highlighting a rapid increase in ocean warming and ice melt.

We know the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, while ice sheets across the planet have shown consistent thinning linked to climate change and changing weather patterns.

The last two months have seen Antarctica break its record for ice meltit was reported that 15 percent of the continent's surface melted on Christmas Eveand record warm water under its most precarious glacier, the Thwaites glacier.

Smaller glaciers are also feeling the heat. Last year's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found that glaciers in Europe, eastern Africa and elsewhere could lose more than 80 percent of ice mass by the end of the century. Meanwhile, permafrost in the Arctic circle is thawing at a rapid pace.

Permafrost covers 24 percent of the Northern Hemisphere, an area equivalent to 9 million square miles, according to Columbia's Earth Institute. Scientists predict that even if we were to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, we would eventually lose 40 percent of that.

As the permafrost thaws, these snow-covered landscapes are turning from carbon sinks into carbon emitters with the potential to release vast amounts of greenhouse gas and cause the infrastructure it supports to crumble.

This warming could also unlock viruses currently hidden in the ice and permafrost. Although the likelihood of these ancient or historic viruses reactivating remains relatively unknown.

"This is a new area of research," Christine Kreuder Johnson, Professor of Epidemiology at University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine told Newsweek. "I would say very exciting. [There is] not a lot known."

One of the key things to consider when investigating ancient viruses like those found in the Tibetan glacier, Kreuder Johnson explained, is the state of the virusis it whole or is it fragmented? Because this will affect its ability to infect and therefore, the threat it poses to human health.

"Viruses detected only pose a risk if they're completely whole and can regrow," said Kreuder Johnson.

Some microbes are hardier and, therefore, more likely to be infectious than others. Take, for example, spore-generating bacteria like anthrax.

Anthrax is not technically an ancient diseaseit can be found in soil across the worldbut it has been called a "zombie pathogen." This is because it can lie latent for centuries before reactivating and triggering new outbreaks.

In 2016, a 12-year-old boy died and dozens more were hospitalized in Salekhard, northeast Russia, with anthraxdubbed the "Siberian plague." The outbreak is believed to have originated from the diseased remains of humans and animals buried in permafrost 75 years earlier, later exposed after a heat wave caused the ice to thaw.

It is thought that reindeers came into contact with the remains, spreading the disease to humans. The boy was one of a number of nomadic herders affected, Newsweek reported at the time.

Medical experts cited climate change as a factor in the outbreak, pointing to the abnormally warm weather that had caused the permafrost to thaw. This is supported by studies that suggest rising temperatures could lead to similar incidents in the future.

Elsewhere, there have been reports of researchers contracting diseases after coming into contact with the frozen carcasses of diseased animals.

Michael Zimmerman, a paleopathologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told NPR he developed seal fingera bacterial infection that typically affects the fingers and hands of seal hunterswhile completing research on animals buried in the permafrost for decades. The diagnosis was not confirmed but matched the symptoms and responded to antibiotics, the drug prescribed to treat seal finger.

Stories of so-called zombie diseases, or pathogens, like anthrax receive a lot of media attentionbut actual cases have, so far, been rare. Many scientists would say fears over ancient or historic diseases are overblown, and point to the fact that we are exposed to viruses on a near-constant basis.

"Viruses are everywherein soils, in ice, on money," Professor Paul Falkowski, who leads the Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory at Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, told Newsweek.

"Virtually all viruses have no effect on human health. However, some microbes, such as anthrax bacteria, can emerge from frozen soils after decades and infect people" He adds: "But the risk is very low."

When considering the possible health risk of ancient viruses, it is also important to think about exposure. Most infectious diseases are transmitted by direct contact, bodily fluids and respiratory droplets"in other words, there is virtually no danger of long range transmission," said Falkowski.

A virus found in an isolated region of Siberia or atop a Tibetan glacier might not be too risky because there is a low risk of exposure. In contrast, high concentrations of people in urban areas increases contact and exposure, which in turn increases the risk of disease outbreaks.

That may change as humans and animals respond to rising temperatures. Thawing of ice in the poles may affect how we navigate the planet, with new routes in the Arctic opening up. A changing climate may also push species to expand their range to new parts of the world. The current administration's plans to expand land available for drilling in the Arctic Circle, for example, could open up new paths to exposure.

Kreuder Johnson and her colleague Tracey Goldstein, Professor Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology at UC Davis told Newsweek these behavioral changes could lead to animals and microorganisms interacting in different ways or coming into contact with pathogens for the first time.

For example, Goldstein's research into the phocine distemper virus (PDV), a potentially deadly infectious disease that targets seals and other marine mammals.

The study found lower levels of sea ice in the Arctic circle were positively correlated with higher infection rates among certain seal species. The study's authors suggested changes in habitat and interactions between species may have been behind the spike.

Still, for now, the bulk of information we have is sparse and hypothetical. The potential for newor rather ancientmicrobes to re-emerge in a warming climate is a relatively new set of circumstances only starting to be researched.

"It's simply something we should keep on our radar," said Goldstein. "The climate is changing so quickly and we don't know what the next thing might be that's going to be a concern."

Claverie agrees: "Warming plus more people in previously uninhabited arctic regions are the recipe for disasterin theory," he said. "However, nobody knows how to estimate the probability of this to happen. We just know from our work with amoeba viruses that it is, in principle, a possibility."

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Melting Glaciers and Thawing Permafrost Could Release Ancient Viruses Locked Away for Thousands of Years - Newsweek

We all age as time goes by. The idea that ageing is a natural and inevitable process is ancient. So much so, that when a nonagenarian dies, we say its of old age or natural causes. Even though the actual causes are age-related diseases. Now, some scientists argue that we need to redefine ageing.

David Sinclair, geneticist at Harvard Medical School, says ageing should no longer be seen as a natural consequence of getting older, but as a condition in and of itself. What could be the implications of a new definition? The World Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration classify diseases and this guides how drugs can be trialled, prescribed and sold. It could also direct more research and investment into the field.

Could changing the way we conceptualise ageing therefore revolutionise healthcare? And if so, would the pharma industry start producing compounds to tackle ageing?

But first, how to define ageing? There is a range of views on this. Based on science, ageing can be seen as a function of molecular mechanisms and diseases in addition to hereditary genetic factors and epigenetic factors, responding to lifestyle, nutrition and our natural and social environment, says Alexander G. Haslberger, professor at the University of Viennas nutritional department and board member at Verita Healthcare Group.

There are a number of mechanisms and processes that are involved, and they cant be targeted with one magic bullet

When biologists talk about ageing, they refer to the deteriorative part of the process as senescence to avoid confusion, says David Gems, professor of biogerontology at University College London. Senescence is deteriorative change and its clearly pathological.

Critics say that classifying ageing as a disease would further stigmatise older generations or that it might divert attention from encouraging healthier lifestyles.

Those who say, lets celebrate ageing, its not a disease miss the mark, argues Professor Gems. Such arguments are well intended, but overlook the real urgency of trying to do everything possible to prevent all aspects of senescence, the main cause of disease in the world. To say that suffering in later life, thats OK is inhumane, he says.

A fruitful line of analysis is to recognise ageing is the main risk factor for a host of diseases that restrict and kill people in later life: coronary heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and dementia, says Alan Walker, professor of social policy and social gerontology at the University of Sheffield.

Id call it a condition, not a disease, says Professor Warren C. Ladiges, of the University of Washington, who is director of the Geropathology Research Network. Its multi-factorial; there are a number of mechanisms and processes that are involved, and they cant be targeted with one magic bullet.

Even if ageing is not redefined as a disease, many scientists agree that the way we address ageing needs to evolve. Why is that? The change in perspective is a fundamental shift in medicine, argues Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the National Institute on Ageing in the United States. If the biological mechanisms of ageing are fixed and unchangeable, then the study of ageing becomes a speculative science, he says.

But if we acknowledge that ageing is at the root of most chronic diseases and, if the mechanisms of ageing may be modulated, then understanding ageing opens incredibly powerful perspectives, says Dr Ferrucci. He argues that slowing down ageing will affect all diseases and could truly expand peoples health-spans. This, in turn, would curtail the cost of healthcare.

Over the last few decades, scientists have gained new insights on how different organs age and how people have different levels of resilience in the face of ageing. Studies in mice, for example, have shown what happens when cells age and scientists have effectively used drugs to extend the lifespans of mice.

Research has revealed that so-called longevity genes, which control our health and fitness, can benefit from exercise and intermittent fasting. Alternatively, they can be boosted with drugs, as the experiments with mice have shown.

Some of the drugs that extend lifespans, and protect from a number of age-related diseases, are already in use for specific diseases, rather than overall ageing. Metformin, for example, is a common drug for type-2 diabetes. In the TAME (Targeted Ageing with Metformin) study, run by the American Federation of Ageing Research, healthy men and women in their early-60s were asked to take the drug. The study had a small sample, but its results were positive.

This study illustrates that the pharmaceutical industry has started to produce compounds for the improvement of ageing-relevant mechanisms and diseases, says Professor Haslberger. However, they need a new molecular understanding of the ageing mechanism as fast as possible to take this to the next stage.

Would these developments be likely to spark more interest from the pharma industry? If drugs could be developed that might be taken regularly by humans for many years, say from middle age, to prevent age-related diseases, then the pharma industry might be interested, says Professor Janet Lord, director of the University of Birminghams Institute of Inflammation and Ageing.

Is a change of definition the first step to revolutionising the field? Some scientists believe that if ageing is classified as a disease, then you could design and run clinical trials to slow ageing, as the regulatory bodies only approve trials and drugs for disease indications. Currently this is circumvented by carrying out trials to reduce features of ageing such as frailty or age-related diseases, says Professor Lord.

How much would a new definition really help?

Given that current clinical trials tend to use repurposed drugs, what may be much more effective and entice pharma to invest is to have new drugs designed specifically to target ageing, she says. Pharma, in my opinion, is not likely to invest in this area and it needs investment from government to get this exciting new field going.

A new definition would help a little, but is not the major hurdle, says Professor Lord, pointing out that drugs are not tested on people with several conditions, despite most older people being multi-morbid.

This concern is echoed by Christina Victor, professor of gerontology and public health at Brunel University London. Most people live with multiple conditions, and were bad at managing and treating those, she says. People might have a psychologist for dementia and an endocrinologist for diabetes, but they are treated in silos. Instead, you need a workforce that can deal with multi-morbidity in an integrated way, says Professor Victor.

Professor Ladiges is pioneering research on drug cocktails, which aim to address multiple age-related issues. Many of the drugs were interested in are already clinically approved, he says. The question is, how do they interact when you take them simultaneously? Its just a matter of time until we bring the drug-cocktail concept from the laboratory to the clinic.

Continued here:
Should we treat ageing as a disease? - Raconteur

A study suggests that those who start racking up more minutes of exercise are also likely to post lower blood pressure readings, get more sleep and eat more fruits and vegetables.Bill Keay / Postmedia files

Theres no doubt exercise is good for you. If anything, the benefits of regular physical activity arent stated enough, with improved longevity, vitality and quality of life all positive outcomes of being active. Another benefit to exercise that hasnt received the attention it deserves is its ability to spark individuals to adopt healthier habits.

Eating well, sleeping well, maintaining a healthy weight, refraining from smoking, drinking in moderation and reducing sedentary time are all habits worth embracing. When combined with regular exercise, the health benefits are even greater, including slowing down the physical and mental decline often associated with aging. Yet too few Canadians exercise regularly, and even fewer can lay claim to an impressive list of healthy lifestyle behaviours.

The idea that exercise is a gateway to positive lifestyle changes isnt new. Common sense suggests the fitter you are, the more likely you are to choose healthier foods, sleep better, move more and shed some of those unwanted pounds. This has been proved time and time again by novice exercisers who suddenly cant stop talking about the success of their new diet, the number of steps they take daily and the sleep stats logged on their new smartwatch.

But up until now, there has been very little hard data supporting the theory exercise is a catalyst for healthier behaviours, which is why an article posted in the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine open-access journal is sparking interest. The articles authors reviewed the lifestyle stats accumulated by 34,061 individuals who participated in the Vitality program, an interactive online wellness platform that incentivizes healthy choices like exercise, medical checkups, sleep, healthy food choices and stress-reducing activities. The more healthy choices members make, the more points they accumulate, which they can trade for discount coupons to participating retail outlets (grocery stores, fitness clubs) or add to the point total of their corporate team vying to outperform colleagues on other teams.

The researchers wanted to use the copious data collected by Vitality to determine whether earning physical activity points was followed by improvements in engagement with other health-promoting behaviour and health markers. They also wanted to see if there were differences in healthy uptakes between those who accumulated the greatest number of exercise minutes (150 or more) per week and those who accumulated the fewest (less than 59 minutes) over the same time period.

Turns out all but the already active exercisers in the Vitality program increased the number of minutes per week they were active. And while they were racking up all those exercise minutes, they were also eating more fruits and vegetables, getting more sleep, spending less time being sedentary, cutting back on alcohol, experiencing less stress and posting better health markers (such as lower blood pressure readings).

The improvements were greatest in those with the most to gain, those with low baseline physical activity levels, said the researchers.

One of the unique aspects of the data collected by Vitality is activity monitors were worn by participants, resulting in a more accurate representation of exercise minutes than self-reported stats. Also worth noting is all lifestyle changes occurred in real-world conditions, not in a lab, which makes them more relatable to the average Joe and Jill.

Our study extends previous findings that health behaviours such as physical activity, healthy eating and abstaining from alcohol and smoking tend to co-occur in individuals and the presence of one healthy behaviour is followed by other healthy behaviours, reported the research team.

Why does establishing an exercise routine result in other lifestyle improvements? No one knows for sure, but successfully introducing an exercise habit builds confidence, especially among those who have struggled to maintain a regular workout schedule. Mastery in one domain often reinforces the ability to master another, so once someone has achieved a previously elusive fitness goal, theyre motivated to take on another challenge, like cutting down on high-calorie foods.

The message to remember in these results is change begets change. Its also notable were capable of pursuing and achieving more than one goal at a time. Taking this new information into account, monitor several lifestyle markers as you boost your activity levels. Take note of your diet, sleeping habits, blood pressure, heart rate and time spent with your feet up. Chances are if you make a commitment to boost your exercise minutes, youll be motivated to complement your efforts by making other healthy changes. Use an activity monitor to keep track of your stats and an old-fashioned notebook to chart your progress, with the end goal being an improvement in the most important health marker of all: feeling better every day.

Original post:
Fitness: How much does exercise inspire other healthy habits? - Montreal Gazette

Baku, November 8, AZERTAC

The Azerbaijan International Medical Innovations Exhibition and Forum, MEDINEX and the Azerbaijan International Beauty Industry Exhibition, Beauty Azerbaijan wrapped up in Baku.

The expositions brought together over 70 companies from 12 countries worldwide, including Germany, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Japan and others. The event was organized by Caspian Event Organisers (CEO).

The exhibition has currently changed its brand, but retained the role of the platform and navigator of modern innovations in medicine. This trend during the VIP tour was noted by the Deputy Minister of Health of Azerbaijan, Elsevar Aghayev, who emphasized the effectiveness of a multi-year medical exhibition that contributes to the development of the republics healthcare system.

The growing international interest in the exhibition of businessmen and representatives of relevant companies is based on the effective economic development of Azerbaijan and the prospects of the local market.

Over the course of two days, the intense work of the exhibitions attracted professionals in the medical business, local and international manufacturers of clinical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and innovations in the field of healthcare.

Great interest was caused by goods and services exhibited under the brand "Made in Azerbaijan". Many visitors were attracted to the Medinex national pavilion of Belarus, which presented eight medical plants at once. Goods and services of Russian, Kazakh, German manufacturers have become the subject of discussion of potential distributors.

The experts called the Medinex business programme, which covered the professional and entrepreneurial activities of exhibitors, an important component in the work of the exhibitions.

The Innovation and Presentation zones, which are modern platforms for communication, dialogue and searching for effective management solutions, helped to navigate the healthcare world not only by the project participants themselves, but also by numerous visitors, including practicing doctors.

Within the framework of the session Effective Clinic Management, a professional dialogue on methods for the effective management of medical institutions and medical networks was held. During the special session "Bizimkilr" domestic experts shared their experiences with interns and students, answering questions in the format of live communication.

The exhibition also featured B2B meetings organized between exhibitors and invited buyers. The unique format of business meetings allowed manufacturers to directly present the product to potential customers, as well as discuss possible conditions for cooperation and joint projects.

According to visitors, a visit to Medinex and Beauty Azerbaijan made it possible to get acquainted with the latest industry innovations, establish and strengthen business relations, determine the vectors of development of the industry as a whole, and hold many important meetings.

Both exhibitions are supported by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

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Medinex - a business format in the world of health and longevity - AZERTAC News

If you feel like you are seeing the word wellness everywhere these days, you are not alone. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy is valued at $4.2T and growing at a rate faster than the global economy 6.4 percent annually vs. 3.6 percent. While, in many ways, this is great news more people have access to the resources and information necessary to improve longevity and truly thrive on the other hand, the noise created by this influx is pushing some consumers into analysis paralysis, and preventing them from stepping into the action necessary to create positive change in their lives.

My entire career has been focused on serving others, and working in spa and wellness in my job at Rancho Valencia allows me to share the gift of a healthy lifestyle with others. I still remember my aha moment with wellness years ago I simply started running. Your aha moment can be something as simple as deciding to run two miles a day, practicing meditation, changing one thing in your diet, or any wellness goal that guides you toward better mental and physical health.

When my first aha moment occurred, I felt like I had discovered this magical secret that I wanted to share with the world. The secret is that the steps dont have to be big one change at a time points you in the right direction.

With the boom in the wellness industry has come a corresponding increase in consumer confusion about the right choice for them. Sadly, there is now a term called well-washing, which refers to marketing a product, service, or facility with a wellness orientation when there is no science behind it. Consumers are drawn to these slick marketing ploys without the resources to determine the efficacy or appropriateness of the solution for their unique needs.

There are many conversations happening in our industry about integrity in messaging, but creating educated consumers is equally important. Below are my top tips for determining if a wellness solution is worth pursuing.

Look for licensed practitioners

Each country and state has different regulations around wellness practitioners (massage therapists, estheticians, acupuncturists, naturopaths, personal trainers, etc.) When making my own selections, I look for:

Choose the right products

This is one of the most important areas for consumers to educate themselves in. Personal care and skincare are the largest sectors in the wellness industry, and therefore theyre also where most of the noise is. I frequently hear false claims from well-intentioned salespeople who have zero background in the science of the product. I take my responsibility in vetting the products we sell at my own workplace seriously, but I want consumers to have the same ability to make informed decisions.

I will always ask the following questions:

Ideally, the product is free from parabens, which can cause skin inflammation, and contribute to early signs of aging (counterintuitive to most skincare goals), and the most toxic chemicals such as:

Some skincare lines add their active ingredients to a base made by another company, and have little idea what is in that base formula. It is important for the manufacturer to guarantee the entire product is toxic-free.

This question should not catch them off-guard. The best lines are proud of this, are constantly innovating, and will be excited to share.

Testing by both an independent lab and regular internal testing is preferred.

Cold or cool processing is preferred when possible to maintain the efficacy of the active ingredients.

Wildcrafted methods are preferred, for maximum efficacy of the ingredients, but organic is at least acceptable to ensure that no chemicals were used in the manufacturing process. This is also a good question to ask to determine how much they know about the quality, integrity, and sustainability of the entire supply chain.

Ask them to explain to you how the active ingredients address this need and the exact

biomechanism creating the efficacy.

Facilities

Wellness is all about growth and transformation. We are in our infancy as a formal industry, and there will be growing pains. The above tools should help you navigate your endless wellness resources, but trust your intuition above all. That gut feeling will lead you to your personal wellness aha moment.

More here:
These Are the Health Questions You Need to Be Asking - Thrive Global

I first thought of going to medical school to become a doctor because my 10th-grade anatomy teacher recommended it. I was completely enamored with the human body, all that it does and the ways in which it can thrive or fail.

I remember asking him, "In what kind of job will I be able to work with the human body every day and solve the mysteries of disease?"

"I think that medical school might be the path for you," he said.

In that moment, my mind was set that I would go to medical school and become a forensic pathologist.

Dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist aren't typically what you hear about when someone tells you they want to be a doctor, but my goals ran deeper than just the medicine. I recall reading stories about unusual deaths, crimes and unsolved cases. Then I would read the follow-up stories after a forensic pathologist helped solved the case. Of course, solving the case was probably a great feeling, but bringing closure to families in those challenging times is what captivated me. My journey took some twists and turns while I considered surgery and obstetrics and gynecology until, ultimately, I found my love for family medicine.

Fast forward 15 years from my high school conversation and here I am, a third-year family medicine resident. When I chose this specialty, I didn't know that my story would come full circle. I am solving daily mysteries: What is the diagnosis? What is the best treatment plan? How do patients get medication without insurance? How do patients make it to appointments without transportation?

What I didn't expect was that by chasing my dream of becoming a family physician, I would still be a part of crucial moments surrounding death and dying -- the very thing that led me to the profession in the first place.

Throughout my training, I have had the opportunity to rotate with our palliative care team and spend time at a local hospice facility caring for patients. I was fortunate to learn from physicians who were working to help patients and their families achieve the best quality of life, however they defined that for themselves. They empowered me to have honest and open conversations with my primary care patients regarding end of life and reminded me that family physicians often provide this care just by virtue of our lifelong relationships with our patients.

I gained many new skills during my time with these physicians, and my knowledge and skillset was put to the test just a few weeks after these rotations ended. One of my patients came to me to discuss the likely prognosis of a disease she had been diagnosed with prior to my meeting her. We spoke at length about what her diagnosis meant, the common trajectory of her disease and what her options would be moving forward. At that point she was tired of her pain, feeling fatigued, and wanted to live to see her grandchildren grow up and be happy.

We discussed options, and she chose to pursue a liver transplant. I helped coordinate her care and start the process of getting on the transplant list.

Then we waited. Two months went by, and I kept receiving updates about her care plan and where she was in the process. She was being cared for by a great group of physicians, and I was happy that she was pursuing a chance to extend her life and possibly ease her symptoms.

Then one day I saw her name on my office schedule with the note "discuss liver transplant." "That's strange," I thought to myself. She had an entire team of physicians she could pose questions to, so I couldn't help but wonder what she would want to discuss with me.

I entered the exam room, and she looked exhausted and anxious. She didn't look like the spritely, jovial woman I had seen before. I greeted her, and without hesitation she blurted out, "I don't want this liver transplant anymore!"

I walked over and sat next to her.

"That's OK," I said. "Tell me more."

She told me more. A lot more.

We sat together for 40 minutes and talked. We both grasped an understanding of what was important to her in life. Was it longevity versus quality, experiences or any combination of things? We discussed her dreams and goals, both short- and long-term. We talked about fears, including surgery and dying. We discussed her family and the guilt she felt about turning down a potential new liver.

Ultimately, we discussed what would make her happiest and most at peace. Her answer was "to not have surgery or be poked and prodded anymore."

I made a referral to hospice that day. During the next three months, alongside hospice care, I was able to help manage her symptoms, and find ways for her to get out of her house and do what she wanted most, which was spend time with her grandkids.

When she went into the hospice facility on a Friday afternoon for an acute issue, her family called me and kept me updated. I stopped by on my way home to say hello to her and check in with her family. That night her family texted to let me know she had passed.

In our culture, people often focus so much on how incredibly advanced medicine is that we forget to ask patients what is important to them in their lives, what will fulfill them and whether "doing everything" we're medically able to do truly makes for the best outcome in the context of what is meaningful to them. What still gets me is how little we discuss death and dying when it is ultimately what we will all experience at some point. We so often discuss the possibilities in medicine -- of getting cancer or having a disease -- but we rarely talk about death and dying when we know that it is the one thing that is certain.

I am so honored to be a part of all aspects of life, including death, with my patients. The amount of trust and openness that patients give is beyond words, and never in my dreams did I imagine that I would be so fortunate as to have a job where I would be invited into these critical and vulnerable spaces to be a part of their journey.

End-of-life care is just as important as all the care that precedes it. We are in a unique position as family physicians to partake in this time and these discussions, and we should take full advantage of that for our patients' sake.

Kelly Thibert, D.O., M.P.H., is the resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors.

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End-of-life Care Is as Important as All Care Preceding It - AAFP News

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Your exam will typically last 6-7 hours. You will meet twice with our Board-Certified physicians; first in the morning to review your history and do an in-depth full physical exam and then again in the afternoon to review all your tests results and recommendations. You will have the time with your Princeton Longevity doctor to get answers to all your questions. Your exam also includes a consultation with a Registered Dietitian to create a personalized nutrition plan and an assessment of core strength, flexibility and fitness by an Exercise Physiologist to develop an individualized work-out program that fits your lifestyle.

All testing is done on-site and in one day, including Heart Scans and Full Body Scans (to screen for cardiovascular disease, aneurysms, cancers and more), Advanced Laboratory Tests, Treadmill Stress Test, Body Composition Analysis, Bone Densitometry, Immunizations and much more. Your exam can be individually customized with a broad range of elective options to address any of your specific concerns or medical problems.

The scope of a Princeton Longevity exam and the amount of useful information you come away with is dramatically more revealing than any standard physical exam. The effect on your future can be dramatic.

Our proactive approach to illness and premature aging will help you identify your risk of future disease and create a personalized program to improve your health and maintain an active lifestyle. Youll learn how simple, easy changes in nutrition, fitness, lifestyle and natural supplements can effectively prevent most cancers and heart disease.

Youll receive this total, in-depth evaluation in one day and one place. Well make you comfortable and look after you every step of the way.

Best of all, youll get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are doing all you can to take care of your health and longevityfor yourself and for the people who care about you. This is not just an exam; its the start of your plan for staying well for the years to come.

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The Most Effective Preventive Medicine Exam | Princeton ...

Dr. Howard Liebowitz was a board-certified Emergency Physician for 30 years who evolved as a healer by integrating his traditional training in Internal Medicine, his ER experience and his studies in functional medicine. Functional medicine is a discipline that strives to reverse the course of a disease rather than just treating the symptoms, which is what most traditional medicine does. His is an individualized approach to healing and longevity, taking into account the patient's environment, diet, lifestyle habits as well as his or her genetic history.

Along with a foundational approach to health through nutrition, he understands the importance of assessing and balancing hormones for both men and women. He has over 10 years of experience and knowledge helping women through the hormone transition known as menopause as well as male hormone decline. His unique approach to helping his patients attain optimal health as well as slowing the aging process has helped innumerable men and women.

The introduction of Ozone therapies into his practice in 2009 resulted in a major and dramatic shift in improving his patients health. By combining the three modalities of Ozone, bioidentical hormone replacement and functional medicine he has been able to significantly enhance many peoples health and well being.

Dr. Liebowitz integrates his knowledge and skills derived from many years of training and experience in multiple areas of medicine.

He has served as Medical Director at Centinela Hospital Fitness Institute, testing professional athletes from the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, and PGA golf tour.

He was the team doctor for Pioneer Triathlon Team, a professional triathlon team, and a member of the medical board for Tri-Fed, the governing body of the Triathlon sport. He was a member of the advisory board of Bally's Health & Tennis and 24 Hour Fitness and also worked as a physician at the Pritikin Longevity Center back in the 1980s when diet and exercise were beginning to be recognized as important health components.

Dr. Liebowitz has been a lifelong athlete himself, as a college swimmer and later a triathlete, completing the grueling Hawaii IRONMAN three times.

Dr. Liebowitz received his training in internal medicine at the University of Southern California and worked as an emergency and trauma physician for over 25 years. He has been board-certified and recertified three times in Emergency Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

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Howard Liebowitz, MD: Alternative Medicine Physician Santa ...

By Vince Giuliano

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The popular life extension blogs have been lit up recently with exchanges related to a recent publication that reports that a homogenized solution of olive oil and C60 carbon buckyballs fed to middle age rats extends their lifespans by an average of 90%. If this result stands up it is truly amazing. Compared with other longevity interventions such as rapamycin feeding or calorie restriction which at best extend lifespans by 15-20%, the 90% figure is off the scale. So I decided to delve into the research literature to clarify what is known and what is not known about C60 carbon fullerenes as related to biological impacts and health. I report on this expedition here. I also chime in with my own hypotheses about the mechanisms through which the C60-olive oil cocktail extends rats lifespans, assuming it really does. The main points I will be documenting are:

Image source

C60 buckyball Image sourceBuckminister Fuller

What is a C60 fullerene?

From wickipedia: A fullerene is any molecule composed entirely of carbon, in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid or tube. Spherical fullerenes are also called buckyballs, and they resemble the balls used in football (association football). Cylindrical ones are called carbon nanotubes or buckytubes. Fullerenes are similar in structure to graphite, which is composed of stacked graphene sheets of linked hexagonal rings; but they may also contain pentagonal (or sometimes heptagonal) rings.[1] The first fullerene molecule to be discovered, and the familys namesake, buckminsterfullerene (C60), was prepared in 1985 by Richard Smalley, Robert Curl, James Heath, Sean OBrien, and Harold Kroto at Rice University. The name was an homage to Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes it resembles. The structure was also identified some five years earlier by Sumio Iijima, from an electron microscope image, where it formed the core of a bucky onion.[2] Fullerenes have since been found to occur in nature.[3] More recently, fullerenes have been detected in outer space.[4] According to astronomer Letizia Stanghellini, Its possible that buckyballs from outer space provided seeds for life on Earth.[5]

C60 buckyballs and longevity of rats, mice and other lower species

I start out with the publication that has initiated the current buz, The prolongation of the lifespan of rats by repeated oral administration of [60] fullerene published in August 2011. The study reported was designed to assess the toxicity of C60 in an olive oil suspension, not to assess impact on lifespans of rats. The result that not only was the suspension not toxic but radically increased the livespans of the rats was a surprise to the researchers. Countless studies showed that [60]fullerene (C60) and derivatives could have many potential biomedical applications. However, while several independent research groups showed that C60 has no acute or subacute toxicity in various experimental models, more than 25 years after its discovery the in vivo fate and the chronic effects of this fullerene remain unknown. If the potential of C60 and derivatives in the biomedical eld have to be fullled these issues must be addressed. Here we show that oral administration of C60 dissolved in olive oil (0.8 mg/ml) at reiterated doses (1.7 mg/kg of body weight) to rats not only does not entail chronic toxicity but it almost doubles their lifespan. The effects of C60-olive oil solutions in an experimental model of CCl4 intoxication in rat strongly suggest that the effect on lifespan is mainly due to the attenuation of age-associated increases in oxidative stress. Pharmacokinetic studies show that dissolved C60 is absorbed by the gastro-intestinal tract and eliminated in a few tens of hours. These results of importance in the elds of medicine and toxicology should open the way for the many possible -and waited for- biomedical applications of C60 including cancer therapy, neurodegenerative disorders, and ageing.

A nice thing about this publication is that it describes the experimental conditions in meticulous detail. For example, getting a good solvent vector for administration of C60 to animals has been a serious problem. Unlike many other studies which employed water-based solutions of C60 with poor or uncertain bioavailability and toxic effects, this study used an olive oil brew. Fifty mg of C60 were dissolved in 10 ml of olive oil by stirring for 2 weeks at was increased to 60% for 10 min and then hold constant for the remaining 7 min of ambient temperature in the dark. The resulting mixturewas centrifugedat 5.000gfor each sample run. At least 10 column volumes of the initial composition were ushed 1 h and the supernatant was ltered through a Millipore lter with 0.25 mmporosity.

There were several sub-studies reported in this paper. In the chronic toxicity and longevity sub-study, only 18 rats middle-aged were involved divided into three cohorts of six rats each: a) a control cohort fed normal rat chow, b) a cohort fed food plus olive oil by gavage, and c) a cohort feed the C60-olive oil brew by gavage (forced feeding). The rats were housed three per cage and acclimated for 14 days, before dosing. Three groups of 6 rats (10 months old, weighing 465.31(10 months old,were administered daily for one week, then weekly until the end of the second month and then every two weeks until the end of the 7th month, by gavages with 1 ml of water or olive oil or C60 dissolved in olive oil (0.8 mg/ml), respectively. All rats in cohort (a) were alive until week 18 of the experiment and all were dead by week 38. All rats in cohort (b). were alive until week 36 and all were dead by week 58. In cohort (c). all rats were alive until week 60 and all dead by week 66 (the last one being sacrificed at week 66). Between weeks 38 and 60 all the control rats were dead and all the C60-fed rats were alive and well. Olive oil alone produced a weighted average of 18% life extension while the weighted average for the C60-olive oil brew was 90%. Remarkably, no rats in cohort (c) contracted cancers.

In the sub-study of oxidative stress, the C60-olive oil mix almost completely protected against carbon tetrachloride oxidative liver damage. Sixty rats randomly divided into 10 groups of 6 rats were pre-treated daily for 7 days by oral gavages (og groups) or by i.p. injection (ip groups). Groups A (GAog and Groups B and C (GBog, GCog and GBip, GCip) were pre-treated with 1 ml of olive oil while groups D and E (GDog, GEog and GDip, GEip) were pre-treated with 1 ml of C60-olive oil Twenty-four hours before sacrice, groups GA, GC and GE were i.p. injected with a single dose of CCl4 (1 ml/kg bw) while GB and GD, used as controls, were administered with a 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution under the same conditions. The animals were subsequently sacrificed and their livers examined. the liver sections of GA and GC animals co-treated with water and CCl4 or with olive respectively, showed important damage including many inammatory areas as well as large necrotic areas with ballooning necrotic cells associated with an important steatosis (Fig. 4). In contrast, microscopic examination of the liver sections of GE animals co-treated with C60-olive oil and CCl4, revealed few necrotic areas with some ballooning cells without apoptosis limited to some cords of hepatocytes (Fig. 4).

The study also investigated the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of C60 administration. The results of this pharmacokinetic study show for the rst time that C60 is absorbed by the gastro-intestinal tract (Fig. 1). In the case of highly hydrophobic drugs (Log P > 5) it is well known that the absorption of the molecules by the gastro-intestinal tract occurs via the mesenteric lymphatic system after association with developing lipoproteins in the enterocytes rather than via the portal blood [40]. Therefore, as the octanol/water partition coefcient of C60 is estimated to be 6.67 [41], the absorption of C60 occursvia the mesenteric lymphatic system rather than via the portal blood. The elimination half-lives indicate that C60 is completely eliminated from blood 97 h after administration irrespective of the route of administration. The elimination process follows a non-urinary route because unmodied C60 was not detected in urine samples taken up 48 h after administration. Previous investigations showed that C60 is mainly eliminated through the bile ducts [21] .

Conclusion: The effect of pristine C60 on lifespan emphasizes the absence of chronic toxicity. These results obtained with a small sample of animals with an exploratory protocol ask for a more extensive studies to optimize the intestinal absorption of C60 as well as the different parameters of the administration protocol: dose, posology, and treatment duration. In the present case, the treatment was stopped when a control rat died at M17, which proves that the effects of the C60 treatment are long-lasting as the estimated median lifespan for C60-treated rats is 42 months. It can be thought that a longer treatment could have generated even longer lifespans. Anyway, this work should open the road towards the development of the considerable potential of C60 in the biomedical eld, including cancer therapy, neurodegenerative disorders and ageing. Furthermore, in the eld of ageing, as C60 can be administered orally and as it is now produced in tons, it is no longer necessary to resort to its water-soluble derivatives, which are difficult to purify and in contrast to pristine C60 may be toxic

A 2008 publication also indicated that a fullerene is capable of extending the lifespans of mice: A carboxyfullerene SOD mimetic improves cognition and extends the lifespan of mice. In lower organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, many genes identified as key regulators of aging are involved in either detoxification of reactive oxygen species or the cellular response to oxidatively-damaged macromolecules. Transgenic mice have been generated to study these genes in mammalian aging, but have not in general exhibited the expected lifespan extension or beneficial behavioral effects, possibly reflecting compensatory changes during development. We administered a small-molecule synthetic enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic to wild-type (i.e. non-transgenic, non-senescence accelerated) mice starting at middle age. Chronic treatment not only reduced age-associated oxidative stress and mitochondrial radical production, but significantly extended lifespan. Treated mice also exhibited improved performance on the Morris water maze learning and memory task. This is to our knowledge the first demonstration that an administered antioxidant with mitochondrial activity and nervous system penetration not only increases lifespan, but rescues age-related cognitive impairment in mammals. SOD mimetics with such characteristics may provide unique complements to genetic strategies to study the contribution of oxidative processes to nervous system aging.

Another 2011 publication Polyhydroxy Fullerenes (Fullerols or Fullerenols): Beneficial Effects on Growth and Lifespan in Diverse Biological Models indicates that fullerenes can extend the lifespans of certain more primitive organisms. The publication reports Recent toxicological studies on carbon nanomaterials, including fullerenes, have led to concerns about their safety. Functionalized fullerenes, such as polyhydroxy fullerenes (PHF, fullerols, or fullerenols), have attracted particular attention due to their water solubility and toxicity. Here, we report surprisingly beneficial and/or specific effects of PHF on model organisms representing four kingdoms, including the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the fungus Aspergillus niger, and the invertebrate Ceriodaphnia dubia. The results showed that PHF had no acute or chronic negative effects on the freshwater organisms. Conversely, PHF could surprisingly increase the algal culture density over controls at higher concentrations (i.e., 72% increase by 1 and 5 mg/L of PHF) and extend the lifespan and stimulate the reproduction of Daphnia (e.g. about 38% by 20 mg/L of PHF). We also show that at certain PHF concentrations fungal growth can be enhanced and Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings exhibit longer hypocotyls, while other complex physiological processes remain unaffected. These findings may open new research fields in the potential applications of PHF, e.g., in biofuel production and aquaculture. These results will form the basis of further research into the mechanisms of growth stimulation and life extension by PHF.

C60 is a powerful antioxidant

This point is long known and confirmed in a number of studies. From (2007) Medicinal applications of fullerenes: Results published in 1999 have shown that fullerenes have a potential as biological antioxidants. The antioxidant property is based on the fact that fullerenes possess large amount of conjugated double bonds and low lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) which can easily take up an electron, making an attack of radical species highly possible. It has been reported that up to 34 methyl radicals have been added onto a single C60 molecule. This quenching process appears to be catalytic. In other words the fullerene can react with many superoxides without being consumed. Due to this feature fullerenes are considered to be the worlds most efficient radical scavenger and are described as radical sponges (Krusic et al 1991). The major advantage of using fullerenes as medical antioxidant is their ability to localize within the cell to mitochondria and other cell compartment sites, where in diseased states, the production of free radicals takes place. Experiments on rats done by Najla Gharbi and coworkers proved this remarkable trait. They showed that aqueous C60 suspensions prepared without using any polar organic solvent, not only have no acute or sub acute toxicity in rodents, but also protect their livers against free-radical damage (Gharbi et al 2005).

The 2005 publication [60]fullerene is a powerful antioxidant in vivo with no acute or subacute toxicity confirms both this and another point made in the recent rat study: C60 does not engender toxicity in rodents. In the present work, we report the effects of C(60)-pretreatments on acute carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats, a classical model for studying free-radical-mediated liver injury. Our results show that aqueous C(60) suspensions prepared without using any polar organic solvent not only have no acute or subacute toxicity in rodents but they also protect their livers in a dose-dependent manner against free-radical damage. To be sure, according to histopathological examinations and biological tests, pristine C(60) can be considered as a powerful liver-protective agent.

The 2011 report Antioxidant activity of fullerene C60 against OH free radicals: A Quantum Chemistry and Computational Kinetics Studyreports Fullerenes are considered to be the worlds most efficient radical scavenger, and represents an attractive tool for biological applications. Indeed, it have been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro, that fullerenes and related structures reduce the toxicity of free radical assault on neuronal tissue, reacting readily and at a high rate with free radicals, which are often the cause of cell damage or death. Although there is strong evidence that antioxidant activity is an intrinsec property of fullerenes, the mechanism of radical scavenging and neuroprotection are still unclear. In this work, we have studied the reaction between fullerene C60 and hydroxyl radicals, using high level quantum chemistry and computational kinetics methods. Energy profiles are calculated using different basis sets, and reaction rate constant are reported for the first time. The presence of nonpolar environments seems to enhance the reactivity of fullerene molecule toward OH radicals, compared to the gas phase. Energetic considerations show that, once a first radical is attached to the fullerene cage, further additions are increasingly feasible, suggesting that fullerene can act as OH radical sponges. They also protect their livers in a dose-dependent manner against free-radical damage. To be sure, according to histopathological examinations and biological tests, pristine C(60) can be considered as a powerful liver-protective agent.

C60 has low toxicity and can cross the blood-brain barrier and may lead to many medical applications.

The 2012 publication C60 fullerene derivatized nanoparticles and their application to therapeutics reports Fullerenes can be formed into many new materials and devices. They have a wide range of applications in medicine, electronics, biomaterials, and energy production. An overview of the nanostructure and the physical and chemical characteristics of fullerene-drug derivatives is given. The biological behavior of fullerene derivatives shows their potential to medical application fields because C(60) is rapidly absorbed by tissues and is excreted through urinary tract and enterons, which reveals low toxicity in vitro and in vivo studies. Nanomedicine has become one of the most promising areas of nanotechnology, while many have claimed its therapeutic use against cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and neurodegenerative disorders. Water-soluble C(60) fullerene derivatives that come from chemical modification largely enhance the biological efficacy. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physical barrier composed of endothelial tight junctions that restrict the paracellular permeability. A major challenge facing neuropharmacology is to find compounds that can be delivered into the brain through the bloodstream. Fullerene C(60) was demonstratively able to cross the BBB by hybridizing a biologically active moiety dyad, which provides a promising clue as a pharmacological therapy of neural disorders.

Fullerene C60 is neuroprotective

The 2001 publication Fullerene-based antioxidants and neurodegenerative disorders reports: Water-soluble derivatives of buckminsterfullerene (C60) derivatives are a unique class of compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Studies on one class of these compounds, the malonic acid C60 derivatives (carboxyfullerenes), indicated that they are capable of eliminating both superoxide anion and H2O2, and were effective inhibitors of lipid peroxidation, as well. Carboxyfullerenes demonstrated robust neuroprotection against excitotoxic, apoptotic and metabolic insults in cortical cell cultures. They were also capable of rescuing mesence-phalic dopaminergic neurons from both MPP1 and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration. Although there is limited in vivo data on these compounds to date, we have previously reported that systemic administration of the C3 carboxyfullerene isomer delayed motor deterioration and death in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). Ongoing studies in other animal models of CNS disease states suggest that these novel antioxidants are potential neuroprotective agents for other neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinsons disease.

C60 derivative and hybrid structure compounds are also being studied for their neurprotective as well as other medical properties. See for example [Study of the neuroprotective action of hybrid structures based on fullerene C60]. The neuroprotective action of hybrid structures based on fullerene C60 with attached proline amino acid has been studied. Hybrid structures contained natural antioxidant carnosine or addends with one or two nitrate groups. It has been shown that all studied compounds had antioxidant activity and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde in homogenates of the rat brain.

Fullerene C60 might be useful for the treatment of Alzheimers disease.

The 2012 publication Fullerene C60 prevents neurotoxicity induced by intrahippocampal microinjection of amyloid-beta peptide reports: The dynamics of the state of hippocampal pyramidal neurons after intrahippocampal microinjections of (1) amyloid-beta25-35 (1.6 nmol/1 microl), (2) an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60 (0.46 nmol/1 microl) and (3) an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60 before amyloid-beta25-35 administration were analysed in rats. This model allowed us to study the role of amyloid-beta25-35 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease and to test anti-amyloid substances. Methods of fluorescent (acridine orange) and brightfield (cresyl violet and immunohistochemistry) microscopy were used. Acridine orange staining indicated changes in protein synthesis intensity due to alterations in the rRNA state of neuron ribosomes. One day after administration of amyloid-beta25-35, the intensity of protein synthesis in the population of morphologically intact cells decreased by 45%. By day 14, degeneration occurred in the majority of pyramidal cells, and amyloid-beta25-35 deposits were observed in the neuronal cytoplasm. In necrotic cells, acridine orange staining of the cytoplasm was drastically increased as a result of RNA degradation rather than due to an increase in protein synthesis. Because amyloid-beta25-35 administration provoked oxidative stress, we assumed that an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60 administered before amyloid-beta25-35 prevented protein synthesis changes on day 1, while acting as an antioxidant, and by day 14 it inhibited neurodegeneration and amyloid-beta25-35 accumulation. Based on the data that an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60 prevented amyloid-beta25-35 aggregation in in vitro experiments and based on our present evidence on the antitoxicity of an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60, we suggest that functionalised C60 prevents/diminishes amyloid-beta25-35 aggregation in vivo as well. Thus, an aqueous molecule-colloidal solution of C60 administered at a low concentration before amyloid-beta2-35, prevented disturbances in protein synthesis, neurodegeneration and formation amyloid-beta25-35 deposits in hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vivo. This evidence gives promise that functionalised C60 can be used to develop anti-amyloid drugs combining antioxidant and anti-aggregative properties.

The 2012 publication [Antiamyloid properties of fullerene C60 derivatives]reports A comparative estimation of the ability of complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone and fullerene C60 derivatives (the sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C60, sodium fullerenolate), has been carried out. The fullerenes destroyed amyloid fibrils of the Abeta(1-42) peptide of the brain and the muscle X-protein. A study of the effect of fullerenes on muscle actin showed that complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium fullerenolate did not prevent the filament formation of actin, nor did they destroy its filaments in vitro. Conversely, sodium salt of the polycarboxylic derivative of fullerene C60 destroyed actin filaments and prevented their formation. It was concluded that sodium fullerenolate and complexes of fullerene C60 with polyvinylpyrrolidone are the most effective antiamyloid compounds among the fullerenes examined.

Fullerenes may enable new anticancer therapies via various mechanisms: one is as a carrier for conventional anticancer drugs; another is enhancing cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs; another yet is based on the anti-cancer activities of the fullerene molecules themselves.

With respect to the first role, as a potential carrier of conventional anti-cancer drugs, the new (November 2012) publication Water-Dispersible Fullerene Aggregates as a Targeted Anticancer Prodrug with both Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapeutic Actions reports Prodrug therapy is one strategy to deliver anticancer drugs in a less reactive manner to reduce nonspecific cytotoxicity. A new multifunctional anticancer prodrug system based on water-dispersible fullerene (C60) aggregates is introduced; this prodrug system demonstrates active targeting, pH-responsive chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) properties. Incorporating (via a cleavable bond) an anticancer drug, which is doxorubicin (DOX) in this study, and a targeting ligand (folic acid) onto fullerene while maintaining an overall size of approximately 135 nm produces a more specific anticancer prodrug. This prodrug can enter folate receptor (FR)-positive cancer cells and kill the cells via intracellular release of the active drug form. Moreover, the fullerene aggregate carrier exhibits PDT action; the cytotoxicity of the system towards FR-positive cancer cells is increased in response to light irradiation. As the DOX drug molecules are conjugated onto fullerene, the DOX fluorescence is significantly quenched by the strong electron-accepting capability of fullerene. The fluorescence restores upon release from fullerene, so this fluorescence quenching-restoring feature can be used to track intracellular DOX release. The combined effect of chemotherapy and PDT increases the therapeutic efficacy of the DOX-fullerene aggregate prodrug. This study provides useful insights into designing and improving the applicability of fullerene for other targeted cancer prodrug systems.

Another publication, dated 2013, related to use of fullerenes for anti-cancer drug delivery is PEI-derivatized fullerene drug delivery using folate as a homing device targeting to tumor.You can also see (1007) Nanotubes, Nanorods, Nanofibers and Fullerenes for Nanoscale Drug Delivery.

C60 compounds are also promising as delivery vehicles for drugs.

For example, related to myocardial treatments the 2010 publicationThe C60-fullerene porphyrin adducts for prevention of the doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rat myocardial cellsreports: This is a fullerene-based low toxic nanocationite designed for targeted delivery of the paramagnetic stable isotope of magnesium to the doxorubicin (DXR)-induced damaged heart muscle providing a prominent effect close to about 80% recovery of the tissue hypoxia symptoms in less than 24 hrs after a single injection (0.03 0.1 LD50). Magnesium magnetic isotope effect selectively stimulates the ATP formation in the oxygen-depleted cells due to a creatine kinase (CK) and mitochondrial respiratory chain-focusing attack of 25Mg2+ released by nanoparticles. These smart nanoparticles with membranotropic properties release the overactivating cations only in response to the intracellular acidosis. The resulting positive changes in the energy metabolism of heart cell may help to prevent local myocardial hypoxic (ischemic) disorders and, hence, to protect the heart muscle from a serious damage in a vast variety of the hypoxia-induced clinical situations including DXR side effects.

C60 can enhance the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutic agents against cancer through autophagy.

The 2009 publication Autophagy-mediated chemosensitization in cancer cells by fullerene C60 nanocrystalreports: Autophagy may represent a common cellular response to nanomaterials, and modulation of autophagy holds great promise for improving the efficacy of cancer therapy. Fullerene C60 possesses potent anti-cancer activities, but its considerable toxicity towards normal cells may hinder its practical applications. It has been reported that fullerene C60 induces certain hallmarks of autophagy in cancer cells. Here we show that the water-dispersed nanocrystal of underivatized fullerene C60 (Nano-C60) at noncytotoxic concentrations caused authentic autophagy and sensitized chemotherapeutic killing of both normal and drug-resistant cancer cells in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent and photo-enhanced fashion. We further demonstrated that the chemosensitization effect of Nano-C60 was autophagy-mediated and required a functional Atg5, a key gene in the autophagy signaling pathway. Our results revealed a novel biological function for Nano-C60 in enhancing the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutic agents through autophagy modulation and may point to the potential application of Nano-C60 in adjunct chemotherapy.

C60 protects against radiation-induced cell damage

The 2010 publication Dendro[C(60)]fullerene DF-1 provides radioprotection to radiosensitive mammalian cells reports: In this study, the ability of the C(60) fullerene derivative DF-1 to protect radiosensitive cells from the effects of high doses of gamma irradiation was examined. Earlier reports of DF-1s lack of toxicity in these cells were confirmed, and DF-1 was also observed to protect both human lymphocytes and rat intestinal crypt cells against radiation-induced cell death. We determined that DF-1 protected both cell types against radiation-induced DNA damage, as measured by inhibition of micronucleus formation. DF-1 also reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species in the crypt cells, a unique capability of fullerenes because of their enhanced reactivity toward electron-rich species. The ability of DF-1 to protect against the cytotoxic effects of radiation was comparable to that of amifostine, another ROS-scavenging radioprotector. Interestingly, localization of fluorescently labeled DF-1 in fibroblast was observed throughout the cell. Taken together, these results suggest that DF-1 provides powerful protection against several deleterious cellular consequences of irradiation in mammalian systems including oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death.

See also the 2010 publication The polyhydroxylated fullerene derivative C60(OH)24 protects mice from ionizing-radiation-induced immune and mitochondrial dysfunction.

C60 fullerenes have anti-viral properties and might be useful for preventing or delaying the onset of AIDS.

From (2007) Medicinal applications of fullerenes:Compounds with antiviral activity are generally of great medical interest and different modes of pharmaceutical actions have been described. Replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be suppressed by several antiviral compounds, which are effective in preventing or delaying the onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fullerenes (C60) and their derivatives have potential antiviral activity, which has strong implications on the treatment of HIV-infection. The antiviral activity of fullerene derivatives is based on several biological properties including their unique molecular architecture and antioxidant activity. It has been shown that fullerenes derivatives can inhibit and make complex with HIV protease (HIV-P) (Friedman et al 1993; Sijbesma et al 1993). Dendrofullerene 1 (Figure 1) has shown the highest anti-protease activity (Brettreich and Hirsch 1998; Schuster et al 2000). Derivative 2, the trans-2 isomer (Figure 1), is a strong inhibitor of HIV-1 replication. The study suggests that relative position (trans-2) of substituents on fullerenes and positive charges near to fullerenes cage provide an antiviral structural activity. Also Amino acid derivatives of fullerene C60 (ADF) are found to inhibit HIV and human cytomegalovirus replication (Kotelnikova et al 2003).

Fullerenes inhibit the allergic response

The 2007 publication Fullerene nanomaterials inhibit the allergic response reports Fullerenes are a class of novel carbon allotropes that may have practical applications in biotechnology and medicine. Human mast cells (MC) and peripheral blood basophils are critical cells involved in the initiation and propagation of several inflammatory conditions, mainly type I hypersensitivity. We report an unanticipated role of fullerenes as a negative regulator of allergic mediator release that suppresses Ag-driven type I hypersensitivity. Human MC and peripheral blood basophils exhibited a significant inhibition of IgE dependent mediator release when preincubated with C(60) fullerenes. Protein microarray demonstrated that inhibition of mediator release involves profound reductions in the activation of signaling molecules involved in mediator release and oxidative stress. Follow-up studies demonstrated that the tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk was dramatically inhibited in Ag-challenged cells first incubated with fullerenes. In addition, fullerene preincubation significantly inhibited IgE-induced elevation in cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species levels. Furthermore, fullerenes prevented the in vivo release of histamine and drop in core body temperature in vivo using a MC-dependent model of anaphylaxis. These findings identify a new biological function for fullerenes and may represent a novel way to control MC-dependent diseases including asthma, inflammatory arthritis, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis.

C60 fullerenes exercise immunomodulary effects.

The 2012 publication [The condition of lipid peroxidation in mice and the effect of fullerene C60 during immune response] reports: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fullerene C60 on lipid peroxidation (POL) and antioxidant protection during the induction of the immune response to heteroantigen. Balb/c mice were immunized intraperitoneal (i.p.) with sheep erythrocytes for the primary immunization. Water dispersion of fullerene C60 was injected i.p. once at the dose 50 ng to mice on first, third and sixth days after immunization. During immune response, the increment ofmalonic dialdehide (MDA) was enhanced in liver, kidneys and heart tissues. Fullerene C60 induced POL during the latent phase of immune response, but inhibited this process during progression of immune response. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in liver and spleen tissues were induced after injection of fullerene C60 to intact mice. After immunization, high level of activity of antioxidant enzymes and low level of organs mass factor were determined. Injection of fullerene C60 reduced the activities of SOD and catalase in spleen tissues. The results of our study indicate that fullerene C60 can display positive effect on POL processes and antioxidant enzymes activity which is probably due to membranes stabilization action or the ability of fullerene C60 to bind free radicals independently.

Another 2012 publication that demonstrates anti-arthritis immunomodulatory activity in rats is [Fullerene C60 exhibits immunomodulatory activity during adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats].The effect of fullerene C60 (FC60) on the immune processes during experimental adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats has been studied. The results indicate the inhibitory action of FN60 during AA on cellular splenocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic and oxygen-stimulatory activities in the NBT test, and humoral immune mechanisms involved in the production of antinuclear antibodies, formation of circulating immune complexes, and restoration of morphological structure of spleen. Taken together, these results allow FC60 to be considered as a new potential pharmacological agent that can realize its effects mainly through anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity.

C60 fullerenes appear to affect the innate immune system

An august 2012 publication Effect of buckminsterfullerenes o cells of the innate and adaptive immune system: an in vitro study with human peripheral blood mononuclear cellsreported: C60 nanoparticles, the so-called buckminsterfullerenes, have attracted great attention for medical applications as carriers, enzyme inhibitors or radical scavengers. However, publications evaluating their immunological mechanisms are still rather limited. Therefore, we aimed to analyze systematically the in vitro influence of polyhydroxy-C60 (poly-C60) and N-ethyl-polyamino-C60 (nepo-C60) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy individuals, angling their effect on proliferation, expression of surface markers, and cytokine production. We isolated PBMC from 20 healthy subjects and incubated them in a first step only with poly-C60 or nepo-C60, and in a second step together with recall antigens (purified protein derivative, tetanus toxoid, bacillus Calmette-Gurin). Proliferation was determined by (3)H-thymidine incorporation, activation of PBMC-subpopulations by flow cytometry by measurement of the activation marker CD69, and secretion of T helper cell type 1 (TH1)- (interferon-gamma [IFN-], tumor necrosis factor beta [TNF-]), TH2- (interleukin-5 [IL-5], -13, -10) and macrophage/monocyte-related cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-) into the supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both fullerenes did not influence T cell reactivity, with no enhanced expression of CD69 and production of T cell cytokines observed, the CD4/CD8 ratio remaining unaffected. In contrast, they significantly enhanced the release of IL-6 and CD69-expression by CD56 positive natural killer cells. PBMC, which had been cultured together with the three recall antigens were not affected by both fullerenes at all. These data indicate that fullerenes do not interact with T cell reactivity but may activate cells of the innate immune system. Furthermore, they seem to act only on nave cells, which have not been prestimulated with recall antigens, there are however, large inter individual differences.

C60 may affect platelet aggregation

A 2012 Russian publicationEffects of fullerene C60 nanocomposites on human platelet aggregationREPORTS: The effects of fullerene C(60) nanocomposites on human platelet aggregation induced by ADP, ristocetin, and collagen were studied. The nanocomposite containing fullerene C(60) in polyvinyl pyrrolidone solution did not change platelet aggregation, while fullerene C(60) in crown ether and Twin-80 solutions inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation by 20 and 30%, respectively. I do not know if the study was controlled to take account the effects of the solvents used.

Fullerenes can potentiate hair growth

The 2009 publicationFullerene nanomaterials potentiate hair growthreports Hair loss is a common symptom resulting from a wide range of disease processes and can lead to stress in affected individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fullerene nanomaterials on hair growth. We used shaved mice as well as SKH-1 bald mice to determine if fullerene-based compounds could affect hair growth and hair follicle numbers. In shaved mice, fullerenes increase the rate of hair growth as compared with mice receiving vehicle only. In SKH-1 hairless mice fullerene derivatives given topically or subdermally markedly increased hair growth. This was paralleled by a significant increase in the number of hair follicles in fullerene-treated mice as compared with those mice treated with vehicle only. The fullerenes also increased hair growth in human skin sections maintained in culture. These studies have wide-ranging implications for those conditions leading to hair loss, including alopecia, chemotherapy, and reactions to various chemicals.

Less perspective be lost, it is important to keep in mind that the major interests in C60 relate to developing new structural materials and electronic applications.

For these reasons C60 is currently being manufactured in industrial quantities measured in tons and there has been considerable concern about the biological impact of C60 and other fullerenes being released into the environment.

Literature related to the toxicity of C60 comes to mixed conclusions. One the one hand, there has been much general concern about toxicities and long-term biological impacts of fullerenes. And theoretical studies strongly suggest toxic actions of C60 against DNA and other cell components. On the other hand, specific studies of C60 show few or no toxic effects on whole animals. Researchers caution against possible yet-unobserved long-term effects.

The rat longevity study mentioned earlier was basically conducted to measure C60 toxicity, and found little or none. Another 2012 study Sub-acute oral toxicity study with fullerene C60 in ratsreports: To obtain initial information on the possible repeated-dose oral toxicity of fullerene C60, Crl:CD(SD) rats were administered fullerene C60 by gavage once daily at 0 (vehicle: corn oil), 1, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg/kg/day for 29 days, followed by a 14-day recovery period. No deaths occurred in any groups, and there were no changes from controls in detailed clinical observations, body weights, and food consumption in any treatment groups. Moreover, no treatment-related histopathological changes were found in any organs examined at the end of the administration period and at the end of the recovery period. Blackish feces and black contents of the stomach and large intestine were observed in males and females at 1,000 mg/kg/day in the treatment group. There were no changes from controls in the liver and spleen weights at the end of the administration period, but those weights in males in the 1,000 mg/kg/day group increased at the end of the recovery period. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, fullerene C60 were not detected in the liver, spleen or kidney at the end of the administration period and also at the end of the recovery period. In conclusion, the present study revealed no toxicological effects of fullerene C60; however, the slight increases in liver and spleen weights after the 14-day recovery period may be because of the influence of fullerene C60 oral administration. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct a long-term examination because the effects of fullerene C60 cannot be ruled out.

More on the cautious side is the 2009 book chapter Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Carbon Nanomaterials: With the recent development in nanoscience and nanotechnology, there is a pressing demand for assessment of the potential hazards of carbon nanomaterials to humans and other biological systems. This chapter summarizes our recent in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies on carbon nanomaterials with an emphasis on carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds. The studies summarized in this chapter demonstrate that carbon nanomaterials exhibit material-specific and cell-specific cytotoxicity with the general trend for biocompatibility: nanodiamonds > carbon black powders > multiwalled carbon nanotubes > single-walled carbon nanotubes, with macrophages being much more sensitive to the cytotoxicity of these carbon nanomaterials than neuroblastoma cells. However, the cytotoxicity to carbon nanomaterials could be tuned by functionalizing the nanomaterials with different surface groups. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds, albeit to a less extend, can accumulate in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to cause DNA damage through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and to increase the mutation frequency in mouse ES cells. These results point out the great need for careful scrutiny of the toxicity of nanomaterials at the molecular level, or genotoxicity, even for those materials like multiwalled carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds that have been demonstrated to cause limited or no toxicity at the cellular level.

Despite its apparent benevolence when ingested by rats, C60 and its derivatives solutions when photo-activated can produce singlet oxygen radicals which are biologically damaging.

For example, see Photo-Induced Damages of Cytoplasmic and Mitochondrial Membranes by a [C60]Fullerene Malonic Acid Derivative. On the one hand, the photo-activation properties of C60 appear to make it toxic and dangerous for some aquatic species(ref)(ref)(ref). So, there is serious concern about release of manufactured C60 into natural aquatic environments. On the other hand, there has been thought of exploiting these properties in photo-based anticancer therapies(ref). fullerenes can effectively photoinactivate either or both pathogenic microbial cells and malignant cancer cells. The mechanism appears to involve superoxide anion as well as singlet oxygen, and under the right conditions fullerenes may have advantages over clinically applied photosensitizers for mediating photodynamic therapy of certain diseases(ref). Photo-responsiveness of cells exposed to C60 can be fairly complex(ref).

I strongly suspect that a deeper biological mechanism is involved in the health and longevity-producing effects of C60 despite the prevailing wisdom. As I see it the candidates for these deeper effects of C60 are (1) effects exercised on DNA including impacts on structural configuration, epigenetic gene activation effects, histones and nuclear envelope shape, (2) effects exercised on microtubule structures in cells, (3) effects on mitochondria, and (4) epigenetic impacts such as on histones and DNA methylation.

I cannot prove this suspicion; that will require further research. However I can cite arguments that tend to confirm my suspicion.

(1) C60 is known to bind to and have impact on DNA. While the results of modeling studies indicate toxic effects on DNA, certain effects could possibly be beneficial.

That C60 binds to and deforms DNA has been known for some time. A 2005 publication C60 binds to and deforms nucleotides reported: Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations are performed for up to 20 ns to monitor the formation and the stability of complexes composed of single- or double-strand DNA molecules and C60 in aqueous solution. Despite the hydrophobic nature of C60, our results show that fullerenes strongly bind to nucleotides. The binding energies are in the range -27 to -42 kcal/mol; by contrast, the binding energy of two fullerenes in aqueous solution is only -7.5 kcal/mol. We observe the displacement of water molecules from the region between the nucleotides and the fullerenes and we attribute the large favorable interaction energies to hydrophobic interactions. The features of the DNA-C60 complexes depend on the nature of the nucleotides: C60 binds to double-strand DNA, either at the hydrophobic ends or at the minor groove of the nucleotide. C60 binds to single-strand DNA and deforms the nucleotides significantly. Unexpectedly, when the double-strand DNA is in the A-form, fullerenes penetrate into the double helix from the end, form stable hybrids, and frustrate the hydrogen bonds between end-group basepairs in the nucleotide. When the DNA molecule is damaged (specifically, a gap was created by removing a piece of the nucleotide from one helix), fullerenes can stably occupy the damaged site. We speculate that this strong association may negatively impact the self-repairing process of the double-strand DNA. Our results clearly indicate that the association between C60 and DNA is stronger and more favorable than that between two C60 molecules in water. Therefore, our simulation results suggest that C60 molecules have potentially negative impact on the structure, stability, and biological functions of DNA molecules.

The recent 2012 publicationA large-scale association study for nanoparticle C60 uncovers mechanisms of nanotoxicity disrupting the native conformations of DNA/RNA,a modeling study, reports: Nano-scale particles have attracted a lot of attention for its potential use in medical studies, in particular for the diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, the toxicity and other side effects caused by the undesired interaction between nanoparticles and DNA/RNA are not clear. To address this problem, a model to evaluate the general rules governing how nanoparticles interact with DNA/RNA is demanded. Here by, use of an examination of 2254 native nucleotides with molecular dynamics simulation and thermodynamic analysis, we demonstrate how the DNA/RNA native structures are disrupted by the fullerene (C60) in a physiological condition. The nanoparticle was found to bind with the minor grooves of double-stranded DNA and trigger unwinding and disrupting of the DNA helix, which indicates C60 can potentially inhibit the DNA replication and induce potential side effects. In contrast to that of DNA, C60 only binds to the major grooves of RNA helix, which stabilizes the RNA structure or transforms the configuration from stretch to curl. This finding sheds new light on how C60 inhibits reverse transcription as HIV replicates. In addition, the binding of C60 stabilizes the structures of RNA riboswitch, indicating that C60 might regulate the gene expression. The binding energies of C60 with different genomic fragments varies in the range of -56 to -10 kcal mol(-1), which further verifies the role of nanoparticle in DNA/RNA damage. Our findings reveal a general mode by which C60 causes DNA/RNA damage or other toxic effects at a systematic level, suggesting it should be cautious to handle these nanomaterials in various medical applications.

A 2011 publication DNA Exposure to Buckminsterfullerene (C60): Toward DNA Stability, Reactivity, and Replicationconveys a somewhat different story, indicating that fullernols not only have major impacts on the structures and biological properties of DNA, but also that they can contribute remarkably to DNA stability against thermal degredation.

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) has received great research interest due to its extraordinary properties and increasing applications in manufacturing industry and biomedical technology. We recently reported C60 could enter bacterial cells and bind to DNA molecules. This study was to further determine how the DNAC60 binding affected the thermal stability and enzymatic digestion of DNA molecules, and DNA mutations. Nano-C60 aggregates and water-soluble fullerenols were synthesized and their impact on DNA biochemical and microbial activity was investigated. Our results revealed that water-soluble fullerenols could bind to lambda DNA and improve DNA stability remarkably against thermal degradation at 7085 C in a dose-dependent manner. DNase I and HindIII restriction endonuclease activities were inhibited after interacting with fullerenols at a high dose. Experimental results also showed the different influence of fullerenol and nano-C60 on their antibacterial mechanisms, where fullerenols contributed considerable impact on cell damage and mutation rate. This preliminary study indicated that the application of fullerenols results in significant changes in the physical structures and biochemical functions of DNA molecules.

The general topic of nanopartucles binding is covered in a 2012 review publication Prospects of nanoparticleDNA binding and its implications in medical biotechnology. This remains a very new and immature area of research.

Right now it seems fair to conclude that C60 is very likely to bind to and interact with DNA/RNA, but the macroscopic outcomes of such interactions are unknown. There does seem to be contradictions between rodent studies that suggest no overall toxic effects of C60 and the molecular-chemical studies which suggest that C60 could play havoc with DNA.

(2) C60 is known to affect the formation and durability of microtubules.

First of all, a little on microtubules for those not familiar with them. Although almost never mentioned in the longevity literature they are critical to health and longevity. According to Wikipedia, Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton. These cylindrical polymers of tubulin can grow as long as 25 micrometers and are highly dynamic. The outer diameter of microtubule is about 25 nm. Microtubules are important for maintaining cell structure, providing platforms for intracellular transport, forming the mitotic spindle, as well as other cellular processes.[1] There are many proteins that bind to microtubules, including motor proteins such as kinesin and dynein, severing proteins like katanin, and other proteins important for regulating microtubule dynamics Microtubules are part of a structural network (the cytoskeleton) within the cells cytoplasm. The primary role of the microtubule cytoskeleton is mechanical. However, in addition to structural support, microtubules also take part in many other processes. A microtubule is capable of growing and shrinking in order to generate force, and there are also motor proteins that allow organelles and other cellular factors to be carried along a microtubule. This combination of roles makes microtubules important for organising cell layout. A notable structure involving microtubules is the mitotic spindle used by most eukaryotic cells to segregate their chromosomes correctly during cell division. The process of mitosis is facilitated by a subgroup of microtubules known as astral microtubules, defined as a microtubule originating from the centrosome that does not connect to a kinetochore. Astral microtubules develop in the actin skeleton and interact with the cell cortex to aid in spindle orientation. They are organized into radial arrays around the centrosomes. The turn-over rate of this population of microtubules is higher than that of any other population. Astral microtubules function in concert with specialized dynein motors, which are oriented with the light chain portion attached to the cell membrane and the dynamic portion attached to the microtubule. This allows for dynein contraction to pull the centrosome toward the cell membrane, thus assisting in cytokinesis. Astral microtubules are not required for the progression of mitosis, but they are required to ensure the fidelity of the process; they are required for the correct positioning and orientation of the mitotic spindle apparatus. They are also involved in determination of cell division site based on the geometry and polarity of the cells (ref).[2][3]

Image source

Microtubules and microfiliments

I first discussed microtubules in my blog entry Quantum Biology. There I pointed out how some quantum biologists argue that there is yet-another role for microtubules they are quantum computers possibly exercising command and control functions for cell processes. In fact it is known that microtubules are semiconductors as are certain arrays of fullerenes. However, the quantum computer role for microtubules remains controversial. For now, it is enough to know that microtubules are important for cell structure and are main rail lines for transport of molecules within cells.

The 2004 publication In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of Collagen C60(OH)24 Interactionargues that fullerole affects intermolecular communications from collegen fibers through integrines and microtubules to cell nucleus.

A 2011 publication In vitro polymerization of microtubules with a fullerene derivative reports that a fullerene C60 derivative inhibits the polymerization of tubulin and therefore inhibits the formation of new microtubules. Fullerene derivative C(60)(OH)(20) inhibited microtubule polymerization at low micromolar concentrations. The inhibition was mainly attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the nanoparticle and the tubulin heterodimer, the building block of the microtubule, as evidenced by docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Our circular dichroism spectroscopy measurement indicated changes in the tubulin secondary structures, while our guanosine-5-triphosphate hydrolysis assay showed hindered release of inorganic phosphate by the nanoparticle. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that C(60)(OH)(20) binds to tubulin at a molar ratio of 9:1 and with a binding constant of 1.3 0.16 10(6) M(-1), which was substantiated by the binding site and binding energy analysis using docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulations further suggested that occupancy by the nanoparticles at the longitudinal contacts between tubulin dimers within a protofilament or at the lateral contacts of the M-loop and H5 and H12 helices of neighboring tubulins could also influence the polymerization process. This study offered a new molecular-level insight on how nanoparticles may reshape the assembly of cytoskeletal proteins, a topic of essential importance for illuminating cell response to engineered nanoparticles and for the advancement of nanomedicine. An in-vitro result, it suggests the opposite of a health-producing effect of C60 on microtubules.

Again, the interactions of C60 with cell microtubules and their creation and destruction appear to be not well understood. It seems such interactions do exist. Although modeling studies suggest that the macroscopic results of such interactions may be toxic rather than health-producing, we just dont know for sure.

(3) C60 buckballs cross cell barriers and preferentially localize themselves in mitochondria. There, they exercise powerful antioxidant effects and possibly other effects as well.

When fullerene is derivatized with polar groups, as in case of polyhydroxylated fullerenes (fullerenol) and C60 tris(malonic)acid, they become water soluble enabling them to cross the cell membrane and localize preferentially to mitochondria (Foley et al 2002; Youle and Karbowski 2005), which generate great masses of cellular oxygen free radicals. This phenomenon makes them useful for a variety of medical applications (Tsai et al 1997; Lotharius et al 1999; Bisaglia et al 2000). These radical scavengers have shown to protect cell growth from various toxins that can induce apoptotic injuries in vitro (Lin et al 1999; Lin et al 2002; Chen et al 2004) in different cell types such as neuronal cells (Dugan et al 1997; Bisaglia et al 2000), hepatoma cells (Huang et al 1998), or epithelial cells (Straface et al 1999).(ref)

Does C60 do more in the microchondria than act as a super anti-oxidant? Or does the super antioxidant power of C60 create permanent changes in the mitochondria? If the research literature is indicative, no one has so far grappled with these questions or even asked them for that matter.

Final comments

I could quote and discuss here only a small but hopefully representative sample of the unfolding literature related to C60 and its biological impacts. The rodent longevity studies are tantalizing but tiny and hopefully will be soon followed by much larger ones. There appear to be some basic contradictions and many more basic questions are raised than those answered. For rodents at least, far from being toxic pure C60 appears to be not only benevolent but life-extending. On the other hand, mostly-theoretical studies of the likely impacts of C60 on DNA and on microtubules and cell morphology suggest that C60 may generate all kinds of havoc on the cell level. Without question C60 is a powerful antioxidant. However it tends to generate permanent longevity-enhancing changes and it is not at all clear how an antioxidant could do that? How does it work to so grossly extend longevity? Are there other means through which C60 works its health and longevity benefits, and if so, what are they?

The literature references I have been able to surface seemed to focus on the lipid membrane and antioxidant and other chemical properties of C60 mostly 1990s ways of looking at biological mechanisms which are valid but limited. The research literature so far seems to be remarkably silent on certain issues that could turn out to be key: C60 and DNA methylation, impacts of C60 on histones, C60 and the DNA repair machinery, C60 as related to stem cells, C60 and siRNAs, and C60 as related to key known aging pathways. It the longevity impacts of C60 hold up, there are important layers of knowledge here yet to be revealed. If this were an archeological dig, we have so far only gone down a foot or two.

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Buckyballs, health and longevity state of knowledge ...

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. New Jerseys oldest resident, who once claimed beer and whisky kept her spry, has died at the age of 112.

The Record of Bergen County reported that Agnes Fenton, of Englewood, N.J., died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, according to a caretaker Lamont Saunders, of Teaneck, N.J. Shes listed in Gerontology Wikis oldest living people in the U.S.

Fenton was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1905 and previously owned a restaurant in Tennessee.

She was one of the first black women to own a restaurant in the state.

Fenton had lived in Englewood since the 1950s, after she moved to the state with her second husband. He died in 1970.

Although she had no children, she remained active in the church community of St. Marks Church in New York throughout her life. She was looked after by neighbors, firefighters and Saunders, whose mother was a friend of Fentons.

Fenton was prescribed alcohol by a doctor for a benign tumor in 1943. She took heed, drinking Miller High Life and Johnnie Walker Blue Label daily for decades. When interviewed on her 110th birthday, Fenton credited the routine for her longevity. Old age eventually forced Fenton to quit drinking, Saunders said.

She said Fenton remained mentally sharp and while she might not remember whether she took her medication that day, she could recall any part of her life in detail.

Fenton always reminded those close to her of the importance of having God in their lives.

She was among 1,643 New Jersey residents who were at least 100 years old in 2010 280 men and 1,363 women, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While their numbers are growing, centenarians made up a scant .02 percent of the population, or about one in every 5,350 state residents.

Fenton became the oldest living person in New Jersey when Adele Dunlap died at 114 in February.

Fentons unusual longevity garnered her both local and national attention. She was one of 360 to 600 people on the planet to become a supercentenarian, based on estimates by the Gerontology Research Group and the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University School of Medicine. A supercentenarian is someone who has reached 110 years.

At the time, Englewood proclaimed Agnes Fenton Day to celebrate her milestone birthday, and she received letters from the governor and President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to congratulate her.

At 105, she became part of a study of human longevity at Boston University Medical Center, was interviewed by Diane Sawyer and had a portrait painted by Ahmad Stokes, who painted President Obama.

Saunders said the funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. (AP)

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New Jersey's oldest resident dies at 112 - The Philadelphia Tribune

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We also specialize in treating chronic pain, sciatica, lower back pain, knee pain, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine, headaches, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, menopause issues, infertility, impotence, anemia, anxiety, stress, chronic fatigue, immunity boost, and insomnia.

Longevity Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre was established in October of 2004 by Dr. Frank Wang, who is an experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor for over 30 years. Prior to Dr. Frank Wangs immigration to Canada, Dr. Frank Wang had his successful practice in Taiwan for two decades. Dr. Frank Wang is a well known Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist in Taiwan. Dr. Frank Wang specializes acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions and chronic maladies. Dr. Frank Wang first developed his interest and skill in Chinese Medicine during his childhood from his mother, who is also a skilled herbologist from Taiwan. Dr. Frank Wang passed the Alberta Acupuncture Examination and obtained his Registered Acupuncturist Qualification in January of 2004. Dr. Frank Wang is also an active member of the Alberta Association of Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors and the Calgary Chinese Herbal Medicine Association. As a medical professional, Dr. Frank Wang is kind and compassionate. Dr. Frank Wang believes in spending as much time as necessary with his patients and finding the most effective and optimal method of treatment.

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Longevity Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine ...

Will government-controlled national health insurance increase Americans life expectancy?

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and some of his colleagues in the House of Representatives often claim that Medicare for Alllegislationwill improve American longevity and reduce American health care costs.

According to a comprehensive 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association,the United States has thelowest life expectancyat birth (78.8 years) among 11 high-income countries. Japan has the highest level of life expectancy (83.9 years).

In a recent Democratic presidential debate, Sanders cited the work of a team of Yale University researchers who,writingin The Lancet, project major savings, plus a significant improvement in American life expectancy. Sanders noted that The Lancet is one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world.

Headded: You know what it said? Medicare for All will lower health care costs in this country by $450 billion a year and save 68,000 lives of people who otherwise would have died.

The Lancet authors based their estimates on their assumptions of the effects of covering the remaining uninsured and securing continuity of coverage.

The Lancet researchers alsosaytheir estimate of 68,500 saved lives (to be exact) is conservative, but such precise projectionsshould give pausefor three good reasons.

First, access to coverage is not the same as access to care, let alone timely access to high-quality care. Experience shows that single-payer systems offer free care at the point of service, but these systems are often understaffed by lower-paid medical professionals. That is why there are often significant wait times and delays in care.BritishandCanadiansingle payer records bear this out.

Not all insurance coverage is equal.For example, those on government welfare programs such as Medicaid are more likely to face steeper climbs in getting access to physicians and medical specialists and securing positive medical outcomes compared to, say, a person enrolled in a standard employer-sponsored health plan. Thats not surprising.

As Dr. Douglas Blayney wrote about the treatment of cancer patients in California inMarch 2018: Medicaid in California (MediCal) is neither safe nor effective. If MediCal were a drug, a responsible regulator should consider pulling it from the market.

Second, overcoming Americas lower life expectancy depends on more than overcoming gaps in health coverage or deficiencies in care delivery, even among the uninsured. Behavioral and other risk factors are involved that have little to do with insurance coverage or whether health care dollars pass through public or private programs.

As a team of researchers wrote in arecent editionof the Journal of the American Medical Association: Although poor access or deficiencies in quality could introduce mortality risks among patients with existing behavioral health needs or chronic diseases, these factors would not account for the underlying precipitants (such as suicidality, obesity) which originate outside the clinic.

This is a crucial point.

Consider obesity.American overconsumption of refined carbohydrates, among other factors, contributes to obesity rates that are the highest in the worldand thus contributes directly to high rates of chronic disease, particularly hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. According to the researchers, mortality rates among Americans in the middle of lifeincreased 114%between 1999 and 2017.

Not surprisingly, about three-quarters of all health spending is focused on treating or mediating the consequences of chronic disease.

Indeed, in amajor 2017 studyin the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers estimated that almost three-quarters of the variation in life expectancy in the United States was attributable to behavioral and metabolic risk factors. Within those categories, there also are demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic variations among states and populations.

Moreover, few economically advanced countries record Americas high level of traffic fatalities or have our homicide and suicide rates.

Nor have they experienced our burden of drug abuse. Between 1999 and 2017, according to the researchers, our midlife mortality from drug overdoses increased by a stunning 386.5%. Along with alcohol abuse, these drug overdoses (including opioids) undercut American progress in life expectancy.

Of all themember nationsof the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. had the highest number of opioid-related deaths at 130 per million, followed by single-payer Canada with 120 deaths per million. Hard to blame that notoriously elusive free market.

Finally, the relationship between mortality and health insurance coverage is not statistically neat and clean. In a 2002 report, the Institute of Medicine concluded that lack of health insurance caused 18,000 deaths annually.

But in 2009, Richard Kronick of the University of California School of Medicine conducted a large study andconcluded:

The Institute of Medicines estimate of the lack of insurance leads to 18,000 excess deaths each year is almost certainly incorrect. It is not possible to draw firm causal inferences from the results of observational analyses, but there is little evidence to suggest that extending insurance coverage to all adults would have a large effect on the number of deaths in the United States.

There are many other factors beyond health insurance. Thats not to say policymakers shouldnt work diligently and target expanded coverage for Americas remaining uninsured.

Health insurance with good access to medical professionals and advanced medical technology can secure good medical outcomes and reduced mortality as long as care is timely and of high quality. Americassuperior performancein combatting cancer, heart disease, and stroke testifies to that fact.

There is a lot that is right about American health careits responsiveness and well-documented success in combating deadly disease among thembut there also is a lot wrong with it. There are gaps in coverage and quality. American health markets are alsodistorted, and these distortions undercut efficiency and increase the costs for individuals and families.

Barriersto market competition at the state and federal levels undercut innovation in design of health insurance benefits and productivity in health care delivery, which also raises costs. The system is burdened by bureaucracy and paperwork, generated by giant government health programs (Medicare and Medicaid) as well as private third-party payers.

And current federal tax and regulatory policies block the portability and personal ownership of health insurance coverage, eliminating the ability of persons to take their coverage from job to joband maintain the continuity of coverage and carethrough different stages of their lives.

Rather than destroying the entire system of public and private insurance by enacting Medicare for All legislation, Congress needs to enactnew policiesthat will expand coverage and personal choices, break down barriers to market competition, and thus lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

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Government-Controlled Health Care Won't Help Us Live Longer - Heritage.org

Cryopreservation Tanks

OLDSMAR, Fla. (PRWEB) March 13, 2020

Cryo-Cell Internationals announcement is concurrent with the most recent research regarding the lifespan of stored cord blood performed by Dr. Hal Boxmeyer and colleagues, which determined sample viability of 23.5 years and suggested possible, indefinite length of storage time for cryogenically preserved cells under proper conditions. Cryo-Cell International marks the first family cord blood bank to release results concerning specimen viability for this length of time.

Since cord blood banking has only been in existence for 30 years, these findings indicate that specimen longevity nearly spans the lifetime of the industry. Research points to the idea that other cryogenically preserved cells remain undiminished by time, as long as cells are preserved at optimal storage temperature, where cellular activity is known to halt. Cryo-Cell International, Inc., stands as the only private use cord blood bank in the U.S. to receive the Foundation for the Accreditation for Cellular Therapy (FACT) accreditation, which addresses all quality aspects of cord blood collection, processing, testing, banking, selection and release of specimens.

Todd Schuesler, Director of Cryo-Cell Internationals laboratory and cryopreservation facility, noted, Cryo-Cell is accredited by FACT, AABB, and ISO13485, making us one of the most accredited cord blood banks in the U.S. These accreditations are only awarded to organizations with exceptional quality systems and acute commitment to customer care. Its our employees who make the difference; for many, it is personal, based on previous or current experiences with diseases that can or will potentially be treated with stem cells. Having access to cord blood and cord tissue for the treatment of diseases developed much later in life will prove to be invaluable as evolving research continues to reveal potential uses.

These are simply amazing results that validates our belief that, if properly processed and maintained at the proper temperature, cryogenically preserved cord blood stem cells can provide regenerative benefits for at least the babys lifetime and likely for generations thereafter, said David Portnoy, Cryo-Cell Internationals Chairman and Co-CEO. Currently, cord blood stem cells have been FDA-approved for standard treatment in nearly 80 diseases. Numerous clinical trials are underway to explore the use of umbilical stem cells in the treatment of various degenerative conditions, including autism and cerebral palsy.

About Cryo-Cell International, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Cryo-Cell International, Inc. is the world's first private cord blood bank. More than 500,000 parents from 87 countries trust Cryo-Cell to preserve their family members' stem cells. Cryo-Cell's mission is to provide clients with state-of-the-art stem cell cryopreservation services and support the advancement of regenerative medicine. Cryo-Cell operates in a facility that is FDA registered, cGMP-/cGTP-compliant, and is licensed in all states requiring licensure. Besides being AABB accredited as a cord blood facility, Cryo-Cell is also the first U.S. (for private use only) cord blood bank to receive FACT accreditation for adhering to the most stringent cord blood quality standards set by any internationally recognized, independent accrediting organization. In addition, Cryo-Cell is ISO 9001:2008 certified by BSI, an internationally recognized, quality assessment organization. Cryo-Cell is a publicly-traded company, OTCQB:CCEL. For more information, please visit http://www.cryo-cell.com. For a complete list of references, visit http://www.cryo-cell.com/references.

Forward-Looking Statement Statements wherein the terms "believes", "intends", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", and similar expressions as used are intended to reflect "forward-looking statements" of the Company. The information contained herein is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements or paragraphs, many of which are outside the control of the Company, which include future medical and research developments.The Company disclaims any obligations to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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Cryo-Cell Confirms Specimen Longevity of 23+ Years with Optimal CD34 Viability - PR Web

A new study found osteoarthritis of the knee is more than twice as common as it was just a few generations ago. It's estimated that the lifetime risk of developing this condition is 46 percent.

However, it is possible to protect your knees and even reverse some of the symptoms. Dr. Jordan Metzl, a sports medicine physician at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, joined "CBS This Morning" to discuss what might be causing the increase and what you can do to reduce arthritic symptoms.

Asked what people are doing wrong when it comes to arthritis, Metzl said, "They're not recognizing the symptoms of arthritis."

The first thing to do if you are having symptoms, Metzl said, is to get an X-ray, which will show if there is a "narrowing between the bones."

Metzl also credits the inactivity of modern life. "If you were alive 100 years ago, you walked more, you were much more active," Metzl said.

"As this study shows us, the incidence of arthritis, the prevalence has more than doubled in the past hundred years and there are some different reasons for why that may be including people living longer and having higher weights but also related to activity," Metzl said.

X-rays of what a healthy knee versus an arthritic knee looks like.

CBS News

To reduce symptoms, he says the best thing to do is strengthen your muscles with exercises like squats and lunges instead of saying off of the knee and, in effect, becoming more inactive.

"We want them to be very active. When they get arthritis I get them started on exercise, strengthening," Metzl said.

While he says the wrong shoes can play a part in making symptoms worse, they don't necessarily cause arthritis.

"I think the shoes may be part of making the symptoms worse. I don't think it really has a lot to do with the reasons people get arthritis which are probably genetic, longevity, body index and then maybe inactivity but once you have arthritis we do a lot to control your symptoms," Metzl said.

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Sports medicine doctor on how to combat knee arthritis symptoms - CBS News

When we look at the things we try to avoid in life, you would hope that escaping premature death would be top of the list. After all, it speaks to our basic human drive for survival.

Yet, in our modern world, preventable risks posed by smoking, unhealthy diets and drug use contribute mightily to diseases and, ultimately, premature death. These risk factors have led to a decrease in life expectancy.

There is now at least some reason for hope. As recently reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the first time since 2014, death rates in the U.S. declined, and life expectancy showed a modest uptick.

According to its findings, life expectancy at birth in 2018 was 78.7 years, which is 0.1 year longer than the previous year. It may not seem like much, but in a nation of approximately 350 million people, the upturn in longevity reflects improvements in the lives of many Americans.

The recent progress was driven by decreases in death rates from six of the 10 leading causes of death. As reported by NPR, in a continuation of an ongoing downward trend since the 1990s, there was a 2.2 percent decrease in cancer deaths. The numbers also show a 2.8 percent fall in deaths from unintentional injuries, which include drug overdoses.

According to Kathryn McHugh, a psychologist at McLean Psychiatric Hospital and Harvard University, this represents the first positive change seen in a 20-year-long trend of drug overdose deaths. I think these numbers suggest that some positive news is starting to come out of the many efforts to try to stem the tide on overdoses, McHugh tells NPR.

Some health experts advise receiving the news, which is based on a single year-to-year change, with cautious optimism. Despite the decline in overdose deaths, the governments National Center for Health Statistics shows more than 67,000 people still died from drug overdoses in 2018. During this same one-year period, the U.S. also saw an increase in suicide and flu death rates.

It was also noted that the use of a combination of drugs has increased over time, which experts see as a disturbing trend that could lead to what they refer to as the fourth wave of the opioid crisis. According to the new report, the rate of deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl (excluding methadone) increased by 10 percent between 2017 and 2018. In addition, from 2012 to 2018, death rates involving cocaine increased threefold.

At the same time, a report by the Commonwealth Fund found that Americans are twice as likely than people living in most other wealthy countries to be hospitalized for hypertension or diabetes, two diseases associated with obesity.

As noted by Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, in an NBC report, the fact that almost 40 percent of Americans are obese contributes to the U.S. falling behind other countries.

Compared to other wealthy countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the U.S. continues to trail behind when it comes to life expectancy. This, it is feared, illustrates a larger societal problem.

The Commonwealth Fund report also found that despite living shorter lives, Americans spend nearly two times more on health care than any other high-income country.

Policymakers must recognize that the decisions theyre making about jobs, education and infrastructure investments are health policies and have consequences not only to pocketbooks but to life expectancy, Woolf tells NBC News.

Theres a large amount of social, economic, spiritual despair in this country, Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a professor of medicine and an addiction researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, tells NPR. He goes on to say that addressing that despair will be key to preventing more people from turning to drugs in the first place.

A glimmer of hope in the statistics can be found in the sharp decline in the number of cigarette smokers in the past four decades and its positive impact on smoking-related deaths including cancer and respiratory disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, quitting smoking before turning 40 reduces a persons risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90 percent.

Advances in cancer treatments and early screening are also positive influences on U.S. life expectancy.

In the end, the fact that American infants are projected to live longer than they would have in 2017 is a victory, the NBC News report notes.

People should be encouraged but still understand that there is something fundamentally wrong with our health pattern in the U.S., Woolf concludes. When you look at this longer-term trend over the past few decades, its clear that we need to make some fundamental changes in the way we approach life in America if were going to sustain this decrease.

Write to Chuck Norris (info@creators.com) with your questions about health and fitness.

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Americans live shorter lives, but spend more on health care - Plumas County Newspapers

The Durst Organization and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a half dozen new leases at One World Trade Center.

DADA Holdings LLC has signed a five-year lease for 4,786 s/f on the 71st floor; Princeton Longevity Center signed a 10-year lease for 11,075 s/f on the 71st floor. This will be both DADA and Princeton Longevitys first offices in New York City.

Ichnos Science Inc., moving its offices to New York City from Paramus, New Jersey, signed a seven-year and five-month lease for 10,847 s/f on the 76th floor.

Pison Stream Solutions signed a three-year lease for 10,804 s/f on the 49th floor of OWTC, making the building their global headquarters.

Also signed were two expansion deals. Symphony Communications Services has signed a one-year lease for 3,510 s/f on the 45th floor, bringing their total square footage on the floor to 12,100 s/f.

Additionally, Augustus Intelligence signed a five-year lease for 6,475 s/f on the 77th floor of OWTC, doubling their footprint with a move from the 45th floor.

We are extremely pleased with the leasing activity at One World Trade Center, said Jonathan (Jody) Durst, President of The Durst Organization.

We are beginning the year by welcoming our newest tenants DADA Holdings, Ichnos, Princeton Longevity and Pison and celebrating the success of Symphony and Augustus with their office expansions at One WTC.

Princeton Longevity Center was represented by Steven Rotter, Blake Goodman and Justin Haber of JLL.

Ichnos Sciences was represented by Cushman & Wakefields Drew Braver and Mark Zaziski.

Michael Thomas and Aidan Campbell of Colliers represented Pison. Symphony Communications Services was represented by Christopher Foerch of Savills.

And Augustus was represented by Carol Engel of CS Engel and Associates. The landlord was represented by Senior Managing Director Eric Engelhardt and Managing Director Karen Kuznick of The Durst Organization and the Newmark Knight Frank team of David Falk, Jason Greenstein, Peter Shimkin, Hal Stein and Travis Wilson.

Augustus Intelligence builds artificial intelligence products and secure infrastructure services to help enterprise clients reinvent themselves.

Pison Stream Solutions is a global leader in the research and development of chemical coatings platforms for niche markets. They implement their systems across defense, aerospace, automotive, antimicrobial, renewable energy applications, and additive platforms.

Princeton Longevity Center is a next-generation medical facility combining the most advanced technology with an integrated and individually tailored Preventive Medicine program.

A fully integrated, global biotechnology company with the spirit of a start-up, Ichnos Sciences is shifting the way the world thinks about innovation in medicine through its research and development of transformative, disease-centric treatments in oncology, autoimmune disease and pain.

The company, with headquarters in Paramus, N.J., is rapidly advancing a clinical-stage pipeline of novel, first-in-class candidates designed to address complex diseases and treat patients holistically.

With a patented BEAT technology platform along with pioneering teams in Switzerland and India, Ichnos Sciences has a mission to provide breakthrough, curative therapies that will hopefully extend and improve lives, writing a new chapter in healthcare.

Symphony offers a secure team collaboration platform that transforms the way users communicate effectively and securely with a single workflow application.

Symphony was founded in October 2014 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices in Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sophia-Antipolis, Stockholm and Tokyo.

One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and home to the largest community of media and tech innovators.

The 3.1 million-square-foot LEED Gold Certified skyscraper features premier office space and some of the most spectacular views in the world.

On the 64th floor, One World Commons offers 25,000 s/f of tenant amenities including a world-class business and social hub fostering workplace creativity, collaboration, and community.

Built by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and The Durst Organization in a unique public-private partnership, The Durst Organization is responsible for marketing, leasing, and managing the property.

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Durst Organization sees flurry of new business at 1 WTC - Real Estate Weekly

Photo: Courtesy of Dominik Martin via Unsplash By Kristy Or March 05, 2020

Whether youre trying to fight the flu or build up your immunity, these commonly used ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine will help keep you feeling at your best

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Traditional Chinese Medicine has been making its way back into the mainstream with the popularisation of more natural methods of achieving health and wellness. In Chinese medicine, Qi is the vital energy that helps regulate the body and keep it functioning normally. Any disruptions in the Qi are primarily seen as the source of physical and mental health issues including common ailments like the flu, fever, cough, depression and anxiety.We spoke to two Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners - Gianna Buonocore from Integrated Medicine Institute and Cecilia Cheung from Health Wise- for advice on which herbs to add to your diet to help boost your immune system and improve your wellbeing.

The most commonly suggested ingredient by the two experts to add to your routine to boost your immunity is the Astragalus Root - or Huang Qi - as known in Chinese. The root is a principle herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for increasing an individuals vitality and promotes immune boosting compounds. Astragalus Root is typically combined with Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) and Ledebouriella Root (Feng Feng) to create a soup. According to Cecilia Cheung, this soup is like building a defensive wall to protect your body from cold and flu and is generally good for everyone at all stages of life.

See also:Urban Escapes: Where To Find The Cleanest Air In Asia

Fresh ginger is often prescribed to boost the energy levels in individuals. According to Gianna Buonocore, it not only soothes an upset stomach but helps fire up your immune system and helps clear the pathogen by inducing sweat. Ginger has been used to treat many initial flu and heat symptoms like dry and sore throat, constipation and fatigue. It can also assist with promoting blood circulation and aids in relieving constipation, vomiting symptoms and morning sickness.

Garlic has been widely recognised for its many antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. The active ingredient inside garlic known as allicin, has antimicrobial properties which is activated through the action of chopping, crushing or chewing raw garlic - though Buonocore warns that these properties are destroyed during cooking. It is great for preventing and treating cold and flus, including relieving symptoms such as coughs, clear(ing) phlegm and enhanc(ing) immunity Cheung adds.

Chrysanthemum is a cooling herb and has antimicrobial properties which has a cleansing effect on the body and can help to clear pathogenic heat. Cheung describes chrysanthemums as a lung clearing herb as it is known to treat ailments like headaches, sore, throats, acne and ulcers. It has also been prescribed for issues like sleeplessness, strained eyes and high blood pressure.

Read more:In Good Health: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Is Evolving In Leaps And Bounds

Buonocore states that Goji Berries or Wolfberry Fruit are often used to improve health, vitality, longevity, energy and stamina. In Chinese Medicine, it is typically prescribed to treat poor eyesight, diabetes and anemia. Add them to your breakfast or include them in your tea for extra nutrients.

For those suffering from insomnia, restlessness, fatigue or loss of appetite, red jujube dates have often been used as a treatment by Chinese medicine doctors. The dates are said to have properties to calm the mind, reduce stress and decrease anxiety. Buonocore recommends a cup of jujube tea before bed (as it can) promote a restful nights sleep or treat insomnia.

See also:Hate The Gym? Here Are 8 Alternatives That You Can Try

In Chinese medicine, rose buds have a warming effect, and are used to alleviate abdominal pain, reduce indigestion, improve blood circulation in the body, and help to regulate menstruation and alleviate abdominal cramps. Buonocore suggests that rose bud tea can be combined with goji berries or red dates to combat tiredness, fatigue and sluggishness, however for those suffering from sore, dry throat, or constipation, Cheung recommends limiting your intake.

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The Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients That Can Help To Boost Your Health - Hong Kong Tatler

Long life expectancy can be attributed to a persons diet - a healthy, balanced diet has been proven to improve longevity. Experts recommend eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, basing meals on higher starchy foods like potatoes, bread and rice, having some dairy or dairy alternatives, eating some protein, choosing unsaturated oils and spreads, and drinking plenty of fluids.

But new research, published this week, has found the times of day a person eats holds the most benefits.

Dr Mark Mattson, a professor of neuroscience at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, in the US, has said intermittent fasting could be part of a healthy lifestyle."

Intermittent fasting diets usually involve daily time-restricted feeding, which narrows eating times to six to eight hours per day and so-called 5:2 intermittent fasting, in which people limit themselves to one moderate-sized meal two days each week.

A range of human and animal studies have shown that alternating between times of fasting and eating supports cellular health, probably by triggering an age-old adaptation to periods of food scarcity called metabolic switching.

READ MORE:Type 2 diabetes symptoms: How often do you go to the toilet? Warning sign of the condition

Such a switch occurs when cells use up their stores of rapidly accessible, sugar-based fuel, and begin converting fat into energy in a slower metabolic process.

Dr Mattson says studies have shown that this switch improves blood sugar regulation, increases resistance to stress and suppresses inflammation.

Because most Americans eat three meals plus snacks each day, they do not experience the switch, or the suggested benefits.

In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr Mattson said four studies in both animals and people found intermittent fasting also decreased blood pressure, blood lipid levels and resting heart rates.

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Evidence is also mounting that intermittent fasting can cut risk factors associated with obesity and diabetes.

Studies also suggest intermittent fasting could boost brain health too.

Experts say people adopting intermittent fasting regimes should gradually increase the duration and frequency of the fasting periods over the course of several months, instead of "going cold turkey."

Many studies have highlighted the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

The authors of a large, long-term study concluded vegetarianism is associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease.

The study featured in the British Medical Journal looked specifically at plant based diets and their effect on the risk of ischemic heart disease and also stroke.

As part of the study, scientists took data from 48,188 people whom they followed for an average of 18.1 years.

The participants who had an average age of 45 years at the start of the study had no history of ischemic heart disease or stroke.

They were then assigned to one of three groups:

Using food questionnaires, the researchers assessed their overall food intake and nutrient levels.

They also collected information about factors such as body mass index (BMI), height and blood pressure.

During the 18.1 years of follow-up there were 2,820 cases of ischemic heart disease and 1,072 cases of stroke.

After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, the analysis revealed both positive and negative relationships between cardiovascular health and reduced meat intake.

The rate of ischemic heart disease among pescatarians was 13 per cent lower than that of meat eaters, while vegetarians had a rate that was 22 per cent lower.

Putting this into perspective, the authors of the study explained: This difference was equivalent to 10 fewer cases of ischemic heart diseasein vegetarians than in meat eaters per 1,000 population over 10 years.

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How to live longer: The best diet to increase life expectancy according to new study - Express

Article courtesy of Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, Vice President of the A4M, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, best selling author, keynote speaker, and one of our medical editors who is dedicated to keeping you healthy in body, mind and spirit.

To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs. ~Aldous Huxley

Everyone knows that they are mans best friend, (and I certainly realize Im showing my sweet cat Oreo in the pics) but we now know new reasons, beyond companionship and a paw to lean on, that dogs, or really any pet, are important to so many individuals. In fact, when you get home today you probably should give a special thanks to your pet for making you healthier.

Pet owners seem to have fewer illnesses and recover quicker when they do get sick. They handle stress better and experience less depression. Petting your dog or cat not only lowers their pulse rate and blood pressure but also yours. If you have suffered a heart attack, you have an easier recovery and better survival rate if you own a dog. If there is a pet in the house, diabetics do better controlling their blood sugar and individuals who have had surgery or cancer seem to have a better recovery.

Pets can be great for children as well. Not only do they gain a loyal friend, but also in caring for and raising a pet they can learn responsibility. Although some children have pet allergies, a recent study showed that babies who live in homes with two or more dogs and cats are much less likely to develop allergies than children in pet free homes.

Some pets can also be a great exercise machine. Unlike those bikes and steppers that collect dust in the basement, dogs will assure that daily walk or two. Its good for both of you.

The pet-human health connection is quite strong, but we dont exactly know why. Im sure its about the relationship and friendship that develops. In 2017, I lost my dear friend Oreo. He was a rescue when he showed up on our back porch as a stranded kitten. He immediately became part of our family and our life. When he passed, he took a piece of me. The rescue thing seems to work both ways, something I know many will appreciate and understand.

Dogs, cats, fish, horses, turtles there are so many choices to match your situation and personality. If its just not possible for you to own one, then visit a friends or at least watch Animal Planet. Learn more about them and show your appreciation for all they do for us.

Take Rx Pet. Thats the prescription of Walter M. Bortz, II, MD, a longevity expert, who believes that a pet is both a fine doctor and a dear friend.

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Pet Rx: The Healing Power Of Pets - Anti Aging News

I try to keep informed about what is going on in medicine and health care today even though I no longer practice. But I sure get discouraged sometimes.

Let me explain. I am grateful I have lived to enter advanced old age because I realize how much I would have missed over the last two decades. A grandson for example, plus many wonderful concerts and sunsets.

As I have said before, longevity depends on three things we have no control over. The genes we inherit from our parents; money our parents earned to keep us fed, immunized and healthy and ensure we were educated; and luck.

But people DO have control over the way they choose to live, what they put in their mouths or inhale, and whether they accept both the importance and practice of prevention for themselves and others. Pediatrics Today Smart Brief online is a quick way to keep up with the latest developments. Yesterday, I felt really down after reading the first two entries. They both alluded to disdain for preventing diseases that has scientific validity and widespread coverage in the media for those who do not read scientific journals.

First downer: According to the World Health Organization, the number of measles cases reported in the world has gone up almost 2 million cases to over 9.7 million with over 142,000 deaths. Most of these cases and deaths were in impoverished areas where the vaccine is scarce or not available. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in the year 2000. But sadly in 2019, the U.S. has witnessed the greatest number of cases since 1992. Measles spread and cause outbreaks in U.S. communities where groups of people are unvaccinated because parents do not believe in vaccination.

With air travel from parts of the world where measles is endemic, all unvaccinated children are at risk. Todays downer: According to JAMA Pediatrics, less than 42% of children received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine during clinical visits before traveling overseas. Why? Clinical decision and parental refusal were the most common reasons.

The real danger is not catching measles as most children get over it after a week or so of misery. The danger is in the complications of measles that require hospitalization and can be fatal.

When I traveled to East Africa with a group of pediatricians, we visited a childrens hospital when Nairobi was in the throes of a measles epidemic. In disbelief we watched several sheeted babies and children who died from measles being carried off the wards.

Later, one of the African pediatricians asked if I could send him a single pre-filled syringe the vaccine came in. I said it would not be usable because it needed reliable refrigeration en route. His answer: I know. I just want to see what it looks like as we may not have it here for many years. I sent it with a heavy heart and the recognition that millions of children are born into countries where medical services are lacking. The doctor thanked me and sent a picture of the syringe he had affixed to his office wall.

Another disappointment came from reading a CDC report that stated one in three high-school students, 4.7 million teens, had used a tobacco product during the past 30 days. Vaping e-cigarettes has been the product of choice for the sixth straight year. Nicotine is one of the five most addictive substances known.

We have long known that tobacco causes 90% of lung cancers but Big Tobaccos products are still on the market. How can one prevent this terrible disease? Easy: Do not smoke or vape.

My third disappointment was more personal. A woman I know told me she was not letting her child get a flu shot this year. He had one last year and she did not intend to give him a shot every year because she felt that would be harmful to her childs immune system. This is her feeling.

These are the facts: We are having a pretty big flu year and children have been hit hard. Young children have the second-highest hospitalization rate, second only to us oldies.

Feelings vs. facts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not to their own facts, said Daniel Moynihan, four-term senator and a great wordsmith.

I dont believe in flu shots is an opinion, a personal belief, a feeling. Everyone is entitled to express their opinions or feelings.

Where do our feelings come from? From our life experiences and the information that we get from school, books, friends, the media and the internet.

What is a fact? An easy definition is a thing that is known or proved to be true. A scientific fact is an objective and verifiable observation. It is a scientific fact that immunizations prevent disease and save lives. How did this become a scientific fact? Many years of scientific hypotheses, carefully designed experiments to verify the hypotheses, and careful collection of annual reports from health departments on usage and safety. Measles is a very effective vaccine that protects children because the virus is stable.

I cannot make you feel the same way I do about the facts. But I can tell you if your child comes down with flu, stay the hell away from me and other old folks. The flu can kill us and I am enjoying advanced old age!

Dr. Heins is a pediatrician, parent, grandparent, columnist and author. She welcomes your questions about people throughout the life cycle, from birth to great-grandparenthood. Contact her at marilynheins@gmail.com.

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Marilyn Heins: Prevention the key to longevity - Arizona Daily Star