StemCell Therapy

Diabetes is a troublesome disorder that can cause havoc on the body. According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately463 million adultswere living with diabetes in 2019 and by 2045 this number is set to rise to700million.

Furthermore, theproportion ofpeople with type 2 diabetes is increasingin most countries. Now, a new study has found that "fat over-spills from the liver into the pancreas" may be what is responsible for triggering type 2 diabetes.

RELATED:WEIGHT TRAINING CAN CONTROL DIABETES IN OBESE PEOPLE

The research followeda group of people who had type 2 diabetes but had lost weight and successfully reversed the condition.The researchers uncovered that type 2 diabetes is caused as a response to too much fat in the body.

We saw that when a person accumulates too much fat, which should be stored under the skin, then it has to go elsewhere in the body. The amount that can be stored under the skin varies from person to person, indicating a personal fat threshold above which fat can cause mischief," said in a statementProfessor Roy Taylor, from theNewcastle University Institute of Translational and Clinical Research,

When fat cannot be safely stored under the skin, it is then stored inside the liver and over-spills to the rest of the body including the pancreas. This clogs up the pancreas, switching off the genes which direct how insulin should effectively be produced, and this causes Type 2 diabetes.

The study brings good news for type 2 diabetes sufferers as it indicates that the condition is reversible. In fact,previous Newcastle studies that found that type 2 diabetes can be reversed led to the large DiRECT trial.

This trial found that weight loss techniques combined with a low-calorie diet resulted in a remission of type 2 diabetes.

This means we can now see type 2 diabetes as a simple condition where the individual has accumulated more fat than they can cope with," said Taylor.

Importantly this means that through diet and persistence, patients are able to lose the fat and potentially reverse their diabetes. The sooner this is done after diagnosis, the more likely it is that remission can be achieved.

Originally posted here:
Excess Fat That Spills From the Liver into the Pancreas May Cause Type 2 Diabetes - Interesting Engineering

Ive been on a real insulin-resistance kick lately. Its imperative that all people with diabetes understand the causes of insulin resistance and thus the importance of reducing it with a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Causes of insulin resistance are multi-factorial. First: obesity, specifically abdominal obesity. This is primarily due to a high circulation of free fatty acids and unwanted fat deposits in the muscles and liver (enlarged adipose tissues at max capacity). This process causes chronic inflammation, resulting in a decrease in protective metabolic regulators and an increase in inflammatory mediators. These mediators have been directly associated with increased insulin levels (or insulin requirements). This inflammatory process can also occur high fat diets.

Lipoatrophy, the partial or complete loss of adipose tissue, and lipodystrophy, unwanted fat deposits in the muscles or liver (fatty liver), have also been associated with insulin resistance. The reason for this is unclear, but it is hypothesized that this condition results in a decrease in insulin receptor expression and insulin signaling. People with PCOS are also prone to higher levels of insulin resistance as a result of their associated generalized lipodystrophy. Acanthosis nigricans (Google it) is a common skin condition observed with lipodystrophy and is often seen in insulin resistant PWD.

Related: The 'Taboo' Type 1 Diabetes Medication: What to Know About GLP-1 Therapy

Research also shows a correlation between chronic stress and insulin resistance thanks to the hormone cortisol. In acute stress, cortisol stimulates production of glucose by the liver, designed to be immediately utilized in a fight-or-flight response. Chronic stress, however, is directly correlated with increased insulin requirements (endogenous or exogenous), a disruption of insulin signaling, and impaired overall insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

Menstruation tends to have a negative effect on insulin resistance, particularly just after ovulation. There is little research, but this phenomenon is thought to be due to the progesterone spike that happens during the luteal phase. Hopefully, there will be more research on this topic in the near future (insert empowering feminist comment here).

These are a few of the many contributors to insulin resistance. I havent even scratched the surface so I will likely do another post shortly. I just wanted to get some food for thought out to you all. Those of you who have been following me closely know that I have been attempting to decrease my insulin resistance with a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet. I have been on the diet for about a week thus far and have really been enjoying it! I have seen a reduction in my prandial insulin requirements, yet I have been eating more than I was when on my previous standard diet. Also, Ive really been enjoying fruits, something I used to stay away from!

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What Every Person With Diabetes Should Know About Insulin Resistance - Yahoo Lifestyle

By Satchin Panda University of California San Diego Pam Taub University of California San Diego

People with obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure or high cholesterol are often advised to eat less and move more, but our new research suggests there is now another simple tool to fight off these diseases: restricting your eating time to a daily 10-hour window.

Studies done in mice and fruit flies suggest that limiting when animals eat to a daily window of 10 hours can prevent, or even reverse, metabolic diseases that affect millions in the U.S.

We are scientists - a cell biologist and a cardiologist - and are exploring the effects of the timing of nutrition on health. Results from flies and mice led us and others to test the idea of time-restricted eating in healthy people. Studies lasting more than a year showed that TRE was safe among healthy individuals. Next, we tested time-restricted eating (TRE) in patients with conditions known collectively as metabolic syndrome. We were curious to see if this approach, which had a profound impact on obese and diabetic lab rats, can help millions of patients who suffer from early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and unhealthy blood cholesterol.

A leap from prevention to treatment

It's not easy to count calories or figure out how much fat, carbohydrates and protein are in every meal. That's why using TRE provides a new strategy for fighting obesity and metabolic diseases that affect millions worldwide. Several studies had suggested that TRE is a lifestyle choice that healthy people can adopt and that can reduce their risk for future metabolic diseases.

However, TRE is rarely tested on people already diagnosed with metabolic diseases. Furthermore, the vast majority of patients with metabolic diseases are often on medication, and it was not clear whether it was safe for these patients to go through daily fasting of more than 12 hours - as many experiments require - or whether TRE will offer any benefits in addition to those from their medications.

In a unique collaboration between our basic science and clinical science laboratories, we tested whether restricting eating to a 10-hour window improved the health of people with metabolic syndrome who were also taking medications that lower blood pressure and cholesterol to manage their disease.

We recruited patients from UC San Diego clinics who met at least three out of five criteria for metabolic syndrome: obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high level of bad cholesterol and low level of good cholesterol. The patients used a research app called myCircadianClock, developed in our lab, to log every calorie they consumed for two weeks. This helped us to find patients who were more likely to spread their eating out over the span of 14 hours or more and might benefit from 10-hour TRE.

We monitored their physical activity and sleep using a watch worn on the wrist. As some patients with bad blood glucose control may experience low blood glucose at night, we also placed a continuous glucose monitor on their arm to measure blood glucose every few minutes for two weeks.

Nineteen patients qualified for the study. Most of them had already tried standard lifestyle interventions of reducing calories and doing more physical activity. As part of this study, the only change they had to follow was to self-select a window of 10 hours that best suited their work-family life to eat and drink all of their calories, say from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drinking water and taking medications outside this window were allowed. For the next 12 weeks, they used the myCircadianClock app, and for the last two weeks of the study they also had the continuous glucose monitor and activity monitor.

Timing is the medicine

After 12 weeks, the volunteers returned to the clinic for a thorough medical examination and blood tests. We compared their final results with those from their initial visit. The results, which we published in Cell Metabolism, were pleasantly surprising. We found most of them lost a modest amount of body weight, particularly fat from their abdominal region. Those who had high blood glucose levels when fasting also reduced these blood sugar levels. Similarly, most patients further reduced their blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. All of these benefits happened without any change in physical activity.

Reducing the time window of eating also had several inadvertent benefits. On average, patients reduced their daily caloric intake by a modest 8%. However, statistical analyses did not find strong association between calorie reduction and health improvement. Similar benefits of TRE on blood pressure and blood glucose control were also found among healthy adults who did not change caloric intake.

Nearly two-thirds of patients also reported restful sleep at night and less hunger at bedtime - similar to what was reported in other TRE studies on relatively healthier cohorts. While restricting all eating to just a six-hour window was hard for participants and caused several adverse effects, patients reported they could easily adapt to eating within a 10-hour span. Although it was not necessary after completion of the study, nearly 70% of our patients continued with the TRE for at least a year. As their health improved, many of them reported having reduced their medication or stopped some medication.

Despite the success of this study, time-restricted eating is not currently a standard recommendation from doctors to their patients who have metabolic syndrome. This study was a small feasibility study; more rigorous randomized control trials and multiple location trials are necessary next steps. Toward that goal, we have started a larger study on metabolic syndrome patients.

Although we did not see any of our patients go through dangerously low levels of glucose during overnight fasting, it is important that time-restricted eating be practiced under medical supervision. As TRE can improve metabolic regulation, it is also necessary that a physician pays close attention to the health of the patient and adjusts medications accordingly.

We are cautiously hopeful that time-restricted eating can be a simple, yet powerful approach to treating people with metabolic diseases.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

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Limited eating times could be new way to fight obesity, diabetes - Sumter Item

When ESPN reporter Edward Aschoff died, he had been diagnosed with multifocal pneumonia and a rare disease known as HLH, his fiance tweeted.

Aschoff was first admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia in many parts of his lungs but was brought back to the emergency room when antibiotic treatment failed and he got worse, Katy Berteau said.

HLH, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, is a rare disease that affects the immune system.

She did not provide any further details about the manner of Aschoff's death, which occurred on his 34th birthday.

Other people, including Aschoff himself, expressed surprise about the seriousness of the illness in a young man in apparently good health.

"Anyone ever had multifocal (bilateral) pneumonia in their early 30s as some who never gets sick and has a very good immune system? Asking for two friends ... my lungs," he tweeted on December 5.

More questions have come up about his second diagnosis, HLH. It is unclear if Aschoff had HLH or pneumonia first, if one came from the other, and exactly how he died so quickly.

Here is what we know about the diseases Aschoff's had:

Pneumonia is when air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid or pus. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria or a fungus, causing a fever and respiratory problems.

It can occur in one or both lungs, and multifocal means the pneumonia occurs in multiple places.

Thousands of people die around the world each year of pneumonia, but most healthy people can fight it off, especially with antibiotics and antiviral medications. The people most at risk are the young, elderly, frail or immune-compromised.

What is HLH?

HLH is a rare disease that affects the immune system, making certain white blood cells attack other blood cells and enlarging the spleen and liver, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

It can be inherited or acquired, Johns Hopkins said. About a quarter of cases are passed down through families, and the rest come from infections, a weakened immune system and cancer.

Is it dangerous?

There is treatment for HLH, and acquired forms may clear when properly treated, Johns Hopkins said. If familial HLH goes untreated, it is usually fatal.

Treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, steroids, antibiotic drugs and antiviral drugs. Stem cell transplants can cure HLH in most cases if drug treatments don't work, Johns Hopkins said.

There is no way to prevent HLH, the medical center said.

The-CNN-Wire& 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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ESPN reporter Edward Aschoff diagnosed with pneumonia and HLH before he died - WPVI-TV

Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition in which red blood cells, which should be circular, adopt a crescent shape and are sticky and rigidALAMY

The first patients to receive gene-editing treatments for inherited blood diseases will enter the new year free of agonising symptoms.

The experiments suggest that altering DNA could treat sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia, conditions both caused by faulty genes that hamper the bloods ability to carry oxygen.

The companies behind the trials said that a patient in the US with SCD had been well since July. A thalassemia patient in Germany had been free of symptoms for nine months. Previously she had 16 blood transfusions a year.

British patients could be offered similar experimental therapies next year. The treatment for both conditions involved a high-precision gene-editing tool called Crispr-Cas9. It was used to alter the DNA of some of the cells of Victoria

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Sickle cell patient is pain free after geneediting trial altered her DNA - The Times

Kirollos S. Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network MM panel prefers triplet therapy over doublet as the standard of care for all patients because of improved response rates, depth of response, and rates of progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival.3 The combination of a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), and a corticosteroid remains the cornerstone of frontline treatment for patients, regardless of eligibility for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). As an example, the bortezomib/lenalidomide/dexamethasone regimen is a preferred category 1 recommendation for transplant-eligible and -ineligible patients.3

Many agents administered as frontline therapy for patients with MM are used in the relapsed/refractory setting. Choice of therapy is influenced by what was used in the frontline setting, patient comorbidities and organ function, response assessment from prior treatment, tolerability of prior therapy, and time to relapse. Despite numerous treatment combinations, the primary goals of therapy for all patients with MM are disease control, improved quality of life, and prolonged survival. MM remains incurable to date. This article reviews select novel treatments that have recently expanded the therapeutic landscape for patients with MM and highlights others in the pipeline.

Daratumumab as Frontline Treatment for MMDaratumumab (Darzalex), an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, was initially approved on November 16, 2015, for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MM.4 The FDA recently approved 2 daratumumab combination regimens as frontline treatment for patients with MM.

The MAIA trial (NCT02252172), an open-label, randomized (1:1), active-controlled phase 3 study, compared daratumumab 16 mg/kg, in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid), and low-dose dexamethasone (DRd) with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) in patients with newly diagnosed MM who were ineligible for ASCT.5 A total of 737 patients were randomized, 368 to the DRd arm and 369 to the Rd arm. MAIA demonstrated an improvement in PFS in the DRd arm compared with the Rd arm. The median PFS had not been reached in the DRd arm and was 31.9 months in the Rd arm (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43-0.73; P <.0001), representing a 44% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death in patients treated with DRd. In responders, the median time to response was 1.05 months (range, 0.2-12.1) in the DRd group and 1.05 months (range, 0.3-15.3) in the Rd group. The median duration of response had not been reached in the DRd group and was 34.7 months (95% CI, 30.8not estimable [NE]) in the Rd group. In patients with newly diagnosed MM who received DRd, the most frequent (20%) adverse ef fects (AEs) were infusion reactions, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, peripheral edema, fatigue, back pain, asthenia, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, decreased appetite, muscle spasms, peripheral sensory neuropathy, dyspnea, and cough.

The CASSIOPEIA trial (NCT02541383), an open-label, randomized, active-controlled phase 3 study, compared induction and consolidation treatment withbortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (DVTd) with treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (VTd) in patients with newly diagnosed MM who were eligible for ASCT.6 A total of 1085 patients were randomized, 543 to the DVTd arm and 542 to the VTd arm. CASSIOPEIA demonstrated an improvement in PFS in the DVTd arm compared with the VTd arm. At a median follow-up of 18.8 months, the median PFS had not been reached in either arm. Treatment with DVTd resulted in a reduction in the risk of progression or death by 53% compared with VTd alone (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.33-0.67; P <.0001). In patients with newly diagnosed MM who received DVTd, the most frequent (20%) AEs were infusion reactions, periph eral sensory neuropathy, constipation, asthenia, nausea, peripheral edema, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, and paresthesia. AEs that occurred with 5% frequency in the DVTd arm were infusion reactions, nausea, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and cough. No significant differences were observed in the number or type of serious AEs between the 2 treatment arms.

Selinexor for Relapsed/Refractory MMSelinexor (Xpovio) offers a novel mechanism of action as a first-in-class selective inhibitor of nuclear export 1 (XPO1).7 XPO1 inhibition leads to accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the nucleus; reductions in several oncoproteins, such as cMyc and cyclin D1; cell cycle arrest; and apoptosis of cancer cells. Selinexor in combination with dexamethasone is indicated for adult patients with relapsed/refractory MM who have received at least 4 prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least 2 PIs, at least 2 IMiDs, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.4

Investigators evaluated the efficacy of selinexor plus dexamethasone in the STORM trial (NCT02336815), a multicenter, singlearm, openlabel study.7,8 In STORM part 2, 122 patients were treated with selinexor 80 mg in combination with dexamethasone 20 mg on days 1 and 3 of every week. The overall response rate (ORR) was 25.3% (95% CI, 16.4-36.0), with 1 stringent complete response, no complete responses, 4 very good partial responses, and 16 partial responses. The median time to first response was 4 weeks (range, 1-10).

The median duration of response was 3.8 months (95% CI, 2.3-NE). Common AEs reported in at least 20% of patients included thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, anemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hyponatremia, neutropenia, leukopenia, constipation, dyspnea, and upper respiratory tract infection.

It is important to note the first dose reduction is administered as 100 mg once weekly, followed by 80 mg and 60 mg once weekly for subsequent reductions.7 Patients should receive antiemetic therapy prior to doses of selinexor.

Ongoing Clinical TrialsInvestigators continue to evaluate novel drug mechanisms and therapeutic combinations, aiming to optimize treatment outcomes and safety for patients throughout all stages of disease. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) targeting has demonstrated efficacy in treating MM.9 Anti-BCMA chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, such as idecabtagene vicleucel, received FDA breakthrough therapy designation for treating relapsed/refractory MM based on data from the phase 1 CRB-401 trial. Antibody-drug conjugates such as belantamab mafodotin have demonstrated an ORR of 60% with a median duration of response >1 year, based on findings from the phase I DREAMM-1 trial.10

The treatment landscape of MM is extremely bright, with novel agents and combinations in various clinical trial phases. Importantly, clinicians should remain up-to-date on novel therapies to provide optimal and safe therapeutic options for patients in all phases of treatment.

REFERENCES

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Updates in the Management of Multiple Myeloma - Pharmacy Times

NEW DELHI: An image of the black hole, the stuff of science fiction down the decades, was at the centre of a year that saw science breaching new frontiers with exciting firsts such as the development of a quantum computer that can outperform its classical counterparts and artificial embryos.

Cutting edge innovations in research and technology celebrated science and forwarded humankind's understanding of complex realities of the universe. The year will also be remembered as the year of testing biological and ethical limits in the laboratory, helping researchers find new avenues in the treatment of critical diseases.

In April, the International Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, consisting of a global network of radio telescopes, unveiled the first actual image of a black hole, a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot escape.

To produce the image, the researchers combined data from a network of radio telescopes to take simultaneous readings from around the world.

Science magazine named the image of the supermassive black hole situated at the centre of the Messier 87 galaxy, 54 million light years away, as the 2019 Breakthrough of the Year.

The imaging of the black hole is a fantastic revelation that is simultaneously a validation and a celebration of science, Ayan Banerjee, from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata, told PTI.

Although it does not uncover something that we did not know earlier, it does convert science fiction into science -- which is crucial for the acceptance of science in the daily lives of human beings, and the generation of future scientists, Banerjee said.

In a year that marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landings, lunar exploration was high on the agendas of space agencies.

In January, China's Chang'e-4 probe became the first spacecraft to land safely on the far side of the Moon. Its rover Yutu-2 continues to roll across the dusty soils of Von Karman crater on the lunar body.

Other attempts to explore the Earth's natural satellite were not so successful.

To produce the image, the researchers combined data from a network of radio telescopes to take simultaneous readings from around the world. In April, an Israeli-led effort to put the first private spacecraft on the Moon's surface ended in a crash landing. The same fate was met by India's ambitious Chandrayaan-2 Vikram lander in September.

The ongoing Mars missions returned a host of results. In April, NASA announced that its robotic Mars InSight lander had recorded a marsquake for the first time ever.

The marsquake' is the first recorded trembling that appears to have come from inside the planet, as opposed to being caused by the forces above the surface, such as wind.

There were many firsts in the micro world of laboratories too.

US researchers restored cellular function in 32 pig brains that had been dead for hours, opening up a new avenue in treating brain disease -- and shaking our definition of brain death to its core.

Announced in April in the journal Nature, the researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine devised a system roughly analogous to a dialysis machine, called BrainEx, that restores circulation and oxygen flow to a dead brain.

In another out-of-body experiment, scientists grew monkey embryos in a dish for nearly three weeks -- longer than primate embryos have ever been grown in the laboratory before.

The advance raised ethical concerns of whether lab-grown human embryos should be allowed to develop beyond 14 days, a restriction imposed in most countries.

In September, researchers at the University of Michigan in the US provided a possible circumvention of the 14-day limit by using human stem cells to make artificial embryos' that mimic the early development of a real human embryo.

Our stem cell structures that mimic embryos can help fill critical gaps in knowledge about early human development, and that could lead to a lot of good, Jianping Fu, an associate professor at Michigan, who led the study, said in a statement.

In October, Google took a quantum leap in computer science. Using its state-of-the-art quantum computer, called Sycamore, the tech giant claimed "quantum supremacy" over the most powerful supercomputers in the world by solving a problem considered virtually impossible for normal machines.

The quantum computer completed the complex computation in 200 seconds. That same calculation would take even the most powerful supercomputer approximately 10,000 years to finish, according to researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, who published their results in the journal Nature.

A fantastic discovery has been that of Google's 53 qubit quantum computer ('quantum supremacy), Banerjee said.

And for the first time in July, an artificial intelligence (AI) bot beat human champions at multiplayer poker.

The AI programme developed by Carnegie Mellon University in the US in collaboration with Facebook AI defeated leading professionals in six-player no-limit Texas hold'em poker, the world's most popular form of poker.

The AI, called Pluribus, defeated poker professional Darren Elias, who holds the record for most World Poker Tour titles, and Chris Ferguson, winner of six World Series of Poker events.

In August, researchers from Oxford University and IBM Research made the first-ever ring-shaped molecule of pure carbon in the lab by using an atomic-force microscope to manipulate individual molecules.

Carbon can be arranged in a number of configurations. For example when each of its atoms is bonded to three other carbon atoms, it's relatively soft graphite.

A ring of carbon atoms, where each atom is bonded to just two others, and nothing else has eluded scientists for 50 years. Their best attempts have resulted in a gaseous carbon ring that quickly dissipated.

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From the image of a black hole to 'artificial embryos', 2019 was the year of many firsts in science - Economic Times

1. A decrease in circulating progenitor cells during exercise stress-testing in patients with stable coronary artery disease is associated with worse outcomes than the presence of myocardial ischemia.

Evidence Rating Level:2 (Good)

Risk stratification for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) typically involves the measurement of stress-induced myocardial ischemia, often using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging. However, given the cost and radiation exposure associated with this technique, efforts are being focused towards the identification of surrogate biomarkers. Recent evidence suggests that levels of circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) and resident stem cells may be decreased in patients with myocardial ischemia, however, the impact on adverse cardiovascular events is unknown. In this prospective cohort study, 454 patients with stable CAD were studied to investigate the association between the change in CPC counts during stress testing and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, specifically, cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction (MI). CPCs were enumerated with flow cytometry as CD34+mononuclear cells, with additional evaluation of subsets co-expressing the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4+), at rest and 45 minutes after stress testing. Stress-induced myocardial ischemia was measured with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging at rest and 30 to 60 minutes after stress testing. At baseline, 76% of patients were men, and 31.3% had stress-induced ischemia by SPECT. Researchers found that those with stress-induced ischemia had a decrease in circulating CD34+/CXCR4+cells (median decrease 20.2%, IQR -45.3 to 5.5, p<0.001), whereas those without stress-induced ischemia experienced a cell count increase (median increase 3.2%, IQR -20.6 to 35.1, p<0.001). After adjusting for demographic variables and comorbidities, every unit increase in the ischemic defect was found to be associated with a 13% decrease in CD34+cell counts after exercise stress. During a median follow-up of 3 years, 5.2% of patients experienced adverse events (12 cardiovascular deaths, 12 MIs). Stress-induced ischemia was significantly associated with adverse events after adjustment for covariates (HR 2.79, 95% CI 1.55 to 5.03). Furthermore, each 50% decrease in the CD34+/CXCR4+count after stress testing, was found to be significantly associated with adverse outcomes, even after adjusting for presence of ischemia (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.34 to 3; HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.32, respectively). In summary, this study suggests that a decreased CPC count during and after exercise is an even stronger predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with stable CAD than stress-induced myocardial ischemia. Thus, further research on the prognostic implications of increasing CPC mobilization are warranted.

Click to read the study in JAMA Cardiology

Image: PD

20192 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensinghere. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

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Association Between Change in Circulating Progenitor Cells During Exercise Stress and Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary...

A new study poses that eating during a 6- to 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 to 18 hours can increase longevity and help support weight loss.

Titled Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease, the study was authored by Mark Mattson and Rafael de Cabo. It states that eating in a 6-hour period and then abstaining from food for the remainder of the day can catalyze a metabolic switch in the body that makes cells switch from glucose-based energy to ketone-based energy. In this process, the cells convert fat to energy.

Some benefits of the diet are supposedly increasing stress resistance, longevity, decreasing the risk for diseases like cancer and obesity, aiding weight loss efforts, and having more energy overall.

There are some pitfalls to intermittent fasting, however; aside from it being a very difficult diet to maintain (approximately 38 percent give it up), some individuals with particularly low blood sugar, such as people with diabetes, may not be suited to restricting their calories and limiting their daily meals.

Additionally, people with cardiovascular conditions may suffer from the disturbance in the bodys electrolytes.

Aside from preexisting conditions, intermittent fasting can be helpful. Matteson is quoted saying Patients should be advised that feeling hungry and irritable is common initially and usually passes after two weeks to a month as the body and brain become accustomed to the new habit."

While studies have been relatively small, they showcase a success rate; another report authored in 2018 found that people with type 2 diabetes were able to reduce their insulin intake after practicing intermittent fasting. The report did note, however, that the trial was medically supervised.

Speaking to CNN, Dr. Abhinav Diwan, an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis, cautioned individuals who are ready to try intermittent fasting.

People do not want to put themselves at risk by fasting without consulting a doctor."

Read more from the original source:
Intermittent fasting could improve longevity - The Hill

By Carol Hymowitz, Next Avenue Contributor

Getty

As lifespans lengthen around the world, men and women are: delaying when they marry and have children; returning to school as adults to gain skills and working beyond traditional retirement age. In countries as dissimilar as Japan and Morocco, theyre marrying five to 10 years later on average than their parents did.In the United Kingdom, more women are having babies in their 40s than before turning 20. And in the U.S., most employees 50 and older say they want to keep working after turning 65.

Now, governments and businesses need to catch up to individuals efforts adapting to longevity. The policymakers and employers have to revise their work, education, health care and other policies once designed for much shorter, different lives.

That was the consensus of economists, physicians, executives, educators and others from almost every continent who met at the Rockefeller Bellagio Center in Italy this fall to begin charting a global longevity agenda. The conference, organized by the Stanford Center on Longevity and The Longevity Forum with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and Prudential Assurance Singapore, was the first major interdisciplinary global convening on longevity. (You can read more about it on the Stanford Center on Longevity site.)

If we live a hundred-year life using the same norms that worked for sixty or seventy years, its unlikely to be a good long life, said Andrew Scott, an economics professor at University of London, co-organizer of the conference and co-author of The 100-Year Life. And while theres much that individuals need to do to adjust, they wont be able to seize the advantages of longer lives without policy changes from governments, corporations and other institutions.

The conference participants discussed numerous, varied issues, such as:

While many countries have begun addressing longevity, the most comprehensive planning is occurring in Singapore. In that country, the average life expectancy is 85 among the highest in the world and about 24% of the labor force is 55 or older, up from 14% in 2008.

Also on Forbes:

But Singapore isnt focusing on building nursing homes. Instead, the island city-nation is investing $3 billion to support lifelong learning and employability, health and wellness, financial literacy and multi-generational housing, among other initiatives.

Singapores only resource is human capital, and our population is aging faster than in any other country. We realized we had to address this to survive, John Eu-Li Wong, professor in medical sciences and senior vice president, National University of Singapore, told participants at the Bellagio conference.

The countrys longevity agenda was also discussed at a November conference in Singapore, also supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and Prudential Assurance Singapore.

To sustain economic growth, Singapore over the next decade is raising its retirement age from 62 to 65 and requiring employers to reemploy men and women who want to work until at least 70.The government there also gives businesses a 3 percent credit to offset wages of employees over 50 and makes grants to companies so they can modify jobs for older workers.

In addition, wellness programs in all communities include regular screenings for chronic diseases, and activities such as Tai Chi and dance lessons. National Silver Academy, a network of colleges and community-based organizations, offers post-secondary education to older people, who can take courses in technology, business, literature and other subjects, and who often share classrooms with youth. A SkillsFuture program teaches Singaporeans of all ages necessary skills for future jobs, and a MoneySense program teaches young and old alike how to manage money and invest.

Singapores small size (population: just 5.8 million) and a lack of U.S.-style partisan politics battles make it easier to implement a nationwide longevity plan. But its effort to harness the advantages of being an aging society is a model for other countries, said Laura Carstensen, executive director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and co-leader of the Bellagio conference.

Instead of focusing on frail old age, Singapore is trying to support people all the way through their long lives," Carstensen noted. "Its changing the narrative from aging is a burden to longevity is an opportunity.

Developing nations are beginning to launch age-friendly programs while continuing to grapple with problems like providing clean water and building adequate roads.

In Bangladesh, where average life expectancy has risen to about 73 from 48 in 1960, a strong network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is taking the lead in addressing aging and longevity.

For example, Dhaka-based BRAC (formerly called the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee), the worlds largest NGO, is funding research and treatment of hypertension, diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases.BRAC also offers microloans to adults seeking to start small businesses. Such efforts are enabling Bangladeshi to live longer and more prosperous lives.

Wealthier, developed countries looking at longevity often have an array of uncoordinated programs to help residents stay productive and healthy longer.Some have been launched by governments; others by nonprofits or private companies.

In the United Kingdom, The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) and insurer Aviva are experimenting with programs to help middle-aged people evaluate their jobs, finances and health, as well as their plans for later in life.In 2018, TPAS targeted a small group of self-employed workers, aged 35 to 50, with one-to-one phone conversations. There are now plans to make this midlife checkup an online program.

Just like when you take your car to the garage, UK Pensions Minister Guy Opperman said when launching the program, this service will highlight where improvements might be made to ensure everything is running smoothly.Aviva initially enrolled about 100 employees in workshops; it will offer the programs to all UK employees 45 and older.

Many European countries, including Denmark and Finland, now offer digital literacy training to adults. The goal: ensuring that older as well as younger people arent excluded from an increasingly digitized world.

In Ireland, where just 17% of those aged 65 to 74 have at least basic digital literacy skills, according to a 2017 Eurostat survey, the government has funded several nonprofits to provide 10 hours of free computer instruction to anyone who has never used the Internet. Its targeted for people over 45 and those who live in rural areas, are disabled or unemployed.

In the U.S., the federal government and most employers are not yet doing much to address longevity. Yet, as Kerry Hannon wrote on MarketWatch, Americans 65 to 74 and age 75 and older are expected to have faster annual rates of labor force growth than others. And just 77% of workers surveyed by the Transamerica Retirement Study said their employer is supportive of working past 65.

But U.S.-based nonprofits like Encore.org are tapping the potential of longer lives and intergenerational connections to help solve social problems.And ones such as iRelaunch and PathForward help midlifers re-enter the workplace after absences or layoffs.

Most people, whether they live in San Francisco or Singapore, when asked about their aspirations for living until 100, say I hope I dont outlive my money, orI hope I dont get dementia, said Carstensen.Its time to overcome those anxieties by envisioning, and sharing, all the ways we can use our extra time to improve the quality of our lives.

See original here:
Governments And Employers Need To Get Real About Longevity - Forbes

If youre ready to make some changes in 2020, weve rounded up the best longevity tips weve learned in the past year. Whether its adding more chili peppers to your diet, taking enough steps every day, or spending quality time with the people you love, these are the easiest ways to give yourself a fighting chance at a long healthy life.

You might want to bring some spice to your life. A study found eating chili peppers was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, for the people who ate chili peppers regularly, the all-cause mortality risk was 23 percent lower than those who didnt. Upping your intake can be as easy as sprinkling red pepper flakes or chili powder into your food.

Past research has shown being an optimist contributes to 11 to 15 percent longer life span, on average, and to greater odds of achieving exceptional longevity. (Aka, in this case, living to 85 years old or longer.) While its hard to stay positive all the time, making it your mission to cut down on pessimistic thinking can do you good.

Taking 10,000 steps a day is kind of the gold standard in terms of health, but thats not always going to happen. So rest assured: Research shows those who took at least 4,400 a day had a 41 percent lower mortality rate than those who took only 2,700 steps. But dont stop there: The benefits only grew up until 7,500 steps, where they plateaued. Also, when you do walk, walk quickly because another study found fast walkers tend to live longer.

The residents of Okinawa, Japan, have the longest life expectancy in the world. Part of that is due to what theyre eating, and seven prime foods stand out: bitter melons, tofu, sweet potatoes, turmeric, brown rice, shiitake mushrooms, and seaweed. Make them part of your repertoire for a long, healthy life, too.

One thing wellness journalist and chef Candice Kumai swears by for longevity is the traditional Japanese custom shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Shinrin-yoku is the practice of forest bathing and a way to connect to nature and I try to do thateven if thats looking at an ocean or a forest, Kumai says. Spend 10 minutes a day taking a walk, even just around your neighborhood. You dont need an actual forest to reap the benefits.

Theres definitely a sweet spot when it comes to sleep. Past studies have shown you shouldnt get too much or too little. With that being said, the final conclusion is this: Dont sleep less than six hours per day, and dont sleep more than 10 hours per day, as it can result in a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death. If you stay in the middle at 7 or 8 hours, youll be better able to keep yourself healthy now and in the future.

If you cant fall back asleep, use these helpful tips:

Eating too much sugar can certainly keep your from living a long, healthy life. Thats why experts say the key is cutting back, and you can help banish cravings by eating a specific combo. If youre physically craving something sweet, my go-to snack is five organic prunes and 10 organic raw almonds, eaten together, says functional medicine doctor Jill Baron, MD. Prunes have sweetness and many health benefits, including being high in potassium and fiber, as well as having alow glycemic load. And prunes eaten with almonds with give a great antioxidant boost and satisfy a craving for sweets.

Many things play into longevity, including your telomeresthe protective DNA caps that are on the ends of your chromosomes. While longer telomeres mean longer healthspans, shorter telomeres are linked to things like dementia and heart disease. And past research has shown theres a correlation between telomere length and quality relationships. In older people, having greater levels of social support isassociated with longer telomeres, says psychologist Elissa Epel, PhD. Thats why Epel says its so important to spend quality time with the people you love.

No, this isnt a trick. One study found you only need 30 minutes of physical activity a few times a week to stay healthy, and that included doing housework. Overall, the more activity a person did, the lower their risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease, says Scott Lear, the studys lead author. So get to cleaning and organizing. Your home will be spotless, and youll stay healthier and live longer because of it.

Japanese centenarians arent the only ones to look to for advice about longevity. Residents of Sardinia are also known for their impressively long lifespans, and they credit a handful of Italian foods as playing a part: barley, fava beans, cannonau wine, olive oil, kohlrabi, potatoes, sourdough bread, and tomatoes.

These are the healthiest foods to eat in the winter, according to a dietitian. Then find out some of the healthiest foods and drinks that came out this year.

Continue reading here:
The 10 best longevity tips we learned this year for living a longer, healthier life - Well+Good

Photo Credit: Bar-Ilan University

Fatty liver, or hepatic steatosis, which develops when the body produces too much fat or doesnt metabolize fat efficiently enough, affects around 25% of the global population. Excess fat is stored in liver cells, where it accumulates and can cause fatty liver and other diseases.

In a study just published in the journal Cell Reports, researchers reveal for the first time that SIRT6, a protein involved in regulating many biological processes such as aging, obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation and metabolism, also plays a crucial role in burning and regulating liver fat metabolism.

SIRT6 regulates fat metabolism by activating another protein called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha). This protein promotes the burning of fat in the liver. SIRT6 is like a juggler that balances and coordinates between metabolic processes in the body, says the studys lead author Prof. Haim Cohen, of Bar-Ilan Universitys Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences. By working together with PPAR-alpha, SIRT6 can actually send a message to the body to burn more fat. This cooperation is one way in which SIRT6 protects against fatty liver and fatty liver disease, as well as obesity-related damage.

Previous research by Cohen and colleagues revealed that increased SIRT6 extends lifespan. To test how the protein might also extend healthy lifespan the researchers in this study increased regular SIRT6 levels to counteract the decrease in SIRT6 found in a high fat diet and fatty liver disease. Using a computational tool developed with Prof. Ziv Bar Joseph from Carnegie Mellon University, they looked at different metabolic states, such as fasting and regular diet, and found that a greater expression of SIRT6 leads to the burning of more fat, specifically in the liver.

Not only does SIRT6 work with PPAR-alpha to prime the body to burn more fat and coordinate fat metabolism in the liver, but it can also regulate other metabolic pathways related to fat in the liver such as cholesterol and triglycerides metabolism, says Shoshana Naiman, a doctoral student at Bar-Ilan Universitys Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, who co-authored the study.

The team will now attempt to identify therapeutic approaches that can target and activate SIRT6.

This research was supported by grants from the Israel Science Foundation, the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and the Sagol Healthy Longevity Center at Bar-Ilan University.

Read more:
Bar-Ilan Researcher: Longevity Protein SIRT6 Also Protects Against Fatty Liver Disease - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191226005036/en/

NMN PURE VIP 9000 (Photo: Business Wire)

Washington University in St. Louis, (State of Missouri) has received grants for Scientific Research from the United States Department of Defense. Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. signed a contract with Washington University in St. Louis, Material Donation Agreement, for donation of NMN products used for the clinical researches named Effect of NMN Supplementation on Organ System Biology.

In the clinical researches, Professor Shin-Ichiro Imai (Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology/Department of Medicine(joint), and Samuel KleinMD, (William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science,Director Center for Human Nutrition, Chief, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Director, Center for Applied Research Sciences ,Director, Weight Management Program) will play a central part and verify the benefits of NMN via oral administration. NMN provided by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is highly regarded and so the products will be used officially in the researches.

NMN products provided by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. contains more than 99% overwhelmingly high purity NMN. In order to keep its quality and safety, 1) we manufacture the product by natural synthesis, not by chemical synthesis, 2) we have conducted and completed 24 weeks of human safety trial with National University. We hold scientific evidences and results (Appearance of SIRT1 longevity gene and increase in each growth hormone including melatonin) related to NMN only in the world.We also conduct researches, Elucidation of NMNs intracellular mechanism of action by Multi-Omics Analysis with the non-profit organization The Systems Biology Institute (SBI)(Representative: Dr Hiroaki Kitano) to elucidate NMN mechanism of action, and also Dogs Longevity and Anti-aging Effects by Medication of NMN : Confirmations of Positive Effects on Blood Component and Intestinal Flora with ,Activation of Longevity gene with National University of Yamaguchi, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Professor Toru Kimura : Biofunction Course, Laboratory Zoology). It will be completed the analysis and announced its results.

Our 3rd Lecture was held and organized by Shinkowa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The lecture Thinking about Health Realization of Productive Aging from the Vanguard of Aging and Lifespan was held at Hilton Hotel in Osaka, and the lecturer was Professor. Shin-Ichiro Imai from Washington University in St. Louis. This was the continuation of the lecture in Shanghai, China, held on 2nd of May 2019 and the chairman of which was Dr. Ryuji Hiramatsu who is an executive coordinator of Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe. The lecture included Qs and As sessions and we had over 150 attendees including the customers and the parties.We will continue to aim to achieve productive aging worldwide and will hold more lectures.* the 1st lecture: Tokyo, the 2nd lecture: Shanghai, China, the 3rd lecture: Osaka

In 1989:

Graduated from Keio University School of Medicine; Obtained a medical license

In 1993:

Finished masters degree in The Graduate Keio University School of Medicine

In 1995:

Obtained Ph.D.

1993-1997:

Assistant Professor, Microbiology, Keio University School of Medicine (Dr. Toshiya Takano)

1997-2001:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Leonard Guarente Laboratory)

From July 2001:

Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology

From July 2008:

Associate Professor (Tenured on 3rd October), Washington University School of Medicine,

Department of Developmental Biology (Renamed from 2008),

Department of Medicine (Joint)

From May 2013:

Professor, Washington University School of Medicine,

Department of Developmental Biology,

Department of Medicine (Joint)

Started cellular aging and immortality researches while in Medical School of Keio University.Continued researches to elucidate molecular mechanism of aging and longevity. In 1998, published Heterochromatin Island Hypothesis regarding aging and immortality mechanism. To prove the hypothesis, started yeast and mammal Sir2 researches at Guarente Laboratory in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2000, discovered that Sir2 is NAD-dependent protein deacetylase and its activation is important for controlling longevity. Since 2001, as a principal of laboratory in Washington University, engaged in mechanism of metabolism, aging and control of longevity researches focusing on mammal Sir1 and NAD synthesis.Encouraging on the importance of hypothalamus for aging and longevity control, the proof of importance of NAD synthetic intermediate, pursuit of NAD World that considers metabolism, aging and longevity as generalized control system, and establishment of anti-aging methodology to aim to Productive Aging.

Chairman: Dr. Ryuji HiramatsuDoctor of AgricultureDirector of Research,Industry-academia Collaboration of Institute of Biomedical Research and InnovationExecutive coordinator,Cooperation and Business promotion groupFoundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe

With our NMN researches, under the theme The Science of Wellness, we aim to achieve productive aging worldwide. We will strengthen, extend, and publicize our researches, sales and efficacy of NMN to contribute to the improvement of humans Quality Of Life (QOL)Our NMN products are available via the following links.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191226005036/en/

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Shinkowa Pharmaceutical: Notice for the Conclusion of NMN Product's Material Donation Agreement (MDA) with Washington University in St. Louis -...

Looking back 150 years, the proportion of elderly in Japans population was only a few per cent; now it exceeds 27%, making Japan the worlds top super-aged society. In 2060, it will exceed 38% and remain at this level in the future, retaining its top spot. OECD countries and many emerging economies including China will follow suit at their own respective speeds. The transition is a great outcome of public health and medicine.

A super-aged society is a natural consequence of longevity and we should celebrate it; on the other hand, our new challenge is healthy longevity or how we can be healthy, active and happy until the very end of our lives. Japanese data on the elderly, gathered by Dr Hiroko Akiyama of the University of Tokyo, suggests that health status at 65 is a strong indication of quality of life for the rest of life. In the 70-year-lifespan model, where people die in their 60s or 70s, health is not as big an issue for working-age people; in the 100-year lifespan model, one should continuously invest in ones health from as early a point as possible to maintain ones health after retirement. But how?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers good news on this front. Now, it is much easier than ever before to gather indicators of what affects ones health. We can gather genomic data, daily vitality data, health check data and medical treatment data. We can also gather data regarding lifestyle, social connectedness and financial activity all at a lower cost. Then artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analysis can help us to understand our health more accurately and easily, and maintain it cost-effectively. We have rich new solutions for healthier lives.

The issue is the motivation or incentive for ordinary people to invest in their health before becoming elderly. Health geeks with rich health literacy invest in their health, using new technology but we observe quite a number of ordinary people with less health literacy. How can we inspire such uninterested people toward health investment or prevention before becoming sick?

The traditional approaches are from government, insurers or healthcare providers. National or local governments encourage members of their populations to improve health literacy and to receive health checks. Insurers may change member premiums and conditions, based on the member's health status or lifestyle. Hospitals and medical doctors are in a good position to advise locals. However, governments tend to lack resources, insurers cannot reach non-members and hospitals cannot cover people who dont come to hospitals.

Governments can enforce obligations for ordinary individuals or businesses to take care of their health. A typical example of this is regulation for occupational health. While the requirement level and compliance level differs country by country, we observe employers obligations to secure employee safety and health in offices and factories in many countries. However, while a legal obligation is good at securing minimum standards, it is not good at encouraging best practices. An obligation is necessary but insufficient.

We need to use incentives for both individuals and businesses to realize better occupational health. A public-private partnership programme called Health and Productivity Management (H&PM) started in Japan six years ago. It encourages CEOs and company management to invest on a voluntary basis in their employees' health for productivity and creativity purposes. The return of that investment is healthier employees with energy and enthusiasm and better evaluations from the labour market, capital markets, customers and society, all of which improves the value of the company. Now, more than 2,300 large companies and 35,000 SMEs in Japan have implemented H&PM.

External evaluation strengthens the return of investment. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange select 35 listed companies from 26 sectors (based on the results of a yearly survey) for the H&PM stock selection competition. in addition, Nippon Kenko Kaigi, a large business and medical federation including the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Japan Medical Association, nominates 3,300 companies as certified H&PM companies.

So far, we have observed positive outcomes from H&PM. In the past five years, certified H&PM companies have outperformed other ordinary companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, according to an analysis by Tokyo Mitsubishi and Morgan Stanley Securities. Some institutional investors such as AXA Insurance have started considering H&PM as one element of environment, social and corporate governance (ESG).

While direct evidence is lacking, logically speaking, H&PM will have positive external effects on the rest of society and the economy, since healthier employees become healthier citizens and active consumers. Considering new business trends such as the SDGs, ESG or stakeholder capitalism, some companies are now more focused on these external effects than on the financial returns derived.

Countries with the largest populations aged 60 and above

H&PM is not unique to Japan: Johnson & Johnson started H&PM decades ago and say one dollar invested generates 3 dollars in return. The US Chamber of Commerce issued a report that poor occupational health reduces GDP by 8.2%, 7%, 5.4% in the US, Japan and China respectively. In 2019, Business 20 (B20) included H&PM into its proposal to the G20. H&PM is a good strategy for improving occupational health in emerging economies with fewer initial resources. Sri Lanka started an H&PM awards programme in 2019.

It is fair to say that the rapid expansion of H&PM in Japan faces a unique challenge owing to the countrys labour shortage. As an ageing society, Japan lacks younger individuals as human resources, which makes recruitment a very important business issue. The same is true for the need to retain trained staff and convincing them not to resign. While H&PM works very well in this regard, such a labour shortage may happen in many countries as they age.

Increasing human productivity is one of the hot topics among global businesses amid rapid industrial structural change. I believe, H&PM is a new, positive strategy for realizing healthy longevity which will prove effective in many companies and economies.

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World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with our Terms of Use.

Written by

Kazumi Nishikawa, Director, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Go here to see the original:
How to get ageing populations to invest in their health - World Economic Forum

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| 3 min read | by Doug Marrin, dmarrin@thesuntimesnews.com |

Bob Dylan could have very well been describing Dexter Township resident Howard Booth when he wrote may you stay forever young. And now in his 70s, Howard is still competing and collecting the medals and trophies to prove it.

I had a chance to sit down with him and hear a little more about his astounding athleticism at his age. My first question for him was, How is this even possible at age 76?

By basically staying fit, he says. I was a high schoolathlete who played all four sports in Mio, Michigan. There were a lot ofopportunities to play sports and enjoy them. Growing up, there just wasnt alot of fun stuff to do in town other than sports. There wasnt a lot going on.

Howard has lived an active life regularly competing in one way or another in various sports. This year at age 76, he went to Torun, Poland and won the World Masters Championship for indoor pole vault thus remaining the ranking world champion in his age group. He also set an American record in the short hurdles becoming world champion in that event as well. He also runs the 100-meter dash and 400-meter relay for Team USA.

World Masters Athletics (WMA) is the organization behind worldwide track and field, cross country, and road running events for people 35 years of age and older. Along with sanctioning worldwide events, WMA outlines the rule modifications for different age levels. Separate worldwide championships are held for indoor events and outdoor events.

As a kid playing pick up games with friends in sandlot baseball and basketball, Howard moved on to varsity sports in high school and then on to collegiate sports at Eastern Michigan University.

Surprisingly, in spite of his athletic prowess, Howard went to college on an academic scholarship. His father felt his diminutive size at 5 6 tall and 130 pounds would only get him hurt playing against bigger players. Howard found other ways to keep moving and stay active. He caught the eye of coaches anyway and was recruited for the gymnastics team, the track team, and cheerleading. And then after graduation, he settled into road running for the next 30 years just for health. He did many 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events like the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run.

My brother talked me into doing the Pikes Peak Ascent, which is the half marathon from the bottom of Pikes Peak up to the top, said Howard. So you go a mile-and-a-half vertical while youre going 13.1 miles horizontal. Its a really challenging race.

So, after a lifetime of staying in one sport or another, as a 60-year-old, friends suggested I try the Senior Olympics, Howard explains. I looked up what they were jumping with a pole vault. I went out into my backyard and cut a maple sapling which I had done back in my high school days. I took some jumps and figured Okay, I can I can still do this.

At Howards first outing at the Michigan Senior Olympics, he set a Michigan age group record for the 60-65 age group. From there his athletic ability spread out into running and long-jump events.

Fast forward 15 years and at the 2019 Michigan Senior Olympics, Howard won five gold medals and set five records in pole vault, long jump, 60-meter sprint, 60-meter hurdles, and the 300-meter dash. He scored a plethora of other medals and records at other events as well.

It is no surprise that this past summer Howard was selectedas one of the three inductees into the Michigan Senior Olympics Hall of Fame.It is quite an elite club with only 19 members before this years ceremony.

But back to my original question: How is this possible for a person of Howards age?

You ask how a 76-year-old is still pole-vaulting within inches of the world record on a really good day? Howard laughs. A big part of it is consciously working at it but also never having let it go. I didnt do the typical American thing which was after college get totally immersed in my job and gain 30 pounds. Athletics was a big part of my life in high school and college and I brought that along with me. Life was hectic. We had a young baby. I was finishing my Ph.D. but I still found time to get out for a half-hour to an hour run of some kind.

Before retiring, Howard was a Professor of Physiology atEastern Michigan University. I asked him if his profession gave him any specialinsight into how the body operates and ages.

Absolutely, he replies. We are doing an awful lot ofmental activity when the brain coordinates with the muscles. Were onlyconscious of little snippets of it. You might just be thinking about jumping upand flipping the ball into the net while avoiding the hand of the defender, butthere are millions of synaptic connections that make all that happen.

We should have a great appreciation that our body needs to be out there doing things and moving, he stresses. Its very good for us. As a society, we reward our brainpower but your body needs physical activity and the more you do it the more you keep it.

To the younger generations he offers this advice: Theresabsolutely a huge quality of life thing associated with what Lu and I aredoing. Were very active. We feel good. So much of our society is digital andelectronics, mental exercise, but youve got to find a place in all that foryour physical body and it will reward you back.

Howard admits hes got a list of old man problems such asosteoarthritis, but he works around them. However bad your physical problemsare, physical fitness makes it better, he says.

If youve let yourself go, no matter your age, Howard says, You can always turn it around. You may not become a senior Olympian, but you can always start exercising. Use the old guidelines of aerobic things like walking, walking more, and then walking faster. There is a lot of good value in just walking down the country road thinking about the trees and birds, maybe with your dog along, and not about work or all the things that need to be done at home.

Youre always going to have aches and pains, either fromworking out a little too hard yesterday or because youre old, tired, and yourbody is falling apart, says Howard.

Howard does not claim that staying fit and active can fix or prevent everything. But it does make a lot of things better, he says.

Read more about Howards senior athletic achievements at Local Athlete Earns Silver Medal, Four Top 10 Finishes in World Masters Athletics Championships and Dexter Townships Booth gets redemption, wins gold at World Masters Athletics.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of Howard Booth.

More:
At 76, Dexter Township senior remains a competitive athlete | his secrets for longevity and health - thesuntimesnews.com

Long life expectancy can be achieved through some simple lifestyle changes. Alongside eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, plenty of sleep, moderate alcohol intake and not smoking are also important.

When it comes to what foods and drinks to consume to live longer, the ingredient in mulled wine have been shown to hold a host of benefits.

Mulled wine is made from red wine mixed with various spices, including cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.

While it should be consumed within alcohol guidelines - no more than 14 units a week - here are the benefits of enjoying the festive tipple this Christmas.

Small mounts of red wine have been linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic drink, and relationships between wine-drinking and lower risk of heart disease have been drawn.

READ MORE:Type 2 diabetes: Foods that could increase your risk of developing the condition

Drinking small amounts of red wine may reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to retain good HDL cholesterol in the blood.

Oxidative damage and the oxidation of the bad LDL cholesterol may be reduced by up to 50 percent.

Some studies have even suggested populations already at a high risk of heart disease, like the elderly, may benefits even more from moderate wine consumption.

Many studies have shown moderate wine drinkers are at lower risk of death from heart disease compared to non-drinkers or beer and spirit drinkers.

Red wines powerful plant compounds and antioxidants, such as resveratrol, have also been proven beneficial.

Resveratrol is found in grape skin and is produced in some plants as a response to damage or injury.

The antioxidant has been linked with fighting inflammation and blood clotting, as well as a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

Resveratrol has also been shown to make test animals live longer.

But it should be noted the resveratrol content of red wine is low, and you would have to consume several bottles per day to reach the amount used in animal studies.

Cinnamon has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol.

It reduced levels of total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while good HDL cholesterol remains stable.

A review study concluded a cinnamon dose of just 120mg per day can have these effects.

Ginger has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high cholesterol, 3g of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most cholesterol markers.

Research has shown the compounds found in cloves could help keep blood sugar under control.

If blood sugar remains high over a long period of time it can increase the risk of serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease.

An animal study found clove extract helped moderate blood sugar increases in diabetic mice.

Animal studies have shown taking high-dose nutmeg supplements can reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides levels.

More human studies is needed, but other health benefits of nutmeg include anti-inflammatory properties and improved blood sugar control.

Read this article:
How to live longer: The festive drink that could boost your longevity - Express

You always plant a seed for the season to come and The Ossory Agriculture Show Society has been planting seeds for 121 years with a successful agricultural event attracting people from all over the country.

The comparison of farmers planting for the next season and The Ossory Show Society planning its next big move is how Director of Services at Laois County Council, Donal Brennan, praised the society at its Civic Reception in February.

The Ossory Show is 121 years old. Through that period not only has it survived but it has thrived and grown and gone from success to success.

Agricultural shows in many ways are like agriculture itself you always plant for the season to come.

You have plans to grow and that is evidence of your planning to go forward from strength to strength, Mr Brennan said.

There was a huge turnout and the hard work of all the members, sponsors and supporters was praised for such a successful event.

Chairperson Peter Ging said young people helping with the show have given it a new lease of life.

Over the last number of years, it looked like the show was kind of going down because we were all getting on in age.

Over the last four or five years, there are a number of younger people that have come in and they have really changed the show and we have gone from having the field half full of cars to now not having enough space for what we are putting in the field.

Mr Ging thanked everyone involved for their hard work.

It still is one of the best cattle shows in Ireland but we also have everything for the family now and thats our aim to continue to grow our show.

We can't do that without sponsorship and the help of everybody involved. Thank all our members for supporting us and working hard, he said.

Former Chairperson of the show, Marty Phelan, said the show must go on and it is held on one of the best sites in the country.

I was Chairman of the old show in the tin house and we acquired the site and it has developed into a wonderful showground in a very good location.

The showgrounds now are an unbelievable amenity for the local area and its probably one of the best sites in the country.

The Ossory Show originally took place at Donaghmore Workhouse Museum and moved to Rathdowney in 1915.

The show took the title of Laois County Show in 1927 and affiliated with the Irish Shows Association in the 1940s.

It celebrated 120 years in 2018 and has continued to keep pace with the changing times.

Then Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, John King said the show is a significant part of Laois heritage.

Brian Stanley TD shared his earliest memories of the show and praised the hard work of the members.

Councillors Brendan Phelan, Caroline Dwane Stanley and James Kelly congratulated the society on the night.

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Longevity of Ossory Show is celebrated in Laois - Leinster Express

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Restoration of historic St. Matthew's Church is well underway - Daily Inter Lake

The last year of this decade started amid a power struggle between the White House and the Democratic leaders in Congress, resulting in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

By the end of the year, a U.S. president had been impeached for only the third time by the House of Representatives.

In between those two historic events, all eyes stayed on Congress and President Donald Trump. Capitol Hill was the scene of hearings related to special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in U.S. elections and an impeachment inquiry that followed Trump's phone call with Ukraine asking for an investigation into a political rival.

Elsewhere, communities found themselves once again coping with gun violence. A school in Colorado lost two students within weeks of the 20th anniversary of Columbine. A Poway, California, synagogue was the scene of a shooting six months after 11 people died at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. The list of shooting scenes expanded when gunfire erupted at a garlic festival in Gilroy, California, a kosher market in Jersey City, New Jersey, and a backyard barbecue in Fresno.

Weeks- and months-long protests became the norm around the world, intensifying in scale and longevity. Hong Kong protesters wore gas masks and sunk the territory's GDP in a pro-democracy, anti-Beijing demonstration that lasted from summer to winter. French strikers shut down the country's metro system and the Eiffel Tower amid pension changes. In Sweden, a 16-year-old girl picketing alone in front of parliament became the symbol of a global youth movement for climate change.

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Humans are living longer than their ancestors did.The average human being could become a centenarian if they follow recent guidelines targeted at longevity genes contribute only 20% to longevity; 80% of longevity lies in the hands of individuals.

Life experiences are very exciting, and many people want to stay active, disease-free and live longer.

Autophagy and stress resistanceIn order to remain healthy, the cells and tissues (of our bodies) need to stay clean and healthy cells should be able to get rid of damaged cellular structures like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and abnormal proteins and also be able to withstand stressors like free-radicals and oxidizing agents.

The process of removing debris from cells is known as Autophagy (cellular housecleaning)

The ability for cells to withstand injury from glucose deprivation, free radicals, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation is known as stress-resistance.

It is Autophagy and Stress resistance that keep cells healthy and therefore improve healthspan and lifespan.

Decreased cellular autophagy (as seen in oxidative stress) leads to the accumulation of abnormal cellular structures and proteins that potentially could harm cells for example, the accumulation of abnormal proteins in brain cells (neurons) leads to Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease decreased autophagy promotes systemic inflammation and tumor development.

Improvement in cellular autophagy makes cells healthy, extends health-span and lifespan.

Unfortunately, Autophagy and Stress resistance decrease with age.

There are three known enzyme groups that modify Autophagy and Stress resistance these enzymes affect our health status and longevity.

These three enzyme proteins are nutrient-sensors, and affect our metabolic health and Longevity.

1The mTOR Pathway: mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is a group of enzymes that support cellular growth and the storage of energy as Fat and Glycogen, instead of ATP.

Senescence cells are cells that have stopped producing nucleotides (DNA) and have lost their ability to divide and function correctlySenescent cells secret various proteins that promote Inflammation, and Tumor growthSenescent cells recruit neighboring cells to become senescent.

It has been shown that any activities that block mTOR actions, do make us healthier, thinner and prolong both our lifespan and our health-spans.

What promotes MTOR activity?Food is the primary activator of mTOR activity.There is the release of Hormones such as Insulin (after glucose ingestion) and Insulin-like growth factor-1 (after a high protein meal) which, promote mTOR activities ingestion of Animal protein, (especially those containing high-proportion of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like Methionine, Leucine Isoleucine and Valine) is associated with high blood levels of IGF-1 and Insulin.

IGF-1 and Insulin promote rapid aging.It has been established that high blood glucose is the strongest factor associated with rapid agingLow blood glucose level is strongly associated with longevity.

Calorie restrictionWithout eating there shall be no secretion of IGF-1 and Insulin.

Calorie restriction and Intermittent fasting block mTOR activities while feeding promotes mTOR activityCalorie restriction, in addition activates Sirtuins, promote Autophagy and keep cells healthy.

2The SIRTUINSThe Sirtuins are a family of seven enzyme that require NAD+ (as a cofactor) for their enzymatic activitiesIn the absence of NAD+, Sirtuins cease to function.

The longevity promotion activity of the sirtuins include:

Low levels of the Sirtuins have been associated with the following: Cellular SenescencePoor stress resistance, InflammationsHeart diseasesNeurodegenerationIncreased body fat and Diabetes

Question: What is NAD+?Answer: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a vitamin B3 derivative that serves as an important cofactor for many enzymes of the bodyNAD+ activate Sirtuin proteins.

.Question: What activities increase the levels of NAD+?

Answer

Ingestion of NAD+ precursors from plants help to replenish NAD+ in the bodyEdible plants llke EdamameBroccoliFermented and cooked cornMushroomsTomatoesCocoa nibs have the NAD precursors that can be processed into NAD+ by the body.

3AMPK (The AMP-Kinase)AMPK promotes longevity byPromoting autophagy (cellular housekeeping)preventing cellular senescence and thus blocks cancer development and inflammation

Converting fats and glycogen into energy (ATP) and blocking energy storage as fat and glycogen

Promoting mitochondria (cellular energy houses) production more mitochondria a cell has the younger they become.

And AMPK activity declines sharply with age.35 That is why we become less energetic and gain weight with age also become increasingly vulnerable to cancer and diseases associated with impaired DNA and protein function

AMPK acts as anti-inflammatory agentAtherosclerosis, Diabetes and other metabolic diseases result from inflammation and the AMPK helps to avoid these conditions.

By reducing inflammation throughout the body, AMPK promotes lifespan and healthspanAMPK prevents premature death from complications of aging such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

AMPK pathway is activated by the following:High intensity training (generates more AMP)Fasting and conditions that reduce cellular energy stores.

Polyphenols including Resveratrol, Catechins (as in cocoa products)

Biguanide medications for diabetes, including Metformin

ANTIAGING PATHWAYSConditions that induce cellular stress promote 1Autophagy, 2 Sirtuins, 3.NAD+ and 4AMPK activities to protect cells and cellular structures and thus enhance health-span and longevity.

Such conditions, recommended for adoption to promote longevity, include:

Question: what are the advantages of calorie restriction?

Answer: CR inhibit mTOR enzymes, activate Sirtuins, and Promotes Autophagy.

Calorie restriction (CR) is the only effective way to extend lifespan and health-span without medications and genetic modifications.

Question: Why are plant proteins preferred to animal proteins?

Answer: branched chain amino acids (BCAA) abound in animal proteins: Meat, Fish, Eggs and PoultryBCAAs promote mTOR activities.

Plant have less proteins which is just about optimal for normal physiologyLess than adequate protein consumption engages the survival circuit inhibits mTOR and turns the cells resources towards repair mode, instead of storage mode.

Question: How does exposure to cold promote Longevity?

Answer: Exposure to cold generates Brown fat; it also promotes NAD+ activity

Brown fat helps the body to utilize the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to generate heat during cold exposureBCAAs promote Diabetes and obesity by removing BCAAs from the circulation, brown fat help to prevent Diabetes and Obesity and other metabolic diseases.

PRACTICAL POINTSQuestion: What are the examples of high intensity Training/Exercises?

Answer: High intensity training (HIT) include Jump ropes or Skipping rape jogging Jumping jacks and Running up the stairsA 30-minutes each day of high intensity exercise is fine.

To achieve longevity, High Intensity Training is requiredIt is not how long you exercise that determines longevityIt is the exercise intensity that stimulate the longevity genes (Sirtuins, NAD+, AMPK) into action.

Exercise training above the public health recommendations provides additional benefits regarding disease protection and longevityEndurance exercise, including high-intensity training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness promotes longevity and slows down agingStrength training should be added to slow down loss of muscle mass, associated with aging and diseasehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30640736

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is the single best predictor of current and future health.

Higher level of total physical activity exceeding 10-12 METS is strongly associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and ischemic stroke.https://www.bmj.com/content/354/bmj.i3857

SKIPPING ROPE/JUMP ROPE- AS A high Intensity Exercise

Rope jumps/skipping Rope burns calories at about 12 METS.

A single jump burns 0.1 calorieJump roping burns as many calories in 30 minutes as running at a pace of 6 m.p.hSkipping ropes are accessible, and portable you only need a soft place to jump repeatedly.

Duration of skipping ropeFor beginners, start with 10-minutes workout session per dayThe target is 3000 jumps or more, each day, 5 days/week, for the next 5-6 decades.

Studies indicate that Endurance exercise, including high-intensity training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness promotes longevity and slows down ageing those who jog regularly have longer telomeres than their cohort who do not.

STRENGTH TRAINING:Strength training should be added to slow down the loss of muscle mass, associated with aging and diseases we can do the high Intensity Training only when we have adequate muscle power.

For strength training, a single set comprising 10-15 reps for each muscle groups, twice a week (at least 2 days apart) adequate.

SUMMARYThe youth promoting lifestyles are:1HIT >30 minutes 5 or more days each week2Calorie restriction or intermittent fasting 3Replace animal protein with plant proteins4create a habit of getting exposed intermittently to cold weather conditions just do it; you will be happy by the way, Happy People generate healthy lifestyles.

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