Recent Longevity News for the week ending 6/24/20

Vitamin D may help prevent a common side effect of anti-cancer immunotherapy - Science Daily, 6/22/20 - "The study included information on 213 patients with melanoma who received immune checkpoint inhibitors between 2011 and 2017. Thirty-seven (17 percent) of these patients developed colitis. Sixty-six patients in the study (31 percent) took vitamin D supplements before starting treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors ... Patients who took vitamin D had 65 percent lower odds of developing colitis" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com and vitamin D at iHerb.

Probiotics Reduce Allergic Rhinitis in Children and Adults - Medscape, 6/18/20 - "The 115 infants in the probiotic group received five drops of L reuteri daily from the age of 4 weeks to 12 weeks. "The drops were put on the mother's nipple, directly to the child's mouth," she explained ... The 201 children in the control group were breast-fed without any supplements. All children were followed by the same pediatrician until they were 9 years of age ... Children in the probiotic group were three times less likely to develop allergic rhinitis than those in the control group" - See probiotic supplements at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Gardasil-9 Approved for Prevention of Head and Neck Cancers - Medscape, 6/15/20 - "The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the indication for the Gardasil-9 (Merck) vaccine to include prevention of oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58" - Get it. Don't be like me with a seven-inch vertical scare from the back of your ear to your collar bone and then from the middle of that to your Adam's apple.

Multi-ethnic study suggests vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age - Science Daily, 6/15/20 - "The meta-analysis, involving nearly 4,000 Americans aged 54-76, one-third of whom were non-white ... the people with the lowest vitamin K levels had a 19 percent higher risk of death, compared to the those with vitamin K levels that reflected adequate vitamin K intake" - See vitamin k2 at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Improved gut microbiota with cholesterol-lowering medication - Science Daily, 6/15/20 - "The positive and hitherto unknown effect of statins identified by the researchers was that the proportion of individuals with Bact2 decreased in the group given statin therapy, resulting in a more normal gut microbiota"

Addressing the safety of high folate levels in the older population and implications for fortification in Ireland - Science Daily, 6/15/20 - "While fortification is proven to reduce NTDs, several influential publications in the US suggest that very high folate levels in older persons, if coupled with low vitamin B12, leads to poorer brain function and a faster rate of cognitive decline ... It found no evidence that having high blood levels of folate affected the risk of cognitive decline in those with low levels of vitamin B12. Moreover, having higher folate seemed to be associated with better cognitive function in these older adults"

Exposure to air pollution impairs cellular energy metabolism - Science Daily, 6/15/20 - "particulate matter exposure causes critical impairment in the metabolism of olfactory mucosal cells. These functions of mitochondria, the cellular organelles responsible for energy production, are disturbed by air pollutants. The researchers also identified the mitochondria-targeted NPTX1 gene, which has been shown previously to be associated with brain disorders, as a key driver of mitochondrial dysfunction upon particulate matter exposure"

Cannabis Use Is Associated With a Small Increase in the Risk of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - Medscape, 6/22/20 - "postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) ... we estimated that the relative risk for PONV associated with daily cannabis use was 1.19" - The way I read that, there was an increased risk of nausea and vomiting.  It just seems like every claim that the users come up with turns out to be the opposite such as the claim that it helps insomnia when studies say it makes it worse, helps depression when it makes it worse, increases creativity when it makes it worse, It relaxes you around your kids when it's the opposite, etc.

How to lose belly fat: Stop with the crunches and change your diet instead - CNET, 6/9/20 - "Don't let the myth of spot reduction discourage you from working out at all -- a well-balanced diet, an exercise routine that includes weight training and cardio and a healthy dose of self-love will help get you where you need to be" - Maybe but many studies seem to indicate that certain supplements may help.  See my page on abdominal fat.

Adult stem cell study shows fish oil may help with depression - Science Daily, 6/11/20 - "For many years, scientists have paid scant attention to glia -- a type of brain cell that surrounds neurons -- but there is increasing evidence that glia may play a role in depression. Our study suggests that glia may also be important for antidepressant action ... Our study also showed that a stem cell model can be used to study response to treatment and that fish oil as a treatment, or companion to treatment, for depression warrants further investigation" - [Nutra USA] - See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Exploring the Links Between Coronavirus and Vitamin D - NYT, 6/10/20 - "In the meantime, Dr. Manson said people should take simple steps to avoid vitamin D deficiencies, such as being physically active outside while social distancing and eating foods like fortified cereals, fortified dairy, sun-dried mushrooms and fish. For people who cannot get outside or get enough vitamin D from their diets, supplementing with 1,000 to 2,000 IU a day is reasonable, she said. But she urged people not to take high doses" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com and vitamin D at iHerb.

A good vitamin D status can protect against cancer - Science Daily, 6/10/20 - "A good vitamin D status is beneficial both in cancer prevention and in the prognosis of several cancers, according to a new research review. The anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are especially pronounced in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer and blood cancers. In addition, high vitamin D responsiveness can be linked to a smaller cancer risk ... individuals differ in their molecular response or sensitivity to vitamin D supplementation. For example, 25% of the Finnish population seem to be low responders, needing a higher dose of vitamin D supplementation to reach the full clinical benefit. In terms of cancer risk, being a high responder can be expected to have a protective effect" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com and vitamin D at iHerb.

Abstracts from this week:

Effect of Astaxanthin on Activation of Autophagy and Inhibition of Apoptosis in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Epithelial Cell Line AGS - Nutrients 2020 Jun 11 - "Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection leads to the massive apoptosis of the gastric epithelial cells, causing gastric ulcers, gastritis, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Autophagy is a cellular recycling process that plays important roles in cell death decisions and can protect cells by preventing apoptosis ... Astaxanthin (AST) is a potent anti-oxidant that plays anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer roles in various cells. In the present study, we examined whether AST inhibits H. pylori-induced apoptosis through AMPK-mediated autophagy in the human gastric epithelial cell line AGS (adenocarcinoma gastric) in vitro. In this study, H. pylori induced apoptosis. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, enhanced the H. pylori-induced apoptosis of AGS cells. In contrast, metformin, an AMPK activator, suppressed H. pylori-induced apoptosis, showing that AMPK activation inhibits H. pylori-induced apoptosis. AST inhibited H. pylori-induced apoptosis by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK and decreasing the phosphorylation of RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt) and mTOR in H. pylori-stimulated cells. The number of LC3B puncta in H. pylori-stimulated cells increased with AST. These results suggest that AST suppresses the H. pylori-induced apoptosis of AGS cells by inducing autophagy through the activation of AMPK and the downregulation of its downstream target, mTOR. In conclusion, AST may inhibit gastric diseases associated with H. pylori infection by increasing autophagy through the activation of the AMPK pathway" - See astaxanthin at Amazon.com and iHerb.

The Coffee Ingredients Caffeic Acid (CA) and Caffeic Acid Phenylethyl Ester (CAPE) Protect Against Irinotecan Induced Leukopenia and Oxidative Stress Response - Br J Pharmacol 2020 Jun 16 - "Irinotecan, a drug used in colorectal cancer therapy is metabolized by glucuronidation involving different UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A isoforms, which leads to facilitated elimination from the body. Individuals homozygous for the genetic variants UGT1A1*28 (Gilbert syndrome) and UGT1A7*3 are more susceptible to irinotecan drug side effects such as severe diarrhea and leukopenia. Aim of this study was to study the protective effects and active constituents of coffee during irinotecan therapy using humanized transgenic (htg)UGT1A-WT and htgUGT1A-SNP (carry UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A7*3 polymorphisms) mice ... HtgUGT1A mice were pre-treated with coffee or caffeic acid (CA)+ caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE) and injected with irinotecan ... Only the combination of the two coffee ingredients, CA and CAPE, mediates the protective effects of coffee in a model of irinotecan toxicity by activation of UGT1A genes. Coffee and CA+CAPE significantly increased UGT1A expression and activity as well as SN-38 glucuronide excretion in irinotecan injected htgUGT1A mice resulting in the significant improvement of leukopenia, intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation ... CA and CAPE represent key factors of the protective properties of coffee capable of reducing irinotecan toxicity and exerting antioxidant and protective effects. Provided that CA+CAPE do not affect irinotecan efficacy, they might represent a potential novel strategy for the treatment of irinotecan toxicity" - See green coffee bean extract at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Metformin Inhibits Intracranial Aneurysm Formation and Progression by Regulating Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching via the AMPK/ACC Pathway - J Neuroinflammation 2020 Jun 16 - "vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) ... intracranial aneurysm (IA) ... Metformin protects against IA formation and rupture by inhibiting VSMC phenotype switching and proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Thus, metformin has therapeutic potential for the prevention of IA" - ReliableRXPharmacy carries metformin.

• Intracranial aneurysm - Wiki - "Intracranial aneurysm, also known as brain aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel"

Effect of Daily 2000 IU Versus 800 IU Vitamin D on Blood Pressure Among Adults Age 60 Years and Older: A Randomized Clinical Trial - Am J Clin Nutr 2020 Jun 15 - "Observational studies report higher blood pressure (BP) among individuals with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration ... Participants were randomly assigned to receive high dose (2000 IU) or standard dose (800 IU) daily vitamin D3 for 24 mo ... While daily 2000 IU and 800 IU vitamin D3 reduced mean systolic BP over 2 y to a small and similar extent, 2000 IU reduced mean systolic BP variability significantly more compared with 800 IU. However, without a placebo control group we cannot ascertain whether vitamin D supplementation effectively reduces BP" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com and vitamin D at iHerb.

Resveratrol Alleviates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Associated Hepatic Steatosis and Injury in Mice Challenged With Tunicamycin - Mol Nutr Food Res 2020 Jun 11 - "RSV attenuated the TM-induced increases in lipid peroxidation, hepatocyte apoptosis, and the overactivation of inflammatory signals ... Conclusion: RSV may have an auxiliary therapeutic potential to prevent the development of steatosis and its progression to steatohepatitis in the liver by alleviating severe ER stress" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com and resveratrol at iHerb.

• Steatohepatitis - Wiki - "Steatohepatitis is a type of fatty liver disease, characterized by inflammation of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation in liver. Mere deposition of fat in the liver is termed steatosis, and together these constitute fatty liver changes"

Efficacy and Safety of Tadalafil vs Tamsulosin in Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) as a Result of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)-open Label Randomised Controlled Study - Int J Clin Pract 2020 Jun 15;e13530 - "100 patients of BPH with an IPSS score of more than 7, without any complications of the disease were computer randomised to receive therapy with either tamsulosin 0.4 mg or tadalafil 5 mg once daily for a period of 2 months ... once daily monotherapy with tadalafil 5 mg or tamsulosin 0.4 mg was equally efficacious in the management of moderate to severely bothersome LUTS in majority of patients as a result of BPH. The role of Tadalafil monotherapy in BPH patients with predominant storage LUTS merits further evaluation with larger trials" - ReliableRXPharmacy carries tadalafil.

Effects of Long-Term Administration of Multi-Strain Probiotic on Circulating Levels of BDNF, NGF, IL-6 and Mental Health in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial - Nutr Neurosci 2020 Jun 5;1-12 - "Patients were randomized into intervention and control groups to receive 2 multi-strain probiotic capsules or placebo, daily for six months ... From baseline to 6 months, probiotic supplementation resulted in a significant increase in BDNF and a significant reduction in the IL-6 levels (P < 0.001). Our findings revealed that probiotic supplementation compared to placebo caused a significant improvement in the general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) (-5.31 ± 4.62 vs. -1.81 ± 4.23; P = 0.002), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (-4.81 ± 0.79 vs. -1.90 ± 0.96; P = 0.001), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) (-3.81 ± 6.56 vs. 0.24 ± 5.44; P = 0.007) and Pain Rating Index (PRI) ... Overall, six months of probiotic supplementation resulted in greater improvement in mental health parameters" - See probiotic supplements at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Effects of Citicoline as an Adjunct Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review - J Alzheimers Dis 2020 Jun 6 - "Limited evidence from pooled data of two observational studies suggests that CC used in adjunct with AChEIs in the treatment of AD was well-tolerated and showed improvement in cognition, mood, and behavioral symptoms compared to treating with AChEIs alone" - See citicholine at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Choline, Neurological Development and Brain Function: A Systematic Review Focusing on the First 1000 Days - Nutrients 2020 Jun 10 - "The foundations of neurodevelopment across an individual's lifespan are established in the first 1000 days of life (2 years). During this period an adequate supply of nutrients are essential for proper neurodevelopment and lifelong brain function. Of these, evidence for choline has been building but has not been widely collated using systematic approaches ... supplementing the maternal or child's diet with choline over the first 1000 days of life could subsequently: (1) support normal brain development (animal and human evidence), (2) protect against neural and metabolic insults, particularly when the fetus is exposed to alcohol (animal and human evidence), and (3) improve neural and cognitive functioning (animal evidence). Overall, most offspring would benefit from increased choline supply during the first 1000 days of life, particularly in relation to helping facilitate normal brain development. Health policies and guidelines should consider re-evaluation to help communicate and impart potential choline benefits through diet and/or supplementation approaches across this critical life stage" - See citicholine at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Supplementation with SEPIFIT TM Protect, a complex of a natural red wine extract, vitamin E and zinc, improves exercise recovery in healthy men - Nutrafoods (2020) 1:149-158 - "Muscle fatigue can be largely reversible in minutes or hours. It is generally viewed to be the result of insufficient energy and a lack of availability of key metabolites that enable contracting muscles to meet increased energy demand. However, muscle recovery can fail to take effect quickly, and this can be associated with structural changes and damage within the muscle, inducing a cascade of events leading to immediate or delayed soreness. In previous research, SEPIFIT TM Protect, a combination of natural red wine polyphenols, zinc and vitamin E, showed in vitro efficacy with respect to lactate, interleukin-6 and creatine kinase, which are markers of muscle damage and fatigue. We have therefore conducted a pilot clinical study to evaluate the effects of this active complex in healthy men undertaking regular and stable physical activity and who were subjected to a pain induction protocol. The results showed that the consumption of 135 mg of the complex per day for 12 days was effective in reducing creatine kinase release and maintaining muscular power capacity after the pain induction protocol. It also induced a better perception of performance, physical condition and muscle soreness. SEPIFIT TM Protect can thus be considered an interesting complex to contribute to muscle recovery during physical exertion" - [Nutra USA] - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com and resveratrol at iHerb, vitamin E at Amazon.com and iHerb and zinc supplements at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Acute Effects of Combined Bacopa, American Ginseng and Whole Coffee Fruit on Working Memory and Cerebral Haemodynamic Response of the Prefrontal Cortex: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study - Nutr Neurosci 2019 Nov 18;1-12 - "This study assessed whether a multi-ingredient herbal supplement containing Bacopa monniera (BM), Panax quinquefolius ginseng (PQ) and whole coffee fruit extract (WCFE) could enhance cognitive performance and cerebral-cortical activation during tasks of working memory and attention ... 40 healthy adults between 18-60 years (M = 34.46 SD = 12.95) completed tasks of working memory and attention at baseline and 45 min post active or placebo supplement consumption ... prefrontal cortex (PFC) ... Working memory task performance on the N-back task was significantly improved following active supplement consumption compared to placebo in terms of accuracy (p < .01) and response time (p < .05). Improved performance was associated with a reduction of PFC activation (p < .001) related to effortful mental demand, reflecting increased neural efficiency concomitant with improved cognitive performance" - [Nutra USA] - See Bacopa monnieri at Amazon.com and iHerb, ginseng at Amazon.com and iHerb, coffee fruit extract at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Maternal Choline and Respiratory Coronavirus Effects on Fetal Brain Development - J Psychiatr Res 2020 May 25 - "Prenatal COVID-19 infection is anticipated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to affect fetal development similarly to other common respiratory coronaviruses through effects of the maternal inflammatory response on the fetus and placenta ... Infants of mothers who had contracted a moderately severe respiratory virus infection and had higher gestational choline serum levels (>=7.5 mM consistent with U.S. Food and Drug Administration dietary recommendations) had significantly increased development of their ability to maintain attention and to bond with their parents (Regulation), compared to infants whose mothers had contracted an infection but had lower choline levels (<7.5 mM). For infants of mothers with choline levels >= 7.5 μM, there was no effect of viral infection on infant IBQ-R Regulation, compared to infants of mothers who were not infected. Higher choline levels obtained through diet or supplements may protect fetal development and support infant early behavioral development even if the mother contracts a viral infection in early gestation when the brain is first being formed" - [Nutra USA] - See choline at Amazon.com and iHerb.

Neat Tech Stuff / "How To's":

The saying “buy it right or buy it twice". I've played around with a Zoom setup with a green background and had to buy a lot of things twice. Most options are too balky for your home office. Here's (in comments) what I found works best with little compromise on quality which is much better than the local weather lady's setup for giving the weather at her home. I have two of the lamps, one for each side and put the photography CFL's in them then put the disposable shoe covers over them to help diffuse the light. Take the covers off and they double as a desk lamp. For the microphone, I already had a $300 Rode microphone that I bought years ago for karaoke. The Focusrite interface allows it to work with my computer.

Of the below lens, the zoom lens is much better for Zoom but the nifty 50 is the way to go for all around photography.  There are a lot of arguments on YouTube for why to stick with the nifty 50.  I can't find the one I liked but his main arguments were that the low f-stop meant less light lost in the lens which equates to a lower ISO and hence less grainy pictures, you're not losing great shots while your fumbling around changing lens, the pictures are uniform, etc.

The Advantages of Using a Single Lens — Documentary Photographer Daniel Milnor - YouTube

Use Any Canon Camera for Streaming - YouTube

Canon EOS webcam utility

Health Focus (Hypertension):