"Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food." Hippocrates

Did your grandmother teach you, as mine did, that you are what you eat? We used to chuckle about her obsession with whole wheat, and felt she was going overboard when she counseled us to avoid sugar. Grandma lived to a ripe old age, and she was sharp-witted and ambulatory to the very end. Now, years after her death, science is "discovering" the truth in Grandma’s views on health.

It is my observation that at least 80% of the health problems in America are related to diet. I will even go so far as to say that many people who are disabled with chronic or episodic depression would notice a new life, with energy and focus, if their diets were looked at and adjusted, and if time were allotted for the body to repair itself. And those who suffer from chronic illness have hope, if their diet is carefully evaluated and adjusted. Let’s look at some possible applications of these principles.

Sugar Is Not Our Friend

The study of sugar and its effects on humans is so diverse; it’s hard to know where to start. Let’s start with Endocrinology 101. It’s a little complex. Are you ready for it? I think it might be most easily understood if we can compare it to something with which we are somewhat familiar.

In dry areas, rainfall that isn’t used immediately to moisten the soil is channeled into tributary streams, which often empty into reservoirs. The reservoirs store the water behind strong, secure dams. Huge turbines, combined with the power of the water, generate energy. If water levels are too high to be contained in the reservoirs, a spillover occurs, or there is a break in the dam. The resultant flooding can create a dangerous situation.

In our bodies, sugar that isn’t utilized immediately to create energy is stored. Sugar, fed in a sudden dose to the body, reacts in a similar manner to that of an overflowing reservoir, particularly when it is eaten without the fiber and minerals and other nutrients which are with sugars in their natural state. When we eat a candy bar (or cookie, cake, pie, chocolate), the glucose (one of many sugars) level rises quickly in the blood. This prompts the rapid release of insulin from the pancreas. The insulin takes the glucose to the cell through insulin receptors and utilizes it in one of three places: 1) about 50% is used for immediate energy (as in the huge turbines of the dam); 2) about 10% is stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen (like the water in the reservoir) and 3) approximately 40% is stored as fats—triglycerides and cholesterol (like a spillover from the dam which could create a dangerous situation). (1) (This becomes important as we discuss the epidemic of obesity and diabetes in a later article).

Simply put, sugar causes the body to release insulin and stress hormones, which "flood’ the body. And unfortunately, in sugar consumption, the flooding never ends. If the refined sugar is not followed by a meal (with slow release of glucose from complex carbohydrates), the insulin will drop the blood glucose level too low. This prompts the adrenal gland to release the stress hormones (cortisol, which is our natural steroid and adrenaline) to the muscles and liver, which in turn release glucose from glycogen to raise the blood sugar level. (2) Sometimes the low blood glucose causes "hypoglycemia" symptoms which are superficially relieved by eating more refined sugar. Both glycogen release and new sugar intake raise the blood glucose. If it increases it too high or too fast, we see a subsequent release of insulin and the cycle goes on.

With long term exposure to high glucose levels, the cell walls become thicker and lose their insulin receptors. The cell then resists the intake of glucose, which is called insulin resistance. This means the blood glucose goes up and blood insulin goes up, but the subsequent drop in blood glucose does not take place. Consistent high blood glucose causes glucose to stick to proteins, called "glycosylation."(3) The effects of glycosylation will be discussed later in an article on diabetes and obesity. High insulin levels block the conversion of triglycerides into energy, thus raising triglyceride levels in the blood, and making it difficult to lose weight. (4) Still with me? There’s more. . .

Another harmful effect of high sugar in the bloodstream is an increase of calcium loss through the urine, which over the long term may contribute to osteoporosis. When the same amount of sugar was given to people with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones, the increase in calcium excretion was even greater. (5) Many people have noticed an increase in joint, muscle or headaches soon after sugar intake. And conversely, many people who have discontinued sugar in their diet have noticed greater energy and less muscle and joint pain after a few weeks.

Flooding the body with insulin and stress hormones is a major part of the adverse effects of sugar consumption, but (continuing to use a water metaphor) it is only a drop in the bucket! Some of the sugar that is ingested is not absorbed, providing a good meal for harmful bacteria, Candida and other fungi in the intestinal tract. (6) Cancer cells have many times more insulin receptors compared to normal cells and require more glucose for growth. (7) High sugar intake is associated with increased cancer risk. (8)

Because sugar is often eaten without accompanying fiber, this leads to constipation and hemorrhoids. Lack of fiber also permits the food to stay longer in the gut, creating more putrefactive breakdown and toxin absorption.

So, is the concern with sugar a crazy, wild idea? Our family enjoys desserts, but we try to keep our sugar consumption much lower than we did in the past, and we limit it to a small portion, made with as few processed ingredients as possible, AFTER we have completed a nutritious meal. No more binging on ice cream as a mid morning or mid afternoon snack!

Historically, sugar was sold in "pharmacies" in pioneer times, in little cone-shaped packets, which were carefully shaved in small amounts to adjust flavors. It was sold right along with medicinal herbs. In colonial times, the price of sugar was—unbelievably!–$2.40 a pound. In the "Little House on the Prairie" series of books, Pa would have to travel miles to town to get a Christmas candy for Laura, Mary, and Carrie’s stockings. Society’s consumption rate for sugar now is astronomically higher than it was during pioneer times. Prices are so low that it’s not uncommon nowadays to find sugar for $1.50 for five pounds. Today it’s difficult to think of any kind of celebration without sweet foods of some kind! It’s also difficult to think of other options which are enticing or represent us well as a good host or a thoughtful neighbor. After all, shouldn’t we bake a batch of brownies to bring to the new move-in family? Or what treat do we take to the Cub Scout pack meeting? Granted, it’s tough to think of alternatives which are healthy and yet fun. No one flocks to the broccoli as readily as they will pick up and bite into a cookie. But sugar does affect us, and it is wise to be aware of the affect it has on our body.

Before we leave the topic of sugar, it is also worth mentioning that most cavities in teeth are directly related to sugar intake. (9) Dr. Weston Price, former head of research programs at the American Dental Association, documents his observations that native Polynesians faces narrowed after the introduction of sugar and refined flour into their diet. This caused bad bites and crowded, crooked teeth compared to earlier generations. (10) I have wondered if our high sugar consumption is one reason we have to have so much orthodontic work in the United States.

What About Artificial Sweeteners?

What about artificial sweeteners? It must be recognized that many people use artificial sweeteners to lose weight, but studies consistently show that people on artificial sweeteners gain more weight than do people who avoid sweeteners entirely. We know from the data of the artificial sweeteners’ own studies that people gain weight from "diet" pop. So weight loss isn’t just related to calories. The sweeteners have adverse affects on the body as well, many of them worse than the effects sugar has. Most of the foods that contain artificial sweeteners are foods that should be limited anyway Why not replace unnaturally sweet foods with naturally sweet fresh fruits? The accompanying nutrients and fiber in fresh fruits make them ideal for digestion and utilization of the glucose.

Having said that, I should explain some things about artificial sweeteners. Saccharine (Sweet ‘N Low and Sugar Twin) was the first to come on the market and presently carries a government mandated warning label that it is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is broken down in the body to wood alcohol, subsequently broken to formaldehyde, a fixative and a known carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Formaldehyde is then broken down into formic acid, which is the same strong caustic used by fire ants to administer their sting. (11) Sucralose (Splenda) was approved in 1999 as a general sweetener, so it has not stood the test of time, although it is the least controversial of the three sweeteners. Stevia is an herbal sweetener, and provides the best transition alternative to getting off sweets altogether. You can find Stevia at health food stores, or in the health section of some grocery stores. Agave nectar is also more healthful than processed sugars.

When carbohydrates are broken down for energy formation, certain vitamins and minerals are needed for proper processing. If we remove those very nutrients, such as with "polished" white rice and white "enriched" flour in the refining process, vitamin and mineral depletion takes place. "Enriched" means that 24 nutrients have been removed (12) and about 5 have been added back. White flour, made whiter with bleach (the same bleach we use to whiten our clothes in the laundry) is then used for bread and pasta preparation. One has to search to find flour that doesn’t have the added (and unwanted!) ingredient of bleach!

Now that we have addressed the issues of the harmful effects of processed, refined carbohydrates (I wonder if this could be some of what John A. Widstoe referred to when he talked of "adulterated and dangerous foods upon the market?"), let’s turn our attention to carbohydrates that are not "refined."

Here Come the Carbs

An important principle needs to be clarified at this point. Animals handle carbohydrates with fiber differently than when carbohydrates are consumed without fiber present. When cows were fed molasses without fiber, they developed neurological problems and died. When fiber was added to the same sugar volume, the illnesses were not seen. (14) It seems to me that the same is true in humans—that the eating of the whole fruit or vegetable imparts a protective effect against the damage caused by refined, processed carbohydrates.

Legumes, including beans, peas, lentils, soy and peanuts are moderately high in carbohydrates, but have lots of fiber. Fruits, when eaten in the whole state, contain good amounts of fiber. (If more vegetables than fruit are eaten, more fiber is ingested with the higher vitamins and lower carbohydrates.) Most of the time, when we think of whole grains, we just think of whole wheat or brown rice. But the category of whole grains includes oatmeal, millet, quinoa, barley and cornmeal. Many people appear to be sensitive (almost addicted) to breads which have yeast and sugar added to the original grain. Low amounts of carbohydrates are also found in vegetables, nuts and seeds.

The change to a more healthful eating style needn’t be drastic, and it needn’t be instant, unless our bodies have become so ill that treatment is urgent. Learning how to cook and eat more healthfully is a process. We were all raised in the Twinkie generation—it takes time to see and implement a better, more healthful way.

Healthful Hints:

1. Avoid refined, processed carbohydrates (especially sugar), including white flour and white rice. Seek opportunities to use whole, fresh foods.

2. Eat whole fruits as desserts.

3. Eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds ("wholesome herbs…, every fruit…, all grain… is ordained for the use of man").

* * *

1. Harper’s Biochemistry, 1988, 21st Edition, p. 555.

2. ibid. p. 196.

3. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Edition, Volume 2, p. 1297.

4. Harper’s Biochemistry, 1988, 21st Edition, p. 555.

5. Lemann, J. Jr., W. F. Piering, and E. J. Lennon. 1969. Possible role of carbohydrate-induced calciuria in calcium oxalate kidney-stone formation. N Engl J Med 280: 232-237.

6. Horowitz, B. J., Edelstein, S. and Lippman, L., Sugar Chromatography Studies in Recurrent Candida vulvovaginitis, J. Reproduct. Med., 1984; 29:441-443.

7. Rossi, Fannelli, F. et. Al. Journal Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, vol. 15, p. 680, 1991.

8. Horribin, DF, Medical Hypotheses, vol. 11, no. 3, p. 319, 1983.

9. Dr. Harold Loe, retired Director of the National Institute of Dental Research, interview published in Dental Products Report, 1993.

10. Dr. Weston Price, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.

11. Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, P.O. Box 780634 Dallas, TX 75378. (214) 352-4268 .

12. Udo Erasmus, Fats that Heal Fats that Kill, p. 76.

13. Mella, C.M., Margolles, E. and Loew, F.M., Epinephrine Induced Hyperglycemia in Bulls and its Relationship to Polioencephalomalacia. Can. J. comp. Med. Vol 39, July 1975, pp. 321-3.





By: Stan

Cutting-Edge News Room

Everyone these days it seems is on a diet. There are organic diets and raw food diets and macrobiotic diets. There is the Atkins diet. Some people believe you should eat 3 meals a day and some people believe you should combine your foods so that you eat fruits at a certain time of day and carbohydrates at a different time of day.

What is the best diet for you to maintain proper health and wellness?

Individual Biochemistry and Health

One thing is important for everyone to understand about health whether they are a raw food fan or a fan of some other diet. Every person has their own unique biochemistry. That means their body will react in its own unique way to the foods a person puts in their mouth, no matter what type of eating plan and diet they adopt.

That means no two people will react to food the same way, whether they eat 3 times a day or 6, whether they eat fruits in the morning or protein. What this means is that each individual must adopt their own structured eating plan, one that accommodates their own unique biochemistry and lifestyle.

You can only know what is best for you by experimenting to find out how your body reacts to eating different ways and different foods.

How to Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

The best way to maintain good health is to adopt a lifestyle of eating foods in a way that preserves optimal health. Optimal health is living a life relatively free from major disease and living a life that is full of energy and wellness emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Some people find that eating raw foods suits them best because it allows them to sustain proper energy and allows them to get the fiber they need to maintain regularity. They may also find that eating six mini meals each day, combining a certain ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, suits them best.

Others may find that eating fruits separate from protein seems to sit better with their body’s unique biochemistry. Still others may find the acidity of certain fruits causes them to feel unwell and develop diarrhea. This is because certain people have allergies to citrus fruits.

Others may find the develop cavities despite their good eating habits and tendency to brush between meals. This is because even healthy organic foods can contain few varied minerals and lots of sugar (some fruits for example) so if you eat too much of one thing, you may develop tooth decay for example.

This raises one good point about good health – if you want to maintain proper health, it is vital to your health that you eat a diversified diet.

Eating Diverse Foods for Proper Health

One concept about food that is generally true for most people is this – the more diversified your diet, the more likely you are to be fit and well. People that eat foods from a variety of sources, whether plant or other, are more likely to be healthy than people that eat a rather homogenous diet.

No one plant contains all of the vitamins, proteins, trace minerals and amino acids (and the like) that a person needs to maintain proper health. This is one reason it is important you diversify your diet. If you always eat a piece of cantaloupe for breakfast you may not be getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need from your diet.

Why not try cantaloupe a couple of days each week, and then try some peanut butter other days during the week and perhaps some seeds and different fruits different days of the week?

The more diverse your eating habits, the more likely you are to maintain your energy levels and to stave off any cravings for unhealthy foods. Often people experience food cravings because their body becomes deficient in one or more vitamins or minerals. So be sure you avoid this by stocking up on plenty of different foods. One way to do this is to try to eat foods of a different color each day on your plate.

If you eat three different foods on your plate, make sure they are all three different colors; this way you know they all contain different nutrients that will serve your body well.

More Water Please!

Finally, one of the best ways to maintain your health is by drinking plenty of water. Most people don’t realize by the time they feel thirsty they are already too dehydrated. You should never get to a point where you feel thirsty. Instead, drink plenty of water during the day so you always maintain hydration.

If you feel the taste of water is too boring, why not try to spice up your water with a few cucumber slices or orange rinds? This always adds a bit of excitement and fun to the day. Still other people find adding several flavors like lime and orange, or cucumber and lemon to their water an excellent fix to something that is ordinarily to bland to tolerate.

If you really must you can add a little carbonation to your water, but keep in mind carbonated drinks can sometimes cause fluid retention, not something most people searching for good health want in their diet!

One thing that all can agree on. Keep your diet simple and varied!

Sincerely yours,

Omid





By: Omid Jaffari

 

Bruce Berkowsky, N.M.D., M.H., H.M.C.



Essential oils are the carrier of the plant’s soul. Anthroposophy founder Rudolf Steiner states: “Matter is most spiritual in the perfume of the plant…When the spirit most closely approaches the physical earth, then we have the perception of fragrance.”

According to Kabbalah, the human soul contains animal-, plant- and human soul components. Thus, each of us has the ability to relate to plant souls on a soul-to-soul level. When the human soul becomes preoccupied with the daily challenges of life, rational consciousness becomes estranged from the higher self and mired in “stuckness.” All chronic diseases have this quality of inertia in common.

The plant soul is not encumbered by ego, so it has the qualities of purity and infinity. Thus, the individualized plant soul combination within an essential oil blend, when proffered to the human soul, has the potential to be eagerly received and infuse the latter with impetus to move beyond limitation by changing its orientation from the finite to the Infinite.

Key to moving the soul in this way is the formulation of an oil blend which accurately reflects an individual’s true self. Living within the context of one’s true soul nature requires continuous connection with one’s higher self. Happiness is the key to wellness. No unhappy person can truly be well. In turn, the key to happiness lies in accepting, and living in accordance with, one’s authentic self and having this acknowledged by others.

In order to do soul-level healing work with essential oils, one has to become familiar with the inner- or soul-nature of each of the essential oils that is worked with.

Using Imaginative Consciousness

In this discussion, the term imaginative consciousness refers to overcoming limitations of analysis of the material aspects of essential oils performed exclusively by senses and intellect via a complementary perception of the spiritual roots which sustain said material aspects. Like the human soul, the plant soul contains the spiritual roots for plants’ material and bioenergetic manifestations. Hence, when using essential oils for soul-spiritual work, all the biophysical and bioenergetic features of the plant are used to develop an understanding of spiritual roots.

Plants are alive and all living things are ensouled. Just like each of our souls is unique and has certain individualized specificities and tangible qualities, so do plant souls. The specific mix of archetypal qualities which are encoded into each soul gives rise to the various characteristics and behavioral modes we manifest in our lives.

Similarly, a plant’s biochemistry, form, growth characteristics, therapeutic properties and historical and folkloric associations are reflections or images of its soul’s constituent pattern of archetypal qualities. These archetypal images can be used to identify the unique nature of an essential oil’s true self - its natural expression of being.

If essential oils are blended together with an understanding of the true inner nature of each oil, the oils in the blend will merge and form a uniquely organized ensouled substance which is more powerfully charged with soul force than the sum of its parts. When diverse soul energies are synchronized in this way, the integrated soul force demonstrates what is referred to as emergent behavior. In turn, this can be used to catalyze emergent behavior in the human soul which is directed toward harmonization and the elaboration of that person’s true self.

We generally forsake our true selves in early childhood when we are taught that they are not enough. We then exchange our natural expression of being for a survival personality we fabricate that hopefully proves to be functional and meets the approval of our parents, teachers, etc. In the process, we become estranged from the true self, or ‘living soul’, and this estrangement fuels the sense of incompleteness, aloneness and disharmony we struggle with our entire lives.

The key to achieving soul-level reintegration via work with essential oils is the ability to get beyond a focus on their biochemistry and therapeutic actions and access and acknowledge the unique soul-nature of each oil that is the spiritual root of the oil’s physical properties. When this is done, the plant souls harbored within the oils will respond reciprocally and the human soul/plant soul encounter will be illuminated by spirit.

The greater the number of essential oils one understands on this level, the more dynamic the potential for creating blends which will touch the soul on deeper and deeper levels and provide the illumination to lead it from inertial stuckness and fragmentation to wholeness and soul-to-soul relation with all elements of the natural world. In this way one can re-establish the natural capacity, lost in early childhood, to connect earthly fire with heavenly light.

Copyright 2009 by Joseph Ben Hil-Meyer Research, Inc.

Dr. Berkowsky’s Essential Oils and Soul Teleseminar Series





By: Dr. Bruce Berkowsky

The glyconutrient N-acetyl galactosamine is not as well known as the other seven essential glyconutrients, otherwise known as the essential sugars or monosaccharides. However, that is more a reflection of how contemporary the research still is than of an intrinsic lack of knowledge.

To apply the term essential to a sugar might seem somewhat strange, given the bad press of these substances in the past, but times have changed. Over the past few years it has come to light that those substances that at one time were thought to worth little more than body fat promoters are in fact absolutely essential to the well being of, not only the human body, but all mammalian life.

It has been proved that certain monosaccharides, or simple sugars, are essential in the regulation of the body’s immune system that allows us to fight disease and other conditions such as allergies. They combine with proteins and fats in the body to form glycoproteins and glycolipids that are given the general term glycoforms that act as chemical messengers and inform other cells of their identity.

Without this form of communication, cells would not be able to distinguish their brothers from intruders, and the immune system would either kill off all cells or none. A case of total annihilation or complete breakdown of the body’s defenses. Every cell has its own function and the only defense our body has is the immune system that roams throughout the body brushing against other cells to determine if they are friend or foe. If the body has the right Glyconutrients it will manufacture a perfect cell that communicates its health and function to the immune system and help the immune system determine what cells are friendly and which are not. There are eight of these essential sugars, and N-acetyl galactosamine is one of them, albeit the least studied.

Each of these has specific functions to carry out within the body, but all affect the immune system. In the event of a deficiency of even one of them, the chemical message would not be complete, and disease would follow; the specific disease to which the body would be susceptible would depend on the sugar that is missing. Not only that, but the particular body condition that the particular monosaccharide controlled would then be uncontrolled, and the body would suffer accordingly.

N-acetyl galactosamine is the one of the eight essential sugars about which least is known. The medical study of these has been going on for approximately ten years, which is a short period in medical research. Prior to that they were only sugars, and the only biochemistry known about them was that the body converted them into energy and stored that in the form of fat. Not very desirable parts of the diet therefore. All that has now changed, and they are now part of an ongoing investigation into the biochemistry of the immune system in general, and the significance of glyconutrients in particular.

It is now known that this substance not only takes part in the control of the immune system by coating the cell surface with these glycoforms, but also seems to inhibit the growth of certain cancers. That is not to infer that they are medicines, because they are not, but their continued presence in the body is an important part of our biochemistry. They are a bit like vaccines that cannot cure viral diseases, but can help the body resist further viral attacks.

It is known that a deficiency in N-acetyl galactosamine can cause severe memory problems, and that it is involved in the function of the synapses, the junction between nerve cells. It is therefore logical to assume that it plays an important role in the function of the nerves. If you look further you will notice that the sugar is also associated with the various functions of sight, being concentrated in the optic nerve, retina and various other areas that affect vision.

Over the past ten years the distribution of the eight essential glyconutrients throughout the body has been studied, and it has been generally accepted that those areas in which they are found in greatest concentration are those where they likely have most influence. Consequently, N-acetyl galactosamine has been found concentrated in the kidneys, the skin, the sweat glands and the testes. It is therefore assumed to play an important role in the function of these organs, though research is still being carried out.

It has been established that people suffering from heart disease have had lower levels of N-acetyl galactosamine than normal, and it is thought that heart disease in such people could be prevented through adequate supplementation. The same is true of the health of the joints and the connective tissues. Like many of these monosaccharides, this sugar appears to have an effect in maintaining the integrity and health of joints and the control of arthritis and other conditions associated with inflammation of the joints. Also, like the other essential sugars, N-acetyl galactosamine appears to reduce in concentration in the body with age, the inference being that supplements could help to reduce the effects of aging.

Since there is less known about this glyconutrient than about any other, many of these inferences have yet to be confirmed. However, it would seem reasonable and logical to assume that what has been found true of the other seven essential sugars to be true also of the eighth. What is not known, and for which assumptions could be dangerous to make, is what a safe supplemental dose would be.

Extremely high excessive doses given to animals even as much as 100 grams each day has shown no adverse side effects, but the current recommended daily allowance of N-acetyl galactosamine supplements are generally considered well below the safe threshold. As with the other sugars, the dosage is recommended to be taken over the course of the day due to the low retention time within the body. just like water soluble vitamins, gluconutrients will be eliminated from the body with in hours of ingestion so consumption of these nutrients should be spread out through the course of a day for maximum usability by the body.

Like its glucosamine cousin, this substance is not found in the normal human diet. It is present in shell fish, crestations, shark cartilage and certain types of algae, and its presence in the body is consequently through internal syntheses from galactose and amino acids. The presents of environmental toxins has lead to the biosyntheses of N-acetyl-galactosamine from galactose and other nutrients can be inhibited, therefore the consumption of the above listed sources is crucial for a properly operating body.

In spite of the multiplicity of the benefits that N-acetyl galactosamine imparts to the body, its greatest and most important contribution is that of the other seven glyconutrients: in the structure of the internal communication system between cells that allows the immune system to operate effectively elimination disease as we know it.





By: Darrell Miller

Bioengineering applies engineering principles to the full spectrum of living systems. This is achieved by utilizing existing methodologies in such fields as Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Cytology, Immunology and Neuroscience and applies them to the design of medical devices, diagnostic equipment, biocompatible materials, and other important medical needs. The major advances in bioengineering include the development of Artificial Joints, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the heart pacemaker, arthroscopy, angioplasty, bioengineered skin, kidney dialysis, and the heart-lung machine.



Job Functions - Bioengineering:

Being a Bio-medical Engineer is a great opportunity to impact humanity and protect its health and also to improve the quality of life. According to the US department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment for Biomedical Engineers is expected to increase faster than the average of all the other occupations by 2012. Thus, if you are considering your career in bioengineering field, you definitely are in the right career path.



Specialized Programs in Bioengineering:

Bioengineering develops the devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems. Students inclined to Bioengineering can choose a specialized program among various specialized fields. It includes:

Bioinstrumentation: It is the application of electronics, measurement principles and techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease. The advanced technology in computing plays an important role in bioinstrumentation. Biomechanics: It is the study of mechanical parameters that drives living system motion. The biomechanics experts contribute in the development of human organs such as, artificial heart and replacement heart’s valves, the artificial kidney and the artificial hip. Clinical Engineering: It is the application of technology for health care in hospitals. The clinical engineers work along with other medical team to adapt instrumentation to the specific needs of the hospital. This often involves the interface of instruments with computer systems and customized software for instrument control and data analysis. Rehabilitation Engineering: It is a new and growing specialty area of biomedical engineering. It involves the design and application of devices to restore function to the physically disabled. They are involved in: communication enhancement for hearing and speech, wheelchairs and wheeled mobility, prosthetics, technologies for orthopedic and spinal cord injury.

Bioengineering is a discipline that integrates the engineering sciences with the life sciences to improve human health. Employment of biomedical engineer is expected to boom in next 5 years in line with the demand for more sophisticated medical equipment. The increase concerns on cost efficiency and effectiveness will also boost demand for biomedical engineers. Hence, bioengineering is a great career path for you if you interest in this field.





By: Nickson

The potential behavior of plants alkaloids in animal cells vitality

Ali Parsaeimehr1

1.PhD student at the field of plant Biotechnology at the National Academy Of science institute of G.S.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems NAS RA and Academician of young researcher organization.

 

Abstract: it is clear that Plants, as a renewable source with low energy consumption that can offer complex biochemical syntheses even in medicinal purposes , between the synthesis compounds of plants alkaloids play an important but dilemma role at these aims  , alkaloids for plants known as a secondary metabolite which could by  essential for plants ecological surviving but it s a question remaining are these compound’s as a source for medical uses that it s going to world spread are vital for animals cells or not ?, well through this question a disquisition have been done for clearing some of the answers , we know that cells in both kingdom of plants or animals regulate intra from extra environment well these adjustment  and regulations applies by use of  ions channels  (Na+ ,K? , Ca? , Cl?) or the activity of  Na?/K? pump well we can safely assume that  behavior and the mobility  of ions  guarantied the cells vital. Some of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids in plants, known as the inhibitors of Na+, K?, ATPas or some of plant alkaloids like Harmaline, Nitidine, Capsaicin, Soleonopsin could disrupt these act , the molecular  structure of plant alkaloid with some vital compound’s in cells  and their similarity of theme could be the reason of their serious potential of act as an inhibitor or resonancer in animals cells vitality well Amino acids like Phe, Tyr, Try have Many physiologically active, and have limited distributions in the plant kingdom for example the strychnine alkaloids from the dried seeds of Strychnos vux vomica could be play a deadly way in the vitality of animals Kingdome and according to this acaealepsy we can safely assume there are too many targets for alkaloids acts such as: plasma membrane , ribosome’s or even DNA or RNA in animals cells ,  The other location for alkaloids effects are the neurotransmitters’ which closely coupled and band with ion channels (Na+ ?K? , Ca? ? Cl?) as a fact the receptors or ion channels both are incipit for nervous signals  and as a consequences affected  one of them  by inheritors or resonators  could occasion the vitality of animal cells. It’s amazing that the plant alkaloids even could show allergic sign in the animals cell  which its refers to the immunological responds to the  plants alkaloids  for instance alkaloids such as coumarins, furanocoumarine could act in this importance, the Mechanism of Allelochimical Activities in Antiviral, Antimicrobial and Allelopathic Interactions of alkaloids are the other mysterious role of these kind of secondary metabolites in animals vitality There are circumstantial evidence that some alkaloids such as Quinolizidine alkaloids protect the producing plants against viruses, bacteria , fungi, and other plants , relative to alkaloidesanimal interaction , these modes of action have been less well or hardly at all, a number of antimicrobial alkaloids such as sanguinarine, quinine , or berberine intercalate with viral and microbial DNA to bind it well these compounds may thus inhibit process such as DNA replication and RNA transcription which are vital for the microorganisms or animal cells, Well all in all alkaloids augment which is far from complete shows that many plant alkaloids inhibiter or over stimulate central process at the cellular or organ level. In this completion only a limited of structures have been discussed.

 

 Key word: plants Alkaloids, animals cell vitality, antimicrobial effects

__________________________________________________________________

 

1.Introduction: In toadies world use of medicines by the base of plants between the nations and countries have been wide spread and the effect of these kinds of drugs are undeniable but of course it’s better that we show the effect of secondary metabolites compounds and between them ,the alkaloids which synthesizes in plants cells and

shows their dilemmas effect of these kind of secondary metabolites, well according to cells biology and their  metabolites , cell s adjust their intra  from  extra environment in a caution way , these adjustment  and regulations applies by use of  ions channels  (Na+ ,K? , Ca? , Cl?) or the activity of  Na?/K? pump well we can safely assume that  behavior and the mobility  of ions  guarantied the cells vital(Alberts et al.1993). Some of secondary metabolites such as cardiac glycoside in plants, insects and a kind of toads from the family of (Bufonidae) have been discovered, these kinds of secondary metabolites known as the inhibitors of Na+, K?, ATPas or some of plant alkaloids like Harmaline, Nitidine, Capsaicin, Soleonopsin which act as the same way and affect at Na+, K?,  ATPas or ion channels and as it clearly shown these ions plays a vital role in order to cells vitality or even at the animals nervous system (Mann, J. 1992).in animals cells most of the cells activities such as endo- exocytose, cells division  is by base of microtubules or microfilaments activities in these suit some of Alkaloids such as   Colchicines, Maytansin, Taxol, Vinca Alkaloids  have the potential of coupling  with theme and inhibiter their activities due the cells progress , these expanded domain of activity of plants alkaloids in animals cell and the reason of it should by search in their molecular structure.

2. Discussion & Deliberation of Alkaloids potential: alkaloids have been extracted from and found in ~20% of vascular plants, their Compounds usually basic (alkaline) ~40,000 compounds currently described and Structurally the most diverse class of secondary metabolites and most of them use for medicinal usage like Morphine (painkiller),Vincristine (anticancer agent) , Cocaine (anesthetic, drug of abuse), Caffeine (stimulant) , well its seems that the best describe of this kind of secondary metabolites have been done at 1963 through their  chemotaxonomy and by this base they remain in 3 group such as:

Proto alkaloids .3        Pseudo alkaloids .2           Proper alkaloids .1

2.1.1. Proper alkaloid: they also known as true alkaloids we can describe them as the fallow: Basic Nitrogen part of a heterocyclic ring system, Chemically complex, Derived biosynthetically from amino acids, especially the cyclic ,Amino acids: Phe, Tyr, Try, Many physiologically active, and have limited distributions in the plant kingdom for example the strychnine alkaloids from the dried seeds of Strychnos vux vomica. Small tree found from India to

Northern Australia. Fruit is a large berry with a hard coat and pulpy interior containing 3-5 fleshy grey seeds – contain ~1.2% strychnine, 60mg can kill an adult by the way we can say that the highly potential of it s activity is by the base of it molecular structure( Habermehi, G. 1983, Mann, J. 1992.).

 

And as we can see strychnine, simply coupled with L-tryptophan one of the most important amino acid   in cells vitality (Albert’s ET al.1993).

2.2.2. Pseudo alkaloid: Nitrogen containing (physiologically active) compounds not derived from amino acids, the purine ring is gradually elaborated by piecing together small components from primary metabolism for example caffeine the alkaloids which extracted from coffee

 

 

2.2.3. Proto alkaloids:  they have   physiologically active, Nitrogen atom is outside the ring system and this is the reason for nominated them as proto alkaloids well the alkaloids such as ephedrine or colchicines are one of the good examples of these kinds of alkaloids which play medicinally rolls in the industry of drugs. COLCHISINE the copesetic alkaloid of the Colchicum autumnale plant the family of Liliaceae which sustainability band through

Tubulin in a compeer of 1:1 (the Antimitotic potential) and thus inhibits the assembly of microtubules and as a consequence the meiotic spindle of dividing cells disappear suddenly after colchicines treatment and the chromatids no longer separated but whereas the animal cells die under this condition the plant cells become polyploidy  and  leads in breeding programs, using this alkaloid as an anticancer because of its Antimitotic potential widespread but after a while because of its damage to cells skeleton colchisin lay away and another alkaloid by the base of it by the name of colcemide use in this aim well this alkaloids because of their

Lipophilicity potential, simply absorb by cells and its clear why the family of colchicum plants are not attack by herbivores (Teuscher E et al.1995).

 

 

2.3. The effect of Alkaloids on Neurotransmitter Receptors: the nerve single transduction in the central nervous system and in neuromuscular junction is mediated by receptor proteins residing in the membrane which directly or indirectly coupled with ion channels the neurotransmitters involve include (Alberts et al.1993). among others adrenalin(NA),serotonin, dopamine, histamine, glycine, GABA, and acetylcholine have been deduced to ion channels ,to many plant alkaloids have the similar molecular structure  with these neurotransmitters for  instance acetylcholine  and histamine in sting hairy roots of Urtica or serotonin and dopamine in several species, and the acts can be:

I. The receptor itself through inhibition or overstimulation

II.The enzymes that deactivate neurotransmitters after they have bound to a receptor

III.Transport process, which are important for storage of the neurotransmitters in synaptic

IV.Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a neurotransmitter (Mothes, K.et al.1985, Robinson, T. A. 1981).

Table I. some of the alkaloids as inhibitors of Neurotransmitters

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Enzyme                                  Natural Substrate                                    Alkaloid                      occurrence (plant)

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   Acetylcholine esterase                           Acetylcholine                            Physostigmine (eserine)    Physostigma veneosum                         

                                                                                                        Berberine                           several papaveracea

                                                                                                                    Coptisine                           several papaveracea

                                                                                                                    Galanthamine                   several Amaryllidaceae

                                                                                                                    Chaconine                        Solanum

                                                                                                                    Solanine                           Solanum

                                                                                                                    Solanidine                        Solanum

                                                                                                                    Huperzine A                     Huperzia srrata

   Monoamine oxidase                             NA. dopamine, Serotonin            Harmaline                        Pegamum

                                                                      histamine                               Harmine                           Peganum

                                                                                                                    Ephedrine                        Ephedra

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The other location for alkaloids effects are the neurotransmitters’ which closely coupled and band with ion channels (Na+ ?K? , Ca? ? Cl?) as a fact the receptors or ion channels both are incipit for nervous signals  and as a consequences affected  one of them  by inheritors or resonators  could occasion the vitality of animal cells (Rosenthal, et al.1992).

All animals need to transport nutrients, hormones, ions, signals compounds, O2 and CO2 between the different organs of the body well this achieved in higher animals through blood in the circulatory system.Inhibitorrs of its motor, the heart ,were discussed earlier . But the synthesize of red blood cells is also vulnerable and can inhibited by antimiotic alkaloids , such as vinblastin or colchisin and some allelochemicals have hemolytic properties, such as saponins and steroidal alkaloids , these compounds complex membrane sterls and make cells leaky these effected consequently effected the vitality of animal cells(Teuscher E. and Lindequist, U. 1994).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table II .The Alkaloids which known as inheritors or resonators for nervous signal transmission

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                   Receptor’s                            Ligand                                Alkaloids                            Occurrence(plant)

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       Acetylcholine receptor                Acetylcholine                             Nicotine                            Nicotinana, many other plants

                                                                                                           C-toxiferine                        strychnos

                                                                                                           Tubocurarine                     Chondodendron

                                                                                                           Cytosine and other QA     Several legumes

                                                                                                           Lobeline                             Lobelia

                                                                                                           Anabasine                         Anabasis , Nicotiana

                                                                                                          Hyoscyamine (atropine)     Atropa, Hysoscyamus, Datura.

                                                                                                          Scopolamine                       Several Solanaceae

                                                                                                          Arecoline                              Areca

      Adrenergic receptors         Noradrenaline/adrenaline                 Norlaudanosoline                 Papaveraceae

                                                                                                          Ephedrine, norephedrine     Ephedra

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Its amazing that the plant alkaloids even could show allergic sign in the animals cell  which its refers to the immunological responds to the  plants alkaloids  for instance alkaloids such as coumarins, furanocoumarine, hypercin , helenalin , Activation or repression of the immune response are certainly targets that were selected during evaluation as an antiherbivore strategy(Luckner et.al.1990).

2.4. Mechanism of Allelochimical Activities in Antiviral, Antimicrobial and Allelopathic Interactions of alkaloids:

There are circumstantial evidence that some alkaloids such as Quinolizidine alkaloids that protect the producing plants against viruses, bacteria , fungi, and other plants , relative to alkaloids animal interaction , these modes of action have been less well or hardly at all, a number of antimicrobial alkaloids such as sanguinarine, quinine , or berberine intercalate with viral and microbial DNA to bind it well these compounds may thus inhibit process such as DNA replication and RNA transcription which are vital for the microorganisms, protein biosynthesis in ribosome’s is another vulnerable target for plant alkaloids even the stability of biomembranes can be disrobed by steroidal alkaloids(Luckner et.al.1990).

  In another view even herbicidal properties or germination inhibition which can be observed in plant-plant interactions, can also proceed via the above mentioned mechanisms but interaction with growth hormones and their metabolites also must be considered (Wagner, H. 1993).

 

3. Counclusion:

Plants, as a renewable source with low energy consumption that can offer complex biochemical syntheses, will be even more compatible in the future. Well all in all alkaloids augment which is far from complete shows that many plant alkaloids inhibiter or over stimulate central process at the cellular or organ level. in this completion only a limited of structures have been discussed .In many instance , plants contain mixture of related alkaloids , which only differ for particular substitution patterns well this allelochemical properties are requisite for chemical defense compound in an ecological context  for surviving of plants but also constitute the base for their exploitation in medicine or agriculture, well after all of these dilemma situation we should use medicines by the source of plants in a secure and caution way   but to many experiments demands through this complicated way.

 

4. References:                

Alberts, B. D., Lewis, J. Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Watson, J. D. 1993. .Molecular Biology of the Cell.3rd ed . Garland. New York. Habermehi, G. 1983. Gifttiere and ihre Waffen. Springer. Berlin. Harborne, J. B. 1993. introduction to Eclogical Biochemistry.4 th ed. Academy press. san Diego. Luckner, M. 1990 Secondery Metabolism in Microorganism.Plants and Animals .Springer, Berlin. Luckner, M. 1990. Secondary Metabolism in Microorganisms, Plants and Animal, Springer, Berlin mann,J..1992, Murder,Magic and Medicine.Oxford University Press. London. Mann, J. 1992. Murder Magic and medicine.Oxfordr University press .London. Mothes, K., Schutte, H. R. and Luckner, M. 1985. Biochemistery of Alkaloides .VCH. Weinheim. Robinson, T. A. 1981. The Biochemistry of alkaloids, Springer. Berlin. Rosenthal, G. A. and Berenbaum, M. R. 1992. Herbivores: Theair Interaction with Secondary Plant Metabolites vol.Academic Press, San Diego. Teuscher E. and Lindequist, U. 1994. Biogene Gifte. Fischer. Stuttgart. Urk H, Schipper D, Breedveld GJ, Paul RM, Scheffers WA, van Dijken JP (1989) Biochim Biophys Acta 992: 78 Scopes RK (1989) In: van Unden N (ed), Alcohol toxicity in yeast and bacteria, CRC Press Inc, p. 89 Wagner, H. 1993. Pharmazeutische Biologie . 2. Drogen and ihre Inhalisstoffe, Fisher, Stuttgart. Zhou, G.M. 1980. Studies on useful compounds of Bai-Zhi for healing Yin- Hsieh Ping. Chung-Chen-Yau Res. 4: 33. (In Chinese). Zhou, G.M., C.G. Yu, Y.C. Han, and C.T. Mun. 1988. Studies on Bai-Zhi. IV. The toxicity test of useful compounds. Med. J. China Hospital 8: 220-221. (In Chinese).



By: Ali Parsaeimehr

The field of medicine is one which is very crucial to humanity and must be devoid of egocentrism, monopoly and similar sentiments and dogmatism that at the long run will transpire into an inimical and detrimental outcome which will negatively impact on the primary beneficiary- the patient. The fundamental goal of any healthcare delivery system should be how to meet the challenges of providing the best possible healthcare services that is pragmatic, efficient, proficient, timely, and accurate, and at the same time less expensive.

                 

Consequently revisiting the Medical laboratory science profession and trying to reposition, rejuvenate and restructure its current curriculum to meet and if possible surpass the currently achieved standard of healthcare services is very crucial and almost nearly indispensable if the country hope to modernize and achieve the primary goals of the medical and healthcare profession and aspirations.

Without an iota of doubt, this noble profession is as complex as humanity itself and any approach thereof in trying to elucidate the best way to uplift the field must definitely take into cognizance such complexity and diversity. Medicine as we used to know has evolved a great deal and today represents greater diversity than seen in the 19th and even the 20th century. From a general perspective when link with the healthcare profession as a whole, this laudable and very imperative field can be broadly divided into Clinical and Laboratory with specialty such as diagnostics falling into the later even when they might not be directly related, while on the other hand nursing and pharmacy among others may fall into the clinical aspect of the medicine.  

The fundamental inclination to this brief summation is essentially related to how does the status quo hope to modernize the medical and allied healthcare profession in such a way that the medical laboratory technology discipline is allow to reach its full potential in becoming the true corner stone of modern medicine and its professionals are given the due recognition by the state? I wish to reiterate the fact that my perspective may vary from some of my colleagues principally as a result of my background training which by omission or commission imbibe in me the mentality of seeing my profession from a noble and pragmatic angle in terms of its usefulness, necessity and indispensability in the provision of a comprehensive healthcare services.  

Consequently the call for modernization of the profession is not in any way one which blatantly request for a synonymous training scope with that of physician or pathologist, instead it is a call for the incorporation of curriculum that will enable the medical technologist to be able to professionally and legally interpret, aid in the diagnosis, therapy, management and prophylaxis of a given medical condition without compromising either the patient or the primary healthcare provider. This again raise the concern about why it is necessary for the field to determine that monopoly and egocentrism within the multi-complex discipline should be relegated to the background and instead focus and emphasis must be on providing the best healthcare delivery system.  

I am very quick to point out that as a consequence to the emergence of varieties of complex scenarios which cloud the easy elucidation of the causative organisms or agents implicated in diseased conditions, the role of the medical laboratory scientists have changed dramatically from that of primarily responding to just the healthcare provider,  to now include the determination of the exactness, that is the accuracy and that the same time the best possible treatment and prevention of the cause as necessitated by the contemporary curriculum. Medical Laboratory Scientist are therefore evolving to become more independent in decision making and in some cases have tremendously helped to reduce both cost and waste as a result of their timely intervention, a fact that has been widely recognized within the status quo but never allowed to be publicize for reason beyond imagination.  

The modernization of the medical laboratory profession should be able to make an average graduate to be capable of comprehensively utilizing the new curriculum to assist in the interpretation, diagnosis and treatment recommendation of the condition(s) as it relates to the laboratory test(s). This in my opinion can be achieved with the help of adopting a scheme of studying that may be similar to that of the Physician Assistance training, in respect of pragmatically understanding the clinical implications of laboratory data, but with less emphasis on clinical and invariably greater inclinations to the laboratory management of diseases and other medical conditions.  

In order for the field of medical laboratory profession to pragmatically achieve such goal of making it to become a 21st century specialty, which will be responsive to primary healthcare providers and the patients, there is no doubt that Physicians and Pathologist must buy into the idea of allowing what is best for the patient to become a reality rather than becoming sentimental- which is understandable. Relying on the conviction that the patient comes first, I do believe that the prevailing status quo can work itself out and aid the field to become ready.  

At this juncture I wish to briefly but modestly narrate an incident that happened during a flight from Frankfurt Germany to Washington Dulles Airport in which a passenger on board developed symptom of acute fatigue and thirst leading to fainting. The flight attendance immediately announced that there was a medical emergency on board and seeks the intervention of any medical personnel. Without giving the credit to myself alone, I recognize among other things that the pulse rate and the blood pressure was okay and the dry mouth might be sequel to dehydration and or anxiety. The passenger had to lie on the floor with the head slightly down in comparison to the leg in order to allow for greater blood flow to the brain. With the vital signs okay and the patient having regain consciousness I advice that he should given as much fluid as possible and in the absent of pure glucose-D drink the juice on board did suffice for this purpose. Fortunately there was no need for fluid infusion and by the end of the day it all went well.  

Upon arrival in the USA I was later presented with an American Express gift certificate and a thank you letter from the medical director of the airline in addition to the many on board gifts and appreciation. The above narration is not about wanting anybody to thank me further, but rather as an example of how knowledge if well utilized can save life! I had a background training that to a greater extent recognize the essentiality of first aid and being a part of the primary healthcare delivery system. I am not a doctor or physician, but rather a medical laboratory scientist whose professors recognizes the fact that during the course of our training we must know how to deal with some situation without compromising life and at the same time impersonating.   Is it therefore possible to train medical laboratory scientist in such a way that they too can have the knowledge base to intervene if need be in a medical situation to the extent that life can be preserve as far as it depends on that knowledge?  

There is an absolute necessity of training the modern medical laboratory scientist in the fashion that they are vastly knowledgeable in the area of physiology, anatomy, biochemistry and pharmacology and some basic clinical maneuvers in addition to the most fundamental essentiality of performing diagnostic and or laboratory tests.   We all cannot be a nurse, pharmacist or Genetics, nevertheless we can lend a professional helping hand by being able to assist in the most comprehensive manner the bone of contention and by so doing elevate the practice for the benefit of the patient and the system at large.  

By and large, any curriculum that hopes to accommodate the tentative modernization that I am asking for may take a minimum of 3 years post graduation from the medical laboratory technology program. During the 3 years period, the prospective student shall receive the necessary educational and professional training needed to enhance his or her capacity to midwife in the most qualified manner the laboratory results, the clinical interpretation from a laboratory management perspective and recommend if need be further test(s) or elimination of some already ordered ones.  

Two years shall be spent on correlating clinical and laboratory studies in relation to patients through the thorough studying of the physiology, anatomy, biochemistry and pharmacology, and also pathology. The last year of study should be concentrated in a given area of the clinical laboratory discipline namely; clinical biochemistry (chemical pathology), hematology, microbiology, immunology, coagulation study, urinalysis and instrumentation (automation), laboratory information services (LIS), genetics, among others.  

In a nutshell in order to reposition the field of medical laboratory science to become better equip to deal with the challenges of the 21st century medical and health concerns, there is an absolute necessity to upgrade or modernize this area of healthcare that is very crucial and in some cases nearly indispensable as far as the diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of a medical condition is concerned. Its professionals who are involved in the carrying out of diagnostic tests in order to generate results that is use to substantiate or refute a given provisional diagnosis and or in adequately and scientifically managing the conditions must be treated with respect and be given due sue place of honor among the committee of professions.  

The patients stand to gain the most if we can allow our selfish interest or desire for monopolistic inclination to be sacrificed in order to move the United States of America healthcare delivery system forward in order to become second to none in the world and by so doing once more provide the kind of leadership that mankind is expected of the country. As the saying goes necessity is the mother of invention and the medical laboratory profession is in itself a child of necessity that should be allow to grow, rather than being truncated or marginalized at the detriment of the patients.  

Ours is the generation that has the pragmatic potential for change as epitomized by the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States of America in President Barack Obama which some cynic pundits have concluded will never happen in the country. The attestation to the pragmatism, broadmindedness and the desire for concrete actions and solutions to the nefarious problems facing the nation especially in context of the economic maladies has been one of the fundamental reasons why the president defeated his opponent in the November 4th 2008 general election.

Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses and the other allied healthcare professionals could be making history and changing the spectrum of the profession for the best if only they are willing to support the aspiration of the medical laboratory scientists in orchestrating the necessary modalities that will bring about a lasting and durable change and career progression with the ultimate goal of positively impacting on the healthcare delivery system and further leading to a reduction in the cost of doing business.  

It has never been my dream to train as a physician as epitomized by my aspiration to pursue the medical laboratory science profession during my undergraduate studies at the University of Calabar College of Medical Sciences. However I was also made to understand within my professional and academic training that I will be very useful and respected as a medical laboratory scientist especially based on my job discretion, performance and potential to make a pragmatically positive difference. In the United States of America the above conviction seems to be a mirage and consequently it may not be good enough for those who aspire to be like me.

We must change, since the later is just inevitable; life without change is not worth living and that is why I do hope that somehow the healthcare profession and its professionals can help the medical laboratory profession to transition from its current status to that which will enable the citizenry to better utilize their profession at full capacity rather than the prevailing circumstances in which the job and responsibilities are more or less haphazardly distributed in context of how laboratory data are generated and yet the generators have little or no input as to how these results are consequently utilized to bring about the diagnosis, treatment and management of the conditions that might have necessitated the request in the first place.

I am proud of being who I am and look forward to achieving the peak of my career which based on my mentors may culminate in the award of a doctorate degree in the field of medical laboratory profession in addition to the capacity to touch lives through researches and other veritable tools that will help bring about further progress, innovation and discovery in the health and medical profession.

May God bless the noble professionals in this field of healthcare, who have continued to give their best with little or no recognition at all for their indispensable services that have been miniaturized into the generation of laboratory data as against the real values and capacity that abound in this very noble profession, amen.





By: Peter Odeh

When you think of coconuts the image of palm-lined beaches and clear blue water surely comes to mind, but did you know coconuts also may help protect your heart? Because coconuts contain more saturated fat than butter, at one time many health experts believed that consuming this sweet treat would result in clogged arteries and heart disease. However, studies show that the benefits of coconuts outweigh the possible risks, which should please those with tropical fever. In a study published in Clinical Biochemistry, 2004 1, researchers looked at coconut oil as a component of diet in laboratory animals (Sprague-Dawley rats). In this study, virgin coconut oil, which was obtained by wet process, had a beneficial effect in lowering total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).

Even though coconuts do have a high saturated fat count, more than 50% of that is lauric acid. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that although lauric acid raises LDL (”bad”) cholesterol, it raises HDL (”good”) cholesterol even more. The other 50% of the saturated fat content is made up of fatty acids that have little or no effect on cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol levels is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, so it looks like coconuts are back on the menu!

This tasty tropical treat is still high in calories, so don’t overdo it. Instead, buy a bag of shredded coconut and have just a handful as a mid-morning snack or mixed into your trail mix. Try to avoid a sudden spike in your blood sugar by making sure you consume bagged coconut that is free of added sweeteners. If you’d like to try cooking with coconut milk, try a delicious grilled coconut shrimp or coconut-crusted chicken on a balmy summer evening for a change of pace. If you’re really in the coconut tropical mood, go ahead and plant a palm tree, buy a set of tiki torches, have a Caribbean cookout, because you’ll be jam’in to a healthier you!

Recipe (serves 2)

Coconut Crusted Shrimp

20 medium shrimp

1 tsp. garlic and herb seasoning

1/2 tsp. black pepper

3/4 cup flour

2 medium eggs, well-beaten

1 cup shredded coconut

Directions

Preheat oven to temperature 400°F. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Sprinkle garlic and herb seasoning and pepper evenly over the shrimp. Place the flour, egg, and coconut in three small separate bowls. Dip shrimp into the egg, then the flour, then the egg again, and then into the coconut. Place shrimp on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden brown. Serving suggestion: dip in mango sauce.

1.    Beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. K.G.Nevin and T. Rajamohan, Clinical Biochemistry 37,2004;830-835).

Recipe is adapted from Chefs.com





By: beth aldrich

An isoflavone from soy has been evaluated for its effect on various female functions such as the menopause and some effects on estrogens. Soy products have been part of the diet in the Far East for thousands of years, and it is a known fact that these people suffer fewer incidences of conditions such as breast cancer, menopausal problems, rectal cancer and diseases of the heart and joints.

The benefits that such a diet appeared to confer on those taking it initiated many studies into the active constituents of soy, and how the biochemistry involved imparted these benefits. A result of this was an intensification of investigations into many so-called -women’s functions’ or ‘women’s problems’ that hitherto had been accepted as a part of life. Now, however, they are better understood, just as many other components of the Oriental diet are being found to have wider implications in terms of disease prevention and increasing life expectancy. So back to soy and its isoflavone content.

Soy contains a number of isoflavones, commonly known as phyto-estrogens - plant estrogens - because their chemical formula is similar to that of estrogen, a female hormone. Isoflavones possess some properties that support the beneficial properties of estrogens, and others that suppress some of the risk factors possessed by estrogen. We shall discuss here how these isoflavones are related chemically to estrogens, and how they can be used to support some specific female functions.

In order to understand how isoflavones work we go back to the 1980s, when alpha and beta estrogen receptors were discovered. Until then, the biochemistry of estrogen was not fully understood, and problems connected with estrogen had not been fully investigated.

Like all hormones, estrogen works by finding receptors that are located on cells. With regard to estrogen there are two types of receptor. The beta receptors are connected with the beneficial properties of estrogen, while the alpha receptors tend to lead to the unfavorable effects such as cancers related to estrogen. Each of your different tissue types possesses different ratios of these two receptor types.

The unfavorable alpha receptors predominate in tissues such as the breast, ovaries and uterus. The favorable beta receptors predominate in the blood cells, bladder, prostate gland, thymus and bones. Studies have indicated that isoflavones appear to attack to the beta receptors and simulate the beneficial effect of estrogen when the levels of estrogen in the body are low, and allow the proper functioning of these cells in the body.

The alpha cells are also populated by isoflavones, which then protect these areas of your body against cancers that can be stimulated by estrogen, such as cancers of the breast, ovaries and uterus. It appears that cancers that can develop when the alpha receptors are populated by estrogen do not occur when isoflavones have captured them

Isoflavones are present in the form of glucosides. These are composed of sugar and non-sugar components, the latter known as aglycones, and the main isoflavones in soybean are based on the three aglycones genistein, daizein and glycetein. The glucosides are water soluble and are broken down into enzymes known as B-glucosidases in the intestine. This releases the aglycones that can be further metabolized into other substances.

Current studies are examining the possibility that a diet rich in isoflavones taken early in life up to teenage years can reduce the incidence of breast cancer in later years. Isoflavones have been used in the laboratory to reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells, and animal studies have reinforced this finding. The fact that Japanese men suffer less from prostate cancer than those eating diets low in isoflavones also tend to reinforce this connection.

The same mechanism can be used to in prostate cancer by binding to testosterone receptors. Genistein, in particular, can help treat certain types of cancer by inhibiting enzymes such as tyrosine kinase that can become hyperactive and overstimulate the growth of potentially cancerous cells.

It is probable that the estrogen binding facility of isoflavones complements the activity of estrogen in women with low levels of hormone. When the female estrogen level is low, isoflavones can reduce the effects of the menopause and symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats become less severe. While not all women benefit, it has been found that women with these symptoms tend to suffer less when taking a diet rich in soy foods containing isoflavones.

In addition to its moderating effect on these cancers, and its effect on the menopausal symptoms on many women, soy isoflavones possess a few other beneficial health properties. They are strong antioxidants, and help to support the immune system by mopping up free radicals. They also help to protect from atherosclerosis by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and depositing it as plaque in the arteries.

There is evidence that isoflavones in the diet can help to maintain strong healthy bones. This is largely through the fact that Chinese women taking a diet rich in soya suffer fewer fractures than those on a low soy diet, but studies are continuing into potential reasons for this. Estrogen receptors in bones regulate bone growth and density. Isoflavones can modulate these receptors and promote greater bone density just like estrogen hormones with out estrogen side effects.

Isoflavones have few dietary sources, the richest being soybeans and other soy products. These are very low in the non-Asian diet, so few people, other than Asians, receive the benefit of these phytochemicals. This is believed to be the major reason for Asians suffering significantly lower rates of certain cancers than non-Asians.

Soy milk and tofu are the richest sources, although there is no standardization of isoflavones in soy-based foodstuffs. This is because the isoflavone content varies according to growing conditions, although a diet containing the recommended quantities of soy foods, such as soy milk or soy beans, together with a low cholesterol diet, should help women to overcome many of the problems associated with excess estrogen, or a lack of it especially when taking in conjunction with essential fatty acids.

Any supplement containing soy will be beneficial to most women, particularly during the menopausal stages, although the effect of isoflavones on certain cancers to which women are susceptible cannot be ignored. Such supplements should therefore be used by all women from at the teens onwards, studies having indicating that an isoflavone-rich diet should be beneficial over the longer term.

Isoflavones from soy is effective in helping to support female functions, although the normal Western diet is traditionally very short in these forms of phytoestrogen. Isoflavones can modulate estrogen receptor sites through out the body helping the body regulate its functions and easy the symptoms related to a estrogen deficient body.





By: Darrell Miller

Eggs have many health benefits, among them being the fact they can be an excellent source of omega-3 oils that can promote better health in those that take it as a supplement. Hens fed on flax seeds are particularly high in omega-3 fatty acids, although eggs have many health benefits other than omega-3.

Most of the health benefits of Omega fatty acids are well known, although many more are being continually discovered as scientists research the uses to which the substances can be put in our bodies. Omega-3 fatty acids have long carbon chains that are polyunsaturated, i.e. contain multiple double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. As opposed to saturated fatty acids with no double bonds. They are important components of our neurological systems and help to build up cell membranes, but are probably best known for their effect in protecting us from cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids can help us to maintain a healthy heart, and so enable us to live longer.

The current western diet has been changing to reduce cholesterol intake and improve our lifestyle. However, this has not all been well advised, and the resultant diet is rich in vegetable oils as opposite to animal fats, the relative levels of omega fatty acids having changed in favor of omega-6 fatty acids. These omega-6 fats are not as healthy for us as omega-3, and can lead to a thrombogenic state that more easily leads to cardiovascular diseases and blood clots. Rather than a normal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of around 2:1, this ‘improved’ diet has increased it to anything up to 50:1.

The American Heart Association has been advocating a diet richer in omega-3 fatty acids since 1996, yet while research continues to favor omega-3, the increase in consumption of vegetable oils has continued to increase, and with it a reduction in the overall health of a nation.

Omega-3 enriched eggs have been introduced as one means of redressing the balance. Hens fed on flax seeds lay eggs with a much higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids than normal: up to and over 150mg per egg. Such eggs also have reduced cholesterol - over 15% less, and also are higher in vitamin E, a strong antioxidant, by up to 300%.

Two of the components of omega-3 oils, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, are what are known as ‘essential’ fatty acids. The term means that they cannot be manufactured in your body, so must essentially be introduced through your diet. When the human body developed to what it is now, the consumption of fish and other oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids was a significant part of our diets, and allowed our bodies to develop the biochemistry and metabolism that it uses today.

If we now upset that biochemistry by cutting our intake of unsaturated fatty acids, our metabolism will suffer and our general health decline. This is one reason why humans should interfere with their natural eating habits as little as possible, or if we do so excessively we should use supplements to replace what we are excluding from diets that have been natural to us for countless millennia. It is dangerous now for the human race to suddenly switch to a significantly different diet without suitable supplementation, because we do not know the long terms effects of doing so.

One way to maintain a steady intake of the fatty acids our metabolism needs in order to ensure our survival is to eat eggs, and especially omega-3 enriched eggs. Of course, eggs have a lot more beneficial health effects than just omega-3. Take choline for example. This is a trimethylated compound that is important in the metabolism of fats. It is the newest official B vitamin, and is an essential component of cell membranes. It is particularly important for the maintenance of the health of your brain, and preventing many brain disorders.

It is also important in methylation, an important biochemical process, and also in the biochemical synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This substance is used to pass messages between nerve cells and from nerve cells to muscles, and a deficiency can cause many health problems, including heart disease and diseases of the vascular system. Methylation is a very important biochemical reaction, being used particularly in messages between body cells and is used to switch genes on and off.

Up to 90% of Americans are deficient in choline, and subject to many diseases because of it. Symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, excess fat concentrations in the blood and problems with your nerves and muscular control. It can cause liver problems and heart problems, and cause a number of brain disorders.

Choline is available in the diet from lecithin and egg yolks, and also soya beans, flax seeds, peanuts and potatoes. The typical American diet is not conducive to an adequate choline intake, and increased egg consumption can help to redress this. This is particularly true of eggs from hens fed with flax seeds, or linseed, from which the triple benefits of choline, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E are obtained. Just two eggs will provide you with almost 50% of your daily requirement of choline.

Some are wary about the cholesterol content of eggs, but studies have indicated that it not so much the amount of dietary cholesterol that is eaten, but saturated fats that cause the excess deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. Cholesterol is an essential part of human biochemistry, and without any we could not survive. In fact, studies have shown that eating two eggs daily can improve your cholesterol levels

Eggs are also rich in lutein, and contain more than vegetables such as spinach. Lutein is an important carotenoid that is believed to prevent age related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, and also prevents the development of cataracts. Eggs also appear to have anti-clotting properties on the blood, and so help to reduce the thrombogenesis of omega-6 fatty acids.

Without a doubt, eating eggs is very good for your health, and especially so if they are rich is omega-3 fatty acids. They contain a wide variety of nutrients and truly are a complete food packaged by nature. Some may prefer to stay away from eggs and miss the omega-3 benefits so there is an alternative for diets that exclude eggs. Omega-3 is available in a supplement form that one can take on a daily basis to reap the benefits omega-3 presents.





By: Darrell Miller