Low vitamin D levels and poor gastric cancer prognosis

In a soon to be published study, there is evidence that serum vitamin D level is a significant independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients, and vitamin D deficiency may be associated with poor prognosis with the mean vitamin D levels in 57.9% gastric patients (n=197) was 49.85 ± were found to be deficient in Vitamin D(<50nmol/L).

The scientists cautiously suggest clinicians to evaluate the vitamin D status of gastric cancer patients, and then consider appropriate vitamin D supplementation to deficient patients.

Diindolylmethane (DIM); a potential breakthrough in the fight against ovarian cancer

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a natural compound formed during the breakdown of a compound known as glucobrassicin present in food plants of the Brassica genus, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale.

Scientists from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo already knew that DIM inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cells but have now found that DIM causes ovarian cancer cell death (apoptosis). Not only was DIM able to kill cells but it also prevented cell invasion and angiogenesis, both of which are necessary for a cancer to grow.

Prof Sanjay K. Srivastava and Prabodh K. Kandala who performed the research explained, “DIM increases the effect of cisplatin, without being toxic to normal ovarian cells, by targeting STAT3 signaling and increasing apoptosis. Cisplatin is very toxic and has severe side effects. If co-treatment with DIM means that a low dose of cisplatin can be given to patients without the loss of therapeutic effect, but with reduced side effects, it would represent a significant breakthrough in clinical practice.”

Further Reading on Diindolylmethane

Read the full story here: Diindolylmethane Suppresses Ovarian Cancer in Medical News Today

FREE Fibromyalgia talk, 1st February 2012.

Date: 01.02.12
Venue: The Book Shop at NutriCentre, Park Crescent, London
Time: 7.00-8.30pm
Theme: Fibromyalgia (Part 1 of a 2 part series)
Free entrance and simultaneous live webcast streaming via NutriCentre web site.

Part 1 of this talk will focus on reviewing some of the current thinking that surrounds fibromyalgia, it’s historical roots and potential causes. Focus will be given to the causes and management of poor sleep and pain that commonly accompanies this complex condition.

Part 2, to be held on 6th June, will develop the management plan to include a discussion on irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, anxiety and depression.

Further details available at www.nutricentre.com

A Festive Toolkit for Parents!

Ann Caird, postnatal Doula and infant sleep consultant

The festive season is approaching and preparations are underway! Excitement mounts as anticipation of the big day snowballs… Little ones can easily become over tired with all the extra excitement surrounding the festive season; so here are some practical tips to help maintain good sleep for your little ones – that’ll help keep everyone rested over the holidays!

• Try to maintain your bedtime routine; your familiar routine is a clear series of predictable steps to sleep time which helps little ones wind down and prepare for sleep… amongst all the excitement it will keep bedtime calm and predictable for them. See my October post for more details.

 

• Use a nap time routine; shorter than your bedtime routine, but containing all the important predictable cues that will help the wind down to much needed naps!

 

• Try to keep consistent wake-ups and bedtimes – weekends and holidays too! This helps to keep baby and young children’s sleep and daily routines as consistent as possible, which in turn helps maintain and reset their biological clock daily, supporting regular healthy sleep.

 

• Maximise the impact of light and dark; exposing little ones to light first thing in the mornings will also help set their biological clock. The sleepy hormone melatonin is triggered by darkness, so make sure lights are dimmed during your pre-sleep routines.

 

• Activity and playtime in the fresh air every day helps release tension and prepares growing bodies for sleep!

 

• Be aware of how food may influence sleep; highly processed foods can stimulate and fatty foods may cause digestive difficulties. Sleep inducing foods include healthy carbohydrates, foods containing calcium and tryptophan, so good sleepy food options include eggs, wholemeal toast, turkey, whole grain cereal, milk, bananas, pitta breads…

 

• Think about using white noise!! This is just brilliant for masking all those unusual festive noises… whether they are parties next door, friends in for drinks, reindeers on the roof, sleigh bells and Santa coming down the chimney!

 

• Reduce stimulation at bedtime  by keeping the bedroom a calm place;

avoid lots of colourful decorations and putting exciting new toys in the bedroom… keep it calm and relaxing.

For more information about food and children’s sleep:

Pantley, E. (2005). The No-cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers. New York: McGraw Hill.

Low vitamin D levels linked to type 2 diabetes in obese kids

Another study underscoring the importance of the sunshine vitamin has found that low vitamin D levels in obese children could be a precursor to the development of type 2 diabetes.

View the news story here: Vitamin D Council > News.

View the range of vitamin D supplements.

Natural Supplement Shown To Improve Mental Performance And Decrease Test Anxiety By 17 Percent

Natural supplements are an easy, effective way to manage mental focus, memory and overall mood. Natural supplement Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, was found to significantly enhance mental performance in healthy college students in a recent clinical trial published in Panminerva Medica.

Check the story out here: Natural Supplement Shown To Improve Mental Performance And Decrease Test Anxiety By 17 Percent.

Pycnogenol available here: 40mg capsules

Well-Done Red Meat May Increase Risk For Aggressive Prostate Cancer

New research led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), offers further evidence of a link between aggressive prostate cancer and meat consumption, and suggests it is driven largely by consumption of grilled or barbecued red meat, especially when it is well-done. The researchers hope their findings will help determine which potential cancer-causing compounds should be the target of prostate cancer prevention strategies.

Well-Done Red Meat May Increase Risk For Aggressive Prostate Cancer.

During REM Sleep Stress Chemicals Shut Down And The Brain Processes Emotional Experiences

They say time heals all wounds, and new research from the University of California, Berkeley, indicates that time spent in dream sleep can help. 

“The dream stage of sleep, based on its unique neurochemical composition, provides us with a form of overnight therapy, a soothing balm that removes the sharp edges from the prior day’s emotional experiences,” said Matthew Walker, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study published in the journal Current Biology.

During REM Sleep Stress Chemicals Shut Down And The Brain Processes Emotional Experiences.

Some do’s and don’ts for the winter bug season…

Winter is definatly here and with it the fear and reality of flu, sore throats, coughs and chest infections. One reality many of us forget is the fact that viral, not bacterial, infections lie at the heart of most cases. The knee-jerk use of antibiotics will not help viral infections but will help encourage antibiotic resistant bacterial infections to flourish! It’s a worrying fact that within the past couple of years new drug-resistant patterns have emerged and resistance to common antibiotics has increased.

Below are some helpful pointers:

1. If you your doctor does not prescribe an antibiotic for a cold or flu, because the problem is a viral infection don’t feel cheated of treatment! Antibiotics aren’t effective against viral infections and will only add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are appropriately prescribed for only bacterial infections.

2. If your doctor determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, do not pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics. Instead, ask about methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.

3. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your doctor, even if you start to feel better finish the course. Finishing the course also helps prevent antibiotic resistance in the future.

4. Do not save leftover antibiotics for the next time you become sick.

5. Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.

6. Do not assume that yellow or green mucus means that you need antibiotics. It is normal for mucus to get thick and change colour during a viral cold.

7. The vast majority of sore throats do not require antibiotics. Only 5 -15% of adult cases of sore throat are due to “strep.” If your doctor suspects strep throat, ask whether a throat swab is appropriate.

8. Prevention is better than cure. Consider using a probiotic supplement to help support immune function over the winter months.

 

Antidepressant Linked To Developmental Brain Abnormalities In Rodents

These new findings suggest that taking a certain class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs during pregnancy might be one factor contributing to a dramatic rise in these developmental disorders in children.

Full story here: Antidepressant Linked To Developmental Brain Abnormalities In Rodents.