Getting Closer to an AIDS Vaccine

For decades, scientists have vigorously searched for a cure for the AIDS virus. Recent research just may have uncovered a significant key to developing that long-awaited vaccine. Scientists have discovered two key antibodies that seem to prevent the AIDS virus from mutating and spreading through out the body.

The AIDS virus has claimed millions of lives around the world. According to the World Health Organization, 33 million people currently are infected with HIV. While search efforts for an AIDS cure are abundant, several previous stabs at developing a vaccine proved to be non-effective.

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a non-profit organization, is funding the efforts to develop a vaccine and kicked off their effort in 2006, called Protocol G. Protocol G utilizes blood gathered from HIV patients in developing countries, to help pinpoint antibodies that could neutralize strains of the AIDS virus. The Scripps Research Institute through this initiative, discovered two critical antibodies, which naturally fight against the spread of the AIDS virus. During the study, released recently in the journal Science, researchers not only discovered two vital antibodies, but also discovered a new part of the virus the antibodies attack. This discovery may lead to a new technique for the creation of a vaccine.

For the study, researchers gathered blood from 1,800 HIV patients who had suffered from the virus, without exhibiting symptoms for at least three years. The participants were mainly from Africa, but also involved HIV patients from Thailand, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The team pinpointed those who had not exhibited HIV signs, though suffering from the virus for at least three years, because these patients many times produce natural antibodies in their blood, which fight against almost all strains of HIV around the world. Dennis Button, a scientist at the Scripps Research Institute, the key player in the new research said, “We said if we want broadly neutralizing antibodies, we should look for people, infected individuals, who are making them,” He added, “The key thing about the antibodies we’ve found is that they’re more potent than previous ones and that’s great for a vaccine.”

Once the blood was gathered from the HIV patients, the samples were shipped back to a team with the Monogram Bioscience laboratories in San Francisco, where researchers studied the samples to determine which antibodies lead to more resistance to the virus. The team had developed a process that caused the enzyme embedded in the virus to glow when it entered a cell. If the researchers did not see a glow when performing the process, it was a signal the patient’s natural antibodies had fought off the virus.

Once the samples containing antibodies that fought off the HIV virus were identified, they were shipped to the Theraclone Sciences, in order to isolate the antibodies. Burton, said “If you want to make a vaccine that works, it has to protect against not just one, but most of the strains that are out there.” The team at Theraclone Sciences isolated two antibodies, which were able to block against three-quarters of the different strains of HIV tested against the antibodies. The two antibodies were recognized in the blood of an African HIV patient.

While the new findings do not create an overnight cure for AIDS, it does help scientists with new options for treatment and a potential vaccine. The hope is for a vaccine that will encourage a person’s immune system to fight the virus more vigorously by producing its own antibodies.

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Vitamin D Could Help Ward off Increased Osteoporosis Risks

As we grow older our risks of osteoporosis and bone fractures increase, but a daily dose of vitamin D may help to reduce these risks. It seems three out of four Americans are not getting enough vitamin D, either through their diets or from the sun, the main source of our vitamin D intake. With more Americans becoming sun-conscious, a daily D vitamin may be necessary, but it needs to exceed 400 International Units per day to be affective.

Vitamin B is crucial to our health. It has been linked to the prevention of heart disease, multiple sclerosis, some forms of cancer, diabetes, preventing or postponing Alzheimer’s and reducing higher risks of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Vitamin D is found in many foods and dairy products, but our main source is through the sun. In fact exposing yourself to 15 minutes of sunlight three times a week could provide adequate vitamin D, but many of us either don’t have the time to sit in the sun or may be afraid of the consequences the sun may cause. Apparently, more and more Americans are growing concerned with sun exposure, and many of us are actually getting less of the vitamin than we did year ago.

For those sun-conscious Americans, a daily oral D vitamin that is at least 400IU a day may be necessary, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine by researchers at the University of Colorado and Harvard. The researchers considered the link between bone fractures and vitamin D consumption. The team of researchers used data gathered from 12 randomized controlled trials of oral vitamin D supplementation that accounted for adherence and dosage. The study considered levels of vitamin D in 18,883 people’s blood samples gathered from 1988 to 1994 and compared them with levels of vitamin D in blood samples gathered from people tested from 2001 to 2004.

The researchers found that vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of non-vertebral fractures by 14 percent and reduced hip fractures by 9 percent. Those who took more than 400 IU of vitamin D daily had 20 percent lower risk of bone fracture and an 18 percent lower risk of fracturing their hip.

It is very hard for us to get our recommended daily dose of Vitamin B needed to keep our levels of the vitamin at the recommended 30 to 40 nanograms per milliliter of blood through food alone. Dr. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, with the University of Zurich and a researcher in the study explained that even though people think healthy nutrition is enough to keep their vitamin D at a healthy level, it isn’t. It is very hard to cover with just food sources. She explained that for someone to get their needed intake of Vitamin D through food alone they would need to eat two servings of fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel every day.

Dr. Bishoff-Ferrari says, “Everyone age 65 and older should take Vitamin D in a dose close to 800 IU per day, best as vitamin D3, and with good adherence.” She also added a daily dose of Vitamin D might be good for younger adults as well. She said, “I think if you are young and want to do something early for your bone health that’s something to think about.” Based on the new research and the verification that higher dosages in Vitamin D may help older adults prevent fractures the researchers call for more researcher evaluating higher dosages of vitamin D and its possible anti-fracture capabilities.

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The Music Behind Sound Therapy

For all of us, at one point or another, sound helps to put us in a different state of mind. For some of us, classical tunes calm nerves, helps a study session go smoother, or entrances us into a good night’s sleep. For others, classic rock makes us want to dance, country music might bring out the romantic, and just the sound of silence can bring a little relief now and then. Many people are comforted by music and studies show that different instruments that produce sound are considered to be a type of natural health.
A 2008 study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine revealed that listening to music that makes you happy for 30 minutes can help to reduce your stress level. Hearing joyful sounds during the day can tell the brain to release endorphins which make you feel happy, your muscles can relax and eventually your stress lowers and pain can be relieved. A different study from 2008 also showed us that listening to calming music like Mozart or crashing waves at the ocean can lower your blood pressure because soothing music slows down your breathing as well as your heartbeat. Your brain waves also tend to react to the sounds you are hearing by slowing down or speeding up according to the beats.

Besides just tuning your radio or switching on your cd player or ipod, sound therapy can help in other ways. Ancient tools such as tuning forks and singing bowls are often used to calm an “overexcited” nervous system. According to Jonathan Goldman, who wrote the book The Seven Secrets of Sound Healing, tuning forks are able to create sound vibrations to provide healing properties. Tuning forks are able to effortlessly realign your inner chakras, clean them of any static energy, and replace harmony and balance in your life. Tuning forks are used by being tapped lightly and hum lowly in order to spread the healing vibrations into the space around you.

Another type of meditative sound therapy is the ancient tradition of singing bowls. Also known commonly as “Himalayan bowls,” these metal (often made from bronze) bowls also vibrate in order to produce a healing sound. Singing bowls are called bowls because they look like inverted bells, sitting flat on their tops without a handle; these “bowls” can also be large or small and are “rung” by being rubbed on the sides and the top of the rim to produce the sound or by being pounded lightly. To play a singing bowl, the friction of rubbing a wooden, leather, or plastic mallet to increase the overtones. Used for relaxation purposes as well as part of religious practices, singing bowls offer support to many.

Research has also been done regarding the link of sound and insomnia. You might think that trying to listen to a playlist while in bed might be counteractive to actually falling asleep but the opposite is true when dealing with the inability to sleep or with waking up often during the night. Listening to white noise, the rainforest, or even the sound of falling rain can ease you back to sleep or urge a restful night without tossing and turning.

Instead of just being an outlet to make you happy, calm your nerves, de-stress, relax your muscles, or help you sleep, sound can also be a way to boost your brain function. Studies say that learning a musical instrument and practicing each day makes your brain moldable and able to store more information as well as keeping it young and sharp. So if you are anything like me when I was a kid, and do not enjoy practicing the piano for an hour each day, just remember that if you stick with it your brain will most likely age better than your peers, and the repetitive motion of playing the instrument—as well as the music it produces—will also help you be more relaxed. Even though I yawn as I type this, I better go find my lullaby CD to lull me into a reassuring sleep.

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Natural Abstinence: How to Avoid Weekend Food Indulgences

Food: One of life’s necessities and usually a hot topic of conversation. Whether it is the latest hot chef, food trend, cookbook, or diet craze, food crops up in conversations, news, blogs, and in our everyday lives. The topics of eating disorders, dieting, and health eating have been widely reported on HealthNews, including the obesity epidemic that has hit our nation. Common sense dictates eating a variety of foods, several times a day, without overindulging. However, that is easier said than done.

Forgetting meals, constant snacking, and all-you-can-eat buffets can be the thorns in our side. And weekends can be especially bad; at home with unlimited access to the refrigerator and pantry can lead to unhealthy temptations. Late nights, sleeping in, forgoing exercise, and eating without limits can all pack on the pounds and leave you feeling sluggish and reversing the effects of the good choices you have made during the week.

It’s important to avoid the overindulgence you may encounter during your two days of rest and relaxation. To avoid packing on the pounds during the down time on “S” days (Saturday and Sunday), here are a few tips adapted from fitness expert Joanna Hall’s latest book, The Weight Loss Bible:

Exercise Before & After: Keep your heart rate going and make sure to workout—even if it’s a quick walk around the neighborhood or a few laps in the pool—before and after a day you know you will be making less than great food choices, for example a summer barbeque chock full of meats and sweets.

Stay Hydrated: Continue to drink water, even if you are drinking other beverages throughout the day. The more hydrated you are, the less hungry you will feel and your body will thank you; especially if you are partaking in poolside margaritas, late-night pints, or tropical vacation piña coladas.

Cut Calories During the Week: Hall says that if you cut 300 calories (usually a small snack like a mini potato chip bag or granola bar) out of your daily intake before and after you know you will be eating more, it will curb any guilt you may feel and help stave off too many unnecessary calories.

Pile on the Veggies: Since studies show that eating vegetables with high water content (think carrots, celery, onions, etc.) make you full faster and have more energy, it may be easier to hold off temptation because your brain isn’t signaling hunger. Eating something substantial before a big night out, like vegetable soup, can leave you satisfied longer and keep off any unwanted bulge.

Groove to the Music: After energizing yourself with a big bowl of veggie soup, whether you are at a girls’ weekend, bachelor party, or karaoke bar, suck up the courage to get on the dance floor and get your groove on. Dancing burns approximately 250 to 300 calories an hour (based on an average woman’s height and weight). Before you know it, the night is gone and you’ve danced off the extra calories and enjoyed every minute of extravagance.

In a growing world of excess, where in any given moment 1 person in 20 is dieting, and the days where the diet crumbles are usually over the weekends. Who wants to keep track of calories during beautiful days and important occasions like holidays, birthday parties, or weddings; no one would want to. You can't blame anyone for indulging with ease but when your jeans get snug and your exercise routine slows down, know how to get back on track. With these handy tips, you can keep your calories from running rampant, your clothes fitting, and your guilt can stay where it belongs…hidden away.

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Exercise Equipment – Free Weights

Free Weights are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to set up your home work out area; the options are almost endless in free weight category - including dumbbells; balance/resistance/exercise balls; and exercise bands/tubing. Free weights all accomplish the basics of building muscle and toning, cardiovascular, and weight loss, but each have their own twist.

Dumbbells are specifically designed to build muscle, whether it’s a dumbbell in each hand for bicep and triceps work, lunges, pectoral flys, or an Olympic bar for chest, back, shoulder work, and much more; the purpose is balance and targeted muscle building. Working with dumbbells requires a bench for optimal strength training. Dumbbells are far from basic and have graduated to sophisticated. They are found in colorful neoprene, metal, hex shapes, adjustable, and vary in price and design.

• Adjustable Dumbbells work well for the serious minded weight lifter. Increasing weight at various intervals during a workout stresses the muscle and produces growth. Adjustables come in all different styles, models, and price ranges. Power Block, Bowflex Dumbells, and Bayou Adjustable Dumbells are major contenders in the adjustable field. They are compact, take up very little space, and have more than one model to choose from, with price ranges that vary. The basic adjustable dumbbell - that consists of a metal rod/Olympic bar with interchangeable weight plates (normally held in place by a metal spring) - is in a lower price range (figure $0.20 per pound), but also takes up more space and is more time consuming in changing up the weights.

• Aerobic dumbbells are specifically for an aerobic workout that is designed to tone muscle and burn calories (lighter weights at faster reps). To increase or decrease dumbbell weight, individual dumbbells need to be purchased.

• Pro dumbbells are the kind you will find in gyms and workout clubs. They are individually sized and perfect for weight lifting and aerobic value lifting, if you have a club membership, or if price and space is not a limitation.

Balance/Resistance/Exercise Balls accomplish balance and weight training also, much the same as dumbbells except they build a stronger core value (abdominal/trunk). Depending on the weight and size of the ball, they can also be used to balance the torso while sit-ups and back extensions are performed while seated on the ball. A Balance ball may also be used in place of a bench. Two hands are required to move the ball through a routine. Performing a series of set demands balance and torso strength.

Exercise bands/Tubing give variable resistance for all strength levels and offer strong competition for dumbbells. This type of strength training and aerobic value workout has a few pluses that exercise balls and dumbbells can’t compete with - a set of bands is easily stored in a small area and can be taken on trips without a problem.

While some exercise machines claim the same status as those listed above – free weights – there are differences in the actual physical strength required and the way the exercise is performed. The free weights listed here demand focus on the lift and the lowering/release of the weight and one has to maintain balance to perform the lift correctly. Machines allow the user to push their torso into it or relax into it rather than forcing core strengthening like free weights do.

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