Developed by the co-inventor of the pacemaker at London University, Arasys Effortless Fitness technology has been known for its significant inch loss and muscle building. New clinical studies are presently designed to provide evidence that Arasys has the same health benefits as regular exercise by virtue of resonating the brain signal given to the nerve in charge of the muscle.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
NEWS RELEASE spacer Print Version APRIL 24, 2009
New Target for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Discovered by Penn Scientists
PHILADELPHIA - In trying to understand the role of prostaglandins – a family of fatty compounds key to the cardiovascular system – in blood pressure maintenance, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and colleagues discovered that mice that lack the receptor for one type of prostaglandin have lower blood pressure and less atherosclerosis than their non-mutant brethren.
Prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor expression depicted in blue in renal artery.
Prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor expression depicted in blue in renal artery.
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The results indicate that the normal role for the type of prostaglandin studied, PGF2α, is to increase blood pressure and accelerate atherosclerosis, at least in rodents, and suggest that targeting this pathway could represent a novel therapeutic approach to cardiovascular disease.
The results appeared this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Blocking this prostaglandin receptor may provide a strategy for controlling blood pressure and its attendant vascular disease,” notes senior author Garret A. FitzGerald, MD, Director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at Penn.
To address prostaglandins’ role in maintaining blood pressure, FitzGerald and his team, including researchers from the University of Southern Denmark, created strains of mice in which both the maternal and paternal copies of the gene for the PGF2α receptor were deleted. They did this in mice with a normal genetic background and in ones that contained an additional mutation in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene. These manipulations effectively rendered the mice unable to respond to the prostaglandins.
The delicate balance the body maintains to keep blood pressure stable involves not only the prostaglandin system, but another biological pathway, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS. Under conditions of low blood pressure, the liver secretes a protein called angiotensiogen. Renin, an enzyme produced by the kidneys, cleaves angiotensiogen into a peptide called angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is cleaved again to form angiotensin II, which stimulates blood vessels to narrow, thereby increasing blood pressure. At the same time, angiotensin II induces the release of the hormone aldosterone, which further elevates blood pressure by promoting retention of water and sodium in the kidneys.
Many conventional therapies for high blood pressure target components of the RAAS pathway. For instance, ACE inhibitors such as captopril (Capoten) target the formation of angiotensin II, while aliskiren (Tekturna) targets renin.
The team assessed the impact of the PGF2α receptor mutations on both blood pressure and RAAS activity. They found that under a variety of circumstances deletion of the PGF2α receptor lowered blood pressure coincident with suppression of RAAS activity.
“Precisely how these two observations are connected is the focus of our current research,” says FitzGerald.
Blood pressure was reduced in both types of genetically engineered mice relative to control littermates. The RAAS molecules renin, angiotensin I, and aldosterone were also reduced, a biological situation leading to lower blood pressure.
The team found that the PGF2α receptor is expressed in the smooth muscle surrounding arteries in the kidneys. However, it was absent in the muscle surrounding the aorta, in the atherosclerotic lesions of mice with their PGF2α receptors knocked out, as well as in the macrophages that inhabit those lesions. Importantly, these atherosclerotic lesions were smaller and less abundant in mice that had both the low-density lipoprotein and PGF2α receptors knocked out, as was macrophage infiltration and inflammatory cytokine production, both of which are indicators of the inflammatory response that marks these plaques.
Prostaglandins are produced during the oxidation of certain cell molecules by cyclooxygenases, the COX enzymes targeted by COX inhibitors, but how remains unclear. FitzGerald’s group had previously shown that blockading cyclooxygenase 1 and its major prostaglandin product, thromboxane, also lowers blood pressure, slowing atherosclerosis, but in this previous study, the relevant genes are present in the aorta and its atherosclerotic lesions. PGF2α, by contrast, acts via the kidney and represents a distinct therapeutic opportunity.
“The picture is emerging that PGF2α controls blood pressure by a mechanism unique among the prostaglandins,” says FitzGerald. “Besides the case of thromboxane, two other types of prostaglandins, PGI2 and PGE2, stimulate renin secretion, which is part of the RAAS pathway.”
Assuming these findings can be translated to humans, targeting the PGF2α pathway could represent a novel opportunity for therapeutic control of blood pressure in cardiovascular patients.
The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association.
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PENN Medicine is a $3.6 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Penn's School of Medicine is currently ranked #3 in the nation in U.S.News & World Report's survey of top research-oriented medical schools; and, according to the National Institutes of Health, received over $366 million in NIH grants (excluding contracts) in the 2008 fiscal year. Supporting 1,700 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) includes its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, rated one of the nation’s top ten “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S.News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. In addition UPHS includes a primary-care provider network; a faculty practice plan; home care, hospice, and nursing home; three multispecialty satellite facilities; as well as the Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse campus, which offers comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient services in multiple specialties.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Xanya Sofra-Weiss
Aging is not just the sum total of individually deteriorating cells, shortened telomeres, denatured proteins and DNA molecules, or oxidative damage in the mitochondria. Aging is the dynamic process of increasing imbalances caused by: (1) cellular energy shortage, (2) incomplete cellular differentiation, (3) immune deficiency, (4) decreased systemic intelligence reflected in a/ defects in repair mechanisms, b/ inadequate spatial orientation and c/ poor network communication. International research has repeatedly shown that: (1)Electrons stabilize free radicals (2) Electron transport within DNA deflects oxidative damage; (3)Electrons provide a) direction information b) embryonic development c) cellular differentiation d) healing.(4) Electron transport chain results in Protons spinning the ATP-synthase in the mitochondria to produce ATP. Additionally, Proteins, the central intelligence mechanism of the cell are synthesized by aminoacids that are bound by virtue of their electric charge. A number of studies have shown that Protein synthesis occurs at specific frequencies below 1 Hz. Modern electronics and molecular biology research are combined to deduce the specifications for a technology that promotes Healthy Anti-aging. Resonating the firings, spatial organization and rhythms of electrically excitable cells leads to healing and rejuvenation in a completely safe, noninvasive method. However, to date, few devices pay attention to waveform formation that reflects the essence of cellular communications. There is a lot to be gained by developing a device that can emit signals capable of intertwining with those of signal transduction receptors (including G proteins, gene transcription and the activation of T cells). Such a device will not only become the protagonist in Anti-aging but it will have sufficient sophistication to heal disease and enhance overall immune efficiency.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Giorgio Iervasi, MD; Alessandro Pingitore, MD, PhD; Patrizia Landi, BSc; Mauro Raciti, BSc; 2003
Background—Clinical and experimental data have suggested a potential negative impact of low-T3 state on the prognosis of cardiac diseases. The aim of the present prospective study was to assess the role of thyroid hormones in the prognosis of patient population with heart disease. Methods and Results—A total of 573 consecutive cardiac patients underwent thyroid function profile evaluation. They were divided in two subgroups: group I, 173 patients with low T3, ie, with free T3 (fT3) 3.1 pmol/L, and group II, 400 patients with normal fT3 ( 3.1 pmol/L). We considered cumulative and cardiac death events. During the 1-year follow-up, there were 25 cumulative deaths in group I and 12 in group II (14.4% versus 3%, P 0.0001); cardiac deaths were 13 in group I and 6 in group II (7.5% versus 1.5%, P 0.0006). According to the Cox model, fT3 was the most important predictor of cumulative death (hazard ratio [HR] 3.582, P 0.0001), followed by dyslipidemia (HR 2.955, P 0.023), age (HR 1.051, P 0.005), and left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 1.037, P 0.006). At the logistic multivariate analysis, fT3 was the highest independent predictor of death (HR 0.395, P 0.003). A prevalence of low fT3 levels was found in patients with NYHA class III-IV illness compared with patients with NYHA class I-II ( 2 5.65, P 0.019). Conclusions—Low-T3 syndrome is a strong predictor of death in cardiac patients and might be directly implicated in the poor prognosis of cardiac patients.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
The Motor Nerve Pacemaker Technology has been successfully used for Body Countouring and Facial Rejuvenation since 2005 in the USA. A clinical study with individuals presenting abnormally clumped Red Blood Cells’ (RBCs) was completed in February 2009 by using the Pacemaker Technology for the Motor Nerve. Results indicate that this technology rapidly and efficiently leads to normalized erythrocytes’ separation at the microscopic level. RBCs separation is crucial for the overall blood flow and timely transport of hormones, antibodies, oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and waste products to the kidneys. Transport of Hormones is crucial for lipolysis (T3 and Growth Hormone -- GF) and muscle hypertrophy (Insulin Growth Factor - IGF-1). Results also showed that erythrocyte separation has a mega anti-oxidant effect; it has a positive correlation with detoxification and a negative correlation with the number of fungal forms, poikilocytosis (free radicals in the blood), thrombocyte aggregation and bacteria present in the blood prior to treatments.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Arterial diseases are the first causes of death in the developed countries. It seems necessary to investigate the role of enzymes, lipids, proteins and para-oxidation lipids in these diseases. The tribulation of fats is one of the most risk factors which results in atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. In this study, the short time effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields with the frequency of 50Hz, on the amount of some blood lipo-proteins, liver enzymes, P448 and P450 cytochrome enzyme system are investigated in the NMRI female mice. The results indicate that the
blood serum's levels of lipoproteins decrease significantly, in comparison with control and sham groups (P<0.05).>
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Through a live blood analysis, you can see the life gifting element of your body come alive - your blood. After your health practioner takes one small drop of blood and places it on the slide, you observe as your blood reveals nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, yeast overgrowths, digestive problems, metal toxicity, liver stress, bacteria and parasite levels. The mysteries of your health become revealed and through the 45 minute assessment provided from your practitioner, you learn how to clean your blood and become an active participant in correcting any areas of concern. In partnership with your practitioner, you establish a proactive nutritional plan that will put you back in control of your own health
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Bok Y. Lee, Keith Wendell, Noori Al-Waili, Glenn Butler ; 2007
This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of ultra-low microcurrent delivered by the Electro Pressure Regeneration Therapy (EPRT) device for the man- agement of chronic wounds. In this study, 23 patients with chronic skin ulcers and 2 with abdominal dehiscence that was present for an average of 16.5 mo, who were not responsive to standard conservative treatment in a hospital setting, were treated with the EPRT device. Wounds were treated with direct current (maximum
of 3 mA) of 1 polarity for 11.5 min and then with a current of the opposite polar- ity for another 11.5 min. Treatment was applied through ultra-low microcurrents (in the mA to nA range) conducted through special wraps applied above and below the wound. The results revealed that 34.8% of cases achieved complete wound healing after an average of 45.6 h of treatment, and 39.1% achieved ≥50% healing after an average of 39.7 h of treatment. Several patients achieved signifi- cant results after 1 to 2 treatments. The EPRT device not only accelerated healing
but also appeared to negate the effect of a person’s age on wound healing.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Acupuncture is an established adjuvant analgesic modality for the treatment of chronic pain. Electrical stimulation of acupuncture points is considered to increase acupuncture analgesia. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study we tested the hypothesis that auricular electroacupuncture (EA) relieves pain more effectively than conventional manual auricular acupuncture (CO) in chronic low back pain patients with insufficient pain relief (visual analogue scale [VAS] 5) treated with standardized analgesic therapy. Disposable acupuncture needles were inserted in the auricular acupuncture points 29, 40, and 55 of the dominant side and connected to a newly developed battery-powered miniaturized stimulator worn behind the ear. Patients were randomized into group EA (n 31) with continuous low-frequency auricular EA (1 Hz biphasic constant current of 2 mA) and group CO (n 30) without electrical stimulation (shamelectroacupuncture). Treatment was performed once weekly for 6 wk, and in each group needles were withdrawn 48 h after insertion. During the study period and a 3-mo follow-up, patients were asked to complete the McGill questionnaire. Psychological well being, activity level, quality of sleep, and pain intensity were assessed by means of VAS; moreover, analgesic drug consumption was documented. Pain relief was significantly better in group EA during the study and the follow-up period as compared with group CO. Similarly, psychological well-being, activity, and sleep were significantly improved in group EA versus group CO, the consumption of analgesic rescue medication was less, and more patients returned to full-time employment. Neuropathic pain in particular improved in patients treated with EA. There were no adverse side effects. These results are the first to demonstrate that continuous EA stimulation of auricular acupuncture points improves the treatment of chronic low back pain in an outpatient population.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Pregnancy, and especially repeated pregnancies, stretch and distort the breasts and abdomen. As the baby grows, the uterus presses on the inside of the muscle wall of the abdomen. At the front of the abdomen, the two vertically oriented "Rectus" muscles (the "six-pack" muscles) get pulled apart, and actually separate as the fascia elongates. Once the baby is delivered, the skin collapses, and may leave loose hanging skin. Because the underlying muscle has also been stretched, a bulge may be apparent in the lower abdomen. The pregnancy effect on the breasts are no less dramatic. Due to hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, the breasts start to grow. Following delivery, breast feeding causes the breasts to repeatedly stretch. After breast feeding is complete, the breasts typically decrease in size, resulting in stretch marks and loose skin. In short, pregnancy is followed by breast tissue lossand drooping, abdominal stretching of muscle and skin, and local collections offat. Until recently, the main two solution to these problems were several weeks ormonths of an exercise regime or plastic surgery. But moms with newborns usuallyhave no time to go to the gym. And a lot of people avoid plastic surgery because of all the dangers involved in surgery, the side effects or the expense. In search of an alternative we encountered the Arasys that was built in London University after seventeen years of research by Gerry Pollock, the coinventor of the pacemaker. Arasys was recently introduced to the USA a no sweat, painless solution to improving stretchmarks and losing the baby fat. A number of Gynecologists immediately implemented Arasys in their practice. According to Gerry Pollock, the waveform contracts the muscle the way it would if the body was engaged in a strenuous workout. Below are the results of a pilot study with moms ages 26- 32, trying to lose inches after their first pregnancy. Subjects were randomly assigned to 20 minutes of an Arasys procedure or 80 minutes of exercise. Inch loss was significantly higher with the Arasys procedure, and in significantly less time that it was required by exercise. Inches lost around waist and abdomen with Arasys versus exercise are illustrated by the chart below. Gerry Pollock and the USA Research Division of Arasys Perfector are presently conducting more research studies on the Health Benefits of the Arasys. For more info go to www.arasysperfector.com or call 1 866 25 YOUNG
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Xanya Sofra Weiss
The explosive growth in electrical technologies and our ever-increasing understanding of the relationship between biophysics and biochemistry preludes the conceptualization of biological processes on an electrochemical basis, rather than on a chemical basis alone. The most recent advancements of scientific electro-medicine involve only microcurrent levels of stimulation (in the millionths of an ampere), often sufficiently minute as to not even be felt by the patient being treated. The lack of sensation during microcurrent stimulation has been consistently viewed as evidence that microcurrent is more in tune, and as such better absorbed and incorporated within the intercommunications of biological processes than higher levels of electrical stimulation such as miliamp (in the thousandths of an ampere). Microcurrent stimulation has been extensively used in the medical field for skin ulcers, bone repair, muscle healing, and anti-aging procedures such as non surgical face lifts and lymphatic drainage. Research evidence has revealed that microcurrent acts as an antioxidant (Lee et al 2005), increases ATP (cellular energy) by 500% (Cheng et al, 1982), enhances cell proliferation, DNA and protein content (Yin et al, 2005), as well as collagen and elastin (Santos 2004; Chi 1999, 2002). On the other hand, the anti-aging regime of electrical body treatments such as inch loss, body building and contouring has been governed by muscle stimulators that operate with miliamps. Miliamp operated muscle stimulators deplete ATP (Cheng et al, 1982. Santos et al 2004), thus depriving the cellular system from energy that is crucial for optimal biological functioning. Intense discomfort and confinement of the result within the area treated are additional limitations of muscle stimulators
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Hansen, F N Bennedbæk, M Høier-Madsen, L Hegedu, B B Jacobsen;2003
Objective: Thyroid autoantibodies (TA) and thyroid ultrasonography are widely used in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). However, we know little of the significance of having ultrasonographic abnormalities (USabn) without having any other signs of AITD. In a previous population-based study of 105 young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) we found a high prevalence (42%) of USabn. In the present study we evaluate the development of both USabn and TA in a 3-year follow-up of this cohort.
Design: Of the 105 previously investigated children and adolescents with T1DM (aged 5 – 21 years), 101 were re-examined. Serum concentrations of tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab) and thyroglobulin antibodies (Tgab), as well as thyroid size and morphology were determined in all patients.
Results: During the 3 years follow-up period, the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction increased from 5 to 8%, the prevalence of TPOab was unchanged at 13%, while the prevalence of Tgab decreased from 14 to 7%. The prevalence of USabn increased from 42 to 49%. Most patients presented USabn at both examinations. Patients with USabn had a higher prevalence of TA than those without USabn ðP 1⁄4 0:038Þ and higher serum levels of TSH ðP 1⁄4 0:027Þ: All patients with thyroid dysfunction presented with USabn. However, many patients with USabn had no other signs of AITD.
Conclusions: A high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, TA and thyroid USabn were found in young patients with T1DM. Thyroid USabn was a sensitive but non-specific marker of AITD and is therefore unsuitable for screening purposes. Instead, we recommend regular screening using serum TSH in the follow-up of young diabetic patients. (European Journal of Endocrinology 148 245–251)
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Paulo Renato Junqueira Zuim, Alicio Rosalino Garcia, Karina Helga Leal Turcio, Marcelo Matida Hamata; 2006
The effect of Microcurrent Electrical Nerve Stimulation (MENS) was evaluated and compared with occlusal splint therapy in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients with muscle pain. Twenty TMD patients were divided into four groups. One received occlusal splint therapy and MENS (I); other received splints and placebo MENS (II); the third, only MENS (III) and the last group, placebo MENS (IV). Sensitivity derived from muscle palpation was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Results were submitted to analysis of variance (p<0.05). There was reduction of pain level in all groups: group I (occlusal splint and MENS) had a 47.7% reduction rate; group II (occlusal splint and placebo MENS), 66.7%; group III (MENS), 49.7% and group IV (placebo MENS), 16.5%. In spite of that, there was no statistical difference (analysis of variance / p<0.05) between MENS and occlusal splint therapy regarding muscle pain reduction in TMD patients after four weeks.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
LAMBERT, MICHAEL I., MARCUS, PAUL, BURGESS, THERESA, NOAKES, TIMOTHY D.; 2002
Purpose: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs after unaccustomed physical activity
or competitive sport, resulting in stiff, painful muscles with impaired function. Acustat(R)
electro-membrane microcurrent therapy has been used to treat postoperative pain and soft
tissue injury; however, its efficacy in reducing symptoms of muscle damage is not known.
Methods: Thirty healthy men were recruited for a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The
muscles of their nondominant arms were damaged using an eccentric-exercise protocol.
Subjects were then randomly assigned to treatment with either Acustat or a matching placebo membrane for 96 h and monitored for a total of 168 h.
Results: Subjects in both groups experienced severe pain and swelling of the elbow flexors
after the eccentric exercise. After 24 h, the elbow joint angle of the placebo group had
increased significantly more than those in the Acustat group (13.7 +/- 8.9[degrees] vs 7.5 +/- 5.5[degrees]; placebo vs Acustat, P < 0.05), possibly as a consequence of the elbow flexor
muscles shortening.
For the first 48 h after exercise, maximum voluntary contraction of the elbow flexor muscles was significantly impaired in the placebo group by up to 25% (P < 0.05), whereas muscle function was unchanged in the Acustat group. Peak plasma creatine kinase activity was also lower in the Acustat group (peak = 777 +/- 1438 U[middle dot]L-1) versus the placebo group (peak = 1918 +/- 2067 U[middle dot]L-1; (P < 0.05). The membranes were well tolerated by the subjects in both groups without any adverse effects.
Conclusion: These data show that treatment of muscle damage with Acustat electro-membrane microcurrent therapy reduces the severity of the symptoms. The mechanisms of action are
unknown but are likely related to maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis after muscle damaging exercise.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Robert H. Odell, Jr., MD, PhD, Richard E. Sorgnard, PhD; 2008
Inflammation often plays a key role in the perpetuation of pain. Chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis, immune system dysfunction, micro-circulatory disease, painful neuritis, and even heart disease) have increased as baby boomers age. Medicine’s current antiinflammatory choices are NSAIDs and steroids; the value in promoting cure and side effect risks of these medications are unclear and controversial, especially considering individual patient variations. Electricity has continuously been a powerful tool in medicine for thousands of years. All medical professionals are, to some degree, aware of electrotherapy; those who directly use electricity for treatment know of its anti-inflammatory effects. Electronic signal treatment (EST), as an extension of presently available technology, may reasonably have even more anti-inflammatory effects. EST is a digitally produced alternating current sinusoidal electronic signal with associated harmonics to produce theoretically reasonable and/or scientifically documented physiological effects when applied to the human body. These signals are produced by advanced electronics not possible even 10 to 15 years ago. The potential long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects of some electrical currents are based on basic physical and biochemical facts listed in the text below, namely that of stimulating and signaling effective and long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects in nerve and muscle cells. The safety of electrotherapeutic treatments in general and EST in particular has been established through extensive clinical use. The principles of physics have been largely de-emphasized in modern medicine in favor of chemistry. These electrical treatments, a familiar application of physics, thus represent powerful and appropriate elements of physicians’ pain care armamentaria in the clinic and possibly for prescription for use at home to improve overall patient care and maintenance of quality of life via low-risk and potentially curative treatments.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
M. C. SHEPPARD, D. B. RAMSDEN ; 1983
In a group of 8 moderately obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics, both serum total T3 and T4 concentrations and serum free T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly lower than control values. Serum TBG levels did not differ. Five patients demonstrated an apparently successful response to dietary treatment with loss of symptoms and glycosuria and fall in post-prandial blood glucose and HbAl. Serum concentrations of thyroid hormones and TBG, however, were not significantly altered. These abnormalities may be unrelated to hyperglycaemia and may reflect the nutritional status of the patients. (Clinical Endocrinology 18 (6)1365-2265)
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Xanya Sofra-Weiss, Ph.D & Ali Mohamed, M.D.
Individual phenotypic differences result in a variation of T4 to Free T3 conversion. Free T3 stimulates lipolysis. This leads to polymorphic and individualized lipid deposition patterns. Hyperthyroidism is associated with weight loss via an increase in metabolic rate and lipolysis. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is associated with weight gain via a decrease in metabolic rate.
A literature review by Guillermo et al (2003) has shown that the risk of thyroid dysfunction in Diabetic patients is two- to threefold higher than in the general population. A number of studies have shown that thyroid hormones represented by serum total T3 and T4 concentrations and serum Free T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly lower in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics than control subjects. Low T3 is also a strong predictor of mortality in cardiac patients and may be directly implicated in the poor prognosis of cardiac patients.
The biological functions of GF (GH) are carried out by Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is the key determinant of somatic growth. It regulates puberty and gonadal function, and influences body composition as well as structural and functional maintenance of adult tissues. Loss of skeletal muscle mass, increased adiposity, and other unwelcome accompaniments of aging have been linked to age-related decline in pituitary GF secretion. On this basis, administration of GH is often advocated as an “anti-aging” therapy. However, administration of GF has a number of adverse side effects such as Diabetes, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, High Blood Pressure, etc. (Hintz, 2004). In addition, mutant GF deficient animals have demonstrated prolonged longevity (Corpas et al, 1993). Recent research in humans (Hoeijmakers et al, 2008) has shown that GF and IGF-1 may be associated with aging as a result of the system’s tendency to focus on growth, which diminishes its capacity to invest in maintenance and repair, i.e. “the survival response.”
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Use of growth hormone to boost athletic performance can lead to diabetes, reports a study published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study reports the case of a 36 year old professional body-builder who required emergency care for chest pain. He had lost 40 kg in 12 months, during which he had also experienced excessive urination, thirst, and appetite. He admitted to using anabolic steroids for 15 years and artificial growth hormone for the past three. He had also taken insulin, a year after starting on the growth hormone. This was done to counter the effects of high blood sugar, but he had stopped taking it after a couple of episodes of acute low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) while at the gym. Tests revealed that his liver was inflamed, his kidneys were enlarged and that he had very high blood sugar. He was also dehydrated, and diagnosed with diabetes. He was given intravenous fluids and gradually increasing amounts of insulin over five days, after which he was discharged. His symptoms completely cleared up, and he was no longer diabetic. The use of growth hormone has steadily risen among amateur athletes and bodybuilders all round the world, say the authors, because it is easy to buy online and difficult to detect in screening tests unlike anabolic steroids. The authors believe that this is the first reported case of diabetes associated with the use of high dose growth hormone, and urge anyone taking high doses to regularly check their blood sugar levels.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Use of growth hormone to boost athletic performance can lead to diabetes, reports a study published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study reports the case of a 36 year old professional body-builder who required emergency care for chest pain. He had lost 40 kg in 12 months, during which he had also experienced excessive urination, thirst, and appetite. He admitted to using anabolic steroids for 15 years and artificial growth hormone for the past three. He had also taken insulin, a year after starting on the growth hormone. This was done to counter the effects of high blood sugar, but he had stopped taking it after a couple of episodes of acute low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) while at the gym. Tests revealed that his liver was inflamed, his kidneys were enlarged and that he had very high blood sugar. He was also dehydrated, and diagnosed with diabetes. He was given intravenous fluids and gradually increasing amounts of insulin over five days, after which he was discharged. His symptoms completely cleared up, and he was no longer diabetic. The use of growth hormone has steadily risen among amateur athletes and bodybuilders all round the world, say the authors, because it is easy to buy online and difficult to detect in screening tests unlike anabolic steroids. The authors believe that this is the first reported case of diabetes associated with the use of high dose growth hormone, and urge anyone taking high doses to regularly check their blood sugar levels.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
To follow up on the calorie restriction research noted today at the Longevity Meme, here is more of the same: A number of studies have shown that restricting calories increases the lifespan of animals, but the biological basis for this has remained elusive. A new report hints that growth hormone, as well as insulin, are key factors in the life-extending effects of calorie restriction. "The implication for pharmaceutical development would be that the signaling pathways of growth hormone and insulin may be logical targets for development of anti-aging medicine"
Bartke's team tested whether growth hormone and insulin are tied to the life-extending effects of calorie restriction in a series of experiments with normal mice and mutant mice deficient in growth hormone. The mutant mice do not express the receptor for growth hormone (and are therefore growth hormone resistant), have profoundly suppressed insulin levels, and are known to live longer and age more slowly than normal mice ... in sharp contrast to its effects in normal mice, calorie restriction failed to increase lifespan in mutant mice lacking growth hormone receptor.
Although it would be irresponsible to recommend that healthy people start using anti-diabetic drugs," said Bartke, "it is reasonable to suggest that treatment(s) causing an improvement in insulin sensitivity combined with modest reduction in insulin release would reduce risk of age-related disease and likely also delay aging. Most interesting. Calorie restriction researchers are pulling at strands of the tangled knot of metabolic biochemistry - everything affects everything else. It is possible that an extra decade or two of healthy life span for even the most healthy and long-lived amongst us could result from present research into the biochemistry of calorie restriction. It's also possible that nothing of the sort will materialize prior to this line of research being rendered obsolete by the advance of much more aggressive approaches to tackling aging. It seems to me that metabolic research cannot be more than a stepping stone to far better ways of extending the healthy human life span. Scientists should already be striding beyond these studies to tackle the repair of age-related damage in a more direct manner.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Xanya Sofra-Weiss, Ph.D
Abstract:
The aging process cannot be conceptualized by examining a single gene or a single pathway, but can best be addressed at the systems level. Aging is not only the sum total of shortened telomeres, denatured proteins and DNA molecules, or oxidative damage in the mitochondria. Aging attacks key regulatory nodes crucial for the biological network stability. It is the dynamic process of increasing imbalances in the systemic organization of degenerating biological processes. DNA and stem cells engineering have successfully reversed certain individual components of time attrition resulting in rejuvenation and aging delay. So far, research has merely followed a sequential process that goes from the part to the whole, identifying aging genes and engineering stem cells, etc. However, discovering pieces of the puzzle still requires identification of the interconnections between matching pieces before the solution emerges. The old, the ill, and the injured all suffer from misarranged patterns of atoms. A single substitution an A for a G in a DNA molecule can cause a significant change in the conductance of the molecule leading to cancer. Such research findings demonstrate how the sequence and interrelations of amino acids in a protein, or the sequence of base pairs in a DNA molecule can become determining factors between health and disease, aging and youth. The DNA sequence alone doesn't determine everything. The importance of the spatial organization or nuclear architecture in regulating gene expression begs for scientific observation that does not merely focus on the study of atoms and molecules, (the basic components of a Gestalt); but on the interrelations, sequence, orientation and spatial organization of these atoms and molecules (the dynamic whole or Gestalt). Recent research has shown that DNA, proteins, cells, including stem cells, appear to be electrical in that they demonstrate conductivity or the presence of ionic currents. Since electricity is a dynamic entity emerging out of the interactions of atoms and molecules, we propose that perhaps the simplest way of focusing on the entire system is by decoding the complex electrical signals that map biological interactions with respect to spatial organization. Biological signals must be analyzed in terms of their amperage, frequency, voltage, interactions, orientation, spatial organization. Next will be their translation into electronic signals that comply with the specifications of amperage, frequency, voltage or biological signals. Electronic signals will then be intertwined to orchestrate a Gestalt waveform built on the basis of information attained from observations of biological interactions and architecture – a process similar to that done in Pollock’s lab (1990-2004). This Gestalt waveform will act as an electronic diplomat to awaken biological processes that have diminished with aging or disease by signaling the recuperation and activation of biological reparative mechanisms leading to extended longevity.
A clinical study with individuals presenting abnormally clumped Red Blood Cells’ (RBCs) was completed in February 2009 with a device representing the Pacemaker Technology for the Skeletal muscle. Results indicate that this technology rapidly and efficiently leads to normalized erythrocytes’ separation at the microscopic level. RBCs separation is crucial for the overall blood flow and timely transport of hormones, antibodies, oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and waste products to the kidneys. Transport of Hormones is a crucial process lipolysis (T3 and Growth Hormone -- GF) and muscle hypertrophy (Insulin Growth Factor - IGF-1). Additionally, erythro cyte separation resulting from treatment with the Pacemaker Technology appears to have a negative correlation with the number of fungal forms, poikilocytosis, thrombocyte aggregation and bac teria present in the blood prior to treatments. In summary, the erythrocyte separation resulting from treatments with the Pacemaker Thechology enhances hormonal transport including T3 and GH leading to lipolysis and muscle hypertrophy; 2) RBC;s separation enhances overall level of health by a significant reduction of free radicals. bacteria, fungal forms. etc.; 3) Obesity is characterized by reduced blood flow. The Pacemaker Thechology increases RBC’s separation resulting in normalized blood flow. In conclusion, re-establishing normal levels of blood flow will not only help reduce obesity but it will help reduce the risk of heart attack as well as all other disorders associated with obesity. Due to its resonance with the biological signal and following the rule of reinforced synapses when signals are in synch with the CNS, the signal of the Pacemaker Technology spreads throughout the CNS inducing effortless and painless isometric and isotonic muscle contractions. The Pacemaker Technology signal to the nerve ultimately triggers hormonal secretion such as Growth Hormone (GF), Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) for lipolysis and Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1) for muscle hypertrophy.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
J. McKenna; E. Sheehan; K. Mulhall; D. McCormack; and J.M. Fitzpatrick; 2001
Infection around implanted biomaterials in humans is a major healthcare issue and current ability to effectively prevent and treat such infections using antibiotics is limited. The hypothesis of the study was that surface charge could be manipulated to a positive state and thus moderate bacterial adhesion to the implant. The surface charge was manipulated by creating a galvanic cell using a zinc strip in a standard suction drain.
Adhesion of Staph. aureus and Staph. Epidermidis to stainless steel and titanium implants in vitro and in vivo was quantified by sonication and log dilution technique. The response to this surface manipulation of charge varied for both the bacterial species and the type of metallic implant. In vitro studies produced an 88% reduction in Staph. aureus adhesion to stainless steel and a 36% reduction in adhesion to titanium. However Staph. epidermidis showed an increased adhesion to stainless steel (Log 1.81 ± 1.12 in vitro) and to titanium (log 1.80 ± 0.12). Staph aureus demonstrated a log increase of 1.56± 0.09 in adhesion to titanium in vivo while Staph. epidermidis generated a log increase of 3.97± 0.10 in adherent bacteria.
In this experiment we have shown that alteration of the electrochemical environment around an implant influences bacterial adhesion. While our technique is not therapeutically viable, further manipulation of surface charge of an implant is possible using other electroactive materials. This may be explored in the prophylactic treatment of implant infection.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Francis R. Powell; 2001
A microcurrent therapy device (MCTD) for use in applying a DC current of less than one milliampere between two conductive pads through the tissue of a therapy recipient. The MCTD in a preferred embodiment having an electronic stack that can be placed in electrical connection with the user's skin and thus in electrical connection with the other skin contact plate. The disclosed device includes a profile minimizing system of using an off the shelf "coin" battery within the electronic stack. The preferred embodiment uses a battery clip in conjunction with a coin battery and the circuit board of the MCTD.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
K Soffe; E Sheehan; J McKenna; and D McCormack
Aim: To investigate the effect of manipulation of the electrochemical environment around metallic implants on bacterial biofilm formation.
Background: The inability to prevent and treat prosthetic bacterial infection is a significant orthopaedic problem. Current antimicrobials are ineffective against bacterial biofilm communities. It is hypothesised that the alteration of the micro-environment could inhibit bacterial adhesion sufficiently to prevent biofilm formation allowing normal tissue integration to occur. Previous work by this group using zinc caused increased bacterial biofilm formation. Platinum being at the opposite end of the galvanic spectrum should cause the opposite effect.
Materials and Methods: Titanium 2mm Kirschner (K) wires (N=14) and Stainless Steel K wires (N=14) were cut into 50mm segments and sterilised. These were inoculated with either Staphylococcus Epidermitis (NC011047) or Staphylococcus Aureus (NC012973) suspensions. Superficial, non-adherent bacteria were removed by serial rinsing in phosphate buffered solution (PBS).; 2002
The K wires were added to either the culture media alone or the culture media containing platinum and incubated at 37 degrees for 24 hours. The wires were then removed from the media and rinsed in PBS. Samples were subjected to sonication, to fragment biofilms thereby releasing the bacteria, which were then quantified by serial log dilution technique and manual counting.
The presence of platinum reduced the adhesion of both Staph Aureus and Staph Epidermidis to stainless steel. This reduction was statistically significant using paired t-test (SPSS version 6.0). There was a significant reduction of adhesion with platinum in the Staph Aureus and titanium group while the reduction in the Staph Epidermidis and titanium group did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion: The use of platinum to manipulate the microcurrent around metallic implants reduces bacterial biofilm formation in vitro. This has obvious clinical implications in prevention of implant infections.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
M. O. Ullah; 2007
Pressure ulcers (PU) are common international afflictions that occur in many different
healthcare settings. The aim of this prospective, randomized, multi-center study was to determine the
effectiveness of micro-current (MCT) therapy on patients with four chronic stages under The National
Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP). PU on 60 male and female patients enrolled from 6 hospitals.
The analysis reveals that MCT has a significant effect on wound healing. Data analysis also reveals that
wounds of female patients are healed significantly faster than those of male patients and that age
significantly influenced wound healing.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
A method and apparatus for providing microcurrent stimulation therapy to a body part is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method allows digital control of the modulation frequency of the microcurrent signal. The method includes receiving a first digital data word which is used to produce a first frequency related to the first digital data word, whereupon, a first microcurrent signal at the first frequency is applied to the body part. A second digital data word is received and used to produce a second frequency related to the second digital data word. A second microcurrent signal at the second frequency is applied to the body part. In another embodiment, a method allows direct digital synthesis of the microcurrent stimulation signal. A first digital data word is used to produce a first analog voltage which is applied to the body part. A second digital data word is used to produce a second analog voltage which is also applied to the body part, where the first analog voltage is different from the second analog voltage. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus for providing microcurrent stimulation therapy includes a digital-to-analog converter, a controller and a plurality of data words. The controller is coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and supplies the digital-to-analog converter with digital data words in order to generate an electrical signal for the microcurrent stimulation therapy.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Yoon TS, Lee DS, Kim MS.
Due to lack of evidences on the central and peripheral mechanisms of electrical stimulation in vivo, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of afferent stimuli, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and microcurrent, on the electrodiagnostic study of normal subjects. Electrodiagnostic study was performed before and after the application of afferent stimulion of the right popliteal fossa on 30 healthy female volunteers. After the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, latencies of SEP, H-reflex, and F-wave, and H-amplitude changed significantly(P<0.01).>
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Ewa Boerner, Wojciech Rytel, Ewa Bieć, Barbara Ratajczak, Ewa Demczuk-Włodarczyk, Aneta Demidaś; 2005
Background. Low back diseases have developed in recent years as an extraordinarily important social problem, which not only affects vast numbers of people, but is also one of the most frequent cause of sick leaves, premature retirement and even disability. Physiotherapy belongs to recognized and approved treatment methods within which physical medicine plays a large part. One of modern and at present developing methods is electrostimulation with the use of microcurrent. Microcurrent of intensity ranging from 25 and 600 µA and frequency of 0.5-320 Hz was applied in the research. The aim of the research was to assess the efficacy of microcurrents in fighting pain resulting from lumbar degenerative disease in comparison with traditional physiotherapeutic methods, like warmth therapy, ultrasounds and electrical stimulation with high voltage currents.
Material and methods. Research material constituted of 225 patients, where 160 patients were treated with microcurrent and 65 with traditional physiotherapy. Pain level and functional abilities were examined. In assessing the level of pain 10- degree scale applied in Renaissance Physical Therapy was used. Assessment of physical fitness was based on functional tests contained in Lower Quarter Functional Form.
Results. Analysis of efficacy of both methods in reducing pain showed that significant pain decrease was observed in the group of patients where microcurrent method was applied. Comparative analysis proved that before the onset of both microcurrent and traditional electrotherapy the results of functional tests in both groups were similar. After the treatment the differences were significant at the level of p < 0.001, with better results achieved with microcurrent therapy.
Conclusions. 1. Microcurrent therapy is much more effective in reducing pain than traditional method. 2. Significant analgesic effect or complete elimination of pain requires fewer treatment sessions with use of microcurrent therapy than with use of traditional therapy. 3. Microcurrent therapy contributes in a greater degree to improvement of functional state than traditional therapy. 4. No sex differences in effects of both therapies were observed.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
Hiroshi Mukainakano; 2002
Current flows from the secondary battery via the current mirror circuit to the regenerative capacitor. The current mirror circuit multiplies by a numerical constant the current flowing from the secondary battery and supplies the amplified current through the regenerative capacitor. When a voltage value of the regenerative capacitor reaches a predetermined maximum value, the current flows from the regenerative capacitor to the external load. The current flow from the regenerative capacitor continues until the voltage decreases to a predetermined minimum value. Immediately before the voltage of the regenerative capacitor reaches the predetermined minimum value, a terminal voltage of the secondary battery in an open state is measured. This structure enables a charging-and-discharging microcurrent from the secondary battery to be easily monitored, while simultaneously detecting a remaining capacity of the secondary battery.
Xanya Sofra Weiss
