Curcumin quiets crosstalk in tumor cellular environment

Curcumin quiets crosstalk in tumor cellular environment Tuesday, October 7, 2014. The journal PLOS One published an article on September 19 demonstrating BCM-95® curcumin altered the microenvironment of a colorectal cancer cell culture model, thereby reducing tumor promoting factors and potentially enhancing chemotherapy effectiveness. "Accumulating evidence suggests that the development and progression of colorectal cancer is due to genetic and epigenetic alterations that are the result of complex interactions of transformed cells with their microenvironment," explain authors Constanze Buhrmann of Ludwig Maximilian University in Germany and her colleagues. "The tumor microenvironment is regarded as the tumor bed, which comprises of resident components, such as stromal cells and the factors that are stable within the milieu of the stroma, and nonresident components such as different immune cell populations, which influence tumor invasion and metastasis. The synergistic impact of the microenvironment on inflammatory responses and tumor progression is now considered to be an essential feature of carcinogenesis, and there is growing interest in the identification of agents that specifically target the pathway interaction between the tumor and stromal cells." Dr Buhrmann and associates cultured human colon cancer cells with human stromal fibroblast cells for three days. They observed clustering of the cancer cells around the stromal cells, which established close cell-to-cell contact. This cellular interaction was associated with increased expression of adhesion and metastatic molecules, active cell cycle proteins, transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-beta3) and vimentin, which is a marker of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that supports the initiation of metastasis. The team then employed a three dimensional high density tumor microenvironment in which colon cancer cells were co-cultured with stromal cells and treated with varying concentrations of BCM-95® curcumin and/or the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). While 5-FU alone increased tumor-promoting factors, TGF-beta3, and EMT, pretreatment with curcumin prior to 5-FU administration reduced these factors. Treatment with 5-FU and/or curcumin promoted disintegration of high-density tumor spheres, an effect that was greater in curcumin-treated co-cultures. Cancer stem cells, which are believed to be responsible for treatment resistance and tumor recurrence, were more numerous in co-cultured cancer and stromal cells in comparison with cancer cells alone, indicating the role of crosstalk in supporting in tumor promotion. Administration of curcumin with or without 5-FU inhibited and diminished the expression of cancer stem cell markers, while 5-FU alone was associated with an increase—a fact that the authors attribute to a defense reaction of the tumor cell culture and microenvironment. The results, according to the authors, demonstrate "for the first time, the modulating effect of curcumin on the crosstalk between the colorectal cancer cells/cancer stem cells and the fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, creating an adequate climate for more effective chemotherapeutic action of 5-FU to specifically target chemoresistant colorectal cancer cells." They conclude "that the natural NF-kB inhibitor curcumin is a promising modulator of the synergistic crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment and curcumin-based anti-EMT and tumor progression may be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, sensitizing cancer stem cells to 5-FU and impede metastasis."

What's Hot Curcumin may help prevent metastasis Writing in an article published online on October 5, 2012 in the journal Carcinogenesis, German and Italian researchers report an anti-metastatic effect for curcumin, a compound that occurs in the spice turmeric, in an animal model of prostate cancer. Previous experimentation by the team uncovered an inhibitory effect for curcumin against the expression of pro-inflammatory immunomodulator cytokines that include CXCL1 and CXCL2, which are associated with breast cancer metastases. The current research found a similar inhibitory action for curcumin in prostate carcinoma cells via inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-beta (NFκB). Upon testing curcumin in a mouse model of prostate cancer, a significant decrease in lung metastases was observed. "Chronic inflammation can induce a metastasis prone phenotype in prostate cancer cells by maintaining a positive pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic feedback loop between NFκB and CXCL1/-2," the authors write. "Curcumin disrupts this feedback loop by the inhibition of NFκB signaling leading to reduced metastasis formation in vivo." "Due to the action of curcumin, the tumor cells synthesize smaller amounts of cytokines that promote metastasis," commented lead researcher Beatrice Bachmeier of Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. "As a consequence, the frequency of metastasis formation in the lungs is significantly reduced, in animals with breast cancer, as we showed previously, or carcinoma of the prostate, as demonstrated in our new study." "This does not mean that the compound should be seen as a replacement for conventional therapies," she added. "However, it could play a positive role in primary prevention – before a full-blown tumor arises – or help to avert formation of metastases. In this context the fact that the substance is well tolerated is very important, because one can safely recommend it to individuals who have an increased tumor risk." Dr Bachmeier is planning a clinical trial to evaluate the effects of curcumin in treatment-resistant prostate cancer patients.

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from http://www.attentionineducation.com/nutrition-and-rest-research/

Dry Eyes

Dry Eyes

The eye depends on the flow of tears to provide constant moisture and lubrication to maintain vision and comfort. Tears are a combination of water, for moisture; oils, for lubrication; mucus, for even spreading; and antibodies and special proteins, for resistance to infection. These components are secreted by special glands located around the eye. When there is an imbalance in this tear system, a person may experience dry eyes.

When tears do not adequately lubricate the eye, a person may experience:

• Pain
• Light sensitivity
• A gritty sensation
• A feeling of a foreign body or sand in the eye
• Itching
• Redness
• Blurring of vision

Sometimes, a person with a dry eye will have excess tears running down the cheeks, which may seem confusing. This happens when the eye isn't getting enough lubrication. The eye sends a distress signal through the nervous system for more lubrication. In response, the eye is flooded with tears to try to compensate for the underlying dryness. However, these tears are mostly water and do not have the lubricating qualities or the rich composition of normal tears. They will wash debris away, but they will not coat the eye surface properly.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

In addition to an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, dry eyes can be caused by situations that dry out the tear film. This can be due to dry air from air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions. Other conditions that may cause dry eyes are:

• The natural aging process, especially menopause
• Side effects of certain drugs such as antihistamines and birth control pills
• Diseases that affect the ability to make tears, such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases
• Structural problems with the eyelids that don't allow them to close properly

How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

Though dry eyes cannot be cured, there are a number of steps that can be taken to treat them. You should discuss treatment options with an eye care specialist. Treatments for dry eyes may include:

• Artificial tear drops and ointments. The use of artificial teardrops is the primary treatment for dry eye. Artificial teardrops are available over the counter. No one drop works for everyone, so you might have to experiment to find the drop that works for you. If you have chronic dry eye, it is important to use the drops even when your eyes feel fine, to keep them lubricated. If your eyes dry out while you sleep, you can use a thicker lubricant, such as an ointment, at night.
• Temporary punctal occlusion. Sometimes it is necessary to close the ducts that drain tears out of the eye. This may be done temporarily with a dissolving plug that is inserted into the tear drain of the lower eyelid to determine whether permanent plugs can provide an adequate supply of tears.
• Non-dissolving punctal plugs and punctal occlusion by cautery (application of heat to tear exit duct). If temporary plugging of the tear drains works well, then longer-lasting plugs or cautery may be used. These measures increase the tear level by blocking the “drainpipe” through which tears normally exit the eye and enter the nose. The plugs can be easily removed. Rarely, the plugs may come out spontaneously or migrate down the tear drain. Many patients with particularly bothersome dry eyes find that the plugs or surgical occlusion (cautery) improve comfort and reduce the need for artificial tears.
• Lipiflow. Lipiflow is a medical device that uses heat and pressure on the eyelids to unclog blocked glands. These glands produce oil as part of the tear film. The oil lubricates the eye and prevents the tears from evaporating.    
• Restasis. The FDA approved the prescription eye drop Restasis for the treatment of chronic dry eye. It is currently the only prescription eye drop that helps your eyes increase their own tear production with continued use.
• Other medications and nutrition. Other medications, including steroid eyedrops, can be used for short periods of time as an adjunct to other long-term measures. There is growing evidence that increasing the oral intake of fish oil and omega-3 via diet or supplement is very helpful to those suffering with dry eye.

 source from http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-health-dry-eyes

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Alan Kozarsky, MD on November 12, 2013

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How To Choose Eye and Vision Supplements?

 

How to Choose Eye & Vision Supplements?

By Shereen Jegtvig, Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), with contributions and review by Gary Heiting, OD

Eye supplements are nutritional products that contain vitamins and other nutrients that research has shown to be beneficial for maintaining eye health and good vision.
As their name suggests, eye supplements are designed to add to, not replace, nutrients you get from a healthful diet. Taking dietary supplements cannot completely make up for serious nutritional shortcomings of a poor diet and too much junk food, which are associated with many serious health problems including vision loss.

What is a "Healthy Diet" for Good Vision?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, a healthful diet:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

But it's common knowledge that most Americans don't eat enough fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods, opting instead for high-calorie, low-nutrient alternatives that can be harmful to the body, including the eyes.
Taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement can help fill in the nutritional gaps in a less-than-optimal diet and may help protect you from degenerative diseases, including eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

AREDS and AREDS2 - Eye Supplements and Age-Related Eye Disease

Two of the most influential studies of the benefits of eye supplements are the AREDS and AREDS2 studies sponsored by the National Eye Institute. (AREDS is an acronym for “Age-Related Eye Disease Study.”)
Each of these multicenter U.S. clinical trials enrolled several thousand participants and had a follow-up period of at least five years.
AREDS The original AREDS study investigated the effect of use of a daily multivitamin supplement on the development and progression of AMD and cataracts in a population of approximately 3,600 participants, ages 55 to 80.
Most of the study participants already had early or intermediate AMD at the time of enrollment, and the average follow-up period of the study was 6.5 years.
The multivitamin supplement contained beta-carotene (15 mg), vitamin C (250 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), zinc (80 mg) and copper (2 mg).
Results of the original AREDS were published in 2001 and showed that the antioxidant multivitamin used in the study reduced the risk of AMD progression to advanced stages among people at high risk of vision loss from macular degeneration by about 25 percent.
Also, in the same high-risk group that included participants with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye but not the other, the daily multivitamin reduced the risk of vision loss caused by advanced AMD by about 19 percent.
For study participants who had either no AMD or only early AMD, the multivitamin provided no apparent vision benefits. Also, the daily eye supplement had no significant effect on the development or progression of cataract among study participants.
AREDS2 AREDS2 was designed to investigate the effect of modifications of the original AREDS supplement formula on the development and progression of AMD and cataracts.
In particular, lutein and zeaxanthin — plant pigments (carotenoids) that other research suggests may have eye benefits — and omega-3 fatty acids were evaluated.
Also, AREDS2 researchers wanted to evaluate a modification of the original AREDS multivitamin formulation because some research has linked beta-carotene supplementation to increased risk of lung cancer in smokers and previous smokers, and because of concerns about minor side effects such as stomach upset caused by the high amount of zinc in the original AREDS formula among some people.
Results of the AREDS2 study were published in May 2013. Participants in the study who took an AREDS formulation that included lutein and zeaxanthin but no beta-carotene, had an 18 percent lower risk of developing advanced AMD over the five years of the study, compared with participants who took the original AREDS formulation with beta-carotene.
Also, AREDS2 participants with low dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin at the start of the study were up to 25 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD when taking a daily multivitamin that included 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin, compared with participants with similar dietary intake who did not take a supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin during the study.
None of the modified AREDS supplement formulations used in AREDS2 — including those containing 1,000 mg omega-3 fatty acids (350 mg DHA and 650 mg EPA) — prevented or reduced the risk of cataracts.

A diet containing plenty of fruits and vegetables can help you enjoy a lifetime of good vision.

Recommended Ingredients in Vision Supplements

As research continues on the benefits of vision supplements in reducing the risk of eye problems (and perhaps in improving visual acuity in healthy eyes), it seems wise to supplement your diet with a daily eye supplement that contains many, if not all, of the following ingredients.
Most of these vitamins and nutrients may play a key role in reducing inflammation and oxidative changes associated with the development of degenerative diseases, including chronic and age-related eye problems:

Eye supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps in a less-than-perfect diet.

• Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Vitamin A (and its precursor, beta-carotene) is necessary for night vision, wound healing and proper functioning of the immune system. Though supplemental beta-carotene has been associated with greater risk of certain cancers among smokers and previous smokers, obtaining a healthy amount of beta-carotene from natural food sources does not appear to elevate this risk.
• Vitamin B complex (including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 folic acid, biotin and choline). B complex vitamins may help reduce chronic inflammation and prevent elevated homocysteine levels in the blood, which have been associated with vascular problems affecting the retina. B vitamins also may play a role in reducing the risk of macular degeneration and in the treatment of uveitis, a common cause of blindness.
• Vitamin C. Some studies have found vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is associated with reduced risk of cataracts.
• Vitamin D. Recent literature suggests vitamin D deficiency is widespread, especially during winter months in cold climates. Research suggests vitamin D is associated with a lower risk of macular degeneration.
• Vitamin E. Another component of AREDS and AREDS2 supplements, vitamin E has been associated with reduced risk of cataracts in other studies.
• Lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids and macular pigments may reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Phytochemical antioxidants. Plant extracts, such as those from ginkgo biloba and bilberry, contain phytochemicals, which appear to provide protection from oxidative stress in the entire body, including the eyes.
• Omega-3 essential fatty acids. These essential nutrients may reduce the risk of dry eyes and may have other eye health benefits as well.
• Bioflavonoids. Found in many fruits and vegetables, bioflavonoids appear to help the body absorb vitamin C for higher antioxidant efficiency.

Source from http://www.allaboutvision.com/nutrition/supplements.htm

10 Surprising Facts about Self-Esteem

High or low, feelings of self-worth are more complex than we realize

Published on October 15, 2014 by Guy Winch, Ph.D. in The Squeaky Wheel 

 

Self-esteem is a coveted ‘psychological accessory’ that has spawned a billion dollar industry. There are so many programs, articles, books, and products that promise to enhance your self-esteem, one might conclude that our understanding of self-esteem is quite advanced. Alas, it is not. Psychologists are still arguing about what self-esteem actually is.But despite decades of squabbling over the definition of self-esteem, its dimensions, and functions, there are a few things psychologists do agree upon when it comes to self-esteem:

 1.  There are different kinds of self-esteem. Scientists generally agree that our feelings of self-worth are both global (how you feel about yourself in general) and specific (how you feel about yourself in specific roles and domains of your life, such as, your self-esteem as a parent, as a professional, as a cook, or as a nurse). Although we all have a number of domains of specific self-esteem, not all of them are equally important because 

 

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2.  The impact of specific self-esteem on global self-esteem varies. The more meaningful and important a given domain of specific self-esteem is to you, the more it impacts your general feelings of self-worth. For example, having a lousy round of golf will not do much damage if golf isn’t important to you but it will put a big dent in your self-esteem if you're a professional golfer. This is why:

3. Our self-esteem fluctuates day to day and hour to hour. Much like a bad hair day, we might wake up feeling great about ourselves one day and totally insecure the next. We tend to think of our self-esteem as being either generally good or bad but it is much more fluid than that. It continually shifts up and down based on the internal and external feedback we give ourselves and that which we get from our environment. While some people do have higher basic self-esteem than others:

4.  Higher self-esteem is not necessarily better. Ideally, your self-esteem should be high but not too high. Narcissists tend to have high feelings of self-worth but their self-esteem is also brittle and unstable. Even small ‘insults’ can make a narcissist crash and feel terribly ‘wounded’. That is why people with good and stable self-esteem tend to be far healthier psychologically than people with very high but brittle self-esteem. If someone thinks they're incredibly attractive it might be narcissism on their part and it might be a true reflection of their looks--but it doesn't say much about their self-esteem because:

5.  Self-esteem is unrelated to physical attractiveness. Studies found that people with low self-esteem were judged to be just as attractive as people with high self-esteem. What makes the difference is how we present ourselves. Imagine two equally attractive people—the person who feels better about themselves, dresses more attractively and is more confident, will probably leave a far better impression than the person who dresses less attractively, and is insecure and unconfident.  If you still believe attractive people should feel better about themselves because they get more attention and compliments, consider that:

 

 People with low self-esteem are resistant to positive feedback. Unfortunately, having low self-esteem makes us resistant to the very compliments and positive feedback that could improve our feelings of self-worth. When our self-esteem is low we feel unworthy of praise and we actually get stressed out by the heightened expectations we believe the praise will bring. Many people try to improve their self-esteem by giving themselves compliments in the form of positive affirmations such as “I am attractive and worthy of love,” or “I will soon have great success.” Unfortunately:7.  Positive affirmations make people with low self-esteem feel worse. Sadly, the very people who need positive affirmations most, those with low self-esteem, tend to feel worse about themselves when they recite them. Here's why: When a statement falls too far outside our belief system we tend to reject it. When someone feels fundamentally weak and disempowered, reciting how strong and empowered they are will only remind them how much they feel the opposite. Ironically, the only people who tend to benefit from positive affirmations are those whose self-esteem is already high. Positive affirmations are not the only popular self-esteem product on the market—there are many, and the majority of them have this in common:
8.  Most programs to boost self-esteem don’t work. Studies show most people’s self-esteem doesn’t change at all after using products or completing programs and workshops that are aimed at boosting it. So why is self-esteem such a thriving industry nonetheless? It turns out that after going through a self-esteem program, we tend to distort our memories of how we felt before, and recall our self-esteem as being lower than it was. We then believe our self-esteem improved when in fact, it didn't change. It’s a shame so many of these programs and products don’t work because:
9.  Higher self-esteem functions like an emotional immune system. When our self-esteem is higher, we are less affected by stress and anxiety, we experience rejections and failures as less hurtful and we recover from them more quickly. In this way, our self-esteem functions like an emotional immune system that buffers us from emotional and psychological injuries. Obviously we should be doing everything we can to protect and boost our self-esteem, and yet:
10.  Most of the damage to our self-esteem is self-inflicted. Unfortunately, we often respond to rejections and failures by becoming self-critical, listing all our faults and short-comings, calling ourselves names, and basically kicking ourselves when we’re already down. We then use ridiculous justifications to justify damaging our self-esteem when it is already hurting (e.g., “I deserve it,” “It will keep me humble,” “It’s a way to keep my expectations low, or  “It’s true—I hate myself!”). If there’s one ‘program’ we could all start that would do wonders for our self-esteem it’s abolishing needless self-criticism and punitive self-talk--and that program, is free!

from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201410/10-surprising-facts-about-self-esteem?tr=MostViewed
 

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Magnesium supplementation improves metabolic profile of MONW men and women

Tuesday, October 14, 2014.  Metabolically obese, normal-weight (MONW) individuals are those who exhibit such metabolic syndrome components as fasting glucose levels of 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more, insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, and/or high blood pressure in the absence of obesity. In a study described in the July 2014 issue of the Archives of Medical Research, Martha Rodríguez-Moran and Fernando Guerrero-Romero of the Mexican Social Security Institute's Biomedical Research Institute sought to determine the effects of magnesium supplementation in 47 MONW men and women with low serum magnesium levels. In a randomized double-blinded trial, participants were divided to receive a 5% magnesium chloride solution that provided 382 mg magnesium or a placebo solution daily for four months. Blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose, serum magnesium, triglycerides and insulin were measured before and after the treatment period. Although no significant differences were observed between the groups before treatment, average systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were lower at the end of four months among those who received magnesium, while those who received a placebo experienced an increase. While serum magnesium levels rose, fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance and triglycerides were significantly lower in the magnesium-supplemented group compared to the placebo group by the end of the study. The authors observe that "even among normal weight individuals, magnesium supplementation may be effective for the reduction of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, and blood pressure, features of the MONW phenotype." "Our finding strongly suggests that irrespective of body weight, magnesium plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic disturbances and blood pressure," they conclude.                                 from source http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2014/10/Magnesium-supplementation-improves-metabolic-profile-of-MONW-men-and-women/page-01?utm_source=eNewsletter_EZX400E&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Article&utm_content=Button&utm_campaign=2014Wk42