Nutr Neurosci. 2011 May;14(3):119-25.
Antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of blueberry polyphenols: a critical review.
Giacalone M, Di Sacco F, Traupe I, Topini R, Forfori F, Giunta F.
Source

Intensive Care Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this work was to highlight the effects and the possible mechanisms of the action of blueberry polyphenols on the central nervous system (CNS).
METHODS:

An analysis was carried out, in a temporal order, of the most important literature about this topic and the results have been correlated with the beneficial and protective effects, mainly concerning the CNS.
DISCUSSION:

Over the last 10 years an increasing scientific interest has developed about polyphenols, which are very abundant in blueberries, as they have been seen to produce favourable effects related to neuroprotection and linked to a possible decrease of age-related cognitive and motor decline, as shown by the improvement of such functions in animal models with a supplemented diet. Such effects could not only be explained through a purely antioxidant action but also through more complex mechanisms related to inflammation, genic expression, and regulation of cell survival.
CONCLUSIONS:

Despite the wealth of data from animal studies, there is a relative lack of data concerning human beings, even if some positive results are beginning to emerge. Therefore, blueberry polyphenols could become useful pharmacological agents for various conditions including neurological diseases, but further studies are still necessary to attain this objective.

Peace and Safety

Another Consultation with the Muse of  Wellness.

Metalloproteinases:Enzymatic impact on cardiovascular and prostate health.

Metalloproteinase:Enzymatic impact on cardiovascular system.

An enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase-8 plays a crucial role in raising blood pressure and causing abnormal build-up of cells in the arteries – both of which increase the risk of heart disease.

The same metalloproteinase family of enzymes  is inhibited by alpha-mangostin found in the mangosteen fruit and impacts prostate cancer cells in the laboratory.

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Feb 25;57(4):1291-8.

Alpha-mangostin suppresses PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cell metastasis by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 and urokinase-plasminogen expression through the JNK signaling pathway.

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, No. 901, Jhong-Hua Road, Yong-Kang, Tainan 710, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Alpha-mangostin, a component of Garcinia mangostana Linn, is a xanthone derivative shown to have antioxidant and anticarcinogen properties. In this study, we first report the antimetastatic effect of alpha-mangostin in the human prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3. The results show that alpha-mangostin exhibited an inhibitory effect on the abilities of adhesion, migration, and invasion by cell-matrix adhesion assay, wound healing assay, and Boyden chamber assay. In the cancer cell metastasis process, matrix degrading proteinases are required. Results from zymography showed that alpha-mangostin treatment could decrease the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA) in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, alpha-mangostin also exerted an inhibitory effect on phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 and 2 (JNK1/2) and inhibition of activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), c-Fos, and c-Jun. Furthermore, the treatment of inhibitors specific for JNK (SP600125) to PC-3 cells could result in a reduced expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and u-PA. These results demonstrated that alpha-mangostin could mediate PC-3 cells metastasis by reduction of MMP-2, MMP-9, and u-PA expression through the suppression of the JNK1/2 signaling pathway and inhibition of NF-kappaB and AP-1 binding activity. These findings proved that alpha-mangostin might be offered further application as an antimetastatic agent.

James Tad Geiger MD

Where is the integrative wellness mandate to heal the people and the US health care system in this bill?

Read the bill. The bill  is very technical  but try to distinguish if the sections on these pages are as wide reaching as they seem.This bill is much more than keeping your plan and your doctor. Your plan, your doctor and your hospital will be mandated by the govt to provide a govt prescribed level of care. If these items are true and become the law of the land there will be far reaching effects and consequences.

This is not real reform because there is no real reform without medical malpractice tort reform.

This is not real reform without the wellness integrative medicine mandate.

Page 29: Medical Admissions
Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get, limited appeals process
Page 42: The “Health Choices Commissioner” will allocate health benefits
Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services
Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to  individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize union retiree and community organizer health plans
Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange
Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange
Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services
Page 95: The Government will pay certain groups to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan
Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled
Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No judicial review
Page 127: Government will set doctors wages.
Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan
Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees and their families
Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
Page 167: Any individual who does not have acceptable healthcare will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes
Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to personal financial records
Page 203: The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax
Page 239: Bill will reduce certain physician services for Medicaid.
Page 241: Doctors of all specialties will be paid the same.
Page 253: Government sets value of doctors’ time, their professional judgment
Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
Page 272: Cancer patients mandated levels of care
Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, then penalized by the government.
Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on “community” input
Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs
Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
Page 379:  Telehealth Advisory Committee
Page 425: Advance Care Planning Consult paid medical visit.
Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney
Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
Page 427: Government mandates program that approves end-of-life treatment
Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient’s health deteriorates
Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services
Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations
Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy
Page 494: Government will cover mental health services

That is paraphrased from the first 500 pages. HR3200 is much more than Health Insurance Reform.

This is the Whitehouse reality check facts page about the stability of Health Insurance Reform.

James Tad Geiger MD

James Geiger M.D.–

Get Healthier using your Mobile Smart Phone

Smart phones are evolving rapidly. One day there may well be an specialized application (APS) for everything. Some of the health care oriented APS, include Mobile Phone Click Diagnostics offering a wide variety of consultations services and Airstrip OB which can monitor fetal heart rate and maternal contractions. Major medical concerns can be facilitated, like medication compliance of infectious disease patients with programs like Stop TB. Patients can be given a cell phone, touch speed dial and the SIM mediprogram by CompuTrainer verifies that they took their dose of medication. Diabetics and patients with psychiatric disorders can monitored using multidisciplinary protocols which improve outcomes.

The Department of Public Health in Arizona offers STOMP Stop Smoking over Mobile Phones from Health Phone solutions. STOMP has some great statistics to support the success of the program. STOMP sends smokers trying to quit a series of personalized text messages over 26 weeks. This next-generation service uses text messages based on a clinically-developed program with proven medical efficacy and offers several interactive features. Clinical trials have shown that using STOMP doubled reported quit rates from 13% to 28% after six weeks.

There are many more APS available now which are flashed onto Twitter, Facebook and Friendfeed plus many more to be created, many of which will include video.

Digital Telemedicine Services

Telemedicine has improved health care in underserved areas of the world. The American Telemedicine Association defines the use of telemedicine as the exchange of medical information from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients’ health status. Telemedicine was first pioneered and adopted by the Department of Defense for ships at sea and later implemented into the Veterans Affairs system and Indian Health Service.

The digital age of medicine offers radically expanding methods of diagnosis and treatment. Digitized signals can be broadcast live so that physicians can remotely monitor intensive care units in other hospitals, worldwide and treat them as one electronic intensive care unit (eICU) or provide daVinci robotic surgery remotely. Critical care specialists and surgeons trained to use computers monitoring vital signs and laboratory values of critically ill patients can make interventions rapidly and remotely. Healthcare in the 21st century is facing challenges digitally head-on.

Dr. James L. Geiger is a board certified anesthesiologist practicing acute care anesthesia and clinical aromatherapy in Arizona. He completed residency at USC and Internship at St. Mary’s Center in San Francisco where he remained to perform cardiac anesthesia with his father, a Cardiothoracic surgeon, for 16 years. At St. Mary’s he developed and lectured on Fast Track Cardiac Anesthesia programs for early recovery from anesthesia and was chairman of the critical care committee. Currently Dr. Geiger is on staff at several medical centers, orthopedic hospitals and surgicenters where he has introduced therapy with essential oils into the operating and recovery rooms. Dr Geiger’s special interest is consulting in the development of patient services for Integrative Therapies and Medical Spa services which care for the needs of those seeking integrative treatments. Dr. Geiger’s speaking presentations are suitable for conventions, resorts, spas and business meetings worldwide. He is the author of The Sweet Smell of Success: Health and Wealth Secrets (LifeSuccess Publishing/ Feb 2009).

Essential oils have numerous effects on cancer dells and the drugs that are employed as therapy. This is another isolated reference that suggests the need for more research to promote wellness using essential oils from nature’s plants .  Linalool is found in various percentages in the essential oils derived from numerous common plants……. lavender sp. and lemon sp. are two common examples.

Linalool, a plant-derived monoterpene alcohol, reverses doxorubicin resistance in human breast adenocarcinoma cells.

Ravizza R, Gariboldi MB, Molteni R, Monti E.

Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Section of Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via A. da Giussano 10, Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy.

Essential oils from various aromatic plants have been reported to exert chemopreventive and/or antitumor effects. In addition, a number of studies have shown the ability of chemopreventive phytochemicals to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to conventional anticancer drugs. The success of chemotherapeutic agents is often hindered by the development of drug resistance, with multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotypes reported in a number of tumors, generally involving reduced intracellular drug accumulation due to increased drug efflux by membrane transporters. In the present study, the effects of linalool (LIN), a monoterpene alcohol found in the essential oils from many aromatic plants, on the growth of two human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines, MCF7 WT and multidrug resistant MCF7 AdrR, were investigated, both as a single agent and in combination with doxorubicin (DOX). The results reported here show that LIN only moderately inhibits cell proliferation; interestingly, however, subtoxic concentrations of LIN potentiate DOX-induced cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effects in both cell lines. A significant synergism can be observed in MCF7 AdrR cells, which may be due, at least in part, to the ability of LIN to increase DOX accumulation and to induce a decrease in Bcl-xL levels. In summary, the results of the present study suggest that LIN may improve the therapeutic index of anthracyclines in the management of breast cancer, especially in MDR tumors. Oncol Rep. 2008 Sep;20(3):625-30.

Dr Geiger

the oilMD

www.oilmd.com

I have been using essential oil of ginger in the operating room to prevent nausea since 2005. It works great, it is cheap, it is easy  and my patients and the nurses really support my efforts to promote my use of it. I have gifted my GingerMD product to many patients, hospital employees who have needs like nausea associated with pregnancy or they themselves are undergoing chemotherapy. They are so grateful because it makes the treatment and condition so much more bearable. To quote a nurse “Ginger Rocks.”

Apparently others researchers are now convinced and it is published in Lancet and sent around the World Wide Web as scene in these hyperlinks. I have a wonderful product, GingerMD.

Smell is a learned process shaped by genetics (Buck et al., 1992), experiences such as language (Stevenson and Boakes, 2003), music, and other five senses-mediated cues. The medical science of nausea is complexly interwoven with coexisting disease states. Safe practical choices in essential oil therapy can be extrapolated from evidenced-based clinical references  that may be integrated into the medical management of various conditions.

Specifically, the transdermal application and nasal inhalation of vapors of 10% CO2 extracted essential oil of ginger Zingiber officinale can be a safe and effective addition to the medical management for the prevention and treatment of complications of nausea and vomiting associated with general anesthesia. This clinical and scientifically oriented chapter is based on my article published in the International Journal of Aromatherapy.

James Geiger MD

GingerMd Prevents Nausea

GingerMD

The Aromatic Office offers wonderful scents for clients to enjoy while receiving services.

Clearly, as consumers, we need new programs and studies to protect our interests and access to natural products and supplements that we can apply as we see fit. The ODS has undertaken numerous studies in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. Their budget has grown from $3.5 million in 1999 to $27 million in 2006. Some of that money has been spent on studies of the relationship between aging and supplementation. Human studies with phytoestrogens, vitamin D, and osteoarthritis of the knee; chromium and enhancement of insulin signaling; modulation of autoimmunity by green tea phenolics; brain neuron modulator effects of ginkolides and bilobalides; and the mechanism of prostatic cancer prevention by lycopene have had mixed results.

Superior medicinal foods have health benefits that are exceedingly broad, affecting every organ system. Recent studies have shown saw palmetto and glucosamine/chondroitin to be less effective in relieving prostatic and arthritic symptoms as original studies suggested. A personal trial of these supplements is now recommended. It would be a good idea to verify whether or not you, the individual, experience a relief of symptoms through supplementation with saw palmetto or glucosamine/chondroitin.

At Least as Likely as Not

Most people agree we need more substantial studies of all therapies, whether allopathic or CAM. Dr. Ted Gansler said the type of CAM used “is significantly influenced by gender, race, age, education, cancer type, and how far the cancer had spread.” Younger, more affluent and more educated members of the group tend to be adopters of the therapies. Women were more likely than men to use energy techniques such as Yoga and Tai Chi (10.1 vs. 1.9%) and manipulative practices such as massage (16.9 vs. 3.9%). The difference between genders was less apparent for non-spiritual mind-body methods such as hypnosis, meditation and aromatherapy (58.6 vs. 42.8%) (Gansler, 2008).

An example, is is found with the use of black cohosh for a menopausal symptom of anxiety is the only herbal that has “statistically significant results” shown in a CAM study. Numerous other herbs, oils, and supplements have implied “at least as likely as not” quality of life improvement anecdotal relief of the symptoms of menopause known as hot flashes. A large percentage of in vitro (within the glass) research and in vivo (within the living) research has been published on all sorts of CAM medicines and practices outside the United States. The quality of all research is under clinical suspicion, whether undertaken as proof of principle, retrospectively, or as a prospectively designed research paper. That is why all research must be designed and written so as to be reproducible.

Recently, the United States Institute of Medicine has determined a link between Agent Orange and hypertension, and has recommended that the VA cover hypertension as well as the current list of diseases caused by the toxin. When my father was applying for disability through the VA system, the legal phrase used as a “means test” by the government stated that his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam had to meet the standard of “at least as likely as not” in order to be considered the cause of his physical disability. This phrase appeals to me as a means of evaluating supplement studies.

Rather than casting aside all supplements for not providing statistically significant results, a more likely method of analysis could be that supplements are at least as likely as not the reason for improved health benefits.

More later.

Dr Geiger

Underwood Typewriter

The caloric restriction effect of resveratrol (3,
5,4’-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is significant. If you are not drinking wine
for the resveratrol and anthocyanins, then drink a berry fruit juice, such as
white or green tea and blueberry, which can be found combined in some
juice products. Green tea with epigallocathingallate (EGCG) is high in
lignans but low in isoflavonoids, which are polyphenols. Both resveratrol
and allocatechin-gallate, a major antioxidative green tea polyphenol, exert
striking inhibitory effects on diverse cellular events associated with cancer of
the prostate (Sartor, 2004; Stewart, 2003).

Pterostilbene, an active constituent of blueberries and a natural methoxylated analogue of resveratrol, was evaluated for antioxidative potential. Resveratrol has three analogues: pterostilbene, piceatannol, and resveratrol trimethyl ether (Rimando, 2004). Resveratrol, a stilbenoid antioxidant found in grapes, wine, peanuts, and other berries, has been reported to have various properties, including aiding caloric restriction, cancer chemoprevention, and hypolipidemic (decrease lipids) as well as analgesic actions (Remsberg, 2008). Pterostilbene, a new agonist for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-isoform, lowers plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic hamsters (Rimando, 2005). Pterostilbene is cancer chemopreventative and is known to possess anti-inflammatory activity as well as induce apoptosis (cancer cell death) in various types of cancer cells. The effects of pterostilbene on cell viability in human gastric carcinoma melanoma and leukemia have been investigated (Ferrer, 2005; Tolomeo, 2005). Pterostilbene induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human gastric carcinoma cells (Pan, 2007). Resveratrol concentration is different in raw versus baked blueberries. Blueberries are often consumed after cooking, in pies for example. The effect of eighteen minutes of heating at 190 degrees Celsius resulted in between 17% and 46% degradation of the resveratrol. Therefore, the resveratrol content of baked or heat-processed blueberries should be expected to be lower than in the raw fruit. Although blueberries were found to contain resveratrol, the level of this chemoprotective compound was less than 10% of the amount present in grapes. Furthermore, cooking or heat processing of these berries contributes to the degradation of resveratrol.

Excerpts for the Sweet Smell of Success by James Tad Geiger MD the oilMD

If you want to find these references, buy my book which contains more than 25 pages of the medical science of juices and essential oils.

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#b56d25;">San Francisco, February 20, 21 and 22, 2009

A convincing body of scientific research confirms the singular ability of essential oils to reduce the risk of developing tumors. Studies on the antitumor effects of essential oil components have been funded by the NIH and have resulted in a key patent held by the United States.

The fact that essential oil efficacy against tumors is not better known is a consequence of the way health care and pharmaceutical dollars are allocated. Since well known and traditional natural medicines cannot be patented, returns on investment are difficult to monopolize. Funds for research predominantly go to synthetic substances which can be owned exclusively by their manufacturer.

The most pertinent American research of the day proving the anticancer effects of essential oils was presented at the 2000 conference Essential Oils and Cancer (Available in the proceedings of the 4th wholistic aromatherapy conference). The 2009 Conference builds on this basis and presents the most fascinating development of aromatherapy to date: New scientific understanding resulting in healing concepts that do not require the expensive, impersonal and frightening intervention of high-tech medicine. Instead, simple uses of essential oils deliver a maximum of protection against the most dreaded diseases of our time.

Plenary lectures, featuring world-renowned scientists and physicians, are complimented by panel presentations where members of the aromatherapy community share their practical essential oil applications.

Aromatherapy in the 21st Century

Dr. James Geiger, MD is a practicing anesthesiologist and author of The Sweet Smell of Success. He will present a review of the latest research covering hitherto unfamiliar areas of essential oil efficacy:

Efficacy of Essential Oils against the Chagas pathogen.

Inhibition of the inflammatory protein NF-KB by sesqui terpenes.

Treatment of diabetic gangrene with essential oils.

Black Pepper essential oil for stroke patients.

Inhibition of inflammation by essential oils of Ginger, Helichrysum and Frankincense blocking LOX (Lipo oxygenase) and COX (Cyclo oxygenase).

Preventing osteo arthritis.

Essential oils and appetite suppression.

And much more……………………………..   See ya on fisherman’s wharf.

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