LEF Email List1 - http://www.lef.org
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE SEPTEMBER 1 2000
IN THIS ISSUE: LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: B cells found to be
important in HIV infection; PROTOCOLS: HIV, Catabolic Wasting; PRODUCT OF
THE WEEK: Enhanced Life Extension Protein; Disease Prevention and
Treatment Protocols now on CD; LIFE EXTENSION FORUM - Join in!
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
B Cells found to be important in HIV infection
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
(NIAID) have found that the body's B cells play a role in human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This discovery should prove to be
helpful in finding ways to eliminate the virus. B cells are the antibody
producing cells of the immune system. Because HIV destroys T cells,
another type of immune system cell, research has focused on T cells rather
than B cells. The research, published in the most recent Journal of
Experimental Medicine found that B cells are involved in the transport of
HIV through the blood and very likely deliver it to the T cells. The
researchers found high levels of the virus on the surface of B cells
isolated from patients with chronic HIV. They were then able to use these
cells to infect T cells in vitro (outside the body). B cells and T cells
are continually interacting with one another in the body, which enables
the B cells to infect the T cells. However, the B cells do not hold
internal reservoirs of the virus, as it merely attaches to their surface.
Lead study author Susan Moir, PhD, explained, "HIV does not appear to
reproduce inside B cells, but rather hitches a ride on the cell surface so
it is free to jump to nearby T cells . . . People with high levels of HIV
in the blood often have malfunctions in their B cell responses, such as
uncontrolled activation of antibody production. In the past, scientists
have thought this was caused largely by indirect effects of HIV infection,
but now we have evidence that some B cell abnormalities might be due to
direct viral interference."
The next step in this research is to determine if HIV found in T cells is
genetically related to that in B cells, to verify that the B cells were
the source of their infection.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director, Anthony
Fauci, MD, commented, "This study enhances our understanding of how HIV
persists in the body and might partly explain the abnormalities seen in
B-cell function in people with HIV infection. Identifying this pool of
HIV-carrying cells also opens new avenues for treating the infection."
PROTOCOL
HIV
Since 1985, several thousand medical papers have provided evidence that
HIV-related immune-system destruction directly correlates with
deficiencies of specific hormones, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
(AIDS, 1997; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997; J. Nutr., 1994).
Free radicals have been linked to much of the immune system destruction
caused by HIV. The HIV-induced cellular depletion of glutathione is
associated with free radical injury to numerous immune-system components.
A wide range of antioxidants have been shown to protect immune function,
and nutrients that maintain cellular levels of glutathione are especially
important in preventing or slowing the progression of HIV infection.
T-helper lymphocytes require adequate levels of glutathione to function
normally, and HIV induces oxidative stress that depletes T-helper cells of
glutathione (Res. Immunol., 1992).
Regular blood tests are an essential part of an HIV treatment program. The
chemistry profile includes iron, glucose, liver and kidney function, WBC,
RBC, platelet count, and other important tests. These tests can detect
blood changes that may indicate the presence of, or predisposition to, a
wide range of abnormalities. They are a crucial source of information to
assess the effects of drugs or nutrients which may be causing liver
toxicity and kidney or heart muscle damage. These tests should be
performed at least semiannually. Specific tests could be repeated more
often to monitor the efficacy of the current therapies you are using. Test
information is a valuable component of the therapy decision-making process
and should be utilized by all people with HIV undergoing prescription
antiviral medication. The Foundation would like to remind you that correct
test result interpretations depend on the knowledge and experience of
trained clinical scientists. Therefore, it is recommended that you work
closely with your primary care physician or qualified laboratory scientist
when evaluating test results.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is required for normal host defense and
functions. An analysis of vitamin C uptake and its effects on virus
production and cellular proliferation was performed. Exposure to high
concentrations of vitamin C preferentially decreased the proliferation and
survival of HIV-infected cells, and caused decreased viral production.
This study showed high concentrations of vitamin C were preferentially
toxic to HIV-infected host cell lines in vitro (Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1991).
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=2998/sgroup_id=699/welcome.html
PROTOCOL
Catabolic Wasting
Catabolic wasting or cachexia is a clinical wasting syndrome that is
characterized by unintended and progressive weight loss, weakness, and low
body fat and muscle. At least 5% of body weight is lost. Cachexia is not
caused by poor appetite and nutritional intake but rather by a metabolic
state in which a "breaking down" rather than a "building up" occurs in
bodily tissues no matter how much nutritional intake occurs. Additionally,
whether a patient receives nutrition orally or intravenously makes no
difference. The patient simply cannot gain weight, so eating more is not
an answer.
It is estimated that one half of all cancer patients experience catabolic
wasting, with a higher occurrence seen in cases of malignancies of the
lung, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. The syndrome is equally common
in AIDS patients and can also be present in bacterial and parasitic
diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic diseases of the bowel, liver,
lungs, and heart. It is usually associated with anorexia and can manifest
as a condition in aging or as a result of physical trauma. Catabolic
wasting is a symptom that diminishes the quality of life, worsens the
underlying condition, and is a major cause of death.
Scientists have examined the impact of whey protein concentrate on
preventing or treating catabolic wasting, immune dysfunction, and cancer.
A study involving HIV-positive men fed whey protein concentrate found
dramatic increases in glutathione levels, with most men reaching their
ideal body weight. In another study, when different groups of rats were
given a powerful carcinogen, those fed whey protein concentrate showed
fewer tumors and reduced tumor masses.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=2999/sgroup_id=699/welcome.html
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Life Extension Enhanced Protein
Recently, a new production method has produced a whey protein isolate that
provides even better health maintenance and disease prevention benefits
than previous products. Using a low temperature microfiltration technique,
it is now possible to produce a 98% undenatured whey protein isolate that
retains all the important subfractions, such as lactoferrin, a strong
antioxidant having antimicrobial and antiviral properties, that also may
be a powerful immune stimulant.
Enhanced Life Extension Protein is a third generation whey protein
containing four times as much lactoferrin as most other whey protein
supplements on the market, and is, to our knowledge, the only such whey
protein supplement that contains added lactoferrin.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=3000/sgroup_id=699/welcome.html
Disease Prevention and Treatment Protocols now on CD
Disease Prevention and Treatment is a 946 page textbook containing inside
information about therapies innovative physicians are using to prevent and
treat the degenerative diseases of aging, and is now on cd. Gaining access
to this knowledge enables one with a serious medical disorder to take
advantage of these advanced therapies immediately, rather than waiting
years for conventional medicine to catch on. It is a well known fact that
people die even though effective treatments may already exist for their
diseases. Disease Prevention and Treatment breaks down the barriers of
scientific ignorance that keeps life-saving knowledge away from those who
need it.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=3003/sgroup_id=699/welcome.html
LIFE EXTENSION FORUM
The Life Extension Forums function similar to Internet Moderated
Newsgroups in that all submitted messages must first be approved by the
Moderator. The purpose of moderation is not to prevent criticism or
dissenting viewpoints, but to enable the frank exchange of information
without the extraneous "junk" and personal bickering which often occurs on
Internet newsgroups and lists. In addition, to prevent the propagation of
disinformation and provide correct information in as timely a manner as
possible, the Life Extension Forums Moderator usually adds comments to
statements and answers to questions within the submitted message before
posting it.
As with Newsgroups, each forum contains a broad category of subjects
indicated by the name of the forum. Users can select a forum category of
interest, search for a particular topic, switch to another forum category,
initiate a new discussion thread within a forum, or submit replies to
individual messages within existing discussion threads.
Users of the Life Extension Foundation Forums are not required to
register. However, once these functions are fully implemented,
registration will allow a user to a) subscribe to a forum (receive email
notification of new messages which appear in that forum), b) be notified
with a copy when the moderator posts his/her message, c) keep track of
read and unread posts, and d) hide his email address from public view,
while still allowing personal replies.
Each forum allows the user to rate the quality or importance of a thread,
and keeps a count of how many times each thread has been viewed. The set
of threads in a forum may be sorted by date, poster name, subject text,
user rating, and view count.
Visit Life Extension Forum, and join the discussion of hundreds of life
extension subjects. General headings include: Dietary supplements,
Hormones, Dietary Xenobiotics, Topicals, Use of Foods, Lifestyles,
Disorders/Diseases, Social/Political aspects, Miscellaneous Topics, and
(just added) Physician Reviews.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=3001/sgroup_id=699/welcome.html
Please email me if you have any questions concerning this ezine or any
other life extension topics.
Long life,
Dayna Dye
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
ddye@lifeextension.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 02 2000 - 17:36:55 MDT