Absence of Western Lizards Reduces Lyme Ticks

February 18, 2011 Areas in California where Western fence lizards were removed had a subsequent drop in numbers of the ticks that transmit Lyme disease, scientists have discovered.

"Our expectation was that removing the lizards would increase the risk of Lyme disease, so we were surprised by this finding," said ecologist Andrea Swei, who conducted the study while she was a Ph.D. student in integrative biology at University of California, Berkeley.

"We found that the result of lizard removal was a decrease in infected ticks, and therefore decreased Lyme disease risk to humans."

Results of the study, published online today in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B, illustrate the complex role the Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) plays in the abundance of disease-spreading ticks.

Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) can be found with dozens of ticks attached. "This study demonstrates the complexity of infectious disease systems, and how the removal of one player--lizards--can affect disease risk," said Sam Scheiner, program director at the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funded the research through a joint Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) Program with the National Institutes of Health.

At NSF, the EID Program is supported by the Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences.

Lyme disease--characterized by fever, headache, fatigue and a bulls'-eye rash--is spread through the bite of ticks infected with bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.

In the Western region of the U.S., the Western black legged tick, or Ixodes pacificus, is the primary vector for Lyme disease bacteria.

Up to 90 percent of the juvenile ticks in this species feed on the blood of the Western fence lizard, common in California and nearby states.

A previous study by UC-Berkeley entomologist Robert Lane found that a protein in the Western fence lizard's blood killed Borrelia bacteria, and as a result, Lyme-infected ticks that feed on the lizard's blood are cleansed of the disease-causing pathogen.

The lizard is thus often credited for the relatively low incidence of Lyme disease in the western United States.

The new study put that assumption to the test experimentally.

"When you have an animal like the Western fence lizard that supports a huge population of ticks, you can't assume that all the juvenile ticks will go to another host if the lizard population drops," said Lane, a co-author of the paper.

For their field test, the researchers selected 14 plots, each measuring 10,000 square meters and spread out over two sites in Marin County, Calif.

From March through April 2008, before tick season went into full swing, the researchers captured and removed 447 lizards from six plots--three at each site--and left the remaining plots unaltered as controls.

The lizards that had been captured were marked before being relocated so the researchers could determine whether any wandered back into their old haunts.

After the lizards were removed, the biologists spent the following month trapping other mammals known to harbor ticks--particularly woodrats and deer mice--to determine whether they had an increase in ticks as a result of the lizards' absence.

The scientists also checked for differences between control and experimental plots in the abundance of ticks.

In plots where the lizards had been removed, ticks turned to the female woodrat as their next favorite host for a blood meal.

On average, each female woodrat got an extra five ticks when the lizards disappeared.

However, the researchers found that 95 percent of the ticks that no longer had lizard blood to feast on failed to latch onto another host.

"One of our goals was to tease apart the role these lizards play in Lyme disease ecology," said Swei, now a post-doctoral associate at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y.

"It was assumed that these lizards played an important role in reducing Lyme disease risk," she said.

The tale, it turns out, is even more complicated than that.

Other co-authors of the paper are biologists Cheryl Briggs of University of California, Santa Barbara and Richard Ostfeld at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y.

Source: infozine.com

Restless Leg Syndrome Linked To Fibromyalgia

October 19, 2010 A new study says adults with fibromyalgia have a much higher prevalence and risk of RLS than anyone else.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, it is estimated 5 million Americans age 18 or older area affected by Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue and the causes still remain unknown. RLS is a sleep-related movement disorder that involves an urge to move the legs that is usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs. Now researchers of Loyola University Medical Center are saying treating RLS may improve sleep and quality of life in people with fibromyalgia.

They studied 172 people with fibromyalgia and then compared them with 63 people with no signs of the disease. Pain was assessed by subjective report and by measurement with a dolorimeter, a spring-loaded gauge that is used to apply standardized rates of pressure to tender points on the arms and legs.

Results showed that the prevalence of restless legs syndrome was about 10 times higher in the fibromyalgia group than it the healthier group. After taking under consideration their age, gender and ethnicity, participants with fibromyalgia were 11 times more likely than controls to have RLS. In the fibromyalgia group these sleep problems were more severe among people who also had RLS.
"Sleep disruption is common in fibromyalgia, and often difficult to treat," contributing author Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, associate professor of neurology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. was quoted saying. "It is apparent from our study that a substantial portion of sleep disruption in fibromyalgia is due to restless legs syndrome."

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, October 2010 as reported on Invanhoe.com

Restless Leg & Fibromyalgia

MyocalmPM works well for many to alleviate symptoms of restless leg syndrome & sleep.

November 25, 2010 The Journal of Clinical has just published a study this October revealing a substantial association between RLS (restless leg syndrome) and fibromylagia. This association is so powerful that persons with fibromylagia are eleven times more of a possibility to have RLS then those persons in the general populace.

 

Both of these conditions incline to keep those who endure the conditions to stay awake at night. RLS a neurological disorder identified by strange feeling that run through the legs linked with the uncontrollable desire to move the legs in hopes of providing relief. Persons who endure this disorder describe the feelings as burning, tugging and as if incests were crawling inside the legs. The feeling extend from minor discomfort to immense pain. In contrary fibromylagia is a complicated condition with vast range of symptoms. Until of late, a lot health practitioners did not recognize fibromylagia as a condition but merely as a person imaging things. As the same in both in conditions the cause is still unknown. Fibromylagia produces numerous tender areas in the muscles and joints included on places of the back and neck, knees and elbows and causes fatigue, general body aches, low tolerance for exercise and enduring facial muscle pain and aching. Fibromylagia cases appear in 85% of women.

The association between these two conditions was explained in the journal. A study conducted had observed 172 persons enduring fibromylagia. Among them 93% were women. The average age was fifty years old. Comparisons to a control group of persons who did not endure pain and fatigue with an average age of forty-one years old. Researchers had discovered 33% of the group with fibromylagia also had RLS compared to 3.1% of the control group.

Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Washington in Seattle and one of the researchers commented in a news release that sleep disturbances is usual for persons with fibromylagia and most of the time is hard to treat. According to the study it is obvious that a major part of sleep disruptions in fibromylagia is caused by RLS.

Conventional medicine usually treats RLS with medications in hopes for improvement in sleep and the overall condition of those persons who also have fibromylagia. This treatment type goes way back to 1996 in which had discovered the same association of these two conditions. When the advocated treatment consisted of prescribed medications which had included colonazepan in hopes of bringing RLS under some form of control. The side effects of that particular drug had included dizziness, blurred vision and muscle pain. Not too much other other ones such as weight gain, depression and suicidal thoughts. It also brought up severe skin reactions that in some cases had proved fatal.

Now in current day we still have the medications which are used. These include a drug Mirapex, that contain its own ongoing list of side effects including sleeplessness, nausea, vomiting and compulsive behaviors. Of course there is also Valium and its side effects which include sleeplessness, vomiting and in severe reactions can include muscle loss, depression, rage, tremors and sleeplessness. The medication list keeps on going with almost nearly all similar side effects.

Many persons today use alternative treatments in order to treat both fibromylagia and RLS when they have the conditions at the same time. There are some alternative treatments that have been proven effective in the treatment of both of these conditions. A few of the most noted ones are listed.

Chiropractic
Chiropractic care has been known to be the top choice in alternative treatments to treat both of these debilitating conditions. It has been shown to greatly decrease the excruciating pain, incapacitating fatigue and joint stiffness all associated to fibromylagia.
In recent surveys nine out of ten patients suffering from RLS have found relief from through symptoms with chiropractic treatments. The treatments can provide the correcting of extremely instability in the feet, knees, ankles and hips. Adjustments made to the pelvic and lumbo-sacral instability.

Along with different manipulation techniques exercises such as leg stretching may be recommended along with nutritional advice and herbal supplements.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another popular choice of persons who endure either one or both of these conditions.
Acupuncture study on fibromylagia was conducted by the Mayo Clinic. Their findings had indicated that after acupuncture treatments major improvements was found in patients in the area of fatigue and anxiety. Even though according to the study it did decrease pain, an additional choice treatment such as pain medication was indicated.

Acupuncture on RLS symptoms has been noted to reduce stress and fatigue. It is still suggested to also use another alternative treatment in combination with acupuncture for greater decrease of symptoms.

Acupressure may also be used for those who just do not like needles and provide the same outcomes.

Supplements
Magnesium used for both conditions. By not having enough magnesium in the body conditions of can cause sleep disturbances such as in those of RLS. When used for fibromylagia it has been noted that it may aide in pain reduction.

Calcium has also been used for both of the conditions. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters release muscle contractions. These levels have been seen in persons with fibromylagia who suffer from RLS at the same time. Calcium is usually taken as a supplement. Currently there are supplements which combine calcium and vitamin D.

Herbs
Melatonin has been used for both conditions. It is taken as a sleep aide and can cause drowsiness in daytime hours. It is recommended to avoid driving and exercise until you know how this herb effects your system.

Skullcap is also used as a sleep aide. Please note Chinese Skullcap is used as a sleep aide. American Skullcap is a mild relaxer for anxiety. These are two totally different herbs.
Valerian even though used for muscle pain and spasms it is also used as a sleep aide.
Kava Kava before bedtime can relax muscles in both cases.

Tia Chi
Due to this gentle form of movement which is slow it provides health benefits including muscle strength and flexibility. Studies have shown Tia Chi is a helpful for many conditions including arthritis, heart disease, fibromylagia and RLS.

Yoga
For persons with fibromyalagia it can reduce symptoms by at least 30% in areas include pain, fatigue, and stiffness. Which indirectly yields benefits for those with RLS the daily stretching and meditation that comes from yoga often decreases the symptoms in RLS.

Massage Therapy
Myofascial Release techniques is both fibromyalagia and RLS.
In fibromyalagia it decreases pain in the bodies fascia, which is brought on my myofascial pain. Fascia is a thin layer of tissues which covers all muscles and organs in the body. In persons with fibromyalagia the fascia becomes very short and tense producing pain. This therapy uses stretching techniques which decrease the pain.

In RLS this same techniques is used to help decrease the tingling sensation which is felt in the legs allowing for a more restful sleep.

Diet
There are four foods in which are in common to be eliminated from the diet for either condition or as in some cases both. Chocolate, coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages. These things heighten fatigue and pain. They also have the ability to lower levels of blood glucose.

A healthy balanced diet is recommended in both conditions which include consuming four or five smaller meals instead of three large meals. It will maintain all muscles to function properly.
Processed foods in general are not a healthy idea. They contain massive amounts of saturated fats that cause interference with the circulatory system not to mention can cause pain and fatigue.
Consume plenty of fluids which include water, fresh juice and even herbal teas.

Source: AllVoice.com by Debbie Nicholson

Relieving Fibromyalgia

Music Therapy Aids in Relieving Fibromyalgia

May 27, 2011 Spanish researchers have discovered an innovative, non-pharmacological method to help individuals suffering from fibromyalgia — music therapy.

In a new study, University of Granada researchers showed that music therapy in association with guided imagery or other relaxation techniques significantly reduced pain, relieved depression and anxiety and improve sleep.

Experts believe use of music therapy and guided imagery allows people to have more control over their body, thereby enhancing personal well-being.

The research was conducted with patients suffering from fibromyalgia from the provinces of Granada, Almería and Córdoba, Spain. Study participants were evaluated at the beginning of the treatment, four weeks after the intervention, and eight weeks after the intervention, at the end of the study. The researchers utilized a relaxation technique based on guided imagery and music therapy to patients.

Patients were given a CD to listen at home. Then, researchers measured a number of variables associated with the main symptoms of fibromyalgia including pain intensity, quality of life, impact of the condition on patient’s daily life, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy and well-being. Patients were also able to participate in their own treatment by learning how they could obtain symptomatic relief.

While the method helps individuals obtain relief, additional studies are needed to address other physiological variables associated with well-being, the researchers said.

Source: Pysch.com

Ribose to Promote Energy

Dr. Roizen Discusses Ribose to Promote Energy

February 11, 2009 Michael Roizen MD, author and Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, was interviewed today. Much of his talk centered around ribose, a naturally occuring sugar compound that may help boost energy levels.

 

In their latest book, You: Being Beautiful -- The Owner's Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty, co-authors Mehmet Oz, MD and Michael Roizen, MD refer to ribose as one of the decade's "real nutritional heroes" that can "turbo-charge" those who need an energy boost.

Ribose is a naturally occurring 5-carbon sugar the body uses to stimulate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -- an essential energy compound. Although ribose is produced by the body, this energy molecule cannot be replenished fast enough during certain times of demanding exercise, stress, or as a result of many chronic diseases.

When added to foods and dietary supplements, D-Ribose enhances the body's natural process of energy synthesis. It reduces the loss of energy during stress, and accelerates energy and tissue recovery and the management of free radicals.

Source: WKYC.com/news/health

Optimized Energy for Serious Mitochondrial Needs

ATP Fuel™ - NEWOptimized Energy for Serious Mitochondrial Needs

ATP Fuel™ is designed to support the Krebs Cycle of cellular energy production. The Krebs Cycle takes place inside the mitochondria or “power plant” of the cell and it is the body’s primary energy producer.

ATP Fuel™ offers the top three energy nutrients and cofactors synergistically combined for maximum mitochondrial performance and energy production:

NT Factor Energy™
NADH
CoQ10
ATP Fuel™ starts with the base of our highly acclaimed NT Factor Energy™, and adds the two other well-researched energy producing nutrients, NADH and CoQ10 into one convenient and power-producing formula. Plus ATP Fuel™ is available in capsules.

NT Factor Energy™- to repair mitochondrial membranes NT Factor Energy™ was developed as a phospholipid delivery system to repair mitochondrial membranes that have been compromised due to acute and/or long-term health challenges.

Mitochondrial membranes contain their own DNA. If these membranes are damaged and not able to self-repair, they rely on healthy cells to donate their phospholipids. However, if there is a cascading impact of damaged cells splitting, the end result is a less than optimal energy level.

The product's efficacy is based on our proprietary method of extracting and stabilizing the phospholipids, and delivering them intact in the lower intestine for proper absorption. Phospholipids are very unstable and often oxidize in the manufacturing process or in the digestive tract before they can be presented for absorption in the lower intestine. After we stabilize the phospholipids, we wrap them in probiotics and prebiotics. Next, we add minerals and other nutrients to assist in the Krebs Energy Cycle and absorption. When the capsule reaches the lower intestine, the pre and probiotics are released first to promote a healthy flora. We follow this with the release of the NT Factor portion, whose matrix very closely matches that of the gastro intestinal mucosa. As these phospholipids are transported from cell to cell, they are absorbed into the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes --- allowing the mitochondria to provide its natural and healthy level of energy.

A healthy mitochondrial membrane:

allows more nutrients into the mitochondria to support the Krebs Cycle of energy production

is essential for the electron transport chain to efficiently produce healthy levels of ATP
promotes healthier (reduced) level of oxidative stress

NADH - to convert food into energy

NADH is the reduced (electron- energy rich) coenzyme form of vitamin B3 or B-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide. This "reducing" power (its ability to donate electrons) is what drives ATP production.

NADH is fundamental in the chemical process of converting the food we eat into cellular energy. Each unit of NADH creates three units of ATP (the body's energy fuel).

Studies conducted in Europe indicated that NADH promotes healthy energy levels and emotional balance.

NADH is notoriously unstable. As part of the Researched Nutritionals proprietary formula, we stabilize our NADH with chlorophyll, followed by microencapsulation process to resist gastric acids.

Coenzyme Q10 - for ATP energy production
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a compound found naturally in the energy-producing center of the cell known as the mitochondria. CoQ10 is involved in the making of ATP. ATP serves as the cell's major energy source and drives a number of biological processes including muscle contraction and the production of protein. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant.

CoQ10 promotes healthy energy levels, enhances the immune system, and acts as an antioxidant. A growing body of research suggests that using coenzyme Q10 supplements alone or in combination with other drug therapies and nutritional supplements supports the body’s health in promoting a healthy heart, promoting healthy periodontal (gum) condition, and in supporting cognitive and nerve health.*

Mitochondria - what are they & why are they so important? Mitochondria are the primary energy producers in the body. The typical cell contains an average of 1,000 mitochondria. Given that there are 10 to the 13th power cells in a healthy adult, healthy and productive mitochondria are critical to maintain the body's energy and resilience.

Recent studies have shown the importance to maintaining healthy MTDNA, the DNA which resides inside the mitochondria. Unlike standard DNA which has histones and introns to protect it from free radical damage, the mitochondrial DNA does not have this protective mechanism so it is much more exposed and more susceptible to oxidative damage (ROS or reactive oxidative stress). And since mitochondrial cell division takes place approximately every five to six days and replicates the damage existing in the old cells, the damaged MTDNA spreads rapidly. This is what eventually depletes the patient's energy level and may lead to abnormal cellular formation.