Oregano, Celery & Artichokes Kill Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Celery, artichokes, and herbs, especially Mexican oregano, all contain apigenin and luteolin, flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cells in the lab by inhibiting an important enzyme, according to two new University of Illinois studies.

     "Apigenin alone induced cell death in two aggressive human pancreatic cancer cell lines. But we received the best results when we pre-treated cancer cells with apigenin for 24 hours, then applied the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine for 36 hours," said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food chemistry and food toxicology.

The trick seemed to be using the flavonoids as a pre-treatment instead of applying them and the chemotherapeutic drug simultaneously, said Jodee Johnson, a doctoral student in de Mejia's lab who has since graduated.

     "Even though the topic is still controversial, our study indicated that taking antioxidant supplements on the same day as chemotherapeutic drugs may negate the effect of those drugs," she said.
     "That happens because flavonoids can act as antioxidants. One of the ways that chemotherapeutic drugs kill cells is based on their pro-oxidant activity, meaning that flavonoids and chemotherapeutic drugs may compete with each other when they're introduced at the same time," she explained.

Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive cancer, and there are few early symptoms, meaning that the disease is often not found before it has spread. Ultimately the goal is to develop a cure, but prolonging the lives of patients would be a significant development, Johnson added.

It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with a five-year survival rate of only 6 percent, she said.

The scientists found that apigenin inhibited an enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which led to a decrease in the production of anti-apoptotic genes in the pancreatic cancer cells. Apoptosis means that the cancer cell self-destructs because its DNA has been damaged.

In one of the cancer cell lines, the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis went from 8.4 percent in cells that had not been treated with the flavonoid to 43.8 percent in cells that had been treated with a 50-micromolar dose. In this case, no chemotherapy drug had been added.

Treatment with the flavonoid also modified gene expression. "Certain genes associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines were highly upregulated," de Mejia said.

According to Johnson, the scientists' in vitro study in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research is the first to show that apigenin treatment can lead to an increase in interleukin 17s in pancreatic cells, showing its potential relevance in anti-pancreatic cancer activity.

Pancreatic cancer patients would probably not be able to eat enough flavonoid-rich foods to raise blood plasma levels of the flavonoid to an effective level. But scientists could design drugs that would achieve those concentrations, de Mejia said.

And prevention of this frightening disease is another story. "If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables throughout your life, you'll have chronic exposure to these bioactive flavonoids, which would certainly help to reduce the risk of cancer," she noted.

Flavonoid apigenin modified gene expression associated with inflammation and cancer and induced apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells through inhibition of GSK-3β/NF-κB signaling cascade is available pre-publication online in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mnfr.201300307/pdf.

A Simple Test Can Trace Cervical Cancer

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Researchers at the University of Louisville have confirmed that using the heat profile from a person's blood, called a plasma thermogram, can serve as an indicator for the presence or absence of cervical cancer, including the stage of cancer.

The team, led by Nichola Garbett, Ph.D., published its findings online (Jan. 8, 2014) in PLOS ONE.

To generate a plasma thermogram, a blood plasma sample is "melted" producing a unique signature indicating a person's health status. This signature represents the major proteins in blood plasma, measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The team, which includes Brad Chaires, Ph.D., Ben Jenson, Ph.D., William Helm, M.D., Michael Merchant, Ph.D., and Jon Klein, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, have demonstrated that the plasma thermogram profile varies when a person has or does not have the disease.

The team believes that molecules associated with the presence of disease, called biomarkers, can affect the thermogram of someone with cervical disease. They used mass spectrometry to show that biomarkers associated with cervical cancer existed in the plasma.

Chaires noted that plasma thermograms have different patterns associated with different demographics, as well as for different diseases. This results in a more thorough application of the test as a person's thermogram can be compared to specific demographic reference profiles or, even better, to the person's own profile. Using a person's unique thermogram would provide the most accurate application of the test which could be used as part of a personalized medicine approach.

Further clinical study could result in the plasma thermogram as a compliment test to the traditional screening method for cervical cancer, the Pap smear and would be less intrusive and more convenient for the patient. Additionally, because the plasma thermogram test could allow treatment effectiveness to be more easily monitored, treatment that was not working could be stopped sooner and replaced with more effective treatment. In summary, the test could result in earlier detection, more effective therapeutic approaches and lowered healthcare costs for screening and treatment of cervical cancer.

The University of Louisville researchers see great promise for their technique being able to detect and monitor in a range of other cancers and diseases. The test is non-invasive and requires only a simple blood draw. The plasma thermogram test has already been applied to identify multiple cancers, including melanoma, lung, cervical, ovarian, endometrial and uterine cancers and other diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and Lyme disease. The test has shown great promise as a prognostic indicator of disease, allowing physicians to monitor cancer patients more closely for remission, response-to-therapy and recurrence.

As a result of the promising research findings, Garbett, Chaires and Jenson have founded a start-up company, Louisville Bioscience, Inc. (LBIdx™), which holds an exclusive license to the University of Louisville's Plasma Thermogram™ (pT™) technology. They also are shareholders in the company.

Scientists discover new causes of diabetes

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In our quest to raise awareness about cancer in the pancreas, especially following the death of the co-founder of HellasFrappe, Mike, the editorial team of HellasFrappe will continue to publish scientific research that discusses the causes of this disease, as well as all other related diseases. As most know Mike suffered from pancreatic cancer, which was accompanied by severe diabetes. One such report was recently released by the University of Exeter Medical School which reveals two new genetic causes of neonatal diabetes. The research provides further insights on how the insulin-producing beta cells are formed in the pancreas.

The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, provides further insights on how the insulin-producing beta cells are formed in the pancreas. The team discovered that mutations in two specific genes which are important for development of the pancreas can cause the disease. These findings increase the number of known genetic causes of neonatal diabetes to 20.The study was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK , European Community's Seventh Framework Program and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Dr Sarah Flanagan, lead author on the paper, said: "We are very proud to be able to give answers to the families involved on why their child has diabetes. Neonatal diabetes is diagnosed when a child is less than six months old, and some of these patients have added complications such as muscle weakness and learning difficulties with or without epilepsy.

     "Our genetic discovery is critical to the advancement of knowledge on how insulin-producing beta cells are formed in the pancreas, which has implications for research into manipulating stem cells, which could one day lead to a cure."

Dr Alasdair Rankin, Diabetes UK Director of Research, said: "As well as shedding further light on the genetic causes of neonatal diabetes and providing answers for parents of children with this rare condition, this work helps us understand how the pancreas develops. Many people with diabetes can no longer make insulin and would benefit from therapies that replace the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. The results of this study are critical to bringing the day closer when this type of treatment is possible."

Neonatal diabetes is caused by a change in a gene which affects insulin production. This means that levels of blood glucose (sugar) in the body rise dangerously high.

The Exeter team is the leading centre for neonatal diabetes having recruited over 1200 patients from more than 80 countries. This specific study focussed on 147 young people with neonatal diabetes, a rare condition which affects approximately 1 in 100,000 births. Following a systematic screen, 110 patients received a genetic diagnosis. For the remaining 37 patients, mutations in genes important for human pancreatic development were screened. Mutations were found in 11 patients, four of which were in one of two genes not previously known to cause neonatal diabetes (NKX2-2 and MNX1).

For many of the 121 (82%) patients who received a genetic diagnosis, knowing the cause of the diabetes will result in improved treatment, and for all the patients it will provide important information on risk of neonatal diabetes in future pregnancies. These patients also provide important scientific insights into pancreatic development.

Eating Dark Chocolate Can Keep Weight Down Over Holiday Season

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recent research at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen – shows that dark chocolate is far more filling than milk chocolate, lessening our craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods. In other words, eating dark chocolate may be an efficient way to keep your weight down over Christmas.

We have known for a long time that it is healthier to eat dark chocolate, but now scientists at the Department of Human Nutrition at LIFE, University of Copenhagen, have found that dark chocolate also gives more of a feeling of satiety than milk chocolate.

Chocolate experiment

To compare the effects of dark and milk chocolate on both appetite and subsequent calorie intake, 16 young and healthy men of normal weight who all liked both dark and milk chocolate took part in a so-called crossover experiment. This meant that they reported for two separate sessions, the first time testing the dark chocolate, and the second time the milk chocolate.

They had all fasted for 12 hours beforehand and were offered 100g of chocolate, which they consumed in the course of 15 minutes. The calorific content was virtually the same for the milk and dark chocolate.

During the following 5 hours, participants were asked to register their appetite every half hour, i.e. their hunger, satiety, craving for special foods and how they liked the chocolate.

Results

Two and a half hours after eating the chocolate, participants were offered pizza ad lib. They were instructed to eat until they felt comfortably satiated. After the meal, the individuals' calorie intake was registered.

The results were significant. The calorie intake at the subsequent meal where they could eat as much pizza as they liked was 15 per cent lower when they had eaten dark chocolate beforehand.

The participants also stated that the plain chocolate made them feel less like eating sweet, salty or fatty foods.

So apart from providing us with the healthier fatty acids and many antioxidants, dark chocolate can now also help us steer clear of all the sweet, salty and fattening Christmas foods.

For more information please contact Research Assistant Lone Brinkmann Sørensen, Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE), University of Copenhagen by mail lbs@life.ku.dk or tel. +45 353 32509.

Shells From Tropical Beaches Can Save Your Life!

(Photo credit: Bill & Mark Bell)

Those who fly to tropical shores this holiday season in search of sea and sun may be unaware that an exotic shell picked from the beach could potentially bring relief to many thousands of people suffering life-threatening illnesses.

But cone snails, as they are known from their shape, are unprotected and under increasing threat of extinction according to a pioneering new study by researchers at the University of York, UK. Their loss could rob future generations of an, as yet, undiscovered reservoir of pharmaceuticals.

Cone snails live in warm tropical seas and manufacture powerful venom to immobilize their prey of fish, worms and other snails. Scientists are using these neurotoxins increasingly for research into the development of life-saving drugs.

Across the world, however, tropical marine habitats are being lost due to coastal development, pollution, destructive fishing and climate change, resulting in rapid species loss. A new global assessment of all 632 species of cone snails for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List by researchers from the Environment Department at the University of York -- the first for any group of marine snails -- finds that some species are at imminent risk of extinction. Research, published this week in PLOS ONE http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083353, disproves the notion that the vastness of the oceans assures the survival of marine species. It reveals clusters of species occupying small areas that could quickly disappear as threats escalate.

Blessed with beautiful and coveted shells, cone snails have been collected for hundreds, possibly thousands of years -- cone shells have been found in ancient Neolithic sites and there is a Rembrandt etching of a cone shell from 1650. Some rare specimens change hands for thousands of dollars, a popularity which brings welcome income to thousands of poor people who hunt for shells for sale to dealers and tourists.

More importantly, during their evolution, cone snails have developed complex venoms, some powerful enough to kill people. Scientists are now using these for research into novel drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of pernicious medical conditions including intense chronic pain, epilepsy, asthma and multiple sclerosis.

Lead author, Howard Peters, of the Environment Department at York, says: "Cone snails are seeing rapid shrinkage of their habitats as human impacts multiply. We found that 67 species are currently threatened or near-threatened with extinction worldwide, but this rises to nearly half of all species (42) in the Eastern Atlantic, where there is an extraordinary concentration of range-restricted species. In Cape

Verde, 53 species are found nowhere else in the world of which 43 live only around single islands. Here, pollution and shoreline construction for the expanding tourist industry threaten their existence. Sand is being dredged from the shallows where cone snails live to make concrete for resorts, harbours and cruise liner terminals. Collection of shells by divers and snorkelers could hasten their demise."

The study found an almost complete lack of protection for cone snails anywhere in the world. Howard Peters says: "Despite their extraordinary beauty and value, cone snails have fallen completely underneath the conservation radar. These snails need swift action to protect their habitats and publicise the dire consequences of irresponsible shell collecting of the most threatened species. Holidaymakers need to think twice before taking a seashell home as a souvenir."

Together for Christmas: The Changing Nature of Family Gatherings

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With the festive season almost upon us, the realities and complexities surrounding our traditional notions of Christmas as a time for families are examined in important new research sponsored by the ESRC.

As thousands of divorced and separated parents decide where their children will be for the celebrations, a study into post divorce family life shows that fairness and equality between fathers and mothers may end up being unfair on the youngsters.

The Fathers 4 Justice movement, whose 'Xmas Demo' takes place on Saturday (December 18), is among those calling for family law to adopt a principle of pure equality between parents. But new research shows that children who spend an equal amount of time in two homes are not necessarily better off than those with one.

Step-families are the most rapidly growing type of family unit. It has been estimated that just under 20 per cent of dads aged 34 are step-fathers - nearly double the number among men born just 12 years before them.

The extent to which dilemmas and tensions in step families are brought into sharp relief at Christmas, as parents and step-parents aim to do what is best for the children, is revealed in another new piece of research.

And as Christmas becomes ever more materialistic, Caribbean families in Britain are increasingly turning to Kwaanza – a festival rooted in an African tradition - as the setting for their family celebrations, according to a study of second and third-generation young people.

Many will go to church on Christmas morning in what they see as part of their Caribbean tradition. But Kwaanza is now also widely celebrated by black people across the Caribbean, the UK and rest of Europe, usually alongside Christmas, or even as a reaction against it.

EOPYY Doctors Warned - SYRIZA Slammed For Opposing Cuts To Medicines

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis is certainly the most talked about politician of the week. On Thursday he warned protesting doctors of EOPYY, Greece's main health care provider, against plans to continue their strike while a day earlier while a day earlier his draft legislation to cut the prices of dozens of state-subsidized medicines was approved by the Greek Parliament much to the disappointment of SYRIZA who rallied against it.

A dispatch from the state news agency said that the union of EOPYY doctors, who have been striking in protest at cuts and dismissals in Greece's health care system, decided to extend their action until next Tuesday, December 3rd prompting Georgiadis to react.

     “I am not prepared to keep in the public sector people who are not necessary,” Georgiadis told Skai on Thursday. “I would then have to cut from pensions, which I consider immoral,” he said.
     “No one can blackmail the state,” said Georgiadis adding that the Health Ministry has already hammered out a plan B “which doctors will not like.” He did not provide more details.

A day earlier the draft legislation to cut the prices off of dozens of state-subsidized medicines was approved by the Greek Parliament by a vote of 164-72 with 10 lawmakers not wanting to take a stand and voting present instead.

SYRIZA called on the government to shelve the bill, however it came under quite a bit of criticism because it began begin accused of wanting to protect the profits of large pharmaceutical companies who provide apparently are one of their biggest supporters.

Incredibly, SYRIZA, which wants to come across as a socialist party, attempted to block these reductions forgetting how much more expensive medicines are in Greece as opposed to other states in the EU. In fact the party was in a fury, arguing that if citizens were offered generic drugs then this would directly affect the Greek pharmaceutical sector and slash at least 4,000 jobs. We agree, no one should lose their jobs, however, a population of well over 11 million people cannot continue fattening the wallets of several Greek pharmaceutical companies and suffer from their constant manipulation and control. (Besides, we all know how cartels work, and trust us here at HellasFrappe, these companies enjoyed big bucks for far too long.)

Never once did SYRIZA think about defending the pockets of common Greek citizens who have suffered hard all these years from a long recession, pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions. Never once did they think about all the strikes held by pharmacists, who were forced to pay for these medicines from their savings at higher prices because doctors aligned with drug companies were abusing the writing of prescriptions of brand names over generic drugs (which are less expensive) for their own personal gain.

Instead SYRIZA opposed the cuts to slash the price of only 100 “off patent” drugs and some generic medicines. The party said that the new law will fail to decrease the prices of more expensive drugs and would damage Greek pharmaceutical companies, and only benefit multinational firms.

In fact SYRIZA called for the amendment to be voted on in five separate sections but Parliament accused the Leftist party of trying to divert attention from voting against benefits for the people.

    “You are trying to muddy the waters with procedural matters to cover up the ‘no’ to the reduction of medicine prices,” said New Democracy MP Sofia Voultepsi.

    “You are ganging up on SYRIZA because we are an anti systemic opposition party,” responded Leftist MP Panayiotis Lafazanis, who even went as far as saying that the voting procedure was “illegal.”

SYRIZA's position fired up Georgiadis who in return accused the opposition party of being on the payrole of Greek drug companies and pointed to a series of advertisements from Greek drug companies to one of SYRIZA's affiliated radio stations (Sto Kokkino).

SYRIZA's stance on the whole issue should raise quite a bit of concern. National Organization for Medicines (EOF) President Dimitris Lintzeris rubbished claims that generic drugs were unsafe noting that no one has the right to create doubts in Greek people’s minds about the quality of medicines. He apparently told Kathimerini that routine checks are carried out at many levels: at factories, at warehouses, on new products, in Greece and abroad and the results are always the same, the medicines are safe and are of top quality.

(Combined Reports)

World Health Organization Makes Correction to HIV case study in Greece

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

World Health Organization Press Release - In September 2013, WHO/Europe published “Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region”. The report incorrectly states that, in Greece: “HIV rates and heroin use have risen significantly, with about half of new HIV infections being self-inflicted to enable people to receive benefits of €700 per month and faster admission on to drug substitution programmes”.

In fact, what is accurate to say is that slightly more than half of the Greece’s new HIV cases are among those who inject drugs. WHO recognizes that there is no evidence suggesting that deliberate self-infection with HIV goes beyond a few anecdotal cases. The statement is the consequence of an error in the editing of the report, for which WHO apologizes.

The original source is correspondence published in the “Lancet” by Alexander Kentikelenis and colleagues in September 2011. Kentikelenis et al. mention “accounts of deliberate self-infection by a few individuals to obtain access to benefits of €700 per month and faster admission onto drug substitution programmes”, based on the report of the “Ad hoc expert group of the Greek focal point on the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in 2011” (Athens: Greek Documentation and Monitoring Centre for Drugs; 2011).

Greece reported a significant increase (52%) in new HIV infections from 2010 to 2011, largely driven by infections among people who inject drugs. The causes for this increase are multifaceted and WHO welcomes the work of the ad hoc expert group and other entities to improve understanding of them and to recommend appropriate measures to extend the benefits of the comprehensive package of interventions for harm reduction to all people who inject drugs.

Malaria Cases Spread Across Greece During Sept.-Oct.

Malaria testing (Photo credit: Gates Foundation)

​The Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) reported three autochthonous cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria up to 16 November 2013; two from Alexandroupolis municipality in the region of Evros and one from the municipality of Sofades in the Karditsa region.

The cases had onset of symptoms from end of September to beginning of November 2013.

In addition to the three autochthonous cases, Greece reported 17 confirmed cases classified as imported malaria. Ten of the imported cases were among immigrants from malaria endemic countries and seven were among travellers to malaria endemic areas.

Eight of the imported cases were due to Plasmodium vivax infections and nine were due to Plasmodium falciparum.

The three autochthonous cases in 2013 are reported from agricultural areas where immigrants from malaria endemic countries reside and work.

It is the first time since 2009 that the Alexandroupolis municipality has been affected. Alexandroupolis is an historical area of malaria transmission that shares environmental and epidemiological characteristics with the areas were autochthonous transmission of Plasmodium vivax has occurred since 2009; large wetlands and farms, and migrant workers from malaria endemic countries living in the area.

The occurrence of autochthonous Plasmodium vivax cases in Alexandroupolis is therefore not unexpected.

The current risk of malaria infection is restricted mainly to persons residing or working in the affected areas of Greece.

The risk for tourists visiting Greece is considered very low because the transmission areas are agricultural and do not attract large number of tourists (see ECDC update).

The use of standard mosquito biting prevention measures continues to be recommended for Greece. The 2013 malaria transmission season is now coming to an end and the risk will decrease further.

hygimia69

SHOCK - Half Of Greek HIV Cases Are Self-Inflicted To Receive Benefits

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When one reads the following stunning, and tragic, excerpt from the World Health Organization's recent report "Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region: final report" one can only be shocked.

From the WHO:

    Case study: countries’ experiences of financial crisis - Greece
    Suicides rose by 17% between 2007 and 2009 and to 25% in 2010, according to unofficial 2010 data (398). The Minister of Health reported a further 40% rise in the first half of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. Suicide attempts have also increased, particularly among people reporting economic distress (610). Homicide and theft rates have doubled. HIV rates and heroin use have risen significantly, with about half of new HIV infections being self-inflicted to enable people to receive benefits of €700 per month and faster admission on to drug-substitution programmes. Prostitution has also risen, probably as a response to economic hardship. Health care access has declined as hospital budgets have been cut by about 40% (398) and it is estimated that 26 000 public health workers (9100 doctors) will lose their jobs (611). Further cuts are expected as a result of recent negotiations with the IMF and European Central Bank. - zerohedge

Female sex workers 14 times more likely to become infected by HIV

Female sex workers in low- and middle-income countries are nearly 14 times more likely to be infected by HIV compared to the rest of country's population, according to an analysis by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The findings suggest an urgent need to scale up access to quality HIV prevention programs in these countries. The study was published online in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

     "Although female sex workers have long been understood to be a key affected population, the scope and breadth of their disproportionate risk for HIV infection had not been systematically documented," said Stefan Baral, MD, MPH, MBA, lead author of the study and associate director of the Bloomberg School's Center for Public Health and Human Rights. "In addition to antiretroviral treatment and ongoing HIV prevention for sex workers, considerations of the legal and policy environments in which sex workers operate, and the important role of stigma, discrimination, and violence targeting female sex workers globally will be required to reduce the disproportionate disease burden among these women."

For the study, Johns Hopkins conducted a meta-analysis of 102 previous published studies representing almost 100,000 female sex workers in 50 countries. Overall, HIV prevalence in female sex workers in low- and middle-income countries was found to be about 12 percent, which equated to an increased risk of infection for sex workers 14 times that of other women in these countries. In 26 countries where background levels of HIV were considered "medium" to "high," approximately 31 percent of the female sex workers were found to have HIV and were 12 times more likely to be infected compared with women from the general population. Sex workers in Asia had a 29 percent increased risk for HIV infection compared to other women, which was the greatest disparity among the regions studied. Sex workers in Africa and Latin America were 12 times increased risk compared to other women in these regions.

This analysis was conducted as part of a larger project entitled, "The Global Epidemics of HIV among Sex Workers: Epidemiology, prevention, access to care, costs, and human rights" led by Johns Hopkins researchers Deanna Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, and Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH. The larger project assesses not only the epidemiology of HIV among sex workers in low- and middle-income countries, but also documents the current state of HIV prevention interventions and the social context surrounding sex work in different settings, and uses mathematical modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the potential impact and resources necessary to scale up of comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care services among sex workers.

     "Burden of HIV among female sex workers in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis" was written by Stefan Baral, Chris Beyrer, Kathryn Manning, Tonia Poteat, Andrea L. Wirtz, Michele R. Decker, Susan G. Sherman, and Deanna Kerrigan.

Is Cannabis is a Wonder Drug for Cancer and Good Health?

: An outdoor hemp plantation.  (Photo Wikipedia)

As the world’s most beloved herb, Cannabis, continues to be liberated from the persecution of the government and the pharmaceutical-industrial complex, research continues to validate the many health benefits of Cannabis. This time, The National Cancer Institute, a government-funded organization has released a report indicating that cannabis and cannabinoids are indeed powerful agents of good health and wonderful supplements in the fight against cancer.

Alex Pietrowski
Activist Post

The report begins with an important summary of the history of Cannabis:

    Cannabis use for medicinal purposes dates back at least 3,000 years.[1-5] It was introduced into Western medicine in the 1840s by W.B. O’Shaughnessy, a surgeon who learned of its medicinal properties while working in India for the British East Indies Company. Its use was promoted for reported analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and anticonvulsant effects.
    In 1937, the U.S. Treasury Department introduced the Marihuana Tax Act. This Act imposed a levy of $1 per ounce for medicinal use of Cannabis and $100 per ounce for recreational use. Physicians in the United States were the principal opponents of the Act. The American Medical Association (AMA) opposed the Act because physicians were required to pay a special tax for prescribing Cannabis, use special order forms to procure it, and keep special records concerning its professional use. In addition, the AMA believed that objective evidence that Cannabis was harmful was lacking and that passage of the Act would impede further research into its medicinal worth.[6] In 1942, Cannabis was removed from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia because of persistent concerns about its potential to cause harm.[2,3]
    In 1951, Congress passed the Boggs Act, which for the first time, included Cannabis with narcoticdrugs. In 1970, with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug. Drugs in this category are distinguished as having no accepted medicinal use. Other Schedule I substances include heroin, LSD, mescaline, methaqualone, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate.
    Despite its designation as having no medicinal use, Cannabis was distributed to patients by the U.S. government on a case-by-case basis under the Compassionate Use Investigational New Drug program established in 1978. Distribution of Cannabis through this program was discontinued in 1992.[1-4] Although federal law prohibits the use of Cannabis, the table below lists the localities that permit its use for certain medical conditions.
    The main psychoactive constituent of Cannabis was identified as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In 1986, synthetic delta-9-THC in sesame oil was licensed and approved for the treatment of chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting under the generic name dronabinol. Clinical trials determined that dronabinol was as effective as or better than other antiemetic agents available at the time.[7] Dronabinol was also studied for its ability to stimulate weight gain in patients with AIDS in the late 1980s. Thus, the indications were expanded to include treatment of anorexia associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection in 1992. Clinical trial results showed no statistically significant weight gain, although patients reported an improvement in appetite.[8,9]
    Within the past 20 years, the neurobiology of cannabinoids has been analyzed.[10-13] The first cannabinoid receptor, CB1, was identified in the brain in 1988. A second cannabinoid receptor, CB2, was identified in 1993. The highest concentration of CB2 receptors is located on B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, suggesting a possible role in immunity. Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) have been identified and appear to have a role in pain modulation, control of movement, feeding behavior, and memory.[11]

The effective chemical agents in cannabis that is being isolated for research are then described in this report:

    Cannabinoids are a group of 21-carbon–containing terpenophenolic compounds produced uniquely by Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica species.[1,2] These plant-derived compounds may be referred to as phytocannabinoids. Although delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive ingredient, other known compounds with biologic activity are cannabinol, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene, cannabigerol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, and delta-8-THC. CBD, in particular, is thought to have significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity without the psychoactive effect (high) of delta-9-THC.

The report then goes on to outline several key potential benefits of cannabis that should be noted in the race for a cure for cancer, and also in the debate to further legalize cannabis in the United States.

Cannabis protects against cancer:

    One study in mice and rats suggested that cannabinoids may have a protective effect against the development of certain types of tumors.” They continue; “Cannabinoids may cause antitumor effects by various mechanisms, including induction of cell death, inhibition of cell growth, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis invasion and metastasis. One review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of action of cannabinoids as antitumor agents. Cannabinoids appear to kill tumor cells but do not affect their nontransformed counterparts and may even protect them from cell death.

Cannabis targets and kills lung cancer and breast cancer cells:

    An in vitro study of the effect of CBD on programmed cell death in breast cancer cell lines found that CBD induced programmed cell death, independent of the CB1, CB2, or vanilloid receptors. CBD inhibited the survival of both estrogen receptor–positive and estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner while having little effect on nontumorigenic, mammary cells.

Cannabis has anti-inflammatory effects and may be beneficial for the treatment of colon cancer:

    In addition, both plant-derived and endogenous cannabinoids have been studied for anti-inflammatory effects. A mouse study demonstrated that endogenous cannabinoid system signaling is likely to provide intrinsic protection against colonic inflammation.[23] As a result, a hypothesis that phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids may be useful in the risk reduction and treatment of colorectal cancer has been developed.[24-27]

Cannabinoids may assist in the uptake of other cancer drugs, increasing their effectiveness:

    CBD may also enhance uptake of cytotoxic drugs into malignant cells. Activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 2 (TRPV2) has been shown to inhibit proliferation of human glioblastoma multiforme cells and overcome resistance to the chemotherapy agent carmustine.[28] In an in vitro model, CBD increased TRPV2 activation and increased uptake of cytotoxic drugs, leading to apoptosis of glioma cells without affecting normal human astrocytes. This suggests that coadministration of CBD with cytotoxic agents may increase drug uptake and potentiate cell death in human glioma cells.

Cannabis stimulates appetite:

    Many animal studies have previously demonstrated that delta-9-THC and other cannabinoids have a stimulatory effect on appetite and increase food intake. It is believed that the endogenous cannabinoid system may serve as a regulator of feeding behavior. The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide potently enhances appetite in mice.[29] Moreover, CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus may be involved in the motivational or reward aspects of eating.[30]

Cannabis is an effective analgesic and pain medication:

    Cannabinoids may also contribute to pain modulation through an anti-inflammatory mechanism; a CB2 effect with cannabinoids acting on mast cell receptors to attenuate the release of inflammatory agents, such as histamine and serotonin, and on keratinocytes to enhance the release of analgesic opioids has been described.[34-36] One study reported that the efficacy of synthetic CB1- and CB2-receptor agonists were comparable with the efficacy of morphine in a murine model of tumor pain.[37]

After presenting this important information the report then goes on to discuss the pharmacology of cannabis, a summary of clinical research on cannabis, and even the negative effects of it’s consumption, which do include a risk of cancer, although this is rather inconclusive.

As the report states, “cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years,” and only recently has it been targeted for prohibition. At a time when cancer is now the leading cause of death of children and cancer rates are climbing for everyone, those without safe access to medical cannabis absolutely deserve the right to add this to their medicine cabinet if they so choose.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page1
http://thejointblog.com/national-cancer-institute-cannabis-antitumor-capabilities-also-appetite-stimulant-painkiller/

Alex Pietrowski is an artist and writer concerned with preserving good health and the basic freedom to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. He is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com and an avid student of Yoga and life.

Greek crisis has biological health effects

Young adults in Greece suffer more from stress and mental health problems and are less optimistic about the future than Swedes of the same age. The grave financial problems in Greece have brought on a social crisis that has probably affected people's health, according to a study from Linköping University.

In the study, recently published in the scientific journal PLOS One, groups of students at Athens University and Linköping University replied to questions about their health and perceived stress.

The results show that in every respect, the Greek students reported poorer health than the Swedish students. On the other hand, the biologically measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher amongst the Greeks – the opposite to what was expected.

"This should not be interpreted as saying that the students in Athens were less stressed than those in Linköping. We know from other studies that people who are depressed or are "burned out", or suffer from chronic stress syndrome actually have lower cortisol levels. People can handle shorter periods fo stress quite well, but after some time the body cannot manage the high stress levels and the cortisol levels start to fall. If the stress factors remain, it can also lead a weakened immune system", says Tomas Faresjö, professor of medical sociology and chief investigator for the study.

The differences in participants' health and quality of life were very clear. For instance, 42% of the Greek students (52 of 124) had experienced serious life events, compared to 23% of the Swedish students. 47% of the Greeks reported stress compared 21% of the Swedes. 24% of the Greeks had no hope for the future, a view shared by just 5% of the Swedes.

     "The study shows that the health of young Greeks is considerably worse than that of young Swedes. One can suspect that the social crisis in Greece is beginning to have biological effects on the residents of the country", says Dr Faresjö.

Biological stress levels were measured using hair. This is a completely new method that has been further developed by the research group in Linköping. It makes it possible to measure the release of cortisol backward in time. The levels leave their mark in the hair, and since hair grows about one centimetre a month it is possible to see how stressed the person has been in recent months.

ABOUT TIME - Initiative for pharmaceuticals bank for the poor and uninsured

Medication (Photo credit: hitthatswitch)

When the government begins handing out gifts to the poor, then one really has to wonder if elections are around the corner. According to a dispatch fromthe state news agency the health ministry on Tuesday announced an initiative arising through the collaboration of the Athens Medical Association, the Association of Pharmaceutical Enterprises in Greece, the Archepiscopate of Athens and the ministry to create a "pharmaceuticals bank" for the poor and those lacking health insurance.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said the ministry had received 34,000 applications for the ministry's health aid programme, of which 10,500 have been approved until now. Among others, the programme aims to collect and distribute free medication that is a few months before its expiry date. The head of the pharmaceutical enterprises association estimated that roughly 900,000 such units of medication will be collected each year, to be distributed after inspection by the National Organisation for Medicines (EOF).

The minister was closely questioned about generic drugs in view of an upcoming bill on pharmaceuticals and revealed that there will be a further price reductions in order to generate incentives for the use of generic medication, until it accounts for 60 pct of medicines used.

He stressed that generic drugs were checked by EOF before release and only 4 percent were deemed unsafe, the same percentage as for brand name drugs. He also revealed that the troika had criticised the low (25 percent) contribution paid by patients toward the cost of drugs.

Use Greek Essential Oils - They Are Champions At Fighting Superbugs

Essential oils could be a cheap and effective alternative to antibiotics and potentially used to combat drug-resistant hospital superbugs, according to research presented by the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh.

Professor Yiannis Samaras and Dr Effimia Eriotou, from the Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, in Greece, who led the research, tested the antimicrobial activity of eight plant essential oils. They found that thyme essential oil was the most effective and was able to almost completely eliminate bacteria within 60 minutes.

The essential oils of thyme and cinnamon were found to be particularly efficient antibacterial agents against a range of Staphylococcus species. Strains of these bacteria are common inhabitants of the skin and some may cause infection in immunocompromised individuals. Drug-resistant strains, such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are extremely difficult to treat. "Not only are essential oils a cheap and effective treatment option for antibiotic-resistant strains, but decreased use of antibiotics will help minimise the risk of new strains of antibiotic resistant micro-organisms emerging," said Professor Samaras.

Essential oils have been recognised for hundreds of years for their therapeutic properties, although very little is still known about how they exert their antimicrobial effects in humans. Australian aborigines used Tea tree oil to treat colds, sore throats, skin infections and insect bites and the remedy was sold commercially as a medicinal antiseptic from the early 20th century.

Various scientific studies have demonstrated that essential oils are not only well tolerated, but are effective against a range of bacterial and fungal species. Their therapeutic value has been shown for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including acne, dandruff, head lice and oral infections.

The Greek team believes essential oils could have diverse medical and industrial applications.

     "The oils – or their active ingredients – could be easily incorporated into antimicrobial creams or gels for external application. In the food industry the impregnation of food packaging with essential oils has already been successfully trialled. They could also be included in food stuffs to replace synthetic chemicals that act as preservatives," they said.

Cola & Honey: Excessive Amounts Harmful for Health

Drinking excessive amounts of cola and eating honey made from the pollen of Rhododendrons can cause unusual syncope (fainting) and symptoms of arrhythmia, report two case studies presented as abstracts at the EHRA EUROPACE 2013 meeting, in Athens 23 to 26 June.

     "Both these studies underline the importance of clinicians taking detailed medical histories for patients with unexplained arrhythmias and including questions about their dietary intakes," says Professor Andreas Goette, the EHRA Scientific Programme Committee chairperson.

In the first abstract¹ Dr. Naima Zarqane and Prof. Nadir Saoudi, from the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, Monaco, report how excessive consumption of cola drinks can result in marked potassium loss (hypokalemia), QT prolongation on ECGs and potentially life threatening arrhythmias.

In the abstract the team describe the case of a 31 year old woman admitted to hospital for traumatic syncope. Once other problems had been excluded (including a family history of sudden death, digestive symptoms, and metabolic or hormonal abnormalities), tests revealed the patient had blood potassium levels of 2.4 mmol/L, and a QTc (The QT interval on the ECG corrected for heart rate) of 610 ms. Normal blood potassium levels range between 3.5 to 5.1 mmol/L; while the normal QTc for women is less than or equal to 450 ms.

When they took a medical history the clinicians discovered that since the age of 15 years the patient had exclusively replaced water with cola beverages. When cola consumption ceased on medical advice, the patient's potassium level returned to 4.1 mmol/L at one week, and 4.2 mmol/L at one month, and her QTc duration returned to 430 ms at one week.

A literature search revealed six other case studies where excessive cola consumption could be related to adverse medical conditions including rhabdomyolysis (damaged skeletal muscle tissue), arrhythmias, and even one death related to Torsades de pointes (a form of ventricular tachycardia that can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation).

There are two potential explanations for the connection between cola consumption and low blood potassium level the authors say. Through osmotic principles the high fructose corn syrup content of cola is likely to prevent water from being absorbed by the gut and lead to people suffering from diarrhoea that is associated with heavy fluid losses that 'flush' potassium out of the body. Additionally, caffeine in the cola is also likely to have an effect on the loop of Henle in the kidneys where it reduces the amount of potassium that is reabsorbed. In the heart reduced extracellular potassium can inhibit the potassium current in ion channels and delay ventricular repolarisation that may in turn promote arrhythmias.

"One of the take home messages is that cardiologists need to be aware of the connection between cola consumption and potassium loss and should ask patients found to have QT prolongation about beverage habits," says Dr. Zarqane.

     "It's also important that the people are made aware of the potential health dangers of excessive consumption of sugary drinks. There are important political messages for governments to ensure that bottled water is cheaper than sugary drinks, which is not always the case," says Prof. Saoudi.

In a further study it would be helpful to explore whether there are differences in blood levels of potassium between people who had high cola intakes, and people who did not consume the drink, he says. Excessive drinking of cola and other sugary beverages is likely to have additional adverse cardiovascular effects. "Due to the high calorie intake it's likely to result in weight gain which increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome," said Prof. Saoudi.

'Mad Honey Poisoning'

In the second abstract² Dr. Ugur Turk, from Central Hospital, Izmir, Turkey, reports on the cases of a 68 year old father and 27 year old son who were both admitted to the Izmir emergency department at the same time with symptoms of vomiting and dizziness. Surface ECGs revealed both patients to have complete atrioventricular block and atrial flutter with slow ventricular responses.

When a history was taken both father and son reported that their breakfasts over the past three mornings had included high amounts of honey from the Black sea region of Turkey. This information immediately triggered Turk and colleagues to consider that their patients could be suffering from 'mad honey poisoning'.

Mad honey poisoning occurs after people consume honey contaminated with grayanotoxin, a chemical contained in nectar from the Rhododendron species ponticum and luteum. Grayanotoxin is a neurotoxin that binds to the sodium channels in the cell membrane, maintaining them in an open state and prolonging depolarisation.

     "It's like the effect of cholingeric agents, and results in stimulation of the unmyelinated afferent cardiac branches of the vagus nerve which leads to a tonic inhibition of central vasomotor centres with a reduced sympathetic output and a reduced peripheral vascular resistance,"says Dr. Turk, "This in turn triggers the cardioinhibitory Berzold-Jarisch reflex which leads to bradycardia, continued hypotension, and peripheral vasodilatation."

Mad honey poisoning generally lasts no more than 24 hours, with symptoms of the mild form including dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia. Symptoms of the more severe form include syncope, seizures, complete atrioventricular block and even fatal tachyarrhythmias (due to oscillatory after potentials).

While no specific antidote exists for grayanotoxin poisoning mild cases can be treated with atropine and selective M2 muscarinic receptor antagonists; while for the more severe form treatment options include temporary pacemaker implantation, and vasopressor agents.

The possibility of honey poisoning, says Dr. Turk, should always be considered in previously healthy patients admitted with unexplained hypotension, bradycardia and other rhythm disturbances. The condition occurs most frequently in people who have consumed honey from the Black sea region of Turkey, a major bee keeping area that is also the native habitat of Rhododendron ponticum and luteum.

"The dissemination of honey around the world means that physicians any where may be faced with honey poisoning," says Dr. Turk. Anyone buying honey from Turkey should first consume a small amount and leave it a few days before eating any more to check that they do not experience strange side effects.

The symptoms of both father and son resolved without the need for any medications and they were discharged from hospital on the fourth day. When their honey was sent away for melissopalynology, (analysis of the pollen contained in honey) the result revealed it did indeed contain pollen from the Rhododendron species.

Confronting Sexual Violence In War-Torn Nations

In conflict-ridden countries around the world, rape and other forms of sexual violence are being used as weapons of war. In these settings, treatment services for victims are limited. A trial led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined an evidence-based group psychotherapy treatment for sexual violence survivors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to the study, this group therapy achieved more dramatic results in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety compared to individual support services. The results are published in the June 6 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

      "Survivors of sexual violence have high rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms," said Judith K. Bass, PhD, MPH, lead author of the study and assistant professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Mental Health. "We know what works for treating these victims in developed countries, but very little has been done to determine what treatments can help women in war-torn, resource-poor settings."

Eastern DRC, where the trial was conducted, has experienced conflict for more than 20 years. A recent study showed that 40 percent of the women – 2 out of every 5 women – had experienced rape. For the Johns Hopkins trial, researchers worked with the International Rescue Committee and local psychosocial workers to provide sexual violence survivors with either individual support or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which consisted of 1 individual session and 11 group sessions. The psychosocial CPT providers were trained and supervised by collaborators at the University of Washington. Treatment was randomly assigned across 16 villages. All participants were screened for symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety.

While the researchers observed reduced symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety among women in both the individual-support and CPT participants, the results were significantly more dramatic among CPT participants. Six months after treatment, only 9 percent of women in the CPT condition met criteria for probable PTSD, depression or anxiety compared to 42 percent of women in the individual-support condition.

      "We saw women, who had once felt too stigmatized to be a part of their community, re-engage after receiving CPT and they expressed that they felt they could again be productive members of their families and communities." said Bass.

Greeks Really Love Their Pasta - The History And Tradition Of Pasta In Greece!

The first inkling I had of Greece's extensive regional pasta tradition came via my neighbor, Kyria Sophia, in Vilia, a small village about an hour's drive northwest of Athens, where we used to live and where she often had a steaming plate of her homemade “tzotzeles” waiting for me in a deep bowl, trickling with browned country butter and topped with a generous handful of grated local cheese. It took weeks of coaxing to allow me to watch the preparation and when I finally did I marveled at the ease and speed with which she used her two fingers to press and drag every little piece of dough against the coarse wooden plank until it curled up.

By Georgia Kofinas
www.kerasma.gr


GREEK PASTA HISTORY

Pasta is a very old food in Greece, arguably dating to the ancient laganum, a kind of stone-baked coarse flour paste, which eventually evolved into what we know today as lasagna. The most common type of pasta is macaroni, a word that likely derives from the Greek, evincing the longstanding place that the concoction of flour, water, and salt has had in this country.

There are several theories as to the etymology of the word. It may derive from the memorial table of the deceased, called the “macaria” (“food of the blessed”), where homemade pasta was traditionally served, combined with the word “aionia,” which means eternal.

Some theories point to 474 B.C., when the Greeks from Syracuse established their colony in Napoli (from the Greek, Nea Poli, or new city), where they discovered the primitive pasta made by local inhabitants. They liked it so much they named this newfound food macaria, for the Greek word for happy or blessed.

Whatever the origins of Greece's pasta traditions, one thing is for sure: Greeks have their own philosophy when it comes to preparing and serving the world's most popular food. Unlike the tradition in Italy, where pasta is served as a starter, the Greeks eat pasta as a main course and most Greek pasta recipes are hearty and filling.

REGIONAL PASTA IN GREECE

There are dozens, if not more, varieties of regional pasta throughout Greece, defined both by shape and contents: Some, of course, contain eggs and milk, but most are a simple mixture of durum wheat or semolina, water, and salt. Whole wheat flour appears in a few varieties; soft flour is rarely used for making pasta.

As a general rule, hard or more glutinous flour is used to make eggless pasta, which is generally shaped into small curled cups, twists, and short, thick hollowed cords. With a few exceptions, most fresh pasta is eggless. Ribbon-shaped pasta, called hilopites and cut either into straight or curled strands of various lengths or small squares, generally contains eggs and oftentimes milk.

RURAL TRADITIONS

Like my neighbor's “tzotzeles” in Villia, all homemade pasta evolved from rural, often communal, traditions and relied on locally milled flour and fresh farm eggs and milk.

While some of that has changed, village women still get together to make their winter supply of local pasta, usually during the last weeks of summer when the weather is warm enough for the pasta to dry out quickly.

Women are still the keepers of Greek pasta traditions, but mainly they gather together in regional cooperatives to make and then sell an array of artisan pasta. Such coops now exist all over Greece, on mainland and island alike. They tend to produce a conservative array of the most traditional shapes, especially hilopites (small squares and/or ribbons of various lengths), rice-shaped pasta (kritharaki), and a few other traditional, popular types.

There are other trends on the artisan pasta front as well. In the last decade or so, small-scale commercial pasta makers have emerged throughout Greece. Many of these small companies also make an array of condiments and sauces.

One of the first pioneers on the artisan pasta scene, Christina Panteleimoniti, began making her own pasta in a shed behind her suburban Athens home and now, she produces a wide range of pasta, much of it traditional but much of it innovative, too, in myriad shapes and flavored with the likes of tomato, saffron, leeks, fennel, capsicum, red wine, black truffle, mushrooms and even ouzo and Greek brandy. In a nod to tradition, her pasta is dried out on special racks at room temperature for 5-6 days, thus retaining much of its flavor and requiring a shorter cooking time than commercial extruded pasta, a technique that enables the pasta to retain its natural flavor.

Several artisan producers are clustered throughout the Cyclades, especially on the islands of Tinos and Syros. At least one, Kostas Prekas of Syros, blends island herbs and Greek spices into his pasta.

Many of these artisan producers have seen commercial success and their products are now available not only throughout Greece but internationally.

Large-scale commercial pasta producers of course account for the lion's share of pasta making in Greece, and the industry here produces an estimated 151,000 tons of pasta per year, with two of the eight biggest companies accounting for about 75% of total production.

While the major companies produce dozens, if not hundreds, of shapes, both typical Greek shapes and internationally recognized shapes—from spaghetti of various widths to pennes, angel hair, lasagna and more—the trend toward more authentic, regional pasta has not gone unnoticed by the large producers; one, in fact, recently came out with a line based exclusively on traditional, regional shapes and varieties.

GREEKS EAT A LOT OF PASTA

Greeks consume an average of 9.6 kilos of pasta per capita annually, which makes them the fifth largest consumers of pasta in the world after Italy, Venezuela, Tunisia, and Switzerland. This number is based exclusively on sales of commercial pasta; there are no current sales statistics relating to the sale of artisan pasta or the consumption of homemade pasta.

PASTA IN THE GREEK KITCHEN

No matter whether the pasta is homemade, gourmet or the classic commercial varieties, Greeks have a long tradition of cooking pasta.

The traditional, regional table is filled with unique pasta dishes, but modern Greek chefs have also given the gamut of Greek pasta a few twists of their own.

The best-known Greek pasta dish is undoubtedly the baked pasta, ground meat and béchamel-enriched pastitsio. Versions of this dish are wrapped in phyllo pastry and even made with seafood instead of ground meat. Arguably the simplest, most common and sating way to enjoy a plate of Greek pasta is tossed or layered with browned butter or hot olive oil and grated myzithra cheese.

But there are countless pasta recipes in Greece and hearty meat and pasta dishes were and still are a mainstay of the Sunday family lunch. One such dish is the classic Yiouvetsi, a clay-baked pasta dish made with rice-shaped kritharaki and chicken.

Another favorite is the Ionian pastitsada, a delicious concoction of long, tubular pasta cooked with aromatic braised veal or rooster. There are variations of this dish in several places around Greece.

In the traditional kitchen, there are some interesting pasta dishes married with vegetables or beans. In Limnos, cooks toss their local flomaria (matchstick noodles) with cooked eggplant slices. In Crete, cheeseless pasta and vegetable dishes, which abound during Lent, are playfully called “orphans,” for the lack of meat and dairy. There is even a whole array of rich, sweet pasta dishes, noodles mixed with Tahini, honey, sugar and more, that was the traditional nourishment for nursing mothers.

In the contemporary Greek kitchen, especially in restaurants, pasta is a major player and Greek chefs are creating a whole new vernacular with it. The rice-shaped kritharaki might be sautéed and served with grated cheese and seafood in a timbale; one Greek-Australian chef, George Calombaris, created a grecophied version of Carbonara, using squid; others are making creative use of the many artisanal pastas on the market, marrying squid-ink ribbons with classic Greek seafood preparations, and more. The possibilities are endless.

Mediterranean Diet Best Low Fat Option For Those At Risk Of Vascular Dementia

A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, indicates research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The authors from the University of Navarra in Spain base their findings on 522 men and women aged between 55 and 80 without cardiovascular disease but at high vascular risk because of underlying disease/conditions.

These included either type 2 diabetes or three of the following: high blood pressure; an unfavourable blood fat profile; overweight; a family history of early cardiovascular disease; and being a smoker.

Participants, who were all taking part in the PREDIMED trial looking at how best to ward off cardiovascular disease, were randomly allocated to a Mediterranean diet with added olive oil or mixed nuts or a control group receiving advice to follow the low-fat diet typically recommended to prevent heart attack and stroke

A Mediterranean diet is characterised by the use of virgin olive oil as the main culinary fat; high consumption of fruits, nuts, vegetables and pulses; moderate to high consumption of fish and seafood; low consumption of dairy products and red meat; and moderate intake of red wine.

Participants had regular check-ups with their family doctor and quarterly checks on their compliance with their prescribed diet.

After an average of 6.5 years, they were tested for signs of cognitive decline using a Mini Mental State Exam and a clock drawing test, which assess higher brain functions, including orientation, memory, language, visuospatial and visuoconstrution abilities and executive functions such as working memory, attention span, and abstract thinking.

At the end of the study period, 60 participants had developed mild cognitive impairment: 18 on the olive oil supplemented Mediterranean diet; 19 on the diet with added mixed nuts; and 23 on the control group.

A further 35 people developed dementia: 12 on the added olive oil diet; six on the added nut diet; and 17 on the low fat diet.

The average scores on both tests were significantly higher for those following either of the Mediterranean diets compared with those on the low fat option.

These findings held true irrespective of other influential factors, including age, family history of cognitive impairment or dementia, the presence of ApoE protein—associated with Alzheimer's disease—educational attainment, exercise levels, vascular risk factors; energy intake and depression.

The authors acknowledge that their sample size was relatively small, and that because the study involved a group at high vascular risk, it doesn't necessarily follow that their findings are applicable to the general population.

But they say, theirs is the first long term trial to look at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on brain power, and that it adds to the increasing body of evidence suggesting that a high quality dietary pattern seems to protect cognitive function in the ageing brain.

Gov't To Keep Cash-Strapped Onassio Centre Afloat

The cash-strapped Onassio Heart-Surgery Centre was saved from imminent collapse this week when the government stepped in and decided to hand over the centre's state funding for 2013, amounting to 7.0 million Euros, immediately and up front. The decision was made following a meeting held at the Onassio Centre between Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and the hospital's board, including board chairman Dr. Ioannis Lekakis, to brief the minister on the centre's pressing financial problems.

Prior to the meeting, doctors and Onassio staff fearing the centre's financial collapse and further wage cuts had held a three-hour work stoppage.

Georgiadis then held a meeting with Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, who agreed to the immediate release of seven million euros in state funding earmarked for the Onassio, whose state funding had been slashed by half since 2012, when it was 14 million Euros.

The government also agreed to settle outstanding debts of about 38 million Euros owed to the Onassio by social insurance funds, dating back to the years before the foundation of the unified health services provider EOPYY and up to the end of 2011.

Also present at the meeting with Staikouras was Deputy Health Minister Zeta Makri, who managed to secure 500,000 euros as the second installment of a total 1.5 million euro to be spent on vaccinating the children of those lacking health insurance.

In other related news, state hospital, welfare and ambulance service workers announced planned 24-hour strikes on July 16 and July 24, during which their services will operate with a skeleton staff. The strikes are held in retaliation to an announcement that 2,500 health-sector employees of all types will be suspended on reduced pay as part of a public-sector 'mobility' scheme, until they are either transferred or laid off.

The strikes were announced by the Panhellenic Federation of State Hospital Employees (POEDHN), which said it was "infuriating" that national health service staff should be suspended when hospitals suffered chronic staff shortages and had been among the first to receive 470 workers in the first wave of public-sector transfers. The union spoke of a "policy to degrade and dismantle the national health system that is now in full swing".

The union said that its members will participate in Monday's protest rally with the local authority workers' union federation POE-OTA and joint a 24-hour strike announced by the civil servants union federation ADEDY and the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) next Tuesday. If the finance ministry omnibus bill is not passed before Wednesday, there may be another 24-hour strike on Wednesday as well.

The strike on July 24 will be combined with a protest rally outside the health ministry at 11:30 a.m.

(Combined Reports)