DHEA certainly seems to be a predictor of coronary heart disease. In a study published in New England Journal of Medicine, it was found that men whose DHEA levels were 140 mcg or higher were less than half as likely to die of heart disease- even when allowing for smoking and high cholesterol levels. This doesn’t necessarily indicate that raising DHEA levels would cure or even reduce the men’s heart conditions. In fact, there is a sex difference in regard to coronary disease; testosterone appears to protect men against heart diseases, while estrogen appears to protect women. How DHEA plays a role in this gender difference is yet to be discovered.

Again, DHEA levels are an accurate indicator of arterial blockage, LDL cholesterol levels, hypertension, and other risk factors associated with heart disease.

The thymus gland, located in the chest, is a primary organ of the immune system. The thymus produces T lymphocytes, T cells essential to resistance to infection and protection against development of cancer and autoimmune disorders, including allergies and rheumatoid arthritis. The thymus gland releases hormones, low levels of which are associated with depressed immunity and increased susceptibility to infection.

After the teen years, the thymus begins to shrink, until by age forty it is a shriveled shadow of its former self; by age sixty it is difficult to locate. The shrinking of the thymus coincides with a rise in the diseases associated with aging, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. At the same time, t cells, along with immune factors such as interleukin-2- a substance responsible for triggering production of T and B-lymphocytes decline.

In their researches, scientists have found out that it is the alterations in thymus itself which ultimately affect the number and type of T cells circulating the lymphatic system. Promoting factors present in the thymic environment that are responsible for proliferating thymocytes- the cells that become T lymphocytes- decrease with age, while inhibitory factors increase with age. Fortunately, various endocrine hormones can function as important factors influencing the thymic function. In fact, the shrinking of thymus itself can be halted by manipulation of the endocrine system, sometimes resulting in rejuvenation of immune functions to a certain extent.

No wonder the first Partnership for Clean Competition Conference took place in New York where several speakers lent their voice on the topic with Larry Bowers being one of them.

“Information out there suggests that it’s still a problem,” said Larry Bowers, the chief science officer at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). “I am not sure we have the information to know the extent, but it’s certainly talked about a lot. And then we have the one circumstance of somebody admitting to using HGH after a validated blood test.”

Major League Baseball said it would implement the HGH blood test to its Minor League Drug Program, a relatively easy step since minor league players aren’t covered by the players’ union. MLB said in a statement it would also look into doing the same in the majors, which would have to be collectively bargained with the MLBPA.

“The Commissioner remains committed to the position that we must act aggressively to deal with the issue of HGH,” MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said in an e-mail.

National Football League spokesman Greg Aiello said the league was “closely following developments on HGH testing.”

Bowers said it could take up to five years before researchers have a urine test for HGH on the market, although a small start-up called Ceres Nano in Virginia has made progress. With the help from a grant from USADA, Ceres is wrapping up a study that measured the baseline levels of HGH in urine.

Bowers said a blood test is likely the way to go in the near term — and there could be a better mousetrap on the horizon. Bowers will present the findings from a California startup that could detect HGH in blood between five to eight days from its last use; the window for the current test is as short as 24 hours.

Treatment with HGH also reversed heart failure in several studies. In a study by New England Journal of Medicine article, seven patients treated with HGH who had moderate to severe heart failure were said to have experienced increased thickness of the left ventricular wall, enhanced ability of the heart to contract and pump out blood, reduced oxygen requirement of the heart and improved exercise capacity, clinical systems and quality of life.

Researchers from University of Toronto administered HGH for a six-month treatment period to sixty-seven men and forty-eight women who were found to be GH deficient at the start of the study. As a result of the therapy:

• Lean body mass increased by an average of 2.1 kg.
• Fat mass decreased by 2.8 kg.
• Greatly improved left ventricular systolic function.
• Significantly restored ejection fraction.

As a result, scientists commented that ‘GH deficiency in adult life is associated with a number of adverse biological changes…. Most of these changes can be reversed by GH replacement therapy.”

Salmonella is the one which thrives in human stools. It is frequently spread through mutual contact with an object in the home. If a tiny amount of contaminated stool touches the hand of an infected person who then uses a phone, the next person handling it will come in contact with about 107,000 Salmonella cells, of which as many as one-third will survive long enough to enter the unwitting person by transmission through the membranes of the eyes, nasal passage or mouth.

Rotavirus, in as small a quantity as 10,000 virus cells, can lead to infection. Telephone receivers are a preferred spot. Contact by an unwitting person can expose them to about 6,600 rotavirus cells- with 200 descending on a single fingertip.

The common cold gravitates toward kitchen faucets. If nasal secretions on the hands of someone with a cold come in contact with a faucet, the next household member to handle the faucet can expect more than 1,000 cold viruses to hitch a ride.

Make a gracious, germ-reduced exit from the bathroom. While the faucet is running, wipe yoru  hands dry, then use a clean paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door to exit, then discard the towel at the first chance you get.

In conclusion, it may be said that majority of us have an immune system that enables us to ward off many of the more common pathogens that are out to make us sick. Many of the microbes you encounter every day are relatively harmless. Nevertheless, the WHO estimates that one in every four incidents of death or disease in the world is due to an environmental problem.

Beta-carotene is an important source of free radical fighter for various forms of cancer as it protects against ultraviolet damage and enhances the immune system. It carries many of the same functions as Vitamin A. The liver and the intestinal wall obtain useable vitamin A by converting beta-carotene.

Beta carotene is not an essential nutrient; therefore it is not possible to develop a true deficiency. However, alcohol consumption decreases beta-carotene in the liver and people with hypothyroidism and diabetes may have trouble converting beta-carotene into vitamin A.

The effect of beta-carotene on pregnant woman has not been studied. However, no problems with fertility or pregnancy have been reported in women taking upto 30 mg of beta carotene a day. Beta carotene may cause complications in patients with liver disease or kidney problems and those taking cholestyramine, neomycin and Vitamin E.

Although radiation and surgery may be the only alternative for advanced prostate disorders, drugs such as Finasteride and Terazosin are available to treat prostate enlargement without an operation. Finasteride has been shown to shrink the prostate by blocking the activity of an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. However, the results, which can take anywhere from three to six months, have been mixed.

A problem with Finasteride is that it reduces the PSA level, which can complicate an accurate reading on a blood test. According to Dr. Jerome Richie, a professor of surgery at Harvard and chief urology at Brigham and Women’s hospital, if the PSA levels have not dropped by one-third to one-half after taking Finasteride for several months, cancer may be present.

1Aslo often prescribed for BPH, Terazosin, an alpha-blocker drug, works by alleviating some of the most troublesome symptoms of BPH by relaxing muscle tissue and ending the constriction of urine flow.

Be aware, however, that the use of these drugs does not represent a permanent cure for BPH. It is common to both drugs that once you stop taking them prostate symptoms return.

Chrysin relaxes smooth muscle and thus has been used to relive pain and for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Studies of found that chrysin relaxed the aorta after it was stimulated by the stress hormone noradrenaline.  Besides, it has also been useful in the treatment of diabetes. It also inhibits HIV-I activation by interfering with factors responsible for viral transcription.

1-3 grams of chrysin daily is a safe and effective dosage. However, chrysin should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women, or by those with prostrate or reproductive abnormalities.

The reason? Fish oil. Actually, its because of eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, which is found in high concentrations in fish and marine life. Unlike the damaging prostaglandins which are found in land animals, when we consume EPA, we experience less vasoconstriction in arteries and less platelet aggregation. Therefore, we reduce the chances of blood clots, atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. Consuming fish oil can also help lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle, eating 5.5 gms of omega-3 fatty acids per month may reduce the risk of cardiac arrest by 50 percent.

However, a word to the weight-conscious: fish oil is not calorie free. If you want to start taking fish oil daily, you might want to reduce your daily food consumption by about 300 calories, or else you would be putting on about twenty five extra pounds per year.

Now, scientists are wondering whether DHEA might be a safer and more effective treatment for lupus. DHEA is the most abundant steroid in the human body and is involved in the manufacture of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone. The decline of DHEA with age parallels that of HGH.

Dr. James McGuire, chief of staff at Stanford University Hospital, and Dr. Ronald van Vollenhoven, assistant professor of immunology and rheumatology at Stanford, administered 50 to 200 mg of oral DHEA to fifty-seven women with Lupus. Over the three to twelve months that the study lasted, some two-thirds of the patients reported that their symptoms had been relieved, at least to some extent; their skin rashes were less sever and less frequent and they suffered less from joint pain, headaches and fatigue. Many also reported a higher tolerance for exercise and better concentration.

Boomers believe that age is irrelevant; that it is the function and ability that matter, and they expect to live practically forever. This is the generation that has said ‘yes’ to anti-aging medicine.

Now, not only will the longevity research pay off in great dividends, but also fears of graying of America simply will not materialize. The advancement in anti-aging medicines will forever alter our very notion of age, life, disease and death.

The future of anti-aging medicine promises the elimination of the disability, deformity, pain, disease, suffering and sorrow of old age. In a few decades, the traditional enfeebled, ailing elderly person will be but a grotesque memory of a barbaric past, just as we sadly recall the millions who suffered horrible deaths to the then non-treatable diseases such as TB, small pox, or whooping cough.

Capsaicin is used in many over-the counter and prescription creams for the treatment of arthritis, shingles, post operative pain, cluster headaches, and psoriasis, and other skin conditions. Some studies have also suggested that capsaicin may protect against the damage aspirin can cause to the stomach. Beyond this, a recent study found that cayenne has antimicrobial effects, meaning it could be used to fight infection. When taken orally, cayenne stimulates circulation, aids digestion, and promotes sweating. It is also useful in treatment of obesity.

Cayenne is also sold in capsules, concentrated drops and tinctures, which are taken orally. Popular products are standardized for 5 to 10 percent capsaicin. An average dose of an oral extract standardized for eight percent capsaicin in 100 mg.

However, cayenne is potent and can cause serious tissue irritation if used improperly. Excessive ingestion may cause gastroenteritis, liver, or kidney damage.

BCAAs are often used for their muscle-building properties. However, the majority of evidence from clinical studies suggest that they do not improve performance, reduce fatigue, or increase the body’s muscle/fat ratio. Studies have found that supplementary BCAAs may reduce the symptoms of Lou Gehrig’s disease and may be of benefit to people with liver disease to preserve or to restore muscle mass and to improve hepatic encephalopathy. BCAAs may be of benefit to restore appetite in people with cancer and other chronic diseases.

The maximum safe levels for therapeutic daily amount of BCAAs has not been established. When taken in excess, they simply get converted into other amino acids. Therefore, they are generally regarded as safe, even in large doses. People with kidney or liver disease should consult their doctor before taking supplementary leucine, isoleucine or valine.

Declines in sensory function often reflect the combined effect of age-related changes in both the sensory organ and the central nervous system processing of sensory information. Combination of defects in several sensory modalities are often found in older individuals.

Dr. Chauhan at University of Alberta in Canada reports that changes in the taste system with age may be related to nutrient intake, which in turn can be influenced by taste. Vitamins A, thiamin, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, and copper are thought to influence taste function.

Visual aging is generally associated with a decline in spatial vision for stationary stimuli, especially those of high spatial frequency. Dr. Kline at the University of Notre Dame in Canada observed that some, but probably not all, of this loss can be attributed to age-related changes in the ocular media responsible for attenuating and scattering incident light.

Three modes of treatment- nutrition, lifestyle and hormone therapy- may both expand number of years that comprise human life span, while, at the same time, they can help reverse the declining body systems as they age.

It contains numerous cancer-fighting polyphenol compounds, including antioxidant flavonoid catechins. The primary catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Studies indicate that green tea may help protect against cancers of the lungs, skin, liver, pancreas, and stomach. Numerous studies have shown that green tea catechin inhibit the growth of many cancer cell types by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

It may be useful as a weight loss agent as it is known to increase fat metabolism, and help to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Green tea is also thought to prevent cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels, inhibiting LDL oxidation, reducing the tendency of blood platelets to stick together, promoting the loss of body weight, and lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Green tea polyphenols are also known to stimulate the production of several immune system cells, as well as possess antibacterial properties. Drinking green tea may also be a key flu-fighting strategy.

However, the worst worrisome chemical in green tea is caffeine, which occurs in small amounts. However, this is much less caffeine than in coffee. Breast-feeding women are advised to avoid drinking green tea and take supplements instead, as caffeine may have unwanted effects on a breast-fed baby’s sleep patterns.