Chemicals in Bloodstream

Taken from Artical by Mark Townsend Sunday October 24, 2004
The Observer

Findings have been described as proof that no one is safe from the build-up of harmful chemicals in the environment, even if the actual contamination occurred decades ago.
The precise health implications remain unknown because many of the chemicals have never been tested on humans. In addition, a method for calculating the cocktail effects of chemicals once they are in the bloodstream has yet to be devised.
Michael admitted that his results served as evidence that everybody in Britain was being exposed to chemical contamination, but said the levels were extremely low and should not be a cause for immediate alarm. 'It does demonstrate the range of chemicals to which we are exposed,' he added.
Sir Tom Blundell, the biochemist appointed by Tony Blair to chair the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, warned that Michael's results would fuel a growing consensus that the prevalence of untested chemicals in the environment could become a major public health issue. Blundell said he had repeatedly warned ministers that the issue could become the 'next tobacco'.
'We are conducting a huge experiment on ourselves and I am not surprised that a large number of chemi cals have accumulated in the tissues of Mr Michael,' he said.
One of the substances found in the minister's body belongs to a family of chemicals including perfluorooctane sulphonate, used in chrome plating and fire-fighting foam, which the minister banned only last Tuesday.
Announcing his decision to start phasing out the chemical, which has linked to bladder cancer, Michael described it as a substance that 'presents a real and significant risk to the health of the population and the environment in the UK. I am concerned that a substance with these intrinsic properties is still used.'

Essential glyconutrients are produced by Mannatech providing optimal health and wellbeing for all humans.

How is the Joint Actually Damaged?

Articular cartilage covers the ends of our bones, while joints like the knees also have additional cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones. Cartilage is primarily made up of collagen fibers, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans. The structural integrity of human cartilage is continually going through a cycle of building up and breaking down.

When a joint begins to wear out, we know that either the breakdown of cartilage has increased or the production of cartilage has decreased.

That osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease is a well-known fact. If you observe anyone with arthritic hands, you can actually see how inflamed and swollen the joints of the fingers and hands become. Have you ever wondered what exactly is causing the inflammation and how this leads to damage of the cartilage? The answer is a multifaceted one, because there are actually several sources for inflammation that occur within the joint.

Mannatech originally harnessed the power of glyconutrients in the 1980's that make it possible for everyone to have the key to optimal health.

Pesticides Linked to Parkinson's Disease

COMBINATION OF PESTICIDES LINKED TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE

By Cat Lazaroff

ROCHESTER, New York, January 3, 2001 (ENS) - A combination of two widely used agricultural pesticides - but neither one alone - creates in mice the exact pattern of brain damage that doctors see in patients with Parkinson's disease. The research offers the most compelling evidence yet that everyday environmental factors may play a role in the development of the disease.

"The environmental reality is that several of these chemicals are used on the same crops and in the same geographical locations. You've got to get rid of the weeds. Then the insects. Then funguses. These are different chemicals that do different things, but they're often applied in the same fields," said Cory-Slechta, who was joined in the research by graduate student Mona Thiruchelvam and faculty members Eric Richfield, Raymond Baggs, and A. William Tank.

Mississippi cotton crops may be treated with an herbicide like paraquat to reduce competition by weeds.

Glyconutrients provide nutritional saccharides which are essential to wellness.

Glycomica Listed in Top Ten

GLYCOMICS IS LISTED IN TOP TEN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES!!!

The February 2003 ‘Technology Review’, published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has in this months issue (Feb. 2003) a FRONT PAGE article on the ten emerging technologies that are predicted to change the world in the near future, by having such a tremendous influence upon our lives.

These are completely new technologies that could soon transform computing, medicine, manufacturing, transportation, and our energy infrastructure. For each, we’ve chosen a researcher or research team whose work and vision is driving the field. The profiles, on the following pages, offer a sneak preview of the technology world in the years and decades to come.

The Scripps Research Institute Professor Featured in Technology Review as Industry Pioneer in Glycomics is Professor James Paulson, Ph.D. The field Paulson represents, "glycomics," [Glyconutrients] is the scientific pursuit of identifying and studying all of the carbohydrate molecules produced by an organism such as a human or mouse. Like proteomics, the study of all the proteins produced by an organism, glycomics is important for unravelling the mysteries of the recently solved human genome because more than half of all the proteins in the human body have carbohydrate [glyconutrients] molecules attached.

Unlike proteins, which are produced for the most part from a single template, carbohydrates are made by a cascade of chemical reactions inside our bodies. The complex, branched structures of carbohydrates have prevented the development of efficient and routine methods that are key to unravelling the rich information content and biological roles of sugar molecules," Paulson says. Paulson's "Consortium for Functional Glycomics" promises to change that by bringing together a large group of scientists from leading academic centres across the country.

“The Consortium will dramatically accelerate progress in understanding the roles of carbohydrates in cell communication and lead to novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of human disease."

Mannatech products are at the cutting edge of nutritional science.

Detoxify and Heal

DO YOU KNOW? Broccoli is one mean green! It contains special phytochemicals, including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol that may detoxify cancer-causing substances before they have a chance to do you serious harm!
Cancer will strike 1 out of 3. Cancer cells produce a large number of toxins that inhibit the immune response, and damage tissues. Thus, a spreading cancer becomes more and more difficult to control because of an increased toxin load. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are safe, natural, nontoxic, and effective ways of reducing the toxin load ..
We live in a toxic world with air and water pollution, food and medication additives derived from petroleum and coal tars and other carcinogenic sources. Even drinking water sources, when tested, may show elevated levels of TCE, PCB, chloramines, dioxin and other carcinogenic substances. Many supplemental vitamins, and pharmaceutical drugs are often synthesized from sources such as genetically engineered corn, sugar and many others. (not mine!)
These sources of raw materials are often cheaper than less allergenic sources. Corn allergies constitute one of the most common food allergens in the US. Traces of allergens may cause down regulation of our immune system or a sidetracking of our bodies immune system with a consequential less than optimum immune system to fight cancer and opportunistic diseases and organisms. Cosmetics, food with hydrogenated vegetable oils, pesticides, flea collars, decaffeinated coffee and a host of other daily-encountered substances are carcinogenic!
By detoxification of the body, we can optimize the well being of our healthy cells including our immune system. Everyone has some levels of mutated cells produced daily, however our immune system (when healthy) keeps these abnormal cells in check. Cancer cells and cancer-associated viruses are more likely to mutate and adapt to toxic environments than are healthy cells.
Toxins in our body can accumulate in the subcutaneous fat layer under our skin and in the liver. The liver is an important immune organ and is a source of Kupffer’s cells. These cells filter and destroy foreign bacteria, fungus, viruses, mycoplasma and cancerous cells. It is important to enhance liver function, reduce excessive stress and detoxify this major organ. The Phytochemicals, found in vine-ripened fruits and vegetables, do this.

Study by Histochemical Methods

Glycoconj J. 2000 Nov 17

The carbohydrate deposits detected by histochemical methods in the
molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampal formation of
patients with schizophrenia, Down's syndrome and dementia, and aged
person.

Nishimura A, Ikemoto K, Satoh K, Yamamoto Y, Rand S, Brinkmann B,
Nishi K.

Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science,
Seta-tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan.

Post-mortem brain tissue was obtained from 28 patients with brain
disorders, of which 15 had clinically diagnosed schizophrenia, 6
Alzheimer type dementia, 5 dementia with tangles and 2 cases of Down's syndrome.

The controls were 22 cases from autopsies without brain disorders or with no known episodes of brain disorder. The tissues were stained for the detection of carbohydrate deposits in the hippocampal formation, using lectin, immunohistochemical and conventional staining methods. The staining revealed the existence of spherical deposits in the inner and middle molecular layers of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampal formation which contained fucose, galactose, N-acetyl galactosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, sialic acid, mannose and chondroitin sulfate. The number of the deposits was higher in patients with brain disorder such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer type dementia, dementia with tangles or Down's syndrome, and in some aged individuals, in comparison to those in younger individuals. No deposits were detected in a few younger or aged individuals. Spherical deposits 3-10 microm in diameter may be an immature form of the corpora amylacea, since they were similar in the histochemical characteristics with lectin, immunohistochemical and conventional staining methods. However, differing staining ability by hematoxylin, periodic acid Schiff's reagent and antibodies against the
intracellular degraded proteins such as ubiquitin and tau-protein was
observed. The antibodies against ubiquitin and tau-protein showed clear
reactivity with the corpora amylacea and no reactivity with spherical
deposits, indicating that the corpora amylacea has an intracellular
origin and spherical deposits an extracellular matrix origin. The results obtained in this study indicate that not only neuronal degeneration but also unusual glycometabolism in neurons may disturb the neuronal function and cause brain disorders, and that spherical deposits may cause dysfunction of the neuronal network in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus which is closely linked with recognition and memory functions. Glyconutrients may increase wellbeing.

Nutraceuticals Improves Treatment Responses

Oral Presentation: Comprehensive Cancer Care ll: Integrating Complementary & Alternative Therapies, Sponsored by Center for Mind-Body Medicine & National Cancer Institute, at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Arlington, VA, June 1999.
A PILOT SURVEY: STANDARD CANCER THERAPY COMBINED WITH NUTRACEUTICAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES TREATMENT RESPONSES AND PATIENT QUALITY OF LIFE. G. Hyland, M.D., D. Miller, M.T., Medcenter One, Dept. Radiation Oncology, Bismarck, North Dakota.
In thousands of cancer cases evaluated by H. Foster, 87% percent of those with "spontaneous remissions" had made major dietary changes prior to tumor regression. The Dietary Supplement Health Education Act of 1994 resulted in millions of US citizens adding a plethora of supplements to their diets. A favorable response by 5 patients that failed all cancer therapy was noted after it was stopped. We found that they had consumed glyconutrient, phytonutrient and phytogenin containing dietary supplements.
A search revealed that Dr. Busbee et. al 1994 found a glyconutrient in these diet supplements increased IL-1, IL-6, INF and TNF production in monocyte cultures. Dr. See et. al 1999 reported enhanced NK lymphocyte cytolytic function in response to multiple glyconutrients. Dr. Barhomi et. al 1997 found glyconutrients increased intracellular reduced-glutathione protection 50% in liver cells. Such activity provides a potential differential effect for tumor cell destruction and normal cell protection.
To increase our observations, patients with malignancies were solicited from a 3 state area and 127 volunteered to add nutraceuticals to their diet. 100 patients returned a quality of life survey focusing on weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain control, ability to complete treatments on schedule, physical activity and sense of well being. 40% of the group had failed standard therapy and were in a state of progressive disease (sent home to die). 60% were starting radiation or chemo-therapy. 85% reported improvements in the above clinical parameters.
The phytogenin supplement contains plant sterols for nutrient based endocrine support. Ovarian, breast, uterine, and prostate malignancy patients were discouraged from taking this nutrient. Some elected to add the phytogenin to their diet and they reported the best preservation of appetite, muscle mass, and had the least side-effects during treatment. Patients with a diagnoses of ovarian carcinoma, astrocytoma grade IV, lymphoma with mild marrow suppression, a massive pelvic myxosarcoma, and colon adenocarcinoma with brain metastasis had unprecedented responses.
CONCLUSIONS: Nutraceutical dietary supplements:
1. Do not inhibit tumor cell destruction by radiation and chemotherapy
Enhance tumor cell destruction
Protect normal cells from radiation and cytotoxic damage
Induce reductions in tumor mass in malignancies resistant to all treatments
Improve quality of life for patients by reducing treatment toxicity and side effects from radiation and chemotherapy. A formal, controlled clinical study is warranted to further evaluate the effects of nutraceutical dietary supplementation in combination with standard cancer therapy.

New Drugs Will Be Labelled "Dangerous"

Are you aware that the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has published a report admitting, in no uncertain terms, that the safety of prescription drugs are inevitably tested on the public. The study concludes with this warning:“Serious Adverse Drug Reactions commonly emerge after Food and Drug Administration approval. The "safety" of new prescription drugs cannot be known with certainty until a drug has been on the market for many years.” ____________________________________________________________________________________20% of New Drugs Will Be Labeled “Dangerous” or Withdrawn from Market, JAMA Study Reports. A study just released in the May 1, 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that the dangers of newly FDA-approved drugs are much higher than initially realized prior to going to market. According to the authors: “Premarketing drug trials are often underpowered to detect ADRs (adverse drug reactions), and have limited follow-up. In some cases, drugs are approved despite identification of serious ADR’s in premarketing trials.” The study involved the review of 548 new “chemical entities” that were approved by the FDA between 1975 and 1999. A surprising 8.2 percent (45 drugs) of these received one or more “black box warnings” in the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR), with 2.9% (16 drugs) being withdrawn from the consumer market altogether for safety reasons.Using Kaplan-Myers analyses, this means: “…the estimated probability of (a new drug) requiring a new black box warning or being withdrawn from the market over 25 years was 20 percent.” This chilling fact is important for consumers to understand when accepting prescriptions for newly approved drugs. The author noted: “Nearly 20 million patients in the United States took at least one of the five drugs withdrawn from the market between September 1997 and September 1998. Three of these five drugs were new, having been on the market for less than two years.”“Only half of newly discovered serious ADRs are detected and documented in the Physicians’ Desk Reference within seven years after drug approval,” the researchers found; only half of the withdrawals of unsafe drugs take place in the first two years.” The authors specify that their definition of a serious ADR was “conservative", since it was limited to Physicians’ Desk Reference black box warnings. We did not consider other labeling changes such as bolded warnings without boxes, ‘Dear Health Care Professional’ letters, or case reports in the medical literature.”Doctors read black box warnings. Patients, however, rely on their doctors to assess and inform them of possible adverse reactions of certain prescription drugs. Some patients may even take the time to read some of the accompanying literature that comes with their prescriptions, assuming they can read the fine print. And then there are the pharmaceutical ads on TV that have the voice-over spitting out at machine-gun speed at the end of the commercial the potential reactions of taking certain drugs (which sounds oddly like the commercial spoofs on “Saturday Night Live”).Taking the findings of this study to heart, perhaps patients should also be warned against taking any prescription for a drug released within the last seven years, particularly those released in the last two years. The study concludes with this warning:“Serious ADRs commonly emerge after Food and Drug Administration approval. The "safety" of new agents cannot be known with certainty until a drug has been on the market for many years.”

Alternative Glyconutrients complement wellbeing.

Sweet Medicine

Cover story of the new July 2002 Scientific American is about "Sweet Medicine, Building better drugs from sugars," with an illustration of stacks of sugar cube building blocks to form the letters Rx. Inside are truly gorgeous pictures of the inner workings of the cell with remarks such as "Sugars decorate many proteins and lipids." Pharmaceutical companies planning to get on the sugar bandwagon by developing synthetic (toxic) versions of the active sugars, which can then be registered as drugs.

Scientific American then goes on to say that "scientists of the past did not neglect sugars from lack of interest", but the "problems stemmed in large part from the extraordinary structural variability of sugars." And further the "alphabet" with the "simplest sugars in the body can theoretically assemble into more than 15million four component structures".

Glycoscience is advancing rapidly.

Health Care Professionals

COPPELL, TX (March 6, 2002)– NASDAQ (MTEX) - Mannatech, Inc. Medical Director Stephen Boyd, M.D., Ph.D., FRSMS, was an invited speaker at a certified continuing medical education course for healthcare professionals. The conference was sponsored by The Institute of Integrated Medicine (IIM) located in London, Ontario, Canada.
More than 200 doctors and healthcare professionals attended the 6-day medical cruise in the Caribbean, which offered more than 36 hours of continuing medical education (CME) training. Dr. Boyd spoke on the topic “Glycobiology, The New Frontier”. Other courses covered a broad spectrum of complementary and alternative therapy topics including women’s health, detoxification, drug/herb interactions, and drug depletion of nutrients.
“The interchange between complementary and mainstream medicine is steadily increasing,” Dr. Boyd commented. "Carbohydrate technology represents one of the next frontiers in medicine both in terms of drug development and in terms of the glyconutrients that Mannatech researches and develops. Integrative medicine is the future and I believe that glyconutrients will find growing acceptance in complementary care programs. It is important for doctors to explore complementary care options that can make the quality of life better for their patients. ”
Dr. Boyd completed his BS and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, Scotland and in 1974, graduated with a M.D. degree from the University of Toronto, followed by training in Family Practice. He spent fifteen years in medical practice as a family physician, both in Canada and the US.
Dr. Boyd is currently a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Wound Management. In 2001, he was honored by being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM).

Doctors May Support Nutritional Health

Those doctors that want to support the nutritional approach to health, can now do so without penalty... Press Release From the AMA (Australian Medical Association)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28 February 2002AMA ADOPTS PROGRESSIVE POLICY ON COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINEThe AMA has formally adopted a new progressive policy on complementary medicine to reflect its growing usage in the broader community.AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that GPs are now seeing more and more patients who are using complementary medicines."For the best possible health outcomes, it is important that doctors and patients are fully informed on the health claims of these medicines and alert to any possible side effects when used with prescribed medications," Dr Phelps said."When patients visit their GP, they should discuss all medicines they have been using - mainstream or complementary - to assist the doctor in advising treatment for any condition."It is important to avoid situations where treatments may work against each other."In the interests of best practice patient care, it is vital that all complementary medicines - like any medicines - are backed by solid evidence as to their safety, quality and efficacy."Evidence is the key to a constructive and forward-looking joint approach involving both mainstream and complementary practitioners."Acupuncture, massage and even hypnosis and meditation have been adopted as therapies by Australian GPs."Where there is evidence, there is acceptance."Doctors need to be informed about potential benefits and potential adverse effects of complementary medicines and therapies to promote open discussion with patients, which leads to informed choices for doctors and patients."It is important that doctors are supplied with detailed evidence-based information on complementary medicines in the same way they are informed about mainstream medicines and therapies," Dr Phelps said.In its 2002-03 Federal Budget Submission the AMA is calling on the Government to provide $1million in research funding to evaluate potential benefits and adverse effects of complementary medicines and therapies...."Increasingly medical practitioners will require a basic understanding of complementary medicine and should recieve sufficient training in their undergraduate, vocational and further education to enable them to discuss such issues with their patients on an informed basis. This training should also enable medical practitioners to incorporate complementary therapies into their practice if they so decide following due consideration of the evidence. As with any developments which impact on medicine, information about Complementary Medicine should be included in continuing education. " The Bottom Line: The AMA has finally shifted from their original position of ridiculing complementary medicine, has shifted from their next position of opposing complementary medicine to the position of now accepting complementary medicine as an equal partner in healthcare. It is now saying it should be taught in medical school and be part of every doctors further education.This means that in Australia, Complementary Medicine has now been accepted as an important part of mainstream medicine and healthcare.

Glyconutrients are beneficial for great health.