Stem Cell Therapy Aids the Return of Lava Man

Shortly after Lava Man finished last in the 2008 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar, his owners decided to retire him. It seemed like the prudent thing to do at the time. Then 7, he had lost six straight races and had not won in more than a year. Age and infirmities seemed to have caught up to him.

But nearly 17 months after his last race, Lava Man, a gelding who has earned more than $5.2 million in his career, will return to competition Saturday at Hollywood Park in the Native Diver Handicap. Under normal circumstances, expectations would be low. How could a horse about to turn 9 possibly return to top form after a long layoff that was precipitated by an injury?

But these are not normal circumstances. During his hiatus, Lava Man, a former claimer who went on to become one of the top horses in the country, underwent stem celltreatments. The veterinarian who treated him says they have not only solved his physical problems but have made him stronger than ever.

“The trainer is the only one who can tell you how he’s going to run Saturday, but as far as the way he looks and based on our experience with other horses, theoretically, he should be much better than he was,” said Dr. Doug Herthel, who treated Lava Man at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, Calif.

The owners Jason Wood, Steve Kenly and his father, Dave, originally had no intention of bringing Lava Man back. Instead, they sent him to Herthel hoping that he could fix Lava Man’s problems, which included arthritis in the joints in his ankles and a small fracture in his left front leg, so that he would be more comfortable in retirement and could be used as a riding horse.

Herthel went to work, taking healthy stem cells from other parts of Lava Man’s body and injecting them into the areas that had been injured.

“We think of those stem cells as little paramedics,” Herthel said. “They go in and they help; they enhance the health of the cartilage.”

According to Herthel, before-and-after tests taken on Lava Man showed significant improvement in what had been the injured areas. Whatever had been troubling him as his racing career was winding down had been cured. Herthel told the owners there was no reason the horse could not race again.

“We keep looking for a reason to say no, and we haven’t found one yet,” Herthel said.

Lava Man’s treatment has been billed as experimental, but Herthel said that is not necessarily the case. He said he had done similar procedures on “thousands of horses.” Yet his work had largely gone unnoticed in thoroughbred racing. That seems to be because most of his patients were not racehorses and the ones that were are not nearly as famous as Lava Man.

Herthel can point to at least one other racetrack success story. A now 6-year-old gelding named Ever A Friend, who was injured in May 2008, had virtually the same procedure as Lava Man and returned to win an allowance race and finish second in the Grade I Citation Handicap.

Herthel may make a convincing case for a Lava Man comeback, but his arguments have not swayed everyone. The owners and the trainer Doug O’Neill have been accused of being greedy and taking unnecessary risks with a horse that made them a lot of money. O’Neill has said he has received “lots of hate mail and hate e-mail.”

“We’re not doing this for the money,” Steve Kenly said. “We’re doing it for the excitement, for the horse and for the game. Being who he is, we’ve done everything we can for him. We go over him with a fine-toothed comb.”

Herthel argued that a horse like Lava Man, who is used to life around the racetrack, is actually happiest when competing.

“Being turned out to pasture isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially in a horse that is used to major care every day,” he said. “If he enjoys this and does well, I’m sure they will keep going. If it doesn’t seem like he has the will and doesn’t want to do it, I am sure they will let him be a riding horse.”

Whether the comeback will be successful is now up to Lava Man. Should he return to peak form, he should not have any problem winning the Native Diver, a race with a modest $100,000 purse. A victory would quiet the critics and perhaps pave the way for Lava Man to compete in the biggest races in Southern California.

Stem Cells

Stem Cells

Stem cells are how we all begin: undifferentiated cells that go on to develop into any of the more than 200 types of cell the adult human body holds.

Few quarrel with predictions of the awesome potential that stem cell research holds. One day, scientists say, stem cells may be used to replace or repair damaged cells, and have the potential to drastically change the treatment of conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and even paralysis. But the divisions over how to conduct that research have been deep and bitter. Most research has been conducted on embryonic stem cell lines -- cultures of cells derived from four- or five-day-old embryos, or fertilized cells. Opponents of embryonic stem cell research, which often uses embryos discarded by fertility clinics, want it to be severely restricted or banned outright as inhumane.

The most important legislation relating to stem cell research is known as the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which first became law in 1996, and has been renewed by Congress every year since. It specifically bans the use of tax dollars to create human embryos - a practice that is routine in private fertility clinics - or for research in which embryos are destroyed, discarded or knowingly subjected to risk of injury.

For a time, the ban stood in the way of taxpayer-financed embryonic stem cell research, because embryos are destroyed when stem cells are extracted from them. But in August 2001, in a careful compromise, President George W. Bush opened the door a tiny crack, by ordering that tax dollars could be used for studies on a small number of lines, or colonies, of stem cells already extracted from embryos -- so long as federal researchers did not do the extraction themselves.

Congress continued to be inundated with calls from people suffering from diseases for which stem cells research might be the only hope, and from equally vehement opponents. In 2006, the Republican-controlled Congress passed a bill to expand research. In response, Mr. Bush issued the first veto of his presidency. In 2007, Congress, now in Democratic hands, passed a similar bill by a larger margin, but still not by enough to override the veto that Mr. Bush announced on June 20.

On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order rescinding the limits set by Mr. Bush and making clear that the government supported stem-cell research. 

But in August 2010, Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth of Federal District Court blocked Mr. Obama's executive order, saying it violated a ban on federal money being used to destroy embryos.

The head of the National Institutes of Health said the decision would most likely force the cancellation of dozens of experiments in diseases ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's.

Officials said experiments already under way could continue. But if the ruling is upheld, the government will be forced to suspend $54 million in financing for 22 scientific projects by the end of September. An additional 60 projects are threatened, and the institutes told researchers their money was in jeopardy.

In his decision, Judge Lamberth issued a temporary injunction blocking Mr. Obama's rules from going into effect. The Justice Department said it would ask for the injunction to be lifted, pending its appeal.

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

Has your weight loss regimen gone too far?

If a weight loss programme is too severe or intense, the repercussions can be adverse. Why? The body needs adequate nourishment and a gradual exercise progression, or else there is possibility of a physical and mental burnout. A weight loss plan should be designed, taking into account an individual's health status, fitness level and goals.

You need to set realistic goals to improve your health. The body needs sufficient calories and nourishment for good health. There is a big difference in being thin and being fit. Make sensible changes to your eating, exercising and lifestyle habits so that you are physically and mentally happy, energised and well.

Tip: Don't overdo a good thing. It can tire your body and mind. To get results, your work-outs need not be hard, but they need to be smart.

BE EXERCISE-WISE

What is the downside of over-exercising?

If you exercise too much and do not allow the body to adequately rest and recuperate, you could put yourself at a risk for serious health problems. Here are some reasons why:

Depleted energy

Going to extremes can deplete the body of its energy reserves and lead to chronic fatigue. The body becomes prone to illness as immunity levels go down.

Resting pulse rate

It is important to be aware of the resting pulse rate, especially when you wake up. If it increases, it can be an indication of over-training.

Amenorrhea

Excessive exercise and severe dieting cause irregular menstruation. There is also a risk of infertility along with other health complications in the long run.

Change in sleep pattern

Day after day, an effort to maintain high levels of physical intensity makes it difficult for the body to relax. This results in a change in your sleep pattern:

* You have difficulty in falling asleep.

* Your sleep tends to be disturbed and you wake up frequently at night.

Change in eating pattern

The body can react in many ways when it is under stress. There can either be loss of or increase in appetite or constant food cravings, resulting in several health problems.

Fitness Guidelines

When starting out, always begin at a level that is right for your current fitness condition and progress at a suitable rate so as to keep your mind and body interested.

An exercise programme should always be safe and effective. Keep the following fitness guidelines in mind

How often?

Exercise should be performed five to six times a week for duration of 30 to 60 minutes. Your exercise intensity can range between 60 to 90 per cent of your target heart rate (depending on your fitness level and medical condition).

Rest

Rest plays an important role in formulating effective training sessions. It helps the body recuperate from fatigue and muscular exhaustion.

Progress gradually

Too much, too fast, too soon are the main causes of injury. Your objective should be to gradually prepare the body to exercise without over-training or over-straining.

GET ADEQUATE NOURISHMENT

What is the downside of obsessive dieting?

Unrealistic standards of beauty encourage crash dieting at the expense of health. Some people go to great lengths to get the skinny look, such as consumption of diet pills, unhealthy methods of weight control such as laxatives and skipping meals.

Obsessive dieting can lead to:

* hair fall

* dry skin

* loss of periods

* insomnia

* lack of concentration

* mood swings

* incontinence

* thinning bones.

Eating guidelines

It is essential that your body is properly nourished. Looking healthy, feeling energised and active are all related to balanced and sensible eating habits. Consider these factors when opting for a diet:

Broaden your palette of pleasures. Eat in a way that doesn't place all the emphasis on the pleasure of food alone - such as great ambience, well-presented meals and good company.

It's not always what you eat, but how you eat. Learn the art of satisfying your taste buds slowly. Eat so that you enjoy each bite.

Watch-out for add-ons. Do not cover your plate with gravies, creamy sauces or dressings. They are laden with high fat. Instead, order sauces and dressings on the side and go easy on them.

Multiply meals, shrink portions. Eat six to eight small meals a day.

Your body needs only few calories at a time for energy and metabolism. Large meals overload the body's digestive system, excess is stored as fat. Make lighter food choices when possible. Eat egg white instead of the whole egg. Whole grain, instead of refined products. Low-fat instead of full fat.

Did you know? Skim milk gets 5 per cent of its calories from fat, while whole milk gets 51 per cent from fat.

Ways to lose weight and keep it off

* Choose a lifestyle that combines sensible eating with regular physical activity.

* Eat enjoyable and nutritious foods.

* Do not over do exercise or succumb to crash dieting

Exercise can help prevent back pain

Moderate endurance exercise can help prevent back problems. Exercising the entire body stimulates blood supply and relaxes painful muscle spasms, according to Dieter Breithecker from Germany’s Federal Institute on the Development of Posture and Exercise. Exercise also makes the body more resilient.

Breithecker recommends sports such as swimming, walking, hiking, cycling or cross-country skiing. Sports that cause repetitive buckling of the spine, on the other hand, should be avoided. Those sports include horse riding, downhill skiing and fast jogging. You should also be careful when engaging in sports that involve fast, repetitive over-extension of the spine such as tennis, badminton, squash and golf.

Breithecker advises consulting with your doctor first to make sure your back is healthy enough to engage in sport. After that it is a matter of finding out whether a certain type of exercise suits you.

Nicotine linked to breast cancer for first time

Nicotine that makes smoking addictive is one of the chemicals in cigarettes that can trigger breast cancer, says new research.

The findings could be a big blow to makers of nicotine-based products that help smokers to quit.

Normal cigarettes are known to contain at least 60 cancer-causing compounds, including carbon monoxide, tar and arsenic, but until now nicotine had not been on the list, reports the Daily Mail.

Researchers looked at both breast cancer cells and normal cells to see if nicotine spurred tumour growth at a cellular level, according to The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Yuan-Soon Ho and his team from Taipei Medical University found that when normal cells were treated with nicotine in the lab it promoted the development of cancer characteristics.

Likewise, reducing the level of nicotine inhibited tumour growth.

The research could have a negative impact on companies that make nicotine gum, patches and electronic cigarettes that are promoted as a “healthy alternative” for smokers.

Exercising reduces food intake

Increase in obesity has become one of the most important clinical-epidemiological phenomena. Factors such as changing eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle both have a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. It is postulated that excessive consumption of fat creates failures in the signal transmitted by neurons controlling satiety in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus. These failures can lead to uncontrollable food intake and, consequently, obesity.

There is now another good reason to exercise. Besides burning calories, exercise restores the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (feeling full), which in turn contributes to reduced food intake and consequently weight loss.

This is the conclusion of a study led by Brazilian researchers at the University of Campinas, and the findings will be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology. This disclosure may bring hope to over 40 per cent of the population that suffers from weight problems and obesity around the world, according to a University of Campinas press release.

The group led by José Barreto C. Carvalheira demonstrated that exercising obese rodents showed signals of restored satiety in hypothalamic neurons and decreased food intake. "In obese animals, exercise increased IL-6 and IL-10 protein levels in the hypothalamus, and these molecules were crucial for increasing the sensitivity of the most important hormones, insulin and leptin, which control appetite," Carvalheira explained.

Physical activity contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity, not only by increasing energy expenditure but also by modulating the signals of satiety and reducing food intake.

Physical activity has always been considered a cornerstone in the treatment of obesity, however, only now have the effects of exercise on the control of body weight been understood.

Thus, these findings, besides reinforcing the necessity for regular exercise also change the current paradigm established between physical activity and weight loss.

Black rice is the new cancer-fighting superfood

Black rice, revered in ancient China, could be the greatest 'superfood'. Low in sugar, the grain is packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer, say experts.

Scientists from Louisiana State University analysed samples of bran from black rice grown in the southern US and found it boosted levels of water-soluble anthocyanin antioxidants, reports the Daily Mail.

Anthocyanins impart dark hues to fruits and vegetables, which includes blueberries and red peppers and also turn rice 'black'.

Research suggests that anthocyanins, which mop up harmful molecules, can help protect arteries and prevent the DNA damage that leads to cancer.

Food scientist Zhimin Xu said: "Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar, and more fibre and vitamin E antioxidants."

"If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran? Especially, black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to increase consumption of health-promoting antioxidants."

It is occasionally known as the 'Forbidden Rice' because Chinese nobles forbade common people from eating it. Today black rice is mainly used in Asia for food decoration, noodles, sushi and desserts.

But food manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or bran extracts to make breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, biscuits and other foods healthier, said Xu.

When rice is processed, millers remove the outer layers of the grains to produce brown rice or more refined white rice - the kind most widely consumed in the West.

Brown rice is said to be more nutritious because it has higher levels of healthy vitamin E compounds and antioxidants.

But according to Xu's team, varieties of rice that are black or purple in colour are healthier still.