A  recent publication on a health issue  of  general interest is reviewed each
   month.  In addition,  short reviews of definitive references for stress and the
   related health issues of nutrition, supplements, therapies,  the environment,
   and general interest are given.

   Selecting a reference  of  interest may be done  by  checking the  box on the
   title line of the reference. A search phrase may also be entered at the bottom
  of  the page.   A link to a publisher's index where purchases may  be made is
  provided at the bottom of the page.

  If   general  information on stress   and   its related topics is desired before re-
  viewing the references, click on Go to healthissues21

Monthly Review - Stem Cells

    Scott, Christofer T.  STEM CELL NOW.  New York: Plume, 2006.  An introduction into the
   coming medical revolution  offers a brief history of embryonic stem cells  and  the resulting
   moral and political issues that have been raised.

   In  1998,  James Thompson reported the development  of  the first line of human stem cells
   with a typical scientific understatement, "These cell lines should be useful in human devel-
   opmental biology,  drug discovery,  and transplantational medicine,"  There  are  currently
   two methods  of  developing stem cell lines.  Human embryonic stem cell(HESC) lines arise
   from the inner mass of stem cells in a blastocyst(a fertilized egg that has divided into  circa
   200 cells).  This cell mass is cultured in a controlled environment that allows indefinite  pro-
   liferation of cloned copies of the stem cells, thereby establishing a stem cell line. The work
   of J. Thompson was an HESC line.  The second method fuses a cell from donor tissue  with
   an egg that has  had  its  nucleus excised.  Cell division then occurs and the resulting blast-
   ocyst is used as a surrogate embryo.  This method  is  referred to  as  somatic  cell  nuclear
   transfer(SCNT). The cloning of Dolly used SCNT;  an egg from a donor sheep with an excis-
   ed nucleus was fused with  a  cell from another sheep and the resulting blastocyst was  im-
   planted in the uterus of a surrogate ewe.   

   The initial stem cells in a blastocyst have the potential to form any  cell  type  in  the  body.
   As an embryo develops, cells differentiate in steps as they follow maturation paths. Once a
   stem cell reaches the end of a path it is no longer able to divide and  is  terminally differen-
   tiated.  Eventually It ages  and dies and is replaced by  a  new terminal cell.  Skin,  muscle,
   and blood cells are examples of terminal cells.  Because of this replacement system,  stem
   cells necessarily exhibit an asymmetric cell division.  One daughter cell  is  an exact  copy
   and  the other one is more specialized and more restricted in the ability to differentiate.  A
   supply of stem cells is maintained  and  replacement cells  are  generated  by  asymmetric
   division.  Several hundred million  skin cells  are  replaced every day  by  this  mechanism.
   Stem cells are distributed in a mature organism in numerous areas termed niches that  pro-
   vide repair and regeration of major sytems such as the liver,  skin,  muscles, etc.  The stem
   cells providing rerpair and regeneration are termed adult stem cells.

   Starting with the seeming magic of a single cell developing into  a  fully functioning organ-
   ism,  the author covers the history of researching stem cells and the attempt to understand
   the development of an organism.  This reserach is now at a point where promise of  future
   medical practice that goes from regenerating lost functions to regeneration of complete or-
   gans has raised both hope  and  a sense of urgency.  As Christopher Reeves, the quadriple-
   gic actor put it,  "I want things to happen quickly. I don't want to get out of this wheel chair
   at the age of 75.  I am not willing to to resign myself to being an advocate for research that
   will benefit people only after I'm gone.  I'm not that noble."   Unfortunately he died in  2004
   at age 52.  Both patients  and  their families are asking,  "Will there be a cure?   And will it
   be in time for us?"   Unfortunately   biological reality has been overshadowed by the many
   promises that are being given.   The author lists seven questions that must be answered be-
   fore any clinical procedures can be forthcoming.  The  concensus among scietists is that re-
   search must first focus on the many small pieces of a large picture before cures of diseases
   and disabilities are developed that have been promised to the public. 

   In the meantime,  a controversy of a political and theological nature  has  erupted that has
   gone so far that the new field  of  bioethics has emerged solely to study  the impact  on  hu-
   manity of advances in medicine  and  technology.  The intensity of this controversy is  best
   illustrated by two quotations,  "The newly fertilized egg,  a corpuscle one two-hundreth  of
   an inch in diameter is not a human being.  It is a set of instructions set adrift in  the womb",
   and,  "We will, slowly and by increments,  have gone  from  stem cells to embryo farms  to
   fetuses hanging(metaphorically)  on  meat hooks waiting  to  be cut open and used  by  the
   already born."  Scott details theological arguments advanced by major religions  and  tech-
   nical arguments raised by  leading scientists.  He  also  details the political history  of stem-
   cell research and the four-year moratorium that was imposed. All of these arguments, how-
   ever, beg a far more fundamental question.  What justification supports sacrificing the  few
   for the benefit of the many?  During the second world war,  the  United States infected con-
   sciencetious objectors with malaria in a program to develop chloroquine. At the same time
   Germany sacrificed prisoners in studying physiological effects of seat ejection and  high-alt-
   tude.  The former project was based on the expediency of protecting American  soldiers  in 
   the Pacific. The latter, although condemned, did not deter the U. S. from acquiring German
   data and also recruiting the chief flight surgeon of the Luftwaffe under operation paper-clip,
   the same program that brought Werner von Braun to the U.S. It is doubtful that the reconcil-
   iation of stem-cell research will be as clear cut or as simple as many people currently hope. 
 
References for Stress
    Selye, H. The Stress of Life. New York: Harper & Row, 1956, 1976.  The nonspecific reac-
   tion of the body to any demand imposed upon it, and  the  roles the central nervous system
   and  the endocrtine system play in this response form the basis of the research of  H. Selye.
   This nonspecific response to any demand is the essence of Dr. Selye's theory of stress.

    Selye, H. Stress  Without  Distress.  New York: Harper & Row, 1974.  Develops a code of
   behavior based on immutable natural laws to successfully cope with stress.  In  developing
   this code, Dr. Selye relates topics such as work and leisure, motivation, and life style to the
   management of stress without distress.

    Shiraldi, G. R.  Post Traumatic  Stress Disorder.  Lincolnwood, IL:  Lowell  House,  2000.
   Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) exemplifies the theory of stress  of  H. Selye. Follow-
   ing the Vietnam war,  the American Psychaiatrtic Association identified PTSD as an anxiety
   disorder caused by traumatic stress.  Subsequent clinical  research  developed a method of
   treatment,  and this hanbook details the current procedures employed in treating PTSD.
References for Nutrition

    Quillin, P.  Healing Nutrients. New York: Random House, 1989.  Develops a program for
   optimal nutrition  and indicates modifications and add-ons that address prevention specific
   to disease resistance and wound healing,  allergies,  and healthy aging. The basic premise
   is that optimal nutrition can provide better health to nearly everyone.

    Garcia, O. The Balance. New York: HarperCollins, 2000.  Develops a nutritional regimen
   based on metabolic types of slow, fast and hybrid oxidizers. The development is also based
   on differences  between modern and primitive diets,  and modern and primitive social orga-
   nizations.  The development is structured for use by a  nutritionist offering  consultation to a
   specific client; it includes a subjective test to determine metabolic type.

    Challem, J.  Syndrome X. New York:  John Wiley & Sons, 2000.  Syndrome  X is a group
   of symptoms stemming from excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates. Obesity, high
   blood pressure.  hardening  of  arteries,  insulin resistance,  and diabetes are all part of syn-
   drome X. A diet is designed that eliminates refined carbohydrates and  has five times the  a-
   mount of vegetables as  in  an average American diet.  The diet  also  emphasizes foods  of
   low and moderate glycemic indices (the rate of glucose entry into the bloodstream).

    Weil, A.  Healthy Aging. New York:  Random House,  2005. Aging  and death are accept-
   ed as inevitable. However, aging with good health and maintaining effective energy levels
   is not only felt to be desireable, but also attainable.  A holistic approach that includes  diet,
   supplements, life style, and environment is advanced. The objective is to age gracefully.

    Mizrahi, A.  Bee Products.  New York:   Plenum  Press,   1996.  A  conference  was  held
   in Tel Aviv, Israel on bee products: properties, applications, and apitherapy.   Bee products
   include honey, royal jelly, persopolis, and bee pollen. In addition, the conference included
   results using bee venom as a therpeutic agent.
References for Supplements
   The  references that follow deal specifically  with  supplements  for  antioxidants,  enzymes,
   and proteins.  The reference "Healthy Aging" above has an excellent summary of the  ingre-
   ients required for an effective multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement.

    Balch, J. F.  The Super Oxidants.  New York: M. Evans & Company, 1998.  Lists upwards
   of 125 fruits and vegetables  and  the types and amounts of antioxidants they provide.  Also
   listed are commercial  supplements such as co-enzyme Q10  and  plant extracts from garlic,
   ginseng, etc.

    Lee, L.  The Enzyme Cure.Tiburon,CA: Alternative Medicine,1998. Identifies three types
   of enzymes,   metabolic,   pancreatic,  and plant. Listed are formulations of enzyme supple-
   ments specific to problems such as food allergies, digestion problems, cardiovascular prob-
   lems, etc.  Also included is a formulation for people in good health who want a single natu-
   ral supplement for maintenance.

    Evans, G.  Chromium Picolinate. Honesdale, PA: Paragon Press, 1996. Discusses Chrom-
   ium picolinate  and  its relation to carbohydrate  and   fat metabolism and the maintenance
   of muscle mass.

    Natow, A. B.  The  Protein  Counter.  New York:  Simon & Schuster,  2003.  A  handbook
   listing the protein, fat, and carbohydrate components of numerous foods and branded food
   products. Also included are lists of protein and amino-acid supplements.
References for Therapies
   All of the references in the sections for nutrition  and  supplements include material on ther-
   apy by indicating the general salutary nature of a nutritous diet.  The references that follow
   are specific programs that are designed to restore and maintain good health.

    Edelson, S. P.  Autoimmune  Disorders.  New York:  Warner Books, 2003.  Discusses the
   nature  of  autoimmune diseases   and   establishes  a  treatment in three phases for curing
   these diseases; viz. detoxification,  replenishment,  and maintenance of homeostasis.

    Hertoge, T.  Hormone  Solution.  New York:  Harmony  Books,  2002.  Natural  hormones
   are combined with nutrition to promote health and longevity. The course of treatment goes
   far beyond the classical therapy  for  hypothyroidism and diabetes.  It should be  noted that
   the imperative to obtain advice and treatment from a health professional for  a  program of
   this nature is not emphasized as much as it should be.

    Sears B.  Omega Rx Zone.  New York: Harper Collins, 2003.  The Omega Rx zone refers
   to a hormonal  balance that supports optimal health  and  promotes longevity.  A diet is pro-
   posed that is based on two factors: a balance of carbohydrates  and  proteins at every meal
   to control insulin levels, and fat intake based primarily on fish oil  of  pharmaceutical-grade
   purity.  A theory  is  advanced that this diet corresponds to the one  mankind ate during  the
   last stages of evolution.

    Cliunic, Mayo  The Mayo Clinic Plan.  New York: Time Inc.,  2006.  A program consisting
   of ten steps that focuses on  fitness,  diet,  and weight.  Also included are issues of life style
   such as  tobacco, social connections, stress, rest and relaxation, and safety issues.
References for the Environment
    Shnayerson, M.  The Killers Within.  New  York:  Little, Brown and Company, 2002.  The
   rise of drug-resistant bacteria have evolved   to   the point where medical personnel are  at
   an  impasse  in  seeking effective treatment  of  infections,  especially for staphylococci.   A
   note of optimism is sounded with a discussion  of  current research into the use of  peptides
   and bacteriophages as antibiotics.

    Colborn, T.  Our  Stolen  Future.  New York: Penguin Books,  1997.  The emerging scien-
   fific evidence of the disruption  of  hormonal  balances caused  by  man-made chemicals is
   detailed for several ecological  systems.  Evidence is mounting that the fertility,  healthy de-
   velopment, and even survival of mankind are threatened.

    Smith, J. M. Seeds  of  Deception.  White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green,  2003.  An
   alarm is raised that genetic modification  of  plants may produce dramatically  unexpected
   results beyond the objective of the modification. Surprises from genetic modification range
   from abnormal depletion of nutritional value to the creation of fatal toxins.
References of General Interest
    Venes, D. Taber's  Cyclopedic  Medical  Dictionary. Philadelphia:  F. A. Davis Co.,  2001.
   Taber's is  a  comprehensive resource that goes far beyond being  a  medical dictionary.  It
   includes disease entries with  symptoms,  diagnosis  and treatment,  policies for safe health
   care, nutritional information,  nursing practices,  tables that list information such as  normal
   reference lab values,  and  a  potpourri of other general information. Taber's has published
   twenty editions with over six million copies sold.

    Widmaier, E. P. The Stuff  of  Life. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2002.  Discusses
   the interplay of tissue, blood, hormones, enzymes, fats, sugars, and  minerals that produces
   a living organism. Along the way, questions such as how food is digested, how brain  chem-
   istry influences behavior,  and what the differences in fats and proteins mean to health  are
   addressed.

   Schauss, A. G.  Minerals,  Trace  Elements  and  Health. Tacoma, WA: Biosocial Publica-
   tions,  1999.  Estmates the optimal level  of  intake  for  twenty-one  minerals  ranging  from
   Beryllium to Zinc.  Toxicic levels of non-essential elements such as lead are also discussed.
 

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