Recent Longevity News for the week ending 6/23/21

Inventor Says His New Straw Will Cure Hiccups - WebMD, 6/22/21 - "According to results published in JAMA Open Network, 92% of the volunteers said the HiccAway worked for them" - See HiccAway : A Natural Remedy Proven to Stop Hiccups Instantly at Amazon.com.

Exposure to pollutants, increased free-radical damage speeds up aging - Science Daily, 6/21/21 - "When we are exposed to a pollutant, such as radiation for cancer treatment, energy is transferred to the water in our body, breaking the water apart. This creates highly reactive molecules -- free radicals -- that will quickly interact with another molecule in order to gain electrons. When these free radicals interact with important biomolecules, such as a protein or DNA, it causes damage that can keep that biomolecule from working properly ... Some exposure to pollutants is unavoidable, but there are several lifestyle choices that increase exposure to pollution and thus increase free radicals in the body. Smoking, drinking and exposure to pesticides and other chemicals through occupational hazards all significantly increase free radicals"

FDA approves new obesity drug for long-term weight management - CBS, 6/21/21 - "In clinical trials, patients receiving the weekly injection had an average weight loss of 15% and steadily lost weight over the 16-month study period. Importantly, these results are close to those for patients who have bariatric surgery, and they are far better than those seen from other weight loss drugs currently on the market ... Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) is the first approved drug for chronic weight management in adults with general obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, since 2014 ... Wegovy is a synthesized version of a gut hormone that curbs appetite. It is to be injected under the skin once-weekly"

Some blood pressure-lowering meds linked to less memory decline in older adults, study finds - Science Daily, 6/21/21 - "These findings represent the most powerful evidence to-date linking brain-penetrant ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers to better memory. It suggests that people who are being treated for hypertension may be protected from cognitive decline if they medications that cross the blood-brain barrier"

Fish Oil Supplements May Help Fight Depression - WebMD, 6/18/21 - "Previous studies have shown that people with major depression have elevated levels of inflammation, but no proven anti-inflammatory treatments for depression exist ... Once a day for 12 weeks, they were given one of two omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) — either 3 grams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or 1.4 grams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ... Treatment with both omega-3s was associated with a significant improvement in depression, with an average 64% drop in symptoms for the EPA group and 71% in the DHA group" - See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.

New study finds SARS-CoV-2 can infect testes - Science Daily, 6/18/21 - "Autopsies have also shown significant disruption of the testes at the cellular level" - Something else for the anti-vax people to think about when they think the vaccine is worse than the disease itself.

COVID May Cause Long-Term Brain Loss, Study Says - Medscape, 6/18/21 - "In 2021, they asked hundreds of those people to come back for more brain scans. Almost 800 responded. Of those patients, 404 had tested positive for COVID-19, and 394 had usable brain scans that were taken before and after the pandemic ... Comparison of the before-and-after brain scans found "significant effects of COVID-19 in the brain with a loss of grey matter" in parts of the brain connected to smell and taste ... The diminishment in the amount of cortical tissue happened to be in regions of the brain that are close to the places that are responsible for smell ... What it suggests is that the smell, the loss of smell, is just an effect of a more primary process that's underway, and that process is actually shrinking of cortical tissue"

NotMilk says it has achieved a breakthrough: Plant-based milk that mimics dairy - Washington Post, 6/16/21 - "Two of the key ingredients, it turned out, were pineapple and cabbage — something no human would have ever dreamed of pouring into their breakfast cereal. The product, called NotMilk, uses more than a dozen ingredients, including chicory root fiber, coconut oil and pea protein, to make what the packaging calls a “plant-based milk alternative.” Featured on the carton: a drawing of a cow crossed out in black — erased ... Sold at Whole Foods in the United States, NotMilk will reach nearly 3,000 U.S. grocery stores this year ... Investors include Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, which owns Whole Foods ... In a side-by-side taste test comparing NotMilk with cow’s milk, the difference was perceptible. Compared to dairy, the NotMilk was slightly beiger in hue and sweeter on both the nose and the mouth, with faint notes of coconut and pineapple. One taster said the flavor reminded her of cow’s milk stirred with Froot Loops, though much less sweet. Texture-wise, it felt like dairy ... all four tasters agreed: On its own, NotMilk tasted good — and far more like dairy than other plant milks ... There isn’t enough data or research on whether imitation milks and burgers are more healthful than the original animal-based product" - See NotMilk at Amazon.com.

Vitamin D Deficiency Drives Opioid Addiction in Mice - Scientist, 6/16/21 - "Mice with low vitamin D had exaggerated craving for opioids and felt the drugs’ effects more strongly—results supported in part by human medical records—suggesting that supplements should be explored as treatments for opioid use disorders" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Several persistent chemicals found in fetal organs - Science Daily, 6/16/21 - "The researchers studied concentrations of 22 persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment for long periods of time and accumulate in humans through food, drinking water and air particles ... the researchers examined samples of fetal fat tissue, liver, heart, lung and brain from 20 pregnancies that for various reasons had ended in stillbirth in the third trimester in 2015-2016. The researchers identified at least 15 of the 22 POPs in every organ. Four chemicals were found in all tissues in all fetuses. The most pervasive chemicals were: HCB, a pesticide previously used to protect food crops from fungi; ... DDE, a metabolite of DDT, an insect killer used in the mid-1900s; ... Variants of PCBs, chemicals formerly used in a range of electrical products ... Thirteen of the pregnancies also had data from an earlier study on PFAS (chemicals used in frying pans, food packaging and firefighting foam). By combining these data, the researchers were able to assess the proportion of chemicals in each type of tissue. While pesticides and PCBs were significantly overrepresented in fat tissue, more than half of the chemicals in the fetal lung, brain, liver and heart was due to PFAS"

Trouble Falling Asleep a Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia? - Medscape, 6/15/21 - "Difficulty falling asleep may be predictive of future cognitive impairment in older adults ― and depressive symptoms and vascular disease may partially drive this association" - See my formula on my insomnia page.

Toxic Chemicals Found in Many Cosmetics - Medscape, 6/15/21 - "Researchers found high fluorine levels in most of the waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks, and foundations they tested, indicating the probable presence of what’s known as PFAS -- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Many of these chemicals were not included on the product labels, making it difficult for consumers to consciously avoid them ... The CDC says some of the potential health effects of PFAS exposure includes increased cholesterol levels, increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, changes in liver enzymes, decreased vaccine response in children, and a higher risk of high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnant women ... PFAS are a large class of chemicals. In humans, exposure to some of these chemicals has been associated with impaired immune function, certain cancers, increased risks of diabetes, obesity and endocrine disruption ... They appear to be harmful to every major organ system in the human body"

Common cold combats COVID-19, study finds - Science Daily, 6/15/21 - "the common respiratory virus jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes, early-response molecules in the immune system which can halt replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within airway tissues infected with the cold"

Rates of Parkinson’s disease are exploding. A common chemical may be to blame - Guardian, 4/7/21 (it just showed up on Facebook) - "researchers increasingly believe that one factor is environmental exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical compound used in industrial degreasing, dry-cleaning and household products such as some shoe polishes and carpet cleaners"

Senate bill would ban ‘forever chemicals’ in makeup, which new study shows are widespread and often not labeled - Washington Post, 6/15/21 - "Over the last three years, researchers tested 231 cosmetics products in North America for fluorine, an indicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The study found fluorine in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras ... The researchers ran a more extensive PFAS test on 29 products and found the toxins in all of the them, with the highest concentrations in mascaras, lipsticks and foundations. But in only one case was a PFAS chemical listed among the ingredients ... Long-term exposures to PFAS have been associated with health problems that include certain cancers, infertility risks, thyroid disease and weakened immunity. A recent study in the journal PLOS One linked PFAS exposure to worse covid-19 outcomes. And because PFAS do not break down in the environment, they have become known as “forever chemicals.”" - Note: You watch.  They'll find the same problems with fabric softener.  Why people use it for a cheap perfume smell is beyond me.

IL-6 Levels Tied to Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease - Medscape, 6/14/21 - "those patients with the highest IL-6 levels in the upper tertile had a faster and worse progression [of diabetic kidney disease] ... Indeed, compared to patients in the lowest IL-6 baseline tertile, those in the highest IL-6 tertile had a more than 3.5-fold greater risk of progressing to the primary endpoint on multivariate analysis ... we encourage the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors [in this patient population] as they appear to have a promising future in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease"

An omega-3 that's poison for tumors - Science Daily, 6/11/21 - "So-called "good fatty acids" are essential for human health and much sought after by those who try to eat healthily. Among the Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is crucial to brain function, vision and the regulation of inflammatory phenomena ... In addition to these virtues, DHA is also associated with a reduction in the incidence of cancer ... the team quickly identified that these acidotic tumour cells responded in diametrically opposite ways depending on the fatty acid they were absorbing. Within a few weeks, the results were both impressive and surprising. "We soon found that certain fatty acids stimulated the tumour cells while others killed them," the researchers explained. DHA literally poisons them ... it's recommended to consume at least 250 mg of DHA per day. But studies show that our diet provides on average only 50 to 100 mg per day. This is well below the minimum recommended intake" - See docosahexaenoic acid at Amazon.com.

Eat Two Fruits a Day, Ward Off Diabetes? - Medscape, 6/10/21 - "Researchers divided participants into quartiles based on their median fruit consumption: 62 (range 0-95) g/day, 122 (95-162) g/day, 230 (162-283) g/day, and 372 (283-961) g/day ... The most commonly consumed fruit was apples (23% of total fruit intake), followed by bananas (20%) and citrus fruit (18%). Other fruits each accounted for less than 8% of total fruit intake, so they were not studied separately ... Compared to participants with a low fruit intake (quartile 1), those with a moderate fruit intake (quartile 3) had a 36% lower odds of developing diabetes within 5 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.92) after adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, education, socioeconomic status, income, body mass index, smoking, cardiovascular disease, parental history of diabetes, and consumption of alcohol, vegetables, red meat, processed meat, and calories"

Healthy Levels of Vitamin D May Boost Breast Cancer Outcomes - WebMD, 6/10/21 - "compared to women deficient in the nutrient — women with sufficient levels of vitamin D had 27% lower odds of dying of any cause during the 10 years of follow-up, and 22% lower odds for death from breast cancer specifically" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Two FDA Panel Members Resign Over Alzheimer's Drug Approval - Medscape, 6/9/21 - "The FDA approved aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer's earlier this week. But last November, the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee voted 8-1 against approving the drug because, based on clinical trial results, evidence of efficacy was not strong enough. Two other members said they were uncertain on the issue of efficacy."

Rapamycin changes the way our DNA is stored - Science Daily, 6/9/21 - "the increased levels of certain histone proteins in a specific gut cell type called enterocytes reduced tumour growth, improved gut health and extended lifespan of the animals ... Given the central role of histones on DNA storage in the cell, this finding not only broadens our knowledge on the ageing process, but also provides new possibilities for targeted therapeutic interventions against ageing" - See Siromus at ReliableRXPharmacy.  See my rampamycin page.

Aerobic Training Boosts the Power of Antihypertensive Drugs - Medscape, 6/8/21 - "Aerobic exercise augments the blood pressure-lowering effect of antihypertensive medication in hypertensive individuals with metabolic syndrome ... The average reduction in mean arterial blood pressure when exercise was added to medication was 10 mm Hg, compared with 6 mm Hg with medication alone"

Exercise likely to be best treatment for depression in coronary heart disease - Science Daily, 6/8/21 - "The strongest treatment effects were found to be exercise and combination treatments (antidepressants and psychotherapy). However, as the combination study results have a high risk of bias, the findings of the review suggest that exercise is probably the most effective treatment. Antidepressants had the most research support, while psychotherapy and collaborative care did not perform very well"

Abstracts from this week:

The Association of Low Vitamin K Status with Mortality in a Cohort of 138 Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 - Nutrients 2021, 13(6) - "In conclusion, we found that low vitamin K status was associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 in sex- and age-adjusted analyses, but not in analyses additionally adjusted for co-morbidities" - [Nutra USA] - See vitamin k2 at Amazon.com.

The Effects of a Saffron Extract (affron®) on Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Perimenopause: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study - J Menopausal Med. 2021;27 - "There is preliminary evidence suggesting saffron may effectively treat menopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the tolerability and efficacy of a standardised saffron extract (affron®) on menopausal complaints in perimenopausal women ... 86 perimenopausal women experiencing menopausal complaints received either a placebo or 14 mg of a saffron extract (affron®), twice daily. Outcome measures included the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) ... Based on data collected from 82 participants, saffron was associated with greater improvements in mood and psychological symptoms compared to the placebo. Results from the GCS revealed a significantly greater reduction in the GCS psychological score (P = 0.032), characterised by a 33% reduction in anxiety and a 32% reduction in depression scores from baseline to week 12. There was also a significantly greater reduction in the PANAS negative affect score (P = 0.043) compared to the placebo. However, compared to the placebo, saffron was not associated with greater improvements in vasomotor symptoms, somatic symptoms, or other quality of life measures. Saffron intake was well tolerated with no reported major adverse events" - [Nutra USA] - See saffron supplements at Amazon.com.

Vitamin D Intake and Brain Cortical Thickness in Community-Dwelling Overweight Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study - J Nutr 2021 Jun 10 - "Vitamin D is critical to brain health and a promising candidate to prevent cognitive decline and onset of Alzheimer disease (AD), although the underlying brain mechanisms are unclear ... In cognitively unimpaired older adults, total and supplemental vitamin D intakes were associated with cortical thickness in regions vulnerable to AD" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Calcifediol treatment and COVID-19-related outcomes - J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021 Jun 7 - "COVID-19 is a major health problem because of saturation of intensive care units (ICU) and mortality. Vitamin D has emerged as a potential treatment able to reduce the disease severity ... Adjusted results showed a reduced mortality risk with an OR 0.21 [95% CI 0.10; 0.43]). In the second analysis, the obtained OR was 0.52 [95% CI 0.27;0.99] ... Conclusions: In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, calcifediol treatment significantly reduced ICU admission and mortality" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and mortality among adults with prediabetes - J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021 Jun 5 - "To investigate the association of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels with mortality among adults with prediabetes ... These findings suggested that higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality among individuals with prediabetes" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Evaluation of the effect of vitamin D supplementation on spermatogram, seminal and serum levels of oxidative stress indices in asthenospermia infertile men: a study protocol for a triple-blind, randomized controlled trial - Nutr J 2021 Jun 2 - "It is suggested that vitamin D may have a beneficial role in male reproduction. The male reproductive system is a target tissue for vitamin D. This study will aim to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on sperm parameters, seminal and serum levels of oxidative stress and serum endocrine factors in asthenospermia infertile men ... The deficiency of vitamin D as an antioxidant is common all over the world. Numerous observational studies have shown a positive association between vitamin D levels and semen quality. However, few clinical studies have been conducted in this area. So considering with the high prevalence of this antioxidant deficiency specifically in infertile men, it seems that the supplementation of vitamin D in infertile men with insufficient levels or deficiency may improve the status of oxidative stress and thereby may affect sperm parameters and endocrine factors involved in male fertility" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Outcome of Low-Calorie Diet in Workers Presenting Obesity or Overweight: A Retrospective Observational Study - J Am Coll Nutr 2021 Jun 14 - "Growing evidence underscores the inverse association between serum vitamin D (vit D) and chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare weight loss and metabolic serum biomarkers in subjects on low-calorie diet receiving vit D supplementation versus those not receiving it ... Higher [25(OH)D] levels were associated to a greater weight loss and enhanced the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet in individuals with BMI > 30 kg/m2" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on microvascular reactivity in obese adolescents: A randomized controlled trial - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 May 10 - "Childhood obesity is associated with vitamin D (VD) deficiency and vascular dysfunction. Considering evidence indicates that VD may improve vascular function, this study, for the first time, assessed the effect of VD supplementation on microvascular reactivity in obese adolescents (OA) ... VD supplementation during a lifestyle program attenuated microvascular dysfunction in OA without altering macrovascular function" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Cross-sectional observational study - Investigation of vitamin D concentration in Caucasian cancer patients. what is the adequate dose of vitamin D for these patients? - Clin Nutr 2021 Apr 22 - "Vitamin D impairs tumour-related transformation and supports the anticancer function of the immune system. Currently, there are no guidelines on vitamin D supplementation devoted solely to cancer patients. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in Caucasian cancer patients and to characterize the clinical factors that predispose individuals to decreased vitamin D concentration. Secondly, the study aimed to estimate the dose of vitamin D supplementation that would prevent deficiencies in patients with cancer ... Vitamin D deficiency was diagnosed in 66.8% of patients with cancer and even in 31.6% who declared vitamin D supplementation. Older age, male gender, diagnosis of head and neck cancer or squamous cell carcinoma and body mass loss were identified as factors that predispose to vitamin D deficiency. The dose of vitamin D that would prevent deficiency in Caucasian patients with cancer was set at 2250 IU daily" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Dietary Quercetin Reduces Plasma and Tissue Methylglyoxal and Advanced Glycation End Products in Healthy Mice Treated with Methylglyoxal - J Nutr 2021 Jun 5 - "Methylglyoxal (MGO), a precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), has been linked to AGEs-associated diseases ... Quercetin reduced plasma and tissue MGO concentrations and inhibited AGE formation by trapping MGO and regulating the MGO detoxification systems in MGO-administered healthy mice" - See quercetin at Amazon.com.

Quercetin and metabolic syndrome: A review - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 8 - "Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex of diseases that lead to mortality due to the development of cardiovascular problems. Quercetin, as an important flavonoid, has various properties such as decreasing blood pressure, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-oxidant, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, and cardio-protective effects ... According to these data, quercetin may also have a role in the management of metabolic disorders via different mechanisms such as increasing adiponectin, decreasing leptin, anti-oxidant activity, reduction of insulin resistance, the elevation of insulin level, and blocking of calcium channel" - See quercetin at Amazon.com.

Dietary Carbohydrate Intake Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load and the Risk of Prostate Cancer among Iranian Men: A Case-Control Study - Nutr Cancer 2021 Jun 7 - "The fully adjusted ORs for the top vs. the bottom quartile were 15.02 (P trend = 0.004), 1.04 (P trend = 0.003), and 10.35 (P trend = 0.002) for carbohydrate intake, GI and GL, respectively. Significant associations with prostate cancer remained only among men with reduced fiber intake for carbohydrate intake, GI and GL and among those had increased fiber intake for GI. These findings support the hypothesis that diet with high carbohydrate, GI and GL enhance risk of prostate cancer"

The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Serum Anti-Inflammatory Factors in the Survivors of Breast Cancer with Lymphedema following a Low Calorie Diet: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial - Nutr Cancer 2021 Jun 4 - "Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a treatment-related inflammatory complication in breast cancer survivors (BCSs). This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on serum concentrations of IL-10, TGF-β, VEGF, adiponectin, and edema volume among overweight or obese BCSs with lymphedema following a low-calorie diet (LCD) ... Synbiotic supplementation coupled with an LCD in a 10-week intervention had beneficial effects on increasing the serum TGF-β, IL-10, and adiponectin levels in women with BCRL. It also reduced arm lymphedema volume. Therefore, synbiotic supplementation can be effective in improving health status in BCRL patients" - See synbiotic supplements at Amazon.com.

Protective effects of wheat germ oil against erectile and endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats - Int J Impot Res 2021 Jun 9 - "Our aim was to investigate the protective effect of wheat germ oil (WGO) at different doses on diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced erectile and endothelial dysfunction ... Acetylcholine-mediated relaxation in the aorta and erectile functions decreased significantly in the DM group (p = 0.018 and p = 0.005). WGO (3 and 6 ml/kg) improved vascular functions in the DM groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014). The beneficial effect of WGO on erectile function appeared at higher doses of WGO. However, a higher dose of WGO substantially increased the oxidative stress parameters in both aorta and penile tissue. These findings suggest that the improvement in vascular or erectile function by WGO was not related to antioxidant effects, and new studies are needed to clarify the mechanism" - See wheat germ oil at Amazon.com.

The association between neurohormonal therapy and mortality in older adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction - J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jun 15 - "Neurohormonal therapy, which includes beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARBs), is the cornerstone of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treatment. While neurohormonal therapies have demonstrated efficacy in randomized clinical trials, older patients, which now comprise the majority of HFrEF patients, were underrepresented in those original trials ... Among those ≥85 years old, the hazard ratio for death within 30 days was 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.62; p < 0.001) for beta-blockers and 0.47 (95% CI 0.44-0.49; p < 0.001) for ACEi/ARBs. The hazard ratio for death within 1 year was 0.37-0.56 (95% CI 0.35-0.58; p < 0.001) for beta-blockers and 0.38-0.53 (95% CI 0.37-0.55; p < 0.001) for ACEi/ARB" - Yeah, but beta-blockers have such a negative impact on your quality of life that many probably don't want the lower mortality.

Hand grip strength before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in community-dwelling older adults - J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jun 14 - "This study shows an independent deleterious impact of SARS-CoV-2 on HGS that is more marked among individuals with infections that occurred more than eight months after infection. Results suggest the possibility of chronic damage to skeletal muscles by SARS-CoV-2" - Note:  The anti-vax people think they can just get the disease without any long-term consequences.

Melatonin ameliorates hypertension in hypertensive pregnant mice and suppresses the hypertension-induced decrease in Ca 2+-activated K + channels in uterine arteries - Hypertens Res 2021 Jun 8 - "Decreased secretion of melatonin was reported to be associated with an enhanced risk of hypertension and diabetes. However, the effect of melatonin on gestational hypertension (GH) and the underlying mechanism remain unclear ... In conclusion, melatonin ameliorates hypertension in hypertensive pregnant mice and suppresses hypertension-induced decreases in Ca2+-activated K+ channels in uterine arteries" - See melatonin at Amazon.com.

Inhibition of TMPRSS4 mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition is critically involved in antimetastatic effect of melatonin in colorectal cancers - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 11 - "transmembrane protease serine 4 (TMPRSS4) ... epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling ... these findings provide evidence that melatonin suppresses metastasis in colon cancer cells via inhibition of TMPRSS4 mediated EMT" - See melatonin at Amazon.com.

Is protein the forgotten ingredient: Effects of higher compared to lower protein diets on cardiometabolic risk factors. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials - Atherosclerosis 2021 May 26 - "Higher protein (HP) diets may lead to lower cardiometabolic risk, compared to lower protein (LP) diets. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the effects of HP versus LP diets on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults, using the totality of the current evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) ... Higher protein diets showed small, but favourable effects on weight loss, fat mass loss, systolic blood pressure, some lipid outcomes and insulin, compared to lower protein diets"

Metformin improved memory impairment caused by chronic ethanol consumption during adolescent to adult period of rats: Role of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation - Behav Brain Res 2021 Jun 1 - "Adolescence is a crucial time for brain maturation. We investigated the protective effects of metformin (Met) on behavioral changes, oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nitrite in adulthood induced by ethanol (Eth) consumption during adolescent to adult period of rats ... Our findings showed that the protective effects of Met against chronic Eth consumption induced learning and memory impairment were accompanied by decreasing of TNF-a, nitrite and oxidative stress in adolescent rats" - See metformin at ReliableRX.

The effects of Taurine supplementation on inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury: a double-blind randomized controlled trial - Nutr J 2021 Jun 8 - "Traumatic brain injury is a public health concern and is the main cause of death among various types of trauma. The inflammatory conditions due to TBI are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Taurine has been reported to have immune-modulatory effects ... According to the results of the present study, taurine supplementation can reduce the IL-6 levels as one of the important inflammatory markers in these patients; and enhances the clinical outcomes too" - See taurine at Amazon.com.

Coenzyme Q 10 supplementation - in ageing and disease - Mech Ageing Dev 2021 Jun 12 - "Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It is also an antioxidant in cellular membranes and lipoproteins. All cells produce CoQ10 by a specialized cytoplasmatic-mitochondrial pathway. CoQ10 deficiency can result from genetic failure or ageing. Some drugs including statins, widely used by inter alia elderly, may inhibit endogenous CoQ10 synthesis. There are also chronic diseases with lower levels of CoQ10 in tissues and organs. High doses of CoQ10 may increase both circulating and intracellular levels, but there are conflicting results regarding bioavailability ... There are indications that supplementation positively affects mitochondrial deficiency syndrome and some of the symptoms of ageing. Cardiovascular disease and inflammation appear to be alleviated by the antioxidant effect of CoQ10" - See ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.

Apple Polyphenol Extract Improves High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis by Regulating Bile Acid Synthesis and Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Male Mice - J Agric Food Chem 2021 Jun 14 - "Our previous study showed that apple polyphenol extract (APE) ameliorated high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice by targeting the LKB1/AMPK pathway ... bile acid (BA) metabolism ... In summary, APE, especially a high dose of APE, could alleviate hepatic steatosis, and the mechanisms were associated with inhibiting BA synthesis and modulating gut microbiota" - See apple polyphenol extract at Amazon.com.

Improvement of colonic healing and surgical recovery with perioperative supplementation of inulin and galacto-oligosaccharides - Clin Nutr 2021 Apr 27 - "galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) ... Dietary supplementation with inulin and GOS may improve anastomotic healing and reinforce the gut barrier in mice" - See inulin at Amazon.com.

Maternal plasma choline and betaine in late pregnancy and child growth up to age 8 years in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study - Am J Clin Nutr 2021 Jun 10 - "Sufficient choline and betaine during pregnancy are needed for fetal growth and development ... Third-trimester pregnancy plasma choline and betaine were positively associated with childhood anthropometric measures. In boys, some of the associations may have persisted up to 8 y of age" - See citicholine at Amazon.com and betaine anhydrous (TMG) at Amazon.com.

Effects of 14-weeks betaine supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and hematology status in professional youth soccer players during a competition season: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial - J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2021 Jun 5 - "Twenty-nine soccer players (age, 15.5 ± 0.3 years) were randomly divided into two groups based on playing position: betaine group (BG, n = 14, 2 g/day) or placebo group (PG, n = 15) ... 14 weeks of betaine supplementation prevented an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and WBC counts. It seems that betaine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy to regulate the immune response during a fatiguing soccer season" - See betaine anhydrous (TMG) at Amazon.com.

Supplementation with oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid, but not in docosahexaenoic acid, improves global cognitive function in healthy, young adults: results from randomized controlled trials - Am J Clin Nutr 2021 Jun 10 - "Healthy adults (n = 310; age range: 25-49 y) completed a 26-wk randomized controlled trial in which they consumed either 900 mg DHA/d and 270 mg EPA/d (DHA-rich oil), 360 mg DHA/d and 900 mg EPA/d (EPA-rich oil), or 3000 mg/d refined olive oil (placebo) ... EPA supplementation improved global cognitive function and was superior to the oil enriched with DHA. Interpreted within a neural efficiency framework, reduced PFC oxygenated Hb suggests that n-3 PUFAs may be associated with increased efficiency" - [Nutra USA] - See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.

Beetroot and leaf extracts present protective effects against prostate cancer cells, inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and growth signaling pathways - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 16 - "Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has high nutritional value, containing bioactive compounds such as betalains and flavonoids. Scientific evidence points to the use of these natural compounds in the treatment of several types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in men ... This study reveals that beet extracts have important anti-cancer effects against prostate cancer cells" - See beet root capsules at Amazon.com.

Effects of purslane supplementation on C-reactive protein levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress as marks for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 9 - "The antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) are known in preclinical studies but further examination is needed to expand their potential into the clinical scenario ... Following purslane supplementation, CRP levels decreased significantly (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.33 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.66, -0.004, p = .047) but with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 87.4%, p = .001). Purslane supplementation did not significantly change serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD: -0.353 μm/L; 95% CI: -0.920, 0.213; I2 = 50.7%), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (WMD: 0.090 mm/L, 95% CI: -0.081, 0.262; I2 = 47.1%), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (WMD: 6.54 U/ml, 95% CI: -22.150, 35.236; I2 = 70.7%). Thus, this meta-analysis showed a positive effect of purslane supplementation as a tool to decrease CRP levels, but not to MDA, TAC, and SOD levels" - See purslane supplements at Amazon.com.

Boosting immune system against cancer by resveratrol - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 8 - "Modulation of the immune system is a critical part of anticancer therapies including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The aim of immunomodulation in cancer therapy is boosting immune system cells including CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, as well as suppression of immunosuppressive responses by macrophages and regulatory T cells (Tregs) ... Resveratrol, as a natural agent, has shown ability to modulate the immune system to potentiate antitumor immunity. Resveratrol has been shown to induce the release of anticancer cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α and also inhibits the release of TGF-β. It also can stimulate the polarization of CD4+ T cells and macrophages toward anticancer cells and reduce infiltration and polarization of immunosuppressive cells. Furthermore, resveratrol can sensitize cancer cells to the released dead signals by anticancer immune cells. This review explains how resveratrol can boost the immune system against cancer via modulation of immune cell responses within tumor" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com.

Resveratrol and endoplasmic reticulum stress: A review of the potential protective mechanisms of the polyphenol - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 11 - "The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle that performs a set of essential functions in cellular biology. These include synthesis of lipids, homeostasis of calcium, and controlling the folding of proteins. Inflammation and oxidative stress are two important reasons behind the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins in the ER. In such circumstances, a series of measures are undertaken in the cell which are collectively called unfolded protein response (UPR). The aim of UPR is to reduce the burden of protein aggregates and promote survival. However, extended and unrestricted ER stress (ERS) can induce further inflammation and apoptosis. ERS and the UPR are involved in different diseases such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Resveratrol (RSV), a natural polyphenol, has well-documented evidence supporting its numerous biological properties including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiobesity, antidiabetic, and antiischemic activities. The compound is also known for its potential beneficial effects on cognitive function and liver, kidney, and lung health" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com.

Effects of resveratrol on female reproduction: A review - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 7 - "The analysis of the available information suggests that RSV has a number of properties which enable its influence on various physiological processes including female reproduction at various regulatory levels via various extra- and intracellular signalling pathways. Despite some contradictions and limitations in the available data, they indicate applicability of both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of RSV for control and influence of various reproductive and non-reproductive processes and treatment of their disorders in phytotherapy, animal production, medicine, biotechnology and assisted reproduction" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com.

The effect of cocoa/dark chocolate consumption on lipid profile, glycemia, and blood pressure in diabetic patients: A meta-analysis of observational studies - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 5 - "Pooled analysis indicated a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-c levels (WMD: -15.49 mg/dl; 95% CI: -24.56, -6.42, p = .001) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) concentrations (WMD: -6.88 mg/dl; 95% CI: -13.28, -0.48, p = .03) following cocoa/dark chocolate consumption. The analysis of papers included in current study indicates that the consumption of cocoa/dark chocolate reduced the serum fasting blood glucose (FBS) and LDL cholesterol concentrations" - See Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark Squares, Midnight Reverie, 4.12 oz., 86% Cacao (Pack of 6) at Amazon.com but you can't get a fair price in the summer because they have to ship it with ice.

Coffee consumption and cardiovascular diseases and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 May 24 - "Compared to those with no coffee consumption, the HRs for consumption of 4 cups/d were 0.79 (95%CI: 0.72, 0.87; n = 10 studies) for all-cause mortality, 0.60 (95%CI: 0.46, 0.79; n = 4) for CVD mortality, 0.68 (95%CI: 0.51, 0.91; n = 3) for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, 0.72 (95%CI: 0.54, 0.98; n = 2) for CHD, and 0.77 (95%CI: 0.61, 0.98; n = 2) for total CVD events. There was no significant association for cancer mortality and stroke. There was an inverse monotonic association between coffee drinking and all-cause and CVD mortality, and inverse linear association for CHD and total CVD events ... Drinking coffee may be inversely associated with the risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, more research is needed considering type of coffee, sugar and cream added to coffee, and history of CVD to present more confident results"

The effect of dietary fiber (oat bran) supplement on blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension: A randomized controlled trial - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 Apr 28 - "Insufficient dietary fiber (DF) intake is associated with increased blood pressure (BP) and the mode of action is unclear. The intake of DF supplements by participants in previous interventional studies was still far below the amount recommended by the World Health Organization ... Increased DF (oat bran) supplement improved BP, reduced the amount of antihypertensive drugs, and modulated the gut microbiota" - See oat bran at Amazon.com.

Pterostilbene Improves Insulin Resistance Caused by Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) in Hepatocytes and Mice - Mol Nutr Food Res 2021 Jun 3 - "Increased consumption of modern processed foods rich in AGEs are drawing worldwide concerns because they are related with rising diabetes prevalence. This study aimed to investigate if pterostilbene (PTE) regulates glucose metabolism and insulin signaling, as well as its potential mechanism in the context of AGEs exposure ... PTE treatment prominently reduced AGEs accumulation and alleviated AGEs-associated diabetes symptoms. PTE could be used as a promising glucose-sensitizing agent for nutritional intervention" - See pterostilbene at Amazon.com.

The protective effects of dietary intake of flavonoids and its subclasses on metabolic syndrome incidence - Int J Food Sci Nutr 2021 Jun 6 - "Participants in the highest tertile of flavonoid, flavonol, and flavone had a significantly lower MetS risk as compared to those in the lowest tertile. Also, in participants with weight gain <7%, all flavonoid subclasses had a more pronounced risk-reducing effect. Overall, the total flavonoid, flavonol, and flavone reduced the risk of MetS; this association could be modified by weight gain" - See flavonoids at Amazon.com.

Dietary calcium intake and change in bone mineral density in older adults: a systematic review of longitudinal cohort studies - Eur J Clin Nutr 2021 Jun 15 - "Most studies found no association between calcium intake and change in BMD in women (71%) or men (71%). Among women, five studies reported high rates (>30% of participants) of hormone treatment or osteoporosis therapy (HT/OT) use; 80% of these studies reported a positive association between calcium intake and change in BMD, compared with 10% of studies in which HT/OT use was low. No study in women in which the mean age was >60 years reported a positive association between calcium intake and change in BMD. We conclude that calcium intake across the ranges consumed in these studies (mean intake in all but one study >500 mg/day) is not an important determinant of bone loss, particularly among women >60 years. The positive findings in studies with high rates of HT/OT use are likely to arise from confounding as a result of co-administration of calcium supplements with these medications"

Antiviral and Immunological Activity of Zinc and Possible Role in COVID-19 - Br J Nutr 2021 Jun 15 - "Zinc deficiency compromises its biological functions, its effect on the immune system and its antiviral activity, increasing vulnerability to infectious diseases ... Literature shows the importance of zinc as an essential mineral immunomodulator with relevant antiviral activity in the body. Thus, although there is still a scarcity of studies evaluating zinc supplementation in patients with COVID-19, the results on the topic show the necessity of controlling zinc mineral deficiency, as well as maintaining its homeostasis in the body in order to strengthen the immune system and improve the prevention of highly-complex viral infections, such as that of the COVID-19" - See zinc supplements at Amazon.com.

High-Dose Vitamin C Exerts Its Anti-cancer Effects in a Xenograft Model of Colon Cancer by Suppressing Angiogenesis - Biol Pharm Bull 2021;44(6):884-887 - "Focusing on our high-dose VC, our study investigated the effect of high-dose VC (4 g/kg) on vascular endothelial growth in mice with xenografts of a rectal cancer cell line referred to as Colon 26. Male mice harboring Colon 26 tumors were established, and high-dose VC solution was orally administered once daily for 14 d. On the final day of the study, the lower limb tumor tissues and serum samples were collected and analyzed for the expression of tumor angiogenesis related proteins as well as the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oral VC administration decreased tumor volumes and increased p53 and endostatin levels. In addition, plasma and in tumor part ROS levels and tissue hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were reduced by VC administration. In addition, the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGFD) were decreased by VC administration. These results suggest that VC exerts its anti-cancer effects by suppressing angiogenesis" - See vitamin C products at Amazon.com.

Dietary and Ergogenic Supplementation to Improve Elite Soccer Players' Performance - Ann Nutr Metab 2021 Jun 11 - "Soccer is an extremely competitive sport, where the most match important moments can be defined in detail. Use of ergogenic supplements can be crucial to improve the performance of a high-performance athlete ... This review brings some recommendations to improve performance of soccer athletes on the field through dietary and/or ergogenic supplements that can be used simultaneously ... use of ergogenic supplements covered in this review can improve performance of elite soccer players maintaining high level in the match until final moments, such as creatine 3-5 g day-1, caffeine 3-6 mg kg-1 BW around 60 min before the match, sodium bicarbonate 0.1-0.4 g kg-1 BW starting from 30 to 180 min before the match, β-alanine 3.2 and 6.4 g day-1 provided in the sustained-release tablets divided into 4 times a day, and nitrate-rich beetroot juice 60 g in 200 mL of water (6 mmol of NO3- L) around 120 min before match or training, including a combination possible with taurine 50 mg kg-1 BW day-1, citrulline 1.2-3.4 g day-1, and arginine 1.2-6 g day-1. Key Messages: Soccer athletes can combine ergogenic and dietary supplements to improve their performance on the field. The ergogenic and dietary supplements used in a scientifically recommended dose did not demonstrate relevant side effects"

Olive Leaf Powder Modulate Insulin Production and Circulating Adipokines in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats - J Diet Suppl 2021 Jun 11 - "Olives (Olea europaea) have natural phytochemical compounds that are of great importance for their potential beneficially health effects ... Forty Wistar-albino male rats, weighing 200-225 g were divided into four groups (n = 10); group I: Normal healthy rats received balanced diet; group II: Diabetic control rats receiving balanced diet; group III: Diabetic rats receiving balanced diet + standard antidiabetic drugs (metformin, 600 mg/bw) and group four: Diabetic rats received diet supplemented with 2.0% OLP. The experiment was conducted for four weeks. Our results showed that the consumption of 2.0% OLP decreased serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, whereas serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was increased. OLP supplementation also inhibited the atherogenic index [AI; log (TG/HDL-C) and atherogenic coefficient (AC)] levels relative to those of the untreated diabetic group. Moreover, OLP increased serum adiponectin concentration, and decreased serum leptin concentration. Liver and kidney functions were also attenuated by OLP. This finding also implies that OLP can play an important role in the treatment and delay of diabetic complications" - See olive leaf extract at Amazon.com.

Effects of olives and their constituents on the expression of ulcerative colitis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials - Br J Nutr 2021 Jun 8 - "Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is often associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its effects on inflammatory conditions such as Ulcerative Colitis (UC) however has yet to be defined ... Milder disease expression including weight maintenance, reduced rectal bleeding and well-formed stools favouring olive-based interventions was statistically significant in 16/19 studies, with moderate-to-large effect sizes (ESs -0.66 (95% CI -1.56, 0.24) to -12.70 (95% CI -16.8, -8.7)). Olive-based interventions did not prevent the development of colitis-like pathologies in any study. In conclusion, effects of olive-based interventions on murine models of UC appear promising, with milder disease outcomes favouring the intervention in most trials and effect sizes suggesting potential clinical relevance. However, the lack of published randomized controlled human trials warrants further investigation to determine if these effects would translate to individuals living with UC" - See olive leaf extract at Amazon.com.

A comprehensive review of the therapeutic potential of curcumin nanoformulations - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 15 - "Today, due to the prevalence of various diseases such as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), diabetes, central nervous system diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and so on, extensive studies have been conducted on therapeutic properties of natural and synthetic agents. A literature review on herbal medicine and commercial products in the global market showed that curcumin (Cur) has many therapeutic benefits compared to other natural ingredients ... Recently, nanoformulations are emerging as approaches to develop and improve the therapeutic efficacy of various drugs. Many studies have shown that Cur nanoformulations have tremendous therapeutic potential against various diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, cancer, inflammatory, osteoporosis, and so on. These nanoformulations can inhibit many diseases through several cellular and molecular mechanisms" - See curcumin at Amazon.com.

Effects of curcuminoids on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial - Phytother Res 2021 Jun 2 - "Experimental studies have suggested the beneficial effects of curcuminoids as natural polyphenols against traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, clinical outcomes and nutritional status in critically ill patients with TBI. A total of 62 ICU-admitted adult patients with TBI were randomly allocated to receive either a daily dose of 500 mg curcuminoids or matched placebo via enteral nutrition for 7 consecutive days based on stratified block randomization by age and sex ... Compared with baseline, serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 and CRP were significantly reduced in patients receiving curcuminoids (p < .05) without any significant changes in placebo group; however, changes in the activities of GPx and SOD in serum were not significant between two groups. Moreover, APACHEII and NUTRIC score were significantly improved following curcuminoids consumption in comparison with placebo (p < .05). The findings of this study suggest that short-term supplementation with curcuminoids may have beneficial effects on inflammation, clinical outcomes and nutritional status of critically ill patients with TBI" - See curcumin at Amazon.com.

Short Term, Oral Supplementation with Optimized Curcumin Does Not Impair Performance Improvements Associated with High Intensity Interval Training - J Diet Suppl 2021 Jun 11 - "Curcumin may improve athletic performance through a reduction in inflammation following exercise and improve mental states of well-being ... Sixteen males and twenty females participated in a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to explore the effects of Longvida(R) optimized curcumin (1.0 g/day) and or a placebo (PLA) taken daily during a 14 day HIIT protocol. Participants were randomized into two groups, then evaluated in three groups, curcumin-fast (CURF), curcumin-slow (CURS) and placebo. Curcumin-fast and curcumin-slow were separated by their 16.1 km cycling time trial performance (TT) with CURF and CURS determined by a TT <30 min and >30 min at the pre intervention time point, respectively ... Following the internvetion, CONP and CURS experienced with 8.15% and 5.04% improvements in TT performance times, while CURF experienced a 0.57% improvement in TT performance time. No changes were observed with respect to other measures. When curcumin is taken daily in conjunction with 14 days of HIIT on a cycle ergometer, cycling performance in either well trained or more recreationally trained athletes is not impaired. Although the improvements in TT performance were not stasticially significant, they are noteworthy" - See curcumin at Amazon.com.

Catechin Metabolites along with Curcumin Inhibit Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells by Regulating VEGF Expression In-Vitro - Nutr Cancer 2021 Jun 12 - "Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death among women. Over the past two decades, green tea catechins and curcumin have received much attention for their role in preventing carcinogenesis ... In conclusion, catechin metabolites produced by intestinal microbiota besides the curcumin could serve as a promising therapeutic approach for women with cervical cancer" - See curcumin at Amazon.com.

Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study - Am J Clin Nutr 2018 Aug 1 - "The difference in mortality risk between the top and bottom third of spermidine intakes was similar to that associated with a 5.7-y (95% CI: 3.6, 8.1 y) younger age" - [Nutra USA] - See spermidine at Amazon.com.

Neat Tech Stuff / "How To's":

The Razer Blade 15 drops to $1,000 for Amazon Prime Day - Engadget, 6/21/21 - "If you’re looking for an adorable gaming laptop or a back-to-school computer for your child, Amazon has an intriguing Prime Day deal on the Razer Blade 15. The retailer has discounted the base model to $1,000, making $500 less than its suggested retail price and $100 less than the cheapest we’ve seen the computer sell for in the past." - See Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 15.6" FHD 1080p 120Hz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, CNC Aluminum, Chroma RGB Lighting, Black at Amazon.com.

Health Focus (Macular Degeneration):