Probiotics Research Endorsements

Dr. Jeffry Katz, a gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Case Medical Center et al has reviewed probiotics research. There is strong evidence supporting the use of certain probiotic strains to help reduce the duration of infectious diarrhea, diarrhea associated with the use of antibiotics, and may help treat an infection called bacterial vaginosis in women.

The study by Sara Mednick, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego and the VA San Diego Healthcare System, and first author Denise Cai, graduate student in the UC San Diego Department of Psychology, shows that REM directly enhances creative processing more than any other sleep or wake state.

"We found that - for creative problems that you've already been working on - the passage of time is enough to find solutions," said Mednick. "However, for new problems, only REM sleep enhances creativity."

Mednick added that it appears REM sleep helps achieve such solutions by stimulating associative networks, allowing the brain to make new and useful associations between unrelated ideas. Importantly, the study showed that these improvements are not due to selective memory enhancements.

A critical issue in sleep and cognition is whether improvements in behavioral performance are the result of sleep-specific enhancement or simply reduction of interference. The researchers controlled for such interference effects by comparing sleep periods to quiet rest periods without any verbal input.

PillCam Capsules Examines the GI Tract

Zarlink's PillCam SB video capsules is now used for wireless examination of the gastrointestinal tract. The ultra-low power RF chip transmits two images per second - more than 50,000 pictures over an eight-hour period - from the PillCam to an external data recorder as the vitamin-sized capsule passes naturally through the patient's small bowel. Physicians can visually examine the entire length of the small bowel to diagnose disorders such as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB), Crohn's disease, celiac disease, tumors and a range of other small bowel disorders.

The PillCam SB video capsule measures 11 mm x 26 mm and weighs less than four grams. It contains an imaging device, light source and Zarlink's RF transmitter chip. The video capsules require no sedation and allow the patient to carry on with normal daily activities. Prior to PillCam capsule endoscopy, exploratory surgery was the only available method for visualizing the entire small intestine.

A high-resolution photo of Zarlink's RF transmitter chip is available at http://www.zarlink.com/zarlink/hs/5946.htm.

Did You Know???

Avocados keep you thin, protect your vision, and may even prevent cancer.

Susan Hall reports the following benefits of avocado consumption:

Eye opener
Protect your vision with a few slices of avocado at lunch or dinner. Avocados are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants found in the retina that keep eyes healthy; they also may help prevent age-related problems, like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Cancer fighter
Extracts from avocados kill or stop the growth of precancerous cells that lead to oral cancer and may have a similar effect on other cancers, according to a recent study. Researchers credit the fruit's unique combo of nutrients--which include folate and vitamins C and E.

Nutrient booster
Add avocado to salsa for a bigger health payoff. A study from The Ohio State University found that people absorbed four-and-a-half times more of the cancer-fighter lycopene from the tomatoes when avocado was added; the healthy fats help you absorb more nutrients.

Healthier fat
Skip the mayo, and go for creamy avocado on your sandwich, she says.. It packs 4 grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (which lowers cholesterol), 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein per ounce, making it a lower-fat, more-filling substitute for the white stuff.