Small molecules in our breath, saliva, sweat and other body fluids can tell a lot about our health and disease, state of mind, therapeutic outcomes, athletic and mental performance, tapping into both genetic and environmental factors influencing our lives.
Metabolic profiling of plasma showed potential for diagnostics of Parkinson'sdisease through its early symptomatic phase. As seen in the figure, concentration of many molecules was significantly different, but pyruvate was the key metabolite. Sarcosine, an N-methyl derivative of the amino acid glycine, was identified as a differential metaboliteduring prostate cancer progression to metastasis.
Metabolic profiling distinguish people with 99% accuracy, even healthy monozygotic twins have different profiles, demonstrating yet again that metabolites are products of gene-environment interaction, bearing more information about us than just genes.
Aurametrix is conducting research to developnext-generation mobile devices to help you evaluate your personal health risks and benefits. Better tools for a healthier world.
What could make us eat healthy? Better self-evaluation, self-awareness through personal health management tools, says Aurametrix.
Although the majority of Americans acknowledges importance of healthy diets, this does not always translate into behavior change. Taste, preferences acquired during childhood and adolescence, friends and family, and media have more influence on what we eat. In 1997, for example, food manufacturers spent 44.4% of their advertising budget onprepared convenience foods, confectionery and snacks, and bakerygoods compared with only 2.2% on fruits, vegetables, grainsand beans. Besides, busy people prefer prepackaged foods and restaurant meals, which are not the healthiest choices either.
The quality of the American diet slightly improved since 1989 (the first year the Index was calculated), but flattened since 1996. In 1989 the average HEI score was 61.5, in 1996 and
1999-2000 it was 63.8, a 4-percent increase, but still in the “needs improvement” range. People seemed to be somewhat cutting down on fat, but were consuming even more salt. Excess salt consumption occurs throughout the world. Korean government even developed a salt sensor to help people eat healthier.
US studies of 1999-2000 showed that the two lowest mean scores were for the fruits (3.8) and milk (5.9) components of the HEI: Only 17% of the people consumed the recommended number of servings of fruit per day, and only 30% met the dietary recommendation for milk.
More recent studies on diet quality in Canada display even less optimistic results. Canadians are not eating enough servings of dark green and orange vegetables, as well as of whole fruits and whole-grain products.
Self-evaluation tools have been shown to be effective for developing healthy eating habits. Aurametrix is working on tools to help you evaluate your personal health risks and benefits and make the right health choices.
Lead poisoning (classified as T56.0 by ICD-10, C21.613.589 in MESH, also known as Devonshire colic, Devon colic, Colic Pictonium, colica pictonium, Saturnine Gout, saturnism, plumbism, or painter's colic) is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the metal lead in the blood. Lead poisoning can cause irreversible learning disabilities and behavioral problems, irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and death. Even low levels of exposure could lead to health issues such as allergies. Children six years old and under are most at risk.
Humans were exposed to Lead since at least the early Bronze Age and new about its detrimental effects on their health for over two thousand years. Yet, Lead was used for water pipes, cups, toys, statues, cosmetics, added to wines and foods. We are currently exposed to more lead than prehistoric men, but less than workers of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century or members of the Roman Society. Historians speculate that Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus had fertility problems (each had only one child) due to lead poisoning. Lead poisoning was even thought to contribute to the decline of the Roman empire. This may be pure speculation, but one thing is for sure: developmental lead exposures are associated with aggressive behavior. Prenatal and postnatal blood lead concentrations have been associated with higher rates of total arrests and/or arrests for offenses involving violence, as demonstrated in this 2007 study.
Over the years, the amount of lead found in water, food, air and everyday items has been reduced after discovering how dangerous the effects of exposure are. Lead has been removed from gasoline, residential paint and solder used for food cans and water pipes. As a result, lead poisoning is down but it is not gone.
Air is the most important route of exposure. Lead smelters, leaded gasoline, leaded paints... Almost all inhaled lead is absorbed into the body, while only about 10% ingested lead is absorbed - this number goes up to 70% in children though who are more vulnerable than adults. Environmental lead sources (closer related to proximate environment than home and care giving facilities) and, to a lesser extent, mouthing activity accounted for most low level lead poisoning in chidren under 2, in a 1985 Boston study. Dermal exposure plays some role too.
Homes near busy streets may have high levels of lead in the soil - kept from the times when lead was added to gasoline and paints or added more recently from metal smelting, battery and other manufacturing. Cities are at highest risk for unsafe levels of lead in soils.
IUPAC Name: lead(2+) Latin: plumbum Canonical SMILES: [Pb+2] PubChem Compound ID73212 Pb CDB Chemical ID6691126 Pb+2 CDB Chemical ID3969136 NCI toxicity info
Lead is one of the heavy metals, widely present and used by humans for more than 3 millennia. Like Mercury, lead is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bone over time. We may be exposed to lead both outdoors and indoors as it is found in the air, soil, dust, drinking water, food, personal care, household and various other consumer products. Herbal folk remedies may contain lead. Some spices or food coloring may contain lead pigments. Some candies and illicit liquor have been reported to be contaminated with lead. Lead poisoning was documented in ancient Rome, Greece, and China.
Regardless of how it enters the body (indestion, inhalation, skin), lead is absorbed directly through the blood into tissue and either accumulates in tissues or is excreted as waste. Some of it is absorbed into soft tissue such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas and lungs. A very high proportion of absorbed lead is transferred to bone (hard tissue), where it accumulates over time and remains for long periods. The half-life (time for the body to excrete half the accumulated lead) is about 25 years. High lead concentrations can stay in the body for many years after exposure to lead has stopped.
Lead perturbs multiple enzyme systems. As in most heavy metals, any ligand with sulfhydryl groups is vulnerable. Perhaps the best-known effect is that on the production of heme. Lead interferes with the critical phases of the dehydration of aminolevulinic acid and the incorporation of iron into the protoporphyrin molecule; the result is a decrease in heme production. Because heme is essential for cellular oxidation, deficiencies have far-reaching effects.
The effects of lead poisoning on the brain are manifold and include delayed or reversed development, permanent learning disabilities, seizures, coma, and even death.
Counting evidence suggests that lead poisoning in childhood produces a long-term problem with learning, intelligence, and earning power.
Adults with lead poisoning have increased incidences of depression, aggressive behavior, and antisocial behavior. Men with lead poisoning tend to have lower sperm counts; women have an increase in miscarriages and smaller babies.
Adults with lead poisoning frequently have sleep disorders
Long term exposure to lead or its salts (especially soluble salts or the strong oxidant PbO2) can cause nephropathy, and colic-like abdominal pains.
Lead poisoning is often diagnosed by taking a blood test. Other tests may also be ordered, such as bone marrow biopsy and x-rays.
Acceptable levels in blood Levels are measured in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) and any level of 10 or higher is a problem. Higher levels (can go above 70) can be a medical emergency.
Lead may poison children at levels lower than US standards. Levels of lead within the acceptable range (>3 µg/dL) have been linked to lower IQ scores and blood pressure. Your doctor can order the blood tests. They are inexpensive and sometimes free.
A nationwide class action lawsuit over excessive amounts of lead paint in "Thomas the Tank Engine" toy sets settled for $30 million. RC2 Press Release on the Settlement [PDF]
An environmental watchdog group in New Jersey recently issued a warning regarding excessive amounts of lead in artificial turf»Read More
Toys "R" Us, Inc. has recalled some 27,000 "Imaginarium" brand wooden coloring cases because of excessive lead in the ink on the outer packaging and in some of the black watercolor »Read More
Frequently wash hands, pacifier, toys and other items that may go in the mouth.
Encourage healthy eating habits. Feed children nutritious low-fat meals high in calcium and iron.
Flush water from tap for two minutes before drinking.
Use cold tap water to prepare baby formula.
Do not allow children or pets to play in dirt within three feet of the house’s foundation.
Wipe dust from horizontal surfaces (counters, tables or floors) with a wet cloth or mop.
Use a doormat to wipe feet or remove shoes to keep dust out of the house.
Remove imported vinyl mini-blinds from areas frequented by small children.
Keep children away from paint chips and lead dust.
Do not place cribs, playpens, beds or high chairs next to areas where paint is chipping or peeling, or can be chewed.
Learn if your home contains lead-based paint.
Avoid hobbies that use lead include soldering, or making stained glass, bullets, or fishing sinkers.
Contact your local health department for guidelines on remodeling a home with lead-based paint.
Avoid candy from Mexico or other countries that contains tamarind and/or chili.
Do not use old, imported or handmade dishes
Avoid storing or cooking food in traditional, handmade pottery from Mexico.
To prevent bringing lead home from work: use separate work clothes and shoes while at work, keep street clothes in a clean place; shower at work before going home; launder work clothes at work or separately from other cloth
HEALTHY DIET
Nutrition tips from EPA: Children with empty stomachs absorb more lead than children with full stomachs. Provide your child with four to six small meals during the day. The following nutrients
can help protect your child from lead poisoning:
Iron-Rich Foods
Calcium-Rich Foods
Vitamin C-Rich Foods
Aurametrix is working on tools to help you evaluate the risk of exposure and make the right health choices.
Aurametrix is an early phase company working on Health3.0 & Health 4.0 technologies. Better tools for a better world.
It's the last month of summer, you can still enjoy tons of sun, water and other activities and make the most out of it without compromising your health.
Even if you generously applied SPF 50+ sunscreen, you still might need a backup to prevent overexposure to the sun. Personal UV Monitor with Exposure Timer by Oregon Scientific(UV888A) monitors the current UV index and temperature, and calculates your recommended exposure time based on UV, SPF and your personal skin type.The MinoxSuntimer also monitors UV rays and sounds an alarm when it thinks you’ve had enough. It may be used as a calculator of the amount of ultraviolet radiation in the sunlight, watch, stop watch and alarm. New Zealand's Scienterra is manufacturing a similar device based on the idea by Dr Martin Allen. Their badge-sized UV "dosimeter" can measure level of the sun's burning rays every few seconds. Data can be transferred to a PC via standard USB ports, but the transmission will eventually be wireless. Data analysis will let measur vitamin D production.
Whether you're boating, scuba diving or hiking, GPS navigators may be handy. Many of vailable products (such as Garmin Geko) record barometric pressure too so you can get up to date weather conditions. You can monitor weather with your iPhone and use other outdoor, health and fitness applications, such as iMapMyRide, iTrailMap, GearCalculator, iPhodometer or iPhit Fitness Tracking. A fully automatic lap and stroke counter for swimmers, Pool-Mate by Swimovate will display Lap count, Time, Average Strokes per lap, Speed, Distance, Calories and Efficiency, all completely automatically and store details in a large memory for recall at your leisure. It will record up to 99 individual sets per session so you can see how your data changes through a swim. Containing accurate motion sensors and Swimovate software algorithms, it will work with all major strokes, all abilities of swimmer and all sizes of pool.
Another gadget, SportsCount ring keeps track of your time and how many laps you have completed. And if you prefer walking to swimming, just put this 3mm-thin device by Sportline into your wallet and let it count the distance and calories burnt as you walk so that you can keep track of your work outs.
Skullcandy has a hydration pack that has more than just hydration in mind. The Hydration Backpack has the capability to keep you hydrated and refreshed - but it also syncs with your MP3 player or cell phone, control the on/off, track forward/back, and volume functions of any iPod. If you are a biker, try the Racebak is a 72 ounce hydration pack that is sewn into a wearable jersey. And for those who is not into sports, ride this Cruzin Cooler to keep hydrated.
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