When Thomas Edison tested the first light bulb in 1879, he could never have imagined that his invention could one day contribute to a global obesity epidemic.

Electric light allows us to work, rest and play at all hours of the day, and a paper published recently in Bioessays suggests that this might have serious consequences for our health and for our waistlines.

Daily or “circadian” rhythms including the sleep wake cycle, and rhythms in hormone release are controlled by a molecular clock that is present in every cell of the human body.

This human clock has its own inbuilt, default rhythm of almost exactly 24 hours that allows it to stay finely tuned to the daily cycle generated by the rotation of the earth.

This beautiful symmetry between the human clock and the daily cycle of the Earth’s rotation is disrupted by exposure to artificial light cycles, and by irregular meal, work and sleep times.

This mismatch between the natural circadian rhythms of our bodies and the environment is called “circadian desynchrony.”

The paper, by Dr. Cathy Wyse, working in the chronobiology research group at the University of Aberdeen, focuses on how the human clock struggles to stay in tune with the irregular meal, sleep and work schedules of the developed world, and how this might influence health and even cause obesity.

“Electric light allowed humans to override an ancient synchronisation between the rhythm of the human clock and the environment, and over the last century, daily rhythms in meal, sleep and working times have gradually disappeared from our lives,” said Wyse. “The human clock struggles to remain tuned to our highly irregular lifestyles, and I believe that this causes metabolic and other health problems, and makes us more likely to become obese.”

“Studies in microbes, plants and animals have shown that synchronisation of the internal clock with environmental rhythms is important for health and survival, and it is highly likely that this is true in humans as well,” Wyse added.

The human clock is controlled by our genes, and the research also suggests that some people may be more at risk of the effects of circadian desynchrony than others.

For example, humans originating from Equatorial regions may have clocks that are very regular, which might be more sensitive to the effects of circadian desynchrony.

Shiftwork, artificial light and the 24-hour lifestyle of the developed world mean that circadian desynchrony is now an inevitable part of 21st century life.

Nevertheless, we can help to maintain healthy circadian rhythms by keeping regular meal times, uninterrupted night-time sleep in complete darkness, and by getting plenty of sunlight during daylight hours.

Dr. Wyse believes that circadian desynchrony affects human health by disrupting the systems in the brain that regulate metabolism, leading to an increased likelihood of developing obesity and diabetes.

“The reason for the relatively sudden increase in global obesity in the developed world seems to be more complicated than simply just diet and physical activity,” she said. “There are other factors involved, and circadian desynchrony is one that deserves further attention.”

She added, “Our 24-hour society has come at the high price of circadian desynchrony. There are many factors driving mankind towards obesity but disrupted circadian rhythms should be considered alongside the usual suspects of diet and exercise.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Patients and visitors to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake are likely to notice a lot of changes to the hospital, most recently the addition of private rooms.

Since the hospital was built most patients have been treated in double occupancy rooms, but this month’s addition of five new private rooms is changing all that.

Only four double occupancy inpatient rooms remain, meaning that most patients admitted to the hospital will now have a more personal and private experience with added space for family and visitors, and no roommate.

“A quiet and private atmosphere is so important to the healing process,” said David Santos, administrator of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “We are thrilled to be able to enhance the health experience of our community in this way.”

The change comes on the heels of recent updates to the hospital’s common areas, exterior landscaping, and the addition of new technologies such as digital mammography and robotic telemedicine to enhance access to specialty care.

In January the much anticipated new emergency room will open at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake which will ultimately house twelve new private treatment rooms and offer a quieter, faster, and more comfortable emergency room experience.

The St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake development department continues to work with the community to raise the remaining funds required to pay for the new emergency room construction.

Visit www.NewERforYou.com for more information on these and other projects designed to improve the Lake County health experience and help you Live Younger Longer.

Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer, on Friday warned consumers not to eat Red Vines Black Licorice  Twists, Family Mix, Mixed Bites and Snaps containing black licorice.

This warning comes after the manufacturer expanded its Aug. 22 recall because it determined these products may contain levels of lead exceeding the state’s standards.

Consumers in possession of the candy should discard it immediately.

The following products are subject to this expanded recall:

Black Licorice Bar, 2.5 oz.
Jumbo Black Licorice Hanging Bag, 8 oz.
Black Licorice Tray, 5 oz.
Black Licorice Laydown Bag, 7 oz.
Black Licorice Laydown Bag, 16 oz.
Black Licorice Jar, 4 lbs.
Mixed Bites Hanging Bag, 8 oz.
Mixed Bites Bag, 16 oz.
Family Mix Laydown Bag, 24 oz.
Family Mix Laydown Bag, 32 oz.
Snaps Hanging Bag, 5.5 oz.
Snaps Theater Box, 4.5 oz.
Snaps Tin, 12 oz.

Red Vines Sugar Free Black Licorice and Red Flavor Licorice products are not subject to this recall.

A full list of the recalled products and pictures of their labels can be found at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/Documents/fdbFrAME2p.pdf .

Red Vines Black Licorice candy products are manufactured and distributed by American Licorice Co., Union City, Calif.

CDPH is currently working with the manufacturer to ensure that the contaminated candies are removed from the marketplace. American Licorice Co. expanded its earlier recall after additional testing of black licorice products determined that recently produced products could also contain elevated levels of lead.

Pregnant women and parents of children who may have eaten this candy should consult their physician or health care provider to determine if medical testing is needed.

Consumers who find this candy for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at 1-800-495-3232.

For more information about lead poisoning, contact your county childhood lead poisoning prevention program or public health department.

Additional information is available on the CDPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention page, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/CLPPBChildrenAtRisk.aspx , and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Lead and Lead-Contaminated Products Web page, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/LeadFAQ.aspx .

Scientists are closer to establishing a definitive bacterial cause for the skin condition rosacea.

This will allow more targeted, effective treatments to be developed for sufferers, according to a review published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Rosacea is a common dermatological condition that causes reddening and inflammation of the skin mostly around the cheeks, nose and chin. In severe cases skin lesions may form and lead to disfigurement.

Rosacea affects around 3 percent of the population – usually fair-skinned females aged 30-50 and particularly those with weak immune systems.

The condition is treated with a variety of antibiotics, even though there has never been a well-established bacterial cause.

A new review carried out by the National University of Ireland concludes that rosacea may be triggered by bacteria that live within tiny mites that reside in the skin.

The mite species Demodex folliculorum is worm-like in shape and usually lives harmlessly inside the pilosebaceous unit which surrounds hair follicles of the face.

They are normal inhabitants of the face and increase in number with age and skin damage – for example, following exposure to sunlight.

 The numbers of Demodex mites living in the skin of rosacea patients is higher than in normal individuals, which has previously suggested a possible role for the mites in initiating the condition.

More recently, the bacterium Bacillus oleronius was isolated from inside a Demodex mite and was found to produce molecules provoking an immune reaction in rosacea patients.

Other studies have shown patients with varying types of rosacea react to the molecules produced by this bacterium – exposing it as a likely trigger for the condition. What’s more, this bacterium is sensitive to the antibiotics used to treat rosacea.

Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, who conducted the review, explained, “The bacteria live in the digestive tracts of Demodex mites found on the face, in a mutually beneficial relationship. When the mites die, the bacteria are released and leak into surrounding skin tissues – triggering tissue degradation and inflammation.”

“Once the numbers of mites increase, so does the number of bacteria, making rosacea more likely to occur. Targeting these bacteria may be a useful way of treating and preventing this condition,” said Dr. Kavanagh. “Alternatively we could look at controlling the population of Demodex mites in the face. Some pharmaceutical companies are already developing therapies to do this, which represents a novel way of preventing and reversing rosacea, which can be painful and embarrassing for many people.”

Johns Hopkins researchers have created a synthetic protein that, when activated by ultraviolet light, can guide doctors to places within the body where cancer, arthritis and other serious medical disorders can be detected.

The technique could lead to a new type of diagnostic imaging technology and may someday serve as a way to move medications to parts of the body where signs of disease have been found.

In a study published in the Aug. 27-31 Online Early Edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers reported success in using the synthetic protein in mouse models to locate prostate and pancreatic cancers, as well as to detect abnormal bone growth activity associated with Marfan syndrome.

The synthetic protein developed by the Johns Hopkins team does not zero in directly on the diseased cells. Instead, it binds to nearby collagen that has been degraded by various health disorders.

Collagen, the body’s most abundant protein, provides structure and creates a sturdy framework upon which cells build nerves, bone and skin. Some buildup and degradation of collagen is normal, but disease cells such as cancer can send out enzymes that break down collagen at an accelerated pace.

It is this excessive damage, caused by disease, that the new synthetic protein can detect, the researchers said.

“These disease cells are like burglars who break into a house and do lots of damage but who are not there when the police arrive,” said S. Michael Yu, a faculty member in the Whiting School of Engineering’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “Instead of looking for the burglars, our synthetic protein is reacting to evidence left at the scene of the crime,” said Yu, who was principal investigator in the study.

A key collaborator was Martin Pomper, a School of Medicine professor of radiology and co-principal investigator of the Johns Hopkins Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence. Pomper and Yu met as fellow affiliates of the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology.

“A major unmet medical need is for a better non-invasive characterization of disrupted collagen, which occurs in a wide variety of disorders,” Pomper said. “Michael has found what could be a very elegant and practical solution, which we are converting into a suite of imaging and potential agents for diagnosis and treatment.”

The synthetic proteins used in the study are called collagen mimetic peptides or CMPs. These tiny bits of protein are attracted to and physically bind to degraded strands of collagen, particularly those damaged by disease.

Fluorescent tags are placed on each CMP so that it will show up when doctors scan tissue with fluorescent imaging equipment. The glowing areas indicate the location of damaged collagen that is likely to be associated with disease.

In developing the technique, the researchers faced a challenge because CMPs tend to bind with one another and form their own structures, similar to DNA, in a way that would cause them to ignore the disease-linked collagen targeted by the researchers.

To remedy this, the study’s lead author, Yang Li, synthesized CMPs that possess a chemical “cage” to keep the proteins from binding with one another.

Just prior to entering the bloodstream to search for damaged collagen, a powerful ultraviolet light is used to “unlock” the cage and allow the CMPs to initiate their disease-tracking mission.

Li is a doctoral student from the Department of Chemistry in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins. Yu, who holds a joint appointment in that department, is his doctoral adviser.

Yu’s team tested Li’s fluorescently tagged and caged peptides by injecting them into lab mice that possessed both prostate and pancreatic human cancer cells.

Through a series of fluorescent images taken over four days, researchers tracked single strands of the synthetic protein spreading throughout the tumor sites via blood vessels and binding to collagen that had been damaged by cancer.

Similar in vivo tests showed that the CMP can target bones and cartilage that contain large amounts of degraded collagen. Therefore, the new protein could be used for diagnosis and treatment related to bone and cartilage damage.

Although the process is not well understood, the breakdown and rebuilding of collagen is thought to play a role in the excessive bone growth found in patients with Marfan syndrome. Yu’s team tested their CMPs on a mouse model for this disease and saw increased CMP binding in the ribs and spines of the Marfan mice, as compared to the control mice.

Funding for the research was provided by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. The synthetic protein process used in this research is protected by patents obtained through the Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer Office.

Along with Yu, Li and Pomper, co-authors of this study were instructor Catherine A. Foss and medical resident Collin M. Torok from the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Harry C. Dietz, a professor, and Jefferson J. Doyle, a doctoral student, both of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Institute of Genetic Medicine at the School of Medicine; and Daniel D. Summerfield a former master’s student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

National Institutes of Health scientists have identified how a kind of immature immune cell responds to a part of influenza virus and have traced the path those cells take to generate antibodies that can neutralize a wide range of influenza virus strains.

Study researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of NIH, were led by Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., director of NIAID’s Vaccine Research Center. Their findings appear online in advance of print in Nature.

“This new understanding of how an immature immune cell transforms into a mature B cell capable of producing antibodies that neutralize a wide variety of influenza viruses could speed progress toward a universal flu vaccine – one that would provide protection against most or all influenza virus strains,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

Universal flu vaccines, which are in development at NIAID and elsewhere, differ significantly from standard influenza vaccines.

Unlike standard vaccines, which prompt the immune system to make antibodies aimed at the variable head of a lollipop-shaped influenza protein called hemagglutinin (HA), a universal flu vaccine would elicit antibodies that target HA’s stem.

Because the stem varies relatively little from strain to strain and does not change substantially from year to year, a vaccine that can elicit HA stem-targeted antibodies would, in theory, provide recipients with broad protection from the flu. The neutralizing antibodies generated would recognize any strain of flu virus.

Finding ways to elicit these broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is thus a key challenge for universal flu vaccine developers.

However, there is a snag. Researchers knew what the end products (mature bnAbs) look like, but they did not have a clear picture of the initial steps that stimulate their development.

Specifically, they lacked an understanding of how the precursor immune cell – called a naïve B cell – first recognizes the HA stem and starts down a path that ends in mature bnAb-producing B cells.

In the new research, Dr. Nabel and his colleagues demonstrated that the immature antibodies can only recognize and bind to HA’s stem when the antibodies are attached to the membrane of a naïve B cell.

The investigators showed that this initial contact delivers a signal that triggers the maturation of these naïve B cell into countless daughter cells, some of which acquire the specific genetic changes that give rise to HA-stem-binding antibodies.

“We have repeated the first critical steps in the route leading to broadly neutralizing influenza antibodies,” said Dr. Nabel. “Understanding how such antibodies originate could allow for rational design of vaccine candidates that would prompt the correct naïve B cells to go on to mature into bnAb-producing cells.”

The findings could also be relevant to HIV vaccine design, noted Dr. Nabel. There, too, eliciting bnAbs to relatively constant portions of HIV is a key goal.

The insights into how naïve B cells recognize constant components of a virus and mature into bnAb-producing cells could guide efforts to design an HIV vaccine capable of reproducing this effect.

NIAID conducts and supports research – at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide – to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses.