Saturday, March 19, 2011

Treating Dry Vagina Syndrome and Vaginal Irritation

Yesterday BioRegenerative Sciences, Inc., a stem cell therapeutics corporation headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, announced the release of Feminese Comfort Creme, a topically applied cream for relieving the pain and irritation associated with vaginal dryness. BioRegenerative Sciences' clinical studies of Feminese Comfort Creme demonstrated that the pain and irritation associated with dry vagina syndrome was reduced or eliminated in a matter of days following topical application. 

Feminese Comfort Creme works to restore the biochemical properties of the vaginal surface to a healthy state and increases vaginal secretions so that the tissue is no longer inflamed and irritated. Another words, Feminese Comfort Creme is an easily applied topical cream that replaces in the vaginal surface what was present in the normal, healthy tissue. Feminese  uses a technology, known as S2RM TechnologyTM where stem cell released molecules from multiple stem cell types are used to formulate the cream. In this way, molecules lost in the dry and irritated vaginal tissue are replaced using the Feminese cream.  This is an easy to use and very effective product that I highly recommend.


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Probiotics Supplementation For A Balanced Microbiome And Immune Health


The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, their genetic elements (genome), and their environmental interactions and phenotypic expression in a defined environment, such as the human gut for example. Thus, the microbiome usually includes microbiota and their complete genetic elements. The importance of the microbiome can be put into perspective by understanding that we have over 10 times more microbes than human cells in our bodies. The term "microbiome" was coined by Professor Joshua Lederberg, a Nobel Laureate for his work on bacteria. In Dr. Lederberg’s opinion, the microorganisms should be included as part of the human genome, because of their critical influence on human physiology.


The flora of the human colon are an important microbiome and provide the mechanism for a strong immune system, good health, and the ability to properly metabolize many ingredients, including drugs, and longevity. As an example, one manner in which the immune system fights pathogens is with inflammation. Too much inflammation can be damaging, therefore the immune system has immune cells that produce inflammation-reducing signals. Drs. Sarkis Mazmanian and June L. Round at Caltech reported that mice reared without a microbiome, thus the healthy probiotics of the colon, can’t produce an inflammation-reducing molecule called IL-10. Therefore probiotics are the living beneficial bacteria, the beneficial portion of all the living microbes in our body, called the microbiome, that protect and enhance the function of our gastrointestinal tract and our immune system. 

The bacteria residing in our colon are commonly grouped into two categories based on the effect they produce in humans; referred to as “friendly” or “unfriendly” bacteria. The “unfriendly” bacteria produce toxins that contribute to long-term illness, chronic fatique, and degeneration of the body. “Friendly” bacteria that are also known as probiotics benefit the balance of the intestinal, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. People with flourishing intestinal colonies of beneficial bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria, such as E. Coli, a bacterium so virulent that death can sometimes occur when infected with this strain.
 
Estimates suggests that there are several trillion friendly bacteria comprising over 400 species in the human gastrointestinal tract. Although Lactobacillus acidophilus, common in yogurt, is the most well known of these bacteria, others also play a crucial role in keeping us healthy, such as Lactobacillus salivarius/casei/rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum/longum/lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus. In a healthy colon the friendly bacteria outnumber the unfriendly, or pathogenic bacteria. Studies suggest that our colon maintains its health with 15% unfriendly bacteria, if the body contains at least 85% probiotic friendly bacteria, such as the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria strains. However, in most people this percentage is reversed with damaging effects.

Many causes induce the unfavorable balance of the microbiome. Two commonly ingested damaging substances to the delicate intestinal flora balance are chlorine and sodium fluoride, present in most treated city water, and thus in most commercial beverages including soft drinks and drinks that are reconstituted with water.  Antibiotics, all too common in our diets, which are the opposite of probiotics, through their action to destroy bacteria, both the good and the bad bacteria upset the microbiome. Coffee, unhealthy eating habits, and stress can also disrupt the colon’s microbiome. Studies have also shown that as the good bacteria are destroyed, the potentially harmful bacteria increase rapidly, and that the translocation of the harmful bacteria from the intestinal tract and into the lymph nodes surrounding the intestinal tract occurs rapidly. From these lymph nodes, the bacteria then spread to cause new infections throughout the body.

The intestinal microbiome can be properly balanced with friendly bacteria by using probiotic supplements. These supplements are most effective if they’re designed to withstand the extreme acidity of the stomach. Further, the survival of friendly bacteria in the small and large intestines requires dietary fiber.  This is critical to our immune system. The gut is a huge immune organ where there are more immune cells then in the rest of the body. While eating yogurt is helpful, for most people this will not be enough to ensure replenishment of beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, commercially available fermented foods are, unfortunately, unreliable as sources of Lactobacilli because the lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which Lactobacilli naturally produce may kill the good bacteria themselves if their concentration becomes excessive.

The most reliable way to supplement your diet with Lactobacilli is to make your own yogurt or sauerkraut, and to buy nutritional supplements that have been tested by an independent outside laboratory and list the concentration of viable bacteria found in culture. Lactobacilli are killed by heat, moisture, and sunlight. The making of tablets generates heat that lowers the number of viable organisms. Lactobacilli should be freeze-dried, in powder or capsules, in opaque moisture-proof containers. 

Friendly bacteria are living creatures that need nourishment to live and to multiply. When they receive nourishment, such as fiber, via the foods or supplements we take, they are able to maintain a stable population and can continue to maintain their beneficial properties. Another favorite food of friendly bacteria is FOS (fructooligosaccharides). Probiotic supplements that provide this food for the beneficial gut bacteria may, therefore, be more potent than just regular supplements. FOS is also found in fruits and vegetables such as bananas, nions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, barley, wheat, jícama, tomatoes,  leeks, and  the Jerusalem artichoke.


Because the stomach is a highly acidic environment that destroys all bacteria, including probiotics, if the friendly bacteria from our supplements are destroyed before they reach the intestines, where they are most needed, we will not enjoy their full benefits. This problem is obviated using probiotic capsules that are enteric-coated. Capsules that are enteric coated have protective layer to ensure that the probiotic bacteria will survive passage through the stomach and arrive alive to the colon.