Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of certain drugs — with the potential for turning normal doses into toxic overdoses. Now, the researcher who first identified this interaction is reporting new evidence that grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, can do the opposite effect by substantially decreasing the absorption of other drugs, potentially wiping out their beneficial effects.

The study provides a new reason to avoid drinking grapefruit juice and these other juices when taking certain drugs, including some that are prescribed for fighting life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, cancer, organ-transplant rejection, and infection, the researcher says. These findings — representing the first controlled human studies of this type of drug-lowering interaction — were described today at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

“Recently, we discovered that grapefruit and these other fruit juices substantially decrease the oral absorption of certain drugs undergoing intestinal uptake transport,” says study leader David G. Bailey, Ph.D., a professor of clinical pharmacology with the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. “The concern is loss of benefit of medications essential for the treatment of serious medical conditions.”

Bailey and colleagues announced almost 20 years ago the unexpected finding that grapefruit juice can dramatically boost the body’s levels of the high-blood-pressure drug felodipine, causing potentially dangerous effects from excessive drug concentrations in the blood. Since then, other researchers have identified nearly 50 medications that carry the risk of grapefruit-induced drug-overdose interactions. As a result of the so-called “Grapefruit Juice Effect,” some prescription drugs now carry warning labels against taking grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruit during drug consumption.

In the most recent research, Bailey’s group had healthy volunteers take fexofenadine, an antihistamine used to fight allergies. The volunteers consumed the drug with either a single glass of grapefruit juice, water containing only naringin (substance in grapefruit juice that gives the juice its bitter taste), or water. When fexofenadine was taken with grapefruit juice, only half of the drug was absorbed compared to taking the drug with water alone, Bailey says. Loosing half of the amount of drugs taken into the body can be critical for the performance certain drugs, he points out.

They also showed that the active ingredient of grapefruit juice, naringin, appears to block a key drug uptake transporter, called OATP1A2, involved in shuttling drugs from the small intestine to the bloodstream. Blocking this transporter reduces drug absorption and neutralizes their potential benefits, the researchers say. By contrast, drugs whose levels are boosted in the presence of grapefruit juice appear to block an important drug metabolizing enzyme, called CYP3A4, that normally breaks down drugs.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Bailey says. “I’m sure we’ll find more and more drugs that are affected this way.”

To date, grapefruit, orange and apple juices have been shown to lower the absorption of etoposide, an anticancer agent; certain beta blockers (atenolol, celiprolol, talinolol) used to treat high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks; cyclosporine, a drug taken to prevent rejection of transplanted organs; and certain antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, itraconazole). But additional drugs are likely to be added to the list as physicians become more aware of this drug-lowering interaction, Bailey says.

Orange and apple juices also appear to contain naringin-like substances that inhibit OATP1A2, Bailey says. The chemical in oranges appears to be hesperidin, but the chemical in apples has not yet been identified, the researchers notes.

Bailey advises patients to consult with their doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications with grapefruit juice or other fruits and juices. Unless it is known to be a problem, he recommends taking most medications only with water. This research was funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the United States Public Health Service.

Source

My mouth was wide the hell open.

see more Celeb Look-A-Likes

I saw this dude on VH1Soul and had to learn more about him.  Be sure and check out his Official Website and show this dude some luv.

And yes, I would smash.

I’ve been keeping up with this dude for years and if you love some good Neo-soul, Mr Roberson won’t disappoint.

On a side note, this is the type of guy that I could see myself settling down with.  So… Eric Roberson, Will you marry me?

I’m 28, I sing, learning to cook, not a club rat, don’t drink, great with finances, willing to try new things and I’m the type of girl you can take home to meet momma.  Holla.

Myspace Page

Official Website

It’s okay to be angry, but it isn’t healthy to be resentful.

Regardless of what we learned as children, no matter what we
saw role-modeled, we can learn to deal with our anger in ways
that are healthy for us and for those around us. We can have
our angry feelings. We can connect with them, own them, feel them,
express them, release them, and be done with them.

We can learn to listen to what anger is telling us about what
we want and need in order to take care of ourselves.

Sometimes we can even indulge in angry feelings that aren’t justified.
Feelings are just feelings; there is no morality in the feeling,
only in the behavior. We can feel angry without hurting or abusing
others or ourselves. We can learn to deal with anger in ways that
benefit oru relationships instead of ways that harm them.

If we don’t feel our angry feelings today, we will need to face
them tomorrow.

Dear Stephen,

When you first hit the scene in 1998 with the group Playa, I heard a sample of “Don’t stop the music” and fell in love.

I copped the single and all of the samples of what was to come made me so anxious that I wrote Def Jam a letter demanding a release date.  I wasn’t disappointed when the album dropped and it’s still one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time.  I often play it from beginning to end and I always find something new hidden away in the songs.

Everything associated with Playa I promoted.  I remember being in Tulsa and hearing “Available.”  I was so excited that the music didn’t just stop at 1 album.  I started to hear your musical genius everywhere from Aaliyah’s last album to Jamie Foxx’s “Unpredictable” album… even Pretty Ricky. And my god!!!, who could forget “Lollipop” with Lil Wayne.  I even got word that you were going solo and couldn’t for you to blow up to superstar status.

You had a distinct sound that was refreshing and still to this day is unmatched.  I love your melodic compositions and how you arranged a song.  I love the harmonies you added to music.  I love the tone of your voice and how it always stands out, even if its only in the background.  I love your swagger and how down-to-earth your lyrics are.  I love everything you’ve given to me musically and I still play your music to this day.  You will be forever missed.

Love,

~Deltrice

Wow!

DON’T FORGET TO READ THE SEQUEL TO THIS POST…10 More Ridiculous Rapper Chains

Looking equal parts pitcher plant and Jurassic Park, a giant rat-eating plant was discovered in the Philippines.

The BBC describes the newly discovered species as a new kind of pitcher plant. And this one is evidently “among the largest of all pitchers and is so big that it can catch rats as well as insects in its leafy trap.” Which makes it a pretty mean carnivorous plant–it catches insects, rodents, and other small animals in its tubes as they tumble down into them. The plant then closes its tube, trapping the prey inside.

Pretty cool. [ Treehugger ]

This game is too addictive.

Come and join me!

1. STIs Reduce Life Expectancy
The most common way to contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is through unprotected sex. These diseases include genital herpes, hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. The American Social Health Organization states that 25 per cent of teens are infected with an STI every year, and 50 per cent of sexually active adults 25 and over will contract one.

The deadliest STI is human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, which causes AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Drugs can control the disease and prolong your life expectancy. However, without proper medical attention most people die within 10 to 15 years of being infected.

Another STI that reduces life expectancy is genital humanpapilloma virus (HPV). It is the most common STI in the US and can cause cervical, genital, or anal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society the overall five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 72 per cent.

Many STIs don’t have immediate symptoms, so get tested regularly if you’re sexually active. Also, practice safe sex or abstinence, and always ask new partners to get tested.

Read more here

Above is the patent for the shoes that enabled Michael Jackson to lean at a full 45-degree angle when doing the Smooth Criminal dance. Over at BB Gadgets, Joel has the details and a video of the late King of Pop rocking his dancing shoes. “Michael Jackson’s patented “Smooth Criminal” leaning shoes”

“I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.”

~ Anna Quindlen

Define who and what are important in your life and Decide to live accordingly.

Energize yourself with foods that nourish, and Exercise to increase circulation, optimize function and eliminate toxins. (read ch. 13)

Support your body with dietary Supplements designed specifically to help compensate for the effects of stress on your body and supply nutrients used up during stress.

Take Time to breathe deeply and fully, to find a moment of calm, and to enjoy something each day.

Reframe events that stress you in order to Release yourself from paralysis so you can discover what you can do, and how you can benefit from these events or turn them to your advantage. (read ch. 12)

Eliminate energy robbers and health drains, and Establish clear boundaries.

Sleep to give your body a chance to recharge and heal, and your mind a few moments of Silent Solace each day so you are refreshed and ready to take effective action.

Smile and See the Soul-fullness in your life. The physical action changes how you feel inside, which changes how you behave and how your body reacts.