INTERESTING TIMES

EPIGENETICS OF DM2: GLUCOCORTICOID AND VIT D RECEPTORS MEDIATE
ALSO TNF ALPHA OR DEXAMETHASONE INDUCES IR
http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/v17/n1/full/ncb3080.html
Identification of nuclear hormone receptor pathways causing insulin resistance by transcriptional and epigenomic analysis
Sona Kang, Linus T. Tsai, Yiming Zhou, Adam Evertts, Su Xu, Michael J. Griffin, Robbyn Issner, Holly J. Whitton, Benjamin A. Garcia, Charles B. Epstein, Tarjei S. Mikkelsen & Evan D. Rosen
Nature Cell Biology 17, 44–56 (2015) doi:10.1038/ncb3080
Received 06 August 2014 Accepted Nov 2014 Published online 15 Dec 2014
Abstract
Insulin resistance is a cardinal feature of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and a frequent complication of multiple clinical conditions, including obesity, ageing and steroid use, among others. How such a panoply of insults can result in a common phenotype is incompletely understood. Furthermore, very little is known about the transcriptional and epigenetic basis of this disorder, despite evidence that such pathways are likely to play a fundamental role. Here, we compare cell autonomous models of insulin resistance induced by the cytokine tumour necrosis factor-α or by the steroid dexamethasone to construct detailed transcriptional and epigenomic maps associated with cellular insulin resistance. These data predict that the glucocorticoid receptor and vitamin D receptor are common mediators of insulin resistance, which we validate using gain- and loss-of-function studies. These studies define a common transcriptional and epigenomic signature in cellular insulin resistance enabling the identification of pathogenic mechanisms.

I haven't used sunscreen since I moved to Oregon. Here, the sun feels weak to me. I also haven't had a sunburn since I moved here, though a few times my shoulders or nose has got pink. In Arizona I used to wear sunscreen but gradually transitioned over to using long sleeves, long pants, and a big hat. I would put sunscreen on my lower face, nose, ears, neck, and the backs of my hands and tops of my feet. Here I still favor a hat and sleeves: the lotions always felt gross to me. The ones that didn't feel gross washed off too easy (kayaking) and didn't do any good. So that's my take on sunscreen. Not highly educated---I didn't even really dig into the site linked below I have a few types around the house and I'm afraid to look them up and see how carcinogenic they are. I know some of the chemicals used aren't great. I've heard that the zinc-containing kinds are most effective and least dangerous.

Sunscreen picker:
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/?inlist=Y&utm_source=2011sunscreenfull&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image&utm_campaign=toxics

1000 on Ca+ only-->6 more MI's or strokes and 3 less fractures
( data from the Women's Health Initiative added to the meta-analysis of cardiovascular risks associated with calcium supplements )

The Institute of Medicine is trying to catch up with modern medical practice and has bumped up the recommended daily allowances of Vitamin D and Calcium in response to overwhelming evidence that most North Americans are deficient.
( notes )

This is astounding new research. (originally posted Oct 11, 2008)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080921162048.htm
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nature07336.html
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It's a sign of confidence when a health guru uses their own product. Null's Ultimate Power Meal apparently had 1,000x more vitamin D in it than it should have had. That is, two MILLION instead of two thousand IU's. It's pretty well known at this point that the AI (adequate intake of 400-600 IU) and UL (upper tolerable limit of 2000 IU) specified by the government are too low for most North Americans, but Null was definitely taking a toxic overdose. The NY Post Headline got a guffaw from me: "Putting the DIE in diet". Not that I have any ill will for Gary Null; I am happy he is getting better after 3 months of slow recovery, and sad that his kidneys may be permanently damaged. He's 65 years old, sort of late in life to take such hard hits.
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