Baby chick in the conference room

Originally uploaded by The Story Lady

baby chick getting bold.

Originally posted here:
Baby chick in the conference room

And drug studies are no exception.

Over the past decade there has been renewed interest in “The Mediterranean Diet” and its components.  Beyond reducing the risk of heart disease, certain parts of it have been also found to have an anti-aging component.

Especially resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and grapes.

There’s a new study with resveratrol starting in the US.  The lead investigator is R. Scott Turner, M.D., M.P.H.  of Georgetown University Medical Center.  This article explains more about the study and how long he’s already been working on it…

 In Vino Vitalis?  In Wine There Is Life?

 The expression in vino veritas — “in wine there is truth” — amuses R. Scott Turner, M.D., Ph.D., but he is more prone to quote in vino vitalis — “in wine there is life.”

That’s because Turner, Director of Georgetown University Medical Center’s Memory Disorders Program, knows that resveratrol, (a compound found in red wine and red grapes), when used as a treatment of laboratory animals, lowers risk of diseases of aging — thus, prolonging their health and life spans.

Human trials of resveratrol are now underway for a variety of aging maladies, including a new national study that Turner is leading.

Turner has designed a clinical trial to test whether high doses of resveratrol are well tolerated and whether they can slow the progression of dementia in individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease.

In this federally funded $4 million study, to be conducted with 120 individuals at 26 academic medical centers across the U.S., investigators will test daily doses of resveratrol equivalent to that found in about 1,000 bottles of red wine — preferably a pinot noir from Oregon which Turner says contain the highest levels of resveratrol.

He can’t wait to get started.  That’s because he has worked to develop the study for more than seven years since he submitted his proposal to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) group.

Turner reports that resveratrol treatment delays and prevents the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models with the disorder.  Other studies report that resveratrol treatment lowers cholesterol, lowers fat stores, and improves muscle endurance in mice.  These are parameters that often drive the development of type II diabetes, which some researchers consider a form of accelerated aging.

The major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is aging.  “We used to think that aging is a non-modifiable risk factor – but is it?” Turner asks.  He cites a number of studies that show caloric restriction can prolong both health and life spans and that, on the flip side, diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

“Investigators have found that Alzheimer’s is somehow linked to metabolism, which is energy balance, and that preventing diabetes by caloric restraint and by exercising regularly in mid-life, may prevent or delay Alzheimer’s in later life,” he says.

Human population studies have often found health benefits from modest consumption of red wine, including a lower risk of dementia.  And a recent pilot study of resveratrol treatment in obese men showed improvement in their lipid and glucose profiles.

Delving deeper into the biological thread, investigators discovered that one gene and its protein, SIRT1, is implicated in regulation of aging, and that a compound that appears to promote SIRT1 activity is resveratrol.

Much of this research happened while Turner was developing his resveratrol study, a task that included finding a biotech company that would synthesize resveratrol for the clinical trial.  “Resveratrol cannot be patented, so major pharmaceutical companies are not very interested,” Turner says.  “Research studies cost millions of dollars to conduct and without patent protection, a pharmaceutical company would be unable to recover their costs.”

Participants in the study will receive either a placebo (a pill that looks like resveratrol but has no active ingredient) or escalating doses of resveratrol.  Cognitive tests will be given before and after treatment, and brain volumes will be measured using MRI scans.  Investigators will also look at changes in spinal fluid proteins and in overall metabolism (blood glucose and insulin).

Neither the patients nor the clinicians will know if the study participant is receiving placebo or resveratrol until the end of the study.

“ This is the gold standard for conducting a clinical study because it allows us to objectively determine if resveratrol may offer any clinical benefits,” says Brigid Reynolds, NP, lead investigator for the study at Georgetown.

While Turner’s national resveratrol trial is underway, others investigators are looking at the compound to prevent or treat cancer, diabetes, and heart disease in humans.

“We think resveratrol may target basic mechanisms of aging, which also tie into metabolism,” he says.  “There are a lot of biological black boxes that we don’t understand yet, but are seeking to explain. …  and we can’t wait for the answers!  The silver tsunami is already here.”

To learn more about the resveratrol study or other Alzheimer’s studies underway at Georgetown, contact Kelly Behan in the GUMC Memory Disorders Program by calling (202) 687-0413 or via email .

Information is also available at memory.georgetown.edu.  Georgetown study participants must be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, speak English, have a study partner who knows them well, and be willing to undergo examinations, blood tests, MRI scans and spinal fluid collection.

By Renee Twombly, GUMC Communications

Original Source:

In Vino Vitalis?  In Wine There Is Life?

Some caregivers’ questions about this trial include…

1. What is a Phase II Trial?The FDA has a series of trials to allow a new drug on the market.  There are four phases to the trials.

   Phase I screens for safety.  Usually a small group of people are enrolled, often 20 to 80.  The goals are to evaluate the safety of the drug, determine what a safe dosage range is and identify side effects.

   Phase II establishes the Testing Protocol.  A larger group of people, usually 100 to 300, are enrolled.  The goals are to see if the drug is effective and further evaluate its safety.

   Phase III is the Final Testing before release.  In this phase 1000 to 3000 people are usually enrolled to confirm the drug’s effectiveness, monitor its side effects, compare it to the current commonly used treatments and to collect additional information about its safe use.

   Phase IV are Post-Approval Studies.  These studies continue to address risks, benefits and optimal use of the drug.

2. Why aren’t more foods tested?Basically, it’s a cost issue.  The pharmaceutical companies are in business to make money.

   Bringing a drug to market can take many years of research, and the company that brings it first to market bears the brunt of the costs.  So the company and their shareholders want to be sure that the drug can be patented so they can recover their costs and make money on the drug.  And this needs to be done before the patent expires.  The patent clock starts  ticking before the drug is released, so that puts even more pressure on the company.

   In research and development, many more drugs are developed than ever reach the market.  They may have safety issues, manufacturing issues or something else that prevents their full development and release.

3. What is the purpose of this study?According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), “The purpose of this study is to determine whether daily resveratrol therapy is beneficial in delaying or altering the deterioration of memory and daily functioning in people with probable Alzheimer’s disease.”

Thinking you know someone who qualifies for the study?

You can learn how to participate by contacting the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center at by clicking here.

Are you caring for someone with Alzheimers symptoms?

It’s important that you also care for yourself, you know.

One way is to have Daily Inspirational Thoughts designed for caregivers.

Get yours daily delivered into your inbox by clicking here now.

And even if it’s just for today…

Choose Life, Love and Laughter!

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

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What Should Caregivers Know About the New Clinical Trial of Resveratrol For Alzheimers Symptoms and Disease?

while doing some work for a consulting client, I found this excellent article about storytelling and branding. It seems that storytelling techniques and a discussion of storytelling for business branding were high on the list, and it is no wonder!

It seems everyone is getting more and more into storytelling.

Target stores are adding boutique lines to their offerings, and their tV commercials feature stories of little companies making it big at Target. KMart features their clothing designers’ stories to build interest and loyalty to the brand. (OK I really LOVE buying clothes at KMart. I can always find clothes that I like and that are sized for REAL size people!)

When one company brings in a line from another company, they are licensing or “borrowing” the brand.

This article from Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association gives insight into just how big storytelling for business has become. This is a professional association, and if THEY are talking about storytelling techniques and storytelling ideas, then YOU as a business owner need to pay more attention to the power of storytelling.

After the article, I’ll share storytelling techniques you can use to get you started.

Original Article Source

Storytelling at forefront of LIMA Conference

Posted by Marty Brochstein

One of the most striking themes running through this month’s LIMA Retail & Branding Conference was the importance of storytelling in building a strong brand. Whether it’s the positioning of Iconix’ Material Girl fast fashion juniors brand at Macy’s around Madonna’s 14-year-old daughter Lola, or the attempted reinvention of Kmart’s apparel and home business as KmartDesign, or the development of businesses around such celebrities as Twiggy, Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige on HSN, an authentic story gives the brand substance.

HSN’s Executive VP Bill Brand, for example, told of the company being approached by ‘60s modeling icon Twiggy about mounting a fashion business. It began with a meeting at HSN’s Florida headquarters. “For us, it’s really important that we have that face-to-face meeting, that we really spend some key quality time together, and really understand, is this about making money, is this about media placements, what is this about? How authentic is this?”

A subsequent meeting, he said, involved HSN’s design director rooting through Twiggy’s closet in London, “going through her favorite things and what inspires her, and from that, 6-9 months later,” the Twiggy London brand was launched on HSN, where it stands as one of the company’s top apparel brands in under two years.

For Jeff Fagel, Director of Brand Development at Sears Holdings, the ongoing challenge is help Kmart gain credibility (and sales) in the apparel and home categories. The marketing challenge involves a three part process, he said: “How do you get people to pay attention [to the message]? How do you get people to care? How do you get people to act?” The goal is to spark “curious disbelief,” or put another way, to spark the following consumer reaction: “No way, this can’t be Kmart.”

Acknowledging the perception of Kmart’s apparel as being of “low quality and style,” the brand development team set out to “build consideration and credibility for the brand… in a disruptive and differentiate way.” A key element has been the work done with a team of documentary filmmakers who followed Kmart ‘s design team in their New York and Chicago offices, and on trend-shopping trips to London and Paris. The footage was rapidly cut into four pilot videos, and show to consumer panels.

“This wasn’t about [simply] creating viral video; this wasn’t about going out and shocking. It was really about being true to the foundation of Kmart, being honest and authentic and speaking in a different voice, and really trying to bring in a new apparel and home customer,” Fagel told the conference attendees. “We had a great story to tell…. Part of it is product – improved product, quality, better design, expanded assortments, new brands, great value for the price, but everyone can say that. We have a 250-person design team in Soho and Chicago, which nobody knew about, and we felt it was an opportunity to tell our story in a unique way and cut through the clutter.”

Over the past two years, the company has been attempting to build buy-in for the KmartDesign effort via social media, with dedicated Facebook page, YouTube portal, Twitter feed, etc. Lots of content has been created. Fagel says that it’s “about building digital relationships and building relationships, not about getting 25,000 Facebook fans. It’s about how do you connect with people on a daily basis, and looking at whether the conversation has shifted.”

Initial results are promising, but it’s an ongoing effort that needs to be sustained in many ways. “It took Target 10+ years to get to where they are right now, and for those who are in retail and know a lot about retail, it starts with product and instore. Those are the two key components. [It has to happen] over time. It’s not going to be overnight.”

That’s great for Target or KMart, but what about you as an expert, author, entrepreneur or business owner?

The answer is you do the same thing! Here’s how:

3 Powerful Storytelling Techniques to Build a Strong Brand

1. Tell the story of how you got started.

The Knot, a hugely popular wedding site, came to be because the founder had every disaster known to woman happen at her wedding, and she didn’t want other brides to go through what she did.

That is a powerful story that attracts the attention of her ideal customer. It conveys caring and instantly builds trust.

What story can YOU tell that will engender a feeling of know, like and trust in your ideal customer?

2. Be human.

OK unless some Visitors from other star systems are reading my site for some reason, I can safely say that you are human. Is that human touch in your company? Do people feel they can connect? In other words, tell the HUMAN story not the product story.

Add the human element to your communications, whether in email, online, in space ads or anywhere else. Think of all the Facebook pages for even the biggest brands and you become aware of the importance of the human touch.

3. Tell the STORY about solving a big customer problem.

Share how someone’s life changes with your solution. Don’t just say, “WE solve this problem all the time.”  Tell the story of how Jo suffered with a problem, then searched endlessly for a solution, then found you and then reaped an amazing result.

Story Power DVD cover image

And form ore help with storytelling techniques, Story Power guides you through understanding the one story format to which every human alive responds.  During the 90-minute training, you discover how to tap  into the power of your story.

You also get the journal and other resources that the live seminar participants had.

Claim it now at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/dvd

Follow your bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, the Story Lady

#1 bestselling author & Celebrity Author Mentor

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How Can Storytelling Techniques Build a Strong Brand?

What a really juicy question this is!
 
Do you need to ‘see it to believe it‘, or do you ‘believe it then see it’?  Whatever your answer is, you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose by trying the power of positive thinking!
 
“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability.  It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.”  Anthony Robbins
 
In the article below, Sherril Lowe grapples with the question, has it been proven that positive thinking really helps?

Can The Power of Positive Thinking Really Help?
 
Absolutely!  In fact, it’s a fundamental key to creating and maintaining a healthy, happy and expansive life!
 
Here’s what Michelle says about the power of positive thinking:
“I now know that when I start my day thinking positive thoughts, my day goes FAR better than when I’m grumpy and focusing on what’s ‘wrong’ in the world and in my life.  It’s amazing how much easier things seem to go, and how much healthier and more peaceful I feel.  Then there’s the effect it has on other people.  When I’m positive, just about everyone else around me becomes positive too!  It creates this giant ripple…how great is that?!”
 
There are continuing studies done and much written about how learning new things, and thinking new thoughts create new neural pathways in the brain.  At the beginning, these new connections are weak, then with repetition, the pathways become stronger.  Some people call this ‘brain training‘.  Just like strengthening a muscle, as a neural pathway gets stronger, it becomes easier.    
 
It goes to follow then that if you think positive thoughts, those thoughts will create all kinds of marvelous neural pathways, which in turn makes it easier and easier to do what you want!
 
Make it a daily routine to monitor your thoughts.  If you notice yourself thinking the worst, expecting to be disappointed, or seeing the negative in the world and in the people around you, do something to break the cycle.  Redirect your attention to:

• Think empowering and generous thoughts
• Focus on positive thinking
• Look for what’s good and even great in the world and the people around you
• Believe that it is possible to achieve what you’re most passionate about
• Know that you have the resources to get yourself there!

Do this and you’ll prove for yourself the immense power of positive thinking! 

Regularly thinking positive thoughts is something you can develop on your own with practice.  Working with others who are also focusing on the power of positive thinking will help to get you there more quickly, and at times even miraculously!  Are you ready to take control of your life and learn HOW your thoughts create your experience?  Are you willing to dedicate just one month to see AMAZING results?  Click HERE or go to  http://IgniteYourLifeBOOK.com/miraclemindshift to sign up for the Miracle Mindshift 31-day program, and start creating MIRACLES in your life TODAY! 

To your magnificence!

Andrea Woolf

‘The Queen of Having It All‘
Author of Ignite Your Life! How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be
Founder of IgniteYourLifeBOOK.com
Co-founder of WakeUpAbundant.com
Ambassador of Manifest Money, HowtoLiveonPurpose.com

P.S.  I would love to hear from you!  Use the form below to send in your comment or question.

Originally posted here:
Can The Power of Positive Thinking Really Help?

this is a whole mess of cbaby chickens

Originally uploaded by The Story Lady

it may not be easy to see what this is. These are the baby chickens all in
a pile. adorable!

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this is a whole mess of cbaby chickens

Inspirational thoughts on new beginnings: baby chicks any big new world

Originally uploaded by The Story Lady

baby chicks as well as the adult chickens are often sources of
inspirational thoughts for me.

I love watching them do what chickens do. It is forever the source of
wonder and entertainment for me. I never renew how much fun chickens were
until I started raising them.

Raising the new baby chickens is especially meraculous to me. Tonight, the
babies went from there little box into the big coop for the first time.

Here they are moments after they all arrive in there big new world. And as
much as they cried out for freedom, once they got it they did not quite
know what to do with it.

Never let yourself get so caught up in whatever you do during the day that
you fail to know what is the wonders of nature that are all around you.

Follow your bliss,

Ronda Del Boccii
#1 best selling author and Celebrity Author Mentor

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Inspirational thoughts on new beginnings: baby chicks any big new world