Compound Found In Red Wine Improves Metabolism Fights Aging

In yet another study of the benefits of red wine, Harvard Medical School researchers have reported that increasing the levels of sirtuin genes protects against aging by similar mechanisms in both very simple organisms like yeast, and in mammals. “This is the first potentially fundamental, root cause of aging that we’ve found,” said professor of pathology David Sinclair in a Harvard press release. “There may very well be others, but our finding that aging in a simple yeast cell is directly relevant to aging in mammals comes as a surprise.” When stimulated by the red wine chemical resveratrol, or by caloric restriction, sirtuins seem to have positive effects on aging and health, according to Sinclair’s research. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals is working with these results to create a pill that targets Diabetis and other diseases related to aging, as discussed in the following ScienCentral clip.

Exoskeleton Gets Paralyzed Moving

Israeli high tech firm, Argo Medical Technologies, has developed a robotic exoskeleton called "ReWalk" that straps onto it's wearers legs and allows them to stand, walk, and climb stairs with the aid of the device. The user must have good upper body mobility, good control over their hands and shoulders, and still requires the use of crutches. The suit is controlled through changes in centre of gravity and upper body movements. Former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof says "I never dreamed I would walk again. After I was wounded, I forgot what it's like. Only when standing up can I feel how tall I really am and speak to people eye to eye, not from below." The suit is currently in clinical trials at Tel Aviv's Sheba Medical Centre. Check out the BBC for more details and video.

Have a glass of wine and call me in the morning

Researchers have in the past suggested that moderate consumption of beer and wine have a variety of health benefits ranging from lower risk of heart disease and certain cancers. The U.K.'s Telegraph reports here that Italian researches are finding that wine, red or white, "could make a good antibacterial mouth wash to fight tooth decay and a sore throat". The study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that wine was effective in inhibiting the growth of several strains of streptococci bacteria that are involved in tooth decay, and some cases of sore throat. Red wine was more active than white but both had positive affect. Sounds good to me, but is it a coincidence that the researchers were from Italy?