CryoNet #31727 - #31729

CryoNet - Mon 8 Jun 2009

    #31727: We need to protect ourselves [david pizer]
    #31728: 5000 IU vitamin D daily for centenarians [oberon]
    #31729: Fundamental longevity  [hkhenson]

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Message #31727
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 08:23:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: david pizer <[email protected]>
Subject: We need to protect ourselves

What may be the single most serious threat to YOU getting your suspension?

Below are some clips from the recent post about the Alcor member who died and his relatives did not notify Alcor and seem (in my opinion) to be trying to keep his suspension from happening.  (Then below the clip are my comments:

" Orville Martin Richardson, who died in February at 81, wanted to donate his remains "not only in the hope of potential revival, but also to prove and perfect the process" of cryonic suspension.

Richardson, according to the lawsuit paid Alcor more than $50,000 in 2004 for a membership and included money in his will. He is buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery.

He also gave Alcor full custody on his remains "by whatever legal means may be available for the purposes of placing them into cryonic suspension."

Still, Alcor attorneys contend the man's brother, David Richardson of Ohio and his sister Darlene Broeker of West Burlington -- co-admnistrators of the estate -- denied the foundation's request for their brother's remains. They also didn't let Alcor know their brother died."
===================

David speaking again:  Being a cryonicists myself since the early 80's, and hearing horor stories from even before that, and having been an Alcor Director and Officer for 11 years, I have come to the conclusion that the single most dangerous obstacle facing a cryonicist is that when they get old and senile and infirm there is the risk that their relatives (or others) will try to prevent their suspension.

Most cryonicists seem to forget that just before they die they will be older and may be being managed by relatives or the government, both of whom may think cryonics is silly, stupid, a waste of good money, or even a rip off.  It often isn't a sudden act that keeps a suspension from happening but as the cryonicist gets older his/her relatives (or others) move them away from the cryonics community.  We cryonicists at present don't have a way of keeping track of our people on a daily basis.  We don't have a way of protecting them from their relatives or others who don't want them suspended.

We need a physical community where older cryonicists can come to live among other cryonicists - where we can take care of our own as we get older.  Where we can protect our own.

I was planning to help build such a community in Arizona and I was accumulating wealth to do so, however the recent economic worldwide financial reversal has slowed that down.

Anyone interested in being involved a project like this can contact me.

David 
[email protected]

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Message #31728
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:45:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: [email protected]
Subject: 5000 IU vitamin D daily for centenarians

[Since most centenarians are grossly deficient in vitamin D, supplementation
would likely lower their elevated mortality rates. In this population a
daily dosage of 5000 IU would appear to be indicated.]

Snip> "Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was undetectable in 99 of 104
centenarians"

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;88(11):5109-15.
Comment in:  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;88(11):5107-8.
Low vitamin D status, high bone turnover, and bone fractures in
centenarians.
    Passeri G, Pini G, Troiano L, Vescovini R, Sansoni P, Passeri M, Gueresi
P, Delsignore R, Pedrazzoni M, Franceschi C. Department of Internal Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
    The oldest olds, including centenarians, are increasing worldwide and,
in the near future, will represent a consistent part of the population. We
have studied bone status and metabolism in 104 subjects over 98 yr of age to
evaluate possible interventions able to avoid fragility fractures and
disability. Ninety females and 14 males not affected by any acute disease
were considered. After a complete clinical assessment, blood was drawn for
evaluating bone turnover markers, and performance tests together with
skeletal ultrasonography (either at the phalanges or at the heel) were
performed. We found that 38 subjects had sustained a total of 55 fractures
throughout their lives, and 75% of these were fragility fractures.
Twenty-eight fractures occurred at the proximal femur, with 14 after the age
of 94 yr. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was undetectable in 99 of 104
centenarians. PTH and serum C-terminal fragment of collagen type I were
elevated in 64 and 90% of centenarians, respectively, with a trend toward
hypocalcemia. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels were close to the upper
limit. Serum IL-6 was elevated in 81% of centenarians and was positively
correlated with PTH and negatively correlated with serum calcium. Serum
creatinine was not correlated with PTH. Bone ultrasonography showed that
most centenarians had low values, and ultrasonographic parameters were
correlated with resorption markers. We conclude that the extreme decades of
life are characterized by a pathophysiological sequence of events linking
vitamin D deficiency, low serum calcium, and secondary hyperparathyroidism
with an increase in bone resorption and severe osteopenia. These data offer
a rationale for the possible prevention of elevated bone turnover, bone
loss, and consequently the reduction of osteoporotic fractures and
fracture-induced disability in the oldest olds through the supplementation
with calcium and vitamin D.
PMID: 14602735

Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jun;87(6):1952-8.
Vitamin D intake to attain a desired serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
concentration.
    Aloia JF, Patel M, Dimaano R, Li-Ng M, Talwar SA, Mikhail M, Pollack S,
Yeh JK. Bone Mineral Research Center, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola,
NY, USA.
    BACKGROUND: Indirect evidence suggests that optimal vitamin D status is
achieved with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration >75
nmol/L. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the intake of vitamin D(3) needed
to raise serum 25(OH)D to >75 nmol/L. DESIGN: The design was a 6-mo,
prospective, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, placebo-controlled
study of vitamin D(3) supplementation. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by
radioimmunoassay. Vitamin D(3) intake was adjusted every 2 mo by use of an
algorithm based on serum 25(OH)D concentration. RESULTS: A total of 138
subjects entered the study. After 2 dose adjustments, almost all active
subjects attained concentrations of 25(OH)D >75 nmol/L, and no subjects
exceeded 220 nmol/L. The mean (+/-SD) slope at 9 wk [defined as 25(OH)D
change/baseline dose] was 0.66 +/- 0.35 (nmol/L)/(microg/d) and did not
differ statistically between blacks and whites. The mean daily dose was 86
microg (3440 IU). The use of computer simulations to obtain the most
participants within the range of 75-220 nmol/L predicted an optimal daily
dose of 115 microg/d (4600 IU). No hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria was
observed. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the intake required to attain serum
25(OH)D concentrations >75 nmol/L must consider the wide variability in the
dose-response curve and basal 25(OH)D concentrations. Projection of the
dose-response curves observed in this convenience sample onto the population
of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggests a
dose of 95 microg/d (3800 IU) for those above a 25(OH)D threshold of 55
nmol/L and a dose of 125 microg/d (5000 IU) for those below that threshold.
PMID: 18541590

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Message #31729
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:47:47 -0700
From: hkhenson <[email protected]>
Subject: Fundamental longevity 

http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/090607_germline.htm

"The idea that somat ic cells maintain the 
potential to reacquire pathways lost during 
differentiation [generation of new cells] is 
tantalizing,” they added, and may help 
researchers develop "therapeutics to assist in 
cellular repair and possibly regeneration.”

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