CryoNet #31765 - #31768

CryoNet - Sat 27 Jun 2009

    #31765: Re: michael jackson  [John de Rivaz]
    #31766: Tremendous, world class debate re: science vs. religion at th... [Rudi Hoffman]
    #31767: Michael Jackson set to be 'plastinated' [Mark Plus]
    #31768: high dietary taurine associated with reduced human mortality [oberon]

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Message #31765
From: "John de Rivaz" <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: michael jackson 
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:22:46 +0100

We heard that MJ had been a Jehovah's Witness, and they beleive in 
indefinite duration of life on earth for their followers through the act of 
faith. http://www.watchtower.org/e/19991015/article_02.htm

He could have been referring to this on the video rather than his visit to 
Alcor. However if his body and brain were dissected, then the probability of 
successful reanimation after cryopreservation of the remains very low 
indeed.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

----- Original Message ----- 

CryoNet

>>>Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:09:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: un person <[email protected]>
Subject: michael jackson is reported dead by some sources

--0-1006222066-1245967790=:23643

michael jackson is reported dead by some sources
it is widely reported that he was taken to the hospital, unconscious and not 
breathing. But TMZ a news website is saying he is now dead.
In the past it was rumored he visited alcor, and he on video saying that he 
wanted to live forever right here on earth.
<<< 

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Message #31766
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:06:33 -0400
Subject: Tremendous, world class debate re: science vs. religion at th...
From: Rudi Hoffman <[email protected]>

--0016360e3d1859947c046d443303

Hello, dear cryoneters:

Sam Harris is one of the most brilliant and clear thinking humans...perhaps
ever.

He has, over the past week or so, been engaged in a debate of great
relevance to the reades of cryonet.

This is on the subject of the relationship of science and religion.  And is
highly "on topic" for this forum, conceptually.

Many of us who do a lot of reading, research, and thinking about these
topics like to think of ourselves as "intellectually rigorous, articulate,
crisp in our thoughts and expressions"...basically, we like to think of
ourselves as pretty smart folks.

Yea, you know who you are, dear readers...most of us think we are intellects
of the highest order, head and shoulders above the shoddy thinking and fuzzy
brains of some of our fellows.  Admit it...I will...that's why we read and
post on cryonet and other venues.
But not till you read Sam Harris, in this battle of the intellectual
heavyweights, in a spirited debate with an editor of NATURE magazine named
Mr. Ball, do we realize how HIGH the bar actually is for genuine
intellectual discourse.

If I can ever be HALF as smart, compelling, or clear in my thinking and
writing as Sam Harris I will be thrilled. :)

You may not want to read the whole "shooting match" (because it does get
long).  But the first two day's dialogue will blow you away with how
refreshing it is to read the writings of an individual who pulls no punches
with accomodationists.

Make up your own mind, but I found this incredibly stimulating.

http://www.reasonproject.org/archive/item/what_should_science_dosam_harris_v_philip_ball/

If the above link does not work, or the format is weird, google for "The
Reason Project."

Warm Regards to All Sentient Beings and readers of this forum,

Rudi

PS... In my opinion, Sam Harris CLEARLY prevailed in this dialogue...but
others of great education and wisdom may disagree.  I thought he, in the
vernacular, "Kicked Mr. Ball's ass."  Your well thought out opinions are
welcome in this forum or perhaps a direct e-dialogue with me at
[email protected].   This topic REALLY matters...and each of us would do
well to be as clear thinking and compelling in discourse as our rigorous
self-education can make us.
-- 
Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC

World's Leading Cryonics Insuror rudihoffman.com
Former Board Member Financial Planning Association fpafla.com
Board Member Salvation Army salvationarmy.org
Member Alcor Life Extension Foundation alcor.org,
Member Cryonics Institute cryonics.org
Certified Financial Planner(TM) CFP Board of Standards
Member World Transhumanist Association http://transhumanism.org/

--0016360e3d1859947c046d443303

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Message #31767
From: Mark Plus <[email protected]>
Subject: Michael Jackson set to be 'plastinated'
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:50:40 -0700

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1195750/Michael-Jackson-set-plastinated-missing-deadline-cryogenic-freezing.html#

Michael Jackson set to be 'plastinated' after missing the deadline for cryogenic freezing

By Daily Mail Reporter and Allan Hall

Last updated at 7:21 PM on 26th June 2009

Michael Jackson will live on as a 'plastinated' creature preserved by controversial German doctor Gunther von Hagens after missing the deadline for cryogenic freezing.

It was widely believed that the singer, who died yesterday from a heart attack, was interested in having his body frozen in the hope he could later be brought back to life.

However, it is now likely to be too late for his wish to be granted as the freezing process - cryonics - must be initiated almost immediately after death but an autopsy on Jackson's body still needs to be carried out.

Von Hagens, who has caused widespread controversy with his practice of preserving corpses with polyurethane, today declared: 'An agreement is in place to plastinate the King of Pop.'

Von Hagens said that he spoke with representatives of the Jackson family 'many months ago' and it was agreed that his body will be plastinated and placed next to Bubbles, his late pet monkey who was also plastinated a number of years ago and is currently exhibited at The Body Worlds & Mirror Of Time exhibition at the O2 in London.

Refuted by everyone from the pope to the chief rabbi in Israel, 'plastination' is when corpses are embalmed with preserving polyurethane and frozen forever.

In contrast, cryonics is the cooling of legally dead people to liquid nitrogen temperature where physical decay essentially stops, with the idea that technology developed in the future will be able to revive them.

No-one has ever been revived using this process although it is a popular subject in science fiction films such as Forever Young featuring Mel Gibson.

Despite this, cryogenic freezing has become more popular over time.

Media mogul Simon Cowell caused headlines recently after he said that he wanted to undergo the process.

'Medical science is bound to work out a way of bringing us back to life in the next century or so, and I want to be available when they do,' he said.

Speaking of Michael's final requests, Dr von Hagens also confirmed that he wanted to be reunited with Bubbles.

'There is no better place than to do this at the venue where Jackson was due to perform his world record 50-date tour,' said a spokesman for von Hagens.

He added: 'Whilst von Hagens is keen to keep the pose of the superstar's plastinate under wraps, he hinted that the moonwalk position would naturally be favoured.

'It is hoped the exhibit will be unveiled towards the end of July for all fans to visit and pay their respects.'

Cryogenic freezing is offered in America by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation and Cryonics Institute.

Between them, they currently have 178 frozen patients and 1,000 members signed up to the scheme.
 
How cryonics works

The medical process is a complicated one. Immediately after a cryonic patient's death certificate is signed by a doctor, a cryonics team restores the heartbeat and respiration using a machine to help keep cells in organs and tissues alive.

The patient's body is then cooled from body temperature (37C) to 10C as quickly as possible using ice.
Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson played a character from the 1930s who was frozen for 60 years in the 1992 film Forever Young

Medication is added to their bloodstream to help preserve the body. 

Blood is then removed from the body and replaced with a saline-like solution that stops the shrinking or swelling of cells and tissues.

Anti-freeze agents are added to the blood vessels and the body is placed in a special cooling box where it is cooled to between -120C and -196C and stored away.

However, for this process to have any chance of working, the cryonic process must be started just minutes after 'legal death' is verified by doctors.

This is because a dead person's brain will start to experience a build-up of lactic acid at room temperature. Within 24 hours it will have virtually dissolved.

So with an autopsy on Michael Jackson expected 24 hours after his death, it's already too late for the Peter Pan of pop who never wanted to grow up.




_________________________________________________________________
Insert movie times and more without leaving HotmailR. 
http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009

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Message #31768
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:56:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: [email protected]
Subject: high dietary taurine associated with reduced human mortality

[Taurine is a neglected supplement which likely has the ability to
increase human lifespan. The evidence in support of this notion is spotty,
and not up to the standards of proof for prescription drugs. Nonetheless
the evidence that does exist is quite impressive, and I recommend 500
mg/day of taurine in addition to 1000 IU+ vitamin D and 300 mg
magnesium (citrate) for life extension purposes.]

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009;643:13-25.
Taurine as the nutritional factor for the longevity of the Japanese revealed by a world-wide epidemiological survey.
  Yamori Y, Liu L, Mori M, Sagara M, Murakami S, Nara Y, Mizushima S. Mukogawa Women's University, Japan.
  The initial observation that taurine (T) prevented stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) led us to study the effects of T on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as well as the epidemiological association of T and mortality rates, by using the data from WHO-coordinated Cardiovascular Disease and Alimentary Comparison Study, which covered 61 populations in 25 countries. In this study, 24 hour urine (24-U) samples were examined along with biomarkers of CVD risk. The mortality rate from ischemic heart disease (IHD), which was lowest among the Japanese compared to the populations of other developed countries, was positively related to total serum cholesterol (TC) and inversely related to 24-U taurine excretion (24-UT), as well as the n-3 fatty acid to total phospholipids r
 atio of the plasma membrane, both biomarkers of seafood intake. Analysis of 5 diet-related factors revealed that TC and BMI were positively associated with IHD mortality in both genders while Mg and T were negatively associated with IHD mortality. TC and sodium (Na) were negatively and positively associated with stroke mortality, respectively. 24-UT was negatively associated with stroke mortality. These five diet-related factors explained 61 and 49% of IHD and stroke variances in male, 63 and 36% of IHD and stroke variances in female, respectively.
PMID: 19239132

[Low doses of taurine reverse biomarkers of arterial aging in humans.]

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009;643:47-55.
Modulation by taurine of human arterial stiffness and wave reflection.
  Satoh H, Kang J. Department of Pharmacology, Nara Medical University, Nara, and Hyogo NCC College, Hyogo, Japan.
  Effects of taurine (1000-2000 mg) on hemodynamic function and the arterial pulse wave were investigated for 102 healthy medical and paramedical students. The vascular parameters were generally dependent on aging, with the arterial stiffness parameters, such as baPWV, ABI and AI, are considered the indicators of "vascular aging". Acute administration of taurine decreased BP and HR and attenuated the stiffness parameters derived from the pulse waveform. Thus, taurine can cause significant changes in the cardiovascular system and the arterial pulse wave. However, approximately 5% of the students were non-responders. This may be related to the notion that taurine would be expected to exert greater effects on the vascular functions of unhealthy individuals. Based our previous experiments, the
 refore, taurine plays a role in the regulation of the cardiac and vascular function.
PMID: 19239135

[Vegetarians should take supplemental taurine.]

Med Hypotheses. 2004;63(3):426-33.
Sub-optimal taurine status may promote platelet hyperaggregability in vegetarians.
  McCarty MF. Pantox Laboratories, 4622 Santa Fe St., San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
Although vegan diets typically have a very favorable effect on a range of vascular risk factors, several independent groups have reported that the platelets of vegetarians are more sensitive to pro-aggregatory agonists than are those of omnivores. In light of clear and convincing evidence that platelet function has an important impact on risk for thromboembolic events, it is important to clarify the basis of platelet hyperaggregability in vegetarians. A dietary deficit of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is not likely to explain this phenomenon, since most omnivore diets do not include enough of these fats to discernibly influence platelet function. A more plausible possibility is that relatively poor taurine status--a function of the facts that plants are devoid of taurine and the human cap
 acity for taurine synthesis is limited - is responsible. Plasma taurine levels are lower, and urinary taurine excretion is substantially lower, in vegetarians than in omnivores. Platelets are rich in taurine, which functions physiologically to dampen the calcium influx evoked by aggregating agonists--thereby down-regulating platelet aggregation. Supplemental intakes of taurine as low as 400 mg daily have been reported to markedly decrease the sensitivity of platelets to aggregating agonists ex vivo. Although the average daily intake of taurine from omnivore diets may be only about 150 mg, it is credible to speculate that a supplemental intake of this magnitude could normalize the platelet function of vegetarians in the long term; in any case, this thesis is readily testable clinically. T
 aurine is just one of a number of nutrients found almost solely in animal products--"carninutrients"--which are rational candidates for supplementation in vegans. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ltd.
PMID: 15288361

[Taurine lowers elevated blood pressure.]

Circulation. 1987 Mar;75(3):525-32.
Effects of increased adrenomedullary activity and taurine in young patients with borderline hypertension.
  Fujita T, Ando K, Noda H, Ito Y, Sato Y.
Recent studies showed that taurine, a sulphonic amino acid, could decrease blood pressure and increase sympathoadrenal tone in DoCA-salt-treated hypertensive rats. To determine whether taurine exerts its antihypertensive action in man in a similar fashion, we studied the effect of oral administration of taurine (6 g for 7 days) on blood pressure and plasma catecholamines in 19 young patients with borderline hypertension in a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion. Systolic blood pressure in the 10 patients who were treated with taurine decreased by 9.0 +/- 2.9 mm Hg (mean +/- SE; p less than .05 by paired t test), compared with a 2.7 +/- 2.3 mm Hg decrease (NS) in the nine patients treated with placebo and diastolic blood pressure in the taurine-treated patients decreased by 4.1 +/- 1.7 
 mm Hg (p less than .05) compared with 1.2 +/- 3.0 mm Hg (NS) in the placebo-treated subjects. In the patients receiving taurine plasma epinephrine (E) decreased significantly, with a negligible decrease in plasma norepinephrine (NE). The effect of taurine on plasma catecholamines and the response of plasma E after the stimulation with glucagon was also studied in 12 borderline hypertensive and nine age-matched normotensive subjects. Basal plasma E was significantly higher in borderline hypertensive than in normal subjects, but basal plasma NE did not differ in the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PMID: 3815764

Neurochem Res. 2004 Jan;29(1):143-50.
Is taurine beneficial in reducing risk factors for diabetes mellitus?
  Franconi F, Di Leo MA, Bennardini F, Ghirlanda G. Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Italy. [email protected]
  Taurine is a semiessential amino acid, and its deficiency is involved in retinal and cardiac degenerations. In recent years, it was found that diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with taurine, and many in vivo experimental studies showed that taurine administration is able to reduce the alterations induced by DM in the retina, lens, and peripheral nerve, although its effects on diabetic kidney are dubious. Interestingly, long-term taurine supplementation reduces the mortality rate in diabetic rats. The mechanisms by which taurine exerts beneficial effects in DM are discussed below. Recently, it has been suggested that taurine deficiency may alter the endocrine pancreas "fetal programming," increasing the risk of insulin resistance in adult life. The bulk of experimental data suggests th
 at taurine administration could be useful in the treatment of type 1 DM and in the prevention of insulin resistance.
PMID: 14992273

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2003;526:67-73.
Taurine reduces mortality in diabetic rats: taurine and experimental diabetes mellitus.
  Franconi F, Santini SA, Gentiloni Silveri N, Caputo S, Giardina B, Ghirlanda G, Di Leo MA. Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Italy.
PMID: 12908585

[Here acetylcysteine goes head to head with taurine. Taurine wins.]

Diabetologia. 2008 Jan;51(1):139-46. Epub 2007 Nov 17.
Oral taurine but not N-acetylcysteine ameliorates NEFA-induced impairment in insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in obese and overweight, non-diabetic men.
  Xiao C, Giacca A, Lewis GF. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Antioxidants have been shown to ameliorate lipid-induced impairment of insulin action and beta cell function, both in vitro and in animal studies. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of two orally administered antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and taurine (TAU), on lipotoxicity in humans. METHODS: Nine non-diabetic men, who were either overweight or obese, underwent three studies each, 4-6 weeks apart, in random order: (1) i.v. infusion of saline for 48 h (SAL); (2) i.v. infusion of Intralipid and heparin for 48 h to mimic chronic elevation of plasma NEFA (IH); and (3) IH infusion for 48 h with concurrent oral NAC (IH+NAC). Six men underwent similar studies except for study 3, where instead of NAC they received a 2 week pretreatment with oral TAU (IH
 +TAU). RESULTS: For both the NAC and TAU studies, a 48 h IH infusion alone without antioxidant impaired insulin sensitivity (S(I), 63% and 62% of SAL in NAC and TAU studies, respectively) and beta cell function, as evidenced by a reduction in disposition index (DI, 55% and 54% of SAL in NAC and TAU studies, respectively). NAC failed to prevent the lipid-induced increase in levels of the plasma oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde and did not prevent the lipid-induced reduction in S(I) or DI, whereas TAU completely prevented the rise in malondialdehyde and decreased 4-hydroxynonenal, and significantly improved S(I) (91% of SAL) and DI (81% of SAL). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Oral TAU ameliorates lipid-induced functional beta cell decompensation and insulin resistance in humans, possib
 ly by reducing oxidative stress.
PMID: 18026714

[Here popular supplements such as vitamin E and selenium are teamed up, and go head to head with neglected supplement taurine. The two popular supplements prove to be worthless, while taurine wins the day.]

Amino Acids. 2004 Oct;27(2):187-91. Epub 2004 Aug 11.
Long-term taurine supplementation reduces mortality rate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  Di Leo MA, Santini SA, Silveri NG, Giardina B, Franconi F, Ghirlanda G. Department of Emergency Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
  Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Taurine and vitamin E+selenium supplementation has some benefits in experimental models of diabetes mellitus. This study evaluates whether taurine and vitamin E+selenium supplementations reduce a hard end-point such as mortality due to diabetes. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were fed with standard diet or taurine (5%, w/w) or vitamin E (500 UI/Kg)+selenium (8 mg/Kg) enriched diets. Taurine significantly decreased mortality rate (p < 0.04), while vitamin E failed to increase survival. In the late phase of the disease, taurine significantly decreased glycaemia, being vitamin E ineffective. No correlation between glycaemia and survival was found. None of supplementations modified body weight. Thus, only taurine 
 decreases the mortality rate and glycaemia. These results encourage new research in the field, since classical hypoglycaemic agents are unable to decrease mortality in diabetic patients.
PMID: 15503226

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