Health news from around the world.

The Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factor (CADRF) is determined by dividing total cholesterol by HDL. For example, if your total cholesterol is 150 and your HDL is 50, your CADRF is 3:

CARDF = 150 = 3

50

The higher the CADRF, the greater your chance of suffering a heart attack. For men, a CADRF of:

3.43 = one half the average risk of coronary artery disease.

4.97 = the average risk of coronary artery disease.

9.55 = two times the average risk of coronary artery disease.

23.39 = three times the average risk of coronary artery disease.

For women, a CADRF of:

3.27 = one half the average risk of coronary artery disease. 4.44 = the average risk of coronary artery disease. 7.05 = two times the average risk of coronary artery disease. 11.04 = three times the average risk of coronary artery disease.

But remember: average is awful! You don’t want to have the average risk of suffering from coronary-artery disease. You want your changes to be much better than that.

For men, the CARDF should be 3.5 or less. For women, 3.0 or less is good. The higher the CARDF, the greater your chance of having a heart attack.

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Vitamin B-t (Thiamine)

A lack of sufficient Bj can lead to immune-system deficiency, such as lessened resistance to infection, reduced numbers of T-and B-cells, decreased spleen-cell response and a small shrinkage of the thymus. But the effects of a B[ deficit on the immune system are not as pronounced as those seen because of B6, B12 or folic acid shortage.

Although vitamin BY has only a mild immune-system enhancing effect, it is very important for general health, energy, growth, muscles and nerves. I have used Bj many times to relieve the symptoms of neuritis (a burning and tingling feeling often felt in the extremities or tongue).

Biotin

Biotin is a member of the B-complex family of vitamins. Scientists now are beginning to look at its effects on the immune system. When children with a rare biotin-deficiency disease were studied, the administration of biotin, in large amounts, also corrected their immune-system weakness. Most of us don’t have this rare disease, but the study serves as a model for what we can learn about the effects of biotin, as well as other vitamins and minerals, on the immune system.

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HYPOTHYROIDISM: a deficiency of thyroid hormone, most commonly due to Hashimoto’s inflammation of the thyroid.

Signs and Symptoms: strike slowly. There is an insidious onset of weakness; fatigue; loss of energy; loss of drive; forgetfulness; personality changes. Skin becomes dry, coarse, scaly, thick; eyelids droop; face assumes a dull expression; puffiness and swelling around eyes; feet swell; hands and feet may become numb and tingly. Heavy menstrual periods and low body temperature also occur.

INFECTION WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV): viral infection which over 60 percent of adults may have at one time or another. May be without consequence or can be serious. Can lead to hepatitis, cause abortion, stillbirth, liver damage. Can be found in immune-compromised people; may be a pre-AIDS condition.

Signs and Symptoms: can be symptomless or can be characterized by fever; tiredness; malaise; weakness; gland enlargement in the neck and elsewhere, with or without pain.

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The complements aren’t the only immune soldiers that work together. T-cells, as you remember, secrete chemicals that increase the cell-eating activity of the giant macrophages. Antibodies assist macrophages by locking onto antigens and identifying them as enemies to be devoured. And macrophages help the lymphocytes (T- and B-cells) by acting as “scouts.”

Macrophages are stationed right by the lymphocyte colonies in various lymph tissues. It’s felt that the macrophages face the antigen first. The macrophages devour the antigen, then excrete a piece of it, which they “present” to the T-and B-cells to study. The piece of dead antigen acts like battle orders for the lymphocytes, exciting some of them to action.

The cells of your immune system constantly interact with other cells by releasing substances that “give orders” to other cells. Earlier I mentioned that immune soldiers engaging antigens can send out a chemical “call for help,” and that T-cells release chemicals that increase the phagocytic activity of the macrophage, and sensitize other T-cells to the same antigen.

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