picasso judicial

Friday, February 15, 2013

Karen, Jim Reynolds Claim Chris Dorner Tied Them Up, Stole Their Car (VIDEO)

In this image taken from video provided by KABC-TV, the cabin in Big Bear, Calif. where ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner is believed to be barricaded inside is in flames Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/KABC-TV) MANDATORY CREDIT: KABC-TV

Bill Whalen, Andrew Smith, Norma Eisenman

Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith, second from left, expresses condolences for the death of a San Bernardino County deputy, as he briefs the media about the shootout scene in Big Bear that allegedly involves triple-murder suspect Christopher Jordan Dorner, during a late news conference in front of the Police Administration Building in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Lt. Bill Whalen, of the Irvine Police Department, far left, and LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman, right, stand with Smith. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Andrew Smith, Bill Whalen, Norma Eisenman

Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith, left, expresses condolences for the death of a San Bernardino County deputy, as he briefs the media about the shootout scene in Big Bear that allegedly involves triple-murder suspect Christopher Jordan Dorner, during a late news conference in front of the Police Administration Building in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Lt. Bill Whalen, of the Irvine Police Department, middle and LAPD officer Norma Eisenman, right, stand with Smith. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Cindy Bachman, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, talks about the hunt for accused killer and fired Los Angeles police Officer Christopher Dorner in Angelus Oaks, Caif., Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

A Redlands Police officer walks near a road blockade near the entrance to the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California after Christopher Dorner, a fugitive ex-Los Angeles cop sought in three killings, engaged in a shootout with authorities that wounded two officers in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/The Sun, Gabriel Luis Acosta) VENTURA COUNTY STAR OUT; RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE OUT; THE VICTOR VALLEY DAILY PRESS OUT

Manhunt For Former L.A. Cop Leads Back To Big Bear Lake

YUCAIPA, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Redlands police officers secure at a blockade during a manhunt for the former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner who is suspected of triple murder on February 12, 2013 in Yucaipa, California. Dorner barricaded himself in a cabin near Big Bear, California and is in a standoff with authorities after shooting two police officers, killing one and wounding the other. Dorner, a former Los Angeles Police Department officer and Navy Reserve veteran, is wanted in connection with the deaths of an Irvine couple and a Riverside police officer. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

US-CRIME-POLICE-INCIDENT

Shantel Cardiel (L) and Frank Cardiel hold up signs in support of fugitive triple murder suspect Christopher Dorner along the road in San Bernardino, California n February 12, 2013. Fugitive former US cop Christopher Dorner exchanged gunfire with police near a Californian ski resort where his burnt-out truck was found, reports said. The 33-year-old was involved in the shooting after he tried to burglarize a home near Big Bear, two hours east of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a law enforcement source. ? AFP PHOTO / David McNew (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

US-CRIME-POLICE-INCIDENT

Shantel Cardiel holds up a sign in support of fugitive triple murder suspect Christopher Dorner along the road in San Bernardino, California n February 12, 2013. Fugitive former US cop Christopher Dorner exchanged gunfire with police near a Californian ski resort where his burnt-out truck was found, reports said. The 33-year-old was involved in the shooting after he tried to burglarize a home near Big Bear, two hours east of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a law enforcement source. ? AFP PHOTO / David McNew (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Manhunt For Former L.A. Cop Leads Back To Big Bear Lake

ANGELUS OAKS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: A San Bernardino Sheriff's Department deputy watches as a car is towed away after a standoff and a shootout with former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner who is suspected of triple murder on February 12, 2013 in Angelus Oaks, California. Dorner barricaded himself in a cabin near Big Bear, California which later caught fire. According to the LAPD the cabin remains too hot to enter and a body has not been located. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Law Enforcement personnel gear up along Hwy 38 during the hunt for accused killer and fired Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Dorner in Yacaipa, Caif.,Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Dorner, a man police believe to be the fugitive ex-Los Angeles officer wanted in three killings, was barricaded inside a burning cabin Tuesday after a shootout in a California mountain town that left one deputy dead and another wounded. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Andrew Smith

Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith, left, briefs the media about the shootout scene in Big Bear that allegedly involves triple-murder suspect Christopher Jordan Dorner, during a news conference in front of the Police Administration Building in Los Angeles Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A Redlands Police officer inspects a vehicle near the entrance to the San Bernardino National Forest, Calif. after fugitive ex-Los Angeles cop Christopher Dorner, sought in three killings, is believed to have engaged in a shootout with authorities that wounded two officers in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/The Sun, Gabriel Luis Acosta) LA TIMES; VENTURA COUNTY STAR; RIVERSIDE PRESSENTERPRISE; THE VICTOR VALLEY DAILY PRESS OUT MANDATORY CREDIT

Law Enforcement personnel block Hwy 38 during the hunt for accused killer and ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Yacaipa, Caif., Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Dorner is believed to be barricaded in a cabin Tuesday after a furious gunbattle with police in the snow-covered mountains of Southern California, authorities said, the culmination of an intensive manhunt that left a region an edge for nearly a week. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Law Enforcement personnel search a vehicle along Hwy 38 during the hunt for accused killer and ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Yacaipa, Caif., Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Dorner is believed to be barricaded in a cabin Tuesday after a furious gunbattle with police in the snow-covered mountains of Southern California, authorities said, the culmination of an intensive manhunt that left a region an edge for nearly a week. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Bill Whalen, Andrew Smith

Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith, right, briefs the media about the shootout scene in Big Bear that allegedly involves triple-murder suspect Christopher Jordan Dorner, during a news conference in front of the Police Administration Building in Los Angeles Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. At left, Lt. Bill Whalen of the Irvine Police Department.

A Redlands Police officer walks near a road blockade near the entrance to the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California near Big Bear Lake, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.

Redlands Police officers man a blockade near the entrance to the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California after Christopher Dorner engaged in a shootout with authorities that wounded two officers in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.

Members on the California Highway Patrol search a truck for Christopher Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Big Bear Lake, Calif.

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. after searching for Christopher Jordan Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Search conditions have been hampered by a heavy winter storm in the area. Dorner, a former Los Angeles police officer, is accused of carrying out a killing spree?because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Pool, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

A police vehicle patrols the streets of Big Bear Lake, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Clear skies allowed aircraft with heat-sensing technology to aid scores of officers searching in the snow-covered San Bernardino Mountains for Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of killing three people in a vengeance-fueled rampage aimed at those he blames for ending his career. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bernabe Ortiz

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officer Bernabe Ortiz holds a pistol as he searches a home for former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. The hunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings entered a fourth day in snow-covered mountains Sunday, a day after the police chief ordered a review of the disciplinary case that led to the fugitive's firing and new details emerged of the evidence he left behind. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bernabe Ortiz, Ken Owens

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officers Ken Owens, center, and Bernabe Ortiz search a home for former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. The hunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings entered a fourth day in snow-covered mountains Sunday, a day after the police chief ordered a review of the disciplinary case that led to the fugitive's firing and new details emerged of the evidence he left behind. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bernabe Ortiz, Ken Owens

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officer Ken Owens searches a home for the former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. The hunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings entered its fourth day in the snow-covered mountains on Sunday, a day after the police chief ordered a review of the disciplinary case that led to the fugitive's firing and new details emerged of the evidence he left behind. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

California Highway Patrol officers search a truck for former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner at a checkpoint near Big Bear Lake, Calif, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Law enforcement officers working in falling snow searched the Southern California mountain for Dorner, who is accused of carrying out a killing spree because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A San Bernardino County Sheriff SWAT team returns to the command post at Bear Mountain near Big Bear Lake, Calif.

U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement vehicles are covered in snow near the command post in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

U.S. Marshals deputies look behind the vegetation as they stand on guard outside the home of the mother of fugitive suspect Christopher Dorner on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

Christopher Dorner

This image shows Christopher Dorner from Jan. 28, 2013 surveillance video at an Orange County, Calif., hotel.

A digital billboard along Santa Monica Boulevard on the west side of Los Angeles shows a "wanted" alert on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

California Highway Patrol officers search a vehicle for former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner at a checkpoint near Big Bear Lake, Calif, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

A California Highway Patrol officer tells a driver to roll the window at a checkpoint near Big Bear Lake, Calif, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies gather at the command post in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Clear skies allowed aircraft with heat-sensing technology to aid scores of officers searching in the snow-covered San Bernardino Mountains for Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of killing three people in a vengeance-fueled rampage aimed at those he blames for ending his career. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies board a snow cat at the command post in Big Bear Lake, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter flies over Big Bear Lake, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.

A U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement officer follows tracks left in the snow while searching a home for former Christopher Dorner in Big Bear Lake, Calif, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Clear skies allowed aircraft with heat-sensing technology to aid scores of officers searching in the snow-covered San Bernardino Mountains.

San Bernardino Sheriff's Department officer Steven Spagon mans a check point during the search in Big Bear Lake, Calif. Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Law enforcement officials spent all night searching the snowy mountains of Southern California.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies stand alert outside the Twin Towers jail, which was put on lockdown after an alleged sighting of suspect Christopher Jordan Dorner Friday Feb. 8, 2013 in Los Angeles. The lockdown was later lifted. Law enforcement officers worked through the night amid an incoming snow storm searching for the former Los Angeles police officer accused of carrying out a killing spree because he felt he was unfairly fired from his job.

Cindy Bachman

Cindy Bachman, public information officer for the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, updates the media on the search for fired Los Angeles police officer, Christopher Dorner.

Christopher Dorner

This undated series of photos shows suspect Christopher Dorner. Dorner, who was fired from the LAPD in 2008 for making false statements, is linked to a weekend killing in which one of the victims was the daughter of a former police captain who had represented him during the disciplinary hearing.

Christopher Dorner

This undated photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows suspect Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. Dorner, who was fired from the LAPD in 2008 for making false statements, is linked to a weekend killing in which one of the victims was the daughter of a former police captain who had represented him during the disciplinary hearing. Authorities believe Dorner opened fire early Thursday on police in cities east of Los Angeles, killing an officer and wounding another. Police issued a statewide "officer safety warning" and police were sent to protect people named in the posting that was believed to be written by Dorner. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department)

Christopher Dorner

This undated photo shows suspect Christopher Dorner. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department)

Christopher Dorner

This undated photo shows suspect Christopher Dorner. Police issued a statewide "officer safety warning" and police were sent to protect people named in the posting that was believed to be written by Dorner.

Here, former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner is shown. Dorner is a suspect in the killings of Monica Quan and her fiance, Keith Lawrence.

Charlie Beck, Sandy Jo MacArthur

Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck, right, comments on fired officer, Christopher Dorner, Dorner's multiple weapons, including an assault rifle, during a news conference at the LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Sara Faden, Christopher Dorner, Norma Eisenman

Los Angeles Police Public Information officers: Sara Faden, left, and Officer Norma Eisenman carry photos of suspect Christopher Dorner during a news conference at the LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. At left, Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur.

Corona, Calif., Police officers stand near the site of a police shooting Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Corona, Calif.

A burned-out pickup truck belonging to ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner is towed after it was discovered in Big Bear, Calif, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

A bullet-damaged Los Angeles Police vehicle is taped off by police on Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Corona, Calif.

A Los Angeles Police officer checks his weapon at the site of a shooting Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 in Corona, Calif.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/karen-jim-reynolds-chris-dorner_n_2683160.html

karen handel hangout todd haley kareem abdul jabbar miramonte elementary school mark jenkins super bowl commercials 2012

Analysis: Duke's chances for NCAA run slim without Kelly

Mike Krzyzewski turned 66 on Wednesday night, a reminder that his days at Duke are measured in years, not decades. Dean Smith, after all, walked away from North Carolina at the same age.

So these are days to be treasured at Duke. Krzyzewski already has four NCAA titles and may win another, but his reign won't last forever. Those high school seniors who got their acceptances to Duke may finish their college years with a different man on the bench at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

So there was an important lesson buried inside the chaos of Cameron Wednesday night, and it was this ? Duke is one team with Ryan Kelly in the lineup, and another with him on the bench. Duke is too thin up front, and too dependent on three-pointers, to make a real run for the NCAA title with Kelly out of the fold.

When Kelly, who played at Ravenscroft in Raleigh, will return from a right foot injury is uncertain. It was telling that Krzyzewski, when asked about the impact of the loss of Kelly Wednesday night, opened his response by saying "if" Kelly is back.

He hasn't played since Jan. 8 against Clemson and could be weeks away. Duke fans don't have to think back long to remember the most famous toe in Devils history, as Kyrie Irving's injury lingered.

Duke wasn't the same team when Irving returned in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. The Devils looked tentative on the floor and lost to Arizona in NCAA play too early for the talent they had.

In some situations, injuries have benefited Duke. In 1992, Bobby Hurley suffered a foot injury and Grant Hill moved to point guard. After Hurley returned, the confident Hill gained in handling the ball was vital to success. Hill, for example, played with tremendous poise in the epic Final Eight victory over Kentucky that led to the national title.

In 2001, Carlos Boozer suffered an injury that looked devastating to Duke's NCAA chances. But Krzyzewski and his staff re-invented the team with Boozer out. Once Boozer returned, Duke was already rocketing toward the NCAA title.

This year? Hard to say. ?Even Krzyzewski was realistic about where this team stands despite its No. 2 ranking.

"We've been able not to let our ship sink," Krzyzewski said. "So some of this since Ryan has been out is survival."

This situation, Krzyzewski said, is different than previous ones when Duke faced an injury because the Devils don't have the depth of talent of past teams.

"When Boozer went out, you still had Williams, Battier, Dunleavy, Duhon. We don't have that," Krzyzewski said.

"He [Kelly] is just a key guy. So who we are goes down significantly ? significantly."

That was evident Wednesday. Give Carolina credit for a gritty performance, and the wisdom to play a smaller, quicker lineup that matched up with Duke.

But the absence of Kelly was the reason Carolina could go that route. It's not just Kelly's scoring and rebounding that Duke misses, but the smaller contributions, like his willingness to set screens, that make a difference on the floor.

And when he'll be back is uncertain.

"We think he'll be back,but we're not completely sure," Krzyzewski said. "There's no timeframe."

There's no time frame for how long Krzyzewski will coach at Duke, either.? Three years? Four years? Who knows?

This much is clear ? without Ryan Kelly, Duke's chance of snatching its fifth national title this season is remote.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50810861/ns/local_news-raleigh_nc/

tracy morgan Chase.com Talk Like a Pirate Day raiders Demi Lovato iOS 6 Features big brother

The Brookings Faction Running US Mid-East Policy is Feared Unsympathetic to Israel?s Interests

Premium content

The article "The Brookings Faction Running US Mid-East Policy is Feared Unsympathetic to Israel?s Interests" is an exclusive article and can be purchased.

Pay regular price | Subscribe and pay reduced price | Add article to shopping cart

Source: http://www.debka.com/article/22765/

nor easter veep los angeles kings earth day timothy leary jonathan frid pujols

Merck settles investor suits on cholesterol drugs

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) ? Merck & Co. has agreed to pay $688 million to settle two long-running lawsuits brought by investors who alleged the drugmaker delayed releasing bad news on its blockbuster cholesterol drugs to prevent a drop in sales.

Merck, the world's third biggest drugmaker by revenue, said Thursday that it agreed to the settlement because it's in the best interest of the company and current shareholders. It is taking a charge of nearly a half-billion dollars against 2012 earnings.

The delay in releasing results of a study that was meant to bolster sales of pricey cholesterol pills Zetia and Vytorin triggered criticism by analysts, investors, some scientists and the media ? and ultimately an investigation by Congress.

The maker of Januvia Type 2 diabetes pills and the Gardasil vaccine against sexually transmitted cancers admitted no wrongdoing. The deal must be approved by a federal judge.

"The settlement gets a cloud out of the sky for Merck," said Erik Gordon, an analyst and professor at University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

The settlement is among the top 25 securities class action settlements ever, according to Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP, co-lead counsel in the litigation brought by a number of large pension funds.

Merck, which is based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., said in a statement that it's taking a charge of $493 million. The company also restated previously reported financial results, reducing its 2012 fourth-quarter results to 30 cents per share from 46 cents per share, and its 2012 results to $2 per share from $2.16 per share.

Merck shares fell 13 cents to $41.02 in afternoon trading. They have traded in a 52-week range of $36.91 last March to $48 in mid-October.

Merck and its then-partner Schering-Plough, which it later acquired, for about two years had delayed disclosing results of the study, known by the acronym ENHANCE. It tested how well Vytorin and Zetia reduced plaque buildup in neck arteries of patients with high cholesterol. The drugs had already been on the market for a few years, and together generated billions in annual sales for the two New Jersey drugmakers, racking up a combined $5.2 billion in 2007 alone.

The study was intended to give the pills a bigger edge over rival medicines in the huge market for cholesterol drugs, by showing that besides reducing bad, or LDL cholesterol, the pills prevented it from clogging arteries ? and presumably from causing heart attacks and strokes. But imaging of neck arteries of ENHANCE study participants showed that Zetia and Vytorin, which combines Zetia with a generic version of Merck's older cholesterol pill Zocor, didn't work any better than cheap generic Zocor did alone.

When Merck in early 2008 finally released the ENHANCE study results, Merck stock tumbled, causing big losses for investors, and sales of the two pills declined in the U.S.

Bernstein Litowitz, Grant & Eisenhofer and other law firms representing pension funds in the U.S. and elsewhere that held Merck and Schering-Plough stock then filed suits against each of the companies. Under the settlement agreement, Schering-Plough, which became part of Merck in 2009, will pay $473 million, and Merck will pay $215 million. A Merck spokesman said the company expects insurance to cover part of the total, reducing Merck's liability to the $493 million for which it's taking a charge.

Edward Jones analyst Judson Clark said the settlement is "largely a non-issue for long-term equity investors."

However, he added, "The combined number was probably a little higher than many investors were expecting and that's reflected in today's price movement."

Merck said in a statement that "numerous clinical trials conducted over the years have demonstrated a strong relationship between lowering LDL cholesterol and reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality."

It added that its ongoing IMPROVE-IT study, an 18,000-patient study of Vytorin, should answer the question of whether lowering LDL cholesterol to very low levels with Vytorin could reduce heart attacks and strokes more than generic Zocor alone could do.

However, during a conference call two weeks ago to review fourth-quarter results, Merck executives would not reassure nervous analysts that the IMPROVE-IT study will show that benefit. Merck stressed then that it has numerous drugs in late-stage development and plans this year to file for approval of five of them. Still, two analysts quickly downgraded their ratings on its shares, one from "Hold" to "Sell" and the other from "Buy" to "Hold."

Analyst Les Funtleyder, a health care strategist at private equity fund Poliwogg, said the settlement news "will get lost in concern over" Merck saying recently that it will delay for about a year plans to apply for approval of a crucial new osteoporosis drug, odanacatib, while it waits for additional study results.

The settlement comes less than three weeks before the case was to come to trial. It had been scheduled to begin on March 4, before U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh in Newark, who must approve the settlement.

______

Linda A. Johnson can be followed at http://twitter.com/LindaJ_onPharma

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-14-Merck-Cholesterol%20Drug%20Suit/id-5236be8cf897431a9bfb698cfca04d88

tyson chandler stephen hill draft tracker the pirates band of misfits cleveland browns minnesota twins bobby abreu

A little molecule's remarkable feat: Prolonging life

Feb. 14, 2013 ? Nitric oxide, the versatile gas that helps increase blood flow, transmit nerve signals, and regulate immune function, appears to perform one more biological feat -- prolonging the life of an organism and fortifying it against environmental stress, according to a new study.

The study reveals that a roundworm called Caenorhabditis elegans, an animal widely used in laboratory studies of aging, lives significantly longer when fed bacteria capable of manufacturing nitric oxide. The tantalizing observation points to one of the mechanisms by which the microbiome, the trillions of microbial cells inhabiting our bodies, may play a vital role in our health.

Our own nitric oxide levels decrease as we get older, a decline that may contribute to normal aging, says Evgeny Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center, who led the new study. Supplemental bacteria, he speculates, might provide a healthy boost by supplying humans with some of the missing compound.

"In worms, we now know that bacteria can use nitric oxide not only to their own advantage but also to provide their host with a beneficial response, and the same thing could be true in a human gut," says Dr. Nudler. "It may well be the case that our commensal bacteria control some of our genes, at least in the gut, to protect those cells against stress and age-related decline." Commensal bacteria provide a benefit to the organisms they colonize.

Although humans and many other organisms have the enzyme needed to produce nitric oxide, C. elegans does not. Instead, Dr. Nudler and his team report in the February 14th online issue of Cell that the worm can "hijack" the compound from the soil-dwelling Bacillus subtilis bacterium that is not only a favored food but also a common colonist within its gut. This resourcefulness, Dr. Nudler says, partially explains why worms fed B. subtilis live roughly 50 percent longer than counterparts fed Escherichia coli, which does not produce the compound.

In the new study, the average C. elegans lifespan increased by nearly 15 percent, to about two weeks, when researchers fed the worms nitric oxide-producing B. subtilis bacteria, compared to worms fed mutant B. subtilis with a deleted nitric oxide production gene. The research group also used fluorescent sensors to show that C. elegans does not make its own nitric oxide gas. When the worms were fed normal B. subtilis bacteria, however, the fluorescent signal appeared in their guts.

Fluorescent labeling and other tests also demonstrated that B. subtilis-derived nitric oxide penetrated the worms' tissues, where it activated a set of 65 genes. Some had been previously implicated in stress resistance, immune response, and increased lifespan, though others have unknown functions. Importantly, the researchers showed that two well-known regulatory proteins were essential for activating all of the genes.

"What we found is that nitric oxide gas produced in bacteria inside the worms diffuses into the worm tissue and activates a very specific set of genes acting through two master regulators, hsf-1 and daf-16, resulting in a high resistance to stress and a longer life," Dr. Nudler says. "It's striking that a small molecule produced by one organism can dramatically affect the physiology and even lifespan of another organism through direct cell signaling."

As part of nitric oxide's expansive repertoire, Dr. Nudler's lab previously showed how dangerous pathogens can exploit the molecule to fight off antibiotics. Despite its versatility, the new research suggests that nitric oxide is only one of multiple beneficial molecules produced by B. subtilis, Dr. Nudler says. His lab plans to look more closely at other potential mechanisms by which commensal bacteria can promote health and longevity, using the powerful and easily manipulated C. elegans system as a model.

The study co-authors include Ivan Gusarov, Laurent Gautier, Olga Smolentseva, and Ilya Shamovsky from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU Langone Medical Center; and Svetlana Eremina and Alexander Mironov from the State Research Institute of Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms in Moscow, Russia.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Biogerontology Research Foundation, and the Dynasty Foundation.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NYU Langone Medical Center, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Ivan Gusarov, Laurent Gautier, Olga Smolentseva, Ilya Shamovsky, Svetlana Eremina, Alexander Mironov, Evgeny Nudler. Bacterial Nitric Oxide Extends the Lifespan of C. elegans. 14 February 2013, Cell DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.12.043

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/ibVgvxDP1_4/130214132623.htm

green eggs and ham wiz khalifa and amber rose oh the places you ll go blunt amendment justin bieber birthday read across america vikings stadium

Beyonce Has Some Valentine's Day Tips For All The 'Single Ladies'!

'Best Thing I Never Had' singer passes along some advice to MTV News that might just snag you a BF on the candy-coated holiday.
By Rebecca Thomas

Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1701978/valentines-day-beyonce-advice.jhtml

the lake house petrino arkansas roy williams matt lauer divine mercy chaplet albert pujols the shining

How to Bypass the Lockcode Screen on iOS 6.1 and Use Anyone's iPhone

So, iOS 6.1 hasn't been Apple's finest hour. So far it's been plagued with connection issues, battery woes, and now it's sadly insecure, too. You can bypass any lockcode on an iPhone using this straightforward sequence of button presses. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ckGLUI2vogA/how-to-bypass-the-lockcode-screen-on-ios-61-and-use-anyones-iphone

florida state meghan mccain wilson chandler bristol motor speedway prometheus grand canyon skywalk tonga