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October 31 is one of the biggest days for Christians to remember. In 1517, Martin Lurther, a German monk, nailed his ideas on a church door. The printing press was the new way to communicate. So his ideas soon spread and led to a great revival of God's truth and the emergence of Protestant churches. What resulted were five principles of scripture that were easy to understand and teach. They are:
Scripture Alone—2 Timothy 3:14-17
Christ Alone—I Timothy 2:5-6
Faith Alone—Romans 3:20-25
Grace Alone—Ephesians 2:8-10
To the Glory of God Alone—Ephesians 1:1-6
Halloween can be a lot of fun and a good time for families to "Play" together. Children love to pretend and parents need to find ways to stimulate their imaginations. I found that Family Play Days were a way to bind us all together and get the children to listen to us later when we decided to teach something. Enjoy those play moments!
But, don't leave out these five great biblical principles. Tell them some stories about Martin Luther or John Calvin, or the Christians who died so these principles could be passed on to us. Do you know and believe them yourself?
What if there had never been a Reformation? Would the sovereignty of God in salvation have been smothered over another two or three hundred years? How different would America have been without these principles? Something to think upon. Happy Halloween.


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Apple's Latest Campaign Shot Only With iPhone Cameras
Apple has continued its "Shot on iPhone" advertising series by showcasing 53 photos taken by 41 amateurs and professional photographers on iPhone 6s. The previous campaign focused on landscapes and extreme close-ups, but this time Apple is focusing on portraits of people in everyday moments.
The ads are meant to show the range of possibilities that can be achieved with the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Each photo shot will be featured on billboards across 85 cities in 26 countries.
One of the photographers Erin Brooks told TIME, the portrait of her three-year-old daughter shot on the iPhone 6s Plus was included after she posted in on Instagram. "I honestly couldn't believe that they contacted me.
"Photography for me, has been a huge creative outlet. It has taught me so many things about telling a story with an image, capturing someone's personality, and it helped me move out of my postpartum depression… Taking photos of my daughters, and their blossoming connection of sisterhood, helped me get well. I started to notice the pure beauty of my life, and connect with it, and with them, on an even deeper level."
Erin Brooks, Lakewood, Washington
Ashish Parmar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Athia Renee, Canton Michigan
Chris Hamill, The Maldives
Christopher Anderson, Brooklyn, NY
Cielo de la Paz, Livermore, CA
Dustin Cohen, Brooklyn, NY
Gianluca Colla, Belle Usine, Fully, Switzerland
Hollyn Baron, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Jake Debruyckere, Mt. Davidson, San Francisco
Jirasak Panpiansin, Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand
Jirasak Panpiansin, Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand
Kevin Mao, Shanghai, China
Melissa Casillas, Querétaro, México
Pierre Babin, Plateau Mont-Royal Neighborhood, Montreal, Canada
Timothy Mulcare, Harvest Moon Orchard, North Salem, NY

subset: commoncrawl


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For a couple of years, I patiently tucked away all of my Sephora Beauty Insider reward points in hopes of cashing them in for something big. Seasons passed before I had realized how many points were in my little bank. I caught wind of a Bite reward redeemable for 2500 points that seemed pretty unique: it included a Baggu tote filled with three deluxe sized lip products as well as a cute Bite-branded bomber jacket.
Continue reading "Sephora x Bite: Beauty Insider VIB Rouge Rewards Bazaar Unboxed"


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Line trimmers make quick work of manicuring the edges of your lawn, along driveways and sidewalks to give your yard a professional grooming. When the line no longer advances and the spool is empty, you need to stop and replace the spool to continue on your mission. Craftsman weed trimmers are one of the easiest when it comes to accessing and changing the spool, so you lose little time to do so.
Press the engine "On/Stop" switch and release it to stop the trimmer.
Allow the trimmer to cool for a few minutes. Wipe the bottom of the cutting head off with a towel to remove grass, dirt and debris.
Grasp the rubber boot on the spark plug and pull it straight off. This disengages the spark plug so the engine can't start accidentally.
Turn the trimmer over so the tap button on the bottom is facing up. Firmly grasp the line advancing tap button and pull it off.
Clean the interior hub with a towel to remove any debris and allow the new trimmer line spool to turn easily. Pull the old spool and any remaining line out of the hub.
Remove the tape from a new pre-wound trimmer spool. Pull out about 6 inches of line, lock it into the notch and insert the loose end through the line exit hole in the hub. Press the spool into the hub until it snaps and pull the loose line from the notch.
Press the hub firmly back onto the cutting head and replace the spark plug wire.


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Ranked number 45 on San Pellegrino's prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants list, Relæ, located in the Nørrebro neighborhood of Copenhagen, is about as casual as it gets for a Michelin star restaurant. If you're visiting Copenhagen and you can't get a coveted reservation at Noma (which is sad, indeed), why not try Relæ instead? No, it's not the same. In fact, it's a completely different experience, but it is unique and fascinating and will end up being a Copenhagen dining experience you won't forget. After all, isn't that what we're all searching for when it comes to food?
The Nørrebro neighborhood where Relæ is located wasn't always the hip, trendy place it is now. If you walk a couple blocks in either direction you'll find remnants of its gritty past. Now, trendy bars, restaurants and designer shops can be found next to dodgy dive bars and cheap kebab places. Relæ fits nicely into this area, because the concept of the restaurant is unpretentious dining. There are no white tablecloths, you won't need to dress up in your finest clothes, and you'll even find the napkin and silverware tucked casually into a drawer in the table.
But all that casualness doesn't mean Relæ is any less of a stellar dining experience. The 4 or 7-course menu features innovative, creative dishes that were thought up by brilliant chefs who want to find their own way to push the dining envelop. It is also the only fully organic restaurant to earn a Michelin star. Even the wine pairings are organic.
After dining at Relæ, you'll see exactly what Chef Christian Puglisi is trying to achieve with his restaurant and you'll probably be left wondering what the kitchen will turn out next.
We dined at Relæ in June and were relieved by the laid-back atmosphere, since we'd just spent the entire day wandering around Copenhagen and were looking forward to a relaxing meal. We ordered the 7-course menu with wine pairings, as we noticed most of the other tables were also doing. One thing we weren't aware of was how little of a role meat plays in the Relæ menu.
Our first course was an very simple dish and it set the tone for the rest of the meal. We understood immediately what Relae was all about. Elevating a simple ingredient in a simple manner is sometimes the hardest thing for a chef to do. It was two large asparagus spears with pepper and a light cream sauce.
I would be remiss not to speak about the amazing sourdough bread service. If we had only been served slices of this bread, we probably would have still gone away happy. It was crunchy, chewy and flavorful in all the right ways. Luckily, when we finished a piece, they brought out another.
The second course was an unripe strawberry tartare with a pickled-strawberry broth. I was a bit skeptical, because unripe strawberries to me have very little flavor, but they managed to pack an incredibly amount of flavor into this dish. It was served with an Austrian Rose of Cab Franc.
The third course was a ceviche of trout with a cucumber lime juice and pine needles, topped with cucumber slices. A very light and refreshing dish. It was served with a sweet Muscat from Austria.
Next up was a broth of whey with herbed oil. The broth was served warm and the swirled green oil made for a beautiful dish. It was served with Selvadolce Pigato from Italy.
One of the highlights of the meal for me was the pressure cooked sunflower seeds that were prepared in a risotto style with stinging nettle puree and black truffle shavings. Again, it was so simple, but it was also really innovative to use sunflower seeds to make a risotto. It was paired with a wine from France.
The salad course was a bed of romaine lettuce with pistachio dust. The wine served with it was from Italy and had a slight sweetness to offset the bitterness of the greens.
The meat course was a braised chicken with shaved Danish white asparagus and anchovies on the bottom. The wine pairing was a Malvasia – Trebbiano from Italy.
After the meat course, we opted to have a cheese course that was in addition to the 7-course menu. One thinks of blocks or slices of cheese for a cheese course, but this was a bit different. It consisted of fresh herbs dressed lightly in olive oil with frozen blue cheese dusted over top. It was served with a Casa Wallace Sauvignon Blanc from Italy.
The first dessert was a chilled yogurt with an egg yolk and egg yolk shavings dusted over the top. It was served with a Malvasia Dolce Frizzante.
And the final course was a lemon curd with graham crackers.
If you're looking for creative food in an unpretentious environment, Relae is surely where you'll find it. There's something so invigorating about tasting someone's art and that was definitely the feeling I had when we finished our meal at Relae.Relæ Jaegersborggade 41, 2200 Copenhagen, DK TEl: +45 36.96.66.09 www.restaurant-relae.dk
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited 70+ countries.


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I don't know how many of you are familiar with this character who belongs to Dark Horse comics from
by Dawn | 2 years ago | Comments | Intermediate
I'm sure everyone is familiar with the Dark Horse comic book series 'Hellboy' right? Well, the other
by Dawn | 5 years ago | Comments | Intermediate
If you look back at all of Jim Carrey's movies which ones stick out the most to you? For me the top
by Dawn | 5 years ago | Comments | Intermediate
Well guys, a few of you have asked me to make more and more comic book characters, and for all you w
by Dawn | 7 years ago | Comments | 2 Love It | Novice
Who here use to like the animated miniseries from MTV called Aeon Flux? Well you are reading text ri
by Dawn | 10 years ago | Comments | Intermediate
In this next tutorial you will be learning how to draw Hellboy a character from Dark Horse Comics. I
by Dawn | 11 years ago | Comments | Intermediate
This is a pretty cool tutorial on an image that took me like 5 hours to complete. I have a new table
by Dawn | 11 years ago | Comments | 1 Love It | Advanced
Conan the Barbarian is a fantasy character that was created by Robert E. Howard in 1932. He is a man
by Dawn | 11 years ago | Comments | Novice
In this category you will find free online drawing lessons on your favorite comic book heroes and villains from Dark Horse. I know some of you may not be familiar with Dark Horse, but if you like characters like Stanley Ipkiss from The Mask, than you like Dark Horse comic book characters. There is other heroes that look like villains that you may be familiar with, and his name is Hellboy. I love all kinds of comic book characters which is why I created this category. Characters like Conan the Barbarian, Frank Miller from Sincity, and other recognizable characters that are your favorite. If you don't see what you are looking for in a lesson, we invite you to drop us an e-mail, or submit the tutorial of your choice. We reply to all different kinds of Dark horse comic book heroes that are requested as lessons. I hope you find what you are looking for, and keep your eyes out for more different Dark Horse heroes and villains in the future. Have fun with these tutorials that give you easy lessons on "how to draw Dark Horse heroes".
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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The Nokia Lumia 929 doesn't technically exist yet, but that hasn't stopped accessory vendors from pushing out cases. A new cover for the unreleased handset has appeared online along with an image of the rumored Windows Phone 8 device.
Wireless Ground is already selling an Armor Stand case for the Lumia 929, which is rumored to debut on Verizon's network and is said to be codenamed "Icon." The image on Wireless Ground's website matches a previous leak that turned up on @evleaks Twitter account in October. Wireless Ground's product listing doesn't reveal any other information, such as the handset's weight or dimensions.
MORE: Game Changer Awards - The Most innovative Tech of 2013
The phone is said to be a smaller 5-inch version of the 6-inch Lumia 1520 phablet that Nokia introduced in November. The Lumia 929 is rumored to be custom-built for Verizon and is likely to debut with a 1080p display, according to WPCentral. The Windows Phone blog claimed it received a full spec sheet from an undisclosed source in November, revealing that the 929 may be powered by a 2.2-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 20-MP main camera and wireless charging.
Nokia doesn't have a presence at this year's CES, but we're expecting to hear more about its plans for future devices as 2014 approaches.
via Wireless Ground


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Winnie the Pooh said it best: "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones can certainly relate—she hates saying goodbye to series and characters she's grown attached to. But, she also has a great perspective on all that she gets to experience through both her characters and her readers. Keep reading to find out what Lisa Renee Jones finds most comforting after saying goodbye!
Goodbyes are never fun. Quite often it's an emotional upheaval. As silly as this may sound, I get a similar gut-wrenching feeling every time I say goodbye to characters of mine. I've heard many readers say they hate parting with characters/series, and as an author I fully understand that sentiment. On the upside, while we do have to say goodbye, we get a revival of the characters when our readers finally get to read the book we've finished. But then comes another goodbye. Such is the beauty of books, though, that you can always visit your favorite characters again.
My latest goodbye came with penning "The End" on Liam and Amy's story from The Secret Life of Amy Bensen. This series has been part of my career for a few years now, and I have grown so incredibly attached. When I sat down to write the finale, Unbroken, it was a tough pill to swallow: To give my characters the happily ever after they craved, and the one my readers did as well. I make a habit of saying goodbye for now, not goodbye forever. I never say never to returning to a series so it's difficult to come up with a temporary finality.
I truly believe each of my characters has a lifetime left to live. Several months after I turned Unbroken in to my publisher, it's now reaching the hands of my readers, and to be honest I'm jealous. They get to experience the sweet, steamy and dangerous final moments of Liam and Amy's journey for the first time and it leaves me wanting so badly to write more for these two. However, it's more rewarding to hear my readers' reactions to "The End" than I can say. So, I invite the readers who love these two as much as I do to bid a farewell to Amy and Liam. I will say they deserve the ending they got after the hell I put them through!
Thank you for visiting XOXO After Dark and don't forget to visit my on my Facebook and Twitter pages! I love, love, love hearing from you all! Even if it's about my silly posts 🙂


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Guided Safari Tour Botswana | Okavango Delta & Chobe Trail
Okavango Delta & Chobe Trail Experience
In just 8-days you will discover the wonders of the rugged African bush, as you travel to 3 countries to experience Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls. Your adventure truck will take you through an epic journey pass game parks, villages and dusty cities. Bond with other guests as you prepare meals and embark on this epic journey together.
Experience tribal dancing and enjoy a lovely evening around the campfire, listening to the stories of the San people. Get lost in a world of serenity as you cruise through the Okavango Delta on a traditional mokoro boat in hopes of seeing a diversity of wildlife. Venture on action-packed game drives in the Chobe National Park. Witness the mighty Victoria Falls and discover the many ways to admire its beauty.
Okavango Delta & Chobe Trail Highlights
- Countries visited include Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
- Affordable way to see Botswana
- Choice between accommodated and tented
- Safety of group travel
- Go on a desert walks with local San Bushmen
- Explore the Delta on a dug-out canoe and on a guided walk
- Cruise the Chobe River
- Experience a thrilling game drive in Chobe National Park
- Optional adventures activities in Victoria Falls
Day 1: Johannesburg to Kalahari Gateway
Expect border formalities before continuing to the Trans-Kalahari to your overnight stop. After a long day of travelling, enjoy a slumber in the small village of Kang. (Lunch and dinner included)
Day 2: Gateway to Okavango DeltaToday you will learn all about the San people and how they have survived in the harshest weather conditions over the years. Slap on some sunblock as you journey on an optional desert walk with knowledgeable San guides.
Pack light - a small daypack or overnight bag - before you venture to the banks of the Okavango River for your excursion in the Delta. Due to space restrictions at the camp, your guide will advise you on what to pack for your Delta tour.
Day 3: Okavango Delta
If you are lucky you might get a glimpse of elephant, buffalo, hippo, lechwe, wildebeest, giraffe, lion, cheetah and crocodile. Sail on a dugout boat into the heart of the Delta and and absorb peace and tranquility, as you admire the wonderful bird sightings.
Day 4: Explore the Delta waterwaysSpend the afternoon cruising through the channels of the Okavango Delta on a mokoro ride and witness prolific wildlife flock to the riverbanks for a sip of water. Spot the colourful birds soaring in the African skies on a boat cruise and keep an eye open for howling hippo.
If you want a closer glimpse of the bush, track creatures great and small on guided walking safaris in this magnificent natural wonder.
Day 5: Travel to the Caprivi RegionSay goodbye to the Delta and re-enter Namibia as you travel through the Caprivi Strip. Today you will travel through game parks so enjoy the views from your window and if your are lucky, you might even get a thrill out of a wildlife sighting or two.
Your overnight stop is a short drive from the Botswana border, enjoy a slumber and prepare yourself for the next days adventures in Chobe.
Day 6: Game drive Chobe National Park
Give your legs a stretch and enjoy lunch before you embark on yet another exciting adventure - a thrilling 4x4 game drive of Chobe National Park.
The perfect end to the day starts with late afternoon sipping sundowners on a boat cruise and end of the day with a meal around a crackling fire.
Day 7: Thrilling Victoria Falls
Spend the day exploring Victoria Falls the way you want to - visiting the craft markets, enjoying a cup of coffee at a cafe,or get the adrenaline pumping on bungee jumping experiences.
You have the option of dining out for dinner, ask your guide for recommendations that will suit your taste.
Day 8: Victoria Falls and onwardsOn the last day of your tour you can choose to enjoy the day at your own leisure. Optional activities to explore Victoria Falls include bungee jumping, white water rafting, helicopter flights of the falls, and sunset cruises of the Zambezi River.
Rates & Prices
- Transport in an overland adventure vehicle for the 9 days
- Experienced english speaking tour guides
- Activity Package which includes: Bush walk with San guides, Okavango Delta excursion, Chobe National Park game drive, Chobe National Park boat cruise, Victoria Falls National Park Entry Fee
- Meals (Breakfast x 7 / Lunch x 7 / Dinner x 6) unless otherwise specified, all meals are prepared and served at the truck
- Cultural San evening dance performance
- Shared accommodation OR shared tents
- Assist your safari team by participating in preparing the meals and doing some light chores
- All drinks, snacks and meals not mentioned
- Optional activities and all items of a personal nature
- Entrance fees (unless mentioned above)
Rates / Prices
Departure Dates
Enquiries / Questions


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The Ambassador of Senegal visited the University of Portsmouth this week to speak about tackling security challenges in West Africa.
His Excellency Professor Cheikh Ahmadou Dieng discussed Senegalese perspectives on security issues that affect the wider region – such as crime, piracy, terrorism and drug trafficking – at the West Africa peace and security network annual workshop.
He said: "I am very happy to be part of this event. The geographical location of Senegal makes security issues very important."
Senegal has a historically stable democracy in a region that has seen coups, dictatorship and Islamist extremism. The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to neighbouring Mali and Mauritania, but Senegal has long been considered a safe destination.
Professor Dieng said: "Senegal's location, discovery of gas and oil, fishing industry and politically stable system has enabled a strong business environment, but we still need to be aware of our regional position."
Hosted by the University's Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), the workshop involved panel discussions on female jihadism, violent extremism, youth radicalisation, maritime security and the rise of Boko Haram.
Tony Chafer, professor of French and African studies, welcomed guests to the annual workshop organised as part of the West Africa Peace and Security Network (WAPSN).
He said: "WAPSN was born in 2015 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. The idea was to create a forum in and space in which academics and practitioners working on these issues can come together. We now have over 200 members and several research clusters facilitating knowledge exchange and producing policy recommendations."
Other guest speakers at the workshop included Dr Linda Darkwa from the University of Ghana who spoke via Skype, Aoife McCullough from the Overseas Development Institute, Dr Kamal Deen-Ali, executive director of the Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa and Mr Aliou Diallo, first counsellor from the Senegalese Embassy.
The Senegalese delegation also visited the Royal Navy's HMS Victory earlier in the day. They received a ceremonial welcome on board the historical vessel and a guided tour from WO1 Dickie Henderson, executive officer of the ship.
This is the second annual workshop organised by WAPSN. Last year experts gathered to discuss piracy and maritime security in and around the Gulf of Guinea.
The Centre for European and International Studies Research is the one of largest centres for interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences in UK Higher Education.


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The Association
Balkan Demographic Papers
Demobalk seminars
Demobalk conferences
Other conferences
Censuses Questionnaires
Article 1.
Establishment of the Association
An association governed by the conditions and special agreements stipulated below is herewith established in accordance with article 78, AK.
Article 2.
Name - seal
The name of the Association is "Démographie des Balkans". This name may be translated into other languages, provided that an exact translation is used. The abbreviated title of the Association is Demobalk.
The Association has a seal indicating its name, its seat and the year of its establishment (2007).
Article 3.
Head office
The head office of the Association is situated in Volos, Greece (Alamans 1, Pedion Areos, 38334).
Article 4.
The purpose of the Association is to undertake and promote all the following activities, though this list is not exhaustive: to produce documentation, studies and research, and organize meetings to explore the demographic situation of the Balkans – as a distinct entity or by comparison with the neighbouring regions (Europe, Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean countries) – its future prospects, the key components of medium- and long-term change, choices and strategies for addressing future challenges; to regularly compare viewpoints on possible future development and action to be taken.
The Association aims to contribute, by all means deemed appropriate, to the development of demographic and prospective studies and, in particular, a better understanding of demographic trends and their medium - and long - term effects.
More specifically, the priority objectives of Demobalk are to:
stimulate cooperation between scientists and institutions working on population questions relating to the Balkans and neighbouring regions (Europe, Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean countries);
promote the exchange of documentation and information;
create demographic databases at national and regional levels;
stimulate research and comparative studies;
assess the consequences of demographic trends and alert institutions to the risks of drastic change;
organize scientific meetings
disseminate the most interesting research findings.
The Association's modes of action will be as broad as is possible within the scope of the law and will include the following, though this list is not exhaustive: documentation, studies and research, consultancy, meetings, conferences and seminars, training, publications.
The working languages of the Association are: Greek, French and English.
Article 5.
Financial resources
The Association will be financed by the following:
membership fees and annual subscriptions to the Association;
registration fees for events organized by the Association;
national or EU grants, donations and subsidies from other Greek or foreign bodies or from individual benefactors;
income from the Association's assets;
all other income authorized by the laws in force and whose acceptance does not compromise the purpose of the Association;
revenues from agreements signed between the Association and other actors;
revenues from the sales of the Association's publications.
Throughout its period of existence and activity, all financial resources will be devoted solely to achieving the stated purpose of the Association.
Article 6.
The Association accepts as members physical persons – demographers and scientists working on population questions – based in Greece or abroad, who share the Association's interests and objectives and wish to contribute to their accomplishment, and who accept without reservation all the articles of its statutes.
Members may be active members or honorary members.
By decision of the General Assembly, upon recommendation by the Board of Directors, – and under the same conditions as those applicable to active members – eminent scientists wishing to contribute to the Association's purpose may be appointed as honorary members.
Article 7.
Members' obligations
With the exception of honorary members, who are exonerated, all other members of the Association shall pay a one-off membership fee at the time of joining and an annual subscription. The subscription fee is set annually by the General Assembly.
By the present charter, the Association membership fee is set at twenty (20) euros, and the annual subscription fee at ten (10) euros.
Members shall contribute by all legitimate means to achieving the Association's purpose. In addition, all members shall comply with its statutes and with the decisions taken by the Board of Directors and the General Assembly. They shall also refrain from divulging confidential information held by the Association and shall defend its good name and reputation.
Article 8.
Members' rights
Members are entitled to:
take part freely in the General Assemblies, upon condition, for active members, that their current annual subscription has been paid;
take part in debates, discussions, meetings, in all events organized by the Association and voting procedures of General Assemblies (in the last case, only the active members, upon condition that their current annual subscription has been paid);
elect and be eligible for all positions, the Board of Directors included (only the active members, upon condition that their current annual subscription has been paid). Honorary members have neither voting rights in the General Assemblies, nor the right to elect or been elected in other positions.
Article 9.
Admission of new members
Applicants wishing to join the Association shall present a written request to the Board of Directors in which they specify their titles and functions, present their reasons for requesting membership and explicitly state that they embrace the Association's objectives. The decision is to be taken at the first meeting of the General Assembly following the application submittal and the new members' subscription.
The application is accepted if approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of active members, present or represented at the General Assembly.
Article 10.
Resignation of members
A member may resign from the Association after notifying the Board of Directors in writing at least three months before the end of each calendar year and after settling all outstanding affairs.
A resigning member is not, under any circumstances, entitled to claim a share of any kind in the Association's assets.
Article 11.
Exclusion of members
A member may be excluded, by a decision of the General Assembly, at the request of the President of the Board of Directors or if one-third (1/3) of active members express such a wish.
Members may be excluded if they do not pay their annual subscription. They may also be excluded if they damage the Association's good name, if they hamper its activities or display systematic indifference to the Association.
The members against whom an exclusion process has been initiated are informed of the fact ten (10) days before the General Assembly at which the exclusion decision is to be taken. The decision is ratified if approved by a three-quarters (3/4) majority of active members present or represented at the General Assembly.
Article 12.
Management of the Association
The Association is managed by:
The Board of Directors
The General Assembly
The Supervisory Committee
Article 13.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Association and is empowered to take decisions on all questions for which the Board of Directors does not hold authority (mentioned in the present statutes).
The General Assembly holds exclusive responsibility in the following areas:
It defines the general policy of the Association, monitors its efficacy and its application, and oversees the Association's expenditure.
It ratifies the annual action programme.
It approves the policy report and the financial statement.
It ratifies the annual report of the Supervisory Committee.
It elects the members of the Board of Directors.
It elects the members of the Supervisory Committee and the Scrutineer Committee.
It is empowered to dissolve the Association, to modify its statutes, to allocate the Association's assets.
It gives approval for exclusions and new members.
It decides on all questions not covered by the statutes.
It decides on all topics included in the agenda.
The General Assembly is open to paid-up active members of the Association and honorary members. Active members may be represented by another active member, provided that the latter has written power of attorney.
All decisions of the General Assembly are made by majority vote of the active members who are present or represented (except in cases specifically mentioned in the present statutes). A secret ballot may be requested by the Board of Directors, or by one-third (1/3) of the active members present or represented.
The General Assembly quorum is reached when half of paid-up active members are present or represented. If quorum is not reached, the following General Assembly is considered to have quorum whatever the number of active members present.
After checking whether quorum has been reached, the General Assembly is chaired by the President of the Association, and the General Secretary records the minutes.
The Association members receive an invitation to attend the General Assembly from the President of the Board of Directors, co-signed by the General Secretary and addressed to members by mail, e-mail or fax at least fifteen (15) days before the date of the General Assembly. The invitation shall clearly state the date, the time, the venue (which may be somewhere other than the head office, in Greece or another country) and the meeting agenda. The invitation shall also give a second date for the General Assembly, in the event that quorum is not reached on the first scheduled date. The interval between the two dates is seven (7) days at most. The second meeting shall be held at the same venue as the first.
Items may be added to the agenda at the request of the majority of members present or represented.
General Assemblies may be ordinary or extraordinary.
Ordinary General Assemblies are held once every two years, during the second semester of the year.
Extraordinary General Assemblies are held at the discretion of the Board of Directors or if one-third (1/3) of paid-up active members so request by submitting a specific list of topics to be discussed. In this case, the Board of Directors shall decide within fifteen (15) days following submittal of the request whether to hold the extraordinary General Assembly, and shall convene the General Assembly within thirty (30) days of a positive decision.
The General Assemblies at which decisions are made regarding dissolution of the Association, modification of its statutes or allocation of its assets reach quorum when half (1/2) of active members are present or represented. Decisions on the above-mentioned points are taken by a three-quarters (3/4) majority of members present or represented.
For any decision concerning changes to the Association's purpose, the written approval of absent members is required.
Article 14.
When the renewal of the Board of Directors is on the agenda, the ordinary General Assembly first elects a Scrutineer Committee comprising three paid-up active members. The candidates for election to this committee shall signify their willingness to stand at least three (3) days before the elections are held.
The candidates for election to the Board of Directors shall signify their willingness to stand at least three (3) days before the date of the ordinary General Assembly. The names of all candidates are written on a single printed paper voting slip. The Scrutineer Committee ensures that the secret ballot is conducted in a proper manner. It ensures that voting slips include no more than five (5) names for the election of the Board of Directors and no fewer than three (3) names for the election of the Supervisory Committee. The Scrutineer Committee ratifies the election results. If two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes, the winning candidate is selected by drawing lots.
Article 15.
Board of Directors
A Board of Directors comprising five (5) members is elected for four (4) years.
In the five (5) days following their election, the elected members appoint the President, the two Vice-Presidents, the General Secretary and the Treasurer.
The President is replaced in his/her absence by one of the Vice-Presidents.
If two or more positions on the Board of Directors become vacant following the resignation or exclusion of Board members, the Board of Directors shall provide for their replacement by announcing new elections.
Members of the Board of Directors are re-eligible and may serve for an unlimited number of terms. The members of the Board of Directors are not entitled to any remuneration for the services provided to the Association; they may nevertheless claim back travelling and living expenses incurred when undertaking duties on behalf of and in the interest of the Association. Members of the Scrutineer Committee and the Supervisory Committee may not be elected to the Board of Directors.
Article 16.
Role of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors manages the affairs of the Association.
It executes the decisions of the General Assembly and handles all matters that are outside the scope of the General Assembly.
More specifically, the Board of Directors defines the Association's development strategy and submits its action programme and its statements of accounts for approval by the General Assembly.
When necessary, it authorizes one or other of its members, or Association members to undertake specific missions of limited duration.
The Board of Directors takes decisions for all purchases, for the leasing of offices and conference venues, and for all loans required to ensure the smooth running of the Association.
Article 17.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets at least once a year, upon invitation from the President, at the Association head office or any other designated venue.
Three members of the Board of Directors may request a Board meeting by submitting a written request to the President. In this case, the Board meeting shall be held within seven (7) days following the request. If the President does not convene the Board of Directors within this period, the Vice-Presidents and the Board members who submitted the request are entitled to do so.
The Board of Directors may not take any decision unless three (3) of its five (5) members are present or represented. If a Board member is represented by a third person, this third person must be one of the Board members.
The decisions of the Board of Directors are taken by absolute majority. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.
The meetings of the Board of Directors are recorded in minutes drawn up by the General Secretary and co-signed by the President.
Any member of the Board of Directors who is absent for no valid reason from four (4) consecutive meetings is struck off by decision of the Board of Directors and replaced, under the responsibility of the President, by the person who received the largest number of votes behind the five (5) elected candidates in the previous election.
Article 18.
Role of the President
The President of the Board of Directors represents the Association, both judicially and non-judicially, in all its dealings, before all international, national, public and municipal authorities, before legal entities under public and private law and before the courts.
The President convenes the General Assemblies and the meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she chairs the discussions of the Board of Directors. He/she applies the decisions of the General Assemblies and the Board of Directors. He/she co-signs all Association documents and minutes with the Secretary General and co-signs orders for payment with the Treasurer. He/she coordinates the Association's activities and generally oversees all essential matters pertaining to the accomplishment of the Association's purpose.
In the event of absence or impediment, the President of the Board of Directors is replaced by one of the Vice-Presidents. The President may also delegate in writing all or part of his/her responsibilities to any other member of the Board of Directors.
Article 19.
Role of the Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the budget, and once the budget has been approved, he/she manages it in due and proper form.
He/she keeps an account book and draws up an annual balance sheet. He/she collects membership fees, annual subscriptions and all other external sources of income and makes all payments of the Association to Greek or foreign banks (selected by the Board of Directors), and all documents relating to such actions are co-signed with the President. He/she manages the Association's financial affairs.
He/she is required to inform the Board of Directors on a regular basis and to present financial statements to the General Assemblies. The Treasurer may be replaced, in an emergency, by another member of the Board.
Article 20.
Role of the General Secretary
The General Secretary draws up the minutes of meetings, ensures compliance with the protocol, keeps the membership book, manages the statutes of the Association and co-signs all documents with the President.
Article 21.
Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee, elected for two (2) years, comprises three (3) members (plus two substitutes). It oversees the Association's accounts and submits a report to the General Assemblies of the Association. At the first meeting following its creation, a chairperson is elected.
Article 22.
All points not covered in the present statutes shall be decided in good faith in accordance with existing laws and provisions. In the event of ambiguity, the General Assembly is responsible for interpreting the above articles.
Article 23.
The Association "Démographie des Balkans" can establish branch offices in other Balkan countries after a relative decision taken by the Board of Directors.
Article 24.
The present statutes contain 24 articles (including the present). They have been validated today by the founder members of the Association and will become effective after registration in the public records of the court with jurisdiction.
Paris, 5 October 2012
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
No more baby
Posted by Jessie at 11:53 AM 3 comments
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Something I thought I'd never have to say...
Yesterday I said something that never crossed my mind. I can't believe I had to say it! Not until you have kids does it make sense. I actually had to say:
Nooo!!! That's not hairspray- that's cooking spray!
NOT a good thing.
Posted by Jessie at 12:57 PM 3 comments
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Design Center
When you walk into a Classic Home, the difference in quality is clear. Our homes come standard with solid construction and a generous array of features. We partner with the best Brands and offer a fully stocked Design Center showcasing the latest flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, plumbing and electrical fixtures. Our Design Coordinators are trained to assist our homeowners in selecting the colors and styles that complete their home. We also offer an opportunity for homeowners to meet directly with the electrician to discuss their electrical needs including lighting, outlet placement, and custom wiring options. And best of all, you can visit our Design Center before you write a contract to confirm that we have what you need. If, for any reason, we don't have what you are looking for in our Design Center, we will work with our vendors to find it!


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- Description
- Additional information
- Reviews (0)
McFinn's Triple-Filtered Water Pipe
McFinn's Triple-Filtered Water Pipes are all individually hand blown in the USA by professional glass blowers using high quality German joints and Simex or Schott glass. Each pipe comes with either Standard or Ultra sized filters, bowl, mouth piece, tube of Activated Virgin Coconut Carbon, tube of Organic Cotton, and pics to assist with the removal of used carbon and cotton.
- 1x Main Bubbler Unit (Green)
- 2x Standard 18mm Glass Filter Tubes
- 1x Glass Mouthpiece
- 1x 14mm Bowl
- 1x 14mm Glass Bowl
- 1x Activated Virgin Coconut Carbon Filter Tube
- 1x Organic Cotton Filter Tube
- 1x Bubbler Travel Bag
Product Features
- Glass Thickness – 45 x 5mm
- Female Top Joint – 18mm
- Female Side Joint – 18mm
- Four (4) Stem Perk Containing Eight (8) Slits – Two (2) Slits Per Arm – with Holes at the Bottom of Each Stem
Additional information
|2.65 lbs
|1 × 1 × 1 in


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Food is one of the most basic human needs. Without dependable access to food for a safe and nutritious diet, no one can lead a happy and productive life. Yet there are many people in our communities who do not have enough to eat, or who worry about where their next meal is coming from.
It is not God's will that people suffer hunger. God "has filled the hungry with good things" (Luke 1:53) and Jesus had compassion on the hungry crowd (Matthew 15:32). We are to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Caring for the poor and feeding the hungry is a basic responsibility of God's people (see, for example, Proverbs 22:9).
Study-Action Guide for Congregations
Revised and Updated!
Hunger at Our Doorstep is a resource from the Wisconsin Council of Churches to help congregations learn about – and respond to – hunger in their communities. Learn more.
Take Action to End Hunger
Do you minister to seniors as a pastor, volunteer, or member of a senior group at your church or in your community?
Thousands of seniors are making tough choices in these difficult economic times. Choices like, "Do I buy my medication or groceries?" FoodShare and the QUEST Card could give them at least $192 each year for groceries. Learn more about how you and your church can help!
Information about assistance for people of all ages facing hunger can be found on our Hunger Resources Page.
Vote to End Hunger
Vote to End Hunger is a broad coalition of individuals and organizations all committed to asking candidates for public office in the 2016 election: "If elected, what will you do to end hunger, alleviate poverty, and create opportunity in the US and worldwide?" Learn how you can become involved.
Be an Anti-Hunger Advocate!
Join the WCC Hunger Advocacy Network to receive occasional e-mail alerts about opportunities to influence pending legislation that impacts hungry people. Sign up for WCC E-Advocacy Alerts! You can also find information on state and federal elected officials, and contact them to express your views as a citizen and person of faith through our Legislative Alert Center.
Learn More about Hunger
Ending Hunger in Wisconsin stands on four legs:
- Family Economic Security
- Access to Affordable and Healthy Food
- Federal Nutrition Programs, and
- Emergency Food Assistance.
Learn what you can do to strengthen each of these legs in "Ending Hunger in Wisconsin – An Action Plan."
Go to our Hunger Resources to find information on:
- Help for People Facing Hunger
- Anti-Hunger Organizations
- Educational Resources
- Hunger and Poverty Information
- State and Federal Assistance Programs
- Public Policy, and
- Activities and Events


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I finished sanding the dining room suite at the week-end, I went from 100, to 200, 320,and finally 400 grit, I decided that, as this is not top of the range furniture, that was sufficient, it is smooth to the touch, so that is fine.
Yesterday, I started varnishing, and did part of the table and one chair, then Murphy struck, I knew it was too good to be true, you get stuck into a piece of work, then something comes along to put the mockers on it, I think Tom (DocSavage45) sent him down, to give him a rest, anyway I received a phone call to say that the appointment for my Spinal blocker injection will be tomorrow (Thursday), and they would contact me today with the time, so that will bring work to a stop again for a few days, hopefully it will be worth it, to work relatively pain free.
This morning I got stuck in again, and finished the first coat on the table, I am using a small kitchen sponge cut in two to apply the varnish, it leaves no streaks, and to ensure the varnish gets into the joints, I have my compressor on standby with the air pistol attached, then when I have sufficient varnish in the area, I blow it into the joints, in that way, if there is any shrinkage of the wood in future, the unvarnished wood should not show.
Only three coats to go!! I was going to continue with the chairs, but they are covered in fine sawdust, and until the table is dry, I don't want to blow the dust around the workshop, so that's it! work has come to a standstill for a few days, I will know when I can start again after my appointment.
-- If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain - Steven Wright


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Two sisters and some friends losing weight. A lot of weight!
If youve got some weight to lose any amount feel free to join us on our journey. We get together in the comment section, so connect with us there. Well be your weight loss buddies even your friends if you like.
Losing weight is never easy, but it will be easier with a bunch of friends along for the journey all that accountability stuff. Speaking of accountability, we wont be perfect in our progress because life isnt perfect but well be honest and WE WONT QUIT!
Keep up with
Leslis Goals Progress as I lose 150 STUBBORN pounds. Oh, I know, they say the last ten pounds are the hardest. I disagree its the first 150 pounds that are the hardest but Im in it to win it!
Keep up with my little sissy, Karens Goals Progress, as she loses over 100 Pounds and turns her health around from a veritable nightmare to glistening, glowing, health!
Thanks for stopping by, we hope we become good online friends and maybe even offline if youre in the PDX area!


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Adding a Tip To The POS Order
- Add your items to the order
- Click the Tip line
- Enter Tip amount
- Click green check mark to save
Things to know
- An order with multiple hosts will evenly divide the tip amount among them.
- You can quickly see each employee's tip earnings via the Time Card report, even if you do not use our Time Clock system.
- This tip function is built with the intention of paying out the tips with payroll. Tipping out from the drawer will affect your Closeout Report.
Please view this short video on how to process tips on an event order


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Published by Orbit on Sept 23, 2014
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback from Publisher
Find the book: Amazon, Goodreads
Something is rotten in the state of Wisconsin.
Werewolf packs are being united and absorbed into an army of super soldiers by a mysterious figure who speaks like an angel and fights like a demon. And every Knight Templar—keepers of the magical peace between mankind and magickind—who tries to get close to this big bad wolf winds up dead. No knight can infiltrate a group whose members can smell a human from a mile away...no knight except one.
John Charming. Ex knight. Current werewolf. Hunted by the men who trained him, he now might be their only salvation. But animal instincts are rising up to claim John more powerfully than ever before, and he must decide if this new leader of wolves is a madman...or a messiah.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this addition to the series. I loved the first book completely, but this one is so different, it almost feels like it belongs to another series.
The story is still told from John's point of view, and he's still a snarky sarcastic werewolf former-Knight, but that's pretty much all this book has in common with the first. There is a whole new set of characters, and John spends most of the book dealing with werewolves, and in particular, his own werewolf.
I think this werewolf focus may be the source as my uncertainty as I don't usually love shifter stories without something else to back them up. In this case, events did develop in the later half of the book, but the first half was too focused on werewolves for my taste.
There is lots of paranormal goodness and action, and sarcastic humour, but something about this book just didn't click with me the way the first one did. I enjoyed this one, I just didn't love it like I did the first. Maybe the third one will bring back the love.


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Fungarian Voucher - Fungarian is always a good idea
Fungarian gift voucher
Our former guests who were pleased with Fungarian recommended we should a gift voucher like this. It might be a convenient present to a friend who plans a visit to Budapest.
All you need to do is click on the voucher and let us know the name of the person you intend to give it as a gift. After you paid, we'll send you the voucher either to you or the one intended for. Leave the rest to us. We guarantee it will be memorable gift.


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I was playing with my new toy earlier on - Photoshop CS4 trying to create a 'lomo' effect on one of my self portraits. Red and blue channels were turned off, what's left is green then I came up to the image below. I have to stop and capture it before I continue the 'lomo' process.
Then the lomo finish


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Background: The percentage of reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10H2) in total coenzyme Q10 (TQ10) is decreased in plasma of patients with prematurity, hyperlipidemia, and liver disease. CoQ10H2 is, however, easily oxidized and difficult to measure, and therefore reliable quantification of plasma CoQ10H2 is of clinical importance.
Methods: Venous blood was collected into evacuated tubes containing heparin, which were immediately placed on ice and promptly centrifuged at 4 °C. The plasma was harvested and stored in screw-top polypropylene tubes at −80 °C until analysis. After extraction with 1-propanol and centrifugation, the supernatant was injected directly into an HPLC system with coulometric detection.
Results: The in-line reduction procedure permitted transformation of CoQ10 into CoQ10H2 and avoided artifactual oxidation of CoQ10H2. The electrochemical reduction yielded 99% CoQ10H2. Only 100 μL of plasma was required to simultaneously measure CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 over an analytical range of 10 μg/L to 4 mg/L. Intra- and interassay CVs for CoQ10 in human plasma were 1.2–4.9% across this range. Analytical recoveries were 95.8–101.0%. The percentage of CoQ10H2 in TQ10 was ∼96% in apparently healthy individuals. The method allowed analysis of up to 40 samples within an 8-h period.
Conclusions: This optimized method for CoQ10H2 analysis provides rapid and precise results with the potential for high throughput. This method is specific and sufficiently sensitive for use in both clinical and research laboratories.
Coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial respiratory chain responsible for oxidative phosphorylation (1). Furthermore, coenzyme Q10 has a primary function as an antioxidant and is carried mainly by lipoproteins in the circulation (2). Approximately 60% of coenzyme Q10 is associated with LDL, 25% with HDL, and 15% with other lipoproteins (2). When LDL is subjected to oxidative stress in vivo (3), the reduced form of CoQ10 (CoQ10H2)1 functions as an antioxidant. It has been postulated that CoQ10H2 prevents lipid peroxidation in plasma lipoproteins and biological membranes (4). The antioxidative activity of CoQ10H2 depends not only on its concentration, but also on its redox status. Recent reports (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) have suggested that the percentage of CoQ10H2 in total CoQ10 (CoQ10H2:TQ10) may be lower in patients with certain conditions, including Parkinson disease (5), prematurity (6), hemodialysis (7), chronic active hepatitis (8), liver cirrhosis (8), hepatocellular carcinoma (8), hyperlipidemia (9)(10), heart disease (11)(12), β-thalassemia (13), and DNA damage (14). Therefore, CoQ10H2 may be a useful marker of oxidative stress, and the measurement and function of CoQ10H2 are of considerable interest.
Several investigators have reported analytical techniques for measurement of CoQ10H2(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). In these publications, electrochemical (EC) detection was preferred for measurement of CoQ10H2 because of its high sensitivity. The EC reactions were measured at electrodes, which detected the current produced by the reduction of oxidized CoQ10 (CoQ10) or by the oxidation of CoQ10H2 (Fig. 1⇓ ).
Investigation of CoQ10H2 in clinical studies has been hampered by instability during sample handling, storage, and processing (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). According to several investigators (22)(23)(24)(25), the concentration of CoQ10H2 decreases rapidly within 1 h after phlebotomy. At room temperature, it is oxidized at a rate of ∼3 nmol/L per min in the hexane extract of human plasma (23). Sample preparation may have a profound effect on the redox status of CoQ10, and the utmost care is required to ensure reliable quantification of CoQ10H2. Recently, investigators recommended that plasma samples be individually thawed, extracted, and analyzed immediately as a continuous process to minimize CoQ10H2 oxidation (22)(23)(24). This is very impractical for analyzing even small numbers of biological specimens. In earlier studies, biological fluid samples were converted into either CoQ10 by use of an oxidizing reagent such as ferric chloride, or into CoQ10H2 by a reducing agent such as sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH4) or sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4; Table 1⇓ ). However, these methods are also inefficient, are susceptible to preanalytical degradation, and have increased potential for analytical error because of the lability of CoQ10H2.
We therefore developed a simple and rapid HPLC procedure with coulometric detection for simultaneous determination of CoQ10 and CoQ10H2 in human plasma.
Materials and Methods
CoQ10 and coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9) were obtained from Sigma. Methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, hexane, sodium acetate, and glacial acetic acid were obtained from Fisher Scientific. All chemicals were HPLC grade and were used without further purification. Dade® immunoassay comprehensive tri-level controls were from Dade International.
The HPLC-EC system configuration is depicted in Fig. 2⇓ . The system consists of an Model 582 Solvent Delivery Module (ESA) equipped with a double plunger reciprocating pump, an AS3000 variable-loop autosampler (Thermo Separation Products), an analytical column, an ESA CouloChem II Model 5200A EC detector, and a Dell Pentium II 350 Mz computer/controller with ChromQuest software (Thermo Separation Products). The system consisted of two cells (pre- and postcolumn) and an analytical cell (Fig. 2⇓ ). One carbon filter was placed before the precolumn cell and another between the analytical column and the postcolumn cell. Both pre- and postcolumn cells (E1 and E2) were coulometric electrodes (ESA Model 5020). The postcolumn cells were configured in series as described by Edlund (17). The analytical cell (ESA Model 5010) consisted of a series of two coulometric electrodes and was connected in series to the postcolumn cell; the first electrode (E3) was for reduction of CoQ10, and the second electrode (E4) was for detection of CoQ10H2.
The analytical column was a reversed-phase Microsorb-MV column (4.6 mm × 15 cm; 5 μm bead size; Rainin). A reversed-phase C18 guard column (4.6 × 10 mm; 5 μm bead size) was used to protect the analytical column. The AS3000 injector was set at a needle height of 1.5 mm, and the injection volume was set at 20 μL for each sample. The cooling temperature of the autosampler was set at 0 °C. The mobile phase for the isocratic elution of CoQ10 was prepared as follows: sodium acetate trihydrate (6.8 g), 15 mL of glacial acetic acid, and 15 mL of 2-propanol were added to 695 mL of methanol and 275 mL of hexane. The mobile phase was filtered through a 0.2 μm (47 mm diameter) nylon or analogous filter. The pH of the mobile phase was ∼6, and the flow rate was 1 mL/min.
preparation of calibrators
All sample preparation work was carried out under a dim light to avoid photochemical decomposition of CoQ10 and CoQ9. To prepare a 5 mg/L working solution of CoQ10, we dissolved 10 mg of CoQ10 in 10 mL of hexane and diluted this solution to 100 mL with 1-propanol. The solution was thoroughly vortex-mixed until complete dissolution. A working solution was then prepared by dilution with 1-propanol to 5 mg/L. The concentration of the working solution was then calculated by reading the absorbance on a spectrophotometer (275 nm wavelength; 1-cm quartz cuvette), using a molar absorptivity (ε) of 14 200. A series of calibration solutions was then prepared with the appropriate volume of 1-propanol to final CoQ10 concentrations of 10, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 μg/L. The low control was prepared by diluting pooled plasma containing 0.45 mg/L CoQ10 with distilled water to a final concentration of 75 μg/L. The middle and high controls were prepared by adding working solutions containing 1.2 and 3.0 mg/L CoQ10 to pooled plasma samples to final concentrations of 1.65 and 3.45 mg/L, respectively. The calibrators and controls were stored in 1.8-mL polypropylene tubes (Sarstedt) without addition of argon or nitrogen at −80 °C and used throughout the study. CoQ9 was chosen as the internal standard. To prepare a CoQ9 solution, we dissolved 2 mg of CoQ9 in 100 mL of 1-propanol. The CoQ9 solution was thoroughly vortex-mixed until complete dissolution. A working solution of CoQ9 was then prepared by dilution with 1-propanol to 2 mg/L. All solutions were stored in 1.8-mL polypropylene tubes at −80 °C and used throughout the study.
preparation of plasma samples
Venous blood was collected into a Vacutainer® Tube (Becton Dickinson) containing heparin as anticoagulant and mixed by gentle inversion 5–6 times. The Vacutainer Tube was not opened to ambient air and was placed in ice or kept refrigerated before processing. Blood samples were processed within 4 h of collection and centrifuged at 2000g for 10 min at 4 °C. Plasma was collected, placed in a capped polypropylene tube, and immediately stored without addition of argon or nitrogen at or below −80 °C until analysis.
liquid-liquid extraction
Under our experimental conditions, we optimized the extracting procedure of Edlund (17) and compared the efficiency of different mixtures of organic solvents for liquid-liquid extraction of CoQ10 and CoQ9 from human plasma. Quantitative recoveries (∼100%) of these compounds were obtained with two solvents: 1-propanol and a mixture of ethanol-hexane (2:5 by volume). The 1-propanol extraction procedure was used for subsequent studies.
coulometric detection
The hydrodynamic voltammograms were obtained by repeated injections into the HPLC system of a mixture of CoQ9 (1 mg/L) and CoQ10 (4 mg/L) in water-1-propanol (1:9 by volume). The detector potential was increased by 0.05 V in each subsequent run. Anodic currents for CoQ10H2 and cathodic currents for CoQ10 reached maximum response at applied voltages of +0.35 V and −0.65 V, respectively. On the basis of the assessed hydrodynamic voltammogram, the E2 cell potential was always set at +0.7 V to oxidize any electrochemically active eluates. The E3 and E4 cell potentials were set at −0.65 V and +0.45 V, respectively. When the E1 cell potential was set to −0.7 V for the precolumn reduction mode, all CoQ10 was reduced to CoQ10H2 before column separation. Total CoQ10H2 was then measured, and a calibration curve of CoQ10H2 was established. For the precolumn oxidation mode, the E1 cell potential was set at +0.7 V. All CoQ10H2 was oxidized to CoQ10, and TQ10 was measured. A calibration curve of CoQ10 was thus obtained. For simultaneous determination of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10, the E1 cell was turned off. Because no current flowed into the cell, all compounds remained at their original state.
assessment of possible interfering substances
To explore possible sources of interference, we processed several lyophilized products from human blood, highly purified chemicals, and biochemicals (included in the Dade high control) according to the developed method. Briefly, Dade high control, which contains 45 drugs and endogenous substances, was supplemented with 20 commonly prescribed drugs at concentrations exceeding clinically relevant values (Table 2⇓ ); 100-μL aliquots of the supplemented control were then placed in 1.8-mL capped polypropylene tubes, processed, and analyzed.
To assess the possible interference of endogenous CoQ9 or other substances in patient plasma samples, blood samples were collected from 25 patients (ages 1–18 years) in the neurology clinic at the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH. These patients were diagnosed with a variety of neurological disorders. An additional 25 specimens were obtained from apparently healthy individuals (ages 0.2–65 years). Informed consent was obtained from all adults and from the parents (or guardians) of all minors.
sample analysis
We simultaneously processed samples in batches of 20, which is the capacity of our centrifugation instrument. Each frozen sample was thawed at room temperature, and then a 100-μL aliquot of the sample was placed in a 1.8-mL capped polypropylene tube containing 50 μL of internal standard solution. All tubes were kept in an ice bath. The sample was then mixed with 850 μL of cold 1-propanol. All tubes were vortex-mixed for 2 min on a mechanical vortex-type mixer and centrifuged for 10 min at 21 000 g and 0 °C. The resulting supernatant was separated from the precipitate and transferred to a glass autosampler vial. Sample vials were immediately placed in the autosampler tray at 0 °C. A batch of 20 samples was analyzed immediately in a single run sequence. A 20-μL aliquot of 1-propanol extract from a vial was injected immediately into an automated HPLC. Peak height and area measurements for each injection were obtained by the ChromQuest software. The CoQ10:CoQ9 peak-height ratios were used (peak area was optional) to obtain least-squares linear regression equations, which were used to calculate the CoQ10 concentrations of the frozen control samples and patient samples. If an error occurred in the system, the sample vials were resealed and immediately restored at −80 °C or below for further investigation. A single technician could complete the analysis of a 20-specimen batch routinely within 4 h.
preliminary reference interval data
To evaluate CoQ10H2:TQ10 reference intervals, blood samples were obtained from 25 apparently healthy individuals (5 males and 20 females; age range, 12–64 years) after obtaining their consent. Individuals were carefully screened and excluded if taking any medication chronically, had any history of acute or chronic illness, or were taking any form of coenzyme Q10 as a supplement.
efficiency of reduction cell
CoQ10 was converted to CoQ10H2 electrochemically by the reduction cell. The efficiency of conversion was measured by comparing the peak heights of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 per injected amount of CoQ10. A series of solutions containing 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 μg/L of CoQ10 in water/1-propanol (1:9 by volume) were injected in duplicate into the HPLC system. Quantitative conversion rates of 99.4% ± 0.5% were obtained.
chromatographic analysis
As seen in Fig. 3⇓ , CoQ10 and CoQ10H2 could be measured in the same HPLC run. CoQ9 and CoQ10 eluted at ∼5.5 and ∼6.9 min, respectively (Fig. 3A⇓ ). Two peaks were observed for the reduced form (CoQ9H2) of CoQ9 (internal standard) and CoQ10H2 at ∼3.6 and ∼4.1 min, respectively (Fig. 3B⇓ ).
calibration curves and linearity
Calibration curves for CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 are shown in Fig. 4⇓ . An excellent linear relationship was observed between the peak-height ratios of each compound vs CoQ9 over a wide concentration range from 10 μg/L to 4 mg/L. The regression equations were: y = 1.151x + 0.003 (r2 = 0.999) for CoQ10H2; and y = 0.846x + 0.001 (r2 = 0.998) for CoQ10. The detection limits of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 were ∼5 μg/L (signal-to-noise ratio = 3).
extraction efficiency
Under our experimental conditions, quantitative recoveries of CoQ10 and CoQ9 for the current method using 1-propanol were compared with previously published extraction methods (Table 1⇓ ). With the 1-propanol method, the mean recoveries were 99% ± 3% for CoQ10 and 100% ± 2% for CoQ9 (n = 6). Comparison with other extraction solvents (n = 6 replicates each) produced the following mean recoveries: 2-propanol, 89% ± 5%; ethanol, 88% ± 4%; n-butanol, 85% ± 5%; acetone, 71% ± 8%; methanol-hexane (0.2:2.5 by volume), 64% ± 10%; hexane, 52% ± 9%; acetonitrile, 19% ± 11%; and methanol, 19% ± 10%.
stability of CoQ10H2 in stored whole blood
Venous blood was collected from five healthy adults in tubes containing sodium heparinate. Blood samples, which were kept on ice or in refrigerated at 4 °C, were processed identically at hourly intervals up to 8 h after collection. Plasma from each blood specimen was separated and frozen at −80 °C until analysis. The results showed that CoQ10H2 in whole blood stored at 4 °C was stable for at least 8 h with a CV <5%. The mean (SD) ratio of CoQ10H2:TQ10 in 25 heparinized whole blood specimens was 95.3% (± 1.8%) 8 h after blood collection (4 °C). On the basis of these findings, we recommend that blood for CoQ10H2 analysis be refrigerated to ensure sample stability for up to 8 h after collection.
precision and accuracy
The analytical recoveries of CoQ10 in human plasma controls are shown in Table 3⇓ . The inter- and intraday assay CVs were <5% over four concentrations of CoQ10. Because CoQ10H2 is oxidized rapidly, no control tests for CoQ10H2 were performed. To verify the reproducibility of the CoQ10H2 analysis, human plasma samples from 10 healthy individuals were examined (5 replicates each; Table 4⇓ ). The reproducibility of the analysis is presented in Table 4⇓ . The CVs for the ratio of CoQ10H2:TQ10 were ≤1.0%, which shows the excellent reproducibility of analysis.
interference studies
Testing of the supplemented Dade control indicated that a few unidentified electroactive compounds and substances (Table 2⇓ ) eluted from the column within the first 3.5 min (data not shown). These compounds and substances may have been more hydrophilic than CoQ10H2 because an organic solvent-based mobile phase was used. Only one unknown compound eluted at ∼6.9 min, which corresponded exactly with the CoQ10 elution time. Because the Dade control is plasma-based, this peak most likely was residual CoQ10 in this control. None of the lyophilized products of human blood, highly purified chemicals, biochemicals, and medications added to the Dade High Control produced interference in the analysis.
To assess the possible interference of endogenous CoQ9 with that added as internal standard, 50 plasma samples, including 25 from apparently healthy individuals and 25 from patients, were extracted without adding the internal standard, CoQ9. Only one plasma sample, from a patient with a rare glycogen storage disease (type I), was found to have ∼25 μg/L CoQ9, which corresponded to ∼2.5% of the internal standard concentration. Measurable CoQ9 was not detected in the plasma samples from the remaining 25 healthy individuals or 24 patients. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that interference from endogenous CoQ9 is very unlikely to cause significant analytical error with our method, and thus is a very suitable internal standard (Fig. 5⇓ ).
preliminary reference interval results
To provide preliminary data for establishing the reference interval for the ratio of CoQ10H2:TQ10, plasma specimens were collected from 25 apparently healthy individuals. The CoQ10H2:TQ10 ratio was 96.3% ± 2.0% (mean ± SD). The mean plasma concentrations of CoQ10H2 and TQ10 were 803 (± 264) and 835 (± 276) μg/L, respectively.
Various HPLC-EC methods have been described in the past that attempted to measure CoQ10 and CoQ10H2 (Table 1⇑ ). Because CoQ10 is somewhat insensitive to EC detection, in-line postcolumn reduction of CoQ10 to CoQ10H2 by a coulometric method (21)(22)(24) or a reduction column (23) has been reported recently, which allows for the sensitive detection of CoQ10 by an EC electrode. Historically, these methods used chemical reagents to obtain CoQ10H2 by reducing the commercially available CoQ10. This process typically involves the addition of an excess amount of the reducing reagent to convert CoQ10 into CoQ10H2 and to maintain the reduced form. Additional care is also required to avoid oxidation by ambient oxygen, usually by storage under argon or nitrogen. Preparation of calibrators and controls is particularly problematic to protect CoQ10H2 from oxidation. The current method uses in-line precolumn EC reduction to convert CoQ10 into CoQ10H2 and avoids the artifactual oxidation that frequently occurs during the chemical process to produce CoQ10H2. Coulometric detectors efficiently convert ∼99% of CoQ10 to CoQ10H2. This improvement is important because it dispenses with the need for a reducing agent and additional sample clean-up steps.
The first study to substantially improve earlier methods was reported by Grossi et al. (19), who introduced a precolumn oxidation cell for the CoQ10H2 study. However, their quantitative measurement of CoQ10H2 was unsuccessful (Table 1⇑ ).
Finckh et al. (21) developed a micromethod for simultaneous measurement of several lipophilic antioxidants using HPLC with coulometric EC detection (Table 1⇑ ). Postcolumn EC detectors in the reduction-reduction-oxidation mode, as described by Grossi et al. (19), were used. According to their procedure, 5 or 10 μL of sample was extracted with ethanol, β-hydroxytoluene, and hexane. After centrifugation, the hexane phase was evaporated to dryness under a stream of argon and redissolved in a mixture of ethanol and methanol. Poor recoveries of 54% ± 37% and 76% ± 36% were reported for CoQ10H2 and CoQ10, respectively, without internal standardization by CoQ9H2 and CoQ9. To correct this problem, the authors added internal standardization with CoQ9H2 and CoQ9. This improved the accuracy and precision, i.e., recoveries were 105% ± 21% and 97% ± 11%, respectively, for CoQ10H2 and CoQ10. However, the imprecision of the CoQ10H2 analysis was excessive. The instability of hexane-extracted CoQ10H2 after drying has been reported by other investigators (23) and may contribute to this problem. Again, it should be noted that this procedure is relatively tedious and complex.
Lagendijk et al. (22) also reported a rapid HPLC-EC procedure for the determination of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 in 1-propanol extracts (Table 1⇑ ). They used the postcolumn EC electrodes in the oxidation-reduction-oxidation mode as described by Edlund (17). Their extraction and analysis procedures without internal standardization were also used to obtain the ratio between CoQ10H2 and CoQ10. To prevent a coulometric overload with an 80-μL injection of sample, a sophisticated switching valve was used to ensure that only the compounds of interest were channeled through the coulometric cells. Although they used a 1-propanol extraction similar to the one used in the current method, their sample and solvent volumes (300 μL and 1 mL, respectively) were much greater than the current method (100 and 900 μL, respectively), and their injection volume was fourfold increased (80 μL vs 20 μL). In addition, the current method uses in-line precolumn reduction, an autosampler, and cooling of the samples to 0 °C. Although the method used by Lagendijk et al. (22) may accurately measure the CoQ10H2:CoQ10 ratio (∼16.7:1), it may also be prone to analytical variation because it does not use internal standard for quantifying CoQ10H2 and CoQ10. According to the authors' recommendations for reliable results, the time span from collection to analysis must be within 15 min. The instability of CoQ10H2 limits the practical application of their method because only 8–10 samples can be analyzed per day.
Yamashita and Yamamoto (23) reported a HPLC-EC procedure using single extraction with methanol-hexane (1:2 by volume; Table 1⇑ ). To prevent the air oxidation of CoQ10H2, they incorporated an immediate and direct injection step into their procedure. Their results clearly indicated that the hexane extract should be analyzed immediately after extraction, and the analysis of one sample at a time was emphasized. In addition, Finckh et al. (21) and Wang et al. (25) reported that hexane is not an efficient extraction solvent. Our data (unpublished) also indicate the poor recovery of CoQ10H2 (52–64%) with the use of hexane.
Kaikkonen et al. (24) reported a method similar to the one described by Finckh et al. (21) for measuring CoQ10H2, but their results indicated a lower mean (∼88%) and broader range for the CoQ10H2:TQ10 ratio (80.9–90.9%) than the current study (mean, 96.3% ± 2%; Table 1⇑ ). Their method also used a complex sample preparation procedure and evaporation under nitrogen, which may explain their decreased recovery of CoQ10H2: The long pretreatment, extraction, and evaporation procedures required for their method may have allowed the oxidation of a significant portion of CoQ10H2. Their method was very tedious and slow, and according to their own description was capable of analyzing only one sample at a time (24).
Wang et al. (25) recently reported a gradient HPLC method with automated precolumn reduction to assess CoQ10H2 and TQ10 concentrations in plasma. Their method uses chemical reduction of CoQ10H2. As a result, each clinical specimen requires duplicate injections to complete the analysis of CoQ10H2 and TQ10. In addition, CoQ10H2 and TQ10 determinations must be performed before and after each sample is mixed with reducing agent before HPLC analysis. Because the reducing reagent is very unstable, a fresh and adequate amount of reducing reagent must be prepared every three samples. Previous experience by the current investigators found that excess reducing agent may overload the EC electrode and shorten the life-span of the detector cells (unpublished data). Additionally, the method of Wang et al. (25) may be prone to analytical variation because they do not use an internal standard. According to the authors, their method is also limited to the analysis of a maximum of one sample per hour and requires continuous effort by a technician.
Although the current procedure requires 100 μL of plasma, the sample size could be further reduced to 25 or 50 μL depending on the detection of trace amounts of CoQ10. Because CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 are measured simultaneously, the total analysis time is substantially shorter than those for other methods. The method described herein makes it possible to analyze up to 40 samples within an 8-h period. Although other, longer methods have included additional analytes (16)(17)(18)(20)(21)(23), the current method has been optimized to measure CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 as rapidly, simply, accurately, and precisely as possible. Tables 3⇓ and 4⇑ summarize the excellent reproducibility of the analysis. The individual CVs for CoQ10H2, TQ10, and the CoQ10H2:TQ10 ratio were ≤3.8%, ≤3.7%, and ≤1.0%, respectively (Table 4⇑ ). The current method uses single extraction with 1-propanol as solvent to disrupt lipoproteins and efficiently solubilize CoQ10H2 and CoQ10. This eliminates the necessity of the repeated extraction procedures that frequently were required by earlier procedures in which mixtures of either methanol or ethanol and hexane were used. In contrast to earlier methods, no evaporation step and no additional cleanup of the 1-propanol extract are needed. Although >1000 samples have been injected into the current system over the previous 6 months, the in-line filters have been replaced only once. The current system also avoids the need for complex system configurations, such as coupled columns with column-switching valves and postcolumn two-way valves.
Some controversy exists concerning the use of CoQ9 as an internal standard for CoQ10H2 analysis. Evidence of endogenous CoQ9 in some individuals was cited by some investigators (26), but not others (27). Our current results and considerable experience indicate that CoQ9 is rarely found in measurable quantities in human plasma and thus is a suitable internal standard for this procedure.
The ranges for the percentage of CoQ10H2 in TQ10 from previous reports are quite variable (Table 1⇑ ). The percentages of CoQ10H2 in TQ10 reported recently, i.e., ∼95% (21), ∼94% (22), ∼96% (23), and ∼93% (25), agree well with the results of the current study (∼96%). Other methods may accurately measure CoQ10H2; however, they generally are more labor-intensive and more prone to error than the current method.
Accurate determination of CoQ10H2 makes it a possible marker for assessing the presence of oxidative stress in many pathologic states. Although significant differences in the plasma CoQ10H2:TQ10 ratio between controls and patients with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and Alzheimer disease have not been observed by some investigators (10)(28), other researchers have reported decreased CoQ10H2 concentrations associated with certain disease processes. Hara et al. (6) suggested that the CoQ10H2:TQ10 ratio is a good marker of oxidative stress in infants with asphyxia (6). Hemodialysis patients have also been found to have significantly lower concentrations of plasma CoQ10H2 than healthy controls (7). According to one report (7), a single hemodialysis session causes a 30% decrease in mean plasma CoQ10H2 concentrations. Plasma CoQ10H2 was also found to be significantly lower in hyperlipidemic patients and in patients with liver disease (10). In 64 patients with chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, significantly increased CoQ10 and decreased CoQ10H2 were observed (8). Palomäki et al. (12) observed that lovastatin treatment diminishes the CoQ10H2 concentration in the LDL of hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary heart disease. There are also concerns that patients could experience deleterious effects as a result of long-term therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors or "statin" therapy. Monitoring of the effects of statin therapy on CoQ10H2 may be useful for diagnosing CoQ10H2 deficiency in many patient populations. These are but a few of a growing numbers of studies that suggest that CoQ10H2 deficiency may be related to pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Recent studies have reported new findings related to CoQ10H2 that may lead to a better understanding of the cellular function of CoQ10H2. One study in patients with β-thalassemia showed that severely depleted CoQ10H2 concentrations (−62.5%) are associated with increased plasma concentrations of lipoperoxidation byproducts and urinary concentrations of catecholamine metabolites and azelaic acid (13). These changes may indicate both neurological and lipoperoxidation stress (13). Gotz et al. (5) also reported that platelet CoQ10H2:CoQ10 ratios were significantly decreased in patients with Parkinson disease. An altered redox state of platelet coenzyme Q10 may reflect a change in membrane electron transport and the effectiveness of defense against toxic reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide (5). Another recent study suggested that CoQ10 enrichment may decrease oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes (14). Additional studies are needed to understand the function and protective role of CoQ10H2 in these and other diseases.
In conclusion, we developed a simple, rapid, and isocratic HPLC method for the determination of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 in human plasma. An extraction process using 1-propanol as solvent allows rapid and simple sample extraction and minimizes oxidation of CoQ10H2 during sample processing. An in-line precolumn reduction cell is used to convert CoQ10 into CoQ10H2. The EC reduction yields 99% CoQ10H2 and avoids the artifactual oxidation that frequently occurs with CoQ10H2 produced through the chemical reduction process. This optimized method provides excellent sensitivity, precision, and accuracy for relatively high-throughput assessment of CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 in human plasma. This method is suitable for research and can be easily adapted for clinical testing purposes. Studies are in progress to establish reference intervals and to evaluate the clinical significance of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of CoQ10H2 in several patient populations.
We thank Dr. Paul Steele for valuable suggestions, and Gail Chuck and Laura Schroer for assistance in collecting patient specimens and information for this study.
1 Values of CoQ10H2:TQ10 are mean ± SD.
2 Analytes in addition to CoQ10H2 and CoQ10 were included in this method.
3 NA, data not provided; UV, ultraviolet.
1 Drugs added to the commercial Dade® immunoassay control prior to extraction.
1 Diluted from pooled plasma containing 0.45 mg/L CoQ10.
2 Pooled plasma was fortified with 1.2 mg/L CoQ10 to a final concentration of 1.65 mg/L.
3 Pooled plasma was fortified with 3 mg/L CoQ10 to a final concentration of 3.45 mg/L.
↵1 Nonstandard abbreviations: CoQ10H2, reduced coenzyme Q10; CoQ10, oxidized coenzyme Q10; TQ10, total coenzyme Q10; EC, electrochemical; CoQ9, oxidized coenzyme Q9; and CoQ9H2, reduced coenzyme Q9.
- © 2001 The American Association for Clinical Chemistry


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Bill O'Reilly predicted that his Super Bowl interview with President Obama would be the "most watched in the history of mankind," but he fell far, far short of that guess, as the New York Times reports.
O'Reilly made the prediction last week. To have followed through on it, he would have had to beat the record set by Barbara Walters in 1999, when 70 million people tuned in to watch her interview with Monica Lewinsky.
But the Times' Bill Carter says that the half hour in which O'Reilly's interview with Obama drew 17.3 million viewers--a hefty number, to be sure, but nowhere near Walters' record.
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text: Anthony Howe, a kinetic sculptor born in Salt Lake City, Utah, demonstrates his unusual yet uniquely fascinating art work. Fed up with things "being static in [his] visual world", and through having access to an abundance of steel while working as a superintendent at a warehouse in New York City, Howe, a painter at the time, set out to deliver something different, the result being a visually striking, hypnotic art form combining steel, kinetic energy, and the elements. His pieces need to "weather winds of 90 mph and still move in a one mile per hour breeze and do so for hundreds of years".


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Earlier this year Eaton Corp. combined products, expertise and manufacturing capabilities from its Electrical and Vehicle groups to create a 1,200-employee business called eMobility, headed by Jeff Lowinger.
The unit plans to invest $500 million over the next five years on products related to power systems, intelligent power electronics and advanced power distribution. Lowinger says the eMobility unit targets revenue of $2 billion-$4 billion by 2030, when the vehicle electrification market is expected to reach $30 billion.
He notes that the unit's missions extends beyond passenger cars to encompass commercial and off-road vehicles. Click HERE to learn more about Eaton's eMobility business.


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How These Natural Therapies Help Rebuild Your Health after Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is conventionally part of the "Big 3" treatment methods promoted by allopathic medicine: chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, with millions of cancer patients using it in some way each year. If you or someone you love decide to go the "chemo route" as part of an overall cancer treatment protocol, be sure to get the facts. Most importantly, find out what you can do to detoxify your body right away once your chemo course is over.
What Chemotherapy Does
In terms of what negative effects chemotherapy has on breast cancer patients in particular, new research has discovered that it may actually do more harm than good. Approximately 30% of all breast cancer patients will undergo some form of chemotherapy. There is currently a general understanding across the board (among conventional doctors as well) that these treatments do affect the immune system. No one knew to what extent until recently however. A British study conducted by the University of Leeds and published in the January 2016 edition of Breast Cancer Researcher looked at how chemotherapy affected immune system health in 88 breast cancer patients. The results were shocking…
Leeds researchers found breast cancer chemotherapy to be associated with "long-term changes in immune parameters that should be considered during clinical management." These changes included a drastic reduction in T, B, and Natural Killer cell counts after just two weeks of treatment. The study also discovered that certain immune system cells, including T cells, remained significantly lower up to 9 months after treatment ended. The most significant finding, however, was that repopulating T and B cells expressed significant changes when compared to their pre-chemotherapy predecessors. This indicates that foundational genetic mutations may carry over into future generations of cells long after chemotherapy had ended.
"Long-term changes in immune parameters that should be considered during clinical management."
Like radiation and surgery, it is important to remember that although chemotherapy may shrink visible tumors, it will not affect circulating cancer stem cells. Stem cells are "blank slates." Healthy stem cells are needed for the formation of everything from T cells to connective tissue. When cancer is a concern, however, those same stem cells can turn deadly and be used for re-seeding and refueling tumor growth.
5 Natural Therapies That Can Help With Chemotherapy Detox
The following natural substances and modalities can help you detoxify chemo drugs and rebuild your immune system. All of these natural substances and protocols will also help prevent cancer recurrence as well.
1: Broccoli Sprouts: Broccoli sprouts contain a high amount of the cancer-busting and immune boosting substance sulforaphane. Sulforaphane has proven to be a strong cancer inhibitor, especially of Breast Cancer. It creates apoptosis (cancer cell death) and also boosts Natural Killer cell activity. Sulforaphane can also be consumed in supplement form and in some high-powered formulas.
2: Beta Glucans: A quality beta glucan supplement extracted from either yeast or (more powerfully) from medicinal mushrooms can provide a very effective way to boost your immune system overall. Beta glucans increase the ability of immune cells to "eat" cancer cells and, according to a University of Kentucky study, can have an effect on breast cancer gene expression.
3: Curcumin: There are over 200 documented studies to date that address the effects of curcumin on breast cancer in particular. And there are literally thousands on the positive effect this component of the Indian spice turmeric can have on the immune system. Curcumin has shown to reduce tumor growth and induce apoptosis, even on multi-drug resistant breast cancers. It is a potent anti-inflammatory and can drastically improve immune function. One study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry reported that curcumin tripled the expression of a protein whose job it is to combat bacteria, viruses, and fungus.
"It is important to remember that although chemotherapy may shrink visible tumors, it will not affect circulating cancer stem cells."
4: Chlorella. Chlorella is most known for its detoxifying ability against heavy metals, but it is also a great chelator (binder) of other toxins (like residuals from chemotherapy) as well. In addition, it is a super-booster for the immune system. It is a sound source of vitamin B-12 and provides 10 times the amount of beta carotene than carrots. It also contains polysaccharides, which have been shown to improve the ability of immune system cells to communicate with each other when pathogens threaten. It also contains chlorophyll, which increases blood oxygenation. Chlorella can also increase glutathione levels as well.
5: Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia is the use of heat to detoxify and heal the body. It can include far infrared saunas, hot therapeutic baths, Biomat technology, and helio (sun-based) protocols as well as other heat-focused modalities. According to the National Cancer Institute, "high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissue." And according to research done by Dr. Nobuhiro Yoshimizu, author of the book The Fourth Treatment for Medical Refugees, raising your body temp by just one degree can boost your immune system by 40%.
Courtesy: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers
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Food Allergies
Food allergies can be a common concern during pregnancy, breastfeeding, infant feeding and childhood years. Anyone can develop food allergies. However, your child is at a higher risk if there is a family history of food allergies.
A food allergy is the body's negative reaction to part of a food that it feels is foreign. For some people, even eating a small amount of this food can cause death. The good news is that allergic reactions can be prevented.
Food allergies may develop during the first year of your child's life. A child may or may not outgrow food allergies. Allergies to cow's milk, wheat, soy and eggs may be outgrown. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish tend to be more serious and can last a lifetime.
Note: There is no cure for food allergies. The only option is to completely take away the food that's causing the allergy from your child's diet.
Common Foods That Cause Allergies
- Eggs
- Milk
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Seafoods (fish, shellfish, etc.)
- Sesame
- Soy
- Sulphites (food additive)
- Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, etc.)
- Wheat
- Other – Ask your doctor if you think your child is allergic to other foods
Signs and Symptoms of Allergic Reaction
- Flushed face, hives or skin rash or red itchy skin
- Swollen eyes, face, lips, throat or tongue
- Trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
- Wheezing, coughing
- Appearing anxious, weak, "faint" or looking pale
- Stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea or vomiting
- Shock or complete collapse (anaphylactic shock)
What is Anaphylactic Shock?
Anaphylactic (a-na-fi-lak-tik) shock is the most serious allergic reaction that can lead to coma and death. It can happen within minutes after eating a specific food. This type of severe reaction affects one to two percent of the population. Talk to your doctor for more information.
When You Are Pregnancy
- Avoid foods that you are allergic to
- Do not avoid foods that the father of the baby is allergic to. If you avoid certain foods, you may be missing important nutrients for your health and the growth of the baby
- Follow these healthy eating during pregnancy tips
When Your Baby is 0-6 Months Old
- Breastfeed your baby. Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for healthy term infants
- Do not avoid foods that the father of the baby is allergic to
- Avoid foods that you are allergic to when you are breastfeeding
- Eat a well balanced diet that includes a variety of foods according to Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide when you are breastfeeding
When Your Baby is 6-12 Months Old
- Continue to breastfeed for up to two years and beyond. Introduce your baby to complementary foods at six months.
- Offer iron-rich foods first. Examples of these foods are: cooked meat, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, beans and lentils, and iron-rich cereals.
- After introducing iron-rich foods, offer vegetables, fruit and milk products (such as yogurt and cheese) in no particular order.
- Provide a variety of foods with soft textures such as lumpy, finely minced, pureed, mashed or ground.
- Offer safe finger foods such as pieces of soft-cooked vegetables and fruit; soft, ripe fruit; finely minced, ground or mashed cooked meat, deboned fish and poultry; grated cheese; and bread crusts or toasts.
- Homogenized milk (3.25% M.F.) can be introduced after nine to twelve months of age, and when the child is eating a variety of solid foods.
- Do not give honey to babies under one year of age.
Some foods are known to cause allergic reactions and can be introduced from about six months of age. These foods include wheat, fish, shellfish, whole eggs, milk products, peanut products and tree nut products. When introducing one of these new foods, give one food at a time. Wait two days before offering another new food. Other types of food can be offered daily.
- Let the waiter know about your child's food allergy
- Read the menu carefully to check if there are foods your child is allergic to
- Ask the waiter to check with the cook that your order does not contain the allergy-causing foods
- If you are not sure, order something else or eat somewhere else
- Learn about food allergies
- Do not give your child the food or food ingredient that caused the allergy
- Read food labels. Check the ingredients every time you buy a food product
- Avoid food products (including imported products) without ingredient lists
- Avoid foods sold in bulk bins
- Inform caregivers, schools and health care providers what foods your child is allergic to
- Prepare for emergencies. Always carry an EpiPen® and follow your doctor's advice on how to use it
- Make sure your child wears a medical alert bracelet stating the foods the child is allergic to. Call Medic Alert at 416-696-0267for more information
- Speak with a Registered Dietitian to help plan a balanced diet for your child