When the intima-media (the layers of the lining) of the common carotid artery (the artery that splits to supply the head and brain with blood) thickens it is well connected to the prediction of cardiovascular morbidity (stroke, heart attack) and mortality (death from a heart related event). In this study 146 patients with cardiovascular risk factors or arteriosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the arteries) were followed for 36 months to assess the relationship between thickening of the lining and the incidence of stroke, heart attack, and death (referred to as cardiovascular events in this study). There were 39 cardiovascular events in the 36 months of the study.

The type of high cholesterol that runs in families (familial hypercholesterolemia) is characterized by very high levels of LDL-cholesterol which contributes to an early development of coronary heart disease. These researchers have performed a systemic review of the efficacy of phytosterols and stanols in treating familial hypercholesterolemia. Four studies matched the meta-analysis inclusion criteria of being stringent, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled.

RU-486 (mifepristone) is known as the morning after abortion pill. RU-486 is used for aborting a pregnancy of 49 days or less according to FDA approval. Four previously reported deaths were due to a bacterial infection after the women took the drug.

Sulforaphane activates Nrf2. Nrf2 is a very important transcription factor; transcription factors control genes and their activity. Nrf2 controls detoxification enzyme genes and is needed to deactivate and excrete xenobiotics; xenobiotics ere often dangerous agents not normal to the human body including drugs, pesticides,chemical estrogens, and synthetics.

Juice was first made and removed from Pomegranate. The remaining fruit constituents were tested for protective activity in laboratory animals. The results were simply sensational.