Graham Norton is a British TV presenter/ comedian

Lee Thomas is a anchorman who recently surfaced up with his book Turning white

It is . . . → Read More: Philippines Gov., Fr. Eddie Panlilio, has vitiligo]]> Governor Fr. Eddie PanlilioCITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines Proclaimed Pampanga Governor Fr. Eddie Panlilio said the white spots on his face, hands and feet should not be a cause for worry.Vitiligo, or the partial loss of pigment, was how his doctors called his skin disorder. Its also called the Michael Jackson Disease.

It is not contagious, so our constituents need not fear coming near me or shaking my hands, said the 56-year-old Catholic priest on Thursday.

Vitiligo is not a life-threatening ailment, according to Panlilio, and is not serious enough to stop him from doing his duties as a public official until June 2010. He is the first priest to be elected governor in Pampanga in 96 years, capitol records showed.

It has not affected my bodys vital organs, he said.

The white spots first appeared on his forehead in 2003 when he was in his fourth year of assignment at the St. James Parish in Betis, Guagua.

The doctors said it could be hereditary or caused by a virus from the environment or due to tension, Panlilio said.

His mothers cousin had the same skin problem, he said.

A different look

When the de-coloration spread around his lips and below the cheeks, he said he started feeling insecure.

Menaliwa ku itsura (There was a change in the way I look), said Panlilio. His closest bradz (brother-priests) swore he was handsome during his younger years in the ministry.

The cure to his skin disorder, he said, was taxing.

I was made to go under the sun for 30 minutes between six and nine in the morning, apply (medicated) lotion then go under the sun again for another 30 minutes, he said.

But he gave up, saying, How can I do this with all the activities in the parish?

No time to brood

Guagua is a town of more than 100,000 people who are mostly Catholics. Aside from attending to their spiritual needs through the celebration of the sacraments, Panlilio organized basic ecclesiastical communities and spent more time organizing the youth.
The church also draws tourists, being one of 10 churches in the country declared as national treasures.

Built in the early 1700s, the church in Guagua was repaired several times throughout the 1800s.

The retablo (main alter) has ornate carvings and images of saints. The paintings on the ceiling have been compared to those in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

Instead of brooding about his looks, Panlilio said, I just accepted it.

Disinformation

But then, the white spots also drew the attention of some people, who gave him curious stares. At one point, he went to see Geli Jingco, a parishioner in her late 20s who also has the same skin disorder.

She counseled me. Geli said I should not be bothered by it. That girl has lots of self-confidence, Panlilio said.

He is not bothered anymore because when youre older, substance, not physical appearance, should be the real worth of a person, he said. It does not mean anything to me anymore.

During the electoral campaign, however, his critics made an issue of his skin disorder. A flyer claimed it was a manifestation of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which causes the dreaded AIDS. He could not tell which of his rivals spread that false information.

During the motorcades in 20 towns and in this city, his doctor sprayed his extremities with a medicated lotion to protect him from the harsh sun.

By his doctors reckoning, Panlilios health is OK.

Loads of laughter

This was not the case before he threw himself into the race in response to the clamor of Catholic lay people, who pushed him to run because they wanted an alternative to then reelectionist Gov. Mark Lapid and Pampanga Board Member Lilia Pineda.

In March just before the race, his uric acid was over the limit and his cholesterol level shot up to 286.

He has since lost 20 pounds from the hustings and now packs 192 pounds in his 5-foot-11-and-a-half frame.

Panlilio plans to resume playing tennis to keep fit. He rates his proficiency in the game as AB. In his vocabulary, that means always beginning.

Panlilio also misses playing basketball with the young men in Betis. But he has loads of laughter, which his doctors call the best medicine.
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By Tonette Orejas
Inquirer
Last updated 01:06am (Mla time) 05/27/2007

GammaCan . . . → Read More: Vitiligo Cells May Hold Cure For Melanoma]]> People with vitiligo are always warned to stay out of sun because the depigmented skin is more susceptible to skin cancer…unfortunately, the only method I have found that pigments my skin is the UVB rays from the sun or laser. Today I found an article on the MedicalNewsToday.com website which may dispel this idea.

GammaCan Announces Positive Testing Results In The Development Of VitiGam(TM) For The Treatment Of Melanoma
10 Mar 2008

GammaCan International, Inc. (OTCBB: GCAN), a developer of proprietary immunotherapies for the treatment of melanoma and other cancers, announced progress in its VitiGam development program. During the last several months, the Company has completed a series of significant animal experiments confirming the effectiveness of IgG preparations derived from vitiligo donors against melanoma cells. This is the basis for GammaCan’s lead product, VitiGam.In a number of human melanoma model experiments, using SCID mice and the A375 human melanoma cell line, the Company demonstrated that vitiligo-derived IgG preparations can prevent, in a statistically significant manner, the growth of subcutaneous melanomas (tumors). In these experiments, IgG preparations derived from vitiligo donors were compared to a variety of other IgG preparations and also compared to saline. These experiments further demonstrate that IgG preparations derived from vitiligo donors also achieved, in a highly statistically significant manner, a reduction in the tumor size of small tumors.

Steven Katz, Chairman of the Board and President of GammaCan said, “Our data are highly encouraging in that they demonstrate, for the first time, in human melanoma models, anti-melanoma activity from IgG preparations derived from vitiligo donors.” Mr. Katz further commented that, “These positive results keep us on track to file our IND with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the near term.”

About GammaCan

GammaCan develops proprietary immunotherapy and related approaches to treat melanoma and other cancers. GammaCan’s patented platform technology is based on the use of IgGs (gamma-immunoglobulins), a safe, relatively non-toxic human plasma-derived product used to treat a variety of immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. In cancer, IgG-based therapies work by strengthening the patient’s immune system. Many experts currently view immunotherapy as a future alternative to chemotherapy. The Company’s lead drug candidate, VitiGam targets Stage III and Stage IV melanoma for which no effective treatment currently exists. In August 2007, VitiGam received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Stage IIB to Stage IV metastatic melanoma. For more information about GammaCan, visit http://www.GammaCan.com.

About VitiGam

VitiGam is a first-in-class IgG-based anti-cancer immunotherapy being developed for the treatment of Stage III and Stage IV melanoma. GammaCan is planning to submit its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for VitiGam to the FDA in the near future. The Company expects to commence human clinical trials shortly thereafter. VitiGam is an IgG-based product manufactured from the plasma of donors with Vitiligo, a benign skin condition affecting up to 2% of the general population. Studies have shown that this “enriched” IgG formulation contains potent anti-melanoma activity. Based on these studies, GammaCan expects VitiGam to provide specific anti-melanoma activity against melanoma cells, as well as non-specific anti-cancer activity.

About Melanoma

Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma accounts for approximately 4% of all skin cancers but causes approximately 75% of all skin cancer-related deaths. An estimated 62,000 people were diagnosed with and nearly 8,000 people died from melanoma in the U.S. alone in 2007. If rapidly diagnosed and surgically removed, early-stage melanoma is usually curable. However, for patients with metastatic melanoma (Stage III and Stage IV), the prognosis is poor since no effective treatment currently exists. These patients have a median survival time of 8.5 months and a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. There has been little change in these results for in excess of 25 years. The incidence of melanoma has increased more rapidly than any other cancer during the past 10 years. The last drug to treat patients with metastatic melanoma was approved by the FDA over 30 years ago.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: the commercialization of anti-cancer immunotherapies and the Company’s efforts to develop therapies to boost the immune systems of cancer patients by the use of IgG-based therapy. Actual outcomes and the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as the inability to finance the planned development of the technology; the inability to hire appropriate staff to develop the technology; unforeseen technical difficulties in developing the technology; the inability to obtain regulatory approval for human use; competitors’ therapies proving to be more effective, cheaper or otherwise preferable for consumers; the inability to market a product; all of which could, among other things, delay or prevent product release, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in GammaCan’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with GammaCan’s periodic filings with the SEC, which are incorporated herein by reference. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release and GammaCan undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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The terms self-worth and self-esteem are often used interchangeably, but I believe there . . . → Read More: Vitiligo: Dealing With It From the Inside Out]]> Living with vitiligo can be tough, so it’s no wonder that we spend a lot of time searching for a cure or a method to cover the white patches. However, neither one of these truly permanently deals with the deeper issue…our self-worth.

The terms self-worth and self-esteem are often used interchangeably, but I believe there is a significant difference between them.

Self-worth is having a proper sense of your true value as a person regardless of any external considerations or performance markers. Self-worth involves introspection and honest self-evaluation, as well as an understanding of the basic value of all life, and especially human life. Self-worth is always derived internally and is most concerned with the profundity of life and quality of character.

Self-esteem, on the other hand, is what we think of ourselves regardless of whether its true or not. More often than not, self-esteem does not involve any real introspection. It is largely driven by external and subconscious influences. Its more often based on performance or appearance rather than character.

Self-worth is a much sturdier foundation to build our life upon than self-esteem. Self-worth is self-sustaining, while self-esteem can be easily damaged if we have little or no underlying sense of self-worth. Self-esteem is more vulnerable to false pride and vanity. It is less resilient to self-doubts and external attack because it shifts with both external influences and internal emotions and thoughts patterns.

Unfortunately, feeding our self-esteem is easier than developing our self-worth, and you know we humans like to take the path of least resistance. We usually opt for the quick fix instead of the long-term investment.

This is not to say that self-esteem is a bad thing. Positive self-esteem allows us to feel good about ourselves on a superficial level, and we live much of our day at that level. After all, we can’t walk around in deep thought and introspection all day long. But self-worth is ever present in our character, while self-esteem is dependent on many variables.

So how do we develop our self-worth? Self-worth is largely developed through honest introspection and an understanding of our spiritual nature, but there are several things we can become proactive at to boost both our self-worth and self-esteem. You’ve probably already tried a few: trying to think good thoughts, reading motivational materials, helping others…etc.

If you have found that these techniques didn’t have a deep, staying power on building your self-worth then you will want to try NLP, Neuro-linguistic Programming.

I will explain NLP in my blog tomorrow. The reason that I am so excited to share this method with you is two-fold: First, it will help build your self-worth so you will be able to live a full life by worrying less about how others view your vitiligo. And, since some doctors and scientists have theorized that vitiligo is stress related, using NLP to de-stress your life may be just the cure we are looking for…a way to reverse vitiligo from the inside out.
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A team at King’s College London showed in a study of mice that piperine — the compound that gives black pepper its spicy, pungent flavor — and its synthetic . . . → Read More: Black Pepper May Help Vitiligo]]> Black pepper could lead to better treatments for a disfiguring skin condition that affects about 1 percent of the world’s population, British researchers said on Thursday.

A team at King’s College London showed in a study of mice that piperine — the compound that gives black pepper its spicy, pungent flavor — and its synthetic derivatives helped stimulate pigmentation in the skin of people with vitiligo.

Piperine was particularly effective when combined with phototherapy treatment using ultraviolet radiation, the researchers said in a study to be published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

“We have shown that topical treatment with piperine stimulates even pigmentation in the skin,” Antony Young, a photobiologist at King’s College who worked on the study, said in a statement.

“This provides support for the future clinical evaluation of piperine and its derivatives as novel treatments for vitiligo.”

The disease, to which pop star Michael Jackson has in the past attributed his gradual skin whitening, destroys the melanin which gives skin its color. Melanin protects from ultraviolet rays so victims run a much higher risk of skin cancer.

Vitiligo is of particular concern in people with darker skins, the researchers said.

Current treatments include steroids applied to patchy skin and phototherapy. But many people do not respond to hormones and phototherapy can raise the risk of skin cancer, the researchers said.

The team compared the effects of piperine and its derivatives when applied to the skin of mice either alone or followed by radiation treatment.

They found that when used alone the compounds stimulated pigmentation to an even, light brown color within six weeks. When boosted by radiation, the treatment led to even darker skin in about the same period of time.

© 2008 Reuters.

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Vitiligo is a disorder in which progressive patches of skin, hair . . . → Read More: Romanian Community Provides Insight Into Genetic Factors Associated With Vitiligo]]> ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2008) ”An isolated, inbred Romanian community has a higher than average frequency of the skin disease vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases, suggesting a genetic variation that may indicate susceptibility to the condition in a broader population, according to a new report.

Vitiligo is a disorder in which progressive patches of skin, hair and mucous membranes lose color due to a decrease in the number of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes, according to background information in the article. Vitiligo affects about 0.38 percent of whites and occurs with similar frequency in populations worldwide. Researchers are attempting to identify the genes responsible for susceptibility to vitiligo, in part to identify pathways through which effective treatments might be developed.

Stanca A. Birlea, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colo., studied 1,673 residents of a geographically isolated community in the mountains of northern Romania between 2001 and 2006. The researchers identified patients with vitiligo and obtained information on demographic data, genealogies, occurrence of other diseases and family structure. The skin of patients with vitiligo and their relatives was examined.

During the study, researchers identified and examined 51 patients with vitiligo. “The 2.9 percent frequency of vitiligo in the study community is 19.3 times its 0.15 percent frequency in the five surrounding villages, 7.5 times that among whites on the island of Bornholm, 5.7 times that among individuals in Calcutta, India and 22.5 times that among Han Chinese in Shaanxi Province, China, the only other populations for which empirically determined prevalence estimates have been published,” the authors write. Rates of other autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disease, adult-onset type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, were also elevated in the community.

However, the average age at which symptoms of vitiligo first developed was 36.5 years, significantly older than the average age of onset among white individuals (24.2 years). Analysis indicated that this unusual factor most likely was not genetic. “Whereas disease susceptibility seems to involve a major genetic component, actual onset of vitiligo in genetically susceptible individuals seems to require exposure to environmental triggers,” the authors write.

The community’s isolation may make it easier for researchers to identify mutated genes that increase risk for vitiligo in this population, they conclude. “While this gene variant is of particular importance in this isolated special population, it likely is also involved in disease susceptibility in the broader white population and, thus, is of broader importance,” they write.

Journal reference: Arch Dermatol. 2008;144[3]:310-316.

This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and a grant from the American Skin Association.

Adapted from materials provided by JAMA and Archives Journals.

In this soon to be published study in the journal “Dermatology”, noncultured autologous melanocytes and keratinocytes were grafted in a hyaluronic-acid-enriched suspension on superficially laser-abraded vitiligo lesions in 40 patients . . . → Read More: Over 70% Repigmentation Achieved In Patients With Stable Vitiligo]]> A high percentage of repigmentation is achieved in patients with stable vitiligo by noncultured epidermal cell transplantation, according to both subjective and objective evaluation methods.

In this soon to be published study in the journal “Dermatology”, noncultured autologous melanocytes and keratinocytes were grafted in a hyaluronic-acid-enriched suspension on superficially laser-abraded vitiligo lesions in 40 patients with refractory stable vitiligo.

The repigmentation was evaluated 3-12 months after grafting using a digital image analysis system. Furthermore, the treatment was evaluated from the patients’ point of view with the Dermatology Life Quality Index and a global assessment.

The mean percentage of repigmentation at the last follow-up visit was 72%; a repigmentation of more than 70% was observed in 62% of the patients. The best results were achieved in the neck and presternal regions.

All patients were satisfied with the achieved results, found it worthwhile to undergo the treatment and would choose to do so again.

About the S. KARGER AG

With over a century of experience in connecting the world of biomedical science, Karger publishes nearly 80 scientific, peer-reviewed journals and 150 serial and non-serial books and supplement issues annually for a global scientific readership.

The medical community . . . → Read More: Vitiligo: A State of Mind]]> I received a comment today from a woman who thinks that she might have vitiligo and her words made me take pause to think. She spoke of having a few autoimmune diseases in her family and about the research she has done to try and find a cure for her own ailments.

The medical community may not agree with patients searching for a cure for their own condition since they have little or no medical training as to the specific complexities of the human body, but from a psychological standpoint, I think it’s the greatest emotional healer. It’s how they get their power back.

Hearing a diagnosis for some physical ailment is in itself a hard pill to swallow (pardon the pun), but the feeling of helplessness that follows, the total dependency upon the medical community to ‘fix’ the problem, and living with the physical effects of the illness, can leave one emotionally drained.

If you think about it, no matter what situation you face, be it a breakup, problems in the workplace, or health issues, your perception of the situation and how you live through it will directly influence your emotional standing. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but it’s imperative to your overall health.

Vitiligo is as much a mental disease as it is physical. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the obvious white patches on the skin, one would never know that they had a problem. This skin disorder brings no physical discomfort, but it almost guarantees social discomfort because your skin is not a uniform color.

So, how do you live with this? Well, through all of the communications I’ve had with people who have vitiligo, I can see 3 categories that they fit in: the “I’m fine with how I look and don’t care what others think” group, the “I can’t face another day living with this” group, and most people are in the “I don’t like having this skin disorder and I’m not getting the help I need from doctors, so I’m going to help myself!”

The first and third categories are empowered, but if you find that you are in the second, please try to find a way to change your perception so that you can feel better about yourself and live a happy life.

Easier said than done, I know. But I think even the smallest act of taking supplements daily which may help the vitiligo, going for a walk each day, or perhaps journaling your feelings daily, will help. Routines can bring on a sense of pride, this leads to raised self-esteem, which then brings you to a place of having self-worth. And when you have self-worth, not much can stand in your way of being content.