PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 18, 2008 – The American Heart Association (AHA) has selected UCLA professor Louis J. Ignarro as a 2008 Distinguished Scientist. The award was presented at the 2008 Scientific Session, Nov 8-12 2008, in New Orleans.

The AHA gives its annual Distinguished Scientist Award to outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions towards the advancement of understanding and prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Dr. Ignarro’s research was critical in the development of drugs and supplements that utilize Nitric Oxide (NO) as a vasodilator in order to reduce or prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. His research has led to the development of drugs such as Viagra and Cialis as well as his own NO-based heart health regimen, as outlined in his 2005 bestseller NO More Heart Disease.

Dr. Ignarro was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology in 1998 for his research into NO’s role as a signaling molecule. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Louis Ignarro has also received numerous other special awards for his research, including the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association, the CIBA Award for Hypertension Research and the Roussel Uclaf Prize for Cell Communication and Signaling. He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has published over 500 scholarly articles in his career.

Dr. Ignarro is currently a distinguished Professor of Pharmacology at the UCLA School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology in Los Angeles where he continues to research the benefits of Nitric Oxide and its role as a signaling molecule. He is the founder of the Nitric Oxide Society, and founder and editor-in-chief of “Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry.” Dr. Ignarro holds a B.S. in Pharmacology, Columbia University, 1962, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 1966.

On the occasion of meetings of the Canadian Heart Health Strategy in Ottawa on Jan.30/08, Dr. Eldon Smith, Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, presented the most prestigious Medal of Merit of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences to Canada's Premier Cardiac Surgeon, Sen. Wilbert Keon.

Following the presentation, Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla, Executive Director of the Academy, stated: "During 2001 - 2006, the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences has bestowed its highest honour in the form of the "Medal of Merit" to 12 individuals including three Nobel Laureates - Sir John Vane, London, U.K.; Dr. Edwin Krebs, Seattle; and Dr. Robert Furchgott, Brooklyn; as well as great men of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine and Sciences namely Dr. Michael DeBakey, Houston; Dr. Eugene Braunwald, Boston; Sir Magdi Yacoub, London, U.K.; Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, Durham; Sir George Radda, Singapore; Dr. Richard Bing, Pasadena; Dr. Robert Jennings, Durham; Dr. James Willerson, Dallas; and Dr. Victor Dzau, Durham.

"For the year 2007, the Academy has awarded its Medal of Merit to the Nobel Laureate Dr. Louis Ignarro, Los Angeles; a Past President of the International Society for Heart Research Dr. Jutta Schaper, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and to a man who is today sitting among us.

Sen. Wilbert Keon was honoured for:

1. His leadership role in promoting the scientific basis of cardiology and cardiac surgery.

2. Pioneering work in cardiac transplantation and development of left ventricular assist devices.

3. Founding of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute as a model for carrying out multi-disciplinary initiatives in cardiovascular treatment and research.

4. Untiring commitment for convincing Canadian governments and various granting agencies to allocate adequate resources for Cardiovascular Research in Canada."

PR Newswire, September 21, 2008

STORY BY ARUSA PISUTHIPAN in the Bangkok Post, August 25 2008

Louis J. Ignarro does not think of the Nobel Prize he received in 1998 as the zenith of his career. As a scientist, he said, the prize is more like a megaphone through which he speaks to the world about the importance of healthy lifestyle. "I am a scientist. Nobody is interested in listening to me when I talk about healthy lifestyle," said Ignarro, the 1998 Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine as well as member of Herbalife's Nutrition and Scientific Advisory Board. "They'd much rather listen to movie stars or an athlete who takes steroids," he added, laughing. Ignarro still looks good for his age. While talking, the 67-year-old's voice is strong and robust. While walking, his steady footsteps make people around him believe that the secret to his good health lies, in fact, in what he discovered - nitric oxide. Ignarro is also a distinguished professor in pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Apart from teaching students for more than 30 years, he has dedicated his time and energy to researching what constitutes human wellness. Ignarro did all his studies in the US, where he was born. He grew up in New York and finished his preschool levels there. He got his degree in chemistry and pharmacy from Columbia University in New York before furthering his medical studies at the University of Minnesota. He earned a PhD in pharmacology and then pursued a cardiovascular specialisation. Despite his educational background in medicine, Ignarro is not a doctor. While many with a medical education in school decided to become physicians and work with patients, Ignarro, on the contrary, preferred to do research. And that decision eventually paid off with his career achievement. "I have been working very hard to develop my career. Being a scientist who does the research is a very difficult task because there is a lot of work to do. But I have been successful in what I do, I think, primarily by working hard," explained Ignarro about what took him to his career success. Ignarro's journey towards his prize-winning discovery of nitric oxide began over 30 years ago when he was teaching a medical class. As his specialisation was in the cardiovascular area, in class, he often talked about drugs used to treat heart diseases. Ignarro was then teaching his students about nitroglycerine, a medicine that opens blood vessels to improve blood flow. When a patient suffers chest pain, or angina, he said, it means that there is not enough oxygen going to the heart. Within only five minutes after that patient puts a nitroglycerine tablet under the tongue, the pain disappears. With such an immediate effect, nitroglycerine has been commonly used to treat chest pain for more than a century. "Nitroglycerine is a drug. But it's also an active explosive used in dynamite. So in the lecture, I was trying to understand in my own mind how an explosive like nitroglycerine could be used for treating heart pain. I went to the library to try to look up exactly how it works and I knew that no one knew," recalled the scientist. Ignarro decided to research nitroglycerine in the laboratory. After three years of research, he found that it isn't a medicine in itself. But when it is taken into the body, it is converted and metabolised into nitric oxide. From that point, Ignarro started to see other effects of nitric oxide. He discovered that it actually has far more health benefits than he first thought: It lowers blood pressure and prevents stroke and heart attacks. Surprisingly, however, at that time nobody knew the human body itself could produce nitric oxide, he noted. According to Ignarro, nitric oxide is a chemical compound that can be found everywhere, even in the air. In the human body, nitric oxide is a very small molecule, like oxygen, which is present in the inner lining of arteries. In other words, cells in the inner lining of arteries are the ones who make nitric oxide. "Nitric oxide, once formed, comes in contact with muscle cells in arteries and relaxes them. It widens arteries. That lowers blood pressure and improves the blood flow." More importantly, he went on, the chemical can prevent the blood from clotting in dangerous places. When there are blood clots in the heart or brain, patients suffer a heart attack or a stroke. If the body produces a sufficient amount of nitric oxide, the chance of developing the aforementioned problems is significantly lower. Ignarro's finding also breaks the misconception that nitric oxide is a toxic substance. "Nitric oxide itself is not toxic," he remarked. "But when it reacts chemically with other chemicals such as oxygen, in a high amount they form nitrogen dioxide. And nitrogen dioxide is poisonous." Although the human body can produce nitric oxide, unfortunately, the chemical compound is very unstable. After the body makes nitric oxide, it stays around only for a second. Oxygen is also a threat to nitric oxide. But the good news is that antioxidant agents like Vitamin C and E can help protect nitric oxide and keep it around for many seconds instead of just one. This makes Ignarro's statement about his desire to promote healthier diet and lifestyle more sensible. "The healthier the diet, the more nitric oxide your body will produce. If you eat lots of saturated fats, it causes the destruction of nitric oxide, which can lead to the development of all kinds of problems including obesity, diabetes and heart attacks. So a diet very low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated fats is very good because it protects nitric oxide," he explained, adding that fish and fish oil are extremely beneficial when it comes to good health. Eating food rich in antioxidants is extremely vital, noted the researcher. Those who eat vegetables and fruit are at lower risk of suffering a heart attack or a stroke. Exercise is also vital as scientists have found that the body's most effective way of producing nitric oxide is through regular activity. To promote the importance of nitric oxide, in 1990, Ignarro founded the Nitric Oxide Society with the aim of brining together people around the world who are interested in learning more about nitric oxide. Once or twice a year, the society organises a meeting for like-minded researchers and scientists so they can discuss nitric oxide, advance research and find out what else the chemical can do. There are approximately 4,000 members of all nitric oxide societies around the world. Ignarro also started a scientific journal called Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, which focuses entirely on publications involving nitric oxide. Both the society and the journal have proven to be very successful. "When I first started doing research about nitric oxide, there were only 10 to 15 articles published about nitric oxide every year. Last year alone there were 80,000." The Nobel laureate runs and cycles almost every day to lead a healthier lifestyle. Ignarro wishes that through his Nobel Prize, he will be able to get his message across to people throughout the world about the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle. "The Nobel Prize has changed my life completely," he commented. "I received many invitations to travel around the world and talk to people about how to get healthier. "Prevention is better than cure. This is a part that nobody wants to listen but it's extremely important because once you develop a disease, it can be very difficult to treat. "We don't know how to cure heart diseases, cancer or diabetes. Drugs just make us feel better. They don't cure anything. But if we can change our lifestyle, live a healthier life and have a healthier diet, the chance of developing disease is much less."

NITRIC OXIDE: THE FACTS

Our human body starts to produce nitric oxide as soon as the foetus begins to develop in the womb, or, in other words, within one week of pregnancy. In fact, a developing foetus makes more nitric oxide than a born baby. Young child also make more nitric oxide than teenagers. As one gets older, the body produces less and less nitric oxide.

Females make more nitric oxide than men. Around the world, females between the ages of 15 and 45 have fewer heart attacks and strokes than men because their body produces estrogen hormone, which stimulates nitric oxide formation that protects them against heart disease and strokes. Thus after menopause, when the level of estrogen in the body comes down, nitric oxide levels also come down. Therefore, women in their seventies are actually at higher risk of falling prey to heart attacks than men.

Here are tips on how to stimulate the body's nitric oxide production:

>>Eat more fruit and vegetables that are high in antioxidants.

>>Eat more fish.

>>Take an nitric oxide boosting supplement.

>>Take a fish oil supplement.

>>Have regular exercise, at least 30 minutes every day.

>>Reduce consumption of fast food, highly refined food and food containing a high amount of saturated fat.

>>Stay well rested.

>>Consume plenty of water and other drinks which are high in antioxidants.

SAN CLEMENTE , Calif. Metagenics, Inc., a privately held company focused on developing and manufacturing science-based nutraceuticals and medical foods, announced that Nobel laureate Louis J. Ignarro, PhD has joined the company's scientific advisory board.

Dr. Ignarro is one of the recipients of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for demonstrating the cardiovascular signaling properties of nitric oxide. He is a distinguished professor of pharmacology at the University of California at Los Angeles, and a former professor of pharmacology at Tulane University. His research has been recognized by pharmaceutical companies Lily and Merck, and he received the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association in 1998 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular science. He has also been inducted into the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He is the founder of the Nitric Oxide Society, and founder and editor-in-chief of Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry. Dr. Ignarro is the author and co-author of several books and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. He recently co-authored with Metagenics own Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland an editorial commentary on a recent review of arginine and vascular health that appears in the latest Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association.

We are very excited to have Dr. Louis Ignarro join us in an advisory position, said Jeffrey S. Bland, PhD, Chief Science Officer and President of MetaProteomics, who is respected in the field of functional medicine and also serves on the advisory board. The caliber of researchers and scientific professionals on this board is an indicator of the inspiring potential for Metagenics in developing further advancements in nutritional approaches to health.

The Metagenics scientific advisory board provides guidance for the future of Metagenics and the MetaProteomics Nutrigenomics Research Center. This board is comprised of a highly credentialed group that represents a wealth of international experience from scientific research, business, and clinical practice. In addition to Dr. Ignarro and Dr. Bland, board members include:

• Edward A. Dennis, PhD, director of the LIPID MAPS consortium grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who is also a chemistry and biochemistry professor at the University of California at San Diego and adjunct professor at Scripps Research Institute.
  
  
• Joel M. Evans, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist and director of The Center for Women's Health in Stamford, Conn. who has also been recognized for his service and guidance in congressional healthcare reform.
  
  
• Barry M. Forman, MD, PhD, director of the gene regulation and drug discovery department and professor at the Beckman Research Institute who has also been recognized by the Nobel Assembly and American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for his research in furthering the understanding of disease.
  
  
• David A. Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, who is credited with developing the concept of glycemic index and is a professor and research chair at the University of Toronto and director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center at St. Michael's Hospital.
  
  
• John F.W. Keana, PhD, professor emeritus of synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry at the University of Oregon who received the NIH Research Career Development Award for his work that focuses on the problem-solving applications of novel molecules.
  
  
• Philipp E. Scherer, PhD, associate professor of cell biology and medicine in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine who received the 2005 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award of the American Diabetes Association for his influential diabetes research.
  
  
• Robert H. Lerman, MD, PhD, former hospital chief of medicine and current Medical Director of Metagenics, Inc. and the Functional Medicine Research Center.
  
  
• Matthew L. Tripp, PhD, microbiologist and physiologist who led research in Fortune 500 companies and currently serves as Vice President of Research & Development for Metagenics, Inc. and MetaProteomics.

Research continues to show that natural substances can have a positive effect in managing or preventing chronic illnesses, said Jeff Katke, Chairman and CEO of Metagenics, Inc. Our goal is to build on that research in our technologically advanced facilities and develop practical applications to improve patient health. We are fortunate to have the support and advice of such industry-leading professionals to help us in our mission.

October 12, 1998

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutehas today decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 1998 jointly to Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad for their discoveries concerning "nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system".

Nitric oxide protects the heart, stimulates the brain, kills bacteria, etc.
It was a sensation that this simple, common air pollutant, which is formed when nitrogen burns, for instance in automobile exhaust fumes, could exert important functions in the organism. It was particularly surprising since NO is totally different from any other known signal molecule and so unstable that it is converted to nitrate and nitrite within 10 seconds. NO was known to be produced in bacteria but this simple molecule was not expected to be important in higher animals such as mammals.

Further research results rapidly confirmed that NO is a signal molecule of key importance for the cardiovascular system and it was also found to exert a series of other functions. We know today that NO acts as a signal molecule in the nervous system, as a weapon against infections, as a regulator of blood pressure and as a gatekeeper of blood flow to different organs. NO is present in most living creatures and made by many different types of cells.
- When NO is produced by the innermost cell layer of the arteries, the endothelium, it rapidly spreads through the cell membranes to the underlying muscle cells. Their contraction is turned off by NO, resulting in a dilatation of the arteries. In this way, NO controls the blood pressure and its distribution. It also prevents the formation of thrombi.
- When NO is formed in nerve cells, it spreads rapidly in all directions, activating all cells in the vicinity. This can modulate many functions, from behaviour to gastrointestinal motility.
- When NO is produced in white blood cells (such as macrophages), huge quantities are achieved and become toxic to invading bacteria and parasites.

Importance in medicine today and tomorrow
Heart: In atherosclerosis, the endothelium has a reduced capacity to produce NO. However, NO can be furnished by treatment with nitroglycerin. Large efforts in drug discovery are currently aimed at generating more powerful and selective cardiac drugs based on the new knowledge of NO as a signal molecule.

Shock: Bacterial infections can lead to sepsis and circulatory shock. In this situation, NO plays a harmful role. White blood cells react to bacterial products by releasing enormous amounts of NO that dilate the blood vessels. The blood pressure drops and the patient may become unconscious. In this situation, inhibitors of NO synthesis may be useful in intensive care treatment.

Lungs: Intensive care patients can be treated by inhalation of NO gas. This has provided good results and even saved lives. For instance, NO gas has been used to reduce dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs of infants. But the dosage is critical since the gas can be toxic at high concentrations.

Cancer: White blood cells use NO not only to kill infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi and parasites, but also to defend the host against tumours. Scientists are currently testing whether NO can be used to stop the growth of tumours since this gas can induce programmed cell death, apoptosis.

Impotence: NO can initiate erection of the penis by dilating the blood vessels to the erectile bodies. This knowledge has already led to the development of new drugs against impotence.

Diagnostic analyses: Inflammatory diseases can be revealed by analysing the production of NO from e.g. lungs and intestines. This is used for diagnosing asthma, colitis, and other diseases.

NO is important for the olfactory sense and our capacity to recognise different scents. It may even be important for our memory.