First Costa Mesa police officer will...

First Costa Mesa police officer will speak

Crime in Costa Mesa has always been a touchy subject. Some people

like to think of yesteryear and wish current statistics reflected

simpler days. Others see how far law enforcement has come in the past

decades with the help of technological advancements.

The authoritative voice on policing the city will speak at the

Feb. 13 meeting of the Orange County Historical Society. Roger Neth,

Costa Mesa’s first police officer, who later became chief, will

relate his experiences of 36 years on the force.

He will tell tales about the big crime stories of the day, as well

as share the particulars of lesser-known incidences.

He will speak at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Kidseum of the Bowers

Museum, on the corner of 18th and Main streets in Santa Ana. For

information, please call (714) 993-7009. Admission and parking are

free, and refreshments will be provided.

Vitamins can enhance insulin, study says

A study by UC Irvine’s College of Medicine found that antioxidant

supplements, particularly vitamins C and E, enhance insulin’s ability

to reduce blood sugar, as well as lower risks of organ damage from

insulin treatments.

The study, conducted by professor of medicine Nick Vaziri, found

that untreated diabetes raised blood pressure and produced more

damaging oxidizing agents, called free radicals, by converting sugars

and proteins into harmful chemicals.

While the study, which has only used rats, seemed to have lowered

high blood pressure and protected, to a degree, the sugars and

proteins from assault, it also seemed to cause a new problem that

caused tissue damage.

Diabetes affects nearly 17 million Americans.

Since the predominant form of treatment is insulin, which can

eventually lead to various complications, the results of the study

may be helpful in preventing organ damage related to the disease.