Indian-origin scientist gets US
funding for cancer research
An Indian-origin scientist researching in the field of
cancer will be receiving a $17 million fund from the US medical science funding
body, said an official statement on Tuesday.
Suresh Mathivanan, who works at La Trobe University in
Victoria, Australia, is the only institution outside America to take part in
research of and receive funds from the US National Institute of Health (NIH).
Mathivanan is from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and heads a team
of ten biochemistry researchers. He will take part in a programme which aims to
advance critical research into a recently discovered way by which cells in our
body communicate with each other via Ribonucleic acid (RNA), the single strand
cousin of DNA.
The programme comprises a consortium of more than 30
universities involved in 24 research projects and will probe the next frontier
in the search to diagnose and treat diseases including cancer.
‘The special form of RNA being studied in the NIH project –
known as extracellular RNA or exRNA – travels around the body in little
packages called exosomes, and plays an important role in the way cells regulate
and express genes. One potential application of these exosomes is in targeted
gene delivery to treat cancer,’ said Mathivanan.
Source: http://health.india.com
17.10.2013
Lactaptin – a protein found in breast milk could lead
to cure for cancer
Breast
milk has many health benefits for a newborn baby, but according to scientists
it may have some meaning for the population at large too. According to a
research headed by Valentin Vlasovs, a protein found in human breast milk
called Lactaptin may lead to a cure for cancer.
The tests
conducted at a Siberian medical institute found that the peptide destroyed cancer
cells without damaging the healthy ones. Among the many forms of cancer, this
cure works especially well on liver and lung cancer.
‘During
the analyses of the milk proteins we detected one very specific protein, a tiny
peptide that affected cancer cells. It destroyed cancer cells and left the
healthy ones alive. During the analyses of the milk proteins we detected one
very specific one, a tiny peptide that affected cancer cells. It destroyed
cancer cells and left the healthy ones alive. We continue tests on anti tick
born encephalitis. We have a protein, an antibody that deactivates the
virus. This is almost a ready-to-go medication. It just needs to go through all
the tests now.’, Valentin Vlasovs told Siberian Times.
Why breast
milk is important?
Vital for
cognitive and sensory development
Along with
nutritional values, experts are of the opinion that breast milk promotes
sensory and cognitive development in children and builds an infant’s immunity.
It also prevents infections and makes an infant less prone to chronic diseases
Good for
the mother too!
Breastfeeding
also contributes to a mother’s health – research has found a definite link
between breastfeeding and reduced ovarian and breast cancer risk.
The Union
health ministry supports the WHO stand on duration of breastfeeding and says
children should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and should
not be given anything else, even water.
How breast
milk is different from cow’s milk
Colostrum,
the human breast milk has high protein content and is also loaded with Vitamin
A and sodium chloride (salts) and contains lower amounts of carbohydrates, fats
and potassium. This is a good thing because an infant’s digestive system isn’t
developed enough to digest normal milk. The antibodies in colostrum provide
passive immunity, while growth factors stimulate the development of the gut.
They provide the first protection against pathogens.
Source: http://health.india.com
17.10.2013
Everyone thinks
of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself
Leo
Tolstoy
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