CELL
TALK
Scientists at
the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
are aglow with enthusiasm about their work with
firefly protein, research they say may help speed
development of new drugs for cancer and cardiovascular
and neurological diseases. The UCLA scientists combined
the protein that makes fireflies glow with a device
similar to a home video, and they were able to "eavesdrop"
on communications between cells in a living mouse.
The study appears in the online edition of the proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences.
GARLIC'S
GOODNESS
Garlic and onions could help
prevent men developing prostate cancer, researchers
have said. Men who ate the most vegetables had a
50% lower risk of having prostate cancer than those
who ate the least, it was found. The benefits could
be due to allium, a sulphur-based compound, which
is responsible for garlic's characteristic smell.
They said in a statement: "Several case-control
studies. in which the diets of cancer patients are
compared to the diets of cancer patients are compared
to the diets of healthy individuals, have linked
allium vegetables to lower risk for cancer of the
stomach, colon, oesophagus, breast and lining of
the uterus." The research is published in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
ZINC
CUTS DIARRHOEA DEATHS
An international study has found
that zinc supplementation during diarrhoea reduces
illness and death from the disease of Bangladeshi
children. Not only did zinc theraphy help the children,
its use led to a significant cut in the use of antibiotics.
A recent meeting of the World Health Organization
(WHO) reviewed the findings and concluded that zinc
supplements are efficacious in reducing the severity
and duration of diarrhoea. However, it said further
research was required to ascertain whether the use
of zinc was practical in the developing world. The
research is published in the British Medical Journal.
PATIENT
SIMULATOR FOR SURGEONS
Practice makes perfect, but
practicing on patients is an unacceptable risk for
surgeons. A solution may lie with Simantha, a simulated
patient that lets cardiologists practice their craft
using real catheterization equipment, "It's
like a flight simulator for doctors," says
Dr.John Carroll, an interventional cardiologist
and spokesman for Medical Simulations, the inventor
of Simantha and the company's SimSuite technology
can reproduce hundreds of cardiac-related cases
for doctors to practice on. No lives lost, only
lessons learned, when things go wrong.
Protecting yourself from
sudden cardiac arrest.
Doctors recommend the following
strategies to reduce your chances of failing victim
to sudden cardiac arrest:
"Be
wary of natural or herbal products - particularly
if you're taking prescription drugs, cautions
Douglas Zipes, M.D., a cardiologist. They often
are mislabelled or list inaccurate concentrations
of ingredients."
Don't smoke: if you do,
kick the habit.
Exercise 30 minutes a day.
This is not only improves your heart's overall health,
but helps keep your heart rate steady.
Monitor
your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol to
reduce your risk of heart disease. If you experience
palpitations or repeated episodes of light headedness
or fainting; see a doctor immediately.
If any
of your relatives died suddenly of heart problems,
discuss your family history with your doctor.
Learn how to do CPR in case you need to help someone
else. The odds of survival double if a bystander
starts CPR before medical help arrives.
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