New technique to combat cancer developed by scientists

A group of scientists has worked to develop a new technique in order to fine-tune cancer treatment. According to a study conducted by the University of East Anglia, cancer therapies that cut off blood supply to a tumour could be more effective in combination with existing chemotherapeutic drugs. The study revealed that tumour growth is better-reduced in mice when the expression of a particular protein called Beta3-integrin is targeted in combination with drugs that are already used in cancer patients. It is hoped that the findings could help fine-tune treatment…

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Drinking baking soda may help combat rheumatoid arthritis

Drinking baking soda daily may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, say scientists. While the immune system normally protects us from disease and infection, in someone who has an autoimmune disease the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake. Drinking baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, tells the spleen — which is part of the immune system — to go easy on the immune response, the study said. “Certainly drinking bicarbonate affects the spleen and we think it’s through the mesothelial cells,” said…

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​Combat anti-microbial resistance soon with smartphones

Combat anti-microbial resistance soon with smartphones (Getty Images) A team of US researchers has developed a diagnostic test for anti-microbial resistance using a smartphone that can help people in remote areas with limited resources conduct routine testing for antimicrobial susceptibility. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are responsible for high-mortality diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea and sepsis. The team from the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) built a simple and inexpensive smartphone attachment that can conduct automated anti-microbial susceptibility testing. “This work is important and timely, given that drug-resistant bacteria are increasingly…

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Foods to combat holiday stress

From travel plans to last-minute shopping, the end of year brings a busy calendar that can lead to stress in the kitchen and beyond. If you’re trying to eat a balanced diet, extra activities coupled with an abundance of holiday sweets can make it seem impossible to keep up with your healthful habits. While there is definitely room to enjoy your holiday favorites in moderation, be sure to stock your kitchen with these time-saving foods for some seasonal stress relief. Citrus Fruits: It might seem like the only trees of…

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Broccoli compounds may help combat chronic diseases

“Eating broccoli could lower your risk of having coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer, a new study suggests,” the Daily Mail reports. But there is little hard evidence to back up this claim – the study it reports on involved plants, not humans. Phenols, which are compounds found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, have been linked for years to a lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and asthma. They are thought to play a part in reducing oxidative stress – cell damage caused…

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Pomegranate compound ‘could combat’ complications of ageing

“Pomegranates slow down the ageing process by prompting cells to recycle and rebuild themselves, a study shows,” The Daily Telegraph reports. But before you rush to stock up on the “food of the gods”, the study in question only involved worms and rodents. Compounds called urolithins are produced by bacteria in the gut when breaking down food such as pomegranates, nuts and berries. The researchers found that one of them in particular, urolithin A, increased the lifespan of roundworms by a half. They also improved muscle function in rodents (specifically,…

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