Health News

Caffeine can offer protection against skin cancer

Caffeine can offer protection against skin cancer Recent study revealed how caffeine can offer protection against skin cancer. Research team led by Dr. Paul Nghiem, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Washington in Seattle studied the caffeine's effect on human skin cells in a laboratory that had been exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Research team found that caffeine interrupted a protein called ATR-Chk1 in cells damaged by UV rays. This led the damaged cell to self destruct. Caffeine had no effect on the healthy cells.

Scientists identify gene that plays key role in cancer

Scientists identify gene that plays key role in cancerWashington, February 28 : Karolinska Institutet scientists have identified a gene that regulates the activity of another gene called p53, which protects against cancer.

Writing about their work in the journal Molecular Cell, the researchers have revealed the newly identified gene as Wrap53.

They have found that Wrap53 gives rise to a molecule, known as antisense RNA, the presence of which is necessary for the production of sufficient quantities of p53 protein in the event of DNA damage.

Cancer-sniffing artificial noses on the anvil

Duke University LogoWashington, Feb 28 : Duke University researchers are decoding the way people's noses recognize scents - a development that will lay the groundwork for a future of cancer-sniffing artificial noses.

In an experiment, researchers tested hundreds of receptor gene types found in human and mouse noses, reports National Geographic News.

Scientists were able to figure out which receptors respond to which odor molecules and translate the smells into brain signals by inundating the receptors with odors.

Unlocking this interface would show how the brain recognizes and reacts to different smells.

Malaria treatment developed using synthetic biology, fermentation

Washington, Feb 28 : Achieving a milestone in the fight against malaria, scientists at Amyris Biotechnologies have produced 25 g/L of amorphadiene, a precursor of the antimalarial agent artemisinin, by using synthetic biology and E. coli fermentations.

It was in 2003 that the production of amorphadiene in E. coli was first described, but the amount produced was low (50 mg/L). The level was increased to 0.5g/L in 2006, but still 50-fold lower than target production levels.

In the new study, researchers have described the interplay of industrial fermentation processes and synthetic biology that achieve the required 50-fold increase in production levels.

One drug, many cures: Co working on formula

When you visit a bank, you always see a sign reading 'Single window', meaning you can conduct your all banking operation just through that particular window. On the same lines, if things go as planned for Ahmedabad-based Amrita Therapeutics, a single drug can cure many disease. The company is working on multiple diseases targeting drug development, in which one drug will be able to cure diseases like cancer, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis with fewer side-effects and less cost.

AMC raids illegal clinics, seals 27

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) health department has came down heavily on doctors not adhering to norms of medical practice, including the system to dispose biomedical waste. The officials on Friday raided and sealed a total of 27 clinics in Rakhial, Rajpur, Amraiwadi, Bhaipura, Odhav, Vastral, Behrampura and Maninagar areas. It also sealed two warehouses for recycling medical wastes. Earlier on Thursday, the civic body had sealed 15 clinics, said an AMC official.

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