An extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric can kill off cancer cells, scientists have shown. Tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab. The chemical - curcumin - for a long time has been thought to have healing powers. Its natural compounds have the potential to treat faulty cells that have become cancerous and scientists suspect that curcumin might have therapeutic value. According to BBC News this research opens up ...read more
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps keep the DNA of heart patients from unraveling, which may help explain why fish oil is so beneficial after a heart attack, said Reuters. Cardiologists have known for a long time now that omega-3 fish oil seems to be beneficial for patients with coronary heart disease. What has not been clear is why fish oil is so beneficial. Dr. Ramin Farzaneh-Far of the University of California, San Francisco, decided to look at a new mechanism by which omega-3 fatty ...read more
There is a worrying lack of safety data on electronic cigarettes, despite their growing popularity with the public. 'E-cigarettes' look real, but are battery-powered and typically made of stainless steel. Users can inhale nicotine without tar, tobacco or carbon monoxide. Retailers argue e-cigarettes are a healthy alternative to the real thing but some studies have raised safety fears, says BBC News. The Department of Health is not aware of any evidence about the long-term safety of e-cigarett ...read more
Researchers suggest women who rate themselves as pretty display a war-like streak when fighting battles to get their own way. The findings appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reports BBC News. In the study, the women who believed they were good looking were more likely to respond angrily in disputes than those who rated themselves as less attractive. Attractive women also had higher expectations of what they deserved. "These findings were interesting but should be inter ...read more
A simple eye test might be able to detect Alzheimer's and other diseases before symptoms develop, according to UK scientists. The research, which is published in the journal, Cell Death and Disease, could enable scientists to overcome the difficulty of investigating what is happening inside the brains of those with Alzheimer's. The technique uses fluorescent markers which attach to dying cells which can be seen in the retina and give an early indication of brain cell death, reports BBC UK. Th ...read more
Germany's Medical Association has called for a public debate on the state of the German health care system. They say a secret rationing of health care is taking place as doctors struggle to meet demand. German doctors are not always able to provide patients with the care they need due to financial constraints, according to medical chiefs in the country. The issue was raised following comments made by Joerg-Dietrich Hoppe, President of the German Medical Association, in an interview with the S ...read more
