Health News Section
SCIENTISTS SUCCESSFULLY REMOVE HIV FROM HUMAN IMMUNE CELLS USING GENE EDITING TECHNIQUE
Researchers from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have announced that they have used a new gene-editing technique to remove the Human Immune Virus (HIV) from the genome of human immune cells. The scientists have published their findings in Nature Scientific Reports. Using the process known as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique, the scientists were able to eliminate HIV-1 DNA from T cell genomes in laboratory experiments.
They also prevented re-infection after the cells were re-exposed to the virus. This means that they have effectively been able to shut down HIV replication permanently. It is a milestone achievement in finding a cure to HIV. (Anonymous - http://www.nature.com/articles/srep22555)
CONTAGIOUS CANCER DISCOVERED
"Scientists have discovered the first contagious type of cancer that seems to jump between animal species, and they suggest that cancers that spread like viruses could be more widespread than we thought.
Eight different types of contagious cancer have now been identified. We've known about one type in dogs and two types in Tasmanian devils for several years now, but a new study has identified five more types of contagious cancer in four species of molluscs and their close relatives." - www.sciencealert.com
A new study by the University of Colorado shows that the longer people are awake during the time their biological clock is telling them to sleep the worse their sensitivity to insulin, which is a precursor to diabetes.
The study showed that a disruption, or circadian misalignment of a person's internal clock induced by five-hour 'short-sleep' schedules, resulted in morning wakefulness during the biological night when melatonin levels were still high, said CU-Boulder Professor Kenneth Wright, lead study author. Melatonin is a sleep-promoting hormone produced naturally by the pineal gland and controlled by the brain's master clock, while insulin, produced in the pancreas, regulates blood sugar.
Melatonin regulates Sleep and strengthens the immune system
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, which is a pea sized structure located at the center of the brain. The secretion of Melatonin occurs during the night in response to the darkness. It reaches a maximum level in the middle of the night, then decrease until the morning. The synthesis and putting into circulation of Melatonin are inhibited by the light: it is the hormone of the circadian rate/rhythm.
Depression in women during pregnancy is known to be associated with low birth weight and increased risk of premature birth. Maternal stress, such as the death of a loved one, lack of social support, or a difficult or abusive relationship, has also been shown to increase the risk of premature birth.
(News-Medical)
Swine flu outbreak reported
According to public health officials in Ireland and Northern Ireland, an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1), or swine flu, has caused a number of fatalities since early December 2015. In Ireland, at least 11 people died of the infection amid 344 confirmed cases. In Northern Ireland, up to seven people died, while at least 150 others contracted the virus.
According to a report from Red24, those at risk of contracting the disease are typically persons in close contact with swine, poultry, or infected persons. - CIR
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Increase in Prostate Cancer Risk
"A study conducted by researchers at cancer centers across the US has found a link between omega-3 fatty acids and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish including salmon, trout, and fresh tuna, and in fish oil supplements.
The study, published online July 10 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, looked at blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in some of the men enrolled in the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) of more than 35,000 men over age 50 in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The study did not collect information on the men’s diets. Therefore, it’s not clear whether the omega-3 fatty acids in their blood came from food or from supplements." - www.cancer.org
