Fish offer hope for blind
The ability of a small tropical fish to regenerate damaged retinas could lead to an experimental treatment for blindness within five years. 'Our findings have enormous potential,' says Astrid Limb of University College London. Unlike mammals, zebrafish have an abundant supply of adult stem cells that they use to regenerate their retinas, Reuters reports. The British researchers have been able to easily grow the cells in the laboratory, and have successfully tested them on rats with diseased retinas. They hope to inject them into people's eyes to treat such diseases as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes-related blindness.
Jog and java help ward off skin cancer
Combining exercise and coffee (not necessarily at the same time) may significantly increase protection from skin cancer, Rutgers University researchers have found in tests on mice. 'We think this will extrapolate to humans,' says team leader Allan Connery. When cells exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation become precancerous, they're programmed to self-destruct - a process called apoptosis. Failure to do so can lead to cancer developing and spreading. Mice that drank caffeine had a 95 per cent increase in apoptosis in damaged cells, AP reports. Those that exercised had a 120 per cent increase; and those that did both had a 400 per cent increase.
Coffee reduces colon cancer risk
Meanwhile, Japanese researchers have found that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may halve the risk of colon cancer in women - but not in men. The 12-year study of more than 96,000 people aged between 40 and 69 found no beneficial link between drinking green tea and colon cancer, Reuters reports. National Cancer Centre researchers aren't sure why coffee seems to benefit women: caffeine may stimulate the working of the colon, or the effect may be due to coffee's antioxidant properties.
Weighing up the cost of friendship