DNA fragments may tame cancer
French researchers have found a way to trick cancer cells into killing themselves, and plan to begin human trials as early as next year. The therapy, devised by a team from the Curie Institute in Paris, uses DNA fragments called Dbaits that act like broken ends of the double-helix genetic code. Cancer cells that have been damaged by radiotherapy but would ordinarily recover are tricked by this into assessing the damage as terminal and triggering apoptosis, or cell suicide. Radiotherapy alone typically kills 30 to 50 per cent of tumour cells, but by injecting rats with Dbaits a few hours beforehand, the team wiped out 75 to 100 per cent of the cells, with no damage to healthy tissue, AFP reports.
Beta-blocker fights fear factor
A common blood-pressure medication may pave the way for treating phobias and anxiety disorders, and one day even erasing bad memories, say Dutch researchers, based on trials involving 60 volunteers programmed to fear spiders. 'The fear response went away, which suggests the memory was weakened,' says team leader Merel Kindt of Amsterdam University. Animal tests have shown that fearful memories can be changed when they're recalled, at which stage the brain is susceptible to the calming action of beta-blockers such as the generic blood-pressure pill propranolol, Reuters reports.
Chinese herbs beat allergies
A traditional Chinese medicine may prove to be a breakthrough in controlling potentially life-threatening peanut and other food allergies, say US researchers, based on tests on mice. 'We can reverse the peanut allergic reaction,' says team leader Xiu-Min Li, from New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who devised a new herbal formula based on an ancient remedy. Protection from allergic reactions lasted for almost nine months. Her team will begin human trials soon, as well as testing a herbal formula to treat asthma, healthday.com reports.