Source:
https://scmp.com/article/670866/medi-watch

Medi watch

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.

Chemical key to calm under fire

Soldiers who remain calm under extreme pressure appear to have significantly higher levels of a chemical that dampens the body's stress response, say Yale University researchers, who now want to see if they can artificially induce people to keep their cool in combat by boosting their neuropeptide levels. The team tested soldiers undergoing survival training, including being held captive, and found that those who fared best had low levels of the stress hormone cortisol, Reuters reports. Team leader Deane Aikins says meditation also may help.

Sponge cuts superbugs down to size

A non-toxic compound derived from a sea sponge appears to be able to break down the drug-resistance of certain superbugs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), making them vulnerable to antibiotics, say researchers from South Carolina's Hollings Marine Laboratory. The breakthrough came when the team found the sponge thriving in an otherwise dead coral reef. They eventually discovered that it was able to repel bacterial biofilms, on which as many as 80 per cent of human pathogenic infections are based, Reuters reports.

Penis-pill poppers pay with their lives

Illegal potency pills and herbs that contain a diabetes drug have killed four people and caused about 150 cases of dangerously low blood sugar, say Singaporean researchers. All but one of the victims were men, ranging in age from 19 to 97, Reuters reports. The drugs are sold under such names as Power 1 Walnut and Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule, says Shih Ling Kao of National University Hospital.