RNAi – A GENETIC SILVER BULLET?
Researchers are actively working on the use of genetics to cure malignant diseases such as cancer. Presently, treatment for cancer includes invasive and traumatic procedures affecting the patient such as chemotherapy and radiation without any guarantee that the disease will not recur. One of the most sought after remedies is based on RNA interference (RNAi) which is a system within living cells which helps to treat diseases and discover the function of genes and plays an important role in the chemistry of life.
Fire and Mellow won the Nobel Prize in this field of RNAi, and since then, it has become the next major drug development platform for improving health care. Science declared it to be the breakthrough of the year in 2002. In fact, giant pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Pfizer, Roche, etc., are signing deals worth $1 billion each with RNAi start-up companies, just based on patent licensing and pre-clinical studies.
Unfortunately, the number of cancer cases is increasing alarmingly in the Western world and in the 21st century, there is still no efficient treatment for cancer, since the technology used today has not changed for the past generations. Hence, it is encouraging to know that drugs based on RNAi are slowly emerging with encouraging results in clinical trials and have succeeded in halting the growth of cancer tumors, however, the journey to RNAi medicine remains tortuous and long.
The main challenge of initiating this type of treatment is focused on the delivery of new drugs based on RNAi to target cells. Whether the methods of administration range from oral to intravenous, the results have been poor even when used with advanced carriers such as nano-particles. Fortunately, the research engines are working overtime every day to come up with the most efficient delivery system, and when this happens, medical treatment of major diseases will have made a huge leap forward.
Cancer is a complex genetic disease that differs from patient to patient. One day, maybe in the not too distant future, drug delivery based on RNAi will be tailored to an individual patient and to a particular cancerous tumor so that medicine of tomorrow will be personalized. Although this technology is still in its infancy, doctors, researchers and also engineers are working hard in their proverbial well-equipped laboratories to eradicate malignant diseases affecting the world. The path of turning a promising idea into an effective therapy is slowly unfolding so that maybe, one day, we will end up living as long as trees (Isaiah 65:17-25).
IMPORTANT TIPS ON CANCER
April 26, 2009 by yipbop · Leave a Comment
Cancer is a complex family of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth and invasion of many organs. In spite of the billions of dollars invested into its cure, treatment of these malignant diseases remains invasive and devastating with no clear-cut hope for cure. The most invasive treatment to treat cancer is through chemotherapy and radiation. Although chemotherapy and radiation are efficient in most cases, it not only poisons and radiates cancerous cells, but also the healthy ones, thus causing infections and harm to other organs such as the heart, kidneys and lungs. Moreover, these treatments can at times cause the mutation of cancerous cells rendering them more resistant to treatment.
In essence, all of us have some type of cancerous cells in our bodies; however, providing our immune system is strong and functioning properly, 99.9% of these cells are never activated and are prevented from multiplying into tumors. In essence, when someone is diagnosed with cancer, several causes could be the culprit for this disease including, genes, nutrition, environmental, or lifestyle. When the cause is nutrition, one can alleviate this from happening by ingesting food that reinforces the immune system.
One effective way to combat cancer for those whose genes or immune system is weak, is to starve the cancerous cells, thus preventing their multiplication. For instance, reducing or eliminating sugar including sugar supplements, as well as replacing the common salt with sea salt. Ingestion of milk produces mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract, thus eliminating milk and replacing it with soy, could assist in the starvation of the cancerous cells. Most importantly, red meat products are high in acid and cancerous cells prosper in acidic environments. Meat also contains hormones, antibiotics and parasites which are very harmful to the body. Moreover, unlike vegetables, the high protein in meat is difficult to digest and require many digestive enzymes. Meat that is not digested remains in the intestine and rots turning into additional toxic elements. Rather than meat, think about eating fish or chicken. Ideally, a diet composed of vegetables, grains, juices, nuts and fruits is highly recommended. Fresh vegetable juices provide good enzymes which are rapidly absorbed reaching cellular levels in 15 minutes, nourishing and promoting the growth of healthy cells.
Finally, cancer is a disease of the mind, body and spirit. A positive attitude helps a person with cancer to survive since anger and negative feelings puts the body in an acidic environment. Since cancerous cells do not prosper in an oxygenated milieu, daily exercise and breathing deeply is highly recommended. Also, avoid placing food in plastic containers or plastic wrappings in the microwave oven. Under high heat, plastic releases dioxins which is a cancerous chemical that penetrates the food you are heating.
Most of these recommendations have been disseminated by the Johns Hopkins Hospital and I hope that you will heed them and take care of yourselves.
MEDICINAL ALTERNATIVES
March 24, 2009 by yipbop · Leave a Comment
Alternative medicine is a holistic approach to health and sickness for the maximum benefit of the patient. Presently, most conventional treatments for malignant diseases involve invasive surgery and chemotherapy which are a traumatizing experience for the patient causing hair loss, loss of appetite and psychological suffering. As indicated in a previous essay, research in embryonic and adult stem therapy may in the near future obviate these invasive measures.
But in the meantime, we have at hand alternative medicine which has been around for hundreds of years and is used in many cultures outside of America. This ancient practice uses mind-body programs, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, meditation, homeopathy and diet-based therapies. In major universities throughout the world, the efficacy of these practices has been proven through research and there is consensus that, when used as a complement to conventional medicine, it provides a higher quality of life and survival in most serious cases.
Several research centers are seriously looking into the use of traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine. Indeed, this particular practice is one of the oldest medicine traditions which treat a variety of illnesses and chronic disorders. For instance, mercury which is a heavy metal is never used in its natural state in Tibet since it first undergoes extensive processing to produce detoxified mercury, or as it is called in Tibetan medicine: Precious Pill. Once detoxified, this substance is used to treat a variety of diseases including cancer, arthritis, neurological problems and poisoning.
Another item being investigated is the use of Chinese herbal remedies for the treatment of menopause. Indeed, the conventional method of using hormone replacement therapy concerns many women since there are many side effect and risks. Ongoing investigations have proven that the use of Chinese herbal formulas is effective in diminishing hot flushes, night sweats and hormonal levels.
Currently, there is strong interest in investigating the therapeutic value of medicinal plants found in the Middle East which are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. A case in point is the successful germination of a 2,000 year old date seed, or Judean date, found during the Masada excavations. Apparently, this date is being evaluated for its potential medicinal qualities.
Over 30 different medicinal plants are being scientifically screened for their anti-bacterial and anti-malarial activities. Thus, if these herbal and plants remedies are proven therapeutically effective, we may have to reverse to the ancient traditions for the cure of many serious and dangerous diseases.