The process of the creation of new blood vessels is known as angiogenesis – when you break down the word you find that “angio” means blood vessels and “genesis” means creation. We used the word in our last past when we discussed the new research that has been done into Omega-3 fatty acids used to fight cancer.
The process of angiogenesis is important for the human body as it retains health and fights disease. Blood carries oxygen around the body and the blood vessels are the pathways along which the blood travels. The growth of new tissue in the body necessitates the need for a strong blood supply for growth and sustenance and this is where the formation of new blood vessels is vital.
The part that angiogenesis plays in fighting cancer and other diseases are the area we are most interested in. There is a balancing act surrounding the angiogenesis regulators within the body. When that balance is out the control is lost and the result is either too much or too little angiogenesis.
There is a case when angiogenesis is a problem and that is when it occurs in tumors and cancers as it feeds and helps them to grow. One of the ways in which new agents work in the treatment of cancer is to target the angiogenesis factors so that prevention of new blood vessels supplying the tumor could starve off the cancer cells and eventually kill them.
An example of a recent drug delivery system development that treats cancer in this way has been reported. The study is being undertaken by scientists at the University of South Florida Nanomedicine Research Center. The research may lead to the development of new drugs or delivery systems to treat cancer by blocking this receptor, known as natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA).
"Our results show that NRPA signalling by cancer cells produces some molecular factors that attract stem cells, which in turn form blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the tumor," said the study's principal investigator Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine. "We showed that if the NPRA signal is blocked, so is the angiogenesis and, if the tumor's blood supply is cut off it will die."
There is work going into the testing of an innovative drug delivery system that makes use of nanoparticles which will enable the cancer cells to be specifically targeted. This means that the healthy cells will be spared and there will be less trauma to the patient.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Could Be Used To Fight Cancer
There has been a study performed by scientists as a collaborative effort between UC Davis laboratories and Harvard University which showed that a product from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth.
The metabolite is epoxy docosapentaenoic acid (EDP), an endogenous compound produced by the human body from the omega-3 fatty acid named docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is found in fish oil and breast milk. The studies involved animals and it was found that EDP inhibits the formation of new blood vessels in the body, a process known as angiogenesis.
The way in which tumors grow is by taking over the normal biological process of angiogenesis and by inhibiting this process the growth and spread of tumors in mice was reduced.
It is hoped by researchers that future studies will determine how EDP might be used safely when combined with current anti-angiogenesis drugs for the treatment of cancer.
“Our investigation opens up a new understanding of the pathways by which omega-3 fatty acids exert their biologic effects,” said Guodong Zhang, the lead author of the article and a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Bruce Hammock in the Department of Entomology and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“As far as we know, EDPs are the first signaling lipids that have been discovered to have such potent anti-cancer effects. Researchers may be able to use EDPs as structural targets to develop stable analogs as anti-cancer agents,” Zhang said.
This is obviously a breakthrough that is still in its early days and there is still a great deal of research and testing to be carried out. But it has uncovered a previously unrecognized anti-cancer effect of omega-3 fatty acids.
You can find out more about the research that has been carried out at UC Davis by reading this News Release.
Monday, April 27, 2009
About the Snowboard
Snowboarding is a stimulating sport that allows you to specific by hand for who you are, no borders rules or system just you, the snowboard and nature. Most persons shadow a sport since they feel it represents their inner self and somebody it brings them joy, rough and animation Snowboarding is one of those sports education that will give you wings each time you ride a snowboard.
Riding snowboards may look easy, but the truth is it requires a great deal of repeat and willpower in order to complete some of the aerial tricks you see on small screen or real life slopes. conversely all the time and endeavor you can meet the expense of to put into learning how to ride a snowboard is well worth it in the end.
The genesis of snowboarding can be traced in the beginning to Surfing and then skateboarding and most of those that ride snowboards are also surfers. These sports education give you one and the same hunch of rough and joy at the same time. Snowboarding is a fair and square new game, which has momentarily caught on with folks of every age group and sexual category.
To get on track you will need the right gear, which will keep you safe; consider while surfing has the water under when you fall the snow only offers the solid found so, you don't want to miss any of the necessary tools.
The helmet for your head's security would be my first offer and don't get influenced by anybody out there who rides snowboards lacking them; it may look good not to wear a helmet but, if you fall, you will be glad you wore one.
Padding for your knee hips and elbows are next on the list; since you don't have the usual ski firewood those are the areas you will be using to break your falls and then they need extra security
Goggles to cut the glare of the snow and fashion accessory for your hands would make your snowboarding tools absolute You don't need to purchase any of the above tools as you can rent it all at the vacant store in any snowboarding alternative.
A few instructions from an experienced coach will be needed if you want to take up the sport and have never tried it previously. The persuade overdue this is that the first moves you are going to learn will stay with you everlastingly then get them right the first time.
Riding snowboards may look easy, but the truth is it requires a great deal of repeat and willpower in order to complete some of the aerial tricks you see on small screen or real life slopes. conversely all the time and endeavor you can meet the expense of to put into learning how to ride a snowboard is well worth it in the end.
The genesis of snowboarding can be traced in the beginning to Surfing and then skateboarding and most of those that ride snowboards are also surfers. These sports education give you one and the same hunch of rough and joy at the same time. Snowboarding is a fair and square new game, which has momentarily caught on with folks of every age group and sexual category.
To get on track you will need the right gear, which will keep you safe; consider while surfing has the water under when you fall the snow only offers the solid found so, you don't want to miss any of the necessary tools.
The helmet for your head's security would be my first offer and don't get influenced by anybody out there who rides snowboards lacking them; it may look good not to wear a helmet but, if you fall, you will be glad you wore one.
Padding for your knee hips and elbows are next on the list; since you don't have the usual ski firewood those are the areas you will be using to break your falls and then they need extra security
Goggles to cut the glare of the snow and fashion accessory for your hands would make your snowboarding tools absolute You don't need to purchase any of the above tools as you can rent it all at the vacant store in any snowboarding alternative.
A few instructions from an experienced coach will be needed if you want to take up the sport and have never tried it previously. The persuade overdue this is that the first moves you are going to learn will stay with you everlastingly then get them right the first time.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Psychological Thriller Author
If you're after an outstanding psychological thriller (or two) you really can't go past the books of Leah Giarratano from Australia. She is a clinical psychologist so she definitely knows the field about which she writes.
The titles to look for are Vodka Doesn't Freeze and Voodoo Doll and both deal with classical knuckle clenching thriller moments.
Here is link to: Vodka Doesn't Freeze by Leah Giarratano.
The titles to look for are Vodka Doesn't Freeze and Voodoo Doll and both deal with classical knuckle clenching thriller moments.
Here is link to: Vodka Doesn't Freeze by Leah Giarratano.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Arthritis
Over the past 40 years, an increasing number of physiological functions have been attributed to omega-3 fatty acids, including movement of calcium and other substances into and out of cells, relaxation and contraction of muscles, inhibition and promotion of clotting, regulation of secretion of substances that include digestive enzymes and hormones, control of fertility, cell division, and growth. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids may play an important role in brain development and function.
Some evidence has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids in the diet may protect against heart attack and stroke, as well as certain inflammatory diseases like arthritis, lupus, and asthma. The major dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the U.S. population are fish, fish oil, vegetable oils (principally canola and soybean), walnuts, wheat germ, and some dietary supplements.
A study was requested and performed to find out the effects of omega 3 in children and adults with rheumatoid arthritis and how it affects pain, number of swollen joints, disease activity, patients' global assessment and joint damage.
The results were mixed and found that among nine studies reporting outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, omega-3 fatty acids had no effect on patient report of pain, swollen joint count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and patient's global assessment by meta-analysis. A previously performed meta-analysis reached the same conclusions for swollen joint count, ESR, and patient's global assessment. That meta-analysis found a statistically significant improvement in tender joint count compared to placebo (rate difference = -2.9, 95% CI, -3.8, -2.1).
The one study that assessed the effect on joint damage found no effect. In a qualitative analysis of seven studies that assessed the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on anti-inflammatory drug or corticosteriod requirement, six demonstrated reduced requirement for these drugs. No studies assessed the effect on requirements for disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. None of the studies used a composite score that incorporates both subjective and objective measures of disease activity, such as the American College of Rheumatology response criteria.
Some evidence has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids in the diet may protect against heart attack and stroke, as well as certain inflammatory diseases like arthritis, lupus, and asthma. The major dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the U.S. population are fish, fish oil, vegetable oils (principally canola and soybean), walnuts, wheat germ, and some dietary supplements.
A study was requested and performed to find out the effects of omega 3 in children and adults with rheumatoid arthritis and how it affects pain, number of swollen joints, disease activity, patients' global assessment and joint damage.
The results were mixed and found that among nine studies reporting outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, omega-3 fatty acids had no effect on patient report of pain, swollen joint count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and patient's global assessment by meta-analysis. A previously performed meta-analysis reached the same conclusions for swollen joint count, ESR, and patient's global assessment. That meta-analysis found a statistically significant improvement in tender joint count compared to placebo (rate difference = -2.9, 95% CI, -3.8, -2.1).
The one study that assessed the effect on joint damage found no effect. In a qualitative analysis of seven studies that assessed the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on anti-inflammatory drug or corticosteriod requirement, six demonstrated reduced requirement for these drugs. No studies assessed the effect on requirements for disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. None of the studies used a composite score that incorporates both subjective and objective measures of disease activity, such as the American College of Rheumatology response criteria.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
On Reading Old Time Hardboiled Novels
Just a quickie to mention that I have just finished reading The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson again. This is either the 4th or 5th time I’ve read the book, I can’t really remember what the score is now.
Once again it struck me just how well written this book is and, although there have been a great many psychological thrillers written by a great many authors, this book still stands at the top of the pile for how effectively the reader faces the chilling mind of a psychopath. It’s mainly the casual approach by Lou Ford that stands out contrasting viciously with the violence he inflicts. The book still holds me in thrall.
It has once again prompted me to dust off my old copies of Jim Thompson favourites as well as the Fredric Brown books that I’ve been jealously rationing so that I can enjoy them over a longer period of time. I can feel a Jim Thompson / Fredric Brown reading marathon coming on and, who knows, I might even get into Mrs Murphy’s Underpants.
Once again it struck me just how well written this book is and, although there have been a great many psychological thrillers written by a great many authors, this book still stands at the top of the pile for how effectively the reader faces the chilling mind of a psychopath. It’s mainly the casual approach by Lou Ford that stands out contrasting viciously with the violence he inflicts. The book still holds me in thrall.
It has once again prompted me to dust off my old copies of Jim Thompson favourites as well as the Fredric Brown books that I’ve been jealously rationing so that I can enjoy them over a longer period of time. I can feel a Jim Thompson / Fredric Brown reading marathon coming on and, who knows, I might even get into Mrs Murphy’s Underpants.
Monday, August 11, 2008
New Release : Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
The new Janet Evanovich comedy / thriller has recently been released. This is the 14th book in the extremely popular Stephanie Plum series titled Fearless Fourteen. The series titles are notable in that they number the series, making it very easy to work out which book we’re up to, in much the same way that Sue Grafton has done with the Kinsey Milhone series.
In case you’ve never had the pleasure, Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter living, working and wrecking cars in Trenton, New Jersey. It’s safe to say that she is not entirely 100% suited to the job of tracking down and arresting bail skips, but that’s all part of the ongoing joke that never seems to get old. Surrounding Stephanie are an assortment of weird, wonderful and hunky characters that makes the series an absolute riot. Once you’ve read the first book, you’ll be sure to be heading out to find the rest.
The Stephanie Plum series to date:
One For the Money (1994)
Two For the Dough (1996)
Three To Get Deadly (1997)
Four To Score (1998)
High Five (1999)
Hot Six (2000)
Seven Up (2001)
Hard Eight (2002)
To the Nines (2003)
Ten Big Ones (2004)
Eleven On Top (2005)
Twelve Sharp (2006)
Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
Fearless Fourteen (2008)
In case you’ve never had the pleasure, Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter living, working and wrecking cars in Trenton, New Jersey. It’s safe to say that she is not entirely 100% suited to the job of tracking down and arresting bail skips, but that’s all part of the ongoing joke that never seems to get old. Surrounding Stephanie are an assortment of weird, wonderful and hunky characters that makes the series an absolute riot. Once you’ve read the first book, you’ll be sure to be heading out to find the rest.
The Stephanie Plum series to date:
One For the Money (1994)
Two For the Dough (1996)
Three To Get Deadly (1997)
Four To Score (1998)
High Five (1999)
Hot Six (2000)
Seven Up (2001)
Hard Eight (2002)
To the Nines (2003)
Ten Big Ones (2004)
Eleven On Top (2005)
Twelve Sharp (2006)
Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
Fearless Fourteen (2008)
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