A Cure For All Forms Of Cancer?

RocketNews24 site

 Alright, it doesn’t look so simple from the above image, but on 25 January, Tottori University announced that researchers have found a method to successfully transform a cancerous tumor into non-threatening tissue. Although the research that went into it is incredibly complicated, the result is a single molecule that may be able to universally reverse cancerous cells in a relatively brief amount of time.

The announcement doesn’t hold back its enthusiasm either, proclaiming that from this discovery “the dream of the eradication of cancer is at hand.”

■ RNA

The bulk of this research centers on RNA. There are different types of RNA, such as messenger RNA molecules which work to send information from an organism’s DNA to the ribosomes which begin to create proteins for specialized cell production.

Also in the mix are microRNA molecules. The smaller strands connect with messenger RNA and can inhibit the production of proteins. This helps to regulate the growth of cells in our body. However, microRNA when working in a different way can also interfere with a cell’s natural destruction potentially leading to cancerous tumors.

The exact way this happens is very complex and the challenge for cancer researchers is finding which type(s) of microRNA triggers or impedes the development of cancers.

■ microRNA-520d

The work done at Tottori University focused on Human microRNA-520d (miR-520d) about which not a whole lot is known. Still, they suspected that it held the power to control whether cells were cancerous or not.

In various mice experiments, it was found that miR-520d indeed transformed their cancer cells in either regular tissue cells or benign tumors completely. Not only that; for undifferentiated liver cancer the transformation only took 12 hours. More complex cancers were said to take up to a month to be converted into non-cancerous matter.

▼ Chart showing results of miR-520d versus a mock injection, 520d led to a combination of non-cancerous cells whereas the mock substance resulted in 100 percent cancer development

Experiments were also carried out on pancreatic cancer cells, brain tumors, and malignant melanoma cells. All of which were easily eliminated. The team feels confident that by the correct introduction of miR-520d all cancers can be reversed. They also feel the simplicity of such a treatment would alleviate the mental anguish of possible relapses that cancer survivors must live with.

■ Reaction

Netizens were full of emotions at this announcement calling it “historical” and “an amazing feat of medical technology.” Others remained skeptical saying: “I’ll wait until the announcement of a it actually being used.” And of course it wouldn’t be the internet without some smartass comments such as: “Oh no, more elderly people!” and, “I hope this doesn’t raise my age of retirement.”

It’s still early days, but if these results can occur in humans without any serious negative effects, miR-520d could be a remarkable game-changer for the world.

Namie Amuro - TSUKI (Music video)

Post by Namie News Network.

Iceland Creates Beer Made From Whales

Link 1    Link 2    Link 3

Japan gets a lot of press for its continued whaling operations, but it’s not the only country that still hunts whales. Iceland also fishes a couple hundred whales a year and is one of the last remaining commercial markets for whale meat.

In fact, during the upcoming winter festival of Þorrablót, the traditional nosh is pickled whale fat along with such delicacies as burned sheep heads and pickled sheep testicles. Now what’s a real Viking to wash all that down with? Why, whale beer of course!

Local micro-brewer Steðji, in collaboration with fishing company Hvalur, had planned to offer a limited-run brew for the festival this year that contains bone meal from the endangered fin whale. A representative for the brewery describes the beer as having a “smoked caramel taste with barbecued whale meat taste in undertone and aftertaste.” Whale meat apparently tastes something like a cross between fish and beef.

Unfortunately for the brewery, the fishing company didn't actually have a license to produce bone meal for food production, so it looks like the sale of the whale beer will be barred due to food production regulations, although it had passed safety tests. Environmentalists are calling it a victory, since they were concerned the beer might open up more markets for commercial whale use. Based on the description of the taste, I can’t say that seems very likely, but who knows what might tickle the palette of those crazy Icelanders.

Pranked in front of a Stadium Full of Fans

A Japanese girls group Morning Musume thought they were staying at a small Inn for the night. They didn't know that the place was actually an outdoor stadium where a small collapsible room was constructed on stage where their fans were waiting for them to perform.

Interestingly, as soon as the girls woke up with the sound of the music and their fans cheering them on, the girls began performing their current hit song. A sign of true professionalism. Translation not really needed as if anyone has ever experience a girls slumber party can easily figure out whats going on.

Watch MM-140102 in Entertainment  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Dog Poop is Magnetic

Fox News story  Frontiers in Zoology article

Scientists discovered that dogs across a variety of breeds align their body axis with the Earth's magnetic field (MF) when relieving themselves.

70 dogs out of 37 different breeds -- beagles and dachshunds and Yorkshire terriers, oh my! -- were observed going number two 1,893 times and number one 5,582 times over the course of a two-year period. And they preferred to excrete when their body was aligned along the north-south axis under calm MF conditions, according to a new report in the journal Frontiers in Zoology.

                                   

This behavior did not occur under unstable conditions, according to the paper -- and why it happens at all is a mystery, too.

"It is still enigmatic why the dogs do align at all, whether they do it 'consciously' ... or whether its reception is controlled on the vegetative level (they 'feel better/more comfortable or worse/less comfortable' in a certain direction)," wrote researchers from the Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology at the Czech University of Life Sciences in the Czech Republic and the zoology department at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

"Our analysis of the raw data ... indicates that dogs not only prefer N-S direction, but at the same time they also avoid E-W direction," they wrote.

This is the first time that magnetic sensitivity has been proven in dogs. But there are several other species that are also sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field, the researchers said, including foxes, cattle and deer.

What's The Connection?

STORY ONE....

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.

Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son.....he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.

STORY TWO....

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.

Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.

Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His hometown would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

So what’s the connection?

Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.