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Round-Up of Global News In Health and Complementary MedicineWeek Beginning 14 October 2002
Plant Solution To Brain CancerJapanese scientists have discovered that the growth of malignant glioma cancer cells is almost completely halted by a molecule found in a weed. The plant, known variously as thorn apple, stinkweed and devil’s trumpet, is native to Asia and grows abundantly in the United States. Scientists at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology who injected the molecule - called DSA - into brain cancer cells grown in the laboratory found that it brought their growth rate to a virtual standstill. The researchers say DSA controls the cells through glial differentiation rather than by killing them. The Daily Telegraph Men With Poor Body ImageResearchers in Australia say men are increasingly at risk of developing body image disorders, such as muscle dysmorphia (MD), which affects men who are highly muscular, but see themselves as puny. Scientists at Victoria University, in Melbourne, say, 'In a changing culture where men’s bodies are becoming more visible alongside an increased acceptance of physical exercise as a desirable activity, MD in men may be one negative consequence of physical exercise behaviour, particularly weight training, being motivated primarily by physical appearance.' The Times Soy And Breast Cancer ReductionSoy-based foods can reduce levels of a class of oestrogens linked with breast cancer in post-menopausal women, according to US scientists. Professor Anna Wu, of the Keck School of Medicine, at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, says study results 'support the hypothesis that high soy intake may reduce the risk of breast cancer by lowering endogenous oestrogen levels, particularly oestrone.' The Daily Telegraph Women Control AggressionResearchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in the US say the sections of the brain that control aggression and monitor behaviour are larger in women than in men. The parts that promote aggression, on the other hand, are smaller. Scientists Ruben and Raquel Gur say these differences translate into important behavioural distinctions. The Daily Mail
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