Cancer | Back to kitchen-curcumin and its Analogs

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Many factors act together or in sequence to cause cancer including life style and hereditary. WHO documents cancers as the leading causes of death worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012 which is estimated to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decade.

Data indicates men are more vulnerable to lung, prostate, colorectum, stomach and liver cancers, while, in women breast, colorectum, lung, cervix, and stomach cancers were the predominant ones. More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases of cancer occurrence are in Africa, Asia and Central and South America accounting to 70% of the world’s cancer deaths. More than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying lifestyle.

By avoiding key risk factors, like tobacco, obesity, unhealthy diet and sedentary life, alcohol use, HBV and HPV-infections, the cancer can be prevented or delayed. About 20% global cancer deaths and 70% of lung cancer death are primarily caused by tobacco. Also, in many underdeveloped countries, upto 20% cancer deaths are due to infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus.

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HIV/AIDS Education in Traditional Indian Systems of Medicine

In India, HIV-infected individuals face numerous challenges in their search for treatments. Currently, western allopathic medicine (hereinafter ‘biomedicine’) offers antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS and associated co-morbidities that have prolonged survival and improved quality of life. Estimates of ART coverage are between 39%-54% and significant numbersof HIV-infected individuals continue to explore alternative treatment options due to ART toxicities, resistance and associated expenditures arise. 

The Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy includes multiple medical systems as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) and has existed for centuries before the rise of biomedicine. While there is a dearth of current data available, it is estimated that almost 65% of India’s rural population uses AYUSH for primary health care and 70%–80% of the general population uses AYUSH at some point.  Read more.............

Plant Defense Gene Regulation and Transcription Factor Dynamics

Plants respond to different pests and pathogens by activating a set of resistance genes that involve in substantial transcriptional reprogramming integrating hormonal, metabolic, and physiological movements.

These cumulative downstream defense responses alleviate pathogen and pest by subsequent local or systemic induced resistance. Hormone signaling and trans-acting regulatory factors/ Transcription factors (TFs) are the major factors that facilitate downstream defense responses in plants.

Approximately, 7% of plant genome coding sequences represent TFs. Among many different type of TFs available in plants, the most common TFs mainly belong to six groups; AP2/ERF, MYB, BZIP, WRKY, MYC and NAC. 

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Utilization of By-product from Tomato Processing Industry for the Development of New Product

Extrusion cooking is recognized as a smart technology for food processors. It is a low cost, high temperature, short-time process. In this the starchy ingredients are input to create a puffed snack.

However it contains multiple parameters that need to be rigorously controlled to develop an optimal process. Present study investigated the blends of corn flour, rice flour and tomato pomace (peel and seed), processed in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and examined the effect of incorporation of tomato byproduct derivatives on final extruded product quality of the ready -to-eat expanded product.

Furthermore, the physio-chemical properties, post cooking quality were analyzed for the extruded product. As tomato pomace, corn and rice flour are naturally gluten free, the extruded product would appeal to people who suffer from gluten intolerances, allergies and celiac disease.

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A New Nuclear DNA Marker Revealing Both Microsatellite Variations and Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Loci

Plant cultivars are important germplasm resources for socio-economic development. However, it is difficult to conduct accurate genetic evaluation on plant diversity solely on the basis of morphological traits which are easily affected by environmental conditions and may change during developmental stages of the planta.

Developing DNA markers with high resolution and sensitivity, especially at cultivar level, is a global challenge. We report a good methodology for rapid and efficient detection of plant genetic diversity at cultivar level.

A unique nucleotide molecular formula (NMF) was constructed for each crape myrtle using polymorphic nucleotide sites. Our results showed that the DNA sequence from chromatin remodeling gene region of the ubiquitin-proteasome system is useful for molecularly characterizing crape myrtle cultivars.

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Bioaerosol Formation and Bacterial Transfer from Commercial Automatic Hand Dryers

Hand hygiene is a critical factor in reducing the spread of diseasecausing microorganisms resulting in published guidelines on hand hygiene for health care workers and retail and food service workers.

An essential but frequently forgotten step in adequate hand hygiene is the drying method. The importance of hand drying was demonstrated by Patrick et al.

Hampton demonstrated that hand drying is an essential step in reducing the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals but most hand washing protocols do not stipulate a hand drying technique.

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Nutritional Practices, Interventions and Recommendations for Junior Rugby League Players

Rugby league football is played at junior (Under 12-Under 20) and senior levels in several countries worldwide. For players over 13 years, the game is played under the international rules. It is a physical contact sport lasting between 60-80 minutes (depending on the standard of competition), during which players are subjected to high impact collisions, frequent intense bouts of running and tackling interspersed with short bouts of recovery. 

Players are required to have a highly developed level of strength, power, speed and agility, as well as both aerobic and anaerobic endurance; the levels of which increase with the level of competition. Further, the coordination of neuromuscular tasks including power, speed, strength into functional movements with appropriate psychological skills including pattern recognition, decision-making, dual-task and anticipation within the game are the key factors underpinning success.