Masada, Israel
2,000 years ago, among Roman attacks and Hebrew resistance, a date tree in Masada dropped its fruit to the ground. In 2005, scientists recovered the seeds left behind long after the dates had rotted away. In an amazing display of resilience, one of the little seeds sprouted, giving life to "Methuselah". The 4-ft tall date palm holds the record for the oldest seed to successfully grow in to a plant.
Scientist won't be able to tell whether Methuselah is a boy or a girl until the plant reaches 6 or 7 years of age, but Dr. Sarah Sallon, director of the Louis L. Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel hopes to use Methuselah to restore the extinct Judean date palm to life. The ancient species was once well known not only for the fruit it bore, but also for its medicinal applications.
"Part of our project is to preserve ancient knowledge of how plants were used," says Sallon, "to domesticate them so we have a ready source of raw material."
To read more and to see Methuselah, visit http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/06/12/ancient-date-tree.html
Thursday, June 12, 2008
New Drug Combination Reverses Type I Diabetes
University of Virginia, US
At the American Diabetes Association's upcoming 68th Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco, Dr. Jerry L. Nadler will be presenting some very promising news.
Dr. Nadler's team at the University of Virginia has been testing a new combination of drugs which shows promise for the treatment of Type I Diabetes. This condition is autoimmune, caused when the body attacks insulin-prodicing cells produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone used by cells to convert food into energy. When the body is deprived of insulin, heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and other serious complications can arise.
The two drugs used in the study are Lisofylline, designed to stop the body's assault on insulin-producing cells, and Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein peptide (INGAP), a drug modeled after natural protein produced by the pancreas. In the study, a control group of diabetic mice were given a placebo drug, a second group was treated with just the Lisofylline, a third with just INGAP, and a last group was given a combination of both drugs. In the mice treated with both drugs, 70% showed a remission in diabetes after the treatment was withdrawn.
According to Dr. Nadler, "These are very encouraging results. . . Since both LSF and INGAP are already known to be safe, we should soon be able to begin testing the combination of LSF and INGAP in the clinic as a potential therapy for Type 1 diabetes in people. . ."
To learn more about the study, visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610112632.htm
At the American Diabetes Association's upcoming 68th Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco, Dr. Jerry L. Nadler will be presenting some very promising news.
Dr. Nadler's team at the University of Virginia has been testing a new combination of drugs which shows promise for the treatment of Type I Diabetes. This condition is autoimmune, caused when the body attacks insulin-prodicing cells produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone used by cells to convert food into energy. When the body is deprived of insulin, heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and other serious complications can arise.
The two drugs used in the study are Lisofylline, designed to stop the body's assault on insulin-producing cells, and Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein peptide (INGAP), a drug modeled after natural protein produced by the pancreas. In the study, a control group of diabetic mice were given a placebo drug, a second group was treated with just the Lisofylline, a third with just INGAP, and a last group was given a combination of both drugs. In the mice treated with both drugs, 70% showed a remission in diabetes after the treatment was withdrawn.
According to Dr. Nadler, "These are very encouraging results. . . Since both LSF and INGAP are already known to be safe, we should soon be able to begin testing the combination of LSF and INGAP in the clinic as a potential therapy for Type 1 diabetes in people. . ."
To learn more about the study, visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610112632.htm
An Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-Dot Bit of Good News
The town of Kanab, Utah, reversed a ban issued by the City Council this week which had forbidden the wearing of two-piece bathing suits. While little explanation was given for either the issuing of the bikini ban (which was chalked up to an 'oversight'), or it's lifting (chalked up to both blazing temperatures and raging hormones), city residents expressed delight in the recent turn of events.
This news was welcomed by supporters of sun, friends of first amendment rights, and the affecionados of the female body all over Utah. It is hoped that the reversal of this ban will set a precedent protecting bathing beauties in future legal and governmental cases.
The all-female hardcore-influenced Washington punk rock band Bikini Kill could not be reached for comment, but are thought to have no involvement in the Council's decision.
Here's the original:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25114566/?GT1=43001
These Grrrls will wear bikinis if they want to:
http://www.tigerbomb.net/pages/bkpages/bikintro.html
This news was welcomed by supporters of sun, friends of first amendment rights, and the affecionados of the female body all over Utah. It is hoped that the reversal of this ban will set a precedent protecting bathing beauties in future legal and governmental cases.
The all-female hardcore-influenced Washington punk rock band Bikini Kill could not be reached for comment, but are thought to have no involvement in the Council's decision.
Here's the original:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25114566/?GT1=43001
These Grrrls will wear bikinis if they want to:
http://www.tigerbomb.net/pages/bkpages/bikintro.html
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