Rice powder treats cholera effectively

Over years, cholera is being treated by oral rehydration that contains mixture of water with glucose and salts. Actually, glucose might increase the duration and toxicity of bacterial infection, a recent study suggests. 

           

Researchers found that substitution of rice powder, instead of glucose can dramatically reduce the bacterial toxicity by over 75%.

Like humans, cholera-causing bacteria consumes and thrives well by utilizing glucose and cause serious diarrhea or dysentery, said Dr. Melanie Blokesch, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

In laboratory conditions, cholera bacterium was grown in different culture-mediums such as potato, rice powder and different sugars. Bacteria thrived well in glucose and other sugars but not in starch medium of rice powder. The expression of toxicity-causing bacterial gene was found to be decreased in rice powder medium grown organisms.

The study is not against oral rehydration therapy, which is very effective. However, the regimen should be improved based on study findings, especially in outbreak reported geographical locations, the researchers noted.

The study was published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Cancer fighting pill from broccoli

A team of researchers have developed a cancer fighting pill from broccoli. The pill might reduce the risk of developing cancer, delay the progression or stop spreading of cancer to distant organs.                                                                       

Sulforaphane is a plant chemical that effectively fights cancer in humans. Sulforaphane is abundantly present in broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Scientists have isolated sulforaphane to develop anti-cancer pill using commercial technologies.

Research studies have proved that sulforaphane possess anti-cancer and neuroprotective properties. However, the plant compound is highly unstable in nature. By using advanced industrial technologies such as sulforadex technology, the compound’s potential was stabilized and can be delivered as pills, said Dr. 

Stephen Franklin, Chief executive, Evgen pharmaceuticals.

Further studies are to be conducted in breast cancer patients, prostate cancer patients and brain hemorrhage patients.

Vitamin D deficiency leads to mental depression?

Vitamin D deficiency may also lead to seasonal mental depression or seasonal affective disorder in humans, a review study suggests. Apart from other causative factors, vitamin D influences the development of seasonal depression in humans.                                                                

Depending on the geographical location, seasonal affective disorder occurs during fall and continues through the winter seasons, every year.

The circulatory levels of vitamin D varies from one person to another depending skin color. Low circulatory levels of vitamin D were observed in dark-skinned patients who were also diagnosed with depressive disorders. Individuals with greater skin pigmentation may suffer vitamin D deficiency in addition with increased risk of developing depressive disorders. The study concluded that depressive disorder patients had low blood levels of vitamin D.

Adequate vitamin D levels are vital to maintain healthy bones and to prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in children.