Up until recently, people infected with the bacterium Clostridium difficile usually could only be cured by receiving the fecal matter of healthy individuals, usually family members, mainly through direct injection into the gut. This method made most individuals hesitant. I learned a little bit about this method in microbiology and thought it was interesting to read up on the new method.
First, I should start with a little bit of information about Clostridium difficile. When a person is on antibiotics, usually for a long period of time, their body starts to suffer from the effects of antibiotics. Antibiotics are made to sweep out the bacteria; however, antibiotics are not selective of only the bad bacteria. In return, bacteria like Clostridium difficile gets into the raw, bacteria-less gut and wrecks havoc.
The new approach that scientists are taking in order to cure patients with this sickness is different than mentioned above. Healthy individuals, usually family members again, are confiscated of their fecal matter. The feces is then filtered to only contain the good, intestinal bacteria. Then, this bacteria is put into a capsule and given to the sick patient. Sounds like a way better idea, right?!
Here comes the downside: About 25+ capsules must be ingested by the sick person... all in one day... all on an empty stomach...
If you were sick, which of the two ways would you prefer? Old, new, or neither?
Mining medicine from poop
Monday, December 2, 2013
Why it's a Good Thing That Your Parents Forced You to Eat Your Vegetables...!
If you had parents like mine, you were forced to eat your vegetables no matter how nasty they were. Research now shows that eating certain vegetables actually has a very positive benefit.
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc., also known as cruciferous vegetables, all contain a compound that is converted to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM helps repair healthy cells of chemical and radiation damage.
Studies are being done on rats to see if controlled dosages of DIM can help the lifespan of rats being treated of cancer via radiation. The results seem to be good so far! Also, DIM only benefits healthy cells; this allows the cancer cells to be penetrated the same without the fear of cancer cells getting stronger by ingesting DIM.
The researchers hope that in the future, dosages of DIM can help humans that are undergoing some kind of cancer radiation treatment or recovering from a nuclear explosion.
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc., also known as cruciferous vegetables, all contain a compound that is converted to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM helps repair healthy cells of chemical and radiation damage.
Studies are being done on rats to see if controlled dosages of DIM can help the lifespan of rats being treated of cancer via radiation. The results seem to be good so far! Also, DIM only benefits healthy cells; this allows the cancer cells to be penetrated the same without the fear of cancer cells getting stronger by ingesting DIM.
The researchers hope that in the future, dosages of DIM can help humans that are undergoing some kind of cancer radiation treatment or recovering from a nuclear explosion.
DIM is not going to be the miracle cure for cancer, but hopefully it can help the cancer patients' cells during their radiation treatments.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)