Nerves Into Stem Cells Nerve cells are remarkably reprogrammable. The proof? Leprosy bacteria can take Schwann cells – the stuff that wraps nerve cells axon in white, fatty sheaths so they transmit faster – convert them into stem cells, then use them to flummox the immune system and infect the whole body. Which is rather […]
New Approaches to Combatting Cancer (11/7/12)
Cancer as An Information System The very word cancer scares us. The definition of cancer involves “uncontrolled, unregulated growth.” It’s as if the cells that sustain and give us life intimately betray us. They turn our bodies into a deformed version of ourselves. Heretics are more frightening than pagans, especially when the heretics take over […]
To Screen or Not to Screen for Cancer (11/5/12)
Cancer Prevention Who would not wish to prevent cancer? When President Nixon started the “War on Cancer,” hopes were high that cancer screening would dramatically lower cancer incidence and death. It did not work out that way. Now, researchers often wonder how much screening benefits hospitals and providers – compared to patients. In his book […]
Organic or Regular? What Should I Eat? (10/2/12)
Fears of Food Scared? Fears of food are spreading like wind-borne seeds. On September 19th Eric-Gilles Seralini of the University of Caen reported that rats fed genetically modified (GM) corn devised to survive commonly used Roundup pesticide – or given small amounts of the pesticide – demonstrated markedly more tumors over a two year period. […]
What’s So Bad About Inflammation? (9/12/12)
Friend or Foe? Want to know why you get cancer? According to the national media there’s a clear villain – it’s inflammation. Heart disease? Same cause. Inflammatory bowel disease? Check. Blood clots in the brain? Check. Inflammation is getting such a bad rap these days you have to come to its defense. Because inflammation is […]