Breast cancer treatment can harm brain

Turns out, the drugs taken during the treatment of breast cancer have some side effects that can impact the brain. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the research established the common marmoset as an important non-human primate model for studying the effects of estrogen reducing treatments on the nervous system. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor used to prevent breast cancer recurrence can have side effects such as mood disturbances and memory issues in both humans and animals as it interferes with the production of estrogens. Little is known about how the drug impacts the brain. Although Researchers conducting the study administered Letrozole to male and female marmosets via pudding for four weeks and observed many of the same behavioural changes, including hot flashes and increased anxiety. It also compromised the function of neurons in the hippocampus and impaired spatial memory.

can vr maps of tumors be made?

Researchers at Cambridge University have paved a new way to look at cancer by building a virtual reality 3D model of the disease. The model will allow deeper understanding of the tumor samples taken from patients and rebuilt in a virtual reality laboratory. The team of fifteen scientists is led by Professor Greg Hannon, director of Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK). The team used established techniques such as DNA sequencing and imaging with new technology that they will invent, to study high-quality breast cancer samples. For this, 1mm cubed piece of the tissue biopsy, containing around 1,00,000 cells is cut into wafer thin slices, which are then scanned and stained with markers in order to show their molecular constitution and DNA characteristics.

Fish skin can help in treating burns?

Using fish skin to heal burns can be cheaper and less painful than bandages, says a scientist. Using the skin of Tilapia — a freshwater fish — on burns could be effective since it is rich in moisture and collagen proteins. Reports quoted Felipe Rocha, a neurologist at the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil, as saying this. Tilapia skin contains a type of collagen that is similar to the protein found in human skin. This is thought to interact with a patient's immune system to speed up healing. More than 300 patients worldwide have had the unusual therapy, which shows up as a fishy pattern even after it has been sterilised and the scales have been removed. Although many patients can be reluctant to have fish skin wrapped around their burns, a growing number of children are actually arriving at hospital requesting the “bandage”, reports say. "In relation to children, the skin ends up being kind of playful,” Rocha said.