MicroRNA: A Diagnostic Indicator

A Better Way to Spot Disease MicroRNA in blood could help doctors detect cancer and other conditions, is authored by Courtney Humphries. The article indicates the potential for using blood tests to identify molecular fingerprints evidenced by microRNA which would implicate cancer and disease. Treatment, tailor made to individuals, might become possible because of a blood test. MicroRNAs do not code for proteins like messenger RNAs but instead, bind to messenger RNA and thereby are able to regulate protein synthesis. There seems to be correlations between specific types of microRNA and medical conditions like prostate cancer, for example. If a blood test could substitute for expensive imaging procedures and invasive biopsies, the advantages would be evident. Quoting the source:

In a new paper, published in Cell Research, scientists give the first comprehensive tally of microRNAs in blood serum and identify patterns of microRNAs that distinguish patients with two kinds of cancer and diabetes from healthy subjects. The researchers used sequencing technology to identify the type and levels of microRNAs in the blood serum of healthy people, and they found that these measurements are consistent from individual to individual. Next, they looked at the types of microRNAs and the levels in patients with lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and diabetes. For each condition, the researchers identified a unique pattern of microRNA expression that differed from that of healthy people.

Lead author Chen-Yu Zhang says that many scientists were surprised to discover that microRNA can be measured in blood serum, because the blood also contains ribonuclease, an enzyme that digests RNA. Although it's not yet clear how microRNAs escape destruction and persist in the blood, Zhang says, "whatever the reason, microRNAs are stable in the serum and are resistant to ribonuclease digestion."

Dietary Suggestions

Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity, 5 Essential Weight Loss Foods, offers some intriguing dietary suggestions. Quoting from the linked article:

What follows are five foods that will help you restore your body's ability to use energy and help you become your healthy weight.

1. Millet: A well-balanced diet should consist of whole grains instead of refined grains like white rice and pasta, and millet is a beneficial and delicious staple of this category of food. This non-glutinous grain is over 10-percent protein, has high amounts of fiber and B-complex vitamins, and because it isn't an acid forming food, is easy to digest.

2. Asparagus: When losing weight, it's important to favor chlorophyll-rich foods, including asparagus. Asparagus is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with folate, vitamins A, C, and K, and fiber. Asparagus also contains a carbohydrate known as inulin (not to be confused with insulin) that promotes healthy bacteria in the large intestine - which in turn promotes a healthier digestive function.

3. Pomegranates: Eating a balanced diet to lose weight should include eating fresh fruits, and pomegranates are a wonderful example of a healthy, nutritious fruit that has antioxidant properties and will help prevent cancer. While the benefits of drinking pomegranate juice have gained a lot of attention recently, you will be more likely to lose weight by eating the fruit fresh to increase your fiber intake and keep the calories down.

4. Pine Nuts: Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees and are considered an essential ingredient in the tasty Italian mixture pesto. Chinese medicine uses pine nuts to improve gastrointestinal tract and digestive functions, and pine nut oil is even used for appetite suppression. Pine nuts and other nuts are a tasty part of a well-balanced diet intended for weight loss.

5. Green Tea: It has been found that consuming large amounts of coffee and caffeine can lead to food cravings, increase one's appetite, and induce stress-related eating. Green tea is a wonderful alternative to coffee in that it does provide a little caffeine but also contains beneficial antioxidants. So drink up!