What if I told you that chocolate can heal and treat your flu, perhaps better than the treatments we have today and prior? Significant scientific advances are not always celebrated with great fanfare. Sometimes they begin quietly, in labs with long hours, quiet researchers, and odd pairings. Occasionally, something unexpected occurs: a well-known component is employed in a novel way, or a combination of tried-and-true methods yields unexpected outcomes. This time, chocolate—something that most of us are already familiar with and adore—provides the unexpected twist.
A chocolate-based drug combination beats Tamiflu in the battle against the deadly flu
An experimental flu-fighting drug combination that includes a compound found in chocolate is more effective than the current most commonly used general influenza treatment, researchers reported in PNAS. In test tubes and animal experiments, the combination of theobromine and arainosine was more effective than Roche’s ROG.S Tamiflu against even the deadliest flu strains, including bird flu and swine flu, the researchers said.
Theobromine is a stimulant naturally found in cacao plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words for “food of the gods”. Theobromine plus arainosine – a synthetic compound that interferes with the ability of cells to repair themselves – together target proteins on the virus that serve as pathways for ions to travel in and out. Without functioning ion channels, the virus can’t survive.
Potential benefits of a novel Ion channel targeting approach for longer-lasting antivirals
Because many viruses, including coronaviruses, also rely on ion channels, this new approach could form the basis of future antiviral strategies, the researchers said. Existing drugs typically target a viral protein that mutates frequently, rendering treatments less effective over time, the researchers said. Pioneering study leader Isaiah Arkin of Hebrew University in Jerusalem said in a statement:
“We’re not just offering a better flu drug, we’re introducing a new way to target viruses… that may help us prepare for future pandemics.”
Although the research is still in its early phases, it has a lot of promise in the world of medicine
Even if the results are encouraging, it’s crucial to keep in mind that they’re still preliminary. Since mice were used in the study rather than humans, more research is required to determine whether the same findings hold true for humans. Nevertheless, the findings’ strength provides a clear roadmap for future study and potential clinical trials.
The concept of repurposing existing medications is not new. However, the effectiveness of the combination and its apparent safety are what distinguish this study. Both theobromine and zanamivir are already regarded as safe at prescribed dosages, in contrast to many novel therapies that have dangerous adverse effects.
Early screenings lead to an increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses
Diagnoses of early-stage colorectal cancers in the U.S. rose steeply among 45- to 49-year-olds during 2019 to 2022, after new guidelines called for screening in that age group, according to new research from the American Cancer Society published in JAMA. The surge included a 50% relative increase from 11.7 to 17.5 cases per 100,000 people of that age from 2021 to 2022. On the other hand, there is a treatment called Bristol Myers.
The increase in diagnoses was largely attributable to the detection of early-stage tumours, which increased by 18.8% annually from 2019 to 2022 for colon cancers and by 25.1% per year for rectal cancers. The finding “is promising news because the uptick of cases is likely due to first-time screening in the wake of new recommendations for younger average-risk adults to begin testing for colorectal cancer earlier,” study leader Elizabeth Schafer of the ACS said in a statement. Furthermore, Moderna tops forecasts with COVID booster sales and cost cuts.
GCN.com/Reuters