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Possible Breakthroughs in Cancer and AIDS Research

Posted by Zonk on from the good-things-come-in-sets dept.

FortKnox writes "Two possible medical breakthroughs have come to light in recent days. In Australia, it was discovered that pineapple extract can stimulate the body to attack cancer cells. And in Japan, Kumamoto University researchers have developed a drug that will block cells from the AIDS virus, thus making something akin to an AIDS vaccine." From the Australian news: "One of the molecules, CCZ, stimulates the body's immune system to target and kill cancer cells, the other, CCS, blocks a protein called Ras, which is defective in 30 percent of all cancers. QIMR researcher Tracey Mynott said her team had set out to find why the enzyme-rich bromelaine crush had such strong effects on biological material."

28 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. Still no cure for cancer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Still no cure for can...er, never mind. Well, the people over at FARK must be really disappointed. They'll have to come up with a new tagline!

    1. Re:Still no cure for cancer... by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dude, what are you talking about. According to Slashdot, cancer and AIDs are cured every other month.

      --
      "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    2. Re:Still no cure for cancer... by Ced_Ex · · Score: 2, Funny

      Abstinence... the boring cure for AIDS.

      I, for one would welcome the return of free love of the 60s and 70s with the vaccine.

      --
      Live forever, or die trying.
    3. Re:Still no cure for cancer... by FirstTimeCaller · · Score: 2, Funny

      According to Slashdot, cancer and AIDs are cured every other month.

      And probably again tomorrow when this story gets dup'ed.

      --
      Wanted: witty unique signature. Must be willing to relocate.
  2. Vindicated! by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    From TFA:
    Australian scientists have discovered pineapple molecules can act as powerful anti-cancer agents and said the research could lead to a new class of cancer-fighting drugs.
    Scientists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) said their work centred on two molecules from bromelaine, an extract derived from crushed pineapple stems that is used to tenderise meat, clarify beers and tan hides.
    HA! I told my guidance counselor that all that beer drinkin' would pay off eventually... ^_^
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    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    1. Re:Vindicated! by RapmasterT · · Score: 5, Funny
      dammit! I only drink cloudy beers.

      I guess it's going to be a long weekend of explaing WTF is up with the pinapples slices in my hefeweizen.

    2. Re:Vindicated! by jeblucas · · Score: 2, Funny
      dammit! I only drink cloudy beers. I guess it's going to be a long weekend of explaing WTF is up with the pinapples slices in my hefeweizen.
      VWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

      ...that's what I heard when your comment went over my head.

      --
      blarg.
    3. Re:Vindicated! by RapmasterT · · Score: 5, Funny
      Actually pinapple has another effect, that of making your bodily secretions smell/taste better. That is an old date trick....
      Considering at what point of the evening this "date trick" would become relevant, I've never understood why I should give a rat.

      My reaction to the statement "eewweee it tasts yucky" is usually "why are you still here"?

  3. Enzyme-rich bromelaine crush? by Ossifer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Never tried it, but I do like Orange Crush...

  4. Pineapple! by Evil+W1zard · · Score: 5, Funny

    Time to go buy some stock in Dole!

    Oh I can see it now... Healthy, Tasty Pineapple Flavored Cigarettes that have no Surgeon General's Warning.

    --
    News Reporters Make Tasty Polar Bear Treats!
  5. Great, one more thing for Spam to pimp. by doublem · · Score: 5, Funny

    Herbal Pineapple extract Spam in 5... 4... 3...

    --
    "Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA
  6. Pina Coladas by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just KNEW they were good for me!

    --
    The latest Slashdot meme.
  7. Awesome! by rockytriton · · Score: 0, Funny

    Now they should use "Fundable" to hold the cure hostage until they receive 1 MILLLLLLLION dollars! Or is that only for open source software?

  8. Re:Cures and money. by team99parody · · Score: 5, Funny
    "You really think drug companies care about your health?"

    Would it even be legal for them to do so if they wanted to?

    Wouldn't that violate their fiduciary responsibilities to their shareholders? It'd be like microsoft killing off their upgrade revenue by releasing a secure OS.

  9. Cure? by part_of_you · · Score: 1, Funny
    I thought Magic Johnson already beat AIDS.

    ...oh wait, now I understand, he has a MAGIC JOHNSON!!! I'm always the last to figure it out.

  10. I love "almost no side effects"... by JargonScott · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's such a great cover. I wonder what the "almost no" side effects are, like "all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light".

    --
    Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus.
    1. Re:I love "almost no side effects"... by xMilkmanDanx · · Score: 2, Funny

      May cause drowsiness, stomach ache, dizziness, uncontrollable movements of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or legs; fever; muscle rigidity; sweating; irregular pulse; or fast or irregular heartbeats. Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays. Use caution in hot weather and during exercise. Drink plenty of fluids. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Some patients have experienced depression (including feelings of sadness, irritability, unusual tiredness, trouble concentrating, and loss of appetite) and suicidal thoughts and/or behavior during, and soon after stopping, treatment with Accutane. Notify your doctor immediately if you begin to experience signs of depression or if you begin to have thoughts about taking your own life during or shortly following treatment. Avoid letting infected areas come into contact with other people. Wash your hands frequently to prevent transmission. May cause internal bleeding, difficulty urinating and in certain rare instances, death.

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      I am not in anyway affiliated with Max Cannon
    2. Re:I love "almost no side effects"... by ebuck · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think "almost no side effects" in this case is about the equivalent effect of taking sugar pills.

      Well, a lot of sugar pills.

      About 890,450 sugar pills (appx. 80 lbs 7 oz), to be exact.

      Taken rapidly, with no water.

      Over the span of approximately 3 minutes 12 seconds.

      It's not pretty, sort of like an explosion from within.

  11. Re:Cures and money. by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny


    I was wondering when someone would work in the obligatory Slashdot M$ slam...well done!

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    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  12. Pineapple molecules by crimoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    "pineapple molecules"

    Pineapples have molecules of their own?

  13. Re:Cures and money. by Ingolfke · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you survive longer, you rack up more medical bills. Curing HIV might not be a big money-maker, but do you know how many drugs senior citizens take? Keeping them alive to continue their medications would be a gold mine.

    Exactly... here's you cure for AIDS and your free trial sample of Viagra... go get em champ.

  14. Aids Vaccination? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bad news for Trojan good news for Hasboro.

  15. Re:old news by The_Mystic_For_Real · · Score: 4, Funny

    The news isn't the breakthrough, the news is that science is being done in Australia. No more 'Gator Studies' majors there anymore I guess.

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    _____

    Thank you.

  16. Double Benefit by Foolomon · · Score: 3, Funny
    Not only does it attack cancer, but by drinking pineapple juice I can taste better too!

    I wonder how my imaginary girlfriend will feel about this...

  17. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? by bujoojoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    This just in: SpongeBob is celebrating quietly with Tinky Winky at his home in Bikini Bottom.

    --
    This space for rent
  18. Re:I dunno... by Otter · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... is there any hope?

    Yes. Ruby on Rails. I hear it cures cancer, too.

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  19. Re:Oh sure by Type-R · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's a cure for auto accidents, too, called the M1 Abrams tank. Mileage sucks, maintenance sucks, cost sucks, but by god, if we only let those people drive who could afford Abrams, why, we'd cut deaths from auto accidents down to almost zero.

    heh, until you run into the OTHER guys M1, then we're back to square one. :)

  20. Ouch by DrKyle · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't know how popular those pineapple suppositories are going to be.....