CURRY KILLS CANCER CELLS

LONDON - A MOLECULE found in a curry ingredient can kill oesophageal cancer cells in the laboratory, suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment, scientists said on Wednesday.

Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland treated oesophageal cancer cells with curcumin - a chemical found in the spice turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow colour - and found it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours. The cells also began to digest themselves, they said in a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Previous scientific studies have suggested curcumin can suppress tumours and that people who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-cancer attributes quickly when ingested. But Sharon McKenna, lead author of the Irish study, said her study suggested a potential for scientists to develop curcumin as an anti-cancer drug to treat oesophageal cancer.

Cancers of the oesophagus kill more than 500,000 people across the world each year. The tumours are especially deadly, with five-year survival rates of just 12 to 31 per cent. Ms McKenna said the study showed curcumin caused the cancer cells to die 'using an unexpected system of cell messages'.

Normally, faulty cells die by committing programmed suicide, or apoptosis, which occurs when proteins called caspases are 'switched on' in cells, the researchers said.

But these cells showed no evidence of suicide, and the addition of a molecule that inhibits caspases and stops this 'switch being flicked' made no difference to the number of cells that died, suggesting curcumin attacked the cancer cells using an alternative cell signalling system. -- REUTERS

LA IGLESIA ROMANA "ROBA" A LAS OVEJAS ANGLICANAS?

Detras las sonrisas y reuniones ecumenicas, la Iglesia Romana no escondio su intencion de llevar a los Anglicanos a su redil.

El Papa Benedicto XVI en una accion rara esta semana proporcionó una estructura eclesiástica especial para los Anglicanos descontentos a unirse a la Iglesia Romana.

Segun el documento, los Anglicanos pueden mantenerse algunos de sus distintivos y ser católicos. Será interesante ver los detalles de esta nueva iniciativa.

Hay muchos anglicanos descontentos en estos días debido en gran parte a la falta de Rowan Williams, el arzobispo de Canterbury, y sus facilitadores para disciplinar a los dirigentes de la Iglesia Episcopal de EEUU haber consagrado un homosexual practicante! Rowan William, de acuerdo a sus acciones, están en el lado del lobby gay. Hay gente de conciencia que no puede reconocer Rowan como líder espiritual de la Comunión Anglicana. Entonces no era una sorpresa que muchos obispos ortodoxos boicotearon el Lambeth Conference del año pasado.

En medio de este desorden el Santo Padre vio la oportunidad de invitar y recibir anglicanos, especialmente a aquellos tradicionalistas en Bretania y Estados Unidos que quieren salir de la Anglicana. Acaso esto no es robo de ovejas? Ninguno de los Primados Anglicanos, de las regiones que se verán afectados por este último mover de la Iglesia Romana, no ha dicho nada en contra de la accion de la Romana.

Ni uno de los Primados de la Comunión Anglicana ha respondido a este desafío mediante la exposición de la confusión doctrinal en Roma a la luz de la verdad bíblica. La Comunión Anglicana después de haber no disciplinado el liderazgo de la provincia que consagró un homosexual practicante como obispo, no tiene ahora la base moral para refutar los errores de Roma y proporcionar un refugio para los católicos que luchan con cuestiones de fe y de conciencia. Esperamos que algunos de nuestros Arzobispos ortodoxos, Akinola, Jensen y el obispo Nazir Ali, respondan con claridad al desafio Romano.

Hay que admirar la Iglesia Romana, especialmente el Papa, por su audacia. Planificaron bien su mover con su gente y cuando llegó el momento propicio, lo hicieron sin renuencia. El Papa Benedicto XVI, como una águila, vio a su presa desde lejos y simplemente se abalanzo para recoger el premio: ovejas Anglicanos!

ROMAN CHURCH STEAL ANGLICAN SHEEP!

Behind the ecumenical smiles, handshakes and documents, Rome has never hid its intentions of wanting Anglicans back to the fold...their fold!

Pope Benedict in an earth shaking move this week provided a special ecclesiastical structure for disaffected Anglicans to join the Roman Church. Yup, Anglicans can now hold on to some of their distinctives and be Roman Catholics. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds as the Pope's plan is implemented.

There are many disaffected Anglicans these days due in large part to the failure of Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his enablers to discipline the leadership of the American Episcopal Church for having consecrated a practising homosexual! Rowan William's sympathies, judging by his actions, are clearly on the side of the gay lobby. Is it any wonder that many Anglican bishops boycotted last year's Lambeth Conference?

In the midst of this disarray, the Holy Father saw an opportunity to draw Anglicans, especially from the Anglo Catholic mould. And he seized it! Isnt this sheep stealing? None of the Anglican primates, from regions which will be impacted by this latest move from the Roman Church, seem to think so.

Not one...yes, not one Primate from the Anglican Communion has responded to this challenge by exposing Roman doctrinal confusion in the light of Biblical truth. And the reason is simple: the worldwide Anglican Communion in NOT disciplining a province which consecrated a practising homosexual as Bishop, does not have the moral standing to refute Rome's errors and provide a shelter for Roman Catholics struggling with matters of faith and conscience. Hopefully some of our top guns, Arcbishop Akinola, Jensen and Bishop Nazir Ali, will rise to the Roman challenge.

You gotta give Rome an A for audacity. They planned the move and struck when the time was right. Pope Benedict, like an eagle, saw his prey from afar and simply swooped in to gather the prize: Anglican sheep!

So is this sheep stealing?

Bible believing Anglicans of the more reformed variety with roots in the 39 articles will view this Roman intiative as interference and sheep stealing. Some might welcome it as an opportunity to rid the church of Roman fifth columnists. Traditional Anglican sacramentalists in liberal Anglican Provinces however will welcome this as a lifeline and an indirect rebuke to their ecclesiastical leaders.

BOLIVIA BEAT BRAZIL 2-1

Bolivia's victory over Brazil in the World Cup though wonderful is meaningless.

Brazil had already qualified for the World Cup in South Africa before this game; But still, its sweet to parade Brazil's scalp in public.

Congratulations to the Bolivian team. This was not a fluke; on their day Bolivian football is mesmerizing. Dont forget, they mauled the Argentinians 5-1.

Our problem has been constancy. Why they cant repeat their genius aganist lesser teams is a mystery. We'll have to wait for 2014!

Dunga, the Brazilian coach, in the tradition of coaches who lose in Laz Paz, blamed the high altitude. This is a lame excuse. World champions, like the armies of Alexander, must have the skill and fortitude to dominate opposing teams be it in bumpy pitches or in the high altitude.

If Dunga wants to win the World Cup in Africa, he has to build a team which can win anywhere in the world!

AT LAST!

Brazil, is the first Latin American nation to host the Olympic Games. All of South America celebrate with Brazil's triumph in getting this golden opportunity to host a major world event.

Why did it take so long?

Most countries in Latin America are third world and may not have the infraestructure to host such a massive event. The Brazilians have their limits but they should do a good job. Besides must the Olympics have such fancy opening and closing ceremonies? No, absolutely not! Sadly many nations confuse national prestige with mind blowing and expensive opening and closing ceremonies i.e Beijing Olympics

Congratulations Brazil!