Radio Liberty - Science News

The Swiss Pharmaceutical Corporation Roshe published the preliminary results of the second stage of clinical testing of the T-20 drug, designed to combat HIV infection . Unlike other anti-spide drugs that prevent the reproduction of AIDS pathogen in the already affected cells of the immune system, the T-20 attacks viruses that have not yet been implemented in healthy cells. Tests have shown that this drug improves the general condition of even those patients who are not helped by standard antispide cocktails.

Employees of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Singapore discovered another potential means of treating cervical cancer . The main cause of this disease, which occupies the second place in terms of mortality among female oncological diseases, is the human papillomavirus virus. Its genetic apparatus contains instructions for the synthesis of proteins that block molecular barriers placed in the path of malignant tissue degeneration. Singapore scientists have found a substance that kills cancer cells infected with papilloma virus, but does not touch neither normal cells nor tumor cells without a virus. It should be noted that this compound is used in the rubber industry to vulcanize rubber.

Italian psychologists have brought the scientific base to the old truth that the state of deep love is not too different from intelligence . They compared the emotional and physiological characteristics of students in love and mental patients suffering from obsessive states syndrome. Both for those and others, the level of neurotransmitter serotonin turned out to be very low. A year later, when the students somewhat cooled down to the subject of their love, the concentration of serotonin returned to normal.

Dutch doctors from the National Institute for Health and Environmental Protection confirmed that chocolate can be used to prevent cardiovascular diseases . Chocolate contains large quantities of strong antioxidants - catechins. These substances not only strengthen the walls of blood vessels, but also help the body absorb ascorbic acid. Chocolate neutralizes free radicals four times better than tea, and black varieties contain more catechins than milk.

Employees of the Michigan Technological University using genetically engineering methods changed the structure and chemical composition of aspen wood . Transgenic trees are of great interest for the pulp and paper industry. They grow faster than ordinary aspen and produce 15 percent more cellulose and 45 percent less than lignin. The removal of lignin from the paper mass not only complicates the technological process, but also pollutes the environment with poisonous production waste.

The six -million -dollar resident of our planet may be born on August 9 , at about half -past six in Moscow time. This forecast diverges with the opinion of the United Nations demographers, who believe that the population of the Earth will exceed six billion only in October. The five millionth line was overcome in 1987, and the achievements of the seven -billiard room will have to wait until 2012.