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Researchers Tackle MRSA Using Cannabis Extracts
Marijuana has long been associated with having potent anti-bacterial properties, but paradoxically, marijuana abuse has been associated with an increase in opportunistic infection. According to a new study, published August 6, 2008 in the Journal of Natural Products, cannabis has powerful antibiotic properties against several forms of MRSA strains, “of clinical relevance.”
In the 1950’s, topical preparations from cannabis sativa were explored for treating skin and mouth infections and for tuberculosis treatment. Recent research shows that both psychotropic (THC) forms, as well non-psychotropic forms of cannabis might be used as antibiotic. The current researchers isolated THC, CBD, and CBG from three strains of cannabis sativa to produce a single major cannabinoid. Powder was extracted from the plant, heated, and the active ingredients were then extracted and purified. The researchers then used MRSA cultures to test the effectiveness of the purified cannabis extracts - “All compounds showed potent antibacterial activity, and the researchers saw “potent activity demonstrated against EMRSA-15 and EMRSA-16, the major epidemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains occurring in U.K. hospitals.”
MRSA is not the only bacterium that has become drug-resistant. Concerns about extremely drug resistant strains of tuberculosis have also recently been in the spotlight. According to the current research authors, “plants are still a substantially untapped source of antimicrobial agents”, as “only one new class of antibacterial has been introduced in the last 30 years, … making C. sativa a potential source of compounds to address antibiotic resistance, one of the most urgent issues in antimicrobial therapy.”
Large-scale studies are still needed, but the researchers write, “Given the availability of C. sativa strains producing high concentrations of nonpsychotropic cannabinoids, this plant represents an interesting source of antibacterial agents to address the problem of multidrug resistance in MRSA and other pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, “Although the use of cannabinoids as systemic antibacterial agents awaits rigorous clinical trials and an assessment of the extent of their inactivation by serum, their topical application to reduce skin colonization by MRSA seems promising, since MRSA resistant to mupirocin, the standard antibiotic for this indication, are being detected at a threatening rate. … semipurified mixtures of cannabinoids could also be used as cheap and biodegradable antibacterial agents for cosmetics and toiletries, providing an alternative to the substantially much less potent synthetic preservatives, many of which are currently questioned for their suboptimal safety and environmental profile.” Marijuana has long been associated with having potent anti-bacterial properties, but paradoxically, marijuana abuse has been associate... more -
Religion 'may have helped halt spread of disease', says controversial sc...
Religion may have helped protect ancient humans from disease, and divisions between people caused by religion may have actually helped reduce the spread of infections according to a controversial new scentific study.
Scientists claim this is why hotter countries which are more prone to disease have more religions when compared to similar-sized nations from cooler climates, reports the Daily Mail.
Dr Corey Fincher and Prof Randy Thornhill from the University of New Mexico asked, 'Why does Cote d'Ivoire have 76 religions while Norway has 13, and why does Brazil have 159 religions while Canada has 15 even though in both comparisons the countries are similar in size?'
They found that across many societies the number of different religions was directly linked to the number of pathogens found in the area.
'We found that religion diversity is the highest where disease diversity is also the highest and the lowest where disease diversity is also the lowest,' they said.
The research suggests that local groups who didn't deal with neighbours who worshipped a different god, for example, were less likely to pick up new diseases.Over the longer term this approach would also gradually alter the group's genetic make-up.
The report continues: "Our analysis suggests that the nature of religion needs to be reconsidered.
'Although religion apparently is for establishing a social marker of group alliance and allegiance, at the most fundamental level, it may be for the avoidance and management of infectious disease.'
Hmmm. Hindus or Muslims or Christians or whoever are going to love their belief system being described as simply a way to avoid infection. Is this an argument to be tolerant of other religions, and leave them to get on with their practices in peace? Or is it encouragement to go and wipe out your dirty, diseased neighbours with different beliefs so you can wipe out pathogens too? What purpose do studies like this have? Religion may have helped protect ancient humans from disease, and divisions between people caused by religion may have actually helped... more -
Superbugs kill record numbers in UK
" Superbugs are killing a record number of patients in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, the British Office for National Statistics indicated. "
According to the offices reports deaths from Clostridium difficile and MRSA doubled to 8,000 in 2006 from 5,300 in 2005 according to the offices reports in England and Whales, and also states that the vast majority of the inflicted died in hospitals, or their hospices/nursing homes.
MRSA only increased by 4 deaths in 2006, however Clostridium difficile increased from 3,719 in 2005 to 6,424 in 2006.
" The Office for National Statistics said many of the hospitals reporting large numbers of deaths from the infections likely had high numbers of patients.
The office got the information from death certificates that showed where patients died but not where they acquired the infection or were treated before their deaths. " " Superbugs are killing a record number of patients in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, the British Office for National Sta... more -
'I infected 1500 girls with AIDS'
A SERIES of sickening videos have been posted on the internet showing a man who claims to have deliberately "infected" thousands of women with AIDS.
Calling himself 'Trashman' and speaking with an American accent, the masked man says he has infected between 1200 and 1500 unknowing victims with the devastating disease.
He can be seen reading the names and ages of some of the women he claims to have had unprotected sex with in the video clips on website YouTube. The videos - one of which has been viewed 195,000 times - also feature a web address to a "gangsta" portal filled with pornography and where Trashman has a profile. In the first video Trashman is filmed reading from a list of women he claims to have infected.
He gloats: "Today I’m doing a show about something that’s more important than killing rappers."
"This here (piece of paper) that I hold in my hand is a list of women who I actually infected with AIDS on purpose. So if I call your name and if you just happen to be on my 'I got the AIDS from that n***er’ list', then God bless you." A SERIES of sickening videos have been posted on the internet showing a man who claims to have deliberately "infected" thous... more -
PetSmart sells infected hamster, hamster kills 3 people
A woman whose husband died after receiving a liver transplant infected with a rodent virus is suing PetSmart Inc., claiming the chain should have warned customers that hamsters can carry the virus.
The federal lawsuit alleges Thomas Magee, 54, and two other organ recipients died after transplants from a woman who had contracted a virus from a hamster she bought at a PetSmart store in Warwick, R.I. A woman whose husband died after receiving a liver transplant infected with a rodent virus is suing PetSmart Inc., claiming the chain ... more -
Tokyo japan world series little league Outbreak
A child player for japanese little league world series had the measles, infecting six other's starting a U.S. outbreak said health official's on thursday...For more on this click on link info... A child player for japanese little league world series had the measles, infecting six other's starting a U.S. outbreak said healt... more
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New bacteria strain afflicts gay men in Boston and San Francisco
This is frightening news. A new, highly drug-resistant strain of the "flesh-eating" MRSA bacteria is being spread among gay men in San Francisco and Boston, researchers have reported.
In a study published online Monday by the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the bacteria seemed to be spread most easily through anal intercourse but also through casual skin-to-skin contact and touching contaminated surfaces.
The authors warned that unless microbiology laboratories were able to identify the strain and doctors prescribed the proper antibiotic therapy, the infection could soon spread among other groups and become a wider threat.
The new strain seems to have "spread rapidly" in gay populations in San Francisco and Boston, the researchers wrote, and "has the potential for rapid, nationwide dissemination" among gay men. This is frightening news. A new, highly drug-resistant strain of the "flesh-eating" MRSA bacteria is being spread among gay ... more -
5 Scientific Reasons a Zombie Apocalypse Could Actually Happen
We found out recently that if you try to leave a little kid in a graveyard late at night, he'll freak out. Even if you offer to leave him a gun to protect himself. Why? It's because on some instinctual level, all humans know it's just a matter of time until the zombies show up.
Our culture is full of tales of the undead walking the Earth, from our religions to our comic books. But, some sort of zombie apocalypse isn't actually possible, right?
Right?
Guys?
Actually, yes. It's quite possible. Here's five ways it could happen, according to science. We found out recently that if you try to leave a little kid in a graveyard late at night, he'll freak out. Even if you offer to l... more -
Product claims to be able to kill MRSA on contact
Still being evaluated by the FDA, but a very promising development in our newest health scare
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