Turmeric, a natural born cancer killer

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre have found that curcumin, the main component in the spice turmeric, suppresses a cell-signalling pathway in human saliva that drives the growth of head and neck cancer.

The inhibition of the cell signalling pathway was also correlated with reduced expression of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, or signalling molecules, in the saliva that promote cancer growth, said Dr. Marilene Wang, senior author of the study and a Jonsson Cancer Centre researcher.

"This study shows that curcumin can work in the mouths of patients with head and neck malignancies and reduce activities that promote cancer growth," Wang said.

"And it not only affected the cancer by inhibiting a critical cell signalling pathway, it also affected the saliva itself by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines within the saliva," she added.

The study was published September 15 in Clinical Cancer Research, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Cancer Research .

Britain to recycle diapers into roof tiles

British babies use around three billion disposable diapers every year. Now a new recycling plant has opened in the country where these nappies would be turned into roof tiles and construction tubes.

Over half million tonnes of waste from disposable diapers is generated in Britain every year.

An average British baby uses 6,000 before being trained to use the potty. Each disposable diaper takes around 500 years to decompose, says the Daily Mail.

A Canadian company -- Knowaste -- has stepped forward to recycle around 36,000 tonnes of diapers at the first recycling facility of its kind in Britain.

The plant opened in West Bromwich, around 165 km from London.

The waste diapers will be collected from hospitals, nursing facilities and child care nurseries.

The company said the products would be sterilised and highly valuable plastic and fibre will be recovered.

These can then be used for making new products like roof tiles or plastic components and fibre-based construction and commercial tubes.