Is Python oil the next miracle drug?

[Le breton]

http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/48332

CERN Courier
Jan 25, 2012

A ‘snake oil’ that really works

Good for youThe term "snake oil" has long denoted any sort of quack medication, but recent studies suggest that at least one particular type of snake "product" may, indeed, offer remarkable medical benefits. Leslie A Leinwand of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and colleagues noted that Burmese pythons have a large increase in heart mass (40% within 2–3 days) after eating a large meal. This is accompanied by increased cardiac output, apparently to help support the increased metabolic requirements of digestions and nutrient transport.

Three fatty acids – myristic, paltmitic and palmitoleic – in the right proportions appear to be the trigger for these changes. Remarkably, the same stuff given to mice also increases the mass of their heart chambers – by 10% in a week. This surprising cross-species effect leads to hopes that something similar could help humans with heart trouble.

About the author
Compiled by John Swain, Northeastern University.

Further reading
C A Riquelme et al. 2011 Science 334 528.

Not Larissa

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c9DuK23mQ...elme-rompe-tribunas_OLEIMA20100629_0131_6.jpg

 

[MarkvW]

http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/48332

CERN Courier
Jan 25, 2012

A ‘snake oil’ that really works

Good for youThe term "snake oil" has long denoted any sort of quack medication, but recent studies suggest that at least one particular type of snake "product" may, indeed, offer remarkable medical benefits. Leslie A Leinwand of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and colleagues noted that Burmese pythons have a large increase in heart mass (40% within 2–3 days) after eating a large meal. This is accompanied by increased cardiac output, apparently to help support the increased metabolic requirements of digestions and nutrient transport.

Three fatty acids – myristic, paltmitic and palmitoleic – in the right proportions appear to be the trigger for these changes. Remarkably, the same stuff given to mice also increases the mass of their heart chambers – by 10% in a week. This surprising cross-species effect leads to hopes that something similar could help humans with heart trouble.

About the author
Compiled by John Swain, Northeastern University.

Further reading
C A Riquelme et al. 2011 Science 334 528.

Not Larissa

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c9DuK23mQ...elme-rompe-tribunas_OLEIMA20100629_0131_6.jpg

Some cold-blooded doctor is will take advantage of this in a heartbeat. And Ricco could change his name from the Cobra to the Python!