Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue. It most frequently starts from one of the adrenal glands but can also develop in the neck, chest, abdomen, or spine. Symptoms may include bone pain, a lump in the abdomen, neck, or chest, or a painless bluish lump under the skin.Typically, neuroblastoma occurs due to a genetic mutation occurring during early development. Rarely, it may be due to a mutation inherited from a person's parents. Environmental factors have ...

neuroblastoma

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Author: Rositsa Tashkova, Master of Molecular Biology and Microbiology

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Wild garlic is also called ramson, wild onion, bear's garlic, wild cowleek, buckrams, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek. It is a widespread species in Europe and Asia, and is found even in Siberia.

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According to one hypothesis, the name is related to the Ursa major constellation, which is visible in the northern hemisphere, and wild garlic is one of the most northern spread species of Allium.

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The other hypothesis is related to the popular perception that when the bear wakes from hibernation, it eats wild garlic to clear from toxins and restore its strength.

What-Is-in-Wild-Garlic

What Is in Wild Garlic

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Wild garlic contains the characteristic for the family of garlic and onion sulphur compounds (methiin, alliin) and more [<a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Allium_ursinum_botanical_phytochemical_and_pharmacological_overview_25774103" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.1</a>]:

What-Is-in-Wild-Garlic_0_1

<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">phenolic compounds (flavonoids, kaempferol),</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">steroidal glycosides,</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">lectins,</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">polysaccharides (mainly fructans),</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">fatty acids (palmitic, linoleic, oleic, palmitoleic, stearic, α-linolenic and myristic acid),</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">amino acids (asparagine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, alanine, glycine, threonine).</li>
</ul>

What-Is-Wild-Garlic-Traditionally-Used-for

What Is Wild Garlic Traditionally Used for

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There is evidence that wild garlic was used by the Mesolithic people, the Celts, the Romans. The ancient Greeks recognized at least four types of onions, including wild garlic, which was thought to have a detoxifying effect.

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All parts of the plant are edible. For medical purposes, the leaves collected in April and May, and the bulbs collected in September and October, are used. Wild garlic is usually harvested in the wild, but in some countries, such as Poland, the plant is protected and it's not allowed to pick it in the wild nature.

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In European folk medicine, wild garlic is usually recommended as a digestion stimulator, an antimicrobial agent, that removes toxins from the body and prevents cardiovascular disease. It is often used as a cure for respiratory problems, such as a common cold with fever or bronchitis.

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It is also used externally to help heal wounds, in chronic skin diseases and in acne.

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 Easy recipes from Russian folk medicine for the treatment of skin diseases. Part 1: vitiligo, infections, warts

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Today, ramson is often used for cooking. Fresh leaves can be consumed raw or cooked and as a kind of pesto. Add to soups, gnocchi, risotto, ravioli and as a seasoning for hard cheeses or smears with cottage cheese. Leaves and flowers can be used as a side dish to salads, while bulbs can be used as ordinary garlic.

Benefits-of-Wild-Garlic-for-the-Cardiovascular-System

Benefits of Wild Garlic for the Cardiovascular System

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Modern pharmacological studies confirm many of the aforementioned traditional applications of wild garlic. It is a plant with high potential for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

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Benefits-of-Wild-Garlic-for-the-Cardiovascular-System_2_2

Various extracts obtained from fresh leaves of wild garlic have been tested in laboratory conditions for action on aggregation of human platelets (blood elements responsible for blood clotting). The results show that the spirit extract of ramson&nbsp;significantly inhibits aggregation by a mechanism similar to that of the drug Clopidogrel.

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Studies in rats have shown that wild garlic has a greater ability to lower high blood pressure compared to ordinary garlic. [<a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Wild_garlic_has_a_greater_effect_than_regular_garlic_on_blood_pressure_and_blood_chemistries_of_rats_11989540" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.2</a>]

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It also lowers total cholesterol and increased insulin levels in the blood.

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Antimicrobial-Effects-of-Ramson

Antimicrobial Effects of Ramson

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The antimicrobial effect of aqueous and methanol extract from wild garlic leaves against the following bacteria has also been proven: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and fungi: Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans, Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium expansum, Candida lipolytica, Mycoderma, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera.

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The juice of the bulbs of the plant has also shown an effect against some internal parasites.

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The leaves and bulbs of wild garlic have a strong antioxidant effect.

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 What are the benefits of antioxidants for health and which foods are richest to them

Wild-Garlic-and-Cancer

Wild Garlic and Cancer

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The influence of wild garlic extracts on cancer cell lines is also being studied and the results are promising.

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Dialyl disulfide (a component of the volatile oil of ramson) inhibits the proliferation of various human cancer cell lines, including breast, lung, colon, lymphomas and neuroblastoma.

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The mechanism of action involves stopping the cell cycle or apoptosis (programmed cell death). Also, dialyl trisulphide induces apoptosis in the cell lines of prostate cancer in humans.

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Recipe-for-Wild-Garlic-Pesto

Recipe for Wild Garlic Pesto

Recipe-for-Wild-Garlic-Pesto_5_0

Wild garlic has a very delicate, unobtrusive garlic taste, and the first spring leaves are distinguished by great fragility. It is suitable as an addition to salads, and pesto can be prepared from it. Here is what you need:

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<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">100 g wild garlic</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">150 ml olive oil</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">100 g yellow cheese, parmesan or other type of cheese</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">60 g walnuts, almonds or other nuts</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">salt</li>
</ul>

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The leaves of the wild garlic are washed and drained, the stalks are removed and the leaves are cut in pieces.

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Grind in the blender together with the nuts and cheese, adding the olive oil gradually to the mixture.

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The finished pesto is stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Q&amp;A

Is-there-a-ramson-doppelganger

Is there a ramson doppelganger

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Although the garlic-like smell of ramson should allow its unambiguous identification, there are cases of fatal poisoning with toxic plants, the leaves of which, due to a similar shape, are mistakenly collected from the wild. Such plants are: autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and European white helleborer (Veratrum albumtrum).

What-are-the-side-effects-of-consuming-wild-garlic?

What are the side effects of consuming wild garlic?

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Levurda is considered safe. However, it is good to consume with caution from people whose erythrocytes (red blood cells) are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage or are on anti-blood clotting therapy. In very rare cases, an allergic reaction may occur.

Wild Garlic - The Healing Properties of Ramson. Bonus: Recipe for Delicious Wild Garlic Pesto

https://d20hztklr4qnvi.cloudfront.net/1996c7ff-183b-4f8e-b4a4-4ce81ef968a2_middle.jpg

 Wild Garlic - The Healing Properties of Ramson. Bonus: Recipe for

Rositsa Tashkova-Kacharova

Author: Rositsa Tashkova, Master of Molecular Biology and Microbiology

In recent decades, the value of stem cells and in particular - in the fight against certain cancers has been assessed. Treatment of cancer through stem cell transplantation has gained great popularity and success. In this article, we will look at when such treatment is needed and when it is even possible to perform such treatment, for which types of cancer is appropriate, what exactly is a stem cell transplant, and how it works.

In the article you will read:

<ul>
<li>What are stem cells</li>
<li>When stem cell transplantation can be used to treat cancer</li>
<li>How stem cell transplantation helps treat cancer</li>
<li>What types of stem cell transplantation are there</li>
<li>What are the risks of stem cell transplantation</li>
<li>What to expect during treatment</li>
<li>What happens during the recovery period</li>
<li>What happens if stem cell transplantation fails</li>
</ul>

What-are-stem-cells

What are stem cells

What-are-stem-cells_0_0

To understand how this treatment can help patients with certain cancers, we must first <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/pubmed/Stem_cells_19896546" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> understand what stem cells are [ref. 1].

What-are-stem-cells_0_1

Stem cells do not specialize in performing a specific function, unlike, for example, red blood cells (erythrocytes), which carry oxygen to all parts of the body, or cells of the immune system that, in complex mechanisms, fight infections , or platelets, the only function of which is to participate in blood clotting, thereby protecting the body from major blood loss.

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The process in which a stem cell develops in a strictly specialized cell similar to those described above is called differentiation. Thus, stem cells are undifferentiated, and erythrocytes are differentiated.

When-stem-cell-transplantation-can-be-used-to-treat-cancer

When stem cell transplantation can be used to treat cancer

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Currently, stem cell transplantation is mainly used to treat blood cancer or one that affects the bone marrow - leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma (also called multiple myeloma and Kaler's disease) or neuroblastoma (a disease that most often affects children).

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Clinical trials are <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/search?q=stem%20cell%20transplant%20cancer&amp;p=1&amp;st=1&amp;tp=e&amp;s=x&amp;as=NCT00112645" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being</a> carried out [ref. 2]in search of treatment and other cancers using stem cell transplantation, but no approved therapies have yet been established.

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How-stem-cell-transplantation-helps-treat-cancer

How stem cell transplantation helps treat cancer

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Immediately before performing the transplant itself, the patient receives high doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy for about a week. The goal is to destroy all cancer cells, including stem cells in the bone marrow, where blood cells are formed.

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Previously, healthy stem cells were taken from the patient or from a donor to be transplanted immediately after chemo or radiotherapy. This occurs by instilling stem cells back into the bloodstream - intravenously.

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After a while, they reach the bone marrow, where they occupy the place of the destroyed cells. There they begin to produce healthy blood cells, and with a successful transplant the patient is cured of cancer.

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When stem cells are taken from a donor (<a href="https://www.cancercenter.com/treatment-options/hematologic-oncology/allogenic-stem-cell-transplant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> allogeneic transplant [ref. 3]) - usually brother, sister, parent, and are used to treat multiple myeloma or certain types of leukemia, an additional therapeutic effectcalled "graft vs. tumor" (GvT) may occur. With this effect, the white blood cells obtained in the transplant from the donor attack and destroy the rest after chemo- and radiotherapy cancer cells.

What-types-of-stem-cell-transplantation-are-there

What types of stem cell transplantation are there

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Stem cell transplantation is three types [ref. 4], depending on the source of the cells: <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/stem-cell-transplant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>

What-types-of-stem-cell-transplantation-are-there_3_1

<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/pubmed/A_Review_of_Autologous_Stem_Cell_Transplantation_in_Lymphoma_28478586" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autologous transplantation</a> [ref. 5] - when the stem cells are taken from the blood of the patient himself, before chemo- or radiotherapy. In this case, there is no risk of rejection of the transplant, since these are the own cells of the treatee.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Allogeneic transplantation - when stem cells from a donor are used for transplantation. The donor must have similar molecules on his cells to those of the patient in order to reduce the risk of rejection. Therefore, most often a donor becomes the patient's brother, sister or parent, but a non-related donor from a registry whose cells must be compatible with the patient's organism can also be used.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Syngenta transplantation - in rare cases, when the patient has a healthy single-day twin, stem cells are taken from it.</li>
</ul>

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What-are-the-risks-of-stem-cell-transplantation

What are the risks of stem cell transplantation

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Like any treatment, stem cell transplantation for cancer treatment hides its risks and has side effects [ref. 6]. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/pubmed/Cytokine_serum_levels_during_post_transplant_adverse_events_in_61_pediatric_patients_after_hematopoietic_stem_cell_transplantation_26315105" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>

What-are-the-risks-of-stem-cell-transplantation_4_1

Due to large doses of chemo- or radiotherapy that kill the patient's cells, problems with blood clotting and the immune system occur. This is because a large proportion of platelets and leukocytes have died. There is a risk of bleeding and infections.

What-are-the-risks-of-stem-cell-transplantation_4_2

Contrary to the effect "graft against tumor", another effect may occur, which is highly undesirable - <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/pubmed/Bone_Marrow_GvHD_after_Allogeneic_Hematopoietic_Stem_Cell_Transplantation_27066008" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"graft</a> vs. host" [ref. 7] (GvHD).

What-are-the-risks-of-stem-cell-transplantation_4_3

This immune reaction can affect and damage many tissues and organs in the body - skin, liver, small intestine and others. In this case, it is necessary to take medications that suppress the immune system - immunosuppressants, which makes the patient susceptible to infections.

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This effect can manifest itself a few weeks after transplantation or much later. Therefore, it is important that the stem cells that will be transplanted to the patient are as close as possible to his own.

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All risks should be discussed in advance with the attending physician.

What-to-expect-during-treatment

What to expect during treatment

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_0

Stem cell transplantation is a complex treatment and it should be taken into account that its cost can be very <a href="http://www.chernomore.bg/obshtestvo/2019-10-23/izgrazhdat-unikalen-tsentar-za-rabota-sas-stvolovi-kletki-vav-varna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> high. At the moment a modern stem marrow transplant is being performed in Varna, <a href="https://nova.bg/news/view/2014/12/22/96448/%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B0-%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%80-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D1%8A%D0%B2-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> in the stem cell transplant center atSt. Marina Hospital [ref. 8].

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Once an appropriate medical facility has been opened, the patient may be accommodated in the hospital or not, but frequent visits may be required. The whole treatment takes several months.

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_2

Before starting the course of chemo- or radiotherapy, it is necessary to secure the stem cells for the transplant. They are extracted from blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord and frozen. They thaw again before the transplant itself.

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_3

Chemo- or radiotherapy (can be administered and a combination between the two) take about 1-2 weeks, after which the patient rests a few days before transplantation.

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_4

The transplant itself takes between 1 and 5 hours, during which, with the help of a catheter, stem cells flow through a vein into the bloodstream - similar to an infusion of blood. Sometimes two insations are made at a certain interval of time.

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_5

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_6

The longest <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/bg/eng/research/pubmed/Biobehavioral_influences_on_recovery_following_hematopoietic_stem_cell_transplantation_22820408" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> recovery process [ref. 10]. Its first phase is associated with the formation of new blood cells from the transplanted stemcells.

What-to-expect-during-treatment_5_7

Since each organism reacts differently to transplantation, doctors can not predict exactly how the patient will feel as a result of treatment. It depends on many factors. For example, what state of health he was in before the transplant, how advanced the stage of cancer is, what type of cancer it is, what doses of chemo and radiotherapy had to be imied the patient, how they are perceived by the particular organism and other factors.

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period

What happens during the recovery period

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period_6_0

During the recovery period, the patient will remain for a long time under the supervision of doctors, who will monitor how his blood indicators change in time after the stem cell transplant. For the first three weeks, the number of blood cells will need to be counted every day or at least once a week.

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period_6_1

Until the indicators return to normal, it should be vigorously guarded from infections and will feel weak and dropped. Negative and positive emotions can be intertwined in it - because of the relative isolation and physical malaise, but also in the hope of a successful outcome of the transplant.

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period_6_2

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period_6_3

In <a href="https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/stem-cell-transplant/after-stem-cell-transplant/?region=on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> the first three months [ref. 11] blood or platelet insations may be required.

What-happens-during-the-recovery-period_6_4

After a year or two, it is necessary to give the vaccines, which are usually put into childhood, because as a result of treatment with immune cells, immunity to pathogens acquired with these vaccines has gone before.

What-happens-if-stem-cell-transplantation-fails

What happens if stem cell transplantation fails

What-happens-if-stem-cell-transplantation-fails_7_0

Transplantation can fail <a href="https://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/stem-cell-transplant-complications#2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for two reasons</a> [ref. 12] - if our body rejects donor transplants or if the cancer returns.

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In the event that our immune system recognizes foreign cells as hostile and attacks them, a new transplant or infusion of special white blood cells (lymphocytes) from the same donor can be undertaken.

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Sometimes, years after the transplant, the cancer can return. In some aggressive cancers, when using the patient's own stem cells, relapse is observed in up to 50% of patients.

What-happens-if-stem-cell-transplantation-fails_7_3

The most common cause of relapse remained in the body or in the transplant cancer cells. In this case, the effect "graft against tumor" is relied upon, in which the donor immune cells recognize and kill cancer cells. This effect can be strengthened if, together with stem cells, immune cells from the donor are also infused during transplantation.

What-happens-if-stem-cell-transplantation-fails_7_4

In case of relapse, the condition can be treated by different chemotherapy, from the first time used, by a second transplant or both. If a re-transplant is selected and the first time the patient's own cells are used, then in this second transplant, donors can be used.

neuroblastoma

Stem cell transplantation as cancer treatment