Chilean researchers turn to Mapuche medicinal plant to fight brain cancer

Last Thursday Chilean researchers annouced they have isolated anti-carcinogenic compounds in a indigenous medicinal plant used traditional to treat an upset stomach that they believe can be used to eventual fight brain cancer in humans.

Led by Dr. Rolando Martinez of the Universidad Austral in Valdivia along with researchers from the Universidad Andres Bello and doctors from the Barros Luco Hospital, the project will move into an advance stage treating lab animals with brain cancer and then humans.

Martinez and his team focused on isolating anti- carcinogenic chemicals in the Leptocarpha rivularis, used by the Mapuche to treat an upset stomach, to attack cancer cells. Research using the plant has shown the natural derivatives force proteins from the cancerous cells to start a process that corrects the infected cell’s DNA. Moreover tests have shown the compound has no impact on healthy cells.

The first two phases of the project, conducted over the last twenty years, focused first on creating brain cancer among lab rats and then treating it with the compound. The second phase then focused on liver cancer among terminally ill volunteers. The third phase will focus on Chilean patients with brain cancer.

Researchers, however, expect more complications from the third phase due to the limited amount of people with brain cancer in Chile willing to participate in such a study.

Leptocarpha rivularis is a plant known in Chile as “palo negro”, stands at a meter and a half and is found in the south of Chile. The plant has been used for generations by the Mapuche people, one of Chile’s last surviving indigenous groups.

Auctioning Lost Luggage

Every wonder what happened to that bag that continues to circle the baggage claim belt?...round and round it goes while you start to worry whether the (American) airlines has again lost your luggage.

Well if it goes unclaimed long enough in Chile, they will auction it for charity!

I have to say I was surprised by it all. It was auctioned, as I understand, by LAN Chile and the airport and the earnings went to support an NGO that builds houses for poor people.

The suitcases were sold of course without knowing what was inside. Seems like such a curious event, just imagine what you might find folded/hidden/stuffed/vibrating/nicely wrapped with a bow in that suitcase.

Chile In Headlines: Chile cracks down on Gringo "illegals"

The Chilean Interior department has deported three US citizens for working illegally in Chile as fly fishing guides in Aisén, located in the far south of the country.

According to a report in Emol the three gringos didn't have a work permit and weren't paying taxes either.

This comes right after the same department wrapped up an amnesty campaign for Latin American foreigners, granting thousands of visas to Peruvians, Ecudorians, Brazilians, etc, but not to US citizens.

Chile In Headlines: Wal-Mart in Talks with D&S

So just last week D&S and Falabella officially dropped plans to merge their operations after Chile’s anti-trust commission rejected the proposed merger.

I said it would be good for Chile, good for small business, but if Wal-Mart buying D&S and entering Chile is the alternative…then hey bring on the merger!

Citing "industry sources" El Mercurio reported that D&S and Wal-Mart have been in talks since “shortly after the merger ended.” Not that entering the market would be easy. US retailers have failed before trying to get into Chile. (JC Penny and Home Depot for example) But Wal-Mart partnered with a successful local firm? Could get traction.

The news has already caught people's attention: the Santiago stock exchange suspended trade on D&S' stock until they clarify what is going on. D&S was quick to deny the rumors, but it was enough to raise at least a few eyebrows.

Chile In Headlines: Energy Crunch

Chile's government has been forced to take measures in order to ensure that its electrical grid can supply enough energy to meet demand. Rainfall shortages have meant that its hydro electrical dams haven't been able to produce enough electricity to keep up.

The government has created a special commission to deal with the problem. They have created a list of things people can do to decrease their own consumption: use energy saving light bulbs, shut off the computer when you aren't using it, don't defrost food in the microwave, among others. The congress has also passed a law requiring electrical companies to invest and use renewable energies as well.

The crunch has also meant several controversial dams projects will also get the green light from the government. Despite the measures taken, authorities still won't rule out that mandatory blackouts could become necessary in the not so distant future.

In the Headlines: Bond comes to Chile

Soy Bond, James Bond....

James Bond will be coming to Chile to shoot the latest flick "The Quantum of Solace." 007 starts shooting on Monday, March 10 and will spend most of his time in the north near Antofagasta.

According to an article in El Mercurio they will shoot a couple of fight scenes that involve two Land Rovers and also film at the Paranal Observatory.

In the Headlines: Retailers drop merger

Today two of Chile’s largest retailers Falabella and D&S dropped plans to merge their operations into Latin America’s second largest retailer after it was rejected earlier this year by the country’s anti-trust commission.

The merger would have created a Chilean Walmart with a whole lot of power to influence the price of everything from food to domestic electronics to clothes and furniture. Falabella is a department store, something like Sears, and D&S owns one of the country's largest supermarket chains: Lider.

Critics argued it would destroy small businesses and give the company too much power over its providers, while others said it was necessary for the consolidated firm to compete internationally.

I think it is a good sign since it gives more opportunity for small business, there are so many ma and pa stores that would suffer from the conglomerate coming together.

In the Headlines: Bachelet calls on Colombia to explain itself after weekend attack on the FARC in Ecuador

So the political drama unfolding between Colombia and its neighbors has been at the center of attention in Chile, where the country’s President Michelle Bachelet called on the Colombian government to explain its actions following an attack on FARC rebels that spilled over into Ecuadorian territory.

According to a report on El Mercurio’s site, Bachelet spoke with other leaders in South America and is ready in intervene as an intermediary to resolve the conflict. She called it “worrisome” and said that Colombia owes Ecuador an explanation as to how and why it crossed into its territory.

If you missed it, Colombia bombed a FARC camp located about 2km into Ecuadorian territory on Saturday, killing the FARC’s #2 man: Luis Edgar Devia, aka "Raúl Reyes." The FARC have long been suspected of hiding out in Ecuador and Venezuela to escape the Colombia military.

The attack generated strong reactions from Hugo Chavez, who has recently clashed with Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe over negotiations to free FARC held hostages. Chavez warned Uribe that it would be war if he did the same in Venezuela started amassing troops at the border. He also accused the US as having backed the attack as well.

Colombia had a shot at one of its enemy’s at it took it despite the potential fall out that we are seeing today. Authorities in the US have accused Venezuela of providing shelter to the FARC to conduct their kidnappings and use as a corridor for drug trafficking, something Chavez has denied. Granted I wouldn’t expect Colombia to take any aggressive action. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail at this point.