A recently concluded workshop on communicating research hosted by Mabic and UMXcelerate found hidden science communication talent among researchers. The articles published here are the testimonies of the success of the first home-grown science communication module created by Mabic. This article is one of the first attempt by both authors to write popular science articles. Click here to see more. The Petri Dish and Mabic will continue to support scientists in their attempts to bridge science and society. Both the writers role-played the function of a journalist and for this reason their names are mentioned in the story – as they were actually sharing a personal experience.
MALAYSIANS like most Asians love to have big families. It is an Asian culture and belief that a house full of happy and noisy children is prosperous and God-blessed.
But, there is something standing in the way of this dream for many – gynaecological health issues, including fertility challenges.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]According to Assoc Prof Dr Ivy Chung, 40 per cent of Malaysian women are either overweight or obese and this may lead to poor uterus health as this organ is highly susceptible to changes in hormone.
“Abnormal levels of hormone which are stored in the layers of fats under the belly, change how our uterus functions including during conception,” said
Chung.
“The detrimental effects caused by these unwanted fats not only affect fertility but it can be fatal, as obesity can increase the risk for developing uterine cancer,” Chung added.
“In the laboratory, we discovered that interleukin-6, a protein released by fat tissues, is also produced by connective cells (known as fibroblasts) in the uterine,” she said.
As detailed in her recent publication in American Journal of Cancer Research, this protein can put uterine cancer cells on a fast track growth lane, by activating c-Myc – a gene found in many human cancers.
This finding has shed new light in drug discovery research for uterine cancer, considering obesity as a major underlying condition in high risk women.
– By Associate Prof Dr Ivy Chung, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya
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