Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy face the risk of developing high blood pressure during the initial months of their life, according to a study by researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands. The details of the study are due to appear in the September issue of Hypertension.
The study called the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) involved 456 women who were pregnant. Researchers found that just six percent or 30 of the women smoked when pregnant. However babies born to these mothers had systolic blood pressure that was 5.4 millimeters of Hg higher than babies born to mothers who never smoked during pregnancy.
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) is the upper reading of the blood pressure figure and is the pressure exerted by the blood when the heart is in a contracted state. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the lower of the blood pressure figures and represents the pressure when the heart is in a relaxed state.
“Our findings indicate maternal smoking during pregnancy has a direct substantial impact on systolic blood pressure in early infancy and is another reason for women not to smoke during pregnancy,” said lead author Caroline C. Geerts. “This association appears to occur in utero and doesn't appear to be due to the postnatal environment of the infant.”
But the researchers did not find any association between smoking during pregnancy and the diastolic blood pressure of newborn babies. Smoke exposure also did not have any significant effect on the heart rate of newborn babies. However the researchers were not sure if their findings would have an impact on the blood pressure of the babies when they grew up.
“It is unknown if our findings will have an impact on blood pressure later in life," Geerts said. "From a prevention point of view, it is important to determine these early life risk factors, to know at what age they exert vascular damage, and ultimately whether childhood interventions lead to actual cardiovascular risk reduction.”
source : www.earthtimes.org
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Overweight women at risk of pregnancy complications
NEW YORK - The heavier a woman is before pregnancy, the greater her risk of a range of pregnancy complications, a large study suggests.
Using data from more than 24,000 UK women who gave birth between 1976 and 2005, researchers found that the risk of problems, such as high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and premature delivery climbed in tandem with a woman's pre-pregnancy weight.
The findings, published in the online journal BMC Public Health, add to evidence that obesity is a risk for mothers and newborns.
They also support the belief that all pregnancies in obese women should be considered "high risk," and managed accordingly, conclude the study authors, led by Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
The researchers found that compared with normal-weight women, obese women were 50 percent more likely to have post-delivery bleeding and twice as likely to deliver prematurely. They were also more likely to need an emergency C-section or to have labor induced.
Morbidly obese women had the highest risk of suffering pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious pregnancy complication marked by a sudden rise in blood pressure and kidney abnormalities.
In contrast, the study found that women who were underweight before pregnancy tended to have the lowest risk of all these complications. They were, however, more likely than normal-weight women to have an underweight newborn.
The results add to growing evidence of the importance of a mother's weight in pregnancy outcomes, according to Bhattacharya's team.
"The evidence for obesity as an important complication in pregnancy is mounting," the researchers write, it is time for physicians to be aware of these findings and start using them in their practice.
Besides good prenatal care, they note, this means counseling overweight women to lose weight before they become pregnant.
source : www.chinadaily.com.cn
Using data from more than 24,000 UK women who gave birth between 1976 and 2005, researchers found that the risk of problems, such as high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and premature delivery climbed in tandem with a woman's pre-pregnancy weight.
The findings, published in the online journal BMC Public Health, add to evidence that obesity is a risk for mothers and newborns.
They also support the belief that all pregnancies in obese women should be considered "high risk," and managed accordingly, conclude the study authors, led by Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
The researchers found that compared with normal-weight women, obese women were 50 percent more likely to have post-delivery bleeding and twice as likely to deliver prematurely. They were also more likely to need an emergency C-section or to have labor induced.
Morbidly obese women had the highest risk of suffering pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious pregnancy complication marked by a sudden rise in blood pressure and kidney abnormalities.
In contrast, the study found that women who were underweight before pregnancy tended to have the lowest risk of all these complications. They were, however, more likely than normal-weight women to have an underweight newborn.
The results add to growing evidence of the importance of a mother's weight in pregnancy outcomes, according to Bhattacharya's team.
"The evidence for obesity as an important complication in pregnancy is mounting," the researchers write, it is time for physicians to be aware of these findings and start using them in their practice.
Besides good prenatal care, they note, this means counseling overweight women to lose weight before they become pregnant.
source : www.chinadaily.com.cn
Return From Operational Service Due To Pregnancy
Media reports during the last week have discussed the repatriation of a female Army officer from Afghanistan in October 2006, and more recently, the actions of the member's Commanding Officer.
The female officer involved has expressed her concern through the Defence chain of command at the public exposure of traumatic and very personal issues.
The circumstances of the member's return to Australia and miscarriage, including her Commanding Officer's involvement, were investigated at the time of the incident by the Australian Deputy Commander in Afghanistan.
It was found that the member's return to Australia was consistent with policy and that the actions of the Commanding Officer were appropriate.
In light of this recent speculation, however, Defence is reviewing the advice provided to the Commanding Officer that assisted his decision-making.
Defence has no further comment on this matter at this stage.
Defence understands that some anonymous comments are circulating in relation to command of the first Australian deployment to Oruzgan Province in 2006.
Defence is aware of these comments and will not respond to anonymous allegations. Defence will treat seriously any formal representations made by named persons.
Defence can confirm that allegations against the Commanding Officer by a single individual under his command were investigated in November 2006. This included interviews with key personnel from the Reconstruction Force Headquarters, as well as the female officer who was repatriated as a result of her pregnancy. All stated that they had no issues with the Commanding Officer and the review subsequently concluded there was no substance to the allegations.
Among the achievements of the Commanding Officer who led the first Reconstruction Task Force in Oruzgan Province, was the establishment of an effective and very well regarded ADF presence in a demanding and complex operational environment.
Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston said that he had "the highest regard for the reconstruction and security achievements of the Commanding Officer in a challenging and dangerous operational tour, from which all personnel deployed home safely."
source : www.scoop.co.nz
The female officer involved has expressed her concern through the Defence chain of command at the public exposure of traumatic and very personal issues.
The circumstances of the member's return to Australia and miscarriage, including her Commanding Officer's involvement, were investigated at the time of the incident by the Australian Deputy Commander in Afghanistan.
It was found that the member's return to Australia was consistent with policy and that the actions of the Commanding Officer were appropriate.
In light of this recent speculation, however, Defence is reviewing the advice provided to the Commanding Officer that assisted his decision-making.
Defence has no further comment on this matter at this stage.
Defence understands that some anonymous comments are circulating in relation to command of the first Australian deployment to Oruzgan Province in 2006.
Defence is aware of these comments and will not respond to anonymous allegations. Defence will treat seriously any formal representations made by named persons.
Defence can confirm that allegations against the Commanding Officer by a single individual under his command were investigated in November 2006. This included interviews with key personnel from the Reconstruction Force Headquarters, as well as the female officer who was repatriated as a result of her pregnancy. All stated that they had no issues with the Commanding Officer and the review subsequently concluded there was no substance to the allegations.
Among the achievements of the Commanding Officer who led the first Reconstruction Task Force in Oruzgan Province, was the establishment of an effective and very well regarded ADF presence in a demanding and complex operational environment.
Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston said that he had "the highest regard for the reconstruction and security achievements of the Commanding Officer in a challenging and dangerous operational tour, from which all personnel deployed home safely."
source : www.scoop.co.nz
HealthSmarts: Preparing for pregnancy
We are all familiar with the increased infertility rates facing many American couples today. With approximately one in 10 couples struggling to get pregnant, it is impossible not to know someone having difficulty conceiving. As our friends describe the injections, medications and timed intercourse, most of us are confronted with the uncomfortable realization that getting pregnant may not be that easy.
For many women today, pregnancy is something we delay as we attempt to build our careers or solidify our marriages. Often, the ability to conceive is taken for granted, and many women do not even think actively about pregnancy until getting pregnant becomes difficult.
While much has been written on how to get pregnant or what specialists to see, I believe that we can have more success getting pregnant if more time and energy is spent on preparing for pregnancy rather than focusing only on getting pregnant. In healing traditions around the world, pregnancy and the ability to conceive are an overall reflection of a woman's total health.
As women prepare for pregnancy, it is important to acknowledge some of the more established causes of infertility. These include:
1. Age: Unfortunately, age is a critical fertility predictor. The older the male or female partner, the higher the risk for infertility. Fertility rates in women begin to fall at the age of 34 or 35, and then drop sharply again at 40 and 43. In men, fertility appears to decline after age 40.
2. BMI: The body mass index or BMI is also critical in women. BMI is a calculation used to assess weight in men or women. A BMI greater than 30 (or less than 20 in women) is associated with decreased fertility in both men and women.
3. Cigarette smoke exposure: Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke has been shown to decrease fertility in both men and women.
Education on common infertility risk factors can help couples plan for children and make health changes before hitting the infertility roller coaster. For example, a couple in their late 30s that may have recently married would be better off getting pregnant early in the marriage rather than waiting to approach their 40s. A young woman who smokes or has a partner who smokes may be better off directing her energy toward quitting smoking rather than trying to get pregnant. Finally, a woman (or man) with a BMI greater than 30 may have more fertility success if she works to lose weight rather than trying to get pregnant.
While understanding the infertility risk factors are an important first step in pregnancy preparation, most couples can benefit from additional pregnancy planning at least one year before attempting to become pregnant. I recommend that couples develop a "Pre-Pregnancy Plan," in which they develop strategies to create an environment conducive to fertility. A Pre-Pregnancy Plan would include:
1. Stress and Lifestyle Assessment
Stress is known to alter hormonal profiles in women, which in turn affects fertility. Couples should take some time to evaluate the stressors in their lives. For some women, the stress may be financial, while for others, stress is related to work or relationship demands. Confronting these stressors with your partner and then finding ways to minimize the stress ultimately improves overall health and hormonal profiles in women.
2. Nutrition Assessment
Many integrative physicians believe that creating an optimal nutritional environment aids fertility and weight management. Following a diet high in essential fatty acids and B vitamins, while low in sugar and processed carbohydrates, may aid fertility. Couples may benefit from keeping a food diary for 1-2 days, and then reviewing that information with a nutritionist or an integrative physician for suggested changes. While over-supplementation with vitamins is never recommended, a nutritional supplement called Fertility Blend for Women has been shown to improve fertility rates in some women.
3. Self Care
Finally, all women should develop routine self-care strategies that help minimize stress and conserve energy. Self care can take the form of relaxation therapies like massage and meditation. Some women may benefit more from moderate exercise programs like yoga or swimming that are mentally relaxing while being physically active. Maintaining friendships is another way to feel connected and less stressed. I recommend that all women engage in at least one self-care technique daily. These routines help in battling unexpected stressors and improving fertility.
In Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, pregnancy is the culmination of a woman's creative energy, and must be honored and respected. Our present culture forces many women to ignore their creative energy, only understanding its value after much heartache. By learning to prepare for pregnancy rather than compete for the outcome, integrative physicians believe that many women can avoid the tumultuous path of infertility treatments and constant anxiety. I encourage all women to develop their own pre-pregnancy plan through which they honor their energy and achieve their best health.
--
(Dr. Bhatia is a physician and fellow at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine. She has practiced pediatric emergency medicine for seven years and is certified in holistic medicine, nutrition and acupuncture. She is a recurring medical guest on CNN/Headline News. Please feel free to contact her with questions at tasneembhatia8@yahoo.com.)
--
(The medical information provided in this column is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of a medical doctor or other qualified health provider.)
www.earthtimes.org
For many women today, pregnancy is something we delay as we attempt to build our careers or solidify our marriages. Often, the ability to conceive is taken for granted, and many women do not even think actively about pregnancy until getting pregnant becomes difficult.
While much has been written on how to get pregnant or what specialists to see, I believe that we can have more success getting pregnant if more time and energy is spent on preparing for pregnancy rather than focusing only on getting pregnant. In healing traditions around the world, pregnancy and the ability to conceive are an overall reflection of a woman's total health.
As women prepare for pregnancy, it is important to acknowledge some of the more established causes of infertility. These include:
1. Age: Unfortunately, age is a critical fertility predictor. The older the male or female partner, the higher the risk for infertility. Fertility rates in women begin to fall at the age of 34 or 35, and then drop sharply again at 40 and 43. In men, fertility appears to decline after age 40.
2. BMI: The body mass index or BMI is also critical in women. BMI is a calculation used to assess weight in men or women. A BMI greater than 30 (or less than 20 in women) is associated with decreased fertility in both men and women.
3. Cigarette smoke exposure: Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke has been shown to decrease fertility in both men and women.
Education on common infertility risk factors can help couples plan for children and make health changes before hitting the infertility roller coaster. For example, a couple in their late 30s that may have recently married would be better off getting pregnant early in the marriage rather than waiting to approach their 40s. A young woman who smokes or has a partner who smokes may be better off directing her energy toward quitting smoking rather than trying to get pregnant. Finally, a woman (or man) with a BMI greater than 30 may have more fertility success if she works to lose weight rather than trying to get pregnant.
While understanding the infertility risk factors are an important first step in pregnancy preparation, most couples can benefit from additional pregnancy planning at least one year before attempting to become pregnant. I recommend that couples develop a "Pre-Pregnancy Plan," in which they develop strategies to create an environment conducive to fertility. A Pre-Pregnancy Plan would include:
1. Stress and Lifestyle Assessment
Stress is known to alter hormonal profiles in women, which in turn affects fertility. Couples should take some time to evaluate the stressors in their lives. For some women, the stress may be financial, while for others, stress is related to work or relationship demands. Confronting these stressors with your partner and then finding ways to minimize the stress ultimately improves overall health and hormonal profiles in women.
2. Nutrition Assessment
Many integrative physicians believe that creating an optimal nutritional environment aids fertility and weight management. Following a diet high in essential fatty acids and B vitamins, while low in sugar and processed carbohydrates, may aid fertility. Couples may benefit from keeping a food diary for 1-2 days, and then reviewing that information with a nutritionist or an integrative physician for suggested changes. While over-supplementation with vitamins is never recommended, a nutritional supplement called Fertility Blend for Women has been shown to improve fertility rates in some women.
3. Self Care
Finally, all women should develop routine self-care strategies that help minimize stress and conserve energy. Self care can take the form of relaxation therapies like massage and meditation. Some women may benefit more from moderate exercise programs like yoga or swimming that are mentally relaxing while being physically active. Maintaining friendships is another way to feel connected and less stressed. I recommend that all women engage in at least one self-care technique daily. These routines help in battling unexpected stressors and improving fertility.
In Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, pregnancy is the culmination of a woman's creative energy, and must be honored and respected. Our present culture forces many women to ignore their creative energy, only understanding its value after much heartache. By learning to prepare for pregnancy rather than compete for the outcome, integrative physicians believe that many women can avoid the tumultuous path of infertility treatments and constant anxiety. I encourage all women to develop their own pre-pregnancy plan through which they honor their energy and achieve their best health.
--
(Dr. Bhatia is a physician and fellow at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine. She has practiced pediatric emergency medicine for seven years and is certified in holistic medicine, nutrition and acupuncture. She is a recurring medical guest on CNN/Headline News. Please feel free to contact her with questions at tasneembhatia8@yahoo.com.)
--
(The medical information provided in this column is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of a medical doctor or other qualified health provider.)
www.earthtimes.org
Woman faked pregnancy for gifts
Police in Jacksonville, Fla., say a 27-year-old woman pretended to be pregnant with quadruplets to receive gifts, donations and discounts.
Authorities said Clarissa Robbie Linnabary received special treatment from U.S. Navy and Marine Corps families, local businesses and friends after she claimed to be carrying four unborn children, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, reported Tuesday.
The Camden County Sheriff's Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service discovered the woman was never actually pregnant after two witnesses came forward and said they believed Linnabary was lying.
www.upi.com
Authorities said Clarissa Robbie Linnabary received special treatment from U.S. Navy and Marine Corps families, local businesses and friends after she claimed to be carrying four unborn children, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, reported Tuesday.
The Camden County Sheriff's Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service discovered the woman was never actually pregnant after two witnesses came forward and said they believed Linnabary was lying.
www.upi.com
Pregnancy program's message - Just Say 'Know'
HAGERSTOWN - The government hasn't been able to lower teen pregnancy rates. Nor have the schools, as Washington County continues to rank high - sometimes even first - in the state in this problem area.
So now the religious community is getting ready to launch its faith-based program called Just Say "Know" in hopes of finding favor with parents and young people alike.
"I discovered this program in 2006 while at a conference for Christian educators in Oklahoma," said Cindy Reeder, Christian educator/program facilitator at First Christian Church in Hagerstown.
An eye-opening experience for Reeder, the conference prompted her to bring the concept back to Washington County in hopes of having a similar training activity for parents, grandparents, clergy and anyone else who wants to know how to talk about sex with teenagers and younger children.
The conference's keynote speaker, the Rev. Linda Adam Goddard, is coming to Hagerstown to present the Just Say "Know" Christian Sexuality Training Sept. 28 and 29, Reeder said.
Held at First Christian Church, the Sept. 28 workshop will be from 7 to 10 p.m., while the Sept. 29 session will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $25.
So far, 26 people are signed up, Reeder said, noting there is room for several hundred at First Christian. Lutheran, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Brethren and Catholic are among the denominations expressing interest in the program.
Reeder said parents are the first educators of children and equipping them to talk with their children is the goal of the program.
"We will be talking about everything from A to Z, not just abstinence," Reeder said.
Carrol Lourie, coordinator of the Washington County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, said Washington County has the fourth-highest teen pregnancy rate in Maryland.
"We're first with teenage white girls," she said.
Because of these startling figures, Reeder pushed hard to get the program going in Washington County, with the Teen Pregnancy Coalition as a sponsor, along with the faith community.
"I went to Charlotte Walsh of Faith Community Nursing Council at First Christian Church and said I believed the council should do this," Reeder said.
Walsh said the council represents 42 churches with Faith Community Nursing groups, formerly known as parish nurses. The members are enthusiastic, she said.
The reality is that youth get messages about sex everywhere, including television, movies, magazines, friends and school, and faith communities have got to join the conversation.
"One of the values of the coalition is that everyone has a place at the table," Lourie said. "Some who are for abstinence only will come and learn there has to be more than one approach."
Teams trained in September will be equipped to offer the curriculum to adults and youth in their own churches, Walsh said. The curriculum includes modules for adults and children in elementary through high school.
Every module includes information and support for parents in talking with their children about sex.
"You cannot teach what you have not been taught," Walsh pointed out in describing the course. "Youth need to make good spiritual decisions about sex and intimacy."
source : www.herald-mail.com
So now the religious community is getting ready to launch its faith-based program called Just Say "Know" in hopes of finding favor with parents and young people alike.
"I discovered this program in 2006 while at a conference for Christian educators in Oklahoma," said Cindy Reeder, Christian educator/program facilitator at First Christian Church in Hagerstown.
An eye-opening experience for Reeder, the conference prompted her to bring the concept back to Washington County in hopes of having a similar training activity for parents, grandparents, clergy and anyone else who wants to know how to talk about sex with teenagers and younger children.
The conference's keynote speaker, the Rev. Linda Adam Goddard, is coming to Hagerstown to present the Just Say "Know" Christian Sexuality Training Sept. 28 and 29, Reeder said.
Held at First Christian Church, the Sept. 28 workshop will be from 7 to 10 p.m., while the Sept. 29 session will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $25.
So far, 26 people are signed up, Reeder said, noting there is room for several hundred at First Christian. Lutheran, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Brethren and Catholic are among the denominations expressing interest in the program.
Reeder said parents are the first educators of children and equipping them to talk with their children is the goal of the program.
"We will be talking about everything from A to Z, not just abstinence," Reeder said.
Carrol Lourie, coordinator of the Washington County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, said Washington County has the fourth-highest teen pregnancy rate in Maryland.
"We're first with teenage white girls," she said.
Because of these startling figures, Reeder pushed hard to get the program going in Washington County, with the Teen Pregnancy Coalition as a sponsor, along with the faith community.
"I went to Charlotte Walsh of Faith Community Nursing Council at First Christian Church and said I believed the council should do this," Reeder said.
Walsh said the council represents 42 churches with Faith Community Nursing groups, formerly known as parish nurses. The members are enthusiastic, she said.
The reality is that youth get messages about sex everywhere, including television, movies, magazines, friends and school, and faith communities have got to join the conversation.
"One of the values of the coalition is that everyone has a place at the table," Lourie said. "Some who are for abstinence only will come and learn there has to be more than one approach."
Teams trained in September will be equipped to offer the curriculum to adults and youth in their own churches, Walsh said. The curriculum includes modules for adults and children in elementary through high school.
Every module includes information and support for parents in talking with their children about sex.
"You cannot teach what you have not been taught," Walsh pointed out in describing the course. "Youth need to make good spiritual decisions about sex and intimacy."
source : www.herald-mail.com
Pregnancy: What's safe and what's not
If you're pregnant it can feel like you're being bombarded with conflicting advice. Friends, websites, health visitors and GPs all seem to have different views on what you can and can't do.
But far from being clued-up, a survey for Organix children's food has revealed six in 10 expectant mums are still not sure what's safe to eat or drink.
And Mirror nutritionist Angela Dowden says it's not surprising. "Part of the problem is that midwives are so pressured for time that issues like nutrition get pushed to the bottom of the pile," she says.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
So what can and can't you do when you're pregnant? We sort the facts from the fiction...
Alcohol
If you have a drink your baby will be having one, too - and the effects can last a lifetime. Alcohol molecules pass through the placenta very easily. They kill nerve endings and damage connections between brain cells.
Up to 6,000 babies a year are born in Britain with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Symptoms range from memory and attention problems to physical abnormalities.
In May, the government strengthened its advice - saying pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether.
But if you must drink, the official advice is no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. A pint of ordinary-strength lager or a 175ml glass of wine is approximately two units.
If you've already had a drink or two during your pregnancy don't panic. The way booze affects your baby depends what stage you're at, how your body deals with drink and your genes. "Stop now. You will have a healthier baby if you stop," says Susan Fleisher of the National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Find a safe alternative by replacing a tipple with a non-alcoholic beer and wine.
Smoking
One in five women smokers don't give up during pregnancy, according to research by the British Medical Association. Yet the thousands of toxic chemicals in smoke, including carbon monoxide, starve the foetus of the oxygen it needs to grow.
It means babies born to smokers are on average 7oz lighter than normal - and 15 times more likely to die from cot death.
But it's never too late to give up. Dr Peter Nathanielsz, author of Prenatal Prescription, says: "Even stopping late on can help your baby."
There's also help for mums trying to kick the habit. Some nicotine patches and chewing gum have been approved for use by pregnant women but check with a doctor.
Diet
"FOR the most part, healthy eating during pregnancy is the same as at any other time," says Angela Dowden.
But some foods are definitely off the menu.
According to Food Standards Agency nutritionist Sam Montel, pate - even vegetable pate - could contain the listeria bug. The same goes for soft cheese like camembert, brie and blue cheeses. And liver is out because it can contain very high levels of vitamin A which is potentially damaging to the foetus.
But it's not all bad news. These days thorough cooking will cut the risk posed in the past by salmonella and toxiplasmosis. Eggs, meat and shellfish are all safe if properly cooked.
The other good news is that the right diet will give your unborn child a head start in life. Oily fish, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, is thought to help make your child smarter. But the Food Standards Agency advises no more than two portions a week.
Beauty
Hair
Tests on animals have suggested that in high doses some chemicals found in hair dyes and cosmetics might cause birth defects.
To be safe, NHS Direct advises women to wait until they are 12 weeks pregnant before dyeing their hair. Opt for foil highlights and ask your hairdresser not to apply dye too close to the root or use plant-based products like henna.
Make-up
Recent research has found women absorb 5lbs of chemicals a year from cosmetics, some of which could enter the baby's bloodstream. But last month this claim was dismissed as an urban myth by the British Skin Foundation charity. To be cautious, use a simple emollient moisturizer with no synthetic preservatives or fragrance.
Stay fit
Antenatal exercise instructor Joanna Percival says: "As the baby grows, pressure on the pelvic floor increases - so avoid high-impact exercises, jogging and jumping."
Also, don't lie on the floor as it puts pressure on vessels carrying blood to the foetus, and forget stomach crunches after 20 weeks. But the Department of Health says half an hour of walking or swimming a day will help you get back in shape quicker after the birth.
'The guilt will live with me forever'
Jacky Steele, 40, from Northern Ireland, was confused over how much alcohol she was allowed to drink while pregnant.
Kyle was diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome after doctors spotted the tell-tale symptoms: small eye openings, a thin upper lip and no groove between his nose and upper lip.
'i'd been advised that it was fine to drink in moderation so I continued to have the odd glass of wine when I was out with friends or on special occasions. I have a sensible attitude to alcohol. I drank two glasses of wine with dinner every other day - so around six glasses a week.
"When Kyle was nine months old he got a bad chest infection. Worried, I took him to A&E at Belfast Children's Hospital. A doctor took one look at his flattened features - a symptom of the syndrome - and diagnosed FAS.
"She asked if I had any idea what I'd done to my son. I looked at her blankly. I had no idea what FAS was. She was so angry.
"Now Kyle, who is five, needs 24-hour care, can barely speak and communicates with sign language. In addition to kicking and biting me, he bites himself. I have to strap him into a special chair at meal times and he wears a helmet outside to prevent him harming himself.
"Every time I look at him I have to deal with the guilt, that I'm to blame. Now I'd say to any mum: 'Don't do it.' OK, you could drink a bottle of wine and have a healthy baby. But some women can have just the odd glass and have a baby like mine. That could be you.'
www.mirror.co.uk
But far from being clued-up, a survey for Organix children's food has revealed six in 10 expectant mums are still not sure what's safe to eat or drink.
And Mirror nutritionist Angela Dowden says it's not surprising. "Part of the problem is that midwives are so pressured for time that issues like nutrition get pushed to the bottom of the pile," she says.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
So what can and can't you do when you're pregnant? We sort the facts from the fiction...
Alcohol
If you have a drink your baby will be having one, too - and the effects can last a lifetime. Alcohol molecules pass through the placenta very easily. They kill nerve endings and damage connections between brain cells.
Up to 6,000 babies a year are born in Britain with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Symptoms range from memory and attention problems to physical abnormalities.
In May, the government strengthened its advice - saying pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether.
But if you must drink, the official advice is no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. A pint of ordinary-strength lager or a 175ml glass of wine is approximately two units.
If you've already had a drink or two during your pregnancy don't panic. The way booze affects your baby depends what stage you're at, how your body deals with drink and your genes. "Stop now. You will have a healthier baby if you stop," says Susan Fleisher of the National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Find a safe alternative by replacing a tipple with a non-alcoholic beer and wine.
Smoking
One in five women smokers don't give up during pregnancy, according to research by the British Medical Association. Yet the thousands of toxic chemicals in smoke, including carbon monoxide, starve the foetus of the oxygen it needs to grow.
It means babies born to smokers are on average 7oz lighter than normal - and 15 times more likely to die from cot death.
But it's never too late to give up. Dr Peter Nathanielsz, author of Prenatal Prescription, says: "Even stopping late on can help your baby."
There's also help for mums trying to kick the habit. Some nicotine patches and chewing gum have been approved for use by pregnant women but check with a doctor.
Diet
"FOR the most part, healthy eating during pregnancy is the same as at any other time," says Angela Dowden.
But some foods are definitely off the menu.
According to Food Standards Agency nutritionist Sam Montel, pate - even vegetable pate - could contain the listeria bug. The same goes for soft cheese like camembert, brie and blue cheeses. And liver is out because it can contain very high levels of vitamin A which is potentially damaging to the foetus.
But it's not all bad news. These days thorough cooking will cut the risk posed in the past by salmonella and toxiplasmosis. Eggs, meat and shellfish are all safe if properly cooked.
The other good news is that the right diet will give your unborn child a head start in life. Oily fish, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, is thought to help make your child smarter. But the Food Standards Agency advises no more than two portions a week.
Beauty
Hair
Tests on animals have suggested that in high doses some chemicals found in hair dyes and cosmetics might cause birth defects.
To be safe, NHS Direct advises women to wait until they are 12 weeks pregnant before dyeing their hair. Opt for foil highlights and ask your hairdresser not to apply dye too close to the root or use plant-based products like henna.
Make-up
Recent research has found women absorb 5lbs of chemicals a year from cosmetics, some of which could enter the baby's bloodstream. But last month this claim was dismissed as an urban myth by the British Skin Foundation charity. To be cautious, use a simple emollient moisturizer with no synthetic preservatives or fragrance.
Stay fit
Antenatal exercise instructor Joanna Percival says: "As the baby grows, pressure on the pelvic floor increases - so avoid high-impact exercises, jogging and jumping."
Also, don't lie on the floor as it puts pressure on vessels carrying blood to the foetus, and forget stomach crunches after 20 weeks. But the Department of Health says half an hour of walking or swimming a day will help you get back in shape quicker after the birth.
'The guilt will live with me forever'
Jacky Steele, 40, from Northern Ireland, was confused over how much alcohol she was allowed to drink while pregnant.
Kyle was diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome after doctors spotted the tell-tale symptoms: small eye openings, a thin upper lip and no groove between his nose and upper lip.
'i'd been advised that it was fine to drink in moderation so I continued to have the odd glass of wine when I was out with friends or on special occasions. I have a sensible attitude to alcohol. I drank two glasses of wine with dinner every other day - so around six glasses a week.
"When Kyle was nine months old he got a bad chest infection. Worried, I took him to A&E at Belfast Children's Hospital. A doctor took one look at his flattened features - a symptom of the syndrome - and diagnosed FAS.
"She asked if I had any idea what I'd done to my son. I looked at her blankly. I had no idea what FAS was. She was so angry.
"Now Kyle, who is five, needs 24-hour care, can barely speak and communicates with sign language. In addition to kicking and biting me, he bites himself. I have to strap him into a special chair at meal times and he wears a helmet outside to prevent him harming himself.
"Every time I look at him I have to deal with the guilt, that I'm to blame. Now I'd say to any mum: 'Don't do it.' OK, you could drink a bottle of wine and have a healthy baby. But some women can have just the odd glass and have a baby like mine. That could be you.'
www.mirror.co.uk
Pregnant pause?
During her first pregnancy four years ago, Erin Shea didn't even bother to ask her doctor whether she could keep taking an antidepressant. She figured the answer would be no.
So Shea stopped on her own. She struggled through the next nine months with panic attacks, the condition for which she had started taking Zoloft.
Her second pregnancy, which culminated in her son's birth in June, was completely different. This time, her obstetrician knew she was on the anti-depressant, and she remained on the drug.
"I made a big mistake," says the Indianapolis resident of her original decision. "So many medications, when you're pregnant, you're not supposed to take. I just assumed that I couldn't take it. . . . I should have used my senses and asked."
It's an issue that faces a lot of women when they find out they're expecting: Is it better to quit taking antidepressants because they might harm the fetus, even if that means allowing depression to potentially complicate a pregnancy?
Most doctors don't issue blanket recommendations either way. A decade ago, data didn't exist to show that such drugs could be taken during pregnancy. Studies conducted in recent years, however, suggest that in most cases, the medications, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), cause no damage to a fetus.
The decision should be an individual one between a patient and her doctor, according to guidelines released in December by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. That statement also recommended against the use of Paxil, which it said is associated with an increased risk of cardiac malformations.
About one woman in 10 experiences depression during pregnancy or post-partum, according to the group. Two to three percent of women take antidepressants while they are pregnant.
"The population at most risk for depression is reproductive-age women," says Dr. Jonathan Lupton, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Southside Ob-Gyn. "So the population that's most likely to have it is the population we're most likely to see as pregnant patients."
Experts say they engage in a detailed discussion with their patients, asking about the woman's history of depression, whether she's been hospitalized, and whether she wants to remain on medication.
They also let them know that studies suggest infants exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy may have a higher risk of being admitted into the neonatal intensive-care unit and be of low birth weight.
Some babies may experience a short-term withdrawal from the SSRI after birth, experts say. They may be irritable, jittery and breathe rapidly. These drugs taken in the last trimester may also increase the risk of a rare lung problem.
On the flip side, doctors point out, pregnant women who go untreated for depression may have other problems. They may indulge in unhealthy behaviors, from sleeping or eating poorly to smoking and drinking.
"Moms need to be well during the pregnancy," says Dr. Diana Dell, an assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. "And when a person is anxious and depressed, they generate some pretty noxious chemicals on their own."
A study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 68 percent of women who went off their anti-depressants during pregnancy relapsed, compared with 26 percent of those who stayed on the drug.
For Shea, who tried one pregnancy off Zoloft and one on, there was no debate about which was better.
In her first pregnancy off antidepressants, she had regular panic attacks. The day after her daughter came home from the hospital, Shea was in the emergency room with a panic attack.
Only after her daughter was born did Shea, now 26, tell her doctor she'd gone off the medication during her pregnancy. Not necessary, he told her.
During her second pregnancy, Shea stayed on the drug. She even received it in the hospital after her son's birth.
"I'm glad I took it," she says. "After her, I cried for two months with the baby blues, and with him I didn't have them at all."
Some doctors, however, caution that the jury is still out on the lifelong safety of these drugs. Just because they don't have the same immediate effect as, say, thalidomide (which caused birth defects), does not necessarily mean that problems will not arise down the road for children exposed to these medicines in utero, they say.
"The unknown part from the drug perspective is, does this -- in two years, 10 years -- does this affect child development?" says Dr. Peter Marcus, an associate professor of obstetrics-gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine. "And that's a big wash. There are not that many good studies to determine long term follow-up on these kids."
That's why some encourage patients who describe their symptoms as mild to consider alternatives to medications. Dr. Kevin Henderzahs, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the Community Health Network, suggests his patients try counseling instead. For some, becoming involved with their religious community or relying on friends and family will work, he says.
"Depression is a very serious and common problem for women, and if they need to be treated, it is OK, but on the other hand, we don't want to treat people that don't absolutely need medicines with them. There are other ways to treat them," Henderzahs says.
For those who opt to stay on medication, he recommends taking the lowest effective dose.
IU's Marcus also refers many of his patients, whether they opt for drugs or not, to a post-partum depression support group to ward off any problems that might arise.
Other women may take their own steps to ensure that they and their unborn children are as safe as possible.
Years before Heather Hutchinson of Fishers conceived, she switched from another antidepressant to Prozac, which she had heard was safer in pregnancy than other related drugs. The experience of weaning off one drug and taking another persuaded her that she needed the medicine.
"It's not all mind control," said the mother of 3-year-old twins and an infant. "You have a chemical imbalance. That is something that you cannot help, and there's nothing wrong with getting help with it."
www.indystar.com
So Shea stopped on her own. She struggled through the next nine months with panic attacks, the condition for which she had started taking Zoloft.
Her second pregnancy, which culminated in her son's birth in June, was completely different. This time, her obstetrician knew she was on the anti-depressant, and she remained on the drug.
"I made a big mistake," says the Indianapolis resident of her original decision. "So many medications, when you're pregnant, you're not supposed to take. I just assumed that I couldn't take it. . . . I should have used my senses and asked."
It's an issue that faces a lot of women when they find out they're expecting: Is it better to quit taking antidepressants because they might harm the fetus, even if that means allowing depression to potentially complicate a pregnancy?
Most doctors don't issue blanket recommendations either way. A decade ago, data didn't exist to show that such drugs could be taken during pregnancy. Studies conducted in recent years, however, suggest that in most cases, the medications, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), cause no damage to a fetus.
The decision should be an individual one between a patient and her doctor, according to guidelines released in December by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. That statement also recommended against the use of Paxil, which it said is associated with an increased risk of cardiac malformations.
About one woman in 10 experiences depression during pregnancy or post-partum, according to the group. Two to three percent of women take antidepressants while they are pregnant.
"The population at most risk for depression is reproductive-age women," says Dr. Jonathan Lupton, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Southside Ob-Gyn. "So the population that's most likely to have it is the population we're most likely to see as pregnant patients."
Experts say they engage in a detailed discussion with their patients, asking about the woman's history of depression, whether she's been hospitalized, and whether she wants to remain on medication.
They also let them know that studies suggest infants exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy may have a higher risk of being admitted into the neonatal intensive-care unit and be of low birth weight.
Some babies may experience a short-term withdrawal from the SSRI after birth, experts say. They may be irritable, jittery and breathe rapidly. These drugs taken in the last trimester may also increase the risk of a rare lung problem.
On the flip side, doctors point out, pregnant women who go untreated for depression may have other problems. They may indulge in unhealthy behaviors, from sleeping or eating poorly to smoking and drinking.
"Moms need to be well during the pregnancy," says Dr. Diana Dell, an assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. "And when a person is anxious and depressed, they generate some pretty noxious chemicals on their own."
A study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 68 percent of women who went off their anti-depressants during pregnancy relapsed, compared with 26 percent of those who stayed on the drug.
For Shea, who tried one pregnancy off Zoloft and one on, there was no debate about which was better.
In her first pregnancy off antidepressants, she had regular panic attacks. The day after her daughter came home from the hospital, Shea was in the emergency room with a panic attack.
Only after her daughter was born did Shea, now 26, tell her doctor she'd gone off the medication during her pregnancy. Not necessary, he told her.
During her second pregnancy, Shea stayed on the drug. She even received it in the hospital after her son's birth.
"I'm glad I took it," she says. "After her, I cried for two months with the baby blues, and with him I didn't have them at all."
Some doctors, however, caution that the jury is still out on the lifelong safety of these drugs. Just because they don't have the same immediate effect as, say, thalidomide (which caused birth defects), does not necessarily mean that problems will not arise down the road for children exposed to these medicines in utero, they say.
"The unknown part from the drug perspective is, does this -- in two years, 10 years -- does this affect child development?" says Dr. Peter Marcus, an associate professor of obstetrics-gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine. "And that's a big wash. There are not that many good studies to determine long term follow-up on these kids."
That's why some encourage patients who describe their symptoms as mild to consider alternatives to medications. Dr. Kevin Henderzahs, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the Community Health Network, suggests his patients try counseling instead. For some, becoming involved with their religious community or relying on friends and family will work, he says.
"Depression is a very serious and common problem for women, and if they need to be treated, it is OK, but on the other hand, we don't want to treat people that don't absolutely need medicines with them. There are other ways to treat them," Henderzahs says.
For those who opt to stay on medication, he recommends taking the lowest effective dose.
IU's Marcus also refers many of his patients, whether they opt for drugs or not, to a post-partum depression support group to ward off any problems that might arise.
Other women may take their own steps to ensure that they and their unborn children are as safe as possible.
Years before Heather Hutchinson of Fishers conceived, she switched from another antidepressant to Prozac, which she had heard was safer in pregnancy than other related drugs. The experience of weaning off one drug and taking another persuaded her that she needed the medicine.
"It's not all mind control," said the mother of 3-year-old twins and an infant. "You have a chemical imbalance. That is something that you cannot help, and there's nothing wrong with getting help with it."
www.indystar.com
GMA's Roberts: I Have Breast Cancer
A little more than a month after Good Morning America's longtime movie critic Joel Siegel succumbed to colon cancer, the ABC morning show has been rocked with more bad news.
In a stunner of an announcement, GMA coanchor Robin Roberts announced Tuesday she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I never thought I'd be writing...I have breast cancer," she writes in a message posted on ABCNews.com.
"It all started a few weeks ago. We had gotten the news that our dear colleague and friend Joel Siegel had passed away and we began preparing for our special tribute show for him. I did a piece about Joel's courageous battle with cancer, reporting on the way my friend had lived his life and been such a successful advocate for the importance of early cancer screenings.
"That very night when I went to bed, I did a self breast exam and found something that women everywhere fear: I found a lump."
Roberts immediately went to the doctor, and a biopsy determined she had "an early form of breast cancer."
"Hearing the doctor say those words out loud was surreal," Robert writes.
But the 46-year-old telejournalist is remaining upbeat.
"I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the Atlantic and scaling the Mayan pyramids in no time," she adds.
Roberts, who rose from news reader to GMA coanchor in May 2005, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday and will then begin a course of treatment. She did not go into further detail.
In discussing her medical condition on Tuesday's program with coanchor Diane Sawyer, Roberts noted there's no history of the disease in her family and said she is determined to be a cancer survivor.
"I will get up like everybody else, I will go to work, I'll say 'Good Morning America,' I will have my good days and bad days, so be kind to me on the message board when I've had my bad days and the hair goes," she joked, then grabbed Sawyer's hand and raised it up. "This is my Thelma. We call ourselves Thelma and Louise, and we're in the convertible right now. Full speed ahead."
Roberts closed the segment thanking viewers for their love and support and preaching the value of early detection.
More than 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, but the survival rate has climbed thanks to increased education about the disease and early screenings to help catch it before it spreads.
source ; www.eonline.com
In a stunner of an announcement, GMA coanchor Robin Roberts announced Tuesday she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I never thought I'd be writing...I have breast cancer," she writes in a message posted on ABCNews.com.
"It all started a few weeks ago. We had gotten the news that our dear colleague and friend Joel Siegel had passed away and we began preparing for our special tribute show for him. I did a piece about Joel's courageous battle with cancer, reporting on the way my friend had lived his life and been such a successful advocate for the importance of early cancer screenings.
"That very night when I went to bed, I did a self breast exam and found something that women everywhere fear: I found a lump."
Roberts immediately went to the doctor, and a biopsy determined she had "an early form of breast cancer."
"Hearing the doctor say those words out loud was surreal," Robert writes.
But the 46-year-old telejournalist is remaining upbeat.
"I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the Atlantic and scaling the Mayan pyramids in no time," she adds.
Roberts, who rose from news reader to GMA coanchor in May 2005, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday and will then begin a course of treatment. She did not go into further detail.
In discussing her medical condition on Tuesday's program with coanchor Diane Sawyer, Roberts noted there's no history of the disease in her family and said she is determined to be a cancer survivor.
"I will get up like everybody else, I will go to work, I'll say 'Good Morning America,' I will have my good days and bad days, so be kind to me on the message board when I've had my bad days and the hair goes," she joked, then grabbed Sawyer's hand and raised it up. "This is my Thelma. We call ourselves Thelma and Louise, and we're in the convertible right now. Full speed ahead."
Roberts closed the segment thanking viewers for their love and support and preaching the value of early detection.
More than 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, but the survival rate has climbed thanks to increased education about the disease and early screenings to help catch it before it spreads.
source ; www.eonline.com
Exercise, caffeine may stop skin cancer
DRINKING a double espresso a day and taking regular exercise may help prevent skin cancer.
A study on mice at Rutgers University in New Jersey showed that a combination of exercise and some caffeine -- equivalent to one or two cups of coffee a day -- protected against the effects of the sun's ultraviolet-B radiation, which can lead to cancer.
The caffeine and exercise seemingly conspire to kill off precancerous cells whose DNA has been damaged by UVB-rays, the authors say.
The study was published yesterday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Groups of hairless mice, whose exposed skin is vulnerable to the sun, were the test subjects in experiments in which one set drank caffeinated water -- the equivalent of up to two cups of coffee for humans; another set exercised on a running wheel; and a third group both drank caffeine and ran.
A fourth group, which served as a control, neither ran nor drank caffeine.
All of the mice were then exposed to lamps that generated UVB radiation that damaged the DNA in their skin cells. The Rutgers team looked for evidence of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, among the four groups of UVB-treated mice.
Apoptosis is the process by which cells with badly damaged DNA destroy themselves as a natural defence against illness and infection.
Drugs that induce apoptosis are currently being investigated as a means of preventing different types of cancer, but Allan Conney, one of the authors, said that the combination of caffeine and exercise appeared to have a similar protective effect.
Compared with the UVB-exposed control animals, the caffeine drinkers showed an increase of about 95 per cent in UVB-induced apoptosis, the exercisers showed a 120 per cent increase, and the mice that were both drinking and exercising showed an increase of nearly 400 per cent.
Dr Conney said the cumulative difference seen in the caffeine-drinking runners "can likely be attributed to some kind of synergy between the two factors".
Previous research has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, kidney stones and colorectal cancer.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au
A study on mice at Rutgers University in New Jersey showed that a combination of exercise and some caffeine -- equivalent to one or two cups of coffee a day -- protected against the effects of the sun's ultraviolet-B radiation, which can lead to cancer.
The caffeine and exercise seemingly conspire to kill off precancerous cells whose DNA has been damaged by UVB-rays, the authors say.
The study was published yesterday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Groups of hairless mice, whose exposed skin is vulnerable to the sun, were the test subjects in experiments in which one set drank caffeinated water -- the equivalent of up to two cups of coffee for humans; another set exercised on a running wheel; and a third group both drank caffeine and ran.
A fourth group, which served as a control, neither ran nor drank caffeine.
All of the mice were then exposed to lamps that generated UVB radiation that damaged the DNA in their skin cells. The Rutgers team looked for evidence of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, among the four groups of UVB-treated mice.
Apoptosis is the process by which cells with badly damaged DNA destroy themselves as a natural defence against illness and infection.
Drugs that induce apoptosis are currently being investigated as a means of preventing different types of cancer, but Allan Conney, one of the authors, said that the combination of caffeine and exercise appeared to have a similar protective effect.
Compared with the UVB-exposed control animals, the caffeine drinkers showed an increase of about 95 per cent in UVB-induced apoptosis, the exercisers showed a 120 per cent increase, and the mice that were both drinking and exercising showed an increase of nearly 400 per cent.
Dr Conney said the cumulative difference seen in the caffeine-drinking runners "can likely be attributed to some kind of synergy between the two factors".
Previous research has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, kidney stones and colorectal cancer.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Alcohol consumption linked to bowel cancer
A major study has found new evidence which links alcohol consumption with bowel cancer.
The findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) suggest that people who drink one or two glasses of wine or beer a day increase their risk of developing the disease by about 10 per cent.
Dr Kat Arney of Cancer Research UK, one of the groups helping to fund the study, says the results are important.
"It's involving more than half a million people, so the data we're getting out of it is quite significant," she said.
"They've got around 18,000 people who develop bowel cancer and that allows you to do really quite powerful statistics to find out the links between causes of cancer and how much they might increase your risk."
source : abc.net.au
The findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) suggest that people who drink one or two glasses of wine or beer a day increase their risk of developing the disease by about 10 per cent.
Dr Kat Arney of Cancer Research UK, one of the groups helping to fund the study, says the results are important.
"It's involving more than half a million people, so the data we're getting out of it is quite significant," she said.
"They've got around 18,000 people who develop bowel cancer and that allows you to do really quite powerful statistics to find out the links between causes of cancer and how much they might increase your risk."
source : abc.net.au
Two-Drug Combo Tough on Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer might have met its match in a new combination of cancer drugs, a new study shows.
Used together, interferon alpha, a drug that boosts the body's ability to fight off tumors and infections, and sorafenib, a drug that cuts off a tumor's blood supply, led to significant tumor shrinkage in 33 percent of patients in a U.S. pilot study.
"We found that by combining a drug that enlists the immune system's help in combating cancer with one that cuts off a tumor's blood supply, we could substantially increase patients' response rates to treatment," lead investigator Dr. Jared Gollob, of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center in Durham, N.C., said in a prepared statement.
Used alone, each drug is only successful in fighting 5 percent to 10 percent of tumors. But the new study finds that the combination works much better. Sorafenib is sold under the brand name Nexavar.
The drugs had an additional benefit, the researchers said, in that the combo therapy doubled the time before tumors began to grow again. According to Gollob, most tumors begin growing again after about five or six months when treated by either drug alone.
Reporting in the Aug. 1 issue of theJournal of Clinical Oncology, Gollob and his research team gave 40 study patients sorafenib in pill form twice daily and interferon alpha injections three time a week for eight weeks. If the patient's tumor had not grown or had shrunk after eight weeks, they repeated the cycle after a two-week break until the tumors disappeared or the cancer got worse. The researchers monitored the tumors using computerized-tomography (CT) scans.
The approach completely destroyed tumors in two of the 40 patients.
Researchers plan to begin a multi-site clinical trial that will analyze the impact of giving patients increasing doses of sorafenib alone after their tumors have shrunk as much as possible on the combination treatment.
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, about 51,000 people suffer from kidney cancer every year, and almost 13,000 will die from the disease. The majority of patients are men over the age of 45. The cancer is especially deadly, because it very rarely causes symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. By the time kidney cancer rates stage IV status, it has spread to other organs such as lungs, liver and bones. People are given six months to two years to live once they reach stage IV, and only about 10 percent are alive five years after diagnosis.
The Duke team noted that one of the biggest challenges facing doctors and patients with kidney cancer is the cancer's resistance to chemotherapy, radiation and other common cancer-fighting tools.
source : www.washingtonpost.com
Used together, interferon alpha, a drug that boosts the body's ability to fight off tumors and infections, and sorafenib, a drug that cuts off a tumor's blood supply, led to significant tumor shrinkage in 33 percent of patients in a U.S. pilot study.
"We found that by combining a drug that enlists the immune system's help in combating cancer with one that cuts off a tumor's blood supply, we could substantially increase patients' response rates to treatment," lead investigator Dr. Jared Gollob, of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center in Durham, N.C., said in a prepared statement.
Used alone, each drug is only successful in fighting 5 percent to 10 percent of tumors. But the new study finds that the combination works much better. Sorafenib is sold under the brand name Nexavar.
The drugs had an additional benefit, the researchers said, in that the combo therapy doubled the time before tumors began to grow again. According to Gollob, most tumors begin growing again after about five or six months when treated by either drug alone.
Reporting in the Aug. 1 issue of theJournal of Clinical Oncology, Gollob and his research team gave 40 study patients sorafenib in pill form twice daily and interferon alpha injections three time a week for eight weeks. If the patient's tumor had not grown or had shrunk after eight weeks, they repeated the cycle after a two-week break until the tumors disappeared or the cancer got worse. The researchers monitored the tumors using computerized-tomography (CT) scans.
The approach completely destroyed tumors in two of the 40 patients.
Researchers plan to begin a multi-site clinical trial that will analyze the impact of giving patients increasing doses of sorafenib alone after their tumors have shrunk as much as possible on the combination treatment.
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, about 51,000 people suffer from kidney cancer every year, and almost 13,000 will die from the disease. The majority of patients are men over the age of 45. The cancer is especially deadly, because it very rarely causes symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. By the time kidney cancer rates stage IV status, it has spread to other organs such as lungs, liver and bones. People are given six months to two years to live once they reach stage IV, and only about 10 percent are alive five years after diagnosis.
The Duke team noted that one of the biggest challenges facing doctors and patients with kidney cancer is the cancer's resistance to chemotherapy, radiation and other common cancer-fighting tools.
source : www.washingtonpost.com
Gold Nanoparticles May Pan Out As Tool For Cancer Diagnosis
Science Daily — When it comes to searching out cancer cells, gold may turn out to be a precious metal.
Purdue University researchers have created gold nanoparticles that are capable of identifying marker proteins on breast cancer cells, making the tiny particles a potential tool to better diagnose and treat cancer. The technology would be about three times cheaper than the most common current method and has the potential to provide many times the quantity and quality of data, said Joseph Irudayaraj, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
"We hope that this technology will soon play a critical role in early detection and monitoring of breast cancer," said Irudayaraj (pronounced ee-roo-THY'-a-razh), leader of a research team that developed a new method for fabricating the nanoparticles that is published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. "Our goal is to see it in commercial use in about four years."
The gold nanoparticles, or nanorods, are tiny rod-shaped gold particles, even smaller than viruses, which are equipped with antibodies designed to bind to a specific marker on cell surfaces. Researchers analyze these surface markers, proteins on a cell's exterior, because they can contain valuable information about what type of cell they belong to or what state that cell may be in.
"In cancer diagnosis, the ability to accurately detect certain key markers will be very helpful because certain types of cancers have specific surface markers," Irudayaraj said.
In another study published last month in Nano Letters, Irudayaraj showed that the nanorods, when combined with a special imaging technique, were capable of recognizing cancer stem cells by binding to known markers on their exterior. Cancer stem cells are important to detect because they are particularly invasive and more likely than other types of cancer cells to spread, or metastasize, to other organs. These and other types of cells the technology utilizes are obtained from blood tests as opposed to biopsies.
The nanoparticles, or "gold nanorod molecular probes," are fabricated so that their size is unique to their target marker. That way, when nanorods bind to their marker, they "scatter," or disrupt light in a characteristic manner that researchers can then pair to the nanorod's dimensions, its antibody and the target cancer marker, which must be present for binding to occur.
More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States, and 80 percent of those women receive some type of therapy, Irudayaraj said. Since 40 percent of them will have a relapse, regular monitoring, which this technology aims to do, is vital.
Irudayaraj said using gold nanorods for cancer detection will be about one-third the cost of the current analogous technology, called flow cytometry. This method works by attaching fluorescent probes to cancer cells, whereas the nanorod technology has its basis in sensing plasmons, or sub-atomic particles present in the gold nanoparticles.
The nanorods also require only a few cells, whereas flow cytometry requires hundreds to thousands of cells. This could be advantageous when dealing with scarce sample sizes, Irudayaraj said.
Irudayaraj and his team - postdoctoral researcher Chenxu Yu and Harikrishna Nakshatri, a researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine - demonstrated that the nanorods bind to three different markers. Two of the markers were used to calculate the invasiveness of the cancer cell, while one marker - present equally among the different cancer types - was used to calculate the degree to which the other markers were expressed, or present. Irudayaraj said his gold nanorods may be able to detect as many as 15 different markers in the future, possibly opening the door for even more comprehensive tests.
Ultimately, Irudayaraj imagines a new kind of routine and cost-effective procedure for the identification of cancer cells. A patient gives blood, from which cancer cells are obtained. Nanorods are then added to bind to specific markers, if present. Next, the cells are placed on a microscopic slide for imaging. After the rods absorb and re-emit radiation, a special camera records the scattered light, which a computer helps to analyze. Finally, based upon the data, a diagnosis is made.
Irudayaraj received funding from Purdue and the Indiana University School of Medicine, and the work was conducted at the Bindley Bioscience Center, of which he is a member. He plans to further develop the technology in the future and is researching mechanical properties of the nanorods and the surface markers to which they bind. He hopes to create nanoparticles that are capable of binding to more markers and to provide more information about these markers and what they reveal about the state of the cell.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
Purdue University researchers have created gold nanoparticles that are capable of identifying marker proteins on breast cancer cells, making the tiny particles a potential tool to better diagnose and treat cancer. The technology would be about three times cheaper than the most common current method and has the potential to provide many times the quantity and quality of data, said Joseph Irudayaraj, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
"We hope that this technology will soon play a critical role in early detection and monitoring of breast cancer," said Irudayaraj (pronounced ee-roo-THY'-a-razh), leader of a research team that developed a new method for fabricating the nanoparticles that is published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. "Our goal is to see it in commercial use in about four years."
The gold nanoparticles, or nanorods, are tiny rod-shaped gold particles, even smaller than viruses, which are equipped with antibodies designed to bind to a specific marker on cell surfaces. Researchers analyze these surface markers, proteins on a cell's exterior, because they can contain valuable information about what type of cell they belong to or what state that cell may be in.
"In cancer diagnosis, the ability to accurately detect certain key markers will be very helpful because certain types of cancers have specific surface markers," Irudayaraj said.
In another study published last month in Nano Letters, Irudayaraj showed that the nanorods, when combined with a special imaging technique, were capable of recognizing cancer stem cells by binding to known markers on their exterior. Cancer stem cells are important to detect because they are particularly invasive and more likely than other types of cancer cells to spread, or metastasize, to other organs. These and other types of cells the technology utilizes are obtained from blood tests as opposed to biopsies.
The nanoparticles, or "gold nanorod molecular probes," are fabricated so that their size is unique to their target marker. That way, when nanorods bind to their marker, they "scatter," or disrupt light in a characteristic manner that researchers can then pair to the nanorod's dimensions, its antibody and the target cancer marker, which must be present for binding to occur.
More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States, and 80 percent of those women receive some type of therapy, Irudayaraj said. Since 40 percent of them will have a relapse, regular monitoring, which this technology aims to do, is vital.
Irudayaraj said using gold nanorods for cancer detection will be about one-third the cost of the current analogous technology, called flow cytometry. This method works by attaching fluorescent probes to cancer cells, whereas the nanorod technology has its basis in sensing plasmons, or sub-atomic particles present in the gold nanoparticles.
The nanorods also require only a few cells, whereas flow cytometry requires hundreds to thousands of cells. This could be advantageous when dealing with scarce sample sizes, Irudayaraj said.
Irudayaraj and his team - postdoctoral researcher Chenxu Yu and Harikrishna Nakshatri, a researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine - demonstrated that the nanorods bind to three different markers. Two of the markers were used to calculate the invasiveness of the cancer cell, while one marker - present equally among the different cancer types - was used to calculate the degree to which the other markers were expressed, or present. Irudayaraj said his gold nanorods may be able to detect as many as 15 different markers in the future, possibly opening the door for even more comprehensive tests.
Ultimately, Irudayaraj imagines a new kind of routine and cost-effective procedure for the identification of cancer cells. A patient gives blood, from which cancer cells are obtained. Nanorods are then added to bind to specific markers, if present. Next, the cells are placed on a microscopic slide for imaging. After the rods absorb and re-emit radiation, a special camera records the scattered light, which a computer helps to analyze. Finally, based upon the data, a diagnosis is made.
Irudayaraj received funding from Purdue and the Indiana University School of Medicine, and the work was conducted at the Bindley Bioscience Center, of which he is a member. He plans to further develop the technology in the future and is researching mechanical properties of the nanorods and the surface markers to which they bind. He hopes to create nanoparticles that are capable of binding to more markers and to provide more information about these markers and what they reveal about the state of the cell.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
Medicare Eases Proposed Restrictions on Anemia Drugs Used by Cancer Patients
Medicare has eased up on some of its proposed restrictions on the use of popular anemia drugs made by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.
The decision, announced late yesterday, could provide some relief for the two companies, which have already experienced steep drops in sales of the drugs because of concerns that the products might be making cancer worse. The new policy is still expected to curtail use of the drugs, however.
The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services had proposed in May to sharply limit coverage for the drugs — Aranesp from Amgen and Procrit from Johnson & Johnson. Some analysts had predicted at that time that use of the drugs could be cut by as much as 50 percent.
But in a public comment period that followed, the agency received more than 2,600 comments, many of them from doctors, medical societies and patient groups who said the proposed restrictions went too far, were not based on scientific evidence and would possibly harm patients. That prompted yesterday’s pullback.
“In a lot of respects it looks as though C.M.S. has blinked in the face of the huge outcry over the initial proposal,” said Geoffrey C. Porges, biotechnology analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company. Still, he said, the new policy would nevertheless mean a “significant reduction” in use of the drugs.
Both Amgen and Johnson & Johnson said yesterday that they were still studying the 61-page decision and could not comment immediately.
But investors reacted favorably, sending shares of Amgen by more than $2 in early after-hours trading, though it then began to drop back. Shares had closed at $56.19, up 57 cents.
Shares of the larger and more diversified Johnson & Johnson rose about 30 cents after hours, having closed at $60.07, up 30 cents.
Medicare’s decision is expected to influence how private insurers pay for the drugs, which are synthetic versions of erythropoietin, or EPO, a hormone that increases the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
“Our goal was to maintain physician autonomy while ensuring the safety of our Medicare beneficiaries,” Herb B. Kuhn, the acting deputy administrator of the agency, said in a statement.
Medicare’s final “national coverage determination” still retains some significant restrictions. For instance, the program will not cover the use of the drugs to treat the anemia caused by cancer itself, as opposed to anemia caused by chemotherapy. The drugs are approved only for the anemia from chemotherapy but had been widely used by patients not getting chemotherapy.
But other proposed restrictions have been lifted, like ones that would have barred reimbursement for the drugs’ use during chemotherapy for certain types of cancer or for patients being treated with the cancer drugs Avastin and Erbitux.
Medicare also relaxed the requirements for beginning anemia treatment. Its proposal in May had said doctors should wait until a patient’s hemoglobin — the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells — dropped below 9 grams per deciliter, close to the point at which blood transfusions would be considered. Yesterday it said treatment could begin when the hemoglobin level drops to 10.
In the past many doctors had started treatment when hemoglobin levels were even higher than 10.
The agency also said it would leave to local contractors the decision on whether to pay for the drugs to treat myelodysplastic syndromes, a family of bone marrow diseases that can lead to leukemia. Medicare had proposed to deny such coverage, drawing protests from patient groups.
The policy issued yesterday relates only to the use of the drugs for cancer patients, not for patients with kidney failure.
Aranesp is Amgen’s biggest-selling product, with sales last year reaching $4.1 billion.
But the safety concerns have already started to take a toll. Worldwide sales of Aranesp fell 10 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, to $949 million. In the United States the decline was even steeper — 19 percent, to $578 million.
Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide sales of Procrit, which is called Eprex outside the United States, fell 6 percent, to $758 million. In the United States, sales plunged 14 percent, to $449 million.
source : www.nytimes.com
The decision, announced late yesterday, could provide some relief for the two companies, which have already experienced steep drops in sales of the drugs because of concerns that the products might be making cancer worse. The new policy is still expected to curtail use of the drugs, however.
The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services had proposed in May to sharply limit coverage for the drugs — Aranesp from Amgen and Procrit from Johnson & Johnson. Some analysts had predicted at that time that use of the drugs could be cut by as much as 50 percent.
But in a public comment period that followed, the agency received more than 2,600 comments, many of them from doctors, medical societies and patient groups who said the proposed restrictions went too far, were not based on scientific evidence and would possibly harm patients. That prompted yesterday’s pullback.
“In a lot of respects it looks as though C.M.S. has blinked in the face of the huge outcry over the initial proposal,” said Geoffrey C. Porges, biotechnology analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company. Still, he said, the new policy would nevertheless mean a “significant reduction” in use of the drugs.
Both Amgen and Johnson & Johnson said yesterday that they were still studying the 61-page decision and could not comment immediately.
But investors reacted favorably, sending shares of Amgen by more than $2 in early after-hours trading, though it then began to drop back. Shares had closed at $56.19, up 57 cents.
Shares of the larger and more diversified Johnson & Johnson rose about 30 cents after hours, having closed at $60.07, up 30 cents.
Medicare’s decision is expected to influence how private insurers pay for the drugs, which are synthetic versions of erythropoietin, or EPO, a hormone that increases the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
“Our goal was to maintain physician autonomy while ensuring the safety of our Medicare beneficiaries,” Herb B. Kuhn, the acting deputy administrator of the agency, said in a statement.
Medicare’s final “national coverage determination” still retains some significant restrictions. For instance, the program will not cover the use of the drugs to treat the anemia caused by cancer itself, as opposed to anemia caused by chemotherapy. The drugs are approved only for the anemia from chemotherapy but had been widely used by patients not getting chemotherapy.
But other proposed restrictions have been lifted, like ones that would have barred reimbursement for the drugs’ use during chemotherapy for certain types of cancer or for patients being treated with the cancer drugs Avastin and Erbitux.
Medicare also relaxed the requirements for beginning anemia treatment. Its proposal in May had said doctors should wait until a patient’s hemoglobin — the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells — dropped below 9 grams per deciliter, close to the point at which blood transfusions would be considered. Yesterday it said treatment could begin when the hemoglobin level drops to 10.
In the past many doctors had started treatment when hemoglobin levels were even higher than 10.
The agency also said it would leave to local contractors the decision on whether to pay for the drugs to treat myelodysplastic syndromes, a family of bone marrow diseases that can lead to leukemia. Medicare had proposed to deny such coverage, drawing protests from patient groups.
The policy issued yesterday relates only to the use of the drugs for cancer patients, not for patients with kidney failure.
Aranesp is Amgen’s biggest-selling product, with sales last year reaching $4.1 billion.
But the safety concerns have already started to take a toll. Worldwide sales of Aranesp fell 10 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, to $949 million. In the United States the decline was even steeper — 19 percent, to $578 million.
Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide sales of Procrit, which is called Eprex outside the United States, fell 6 percent, to $758 million. In the United States, sales plunged 14 percent, to $449 million.
source : www.nytimes.com
Potential cancer treatment is discovered
cancer researchers have discovered a potential new genetic treatment that causes tumors in mice to self-destruct.
The researchers, led by Stanford University Associate Professor Dean Felsher, discovered switching off a single malfunctioning gene can halt the limitless division of tumor cells.
Felsher said the possibility a cell's natural mechanism for ensuring its mortality could be used to vanquish tumors opens the door to a new approach for developing anti-cancer drugs.
The gene Felsher's team studied produces a protein called Myc, which promotes cell division. A mutation of the gene causes cells to overproduce the protein, prompting perpetual cell division and tumor growth. By turning off the mutated gene, the researchers found not only did uncontrolled cell division cease but the cells also reactivated a normal physiological mechanism, called senescence, which makes it possible for a cell to eventually die.
"What was unexpected was just the fact that cancer cells had retained the ability to undergo senescence at all," said Felsher. Cancer researchers had long thought senescence had to be irreversibly disrupted for a tumor to develop.
The study appears in the advance online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
The researchers, led by Stanford University Associate Professor Dean Felsher, discovered switching off a single malfunctioning gene can halt the limitless division of tumor cells.
Felsher said the possibility a cell's natural mechanism for ensuring its mortality could be used to vanquish tumors opens the door to a new approach for developing anti-cancer drugs.
The gene Felsher's team studied produces a protein called Myc, which promotes cell division. A mutation of the gene causes cells to overproduce the protein, prompting perpetual cell division and tumor growth. By turning off the mutated gene, the researchers found not only did uncontrolled cell division cease but the cells also reactivated a normal physiological mechanism, called senescence, which makes it possible for a cell to eventually die.
"What was unexpected was just the fact that cancer cells had retained the ability to undergo senescence at all," said Felsher. Cancer researchers had long thought senescence had to be irreversibly disrupted for a tumor to develop.
The study appears in the advance online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
source : www.sciencedaily.com
Mathematicians Propose New Model for Cancer Growth
What do zebras, bacteria, and cancer have in common? They all can evolve in response to pressures in their environment. This simple biological fact inspired researchers from the University of California, Irvine, to study cancer in a new light. They used the tools of mathematics (rather than biology) to test a theory that that tumors change their mutation rate "intentionally" throughout their development, in order to grow as quickly as possible. This research was published in the Royal Society's journal Interface.
For some time now, laboratory scientists have known that cancer cells behave very differently from normal cells, constantly changing their genetic makeup. As Natalia Komarova explains, a normal human cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes, "but if you look at the cancer cell it's a complete mess: some chromosomes are present only in one copy, some are missing, some are present in five or six or ten copies." This phenomenon of losing and gaining genetic material as cells divide is called genetic instability.
Komarova notes that everyone who studies cancer knows that genetic instability (and the mutations it causes) are important for cancer cells: cancer couldn't spread without it. It's not so clear why this mutation rate slows down in later stages of the tumor. She says that this has been observed experimentally, but researchers can't decide whether it's important for cancer growth or if it's just a side-effect of cancer.
To try to understand the process, Komarova and her colleagues turned to optimal control theory, a branch of mathematics used to determine the most efficient pathways, and they applied it to the mystery of cancer growth.
Their results showed that it was indeed advantageous for cancer to be highly genetically unstable in its earlier stages and to become more stable later on. "So it kind of pays off to change all the time," says the mathematician, "to lose chromosomes, to gain chromosomes, at the beginning; and then stop doing this and remain at the same level for the rest of the natural history of a tumor."
Natalia Komarova is a mathematician, not a medical researcher. But Dr. Andrew Pierce, of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, says her results make sense because they parallel what many living organisms do to thrive in their environment. He points to the way bacteria develop resistance against an antibiotic, "and so the idea is 'OK, my current genetic solution isn't a very good solution anymore, so let's mix it up and try a bunch of random stuff and see if something can be come up with randomly that just happens to work better.'"
Dr. Pierce explains that this fits with the current theories on evolution. He says that the stress from the environment is reduced once the right genetic mutation has been found. "It perfectly fits with their result", he concludes, "that now that a new solution has been acquired what you don't want to do is keep on messing with it, you know? If it's not broken, don't fix it."
Knowing the reason for a tumor's genetic instability, mathematician Komarova says, might affect the development of cancer treatment strategies. She explains that some treatments are mutogenic, that is, they make cells mutate. Chemotherapy, she says, is very mutogenic, and small molecule inhibitors are not.
Although her research is not at that point yet, Komarova says she would like to incorporate treatments and their mutogenic properties into her model.
She says mathematical tools can enhance medical research. Their work is not experimental notes Komarova, they don't work in a lab, but they believe that their work could help create theories for laboratory researchers. "We kind of provide ideas or explanations to the medical community", she adds.
Dr. Neal Meropol, from the Fox-Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, agrees that a multidisciplinary effort might help find the best alternatives. He says it's good that researchers from other disciplines, like mathematicians, are coming up with new ideas. "We are certainly learning the hard way," he says, "to some extent, through our failures, that a team approach to solving the cancer problem is required if we're going to achieve our holy grail of eliminating death from cancer in the future."
University of California mathematician Natalia Komarova hopes that her research will give the medical community food for thought during their quest for new approaches to fighting cancer.
source : www.voanews.com
For some time now, laboratory scientists have known that cancer cells behave very differently from normal cells, constantly changing their genetic makeup. As Natalia Komarova explains, a normal human cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes, "but if you look at the cancer cell it's a complete mess: some chromosomes are present only in one copy, some are missing, some are present in five or six or ten copies." This phenomenon of losing and gaining genetic material as cells divide is called genetic instability.
Komarova notes that everyone who studies cancer knows that genetic instability (and the mutations it causes) are important for cancer cells: cancer couldn't spread without it. It's not so clear why this mutation rate slows down in later stages of the tumor. She says that this has been observed experimentally, but researchers can't decide whether it's important for cancer growth or if it's just a side-effect of cancer.
To try to understand the process, Komarova and her colleagues turned to optimal control theory, a branch of mathematics used to determine the most efficient pathways, and they applied it to the mystery of cancer growth.
Their results showed that it was indeed advantageous for cancer to be highly genetically unstable in its earlier stages and to become more stable later on. "So it kind of pays off to change all the time," says the mathematician, "to lose chromosomes, to gain chromosomes, at the beginning; and then stop doing this and remain at the same level for the rest of the natural history of a tumor."
Natalia Komarova is a mathematician, not a medical researcher. But Dr. Andrew Pierce, of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, says her results make sense because they parallel what many living organisms do to thrive in their environment. He points to the way bacteria develop resistance against an antibiotic, "and so the idea is 'OK, my current genetic solution isn't a very good solution anymore, so let's mix it up and try a bunch of random stuff and see if something can be come up with randomly that just happens to work better.'"
Dr. Pierce explains that this fits with the current theories on evolution. He says that the stress from the environment is reduced once the right genetic mutation has been found. "It perfectly fits with their result", he concludes, "that now that a new solution has been acquired what you don't want to do is keep on messing with it, you know? If it's not broken, don't fix it."
Knowing the reason for a tumor's genetic instability, mathematician Komarova says, might affect the development of cancer treatment strategies. She explains that some treatments are mutogenic, that is, they make cells mutate. Chemotherapy, she says, is very mutogenic, and small molecule inhibitors are not.
Although her research is not at that point yet, Komarova says she would like to incorporate treatments and their mutogenic properties into her model.
She says mathematical tools can enhance medical research. Their work is not experimental notes Komarova, they don't work in a lab, but they believe that their work could help create theories for laboratory researchers. "We kind of provide ideas or explanations to the medical community", she adds.
Dr. Neal Meropol, from the Fox-Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, agrees that a multidisciplinary effort might help find the best alternatives. He says it's good that researchers from other disciplines, like mathematicians, are coming up with new ideas. "We are certainly learning the hard way," he says, "to some extent, through our failures, that a team approach to solving the cancer problem is required if we're going to achieve our holy grail of eliminating death from cancer in the future."
University of California mathematician Natalia Komarova hopes that her research will give the medical community food for thought during their quest for new approaches to fighting cancer.
source : www.voanews.com
Cancer Treatment Centers of America Selects AT&T to Provide Network Services
today announced the implementation of advanced network solutions for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). CTCA is a national leader in cancer treatment, specializing in complex and advanced-stage disease.
With headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., the CTCA approach to cancer treatment fully integrates state-of-the-art medical care with scientifically supported complementary therapies like nutrition, naturopathy, physical therapy, psychosocial counseling and spiritual support. The unique CTCA, patient-focused approach to cancer treatment is provided at its facilities located in Suburban Chicago, Tulsa, Philadelphia, Seattle and a new facility planned for the Greater Phoenix area.
AT&T will supply network solutions to CTCA's Schaumburg and Zion locations, protecting the facilities' access and daily data transmissions from interruptions. As a secure connection, AT&T's Optical Carrier 3 (OC3) Sonet Rings will provide a scalable interface capable of handling the network's diverse signals and the capacity for multiple user access from its Schaumburg and Zion locations.
AT&T's Sonet technology will also support future infrastructure upgrades and enhancements by CTCA. Using bidirectional lines structured into a ring, the Sonet consolidates Ethernet, data, video and voice traffic onto a single transport that maximizes bandwidth. The ring's multiple-line architecture provides redundancy, protecting CTCA's network services from catastrophic fiber cuts, service interruptions and other security hazards.
"At CTCA, everything we do is focused on improving our patients' treatment experience," said Chad A. Eckes, chief information officer for CTCA. "Our ability to access real-time patient medical information 24 hours a day, seven days a week is critical to our commitment to providing our patients with the most efficient, highest-quality cancer care in the country. AT&T's reliable network solutions and our redundant design will allow us to operate more efficiently and confidently while maintaining a continuous flow of electronic medical information to the clinician."
Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole- person needs of advanced-stage cancer patients. With a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington with a new hospital scheduled to open in Arizona in winter 2008, CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions through its Patient Empowerment Medicine(SM) model.
source : money.cnn.com
With headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., the CTCA approach to cancer treatment fully integrates state-of-the-art medical care with scientifically supported complementary therapies like nutrition, naturopathy, physical therapy, psychosocial counseling and spiritual support. The unique CTCA, patient-focused approach to cancer treatment is provided at its facilities located in Suburban Chicago, Tulsa, Philadelphia, Seattle and a new facility planned for the Greater Phoenix area.
AT&T will supply network solutions to CTCA's Schaumburg and Zion locations, protecting the facilities' access and daily data transmissions from interruptions. As a secure connection, AT&T's Optical Carrier 3 (OC3) Sonet Rings will provide a scalable interface capable of handling the network's diverse signals and the capacity for multiple user access from its Schaumburg and Zion locations.
AT&T's Sonet technology will also support future infrastructure upgrades and enhancements by CTCA. Using bidirectional lines structured into a ring, the Sonet consolidates Ethernet, data, video and voice traffic onto a single transport that maximizes bandwidth. The ring's multiple-line architecture provides redundancy, protecting CTCA's network services from catastrophic fiber cuts, service interruptions and other security hazards.
"At CTCA, everything we do is focused on improving our patients' treatment experience," said Chad A. Eckes, chief information officer for CTCA. "Our ability to access real-time patient medical information 24 hours a day, seven days a week is critical to our commitment to providing our patients with the most efficient, highest-quality cancer care in the country. AT&T's reliable network solutions and our redundant design will allow us to operate more efficiently and confidently while maintaining a continuous flow of electronic medical information to the clinician."
Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole- person needs of advanced-stage cancer patients. With a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington with a new hospital scheduled to open in Arizona in winter 2008, CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions through its Patient Empowerment Medicine(SM) model.
source : money.cnn.com
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Early Sign Of Pregnancy – Begin A Safe Journey
Pregnancy week by week calendars can help you learn about the early signs of pregnancy. Your pregnancy journal can be a nice record of your pregnancy and your various experiences.
Awareness of early signs of pregnancy or early pregnancy symptoms is vital to ensure proper care of mom-to-be right from the time of conception until the birth of the baby. If you are trying to have a baby, make it a point to observe any change in your body 10 to 12 days after your last period. Any sort of change could be an early sign of pregnancy. Most of the pregnancies are lost during the first few days. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of conception, confirm it through tests, and follow the medical advice to avoid miscarriages. In fact, a woman requires due care throughout her pregnancy period.
Some Early Signs Of Pregnancy
If you feel nausea in the morning, or smell of foods and beverages like tea, coffee, colas etc. makes you vomit, it could well be signifying conception. Another early signs include missing your periods, brownish or pinkish vaginal discharge prior to or on the due date of menses, and tenderness or swelling in breasts. Tenderness or swelling of breasts can be felt as early as within hours of conception.
The moment you feel any of the above symptoms, you must not waste time in getting yourself examined for confirmation of pregnancy. Once it is confirmed that you are pregnant, you must take due medical advice and begin preparations for the joyous but complicated journey ahead.
Coping With Pregnancy
The thought and experience of carrying a baby in your womb makes you feel unique and complete. Nevertheless, those nine months can sometimes seem to be extremely tiresome and prolonged. The nausea, pain, breathlessness, sleepless nights, there is so much to endure. It is therefore wise to adopt measures to put up with this. One excellent and established means of soothing your mind and body is to keep a pregnancy journal. In this journal, you can document the symptoms, emotions, and anxieties you feel right from the early sign of pregnancy until the time you deliver the baby. You can pen down the pains and joys you go through during the period. Not only does this help you relieve your mind, but also provides reference points for other woman in your circle who might be having babies later.
Keep A Track Of Your Baby’s Growth
Medical science generally describes the growth of the baby on weekly basis. Most of the pregnancy calendars and guides provide details of baby’s shape, features, and motions during various stages of pregnancy by dividing the total period or term into 40 weeks.
From the early sign of pregnancy until the moment you go into labor, you should try to match your symptoms and baby’s movements with those mentioned in the pregnancy week-by-week calendars. If you find anything abnormal in baby’s growth, rush to the obstetrician.
An early sign of pregnancy as the name suggests is the early or first indicator of pregnancy. When the pregnancy is confirmed, maintain a pregnancy journal to keep track of your pregnancy week by week to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
source : www.americanchronicle.com
Awareness of early signs of pregnancy or early pregnancy symptoms is vital to ensure proper care of mom-to-be right from the time of conception until the birth of the baby. If you are trying to have a baby, make it a point to observe any change in your body 10 to 12 days after your last period. Any sort of change could be an early sign of pregnancy. Most of the pregnancies are lost during the first few days. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of conception, confirm it through tests, and follow the medical advice to avoid miscarriages. In fact, a woman requires due care throughout her pregnancy period.
Some Early Signs Of Pregnancy
If you feel nausea in the morning, or smell of foods and beverages like tea, coffee, colas etc. makes you vomit, it could well be signifying conception. Another early signs include missing your periods, brownish or pinkish vaginal discharge prior to or on the due date of menses, and tenderness or swelling in breasts. Tenderness or swelling of breasts can be felt as early as within hours of conception.
The moment you feel any of the above symptoms, you must not waste time in getting yourself examined for confirmation of pregnancy. Once it is confirmed that you are pregnant, you must take due medical advice and begin preparations for the joyous but complicated journey ahead.
Coping With Pregnancy
The thought and experience of carrying a baby in your womb makes you feel unique and complete. Nevertheless, those nine months can sometimes seem to be extremely tiresome and prolonged. The nausea, pain, breathlessness, sleepless nights, there is so much to endure. It is therefore wise to adopt measures to put up with this. One excellent and established means of soothing your mind and body is to keep a pregnancy journal. In this journal, you can document the symptoms, emotions, and anxieties you feel right from the early sign of pregnancy until the time you deliver the baby. You can pen down the pains and joys you go through during the period. Not only does this help you relieve your mind, but also provides reference points for other woman in your circle who might be having babies later.
Keep A Track Of Your Baby’s Growth
Medical science generally describes the growth of the baby on weekly basis. Most of the pregnancy calendars and guides provide details of baby’s shape, features, and motions during various stages of pregnancy by dividing the total period or term into 40 weeks.
From the early sign of pregnancy until the moment you go into labor, you should try to match your symptoms and baby’s movements with those mentioned in the pregnancy week-by-week calendars. If you find anything abnormal in baby’s growth, rush to the obstetrician.
An early sign of pregnancy as the name suggests is the early or first indicator of pregnancy. When the pregnancy is confirmed, maintain a pregnancy journal to keep track of your pregnancy week by week to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
source : www.americanchronicle.com
Coping With The First Trimester of Pregnancy
Congratulations, you are pregnant! The first trimester of pregnancy is the first stage of pregnancy that calls for a lot of adjustment in your lifestyle as well as an intense preparation to go through the different stages of pregnancy that you will face in the due course of time.
You will feel nausea; you will feel extremely tired; and your doctor will recommend bed rest. This is because your body is going through a series of changes and needs relaxation to endure these drastic changes with ease.
Body Changes
The first trimester of pregnancy brings along many changes physically and emotionally. Firstly, your body will increase in size so that it can accommodate the expanding fetus. This will make your feel uneasy. Some women think they are sick and get unduly worried about their health. Relax! This is just your body’s way of coping with the changes and there’s nothing to worry about.
Morning sickness is the most common complaint of women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Besides this, you may feel tired without doing much work. Your breasts may enlarge and become tender. Some women experience frequent urination at this stage. You might also feel constipated or bloated. Indigestion is another discomfort to cope with. Whatever might be the discomfort; this stage of pregnancy development is going to be difficult, as you are constantly adjusting to new changes and learning new things. However, once you are through with the first trimester of pregnancy, the final stage of pregnancy is not far away.
Other Discomforts
Besides nausea and exhaustion, you might gain some pounds, experience heartburn, and also feel dizzy. So, it’s best not to exert yourself in this stage. You might also get leg cramps, as your calcium levels fall during the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women experience the development of Varicose veins on their body parts.
Most of these discomforts are natural and not an issue to worry about. However, if any of the above mentioned symptoms get severe, you must consult your doctor immediately.
Tips To Face The Discomforts Of The First Trimester Of Pregnancy
# Have 5-6 small meals everyday instead of the conventional 3 large meals.
# Stay away from oily and spicy stuff, as it may lead to worsening of morning sickness.
# Ensure that the food you eat is cooked properly.
# Your folic acid or vitamin C intake should be 0.4 milligrams everyday.
# Do not stand for prolonged period of time.
# Ensure that you get a complete 8-hour sleep daily.
# Do not lift heavy objects.
# Do not exert yourself physically.
# Stop smoking.
# Reduce your alcohol consumption.
# Traveling should be avoided at this stage. However, if you must, then avoid a bumpy ride.
# Never take any mediation without consulting your doctor.
# A light exercise regime is best. However, consult your doctor before starting any form of exercise.
With the above tips, the first trimester of pregnancy should not be as difficult as it is dreaded to be!
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first stage of pregnancy. This stage of pregnancy development is the time when you need to be extra careful because during this pregnancy trimester, you are prone to many pregnancy complications and risks. Visit Pregnancy for more details about different stage of pregnancy, baby stage during pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy exercises, pregnancy diet, maternity clothing, breastfeeding and other topics related to pregnancy and women’s health.
source : www.americanchronicle.com
You will feel nausea; you will feel extremely tired; and your doctor will recommend bed rest. This is because your body is going through a series of changes and needs relaxation to endure these drastic changes with ease.
Body Changes
The first trimester of pregnancy brings along many changes physically and emotionally. Firstly, your body will increase in size so that it can accommodate the expanding fetus. This will make your feel uneasy. Some women think they are sick and get unduly worried about their health. Relax! This is just your body’s way of coping with the changes and there’s nothing to worry about.
Morning sickness is the most common complaint of women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Besides this, you may feel tired without doing much work. Your breasts may enlarge and become tender. Some women experience frequent urination at this stage. You might also feel constipated or bloated. Indigestion is another discomfort to cope with. Whatever might be the discomfort; this stage of pregnancy development is going to be difficult, as you are constantly adjusting to new changes and learning new things. However, once you are through with the first trimester of pregnancy, the final stage of pregnancy is not far away.
Other Discomforts
Besides nausea and exhaustion, you might gain some pounds, experience heartburn, and also feel dizzy. So, it’s best not to exert yourself in this stage. You might also get leg cramps, as your calcium levels fall during the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women experience the development of Varicose veins on their body parts.
Most of these discomforts are natural and not an issue to worry about. However, if any of the above mentioned symptoms get severe, you must consult your doctor immediately.
Tips To Face The Discomforts Of The First Trimester Of Pregnancy
# Have 5-6 small meals everyday instead of the conventional 3 large meals.
# Stay away from oily and spicy stuff, as it may lead to worsening of morning sickness.
# Ensure that the food you eat is cooked properly.
# Your folic acid or vitamin C intake should be 0.4 milligrams everyday.
# Do not stand for prolonged period of time.
# Ensure that you get a complete 8-hour sleep daily.
# Do not lift heavy objects.
# Do not exert yourself physically.
# Stop smoking.
# Reduce your alcohol consumption.
# Traveling should be avoided at this stage. However, if you must, then avoid a bumpy ride.
# Never take any mediation without consulting your doctor.
# A light exercise regime is best. However, consult your doctor before starting any form of exercise.
With the above tips, the first trimester of pregnancy should not be as difficult as it is dreaded to be!
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first stage of pregnancy. This stage of pregnancy development is the time when you need to be extra careful because during this pregnancy trimester, you are prone to many pregnancy complications and risks. Visit Pregnancy for more details about different stage of pregnancy, baby stage during pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy exercises, pregnancy diet, maternity clothing, breastfeeding and other topics related to pregnancy and women’s health.
source : www.americanchronicle.com
Isla Fisher says pregnancy
Isla Fisher says pregnancy has given her temporary memory loss - and she can barely remember her own name.
The Australian actress, famous for roles in Scooby Doo and The Wedding Crashers, is seven months pregnant by her fiance Sacha Baron Cohen.
Promoting her new film Hot Rod, she told the Daily Mirror: "I have amnesia. I don't remember what I just said. Someone just asked me what music I'm listening to right now and I said Nick Cannon, who's apparently like some rapper! That is obviously what I'm not listening to right now.
"No, I can barely remember my name."
The 31-year-old is busy making the challenging conversion to Judaism, so that she can marry the brains behind Ali G - 35-year-old Sacha next year.
"I'm still learning about Judaism and I love it," she told the paper. "There is no crash course if you really want to learn."
source : www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
The Australian actress, famous for roles in Scooby Doo and The Wedding Crashers, is seven months pregnant by her fiance Sacha Baron Cohen.
Promoting her new film Hot Rod, she told the Daily Mirror: "I have amnesia. I don't remember what I just said. Someone just asked me what music I'm listening to right now and I said Nick Cannon, who's apparently like some rapper! That is obviously what I'm not listening to right now.
"No, I can barely remember my name."
The 31-year-old is busy making the challenging conversion to Judaism, so that she can marry the brains behind Ali G - 35-year-old Sacha next year.
"I'm still learning about Judaism and I love it," she told the paper. "There is no crash course if you really want to learn."
source : www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
Officials: Sexually transmitted disease, teen pregnancy problems in Midland
A national report released Wednesday named Texas as the state with the worst teen pregnancy rate in the country, and Midland sex education officials say local teens also have high rates of sexually transmitted diseases.
"Last year, the health department reported 200 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 as having been diagnosed with chlamydia," said Pat Snyder, a registered nurse and teen pregnancy coordinator for the Midland Independent School District.
Snyder said the total number of people she helped last year was 275, which included parents and pregnant teens.
"I've had girls as young as 11 pregnant; they're getting sexually active younger," Snyder said. "The specific ones I've worked with have had older siblings and the girls did not look their age. They're maturing faster now than they did this time a year ago."
The report, provided in the KIDS COUNT data book, is a precursor to the fall release of The State of Texas Children 2007.
Released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the report shows Texas averages 63 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19. The report also stated that nationally, there are 41 births for every 1,000 teens.
The state did improve by 9 percent between 2000 and 2004, but having a total of more than 51,000 births to Texas teens put the Lone Star State at the top of the list.
"The recidivism rates are high (for teen pregnancy)," Snyder said. "Some of them are on their third babies and are only about 18."
Years ago, if a teen got pregnant she would be shipped out to the alternative school. But Snyder and her supervisor Tracey Dees said their main goal is to keep the girls in school and see them graduate.
Dees, the supervisor of health care services in MISD, said most of the MISD girls who get pregnant graduate.
"We try to help them get a support system regardless of whether they have a support system at home," she said. "Once you are pregnant, there is another life to be taken into consideration. We have daycare services at Coleman high school; if they are going to succeed, let's make sure we get them an education."
In addition to the school curriculum, other agencies make efforts to educate teens on abstinence and what is considered "safe" sex.
Judy Rouse, executive director of the Life Center, said their sex education program is based on medically accurate facts and abstinence.
"We have an abstinence program that's been in schools since 1998," she said. "It follows a regular pattern of education. We talk about the media, we talk about relationships and 'Is safe sex really safe?' We discuss the myth of safe sex."
Rouse said not only does the center's program offer dialogue about sex, but it also informs teenagers about laws pertaining to them and sexual intercourse.
"With our program, we help (teens) decide for themselves what's best for them."
But Dees also pointed out the decision of becoming sexually active is not the only thing teenage girls have to deal with.
"We've had kids who have been sexually assaulted and they become pregnant and some who have been beaten by their parents because they're pregnant," Dees said. "And that's the hardest part."
Teen girls are not the only ones affected by teen pregnancies; teen fathers have their own issues to deal with as well.
"We've also got these daddies, too. Where does he fit into this? Some teens stay together, but for some, after she's pregnant it's over," Dees said.
"Some don't want anything to do with (the baby), but some of them are so young they don't know what to do."
Dees said the goal of her office is to not judge the teens for their actions.
"There's no imposition on our personal beliefs or morality. It's about how we as health care providers can help them bring healthy babies into this world," she explained.
Frances Deviney, Texas KIDS COUNT director, said information for the report is primarily gathered from the census bureau, but it also comes from the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Education and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System.
"Texas ranks 37th on overall child well-being," Deviney said.
In addition to being the state with the highest teen birth rates, one in four Texas children lived in poverty in 2005, ranking the Lone Star State as 44th in the nation.
"Texas consistently rates at the bottom," Deviney said. "We need to remember that we cannot look favorably upon our state if our kids are in such conditions."
source : www.mywesttexas.com
"Last year, the health department reported 200 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 as having been diagnosed with chlamydia," said Pat Snyder, a registered nurse and teen pregnancy coordinator for the Midland Independent School District.
Snyder said the total number of people she helped last year was 275, which included parents and pregnant teens.
"I've had girls as young as 11 pregnant; they're getting sexually active younger," Snyder said. "The specific ones I've worked with have had older siblings and the girls did not look their age. They're maturing faster now than they did this time a year ago."
The report, provided in the KIDS COUNT data book, is a precursor to the fall release of The State of Texas Children 2007.
Released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the report shows Texas averages 63 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19. The report also stated that nationally, there are 41 births for every 1,000 teens.
The state did improve by 9 percent between 2000 and 2004, but having a total of more than 51,000 births to Texas teens put the Lone Star State at the top of the list.
"The recidivism rates are high (for teen pregnancy)," Snyder said. "Some of them are on their third babies and are only about 18."
Years ago, if a teen got pregnant she would be shipped out to the alternative school. But Snyder and her supervisor Tracey Dees said their main goal is to keep the girls in school and see them graduate.
Dees, the supervisor of health care services in MISD, said most of the MISD girls who get pregnant graduate.
"We try to help them get a support system regardless of whether they have a support system at home," she said. "Once you are pregnant, there is another life to be taken into consideration. We have daycare services at Coleman high school; if they are going to succeed, let's make sure we get them an education."
In addition to the school curriculum, other agencies make efforts to educate teens on abstinence and what is considered "safe" sex.
Judy Rouse, executive director of the Life Center, said their sex education program is based on medically accurate facts and abstinence.
"We have an abstinence program that's been in schools since 1998," she said. "It follows a regular pattern of education. We talk about the media, we talk about relationships and 'Is safe sex really safe?' We discuss the myth of safe sex."
Rouse said not only does the center's program offer dialogue about sex, but it also informs teenagers about laws pertaining to them and sexual intercourse.
"With our program, we help (teens) decide for themselves what's best for them."
But Dees also pointed out the decision of becoming sexually active is not the only thing teenage girls have to deal with.
"We've had kids who have been sexually assaulted and they become pregnant and some who have been beaten by their parents because they're pregnant," Dees said. "And that's the hardest part."
Teen girls are not the only ones affected by teen pregnancies; teen fathers have their own issues to deal with as well.
"We've also got these daddies, too. Where does he fit into this? Some teens stay together, but for some, after she's pregnant it's over," Dees said.
"Some don't want anything to do with (the baby), but some of them are so young they don't know what to do."
Dees said the goal of her office is to not judge the teens for their actions.
"There's no imposition on our personal beliefs or morality. It's about how we as health care providers can help them bring healthy babies into this world," she explained.
Frances Deviney, Texas KIDS COUNT director, said information for the report is primarily gathered from the census bureau, but it also comes from the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Education and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System.
"Texas ranks 37th on overall child well-being," Deviney said.
In addition to being the state with the highest teen birth rates, one in four Texas children lived in poverty in 2005, ranking the Lone Star State as 44th in the nation.
"Texas consistently rates at the bottom," Deviney said. "We need to remember that we cannot look favorably upon our state if our kids are in such conditions."
source : www.mywesttexas.com
IU cancer doctor curing even more
Indiana University's Dr. Lawrence Einhorn, who pioneered a cure for the majority of men with testicular cancer and cured Lance Armstrong, has developed a way to treat the small percentage of patients who do not respond to initial therapy.
Einhorn combined high doses of chemotherapy with a transplant of patients' stem cells to combat the disease. The results appear in today's New England Journal of Medicine and could further cement IU's reputation as the go-to place for the cancer that affects about one in 400 men.
More than 60 percent of the 184 patients whom Einhorn and his IU colleagues treated with this regimen saw their tumors disappear.
"Just as it's overwhelming to be told you have cancer, what's even more overwhelming is to go through a very difficult three months of chemotherapy only to be told the cancer has come back," said Einhorn, Lance Armstrong professor of oncology at the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. "The fact that we can now talk about curing 60 percent of cancer is really spectacular. I wish we could do this in all diseases."
Brownsburg resident Zach Canada benefited from the treatment.
Diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2005, Canada was relieved to hear statistics about the chance of recurrence. About 95 percent of men with testicular cancer will be cured by initial treatment. For patients like Canada, whose disease had not spread, the success rate is even higher.
"I thought, 'Sweet!' " he said.
Canada, now 35, went through three rounds of chemo, and the tumor was gone.
But almost a year to the day of his diagnosis, he felt a pain in his abdomen. The tumor had returned. Einhorn prescribed a grueling three months of chemotherapy and infusions.
"It was shocking, very shocking," Canada said. "But for me, there really wasn't another option. I'm fortunate enough to be in the backyard of one of the greatest cancer centers in the United States, so I didn't question it."
Canada spent 30 of the next 50 days in the hospital. At the end, a scan revealed it had been worth it.
The tumor was gone.
Einhorn's method involves delivering chemotherapy in doses about five times higher than the original treatment. Because these doses can cause severe side effects, including low blood counts, blood is collected from patients before chemo and frozen.
That blood contains stem cells that will develop into healthy blood cells and help with recovery. The doctors deliver these stem cells to the patient in a process similar to a blood transfusion.
Until about 10 years ago, Einhorn relied on bone-marrow transplants to collect the stem cells, but this newer technique does not require patients to undergo operations.
"The patient's blood counts recover much more rapidly, which allow us to give a second course more rapidly," he said. "So there's not so much time in between the courses of chemotherapy so the cancer can start growing. Even though there was pessimism about high-dose treatment, this is a very different model, so that was our enthusiasm for doing it."
Although others in the field treat relapsed patients with standard therapy, the IU researchers suggest this might be a better option, said Dr. David Vaughn, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
"This provides a lot of evidence that if you do that, the patients have a better response," he said. "It shows that this high-dose therapy with stem-cell transplantation can be done with a significant degree of patient safety."
However, he noted that three patients in the study experienced drug-related deaths, and three others developed leukemia.
But the fact that the majority of his patients did so well led Einhorn to the New England Journal, one of the field's premier publications, when it came time to publish.
"We still get problems from some insurance companies, saying that this is experimental, and having it with the imprimatur of the New England Journal of Medicine makes it easier for patients to get this therapy," he said. "Secondly, this is something that everybody in the world should be doing."
source : www.indystar.com
Einhorn combined high doses of chemotherapy with a transplant of patients' stem cells to combat the disease. The results appear in today's New England Journal of Medicine and could further cement IU's reputation as the go-to place for the cancer that affects about one in 400 men.
More than 60 percent of the 184 patients whom Einhorn and his IU colleagues treated with this regimen saw their tumors disappear.
"Just as it's overwhelming to be told you have cancer, what's even more overwhelming is to go through a very difficult three months of chemotherapy only to be told the cancer has come back," said Einhorn, Lance Armstrong professor of oncology at the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. "The fact that we can now talk about curing 60 percent of cancer is really spectacular. I wish we could do this in all diseases."
Brownsburg resident Zach Canada benefited from the treatment.
Diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2005, Canada was relieved to hear statistics about the chance of recurrence. About 95 percent of men with testicular cancer will be cured by initial treatment. For patients like Canada, whose disease had not spread, the success rate is even higher.
"I thought, 'Sweet!' " he said.
Canada, now 35, went through three rounds of chemo, and the tumor was gone.
But almost a year to the day of his diagnosis, he felt a pain in his abdomen. The tumor had returned. Einhorn prescribed a grueling three months of chemotherapy and infusions.
"It was shocking, very shocking," Canada said. "But for me, there really wasn't another option. I'm fortunate enough to be in the backyard of one of the greatest cancer centers in the United States, so I didn't question it."
Canada spent 30 of the next 50 days in the hospital. At the end, a scan revealed it had been worth it.
The tumor was gone.
Einhorn's method involves delivering chemotherapy in doses about five times higher than the original treatment. Because these doses can cause severe side effects, including low blood counts, blood is collected from patients before chemo and frozen.
That blood contains stem cells that will develop into healthy blood cells and help with recovery. The doctors deliver these stem cells to the patient in a process similar to a blood transfusion.
Until about 10 years ago, Einhorn relied on bone-marrow transplants to collect the stem cells, but this newer technique does not require patients to undergo operations.
"The patient's blood counts recover much more rapidly, which allow us to give a second course more rapidly," he said. "So there's not so much time in between the courses of chemotherapy so the cancer can start growing. Even though there was pessimism about high-dose treatment, this is a very different model, so that was our enthusiasm for doing it."
Although others in the field treat relapsed patients with standard therapy, the IU researchers suggest this might be a better option, said Dr. David Vaughn, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
"This provides a lot of evidence that if you do that, the patients have a better response," he said. "It shows that this high-dose therapy with stem-cell transplantation can be done with a significant degree of patient safety."
However, he noted that three patients in the study experienced drug-related deaths, and three others developed leukemia.
But the fact that the majority of his patients did so well led Einhorn to the New England Journal, one of the field's premier publications, when it came time to publish.
"We still get problems from some insurance companies, saying that this is experimental, and having it with the imprimatur of the New England Journal of Medicine makes it easier for patients to get this therapy," he said. "Secondly, this is something that everybody in the world should be doing."
source : www.indystar.com
GPC Biotech Shares Fall on FDA's Vote on Cancer Drug
GPC Biotech AG shares fell 33 percent after a U.S. panel recommended delaying a decision on the company's experimental prostate cancer drug.
The decline wiped about 180 million euros ($247 million) from GPC's market value after a panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted 12-0 yesterday to wait for more data on the treatment, called satraplatin. GPC, the company leading the drug's development, said it doesn't expect to have a survival analysis from its 950-patient study for another year.
Shares of Martinsried, Germany-based GPC fell 4.93 euros to close at 9.82 euros in Frankfurt. The stock had already lost 37 percent of its value after the FDA staff suggested on July 20 that available data wouldn't be enough to secure approval for the medicine by next month. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. would receive a portion of the drug's sales under a licensing accord with GPC.
``It would be a huge blow to GPC if satraplatin is not approved at all,'' said Isabella Zinck, an analyst at UniCredit in Munich. ``Right now, the product hasn't been rejected, it has just lost the chance of having an accelerated review. We can't say this is the end of GPC.''
Spectrum shares fell 71 cents, or 15 percent, to $4.09 at 12:11 p.m. in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The Irvine, California-based company has had a licensing agreement for satraplatin since 2002.
The panel advising the FDA recommended a delay until there is more data on whether satraplatin helped men with prostate cancer live longer. The FDA usually follows the recommendations of its advisers, although it isn't required to do so.
Better Than Narcotics?
``I'm not certain that satraplatin is better than narcotics'' in treating pain and improving quality of life, FDA panel member Otis Brawley, an oncology professor at Emory University in Atlanta, said yesterday. ``I do believe that satraplatin will meet that survival endpoint, but I think we need'' the data to be sure.
GPC Chief Executive Officer Bernd Seizinger said on a conference call today that he was disappointed with the FDA panel's recommendation.
The agency ``has the full range of options available to it,'' Seizinger said. ``It could issue an approvable letter, it could also issue a non-approvable letter.''
Regulators were scheduled to make a decision by Aug. 15 under an expedited review program for new compounds that serve an unmet need or represent significant improvements over existing drugs. The treatment, which is for use in men who haven't responded to chemotherapy, would be sold under the brand name Orplatna.
Enough Cash
Interim data from the clinical test submitted by GPC doesn't prove the drug helps prostate cancer patients live longer, the advisory committee said. The panel, which met in Rockville, Maryland, also questioned how the company did its analysis of disease progression and pain reduction in the study.
A slowdown in the death rate of patients on the trial means overall survival data won't be available for another six months, later than expected.
GPC has ``sufficient cash to get to the final survival analysis,'' said Martin Braendle, head of investor relations.
GPC said patients who took satraplatin in combination with steroids had a 33 percent lesser risk of cancer spreading than those taking steroids alone. Side effects from the drug were mostly mild and included nausea and fatigue.
``Without additional clinical trials, positive survival data appear to be the only way the drug will ever make it onto the market,'' Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Robert Uhl wrote today in a note to investors. Uhl cut his rating on Spectrum to ``market perform'' from ``outperform,'' and reduced his price target for the stock to $5.50 from $12.25.
Drug Side Effects
Satraplatin would become the first oral chemotherapy agent with platinum as the active ingredient if it eventually wins regulatory approval. Similar therapies, such as Sanofi-Aventis SA's Taxotere, must be given intravenously.
Taxotere is now the only approved treatment shown to improve survival in prostate cancer patients who have stopped responding to hormones. The injections extended lives by a median of 2.4 months in a clinical trial, although doctors representing GPC told the panel that the benefits of such drugs are limited by the potential for serious side effects.
``This is a rapidly progressing, debilitating and ultimately fatal disease,'' said Nicholas Vogelzang, of the Nevada Cancer Institute. ``There is an urgent need for effective and well- tolerated therapies.''
Almost 219,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and 27,050 men will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
source : www.bloomberg.com
The decline wiped about 180 million euros ($247 million) from GPC's market value after a panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted 12-0 yesterday to wait for more data on the treatment, called satraplatin. GPC, the company leading the drug's development, said it doesn't expect to have a survival analysis from its 950-patient study for another year.
Shares of Martinsried, Germany-based GPC fell 4.93 euros to close at 9.82 euros in Frankfurt. The stock had already lost 37 percent of its value after the FDA staff suggested on July 20 that available data wouldn't be enough to secure approval for the medicine by next month. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. would receive a portion of the drug's sales under a licensing accord with GPC.
``It would be a huge blow to GPC if satraplatin is not approved at all,'' said Isabella Zinck, an analyst at UniCredit in Munich. ``Right now, the product hasn't been rejected, it has just lost the chance of having an accelerated review. We can't say this is the end of GPC.''
Spectrum shares fell 71 cents, or 15 percent, to $4.09 at 12:11 p.m. in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The Irvine, California-based company has had a licensing agreement for satraplatin since 2002.
The panel advising the FDA recommended a delay until there is more data on whether satraplatin helped men with prostate cancer live longer. The FDA usually follows the recommendations of its advisers, although it isn't required to do so.
Better Than Narcotics?
``I'm not certain that satraplatin is better than narcotics'' in treating pain and improving quality of life, FDA panel member Otis Brawley, an oncology professor at Emory University in Atlanta, said yesterday. ``I do believe that satraplatin will meet that survival endpoint, but I think we need'' the data to be sure.
GPC Chief Executive Officer Bernd Seizinger said on a conference call today that he was disappointed with the FDA panel's recommendation.
The agency ``has the full range of options available to it,'' Seizinger said. ``It could issue an approvable letter, it could also issue a non-approvable letter.''
Regulators were scheduled to make a decision by Aug. 15 under an expedited review program for new compounds that serve an unmet need or represent significant improvements over existing drugs. The treatment, which is for use in men who haven't responded to chemotherapy, would be sold under the brand name Orplatna.
Enough Cash
Interim data from the clinical test submitted by GPC doesn't prove the drug helps prostate cancer patients live longer, the advisory committee said. The panel, which met in Rockville, Maryland, also questioned how the company did its analysis of disease progression and pain reduction in the study.
A slowdown in the death rate of patients on the trial means overall survival data won't be available for another six months, later than expected.
GPC has ``sufficient cash to get to the final survival analysis,'' said Martin Braendle, head of investor relations.
GPC said patients who took satraplatin in combination with steroids had a 33 percent lesser risk of cancer spreading than those taking steroids alone. Side effects from the drug were mostly mild and included nausea and fatigue.
``Without additional clinical trials, positive survival data appear to be the only way the drug will ever make it onto the market,'' Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Robert Uhl wrote today in a note to investors. Uhl cut his rating on Spectrum to ``market perform'' from ``outperform,'' and reduced his price target for the stock to $5.50 from $12.25.
Drug Side Effects
Satraplatin would become the first oral chemotherapy agent with platinum as the active ingredient if it eventually wins regulatory approval. Similar therapies, such as Sanofi-Aventis SA's Taxotere, must be given intravenously.
Taxotere is now the only approved treatment shown to improve survival in prostate cancer patients who have stopped responding to hormones. The injections extended lives by a median of 2.4 months in a clinical trial, although doctors representing GPC told the panel that the benefits of such drugs are limited by the potential for serious side effects.
``This is a rapidly progressing, debilitating and ultimately fatal disease,'' said Nicholas Vogelzang, of the Nevada Cancer Institute. ``There is an urgent need for effective and well- tolerated therapies.''
Almost 219,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and 27,050 men will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
source : www.bloomberg.com
Lou Henson being treated for cancer
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- Former New Mexico State and Illinois coach Lou Henson is being treated again for cancer.
Henson, 75, said Wednesday he has the same form of intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he was diagnosed with four years ago. He began chemotherapy treatments Tuesday in Champaign, Ill., where he lives during the summer.
"It's the same thing as what I had before. You can't ever completely get over it and we knew it would probably come back," Henson said. "We felt good about that because we know we can put it in remission again."
Henson underwent 81/2 hours of chemotherapy Tuesday with no ill effects. In fact, he said he played 18 holes of golf on Wednesday morning.
Henson retired in January 2005, 21 wins short of 800 victories. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma two years earlier and was hospitalized in 2004 with viral encephalitis, which left his right leg paralyzed.
Henson coached at New Mexico State, his alma mater, from 1966 to 1975, then spent 21 years at Illinois before retiring in 1996. He returned to New Mexico State after Neil McCarthy was fired before the start of the 1997-98 season.
Henson is the winningest coach at New Mexico State and Illinois and led both schools to the Final Four -- the Aggies in 1970 and the Illini in 1989. He compiled a career record of 779-413, the eighth-winningest men's coach in Division I history.
source : sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Henson, 75, said Wednesday he has the same form of intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he was diagnosed with four years ago. He began chemotherapy treatments Tuesday in Champaign, Ill., where he lives during the summer.
"It's the same thing as what I had before. You can't ever completely get over it and we knew it would probably come back," Henson said. "We felt good about that because we know we can put it in remission again."
Henson underwent 81/2 hours of chemotherapy Tuesday with no ill effects. In fact, he said he played 18 holes of golf on Wednesday morning.
Henson retired in January 2005, 21 wins short of 800 victories. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma two years earlier and was hospitalized in 2004 with viral encephalitis, which left his right leg paralyzed.
Henson coached at New Mexico State, his alma mater, from 1966 to 1975, then spent 21 years at Illinois before retiring in 1996. He returned to New Mexico State after Neil McCarthy was fired before the start of the 1997-98 season.
Henson is the winningest coach at New Mexico State and Illinois and led both schools to the Final Four -- the Aggies in 1970 and the Illini in 1989. He compiled a career record of 779-413, the eighth-winningest men's coach in Division I history.
source : sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Outcome Of Prostate Cancer Surgery Depends On The Experience Of The Surgeon
Science Daily — According to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer patients treated by highly experienced surgeons are much more likely to be cancer-free five years after surgery than patients treated by surgeons with less experience.
"The difference in outcome among patients who were treated by surgeons with varying degrees of experience is clinically relevant and likely reflects a true relationship between surgical technique and cancer control," said the study's lead author Andrew Vickers, PhD, Associate Attending Research Methodologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
Many studies have examined the relationship between surgical experience and patient outcomes. However, it is often unclear whether the findings are related to differences in surgical technique or result from differences in clinical variables or tumor characteristics. In the current study, the researchers adjusted for cancer severity, so that differences among surgeons likely reflect differences in the techniques they use rather than just differences in the patients they see.
Investigators analyzed the cancer outcomes of 7,765 prostate cancer patients who were treated with radical prostatectomy -- surgical removal of the prostate -- by one of 72 surgeons at four major US academic medical centers over a 16-year period. Sophisticated statistical models were used to evaluate the link between the total number of prostatectomies performed by the surgeon prior to each patient's operation and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (defined as a rising PSA level of more than 0.4 ng/mL).
The results showed that the risk of recurrence five years after surgery was 17.9 percent for patients treated by surgeons who had performed 10 operations and 10.7 percent for patients treated by surgeons who had performed 250 operations. This means that patients treated by inexperienced surgeons were nearly 70 percent more likely to have a recurrence of their prostate cancer than those who were treated by surgeons with greater experience. According to the analysis, one out of every 14 patients treated by an inexperienced surgeon will have a recurrence.
The results were described in terms of a learning curve, which showed a dramatic improvement in cancer control with increasing surgical experience up to 250 prior operations; however, there was no large change in recurrence rates with additional surgical experience.
"The learning curve is steep and did not start to plateau until a surgeon had completed 250 prior operations," said the study's senior author, Peter Scardino, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, MSKCC. "Surgeons with little experience get significantly poorer results than those who have more."
"Our results provide support for what other studies have implied -- that good technique is learned and increased volume leads to improved outcomes," said Dr. Vickers. "However, our focus on cancer outcome, the size of the difference in outcome associated with increasing surgical experience, and the large number of cases required before the learning curve starts to plateau, suggests that more serious attention should be paid to the issue of surgical quality."
The researchers note that the surgical technique of experienced surgeons may differ from that of surgeons with less experience. They conclude that further research is needed to determine how surgical technique might differ between these groups and to identify the critical aspects of radical prostatectomy that are associated with improved cancer control.
"Although the successful practice of surgery presumes a lifetime of learning, the large number of cases required before the learning curve plateaus suggests the need to expand opportunities for training in surgical technique for surgeons in the early years after residency training," said Dr. Scardino.
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, also contributed to this study. The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute and by the Allbritton Fund and the Koch Foundation.
"The difference in outcome among patients who were treated by surgeons with varying degrees of experience is clinically relevant and likely reflects a true relationship between surgical technique and cancer control," said the study's lead author Andrew Vickers, PhD, Associate Attending Research Methodologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
Many studies have examined the relationship between surgical experience and patient outcomes. However, it is often unclear whether the findings are related to differences in surgical technique or result from differences in clinical variables or tumor characteristics. In the current study, the researchers adjusted for cancer severity, so that differences among surgeons likely reflect differences in the techniques they use rather than just differences in the patients they see.
Investigators analyzed the cancer outcomes of 7,765 prostate cancer patients who were treated with radical prostatectomy -- surgical removal of the prostate -- by one of 72 surgeons at four major US academic medical centers over a 16-year period. Sophisticated statistical models were used to evaluate the link between the total number of prostatectomies performed by the surgeon prior to each patient's operation and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (defined as a rising PSA level of more than 0.4 ng/mL).
The results showed that the risk of recurrence five years after surgery was 17.9 percent for patients treated by surgeons who had performed 10 operations and 10.7 percent for patients treated by surgeons who had performed 250 operations. This means that patients treated by inexperienced surgeons were nearly 70 percent more likely to have a recurrence of their prostate cancer than those who were treated by surgeons with greater experience. According to the analysis, one out of every 14 patients treated by an inexperienced surgeon will have a recurrence.
The results were described in terms of a learning curve, which showed a dramatic improvement in cancer control with increasing surgical experience up to 250 prior operations; however, there was no large change in recurrence rates with additional surgical experience.
"The learning curve is steep and did not start to plateau until a surgeon had completed 250 prior operations," said the study's senior author, Peter Scardino, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, MSKCC. "Surgeons with little experience get significantly poorer results than those who have more."
"Our results provide support for what other studies have implied -- that good technique is learned and increased volume leads to improved outcomes," said Dr. Vickers. "However, our focus on cancer outcome, the size of the difference in outcome associated with increasing surgical experience, and the large number of cases required before the learning curve starts to plateau, suggests that more serious attention should be paid to the issue of surgical quality."
The researchers note that the surgical technique of experienced surgeons may differ from that of surgeons with less experience. They conclude that further research is needed to determine how surgical technique might differ between these groups and to identify the critical aspects of radical prostatectomy that are associated with improved cancer control.
"Although the successful practice of surgery presumes a lifetime of learning, the large number of cases required before the learning curve plateaus suggests the need to expand opportunities for training in surgical technique for surgeons in the early years after residency training," said Dr. Scardino.
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, also contributed to this study. The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute and by the Allbritton Fund and the Koch Foundation.
Group therapy fails to improve breast cancer survival
Group therapy fails to improve breast cancer survival
A follow up to a previous study on group therapy in breast cancer patients finds group therapy does not prolong the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. Published in the September 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the new case-control trial finds patients with metastatic breast cancer who took part in weekly group psychotherapy had similar survival rates as those given literature-based patient education. Earlier results from the same researcher had suggested a survival benefit of group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. However, the new study did find that women with estrogen receptor (ER) negative tumors did show survival benefit, and that group therapy improved quality of life (QOL), according to Eurekalert, the news service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Early reports in the 1980s and 1990s, including published studies by Dr. David Spiegel from Stanford University, found that group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer improved survival. Dr. Spiegel’s 1989 study found that women who received group therapy for one year were more likely to be alive 18-months after diagnosis compared to a group of patients who received no therapy. Four subsequent studies had similar results, but six other studies failed to confirm the finding. Dr. Spiegel and co-investigators sought to replicate their original finding in a new randomized prospective study. For the new study, half (64 of 125) of a group of 125 women with metastatic breast cancer received one year of weekly group support and psychotherapy, in addition to one year of educational literature offered to all subjects. All also received standard oncological treatment for their metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Spiegel and colleagues found no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Women who received supportive group therapy survived a median of 31 months, while group that received educational literature survived a median of 33 months. Further analysis did show a clear benefit for women with ER-negative tumors. Median survival in women with ER-negative tumors who received group therapy was 21 months longer than those who received educational literature (30 months versus 9 months). There was no survival benefit from psychotherapy treatment among women with ER-positive tumors. These women have benefited from improved hormonal treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors.
While there was no overall survival difference due to group therapy, Dr. Spiegel and colleagues point to the clear psychological benefit of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, writing that “being confronted with their ‘worst fears’ as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful.”
source : www.hindu.com/
A follow up to a previous study on group therapy in breast cancer patients finds group therapy does not prolong the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. Published in the September 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the new case-control trial finds patients with metastatic breast cancer who took part in weekly group psychotherapy had similar survival rates as those given literature-based patient education. Earlier results from the same researcher had suggested a survival benefit of group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. However, the new study did find that women with estrogen receptor (ER) negative tumors did show survival benefit, and that group therapy improved quality of life (QOL), according to Eurekalert, the news service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Early reports in the 1980s and 1990s, including published studies by Dr. David Spiegel from Stanford University, found that group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer improved survival. Dr. Spiegel’s 1989 study found that women who received group therapy for one year were more likely to be alive 18-months after diagnosis compared to a group of patients who received no therapy. Four subsequent studies had similar results, but six other studies failed to confirm the finding. Dr. Spiegel and co-investigators sought to replicate their original finding in a new randomized prospective study. For the new study, half (64 of 125) of a group of 125 women with metastatic breast cancer received one year of weekly group support and psychotherapy, in addition to one year of educational literature offered to all subjects. All also received standard oncological treatment for their metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Spiegel and colleagues found no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Women who received supportive group therapy survived a median of 31 months, while group that received educational literature survived a median of 33 months. Further analysis did show a clear benefit for women with ER-negative tumors. Median survival in women with ER-negative tumors who received group therapy was 21 months longer than those who received educational literature (30 months versus 9 months). There was no survival benefit from psychotherapy treatment among women with ER-positive tumors. These women have benefited from improved hormonal treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors.
While there was no overall survival difference due to group therapy, Dr. Spiegel and colleagues point to the clear psychological benefit of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, writing that “being confronted with their ‘worst fears’ as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful.”
source : www.hindu.com/
NSW cancer most prevalent in regional men: report
The New South Wales Cancer Council has released its map of the rate and type of cancers across the state between 1998 and 2002.
The report compares cancer incidence and mortality rates by Local Government Areas with the state's average figures.
It has found that men in regional NSW are more likely to die of preventable cancers such as head, neck, lung and oesophagus cancer than their city counterparts.
The report also found that the mortality rate from cancer increases for men living on the north and south coast, and for men living in the western suburbs of Sydney.
Women living in Penrith, southern Sydney and the eastern suburbs are more likely to die from lung cancer, while north shore women have a higher rate of breast cancer.
Liver cancer was found to be one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the state, and the report says it is more concentrated in inner and south-western Sydney suburbs, where there are large migrant populations.
The Council's Chief Doctor, Andrew Penman, says this may point to a higher rate of Hepatitis B infections among migrants from Vietnam, China and the Pacific.
"We believe it makes the case quite strongly for a coordinated national approach to Hepatitis B," he said.
"If liver cancer is detected early, it would improve survival from the very low level at the moment of ten per cent."
The study did not look at the reasons for the cancer trends, but Dr Penman, says local knowledge can be used to find solutions.
"There are usually logical reasons why we see geographical variations in men and women being diagnosed with, and dying from cancer," he said.
"It can be as simple as increased access to effective services, increased awareness amongst local GPs to look out for certain symptoms, lifestyle factors such as drinking, smoking and diet, or even a higher predisposition towards particular cancers among certain ethnic groups.
"This report is the first step in identifying community needs and moving towards a more equitable cancer prevention and treatment strategy."
The report was compiled by the NSW Cancer Council Epidemiology Research Unit, using data from the NSW Central Cancer Registry.
source : abc.net.au
The report compares cancer incidence and mortality rates by Local Government Areas with the state's average figures.
It has found that men in regional NSW are more likely to die of preventable cancers such as head, neck, lung and oesophagus cancer than their city counterparts.
The report also found that the mortality rate from cancer increases for men living on the north and south coast, and for men living in the western suburbs of Sydney.
Women living in Penrith, southern Sydney and the eastern suburbs are more likely to die from lung cancer, while north shore women have a higher rate of breast cancer.
Liver cancer was found to be one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the state, and the report says it is more concentrated in inner and south-western Sydney suburbs, where there are large migrant populations.
The Council's Chief Doctor, Andrew Penman, says this may point to a higher rate of Hepatitis B infections among migrants from Vietnam, China and the Pacific.
"We believe it makes the case quite strongly for a coordinated national approach to Hepatitis B," he said.
"If liver cancer is detected early, it would improve survival from the very low level at the moment of ten per cent."
The study did not look at the reasons for the cancer trends, but Dr Penman, says local knowledge can be used to find solutions.
"There are usually logical reasons why we see geographical variations in men and women being diagnosed with, and dying from cancer," he said.
"It can be as simple as increased access to effective services, increased awareness amongst local GPs to look out for certain symptoms, lifestyle factors such as drinking, smoking and diet, or even a higher predisposition towards particular cancers among certain ethnic groups.
"This report is the first step in identifying community needs and moving towards a more equitable cancer prevention and treatment strategy."
The report was compiled by the NSW Cancer Council Epidemiology Research Unit, using data from the NSW Central Cancer Registry.
source : abc.net.au
Breast cancer rate decline tied to less hormone use
Patient treatment records from a large HMO show that the recent decline in breast cancer rates is linked to a sharp drop in use of hormone replacement therapy and not to declines in mammography, researchers said Tuesday.
Dr. Andrew Glass and his colleagues at Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Ore., found a drop in breast cancer rates among their patients from 2003 to 2006 even though mammography rates remained virtually constant, they reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
A lower mammography rate means fewer breast cancers are detected. Researchers are not sure why the rate declined, but contributing factors include the closing of some mammography centers, the cost, the discomfort and fewer visits to doctors' offices because of the drop in hormone replacement therapy.
By using a patient population for whom the mammography rate remained constant, "we were able to disentangle mammography from hormones," Glass said.
In an editorial in the same journal, Dr. Donald Berry and Dr. Peter Ravdin of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston agreed that declines in mammography could not be responsible for the bulk of the decline in breast cancer.
"The only known factor that would seem to explain the precipitous drop in incidence is the sharp decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy," they wrote.
No one is suggesting that estrogen triggers the formation of breast tumors. Rather, most researchers think that it accelerates the growth of existing tumors. Stopping hormone replacement therapy slows the growth of small tumors, delaying their detection for perhaps a couple of years and producing an apparent decline in incidence, Berry and Ravdin speculated.
Prescriptions for estrogen and progestin fell by nearly half in 2003 after 2002 results from the Women's Health Initiative linked an increased breast cancer risk to hormone replacement therapy.
Berry and Ravdin reported last year that breast cancer rates fell 7 percent in 2003, attributing the decline to decreased use of hormone therapy. A second report this year showed that by the end of 2004, the incidence had dropped 11.8 percent among women over 50, the primary consumers of hormones.
source : www.mercurynews.com
Dr. Andrew Glass and his colleagues at Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Ore., found a drop in breast cancer rates among their patients from 2003 to 2006 even though mammography rates remained virtually constant, they reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
A lower mammography rate means fewer breast cancers are detected. Researchers are not sure why the rate declined, but contributing factors include the closing of some mammography centers, the cost, the discomfort and fewer visits to doctors' offices because of the drop in hormone replacement therapy.
By using a patient population for whom the mammography rate remained constant, "we were able to disentangle mammography from hormones," Glass said.
In an editorial in the same journal, Dr. Donald Berry and Dr. Peter Ravdin of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston agreed that declines in mammography could not be responsible for the bulk of the decline in breast cancer.
"The only known factor that would seem to explain the precipitous drop in incidence is the sharp decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy," they wrote.
No one is suggesting that estrogen triggers the formation of breast tumors. Rather, most researchers think that it accelerates the growth of existing tumors. Stopping hormone replacement therapy slows the growth of small tumors, delaying their detection for perhaps a couple of years and producing an apparent decline in incidence, Berry and Ravdin speculated.
Prescriptions for estrogen and progestin fell by nearly half in 2003 after 2002 results from the Women's Health Initiative linked an increased breast cancer risk to hormone replacement therapy.
Berry and Ravdin reported last year that breast cancer rates fell 7 percent in 2003, attributing the decline to decreased use of hormone therapy. A second report this year showed that by the end of 2004, the incidence had dropped 11.8 percent among women over 50, the primary consumers of hormones.
source : www.mercurynews.com
Pancreatic cancer no death warrant
There are survivors
Having survived pancreatic cancer for more than 5.5 years, I appreciated the Chronicle's July 23 article "Doctors step up pancreatic cancer fight." I've made it a priority to speak to many patients who have had this disease and their caregivers: All are looking for information.
Most especially, they are looking for positive news of research and treatment.
It is hard enough being diagnosed with cancer, but hearing that it is one that is so difficult to treat makes the diagnosis even more difficult. While pancreatic cancer can be a tough disease to beat, it is important for everyone to remember that there are survivors.
I am blessed to be one and hopefully, with advances in pancreatic cancer research, there will be many more who are just as blessed.
Locals' visibility
The Chronicle's July 23 article "Pancreatic cancer fight" accurately portrayed a medical battle that has received minimal media coverage and inadequate medical research.
And until locals such as Robert Finger and Marvin Zindler brought some local visibility, this medical crisis had been ignored here in Houston.
However, the Chronicle focused solely on a "legacy of death" in its article. Why not take this report beyond its negative conclusion and find a reason for hope? I have the authority to expect hope, as I was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer, which later spread to new malignancies on my liver (like Zindler). But I fought it with combined medical and homeopathic therapies and am now in remission.
source : www.chron.com
Having survived pancreatic cancer for more than 5.5 years, I appreciated the Chronicle's July 23 article "Doctors step up pancreatic cancer fight." I've made it a priority to speak to many patients who have had this disease and their caregivers: All are looking for information.
Most especially, they are looking for positive news of research and treatment.
It is hard enough being diagnosed with cancer, but hearing that it is one that is so difficult to treat makes the diagnosis even more difficult. While pancreatic cancer can be a tough disease to beat, it is important for everyone to remember that there are survivors.
I am blessed to be one and hopefully, with advances in pancreatic cancer research, there will be many more who are just as blessed.
Locals' visibility
The Chronicle's July 23 article "Pancreatic cancer fight" accurately portrayed a medical battle that has received minimal media coverage and inadequate medical research.
And until locals such as Robert Finger and Marvin Zindler brought some local visibility, this medical crisis had been ignored here in Houston.
However, the Chronicle focused solely on a "legacy of death" in its article. Why not take this report beyond its negative conclusion and find a reason for hope? I have the authority to expect hope, as I was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer, which later spread to new malignancies on my liver (like Zindler). But I fought it with combined medical and homeopathic therapies and am now in remission.
source : www.chron.com
Beef, breast cancer and fundraising
Earlier this year, the Calgary Stampede issued a press release saying: "The 2007 Calgary Stampede will see a concentrated focus on the beef industry." In October, the Stampede will play host to "Beef 2007," the International Livestock Congress. Nothing odd about that. After all, rodeo and the beef industry are inextricably linked, with one promoting and supporting the other. What is odd is that the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) would involve itself with activities that promote the consumption of beef when meat has been linked to cancer in numerous studies.
In the past couple of years, a number of rodeos across Canada, most notably the Calgary Stampede, have taken part in a fundraising campaign for the CBCF called Tough Enough to Wear Pink. Supported by the Wrangler clothing company, the campaign raises money through the sale of pink Wrangler shirts and other pink-themed merchandise, a percentage of which goes to the CBCF.
Everyone seems to benefit. Wrangler's brand is promoted and the CBCF gets money for cancer research. And the rodeo can associate itself with a worthy cause — quite handy to blunt criticism over its controversial treatment of animals (although one anti-rodeo activist recently told a Calgary newspaper that it was like putting pink icing on a cow pat).
But, while the CBCF joins the cowboys, cattle producers and meat companies at rodeo barbecues across the country, shouldn't it consider the health implications of the product it is indirectly helping to promote? In 2007 alone, several pieces of research have made connections between meat consumption and breast cancer.
Earlier this month, a well-publicized study showed that Asian women who adopted the Western "meat-sweet" (high in meat and sugar) were at higher risk of developing breast cancer. In May, a study funded by the American Institute for Cancer Research found that women who consistently consume a diet high in grilled, barbecued or smoked meat and low in vegetables and fruit significantly increased their risk of developing post-menopausal breast cancer. In April, an eight-year study at the University of Leeds found that women eating large amounts of red and processed meat have a significantly higher chance of developing breast cancer compared to those on vegetarian diets.
Earlier studies made similar findings. In 2006, for example, a Harvard Medical School study found that younger women who regularly ate red meat appear to face an increased risk of breast cancer. In 2003, a study at the Portland VA Medical Center found red meat intake was significantly associated with an increased breast cancer risk.
These come on top of a number of studies associating meat consumption with a variety of other cancers, such as colon, stomach and bowel.
While scientists may debate whether there is enough evidence for a certain causal relationship between meat and breast cancer, surely there is sufficient information to raise serious concerns.
Some cancer charities recommend limiting meat consumption. The World Cancer Research Fund, for example, advises eating no more than 80 grams of red meat a day. Obviously, a precautionary approach makes sense to some experts.
Given all this, you would think that the CBCF would stay well clear of even the most tenuous association with the meat industry. Linking up with rodeos and cattlemen is a bit like the Canadian Lung Association raising funds at an event sponsored by the tobacco industry.
The hoopla that surrounds the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign is supposed to raise awareness of cancer. But are all those people buying pink shirts at rodeos being made aware of the mounting research that links cancer and meat? Perhaps that wouldn't go down too well when the Calgary Stampede is hosting "Beef 2007."
Everyone wants to find a cure for cancer, but there seems to be more and more people interested in preventing the disease. If diet, including the reduction of meat consumption, proves to be part of an effective prevention strategy, then how will the CBCF justify its public relations connections to the very people who help promote meat?
Perhaps it's time the CBCF looks beyond lucrative fundraising schemes and seeks partners more in line with its purpose.
source : www.theglobeandmail.com
In the past couple of years, a number of rodeos across Canada, most notably the Calgary Stampede, have taken part in a fundraising campaign for the CBCF called Tough Enough to Wear Pink. Supported by the Wrangler clothing company, the campaign raises money through the sale of pink Wrangler shirts and other pink-themed merchandise, a percentage of which goes to the CBCF.
Everyone seems to benefit. Wrangler's brand is promoted and the CBCF gets money for cancer research. And the rodeo can associate itself with a worthy cause — quite handy to blunt criticism over its controversial treatment of animals (although one anti-rodeo activist recently told a Calgary newspaper that it was like putting pink icing on a cow pat).
But, while the CBCF joins the cowboys, cattle producers and meat companies at rodeo barbecues across the country, shouldn't it consider the health implications of the product it is indirectly helping to promote? In 2007 alone, several pieces of research have made connections between meat consumption and breast cancer.
Earlier this month, a well-publicized study showed that Asian women who adopted the Western "meat-sweet" (high in meat and sugar) were at higher risk of developing breast cancer. In May, a study funded by the American Institute for Cancer Research found that women who consistently consume a diet high in grilled, barbecued or smoked meat and low in vegetables and fruit significantly increased their risk of developing post-menopausal breast cancer. In April, an eight-year study at the University of Leeds found that women eating large amounts of red and processed meat have a significantly higher chance of developing breast cancer compared to those on vegetarian diets.
Earlier studies made similar findings. In 2006, for example, a Harvard Medical School study found that younger women who regularly ate red meat appear to face an increased risk of breast cancer. In 2003, a study at the Portland VA Medical Center found red meat intake was significantly associated with an increased breast cancer risk.
These come on top of a number of studies associating meat consumption with a variety of other cancers, such as colon, stomach and bowel.
While scientists may debate whether there is enough evidence for a certain causal relationship between meat and breast cancer, surely there is sufficient information to raise serious concerns.
Some cancer charities recommend limiting meat consumption. The World Cancer Research Fund, for example, advises eating no more than 80 grams of red meat a day. Obviously, a precautionary approach makes sense to some experts.
Given all this, you would think that the CBCF would stay well clear of even the most tenuous association with the meat industry. Linking up with rodeos and cattlemen is a bit like the Canadian Lung Association raising funds at an event sponsored by the tobacco industry.
The hoopla that surrounds the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign is supposed to raise awareness of cancer. But are all those people buying pink shirts at rodeos being made aware of the mounting research that links cancer and meat? Perhaps that wouldn't go down too well when the Calgary Stampede is hosting "Beef 2007."
Everyone wants to find a cure for cancer, but there seems to be more and more people interested in preventing the disease. If diet, including the reduction of meat consumption, proves to be part of an effective prevention strategy, then how will the CBCF justify its public relations connections to the very people who help promote meat?
Perhaps it's time the CBCF looks beyond lucrative fundraising schemes and seeks partners more in line with its purpose.
source : www.theglobeandmail.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Group therapy fails to improve breast cancer survival
A follow up to a previous study on group therapy in breast cancer patients finds group therapy does not prolong the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. Published in the September 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the new case-control trial finds patients with metastatic breast cancer who took part in weekly group psychotherapy had similar survival rates as those given literature-based patient education. Earlier results from the same researcher had suggested a survival benefit of group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. However, the new study did find that women with estrogen receptor (ER) negative tumors did show survival benefit, and that group therapy improved quality of life (QOL), according to Eurekalert, the news service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Early reports in the 1980s and 1990s, including published studies by Dr. David Spiegel from Stanford University, found that group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer improved survival. Dr. Spiegel’s 1989 study found that women who received group therapy for one year were more likely to be alive 18-months after diagnosis compared to a group of patients who received no therapy. Four subsequent studies had similar results, but six other studies failed to confirm the finding. Dr. Spiegel and co-investigators sought to replicate their original finding in a new randomized prospective study. For the new study, half (64 of 125) of a group of 125 women with metastatic breast cancer received one year of weekly group support and psychotherapy, in addition to one year of educational literature offered to all subjects. All also received standard oncological treatment for their metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Spiegel and colleagues found no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Women who received supportive group therapy survived a median of 31 months, while group that received educational literature survived a median of 33 months. Further analysis did show a clear benefit for women with ER-negative tumors. Median survival in women with ER-negative tumors who received group therapy was 21 months longer than those who received educational literature (30 months versus 9 months). There was no survival benefit from psychotherapy treatment among women with ER-positive tumors. These women have benefited from improved hormonal treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors.
While there was no overall survival difference due to group therapy, Dr. Spiegel and colleagues point to the clear psychological benefit of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, writing that “being confronted with their ‘worst fears’ as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful.”
SOURCE : www.hindu.com
Early reports in the 1980s and 1990s, including published studies by Dr. David Spiegel from Stanford University, found that group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer improved survival. Dr. Spiegel’s 1989 study found that women who received group therapy for one year were more likely to be alive 18-months after diagnosis compared to a group of patients who received no therapy. Four subsequent studies had similar results, but six other studies failed to confirm the finding. Dr. Spiegel and co-investigators sought to replicate their original finding in a new randomized prospective study. For the new study, half (64 of 125) of a group of 125 women with metastatic breast cancer received one year of weekly group support and psychotherapy, in addition to one year of educational literature offered to all subjects. All also received standard oncological treatment for their metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Spiegel and colleagues found no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Women who received supportive group therapy survived a median of 31 months, while group that received educational literature survived a median of 33 months. Further analysis did show a clear benefit for women with ER-negative tumors. Median survival in women with ER-negative tumors who received group therapy was 21 months longer than those who received educational literature (30 months versus 9 months). There was no survival benefit from psychotherapy treatment among women with ER-positive tumors. These women have benefited from improved hormonal treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors.
While there was no overall survival difference due to group therapy, Dr. Spiegel and colleagues point to the clear psychological benefit of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, writing that “being confronted with their ‘worst fears’ as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful.”
SOURCE : www.hindu.com
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