Cancer Research: Three hits to fight lung cancer ♦ Novel RNA delivery system may treat incurable blood cancers ♦ Quickly identifying tumors by using antibodies

New breast cancer drug may be effective against other types of cancer Palbociclib, a new oral drug whose efficacy in combating breast cancer has been demonstrated alone and in combination with endocrine therapy, also has potential to combat other types of cancer, according to a literature review and additional original research.

Quickly identifying tumors by using antibodies Antibodies combat viruses and bacteria. They also attach themselves to cancer cells – in a typical, characteristic way. Scientists are using this property to detect cancer cells in tissue samples. Such rapid tests can already be applied by surgeons during operations – within a few minutes and without expensive equipment.

Three hits to fight lung cancer Cancers with KRAS-related gene mutations might benefit from a triple therapy with two experimental drugs plus radiation therapy, a new study in mice has shown

Novel RNA delivery system may treat incurable blood cancers Mantle Cell Lymphoma is considered the most aggressive known blood cancer, and available therapies are scarce. A new study offers tangible hope of curing the currently incurable cancer -- and others like it.

Cancer Research: Antibody-drug compounds and immunotherapy to treat breast cancer ♦ Drug may prevent life-threatening muscle loss in advanced cancers

Investigational drug may prevent life-threatening muscle loss in advanced cancers New data describes how an experimental drug can stop life-threatening muscle wasting (cachexia) associated with advanced cancers and restore muscle health. The experimental agent, known as AR-42 while in testing, was tested in preclinical studies

Detecting cancer cells before they form metastases A new method to detect cancer cells in the blood before they settle in the tissue and form a new tumor has been developed by a team of researchers. To date, it has been difficult to detect cancer cells in the blood at an early stage: about one malignant cell is encountered per billion of healthy cells.

Anticancer agent FL118 more potent than its analogs, not prone to typical channels of resistance A new synthetic form of camptothecin appears to have greater potency, longer efficacy and fewer adverse side effects than irinotecan and topotecan.

Antibody-drug compounds and immunotherapy to treat breast cancer To more efficiently treat breast cancer, scientists have been researching molecules that selectively bind to cancer cells and deliver a substance that can kill the tumor cells, for several years. Researchers have now, for the first time, successfully combined such an antibody-drug conjugate with a therapy that stimulates the immune system to attack tumor cells. This opens the door to new therapeutic options in the treatment of breast cancer

Health Research: Implant procedure helps patients with sacroiliac joint pain ♦ New insights into REM sleep crack an enduring mystery ♦ Study combats 'anxiety' as barrier to breast cancer screening

New insights into REM sleep crack an enduring mystery has long fascinated scientists, clinicians, philosophers, and artists alike, but the identity of the neurons that control REM sleep, and its function in sleep have been controversial due to a lack of precise genetic methods to study the sleeping brain. Now, in a remarkable demonstration of a recent brain technology, neuroscientists provide the first answers to both questions, identifying a neural circuit in the brain that regulates REM sleep, and showing that REM sleep controls the physiology of the other major sleep phage.

Advocating for raising the smoking age to 21 A physician, who during his 31-year career in medicine has seen the harmful effects of smoking on his patients, advocates for raising the smoking age to 21. He says the move would help curb access to tobacco products at an early age and lead to reductions in smoking prevalence.

Study combats 'anxiety' as barrier to breast cancer screening A new article describes a successful intervention to decrease anxiety accompanying breast cancer screening, lessening this barrier to mammography.

Implant procedure helps patients with sacroiliac joint pain A minimally invasive implant procedure is highly effective in reducing pain and disability for patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Plague in humans 'twice as old' but didn't begin as flea-borne, ancient DNA reveals New research dates plague back to the early Bronze Age, showing it had been endemic in humans across Eurasia for millennia prior to first recorded global outbreak, and that ancestral plague mutated into its bubonic, flea-borne form between the 2nd and 1st millennium BC

Cancer Research: Orange lichens are potential source for anticancer drugs ♦ Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer ♦ Studies point to clinical advantages of proton therapy

Discovery opens door to new strategy for cancer immunotherapy Scientists raise the prospect of cancer therapy that works by converting a tumor's best friends in the immune system into its gravest enemies. The team has uncovered a mechanism that allows key immune system cells to keep a steady rein on their more belligerent brother cells, thereby protecting normal, healthy tissue from assault. The discovery has powerful implications for cancer immunotherapy.

Studies point to clinical advantages of proton therapy New data from clinical trials demonstrate the technology's potential advantages over conventional radiation, including less side effects and survival in some cases, for several harder-to-treat tumors: pancreatic, late-stage, non-small cell lung and chordoma and chondrosarcoma, two rare cancers found in bone or soft tissue.

Orange lichens are potential source for anticancer drugs An orange pigment found in lichens and rhubarb called parietin may have potential as an anti-cancer drug because it interferes with the metabolic enzyme 6PGD.

Test could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the brain Women with particularly aggressive forms of breast cancer could be identified by a test that predicts whether the disease is likely to spread to the brain. An analysis of almost 4,000 patients with breast cancer found that testing for high activity in a particular gene could pick out women who were at greater risk of developing secondary brain tumors compared to women who tested negative.

Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer Saying that the link between alcohol and cancer is dangerous is nothing new. Five Spanish universities and more than 300,000 female volunteers participated in a European investigation that is now confirming that alcohol intake increases the chances of developing breast cancer. This risk quadruples with the intake of each daily glass of wine or beer.

Cancer Research: Groundbreaking computer program diagnoses cancer in two days ♦ New method to predict increased risk of non-familial breast cancer

Research connects specific variations in RNA splicing with breast cancer causation Researchers have identified cellular changes traceable to an RNA splicing factor that's also an oncoprotein that may play a role in converting normal breast cells into tumors. Targeting these changes could potentially lead to therapies for some forms of breast cancer,.

New method to predict increased risk of non-familial breast cancer By detecting cancer at an early stage, or even predicting who has an increased risk of being affected, the possibilities to treat the disease can be radically improved. Now researchers have discovered that apparently healthy breast cells contain genetic aberrations that can be associated with an increased risk for nonfamilial breast cancer.

Research calls for stricter screening recommendations for family history of colon cancer All relatives of individuals with colorectal cancer are at increased risk for this cancer, regardless of the age of diagnosis of the index patient in the family, according to a new study

Groundbreaking computer program diagnoses cancer in two days In about one in 20 cancer cases, the doctor can confirm that the patient has cancer -- but cannot find the source. These patients then face the prospect of a long wait with numerous diagnostic tests and attempts to locate the origin of the cancer before starting any treatment. Now, researchers have combined genetics with computer science and created a new diagnostic technology based on advanced self-learning computer algorithms which can, with 85 per cent certainty, identify the source of the disease and thus target treatment.

Cancer Research: Post diagnosis aspirin improves survival in all gastrointestinal cancers ♦Drug combination improves progression-free survival in melanoma patients

Fungi may lead to cheaper cancer treatment, Cheaper anti-cancer drugs for humans might ultimately stem from a new study. Scientists have developed a kind of microbial 'bandage' that protects yew trees from disease-causing fungi. The researchers found that naturally occurring fungi in the yew's vascular system act like an immune system to swarm a wound site and protect against invading pathogens.

Drug combination improves progression-free survival in melanoma patients Patients with advanced melanoma skin cancer survive for longer without their disease progressing if they have been treated with a combination of two drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, than with either of these drugs alone. New results show that these patients also do better regardless of their age, stage of disease and whether or not they have a cancer-driving mutation in the BRAF gene.

Hormonal therapy may prevent ovarian failure and preserve fertility in breast cancer Young women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer may be more likely to remain fertile if they also receive hormonal treatment.

Combining 2 targeted therapies results in melanoma patients living significantly longer Latest results from a trial of a combination of two targeted therapies (dabrafenib and trametinib) to treat advanced melanoma have shown that patients are living significantly longer on the combined therapy than patients treated with another drug, vemurafenib, when used alone.

Post diagnosis aspirin improves survival in all gastrointestinal cancers, Aspirin improves survival in patients with tumors situated throughout the gastrointestinal tract, results from a large study show.

Cancer Research: Artificial intelligence used to improve breast cancert outcomes ♦ Study of leukemias in children living close to heavily used roads

New approach found to tackle breast cancer hormone therapy resistance A new explanation has been found as to why women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer develop resistance to hormone treatment, and a potential new approach to overcome the problem

Study of leukemias in children living close to heavily used roads The risk of acute leukemia in children living close to heavily used roads has been the focus of recent study. The results of the study show that the incidence of new cases of myeloblastic leukemia (418 of 2,760 cases of leukemia) was 30 percent higher in children in the population whose residence was located within 150 m of heavily used roads, and had a combined length of over 260 m within this radius

Surgical probe seeks out where cancer ends and healthy tissue begins A new surgical tool that uses light to make sure surgeons removing cancerous tumors 'got it all' was found to correlate well with traditional pathologists' diagnoses in a clinical study, showing that the tool could soon enable reliable, real-time guidance for surgeons

Artificial intelligence used to improve breast cancer patient outcomes Researchers are working on a way to use artificial intelligence to predict a patient's response to two common chemotherapy medications used to treat breast cancer -- paclitaxel and gemcitabine. They are hoping to one day remove the guesswork from breast cancer treatment with this technique

Imaging method has potential to stratify head and neck cancer patients A potential new way to predict which patients with head and neck cancer may benefit most from chemotherapy has been identified by researchers. These patients commonly receive pre-treatment induction chemotherapy, before either surgery or radiotherapy, to reduce the risk of disease spread. However the effectiveness of such treatment is reduced in tumors with poor blood flow

Women's Health: Atomic force microscope advance leads to new breast cancer research ♦ Targeting mistreatment of women during childbirth ♦ Women's faces get redder at ovulation,

Targeting mistreatment of women during childbirth Scientists have synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence to form a clearer picture of the extent and types of mistreatment that occurs during childbirth in health facilities. Such initiatives are key to developing policies to reduce and ultimately eliminate this inhumane and degrading phenomenon.

Women's faces get redder at ovulation, but human eyes can't pick up on it Past research shows men find female faces more attractive at peak fertility. A new study shows an increased redness of women's face skin at the most fertile point of ovulatory cycle, but just under the threshold for detectability, ruling out skin coloration as a driver of the attractiveness effect.

Osteopathic manipulative therapy significantly improves low back pain in postpartum women Osteopathic manipulative therapy decreased postpartum low back pain by over 70 percent in women who had given birth at least three months before beginning treatment.

Atomic force microscope advance leads to new breast cancer research Researchers who developed a high-speed form of atomic force microscopy have shown how to image the physical properties of live breast cancer cells, for the first time revealing details about how deactivation of a key protein may lead to metastasis.

Alcohol sensitizes brain response to food aromas, increases food intake in women The first study of its kind measuring the brain's role in mediating caloric intake following alcohol consumption among women shows that alcohol exposure sensitizes the brain's response to food aromas and increases caloric intake.

Cancer Research: Blood test for lung cancer a step closer ♦ Researchers define unique group of high-risk lymphoma patient ♦ Breast cancer treatment with fewer potential side effects

Breast cancer treatment with fewer potential side effects has equally good patient outcomes Women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with a one-week regimen of partial breast radiation after the surgical removal of the tumor, or lumpectomy, saw no increase in cancer recurrence or difference in cosmetic outcomes compared to women who received radiation of the entire breast for a period of up to six weeks after surgery.

Researchers define unique group of high-risk lymphoma patients About 20 percent of follicular lymphoma patients consistently experience their disease coming back within two years of being treated with the latest therapies. New research confirms that patients in this group have very poor survival outcomes; 50 percent die in five years. People who relapse early may have a disease with distinctly different biology and should not be approached the same at diagnosis nor at the time of relapse in terms of therapies

Blood test for lung cancer a step closer Two oncologists and a research scientist are helping pave the way to an easier, more accurate, less invasive way to screen for the most common form of lung cancer. Lung cancer the number one cancer killer in the United States

Treatment with PI3K inhibitors may cause cancers to become more aggressive and metastatic The enzyme PI3K appears to be exploited in almost every type of human cancer, making it the focus of considerable interest as a therapeutic target. However, PI3K inhibitors have only shown modest clinical activity. Now, new research shows that treatment with PI3K inhibitors alone may actually make a patient’s cancer even worse by promoting more aggressive tumor cell behavior and increasing the cancer’s potential of spreading to other organs.

Cancer Research:Breast cancer could be stopped in its tracks ♦ Study could explain why ovarian cancer treatments fail ♦ Proteins identified to target in osteosarcoma treatment

Breast cancer could be stopped in its tracks’ by new technique Certain breast cancers spread to the bones using an enzyme that drills “seed holes” for planting new tumours. The discovery could lead to treatments aimed at preventing secondary breast cancers in patients with non-hormone sensitive disease. The enzyme lysyl oxidase (Lox) is released from the primary tumour in the breast. Scientists found that it produces holes

Study could explain why ovarian cancer treatments fail Ovarian cancer cells can lock into survival mode and avoid being destroyed by chemotherapy. The research used whole genome sequencing to analyse tumor DNA samples from 91 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Researchers identify origin of chromosomal oddity in some cancer cells Surveys of the genomic terrain of cancer have turned up a curious phenomenon in some tumor cells: a massive rearrangement of DNA in one or a few chromosomes, thought to be produced during a single cell cycle. Scientists demonstrate how this sudden, isolated shuffling of genetic material can occur.

Scientists identify key to preventing secondary cancers Breast cancer is a disease that commonly spreads to other areas of the body; the most common site for the disease to spread is the bone. Leading scientists have identified a possible key to preventing secondary cancers in breast cancer patients, after discovering an enzyme that enhances the spread of the disease. They also report that an existing class of drugs for osteoporosis could stop the spread of the disease

Potential proteins identified to target in osteosarcoma treatment The genes and pathways that, when altered, can cause osteosarcoma have been identified by researchers using new models. The information could be used to better target treatments for the often-deadly type of cancer

Cancer Research: Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types ♦ Tumor surroundings are shown to affect progression ♦ Resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed

Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types through MRI 'virtual biopsy' A tiny drug-delivery system has been invented that can identify cancer cell types in the brain through 'virtual biopsies' and then attack the molecular structure of the disease. The results could be used to deliver nano-scale drugs that can distinguish and fight tumor cells in the brain without resorting to surgery.

How DNA is organized in our cells A critical role for two proteins in chromatin structure has been uncovered by researchers. Their breakthrough helps explain how DNA is organized in our cells. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of what causes certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma.

Therapy-resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed A cluster of defined, non-coding RNAs are mechanistically involved in endocrine therapy resistance in human breast cancer cells. Furthermore, resveratrol, a kind of polyphenol, was found to repress these RNAs and inhibit the proliferative activity of breast cancer cells which had acquired resistance

Two new, very large classes of RNAs found to be linked to cancer biomark Two new classes of RNAs have been identified that are closely associated with a protein known to be a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer and could play a role in progression of prostate cancer.

Tumor surroundings are shown to affect progression of different cancer subtypes Our environment can have a major impact on how we develop, and it turns out it's no different for cancer cells. A team of researchers reports that two different mouse models of breast cancer progressed differently based on characteristics of the tumor microenvironment -- the area of tissue in which the tumor is embedded.

Women's Health: Importance of counselling in those affected by infertility ♦ Overnight fasting reduces breast cancer risk ♦ Obstructive sleep apnea following childbirth

Why everything you've heard about women and negotiation might be wrong A student was listening to a lecture on a commonly held trope about negotiation -- that women are bad at it -- but the conventional wisdom didn’t fit with her experience at all. She did some new research and discovered that women who had experience with successful negotiation were superior negotiators to men,

Importance of counselling in those affected by infertility The psychological impact and private agony of infertility must be carefully considered by healthcare professionals. At present, the counseling role occupies a unique and diverse position within the infertility field, including that of patient advocate, gatekeeper, researcher, educator, supportive resource to colleagues, confidante and point of liaison,

Overnight fasting may reduce breast cancer risk in women A decrease in the amount of time spent eating and an increase in overnight fasting reduces glucose levels and may reduce the risk of breast cancer among women, report researchers. Women who fasted for longer periods of time overnight had significantly better control over blood glucose concentrations. The data shows that each three hour increase in nighttime fasting was associated with a 4 percent lower postprandial glucose level, regardless of how much women ate

Elevated upper body position improves respiratory safety in women following childbirth Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is less common in young women, sleep apnea was found in 4.9 percent in a cohort of pregnant women. In addition, OSA worsens as pregnancy progresses and is likely to persist into the early postpartum period. An elevated upper body position might improve respiratory safety in women early after childbirth without impairing sleep quality,

Cancer Research: Tumor cells that mimic blood vessels ♦ Biologists identify brain tumor weakness ♦ Cost of cancer drugs varies widely

Cost of cancer drugs varies widely based on who;s paying Uninsured cancer patients are asked to pay anywhere from two to 43 times what Medicare would pay for chemotherapy drugs, according to a new study. Uninsured patients who did not negotiate billed amounts for chemo drugs could expect to pay $6,711 for an infusion of the colorectal cancer drug oxaliplatin. However, Medicare and private health plans only pay $3,090 and $3,616 for the same drug, respectively.

Too much of a bad thing can be good in brain tumors DNA mutations can cause cancer but in some cases, more mutations may mean a better prognosis for patients. A comprehensive genomic analysis of more than 700 brain tumors has revealed one such subtype of the most malignant brain tumor, called glioblastoma, or GBM. This subtype possesses thousands of tumor-specific DNA errors or mutations instead of dozens observed in most glioblastoma cases. It is also associated with longer survival.

Biologists identify brain tumor weakness A new discovery could offer more effective drugs to combat brain tumors, scientists report. The study found that a subset of glioblastoma tumor cells is dependent on a particular enzyme that breaks down the amino acid glycine. Without this enzyme, toxic metabolic byproducts build up inside the tumor cells, and they die.

Tumor cells that mimic blood vessels could help breast cancer spread to other sites The ability of tumor cells to form tubular networks that mimic blood vessels can help drive metastasis, the spread of breast cancer to different sites in the body, a mouse model study has demonstrated. The researchers are now examining what it takes for tumor cells that have exited from a primary tumor into the bloodstream to then get out of the bloodstream and colonize a new site in the body.

Cancer Research: Diabetes linked to advanced stage breast cancer ♦ Promising drug for treating leukemia ♦ Fitness level lower risk of some cancers

Women with diabetes more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer  Diabetes is associated with more advanced stage breast cancer.A new study that confirms a strong link between diabetes and later stage breast cancer. Continue Reading

Promising drug a 'new paradigm' for treating leukemia  A compound that delays leukemia in mice and effectively kills leukemia cells in human tissue samples has been developed by researchers, raising hopes that the drug could lead to improved treatments in people. Continue Reading

Blood test can help some bowel cancer patients avoid unnecessary drug side-effects Researchers have provided early evidence to suggest that a blood test could be used to identify bowel cancer patients that may benefit from more intensive chemotherapy Continue Reading

Fitness level associated with lower risk of some cancers, death in men  Men with a high fitness level in midlife appear to be at lower risk for lung and colorectal cancer, but not prostate cancer, and that higher fitness level also may put them at lower risk of death if they are diagnosed with cancer when they're older. Continue Reading

Cancer Research: Sweeping prostate cancer review ♦ Tumor sanctuaries ♦ Stress management techniques improve quality of life for women with breast cancer + more

Sweeping prostate cancer review upends widely held view on radiation  Two new studies have upended the widely held view that it's best to delay radiation treatment as long as possible after the removal of the prostate in order to prevent unwanted side effects. The findings inject hard facts into a debate Continue Reading

Cancer therapy 'tumor sanctuaries' and the breeding ground of resistance  Tumors acquiring resistance is one of the major barriers to successful cancer therapy. Scientists use mathematical models to characterize how important aspects of tumor microenvironment can impair the efficacy of targeted cancer therapies. Continue Reading

Stress management techniques improve long-term mood and quality of life for women with breast cancer  A new study shows that providing women with skills to manage stress early in their breast cancer treatment can improve their mood and quality of life .Continue Reading

New potential for personalized treatments in bowel cancer  Genetic changes in bowel tumors are linked to the way the body’s immune system responds to the cancer. Scientists can now start looking at what causes a weak immune Continue Reading

Immune markers discovered that can predict ovarian cancer patients' response to treatment  A biomarker that will help lead to better predictions of the success of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients has been discovered by researchers. This discovery could lead to better treatment options in the fight against ovarian cancer  Continue Reading

10/7/14 Health News: GLOBAL BURDEN OF LISTERIA ♦ Latest on soy and breast cancer ♦ RODENTS, INSECTS AND DRUG RESIDUES

WHO STUDY MEASURES GLOBAL BURDEN OF LISTERIA

In 2010, Listeria monocytogenes was estimated to infect 23,150 people worldwide. It killed 5,463 of them, or 23.6 percent, according to a new study by European researchers in the World Health Organization (WHO) published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The researchers say that an urgent effort is needed to fill in information on Listeria infections... Continue Reading

The latest on soy and breast cancer: What you need to know

Could your daily soy lattes up your risk of breast cancer or lend a protective effect? So far, the research has been conflicting. While some studies have shown that soy can increase tumor growth at the cellular level, other research has found that soy may actually have a protective effect. Continue Reading

FDA WARNING LETTERS: LISTERIA, RODENTS, INSECTS AND DRUG RESIDUES

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials recently sent warning letters to owners of a pizza dough and cheese grating/repackaging facility in NY, a fortune cookie manufacturing plant in GA, a rice storage/milling facility in FL, two dairies in NY and one in OH. Losurdo Foods Inc. of Hackensack, NJ, was a sent a letter... Continue Reading

6/15/!4 Health News: Semen Test for Prostate Cancer ♦ CHIA SEEDS:CAUSE 65 SALMONELLA INFECTIONS, ♦ Test Predicts if Breast Cancer Will Spread ♦ Babies May Get Allergy Protection Roaches

CHIA SEEDS: 65 SALMONELLA INFECTIONS, EXPANDING RECALL

Chia seeds are an increasingly popular ingredient in the health food world. The Dr. Oz Show and various health magazines have been highlighting them, and recipes with this “superfood” have been popping up all over Pinterest and BuzzFeed. But before you go adding chia powder to your morning smoothie, check to be sure it isn’t... Continue Reading

New Test Predicts if Breast Cancer Will Spread

A test that counts the number of locations in tumor specimens where tumor cells may invade blood vessels predicted the risk of metastasis for the most common type of breast cancer.. "Tests assessing metastatic risk can help doctors identify which patients should receive aggressive therapy and which patients should be spared," said Thomas Rohan, M.D., Ph.D., the lead and corresponding author of the study. Continue Reading

Babies May Get Allergy Protection From Cats, Even Roaches

Cockroaches might not seem to have much in common with farm animals. But a new study suggests urban newborns who share their homes with cockroaches, mice and cats might get the same kind of protection from allergies and asthma that farm children seem to get from the animals in their barns. Continue Reading

Semen Test for Prostate Cancer May Improve Diagnosis,

Semen contains prostate cancer biomarkers that could over time improve diagnosis of the condition, a group of Australian researchers said. After analyzing seminal fluid samples from 60 men, the researchers discovered tiny molecules called microRNAs known to be elevated in prostate cancer Continue Reading

3/23/14 Health News • Delaware didn’t inspect Cheese Plant that caused Listeria Infections ♦ Vitamin D Helps Breast Cancer Survival ♦ Coffee Fuels Drive for Drugs for Parkinson’s to Dementia

Delaware didn’t inspect Cheese Plant that caused Listeria Infections

The Delaware News Journal reported the reason not to inspect cheese producers like Roos Foods before it was shut down for Listeria was Delaware never sought expanded food safety inspection powers.

State rules kept blinders on local inspectors who made quarterly sanitation and compliance checks in a separate section where sour cream was produced in the same plant building that sent cheese to 10 eastern states, Texas and California. Continue Reading

Vitamin D Enhances Breast Cancer Survival

Women with high levels of vitamin D in their blood when they are diagnosed with breast cancer are almost twice as likely to survive as those with low levels of vitamin D, according to a meta-analysis published in the March issue of Anticancer Research. The meta-analysis looked at 5 studies of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) that reported hazard ratios for mortality from breast cancer by quintiles of the vitamin. Combined, the studies involved 4443 patients with breast cancer. Continue Reading

Coffee Fuels Drive for Drugs for Parkinson’s to Dementia

For clues to treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, scientists are looking at their morning cup of joe. What they’ve found is that caffeine, the world’s most widely used drug, does more than wake people up. It’s been linked to improvements in memory and appears to protect against the destruction of brain cells. One study found that people who drank two or more cups of coffee a day had a 40 percent lower risk of developing Parkinson’s. Emboldened by these findings, some companies have been designing drugs to replicate those benefits.Continue Reading.

12/17/13 Health News:3D Mammography Increases Breast Cancer Detection, How Mosquitoes Find Skjn

3D Mammography 'Significantly Increases Breast Cancer Detection'

Regular mammograms are crucial in helping to prevent deaths as a result of breast cancer. But new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that 3D mammography is significantly more effective for breast cancer detection and leads to fewer patient recalls. continue reading

Research Can Help Throw Mosquitoes off the Scent

Why does the mosquito change its track and fly towards skin? How does it detect our skin? What are the odors from skin that it detects? And can we block the mosquito skin odor sensors and reduce attractiveness?  Recent research done by scientists at UC Riverside can now help address these questions. They report in Cell that the very receptors in the mosquito’s maxillary palp that detect carbon dioxide are ones that detect skin odors as well, thus explaining why mosquitoes are attracted to skin odor.continue reading

Diseases on the Move Because of Climate Change

Valley Fever is one of multiple diseases experts say are spreading in part because of climate change. They include a brain-eating amoeba showing up in northern lakes that were once too cold to harbor it and several illnesses carried by ticks whose range is increasing. Each year, more than 150,000 people in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah are infected, and Arizona and California have the most cases, according to the CDC. The incidence of laboratory-confirmed cases rose from 2,265 in 1998 to more than 22,000 in 2011. continue reading