Health News: More children getting drunk on and sanitizer ♦ Teach neurons damaged by Parkinson's to heal themselves ♦ Why MS symptoms may improve as the days get shorter

More children getting drunk on and sanitizer Six-year-old Nhaijah Russell swallowed three or four squirts of seemingly innocuous liquid hand sanitizer at school. It tasted good, she said, like strawberry. It also contained enough alcohol to make her dangerously drunk. She arrived at the emergency room slurring her words and unable to walk.

Melatonin and multiple sclerosis: Why MS symptoms may improve as the days get shorter Researchers have found an explanation that could lead to a deeper understanding of multiple sclerosis and more targeted treatment options for patients. By first looking broadly at possible environmental factors and then deeply at preclinical models of MS, the research team found that melatonin -- a hormone involved in regulating a person's sleep-wake cycle -- may influence MS disease activity.

Changing patient's position helps effectiveness of colonoscopy, especially on one side Having patients lie on their left side while the right side of their colon is being examined can result in more polyps being found, thus increasing the effectiveness of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

Smart cells teach neurons damaged by Parkinson's to heal themselves As a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease, scientists have created smarter immune cells that produce and deliver a healing protein to the brain while also teaching neurons to begin making the protein for themselves.

Connection found between fitness level, brain activity, and executive functionBrain function associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness plays a role in increased cognitive performance in older adults.. Specifically, the scientists found that dual-task processing in a core executive function brain region is associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness and dual-task performance

Cancer Research: New blood test for colon cancer ♦ Electrical control of cancer cell growth ♦ Reprogramming of cancer cells possible

New blood test for colon cancer improves colonoscopy screening results Thanks in part to screening technologies like colonoscopy; colon cancer is often detected in its earliest stages. Researchers have now found a way to screen blood samples for molecular traces that indicate the presence of precancerous polyps in the colon, a key warning sign for colon cancer.

Scientists discover electrical control of cancer cell growth The molecular switches regulating human cell growth do a great job of replacing cells that die during the course of a lifetime. But when they misfire, life-threatening cancers can occur. Research has now revealed a new electrical mechanism that can control these switches.

Discovery of new code makes reprogramming of cancer cells possible Cancer researchers dream of the day they can force tumor cells to morph back to the normal cells they once were. Now, researchers have discovered a way to potentially reprogram cancer cells back to normalcy

Viral infection in colon cancer stem cells mimicked; druggable target identified Researchers targeting colorectal cancer stem cells – the root cause of disease, resistance to treatment and relapse – have discovered a mechanism to mimic a virus and potentially trigger an immune response to fight the cancer like an infection.

The DNA damage response goes viral: A way in for new cancer treatments  Researchers show how DNA repair proteins sound the alarm to threats, pointing to a novel cancer therapy.

Cancer Research: Nanospheres shield chemo drugs ♦ Chemotherapeutic coatings enhance tumor-frying nanoparticles ♦ Cancer discovery links experimental vaccine

Lung cancer patients who stop smoking live longer Tobacco cessation provided significant survival benefit for lung cancer patients who quit smoking shortly before or after diagnosis, despite the severity of the disease.

Chemotherapeutic coatings enhance tumor-frying nanoparticles In a move akin to adding chemical weapons to a firebomb, researchers have devised a method to deposit a thin layer of hydrogels on the surface of nanoshells designed to absorb infrared light and generate heat to destroy tumors. When heated by the nanoshells, these special hydrogels lose their water content and any drugs trapped within, creating a formidable one-two punch.

Cancer discovery links experimental vaccine and biological treatment A new study has linked two seemingly unrelated cancer treatments that are both now being tested in clinical trials. One treatment is a vaccine that targets a structure on the outside of cancer cells, while the other is an altered enzyme that breaks apart RNA and causes the cell to commit suicide. The new understanding could help both approaches.

Cancers caught during screening colonoscopy are more survivable Patients whose colorectal cancer is detected during a screening colonoscopy are likely to survive longer than those who wait until they have symptoms before having the test.

Nanospheres shield chemo drugs, safely release high doses in response to tumor secretions Scientists coated nanospheres of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel with a peptide shell that shields the drug as it travels through the circulatory system. When the nanosphere reaches a cancerous tumor, enzymes that enable metastasis slice open the shell to release the drug. The targeted delivery allowed them to safely give mice 16 times the maximum tolerated dose of the clinical formulation of paclitaxel and halted the growth of cancerous tumors.

Colorectal cancer: What You Need To Know

Last year in the United States, more than 136,000 people were diagnosed with—and more than 50,000 died from--colorectal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, striking some groups more often than others. The toll this disease takes on minorities is especially high, said Jonca Bull, M.D., director of FDA’s Office of Minority Health. Populations with limited access to screening and early treatment die much more often from the disease—African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians and Alaska Natives. But there is a way of confronting this hazard, she added: “Early detection, referral, and treatment can significantly reduce disparities in deaths from colorectal cancer.”

Screening saves lives

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps or other precancerous growths in the rectum or the colon (large intestine). People with precancerous growths or signs of colorectal cancer don’t always show symptoms. That’s why screening is important—doctors can see and remove growths or suspicious tissue before they become cancerous.

Your risk for colorectal cancer increases if you:

• Smoke
• Have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease
• Have a family history of colorectal cancer
• Have a personal history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps
• Have diabetes

You should see your doctor also if you have any of these symptoms, even though they do not necessarily indicate colorectal cancer:

• A change in bowel habits (for example, diarrhea, constipation, feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way)
• Bright or dark blood in stool
• Stools narrower than usual
• Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Feeling very tired
• Vomiting

When and how should I get screened?

You should begin getting screened at age 50 if you are at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, some people at higher risk for colon cancer may need to be screened earlier and some may need to undergo more frequent screening. Discuss with your doctor the best strategy for you. Here are several options:

• A colonoscopy— A doctor uses this thin tube with a light and lens to look inside the rectum and colon for growths, other abnormal tissue, or cancer. You will need to prepare for the test and will be sedated during it.
• Routine screening: every 10 years.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy—A doctor uses a thin tube with a light and lens to look inside the rectum and lower third of the colon for growths, other abnormal areas tissues, or cancer. This thin tube may also include a tool for removing abnormal tissue for examination. Your will need to prepare for the test.
• Routine screening: every 5 years.
• Fecal blood test (gFOBTor FIT test)—Using an at-home kit from your physician, you take a sample of your stool and return it to a lab, where it is checked for hidden blood, sometimes a sign of cancer. If blood is found, you will need a colonoscopy to find out why.
• Routine screening: once a year.
• Stool DNA test —Using an at-home kit from your physician, you take a sample of your stool and return it to a lab, where it is checked for blood as well as for genetic changes sometimes found in cancer and precancer cells. If the test is positive, you will need a colonoscopy.
• Routine screening: every 3 years.

Remember to ask your doctor about colorectal cancer screening.

“Regular screening, beginning at age 50, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer,” said Alberto Gutierrez, Ph.D., an FDA expert on screening devices. “People at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer should begin screening at a younger age, and may need to be tested more frequently. Currently, individuals have several options for testing based on their risks and preferences. You should talk with your doctor to determine which screening program is right for you.”

What’s the good news?

More people who get the disease are surviving or are surviving longer with the help of screening, surgery and/ordrugs approved for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. Because not all populations react the same way to every treatment, scientists are also developing “companion diagnostics,” tests to determine, for example, if a mutation in a particular gene found in tumors will render a drug effective, ineffective, or even harmful among certain groups.

Researchers study new ways to prevent, treat, and manage the disease. Patients who want to know about clinical trials—research studies that involve people—may want to discuss this option with those close to them and with their doctor.

How can I reduce my risk?

A number of factors may put you at risk for colorectal cancer: your age, medical history, race or ethnicity. But you can reduce that risk. Here’s how:

• Exercise regularly and vigorously
• Maintain a healthy diet (high in vegetables and fruits; low in red and processed meats)
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke