Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sleep-deprived doctor problem needs strategy
Sleepy surgeons a problem: medical journal
Last year, researchers reported higher rates of surgical complications if a surgeon had less than six hours of sleep the night before."The problem may only be getting worse," Drs. Noni MacDonald, Paul Hébert, Ken Flegel and Matthew Stanbrook wrote in an editorial in Tuesday's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Doctors themselves are part of the problem of sleep deprivation in medicine, a medical journal editorial says. iStock
Medical care is more complex, as patients with life-threatening conditions now survive thanks to medical innovations, drugs and technologies that weren't an option in past decades, the editorial noted.The greater complexity at both the bedside and in the operating room not only affects surgeons but also doctors who stay up all night assisting at a birth or dealing with a patient in crisis, they said.
"We doctors ourselves are part of this problem," the editorial said. "We need to shift our professional culture. Long periods on call should not be accepted as routine or a source of pride. Instead, we must admit that working while impaired from sleep deprivation is neither normal nor acceptable."
A previous study suggested that sleep deprivation from an overnight call can cause a similar degree of impairment in judgment and motor performance as having a blood alcohol level above 0.05 per cent. But solving the problem could be costly. A U.S. study in 2009 estimated it would take a 71 per cent increase in the physician workforce and a 174 per cent jump in the number of residents to apply the aviation industry's strategy of restricting work hours to ease fatigue in the medical system.
Some hospitals, departments and practices have used innovative strategies such as:
Adopting strict policies on going home after call.
Refraining from booking procedures or clinics the day after call.
Reorganizing schedules to allow for more coverage by doctors.
Moving to shift work.
Ultimately, licensing, accreditation, insurance and governments need to establish standards on minimum uninterrupted sleep hours and best practices, they concluded.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
When do blood clots become a problem?
The simple answer is, when they form in the bloodstream not in response to a wound. Then it's called thrombosis. Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) usually occurs in the leg. DVT clots can block the flow of blood through the veins. It's a problem that occurs most often in the legs because it is harder to maintain blood flow in the lower parts of the body.When a clot breaks away and travels through the body, it causes a pulmonary embolism (PE) if it blocks an artery. Venous thrombosis (VTE) is simply the umbrella term for DVT and PE.When a clot forms in the arteries supplying the heart, and blood flow is blocked, it may result in a heart attack. If a clot forms in the arteries supplying the brain, blocking blood flow, it may cause a stroke.
What are the risk factors?
Some people have a genetic predisposition to blood clots, just as other people are at risk of their blood not clotting properly when necessary (hemophiliacs, for example).
Immobility, especially during flights of six hours or more, is a risk factor for venous thrombosis.
There is also a long list of things that increase the probability of VTEs:
Hospitalization: the risk of VTE is 10 times higher when hospitalized, a result of the combination of risk factors listed below. One in five VTEs occurs in hospital, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) in the U.S. In England, VTEs in hospital result in more than 25,000 deaths per year.
Age: risk increases as individuals get older.
Obesity or being overweight: doubles the risk.
Infections and disease: these raise the levels of clotting factors in the blood.
Immobility: especially after air flights of six hours or longer.
Injury and/or trauma.
Surgery, intravenous catheters or any treatment that damages blood vessels. (Hip replacement patients have a 60 per cent chance of DVT.)
Pregnancy.
Varicose veins.
How would taking a drug lead to a VTE?
Some drugs may add to the risk of unwanted blood clots. "A cascade of factors leads to a lower threshold" for blood clots, according to Dr. Karl Kabasele, a public health physician
For example, oral contraceptives (and other hormone-based treatments) increase the risk of blood clots, some brands significantly more than others.
What happens when you get a blood clot?
If it's DVT, the symptoms can include:
Pain, tenderness and swelling of the leg (usually the calf, but if the clot occurs in the thigh, the swelling may affect the whole leg).
Discoloration, with the leg appearing a pale, blue or reddish purple colour.
Leg feels warm when touched.
People with DVT can also be asymptomatic.
If it is PE, symptoms can include:
Shortness of breath, either severe and sudden or gradual onset.
Sharp, stabbing chest pain, which may be worse when breathing deeply.
Sudden collapse.
Rapid heart rate.
Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus.
DVT symptoms (see above).
PE is a medical emergency.
How is thrombosis treated?
The most common treatment is blood thinners (anticoagulants). These drugs block the action by the clotting factors rather than literally thinning blood. The most extensively used blood thinner, warfarin, was first used as a rat poison. It was introduced in 1948, but after a 1955 suicide attempt using warfarin, researchers began looking at other possible uses. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower was one of the first people to be treated with warfarin.
Age and poor fitness increase the risk of blood clots, but even young athletes are vulnerable. Tennis star Serena Williams, pictured at Wimbledon on July 3, 2010, received emergency treatment for a blood clot in her lungs in February.
In the U.S. today, warfarin is No. 20 on the list of most-prescribed drugs, with about 20 million prescriptions per year. Newer blood thinners include low-molecular-weight heparin, made from animal sources and injected once or twice a day, and fondaparinux (arixtra), a synthetic drug that is also injected but lasts longer than heparin.
How can VTEs be prevented?
When travelling by plane, train or bus, get up and move around at least every hour, especially on trips over four hours. If you cannot move around, exercise and stretch your legs and feet.
Stop every two hours when driving to get out and move around.
Drink lots of water and wear loose-fitting clothing when travelling.
Lose weight if overweight, stay active, exercise and avoid long periods of immobility.
Discuss the risks of blood clots with your doctor if taking hormones, going into hospital or planning a long trip. For people at higher risk, doctors may recommend wearing elastic compression stockings or taking a single dose of a blood thinner.
Kabasele recommends against taking aspirin to prevent blood clots unless recommended by a doctor.
Hospitals especially need to take preventive measures with their patients.
What are the risk factors?
Some people have a genetic predisposition to blood clots, just as other people are at risk of their blood not clotting properly when necessary (hemophiliacs, for example).
Immobility, especially during flights of six hours or more, is a risk factor for venous thrombosis.
There is also a long list of things that increase the probability of VTEs:
Hospitalization: the risk of VTE is 10 times higher when hospitalized, a result of the combination of risk factors listed below. One in five VTEs occurs in hospital, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) in the U.S. In England, VTEs in hospital result in more than 25,000 deaths per year.
Age: risk increases as individuals get older.
Obesity or being overweight: doubles the risk.
Infections and disease: these raise the levels of clotting factors in the blood.
Immobility: especially after air flights of six hours or longer.
Injury and/or trauma.
Surgery, intravenous catheters or any treatment that damages blood vessels. (Hip replacement patients have a 60 per cent chance of DVT.)
Pregnancy.
Varicose veins.
How would taking a drug lead to a VTE?
Some drugs may add to the risk of unwanted blood clots. "A cascade of factors leads to a lower threshold" for blood clots, according to Dr. Karl Kabasele, a public health physician
For example, oral contraceptives (and other hormone-based treatments) increase the risk of blood clots, some brands significantly more than others.
What happens when you get a blood clot?
If it's DVT, the symptoms can include:
Pain, tenderness and swelling of the leg (usually the calf, but if the clot occurs in the thigh, the swelling may affect the whole leg).
Discoloration, with the leg appearing a pale, blue or reddish purple colour.
Leg feels warm when touched.
People with DVT can also be asymptomatic.
If it is PE, symptoms can include:
Shortness of breath, either severe and sudden or gradual onset.
Sharp, stabbing chest pain, which may be worse when breathing deeply.
Sudden collapse.
Rapid heart rate.
Unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus.
DVT symptoms (see above).
PE is a medical emergency.
How is thrombosis treated?
The most common treatment is blood thinners (anticoagulants). These drugs block the action by the clotting factors rather than literally thinning blood. The most extensively used blood thinner, warfarin, was first used as a rat poison. It was introduced in 1948, but after a 1955 suicide attempt using warfarin, researchers began looking at other possible uses. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower was one of the first people to be treated with warfarin.
Age and poor fitness increase the risk of blood clots, but even young athletes are vulnerable. Tennis star Serena Williams, pictured at Wimbledon on July 3, 2010, received emergency treatment for a blood clot in her lungs in February.
In the U.S. today, warfarin is No. 20 on the list of most-prescribed drugs, with about 20 million prescriptions per year. Newer blood thinners include low-molecular-weight heparin, made from animal sources and injected once or twice a day, and fondaparinux (arixtra), a synthetic drug that is also injected but lasts longer than heparin.
How can VTEs be prevented?
When travelling by plane, train or bus, get up and move around at least every hour, especially on trips over four hours. If you cannot move around, exercise and stretch your legs and feet.
Stop every two hours when driving to get out and move around.
Drink lots of water and wear loose-fitting clothing when travelling.
Lose weight if overweight, stay active, exercise and avoid long periods of immobility.
Discuss the risks of blood clots with your doctor if taking hormones, going into hospital or planning a long trip. For people at higher risk, doctors may recommend wearing elastic compression stockings or taking a single dose of a blood thinner.
Kabasele recommends against taking aspirin to prevent blood clots unless recommended by a doctor.
Hospitals especially need to take preventive measures with their patients.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Obstetric cholestasis
Twenty-three years ago I was a week away from delivering huge twins when my body erupted in the worst itching of my life. I never knew what caused it until I discovered this article on the BBC website. As a side note: I did have previoius and a subsequent pregnancy of a single baby and had no reoccurance of this problem. My impression was that the condition was caused by the compression of my liver by twins that in combination weighed more than 17 lbs.
Who gets obstetric cholestasis?
Obstetric cholestasis occurs in about 1 in 100 pregnancies in the UK. It is more common in women carrying twins, triplets, or more. Mothers, daughters and sisters of affected women have a higher than average risk of also being affected when pregnant. It is more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in some countries in South America, especially Chile and Bolivia, up to 1 in 20 or more pregnant women develop this condition. (These facts support the theory that there is a strong genetic factor involved - see below.) If you have obstetric cholestasis in one pregnancy, you have a high chance that it will occur in future pregnancies..
What causes obstetric cholestasis?
The exact cause is not clear. Hormonal and genetic factors may be responsible..
•Hormone factors. Pregnancy causes an increase in oestrogen and progestogen hormones. These can affect the liver in a way which slows down the rate of bile passing out along the tiny bile ducts. Some pregnant women may be more sensitive to these hormone effects.
•Genetic factors. Obstetric cholestasis seems to run in some families (although it may skip some generations). One theory is that women who develop obstetric cholestasis may inherit a slight problem with the way bile is made and passes down the bile ducts. This does not matter when not pregnant. However, the high level of hormones made during pregnancy may 'tip the balance' to cause a much reduced flow of bile.
There may be other environmental factors which contribute. However, whatever the underlying cause, the pregnancy 'triggers' the problem. Within a week or so after giving birth the symptoms clear and there is no long term problem with the liver..
What are the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis?
Typically, symptoms occur in the last third of pregnancy when the hormone levels are at their highest. However, it sometimes develops earlier in pregnancy.
Itch
This is the most common and typical symptom. The itch can be 'all over', but it is often worst on the hands and feet. Commonly, itch is the only symptom. It tends to get worse until you have the baby. The itch can become severe and affect sleep, concentration, mood, and can become distressing.
Note: mild itching from time to time is normal in pregnancy. However, if you develop a constant itch that gets worse, tell your doctor. A blood test can confirm if you have obstetric cholestasis..
Other less common symptoms include:
•Tiredness.
•Poor appetite and feeling sick.
•Mild jaundice. You may go 'yellow' and have dark urine and pale faeces (stools). This is uncommon and due to an increased level of bilirubin (a constituent of bile) leaking from the bile ducts into the bloodstream.
How is obstetric cholestasis diagnosed?
The diagnosis is suspected if you develop itch during pregnancy. A blood test can detect the raised level of bile acids and liver enzymes (chemicals) in the blood. Other blood tests may be taken to measure other liver functions and to rule out other causes of liver problems such as viral hepatitis. In some cases the itch develops a week or more before the blood test becomes abnormal. Therefore, if the first blood test is normal then another may be done a week or so later if the itch continues.
The diagnosis is confirmed if you have:.
•Itch that is not due to any other known cause (such as a skin disorder), and
•High levels of liver enzymes and/or bile salts in your blood that cannot be explained by any other liver disease such as viral hepatitis.
Both the itch and high level of liver enzymes and bile salts go away after the birth of the baby. A blood test done sometime after the baby is born can confirm this. This sometimes helps to confirm that the diagnosis was, in fact, obstetric cholestasis if there had been any doubt..
What is the treatment for obstetric cholestasis?
There is no cure for obstetric cholestasis. As mentioned, the condition is not usually serious but can be distressing. Symptoms go once you have the baby. The following may be advised by your specialist which may help..
General measures
Some women have found that keeping cool helps to ease the itch. Tips to do this include: lowering the thermostat in your house, keep your body uncovered at night, take cool showers and baths, soak your feet or hands in ice water. These measures may give some temporary relief, particularly before going to bed when the itch may ease enough to allow you to fall asleep. A bland moisturiser cream may also give some temporary relief from itch..
Ursodeoxycholic acid
This is a naturally occurring bile acid and is used as a medication. Strictly speaking, it is not licensed for pregnant women, but has often been prescribed. The logic is that taking this drug may help to improve the function of the liver and help to reduce the bile acid level in the bloodstream. This may then ease symptoms (and may possibly reduce any possible increased risk of pregnancy complications).
However, the research evidence to support the use of this drug is not strong. Whilst some doctors believe it helps, some small studies have concluded that it does not help. A current national guideline on obstetric cholestasis states ... "there are insufficient data to support the widespread use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) outside of clinical trials." So, it is a treatment that is being studied and may be used, but more research is needed to clarify if it is helpful or not..
Vitamin K supplements
These are commonly prescribed. Vitamin K is essential for the blood clotting mechanism to work. Sometimes the level is reduced in people with liver and bile problems. So, it seems sensible to make sure that you do not lack this vitamin. This is why supplements are often advised..
Regular ante-natal checks
You may be advised to have ante-natal checks more often than usual to monitor the progress of your baby carefully..
Deciding about early delivery of the baby
Until recently it was thought that there was an increased risk of stillbirth with obstetric cholestasis. Because of this, many specialists advised to induce labour so that you would give birth early - at 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, as discussed above, the concern about an increased risk of stillbirth is debatable. So, the practice of early delivery is under review and may be revised. Your specialist can advise about the most up to date thinking and practice about this..
Further sources of information and help
Obstetric Cholestasis Support Website
Web: www.ocsupport.org.uk
Provides support and information to mothers who have, or who may have, the condition. Keeps abreast of the most recent research into the condition..
References
•Obstetric Cholestasis, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2006)
•Milkiewicz P, Elias E, Williamson C, et al; Obstetric cholestasis. BMJ. 2002 Jan 19;324(7330):123-4.
Who gets obstetric cholestasis?
Obstetric cholestasis occurs in about 1 in 100 pregnancies in the UK. It is more common in women carrying twins, triplets, or more. Mothers, daughters and sisters of affected women have a higher than average risk of also being affected when pregnant. It is more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in some countries in South America, especially Chile and Bolivia, up to 1 in 20 or more pregnant women develop this condition. (These facts support the theory that there is a strong genetic factor involved - see below.) If you have obstetric cholestasis in one pregnancy, you have a high chance that it will occur in future pregnancies..
What causes obstetric cholestasis?
The exact cause is not clear. Hormonal and genetic factors may be responsible..
•Hormone factors. Pregnancy causes an increase in oestrogen and progestogen hormones. These can affect the liver in a way which slows down the rate of bile passing out along the tiny bile ducts. Some pregnant women may be more sensitive to these hormone effects.
•Genetic factors. Obstetric cholestasis seems to run in some families (although it may skip some generations). One theory is that women who develop obstetric cholestasis may inherit a slight problem with the way bile is made and passes down the bile ducts. This does not matter when not pregnant. However, the high level of hormones made during pregnancy may 'tip the balance' to cause a much reduced flow of bile.
There may be other environmental factors which contribute. However, whatever the underlying cause, the pregnancy 'triggers' the problem. Within a week or so after giving birth the symptoms clear and there is no long term problem with the liver..
What are the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis?
Typically, symptoms occur in the last third of pregnancy when the hormone levels are at their highest. However, it sometimes develops earlier in pregnancy.
Itch
This is the most common and typical symptom. The itch can be 'all over', but it is often worst on the hands and feet. Commonly, itch is the only symptom. It tends to get worse until you have the baby. The itch can become severe and affect sleep, concentration, mood, and can become distressing.
Note: mild itching from time to time is normal in pregnancy. However, if you develop a constant itch that gets worse, tell your doctor. A blood test can confirm if you have obstetric cholestasis..
Other less common symptoms include:
•Tiredness.
•Poor appetite and feeling sick.
•Mild jaundice. You may go 'yellow' and have dark urine and pale faeces (stools). This is uncommon and due to an increased level of bilirubin (a constituent of bile) leaking from the bile ducts into the bloodstream.
How is obstetric cholestasis diagnosed?
The diagnosis is suspected if you develop itch during pregnancy. A blood test can detect the raised level of bile acids and liver enzymes (chemicals) in the blood. Other blood tests may be taken to measure other liver functions and to rule out other causes of liver problems such as viral hepatitis. In some cases the itch develops a week or more before the blood test becomes abnormal. Therefore, if the first blood test is normal then another may be done a week or so later if the itch continues.
The diagnosis is confirmed if you have:.
•Itch that is not due to any other known cause (such as a skin disorder), and
•High levels of liver enzymes and/or bile salts in your blood that cannot be explained by any other liver disease such as viral hepatitis.
Both the itch and high level of liver enzymes and bile salts go away after the birth of the baby. A blood test done sometime after the baby is born can confirm this. This sometimes helps to confirm that the diagnosis was, in fact, obstetric cholestasis if there had been any doubt..
What is the treatment for obstetric cholestasis?
There is no cure for obstetric cholestasis. As mentioned, the condition is not usually serious but can be distressing. Symptoms go once you have the baby. The following may be advised by your specialist which may help..
General measures
Some women have found that keeping cool helps to ease the itch. Tips to do this include: lowering the thermostat in your house, keep your body uncovered at night, take cool showers and baths, soak your feet or hands in ice water. These measures may give some temporary relief, particularly before going to bed when the itch may ease enough to allow you to fall asleep. A bland moisturiser cream may also give some temporary relief from itch..
Ursodeoxycholic acid
This is a naturally occurring bile acid and is used as a medication. Strictly speaking, it is not licensed for pregnant women, but has often been prescribed. The logic is that taking this drug may help to improve the function of the liver and help to reduce the bile acid level in the bloodstream. This may then ease symptoms (and may possibly reduce any possible increased risk of pregnancy complications).
However, the research evidence to support the use of this drug is not strong. Whilst some doctors believe it helps, some small studies have concluded that it does not help. A current national guideline on obstetric cholestasis states ... "there are insufficient data to support the widespread use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) outside of clinical trials." So, it is a treatment that is being studied and may be used, but more research is needed to clarify if it is helpful or not..
Vitamin K supplements
These are commonly prescribed. Vitamin K is essential for the blood clotting mechanism to work. Sometimes the level is reduced in people with liver and bile problems. So, it seems sensible to make sure that you do not lack this vitamin. This is why supplements are often advised..
Regular ante-natal checks
You may be advised to have ante-natal checks more often than usual to monitor the progress of your baby carefully..
Deciding about early delivery of the baby
Until recently it was thought that there was an increased risk of stillbirth with obstetric cholestasis. Because of this, many specialists advised to induce labour so that you would give birth early - at 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, as discussed above, the concern about an increased risk of stillbirth is debatable. So, the practice of early delivery is under review and may be revised. Your specialist can advise about the most up to date thinking and practice about this..
Further sources of information and help
Obstetric Cholestasis Support Website
Web: www.ocsupport.org.uk
Provides support and information to mothers who have, or who may have, the condition. Keeps abreast of the most recent research into the condition..
References
•Obstetric Cholestasis, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2006)
•Milkiewicz P, Elias E, Williamson C, et al; Obstetric cholestasis. BMJ. 2002 Jan 19;324(7330):123-4.
Speach Patters and Persuasion
How speech patterns sway opinions
The best way to persuade someone to do as you wish is to speak moderately quickly, pause frequently and not be too animated, US researchers suggest.The study analysed just under 1,400 calls trying to persuade people to take part in phone surveys.Those who spoke very fast, did not pause or were too animated were least successful.
A UK language expert said it showed "it's not about what you say, but how you say it".The University of Michigan Institute of Social Research study used recordings of introductory calls made by 100 male and female telephone interviewers at the institute.They looked at the interviewers' speech rates, fluency, and pitch, and then at how successful they were in convincing people to participate in the survey.
Those who spoke at a rate of around 3.5 words per second (moderately fast) were much more successful at convincing people to take part than those who spoke very fast or very slowly.
'Too scripted'
The researchers, led by Jose Benki, an expert in the psychology of language, said people who speak too quickly are often seen as "out to pull the wool over our eyes", while those who talk very slow are seen as "not too bright or overly pedantic/ We have all experienced situations where someone's words could have been taken a number of different ways, but their tone has offended us” Dr Rachael-Anne Knight, City University, London
The study, funded by the US National Science Foundation and presented to the American Association for Public Opinion Research, also found people thought too much variation in pitch "sounds artificial" and "like people are trying too hard". Finally, the team found interviewers who paused frequently - around four or five times a minute - were more successful than those who were fluent. The team suggest they sounded "too scripted".
Dr Rachael-Anne Knight, senior lecturer in phonetics at London's City University, said prosody - the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech - was key to how what people say is received.
"These features can give us a great deal of information, including how the speaker is feeling at the time and how they feel towards us, the listener. "For example, we have all experienced situations where someone's words could have been taken a number of different ways, but their tone has offended us, hence when people remark 'it's not what he said, it's the way that he said it'. "Speakers aren't always aware of the different ways in which their prosody can affect their message, so this research is useful in that it identifies some practical ways in which people trying to get others to participate in telephone surveys might improve their success rates.
"It might also have applications to the service industries, and potentially to all kinds of real-life situations".
The best way to persuade someone to do as you wish is to speak moderately quickly, pause frequently and not be too animated, US researchers suggest.The study analysed just under 1,400 calls trying to persuade people to take part in phone surveys.Those who spoke very fast, did not pause or were too animated were least successful.
A UK language expert said it showed "it's not about what you say, but how you say it".The University of Michigan Institute of Social Research study used recordings of introductory calls made by 100 male and female telephone interviewers at the institute.They looked at the interviewers' speech rates, fluency, and pitch, and then at how successful they were in convincing people to participate in the survey.
Those who spoke at a rate of around 3.5 words per second (moderately fast) were much more successful at convincing people to take part than those who spoke very fast or very slowly.
'Too scripted'
The researchers, led by Jose Benki, an expert in the psychology of language, said people who speak too quickly are often seen as "out to pull the wool over our eyes", while those who talk very slow are seen as "not too bright or overly pedantic/ We have all experienced situations where someone's words could have been taken a number of different ways, but their tone has offended us” Dr Rachael-Anne Knight, City University, London
The study, funded by the US National Science Foundation and presented to the American Association for Public Opinion Research, also found people thought too much variation in pitch "sounds artificial" and "like people are trying too hard". Finally, the team found interviewers who paused frequently - around four or five times a minute - were more successful than those who were fluent. The team suggest they sounded "too scripted".
Dr Rachael-Anne Knight, senior lecturer in phonetics at London's City University, said prosody - the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech - was key to how what people say is received.
"These features can give us a great deal of information, including how the speaker is feeling at the time and how they feel towards us, the listener. "For example, we have all experienced situations where someone's words could have been taken a number of different ways, but their tone has offended us, hence when people remark 'it's not what he said, it's the way that he said it'. "Speakers aren't always aware of the different ways in which their prosody can affect their message, so this research is useful in that it identifies some practical ways in which people trying to get others to participate in telephone surveys might improve their success rates.
"It might also have applications to the service industries, and potentially to all kinds of real-life situations".
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Selenium 'does not prevent cancer'
By Michelle Roberts-Health reporter, BBC News
Taking a daily supplement of selenium will not ward off cancer, say experts who have reviewed the available evidence.The Cochrane group looked at 55 studies that included over a million people.Despite anecdotal reports of selenium's cancer powers, the investigators found no proof of a protective effect against skin cancer or prostate cancer. And taking selenium over a long period of time could have toxic effects, they found.
Lead author Dr Gabriele Dennert, of the Institute for Transdisciplinary Health Research in Germany, said: "We could find no evidence to recommend regular intake of selenium supplements for cancer prevention in people whether or not they already have enough selenium."Small amounts of selenium are essential for health and help build a strong immune system to fight off infections and diseases.
Many foods, including brazil nuts, tuna and pasta, contain selenium.
"We know from many large studies that vitamin and mineral supplements far from being potent cancer-fighters are mostly ineffective in protecting against cancer, and can even increase the risk of cancer in some cases”
And there have been numerous trials to see if it might reduce cancer risk. Some of these have found a benefit, while others have not. But now experts say that there is enough evidence to confidently rule out selenium as a cancer preventative therapy. Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "We know from many large studies that vitamin and mineral supplements far from being potent cancer-fighters are mostly ineffective in protecting against cancer, and can even increase the risk of cancer in some cases.
"This review on selenium adds to this body of evidence and should give people good reason to think twice before relying on selenium supplements.
"The best way to get your full range of vitamins and minerals is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, and this can help protect against cancer."
He said that for most healthy people there should be no need to take supplements. "Some people are advised to take supplements under medical guidance and should talk to their doctor if they are worried," he added.
Taking a daily supplement of selenium will not ward off cancer, say experts who have reviewed the available evidence.The Cochrane group looked at 55 studies that included over a million people.Despite anecdotal reports of selenium's cancer powers, the investigators found no proof of a protective effect against skin cancer or prostate cancer. And taking selenium over a long period of time could have toxic effects, they found.
Lead author Dr Gabriele Dennert, of the Institute for Transdisciplinary Health Research in Germany, said: "We could find no evidence to recommend regular intake of selenium supplements for cancer prevention in people whether or not they already have enough selenium."Small amounts of selenium are essential for health and help build a strong immune system to fight off infections and diseases.
Many foods, including brazil nuts, tuna and pasta, contain selenium.
"We know from many large studies that vitamin and mineral supplements far from being potent cancer-fighters are mostly ineffective in protecting against cancer, and can even increase the risk of cancer in some cases”
And there have been numerous trials to see if it might reduce cancer risk. Some of these have found a benefit, while others have not. But now experts say that there is enough evidence to confidently rule out selenium as a cancer preventative therapy. Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "We know from many large studies that vitamin and mineral supplements far from being potent cancer-fighters are mostly ineffective in protecting against cancer, and can even increase the risk of cancer in some cases.
"This review on selenium adds to this body of evidence and should give people good reason to think twice before relying on selenium supplements.
"The best way to get your full range of vitamins and minerals is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, and this can help protect against cancer."
He said that for most healthy people there should be no need to take supplements. "Some people are advised to take supplements under medical guidance and should talk to their doctor if they are worried," he added.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Specific jusices good for heart
Five portions a day 'saves lives'
A blend of fruit juices, including grape, cranberry and blackcurrant, may have benefits for the heart, research suggests.French scientists tested the blend on pig arteries in the lab, and found it caused artery walls to relax.It remains to be seen whether fruit juices can improve vascular health, they report in a scientific journal.The study adds weight to evidence fruit and veg reduces heart disease risk, says the British Heart Foundation.
The researchers looked for a chemical called polyphenol in fruit and berries.They found the most active fruits included blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape.
"This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease."However, we still don't fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can't yet explain any link."What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this. "Don't forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day."
The research was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Food and Function.
A blend of fruit juices, including grape, cranberry and blackcurrant, may have benefits for the heart, research suggests.French scientists tested the blend on pig arteries in the lab, and found it caused artery walls to relax.It remains to be seen whether fruit juices can improve vascular health, they report in a scientific journal.The study adds weight to evidence fruit and veg reduces heart disease risk, says the British Heart Foundation.
The researchers looked for a chemical called polyphenol in fruit and berries.They found the most active fruits included blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape.
"This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease."However, we still don't fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can't yet explain any link."What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this. "Don't forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day."
The research was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Food and Function.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Bereavement and its effects
Bereavement is an immensely stressful event that can take a huge toll on the body, potentially causing all sorts of physical problems, including physical exhaustion, uncontrollable crying, sleep disruption, palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches, recurrent infections, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, stomach upsets, hair loss, disruption of the menstrual cycle, irritability, worsening of any chronic condition such as eczema or asthma, and visual and auditory hallucinations.
Effects on the nervous system
Lethargy and tiredness are common physical symptoms of bereavement. The loss of a loved one sets off a powerful stress response in the body, with release of high levels of natural steroids and a heightened state of awareness in the nervous system, especially the autonomic nervous system (the 'flight or fight' system) which controls the body's readiness for action. The heart responds to this greater nervous drive with an increase in pulse and blood pressure. Even if the person seems slow and down, inside they're in turmoil.
Decreased immunity
The stress response also affects the immune system. Bereavement causes a fall in activity of the T-lymphocytes, cells that are very important in fighting infection. So colds and other minor infections are common. Pre-existing painful problems such as arthritis may get worse and other chronic health conditions often flare up too. It's common for conditions that need careful control such as diabetes and high blood pressure to go awry. This partly explains why people who experience personal loss are at higher risk of dying during the first year. Men are at greater risk than women, perhaps because they have fewer support systems among family and friends.
Physical and mental
Psychological problems are also common during intense grief and, as mind and body are interlinked, these can also cause physical problems. Depression can disrupt sleep and appetite, and cause the body to slow down.
Anxiety is also common during grieving, and can cause a racing pulse, hot sweats, poor sleep and loss of appetite. The bereaved may turn to alcohol, recreational drugs or prescription drugs at this stressful time, compounding their problems.
It's not unusual for people who have lost a partner to clearly see or hear the person about the house, and sometimes even converse with them at length. These visual and auditory hallucinations are part of the normal grief reaction and a very real physical occurrence to those who experience them. Sometimes these grief reactions are mistaken for signs of dementia or severe psychiatric illness. The end result can be that the surviving partner is given unnecessary medication or even put in a home when what they actually need is help with grieving.
The effect on children
Children are just as likely to show physical effects during bereavement, particularly complaining of tummy pains, headaches, bed-wetting and insomnia.They may also show behavioural problems, becoming wild and unruly or withdrawn and sulky because of difficulties expressing their grief while at the same time coping with all the normal struggles of growing up.What grieving children and adults need most of all is quiet support and understanding, a chance to share feelings and worries as well as time to work through their emotions.
Appropriate treatment for physical symptoms is important, so do seek medical advice. But while this may mean medication, many symptoms, such as sleep and appetite problems, get better with simple therapies or even on their own as the person works through the stages of bereavement.
Effects on the nervous system
Lethargy and tiredness are common physical symptoms of bereavement. The loss of a loved one sets off a powerful stress response in the body, with release of high levels of natural steroids and a heightened state of awareness in the nervous system, especially the autonomic nervous system (the 'flight or fight' system) which controls the body's readiness for action. The heart responds to this greater nervous drive with an increase in pulse and blood pressure. Even if the person seems slow and down, inside they're in turmoil.
Decreased immunity
The stress response also affects the immune system. Bereavement causes a fall in activity of the T-lymphocytes, cells that are very important in fighting infection. So colds and other minor infections are common. Pre-existing painful problems such as arthritis may get worse and other chronic health conditions often flare up too. It's common for conditions that need careful control such as diabetes and high blood pressure to go awry. This partly explains why people who experience personal loss are at higher risk of dying during the first year. Men are at greater risk than women, perhaps because they have fewer support systems among family and friends.
Physical and mental
Psychological problems are also common during intense grief and, as mind and body are interlinked, these can also cause physical problems. Depression can disrupt sleep and appetite, and cause the body to slow down.
Anxiety is also common during grieving, and can cause a racing pulse, hot sweats, poor sleep and loss of appetite. The bereaved may turn to alcohol, recreational drugs or prescription drugs at this stressful time, compounding their problems.
It's not unusual for people who have lost a partner to clearly see or hear the person about the house, and sometimes even converse with them at length. These visual and auditory hallucinations are part of the normal grief reaction and a very real physical occurrence to those who experience them. Sometimes these grief reactions are mistaken for signs of dementia or severe psychiatric illness. The end result can be that the surviving partner is given unnecessary medication or even put in a home when what they actually need is help with grieving.
The effect on children
Children are just as likely to show physical effects during bereavement, particularly complaining of tummy pains, headaches, bed-wetting and insomnia.They may also show behavioural problems, becoming wild and unruly or withdrawn and sulky because of difficulties expressing their grief while at the same time coping with all the normal struggles of growing up.What grieving children and adults need most of all is quiet support and understanding, a chance to share feelings and worries as well as time to work through their emotions.
Appropriate treatment for physical symptoms is important, so do seek medical advice. But while this may mean medication, many symptoms, such as sleep and appetite problems, get better with simple therapies or even on their own as the person works through the stages of bereavement.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
500th Post- Turning Bad fat into good?
Scientists turn 'bad fat' into 'good fat'By Michelle Roberts-Health reporter, BBC News
Scientists say they have found a way to turn body fat into a better type of fat that burns off calories and weight.The US Johns Hopkins team made the breakthrough in rats but believe the same could be done in humans, offering the hope of a new way to treat obesity.Modifying the expression of a protein linked to appetite not only reduced the animals' calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat composition.
"Bad" white fat became "good" brown fat, Cell Metabolism journal reports. Brown fat is abundant in babies, which they use as a power source to generate body heat, expending calories at the same time.
But as we age our brown fat largely disappears and gets replaced by "bad" white fat, which typically sits as a spare tyre around the waist. "We will need a lot more work to tease this out, but it could offer a feasible way to develop new treatments for obesity” UK obesity expert Dr Jeremy Tomlinson
Experts have reasoned that stimulating the body to make more brown fat rather than white fat could be a helpful way to control weight and prevent obesity and its related health problems like type 2 diabetes.
Novel approach
Various teams have been searching for a way to do this, and Dr Sheng Bi and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine believe they may have cracked it.They designed an experiment to see if suppressing an appetite-stimulating protein called NPY would decrease body weight in rats.
When they silenced NPY in the brains of the rodents they found their appetite and food intake decreased.
Even when the rats were fed a very rich, high-fat diet they still managed to keep more weight off than rats who had fully functioning NPY.The scientists then checked the fat composition of the rats and found interesting change had occurred. In the rats with silenced NPY expression, some of the bad white fat had been replaced with good brown fat.The researchers are hopeful that it may be possible to achieve the same effect in people by injecting brown fat stem cells under the skin to burn white fat and stimulate weight loss.Dr Bi said: "If we could get the human body to turn bad fat into good fat that burns calories instead of storing them, we could add a serious new tool to tackle the obesity epidemic. "Only future research will tell us if that is possible."
Dr Jeremy Tomlinson, an expert at the University of Birmingham's Centre for Obesity Research, said: "This is exciting, novel and interesting. "We will need a lot more work to tease this out, but it could offer a feasible way to develop new treatments for obesity."
Scientists say they have found a way to turn body fat into a better type of fat that burns off calories and weight.The US Johns Hopkins team made the breakthrough in rats but believe the same could be done in humans, offering the hope of a new way to treat obesity.Modifying the expression of a protein linked to appetite not only reduced the animals' calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat composition.
"Bad" white fat became "good" brown fat, Cell Metabolism journal reports. Brown fat is abundant in babies, which they use as a power source to generate body heat, expending calories at the same time.
But as we age our brown fat largely disappears and gets replaced by "bad" white fat, which typically sits as a spare tyre around the waist. "We will need a lot more work to tease this out, but it could offer a feasible way to develop new treatments for obesity” UK obesity expert Dr Jeremy Tomlinson
Experts have reasoned that stimulating the body to make more brown fat rather than white fat could be a helpful way to control weight and prevent obesity and its related health problems like type 2 diabetes.
Novel approach
Various teams have been searching for a way to do this, and Dr Sheng Bi and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine believe they may have cracked it.They designed an experiment to see if suppressing an appetite-stimulating protein called NPY would decrease body weight in rats.
When they silenced NPY in the brains of the rodents they found their appetite and food intake decreased.
Even when the rats were fed a very rich, high-fat diet they still managed to keep more weight off than rats who had fully functioning NPY.The scientists then checked the fat composition of the rats and found interesting change had occurred. In the rats with silenced NPY expression, some of the bad white fat had been replaced with good brown fat.The researchers are hopeful that it may be possible to achieve the same effect in people by injecting brown fat stem cells under the skin to burn white fat and stimulate weight loss.Dr Bi said: "If we could get the human body to turn bad fat into good fat that burns calories instead of storing them, we could add a serious new tool to tackle the obesity epidemic. "Only future research will tell us if that is possible."
Dr Jeremy Tomlinson, an expert at the University of Birmingham's Centre for Obesity Research, said: "This is exciting, novel and interesting. "We will need a lot more work to tease this out, but it could offer a feasible way to develop new treatments for obesity."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Healthy Brain Aging
Why do some people preserve their memory into old age while others do not? Much research is being done to answer this question. While science has yet to find a way to stop the aging process and prevent degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, neuroscientists are actively researching this area and have already found several strategies that may help maintain or improve brain health as we age.
Reaching a better understanding of aging and disease prevention strategies is critically important for maintaining brain health. About 500 million people worldwide were at least 65 years old by 2006, according to the National Institute on Aging. That is 12 percent of the world’s population. By 2030, that figure is expected to climb to 20 percent. As health conditions improve in developing countries, life expectancies will rise, and the number of people with cognitive problems due to age-related disorders is set to skyrocket.
Word puzzles and nighttime classical music are often misguidedly touted as cure-alls to preserving brain health into old age. However, brain myths such as these have now largely been debunked. In fact, human and animal studies have established that simple habits can lead to sharper memory in our later years. Basic science research indicates that many lifestyle choices are linked to brain health. These findings are showing:
•How exercise enhances nerve cell formation and survival in parts of the brain associated with learning and memory.
•Why diets high in fat and sugar increase the formation of a protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.
•How chronic stress can damage the hippocampus — a brain region linked with learning, memory, and emotion.
Regular exercise is one of the most important recommendations for healthy bodies and brains. Research indicates that aerobic fitness enhances learning and memory in older animals. In aged mice, exercise improved memory retention and the speed of learning. Their time on a running wheel also encouraged the development of new brain cells — a process called neurogenesis — in the hippocampus. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are characterized by a decreased number of neurons in this brain region.
The same improvements have been seen in people. Research suggests that physical fitness prevents the atrophy of brain regions, including the hippocampus. One study showed inactive older adults who begin to walk three times a week have improved efficiency in the neural networks involved in cognition. Other results show that physical activity affects executive control functions, such as multi-tasking, scheduling, and planning. Overall, aerobic exercise continues to show positive effects at all levels, from cellular to behavioral.
A balanced diet is important for weight management, which turns out to be another key factor in maintaining brain fitness. Clinical research shows that older men with the most body fat tend to do worse on cognitive tests than their slimmer counterparts. Women show similar effects. Older women with a group of risk factors known as “metabolic syndrome” — excess fat around the waist, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure — had increased rates of cognitive impairment.
Another reason to eat right: blood sugar levels affect brain health. The blood sugar glucose, which the hormone insulin shuttles through the blood stream into cells, provides the brain with fuel. Too much glucose overwhelms the body’s ability to use and regulate sugars effectively. Abnormally low levels of glucose, a state known as hypoglycemia, impair the delivery of nutrients to the brain and injure cells.
In people with insulin resistance, cells don’t respond to glucose normally, so the body releases greater amounts of insulin to compensate. But this can backfire, as elevated levels of insulin often lead to diabetes. One study reported that older adults with diabetes or insulin resistance had abnormalities in the way their brains metabolize glucose and showed impaired performance on a word memorization task. Other research indicates that diets high in fat and sugar increase the formation of amyloid beta, a protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease.
Research shows that avoiding undue stress also is important for promoting healthy aging. Chronic stress can strain the entire body, and physicians have long noted that severe stress weakens the immune system and promotes weight gain. Scientists have found the brain also suffers from long-term psychological stress. Steroid hormones known as glucocoticoids, which are released in response to stress, can have lasting effects on the brain regions that regulate their release. Regions of the aging brain that are most susceptible to decline are especially vulnerable to stress hormones.
Research also suggests that extremely stressful lifestyles could damage the brain’s memory machinery. Prolonged social stress in rodents, tree shrews, and vervet monkeys has been shown to damage the hippocampus. Research in these animals reveals that chronic stress increases cell death, reduces the development of new cells, and decreases connections between cells in the hippocampus.
Fortunately, all this evidence indicates that behaviors that make you feel good — regular exercise, diet and weight management, and low stress — also support your cognitive abilities in the long term.
Reaching a better understanding of aging and disease prevention strategies is critically important for maintaining brain health. About 500 million people worldwide were at least 65 years old by 2006, according to the National Institute on Aging. That is 12 percent of the world’s population. By 2030, that figure is expected to climb to 20 percent. As health conditions improve in developing countries, life expectancies will rise, and the number of people with cognitive problems due to age-related disorders is set to skyrocket.
Word puzzles and nighttime classical music are often misguidedly touted as cure-alls to preserving brain health into old age. However, brain myths such as these have now largely been debunked. In fact, human and animal studies have established that simple habits can lead to sharper memory in our later years. Basic science research indicates that many lifestyle choices are linked to brain health. These findings are showing:
•How exercise enhances nerve cell formation and survival in parts of the brain associated with learning and memory.
•Why diets high in fat and sugar increase the formation of a protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.
•How chronic stress can damage the hippocampus — a brain region linked with learning, memory, and emotion.
Regular exercise is one of the most important recommendations for healthy bodies and brains. Research indicates that aerobic fitness enhances learning and memory in older animals. In aged mice, exercise improved memory retention and the speed of learning. Their time on a running wheel also encouraged the development of new brain cells — a process called neurogenesis — in the hippocampus. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are characterized by a decreased number of neurons in this brain region.
The same improvements have been seen in people. Research suggests that physical fitness prevents the atrophy of brain regions, including the hippocampus. One study showed inactive older adults who begin to walk three times a week have improved efficiency in the neural networks involved in cognition. Other results show that physical activity affects executive control functions, such as multi-tasking, scheduling, and planning. Overall, aerobic exercise continues to show positive effects at all levels, from cellular to behavioral.
A balanced diet is important for weight management, which turns out to be another key factor in maintaining brain fitness. Clinical research shows that older men with the most body fat tend to do worse on cognitive tests than their slimmer counterparts. Women show similar effects. Older women with a group of risk factors known as “metabolic syndrome” — excess fat around the waist, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure — had increased rates of cognitive impairment.
Another reason to eat right: blood sugar levels affect brain health. The blood sugar glucose, which the hormone insulin shuttles through the blood stream into cells, provides the brain with fuel. Too much glucose overwhelms the body’s ability to use and regulate sugars effectively. Abnormally low levels of glucose, a state known as hypoglycemia, impair the delivery of nutrients to the brain and injure cells.
In people with insulin resistance, cells don’t respond to glucose normally, so the body releases greater amounts of insulin to compensate. But this can backfire, as elevated levels of insulin often lead to diabetes. One study reported that older adults with diabetes or insulin resistance had abnormalities in the way their brains metabolize glucose and showed impaired performance on a word memorization task. Other research indicates that diets high in fat and sugar increase the formation of amyloid beta, a protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease.
Research shows that avoiding undue stress also is important for promoting healthy aging. Chronic stress can strain the entire body, and physicians have long noted that severe stress weakens the immune system and promotes weight gain. Scientists have found the brain also suffers from long-term psychological stress. Steroid hormones known as glucocoticoids, which are released in response to stress, can have lasting effects on the brain regions that regulate their release. Regions of the aging brain that are most susceptible to decline are especially vulnerable to stress hormones.
Research also suggests that extremely stressful lifestyles could damage the brain’s memory machinery. Prolonged social stress in rodents, tree shrews, and vervet monkeys has been shown to damage the hippocampus. Research in these animals reveals that chronic stress increases cell death, reduces the development of new cells, and decreases connections between cells in the hippocampus.
Fortunately, all this evidence indicates that behaviors that make you feel good — regular exercise, diet and weight management, and low stress — also support your cognitive abilities in the long term.
T-cells trained to recognize and then attack cancer cells
Memory cells to fight cancer
By Helen Briggs- Health reporter, BBC News
They take some blood, extract the white blood cells, then coax them in the laboratory to memorise the cells that cause cancer.When injected back into the body, the memory T-cells go on to hunt and destroy tumour cells for more than a year. For a handful of patients around the world - such a treatment has already become a reality. The hope is that in five to ten years' time, this highly experimental therapy could make the leap to approved drug.
This week, US scientists reported their results on nine patients with one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
All had advanced melanoma that had spread from the skin to other parts of the body. "The dream would be that we could make a library of killer T-cells that we could generate quickly for patients” Dr Marcus Butler
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Melanoma can usually be cured if detected and removed early.But once they have spread around the body, most patients survive for less than a year.The experimental therapy using "killer" T-cells did not stop the cancer progressing in most of the nine patients studied.But in one, his cancers shrank and after two years they cannot be seen on scans.
These are very early days. As the researchers - led by Dr Marcus Butler of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - point out, this is a phase I trial, and will need to be investigated in far larger numbers of patients.
But it offers a glimpse of what experimental treatments like these might one day offer cancer patients.
Dr Butler told the BBC: "Cancer-killing T-cells trained in the lab can induce long-lasting anti-cancer effects.
"The dream would be that we could make a library of killer T-cells that we could generate quickly for patients."
Immunotherapy
The approach - known as adoptive T-cell therapy - has only been studied in a few hundred patients around the world.
MELANOMA
The most serious form of skin cancer
Sun exposure is the main - and most preventable - risk factor, causing genetic damage to the skin
Around one third of melanomas develop from normal moles
The rest develop on areas of previously normal skin
Warning signs include:
Two halves of a mole do not look the same
The edges of the mole are irregular, blurred or jagged
Colour is uneven, with more than one shade
Mole is wider than 6mm
One obstacle is that the cells tend to disappear quickly when injected into cancer patients.
But the Dana-Farber research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine , shows that the cells' life can be extended by priming them in the lab with an artificial version of cells found naturally in the immune system.
These cells inform the body's immune system that cancer is present and needs to be destroyed.Co-author, Dr Naoto Hirano, says the next step is to study this technique in conjunction with other therapies that can boost the numbers and effectiveness of the T-cells.
He added: "We will be beginning a series of clinical trials to learn which combinations work best in which patients."Dr Laura Bell, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said the work is one of a large number of immunotherapy treatments now entering clinical trials. "Immunotherapy is an exciting area of cancer research, designed to harness the power of the body's own immune system to fight cancer," she said."The results of laboratory research in this area are now starting to feed through into the clinic and we'll be following the progress of these trials with interest."
By Helen Briggs- Health reporter, BBC News
They take some blood, extract the white blood cells, then coax them in the laboratory to memorise the cells that cause cancer.When injected back into the body, the memory T-cells go on to hunt and destroy tumour cells for more than a year. For a handful of patients around the world - such a treatment has already become a reality. The hope is that in five to ten years' time, this highly experimental therapy could make the leap to approved drug.
This week, US scientists reported their results on nine patients with one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
All had advanced melanoma that had spread from the skin to other parts of the body. "The dream would be that we could make a library of killer T-cells that we could generate quickly for patients” Dr Marcus Butler
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Melanoma can usually be cured if detected and removed early.But once they have spread around the body, most patients survive for less than a year.The experimental therapy using "killer" T-cells did not stop the cancer progressing in most of the nine patients studied.But in one, his cancers shrank and after two years they cannot be seen on scans.
These are very early days. As the researchers - led by Dr Marcus Butler of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - point out, this is a phase I trial, and will need to be investigated in far larger numbers of patients.
But it offers a glimpse of what experimental treatments like these might one day offer cancer patients.
Dr Butler told the BBC: "Cancer-killing T-cells trained in the lab can induce long-lasting anti-cancer effects.
"The dream would be that we could make a library of killer T-cells that we could generate quickly for patients."
Immunotherapy
The approach - known as adoptive T-cell therapy - has only been studied in a few hundred patients around the world.
MELANOMA
The most serious form of skin cancer
Sun exposure is the main - and most preventable - risk factor, causing genetic damage to the skin
Around one third of melanomas develop from normal moles
The rest develop on areas of previously normal skin
Warning signs include:
Two halves of a mole do not look the same
The edges of the mole are irregular, blurred or jagged
Colour is uneven, with more than one shade
Mole is wider than 6mm
One obstacle is that the cells tend to disappear quickly when injected into cancer patients.
But the Dana-Farber research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine , shows that the cells' life can be extended by priming them in the lab with an artificial version of cells found naturally in the immune system.
These cells inform the body's immune system that cancer is present and needs to be destroyed.Co-author, Dr Naoto Hirano, says the next step is to study this technique in conjunction with other therapies that can boost the numbers and effectiveness of the T-cells.
He added: "We will be beginning a series of clinical trials to learn which combinations work best in which patients."Dr Laura Bell, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said the work is one of a large number of immunotherapy treatments now entering clinical trials. "Immunotherapy is an exciting area of cancer research, designed to harness the power of the body's own immune system to fight cancer," she said."The results of laboratory research in this area are now starting to feed through into the clinic and we'll be following the progress of these trials with interest."
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