Health News for Early June 2008

Cancer

Brain Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise

A paper presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's meeting reported the results of a phase II multicenter clinical trial of a vaccine against the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme. The vaccine, CDX-110, is made by Avant Immunotherapeutics, and licensed by Pfizer, and targets the tumor-specific molecule epidermal growth factor receptor variant III. The vaccine is given in combination with the chemo agent temozolomide (Temodar), which is believed to boost the immune response. Patients treated experienced time-to-progression of 16.6 months (the usual is six months) and have lived on average 33 months (the usual is 14 months). Also see the June 2 Pfizer news release.

Colon Cancer in the Family?

A family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative increases one's risk of developing colorectal cancer. At the same time, a contribution published in the June 4 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association has found that among patients with stage III colon cancer who had had surgery and were receiving chemotherapy, those with a family history of the disease experienced a significant reduction in cancer recurrence and death.

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Babies, Kids, & Teens

Breastfeeding & Respiratory Health

A paper published in the June issue of Pediatrics has found that when it comes to respiratory health, breastfed girls get more of a boost than boys. In a study of 119 high-risk, very low birth weight infants, researchers found that the breastfed girls were far less likely than the breastfed boys to develop serious respiratory infections requiring hospitalization.

Kids, Vitamin D Deficiency, & Bones

An article published in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine looked at 365 healthy infants and toddlers who were seen for a routine health visit in an urban clinic, and found that 12.1% had a vitamin D deficiency and 40% had levels below the accepted optimal threshold for bone health. Of kids in the deficient group, 32.5% had evidence of bone loss, and 7.5% actually had changes consistent with rickets – though only one had signs of rickets on physical exam. In a June 2 news release, lead researcher Dr. Catherine Gordon said, "We were struck by the number of children in our study with suboptimal vitamin D levels. … Vitamin D status is not routinely checked as part of routine care, and the majority of the children did not show signs of rickets or other evidence of a deficiency, so it is concerning that this problem would have otherwise gone undetected. … As a pediatrician, I am pleased that breastfeeding has become more common among new mothers. … Of concern, however, is the rise in cases of rickets accompanying this trend. Our data suggest the importance of vitamin D supplementation for young children, and particularly breast-fed infants." No one really knows what will happen when children with bone loss enter adulthood and old age, but Gordon fears they may be predisposed to osteoporosis.

Kids, Vitamin D Deficiency, & Juvenile Diabetes

Research published online in Diabetalogia has found that sun exposure and vitamin D levels may play a strong role in the risk of type 1 diabetes! Specifically, researchers found that populations living at or near the equator, where there is abundant sunshine, have low incidence rates of type 1 diabetes, whereas populations at higher latitudes, where sunlight is scarcer, have higher incidence rates. In a June 5 news release, lead author Dr. Cedric F. Garland said, "This research suggests that childhood type 1 diabetes may be preventable with a modest intake of vitamin D3 (1000 IU/day) for children, ideally with 5 to 10 minutes of sunlight around noontime, when good weather allows. … Infants less than a year old should not be given more than 400 IU per day without consulting a doctor. Hats and dark glasses are a good idea to wear when in the sun at any age, and can be used if the child will tolerate them. … This study presents strong epidemiological evidence to suggest that we may be able to prevent new cases of type 1 diabetes. … By preventing this disease, we would prevent its many devastating consequences."

Cell Phone Use & Teens' Sleep

A paper presented at SLEEP 2008, the Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, looked at the effects of cell phone use on teens. Researchers followed 21 people between the ages of 14 and 20, who had regular schedules and no history of sleep problems, and who were divided into two groups: those who made less than five calls per day and/or sent less than five texts per day (the control group), and those who made more than 15 calls and/or 15 text messages per day (the experimental group). They found that the experimental group teens – those who excessively using their cell phone – seem to be more prone to disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress, and fatigue. Interestingly, researchers also found only one subject turned off the cell phone at night, and that while all controls had breakfast daily, 33% of the experimental group did not, and that those in the experimental group also spent more time on computers, and drank cola and alcohol more often.

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Smoking

Smoking & the Mind

An investigation published in the June 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine looked at 4,659 participants in the UK's Whitehall II Study, who were aged 35 to 55 at baseline and followed for almost 20 years. Researchers found that not only was smoking associated with greater risk of poor memory, but that smokers were harder than nonsmokers to follow up for two reasons: One, that some were not able to or refused to take the cognitive tests again, and two, that "Middle-aged smokers are more likely to be lost to follow-up by death …." (Our italics.)

Charting Smoking's Risks for Patients

An article published online on June 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute describes how researchers created simple one-page charts to present the 10-year chance of dying from various causes according to age, sex, and smoking status. The charts, which present 10-year risks of dying from heart disease; stroke; lung, colon, breast, cervical, ovarian, and prostate cancer; pneumonia; influenza; AIDS; COPD; accidents; and all causes, were created using National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death Public Use File for 2004 and data from the 2004 US Census. The charts show that at all ages, the 10-year risk of death from all causes combined is higher for men than women, and that the effect of smoking on the chance of dying is similar to the effect of adding five to 10 years of age, e.g., a 55-year-old man who smokes has about the same 10-year risk of death from all causes as a 65-year-old man who has never smoked. Researchers hope the charts may facilitate discussion about disease risk between doctors and patients and help highlight the dangers of smoking.

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Minds, Brains, & Mental Health

Is it Best to Talk About it?

A study published in the August issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology says that some people who don't talk about collective traumatic events do better than those who do talk about them. In the study, researchers looked at the mental and physical effects following collective traumas on people who were exposed to a tragedy, but who did not experience a direct loss of a friend or family member. Particularly, they focused on people's responses to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, beginning immediately after the event and continuing for the following two years. In a news release, lead author, psychologist Dr. Mark Seery explained that the results should not be interpreted to mean that expressing one's thoughts and feelings is harmful or that if someone wants to express their emotions they should not do so, but: "It's important to remember that not everyone copes with events in the same way, and in the immediate aftermath of a collective trauma, it is perfectly healthy to not want to express one's thoughts and feelings."

Light to Help Dementia

A contribution published in the June 11 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association found that exposure to bright light during daytime, whether by means of sunlight through large windows or added fluorescent lights, decreases mental deterioration in elderly patients with dementia by 5% compared to those not exposed. They also saw a 19% reduction in depressive symptoms among those exposed to more light. The findings were based on 189 residents of 12 group care facilities in the Netherlands, with an average age of 85.8 years (90% were female and 87% had dementia).

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Preventive Medicine

Probiotics to Help Hay Fever?

We've been hearing for years about how probiotic cultures can benefit our guts, but new findings suggest they can also help with our hay fever symptoms. Researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled study of individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and found that those who daily ingested a milk drink with Lactobacillus casei Shirota cultures over a five month period showed lower levels of an antibody involved in producing allergy symptoms and a higher level of an antibody that may play a protective role against allergic reactions. The results were published early online in Clinical & Experimental Allergy.

Red Wine Compound to Combat Aging

Research published online on June 4 in PLoS ONE compared aging in mice who were give doses of resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, with aging in mice on a calorie restriction (CR) diet. Researchers found that the mice receiving resveratrol experienced changes related to aging similar to mice on the CR diet, which has been found to slow the aging process. They wrote: "Both dietary interventions inhibit gene expression profiles associated with cardiac and skeletal muscle aging, and prevent age-related cardiac dysfunction. Dietary resveratrol also mimics the effects of CR in insulin mediated glucose uptake in muscle. Gene expression profiling suggests that both CR and resveratrol may retard some aspects of aging through alterations in chromatin structure and transcription." The findings led the authors to conclude: "Our findings that a low dose of resveratrol partially mimics CR at the gene expression level and leads to prevention of some age-related parameters suggests that clinical trials with resveratrol should be conducted to test the relevance of these findings to humans. Because cardiac disease is a major contributor to age-related mortality, positive findings could lead to a novel and important approach to improve the quality of human life."

Vitamin D & Men's Health

A prospective study published in the June 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine concludes that low levels of vitamin D in men "… are associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction in a graded manner, even after controlling for factors known to be associated with coronary artery disease." The study involved a group of men aged 40 to 75, who were participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at blood collection.

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Miscellaneous

Healthcare Coverage in Massachusetts

An article published online on June 3 in Health Affairs provides an update on Massachusetts' April 2006 legislation aiming to move the state to near-universal healthcare coverage within three years and to improve access to affordable, high quality healthcare. They report that uninsurance among working-aged adults surveyed dropped from 13% in fall 2006 to 7% in fall 2007. Additionally, they found that access to care had improved, the share of adults with high out-of-pocket costs had dropped, and problems with paying medical bills had decreased. And "(d)espite higher-than-anticipated costs, most residents of the state continue to support reform." Learn more about the Massachusetts law concerning health insurance.

Adding Another Complexity to Stem Cells

A letter published online on June 8 in Nature Genetics reports that different stem cells may be working together within one organ, a finding which complicates prospects for using the cells to replace damaged tissue as a treatment for disease. When researchers used the gene Bmi1 to mark the presence of adult stem cells in the intestines of mice, they found that the specific cells were mostly in the upper third of the intestine, which means that at least one or two other types of adult stem cells must exist to maintain and repair the middle and lower thirds of the intestines. Researcher and Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Mario Capecchi said in a June 8 news release that it wouldn't be surprising to see that such complexity holds true for other organs as well, and, "People always thought about a uniform stem cell population in each organ, but now we are saying there are multiple stem cell populations in a given organ, so if you're going to do therapy, you have to recognize this complexity."

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