In recent years we’ve covered news about researchers using dogs’ extraordinarily sensitive noses to detect the distinct odors of lung, breast, colon and prostate cancer. Now three puppies at the University of Pennsylvania are learning how to sniff out ovarian cancer.

What many of these cancers have in common, and why dogs are being employed, is the need for an accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tool. Ovarian cancer is extremely difficult to detect in the early stages of the disease as symptoms—constipation, weight gain, bloating and frequent urination--are mild and can be attributed to other benign causes.

When caught early, survival rates of ovarian cancer are about 90%. Unfortunately it is usually discovered when it has already metastasized. This is why it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in women and claims more than 14,000 lives each year.

The Nose Knows

To train the puppies to recognize ovarian cancer’s unique scent, scientists will take tissue and blood samples from both healthy and ovarian cancer patients.

The dogs will then be exposed to the samples in containers they can't access, but are vented so they can smell them. 

Much like drug or bomb sniffing dogs, they will be trained to alert their handler when they smell ovarian cancer. When they distinguish the correct one, they're rewarded with food or a toy. 

The puppies--Ohlin and Thunder, both Labradors, and McBain, a Springer Spaniel—have been in training since they were 8 weeks old.

Source:

Philadelphia Inquirer

According to new research, one of the most widely used medications to treat arrhythmias may nearly double the risk of developing cancer, especially in men and people exposed to high amounts of the drug. Cancers of the digestive system, lung, liver, colon, ovaries and prostate were among the cancers associated with amiodarone.

Amiodarone (sold as Cordarone and Pacerone) was approved in 1985 for the treatment of arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats which can lead to cardiac arrest. Because the drug is fat-soluble and degrades very slowly, large amounts can accumulate in soft tissues after a long-term prescription.

Previous studies have shown that amiodarone might increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction, pulmonary fibrosis, and skin and thyroid malignancies, but no large-scale study had investigated whether the drug broadly affected cancer risk.

For the new study, researchers analyzed data from 6,418 individuals taking the drug, following them for an average of 2.57 years. By the end of the follow-up period, 280 participants developed cancer.

Overall, there was an approximate 10% increase in risk for all cancers among patients who received amiodarone compared with the general population. However, women did not appear to be at increased risk. Among men taking amiodarone, cancer risk increased to 20%.

One reason for the gender disparity may be that women clear amiodarone faster than men, the researchers suggested.

Those who were male and took the higher doses of the drug for longer periods of time were 46% more likely to develop cancer.

Implications

Because this study is observational and does not prove cause and effect, the researchers did not suggest that people should stop taking amiodarone. There would need to be larger and longer studies showing a stronger link before doctors advised people to stop taking the drug. In the meantime, if you have concerns about amiodarone, you can discuss them with your doctor.

Sources:

Wiley

Clinical Adviser

Healthfinder

New research gives us more reasons to load up on fruits and vegetables—they make you feel calmer, happier and more energetic. To get these results, the study suggests that you would need to consume approximately seven to eight half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

In the study, 281 participants completed a daily food diary for 21 consecutive days. On each day they also logged and rated how they felt using nine positive and nine negative adjectives. Participants also answered specific questions about what they had eaten that day such as the number of servings eaten of fruit (excluding fruit juice and dried fruit), vegetables (excluding juices), and several categories of unhealthy foods like cookies, potato chips, and cakes.

The results showed a strong day-to-day relationship between positive mood and eating higher amounts of fruits and veggies, but not other foods.

To be sure that the association wasn’t working in reverse--feeling positive made you eat healthier foods – the researchers ran additional analyses and found that eating fruits and vegetables predicted improvements in positive mood the next day, suggesting that healthy foods may improve mood.

Try it Yourself

Want to try this at home? The researchers determined that you would need to consume approximately seven to eight total servings of fruits and vegetables per day to notice a meaningful positive change. One serving of fruit or vegetables is approximately the size that could fit in your palm, or half a cup. They suggest that this can be done by making half your plate at each meal vegetables and snacking on whole fruit like apples, pears or bananas.

Food-Mood Connection

For more tips on maintaining a positive mood, try these articles or posts:

• Mood Food: 8 Foods to Eat When You’re Feeling Down…and 4 to Avoid
• Make the Food-Mood Connection Work for You

Source:

University of Otago

Many women experience memory problems in their 40s and 50s as they approach and go through menopause. Therefore, it’s probably no surprise that a new study confirms that these symptoms are real (not in your head). But their findings don’t end there.

The study also pinpoints when these cognitive challenges tend to occur and eliminates some possible causes--both of which may lead to better treatment of this common menopausal complaint.

Study Details

The study followed 117 women in various stages of menopause as they took a variety of tests to assess their cognitive skills and reported on menopause-related symptoms such as hot-flashes, sleep disturbance, depression and anxiety. They also had serum estradiol (an indicator of estrogen levels) and follicle stimulating hormone levels taken.

Results were analyzed to determine if there were differences in cognitive performance based on each woman’s stage of menopause, and if these differences were due to menopausal symptoms.

The researchers learned that cognitive problems were most pronounced in the first year following their final menstrual period.

They also found that self-reported symptoms such as sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety did not predict memory problems. Nor could cognitive problems be associated with specific changes in hormone levels found in the blood.

However, the researchers noted that hormonal fluctuations that occur during this time could play a role in the memory problems that many women experience. The process of learning new information, holding on to it, and employing it are functions associated with regions of the brain known as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain are rich with estrogen receptors. 

By identifying how these memory problems progress and when women are most vulnerable, the study illuminates the window of opportunity during which therapeutic or lifestyle changes may be beneficial.

The good news for women, say study authors, is that these problems, while frustrating, are normal and, in all likelihood, temporary. 

Source:

University of Rochester Medical Center

The first ever population study seeking to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in the general population indicates that the disorder may be underdiagnosed, especially in men.

The study used a survey to determined prevalence based on self-reported symptoms that meet the newly updated diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

The researchers, led by Ann Vincent, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Clinic found that FM prevalence in the study population was 6.4%. However, the prevalence of diagnosed FM was only 1.1%

Vincent said that other published literature supports their observation that fibromyalgia is not always recognized or diagnosed correctly when a patient is evaluated.

Some Surprises

The researchers were surprised by two findings from their study:

• A borderline association of higher prevalence with younger age groups
• FM prevalence in women was not significantly higher than in men

Dr. Vincent said the higher rates among younger people could be related to a low survey response rate in this age category, with only sicker people responding.

As for the unexpectedly “equal opportunity” prevalence among men and women, the researchers believe that the old diagnostic criteria for FM had some inherent gender bias since women are more sensitive to pain and will have more pronounced symptoms.

The older criteria required the presence of at least 11 “tender points” which are no longer required in the new criteria used in this study.

More Questions

Other experts commenting on the study said the next step will be to compare the genetic and physiological factors in patients who are positive for FM, according to the survey criteria, with patients who have been clinically diagnosed with FM. Until then, they say, we won't know whether they actually have the same disease.

Source:

MedNews

A team of scientists from Tulane University reviewed evidence from 13 clinical trials studying the effectiveness of CoQ10 to promote healthy cardiovascular function.

According to their findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, CoQ10 supplements supported the heart’s ability to pump blood, as well as general heart health scores.

What is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring substance in nearly every cell in your body that helps convert food into energy. It is also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals.

In addition to cardiovascular health, CoQ10 has been studied for its role in cognitive function and healthy aging.

CoQ10 Sources

CoQ10 is primarily synthesized by the body and is also found in some foods. However, CoQ10 supplementation can be helpful as our levels decline with age and when taking certain drugs including statins, which are commonly prescribed for high cholesterol.

There are two primary forms of CoQ10 found in the body as well as in supplement form: Ubiquinone (CoQ10 in its oxidized state) and Ubiquinol (active antioxidant state). For over 30 years, only ubiquinone was available in supplement form. A few years ago, after a decade of research, scientists were able to stabilize the active antioxidant form of CoQ10, ubiquinol, for use in supplements.

As ubiquinol supplements are pre-converted to the active form of CoQ10, they are easily assimilated and utilized by the body. However, traditional CoQ10 supplements (ubiquinone) will continue to be an important supplement for those who want to maintain good health. Once ingested, a healthy body can absorb and convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol.

Sources:

NutraIngredients

University of Maryland Medical Center

Linus Pauling Institute

According to a new study, two disorders that may seem disconnected, psoriasis and type 2 diabetes, may be linked by a common element—inflammation.

The researchers found that having psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disorder, may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, this association was independent of other traditional risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes like being overweight.

In addition, they found that the more severe the psoriasis, the greater the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Study Details

The researchers compared health data from 108,000 people with psoriasis to more than 430,000 people without the skin disorder.

They found that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 11% higher for those with mild psoriasis and 46% higher for those with severe psoriasis, compared to those who did not have the condition.

As a result of their findings, the researchers suggest that patients with severe psoriasis should be screened for diabetes. What’s the Connection?

Both psoriasis and diabetes are partially caused by inflammation in the body, said researchers. In recent years other studies have found a connection between psoriasis and other serious health problems linked to inflammation including: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

"For years, it [psoriasis] was thought only to be a disease of the skin," said psoriasis researcher and dermatologist Joel Gelfand, MD. "In fact, it's an inflammatory disease caused by the immune system, and people with it are more likely to have systemic measures of inflammation."

For example, researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston found that patients with moderate to severe psoriasis had a 28% increased risk of coronary heart disease and a nearly 12% greater risk of stroke.

Psoriasis Awareness

If you have psoriasis, the take-home message for you is to carefully monitory important markers of inflammation and keep them in the normal range.

• Body Weight
• Cholesterol
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Sugar

For more information about psoriasis including National Psoriasis Awareness Month activities near you, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Sources:

Health Finder

American Medical Association

We’ve reported on the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle before, but it appears the threat level for inactivity was just kicked up a notch. Researchers are now saying the problem is so bad it should be called a pandemic.

A report published in the British Medical Journal The Lancet estimates that about a third of adults worldwide are not getting enough physical activity, resulting in over 5 million deaths a year. It states that inactivity leads to one in 10 deaths from diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and breast and colon cancer. These and many other chronic diseases have been  linked to sedentary lifestyles.

To get a global perspective of the problem, the study involved a team of 33 researchers from around the world. They found that people in higher income countries were the least active with those in the UK among the worst, as nearly two-thirds of adults were not getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. In the U.S., approximately three quarters of adults don’t reach the minimum level of exercise.

The researchers believe using the term pandemic is appropriate and necessary to create a sense of urgency to make fundamental changes in how we live and work.

They believe governments worldwide should play a role in making physical activity more convenient, affordable and safer. An example would be designated bike lanes for commuters or more public parks and recreation areas.

"The global challenge is clear - make physical activity a public health priority throughout the world to improve health and reduce the burden of disease," said Pedro Hallal, one of the lead researchers.

Source:

BBC News

The results of a recent study to determine which office surfaces carry the highest concentration of germs may surprise you.

It’s not your keyboard or the office restroom that tops the list of germ “hot spots,” it’s where you enjoy a quick snack or warm up your lunch. Yes, the breakroom and kitchen--specifically the sink and microwave door handles were found to be the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis.

The study, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional as part of The Healthy Workplace Project collected nearly 5,000 individual swabs from office buildings housing more than 3,000 employees. The sites represented a broad cross-section of office types including manufacturing facilities, law firms, insurance companies, healthcare companies and call centers.

The percentage of office surfaces with high levels of contamination includes:

• 75 percent of break room sink faucet handles
• 48 percent of microwave door handles
• 27 percent of keyboards
• 26 percent of refrigerator door handles
• 23 percent of water fountain buttons
• 21 percent of vending machine buttons

In addition, half of all computer mice and desk phones had low to moderate levels of contamination.

“People are aware of the risk of germs in the restroom, but areas like break rooms have not received the same degree of attention,” said Dr. Gerba, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Arizona and a consultant on the study.

Germiest Gender

Another surprising factoid uncovered in an earlier study conducted by Dr. Gerba, was that bacteria levels in women’s offices were nearly three times higher than in men’s offices. Even though the study found that women’s offices looked cleaner, the accumulation of personal items — from makeup bags and pictures to purses on their desks — resulted in more germs.

Cleaning Up Our Act

While many offices use contract cleaning services to disinfect office common areas regularly, kitchens and personal work spaces can become instantly re-contaminated.

The American Cleaning Institute offers these tips to help stop the spread of germs:

• Clean your hands as soon as you walk into the office. Walk straight into the bathroom and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Rinse and repeat several times a day, including before and after lunch and after using the bathroom. If you’re a bus or train commuter, carry a hand sanitizer and use it, particularly before your grab your first cup of coffee.
• As for your desk, keep a surface cleaner, disinfecting spray or wipes within reach, and use them on your desktop and telephone — the two things you touch most throughout your day. While you’re at it, take a swipe at your office doorknob, light switch or other surfaces you commonly touch.
• When it comes to cleaning your computer, make sure it’s turned off before beginning. Don’t spray cleaner directly onto any part of it, but rather spray on a cloth first. If there’s dirt and dust in between keys on your keyboard, turn it upside down and gently shake or use an air duster. Use a microfiber cloth — either dry or dampened with a specially formulated cleaner for computer screens — when cleaning your monitor. Also, don’t forget to clean your mouse.

While no one can (or should) avoid germs entirely, regular hand washing and office cleaning can reduce the rates of cold, flu and stomach illness by up to 80 percent.

Sources:

PR Newswire

HellaWella

The CDC estimates that about 6 million women in the U.S. have trouble getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy. Many of these women turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant. However a recent study of women undergoing IVF procedures found that bisphenol A (BPA) exposure cut their success rate by as much as half compared to women with little exposure to BPA.  

This is the first study to find an association between failed egg implantation and BPA exposure in women using IVF. These findings confirm what has been observed in animal studies and support previous studies that link BPA to fertility problems in humans.

Study Details

Researchers measured BPA concentrations in the urine of 137 women undergoing IVF treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center. The women were all of childbearing age (18-45) and were using their own eggs for the procedure. Detailed medical and lifestyle histories were also obtained.

The women were categorized into one of four groups based on the level of BPA in their urine. The researchers compared the chances of getting pregnant in women in the highest exposure group to women in the lowest exposure group.

Regardless of other factors such as the woman’s age, day of embryo transfer and specific IVF protocol followed, they found a clear association between implantation failure and higher BPA levels. Moreover, these effects occurred in women with BPA levels lower than those of like-aged women in the general population.

The association between BPA exposure and failed pregnancies was also more pronounced in women who were poor responders to IVF treatment. Those with higher levels of BPA were less likely to become pregnant. These women were generally older and more likely to have past IVF treatment cycle failures. They also had reduced number of eggs, lower average number of eggs retrieved and less response to ovarian stimulation.

Previous Research

Prior studies in humans report that BPA exposure is associated with recurrent miscarriages, quality and number of eggs retrieved during IVF treatment and peak hormone levels essential for a successful pregnancy.

Studying the effects of endocrine disruptors, like BPA, in couples trying to get pregnant naturally can be difficult. IVF allows researchers to study the earliest stages of pregnancy usually not observable in couples conceiving naturally. For example, Implantation failure, the reason for 75% of pregnancy loss, happens before a woman knows she’s pregnant.

For more information about the dangers of BPA, read: The Low Down on Bisphenol-A (BPA): The Facts You Need To Know.

Source:

Environmental Health News

There’s more good news for coffee lovers in the health department. A new study says moderate coffee consumption—regular or decaf--can lower your risk of dying by as much as 16%. But before you reach for another cup of joe, know that these results are limited by factors such as age, health and lifestyle. Also, coffee didn’t reduce the risk of death from one big health concern.

Study Specifics

This study followed 400,000 men and women age 50 – 71 enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study between 1995 and 1996. Each participant provided details about their coffee consumption, ranging from zero to a maximum category of six cups a day or more.

None of the participants had a history of cancer, stroke or heart disease when the study started. Then the health of each was tracked through 2008 or until death.

At first, the results indicated that coffee might increase the risk of death. Among those that didn’t drink coffee 13% of men and 10% percent of women died between 1995 and 2008, compared to 19% of men and 15% of women who drank six or more cups a day.

But when the researchers excluded coffee drinkers that also smoked, abused alcohol and ate lots of red meat, they found a completely different picture. Now men who drank two to more than six cups of coffee a day were about 10% less likely to die during the study than non-drinkers. For women, there was up to a 16% reduced risk of death in coffee drinkers compared to non-drinkers.

The protective effect appeared greater among those who drank more than one cup a day, but little difference was seen between two cups a day and six cups a day.

What a Way to Go

The results showed a lower overall risk of dying for specific health concerns: cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, stroke, diabetes, infections, and injuries and accidents.

Coffee drinking was not linked to a reduction in cancer fatalities among women, and had only a marginal protective impact on cancer deaths among men.

Not for Everyone

Study authors recommend talking to your doctor before upping coffee consumption because your personal health history might affect the advice you receive.

Also, pediatricians generally advise against caffeinated coffee for children and recommend limiting coffee in adolescents.  Like many stimulants, coffee can disrupt sleep patterns and become addictive.

Questions Remain

This new study seems to confirm what previous research has suggested: that coffee drinking in moderation is not bad for healthy adults.

But how coffee delivered the apparent benefits in this study remains a mystery. Besides caffeine, coffee contains antioxidants, phytochemicals and thousands of compounds that may hold the answer to that million dollar question.

Sources:

Reuters Health

Health Finder

Live Strong

If you are among the millions who suffer from chronic dry eye, you’ll be happy to know that relief may be found in your favorite caffeinated beverage.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo’s School of Medicine found that caffeine can increase tear production, a possible remedy for people with dry eye syndrome.

The symptoms of dry eye include gritty, scratchy or burning sensations, excessive tearing and or mucus. In some cases it is a minor annoyance, but it can cause vision changes. Current treatment options range from warm compresses, eye washes and artificial tears to medications and tear drainage devices.

Study Details

During the study, 78 subjects were divided into two groups. One group received caffeine tablets and the other group a placebo. Tear volume was measured within 45 minutes of consuming the tablets. Then the process was repeated in reverse, with the placebo group now receiving caffeine tablets.

All 78 participants in the study produced significantly more tears after consuming caffeine than after taking a placebo. The study also found that tear drainage rates were not affected by caffeine.

All study sessions took place between 10 a.m. and noon, a time of day when tear production is usually stable. No subjects knew whether they received caffeine or the placebo. All abstained from caffeine use for six days prior to each session and used no drugs during the sessions.

To be eligible for the study subjects had to be free of high blood pressure, dry eye syndrome, allergies that affect the eye, glaucoma, and other eye diseases and conditions that can interfere with tear production.

Source:

Science Daily

In recent years there has been much discussion and conflicting opinions about when and how often women should be screened for breast cancer. Specifically, the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force touched off a wave of controversy when it recommended screening mammograms every two years starting at age 50. The previous standard for women was a baseline mammogram at age 40 and then regular screening every year or every two years following.

The task force rationale was that mammograms for average-risk women in their 40s posed considerable harms, such as false-positive results causing anxiety or leading to unnecessary invasive procedures.

Instead, they suggested that women in their 40s who were at average risk of breast cancer should discuss the pros and cons with their doctors and then decide about the value of screening. Meanwhile other organizations, including the American Cancer Society, continued to advise women 40 and older to get yearly screening mammograms.

This left 40-something women and their doctors without concrete answers, such as: What risk factors make early screening worth the risk of unnecessary procedures and associated cost?

New Insights

Two new studies set out to help quantify the risk/benefit ratio of mammograms for women with various risk factors. They found that women who have a family history of breast cancer or unusually dense breast tissue, should have their first test at age 40 and repeat the exam at least once every other year.

The first study analyzed data from 66 published studies to identify specific factors that increased breast cancer risk for women ages 40-49. Of 13 possible risk factors, they found extremely dense breast tissue or a direct relative with breast cancer (parent, sibling or child) doubled the risk of breast cancer in women 40 to 49. Breast density is determined by mammography.

About 13 percent of women in their 40s have extremely dense breast tissue and 9 percent have a first-degree relative with breast cancer.

Then they used computer modeling to predict the outcomes of 44,000 simulated women based on two scenarios: having their first mammogram at age 50 or at age 40. They then compared the rates of false alarms, breast cancer diagnoses and mortality in both groups.

The computer models indicated that higher-risk women 40 to 49 who start every-other-year screenings at age 40 have the same benefit-harm ratio as average-risk women 50 to 74 who have mammograms every two years.

In the course of their study, the researchers also found small differences in benefits between film mammography and the newer digital mammography. The digital forms had more false-positives.

Sources:

LA Times

Health Finder

The number of cancers linked to obesity keeps rising. Now a new study finds that adults who were obese as children are at an increased risk for liver cancer. Not only that, the longer a child continues to be obese the higher their risk of developing liver cancer later in life. These findings held up even after removing other contributing factors from their assessment.

The study included an examination of the birth weight and body mass index (BMI) of more than 165,000 men and 160,000 women in Denmark born between 1930 and 1989. Among the participants, 252 developed the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma.

The researchers found a correlation between BMI and liver cancer risk. At age 7 the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma increased by 12% for every one point increase in BMI. By age 13, the risk increased to 25%. As BMI increased into adulthood, so did the risk of liver cancer. These results were similar for both men and women over time.

While other factors such as alcoholism, hepatitis B and C infection, and other liver diseases can contribute to liver cancer, the study results did not change when participants with these conditions were excluded from the study. Therefore childhood obesity was the major factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, said the researchers.

When you consider all the health risks associated with obesity:  cancer, metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep disorders, and a host of other health problems, the implications are quite alarming.

Sources:

Medicine Net

Health Finder