May 20, 2010 -
Tanning Beds Increase Risk of Developing Melanoma Four Fold Tanning beds are popular devices used by millions of adults across North America for esthetic purposes. This population based case controlled study was able to show a massive increase in risk (4 fold) for those individuals who were regular users of these devices. The risk increased with increasing years of use. We should be considering these devices as carcinogens and warnings should be required to be posted in businesses who sell these tanning treatments. read more...
Metastatic Multiple Myeloma is a challenging disease to treat with poor survival even with chemotherapy treatment. Thymosin alpha 1 is an isolated peptide extract from calves thymus that has immunomodulatory properties particularly in T cells. In this study it was shown that Thymosin alpha 1 in combination with decarbazine increased overall survival and reducd diseases progression.
Moderate selenium supplementation during radiation therapy in patients undergoing radiation therapy for cervical or uterine cancer is effective in reducing the number of episodes and severity of radiation induced diarrhea.
The discovery of vitamin D as an essential nutrient came from understanding that its deficiency lead to a bone-softening condition called rickets. It wasthen found that irradiated rats with the condition demonstrated reversal of the disease whereas non-irradiated rats remained sick with the condition. This lead to the understanding that Vitamin D is produced by light radiation.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble prohormone produced in the skin in combination with exposure to UVB radiation. Deficiency can be the result of inadequate intake of vitamin D, reduced sunlight exposure or a combination of the two. Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system regulation and maintaining the balance of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.
The active form of vitamin D has been shown to exert antiproliferative, apoptotic, antiangiogenesis, anti-invasive, and anti-metastatic effects on prostate cells.
A recent study observing the patterns of cancer incidence in Canada and the U.S. demonstrated an decreased incidence rates of breast, renal, colon, pancreatic, aggressive prostate and other cancers were seen in those with higher serum levels of vitamin D. In terms of cancer pathology, vitamin D appears to prevent disjunction of cells. Many other studies looking at the relationship between vitamin D and cancer incidence have the inverse relationship of vitamin D and cancer. New studies looking at vitamin D therapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer show promising benefits in terms of inhibiting tumor growth and upregulating important tumor supressor genes.
The discovery of vitamin D as an essential nutrient came from understanding that its deficiency lead to a bone-softening condition called rickets. It wasthen found that irradiated rats with the condition demonstrated reversal of the disease whereas non-irradiated rats remained sick with the condition. This lead to the understanding that Vitamin D is produced by light radiation.
