Showing posts with label CDC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CDC. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

RANDOM NEWS

*Data released from the CDC 's Office on Smoking and Health were rather sobering.   between 2010 and 2011, the prevalence of Smoking did not drop despite a 58% quitting attempt rate recorded. People just smoke a little less as the proportion of those who reported smoking less than 30 packs per year dropped. In the United states, 19% of the Adult population smoke despite all the warning. This lead to 443,000 or half a million deaths related to smoking related illnesses in the United States alone (latest Jama pg 539).  Of these, approximately 165,000 will die of lung cancer (37%).
Carcinogens in cigarettes, ability to detoxify oneself, and presence of Estrogen receptor Beta in the lung seems to contribute.  Amount, length,and nature  of smoking exposure are recognized variables and influence the type of cancer found.    exposure to Radon, Arsenic, Chromium and others such as Nickel have also been implicated.  Host variations include Cytochrome P450, Glutathione S transferase and DNA repair enzymatic system.  Deficiency of Vitamin A, C beta-carotene, fruit and vegetable consumption have all be recognized to be associated with lung cancer risks.

Kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, head and neck cancers have all been linked to smoking.

*Up to 75% of patients with Bladder Cancer who are of European descent may have rs2294008, making this a significant Biomarker to be understood and targeted.

* A device approved by the FDA can recognize existence of cancer cells at the Margins of surgery to help the surgeon delineate his surgical Margin.  The Margin Probe uses an eletromagnectic recognition system to identify a "signature" of malignancy to tell the presence of Malignant cells.  This device can tell 3 times better reportedly where the cancer tissue ends!

*OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN, MULTIVITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION IS GOOD FOR YOU TO REDUCE RISK OF CANCER PER THE PHYSICIAN HEALTH STUDY II DESPITE THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN MORTALITY.  THE DIFFERENCE WAS IN NUMBER OF CANCERS.  

Saturday, January 19, 2013

FOLLOWING UP ON THE 3RD LAW. (SWING OF THE PENDULUM)

WITH CELL DIFFERENTIATION AT ONE EXTREME, AND CELL PROLIFERATION AT THE OTHER SIDE.  During Malignant transformation, the pendulum swings from de-differentiation to proliferation.  Pushing the EXIT-door open.  At the molecular level, there is an increased expression of genes involved in promoter regulation (TTK, E2F1), but also a gene is involved with the resumption of mitotic phases BUB1, MCM2,CDC.  Microfilament formation and Histone related molecules also reappear ((NUSAP1,ZWINT,CENPA), but also CEP55, CKAP).  Activity at the promoter region is proven by overexpression of EZH.  Relevent cyclins involved are proven by activation of CDKN2 .   Over-expression of any combination of these genes marks the first sign of a Cancerous trend in a differentiated cell.

Of all these, E2F1 and NUSAP-1 seem to be the focus of target therapy as interactions with HMGA are suggested in the literature!