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Friday, 21 December 2012
Cancer diagnosis later in life poses significant risk to offspring, study suggests
Dec. 20, 2012 — Relatives of family members diagnosed with cancer are still at risk of the disease even if the diagnosis came at an older age, suggests a paper published on bmj.com today.
It is known that early onset cancer cases carry more hereditary risk than late onset cases, but little is known about whether any familial component exists in cancer at a very old age.
Researchers from the German Cancer Research Centre and Lund University in Sweden therefore took data from the Swedish Family-Cancer Database (the largest one of its kind) on just under eight million offspring and their biological parents.
Parents' ages were not limited but offspring were all 0-76 years old. Follow-up was started at birth, immigration date or 1961, whichever came latest. Follow-up ended on year of diagnosis of first cancer, death, emigration or 2008.
Results were adjusted for several factors including age, sex, socioeconomic status, residential area, hospitalisation for obesity, COPD and alcohol consumption.
The highest risk was seen in cases whose parents were diagnosed at earlier ages. However, even when parents were affected in old age (80+) and for some cancers in very old age (90+), the risk of the same cancer in offspring was significantly higher than those whose parents were not affected.
Increased risks for each cancer were as follows (in offspring aged 0-76 years): non-Hodgkin lymphoma 1.6%; urinary bladder 2.8%; skin 3.5%; melanoma 4.6%; lung 5%; colorectal 6.4%; breast 8.8% and prostate 30.1%.
In the study population, 35-81% of all familial cancers in parents occurred over 69 years of age (colorectal: 59%, lung: 56%, breast 41%, prostate: 75%, urinary bladder: 62%, and skin cancer: 81%, melanoma: 35%, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: 54%). Therefore, the majority of familial cancers occur at elderly ages.
Attempts to explain familial risks by non-genetic factors were not convincing. Therefore, the researchers concluded that familial risks have largely genetic bases.
The researchers believe that family members (in particular offspring) may benefit from knowing that they're at increased risk of a particular cancer because it allows them to avoid known modifiable risk factors for that cancer.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
E. Kharazmi, M. Fallah, K. Sundquist, K. Hemminki. Familial risk of early and late onset cancer: nationwide prospective cohort study. BMJ, 2012; 345 (dec20 12): e8076 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e8076Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Researchers discover genetic basis for eczema, new avenue to therapies
Dec. 21, 2012 — Researchers at Oregon State University have announced the discovery of an underlying genetic cause of atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema most common in infancy that also affects millions of adults around the world with dry, itchy and inflamed skin lesions.
The findings were just published in PLoS ONE, a professional journal, and may set the stage for new therapeutic approaches to this frustrating syndrome, which is difficult to treat and has no known cure. Eczema is also related to, and can sometimes cause asthma, a potentially deadly immune dysfunction.
Pharmaceutical scientists at OSU found in laboratory studies that eczema can be triggered by inadequate Ctip2, a protein and master regulator that affects other genetic functions. They have identified two ways in which improper function of Ctip2 can lead to eczema.
In a recent publication, they found that Ctip2 controls lipid biosynthesis in the skin, the fats that are needed to help keep skin healthy and hydrated. In the new study, they discovered that Ctip2 suppresses TSLP, a cytokine protein produced by skin cells that can trigger inflammation.
Levels of this inflammatory TSLP, which is ordinarily undetectable in human skin, were found to be 1,000 times higher in laboratory animals that had been genetically modified to have no Ctip2 production in their skin.
"In these studies, we've basically shown that inadequate Ctip2 is reducing the lipids in skin that it needs to stay healthy, protect itself and perform its function," said Arup Indra, an associate professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy. "At the same time this can allow unwanted formation of proteins that trigger inflammation. The skin's ability to resist inflammation is going down just as the amount of inflammation is going up, and the underlying reason is that Ctip2 is not doing its job."
"Either or both of these problems can lead to eczema," Indra said.
Atopic dermatitis is associated with a dysfunctional immune response, but researchers have never understood the underlying cause. Existing treatments use moisturizers to try to protect skin, and in difficult cases powerful steroid drugs can help, but they often have significant unwanted side effects, especially in long-term use.
"With a better understanding of just what is causing eczema on a genetic basis, we should be able to personalize treatments, determine exactly what each person needs, and develop new therapies," Indra said. "This might be with topical compounds that increase Ctip2 expression in skin cells, or customized treatments to restore an individual person's lipid profile. In the future, systemic epigenetic modification might even be possible."
The creation at OSU of the laboratory model to study this issue is also of considerable importance, Indra said. There's evidence it could be used to screen for drugs with potent anti-inflammatory activities.
Eczema is a persistent skin rash that can be fairly common in infants or youth, which some research indicates may be linked to food or pollen allergens. Most people outgrow it as they reach adulthood, but some suffer from the debilitating condition their entire life.
"Our skin is the largest organ in the human body and one of the most important," Indra said. "It's our first barrier of defense, is in a constant battle against external insults, is influenced by both genetics and the environment, and has to be finely tuned to do many jobs. In eczema, this process begins to break down."
Eczema allows significant loss of fluids through the skin, allows allergens to penetrate, and in severe cases can cause a systemic inflammatory response.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Zhixing Wang, Ling-juan Zhang, Gunjan Guha, Shan Li, Kateryna Kyrylkova, Chrissa Kioussi, Mark Leid, Gitali Ganguli-Indra, Arup K. Indra. Selective Ablation of Ctip2/Bcl11b in Epidermal Keratinocytes Triggers Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Inflammatory Responses in Adult Mice. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e51262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051262Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Groundbreaking study may change transplant practices
Nov. 20, 2012 — Researchers from John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the nation's 50 best cancer centers, played an important role in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on October 18 that may change the current blood and marrow transplantation practices. The phase 3, multicenter study compared harvesting stem cells from bone marrow rather than blood and suggests there are benefits to both approaches, but no survival differences between the two methods.
Over the past 10 years, 75 percent of stem cell transplants from unrelated adult donors have used peripheral blood stem cells rather than those harvested from bone marrow without clinical data to support this shift. The study did not find significant survival differences between peripheral-blood stem-cell and bone marrow transplantation from unrelated donors.
"We did find that peripheral-blood stem cells may reduce the risk of graft failure, whereas bone marrow may reduce the risk of developing chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a complication that is frequently debilitating," said study author Scott Rowley, M.D., Chief, Blood and Marrow Transplantation at John Theurer Cancer Center.
GVHD is a common complication that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which the newly transplanted donor cells attack the transplant recipient's body. This can cause a variety of serious side effects, such as skin rashes, liver problems and diarrhea. Chronic GVHD usually starts three months after transplant and can last a lifetime. Its symptoms may include chronic pain, dry eyes and mouth, fatigue, skin rash, weight loss.
"As one of the 10 largest blood and marrow transplant programs in the nation, we remain committed to being on the forefront of the latest transplantation research and treatment," said Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E., Chief Innovations Officer and Professor and Vice President of Cancer Services, John Theurer Cancer Center.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by John Theurer Cancer Center.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Claudio Anasetti, Brent R. Logan, Stephanie J. Lee, Edmund K. Waller, Daniel J. Weisdorf, John R. Wingard, Corey S. Cutler, Peter Westervelt, Ann Woolfrey, Stephen Couban, Gerhard Ehninger, Laura Johnston, Richard T. Maziarz, Michael A. Pulsipher, David L. Porter, Shin Mineishi, John M. McCarty, Shakila P. Khan, Paolo Anderlini, William I. Bensinger, Susan F. Leitman, Scott D. Rowley, Christopher Bredeson, Shelly L. Carter, Mary M. Horowitz, Dennis L. Confer. Peripheral-Blood Stem Cells versus Bone Marrow from Unrelated Donors. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012; 367 (16): 1487 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1203517Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Face-washing tips for healthier-looking skin
Nov. 13, 2012 — Washing your face is as simple as using soap and water, right? Not quite say dermatologists. How you wash your face can make a difference in your appearance.
"It's important for people to treat the face with care. Never scrub the skin or use harsh products as doing so irritates the skin, which makes skin look worse," said Thomas E. Rohrer, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
For healthier-looking skin, Dr. Rohrer recommends people follow these tips to keep their face looking healthy:
1. Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol.
2. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything other than your fingertips can irritate your skin.
3. Resist the temptation to scrub your skin as scrubbing irritates the skin.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft towel.
5. Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy. Be gentle when applying any cream around your eyes so you do not pull too hard on this delicate skin.
6. Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Wash your face once in the morning and once at night as well as after sweating heavily. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, irritates the skin. Wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
"A board-certified dermatologist can answer your questions about how to care for your skin, hair and nails," said Dr. Rohrer.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
How patterns and timing of sunlight exposure contribute to skin cancers
Oct. 23, 2012 — Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of South Florida and the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France have studied the patterns and timing of sunlight exposure and how each is related to two nonmelanoma skin cancers -- basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
This study, published in the open-access journal BioMed Central, is the first case-control study to simultaneously evaluate identical patterns and timing of sunlight exposure as they are related to basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas in the same U.S. population with high annual ultraviolet radiation exposure. Patterns of sunlight exposure are continuous or intermittent, and timing refers to exposure during childhood, adulthood or both. It included 703 Florida residents -- 218 with basal cell carcinoma, 169 with squamous cell carcinoma and 316 without skin cancer. The research goal was to identify potential differences or similarities in sunlight exposure responses for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
"There are more than a million new cases of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas diagnosed in the United States each year," said senior study author Dana E. Rollison, Ph.D., associate member of the Cancer Epidemiology Program, and vice president and chief health information officer at Moffitt. "While mortality associated with nonmelanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, is low, patients may experience substantial morbidity and treatment costs are high."
It is estimated that 25 percent of lifetime sunlight exposure occurs before age 18. Youth is a time of greater toxic sunlight exposure and also a time when the chances of receiving blistering sunburns are higher.
"Blistering sunburn is believed to result from high doses of intense ultraviolet radiation exposure in short increments of time and is considered to be a measure of intermittent exposure," said study co-author Michelle Iannacone, Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The researchers surveyed those with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, as well as those with no history of skin cancer, to determine the effects of intermittent versus continuous sunlight exposure, as well as the timing of the exposure and age. They noted that although the relationship between both cancers and sunlight exposure is complex, researchers began to identify cumulative outdoor sunlight exposure as a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer beginning in the 1950s.
Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation intermittently, perhaps while on summer vacation in high ultraviolet radiation regions, and continuous exposure through working at a job outside in the sunlight were patterns the researchers wanted to identify and correlate to basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
Study subjects were surveyed on their recollections of their history of sun exposure.
Survey results reveal that a history of blistering sunburn was associated with both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Having a job in the sunlight was also associated with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Measures of younger age at sunlight exposure "tended to be associated with squamous cell carcinoma, but not basal cell carcinoma, risk," researchers concluded.
"Sunlight exposure, regardless of the exposure pattern, is associated with both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas," Iannacone said. "Understanding how sunlight exposure response may differ by nonmelanoma skin cancer type is important for educating the public on safe sunlight behaviors. Applying sunscreen while on vacation may decrease basal cell carcinoma risk with intermittent sunlight exposure, but may not impact the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, which may be more strongly related to continuous sunlight exposure."
The study was funded by a grant from the state of Florida's James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program (06NIR-08).
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Moffitt Cancer Center, via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Michelle R Iannacone, Wei Wang, Heather G Stockwell, Kathleen O'Rourke, Anna R Giuliano, Vernon K Sondak, Jane L Messina, Richard G Roetzheim, Basil S Cherpelis, Neil A Fenske, Dana E Rollison. Patterns and timing of sunlight exposure and risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin -- a case--control study. BMC Cancer, 2012; 12 (1): 417 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-417Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Skin patches for more medicines? Some large molecules sneak through skin on their own
Dec. 12, 2012 — Certain naturally occurring large molecules are able to sneak through the skin at a rate higher than that expected based on their size, according to a study published in the American scientific journal Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study reports a surprising finding that Avicins, plant-derived natural products with molecular weights greater than 2000, penetrate the human skin on their own.
The study is authored by Prof. Dr. Prasad Shastri from the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry and the cluster of excellence BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies of the University of Freiburg / Germany and his post-doctoral fellows Dr. Chris Pino and Dr. Daniel Vonwil in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Samir Mitragotri of the University of California, Santa Barbara / USA and Prof. Dr. Jordan Gutterman of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Houston / USA.
The researchers report that the unique structure of Avicins, which is composed of sugar residues linked to a fat-soluble core allows the molecules to gain access to the fatty component of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of skin, which serves as a barrier for molecules to penetrate. The researchers studied penetration of various fragments of Avicins and discovered that the sugar residues of Avicins play a key role in allowing the molecules to move into and across the stratum corneum.
The findings of the study may open new opportunities in the delivery of therapeutic drugs via skin patches. Delivery of therapeutics across the skin offers many advantages, including ease of administration compared to pills and lack of pain in contrast to needle injections. However, transdermal delivery of drugs has proved challenging as the stratum corneum allows the passage of only small, oil-soluble molecules such as nicotine and estrogen. The insights gained from penetration of Avicins across the skin might provide design strategies for novel approaches to transport large molecules across the skin. Shastri and his collaborators hope to use the insights gained from this study to design drugs and proteins that can be delivered through the skin.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
C. J. Pino, J. U. Gutterman, D. Vonwil, S. Mitragotri, V. P. Shastri. Glycosylation facilitates transdermal transport of macromolecules. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200942109Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
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