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One
screen leads to another
ANN ARBOR —
Despite being of uncertain value, prostate specific
antigen (PSA) testing is far more popular than the tried
and true colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Of 22,617
men over 50 in a recent study, two-thirds had undergone
recent PSA testing, but less than half were up to date
on CRC screening. The research, published in February's
Journal of the American College of Surgeons,
found that the most important factor that determined
who received CRC screening was having had a PSA test.
The authors speculate that men who are comfortable with
one form of cancer screening would be more open to another.
Androgen
deprivation: PSA sets the bar
PHILADELPHIA —
One proven use for the PSA test is figuring out how
to approach treatment for prostate cancer. It's known
that androgen deprivation can help prostate cancer patients,
but researchers are still a little foggy about what
PSA levels warrant using the treatment. A recent study
of 1,003 prostate cancer patients stepped in to fill
the void. After some fancy statistical wizardry, researchers
decided that patients with PSA levels of over 30ng/mL
are at high risk and should be considered for androgen
deprivation, as well as radiotherapy. Full results can
be found in the March 15 International Journal of
Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
Lactation
in the jet age
LUBBOCK, TEXAS
— Researchers at Texas Tech University have
found a toxic chemical from jet fuel in breast milk.
The study, published online February 23 in the Journal
of Environmental Science and Technology, looked
at 36 women from 17 states. They found that levels of
perchlorate -- which inhibits iodide uptake by the thyroid
gland -- were as much as 20 times higher than the safe
dose. Mums in California reported the highest levels
and local environment advocates believe the Colorado
River -- a major source of Californians' potable water
-- may be contaminated due to debris from former defence
and space program sites.
Dethroning
the disease of kings
CHICAGO —
A sexy new drug has taken the decidedly unsexy world
of gout by storm. Febuxostat, a nonpurine selective
inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, performed significantly
better than placebo in reducing serum urate concentrations
in a 28-day trial of 153 patients -- without side effects.
However, tried and true treatment colchicine prophylaxis
did even better, managing to reduce the number of gout
flares compared to placebo a feat that febuxostat failed
to do. The research is published in the March issue
of the Journal of Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Baby
heart scandal aftershocks
BRISTOL, UK —
The Bristol Royal Infirmary baby heart scandal started
with the deaths of 29 infant heart surgery patients
and ended with a 529 page report and two surgeons being
struck off. The report led the government to demand
in 2001 that heart surgeons make their success rates
public by 2004, but hospitals have been slow to act.
UK newspaper The Guardian recently gained access
to data from several hospitals and found that many are
still struggling to collect such data, let alone release
it. Physician score cards are always controversial,
especially since death rates are often skewed by factors
like patient age and comorbidities.
Think
before you ink
SAN DIEGO —
Tattoos are in vogue but those who get them could risk
more than parental disapproval. Findings presented March
13 at the 229th annual meeting of the American Chemical
Society showed that the chemicals used in tattoo inks
may cause side effects in some people, including a burning
sensation during an MRI and the migration of metals
in the ink to other parts of the body, like the lungs.
To top this off, lower-back tattoos have also come under
scrutiny. Though evidence is still lacking, some believe
tattoo ink could interfere with epidurals by seeping
into the lower lumbar region of the spine -- in the
worst-case scenario possibly causing paralysis.
Fly
the germ-filled skies
BURLINGTON, MA
— The 2002 SARS outbreak showed the world
how commercial air travel can facilitate the spread
of disease. A new study published in the March 12 issue
of The Lancet shows that airplane ventilation
systems could be to blame for the easy passage of microbes.
In their literature review, the researchers found that
although planes are still conducive to the spread of
disease, the risk can be minimized. Proper ventilation
can remove up to 63% of pathogens in the air. The authors
did note that the passengers' perceived risk of catching
something is greater than the actual risk.
Strike
two for vitamin E
HAMILTON —
The fallen miracle vitamin once thought to ward off
heart disease has suffered another debilitating blow.
A study in the March 16 JAMA shows that vitamin
E provides no benefit in warding off heart disease or
cancer and can actually increase the risk of heart failure.
Researchers followed 7,030 participants who were given
400 IU of vitamin E or placebo for a median followup
of seven years. They found absolutely no benefit from
taking the supplement. An earlier study, in the November
10 Annals of Internal Medicine, was the first
to debunk the vitamin E myth.
Head
for the healthy hills
ATHENS —
Julie Andrews had it right in The Sound of Music:
the hills are alive. According to research published
in the April issue of the Journal of Epidemiology
and Community Health, living in higher altitudes
is good for your heart and might actually help you live
longer. The study followed 1,198 participants over 15
years. They found that mountain dwellers actually had
more risk factors for heart disease -- they drank more,
had higher cholesterol and blood pressure, and higher
triglycerides and blood fat. Despite it all, they fared
the best. The researchers think the 'protective effect'
of living in higher altitudes is due to increased physical
activity under conditions of mild hypoxia.
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