HOW COULD OBESITY LEAD TO CANCER?

Fat (also known as adipose tissue) has two main roles in the body. It exists to store calories in the form of chemicals called lipids, and a huge gland, sending out a constant stream of biological information and instructions that affect the rest of your body. This helps control processes like growth, metabolism and reproductive cycles. But because of their ability to turn biological processes on and off, the signals produced by fat have a darker side when it comes to cancer.

1. The oestrogen connection

One of the strongest links between obesity and cancer is an increased risk of breast and womb cancers in women who are overweight or obese after the menopause, and this relates to higher oestrogen levels. Large studies of women have shown a direct relationship between obesity, high oestrogen levels and breast and womb cancers and understanding this relationship has been critical in developing effective treatments – like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors – that work by cutting off oestrogen.

2. Metabolic chaos

The chemical processes going on constantly throughout the body – collectively known as metabolism – are complicated and tightly controlled, relying on a finely tuned web of information flowing between cells and organs. But the chemical signals produced by fat cells means that obesity can cause a major upset to this balance, and this is thought to be another way it makes cancer more likely.

One key hormone that acts as a master-controller of metabolism is insulin. It’s made by the pancreas and orchestrates how cells take up and process glucose from the blood.

Large studies of peoples’ blood chemistry have also shown links between high glucose (even at levels below those needed for a diagnosis of diabetes) and the risk of several types of cancer.

3. Inflammation

As people become obese, and more fat cells build up in their tissues, specialized immune cells (called macrophages) are called to the scene, possibly to clear up dead and dying fat cells. But as macrophages carry out their clean up job, they also release a potent cocktail of chemicals called cytokines that summon other cells to help them out. The number of macrophages in obese fatty tissue can be substantial – they can account for as many as four in 10 cells.

This ultimately creates a condition called chronic inflammation. The result of inflammation is a cocktail of signals that tell cells to divide, because after injury you need new cells for healing to occur. But the signals encouraging cell growth for healing can also support cancer cells dividing. In fact if we look at the genes that are turned on and off in inflamed tissue, it’s very similar to genetic changes we see in cancer cells.

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WHY ARE MORE MEN THAN WOMEN LIKELY TO DIE OF CANCER?

The American Cancer Society's comprehensive annual report on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival. It is published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and is accompanied by a consumer version of the publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2017. The report estimates that in 2017, there will be higher cancer incidence and mortality rate in men than women.

The report finds significant gender disparities in incidence rate of 20% higher in men than in women, while the cancer death rate is 40% higher in men.

The gender gap in cancer mortality largely reflects disparity in the distribution of cancers that occur in men and women, much of which is due to differences in the prevalence of cancer risk factors.

For example, liver cancer, a highly fatal cancer, is three times more common in men than in women, partly reflecting higher Hepatitis C/B virus infection, historical smoking prevalence, and excess alcohol consumption in men. The largest sex disparities are for cancers of the oesophagus, larynx, and bladder, for which incidence and death rates are about 4times higher in men. Melanoma incidence rates are about 60% higher in men than in women, while melanoma death rates are more than double in men compared to women.

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NEW STUDY LINKED ASTHMA SEVERITY TO BLACKS

Asthma a respiratory condition marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It is usually connected to allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.

Airway inflammation is major part of asthma, and advancement in treatment are becoming more individualized based on the specific type of airway inflammation in a patient. Differences in airway inflammation can affect a patient's response to treatment, but whether the patterns of airway inflammation differ across race has, until now, been very unclear.

Black men and women are two to three times more likely than whites to be hospitalized or die from asthma. And while many factors contribute to the burden of asthma in African Americans -- such as access to health care and environmental exposures -- rates are disproportionate even when social and environmental elements are taken into account.

African Americans may be less responsive to asthma treatment and more likely to die from the condition, in part, because they have a unique type of airway inflammation, according to a recent study. 

The study is one of the largest and most diverse trials conducted in the U.S. on race and asthma, with 26 percent of the patients identified as African American. Researchers found that black patients were more likely to exhibit eosinophilic airway inflammation than whites, despite taking comparable doses of asthma medication, such as inhaled corticosteroids. The results are published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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OBESITY-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN LINKED TO LEUKEMIA DEVELOPMENT

Cancer researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine have found an obesity-associated protein’s role in leukaemia development and drug response which could lead to more effective therapies for the illness.

The study, published in the online edition of Cancer Cell  provided evidence that FTO -- the protein associated with fat mass and obesity -- plays a critical cancer-promoting role by regulating expression of a set of genes through a mechanism involving ribonucleic acid (RNA) modification and thereby increasing the reproduction of leukaemia cells and prohibiting drug response.

Researchers in the study analyzed a microarray dataset of 100 human acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) samples from patients and nine normal control samples as well as other large-scale microarray datasets of AML samples. They found that FTO was highly expressed in various subtypes of leukaemia samples such as those that contained chromosome crossover (genetic exchange between chromosomes) or mutations in certain genes. The high level of FTO expression contributed to cancer cells multiplying and surviving and also promoted the development of leukemia in animal models and the non-response of cancer cells to therapeutic agents.

Additionally, researchers found that genes like ASB2 and RARA, which were reported to inhibit leukaemia cell growth and/or mediate the response of leukaemia cells to therapeutic agents, were suppressed in the AML samples with higher FTO expression. The suppression of these genes was attributed to FTO-controlled decreased stability of their mRNA and was connected to FTO's m6A demethylase activity.

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GESTATIONAL DIABETES LINKED WITH IRON LEVEL

High levels of iron are linked with a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes (GDM), which calls into question routine recommendations for iron supplements for pregnant women, new research indicates.

Results from a study published in Diabetologia on November 10 showed that women who were in the top quartile for iron biomarkers in the second trimester of pregnancy had about 2.5 times the risk of developing GDM compared with those in the bottom quartile.

The researcher thinks that is more likely that iron supplements are a contributor to gestational diabetes, rather than the cause of it, pregnant women should be screened for iron levels and given supplements only if they are deficient.

Too much iron as well as too little can cause harm, and pregnant women are often susceptible to low iron levels and related adverse outcomes. 

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INFLAMMATION AND DIABETES COMPLICATIONS: ANY LINK?

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. With type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.

Over time, having too much glucose in blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb.

The number of people with diabetes has quadrupled worldwide over the last 20 years.

Inflammation is one of the main reasons why people with diabetes experience heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems and other, related complications. Now, in a surprise finding, researchers have discovered, in mice, that when certain immune cells can’t manufacture fat, the mice don’t develop diabetes and inflammation, even when consuming a high-fat diet.

But eliminating inflammation altogether is not the answer to preventing diabetic complications because inflammation is also vital for clearing infectious pathogens from the body and helps wounds heal. Still, Semenkovich said the new findings may have profound clinical implications.

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ARE YOU AT RISK OF OTHER SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER ?

Around one in six women (17 per cent) diagnosed with breast cancer goes to her doctor with a symptom other than a lump -- the most commonly reported breast cancer symptom, according to new research presented at the 2016 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer conference in Liverpool.

Breast symptoms, other than a breast lump, that may be a sign of cancer (termed 'non-lump' in the study) include nipple abnormalities, breast pain, skin abnormalities, ulceration, shape abnormalities and an infected or inflamed breast.

Researchers from UCL examined the data of more than 2,300 women diagnosed with breast cancer in England in 2009/10. They found that, although most women with breast cancer sought help quickly, those with 'non-lump' symptoms were more likely to delay going to their doctor compared with women with a breast lump alone.

Women with both a breast lump and 'non-lump' symptoms were also more likely to delay seeking help.

Women presenting with breast ulceration, nipple abnormalities, breast infection or inflammation, swollen arm or armpit, and pain in the armpit were more likely to wait longer than three months to seek help.

It's crucial that women are aware that a lump is not the only symptom of breast cancer. If they are worried about any breast symptoms, the best thing to do is to get it checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Diagnosing cancer earlier really is key in order to increase the chances of survival. Symptom awareness campaigns such as the Be Clear on Cancer campaign should continue to emphasise breast symptoms other than breast lump. 

Source: Science Daily

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BREATH ANALYZER: DIABETES DIAGNOSIS MADE SIMPLE

For several years, scientists have been working toward "breathalyzers" that can diagnose various diseases without painful pinpricks, needles or other unpleasant methods. Now, one team has developed a new, portable breath analyzer that could someday help doctors diagnose diabetes noninvasively in the office. The report appears in the ACS journal Analytical Chemistry.

Many studies examining the hallmarks of diabetes in exhaled breath have shown that elevated levels of acetone are strongly linked to diabetes. Detecting the concentrations of any given substance in breath in a simple way, however, is a major challenge. Breath contains a complex mix of compounds, including water, carbon dioxide and methane, that can throw results off. Mass spectrometry can do the job, but it's not very practical for point-of-care testing. Robert Peverall and colleagues wanted to fill that void.

The researchers created a hand-held device with an adsorbent polymer that can trap acetone from exhaled breath, then release it into a cavity where a laser probes its concentration. They tested the accuracy of the device on the breath of healthy subjects under different conditions, such as after overnight fasting or exercising, and compared results with mass spectrometry readings. The measurements were a close match and covered a wide range of concentrations, including those that would suggest a patient has undiagnosed type-1 diabetes, or has problems controlling their blood glucose. Adding to the practicality of the device, the researchers say it could be re-used many times.

Source: Science Daily

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COCOA COMPOUND IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR BIOMARKER

To the tantalizing delight of cocoa lovers everywhere, a number of recent studies employing various methods have suggested that compounds in cocoa called flavanols could benefit cardiovascular health. Now a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cocoa consumption reveals some further pieces of supporting evidence.

The meta-analysis in the Journal of Nutrition, an assessment of the combined evidence from all 19 RCTs, focused on whether consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa products was associated with improvements in specific circulating biomarkers of cardiometabolic health as compared to consuming placebos with negligible cocoa flavanol content. In all, 1,139 volunteers were involved in these trials.

The studies found that cocoa flavanol intake may reduce dyslipidemia (elevated triglycerides), insulin resistance and systemic inflammation, which are all major subclinical risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.

The greatest effects were seen among trial volunteers who ate between 200 and 600 milligrams of flavanols a day (based on their cocoa consumption). They saw significant declines in blood glucose and insulin, as well as another indicator of insulin resistance called HOMA-IR. They also saw an increase in HDL, or "good," cholesterol. Those consuming higher doses saw some of the insulin resistance benefits and a drop in triglycerides, but not a significant increase in HDL. Those with lower doses of flavanols only saw a significant HDL benefit.

There were benefits evident for both women and men and didn't depend on what physical form the flavanol-rich cocoa product was consumed in -- dark chocolate vs. a beverage, for example.

Source: Science daily.

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HIGH CHOLESTEROL LINKED TO ARTHRITIS

High cholesterol might harm more than our cardiovascular systems. New research using animal models, published online in The FASEB Journal, suggests that high cholesterol levels trigger mitochondrial oxidative stress on cartilage cells, causing them to die, and ultimately leading to the development of osteoarthritis. This research tested the potential therapeutic role of mitochondria targeting antioxidants in high-cholesterol-induced osteoarthritis and provided proof-of-concept for the use of mitochondrial targeting antioxidants to treat osteoarthritis.

To make this discovery, Prasadam and colleagues used two different animal models to mimic human hypercholesterolemia. The first was a mouse model that had an altered gene called ApoE-/- that made the animals hypercholesteremic. The other was a rat model, and the animals were fed a high-cholesterol diet, causing diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Both models were fed a high-cholesterol diet or control normal diet, after which they underwent a surgery that mimics knee injuries in people and was designed to bring on osteoarthritis.

Both the mice and the rats that were subjected to surgery and fed with high-cholesterol diets showed more severe osteoarthritis development than seen in the normal diet group. However, when both the mice and the rats are were exposed to the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin and mitochondrion-targeted antioxidants, the development of osteoarthritis was markedly decreased in relation to the untreated groups.

Source: Science daily

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HIGH CALCIUM DIET, SUN AND WHOLE MILK LINKED TO OVARIAN CANCER

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and and other U.S. health and academic institutions shows a diet high in calcium and low in lactose (milk) may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in African-American women. The work, which appears in the latest edition of the British Journal of Cancer, also found sun exposure in the summer months may reduce the risk of developing the disease in this population.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute.

The associations were evaluated among participants in the African-American Cancer Epidemiology Study, which is an on-going population-based case-control study of ovarian cancer in African-American women in 11 states including New Jersey. 

Investigators found that both lactose intake and consumption of whole milk were significantly associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer risk in African-American women, while skim and low-fat milk were not. No association was found for cheese or yogurt products.

Calcium intake, whether through food and/or supplement, was associated with a decreased risk of disease. While researchers found no association between dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake and ovarian cancer risk. 

Results also showed that increased sun exposure may reduce ovarian cancer risk in this population.

source: science daily

GENE MUTATIONS UNIQUE TO COLON CANCERS IN AFRICAN AMERICANS DISCOVERED

Scientists who last year identified new gene mutations unique to colon cancers in African Americans, have now found that tumours with these mutations are highly aggressive and more likely to recur and metastasize. 

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, a research collaboration which includes University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University, who last year identified new gene mutations unique to colon cancers in African Americans, have found that tumors with these mutations are highly aggressive and more likely to recur and metastasize. These findings partly may explain why African Americans have the highest incidence and death rates of any group for this disease.  

The study will be printed in the December 2016 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) by members of a research team that a year ago found 15 genes in African Americans that are rarely or never detected as mutated in colon cancers from Caucasians. The current study investigated the outcomes associated with these mutations in African American colorectal cancer. This study is significant because it helps shed further light on why colorectal cancers are more aggressive in African Americans. 

The researchers examined 66 patients who had stage I -- III colorectal cancer and found those patients positive for the mutations had an almost three times higher rate of metastatic disease, and stage III patients positive with mutations were nearly three times more likely to relapse compared to patients without the mutations.

Source: science daily

EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD BULLYING MAY PERSIST FOR LONG

Childhood bullying inflicts the same longstanding psychological trauma on girls as severe physical or sexual abuse. A recent study of 480 college freshmen showed harmful effects of bullying may linger for years, negatively affecting victims' mental health well into young adulthood.

Participants in the study were assessed on their exposure to a variety of traumatic experiences -- including bullying, cyberbullying and crimes such as robbery, sexual assault, and domestic and community violence -- from birth through age 17. Students also reported on their psychological functioning and symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The students who experienced bullying as children reported significantly greater levels of mental health problems than their peers.

SELENIUM STATUS LINKED TO CANCER RISK

As a nutritional trace element, selenium forms an essential part of our diet. In collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, researchers from Charité -- Universitätsmedizin Berlin have been able to show that high blood selenium levels are associated with a decreased risk of developing liver cancer. In addition to other risk factors, the study also examines in how far selenium levels may influence the development of other types of cancer. Results from this study have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Selenium is found in foods like garlic, fish, shellfish, meat, milk and eggs. It is a trace element that occurs naturally in soil and plants, and enters the bodies of humans and animals via the food they ingest.

Selenium deficiency is identified as a risk factor for a range of diseases. Selenium deficiency is a major risk factor for liver cancer. Selenium anticarcinogenesis can be conceptualized as a multi-tiered process whereby chemical/biochemical actions of Se metabolites are translated into changes in cancer risk by intermediate molecular and cellular mechanisms.

This study does not show that selenium supplementation has a direct protective effect against liver cancer. However, it does confirm the importance of a balanced diet, of which selenium forms an integral part. Previous studies had suggested a similar relationship between a person's selenium status and their risk of developing colon cancer, as well as their risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease.

TIME OF THE DAY INFLUENCE OUR RISK TO INFECTION

We are more susceptible to infection at certain times of the day as our body clock affects the ability of viruses to replicate and spread between cells, suggests new research. The findings may help explain why shift workers, whose body clocks are routinely disrupted, are more prone to health problems, including infections and chronic disease.

 

When a virus enters our body, it hijacks the machinery and resources in our cells to help it replicate and spread throughout the body. However, the resources on offer fluctuate throughout the day, partly in response to our circadian rhythms -- in effect, our body clock. Circadian rhythms control many aspects of our physiology and bodily functions -- from our sleep patterns to body temperature, and from our immune systems to the release of hormones. These cycles are controlled by a number of genes, including Bmal1 and Clock.

This suggest that shift workers, who work some nights and rest some nights and so have a disrupted body clock, will be more susceptible to viral diseases. If so, then they could be prime candidates for receiving the annual flu vaccines.