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06.11.06
Posted in commentary, news links, site news at 1:14 pm by admin
Highlights among the new blogs at Science Blogs include:
- The Loom: Written by Carl Zimmer, a freelance science writer who has written five books on science topics and appears regularly in The New York Times and numerous magazines;
- Effect Measure: “A forum for argument and discussion about progressive public health ideas,” which has been dominated by coverage of the bird flu;
- The Island of Doubt: “Subjects tackled will range from the intrusion of religion in the public sphere to the presentation of research by the media and the social implications of recent discoveries”.
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06.09.06
Posted in cancer, news links at 12:01 am by admin
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique which produces a three dimensional image of metabolic activities in the body. In oncology, more than 90% of all PET scans are performed as FDG-PET scans, using (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a tracer which is taken up by most cells, but retained by tissues with high metabolic activity such as cancer tissue.
“FDG PET scans have a sensitivity of about 85% and a specificity of 71% in the initial diagnosis and staging of colorectal cancer patients, while our DNA methylation marker has a sensitivity between 50 and 65% and a specificity of 95% in the same indication,” said Dr. Cathy Lofton-Day of Epigenomics. “We therefore would like to find out whether the combination of both methods can increase sensitivity and specificity of colorectal cancer detection. The study may also help us to identify new potential scenarios for clinical uses of our technology.”
A study involving 120 patients will be conducted to determine if combining the two techniques can improve the sensitivity and specificity of colorectal cancer detection.
Link
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06.08.06
Posted in news links at 11:37 am by admin
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06.07.06
Posted in site news at 7:00 am by admin
The newsletter will be mailed out every Sunday at 8 am PT. Thanks to Genetics and Health for leading me to Zookoda, which is handling all of the logistics of the newsletter for free.
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06.06.06
Posted in environmental alterations, news links at 12:01 am by admin
The wide variety of soy-based foods, beverages, and nutraceuticals now readily available tout this versatile food’s purported benefits of preventing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, as well as treating menopausal symptoms. Many of soy’s effects are attributed to its isoflavone components, but the strength of the relationships and whether the effects are beneficial are strongly debated ; one of the most heated debates is over the safety of soy-based infant formula. Most researchers agree that we are only just beginning to understand the nature of soy, and that far more human data are needed in order to make solid recommendations regarding its health benefits. Link
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06.02.06
Posted in environmental alterations, news links, research articles at 5:42 pm by admin
The researchers then decided to breed the obese, female offfspring of the mice that were fed the diet containing methyl-donating compounds such as folic acid, vitamin B12, betaine, and choline. The researchers hypothesized that the subsequent generations would decrease in weight with additional vitamin supplements in their diet, but they found the opposite: each subsequent generation was more obese than the previous. Dr. Waterland and his team have suggested that the cause may be methylation of an as-yet-unknown gene that may be causing the heritable change in body weight.
The study may have implications for pregnant mothers. Currently, expecting mothers are encouraged to take folic acid supplements because they reduce the chance of having a baby with neural tube defects such as spina bifida. In addition, the United States has mandated fortification of grains and flour with folic acid to increase levels of the compound in women. Further investigation is underway to determine if folic acid alone can cause these lasting effects, and whether they can be compared to folic acid consumption in humans. Link
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06.01.06
Posted in cancer, environmental alterations, news links, research articles at 12:01 am by admin
BPA is used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins, and have been found to be present in human blood serum, some pregnant women, and the human fetus.
The researchers found evidence that the increased risk of precancerous lesions of the prostate was correlated with a permanent change in methylation of certain genes within the neonate’s prostate cells. Specifically, expression of the gene phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4D4) was found to be highly expressed in male rats exposed to BPA in utero, while expression of the gene in normal male prostate cells was turned off. Prostate cancer cell lines also showed high expression of PDE4D4. This finding could be used to develop a way for identifying men with a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Link
Update: Co-author Jessica Belmonte de Frausto contacted us with a slight correction: “This study was conducted on neonate rats, not on pregnant rats and their offspring. Although it is important to note that the neonate period in rats does in fact correspond to to the second and third trimester in humans.”
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