Facial Wrinkles May Predict Bone Density
Posted by on July 4, 2011 - 7:56am

"In postmenopausal women the appearance of the skin may offer a glimpse of the skeletal well-being, a relationship not previously described," said Lubna Pal, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

The study demonstrates only an association between bone density and skin wrinkling. However, Dr. Pal called these findings noteworthy."This information," Pal said, "may allow for the possibility of identifying postmenopausal women at fracture risk at a glance, without dependence on costly tests."

The study is an ancillary study to an ongoing multicenter trial called the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study, or KEEPS, which is funded by the Aurora Foundation and the Kronos Longevity Research Institute in Phoenix. This ancillary study included 114 women in their late 40s and early 50s who had had their last menstrual period within the past three years and who were not taking hormone therapy. Women were excluded from participating if they had undergone any cosmetic skin procedures.

Women received a score for face and neck wrinkles based on the number of sites with wrinkles and on the depth of the wrinkles. The skin firmness or rigidity was measured at the forehead and the cheek with a device called a durometer. Study participants also underwent measurement of bone density by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and by a portable heel ultrasound device.

The investigators found a significant inverse correlation between the wrinkle score and the bone density, meaning the higher the score (and the worse the wrinkles), the lower the bone density. This relationship was evident at all skeletal sites -- hip, lumbar spine and heel -- and was independent of age, body composition or other factors known to influence bone density, Pal said. Additionally, firmer skin of the face and forehead was associated with greater bone density.

Although the connection between bones and skin may seem unclear, Pal explained that they share common building blocks -- a group of proteins known as collagens. As we age, changes in collagen occur that may account for age related skin changes including worsening skin wrinkles and sagging skin, and also contribute to deterioration in bone quality and quantity.

Long-term studies are needed to substantiate a relationship between wrinkles and the risk of bone fracture, Pal said.

"Ultimately, we want to know if intensity of skin wrinkles can allow identification of women who are more likely to fracture a bone, especially the femoral neck or the hip, an often fatal injury in older people," she said. "If this is the case, then including the study of skin wrinkles to other clinical risk factors may allow identification of fracture risk in populations that do not have access to more costly technology."   The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

New Tools to Help People with Diabetes
Posted by on July 1, 2011 - 7:50am

New videos to help people make lifestyle changes and cope with the demands of diabetes were announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). The series of three- to five-minute videos, which can be found HERE.  This site (Diabetes HealthSense) addresses topics such as setting goals to improve health, living with diabetes, finding the support you need, as well as segments on diabetes prevention and physical activity.

The video series is the latest addition to NDEP’s offerings in lifestyle change. The videos are being released to coincide with the redesign of NDEP’s online library of behavior change resources, Diabetes HealthSense. Diabetes HealthSense provides users with a searchable database of research, tools, and programs to address the wide array of psychosocial and lifestyle-change challenges associated with diabetes self-management. Resources included in Diabetes HealthSense have been reviewed by a team of leading independent experts on psychosocial issues with specific expertise in the science of behavior change.

Visitors to the Diabetes HealthSense site can view videos featuring expert professionals who are volunteers to NDEP — as well as people living with diabetes or working to prevent type 2 diabetes — about setting goals and making lifestyle changes. Initial videos (with more in the series to follow) include the following topics:

  • setting goals to improve your health
  • managing type 2 diabetes
  • living with type 2 diabetes: finding the support you need
  • preventing type 2 diabetes
  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • practical tips and action steps: physical activity

Additionally, visitors can choose what they’d like help with, such as how to cope with stress and emotions, eat healthy, or be active. They can also utilize tracking tools for calories or physical activity, or online programs to help them manage their weight or stop smoking.  People at risk for diabetes will also find this site helpful.

 

 

Flaxseed Is Not Effective for Hot Flashes
Posted by on June 29, 2011 - 8:08am

Flaxseed provides no benefit in easing hot flashes among breast cancer patients and postmenopausal women, according to a Mayo Clinic and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) study. The randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 188 women between October and December 2009 and found no statistically significant difference in mean hot flash scores between women taking flaxseed and those taking a placebo. Preliminary data published in 2007 by Mayo Clinic investigators suggested consuming 40 grams of crushed flaxseed daily might help manage hot flashes.

The researchers presented their new findings during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

“Hot flashes are a common symptom during the menopause transition or following breast cancer treatment,” says Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., of Mayo Clinic’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic and a researcher with NCCTG. “While our preliminary data from our 2007 pilot study showed a reduction in hot flashes associated with the consumption of ground flaxseed, our new study did not result in a significant decrease in hot flashes with eating flaxseed compared to placebo.”

Flaxseed plant

Dr. Pruthi says patients shouldn’t give up flaxseed if they enjoy it. Flaxseed may be beneficial for people who want to add fiber and bulk to their diet to manage constipation, she says. Dr. Pruthi says more research is needed to identify whether flaxseed has any other health benefits.

Other study investigators include Rui Qin, Ph.D., Heshan Liu, Charles Loprinzi, M.D. and Regis Professor of Breast Cancer Research, and Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D., all of Mayo Clinic.

Are E-cigarettes Safe?
Posted by on June 27, 2011 - 7:57am

Electronic cigarettes are devices designed to deliver nicotine or other substances to a user in the form of a vapor.  Typically, they are made up of a rechargeable, battery-operated heating element, a replaceable cartridge that may contain nicotine or other chemicals, and an atomizer that, when heated, converts the contents of the cartridge into a vapor which can be inhaled.   These products often are made to look like cigarettes, cigars, or pipes and are often marketed as a substitute for these items.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has NOT evaluated e-cigarettes for safety or effectiveness.  What studies the FDA has done have focused on limited lab studies of certain sample products on which they found significant quality control issues in the way these items are manufactured.  For example, the cartridges labeled as containing no nicotine contained nicotine and the amount of nicotine emitted in each puff was not consistent.  The FDA has issued warning letters to five distributors for violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that monitors manufacturing processes.

Someday, the FDA may regulate electronic cigarettes to ensure they do what their manufacturers' claim including their potential role in smoking cessation, but for now, it is best to try FDA approved smoking aids such as nicotine gum, skin patches, sprays and inhalants.  Experts are concerned that marketing of e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction among young people encouraging them to try other tobacco products.

 

Testosterone May Protect Memory in Women
Posted by on June 24, 2011 - 10:07am
Testosterone Molecule

Testosterone might protect the memory of healthy aging women, according to a small open-label pilot study reported at the Endocrine Society 93rd Annual Meeting held in June 2011.  Nine postmenopausal women who used a transdermal testosterone spray for about 6 months saw improvements over baseline in verbal learning and memory. A group of matched untreated women saw no change from baseline in their test results. The study was small and further exploration is needed but the idea has merit.

"The results of our study offer a potential therapy, where none currently exists, to slow cognitive decline in women," said lead investigator Sonia Louise Davison, MD, PhD, from the Women's Health Research Program at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. "Testosterone should be further studied in randomized placebo-controlled trials to determine whether it improves cognitive performance in postmenopausal women," she added.

At a press briefing, Dr. Davison said predictions of the number of people who will develop dementia in the coming years are "pretty worrying." Dementia is set to become an "enormous" and costly public health problem. Women develop dementia at double the rate of men; lower testosterone levels in women might play a role in this sex difference.

Dr. Davison's team explored the effects of testosterone on cognitive performance in 9 nondepressed cognitively normal women. The women were between 47 and 60 years of age (mean age, 55 years) and were receiving stable-dose hormone replacement therapy that was not administered orally. They applied the testosterone spray to the abdomen once daily for 26 weeks. A control group of 30 women provided normative data for comparison.At baseline and 26 weeks, all of study subjects took a computerized cognitive test battery, called CogState, which is capable of detecting small changes in cognitive performance, Dr. Davison explained.

There were no differences between the 2 groups in any parameter at baseline.After 26 weeks, "significant improvements" from baseline were observed in learning (verbal and visual) and memory in the testosterone group. In contrast, there were no significant differences between baseline and 26 weeks in the control group.

Support for the Neuroprotective Effects of Testosterone

Dr. Davison called these results "exciting," and said they provide more evidence that testosterone exerts neuroprotective effects.In men, age-related declines in testosterone increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease, she said. It's been shown that healthy older men and men with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia have demonstrated improvements in cognitive performance, including memory, after testosterone treatment.

"There obviously is some important link between testosterone and cognition that needs to be explored further," Dr. Davison said.

The testosterone spray used in the study is "novel," she noted, "in that it uses a propellant of sunscreen to introduce the testosterone into the skin."

Source:   Medscape Medical News for ENDO 2011: The Endocrine Society 93rd Annual Meeting: Abstract P1-314. Presented June 4, 2011.

FDA Issues Followup Report on Silicone Breast Implants
Posted by on June 22, 2011 - 9:31am

When the Food and Drug Administration allowed silicone gel-filled breast implants back on the market in November 2006, the agency required the manufacturers to conduct follow-up studies to learn more about the long-term performance and safety of the devices. on June 22, 2011, the FDA released a report that includes preliminary safety data from these studies, as well as other safety information from recent scientific publications and adverse events reported to FDA.

FDA approved silicone gel-filled breast implants for increasing breast size (augmentation) in women age 22 or older and for reconstruction (after breast cancer surgery or other medical issues) in all women. They are also approved for revision surgeries, which correct or improve the result of an original augmentation or reconstruction surgery.

Almost five years later, FDA’s report continues to support the safety and effectiveness of these implants when used as intended, but states that women should fully understand the risks before considering getting them.

  • Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer a woman has them, the more likely she is to have complications and need to have the implants removed or replaced. Women with breast implants will need to monitor their breasts for the rest of their lives.
  • The most frequently observed complications and adverse outcomes are tightening of the area around the implant (capsular contracture), additional surgeries, and implant removal. Other complications include a tear or hole in the outer shell (implant rupture), wrinkling, uneven appearance (asymmetry), scarring, pain, and infection.

Studies to date do not indicate that silicone gel-filled breast implants cause breast cancer, reproductive problems, or connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, no study has been large enough or long enough to completely rule out these and other rare complications.   FDA is working with the two manufacturers who make silicone gel-filled breast implants, Allergan and Mentor, to address the challenges in collecting follow-up data on the women who have received these implants.

“It is important that women with breast implants who experience any symptoms see their health care providers,” says Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Women who have enrolled in clinical studies should continue to participate so that we can better understand the long-term performance of these implants and identify any potential problems.”

FDA also provided other information  on both silicone gel-filled and saline-filled breast implants:

  • A redesigned website on breast implants
  • A booklet, “Breast Implants: Local Complications and Adverse Outcomes”, which highlights the most common problems that occur with breast implants and things to consider before having breast implant surgery.
  • A handout with questions to ask your surgeon before getting breast implants

FDA recommends that women with silicone gel-filled breast implants do the following:

Follow up. Continue to routinely follow up with your health care provider. Get routine MRIs to detect a rupture that you may not be aware of (silent rupture).  FDA recommends that women with silicone gel-filled breast implants get screenings for silent ruptures three years after they get implants and every two years after that.
Be aware. Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer you have breast implants, the more likely you are to have complications. One in 5 patients who received implants for breast augmentation will need them removed within 10 years of implantation. For patients who received implants for breast reconstruction, as many as 1 in 2 will require removal within 10 years of implantation.
Pay attention to changes. Notify your health care provider if you develop any unusual signs or symptoms. Report any serious side effects to the breast implant manufacturer and MedWatch, FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program. Report online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch or by calling 800-332-1088.
Stay in touch. If you’re enrolled in a manufacturer-sponsored study, continue to participate. These studies are the best way to collect information about the long-term rates of complications.

Teen Pregnancy: It Takes Two to Tango!
Posted by on June 22, 2011 - 9:18am

Too often, teen pregnancy is thought of as an adolescent female's problem, but as they say, it takes two to tango. Of the approximately 10 million adolescent males aged 12 to 16 in 1996, a national study revealed that almost one in 10 became fathers before their 20th birthday(1). The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) notes the special challenges that teen fathers and their children face.

Many teen fathers are eager to play an important role in their child's life. However, emotional attachment can be difficult as the majority of teen fathers do not live with their child. Also, adolescent fathers typically have poorer earnings potential than their peers who delay parenthood, in part because of lower educational attainment (although many males were already behind in school before they fathered a child).(2) Research shows that only 50 percent of teen fathers who have children before they are 18 finish high school or get their GED by age 22. Just under half of teenage fathers continue on to father more children by their early- to mid-20's.

Children of adolescent fathers often face challenges as well. Studies have found that children who live apart from their fathers are more likely to be reared in low-income homes and are at an increased risk for poor health.(3,4) Also, recent research shows that sons of adolescent fathers are nearly twice as likely to repeat the cycle of young parenthood and become teenage dads themselves.(5)

June is Men's Health Month, a time when adolescent males can recognize the importance of caring for their overall health. Adolescent males tend to be more physically active than females, yet they are also more likely to have behavioral problems, including conduct disorders and ADHD, and to be diagnosed with certain STDs, such as syphilis and HIV. Therefore, screening for these and other conditions is an important step in identifying health issues and getting treatment.

Parents and other caring adults in an adolescent male's life can encourage healthy behaviors and growth by setting good examples and establishing open lines of communication. Resources are available for adolescent males and those that care about them:

HHS' Men's Health Month page has tips on how to connect with your adolescent male on health issues; adolescent males can also learn how to make healthy and responsible choices at the Office on Women's Health's Men's Health Teen page.

Fatherhood.gov, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, has a resource page for teen dads, and expecting teen dads, to help them play an important role in their child's life from the very beginning.

1 Analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997.

2 Ibid.

3 The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Why it Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Responsible Fatherhood.

4 Nock, S.L., & Einolf, C.J. (2008). The One Hundred Billion Dollar Man: The Annual Public Costs of Father Absence. The National Fatherhood Initiative (www.fatherhood.org).

5 Fletcher, J.M. & Wolfe, B.L. (2011). The Effects of Teenage Fatherhood on Young Adult Outcomes. Economic Inquiry, 49: no. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2011.00372.x

Test Approved to Determine if Breast Tumor may be Sensitive to Herceptin
Posted by on June 20, 2011 - 9:03am

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new genetic test that will help health care professionals determine if women with breast cancer are HER2-positive and, therefore, candidates for Herceptin (trastuzumab), a commonly used breast cancer treatment.

The test, called Inform Dual ISH, allows for measurement of the number of copies of the HER2 gene in tumor tissue. The HER2 gene is located on chromosome 17 in human cells. An excessive amount of the protein produced by the gene is found in some types of cancer cells, including breast cancer cells.

The Inform Dual ISH test allows lab personnel to count the number of copies of HER2 genes on chromosome 17 in a small sample of the breast tumor. The sample is stained with chemicals that cause copies of HER2 genes and chromosome 17 to change color. Copies of the HER2 gene appear black and copies of chromosome 17 appear red. These color changes can be seen under a standard microscope.

This feature allows lab personnel to see and count copies of chromosome 17 and HER2 genes on the same slide, similar to HER2 amplification measurements that have traditionally only been available using fluorescence microscopes. The Inform Dual ISH, however, allows lab staff to see the HER2 and chromosome 17 signals directly under a microscope, for longer periods of time.

The FDA based its approval of the Inform Dual ISH on a U.S. study involving tumor samples from 510 patients with breast cancer. This study showed that the test was effective in confirming that a patient’s tumor sample contained more than the normal number of copies of the HER2 gene in 96 percent of the HER2 positive tumor samples. Patients with more than the normal number of copies of the HER2 gene are considered candidates for Herceptin therapy. About 20 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are HER2-positive.

New Substances Added to Carcinogen Report
Posted by on June 15, 2011 - 12:37pm

Eight substances were added to the  12th Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer.  The Report is maintained by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and data compiled by  the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are now listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances — captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene — are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings.

The Report on Carcinogens is a congressionally mandated document that is prepared for the HHS Secretary by the NTP. The report identifies agents, substances, mixtures, or exposures in two categories: known to be a human carcinogen and reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. A listing in the Report on Carcinogens does not by itself mean that a substance will cause cancer. Many factors, including the amount and duration of exposure, and an individual’s susceptibility to a substance, affect whether a person will develop cancer.

Once a substance is nominated by the public or private sector and selected for consideration, it undergoes an extensive evaluation with numerous opportunities for scientific and public input. There were at least six opportunities for public input on each substance. The NTP used established criteria to evaluate the scientific evidence on each candidate substance under review. The NTP drew upon the scientific expertise of several federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Two known human carcinogens:

Aristolochic acids have been shown to cause high rates of bladder or upper urinary tract cancer among individuals with kidney or renal disease who consumed botanical products containing aristolochic acids. Aristolochic acids are a family of acids that occur naturally in some plant species. Despite a warning issued in 2001 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that advised consumers to discontinue use of any botanical products containing aristolochic acids, they can still be purchased on the Internet and abroad, and may be found as a contaminant in herbal products used to treat a variety of symptoms and diseases, such as arthritis, gout, and inflammation.

Formaldehyde was first listed in the 2nd Report on Carcinogens as a substance that was reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, after laboratory studies showed it caused nasal cancer in rats. There is now sufficient evidence from studies in humans to show that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers, including nasopharyngeal (the nasopharnyx is the upper part of the throat behind the nose), sinonasal, as well as a specific cancer of the white blood cells known as myeloid leukemia. Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is widely used to make resins for household items, such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes. Formaldehyde is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including some hair straightening products.

For more information on the six substances reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens, CLICK HERE to read the full press release.

New Resource Available to Navigate Complex Medical Terminology
Posted by on June 14, 2011 - 10:32am

You care about your health and you try to keep up on the latest research.  But you don't know the difference between the endometrium and the cervix?   Or how about aneuploid and diploid?   A new educational resource is now at your finger tips called Repropedia.   Repropedia is a free web based dictionary of scientific terms used in reproductive and women's health research.   Created by the Center for Reproductive Sciences at Northwestern University, Repropedia defines complex terms in easy to understand language. Just click on the word above or check it out HERE.

Pages