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News on Health & Science

Animals and Your Health: Dogs as Disease Detectors

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There is no question that dogs can provide companionship, protection, and other services. But could there be another use for our canine friends? Some anecdotal evidence and a sprinkling of scientific studies suggest that dogs can detect seizures and cancers (like skin melanoma and prostate cancer). Though the research is still in its infancy, preliminary results have already provided insight on developing new medical technologies.
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Detecting Seizures
Though many anecdotal stories suggest dogs can alert their owners before a seizure, there has been little research on how dogs might detect seizures before they happen. Some theorize that the dogs may smell a chemical or other scent that is released just prior to a seizure. Others believe the dog’s attachment to his or her owner helps in detecting subtle scent and behavioral changes before a seizure. Only a very small percentage of these service dogs are currently able to reliably warn their owners before a seizure. Some researchers have studied whether these skills could be taught.

Researchers in the UK reported in the January 1999 and January 2001 issues of Seizure on dogs they had trained that could detect seizures 1545 minutes prior to the episode’s beginning. In addition, the researchers found that the people using these dogs actually reported fewer seizures. Though these results are promising, in most cases it still seems that this skill is inherent in a dog’s personality, rather than something that can be taught. Future research may reveal what these dogs are detecting and how this information can be applied in the hospital setting.

There is no doubt that trained seizure alert dogs can alert help, help prevent injury and watch over someone when they are having a seizure. However, the Epilepsy Foundation cautions people against rushing into spending thousands of dollars for a dog said to have skills of prior seizure detection, at least until the research supports a specific training regimen.

Detecting Cancer
There has also been anecdotal evidence of dogs being able to sniff out cancer and warn their owners. A brief report in a 1989 issue of the Lancet describes how one dog discovered a cancerous skin tumor on her owner’s leg. Researchers have been able to teach bomb-sniffing dogs how to detect cancer using similar training techniques. Other research supports the theory that dogs have the ability to smell cancer. But the real promise may be in learning how dogs can do this and possibly developing medical technology to do the same.

The Future of Dogs as Doctors
Dogs may never be used in the physicians office. However, studying how animals can detect disease conditions in humans could lead to future advancements in medicine and medical technology. For instance, by learning about the ways dogs “smell” a seizure or cancer cells, we can develop technologies to detect those same molecules. Medical “sniffing machines” have already been developed and are providing insight into the smells of disease for disease detection.

Written by :Skye Schulte, MS, MPH.

Resources:The Epilepsy Foundation and The National Cancer Institute

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Fruits & Vegetables

1 Tomato, 2 Tomatoes, 3 Tomatoes, More!

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Italian-food lovers everywhere, rejoice: Tomato sauce is even healthier than previously suspected. Research is showing that tomatoes and tomato-based foods are excellent sources of lycopene, an antioxidant with cancer-fighting abilities; specifically, lycopene is believed to significantly reduce a man’s chances of getting prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is serious: It affects one in four men over age 50, who may suffer impotence and incontinence as a result, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.

A six-year study of prostate cancer in 40- to 75-year-old men was recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute as a follow-up to a previous six-year study. Nearly 50,000 men reported on the foods they ate so researchers could evaluate their intakes of lycopene-rich foods, including tomatoes and tomato sauces (e.g., pasta sauce and salsa); pizza; watermelon; and grapefruit.

Consuming tomato sauce (considered the best source of lycopene) more than twice per week reduced the odds for prostate cancer by about 25%, compared to consuming it less than once per month. A high estimated lycopene intake from any foods was also associated with a significant reduction in prostate cancer risk.

These data confirm previous reports of a reduced risk for prostate cancer through consuming tomato products and other sources of lycopene. Cooked tomatoes and tomato products, such as ketchup and various tomato sauces, are the optimal sources of lycopene.

Reference:

Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Liu Y, et al. A prospective study of tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002:94(5), pp. 391-398.

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News on Health & Science

Breast cancer strikes younger women too.

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How to spot signs of trouble: In November 1999, Jennifer Johnson seemed to be living her dream. She was 27 years old, happily married to her college sweetheart and expecting her first child. Johnson also tried to give back to her community by volunteering for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Because of that work, she understood the importance of monthly breast self-exams. Though breast cancer is unusual in young women, she was vigilant about the task. And that was how, one day in the shower, she found what she describes as a “rock” in her left breast. It was a devastating discovery  and it also saved her life.

A biopsy revealed that Johnson had invasive ductal carcinoma, which means that malignant cells had formed in a milk duct and then spread. Her tumor measured 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches), she says. Once she had gotten over the initial shock of her diagnosis and begun treatment, Johnson met and joined forces with three other young women fighting breast cancer: Patti Balwanz, Jana Peters and Kim Carlos. They formed their own private support group, meeting regularly for lunch at the Nordstrom’s store near their Kansas City homes. The friendship inspired their moving new book, “Nordie’s at Noon,” published this month by Da Capo Press. “We felt such comfort in being able to talk to each other and share our stories,” says Carlos. “We felt there weren’t enough resources out there for young women.”

Breast cancer is generally considered an older women’s disease; the median age of diagnosis is 63. But younger women are not immune. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, one in 229 women in their 30s will be diagnosed with a malignancy in their breasts. Young women also have special concerns that don’t affect older breast cancer patients. If they haven’t had children, they worry that chemotherapy or radiation will send them into early menopause. If they  are single and dating, they may have to contend with feeling less attractive after surgery. Breast cancer in younger women tends to be more aggressive, which makes early diagnosis all the more critical. But getting that early diagnosis is often difficult. In general, women with no special risk factors for breast cancer don’t start getting mammograms, the most widely used screening, until they’re in their 40s. (Before then, younger women’s denser breast tissue makes mammograms less reliable.)

Even if women do notice something suspicious during a self-exam, doctors don’t always take their complaints seriously. “The doctor will say, ‘Oh, let’s just watch that lump for three or six months or a year and see what happens’,” says Carlos. That often means that young women are diagnosed at a later stage and face a grimmer prognosis. In fact, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women aged 15 to 54, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, if the tumor is detected early enough, the odds are good: 83 percent of women under 45 whose cancers are found early will survive for at least five years.

Without mammograms, what’s the best tool for spotting signs of trouble? All four of the Nordie’s authors found lumps themselves. But among breast cancer groups, there is disagreement over whether self-exams should be included in screening recommendations; studies have not proven that the exams reduce deaths. However, no one disputes that self-exams help you become aware of the geography of your breast so you can detect any abnormalities early on. “The most important thing is to understand what kind of lumps or bumps are normal for you and if something is different, you need to consult a doctor,” says Randi Rosenberg, a founding member and former president of the Young Survival Coalition, a network of young breast cancer survivors(www.youngsurvival.org) (For tips on how to check your breasts, go to the Komen Foundation site,www.komen.org   and click on the breast-self exam link.)

(As published in the Newsweek)

Categories
Herbs & Plants (Spices)

Wanders of Garlic

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Garlic is a wonder
Garlic and its cousins (onions, chives and scallions) are probably the most intriguing of all vegetables. Garlic lowers cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart diseases, fights infection and boosts immunity. And, as if that weren’t enough, the data is strong for the prevention of cancers of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. The National Cancer Institute is sponsoring a huge clinical trial on garlic’s ability to prevent stomach cancer. But why wait years for the results of this clinical trial?

It was Louis Pasteur who first described the antibacterial effect of garlic and onion juices. Garlic is effective even against antibiotic-resistant strains. It even kills Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a kind of bacteria which is implicated in the cause of some stomach cancers and ulcers.

The medicinal properties of garlic are now scientifically recognised. It is widely available in different forms in Britain as over-the-counter supplements, particularly to treat the blood conditions and as an antiviral medicine.

Human population studies suggest that eating garlic regularly reduces the risk of esophageal, colon and stomach cancer.(4,5) This may be partly due to garlic’s ability to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds.Many publications have shown that garlic supports the cardiovascular system, while earlier trials suggest it may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood

Warmed garlic juice, or a mixture made with oil and the boiled bulb has been dropped into the ear to relieve earache and deafness. In Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine garlic juice has been used to alleviate sinus problems. In Unani medicine, an extract is prepared from the dried bulb which is inhaled to promote abortion or taken to regulate menstruation. Unani physicians also use garlic to treat paralysis, forgetfulness, tremor, colic pains, internal ulcers and fevers

Many people avoid eating garlic since it can make one’s breath smell pretty strong. In that case, garlic supplements are a convenient alternative
For those who prefer it, odor-controlled, enteric-coated tablets or capsules with approximately 1.3% allin are available

Indeed, if you‘re concerned about garlic breath, an aged extract or enteric-coated tablet is the way to go. If you‘re treating an infection of some kind, a standardized high-allicin extract or the actual food is the better choice. Aging destroys garlic‘s antibiotic properties.

Some individuals who are sensitive to garlic may experience heartburn and flatulence. Because of garlic’s anticlotting properties, those taking anticoagulant drugs should check with their nutritionally oriented doctor before taking garlic. Those scheduled for surgery should inform their surgeon if they are taking garlic supplement.

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