MedWire (7/29, Albert) reported that infection "with type beta or gamma human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)," according to a study published online in the British Journal of Dermatology. Among "107 patients with a prior SCC or basal cell carcinoma (BCC)," researchers "found that patients with seropositivity to various beta or gamma HPV subtypes at baseline were significantly more likely to develop subsequent SCC's at five years than those without HPV at baseline."
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The Los Angeles Times (11/24, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported a paper in PLoS ONE in which researchers used "high-throughput genetic sequencing to detect bacteria on 10 different surfaces in 12 men's and women's bathrooms on a college campus." They found that "bacteria associated with the gut were common on toilet surfaces, signifying fecal contamination (and an argument for seat protectors). ... The floor had the biggest bacteria party, revealing what the authors called 'diverse bacterial communities' of organisms, including several typically found in soil. ... The authors said this emphasizes the importance of hand washing after using the facilities." The Washington Post (11/24, Huget) "The Checkup" blog reported, "Most of the bacteria found throughout the bathrooms were those typically found on human skin. That finding's important, the authors note, because those bacteria can include pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can easily be spread when hands come into contact with contaminated surfaces."
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In "Personal Health," the New York Times (D7, Brody, Subscription Publication) reports that some mysterious summertime rashes may "result from a photosensitivity reaction, a combination of the sun's UVA radiation and exposure to a drug, perfume or another substance." Some "commonly used drugs can cause such a reaction, including antibiotics like the tetracyclines (doxycycline is one), ciprofloxacin, and the sulfa drugs," along with "the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide; and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen." Some sunscreens containing "benzophenones, the retinoids used to treat acne and sun-induced wrinkles, and fragrances like musk and coumarins" may also cause photosensitivity reactions.
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The Wall Street Journal (7/21, Stovall, Subscription Publication) reports, reports that for every four inches above five feet a woman is, she has a 16% increase risk of developing cancer, according to a study in The Lancet Oncology Bloomberg News (7/21, Mead) reports that the researchers "studied more than 1 million women in the UK who reported an average height of 161 centimeters to the state-run National Health Service between 1996 and 2001." They found more than "97,000 incidents of cancer by June 2008"; and every "10 centimeters of height translated to an 17-percent increase for incidents of breast cancer, which comprised more than a third of all the observed malignancies." BBC News (7/21, Gallagher) reports that the researchers found that the tallest women in the group, those "over 5ft 9in, were 37% more likely to have developed a tumour than those in the shortest group, under 5ft." They study authors linked 10 cancers to height: "colon, rectal, malignant melanoma, breast, endometrial (uterus), ovarian, kidney, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukaemia." Although the study looked "only at women, the researchers said the height link was also present in men."
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Medscape (7/18, Kling) reported, "Among Latinos in the United States, the relationships between acculturation and sun-safe behaviors are mediated by education level, health-related social networks, and perceived health status," according to a study published in the July issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after analyzing "data from the National Cancer Institute's 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey, focusing on 496 respondents who self-identified as Latino." Medscape also pointed out that "sun-safe behaviors are an important health factor for Latinos, who develop melanoma at a rate of 4.5 per 100,000, which represents a 28.6% increase since 1992." Reuters (7/19, Pittman) also covers the story.
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On the front of its Science Times section, the New York Times (7/12, D1, Span, Subscription Publication) reports, "A combination of factors has dissuaded many physicians' offices and clinics from carrying Zostavax," the vaccine for shingles. At the same time, "its manufacturer, Merck, has been unable to produce sufficient quantities to meet even modest demand." As a result, "intermittent shortages that last months have kept the company from consistently marketing the vaccine and have forestalled public health campaigns that could have built awareness of the need for it." The article quoted epidemiologist Rafael Harpaz, MD, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as saying, "There hasn't been a single year since the vaccine was licensed in 2006 that there's been no problem with supply." Accordingly, only about 10% of people 60 years of age and older have received a shingles vaccination. The New York Times (7/11, Span, Subscription Publication) "The New Old Age" blog pointed out that the "Food and Drug Administration has since approved Zostavax for people aged 50 to 59." However, "the vaccine remains hard to find, cumbersome to get reimbursed for, and not nearly as widely used as researchers had hoped."
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The Star-Ledger (7/19, Livio) reports that "even high-risk patients have a better chance of beating skin cancer the sooner they see a dermatologist. While the researchers noted many people know enough about the dangers of skin cancer to check their skin periodically, physicians are much better at noticing subtle changes." HealthDay (7/18, Dallas) reported, "Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, can be found by patients themselves, but new research reveals that self-detection is not as effective as screenings performed by doctors," according to a study published online July 18 in the Archives of Dermatology. For the study, researchers "found that in addition to higher rates of physician-detected melanomas, doctors also are more likely to detect thinner lesions, or cancers in the earliest stages." MedPage Today (7/18, Bankhead) reported that, in a review identifying 527 melanomas detected in 394 patients over the course of a decade, "dermatologists identified 76% of more than 500 primary melanomas, including 84% of lesions in established patients." Notably, "dermatologists detected almost 80% of in-situ lesions, and the clinician-identified lesions were 40% thinner than patient-detected melanomas." Nevertheless, the study authors emphasized that self-examination by patients is critical to diagnosing melanomas early. They concluded that "educating patients on recognizing melanoma signs and symptoms by performing skin self-examination can have a notable impact on early diagnosis of melanoma."
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Reuters (7/7, Kelland) reports that, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers have found a molecule in the body, CXCL5, which controls sensitivity to pain from UVB irradiation. The molecule may help them develop new treatments to treat pain in other conditions, according to the researchers. The USA Today (7/6, Lebowitz) "Science Fair" blog reported CXCL5 "recruits immune cells to human flesh exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays, swelling the skin and triggering pain and tenderness." The researchers "exposed numerous samples of human and rat skin to different types of solar waves." After looking at the skin samples under a microscope, the researchers "observed a variety of proteins in the damaged tissue, including large quantities of CXCL5. Such abundance of the protein is what causes the skin tissue to redden and blister when in the presence the sun's harmful rays." Also covering the story were, on its website, ABC News (7/6, Moisse), the Wall Street Journal (7/6, Hobson, Subscription Publication) "Health Blog," the UK's Telegraph (7/7, Collins), BBC News (7/6) and WebMD (7/6, Warner).
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Bloomberg News (6/25, Ostrow) reported, "Vitamin D may help prevent those at risk for diabetes from developing the disease, giving doctors and patients a potential tool against the condition," according to research presented at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting. In a study involving "2,039 people with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, a condition called prediabetes," researchers found that "patients with the highest amounts of vitamin D in their body were about 25 percent less likely than those with the lowest amounts to develop type 2 diabetes." The study's lead author theorized that "vitamin D might play a role in diabetes by improving insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity," Medscape (6/25, Hitt) reported. Vitamin D May Be Linked To Reduced Heart Risks In Men. Reuters (6/25, Norton) reported that, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, males who take in recommended amounts of vitamin D may have a lower risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke compared to those who take in little vitamin D. Investigators looked at data on approximately 119,000 adults for about 20 years. They found that males who took in 600 IU or more daily were 16 percent less likely to experience stroke or heart problems compared to males who took in less than 100 IU daily.
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The Minneapolis Star Tribune (6/27, Friedmann) "The Whistleblower" blog reported that, the Nature Relief Instant Wart and Mole Remover, "a product marketed as a treatment for warts and moles, is being recalled after the product burned the skin of at least one customer, the US Food and Drug Administration announced last week." According to the FDA, "the active ingredient, calcium oxide, can cause severe burns, especially if applied to thin or sensitive skin, and customers should put the product in a plastic bag and throw it away." The product "was only sold online directly to consumers by Nature Relief." MedPage Today (6/27, Gever) reported, "Nature Relief had sold the product exclusively through direct sales to consumers via the internet. It was sold as a kit including containers labeled 'removal cream,' 'repair cream,' 'antiseptic wash,' and 'triple antibiotic ointment,' along with toothpicks and other implements." What's more, the FDA advised that "consumers are recommended to have moles reviewed by licensed medical professionals and ensure they are not cancerous."
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Medscape (7/5, Mulcahy) reported that although Vitamin D and calcium do not reduce the overall rate of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in post-menopausal women, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that, in women with "history of NMSC, calcium plus vitamin D supplementation reduced subsequent melanoma risk, suggesting a potential role for the supplements in this high-risk subgroup." The authors note that 176 cases of melanoma developed in the participants, and conclude that larger studies are necessary for similarly rare cancers. Medscape notes that the study "used 400 IU of Vitamin D, which is lower than the daily recommended amount of 600 IU. The next trial may use up to 4000 IU, which is the limit suggested by the Institute of Medicine."
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Reuters (6/27, Pittman) reported that taking a vitamin D and calcium supplement may help some women reduce their risk for developing melanoma, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researchers analyzed medical data from roughly 36,000 women between the age 50 and 79, were randomized to either take both calcium (1,000 mg) and vitamin D3 (400 IUs) supplements or placebo, daily for seven years. The study team found that women who previously had non-melanoma skin cancer were less likely to get melanoma, if they were in the calcium and vitamin D group. HealthDay (6/27, Reinberg) reported that the women taking the supplements who had had previous non-melanoma skin cancer reduced their risk of developing melanoma "by 57 percent," compared with women taking the placebo supplements. The study's lead author "speculated that cancer cells lurking in the skin of women who have had a previous skin cancer may be waiting to develop into melanoma. 'But if they take calcium and vitamin D that reduces the risk of developing an actual tumor,' she said." Although the US Institute of Medicine "recommends 600 IU of vitamin D" daily, the findings indicated that as little as 400 IU "may be protective," she added.
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Bloomberg News (6/23, Peterson) reports Fibrocell Science won Food and Drug Administration "approval for an injectible wrinkle treatment that uses a patient's own cells to restore elasticity to the skin." The treatment, called laViv (azfibrocel-T), "will be Fibrocell's initial marketed product and the first wrinkle smoother made from a patient's cells." The New York Times (6/22, Pollack) "Prescriptions" blog reported the treatment "involves taking a sample of skin cells called fibroblasts, which make collagen, from behind the person's ear." Next, the "sample is sent to the company's laboratory, where the fibroblasts are multiplied in cell culture, a process that takes 11 to 22 weeks." Finally, "the cells are then sent back to the doctor, who injects them into the smile lines, (or frown lines), which are technically known as nasolabial folds." AFP (6/23) reports, "Fibrocell said the FDA approval came after two phase III randomized, double blind trials of 421 patients who received either laViv or a placebo in three treatments about five weeks apart." AFP reports, "In one study, 57 percent of patients on laViv saw an improvement compared to 30 percent who received the placebo treatment, according to a summary of the research published by the New York Times. In the other, 45 percent of patients receiving laViv thought they looked better afterward, compared to 18 percent in the control group." Medscape (6/22, Brooks) also covered the story.
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Medscape (7/21, Brooks) reported that the FDA has approved "incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin, Merz Aesthetics)" for treating frown lines. The FDA has previously approved incobotulinumtoxinA for treating cervical dystonia and blepharospasm. Cosmetic dermatologist Oscar Hevia explained that "what is novel about incobotulinumtoxinA...is that it is free from complexing proteins and does not need refrigeration before reconstitution." It has a shelf life of up to three years, unrefrigerated. IncobotulinumtoxinA is not interchangeable with botulinim toxin products, and is contraindicated for people hypersensitive to botulinim toxin A, or suffering infections at injection sites.
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WebMD (7/14, Goodman) reported, "People who say they vigilantly apply sunscreen are more likely to experience painful, damaging sunburns," according to a study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control. After analyzing "information on more than 3,000 white adults that was collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," then adjusting for confounding factors, researchers found that "people who said they frequently used sunscreen...had 23% greater risk of multiple sunburns in the past year, compared to people who said they seldom used the stuff." The study authors theorized that people are not using enough sunscreen to protect themselves properly.
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Bloomberg News (7/12, Lopatto) reports, "People who consumed tea and coffee carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, in their noses half as often as those who didn't, according to a study released today in the Annals of Family Medicine." Researchers do not know the mechanism behind reduced MRSA colonization, but suggest it may be due to the steam from hot beverages entering people's noses. According to the CDC, MRSA kills about 15,000 people a year. The researchers say that "if the findings hold true in further studies, coffee and tea may prove inexpensive ways to keep MRSA to a minimum in the population."
http://www.bobbybukamd.com/Tea, Coffee May Reduce Risk Of MRSA.Bloomberg News (7/12, Lopatto) reports, "People who consumed tea and coffee carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, in their noses half as often as those who didn't, according to a study released today in the Annals of Family Medicine." Researchers do not know the mechanism behind reduced MRSA colonization, but suggest it may be due to the steam from hot beverages entering people's noses. According to the CDC, MRSA kills about 15,000 people a year. The researchers say that "if the findings hold true in further studies, coffee and tea may prove inexpensive ways to keep MRSA to a minimum in the population." WebMD (7/11, Mann) reported that scientists acknowledge more research is needed. NYU Langone Medical Center director Philip Tierno remains skeptical, pointing out that "tea and coffee do have antimicrobial properties, but antibiotics, which have massive microbial properties, don't work at eliminating MRSA." http://www.drbobby.com/ http://www.wbderm.com/ http://www.williamsburgderm.com/
MSNBC (6/23, Carroll) reported, "An aspirin a day may keep melanoma at bay," according to a new study. "After scrutinizing the medical records of 1,000 people, an international team of researchers have determined that the risk of melanoma was cut by almost half when people took a daily dose of aspirin for at least five years." Interestingly, "there was also a hint that other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (marketed as Advil and Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), might reduce melanoma risk if taken regularly over a long period of time."
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MedWire (5/13, Albert) reported that, according to a study published in the June issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, "recently developed sunscreens containing nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles are likely to have better efficacy than older creams containing micron-sized TiO2 particles, with no increase in toxicity." Researchers from the Food and Drug Administration came to this conclusion after evaluating "the effects of the two types of TiO2 particles in sunscreen in terms of ultraviolet (UV) light attenuation, product stability, and possible skin barrier damage." Specifically, "they tested uncoated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 21 nm (nanoscale), coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 50 nm (nanoscale), and submicron, coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 250 nm (microscale)."
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