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Hormone Rx May Protect Women With Breast Cancer Gene
Postmenopausal women carrying breast cancer-linked BRCA gene mutations who took hormone replacement therapy actually reduced their risk for breast cancer, researchers report.
The study's authors called the finding "reassuring."
"I have no reservation about recommending HRT to my patients who have a [BRCA] mutation and who have had an oopherectomy [removal of ovaries] and, particularly, young women with surgical menopause," stated Dr. Steven Narod, senior author of the study and chair of breast cancer research at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. "I feel completely, absolutely, 100 percent comfortable in recommending HRT to BRCA carriers."
The study was published in the Sept. 23 issue of theJournal of the National Cancer Institute.
In a prepared statement, Dr. Amos Pines, immediate past president of the International Menopause Society (IMS), said the results support "the IMS view that HRT in the early postmenopausal period is safe and may be prescribed without concerns when needed."
Other commentators, however, approached the subject more conservatively, including IMS Secretary General Dr. Regine Sitruk-Ware.
"Given the limitations of the design and size of the study, caution is still recommended for the use of HRT in women who are carriers of a genetic mutation that expose them to a higher risk of breast cancer in their life," Sitruk-Ware said, also in a prepared statement.
Another expert agreed.
"These observational studies are small and have misled before," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. "I would still advise my patients who have a mutational BRCA status, if at all possible, to use as little exogenous estrogen as possible and for as little time as possible."
Some 3 percent of invasive cancers can be attributed to either a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation, which elevate a woman's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer to 60 percent to 80 percent. The National Cancer Institute puts the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for an average American woman at 12.7 percent.
Many women with a BRCA mutation elect to have their ovaries removed at a relatively young age to reduce their breast cancer risk.
For this matched case-control study, researchers analyzed tumor samples from 472 postmenopausal women with a BRCA 1 mutation, some of who had undergone endocrine therapy (removing estrogen) before surgery for breast cancer. The other women also carried the BRCA1 mutation but had no history of breast cancer.
****Read More**** Postmenopausal women carrying breast cancer-linked BRCA gene mutations who took hormone replacement therapy actually reduced their ris... more -
Fire retardant chemical found in children
A fire retardant chemical used in electronics, toys, and furniture has been detected in children’s blood at triple the levels found in their mothers, the Environmental Working Group reported last week.
In a small pilot study of 20 families, the non-profit environmental group tested blood samples from mothers and their young children—ages 18 months to four years—for the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a hormone-disrupting chemical.
In 19 of the 20 families, concentrations of PBDEs were typically three times as high in children as in their mothers, said Sonya Lunder, the study’s author. One child had six times the level of the chemical that was detected in her mother.
“To us, this raises concerns that kids live very differently in the same environment than their parents do and those kid-like behaviors put them at risk for contaminant exposure,” Lunder said in a telephone interview.
Lunder said young children are exposed to more of these substances because they play by putting their hands and other household items in their mouths after touching furniture or appliances that contain PBDEs. They also eat more and drink more, proportionally, than their mothers do, and food and drink can contain these chemicals, she said.
PBDEs build up in the blood and tissues. Two forms of PBDEs are no longer made in the United States but are still present in items in U.S. homes, the study said.
The largest volume of PBDEs is in electronics in a form called Deca, which is banned in European electronics and in some U.S. states, according to the study.
The study cited peer-reviewed tests that showed a single dose of PBDEs given to mice on a single day when their brains were growing rapidly could cause permanent behavior changes, including hyperactivity.
Lunder said there have been numerous studies of the toxic effects of fire retardants on adults, but few on how these substances affect children.
A spokesman for the Bromine Science and Environment Forum, a trade group, took issue with the environment group’s study, saying that even the highest levels of PBDEs detected were relatively low, and that Deca was barely found in the children.
“Flame retardants save actual human lives, and no illness, ailment or harm to any human anywhere has ever been reported as a result of exposure to Deca, even among those who work producing the material,” the spokesman, John Kyte, said in an e-mail.
Kyte said the flame-retardant manufacturers group supported monitoring and analysis of “potential concerns” raised by the environmental group’s study.
Lunder said young children are exposed to more of these substances because they play by putting their hands and other household items in their mouths after touching furniture or appliances that contain PBDEs. They also eat more and drink more, proportionally, than their mothers do, and food and drink can contain these chemicals, she said.
PBDEs build up in the blood and tissues. Two forms of PBDEs are no longer made in the United States but are still present in items in U.S. homes, the study said.
The largest volume of PBDEs is in electronics in a form called Deca, which is banned in European electronics and in some U.S. states, according to the study.
The study cited peer-reviewed tests that showed a single dose of PBDEs given to mice on a single day when their brains were growing rapidly could cause permanent behavior changes, including hyperactivity.
Lunder said there have been numerous studies of the toxic effects of fire retardants on adults, but few on how these substances affect children. A fire retardant chemical used in electronics, toys, and furniture has been detected in children’s blood at triple the levels found in... more -
Aussie scientists treating female schizophrenics with 'oestrogen'
Australian scientists are taking a novel approach in treating women with schizophrenia. They have just published the findings of a clinical trial using the female hormone oestrogen.
The link between women's hormones and their moods is well known.
Life cycle studies have shown that women are more vulnerable to a first episode of serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia at times of hormonal changes, such as post-pregnancy or menopause.
There is also some evidence from animal studies that the female hormone oestrogen acts as an anti-psychotic.
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni from the Alfred Hospital and Monash University in Melbourne wanted to see what effect oestrogen had on women with schizophrenia.
One hundred and two women were given a patch of either active hormone or a placebo.
Participants were not told what they were using.
They took their other anti-psychotic medications during the trial.
Researchers said those on the hormone treatment had their symptoms significantly reduced.
"The women who received the oestrogen made a really good recovery from their auditory hallucinations, that's hearing voices or from their delusional beliefs, that's like they were being followed or other beliefs that weren't true in reality," Professor Jayashri Kulkarni said.
Anna Thomas took part in the trial and said the treatment made a big difference.
"I noticed a significant improvement in my clarity of thought ... that I hadn't had since I was 13 or 14 ... and that was prior to my diagnosis and illness of schizophrenia," she said.
Patients reported some minor side effects like breast tenderness and bloating.
Women were also given mammograms, because of the link with high oestrogen levels and breast cancer.
Researchers are hopeful that the treatment could also be used on men in the future. They are hoping to trial newer forms of oestrogen which act on the brain and do not have the same side effects as traditional female hormones.
The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Australian scientists are taking a novel approach in treating women with schizophrenia. They have just published the findings of a cli... more -
Transsexuality gene discovered?
New research has identified a gene variant that appears to be associated with female-to-male transsexuality.
The variation is in a gene responsible for an enzyme involved in the metabolism of sex hormones. Its presence leads to higher than average tissue concentrations of male and female sex hormones, which may in turn influence early brain development.
While there are many women with the variant who are not transsexual and many FtM transsexuals who lack it, the discovery raises the possibility that the variant makes women more likely to feel that their bodies are of the wrong sex. In this sense, the cultural environment still plays a paramount role, as researchers themselves stressed.
Janett Scott, former president of the Beaumont Society, a UK support group for transgender people, is concerned that establishing a biological basis for transsexuality may encourage people to try and cure it.
The researchers have strongly denied any such motive for their research. Quite the contrary, their discoveries might make it easier to diagnose transsexuality and to allow gender reassignment surgery or hormone therapy to commence earlier in life. New research has identified a gene variant that appears to be associated with female-to-male transsexuality. ... more -
Drug for deadly prostate cancer
Scientists are hailing a new drug to treat aggressive prostate cancer as potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years.
Abiraterone could potentially treat up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease resistant to currently available chemotherapy, they say.
The drug works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer.
The Institute of Cancer Research hopes a simple pill form will be available in two to three years.
Read more... Scientists are hailing a new drug to treat aggressive prostate cancer as potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 ... more -
Sustainable Living: Is Your Picnic Filled With 'Frankenfoods?'
Some 200 million acres of the world's farms grew biotech crops last year, with over 90 percent of those crops coming from genetically engineered seeds patented by U.S.-based Monsanto.
Scientists have taken genetic material from one organism (like a soil bacterium), along with an antibiotic resistant marker gene, and spliced both into a food crop (like corn) to create a genetically modified crop that resists specific diseases and pests.
There has been no long-term, independent testing on the effects of these "Franken-foods" on the ecosystem or human health.
It would be difficult to avoid eating genetically modified organisms in our country because they are so pervasive in the food system and unlabeled in the grocery stores.
Part of the reason for this is biotech giants fought to keep GMO foods unlabeled.
Most recently, the growth hormones from GE organisms known as rBGH, which is given to cows to make them produce more milk, were banned in Europe and Canada after authorities learned about the health risks of drinking milk from cows treated with rBGH hormones.
American milk producers started labeling their milk "rBGH and rBST free." Monsanto, which sells bovine growth hormones under the brand name Posilac, has successfully sued dairy producers to force them to stop labeling their milk.
In addition to most milk products, GMOs can be found in commercially farmed meats and processed foods on store shelves. In our country, 89 percent of all soy, 61 percent of all corn, and 75 percent of all canola are genetically altered.
Other foods, like commercially grown papaya, zucchini, tomatoes, several fish species, and food additives like enzymes, flavorings and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame and rennet used to make hard cheeses, also contain GMOs, according to Greenpeace.
To complicate matters, GMOs move around in the ecosystem through pollen, wind and natural cross-fertilization. The Union of Concerned Scientists conducted two independent laboratory tests on non-GM seeds "representing a substantial proportion of the traditional seed supply" for corn, soy and oilseed.
The test found that at "the most conservative expression," half the corn and soy were contaminated with GM genes, eight years after the modified varieties were first grown on a large scale in the U.S. Some 200 million acres of the world's farms grew biotech crops last year, with over 90 percent of those crops coming from genetic... more -
Is the lady in your life a moody mare?Then dose her up with anti-depressants
Disturbing reports show that increasing numbers of women are being prescribed anti-depressants for PMS when they should be offered as a last resort, and may even be dangerous.
Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) affects up to one in three women, and symptoms can include feelings of hopelessness, irritability, mood swings, aggression, loss of confidence, poor concentration, tiredness, breast tenderness, headaches, cramps and a desperate longing for chocolate. Ok, not really a desperate longing for chocolate, but those who procure said chocolate will be richly rewarded, Im sure...
Seriously though, PMS can be so severe that it seriously affects people lives, at work, at home and with partners,
"When I'm asked to fill in a list of symptoms for PMS and I get to 'irritability' it makes me laugh," says Laura, 42. "When I have PMS I'm not irritable. I'm ready to kill someone. My last boyfriend said there was no way he could be with me because of my PMS. It makes me abusive. Nothing triggers it, I just wake up incredibly angry. Then when my period comes, it stops."
It's a serious health problem, and one that needs careful treatment and sensitive support, but where they should first be advising lifestyle changes (improving diet, exercising and reducing stress), therapies like CBT, and hormone treatments like the pill and patches, GPs are reaching right for their prescription pads and instead offering anti-depressants to legions of women.
Are we back to the days of simply medicating the mad woman in the attic? Why are doctors offering such drastic treatment without consideration of the other options first? Have you had decent treatment for PMS, or were you seen as just another crazy lady? Disturbing reports show that increasing numbers of women are being prescribed anti-depressants for PMS when they should be offered as ... more -
Show Your Support for rBGH-Free Milk and Dairy Products
Every day we get a little bit closer to an rBGH-free milk supply as more and more major retailers are responding to the growing consumer demand for healthier milk. Chipotle, Kroger, and Wal-Mart are the most recent stores to join the trend. We’re collecting 10,000 petition signatures to thank companies that have gone rBGH-free and to encourage more companies to do it in the future.
In January, Chipotle began serving only rBGH-free sour cream and cheese in its restaurants, and Kroger and Wal-Mart both announced that they will only source rBGH-free milk for their store brands. Though we might not agree with some of these companies’ other practices, their rBGH-free switch is commendable as it means a dramatic increase in the amount of artificial growth hormone-free dairy products available to consumers nationwide. Our petition will also help encourage these companies to label these products as 'rBGH-free.'
Sign the petition thanking these companies for making the switch to healthier milk and dairy products and ask your friends to do the same!
I show my support for this by boycotting dairy until all is clear.
Please sign this and PASS IT ON! Every day we get a little bit closer to an rBGH-free milk supply as more and more major retailers are responding to the growing consum... more -
Involuntary sex change: man is naturally turning into a woman against his will
Terry Wright, 60, is turning into a woman due to abnormally high levels of the female hormone oestrogen. Medical experts are intrigued by the unique case, but are unable to explain or reverse the sexual transformation.
About ten years ago, Wright, who has five children and works as a pub singer in Birmingham, noticed that he was losing his hair and beard. Since then, he has developed smooth skin and breasts and has complained about hot flushes. Wright, who has never doubted his male gender identity, has been wrongly suspected of secretly trying to change his sex and has been offered a sex change operation by his GP, which he refused.
Some intersex conditions are associated with involuntary and natural sexual transformations, but these changes usually take place during puberty. Mr Wright states: "Doctors call me an 'interesting case' and 'unique' but I just want to go back to being a proper man." Terry Wright, 60, is turning into a woman due to abnormally high levels of the female hormone oestrogen. Medical experts are intrigued... more -
State Sponsored Doping of Olympic Athletes
This PBS documentary, "Doping for Gold", reveals the truth behind the biggest state-sponsored doping program the world has ever known, creating a timely perspective on today’s many sports drug scandals.
It reminds use that the Olympics serve as a real crucible for current human events whether it be human rights, nationalism, fascism, civil rights, or capitalism. This PBS documentary, "Doping for Gold", reveals the truth behind the biggest state-sponsored doping program the world has e... more -
Is Male Biology to Blame for Financial Bubbles?
"Cambridge researchers pinned down 17 male City of London stock traders twice a day to take saliva samples and measure their hormone levels. More testosterone was found to be both a cause and an effect of greater risk taking. In the short term, more testosterone meant greater profits, but over the long term elevated levels of the hormone will lead to excessive risk-taking and financial losses." "Cambridge researchers pinned down 17 male City of London stock traders twice a day to take saliva samples and measure their horm... more
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Thomas Beatie's Neighbor's Say "Pregnant Man" Is Totally Punki...
Thomas Beatie, the "first pregnant man" was seen by his neighbor last week sans baby bump. Video interview at Guanabee.com.
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Womb hormones 'lead to anorexia'
Women are usually much more likely than men to have the eating disorder, but a University of Sussex study found men with a female twin were more at risk.
This suggests the hormones released to aid female development may be key.
Commenting on the Archives of General Psychiatry study, a UK expert said other factors in childhood and adolescence remained important.
A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that in pregnancies bearing a female foetus, a substance is produced, probably hormonal, that increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa in adulthood
It is estimated that up to 90,000 people will be receiving treatment for eating disorders in the UK at any one time, with many other cases going undiagnosed.
No-one is sure why women are more prone than men. Some experts suggest that the pressures of modern society are partly to blame while others look at brain changes much earlier in life.
Research into twins is a way to examine the factors involved, as the single most important period for brain development is during the months of pregnancy.
Dr Marco Procopio, from the University of Sussex, worked with Dr Paul Marriott from the University of Waterloo in Canada to look at information drawn from thousands of Swedish twins born between 1935 and 1958.
Overall, as expected, female twins were more likely to develop anorexia than male twins.
The only exception was among mixed-sex twins, where the male was as likely to develop anorexia as the female.
The researchers wrote that the most likely reason was because of sex steroid hormones released into the womb during pregnancy.
"A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that in pregnancies bearing a female foetus, a substance is produced, probably hormonal, that increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa in adulthood.
"Because the male half of an opposite-sex twin pair would also be exposed to this substance, it could account for the observed elevated risk in males with female twins."
Susan Ringwood, from the Eating Disorders Association, said: "There is a lot of research now into the effects of hormones on brain development.
"This is an interesting study, although it's important that we also look at other factors such as perception of body-image in childhood and adolescence." Women are usually much more likely than men to have the eating disorder, but a University of Sussex study found men with a female twin... more
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Hormones
