tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26906554718303449272024-03-13T10:32:04.383-07:00Asbestos And Mesothelioma InformationBest collection of Asbestos and Mesothelioma information's RSS FeedAsbestos Mesotheliomahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09010130546765613414noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-73061206786409626452012-06-18T09:16:00.000-07:002012-06-18T09:16:00.935-07:00Nanotubes Could Pose Health Risk To Production Line Staff, Study Suggests<br />
Tiny fibres used to strengthen everyday products such as bicycle frames and hockey sticks could pose health hazards to those involved in their manufacture.<br />
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Certain types of carbon nanotubes - cylindrical molecules about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair - could cause cancer in the lining of the lung, University of Edinburgh researchers have found.<br />
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The study in mice found that while short carbon nanotubes appeared relatively harmless if they entered lung cavities, longer nanotubes were more likely to get stuck there and ultimately cause a type of cancer known as mesothelioma.<br />
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Researchers are now looking at assessing the level of risk involved, for instance by looking at how many of the long fibres are present in the air of workplaces.<br />
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The study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, found that longer carbon nanotubes caused a reaction in the lung lining similar to that of asbestos.<br />
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Professor Ken Donaldson, Chair of Respiratory Toxicology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "The industrial-scale manufacture of carbon nanotubes is increasing, with a global market in excess of <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/228423.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-85338580285736730722012-06-18T09:01:00.000-07:002012-06-18T09:01:00.175-07:00Mesothelioma Patients' Lives Extended Years In Study<br />
Physicians at the University of Pennsylvania may have found a way to increase the lifespan of mesothelioma patients. These findings came from a study published in the June 2011 issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and were largely unexpected given that the original purpose of the study was to see if intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) in conjunction with surgery had any effect. <br />
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Fourteen mesothelioma patients underwent modified extrapleural pneumonectomy (MEPP), and fourteen underwent radical pleurectomy (RP). MEPP is an invasive surgery whereby the infected lining and lung is removed. RP is a similar procedure involving the removal of lung lining only. Both groups were treated with PDT, an experimental procedure using light and photosensitzers. The group that underwent RP had astonishing extensions in their lifespan. <br />
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"Unlike patients who receive traditional lung sacrificing surgery for mesothelioma, the patients in our study who underwent lung sparing surgery <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/228605.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-63071219676509453032012-06-17T09:31:00.000-07:002012-06-17T09:31:00.227-07:00Combination Therapy Shows Promise For Rare, Deadly Cancer Caused By Asbestos<br />
Pleural mesothelioma patients who undergo lung-sparing surgery in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) show superior overall survival than patient treated using the conventional therapy of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) (or en bloc removal of the lung and surrounding tissue) with PDT, indicates new research from the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The research is published in the June 2011 issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.<br />
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"Unlike patients who receive traditional lung sacrificing surgery for mesothelioma, the patients in our study who underwent lung sparing surgery and photodynamic therapy, a light-based cancer treatment, have experienced unusually long overall survival rates. The median survival for those patients had not been reached at over two years when the results were analyzed. That's unusual in this field, especially when the majority of those patients are older and have advanced cancer," said Joseph Friedberg, MD, co-director of the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program and the thoracic surgeon who performed the operations cited in the study. "In addition to the overall survival statistics, the difference between having and not having a lung, both with respect to the risk of surgery and the ability to enjoy a normal life after surgery, is crucial for these patients." <br />
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Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive and deadliest forms of cancer and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos typically precedes development of the cancer by anywhere from 10 - 50 years, but once it occurs, the average survival rate following diagnosis is often only 9-12 months. <br />
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Although mesothelioma can occur in other locations like the abdomen, pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease and accounts for roughly 70 percent of cases. This form originates in the pleura - the membrane surrounding the lung and lining the chest - where it starts off as a microscopic sheet of malignant cells that coats the interior of the chest and can grow to be several inches thick. The coating and enveloping nature of the cancer makes it impossible to completely remove it with surgery alone. As a result, the conventional surgery-based approach to treatment involves radical surgery that includes removing the lung, in combination with chemotherapy and whole chest radiation. Even with this aggressive treatment, the disease will recur in almost all patients. <br />
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The current study had two goals. The first was to determine if using a new combination of PDT and surgery would allow a less extensive surgical procedure to be used in lieu of an EPP. The second was to determine if, based on previous research from Penn with PDT, the treatment would have any positive effect on survival for patients.<br />
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Unlike radiation, which passes through the body, the PDT therapy used in the current study penetrates only a short distance which allows the lung to be preserved. The PDT treatment aims to eradicate the remaining microscopic disease trigger a patient's own immune system to help fight cancer. Penn is one of only two centers in the world where PDT is used to treat pleural mesothelioma.<br />
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In the study, 28 patients (19 men, 9 women) underwent surgical resection plus PDT for pleural mesothelioma. Patients were aged from 27 to 81 years. All patients were seen in a multidisciplinary setting and educated about the spectrum of treatment options available, including surgical intervention and its currently investigational status. Of the study group, 14 patients were treated by modified extrapleural pneumonectomy (MEPP) and 14 by radical pleurectomy (RP) and intraoperative PDT. Twenty-two of the 28 patients also received chemotherapy. <br />
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Demographics in the MEPP and RP cohorts were similar in age, sex, stage, nodal status, histology, and adjuvant treatments. Stage III/IV disease was present in 12 of 14 patients (86 percent) in both groups. The median overall survival for the patients who received the MEPP treatment was 8.4 months. At a follow-up 2.1 years after the end of treatment, a median survival rate for the patients who received a radical pleurectomy had not yet been reached. The results yielded by the radical pleurectomy and adjuvant PDT were superior to other studies of surgical treatment plans with patients of similar demographics.<br />
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"Our primary motivation in attempting the lung sparing surgery was preservation of quality of life, and we were hoping the survival results would at least be similar to the more traditional pneumonectomy approach," said Friedberg. "Although our pneumonectomy results were in line with what is often reported for similar patients having surgery-based treatments, we were completely caught off guard when the analysis revealed a significantly longer survival for the patients who retained both lungs."<br />
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Although all patients in the current study received the PDT therapy in combination with a different surgical technique, the researchers further note that the use of intraoperative PDT is the evident difference between the multimodal protocol used in the current study and other standard treatment options presently in use, and it seems worth speculating on any potential direct contributions of the PDT to the overall survival rates.<br />
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"Why this is happening is unclear and has emerged as the focus of our continuing research," said Friedberg. The possibility exists that the residual PDT-treated microscopic disease induced an autologous tumor vaccine effect or potentially enhanced the effect of adjuvant treatments.<br />
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"This study has limitations, as many mesothelioma studies do, but these results are very encouraging. The findings from our study are particularly notable because many of the patients in this study would often be excluded from surgery-based therapy because of their advanced age or unfavorable oncologic characteristics such as the large bulk of their cancers or the spread to the lymph nodes," said Dr. Friedberg. "Based on these results this lung-sparing technique, combined with photodynamic therapy, has become the backbone of our surgery-based treatment protocols."<br />
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A larger study investigating the efficacy of this multimodal approach is currently underway at Penn.<br />
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The Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program is a unique program that consists of a multidisciplinary team of dedicated specialists with a passion and expertise for treating patients with these difficult cancers. The Penn Program offers a true multidisciplinary approach, presenting patients with essentiallyall treatment options offered world wide and a number of treatments offered only at Penn.<br />
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Source:<br />
Penn's Perelman School of Medicine <br />
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine<br />
Penn Medicine<br />
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View drug information on Photodynamic Therapy.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/227304.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-65121342689292697822012-06-17T07:46:00.000-07:002012-06-17T07:46:00.177-07:00Delivering Cisplatin By Inhaler For Treating Lung Cancer<br />
Lung cancer patients could receive safer and more efficient treatment through a system being developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.<br />
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The scientists have devised a method for giving drugs by inhalation to patients through a nebuliser, rather than the current approach of intravenous delivery.<br />
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The system could administer the treatment far more quickly than existing methods and without the harmful side effects associated with current systems, which can cause kidney damage.<br />
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It could also enable health authorities to deliver the drugs in smaller doses without diminution of benefit to patients.<br />
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Lung cancer and mesothelioma caused 4,147 deaths in Scotland in 2009, and deaths of women from the disease increased by 12% in the preceding decade, despite a corresponding fall of 20% among men.<br />
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Dr Chris Carter, a Senior Lecturer the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, led the research, partnered by Professor Alex Mullen and Dr Valerie Ferro. She said: "Increasing awareness of cancer risks and improvements in treatment do not alter the fact that it remains one of Scotland's biggest killers and lung cancer is its most common form. This means that new, improved treatments are still essential.<br />
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"By delivering cisplatin, one of the most widely used drugs for lung cancer, in a vaporised form, we would be able to get it to the cancerous cells and avoid the damage to healthy cells which can be hugely debilitating to patients. It would make the treatment far less onerous for them and we hope it would help them to live longer."<br />
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The research is an example of the pioneering work of the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences in developing new medicines for illnesses and conditions including infectious diseases, cancer, heart disease, and schizophrenia. An <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/235875.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-11271935122759691702012-06-16T08:16:00.000-07:002012-06-16T08:16:00.782-07:00Erionite In North Dakota Roads May Increase Risk Of Mesothelioma<br />
As school buses drive down the gravel roads in Dunn County, North Dakota, they stir up more than dirt. The clouds of dust left in their wake contain such high levels of the mineral erionite that those who breathe in the air every day are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer of the membranes around the lungs, new research shows. Erionite is a natural mineral fiber that shares similar physical similarities with asbestos. When it's disturbed by human activity, fibers can become airborne and lodge themselves in people's lungs. Over time, the embedded fibers can make cells of the lung grow abnormally, leading to mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer most often associated with the related mineral asbestos.<br />
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Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, has previously linked erionite exposure in some Turkish villages to unusually high rates of mesothelioma. Recently, he and colleagues turned their attention to potential erionite exposure in the U.S., where at least 12 states have erionite-containing rock deposits. His research team - which includes scientists from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency, New York University, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, and University of Hacettepe - focused their efforts on Dunn County, North Dakota, when they learned that rocks containing erionite have been used to produce gravel for the past 30 years. More than 300 miles of roads are now paved with the gravel. The new study, reported in the July 25, 2011 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to look at the potential hazards associated with erionite exposure in the U.S.<br />
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The scientists compared the erionite in North Dakota to erionite from the Turkish villages with high mesothelioma rates. They measured airborne concentrations of the mineral in various settings, studied its chemical composition, and analyzed its biological activity. When mice were injected with the erionite from Dunn County, their lungs showed signs of inflammation and abnormal cell growth, precursors to mesothelioma. Under the microscope, the fiber size of the erionite from North Dakota was similar to that of the Turkish erionite. Overall, the researchers found no chemical differences between the North Dakota erionite and samples of the cancer-causing mineral from Turkey. The airborne levels of erionite in North Dakota were comparable to levels found in Turkish villages with 6-8 percent mortality rates from mesothelioma, the researchers reported.<br />
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"Based on the similarity between the erionite from the two sources," says Carbone, "there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma in North Dakota." The long latency period of the disease - it can take 30 to 60 years of exposure to cause mesothelioma - and the fact that many erionite deposits have only been mined in the past few decades suggests that the number of cases could soon be on the rise. In addition to North Dakota, California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and other states have erionite deposit, but the possibility of human exposure elsewhere in the U.S. has not yet been investigated.<br />
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In contrast to asbestos, which causes mesothelioma at lower rates, there are no established health benchmarks in the U.S. on safe levels of erionite exposure, because until recently, physicians thought that erionate was present only in Turkey. The new findings, however, indicate that precautionary measures should be put in place to reduce exposure to the mineral, says Carbone. In Turkey, his earlier findings led to moving villagers away from areas with high levels of erionite, into new housing built out of erionite-free materials. "Our findings provide an opportunity to implement novel preventive and detection programs in the U.S. similar to what we have been doing in Turkey," he says. Future studies could analyze erionite levels in other areas of the U.S. and develop strategies to prevent and screen for mesothelioma. The study was funded through grants from the National Cancer Institute and the 2008 AACR-Landon Innovator Award for International Collaboration in Cancer Research to Michele Carbone.<br />
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Source: <br />
Sharon Shigemasa<br />
University of Hawaii Cancer Center <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/231754.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-89491786266588043572012-06-16T08:01:00.000-07:002012-06-16T08:01:00.272-07:00Why Carbon Nanotubes Spell Trouble For Cells<br />
It's been long known that asbestos spells trouble for human cells. Scientists have seen cells stabbed with spiky, long asbestos fibers, and the image is gory: Part of the fiber is protruding from the cell, like a quivering arrow that's found its mark.<br />
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But scientists had been unable to understand why cells would be interested in asbestos fibers and other materials at the nanoscale that are too long to be fully ingested. Now a group of researchers at Brown University explains what happens. Through molecular simulations and experiments, the team reports in Nature Nanotechnology that certain nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, enter cells tip-first and almost always at a 90-degree angle. The orientation ends up fooling the cell; by taking in the rounded tip first, the cell mistakes the particle for a sphere, rather than a long cylinder. By the time the cell realizes the material is too long to be fully ingested, it's too late.<br />
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"It's as if we would eat a lollipop that's longer than us," said Huajian Gao, professor of engineering at Brown and the paper's corresponding author. "It would get stuck."<br />
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The research is important because nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes have promise in medicine, such as acting as vehicles to transport drugs to specific cells or to specific locations in the human body. If scientists can fully understand how nanomaterials interact with cells, then they can conceivably design products that help cells rather than harm them.<br />
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"If we can fully understand (nanomaterial-cell dynamics), we can make other tubes that can control how cells interact with nanomaterials and not be toxic," Gao said. "We ultimately want to stop the attraction between the nanotip and the cell."<br />
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Like asbestos fibers, commercially available carbon nanotubes and gold nanowires have rounded tips that often range from 10 to 100 nanometers in diameter. Size is important here; the diameter fits well within the cell's parameters for what it can handle. Brushing up against the nanotube, special proteins called receptors on the cell spring into action, clustering and bending the membrane wall to wrap the cell around the nanotube tip in a sequence that the authors call "tip recognition." As this occurs, the nanotube is tipped to a 90-degree angle, which reduces the amount of energy needed for the cell to engulf the particle.<br />
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Once the engulfing - endocytosis - begins, there is no turning back. Within minutes, the cell senses it can't fully engulf the nanostructure and essentially dials 911. "At this stage, it's too late," Gao said. "It's in trouble and calls for help, triggering an immune response that can cause repeated inflammation."<br />
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The team hypothesized the interaction using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations and capped multiwalled carbon nanotubes. In experiments involving nanotubes and gold nanowires and mouse liver cells and human mesothelial cells, the nanomaterials entered the cells tip-first and at a 90-degree angle about 90 percent of the time, the researchers report.<br />
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"We thought the tube was going to lie on the cell membrane to obtain more binding sites. However, our simulations revealed the tube steadily rotating to a high-entry degree, with its tip being fully wrapped," said Xinghua Shi, first author on the paper who earned his doctorate at Brown and is at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. "It is counter-intuitive and is mainly due to the bending energy release as the membrane is wrapping the tube."<br />
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The team would like to study whether nanotubes without rounded tips - or less rigid nanomaterials such as nanoribbons - pose the same dilemma for cells.<br />
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"Interestingly, if the rounded tip of a carbon nanotube is cut off (meaning the tube is open and hollow), the tube lies on the cell membrane, instead of entering the cell at a high-degree-angle," Shi said.<br />
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Agnes Kane, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Brown, is a corresponding author on the paper. Other authors include Annette von dem Bussche from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown and Robert Hurt from the Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation at Brown.<br />
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The National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded the research. <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/234604.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-49834254917535146762012-06-15T08:46:00.000-07:002012-06-15T08:46:00.218-07:00Link Between Asbestos And Genetic Mutation<br />
Mice inhabiting a northern town of Israel known for its high concentration of asbestos-contaminated dust, have a higher level of genetic somatic mutations, compared with other regions where asbestos pollution levels are lower. This has been shown in a new study carried out by Dr. Rachel Ben-Shlomo and Dr. Uri Shanas of the University of Haifa's Department of Biology in Oranim. "This study clearly indicates that there is a link between the higher levels of asbestos in the environment and the frequency of genetic somatic mutations in the mammals," the scientists said.<br />
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Earlier studies of asbestos have already shown that the thin fibers, which penetrate the body by inhalation or through consumption of food contaminated with the material, not only cause certain cancers but also genetic mutations in DNA structures. It is also known that asbestos is a material that decomposes slowly, over many years. Data from the Israeli Ministry of Health indicate a rise in the number of cancer patients from exposure to asbestos in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel, and therefore the scientists set out to examine whether genetic mutations are found in the mouse population living in its northern town of Nahariya. They chose to probe mutations in mice because their generations are renewed every three months, so it could be assumed for the study that dozens of generations of this sample population in Nahariya had already been exposed to the fibers.<br />
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Wild mice from two locations were sampled - one group living close to a factory that manufactured asbestos-based products in Nahariya during 1952-1997, and a second group from a town located 50 kilometers, or 31 miles, from Nahariya and where no known asbestos pollutants are found. Samples were taken from both groups and six sites in the DNA were examined for genetic differences between the groups.<br />
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The results indicated differences between the groups' DNA and that the Nahariya-based mice had higher levels of genetic somatic mutations.<br />
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"These findings teach us that the pollutive, mutagenic asbestos increases somatic mutational frequency, which can in turn heighten the chances of developing cancerous growths," the researchers concluded.<br />
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Source: <br />
Rachel Feldman<br />
University of Haifa<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/228625.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-72804756467723905112012-06-15T08:31:00.000-07:002012-06-15T08:31:00.313-07:00$3.58 Million Gift Will Forward Scientific Advances For Mesothelioma Research, One Of The Most Difficult To Treat Cancers<br />
The UH Cancer Center has received a $3.58 million gift from an anonymous donor to support the mesothelioma research of Dr. Michele Carbone, director of the UH Cancer Center. Carbone and colleagues, who include Drs. Haining Yang and Giovanni Gaudino, have made a series of recent scientific breakthroughs that will lead to new ways to prevent and treat the disease.<br />
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"This generous gift is critical to support our efforts to generate discoveries that will aid in the prevention of mesothelioma and the development of new therapies," said Dr. Carbone. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that line the chest and abdominal cavities. It results in one of the most aggressive types of tumors, and current median survival from diagnosis is just twelve months. Exposure to airborne asbestos or erionite particles increases one's risk of developing mesothelioma.<br />
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The gift is the second largest in UH Cancer Center history. "Mesothelioma is a serious public health problem," said Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, Chancellor of UH Mānoa. "We're proud that Dr. Carbone's team is leading the world in this area of discovery. This gift validates their efforts and will help them remain at the forefront of thoracic oncology research."<br />
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Dr. Carbone and colleagues have studied mesothelioma for more than a decade. Significant findings have come from studies conducted in the villages of Capadoccia, a region of Turkey. Dubbed "death villages," nearly 50% of the area's residents develop and die of mesothelioma. The epidemic is caused by exposure to a fiber called erionite that is even more potent than asbestos in causing mesothelioma. Erionite is a naturally occurring mineral found in rock formations and homes built of rock material in the region. The team's findings led to a response from the Turkish government that included building the villagers new homes and a regional health center to conduct treatment.<br />
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Dr. Carbone and collaborators will conduct a clinical trial co-sponsored by the Early Detection Research Network of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Turkish Ministry of Health to validate serum biomarkers they discovered for the early detection of mesothelioma.<br />
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This past winter, Dr. Carbone reported new findings describing potential erionite exposure in the U.S. (Nature, Dec. 16, 2010). Collaborating with scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health, they found evidence of erionite in rock materials used to pave roads in North Dakota and other states. Public health concerns have been raised and the team's examination continues in partnership with the EPA. Findings from a new detailed study were presented at a recent scientific meeting and are pending publication in a leading scientific journal. The National Institutes of Health has planned a conference this fall to discuss potential public health issues related to erionite exposure."<br />
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Source: <br />
Kellie Tormey<br />
University of Hawaii Cancer Center <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/229516.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-72499496125796637402012-06-14T06:01:00.000-07:002012-06-14T06:01:00.160-07:00The Latest On Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Caused By Exposure To Asbestos4 (1 votes)<br />
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Patients with early stage malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, may be eligible for aggressive multi-modality therapy involving surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. There are two main approaches, and controversy has existed about which approach is superior. One is called extrapleural pnemonectomy (EPP), a very extensive surgery where surgeons remove the entire diseased lung, lung lining (pleura), part of the membrane covering the heart (pericardium) and part of the diaphragm. Another approach involves a less extensive surgery called pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), where surgeons remove part of the lining around the lungs, potentially part, but not all of the lung, and potentially part of the diaphragm and/or membrane around the heart. Research presented in the April 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology concludes that the P/D method had better results for patients in a recent analysis.<br />
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According to the study, "EPP resulted in higher mortality and morbidity than P/D, and P/D resulted in significantly better survival in our experience as in others." The authors, "propose that P/D becomes the standard surgical procedure offered as part of multi-modality therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma."<br />
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Until recently, EPP was the considered the standard of treatment. But this latest study along with other recent research seems to point to P/D becoming the new standard of treatment. Dr. Michael Weyant, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Colorado, wrote an editorial in the April JTO about this topic. He concludes that, "the results of the current study by Lang-Lazdunksi et al provide additional data that should lead us to consider P/D in all trials of treatment for MPM. It is too early based on this data to completely abandon EPP altogether as there may be patient subsets where the potential reward outweighs the risks of the procedure."<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/243021.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-60529856496099420372012-06-14T05:31:00.000-07:002012-06-14T05:31:00.120-07:00Mesothelioma: Promising Developments In Early Diagnosis And Treatment5 (1 votes)<br />
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New results presented at 3rd European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland show important steps being made to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the outer lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure.<br />
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Micro RNAs speed diagnosis<br />
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Australian researchers have identified a small molecule that is more abundant in the blood of people with the deadly lung disease mesothelioma than in healthy people. Their findings bring scientists a step closer to being able to diagnose mesothelioma earlier than is currently possible.<br />
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At present diagnosing mesothelioma depends on the availability of a lung biopsy that contains enough tumor tissue. However suitable biopsies are not always available, which can leave doctors uncertain about the patient's diagnosis, sometimes resulting in a delay to the start of treatment. "If doctors could use a diagnostic marker based on a simple blood test to help with diagnosis, it could circumvent the problem of availability of tumor tissue and help to accelerate the diagnostic process," says Dr Michaela Kirschner from the Asbestos Diseases Research (Concord Hospital Campus) in Sydney, who reported the new findings.<br />
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So far a number of proteins have been proposed as blood-based markers for malignant pleural mesothelioma; however none of these has so far reached the accuracy required for routine clinical use.<br />
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In the new study, Dr Kirschner and colleagues explored whether molecules known as microRNAs in blood could serve as a diagnostic marker for the disease. Studying 5 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and 3 healthy controls, they identified 17 microRNAs with significantly differential abundance in the two groups. They then validated these miRNAs in a series of blood samples from 15 patients and 13 controls. These studies revealed that the level of a particular microRNA known as miR-625-3p was four-fold higher in the blood of mesothelioma patients.<br />
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Measuring levels of that molecule in blood samples allowed the researchers to discriminate between MPM patients and controls with an accuracy of 82.4%.<br />
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"Detailed analyses of our two independent sample series have shown that miR-625-3p performs as well as any previously proposed protein marker for detecting mesothelioma," Dr Kirschner said. "However, like most diagnostic markers, miR-625-3p is not 100% accurate, and therefore there is a chance the assay will produce both false positives as well as false negatives. Further studies on larger sample sizes are needed to see whether the accuracy of miR-625-3p can be confirmed or even turn out to be better than currently observed."<br />
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"Should further studies prove that microRNAs in plasma are accurate enough for the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma, this will lead to the development of a diagnostic test for routine clinical use," Dr Kirschner said. "This test would then represent a relatively simple way to circumvent the problems associated with obtaining a tissue biopsy. For a patient this would mean that appropriate treatment could be instituted at an earlier stage."<br />
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High-dose radiotherapy gives good response rates <br />
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Despite a widespread belief that mesothelioma does not respond to radiotherapy, Australian researchers have found that it may have the best response rates of any single treatment for patients with disease largely confined to one side of the chest.<br />
<br />
Between 2003 and 2011, Dr Malcolm Feigen and colleagues from Austin Health Radiation Oncology Center in Melbourne gave radiotherapy to 45<br />
<br />
View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/244254.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-77154898085255057832012-06-13T06:31:00.000-07:002012-06-13T06:31:00.332-07:00Construction Workers And Electricians At High Risk Of Asbestos Exposure4 (1 votes)<br />
Article opinions: 1 posts<br />
Asbestos exposure is known to cause : <br />
<br />
MesotheliomaLung cancer Asbestosis Statistics show it is particularly prevalent amongst construction workers and electricians due to their constant contact with construction materials and dust, some of which is likely to include asbestos, no matter how careful they are.<br />
<br />
Asbestos, although a natural fiber, when swallowed or inhaled, can cause grave health risks as fibers trapped in the body begin to cause irritation, tumors and especially pulmonary problems. Unfortunately, it was a commonly used construction material in the early half of the 20th century, preferred for its low cost, ease of manufacture, as well as its fire and water resistant properties.<br />
<br />
Modern construction no longer uses asbestos due to improvements in synthetic materials and cements and more awareness of the dangers it poses.<br />
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Mesothelioma is a type of cancer specific to asbestos exposure. There are no cases of Mesothelioma not associated with Asbestos. It normally occurs in the linings of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal Mesothelioma), but the cancer can occur in the lining of many internal organs. Sadly, Mesothelioma is incurable because it is typically diagnosed late, and, according to the Mayo Clinic, treatment has to be focused on keeping the patient as comfortable as possible.<br />
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Mesothelioma can take years to develop, so that a worker who was exposed to asbestos many years ago, may develop it long after retirement. It can take 20 to 40 years to develop, however once diagnosed it is characteristically very aggressive.<br />
<br />
Exposure to asbestos may also cause regular lung cancer. Asbestos related lung cancer occurs in the lungs themselves and may result in tumors that reduce pulmonary function and begin to block airways.<br />
<br />
Asbestosis, which only occurs from exposure to asbestos, is not a form of cancer, but rather the buildup of scar tissue in the lungs caused by the irritation and damage from the fibres.Occupations at Risk of ExposureUntil the 1980s, asbestos was regularly used in construction and other industrial applications. Awareness of problems with asbestos combined with lawsuits against employers and manufacturers put an end to its use.<br />
<br />
Asbestos is naturally heat resistant and can provide a useful fireproof layer in products, ranging from flooring and walling to vehicle brakes and insulation, thus many workers were literally in contact with asbestos on an almost daily basis, which is known as "occupational exposure". They are clearly at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma or asbestosis.<br />
<br />
The areas of industry include : <br />
Auto mechanicsBrick and stone masonsConstruction workersElectriciansFirefightersHVAC workers/Boiler MechanicsInsulation InstallersPlumbersRailroad workersRoofersWeldersConstruction Worker ExposureIn construction asbestos was used in many products, including, but not limited to :<br />
BoilersCeiling tiles DrywallFireproofing materialsFlooringInsulationRoof panels Workers would often cut the asbestos material to fir the installation. Asbestos is most commonly known as a grey fibrous board, similar to compressed cement board. The problem of exposure continues, even though new projects are not using the material any longer, any renovations of pre 1990s buildings can come across large usage of asbestos, the removal of which poses a genuine hazard. Even the World Trade Center Towers, relatively modern buildings, were riddled with asbestos - there are real concerns for firemen and contractors involved with cleaning up the site.Electrical Worker ExposureElectricians have a dual set of risks, not only in dealing with standard construction materials that they need to cut through or install, but also electrical products themselves which used asbestos. They risk exposure to asbestos almost daily. <br />
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When drilling conduits for wiring, electricians often encounter asbestos products in the walling. The drilling itself being one of the worst exposures, producing large amounts of dust that many not be immediately identifiable as asbestos. Some electrical products that include asbestos are : Ceiling tilesCement sidingCircuit BreakersInsulationSwitchgearsThermal paperWall plasterOlder equipment in buildings that electricians may be working on or around, including turbines, generators, heating units, hot water tanks etc. may also have asbestos in their installations. Whilst not being in the most immediately obvious industry for asbestos exposure, electrical workers are besieged from all sides by asbestos risk.Secondary Exposure to AsbestosAsbestos is a very small fiber that is transmitted in dust and can easily attach to clothing, shoes, hair, skin, collect in work vehicles and be taken back to the home. Thus many family members of workers who were exposed on the job may have been exposed to harmful amounts of asbestos, via transmission of the particles from the work site to the home.<br />
<br />
Because of the latency period of developing mesothelioma or other lung diseases caused by asbestos, many workers are still discovering that they have, or are developing, complications due to asbestos exposure.<br />
<br />
If you or a family member work, or previously worked, in a job that brought exposure to asbestos, contact a personal injury attorney experienced in handling asbestos related claims.<br />
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This articles has been adapted from a press release issued by Gori Julian & Associates on behalf of www.gorijulianlaw.com/<br />
<br />
Written by Rupert Shepherd<br />
Copyright: Medical News Today<br />
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today<br />
<br />
View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/238263.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-32175077746969985762012-06-13T06:16:00.000-07:002012-06-13T06:16:00.512-07:00Dangerous Dust3 (1 votes)<br />
<br />
What would you do if you found out that the roads you drive on could cause cancer? <br />
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This is the reality that residents face in Dunn County, North Dakota. For roughly 30 years, gravel containing the potentially carcinogenic mineral erionite was spread on nearly 500 kilometers of roads, playgrounds, parking lots, and even flower beds throughout Dunn County.<br />
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Concerns about erionite were first unveiled in Central Anatolia, Turkey, where an epidemic of mesothelioma - a normally rare cancer of the smooth lining of the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen - was responsible for up to 50 percent of the deaths in some villages. Although it is found in 12 states, erionite remains an unregulated mineral in the U.S. because it has not been used commercially and was previously thought that, unlike asbestos, human exposure was extremely limited. However, new evidence of its prevalence and dangers is coming to light, and scientists are beginning to wonder whether we should be worried. <br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/241169.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-36711645610327969492012-06-12T23:40:00.000-07:002012-06-12T23:40:00.753-07:00Nanotubes could pose health risk to production line staff, study suggestsScienceDaily (June 14, 2011) Tiny fibres used to strengthen items such as bike frames and hockey sticks could pose risks to workers who make them. Certain types of carbon nanotubes -- cylindrical molecules about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair -- could cause cancer in the lining of the lung, University of Edinburgh research shows.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerLung DiseaseMatter & EnergyGrapheneNanotechnologyOrganic ChemistryReferenceMesotheliomaAsbestosCarbon nanotubeIndoor air quality<br />
The study in mice found short carbon nanotubes appear relatively harmless if they entered lung cavities.<br />
However, longer nanotubes were more likely to get stuck there and ultimately cause a type of cancer known as mesothelioma.<br />
Need for risk assessment<br />
Researchers are looking at assessing the level of risk involved, for instance examining how many of the long fibres are present in the air at workplaces.<br />
The study was published in the American Journal of Pathology.<br />
Similarities with asbestos<br />
The research found that longer carbon nanotubes caused a reaction in the lung lining similar to that of asbestos.<br />
Longer asbestos fibres are more harmful than shorter fibres since they also get stuck in the lung cavity where they can cause diseases including mesothelioma.<br />
Finding safest kind of nanotube<br />
The study demonstrates the need for industry to design safe nanofibres that are long enough to be useful but short enough to avoid causing disease.<br />
It follows previous research in mice looking at the effect of carbon nanotubes on the stomach cavity.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614100515.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-1080627795929935282012-06-12T07:01:00.000-07:002012-06-12T07:01:00.110-07:00Bonded Asbestos No Longer Considered Safe, Say Experts3 (2 votes)<br />
Article opinions: 2 posts<br />
The rise in the number of natural disaster means we cannot consider bonded asbestos as safe anymore, cancer experts in Perth said in the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting. The increase in the incidence of floods, earthquakes, cyclones and bushfires have put Australians at a significantly higher risk of asbestos-related diseases, according to submissions to the Asbestos Management Review<br />
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They are referring specifically to materials built from 1945 to 1980 which have been destroyed by natural disaster, releasing harmful fibers into the environment.<br />
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Review Chairman, Geoff Fary, explained that several of the submissions mention asbestos as still a serious threat to human health because of home renovations and natural disasters.<br />
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Mr Fary said:<br />
<br />
"The Asbestos Management Review is an initiative by the Australian Government in response to calls for Australia to be asbestos-free by 2030. We have consulted and had input from more than 60 stakeholders representing employment, health and research organizations, federal, state and local government, unions and asbestos disease sufferers and support groups.<br />
<br />
"There was widespread consensus on the need to improve removal facilities, creating a consistent approach to removal and increasing public awareness."<br />
<br />
As the number and intensity of natural disasters are expected to rise, Fary said that many experts are concerned about human exposure to asbestos, which among other things, can raise the risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma.<br />
<br />
Mr Fary said:<br />
<br />
"Home renovations are another major issue. An option for the Review is to recommend anyone planning a renovation where asbestos is present to use a licensed asbestos remover."<br />
<br />
Over 600 people in Australia die of mesothelioma annually, Prof. Bogda Koczwara, President of the Clnical Oncological Society of Australia, explained.<br />
<br />
Koczwara said:<br />
<br />
"This is a highly lethal cancer with very poor survival," Professor Koczwara said. "Yet many people don't realise they are exposing themselves to asbestos when they pull up their lino floors or recover relics from their flooded home.<br />
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We need to be doing more to raise awareness and to remove asbestos, especially from areas prone to natural disasters like flooding, earthquake and bushfire." <br />
<br />
Written by Christian Norqvist<br />
Copyright: Medical News Today<br />
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today<br />
<br />
View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237717.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-35530602247431066852012-06-11T23:55:00.000-07:002012-06-11T23:55:00.671-07:00How Carbon Nanotubes Can Affect Lining Of The LungsScienceDaily (Oct. 25, 2009) Carbon nanotubes are being considered for use in everything from sports equipment to medical applications, but a great deal remains unknown about whether these materials cause respiratory or other health problems. Now a collaborative study from North Carolina State University, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shows that inhaling these nanotubes can affect the outer lining of the lung, though the effects of long-term exposure remain unclear.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaDiseases and ConditionsChronic IllnessMatter & EnergyGrapheneNanotechnologyWeapons TechnologyReferenceMesotheliomaNanowireCarbon nanotubePulmonary alveolus<br />
Using mice in an animal model study, the researchers set out to determine what happens when multi-walled carbon nanotubes are inhaled. Specifically, researchers wanted to determine whether the nanotubes would be able to reach the pleura, which is the tissue that lines the outside of the lungs and is affected by exposure to certain types of asbestos fibers which cause the cancer mesothelioma. The researchers used inhalation exposure and found that inhaled nanotubes do reach the pleura and cause health effects.<br />
Short-term studies described in the paper do not allow conclusions about long-term responses such as cancer. However, the inhaled nanotubes "clearly reach the target tissue for mesothelioma and cause a unique pathologic reaction on the surface of the pleura, and caused fibrosis," says Dr. James Bonner, associate professor of environmental and molecular toxicology at NC State and senior author of the study. The "unique reaction" began within one day of inhalation of the nanotubes, when clusters of immune cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) began collecting on the surface of the pleura. Localized fibrosis, or scarring on parts of the pleural surface that is also found with asbestos exposure, began two weeks after inhalation.<br />
The study showed the immune response and fibrosis disappeared within three months of exposure. However, this study used only a single exposure to the nanotubes. "It remains unclear whether the pleura could recover from chronic, or repeated, exposures," Bonner says. "More work needs to be done in that area and it is completely unknown at this point whether inhaled carbon nanotubes will prove to be carcinogenic in the lungs or in the pleural lining."<br />
The mice received a single inhalation exposure of six hours as part of the study, and the effects on the pleura were only evident at the highest dose used by the researchers -- 30 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The researchers found no health effects in the mice exposed to the lower dose of one mg/m3.<br />
The study, "Inhaled Carbon Nanotubes Reach the Sub-Pleural Tissue in Mice," was co-authored by Bonner, Dr. Jessica Ryman-Rasmussen, Dr. Arnold Brody, and Dr. Jeanette Shipley-Phillips of NC State, Dr. Jeffrey Everitt who is an adjunct faculty at NC State, Dr. Mark Cesta of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Earl Tewksbury, Dr. Owen Moss, Dr. Brian Wong, Dr. Darol Dodd and Dr. Melvin Andersen of The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences. The study is published in the Oct. 25 issue of Nature Nanotechnology and was funded by The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, NIEHS and NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091025162452.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-33835345521916403172012-06-11T22:55:00.000-07:002012-06-11T22:55:00.310-07:00Promising developments in early diagnosis and treatment of mesotheliomaScienceDaily (Apr. 18, 2012) New results presented at 3rd European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland show important steps being made to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the outer lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerDiseases and ConditionsToday's HealthcareLung DiseaseHeart DiseaseReferenceMetastasisMesotheliomaLung cancerGlioma<br />
Micro RNAs speed diagnosis<br />
Australian researchers have identified a small molecule that is more abundant in the blood of people with the deadly lung disease mesothelioma than in healthy people. Their findings bring scientists a step closer to being able to diagnose mesothelioma earlier than is currently possible.<br />
At present diagnosing mesothelioma depends on the availability of a lung biopsy that contains enough tumor tissue. However suitable biopsies are not always available, which can leave doctors uncertain about the patient's diagnosis, sometimes resulting in a delay to the start of treatment. "If doctors could use a diagnostic marker based on a simple blood test to help with diagnosis, it could circumvent the problem of availability of tumor tissue and help to accelerate the diagnostic process," says Dr Michaela Kirschner from the Asbestos Diseases Research (Concord Hospital Campus) in Sydney, who reported the new findings.<br />
So far a number of proteins have been proposed as blood-based markers for malignant pleural mesothelioma; however none of these has so far reached the accuracy required for routine clinical use.<br />
In the new study, Dr Kirschner and colleagues explored whether molecules known as microRNAs in blood could serve as a diagnostic marker for the disease. Studying 5 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and 3 healthy controls, they identified 17 microRNAs with significantly differential abundance in the two groups. They then validated these miRNAs in a series of blood samples from 15 patients and 13 controls. These studies revealed that the level of a particular microRNA known as miR-625-3p was four-fold higher in the blood of mesothelioma patients.<br />
Measuring levels of that molecule in blood samples allowed the researchers to discriminate between MPM patients and controls with an accuracy of 82.4%.<br />
"Detailed analyses of our two independent sample series have shown that miR-625-3p performs as well as any previously proposed protein marker for detecting mesothelioma," Dr Kirschner said. "However, like most diagnostic markers, miR-625-3p is not 100% accurate, and therefore there is a chance the assay will produce both false positives as well as false negatives. Further studies on larger sample sizes are needed to see whether the accuracy of miR-625-3p can be confirmed or even turn out to be better than currently observed."<br />
"Should further studies prove that microRNAs in plasma are accurate enough for the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma, this will lead to the development of a diagnostic test for routine clinical use," Dr Kirschner said. "This test would then represent a relatively simple way to circumvent the problems associated with obtaining a tissue biopsy. For a patient this would mean that appropriate treatment could be instituted at an earlier stage."<br />
High-dose radiotherapy gives good response rates<br />
Despite a widespread belief that mesothelioma does not respond to radiotherapy, Australian researchers have found that it may have the best response rates of any single treatment for patients with disease largely confined to one side of the chest.<br />
Between 2003 and 2011, Dr Malcolm Feigen and colleagues from Austin Health Radiation Oncology Center in Melbourne gave radiotherapy to 45<br /><br />View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418095446.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-60453986921711229182012-06-10T23:25:00.000-07:002012-06-10T23:25:00.030-07:00Cancer-causing mineral found in U.S. road gravel: Erionite in roads may increase risk of mesotheliomaScienceDaily (July 25, 2011) As school buses drive down the gravel roads in Dunn County, North Dakota, they stir up more than dirt. The clouds of dust left in their wake contain such high levels of the mineral erionite that those who breathe in the air every day are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer of the membranes around the lungs, new research shows. Erionite is a natural mineral fiber that shares similar physical similarities with asbestos. When it's disturbed by human activity, fibers can become airborne and lodge themselves in people's lungs. Over time, the embedded fibers can make cells of the lung grow abnormally, leading to mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer most often associated with the related mineral asbestos.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerDiseases and ConditionsMatter & EnergyWeapons TechnologyFossil FuelsEnergy PolicyReferenceAsbestosMesotheliomaCarcinogenIndoor air quality<br />
Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, has previously linked erionite exposure in some Turkish villages to unusually high rates of mesothelioma. Recently, he and colleagues turned their attention to potential erionite exposure in the U.S., where at least 12 states have erionite-containing rock deposits. His research team -- which includes scientists from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency, New York University, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, and University of Hacettepe -- focused their efforts on Dunn County, North Dakota, when they learned that rocks containing erionite have been used to produce gravel for the past 30 years. More than 300 miles of roads are now paved with the gravel.<br />
The new study, reported in the July 25, 2011 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to look at the potential hazards associated with erionite exposure in the U.S.<br />
The scientists compared the erionite in North Dakota to erionite from the Turkish villages with high mesothelioma rates. They measured airborne concentrations of the mineral in various settings, studied its chemical composition, and analyzed its biological activity. When mice were injected with the erionite from Dunn County, their lungs showed signs of inflammation and abnormal cell growth, precursors to mesothelioma. Under the microscope, the fiber size of the erionite from North Dakota was similar to that of the Turkish erionite. Overall, the researchers found no chemical differences between the North Dakota erionite and samples of the cancer-causing mineral from Turkey. The airborne levels of erionite in North Dakota were comparable to levels found in Turkish villages with 6-8 percent mortality rates from mesothelioma, the researchers reported.<br />
"Based on the similarity between the erionite from the two sources," says Carbone, "there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma in North Dakota." The long latency period of the disease -- it can take 30 to 60 years of exposure to cause mesothelioma -- and the fact that many erionite deposits have only been mined in the past few decades suggests that the number of cases could soon be on the rise. In addition to North Dakota, California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and other states have erionite deposit, but the possibility of human exposure elsewhere in the U.S. has not yet been investigated.<br />
In contrast to asbestos, which causes mesothelioma at lower rates, there are no established health benchmarks in the U.S. on safe levels of erionite exposure, because until recently, physicians thought that erionate was present only in Turkey. The new findings, however, indicate that precautionary measures should be put in place to reduce exposure to the mineral, says Carbone. In Turkey, his earlier findings led to moving villagers away from areas with high levels of erionite, into new housing built out of erionite-free materials. "Our findings provide an opportunity to implement novel preventive and detection programs in the U.S. similar to what we have been doing in Turkey," he says. Future studies could analyze erionite levels in other areas of the U.S. and develop strategies to prevent and screen for mesothelioma. The study was funded through grants from the National Cancer Institute and the 2008 AACR-Landon Innovator Award for International Collaboration in Cancer Research to Michele Carbone.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725162527.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-18426788845420698622012-06-10T23:10:00.000-07:002012-06-10T23:10:00.213-07:00Genetic link to mesothelioma discoveredScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2011) Scientists have found that individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer -- mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Additionally, when these individuals are exposed to asbestos or similar mineral fibers, their risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen, may be markedly increased.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaDiseases and ConditionsBreast CancerSkin CancerCancerOvarian CancerReferenceMesotheliomaTumor suppressor geneCarcinogenLung cancer<br />
The study, published online Aug. 28, 2011, in Nature Genetics, describes two U.S. families with a high incidence of mesothelioma, as well as other cancers, associated with mutations of the BAP1 gene. The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and led by scientists at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, and Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia.<br />
Mesothelioma tumors are typically associated with asbestos and erionite exposure. Erionite, a naturally occurring mineral fiber similar to asbestos, is found in rock formations and volcanic ash. Deposits have been located in at least 12 states.<br />
Only a small fraction of individuals exposed to erionite or asbestos actually develop mesothelioma, one of the deadliest forms of cancer that kills about 3,000 people each year in the United States, with half of those diagnosed dying within one year. Additionally, rates of new cases of mesothelioma in parts of the world, including Europe and China, have risen steadily over the past decade.<br />
"This discovery is a first step in understanding the role of the BAP1 gene and its potential utility when screening for mutations in those at high risk," said Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., study co-leader and director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. "Identifying people at greatest risk for developing mesothelioma, especially those exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos and erionite worldwide, is a task made easier by virtue of this discovery."<br />
Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D., study co-leader and Carol and Kenneth E. Weg chair in Human Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center, added, "This is the first study to demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma. People exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos or erionite, those with a strong family history of mesothelioma, or those who have been previously diagnosed with a rare tumor of the eye known as uveal melanoma, may benefit from this new discovery."<br />
The study found evidence that some people with BAP1 gene mutations also developed breast, ovarian, pancreatic or renal cancers, suggesting the gene mutation may be involved in multiple cancer types. Only about 10 percent of women with an inherited risk of breast or ovarian cancer carry mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2, which are known to be associated with those diseases. Consequently, some inherited risk of breast and ovarian cancer may stem from mutations in BAP1 genes. "Also, it appears likely that other genes, in addition to BAP1, will be found to be associated with elevated risk of mesothelioma," said Testa.<br />
The researchers first suspected that mutations in the BAP1 gene might underlie mesothelioma in people with a strong family history of the disease after noticing genetic changes in or near other stretches of DNA where the BAP1 gene is located. Looking more closely at two families with unusually high rates of mesothelioma, they saw that every person who had provided a sample and had developed mesothelioma or melanoma of the eye also carried mutations in the BAP1 gene. Further investigation led to sequencing the gene in 26 individuals who had developed mesothelioma but did not have a family history of the disease. Tumors from about 25 percent of this group carried mutations in the BAP1 gene, and in two cases the mutations were inherited. Both of the individuals with inherited mutations had previously developed melanoma of the eye.<br />
"The discovery that the BAP1 gene is involved in a new cancer syndrome characterized especially by uveal melanoma and mesothelioma provides yet another example of the critical importance of the detailed genetic analysis of human tumors," said Donald Blair, Ph.D., NCI. "Such analysis can lead to the discovery of genes involved in the same tumors that arise spontaneously. This is an important advance in developing our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying these tumors."<br />
Another component of NIH, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is continuing to work on this public health problem in a number of critical research areas, including understanding how people, especially children, are exposed to asbestos. Efforts are also under way to improve knowledge of what makes fibers hazardous in terms of their physical characteristics and an individual's susceptibility.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110828140940.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-15555968903500668992012-06-10T05:16:00.000-07:002012-06-09T05:19:25.240-07:00Mesothelioma And Other Asbestos Disease Victims Celebrate Victory In Louisiana<br />
Nemeroff Law Firm says it is celebrating a win for many of its clients - victims of asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma. The firm says it played a vital role in "striking down Neil Abramson's Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Transparency bill", which would have probably meant considerably reduced legal judgments and unfair regulations for those seeking compensation for their asbestos-related injuries.<br />
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H.B. 477 was unanimously passed in the House, but was defeated in committee by the Louisiana Senate (vote 4-2).<br />
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Legislators had proposed legislation which would have meant that those claiming compensation would have to make additional disclosure. Nemeroff says this goes against long-standing rules regarding admission of evidence.<br />
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If defendants had been allowed to introduce evidence regarding hypothetical compensation, their final compensation might have been worth a great deal less, the law firm wrote. In some cases, the judge's ability to determine whether evidence was admissible in court might have been removed.<br />
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Founder of the Nemeroff Law Firm, Attorney Rick Nemeroff, said:<br />
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"This ill-conceived and potentially harmful legislation would have further victimized individuals suffering from mesothelioma and their families by forcing them to jump through unnecessary legal hoops and significantly reducing their ability to seek fair compensation.<br />
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Even worse, this legislation would have made it easier for the companies that caused that suffering to dodge their responsibility."What is Mesothelioma?Mesothelioma, also known as malignant mesothelioma, is a form of cancer that attacks the protective lining of the internal organs (mesothelial cells), most commonly the lungs (pleura). In the majority of cases, patients with this aggressive cancer had been exposed to asbestos, a fibrous mineral that is extensively used in industry and construction. Patients may not develop the disease for several decades after exposure to asbestos.<br />
<br />
Oncologists divide mesothelioma into three types (all three are nearly always caused by asbestos exposure):Pleural mesothelioms - affects the lining surrounding the lungs, the pleura. The most common form.<br />
Peritoneal mesothelioma - affects the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneum. The 2nd most common form.<br />
Pericardial mesothelioma - the rarest form. The protective layer covering the heart is affected.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246217.php" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-21905313887564798672012-06-08T20:40:00.000-07:002012-06-08T20:40:00.776-07:00Mystery unraveled: How asbestos causes cancerScienceDaily (June 29, 2010) More than 20 million people in the U.S., and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerCancerEarth & ClimateEnvironmental PolicyAtmosphereEarth ScienceReferenceMesotheliomaCarcinogenLung cancerAsbestos<br />
The answer appears in a study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., Drs. Haining Yang and Michele Carbone at the University of Hawai'i Cancer Research Center led a research team that included collaborators at New York University, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, San Raffaele University of Milano, and the Imperial College in London.<br />
These researchers addressed the paradox of how asbestos fibers that kill cells could cause cancer, since a dead cell should not be able to grow and form a tumor. They found that when asbestos kills cells, it does so by inducing a process called "programmed cell necrosis" that leads to the release of a molecule called high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). HMGB1 starts a particular type of inflammatory reaction that causes the release of mutagens and factors that promote tumor growth. The researchers found that patients exposed to asbestos have elevated levels of HMGB1 in their serum. Therefore, they state that it may be possible to target HMGB1 to prevent or treat mesothelioma and identify asbestos-exposed cohorts by simple HMGB1 serological testing.<br />
In the article, the researchers propose that by interfering with the inflammatory reaction caused by asbestos and HMGB1, it may be possible to decrease cancer incidence among cohorts exposed to asbestos and decrease the rate of tumor growth among those already affected by mesothelioma. Drs. Yang and Carbone, the lead authors, state that to test this hypothesis, they are now planning a clinical trial in a remote area in Cappadocia, Turkey, where over 50% of the population dies of malignant mesothelioma. If the results are positive, the approach will be extended to cohorts of asbestos-exposed individuals in the U.S.<br />
This research emphasizes the role of inflammation in causing different types of cancers and provides novel clinical tools to identify exposed individuals and prevent or decrease tumor growth. The researchers question if it will be possible to prevent mesothelioma, like colon cancer, simply by taking aspirin or similar drugs that stop inflammation. They are about to test this hypothesis.<br />
The article is authored by Haining Yang, Zeyana Rivera, Sandro Jube, Masaki Nasu, Pietro Bertino and Michele Carbone at the University of Hawai'i Cancer Research Center; Harvey I. Pass and Chandra Goparaju at New York University; Thomas Krausz at the University of Chicago; Michael T. Lotze at the University of Pittsburgh; Guido Franzoso at the Imperial College of London, U.K.; and Marco E. Bianchi at the University of San Raffele Milano, Italy. It will be published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. the week of June 28 2010, and later in print. The study was supported by grants from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629094153.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-67244002854964626602012-06-08T07:43:00.000-07:002012-06-08T07:43:00.691-07:00New test detects early-stage, asbestos-related pulmonary cancerScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2011) Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have investigated a novel protein test to detect early-stage, asbestos-related pulmonary cancer. The test can accurately identify proteins secreted from cancerous tumors caused by asbestos exposure.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerCancerColon CancerDiseases and ConditionsBreast CancerReferenceMetastasisMesotheliomaOvarian cancerLung cancer<br />
The study was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting 2011 on April 4th.<br />
In a blinded test performed under the sponsorship of the National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Discovery Lab, researchers detected 15 of 19 cases of stage 1 or stage 2 malignant pleural mesothelioma. The study shows the test is approximately 80 percent sensitive in identifying disease. In addition, the specificity of the test was 100 percent with no false positives.<br />
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos-related pulmonary cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. Each year, the disease causes an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 deaths worldwide. It can be fatal within 14 months following diagnosis because of the advanced stage that it is typically found.<br />
The goal of a new diagnostic test is to find the cancer early enough to effectively treat it, according to Harvey I. Pass, MD, director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center and the NYU Cancer Institute.<br />
"The only patients that seem to benefit from therapy in mesothelioma are those that are found in stage 1, and this is only 10 to 15 percent of patients," said lead researcher Dr. Pass. "Moreover, when found early, the magnitude of the operation necessary to reduce the burden of disease may be less, making the patient better able to cope if the disease recurs and the patient needs more aggressive therapy."<br />
The research team used the "Multiplex SOMAmer Assay" by SomaLogic, Inc. to examine 170 blood samples from 90 patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and 80 participants who were previously exposed to asbestos. The technology uses SOMAmers, chemically modified single-stranded DNA molecules to bind specifically to target proteins , to identify and quantify biomarkers.<br />
According to Dr. Pass, this test measures 19 protein biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma and is able to find and quantify the small amount of proteins secreted by tumor cells. Ongoing studies are refining the test and validating the results in other patient blood samples.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404093151.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-90968075913465375272012-06-07T20:55:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:55:00.515-07:00Possible vaccine for mesothelioma proven safeScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2010) Researchers have demonstrated the safety of a potential vaccine against mesothelioma, a rare cancer associated primarily with asbestos exposure. The vaccine, which infuses a patient's own dendritic cells (DC) with antigen from the patient's tumor, was able to induce a T-cell response against mesothelioma tumors.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaDiseases and ConditionsCancerBrain TumorToday's HealthcareVaccinesReferenceTumor suppressor geneMesotheliomaMetastasisTumor<br />
"<br /><br />View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100304072707.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-14127764552478852682012-06-07T07:58:00.000-07:002012-06-07T07:58:00.854-07:00Exposure to North Dakota road material may increase risk of lung cancerScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) New data shows that people exposed to the mineral erionite found in the gravel of road materials in North Dakota may be at significantly increased risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer most often associated with asbestos exposure, according to research presented at the 2010 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. <br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaLung CancerDiseases and ConditionsCancerLung DiseaseColon CancerReferenceMesotheliomaCarcinogenLung cancerMetastasis<br />
This symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (ISLAC) and The University of Chicago.<br />
Erionite is a mineral that occurs naturally and is often found in volcanic ash that has been altered by weathering and ground water. Erionite forms brittle, wool-like fibrous masses in the hollows of rock formations. Its color varies from white to clear, and it looks like transparent, glass-like fibers.<br />
With similar properties to asbestos, erionite may pose health risks to those who breathe in the fibers. Erionite exposure has been associated with an unprecedented mesothelioma incidence in some Turkish villages in Cappadocia, and it has been widely believed that exposure to erionite was limited to that part of the world.<br />
Erionite deposits are present in several parts of the U.S., including California, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona and Nevada. In North Dakota in particular, researchers have found that more than 300 miles of roads were paved with erionite-contaminated gravel over the last 30 years.<br />
In this study, funded through NCI PO-1 "Pathogenesis of Mesothelioma" and a AACR Landon Innovator Award for International Cancer Research, international researchers from the U.S., Italy and Turkey sought to examine the potential health risks for those exposed to erionite by comparing air samples, microchemistry, tissue samples and other data from North Dakota with those found in affected parts of Turkey.<br />
"Based on the results of our study and considering the known latency period for lung disease, there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma for exposed residents in North Dakota," Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and director of thoracic oncology at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, said. "Precautionary measures should be undertaken to reduce exposure of erionite that is occurring in North Dakota and may be occurring in other areas of the U.S. where large deposits of erionite are present if disturbed. Our findings provide an opportunity to implement novel preventive and early detection programs in the U.S., similar to what has been done in Turkey."<br />
The abstract was titled, "Erionite Exposure in North Dakota is Comparable to That Found in Turkish Villages Which Experience a High Incidence of Mesothelioma."<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209101356.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-47095639770506463432012-06-06T21:10:00.000-07:002012-06-06T21:10:00.325-07:00New agent to manage cancer related effusionsScienceDaily (Feb. 3, 2010) In the USA each year, 200,000 cancer patients suffer from a malignant pleural effusion -- development of excessive fluid (pleural effusion) in the chest. Several litres of such fluid can accumulate, and many patients suffer from significant breathlessness and distress. One in four patients with lung cancer, one in every three with breast cancer and most of the patients with mesothelioma will develop a malignant effusion. The current strategy is to induce a pleurodesis (seal the pleural cavity with a chemical agent so no fluid can accumulate). However existing agents are far from perfect, with most producing significant side effects while delivering low success rates.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaSkin CancerCancerLung CancerDiseases and ConditionsToday's HealthcareReferenceMesotheliomaLung cancerPneumoniaTumor<br />
A recent issue of Respirology published by Wiley-Blackwell features two papers that propose the use of a new alternative pleurodesing agent, Iodoprovidone. They evaluate iodopovidone as a pleurodesis agent and found that it demonstrated good efficiency and safety, making it a good option in the management of malignant pleural effusion.<br />
"There is not only a need to identify ideal pleurodesis agents, but also to standardize and optimize research tools to evaluate pleurodesis success in malignant effusions. In combination, these papers are complementary and warrant a critical appraisal of the current state of clinical research in malignant pleural effusion," said Andreas H. Diacon in an editorial published in the same issue of Respirology.<br />
Pleurodesis is widely used to manage pleural diseases, such as malignant pleural effusion, by promoting pleural obliteration and preventing accumulation of air or fluid in the pleural space. This process would ideally alleviate shortness of breath, cough and pain associated with the presence of tumor and fluid in the pleural space.<br />
In the paper, "Iodopovidone is as effective as doxycycline in producing pleurodesis in rabbits," researchers used a rabbit model to compare the effectiveness of iodopovidone in causing pleurodesis with that of doxycycline.<br />
The study found that iodopovidone can induce pleurodesis as efficaciously as doxycycline and demonstrated that the desired outcome of pleurodesis can be achieved without prohibitive toxicity with a range of doses applicable to humans.<br />
The other paper "Efficacy and safety of iodopovidone pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusions" is a retrospective analysis of iodopovidone pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusions treated in a tertiary cancer institution.<br />
Lead author Jose D.A. Neto said, "Out of the 61 pleurodesis procedures performed, no mortality was observed and less than 20 per cent presented complications. With the success rate of about 99 percent, iodopovidone appears to be a good option for the recurrent malignant pleural effusion."<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100203084256.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690655471830344927.post-74243976699316932062012-06-06T08:13:00.000-07:002012-06-06T08:13:00.243-07:00Urgent ban on all asbestos needed, experts urgeScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) Scientists at the Collegium Ramazzini in Modena, Italy have repeated calls for a total ban on all asbestos across the globe. Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Health, the Collegium points out that just 52 nations have banned asbestos but a large number still use, import and export asbestos and asbestos-containing products.<br />
See Also:Health & MedicineMesotheliomaDiseases and ConditionsWorkplace HealthScience & SocietyPublic HealthWorld DevelopmentIndustrial RelationsReferenceAsbestosMesotheliomaIndoor air qualityCarcinogen<br />
Asbestos can refer to any of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals, serpentine asbestos, also known as chrysotile or white asbestos accounts for 95% of all asbestos use. The amphibole minerals: amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), and tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite, are no longer used. Asbestos can withstand fire, heat and acid, is strong and insulates against heat and sound. But, it is a potent cancer-causing material account for 5-7% of lung cancers in men internationally and effecting the health of millions.<br />
Despite the fact that there are now synthetic alternative that are much safer than asbestos, white asbestos is still mined and exported to the developing world, most notably by Canada, which has come under fire from the medical journal The Lancet for the alleged hypocrisy of having banned asbestos use in Canada but continuing to export the lethal material. The Collegium points out that exemption of white asbestos from any ban has no basis in medical science.<br />
To protect the health of all people in the world -- industrial workers, construction workers, women and children, now and in future generations, a total ban, rigorously enforced, is urgently needed, the Collegium says.<br />
At least 125 million people around the world are today exposed to asbestos through their work with about 20 to 40% of adult men reporting past occupations that may have exposed them to the risk of mesothelioma, asbestos, and lung cancer due to asbestos.<br />
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View the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209074205.htm" rel="nofollow">Original article</a>Amazon mp3 zonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027495771788112068noreply@blogger.com0