Gene Variations Link Inflammation and Increased Lung Cancer Risk
Variations in two genes related to inflammation may be a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, according to a team of scientists from the National Cancer Institute and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The effect of these genes is especially strong among heavy smokers, suggesting that the inflammatory response is important in modulating the damage caused by tobacco smoke.
Their study, published in the July 1 issue of Cancer Research, a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, is the first to pinpoint the mechanism by which damage to the lung might trigger an overzealous inflammatory response by the immune system, leading to lung cancer.
New Clue Why MS Affects African Americans Differently than Caucasians
Differences in immune systems have been found in African Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to Caucasians, possibly offering a clue why African Americans experience more disability with MS than Caucasians, according to a study published in the July 3, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
For the study, researchers compared levels of antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of 66 African Americans to 132 Caucasians with MS.
Reducing the cost of sleep disorders
Griffith University has been working with Queensland Health and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to reduce the cost of sleep disorders.
Griffith Senior Lecturer in Management Dr Don Kerr said the direct cost of sleep disorders on the Australian health system was estimated at $40 million per year.
High Stress Increases Pregnancy Risk
High stress levels with low social support during pregnancy can place women at risk for premature labor and preeclampsia. A new study shows that mental health anguish can trigger inflammatory responses that can place both the mother and baby at risk.
Preeclampsia, symptoms of which include sudden increases in blood pressure, excessive weight gain and severe headaches, can affect the mother’s kidney, liver and brain function. If left untreated, preeclampsia can result in seizures or even coma during pregnancy. Uncontrolled preeclampsia can threaten the life of both the mother and the baby.
Does Anxiety Influence Pregnancy Outcomes?
A review of research conducted over the course of nearly 40 years has lead scientists to comment that experiencing anxiety symptoms during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of having a longer labor or a low birth weight baby. According to the authors, previous research examining whether anxiety during pregnancy does cause harmful effects had shown mixed results.
Still, researchers believe additional research is needed as a number of important outcomes that have been theorized to be affected by anxiety, such as development of pre-eclampsia have not been studied. The review, by University of Texas Medical Branch scientists, will be presented at the 114th annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Antidepressants OK During Pregnancy
Medical authorities have struggled over the potential risk for newborns when a certain class of depression medications is taken during pregnancy. New research suggests use of certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants do not appear to increase the risk for most kinds of birth defects.
Researchers from Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center suggest that individual SSRIs may increase the risk for some specific defects, but these are rare and the absolute risks are small.
