Doctor HealthHealth Tips

After years of research, scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are now able to explain, in exquisite molecular detail, how the estrogen hormone can help keep breast cancer cells alive. In the Sept. 24 issue of the journal, Nature Cell Biology, they assign roles to a number of genes and proteins thought to play a part in breast cancer cell survival, and in the process, have identified potential molecular drug targets. “It’s a very complex story, but we have been able to bring together a number of basic discoveries from different fields of research to work out the basic mechanism by which estrogen can exert a pro-life effect on cancer cells,” said the study’s lead author, Edward T. H. Yeh, M.D., professor and chair of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson’s Department of Cardiology. Along the way, the researchers have provided some novel insights. One is that they have provided a role for breast cancer-associated protein 3 (BCA3), which had been recently found to be over-expressed in both breast and prostate cancers. Yeh and his team show that this protein, by itself, doesn’t have any relationship to the cancer, but when modified by the protein NEDD8, can act like a tumor suppressor. The researchers also found that SIRT1, a key protein involved in this molecular pathway, is a member of a family of proteins responsible for prolonging life span in both yeast and worms. “The fact that these molecules, which maintain life span in other species, has been found to be involved in suppressing cancer development seems important to us,” Yeh said. “The reason people live longer is that they don’t develop cancer as readily.” Players in this newly defined pathway are: * BCA3, which had no known function. * NEDD8, a protein that can bind to other proteins and alter their function. * SENP8, a protease (enzyme) that can break bonds between other molecules. * SIRT1 * NFkB (Nuclear Factor kappa B), a family of proteins that turn on genes involved in cell death (apoptosis) and cell proliferation. When over-expressed, NFkB can protect cells from undergoing apoptosis, and in general, the more NFkB is expressed, the more resistant the cell is to apoptosis. * Estrogen, a hormone that acts as growth fuel for about 70 percent of breast cancers. Researchers are interested in ways that cells can efficiently turn genes on or off, and one of the newest mechanisms is dubbed “NEDDylation,” which Yeh helped to find 10 years ago. This process requires multiple enzymes to attach NEDD8 to other proteins. To find proteins that can be altered by NEDD8, the four-member research team used yeast as their experimental platform, and SENP8 as a tool. This enzyme is known to be able to separate NEDD8 from the proteins it binds to. In this way, they could use SNEP8 “as bait” to fish for protein complexes held together by NEDD8. They first found that BCA3 binds to SENP8 and was modified byNEDD8, and then discovered that this complex affects NFkB signaling. It does this by binding on to p65, one of the two proteins that make up NFkB proteins, the researchers say. “NEDD8 modified BCA3 regulates the activity of NFkB, but BCA3 alone does not have any impact on NFkB,” says Yeh. Then they looked at how this NEDDylation further works to suppress the ability of NFkB to transcribe (activate) other genes. Here the investigators found SITR1, the molecule known to prolong life span in several other species. SITR1 is a histone deacetylase, a protein that blocks transcription factors from regulating genes. “When NEDD8 modified BCA3, it binds to p65 and recruits SITR1 to suppress NFkB-mediated transcription,” Yeh said. Finally, the researchers discovered that estrogen blocks NEDD8 from modifying BCA3, a finding which goes some way to “explaining estrogen’s pro-life effect in breast cancer cells,” Yeh says. “Estrogen could enhance the survival of breast cancer cells by silencing BCA3, through eliminating its hold on NFkB transcription.” Now that this cancer-promoting molecular pathway has been described, Yeh says it might be possible to interfere with a number of the players to inhibit cancer growth. “NEDD8 is key,” he said. “It may be possible to design drugs that block the removal of NEDD8 from BCA3.” By increasing the amount of NEDD8-modified BCA3, there will be a corresponding decrease in the level of NFkB and the cancer cells will be more sensitive to chemotherapy, Yeh says. “There is a lot we need to sort out, of course, but this is a model of how estrogen may function to promote growth in breast cancer that we can all now work from,” Yeh says.### The study was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health. The first author, Fei Gao, M.D., Ph.D. was a post-doctoral fellow with Yeh at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and is an associate professor and vice-director, Department of Cell Biology and Vice-Director, Science and Technology Division at the Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, School of Medicine, at Shanghai, China. Other co-authors include Jinke Cheng, Ph.D., assistant professor from the Department of Cardiology, M. D. Anderson, and Tong Shi, M.D. from the Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, in Shanghai, China. Yeh is also director of the Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and a member of the Texas Heart Institute.

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control enabling them to invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Collections of these out of control tissues are called tumors. However, not all breast tumors are considered cancerous since certain types of large cells just cannot be spread or threaten a person’s life and this kind of tumor is called benign tumor. On the other hand, the tumors that can spread all throughout the body or invade nearby tissues are considered cancerous cells and are malignant. Cancer cells usually comes from either ducts or glands in the breast that is why it may take months or even years for a tumor to be notice in the breast. Breast tumors are screened with the use of mammograms that are rather accurate in screening tumor or cancer cells.Women are much prone to develop breast cancer that men. Only 1% to 2% of men have been known to have cases of breast cancer. The early onset of menstruation in women at the age of 12 increases the risk for a breast cancer on the other hand an early menopausal period may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The risk for women to have breast cancer increases with age in fact a study shows that women over 50 are more likely to develop breast cancer. Nevertheless, the incidence of breast cancer among younger women is also increasing in an alarming rate that is why more women of ages 20s to 30s have subjected themselves to be diagnosed.Breast cancer is not only acquired but also can be inherited. For women who have genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 has an 80% risk of developing breast cancer. Women who have first-degree relative diagnosed to have breast cancer increase their risk of also acquiring breast cancer. Moreover, women with first-degree relative that are diagnosed to have breast cancer before menopause increase the risk for them in acquiring breast cancer.Some factors contribute to the occurrence of breast cancer and these are as follows: smoking, alcohol and radiation exposure. Women who are smoking will increase their chances to have breast cancer. Aside from that, high intakes of alcohol have been found to be a source of breast cancer. Radiation exposure is another factor that contributes to breast cancer. Studies have shown that women as well as children who have undergone high-dose radiation therapy have a much higher chance of having breast cancer.

If we fail to ask questions when we have an appointment with a medical professional, we may not be getting the full value from the visit. Asking direct, relevant questions of a doctor is not an imposition. It is our right and is also in the best interests of the doctor to provide all of the information we need.

Forgetting to ask questions during an office visit is a common occurrence. This can be a stressful and hectic time and being distracted is normal, especially if we are not feeling well. It is helpful to write down any questions that you may have before your appointment so that you do not forget to ask. You may also want to discuss these questions with a friend or family member. Another person may be able to add insight by seeing things more clearly than we can at the time.

Don’t assume that you are causing a problem by asking questions. Most doctors appreciate patients who ask good questions. Feelings of fear, embarrassment or inadequacy are not good reasons for failing to ask the about things you really want to know. If you don’t ask, your doctor may assume that you understand, or that you do not care to know more. He or she cannot guess what your concerns are.

As you know, television and magazines are saturated with advertising for various medications. Such conditions as high blood pressure, depression, arthritis, high cholesterol and even erectile dysfunction are being targeted by pharmaceutical companies with new medications. The information supporting these products encourages viewers and readers to “ask your doctor about (name of product).”

Essentially, these companies are putting pressure on doctors to prescribe their medications. But, in a way, the pharmaceutical companies have made it much easier to initiate a dialogue with your doctor. It is no longer unusual for patients to ask doctors about something they have read or heard about. Consequently, the dynamic between patient and doctor is changing. Doctors are becoming conditioned to hearing questions from patients and they are obliged to respond.

Finally, if you forget to ask a question or think of one later, call back and ask! Your doctor should prefer, if you do have health questions, that you get the proper answer rather that guess. Guessing could be hazardous to your health.

Several years ago, it was all over the news. Free radicals were damaging - we all had them, and antioxidants were the solution. But what role really do free radicals play in damaging the body, and how are we supposed to best get rid of them? How do antioxidants work and what is the best way of adding them to our diet?

24 hours a day, while the body is constantly working, cells are metabolizing and creating energy as they carry out their tasks. This natural process results in free radicals, the same way driving to work in your car creates exhaust fumes. Some free radicals are natural byproducts of the ongoing workings of the body. Some are from environmental factors, such as pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke.

A free radical is simply a molecule that is missing an electron. As soon as a molecule loses one of its attached electrons, it becomes unstable and seeks to re-stabilize itself by stealing an electron from the nearest molecule. This causes the attacked molecule to then become a free radical, and starts a chain reaction. Ultimately as the process continues this can lead to cell damage.

Free radicals become extremely damaging to the body as they steal electrons from your cells. They begin to spread like a wildfire through the years if your body does not have enough antioxidants to keep them in check. They can attack cell walls, get inside the cell, and cause damage to the DNA. This leads to cancer. Cancer is defined as a degenerative stress condition, and we can understand this better when we understand the role free radicals play.

The brain is the most active part of the body. It uses the most energy, and therefore is subject to bombardment with the most free radicals. The significance of this is not only that we feel negative effects in our mind - such as feeling tired and muddled - but also because brain is very important in its control of so many of the vital workings of our bodies.

When a free radical attacks, it can get into the cell and cause the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, to die or cease to function fully. This can disrupt one of a multitude of processes. A dead or poorly functioning mitochondria in a cell can disrupt or slow down neuronal firing. Mental illness is largely due to imbalances in the neuronal processes of our natural brain chemistry. A poorly working or dead mitochondria can prevent certain natural functions from working, causing symptoms like hormonal imbalance.

Untreated, the damage from free radicals accumulates with age. They are the cause of many degenerative diseases, and are associated with many of the signs of the aging process.

Antioxidants are molecules loaded with extra free electrons. When we have enough antioxidants the free radicals get their electrons from the antioxidants in our body, rather than stealing them from our cells.

The body is naturally built to handle free radicals. Antioxidants are found in the vitamins A, C and E in the fruits and vegetables we eat. However even eating the 5-8 recommended servings a day, or using supplements still often does not do enough to combat the massive free radical damage.

Antioxidants from Vitamins E, C, and A actually pale in comparison to the phytonutrient antioxidants such as those found in red wine and blueberries. This is the reason for the French paradox, why it is being recommended to drink wine, eat chocolate, and drink green tea. They provide better sources of antioxidants.

There is an even better source: the newly discovered acai berry, of the Brazilian rainforest. It provides antioxidants in strengths 33 times more powerful than red wine. It floods the body with massive amounts of antioxidants and other essential nutrients. The acai berry is the number one ingredient for anti-aging recommended by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, in his book the Perricone Promise.

The acai berry can be best added to the diet in liquid form. A small dose of several ounces daily will flood the body with the vital antioxidants it needs. The acai berry is the best way to add to your diet the most powerful antioxidants combating free radical damage.

by: Carina MacInnes

Whether or not to get a flu shot is one of those questions that is debated every year around the same time that Halloween decorations start showing up on people’s front lawns. People will discuss the pros and cons of getting the flu shot on the bus, on the subway, on the street, at work, while having lunch, and anywhere else where two or more people congregate. The debate starts to become part of news stories too. Some people think a flu shot is necessary and will do their best to make sure they receive one. Other people think it is a waste of time and money along with being a poke in the arm that they don’t need.

Whether or not you get a flu shot is a personal decision but information from the Centers For Disease Control and Protection recommend that certain groups of high risk individuals receive a flu vaccination every year. Those people include:

- People who are 65 years old or older and anyone who lives in a nursing home

- People with chronic heart or lung conditions that are 6 months or older

- People with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, a compromised immune system, or anyone who needs regular medical care that is 6 months or older

- Children from 6 months to 18 years that are on long term aspirin therapy and all children who are 6 months to 23 months old

- Women who will be pregnant during the flu season

- People with a condition that has the possibility of compromising their respiratory function such as a brain injury, brain disease, spinal cord injury, seizure disorders and other nerve or muscle disorders that make it difficult for a person to breathe or swallow

My mother is in the high risk category. She’s over 65 years old and is on kidney dialysis. Everyone at her dialysis center was offered a flu shot as a service so that everyone at the center was protected. The health care professionals working at the center also got flu shots.

It is also recommended that people from 50 to 64 years of age receive a flu shot even though this age group isn’t considered high risk.

The flu shot is also recommended for people who routinely come in close contact with people in the high risk group, such as the health care professionals who work at my mother’s dialysis center. Because I’m a caregiver for my mother it was recommended that I get a flu shot too. Although I’m neither a strong believer in getting or not getting a flu shot I got one just in case it could prevent me from getting it and passing it on to my mother.

Other members of my family have differing opinions on whether or not to get the flu shot although, unlike myself, the rest of my family seems to have a strong opinion one way or the other. Although both my mother and father receive the flu shot without fail every year and strongly believe in getting it, my aunt never gets a flu shot. She’s 82 years old and is doing fine. My daughter lives in a college dorm. The college recommends the flu shot for all students living in dorms (not a bad idea in my mind because a college dorm can be a hotbed of germs or it at least seems that way when I look into some of the very messy dorm rooms) but my daughter doesn’t get the flu shot and hasn’t come down with the flu during the three years she’s lived in the dorm. My in-laws both get a flu shot every year, but my husband’s grandparents do not. And my oldest son is adamant that a person should never get a flu shot (http://www.microflu.com/fluvaccinerisksandbenefits).

If you do get a flu shot the best time to receive it is from the latter part of September through the middle of November, although getting a flu shot almost any time during the season will still give a person some protection from the flu or influenza. But the flu shot doesn’t give a person protection or effectiveness against the flu for about two weeks after receiving it. And in order to receive the maximum protection from the flu a person needs to get a flu shot every year.

Flu season runs from about November through April although January to February seems to be the peak time of the flu season. That’s when you’ll start to hear reports on the news about what parts of the United States are reporting large numbers of flu cases.

What is in a flu shot? It varies each year. In the United States the Public Health Service determines which three strains of the flu are most likely to spread and be a problem during the upcoming flu season. Purified viruses of those three strains are grown in egg cultures that are noninfectious and inactive. Those purified viruses are the flu shot or flu vaccination. The shot stimulates an immune reaction which is said to give a person up to a 70% protection from those strains of the flu.

Why do some health care professionals feel that receiving a flu shot is so important? One reason is that the flu (influenza) is very contagious. It can also be very deadly. It is the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly killing as many as 70,000 people a year.

Whether or not you receive a flu shot is something only you can decide. Consider the pros and cons and decide what is right for you.

Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat illness and disease; nor is it intended as dispensation of medical advice.

by: D Ruplinger

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. More than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, accounting for 2.5 million physician visits a year. Those reporting constipation most often are women and adults ages 65 and older. Pregnant women may have constipation, and it is a common problem following childbirth or surgery.Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.The number of bowel movements generally decreases with age. Ninety-five percent of adults have bowel movements between three and 21 times per week, and this would be considered normal. The most common pattern is one bowel movement a day, but this pattern is seen in less than 50% of people. Moreover, most people are irregular and do not have bowel movements every day or the same number of bowel movements each day.What causes constipation?Theoretically, constipation can be caused by the slow passage of digesting food through any part of the intestine. More than 95% of the time, however, the slowing occurs in the colon.To understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed.Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon’s muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry.Common causes of constipation are irritable bowel syndrome,abuse of laxatives,problems with the colon and rectum,problems with intestinal function & lack of physical activity.Constipation and Natural Treatment:Constipation refers to unduly infrequent or irregular bowel movements, with difficulty, and sometimes pain on passing dry hard faeces. It is usually harmless but may be an indication of an underlying disorder. Many people only have one bowel movement each day and sometimes even less than this. The ideal should be 2 or 3 bowel movements each day which approximates to a bowel movement for each meal consumed.There are many severe health problems connected with periods of lengthy constipation. Studies have now shown that cancer of the intestinal tract and poor absorption of nutrients can stem from periods of constipation.One of the main causes of constipation is diet. While there are many other contributing factors like immobility, haemorrhoids, an anal fissure, hypothyroidism or hormonal changes like those in pregnancy, diet does play a large role in constipation. Most commonly it is a diet lacking in fibre. Treatment for constipation may be directed at a specific cause. For example, the doctor may recommend discontinuing medication or performing surgery to correct an anorectal problem such as rectal prolapse, a condition in which the lower portion of the colon turns inside out.People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control bowel movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity, which is displayed on a computer screen, allowing for an accurate assessment of body functions. A health care professional uses this information to help the patient learn how to retrain these muscles.Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Have you had breast cancer in the past, or are you undergoing treatments now? Then SoulCollage™ is a practice that you will find immensely helpful. Get in touch with the voices inside of you that have something to say about your cancer. Open yourself to the gifts they bring you. Free yourself from your fears.This is the story of my breast cancer journey, and how gluing magazine pictures onto mat board led me back to my spirit.In December of 2001, breast cancer was the furthest thing from my mind. I was busy. I had a loving husband, a nice home, three beautiful stepchildren, a good job. Then my perfect little world was suddenly turned inside out and upside down.A routine, suspicious mammogram. A phone call. Mammogram #2. A stereotactic core biopsy.My diagnosis: breast cancer, stage 2, infiltrating, ductal, HER2.All of the above happened within the fearful, anxious, unbelievable time span of 7 days. And my life has never been the same.The next nine months held a most strange quality of disbelief and exhaustion. It also held two surgeries, four chemotherapy treatments spaced three weeks apart, and 47 radiation treatments (spaced daily, over the course of 9 weeks).It’s been three years since my life was turned upside down and inside out…. Three years. My prognosis is very good. I hear this every three months depending on which doctor my appointment is with: breast surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist.Three years have passed. I look good. I feel good. And yet nothing has been able to quiet the storms of fear that threaten to overwhelm me from time to time. The insidious fear that the breast cancer might return. The intimidating fear of another potentially deadly diagnosis.I have meditated and prayed about this. I have talked about it with my wonderful therapist and with other breast cancer survivors. I have tried guided imagery, journaling, and art journaling. These have all tempered the fear to some extent, but only for a very short while.Then I began practicing SoulCollage™ and my inner dynamics began to change.SoulCollage™ is a unique blend of spiritual practice and the fun of collage. Using our intuition and imagination, we create a deck of collaged cards where each card reflects a different aspect of who we are. The cards are then used to assist us to access our own deep wisdom and help us answer life’s questions.There are four suits in a SoulCollage™ deck: The Committee (the inner voices in our minds), The Community (the family and friends who love us), The Companions (animal totems who lend us their energies) and The Council (archetypes who symbolize major life themes for us).SoulCollage™ cards are made using magazine images, scissors, a glue stick, and 5″ x 8″ pieces of mat board.It turned out to be the best way for me to deal with the lingering fears that I was left with after my cancer treatments were over. I listened carefully inside of me to the voices that had something to say about my breasts, and my breast cancer, and I made three cards over the course of a few months.The “voices” I named and then worked with in the coming months were: I am the one who fears breast cancer returning, I am the one who survived breast cancer and walked away from it (both of these voices were Committee members), and I am the one who gave you the courage to survive breast cancer (an archetype from my Council).After making the cards, I journaled with them, asking each voice the following questions: Who are you? What do you have to give me? What do you want from me? How will I remember?The entire process of making these SoulCollage™ cards and then dialoguing with them led me deeper into my feelings about my diagnosis and all that I had been through on my journey since then. This led me to a very deep and powerful spiritual healing that is difficult to describe, yet very real in my life.Now, when my fears of another cancer diagnosis threaten to consume me, I simply look at my SoulCollage™ card that honors that voice inside of me and I acknowledge it. This voice, this fear will always be a part of me, but I do not have to allow it to control me. I am reminded of this because I also have the other two cards which speak to me of how I found the inner strength and courage to take the breast cancer journey.About the AuthorAnne Marie Bennett is a freelance writer and artist. She is a breast cancer survivor who loves sharing the gift of SoulCollage™ with others. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband Jeff and two highly cherished (and spoiled) feline companions named Sasha and Scooter.