Second Gene Linked to Familial Testicular Cancer

Specific variations or mutations in a particular can gene raise a man’s risk of familial, or inherited, testicular germ-cell cancer, the most common form of this disease, according to new research by scientists at the National Institutes of Health. This is only the second gene to be identified that affects the risk of familial testicular cancer, and the first gene in a key biochemical pathway. The study appeared online June 23, 2009, in Cancer Research.

Researchers have suspected for years that heredity plays a role in some patients with testicular germ-cell cancer, although attempts to identify a single gene with very strong effects have been unsuccessful thus far. Scientists currently believe that multiple genes with weaker individual effects — but acting together — probably influence an individual’s risk of familial testicular cancer.

Men with a family member who had a testicular germ cell cancer are at three-to six-fold greater risk than other men of developing testicular cancer. Although a family history of testicular cancer probably accounts for less than five percent of all testicular cancers, the careful study of rare familial cancer clusters has often led to important new understanding of the non-familial versions of the same cancer. There will be an estimated 8,400 new cases of testicular cancer diagnosed in 2009 with about 90 percent of them being germ-cell cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

"This study contributes to our understanding of why testicular germ cell cancer appears to run in families," said Raynard Kington, M.D., Acting NIH Director. "The findings may also lead to new ways to identify men at high risk, as well as more effective ways to prevent and treat testicular germ cell cancer."

The key pathway in this disease is the cyclic AMP pathway, which regulates how cells respond to such signals as hormones. Drugs that affect the cyclic AMP pathway are widely available, and, in theory, could affect progression of testicular cancer.

In this study, Anelia Horvath, Ph.D., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), performed the laboratory research and Larissa Korde, M.D., NCI, led the clinical cancer genetics study which identified the multiple-case testicular cancer families used for the DNA analysis. The NICHD and NCI are parts of NIH.

The researchers found that seven different mutations in the gene in question, PDE11A, created abnormal versions of the PDE11A enzyme that slowed down the enzyme’s destruction of cyclic AMP.

"The mutations don’t cause cancer directly, but instead appear to increase an individual’s susceptibility to developing a tumor," explained the study’s senior author, Constantine Stratakis, M.D., D.Sc., chief of NICHD’s Section on Endocrinology and Genetics. "Almost one out of every five families we studied had a variation in the gene that affected its functioning."

To conduct the research, Stratakis and his colleagues analyzed the portion of the DNA from 95 familial testicular cancer patients that contains the PDE11A gene. They found seven mutations in the cancer patients, and noted that the rate at which they were detected was much higher than that seen in the DNA of people without testicular cancer.

The researchers also had access to the DNA of a group of healthy men, who had been screened for diseases of the endocrine organs, including the testicles. None of the men who screened negative carried any of the genetic mutations identified in the familial testicular cancer patients. "Because this group had no mutations in PDE11A, we were more confident that the mutations had something to do with testicular cancer," said Korde.

Learning how disruptions in the PDE11A enzyme lead to an increased risk of tumor formation may help researchers identify other proteins that also play a role, Stratakis said. He indicated that a good place to look is among other proteins in the cyclic AMP pathway.

"This research is a perfect example of how effective medical research can be when investigators from multiple, different disciplines work together as a team to solve a problem," said Korde. "This is team science at its best; it represents the kind of research synergy at which NIH excels."

Stratakis noted that PDE11A is also highly expressed in the prostate gland. He and his colleagues are now undertaking the research to find the frequency of PDE11A mutations in patients with prostate cancer.

The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute’s Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.

NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. Reference: Horvath A, Korde L, Greene MH, Libe R, Osorio P, Faucz FR, Raffin-Sanson ML, Tsang KM, Drori-Herishanu L, Patronas Y, Remmers EF, Nikita M, Moran J, Greene J, Nesterova M, Merino M, Bertherat J, and Stratakis CA. Functional phosphodiesterase 11A mutations may modify the risk of familial and bilateral testicular germ cell tumors. Cancer Research. Online June 23, 2009.

Source: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2009/nichd-29.htm

It's Time to Quit Smoking

Giving up smoking can be a complex process, one which you should definitely be prepared for. One of the best ways to do that is to study everything about your addiction. Also determine what you will encounter as you attempt to go through the process of quitting.

To begin, make sure that you completely understand the causes of why you smoke, and the reasons why it is so addictive. Smoking is, amongst other matters, an accumulation of mental bonds that tie in several events in your life to lighting up a cigarette. It is believed that smokers can stop with the use of nicotine patches and therapy. The advertisements today make it appear as though giving up smoking can in some way be cured by simply using a companies product. That is definitely not the case, quitting require a lot of mental strength and the support of your friends and family.

Take value in your friends, and try to meet new people who are in the same position that you can relate with. This really can help you when you first decide to quit. Seek someone who is a non-smoker, or maybe they have already quit. When you feel the temptation give them a call and discuss how your feeling. Craving's are one of the hardest parts, it is therefore vital that your friend/co worker is a non-smoker, so they do not smoke around you

You may start to get cranky from time to time, likewise you may also begin to feel somewhat down, or you could experience anxiety. Be sure that the people close to you understand your sudden mood swings, and so it does not appear as though you have gone mad.

Quitting smoking can be a difficult task, but by using the tips above it can be achieved in no time at all.

Diabetes of Symptoms

The symptoms of diabetes usually seem too harmless to be noticed, and people like you and me are victims who can easily overlook the symptoms. However, it is during this early detection of the harmless symptoms of diabetes that can help you prevent contracting the disease.

Studies have shown that there are more than 24million people in the United States who have contracted diabetes, and more than half of them do not know that they have this illness until it is too late. This illness is not uncommon, so it is important that you know what are the tell tale signs so that you can prevent it before it is too late!

Here are some of the common symptoms of diabetes that you can look out for in order to prevent it. If you experience frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased fatigue or blurry vision, you might want to consult a doctor immediately to find out more about the changes in your body condition. Experiencing extreme thirst is due to the fact that the body needs water to prevent dehydration.

With the modern medical advances today, diabetes is no longer a fatal illness and it can be controlled easily via medication. However, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure and the best way to defeat diabetes is to prevent it. You need to lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly in order to maintain a fit body to enjoy life. You are what you eat, so remember to cut down on sugar intake and eat less oily food.

What You Must Know If You Get Allergies!

Allergies are normally caused by stored allergen proteins, these proteins come into the body from the food we eat. Some allergies are environmental but most of them are coming in from your meal source. Ninety percent of all chronic allergies are caused by stored allergen proteins that are coming in from your meals, not from your environmental allergens such as mold, pollen, or dust. Most allergies are caused by chemicals in foods, or chemical proteins in foods that actually get stored in your body as your allergen proteins.

One of the ways to cleanse the body of these stored allergens is to take high doses of plant enzymes with meals and in between meals. The enzymes ensure that you are breaking down protein and helping to aid in complete elimination of that food source so that you don't build up and store protein allergens. Another product to take would be a high potent antioxidant. You need a very high antioxidant for the inflammation that is caused by the inflammatory response.

These are the most effective ways you can reduce and eliminate stored allergens so that you no longer react and have allergies. Some people literally react to foods such as chicken and their face turns red, nose gets runny, and tears start running because of the reaction with the stored protein allergens. Once you start taking plant enzymes and antioxidants you can eat the same foods you were allergic to and you will have no reaction, the allergies will be gone. People get allergies because they are not breaking down, processing, and eliminating the food source that they are consuming, that is the biggest contributor to allergies. So once you start digesting and eliminating foods so that they don't get caught up and stored in the body, you won't have a chance to get that histamine reaction or that allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be a nightmare, ensure that you are not contributing to these reactions by taking plant enzymes and antioxidants.

An expert in enzymes is Mr. Ron Schneider who specializes in the field of Immunoenzymology and Darkfield Phase Contrast Microscopy. After many years of studying alternative and holistic medicine, he focused on research with enzymes. In 2001 Mr. Schneider was nominated for the Nobel Prize in science and medicine by the Bill Clinton Administration for the formulation of his highly effective formulation of plant enzymes, the worlds most premium enzymes available today.

Improve Running Speed

Do you love running but hate the fact that no matter how hard you try you just can't beat your personal best?

I am going to share some of the top tips I have found over the years that can help you improve your running speed.

There are a lot of weight bearing exercises and stretches out there that will help you strengthen your leg muscles. This will help build strength and help with long and short distance running.

Lunges: Lunges help stretch out your hip flexors that can get very tight and hinder your ability to run faster.

Calf muscle raises: this helps not only stretch out your calf muscles but it helps strengthen them aswell.

Core and back strengthening exercises: this really helps with your form, most runners are not running with a correct form, so no matter how hard you train you won't actually get any better. Having strong back and core muscles will help hold yourself correctly.

Hamstrings: Kick backs are really good for strengthening these muscles. Also, make sure to stretch these probably, these are normally the first muscle that will 'go' when running and will put you out of your training for some time.

Overall stretching: Can not stress how important to your running speed stretching is. This will help keep your muscles free from knots and will help keep your flexible. Do not skimp on the stretching.

Partner assisted stretching is the best when you have someone to help you, this means you can stretch a lot further than you could alone.

For more great tips and information, please click on the link below.

Diabetic Eye Complications Treatment

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States with more then 26 million Americans currently suffering with this serious disease. The most common of the eye complications are bleeding in the retina and macular swelling. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in young Americans, and the swelling of the retina is due to chronic, long term retinal inflammation.

In an attempt to treat this very serious inflammatory condition, steroid injections have been given directly into the affected eye. It should be noted that this therapeutic modality in not FDA approved, but doctors have continued to employ it since it has been effective in reducing the swelling. The problem has long been that this treatment has substantially increased risk of ocular complications. In addition, frequent injections every few months are required in order for the therapy to be effective.

The steroid injections reduce retinal thickness thus improving vision. The steroids inhibit this inflammation by suppressing the endothelial growth factor. This in turn decreases the vascular damage. These beneficial results only last about 3 months, but the potential side effects include cataracts, increased pressure in the eye, endophthalmitis (severe inflammation) and uveitis.

The goal is to increase the effectiveness of the steroid without increasing the negative side effects. Intraocular implants have been employed near the front of the eye, behind the natural lens, for treating multiple retinal conditions. These include cytomegalovirus (CMV) and posterior retinitis. These implants require sutures and thus have an increased risk of infection when used.

Iluvien is an injectable steroid that is currently under FDA investigation for Diabetic Macular Edema and will last up to 3 years after injection. It is injected with a 25 gauge needle which seals itself; not requiring any sutures. It can also be placed more posterior in the eye for higher effectively and thus better results; this will also decrease the chances of bad side effects so common with the other steroid injections.

Carefully Manage Your Lemonade Cleanse

Balance the Risks and Rewards in Your Detox Diet

Restoration and rejuvenation may shock a tired, overweight, overworked, and neglected body; but they definitely are just what the doctor ordered. Even if you stay on a traditional lemonade cleanse or one of its more palatable alternatives for just a few days, you will feel the benefits all over your body. The active ingredients in your lemonade cleanser search out and carry away all the toxins, pathogens, carcinogens, and free radicals accumulated in your system. All your major organs and all your vital systems benefit from the cleansing.

Benefits for circulatory, renal, and digestive systems

The lemonade in your cleansing beverage introduces lots of antioxidants into your system without adding calories from natural sugars; lemons have by far the lowest glycemic index among all the citrus fruits, and their glycemic index ranks among the very lowest in the entire orchard. During the initial stages of cleansing, lemon's powerful antioxidants detach free radicals from your cells and they detach damaged cells from all your vital organs. Especially promoting circulation, lemonade helps reduce accumulated free radicals from your bloodstream. Meanwhile, the cayenne in your detox beverage increases your circulation without elevating your heart rate or blood pressure. Dilating your veins and arteries, cayenne should help you feel more energetic, because it reduces strain on your heart as it pumps your blood through your 60,000-mile circulatory network. Cayenne also improves your digestion, slightly changing the pH in your gastro-intestinal system and increasing the volume of your digestive juices, so that you efficiently, effectively break down and metabolize food. Green tea enhances the antioxidant effects and soothes your stomach as it grows slightly more acidic; and organic maple syrup supplies vital carbohydrates in complex form, so that they metabolize slowly, steadily supplying energy.

Beware the fundamental flaw in homeopathy

Homeopathy derives from two basic premises: First, homeopaths believe "like cures like." Second, they wholeheartedly believe that a remedy which would make a healthy person sick will make an unhealthy person well. Although the standard lemonade cleanse contains nothing dangerous, nothing even remotely toxic or even vaguely man-made, it nevertheless poses some health risks. If your immune system has suffered serious compromise, or of you suffer diabetes, the lemonade cleanse will make you even sicker. Even if your doctor and homeopath certify your fundamental good health, the strange mix of lemonade, cayenne, and maple syrup may cause diarrhea, cramping, vomiting, and other gastro-intestinal stress. Cayenne in the mix also can cause tachycardia, profuse perspiration, and serious indigestion or heartburn. To some extent, all of these symptoms naturally correspond with detoxification, because the lemonade cleanse taxes all your body's natural waste-removal systems. If, however, the symptoms increase or persist for more than twenty-four hours, suspend your detoxification and consult either your homeopath or your primary care physician. Do not take over-the-counter stomach medicines or pain-relievers, because they will aggravate your symptoms.

Beware the dangers of excess

Do not extend your lemonade cleanse beyond forty days, because you risk anemia, incipient anorexia, and shock. In fact, mid-way through your lemonade cleanse, you may begin supplementing your liquid nourishment with fresh fruits and vegetables, gradually rebuilding your system's tolerance for solid foods while sustaining all the benefits of detoxification. Meanwhile, you very probably will experience powerful cravings, because you have habituated your body to a variety of sugars, food additives, and flavor enhancers. Whereas most doctors advise reading a craving as your body's demand for particular nutrients, during your lemonade cleanse you cannot cave-in to your cravings-not even a little, and nothing even close to a full-on binge. Most of all, make certain you stay well hydrated. The green tea in your lemonade mix acts as a powerful diuretic, and the cayenne probably will make you sweat considerably more than you regularly do. If you experience diarrhea, it also will dehydrate you. Promote your cleansing and circulation, maintain your natural equilibrium, and protect your vital organs by drinking plenty of water.