Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Join The Relay For LIfe

I am recruiting participants and donations for the Santa Monicam Relay For Life.

This is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back against this disease. During the event, teams take turns walking or running laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times.

This is much more than a walk around a track. It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived. It is a night for people who have shared the same experience to comfort and console one another.

Relay gives you the power to help accelerate the Society’s advancement toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the lives of our friends and family.

For date time and location details click here

To join the team and participate or make a donation click here.


Saturday, June 24, 2006

Gene Silencing With Nutrients

Most of the time in most cells of the body, the great majority of genes are silenced, locked away within the compacted but orderly material that makes up chromosomes. Estimates are that only about 10 percent of the roughly 25,000 genes in the human genome are activated, or "on," at any given time in a particular cell - the default setting for most genes is "off," or repressed.

Reliable gene silencing is vital to the health of an organism. Improperly activated genes can and do lead to cancer, for example. Gene silencing is also thought to protect the genome from viruses and other potentially damaging entities, thus preserving genetic integrity.

For the complete article click here. from medicalnewstoday.com

There is a lot of drug research going on in this area.

Nutrients can also effect gene expressison. The following comes from a talk I heard by Jeane Wallace Phd CNC. There is excellent information on this site. I have added the hot links.

Promoting Gene Stability
GOAL: Control chronic excessive oxidation, which may promote genetic instability and
aggressive tumor behavior.
TESTING: Assessments of Redox balance. Functional Liver Detoxification (Phase I:
Methylation status (homocysteine). For an explanation of the relationship of homcysteine, methylation and cancer click here. For a 45 minute audio powerpoint explanation of of functional testting with Organic acids click here.
DIET: Diet goal target ≥ 5,000-7,500 ORAC/day
POTENTIAL AGENTS:
• Antioxidant nutrients (carotenoids, tocopherols/tocotrienols)
• Anti-inflammatory agents
• Methylating agents (further explanation of methylation to cancer click here.)

SELECT READING:
Cutler RG: Genetic stability and oxidative stress: common mechanisms in aging and cancer.
1992;62:31-46.

Heine T, Glatt H, Epe B: Human cytochrome P450 reductase can act as a source of endogenous
DNA damage and genetic instability
. Free Radic Biol Med, Mar 1, 2006;40(5):801-7.

Louw DF, Bose R, Sima A, Sutherland GR: Evidence for a high free radical state in low-
astrocytomas. Neurosurgery, Nov 1997;41(5):1146-51.

Maley CC, Galipeau PC, Li X, et al: The combination of genetic instability and clonal expansion
progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma
. Cancer Res, Oct 15, 2004;64:7629-33.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Report Finds Half of Breast Cancer Causes May Be Environmental

State of Evidence 2006: Breast Cancer

U.S. Women’s Lifetime Risk for Breast Cancer
Has Nearly Tripled since 1964

SAN FRANCISCO — Women in the United States still have a high risk of breast cancer even if they have no genetic predisposition or other commonly-accepted risk factors for the disease, according to a report released today.

“State of the Evidence 2006: What Is the Connection Between the Environment and Breast Cancer?” reports that as many as 50 percent of breast cancer cases remain unexplained by either genetics or lifestyle factors, such as a woman’s age at her first full-term pregnancy or alcohol consumption.

Instead, the report says, “compelling scientific evidence points to some of the 100,000 synthetic chemicals in use today as contributing to the development of breast cancer, either by altering hormone function or gene expression.” The report also identifies radiation exposure, such as that from X-rays and CT scans, as the “longest-established environmental cause of breast cancer.”

“State of the Evidence 2006,” which reviews and analyzes nearly 350 scientific studies on environmental links to breast cancer, was jointly published by two San Francisco-based organizations, the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Action. The report was peer-reviewed by leading scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Tufts University School of Medicine, Columbia University and other research institutions.

This is the fourth edition of “State of the Evidence;” the 2006 edition reports findings from more than 46 new studies published during 2004 and 2005.

In 2005, breast cancer was expected to kill more than 40,000 women in the United States—one death every 13 minutes—and more than 410,000 women worldwide. U.S. women now have a one in seven chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes, a risk that has nearly tripled in the past four decades.

“Considerable resources are spent each year to encourage women to make changes in their personal lives that might reduce the risk of breast cancer,” said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund. “But many factors that contribute to the disease lie far beyond a woman’s personal control and can only be addressed by a revolution in thinking on the parts of government and the private sector.”

“This report adds to the compelling evidence that the chemicals we’re exposed to in our daily lives are making us sick,” said Lisa Wanzor, acting executive director of Breast Cancer Action. “Women living with and at risk for breast cancer need public policies that will put our health first and protect us from exposures to toxic chemicals.”

Among the research findings reported in the 2006 edition:

• Genetic susceptibility makes only a “small to moderate contribution” to the incidence of breast cancer, according to a re-analysis of a large Scandinavian study originally published in 2000;

• An interdisciplinary analysis of the history of hormone replacement therapy revealed that scientists were aware of its breast cancer risk as early as the 1930s. The expert analysts asked why, for decades since the 1960s, millions of women were prescribed powerful pharmaceutical agents known to be carcinogenic;

• Women living within one mile of hazardous waste sites containing common herbicides and pesticides such as 2,4-D and chlordane had an increased risk of breast cancer, a study conducted on Long Island, N.Y., found. Researchers working in Iowa and North Carolina also found an increased risk of breast cancer among the wives of farmers who used certain chlorinated pesticides and among those living closest to areas of pesticide application. In California, certain pesticides and herbicides were associated with increased risk of breast cancer in Latina agricultural workers;

• There is no safe dose of ionizing radiation. Even the smallest dose has the potential to cause an increased cancer risk in humans, according to a report from the National Research Council; and

• Chemicals called phthalates, which are ubiquitous in personal care products, were shown to significantly increase cell proliferation in human breast cancer cells. Scientists also found that certain phthalates inhibited the effectiveness of tamoxifen, one of the most widely prescribed breast cancer treatments, in killing MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The new report offers a 10-point plan to reduce the risk of breast cancer and ultimately end the epidemic. Among those recommendations:

• Establish environmental health tracking programs to monitor toxic exposures at state and federal levels;

• Protect workers from hazardous exposures;

• Hold corporations accountable for hazardous practices and offer local, state and federal incentives for clean, green practices; and

• Create a comprehensive chemicals policy based on the precautionary principle, which would obligate producers of chemical and radiological products to assess the health, safety and environmental impacts of their products before introducing them or releasing them.

# # #

Click here to read the Executive Summary of the report »
Click here to download the full-length PDF of State of the Evidence 2006 »

For more information about breast health. see The Breast Cancer Resource.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Oldenlandia Diffusa Bai Hua she she Cao

I have written about oldenlandia- bai hua she she cao in an earlier post. I have used this herb as the king ingredient of a formula to help a patient with Hodgkins Lymphoma significantly control her recurrent disease without conventional care for more than 2 years.

The Asian Anti-cancer Materia Database lists Oldenlandia Diffusa on their website.

16 article abstracts on Oldenlandia Difffusa a.k.a. bai hua she she cao from pub med.




Liang ZT, Jiang ZH, Leung KS, Peng Y, Zhao ZZ. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Distinguishing the medicinal herb Oldenlandia diffusa from similar species of the same genus using fluorescence microscopy.
Microsc Res Tech. 2006 Apr;69(4):277-82.
PMID: 16586483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2: Kim DH, Lee HJ, Oh YJ, Kim MJ, Kim SH, Jeong TS, Baek NI. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Iridoid glycosides isolated from Oldenlandia diffusa inhibit LDL-oxidation.
Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Oct;28(10):1156-60.
PMID: 16276972 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3: Gupta S, Zhang D, Yi J, Shao J. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Anticancer activities of Oldenlandia diffusa.
J Herb Pharmacother. 2004;4(1):21-33.
PMID: 15273074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4: Shan BE, Zhang JY, Du XN. Related Articles, Links
Abstract [Immunomodulatory activity and anti-tumor activity of Oldenlandia diffusa in vitro]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 May;21(5):370-4. Chinese.
PMID: 12577425 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5: Lu H. Related Articles, Links
Abstract [Origin confirmation of a new natural product from Oldenlandia diffusa]
Zhong Yao Cai. 1998 Jun;21(6):299-301. Chinese.
PMID: 12567524 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Chung HS, Jeong HJ, Hong SH, Kim MS, Kim SJ, Song BK, Jeong IS, Lee EJ, Ahn JW, Baek SH, Kim HM. Related Articles, Links
Free Full Text Induction of nitric oxide synthase by Oldenlandia diffusa in mouse peritoneal macrophages.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Sep;25(9):1142-6.
PMID: 12230105 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Shan BE, Yoshida Y, Sugiura T, Yamashita U. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Stimulating activity of Chinese medicinal herbs on human lymphocytes in vitro.
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1999 Mar;21(3):149-59.
PMID: 10348365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Yoshida Y, Wang MQ, Liu JN, Shan BE, Yamashita U. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Immunomodulating activity of Chinese medicinal herbs and Oldenlandia diffusa in particular.
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1997 Jul;19(7):359-70.
PMID: 9568540 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9: Wong BY, Lau BH, Jia TY, Wan CP. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Oldenlandia diffusa and Scutellaria barbata augment macrophage oxidative burst and inhibit tumor growth.
Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 1996 Feb;11(1):51-6.
PMID: 10851520 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10: Luo H. Related Articles, Links
Abstract [Treatment of upper respiratory infection with mixt. 716 compound]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Dec;13(12):730-2, 709. Chinese.
PMID: 8136647 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11: Wong BY, Lau BH, Yamasaki T, Teel RW. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Inhibition of dexamethasone-induced cytochrome P450-mediated mutagenicity and metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by Chinese medicinal herbs.
Eur J Cancer Prev. 1993 Jul;2(4):351-6.
PMID: 8358288 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12: Wong BY, Lau BH, Yamasaki T, Teel RW. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Modulation of cytochrome P-450IA1-mediated mutagenicity, DNA binding and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene by Chinese medicinal herbs.
Cancer Lett. 1993 Jan 15;68(1):75-82.
PMID: 8422652 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13: Wong BY, Lau BH, Tadi PP, Teel RW. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Chinese medicinal herbs modulate mutagenesis, DNA binding and metabolism of aflatoxin B1.
Mutat Res. 1992 Jun 1;279(3):209-16.
PMID: 1377337 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14: Wong BY, Lau BH, Teel RW. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Chinese medicinal herbs modulate mutagenesis, DNA binding and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide.
Cancer Lett. 1992 Feb 29;62(2):123-31.
PMID: 1540939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15: Fang JY. Related Articles, Links
Abstract [Effect of fu-zheng qu-xie on gastric disease infected with Campylobacter pyloridis]
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Mar;11(3):150-2, 133. Chinese.
PMID: 2065393 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
16: TSAI CT, QIAN XL, JIANG DQ, DJIANG DT. Related Articles, Links
No abstract [CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF OLDENLANDIA DIFFUSA (WILLD.) ROXB. I.]
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1964 Dec;11:809-14. Chinese. No abstract available.
PMID: 14254780 [PubMed - OLDMEDLINE for Pre1966]


Green Day - The Time of Your Life

This song warms my heart. Thanks to my 9 year old son for finding this one.