Esophageal Cancer :: Obesity boosts esophageal cancer risk 6-fold
Obese people are six times as likely to develop gullet (oesophageal) cancer as people of ‘healthy’ weight, shows research published ahead of print in the journal Gut.
Smoking
Blood Pressure :: Women with high or increasing blood pressure are up to three times more likely to develop diabetes
One of the largest studies to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and type 2 diabetes has found that women who have high blood pressure levels are three times more likely to develop diabetes than women with low blood pressure levels. This effect was independent of body mass index and other conditions that are known to predispose people to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Macular Degeneration :: Elevated inflammatory marker may be linked to increased risk of age-related eye disease
High blood levels of C-reactive protein, a substance linked to inflammation, appear to be associated with an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Appendix :: Appendix is a safe house for beneficial bacteria in gut
Long denigrated as vestigial or useless, the appendix now appears to have a reason to be – as a “safe house” for the beneficial bacteria living in the human gut.
Antioxidant :: Antioxidants do not prevent degenerative eye disease
A diet rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals does not seem to prevent the degenerative eye disease known as age related macular degeneration, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Smoking :: Smoking has no effect on progression of multiple sclerosis
Contrary to an earlier report, smoking appears to have no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis, according to a study published in the Oct. 9, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Cancer :: Northern Ireland improvements in cancer survival
There have been improvements in cancer survival in Northern Ireland between 1993 and 2004, according to a new report from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR).
Smoking :: UK failing heavily addicted smokers, says RCP
The Royal College of Physicians said that the UK was failing to help heavily addicted smokers who find it the most difficult to give up. Speaking at the launch of a new College report ‘Harm reduction in Nicotine Addiction: Helping people who can’t quit’, Professor John Britton, Chair of the RCP Tobacco Advisory Group, called for a new approach in favour of harm reduction and said that there was far more that could be done to save lives:
Pancreatic Cancer :: Naturally-occurring apple compounds reduce risk of pancreatic cancer
Eating flavonol-rich foods like apples may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, says a team of international researchers. Quercetin, which is found naturally in apples and onions, has been identified as one of the most beneficial flavonols in preventing and reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Smoking :: On-screen smoking in movies linked to young adult smoking behavior
New study findings show that exposure to on-screen smoking in movies has a strong correlation with beginning to smoke or becoming established smokers among young adults 18-25, a critical age group for lifelong smoking behavior.