A comment piece citing studies by Nobuto Yamamoto that report GcMAF, a vitamin D3-binding protein tied to macrophage activation, cured all 16 metastatic prostate cancer patients in a Translational Oncology paper with no recurrence for seven years. It argues immunotherapy avoids drug resistance.
Section archive
Health News
Drugs, disease, healthcare, government and lifestyle: health news beyond the plate.
- All desks
- Abortion
- Accutane
- Acetaminophen
- Acid Reflux
- Acidic Foods
- Acne
- Acrylamide
- Acupuncture
- Additives
- ADHD
- Adiposity
- Advisories
- Aerobic Exercise
- Aflatoxin
- Agave
- Agent Orange
- Aging
- Agriculture
- AIDS
- Air Pollution
- Airline Passengers
- Airport
- ALA
- Alcohol
- Alcoholic Beverage
- Alerts
- Allergy
- Alli
- Aloe Vera
- ALS
- Alternative Medicine
- Aluminum
- Alzheimer's
- Amalgam
- AMD
- Ampyra
- Amygdala
- Anal Cancer
- And
- Anemia
- Angiogenesis
- Animal Protein
- Animals
- Anorexia
- Anthocyanins
- Anthrax
- Anti-Angiogenesis
- Anti-Obesity
- Antibacterial
- Antibiotic
Lifestyle
Fasting protects cancer patients against chemotherapy
A report on nature.com says cancer patients can fast to cut calories and protein and protect themselves against chemotherapy's toxicity, with five days of fasting followed by normal eating avoiding weight loss. The American Cancer Society advises the opposite, the report notes.
Miscellaneous
Reinstatement of HRAs Good News for Small Businesses
Small Business Majority's John Arensmeyer welcomed Senate passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which lets small employers offer Health Reimbursement Arrangements so insured workers can put pre-tax dollars toward premiums and out-of-pocket costs. He also urged keeping the ACA intact.
Environment
PAHs raise breast cancer risk
A study in Cancer Research found long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was associated with higher breast cancer risk: 20% for a spouse's tobacco smoke, 30% for synthetic firelogs, 45% for ingesting PAHs and 46% across all sources combined.
Drug
Raritan Pharmaceuticals Recalls Products Containing Belladonna Extract
Raritan Pharmaceuticals is recalling homeopathic products it makes for Homeolab USA, including CVS infants' teething tablets and two children's ear relief liquids, because FDA testing found belladonna extract at levels that varied from the label. Consumers should stop using the listed lots.
Lifestyle
Induced abortion raises breast cancer risk
A meta-analysis of 36 Chinese studies in Cancer Causes Control found women with at least one induced abortion were 44% more likely to develop breast cancer, rising to 76% and 89% after two or three. The studies were observational, so the association is not necessarily causal.
Environment
Mt. Hood Meadows Poised for Limited Opening Friday
Mt. Hood Meadows expects to run at least one lift Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Buttercup scheduled to operate after snow harvesting built the base to a foot. Officials say a forecast 12 to 18 inches could open more lifts and terrain.
Drug
FDA approves Daratumumab (DARZALEX) for multiple myeloma
The FDA approved daratumumab (Darzalex) with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for multiple myeloma after at least one prior therapy. Adding it cut the risk of progression or death by 63 percent in POLLUX and 61 percent in CASTOR.
Drug
Cox-2 inhibitors may help Desmoid tumor
A case report in the World Journal of Surgical Oncology describes a 57-year-old woman whose pancreatic-head desmoid tumor was removed and who then took celecoxib, with complete remission and no recurrence within two years. The authors say more research is needed.
Disease
How did she treat stage 4 pancreatic cancer?
A woman in the Philippines with stage 4 pancreatic cancer refused chemotherapy and used a plant-based diet, carrot juice, coffee enemas, vitamin C and supplements; her pancreatic cancer test results normalized. Told she had three to six months, she died in August 2015 of an unknown cause.
Drug
Dental amalgam fillings are a source of mercury pollution
A Karolinska Institute autopsy study found a correlation between the number of amalgam-filled tooth surfaces and mercury in the occipital cortex, and higher kidney mercury in seven people with fillings. A 1995 Swedish study reported levels dropped after fillings were removed.
Drug
Prostate cancer treatments cause sexual dysfunction
A survey of 379 spouses of prostate cancer survivors found 75% said treatment worsened the quality of sexual life. Only 7% of survivors sought medical attention and just 4% of oncologists referred them to a sex therapist, the researchers reported.
Drug
Hypertension medications taken at bedtime prevent diabetes mellitus better
A randomised controlled trial published in Diabetologia suggests that taking one or more blood pressure medications at bedtime may lower the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes more than taking them at other times of day.
Drug
Statin therapy effective in at-risk people, but may cause side effects
A USPSTF review of 19 trials with 71,344 participants found statin users had 14%, 31%, 29% and 36% lower risks of death from any cause, cardiovascular death, stroke and heart attack. It found no rise in serious harms, though other reports tie statins to muscle pain and myopathy.
Environment
Mt. Hood Meadows Presents a Pray for Snow Day and Party Saturday
Mt. Hood Meadows picked up 10 inches of snow this week, not enough to run lifts, and is holding a Saturday event with a free snowshoe demo, a rail jam, a coat and clothing drive for Saint Vincent de Paul, dinner with CEO Matthew Drake and an evening party.
Disease
Got stage 4 kidney cancer? You don't have to die
The American Cancer Society puts five-year survival for stage 4 kidney cancer at 8 percent in the U.S. and 5 percent in the UK. The piece describes one man who had two surgeries, then changed his diet and took supplements, and has lived seven years. It calls him lucky and invites inquiries.
Disease
Allergies during pregnancy contribute to changes in the brains of rat offspring
Ohio State researchers found allergen exposure during pregnancy changed the brains of rat fetuses and newborns, and that exposed animals grew into adults showing hyperactivity, antisocial behavior and less anxiety. Lenz says prenatal allergens may be an underappreciated developmental factor.
Disease
Hypertension is more dangerous than diabetes mellitus in older while adults
In the Rancho Bernardo Study, white adults 55 and older with hypertension were 93% more likely to die from any cause over about 14 years, against 40% for those with diabetes. After adjusting for other risk factors, hypertension still carried the higher mortality.
5182 stories