Diabetes drug may help fight cancer, but no proof yet

Reuters – 1 hr 41 mins ago (Reuters) - A cheap and relatively safe diabetes drug, metformin, might have cancer-fighting properties, according to an international study - but findings fall short of proving it actually can stave off cancer.

Researchers, whose findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with diabetes who took the medication had a 25 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer over more than a decade of follow-up.

"Metformin use in postmenopausal women with diabetes was associated with lower incidence of invasive breast cancer," wrote lead researcher Rowan Chlebowski, at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

"These results can inform future studies evaluating metformin use in breast cancer management and prevention."

Metformin, also sold under the brand name Glucophage, has been on the market for many years and is generally considered safe, although five to 10 percent of patients experience side effects like nausea and bloating.

It is used by millions of type 2 diabetics every day to help control their blood sugar, and studies have shown it also shrinks lung and breast tumors in mice. Several reports show people taking it for diabetes appear to develop cancer less often.

The new study used data from about 68,000 postmenopausal women who took part in the U.S. government-funded Women's Health Initiative clinical trials.

Over nearly 12 years of observation, there were more than 3,200 new cases of breast cancer among the women.

Every year, 0.42 percent of women without diabetes developed breast cancer, compared to 0.40 percent of diabetics on metformin and 0.47 percent of diabetics taking other drugs.

After taking into account risk factors for breast cancer, the gap between women without diabetes and diabetics on drugs other than metformin vanished. But diabetics on metformin turned out to have a 25 percent lower cancer risk than their diabetes-free peers.

"This is an area of great excitement," said Pamela Goodwin, a breast cancer expert at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, who wrote an editorial that appeared with the study.

"The evidence is coming together that metformin may actually have a clinically-relevant effect, but none of this is good enough to chance clinical practice just yet."

But she added that while the study is the best of its kind so far, it relies on observations instead of an actual experiment in which women are randomly selected to take metformin or not.

Goodwin and her colleagues are currently running a trial to test whether metformin can help ward off new tumors in women getting breast cancer treatment. Results are expected in three to four years. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/L86p7l

(Reporting from New York by Frederik Joelving at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies and Bob Tourtellotte)

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Poisoning at Afghan Girls School Proof that Violence Against Women Will Get Worse

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No Proof That Gum Disease Causes Heart Disease, Experts Say

HealthDay – 30 mins ago WEDNESDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- A new scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association says no convincing evidence exists linking untreated gum disease to heart disease or stroke. Nor is there strong evidence that treating gum disease can reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke, the report says.

For more than 100 years, it was said that gum, or periodontal, disease could lead to cardiovascular disease, a major cause of death in the United States, but an extensive analysis found no proof of that connection.

"It's a statement that current science does not support a direct association or a causative association," said Dr. Peter Lockhart, a professor, dentist and co-chair of oral medicine at the Carolinas Medical Center, in Charlotte, N.C.

The report has been in the works for more than three years, Lockhart said. "It was a matter of finding out, what is the state of the science?"

The statement, released April 18, is published in the journal Circulation.

The American Dental Association's Council on Scientific Affairs agrees with the statement. The World Heart Federation, a nongovernmental organization that fights heart disease globally, also endorses it.

Many U.S. adults suffer from some form of gum disease, which can range from mild swelling and redness to periodontitis, when the gums pull away from the teeth and develop pockets that get infected.

The writing group -- co-chaired by cardiologist Dr. Ann Bolger of the University of California, San Francisco -- combed the medical literature on cardiovascular and gum disease from 1950 until mid-July 2011. They found more than 500 studies, and looked in-depth at the most scientific ones.

Gum disease, heart disease and stroke all produce inflammation in the body. The conditions share some risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, age and diabetes, which is why they often develop in the same people.

However, the writing group did not feel the evidence is strong enough to say gum disease causes heart disease or stroke.

"So far, there is no conclusive evidence

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Recession - Proof Weight Loss Challenge To Help Hundreds of San Francisco Residents Get In Shape in 2012

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2011I Luv My Body Fitness in San Francisco is putting on the Your Best Body Challenge to help people start 2012 off healthy and right. All to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs!

San Francisco, CA (1888PressRelease) December 30, 2011 - What's even worse than lean financial times like we're experiencing now is how this recession mixed with the Holiday Season can cause folks to "comfort" themselves with food and pack on the pounds. Low on funds, high in carbs.

Kristen Nolan, the owner of I Luv My Body Fitness Boot Camps and Personal Training is on a mission to combat this by changing the shape of people everywhere. Her "Your Best Body Challenge" could help hundreds of local residents transform their bodies in 8 weeks, free of charge!

"The challenge kicks off on Saturday January 7th 2012 just after the Holiday Season. There's no cost to participate in the challenge," says Kristen "all we ask is that each person make a small, one-time $20 donation to The Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco. That way we are getting people back in shape and raising funds for an incredible organization. It's a win-win situation for everyone!"

The goal of this challenge is to help people who have a hard time losing weight and getting in shape on their own. "Unfortunately that's the majority," Kristen says. "Anyone who's tried and struggled knows that it is difficult to get your body back without professional accountability, motivation, guidance, and coaching."

At www.YourBestBodyChallenge2012.com, Kristen gives the details of the challenge and provides a complete 8-week Transformation Guide that can be downloaded instantly, containing instructions, questions and answers, rules and regulations, prizes awarded to winners and even a complete 8-week exercise and nutrition program.

"Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to participate," Kristen says. "We want to help as many people as we can, and this is the best way to do that."

Many local businesses have agreed to sponsor the challenge by helping spread the word and provide $3000 of prizes to the Your Best Body Grand Champion and two runners up. "It's definitely a city effort," says Kristen, "we couldn't do this without a lot of help and are extremely grateful to all of our challenge sponsors."

Kristen Nolan is available for candid and informative interviews at 925.209.1482

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Recession - Proof Weight Loss Challenge To Help Hundreds of San Jose Residents Get In Shape in 2012

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Dec
2011The third annual Your Best Body Challenge, brought to you by the South Bay's Be Fit Boot Camps is the perfect way to start the year getting in shape and learning how to be healthy. All to raise money for the boys and girls club!

San Jose, CA (1888PressRelease) December 30, 2011 - What's even worse than lean financial times like we're experiencing now is how this recession mixed with the Holiday Season can cause folks to "comfort" themselves with food and pack on the pounds. Low on funds, high in carbs.

Audra Baker, the owner of Be Fit Boot Camps and Personal Training is on a mission to combat this by changing the shape of people everywhere. Her "Your Best Body Challenge" could help hundreds of local residents transform their bodies in 8 weeks, free of charge!

"The challenge kicks off on Saturday January 7th 2012 just after the Holiday Season. There's no cost to participate in the challenge," says Audra "all we ask is that each person make a small, one-time $20 donation to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley. That way we are getting San Jose back in shape and raising funds for an incredible organization. It's a win-win situation for everyone!"

The goal of this challenge is to help people who have a hard time losing weight and getting in shape on their own. "Unfortunately that's the majority," Audra says. "Anyone who's tried and struggled knows that it is difficult to get your body back without professional accountability, motivation, guidance, and coaching."

At www.YourBestBodyChallenge2012.com, Audra gives the details of the challenge and provides a complete 8-week Transformation Guide that can be downloaded instantly, containing instructions, questions and answers, rules and regulations, prizes awarded to winners and even a complete 8-week exercise and nutrition program.

"Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to participate," Audra says. "We want to help as many people as we can, and this is the best way to do that. Last year we had over 300 people participate and raised $6000 for the Boys and Girls Club and this year will be even bigger!"

Many local businesses have agreed to sponsor the challenge by providing over $3000 of prizes awarded to the Your Best Body Grand Champion and two runners up, and many other winning categories. "It's definitely a city effort," says Audra, "we are so grateful for all our sponsors."
Audra Baker is available for candid and informative interviews at 408.209.2169

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