Breast Cancer Findings Implicate Alcohol; Vaccine Shows Promise
Even small amounts of alcohol may raise the risk of breast cancer, a new study finds. Women who had less than one drink per day were found to have a 7 percent increased risk of breast cancer compared with those who didn't drink. Those who drank one to two drinks had a 32 percent greater risk; those who drank three or more drinks had up to a 51 percent increased risk. A woman's risk was similar whether she drank beer, wine, or spirits, researchers reported. A second study looked into possible biological mechanisms that may account for a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and found that two genes--ADH1B and ADH1C--were linked with a doubling of breast cancer risk. The findings are interesting, but it's "too early for use in a clinical setting or to advance a public health message," Peter Shields, co-author of the genetics study and deputy director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, told HealthDay.
A separate study found that a breast cancer vaccine significantly reduced the risk of recurrence for patients who have a high expression of the protein HER2-neu, which represents about a quarter of all cases and tends to be deadlier than other types of breast cancer. The vaccine prevented mortality in breast cancer patients with low or intermediate expression of HER2-neu. "We now have something we think works in the majority of women with breast cancer who are currently underserved," senior author George Peoples told HealthDay. "It's also very, very well -tolerated, like a flu shot." Still, the findings are preliminary, and it's not a sure thing that the vaccine will reach the market.
Cereal Recalled Over Salmonella Contamination
At least 23 people in 14 states have been diagnosed with salmonellosis, caused by salmonella bacteria found in Malt-O-Meal's recently recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat Cereals, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalled these products in early April after routine testing found salmonella in a product produced in March.
Salmonellosis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The bacterial illness can be serious or even fatal in young children, the frail or elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Anyone who has eaten any of these products and experienced symptoms should contact his or her doctor immediately. Malt-O-Meal's website has a full list of recalled products.
Obesity and Heart Transplant Success
Being obese doesn't seem to affect how well patients do after a heart transplant, researchers found in a new study. The study of 430 patients who had heart transplants at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia found no major differences in survival rates among lean, moderately, and extremely obese transplant recipients, WebMD reports. "Our results show BMI [body mass index] was not an independent risk factor for mortality in this study, and no level of BMI led to significantly worse survival," study author Abul Kashem told WebMD. "Obesity should not be a contraindication to transplantation."
Fruit Drinks or False Health Beverages?
Ask any nutritionist for some tips on a healthful diet, and the first or second thing out of her mouth will probably be, "Eat more fruits and vegetables." Beverage manufacturers know that, to consumers, fruit connotes health, which is why there are shelves and shelves of fruity drinks in your grocery store, deli, and even gym, Katherine Hobson reports. But as Consumer Reports writes in its May issue, the word fruit can be awfully misleading. The magazine goes through what you're likely to see on the label of fruit drinks, and some of it may be surprising: A fruit "cocktail" drink, for example, might contain as little as 5 percent juice (with the other 95 percent from water, added flavorings, and sweeteners).
Worried about your fruit juice consumption? Hobson explores an alternative to drinking fruit juice in the On Fitness blog.
--January W. Payne
