By Lidia Wasowicz, UPI Science Writer
RADIATION AFTER PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY: A study suggests prostate
cancer patients at high risk of a relapse can benefit from radiation
treatments after surgery. The survey shows patients who have the
treatments are 88 percent less likely to suffer a recurrence of cancer.
The study of 149 high-risk patients included 52 who received radiation
therapy within three to six months of surgery. The rest did not receive
the therapy. Dr. Richard Valicenti of Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital in Philadelphia says the study found 89 percent of patients
treated with radiation had no detectable PSA level (indicative of the
presence of cancer cells) five years after treatment, compared to 55
percent of patients treated with surgery alone. Dr. Valicenti says he
would advise patients to have early postoperative radiation therapy
based on the data.
DRUG TREATMENT BEFORE BYPASS SURGERY: Research indicates there are
benefits to giving patients the drug sotalol before they undergo
coronary artery bypass surgery. The study shows such a protocol
significantly decreases the incidences of atrial fibrillation, thus
reducing patient discomfort and length of hospital stay, say the study
authors from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. A common heart rhythm
disorder, atrial fibrillation occurs in 20-40 percent of patients
following coronary artery bypass surgery. In atrial fibrillation, the
upper chambers of the heart do not contract properly causing a chaotic
rhythm. Although not life-threatening this disorder predisposes
patients to stroke and can cause disabling symptoms such as chest pain
and heart failure especially in patients with diminished heart
function, said study author Dr. Anthony Gomes of the Mount Sinai School
of Medicine.
PROTEINS APPEAR TO INHIBIT BLOOD VESSEL FORMATION: The field of
potential cancer fighters has grown with the findings of a new study.
Scientists have discovered two human proteins that inhibit the
formation of new blood vessels and have potential for treating cancer
by suppressing tumor growth. The two proteins, named METH-1 and METH-2,
were shown to be more active than the much-studied endostatin in
preventing blood vessel formation and may have applications in creating
treatments for a broad range of tumor types, said University of
California, Los Angeles, molecular biologist Luisa Iruela-Arispe. Her
team found both METH-1 and METH-2 inhibited blood vessel formation in
two standard biological model systems. The study showed that METH-1 was
most potent in inhibiting new blood vessel formation, followed by METH-
2, then thrombospondin and endostatin. A solid tumor cannot grow beyond
the size of a pinhead unless it has an independent blood supply to
deliver the oxygen and nutrients that the malignancy needs to advance
and spread.
DON'T BLAME THE BEER: For a while now, heavy drinking has been
associated with cirrhosis of the liver. A new study makes a distinction
between drinking wine and beer and downing the hard stuff. The study by
University of California, San Francisco, researchers points to close
ties between the consumption of hard liquor and the long-term pattern
of death from cirrhosis, a progressive disease of the liver. Cirrhosis
mortality in the United States began increasing after World War II. It
peaked in 1973, then started to decline, falling to half the high rate
by 1994. Ron Roizen, sociologist at the University of California, San
Francisco, and lead study author, cautions, ''Our results serve as a
clue not an explanation for the mysterious peak and decline of
cirrhosis mortality.'' The findings do not show that drinking hard
liquor leads to cirrhosis and drinking beer and wine does not, he said.
''The reported relationship does, however, open the door to exploring
beverage-specific links between alcohol consumption and cirrhosis,'' he
said.
