Chemical link to testicular cancer probed

By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
Scientists hope to prove whether common environmental chemicals, such as those used to make plastics, are to blame for rising testicular cancer rates.

Experts suspect that exposure while in the womb might explain why the rate of this cancer has doubled in 35 years.

The Edinburgh team told Human Reproduction such a study was only now possible because they had made a model to study the disease in development.

Phthalates have been banned from toys

They will use mice harbouring human cells to test the theory.

Testicular cancer occurs in young men, but doctors have known for some years that the abnormal changes that lead to testicular cancer happen in the first few months that the foetus is growing.

“We need to know for sure if these compounds are harmful or not. The hope is that our studies can resolve this one way or another”

End Quote

But because these changes occur during early pregnancy, when there is no means of studying the foetal testes, doctors do not know how and why these changes occur.

Researchers are fairly certain there must be an environmental cause because the rate of the cancer has increased so rapidly.

According to Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, one theory is that the changes are caused by pregnant women being exposed to environmental chemicals such as phthalates, which are used in many different household items, including plastic furniture and packaging.

But because the cancers only develop 20-40 years after the patient is born, it has been hard for doctors to discover what happened in foetal development to cause this to happen, especially when trying to establish if their mothers were exposed to phthalates or other environmental chemicals to establish a causal relationship.

Mouse model

Now the MRC researchers have developed a model in which early human foetal testis development can be studied and manipulated experimentally to establish once and for all if exposure to environmental chemicals is a likely culprit.

Prof Sharpe's team has grafted testis tissue from aborted foetuses under the skin of mice. The germ cells in the testes are at the critical stage when any faults in their development can result in changes which make them pre-cancerous.

The researchers will expose the mice to phthalates or other environmental chemicals to see if this induces changes in the foetal germ cells that would predispose them to develop into a cancer.

Prof Sharpe said: "We are choosing to study phthalates first for several reasons, because we know that in the test-tube they can affect foetal human germ cells. They are also the most ubiquitous of environmental chemicals. We are all exposed to them."

Phthalates are used to make plastic flexible, and so can be found in carpets, wall boards, car upholstery and fittings and certain cosmetics and pharmaceutical drugs.

However, Prof Sharpe said that there was uncertainty about whether phthalate effects on the foetus in animal models were relevant to humans.

He said: "This is one of the critical unresolved questions as to whether phthalates pose a risk to human health or not.

"It's a huge industry. These compounds are literally part of the fabric of our modern society so they cannot easily be banned or removed without having widespread effects on everyday life. We need to know for sure if these compounds are harmful or not. The hope is that our studies can resolve this one way or another."

The researchers say that if phthalates do cause effects on human foetal germ cells they could know within a year. If the chemicals are not responsible it could take much longer to conclusively disprove any link.

Healthy blood, Blood disorders

Chemical link to testicular cancer probed

By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
Scientists hope to prove whether common environmental chemicals, such as those used to make plastics, are to blame for rising testicular cancer rates.

Experts suspect that exposure while in the womb might explain why the rate of this cancer has doubled in 35 years.

The Edinburgh team told Human Reproduction such a study was only now possible because they had made a model to study the disease in development.

Phthalates have been banned from toys

They will use mice harbouring human cells to test the theory.

Testicular cancer occurs in young men, but doctors have known for some years that the abnormal changes that lead to testicular cancer happen in the first few months that the foetus is growing.

“We need to know for sure if these compounds are harmful or not. The hope is that our studies can resolve this one way or another”

End Quote

But because these changes occur during early pregnancy, when there is no means of studying the foetal testes, doctors do not know how and why these changes occur.

Researchers are fairly certain there must be an environmental cause because the rate of the cancer has increased so rapidly.

According to Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, one theory is that the changes are caused by pregnant women being exposed to environmental chemicals such as phthalates, which are used in many different household items, including plastic furniture and packaging.

But because the cancers only develop 20-40 years after the patient is born, it has been hard for doctors to discover what happened in foetal development to cause this to happen, especially when trying to establish if their mothers were exposed to phthalates or other environmental chemicals to establish a causal relationship.

Mouse model

Now the MRC researchers have developed a model in which early human foetal testis development can be studied and manipulated experimentally to establish once and for all if exposure to environmental chemicals is a likely culprit.

Prof Sharpe's team has grafted testis tissue from aborted foetuses under the skin of mice. The germ cells in the testes are at the critical stage when any faults in their development can result in changes which make them pre-cancerous.

The researchers will expose the mice to phthalates or other environmental chemicals to see if this induces changes in the foetal germ cells that would predispose them to develop into a cancer.

Prof Sharpe said: "We are choosing to study phthalates first for several reasons, because we know that in the test-tube they can affect foetal human germ cells. They are also the most ubiquitous of environmental chemicals. We are all exposed to them."

Phthalates are used to make plastic flexible, and so can be found in carpets, wall boards, car upholstery and fittings and certain cosmetics and pharmaceutical drugs.

However, Prof Sharpe said that there was uncertainty about whether phthalate effects on the foetus in animal models were relevant to humans.

He said: "This is one of the critical unresolved questions as to whether phthalates pose a risk to human health or not.

"It's a huge industry. These compounds are literally part of the fabric of our modern society so they cannot easily be banned or removed without having widespread effects on everyday life. We need to know for sure if these compounds are harmful or not. The hope is that our studies can resolve this one way or another."

The researchers say that if phthalates do cause effects on human foetal germ cells they could know within a year. If the chemicals are not responsible it could take much longer to conclusively disprove any link.

Healthy blood, Blood disorders

A Weight Loss Motivation App for the iPad

Thanks to Adriana for giving us 25 free copies to hand out. Here is the scoop;

This app helps you visualize your weight loss. It's great motivation for losing weight!

You begin personalizing the model by setting your current height and weight as well as your heaviest weight and your goal weight.

Keep a track record of your weight loss and visualize how you'll look when you reach your next lower weight goal.

Your model is based on BMI calculations so she will look different for women who weigh the same but are different heights.

See the Weight Loss Virtual Model on the iPad (or on iPhone/iTouch here).

As of today (January 6th) we have 25 free apps (for the iPad version only) available to the first people that email support.psmedia@gmail.com and ask for their promo code for the "Weight Loss Virtual Model for iPad". Email now to get your free app! (Update January 9th: We still have free copies left.)

Update: Sorry we are all out of the free apps.

End Your Nasty Smoking Habit For Keeps

For any smoker, quitting smoking is tough. But there are excellent techniques to help you give up smoking and quit for keeps. Cigarette smokers must need to fight temptation and know what to do in case you find yourself likely to give in. It will take a while for you to find the right combination that suit you best however be positive; you can quit smoking permanently.

A lot of smokers have successfully kicked their smoking habit through the help of quit smoking programs, seeking professional help and replacing smoking with a new habit.

Knowing what to expect can really help smokers easily go through the daily process of becoming and remaining as a non-smoker. Bear in mind that some stop smoking techniques may be goofy for others however maybe best for you, so do not be embarrassed to test something new. Determining what works for you can make quitting a little much easier for you.
Ahead of stop smoking, go for the ideas that make sense to you and simply follow through as this will provide you a greater chance for success.

In preparing yourself for quitting smoking, you need to decide positively that you want to quit. It's important that you avoid negative thoughts and how tough quitting might be . Try to jot down all the reasons why you want to quit. Try to create strong personal reasons other than health reasons and obligations. Begin to condition yourself physically by engaging in a moderate exercise program, obtaining enough rest, keeping away from fatigue and having more fluid intake. Then, you need to set a particular date for giving up smoking, perhaps the day of your birthday, you anniversary or any special day in your life.

When terminating smoking, you ought to know what to expect and have practical expectations. Of course, quitting is not that easy and not improbable either. You should learn and understand that withdrawal symptoms are just short-term although these maybe your most difficult times. Withdrawal symptoms last only one to two weeks. So as to cope with this critical period successfully try to utilize all your personal resources, family, friends, will power and other tips to quit smoking. Do not quit no matter what, be sure to try again if you fail the first time.

To also help you quit successfully, you can try to involve someone else. You can request a friend or your spouse to quit with you. You can also try to bet a friend that you can stop on a target date and place your money for cigarette aside each day and forfeit if you smoke. It helps to tell your family and friends that you're quitting as they can be a significant source of support all through the process of quitting tobacco.

The ways of quitting can vary. You may try to join a smoking cessation programs and therapy. You may utilize nicotine gum or patch or you may try switching to best electronic cigarette or also known as the smokeless cigarette. Trying to develop new habits like writing letters, biking, taking a walk, gardening and doing household chores will definitely be helpful. Or you may try to spend time on the things that are meaningful to you. At this point, that you know the approaches and the resources for giving up smoking, it it's the best time to start taking action towards quitting.