Exercise Grows New Brain Cells - Yahoo! News

"Exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells, a new study on rats finds. The new cells could be the key to why working out relieves depression. "

Low carb diet ups colorectal cancer risk

"Long term use of a diet with very low carbohydrate such as Atkins diet may increase risk of colorectal cancer in humans as low carb diet reduces the amounts of beneficial bacteria, according to a new study.

Scientists at Aberdeen's Rowett Research Institute found that a very low carbohydrate weight loss diet causes a four-fold reduction in the numbers of certain types of bacteria in the gut of obese men. These bacteria are known to produce a chemical known as butyrate, which has been shown to be protective against colorectal cancer.

Butyrate, a short chain fatty acid, is produced in the gut only when the bacteria ferment the carbohydrate present in food. It can be used by the bacteria as a source of energy and also is used by the cells which line the gut wall. "

Pancreatic Cancer Wellness Research

Pancreatic Cancer Wellness Research

Pancreatic Cancer Patients Don't Get Surgery

"A new study says nearly 40% of patients with early pancreatic cancer who could be treated with surgery don't get the operation.

One of the study's co-authors says the complicated operation is tricky but safer than previously thought and can extend life, although chances of surviving five years are still not great.

The study found that about 30% of patients with early stage disease who get the operation can be expected to survive at least five years, compared with less than five percent of early stage patients who don't get the operation.

The study is based on an analysis of a national cancer database maintained by the American College of Surgeons."

Think Secret - Memo from Steve Jobs to Apple employees

"August 1, 2004 - Earlier today, Reuters reported that Apple CEO Steve Jobs successfully underwent surgery for a "very rare" type of pancreatic cancer. The rare form can be cured if treated in time, as was the case with Jobs. As the CEO will be back on the job in September, it's unclear whether Jobs will keynote Apple Expo Paris on August 31.

The full text of Jobs' email to employees:"

"Enormous Failure" In Treatment Of Early Pancreatic Cancer

"More than half of eligible patients with operable, early-stage pancreatic cancer don't undergo potentially life-extending surgery, suggests a study published online this week by the Annals of Surgery, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

'The only opportunity for cure in early-stage patients is surgical resection, but nihilistic attitudes toward pancreatic cancer likely contribute to this striking underuse of curative resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma,' according to the new report. The lead author was Dr. Karl Y. Bilimoria of Northwestern University, Chicago.

The researchers analyzed data on more than 9,500 patients with early-stage cancers of the pancreas treated between 1995 and 2004. All patients had 'potentially resectable' cancers that had not yet spread to the lymph nodes or elsewhere. Data for the study came from the American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).

The study looked at how many patients underwent surgery, called pancreatectomy, to remove the cancer. If surgery was not performed, the researchers evaluated the reasons why."

Natural Products Industry Insider - Natural Products Industry Insider-Dietary B’s May Drop Pancreatic Cancer Risk

" BOSTON—Data from four large cohorts suggests plasma levels of the B vitamins folate, B6 and B12 may not reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer; however, there was an inverse association seen among adults whose only source of the nutrients was the diet—not dietary supplements (Cancer Res, 67(11):5553-60, 2007; DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-4463). Researchers from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School conducted a prospective, nested, case-control study to examine plasma concentrations of folate, B6, B12 and homocysteine in relationship to pancreatic cancer. Among 208 cases and 623 controls, there was a modest trend between greater nutrient intake and reduced pancreatic cancer risk in subjects who did not report multivitamin use..."

"Failure" in Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

"More than half of eligible patients with operable, early-stage pancreatic cancer don't undergo potentially life-extending surgery, suggests a study published online this week by the Annals of Surgery.

'The only opportunity for cure in early-stage patients is surgical resection, but nihilistic attitudes toward pancreatic cancer likely contribute to this striking underuse of curative resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma,' according to the new report. The lead author was Dr. Karl Y. Bilimoria of Northwestern University, Chicago"

Associated Press: Study: Liver Cancer Breakthrough Found - MSN Money

"For the first time, doctors said Monday they have found a pill that improves survival for people with liver cancer, a notoriously hard to treat disease diagnosed in more than half a million people globally each year.
The results in a multinational study of 602 patients with advanced liver cancer are impressive and likely will change the way patients are treated, say cancer specialists, including the study authors."