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Fight cancerous polyps in the colon with baby aspirin. Study participants who took one baby aspirin a day had a 19 percent reduction in the recurrence of adenomas -- polyps likely to become cancerous -- compared with those in the aspirin-free control group.
"People at higher risk for developing polyps or colon cancer, including those with a family history and those who have had cancer in the past, might benefit the most by taking this low dose of aspirin daily," explains researcher Dr. Robert S. Bresalier, head of gastrointestinal medicine and nutrition at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Even in low doses, aspirin may cause side effects; consult your doctor before taking it daily.
FOR HEALTHY GUMS, FORGET HAPPY HOUR
Drinking alcoholic beverages might one day be added to the list of risk factors for gum disease. An eight-year study of nearly 40,000 male health professionals by researchers at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine found that men who drank alcohol had an 18 percent to 27 percent higher risk of periodontitis than men who didn't.
About half of the men were low to moderate drinkers -- the upper limit of "moderate" being a little more than a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail each day. Only 11 percent were considered heavy drinkers. The researchers were surprised to learn that even low amounts of alcohol increased the risk of gum disease.
There are several ways in which alcohol might contribute to poor gum health. Alcohol is known to impair the infection-fighting ability of white blood cells. It may also stimulate absorption of bone and slow new bone growth, and it may directly damage the gums and cause inflammation.
THE EYES HAVE IT
From the Little League field to professional football stadiums, the black smudges under athletes' eyes seem like part of the standard uniform. But do they really cut glare, as players attest, or are they just part of an aggressive game face?
Dr. Brian M. DeBroff, vice chairman of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Yale University, and his colleagues gathered 46 participants between the ages of 18 and 30. Using a contrast sensitivity chart, they were tested for their ability to discern contrasts in sunny conditions. Then one group wore eye black grease, a second wore anti-glare patches sold in sporting goods stores, and a third had petroleum jelly rubbed under their eyes as a placebo.
"We went in thinking that eye black grease was simply psychological war paint, and that it wouldn't have an effect," DeBroff said. "We were surprised to learn it did."
Eye black grease was found to be "statistically superior" to anti- glare stickers, the authors wrote. "These results suggest that black eye grease does in fact have anti-glare properties, whereas anti- glare stickers and petroleum jelly do not."
GOING HIGH-PROTEIN
As weight loss diets go, high-protein plans have staying power -- but so do questions about their safety. One concern is for your kidneys, since it's their job to filter out protein byproducts.
Some kidney wear and tear is normal over time. But scientists were surprised to find that, among a middle-aged group, one in four people had signs of mild kidney decline. Because this compromises their protein-processing ability, high protein intake could damage their kidneys.
Scientists are now warning that high-protein diets are a bad choice for many who have unsuspected kidney problems. If you want to try a high-protein diet and have any kidney disease risk factors -- middle age, high blood pressure, or diabetes -- first get a blood test for creatinine levels, a measure of your kidney function..
If you have even mild kidney dysfunction, this study suggests a safe limit of 3 ounces of animal protein a day -- the size of a deck of cards. The amount of protein in high-protein diets can go up to 8 ounces per day.
Compiled from News and wire service reports.
(C) 2003 Buffalo News. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
