WHO: Mental Health QualityRights – Why are human rights in mental health so important?

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrCFSYfuCcw

WHO: Mental Health QualityRights – Changing attitudes in mental health services, Gujarat, India

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP3KPEXLdU4

WHO: Mental Health QualityRights – Promoting quality and human rights in mental health services

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGHyJL5w9wk

Fewer Hormonal Meds for Breast Cancer Patients?

Women with earlier-stage breast cancer may be able to spend less time on hormonal therapy without dimming their prognosis, a new study suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20171207/for-breast-cancer-patients-less-time-on-hormonal-meds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Is there a link between alcohol and skin cancer?

Patients are always elated when you can recommend an enjoyable, health-improving, recreational activity. As a runner, my favorite “prescription” while pregnant was exercise! However, more often than not, pleasurable activities are not what’s best for one’s health. But as a dermatologist who specializes in skin cancer, I am generally the bearer of bad news when I tell patients to never get another tan.

This November, alcohol came into the spotlight. The Cancer Prevention Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommended minimizing drinking alcohol, as it is thought to be a “modifiable risk factor for cancer.” Alcohol is estimated to be responsible for 3.5% of all cancer deaths in the United States.

Does alcohol influence skin cancer risk?

The short answer is that alcohol may be associated with skin cancer.

Several studies have tried to answer this very question with varying results. However, two meta-analyses, which combine results from a number of other studies, found that alcohol intake was associated with the development of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (the two most common types of skin cancer) and melanoma. One of the studies found that the risk of basal cell carcinoma increased by 7% and squamous cell carcinoma increased by 11% for every 10-gram increase in intake of alcohol in distilled spirit form (or one standard beer or small glass of wine) each day. Another study found a 20% increase in melanoma in drinkers (compared to those who don’t drink alcohol or only drink occasionally) and an increased risk based the amount of alcohol intake, with a 55% increase in risk for those who drink 50-grams of alcohol (or five beers!) per day.

How could alcohol cause skin cancer?

Ultraviolet light causes mutations in DNA and typically our body repairs these alterations. However, one of the byproducts produced when the body metabolizes alcohol can interfere with DNA repair, which can eventually lead to cancer. Alcohol also causes formation of something called reactive oxygen species, which also has the ability to damage DNA. There are other proposed mechanisms, including increasing one’s susceptibility to damage from ultraviolet light and suppressing one’s immune system. Some studies have shown that white wine consumption had a stronger association with skin cancer formation, which may be due to lower levels of antioxidants in white wine.

But before you completely alter your social practices, it is important to recognize a few limitations to these studies. The first is that ultraviolet light is the main factor that increases basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and alcohol consumption has been associated with behaviors that increase one’s risk of getting a sunburn. So, it is not clear whether alcohol is the cause of the skin cancer or a bystander. In addition, there are other unmeasurable factors that were not accounted for in these studies.

What should you do?

The American Cancer Society recommends limiting alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. But it is important to consider your underlying risk for developing skin cancer, and to understand how your lifestyle modifications are impacting your health through factors such as sun exposure habits and even ethnicity (a Caucasian’s lifetime risk for melanoma is 1 in 44, whereas an African American’s lifetime risk is only 1 in 1,100).

The post Is there a link between alcohol and skin cancer? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Emily S. Ruiz, MD, MPH https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/loose-link-alcohol-skin-cancer-2017120812861

Uganda ends Marburg virus disease outbreak

Uganda has successfully controlled an outbreak of Marburg virus disease and prevented its spread only weeks after it was first detected, the World Health Organization said on Friday (December 8).

“Uganda has led an exemplary response. Health authorities and partners, with the support of WHO, were able to detect and control the spread of Marburg virus disease within a matter of weeks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr02/uganda-marburg-virus-disease/en/index.html

Uganda ends Marburg virus disease outbreak

Uganda has successfully controlled an outbreak of Marburg virus disease and prevented its spread only weeks after it was first detected, the World Health Organization said on Friday (December 8).

“Uganda has led an exemplary response. Health authorities and partners, with the support of WHO, were able to detect and control the spread of Marburg virus disease within a matter of weeks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/uganda-marburg-virus-disease/en/index.html

DNA is going digital – what could possibly go wrong?

When biology and cybersecurity collide: the emerging field of cyberbiosecurity explores a whole new category of risks

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dna-goes-digital-cyberbiosecurity-risks/

Scans reveal solar eclipse damage to woman's eye

The woman told doctors she looked directly at the eclipse for just a few seconds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/solar-eclipse-damage-to-womans-eye-revealed-in-striking-images/

Lawsuit claims surgeon took Spanish test while operating

According to the lawsuit, the patient overheard her doctor say some alarming things while she was undergoing procedure

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-sues-surgeon-who-took-spanish-test-while-operating/

Study: Genes Start Mutating Soon After Conception

The Yale University and Mayo Clinic scientists said that many of these mutations occur as sex cells are forming in the embryo.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20171207/study-genes-start-mutating-soon-after-conception?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Have Eczema? No Need for Bleach Baths, Study Suggests

Doctors sometimes recommend a bleach bath, which is a mixture of a small amount of bleach in a pool of cool or warm water

From: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/news/20171207/have-eczema-no-need-for-bleach-baths-study-suggests?src=RSS_PUBLIC

A better mammogram? Study puts 3-D scans to the test

Health officials are starting a huge study to tell if the newer, sometimes pricier scans really improve screening for breast cancer

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-better-mammogram-large-study-putting-3-d-scans-to-the-test/

Womens Wellness: Reproductive organ transplantation

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECOHAfbIl4

As Hearing Fades With Age, Dementia Risk May Rise

New research does suggest that hearing loss raises the odds for dementia, but the jury is still out on whether one condition actually causes the other, experts say.

From: https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20171207/as-hearing-fades-with-age-dementia-risk-may-rise?src=RSS_PUBLIC