Biomedical subjects

Jane Teas

Publications and source records attributed to Jane Teas.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Urinary estrogen metabolites, prostate specific antigen, and body mass index among African-American men in South Carolina.

INTRODUCTION: Estrogen metabolites have been linked to risk of breast cancer, and we were interested in whether they are associated with prostate specific antigen (PSA) and other factors associated with prostate cancer. African-American (AA) men in South Carolina have among the highest prostate cancer rates in the world, and thus provide an ideal population in which to investigate this hypothesis. METHODS: We recruited AA men attending prostate cancer screenings in and around Columbia, South Carolina. Because very few men had elevated PSAs, we restricted our study to the 77 men whose PSA was below the cutpoint used by the screening program to indicate need for diagnostic workup. These men provided spot urine samples and answered demographic and lifestyle questions including self-reported body weight, height, exercise, tobacco use, medications, cancer history and age. Levels of urinary 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1), and their ratio (2/16) and blood PSA levels were determined. RESULTS: After adjusting for a statistically significant interaction between age and BMI, we found a reduction of 14.2% in 2-OHE1 for each 1.0 ng/ml increase in PSA (p=0.05). For obese AA men only (BMI> or =30 kg/m2), 2-OHE1 increased by 36% for each decade of age (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen metabolites may be related to PSA level in AA men. Older men with BMIs greater than 30 kg/m2 had an unexpected increase in 2-OHE1, suggesting a dysregulation of this estrogen metabolism pathway. Further studies of estrogen metabolites may provide insights into prostate cancer risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Algae -- a poor man's HAART?

Drawing inferences from epidemiologic studies of HIV/AIDS and in vivo and in vitro HIV inhibition by algae, we propose algal consumption as one unifying characteristic of countries with anomalously low rates. HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence in Eastern Asia ( approximately 1/10000 adults in Japan and Korea), compared to Africa ( approximately 1/10 adults), strongly suggest that differences in IV drug use and sexual behavior are insufficient to explain the 1000-fold variation. Even in Africa, AIDS/HIV rates vary. Chad has consistently reported low rates of HIV/AIDS (2-4/100). Possibly not coincidentally, most people in Japan and Korea eat seaweed daily and the Kanemba, one of the major tribal groups in Chad, eat a blue green alga (Spirulina) daily. Average daily algae consumption in Asia and Africa ranges between 1 and 2 tablespoons (3-13 g). Regular consumption of dietary algae might help prevent HIV infection and suppress viral load among those infected.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2004

Can hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduce breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema? A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Arm lymphedema after surgery or radiation for breast cancer is common, causing pain and limitation of activities. Previous reports of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for breast edema led us to consider the use of HBO therapy for arm lymphedema. METHODS: Ten healthy postmenopausal women (age 58 +/- 5.7 years) with persistent (9.4 years +/- 9.1 years) arm lymphedema following breast cancer surgery and radiation (n = 10) plus chemotherapy (n = 7) received 20 HBO treatments (90 minutes at 2.0 ATA five times a week for 4 weeks). End points included changes in upper extremity volume, platelet counts, plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and lymph angiogenic-associated vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C). Lymphedema volume (LV) was defined as the volume of the unaffected arm subtracted from the volume of the affected arm. RESULTS: We observed a 38% average reduction in hand lymphedema (-7.4 ml, 11.6 SD, range -30-+8 ml, p = 0.076, 95% confidence interval -15.7-0.9 ml) at the end of HBO, which was independent of changes in body weight. For those who benefited (n = 8), the reduction was persistent from the end of treatment to a final measurement an average of 14.2 months after the last HBO treatment. However, total LV did not change significantly. VEGF-C increased from baseline (p = 0.004) before treatment 20, suggesting HBO had begun to stimulate this growth factor. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should explore the effects of a greater number of HBO treatments on lymphedema, with more patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Variability of iodine content in common commercially available edible seaweeds.

Dietary seaweeds, common in Asia and in Asian restaurants, have become established as part of popular international cuisine. To understand the possibility for iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction better, we collected samples of the most common dietary seaweeds available from commercial sources in the United States, as well as harvester-provided samples from Canada, Tasmania, and Namibia. Altogether, 12 different species of seaweeds were analyzed for iodine content, and found to range from 16 microg/g (+/-2) in nori (Porphyra tenera) to over 8165 +/- 373 microg/g in one sample of processed kelp granules (a salt substitute) made from Laminaria digitata. We explored variation in preharvest conditions in a small study of two Namibian kelps (Laminaria pallida and Ecklonia maxima), and found that iodine content was lowest in sun-bleached blades (514 +/- 42 microg/g), and highest amount in freshly cut juvenile blades (6571 +/- 715 microg/g). Iodine is water-soluble in cooking and may vaporize in humid storage conditions, making average iodine content of prepared foods difficult to estimate. It is possible some Asian seaweed dishes may exceed the tolerable upper iodine intake level of 1100 microg/d.

Cooking↗

PubMed2002

Dietary exposures and oral precancerous lesions in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of dietary nutrients on oral precancerous lesions in a reverse-smoking (i.e. smoking with the glowing end inside the mouth) population in South India. DESIGN: Case-control. Cases with precancerous lesions were matched to an equal number of lesion-free controls matched on age (+/- 5 years), sex and village. All subjects used tobacco in some form. Dietary data were obtained using an interviewer-administered food-frequency questionnaire, designed for use in this population. All interviews were conducted blinded to the disease status of the subject. Data were analysed using logistic regression. SETTING: Nineteen rural villages in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. SUBJECTS: From a survey of 6007 tobacco users, 485 (79% women) were found to have precancerous, mostly palatal, lesions (cases), and 487 lesion-free subjects were selected as controls. RESULTS: All eligible subjects consented to participate and nearly all (> 99%) had complete data for analyses. Reverse smoking was the most common form of tobacco use among cases (81.9%) and controls (73.5%), and reverse smokers were 5.19 times more likely than chewers to have these lesions (95% confidence interval = 1.35, 19.9). After controlling for relevant covariates, including the type of tobacco use, protective linear effects were observed for zinc (70% reduction across the interquartile range, P < 0.002), calcium (34% reduction, P < 0.002), fibre (30% reduction, P < 0.009), riboflavin (22% reduction, P < 0.03) and iron (17% reduction, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Several dietary nutrients appear to protect against oral precancerous lesions that are strongly associated with reverse smoking. The results of this study indicate scope for targeting dietary factors in preventing oral cancer, which should be coupled with aggressive anti-tobacco use efforts.

Calcium, Dietary↗