Here is an excerpt from the the American Association for Cancer Research report:

Dr. Diaz and colleagues, who began this research at JHU, were testing an immune checkpoint inhibitor called pembrolizumab, which is a type of immunotherapy that works by targeting the immune-suppressing protein PD-1 on the surface of immune cells. By binding this protein, pembrolizumab effectively releases the immune system’s “brakes,” allowing it to mount an attack against a patient’s cancer.

“…Dr. Diaz and colleagues tested pembrolizumab in a larger group of patients with mismatch repair-deficient cancers that had progressed after prior therapy. Adrienne was one of the 86 patients enrolled in the trial after her ampullary cancer stopped responding to chemotherapy.

Dr. Diaz and colleagues reported in Science that over three-quarters of the trial’s patient population, which encompassed 12 different cancer types, had some level of disease control in response to pembrolizumab. Eighteen patients, including Adrienne, experienced complete remission.

A routine biopsy revealed that her tumor was gone.

“I go in for this biopsy, and when I come to, the surgeon comes over to me and says, ‘If somebody hadn’t told me you have ampullary cancer, I wouldn’t have known because there’s nothing in there’,” she recalled.

“We were taking patients who were in hospice and pulling them out,” Dr. Diaz emphasized. “They had this genetic signature, and their tumor melted away within one or two weeks [of treatment].

“It worked better than our wildest dreams.”

More work is being done by Dr. Diaz to treat patients with earlier stages of disease.

Paste this url into your browser to read this story in the American Association for Cancer Research: https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/pioneers-and-innovators/dr-luis-diaz-marrying-cancer-genomics-with-immunotherapy/

MyTake

OMG. Never knew this treatment existed and was unaware of its success rate. Let’s pray for more and earlier uses of this treatment as more research is being undertaken.

The UK Biobank Accelerometry Study shows that as little as 3 to 4 minutes of vigorous lifestyle physical activity can reduce the incidence of cancer. Here is an excerpt from the study:

“Question Does vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) in short bouts (≤1 and ≤2 minutes) have a dose-response association with incident cancer among nonexercising adults?

Findings In this prospective cohort study of 22 398 self-reported nonexercising adults, a minimum dose of 3.4 to 3.6 minutes of VILPA per day was associated with a 17% to 18% reduction in total incident cancer risk compared with no VILPA. A median daily VILPA of 4.5 minutes was associated with a 31% to 32% reduction in physical activity–related cancer incidence.

Meaning The findings of this large cohort study suggest that 3 to 4 minutes of VILPA per day may be associated with decreased cancer incidence risk; thus, VILPA may be a promising intervention for cancer prevention among individuals unable or unmotivated to exercise in leisure time.”

Question Does vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) in short bouts (≤1 and ≤2 minutes) have a dose-response association with incident cancer among nonexercising adults?

Findings In this prospective cohort study of 22 398 self-reported nonexercising adults, a minimum dose of 3.4 to 3.6 minutes of VILPA per day was associated with a 17% to 18% reduction in total incident cancer risk compared with no VILPA. A median daily VILPA of 4.5 minutes was associated with a 31% to 32% reduction in physical activity–related cancer incidence.

Meaning The findings of this large cohort study suggest that 3 to 4 minutes of VILPA per day may be associated with decreased cancer incidence risk; thus, VILPA may be a promising intervention for cancer prevention among individuals unable or unmotivated to exercise in leisure time.

To read the entire article place this url in your browser:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2807734

MyTake

Wow! So even if individuals are not inclined to exercise activities such as brisk walking or stair climbing in 1-2 minutes bursts can help in reducing the incidence of some forms of cancer. The bottom line - TAKE THE STAIRS AND NOT THE ELEVATOR!

Young people are at risk of harsh respiratory problems after 30 days of e-cigarette use. August 15, 2023

Young people are at risk of experiencing significant respiratory symptoms, including bronchitis and shortness of breath, after just 30 days of electronic cigarette use, according to a new study released Tuesday.

Researchers from the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Southern California Keck School of Medicine used four years of data from online surveys to examine the health impact of e-cigarettes — which create a vapor containing nicotine and other harmful substances — on teens and young adults.

For more information in the health risks of smoking visit the Center for Tobacco Research at: https://cancer.osu.edu/for-cancer-researchers/research/research-institutes-and-centers/center-for-tobacco-research#:~:text=About%20the%20CTR,serves%20individual%20and%20public%20health.

Paste the url into your browser to read the full story : https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html#:%7E:text=The%2520use%2520of%2520e%252Dcigarettes,the%2520early%2520to%2520mid%252D20s.&text=E%252Dcigarettes%2520can%2520contain%2520other%2520harmful%2520substances%2520besides%2520nicotine.

My Take

It’s about time we recognize e-cigarettes for what they are - just another way to hook our children on smoking 21st century style. Tax it the way governments tax cigarettes, at a high enough rate to reduce consumption and put ALL of the tax revenue towards cancer research as advertising on cessation only goes so far. Let’s start targeting revenue from “sin taxes” into desperately needed medical research instead of ploughing those revenues into government’s general funds - that just encourages more frivolous taxes and potentially questionable spending.

A chemical compound in licorice, a herb commonly used in Chinese medicine, has proved effective in suppressing pancreatic cancer, a Hong Kong Baptist University study has found, paving the way for improved treatments against the “silent killer” disease.

The research team behind the paper on Monday said isoliquiritigenin in licorice, or Gan Cao in Chinese, had lowered the survival rate of cancer cells in laboratory experiments, and resulted in fewer side effects compared with conventional treatments.

It also boosted the impact of drugs commonly used to treat the illness, the researchers adde

Paste the url into your browser to read the full story : Read in South China Morning Post: https://apple.news/A1jj6LU9yRqCqJXAJELK_Sg

My Take

Time to start eating a LOT more licorice.

In today's health-conscious world, discussions about well-being inevitably lead to conversations about gut health. The gut, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, houses a staggering 100 trillion microorganisms that play a pivotal role in various aspects of health, including immunity and cognitive function. The notion of "healing your gut" has become a prominent topic, especially on social media. However, unraveling the concept and its necessity requires a closer look.

Defining a Healthy Gut:

The phrase "healing your gut" is more of a marketing term than a medical one, according to experts like Dr. Matthew Bechtold, a gastroenterologist. It's about optimizing gut health rather than fixing something inherently wrong. This perspective aligns with the fact that the term "gut healing" lacks scientific foundation and encompasses a range of digestive issues, from everyday discomfort to medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Moreover, it's often associated with "leaky gut," where the gut lining becomes more permeable, potentially leading to inflammation and other issues.

Understanding Gut Health:

Gut health optimization involves considering the gut's semi-permeability, necessary for nutrient absorption. "Leaky gut" isn't necessarily a disease, but rather a complex topic with contextual nuances. It's essential to discern between lifestyle-induced digestive troubles and medical conditions that need targeted treatment.

Guidelines for Optimizing Gut Health:

For general gut health support, experts recommend several habits:

Regular physical activity: Exercise improves gut motility, reducing issues like bloating and constipation.

Hydration: Adequate water intake is crucial for gut functions, but excessive consumption at once can cause bloating.

Whole foods: Minimize highly-processed items, as they may exacerbate gut inflammation, and focus on fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

Fiber-rich diet: High-fiber foods promote beneficial gut bacteria growth, regular bowel movements, and comfortable digestion.

Quality sleep: A proper sleep routine maintains gut bacteria balance, crucially influencing the brain-gut connection.

Signs and Considerations:

Indications that your gut might benefit from optimization include abdominal discomfort, changes in bowel habits, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. These often relate to lifestyle factors, highlighting the significance of proactive gut care. However, if you have medical conditions affecting the gut, these lifestyle changes might not alleviate symptoms.

When faced with potential gut concerns, look out for "red flag" symptoms, including unintentional weight loss, blood in stool, black stools, significant abdominal discomfort, and more. Seeking medical advice is crucial in such cases to address underlying issues.

Ultimately, prioritizing your gut health involves understanding the nuances of "healing" and adopting habits that foster its optimal function. Keeping a watchful eye on symptoms and consulting medical professionals when needed ensures a well-rounded approach to gut well-being.

Paste this url into your browser to read the full story: https://www.shape.com/how-to-heal-gut-6979622

Lay summary

There is strong evidence showing that sedentary life may significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and shorten the lifespan. However, the optimal number of steps, both the cut-off points over which we can see health benefits, and the upper limit (if any), and their role in health are still unclear.

In this meta-analysis of 17 studies with almost 227 000 participants that assessed the health effects of physical activity expressed by walking measured in the number of steps, we showed that a 1000-step increment correlated with a significant reduction of all-cause mortality of 15%, and similarly, a 500-step increment correlated with a reduced risk of CV mortality of 7%. In addition, using the dose–response model, we observed a strong inverse nonlinear association between step count and all-cause mortality with significant differences between younger and older groups.

It is the first analysis that not only looked at age and sex but also regional differences based on the weather zones, and for the first time, it assesses the effect of up to 20 000 steps/day on outcomes (confirming the more the better), which was missed in previous analyses. The analysis also revealed that depending on the outcomes, we do not need so many steps to have health benefits starting with even 2500/4000 steps/day, which, in fact, undermines the hitherto definition of a sedentary life.

Paste this url into your browser to read the full report: https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad229/7226309