Papaya has been used in traditional herbal medicine in Asia and Australia as a remedy for a variety of diseases. Nam Dang, from University of Florida (USA), and colleagues studied extracts of papaya leaf to ascertain the cellular mechanism of action of its potential role in inhibiting the growth of tumor cell lines. The team found that four strengths of papaya leaf extract slowed the growth of ten types of cancer cell cultures, including cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, lung and pancreas. Positing that the papaya may beneficially alter the immune system, the researchers write that: “… papaya leaf extract can mediate a Th1 type shift in human immune system … [Papaya] leaf extract may potentially provide the means for the treatment and prevention of selected human diseases such as cancer, various allergic disorders, and may also serve as immunoadjuvant for vaccine therapy.”
Previous studies have elucidated benefits of vitamin K2, most notably in promoting bone and cardiovascular health. Jakob Linseisen, from the German Research Centre for Environmental Health (Germany), and colleagues studied 24,340 subjects, ages 35 to 64 years, enrolled in the EPIC-Heidelberg study. The participants were following for over 10 years, during which 1,755 cases of cancer were documented, with 458 of these as fatal. The team found that those study subjects with the highest average intakes of vitamin K2 were 14% less likely to develop cancer, as compared to people with the lowest average intakes. Furthermore, increased vitamin K2 intakes corresponded to a 28% reduction in cancer mortality.
The safety of cell phones is still in question after results of the biggest study-to-date on the link between cell phone use and brain tumors were inconclusive. The Interphone Study, which was partially funded by cell phone companies, examined whether cellular radio frequencies could be correlated to brain tumors. More than 10,000 people took part in the study, including cell phone users, non cell phone users, cell phone users who survived brain cancer, and brain cancer survivors who had never used cell phones. Overall, results showed that cell phone use does not increase the risk of glioma or meningioma. However, there were suggestions of an increased risk at glioma in people who had spent more than 1,640 hours on their cell phone. Regardless of over what period of time the use was spread, heavy users were found to have up to a 40% higher risk for glioma, and up to a 15% higher risk for meningioma. Jack Siemiatycki, a professor at the University of Montreal and one of the epidemiologists who led the study, stressed that cell phone users should not panic about possible risks related to cell phones. "If there are risks, they are probably pretty small. Should anyone be concerned about potential dangers of cell phones, they can remedy the issue by using hands-free devices and avoid exposure to radio frequencies around their head."
Previous research has shown the influence of the quantity of fruits and vegetables on cancer development. H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, from The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (The Netherlands), and colleagues have completed a unique study that evaluated the diversity of fruit and vegetable consumption, rather than quantity, in reducing cancer risk. Using data collected in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, the tea, evaluated 452,187 participants, obtaining information was on 14 commonly eaten fruits and 26 commonly eaten vegetables. Regardless of the amount, the researchers found that risk of lung cancer also decreased when a variety of vegetables were consumed. In addition, the risk of squamous cell carcinoma decreased substantially when a variety of fruits and vegetables were eaten. Positing that fruits and vegetables contain many different bioactive compounds, and that by consuming a daily variety of fruits and vegetable we can ingest a rich mix of these bioactive compounds, the team concludes that: “Independent from quantity of consumption, variety in fruit and vegetable consumption may decrease lung cancer risk.”
Chlorination is the most commonly used method of disinfecting the water in swimming pools. Levels of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool water are not necessarily higher than those in drinking water, however swimming in an indoor pool is known to lead to a greater uptake of compounds such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which are inhaled and absorbed by the skin. Thus, there has been concern that swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool could increase a person’s risk of developing cancer. Researchers collected blood, urine, and exhaled air samples from 49 non-smoking adults before and after they swam for 40 minutes in an indoor chlorinated pool. Evidence of genotoxic (DNA damaging) effects was observed in all participants – micronuclei in blood lymphocytes, and urine mutagenicity (Ames assay). Results also showed that the total concentration of the four most common THMs in exhaled breath was seven times higher after swimming. The authors concluded: “Our findings support potential genotoxic effects of exposure to DBPs from swimming pools. The positive health effects gained by swimming could be increased by reducing the potential health risks of pool water.”
