HEALTHY LIVING PAYS DIVIDENDS

Leading the News

Certain lifestyle factors may offset genetic risk of breast cancer

TIME (5/26) reports that research published in JAMA Oncology suggests that nearly “30% of all breast cancers in the US could be prevented if women maintained a healthy weight, do not use hormone therapy for menopause, and cut back on drinking and smoking.”

        The NBC News (5/26, Fox) website reports that the investigators “studied the cases of more than 40,000 women taking part in breast cancer and other health studies.” The researchers “looked at 92 common mutations known to raise breast cancer risk.” The investigators “left out the two best-known breast cancer risk genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – because they’re so clearly defined and studied.”

        The Los Angeles Times (5/26, Healy) reports that the study indicated “that those women who are at greatest risk of developing breast cancer due to factors beyond their control, are the same women who most steeply reduce their risk when they maintain a healthy weight, stay away from hormone replacement therapy, don’t smoke and drink little to no alcohol.”

        However, the ABC News (5/26, Mohney) website points out that the “study is limited by the specific group – white women between the ages of 30 to 80 in Australia, Europe and the US.”

SKIN POLYMER MAY IMPROVE SEVERE SKIN PROBLEMS

 

Researchers develop skin-conforming polymer that reduces wrinkles

Newsweek (5/9, Cuthbertson) reports that researchers have developed “a ‘revolutionary’ skin-conforming polymer called XPL” that “has the ability to replicate the mechanical properties of youthful skin while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye bagging.” This “material is described in a paper published...in Nature Materials, following more than five years of research aimed at replicating healthy skin.” In “a series of small proof-of-concept human studies,” investigators found “that treatment with the material not only reduced wrinkles and mechanical functions but also improved the skin function of patients with severely dry skin.”

        The Washington Post (5/9, Feltman) “Speaking of Science” blog reports that “the researchers...say it could actually find its best use in patients with severe skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, which can both cause extremely dry and itchy skin.” The blog points out, “Initially developed by skin and haircare company Living Proof, the so-called Strateris platform (now under development with a spin-off company called Olivo Labs) was briefly introduced to a small number of dermatology practices in 2014.” At that “time, it was marketed solely as a under-eye solution – and it’s no longer available for sale.”

        The New York Times (5/10, A11, Kolata, Subscription Publication) reports, “The researchers say that they are not sure yet when they will have enough data to submit to the Food and Drug Administration for marketing approval – they will know more later this year.” The investigators “emphasize that their tests of the product as a cosmetic treatment, where most subjects responded, are separate from their tests of it as a medical product, where they do not yet know the response rate.”