Think velocity, not PSA level

            BALTIMORE - When it comes to predicting risks of prostate cancer, think velocity, scientists told MedPage Today. It's the rate of change of prostate specific antigen - not the absolute PSA level - that’s the key to telling who has a life-threatening malignancy and who doesn't, they say. Typically, a PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL determines who needs treatment and who doesn't, noted Dr. H. Ballentine Carter, of Johns Hopkins University . PSA velocity - the rate at which the hormone level is changing - is a better guide and can be evaluated years before a cancer is diagnosed, Dr. Carter and colleagues noted in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It's known PSA velocity is higher in men with prostate cancer and it's tied to some surrogate markers of adverse outcomes, Dr. Carter and colleagues said. Also, a recent study has shown a relatively high rate of change of PSA was tied to a higher risk of death after surgical intervention. "An unanswered question is whether a higher PSA velocity could identify those men with life-threatening prostate cancer during a window of curability," scientists said. To answer the question, Dr. Carter and colleagues turned to the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), which began enrolling volunteers in 1958, and compared PSA histories of 20 men who died of prostate cancer, 104 men with prostate cancer who are still alive or have died of another cause, and 856 men without prostate cancer. The study found PSA velocity measured 10 to 15 years before diagnosis (when most had PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL) was associated with cancer-specific survival 25 years later.

            DES MOINES , IA - The Associated Press reported women may give up more than a husband by divorcing - they may lose some of their good health, a study by Iowa State University found. The study focused on what happens to rural women's health after marriage ends versus women who stay married, said Fred Lorenz. "What we found was the act of getting a divorce produced no immediate effects on (physical) health, but it did have effects on mental health," Lorenz said. "Ten years later, those effects on mental health led to effects in physical health." The findings came from data gathered from rural Iowa women interviewed three times in the early 1990s, and again in 2001. All 416 women interviewed were the mothers of adolescent children when the study began. Among them, 102 women were recently divorced. In the years immediately after divorce - 1991 to 1994 - the divorced women reported 7% higher levels of psychological distress than married women. They didn’t report differences in physical illness at that time. A decade later, the divorced women noted 37% more physical illness, but no difference in psychological stress that could be directly linked to the divorce, said Lorenz, who co-authored the study with K.A.S. Wickrama, Rand Conger, and Glen Elder. The research was done at the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research based at Iowa State . The women in the study marked off illnesses from a list of 46 choices ranging from the common cold and sore throat to heart conditions and cancer. Lorenz said it appears there is a link between the higher number of physical illnesses and the different stresses associated with divorce.

            LONDON - Women tested negative for the two inherited breast cancer genes are still at increased risk of getting the disease, suggests research in the Journal of Medical Genetics. They should be screened regularly from 35 or 40 onwards, say the authors. The team assessed families of 277 women in whom faults in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 were found. Faults in these genes account for only around 5% of all diagnosed breast cancers in developed countries, but they increase substantially a woman’s chances of developing early breast and/or ovarian cancer versus the general population, and “predictive” testing is usually offered to other blood relatives. Of the 277 women, 190 had breast cancer, 48 had ovarian cancer, 33 had both. Six were free of the disease. Among the 531 living female relatives tested for genetic faults, 49% tested negative. Of these, 28 developed breast cancer and four developed ovarian cancer. Among the 184 first degree relatives testing negative, four different BRCA1 and two “phenocopies” were identified, accounting for around one in four test results. A phenocopy is when a patient develops the condition that a particular gene predisposes them to, but they test negative for the inherited genetic fault. On the basis of their findings, authors calculated first degree relatives testing negative for BRCA1 and two had around three times the risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 50 as the general population.

            ROCHESTER , MN - Pass the salt, cut back on sugar. Some easy recipe adjustments may be in order for healthier cooking. An issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource answers questions about healthier cooking. Does adding salt to the water when boiling speed up cooking? Adding salt can increase the temperature at which water boils, but doesn’t affect cooking times for foods. It adds unneeded sodium, which may contribute to blood pressure concerns. It draws water out of plant cells and can make some vegetables mushy. It can make beans and peas tough. To reduce calories in baked goods, how much sugar can you cut from the recipe? In most baked goods, you can leave out half the sugar the recipe seeks without significantly affecting texture or taste. Leaving out 1/2 cup of sugar cuts about 360 calories from an entire recipe. Because sugar increases moisture in baked goods, make sure you use at least 1/4 cup of sugar, honey, or molasses for every cup of flour. Can I grill fruits and vegetables? Eggplant, peaches, and peppers cook well on the grill. In fact, you can grill most fruits and vegetables, including summer squash, sweet onions, mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, mangoes, pineapples, and pears. The key for grilling fruits and vegetables is to use low heat. Coals are ready when you can hold your hand about five inches above the heat for about five seconds.

            INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Falls are the top cause of injury and accidental death in adults over 65, states the American Occupational Therapy Association. Fengyi Kuo, assistant professor of occupational therapy at the University of Indianapolis , says the remedy at home is safety awareness and implementation of prevention practices. Kuo identifies four main safety hazards in the home: poor lighting, loose carpets/throw rugs, baths without handles, and poorly arranged furniture. Kuo suggests 10 “quick fixes” to increase home safety: 1. Increase lighting, particularly along pathways to the bathroom and on stairs. 2. Use nightlights, especially in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. 3. Remove throw rugs and loose carpet, or secure them firmly to the floor. 4. Be cautious when walking on thick carpet. 5. Install handles or railings in bathtubs and showers to prevent slipping. 6. Use non-slip or rubber mats or install non-slip strips on tub and shower floors. 7. Take your time when getting into or out of bathtubs and showers. 8. Arrange furniture so there is plenty of room to walk freely. 9. Remove electrical cords from walkways by placing them under rugs or furniture or stapling them along walls and baseboards. 10. Keep phones in every room of the house and by the bed and keep emergency numbers by each phone.