Vaping: Safer than smoking?
E-cigarette “vaping” is widely assumed to be safer than cigarette smoking, but scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine reported evidence in August suggesting that vaping promotes the same cellular responses found in smokers who suffer with emphysema. In a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the UNC scientists found that the lungs of vapers – like the lungs of smokers – have elevated levels of protease enzymes, a condition known to cause emphysema in smokers. The researchers also found that the nicotine in vaping liquids is responsible for the increase in protease enzymes.
Something to chew on
A study of human stool samples reveals that people inadvertently eat thousands of tiny plastic particles every year, researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Various types of microplastics were detected in fecal matter, suggesting that plastic particles are present in many different sources. More than 350 million tons of plastic are produced each year, and some of it pollutes the environment. Microplastics, or plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, may be ingested by marine organisms, where they can then enter the food chain. The scientists emphasize that further research is needed to determine the effects of plastic ingestion on human health.
Women’s Health Study
The National Institutes of Health, Apple, and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health announced a research partnership for a major long-term study of women’s health. The collaboration will permit researchers to study conditions including pregnancy, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopausal transition, and osteoporosis. Apple’s new Research App will help users participate in the study and will be a free download in the App Store later this year. The intention is to improve women’s health by identifying the factors that impact women from around the country. This new study will connect academic medical institutions, healthcare organizations, and Apple products.
Risk-reducing medications and breast cancer
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in September recommended that clinicians offer risk-reducing medications to women who are at increased risk for breast cancer and at low risk for adverse medication effects. This recommendation applies to women age 35 years and older without signs or symptoms of breast cancer. It does not apply to women who have a current or previous breast cancer diagnosis. The Task Force found that three types of medications – tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors – can reduce a woman’s chance of developing invasive breast cancer. When deciding whether or not to offer medications, clinicians should carefully consider their patients’ risk factors for breast cancer and balance these against the potential harms from the medications, some of which may be serious or even life threatening, such as blood clots or other cancers.