To Nap or Not to Nap

     The experts disagree about whether naps are necessary or desirable.  Some say they are a bad idea and always interfere with night time sleeping.  But those who support them typically recommend that they should be for less than an hour (20 minutes may be all you really need), and should come before 3 P.M. so they do not interfere with night time sleeping.

(Information for this article came from the British Broadcasting Corporation, Chiropractic Wellness & Fitness Magazine, and Stanford University.)

Cancer drug Paclitaxel Enhances Chemotherapy

     The management of patients which locally advanced head and neck cancers may be transformed by studies which have shown that adding the drug Paclitaxel to the standard chemotherapy completely wipes out tumors in about 1/3 of patients.  Additionally, patients given the drug combination are more likely to keep the ability to speak and swallow.

     The other cancer drugs are Cisplatin and 5-fluroucil (5-FU), and the researchers theorized that the addition of the Paclitaxen would further shrink the tumors.  The use of the three drugs together produced a 32% total remission compared to a 13% remission rate with the standard chemotherapy.  The larynx, pharynx and tongue were preserved in 88% of the patients compared to 75% with the traditional chemotherapy using the two drugs.
  
     "This is a very important study that will very likely change the way head and neck patients are managed," said Robert Mayer, MD, director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

     These research results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Teen Smoking Linked to Movies

     Are teenagers more likely to start smoking if they see movies whose stars smoke?  The answer is “yes” according to the results of research published recently in the prestigious British medical journal, the Lancet.  Teens who watched the most movies with smoking were almost three times more likely to start smoking than those who watched the fewest number of movies with smoking. 

     “The study provides the strongest evidence to date that smoking in movies encourages adolescent to start smoking,” said the lead author.

Asbestos and throat cancer

    The experts tell us that cancer of the larynx is linked to smoking, alcohol consumption and exposure to a number of chemicals including Agent Orange, but is there also a link to asbestos?

     An article in June issue of Clinical Otolaryngology reviewed the available research.  Exposure to asbestos is a known cause of cancer.  But whether it is involved in larynx cancer has been debated for at least three decades.

     Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which continues to be mined in Australia, Canada, Russia and South Africa.  Asbestos has most commonly been used as insulation material and a fire retardant.  Asbestos is only dangerous when it becomes airborne and is inhaled.  Significant exposure causes scarring of the lung called Asbestosis.  This can lead to cancer of the lining of the lungs called Mesothelioma, or to malignant tumors of the bronchia.  

     The authors of the study conclude that the weight of the evidence from the studies does not support a direct link between asbestos exposure and the development of larynx cancer.  This is not the final answer on this question, and further research may shed more light on the issue.  The incidence of asbestos-linked cancer is increasing, particularly in European countries.

(Information for this article came from Clinical Otolaryngology and the Asbestos Institute.)

New WebWhispers Item Available - the WW Mouse Pad

     WebWhispers members who attended Atlanta IAL got a nice surprise when they visited the WW table.  They were able to pick up a free WW logo mouse pad, courtesy of Jim Lauder.  With the additional donation of 400 of these mouse pads, we are now able to offer them for sale at $5.00 each.  The proceeds will go into a fund to offer financial help for some members to attend the IAL.  We are pleased to have permission to call this fund "The Edmund Lauder Support Fund" and details will be forthcoming at a later date.  Checks for these mouse pads should be made payable to WebWhispers and sent to:

 Terry Duga, Treasurer
 6115 North Park Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220   

     Thanks to Jim Lauder and all of the vendors who contribute to the WebWhispers' cause.

Drug Shows Promise for Treating GERD

    A drug, Baclofen, which had previously been used for another purpose, has been added to those used in the treatment of GERD, according to Laurie Barclay, MD. 

     Patients treated with Baclofen for four weeks showed significant improvement in the decreased number of episodes of GERD as well as improved levels of stomach acidity.  Baclofen is a prescription drug and those interested should see their doctors.