Patient Care Hematology & Oncology - October 2007 - (Page 5)

MEDICINE in the News Incidence of stomach cancer on the decline f the incidence of such premaDutch nationwide histopatholoThe next decade lignant lesions as atrophic gasgy register. Statistical analysis detritis (AG), intestinal metaplasia monstrated an overall decline in will see an (IM), and dysplasia (DYS) are an the incidence of AG, IM, and even more rapid accurate guide, say a group of DYS during the study period. decline of gastric Further, analysis showed a disDutch researchers, stomach cancer—already on the decline— cancer as H pylori tinct cohort phenomenon for will decrease by at least 24% in infection in child- these lesions, with fewer younger the next 10 years, without any patients having gastric lesions. hood becomes specific intervention at all.1 The study authors attribute this If the prediction is accurate, it to a decrease in the prevalence of more rare. is good news indeed. Gastric canH pylori in younger cohorts, cer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths which declined in the Netherlands from approxiworldwide, with a current incidence of approxi- mately 40% to 32% during the investigational perimately 16.2 /100,000 persons a year. Symptoms are od. Similar observations have been made in Finland. often vague until the disease reaches an advanced It follows, the researchers believe, that the next stage, so that by the time of diagnosis, curative decade will see an even more rapid decline of gastric options are scarce. Precursor lesions have been iden- cancer as H pylori infection in childhood becomes tified, and carcinogenesis is strongly associated with more rare. colonization with Helicobacter pylori. et al. Epidemiologic This study drew on data on first diagnoses of AG, 1. de Vries AC, Meijer GA, Looman CW,nationwide study in thetrends of premalignant gastric lesions: a long-term Netherlands. Gut. 2007. IM, or DYS between 1991 and 2005 included in the I “A vector of disease and death” The President’s Cancer Panel has launched a full-scale attack on the failure of government to curb practices of the tobacco and food industries that, they say, imperil the nation’s health. Calling the tobacco industry “a vector of disease and death,” the panel’s annual report chastised government for failing to tax and regulate tobacco use. Similarly, the panel charged federal and state governments with negligence for not doing more to limit exposure to environmental smoke, promote the growth of healthy, affordable food crops, and fund physical education in schools.1 Among the striking recommendations of the panel: • Subsidize farm supports to incentivize increased production of fruits and vegetables; limit farm subsidies that promote the production of high-fructose corn syrup. • Restructure regulations governing acceptable food choices allowed by the Women, Infants, and Children, Head Start, and school lunch programs. • Authorize the FDA to strictly regulate tobacco products and marketing and provide adequate funding and personnel to carry out this mandate. • Increase the federal excise tax on tobacco products. • Include coverage for nutrition counseling and fitness promotion in federal health insurance programs including Medicare, Medicaid, uniformed services programs, the Veterans Administration, and the Indian Health Service. The President’s Cancer Panel has 3 members, appointed for 3year terms by the president. Current members are LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr, MD, Margaret Kripke, PhD, and Lance Armstrong. 1. President’s Cancer Panel, 2006-2007 Annual Report. Executive Summary. http://deainfo.nci. nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp07rpt/ExecSum.pdf. Accessed October 1, 2007. Continued on page 6 OCTOBER 2007 PATIENT CARE HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY 5 http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp07rpt/ExecSum.pdf http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp07rpt/ExecSum.pdf

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Patient Care Hematology & Oncology - October 2007

Patient Care - Hematology & Oncology - October 2007 Research Digest Contents Information for Authors Medicine in the News Strategies for Bridge Anticoagulation Therapy How to Integrate the New Cervical Cancer Guidelines into Practice Dermatology Case Challenge Clinical Clips Classified Advertising

Patient Care Hematology & Oncology - October 2007

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