New Viruses Search and Destroy Cancer Cells
One of the most exciting fields in medical science today is virotherapy,
which involves creating genetically modified viruses that attack
cancer cells but leave normal, healthy cells alone. And the most
exciting virotherapy research does not use animals.
 Working
on a treatment for ovarian cancer, a group of scientists from the
University of Alabama and Groningen University in the Netherlands
decided that the safest and most effective way to test their new
virus was on human tissues.
The research team, led by David Curiel, M.D., Ph.D., modified an
adenovirus specifically to target ovarian cancer cells. The team
then safety-tested the therapy in vitro using normal human liver
tissues and primary ovarian tumor tissues taken from biopsies at
the University of Alabama hospital. Just as predicted, the modified
virus infected tumor tissues but not normal liver tissues.
The virotherapy is being tested in clinical trials, and Dr. Curiel
is working with the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug
Administration to recommend this non-animal method to other researchers
across the country.
Kirby TO, et al. A novel ex vivo model system for evaluation of
conditionally replicative adenoviruses therapeutic efficacy and
toxicity. Clin Cancer Res. 2004; 10:8697-703.
In Vitro Models Outperform Rabit Tests
Common bacteria, such as staphylococcus, are increasingly resistant
to antibiotics. The result is severe, hard-to-treat infections in
vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and immuno-compromised
persons. Although scientists are continually working on new antibiotics
to help combat these infections, some are still using rabbits in
the process.
However, several years ago, a research team at Michigan’s
Wayne State University developed an in vitro model that accurately
mirrors the distribution of bacteria and antibiotics in humans,
eliminating problems of species extrapolation. The team recently
published a study that uses the in vitro model to test combinations
of already proven drugs; these new dose regimens hold great promise
for helping human patients.
Huang V, Rybak MJ. Pharmacodynamics of cefepime alone and
in combination with various antimicrobials against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro pharmacodynamic infection model.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005; 49:302-8.
Hershberger E. et al. Comparison of a rabbit model of bacterial
endocarditis and an in vitro infection model with simulated endocardial
vegetations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2000;44:1921-24.
 High-Dose
Estrogen in Teens Linked to Infertility
The controversial use of high-dose estrogen to suppress growth in
tall adolescent girls appears to affect fertility adversely in later
years, according to a new report in Lancet. Researchers studied
a group of 780 Australian women who had either been treated as adolescents
or had declined treatment. They found the women in the treated group
were more likely to have had trouble conceiving and more likely
to have taken fertility drugs. Although the practice of prescribing
high-dose estrogen to adolescent girls is much less common than
it was two or three decades ago, PCRM president Neal Barnard published
a paper in 2002 showing that one-third of U.S. pediatric endocrinologists
still offer the treatment.
Venn A. et al. Oestrogen treatment to reduce the adult height
of tall girls: long-term effects on fertility. Lancet. 2004; 364:1513-8.
Barnard ND, Scialli AR, Bobela S. The current use of estrogens for
growth-suppressant therapy in adolescent girls. J Ped Adol Gynecol.
2002;15:23-6.
 A
Healthy Weight Trumps Exercise
Exercise is great for health, but, by itself, cannot overcome the
risks associated with obesity. Harvard researchers followed 10,282
nonsmoking women over a period of 24 years and found that increased
overweight predicted a higher risk of death regardless of the level
of physical activity. Obese women exercising 3.5 hours or more per
week suffered nearly twice the risk of death compared to leaner
women exercising at the same level.
Hu FB, Willett WC, Li T, et al. Adiposity as compared with
physical activity in predicting mortality among women. NEJM. 2004;
351:2694-703.
High-Protein Diets Increase Heart Disease Risk
The low-carbohydrate diets that recently enjoyed fad status promoted
meat consumption as a substitute for rice, potatoes, and bread.
However, a recent study adds more evidence that this diet may increase
the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and overall mortality.
Investigators analyzed dietary records and health outcomes of 29,017
postmenopausal Iowan women and found that heart disease mortality
was associated with increased intakes of red meat and dairy products.
Conversely, replacing animal proteins in the diet with vegetable
proteins, as is seen in vegetarian diets, cut the risk of CHD mortality
by as much as 30 percent.
Kelemen LE, Kushi LH, Jacobs DR, et al. Associations of dietary
protein with disease and mortality in a prospective study of postmenopausal
women. Am J Epidemiol. 2005;161:239-49.
Diet Affects Polyarthritis
New evidence suggests nutritional factors may play a role in the
development of inflammatory polyarthritis, a form of arthritis that
causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in multiple joints. Using a
large study population, researchers with the European Prospective
Investigation of Cancer in Norfolk, England, identified 88 people
with the condition and compared their eating habits with those of
176 others. They found that meat intake was higher among those with
polyarthritis. In fact, those consuming the most meat products had
a 130 percent increased risk for developing inflammatory polyarthritis
compared to those with the lowest intake.
Pattison DJ, Symmons DP, Lunt M, et al. Dietary risk factors for
the development of inflammatory polyarthritis: evidence for a role
of high level of red meat consumption. Arthritis Rheum. 2004; 50:3804-12.
Meat Multiplies Diabetes Risk
AWestern-style diet, high in red and processed meats, refined grains,
sweets, and high-fat dairy products, is associated with an increased
risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Harvard researchers followed
69,554 nondiabetic women from the Nurses’ Health Study cohort
who initially did not have diabetes, and assessed their dietary
intakes. Based upon dietary pattern intakes, they were placed into
either a “prudent” or “Western” diet category.
Investigators found that the Western pattern significantly increased
the risk for type 2 diabetes. For every serving of red meat consumed,
the risk for developing type 2 diabetes increased by 26 percent.
For each serving of processed meat, the risk increased by 38 percent;
and for each single serving of bacon, the risk increased 73 percent.
Fung TT, Schulze M, Manson JE, et al. Dietary patterns, meat
intake, and the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Arch Intern Med.
2004; 164:2235-40.
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