TOP 100 SCIENCE SITES
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| Will Aging Chimps Get to Retire, or Face Medical Research? A move of some of 186 chimpanzees to a research center in Texas has spurred outrage among animal rights advocates, primate experts and politicians. feeds.nytimes.com |
Child's cancer risks rise 'before pregnancy' Biggest study on preventing the disease finds parents' habits and upbringing play major roleThe chances of getting cancer begin even before conception, according to one of the world's leading experts in nutrition. Women's lifestyles before getting pregnant and while carrying their baby have a major impact on whether their child will develop the disease, Professor Ricardo Uauy said.Uauy, an adviser to the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, has put together the most comprehensive picture yet of cancer prevention throughout the course of a life, including how what happens to babies helps to define their risk later. Whether a mother-to-be smokes, drinks or is overweight all play a key role, said Uauy, a professor of public health nutrition at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.Cancer risk is usually associated with people's genes and their behaviour as adults. But emerging scientific evidence pinpoints the influence both of parents and the family's circumstances, he said."Someone's risk of developing cancer starts from before the time of conception. The risk factors are already operating in the mother's eggs before conception," said Uauy."Yes, cancer is a genetic disease, but your chances of getting cancer are affected by the environment in which you live. So it's not just about if you smoked from the age of 12. But did your mother smoke? What was the water like that she drank? Is she exposed to toxins such as dioxins, which are found in the environment, and did she pass them on to her baby through her breast milk?"Uauy, who helped the World Cancer Research Fund to draw up its landmark 2007 global report on prevention, used growing evidence of how early-life factors affect the chances of developing the disease to highlight at a WCRF scientific conference last week what parents can do to minimise their child's cancer risk.His analysis has led him to recommend that parents seek to reduce their baby's risk of cancer as an adult by steps such as eating less tinned food, reducing exposure to chemicals, limiting their child's television viewing to encourage active play habits, and not telling children to clean their plate at mealtimes in order to avoid obesity.Women should stop smoking before they start trying to conceive, because that increases the chances of the child having a low birthweight. Children born lighter than average often then put on weight quickly, but in the form of fat rather than muscle, and develop fat around the middle, which raises cancer risk. Women should achieve a body mass index of between 18.5 and 25 before they conceive, said Uauy. They should not drink alcohol, take an iron tablet if necessary, and ensure they get at least 400 micrograms of folate every day.Girls born weighing more than 8.8lb, or about 4kg, are at increased risk of breast cancer. For each 500g beyond 8.8lb of birthweight, the child has a 6% increased risk of the disease. Obesity has been linked to various cancers, including colon, breast and kidney cancer. "Mothers-to-be only need to consume an extra 150 calories a day during the nine months of pregnancy, and should not 'eat for two'," stressed Uauy.Pregnancy weight is also important because girls born unusually long – the average length of a newborn baby is 50cm – are at increased risk of breast cancer, while longer boys may have a greater chance of prostate cancer.In the child's early life, breastfeeding has recognised anti-cancer effects. Babies should not eat any solid food until they are six months old, nor be given any sweet drinks such as fruit juices in case that encourages an appetite during childhood for sugar-laden drinks, which promote weight gain.Children should also not spend more than 90 minutes a day watching television, using a computer or playing games involving hand-held consoles, as too much sedentary activity contributes to obesity.CancerPregnancyCancerDenis Campbellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Condom Use Is Highest for Young, Study Finds A study of Americans’ sexual behavior finds teenagers are more responsible than adults about using condoms. feeds.nytimes.com |
Observatory: A Whale of a Journey, Captured in Photos Images made by an amateur photographer helped scientists trace the movement of a female humpback whale that took an unprecedented 6,000-mile trip. feeds.nytimes.com |
The surprising truth about what motivates us Why do people give to charities? Volunteer? Write blogs -- for free? Why do we do the things we do? This interesting video provides a few clues.Why do people give to charities? Volunteer? Write blogs -- for free? Why do we do the things we do? This interesting video provides a few clues. This video, animated by RSA Animate and adapted from Dan Pink's talk at the RSA, illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace.Are you on-the-go while (trying to) watch this? Download the RSA Animate iPhone app -- for free.The speaker, Daniel Pink, is an American writer who has published four books that examine the changing world of work. For over 250 years the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has been a cradle of enlightenment thinking and a force for social progress. Their approach is multi-disciplinary, politically independent and combines cutting edge research and policy development with practical action. GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |