Breast Cancer Gene Might Lower Women’s Fertility: Study

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A gene mutation that is linked to a greater risk of breast cancer may also be tied to potential fertility problems, researchers report.

The BRCA1 gene mutation, which raises the risk of breast cancer by 80 percent, may be linked to having fewer eggs in the ovaries as a woman ages, the Australian investigators said. But a cause-and-effect relationship was not proven.

“Although BRCA1 is thought of as a cancer gene, there are other implications that are not cancer-related,” said lead researcher Dr. Kelly-Anne Phillips. She is a consultant medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in East Melbourne.

“A woman who is a BRCA1 carrier at age 35 has ovaries that look more like the ovaries of a 37-year-old, non-BRCA1 carrier,” she said.

Women with this mutation shouldn’t wait too long to start a family, according to Phillips. These women should plan on having children in their 20s and early 30s, and not wait until their late 30s and 40s, she suggested.

“The fertility of a woman at that age is already lower, and the fertility of these women may be even lower,” Phillips explained.

The report was published online April 20 in the journal Human Reproduction.

The researchers discovered that the BRCA1 gene mutation is tied to a 25 percent lower level of the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), which indicates the number of eggs left in a woman’s ovaries.

This effect was not seen, however, in women with the BRCA2 mutation, which is also linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Women who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations have a higher risk of cancers in the breast, ovaries, fallopian tubes and peritoneum, Phillips said. Actress Angelina Jolie had her breasts and ovaries removed after discovering she was a carrier.

The cancer risk increases with age and is generally higher for those with the BRCA1 mutation than for those with the BRCA2 mutation, researchers have found.

About one in 500 women in the United States has a mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If either parent had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, the odds of having the same gene mutation are 50 percent, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Because BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are relatively rare, most experts say that genetic testing of individuals who do not have cancer should be performed only when the person’s family history warrants it, the NCI says.

For the study, Phillips and colleagues measured AMH levels from nearly 700 women who had no history of cancer and were enrolled in a breast cancer study based in New Zealand and Australia between 1997 and 2012. The women were between the ages of 25 and 45.

In all, 172 women were carriers and 216 were non-carriers from families with BRCA1 mutations. In addition, 147 were carriers and 158 were non-carriers from families with BRCA2 mutations.

Phillips said it’s possible that the BRCA1 mutation may affect DNA repair. Inefficient DNA repair has been shown to contribute to the aging of a woman’s eggs, she explained.

Women who carry BRCA mutations are faced with at least three difficult dilemmas, said Dr. Avner Hershlag, chief of the Center for Human Reproduction at North Shore University Hospital, in Manhasset, N.Y.

“First and foremost is the concern that they have a very high chance — over 80 percent — of developing breast cancer, and are at a markedly increased risk for developing ovarian cancer — up to 63 percent for BRCA1 and 27 percent for BRCA2,” he said.

Second is the speeding up of their “biological clock,” which is reset by their genetic makeup, Hershlag said.

“As it is, BRCA carriers feel the urgency to conceive and complete their family before they go through the inevitable removal of their tubes and ovaries. This new study indicates that, at least for BRCA1 carriers, the window of opportunity to get pregnant may be narrower,” Hershlag said.

Third, BRCA carriers have a 50 percent risk that their children will inherit the mutated gene, he added.

“Reproductive medicine has geared up to address all BRCA-related issues to benefit the carriers, as well as their future children,” Hershlag said.

BRCA carriers can undergo in vitro fertilization and the embryos can be tested for the BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene mutations, maximizing the patient’s potential to conceive and eliminating the BRCA gene in the next generation, he explained.

“With the increased detection of cancer genes and cutting-edge reproductive technologies, we should be able to make a huge impact and decrease the occurrence of many cancers in generations to come,” Hershlag said.

More information

For more on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, visit the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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This Is the Grown-Up Way to Rock a Braid

Photo: Getty Images

Many celebs have been rocking braids on the red carpet lately, including Rashida Jones (above), Lea Michele, Reese Witherspoon, and Emily Blunt. This hairstyle doesn’t have to scream “schoolgirl” or “music festival.” Make ’em modern and chic with these expert tips from stylist turned Instagram star Sarah Potempa.

First things first: “The reason braids seem so young is that people think of a basic French braid,” says Potempa. “It has no life to it, nothing unique. But the minute you change up your braid—invert it, pull apart the edges—it instantly gets a cooler vibe.”

RELATED: This Is the ‘It’ New Haircut You’ll Want to Ask Your Stylist For

For a fresh feel, braids should be big and textured, she explains. “My favorite technique for amping up a braid is to ‘pancake’ it, which basically just means softening it and pulling it apart,” she says. “After doing a regular tight braid, go back through and tug on either side all the way down so some of the edges come loose.” Easy, right?

To keep a crown braid secure, you’ll need plenty of hairspray. In a pinch, Potempa says she’ll also rub a little hand lotion into her palms and use it to smooth flyaways.

Here, Potempa’s go-to products to create the perfect braid.

Beachwaver Pro ($199; amazon.com)

“I almost always use the Beachwaver before braiding. The texture gives movement and makes the braids fatter and more Pinterest-worthy.”

Photo: Amazon.com

RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Tips of All Time

Fatboy Perfect Putty ($21; amazon.com)

“When I’m working with hair that has lots of layers, I add this pomade as I go to keep the stray hairs inside and help construct the braid.”

Photo: Amazon.com

RELATED: 6 Spring Makeup Trends That Will Make You Look Younger

Aussie Sprunch Mousse + Leave-In Conditioner ($3; walmart.com)

“I always use mousse as a foundation for styling. Apply to dry hair—roots to ends—for grip that’s still flexible.”

Photo: Walmart.com

Sarah Potempa is a celebrity hairstylist and creator of The Beachwaver Co., a line of pro hot tools. She was the lead hairstylist at the 2015 Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Her clients include Kelly Ripa, Ashley Benson and Kaley Cuoco.

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Healthy breakfast bowl ideas

 

Muesli can be high in sugar, fat and kilojoules, so we turn the experts to show us how to make healthier options. 

"The perception that muesli is healthy may lead people to eat it in larger quantities than is recommended," says accredited practising dietitian and Dietitians Association of Australia spokesperson Kate Deppeler. Compare energy density (kJs per 100 g), grams of fat per 100 g (especially saturated) and sugars per 100 g. Keep serving size to half a cup – not three quarters as some packaging recommends or the two thirds or full cup often suggested for processed cereal products. 

Here are a few tips on how to turn your muesli into a healthy breakfast:

Homemade

 

If you love muesli, homemade is best. "Making homemade muesli allows you to have total control over the nutritional content of the finished product," Deppeler says. You can add a serving of real fruit, extra protein (think protein powder) and good fats in seeds such as chia.

Tasting Notes: Add "a variety of grains, such as rolled oats and bran, and a small amount of chopped nuts, seeds and dried fruit", Deppeler says.

Toasted

The yum factor of toasted muesli puts it on notice for overeating. Which is extra dangerous since toasted varieties are often cooked in fat and cram in significant extra kilojoules with no extra nutrients or satiety.

Tasting Notes: Keep toasted muesli serves to one quarter of a cup, which has about the same number of kilojoules as a half-cup serving of natural muesli.

Garnished

Blinging up muesli with nuts and seeds is a great way to make your brekkie more nutrient dense – and tasty, Deppeler says. Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of healthy fats and provide an additional source of fibre.

Tasting Notes: Limit portions of nuts and seeds to a pinch as they are energy dense. "A little goes a long way," says Deppeler. But don't eschew them to save kJs; the extra nutrients you gain will help cultivate conditions that result in less hunger later.

Bircher

Muesli soaked in yoghurt or milk has become the brunch du jour, but despite a reputation as a healthy option, so-called bircher can be deceptive. "Due to the addition of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, fruit juice, yoghurt, sweetener and oil or butter, the kilojoules quickly add up," Deppeler cautions. A bowl of bircher can contain as many calories as a plate of fish and chips or slice of lasagne.

Tasting Notes: Café servings amplify existing energy surpluses as their serving sizes can literally equate to half the average woman's daily energy needs. It's ideal to make your own so you can control additions and quantities, but if you do order out, estimate a half cup and leave the rest.

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Hannah Bronfman: “You have to Live Your Day-to-Day Life With Positivity”

Photo: courtesy of Adidas

The first word Hannah Bronfman—DJ and founder of HBFIT—ever spoke was “happy.” So it makes sense that her life is all about positivity.

On how she keeps her energy up

“By getting lots of sleep. I need eight hours, for sure. But I was born with a lot of energy. That’s why I put it toward physical activity.”

On her craziest workout

“Bouldering, which is basically rock climbing without ropes. It’s definitely a workout. It can be scary, but once you fall that first time, it’s not so scary anymore.”

RELATED: 24 Motivational Weight-Loss and Fitness Quotes

On her life philosophy

“I believe in karma. Ultimately you have to live your day-to-day life with positivity. I always act in a way that I would want someone to act toward me. Everything happens for a reason, and even when something gets you down, something great is gonna come out of it.”

On her new wellness website

“I’m always thirsty for purpose and knowledge. There’s so much literature out there in the wellness world. That’s why, through HBFIT, we talk about trends with a no-BS approach. We cut through all the chatter.”

On what makes her nervous

“When I’m in front of a crowd. If I’m leading a dance class, I remind myself everyone feels uncomfortable. Ultimately we’re in it together, all here shaking our butts together. No one’s judging.”

RELATED: 9 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic

On her favorite memory

“Getting engaged. It totally took me by surprise. We were on a sailboat on the Hudson, and my fiancé [DJ Brendan Fallis] proposed. Then we went back to dock, and our closest friends and family got on! It was a rolling surprise for everyone.”

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Laser Pointers Probably Won’t Damage Pilots’ Eyes …

WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Lasers aimed at airplane cockpits likely won’t damage pilots’ eyes, but could lead to disaster by distracting them, eye experts warn.

Reports of handheld lasers directed at aircraft are accelerating globally. Last year, more than 7,700 cases were reported to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and the number seems to be soaring this year, according to published reports.

“Obviously, if such a distraction occurs at a critical time, such as during landing, the result could be devastating,” wrote John Marshall, from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London, and colleagues, in an editorial published April 20 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

“Fortunately, these exposures are at irradiances that are incapable of producing irreversible retinal damage even at distances of [328 feet],” they wrote.

There were more than 1,500 laser-aircraft cases over the past 12 months in the United Kingdom alone, the researchers noted. But there has only been one case of alleged eye damage in a pilot as a result of a laser pointer targeting an aircraft.

And even that case is questionable because the long distance involved would have reduced the amount of laser energy, according to a journal news release.

Consumer laser devices such as pointers, pens and key rings can only damage eyes at a maximum distance of several meters, the study authors said.

But more powerful laser pointers are available, and these devices still pose a threat as they pass through a cockpit canopy or windshield.

“These [a cockpit canopy or windshield] are usually pitted or scratched and will serve to scatter the primary beam and may result in the generation of secondary and tertiary beams,” the authors wrote.

“In these situations, pilots tend to self-focus on a sudden bright light in the cockpit environment and may be dazzled, resulting in an after-image and almost certainly will be distracted,” they explained.

More information

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has more on lasers.

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Talk Therapy May Help Depressed Teens Who Shun Antidepressants

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Depressed teens who refuse antidepressants may benefit from counseling, a new study suggests.

The study included more than 200 teens who were unwilling to take medication to treat their depression. The researchers found that those who tried a type of short-term “talk therapy” — known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — were more likely to recover than those who didn’t.

“High numbers of adolescents experience depression, as many as 10 to 15 percent each year — and up to one in five by age 18,” said lead researcher Greg Clarke. He is a depression investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore.

“Unfortunately, most of these depressed teens are not treated. As few as 30 percent get specific depression care,” he said.

In many cases, depressed teens refuse to take antidepressants, “often because of side effect concerns,” Clarke said. These include warnings going back to 2004 about suicidal thoughts and behavior related to antidepressant use, the researchers said. Other common side effects from antidepressants include weight gain and fatigue.

“Offering brief cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective alternative,” Clarke said. The small to moderate benefits found in this trial may be tied to reduced need for psychiatric hospitalization, the researchers noted.

The report was published online April 20 in the journal Pediatrics.

Simon Rego is director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. He said that depressed teens can benefit from talk therapy offered by pediatric and family practices.

Teen depression is usually identified in primary care and is increasingly treated there, he said. But as many as 50 percent of teens with depression turn down medications, and of those who start antidepressants, as many as 50 percent fail to keep taking them, Rego said.

“Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy into primary care would present adolescents with depression with a non-medication treatment that would be easily accessible, brief and cost-effective,” Rego explained.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, cognitive behavioral therapy can cost $100 or more per hour. “Some therapists or clinics offer therapy on a sliding scale, which means that charges fluctuate based on income,” the association says. Not all insurance plans cover cognitive behavioral therapy.

For the study, Clarke and his colleagues conducted a five- to nine-week program in which counselors used cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help teens identify unhelpful or depressive thinking and replace those ideas with more realistic, positive thoughts.

The program also helped patients create a plan to increase pleasant activities, especially social activities, Clarke said.

Between 2006 and 2012, the researchers randomly assigned 212 teens with major depression to receive either the weekly cognitive behavioral therapy or other care for depression, which could have included school counseling or outside therapy. All the teens, who were aged 12 to 18, had either refused antidepressants or stopped taking them, the study authors said.

On average, teens who tried cognitive behavioral therapy recovered seven weeks faster (22.6 weeks versus 30 weeks) than teens who didn’t, the investigators found. In addition, the teens who used cognitive behavioral therapy were less likely to require psychiatric hospitalization, the findings showed.

Recovery was defined as having no or minimal symptoms of depression for eight weeks or more. Symptoms included feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in friends and activities, changes in sleep and appetite, trouble concentrating and feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.

After six months, 70 percent of teens in the cognitive behavioral therapy program had recovered, compared with 43 percent of teens not in the program, the researchers reported.

Some benefits were still associated with cognitive behavioral therapy after one year, although the gap between the two groups of teens had tightened, Clarke said.

More information

For more on teenage depression, visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

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Lonely Isolated People May Be Prone to Heart Disease Stroke

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Lonely and isolated people may face a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, researchers report.

Social isolation raised that risk by about 30 percent, exerting the same level of influence on heart health as risk factors such as anxiety and job stress, the British review found.

“Addressing loneliness and social isolation could have an important role in the prevention of two of the leading causes of ill health and mortality worldwide,” said lead researcher Nicole Valtorta, a research fellow in the department of health sciences at the University of York.

“We take risk factors like obesity and physical inactivity for granted, whereas we do not yet with social isolation and loneliness,” she said. “The data from our study support us taking it seriously.”

But this analysis could not prove that loneliness and social isolation caused heart problems or strokes, only that an association existed, she added.

“However, if we put the study findings into context, what we found is comparable in size to the effect of other psychosocial risk factors such as anxiety and job strain. Efforts to prevent heart disease and stroke could benefit from taking social isolation and loneliness into account,” Valtorta said.

The report was published online April 19 in the journal Heart.

For the study, Valtorta and her colleagues analyzed data from 23 previously published studies that, in total, included over 180,000 adults, more than 4,600 of whom had heart attacks, angina or died and more than 3,000 who had suffered strokes.

The pooled data showed that loneliness and social isolation were associated with a 29 percent increased risk of heart attack or angina attack and a 32 percent increased risk of stroke.

Loneliness has been linked in past research to a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and premature death, the researchers explained.

These findings suggest that loneliness and social isolation need to be taken seriously across the spectrum of medicine from medical education to guidelines and health care, said Julianne Holt-Lunstad. An associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, she co-authored an accompanying journal editorial.

Getting the lonely and isolated to interact with others is not an easy task, she acknowledged.

Connecting people through the internet, on Facebook and other social media might seem like a good idea, Holt-Lunstad said.

“However, there is some early research to suggest it may not have the same benefits as real person-to-person contact, but it is still too early to tell,” she said.

Good evidence exists that having regular contact with positive, supportive relationships is beneficial. The quality of the relationship is important, Holt-Lunstad said. “Thus, making time to foster and nurture existing relationships is a good start,” she said.

Feelings of loneliness can have a direct influence on physiological processes relevant to health and the heart specifically, Holt-Lunstad said.

“For instance, it can raise blood pressure and increase inflammation. These can subsequently increase risk for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and a heart attack,” she said.

Being socially connected can also indirectly influence health by encouraging healthy behaviors and better adherence to medical treatment, such as taking medications and keeping appointments, Holt-Lunstad said.

“Given that the effect of social connections on risk for heart disease and stroke and death is equivalent and, in many cases, exceeds that of other factors such as light smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and air quality, we need to start taking social connection seriously for our health,” she said.

More information

Visit the American Heart Association for more on heart disease and stroke.

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Can Certain Allergy Meds Worsen Restless Legs Syndrome?

TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Over-the-counter allergy medications may worsen symptoms of restless legs syndrome, a neurologist contends.

People with the syndrome experience uncomfortable sensations and strong urges to move their legs, which can be painful and disrupt sleep, according to Dr. William Ondo. He is director of the Movement Disorders Clinic at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Nearly 12 million people in the United States have restless legs syndrome, according to the American Sleep Association.

“Patients with restless legs syndrome already have difficulty sleeping as their symptoms tend to worsen at night or with rest, but sedating antihistamines … can intensify the symptoms,” Ondo said in a hospital news release.

Many people take sedating antihistamines to treat sneezing, runny nose and other symptoms of seasonal allergies.

“We don’t yet understand why sedating antihistamines worsen restless legs syndrome, but we do know that non-sedating antihistamines do not affect the symptoms as much because they do not enter the brain as easily,” he said.

“It’s very frustrating for my patients when a sleeping pill like a sedating antihistamine doesn’t help them sleep, so I advise them to seek other allergy relief options, such as nasal sprays and decongestants,” he added.

Some people who think they’re allergic to sedating antihistamines because the drugs make them feel hyperactive may have undiagnosed restless legs syndrome and should see a doctor, Ondo advised.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on restless legs syndrome.

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Cities May Have Distinct Microbial ‘Citizens’ Too

TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Every city has its own character, and new research suggests that could even extend to a municipality’s microbial communities.

Researchers analyzed microbes collected over one year from three offices in each of three places: Flagstaff, Ariz., San Diego and Toronto. Microbes are bacteria, viruses and fungi that are too small to see without a microscope.

The Flagstaff offices had richer microbial communities than those in San Diego or Toronto, which were more similar. But, the reasons for those differences are unknown, according to the study published April 12 in the journal mSystems.

The researchers also found that human skin is a major source of office microbes and that office floors have more microbes than walls or ceilings, likely due to materials carried in on workers’ shoes.

Study senior author J. Gregory Caporaso, assistant director of the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics at Northern Arizona University, said in a journal news release that the discovery that each city had unique microbial communities was “especially interesting.”

“Even within each city, the offices we studied differed from each other in terms of size, usage patterns and ventilation systems, suggesting that geography is more important than any of these features in driving the bacterial community composition of the offices within the ranges that we studied,” he said.

“As we continue to expand our understanding of the microbiology of the built environment, possibly including routine monitoring of microbial communities to track changes that may impact human health, our results will help inform future research efforts,” Caporaso said.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about microbes.

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Frozen Fruit Sold at Costco Linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak in Canada