The need to teach alternative medicine.

Americans are turning more and more to alternative medicine for treatment of chronic conditions. Western medicine, however, has so far failed to recognize this trend. Many aspects of health care need to address this shift--beginning with training for health care practitioners.

Moderate elevation of body iron level and increased risk of cancer occurrence and death.

The purpose of the study was to address the hypothesis that elevated body iron increases the risk of cancer occurrence and death, and to determine the dose response. Subjects were 3,287 men and 5,269 women participating in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had a transferrin saturation determination at enrollment (1971-1975), who remained alive and cancer-free for at least 4 years, and who were followed to 1988 for cancer outcome. Among 379 men who developed cancer over the study period, the mean transferrin saturation at enrollment was 32.1% whereas among 2,908 who remained cancer-free it was 30.7%; the difference for mortality was 32.3% among 233 deaths vs. 30.8% among 3,054 men not dying of cancer. The mean differences among women were not significant. The mean differences in TIBC and serum iron among men were consistent with the findings for transferrin saturation, and all 3 differences were stable over time when examined by years since blood test. Men and women were divided into 5 groups on the basis of baseline transferrin saturation: 0 to 30%, 30-40%, 40-50%, 50-60%, and 60% and higher. Nineteen percent of men had a baseline transferrin saturation above 40% (the last 3 groups), whereas only 10 percent of women had transferrin saturation above 40%. For men and women combined, risk of cancer occurrence in each group relative to the first was 1.0, 0.95, 1.16, 1.38 and 1.81; for mortality the relative risks were 1.0, 0.96, 1.22, 1.29 and 1.73. There is evidence, in this cohort, of elevated cancer risk in those with moderately elevated iron level. This pattern was seen in women as well as in men.

Abnormal growth processes in plants and animals: a comparison.

Tumorigenesis in eukaryotic organisms is based on the deregulation of normal cell growth and development. This deregulation may be elicited by external as well as endogenous factors. We distinguish between benign and malignant growths depending on the inducing tumorigenic agents and on the genetic make-up of the affected organism. This review discusses similarities of neoplasmatic (epigenetic) and neoplastic transformations in plants and animals as well as inherent differences in the growth parameters between the two kingdoms. Examples given for neoplasmatic tissues are the hyperplasias and insect galls (zoocecidia) in plants and hypoplasia, aplasia and agenesis in animals (and man). Neoplastic transformation in plants is the result of either the incorporation of foreign nuclear material into the plant genome or an imbalance of inherited chromosomes (in hybrids). Examples for neoplasias are the crown gall disease and Kostoff's genetic tumors in plants, and the carcinomas and leukemias in animals. The more than 80 year old, but neglected, concept of a correlation between tumorigenesis in animals and plants has been revived through advances in molecular and cell biology and molecular genetics which will stimulate a new form of biological reasoning and thought, fueled by new insights into cellular regulatory processes.

Functional consequences from varying patterns of growth and maturation during adolescence.

Measurement of the growth of children among different populations has been important in assessing health and nutritional status. It is also useful in predicting functional consequences and long-term outcomes in the adult population. Childhood and adolescent growth patterns have been related to life expectancy as well as to the development of specific diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer (breast, ovary, prostate and pancreas). Childhood and adolescent growth has also been indirectly related to adult obesity. While these indirect observations do not suggest strategies for clinical intervention during childhood, they provide a framework for considerations of the influence of adolescent growth and maturation on the risk of chronic diseases, and for the application of anthropometry to research on diet and chronic disease.

Experimental observations on adipocere formation.

Adipocere, "grave wax," is a waxy or greasy decomposition product formed by hydrolysis and hydrogenation of tissue fats. Once formed, it appears stable for extended periods. Adipocere has generally been considered to result from bacterial action, commonly in warm, damp, anaerobic environments. However, its frequency, rate of formation, factors affecting its formation and physical characteristics are not well defined. To study the frequency, time course, and effects of temperature and clothing on adipocere formation, we submerged human adipose tissue samples in aquaria under controlled conditions and conducted serial observations. Adipocere formed with high frequency, within a few months, in tissues submerged in warm tap water; similar changes took longer, 12 to 18 months in cold water submersion. Presence of clothing over the tissue appeared to accelerate adipocere formation.

Plasma carotenoid response to chronic intake of selected foods and beta-carotene supplements in men.

We determined serial changes in four major plasma carotenoid fractions (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene) in 30 men consuming defined daily doses of carotenoids from foods (broccoli, carrots, or tomato juice) or from purified beta-carotene in capsules (12 or 30 mg) for 6 wk while fed a controlled diet. Compared with baseline, beta-carotene increased in the 30- and 12-mg-capsule and carrot groups whereas alpha-carotene increased in the carrot group and lutein increased in the broccoli group. Lower lutein concentrations in recipients of beta-carotene capsules suggested an interaction between these two carotenoids. Lycopene declined in all groups except the tomato-juice group. Total carotenoid concentration changes only reflected the large increases in beta-carotene concentrations and not the smaller changes observed in other individual carotenoids. Overall, purified beta-carotene produced a greater plasma response than did similar quantities of carotenoids from foods sources. However, some foods increased plasma concentrations of certain carotenoids.

Evaluation of cast methods for estimating age from the os pubis.

Age-related changes of the pubic symphysis have gained wide acceptance among physical anthropologists as one basis for estimating adult skeletal age. However, these methods have not been tested by independent observers on large samples with known ages at death that represent contemporary populations. In this study 202 female and 116 male pairs of pubes collected at autopsy were blindly evaluated for age using the McKern-Stewart or Gilbert-McKern and Suchey-Brooks methods. Performance of the methods was measured by mean absolute deviation of true age from scored interval means and frequencies of true age falling within +/- 1 and +/- 2 standard deviations from the mean. The results suggest that the Suchey-Brooks methods are superior in forensic applications and that the racially specific refinement for males should be used. Age estimates should include +/- 2 standard deviations, and chances of error should be considered, especially when advanced age or debilitation is suspected.