Following much hype and fanfare at the Olympics, news reports have begun to trickle out on the costs of the Games and the longer term impact they might have on the British economy. While not immune to Europe’s economic spluttering across the Channel, many of the issues facing Britain’s bottom line are unique, and they may have broader implications for drug development, more specifically for drug pricing and reimbursement. (more…)
Inside Clinuvel: NICE, QALYs and the UK’s reimbursement landscape
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012Top five sun and skin myths (part 2)
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Myth 4: I need lots of sun exposure to create vitamin D
Vitamin D is a contentious topic in modern medicine and something we’ve blogged about regularly. It’s known to play a role in strengthening bones (with low levels known to contribute to rickets and osteomalacia) and has been linked to the prevention of various diseases, including certain cancers. We know that exposure to sunlight is an efficient way for the body to produce vitamin D, however the UV radiation in sunlight also causes sunburn, skin cancer, premature skin aging and other damage. (more…)
Low sunscreen use, high melanoma rates: a breakdown of the sunsmart message?
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
It’s estimated that more than 9,000 Americans will die from melanoma this year and 76,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed. Melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer which can spread (metastasize) quickly to other parts of the body, is also the second most common form of cancer in young Americans (those aged 15-29).
Overexposure of skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly increases an individual’s risk of melanoma, particularly at a young age; just one severe sunburn in childhood can double the lifetime risk of melanoma. Sun protective measures such as clothing and sunscreen are seen as key to reducing melanoma risk. (more…)
Ultraviolet A more cancer-causing than once thought
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
While the evidence linking sunbeds to the development of skin cancer continues to mount, recent research provides new insight into the underlying mechanisms.
Radiation from both the sun and tanning beds is made up of various wavelengths, including visible light and several types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, those which cause sunburn, have long been heralded the culprit which initiates skin cancer. It does this by damaging the genetic information (DNA) within skin cells, forming lesions known as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PPs). These lesions create mutations in the DNA which can lead to the development of skin cancer (you can read about this process here). (more…)
Children at greater risk of melanoma spreading
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
A recent study of melanoma in children and young adults indicates that there may be greater risk of metastasis, or spread, of the cancer in younger patients. The study, conducted by researchers at Baltimore’s John Hopkins Children’s Center, involved analysis of 2008 SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data on melanoma cases from 2003 to 2008. A total of 717 children and 1368 adults, aged 20-24, were diagnosed during this time.
Investigators looked at patients who received biopsies of the sentinel lymph nodes (SLN; those nearby the initial tumour) and the number of those in whom the disease had spread to this site. It was found that, of those biopsied, children were more likely to have cancer cells which had infiltrated the removed lymph nodes (25%), indicating greater rates of metastases than in adult patients (14%). (more…)
A coffee a day keeps skin cancer at bay? Look a little deeper…
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
We tweeted it earlier this week and it’s been run across numerous news sites: new research has suggested that coffee – or more specifically caffeine – can help reduce the risk of skin cancer. It’s a fascinating story and one which deserves further review.
The research, conducted across multiple US sites and supported by National Institutes of Health grants, sought to expand upon an existing understanding of the correlation between the intake of caffeinated beverages and a decrease in the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers. (more…)
Ultraviolet radiation and its effects on the skin
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-rays; it is invisible to the human eye. UV light can be separated into three bands, UVA (400-320nm), UVB (320-290nm) and UVC (290-100nm). Of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface from the sun, approximately 6% is UVB and 94% UVA.
Skin maintains a curious balance with UV radiation. When UV impacts upon skin, the various wavelengths of light penetrate to different levels and thus have a number of effects.
Tanning beds and the vitamin D debate
Thursday, April 21st, 2011In a blog post last week we highlighted the mechanisms by which a tanning bed (solarium) can cause skin cancer, following new statistics on melanoma from the UK. Yet, individuals continue to use solariums – despite their risks – and much debate is ongoing about their exact impact upon human health, particularly with regards to vitamin D.
One of the key arguments made by advocates of solariums is that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is essential for the production of vitamin D. Tanning beds are, in theory, a good source of this nutrient during the winter months or in locations which don’t receive much sunlight throughout the year. Yet, to consider this reasoning, it is first important to understand the science behind these concepts. (more…)
How does indoor tanning cause skin cancer?
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
Earlier today, new stats were published by Cancer Research UK highlighting that two young adult Britons are diagnosed with skin cancer every day; a rate which has tripled since the 1970s. There were several factors highlighted as contributing to this increase, but one was most clearly singled out in the release:
“using a sunbed before the age of 35 can increase your risk of melanoma by 75%”
