There is insufficient evidence linking diabetes drugs with increase risk of cancer and as per FDA, doctors can continue to confidently prescribe all approved drugs for the management of the diabetes, as per a joint consensus statement released by American College of Endocrinology and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist.  The statement was released on 20^th August, 2013.  Recently some reports have linked incretin drugs with pancreatic cancer and lantus insulin with cancer.  As per the statement both diabetes and obesity may increase the risk of certain cancer, therefore, it is difficult to say that the drugs are linked to it.  

Deep frying potatoes can cause cancer but soaking potatoes in water before frying can nullify these effects

Deep frying of potato can cause cancer but soaking potatoes in water before frying can nullify these effects. Soaking potatoes in water before frying cuts down the formation of the suspected carcinogen acrylamide. Acrylamide is created when starch–rich foods are cooked at high temperatures (120⁰C) such as frying, baking, grilling, broiling or roasting.

Raw or even boiled potatoes test negative for the chemical.

Boiling and microwaving appear less likely to form acrylamide as the cooking does not involve very high temperatures. Longer cooking times increase the amount of acrylamide produced when the temperature is high enough.

Potato chips and French fries contain high levels of acrylamide compared to other foods, with lower levels also present in bread and cereals. Acrylamide is harmful to health and may cause cancer in animals.

In a study published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, it has been found that simply soaking potatoes before frying can significantly reduce the formation of acrylamide.

The researchers tried three different approaches. They washed raw French fries, soaked them for 30 minutes, and soaked them for two hours. This reduced acrylamide levels by up to 23 percent, 38 percent and 48 percent, respectively, but only if the fries were cooked to a light color. It's not clear whether the same reductions could be achieved if French fries are cooked to a deep, dark brown.

The cooking and re–cooking of fried foods in the same frying pan or broiler is the main cause. Even the thoroughly washed iron skillet can continue to contain submerged carcinogens collected from previous use. Most restaurants uses the same rancid cooking oil for days or even weeks and even reusing it after washing the pot.

Traditional Ayurveda has been advocating against deep frying and has been advocating low temperature cooking for centuries. It has also been suggesting not consuming raw foods grown under the ground but soaking them before use or frying them.

Ethylene oxide used in baby powder by MNCs can cause allergy, cancer and blood abnormalities in long run

Multinationals should stop treating Indians as guinea pigs, the FDA told the Bombay HC on Friday, while opposing Johnson & Johnson's plea to restart its Mulund facility as reported in TOI. A division bench of Justice S J Vazifdar and Justice M S Sonak, the court heard J&J's plea challenging FDA's order directing closure from June 24.

In 2007, J&J had used ethylene oxide (EtO) treatment for 15 batches of baby powder and did not check for residue. But J&J argued that it had checked three of the batches for residue in 2009, and had found none.

To check for contamination, instead of the steam sterilization treatment, they sent the bottles for EtO treatment to a lab.

After the treatment, they were no checks for residue. As per FDA, the company was required to test each batch they put into the market.

About EtO

·        Hypotension, dyspnea, and chest pain may be produced by sensitivity to the ethylene oxide used as a membrane sterilant [1].

·        Chemicals that have been associated with sporadic spontaneous pregnancy loss include anesthetic gases (nitrous oxide), arsenic, aniline dyes, benzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, pesticides, lead, mercury and cadmium [2].

·        A variety of other medications and agents have been implicated in anaphylaxis or reactions resembling anaphylaxis in susceptible individuals: The sterilization agents EtO and ortho-phthalaldehyde [3]

·        Type A allergic reactions during dialysis are caused by leachable substances from the dialyzer or by contamination with bacterial peptides. A classic cause of this type of reaction is ethylene oxide, which is used to sterilize hollow fiber dialyzers. Reactions to ethylene oxide, which are now uncommon, occur exclusively during the first use, usually when there has been inadequate rinsing of the dialyzer prior to use. IgE antibodies directed against ethylene oxide are present in some cases, particularly those with more severe reactions. One study, found that 16 of 106 unselected patients developed mild allergic symptoms after hemodialysis; 10 of these patients also developed eosinophilia [4]. Two observations suggested an important role for ethylene oxide in this response: allergy to ethylene oxide could be demonstrated in seven of the cases; and the symptoms and eosinophilia were ameliorated in three patients by ethylene oxide-free hemodialysis.

·        Spina bifida patients have been reported to be at increased risk of anaphylactic reactions during general anaesthesia. Following a reaction, latex is often incriminated as spina bifida patients are known to have an increased incidence of latex allergy. Ethylene oxide (EO) has recently been suggested to be an alternative cause.  EtO is a highly reactive gas widely used to sterilise heat-sensitive medical devices, and traces of EtO can be found in many of the same products as latex. [5]

·        There is a link between low dose EtO exposure and breast cancer. [6]

·        For breast cancer the substances classified as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1) include EtO. [7]

·        Chronic exposure to EtO causes elevation in the absolute mean number of monocytes and eosinophils and a decrease in the absolute mean number of lymphocytes. There is also an elevation in the percentage of hematocrit and the mean absolute number of the red blood cells, and a decrease in the mean absolute number of platelets, in the exposed group compared with the control group. [8]

References

1.      Nicholls AJ, Platts MM. Anaphylactoid reactions due to haemodialysis, haemofiltration, or membrane plasma separation. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982;285:1607.

2.      Savitz DA, Sonnenfeld NL, Olshan AF. Review of epidemiologic studies of paternal occupational exposure and spontaneous abortion. Am J Ind Med 1994;25:361.

3.      Ebo DG, Bosmans JL, Couttenye MM, Stevens WJ. Haemodialysis-associated anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions. Allergy 2006;61:211.

4.      Röckel A, Klinke B, Hertel J, et al. Allergy to dialysis materials. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1989;4:646.

5.      Anaphylaxis to ethylene oxide - a rare and overlooked phenomenon: Bache S, Petersen JT, Garvey LH. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2011;55(10):1279-82.

6.      Mikoczy Z, Tinnerberg H, Björk J, Albin M. Cancer incidence and mortality in Swedish sterilant workers exposed to ethylene oxide: updated cohort study findings 1972-2006. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8(6):2009-19.

7.      Weiderpass E, Meo M, Vainio H. Risk factors for breast cancer, including occupational exposures. Saf Health Work 2011;2(1):1-8.

8.      Shaham J, Levi Z, Gurvich R, et al. Hematological changes in hospital workers due to chronic exposure to low levels of ethylene oxide. J Occup Environ Med 2000;42(8):843-50.

Aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer

People above the age of 50 without excess bleeding risk should take low-dose daily aspirin (75 to 100 mg) as per the current recommendations.

Patients who are more concerned about the bleeding risks than the potential benefits (prevention of cardiovascular events and cancer) may reasonably choose to not take aspirin for primary prevention.

Meta-analyses of randomized trials have shown aspirin to reduce the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction (Arch Intern Med 2012; 172:209) and long-term aspirin use reduces overall cancer risk (Lancet 2012; 379:1602).

A meta-analysis addressing this combined outcome suggests that aspirin use in 1000 average risk patients at age 60 years would be expected to result, over a 10-year period, in six fewer deaths, 19 fewer non-fatal myocardial infarctions, 14 fewer cancers, and 16 more major bleeding events.

Aspirin after 50 for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer

For people age ≥50 years without excess bleeding risk, the new recommendation is to take a low-dose daily aspirin (75 to 100 mg).

Patients who are more concerned about the bleeding risks than the potential benefits (prevention of cardiovascular events and cancer) may reasonably choose to not take aspirin for primary prevention.

Meta-analyses of randomized trials have shown aspirin to reduce the risk of non-fatal heart attacks and long-term aspirin use reduces overall cancer risk.

A new meta-analysis suggests that aspirin use in 1000 average risk patients at age 60 years would be expected to result, over a 10-year period, in six fewer deaths, 19 fewer non-fatal myocardial infarctions, 14 fewer cancers, and 16 more major bleeding events. (Chest 2012;141:e637S)