UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News

Vaccine to prevent colon cancer tested

PITTSBURGH, March 20 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers are testing a vaccine to prevent colon cancer in those already at high risk for the disease.

Unlike other anti-cancer vaccines that block viruses, the vaccine has been directed against a variant of a cell protein -- called MUC1.

Colon cancer typically starts with an abnormal growth in the intestinal lining -- a polyp. Polyps that become cancerous are called adenomas. Adenomas produce MUC1 in excess.

"By stimulating an immune response against the MUC1 protein in these precancerous growths, we may be able to draw the immune system's fire to attack and destroy the abnormal cells," principal investigator Dr. Robert Schoen of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said in a statement. "That might not only prevent progression to cancer, but even polyp recurrence."

A dozen people have received the experimental vaccine so far, and the researchers intend to enroll another 50 participants ages 40 to 70 with a history of adenomas sized 1centimeter or more.

After an initial dose of vaccine, the study participants get doses two and 10 weeks later. Blood samples at those time points -- as well as 12 weeks, 28 weeks and one year later -- measure immune response.

Bypass better than angioplasty at times

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 20 (UPI) -- The results of 10 clinical trials around the world suggest heart bypass surgery is better for some patients than angioplasty, a U.S. study said.

Stanford University School of Medicine said data from almost 8,000 research subjects show coronary angioplasty may be the better choice for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease who have diabetes or are over age 65. Angioplasty, however, may be the best choice for patients under age 55.

"Whether you have diabetes really makes a big difference," lead author Dr. Mark Hlatky of Stanford said in a statement. "Over several years there's a much lower rate of death with bypass surgery. The patient's age was the other major factor that affected outcomes, and this was a bit of a surprise."

For patients with diabetes, the five-year mortality rate was 12 percent for those who had bypass surgery compared with 20 percent for those who underwent an angioplasty. For patients older than 65, the mortality rate was 11 percent for those who had bypass compared with 15 percent for those who had angioplasty.

The findings are published online in The Lancet.

Researchers aim lasers at feet

NEW YORK, March 20 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they're working on ways to translate the success of laser eye surgery into a treatment for toenail fungus.

An estimated 23 million people in the United States have onychomycosis, a fungal condition that discolors and thickens toenails. Current treatments, which include anti-fungal pills and topical applications, have relatively low success rates, The New York Times reported Friday.

Nomir Medical Technologies in Massachusetts said it has had success in early testing of a laser, called Noveon, which targets bacterial and fungal infections while preserving healthy tissue.

Preliminary analysis shows 76 percent of patients showed evidence of improvement after the Noveon treatment. A significant drop in fungus levels was seen in 74 percent of patients after two treatments.

The findings were presented this month at the Council for Nail Disorders 13th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco.

Noveon lasers are currently used for cataract surgery, dental work and hair removal, the newspaper said.

Energy-catching wings installed on ISS

HOUSTON, March 20 (UPI) -- The crew of the shuttle Discovery Friday installed solar wings that can double the electricity available on the International Space Station, NASA said.

When extended, the array measures 240 feet tip to tip and adds 9,600 square feet to the station's solar arrays, the U.S. space agency said.

The installation was delayed after a small "ripple" in one of the arrays was discovered, but Mission Control in Houston said it wasn't an issue and that it flattened out naturally when the array was extended.

The solar wings can double the electric power available for scientific experiments conducted aboard the orbiting space station.