Last week, Fox411.com’s Pop Tarts column was the first to bring you Alicia Silverstone’s video on her vegan health blog TheKindLife.com that showed her pre-chewing and spitting food into her young son’s mouth. 

We apologize. But now we can’t stop.

It turns out that’s not the only eccentric parenting technique the “Clueless” star has shared with the world in recent times. 

In another blog post last month entitled “A must have for Mamas,” Silverstone endorses her new find: the milk saver — a plastic device to put inside a nursing mama’s bra.

“It took me a few times of baby being wet for me to realize that my boobs were leaking – that clued me in, along with the ants who moved into my house to drink my fabulous vegan milk…This milk saver was the answer! While you feed your baby, it collects milk from your other boob,” she wrote. “The nipple goes inside the hole and milk collects in the bottom so you can save it. all those little drops add up! I love it, and I use my milk saver every day, many times a day.”

“We’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas”

“Mad Men” star January Jones does something else every day: she consumes her own placenta.

Jones said she has been consuming the contents of her placenta in the form of a pill, crediting the organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall, to boosting her energy levels and shunning any post-partum depression (PPD) symptoms.

“Your placenta gets dehydrated and made into vitamins,” she told People magazine. “It’s something I was very hesitant about, but we’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas. It’s not witch-crafty or anything! I suggest it to all moms!”

“I have heard anecdotally of the benefits of doing this, but did not opt to do so myself,” Caroline Freedman, owner of Nuturme, told Fox411.com. “But I can certainly appreciate a mom going to great lengths to prevent PPD.”

And finally, there is new mom Christina Applegate. She had our jaws dropping when she shared her love for the product NoseFrida. Also known as the “snotsucker,” the device is placed in a child’s nostril, and then the parents use their mouths to suck out their kids’ nose gunk. 

The website for Nose Frida claims it is “100% hygienic due to the included filters.”

But still. 

Nearly three out of four women will have uterine fibroids at some point, according to the Mayo Clinic. the symptoms and appearance of fibroids can vary widely from one woman to the next. Uterine fibroids are cell growths that can shrink, grow larger or stay the same size over time. These masses may cause extreme pain, or they might not cause  symptoms at all. Fibroids can appear minuscule or they can grow large enough to expand your uterus to your ribcage. the severity of symptoms will usually determine whether or not treatment is required.

OverviewUterine fibroids can also be called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas. While fibroids form due to abnormal cell growth, they are almost always noncancerous. usually, an anomalous cell in the uterus will reproduce, and eventually enough cells will combine to form a firm, rubbery mass. These masses can develop within the uterus cavity or on its outside tissue lining. Uterine fibroids tend to affect women during their childbearing years, but the fibroids rarely prevent pregnancy. in fact, most women will experience no symptoms of uterine fibroids.

SymptomsThe minority of women with uterine fibroids will experience symptoms such as a particularly heavy flow or a prolonged menstrual period, usually considered seven days or more of bleeding. Fibroids may also cause pain in your pelvis. if the masses are pressing down on your bladder, they can cause frequent or difficult urination. Fibroids placing pressure on your rectum may result in constipation or backache. the location of the fibroids typically determines which symptoms appear. Submucosal fibroids grow inside the uterus, and they likely account for heavy and prolonged menstrual periods. These fibroids could affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Subserosal fibroids occur outside the uterus, and they usually press on your bladder or rectum, causing problems with urination or bowel movements. These fibroids may likewise compress a spinal nerve, resulting in back aches and pain.

CauseDoctors have yet to determine a definitive cause for fibroids, but genetic mutations may account for the cell abnormalities that cause fibroids. A problem with the hormones estrogen and progesterone may also play a role. Other chemical substances in the body may also factor into fibroid formation.

TreatmentMost uterine fibroids are negligible enough to bypass treatment. However, for fibroids that cause extreme pain or discomfort, a wide variety of treatment options are available. Medications control menstrual bleeding and possibly shrink fibroids. These drugs usually treat symptoms by managing your hormone levels. While medication might make fibroids smaller, only surgery can effectively remove fibroids from your body. A surgical procedure called a myomectomy removes fibroids but does not prevent them from returning. A hysterectomy can result in permanent fibroid removal, but this procedure involves removing your uterus completely. this surgery is a major decision, as women who have a hysterectomy can no longer bear children. Focused ultrasound surgery is one of the least invasive surgical options. with the use of high-energy sound waves directed at your uterus, surgeons can find and destroy the fibroids, which affect each woman differently. A health care professional can help you find the right path to manage and treat your symptoms effectively.

Thursday

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Weight-loss support group. 9:15 a.m. every Thursday. Belmont Shore Mobile Estates clubhouse, 6230 Marina View Drive, Long Beach. for information, call Margaret at 562-431-3524.

Cancer support groups. the Wellness Community offers two ongoing groups at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. the group for adult cancer patients meets 5-7 p.m. every Thursday. the group for loved ones and/or family members of cancer patients meets 5-7 p.m. every other Thursday. Both groups meet in the first floor Radiation-Oncology Department, 2801 Atlantic Ave. 310-376-3550, wellnessandcancer.org.

Friday

Hearing devices exhibit. Free hands-on exhibit of devices that help with hearing difficulties; includes information on how they work and where they can be purchased. Presented by the Hearing Loss Association of Long Beach/Lakewood. 10 a.m.-noon Friday. Weingart Senior Center, Craft Room, 5220 Oliva Ave., Lakewood. 562-425-5651, hlalongbeachlakewood.org

Nar-Anon. Support group for family and friends of drug addicts. 7 p.m. every Friday. Lakewood Presbyterian Church, Room W-2, 5225 Hayter Ave. nar-anon.org

Blood pressure screenings. 10-11:30 a.m. every Friday. Free. Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay St. 714-229-2005.

ALS support group. for people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), their families and friends. Sponsored by the ALS Association, Greater Los Angeles chapter. Noon-1:30 p.m. third Friday of the month. City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Family Health Education Center, 3820 Cherry Ave. 818-865-8067, Ext. 234.

Dental screening. for seniors age 50 and older. 10 a.m. third Friday of the month. Free. Norwalk Senior Center, 14040 San Antonio Drive. 562-929-5580.

Saturday

LGBT Co-Dependents Anonymous group. A 12-step fellowship for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for recovery from codependence and to develop and maintain healthy and loving relationships. 7-8:30 p.m. every Saturday. First Lutheran Church, second floor library, 905 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. for information, contact Vincent, 562-453-9554 or .

Sunday

Multiple sclerosis support group. for persons with MS, family members, friends and caregivers. 1-3 p.m. third Sunday of the month. Lakewood Youth Center, 4658 Woodruff Ave. at Sunday’s meeting, a speaker from the Multiple Sclerosis Society will discuss Walk MS Long Beach, scheduled April 28 at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool area. Registration forms and information will be available for anyone who wants to participate or help with the event. for information, call Fran Itkoff, 562-925-4405.

SOS (Survivors of Suicide). Support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide recently or in the past. Free and nondenominational. 1:30-3:30 p.m. first and third Sunday of the month. Crystal Cathedral, second floor of the Tower of Hope, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. 714-539-1429.

Monday

Nar-Anon. the Long Beach family group, Healing Hearts, offers support for family and friends of drug addicts. 7 p.m. every Monday. Community Grace Brethren Church, 5885 Downey Ave., Long Beach. 562-490-4689, 888-297-9560, nar-anon.org

Gentle yoga. all levels. Contract class with city of Long Beach. 9:45-10:45 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Walk-in fee $7. Recreation Park, 4900 E. Seventh St., Long Beach. Registration: 562-750-3111 or lbparks.org.

Tuesday

Ovarian and gynecologic cancer support group. for women diagnosed with ovarian, cervical, uterine and other gynecologic cancers. 4:30-6 p.m. first and third Tuesday of the month. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Women’s second Floor Conference Room, 2801 Atlantic Ave. 562-933-0959.

La Leche League of Long Beach. Support group for mothers wishing to breast-feed. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. 2512 Nipomo Ave. 562-804-8725.

Grandparents as Parents. Support group for grandparents or other caregiving relatives raising grandchildren. Free. 9:30-11:30 a.m. every Tuesday. Salvation Army building, 455 E. Spring St., Long Beach. 562-921-7554 or 562-421-7213.

Stroke support group. for stroke survivors and family members/caregivers. 10-11:30 a.m. every Tuesday. Call 562-537-0556 for location.

Recovery International. the group teaches participants skills for coping with anxiety, depression and anger. 1:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark St., Lakewood. Donations requested but not required. for information, call Bob at 562-343-5195 or go to lowselfhelpsystems.org.

Wednesday

Bereavement support group. Ongoing program for anyone who has lost a loved one includes discussions on the grief process, life after loss, depression, loneliness and positive transitions. 1-2:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Free. Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay St. 714-229-2005.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Weight-loss support group. 6 p.m. every Wednesday. First meeting is free. Conference Room C of office building at Grace Brethren Church, 3590 Elm Ave., Long Beach. for information, leave a message for Jan at 562-427-0575 or contact 800-932-8677, tops.org.

Coming up

Cypress Senior Center programs. Free one-hour presentations on various health topics. “How to Choose a Home Care Agency,” 10:30 a.m. March 22; “Depression: when It’s More than just the Blues,” 10:30 a.m. March 29. Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay St. 714-229-2005.

Be More Healthy Expo. Health and fitness vendors, health screenings and more. Presented by the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, City of Seal Beach and Seal Beach Lions Club. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 24. Eisenhower Park by the Seal Beach Pier. 562-799-0179.

Introduction to Ayurveda. Basics of the holistic healing system from which yoga originates. Free. 10-11:30 a.m. March 28. Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay St. 714-229-2005.

COPD: what You Need to Know. Dr. Marc Baskin, allergy and immunology specialist from Pioneer Medical Group, discusses symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Participants must be at least age 50. 1 p.m. March 28. Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St. 562-916-8550.

Send health calendar items at least two weeks in advance to .

New research offers hope for the first pill to treat a common problem in young women: fibroids in the uterus. the growths can cause pain, heavy bleeding and fertility problems, and they are the leading cause of hysterectomies.

In two studies, a lower dose of a “morning after” contraceptive pill stopped the bleeding and shrank the fibroids. It worked as well as shots of a hormone-blocking drug that has unpleasant side effects.

“This is very, very good news. the results are better than we expected,” said research leader Dr. Jacques Donnez, of Saint-Luc hospital at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels.

He’s now testing intermittent long-term use of the pill to see if that could help women avoid surgery.

The pill is called Esmya, and it is awaiting marketing approval in Europe. It’s a low-dose version of an emergency birth control pill called ella that came on the market in the United States about a year ago. the new fibroid pill still needs to be tested in the U.S. and won’t be available anytime soon.

Fibroids are benign growths in the uterus that are common in women during their childbearing years, mostly in their late 30s and 40s. they usually go away after menopause. Treating fibroids isn’t easy. Removing the uterus is the only cure; other treatments include surgery to remove them or procedures to shrink them with ultrasound or pellets that cut off their blood supply.

With the discovery that the hormone progesterone, as well as estrogen, promotes fibroid growth, scientists have been looking at a class of drugs that can block progesterone’s effect on the uterus.

Donnez and his colleagues in several European countries tested Esmya, made by Swiss-based PregLem. their findings are in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.

The two studies involved about 550 premenopausal women whose fibroid symptoms were serious enough that surgery was planned.

One study compared two doses of Esmya with a dummy pill for three months. the second tested Esmya against a monthly hormone-blocking shot that shrinks fibroids but causes hot flashes and, with long-term use, can thin bones.. Women in that study got a daily Esmya pill and a dummy shot each month, or a hormone shot and a dummy pill.

In both studies, Esmya stopped the bleeding and shrank fibroids in most patients and worked as well as the shot, but with fewer side effects. Menstrual bleeding was controlled in over 90 percent of the women on Esmya – many within a week, compared to 19 percent of those who took a dummy pill.

At the end of the three months, only about half of the participants went ahead with any kind of fibroid surgery. that allowed the researchers to observe whether improvements lasted over the next six months. they did for many of the Esmya patients, while fibroids started growing after a month in the group that got the hormone shot.

Donnez is now studying whether Esmya could be used long-term, given periodically if symptoms return, until menopause, when fibroids usually disappear. that means some women, depending on their age, might avoid having surgery at all, said Donnez. he does between six and 10 hysterectomies a week for fibroids.

Despite newer, less invasive alternatives, the rate of hysterectomies remains high, Dr. Elizabeth Stewart, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mayo Clinic, wrote in an editorial in the journal. There’s a need for good medical treatments and the new research “represents an important step in that direction.”

“It’s amazing to me that so many women have uterine fibroids and yet the treatments we have available are pretty few and far between,” she said.

The new pill is awaiting final European approval as a treatment before surgery, following a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency in December.

In the U.S. and Canada, Esmya will be developed by Watson Pharmaceuticals inc., which also sells prescription ella, the contraception pill that helps prevent pregnancy for up to five days after sex.

Watson spokesman Charlie Mayr said the company will soon start a study of the fibroids pill in the United States, but it will be several years before it is ready for government review. It will seek approval in Canada early this year, he said.

Drugmaker PregLem paid for the latest studies. the researchers included company employees; Donnez and others have been on its scientific advisory board.

San Diego, California (NAPSI) – according to the Society of Interventional Radiology, 20 to 40 percent of women, age 35 and older, have uterine fibroids of a significant size.

Learning more about these common, benign growths—and how they affect women’s health—can be a smart idea.

Q: what are uterine fibroids?

A: Uterine fibroids develop in the muscular wall of the uterus, ranging in size from a quarter of an inch to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. Uterine fibroids are the most frequent indication for hysterectomy in premenopausal women.

Q: what are the typical symptoms?

A: Most fibroids don’t cause symptoms—only 10−20 percent of women who have fibroids require treatment. Depending on size, location and number of fibroids, they may cause:

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual monthly bleeding, sometimes with clots (This can lead to anemia.)

• Pelvic pain and pressure

• Pain in the back and legs

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Bladder pressure leading to a frequent urge to urinate

• Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating

• Abnormally enlarged abdomen.

Q: how are fibroids treated.

A: Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), also known as uterine artery embolization, is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician who is trained to perform this and other types of embolization and minimally invasive procedures. the procedure is performed while the patient is conscious—but sedated and feeling no pain. it does not require general anesthesia and usually only a hospital stay of one night. Painkilling medications and drugs that control swelling are prescribed following the procedure.

According to the AmericanCollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UFE is “safe and effective.” Women can and should be confident about their decision to consider UFE as a treatment option. an ultrasound or MRI diagnostic test will help an interventional radiologist to determine if a woman is a candidate.

Interventional radiology is a recognized medical specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Interventional radiologists complete preliminary training in diagnostic radiology and advanced training in vascular and interventional radiology.

Q: Where can I learn more?

A: for information on UFE or interventional radiology, visit the SIR website at SIRweb.org.

Young women on birth control pills tend to have less painful menstrual periods than those not on the contraceptives, a new study finds.

Swedish researchers found that of 2,100 women followed from age 19 to 24, those on the combined birth control pill (estrogen and progestin) had less-severe menstrual pain over time.

It’s already common practice for doctors to recommend the Pill to women with dysmenorrhea — menstrual cramps, back pain and other symptoms that are severe enough to disrupt a woman’s life.

Birth control pills are not specifically approved for that purpose, but doctors can prescribe them for dysmenorrhea on an “off-label” basis. however, it has not been clear how effective the pills are against period pain.

The new findings are not conclusive, but still caused excitement among some researchers.

“Our study provides evidence for the effective relief of painful periods with combined oral contraceptives,” said Dr. Ingela Lindh of Gothenburg University in Sweden, who led the study.

Both Lindh and one of her co-researchers have financial ties to companies that make hormonal contraceptives, although the new research was not supported by drugmakers.

Menstrual pains typically fade as a woman gets older, and they often lessen after childbirth. but even when age and childbirth were taken into account, Pill users had less painful periods in the new study, Lindh told Reuters Health in an email.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, does not prove that the Pill eases dysmenorrhea.

It’s an observational study that looked at the relationship between women’s Pill use and dysmenorrhea risk. Clinical trials — where people are randomly assigned to take a drug or a placebo — are considered the “gold standard” for proving cause-and-effect.

And a 2009 review of 10 clinical trials concluded that there was “limited evidence” that the Pill improved menstrual pain.

Still, the trials in that review varied in their methods and their quality, so it’s hard to draw firm conclusions, according to Dr. Michele Curtis of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, who was not involved in the current study.

She told Reuters Health the new study isn’t definite, but “makes a strong case” that the Pill is effective against menstrual pain.

“I think combined oral contraceptives really do help women with primary dysmenorrhea,” said Curtis, who has received speaking fees from drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, according to ProPublica’s database Dollars for Docs.

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that is not caused by underlying medical conditions such as endometriosis, a disorder of the uterine lining, or non-cancerous uterine growths called fibroids. when a medical condition is the cause, it’s known as secondary dysmenorrhea.

A weakness of the current study, Curtis said, is that it did not determine whether women had primary or secondary dysmenorrhea. in some cases of secondary dysmenorrhea, she said, birth control pills might help, but in other cases will do nothing.

The study included three groups of young women who were 19 years old in either 1981, 1991 or 2001. they all completed a standard questionnaire on menstrual symptoms, then repeated the survey five years later.

Dysmenorrhea was common, the study found. Of the 1981 group, 37 percent had at least moderate menstrual pain that disrupted their daily activities; in the 2001 group, that figure was 47 percent.

But Pill users had less pain over the next five years. Overall, Pill use was linked to a reduction of 0.3 units on the pain scale. That means every third woman on the Pill went “one step down” on the scale — from severe pain to moderate pain, for example — according to Lindh.

The researchers also looked at subgroups of women who were using the Pill at the age of 19, but not at age 24. On average, their menstrual pain increased over time. in contrast, pain decreased among women who were not on the Pill at age 19, but were at age 24.

There are biological reasons that the Pill would help with dysmenorrhea, both Lindh and Curtis said.

Menstruation causes increased muscle activity in the uterus, which lessens blood flow to the uterus. And that’s believed to be the root of menstrual pain.

Hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins help churn up that extra muscle activity. Since birth control pills lower the body’s prostaglandin production, Lindh explained, it makes sense that they would ease dysmenorrhea.

Birth control pills, which cost anywhere from $15 to $50 a month, are not the only treatment for dysmenorrhea.

Some women can find enough relief from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, according to Curtis. NSAIDs also block prostaglandin production.

What’s more, vitamin B1 and magnesium, exercise, relaxation techniques and acupuncture have all been advocated for dysmenorrhea.

“Clearly, our evidence base is smaller for those things,” Curtis said. but she also said that if a woman does not want birth control or NSAIDs, she could try an alternative.

Birth control pills can have side effects like breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting, and spotting between periods. Pill users also have a slightly higher-than-average risk of blood clots, particularly if they smoke or are age 35 or older.

But most women with primary dysmenorrhea are younger. in fact, Curtis said, if you start having painful periods for the first time when you are 30, it’s unlikely that it’s primary dysmenorrhea. A secondary cause is probably at work.

The new study was funded by grants from the Gothenburg Medical Society and other groups.

Uterine fibroids cost the U.S. billions each year in lost work days, pregnancy problems and treatments, a new study finds.

Uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths that form from muscle cells and other tissue in the wall of the uterus. in the U.S., it’s estimated that up to 70 percent of white women develop fibroids at some point by age 50; among African-American women, that number is closer to 80 percent.

Often, fibroids cause no symptoms. but at least one-quarter of U.S. women have fibroid symptoms like heavy menstrual periods, bleeding between periods and abdominal or lower back pain.

And in some cases, fibroids can make it hard for a woman to get pregnant, or increase her risk of pregnancy complications like miscarriage and preterm birth.

Since fibroids are so common, “it’s very important to understand the societal costs,” said researcher Dr. James H. Segars of the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland.

Based on his team’s estimates, uterine fibroids cost the U.S. anywhere from $6 billion to $34 billion each year. That’s with both treatment costs and “indirect” costs, like lost work days, taken into account.

In fact, Segars said, the cost of lost work — days off due to fibroid symptoms or to receive treatment — turned out to be the biggest expense. The researchers put that cost at anywhere from $1.5 billion to $17 billion annually.

Those cost ranges are very wide, Segars acknowledged. but, he said, they are estimates based on a collection of past studies that varied in how they collected data.

“That was the range in the literature,” Segars said. he added that, given how common fibroids are, he would guess that the actual costs are closer to the higher end of his team’s estimates.

“But it’s very difficult to get at the true cost,” Segars said.

The findings, reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, are based on figures from recent studies and national databases.

The researchers estimate that the yearly cost of fibroid treatment in the U.S. ranges from about $4 billion to $9 billion.

Those treatment options include surgery, with hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) being most common. other women choose to have just the fibroids removed — a procedure called a myomectomy.

Other procedures include uterine artery embolization, where tiny particles are injected into blood vessels leading to the uterus, to cut off fibroids’ blood supply and shrink them; and endometrial ablation, which destroys the lining of the uterus.

Some women use medications — like painkillers and hormonal therapies — to manage heavy bleeding and painful periods. but they don’t get rid of the fibroids.

As for pregnancy complications linked to fibroids, Segars’ team put the yearly cost at anywhere from $238 million to close to $8 billion — again, a wide range.

Past studies, Segars said, have not considered pregnancy issues in estimating the cost of fibroids. he and his colleagues based their calculations on the prevalence of complications like miscarriage, preterm birth and cesarean section among U.S. women, plus estimates of how many pregnant women have fibroids.

It’s been estimated that anywhere from about 0.4 percent to 11 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. each year are to women with uterine fibroids.

Though precise dollar figures are hard to pin down, Segars said the bottom line is that uterine fibroids appear much more costly than has been appreciated.

And it’s particularly concerning, he noted, that fibroids are more common and more severe in African-American women — who may find it harder to bear the burden of lost wages and other costs.

“This most severely affects the population that’s least able to bear the costs,” Segars said.

That, he added, underscores the importance of finding ways to prevent fibroids.

No one is sure how to do that, however, because researchers don’t know exactly why fibroids form. Black women are at greater risk, as are women who are overweight or obese. on the other hand, women who’ve given birth seem to have a lower risk than those who’ve never had a baby.

The team found that patients who have myotonic muscular dystrophy are at increased risk primarily for four types of cancer: brain, ovary, colon, and the uterine lining known as the endometrium. The team also found a possible increased risk for some other types of cancer, including cancer of the eye, thyroid, pancreas, and other female reproductive organs.

Physicians estimate that approximately 40,000 Americans have myotonic dystrophy, an inherited disease that is marked by progressive muscle weakness. while the course of the disease varies from patient to patient, symptoms can include muscle stiffness, difficulty speaking and swallowing, problems walking, and in some patients, heart problems and cataracts.

Neurologists like study author Richard T. Moxley, M.D., of the University of Rochester Medical Center have long known that patients with myotonic dystrophy are at greater risk of a rare type of skin growth, and they know that skin cancer occurs more often as well in some families with the disease. Moxley teamed with cancer experts at the National Cancer Institute as well as scientists in Sweden and Denmark to study the link between muscular dystrophy and cancer more closely.

The team used detailed registries about the health of people with myotonic dystrophy to look closely at the records of 1,658 patients. among that group, 104 people developed cancer – twice the number of cases that would be expected in the overall population.

“Our findings suggest that patients with myotonic dystrophy need to be absolutely vigilant about cancer screening, particularly colon cancer screening,” said Moxley, director of the University’s Neuromuscular Disease Center and professor of Neurology. Moxley also heads the University’s Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, one of six research centers funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Over the last 15 years, Moxley’s colleague, Charles Thornton, M.D., has discovered how the genetic flaw at the root of myotonic muscular dystrophy – a genetic repeat, a kind of molecular stutter – actually causes the disease. he found that the flaw causes extra messenger RNA to accumulate in the nucleus of cells, making it difficult for a protein crucial for normal muscle growth to do its job.

Moxley notes that the genetic miscue that causes the disease is one that might also make cancer more likely to occur. The investigators say it’s possible that the extra RNA may also hinder proteins involved in repairing DNA; a malfunction of DNA repair machinery is one way that cancer comes about. In addition, they note that the product made by the faulty gene is a close molecular relative of several cancer susceptibility genes.

The scientists say much more study is needed to understand the process. They plan to study the issue in more depth using a muscular dystrophy registry which includes about 1,600 patients with muscular dystrophy that has been compiled by Moxley and colleagues at Rochester, thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health.

more information: JAMA. 2011;306[22]:2480-2486.

Provided by University of Rochester Medical Center (news : web)

DALLAS, Dec. 6 (UPI) — Recognizing possible symptoms of gynecologic cancers can lead to diagnosis and timely treatment, a U.S. gynecologic oncologist says.

Dr. Debra Richardson of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said women who have gone through menopause, for instance, should not experience any menstrual bleeding.

“Any bleeding — even spotting — after menopause is not normal and should be checked out by a gynecologist,” Richardson said in a statement.

Some common causes of postmenopausal bleeding include:

– Polyps are usually non-cancerous, but these growths can develop in the uterus, on the cervix or inside the cervical canal.

– Endometrial atrophy: the tissue that lines the uterus can become very thin after menopause.

– Endometrial hyperplasia: sometimes the lining of the uterus becomes thick, usually due to too much estrogen and too little progesterone. Some patients may have abnormal cells that can lead to endometrial cancer.

– Cancer: Bleeding after menopause can be a sign of endometrial or uterine cancer.

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