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The SELECT Trial investigators report on nearly 10 years of follow-up of participants in a study of selenium and vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer. A small but statistically significant increased risk of prostate cancer appears to be associated with taking vitamin E supplements. These results are in disagreement with others in the literature, and the authors present no plausible biological explanation for them. Nonetheless, the balance of evidence does not appear to support any recommendation that physicians advise their middle-aged and elderly patients to begin vitamin E supplementation for prostate cancer prevention.
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Thousands of Chinese used a compound called maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (MY) for treatment of flu symptoms during the 2009 H1N1 epidemic. MY is a concoction of 12 different herbs, including toasted Herba ephedra, as well as qinghao, gypsum fibrosum, and rhizoma.
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In a case-control study using a biomarker for lignan intake, women with breast cancer who had higher levels of the biomarker post-diagnosis had a reduced risk of mortality over a median follow-up period of 6 years compared to women with low levels of the biomarker.
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Data from this large observational trial with an average follow-up of over 8 years suggest that even 15 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise, such as taking a brisk walk, provides significant health benefits in terms of lowered mortality risks and life extension.
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Participation in Weight Watchers resulted in a greater weight loss over a year than did clinical intervention in a primary care office.
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This is the second in a three-part series about the design and conduct of clinical research.
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In postmenopausal women, constipation is associated with having major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and increased cardiovascular risk.
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This basic science paper explores the role of the tumor microenvironment in the development of tumor resistance to chemotherapy. Two distinct fatty acid molecules, endogenously produced by cancer cells in response to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, were found to confer significant tumor chemoresistance. Remarkably, these two fatty acids also were shown to be present in several commercial fish oil products, and, of potential import to clinicians, the oral administration of small amounts of these fish oils induced tumor resistance to cisplatin in a mouse tumor model.
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The oral administration of 500,000 IU cholecalciferol in fall or winter resulted in a slightly higher risk of falls and fractures vs placebo in 2,256 community-dwelling women aged 70 and above.
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Death by suicide is a significant occupational hazard for physicians. This is strongly associated with professional burnout, which is characterized by a loss of emotional, mental, and physical energy due to continued job-related stress. Studies have identified three factors that are independently associated with burnout for both surgeons and internal medicine physicians hours worked per week, experiencing a work/home conflict within the last three weeks, and how the most recent work/home conflict was resolved.
