Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes

This year, more than 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide are expected to be diagnosed with cancer, a disease commonly believed to be preventable. Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment and lifestyle. The lifestyle factors include cigarette smoking, diet (fried foods, red meat), alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. The evidence indicates that of all cancer-related deaths, almost 25–30% are due to tobacco, as many as 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections, and the remaining percentage are due to other factors like radiation, stress, physical activity, environmental pollutants etc. Therefore, cancer prevention requires smoking cessation, increased ingestion of fruits and vegetables, moderate use of alcohol, caloric restriction, exercise, avoidance of direct exposure to sunlight, minimal meat consumption, use of whole grains, use of vaccinations, and regular check-ups. In this review, we present evidence that inflammation is the link between the agents/factors that cause cancer and the agents that prevent it. In addition, we provide evidence that cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes

Support of drug therapy using functional foods and dietary supplements: focus on statin therapy

Functional foods and dietary supplements might have a role in supporting drug therapy. These products may (1) have an additive effect to the effect that a drug has in reducing risk factors associated with certain conditions, (2) contribute to improve risk factors associated with the condition, other than the risk factor that the drug is dealing with, or (3) reduce drug-associated side effects, for example, by restoring depleted compounds or by reducing the necessary dose of the drug. Possible advantages compared with a multidrug therapy are lower drug costs, fewer side effects and increased adherence. In the present review we have focused on the support of statin therapy using functional foods or dietary supplements containing plant sterols and/or stanols, soluble dietary fibre, n-3 PUFA or coenzyme Q10. We conclude that there is substantial evidence that adding plant sterols and/or stanols to statin therapy further reduces total and LDL-cholesterol by roughly 6 and 10 %, respectively. Adding n-3 PUFA to statin therapy leads to a significant reduction in plasma TAG of at least 15 %. Data are insufficient and not conclusive to recommend the use of soluble fibre or coenzyme Q10 in patients on statin therapy and more randomised controlled trials towards these combinations are warranted. Aside from the possible beneficial effects from functional foods or dietary supplements on drug therapy, it is important to examine possible (negative) effects from the combination in the long term, for example, in post-marketing surveillance studies. Moreover, it is important to monitor whether the functional foods and dietary supplements are taken in the recommended amounts to induce significant effects

Progress report on the Evaluation of the Dutch method to determine urgency of soil remediation; analysis of restraints and exploration of possible solutions

The Remediation Urgency Method (SUS), a method in the Netherlands to determine the urgency of soil remediation, was introduced in 1994 to prioritise the remediation of contaminated sites in the Netherlands. The methodology is based on human and ecological risk assessment and risks of contaminant migration. Here, the analysis of the restraints in the method are described, focusing on the site-specific risk assessment for humans and contaminant migration. Restraints were established on the basis of interviews with experts and earlier evaluations of the method. Based on the restraints found and estimates on scientific feasibility, options for possible solutions have been prioritised. Besides this, an initial exploration of solutions has been undertaken for some options. For human risk assessment, exploration focused on estimating the oral bioavailability of soil contaminants, and measuring the concentrations in consumption crops and indoor air. A risk assessment framework was developed for risk of contaminant migration, and a tool to assess the leaching of contaminants in the (unsaturated) soil was explored. Studies to improve the site-specific risk assessment of soil contamination are continuing in 2003 and 2004. These focus on overcoming the identified restraints and exploring solutions with a high priority.De SaneringsUrgentieSystematiek (SUS) is in 1994 ontwikkeld om de urgentie van ernstige gevallen van bodemverontreiniging te bepalen. De methode is gebaseerd op risico's voor de mens, voor ecosystemen en verspreiding van verontreiniging. Het rapport behandelt de knelpuntenanalyse van de locatiespecifieke humane risicobeoordeling en de beoordeling van verspreidingsrisico's. Op bases van interviews met deskundigen en resultaten van eerder uitgevoerde evaluaties zijn de belangrijkste knelpunten benoemd en zijn oplossingsrichtingen aangegeven en geprioriteerd, mede op basis van wetenschappelijke haalbaarheid. Naast deze analyse zijn enkele verkenningen van oplossingsrichtingen en mogelijke verbeteringen uitgevoerd. Voor de humane risicobeoordeling is ingegaan op het bepalen van de orale biobeschikbaarheid, het meten van concentraties in gewas en het meten van binnenlucht concentraties. Voor de beoordeling van verspreidingsrisico's is een raamwerk voor beoordeling opgesteld en is een studie uitgevoerd naar een methode voor beoordeling van uitloging in de onverzadigde bodem. Onderzoek naar de verbetering van de locatiespecifieke risicobeoordeling van bodemverontreiniging zal zich in 2003 met name richten op de oplossingsrichtingen waaraan een hoge prioriteit is toegekend

Diet in relation to use of medication and health in older people

Veel ouderen (70-plussers) hebben meer dan één chronische aandoening en een aanzienlijk deel van hen gebruikt hiervoor vijf of meer verschillende medicijnen (vooral voor coronaire hartziekten, diabetes en astma/COPD). De medicijnen die ouderen veelvuldig gebruiken (bijvoorbeeld bloeddrukverlagers of maagzuurremmers) hebben vaak bijwerkingen zoals een droge mond of misselijkheid. Mede hierdoor kunnen ouderen problemen krijgen met eten en drinken en ondervoed raken. Dit betekent dat ze mogelijk te weinig calorieën binnenkrijgen en/of te weinig noodzakelijke voedingsstoffen, zoals vitaminen, mineralen en voedingsvezels. Er zijn aanwijzingen dat ouderen tekorten hebben aan vitamine B2, vitamine B12, vitamine D, calcium, ijzer en zink. Bovengenoemde problematiek speelt zowel bij ouderen die zelfstandig wonen - 93 procent van de 70-plussers - als bij ouderen die in instellingen verblijven. Meerjarig onderzoek naar voeding, medicijngebruik en gezondheid bij ouderen Dit blijkt uit een verkenning van wat er in de literatuur over dit onderwerp bekend is. Daarnaast zijn acht zorgverleners geïnterviewd en zijn databases geraadpleegd over aandoeningen en medicijngebruik bij 70-plussers. De verkenning is onderdeel van een meerjarig project, waarin wordt onderzocht of het mogelijk is om de kwaliteit van leven en gezondheid van ouderen te verbeteren door dagelijks gezond te eten. Hierdoor gebruiken zij mogelijk minder medicijnen. De Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre), TNO en het RIVM werken voor dit project samen. Nadere discussie in 2013 De bevindingen vormen de input voor een workshop in 2013. Hierin zullen zorgverleners nader bediscussiëren of en hoe gezonde dagelijkse voeding het medicijngebruik en de gezondheidstoestand van ouderen kan beïnvloeden.Many older people (70-plus) have more than one chronic condition and a considerable number of them use five or more different drugs - especially for coronary heart disease, diabetes and asthma/COPD. Many of the drugs used by this group of elderly people (e.g. for lowering blood pressure or gastric acid inhibitors) cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. These side effects can in turn lead to eating and drinking problems in these people which results in undernourishment. Subsequently, these people possibly consume too few calories and/or essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fibre. There are indications that older people have shortages of vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc. The problems outlined above occur both in elderly people who live independently (about 93 percent of those over 70) and in those who live in residential care. Long-term research into diet, use of medication and health in older people The above findings were derived from a literature survey on this subject. In addition to the literature survey, eight care providers were interviewed and databases for medical conditions and medication use in 70-plussers were studied. The survey is part of a long-term project which is studying whether it is possible to improve the quality of life and the health of older people through the intake of a daily healthy diet. This may result in them needing fewer drugs. The Wageningen University & Research Centre, the TNO Research Institute and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) are collaborating on this project. Further discussion to take place in 2013 The findings will make up the content for a workshop to be held in 2013. During the workshop, care providers will discuss in more detail the extent to which a daily healthy diet can have a positive effect on the use of medication and on the health of older people.VW

Progress report on the Evaluation of the Dutch method to determine urgency of soil remediation; analysis of restraints and exploration of possible solutions

De SaneringsUrgentieSystematiek (SUS) is in 1994 ontwikkeld om de urgentie van ernstige gevallen van bodemverontreiniging te bepalen. De methode is gebaseerd op risico's voor de mens, voor ecosystemen en verspreiding van verontreiniging. Het rapport behandelt de knelpuntenanalyse van de locatiespecifieke humane risicobeoordeling en de beoordeling van verspreidingsrisico's. Op bases van interviews met deskundigen en resultaten van eerder uitgevoerde evaluaties zijn de belangrijkste knelpunten benoemd en zijn oplossingsrichtingen aangegeven en geprioriteerd, mede op basis van wetenschappelijke haalbaarheid. Naast deze analyse zijn enkele verkenningen van oplossingsrichtingen en mogelijke verbeteringen uitgevoerd. Voor de humane risicobeoordeling is ingegaan op het bepalen van de orale biobeschikbaarheid, het meten van concentraties in gewas en het meten van binnenlucht concentraties. Voor de beoordeling van verspreidingsrisico's is een raamwerk voor beoordeling opgesteld en is een studie uitgevoerd naar een methode voor beoordeling van uitloging in de onverzadigde bodem. Onderzoek naar de verbetering van de locatiespecifieke risicobeoordeling van bodemverontreiniging zal zich in 2003 met name richten op de oplossingsrichtingen waaraan een hoge prioriteit is toegekend.The Remediation Urgency Method (SUS), a method in the Netherlands to determine the urgency of soil remediation, was introduced in 1994 to prioritise the remediation of contaminated sites in the Netherlands. The methodology is based on human and ecological risk assessment and risks of contaminant migration. Here, the analysis of the restraints in the method are described, focusing on the site-specific risk assessment for humans and contaminant migration. Restraints were established on the basis of interviews with experts and earlier evaluations of the method. Based on the restraints found and estimates on scientific feasibility, options for possible solutions have been prioritised. Besides this, an initial exploration of solutions has been undertaken for some options. For human risk assessment, exploration focused on estimating the oral bioavailability of soil contaminants, and measuring the concentrations in consumption crops and indoor air. A risk assessment framework was developed for risk of contaminant migration, and a tool to assess the leaching of contaminants in the (unsaturated) soil was explored. Studies to improve the site-specific risk assessment of soil contamination are continuing in 2003 and 2004. These focus on overcoming the identified restraints and exploring solutions with a high priority.VROM-DGM-BW

Plasma assisted particle contamination control: Plasma charging dependence on particle morphology

With the introduction of EUV lithography, the control of contamination in advanced semiconductor processes has become increasingly critical. Our work is a joint effort (TU/e and VDL-ETG) and is aimed at the development of plasma-assisted contamination control strategies mainly focusing on airborne particles in a low pressure gas. We present experiments comparing the charge-to-mass ratio of single spherical micron-sized particles with that of non-spherical agglomerates thereof in the spatial plasma afterglow. It is shown that the charge-to-mass ratio of two-particle clusters deviates only 6% from that of singlets. This means that for the proposed mitigation strategy, of which the efficiency is based on the charge-to-mass ratio, it is acceptable to study the charging of spherical particles and to extrapolate the results towards non-spherical particles within a reasonable range

Comparison of five in vitro digestion models to study the bio-accessibilty of soil contanminants

Soil ingestion can be a major exposure route for humans to many immobile soil contaminants. Exposure to soil contaminants can be overestimated if oral bioavailability is not taken into account. Several in vitro digestion models simulating the human gastrointestinal tract have been developed to assess mobilization of contaminants from soil during digestion, i.e., bioaccessibility. Bioaccessibility is a crucial step in controlling the oral bioavailability for soil contaminants. To what extent in vitro determination of bioaccessibility is method dependent has, until now, not been studied. This paper describes a multi-laboratory comparison and evaluation of five in vitro digestion models. Their experimental design and the results of a round robin evaluation of three soils, each contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, and lead, are presented and discussed. A wide range of bioaccessibility values were found for the three soils: for As 6−95%, 1−19%, and 10−59%; for Cd 7−92%, 5−92%, and 6−99%; and for Pb 4−91%, 1−56%, and 3−90%. Bioaccessibility in many cases is less than 50%, indicating that a reduction of bioavailability can have implications for health risk assessment. Although the experimental designs of the different digestion systems are distinct, the main differences in test results of bioaccessibility can be explained on the basis of the applied gastric pH. High values are typically observed for a simple gastric method, which measures bioaccessibility in the gastric compartment at low pHs of 1.5. Other methods that also apply a low gastric pH, and include intestinal conditions, produce lower bioaccessibility values. The lowest bioaccessibility values are observed for a gastrointestinal method which employs a high gastric pH of 4.0