Dr. O'Donoghues Blog

New Model Of Skin Cancer Provides Insights On Second-Most Common Type Of Cancer

Monday, 14 December 2009 03:16 | Posted By J Morgan O'Donoghue , MD |

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have developed a new model of skin cancer based on the knowledge that a common cancer-related molecule called Src kinase is activated in human skin-cancer samples.

"Our previous work demonstrated that Src kinases are activated in human squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. We modeled these observations by increasing the expression of the gene Fyn, a member of Src family of proteins, in mouse skin," explains senior author John T. Seykora M.D., Ph.D, assistant professor of Dermatology. In addition, prior work by the Seykora lab on a related protein called Srcasm, discovered by him in 2002, suggested that Srcasm may function as an anti-oncogene, a molecule that keeps others in check in order to control cell growth.

In this proof-of-principle study, published this month in Cancer Research, the authors found that genetically engineered mice expressing a K14-Fyn transgene develop precancerous lesions and invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) spontaneously in 5 to 8 weeks. Skin SCCs are the second most common form of cancer, with greater than 250,000 cases annually in the US, leading to approximately 2,500 deaths.

Last Updated (Saturday, 02 January 2010 18:37)

Cranberry, Pumpkin & Jell-O Can Work Miracles On Body

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 13:30 | Posted By J Morgan O'Donoghue , MD |

Kristine Johnson

NEW YORK (CBS) ?

As we all prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast we know that leftovers are sure to follow.

And CBS 2 HD has the recipes to put them to good use. But they're not to eat. These are dishes meant to nourish your skin.

From the pumpkin patch to the Thanksgiving table, what feeds your body can also be a feast for your skin.

"Two of the most popular ingredients that you're using for Thanksgiving are actually really good for your skin -- and that's cranberry's and pumpkin," said Jeannine Morris of beautysweetspot.com.

"So you can take your leftovers and actually make at-home skin treatments. For example, with pumpkin puree, you can actually make an at-home mask."

Using canned pumpkin and the juice from some lemons, mix a puree, spread it evenly over your face and leave it on for about 10 minutes.

"If you use it repeatedly as a mask it will help the tone and the texture. It has natural exfoliating benefits," Morris said.

Cranberries are recognized for their antioxidant properties when you incorporate them in your diet. And now you can feed your skin by using them topically.

Blend a puree with cranberries, adding oatmeal, sugar and oil.

"The cranberry exfoliate looks delicious, however, I would not recommend eating it," Morris said.

Rub it in a gentle circular motion for about a minute and then rinse with water.

"I would do it about once a week and with repeated use you'll find more natural tone and texture improving," Morris said.

There are plenty of products available that contain these ingredients, if there's nothing left at the end of your Thanksgiving feast. But you probably can count on there being a little extra Jell-O.

"Don't throw away the leftovers," Morris said. "Keep these for your eyes."

Apply eye cream first and then the take a serving of Jell-O that's been wrapped in plastic and put in the freezer for about 30 minutes and use it as a compress.

"To wake up those tired eyes we want to ease inflammation and sink our products into our skin," Morris said.

"There is a trend to using food-based products in a skin care regimen. Usually the rationale behind that is the foods that are high in antioxidants can have potential benefits for their skin; and if you can get them to be absorbed through the skin it's even better. That's the tricky part," said cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Cameron Rokshar.

So maybe you won't get every nutrient from a topical application, but reusing "leftovers" can still be an effective recipe to calm stressed skin or relieve puffy eyes.

"You're cooking it up and slathering it on your face you get the benefits and you get the rewards for your skin and also you did that for yourself," Morris said.

The leftovers we're talking about are not items right from the table. It's extra food that's not been prepared.

Last Updated (Saturday, 02 January 2010 18:39)

Is there such a thing as a 'healthy tan'? .....No!

Friday, 02 October 2009 00:19 | Posted By J Morgan O'Donoghue , MD |

Tanning Beds Classified as Carcinogenic

A new report issued in July places tanning beds in the “highest cancer risk” category. The agency also reclassified all UV radiation as carcinogenic to humans, including UVA, UVB and UVC.

A review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that the risk of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, increases by 75 percent when use of tanning beds and sunlamps begins before 30 years of age. This high-risk tanning behavior, seen primarily in females, could explain the increasing melanoma rates for females 15-29 years old.

Last Updated (Thursday, 08 October 2009 01:11)

Your genes can play a role in skin cancer

Sunday, 11 October 2009 02:30 | Posted By J Morgan O'Donoghue , MD |

Sat Oct 10, 11:06 am ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Want to reduce your risk of skin cancer? Wear sun screen, of course. But two new studies suggest that choosing your relatives carefully could also be helpful.

One found that having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of developing the disease much more than having a fraternal twin with this type of skin cancer. The other found that having a sibling or parent with one of several different types of non-melanoma skin cancer increased risk as well.

Several studies have suggested melanoma and other skin cancers run in families, but it can be difficult to tease out the difference between the influence of genes and environment. In the Australian study, Dr. Sri N. Shekar of the University of Queensland in Brisbane and his colleagues attempted to do so by looking at twin pairs in which at least one sibling had been diagnosed with melanoma.

They searched through thousands of cases of melanoma reported in Queensland and New South Wales and found 125 twin pairs. In four of the 27 identical twin pairs, both had melanoma, while three of the 98 fraternal twin pairs had both been diagnosed with the deadly skin cancer.

Based on these numbers, having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of the disease nearly 10-fold, while melanoma associated with having a non-identical twin with the disease was roughly doubled.

This suggests, the researchers say, that some of the increased melanoma risk can be attributed to genes, in particular interactions between genes. They estimate that genes account for about half of the differences in risk between two people.

In the second study, Dr. Shehnaz K. Hussain of the University of California Los Angeles and colleagues looked at the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to gauge the risk for several types of skin cancer among siblings and children of people diagnosed with these diseases.

They found that people with a sibling or parent diagnosed with some types of skin cancer were more likely to develop skin cancers of various types, not just the ones their relatives had. When tumors occurred at parts of the body more likely to have been exposed to the sun (such as the face, compared to the torso), the familial risk was stronger.

Based on the findings, Hussain and colleagues conclude, a person's family history can be used to gauge their own skin cancer risk, and genetic studies could be a useful way to identify potential targets for treating or preventing the disease.

SOURCE: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, September 2009.

People with Psoriasis At Risk for Other Medical Conditions

Friday, 25 September 2009 14:30 | Posted By J Morgan O'Donoghue , MD |

People with Psoriasis At Risk for Other Medical Conditions

A new study by the National Psoriasis Foundation of 5,000 people with psoriasis reveals that people with psoriasis are at risk for developing other serious medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Last Updated (Thursday, 08 October 2009 01:10)